The Tale of the Tweed Tea Cosy

Miter and garter with Rowan Scottish Tweed and Jo Sharp's Silkroad DK Tweed. Love these yarns together. For a tea cosy KAL on Revelry. Naturally I am in the tea group.

Recent acquisitions.

OK- so that thing you saw last week, it is a Sidewinder. A sock by Nona. We did a KAL, Sit N Knit NYC. I am glad we did it together. I finished the one sock. It is brilliant construction. I did a 3 needle bindoff for the leg part (garter) and grafted the rest. Look at this under the toe grafting. Cool ha?

However, I did not feel connected to this design. The second sock may take time. I do love the yarn by nickerjack. And Rain, I too had to do some very acrobatic maneuvers to get this shot...

I have not told you everything. Its true. Here are some lovelies
from Astrid: Regia Kaffe Fassett, Trekking Bamboo solids, and a cool needle holder. Astrid also sent me a set of fab DPN us0. How did she know I was thinking of a very intricate glove? Have I been thinking out loud? Thanks, A! It was super fast service. Also found its way to my mail box, a lone skein of Sundara's sock yarn in Stormy. I am working away to finish this cardi, and I ran out of yarn for the collar! Its Knit-Picks yarn, so I hope to have no trouble finding it. I finished the the seaming and I got a new blocking board (thanks for a tip on Ravelry I got it for 50% from Joanne.com, and the shipping was free.) but now I have to wait to get the yarn. I may "have" to buy some extra yarn to get free shipping... And speaking of Ravelry, I am managing my time much better! I have been working on a tea cosy. Joined a summer camp swap. Joined a Mystery Sock KAL, for the fall, and over all having a grand old time meeting more knitters from all over and adding items to my queue... At least it is all in one place!

ECF- The visit

Rorschach inkblot test

What do YOU see?

Rorschach inkblot test

Blog? What's a blog?

Some of you may have wondered where I might have been lately. I've been on The Rav. Or Ravelry as it is officially known. And if you are not on yet, and have not yet put your name on the waiting list- than there is still a chance- RUN AWAY! Just kidding, but, Yes my dear, I am here to warn you- The Rav is addicting!! We even started a ravelholics anonymous group! Its an awesome site and when it is open to all members, (its still in beta testing) it will revolutionize the knitting world as we know it. What is it? its a place to track your knitting, your stash, your other pursuits (like spinning) and to conncet to a huge data base of patterns ideas, stash uses, examples of things you could do with your stash, creating a queue for all your future knitting, connect with knitters like you (readers, movies buffs, bakers, NYC folks etc.) But mostly- its a place for the Global Knitting Community to get together! And well- it has taken all my time. I did do a little knitting this week, The Gothic Leaf Stole got one pattern repeat, and I have been adding to my 365 days Freeform knitting project. I got the box for my sockapalooza pal ready to go- just waiting the last touch- Commemorative Sockapalooza 4 Sock Project Bag that Allena is making. They are very cute. Of course I had to get one for me as well... cause they don't have to be just for sockapalooza...
But mostly I have been on The Rav! So now- I MUST get back to my sidewinder. Next week is the grafting party and I am still in Act II. Will I make it? Stay tuned!

sockapalooza 2007- ready to go!

7.7.07

They say it's your birthday

It's my birthday too, yeah
They say it's your birthday We're gonna have a good time I'm glad it's your birthday Happy birthday to ME!

I would not have announced it my birthday had it not been a special day- once in a century. Soooooo- to celebrate this year. I got myself an iPod (doubles also a mother's day gift to myself), and I decided to embark on the 365 self-portraits. If you are wondering about fiber gifts (you were, weren't you?) I can assure you that is also part of the celebration. Some of the gorgeous new yarn from Regia- REGIA KAFFE FASSETT, is on its way to me, + some lovely new trekking pro-natura (bamboo) in solid colors! Another 365 days idea is the 365 free-form knit or crochet something and see what happens. Can I make those two commitments? As if I do not have enough to do.... time will tell. Have fiber filled fun for me today!

Sockapalooza socks are done!

Phew! Got this out of the way. I was worried that with all the fun things I am knitting and adding to my Ravelry queue I will not finish these on time for the first week of August. What worked in my favor is this lovely yarn! I love it! so pleasant to work with, and so much fun- what color will come next? It keeps ya' knitting. I decided not to cut the skeins to make them "match". I hope my pal is ok with that. I think next sock exchange should have this as a question: Do you like/dislike/either way fraternal twins socks. I happen to like it.
Zitron Life Style. 2 skeins. At 155m/50g, they're a touch short on yardage. Perfect in this case since I made a size 5/6 sock, but for my size 7/7.5 I'll need 3 skeins. What I want to make with the other color I have are gloves! Or a hat, double knit with an alpaca inner lining.
Addi US2: 2 on 2 circs. Over 60 stitches. leg part is a K4,P2 rib, to make sure it fits. Foot part- just stockinette. The yarn is so cool, who needs a stitch pattern? Just a basic sock pattern.

