A baby hat!

I just finished this hat for my photographer cousin! She wanted fun hats for "props", so I figured a large-gauge would knit up quickly and started on one. This is what I got...





And it was so simple and quick, I thought I'd add the instructions here. It's not been edited-I'm amateur that way. But it should give a pretty good idea...

And the top I-cord can be tied in a loose knot or left untied to have the leaf hang lower. I like the idea of adding wire into the cord to form a spiral, but then there is the safety issue.







I'm deciding if I should weave the end of the leaf in or leave it loose. Decisions!

WHIMSICAL GNOME HAT

Knit w/2 strands of Lion Brand "Amazing". Gauge: 7st=2”.

CO 42 stitches; k1, p1 ribbing for first 4 rows.
Knit 12-14 rows straight (~4” from CO edge),
Decr: k5, k2tog; repeat to end
K next round
k4, k2tog
K next round
Decr: k3, k2tog; repeat to end
K next 3 rounds
Decr: k2, k2tog; repeat to end
K next 2 rounds
Decr: k1, k2tog; repeat to end
K next 2 rounds
Decr: k2tog three times-3 stitches remain.

Continue knitting final 3 stitches into an i-cord for approximately 4”. Decrease 2 stitches by slipping first st, k2tog, psso

Leaf: knit into front and back (kfb) to increase to 3 stitches
Knit one, kfb, k 1
Knit row straight
Knit 1, kfb, k2 (5 stitches total)
Knit 2, p1, k2
Knit 5
Knit 1, p2tog, k1
Sl, k2tog, psso
Cut and pull end thru final stitch


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Moving along...

After frogging the second bootie, I am nearly finished with a pair of Saartje's booties to accompany the Baby Mine sweater! Which, by the way, is blocking as I blog...


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Ebbs and Flows

And so goes my knitting! Months to get a baby sweater done. Then these hats in a months span! Of course, the hats were larger gauge and less "thinky", but i guess that was just the type of knitting i needed!







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HATS, HATS!

Looks like the order of the day (or shall i say, months!) has been HATS! Though slow on completing a baby sweaters, i have completed few hats!
Latest baby sweater-almost there! This is another Baby Mine-knit w/Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock med wt...

FINALLY finished a shawl collar baby sweater knit w/ Berocco Vintage DK...

Finished photos to follow (hopefully...!), bit this is a Art Fibers Tall Tam knit from their kit of Nanook and Heath...

And the cute elephant corwork pattern that was difficult to pass up! And difficult to wait tk get to a "proper" yarn store to find yarn to knit it with. So I went w/the inappropriate worsted wt for a bigger-sized hat!

Yhe third is Stephen West's Windschief knit with Puoneer yarn i purchased from A Verb for Keeping Warm! Lovely yarn-hope to include that pic in the mix, too...!
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When we expand our crafting horizons...

Expanding crafting horizons! As in-mixing it up w/a little spinning or embroidery, paper crafting, or if needle arts, CROCHET...!

I actually was a better Crocheter before I was a better Knitter, and the fact that Nartian's alter-ego is CrochetChick ought to tell yoi something! So when we saw Kira K Design's Belle Époque shawl kit in Downton Abbey-inspired dyed yarns...well, we were both smitten! OK, so Nartian made the first move and I copied! (What are knit pals for, anyway?!)

So our CAL was ON! Well...not exactly. It was the end of last year; I was desperately trying to stay focused on finishing the Baby Shawl Collar sweater and my mom's Hey, Teach! I think Nartian was working on a test knit and had another one or two items she was working on. We decided we'd start some time after the New Year.

So here we are, both CAL and surprisingly, though she is ahead (as expected), not too far apart from one another!

So last I checked in with her, she was on the fourth repeat of a section while I, on the 3rd. I suspect she has begun the border; I'm on the 4th repeat.

So the plan is we have our matchy-match shawls completed for Stitches West! Looks like I MAY make it!




So here's the thing: now that I've started this pattern, I can't look at yarn the same way.

