Altered Arts Knits

Bears and Wrestling Guys

noreply@blogger.com (Jackie) — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 22:22:00 +0000

Somebody has been using my camera to take very important photos of very important things. I see there is at least knitting and spinning in the photo so I will assume it was meant for the blog.

In other knitting news I have completed socks, a hat, a teddy bear and 1 - 1/2 koigu socks. The completed socks are for my stepmom, knitted from Socks that Rock, colorway Lagoon.

The hat is for my dad and that is also knitted from Socks that Rock (double strands), colorway Obsidian, knit on size 8 needles. Pattern is this one from Garnstudio.
And last but not least a teddy bear for my son. He has three bears that he has had since birth and has played with them since he was able to grab them in his hands. They are starting to wear so I asked him if he wanted new bears and he said yes. In the pic is one of the bears, a Boyd's bear named Hershel, given to him by my BF Jill. The bear pattern I used was Best Friend Bears from this year's IK holiday issue. Knitted with worsted wt. Misti Alpaca (just under 2 skeins), Knitpick's Option needles size 4. I would say the pattern was very well written and except for the arms the bear is knitted all in one piece using short rows.

Next up will be the Koigu socks I'm working on, the annual trip to The Fold and fiber and spindle acquisition, and some fiber gifted to me by my friend Madame Purl which is destined to be sock yarn!

Owning It

noreply@blogger.com (Jackie) — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 22:43:00 +0000

While working on a new project for my son I started thinking about patterns and modifications. If you start with a pattern and then make a lot of modifications, is there a point where you can own it and say it is your own pattern? Now don't get me wrong, I feel that credit should be given when you use a pattern or even if the pattern you created is loosely based on another. Sometimes I will see a pattern on a blog and then later see a very similar pattern somewhere else but with a different designer. I just wonder where do you draw the line? (click for bigger)

The Spin-Off pattern seen here (scroll down a bit) uses a lighter weight wool than I had spun, so I had to change the stitch count and needle size. After changing the colorwork pattern also I basically ended up using only the cast on method and the 3-needle bind off but even did that with a twist as I ended up adding fringe while I cast off. But I still think that credit should be given to the original designer because I doubt that I would have come up with this litle bag on my own.

Project Specs:
Pattern: Based on Deborah Pullman's Gunnister Man's Pouch pattern in the Summer 2006 issue of Spin-Off
Yarn: My own handspun. Light grey Romney (gifted to me by my friend Madame Purl), dark gray Shetland and then some blue Wensleydale, all around sport weight. Approx. 100 yards romney, 35 yards shetland, small amount of wensleydale.
Needles: Knitpicks Options, size 4
Started: 1/16/07 Finished: 1/20/07

Colorways

noreply@blogger.com (Jackie) — Sun, 07 Jan 2007 19:44:00 +0000

A long time ago I bought some Dazzle yarn to make a easy quick wrap. The wrap ended up not being wide enough and so for a couple of years I debated frogging it and re-knitting it into something else. I still had 2 full skeins left and a partial 3rd. This Fall I pulled out my scarves, hats, etc. and there was the "almost wrap." With the help of my friend we decided that it actually looked pretty good as a wide scarf. There, problem solved. Now there is something I found odd about this yarn. Different company, different weight, yet same colorway as a sock I was working on. Both yarns bought at the same store and I think around the same time and maybe this is more common than I think but I found it peculiar. One thing I did notice is that Trekking is a German yarn and the tag of the Tahki Yarns ~ Dazzle said that it was dyed in Germany so I assume they were dyed at the same place?

So I finished up the sock I was working on and then pulled out the 2 plus skeins to make some fingerless mitts ( I had given my Fetching pair to my sister). When finished with the fingerless mitts I still had 1 full skein and now 2 partial skeins so I decided to make some little slipper socks. Now those are finished and I still have 2 partial skeins left. This is the yarn that seriously will not go away! My neck, hands and feet will be covered so I guess I need to make something for my head and then I remember Knitty's calorimetry so I made that. Finally, as Mr. Chicken will demonstrate the best he can, I was almost out of yarn.

Now for the projects and yarn info. Click for bigger.

Socks
Pattern: basic
Yarn: Trekking ~ #800
Needles: Knitpicks double points #2

I probably should have put both items side-by-side but trust me, they are the same even though the photos are a bit off in color depth.

