Woohoo! The Bag Is Felted!

Yahoo!  I finally worked up the nerve to felt the latest purse!  It came out great!  The only thing that didn't come out like I had hoped was the handle, but it still looked okay, so I wasn't too worried!  I felted it before Christmas, I just haven't been able to post the results till now! 

The size came out just what I wanted, which is good & the handle ended up being long enough, once I reknit it!  All in all, a fun, interesting project that I would do again.  Silly me, I didn't keep any notes on the construction of this bag.  Must have been a moment of insanity or just the busy holiday season.  Ah well, part of the fun of designing is being able to make something on the fly! 

In the pictures above, I show the completed, felted bag, which doesn't look too much different than it did before felting.  At least not in these pictures.  I took a shot of the underside of the pocket flap so you can see the I-cord trim around the rim inside.  I hope that will keep some stability to the top, so it doesn't stretch out of shape over time.  Also, you can see the felted carries, they won't get caught on anything now, cause they are all blended together now.  I also have a shot of the handle, which didn't flatten out like I wanted, but still looks good. 

Finally, the recipient of the bag!  My daughter's friend!  She was so thrilled to finally get it!  She was able to see it in progress & was very anxious for me to finish.  The best part is that she likes it!

Just Call Me Chicken!

Yep, that's me, a wimp!  I still haven't felted the latest handbag yet.  First, the strap issue kept bothering me.  It was too short & it might have gotten shorter with felting.  So I took It apart & reknitted it longer.  I really like the length now.  Its attached to the bag & the ends are all tucked in, so I just need to felt it. 

Why haven't I felted it yet?  There is a tiny part of me that is afraid it will get messed up.  Don't ask me why, I guess because felting goes against everything we knit for!  If the felting ruins the bag, I don't have leftovers to re-make the bag. 

The other thing is I started a new job a few weeks ago.  I'm exhausted!  Wow, I can't believe how tired I've been!  So, my point is, I've been too tired to stand in front of the washer to felt the bag!  LOL!  I'm planning on felting it today, so wish me luck!  I'll be sure to post pictures of the finished result!

What have I been up to in the meantime?  Chemo hats, what else!  Lunchtime is a great time to work on a few rows of a hat.  I recently turned a batch over to the cancer center, so I'll post pictures of those soon.  Plus, I'll need to finish up my next dozen & take pictures of those, too. 

Lucky me, I'm not doing any Christmas knitting this year! Smart girl!

Bag In Progress!

Oh no, not another one!  Yes, its true.  I'm making yet another bag, a purse this time.  This is not for me, so its all good!  I'm using up the leftovers from the felted entrelac bag shown before.  This is a totally improvised pattern.  I made it up as I knit along! 

I started out with the bottom of the bag.  I made a stockinette stitch rectangle, long & rather narrow.  This is the bottom of the bag.  Then I picked up stitches around the rectangle & started my stitch pattern in the round.  I just love the way this stitch looks!  Bright, festive, fun, I think I'll use this one on a few chemo hats later on! 

Anyway, I kept the side panels in plain stockinette, with a slip stitch at both ends of the panel to define it a bit.  After a few inches, I started decreasing the side panels, so the bottom of the bag would be wider than the top.  It worked out just like I wanted!  Wow!  The side panels sort of fold inward, so it makes the bag look more square when empty, but it will have give when it has goodies in it. 

I did an attached I-cord around the front opening, then worked the flap back & forth.  I used a garter stitch side edge to help stop the curl & put garter stitch at the bottom of the flap as well.  The flap still curls from the bottom, so I'm hoping that after felting, it will lay flat.  If it doesn't, I don't know what I'll do yet! 

The handle gave me the most trouble.  I had cast on about 15 sts, & was going to work it in a long strip.  I started with just the blue, but quickly found out I wouldn't have enough.  So I added some of the pink, but didn't have enough of that either.  I had already run out of the green, so that was out.  I started again, adding the yellow, which I had the most leftover.  Ick.  I went back & forth with this for quite a few days.  I would be motivated, start knitting, then realize it wouldn't work.  I would have to put it aside for a day to stop my frustration!  Then I would frog what I had done & start again.  This went on for about a week or so.  Argh. 

Then it hit me!  Why not knit the strap lengthwise?  This way I could determine how much yarn & had & give myself a better idea of when to stop!  I put a knot in the center of each length of color, then rewound them into balls.  When I would get to the knot, I knew I only had enough to repeat what I had already knitted.  So, I cast on with the blue, about 130 sts, worked till I saw that knot, then stopped.  Picked up the yellow & did the same.  I had the least amount in the pink, so it only got 2 rows, then yellow again & finished with blue.  I barely made it with the blue.  I guess binding off takes more yarn than casting on does. 

But the strap is done, & while it is not as long as I had hoped, it will just have to do!   I have no more yarn, except for a few lengths to sew the strap on.  I had intended on making an inside pocket too, but I was over confident in my yarn quantity!  I'm going to felt it today or tomorrow, & I will post pictures of the final result!  Cross your fingers for me! 

A Special Bag

This purse holds very special memories for me!  I made this for my wedding day.  I had previously knit a beaded amulet bag for my daughter to use in the wedding.  It came out very nicely & was quick & fun to knit.  I would show pictures of it, but I have no idea where its hidden in her room! Anyway, I decided to make one for myself, but much bigger.  This is the result of my effort!

While this is based on another pattern, I sort of consider it my own, because I didn't have a pattern to follow.  Any improvisions were my own.  It uses seed beads, tons of them!  I originally ordered prestrung beads, but the color wasn't right.  Off to the local craft store & I found just what I wanted, but I had to string them myself.  That was very time consuming!  It was all a labor of love & I perservered! 

The knitting itself is very simple, it is a garter stitch base, & the beads are slid into place between the garter stitch sections.  It makes for quick knitting.  The bag is shaped by the number of beads placed between the sts.  Very easy!  I used a very fine silky thread for the knitting.  The needles are lethal!  They are very fine steel double point needles, about a size 0000.  This is the tiniest knitting I've ever done.  It took a while to get used to the small needles, but once I got moving, it went quickly. 

I tried a few different things for the handle, but ended up using tons & tons of the thread to make a thick twisted cord.  It was the perfect size for a few tissues & lipstick.  The bag is rather heavy with all the beads, but it is very slinky.  It feels wonderful in your hands!  I showed a coworker who also does crafts, she said it was exquisite!  Wow!  It is pretty neat! 

Would I do another one of these?  You bet!  Maybe not the large size, but the smaller ones are wonderful!  I have the fixings for a purple bag waiting for me to start.  The beads are even strung for me this time!  I just need the motivation!

Offspring

This purse is a descendant from the beach bag shown in the last entry.  It is made in the same basic style, but with my own "innovations" added!  I started without using the pattern from the beach bag.  I thought I could remember it pretty well, since it was a fairly simple design.  I found some great worsted weight cotton in a deep purple shade.  This was very nice to knit with.  I also used much smaller needles than recommended on the label.  I wanted it to be tightly knitted so it wouldn't have gaps between the stitches.  It was to be a purse, after all!

Again, the bottom of the bag is a garter stitch square, the stitches are picked up around the square.  The bag is knit in the round to the top.  The beach bag has "corners" to make it rather square-ish.  I didn't add these in the purse because I *forgot*!  But it was still okay!  I did add a little interest with some reverse stockingnette diamonds on the front & back of the bag.  I continued with a flap closure knitted in a seed stitch.  I added an I-cord strap & a seashell for a button. 

The body of the bag is rounder than the beach bag because it doesn't have the corners.  I don't mind though, it makes it different in that way.  This is my favorite bag for gathering shells on the beach!  It is lightweight, dries quickly if needed & it is still loose enough that some of the sand will sift out.  Yet it is knit tightly enough that I do still have to dump most of the sand out of the bottom.  It is also a great purse to carry for those times when I don't want to take the "real" purse!  This bag is about 5 years old now, & it is holding up very well! 

This bag also has memories for me!  Don't they all?!  I started knitting this while we were on our honeymoon.  I purchased the yarn in North Carolina, and started it right away.  However, we had to evacuate due to an approaching hurricane.  We were lucky to have friends in Raleigh who let us stay with them for a few days.  I remember sitting in their lovely living room knitting away on this bag.  Though our honeymoon was cut short from the storm, I have great memories of friendship & knitting! 

