It's Big, It's Brown, and It's Bathing....

Yay! It's Done! It's finally Done!!!

Well, I do still have to block it, pick up stitches for the collar, seam it all together, and put a zipper in...

But still... Its DONE!!

Up next: Brightly colored, stripy berets for my daughter...
and... maybe more projects too!

I might just cast on 2 or 12 tonight to celebrate!

Fingerless Mitts

Here are two quick FOs for you.

I knit the Alamosa Mitts in Elann's Peruvian Highland Sport in Christmas colors.




Here are the Backyard Bamboo Mitts (without the bamboo!) knit in Knitpicks' Palette. I used white, a solid blue, and three heathers and size 0 (US) dpns.



I started another pair of Zilboorg mittens and am working on a plain (non-stranded) scarf. That along with the first Whistler sleeve and the stranded alpaca fingerless gloves make too many projects for my comfort. I better hurry up and finish some more projects!

Pow!

Almost completed, I need to hurry, tomorrow being the dead line date!



Birthday gift!
What to buy/make a man who you'll know will have everything!.
(But not your knitting)
I know for a fact that he is a comic collector, that would cost way to much.

But if you like Marvel, I can imagine that you can never get enough POW!,Wam!, Bam ,Biff!............

So armed with a crochet hook and quick knit acrylic I was off. Super hero colour combination of Red, Yellow, blue and here is the gift/card even.

Lets hope he likes it! if not what does it matter, I'm sure it will put smiles on faces at the birthday dinner.
And as the saying goes its the thought that counts!;-)

Crochet in the media

Elizabeth Banks & Seth Rogen

Daily mail Film reviews section "Zack & Mari make a porno"(funny title)
But the thing that I'm blogging about is the picture
and I repeat not the funny title;-)
It's what close up, could only be described as free-form crochet.

I have just noticed So much more in the movies and on the funky TV series.
Knitting really is still making a come back. We have alot to do, seeing we lost a generation of knitters.

And I don't mean the regular unnoticeable grey machine knit cardigans, I mean the outrageous stand out one of pieces.

Happy Blogiversary To Me....

Wow, Everyone. A whole year has passed since I started this blog! I look back at some of those early blog posts and just cringe... ahhh the pictures are so... so.. ugh....

Yes, over this year I have learned so much about knitting, blogging, taking pictures....and now for the best part... I've met all of you! We'll a lot of you.... those of you who comment anyway...

It has been so much fun for me to share my finished projects and knitting nightmares with you. I love to receive all of your kind, funny and encouraging comments.

So basically what I'm trying to say is "Thanks for reading!"

In honor of my 'blogiversary" Id like to announce a drawing for my readers...

Leave a comment under this post telling me some of your favorite blogs that you like to read. I'll randomly choose a winner and send you some yarn and the new Winter issue of Interweave Knits when it comes available.

You have until December 15th to enter.

Thanks again to all of you! All of you have really made my blogging experience so rewarding!

Graffiti lettering

I think that my letters are definitely improving and they look a little like teenage bubble writing.
But in a the form of knitted Graffiti (Well Crocheted);-)

Lately I've been thinking a lot about structuring my days so I can have more time to knit. So many other less-important things get in the way of doing what I really want to do. About a week ago I stopped helping people with knitting technique questions on Ravelry and I have easily an extra hour to knit each day, maybe more. Now I have to figure out a way to charm DH into doing more of the cooking.

I finally finished adding my old mitten projects to Ravelry.

These are thrummed mittens knit in Lamb's Pride - I made these for DH specifically for shoveling snow and they are at least 7 or 8 years old.




Strangely enough the exterior of the mittens have felted over the years but the interior thrums have not felted as much. I used some non-superwash merino roving for the thrums.



These fingerless mitts were knit from my very first handspun yarn. It was the same merino roving and I used my fimo clay drop spindle. They're pilling a lot but I still keep them in my knitting basket for cold nights.

