What I'm REALLY Doing!

Dear Carli,

So, I determined what I am REALLY doing for Chirtmas knitting! Anything else is going to have to wait! Here is my list:

1) Layla's shirt in brown and Mint green
2) MIL Head scarf in Bright Red, my own design
3) Jillian shirt in purple and white
4) Marshall vest in Blue and Grey

That's it. If I get anything else done, it is total luck! :) So, here is hoping as MIL scarf is going to take FOREVER!!!

Hope your holiday knitting is going well!
Love,
Theresa

Determination...

So I've been forcing myself to knit the past couple nights and during the day as I can. I know that sounds really bazaar coming from me, but it's true. I'm doing it, though, and making some progress.

I admit I hit a slight blackhole on Daddy's present. But we're through and sailing away. I managed to get quite a bit done on it last night after H went to bed. yay!!!

Then I've been just blowing through Mom's gift. I have to say that DPNs beat magic loop any day of the week when you'redoing ML on a 60 inch cable needle. Far too much extra cable. But I'm loving the color work and now that I've finished 1/2 of the second one, I've gotten the hang of keeping the colors less tangled and it's a breeze. Plus knitting colorwork that is intricate is like painting with yarn. you just knit along, doing nothing different than switching colors as you go, and presto, you have this cool design. Way addicting.

I am determined to get atleast mom's present DONE and the piece I'm currently working on for Dad's DONE before we leave in 2 weeks. Anything outside the one piece on Dad's is just bonus that won't keep me up until the wee hours of the morning Christmas day.

Determined. It WILL happen...

Lotsa Love
Carli

Just one knit....

So, I usually knit every evening. I always knit something when riding in the car, and I'm rarely anywhere without one of my projects, especially since Christmas is coming quickly.

In the past 2 weeks, I have knitted one evening and once in the car. I just have no desire, no energy, and spend 90% of my life fighting off Morning Sickness...

Christmas presents aren't ever going to get done. I'm DETERMINED to get Dad's and Mom's finished. The rest will have to wait...

My Knitting List...Ever Shall It Grow!

OK, so I have started auditing what I need to knit in the next less than 50 days! Carli has pointed out that Christmas is LESS than 50 days away! Holy Geez! Here is my list as of right now. I am not even going to actually ACT like I am going to get it all done, but it is wishful thinking. I fully admit that some of it is for me, but it is stuff I was hoping to have done to wear for Christmas. We shall see!

1. Caroline For Me! :) Done in Lion Brand Wool-Ease in Avocado.
2. A Scarflette of my own design for Me! :) Done in Malabrigo in a blue/green/yellow mix
3. Some sort of Fingerless Mitts for Me! :) To be done in Lion Brand Wool-Ease in Avocado
4. Telemark Pullover for Marshall done in really pretty blue
5. Some sort of dress for Layla's Bear. I am designing it myself, it won't be complicated, but will be done in Caron Simple Soft
6. A hat for my dad (I can't remember the name of the pattern, I will have to find it!) done in Ultra Alpaca in a really pretty orange.
7. Thank you Scarflette for Claire. Just garter stitch on the bias...just have to weave in ends. Done in Lion Brand Chenille Thick and Quick.
8. SO want to make Sprite for Layla and for Jillian...how cute is this?
9. Market Shawl for Me! Done in Moonlight Mohair...there is no hurry on this, just mindless knitting as it is all stockinette!
10. Something for my MIL...I have to make her gift but she is giving me NO ideas. Any ideas? Please? Anyone? She isn't a fancy type person so I am just at a loss!
11. Baby hat for friend, simple easy, shouldn't take long!

I have sewing to do too as well as other knitting that I haven't even figured out yet. AAGGRRHH!!

HELP!!
Theresa

My New Baby Boy To Knit For!

Hello all! Thanks for being patient with me during my time "away". I just didn't have much to blog about. For the longest time, knitting made me sick, and then all I was knitting was the same bootie pattern over and over and a simple baby blanket. I'm still not knitting a ton, but it is because I got PUPS on my hands after the baby was born (a condition that made my hands swell, itch and HURT!), and I can't knit yet. I am hoping by the weekend!

Enough about that...onto much more important things. The newest recipient of knitted things to come: Introducing Marshall George! He was born at 1:54 on October 26th. He was 8 pounds 15 ounces and 21 inches long! He is PERFECT! We love him so much and are so excited he is here! I have already started planning on things to knit for him! Can't wait to get my fingers back! Enjoy a couple of pics...only one has knitted things. A hat and booties I made. The others are just for show. Also, included is one of the proud big sisters. He is getting newborn pics tomorrow, so I should have at least a link of those soon!

When you're in my heart...

...there is no distance great enough to keep us apart!
This post is going to have to be dedicated to the gorgeous and most amazing bff in the world!

Hurray! Theresa is off to have her little one in the morning!!!! I'm going stir crazy over here, but nothing compared to her anxiety. Yay for new babies!!!! But I'll let her catch everyone up on life as a new (again) mommy when she gets a chance...given that she's a mommy of (now, or well, will be tomorrow) three little ones, be patient if it's not until January, ok? Being a mommy of one keeps you on your toes...three, well, I'm not there, so I can't imagine :)

Everyone say a prayer for my darling and her little darling! They're in for a long day tomorrow!

Big hugs and stitches, T!

