Projects Done, Started Again

I started knitting on my cable hooded vest again. I am a bit stuck on piece, so I CO the back. I finished my stitch markers. I included some photos here. I also finished my cocoa exchange buddy. She is very cute!

Stitch Markers Received

I received beautiful blue stitch markers yesterday from Georgeanne of my Stitch Marker Exchange http://thestitchmarkerexchange.blogspot.com/. The markers were designed by Zona Blue Design, http://www.zonabluedesign.etsy.com/. Thank you!! They were a very nice addition to my gift opening with my family on Christmas Eve. I bought a bubble wrap envelope today and plan to send mine out tomorrow.

$5 Sweater Made Out of $70 Yarn

Actually, it's not quite that bad. It looks nice and it fits perfectly. I may modify the pattern to make a shrug. I fixed the button on my 3-button cardigan and I finally posted a picture. This is my gift opening outfit today. Heading to Grandma's soon so my son can get his 4th load of loot. :)

Teacher Loves Scarf

My son and I delivered the party scarf to his teacher on Friday. She loved it and has a real appreciation for hand-knit objects. She attempted to knit several times and didn't get the hang of it, so she was very admirious (sp?) of the scarf. That made me happy. My son kinda liked it too. :)

I received notice from my stitch marker pal that I will get my markers in the mail soon. I sprinted to my mailbox to check. That's the only exercise I've done lately.

I finished a few more stitch markers for gifts and to send to my stitch marker pal. Some trial and error with product. I bought waaaaay too many beads, but it is a fun distraction on a snowy weekend.

My knitting girlfriend and I are going to see Juno, a screenplay written by a local stripper-turned-journalist-turned-screenwriter, Diablo Cody. It is supposed to be very good. She asked if we could knit in the movie theater. I can barely knit in bright light!! She told me that her friend knits as she drives! Now that is stuntwoman-knitting!

New Stash -- Alpaca

I purchased 10 balls of "SOFT ALPACA WOOL KNITTING YARN BLACK" from Mystic Inca, http://myworld.ebay.com/mysticinca/. The price was great and it is sooooo soft and nummy! I plan to knit the Intolerable Cruelty Skirt with it. The pattern is found in the Fall 06 issue of Knitty http://knitty.com/ISSUEfall06/PATTcruelty.html. How gorgeous and s*xy is that?

A Winter Blah Buster Buddy

This weekend and tonight was very productive! I am almost done with my http://cocoaswap.blogspot.com/ Winter Blah Buster Buddy. I started early on this project -- "This could be a knit or crochet stuffed creature that you make to chase away your pals blahs." Well, for someone who doesn't have a whole lot of knitting experience, this statement choked me with paralyzing fear. I was afraid that I'd end up knitting a tube with some googly eyes attached to it. I am proud to say that my project is about 80% complete and it looks great! I am sure it would rank lowest on the totem pole of Blah Busters, but I think it will bring a brief smile. I have an idea that will bring a bigger grin, but I still have details to work out.

I also made 12 stitch markers. They turned out ok. I may have to ask a Expert Bead Maker Person on how to improve my technique. I still have 10 to make, but I ran out of beads. Darn, more shopping ahead.

Ravelry Membership Invitation Extended to Meeeee!

Wow! I just received an invitation to join Ravelry. I signed up a few weeks ago after spending hours and hours drooling over other Ravelry members' pages/projects with little hope of an actual invite ever materializing -- and to top it all off there were like 1,098,098,345,862,234,132.0987723987 on the list before me. I am sooooo excited!! ....I hope they knew what they were doing when they invited me to join their group.... They may regret their decision later. It won't be the first time I've been thrown from the train. ;) I will figure out how to publish a page soon and provide a link to all. I am excited to track my projects all of the fancy schmancy formats geared toward knitters. Awesome. That totally rocks! Thanks Ravelry! http://www.ravelry.com/

Stitch Marker Pal Assignment

Yay!! I just received my stitch marker exchange pal assignment! I am so excited to create something wonderful for her. At the same time I will create stitch markers for my pushers for Christmas gifts. I will have my sweet son help me. He loves to craft with me.

Kiss Stamped Soaker

My friend recently announced that she was pregnant, so I had to surf some yarn prOn to find a recipe for a wool soaker. I want to knit one that has a big ol' lip print kiss on the butt. Of course I couldn't find a pattern for that or something just as cute, so I might have to design it myself. Let me know if you have an idea.

