Stash give away

My stash is ginormous, humongous, it is about to take over the whole house. I must get rid of some of my yarn. Good news for all of you, if you see anything you want, just paypal me the shipping, and it is all yours! If you plan on making something for charity (see LaPorte Co. Small Animal Shelter Cat Beds!), I'll take $2 off the shipping. Just leave a comment telling me what you want, and I will contact you by e-mail for details. Please, don't leave your address or phone number in the comments.

I'll warn you now, if you don't like acrylic, don't look. I am making room for wool, so acrylic has to go.

EDIT: the Lion Brand Homespun and the pink Fashion Knits has been claimed!

Second EDIT: Purple Fashion Knits, blue and purple Caron Wintuk and much of the baby yarn have been claimed.

Thrid EDIT: All GONE! Thank you to all who helped me clean out my stash.

My computer is speaking to my camera again!

I should just give you all fair warning now, there are tons of pictures of what I have been up to while my computer was sick!

Woo hoo! My computer is talking to my printer as well as making sounds (the sound card was out too). It took several hours (like 10) to delete everything, reinstall everything (and find updated drivers for stuff), and then put a fence around everything. It was a major over haul that I should have done years ago. It is done now, and I am happy to actually have knitting photos to share.

Pattern: Afghans for Afghans Child's Vest (I used the book Knitting for Peace, but you can find the pattern here)
Yarn: Lamb's Pride WW
Needles: size 7

While watching my computer during the overhaul, I worked on a vest for charity. This is an Afghans for Afghans pattern, but right now, I am still working on my Dulaan goal. The vest is going to Mongolia. My next charity knitting will be AA. The pattern is quick and easy. It is a nifty side to side knit in one piece pattern. So, it was just right for the mindless knitting I was doing yesterday.

Pattern: A DK in the round starting from the inside out pattern that I made up
Yarn: left over Paton's Classic Marino from felted clogs
Needles: I forgot, but most likely size 7 or 8 16 inch circs

Don't I look dumb in a child's hat? I was playing around with the idea of a double knit hat for Dulaan. The yarn pooled and came out with this funky stripe pattern. I actually like the stripes. Basically, it is an easy, warm-ass hat perfect for charity knitting.

Pattern: Coronet
Yarn: Lamb's Pride
Needles: Um, 9?

Great hat! Love the pattern. I made this one for Dulaan, but I think I need to make one for me now.

Pattern: Basic Cable Hat from Stitch N Bitch Nation
Yarn: Philosopher's Wool (I have a lot of this due to an awesome sale at my LYS)
Needles: Size 8 16 inch circs

Cables are awesome. Huge impact, minimal effort. Really, people think you just slave away making cables. It'll just be our little secret how easy they really are. SnBN is really becoming my "go to" knitting pattern book. I didn't think I would make many of the patterns, but I use this book a lot!

















Pattern: Fetching
Yarn: Noro
Needles: Size 7 DPNs

Why did I make two pairs? Well, Noro has this strange way of making two items from the same ball look totally different. So, I used two balls of the same color and mixed and matched. Now, the pairs LOOK like they came from the same ball, even though they didn't.

Just look at all my Etsy swag! I do some really damage to my checking account on Etsy. But, just look at all the wonderful hand dyed yarns? Isn't it grand? I shouldn't admit this, but I have quite a lot more coming in the mail as we speak. So, to find these lovely yarns, check here, here, here, and here. Support hand crafters!

Happy knitting!

Still no picutres

It has been a process trying to save as much as possible from my computer before I have to delete my hard drive and start over. My very old OS is just worn out. I have hundreds of corrupted files. Slowly but surely, my computer is loosing touch with reality. It no longer talks to my printer, sound card, camera, and the A drive (something I have used in YEARS) appears to be shot. It is my hope, dear reader, that I sort out all my computer woes this week. I would like to be back to regular blogging soon.

There is always work and school to get in the way of getting things done. The lack of productive computer time has meant less knitting and more house cleaning. I promise, I have been knitting my little hand off!

Wish me luck, and Happy Knitting!

There is a good reason why I haven't been posting!

I really really wanted to post photos of all the things I have finished lately. I mean, I have a hat, two sets of fingerless gloves, a sweater, a pair of socks (I didn't really use a pattern for the sweater or socks), and tons of AWESOME Etsy purchases. However, my rather old computer has several corrupted files and is no longer talking to my printer or camera. I am in the process of fixing it, I swear.