All of a sudden these two skeins of yarn I first thought I was willing to part with start looking like another Belle Époque!


You can see it too, right? HELP ME! I have an inability to de-stash!

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Look familiar-?

I'm at the ballpark, which would equate to more knitting time! Perfect for this piece that is predominantly stockinette w/minimal shaping. Doh! Wouldn't it figure I am probably close or thereabouts to the bond-off portion for the armholes-and I left the pattern at home! Should it be 5" or 7.5" before BO? Only the pattern knows...and I don't recall, though i should, since this is the start of a SECOND Shawl collar baby sweater. Yes, this is the second one I discussed knitting. Plugging along...and no other projects with me except for sock mending. But only one or two socks and a small amount. At least it will force me to work on that! Wish me luck in a completed task!


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One down, another started...

Sitting at the baseball field working on this...


Yep-couldn't resist!

But at least I finishedy mom's sweater. She says it's a bit snug under her arm-then I found a basted area I had not completely removed! (Yeah, I know...this is why we are SUPPOSED to baste with a contrasting color!) I guess it has been a knitting "rules" reinforcement kinda month for me!

And so...here are a couple of pics of the sweater (again)-this time filled with a person! Amazing how much better it looks on.






And look, Ma-a THIRD post this month!

DiscoKnits says she had read a tip fr (I think...) Pioneer Woman who says she just sets her timer for 15 minutes and blogs. Then that's it-post and call it done! I will have to give it a go in the days I get overwhelmed.

My process was similar: no timer, but also just a change in mindset-no worries about linking patterns and people and sites. (Like Discokbits says, there is always Google.) And no worries about getting every thought process and item out there-just what the item of thought/item of the moment is! Works for me.

And maybe we'll be seeing more of one another in the Blogesphere moe often!

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Am I truly a Knitter?! Or...Thinking Outside the (lunch)Box

It's times like this that I have to pose that question to myself! Ok, let's back up a bit...THIS is what I got from my sister for Christmas!


Isn't it CUTE? Yes, I thought so, too! And the little monogram? Also sweet.

So I packed my lunch in it since I'm trying hard not to buy lunch out AT ALL...brought it to work twice-pretty nifty! Cute AND functional, no?

And this is what my sister wrote:



And my reply...


This is why I admire my sister
for her intelligence and creativity. I looked at the bag and my
Kind automatically went to, "Ah! Cute lunchbag! And a toothbrush holder-guess I would consider bringing my toothbrush to work-probably not a bad idea!" My sister looks at it and says, "Ah! Cool bag that can be used for projects! And look-the case can even be useful for tools!"

I'm the one who identifies myself as a "Knitter"; I think she just knows she is a Creative Being! Intelligent, creative and a true Artist!

But look how correct she is:



Circulars now stores in front zip pocket!


Interior pocket housesy measuring tape while the yarn and project (and the NEW Slipped Stitched Studios needle holder) are in the main compartment! How handy is that?!

So yes, I am truly a Knitter, tho not always seeing the bigger picture of imagining BIG!

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That Knit-Itch

It's that time of year when the air gets colder and you can't be outside without returning with chilled hands and nose! For me, it reminds me how badly I want yet another pair I mitts!
So when I saw a sample of The Tree of Life Wristlets at A Verb For Keeping Warm, I knew exactly what would be my next wristlets!
http://www.kelbournewoolens.com/TreeofLife/TreeofLifeWristlets.pdf
I happened to find an already-wound skein of Chunky Alpaca-how convenient!

Can't wait to knit these, tho I resisted casting-on since I have a second Shawl Collar Sweater. I normally don't like to knit the same thing twice, but since my cousin loved the sweater I knit for
her new baby and really wanted me to make a matching for her cousin's baby...we'll, I made a couple of rare exceptions:
1) don't knit on request except for certain babies
2)don't repeat a clothing pattern
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Lessons learned and lost...

Yes, a long time it has been since i posted! not sure if I'll get any better in the New Year, but since a significanr knotting wvent has occurred, i thought i should share tgis Knitting Moment...