Sucked in at an early age

My sister did some work on my computer and I discovered this picture of me in a handknit hoodie. See how my mom was a pusher when I was just a tiny toddler?! Note the dazed and befuddled look on my face. I didn't even know what hit me. This is how it starts, folks.

A few more pix

Here are some more photos.

This scarf was given to me by my pusher, Angela. I am addicted to this scarf and wear it weekly.

This was made for me by my pusher, Jenni. It has sparklies in it of gold. Sweet!! It is a bit heavier so I only wear it in the winter, but all the time.

This is my sweet son.

This book has saved my life, circa 1959. An oldie but goodie. My mom gave this to me along with all of her knitting needles and other paraphenalia to maintain my addiction.

My stash.

More stash.

More stash.

Circa 1959

How fun are these? Here is some of my book stash that I can't wait to dig into next week. I am surprised that I have been able to hold off. Usually I am such an instant gratification idiot.



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I aspire to be as happy as the woman in the river. My 2008 goal. Juskiddin.




I want those boots. I hope you can see them thru all of the mood enhancing fog photo. They rock!




The one on the right is so Sigmund and the Sea Monster and The Bugaloos. geesh.





I can't wait to dig into this one. I spent a lot of time dressed as a Scanahooooviah growing up. I love this carp.





My mom would crank these out all the time. I LOVE YOU, MOM!!! xoxo

PICTURES!!!!

Ok. I finally got my act together (aka doing everything possible to make up an excuse not to go into work on a snowy Sunday).
















This is my current project. It looks so fushia in this photo, but it is actually a deep red. This is the Simple Cable Sweater Hoodie from Knit Simple. I haven't done much to it lately.


This is my recently finished project, a party scarf for Garrett's teacher. It is made with Lion Brand Yarn Trellis.

I finished this scarf last night. It is a party scarf for Garrett's other teacher. It is made with Crystal Palace Yarns Little Flowers, color 436 Chocolate Almonds. It is soooooo gorgeous. The picture does not do it justice. The bronze sparkly in there is mesmorizing. I am like a turkey -- I am always distracted by shiny objects.

This fabulous muppet purse is where I keep my current projects. My pusher (aka yarn junkie friend) Jenni's sister made it for me. This purse always puts me in a fantastic mood. How can it not?!



This is the project that launched the addiction. I made fingerless gloves for my son for Christmas. He is going to die. I modified a pattern from the Internet, using waste yarn that I've carried around with me for 13 years. I was so excited by the first glove that I launched right into the next glove......without modifying the pattern...... and I ended up with this:



Ignore the fact there there is one empty bottle and 2 partially empty bottles in this picture! :) I need to do some more modification to the finished product, but I thought it would make a good gift bag for whiskey or pirate juice.

Braving Blizzard to Fondle Balls

Two girlfriends and I braved the blizzard to attend the No Coast Craft-O-Rama Fair at the Midtown Global Market. http://www.nocoastcraft.com

There were so many unique and creative crafters. We were very impressed.

By far our favorite vendor was Popsie Daisy's yarn ball, needle, notion, and secret holders. http://www.popsiedaisy.com The photos don't do not do this product the justice they deserve. The quaint animal bellies hold your ball of yarn and the string comes out through a hole in the back of its head to keep your ball from rolling around the house or getting shredded by your kitty. She uses recycled materials. Belly buttons and sweet faces adorn the secret keepers. Little pockets hiding on the snuggly animals will keep secrets hidden from prying eyes.

I got some German Shorthair fix at the fair. A man brought his dogs into the fair and I petted the gorgeous stoic dog for a few minutes. He was a sweetie. I sure do miss my Sport who has been gone for almost 8 years now. :(

50s, 60s, 70s Bliss

While setting up my studio, I uncovered a box that my mom gave to me when I first started knitting 13 years ago. It is full of old knitting magazines and books from the 1950s, 60s, and 70s. She used to knit and sew all of my clothes. My favorite was a purple knitted pantsuit. I loved that thing and, if given the chance, would've worn it every single day! I am very excited to look through these magazines. I will be on bed rest recovering from surgery in a few days, so I will have plenty of time then. I hope I can keep my hands off of them until then.

One button hole on my 3-button cardigan is goofed up. I will redo and then post pics.

3-button cardigan done

Knitting is GREAT therapy + zen. Much needed the past few weeks.

