KnitWriteCookGo

Saturday Fun

2012-02-04T18:41:00.002-07:00

After a brief snow in Friday, the real fun for my weekend started on Saturday with the delivery and installation of my new TV system. I have offered before and after pics for your pleasure. Now I have great movie viewing and can stream my Netflix. Lots of entertainment to knit by. If you need me, you know where I will be.

While I waited for the delivery I got the Pebble Hat back to where I had been before I realized it was too small. It is knitting up beautifully in the Dragonberry colorway by Dragonfly Fibers in Dragon Sock. I think it will be well received when it is finished. I ordered a head form so I can block hats. It should be here next week. That will make it so much easier to block and photo the hats I am doing.

Mindful on Mondays: Final Outcome

2012-01-30T06:02:00.012-07:00

My great plan to downsize did not come to fruition. I did buy the larger TV and here is why.

When I went to the store to look at the choices, again, I found that the model I was looking at online and a brand name TV that they had on a big sale were only $100 different. So, I invested in the bigger screen.

I feel good about my choices for this upgrade because I spent two years considering this purchase, always putting it off because the price was still too rich for my budget.

Now that it is done, I am excited about watching some of my favorite movies in a new, larger format. That will keep me busy for several months as well as getting to watch my Netflix in streaming mode.

I hope everyone is having a great start to their New Year, and a good close to the month of January~!

Loopy Ewe: Grand Opening in Colorado

2012-01-28T06:18:00.000-07:00

The big day arrived and I met up with CatWithCats in Denver to make the drive to Fort Collins, the new home of The Loopy Ewe.

Wow, awesome, fabulous - those are just some of the exclamations that I uttered and heard in the new shop. It is great. There are lots of windows, with a view of the mountains, lots of light and color, more room to move around and so many choices that it may take you all day to make decisions.

I picked up enough for about six one-skein projects and a couple items that I had not seen live yet, like the Baggu bags and a Hadley tumbler. What a great day!

Big kudos to Sheri and her crew of elves and The Computer Guy, they have done a wonderdul job of making it a warm and welcoming place to visit. I plan to make this a bi-annnual event, maybe more. Best of luck to the The Loopy Ewe, keep up the good work~!

Another New Project

2012-01-26T06:00:00.007-07:00

The Rikke Hat is on the needles. It has taken three attempts to get it started so it will be a wearable hat for me.

I am doing in in a striped version with Knit Picks Swish DK yarn in grey and eggplant. So far it is a fun knit.

Happy Blog-aversary! Five Years

2012-01-24T19:41:00.009-07:00

Who knew when I started this that it would become a five year old.

I want to thank my readership and wish you all the best for the future.

Mindful on Mondays

2012-01-23T07:27:00.001-07:00

The update on the new TV purchase is, after much research and heartfelt thought, I am going to downsize my requirement for the TV. I am still looking for a new one, that will allow me the streaming capability and HD, just not as large a screen.

I cannot justify a large dollar amount purchase in lieu of the fact that I am targeting my debt this year and trying to pay it down as much as is humanly possible. It does not make sense to spend money on things when the money should go to making my life less stressful in the long run.

Hopefully by the end of the month or by mid-February I will have a new watching unit. I hope everyone is having a great start to their new year.

Gnome Hats: Complete and Pattern Available

2012-01-23T06:27:00.001-07:00

The Gnome Hat Knitting Project has come to an end. These last two were knit with my own design. They were fast knit and give a wonderful fabric to add embellishments to if desired.

The pattern can be found on Ravelry at this link. Happy Knitting~!

July Sock - Finally Coming Back

2012-01-20T14:10:00.007-07:00

My poor July socks, they have been on haitus since August 1st to make way for the pile of other things that I had to knit.

It is time to bring them back out and finish the second sock. I reviewed the progress last night and went to bed thinking about how to figure out where I was. I see that I am midway through the decreases for the gusset. In golf lingo, that is a bad lie.

If I had stopped before beginning the heel flap or after the gusset decreases were complete it would be easiser to pick it up and go again after nearly seven months. The only thing that has saved me is that I use two row tallys when I am doing this part of the sock. One is to mark the stitch pattern and the other is to count the decreases. Once I remembered which tally was which I was ready to start again.

This will be my next car project as soon as the last two gnome hats are complete. Maybe I will be able to wear the July socks before July this year. It is a goal.

Gnome Hats: Update - (g)Nearly Complete

2012-01-19T06:35:00.012-07:00

I have eight completed hats. Only two to go. These are so cute, The pattern will be available for free this weekend as soon as I can get some more pictures.

It is a fast knit and makes a very fun hat for the kids to play with and can be worn with the top folded over to resemble a stocking cap. Maybe a very fun addition to your apres ski look. Another idea would be to sew buttons on it or do some embroidery embellishments. And, there is no reason you can't knit them out of different colors.

I hope everyone is finding fun ways to fill their January days~!

Mindful on Mondays: Large Purchase

2012-01-16T06:00:00.000-07:00

I am back to the idea of making a large purchase for a new TV. I have owned the one I have since 2005, it is a 24-inch screen and as large as a boat anchor. It does not have the hookups for the newer dvd players which means that I cannot have streaming access to Netflix (which I really want).

My TV watching is done through rabbit ears and an HD antenna that I had to get when the "air" signals went digital. I plan to continue viewing "air" channels, no cable or satellite for me. So I think I will be able to get rid of the HD antenna if I have a new TV, not sure yet about the rabbit ears.

So I am researching what kind of TV, model, and additional equipment to get what I want. The research is based on one hour for every $100 of value of the largest piece of equipment, in my case, the TV itself. At this point, looking at Best Buy offerings, I have met the time part of my research and then some. Now I am just waiting to see if the sale before Super Bowl is a reality.

Maybe this will be my Valentine prezzie to myself. I hope everyone is having a great start to their New Year~!

Gnome Hats: Update

2012-01-13T21:38:00.000-07:00

I am into the fifth hat and finally have a good pattern created that fits an average adult. They are lots of fun to knit and look great.

I ended up with a plainer hat than what the pattern is in Knitting Today Dec 2100/Jan 2012 calls for. This pattern is in the round, all knit, with knit two together as the decreases. I had to tinker with the - how many rows between the decrease rows - to get the best look without the hat being so tall that it will double as a conning tower on a submarine.

Looks like I will get them all done on time and under budget (the yarn was on holiday slash price sale - yay).

I hope everyone is having a great start to their year~!

Mindful on Mondays: Impulse Buys and How to Avoid

2012-01-09T18:47:00.000-07:00

My apologies to those who believe that Monday should actually be on a Monday. My bad....

With that said, I concur with Cathy: I like to spend money on the things I want, like yarn and knitting tools and movies that I must (so I think) own so I can watch. For years it was easier to avoid looking at the bills, than admitting I had to pay them. Fortunately, I have that under control (almost) and have nearly dug myself out of debt that was created when I was "under-employed."

When the economy downturn came and I took a cut in hours I looked at all the "bills" and determined what I could do without. The first thing was morning coffee from 'bucks. Well, that was really a non-issue because I do not go for coffee every morning, I drink mine before I go to work from a pot I brewed myself with generic brand coffee mostly.