Long ago, I learned, understood and prescribed to the rule (NOT recommendation) that a Knitter is wise to swatch and block prior to knitting a project. I wholeheartedly agree with this provided it is any sort of item you WANT, nay, NEED to fit in a particular fashion.

That said, I must say that today, I think I may have skipped that rule! I really can't believe that I would not have swatched and washed for this particular project-the "Hey Teach" sweater I started maybe a year and a half ago for my petite mother. But after washing the pieces to prepare for seaming and finishing bands...all I know is that-my!-it is laying out a good 2" larger in both length AND width!-REALLY?!

So Lazy Knitter that I am, there are no immediate plans to frog any if this. I will let the drying process complete and doe the shoulders and have my mother try it on again first! Fingers crossed...







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Latest Knit!

I thought I'd share my latest knit project today! Cockeye (aka Debbi Stone of BMFA/SockSummit Show Goddess) started her own line of knit designs-TheStitches of My Life Knit Designs. She now has several gorgeous designs available-one free one offered is Patricia, which i' knit two of. In case I didn't shre that earlier, Here you go...



Quick and so pretty!

When I saw her latest release, KnitNight-I just HAD to knit one! NOW. of course, it helped that I had just purchased a skein of KnittedWit's Bling yarn at Stitches West that had been sitting, waiting to be knit into something lovely!

One of the samples used for KnitNight was knit from Knitted Wit's Bling-doesn't get more perfect than that!

So I am now onto the final border! I can't wait to finish-it is gonna be beautiful! And the unexpected part of using Bling? I love knitting with the actual yarn base! Admittedly, the major pull for purchasing it was the unique color on the silver-glitzed fingering base. I'm not even sure if I realized it has silk in it!

Once I started knitting with Bling, I knew I was making something special with some special yarn! It has a wonderful softness combined with a strength and stretch (must be the added bit of nylon)-and I adore the color! Doesn't hurt that the main base is merino with that bit of silver sparking through



I've now started on the final border that is absolutely delighting me-it is so pretty!



Hope to be done by next week! And hoping to find a perfect dress to coordinate with it so I can wear it to an upcoming wedding!

By the way, if you and your knit grou or friends want to knit this as a KAL, Cockeyed is offering 10% off on 6 or more copies! Now's the time to HAVE AT IT!

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Phone Bloggin' Pt 2

So Disco asked what app I'm using. The last post was a freebie app called BlogWriter lite. Free, so limited-only allows writing.

The paid version is $1.99, but if I'm gonna pay, I figure I need to read some reviews and get an app with a higher rating.

I'm now trying out Blogpress. I think it was designed for Blogger, so what the heck-$1 more at $2.99, but thought I'd try it out. I fear I am not falling into my "I must have money"
attitude!

So, if I can figure it out, there will be a photo or two in this post.

I just discovered the cutest
washcloth patterns by Theresa L Jones of Mysondexter Designs. They are so clever-fruit-shaped fruits, dog face, kitty face-- many not the standard square/rectangle. So naturally I had to get the pear,peach and tulip patterns! She offers a free flip flops washcloth design, as well. Too, too cute!

And here, a pic of aforementioned Ocean Breezes hat-pre-blocking. I'll have to add a post-blocked finished pic once I get the buttons on!




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WHOA! Bloggin' by phone!

So I don't blog nearly as often as I had in the past and since I tend to be long-winded, don't expect this to change things much, but I just got my blogging phone app to work!

Now to figure out if I can load pictures at the same time-I know how we all feel about the visuals!

Still knitting, with Lethal's "Ocean Breezes" hat a recent completion and Cockeyed's (Debbi Stone) Stitches of My Life Designs' new "Knit Night" the most recent cast-on! The KnittedWit's BLING yarn is absolute heaven to knit with and I am completely loving this project!

That's the current update. Now-off to see if I can figure out links and pics!

Really...I'm still around!

