Liz Knits!

Knitting Accessories

2012-01-17T11:33:00.001-05:00

Everyone who knits has yarns they covet. Lace weight or bulky; wool, alpaca or mohair; multicolor or single shade; we all have our preferences.

Then, there are other items we need when we knit. For example, knitting needles. Some prefer wood, others like plastic, while still others stick with aluminum.

And that leads into the discussion of straights, double-pointed or circular?

But there are other knitting related items that we don’t really need, we just want. These could include fancy knitting totes, stitch markers that are really knitting jewelry, or stitch/row counters that double as necklaces.

For me, the “unnecessary but desired” item is a shawl pin. I love shawls, both knitting them and wearing them, so shawl pins come naturally. Oddly enough, I don’t use them every time I wear a shawl, but still I covet them.

Here’s a picture of some of my shawl pins:

Okay, not the best picture. But you may be able to see that I have metal, wood, and ceramic shawl pins, some in colors to match specific shawls, while others are neutral and could go with most anything. And no matter how many I have, when a new one catches my eye, I’ll buy it!

What do YOU covet in the knitting world?

And to give you a smile today on this cold, snowy Tuesday, I’ll close with a funny:

Another Kitty Yarn

2011-10-18T11:19:00.001-04:00

String or Nothing

2011-10-16T11:18:00.001-04:00

It’s only for string.

Posted: 15 Oct 2011 11:00 AM PDT

Yarnmageddon

2011-08-06T15:18:00.001-04:00

I decided to try to organize my “yarn stash corner” so I can actually see what I have. This would be quite helpful in preventing me from going to my LYS, the Sheep & Wool Festival, and the Wool Arts Tour and buying the same thing I bought the previous year.

First, I had to measure the space in the corner. Since it’s under a sloping ceiling, that made it a little more difficult. But I used a tape measure and did the best I could.

I bought five pink stackable plastic milk crates, figuring I could do a column of two and another of three. I could put them open-side out so I could see the contents.

I should have taken a picture of the corner as it was, but I was so excited to get going, I forgot. Just imagine a towering pile of plastic and paper bags, containing goodies not seen since the dark ages.

I did, however, take a picture of all the “keeper” things I pulled out and put on the bed. Unfortunately, it came out blurry. But it’ll give you an idea of all the loose skeins of yarn, books, needles, unfinished projects, unSTARTED projects, and knitting bags that were stuffed in that corner.

I also pulled our four bags of yarn scrap odds and ends, a huge pile of old magazines, and a decorative bird’s nest. Hmm.

By that point, I was thoroughly weak and exhausted, so I took a lunch break. Who knew it would be such a tough job? I think I burned off at least three hundred calories.

After the nutrition hit my system, I returned and started organizing, which involved storing yarn by weight, swearing, stacking started projects, threatening the milk crates when they made suspicious creaks, and a lot of eye-rolling.

And at last, everything was in place. It’s still crowded and not easy to see everything, but it’s a vast improvement. What do you think?

I’ve learned that I have enough lace yarn, virtually all in pink, purple or blue, to make shawls for the entire Radio City Rockettes. My favorites seem to be Cherry Tree Hill yarn, and Ball and Skein yarn, based on how many skeins of each I have.

I have enough sock yarn for three or four pairs of socks, which sounds about right. And a few skeins of various sport and worsted weight yarn.

And I also have about ten unstarted or unfinished projects. I’ll certainly never run out of things to do.

There! I feel so much better. I think I’ve earned a little snack! Tomorrow, I may open my own yarn store…

Lovely Sweater

2011-06-07T12:55:00.001-04:00

That’s even more impressive than knitting it myself!

When Good Knitting Goes Bad

2011-05-26T13:04:00.001-04:00

NH Sheep & Wool Festival 2011

2011-05-18T14:11:00.001-04:00

Last weekend was the yearly much-anticipated New Hampshire Sheep & Wool Festival. My daughters and I always look forward to it all year and can’t wait for it to happen. We had a wonderful time as always, and because of having a few years’ experience under our belts, we made it through in record time.

Here’s a photo of my goodies:

From left to right, here’s what I got:

1) Sonatina Laceweight from Mad Color Fiber Arts, 80% merino wool, 20% Tussah silk, 1125 yards, www.madcolorfiberarts.com . Soft and plenty of yardage for a large shawl. You can’t tell it from the color I chose, but most of their yarn was, well, Mad Colors.

2) Ariane Lace from Ball and Skein, 70% alpaca, 20% silk, 10% cashmere, 875 yards, colorway “The Blues,” www.ballandskein.com . Last year I bought some of their Arequipa and made a gorgeous scarf. This yarn is SO soft, I just want to stroke it! They’re on my “must buy” list every year.

3) Estrellita handpainted 2-ply lace from Mocha’s Fiber Designs, 75% superwash merino, 20% silk, 5% silver stellina, 875 yards, colorway “Starry Starry Night,” www.mochasfiber.com . Also very soft, and the sparkle really makes it special. Will have to find exactly the right pattern to show it off.

4) Glazed Chenille from Decadent Fibers, 100% rayon chenille, 1000 yards, www.decadentfibers.com . I’m a sucker for chenille. Reminds me of the chenille bedspreads of my youth, so I think a large comfort-shawl is in order.

Did any of you attend? What did you snap up? Do tell!

Free Pattern: Magic Loop Eyelet Mitts

2011-05-05T11:59:00.001-04:00

Here is a free pattern I hope you’ll enjoy. Please don’t sell the pattern or sell the mitts…it’s for your personal use only.

These came out pretty nicely and were easy to make. Let me know if you have questions!

MAGIC LOOP EYELET MITTS
by Elizabeth Delisi

Materials:
1 ball Jojoland Melody Superwash fingering, 220 yards
40" circular needle size 2

Size:
One size

Eyelet Lace Pattern:
Multiple of 8 sts.
Row 1 (right side): Knit.
Row 2 and all other even rows: Knit.
Row 3: *K6, yo, k2 tog, rep from *.
Row 5: Knit.
Row 7: K2, *yo, k2 tog, k6; rep from *, end with k4.
Row 8: Knit.
Repeat rows 1-8.

Directions:
Cast on 56 stitches, divide in half on both sides of the needle. Join into a round.

Work K2, P2 ribbing for 16 rounds.

Work rounds 1-8 of Eyelet Lace pattern, then work Rounds 1-4 once more.

Thumb Gusset:
Round 1: M1, K2, M1, place marker, knit across round as established in pattern.
Round 2 and 3: Knit to marker, slip marker, continue in pattern as established to end of row.
Round 4: M1, knit to marker, M1, slip marker, continue in pattern as established to end of round.
Repeat rounds 2-4 until there are 20 stitches before marker, which should end on row 5. Do rows 6-8 in pattern.

Knitting Hand:
Place first 20 stitches on holder for thumb. Cast on 2 stitches, continue in pattern to end of round 1. Continue in pattern for 15 rounds, ending on knit round. Work 8 rows of K2, P2 rib. Bind off.

Knitting Thumb:
Join yarn, knit 12 stitches in first end of needle. Knit remaining 8 stitches with other end of needle, pick up and knit 4 stitches across open area of thumb. You now have 24 stitches. Work 8 rows of K2 P2 rib. Bind off. Weave in loose ends.

Kitty Helper

2011-04-26T09:32:00.001-04:00

And to add a little written knitting content…I’m going to my LYS today to yell for help. The hoodie I’m working on is coming out way off gauge. No, that’s not right. The gauge seems fine but it’s still going to be way longer than it should be when the side shaping is done. So I’m going to go whine and cry and see if there’s an option beyond starting over! Wish me luck.

When Good Plans Go Bad

2011-03-30T09:27:00.001-04:00

Kitty Knitting

2011-02-05T11:29:00.001-05:00

Just add a couple hundred Christmas lights, and you’ll have the Griswalds’ Christmas vacation! Hah.

So, on the needles. Or to be more precise, on the hook. I’m almost done with the crocheted project “Zaubertote” from the book “Sock Yarn One Skein Wonders.” Only problem is, one skein of the Zauberball wasn’t enough despite the book title, and it costs $19.99 per ball, so now instead of a basic $20 tote, I’ll have a $40 tote! I’d better get lots of use out of it.

At least I’m having fun crocheting for a break from knitting. And the yarn color changes are awesome, shades of purple, pink and orange.

Once the tote is done, I’ll return to the shawl I’m knitting, the Water Turtles Shawl from the book “Wrapped in Comfort.” It’s going slowly as each row is so long, and it’s hard to see the pattern yet as it’s only 6 or 8 inches long. It’ll be a challenge to block, I suspect.

What’s on your needles…or hook?

Beware the Soul Stealer

2011-01-05T10:37:00.001-05:00

Just had to share this:

Free Cowl Pattern

2010-12-02T13:42:00.001-05:00

I decided to get my hair cut on the spur of the moment. Since it would be my last visit to my hairdresser before Christmas, I wanted to give her a gift. But what?

I browsed the shelves at my LYS and found a bulky weight yarn I really liked—Plymouth Yarn “Multiplicity.” At first I thought it would make a nice scarf, but then I opted for a cowl—a little more style than a plain scarf.

I didn’t have time to search my books and Ravelry to find a pattern, so I just cast on and started knitting. It came out great, only took a few hours to finish, and my hairdresser absolutely loved it. So I figured I’d share the ultra-simple pattern with you! Enjoy.

BULKY COWL

One size fits all

1 skein Plymouth “Multiplicity” yarn in color 3167 or your choice

1 pair size 15 knitting needles

Cast on 20 stitches.

Pattern: K1, *K2tog, YO. Repeat from * to last stitch, K1.

Work in pattern until you’ve used up all or nearly all the yarn, and ending with a stripe of the opposite color than you started with.

Bind off. Flip one end over to put a twist in the cowl; sew or crochet ends together.

Can be worn around the neck, or pulled up over the head as a hood.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Knitting

2010-11-27T08:56:00.001-05:00

I'll bet, like me, you're up to your eyeballs in Christmas knitting. That makes this time of year fun...and dangerous.

Dangerous? Because you can't talk about your knitting or you might let something slip. Can't show it off to the wrong person. And you certainly can't post a picture of your progress on your knitting blog!

I've never been the best at keeping secrets so I'll say I'm making a ______ for ________, a ________ for ________, and ________s for the ________s.

There! I feel so much better now that's off my chest.

What Christmas knitting can you talk about...and what do you have to keep mum?

Blogging with Windows Live Writer

2010-10-30T15:57:00.001-04:00

I’m trying out Windows Live Writer to blog. Since I have several blogs, I figured I’d check to see if this was easier.

First, you have to set up all the blogs you want to use by providing the website URL, user name and password. Then you can create a blog post and just click “Publish” and it does the rest. The blog you wrote stays on the screen until you close it, so if you want to post it more than one spot, there’s no cutting and pasting or rewriting involved.

