Serial Knitter!

I was inspired by Scouts blog to take inventory of all my WIP's. I am by no means a monogomous knitter, never have, never will be. So here are some picks starting with the oldest and ending with the newest.

This is a scarf done in 1X1 ribbing. I started maybe sometime around November of 2005. I became bored with it shortly there after. I bought three balls of this yarn that was imported from Italy at one of my LYS. (the name escapes me at this moment). Because of the price, I only bought 3 balls in the colors you see above. Now you know I'm mad because I paid so much for it when I have enough skills now to spin it myself. Dang! I pick it up every now and then and do a row or two when the mood hits me. Maybe I'll be able to wear it this winter.

What you see above is a shetland wool type yarn that I got from school products way back when (last year). I bought this book called "Knitting Fair Isle Mittens and Gloves" and fell in love with all the intricate patterns. Here's a picure of the pattern called Diamonds Variation.

They also give a good history about the fair isles also. Well, allof the mittens and gloves are knit at a gauge of 32 stitches per 4" on size 1 dpns. After a lot of swatching, frogging and trips to the LYS, I finally got the gauge on size 00 double pointeds. So I started the ribbing around late January. You see how far I've gotten right? I haven't even balled up all the wool yet. I'll finish this one once I finish the scarf above (hopefully).

Next up to bat, is a shawl that I'm working on for a charity organization called Purls of Hope. They make knitted items for families affected by AIDS and HIV. The group meets at my job during lunch once a week. You should see some of the things these ladies knit and crochet. I always leave the group feeling inspired. I started this around May. I freestyled it using a lace pattern from one of my knitting stitch dictionaries. Once I block it, you'll be able to get the full effect of the pattern.

Remember those wrist warmers I was knitting from my handspun yarn? Well I almost finished them. I just have to bind of using EZ's sewn bind off. I ran out of yarn but I'm not too bumbed out about it. I'll keep them as a momento.

I tried to do a knit a long with one of my coworkers. We were going to try our hands at felting a tote bag. So far I've done the base and tried working in the round but it is just so nerve wracking to keep on sliding those big old stitches around my Denises'. Sheesh. So as you can see, no progress at all.

Here's how my Baudelairs are coming along. This is my commute project because the lace pattern so far isn't that bad. I've already memorized it. I'm about a half an inch away from starting the reverse heel flap.

That's all folks. That's not so bad is it? (I'm more trying to convince myself than you). I don't want you guys to be surprised if I turn up with a FO that seems to have appeared out of nowhere.

By the way, I made another bag. Can't seem to get enough of those stripes. Happy knitting!

Meme time!

I was reading over Del's blog and she inspired me to christen this blog with a Meme. I'm tagging any knitting blogger who reads this to post one too and add anything else that you've done or want to do! I've bolded the ones I've already accomplished. Happy knitting.

New Knitting Things I've Done This Year (or plan to do)
-knit a sock witha short row heel
-purled through the back loop
-knitted articles of clothing other than socks
-1X1 rib cast on
-knit a lace project
-knit cables
-knit pattern socks (working on it as we speak)
-did fringe
-knit something in Argyle
-knit two socks at once using majic loop method
-cast on using twisted german method
-pet a sheep (just to say thanks)
-knit an intricate fair isle pattern
-knit backwards (from left to right instead of right to left)
-teach a stranger to knit
-knit something entirely of a 2 color slip stitch pattern

Sew whats new?

What's new is that I've been doing a little knitting, a little spinning and a little sewing.

I like sewing bags, to me they don't seem as overwhelming as making wearable garments. I don't think I'm ready for that stage yet.


Here is a Jordy bag I made. The tutorial was pretty easy to follow except it was a mutha matching up the stripes down the middle. Overall, I really like the way it came out.






My latest sewing project is a bag I found here on crafster. I fell in love with her bag and had to make one of my own. I made one yesterday afternoon and fell in love with it. I wanted to put a pocket in it but somehow the fabric rectangles I cut suddenly disappeared. Of course I found it after the bag was completed. It was stuck under the ironing board, go figure. This is going to co-worker of mine for her birthday but I am definately making one of these as a knitting project bag. The only problem is choosing what fabric I want to use.