Love
Carli

Stashless...

Before I get into ranting and raving over this blog's title, I would like to share my FO's and my WIPs!!!

First up is my Baby Top. Love it. I can't wait to have a little one to put it on. Was contemplating giving it to you, T, and my godbaby, but it's got so many oop's in it, that I would be too embarassed to give it away. But I love it just the same.

Next is some of the yarn I bought at IKnit. It's DK Merino Undyed. And That's only 2/3 ok. So I dyed it...using Koolaid. Took me an afternoon. I'm so happy with the results. There's 450 yards of it, and it's going into something knit for me, so now I just have to figure out what...It knits up really cooly (I know, not a word) on size 6 needles across 20 sts in Stockinette Stitch. I did a swatch to see what i had :) The blue and green knit up as solid stripes alternating with the white and burgundy as varigated stripes. It's awesome. There's more white than I wanted, but as it's only my 2nd dye job ever, I think it turned out perfect :)

I finished a bracelet (no pic at the moment)for Lindsay for her birthday (which was in July, I'm late). And this earring frame. I can't wait to give it to her. It's a mini Modern Log Cabin blanket by Mason-Dixon. Great pattern.

This is a WIP but so darn close to being a FO, so I'm gonna call it a FO for the moment. I'll post finished pics later. This is my Leafy Cardi for mom. I am completely done with it with the exception of the collar. And the collar is giving me a headache. I think I'm to the point on this pattern that I just can't mentally correct any more problems. Seroiusly, God bless Calista for being patient with me. I think the only section where I haven't ran into an error or crutial info that was omitted was the front left. Sigh. I have everything sewn up and done, except the collar, and the buttons. But I haven't even bought the buttons, so that will be on the to do list for tomorrow's outting.

I've started on Daddy's pullover. It's about 12 inches into the back (I need 25 for that piece) and it seems to be going very quickly. The wool is a bit rough to work with, but the fabric is coming out soft and you can feel the lanolin still in the wool, so I'm pretty sure it will soften up more with a good hand wash. No pics though :)

I'm trying hard to get my Juliet/February Lady sweater done. It's taking up 2 of my interchangeable cables, and I need those bad boys. especially for the collar of mom's sweater. The lace I picked for it is knitting up very quickly (I'm 2 1/2 inches in) and is easy to memorize, so hopefully it'll get done fast. I shouldn't work on stuff that isn't Christmas, but i need those needles. I guess I could put it on scrap yarn.... (not a current pic btw)

Adam's hat is coming along. It's been on hold for a little while, but I need to work on it as it's a super simple knit and seems to go quickly if you can keep the tiny balls of colorwork in order...Here are pics of my favorite thing on the needles....These are my lacy stockings from the Vogue Knitting Spring/summer 2009 issue. Love them. But they are so far back on the back burner that they won't get picked up again until after Christmas is over. The only socks I need to be working on are the ones for Matty. I still have the original Frat Feet sock so I'm going to give the 2nd one another try. 3rd time's a charm, right?

So on to my ranting a raving.

I read a post from some random person on Ravelry about being stashless. About only purchasing yarn for a specific project, and not getting more yarn until that project is finished. Now, as you can tell, I don't have that will power. But apparently many people do as there were many many commenters on how fantastic it is to have zero stash. They were ragging on us stashers. Now, I have to admit that I like to de-stash every once in a while. Really sit down and give purpose to some of the yarn that I've purchased. But I can't even imagine not wanting a stash. I adore being able to go upstairs, pull out my stash and touch yarn I haven't felt in a while. I puchase yarn that I believe is beautiful. It's color, fiber, ply, it's just beautiful. And when I buy it, sometimes I have an idea of what it's for, but more often than not, I just want it. I buy what I can afford, and then I find it's destiny later. Or I love getting a knitting magazine or book and finding a pattern that I have to have RIGHT NOW, and it's awesome to go upstairs and find the wool/cotton/silk that makes that pattern perfectly mine. I don't always have to go to the LYS (which is good b/c the owner hates me) and hunt up what I want before I can CO.

To each his own, I suppose. Everyone works differently, but I can't imagine wanting to be stashless. It would be like a painter going out to purchase paints everytime he wants to recreate the sunrise....

IKnit take 2

Off to IKnit Weekender in London this weekend! Woooohooooo! This is the same convention I went to last year to see our dear YH, but sadly there isn't anyone on the schedule who I'm aching to see. Nevertheless, I am pumped and mentally ready to go! Physically is a whole other story, however.

WHAT DO I TAKE TO KNIT???????

Last year I worked on a pair of socks for Brett. Black wool. Apparently too itchy for him. They've been ripped out. Oh, well. Gave me something to do. I have a bizillion projects that I should do that day, but most of them are color work, bulky, or have intricate charts.

I thought about knitting those same socks for Matty (obviously bigger) as I'm having issues with the second frat sock. If I cable them, the cables don't look right on the second sock for some reason. If I don't cable them, the sock looks sasquatch big. Thought about ripping them out all together and making an afghan for him or something out of the yarn. But I have the black wool to use and I bet Matt would wear them. Even if they're hot. Maybe.