Hope you all had a totally awesome St. Patrick's Day. Mine started out pretty darn shitty. I had a migraine. However, by 8 I was feeling better, so we did make it over to Fiddler's Heath. Very cool. The band was fabulous, but the best part of the evening was the step dancer's dancing on the tables (where people were sitting). Can't beat Celtic band, table top step dancers, and a cozy fire in the hearth of an Irish pub. I found out that they have live music 6 nights a week, so I am going back, OFTEN!

While I am reintroducing my computer to my printer and camera, I need a little help. I would love some suggestions for ultra awesome baby knits. NOT FOR ME! Just some gifts I want to make. So, please post your ideas in the links sections. I will find some cool prize to share for the best idea.

Happy knitting!

Happy Birthday Tony

Here is Tony, 19 years ago today. Yes, he was a big baby at 10 1/2 pouns and 21 1/2 inches.

Happy Knitting!

What I have I been up to

School and work are still keeping me very busy. There is little time to knit, but I manage to sneak in a few rows here and there. The new job is going great. I have a big girl desk now. The students are great. The sixth graders are super cute. I have spent many years at the high school, so little bitty students who are eager to please is a bit of a shock to my system.

There isn't much knitting to report. I have been monogamous to a sweater that needs sleeves. It is a little embarrassing to admit, but this sweater has needed sleeves for a whole year (I told you all I don't like knitting sleeves). So, this past Monday, I told myself that I wasn't going to knit anything else (no socks, no shawls, not even a hat for Dulaan) until I finished those damn sleeves and seemed the sweater together! I am happy to report that I have a whole sleeve and a half!

Would you believe the plan was to wear the sweater LAST St. Patrick's Day?! I know what you are thinking, "she really does hate to knit sleeves!" I put sleeves and scarves in the same category, functional but boring.

I should be done with the sweater in the next day or two. I still haven't thought much about the neckline yet. I made a goofy mistake in my math, so it has a VERY wide neckline. I am thinking of doing something in a roll. The wide neck doesn't bother me too much. I look much better in a wider neck. Oh, keep your fingers cross the the yarn holds out. I am on my LAST ball of pine color (which is biz are combination of black, navy, and hunter green) Wool-ease folks. If I run out, the neck will be in solid black!

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!

My Classroom

Well, I have worked my tail off, and the storage room looks like a classroom now. I still have loads of stuff to do, but I am actually pretty pleased of my sunny little room tucked away at the top of the school.

Please, take note of the cardboard boxes stacked high on the orange cupboard. Those boxes were HEAVY! If you will now draw your attention to the black bookshelf, do you know that you can't move a bookshelf with books on it by yourself?

Notice the sunny corner with a happy desk sitting there. Isn't it sweet? Would you believe, gentle reader, that is MY desk? No, I am serious! I have been working at that desk all week. I will get another, more appropriate desk next week. I thought I should preserve this memory. My first real teacher desk. *sigh*

I was encouraged to make the space "my own" when I was assigned the room. While I have Harry Potter posters on the wall, a plant, and family photos, I totally love my Purdue pencil cup with my totally AWESOME *rulers* of woman's Literature ruler that Jen gave me for Thingiemas.

Well, folks, there you have it, my first classroom!

Happy Knitting!

Yet another snow day!

Not the best picture of the snow, but I didn't want to go outside to get anything better. I didn't even open the storm door!

I am sick to death of snow days. I don't get paid, and I can not *officially* start my new job! I can't hang my Harry Potter posters on the wall. Tomorrow there should be school, and I will take pictures of *my* classroom to share with you all.

It is rare, but Sly can be romantic sometimes. Blood red long steamed roses sure do make a girls heart melt. At least he remembered Valentines Day.

Pattern: Bradgelina from Crazy Aunt Purl
Yarn: Wool-ease Thick n Quick
Needles: size 11 16 inch circ.

This is a great hat. I made it for Dulaan, but now that I have re-read the page, it seems that they prefer 100% wool. I may just take this down to the homeless shelter I drive by when going to class. I will be making another out of some totally yummy bulky alpaca I have. It is a great hat.

Pattern: Basic roll brim hat variation from Knitting for Peace
Yarn: Wool-ease chunky
Needles: size 9

I may have to give this to the homeless shelter as well. It is a nice hat, but not 100% wool.

Happy Knitting!

Not the post I wanted to make

I was hoping to post pictures of the storage room that is now my classroom, but there was a snow day today. Looks like another snow day tomorrow. I will post pictures, but for now, a MEME that has been going around.

