February Lady Sweater

I started knitting this in February, but my life being what is for the past year, I have only just now finished. Happily, Michell loves the sweater. I think she'll forgive me for giving her a birthday present 9 months late.

A close up of the knitting and the cute dolphin buttons

Big Ass Update

The school year is winding down, and my next job search is winding up. This means I have been very busy. I am sorry for the delay in posting. I also do not really have the time for a video this week, but there are tons of photos.

First, some knitting. I haven't finished many projects in the past few weeks, so getting this beret done for Michelle was a victory.

She wears slouchy berets all the time to hid the fact that she hasn't done anything with her hair. As an art major, she has become very interested in DIY clothes, so mom's knitting adds to her street cred as an artist. I am just happy she appreciates hand knit items.

We have had two frost advisories this weekend. I covered the two raised beds, and it looks like everything made except for one pea plant (I think that wasn't long for this world before the frost).


This is my little blueberry plant. Can you see the little berries peeking out from under the leaves?

I call this the little tomato plant that can. I thought I killed it trying to get it in the bag planter thing that you see in all the stores. I just took a "wait and see" attitude about the plant. Well, it has found a way to thrive despite my manhandling. I am very pleased.


Lastly, my first ripe thing. A tiny little strawberry! See its little cousins?

So, my "urban homestead" is coming along. Clearly, there is a learning curve, but I am satisfied that I will actually eat some fruits and vegetables from my own land and hard work. It is a satisfying feeling.

Happy knitting!

PS: I finally posted a picture for this recipe!

Crock Pot Kool Aid Dying

I experimented with the crock pot method of kool aid dying. I am please with the results (not so much with the picture). I used Lamb's Pride worsted. I wanted something spring-like, a meadow in bloom-ish?

I think I will use this to make a couple of pairs of my Toasty Fingerless Mitts pattern.

Happy Knitting!

Student Teaching update and Martha Stewart Nerdiness

The new placement is going well. I like the new teacher, and she is so much easier to work with. I am on Spring Break this week, and then I have two more weeks to go. I am very happy that I am almost done. I can't wait to start looking for work.

In the meantime, I found some knitting related goodness over on Martha Stewart's web page. I want to make one of these (be sure to click the photo for a totally nerdy video with Mo Rocca that will give any knitter a nerdy crush on him). I also want to make a few of these for fun. I saw this, but to be honest, I just poke a hole in the lid of an old coffee can. It is a great way to keep yarn free from dirt when camping. I never thought of Martha as a knitter, but there is some fibery goodness for the knitters on her page. It'll keep me busy during my week off.

It is supposed to snow tonight and tomorrow. Some Spring Break.

Happy Knitting!

Well, Duh!

Watch CBS Videos Online

Oh yeah! Radical Knitting!

The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Nailed 'Em - Radical Knitting

Colbert at Christmas
Colbert Christmas DVD

Green Screen
Bill O'Reilly Interview

Oh, DUH! I have a blog.......

I know. Bad blogger. Bad.

School has been taking up so much of my time, I don't know if I am coming or going most days. Happily, the crazy semester of full time work and 3/4 school is almost over. I student teach in January, which means full time work with no pay!

To make up for my lack of blog presence, I give you a short video treat from the ladies of Mason Dixon Knitting. Enjoy!



Happy knitting!

Look at what I got!

I wanted to title this post either "A Room of Her Own" or "A Room With a View," but I couldn't figure out which literary title to use. Naturally, when faced with a difficult choice, I dump both choices and choose something totally lame.

Now to the heart of the matter. Michelle has moved out, and Tony has moved into her room. That leaves a small, but cozy, bedroom without a purpose in my house. Knitting/sewing room for me!

My stash
My ugly, but comfy, chair with good lighting

A cute built in shelf

My sewing table (the leaf lifts for a huge work surface)

My window with a great view of my overgrown backyard.

There is still a lot of moving to do. I need to set up my TV and all my British drama DVDs that my family hates. I have an old kitchen table that will go in front of the window to give me another work surface for blocking, cutting, or doing homework. However, I have my own room, and I am very happy with it.

I have already done a good deal of knitting and reading up there. My cat thinks I clean the room up for her entertainment. We'll just let her think that. She enjoys the big window and the comfy chair. Not to mention all the yarn to play with.

Hope I didn't make you all too jealous.

Happy Knitting!

Sock update

I have been preparing for the Knitting Olympics Summer Trials by finishing up all my WIPs. I started with the socks because they are the easiest things for me to finish quickly.