Wanted to get my juliet top finished to wear on Saturday, but I doubt that's going to happen. First off, I finally am getting the first sleeve for mom's birthday present accomplished. I say accomplished, not done, as it's taken me 4 times for it to actually work out. The first 2 times are pattern issues. The 3rd time was a Carli issue. So I tackled it a 4th time, this time marking the chart as I work the stitches. Much better. Hopefully I will get through one sleeve tonight...cross your fingers. Secondly, there just isn't the time. I could knit on it like a crazy woman to get it done, but as I have too many other presents that NEED done to push that hard on one that doesn't NEED done. I should be pushing that hard on Mom and Adam's presents. Not a convention top.

We'll see.

Well, off to knit and nurse a headache. Lots to do before we're off to London!

I'm here, I'm here! :)

Hi Everyone! I'm sorry that I have been completely absent for awhile, but as Carli previously mentioned, I have been put on bedrest since June. For awhile, I had NO desire to knit. It either made me sick, or just antsy. I am back to knitting which is good, but not doing anything too exciting. I am doing a lot of baby knitting just to psych myself up. Don't get me wrong, we are happy for the baby coming, just have had a lot to deal with, so baby knitting keeps me in a good frame of mind! :) So, I have knit 3 baby hats, 1 baby sock (I should cast on for the other today) and about 1/3 of a baby blanket. We do not know whether we are having a boy or girl, so I am making some pink stuff and some blue stuff. I have about 7 friends that are preggo right now, so I'm sure that someone will have whatever we don't so I can pass it on to them. The baby blanket is black with silver sparkles in it. I am going to get a pink or blue ribbon to run through the eyelets (it is just a simply dishcloth blanket pattern) after the baby is born. Layla really likes it.
Let's see, what else? I ripped out my dad's cable scarf. After I was realistic with myself, I knew that I was probably NEVER actually going to finish it. So, he and I agreed that a hat would be better for him. So, I CO for a simply rib hat for him, which I am slowly working on. Although I think I handle ribbing a little better than Carli (I've never found myself huddled in the corner because of it babe!), it does get old after a while. I hope that he likes it whenever I get it finished.
There are a lot of things that I WANT to CO for, but just haven't had the gumption, but soon. One exciting thing (at least for me) is that I found a GREAT bag. I wanted a new diaper bag that wasn't actually a diaper bag, more of a big purse. Well, I found one that has 3 different compartments, one for baby things, one for my things, and one for a knitting project! I am thrilled. It is not from Jordana Paige, but it very much her style. It is orange and VERY cute! I love it!
Well, I hope that you are all doing well. We are 31 weeks today and making it one day at a time. I should be off bedrest in 3-5 weeks then whatever will be will be. Watch, all of the junk we have been through and this kiddo will NEVER want to come! :) I will try and get pics soon of the baby things!
Love,
Theresa

Knitting...not blogging

Well, I am anyway. Poor Theresa is stuck in bedrest (we're just going to pretend she's behaving) with no desire to knit. I remember feeling that way when I was preggo, too, so I don't blame her a bit.

I've been pretty productive this summer, I have to say. Made a few hats for Hazel, made a cardi for a friend's birthday, made an earring holder and bracelet for my gorgeous SIL, Lindsay, several dishcloths, and a few little items for H's wardrobe. I can't remember what all I've done, so it's not fair to post about them all. I'm really proud, though!

My current WIPs are.....

1. Re-doing the Frat Feet for Matty as I can't seem to get the second sock right. I know it's a knitter problem and not a pattern problem, however, I must subconscieously be screwing them up b/c I just can't get it right and so I ripped them both out and am knitting him some plain vanilla socks with a cable up the center. something for pizazz but pretty basic. That way he'll get them before Hazel's old enough to learn to knit.

2. Still working on the lacey socks I'm supposed to be knitting with a friend. Margaret, however, has admitted defeat for the time being and has put them to the side for something a bit more paletable. Mine are simply hibernating b/c I've got to get started on Christmas this year if I want to actually get it all done.

3. For the first time EVER, I got a magazine and CO for one of the featured projects the next day. It's called Leafy Cardigan, and it's out of Yarn Forward Issue #17. Designed by Ms. Calista Yoo (who btw is an absolutely fabulous person...she's just really cool and fun to talk to and a very very very patient person). I thought it would look amazing on mom. And I had some chunky yarn, so here we go! I'm through the back panel, not without some serious help with it from Calista (did I mention how patient she is??). YF Mag left out a necessary chart legend, which they quickly corrected, but left out the legend for the WS of the chart, which confused things...again. I know how to read a chart, and God bless Calista for not being slightly rude about my confusion, like the mag editor was. I know she's stressed out about getting the new issue out, but patronizing me wasn't necessary, ya know? Anyway, Calista and I got that straightened out, then it came to the neckline. Now, let me follow by saying, the tech editor took the original pattern and chopped it up, making it more "suitable" for magazine print. Losing some of the complicated pattern in the process. Most of the conversations between Calista and I involved her being confused at what they had done to her pattern b/c it was originally one large chart, and chopping it up was causing a bit of confusion. Anywho. They forgot to inform all that when you get to a place in the pattern where the decreases eliminate any room for YOs to compensate for a double decrease, then eliminate all decreases outside of the raglan decreases and simply st st them. Wouldn't that be helpful? Don't you think? Poor Calista is so mad. Bless her heart. I'm seriously contemplating boycotting the magazine as they've treated her so badly and to be quite honest, I can't bare supporting a magazine that doesn't treat their contributors well. But that's other news. I'm through the back and 1/2 through the left front panel, so hopefully this will be something that gets to mom for her Birthday so she'll get more wear out of it! If not then we'll be giving it for Christmas :)