Rules: Use the 1st letter of your name to answer each of the following...They MUST be real places, names, things...NOTHING made up! If you can't think of anything, skip it. Try to use different answers if the person in front of you had the same 1st initial. You CAN'T use your name for the boy/girl name question.

Your Name: Lesa

1. Athlete: Larry Bird (what do you want? I am from Indiana!)
2. 4 letter word: Love
3. Street name: Lake Shore Dr.
4. Color: Lavender
5. Gifts/presents: Linens
6. Vehicles: Lexus
7. Tropical Locations: Los Llanos, Puerto Rico
8. College Majors: Literature
9. Dairy Products: Limburger
10. Things in a Souvenir Shop: Lousy Tee Shirts
11. Boy Name: Louie
12. Girl Name: Linda
13. Movie Titles: Love Story (love means never having to say your sorry)
14. Alcohol: Lager
15. Occupations: Lecturer (I really had that title once)
16. Flowers: Lily's of the Valley
17. Celebrities: Lindsey Lohan (YUCK!)
18. Magazines: Life
19. US Cities: Lexington Kentucky
20. Pro Sports Team: Liverpool F.C. (I had to look for that one)

Just a bunch of stuff I want to talk about

Not even sure what to say about this. I am all for being frugal and knitting for charity, but the is a place where one has to stop and ask "Why?"

I also want to point all my reader's to Bill Richardson. Obama and Hillary are getting lots of coverage. So, it is grassroots time. Don't let the media tell you who to vote for in '08!

Lastly, I GOT A BETTER JOB!!!! I am no longer an overworked and underpaid substitute teacher. I am now an overworked and underpaid remediation instructor! I will be working at Boston Middle School. I will be helping students who are have not passed the ISTEP (Indiana's state wide standardized test).

I have been knitting, but there really isn't much to show right now.

Happy knitting!

Baby, it's cold outside!

Brrrr! It is 0 degrees here. That is right, your freezer (where you keep ice) is warmer than my back yard. Your refrigerator would be a welcome vacation spot for me right now. The only thing to do when it is this cold is sit at home and knit (I should be studying for a test on Tuesday, but I am not).

Before I go any further with this post, I should mention that my DD Michelle turned 20 yesterday. Yes, I am actually owning up to the fact that my daughter is 20. I had her when I was 10 you see. I will also mention that her BF Randy also had a birthday yesterday. He is 22.

I don't have many completed projects at the moment. I guess I'll just share WIP photos.

Pattern: Razor's Edge Stitch n Bitch Nation
Yarn: Lamb's Pride Bulky
Needles: size 17 29 inch Addis

Love this pattern, but WATCH OUT! Check out the corrections before starting the shawl. The book is wrongity WRONG. It is very pretty, easy, and fast to knit.


Pattern: You all know I don't use sock patterns. One is a short row heal, the other is eye of the partridge heel
Yarn: Regia bamboo and Lorna's Laces
Needles: size 2 and 1 circs

Just some socks that I carry around in my Piddleloop bag to work on when I need to keep my hands busy.


Pattern: a Q hook ripple afghan
Yarn: all the lovely purple acrylic I buy for less than a dollar a skein
Needles: HA, Q hook!

Yeah, I can crochet too. I don't do much anymore. I guess I am too busy knitting. However, my stash is full to the brim of acrylic yarns I buy on clearance sales dirt cheap. I can't resist purple yarn for less than a buck. Seems to me, the best use for all that yarn is a crocheted afghan, so I started this one yesterday. Like the size 17 Addies, Q hook afghans work up very quickly.

I am off to try and keep warm. GO BEARS!

Happy Knitting

Too funny!

Get Your Cyborg Name

There will be knitting pics in a couple of hours. I have to go take a few.

FOs FOs!

Despite work and school (which is kind of a strange thought since I work at a school), I actually have finished a few things in the past week. The play off games helped a lot. I knew that I wasn't going to be able to do homework last Sunday, so I just sat on my butt and knitted while Sly yelled at the TV.

Before washing

And after

Pattern: Fiber Trends Felted Clog
Yarn: Paton's Classic Marino in Wedgwood and Chestnut
Needles: size 14 straight

When I read about the Harlot's felted clogs, I thought I need to make a pair. I loved hers so much, I made the same pair for my mom. I hope she likes them.


Pattern: Calorimetry
Yarn: every bit of 1 ball Noro Silk Garden #34 (I think)
Needles: size 8

My favorite thing about this pattern is the flattering way my hair falls out of the back.

If I make it again, I will cast on fewer stitches. It seems a bit too long, and maybe a bit too wide. However, I think it is beautiful, and Noro is a wonderful yarn choice.

