Woof

Made the dogs Christmas collars. They came out so cute and very easy to make. I saw it on Knitty Gritty (TV show) and naturally I changed it a little bit. On the show, the guest knitter said to use the yarn doubled, but I don't see that in the pattern from DIY. I used some old red acrylic yarn I had laying around and then got a skein of Lion Brand Fun Fur. I knit with both yarn strands held together. There was plenty of yarn to knit four collars with lots of yarn left over. Here's the link

More hats

I sent two baby hats to the orchard and a pair of baby socks. I have two other hats in the need to finish stage. More to come on those. This is my Purl Hat (introduced back in August) knit with the Jelli Beenz yarn from White River Yarns. I had enough yarn left-over to make one baby sock and left over yarn from the hat I knit previously to make the other one. They came out so cute, I love to knit socks. I used the Yankee Knitter Classics Socks pattern. The other hat I made was was the Fair Isle hat. I should have enough yarn from knitting this hat and the one I made in October to make another hat (or socks).

Ice days

Friday was a snow day -- yeah!! I love snow days even if we do make them up. But this Friday was not a good snow day. We lost power from 4AM Friday morning until 3PM Saturday afternoon. How is that possible!? I live in town just a block off route 5. Our pine tree took down the phone pole. An adventure. Very glad to have power back. I spent the day knitting and reading.

Snuggly brown

I made a scarf for my dad to help keep him a little bit warmer this winter. I cast on 36 stitches on size 7 needles, using 3 skeins (109 yards each skein) of 100% alpaca yarn. The trick was to make the scarf long enough to wrap but not so long it gets in his way. The end result: 7 ½-8” wide and 54” long, but I expect it will stretch. I did straight knitting and slipped the first stitch of each row. It created a nice edge. This yummy yarn is “Classic Elite Inca Alpaca” from Northern Nights Yarn Shop in Norwich, VT.

Christmas cards

I worked on my Christmas cards a little bit this weekend. This is the first time I have done something where every card is so different. I am enjoying making them, I hope my family and friends enjoy getting them.

Baby helmet hat

Finally got this helmet hat done! It is so cute but seemed to cause me no end of problems. The earflaps connected sloppy so I went back and darned the gaps. I tried to do I-cord ties but the one I did looked terrible. After 3 or 4 attempts at something else, I came up with a pretty nice little tie.

I used size 2 needles for the tie
Pick up 5 stitches on the knit side (I used a crochet hook)
Purl the next row
Knit 2 together, K, K 2 together through the back loop (3 stitches)
Knit all rows till you have the desired length (mine are 9”)

Don suggested a little braided tassel. I think that gives it a cute look. I used Encore Yarn DK weight, 75% acrylic 25% wool. Size 6 needle.

I found the pattern on this website:
http://heyjulie.wordpress.com/2007/03/20/babykids-earflap-hat/

Has it been that long?

I might not have been blogging but I have been knitting. And here is my little helper. Sam the stray has been with us just over a year now. He is a love.

How fair

Made this adorable fair isle hat. Wish I could take credit for it, but it was all in the yarn. I used self patterning Knitcol Yarn, size 6 needle, medium size (80 stitches cast on). At the end, instead of finishing it I made an i-cord tail with the last 5 stitches. Made the i-cord about 5" and tied a little knot at the end.

The Bobble Hat!

Wow! So happy with the new hat. I am already working on another one. I used Encore Yarn, worsted weight, size 7 needle. Yarn was left over from the 2-at-a-time socks I made. I am guessing it took about 100 yards. To achieve the look:
Cast on should be in groups of 8 (72-80-88, etc)
Knit 18-20 rows from the cast on edge (about 2 3/4")
Bobble row 1: Knit 7, next stitch make bobble, knit 7, make bobble, etc.
Knit 3 rows
Bobble row 2: knit 3, make bobble, knit 7, make bobble, knit 7, make bobble, etc.
Knit 3 rows
Repeat bobble row 1
Finish the hat according to directions

How to make the bobble: Knit front, back, front, back, front in one stitch. That will be 5 stitches in 1 stitch. With out turning, use the left needle to pass the just made stitches off. Pick up the 4th stitch and pass over the 5th stitch and off the needle, pick up the 3rd stitch and pass over the 5th stitch and off the needle. Keep going until only the 5th stitch is left. Bobble made! When you knit around the bobbles, tighten up your knitting to help cinch it all in.
Happy Birthday Morgan!