I did give up buying movies when they first came out without seeing them first. What I found was most of them were not as good as their trailers so I could just watch them once and say "Okay, I've seen it." I do my renting through Netflix and have the streaming feature as well as a couple through the mail system. It works great and keeps me entertained. Now admit it, I do still buy a movie occasionally that is one that I will watch more than 4 times a year. Usually I make that decision after I have rented the same movie over and over, then I go to Half.com to find it for the best price. (Next on this list is Letters To Juliet - love that movie).

Now, for impulse buys, these used to include knitting magazines, go figure. I have decided that if the magazine does not have at least 5-8 patterns that I must knit, then I will look for them as a one time buy option, try to borrow the magazine or find another pattern that is close to the one I like.

I have found that the library (and our library district - Pikes Peak Library District) is the best when it comes to well-stocked and easy to get stuff. I put stuff on hold and pick it up from the library that is best for me. Then I get what I need without having to spend lots of time looking for it. They have lots of movies, audiobooks and knitting books.

With other impulse items, I employ the ten-second rule that makes me stop and really think about what I really need. That seems to be working for me. For things that I really think I want after ten-seconds, and it is not an must-have-right-now, then I write it down and think on it, research options for thirty days. I have found that by then, I decide I can do without them. That really helps my cashflow.

Next week: I will try to be on time~!

Happy Monday: Weekend Update

2012-01-09T06:37:00.013-07:00

Not much knitting progress this weekend as I prepare to go back to the full work week lifestyle. I did manage to complete a third gnome hat and cast on two more. One for house knitting, the other for purse knitting.

On Saturday, we had another round of Holiday Scrabble, this gets funnier everytime we play it. The goal is to make every word a holiday word and the pre-story to prove the point is the best part. Thanks to my game partner, it made for an enjoyable afternoon.

New Tools for 2012

2012-01-09T06:33:00.000-07:00

My Santa(s) were really good to me this year. First, I received the very cool package of Albert (who is now mounted on my wall above my closet door as a "trophy") and inside him was a Mama Bear table top swift from The Oregon Wood Worker. This came from my secret Santa.

I set it up on my every-handy card table and tried it out on a skein of sock yarn. It worked like a dream. It is easy to set up and use, comes apart and stores in a lovely fabric bag. The action is smooth and when paired with my new electric skein winder (another Santa gift), it required little manipulation or tending while it wound. It does require I sit there with it or Pedro tries to bat it as it goes around. That could be a mess if he succeeds.

The new tools are a great way to start off the New Year~!

1st Quarter Challenge

2012-01-05T20:23:00.009-07:00

Even though I am overly tempted....too tempted.... wait, NO, tempted, by the Loopy Ewe 1st Quarter Challenge to knit a project with a silk-mix yarn, I have to say, not this quarter.

I have a challenge of my own to do. I will be finishing a commission project - 10 gnome hats by February 1st, and then concentrating on finishing the UFOs in my pile. To make it fair, they are: K1B Reversible Vest, July 2011 socks, Spiraluscious cowl and mitts and the Camp Loopy 2011 bunting.

After I have accomplished all that, I will look into starting a new project. The reason for this self-imposed decree is - I am starting a new dayjob next week. This will include a learning curve for a new company that will eat up a lot of my "compute cycles" and take away some of my knitting time. This is a good development because I am so looking forward to working for a company that appreciates and values their employees.

My next new projects will be the Phoncible Hat in Lion Brand Amazing and the Bum Diddy visor hat in Charisma. I love trying new patterns, usually I find some fun and fast gift ideas.

I hope everyone has great plans for this month and the first quarter. Maybe Loopy Ewe 2nd quarter challenge is in the cards for me~!

Goals and Ambitions for the New Year

2012-01-04T11:08:00.036-07:00

Yes, four days in and I am finally appearing with my list of goals (I do not do resolutions).

This has been a whittling event because I have so many things I want to accomplish; while reviewing this past year, I decided to approach this from an under-promise and over-deliver mentality. Maybe that will work better.

First: I want to do a shout out to the Lion Brand Notebook blog folks, their ideas are concise and well-stated (this is my paraphrase to fit this post):

If you do not yarncraft now, begin. It adds creativity to your life.
Crafting with your hands can help relax you, make you more patient and reduce stress in your life.
You can connect with old friends and make some new ones.
Give to your community through fiber crafts.
Create your own designs to mimic the over-priced commercial wares you see in the stores.

Now, for my goals for this new year:

Upload and track all knitting projects on my Ravelry page.
Knit a couple cardis for office wear.
Learn: shadow, double knitting and hexi-puffs.
Finish and publish the two designs I worked on in 2011.

That covers my goals, I hope that I will have a great accomplishments page to offer you at the end of this year. My best wishes to all of you as you pursue success for your goals (and resolutions)~!

Review of Accomplishments from 2011

2012-01-03T11:09:00.020-07:00

The obvious is: I started strong on the project list I meant to accomplish for the year, and about six months in, it derailed. That refers to the KWCG Sock of the Month Club - self-imposed, and self-regulated, and it successfully got me six pairs of socks by June. In July, it got derailed and I have one sock to finish.

Another way I am viewing it is: I got a LOT of knitting done this year. I blogged most of it, I did not put it all up on Ravelry. That is something I want to get better at (see next post for "goals of 2012").

In the midst of the fall push to finish gifts and take on some commission knitting, I found myself in the job seekers pool. It is a scary place these days, with large fish - toothy ones - circling and me, a newbie. Not to despair - it all turned out okay - several job offers and I start my choice next week. This is me doing the HAPPY dance.

This will be a better year, I have great plans and high hopes. I hope it is for you as well~!

Note: Pedro is making friends with Albert. I don't have the heart to throw away this particular "gator".

Mindful on Monday: Introduction

2012-01-02T15:01:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of having breakfast and a good, long visit with CathyR from CatWithCats this morning. We got caught up on our various activities and life as we know it.

Then we discussed a topic that we think is very important in this day and age. This topic we will begin exploring this month, on both our blogs, and answer/reflect on/consider comments from our faithful readers on the subject. This topic is mindfulness.

One definition of mindfulness that I found when googled is:

Mindfulness is a state of active, open attention on the present. When you're mindful, you observe your thoughts and feelings from a distance, without judging them good or bad. Instead of letting your life pass you by, mindfulness means living in the moment and awakening to experience.

For me this said that if I approach things in my life with a mindful attitude that maybe time will slow down to appreciate the finer things and make better choices. There are several areas that I think I will use this idea on this year. The first on being finances, and the primary concern for this month is the purchase of a newer TV.

I have been thinking about this purchase for a year now, and have talked myself out of it because of finances and timing. The plan was to buy it as a Christmas gift for myself when the sales were on, then I heard that the best deals are in January prior to Super Bowl weekend. So I have put it off again until I start seeing the ads from Best Buy and others.

The TV I have still works great, however is not HD, so I have to have an HD antenna to bring in local channels. I do not have cable, nor do I want cable. All I need is local network channels to see the news and weather, plus the public channel to see a travel or cooking show occasionally. Otherwise, I watch a lot of movies, love my Netflix subscription and want to add the streaming capablility to maximize the money I spend with Netflix each month. This constitutes the majority of my entertainment allowance and keeps me occupied in the evenings while I knit.