Adding photos is easy, too. Here’s one of some semi-recent knitting:

I adjusted the photo using Windows Live Photo Gallery, just using the auto-correct feature, and it did make the colors stand out more.

I’m sure there are features I haven’t found yet. Anyone have any tips? I do like the ease of posting to more than one blog.

Tied Up

2010-10-11T11:43:00.001-04:00

I've been all tied up too! But I hope to have new knitting content to post soon.

What I'm Knitting

2010-06-30T16:28:00.002-04:00

Now that I've had a cortisone injection, I'm working my way back up to knitting a normal amount again. (Normal = a lot.)

First, I'm nearly done with the Penelope Blouse by Oat Couture. It's coming along great, I just have to finish the lace edging on one armhole and it's finished.

Two things. First, I'm knitting on that edging rather than knitting separately and sewing on. The latter leaves a real possibility there might be too much lace, or too little, when I reach the end of sewing. And second, I hate weaving in ends!

Second, as you can see in the picture, the neckline rolls, due to being stockinette with no ribbing. I'm not positive I like that. I know it's fashionable, but heck, I'm not. I considered doing the same lace edging around the neck, but realized it would flop down as it's about an inch. I don't want to choose a different edging that might work better but wouldn't match the rest of the sweater. So I may just leave it as is.

I hope to have it done in time to take on vacation. Hubby says, "You're going to wear a sweater in the summer? You're crazy. It'll be too hot."

I said, "But it's cotton. That's a summer fabric."

He said, "Cotton, schmotton, it's as heavy as a sweater."

So we left it at that. I guess only time will tell!

As if I don't have enough shawl yarn on hand, or shawls begun, I ordered two more shawl kits from Knit Picks this week.

First, the Seasons Shawl Kit in the spring and summer colors. The shawl has a rainbow of colors, which makes it casual rather than dressy, and it should go with any color I choose to wear. I especially like the graceful scalloped edging.

Second is the Baltic Lace Kit. It includes enough yarn for two shawls: the 60" x 50" Karukell Shawl, and either the 8½"x 60" Catkin Scarf or the 20" x 60" Catkin Stole. Both are Estonian patterns, the Catkin a bit simpler and more straightforward, but I don't think I'll have trouble with either one.

Then, as if all that weren't enough, while at my knitting group at my LYS, I picked up a copy of Socks From the Toe Up from Wendy Knits. I've knit a number of pairs of socks from the top down, but I've always wanted to try toe up. Great instructions and lots of lovely patterns; I especially like the Butterfly Socks with a delicate lace pattern.

There! I think that will keep me busy. What are YOU working on?

That Spill

2010-06-26T09:53:00.000-04:00

Too funny not to share!

Mother's Day Sheep & Wool

2010-05-10T11:46:00.007-04:00

As usual, I went with my two daughters to the annual New Hampshire Sheep & Wool Festival. This year we went on Saturday instead of Sunday for a change. It was pouring rain...sigh. But we still had a great time and came home with lots of goodies. Here's what I picked up.

First, this lovely turned wood shawl pin, created by Cynthia Ellis at Wood by C. She had a display of the most gorgeous shawl pins, crochet hooks, knitting needles, pens, thimbles, seam rippers, and just about every kind of little gadget and gizmo you could imagine, all beautifully turned and dyed. This shawl pin is smooth as glass and will make a perfect accent to my hand-knit shawls.

Next is two 600-yard skeins of "All Wool Lace Twist" lace yarn from Ball and Skein in the shade called "Lupine." It's absolutely gorgeous, subtly changing shades of purple and will make a gorgeous shawl. They had so much beautiful lace yarn, it was tough to narrow it down! I bought some of their Arequipa alpaca and silk lace yarn last year, so this year I'm giving their 100% wool a try. Now I just have to find the perfect pattern.

Then came four 300-yard skeins of "Little Breeze," which is silk and merino lace-weight yarn from A Touch of Twist. The colourway is called "Channel." Not sure what that means. But it's a stunning fuchsia shade, which is my absolute favorite color. (I was the kid who always wanted the "magenta" crayon out of the crayon box.) Again, it will make a wonderful shawl, light and warm and colorful!

Last but not least is a huge, 1400-yard hank of 50% merino, 50% tencel gorgeous purple yarn from Ellen's Half Pint Farm. It's not labeled as to weight, but it looks like either heavy lace yarn or perhaps sock/fingering weight. The color is a solid purple, but the tencel gives it a beautiful sheen that makes it look subtly variegated.

My two daughters each bought yarn and other goodies, including pattern books, kits, and a "learn to spin with a spindle" kit, each one choosing colors that suited her best. They know I always head straight for the pinks and purples. ;-) We had a lovely time, despite being constantly wet. We stopped for a late lunch on the way home, then had a celebratory dinner at home with Dan/Dad/Grandpa and the grandchildren. All in all, a marvelous day, despite being duck weather!

Hope That Yarn Wasn't Expensive....

2010-03-25T11:54:00.002-04:00

because Kitty here sure intends to have it for lunch!

Source: LOL Cats

A Bigger Purse...Or Is It?

2010-02-01T16:38:00.004-05:00

For the past year or two, this purse has been my usual winter purse. I like the shape, and the colors were something I envisioned in my sleep. (Not for a purse, though...for a sweater. But since they're not my usual colors, I chickened out in real life and went for something smaller and less of an investment in time and money.)

But I've had trouble finding things in the purse. It could be because it's not large enough overall; or it could be because the top is smaller than the bottom. In any case, I decided a new purse was in order. I found a pattern I liked and chose the yarn, and naturally couldn't resist casting on for the Mitred Stripes Felted Bag right away.

So here's the finished bag, and I'm pretty pleased with how it came out. It used two different yarns, Malabrigo and Noro Kureyon, neither of which had I tried before. I was surprised how scratchy Kureyon was, given all the raves I'd heard about it. It wasn't fun to knit with texture-wise, but I did like the colors. They blended nicely with the Malabrigo, which was soft and luscious-feeling in the hands.

The purse felted nicely, both yarns felting to the same degree. When it was dry, I added the buttons and then measured it against the older purse. Much to my dismay, it was a bit smaller at the bottom, though a bit larger at the top. "Oh well," I sighed, "It can't be any worse than the one I'm using." So I pulled all my necessities out of the old purse and put them in the new one.

To my surprise, while they fit about as tightly as in the old purse, they are much more accessible and easily grabbed. I suppose it's because the top of the purse is a bit wider. In any case, it feels a little more convenient, and I love the colors and design much more than the older one. Is it true love, or just the lure of the new?

In any case, I'm happy. How about you? Do you fall in love with each new project and shunt aside the old, or do you save your love for only the fortunate few?

Yarnirvana

2009-11-17T22:22:00.002-05:00

One picture speaks a thousand words. Or skeins...

Gearing Up For Winter

2009-10-22T11:45:00.004-04:00

Lately I've been on a winter knitting kick. Could have something to do with all the snow we got on Sunday! Of course, it all melted on Monday when the temperatures returned to the more seasonal 50s. But that, and the cold days we had the week before, encouraged me to make some small, warm items.

First, I whipped up a pair of wristers. Or fingerless mitts? At any rate, I had one skein of yarn and that seemed a perfect thing to use it on. They came out a bit large, so next time I'd either use smaller needles or cast on fewer stitches. But they are soft and comfortable, and I've tested them out while typing and yup, I can type while wearing them. Hooray!

The pattern was "Chunky Piano Mitts" by Michele Bernstein, and you can find the pattern here on Ravelry: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/chunky-piano-mitts or here on her blog: http://pdxknitterati.com/patterns/chunky-piano-mitts/

The yarn I used was Kona Bay Knitting Yarn Party. It's a 12-ply bulky yarn that's 100% nylon, in an eyelash type. It's very soft and was fun to work with, but frogging would definitely be a pain.

Next, I made a pair of slippers. I wanted something that I could complete with one skein of Lion Brand Wool Ease, again because that one skein was all I had in my stash. I came across the pattern for Two Needle Slippers by Dagny Lilley here: http://web.archive.org/web/20080101104155/http://www.theirishewe.com/mt-static/2006/04/two_needle_slippers.shtml and they seemed like just the thing.

Once I completed the first slipper, I tried it on. Fit well on my foot, but the garter stitch cuff was much too loose. I knitted the second slipper and made the cuff out of K2P2 ribbing instead of garter stitch. That worked better, so I frogged the cuff on the first one and reknit it in ribbing. However, they still slipped off my heels when wearing them, so as a final touch, I added a crocheted tie on each one. That seems to have done the trick.

Now, I'm back to working on my Applegate Shirt (pattern from Oat Couture) and hope to get it finished shortly. I'm on the second sleeve, then just have the placket and neck to knit, and of course the sewing.

What are YOU working on to keep you warm this winter?

How To Enhance Your Sock Yarn Stash

2009-09-05T12:06:00.003-04:00

I've come across a great way to greatly enhance your sock yarn stash--the "Sock Yarn Knitting Exchange." (But it's also open to crocheters.)

First, you receive a letter with two names and addresses on it. You send a 100 gr. ball of sock yarn (or two 50-gr. balls--enough to make one pair of socks) to the first person. Then you send out a new copy of the letter to six knitting (or crocheting) friends with the first name and address removed, the second name and address in first place, and your name and address in second place.

In short order, you should receive enough yarn to make 36 pairs of socks! Cool, huh? And just as much fun will be seeing who, and where, the yarn comes from.

Now, I know these things often don't pan out exactly as expected. Somewhere along the line, someone usually drops the ball. (Of yarn.) But I figure if you even receive only one ball of sock yarn, you've broken even. Anything more than that is a bonus.

As it happens, though, I don't know a lot of knitters here. So I'm throwing this open to all of you in yarn cyberspace. If any of you would like to participate in this sock yarn exchange, please e-mail me at elizabeth@elizabethdelisi.com and I'll get your address and send you the info. BTW, this is only open to those in the US and Canada, because of the difficulties of mailing elsewhere.

Hope to see lots of you participate!

Where Has All The Summer Gone?

2009-08-31T12:41:00.005-04:00

Gosh, it seems like summer came slowly and left quickly. We had about three weeks where it was hot enough to use the window AC unit for a few hours each day, and now it feels like fall is unpacking before summer is up. Not that I mind, as I really don't care for the heat anyway.

Plus, when it cools off, it means I can go back to work on all those lovely wool shawls and sweaters and gloves and socks!

While it was hot, I worked on small cotton things like this cute little sweater for my new niece, due in November. I searched extensively to find a pattern I liked and finally came up with this one. And best of all, it's free here: http://www.classiceliteyarns.com/WebLetter/33/Issue33.php Free is a price that works for me. ;-) I love the buttons I found at my LYS; they have little pink sheep on them and they say, "Little Lamb."