What's new

I was at the orchard this past weekend. Helping in the store bagging apples and in the bakery washing pans. I will be going over for the next four or so Saturdays. It is very busy there this time of year and they can use the extra help.

Knit wise I finished my newest purl hat. I used bright red Jelli Beenz yarn. I can't wait to see the sweater Beth makes out of the same yarn. I am also working on some gray self striping socks using the 2-at-a-time method. It is slow going, but how cool that both socks will be at the same time!

Good Stella

Enjoying Stella and Louie while their mom and dad are in Seattle. Good dogs!

Socks and Purl hat

I finished the second pair of 2-at-a-time socks. So now I have two pairs. If you are wondering why I knit the socks in two shades of green, it was recommended in the book. Using two shades makes it easier to see what you are doing and which sock you are working on. I like the technique (one 40" round needle) so I am starting some socks for me using some fingering yarn I bought a while ago and using the Yankee Knitter sock pattern. And look --- here is the purl hat in blue. I used the same Jelli Beenz yarn. Came out great.

Hat morfs

Here is my newest baby hat made with Jelli Beenz by Plymouth Yarn and Ann Norling Kid's Fruit Cap. I added some purl rows as follows: cast on and knit about 1 1/2", then purl 2 rows. Knit about 1 1/4" and then purl 2 rows. Finish the hat following the pattern. I am very satisfied with the results so I guess I will go White River Yarns and get another color. ps--happy birthday Taylor!

Another

I made another blueberry hat. Came out very cute. Think I will talk Don into going to White River Yarns Friday night to get some yarn for another hat. Stay tuned to see what I pick out.

Finishing jobs

I finished my blue socks! They came out great. I will enjoy wearing them this winter. I decided to make another blueberry hat. Beth sold the first one at the farmer's market. What will I knit next?? I think I will finish the green socks I was knitting 2-at-a-time. I need to make one of each color so I can have a pair.

Blueberry

This hat is too cute. I bought the Ann Norling Kid's Fruit Cap pattern thinking I would give it to Beth. But as I read the directions I realised I would enjoy making it and I would learn the yarn carrying technique. I used Reynolds Saucy 100% mercerized cotton from Whippletree in Woodstock.

Almost done

Yep---these are the socks. They came out so cute. Now I have to do it all over again so I can have a pair (acutally 2 pair) of childrens socks the same color. But I have put it on the back-burner because I started knitting a baby hat. Ann Norling does those cute fruit hats, so I decided to give it a try. I am looking forward to adding the leaves at the top because you carry the yarn. Wow--never done that, but how hard can it be!

2 at a time socks

I bought the book "2-at-a-time socks" by Melissa Morgan-Oakes quite a while ago. I wanted to finish up a few projects before I gave it a try. Sweater is almost done, blue wool socks almost done, shape-it scarf! almost done, time to start. I went to White River Yarns in White River Junction and got my needles and two skeins of yarn and I was ready to start. Yikes! I tried and tried but I could not get it. I did some web seaching on "magic loop knitting" and found quite a bit (this site was very helpful). Looked at videos, read directions, looked at pictures, practiced and practiced. Suddenly it all made sense. Look! I am doing it!! I am knitting two socks at the same time on one 40" circular needle.

Tea Party

We all had fun at the tea party baby shower. Taylor did an impeccable job. Every detail was perfect! except for the shortbread, or should I say lack of shortbread. We left the tin at home in the freezer! Oh well---everything else was perfect.

Apple baby socks

Socks needed for the baby shower on Sunday. What could be more perfect than apple red ones when your mommy is a member of the Apple Gang. I will need two pairs, one for each baby. They knit up so quickly and come out so cute. I love making them.

