Yarn Porn

Saturday, February 24, 2007

Ok so I finally took pictures of all my yarn, since I got my knitpicks order this morning. Here's some pictures of all of it.
So that's all my yarn. For like lasting me the next year...or two lol. I can't wait to use it all. I would start every single project if I had enough needles lol. I gotta find a good place to store it all though, that's the problem. Either way I'm definitely set. I think perhaps I went a little overboard. Oh and here are two pics of my first time doing entrelac. I'm really excited about the way it's comin out. I'm further than this pic shows, quite a bit further actually. But it's going to be a bag when I'm done. I'll fold it in half, seam up the sides, and then I have to find the right fabric to line it. Woohoo! This is my Citrus Malabrigo by the way and it's wayyyy soft and so nice to knit with!
I'm feeling like ten times better since I got my teeth fixed Thursday. So glad it's done for now. I still have others to fix but none of them hurt that much so it's all good. I should go now though, I've got lots of classwork to do that has to be turned in by tomorrow! Ahhh!

Stitch Markers!

Thursday, February 22, 2007

So I finally got the stuff I needed to make some of my own stitch markers. I ended up getting some lobster claw clasps and some toggles, figuring they are cheap enough to only use the loop end. The also won't snag and already have a little loop on them to attach a wire or head pin to. I pretty much just put some beads onto the head pins I bought and used a pair of jewelry pliers to attach to the toggles or lobster claw clasps. Way easy. Took an hour and a half or so to knock out about 25 individual ones. Some though are a set of four, lots are sets of two and five are loners. I didn't like them as much so they didn't get a partner. So here are my pics:

In other news, I ordered the Sims 2 game for my mac. I used to have the pc version, but I figured the mac version would run on my computer better than the pc. Anyway they didn't even have a mac version when I first bought the game. I traded my sister an iPod for the Sims 2 and the Open for Business expansion pack. I want the pets one too, and the nightlife, but only for the cars. I saw that there is a Seasons expansion pack so you can have winter and stuff. They probably won't have that for the mac yet though. Either way I can't wait to get them, I miss playing.

Still waiting on some yarn to get here. Knitpicks order should be here friday, well at the PO Box. My stuff from Yarn.com is coming UPS I think. Prollie take a while. Anyway when I get the knitpicks yarn I can dye some more! I bought some bulky weight to make felted bags, and some sock yarn that is new from them, also from the Bare line, but a silk wool blend! Very excited. I got some shawl yarn too, to try that out. Haven't made any shawls yet, but my sister would probably like one.

Ok well off to bed for me. I have a lovely dentist appt tomorrow, for one of my teeth that chipped big time...sigh.

Secret Pal 10 Questionnaire

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I don't like anything scratchy! I'm really sensitive so I'm partial to the soft stuff. I loooove baby alpaca, Malabrigo, silks, just as long as it's soft, I'm hooked.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I have two cases, one for my needles and one for my hooks. The one for my hooks is horrible, they fall out a lot, but it works for now.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I have been knitting for a few years. I taught myself when I was pregnant with my son and wanted to make a pattern that I found. I consider myself an advanced intermediate.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Nope.

5. What's your favorite scent?
I love Hawaiian smelling stuff. Pomegranate, coconut, cucumber melon...but I'm sensitive to anything that's really strong, gives me migraines.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
Oh god yes! I love chocolate, especially white, and I love hazelnut and caramel.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I pretty much stick to the fiber arts for now. I wish I knew how to spin. I'd like to get a drop spindle, I think that's what they are called...and learn. I just haven't gotten around to buying one. I think it would be fun to dye the roving with kool-aid and then spin it!

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I like alternative mostly. I listen to a bit of everything though. It totally depends on the mood. I love incubus and third eye blind. Panic at the Disco. I mean just a ton of stuff, I could never name it all.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
I love most colors, I don't like neons very much, you know colors that seem to glow in the daytime. I love pastels, and brown and red and blue and green the most.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I have a husband, a 2 year old son and a 9 month old daughter. I have a cat, but she is outside...due to "mental" issues. She's so jealous of my kids she won't stop getting sick in the house.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
Yep! Not so much ponchos, but I love fingerless gloves!

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Everything! I make a lot of sweaters and fingerless gloves and baby stuff.