I finally finished my Monkey socks. I was very proud of them, and I thought they were the loveliest socks I ever made. Then I gave them to my DD.


Part of my on-going sox experiment. I will have to do a very detailed post about this when I am finished. For now, the details are on my Ravelry page.

More experimental soxs.

And another

Right now, the experimental soxs are on hold. The first reason, I am just board with the same basic pattern, same yarn, and same needle size. Secondly, these really are a cold weather sock. I am pleased that I will have plenty of (hopefully) hard wearing socks this winter. When I start student teaching in January, my knitting endeavors may slow to a trickle.

I am working on several sweaters in the weeks before the Summer Trials. I hope to at least finish the one I am working on in Rowan Summer Tweed. A silk and cotton sweater will be very useful this fall. It is also purple and black. We all know how much it lurve purple and black.

Happy Knitting!

BSJ

Pattern: Baby Surprise Jacket
Yarn: Thank Ewe superwash merino
Needles: size 5

Totally love this pattern. It is quick and easy. Since it is in garter stitch, it is fully reverseable, and because of the infinite stretch of garter stitch, the sweater will be able to fit baby for a long time.

The sweater is knit flat, and when you are done, it looks like nothing at all. There is a bit of origami magic to make this sweater work. I thought I would share a video that I made on how to fold it to make the sweater.




Happy knitting!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

I thought I would share an interesting knitting link because we are all Irish today.

How to Darn Socks

My good friend Jen over at Piddleloop.com sent me a link to the most wonderful video demonstration of sock darning. Since I am preoccupied with knitting, repairing, and mending socks, I thought I would pass the video on to all my dear readers.

A study of socks

I have been conducting a bit of a sock experiment. In addition to repairing and darning socks, I thought it was about time I systematically find out what styles of heels, ribs, ect. that I like in socks.

I wanted a very "scientific" experiment, so I am using the same size needle (some will be done on DPNs and others Circs. I wanted to test out both for speed and finished socks) and the same yarn for each pair of socks (Knitpicks Memories was discontinued last year, I bought tons in various colors). The first pair I made was a rather boring sock with 2x2 rib and a traditional sturdy heel.

These were done on 5 DPNs. I hadn't used DPNs in a while, and it was a comfort to get back to this style of knitting. I have the Knitpicks DPN set, and these needles are lovely. I used to snap wood and bend metal, but the Knitpicks needles are a pleasure to work with.

Some notes on the actual sock. I find 2x2 more functional than attractive or necessary. So, I will be knitting several different tops on the socks. 2x2 is nice, but limited and not so attractive.

Next, the traditional study heel. Elizabeth Zimmermann said that this is a poor stitch for heels. It is strong, but it savagely pulls the heel in. This pulling creates stress on the sock and leads to the dreaded hole.

For the next sock, I did a 1x1 twisted rib (the knits are done in the back). This a pretty rib, and it is not only stretchy, but elastic as well. It wants to pull back into its original shape. I like this, so this rib will be a "keeper."

I did the eye of the partridge heel on this sock. I noticed right away that this type of heel is as strong as the sturdy heel, but it pulls in less. It is also pretty. So, another fine option for an attractive and study sock.

Last, I have decided to take out all my short row heels and repair them with "toe" heels. Basically, after the sock is done, rip out half a round, pick up the stitches and knit a toe. Short row heels will not be a part of my sock experiment since all I have ever made developed HUGE holes.

I will be doing some real darning this weekend. Thanks to Jen for the video of how to darn!

I will keep you posted on the sock experiment.

Happy Knitting!

A Plea for Help

Some one out there must know a good book or a web site with information (understandable information) about darning socks. I am desperate for help!

On a related note, I will never again knit a short row heel! I have socks that I knit the traditional way (they are wonkie because they are my first pairs) over five years ago that I wear all the time. However, I have THREE pairs of really nice socks that are less than two years old with friggin' GINORMOUS holes in the short row heel. GRRRRRR

Any assistance will be graciously appreciated.

There will be WIP photos as soon as I weave in all the end of the sweater I have been pretending to work on for three or four years.

Happy Knitting!

Yes, I do still knit

Pattern: Watch cap from Knitting Without Tears
Yarn: Lamb's Pride Bulky
Needles: 13

Easy, fun, and a good basic cap. What more could you want in a pattern?