Then I made a set of kitchen things for my mom's upcoming birthday. There's something soothing about knitting on kitchen things. They're not fancy, they aren't made from expensive yarn, and they'll be used to scrub and dry dirty dishes and pots. But they're down to earth and really, really useful. The recipient of a sweater made from expensive alpaca and silk might not like the style and so might not wear it; but what's not to like about kitchen towels and washcloths? Plus, they're boldly machine washable and I like that. I was tempted to use the blue variegated cotton, but then realized I was choosing MY preferred colors, not my mom's. Her kitchen is painted yellow, so I found this lovely yellow yarn and went with that. I think they came out nicely, despite some color pooling. Another good thing about kitchen sets; if the color pools, so what?

And finally, I did a lot of this with the hottest days of summer. That's my cat Burt, lounging in my office window on one of the hottest days this season. I saw a cartoon once about cats that's so true; you can use a sleeping cat as a thermometer! The more tightly they're curled up, the colder it is; the longer they stretch out, the hotter. So clearly, this was a pretty hot day. ;-)

Hope your summer, and your summer knitting, has gone well and you're ready to leap into fall!

Mermaid Lace Shawl

2009-07-02T11:27:00.007-04:00

As promised, here is the info on my Mermaid lace shawl. First, you can see me modeling it, just ignore the "model" and enjoy the shawl. Max, the dog, snuck into the picture with me. But he's not interested in having his picture taken, just wanted to watch the squirrel raiding the bird feeder right outside the glass door. Yup, like the dogs in "Up," all you have to do is yell "squirrel!" to drive him nuts. Then he barks his brains out and drives US nuts. The squirrel ignores him, of course! And me, unless I open the door, and then he only scampers a few feet away. Anyway, back to the shawl...

So here you see the shawl blocking. It really stretched quite a bit, which made it lovely and large enough. Dan called it the "bat cape" because of how it looked on the bed! Hah. Luckily, Burt the cat has learned it's worth one of his nine lives if he disturbs something blocking on the bed. He hasn't gotten so smart about clean laundry I may happen to leave on the bed, though.

And here is a close-up of the stitches. You may or may not be able to see, there was a problem with the second, i.e. closest to the hem, lace pattern. Actually, both lace charts in the book for this shawl were wrong. The first one has been fixed and errata posted on the website. The second, not yet. It's supposed to be an 11-stitch pattern, but only rows 1 and 2 show 11 stitches, the rest show 10. So clearly, a stitch had to be added somewhere. Unfortunately, where I chose to add one, it gave the pattern a little "jog" to the side. By the time I discovered it, I had no intention of ripping it out and starting over. I don't think it'll be very noticeable.

For those of you who want the corrected pattern, you can keep watching the Mermaid shawl website for the official correction. But in the meantime, here's what worked for me in a swatch I did, with much help from my LYS owner. On the first row of the chart, add a YO at the start of the row. On the second row of the chart, do not m1 in the first, or last, YO of the row. Then follow the chart as is for the rest of the rows, and you should be good.

And if I ever decide to make this shawl again, I'll be set!

Should the FDA regulate yarn?

2009-06-20T15:16:00.017-04:00

I'm thinking the answer is "yes" as yarn is my drug of choice! But then again, never mind. Don't want them trying to put me in a 12-step "quit buying yarn" program...

I'm way behind in posting, but that doesn't mean I haven't been busy with therapeutic stash enhancement! Just stroking a new skein of yarn puts me in a happier frame of mind. What about you?

First there was the New Hampshire Sheep and Wool Festival. Came away with some great bargains:
This is a lovely shawl pin. I had chosen a different one, but before I even left the building, it began to bend where the pin is soldered onto the decorative top. So I returned it and exchanged it. It works really well for large or heavy shawls, but wouldn't want to use it on a fine lace-weight shawl.

This is a gorgeous lilac/iris color. It's called Iris. It's Jaggerspun Zephyr lace weight yarn, in a long skein of 1160 yards. I love that...it means I can make a large lace shawl without having to start a new skein and work in ends in the middle of it. It's so soft...I frequently give it a stroke just to feel how soft it is!

Here's a kit I picked up with "beaded rayon yarn" that's bumpy, not actually beaded. It's peacock-colored...blue, green, and purple. Lovely. Came with beads to make a beaded scarf. It also includes the pattern. But I'm thinking of making the "Denim Bag" from Knitting With Beads instead, since I have one scarf and another one to make (see below) and I'm not much of a scarf person.

Next came a visit to the Patternworks Tent Sale with my sister and two lovely ladies from her knitting group. I picked up quite a few bargains. This Filatura di Crosa "Multicolor" mohair yarn will make a gorgeous shawl, I'm sure.

This interesting button will probably go on a chunky car-length sweater I'm going to make. Someday. In the meantime, it can reside in my glass button jar and stare out at me and try to send me ESP messages saying: "Use me!"

This is a kit to make an Alexandria Tote Bag. The pattern is from Patternworks, as is the yarn...Meredith Bay, Bretton, and Sunapee, all named for New Hampshire locations. There are three color choices for the bag; I chose the "pastel" option. Should be fun.

Picked up a couple of books: "Reversible Knits" by Iris Schreier, and "Knitting on the Edge" by Nicky Epstein. Both of them look like fun and I can definitely see myself maybe never knitting an "ordinary" ribbing band on a sweater again, thanks to Nicky's gorgeous edging patterns!

Picked this up for my daughter's birthday. She knits and crochets, but so far feels more confident with crochet. (Though she's working on two lovely knitted shrugs and doing a fabulous job.) She also loves purses, so I think she'll have fun with this.

Next, went to Webs (yarn.com) with my daughter on her vacation. Spent three hours there! And because of what I'd already bought in the preceding month, I was (barely) able to limit myself to this gorgeous "Silk Cloud" yarn and complimentary Cotton Bam Boo yarn to make the Lace Scarf in the recent issue of Interweave Knits. I can't believe I walked out of Webs with just these two, but if it could only be two, these were perfect.

Last stop in the month-long yarn extravaganza was The Knitting Knook in Keene, New Hampshire, with my two daughters. I really had no budget left, so just came away with this lovely sock yarn. The color changes are muted and subtle, so I think it will work well for one of the patterns in Cookie A's "Sock Innovation" book. Can't wait to try one!

And my gosh, that's taken me half an hour to post, so I think I'll quit now. Next time I'll post about the Mermaid Shawl that's blocking on the bed even as I type...

More Mania

2009-03-11T11:32:00.003-04:00

I'm still feeling the knitting restlessness I wrote about last time. I'm working actively on, to a greater or lesser degree, four or five projects. The newest ones I've started are a pair of socks, and a shawl made out of this rayon chenille yarn I bought last year on the Wool Arts Tour:

I started the shawl at least three times, trying to find a pattern that works well with the yarn. Here's the one I finally decided on: Eyelet Lace Shawl. It seems to be working well. I'm not sure about the fringe, though. I've made this shawl twice before, with regular worsted-weight yarn, and the fringe worked fine. But with boucle...not sure. I might try a knitted-on ruffled edging.

That scares me a little, though. While I consider myself an experienced knitter, having been knitting for 48 years or so, I don't mess with patterns much. Oh, I tend to add inches to a sweater front/back to make it long enough for me, but I rarely change the pattern details. The first time I tried something like that was when I changed the way the edging was knitted on the Autumn Entrelac Shawl. It came out well, but it was scary.

I'm in perpetual awe of those of you who can take a pattern, pull it apart, and change it to suit yourselves. Is it experience that allows you to do this, or self-confidence, or something else? Inquiring minds want to know!

Knitting Restlessness

2009-01-23T10:49:00.005-05:00

I've been knitting like crazy lately but keep changing my mind what I want to work on. Finished a felted purse and I'm using it, though I'm not 100% happy with how it turned out. The instructions were confusing and I ripped it out four times before finishing it. The side you can see in this picture looks fine, but on the other side, there is no real "right" side as both sides show lines where new yarn was joined. If that makes sense. So I don't think the instructions were written correctly. Oh well, live and learn.

Then, I made a carrying case for my cell phone. I figured it was a small project that I wouldn't get bored with. In fact, I almost gave up in frustration as knitting the tight cable pattern with worsted yarn on size 3 needles was nearly impossible. But I persevered, and the heavy cabled fabric will make for good protection of the keypad on the phone. The only issue with this pattern was that the heavily cabled fabric pulls in, so the flap, that's done in straight stockinette, is a bit wider than the case itself. Doing the whole case in stockinette, or doing the flap in the cable pattern, would fix it, I think.

I also knitted up a quick scarf made from some gorgeous angora yarn I bought while on the fall Wool Arts Tour here in New Hampshire. The pattern was simple, and came free with the skein of yarn. I've worn it a few times on the very coldest days. I'm not really a scarf person, but stroking the yarn a few times made me think that perhaps I could wear THIS scarf with no trouble! And I was right...

Now I'm working on the Komon kimono, but the large rectangle is getting boring, so I've also started the "Graceful" shawl from "Shawls and Scarves: The Best of Knitter's Magazine." It's self-fringing and although it's just garter stitch, you change yarns every row, so at least it won't make me yawn. I do tend to be a "work on six projects at once" kinda gal. I wonder if I have knitting ADD?

Do you like to stick to one project till it's finished, and if so, why? Or are you restless like me and can't wait to finish one project before casting on for the next?

Final Project of 2008

2009-01-03T11:18:00.004-05:00

Ta da! My final finished project of 2008, and I'm so happy it's done. This is the Eastlake Sweater, pattern by Norah Gaughan. I made it in Crystal Palace Yarns Crème yarn, which is 60% wool and 40% silk, in color # 2013. I loved working with this yarn...so soft and smooth, easy to knit with. Unfortunately, it's either discontinued or else my yarn store is not going to carry it. Hmm. Will have to raid the sale shelves.

Here's a detail of the leaf panel. Gorgeous, isn't it? I don't have a picture of me wearing the sweater, but the style is actually quite flattering. I made the size 50, which based on comments of others, had a risk of being too big. But as it turns out, the bustline of the sweater fits nicely, so does the neck, and the flaring A-shape of the sweater skims gracefully over my tummy without leaving any telltale bulges. :-) So, I'm happy. I do notice some pilling developing under the arms, where it rubs on itself. We'll see if that continues or if it's only temporary, until it gets worn in.

Now I'm in that "I don't know what to make next" slump. I am working on a small cell phone case, but that's like an appetizer. I need to decide what the next main course will be. I do have lots of stash yarn...most of it lace-weight, so would end up being any number of shawls. And I do have yarn for a kimono, another long sleeved sweater, two short sleeved sweaters, and a coat. Ah, the plethora of choices awaiting me! And me one of those people who hang up and have to reboot the system if there are too many choices...

What's your first project of 2009 going to be?

