Can I get a YEEE HAWWW
13 Feb 2008 4 Comments
in knitting Tags: knitting, toue, unoriginal hat, yarn harlot
So third times a charm, as the saying goes. I finally have a hat that is not only totally adorable, it fits too. Have I mentioned I love cables? There is a man at the farmer’s market that makes wooden needles, I think I might ask him if he could make a few cable needles for me 
It is rather difficult to take a picture of one’s head. I need a head hmm I wonder if a paper mache one would be strong enough to work as a model?
Some details … Hat was knit on 8mm (11 US) based on the Yarn Harlot’s Unoriginal Hat Yarn 100% wool (I lost the label from Holly’s yarn, however the extra yarn was from my LYS, it is called freedom by Twilley’s of Stamford)
I am still working on husband’s scarf. I had hoped to finish it before Valentine’s Day but that is not looking promising.
Keep Trying
06 Feb 2008 5 Comments
in knitting Tags: knitting, scarf, toque, winter set, wool, yarn
I seriously love this blog, but sadly I often neglect it. I am so dedicated to the other place, just hard to make it over here to just blog craftiness.
I have been a busy little knitter. I have been dutifully working away at the scarf. It is an eight foot scarf so it is very on-going.
I knit a beautiful toque with some breathtaking yarn that Holly gave me like forever ago, sadly I fear it will not fit! grr! I have knit it twice. I had to go down a needle size because I ran out of yarn (ugh one skein), however going down that size has made the hat a tad too small. I have a couple options now. Wash, Block, stretch, pray that the hat will fit, find an equal weight yarn of same fibre and essence and knit rows in OR give the hat to my cute daughter whose head is smaller than mine.
The last option is out since she has already received a knitted toque from me that way.Buying more yarn is always a lovely thought, however I am not sure I could ever find anything like this stuff (help me Holly!)
Washing and blocking sound wonderful but I am not sure the wool will give that much since it is a cabled pattern.Yes cables! I was so psyched! I love cables! This is only my second cabling project, but I love cables!
The hat is so perfect. Except the not fitting part.ugh.
Here is the complete winter gear set that I knit up for my daughter. I so did not like the first pair of mittens. Oh sure they look cute but so not long enough in the cuff and the thumbs were weird. The second pair are based off a different pattern and worked out much better, yet next pair I knit I will make the cuff even longer so the mittens stay put better. The toque is from Knitty, my first attempt at two-colour knitting. Loved it. Too small for my noggin. I really did not think my head was abnormally large. The scarf was my own creation, two-stranded, double knitted so there is no wrong side. My daughter is slightly obsessed with cats and adores her cat scarf! w00t score one for the mom!
Once I am done the scarf for the husband I plan on finishing a few projects that have been abandoned on the needles then I have another hat I MUST knit with yarn from my local farmer’s market!!! I *may* have to get one more skein from the farmer’s market because the pattern call for holding two strands together … I suck at making a centre pull ball so I am unsure how to accomplish the two strands with one skein.
Swift-y Goodness and YARN
13 Jan 2008 3 Comments
in knitting Tags: 100% wool, knitting, projects, scarf, swift, yarn. mission falls
I received the coolest Christmas present from my ever thoughtful husband, a swift! I tested it out the other night and it is lovely. However, I am very tempted now to find a ball winder
I have so many projects on my To Knit list. So many cool things so not enough knitting time. At the moment I am trying desperately to finish my daughter’s scarf so that I can cast on with this ….
Isn’t the yarn luscious? Mmmm Mission Falls yarn. I purchased it for my very first major knit for my husband. I have to admit I am nervous. He is a picky guy. Yet I have to knit this scarf for him!
He just started an academic job and this scarf is perfect I am usually a sub with yarn I have or less expensive yarn kinda girl, but this project is special. I *was* going to knit it for his birthday, however with the move that was a tad ambitious of me. Maybe Valentine’s Day, if I can finish the daughter’s scarf! The yarn total was total high for me, yet I hope to knit it well and it be his scarf for like ever. The colours are neutral so ifhe gets a new coat (he so needs one!) it should still match. It even has the university colours in it, but not so much that he looks like a dork 
Ok For Real
08 Jan 2008 Leave a Comment
in knitting Tags: knitting, mittens, scarf, swift, toque, yarn
All this moving and getting settled screws with my knitting time! So not fair!
I have been knitting though! I knit two pair of mittens, a toque and now I am working on a scarf for my daughter. It is rather blustery and cold up here in Canada. Need to bundle these kids up!
I also received an amazing Christmas gift! J purchased a cute swift for me from one of the local yarn shops! It is so cool! The first one that was under the tree was a dud, but after a quick exchange I finally was able to try it out the other night. It was so COOL> I felt all old school. Oddly. Anyway, having a swift totally calls for a ball winder, but that will have to wait
I promise to have some photos and hopefully update this more frequently.
The Wool Festival Experience
09 Oct 2007 4 Comments
in knitting Tags: alpaca, angora, knitting, new mexico, taos wool festival, wool, yarn
I went to my very first Wool Festival this past weekend.