Fingerless Mitts
Pattern: my own
Yarn: Tahki Yarns ~ Dazzle ~ color #05
Needles: Knitpick Options #9 (magic loop method used with 32" circ)

Footies
Pattern: my own
Yarn: Tahki Yarns ~ Dazzle ~ color #05
Needles: #9 bamboo double point

Calorimetry
Pattern: Calorimetry
Yarn: Tahki Yarns ~ Dazzle ~ color #05
Needles: Knitpick Options #9

I tried to get a good pic of the button but it just didn't want to be photographed (even with the macro setting and sunny) so it's a tad blurry.

Can you tell I really like this colorway? So much so that I when I bought each of these yarns it did not dawn on me that I had the other one. That happened some time later.

And someone, please tell me, for the love of Pete why do I continue to knit socks on 3 mm needles? I have knitted around 10 pairs of socks and finally realized that maybe I should go down to a 2.5 mm. I'm working on a STR pair and even though I am a tight knitter I am much happier with the result.

Drive By Blogging

noreply@blogger.com (Jackie) — Sun, 07 Jan 2007 18:55:00 +0000

Just a quick post to get some pictures up that I don't want to forget to post, mostly for archive purposes. As I said in my last post, I did very little Christmas knitting this year.

I've really been making an attempt to keep better notes, even started a nice binder and everything but when making my gift this year I didn't stay true to my new system so details are very sketchy.

Crocheted scarf for mom.
Specs:
Pattern: just double crochet length-wise
Yarn: Berroco Glace' ~ color 2864
Size K crochet hook
Skeins used: 2

This scarf only took a few hours to make.

Scarf and hat for sister.
Specs:
Pattern: none really. co 30 sts (I think) and brioche stitch
Yarn: Mountain Colors ~ Obsidian
Needles: Knitpicks Options size 9
Skeins used: 1 -1/2

Hat
Pattern: Just casted on some stitches, brioche stitch until I needed to decrease and then joined and continued in k1, p1. I was running out of yarns so I had to make this hat shorter than I would have liked. And I had a heck of a time getting my decreases right so it didn't end up pointer than it already is.
Yarn: Mountain Colors ~ Obsidian
Needles: Knitpick Options size 9
Skeins used : 1/2

Beaded bracelets.
Gifts to teachers and to my best friend. Mostly crystal beads.

Watch for mom.
The strands are not twisted like it looks. I really wish I would have gotten better pictures of this stuff but I was in a hurry. My mom said she always has a hard time finding a watch that will fit and so I made her this one and she absolutely loves it. I used turquoise, glass and silver beads. I can't take credit for the design, there was a similar bracelet at the bead shop and so I based it on that.

Holiday Gifts

noreply@blogger.com (Jackie) — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 16:00:00 +0000

Now that the holidays are over I can get busy and hopefully post on a more regular basis. My Christmas knitting was limited to a scarf and hat for my sister and a crocheted scarf for my mother. I will post those later but for today I will show you some other fiber projects that I made for gifts. As always, click for bigger and sorry about the non-artsy floor photos.

Though not practical, these potholders were fun to some crewel work on. I've been wanting to get back into embroidery and crewel so this was a good project to start on. These were gifted to my sister-in-law.

I also made some beaded necklaces and bracelets this year and the next photo is a little pouch that I made to put them in. I used two methods of felting. For the larger pouches I did the conventional felting with water, soap and agitation. When I found some thin areas I then used my Clover 5-needle thingy to add more fiber. Then I did some crewel and the button is an antiqu eglass one from my button stash. This pouch went to my best friend.

My friend also stated that she wanted a felted bowl like the one I had made myself last year so I set to work on that and this is what I ended up with. Again, conventional water, soap, agitation and then dried over an oblong bowl that I had to give it shape.

Lots more photos to post on some projects finished the past few days but for now I'm out of here, I have a gift card burning a hole in my pocket and hopefully will come home with a new coat today.

Mike & Ikes*

noreply@blogger.com (Jackie) — Sun, 26 Nov 2006 05:41:00 +0000

I have a new model I would like to introduce you all to. My lifelong, best friend Jill gave him to me for my birthday this year. Meet Mr. Chicken...