Autumn Entrelac Extravaganza

2008-10-19T13:39:00.004-04:00

I finally finished my Autumn Entrelac Shawl. I did it in the M04, Grape and Rose colorway. Hard to tell just what color it IS from the photos, as they vary widely, though shot at the same time, in the same place, with the same camera. Here's a link to the yarn, though the color isn't exactly as it looks there, either. It's more of a burgundy with lighter and darker subtle variations.

Here's a close up of the stitches, but keep in mind the color is much darker than this picture indicates. This wasn't my first entrelac project, but the only other thing I'd tried before was a dishcloth. So this was definitely the largest! Once I got the hang of the pattern, it went quickly and with a minimum of fuss. I was unable, in my tiny bedroom, to get far enough back from the shawl to get the whole thing into the photo, and I don't possess a dress form to artfully drape it over, so you'll just have to imagine what the whole thing looks like.

I made a couple of changes to the pattern. First, I was lucky enough to see a finished sample shawl in person in my LYS (The Woolery) and more than that, to try it on. I decided I'd like mine a little wider at the top, and since you start at the top and work down to the point, that meant measuring and taking an educated guess how many more triangles to knit on the first row. I did 28 instead of the 25 called for and it came out perfectly for me.

Second, I didn't like the idea of knitting the edging separately and then joining it to the shawl in the last row. Why, you may ask? Because I'd heard from others making this shawl that they had trouble, the edging came out to be too short, and they had to frog it and start over. Since I was increasing the size of the shawl, it would be an even more difficult task to figure out how long to make it. I could have measured, swatched, multiplied, then cast on and hoped it was right. But I took the easy road. Well, the somewhat easier road. I decided to pick up the stitches all along the border and, in effect, knit the border backward. It worked out quite well, I had plenty of stitches to go around, and it ended up with a nice ruffle to it.

The original pattern calls for ten balls of the Jojoland Rhythm yarn. I used ten on the shawl, and three more on the edging. So be warned: if you do what I did, you'll need 30% more yarn! But it's worth it. I have a lovely, comfy, warm shawl to keep me toasty throughout the winter, and just in time. Lows in the 20s tonight. Yikes!

Anklets Finally Done

2008-08-01T12:51:00.003-04:00

At last, I finished my Girl's Best Friend Anklets:

They came out pretty well, I think. But they were troublesome to knit. For some reason, I had a lot of trouble with the lace cuffs. The first time I started them, I got about an inch into it and had the wrong number of stitches, and NO idea how that happened. So I had to frog and start again. Here's a picture of the offending cuff, finally finished:

You'd think--at least, I did--that having gotten past the trouble point, and completing one cuff successfully, the cuff on the second sock would be easier...but, no. I had to take it out also and start over.

But at last they're done! And awaiting the first chilly day of autumn to premiere in all their glory on a foot near me. ;-) Or, two of them!

I'm in a rut now as far as knitting goes. Can't seem to decide what I want to work on. I have several projects started...okay, more than several. A bunch. I pick one up, work a few rows, then put it down. Repeat process with several other projects. Sigh. Whine. Try halfheartedly to convince myself that what I need is to cast on yet ANOTHER project, but I know that will just give me one more thing to leave lying around, unfinished.

It's not that I've lost interest in the projects. Or at least, not most of them. A couple of them may need to go to the frog pond. ;-) But most of them I truly want to finish...I just can't seem to overcome the inertia to work on them. Is it the pattern? The yarn? The heat of summer? The doldrums?

Have you ever gotten into a slump like this? What did you do to pull yourself out of it? All suggestions welcomed!

Fireworks, Food and Fun

2008-07-05T13:00:00.005-04:00

I had a lovely time celebrating the Fourth of July with my family. Hope all you Americans out there had a great time as well. We had a barbecue the evening of July 3, with hamburgers and hot dogs, and veggie burgers and veggie dogs for the vegetarians. Also potato salad, French fries, fruit salad, and of course mud cake and ice cream. Yum! Put the grandkids down for a brief nap while the grownups watched a movie. Then we got them up for fireworks at 11:30 p.m. (Yeah, it's kinda late, but it's the tradition here.) We live in a great spot where we can just sit on the porch swing and watch the fireworks. Perfect!

After the lovely fireworks show, we walked down to Main Street for the Pots 'N Pans Parade at midnight, another tradition. First, all the church bells in town ring for about ten minutes. Then, everyone starts beating on pots and pans as the parade begin. A few floats and lots of antique cars rumble by. Then the real noise: probably twenty fire engines and rescue units from this and surrounding towns, all with their sirens going at full blast. What a cacophony of sound! No way could you sleep through it.

On the Fourth, after everyone was up, we had a nice breakfast and then drove down to Concord, Massachusetts, to see the Old North Bridge, where the first shot of the American Revolution was fired, "the shot heard round the world." Seemed appropriate for the day. Got to hear an enthusiastic park ranger give a talk about how that battle came about, toured the museum, then home for a nice dinner.

How was YOUR holiday?

Naturally, those fireworks in all their glory got me thinking about not only liberty, but also yarn. ;-) Hey, the colors inspire me! A good friend of mine, Jen, brought me a homemade drop-spindle made with an old CD, a dowel rod and a hook. She also brought me some gorgeous apricot-colored roving, and taught me how to spin. Well, got me started, anyway. I can't claim the lumpy product I'm turning out qualifies me as an expert! But it's fun and something I've always wanted to learn. Thanks, Jen!

I'm also working on a pair of socks I've put off starting for a long time. Let's see if I can post a picture of what they'll look like when finished:

Here's the link to buy the pattern, if you like them as much as I do, from Knitpicks. Hey, for $1.29 for the downloaded pattern, you can't beat 'em. I had to start them twice as the first time I was occupied with other things and somehow ended up with the wrong number of stitches in mid-cuff, and I'll be darned if I could find out what I'd done wrong. So I frogged and started over.

Interesting thing about the pattern: you knit the lacy cuff, then turn the work inside out and knit in stockinette until the stockinette extends about an inch beyond the cuff, then do the heel. IOW, you'll fold down that lacy cuff when you wear it, so the fabric is doubled there. But I'm thinking the next time I make these socks, I might want to make the cuff and just keep knitting for another inch *without* turning inside out, then go for the heel. That way I'll have a single layer around my ankle rather than a double. Good experiment, anyway.

So, how was your Fourth (if you celebrate it), and what colorful projects are you working on?

New Hampshire Sheel & Wool Festival 2008

2008-05-12T15:35:00.008-04:00

Had a lovely time at the New Hampshire Sheep & Wool Festival yesterday, and wanted to share my few but carefully selected purchases.

First came these buttons. They're handpainted in South Africa, and just lovely. I don't have a project in mind for them yet, but somehow they called to me and I couldn't leave without them. They could go with something pink, which is definitely me. ;-) But if I decide to be a bit more dignified (and boring), they could go on something cream-colored, or black. I've found myself drawn toward interesting buttons lately, which reminds me of the wooden button cask my grandmother used to have. Many times my sister and I made necklaces of buttons, being entertained for endless hours. I think it's time to start my own button collection!

My next purchase was a lovely shawl pin, purchased from The Elegant Ewe's booth (from Concord, NH). It's a beautiful pink shell pin that can be worn as a square, or a diamond. I like the diamond idea better[,] but it could go either way. It's a lightweight pin so will work well on delicate shawls. I never thought about the weight of a shawl pin when I acquired my first one, only to get it home and find it was too heavy for some of my lightest-weight shawls. So this one is a welcome addition to my collection.

Also from The Elegant Ewe I purchased this beautiful glass shawl pin, black and silver, very classy. I've never been a gold woman, give me silver (or white gold) all the way. Don't wear gold jewelry, so I don't really want gold on a shawl pin, either. Only problem: this shawl pin came with a wooden stick. Well, the brown wood just didn't look right with the black and silver pin--like mixing gold and silver. I asked if there were a different stick to use, and they graciously swapped it out for a black one from one of the pink shell shawl pins, so that made me a very happy camper! And definitely a future repeat customer.

And finally, the yarn. :-) I was really looking for lace yarn this year. I searched high and low, and was disappointed to find very little of it in evidence. I don't know if it was just in short supply this year, or if previous years didn't have much either as this is the first time I deliberately searched it out. Finally, when I was nearly ready to give up and go home, I found this gorgeous 80% alpaca, 20% silk lace yarn from Ball and Skein. I bought two skeins in the "blues" colorway, enough to make the shawl I was shopping for, from the "Victorian Lace Today" book.

Anyone else go to the Festival? What did you buy? Inquiring minds want to know!

Needle, Needle, Who's Got The Needle?

2008-05-07T13:36:00.002-04:00

I was just chatting with a friend about knitting needles, and how no matter how many of them you own, you never seem to have the size you need when you're about to start a project. For me, that's often because I'm a startophobic...i.e., I start multiple projects and have many going at one time. So while I may own needles in the correct size, the odds are they're already engaged in an ongoing WIP (that's work-in-progress, a writing term but I think it works for knitting also).

Until recently, size (and perhaps length) was my only concern with knitting needles. I had a bunch of needles from when I was a child (too many years ago to recount), and they were almost all aluminum. Susan Bates and Boye, mostly, I think. With a pair or two of colorful plastic ones thrown in for good measure. That was all there was back then, so you didn't have much choice. And while recently I've heard praise for different types of wooden needles, other varieties of plastics, various metals and even glass, I figured, heck, aluminum works fine for me.

But then I started a lace shawl, and found I kept dropping stitches when trying to do K2tog or even K3tog. The needles were just too darned slippery, and the tips weren't quite sharp enough. Also, the taper was too short and wide. I whined to my LYS owner about this and she suggested I try out Bryspun Needles. She even let me try them in the shop for an hour or so before making the purchase decision. (Yeah, she's terrific.)

I love them! The yarn doesn't slip off the needles when I don't want it to, but moves easily enough when necessary. The taper is long, the point is sharp enough, and I especially love the concave surface of the taper...an extra help to keep that stitch from dropping.

The website says they're good for arthritic hands because they're flexible. I can't swear to that, but I can say I haven't had hand pain while knitting since I started using them, so it's entirely possible.

They're lightweight, look like ivory even though they're plastic, and very reasonably priced. What more could you ask for? Next I'm going to try their circulars, and then the dps. I bet I'll like them, too.

Someday, I also plan to spring for some Signature Needle Arts knitting needles. Okay, they look like they're aluminum. ;-) But you can custom order them with various lengths, different decorative caps, and most importantly, three types of tips, including stiletto. So they're also on my wish list!

Do you have a favorite brand or type of knitting needle? What is there about it that you like? Or do you have needles you can't stand? Enquiring minds want to know!

Scarf City

2008-05-01T09:37:00.006-04:00

Lately I've been working on scarves, scarves, scarves. My daughter had to have her thyroid removed, and since she's only 21, naturally she's concerned about the scar.