I am in love. Picture it, HUNDREDS of booths all dedicated to knitting and spinning. I myself not being a spinner (gosh I have trouble finding time to knit!), was still taken aback by the amazing tools and wool.There was so much YARN! I could have stayed all day. But alas the children and husband got hungry and cranky 
I did not see a lot of 100% wool per say. A lot of angora and alpaca. One could even buy their own bunny! My daughter was extremely disappointed to learn that the cute bunnies were sheared like the sheep (we watched a demo of shearing, I was surprised how cool the sheep was with the process).
I could not leave the festival without a goodie or two, so I purchased two skeins of 100% Alpaca hand dyed yarn and some acid dyes to try out once we are settled in Canada.
I am slightly saddened that we will not be here for more wool festivals, since we are moving in December. New Mexico is totally the place to be for sheep and alpacas! There are other festivals that run in the springtime.
I have been exploring Halifax online and it appears there is a strong knitting community there, so not all is lost. All this packing, unpacking and packing again is interrupting my knitting. grr.
Add A Little Colour
19 Sep 2007 3 Comments
in geek news
Alas a world void of colour would be no world at all.
Especially for a knitter.
My inspiration for the above was Marina. She always has the most amazing colourways.
Must knit more so I can dye more
Getting Organized
19 Sep 2007 1 Comment
in knitting
Since moving (and giving birth, never underestimate a newborn’s ability to send your knitting into a tailspin!), I have been scatter brained with my knitting. Picking up projects, dropping projects, getting things done, forgetting others. I was so excited when I received my invite to Raverly a few months ago.
Oh my.
It has been a few months.
Ok time is really escaping me. However, I have been knitting and I am determined to get organized. My life really needs a overhaul. Moving. ugh. I am going to start with my knitting and move on from there. So here we go If I am lucky I will update this blog more often as a result.
I finished this iPod cozy for J before we left Riverside.
What I love, is that he uses it ALL the time. It was not a hardcore project but the fact that he loves it, means so much to me!
I will post more as I organize my stash and projects
My First Pair
19 Aug 2007 3 Comments
in knitting
I did it! I knit my first pair of socks.
Last year I Ooo’ed and Ahh’ed over Krista’s socks. I would snoop Knitty and covet over the funky pattern. Then I saw a post on my mom’s group for a knitting group forming. It was a sign from above. Although my Grandma taught me the garter stitch many moons ago, this was my chance to truly knit.
Fast forward to now. My first pair of socks!
They are far from perfect, although the missed stitches and imperfections make them even more enduring to me. I can hardly wait for the weather to turn cooler so I can wear them. I even plan to buy some Mary Janes so I show off my cute socks!
My first pair.
Love em!
Score & Done
02 Jun 2007 4 Comments
in knitting
Since buying a cone of beautiful wool from Marina, I was in the need of a scale to measure out some skeins, to dye up. Well Marina hooked me up with a link on Ebay and I scored a scale for 98 cents!! Plus shipping but still! Isn’t it pretty? (that so counts the gorgeous factor!) And it weighs up to 50 lbs.
I finally finished Becca’s tank top! I bought extra cotton for another project, so I wanted to use it up and found a cute free pattern online. It is called the Kidlet Tank. It turned out awesome, the second time I knitted it!
Knitting Lesson #28
Always … ALWAYS measure your always growing toddler almost preschooler BEFORE knitting her a top.
I almost completed this top for Becca when I had her try it on … Unless I was going for a wet suit, it did not fit! EGADS! Frogged and reknit to the larger size! I have to get a picture of her modeling it soon
I started my first sock and a baby wearing poncho … pictures to come soon … I hope … See Crazy Thoughts for more details … knitting may be interrupted by moving … ugh
Not Blogging about Knitting
23 May 2007 4 Comments
in knitting
I have been a slacker here! I cannot believe it has been two MONTHS since I updated here. And I was so excited to have a knitting blog! HA!
I have been knitting and crafting Just have much less free time these days. So why have I not been blogging about the knitting?
Why Ethan is the reason I have not been blogging as much! Pretty good reason eh? There are some other way crazy things going on in our world, but let us not venture away from the craft!
Although the little guy does keep me busy (so does his big sister!) I still make sure I have time to whip out the needles and do some knitting!
I have also had the opportunity to do some yarn dying as well, thanks to Marina’s yarn and Holly’s love for dying! The following hanks are the product of our artist exploration of colour and kool aide! So much fun!
I finished Ethan’s sweater not long after he was born. I was “saving” it for labour, as the body was an easy knit in the round. I did in fact knit through the beginning of labour! Then it was safer for everyone if I did not have needles in my hands
At the moment I have a few projects on the go. An iPod cozy for J, a tank top for Becca that I am frogging and re-knitting … Note to self ALWAYS measure kids before beginning to knit garments. I want to start some wool shorts for Ethan to use as wool covers. I have knit some up and they are totally working out awesome!
More to come … Hopefully life does not get too crazy the coming months …
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