I did wear it to work today, and it was very warm and snugly. Another great (but odd) feature, I wear a boiled wool pea coat, and my hats always hit the collar wonky. Calorimetry doesn't have that kind of an issue, so it was very comfortable to wear.

Pattern: Basic Roll Brim Hat
Yarn: Lamb's Pride, Wool of the Andes, Philosopher's wool, and a bunch of stuff I can't remember.
Needles: size 8 16 inch circs

I have completed 5 hats for Dulaan. That is 1/4 of my goal. Yeah me!

There is a lake effect snow event headed my way. Could mean more knitting time, could just mean that I trudge to work in snow. I can see the high school from my house, so I walk to work.

Happy Knitting!

Suz found a new MEME for me

A- Available or single? Available OR single? How can you be one or the other? I am married.
B- Best Friend? Sly
C- Cake or Pie? Pie, In fact, the perfect meal would be veggie soup, BLT, and cherry pie. (soup, sandwich, and pie is the perfect meal combo)
D- Drink of Choice? Bacardi and Coke, don't EVER try and get me to drink well rum swill. Bacardi please.
E- Essential Item? Book
F- Favorite Color? Duh, Purple.
G- Gummi Bears or Worms? Disgusting, nasty, gross.
H- Hometown? LaPorte, Indiana
I- Indulgence? Sock yarn, and books
J- January or February? Who cares?
K- Kids and names? Michelle, Tony, the furry ones are Buddy, Mittens and Scout
L- Life is incomplete without? Books
M- Marriage Date? July 20, 1987
N- Number of Siblings? One sister, Jo (she go the cool name)
O- Oranges or apples? Apples
P- Phobias/Fears? Snakes
Q- Favorite Quote? *****Stupid edit, " It's our choices, Harry, that show what we really are, far more than our
abilities. -- Albus Dumbledore
R- Reason to Smile? The bills are paid
S- Season? Fall
T- Tag three people! I'm not tagging anyone
U- Unknown Fact About Me? I have a GED
V- Vegetable you hate? Okra
W- Worst habit? Chocolate
X- X-Rays you’ve had? Teeth, knees (many times), back, shoulders, chest (many times), neck I have even had CT scans and MRIs
Y- Your favorite food? PIZZA!!!
Z- Zodiac? Gemini

SNOW!

Finally, it is winter here. I am not sure that is a good thing, but we did get some lake effect snow. Isn't it pretty? Sucked to dig the car out, but that is NW Indiana for you.

Due to the snow, there was no school here today. Thus, I didn't have to go to work. KNITTING TIME!!!!


Pattern: we don't need no stinking pattern!
Yarn: every bit of a skein of Lamb's Pride Bulky
Needles: size 7 DPNs (I like a tight gage on my mittens

I love these mittens. They are made to be warm. Mittens are warmer than gloves because it is actually the warm air around your hand that keeps it warm, not the wool. The wool insulates the air. So, the trick is to keep the air in, hence the tight gage. I also did 3 inches of 2x2 rib so the mitten would fit snugly around my wrist, keeping the warm air in and the cold air out. In additon, wool will insulate even when wet, so it is a wonderful choice for mittens.

It is a short post, but I just posted two days ago!

Happy Knitting!

Knitting for Peace

The new school semester has started, so I am officially back at work and taking classes. I am only taking one class, so I hope to be less over worked.

I also got a new book. Knitting for Peace is not a typical knitting book. While there are patterns in the book, the main focus goes back to the Red Cross tradition of knitters "knitting their bit." The book highlights many worthwhile organisation that accept donations from knitters. In addition to the stories of the charities, there are patterns that are appropriate for the particular charities mentioned.

As many of you know, I want to do more knitting for charity this year. While Dulaan is not mentioned in the book, it is the first charity I am knitting for. My goal is 20 hats by the July 1 deadline to be shipped this year. I am in the middle of my third hat.


Pattern: Basic Roll Brim Hat Knitting for Peace
Yarn: scraps from gift knitting
Needles: size 7 and 8 DPNs and 16 inch circs

The hats are even better than socks at a take-with-you project. Not much to think about. I made these at school, and the students were amazed that I wasn't looking at the hat as I knit.


I also am keeping up with my "Finish the WIPs" resolution. Here is a sock that was little more than the cuff a week ago. Cozy is nearly done with the third ball of yarn, but the little pink project on the DPNs is a new cast on just today mitten for me. I can't find one of my old mittens, and the Fingerless Mitts are not so great outside on those very cold days (to be fair, I made them to wear in doors).