The Bag That Started It All!

This is the bag that started it all!  The bag that began my fun journey into knitted tote bags & purses.  This has to be one of the best bags I've ever made!  It was a pattern from Knitter's Magazine, some number of years ago.  This bag is almost 10 years old & is still holding up very well. 

We use it as our beach bag.  It works great, because it stretches more than you would think possible.  I can fit 3 large beach towels, 1 huge beach blanket & assorted goodies.  Any sand that goes in with the items gets sifted out through the stitches.  Being made of cotton, it dries quickly, too. 

The bag has launched me on a knitting journey of designing my own bags.  The bottom is knit as a garter square, then stitches are picked up around the square & the body of the bag is knit in the round.  There was a little reverse stockinette stitch design to add interest, & garter stitch rows at the top.  Add I-cord handles & a closure, there you are!  Many of my own designs are based on this format. 

Also, for me, it holds fond memories of the knitting process.  While on vacation in North Carolina, I stopped in a yarn store & found the whole thing in a kit.  Yarn & pattern.  The yarn is a very thick  cotton.  It reminds me of the yarn used for the old dust mops.  It also had just enough color to make it interesting & fun.  I just had to get it.  I made it on the beach that week & was done before we left for home.  What a great fun project & memory!

Recycling!

This bag was very interesting, both in its construction & its materials.  It is made with recycled plastic bags, just like you get from the grocery store.  It is knit along with yarn, so it will have body & strength.  The design is my own, something I made up as I knitted along.  It came out just like I wanted, so both things together made this a favorite project! 

Folks were talking about this bag on the About.com knitting forums.  I just HAD to check it out!  I was so inspired, I decided to give it a try.  The website showed pictures of how to cut the bags so you have one continuous strip.  I just tied the bag ends together & made a giant ball.  Then I began the knitting.

I chose white bags, & I tried to find different colors of text on them to make it interesting.  I have loads of blue bags, but I don't care for the color blue.  I used a worsted weight white yarn along with it & went to it.  I made 2 identical retangles for the bags front & back.  The pattern on the website called for sewing the 2 pieces together & adding handles, but I didn't like that.  I felt it would be too narrow at the bottom of the bag.  It needed some room for expansion. 

So I knit a long narrow strip, probably about 20 stitches wide.  It was made long enough to go from the top of the bag, down the side, along the bottom & up the other side.  I sewed this piece in & made some I-cord handles.  I also added a button flap for a closure.  I love how the design came out!  I still need to add some type of button, a huge one to accent the bag. 

Though this is a favorite project, it is not one I would attempt again any time soon.  I used larger needles to accomodate the yarn & the bags.  I'm just not used to the larger needles anymore. (Whine!)  Also, the bags tended to drag on my fingers, which made them extremely tired & sore.  I started getting to a point where I couldn't wait to finish it because it was stressful on my hands.  I'm glad I forced myself, cause I love the bag!

If you decide to do a project like this, I recommend the thinner bags.  My grocery store bags are perfect.  They are very thin & slippery.  Some of the retail stores have a thicker plastic, these were not as easy to knit with.  These are the bags that caused the most trouble.  They would drag on my hands & needles.  Also, have LOTS of bags ready, you go through them quickly!  

Bagging It!

I admit, I'm addicted to making tote bags.  I really don't need any tote bags, I have lots of them.  I have quite a few canvas bags, some vinyl bags, some cloth bags, but I can't help myself!  I just love making them!  They are so much fun!  You can experiment with colors, shapes, textures, yarns, patterns, sizes!  The possibilities are probably endless!  My next few entries will be about these bags & branching off to purses.  What fun! 

The bag pictured is not one of my first bags, nor is it my own design.  It is from a Knitter's Magazine pattern, & I fell in love!  Doing entrelac is not one of my favorite things to do because of all the turning, so I forced myself to learn to knit back backwards.  Hope that makes sense!  This way, I wouldn't have to turn on every row.  It worked out great!

I used Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride wool yarn for this in some very festive colors.  I thought it would be fun because the harlequin patterning of the entrelac is a great way to show off bright colors.  The bag started with an attached I-cord edging, then the entrelac was worked from the I-cord down to the bottom of the bag.  It ends in a fun looking star type design.  I just had to show that in the picture. 

I made some I-cord straps & threw the whole thing in the washer to felt it.  I love the way it came out, but I think next time, I would felt it a little longer.  I rather like the more blurred effect felting gives.  This one doesn't seem to be felted enough for me.  I followed the instructions that came with the pattern for the felting, but I would still go a bit longer.  I blocked & dried the bag on an old potato chip can, but an upside down bucket would work well, too.  I had some fun colored buttons that matched the yarn pretty well, so I picked on of each color to sew on the handles.  This way it keeps up with the fun harlequin theme! 

I have to fight my daughter for this bag.  At first, I didn't think she liked it.  Then one day, I was hunting for it & found it in her room.  She'd been using it for an overnight bag!  We can share!

Enough Already!

Enough of the sweaters already!  Ugh,, there are more trials & tribulations, but I'm not sure I want to go there!  I've been knitting for just over 20 years, so you can imagine how many there have been!  Like the cotton sweater made from a pattern, using the correct yarn & perfect gauge.  It fit perfect!  I wore it to Las Vegas, but by the time we got there, it had stretched out to my knees.  I frogged it immediately when we got home, but haven't had the heart to re-knit anything with it yet. 

How about my experiments with a knitting machine?  This thing is supposed to save time & frustration by knitting a sweater quickly.  I ended up more frustrated with it than I could have thought possible.  I made a few things with it, then it sat in the closet untouched for many years. For me, the relaxation comes from FEELING the yarn flowing through my fingers.  Feeling the fabric growing under my hands.  The methodical process of making the stitches.  The machine didn't give me any of that, I would rather make it by hand!

So we move on!  Its been a bad summer for knitting.  I haven't done much at all.  I started out thinking I would have a nice batch of chemo hats ready for the fall.  Well...I'm working on them!  I have about 8 so far, not bad, but not what I could have done.  I didn't knit anything else either.  Sometimes I guess I need a break from knitting too.  Usually, the bug hits again in the fall, around September.  The cooler weather just makes for comfortable knitting!

I'm thinking of showing some of my tote bags & purses that I've made.  These are fun & even a mistake can be a fun element.  I don't make sweaters very often anymore.  I'm not sure why.  Guess I'm into that instant gratification thing.  Tote bags & hats satisfy that because they are fast & fun.  Anyway, I'll take some pictures of bag projects & post them soon!

Another Goodie!

This is another sweater that came out like I had hoped!  This one & the last sweater were done around the same time frame, so I was on a roll!  I took measurements of a t-shirt that fitted me well.  It was a crop top, loose fitting body & sleeves.  A fun summer shirt.  I had this really fun yarn, green cotton with multi-colored slubs throughout.  I just knew I had to try to make it into a fun summer sweater.

I used a lacy chevron stitch, because I wanted scallops on the hemline & sleeve cuffs.  I started with a few rows of garter stitch, for a smooth line, then went at the stitch.  The lacy stitch gets a little lost in the yarn, but it was okay with me.  It was coming out just like I wanted. 

As usual, it was knit in the round to the armhole, then back & forth to the shoulders.  I knit the sleeves seperate, in the round, then sewed them in the openings.  I made a nice rounded neckline on this, just like my t-shirt & trimmed it with a few garter stitch rows to finish it off. 

It came out great!  Another victory!  The openwork of the stitches is camoflaged by the yarn, so it doesn't appear to be revealing.  The scalloped edges make a fun, interesting focal point to the sweater.  Not to mention the bright, festive yarn!  It was a very fun sweater to wear, the yarn was lightweight so it was perfect for summer.  My tastes have changed a bit (could it be old age?!) so I don't wear this one anymore.  But it is a victory sweater in the fact that it came out like I had wanted! 

Here's A Good One!

For a change, here is a good one that came out just like I pictured in my imagination!  Wheee! 

Anyway, I had a fun multi-heathered yarn.  This time I decided on simple to let the yarn speak for itself.  I think that worked well!  It is a basic golf-type shirt/sweater.  Classic & simple in its construction.  Straight to the underarms, short raglan sleeves, button placket neckline with a small collar.  I even chose a feathered-type decrease to keep it simple.  It makes a smooth transition from sleeves to body, & has just enough texture to make some interest (for the knitter, at least!!). 