He is sporting the latest skeins in a 50/50 blue Merino/Silk blend which is complemented by the brown Baby Llama. Both hanks were spindle spun and finished as a 2-ply. Though Mr. Chicken and I are at odds as to what this should be knitted in to, I am thinking it will be a bag of some sort. I have about 1/2 pound of each fiber to spin so I have plenty of time to decide.

Mr. Chicken will be making a lot of appearances on the blog. I'm rather fond of the evil look he has in his eyes and it's fun to dress him up in wool.

Another small spinning project I recently completed was some Romney that was gifted to me from my friend Madame Purl. It is the lighter skein on the bottom.

(Click for bigger)

I had never spun Romney before and I loved spinning it. It was very easy to spin and bloomed beautifully after its soaking. I ended up with 100 yards of 2-ply and when I started thinking about what I would knit with it I remembered the Estonian Hand Puppets from the Summer 2006 issue of Spin-Off. A few days later while in my LYS, (they also sell a small selection of fibers), I saw a fiber that complimented the Romney perfectly, very fine grey Shetland (darker shade on top). Both of these were a joy to spin and I love the final yarn it produced. I do believe I see a couple of fleeces in my future.

Now for some knitting content.

There are many completed projects to blog about but it's late so just this one for tonight. My project notes have been spotty, at best, so I'll give you the specs that I can remember.

Pattern:

Simply Lovely Lace Socks

Interweave Spring 2006

Yarn:

Regia Plus Cotton

Because this cotton is so fine I didn't have a problem with it hurting my hands and I really enjoyed this pattern, easy to memorize.

*Mike & Ikes have nothing to do with this post other than I have been eating them and can not think of a title for this post.

Am I Still in Your Bloglines?

noreply@blogger.com (Jackie) — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 02:33:00 +0000

You know how you have been meaning to call someone and then you don't and the more time that goes by you feel even stronger that you need to call them and still you don't because now you are embarrassed about it all? Well, it's been like that. Lots of knitting and spinning to talk about but am limited on time tonight, in the meantime can I direct your attention to a little girl that needs a big soft pink blanket knit with love and healing vibes from our wonderful knitting community?

http://wicked_stitches.typepad.com/project_warming_kaitlyn/

And if I am still in your Bloglines, thanks for still subscribing and checking in! I'll be back in a day or two with lots of new stuff.

It's Spring Already?

noreply@blogger.com (Jackie) — Fri, 21 Apr 2006 22:13:00 +0000

I knew it had been a long time since I updated but I didn't realize Feb. 23rd was the last entry! Sorry guys, not sure what came over me other than I hadn't been feeling well for a while (sinus infection then I had the flu) and just overall in a mood. Most recently I've just been playing catch up on things around the home front and too much of it now that spring has arrived.

Knitting has been spotty as well. Still struggling along on the vest though I'm about 2/3 of the way done. Honestly, I'd be further along if I'd only get out my swift and ball winder. But that means I have to get off my ass, walk across the living room to the jelly/yarn, book, whatever I can cram in there cupboard, set it up and then wind the yarn. Frankly, that's just too much work. Ever feel like that? I've also been working on the lacey anklet socks from Interweave, one sock complete and the other about 2/3 done.

Last night I pulled out the wheel and actually did a little spinning and might spin a bit more tonight. You would think with all the fiber stash enhancement I would be spinning like a crazy woman. I think I haven't been spinning either because I have been working on a merino/tencel blend which honestly is starting to really bore me, so maybe tonight I will mix it up a bit and pull out something fun to spin like the locks I bought. Have yet to spin from a lock so that might be interesting or cause me to drink. We'll see how that plays out.

The photo is the merino/tencel blend, 2 ply. My plan for this is to make Cozy from Fall 2004 issue of Knitty. Something to have laying around my chair for when I get a chill in the winter. Having a plan for it should be enough to keep me from getting bored but I sometimes have the attention span of a 2 year old on a sugar high.

Don't Piss off the Knitting Gods

noreply@blogger.com (Jackie) — Thu, 23 Feb 2006 18:13:00 +0000

I've really put off writing this post, there will be no gold metal here on this blog. Last week the Everest Vest was cast aside and has not been picked up since. I really wanted to make this vest, complete it in the 16 days allotted but it just isn't going to happen.