I finished my 3-button cardigan. I will post pictures. I've been remiss in doing that....

I also finished a party scarf for my son's teacher. One more to go. It turned out so nice that I plan to make one for myself. Now I just need a party invite!

Yay Cables

Deb, my fantastic knitting teacher at All About Yarn, explained how easy it is to master cables. She ROCKS! I just read into it too much. I made it much more complicated than what it has to be. I imagined that there was some fancy ice-skating type twists, turns, and quad jumps involved in the knitting of cables, but not so! I have the left panel of my sweater complete already.

Cable Frustration Continues

After continued attempt at cables, I think I finally have the jist of it after viewing a fantastic web site by Eunny Knit Silky. It is the most comprehensive instruction on the planet. Amazing.

http://www.eunnyjang.com/knit/2005/11/technickety_how_to_unvent_a_si.html

You can also check out Cables for Dummies web site.

My roommate moved in with his girlfriend and I have a room free for my studio! Oh, the blank slate. My coworker gave me his aunt's old sewing machine. I am psyched to get that bad boy out of the closet and set up. Another thing that I did 25 years ago that I want to try again.

Cable Vest

After viewing several cable instructional videos online, I attempted and reattempted and tempted again those darn cables on the vest in Knit Simple. I get the idea of it, but I am having difficulty accomplishing it. I attend my SNB tonight. Maybe I can get one of the girls to help me out. I also feel that the cable instructions are lacking. It doesn't have a chart, so I feel that I may have to make one for myself. It also lists only RC, not LC. I am not sure if that is typical or not. It doesn't seem to be so. URGH!

Last night I purchased some soft alpaca wool yarn in black for the Intolerable Cruelty skirt. I am excited to receive it. The skirt will cost $30 once complete. Not bad at all!

Last night I browsed through a knitting store that is closing in my city. Because I am new at knitting, I did not know how to substitute a different yarn for a brand called for in the pattern. *A new skill I must learn soon. I know I should find one that has similar gauge and that is what I bought online last night. The sales person was somewhat helpful, but pushy. The yarn she recommended would cost me $80 for the skirt and I knew by reading the KAL that I could make one for $30. I did buy some books, magazines, and buttons tho.

Hoodie Cable Knit Sleeveless vest

I just bought Rowan Big Wool in red Bohemian color. Gorgeous. I plan to knit up the Hoodie cable vest featured in the Holiday 2007 Knit Simple magazine. This will be the first time to knit cables, but this pattern promises to be easy -- and knit in ONE WEEKEND! HAHAHAHAHAHA! But encouraging none the less.

I am taking a Finish Your Project class at "All About Yarn" in Coon Rapids. I love that store and Deb is a great teacher. Very nice. The group is a fun one too. It is nice to see all of the creativity -- as well as the mutual frustrations with beginning knitters.

Nashua 3-button cardigan

I am knitting the 3-button cardigan from the Nashua Hand Knits Holiday 2006 book. I am almost done! It is an extremely easy pattern, perfect for a beginner like me.

http://www.jimmybeanswool.com/secure-html/onlinegen/currgen/Nashua/NashuaHandKnits.asp?showLarge=true&specPCVID=7663


Only 3 more inches to go. I knitted it using Debbie Bliss blue cashmere Cashmerino aran yarn. It is beautiful. Color 201:
http://www.debbieblissonline.com/yarn/cash_aran.htm


I will post pictures as soon as I am done.

Fingerless gloves

I knitted some fingerless gloves for my son for Christmas. I put a skull pattern on them. They turned out very cute. I will post photos later.

http://ohmystars.net/craft/knitting/pgloves.html
When making these gloves, I cast on 20 not 40. Unfortunately, for the second glove, I knitted a cast on of 40, so now I have a SUPER BIG glove that I might turn into a wine gift bag or something. Suggestions welcome. I also thought about giving it to someone who has a small one-legged dog to use as a dog sweater....

I used the smaller pattern from TalkLikeAPirate.com. Yes, a site for the Talk Like a Pirate Day.
http://talklikeapirate.com/knitlikeapirate.html

I used a basic cotton Lion Brand Yarn, black for the mitten and white for the skull.

Stitch marker exchange

I just joined a stitch marker exchange. My first one. My son and I went shopping for beads last night. He'll help me pull them together over the next few weeks.

http://thestitchmarkerexchange.blogspot.com/