Arg And A Prayer

Update on the Twist socks! Made it through the portion of the pattern I was having trouble with. But do you want to know a wonderful thing? The designer, Jody Gordan Lucas read my post and contacted me! She wanted to personally see if I was doing ok and how she could help. Now, I am offically impressed. She didn't have to do that, but she did. How awesome!

I also cast on for a new prayer shawl. It is Haruni by Emily Ross. I found it on Ravlery. The crochet bind-off will be my challenge. I bought some great yarn for this project at Your Local Yarn Shop. Classic Eltie Alpaca Sox is the yarn that I chose, in a gorgeous plum/pink color.

Gotta run . . . literally, as the half-marathon is tomorrow.

Pirates and Twists

Back in 2007, I bought some yarn on line. Truth be told, it was my first on-line yarn purchase. I had a design for a valentine-type sock in mind. The colors of this yarn would have worked perfectly. . . if I had finished designing the sock. Alas, the yarn came and the design sat. And sat. It's still sitting at home somewhere, I think. The yarn is a superwash 50/50 merino/tencel by Yarn Pirate. It is a fingering weight yarn that is silky smooth to touch. Sweetheart is the colorway name, with red, white, pink and magenta repeating through out. But because the pattern sat, the yarn did too. Occasionally, I would consider using the yarn for a pattern. But it just didn't seem to work. Either the pattern would be too lacy or the yarn would be too bold. I had given up matching the two.

Along came Twisted by Jodie Gordon Lucas. Not too lacy. Not too fussy. Just enough pattern to keep things interesting, but not muddy the water. I began to think that this just might work. What do you think?

So far, things have been going fine. I have just begun the decreases/increases for across the foot. I am having trouble making sense of this portion of the pattern. So I will take these to the lunch knitting bunch to see if they can help. If not, then I will have to chart it out. Do you occasionally chart patterns out if you have trouble? I find it very helpful to visually see what is happening. Because it sidelines my knitting for a while, I use it as a last resort. The lunch ladies will be able to help me . . . I hope.

Tiny Ruffles

So, I work with this great lady. She has joined us (our "group" is 4 strong now) knitting during our lunch everyday. See, we walk to the library and knit for a half hour before we eat. Not a whole lot of time, but enough to complete a few rows each day. It is satisfying to know that I can complete a project this way . . . even if it does take the whole school year! But back to the conversation at hand. This lady is fun to be around and is enjoying her knitting. Though still learning, she tackles everything head on. Sometimes, taking the pattern too seriously, she make a few mistakes and gets frustrated. But she is sticking with it, having finished a sweater, half a sock and a baby blanket.

Well, this lady has a new grand baby! So I started these for her. Aren't they just the sweetest?! Besides my poor color choice, I think they are cute. Next time I will choose bolder colors. The pastels get lost and muddy. They are Rufflicious by Diane Kostecki. The yarn is called Blue Terra Cotta by Claudia Hand Painted Yarns and an Ivory by Lorna's Lace. Both are fingering weight and were easy to knit with.

Prayer Answered

The prayer shawl is complete, blessed and gone to its recipient. I feel very lucky to have had the opportunity to knit for such a great cause. During grief, loss or strife, to have something warm, soft and cozy wrapped around your shoulders is comforting.

I cast on for this project on October 20, 2009. The yarn came from Your Local Yarn Shop in Battle Creek. It is Classic Elite Alpaca Sox in green. This yarn is so soft and comfy, that I could snuggle in it all day long. Taking two skeins was a bit expensive, but well worth the cost.

The pattern is the Scalloped Lace Shawl Pattern by Kristin Omdahl. It also came from Your Local Yarn Shop. They have a knit sample that is fantastic! Their shawl is done in orange solid yarn for the body and a variegated orange for the scalloped trim. It’s stunning.

So, I finished mine on January 19, 2010. There were some small “bumps” along the way. But if you don’t look for them, you can’t see them. Now that’s a typical response for me. Hopefully, the person who receives this shawl won’t mind. Blocking the shawl was a challenge, due to its size. I ended up laying plastic bags down on a full size mattress with towels over the top of that. Then I started pinning. And pinning. And pinning. After that I kept creeping back into the bedroom to adjust a pin here, move a pin there and make final changes. Wow. Now, I can see why blocking wires are a good thing.

