I just got an email from Planet Purl stating that I won the Namaste Cali Clutch in their latest drawing! Holy crap! I thought it was spam at first and then I was just about in tears when I realized it was real. I never win anything - seriously - my father is the lucky one in the family.
I sent a reply with my address and my sincere thanks. I love that site and their travel guides save me a ton of time when I'm getting ready for my trips. I haven't explored the other areas of their site as much as I would like but just their yarn shop reviews are valuable to me.
This Cali Clutch is so cool! I can't wait to see which color I get and figure out which project to use it for next. I'm thinking a travel project would make sense based on the size and where I'm getting it from.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Update
I have been steadily knitting along on my projects and haven't felt a need to update my WIPs or FOs on this blog since the same information is captured on my Ravelry Projects page. No need to duplicate work. Instead I'd like to explore future projects and current knitting dilemmas.
Currently I'm working on a ginormous project. My father's vest is in XX-Large with 280 stitches so I'm able to get about 4 rows a night done in the main pattern.
I'd like to finish it up by his birthday in early June but it will take some dedication and serious monogamy. I can do both but I plan to work in a few small projects to break it up a bit.
**********
Awhile back I received a free bag of yarn, I organized it by weight & color, and then wound them into small yarn cakes for storage. I'd like to use these up and make more room in my yarn cabinet for nicer stash that I still have stored in a large bag. It's all charity yarn but I'd like to use up the older stuff first. My plan is to finish the skein of yarn I'm working periodically on for the soldiers rectangles and then color coordinate my old stash for a couple Project Linus blankets for my local chapter. It should make a great car/road trip project and won't take forever to do. I've got a couple stitch books with patterns I've been wanting to try so I'm hoping to find something that fits and works well with the sizes I need to make. The only problem I see with this is that I'm not very good at coordinating colors so I may have to take a pictures of the yarn available and get my sister-in-law to help with that part.
**********
Work has been crazy busy and my travel has increased. This means less blog posts but hopefully more money for me in the long run. I'm planning my summer/fall festival now so that the time is blocked out way in advance. I've decided against the Knitting & Crochet Show in Buffalo this August because we think we'll have a wedding to attend that same weekend. But I would LOVE to take that Russian Lace Knitting class that's all day on Friday. That would be worth the trip alone - but with traveling for work it's hard to take a full day away from my family right now.
So far my only definite festivals are the Finger Lakes Fiber Festival and the NYS Sheep & Wool festival in Rhinebeck. The first one can be a family day trip for us with about a hour each way in the car. Rhinebeck will most likely be just me going alone. I can't imagine my husband and son wanting to go to that.
***********
Very realistic goals for me now that it's April. I'm trying to work in 30 minutes on the treadmill every day and not purchase anymore yarn until the festivals. They're both a challenge for me but I can do it.
Currently I'm working on a ginormous project. My father's vest is in XX-Large with 280 stitches so I'm able to get about 4 rows a night done in the main pattern.
I'd like to finish it up by his birthday in early June but it will take some dedication and serious monogamy. I can do both but I plan to work in a few small projects to break it up a bit.
**********
Awhile back I received a free bag of yarn, I organized it by weight & color, and then wound them into small yarn cakes for storage. I'd like to use these up and make more room in my yarn cabinet for nicer stash that I still have stored in a large bag. It's all charity yarn but I'd like to use up the older stuff first. My plan is to finish the skein of yarn I'm working periodically on for the soldiers rectangles and then color coordinate my old stash for a couple Project Linus blankets for my local chapter. It should make a great car/road trip project and won't take forever to do. I've got a couple stitch books with patterns I've been wanting to try so I'm hoping to find something that fits and works well with the sizes I need to make. The only problem I see with this is that I'm not very good at coordinating colors so I may have to take a pictures of the yarn available and get my sister-in-law to help with that part.
**********
Work has been crazy busy and my travel has increased. This means less blog posts but hopefully more money for me in the long run. I'm planning my summer/fall festival now so that the time is blocked out way in advance. I've decided against the Knitting & Crochet Show in Buffalo this August because we think we'll have a wedding to attend that same weekend. But I would LOVE to take that Russian Lace Knitting class that's all day on Friday. That would be worth the trip alone - but with traveling for work it's hard to take a full day away from my family right now.
So far my only definite festivals are the Finger Lakes Fiber Festival and the NYS Sheep & Wool festival in Rhinebeck. The first one can be a family day trip for us with about a hour each way in the car. Rhinebeck will most likely be just me going alone. I can't imagine my husband and son wanting to go to that.