Sandra Backlund

Poster speaks for it self, I saw this whist I was out walking and think that it will be so good to see some of her outrageous outfits worn in everyday life. I will be looking out for this movie, I wont need to understand the words just the outfits will be enough.;-)

NeverNotKnitting Podcast : Episode 10 : A Good Yarn

Shownotes:

Lush and Lacy Cardigan

The Dad Sweater

Twist Collective

Dietrich

Ice Fantasia Shawl

Ariosa Cowl

Rebecca

Vivian

Kingscot

Broderie

Vaila

Sylvie

Winter Wonderland Coat

Stephanie on Ravelry

The Scarlet Skein

NeverNotKnitting Podcast Listeners Group

Subscribe with iTunes or RSS

Karin's Fantasic Blankie Mania

At the knit cafe Knit Lab Sunday- Karin's Blankie mania stole the show. It's huge and still growing, a fantasic rainbow of random colour.

A Kntting article I found on the internet

Article I found when surfing web
http://www.bbcgreen.com/Lifestyle-Family/Fashion/knitting?CMP=KAC-STK Stitch up

Marissa-Catherine Carrarini Wool: Knitting and the environment When it comes to being a trendy green, making your own knits is just as cool as owning a pair of Stella McCartney pumps Once the preserve of grannies in rocking chairs, the humble art of knitting is experiencing something of a renaissance in the UK.

From celebrities to city workers, balls of wool are back in fashion and making an appearance everywhere from the pub to the cinema. The ethical bit According to Rachael Matthews, founder of London knitting circle, Cast Off, and co-owner of eco wool shop Prick Your Finger, our return to knitting is as much to do with ethics as thrift. “Knitting used to be a financial necessity but it is important for different reasons now. It is much more to do with social and environmental awareness.

” For many consumers, the make-up of a typical high street jumper – its CO2 emissions, conditions for factory workers and cotton farmers – is cause enough to seek alternatives. Knitting is an immediate DIY route to a fairer, more sustainable wardrobe. And you can enhance your ethical credentials even further by opting for organic, local, fair trade or even recycled yarn.

Healthy balance But it’s not all about principles. “Knitting is very therapeutic,” says Matthews. “It is a repetitive hobby and that can be really calming.” Knitting advocates have claimed it can help with stress and anxiety by slowing down your pulse rate. No wonder it has been touted as the new yoga. Then there’s the financial benefit – knitting can be very healthy for your wallet, with a new jumper costing as little as £12 to make.

There’s also the thrill of creating something unique, says Amanda Firestone from the Brighton Stitch n’ Bitch group. “I'm nearly finished with my very first cardigan –it's taken me a long time but it has just been an amazing experience." Beyond fashion Too scared, or impatient, to knit a whole jumper? Quirky hot water bottle covers, cushion covers, mobile phone wallets, bags, bookmarks, curtains, cakes and children’s toys are just a few of the non-fashion items you can create from a ball of wool. “I even knitted a window with a landscape once,” says Matthews. “I chose yarn the same way you choose paint – I used linen to knit a rock so it looked cold and wet.” Knitting isn’t just about new clothes, it is also good way to fix up old favourites.

Why not reduce the charity shop (or rubbish) bag by adding accessories to your clothes? Give your clothes a makeover with old buttons, laces, patterns, or whatever you find lying around. Alternatively, you could unthread a jumper and use the wool for something else. As a broader eco statement, knitting is also a good way to stick to the mantra of reduce, reuse and recycle. Charity shops are great for finding unused wool at bargain prices, while specialist wool shops, such as Eco Annie (Annie Sherburne), sell cast-offs, organic, local and eco dyed yarns.

Social circles Thanks to its rising popularity, knitting doesn’t have to be a solitary pleasure. These days, you’re likely to find grannies happily chatting to students and city workers learning new tricks from housewives. Most knitting groups sit in pubs or cafes, but at Knit-Chicks in London’s Ritzy cinema you can knit while watching the latest romance or thriller.

Amanda Firestone from the Brighton Stitch n’ Bitch knitting group is 25 and loves the social side of knitting, as well as the environmental benefit. “Our group is really lively – we're all very friendly and happy to offer advice or aid where we can. And because we're all different ages and skill levels there's a lot to talk about and plenty to learn”.

Durango, Colorado

Can you believe it is almost Thanksgiving? Today is the first day it has even been cold here and I just started a nice big fire in the wood stove.

Here are some photos of Durango, CO from our visit last month.

We arrived to a band and lots of festive folks for Oktoberfest.



There were the usual arts and crafts kind of booths.



The weather was gorgeous and the trees were turning.







Here's DH (left) and our friend Brad in front of Olde Tymers where we had lunch. Unfortunately they were out of their delicious raspberry beer.