And on to spinning. I want a wheel. I mean reeeeeeeaaaaally want a wheel. I spin adn spin and spin and spin and all I get is this






Both of these skeins are less than 40 yards. The one on the left is some black and white roving I got from Necia that I dyed blue and red. It is soooooooo soft. I wish you could pet it as much as I do. The one on the right is spun from the roving pictured in my previous post that I dyed. This picture doesn't do the colors any justice. I like how they both came out but the only thing I can make with them is some more wrist warmers or maybe a small hat. I guess my wrist will be very warm this winter.

I've really been slacking in the knitting department. I wanted my next sock project to be a challenge so I'm knitting Baudelaire from the new knitty. I picked the wrong yarn but you know what, I'm not froggin and that's that. I think the stripes mess with the lace pattern but I like the yarn. It's Lorna's Laces in a purple stripe color that I picked up a while ago from Knitty City (hey Sahara). I can't wait to see how the reverse heel flap works out.

Did I mentioned that I finished those other socks that I was working on? Anyway, here they are. I'm pleased but I think they're a little too warm for the summer.

In other news, as many of you know Sahara and I are hosting a Sistah Friend Barbecue in Harlem on August 5th. I will be sending out directions to the park soon. All are encouraged to bring something. I'm going this weekdend to check out the park and see if there are tables available. If not, then you guys will have to bring your own lawn chairs or blankets. I'll let you know by Sunday the latest. I'm going to post a list in my sidebar of things we need you guys to bring. Please email me and let me know what your bringing so I can cross it off the list. I'm really excited about this event and hopefully we can make this the first of many more.

Happy crafting!

Whatcha been up to?

I'm not really in a talkative mood but I wanted to make sure you guys have had your fill of crafty goodness, so here's what I've been up to......

A while ago I blogged about an item that I bought but I was afraid to open it because it would lead to a whole new crafty dimension. Well....I opened the box
after knitting and spinning comes, what else, sewing. I copycated Necia and tried my hand at the Sha Sha Dream bag from Crafster. Not bad for a first try huh? I went on a shopping spree in the garment district today (thanks Necia) and picked up some stuff. 4 yds of this............................4 yds of this....................and 3yds of this

I also got 2 yds of this online for a pretty good price.

I guess I got a thing for stripes huh? Please don't ask me what I'm going to make with all that fabric. I like to think of myself as an intuitive knitter so maybe some of that chi will flow onto my sewing.

In Knitting news:

I'd like to thank the MTA for Mondays train delay.It took me twice as long to get to work so I had plenty of time to work on these anklets. Toe city, here I come!

This is a toddler poncho pattern that I'm working on. I'm going to put a rose near the upper right side. I can't decide on what border to do. I know I want to do something like a panel, but what kind? I'm thinking Chocolate intarsia roses on a Rose background, A whole Rose background with Embossed flowers or leaves, Intarsia using that scottish dog pattern or argyle, cables will also be in for the fall.....If only there were enough minutes in the day to create all the crazy ideas that are cooped up in my mind.

A lot's been going on over in the spinville.

Here's Meenie ....................Miney........................and Moe.

I'm not going to tell you who gave me the ravishing Merino/Tencel blend roving that I'm spinning up on Moe. I think I may have finally got my spinners card because I nearly had a corinary spinning it up. It threatened to split up on me a couple of times but the process was fairly smooth. Here's a close up of the roving, I tried reeeeally hard not to overspin it.Remember my first try at dying roving? Well, here's what happened.

Wrist warmers (If I could ever start the other one). Now I done forgot how many stitches I casted on for the first one. Hopefully I wrote it down in my notebook. If I didn't, then I may have to guess, or try and count the stitches around. I pray for mercy from the gauge monsters.

I dyed this up two days ago. I've been dying to spin it but Moe only came in the mail today. You don't know how hard it was trying not to spin it last night. Is it wrong to pet your roving every time you pass it sitting in your spinning basket? I didn't think so.