3. Some how. Lord only knows how. Probably cuz I love her to bits. I got talked into knitting hearts for Michelle's wedding fair booth so she can hang display cards on them. And we aren't talking 5 hearts. We're talking, like, 30. I have 4 done. I hate them. I'm knitting them with crap yarn b/c it's in my stash and needs consumed somehow and they're the colors she wants, but it's like knitting with, well, crap yarn. I am, however, going to let her weave in all the ends. Because I'm just not that generous. :) Actually, wouldn't that make it really evil? I don't want to be evil, but I have too much to do to sit down and knit 30 hearts and then weave in all the ends. So, I will do the knitting, she can weave. Enough said :) Plus I frogged 2 hearts just figuring out how to make a pretty knitted heart. so techinically I've made 6.

4. I found the coolest hat on the newest edition of Knitty. It's called Urbanista and I'm about 35% done with it. Probably more than that. Anyway, go check it out. Fabulous hat, knit flat, sided to side, all short rows, color work, and then you graft the ends together. I love it. I really don't love the tangle of colors as you have to have 6 balls of color going at the same time (well, by the end of one section), but the cool thing is it's just plain knitting, with all this stuff going on that makes it incredibly interesting. That's Adam's Christmas present.

5. I'm still working on baby things. In hopes that we'll have another baby. I know, I know. In God's time. I know, I trust, I really do, but I'm also losing patience. I hope God knows that by losing patience doesn't mean I want him to give in. I just wish my heart ache would lessen, ya know? Anyway, I'm still working on my Ruth's babytop. Love it, but I'm tired of ribbing as it's just seems endless. Can't make adult sized stuff with endless ribbing, you'll find me huddled in a ball in the corner with my knitting, drooling and muttering, "K2, P2, K2, P2, repeat. K2, P2, K2, P2, Repeat." Luckily I have about 15 more rows of ribbing and then 8 rows of garter stitch. Once I take a break from it for a week or two, It'll get done quite quickly.

Amazingly, that's it. I ripped out a scarf I started for my mom, and am contemplating ripping out the scarf I was making dad (for 3 years) and making them both something else, but until I get a bit more caught up. Problem is...what?

Long year!

Can't believe it's the end of July already! I don't even know where to begin on the things I've finished. So I won't. All of them are on Ravelry, though!

I've got severe startitus. SEVERE. I have 3 projects going. My Lacey Stockings are gorgeous, but slow going as they're severely complicated lace. I've made my way 1/2 up the foot and am taking a break from them before I mess them up. I really really enjoy the knitting, though. The charts are a bit scary, but I really like following them (though I'm only on Chart #1, we'll see how I feel about it once I'm on the dreaded Chart #4). I'm knitting them with my friend, Margaret, who is just in love with them and determined to knit them as they're part of her hubby's fetish. She's struggling, so we're going to work on the together. I think I'm going to knit 2 feet, then move on, I'm fairly comfortable (though cautiously so) with the foot, as it took me 3 times to get through the toe, so I thought it might be safe to keep with that frame of thought. I've also given into a lifeline as I fear ripping them out in entirety. There's just too much work required to rip them out completely and I'm not good at ripping back on DPNs.

Project #2 is Ruth's Babytop. I love it. I am getting a bit bored by the 2x2 ribbing, but I've only got 1/2 of the back left and then the neckline (which is like, 4 rows, so it'll go quick). Plus the fact that it's no brainer knitting. K2, P2, K2, P2 across with the exception of the garter row on either side. Can't wait to have a little person to put this on!!! Not to mention the fact that it's stash busting in case we move home in December. A top is easier to pack then a ball of yarn.

Project #3 was supposed to be for Theresa, but after literally 4 different patterns and 2 attempts at each, I frogged it all and am making a cardi for me out the wool. I will end up making you something, my dearest friend, but apparently it wasn't in the cards for this yarn. I found a cardi in a magazine that I love and have just enough to make the size that SHOULD fit me, but we'll see. I've yet to make anything that SHOULD do something and have it turn out. Even when I get gauge.

I need to start on Christmas presents as I have a gazillion to do this year and have 4 1/2 months to get them done. I'm very concerned that I won't have enough time, but we'll see. Some of them should only take an evening. Plus the fact that I have several presents to churn out in the meantime. Plus I really need to finish Matty's Christmas pres from last year. Poor guy.

Well, I'm off. Precious hazel snuggling time is wasting away!!!

Shower Poof

I LOVE shower poofs. After years of using one, showering just isn't the same when I don't have one. That being said, I HATE buying them and then tossing them away. And I don't want to any more. I just imagine all the many many many "poofs" in the landfills that I've contributed to, and I say, NO MORE! Especially when I can make one, right?

This is my first attempt at one, and it's super duper (yes I said it) simple. I can't wait to make more, ones with a little more fluff, but for the moment, this one more than lives up to it's potential.

The Shower Puff

Needle: Straight sizes 6, 8, and 10 1/2 (4, 5, 6.5 mm)

Yarn: I used Schachenmayr nomotta Crazy Cotton but as it's discontinued, any 100% cotton will do...this is sportweight, so keep in mind heavier weight means bigger needles, means bigger poof.