That is my justification about the purchase and I will be choosing a TV that fits in the house, will last me for several years and offers me the best deal for the money investment. The considerations for this purchase are: available space for the screen (best size), location where it will have the best wifi connection (for the Netflix streaming), ease to hook up the dvd player (or do I need to buy a new bluray one?) and ease of usage.

Once I have reviewed all the options I will be making an educated purchase, hopefully before February 1st. Anyone with questions or ideas, please leave them in the comments for consideration.

Happy New Year! Welcome 2012

2012-01-01T15:04:00.003-07:00

Wishing everyone the best 2012 you can make it.

I have big plans - hope you do too!

And to rob a wonderful sentiment from a newsletter I received from The Stitchin' Den in Estes Park:

A new year is a reminder to celebrate all the things that are good in your world ... the people you love, the places you are part of, the memories you hold on to ... ... all those unforgettable moments when you close your eyes and breathe in life with a smile. May your heart be filled with lots of little reasons to celebrate -- at the New Year and always.

If you have the opportunity to visit Estes Park, enjoy the fabulous scenery and take the time to visit the Stitchin' Den. They have a great selection and friendly staff to assist you with your fiber needs.

Staying in with Games and Friends

2011-12-31T20:59:00.000-07:00

I am knitting between moves for our game night to celebrate New Year's Eve. I am not a big partyier and especially not if I would have to leave the house. It is safer, warmer and less dressy when I do it at home.

I hope everyone is celebrating safely and to their own preference this evening~!

Begin New Projects or After the Holiday Rush

2011-12-29T10:13:00.002-07:00

My next BIG project is gnome hats in the granite stitch. I found this pattern in Knitting Today Dec2011/Jan 2012 issue and will be knitting them out of Red Heart SuperSaver for a February event. I have 10 to knit by Feb 1. Here we go!

The first one, pictured here, is done per the pattern without the double knit brim, however for this use it is too small. So, I have gone up to a size 9US needle and am trying it again. This RH yarn is heavier than some and needs some more room to make a decent stitch definition. So far, I think this might be the right combination.

I hope so because I still have 10 to knit and the clock is ticking. I hope everyone has fun projects to start the year~!

A Little More Christmas

2011-12-27T14:57:00.008-07:00

I had a little more Christmas to celebrate at the folks this week. We watched the new TV and took delivery of mom's new comfy recliner.

I finished the IOU handwarmers so they could be gifted when I got home. As you can see, the "pawprint" is a handy thing to have when measuring for the length of the finished fingerless mitts.

All in all, this has been a fabulous holiday season. I hope yours was a well~!

The Day After

2011-12-26T07:33:00.000-07:00

Today will be spent reorganizing and making lists of things that have to be finished by year-end.

And possibly doing a little bit of resting, like my sister's big kitty, Brady, is doing in front of the fire yesterday. Doesn't he look peaceful?

I hope everyone has time to rest and relax today~!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T08:55:00.012-07:00

May you enjoy the season with family and friends, rest and eat lots, drink eggnog and jingle all the bells you find.

Life is about the little things and the time spent with loved ones.

Reflections of the Season

2011-12-24T08:54:00.005-07:00

Glitter glue, yarns of every hue,

Needles clicking, clock is ticking.

Now its done, let the fun begin,

Need a nap, it's a wrap.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas or whatever holiday version you celebrate, and a Happy, Healthy New Year~!

Done! Until Next Year

2011-12-23T06:53:00.010-07:00

Whew! I am done with gift knitting for another year.

And I only have one IOU in the batch. That is for a friend's matching handwarmers. Those should be done by New Year, if I am lucky.

No promises for next year. I have to come up with what I can do for everyone that they will use and enjoy. For now, I will think about that later~!

Note: this is how one of the felted clogs got decorated for skid-proof wearing.

Time with Family

2011-12-21T06:52:00.020-07:00

I got to go see the Christmas Donkey play in Cripple Creek with my folks. We drove home in a blizzard afterwards but it was really worth it.

Then I spent some time wrapping gifts and elfing with mom. We added some final ornaments to their tree and I got two more knitted gifts finished before I came home. It was a great way to spend time with the family and celebrate the season~!

The List is Getting Longer

2011-12-19T16:35:00.011-07:00

or is that just my imagination? I thought by now that I would be marking off more items as they were finished not adding last minute knits to the list. This seems to be what I am doing. Thank goodness, I already have the supplies to create these last-minute items. At least it does not involve more shopping this late in the game.

I reorganized the list and have cast on the last two MUST DO BY DECEMBER 24th gifts. Everything else can be done after the 25th. I will only have a couple partial gifts with IOUs attached. I think that is great.

Knitting and eggnog, good combination for the season~!

A Bouquet of Pre-Fulled Beauty

2011-12-18T11:24:00.000-07:00

Here they are, ready for the washing machine, ready for the fulling process. I usually call them "felted" clogs when they are done, however, I was reminded that felting is a different process done with rovings or raw wool whereas "fulling" is what is done to something that is knitted from wool.

I think these will be very cute when they are fulled and will be worn with much pleasure. I hope everyone is finishing their projects and learning new things as they go~!

Pile O' Yarn - Progress Report

2011-12-16T10:48:00.001-07:00

The pile of yarn that was destined for slippers is finally starting show its shape. I have the first pair done, brown and pinks, the second pair - halfway done and with fuzzy cuffs - too cute; and the third pair is in the small size so I expect them to knit up really fast.

That was my plan: to knit the them from the largest size down so it seems like I am getting done faster. So far, that plan seems to be working.

The goal is to have them finished and in for fulling by Sunday. That gives them a week to dry completely before they have to be gifted.

Warm feet are great gifts to give to your loved ones~!

A Break From Knitting Means Another Fabric Craft

2011-12-14T07:33:00.023-07:00

Today I created a Festive Fabric Garland from a pattern procured from a magazine, fabric pieces provided by a friend, ribbon from final holiday sales, twine and a teeny tree from the hardware store.

Another friend is crocheting a tree skirt to go around the bottom and it will serve as a landing zone for my Xmas ducks.

I will be knitting some teeny mittens and hat from a free pattern offered by Morehouse Farm. (If you do not get this newsletter in your inbox, you should).

As you can see, Pedro could not help but be fascinated in my project. The next step is to try to keep him from knocking it over. Hopefully the threat of coal flavored catnip toys will be enough, or not. Really, he leaves things alone when I am not home.

The Push is On!

2011-12-13T08:25:00.018-07:00

Only 12 days to go and the final push to finish the knitted gifts has begun! I still have to turn this pile of fiber into more gifts.

Is it possible? YES!

Will it be done on time? maybe.

Am I having a great time doing it? YES!

Will I try to do this again next year? Probably.

Do I need my head examined? Nah.

I hope everyone has their home stretch in sight and are ready for a well-deserved rest and some eggnog~!

Bobble Cowl

2011-12-12T08:24:00.012-07:00

This was a very fun knit. I found this pattern in the Knit Simple magazine for Winter 2011. It is one of the two-skein projects.

I knit this one for my hairdresser who also teaches driving techniques to teenagers, which means she is in and out of cars during our cold winters. She told me her favorite color is fuschia. I hope this yarn colorway comes close enough. The yarn I found at the Yarn Outlet and is Donata by Adrienne Vittadini in a bulky weight.