I did get fancy buttons for the placket, because I fell in love with them at the store!  They have just a tinge of black etching on them, which goes with the tiny bit of black in the yarn. 

There is one sort-of glitch for this sweater.  As much as I would have liked to be able to wear it, it was never meant to be.  It fits my daughter, perfectly!  While it is not her style right now, I'm hoping in a few years she'll be more interested in it again.  

This has to be one of my all time favorites, just because it came out right, just like I always hope they do!

And There Are Still More!

Gosh, I still have more trial & errors.  Thinking about it is almost scary!  Anyway, here is yet another one!  This one was made some time ago, maybe about 8 years or so. 

This sweater is made with Tahki's Cotton Classic.  Obviously I love this yarn, because I've made so many sweaters with it!  This one is my own design, & all in all it wasn't a bad effort.  But I did have some problems with it.  First, I chose a fun slip-stitch pattern that made a vertical line with the main color & small blocks of the other colors.  Very easy to work & it looks interesting.  I wanted the vertical lines for a more slimming effect.  This is done in the round again, up to the neck opening.  I chose a raglan style decrease for the sleeves because I thought it would be fun to maintain that "line" in the white.  I remember having a little difficutly with it at first, but the results are great, I think! 

So, lets see, what are the problems.  I made it too wide in the body.  I was going for a looser style, but I went too loose I think.  Be because of my calculations on the sweater body being wider, so were the sleeve calculations.  So, they are a little too wide as well.  Also, I can't remember why I put the collar on it, maybe to hold the neck opening together somewhat.  I must have liked it then, but now it just looks weird. 

I do wear this sweater still.  Not as much as I would have liked to, because it didn't turn out like I picured in my mind!  It is also a heavy sweater, so its great for cooler days.  I'm pleased with the sleeve seams & the colorwork.  I guess I consider this one an "Okay" result.  Count it up as another learning experience! 

Back To Basics

Here is a sweater that I made from a pattern.  I found a wonderful French sweater book with very fun patterns.  It had loads of really great things, & this was one of them.  Actually, the only one I've made from the book..so far!  Of course, none of the yarns are available any longer & the patterns had some interesting translation terms.  It made it a little more challenging!

I used a lovely heathery wool in a deep burgundy.  The sweater has a cable "V" down the front, with seed stitches in the middle of the "V" & a block type stitch on the outside of it.  It makes for an interesting effect, & I think it makes the "V" stand out more. 

This sweater came out well, it fit very well, & is a great snuggley winter sweater.  Being as it was made many years ago, I don't think I made any mistakes on it...none that I can see at least!  Unfortunately, it is too small for me at this time, so I can't wear it anymore. 

It's Been Awhile!

It's been awhile since I last posted.  Think I fell asleep on the job here.  Actually, I had good intentions practically everyday, just that real life thing kept interrupting.  So anyway, back to business!

This one is more of a "good" effort in my designing trials & tribulations.  Made with a white cotton with pastel colored "slubs" throughout.  Again, it is in the round to the arm & neck openings, worked back & forth to the top. 

I chose a lovely lacy stitch for this.  I tried to highlight the openness by putting a dark towel inside so you can see the stitches.  I believe this stitch is called Lace Vines.  Very pretty & feminine, I think. 

Anyway, the sweater was working out wonderfully, I finished & tried it on.  Hmmmm...because of the openness of the lacy stitch, the neckline was a lot wider than I anticipated.  So, to solve that without having to frog, I ran an elastic thread through the neck ribbing.  Perfect! 

Other than the neckline issue, this sweater was a success.  I still wear it, I love it, it gets lots of compliments, especially when folks find out I made it myself!  While the stitch appears very open in the pictures, it is really not too revealing while being worn.  Due to the elastic nature of the stitch, it acts like a ribbing so the eyelets don't expose too much.  Which is a good thing! 

 

Another Sorta Sorta

This is another sorta sorta sweater.  I found this lovely black yarn with purple & green running through it.  It was soft & cuddly, so I thought it would make a great winter sweater.  Another of my own design, I decided on a basic sweater made in Stockinette stitch. 

After starting the ribbing, I decided it might be too plain, so I added some cables to the ribbing.  When I reached the raglan decreases for the sleeves, I added some cables there too, & on the collar ribbing. 

It really worked out nicely, & I really liked the effect. It fit great, was soft & warm & worked great dressed up or down.  I still wear this sweater in the wintertime.  So what's the problem?

It is so dark, you really can't see the lovely cables.  Especially the ones on the raglan decreases.  They look so cool, & my calculations were right on.  You just can't see them. So much for my fancy "dramatic element".

The pictures here don't do the color justice.  Because the sweater is so dark, I used the flash.  It makes it look grey & faded.  I took a close up of the lovely cables in natural light.  Can you see them?  Yeah, I can hardly see them either.  Sigh.

 

In The Meantime

While I'm deciding which flop to show next, here is an update on our backyard birds! 

There was some action in the birdhouse, but it stopped.  Not sure why, so we don't have any tennants in there right now.  But it did inspire me to put out more yarn scraps. I'm glad the neighbors didn't see me standing in the window, cheering the birds on as they started picking up the pieces. 

One little guy had so many pieces sticking out of his beak, I don't know how they all fit.  And he kept trying to go back for more!  It was really making me laugh at how thrilled they were to find it. 

But so far I haven't had any luck finding a nest made with bright blue yarn.  I may hack up a few more scraps today, maybe I can snap a picture of a bird with his beak full!  Simple pleasures for the simple minded! ;)

A Sorta Sorta

Sorta good, sorta bad, that is!  This one is another of my own designs, again made some time ago.  It was a lovely ribbon/tape-type yarn, the first time I worked with anything like it.  I saw it in a Patternworks catalog, along with a photo of a sleeveless sweater I really liked, so I ordered the quantity they specified for their version. 

First mistake! I ran out of yarn which I didn't understand.  My design & theirs were very similar, so I think they had a typo in the quantity needed.  Fortunately, I was able to get another ball of the same dyelot.  Whew!

I'm mad at myself for that mistake, because I have a yarn calculator that I always use, this was the first time I didn't use it.  I never made that mistake again!

So anyway, I chose a stitch pattern that would highlight the yarn.  In the close up you can see the v-stitches, it really shows that the yarn is a flat ribbon/tape thing.  I also carefully calculated the amount of stitches needed for proper fit.  It was great!

Until I got to the shoulders.  I had knit the body in the round, separated for the armholes & neckline, & knit to the shoulders.  I chose to knit them together (I hate to sew!), & the first side went together very well.  The lines of the stitch pattern didn't match up on the second shoulder.  Argh!  I didn't think of that when I was designing it! 

I tried to figure a way around it, make the neckline shorter or fudge it somehow, but in the end, I just knit them together.  I'm disappointed in the way it is, but its not really noticable while being worn.  Mistake #2.

I do like the way the collar turned out.  It is open & comfy, & I think rather feminine.  I also LOVE the buttons I used.  The pictures don't do them justice, they are a lovely marbled mother of pearl.  I trimmed the sleeves in a reverse single crochet, which turned out nicely, I thought. 

All in all, it was a great fit, I loved the feel of the material & all.  However, this is a very heavy yarn & while it is meant to be a summer sweater, it is heavy & warm to wear, even though it is cotton.  Mistake #3, Live & learn.  I still wear this sweater occasionally, on cooler spring days!

From Under The Rock

I'm Baa-ack!  Almost to normal, too!  Ugh, the doctor said it could have been the start of pnuemonia.  No wonder I felt like I was run over by a big truck! 

Anyway, let's continue with Spunknit's flops.  In the pictures above is a vest I made some time ago.  I found this fabulous white & black marled yarn, I just had to have it.  It was so soft & I loved the play of the black woven throughout.  It was a number of years before I decided what to do with it, though! :)

I decided on a vest, which is not something I wear very often, but I figured it would be a good accessory piece for the wardrobe.  It would be my own design, how hard could it be to make a vest?  I played with stitch patterns, cause I didn't want plain stockinette.  I settled on a basket weave stitch, which I absolutely loved (still do!).

