Mailcall
First of all I want to wish everybody a Happy Halloween today. I'm not a great fan of it, I don't like the scary movies that are constantly on TV, even the shows on the kids channels. They make my kids want to sleep in my bed at night and I like my space. So, after tonight, hopefully I have more room again. :)
This is what my two pumpkin heads made for this year.
Not too bad I must say.
Now for the fun part on my side. The mailman (gotta love that man ;)) brought me another package yesterday. Wanna see what was in there?
I ordered a big skein of Bare sock yarn, black Essentials sock yarn, Shadow Jewels Heather and a longer cable for the Options needles. Yum.
The sock yarn is so I can make more stranded socks or mittens and combine them with all my other crazy colored sock yarns. I might be done with the Endpapers, but that doesn't mean I'm going to do everything one colored now ;).
The lace yarn and the longer cable is for the Shaped Triangle Shawl from the "Gathering of Lace". This is going to be my next lace project for a friend of mine. Now I get to use my new swift!..... Gotta go, gotta wind. Talk to you later.
Labels: General
I got a swift
The mailman had to come to my door today and drop off a package that was just too large for the box. I have to admit, I was kind of worried about it.
I found this swift on the internet and after seeing the prices for all the other ones I was surprised to see this one priced so reasonable. I found it on ebay as well as on etsy and ordered it. Today, when I checked on the seller (theknitstore), I had to find out that the listing on ebay was gone and also that his store was empty. Panic attack? Can you blame me? Well, there goes the blond brain again. I guess I got the last one, so now the good man has to sit down and make some more. No wonder they weren't listed any more. So now I have my very own swift - an no yarn to wind. What a bummer. Now if the mailman DID happen to leave me another package that DID fit into my box? We'll see, because I ordered some lace yarn and that has to be wound. Hi, hi, hi, I get to play with my new toy! I know, simple things please simple minds, right? (Not today, I didn't get the yarn yet :( )
On another note, I finished the first piece on the knit picks project # 6 today and unless the lace yarn comes in and distracts me immensely, I'll be off to start on the next piece. It's really soft, I tell you.
Preview for the next blog entry: Pumpkin heads
Another Teaser
Sorry guys, but I can't help myself. I love teasing you with the Knit Picks projects I get to work on. I guess I should make this a contest and ravel off the unused yarn for the one that can find the project first in the new catalog? I don't know about that, but it was a thought :) Anyway, I guess I can show you a sneak peak of my latest knit without giving away too much about the pattern. I'm on my second skein and this is what it looks like so far.
Pretty revealing, right? Plain stockinette. The great thing is that I can pretty much knit on that project with my eyes closed, glued to the TV or on a book. I'm using Elegance 70 Alpaca/30 Silk and this is turning into some very soft fabric. As you can also see I'm using my new Harmony Options needles that came in my last order. I love them and they make the whole project a little colorful. The only thing I don't like is, if they untwist after a while and the yarn gets stuck sometimes. I guess I'm turning my needle as I'm knitting? Maybe that would be a good time to use that nifty little tool that comes with the cables? Now where did I put that one?
I also picked out a new lace shawl for a friend of mine for a Christmas present. Well, it's more like, I knit you a shawl and you refinish a piece of furniture for me. Works out great for me, since I have no idea about wood, unless it's a needle, and she only knows a little crochet and would love to own a shawl. Perfect match, don't you think?
The pattern is one from Meg Swanson's book "A Gathering of Lace" which Monika had sent me in her kindness together with "Knitting" by Sarah Dallas. Thanks a million, Moni. I hope my swap makes it to you soon. :) If you guys want to check out her new and totally free pattern of fingerless mitts named "
Kyla", you won't regret it. They are amazing.
Oh, and to announce another FO, I just wanted to let you know that the hot pink Endpapers are done, but I didn't want to bore you with another picture of it, plus my hand model wasn't available for a shoot this time.
Labels: Fingerless Mitts, FO, KP, On The Needles
Shield your eyes
You wanted to see the third one? Well, here it is, half of it anyway.
The first one of the third pair of Endpaper Mitts is done. I knitted this one with the magic loop technique and casted on with 3mm and moved over to the new Harmony 3.5mm. They were a dream to work with and if I have to replace any of my needles, I definitely will choose those.