I used the provisional cast on and used one skein for 61 rows. The second skein came real close to the finish but I did break into a third to finish. It is a really fast knit and the bobbles are fun to make.

Happy Knitting to All~!

Note: Holiday knitting goes great with eggnog.

Stitch of the Month Club - PARTY!

2011-12-11T08:06:00.000-07:00

What a morning we had with a mini fashion show and nosh-y tidbits. It was a great way to end the year.

We learned lots of new knit stitches and had lots of laughs.

Thank you to all who participated, I appreciated all the ideas and interest you added to my year.

Coolest Hat Ever

2011-12-07T08:11:00.004-07:00

This is the coolest hat pattern ever! I knit this in a scant two days. Now, granted, it is knit out of ((5)) Bulky yarn, and it knits very fast.

The pattern is purchased from Faina Goberstein on Ravelry and is called the Two Way Beanie. I knit it out of Bernat Softee Chunky in the Lavendar colorway. In the visor brim, I used craft foam.

I plan to knit at least two more before Christmas for gifts.

I hope everyone has found really great and fast knits for gifts this year~!

Bottle Bags

2011-12-05T13:12:00.000-07:00

I have finished the bottle bags with and without a bottom. I like both looks. The green one will get some embellishment on the tie. The red one will not, mostly because you have to use the tie to open and close the sack when you use it.

These are lots of fun to knit and hopefully well received as gifts.

Another Fun Holiday Knit

2011-11-30T07:24:00.020-07:00

Here is a really fun knit that will make a great gift for anyone who loves to take a bottle of wine to gatherings. The pattern came to me from Red Heart and is their Jolly Holiday e-book that you can download for free at this link.

It has something for both knitters and crocheters. The best part is most of the pattterns are really fast to create. I had two of these bottle sweaters done in a couple of days. The second one, not pictured here, I added a closed bottom to. It feels more secure to carry it.

The green one, pictured, is knit out of I Love This Yarn from Hobby Lobby, in the Sparkle style. I am going to add some embellishments to these, maybe using large jingle bells. I hope everyone is finding new ways to celebrate the Season~!

A Table Full of Fun

2011-11-28T08:15:00.011-07:00

My latest project is to design cute thank you gifts for my stitch of the month club members. Most of them have hung in with me for the first year and we have learned a lot.

I want them to know how much I appreciate their interest and sharing this love of knitting. We are gathering for a final meeting in 2011 and will be celebrating our successful learning.

It is fun to have like minded folks share the fun~!

30 Days to Go

2011-11-26T08:03:00.009-07:00

More is always better, at least when it comes to knitting projects to keep me productive and focused.

I lucked into a commission job to knit gifts for office mates for one of my neighbor/friends.

We braved Joann's for Doorbuster coupons today and came away with enough for seven gifts and a couple stray skeins for another projects I had on the list. What fun was that! It was so crazy in the store that there was even a line to get a cart.

So I am working on this pile as well as the things I have on my list for family gifts.

Happy gift knitting to all~!

No Black Friday for Me

2011-11-25T07:58:00.000-07:00

I have made great inroads to completing my gift list this year with the knitwear for all motto.

There are still things on the needles that I have to finish, some yet to start and those that have to be mailed are ready to go before the USPS deadlines. I am very pleased with the progress.

The only shopping I am planning is for tomorrow to gather some more supplies - yes, yarn, more - but for gift specific items. That is allowed in a yarn diet, I am sure of that.

I hope everyone had a great holiday weekend and successful shopping~!

Happy Turkey Day!

2011-11-24T06:25:00.014-07:00

What are you thankful for?

Me? I am thankful for family, friends, faithful blog readers, like-minded enthusiasts, home and hearth, good food, a warm pussycat who always likes seeing me come home, opportunities, change in routine, and the amazing world we live in.

I hope everyone has the chance to express who and what they are thankful for this year~!

(and pie)

Ducks, Ducks and More Ducks

2011-11-23T14:33:00.003-07:00

My Evil Elf brother knows my affinity for rubber ducks so he sent me some foreign exchange ducks from Greece.

Seen here, they are happily adjusting to life in the USA, sitting in my bathroom sink soap dish. Aren't they the cutest? Let's hear a round of OPA in their honor.

Another Cowl

2011-11-21T08:13:00.000-07:00

My mother's birthday came and went this year. So I am doing a fast knit with her favorite colors and a new yarn I discovered for a belated gift.

This yarn is one from the new Red Heart Boutique line called Midnight. It is in the colorway Shadow and is in pinks and greys. It has a little hint of glitter to it. The ball band says that it is a worsted ((4)) weight however it calls for size 10US needles.

So, I decided that it was destined to be a Cowl'd and Frosty cowl. I knit it just like the pattern calls for and it is turning out beautifully.

This will be gifted on Turkey Day, only a week late. Whew!

Shadow: Learning a New Technique

2011-11-16T08:34:00.007-07:00

Shadow knitting aka illusion knitting seems more like magic than actual work. I started a shop sample and discovered I cannot put it down. All I want is to see more of the image emerge from my needles. I started with a very simple piece to be a washcloth.

The book I am using is by Vivian Hoxbro called Shadow Knitting. It has some lovely wearables in it and I want to do the rainbow jacket on page 88. Until then I will just learn the basics and hope to be able to photograph it to show here on the blog later in the month.

I hope everyone is finding a new technique they want to get excited about~!

Holiday Knitting

2011-11-14T08:37:00.002-07:00

What's on your needles for holiday knitting?

I have lots of things that are secrets, however I can share that felted clogs make awesome gifts for those that live in colder climes.

Other great ideas are cowls or scarves, hats and mittens. My other favorite thing to knit is fingerless handwarmers. They can worn over those little magic gloves you find at dollar stores and indoors if you work in a cool office and have to be able to type and try to keep warm.

Most of the above ideas are a one-size fits most which makes it a lot easier on the gift knitters. I hope everyone has fun, secret projects they are working on. And, don't forget to knit something for yourself~!

Casting On: The Fourth Quarter Challenge for Loopy Ewe

2011-11-12T06:19:00.001-07:00

I have wound the yarn and found the needles for the Dew Drop Cowl. This is my fourth quarter challenge for Loopy Ewe. It involves knitting a full skein or more of a Madelinetosh Yarn. I chose the sport weight option in the Alizann colorway. It is in a red-purple tonal.

I have to have this finished, blocked and photo'd by January 1st so I can get it posted to the gallery for challenge-met credit. I hope the pattern is as easy as it looks.

I will be casting on today and using it as travel knitting for next week. I have other secret knits on other needles that have to be done at home because they are too bulky to go with me.

I hope everyone has taken a little time to knit something for themselves~!

Another HP Hat

2011-11-09T08:07:00.000-07:00

I am doing a fast knit on another Harry Potter House colors hat for the family in Germany. The other sets were received in mid-October and everyone loved them. One hat was not a good fit, The Evil ELf aka my brother, said the beanie design makes him look like he is wearing the Pope's hat.

So I foound the leftover Gryfffindor colors last night and found a pattern to make a better fitting beanie without the odd decrease indicated in the pattern from Charmed Knits.

The pattern I am using is Quick and Easy Knit Picks Beanie by Toni Carr. I cast on the number of stitches from the large size in the HP Beanie and am doing the ribbing as indicated in the Knit Picks pattern. I will be adding one stripe of gold at about the three-inch mark, the rest is done in the maroon.