I made the body in one piece to the armholes, & kept working to the top of the shoulders.  I knitted the shoulder seam together, which worked well on this piece.  Then I trimed the whole thing in a black yarn attached I cord.  However, now I think the black is just too dark.  Flop #1.

As you can see, the vest is a basic rectangular shape.  Ack, bad move on the old bod!  It made me look frumpy & shapeless.  It obviously needed some body shaping.  Rather than frog & re-knit, I've thought about adding a back belt/strap/tie-thing that I have on a store-bought vest.  I thought it might pull in the sides a bit & give it some shape.  I just haven't done it yet. 

Why not?  Because the shoulders also needed shaping.  They are finished off straight across the top, which made me look like a linebacker for the Cleveland Browns.  Hmm...not quite what I was going for. 

All in all, I just don't have the heart to frog it, I just figure it is a lesson learned in my "designing" phase.  I guess I keep it as a reminder...don't do THAT again!!

Just Shoot Me

To be continued when I return to the land of the living.  Currently, I am way sick, so see you when I feel better...ugh! 

Two Good Ones

Shown in the pictures are two successful sweaters.  The pink one is older.  It was made from a published pattern, in a heathery pink cotton yarn.  It is a great fit, still looks terrific after 12 years or so, & it is fun to wear with jeans or dressy clothes.  The first picture shows the actual color, the other two pics make it look very orange! 

The pattern called for the sleeves to have the same lacy blocks knitted on them as well, but I chose to work them plain.  The bottom is reverse stockingnette stitch, the top & sleeves are regular stockingnette.  A fun, easy lacy stitch adds a lot of interest.  The only thing I don't like about this sweater is the boat neckline.  It sort of chokes me when I wear it, but that is the nature of that type neckline.  I've worn this one very often on more casual days.  One of my favs! 

The green sweater was probably the first I made using the EZ method.  It is knit in the round from the bottom to the top, using the percentage method.  I threw in the black diamonds to add interest, otherwise it would have been really boring!  It has a raglan type sleeve, which is shown in the closeup.  I like the way the decreases look "feathered". 

It was a great fit, longer to cover the backside (it was the style back then!), in a very soft yarn.  A very cozy sweater, sadly it doesn't fit anymore...sigh. 

I was very careful to follow the percentages & I felt it was a success for a first try.  I felt encouraged to do more, then the trouble began.  Stay tuned to see some fabulous flops in the next few days!

Trial & Error

Once upon a time, everything I knitted came from a pattern.  I followed the directions exactly, knit the back first, then the front, then the sleeves.  I sewed (!) the pieces together using backstitch.  I never deviated from what I knew to be the "rules".  Then I read about Elizabeth Zimmerman. 

I found her in a roundabout way.  I ordered Jacqueline Fee's book, The Sweater Workshop.  It is based on EZ's knitting theories, & I loved the idea of doing my own designs.  I bought some of EZ's books & I was hooked!  So, to tie all this babble together, I'm going to discuss & show a few of my sucesses & flops.  The success part is easy, the flops are a little harder to bear! 

So without further ado, featured in the pictures above are 2 of the first sweaters I ever knitted.  The green one is a success story.  It was done from a pattern, following the "rules", made with Tahki's Cotton Classic in a pretty jewel green.  The pictures don't do the colors justice!  It is an openwork pattern, 2 rectangular pieces sewn together, then collar & sleeve ribbing added.  It came out wonderfully, I wore it all the time, it was one of my favorite sweaters.  Got lots of comments about the openwork, too, as it showed flesh & undergarments!  It is about 14 years old, & the yarn is just starting to fade.  Not too bad! 

The fushia sweater is a semi-flop. It was made about a year after the green one, but before I found the EZ method.  Already, I was trying to experiment!  I wanted another sweater from the same yarn, in the same body style. I used the green one as a guide for measurements. I chose a lacy pattern I loved from a stitch library, & went to work. 

When it was done & sewn together, it was too narrow in the body.  I didn't realize the stitch pattern would pull in the sides.  I wasn't about to frog the whole thing, so I improvised.  After unpicking the seams, I knitted narrow side panels.  Then I sewed them between the front & back to give the extra width I needed.  It worked great & isn't too noticable.  Another of my favorites, I wore this all the time as well, but it is not fading as much as the green has.  

Sadly, I no longer wear either sweater, cause they don't fit me anymore.  Sigh!

A Test Of Strength

My daughter had to do a school project, which involved a trip to the craft store.  We went to Michael's because it is so close to home (so she could practice DRIVING!).  Needless to say, I just HAD to make a stop in the yarn section. 

Oh my!  They had loads of new stuff...it was really exciting!  They've been rather stagnant with their selection, but they added all sorts of Fun Fur & Boa, plus a few others that I don't remember the name.  Some of the colors were so gorgeous.  I just loved the feel of the Boa, it felt like very soft feathers.  I'm sure it would be heaven to work with.  They only had that one in 2 colors, but both were lovely.  They had probably every color in the Fun Fur, it was everywhere (maybe an upcoming sale?!?!).  It just looks so...fun!

I am so proud of myself, though.  I walked out of that store with NOTHING for myself.  Sigh.  It was tough, but I perservered!  However, seeing those lovely yarns really makes me want to break my yarn fast & go on a spending spree.  Thinking bad thoughts!

Sparky's Scrap Blanket

This is Sparky's blanket.  I used a cream yarn as the base color & switched colors as needed.  I made it with 20 stitch wide garter stitch strips, then sewed them together.  I used garter st because it takes more yarn to complete, this way I could use up more scraps.  I also doubled some sport weight yarns, & tripled some of the finer yarns so I could use them as well. 

I played around with different ways to sew them together.  I used a weaving method normally used to sew stockinette pieces.  I liked the braided look that it gave the finished piece, which is normally what the back side would look like.  While I liked the way the other side looked, I prefered the braided effect. 

After all said & done, it made a 3 foot by 4 foot blanket.  I rather like the effect of the strips with the different colors, too. 

Sparky really seems to enjoy it! 

Afghans, All The Time!

I've made lots of afghans over the years.  They are just so wonderful to snuggle up when the weather is cold.  They offer comfort when you don't feel well.  They are like an old friend.  I love the ones that I currently have. 

The above pictures show a few of them.  The oldest of the group is the white one.  It is done in a fun zig-zag pattern, with fringe on the long sides.  It was made on larger needles, I believe they were size 11.  It is smaller than my others too, about the size of a twin bed.  It has held up well over about 15 years!

The blue & black buffalo plaid is the next.  It was done with 2 strands together, using bobbins for the squares, all the way across.  I trimmed it with 3 rows of single crochet, but I hate the look of it, & just didn't have the heart to frog it & make it garter st instead.  It took a long time to make, because of the switching of bobbins over a small area, but the look is classic.  Made with a very soft yarn, it also has done well over time.  It is very thick & warm, perfect for a winter's night.

The next one , also blue & black, was made in long chevron strips, which were sewn together.  I trimmed the top & bottom with garter st.  It was made with a chenille yarn by request of my husband.  I've been lucky, as it has only wormed a little!  Included is a close up of a blue strip to show the stitch pattern.  I made garter rows every so often to help show the definition of the chevron.  It is very soft & lightweight, great for a cooler spring evening. 

The last is my scrap yarn afghan which I have shown here before.  It is one of my favorites, so its worth showing again!  You can really see how the squares come together to make this a very interesting afghan.  I've also included closeups of two of the squares, done in garter st.  This is a huge afghan, more than large enough for our queen size bed.  This one is my comfort afghan for when I don't feel well.  That & some chicken soup, I'm all set to feel better!

Spring Is Here!

I love watching the birds fluttering around outside.  We put up some feeders & a couple of birdhouses for them a few years ago.  So what does this have to do with knitting?  Well, I save my small scraps of yarn & put them out for the birds to use in their nests.  I also put out dryer lint, which they really seem to like also.  I really got a kick from seeing a piece of bright blue yarn sticking out of the birdhouse! 

This year, a few birds started nesting in one of the houses, but the bottom had rotted to the point where it fell off.  There was a nest inside, but no eggs fortunately.  My husband replaced the bottom, but the birds have been slow to return.  Two days ago, I spotted some action going on in the house again, so hopefully I'll get to see some yarn scraps hanging out again!  I'll be sure to get a picture of that! 