Funny cuz Stitches West came and went in a flash!  Someone (DISCO, perhaps?) had commented that it seems like none of us are blogging much these days.  I think she's right.  Not like I don't want to-there is always something I could be yabbering about!  And always something knitting-related!

I took a trip over to TwitterLand and have now gotten quite lazy in sharing things long-hand.  Twitter is instant gratification in quick little blurbs.  And yet there is always a full story behind every tweet.  And a full story behind every knitting project, skein of yarn, bump of fiber!

So much to share and so little time to divide between sharing, doing all the things I love to do and doing all the things that are necessary to be able to do the things I love!

So enough about the time issue that all of us seem to have!  How about we just talk fun, fiber stuff?

First off, Stitches was, as always, an event I was so excited about and looking forward to with great anticipation!  For one, I would be reunited with Cockeye and Susan the Blue Moon Fiber Arts Sockateers Extroidanaire together with IrishGirlieKnits as SW Team Blue Moon!  The longer I have knit, the more knitting community events I have gone to and being part of these knitterly events you meet...MORE KNITTERS!  The community continues to grow and my knitterly circle expands,  Consequently, these events become a huge reunion of sorts and a home school week for many of us!

IrishGirlieKnits, Cockeyed, EttaMae-love these gals!

 

My usual partner in crime, Nartian, spent time with us there and we were able to catch up with the wonderful, sweet, "Colorplay Fibers" Linda Welch.  This year, PicoAccuardi Dyeworks came to Stitches West, which was a special treat for me!  Deb Accuardi had set up a Pre-Sock Summit luncheon that I had the honor of being a part of, which is how I first met her.  Her partner, Stevanie Pico, had been dying for Abundant Yarns at the time, which is how I first became acquainted with her.  I finally got to really meet and spend time with Stevanie, as well as with their super-girl TerBear.  I actually first met Teri at the Sock Summit lunch, as well, and we even went shopping together that day!  Really a wonderful crew to hang with!  And helping them was PurlsWannaHaveFun, Marisol.  She is an amazing knitter, kind, enthusiastic and always rearing to go!  So much fun!
 
So...Speaking of Cockeyed, she just launched her new line of knit designs-Stitches of My Life and has posted some beautiful patterns at her site!  Below, is "Patricia", her first release and offered for FREE on Ravelry!  


I've already purchased "Faye" and will be knitting it with the Blue Moon Fiber Arts Gaia that I purchased at Stitches West.  KnittingGolfer and I are thinking it would be fun to do a spin/KAL for Ida.  We shall see if we can get that together!

And speaking of Knittinggolfer and new designs-she, too, has launched a pattern line:  Stepping Stone Fiber Creations!  She has a lovely "Bright Spot" scarf pattern available for free HERE!

I actually started her Northampton Beat Socks and am LOVING this pattern!  The cuff knit up so quickly, it is working well with my handpainted Socks that Rock, and it is rich with texture and variation while maintaining an easy-to-remember sequence.


Funny, cuz it's been about 4 months since my last post and I always think about how slow and unproductive I am with my knitting and spinning.  Since it has been so long, it's fun that I have to chose from several items to share!  Makes me feel productive, if nothing else!

In addition to knitting two Patricia cowls, I had knit a cowl for my cousin's birthday...

and even gotten several small bumps of roving spun, including some Blue Faced Leischester from A Verb for Keeping Warm in "Coraline".  Truly lovely!  A nice, warm, coral pink color!

On December 23, my cousin's daughter turned 21.  I wanted to make her something special since I never know what to get the 'youngin's' for gifts!  I asked if she wanted me to make her something and she told me she really wanted a headband.  I asked what colors she liked and she enthusiastically told me how she LOVES mustard!

I ask you:  what, really, IS mustard?!

I'm happy to report that I had some bare yarn in my stash and decided I should dye some mustard yarn, since I had none in my stash!  How clever I am not to go buy more yarn!  After test-dying several swatches, this is what I came up with...

So *which* shade of "mustard" is mustard?  French's yellow? Spicy Brown? Honey Mustard?