I hope to have it in the mail to him by the next week so he can be wearing it for family outings.

It's the Little Things - A Stash-Buster Idea

2011-11-08T07:00:00.001-07:00

While I have been playing with the beehive look, I discovered a very fun thing to do with the leftovers from the Red Heart Shimmer skein which I used for the red set, shown previously.

I knit cuffs, using the same technique, that can be used when indoors and you just need some warmth with a little glitz. Then I found a pair of the Magic Gloves, that are found this time of year for a little price and stretch to fit most hands, with a red beadazzled heart on them. The cuff is not attached to the gloves, just placed over the cuff of the glove, and then you can pull the glove off and leave the cuff on if you like.

This set is seriously cute. I am really pleased with the outcome. The pattern for the entire set will be available soon through Ravelry. I will be making that announcement here on the blog when it is ready to go.

Sign of the Times

2011-11-07T07:00:00.001-07:00

Pedro says that is starting to get a little cool in the house and momma says no heat until Thanksgiving. He is snuggling on the bed with his M&M buddies. Notice how Orange is hugging him.

Time Change and the Ultimate Use of I-Cord

2011-11-06T17:34:00.000-07:00

The time has fallen back and my happy lights are purple for this month. I will be adding white lights to the mix this week and maybe change to multis in December. This way I am happier about coming home from work in the dark. It will only be 54 or so days that the days are this long, then we start the other direction.

In knitting news, I am working on a cowl that is created by knitting i-cords out of bulky yarn on bigger needles then stacked and sewn together. It is a Vogue pattern and a very fun idea. The one I am doing is out of Lion Brand Wool Ease Chunky in purple.

I hope everyone has a fun project to great the shorter days~!

Picture from pattern at the Vogue free pattern site.

Handwarmers: One of My Favorite Things to Knit

2011-10-27T16:20:00.000-06:00

I have created a pattern for fingerless handwarmers to match the beehive hat. They are so cute out of the matching yarn and used up most of the second skein I had to buy to finish the hat. This will make a really good gift for someone, or I may have to keep it for my own, have not decided yet.

I wore them today and received lots of comments on them. They are so warm and handy to have along. I think these may be mine.

One another note: I have knit another set for a gift and the hat became a more versatile item - a cowl, and the handwarmers to match. I think the recipient will really appreciate them and they are in her favorite color with a little glitter mixed in.

I hope everyone has a favorite pursuit~!

First Snow Day! What's On Your Needles?

2011-10-26T08:54:00.000-06:00

The first snow day is the most exciting, at least it is for me. It reminds me that I live in snow country and had better be assessing what needs to be done before it gets colder. Today's snow is cold and very wet. The ground is too warm still for it to stick for very long, so I had to get these pictures early.

On my needles is a pair of handwarmers, another cowl, and the first pair of felted clogs - destined for a family Christmas gift. That should keep me busy for the day. Needless to say, I am doing other things besides knitting, however the knitting is the most fun.

I hope everyone does something fun on their first snow day~!

Once Upon A Time - Yarn and a New Show

2011-10-24T15:15:00.015-06:00

So, the writers of LOST are back and they have concocted a new, far-out view of the world. Once Upon A Time debuted on ABC last night. I thought it was very fun and has potential to be a good show. Have to admit, it is not LOST, but it is different than any other network shows out this season. That alone is a good reason for me to give it a chance.

And I found a new yarn, Red Heart Boutique - Treasures - which I have knit into a beehive looking hat. Love the yarn and the pattern, have to do/get more. The hat pattern was designed for Noro Kureyon, which I am not a huge fan of, and it took over a skein of the Treasures yarn. I have enough leftover for a pair of fingerless handwarmers. I am going to try to knit them with a matching cuff.

The hat is super warm and cute. I have enough yarn to knit another one with handwarmers as a gift. Not sure who will be the lucky recipient yet, but I will find someone~!

My Foray into Designing

2011-10-16T14:19:00.013-06:00

I have been reviewing stitch dictionaries, looking for a group of techniques that will translate well into a cowl.

Cowls are my favorite way to stay warm without scarf tails. I have knit a bunch of very simple ones for gifts, charity drives and my own use. Currently I keep two in the car in different weights and two at the door with my jackets. Most of the use very little yarn and can be knit in weights from bulky, like a Malabrigo Rasta one, to laceweight, like Pretty Thing by the Yarn Harlot.

My current pattern, in test mode, is a ribbed eyelet one that I just finished and will be making it available on Ravelry once the test knitting is complete.

UFO Update: The Knit One Below Reversible Vest

2011-10-14T14:19:00.009-06:00

Remember this project? It was started last spring and has now sat in the UFO pile while I worked on a pile of other things. Now it is time to finish it.

I picked it up this weekend and reviewed where I am and where I am going on the pattern. It looks like I am really close to splitting it out to finish the back and fronts. That should not take too long. I will be working on this while I take breaks to knit felted clogs for Christmas gifts.

I hope everyone is whittling away at their UFO pile~!

2011-10-13T14:14:00.003-06:00

High Country Autumn:

Green, Gold, Brown, Down.

Early autumn

Aspen gold

Came and fell.

Old-timers say

Early winter coming

We scurry to prepare

Fuel, food, insulate

before October’s exit.

Scrub oak lingers

Rust, gold and orange

reminder of 70's shag carpet

Warm days, cold nights

Layers

Bundled up for morning frost

Stripped down for BBQ warm afternoons

Be prepared and flexible for change,

Our autumn motto.

Cowl and Handwarmer Set

2011-10-12T10:14:00.016-06:00

I have been working on a cowl and handwarmer set for my dad. It is that time of year when he really starts to notice that it is not as warm as he would like it. I have knit this set out of a color that my mother can easily find in the house if they get mislaid.

I used the Cowl'd and Frosty cowl pattern by Kelly Herdich. It is written for chunky weight yarn and I retrofit it for worsted weight. I cast on 83 stitches on a size 8US on 16-inch circular. I knit the pattern as called for, two reps of rows 1-15 and one more rep of rows 1-4, and ended up with a finished size of 20 by 6 inches. It fits beautifully and works well for men or women. I can make a case for doing three reps of rows 1-15 for a longer finished width. May do that on one for me soon. Also, if you want to do a looser drape on the worsted, try a size 9US needle and see what you get.

To finish up the set, I knit a pair of handwarmers using the Charmed Knits mitten pattern as a guide. For dad, I knit the small size and bound off the thumb gusset stitches instead of adding more rows to come up the thumb. I think they look great and give you lots of flexibility while keeping your hands warm.

All in all, a great knit and a fast gift item. Everyone can use them~!

Indian Summer

2011-10-10T05:46:00.000-06:00

Now that we have had our first reminder that we live in and very near Snow Country, the Indian Summer weather is in place for this week. The mornings will be cold and the days pleasant. This is my favorite time of year. This is the view my dumpster has, can't beat this.

And, while the weather is this good, I am knitting away on the items that will be needed by the end of the month, warm things to go around the neck and hands.

UFO Update: The Twined Cowl

2011-10-09T14:18:00.005-06:00

The twined cowl that I started last year at this time as a sample to knit along with the class has been frogged and the yarn repurposed for another upcoming class.