Gauge: Not important this time, folks...it's a shower poof. Be happy in a no gauge pattern.

The Poof:

With size 6 needles, CO 25 st.

Working entirely in Garter stitch (knit every row), knit as follows...

Row 1: Knit

Row 2: Kfbf (Knit in front, then back, then front again of same st) in all stitches. (75 stitches)

Row 3: Knit

Row 4: Kfbf (225 stitches)

Row 5-10: Knit

Row 11-14: Switch to size 8 needles. Knit

Row 15-16: Switch to size 10 1/2 needles. Knit

Bind off loosely.

Finishing

With length of yarn and a tapestry needle, starting at one end and on the CO edge, weave yarn through approx. 5 sts and then through the first st again, creating a circle. repeat this step again to create a firm circle. next, twist the next 7-8 sts of CO edge the opposite direction and stitch down in a manner similar to the first 5 sts. Continue in this manner (remembering to switch directions after each segment) for the remaining length of ruffle until you have all of the ruffle gathered and stitched together forming a ball-like flower. Run needle and yarn back and forth through center of ball 3 times, tie off and weave in ends.

You can add a length of i-cord to the center of the ball to hang ball in shower. I did a 3 stitch I-cord for about 7 inches, folded in half and attached.

Have fun!

It's been a while!

Well, I obviously got zero blogging done while we were at my parents' for 3 weeks. To be quite honest, very little actually got done at my parents', and that includes knitting. I knitted up one of mom's Alpine Slippers which are painfully boring to knit up. I think mostly because of the gazillion short rows. It's like you knit for hours on the toe and get no where. Oh, well. I knit up one, am waiting for mom to crochet on the side detailing and then I'll sew them up and felt them to see how they are. At the moment they are dreadfully large, but hopefully a few felting rounds and they'll be perfect!

I got the twin sheets tie-dyed for Lindsay's Bath Mat which I'm in love with. The tie-dyeing to all evening to do and then the next morning to dry the sheets on the line outside. I managed to get one of the sheets torn into strips and joined (there's a special rag joining technique from Coco knits) but the tearing of the sheets did something to my shoulder and it hurt for a few days after. Needless to say, the other sheet is sitting prettily in tact. I'm glad I got most of the hard part done, knitting it up should go quickly. Once I actually have the stuff (it's at mom and dad's).

I was able to knit like, 2 rounds, on Matty's poor socks. Well, I have the toe of the 2nd complete and am about 5 rounds into the instep, so I just need to make myself do it to get it to him, ya know?

I decided to try my hand at dyeing some wool while I was home. After some research, I decided to go with Wilton Cake Dye as my coloring, using the citric acid and extra color boost of Kool-aid as back-up. Apparently Wilton won't do it alone. I didn't ask, I just obeyed. The first techinque I used was one to make a verigated in the microwave. Didn't work. So I decided to just do a big blue batch on the stove...and I threw in the botched verigated. Why not? Right?Let me begin by saying, the resulting peacock like coloring was GORGEOUS. For the most part, the wool was teal, but in areas where the red and black from the botched verigated touched, it had some varied hues within the teal and was just AMAZING.

I knitted up Star Crossed Slouchy Beret with it and I'm in love. I hated every single cable row, but the result was VERY worth it. I have enough left over that I think I could make Hazel a matching one. I think. But I'm in love with mine either way :)

Last weekend Brett took me to Londonderry (a small town in the northern most corner of NI) and let me wander around a wool shop for my birthday! I got 5 skeins of Kign Cole Mirage and 2 skeins of pure Irish wool (can't remember the make and am too lazy to go look). I decided to knit up the KC Mirage into something for ME (it is 1715 yds of wool after all). Took me 2 days to figure out what. I decided on one thing, swatched, realized that I was way off and switched patterns. Finally settling on a Lacy Star Motif Pullover. I haven't swatched, yes I admitted it, but the gauge calls for knitting up the back panel anyway, so I thought I would just start (as the back panel is the first piece in the pattern) and measure as a I get a ways in and see where we are. I've screwed up on the panel, anyway, but as it's the back panel, I don't think it'll be too noticeable.

Well, I should be off. Time to figure out what's on the schedule for today....

It's fitting...

I have far too many projects in progress, as usual. I'm not sure I'm capable of having a manageable amount of projects going.

I started my newest design a while ago. And I'm in love with how it's turning out, but I've chosen to knit it up with DK weight cotton from my stash, I'm about 2 inches from being done with everything but a ribbed band and I can't stand to knit with the cotton any longer. It has zero elasticity, so knitting lace with it is a chore and hard on the fingers. Once the lace is done, however, the rest should go really really quickly, so I need to just persevere.

I decided that I needed to learn a new knitting technique, so I'm tackling the Log Cabin blanket. It's actually one of the most therapeutic knits I've ever done. Stockinette stitch throughout, which you would think would get old, but it just doesn't. I'm making it in Detroit Lions colors for Brett as he won't wear knitted stuff but he loves afghans, so here we go! I have no idea how big I plan to make it. I bought 10 skeins of yarn for it, and I'm holding it double strand. Each square of color is about 1 1/2 inches wide and I'm currently on the 1st side of the 5th square. This will be the 3rd square of blue, I've yet to use up a whole skein of blue, and I've got 3 more skeins to go through! Not to mention the silver, black and white ones. I'll probably knit until it's either big enough to cover the back of the couch or I run out of blue, which ever comes first. Or maybe I'll just knit until I'm out of blue anyway. Call it stash busting.