Remember the colorful roving I pictured in my last post? Well here is 47yds of it, spun on Miney. This picture doesn't show the true color, but it's close. It seems to me like maybe a worsted weight yarn? Who knows?

In other crafty news.......

If you didn't think I was busy enough, here's proof that I can't keep my hands still for one hot second.

I made these stitch markeres the other day, somewhere in between dinner and going to bed. Why, because I was very curious as to what all the hub bub was about dangling stitch markers. I'll let you know how they are once I test them out.

I hope you enjoyed viewing my FO's, and WIP. Even if you don't read any of my post because I know I like to surf most knitting blogs just for the pictures:)

Happy Knitting, Spinning, Sewing, Writing, Dreaming, and Creating

Lazy Days of Summer

Yup, I've really been slacking on the blog tip. That's only because I've been perusing my way around the city in search of fiber. Not yarn, but fiber. I.Love.Spinning! I knew it was love once I felt that illustrious piece of wood in my hands. Yeah, we had our hard times in the beginning, but we quickly came to understand and appreciate each other. Doesn't this post sound like a page right out of "As The Spindle Turns"? Wouldn't that be a cool podcast title? It might go a little something like this:

Harry B.F. Leicester: Oh, Marie!
Marie-Adda Lidalam: Yes Harry, what is it?
Harry: I'm in such a bind and I don't know what to do!
Marie: Oh Harry, just tell me what it is. You know I'm here for you. I was there for you when you got your first low whorl drop spindle and by golly I'm here for you now.
Harry:Well, Marie. You remember a couple of days ago when I received 8 ounces of a Merino, Silk and Angelina roving special order from overseas?
Marie: Yes.
Harry: Well....It's kind of hard for me to say this......but.....
Marie: Just tell me Harry. Whatever it is we'll get through this.
Harry: OK. I'll tell you. I was trying to navajo ply the singles I made with the roving. Because the roving was so delicate, I wanted to use a special spindle for it. So I borrowed your priceless Wooly Mammoth Tusk Spindle from the Journey Wheel.
Marie: Harry, you didn't!
Harry: Marie, I'm so sorry. I know I should have asked first, but you were busy tending to the angora bunnies.
Marie: That's no excuse. You should've asked. Oh well, I thought you had something worse that that to tell me.
Harry: Well actually, while I was using it, I dropped it and it cracked. Marie, I'm sorry and I'll replace it as soon as I get enough money from all the hand dyed sock yarn I'm sell in my ebay store.
*WHACK* (Marie bops Harry upside the head with a cast iron skillet knocking him out cold. While he's down, Marie promptly packs up all her stuff and moves out. She leaves Bill a note stating that she never wants to speak to him again.)

Enough of the Tom Foolery, here's some pics:

These are Ty's Thuja socks all done. I used Artyarns Supermerino in color 201. I swear this yarn is like butta! Luckily I had the yarn in my stash already. The colors in this picture don't do it justice at all. I also freeatyled a little change purse for his wifey Theresa. I think I may make one for myself.

Here's teo versions of Handspun yarn that I spun on my trusty top whorl drop spindle. The one on the right I spun from roving that I purchased from the Yarn Tree. It's an Alpaca/Merino Wool/Tussah Silk blend fittingly called Chocolate Cherry. I was going to send it to my SSFP but it's only about 30 yards there and I don't think that's enough to make a sock with. The one on the left I actually dyed the roving myself using Jacquard Acid dye. I used three colors which were made by mixing different ratios of the primary colors. Of course the picture doesn't show it's true beauty. For anyone who cares, the chocolate cherry is two ply and the hand dyed is singles. I'm itchin to knit a swatch to see how it comes out.

I'm working on a pair of ankle socks for myself just to keep my hands busy. This pic in progress is for Carine. I'm using the yarn that I dyed a while ago using Wilton's icing dye. I wasn't crazy about the colors once it was all balled up, but now that I'm knitting with it, it's kinda growing on me. I just threw a lace pattern in there to break up the monotony. The pattern is on a multiple of 12 stitches and goes as followed: ssk, k3, yo, k1, yo, k3, k2tog, k1. I know this pattern must be in a stitch dictionary somewhere but I just thought it up while I was making my gauge swatch and thought it looked nice.