I was not really expecting to wear this particular item so decided that it was better to use the yarn somewhere else.

These are some of the decisions that have to be made when you are going through your UFOs. My theory is if you are not actively working on it, then maybe your interest in the final product has waned.

I hope everyone is having a glorious start to their Fall~!

A Great Day for Knitwear

2011-10-08T05:34:00.000-06:00

The first official snowfall of the season happened this morning. It was just a wet mix of rain and snowflakes here in town, however the Peak and the drive to Woodland Park was full of white, winterland pictures. It was beautiful even if the fog level was almost too thick to get any pictures.

I got to wear my favorite cowl all morning, indoors and out, and it worked great. Now I am at home in sweats, working on a test knit and watching Halloween related movies. It's a great way to spend a Saturday. I hope everyone is warm, dry and thoroughly entertained~!

October Brings the Re-Organization of Knitting Projects

2011-10-04T06:38:00.000-06:00

It is that time of year. The leaves are changing, the air is cooling and every talking head is remarking on the Christmans countdown. Today's count, just so you know, is 82 days.

For me, that creates a fast reorganization of the projects on my needles because I knit a lot of gifts, and this year is no different. So, from now until about December 20th, most everything will be unbloggable until they are received.

Since that means a lot of use of the word "secret" and no pictures to share, I have decided this year to be working on at least one "public" project that I share as I go through the next two months. It seems only fair.

Currently, these "public" projects will include a couple UFOs that I am determined to complete so I can use them this fall. The first in this category is the KnitOneBelow Reversible Vest that I started for myself this spring. It is almost to the armhole. I am going to use it to demonstrate the technique to my senior class this month because they want to start the scarf pattern.

Another UFO that I plan to complete is the Twined Cowl. I think I am at the halfway point and given another weekend afternoon of just knitting I bet I can finish it to wear on the first, really cold day that arrives toward the end of the month.

What I try to have at all times is one project to work on in the car and one to work on at home. This keeps it fresh and I rarely get bored with the project I am working on. I hope everyone is having a great start into Fall~!

Beautiful Patches

2011-10-01T08:46:00.008-06:00

It was a beautiful day to try leaf-peeping. The color is changing quickly and the results are glorious. Here are just a couple pics to celebrate Fall's arrival.

I spent the afternoon teaching some enthusiastic folks how to make intentional holes in their knitting. The finished shawl will be a welcome addition to their wardrobes in the very near future.

Outbound

2011-09-30T13:32:00.000-06:00

The secret knits are on their way to Germany. I have alerted the Evil Elf to be on the look out for them. I think they will be well received and I hope to get some great pictures from them.

Now it is one to more local gift knitting.

Cowl-a-bama

2011-09-27T13:42:00.003-06:00

No, it is not a new area demanding statehood or the call of a free-flying maniac. However, it is taking over my immediate knitting time.

Most of what you see here will be gifted away. Some are finished and ready for their "care" tags, others on the needles or just listed next to an undisclosed name.

I am liking the fact that I get to knit with colors that are not my own and with yarns I chose especially because I had not knit with them before, some I like enough to re-buy, others - not so much.

Here's to more fall-ish weather in the near future to make me think of warm, cozy things to knit and yummy, stewed foods to fill my house with fabulous fumes~!

Benson Sculpture Garden in Loveland

2011-09-24T06:13:00.010-06:00

On my way home from the northern end of the state, I made a stop at the Benson Sculpture Garden on the north end of Loveland Lake.

It is a beautiful place with many paths to walk and view the many pieces of brass scultures. I took the opportunity to photo one of the secret knit pieces that are on their way to Germany next week.

This is another great place to visit if you are in the area.

More Yarn Shops: Visited and Reviewed

2011-09-23T06:13:00.019-06:00

My final destination for this scouting trip was Fort Collins. I found a lovely cupcake bakery called Butter Cream. All I can say is: Yummy!

I visited the now famous knit shop called Lambspun, as it stars in Maggie Sefton's knit mystery series. It has so many rooms of fiber and books and ideas that it is difficult to decide where to begin looking. If you visit be sure to find the sale room. It is worth the time to sort through the pile for a treasure of yarns at less than retail prices.

There is also a little restaurant attached to the shop called the Back Porch Cafe. The food smelled great, and it is near the golf course. Well worth the stop to see all that they offer.

I also visited the newest shop on the main drag, Your Daily Fiber. It had some lovely offerings for knitters, spinners and weavers. It is located nearest to the college and I will bet at certain times of the week/day it is full of fiber art students plying their education.

My favorite find is My Sister Knits. It is a challenge to find, but, oh so worth it. It is located in an older residential area that used to be one that the trolley serviced, you can still see the tracks. I could have spent the afternoon in their yard, knitting and watching the flowers grow. The shop is a two-story carriage house in the backyard of a beautiful home and full to the brim with the best yarns ever. The ladies who run it are very helpful and delighted to see their customers.

I highly recommend a visit to all three of these shops when you are next in the Fort Collins area.

Yarn Shop Review: Mew Mew's in Lafayette

2011-09-22T08:08:00.001-06:00

After Boulder I found another fun knit shop on my way to Fort Collins. It is located in Lafayette, on highway 7 just before you make the turn onto highway 287.

The shop is small, and full of lovely yarns including a great collection of Shetland wools for Fair Isle knitters.

The name of the shop comes from the owner's cat, who I got to visit with as she laid on the knitters table on a piece of soft knitwear.

It was a lovely place with inviting warmth provided by the owner and her helper.

Yarn Shop Review: Shuttles and Skeins - Boulder

2011-09-22T06:06:00.020-06:00

I recently visited this shop in Boulder that I have heard so much about but never had been within easy distance to stop by. It is located in Boulder on the south end in the Table Mesa Shopping Center, just down the hill from the National Weather Observatory.

The view from their balcony is beautiful and the shop is huge, full of yarn, all manner of gift items for knitters and samples for inspiration. The book section alone makes you feel like you are in a library. They also have two other rooms, each dedicated to a fiber craft - spinning and weaving.

It was so much fun to stop there and meet the ladies who run the place, and to find a Wacky Woolies mug that I have wanted.

Celebrate : National Rum Punch Day

2011-09-20T06:42:00.022-06:00

Do you see a theme here? Pirates have it good.

According to the article, that includes 27 recipes of ways to add rum to your life, rum is:

made by distilling fermented sugar from sugar cane and is fermented from “cane juice, concentrated cane juice or molasses.” Most rum comes from molasses which is loaded with sugar. Rums are available in several classifications – white, golden or amber, dark, spiced and Anejo and Age-Dated. While rum is made in many areas, the Caribbean is known for its rum production.

Whether you drink it straight or prefer your rum in a tropical cocktail topped with a colorful umbrella, the following rum recipes are sure to tickle your fancy and whet your whistle!

I hope you find ways to celebrate that are fun and safe~!

Celebrate: Talk Like A Pirate Day

2011-09-19T05:34:00.015-06:00

Even knitters have pirate-y tendencies. Notice that Loopy has a new friend that he he picked up at the Pirates exhibit in Denver a few weeks ago.

So, in celebration of International Talk Like A Pirate Day, here is the link to the official site with a sing-along that will make you wish that you were bound for Tortuga, and if you want to learn the language of pirates, click here.