This past weekend, we attemped a camping trip.  It got rather cold because of all the rain we've been having, so I made sure I brought my cable sweater.  It was perfect!  I wore it most of the day Saturday, it was warm & cozy.  Unfortunately, it got so cold that I hardly knit anything, & we ended up leaving early.  We don't have a heater in the camper, so it gets very cold in there!  It took my butt about an hour to thaw!

And Then There Was The Time...

A friend's daughter was expecting.  This was a difficult situation because she was 16.  Even though most of us were not happy about the situation, we were planning a baby shower for the girl.  Being that the family doesn't have a lot, I thought I would make as many baby things as I could.  As I knitted, I only thought good, loving thoughts for the baby.  Blessings is how I felt about it, as I hoped the best for both the mother & the baby.  I finished 4 sweaters & a hat in time for the shower. 

When the girl opened the sweaters, she was less than thrilled.  You could see she was visibly disappointed.  As was I, for all the love that I put into making the garments.  I assume she expected a "store-bought" gift.  It was very sad, in my opinion, because she obviously didn't appreciate the gift at all. 

I don't mean to sound like a glory hound, but I felt disappointed as well.  At least be appreciative of the "gift".  She must be one of those folks who feels that a handmade item is less worthy of her appreciation.  How sad, maybe it is just her youth.  This is one person I will never knit for again!

One Of My Favorites

One of my favorite recollections!  I made quite a few sweaters for a friend's baby shower.  They were all in generic colors so they would be appropriate for boy or girl.  She had a little girl, & every time we would go there, the little girl would be dressed in one of the sweaters.  There is nothing so flattering as to see your gift being used by the recipient!  They were different sizes to accomodate the rapid growth of a baby, so I had made one in a toddler size as well.  This little girl wore that sweater so much whenever we saw her, I sometimes wondered if her mom ever dressed her in anything else!  How's that for a twist?!  All in all, it was great to see them being used & well loved & cared for.  Plus, how else are you supposed to know if it fit properly if you don't see it on?  Thanks, Terri!

More Memories

When my Aunt/Godmother had 2 little girls, I just had to make them matching sweaters.  They were made with a white yarn that had different bright colors here & there.  They came out pretty nice if I do say so myself!  My Aunt loved the sweaters so much, she had professional photos taken of the girls together, both wearing the sweaters.  They were more of a casual sweater, I thought, so it was really flattering for her to do that.  After the girls had outgrown the sweaters, she put them in boxes to save for her grandchildren.  Another wow!  Thanks Aunt Di!

Inane Babbling

Since I've been playing around with the hats again, I can't just keep babbling about those all the time!  A hat is a hat is a hat, unless of course, its done in some unusual way.  But these are normal, everyday, boring (but fun!) hats.  So, I'm going to reminisce about some past knitty experiences!  Once upon a time... 

I made some outfits for my sister when she was pregnant with her first child.  I gave them to her at her baby shower.  She was so tickled by what I had made for her, which is a great feeling.  But even better, after my niece was born, she actually WORE the clothes.  When my sister had her son, he wore them also.  That is a great sign of appreciation!  Even better still, after the kids had outgrown the clothes, my sister put them away in boxes, as if they were heirlooms.  Wow! 

Time To Panic?!

Oh my, this is not good...I have to report for jury duty.  I called to make sure I can take my knitting...they won't let me bring in needles!  Ack!  I keep getting this panicky feeling deep in the pit of my stomach.  Seven hours trapped in a boring room without my knitting?!  Ack!  Think I'm going to be ill.  Reading makes me too sleepy, that's not good either.  At this point, I'm just stressing about it, I know I'll live, but...ack!  Its gonna be a loooooong day! 

Doin' The Happy Dance!

Spunky's doing the Happy Dance!  Whoopah!  The sweater is FINISHED!  Oh yeah, I'm just so thrilled that its done.  And, not only is it done, but it came out great, too!  The body could have been a little longer, to cover the rear-end a little bit more, but other than that, its great!  I am so happy with the way it turned out.  Plus the fact that its DONE!  Whew! 

So, what's next?  I'm ready for some more instant gratification.  I'll probably finish the hat that I started a few weeks ago.  I'm sure I'll keep working on hats throughout the summer.  I'll keep working on the little squares for another blanket/afghan.  Both are great ways to keep using up the scraps in the basket.  As always, I'll be sure to post pictures of the hats as I get a few done.  I'm looking forward to it!

Cuffed & Collared

Woohoo!  The sleeve is done, & I boldly jumped into the collar.  I did a test fit before starting the collar, looking good so far.  The sleeves are a little longer, which is great, so I can hide my hands in them.  My hands get cold so easily.  Plus, the collar will pull up everything a bit, holding it more together than it is now. 

The collar is coming along, I've done about an inch or so.  I won't really know how it looks until I take it off the needles, so I'm sort of playing this one by ear.  There is a point at the shoulder line where the cables are, it sort of buckles there from the cables.  I'm hoping it won't distort the collar.  I'm thinking I may just keep going on it as is, maybe make a turtle neck.  A looser one, though, almost like a cowl neck. 

Sadly, I checked my notes on when I first began this sweater.  Sheesh, its been almost 2 years. I remember thinking how it would only take me a little more than a month to finish it.  Obviously, I haven't been very diligent on completing it. 

It was right around then that I really started working on the chemo hats.  I wanted to get a batch in to the cancer center while the weather was still cool, so the folks who needed them would be able to wear them.  Ah, good intentions, but neglectful all the same! 

Another Day In The Life

The sleeve is progressing, though not nearly as quickly as I would like.  However, it is only my own doing, as I have not knitted as much as I would like.  My own fault!  Anyways, I'm at a point on the sleeve where I have to switch to the double pointed needles, because its gotten to small to work on the circulars.  This is a good thing, it means I'm close to the cuff!  Well, closer than I was a few days ago! :) 

 

This weekend looks like a good knitting prospect, so hopefully the sleeve will be done & I can figure out that collar.  This will be a love/hate issue, I can feel it.  I'm not sure how it will work out, & I want it to work, & look good, but I have a feeling its going to be a real pain in the patootie.  I'm sure this is what is leading to my reluctance to get to the collar.  Maybe its a subconsious thing, the less I work on it, the longer it will take to work on the collar.  Ya think?! 

Knitting Away

Work on the sweater continues.  I checked my progress with the first sleeve, its getting there.  I was able to get a lot done last evening.  I wasn't feeling well, so it was a great time to sit & knit.  Somehow it makes me feel better, almost as good as comfort foods do!  I'm still dragging today, hope I'm not coming down with something.  But, I am hoping to have the sleeve completed soon.  Then its off to figure out the collar, what to do & how to do it.  I may have to play with a few different things to see what works best.  I may be able to wear this for spring yet!

Its The Little Things...

Sometimes, its the little things that make it all worthwhile.  Saturday evening, my daughter had a dance at school. After she decided to wear a little black dress, she wanted something to dress it up a bit.  I suggested some bright jewelry, a scarf or maybe...a shawl! :)  She thought it was a great idea & ended up wearing it draped over her shoulder & pinned at her hip.  She got tons of compliments on it, which made both of us feel good!  Although it didn't stay on too long at the dance, just the fact that she took it & wore it was such a thrill!  Totally made my day! 

Also, my knitting therapy worked wonders!  The sweater & I had some meaningful time together.  I popped in a movie, parked my butt on the recliner & knitted my heart out.  Nothing like a little 'self help'! 

(I tried to post this several times over the past few days, but it kept kicking me out of the journal...argh!)

In Need Of Some Therapy

Due to circumstances mostly of my own making, I haven't done as much knitting as I would like.  My daughter had a doctor appt. the other day, so I slapped together the materials for a hat, because they are quick, mindless & portable.  Good thing too, because the Dr. was running way behind...as usual!  So now there is a hat on the needles with a few inches done, just in case I have need of a 'quick, grab it' project. 

The sweater is coming along fine, so far.  Since I'm in need of some therapy, which means 'knitting' to me, I'm going to spend some time working on it to soothe my soul today.  There is something about the feel of the yarn running between my fingers, the comfort of the growing material in my hands, the beauty of the knitted stitches...sigh!  There is nothing quite like it to bring peace to my heart.  Sounds like heaven.  Think I'll go there...off to knit!

Knitting Away...