In an earlier post I had stated that I was having tendon and wrist problems. Even after the tendon and wrist started feeling better and I tried knitting on the vest, there's just something about the Silky Wool that really aggravates my hands and wrist. This does not make me happy. I think I will really like this vest, in this yarn, if I can ever get it finished. I'm just going to have to take my time with it and knit it in small increments.

So instead of working on the vest, I've been spinning and finishing up (cough), a long overdue Christmas present. Yes, I am ashamed. My poor sister's hands are freezing because I didn't finish her Latvian mittens. I am a bad, bad sister. I have been working steadily on them and plan on finally giving them to her this weekend.

I'm feeling like such a knitting loser. I suppose I don't have to fess up these things here on the blog but the knitting Gods smite me. And I'm pretty sure that until I reveal my knitting misgivings to the world they are not going to let me have one moment of knitting joy.

I have yarn to show, soon to be finished mittens and some pretty handspun to show you all in the next post.

A Fool and Their Money

noreply@blogger.com (Jackie) — Fri, 17 Feb 2006 15:27:00 +0000

Last Week I took the trip to The Fold. Need I say more.

Actually I did want to say that the two Merino/Tencel blends are different, I just wasn't able to capture it in the photo.

Blue Moon handpainted top

Fast flyer for my wheel, locks and a book.

Like I needed any more sock yarn.

On Wednesday I bought another skein of Rose's sock yarn. I haven't taken a picture yet but will for the next post. I am now officially on a yarn and fiber diet!

Happy Friday and have a great weekend!

Olympic Update

noreply@blogger.com (Jackie) — Tue, 14 Feb 2006 00:57:00 +0000

Thursday night I was doing some beading. I had read the warnings (linked from Stephanie's blog) about knitting injuries. I took heed but didn't think about it again and then proceeded to do the beading. Trying to get the needle through the too small holes and using that pinching grip over and over. The next morning I woke up and the tendons below my thumbs were really ticked off. I also have a small ganglion cyst on my wrist and it wasn't too happy either. Not off to a great start.

I cast on around Friday at 3:30 pm but knitting has gone slowly. I've had to try and adapt my knitting as not to further aggravate the tendons and wrist. I've made progress but I am a few inches behind where I want to be. Something tells me this may not go as I had hoped. I thought I would really like this yarn for the vest (Silky Wool) but I am not pleased with the unevenness of the stitches. I'm sure part of it is due to my knitting but I think part of it is also the yarn. I thought about ripping and starting a new project but decided to stick with it and hope that it looks better after it is washed.

I have lots of goodies to show from my trip to The Fold but will save them for the next post.

Serious Olympic Training

noreply@blogger.com (Jackie) — Wed, 08 Feb 2006 14:04:00 +0000

With all the talk of Olympic training I thought I'd share how my son is doing a little training himself. For the first time, a couple of weeks ago he decided he wanted to play hockey. Being as he has no hockey equipment he creatively made do. Spiderman slippers for skates, a golf putter for a hockey stick and well, what else but old Pooh slippers for shoulder pads. See the little box under the stoool? Well that would be the goal, and there was another goal set up across the room.

Decision Made

noreply@blogger.com (Jackie) — Tue, 07 Feb 2006 21:41:00 +0000

As I read blogs today I see that many of us are in high gear of our Olympic training. After much indecision I have finally committed to what I will knit. It's the Veste Everest from the Fall 2005 Issue of Interweave Knits. I kind of wanted to make it in a charcoal but I'm really trying to add more color to my wardrobe so I chose Silky Wool in a pinkish/rose color. Me thinks it will look pretty good with a nice crisp white blouse.

I finished up a scarf last night and hopefully tomorrow I will be able to get some shots of it in action. It's a ruffled scarf that I crochet on the fly with the limey green color of Kid Silk. I have seen others made with what looks like 2 strands but I wanted it to look light and airy so I only used one strand. I think it turned out pretty good.

Yarn Obscenities

noreply@blogger.com (Jackie) — Sat, 04 Feb 2006 19:44:00 +0000

The other day I met my friend Rose at the LYS for some knitting time. I asked her to bring some of sock yarn that she has been dyeing and I picked up two lovely skeins. I bought Delightful Glow (and it is very delightful!) and Black tie affair. I can’t wait to knit these up, after the Olympics of course. Dyeing is an area I have yet to enter so it’s nice having a local friend that can dye yarn for you so she’s making me another colorway that I’ve been looking for.