I hope everyone has a great day and drink lots of rum for those of us who cannot~!

Kool Aid Dyeing in the Mountains

2011-09-18T06:08:00.019-06:00

While the colors are beginning to change in the mountains, mom and I zipped over to Serendipity Yarns in Buena Vista to take a class in dyeing yarn with Kool Aid.

It was very fun and educational. We learned ways to dye wool by immersion, sprinkling and spraying the dye.

We came home with some fun sample yarns that will probably get knit up into handwarmers that will not match.

The tools are minimal and Kool Aid is non-toxic, easy to use and readily available. It was amazing the lovely colors you can get out of a packet of drink mix.

We bought a couple skeins of yarn to play with later this month, enough to make a neckwarmer and a hat.

We actually found the Malabrigo Rasta in an off-white color and will be trying our own version of a green colorway to knit up one of the chunky Moebius cowls.

I hope everyone had a fun-filled Sunday~!

A Break from Knitting

2011-09-17T06:09:00.007-06:00

This afternoon I went to a card making class with my neighbor. It was hosted by the ladies of Stampin' Up and was lots of fun.

I created some one-of-a-kind Christmas cards for this year. Next time, I will do birthday cards. I hope everyone is finding fun, new things to create.

Termination Dust

2011-09-16T08:52:00.006-06:00

Finally the view of the mountain has cleared and, yes, there is snow on the top. Fall is on the way!

UFO Update: Tunisian Crochet and More

2011-09-12T15:07:00.004-06:00

I finished seaming the Tunisian Crochet vest together yesterday at the yarn shop. I had to get out of the house and away from the 9-11 coverage. It was at times too hard to watch yet it must be remembered.

When I got home from the shop, I started watching shark movies, much better.

I am halfway through my mystery knit for Germany, and a scarf for another family member who is not expecting it. It is that time of year for me to be knitting a lot of gifts. I hope to have this batch off the needles and in the mail by the first of the month.

Then I have to finish my July sock. It has been languishing since the first of August. I only have three pattern repeats on the foot and the toe to do.

I am looking forward to the moment I can cast on something without a deadline. Happy Knitting to All~!

Never Forget! Can It Be - Ten Years Ago?

2011-09-11T15:07:00.000-06:00

Today has been full of bittersweet memories of tragedy and heroism and moments of levity around the day that changed how many Americans look at their place in the world.

My sharpest memory was in the days following of how quiet the skies were with no contrails or sounds of planes.

Now we must be ever vigilant, ever observant, ever aware and always grateful to live where we do~!

What I Learned Wednesday:

2011-09-07T09:47:00.006-06:00

An easy, and more secure way to change yarn or add in another skein, is to do it at the beginning of a row.

I learned that to make it more secure is to knit the first two stitches of that row with the old yarn and the new yarn. That bit of helpfulness came from the Tunisian Crochet class I took earlier this summer.

Camp Loopy - Finish Line!

2011-09-05T07:49:00.003-06:00

The third challenge is completed and today was photo day. It is a lovely, fallish day here so I took Loopy and the shawl over to the Garden of the Gods. This was a very fun camping experience with Loopy Ewe and I hope they offer this next year.

I hope everyone has fun, camp memories for this summer~!

Camp Loopy - Final Mod!

2011-09-04T06:43:00.015-06:00

So, I got through the thirteenth wedge, the second of the grey, and rewound the yarn from crumbling cake to ball so I could determine how much I have left.

I realized that is was not enough to do one more wedge (about 1090 stitches - if you are interested) and decided now was the time to start the just garter stitch rows sections. For the grey, that consisted of 8 rows, each right side with the increases at the markers, and then two rows of purple, same right side treatment.

I finished one section like that and decided that to ensure my sanity it was time to bind off, not wanting to run out midway (bind off was over 450+ stitches). I knit the last right side with purple and bound off with the Galina bind off, a purl version that lays down a very nice edge to show on the right side, using a size larger needle.

Once the ends were woven in, it got a warm, sudsy bath and laid out on the bed to dry. It will be going for phots tomorrow.

What I Learned Wednesday: Another Lesson in Dye Lots

2011-08-31T08:25:00.019-06:00

Another dyelot lesson learned. While I was knitting the Intentional Holes Shawl for the shop sample I discovered that all my hard work at the yarn shop to match dyelots had been for naught.

The ball bands said the same color and dyelot number, however, in real daylight, the shades were distinctively different. One skein was a darker, more dull shade of plum heather and the other, brighter and more cranberry. I reviewed the ball bands again - both said the same. Hmmmmmm...

At this point in the knitting I was into the fourth increase of six and decided to use what I had bought. I began knittin two rows of each skein, which started a subtle striping effect, and looks intended.

I used this technique through the last 2 increases and through half of the decreases and then dropped the original skein. I finished with the brighter one. This creates the ends to be different (if you really look) and the middle to be blended.

Next time: I will take the yarn to the window that offers more natural light or an Offlite, if available in the shop.

Camp Loopy - Time to Mod

2011-08-30T08:25:00.000-06:00

The 11th repeat of the contrast color (purple) is complete and when I assessed my yarn usage, I realized it was time to modify the pattern or I would not make the required yarn usage for this challenge and have the shawl look like it is intentionally patterned.

I still have a full skein, unwound, of the grey, and am almost out of the purple. That will make the shawl only 600+ yards. So I decided to switch the grey to the wedge sections and use the last of the purple for the two row separation stripes until I run out. Then I will finish with the grey as the bottom calls for.

This is a really fun knit and easy to do once you see the patterning. I will be knitting hard this holiday weekend in hopes to finish this long before the deadline. By the end of the weekend I have to decide if this project goes everywhere with me or not. It is larger than I like to knit in the car, however I really want to get it done.

What I Learned Wednesdays - Jogless Stripes

2011-08-24T05:54:00.051-06:00

I have been experimenting with jogless stripes on a set of secret projects I am working on. (the pics here are to show the stripes not the project).

One suggested technique for circular knits, I read it somewhere I cannot remember right now, is to start the stripe color by knitting the first stitch with both colors. After the first round, I do a little finger fiddling when I knit that stitch that is knit with the two colors. It is still noticeable if you look at it really closely, however I see that it does make a difference in the overall look. In the past, I have avoided stripes unless it was on flat knits, like a scarf.

Above, notice the lower stripe, see the jog, and above is the stripe done with a little more finesse to make it jogless. I guess the more practice makes the better and less noticeable attempt at jogless.

The other technique is one that I recently read in my Knitting Daily blog with Kathleen Cubley (the post about Knitted Hats) Here is how it is described (from the blog, quoted here):

Working stripes is easy, but when you work them in the round, you get a little jog at the beginning of each round. This happens because knitting in the round is actually knitting a spiral, so the new round starts on top of the last stitch of the previous round, which puts it one row up. You don't notice this very much, if at all, when you're working with one color, but when you're working stripes, it's pretty apparent.

Here's a great method for working stripes in the round and avoiding the jog.

Jogless Stripes: When knitting stripes in the round, one of the downfalls is the jump in color where one round transitions to the next. Knit one round in the new color. At the beginning of the next round, insert the right needle tip into the left leg of the stitch in the row below the first stitch of the round (old color stitch) and place this stitch on the left-hand needle, and knit this stitch together with the first stitch of the next round to raise the color of the previous round to the height of the new round. Do this at the beginning of every round that involves a color change.

