I've been introduced to this new website that I'm in love with. It catalogs all the books you've read and lets your friends see them and comment on them.
Check out my reading list on Goodreads and sign up as my "friend."
Jamie on Good Reads
Also, I went to this totally great lunch place today. It's called "Cherry Blossom Noodle." It's on 10th street and Camelback. The place is all decorated like a bistro in Paris with black and white pictures of the Eiffel Tower. But they serve Bento Boxes and Itallian food! And it's good food too! Totally eclectic. I dig it.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Strange Stuff I Love
Toad in a Teacup by Slugwork
"Strange" pendant by DaenaOrtego
Fish Head Pop-Up Card by CrankBunny
Frida Kahlo pendant by CreativeRampage
Thursday, June 12, 2008
My Puppy Toes Pattern looks like a Bunny!
So I bought this amazing pattern from Universal Yarn, Inc., and I get it home and I begin to knit it up. When I reach the end of the toe, and I'm ready for bed, I decide to peruse the whole pattern before I turn in. It turns out that my "Puppy Toes" are actually bunnies! In fact, the pattern says, "Rep charts 1 & 2 until there are 4 rows of bunnies". Whoops!
I made my own puppy (and kitty) chart to fit the pattern:
Feel free to print and use them as you like. Cheers!
Monday, April 21, 2008
Super Simple Free First Sock Pattern
OK guys and gals. I'm trying my hand at writing patterns. So for my first attempt, here's a super simple (and free) first sock pattern. I don't have any editors or testers but myself. I'd like some feedback. So try it and let me know what the pattern needs or is missing...Thank You.
My First Sock Pattern
Gauge 7sts/inch
Cuff and Leg
Using long tail CO method, CO 40 ( 48, 56,64)
Divide stitches 10 (12, 14, 16) per needle
Join, being careful not to twist the stitches and K the first 3 rounds.
Work in rib pattern (either K1,P1 or K2,P2) for the next 1.5 inches.
K for another 1 inch.
Heel Flap
End the last round of K sts at the beginning of needle 4.
Place all the stitches from needle 4 onto needle 1. 20 (24, 28, 32) total sts.
The heel flap will be worked back and forth on this needle.
Row 1: slip one stitch knit wise, K1, sl 1 the rest of the way across
Row 2: slip one stitch purl wise, P the rest of the way across
Repeat rows 1 and 2 until you have the length of your heel [measure from the bottom of your ankle bone to the floor when you are standing on your foot]. For a general rule, you can use 2 or 2.5 inches.
Finish the heel flap on a Knit row
Heel Turn
Row 1: Sl 1, P10(12,14,16), P2tog, P1 turn
Row 2: Sl 1, K3, ssk, K1, turn.
Note: there will be a small gap between working sts hat form heel turn and unworked heel sts.
Row 3: Sl1, purl to within 1 st of gap, P2tog, P1 turn.
Row 4: Sl 1, knit to within 1 st of gap, ssk, K1 turn.
Repeat rows 3 and 4, including 1 additional knit or purl st after the sl1 until all side sts are worked, end with a completed row 4.
There should be 12 (14,16,18) sts left on the heel flap
Gusset
Redivide the sts evenly onto needles 1 & 4
Pick up 10(12,14,16) sts from the side of the heel flap.
Pick up 2 sts at the top of the gusset
K across the instep until you get to the other side
(where the sts look sideways)
Pick up 2 sts here at the top of the other side of the gusset
Pick up 10(12,14,16) sts from the other side of the heel flap.
Round 1: Knit to the 2 sts at the top of the gusset and then
knit them together with ssk.
K across the instep until you get to the other side.
K2tog here at the top of the other side of the gusset.
K to end of round.
Round 2: Knit to last 3 sts on needle 1, K2tog, K1.
Knit needles 2 and 3
K1, ssk, knit to end of needle 4
Round 3: K all sts
Repeat rounds 2 and 3 until 40(48,56, 64) total sts remain.