(Click any for larger)

I made a couple of other purchases this week. Steinbach Wolle and Lorna’s Laces, yummm, and a new kitting bag. I went to purchase my niece a new wallet to match the backpack purse she got for Christmas and the bag’s colors caught my eye. There were many different bags in this fabric but this one seemed the perfect size for carrying around and for traveling in the car.

I think my husband thought I had lost my mind. I came in and told him I got the wallet for Katie and “since it was the first day of birthday month I decided to buy myself a Valentine’s present!” I know, that makes no sense at all but I wasn’t going to call it a birthday present since I have a trip planned to The Fold and plan on purchasing many birthday presents there :D

Spinning

I have been really neglecting my wheel. This week I sat down to spin and realized how out of practice one can get. I started working on a merino/tencel blend from Blue Moon Fiber Arts (those Socks that Rock folks) in the Queen colorway. It’s so pretty… I have no idea what I am going to make with this, I have 5 ozs and plan on navajo plying it. I'm sure a project will call to me but if you have any ideas feel free to comment.

Things I have noted this week that will affect your spinning, and not in a good way:

~Don’t spin when you back hurts
~Don’t spin when you are tired
~Don’t spin when your 9 year old is talking non-stop and saying “look” every 30 seconds

So this yarn won’t be the most even that I’ve spun but that’s ok. It was important for me to get back at the wheel.

Knitting Olympics

I have yet to commit to what I am knitting. Now I'm torn between a vest from the new Vogue and socks. Later today or tomorrow I will start swatching for the vest so hopefully that will help me to decide.

Though I put up the Team chocolate, coffee and merlot button I think I need to join the team "what the hell was I thinking? It's so hard for me to stick with just one project and complete something in a short amount of time. I think my ability to be faithful in the life situations that count are in return taken out on my knitting. I would love to be one of those knitters who can stick to one project at a time but I need the thrill of being a party girl when it comes to wool.

As this seems to be the case with many of us knitters, I cheer you on in your quest to be faithful for 16 days!

Self Control

noreply@blogger.com (Jackie) — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 16:58:00 +0000

In Juno’s post today she stated "here's your Olympic Knitting button of excess and poor self control." That sums me up.

As of last night, I'm in. I've got so many projects going right now (and even cast on another quick one last night) so I have no business being on the team but what the hell, it will be fun.

I really need to double check my facts before I commit something to writing and putting it on the Internets. I had stated that the Olympics ended on my birthday when in fact it ends on the 26th. My birthday is the 16th so I guess I just had that 16 (days) permanently imprinted in my mind.

I had planned on knitting a stole (haven’t decided on the pattern yet) in Kidsilk Haze but may change my mind and make a vest from the Folk Vest book, either will be a challenge to complete in time. Is changing your project after you committed even legal? Will I be issued a citation for changing my mind or worse be fined in yarn?

The photo? Just a bit of alpaca silk blend that I spun up last week. It looks a bit duller in the picture than it actually is. It's sitting in a bowl that my husband made in high school. Though my husband doesn't do many artsy things, isn't the bowl cool?

In an earlier post I said I would let you know how I liked my steamer. LOVE IT! Blocking, are you kidding me? If I would ever stop casting on new projects I might complete one and finally get a chance to use it for blocking. I have used it to set twist though and it rocks. It was almost like the wool was melting as I went over it but it wasn't, it was blooming. Way cool and it dried quickly too! I noticed that the completed skein wasn't totally balanced but when I checked it after it was dry it was dead on. For the record, I didn't weight it while it was drying.

No Orchid Injuries Occured While Shooting the Sock

noreply@blogger.com (Jackie) — Thu, 26 Jan 2006 15:31:00 +0000

Well my user info and password still work so I guess I haven't been kicked out of the blog community, yet. The past month has been a rough one. It took longer to get feeling better than I expected and there has been so much to catch up on around the homefront that it left little time for anything else.

