Aprés Christmas 2005 . . . . .

Christmas was wonderful!!! My aunt loved her hand knit socks to keep her footsies warm! My dad loves his soft wool/flax scarf . . . See?? He's smiling!! Holding it up and admiring it! It was so tough not being able to post it on here until AFTER the holidays! He even asked if I was putting it out there beforehand . . . HA!

And it was certainly a knitter's Christmas! My niece got me some Koigu at Stitches last summer, and managed to not say a word until after I'd opened the gift!

And now, an update - the sassy striped socks are finished, my needles (yes, ALL of them!) were empty, so I started on last summer's dyed sock yarn. Below is a shot of some new lacy socks in progress:

The pattern will continue on the top of the foot. I remember when I first dyed the yarn and how it positively screamed "GREEN!" But now that it's being knitted, more of the beautiful shades of blue are more obvious. Can hardly wait to see these finished. Just hope they don't turn my feet the same color my hands were when we dyed the wool!!

So - today, 30 Dec 05, was a quiet one at the office. I did what I could and left around 2:15 to head homeward . . . . but somehow the Weaving Department at Meyers House beckoned and I had to swing by there. There's still those two balls of lace weight yarn we dyed last summer, and I'm "dying" to try a lace shawl in that! So I got the Fiber Trends Pacific Northwest shawl pattern below. Then, out of the blue (or, red?). . . . a wonderful "Foxy" brilliant red yarn called to me. It has fringes in red and other strange tags of stuff on it and when knit looks like a bright feather boa. HAD to have that!!! So, my Christmas cash was spread a bit today (see my stained glass blog for more "spreading of the Christmas cash!").
















Hope your Christmas was everything you hoped for and more, that your handmade gifts were opened with glee and the lucky recipients know the time and love that went into each article!

Naughty or Nice Knitter??

It may be a tiny bit contrived, but I received the following notice:

Christmas Naughty or Nice List I am on the The Nice Knitter List After checking the North Pole database I had : 1,550 nice entries 83 naughty entries Check your name on the Christmas Naughty or Nice List at JokesUnlimited.com

I am sure it has something to do with the fact that every knitting needle in my possession is now entirely empty! Yes, I managed to complete EVERYTHING that was started, and get to begin again after Christmas! I finished the gift scarf, the second of the sassy stripes socks, my own mohair scarf, nine of the twinkley, tiny eyelash scarves, and a bunch of other stuff. I know Niece Wendy has a nice, clear, concise list on her blog of completed projects. I am not so organized as all that. Perhaps next year . . . .

I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and a Happy Knitty New Year!

~Blu

Yes, There IS Knitting Going on Here!

I finished and blocked my gift scarf (made the house smell like wet dog somehow - or perhaps wet sheep?) and finished the blue lacy pain in the a*@! scarf I've been agonizing over for the last few weeks. It came out beautiful!! Now I'm working to finish the last half of the last sassy striped sock and then will have to move on to something entirely new. Figured I'd try and start the new year with clean needles!

Hope all your projects are done on time for the holidays, that they finish up easily, look magnificent, and bring warmth, happiness, and awe from your friends and families! Merry Christmas all you knitters!

Bad Knitting Blogger!

Ok - I know you're thinking I haven't done a single thing new in ages! Well - you'd be WRONG! Been so busy knitting, haven't had much time to blog. So, here's what I can say - I've knitted a few more sparkley scarves, one not so sparkley one for a Christmas present (so, obviously, can't be shown here), and have been fighting (yes, fighting) with a lace patterned scarf in a beautiful mohair yarn. I swear, I started this thing about eight times and the subsequently ripped it out again before it finally started going right (as if my nimble fingers had ANYTHING to do with mistakes!). Then I'd knit a while, count stitches, and find one had been lost along the way. So, rip out again, correct it, back to knitting. Seems I've worked on this thing forever - but has honestly only been about a week and a half.

Neice Wendy suggested "life lines" be put in where I know the pattern's right so I don't have to rip out to a spot before that. AND - she thinks I have finally found a pattern that is up to my difficulty level. Comforting. Right!

Whew!

After working frantically to knit nine of the sparkley eyelash scarves so they'd be ready to sell for a jewelry party a friend of mine's having, sounds like the party may not even happen. Sigh. Story of my life! At least I used colors I like, and won't mind keeping, if necessary!