So first I made this one.
This is the Biggle Scarf by Louise Fabian Vouk. I made it using Plymouth Royal Bamboo yarn. My first time using bamboo and I loved it. So soft and silky.

Next came the Hattie's Rose Garden scarf by Christy M. Roosien. I did the drop stitch variation and here's how it came out.

This was made with Jaeger Trinity silk and cotton yarn. I have another skein of this in a cream color that I plan to make an additional, different scarf with. I have several patterns in mind to choose from. I hope this yarn washes up soft as it's a tiny bit scratchy right out of the skein.

Then I decided to make the Angular Scarf by Silke Hupka, using Sockotta sock yarn I had in my stash. Not Helen's favorite color combination, perhaps, but I think she'll get some use out of it. What do you think of it so far?

And finally (or first? Since I began it first but then put it aside for scarves made from more summery yarns) is a lace scarf that's a variation of Wisp Scarf by Cheryl Niamath. I made it narrower and had the lace and garter stitch patterns run vertically instead of horizontally.

I'll finish that one last, since although thin, it's made with Madil Yarns Kid Seta mohair.

So that's what I'm up to lately! How about you?

Anyone For A Tarot Reading?

2008-04-17T12:52:00.003-04:00

Finished my Tarot bag. It was a fun and fast knit, once I got the hang of the pattern. I like the two colors together better than the original colors shown on the pattern itself. But of course that's totally a matter of choice.

I had a little difficulty finding beads with large enough holes to go through the braided drawstring, and ended up cutting away some of the threads and just leaving a couple. If I make it again, I'll shop for the right beads instead of just raiding my bead stash, as it wasn't really acquired with beading on yarn in mind.

The seed stitch top came out significantly wider than the two-color bag, so if I make it again, I might try a size smaller needles for the top. That said, having the top a little larger is good as it allows you to slip the cards in more easily. Here's a picture of the bag with the deck (still in its box) protruding, so you can see how much ease there is.

I don't use the Goddess deck much. I have a collection of perhaps twenty decks, of which I only use 3 or 4 regularly. But since the original pattern (which you can find here) was designed with the Goddess deck in mind, I figured that was the deck it belonged to. I can almost hear the waves of smugness coming from my bedroom: "I have a nice knitted tarot bag. You just have a cardboard box."

If it becomes too much, I may have to launch onto a lifetime project of knitting enough bags for all...

Breezy Breeze Jacket Done

2008-04-09T13:03:00.006-04:00

Ta da! My Breeze jacket, from Cathy Carron's book "Knitting Sweaters From the Top Down," is done. I used Plymouth Encore DK yarn, so I can machine wash it with impunity when needed. I love the top-down method, very little seaming to be done...just two tiny seams where the sleeves join the body. And I also like being able to try it on as I go, once the sleeves are done...that way I can customize the length, which I did. I made it several inches longer than the pattern called for.

Here are a couple of photos of the sleeve and neckline details:

I also chose to do something different with the closure. The pattern called for a simple tie at the neckline and that's it. Well, since I left out the wooden beads decorating the yoke and cuffs that the pattern called for, I decided a tie at the top was too boring. (Yeah, it looks like I changed almost everything, didn't I? Hah.) So I decided to do buttons. But the question was, one button at the top, in place of the tie? One button at waist level, as my younger daughter suggested? Or several buttons from the bottom up several inches, as my husband suggested? I held buttons up to the sweater in different spots, frowned and pouted at the mirror, and eventually decided on hubby's suggestion, figuring it would make my central portions appear smaller by virtue of the open "V" of the sweater above the waist. Or so I tell myself, anyway! So here is a closeup of the fabulous buttons I found at my LYS:

Cool, huh? Perfect for the spring weather that's *finally* arriving here. The crocuses are blooming, that's a sure sign!

What Kind of Knitter Are You?

2008-03-19T10:36:00.000-04:00

What Kind of Knitter Are You?

You appear to be a Knitting Guru. You love knitting and do it all the time. While finishing a piece is the plan, you still love the process, and can't imagine a day going by without giving some time to your yarn. Packing for vacation involves leaving ample space for the stash and supplies. It can be hard to tell where the yarn ends and you begin.http://marniemaclean.com
Take this quiz!

Quizilla |
Join

| Make A Quiz | More Quizzes | Grab Code

Isabel's Sweater

2008-03-12T08:56:00.005-04:00

Here's my granddaughter with the sweater I made her for her sixth birthday. It's a little large, but that's good as it means she'll be able to wear it next winter also. She was pretty excited when she opened it: "What is it? A blanket? A scarf? Oh, it's a sweater! I want to put it on right away!"

So, she did. And she wore it all day. And kept saying, "I love my sweater, Nana. It's so soft and warm."

Ah, what else could a knitting Nana ask for? ;-)

The sweater, posing on my bed

A closeup of the stitches

In case you're interested, the pattern is "Little Miss Strawberry" by Jodi Snyder, published in Creative Knitting Magazine.

Chevron Ruana Finished

2008-01-29T13:28:00.000-05:00

I finished my Chevron Ruana (from Iris Schreier's book "Lacy Little Knits") a few days back and finally have taken some photos:

Okay, I'm not the best photographer, don't have the best camera, and also don't have the best place to display things I'm going to try to photograph with less than sterling skills and equipment. ;-) Anyway, I hope you can see a little of how it came out. Above is the back, below is the front:

Tried to take a picture of myself wearing it, but alas, it was not to be. The only mirror in our house is a lovely oval silver-framed mirror above the bathroom sink. (Where I confess I can often be heard chanting, "Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who's the fairest one of all?" Haven't gotten an answer yet.) I can only see my head and shoulders in it. If I stand up on the toilet, I can see the middle of my body. Just try taking a photo that way, I dare you. :-) Anyway, here's a closeup of the stitches taken while holding the camera at arms' length and hoping something would show up in the shot:

At least you get to see my shawl pin designed by Rosemary Hill of Designs by Romi. Lovely, isn't it?

So what are you working on? Do you work on things for the season we're currently in, i.e., you're a fast knitter? Or do you, like me, work on any old thing that takes your fancy since it's likely to take a year or so before it's done? Hah. Let that secret out, didn't I?

Seashell Shawl Finished

2008-01-11T10:46:00.000-05:00

I finished up my Seashell Shawl, pattern by Kristin Omdahl in the October 2007 issue of Knit 'N Style. I think it came out wonderfully. Here's picture of it blocking:

Here's a closer picture of the stitch details:

I used Bristol Yarn Gallery's Buckingham yarn, which is SO soft…80% baby alpaca, 20% silk. The pattern starts with the bottom ruffle and works up, which is great as you decrease as you go, so you seem to pick up speed and work faster the farther you go. I was worried at first I'd run out of yarn as the ruffle took a full 25% of my yarn...but I worried needlessly. There was plenty of yarn to go around.

It came out looking smaller than the pictures in the magazine-–wrist and waist length rather than over the fingertips and hips. And that's after blocking the heck out of it. Here's the picture from the magazine:

If I make it again with this weight of yarn, I'd buy more yarn and work on larger needles to get a little more size. Probably my own fault for not swatching. (Shhh!) But it's lovely and quite wearable the way it is.

Hmm. I wonder how it would work in a heavier yarn? Because I do love the pattern. Off to rummage through my stash...

Sweater Done

2007-12-05T10:04:00.000-05:00

I've finally finished the sweater with interesting pockets. Not sure what else to call it. See what you think:

It's hard to tell from a small picture, but see that collar that runs down the front edges and across to the side seams? That's the pockets...you can tuck your hands in there to keep them warm. Very cozy.

The yarn for the main body of the sweater is Patons Divine in the "Floral Fantasy" color. When I saw it in the store, I had to have it, even though I didn't know what I'd make of it yet. It reminded me of a Renoir painting, all soft, blurry colors. It feels like a kitten's fur and is so luxurious to wear.

The yarn for the collar/pockets is Plymouth Encore Worsted and it worked well, except the bottom band was done in a smaller size needle and I think that was a mistake. The Plymouth Encore Worsted should all be knit in the larger size, since it's a somewhat thinner yarn than the Patons Divine.

Now I'm back to working on Dan's heavily cabled cardigan--I can only work on it periodically as the cables are rough on my arthritis. And I'm also finishing some lace fingerless gloves for a Christmas gift.

What are YOU working on for the holidays?

Balaclava--Anyone Hungry?

2007-11-19T09:41:00.000-05:00

My latest finished object is a balaclava for my husband, to wear under his bike helmet as he commutes to work. It's getting cold now and he needs something to cover all but the middle part of his face.

I found a pattern for World War I Red Cross Balaclavas and he chose this one:

He requested it in black. It came out very nicely, and he's already gotten some good use out of it.

Next, I'm working on some fingerless lace gloves for my mom. She works at her church, and her hands get awfully cold, but she can't type with regular gloves on. Here's the pattern I found: Lace Fingerless Office Gloves. So far they're coming out looking nice, but they seem very tiny. We'll see when I have one glove finished. I'd hate to have to start over...

What's the "hungry" part of my post, you ask? Well, I can't help but think "baklava" when I hear "balaclava" so it makes ME hungry, anyway! Anyone know what "balaclava" means? Wish I knew how to make a baklava as easily as I made the balaclava...

So, what are you working on? Christmas/holiday gifts? Can you talk about them, or are they a secret? ;-)

Finished Jacket, and Gorgeous Shawl Pins

2007-10-17T10:55:00.000-04:00

First, I have to brag a little about a finished object. It's a bulky top-down jacket in seed stitch, and it was my first top-down pattern. But it definitely won't be my last. The combination of the top-down knitting and the bulky yarn made it go super-fast and kept my interest the whole way. The pattern is called Verandah (I think) and it's from the Knitting Sweaters From the Top Down book, which has a bunch of other lovely patterns in it, as well as general instructions on how to design your own top-down patterns.

Here's a photo of the finished object. Hope you can make it out...I think I need a new camera. ;-)

The only change I made is leaving out the button(s) at the top. The original design has two ties at the top with large buttons sewed over them. I was just going to do a button and button loop. But the jacket is also designed to not quite meet in front...and with my...ahem...generous proportions, I figured if I just buttoned the top button and the rest gapped, I'd look like I made it a size too small. So, no button and it looks great.

Second, I recently asked Rosemary Hill of Designs By Romi design a shawl pin for me. It's a simple design, but one that seems to really speak to me. Here's a picture:

The spiral design seems like infinity...world without end...life goes on. And that message is very important to me right now.

While I'm on the shawl pin topic, here's a picture of a gorgeous shawl pin I picked up at the New Hampshire Sheep and Wool Festival last May:

Not the best picture, sorry about that. The pin comes from Gita Maria. This is a link to the pin I bought, just in case my photo above is less than adequate. ;-)

So between the two gorgeous shawl pins, I have something to go with every shawl. So far. But just looking around at those two websites makes me think I need more...