Still working away on the sweater.  I got a bit accomplished last evening, which was a great feeling!  Other pursuits have taken a lot of my time lately, so there hasn't been much knitting going on.  Things should be slowing down, so work on the sweater will continue!  It is coming out nicely, I'm still loving all the rich cables.  I know I've said it before, but it just gives it such a cozy appearance.  Knitting on it has been a pleasure cause it is nice & weighty, it will make great outdoor wear!  My enthusiasm for it is returning.  That is a good thing, it will keep me motivated!

Will I Ever Get Tired Of Hats?!

Above are the last pictures from the last batch of chemo hats.  By far, my favorite is the red hat...out of all the hats from this batch, too! 

Giving credit where credit is due, the inspiration for this hat came from Jewelsladymax.  In her knitting journal, she posted about her mother belonging to a "Red Hat" club.  It made me think that other folks might love a red hat, too, so there it is!  I probably wouldn't have done the whole hat in red if it weren't for that post!  Thanks, Lisa!

We Have Cuff!

Finally, I finished the sleeve on the sweater.  Whew!  I've started the second sleeve, but haven't gotten too far along with it yet.  Its a good feeling, though, so I had to brag about it!  It'll be even better when the whole thing is done. 

I'm posting some more hats pics.  Shown are more helix spiral hats.  One is a heathery pink & cream, another is a brighter pink & white, then a green & yellow sport weight hat.  Unfortunately, the picture doesn't do justice to the colors on that hat.  With the flash, the colors were overly bright, without the flash, they are dark & dull.  Can't win! 

More Hats!

More hat pictures!  Again, these are all helix spiral hats.  Can I emphasize enough that these use a lot of scraps?!  LOL!   My favorite of today's pictures is the dark blue, light blue & pink.  It is just cheery, I think.  Plus the yarns were sooooo soft.  It was a joy to knit up. 

I've been doing really well on the sweater.  I'm almost finished with the first sleeve.  Maybe another inch or two, then the cuff.  I think that posting my lack of ambition was enough to give me a push to work on it.  Its a sorry thing that the whole world could see my lack of inspiration.  But whatever it takes to get me knitting on it again! 

The second sleeve will take a bit of time to show progress.  I'm picking up stitches from the neckline & working my way down.  It will have a saddle shoulder effect.  Trying to figure out which stitches to reverse to make it match the front was a challenge!  Once I got that, the rest wasn't too difficult.  Now if only I can keep myself from making stupid mistakes like crossing the cables the wrong way!  Arghhh!

The Hat Saga Continues...

I dropped off the latest batch of chemo hats, but I made sure to take pictures before they left!  I'm going to post a few pics every few days or so.  There is not too much exciting going on in my knitting life right now, so this will give me something to talk about!  LOL!  Featured in the pictures is a purple & green hat, made with sport weight.  I was able to make quite a few sport wt. hats this time.  Also pictured is a dark & light teal with white worsted wt. Both of these hats are done in the helix spiral.  Most of my hats are done that way now!  Also pictured is a fun mitered hat, each section of the miter is a different color.  It was fun to make & it looks fun, as well.  Cheery rainbow colors should brighten up the darkest day.

I'm still plugging away at the sweater.  Not as often as I would like, so I'm going to have to push myself to finish it.  I haven't made any of the miter squares lately either, because I'm creatively stifled right now.  I have mostly pinks, cream & white, so it makes it difficult to mix different colors.  I need to kick myself to do this as well.  I hate being creatively frustrated like this, cause I just spin my wheels & no knitting gets done.  Once I give myself that "push" over the slump, I'll be back to full force!

Finally, Shawl Pictures

Finally, I'm posting the shawl pictures!  I was able to bribe a few pictures under the threat of no chauffeur service.  My uncooperative model decided to ham it up for the camera!  I'm hoping she'll decide to wear it for a dance later in the school year. 

The sweater is still in my basket, but I haven't been able to work on it very much.  I did sort of start another project, another scrap yarn blanket using small mitered squares.  By starting with only 21 stitches, I'm using up those small scraps fairly quickly.  I've only made about 16 blocks so far, & I've been attaching them as I knit the next block, so no sewing (ewww).  The blocks are small, maybe about 2-1/2 inches, so it will take quite awhile to complete a blanket.  It will be a work in progress, as I get the scraps, I will use them up.  At least, that's what I tell myself now! 

Pain In The Sleeves

Somehow, I must have forgotten how much of a pain in the tookus making cables on double points can be.  My hands keep cramping up & I still have about 6 inches to go, plus the second sleeve.  I took a break yesterday to let my hands rest.  They needed it!  It drove my just about crazy, though, I didn't know what to do with the darn things!  I kept sitting on them to help forget there was no knitting in them. 

I'll keep plugging away at the sleeves, though.  In the end, it will be well worth the effort.  Though it is tempting to start another hat, I've held back. I know I'll just keep going on the hats & the sweater will sit.  I don't want to do that again!  I hate abandoning a project midway, it is too hard to get back to it, for me at least!

So Far, So Good

I did a trial fit on the sweater sleeve...it looks like a good fit so far!  Whew!  I'm working from the shoulder down, so I spaced my decreases further apart than I did the first time.  Its much better now!  I have no idea what I was thinking when I first made the calculations. 

I need to get my lazy self to take pictures of my completed hats so I can get them to the cancer center...and show them off here, too!  I'm also still waiting for a cooperative model for the shawl pictures.  Sometimes I get the feeling that she just humors me to keep me quiet.  "Sure, Mom, I'll model that shawl for ya....NOT!"  I'll keep asking though, till I wear her down! :)

Ribbit, Ribbit

So, I pull the partially completed sweater from my knitting basket.  I lovingly look at the patterning, admiring the cables.  I check the sleeve, which was 4 inches from being completed.  I stick my arm through.  ACK!!!  Its way too tight!  So a frogging we will go...the sleeve is dust.  My calculations were obviously waaaay off, so I restarted it yesterday. 

As always, it is all okay.  It is a labor of love for me, so it matters not.  I'm enjoying doing the cabling.  It is so fun to see the ropes taking shape just by crossing a few stitches this way or that.  I think it makes for a lush thick lovely sweater.  Something you just want to cuddle into.

The picture shows the stitch patterns, which are all found in Barbara Walkers stitch treasuries.  I just picked a few that I really liked & put them together.  The sleeve pattern is similar, it just doesn't have the center diamond pattern. 

I prefer a "U" shaped cable needle, but I have a few others from various sources.  I lost my "U" shaped one while doing the body on this sweater.  I had to use a straight cable needle & I must say, I hated it.  I searched all over for the "U" one, but no success...not until I was completely DONE with the whole sweater body did I find the darn thing!  Figures, but I have it again now, so it makes the job much more fun!

Hearing Voices...

From deep within the recesses of my knitting basket, I'm hearing voices.  It sounds like a sweater that I started some time ago.  Now its calling to me to finish it!  I was off to a great start with it at the beginning.  The body of it worked up fairly quickly, even with detailed cable patterns on it.  I even have most of one sleeve completed.  Its the kind of sweater that would be great worn outdoors by itself, or maybe a turtleneck underneath.  Being that spring is coming soon, it would be a perfect time to wear it.  So I'm probably going to stop working on the hats for a little while & return to the sweater.  Only thing, I made up the pattern myself, so I hope I can figure out enough from my notes to know what I was doing with it!  :) 

My hat progress is doing well.  I just completed the 12th hat yesterday.  I'm going to take them to the Cancer Center today, possibly.  I will be sure to take photos & post them soon! 

Due to my inability to catch my daughter at a convenient time, I still don't have pictures of her in the shawl...sigh.  Hopefully tonight! 

 

Reminiscing

Flipping through my scrap basket yesterday, I came across a yarn I had used in a sweater a few years back. 

The local yarn store was going out of business, all the yarn was ridiculously low priced.  I had the idea of making sweaters for my family for Christmas that year.  I bought TONS!  Now, I think this was around August, & I had 5 sweaters to make. They had no idea I was doing this. 

It wasn't a burden, of course, it was a labor of love, as my knitting usually is. I remember having a vacation week in October.  I knit all day long, at least 8 hours a day, like a job.  I remember getting that sweater done in that week!  Knitting at my brother-in-law's birthday party raised a few eyebrows, too!  Needless to say, I accomplished my task.  I joyfully gave the gifts for Christmas, & thought that was the end of the story. 