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. The temp job I'm working is taking a lot of thought, but if it turns permanent, it would be well worth the effort.

Along with knitting the sparkley scarves, I'm also working on a Christmas scarf, and finishing up the sassy stripes socks. So, isn't like I haven't been knitting! Just not posting as much. I will try and do better!

Also, while scoping out new scarf yarn to buy, also found a very pretty mohair and will turn that into a lacy scarf of some sort. It is very pretty! My meager stash is improving, especially since I have a bit more cash to invest . . . perhaps for the next few months I spend looking for work. Gotta keep my spirits up, but wonder if it will ever end!



I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!

St. Louis Knitters Guild Member - Finally

As of 27 Oct 05, when I finally mailed a check, I became a member of the Greater St. Louis Knitters Guild! For those of you interested, you can go here to learn more about the Guild and find out about their history, calendar, various programs and charities, see pictures, or get help. My niece, Wendy (aka "Gwen"), has been a member for a year or two and really has enjoyed their activities. I'm looking forward to meeting some more local knitters, making new friends, and learning some new techniques!

Scarves, Scarves - Everywhere!

At a friend's suggestion, I am knitting scarves to be sold during the holidays. She loved the one I made myself a while ago, so I made her one, too. Then she suggested I make a few to sell to "professional women" - assuring me that they will be a "hit!" So, I'm giving it a go - might be a nice way to earn some extra cash for Christmas. So along with starting my new job, doing laundry and having to hang it to dry due to the broken dryer, dealing with a dead refrigerator, and a former employer intent on fighting my receipt of unemployment benefits, I have managed to work on the following:


A lovely peach, cream and tan scarf, finished to include twinkley fringe.

Knitting three different colors at a time!



Pink, cream, tan closeup:

Closeup of blue/pink:


The black, red and silver:

Autumn Leaves

Bet you think this will be a post about me getting ready to rake up the 80+ bags of leaves I typically have in my yard every fall . . . but NO! I found a free knitting pattern called "Autumn Leaves" a while back, but it came with no picture. The poster (Michelle on the Knitlist) had included this delightful paragraph:

"A few years ago my Grandmother passed away and I was given her stash of yarn and all the books, patterns, knitting needles and crochet hooks. In going through them the other day looking for something to make I came across a pattern that was in her handwriting with a note saying whom she had copied the pattern from. In reading through the pattern I realized it was for a beautiful shawl which I remember her having and letting me use when playing dress up when I was a child (I am now 39). I'm not sure where this was originally published but I thought someone might enjoy making this."

Initially, I started out just to see what it would create - and used some of my really old, acrylic "crap" yarn from the "dime store." If I'd been more clever, I would have just done a piece of the pattern or two, but NO! I cast on the whole thing and began knitting. At one point, there were so many stitches with the thick yarn, the circular needles I was using broke. Instead of ripping it out and just saying, "ok, now I know," I ran a string through the stitches, ran out and replaced the needle and kept on knitting.

Funny thing. In real life, when you go to the doctor you take along your knitting and knit while you wait. Same with the dentist, same with the auto mechanic, or whatever. For the unemployed, most hours of most days are life's waiting room. So, to keep myself busy and out of trouble while waiting for the phone to ring, I've been knitting. Socks, shawls, tiny purses, more socks, and now, more shawls. So below, I post some lovely pictures of the Autumn Leaves Shawl (minus fringe, which I don't intend to add), finished, blocked, and actually quite soft now that it's been steamed.

So, here for your viewing pleasure, the "Autumn Leaves Shawl."

It's Easy When Time's on Your Hands - Along with the Yarn!

I've been busy knitting as I sit home and wait for the phone call to come that will have me starting a new job someplace fantastic. Thought I'd post some pics of this week's accomplishments.

First off, blocked the lace shawl I made from my hand-dyed yarn. Unfortunately, it's longer than a door, and my camera's not terrific, so the picture is closer up. But, believe me, it did turn out rather well!

Created this lovely, but tiny purse. Is about big enough for a credit card, but was easy to do, fairly quick, and my first try at beading. Have to thank my dad for supplying me with a snap - seems I can't find any at my house! I really love this little bag, but not entirely sure what I'll do with it!

Then, I finished sock #1 of the sassy stripes and am about two-thirds the way through the ribbing for the second sock.

Oh - and when I needed a break from knitting, I completed painting building #21 (or is it #22?) - this cute stone mill with a water wheel. One day, I'll have to create a village to put these all on with the lights coming up from below the board.