I have tomorrow off, and the snow is coming (it was supposed to be here by now). It is a great day to sit on the sofa, knit, and watch MYTHBUSTERS!!

Happy Knitting!

Books that ROCK!

I mentioned in a past meme that I was a Girl Scout for 7 years. In fact, I was a Girl Scout as long as the small town (pop. 1500) I lived in had a troop for me to join. I went from Brownie to Cadette (I think I stopped in the 8th grade). I am convinced that EVERYTHING I know I learned from being a Scout. I mean, the organization is based on crafts, cooking, first aid, and camping. Most of my adult life has been spent doing all those activities, often at the same time.

It was 1974 when I started Brownies. Former hippies ran the troop, and they made sure that I learned to macrame, tie-dye, and turn trash into useful items (I am thinking fondly of a yarn and six pack ring belt that I made and wore with the tie dye dress I made out of dad's old tee shirt).

One of the things I really loved about Scouts were the guide books. While I did use the Worlds to Explore book published in 1979, I mostly used the books published in the 60's. Even in 1980, when I was a Cadette, the only guide book available was the 1960's edition. I cherished those books, and they contain the seeds of everything I know. Unfortunately, my copies of the books were lost when we moved from Michigan to Florida.

eBay is a miracle. During a random search, I found all four 1960's Girl Scout guide books in perfect condition. Better yet, I won all four books for $10 including shipping!

There they are, the sum total of all my knowledge. The Holy Grail of crafting and camping. The heart and soul of flowering womanhood. My mentors, my past, my identity!

I know, I am waxing nostalgic and sappy. I am not given to cloying gushing, but I am beyond happy to have found these books once more. And, you would not believe the fiber surprises that I found!

I need to get started eating fudgecicles so that I can make this hand loom. I think I could do some great things with leftover bits of yarn and this cleaver contraption.

I remember asking my mother to make this sweater for me. She only knew how to crochet, not knit. I WILL be making a sweater using this chart as soon as I can go out and by lots of kelly green wool!

Mrs. Snake totally rocks! While there is nothing to do with the Girl Scouts in this picture, the binder is crammed full of knitting patterns, and she just gave it to me! How cool is that?

Okay, go buy some Girl Scout cookies and Knit On!

Happy New Year -- Knitter's resolutions

I was thinking about my resolutions for the New Year (I am great at thinking about them). I don't like to stick to the traditional "loose weight" and "get organized" kinds of resolutions. I prefer more specific resolutions "only eat one candy bar per week" and "set up a filing system for my bills" are past examples (the filing system works great, but I never stuck to the candy bar resolution). Honestly, I find the whole "New Year's Resolution" thing a bit arbitrary and silly, but it is nice to set a few achievable goals from time to time, the new year is just as good a time as any other.

Since this is a knitting blog, it seemed like a good idea to have knitting resolutions as well. I don't have "organize my stash" resolution. I did that last spring, and it is still working well for me.

My first knitter resolution for this year is to NOT accumulate so many WIPs. Just take a look at the stuff I stared in 2006 but didn't finish:

Cozy, Pie shawl,

Sweater for me, Sweater for Sly,

Sock, Sock,Sock,

Jo's bag, SMJ, mitten

As you can see, I collect WIPs. I do finish many, many projects, but there are always a few that I just never seem to want to work on for some reason. For the month of January, I vow to not start a new project until I have finished at least 3 WIPs. Hopefully, by the end of January, I will have finished all the projects I collected last year, but if I still have year old WIPs hanging around, I will extend this resolution into February.

Second, while I don't want to do another "yarn diet," I do need to start using the yarn I already have before I buy more. With that in mind, I would like to finish 4 projects before I buy new yarn. This resolution may have to last all year. I'll keep you posted. I can safely say that I should not buy new sock yarn until I have finished at least 6 pairs! I know, I know, the Harlot says that sock yarn doesn't count, but I have enough sock yarn for AT LEAST 30 pairs of socks! *My mother gave me $50 for Christmas, and if you all think I am going to spend it any place other than my LYS, you are crazy!

Third, I need to start using up my leftover bits of yarn. I thought that I would make hats for Dulaan. I would like to make 20 hats this year. Not all of them will be made with scrap yarn, but the scraps from my Giftmas knitting will get me stared on several new hats. *Dulann hats do not count towards the "no new projects" goal. It is for charity after all!

Fourth, to be a better knitting blogger. I want to post at least once a week in the coming new year (even if it is a quiz or meme).

What are your fiber resolutions?

Happy Knitting!