I'm going through most of my really old knitting photos to make sure they've all been posted on Ravelry even though the photos are not so great. I started with my mittens and next it will be hats. I learned my lesson when my computer died last month and I'm trying to do a good job of saving my photos. A kind friend grabbed all my photos off my hard disk for me and he is now teasing me for having 20,000 photos of nothing but bunnies and gloves.

ME

ME in bold;-)
My progress of attachment.

The "Dad Sweater" Continues...

I can't believe it.

Im still working on this danged thing and to quote my friend Audrey...

"I dont want to talk about it."

:)

Knit Lab

Vintage cotton, below Vegas

knit lab
Rosenlundsgatan Stockholm

A whole new chapter No official exhibition! Not as such, I just blend in at Knit lab....... well almost
(Blend in and me?, not really compatible!)

On show is a lot of my Stuff I think that it is always good to see how other people deal with your art, curation.
(How it's displayed, what go best)

Lenah is a natural at this and the vintage cotton piece, I had never thought about a black back ground. Its gives a whole new feel to the piece.

Pop along and take a look;-)

Here's the very beginning of the Whistler sweater. DH vetoed my idea of using a different pattern for the sleeve edgings. I can't remember the last time I knit a sweater (it has been around 10 years I think) so I'm not sure how long it will take me. The solid color stockinette stitch parts will definitely slow me down - I get bored when doing solid color knitting so it takes a lot longer. I predict I'll finish the sweater in January. I need to go order more yarn though.




One of our strategies for saving money on groceries is to shop more often at ethnic markets. Here's our latest haul from the wonderful Ta Lin international market. I was happy to find fresh pea shoots and fresh maitake mushrooms and they had great prices on white and green tea. We make massive quantities of won tons using a great tofu/spinach filling recipe from the Moosewood soup cookbook and freeze them for quick meals with vegetable broth and a bag of Trader Joe's stir-fry vegetables.

neck cozies...

One Bainbridge Scarf finished in cranberry...

It was an easy knit, very quick, and makes for a warm and cozy neck ~ love it!

Pattern::Bainbridge Scarf by Pepperknit

Yarn::KnitPicks Andean Silk in cranberry

Needles::I ended up using size 7's

I have one more on my needles in cinnamon, waiting for yarn on backorder. And, I'm also knitting a Pashmina Cowl from Last Minute Knitted Gifts, which is half finished, using some cream-colored Andean Silk...then I think I better stop before I get carried away.

London influence!

For the background I have used a acrylic as a marbled effect almost teamed Black and lite orange and pink in with white
(Paint not stirred)
This is just the beginning, funds are tight at the moment. But I'm inspired, so this is just your cheap shop flat canvas.(The type with visible staples in the side!;-()
I just felt the need to experiment.
The black I have added a brick effect using a house hold new sponge.

Lettering

This was a knitted art project that I did a while ago and the lettering I never finished. I tried but at the time I could knit/crochet as well as my imagination.

Two years on and things are very different.(my knit skills) So I'm re visiting one of my largest knits to date.

Art letter I need to make and the title to the piece
"This is me, this is not me"(isn't)

Field of Flowers Wristwarmers

I'm working on another box of knitted items for one of our city homeless shelters. The Albuquerque Rescue Mission gives out over 20,000 items of clothing each year to the homeless and poor. I already have about 10 handknitted items I can donate and I hope to double that before Christmas. I also thought this would be a good project to play around with the colors of Peruvian Highland Sport I bought that won't be used for the Whistler sweater.

Here is a new color combo for the Fields of Flowers Wristwarmers from the Wild About Color Knitting booklet. The Peruvian Highland Sport colors I used in order of appearance are: Black, Palm, Thyme, Plum Wine, Light Gray Heather, and Mesa Teal.




I also did some quickie kid's mittens in some mystery worsted weight wool.

Dale of Norway Lake Louise Hat

I've finally come up with a color combo I like for the Dale of Norway Whistler sweater. Here are the colors shown on a practice hat. I used the directions for the Lake Louise hat in the new Dale Commemorative Collection booklet. Unfortunately they omitted the color chart for the hat in the booklet so I cobbled this one together using the charts for the Lake Louise headband and sweater.



I think I will get started on the sweater ASAP with the yarn I have left over while I'm waiting for the rest to arrive. I am grateful to finally get started on the darn thing because for some reason this time I really overthought the color combination.

Here's a free pattern you can knit up in a few hours.