Okay, enough for now! Talk to you again soon.

Fun Quiz, and Ravelry

2007-10-06T13:31:00.001-04:00

First, here's a cute quiz to try:

What kind of yarn are you?

You are Merino Wool.You are very easygoing and sweet. People like to keep you close because you are so softhearted. You love to be comfortable and warm from your head to your toes.
Take this quiz!

Quizilla |
Join

| Make A Quiz | More Quizzes | Grab Code

Hope I copied the code right.

Second, I finally got my invitation to Ravelry! You can find me there as "delisi" and I hope you check out all my ongoing projects and finished items, since it took me an entire day to post what's up there. And that's not even all my stuff. ;-)

I organized some of my current projects into separate bags...mostly grocery bags, but some tote bags or knitting bags where I could find 'em. Now I can see how shamefully many projects I have planned or started! Takes over a whole corner of the living room, right next to my side of the couch, which is where I usually sit to knit. But did that stop me from starting a new one? Noooooooo.

Heeheehee! Yes, I freely admit I'm not only yarn/fiber addicted, but also new project addicted. And I don't want to be cured!

I try to justify it by telling myself I only have this many projects going right after my birthday, when birthday money was spent on as much yarn as it would buy. And that's true. But...some of the projects I've bagged up to start are with yarn I bought with LAST year's birthday money. ;-) Oh well!

Okay, back to work but needed a break to post the yarn quiz. Hope to see you on Ravelry! Add me to your friends lists.

Liz

Finished Seatbelt Cover

2007-08-29T14:03:00.000-04:00

Don't know if you ever have this trouble, but I drive an older car, and the seatbelt height is not adjustable. I'm short, and thus the seatbelt always runs across my neck and is very irritating. The only solution I've found is a seatbelt cover. Walmart (and other places, no doubt) sell one that looks like sheepskin and closes with velcro. I've used one like that for years. A little heavy in summer, but better than the alternative of the seatbelt digging into my neck.

Well, the velcro on my seatbelt cover is all shot and the darned thing won't stay on. I was going to buy another one, when I came across this pattern:

Seat Belt Snuggles

I was enchanted. Knitting things for my car is a novelty...and although buying the Berroco Suede yarn for the project was probably more expensive than going to WM and getting another velcro thingy, somehow it FELT thrifty to knit one.

So I bought the yarn yesterday, finished up the snuggle last night and put it on the seatbelt in my car this morning. Fits like a dream and is prettier than the pseudo-sheepskin. Now I just need an excuse to drive somewhere so I can test it out.

I'm really curious now. I've knit my fair share of sweaters, afghans, socks, shawls, and baby blankets. But this is the first thing I've knit for my car.

What are the most unusual things YOU have knitted? Inquiring minds want to know!

Finished Tendrils Shawl

2007-08-21T16:14:00.000-04:00

A few weeks back, I finished my Tendrils Shawl from Knitty. I decided not to use beads because of the weight, and also because I had no experience working with beads and knitting. Since then I've been working on the Mystery Stole 3, which has beads and I'm having fun with them, so someday I may try it again with beads. Anyway, here's a picture of the finished object:

I ended up wearing it over this past weekend, while my husband participated in the Timberman Triathlon. It was cold...much colder than expected for mid-August! And windy. I was thankful to have a nice, warm shawl...though three or four of them would have been better. ;-)

Here's a closeup of the stitches:

There's a mini-cable, a "regular" cable, and a ladder stitch. It was a lot of fun to work on.

The yarn I used was Classic Elite Premiere. It's a gorgeous yarn, 50% pima cotton and 50% tencel. It's SO soft, I spent a lot of time just patting and stroking it. Came out beautifully after washing and blocking and feels great next to the skin.

So, what are YOU working on? Something you'll still use this summer, or have you all started your fall and winter projects already?

Dreaming of Yarn

2007-07-17T18:01:00.000-04:00

I had a dream last night about knitting. Although I often remember bits and pieces of my dreams, this one is unusual; I don't think I've ever dreamed about knitting before, no matter how much knitting I've done during the day.

In this dream, I was making a pullover long-sleeved sweater out of either worsted or dk or sport weight yarn, and I can see the color clearly in my mind. It was a variegated yarn with peach and a denim or Williamsburg blue. It didn't make tiny little stripes of color, but instead made big blotches of it. The pattern was just a plain one to show off the yarn colors.

Now, naturally, I'm hung up on finding this color, but searching every online yarn store for it would take forever. I've already checked my LYS and no such luck, they don't carry anything in that color combination.

So if any of you out there know of a yarn that's peach and Williamsburg blue, would you please send me the link to it and end the torture? ;-)

In the meantime, have you ever dreamt about knitting? If so, what did you dream? Did it result in a project in real life?

On Board For Mystery Stole #3

2007-06-28T13:00:00.000-04:00

I've signed up to do the Mystery Stole #3 KAL. To sign up (hurry...you have to sign up by July 6), send a blank e-mail to mysterystole3-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. As you may guess, this is something that's gone on before since this is the third in a series. Some of you may know what i's all about, but I didn't know myself until a few weeks ago, so I'll fill you in if you're similarly uninformed.

It's a group that's doing a lace stole KAL (knit along) together. The interesting thing about it is, the "clues" (i.e., bits of the chart) are sent in small pieces, so you only get 25 charted rows per week (equivalent to 50 rows of actual knitting as the purl-side rows aren't charted). You receive hints about what yarn type and color to choose, but the finished stole pattern is a mystery.

Also, this stole features beads and though you don't HAVE to use beads to participate, I've decided to give it a shot. Heck, in for a penny, in for a pound, right? I'm feeling brave about the beads since I learned of what sounds like an easy way to add the beads. Check it out: Beading Made Easy.

Another challenge for me is the clues come out in chart form. I've only rarely worked from a chart, and then only in filet crochet. I much prefer written out directions. But the question is, could that be because that's all I work from? We'll see! I've ordered a magnetic Chart Keeper from KnitPicks, so that should help. A little.

And the stole even has a theme! Of course, no clues about that just yet either, though there have been many interesting guesses.

Here's my swatch with my chosen yarn (Skacel Merino Lace in white), though this is NOT the pattern for the stole, we've been assured:

I'm really excited about it. Of course, I need another project like I need a hole in the head. But I've had this laceweight yarn in my stash for maybe five or more years, just waiting for the right project. So the time is right!

Have you worked on lace projects before? Do you enjoy it? Do you work from a chart or a written pattern? Tell me your best tips! :-) I'm gonna need 'em.

Liz

Felted Knitting Bag Finished

2007-06-09T10:02:00.001-04:00

I finished knitting the felted bag, and finished felting the knitting bag. Which are one and the same. Hah! The colors in the picture are a little off...it's actually dark purple, dark blue, magenta, teal green, and light purple. But for some reason it ended up looking almost all blue. Anyway, you get the idea.

Didn't turn out one hundred percent the way I planned. For one thing, I think it felted a teeny bit too much. My fault; I checked it at ten minutes and it was hardly felted at all, so instead of setting the timer for another five minutes, I set it for another ten. Oh, and I added my "secret weapon" to the second felting session: a kettle full of boiling water.

Word to the wise: check your felting objects frequently.

But it's still large enough to carry a knitting project in, so I'm happy.

The other weird thing about it is, the top edge came out ruffly. This is definitely NOT the way it looks in the pattern (see previous post for link), but I kinda like it, so again, I'm happy.

It's drying now...and drying...and drying. Has been drying for three days and still damp inside. Felted stuff sure takes a long time to dry! Another word to the wise: don't felt something on the same day you want to use it.

So now I'm back to working on a shawl from this pattern at Knitty: http://knitty.com/ISSUEspring06/PATTtendrils.html Only, no beads. It's coming out quite nicely, if I do say so myself. Only problem: the cast-on edge is tight. This could just be a function of how tight my knitting is in general. But...does anyone have a suggestion for a stretchier cast-on method? I just use the single cast on...or thumb cast on? Would the double (or long tail) cast on be better?

Well, back to work. I need to start more projects!

Liz

Goddess Shawl Finished

2007-06-05T12:31:00.000-04:00

I finished the Goddess shawl I purchased the kit for at the NH Sheep & Wool Festival. I think it came out nicely...I never would have thought of putting all those yarn colors and types together, so it was fun to see how they worked. I just did a single strand of each of the nine yarns, and while they were all probably a baby yarn weight, some of the novelty yarns came out thicker or thinner. But that's part of the charm of the shawl, I think. I wore it yesterday and although it's light in weight, it's very soft and warm.

Here's another picture, this time a close-up of the nine different yarns so you can see a stripe of each one.

Now I'm back to working on this felted tote I'm going to use as a knitting bag: http://www.karpstyles.com/catalog.html?item=1592 But because I couldn't find five different shades of the same color in my LYS, I'm going with five different jewel tones. We'll see how it looks after it's finished and felted!

So what are you knitting?

Liz

Beautiful Spring

2007-05-16T09:38:00.000-04:00

It's finally spring in New Hampshire, when a woman's mind turns lightly to thoughts of...knitting?

Last Sunday, on Mother's Day, I went with my two daughters on what I hope will become a Mother's Day ritual, to the New Hampshire Sheep & Wool Festival. For a knitter, it's a delight. First, you get to see the sheep, goats, bunnies, alpacas, etc. that your yarn comes from. For the breeders, they get to compete for prizes, but for me, I just love touching them and imagining the supply chain from fuzzy animal to finished skein of yarn.

Then there are the sheepdog trials. You can watch dogs...mostly border collies, but a few other breeds...compete at being the best and fastest to herd a group of sheep hither and yon. I've seen it in the movies, but seeing a dog creep up on a group of sheep and then move them this way or that is really amazing. Those dogs are so smart! Makes my dog look like a slouch...he can't even herd our cat.

Of course, for knitters, the vendors' booths are the ultimate goal. It's so much fun to wander past booth after booth selling unique knitting needles, shawl pins, sweater kits, finished knitted items, and of course all that gorgeous yarn. And you're encouraged to touch the yarn...because the tactile sensation is as important when choosing a yarn as the color or weight.

I ended up purchasing a Goddess shawl kit from the Knitter's Knook booth (a retail store in Keene, NH, http://www.yarnshop.com/) and a shawl pin from The Elegant Ewe (a retail store in Concord, NH, http://www.elegantewe.com/). Would have purchased more if my budget had been larger. ;-)

Most of the New England states have a yearly Sheep & Wool Festival. I'm not sure about other states...but I'll bet YOUR state has some type of yearly tradition. Tell me about yours!

Most recent finished object: Finally finished the shrug for my older daughter that was supposed to be her Christmas gift. She got it on Mother's Day. ;-) Will post pictures when I get some.