Foot
Continue K on all needles until foot is desired length (usually 1.5 to 2 inches from end of longest toe)
Toe Shaping
Round 1: K to 3 sts before the end of the needle, ssk, K1
Needle 2 – K1, K2tog, K to end of needle
Needle 3 - K to 3 sts before the end of the needle, ssk, K1
Needle 4 - K1, K2tog, K to end of needle
Round 2: K all sts.
Repeat Rounds 1 & 2 until 20 (24,28,32) total sts remain.
Repeat Round 1 until 12 (12, 16, 16) total sts remain.
Place sts from top of sock on needle 1 and sts from bottom onto 2nd needle.
Graft sts tog with kitchener st.
Cuff and Leg
Using long tail CO method, CO 40 ( 48, 56,64)
Divide stitches 10 (12, 14, 16) per needle
Join, being careful not to twist the stitches and K the first 3 rounds.
Work in rib pattern (either K1,P1 or K2,P2) for the next 1.5 inches.
K for another 1 inch.
Heel Flap
End the last round of K sts at the beginning of needle 4.
Place all the stitches from needle 4 onto needle 1. 20 (24, 28, 32) total sts.
The heel flap will be worked back and forth on this needle.
Row 1: slip one stitch knit wise, K1, sl 1 the rest of the way across
Row 2: slip one stitch purl wise, P the rest of the way across
Repeat rows 1 and 2 until you have the length of your heel [measure from the bottom of your ankle bone to the floor when you are standing on your foot]. For a general rule, you can use 2 or 2.5 inches.
Finish the heel flap on a Knit row
Heel Turn
Row 1: Sl 1, P10(12,14,16), P2tog, P1 turn
Row 2: Sl 1, K3, ssk, K1, turn.
Note: there will be a small gap between working sts hat form heel turn and unworked heel sts.
Row 3: Sl1, purl to within 1 st of gap, P2tog, P1 turn.
Row 4: Sl 1, knit to within 1 st of gap, ssk, K1 turn.
Repeat rows 3 and 4, including 1 additional knit or purl st after the sl1 until all side sts are worked, end with a completed row 4.
There should be 12 (14,16,18) sts left on the heel flap
Gusset
Redivide the sts evenly onto needles 1 & 4
Pick up 10(12,14,16) sts from the side of the heel flap.
Pick up 2 sts at the top of the gusset
K across the instep until you get to the other side
(where the sts look sideways)
Pick up 2 sts here at the top of the other side of the gusset
Pick up 10(12,14,16) sts from the other side of the heel flap.
Round 1: Knit to the 2 sts at the top of the gusset and then
knit them together with ssk.
K across the instep until you get to the other side.
K2tog here at the top of the other side of the gusset.
K to end of round.
Round 2: Knit to last 3 sts on needle 1, K2tog, K1.
Knit needles 2 and 3
K1, ssk, knit to end of needle 4
Round 3: K all sts
Repeat rounds 2 and 3 until 40(48,56, 64) total sts remain.
Foot
Continue K on all needles until foot is desired length (usually 1.5 to 2 inches from end of longest toe)
Toe Shaping
Round 1: K to 3 sts before the end of the needle, ssk, K1
Needle 2 – K1, K2tog, K to end of needle
Needle 3 - K to 3 sts before the end of the needle, ssk, K1
Needle 4 - K1, K2tog, K to end of needle
Round 2: K all sts.
Repeat Rounds 1 & 2 until 20 (24,28,32) total sts remain.
Repeat Round 1 until 12 (12, 16, 16) total sts remain.
Place sts from top of sock on needle 1 and sts from bottom onto 2nd needle.
Graft sts tog with kitchener st.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Catching Up
Let's see. It's been quite a while since I've blogged about anything. So let's take inventory and see where we are.
I've shut down the Etsy shop. I just wasn't keeping up with it. I had plenty of ideas and supplies, just no time or space in which to work. My "workshop" got moved when I split with my one-day-to-be-ex-husband to a small room in a town home I'm renting. Then that room was the only place to put all of my supplies and ended up being storage. There's barely any room to move in there.
