Archive for the ‘Knitting’ Category

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Opposite Shore Beret

February 18, 2011

I like the pattern.  The hat fits well, but it’s a bit heavy.  I may sell it.  I had just enough yarn.  I did not bother with the cables at the very top.  Here again, they were very difficult to see in brown.  It wasn’t worth the effort.  I’ll probably make it again in another yarn.   It is a very good-looking hat.  It comes in three sizes and I think it would look good on anyone. 

I have started another pair of socks, but haven’t taken a picture yet.  I got a lot accomplished at the vet’s yesterday.  It was time for Rue’s next shot.  When I got there, the lot was very full.  I considered going back home, but I managed to get into a corner.  Besides, there was all that uninterrupted yarn time to think about and the other animal lovers.  There all always so many interesting stories.  These are Sussex County folks with a whole different outlook on life.  I really have a great time.  I love listening to them and sharing in their experiences.  They are wonderful.  Even the first time I came, I felt welcome.  Here are people who feel the same way that I do and are happy to hear what you have to say.  

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Well I Have Died and Gone to Heaven

February 14, 2011

My first Socks That Rock kit came today.  I have been looking around for a few months for a new sock club.  I belonged to Red Bird Knits for years and I really miss getting the little surprises in the mail.  I never checked the site to see what was coming.  It was more fun not knowing.  I tried two other clubs, but I found myself giving away more socks than keeping.  I was afraid that I would never find another club as good as Red Bird.  And you know what?  I think I have.

The big skein is actually two–one is purple, the other orange, yellow, green, blue. And two patterns from designers that I know and like.  What’s not to love?  I had better finish that hat.

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Starting Something Else

February 13, 2011

I finished my Komet socks last night.  My first thought was another pair of socks.  I’ve got yarn ready for three or four or maybe more.  So I’m making a hat instead.  I saw one in(or is that ‘on’ since it’s an on-line magazine) Knit Circus that I liked. Besides, I managed to poke a hole in my thumb and I keep sticking those size 1 needles in it.  The damned thing will never heal and it hurts.  Since the hat calls for size 9 and 10.5, my poor thumb is feeling a lot better.   That’s it for today.  I’ve got things to do–like find my girlfriend’s address.

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Ravelry Can Make You Crazy

February 12, 2011

I had gotten several hits on my pony tail hat pattern so I thought I would add(link) my other patterns.  When I went to my page there was a list of people who had also made Komet socks so, naturally, I looked at their pages.  And, of course, this led to looking at their other stuff which, consequently, gave me all kinds of ideas.  AARRGGHH!!!  So I stopped.  I went and knit on my socks for  while.  I thought about sewing(I really need to sew).  Nothing worked.  I came back.  I read some about UFOs. That’s knitting UFOs.  I dug out my Raffia Vest and entered it on my page.  Two color on 2.5mm needles in the round takes FOREVER.  I’ve put it away twice. 

Look at it.  It’s gorgeous!   The back has a different pattern.  It takes about an hour to knit one row.  To make matters worse, I’ve lost weight so it’s too big.  At least it’s 100% wool and not superwash.  I can felt it a bit when(if?) I finish it.

I’m glad that we got our walk in early today.  It has gotten very windy.  The noise reminds me of when I lived in Nebraska.  It sounds like it is coming from a great distance.  It’s beautiful and haunting at the same time.  I sit here and look out over the water.  I think about how lucky I am.  And I thank God for putting me in this little piece of heaven.

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Komet Socks

February 9, 2011

I got this yarn from yarn4socks, but I just didn’t like the pattern that came with it.  The cuff had beads in it that I didn’t bother with.  I’m a knitter, not a beader.  The pattern had a lot of little cables.  When the kit came, I assumed that the picture was very good since I could hardly see the cables.  After many hours of knitting and accomplishing only two inches of pattern, I took a hard look at my room.  And, you know what?  I still could hardly see those damned cables!  So, naturally, I did what any red-blooded knitter would do.  I ripped it all out and went looking for a better pattern.  And the rest is history.  Socks that I can truly be proud of!  Thank you, Stephanie van der Linden.  I love your book, too.

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I Made Mittens

February 1, 2011

It is amazing what you will find when you try to get organized.  I bought this kit from Beth Brown-Reisel about twenty years ago at Stitches.  I also bought some of her yarn for a tam.  She doesn’t sell yarn anymore, which is sad because the yarn was really lovely.  I made that tam right away and wore it for several years.  But now, I could not for the life of me, remember what happened to it. 

My daughter’s GPS case is finally starting to take shape.  The faux swede is a bitch to work with, but it will make a great lining.  I want to finish it by tomorrow so I can take it with me if I decide to go to Reisterstown on Thursday.  So, I guess I had better get back to work.