Of course I did find time to knit. I started and finished a pair of socks, started 2 other pairs and have done some spinning. I've been contemplating joining the knitting olympics but have yet to commit. As much as I would like to challenge myself and succeed I'm not sure if I really want to stress my knitting, if you know what I mean. There is also the fear of not finishing on time and since it ends on my birthday, should I not finish, I don't want to be dissapointed in myself on that day.

When the Jaywalker socks first came out I thought "they're cute" but didn't have a burning desire to knit them. I find that many of the projects others are knitting take a while for me to get excited about. With the Jaywalker's I got really excited after seeing Amelia's pair. The picot edge just put me, well, over the edge. And then I started seeing the pink ones, I was hooked. I found a yarn that I think will be perfect at my friend Rose's etsy site and when we meet up to knit next week she is bringing me some. In the meantime, I went to the LYS and bought some Opal in Flamingo. This pair will probably be for my stepmother. As everyone else has stated, these are fun to knit! Great pattern Grumperina!

The pair of socks below I started and finished are for my father. I started them for myself and my niece commented that she really liked them so I continued knitting them with her in mind. About 1/2 way through the second sock the socks started ~~screaming~~ talking to me.

Sock: You haven't knit a pair of socks for Dad yet.
Me: Yeah, so.
Sock: This is a manly colorway.
Me: Yeah, so.
Sock: Dad's getting up there in years, I bet his feet get really cold.
Me: Yeah, so.
Sock: I bet Dad would LOVE these socks.
Me: Silence.
Sock: He's such the sentimental guy, he would probably cry. He would be thinking, who knits socks when you can go buy a pair for .25 cents (ok, that price was an exaggeration)? I can't believe she actually knitted me a pair of socks.
Me: OH ALRIGHT, ENOUGH ALREADY, YOU ARE RIGHT!

So they socks are now going to Dad and my neice will get a different pair.

Sock specs:
Pattern: just a k3, p2 rib based loosely on the basic sock pattern from Nancy Bush's Folk Socks book.
Yarn: Steinbach Wolle
Colorway: Who knows, I can't read the label :D These are the numbers listed - Partie 95144 Farbe 001
Needle: Bamboo size 3 (thicker yarn and I am a tight knitter)

I wear a size 8 shoe and these socks are loose and a little long on me. I think my dad wears a size 8 shoe so I think they will be a good fit, snug but not tight.

That's my 3-year old puppy on the left, Thor. He's stylin' today, spent yesterday at the groomers so he looks better now than in the picture.

The other pair of socks I am working on (but set aside for now as I am completely Jaywalker crazy) is the Cascading Leaves socks. I'm using Lanett sock yarn and loving it! I'm planning a trip to The Fold in a couple of weeks and plan on stocking up on more of it.

As stated in the title, no harm has come to the orchid while shooting the photo. It's silk.

I have other things to post about but I will leave it for the next post.

One more pic, just for the heck of it.

As My Father Would Say...

noreply@blogger.com (Jackie) — Mon, 09 Jan 2006 17:32:00 +0000

feeling puny. Pneumonia. Will be back hopefully by the end of the week.

Another cool present

noreply@blogger.com (Jackie) — Mon, 02 Jan 2006 23:09:00 +0000

How could I forget this great gift that I got! I can't wait to block something or set some twist in my handspun.

I read a lot of reviews on steamers (and this one being only 29.99, bonus!) and from what I read this seemed like the best one for the price. It's suppose to have 40 minutes of steaming time which is probably way more than I will ever use. The only downside that I have found so far is it does take a bit to heat up but that doesn't bother me. Though not as small as some of the more portable steamers that would be great for traveling, it is actually pretty small, probably about 14" long. I'll be sure to let you know how well it blocks and sets twist.

Happy New Year

noreply@blogger.com (Jackie) — Mon, 02 Jan 2006 15:54:00 +0000

Though a day late, happy New Year! I hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas!

Mine was good though I spent most of it sick and very busy (which is why I just couldn't recoup). I kept trying to get to the computer but it was an entire week that I was away, no email, anything. That is unheard of in these parts.

I didn't meet all my knitting deadline. My poor sister received 1-1/2 mittens which I then had to take back so I can finish them. My sister-in-law was very excited about her socks. It's so nice to have someone love your knitting so much. I had also made some fingerless mittens for my friend in a purplish-black alpaca with a lace cuff. They came out really nice and now want to make myself a pair. With all the holiday madness I totally forgot to take pictures of the knitted items before they went to their recipients!

