I turned a fantastic heel last night!
[pic here]
This one is so EASY and quick. It's from Charisa Cairn and she has a wonderful tutorial on YouTube that makes it even easier. She also has a blog you can learn from and see what pretty things she makes. I am now a big fan of her helpful techniques - especially the Lifestyle Socks recipe! And after viewing her blog -- uh oh -- now I want to spin again. For sock yarn. Hmmm... now where in this tiny house would I put my wheel?? (it's in storage along with my looms) Oh well, maybe I can start with my drop spindles - those are here!
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Saturday, January 31, 2009
WHERE did January go???
This month has gone by sooooo fast. It whizzed by my poor head like a bullet. I have been knitting (perhaps that's made it go so fast?) like crazy and finished several projects this month.
I started a new KAL (knit along) on Thursday - Leyburn KAL in the Socks That Rawk group on Ravelry. You can check my progress here, too. This is the yarn in the cake:
It's "Undertoe" in Socks That Rock - Lightweight. I am to the heel on sock #1, half-way there on sock #2 and hope to get past the heels this weekend. I'm trying a new heel (more about that later). Here's the progress at the end of the first day:
and the second day:
I started a new KAL (knit along) on Thursday - Leyburn KAL in the Socks That Rawk group on Ravelry. You can check my progress here, too. This is the yarn in the cake:
It's "Undertoe" in Socks That Rock - Lightweight. I am to the heel on sock #1, half-way there on sock #2 and hope to get past the heels this weekend. I'm trying a new heel (more about that later). Here's the progress at the end of the first day:
and the second day:
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Christmas Past
Today being the 25th and I saw a Christmas tree on the Yarn Harlots' Blog (reading in Dec - I'm behind there, too) I started to think about what has happened around here over the Holidays.
On Christmas Eve I actually made dinner rolls (from SCRATCH no less) and we had our big dinner at Mom's. On Christmas Day: played with the Grand-Girls (on the floor, too and really, really enjoyed it!); didn't stress over any kind of 'schedule'; relaxed at Mom's at the end of the day and didn't have a big dinner mess to clean up (no one was very hungry after the big, delicious meal my daughter-in-law made - we snacked); - all in all it was a very restful day.
The photo is our new, much smaller tree. The one we had (and gave away) was too tall for our ceilings in this small house so smaller was in order. A perfect fit on top of the window chest and high enough to discourage the cat from munching on the branches - although I had to put enough boxes (even empty for a while) to fill in under the tree so he couldn't get up there!
As much as I love the Holidays - I am glad they are over for another year!
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Bloggus Interruptus
My Sweet Kitty has just "asked" me to put "his" basket back in the corner so he could lay in it. (Currently, the basket holds twigs, branches and moss I gathered from the yard). He got my attention away from reading blogs by saying "murrr" until I looked at him - then he proceeded to the baskets previous location - looked back at me and "murrred" again. Meaning quite clear.
I obey.
I obey.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Lacey Scarf - Free Pattern
I saw a scarf in my local LYS - no pattern, just the stitch name. OK, I can do this - so here it is. It's a very simple, one row pattern.
Pattern Inspiration: Barbara Walker - double herringbone faggot and the scarf in the store
Yarn: Ritratto (Stacy Charles) - 1 ball
Needles: size 8 - bamboo OR the shortie kind for kids
After playing with the pattern stitch for hours I came up with the right width and the laciness (is that a word?) I wanted. So here it is:
Cast on 22 sts
Patt row: k1, [YO, k2tog] x 5; k1, [YO, k2tog] x 5.
Bind off loosely, but not too loose. Add fringe.
And that's it. One row pattern.
TIPS: The needles I used are the short #8's for kids from the craft store (Hobby Lobby) and they are blue. They have a sharper tip but are not too slippery to work with this yarn. I used a #10 to cast on.
The yarn is very slippery! It had mohair, but it's not bad to frog because of all the other things in the yarn. The yarn is fingering weight, light and has sparklies! Other yarns might be Shaefer 'Anne' or 'Gioiello' by Filatura di Crosa. I sampled with these, too.
Before you begin, wind off your fringe yarn (I used a small book to wind around) and then you can just knit until you run out of yarn. I used 3 lengths doubled over and pulled through with a crochet hook (lark's head style) for each fringe and used 11 loops on each end. Make sure your loops are on the same side on each end!
The scarf is about 5-6 inches wide, depending on your blocking - it will stretch either way and 60 inches long (about 5 feet + or - to your taste).
The photo on the chair lets you see what it looks like on light or dark fabrics. The scarf has NOT been blocked yet in these pics!
Pattern Inspiration: Barbara Walker - double herringbone faggot and the scarf in the store
Yarn: Ritratto (Stacy Charles) - 1 ball
Needles: size 8 - bamboo OR the shortie kind for kids
After playing with the pattern stitch for hours I came up with the right width and the laciness (is that a word?) I wanted. So here it is:
Cast on 22 sts
Patt row: k1, [YO, k2tog] x 5; k1, [YO, k2tog] x 5.
Bind off loosely, but not too loose. Add fringe.
And that's it. One row pattern.
TIPS: The needles I used are the short #8's for kids from the craft store (Hobby Lobby) and they are blue. They have a sharper tip but are not too slippery to work with this yarn. I used a #10 to cast on.