I put the adult sized Twiggy to the side for the moment. I don't know why as the wool is beautiful in color and touch, but, I just kind of lost interest. For the moment anyway.

Need to finish Matty's sock. The toe is done and I'm through the first cable. Maybe I'll attempt it as my travel knitting. It's smaller than everything else I have going, so it should be easy enough to knit to Dublin and on the drive to Kokomo.

On a sad note. Kay of Mason-Dixon just lost her husband to illness. I feel a connection with these wonderful women b/c they blog like Theresa and I blog. Sisters living far apart, connected by their love for knitting and each other. A couple days ago I started knitting the Jane Austen Dress from the book Knitting Outside the Lines by Mason-Dixon, hoping to get it done before we come home Saturday. The hardest part of this pattern has been the ruffle. 229 CO sts, Moss st for 11 rows. Sounds simple, right? Took for-frickin-ever. 2 days of knitting. I think I've developed a tick over the amount of time it took to knit 11 rows of moss st. Anyway, one evening of knitting past the ruffle, I'm almost done with the right back (it's knit in one flat piece divided across to make right back, arm hole, front, armhole, left back).

I stuck all Hazel's knitwear in the wash and with Woolite, put it on the hand wash setting. Crossed my fingers, said a little prayer, and walked away. Worked like a charm. Clean sweaters and no washing mishaps! YAY!
I made myself a sock for my keychain sock blocker. I love this little thing. Fell asleep mid-sock, so it probably would have taken an hour TOPS if I had worked on it straight. This is remanents of my Artyarns Ultramerino 4 from my neckband. The picture doesn't do the sock justice. I was thinking of maybe taking this pattern on the plane...can you imagine how many little socks I could make in 8 hours if they'd let me? I like the verigated yarn b/c it looks like stripes on this tiny thing!
So I attended that Big Bag knit class back in February and learned to make Mitered squares. This was what I came up with . It looked vaguely like a pink poppy., so I made the sides green moss stitch grass and then the handle is a poppy stem and bud. Not fully happy with it, but it's fun for what it is. I'm going to sew the lining in when I get to mom and dad's and it just needs a zipper put in and it should be done! (BTW, I don't know why this is in blue and underlined, and it won't let me change it.)Hope you're hanging in there and I can't wait to see your sock!
Hugs
Carli

Late night knittings

Awww, babe, I'm so sorry knitting make you sick. Hopefully it'll pass quickly and you can get back to it!

I, on the other hand, think I've been knitting too much. I only have 12 million patterns I want to try and 12 million more I want design! I was up late last night with Hazel (for reasons only she and God know about) and have since realized that late night knitting is a bad idea. It's the place I get my serious Startitis and all these design ideas that I HAVE TO START RIGHT NOW. So, while being up last night with H, I cast-on for yet another top for her. I should have worked on the Loverly that I'm designing her and is about 3 inches to finished, but I just couldn't do it. It's in cotton and to be honest, knitting cotton has begun to wear on me. It just has no elasticity that wool or acrylic (I know, I know) have, so it's taking getting used to! Anywho, the design that hit my brain around 2:30 last night has been started and I'm through the neckband. Now I'm just trying to decide if I want to do argyle across the front (I think I do) and whether I want to do 2 or 3 colors in it. Hmmmm...

I made my oldest younger brother a man bag for when he's Chaplin at the hospital, but I need to line it, and attach some straps. The straps will have to wait till I get home at the end of the month as it's just too much searching for what I want here. It's not laziness, it's just a lack of desire to drive to town after town in hunt of straps. I'll sew the lining on there, too, as I'll be able to hit wally world for some "manly" fabric.

While I was in Edinburgh, I bought some Jamieson Shetland wool in chunky weight. The color is amethyst and it's just GORGEOUS. I'm going to attempt (and I will be successful) at making myself a Twiggy with it. I would post a pick, but the beautiful purple just shows up blue on here, making it unworthy of posting pics. You'll just have to take my word that it's fantabulous!

Next in line is a pair of Spring Frills for Mom. Love them. Defenitely not a style that I can pull off, but they're just beautiful and I wish I could, but since I can't, I'm going to make her a pair. She wants them in shades of blue so they'll go with more. But I have this pale lavender that I think would be so soft and pretty in them...oh, well, they're hers, and I want to do them in what she'll wear!

Along the lines of wrist warmers, though, I found a new obsession while we were in Edinburgh, called Ness. It's a women's clothing and accessories and bag line and I'm IN LOVE. Usually tartan isn't my style, but I can't help but want everything in this line...in every color. One of the products they have is a pair of wristwarmers. They're sold out, but they're really expensive anyway, so I thought I might try and make myself a pair. They're really simple rib and then basic cable, and the thumb hole is simply that, a hole. The thing I think I like about them it that the hand part is longer so it bunches up over your hand looking kind of fun and comfy. I have some fyberspates 100% silk laceweight that I think will look and feel awesome. So when I get to them, they'll be on the needles, too!

I finished my Poppy purse that I was making. It just needs lining and a zipper. both will wait until we get home to Granny's sewing machine. So I'll post pics when it's all done.