Happy Independence Day

Lovely Monday!

Yes it is. The first morning of my week of mornings vacation. I am off all mornings this week! ya!

All the S guesses were right! This Super Sock knitter, got a Singer Sewing machine on Saturday! Just in time for my week off, although I did not have time to even open the box. This week, my son is in camp in the mornings... so- I'll have time. Its a week to start and finish and clean up and organize, and spend some time on Ravelry, ( as if I have not...). I have been to the container store to, well, get containers, and bags for my yarn. some of the stuff is so great- travel space bags. Helps in a small apartment for stash you are not going to use this week, or soonish (ahmm...).
Paperwork will be finished today. I am down to one small pile!
Started:
Sidewinder, Gothic Leaf Stole, Green Bag #2. I am knitting away at my Sockapalooza socks. its a good thing my pal is not my size. I love this yarn so much, I would have been tempted to keep them. I got some more of this great yarn, so I will make a pair for me as well soon!
It was a perfect Sunday afternoon. Sit N Knit NYC kicked off our July Sidewinder KAL in Central Park. It was a little difficult to count and talk and laugh and chat while trying this all new techinique- but there was always help when you needed it, be it extra yarn for provisional cast on (PCO), crochet hook for PCO, read instruction out load to make sense, and the gorgeous yarns everybody is using! I LOVE our knitting group. We have done so many cool things in the past year! Charity Knitting, Holiday parties, spinning, sock exchange, communal baby blanket, WWKIP day, and we KIP all the time in Central park and public atriums. Sit n Knit and watch movies, and now Sidewinder (the cool socks nona invented) KAL. But the best part is (are) the people! If you are going to visit NYC, come and say hi, we are here!

An now, if you will excuse me- I got some fun to "do"!

S is for...........................

(No, its not superman or superwoman)

U got Gauge!

Ok, so I did not knit the *full 40 rows (30 stitches and 40 rows in 4 inches -- worked in stockinette stitch, flat) but I got it on size 2 needles. Sidewinders: A PerpenSOCKular Pattern here we come! Tomorrow- the kickoff with sit n knit NYC!
I am knitting the Sidewinders with lovely yarn I got in London. hand dyed by nickerjac (Nic) she is a whiz with colors.
I found her by spotting a gorgeous scarf Ingrid made with her yarn, for the ISE3, and met her in London last October at the Knitting Show there.

*Gauge is a bit tricky. I find that often when I get perfect gauge in a swatch, but my knitting relaxes when I am knitting the item (when I am in The Zone) and the gauge is a bit useless. I like making my swatches after I finish, to keep a visual diary.

Sockapalooza socks

The socks for my sockapalooza pal are on their way. it took a while to get it on the needles but I am so happy I found this gorgeous yarn at my LYS. Never seen it before last weekend- Zitron's LifeStyle. Its a happy yarn. I got some more, for myself as well... I am using US2, doing a K4,P2 rib, so the design will show, but it will still rib, since I am knitting for my pal, and I want to be sure the socks will fit and not droop. Ribbing will do the trick. Not sure about the heel or foot yet. I'll see when I get there.

Its here!!

My package from Chrissy from Vancouver, British Columbia, is finally here! it took a while due to post office carrier's error, but all is well, its here! This is part of the Knitters Tea Swap 3, my second time around and I got a wonderful treat. Or treats! Great variety of teas, a savory treat (!!!) bath stuff, the tiny sock key holder (so cute!) and some delicious yarn! Chrissy, Thanks for you generosity!!! Now, what tea to have first? hhmmm........

Green Market Bag

Green Market Bag is done, and a lovely exercise it was. I am pleased with how it came out, even though it is a bit long. Here it is, unblocked, but I don't think I need to block it, it is fine as it is.
Yarn: Louet Euroflax Originals (linen). 1 skein each green (the 270 yds). This can be done in one color; in which case you need only one skein. Needles: Addi lace US6. At the section of separation I used another Addi US6, (but not the lace) for one of the sides- it was much much harder!!!!
I used Astrid's stitch pattern from her beautiful Mohair Scarf. Wonderful, good for a bag structure, easy to memorize and- stretched more than I thought. Oops. OK, So next time I will make it shorter and without the neck. I made a bottom and sides for it using this technique. I attached the handles using a 3 needle bindoff. You can see the 3 needle bindoff and more photos of the process here. I will make more of these. Everybody needs a few. We must go green! I liked knitting with the linen. I read some knitters felt it cut into their hands, but I did not feel it. Its nice to use when its hot out.
Handles: M&J Trimmings on 6th ave. I got the big ones, so I can hang it on my shoulders. Next bag I may use a short one. I have been asked to write this as a pattern. I have (for a change) written notes as I went along, and I will, (soonish) write it up.