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.

Stitch N Bitch

Last night was our first ever Knit Night. 16 people RSVPd! I was over whelmed at the response. There was no way I was going to fit all those people in my tiny little place so we moved it to a friends house. All went well. You know something? I didn't knit one single stitch. LOL. But several people went home with new scarf projects and one woman was even inspired to buy some sock yarn! It felt great teaching people to knit. We talked about "the face" and how you couldn't possibly be doing it right if you weren't making a horrible concentration face. We also decided that knitting was now "in."

So, in preparation for last night's party I went through all my yarn. I thought I couldn't possibly have that much yarn. I was wrong. Here's a picture of only the yarn that I don't have ear-marked for projects. AK! I think these things are mating in my closet and multiplying! I have to make some scarves and sweaters, or something to use up all of the bulky yarn that's taking up so much room on my dining table.

Lately, I've been concentrating on socks. For some reason I've fallen in love with them and I've done nothing else. The sock on the right was done without a pattern. The problem now is that I can't remember what I did to make it look this way and I've got a drastic case of Second-Sock-Sindrome going with these now. So...I went and started the Pomotamus socks from Knitty.com. Pomatomus This is an amazing pattern. But those crazy people on the knitlist who are knitting them two at a time are into sick self-torture!!! No offense intended.

Also, here's a tip fr the day. Those plastic sleeves that the circular needles come in are perfect for storing your dpn's. (grin)

And my question for the blog-o-sphere: Has anyone ever used rosewood dpn's? I picked these up because I loved the look of them, but I haven't tried them yet. Do they break more easily? They sure are beautiful and they have a wonderful texture. I can't wait to put something one them...like I need another project.

More About Socks

Tomorrow is back-to-school day for my daughter and I'm very excited. Although it means that we'll have to get up earlier than God Himself, and since it's a new school she's all fah-clempt about being new, I think that this year is going to be a good one for her.

School also means, new school clothes! This year, no school uniforms!!! Yay! It also means that I can make new clothes for her. She's always been my perfect model but recently she's been more and more un-into what mom makes. Although, these socks seem to be OK so far.

I also make some socks for my step daughter but I underestimated the size of her foot and I couldn't get the darn thing back off. With a sigh, I frogged the sock off her foot and I'll start it over either with more stitches or with a bigger needle.

Here are some pictures of socks I've finished for myself and a scarf I've started for my dad too!

The tan socks are my very first pair and I'm totally n lo9ve with them. I made them on very large needles so they're not super comfortable. They're also made of cotten so they don't stretch very well. Also, I didn't use a stretchy cast-on so the ankle is all floppy; but I couldn't be happier with them. The deep red pair is the first pair of wool socks I've made and those are my complete favorites. With every wash they get softer and softer. I got that yarn from Etsy (Kindred Spirits Yarn) and it's hand dyed!

All About Socks

I recently bought and listened to the Yarn Harlot's two books (At Knit's End: Meditations For Women Who Knit Too Much & Stephanie Pearl-McPhee Casts Off) from Audible.com. WARNING: If you are without a hobby, and love funny stories, put your credit cards in a bowl full of water and then leave them in your freezer for the entire listening/reading portion of this experience. Knitting is extremely contagious and wool has addictive fumes that will melt your credit cards right out of your pocket. In these two books, Mrs. Pearl-McPhee has awakened my inner knitter and created a monster. I've been knitting for a month straight! I'm a seamstress, not a knitter! What am I doing? I'm now addicted to socks? Sheesh! Like I don't already have enough projects.
Here's how bad it's gotten. My husband and I decided that it's time for me to go back to school and he made a comment that if I go, I'd have to put down the knitting. You know, for a second there I actually considered bailing out on graduate school. Ha ha. One day, I almost stood up a friend for dinner so that I could rush home and check my mailbox for some new yarn I'd ordered. Good grief!
But, I love love love knitting. I love socks especially. I love self striping, happy colored socks. I love plain black dress socks. I love patterned socks. I love knitting, toe-up. I love knitting cuff-down. I even love kitchner stitch (that b*tch of a weaving nightmare that allows you to finish the toe invisibly).
In my head I know that I've got to eventually put the knitting down and get back to my business. I know that I've got to put it aside and study for the GRE so that I can get into grad school too. But I've fallen in love with hand-knit socks. Truly and whole-heartedly.
I've joined en email list or three. I've volunteered to knit socks for soldiers. And I'm planning a knitting party to teach my co-workers how to knit! I'm just in heaven! (sigh)