ANKARA HEADBAND

This colorful single layer headband is a very quick knit and a terrific way to practice knitting with 2 colors without investing a lot of time and money. You only need small amounts of 3 colors of yarn for this project so it is a great stash buster.

MATERIALS: Less than one skein of 3 colors of worsted weight wool yarn

The purple and teal headband is knit in Cascade 220 yarn. (Color A is# 9420 a very dark teal, Color B is a medium reddish purple #8909, and Color C is a lighter teal #9421)

The red and blue headband is knit in Knitpicks' Wool of the Andes. (Color A is Blue Bonnet #23440, Color B is Mink Heather #24279, and Color C is Black Cherry Heather 23895) The Wool of the Andes Blue Bonnet color I used is unfortunately discontinued. Winter Night #23422 would be a good substitute.

NEEDLES: Size 8 (US)/5.0mm 16"/41 cm circular needle or size needed to get gauge.

GAUGE: To save time, take time to check gauge. Over Colorwork Chart, 16 sts to 4"/10cm.

FINISHED SIZE: Women's Large, width 20"/51 cm unstretched, length 4"/10cm Try changing the size of this headband to make it for a man or a child by going up or down a needle size.

NOTE: The purple and teal headband features a K1, P1 corrugated ribbing. I've included directions for that in parentheses. Two-color/corrugated ribbing has a tendency to curl so a twisted cast on is a good choice to alleviate that problem. I have photos and a video of how I do a twisted cast on - see the right hand sidebar of my blog for links.

With Color A, loosely cast on 90 stitches. Join, being careful not to twist. Work 2 rows of K1, P1 ribbing. (Corrugated Rib Version - Rows 1 and 2: *P1 with Color A, K1 with Color B; repeat from * across row. )

Work the 15 rows of the Colorwork Chart below. Stranded color knitting charts in the round are worked right to left, from bottom to top.

If you're new to stranded color knitting, remember that almost all colorwork needs blocking to look its best so don't worry if your tension isn't absolutely perfect. If you're unsure how to hold the yarns, check the right hand sidebar for photo tutorials of four different ways you can hold two yarns without tangling the yarns.

With Color A, K 1 row even. Work 2 rows of K1, P1 ribbing. Bind off loosely. (Corrugated Rib Version-Row 1: *K1 Color A, P1 Color B; repeat from * across row. Row 2: *P1 Color A, K1 Color B, repeat from * across row. Repeat Row 2. Bind off loosely with Color A.)

FINISHING: Weave in all ends. (See the links to the right for more information on using reverse duplicate stitch to weave in ends.) Block headband by immersing it in lukewarm water then laying it flat on a towel to dry.

Copyright 2008 by Nanette Blanchard. All rights reserved.

making the best of a gloomy day

The view out my kitchen window today was all gray and dismal with some drizzle. Lucky I have this pink rose, clipped from the rose bush by the front door, to distract me from the gloom...

The view from my sewing table is much more encouraging...

...some of my most favorite things::vintage linens picked up at the flea market, some Japanese fabric, the color red, simple knitted squares of soft cotton yarn, and a little bit of embroidery...
Hopefully to all come together for my latest project...stay tuned.

Finlay

Fin
Lay
Finally finished fabulous Finlay.

I Cant Get Enough Of These Hearts...

I mentioned previously in another post that I had knitted another heart for my daughter using the Heart Pin pattern while Hannah Fettig was signing books at the shop.

This one didn't turn out quite as well as the first due to some "Oh... no.... I'm sitting right next to a knitwear designer.... right now... knitting her pattern... oh no.. shes looking at it.. Ahhh!!!"

type feelings.

But it's still cute!

I'm just in love with these little hearts! They are so quick and easy to make up! I've seen several versions made up by different customers at the shop and one customer in particular had a really good idea. She sewed the heart onto one of her daughters hairbands and it was soo cute! So now I want to do that too!

I knit this one up on US size 2 needles with some Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino left over from last season's Legwarmies.

I was going to give this heart pin to my Mom as a present.. but look at how cute it looks worn with her matching legwarmers! ... sorry Mom...

I was so happy when I pulled these legwarmies out of the drawer! They still fit!

On the pattern I guessed that they would fit ages 3 months-3 years. And it looks as though I was right! It seems that those little chubby baby legs slim down throughout the years and just get longer and leaner.

Must... make.... more....