***********
Very realistic goals for me now that it's April. I'm trying to work in 30 minutes on the treadmill every day and not purchase anymore yarn until the festivals. They're both a challenge for me but I can do it.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Finished Object - Pirate Hat
This was a crash course in Fair Isle. I had never learned this technique before but when my niece's birthday was coming up I felt the urge to knit something fun for her. After sending a few ideas to my sister-in-law the overwhelming response was the Pirate Hat from Hello Yarn. They are very much a Halloween family so it made perfect sense to me.
The problem was picking out the yarn for me. I wanted something light and soft so I didn't have to knit the cotton band but the white in the store didn't look good to me. I went with a blood red instead. Loved it.
She immediately put on the hat and didn't take it off the entire night. I think she liked it. Next time I will do a different ribbing though because without the cotton band lining it did curl more than I liked. Overall - great project.
Details
Pattern: We Call Them Pirates by Adrian Bizilia
Yarn: Bernat Satin Sport Solids, 1 ball each of black and red
Needles: US 2 & 3
Time frame: 3/15/09 to 3/28/09
The problem was picking out the yarn for me. I wanted something light and soft so I didn't have to knit the cotton band but the white in the store didn't look good to me. I went with a blood red instead. Loved it.
She immediately put on the hat and didn't take it off the entire night. I think she liked it. Next time I will do a different ribbing though because without the cotton band lining it did curl more than I liked. Overall - great project.
Details
Pattern: We Call Them Pirates by Adrian Bizilia
Yarn: Bernat Satin Sport Solids, 1 ball each of black and red
Needles: US 2 & 3
Time frame: 3/15/09 to 3/28/09
Monday, March 9, 2009
ISE7 - My Package Arrived!
My ISE7 package arrived over the weekend. Once again I was spoiled rotten.
I was very lucky and got a great pal again this time. The scarf is simply beautiful! It's a reversible pattern and the yarn is 80% baby suri alpaca and 20% silk. It feels wonderful to wear and looks very nice on me. The blue is a great color for me.
On to the goodies:
2 magnet notepads - I can never get enough of these
March 2009 Creative Knitting - just flipped through it once & already found 2 patterns I love
Knitters Hand Handmade Lotion Bar - never used this but I can't wait to try it
Notions bag filled with stitch markers, needle gauge and stitch holders - so useful!
My favorite is the stitch markers from See Jayne Knit Hand Dyed Yarns. I love the color and they are the perfect size for my lace projects. So thoughtful! These came as a separate package and I think I gave a yell when I opened them.
Thank you so much Dorothy!
I was very lucky and got a great pal again this time. The scarf is simply beautiful! It's a reversible pattern and the yarn is 80% baby suri alpaca and 20% silk. It feels wonderful to wear and looks very nice on me. The blue is a great color for me.
On to the goodies:
2 magnet notepads - I can never get enough of these
March 2009 Creative Knitting - just flipped through it once & already found 2 patterns I love
Knitters Hand Handmade Lotion Bar - never used this but I can't wait to try it
Notions bag filled with stitch markers, needle gauge and stitch holders - so useful!
My favorite is the stitch markers from See Jayne Knit Hand Dyed Yarns. I love the color and they are the perfect size for my lace projects. So thoughtful! These came as a separate package and I think I gave a yell when I opened them.
Thank you so much Dorothy!
Thursday, February 19, 2009
No Begging Allowed
My husbands wool socks have finally worn out. We think he snagged it on something and the whole just grew.
Since these are the only pair he has I had to make an emergency trip to AC Moore for yarn. That morning I got a circular stating that Patons Classic Wool was 2 for $5. Knowing that one ball was normally $7.99 I high-tailed it to the store before the best colors were sold out. Of course, they said that the circular was incorrect and the sale was actually 2 for $9. There was no retraction printed and after my husband pleasantly argued our case with the store manager I got 8 balls of Patons Classic Wool for $2.50 a piece. I felt very guilty but I can't help it if they made a mistake in their advertising. The worst part was that there was another lady in the aisle that wanted the same deal but the store manager said that we'd be the only ones getting that price. So not fair! You print the ad, you honor the price!
Anyway, progress has been very fast on these since my husband doesn't like the socks to be very tall. I cut 5 inches from the length on each sock so I may be able to get 2 socks out of one ball of yarn. It will be close but I'm definitely curious. The pattern is Men's Heavy Boot Sock #998 from Knitting Pure & Simple and I it's my stand by for quick, warm socks.