13. What are you knitting right now?
Lots of sweaters/shirts/tops. Hats, scarves, gloves. A little bit of everything.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Absolutely! :)

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I like circulars better, or dpns...I don't have too many of those. I hate plastic and aluminum. I only buy bamboo. Or wood.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
I wish! I can't bring myself to spend the money on them...

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
Ah....over a year lol.

18. What is your favorite holiday?
Don't have one.

19. Is there anything that you collect?
Yarn! Lol...I like hummingbirds though and dragonflies. I buy lots of stuff with those on them.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
I've been eyeing that Naughty Knits book b/c it's got some cute patterns. I have a subscription to interweave knits.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
Just spinning actually. I think I've tried everything else.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
Yeah I have knit some. My foot is 9 inches toe to heel, 3.5 inches wide....7.5 inches around the ankle

23. When is your birthday?
December 17

Yehaw!!!

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

So I sucked it up and finished up my sleeves. I don't feel like seaming the sweater right now though, so tomorrow. I'm so excited though!!! I can't wait to get it done and wear it! I also started knitting the Central Park Hoodie in celebration of being almost finished with my other sweater.
I also bought an audio book the other day at wally world. It's called The Shop on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber, and it's about knitting!!! I guess there is a sequel too. It's a good story though so far and it's nice to have something to listen too besides music. I used to love reading and don't have the time anymore. It's a fun book though. Some funny parts, and some sad parts, but that's how good stories are. I'm gonna buy the next one. The only sucky part is that they are abridged. Oh well, when you don't have time, you can't complain.
Oh well, so I also recently bought a crapload of yarn. More than my husband knows (hehehe) and I'm so anxious to get it in the mail! I can't wait! More yarn than I could knit in a year too...I'm bulking up since we don't usually have extra money to get anything like yarn.
The only yarn I physically have right now is some that I bought at my LYS, where they ignore me every time I go in. Oh well, great yarn is worth being snubbed. At least for now. I get better deals online sometimes. So far I've bought yarn at Knitpicks, Elann, Yarn.com, and eBay. Ah lovely yarn...I'll have plenty to knit!
Ok well I should really be in bed...just thought I would update!

Dang!!!

Thursday, February 08, 2007

Never knew that I had so much traffic on this blog! I installed a counter from statcounter.com and I can't believe how many people visit me! Mostly for patterns. Either way, at least I know I'm not just writing for nothing.

In any case, working on my other green hat for the green-hat-along at getstitchy. I had originally frogged it because it was too small. The yarn I am using isn't as stretchy. So we'll see how this one comes out. Hard to tell yet how it's going. I'm not undoing it again though, if it's too small I know I can save it for Alexis. In any case, the pattern for it is here if you want to see which hat it is.
Rose of Sharon Hat

It's way cute, and I have some white and yellow yarn to make more of them. Probably two from the white, another for me and one for Alexis, and my friends baby Maya needs one too so maybe I'll use the yellow for her.

I am putting a hold on my fair isle sweater until I figure out why the pattern is retarded and can fix my sleeve. Can you believe it? I only have the sleeves left, and I'm stuck!

So I've been working on the sleeves one of my other sweaters that has been so close to finishing. Hopefully I'll get is done. Well that's about it for right now.

Fuzzy Hat

Tuesday, February 06, 2007

So I made this hat for my MIL, who wanted a really loose fitting hat, that wouldn't give her headaches. I liked hers so much I had to make me one. So here are two versions of the same pattern. The blue hat is hers. It measures about 24 inches around unstretched. Mine is the green one and is about 21 unstretched. Here are the directions:

Gauge is about 3 sts per inch on size 13 needles.

Yarn used was Moda Dea Dream. Knit with two strands held together.


Blue Hat
Cast on 70 stitches on size 13 needles. Join to knit in the round. Knit for 1.5-2 inches. Decrease over the next two rows as follows:
Row 1: *k5, k2tog* across the row
Row 2: *k4, k2tog* across the row
Switch to the size 15 needles.
Knit stockinette until the length of the hat is 8 inches from the cast on edge. This may seem like a lot but keep in mind you lose some of the length to the rolled brim.
Once you reach 8 inches decrease as follows for crown:
Row 1: *k3, k2tog* across, you should have 40 stitches
Row 2: *k2, k2tog* across, 30 stitches
Row 3: *k1, k2tog* across, 20 stitches
Row 4: k2tog across, 10 stitches
Row 5: k2tog across, 5 stitches
Cut yarn and thread through the remaining stitches. Weave in ends and you're done!