I think after this one I'm endpapered out and I will turn my attention to some other knit worthy patterns. It is fun though and a little addictive. Don't you think? In my case anyway. I'm not sure though, if I'm done with stranding though. We'll see what's next.
Labels: Fingerless Mitts
Mitten Blockers
How do they say? "Necessity is the mother of inventions"? Well, what's a knitter to do when there is no such a thing as a mitten or glove blocker and she has not sock blockers either? Make one. Of course. So here is what I found to use as my own personal mitten blocker. Cool, huh?
No, this is not a commercial, but I do like the Dew ;) I just took two empty cans, some duct tape (everybody should have at least one roll of that in the house and in the car and maybe even in your purse) and taped them together to fit the mittens. After soaking them I pulled them over and ..... success. Now they can dry in peace until I find out Monika's address and off they'll go.
That was a fast knit and guess what - the pink is already on the needles. I also was asked to make some gloves/mittens for my neighbors daughters, but I think I'll suggest a different pattern, since too much is too much.
There ARE other patterns out there, you know.
Labels: Fingerless Mitts, FO
Too Cute
Let's start off with a non knitting thing. Meet my little sons new Spanish class friend. He doesn't have a name yet, but they made this sock puppet in Spanish class and have to bring them to school on the right days and they get to talk to them. He (I assume it's a boy) is too cute. Oh, and the one on the right is my son ;)
Here is a quick picture of me - knitting, what else.
Here is a picture of my dog. My son got camera happy and wanted take pictures of everything until the batteries went out - again.
And this is what I picked up at our local Goodwill store this morning. I know, some people won't be caught dead in there, but I didn't have much to loose, right. And now look at what I dragged out of there. It's a Cashmere/Silk short sleeve sweater with beats in a purplish/grey heather color with beats. No, I'm not going to wear this, but I'm going to recycle it, take it apart and will have a good 4 ounces of yarn, minus the beads. And all I paid for this is 3 dollars. I know it's some work involved, but I couldn't say no to this. Even doubled that would make a nice lace something, don't you agree? No, let's get back to them needles and then pull out the little bitty scissors and the winder. I'll give you a before and after shot as soon as I'm done with it.
Labels: General
Knit Picks Gloves
This is what happens if I surf the Knit Picks website: I run into my projects online, before they get printed in the catalog. There are the gloves I made. Does anybody remember the colors?
I always love the model shots so much better than having them laying somewhere on the couch to take the picture. I even managed to match the color repeats on both gloves. They are nice and long and have buttons on the sides. Woohoo, I'm so excited.
Another one of the projects is up too, but I couldn't get the picture to show, so I'll get back with you on that. It's the carnival Baby Blanket. I can't really take credit for that, because I only added the border as a finishing touch to it.
This morning I had a frogging party. I got up at 04.30 am. Why? I'm not used to having company in my bed and whenever one of my boys can't sleep they come into my bed and then I can't sleep. So I put that time to good use and straightened up my knitting/computer room. Now I can see the floor again and most of all, I can use the futon to sleep on it, if there should be need for it. Oh, yeah, the frogging. Did you ever wonder what happened to Mystery Stole 2 and 3? Well, they are wound into nice little balls until further notice. I'm sure I'll find a project for it soon. No hard feelings.
Also, the first one of the second set of Endpaper Mitts it done and I'm working hard on the second glove. Since I got to work a little early yesterday I sat outside and worked on it, which got me another Endpaper project. Gosh, what is it with those mitts? The next ones are going to be shorter and hot pink with black. Woohoo. But they match the girl that wants them. Shield your eyes for the picture.
Labels: Fingerless Mitts, KP, MS3
Can't stop
Can you see that? Yes, it's another pair of
Endpaper Mitts. I got a couple of nice comments about mine that and after a couple of emails back and forth to Canada, me and
Monika found a color match between what she liked and I had to offer and another pair of mittens was in the making. For some reason I really like that pattern and what you see is only a days worth of knitting. That is between
Sunday duties like church,
CCD and laundry. This is my knitting-on-the-porch-talking-to-my-friends-knitting result. Even though I'm the only one that does the knitting, but luckily I'm
multi talented when it comes to talking and knitting ;). So I have a feeling those ones are going to be done in no time at all so hopefully Monika can enjoy them before it gets really cold up there.