My mom & I usually share a birthday party, because I was born the day before her birthday.  We were meeting at a restaurant & I was running a little late.  On arrival though, I got the best present ever!  Mom had conspired to have everyone wear their sweater that day.  It was so great to see them in use, making sure I got the fit right for each (I did!!), kicking myself because I forgot my camera! 

It was so special to me, to see that my efforts had paid off.  An even better thing is that I've seen at least 2 of the sweaters still in action recently. What a great feeling! Its simple victories like this that make life so fun! 

Serious Illness...Maybe?

In searching the internet & medical books, I've discovered that I have a serious illness. It is considered to be rather rare, as it is not common in the general public. It seems to affect only a small group of people. There is loads of information regarding the symptoms, but no one has put a name to this particular disorder, so I am now! I have discovered CKD-Compulsive Knitting Disorder. 

Symptoms begin when one first learns to knit. In the quest to perfect the craft, a strange trait occurs. They will begin seeking adventure in new colors, then they start experimenting with new textures. Soon they are spotted lurking in the craft aisle, purchasing numerous gadgets such as stitch markers, row counters & point protectors. They begin to acquire more needles & books & patterns. A supply of yarn will begin to accumulate. 

These individuals are compulsive in their behavior. Some have been known to hide their yarn purchases in seldom used locations thoughout their homes. Others have chosen to keep the growing stash out of sight by luring friends to store the recent purchase for them. Rumors abound that these individuals will actually LIE to their spouse or significant other about the purchases. 

Another symptom is twitching. This occurs when the individual is without a project. Accompanied by hand wringing, nail biting & a terrified, panicked expression. Beware of approaching the person at these times. It could lead to some form of hostility! 

I have been victim to these various manifestations. I've never tried is having my friend hide my stash. I'm afraid she'll use it!

Sadly, there is no cure at this time. I will update with any new information regarding CKD as it becomes available.  So you know, I am certified in this field. I'm just waiting to find my medical license in that Cracker Jack box! 

 

Maybe One More...

My daughter just LOVES the shawl!  She is so excited about it, as am I.  She said she loves the stitch pattern (it is very pretty) & now she's planning other shawls for herself.  She wants a red one, a black one, a white one, etc.  LOL!  Guess I may be doing more of these than I thought!  Of course, I'll just HAVE to try new lace patterns! 

Knit2Relax asked about the finished dimensions.  I'd have to say it blocked out to about 4-1/2 to 5 feet in diameter.  It hangs beautifully when folded in half, then draped over the shoulders.  My daughter tried it on various different ways.  She tied it like a scarf around her shoulders, then put it over her head like a babushka (sp?), then around her waist like a wrap.  She was really hamming it up!  Unfortunately, it was late & she was tired & not interested in letting me snap a few photos.  Due to her very busy school & social schedule, it may be a few days before I can get a shot of her modeling it. 

One of the best things about the shawl was it took only ONE skein of the yarn.  Gotta love that!  I was just checking the Patternworks catalog that I ordered it from.  It is a silk merino wool blend...no wonder it was so wonderful to knit with!  Also, one skein was 1250 yards, so it was plenty to make the shawl...no weaving in ends!  Plus the price was reasonable, at the time it was $40 for one skein..not bad for something that will (hopefully!) become an heirloom! 

Shawl Pictures

Wheeeee!  The shawl is washed & blocked & currently stretched out on my living room floor!  The pictures show the shawl before blocking & afterwards.  Trying to get the stitch definition was difficult.  I blocked it on dark towels, so it doesn't show through very well. 

Its going to sit out for another day or so, to be sure its perfectly dry.  Then I'm hoping my sweet girlchild will model it for me!  I'm hoping she'll use this for her special occasions.  It is hard to tell, but the yarn varies in shades of a deep plum, a light teal, a blue & a lighter purple.  I fell in love with the colors, & I'm hoping she'll have lots of uses for it.

Being my first attempt at a shawl, I'm quite pleased with my results.  The yarn was a rather fine wool.  I wanted to use a large needle size, but after some experimentation, I settled on a size 6.  My pattern came from Marianne Kinzel's "Modern Lace Knitting".  It is so lovely, as are many of the designs in her books. 

This was also my first time blocking a project like this.  I used 2 large bath towels, but the shawl stretched out larger than the towels!  It is amazing how large it is now!  Pinning it out was a real treat, too.  It took forever, took tons of pins, & my back was not happy when I was done!  While it was a fun project & I am pleased with it, I'm not sure if I'll do another one.  I just don't have a lot of need for something like this.  It is beautiful, it is fine & delicate & at least I can say "I tried it once"!

What's Going On?

Time for a knitting update!  With well over a dozen hats completed, I thought I should take a batch to the cancer center.  Since I had a doctor appt. in the next building, so I took them in.  It has been really cold here, & it may take a bit to finish the second dozen.  I made sure to take pictures of the completed hats before I dropped them off, so I can share! :)  I want to get pics of the rest that are done also, but my live models are not cooperative..or else just plain not here!  I may have to stuff them with plastic bags again, or maybe I can get the dog to model...hmmm!

I finally made my lazy self get to the store for rustproof pins so I can block the shawl.  I'm hoping block it this weekend, so pictures should be available soon.  It is my first (& only, so far!) effort at a shawl, & I'm pleased with the results.  I can't wait to see the finished product!  I hope it meets with my expectations! 

In my hat adventures, I've been browsing through my leftovers & getting an itch.  There is so much focus on Domino or Patchwork knitting lately.  It seems it would be a great way to use the really small leftovers in the stash.  So, I did some research on the internet.  Duh, it is soooo easy!  Plus it is something I've already done before.  It is simply mitered garter stitch blocks.  I did this with the Psychedelic Squares afghan I've mentioned before.  The sts for the next block are picked up & knitted from the previous block.  I played with it a little yesterday. It would be fun to do, but I don't think I have enough different colors to make an afghan.  I like BIG afghans, & all I have left in any quantity is white & cream colors in various dye lots. 

So...is it really bad of me to be thinking of doing something else while I still have hats & a sweater to finish?  I think not!  Only a knitter can understand!

Patience Is A Virtue...?

I am a great waiter.  I can wait patiently for my daughter or husband to get home from wherever.  I don't mind delays for Dr. appointments so I can knit in the waiting room.  Its even better when I have to take the hubby or daughter to an appointment, cause then I don't have to stop knitting to see the Dr.  Long car trips are not a problem.  I even look forward to rush hour traffic.  Bring it on! 

As long as I have my knitting, I am at peace.  It makes the time fly by.  Its those times without it that make life frustrating!  I admit I've gotten a little paranoid about being stuck without knitting.  So I made a little emergency knitting kit to keep in my car, just in case.  It has 2 different yarns, 2 different size needles, a sewing needle, safety pins (st markers, st holders, whatever!) & a printed pattern just in case.  I asked for some new double point needles for Christmas so I can make a kit for the hubby's car, too! 

I also have to admit, I don't knit while I drive.  BUT, I do have it handy for when I'm stopped at traffic lights & such.  I'm amazed at how much I can get done at a stop light.  Of course, its nothing complicated, or else I couldn't function! 

Life is good when there is knitting!

Personal Relaxation

Some folks might think this is a little weird, but hey, whatever works!  Knitting is my therapy.  It relaxes me when I'm feeling stressed.  It gives me something to do when I'm feeling bored.  It gives me something to do instead of eating!  I used to smoke & had a lot of difficulty finding something to do with my hands after I quit, so this keeps my hands occupied. It gives me something to do while watching TV. 

Sometimes, when I'm having trouble falling asleep, I'll mentally pick out colors.  Other times, I'll mentally design something, maybe a new pattern or color sequence.  Or I'll mentally work stitches, one by one, almost like counting sheep! This may sound strange to the non-knitter, but my knitting relaxes me so much & brings me such peace & joy.  Much cheaper than a professional therapist!  Probably more effective, too!

Personal Knitting History

Today's babble will be about Spunknit's personal knitting history! Intriguing for some, boring for others. Sounds like school! I've always been a crafty person. I've done cross stitch, needlepoint,embroidery,painting,drawing,clay sculpting,beading,macrame, etc! 

