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!