Hazel's tutu is done. Never again. SOOOOO cute. Really worth making once. But once is enough for me. Here's some pics.

Well, that's me for the time being. Should be enough for a while, huh?

I hope you get feeling better, babe. I miss you!
Car

YUCK

Can't knit, makes me nauseous. SUCKS!
Theresa

A Gift Boheme

I finished up this Boheme for a friend of mine this morning. I think it turned out really cute. I used the feather and fan stitch for the "skirt" part instead of the tulip lace and I LOVE how it looks. I think I will do the same thing on Layla's little Easter sweater that I am getting ready to cast on. I am tryig to decide if I should make her a hat too (my friend, not Layla) to match the sweater. I hope that Crystal likes it...It looks great on the Cabbage Patch Doll....Doesn't it?





I'm going to hunt up some bulky yarn and cast on for the Twiggy to test it for you...Hmmm...guess that means I'm going to have to stash dive...oh darn. Actually, I think I have some GREAT Lion Brand Chenille that will look very cute!

I'm Here, I'm Here!!

OK, so sorry that I have been gone for so long, life just gets in the way sometimes. I don't have a whole lot of time to post, but I wanted to at least post a big here and comment on your things and let you know what I have been up to!

I LOVE Hazel's little dresses. They are so cute! And her Twiggy...WAY adorable...I'll have to figure one of those for Jillian. I like your buttony, but between you and me, I think it would be better without the stripes. It is cute though, I think the style looks good on you personally. Now, I can't remember what else you have posted...darn my memory. I'll have to take another look!

This is what I have been working on.

A drop Stitch Scarf with Special Effects by Yarn Bee:



Baby Hats for my Cousin's Photography Business:





You can see one of them in action at her blog. I think they turned out really cute. And that adorable baby on her blog? That's my new nephew, Joshua...isn't he cute?!?!

What I am working on now are these:

A baby sweater for my friend Crystal's first baby girl in 14 years!




And a baby blanket for my friend Rian's first baby girl (she has 2 older boys).



I think that is all...I am getting ready to start a white sweater for Layla for Easter and then the February Lady for me....I LOVE knitting! :)

The Twiggy

Okay, so I've had several requests for the pattern for Hazel's top. I can't take full credit for this pattern as it was inspired by the Buttony sweater I made for myself. I decided to call it Twiggy as it reminds me of a jacket that would have been trendy in the 60's...and what's 60's trendier than Twiggy?

Twiggy

Yarn: Bulky weight (I used Baby Bee Dreamy Baby Chenille in Ladybug) about 205 yds

Needles: US size 10 1/2 (6.5 mm) circular, and DPNs

Gauge: 12sts/16 rows = 4 inches (10cm)

Size: 18/24 mos

*modifications to pattern are in red

Notes: The top half is knit flat then the sts are joined and knit in the round. The sleeves are knit in the round on DPNs. After the garment is knit, there should be no sewing involved other than adding the buttons and weaving in loose ends.
In all areas that it tells you to M1 (make 1) pick up the bar between the last st on the right needle and the first st on the left needle from the front with the left needle and knit through the back. This twists the st and prevents a hole from being created.

CO 48 sts.

Row 1: Sl 1, K5, work 2x2 ribbing across to last 6 sts, K6
Row 2: Sl 1, K5, work ribbing as established to last 6 sts, K6
Row 3: Work as row 1 to last 6 sts, K3, yo, K2tog, K1
Row 4: Work as row 2
Rows 5-6: Work rows 1 and 2 once more
Row 7: Sl 1, K5, pm, K5, pm, K18, pm, K5, pm, K across
Row 8: Sl 1, K5, P across to last 6sts, K6
Row 9 and all odd rows: Sl 1, (K to 1 st before marker, M1, K2, M1) four times, Knit across to end
Row 10 and all even rows: Sl 1, K5, P across to last 6 sts, K6

Repeat rows 9 and 10 until 23 sts lie between the shoulder markers (the pm, K5, pm areas should now be pm, K23, pm) ending with row 10 (WS). Add 2 more button holes (K3, yo, K2tog, K1 as in row 3) approx 8 rows apart. This is more of an eyed button hole as I wanted to use large buttons. You could add more holes closer together if you wish, just make sure there is plenty of rows between to create a firm hole.

*note: If you're knitting on straights at this point, it would be the time to switch to circulars as you will begin to knit in the round after the next row. Make sure when you knit across the gap created by the set aside sts that you pull the gap closed to avoid any ladder effects or needs to stitch up the underarms. The saved sts will fold in half and create the armholes.

Next row: Sl 1, K to marker, remove marker, slip stitches to next marker on scrap yarn, remove marker, K to marker, remove marker, slip stitches to next marker on 2nd scrap yarn, remove marker, K across.

Round 1 and 2: Pm to indicate beginning of round, join in the round, and Knit even.

Round 3: (K4, kfb) around to last 4 sts, K3, kfb
Round 4-8: Knit even
Round 9: (K4, kfb) around
Next rounds: Knit even

Continue to Knit even until the piece measures the length desired (I knitted until piece measured 8 1/2 inches from the underarm).

Next round: Purl even
Next round: Knit even
Next round: Purl even

Bind off.