I've been knitting up a storm! However, I haven't finished anything in quite a while. I keep thinking to myself that if I can ever make myself finish my started projects, I'll have a week or so of amazing progress. One finished object after the other flying off the needles....would be nice. I just have to make myself stop starting things. So, to that end, I'm on a yarn diet. Not only because $100.00 yarn shopping sprees are starting to effect my credit, but for the above stated reasons as well, I have to finish four projects before I can buy any more yarn. I have one pair of socks for my best friend to finish. Unfortunately this person has the biggest feet on the planet and I used size 1 needles. I have a beautiful Scandinavian Fair Isle sock from the cover of Vogue Knitting; The Ultimate Sock Book, to finish. I'm making it in bright green Wollmeise. I need to complete a baby sweater from Knit Simple (Scalloped Cardigan #27). And I want to finish a fair isle hat from a class that I'm taking at Tempe Yarn & Fiber, with Jean.
My job is ending on July 1st. Nothing personal, just the funding that pays my salary is running out. I've been on two interviews so far and I've applied for several positions. One interview was for the lab next door. I'd be doing the exact same thing that I'm doing now, which would be a comfort. The other interview was for a job that I'd forgotten I'd applied for. I hope I didn't seem to daft. It took until nearly the end of the interview to figure out that they were talking about lung cancer...not brain cancer! Sheesh. Yeah, I'm not sure I got that one. Sadly, yesterday, I saw the lab next door interviewing someone else too. So, my hopes aren't all that high right now. Wish me luck. You know, I wish I was sound editor for Audible.com. That way I could knit and listen to books all day. I think that would be my dream job. Right now, my favorite author is Douglas Preston. Although, I just listened to "Neverwhere" and I really enjoyed it, even though I've never really been a sci fi/fantasy fan.
I've shut down the Etsy shop. I just wasn't keeping up with it. I had plenty of ideas and supplies, just no time or space in which to work. My "workshop" got moved when I split with my one-day-to-be-ex-husband to a small room in a town home I'm renting. Then that room was the only place to put all of my supplies and ended up being storage. There's barely any room to move in there.
I've been knitting up a storm! However, I haven't finished anything in quite a while. I keep thinking to myself that if I can ever make myself finish my started projects, I'll have a week or so of amazing progress. One finished object after the other flying off the needles....would be nice. I just have to make myself stop starting things. So, to that end, I'm on a yarn diet. Not only because $100.00 yarn shopping sprees are starting to effect my credit, but for the above stated reasons as well, I have to finish four projects before I can buy any more yarn. I have one pair of socks for my best friend to finish. Unfortunately this person has the biggest feet on the planet and I used size 1 needles. I have a beautiful Scandinavian Fair Isle sock from the cover of Vogue Knitting; The Ultimate Sock Book, to finish. I'm making it in bright green Wollmeise. I need to complete a baby sweater from Knit Simple (Scalloped Cardigan #27). And I want to finish a fair isle hat from a class that I'm taking at Tempe Yarn & Fiber, with Jean.
My job is ending on July 1st. Nothing personal, just the funding that pays my salary is running out. I've been on two interviews so far and I've applied for several positions. One interview was for the lab next door. I'd be doing the exact same thing that I'm doing now, which would be a comfort. The other interview was for a job that I'd forgotten I'd applied for. I hope I didn't seem to daft. It took until nearly the end of the interview to figure out that they were talking about lung cancer...not brain cancer! Sheesh. Yeah, I'm not sure I got that one. Sadly, yesterday, I saw the lab next door interviewing someone else too. So, my hopes aren't all that high right now. Wish me luck. You know, I wish I was sound editor for Audible.com. That way I could knit and listen to books all day. I think that would be my dream job. Right now, my favorite author is Douglas Preston. Although, I just listened to "Neverwhere" and I really enjoyed it, even though I've never really been a sci fi/fantasy fan.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Exploring Ravelry & Casting On Christmas Presents
I finally got my invitation to Ravelry. Ok, I know. I'm sooooo behind the curve. I have a ton of excuses by I'll spare you. Needles to say, I've been totally absorbed in knitting and Ravelry. I've been filling in all of my information and taking tons of pictures. So, today, I'll just share some of the things I've got OTN.