I always save the best for last, so here's 8 ounces of yummy woolly goodness for your viewing pleasure.

How does she get those wonderful toys?

You would think that having an incurable knitting jones would be enough, but wouldn't cha know it, I just keep getting sidetracked. As you can see from my last post, I have a yarn ball winder and swift. I got them both at a reasonable price from P&S Yarns. Before that, I ordered one on-line but my order got screwed up some how (through no fault of my own), so I took that as a sign to just go out and see what I could find. Luckily I did because I got them both cheaper than what I would have paid online (plus no shipping charges to worry about). I'm so glad I have it because it beats my normal method of holding the hank spread over my thigh and shin and slowly unwinding the yarn back and forth into a ball. What would we do without our knitting gadgets?

The thrill was gone about a couple of weeks afterwards. I ran out of hanks to wind and I'm on a yarn diet, woe is me )-:. So I was hangin out with my Sit 'N Knit group for WWKIP day and there was needles and yarn flying everywhere. I'm knitting my socks, minding my own business ,when an enabler pulls out her drop spindle and starts spinning like water. I'm not going to name this yarn craftster (Shizknitz), but the rest of us were in awe. We herded over to her like yarn snobs to quivuit. She made it look so easy. Then she goes on to validate her spining by saying that she was on a yarn diet herself but technically roving is not yarn. Spinning yarn is not the same thing as buying yarn, right? Duh, why didn't I think of that! I don't think I need to tell you what happened next.
On the right are my first failed attempts.
On the left is my second try. I think I'm getting the hang of it a little, but we'll see how the swatch comes out.
Now I can't wait for the Spin Out this weekend coming up. I'm sure I'll be able to go around picking everyones brain. Yeaaaahhhhhh!

I have another toy that doesn't have anything to do with knitting but I don't want to unveil it just yet. I bought it on sale at an unbelievable price and it's been sitting in it's box unopened for the past 3 months. I aint even gonna lie, I'm scared. I'm afraid that when I open it, It'll open a window to the craft of no return. I'll be hooked and then I'll have to buy all the doo-dads and thinga-ma-jigs that go along with it. Once I make some progress (open the box), I'll let you know what it is, although I'm sure you can figure it out anyway.

And now, for your viewing pleasure, here's some FO's & WIP's

Here are some pictures of my Jams' snake. The specs are in my previous post.






Here's a pair of socks that I finished. I started out making them for my friend Ty but I think I may have subconsciously made them too small. He wears around a 9 in men and I wear an 8 in womens. I didn't realize they were too small until something told me to try them on after I finished the gusset and started working on the foot. Amazingly, they fit so I knew the gauge fairies must have played an awful trick on me. I knit them from the cuff down, two at a time using the magic loop method. By the way, I love this method and I may use it for all my socks in the future. So here are Ty's socks which became my socks.


Yup, I'm trying to be like Del in my pic, but mine are missing that little bit of "zen" she has in hers. Anywho, look at the socks. Aren't they cute.I used LB Magic Stripes that I had in my stash. I didn't feel like going through all the hooplah of matching the stripes up. I think the mismatch stripes gives them character.

Here are the new socks I started for Ty. And it must be fate because I asked my sistah friend Necia if she knew of any non-stockinette men sock pattern. She suggested Thuja and dontcha know that I had the exact yarn called for in the pattern. It was one of the first hanks that I wound on my ball winder. The knitting gods must be pleased. So here's Thuja in progress.

My knitting buddy Yarnhippie and I are working on a knit a long. We both are knitting a remixed pattern originated from the Buttonhole bag. This is our first experience with felting so I'm anxious to see how it turns out. Of course, mine is mostly green using Lamb's Pride Bulky. The bottom of the bag is a long rectangle done in garter stitch. Plus we added a bunch of rows and stitches because we want it to be big. Anyone who knows me knows that I don't carry around no stinkin' small bag. So here's the base.