OTN now: But of course...the Goddess shawl from the kit I purchased at the Sheep & Wool Festival! Patience is not my strong suit.

What are YOU working on?

Liz

New Finished Object

2007-05-07T11:20:00.000-04:00

Here's my latest finished object. It's a hot pad, done in double knitting. My daughter Heather created the pattern, and I think she did a fabulous job!

Double knitting, for those of you who don't know, is a way of knitting a two-sided fabric at once. It makes great heavy fabric for a warm afghan, good insulation for a hot pad, or you could knit both sides of a pillow at once. The picture on one side comes out as the reverse, a mirror image, on the other side.

Here's the picture of the reverse side of the hot pad, so you can see what I mean:

I'm new to double knitting so not an expert at it. But it is an interesting technique that I'll definitely want to dabble with more. It might make a great, really warm baby blanket or afghan...shawl or poncho...and of course works great for coasters and hot pads. What experience have you had with double knitting?

Liz

Barbie's Wedding Gown

2007-03-28T15:05:00.000-04:00

Recently I made a Barbie wedding gown for my granddaughter Isabel's fifth birthday. Naturally, as always happens, I forgot to take a picture before I gave it to her. But my daughter has corrected that, so now I'm posting the photos. It's crocheted, not knitted, but heck, that's close enough! It's a craft. ;-)

Here's the free pattern I found and used for the dress: http://www.fortunecity.com/victorian/jacobean/141/page2.html But as you can see, I made some modifications. Mostly because I ran out of time. I shortened the skirt, and left off the sleeves. And for a five year old, I think it works just fine.

Here she is with her doll. What do you think?

Socks Finished

2007-02-21T11:22:00.000-05:00

Not sure how clearly this picture will come out, but I've finished a pair of socks for me, and here I am modelling them. :-)

These are the "Sox on 2 Stix" from Knitty, and you can see what the socks look like better here: http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEfall06/PATTsoxon2stix.html

I loved knitting them on straight needles. The only down side is sewing the seams. My mattress stitch still needs a little work. ;-) And I also learned a standard bind off (knit two, take first stitch off over second) is way too tight for socks! So the second sock I bound off with the sewn bind off. That's stretchier and it works, but I knit tightly and would like something even MORE stretchy, so the next time I'll try another bind off. Heck, it's a science experiment!

So, what have you finished lately?

Liz

Free "Pi Openwork Dishcloth" Pattern

2007-02-01T17:02:00.000-05:00

As promised, here's the free dishcloth pattern. I just ask that you not sell or redistribute the pattern, or sell finished dishcloths made from this pattern. It's for your personal enjoyment!

Liz

Pi Openwork Dishcloth

Pattern by Elizabeth Delisi

Materials:
Cotton worsted-weight yarn (I used Peaches and Cream, color 130 Shaded Pastels)
Size 7 knitting needles
Crochet hook or tapestry needle to weave in ends

Finished size:
Approx. 9x9" square

Gauge:
Not important

Pi Openwork pattern stitch:

Multiple of 3

1st row (RS): K2, *YO, K3, with left needle pull first of 3 st. just knitted over last 2 and off the needle; repeat from * to last st., K1.

2nd row and all WS rows: P.

3rd row: K1, *K3, with left needle pull first of 3 st. just knitted over last 2 and off the needle, YO; repeat from * to last two st., K2.

Repeat these four rows for pattern.

Dishcloth pattern:

Cast on 43 stitches.

K 6 rows in garter stitch.

Row 6: K5, follow Row 1 of Pi Openwork pattern over next 33 stitches, K5.

Row 7: K5, P33 (Row 2 of Pi Openwork pattern), K5.

Row 8: K5, follow Row 3 of Pi Openwork pattern over next 33 stitches, K5.

Row 9: K5, P33 (WS row of Pi Openwork pattern), K5.

Repeat rows 6-9 until piece is 3/4" less than desired length, ending with WS row.

Next 6 rows: Work in garter stitch. Bind off, weave in ends.

Variation: Use seed stitch for border instead of garter stitch.

Questions? Contact me at elizabeth@elizabethdelisi.com.

Have fun!

Copyright 2007 Elizabeth Delisi

A Couple of Finished Objects

2007-02-01T16:53:00.000-05:00

I recently finished two projects, and thought I'd share with you.

The first one is a shrug I made for my daughter for Christmas...well, for January. ;-) Here she is modelling it:

And here's the back:

It came out pretty nicely. I used a pattern from the Internet, but changed the pattern stitch, changed the edging, changed the cuffs...so it doesn't look exactly like the original anymore.

I liked the pattern stitch so much, I decided to make up my own dishcloth pattern using it. Here's a photo of the finished object:

I'll post the pattern in a separate message so you can try it out for yourself if you like.

So now I'm working on a second shrug for my other daughter, Heather. Same pattern stitch, but she's chosen a different edging and cuff, so it will be uniquely hers.

I wish I had four hands so I could knit twice as fast!

So what are you working on now?

Liz

New Project Addiction

2007-01-11T15:52:00.000-05:00

Do any of you find you get bored with a project in mid-knit and abandon it to start something else?

This seems to be my pattern. Oh, I do finish things...eventually. Especially if it's for a specific event like Christmas, a baby shower or a birthday. But that means most of the unfinished projects sitting around are the ones I'm making for myself, as there's no deadline, no pressure to get them done.

I did just finish those men's fingerless gloves for my son-in-law (a late Christmas gift) and had the pleasure of watching him drive off to work, happily be-gloved. :-) I have two other projects to finish for late Christmas gifts, two shrugs. And I really want to get them done. But my feet are cold, darn it, and I want some socks! Also, I'd really like to get started on that lovely coat I'm going to knit, so I can wear it at least once this winter before it's too warm for coats...

How do you deal with the new project addiction? Do you give in and start something new, or do you doggedly insist on finishing whatever you're working on first? Or do you switch back and forth? I'd love to hear your tips!

Contest: Any HTML Experts Out There?

2007-01-09T19:20:00.000-05:00

You may have noticed I've changed the background on my blog. I like the new background, except...somehow it seems to have squashed the message area and the links area over to the left, with just empty space on the right. I followed the instructions exactly for installing it, so I'm at a loss of how to fix it.

So I've decided to hold a contest! The first person who can tell me how to fix this problem...that actually results in me being able to fix it...will win a free download of one of my books, whichever one the winner chooses. You can read about my books at www.elizabethdelisi.com.

Sure hope someone comes up with an answer! Thanks!

Liz

Christmas Presents Finished--Well, Some, Anyway

2006-12-30T14:14:00.000-05:00

I confess, I only got about half of my knitted Christmas gifts finished--a shawl with pockets for my mom (from Vogue Knitting on the Go: Shawls), socks for my sister (Sox on 2 Stix) and mittens for my sister's husband (Manly Mitts). I knitted as fast as I could, I swear! But there was just too much other "stuff" to do.

I'm still working on a shrug for my younger daughter, a shrug for my older daughter (both of them are the Aran Weight Top-Down Shrug, though in different colors of course!), and fingerless gloves for my older daughter's husband (Men's Fingerless Gloves). Oh, and I promised my husband something--anything--he can choose. I feel like I need to make him something as well, so he's not the only one without something hand-knitted by moi. :-)

So, did you get all your holiday knitting done? What did you make and how was it received? Can't wait to hear! And what's next on your needles?

Happy New Year and Merry Knitting!

Liz

Quick Post

2006-11-07T13:24:00.000-05:00

Just a quick post to say, I finally found a picture of the coat I'm going to make. Look here at the coat in the middle of the first row, off white and called "Long Coat." That's it! Only...mine will be purple. Hey, I'm not a white kinda gal. ;-) So how do you like it?

Liz

Yes, I Am Still Alive And Knitting

2006-10-19T10:21:00.000-04:00

But I'll bet you all thought I had disappeared. :-) The past four weeks have been a whirlwind with four trips out of state. I've spent more time packing and unpacking than anything else! The only good point about all this travelling is, more time to knit.

So, I finished the socks for my mom and gave them to her for her birthday (my first out of state trip). She loves them and is showing them off to everyone. Unfortunately, I didn't take a picture of them...because I finished them at midnight the night before her birthday. Deadlines can be so inspirational!

I've done about a foot on my Trellis Shawl and I love it. Not just the pattern itself, but the yarn is so soft...I spend a lot of my knitting time fondling it. ;-) It's done in Classic Elite Premier yarn, which is a combination of Pima and Tencel. Does anyone know how it holds up to washing and drying? I hope it stays soft and lovely.

I've begun working on the Wave Knitting Bag (you can see it here: http://saboardman.tripod.com/id15.html) but my local yarn store didn't have five coordinating shades of any color...the closest we could get was four. So instead I'm making it in five jewel tones, which I think will be lovely when felted.

And...my big project I'm about to start is the Pierrot Long Coat from the Fall 2005 issue of Vogue Knitting. It's a swing coat type of pattern, with extra-wide sleeves with big cuffs, and a seed stitch pattern done in super bulky yarn. I've ordered the yarn through my LYS and am waiting anxiously for it to come in. Has anyone made this pattern, and if so, do you have any hints or tips for me?

Anyway, that's what I'm working on now! I'll try to post a little more frequently from now on, and maybe next time with pictures...

Knitting, And Knitters, In Public

2006-07-29T13:15:00.000-04:00

Here's a recent picture of me with Amy S., a fellow knitter who was visiting the U.S. from Israel. That's a long way to come! So while she was here, besides lots of sightseeing, she visited lots of yarn stores, and lots of knitters she'd met through the Internet, including me. :-)

We had a great time chatting over coffee and Danish at a local coffeeshop, comparing knitting projects and talking about this and that. Also, she picked up a couple of my books, and I was delighted to autograph them for her. I met her husband and adorable daughters, who are so lucky to have a mom that knits! Especially since knitted clothing and accessories are now all the rage.

I had an interesting "knitting in public" experience the other day. I had to take my son-in-law to the ER (fortunately it turned out to be just a virus and he'll be fine). I had several hours to kill in the waiting room, so I brought out my knitting. I was working on a dishcloth with variegated yarn. Pretty soon an 11 year old boy, whose mom had left him in the waiting room alone for a minute, ventured, "That looks pretty cool."

I said, "It's called knitting. Would you like to come over and I'll show you how it works?"

He came a few feet closer. (And I thought, Good for you Mom, you taught him not to go TOO close to strangers!) I demonstrated how knitting worked, then told him I was making a dishcloth, showed him the pattern as it was emerging on the dishcloth, and the picture on the pattern of the finished item. He said it was "cool" and seemed quite fascinated.

A few minutes later his mom returned, and pretty soon I heard, "See that lady? She's making a dishcloth!"

So I told his Mom, "Yes, we had a knitting lesson over here." She said she thought it looked like a soothing hobby, to which of course I agreed.