Green Hat
Knit using two strands held together, cast on 60 stitches onto size 13 needles. Knit straight until the hat measures 7.5 inches from cast on edge. Decrease for crown as follows:
Row 1: *k4, k2tog* across, you should have 50 stitches
Row 2: *k3, k2tog* across, 40 stitches
Row 3: *k2, k2tog* across, 30 stitches
Row 4: *k1, k2tog* across, 20 stitches
Row 5: k2tog across, 10 stitches
Row 6: k2tog across, 5 stitches
Cut yarn and thread through the remaining stitches. Weave in ends and you're done!

Cream Puff Choker

Monday, February 05, 2007

This is my other pattern. It love how it came out but I had a tough time with the buttons sliding off on the first one I did, since they were really round and it coming undone. If you make this, be sure to use flat buttons, that will hold it properly! There is blocking required for the ruffled version and also I made up a chart for anyone who likes those better than written directions.

SIZE
One size fits most. To adjust to any other size you will need a multiple of 5 plus 9. Or just add or subtract multiples of five from the number I have given to make it a little bigger or smaller. Either way remember to accommodate for stretching!

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Width: 2 inches
Length: 11 inches unstretched and about 14 when stretched

MATERIALS
[MC] Patons Lacette [fiber content; 39% Nylon, 36% Acrylic, 25% Mohair][235 yds/215 m per 50g skein]; color: 1 skein of any of the following: Cream Caress, Beautiful Blue, or Maroon Mist
(You won’t use anywhere near a whole skein!)

1 set US #3/3.25 mm straight or circular needle

140 Seed beads in color of choice

2 Buttons, a quarter of an inch. The flatter the better, I found that the choker tends to unbutton itself if the buttons are too round. It slides up and over the tops. You want buttons that will hold on!

GAUGE
28 sts/40 rows = 4" in stockinette stitch

PATTERN NOTES
This is a very simple pattern. The choker is knit back and forth with beads pre-strung for a really easy embellishment. The ruffle is knit last so you have the option of leaving it off by just binding off. Buttons are sewn on at the end.

PATTERN
Pre-string your beads onto the yarn. It’s a good idea when using beads to check your yarn for knots and make sure you’ll be able to slide them along as you go! Also make sure to use a really thin beading needle to make things a lot quicker. I like to groups my beads in sets of tens on the yarn to make counting them quick and then I don’t have to count 200 beads one by one. With this yarn slide the beads very gently to avoid snagging and tearing the yarn too much. You may find as you work the beads tend to slide to the back of the choker. Just slide them to the front when you’re done and they’ll be fine.

Choker
Cast on 74 stitches loosely. You don’t want the edge to be puckered. If necessary use a larger needle for the cast on to keep this from happening. I have provided a chart for this choker for anyone who prefers working in that method. After casting on start with row one and bind off (loosely!) after row 27.

Here are the written instructions for those who don’t like charts:

(RS)Row 1: K4, *b1, k4* and repeat across. (WS)
Row 2 and all wrong side rows: P6, *k2, p3* across and end with a p6
Rows 3 and 4: Repeat rows 1 and 2
Row 5 (buttonhole row): K2, yo, k2tog, *b1, k4* across
Rows 6: Repeat row 2
Rows 7-14: Repeat rows 1 and 2
Row 15: Repeat row 5
Row 16: Repeat row 2
Rows 17-19: Repeat rows 1 and 2 and then row 1 once more
Continue to ruffle or bind off now to finish without the ruffle.

Ruffle
Row 1: Bind off the first three stitches and purl across
Row 2: *K1, M1* across, end with a K1
Rows 3-8: Work in stockinette
Row 9: Bind off

For an additional ruffle along the top or bottom edge:
With right side facing pick up and knit one stitch for every stitch across the choker except for the three stitches above or below the button band. Then follow directions as for the first ruffle.