This is my friend Vee Vee's sock. It's going to be huge. He wears a size 13! I'm knitting on size 2 needles so it's going to take me a while. Also, he wanted the toes and heels reinforced so I doubled the yarn and gave myself hand cramps. Ugh! They're really beautiful, but I'm looking forward to doing a smaller project soon. Unfortunately, this was my first short row heel and I continued short-rowing (is that the right phrase) until there were 20% of the stitches for the heel left, as I thought the instructions were telling me to do. Well, it turned out that it was probably meant to be "continue short-rowing" (there's that funky phrase again) until there are about 20% of the TOTAL stitches left. I'm dreading ripping out those double yarn stitches and doing half of the heel again. I think I've discovered a carpel tunnel in my wrist. Or is that not an object that protrudes from your arm? Oh, wait...that's a dpn...nevermind. Ow!
Now, here is that single, pitiful lonely sock that I just kinda made up as I went along. I am so fully in love with this sock, I just want to wear it now. But without it's mate, it refuses to be comfortable. So, I've begun to knit the second sock and whenever I'm not busy...OK, OK I'll make myself do these and then I'll give them as Christmas presents. Pout. That way, I'll have enough motivation to finish them...but I won't have them.
I swear, after Christmas, I'm knitting only for myself.
Isn't this lovely? These Cheveron socks, I cast on for my mother. I think she'll like them. It's a truly fun pattern, but I'm a little afraid of the provisional or "after-thought" heel. I guess I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. The pattern for these can be found in Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch.
This is my friend Vee Vee's sock. It's going to be huge. He wears a size 13! I'm knitting on size 2 needles so it's going to take me a while. Also, he wanted the toes and heels reinforced so I doubled the yarn and gave myself hand cramps. Ugh! They're really beautiful, but I'm looking forward to doing a smaller project soon. Unfortunately, this was my first short row heel and I continued short-rowing (is that the right phrase) until there were 20% of the stitches for the heel left, as I thought the instructions were telling me to do. Well, it turned out that it was probably meant to be "continue short-rowing" (there's that funky phrase again) until there are about 20% of the TOTAL stitches left. I'm dreading ripping out those double yarn stitches and doing half of the heel again. I think I've discovered a carpel tunnel in my wrist. Or is that not an object that protrudes from your arm? Oh, wait...that's a dpn...nevermind. Ow!
Now, here is that single, pitiful lonely sock that I just kinda made up as I went along. I am so fully in love with this sock, I just want to wear it now. But without it's mate, it refuses to be comfortable. So, I've begun to knit the second sock and whenever I'm not busy...OK, OK I'll make myself do these and then I'll give them as Christmas presents. Pout. That way, I'll have enough motivation to finish them...but I won't have them.
I swear, after Christmas, I'm knitting only for myself.
Isn't this lovely? These Cheveron socks, I cast on for my mother. I think she'll like them. It's a truly fun pattern, but I'm a little afraid of the provisional or "after-thought" heel. I guess I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. The pattern for these can be found in Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Update & Back In Business
In other news, I've separated from "The Man" and moved into a very small little place about an hour away. There's barely enough room for myself and the wonder dog's crate. But we're keeping up with our fashion experiments. Unfortunately, the wonderdog tends to be more involved than she'd like to be merely due to proximity.
I hired my mom to take care of the business 
books and she's gone Etsy nutz. I should have known that Etsy would get under her skin. We now have several shops and are expanding as we speak. Check 'em out!
books and she's gone Etsy nutz. I should have known that Etsy would get under her skin. We now have several shops and are expanding as we speak. Check 'em out! South Paw Creations
We've got one for grown up clothing, one for kids clothing, one for supplies, and one for all the items that we can't figure out their particular category. Then there's also my daughter's shop and my mom's quilted items too! Really, with Christmas comming up we've got something for everyone. I'm stoked.Since she's been in charge, sales have doubled and we've been in 4, COUNT EM! FOUR, treasurys!
Now I just have to clear off a small space to sew and I'll be able to contribute more. But first things first. HALLOWEEN! and costumes, costumes, costumes.....pictures to come.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