So who knows...maybe a young convert?

I'll bet some of you out there have interesting stories of meeting other knitters, or knitting in public. So, fess up and spill them!

Adrift in UFOs

2006-06-19T14:14:00.000-04:00

I haven't posted recently because I wanted to finish something before posting again. I don't like to post without photos. But I just have so many irons in the fire right now, nothing is complete.

I've finished one sock of a pair, and the second one is started.

I've finished a potholder and 3/4 of a dish towel, still need to finish the towel and make the dishcloth.

I've done a few more inches on my Eros Glitz shawl.

I've purchased the yarn for another shawl.

I've done a few rows on a sweater.

Oh, and I did a big organizational project. I bought a large 3-ring binder and a bunch of those plastic sleeves. Then found all the patterns I've printed out or purchased over the years (well, many of them anyway) and slipped each one into a sleeve and put into the notebook. I have so much fun now just flipping through it and imagining all the projects I'm going to make! As if I don't have enough going already. ;-)

So, how do you keep your patterns organized? Do you have a filing cabinet...a notebook...just tossed in a trunk? Do you separate them by name, by type of pattern, by size, or something else? I'd love to hear!

Next time I post, I hope to have a photo of a finished object to go along with it.

My First Clapotis Shawl Is Finished

2006-05-13T13:18:00.000-04:00

I've finished my first clapotis shawl. Hooray! I think it came out pretty well, all things considered. Here's a picture of it, with our cat Burt looking on and wondering if he dares set foot...er, paw on it. Naturally, he's a smart cat and he recognizes the "just try it!" glint in my eye, so he doesn't touch it.

It was made with Cherry Tree Hill Oceania yarn, and the colorway I believe is called Blueberry Hill. This yarn has a thread of glitter material running through it, which you can't really see on the photo, but it makes it a little dressier and would work for evening. It comes in a 1440-yard hank, which my sister and I split, so I had about 720 yards to work with. Even though that's more yardage than the pattern calls for, by the end of the shawl, I had very little yarn left and the shawl was barely long enough, so I blocked it in order to get a few extra inches of length.

Here's another picture of it, a little closer up, with Burt still posing for the camera:

You still can't see the glitter thread in it, but you can see the colors a little better. They're really gorgeous...I loved the combination.

The glitter thread did tend to get caught or missed sometimes, and the thread is a little fuzzy so it didn't always drop without a lot of help when it was time to drop a stitch. Bottom line: next time if I used something similar, I'd get something without the glitter thread, just to make it a bit easier on myself, but the fuzziness of the yarn I liked enough to make it worth working with again.

I'd love to make another one in a heavier, worsted-weight yarn so it would work for colder weather. This one is great for late spring or summer.

Next project: finishing up a sweater I started last fall. Maybe it will be ready to wear by THIS fall! I'm making the Applegate Shirt by Oat Couture, and you can see a picture of it here:
http://www.oatcouture.com/patternpages/405Applegate.html

I'm using a denim-colored yarn and it's coming out wonderfully. I'll wait to choose the buttons till the sweater is finished. I can't believe it, but I'm actually anxious to finish the pieces so I can seam them! That's thanks to my recent finishing class.

Heading the the New Hampshire Sheep and Wool Festival tomorrow for Mother's Day, with my husband, daughter, grandchildren, and son-in-law. IF the weather is at all reasonable. Today it's pouring rain, with more predicted for tomorrow, and with a cast on my foot and two toddlers tagging along, pouring rain just won't work. Mist I can take...or light rain...so I'll hope for that! Hope you all have a great weekend. What projects are you working on now?

Finishing Class

2006-05-02T12:15:00.000-04:00

My latest knitting endeavor was attending a "finishing" class last Sunday afternoon at my LYS. I learned a lot, including three-needle bindoff, mattress stitch, kitchener stitch, short-rowing shoulder shaping, and lots of tips on knitting a project in a more customized fashion. The class was scheduled from 1-4, but actually ran until about 5 with all the material to be covered. It was definitely worth the $30 fee, and I know my finished garments will look better because of it!

I'm getting close to the finish line on my Clapotis shawl and can't wait to see how it looks when finally off the needles. Also, I've signed up with my state chapter of Newborns In Need (www.newbornsinneed.org) to knit hats, sweaters, booties, and blankets for newborns and preemies whose parents can't afford such things. Also, for those who can manage without too many tears, the organization provides handmade burial layettes for those babies who don't make it. :-( Anyway, it feels right to do something to show those parents that someone cares. Now I'm on the hunt for great patterns in newborn and preemie sizes, with minimal seaming (for comfort), no ribbon trim, easy on/easy off, etc. Any suggestions?

What are YOU working on now?

First Multidirectional Project Completed

2006-04-09T16:21:00.000-04:00

Hooray! My first multidirectional project, a scarf, is finished, and here's a picture of it. I used the book "Modular Knits" by Iris Schreier, and the "Multidirectional Scarf" pattern from it.

This was made with some VERY old yarn from my stash, from the 70s, called Caron Dazzle Aire. It's been waiting a long time for its perfect project! You can't tell from the picture, but it's fuzzy yarn, like mohair, with a slight sparkle or "dazzle" effect to it.

This was a fun pattern to make, as Iris's technique is very clever. You make the various triangles using short rows instead of cutting the yarn, so it's all made in one piece. I hate working in ends, so it's definitely the right technique for me!

Now I almost hope we have one more snowstorm left before spring and summer, so I can try it out...

My next project, which I'll start as soon as I'm done here (yes, I AM a glutton for punishment) is a clapotis shawl. You can find the pattern here: http://knitty.com/ISSUEfall04/PATTclapotis.html . Isn't it gorgeous? My sister and I are working on this project together...both starting today, and we're using the same yarn. We purchased some Cherry Tree Hill Oceania yarn in the 1,440-yard skein (colorway Blueberry Hill, http://www.yarnmarket.com/yarn/Cherry_Tree_Hill_Yarn-Oceania_
Yarn-670.html). We've split the skein and we'll see how it turns out, together!

So, what are you working on lately? Any new, exciting projects? Something summery maybe, with pastel cotton yarn?

Photos Of Pink Lady Bag

2006-04-01T20:10:00.000-05:00

Ta da! Here's a picture of my Pink Lady bag. I used Lion and Lamb bulky yarn, the color was Victorian Rose. Not sure it came out in the photo exactly as it looks in person.

I found an absolutely stunning pewter button for it at my LYS. Unfortunately, my digital camera won't allow me to get close enough to see the details without making the button blurry, so you'll have to imagine. ;-)

I'm already using it. Naturally, I couldn't wait! I've posted two pictures, not sure if either one really shows the details or the color to its best advantage. Anyway...it's done and time to work on my next project! I think I need to make a large felted tote that I can keep my other knitting projects in. As soon as my yarn budget gets flush again!

Pink Lady Is Done!

2006-03-29T16:38:00.000-05:00

Well...almost. I finished knitting it, including figuring out how to do the Kitchener Stitch to finish the handles. (No, I've never learned it before and it's a pretty cool way to join two pieces of knitting that are still on needles or holders.)

I've felted it and it's drying on the radiator now. As soon as it's dry, in a day or two, I'm going to my LYS to pick a really special button for the tab closure.

I made one slight change to the pattern. I know you can cut into felted knitting to create buttonholes. Really, I know it in my head. But my heart shrinks from it and doesn't believe it won't unravel if I cut. :-) So, I made the tab closure a little wider and knit a buttonhole into it. Hey, it'll work fine and my nerves were spared!

Speaking of felting, how do you do it? I always start out with the hot wash cycle, smallest load size, a teaspoon of dishwashing liquid, throw the bag in the washer with something heavy, and then check every five minutes. I've found it usually takes about fifteen minutes, and the addition of a teakettle of boiling water midway through, to achieve the effect I want. I like it to be fully felted, thick and sturdy, and no stitches showing. I've felted with several different yarns and they all seem to work well with that treatment.

But one thing that bothers me is, I can't find a way to felt without fuzz from whatever I put into the washer with the bag coming off on the bag. I've tried dark and light, fuzzy and non-fuzzy towels. I've tried jeans, and a denim jacket, but they all leave fuzz behind to some degree. I don't think a mesh zippered delicates bag would help as it has holes in it. I might have to try a zippered pillowcase cover, but not sure if it will felt as well if shut up in a pillowcase.

Do any of you have tips for felting? I'd love to hear them!

Making Great Progress

2006-03-27T14:51:00.000-05:00

Thanks to a recent 3,200-mile car trip to and from my son's wedding in Kansas, I've been able to make great progress on my pink lady bag. It's nearly all done, but when it came time to finish up the handles, I realized I'd left my stitch holders at home. So tonight I hope to finish the handles and the closure tab, felt it tomorrow, then run out and choose a great button to close it with! Can't wait to see how it turns out. I'll definitely post a picture.

I did discover that the Lion and Lamb bulky yarn has a LOT of fuzz to it. ;-) It ended up all over me and the car while I was knitting. Not that it stopped me! I'll be interested to see how much fuzz is left after felting.

Have any of you had experience with felting with this yarn?

It's Here!

2006-03-17T13:58:00.000-05:00

Woohoo! My "pink lady bag" pattern arrived today. I'm so excited...I've been waiting a while, even picked out the yarn, then had to be patient till the pattern came. Patience is NOT my strong suit. I'm trying to be patient again, till my work for the day is done, then I can start the purse. Whoopee!

Okay, I've Done It

2006-03-16T17:42:00.000-05:00

Although I've knitted practically all my life, lately I've been SO into it, it's been taking over all my free time. I've also noticed it taking over my writing blog. I suspect people who visit my THE WORLD ACCORDING TO LIZ blog to read about my books might forgive an occasional foray into knitting, but not repeated ones. So, I told myself, I have to have a knitting blog!

Here is a picture of my most recently completed project, a felted purse, drying on the radiator. I've since added a snap closure and a gaudy rhinestone pin as a decoration. It looks great if I do say so myself, and I'm having fun using it!

Also on the needles are: a multidirectional scarf made with a very old variegated yarn from my stash; a shawl made with Eros Glitz ladder yarn; and a lovely sweater (you can see the pattern picture here: http://www.mypollywogs.com/OCApplegate.JPG).

And, I'm waiting for a pattern to arrive for another felted bag that will be my next project. Here's the pattern: http://www.carodanfarm.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/product504.html I plan to make it in Lamb's Pride Bulky yarn, color M-34 Victorian Pink: http://www.showersofflowers.com/images/yarn/brolmbwm34.jpg?
PHPSESSID=96b4ca48e1ab8a01561ee6c3b936c304

So, all you knitters out there...and crocheters, tatters, weavers, embroiderers, beaders, spinners, and any other fiber craft...what are you working on? Can't wait to hear!