I have two more business trips coming up so it will be lace knitting for me to stay sane. Plus I have a couple baby blankets headed my way for charity. Oh - and the first shipment of Shakespeare in Lace is scheduled to go out the first week of March. No rest for the weary!
Since these are the only pair he has I had to make an emergency trip to AC Moore for yarn. That morning I got a circular stating that Patons Classic Wool was 2 for $5. Knowing that one ball was normally $7.99 I high-tailed it to the store before the best colors were sold out. Of course, they said that the circular was incorrect and the sale was actually 2 for $9. There was no retraction printed and after my husband pleasantly argued our case with the store manager I got 8 balls of Patons Classic Wool for $2.50 a piece. I felt very guilty but I can't help it if they made a mistake in their advertising. The worst part was that there was another lady in the aisle that wanted the same deal but the store manager said that we'd be the only ones getting that price. So not fair! You print the ad, you honor the price!
Anyway, progress has been very fast on these since my husband doesn't like the socks to be very tall. I cut 5 inches from the length on each sock so I may be able to get 2 socks out of one ball of yarn. It will be close but I'm definitely curious. The pattern is Men's Heavy Boot Sock #998 from Knitting Pure & Simple and I it's my stand by for quick, warm socks.
I have two more business trips coming up so it will be lace knitting for me to stay sane. Plus I have a couple baby blankets headed my way for charity. Oh - and the first shipment of Shakespeare in Lace is scheduled to go out the first week of March. No rest for the weary!
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Feel Good Knitting
I've simply got too many projects on the needles for my liking so I'm focusing on finishing my MS4 stole. Nothing exciting to photograph since the first side looks the same as this one. I just started Clue 3 on the second side and it's flying off my needles. I love knitting lace.
My trick for concentrating without going crazy has been listing to Brenda Dayne's Cast On podcast. She mixes up knitting talk with great music and it's thoroughly entertaining. I started from the beginning so I think I'm at around episode 37. Eventually I'll catch up and be disappointed that I can't hear a new episode whenever I feel like it.
To make sure I'm not getting bored I'm mixing it up with a few charity projects. I've started another set of rectangles for the HAP project and I'm diving in head first with a new round of Northeast Oddball Baby Blankets with my peeps on Knitting Help. I haven't done much charity work lately and it's just feels good. My MS4 doesn't know it's purpose yet but I balance that out with the charity projects.
[Oh - I uncovered an entire stash of charity yarn that I forgot about. That makes my charity knitting "recession proof" since I won't have to buy any yarn for a long time to participate!]
My trick for concentrating without going crazy has been listing to Brenda Dayne's Cast On podcast. She mixes up knitting talk with great music and it's thoroughly entertaining. I started from the beginning so I think I'm at around episode 37. Eventually I'll catch up and be disappointed that I can't hear a new episode whenever I feel like it.
To make sure I'm not getting bored I'm mixing it up with a few charity projects. I've started another set of rectangles for the HAP project and I'm diving in head first with a new round of Northeast Oddball Baby Blankets with my peeps on Knitting Help. I haven't done much charity work lately and it's just feels good. My MS4 doesn't know it's purpose yet but I balance that out with the charity projects.
[Oh - I uncovered an entire stash of charity yarn that I forgot about. That makes my charity knitting "recession proof" since I won't have to buy any yarn for a long time to participate!]
Monday, February 9, 2009
Finished Object - la novia
I have loved Anne Hanson's designs for a while now and with ISE7 I was finally able to knit one. I choose la novia for it's open design and paired it with my Sublime yarn that I had stashed away for a special scarf.
My pal should receive her package from me sometime tomorrow I figured it's finally safe to post the finished pictures. With it being a deep navy blue, it photographed horribly:
But it's beautiful, soft and smooshy. Perfect for the warm weather climate that my pal lives in. I hope she enjoys it - it was lovely to knit.
Details:
Pattern: la novia by Anne Hanson
Yarn: Sublime Yarns Cashmere Merino Silk DK purchased from Sheep Thrills
Needles: US 8 straight bamboo
Timeframe: 1/12/09 to 1/27/09
My pal should receive her package from me sometime tomorrow I figured it's finally safe to post the finished pictures. With it being a deep navy blue, it photographed horribly:
But it's beautiful, soft and smooshy. Perfect for the warm weather climate that my pal lives in. I hope she enjoys it - it was lovely to knit.
Details:
Pattern: la novia by Anne Hanson
Yarn: Sublime Yarns Cashmere Merino Silk DK purchased from Sheep Thrills
Needles: US 8 straight bamboo
Timeframe: 1/12/09 to 1/27/09
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