One thing I did observe about this pattern is that you need to bind off in much larger needles. I went up to a 10.5 US to keep the stitches as loose as possible. The other recommendation I would make is to definitely take the extra time for the I-cord bind off. It gives the piece a "finished" look that I really favored.

Little Treats

It was time to place a boat load of stitch markers on the prayer shawl. Well, you know me, I didn't have the right kind. Those little rubber rings (though right for certain projects) weren't doing for me this time. So I trotted out and I bought these. How fun are they? I purchased them at Your Local Yarn Shop. She had several different styles to choose from. You should check 'em out!

Prayer Shawl

Church has a knitting group! Now I should have know this, but some how I did not. I found out about the group but accident. Bizy-girl (aka Bean, aka Curly) wore a hand knit dress to church a few weeks ago. It's knit up in a dark blue, all cotton yarn. Very cute orange flower buttons finish off the faux wrap style of the top. She looked adorable! My sister in-law knit it for Biz's first birthday. SIL is a fantastic knitter who turns out fabulous project after project. I'm a little envious of this, as I barely have time to finish a cup of coffee, let alone a project. Between choosing colleges with Soccer Chica, keeping a 2nd grade boy out of trouble, and changing a 15 month old baby (really the biggest challenge of them all) I can't seen to remember to breath. It' a good thing that breathing is not optional.

Well, while one of the church ladies was admiring the dress, she asked me if I knit it. For a split second I wanted to say "Why yes, yes, I did." Then I remembered where I was and I didn't want to hurt SIL feelings. Would she ever know? No. But I would know. And it would be wrong. Not to mention the ramifications of fibbing in church. Drat those morals.

Anyhow, she commenced to invite me to the prayer shawl group! I was so excited that I just had to go out an purchase new supplies to knit my very own prayer shawl. So I bought a pattern by Kristin Ohmadal for a scalloped lace edged shawl and some alpaca sock yarn by Classic Elite Yarns in a nice green. I really wanted a soft gray, but could find anything in my price rangethat I was in love with. Now I purchased it all at Your Local Yarn Shop here in Battle Creek. Did I ever mentioned that this shop is within walking distance of my home and work? How dangerous is that?! The gal who helped me was sweet and knew that I was struggling with my choices. She definitely had patience.

I am a little over half way done with the knitting. At this point it looks like I have knit a large, moldy dish cloth. But I know that the shawl will block out lovely, so I am not discouraged.

Here's What I Got

Obviously by the amount of posting I have been doing, my life is busy. So let's cut to the chase and show you my current WIP's.

First, I am working on a pair of pedicure socks for a very good friend's birthday. Well, her birthday was a few weeks ago and I only have one done. Guess we will move this one to the Christmas present column for her. These socks were first knit up as a pair of Roza Socks by Grumperina, but I really thought the colors got muddy. So after a soothing rip out session, they have become pedicure socks. I did not look for a pattern, but just made it up as I went. Some after thought research showed me that I was not the first to knit a sock like this. There are several lovely pedicure sock patterns out there.

Next, I have begun the Barn Raising Quilt by Shelley Mackie and Larissa Brown. I cast on for this in July and figure I'll be done some time in the next 10 years. My plan is to use all my old sock yarn scraps. Which I have almost blown through. See my predicament? I will need to knit new socks before I can knit the square. But this is an EASY pattern to memorize, so I can use it as my travel knitting. Plus ski season is coming and I will have lots of time to knit while watching the little one run around the lodge.

There are more, and I will try to update in the next few weeks with those projects. Missed you all!

Bow Tied

The ever elusive finished knit decided to show its self today. Though is has been complete for sometime, being shy, it only shows itself on cooler summer days/nights. The bow tied bolero was first seen in this area here. So as you can see by the date on the post, it hides from public view on purpose.