On the Needles Now

Still knitting up a storm. Actually have three projects going at once! Still working on the second sock of the blue/white sassy stripes. Have a triangular shawl started in the Autumn Leaves pattern, and just begun this cute, tiny beaded purse - my first beaded knitting trial! It's from the most recent Creative Knitting e-letter. I've found lots of cute patterns there, but this is the first one I've tried. Will post a picture of my "rendition" once I get it done.

Yes, You Can!

You CAN get a bunch of knitting done when your power's out for 33 hours!! I just knew you'd wonder!

I finished the first blue/white stripey sock below and started its mate. Finished the shawl pictured below and blocked it. Have been knitting another shawl with junkie yard and broke my circular needle, so after buying a new one, got it back on the needles successfully (wonder of wonders!) and knit some of that, too. Also spent hours picking up tree debris in the yard, started to paint the very last (I swear!) plaster Christmas house (think this makes 25), cleaned a bunch of stuff, read a couple books . . . and hoped for electricity soon.

Also, suffered a great deal of computer separation anxiety!

Feels good to be back amongst the living and power charged!

Knitting Update!

This is what's on my needles this week!

Have had a bunch of time, so mostly been working on the Waves and Shell lace shawl. After a few "bugs" getting started, it is now moving along pretty quickly. I am really enjoying working with the hand-dyed yarn. It is coming out beautiful, altho the color changes aren't especially obvious in the picture.


When Niece Wendy went to Stitches, she got me some very different yarn . . . and I've begun a pair of socks out of it. It isn't just stripes, but due to some large blue patches in the white, it is kind of haphazard. I really think these are going to look really cool. Hum . . . perhaps another pair for me???

Birth of a Logo

I sketched this out today in MS Paint and wonder what people think of this as a logo for my blog?

Let me know! Leave a comment!

Thanks!

First Use of the New Hand-Dyed Yarn!

This is the newest project:
The Waves and Shell Shawl.

Finally got my hand-dyed yarn balled last night, courtesy of my niece, Wendy. The colors are fabulous! and I can't believe how pretty this will be once it gets finished.

The pic on the right includes the beautiful ball of lace-weight yarn, the one below, the closeup. All-in-all, this beginning took me about three hours, but it is fairly simple and should go quicker as I get used to the pattern. I can hardly wait to finish!

Another Pair of Socks - This Time for ME!!

Finished the Blueberry Waffle socks in the Regia yarn - and it only took a week for each sock . . . . not too shabby! Balled my hand-dyed yarn from last weekend's dyeing party tonight, and will start a lace shawl soon with the blue/pink lace weight. Sure looks different once it's out of the hank and into a ball! Will post pics of the progress!

Dyeing for a Change!

Last Saturday, Niece Wendy (aka Gwen) and I got busy early in the day and began dyeing 14 skeins of wool and mohair. Much of it was lace weight and sock yarn. What a blast! We started out with Koolaid, Wilton cake dyes, and some aniline dyes I had. Then we started mixing our own colors like a couple mad scientists and dyeing little hanks of yarn.





Aren't they cute?







Wendy brought Grandma's swift along and her ball winder, and both got used extensively!







Here we are doing our crazy thing!






Yes, it's a messy business!!




Then into the microwave for a quick steam. Can you say "smells like WET DOG in here????"




But at the end of the day, what a beautiful sight!






And I'm happy to say after almost three days, my hands are almost back to normal - however my nails may never be the same. Wendy cheated and wore gloves!

Finished Products

Here are my results from Saturday's dye job:






Lace Weight













<----- Sock Yarn







Mohair ----->

DIFFICULT Stash Enhancement

Ok - This is difficult stash enhancement:



Niece Wendy tried to divide a skein of 880 yards of lace weight yarn to dye today, and ended up making a mess. As she was leaving - it was still on the back of the couch - she said "knock yourself out." heheheheheh So, after an hour of untangling, you can see the small ball, less than the size of an orange, sitting there. Yes, it's good that I'm unemployed and have time to waste doing this kind of stuff. It will help keep me sane while waiting for the phone to ring!

Blueberry Waffle Socks

I finally finished the first sock last weekend, and have been knitting on the second this week. This is the Regia 1932. Thought I'd post a WIP. I absolutely LOVE this color!! Actually, kind of looks like blueberries! At least the color's right!