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Felting

January 27, 2011

A friend of mine asked me about felting yesterday.  She made a bag to hang on her spinning wheel.  Since I haven’t taken up spinning, I can’t really picture where it goes.   But it needed felting so I thought I would include what I said here.

‘I don’t bother with a pillowcase.  I’ve never put a towel in either.  I like man jeans.  You know, the heavy kind that take forever to dry.  Luckily, that’s what Win and Doug wear.  Tennis shoes are good, but your machine might not like them, especially if they are 13’s.  Speaking of machines, I hope you don’t have a front loader.  If you do, you’re screwed.  Anyway, I reset my machine twice for my bags for a total of about 40 minutes agitation.  I have had some things take as little as ten minutes so you’ve got to check it.  I use hot water and any detergent.  I also keep a heavy stick (like a plunger) and a mixing bowl handy.  When it’s the way I want it, I let the washer finish.  You may have to steam it some to reshape it.  I look around for something to put it on to dry–a vase, jar, glass head.  You can also stuff it with plastic bags to help keep its shape.  Have I said enough?  Have I said too much?  Oh!  And there’s always YouTube.’
 
My girl friend makes very nice yarn. It knits up beautifully and is very easy on your hands.  I made her a sweater with her yarn and she made me a very pretty triangular shawl that she wove.  Right now, it’s hanging over the door to keep the cats off it.   It is soft enough to wear on bare skin.  I even like the fuzzy fringe–which Rue especially likes.

Will I ever take up spinning?  I really don’t think so.  Do you have any idea how much yarn I have?  Why do you think I’ve making all these hats?  And do you know what spinning leads to?  Dyeing!  Weaving!  I make myself crazy enough with the knitting and the sewing.   I’d need another house.  Wait a minute.  I have another house.  But, it’s two hours away and I don’t like living there.  But my son is happy there.

I need to get some sewing done.  We had tossed a bunch of knitted items on my Sapphire while we were trying to organize the yarn.  I tried to put some things in a storage box, but Flo decided that it was a great place to nap.  Maybe tomorrow.

I came up with another idea for a hat last night using Colinette Point Five yarn.  I need to get the last hat written.  Pattern writing takes a lot of time and I don’t like having to explain everything little thing.  I feel like I’m saying the same thing over and over. 

Maybe over the summer I’ll make hats and try selling them on Etsy in the Fall.  I could make matching scaves and/or mittens.  I also have other things that were more fun to make than wear.  Hmm….

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Pussy Whipped

January 25, 2011

Poor Gus.  He don’t get no respect. 

Even the baby knows he’s a push-over.

Another hat.  Pattern coming very soon.

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Enjoying Winter

January 22, 2011

Yeah.  Right.  Like that’s going to happen.  I spent half an hour just getting ready to go out.  We were only out for twenty minutes.  And I never did bother to take off my long johns.  It was twenty-four degrees when we went out and it was still the same temperature several hours later.  Ugh. 

The geese were still sleeping when we got back.  I don’t know what that white one is doing there.  And that ice never went away.  We didn’t make it down to the pier this morning.  I really didn’t care.

I needed to wind some yarn for my next project.  I got some work done and managed to entertain the cats all at the same time.  Yeah.  I’ve got a dorky afghan on my sofa.  Doesn’t everyone?

I have almost finished my next hat.  I should have it completed by tomorrow.  The pattern is finished, but it needs to be proofread.

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Spending Money

January 19, 2011

The day after spending over $300 at BJ’s, the washer died.  And, of course, it had a load of wet clothes in it.  So off we go.  I have very particular needs when it comes to washing machines.   Out of thirty models, I narrowed my desires down to four in two minutes.  I spent a minute getting to two and another getting it down to one model.  I looked around for a salesperson or whatever they are called.  He was still with the same couple.  Jeez.  Don’t these people know what they need?  Don’t they know what they want?  What is taking them so long?  What is so hard about picking a washer?   The man looked like a logger, yet he was the one looking.  The mousey looking woman with him was just standing there.  Sometimes I forget that these type of people still exist.  I started rolling my eyes and shaking my head.  The salesperson excused himself and came over to me.  I picked his brain for a minute to make certain that the washer truly did everything that I wanted it to do.  The sale was made.  Next up.  Delivery.  There were none in the warehouse so it wouldn’t be deliverable until the 23rd.  So we took the floor model.  I got ten percent off.  And delivery was the next morning.  We were in and out in fifteen minutes.  Then we went over to Wal-Mart and spent another $100. 

Here’s Sweetums with his kitten.  Aren’t they adorable?

I took the ribbing off my tam and made it a little more snug so it would sit better.  I think I am finally satisfied.  I’ll write it up before I forget what I did.  I also need to write patterns for two more hats so look for some new pages.

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