Want to know about this quiet knit? Well, it is a Debbie Bliss pattern, knit with Debbie Bliss Pure Cotton. The color just pops against the white linen dress that Bean has on. I started this on June 9, 2008 and finished on September 12, 2008. Again, the reminder that this knit is very shy. You can also find details on ravelry.

Unfortunately, I do not have a photos yet of the front, but it turned out well. If you follow my blog, you know that I am very careful not to publish the faces of our kids. There are several fabulous photos of the front, but all have the sweet Bean's face in them. yes I could crop them out, but I would also crop out part of the sweater. Babies just don't want to hold still. There is a very great appreciation for the professional photographers of babies in our household. How do they do it? Once we snap a decent photo, I will amend this post, OK?

Another note, because the ties were so long (next time I would make them shorter), they are wrapped around Bean and tied in the back. Since she is crawling and can not be bothered by things hanging down, this was the best solution.

blast from my past

I found this vest in a pile of clothes a friend gave to me when Biz was born. It looked familiar. Where did I recognize this top from? Think, Trixie, think . . . then it hit me.

I knit that damn thing!

At first I was a little irked that a gift was "re-gifted" back to me. But then it occurred to me that because this was one of my first knits, no photos were ever taken. All I had to document this fun garment was a notebook page with the details. So, let's begin, shall we.

We are all aware that I lean (understatement) toward Debbie Bliss patterns. I am not sure if it is the pattern itself or the styling/photos in the books that reel me in. either way, I have knit a few here, and here, and here, and . . . you get the picture.

This pattern is titled Eyelet Vest and is on page 8 of Special Knits by Debbie Bliss. I knit this in record time, only five days from start to finish. That includes shopping for ribbon and buttons.

Can I mention, extremely off topic by the way, that it is almost 60 degrees outside! The sun is shinning, the birds are singing and I can hear the hum of a boat motor on the lake. Biz is napping on a blanket next to the slider, which is open slightly to let in a fresh breeze. If I take a deep breath, I can almost smell summer.

Back to the matter at hand. I used Plymouth Yarns Dreambaby DK in a soft green. It knit well, from what I can remember. The yarn also seems to have stood the test of time and baby wear, as there is no pilling and any stains wash right out. Feeling smooth and soft is also another positive for this yarn. I ask myself why I haven't knit with this yarn again. There is no excuse, except maybe that I like natural fibers better than microfiber. Only taking two balls of yarn was very easy on the pocket book! Back in 2006 I wasn't as worried about these things as I am now.

A word about the notions on this vest. The pattern calls for a small button at the back of the neck (thank heavens, because Biz's big noggin definitely would not fit through without it). I chose a small shell button with browns and greens. It compliments that piece nicely. After several attempts to photograph the button I gave up. Biz was not cooperative at all. The ribbon is run-of-the-mill ribbon from the local craft shop in an ivory color. I do not know the brand.

Blocking the vest after each wash is a must. Notice the fabric roll at the bottom. No matter what I do, at the end of the day it is rolling.

So this was my trip down knitting memory lane. It is very nice to see where I started my knitting era and how I have changed since then. Re-gifting back to me in this case was good. Note to self: I think I'll hold on to this vest for when Biz has a baby. Then it's not re-gifting . . . it's passing along heirlooms!

New Look

What do you think?

Better Photo

Here is a better photo of tulle-ing around.



If you want all the juicy details, they can be fournd here.

Tulle - ing Around

Here is a cute little hat I knit for Bean. What a fun project. It has all the ingredients to make for a quick, adorable project.

Obviously, Bean wouldn't hold still to get a clear, crisp photo. So we take what we can get.

Details incase you want to make one too. The pattern is from Susan B. Anderson's Itty-Bitty Hats, called Simple Baby Cap 1. I followed the directions to add the tulle, though next time I will shorten the tulle length's from 20 inches to 10 or 15 inches. I used Debbie Bliss' Baby Cashmerino in lavender. Can you believe I found tulle that matches perfectly?!