Update: Nikki the wonderdog has been de-furred. She's traumatized and very miffed at me right now. She wouldn't let me pet her for about 4 days. These days, she's sketchy about her tail too. I feel very guilty but it had to be done. For Pete's sake! It was 120 degrees here! She couldn't go out for a walk without foaming at the mouth. Ok, ok. I didn't have to shave her tail. My bad. I got over-zealous with the clippers.














OK, you can say it. I'm just an evil doggy mommy!

Musings About Recycled Knit

I think I'll finish the retro messenger bag this evening and it'll be available in the shop soon. I have the same bag in denim that I made several years ago and it's one of my favorites for toting around projects. In fact, right now I have a beautiful cross stitch that needs to be finished in it...note to self: finish the cross stitch.

I thought of an idea this morning in the shower. I have several old sweaters that are still extremely beautiful but very small for me anymore. I want to make drawstring backpacks out of them, I think. I can recycle them.

I could make one like this with some nifty drawstrings or leather straps, and just line it with some pretty fabric. Or I could get fancier too, an try to duplicate the green bag above, by adding some tassels and handles.

I could also make a tote like the ones hanging here. (sigh) Too many ideas to count.

After the post yesterday, I realised that I need to go through my stash of supplies. I have so many ideas that I'm absolutely sure that I've packed many many away in boxes. (Like I need more after the list I've already posted.) It would be nice to see what I've got. I think it would help me to make an inventory too. Does any one else have any ideas as to how to keep track of all my ideas?

I started a sketch book, but I lost it in the great stacks of stuff I have. I also started a portfolio of all the things I've already done, but I keep forgetting to take pictures of them before I sell them and never see them again. I guess this blog will help with that!

For instructions on how to make the above bags see the following links:

http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/cr_sewing_accessories/article/0,1789,HGTV_3321_2173915,00.html

http://www.berroco.com/exclusives/knitting_tote/knitting_tote.html

http://www.canadianliving.com/CanadianLiving/client/en/Crafts/DetailNews.asp?idNews=233920

The Knitting Bug Has Bitten Me

Today I need to make 5 capes for a dance recital and last month I altered a lime green prom dress. I'm just loving having my own business. I'd like to do more but I have to work sometimes too. (grin) I've recently taught myself how to knit socks and I'm hooked! I bought this beautiful yarn: http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=5386586

And then I used the traditional, multi-needled method to learn to kint this sock!!!

Then I tried a different method with a self striping yarn to begin to knit another pair on two circular needles.

Here's my long term project though. You'll think I'm crazy at first, but keep reading....I'm using my dog's fur to knit a scarf. Yup! A scarf! No. I'm not the crazy cat (dog) lady. It's actually just like angora. Here read this:http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=584156

I send this wonderful woman all the brushings from Nikki, my Akita. Akitas are known for blowing their coat twice a year. She washes and spins up the fur into a super soft and very warm yarn for me and I buy it back from her. It usually costs about 12$ for a large ball of yarn that has been made from a trash bag full of hair. Here are the beautiful results!

You may then ask me, "What are you doing for the Shop while you're doing all this knitting and altering?" This: http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=5350040

Cheap Threads offers all kinds of fabulous fabric and I just couldn't resist. I'm making a messenger bag out of this one and if it sells, I'll have to get more!

You can check out the shops mentioned above here:

Kindred Spirits Yarn http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=16546






Spazspun http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=21385

cheap threads http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5021470

or http://www.cheapthreads.com