And here is the base with the stitches picked up for the sides and working in the round. It was a mutha picking up all those stitches around but I survived. My Denise's played a big role in that also.

We're increasing on each end of the front and back pieces every other rowfor a little bit then working in the round Thank goodness this yarn is kinda quick to knit up being that it's bulky and all.

And last, but not least. Despite the fact that my days are pretty busy, I found time to make these. Yes, they're made out of skewers and yes I can't wait to try them out. They're not finished. There's still a lot I have to do. I sanded them down so I just need to add the wood sealer and glue on the green foam ends. Hopefully by my next post, I'll have around 5 sets of these babies made and I don't even like staight needles. I'm a circ's fa sure.

As always, Happy Knitting!

Post Script....

Not too shabby for a newbie, huh?

Slacker

I've been such a slacker lately. My knitting's slow but it still seems as though I manage to finish a project or two. I can be overly unpatient at times so I mostly like to knit small items. I'm finally making a commitment this summer to knit something for me (besides a pair of socks). I'm thinking along the lines of tunic or tank top. Most likely I'll end up knitting a Green Gable. I'm plotting on making a Ruby too but I like to keep my options open. O.K., enough with the yappin'. Here's some knitting for your viewing pleasure:

This is a knitted snake handpuppet that I'm making for my little man. I don't know what's up with boys and reptiles (dragons and dinosaurs included) but they seem to love that kind of stuff. I also think that he became allergic to wool on purpose because his mommy likes to knit so much but enough of my knitting conspiracies. I'm using Caron's Simply Soft because it's not wool and I have a whole bunch in my stash.

I just have to sew the eyes on and do minimal embroidery for the nose. I got the pattern from Knitty City here in Manhattan. The pattern is from JudyKits. Of course I altered the pattern a little because I can't help it. I learned to crochet before I learned to knit so if I could find a quicker way to accent something using crochet, then I'm going for it. Plus I suck at making I-cords. I've mastered entrelac and fair isle but can't make a decent looking I-cord, go figure!

Why was I at Knitty City you may ask? Oh I was just there to see Wendy and get an autographed copy of her book. Here's some pictures of the event (I'm the one in the green shirt with the afro). Kay was there also.I had a egg-faced moment when I met her, I was like the only one in the whole store that didn't recognize her. I overheard this woman a couple of chairs over from me mention the word blog so of course I got into full nosey mode. I'm like "You have a blog?". She says yes and then I ask her for the name. She says "Mason-Dixon Knitting" like it's just another blog. Uh duh! I didn't know what to say so I was just like "Oh" and returned back to my knitting. Suffice it to say, I did redeem myself a little later on. I saw her knitting a bunch of connecting garter stitch blocks so I asked, "Is that a Log-Cabin blanket you're working on?" She replied "Why yes it is!" Score one for me. Anyway, she seemed really down to earth. I also met Sahara, cool people.

This is a shawl that I'm working on using some yarn from my stash. Yarn= Your guess is as good as mine. I've never made a shawl and I just wated to try it to see how it comes out. I used a method mentioned in the Yarn Harlot's book Knitting Rules!. I'm using a stitch pattern from the Big Book of Knitting Stitch Patterns. I attempted to take a close up but my camera wasn't having it. Oh well, maybe next time It'll want to be my friend again.

I made my sweetie an Ipod sock for his nano. I used one f the many balls of Regia sock yarn that I have in my stash. I started out making a tube as a gauge but didn't realize that the thing might actually fit the nano. I was just as surprised when I tried it on, so I just continued knitting the tube and did a couple of inches of ribbing. I seamed the top and was done in a couple of hours. One of these days I'll get a chance to take a picture of it if he'll let me.

I started making a Panta but I abandoned it when my second bamboo double pointed broke. The first one broke because I had the project in my purse and it wasn't in a ziploc bag. I didn't have any point protecters or anything, I just left in naked in my bag while I went though this gauntlet they call working and living in NYC. I'm not gonna lie lie to you, I broke the second needle because I sat on it by a mistake (and it wasn't very pleasant). Let's just say I learned not to leave my needled lying around. Lord knows why I was using dpn's to work a back and forth project. Maybe it was the fact that I just recently purchased them and they're from a company I had yet knit with.