  I decided that the Spicy Brown was closest to what would make me happy, so I went for it!  My first attempt was pretty close, but I didn't mix enough 'mustard' to dye the whole skein.  In attempting to remix more, it was a bit more sunny yellow-orangey than I was shooting for, but all in all, I got a 'mustard' I felt I could live with.  Here's what I ended up with...
More to share, but I'll close for now with these last two goodies to share!

A very special pair of socks from Buried in Fibre!  She is the most amazing, talented woman and she gifted me with these socks!  My one and only handmade socks not knit by me, FOR me!  What an absolute treat!  And if that weren't enough, she included a spindle, handspun yarn (SO GORGEOUS!) and a batt!  Pure Heaven and major spoiling!  Many, many thanks to my dear bud, Lara!  I'll have to try and get pics of the rest of the gifties next time, but for now...the socks!

Last, look who joined our family in November?

SassyMan has always been a major dog lover and after losing his dog back when Lil Emp was a bit over a year, a new dog was well overdue.  He searched around for a dog and found Ricky.  Being an 8 year old dog with a bit of anxiety, he was a difficult placement.  And when we went to see him, he looked a bit raggedy with an area above his brow shaved.  He'd gotten nipped by a kennel mate and had to have the area cleaned out.  SassyMan was pretty much decided that Ricky was THE dog; HIS dog!  Admittedly, SassyMan seems to have a good sense about him, as Ricky has been fine and adjusted quite well.  He's adjusted quite well and we are his forever family!

Time Slips Away...

and the blogging has become less frequent!  Where does time go?!

Though the blogging has slowed, I continue to knit.  And the knitting continues at the slow pace as my available knitting time is limited to fairly short spurts.  The only apparent progress are in the small projects-hats, headbands, mitts...

What follows is a hodge-podge of randomness...my thoughts aren't together right now-it's late and I'm tired after trying to get photos loaded from my phone (THAT didn't work!), transferred them to the computer, then uploaded them!...

"Hey, Teach" for my mom, using Blue Moon Fiber Art's Twisted in the Thraven colorway.

Then there are two hat KALs that Wooley Wormhead just started.  I am just about through the first installment for hat 'B', and am considering starting hat "A", but that will require some swatching.  I have one skein of yarn wound, which should work, but I also found another that I may prefer.  Still not sure.

For now, I work on Hat A with the Madeline Tosh DK I got from ImagiKnit a while back.  The color is Lichen and is so gorgeous-a semi-solid olive green with highlights of lavendar!

A while ago, Cupcakefaerie had posted a link to these quick Mesh Ankle Socks, so I thought I'd see if I could quickly knit up a pair. 

 In true form, I am still working on these.  Other projects nudged it down a bit.  For one, my brother and his girlfriend just relocated from L.A.  I decided my "SIL" needed a hat to keep her warm, since she is still adjusting to the climate change.  So I snuck a hat in inbetween.  And because I was afraid I wouldn't complete "Hey Teach" in time for Christmas, I set the socks aside in favor of casting on for my mom's Christmas gift.

And since Lil Emp decided he would actually wear a costume this year, I ended up having to alter one for him. 

 Lil Emp and OST ("Other Son T") dressed as Mario and Luigi

I won a bit of roving from a Phat Fiber contest...H.A.Y. (Hampton Art Yarns) roving in "Orchids"...

 And I even got the Fleece Artist BFL roving spun and plied!

A quick hat knit from Sheep Shop 2 for a friend's daughter.  2 more skeins left, so matching mittens are also on the 'to do'

I also had a KAL fail.  I started TotTopper's KAL and just didn't quite get going on it.  I started the strap, got to the finished length, then the KAL ended.  I haven't picked it up since.

Hope to have a better organized entry next time!  But hey-I blogged!

Where the heck have *I* been?!

Time slips away and it has been so very long since my last post!  Where did the summer go?