I scored some Christmas knitting goodies. Four new books: Knitter's Stash, The Art of Fair Isle Knitting, Folk Mittens, and Vogue Knitting Reference Book. I'm not sure about the Vogue Knitting one. I looked at it briefly and not sure if it really meets up to what I had hoped for. I have several reference books but thought this one would be another good edition to the library.

I also received four skeins of alpaca, a couple of table baskets, a big basket from my sister-in-law with lotion, candles and 2 skeins of novelty yarn inside and a pattern for a dog sweater (which needs more yarn but bless her heart, she tried). There were many other things but I think that's all in the knitting department. Birthday month is coming soon (February) so I have to start thinking about what I want for that. I bought myself my wheel last year so it may be a day spent going to The Fold and getting wheel accessories and fiber.

I really need to finish my sister's Latvian mittens. I tried to work on them last night, all I have to do is the braid then it should go quickly but I kept fumbling with it and finally gave up and went back to a pair of socks I am working on. I've had the pattern and yarn for a year and many of you may have already knit them. It's the Cascading Leaves pattern from the Yahoo group Townsend Socks Knitalong. After I finish the mitten I need to get back to the alpaca sweater and finish it. I guess I haven't been too anxious to work on it because I am afraid it will be way too warm for me to wear. What was I thinking knitting it in Alpaca? Most of the time I am hot and so if wearing a sweater it must be lightweight and usually cotton. Oh well, I'm sure I'll find and opportunity or two to wear it.

For resolutions, well, I have way too many. Last year was a very non-productive year for me and I hope to get more on-track with everything I want and need to do. My friend Rose got a Procrastinators Planner for Christmas and I may just have to have one of those. I need something to kick start my ass into gear.

Ok, if you're still here, thanks for reading. I'm starting to ramble so I'm outta here and promise to post some pics next time!

Poor Habits

noreply@blogger.com (Jackie) — Mon, 19 Dec 2005 19:54:00 +0000

I have never been this disorganized! I still have shopping to do, behind on client work, some rooms in the house need cleaning since I have guests coming to spend 5 days, and now I have become sick, some upper respiratory thing. It's still no excuse for poor blogging habits but that's what has been going on. Blogging will be light until after the New Year and then I should be back on track after that.

And we won't even discuss the knitting. Let's just say I am officially in panic mode.

Stephanie's "IT" Has Officially Arrived

noreply@blogger.com (Jackie) — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 15:44:00 +0000

There has been knitting and other stuff going on but no time to do a proper update. Hopefully a couple of cute snow pictures will hold you over :D

And because I can't leave you without any fiber content, here's a sneak preview of what has been keeping me busy the past couple of evenings.

Wanted: Little People for Little Sweaters

noreply@blogger.com (Jackie) — Mon, 05 Dec 2005 20:36:00 +0000

I do feel bad that I haven't been updating very much lately. I've just been trying to catch up on everything in my life and the holiday stuff. We won't discuss "the everything in my life," let's just say that I am a real pro at procrastination and it's catching up with me and things need to get done. And my back is jacked up, out, down in the back, whatever it's called. All I know is it hurts and pain meds don't help.

I have been knitting, though not as much. I've hardly touched mittens this past week. Actually for a couple of days I hardly knit at all. Well that's a lie! I just remembered my trip on Thursday to the LYS for a knit in (before I went crazy from all work, no play) and though my knitting bag contained four holiday items to knit I didn't feel like working on any of them so I cast on a new pair of socks (non holiday of course) which I forgot to take a picture of. They were short lived however, I started feeling guilty so I cast them aside and got back to holiday knitting. Kind of. Well it's a tree ornament, that counts doesn't it?

From the book Weekend Knitting and I used Brown Sheep's Nature Spun worsted weight. These little sweaters are fun to knit and I restrained myself from starting another and knitted on my SIL socks instead.

It's the retro rib pattern from IK. No, we also won't discuss how I totally screwed up the heel flap and it's inside out. As I was knitting it I knew it was inside out but I couldn't tell from the IK picture of them. I re-read the instructions and still kept misinterpreting it until I started on the heel flap of the second sock. At which point there was no way in hell I was going to make another sock or rip the first one. Knew I should have gone with my gut feeling. I thought perhaps the designer intended it to be this way and who am I to change the pattern? Right, like I've never done that before!