Nearly Done

As you can imagine, babies get in the way of knitting. Seriously, I thought I would chug right along after Bean was born. Gleefully knitting, stopping for the occasional diaper change, feeding or play time. Can we all say "Wrong!" together?

Picture this: I am serenely sitting in my pristine house, knitting on my next project. It was started yesterday and I will finish it tomorrow (though all other knitters are taking a month or more to complete it). Being dressed in a trendy, yet classic outfit that is newly pressed, I am comfortable and looking good. The sun is a casting her rays through my spotless windows on to my lap, where my knitting rests. A soft baby lullaby plays in the background; I smile and turn to look at my lovely jewel of a baby sleeping in the bassinet next to me. She gently stirs, coos, and then returns to blissful dreams. All the while I knit. Truly the perfect picture.

Reality: My house looks like a bomb has gone off. Glasses, food and toys lay every where. All traces of knitting have been placed high and away because the sight of them makes me sad. There are umpteen projects in various stages of completion that are nowhere near the end (though all other knitters have completed the same projects months ago). I am in a semi-comatose state, with baby spit up on my holey sweatshirt and ripped jeans. BTW - if you could smell me, well . . . let's just say a bath in the last 24 hours hasn't happened. The snow is more than a foot deep and the temperature could freeze the *&!#% off a witch. We haven't seen sun in weeks! I'm not sure how we would as my windows are a filthy blend of finger prints, dirt and ice. Wall-e plays on the DVD player, while RM and I play Rock-Paper-Scissors to see who is going to change Bean's dirty pants. Did I mention that she can cry . . . LOUD? Truly the picture of reality.

While I make it sound terrible, I do love my family. We have a lot of fun and I wouldn't trade them for love or money. They are my life. My lovely, average, normal life.

I have managed to get some knitting done on my lunch hour. May I present Bean's Cardigan - pre blocking. It's a nice knit, that in someone else's knitting repertoire would have been completed much sooner. I think I cast on about September, 2008. The pattern is Cardigan with Moss Stitch Edging by Debbie Bliss. Easy to follow, though I found the pockets a bit fussy. If I were to make this again, I would omit them. I used the Bernat Soy Natural Blends that I frogged from Juliet. It is a very soft yarn. Leaving me to wonder why it was discontinued. If anyone has a clue to this, I would be glad to know. I now need to wash, block and sew on the button - in my free time.

Well, I lost at Rock-Paper-Scissor . . .

Remember?

What? I can't remember . . .

Coffee Cup

See, i knew it was a good thing . . .

Happy Holidays

We wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

It's off to Boyne Mountain for our annual week of rest, relaxing and skiing/snowboarding. See you in the Snowflake Lounge! I'll be the one with a baby and my knitting. What a wonderful way to end 2008 and begin 2009.

Gifts From The Village

We are blessed to live in a neighborhood where everyone gets along. In truth, this is an understatement. During the summer month's we spend most of our days and/or evenings together. The kids play while the adults sip cocktails and laugh - a lot. We help one another when times are tough or when the big household job gets to be too much. Each adult in my neighborhood truly believes that it takes a village to raise a child. Consequently, we are entwined in each others lives. It is a great feeling.

When bean was born, they threw a shower for me. And someone was very thoughtful in their gift! The book is Cashmerino 2 by Debbie Bliss. There are some beautiful designs in here. Oh where to start!

A bonus was the yarn included. I see this as a cute little bolero or something. Who knows yet. It is sitting on my desk, aging to perfection. What an excuse to peruse ravelry for a new project!

Pouring In

Rain that is. Southwest Michigan seems to be getting quite a bit today. There is a small leak in our roof - in several places. With buckets safely under the offending leaks, I can now focus on the water that is slowing filling my basement. An indoor pool has always been a dream of mine, but honestly.

Why do we tolerate this? Because we a slowing working our way toward a new addition. These decisions are big and we wouldn't want to rush them. To make a roof replacement only to rip it off the next year for the addition is silly.