I learned how to crochet when I was about 8 or 9. My mother bought a "teach yourself how to knit & crochet" book, some yarn & some hooks. She never did get the grasp of it, but I picked it up & learned. She didn't get the right sized hooks, they were too small. I did it anyway, not realizing till years later they were the wrong size. I did keep at it, but also did other crafts, too. In Campfire Girls, the troop leader started to teach us to knit, but the group folded shortly afterwards. I knew the knit st, & would knit on pixie sticks! (Showing my age on that one!) I forgot what I knew as the years went by.

At 19, I started crochet again with fervor. My girlfriend & I would get together with the mom of another friend & we would all crochet together. It was loads of fun! My girlfriend joined a class with her mom, & there were mostly knitters in the group. She was determined to learn to knit & did. When she told me she had learned, I thought "If Sue can learn to knit, so can I"! 

Out came the learn to knit books. I don't recall the first needles, I must have purchased some. I couldn't get the hang of knitting with the yarn in my right hand, so I taught myself to do the stitches with the yarn in my left, which I now know is Continental-style. I thought I was clever to do the knitting "my way"! 

Anyway, it was all downhill from there. I kept at it & got better & made more things & enjoyed it more & bought more yarn & books & needles & more yarn & gadgets & more stuff & more yarn & ...! I rarely do other crafts now.  I'm am thoroughly addicted & hopeless!

Colors Of The Rainbow

I have to admit, my first batches of chemo hats weren't the most colorful.  I used more subdued colors, & the combinations were subtle.  Although I personally love bright colors, that doesn't mean I want to wear them.  So the hats were done with that reasoning. 

However, after making the children's hats, & having SO MUCH fun with the color combinations & trim additions, I've decided to be a little more adventurous with color for the adult hats this time.  Some of the donation websites suggest making them brighter & more colorful as well, because it makes the wearer feel happier.  I'm all for that! 

I'm also enjoying the pre-knitting phase more.  Choosing all these fun colors makes the whole process more exciting!  I've babbled before about how much white & off white leftovers I have.  I've been trying to incorporate these more in some of my latest creations.  This is making some of the hats very bright & cheerful.  I'm hoping they will be as well received as the previous batches.  If not, I'm sure the local children's hospital would love to have them as well. 

I've done a few more of the sport weight hats, also.  I don't as much of that as I do the worsted wts, but they make a nice hat.  So nice, I may have to make one or two for me & the family! :) 

She's Baaaack!

Whew!  Yesterday, I was able to knit for awhile.  I am so glad!  My fingers are still achy, but whenever they started to cause me pain, I would stop knitting for a bit.  I was able to almost finish a hat! 

Jewelsladymax suggested a pair of fingerless gloves might help the pain.  That is what the Hand-Eze gloves are..sort of.  They are made of lycra, with no fingers & thick wrist bands.  They are meant to help with carpal tunnel syndrome (fortunately, I don't have problems with that!!) & arthritis.  They do keep my hands warmer, but since they don't cover my fingers, they don't help with the pain there.  Then again, not like I could knit with finger-type gloves anyway! 

I need to lube up my hands with some Flex-All & let them rest.  I hate doing that because the stuff really stinks!  It does clear out my sinuses, though! :)  Plus, who would want a hat that stinks like Flex-All?!  Ick! 

As for the hat count, I've passed my usual dozen lot.  I've gotten 14-1/2 completed, so I'll just keep going till I get 2 dozen before I take them to the cancer center.  But if I keep getting the pain in my fingers, I may just take the first dozen & work on the second batch when I can.  It is so bitter cold here, I'm sure there are folks who need hats NOW! 

 

Ouch!

Sigh...there are occasions, usually during the cold winter months, that my hands ache.  It makes for difficult knitting...if any at all.  I made another hat a few days ago, & my hands started to ache.  So, I forced myself to finish it, cause it was almost done anyway, & then I took a break for a day.  Well, I tried again last night, but they were still sore.  Ick.  My husband rented a movie & I fidgeted through the whole thing cause I didn't have anything in my hands.  Figures! 

I have a pair of the "Hand-Eze" gloves which really seem to help with the pain, but this time its mostly in my fingers.  I wore the gloves the other night, & they helped somewhat.  I know its just because of the cold weather & I try to keep my hands warm, but sometimes they are just plain COLD!  It stinks, especially when the knitting drive is in full swing...sigh.  I may just have to give the ol' mitts a break for a few days...but that doesn't mean I will stop thinking or babbling about my knitting! :)

Sparky's Blanket Pictures

These are pictures of our little Yorkie cuddled in his scrap yarn blanket.  He is just so cute, I had to share these!  We've only had him since August, but I think he's ruling the household now!

The Dwindling Stash - Sort Of!

I've been thinking about the projects I've already completed with the yarns I have in my stash.  For the last few years, I've made 2 queen size scrap afghans, like the one pictured above.  You can find the pattern  here:  http://knitting.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.knitting%2Dand.com/knitting/patterns/afghans/st%5Fst.htm .  These were fun & portable, plus the squares work up very quickly.  The afghan not pictured used the smaller version of the squares & more different color combinations. 

I've also made about 200 7x9 inch blocks for Warm Up America, a charitable organization that makes & gives completed blankets to the homeless.  Then 17 hats & one pair of mittens for needy children.  I gave one hat to a little girl we met on vacation.  :)  Also, the 50+ chemo hats that have been completed.  These have a tendency to vanish sometimes, like when my daughter or a friend sees one & just HAS to have it!  So, I'm not sure how many there really were, but I've given 50+ to the cancer center! 

I've also made a little blanket for my Yorkie, Sparky.  Its a small scrap blanket using a cream colored yarn & various scraps of different colors, done in a garter stitch.  Its about 3 ft by 2 ft, so its perfect for a little guy like him!  I've also been working on the I-cord rug-thing, which will most likely be for Sparky.  I have some really small scraps saved for this.  So far, its about 1-1/2 ft by 2-1/2 ft, in an oval shape. 

Sadly, the yarn is not dissappearing as quickly as I would like.  I try to be good & not add to the stash, but I think I'm hopeless! 

Pictures Of Hats Done So Far!

The chemo hat adventures continue!  They are all the basic roll brim type hat.  I stuffed my models with plastic bags to keep them propped up, but they look sort of lumpy!  Oh well!  I've completed 10 hats so far.  I like to drop them off when I have a dozen, so only 2 more to go!  I admit, I haven't been as diligent with them as I could be.  Other interests have been consuming my time & that thing they call "life" has been interfering as well.  What I have completed has made me happy, though.  I've used up a few skeins & misc. yarn remnants. 

I do most of my knitting in front of the TV.  There hasn't been anything particularly good on lately, so not much knitting has been getting done.  Also, my poor husband slipped on the icy stairs & fell on his back.  The Dr. said he sprained his back & his elbow.  So he's all sore & achy, & whiny, so I've been letting him play his video games in the evening to make him a little happier!  He likes noisy, shooting type games, so I usually leave the room & play on the computer instead.  Fortunately, he is getting better, poor thing! :(  

I do have good intentions of completing more hats in the near future.  I just love doing these hats.  The pattern is permanently etched in my memory now, they are quick, easy, no sewing (yay!) & I can experiment with different colors & sometimes textures, too.  This is what I call fun!

More Hilarity

My other favorite knitting related story involves my sister.  My mom & my sister are more tolerant of my knitting habits, because they see the things I make.  My sister loved the clothes I made for her baby shower, she preserved them in boxes after my neice grew out of them.  They are getting better though! 

Anyhow, my sister & I took a girls only vacation to the Bahamas.  We were browsing in a clothing store & noticed the sizing was strange...not what we were used to!  We couldn't figure out what size was which, then I remembered something.  I dig in my purse & pull out my plastic knitting charts.  They have loads of helpful information on them, including European size charts!  So I was able to figure out what size we should buy.  She couldn't believe that I had that in my purse & even asked me if I carry it all the time.  "Of course" I said, "you never know where you are going to find yarn to buy, I need to be prepared"!  She shook her head & told me she couldn't believe that I carry that knitty stuff around with me like that! 

Hey, it worked, didn't it?!  Yahoo!  The end result is we were able to buy the correct sizes.  Also she gave me a new phrase (to me, at least!) "knitty stuff"!  I love that term!  Plus, it was a feeling of success...my knitting has served another unusual purpose!  Gotta love these moments of victory!