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/