Please don't tell my SIL! She is not a knitter and will not know the difference unless we tell her. She hinted all year for hand knit socks so she will be happy that she is receiving these. I just don't think I can burst her bubble and tell her there is a mistake, ah... a really big mistake, in them. Actually it doesn't look bad, I just feel like an idiot for ignoring the obvious.

For these socks I am using Mountain Colors yarn but I have misplaced the tag so I can't tell you the colorway. It's the first time I've used this yarn and I really like it. Unfortunately, my LYS is no longer carrying it since it didn't sell well in the store.

Hopefully some mitten madness to show soon.

Mitten Update IV

noreply@blogger.com (Jackie) — Wed, 30 Nov 2005 18:58:00 +0000

Sorry for the long delay between posts. I was out of state for Thanksgiving and then have been very busy since my return on Sunday.

Not a whole lot of progress on the Latvian but they are coming along nicely. I have noticed that the braid is done differently between the Estonians and Latvians. Well I haven't exactly read the Latvian way but at first glance, it appeared so. If I had taken the time to really read it then it would have cut into my knitting time :D I used the Estonian technique for this pair but I think I will try the Latvian method next time. I also found that when I was making the fringe cuff I combined the two steps into one without realizing I had done so. Next time I do a fringe cuff, I'll have to try the written way and see which one is faster.

I also made a pair of mittens from the Weekend Knitting book. It said to felt slightly but I tried to felt them more than suggested. I have four neices so I am knitting each a pair. As we are now down to, eeek! 25 days until Christmas thankfully they are a really quick knit. I really should knit a pair for my sister-in-law and my son too, if I have time.

This is Noro Kureyon #126. I am now knitting a pair in #138. I had two skeins to work from on the #126 and though the stripes do not match, I was able to keep the colors similar in both mittens.

With the #138 I am running into a problem. The first mitten is mostly pinks and reds, the second mitten will be red, orange, purple, lime green. Besides buying another skein does anyone have any suggestions how I can at least make the two mittens look similar? Since I need to make a gazillion pairs of these and want each set to be a different colorway, I don't really want to invest in 2 skeins for each set. Since I haven't looked closely at the other skeins, hopefully it is just this colorway. Thanks in advance for any suggestions you may have.

P.S. I hate blogger. What it shows on preview is not what you get!

Urgent Wire

noreply@blogger.com (Jackie) — Mon, 28 Nov 2005 20:19:00 +0000

Crazy busy. (stop)

Please send help. (stop)

Need to post mitten update. (stop)

Hopefully will have time later this afternoon, evening. (stop)

###

Mitten Update III

noreply@blogger.com (Jackie) — Tue, 22 Nov 2005 16:26:00 +0000

Finally some FOs!

The specs:

Pattern: Maimv's Mittens
Book: Folk Knitting in Estonia ~ Nancy Bush
Yarn: Dale Baby Ull

I knit these on size 1 needles, bamboo dbl pointed. Though tight, they do fit but next time I will use a size 2 if I use bamboo. I notice when I turned the mitten inside out that a couple of my woven ends are starting to come out a bit. No worries, I probably weave them in way too much as it is so they should be ok.

Pattern: Combination of two charts
Book: Latvian Mittens ~ Lizbeth Upitis
Yarn: Dale Baby Ull

Since there were 72 stitches to this pattern I ended up using a size 0 aluminum.

Yes, I like baby Dale, so far. I hear it pills but since I've only worn the Estonian pair a few times I guess time will tell. I have recently purchased about 7 different solid colors of Opal sock yarn and I think I will try that on the next pair.

For the blog, I had hoped to get a picture of me wearing the sweater but since that hasn't happened yet I will leave you with these photos. The first blocking, before the finishing, was a light steaming. For the final bath I used tepid water with some vinegar and Eucalan but the Manos still bled a lot. Though it bled, I don't really notice much color change when I compare the sweater to the leftover yarn. The buttons I chose for this are antique silver flowers.

Pattern: Oscar de la Renta garter stitch cardigan
Magazine: Vogue Fall 2003
Yarn: Manos colorway 116