In the mean time, it pains me to report that sweet Juliet has met her demise and was frogged yesterday. Due to a slight miscalculation on my part, not enough yarn was purchased to complete the sweater. After checking several sources, I found out that the yarn has been discontinued and no one seems to have any. In addition, the sweater seems to be HUGE and I am knitting a small. The weight of double stranded yarn made the bodice stretch too much for my liking. New revelation - anything knit in a double strand of worsted or in a chunky yarn is too bulky for my frame. My thoughts are turning to knit this up single strand of worsted, in a different gauge. Having never attempted this feat, let alone without a net, I think I will table this for quiet, up-north knitting.

Silence

At 8:46 am we will remember.

Round And Round We Go

We took a little family trip to Cedar Point! I love thrill rides. The taller, faster and zoomier (my own word) the better. RM and soccer chica love the rides too. Boo-boo, not so much. So we were iffy on whether or not he would have a good time. It could have turned out as a day of motorized cars and Jr. Gemini for us. Yet, he found his inner coaster love and can't be kept off them. As for Bean, she definitely wouldn't ride any rides this year. Our model of baby definitely does not come equipped with thrill ride capabilities. We will have to purchase that up grade when she gets to be 48" tall. She reclined gracefully in the stroller, choosing to be chauffeured around the park in style.

We had a day of fun, thrills, and trip to first aide. Suffice to say the Snoopy Balloon ride did RM in. He can ride all the coasters, ski down double black diamonds, hike to the top of mountains, etc. But when it comes to the kiddie rides that go in a circle . . . he's toast. Having never had motion sickness before (and being a bit of a drama-king when it comes to feeling ill) RM thought there was something seriously wrong with him. He was certain it was a stroke, heart attack or some dreaded disease. So off to get some Dramamine and an hour of rest at the First Aide Station. For the rest of the day, it was RM not Boo-boo who was content to ride the motorized cars.

Note to all mothers nursing or not: Both First Aide stations in the park have a beautiful nursing room and kid area, complete with TV and games. This was a god-send for nursing and once discovered, used frequently. BTW - it's air conditioned.

So while RM and I took turns waiting for the kids to ride the coasters, I did a little knitting. I mentioned here that I bought some Panda Bamboo Silk at Your Local Yarn Shop. A hat for Bean would be the right choice because it is such a lovely shade of pink. Never having knit with this yarn before, a gauge square is a prerequisite. I think the hat will be a simple stockinette stitch and knit in the round. As for embellishments, I have vision of some flowers - big and flashy for Bean's inner diva.

Did you take note of the tennis shoes I was wearing? They are my beautiful Chuck Taylor's that I received for my anniversary of my birthday. I wear them everywhere. The other items on the stroller were necessities for the day. Gum to keep away bad breath. I always indulge in the over-priced, uber-greasy park food. Plus pain reliever to take away the various headaches that arise when we travel with a 16 year old (who wants nothing to do with kiddie rides and never smiles), a 6 year old (who discovered that he loves roller coasters - yea - and wants to ride them all NOW) and a 6 week old (who just wants to eat, sleep, and poop).

In the future, I will be knitting circles around RM as he sits out the circle amusement rides.

New Yarn Shop in Town

RM wanted me to get out of the house, though I don't understand why. I haven't showered in what seems like a month. My new perfume is a combination of baby poo, breast milk and 7 layers of floral scented deodorant. But he insisted I get out for an hour or two. So I showered and took a drive. Meandering along, I decided a nice visit to a new yarn shop would be good. And good it was. I wanted to snap up several things, but in the end got two skeins of Crystal Palace Yarns Panda Silk in pink and lavender. Not sure what I will make with them yet. Maybe a cute pair of socks and hat for Bean? A pair of bed socks for me? Belt or headband for Soccer Chica? Who knows. For that matter who cares? What I do know is that I got to purchase yarn from a nice shop.

There is a new yarn shop in my town! I should tell you it's within walking distance of my house! Please read into that statement "dangerous . . . too close for comfort . . . thinking of moving even closer." It's called Your Local Yarn Shop and it just opened. They have a good selection of yarn and shipments just keep coming in. Everyone was so friendly. There is a lovely spot with comfy couches and good light to "just come in and knit!", as I was so kindly invited to do.