Turn-turn-turn

Wow June is the month for birthdays and graduations. And then there is the expected babies we are showering for. Time to make cards, having fun with that.

Still no knitting

Sock #2 is waiting for me to turn the heel. That takes way too much concentration especially with fingering yarn. I always make mistakes. I need to wait for a time when I am relaxed, can put on my super-magnifiers and knit without interruptions. My other waiting projects are my Shape It! Scarf and finishing putting my sweater together.

So instead of knitting what have I been doing? Going to Portsmouth, NH so Taylor could take her paintings to the Three Graces Gallery for her art opening next week. We had a blast! Hot and sunny and watery views. Great shops and better company. And now I am hemming a brides-maid dress!

Scrapbooks too

Finally putting Taylor and Seth's wedding album together. Actually they eloped and these are pictures from their party. I have not worked on my own photos for more than a year. My summer work list just got longer.

Can you have too many?

Yes, it's another Shape It! Scarf. Love wearing them. I used "Sublime organic cotton" DK weight. I am making another one out of the same yarn, cream color. The yarn seems to un-twist on the cast on edges so you can see lots of little strands. I don't think I would buy this yarn again, but I love that it is organic cotton, very soft, and the colors are dreamy. My newest summer scarf.

Knitting not posting

Love my second buttonhole bag. Colors are great. Used some leftover bulky yarn for the base and worsted weight for the rest of the bag. It came out quite a bit smaller than the first one I made, but I love it. I use it for my current knitting project, my pick-up and go bag.

87 Wentworth

Knit is a destination. Had lots of fun wandering the store and picking out yarn for projects, several scarves and a button hole bag. I have lots of yarn to keep me busy and several projects to finish.

Train knitting

Did lots of knitting on the train. I finished my Shape It! scarf.

Uggh

Been sick for days and days. Finally on the mend and just in time. Leaving for Charleston tomorrow afternoon. Catch Amtrak in Rutland early Tuesday morning. Weather is predicted to be warm and sunny, need that!

And won't it be fun to hang out with the girls and my family!

Journal

My knitting journal is a great place to keep track of my patterns, yarn, etc. I have refered to it several times. Someone says "great yarn!" or "what size needles did you use?" or "what pattern is that?" or .... The plastic sleeves are great storage for my original patterns and my marked-up copies. Any then when I need to go to the yarn shop I can grab what I need (because I know where it is) and go. I am keeping all my needles listed in my PDA so I know what I have and don't duplicate. I guess all this organization is my librarian side.

Now I am knitting ...

I am going back to my blue socks. They are made with finger weight yarn so it is taking a little bit of time. I am looking forward to having a thin pair of socks. I also need to finish my sweater. It needs to be sewn-up the sides and blocked.

I am trying to finish up projects before I buy any more yarn. There is a very cute yarn shop in Charleston. It is called Knit, 87 Wentworth Street, won't it be fun to get some yarn for ????

New Scarf

I started a new "Shape It! Scarf" from Sally Melville's book "Book 1: The Knit Stitch." I love this scarf. I wanted to knit a summer scarf so I am trying Shire Silk from Plymouth Yarn. It is 100% silk. The scarf is easy to make, a good pick up and go project. But no more knitting on it, this is the knitting project I am going to bring to Charleston. Yeah! Looking forward to warmer weather for a few days during April break.

You can see a version of this scarf on The Knitting Universe Go to downloads, patterns, and look for the Yarn-Party Scarf.

Done

It came out great. And I love the shape --long and short-- perfect for my knitting. I have started another Shape It Scarf! The perfect pick-up-and-go knitting project, from Sally Melville's book "The Knitting Experience Book 1: The Knit Stitch."

Felting

Today was felt-my-button-hole-bag-day. I tried the washing machine but it was not very successful. Next I tried the kitchen sink, lots of hot water, Ivory liquid, and my wash board. Rub-a-dub-dub, and before long it was done. I put the bag back in the washing machine to spin out the extra water and used my iron to set the shape.