Alright, time for me to get some sleep. Hopefully I won't be tempeted to "knit one more row" or else I'll be up for the next 3 hours. My new motto:

There's always room for jello and
there's always time for knitting!

Before I forget, I got a new toy. Wanna take a guess as to what it is?

Lyrically Yours

Sorry guys. I know I haven't really been keeping up with my blogging game like I should. My knitting has been hot and cold. Some day's I'm hot like fiya and other days I'm as cold as a clam but I just wanted to give a shout out to a very good and very talented friend of mine. She's doin' it up real big and I'm so proud. Please take a look at her website (there's a link in my sidebar) and her blog is listed bellow. I'll have a post soon with some progress soon. Keep those sticks clickin'!

Lyrically Yours

Does anyone have the number to Stashbusters????

So, I bet your wondering if I went to the yarn sale I previously posted about? Do you even have to ask? Hell yeah!

Here's the rundown:

6 balls of Royal Yarns Cashsoft DK

12 balls of Regia Sock yarn in various colorways

2 Skeins of Classic Elite Yarns Miracle

4 Skeins of Berrocco Ultra Alpaca

4 Skeins of Koigu KPPPM

1 ball of Karabella Gossamer

4 skein of Artyarns Supermerino

and 4 skeins of Nashua Handknits Wooly Stripes.

I also picked up some Addi Turbo Circular knitting needles in various lengths and sizes, bamboo double pointeds, a pom pon maker and a knitting knobby.

Although the original prices are kinda high, everything in the store was half price. I couldn't resist! So, I ask again, does anyone know the number to stash busters?

Besides the stash enhancment, I've been knitting like crazy. A little while back, I don't know any other way to explain it but it felt like I lost my knitting mojo. I would pick up a project and would only knit a couple of rows and be compelled to put it down. I just couldn't get motivated to knit anything. It almost felt like a chore (perish the thought) and it made me doubt my knitting devotion. I prayed that the feeling would pass and alas it has. So, I finished the pink baby set that I was working on for my cousin. I used the dreaded LB Pound of Love that I spoke of a while ago. I love the little crocheted flowers on the buttonholes. That was my favorite part of the sweater.

I also started on another one using Caron Simply Soft in peach. This time I'm making the cardigan in pieces and seaming them together. Ususally I wait until I've finished knitting everything to weave in the ends and seam it up, but I've learned my lesson.

I finished the socks for my grandmother two days before Mothers Day. I was planning on using the Koigu yarn that I had but it just wasn't working out and I was running out of time. So I ended up turning to the ever dependable Caron Simply Soft. I used a simple lace patern out of one of my stitch dictionaries. Of course I can't think of the name of the book or stitch right now but I really like the way this stich looked so I might have to go diggin'. Please forgive me for the horrible pics.

I'm also working on an Ipod cover for my Boo's new Nano. Gives me a reason to use some of the sock yarn I have. Yep, just like most knitters I'm always looking for ways to legitemize my over indulgence in the art.

Before I go I just want to express how excited I am over the Sistah Friends Knitting Secret Exchange. (commence sappy background music)Two years ago I would have never thought that I would be knitting or let alone blogging like this and just being a part of the knitting community makes me feel special (end music). This will be my first time participating in an exchange and I can't wait to get started. Yeeaaaah!

Happy Knitting!

PS

I also dyed some yarn. The one on the right was dip dyed using kool ade and the one on the left was dyed using Wiltons Icing . I like the way the kool aid yarn came out but I'm not too happy about the Wiltons. I'm willing to admit that I do not have a knack for matching colors. My friend Kim is a wiz at that kind of stuff but unfortunately I did not consult her prior to choosing my colors. I also noticed that the Wilton dyed yarn doesn's seem to "pop" like the kool ade yarn. They seem a little more muted. Well, at least now I know for future refence.Of course I'm going to use the yarn for som thing but it just may take me awhile to think of what that is.