FINISHING
The ruffle will need blocking to behave. Pin it down and block the ruffle with a pin on both sides of a fold in the ruffle like shown.

All that’s left is to sew on your buttons and you’re ready to go!

Sew them to the second and third stitches from the end on rows 5 and 15 to match up to the buttonholes.


Pattern note: I have since learned, after designing this pattern, that the beads will show better if you slip the stitch before and after the beaded stitch. Or you can purl the beaded stitch instead of knitting it! Not sure which works better, I have yet to test either!

Kitty Baby- Blanket Buddy

Ok so here is the first pattern that I did. It's one of those things that sometimes come with a newborn layette set. They are tiny enough that they are safe to put in baby's crib, without being a suffocation hazard. I know my daughter loves the ones I made her. She is 8 months and loves to cuddle them to get to sleep. These would make awesome baby shower gifts, and are really really quick to make. Two hours maybe at the most.

SIZE
One size

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Width: 5-7 inches
Length: 11-12 inches

MATERIALS
Less than an ounce of any sport weight yarn that’s baby friendly. Yarns I used from my stash:
Red Heart Baby Teri (white multi version)
Lion Brand Microspun (beige version)
Bernat Softee Baby (pink version)

1 set US #6/4.25mm straight needles
1 set US #5/3.75mm straight needles

stuffing for head
yarn needle
scrap yarn to embroider face

GAUGE
20 sts/38 rows = 4" in stockinette stitch for body
24 sts/32 rows = 4" in stockinette stitch for head

Gauge is used as a guideline and does not have to be exact. Just don’t make this too large or it will defeat the purpose! Any sport weight yarn or thinner should be just fine.

PATTERN
Body
Cast on 35 stitches on the larger needles using any method.
Row 1: K1, *p1, k1* across
Row 2: P2tog, *k1, p1* across to last two stitches, end p2tog
Row 3: K2tog, *p1, k1* across to last two stitches, end k2tog
Rows 4-6: Repeat rows 2 and 3, and then row 2 once more. You should have 25 stitches.
Row 7: P1, *k1, p1* across
Repeat row 7 until work measures about 5.5 to 6 inches from cast on edge.

Increase row 1: K1, p1 in the first stitch. K1, *p1, k1* across to the last stitch, p1, k1 in the same stitch
Increase row 2: P1, k1 in the first stitch. P1, *k1, p1* across to the last stitch, k1, p1 in the same stitch.
Repeat the last two rows one more time and then repeat increase row 1 one more time. You should have 35 stitches once again.

Head
Bind off the first 12 stitches, p1, *k1, p1* to end. There should be 23 stitches left.
Repeat this one more time. There should be 11 stitches left on the needle in the center of your body. Switch to smaller needles.

Row 1: Knit into front and back of first stitch, knit across to last stitch, knit into front and back. 13 stitches
Row 2: Purl across
Rows 3-6: Repeat these two rows twice more. 17 stitches
Work even in stockinette stitch for about 4 inches or 4.75 inches from beginning of neck.
Decrease row 1: SSK, knit across, k2tog. 15 stitches
Row 2: Purl across
Rows 3-6: Repeat last two rows twice more. 11 stitches
Bind off.

FINISHING
Using scrap yarn, embroider a face onto the front of your blanket baby. It’s very important not to attach buttons or other objects that could be chewed off or become a choking hazard to a baby. Here's the patterns that I used to embroider two of the kitties. The first one I used on the cream colored kitty, and the second was for the pink kitty. I winged it on the white one and didn't like it as much. My favorite one is the cream one.

Seam up the sides of the head, stuff, and then seam the bottom very securely.

If you would like, tie the little feet into knots. You can wet these and stick in the freezer if you want to. The cold is soothing to babies that are teething and it’s soft on their gums!
You’re finished!

Dang it all!

Well I finally heard back from Knitty and they didn't want EITHER one of my patterns. I wish they would say something else besides "this just isn't what we're looking for" or "this isn't knitty" . Well whatever. It's definitely disappointing. I worked really hard on those. I feel very unappreciated. That just means I am going to try that much harder next time. Maybe I'll submit 3 patterns and the best I can think of. I really thought at least one of these would have a chance. And next time I'll leave the time to take really good pictures. At least I tried...but now I'm gonna mope.