Sleeves:

Note: Sleeves are started on 4 DPNs to make picking up the 4 underarm sts simpler. After the first round is knit and the 4 sts are picked up, you will knit the remainder of the sleeve on 3 needles.
To transfer the held stitches to DPNs, start with the far left st and work to the far right st as follows: Needle #1-3sts, Needle #2-9 sts, Needle #3- 9 sts, Needle #4 - 2sts.
When picking up stitches on the underarm, look at the underarm. It is V in shape. After working the 2 sts on Needle #4, pick up and knit 2 sts down the side of the V nearest to Needle #4, then with Needle #1, pick up 2 sts up the side of the V nearest to Needle #1 and knit them and the held sts on Needle #1 onto the DPN used to knit Needle #4 and the first 2 picked up sts. This results in 9 sts on each of 3 DPNs, the 4th will no longer be needed.

Begin knitting on Needle #3, pm to mark beginning of round.

Needle 3: knit
Needle 4: Knit 2, pick up and knit 4 sts from the underarm, knit across 3sts on needle 1.
Needle 2: Knit
You should now have 9 sts on 3 needles.

Knit even for 2 more rounds.

Next round: K3, work 2x2 ribbing around.
Work this round 2 more times.

Bind off.
Work same for 2nd sleeve.

Attach buttons and weave in ends.

ENJOY!

P.S. Let me know if you run into any problems with this pattern!

The Buttony twins

So I finished my Buttony on Friday night...finally. I felt like I had been knitting up mohair yarn for a lifetime even though it was only 2 1/2 weeks. Then I tried it on. Yikes. First off, I had no idea that the yarn was self striping...so we're talking horizontal stripes....the What Not To Wear Team would go bananas. Secondly, it's an absolutely darling sweater, but unless you're a size 8 or thinner, you have no business trying. It has absolutely no shaping, so you have to add the shaping, and I tried. You still get what looks like a box. Anywho. That's probably b/c I'm shaped like a box, but that's besides the story. I'll post pics, but be aware, it has no business on my body :) It's going to my SIL, Linds, b/c it will look WAY cute on her with her red hair.

Then, I have this yarn I've had since last August and I thought it would be perfect to make a Buttony for Hazel. Well, I started, and as I was knitting along, I decided to change it up...a lot. I'm so excited about the turn out. It's knitted flat to the underarms and then knit in the round afterwards, adding sts to make it more of a skirt effect to the top....

What was I thinking?

So I decided to make the girl I got to Mom & Tot's group all slippers for Mother's Day (which is March 22 here). I'm just doing the simple Pocketbook Slippers pattern so that I'm able to get 5 pairs done quickly. I have all the girl's favorite colors and the first slipper took 2 evenings. I'm not fast, so it takes approx 2 hours for a slipper. I have 10 total to do...8 3/4 left at this point. That's about 18 hours of slipper knitting. Then sewing them all up and decorating. I have 3 weeks. Plus I want to finish my Buttony cardigan for knit night next week, therefore freeing me up to make HAZEL'S Buttony (or atleast start it) at that same knit night. Plus I took a class on bag knitting yesterday and came up with a cute clutch I'm calling "Poppy"...that is if it turns out like I think it should.

So the list for this month's knits come to:

1. 10 Pocketbook Slippers
2. My Buttony
3. Hazel's Buttony
4. Poppy

And none of that even includes the stuff I still need to finish for my loved ones that was due 2 months ago.

What on earth am I doing to myself?

Little Dainty clothes

I love love love the gloves, T! I keep meaning to tell you! The colors are way cute! The Boheme is really darling, too!

I finally sewed the skirt and the buttons on one of the little dresses I made Hazel last summer. Funny thing is, it's WAY too little now, so I removed the closure button and sewed on some ribbon so she can wear it apron style. I'm so happy with the way it turned out. It's just gorgeous on.

This is the sweater dress I knit Hazel a couple of weeks ago. Same pattern anyway. Michelle had purchased some yarn and asked me to make one for her. The pictures look kind of funny, and the dress is about a size too small for Hazel to model properly, but I'm happy with the results.

Love,

Carli

Pattern ideas?

So, I'm tossing around the idea of knitting myself something sexy for my 30th birthday. I've been looking around on Ravelry at stuff I've faved before and new stuff and have found a few ideas...but I wondered...do you guys have any suggestions? I plan to be motivated enough in my going to the gym that I should lose a little weight between now and then, so I want something cute. But then again, it would be fun to go shopping for a cute outfit too. Oh, what to do....

Knitting Machine

Which is exactly what I feel like lately! Here are some of my recently FOs...

Hazel's Sweater Dress...My Pleated Purse from the book Boutique Knits...

Lindsay's Neckwarmer...My flower Scarf....I have my first Knitting Club night on Wednesday night (it'll be my mom's night out), so I'm trying to decide what to knit. I think I may string on the beads for Mom's other Gauntlet and take that as it's a fairly simple knit once you get going. I'm going to CO this evening for a second sweater dress for my friend Michelle's little girl, Beth, but the first dress took about 1 day to knit up, so I'm thinking that'll be done nearly as quick, but we'll see.

I'm putting off Matt's Frat Feet, I think, out of shear frustration in frogging the second sock. I promise the pattern will be out soon, I just need a little "thinking about it" time. But I will get back to it as I know he'd like to have them at some point in the near future.