Beautiful color!

Shawl Obsession

I have become obsessed!! A couple weeks ago, I followed a link from a blog and ended up finding the most beautiful, just finished, red, round, knitted lace shawl that was pictured blocked to the carpet. Absolutely stunning! One of the comments read "the center's absolutely mesmerizing!" It even had a pattern name, and of course I Googled that, found the pattern which was listed for $7.50 . . . someplace. Do you think I can find it again? It was quite intricate. I've looked at Pi shawls, pinwheel shawls, faroese - which are not round (the name of the pattern started with the letter "f").

Unfortunately, I found it at work. I knew the temp assignment was ending and deleted all my browser history and files, which eliminated any possibility of retracing my steps. I have spent HOURS doing Google searchs for patterns or snippets of what I remember. And NOTHING!

I would love to give up the search - or find that pattern. Anyone have any idea what it is or, more exactly, where it is? I am totally helpless here! Stop LAUGHING!!! I need HELP!

Knitting Projects Begun and Planned

Well, niece Wendy (aka "Gwen) is heading for Chicago and "Stitches" on Thursday, and I envy her! She's got so much enthusiasm for knitting! My grandmother taught me that and crochet when I was under 10, so it has just become a part of who I am. Luckily, she's learning techniques I wasn't taught - I just learned the basics and taught myself Aran and some lace work. Actually, you can usually tell I'm an "old fashioned" knitter - only one project at a time!

So, now, what's going on? I've got a pair of "blueberry waffle" socks started in the Regia 1932. I think it is the prettiest sock I've knitted so far! Am carrying the blueberry waffling over the top of the foot, too. Sock one has the cuff and heel finished and am working on the body. Soon to start the toes! Then on to sock two!

Also, found this lovely Seaman's scarf shown on the right. I may try making it for a Christmas gift for a special guy in my life. Am planning on using a fingering yarn either in a solid color or with a bit of tweed to it, so should be quite interesting.

Niece Wendy and I (see her blog by clicking here) ordered some of the Knitpicks laceweight merino dyeable wool, and some of the sock weight. We plan a Kool-Aid dyeing party on the 20th of August, so we should have a blast. She's in a knitting group in Crestwood, MO, and they dyed a bunch of it back in February (see her Feb archive for details and pictures). The whole thing was written up in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Am currently looking for a suitable lace shawl pattern and can't seem to find the one I saw and was really impressed with. It was on someone's blog, round, red, they'd been working on it forever, and had finally finished it - was pinned to the carpet, blocking, and was beautiful and intricate. Just can't remember the name of the pattern! Anybody have any ideas??

I will need something suitable for the "lovely" Kool-Aid yarn I end up with in a couple weeks! Also, I spent a weekend not so long ago pulling and begging a mohair sweater apart. Wendy knitted it, her love quickly turned to hate, and she gave it to me (I gave her a skein of sock yarn *I* hated, so it all works out!). Is beautiful light blue and white and I need a project for that, as well.

Knitted Harlequin Baby Hat

Here's the cute baby hat I made for my Great Niece, Lindsay. (Shhhhh - don't say anything, she doesn't know yet!)

This was TOO COOL! Was the first time I cast on using a crocheted chain. You knit one hat, pull the chain while picking up the stitches, and knit another hat. As you can see by the pictures, the inside of the hat (on the upturned brim) is the same as the outside!

What a neat deal!

Here's one side of the hat . . . .




And here's the other!


hehehehehehehehe

My Masterpiece! An Heirloom Crocheted Bedspread

This is the work I am most proud of. It took seven years - on and off - to crochet in a nice cotton antique white. Each square is 5" and the whole thing is composed of 342 squares which fits a Queen-size bed (amazing I'm still not working on it!!) Actually, when this was started, it wasn't immediately evident that it was a pattern for a TWIN SIZE, so the darned thing continued to grow! Fortunately for me, we didn't have the king-size bed very long! I love this pattern because it amazes me that something that started out round could end up in a nice, perfect square. Bone dry, it weighs 35 pounds, but I've never tried weighing it while wet!

Actually, this was completed probably around 1979, but I have been using it (and sleeping under it) every night since. Hope you can tell how very proud I am of this!



A picture of the double-knotted fringe.


The whole thing on the bed - sorry it's a bit fuzzy, but my little camera can be hard to focus. Hopefully, you get the idea!