Pattern: Sparkle Hat from Stitch n Bitch
Yarn: Lamb's Pride Bulky
Needle: 11 (I think)

You want more in a hat? Sparkles are more in a hat. Sly hates it. I am going to wear it whenever I hang out with him.

Happy Knitting!

Knitty Tams

I have no clue what possessed me to start knitting Tam C Wednesday night for my aunt Kim's birthday brunch today. I just knew I had to knit that hat. I have finished the lovely fair isle thing, and the gift has been greatfuly received.


Pattern: Three Tams
Yarn: Noro Kuryon and Galway
Needles: size 7 circs

Love the pattern, but I do like stranded colorwork. It is fast and easy, so it is a good last minuet gift. I will be doing another for my "secret Santa" at work. And one for myself! The lovely model is my niece Jessica.


Happy Knitting!

We don't need no stitinkin' pattern!

I am going to let you all in on a little secret; I don't really follow patterns. I am not sure why. I just don't. I see the pattern in the book, and I think "Boy, that zippered hoodie would look great on DD." I buy the yarn to make said zippered hoodie, but the hoodie gets lost in translation. I started making a hoodie, but my DD is wearing a cardi (and I have three un-used balls of the yarn that would have made the hoodie and pockets).

I had a wonderful (and unfortunately discontinued) color of Wool-ease chunky. I had a wonderful cardi pattern all picked out. I was supposed to knit 5 pieces and seem them together. I was feeling lazy when I started that sweater, so I just knit it in one piece. No one can really tell the difference between the sweater in the photo and the one I made. Mine just doesn't have side seems.

For me, socks, hats, mittens and so on are more about proper construction. When one knows HOW these items are made, no pattern is necessary. When I make socks, it takes me longer to decide on the yarn than the pattern. Often, the pattern just springs to life as I knit. I don't really think about what kind of heel I want until I get to the heel.

The question of standard sizes, and modifying patterns to fit has been in my inbox a lot in the past few days. I thought I would share some guidelines that I posted to a group.
Here are some of my general pointers for knitting without a pattern. To make stuff that fits, get over the idea of "standard sizes." Standard sizes are not even standard from one manufacture to another. To make a sweater, the only thing a knitter needs to know the measurements of who will be wearing the sweater and gauge. Once the gauge and measurements are known, it is very simple make your own sweaters without a pattern.

Ease is important to consider too. Ease means will the sweater be a tight fit or a loose fit? In general 2 - 4 inches of ease need to be added to the measurements to figure out how many to cast on. If a really loose fitting garment is needed, add 6 inches to the measurements. Actual body measurements and stretching yarn are for a snug/tight-fitting garment.

The notion of "standard sizes" is only useful when a robot is making clothes. When making the clothes, throw sizes out the window and make garments that fit the person who will wear it.

There are several books that will help the newbie to patternless knitting. Elizabeth Zimmermen, Knitting Without Tears (be warned, she does rather like math). Ann Bud The Knitters Handy Guide to Knitting Patterns and The Knitters Handy Guide to Sweater Patterns are must haves (these books do the math)! I would also suggest that everyone have at least one of those 6,000,003 knitting stitch pattern books (I like this one, but I have several). These books help with designing sweaters with textured stitches, cables, Fair Isle and more. Lastly, Ann Bud also has a Handy Yarn Requirements Guide that will fit in the well-stocked knitting bag or purse.

Happy knitting!

Knitting to Mythbusters and 007

Well, the Fairly Easy Fair Isle is done except for the button band and the blocking. I am totally thrilled with how the sweater turned out. I had a lot of help from James Bond. During the holiday break, Spike TV was running the *008 days of 007*, so I got to watch a lot of James Bond movies. I have always like the Bond flicks (and Sean Conery looks WONDERFUL in a bathing suit), but that funky music is great for knitting to. Don't know what it is, but I got lots of knitting done to that "dum da dum dum dum" music last week.


Since I was totally nerding out on the James Bond last week, I thought I would indulge in a whole different kind of nerd fest on New Year's Day. I am totally into the Discovery channel show Mythbusters. I love a show with the premise "If science doesn't work, blow it up!" Anyway, I worked on the felted bag from Stitch n Bitch (in Lamb's Pride worsted) while watching Jaime and Adam blow things up. I think it turned out pretty cool.

From this:




To this:
The last little bit to report is a new pair of Sweet Mary Janes. I only have the first one done at this point. This is also done in Noro wool.


Happy knitting and Happy new year!