The yarn is very slippery! It had mohair, but it's not bad to frog because of all the other things in the yarn. The yarn is fingering weight, light and has sparklies! Other yarns might be Shaefer 'Anne' or 'Gioiello' by Filatura di Crosa. I sampled with these, too.
Before you begin, wind off your fringe yarn (I used a small book to wind around) and then you can just knit until you run out of yarn. I used 3 lengths doubled over and pulled through with a crochet hook (lark's head style) for each fringe and used 11 loops on each end. Make sure your loops are on the same side on each end!
The scarf is about 5-6 inches wide, depending on your blocking - it will stretch either way and 60 inches long (about 5 feet + or - to your taste).
The photo on the chair lets you see what it looks like on light or dark fabrics. The scarf has NOT been blocked yet in these pics!
Can We Say OVERWHELMED???
Wow. Got back from vacation and haven't stopped yet. Tons of things to do and the Holidays on top of that! Knitting Christmas gifts like mad right now. Trying to get the house back in order has taken this long, but I am FINALLY getting somewhere with that! Now the studio is a disaster from all the knitting going on.
There's a Donation Day on Friday - so I'm trying to clean stuff out for that. I have 3 big boxes so far and a huge computer monitor (I can't WAIT to get rid of this monster). Plus - and this is the bonus - I am Fall cleaning at the same time.
I am behind on my photos and info in Ravelry - will try to catch up soon. I have knitting class this morning (changed from Thursday to Mondays) and I hope to finish a project this morning. I am very close! Speaking of - gotta go get ready!
There's a Donation Day on Friday - so I'm trying to clean stuff out for that. I have 3 big boxes so far and a huge computer monitor (I can't WAIT to get rid of this monster). Plus - and this is the bonus - I am Fall cleaning at the same time.
I am behind on my photos and info in Ravelry - will try to catch up soon. I have knitting class this morning (changed from Thursday to Mondays) and I hope to finish a project this morning. I am very close! Speaking of - gotta go get ready!
Thursday, September 25, 2008
"Baby-blanket" Shawl
Last weeks finished project springing from knitting class is a long rectangle on the bias. At the shop, the pattern was made into a baby blanket - very cute - but not what I envisioned when I saw this color. So.. the muse came out and in 4 days I had a finished shawl.
The yarn: Fandango chunky cotton by Colinette, color way jay 85 I used 4 100g hanks and had some left. I thought perhaps tassels on the corners, but in practical thinking, they would get in my way! So no tassels.
The yarn: Fandango chunky cotton by Colinette, color way jay 85 I used 4 100g hanks and had some left. I thought perhaps tassels on the corners, but in practical thinking, they would get in my way! So no tassels.
Decisions-decisions For the Trip - part 2
I can never get the blogging software to put my photos where I want them so I have to use flickr to blog from - one pic at a time. Oh well, it gets the job done!
This is the pile of possible projects to take on the trip. Since we are driving from Texas to Tennessee that's a lot of drive time. I am mostly the passenger. (grin) This does not include the painting kit or watercolor pad. There are also some books I've been meaning to read in that red basket along with the old and new trip journals. Oh, and a bag of Hershey kisses! Shhhhhh....
We plan to see Graceland in Memphis on the way to the mountains. I have promised *everyone* to take photos of us in front of at least the Gate.
This is the pile of possible projects to take on the trip. Since we are driving from Texas to Tennessee that's a lot of drive time. I am mostly the passenger. (grin) This does not include the painting kit or watercolor pad. There are also some books I've been meaning to read in that red basket along with the old and new trip journals. Oh, and a bag of Hershey kisses! Shhhhhh....
We plan to see Graceland in Memphis on the way to the mountains. I have promised *everyone* to take photos of us in front of at least the Gate.
Noro and Cascade 220 Bag
Today at knitting class I started a bag that I will felt - by machine. This will be a first for me. I tried felting years ago and was not impressed therefore did not do any more. NOW I am fascinated! There are so many beautiful bags all over the internet (especially in Ravelry) that now *I* want to make some too.
I got yarn to make a red version as well. And I have yarn (all Cascade) to make a larger one with blended colors - in the shades of mountains from deep blue to violet to dusty rose. I don't know when I'll get to start the big one since we are leaving Sunday to go to the Smoky Mountains! Our first real vacation in 2 years. I have stuff placed all over the floors so I can see what to pack. What a mess this place is, but it will be worth it when we are packed and out the door!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Remnants of Ike
There was a man in the grocery store today with two carts and a long list taped to the handle of the first cart. He said he was from Houston and buying for some of his friends. They got electricity back sometime yesterday and he was going to head home.
The impact of this encounter didn't hit me until after I had been safely back in my own home for a while. I cannot fathom the reality of what they will face when they return to Houston. No grocery stores doing business. Having to do their shopping in other cities. No gas for their vehicles. The condition of their homes still in question. No telling when the every day business of living will return to normal.
Austin has been hosting evacuees in various places and the roads have been congested (more than usual). This brief encounter with a harsh reality has humbled me and I will not complain about the traffic or long lines for a long time to come.
The impact of this encounter didn't hit me until after I had been safely back in my own home for a while. I cannot fathom the reality of what they will face when they return to Houston. No grocery stores doing business. Having to do their shopping in other cities. No gas for their vehicles. The condition of their homes still in question. No telling when the every day business of living will return to normal.
Austin has been hosting evacuees in various places and the roads have been congested (more than usual). This brief encounter with a harsh reality has humbled me and I will not complain about the traffic or long lines for a long time to come.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)