Well, for one thing, this summer vacation for Lil Emp was shortened and he ended up starting school mid-August!  He had about a week or two off from school, then started day camp for a couple of weeks.  Just when we decided he could attend the third week, we end up off on a 4-week roadtrip from the West to East Coast!  Actually, the road trip was a four-day rush to get to Massachusetts since a good friend of SassyMan's has passed suddenly.  We stayed in and Massachusetts for two weeks meandering between visits with friends and-yes!-a couple of fibery excursions!

Prior to leaving, I had just spun my very first skein of 3-ply yarn-and, of course, made a fiber purchase!

Lorna's Laces roving-my first 3-ply!

  I had dropped in to A Verb for Keeping Warm and fell in love with these two beauties.

WOW-what timing!  We left for Massachusetts so suddenly that I forgot to grab a bottle of wine from my stash to give to Knittinggolfer, since I hoped to see her.  Fortunately, I had made my trek over to A Verb so I did have the freshly purchased roving to bring to her!  It had been well over a year since we had seen each other in camp, and one of the best things about this trip was getting to visit with her-and her wonderful family!

Lil Emp and her foursome enjoyed playing miniature golf together as well as sharing in other fun activities-like indulging in this...

And as much as we enjoyed the day with SassyMan and the kids, including attending Knittinggolfer's DS's ballgame, I have to say that the best thing was getting to sit in the "spinning room" and check out all the lovely fiber and give my buddy a hug in PERSON!  I even scored some of her Massachusetts-grown alpaca she had gotten and had processed!   (Thanks again, my dear bud!)  The place that had processed it added some merino to it and it spins up so nicely!

I love my girl, Knittinggolfer!

The good thing about road trips is that I was forced to seam this baby top-the seaming was difficult to avoid since the projects I had accessible to me in the car were limited.  And afterall, where was I going, anyway?  Couldn't really get away from it!  But at least this baby top for my cousin's 1 yo was done before I returned. 

Baby Jayla is not a baby anymore!  She turned one, so I made her a top

And SassyMan got to see friends of his who he hadn't seen in years.  And *I* got to meet his friend's wife who sells her gorgeous lampwork beads on Etsy!  (Dark Flower Bead Arts).  AND I got to see her work studio and lovely creations!  (OK, so maybe I shopped a bit, too...)

Dark Flower Bead Art's lampwork studio

Gorgeous beads made into pendants

Another friend of his has a property that formerly housed monks and still has a remaining cabin they've kept intact and maintained.  We got to sleep in it one night!

The inside of our 'cabin'

Prior to the trip I had just recieved these items in the mail before I left on the trip...

I did a little sample spin of the roving (Fleece Artist BFL) but it is waiting in line to one day become yarn.  Under the roving are two balls or "Cumbra" I purchased for the Pembroke vest, which is half completed.  Sadly, the concept of travel knitting forcing the focus didn't quite hold true with this yarn.  I brought it with me, cast it on and knit maybe 2 inches and it sat for a good 6 weeks.  You see, by the time I ran out of other items to work on, I had been able to hit Classic Elite's retail store and had replenished my knitting possibilities.

I got very motivated to design and knit some "Avatar" (Last Airbender,  NOT the blue people Avatars) socks for one of SassyMan's friend's daughter.  She and LE hit it off with their mutual love of the Animae series and spent time watching the various episodes together.

So by the end of the trip, I had spun most of the merino from Knittinggolfer, finished the baby top, completed all but the finishing touches on the Avatar socks, and knit a pair of Calendula socks for my friend-totalling three socks in all, since I completely misjudged the size!

Of course, when there is so much time between posts, there is always so much more to post to catch up.  There are a couple more things from my trip to share, but for now I'll fast forward to what I was working on right before I decided to start this entry:  the Blue-Leaf headband.  I was itching to actually complete a project, so I had to do the counter-intuitive thing-start a new project!  I'm on the decreases and it should be completed soon! 

Next post, I'll share how it relates to the Cross-Country trip, too!  I'll also have to share how my "clever" inspiration turned not-so-clever.  Seems to be a theme with me-I get inspired an in an effort to take a short-cut or avoid something I think will be a big PITA, I end up causing myself even more time and work!