I also finished my Knit Picks project, which of course you'll all have to wait for a while to see in it's full glory (I know, I'm such a tease). Blocking took a little bit longer than scheduled, due to the
humidity and the darn thing not drying as quickly as I was hoping for. But that's
OK, since I still have plenty of time before the deadline. It's going out today though.
Labels: Fingerless Mitts, FO, KP, On The Needles
Hole in my head
Question: What do I need as much as hole in my head? Answer: Another Mystery Lace Shawl KAL.
Yes, I did it again. I signed up for another KAL, it's called the
Mystic Waters KAL, which starts October 24th and will be done before Christmas, in case anybody wants to make this one a present for a deserving individual, if something like this should exist in your life. Go over there and check it out. Don't want to be an enabler and all, but did I also mention that
Woodland Woolworks is having a sale on lace yarn going on right now until the 14th?
Uuuuhh, I'm so bad. Sorry. Bad knitter, bad.
FOs
First up is the picture to
proof that my
Endpaper Mitts are a finished pair now. These are modelled by my friend, since I find it hard to push the button on the camera with my nose while I'm trying to show off both of my hands (just kidding). I love the way they turned out and I see myself getting quite some use out of them this winter.
Next up is the little bookmark I couldn't resist to crochet. It's all
Michelle's fault. She made a couple of them and blogged about it and I couldn't help myself. This might be nice
Christmas present for a reader. It's supposed to be made in a 10 cotton, but I had to go overboard again and use a 80 thread I had left over from some handkerchiefs I used to crochet lace around many years back. I put it on the book just to show you how tiny it really is. Unfortunately I can't get my camera to focus on the detailed stitches, but I think you get the point.
Labels: Crochet, Fingerless Mitts, FO
Batteries are charged now
Batteries are charged and here we go with all the pictures you missed in the last post.
First of all here is an update on my contribution to the
Fingerless Mitts KAL. Here is the first of the two Endpaper Mitts. I'm working on the second one now, uninterrupted for a couple of days, maybe. See what happens when I can concentrate on one project? It will get done. Imagine that.
Here are some nice pics of some of my favorite projects in my new book. Enjoy.
Also the second clue for the Secret of Chrysopolis came out and I haven't even started on the first one. I guess after the last mystery experience I want to sit back and wait for a while and see what turn out, but so far it's going to be nice.
Labels: books, Fingerless Mitts
Hug the mailman
I got my Knit Picks order (yes, I order for myself too) in the mail today and I have to say it didn't take that long this time. Or maybe I was just so busy, that I didn't notice. Anyway, here is what I got.
Two skeins of Knit Picks
Lace weight 100 % Merino in bare. I got that in order to work on the Secret of Chrysopolis, but haven't decided yet, whether to use that one and dye it to which ever color I like after I'm done or use a gold colored mystery cone yarn from my stash, since
Chrysopolis was also known as the "City of Gold".
Moving right along to the new
Harmony needle tips. I had to do an inventory of my needles first to figure out which size and needles I actually needed. I do have 3 mm and 3.75 mm and 4 mm circs, but I was missing the 3.5 mm. What a great chance to fill that gap, right? I also found that I didn't have a set of
3 mm DPNs, which is the reason why my Endpaper Mitts are knitted on circulars. I seem to enjoy the DPN better for projects like socks and mittens. So there goes the next order. Unfortunately they weren't available until today, but I'm sure I'll find another reason to send out the next order soon.
Here is why. I also got the book "
Knitting Classic Style" by Veronik Avery. I only saw the 8 projects that were featured on the website and already loved it. Now that I got the book in hand and got to look at all the 35 projects, I so have to narrow down my list, because the stuff in there is so great. The best thing is, that it's totally wearable. Not funky knits, no crazy colors, not techniques from hell that break your fingers or needles, whichever comes first, just plain, good, nice, did I mention wearable? projects. From hats, to mittens, from sweaters to cardigans, tops, socks, there is a little bit of everything in there. Got check it out and tell me you don't love it.
Now we go back to the regularly scheduled knitting, after cooling off the keys and wiping off the drool. Unfortunately my batteries for the camera were all dead, so I supplied you with hopefully enough links to get my point across. I really need to get out some more. Knit on.
Labels: books, KP, Secret of Chrysopolis