At the beginning of the next round, insert the right needle tip into the left leg of the stitch in the row below the first stitch of the round (old color stitch) and place this stitch on the left-hand needle, knit this stitch together with the first stitch of the next round to raise the color of the previous round to the height of the new round. Do this at the beginning of every round that involves a color change.

I will be trying this method on the next stripes in circular project that I do, so I can determine which one works the best.

I hope everyone is finding new and better ways to do things~!

Camp Loopy - Stripes Galore

2011-08-23T05:53:00.012-06:00

I am into the ninth of 12 repeats of the contrast color, in this case, the purple. I finished the first skein in this repeat, had to wind up the next one and keep going to finish the row.

I really like this knit, it is the Striped Study Shawl and I am knitting it in the Loopy Ewe Solid Series.

As you can see, Little Loopy thinks this is a super cushy yarn and makes a comfy seat for photos.

I hope everyone is ending their summer with something fun~!

KWCG Sock of the Month - Vacation Announcement

2011-08-20T16:07:00.010-06:00

I am taking a hiatus from sock knitting. I figure I can do this because it is a self-imposed club of one.

I am backed up with class projects and must-deliver-early Christmas gifts that have to be finished and mailed.

Some of these secret gift projects will make good car projects and when they are done I can return to my sock in the car projects without panic or fretting.

Entrelac Update

2011-08-19T07:25:00.007-06:00

I finally finished the sample piece of entrelac I started in class at Loopy Ewe in April.

I really like the technique and hope to do a scarf out of Noro to see how that yarn works in this technique.

What Have I Learned Wednesdays: Reading Lace Charts

2011-08-17T20:17:00.012-06:00

I was a cross-stitcher during college (a great homework avoidance technique) and I still made the dean's list. :-) So charts are not completely foreign to me. However, reading lace charts are a little bit diffferent. So, while I was waiting for the last Camp Loopy project to begin, I challenged myself to learn the basics of lace chart reading.

I am working on a lace shawl for a shop sample, the Oscilloscope from Knitscene. It was a challenge the first four times I started it and then ripped it out. I finally got smart and went looking for pattern errata. Guess what, I found some. Once I added that to the charts I got a successful start and have finished the shawl. It is knit end to end and looks great now that it is blocked.

I plan to knit a couple more for gifts this year. I hope everyone has learned a new skill this summer~!

Camp Loopy 3: Ready, Set, Go!

2011-08-15T06:33:00.009-06:00

This is how far I have gotten with the last Camp Loopy project.

It is a very fun knit, at this point I do not know how I use up all 800 yards of yarn because I am already at the sixth repeat of the purple.

If I get to the twelfth one and see that I need to knit up more yarn I will be happy to have a bigger version.

The colors are not photoing well in house light so I will try to get an outside picture of it when I can. The purple is gorgeous and the gray a lovely contrast.

I hope everyone is wrapping up their summer with some fun~!

Camp Loopy 3: Last Challenge

2011-08-14T17:09:00.008-06:00

Here are my supplies for the last challenge. I have two skeins each of the colors, purple and grey, for the Striped Study Shawl. It will be over 800 yards of knitting over the next month. I can cast on tomorrow, August 15th and have to be done by September 15th.

The pattern reads very clearly and should be a fast knit once the pattern is established. It will be my house project for the next two weeks, and may have to be taken everywhere after that depending on where I am with it by September 1st.

I hope everyone has a fun challenge to end the summer~!

Tunisian Crochet: Assembling to Finish

2011-08-13T06:48:00.013-06:00

The panels are done in time for the final class session on this technique. I really had to push to get this finished. I discovered that this crochet made me look at it when I worked on it, so I did not read or watch TV while I did this. And it takes longer to make progress than on knitting.

I like the way it looks, and the assembly is interesting. I am glad that we were shown how it goes together instead of just trying to do it from the schematic. It made it a lot easier.

The finished product will be fun to wear over a long sleeve T or a collared shirt this fall. Even though it is cotton it will still be warm.

It is fun to have a finished wearable. The pictures I have taken do not do this justice so the finished project looks like the picture from Tahki Yarns who designed it. (Note: I do not look like this in it :-)

KWCG Sock of the Month - July Update

2011-08-08T15:57:00.011-06:00

I am finally into the foot of the second July sock. I hope to have it done by next week. Currently, the last sock is not getting a lot of love because I had to drop everything to finish the Tunisian crochet vest. When that is done, I will be back to my standard house and car projects.

I really like this sock pattern. It shows off the yarn nicely and fits really well with the pattern acting as a ribbing all the way through. I think I will have enough yarn left over to make wrist warmers with the same pattern in it.

I hope everyone is finding fun projects to do~!

Pirate Prince of Pasah

2011-08-07T06:34:00.005-06:00

Pedro wants to lodge a protest that he did not get to go to the Pirate exhibit. This is his version of silent reminder that he is a pirate prince. Note: even the tag under his bell on his collar is pirate crossbones with Bad Kitty.

He lives a pirates life, even if in his own mind~!

PIRATES - Going for the ARRRGGGH!

2011-08-06T14:21:00.019-06:00

Today the folks and I attended the Pirates exhibition at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science in Denver. It was part of the month long reason to celebrate - dad's 91st birthday.

The exhibit is excellent. It incorporates items that were found at the site of the sinking of the Whydah off of Cape Cod along with history of pirating and the impression that you were on an interactive theme park ride. It was lots of fun.

We took advantage of the local hotels offering room and tickets for an overnight stay and that worked out great for us. It was far too hot to do it in a day trip for dad, so we stayed at the Fairfield, had dinner at Chili's and enjoyed the AC in the room.

I was not allowed to take any photos inside the exhibit so the ones here are of Loopy dressed for the occasion and snapped with a pirate, a sabre tooth tiger head and a very large chicken foot (errrr, T-Rex foot).

Camp Loopy - Mittens: The Final Photo Shoot

2011-08-05T06:11:00.001-06:00

I had the opportunity to take some final pictures of the finished mittens for Camp Loopy Project 2. The mittens were joined by some friends that wanted to be a part of the photo shoot. These mittens have gotten a lot of pics and now they are on the side table ready for lots of wearing when the weather turns colder.

Both pictures were taken at the Parker Country Market in Parker. It is a very fun place with lots of yard ornaments and indoors is filled with a variety of little shop booths with anything and everything you can imagine. Definitely worth a stop when you are in the area.

Camp Loopy Project 3 is Announced

2011-08-01T17:09:00.013-06:00

The news is out: the third and final challenge for Camp Loopy is going to be whatever we want to knit as long as we knit it with at least 800 yards of yarn. Wow! That is a lot of yarn to string together in one month.

I chose the Stripe Study Shawl (picture from the pattern I bought) and ordered yarn in, I bet you cannot guess what colors, okay, I'll tell you, purple and grey. I can hardly wait to start it on August 15th. I have two other projects to finish before then so I will have enough time to finish this one on time.

This has made the summer more fun~!

Tunisian Crochet - First Panel Done

2011-07-30T07:25:00.004-06:00

My first panel is done and has the ribbing on both sides. Doing crochet ribbing was a very interesting skill to learn. Once I figured out how to "read" it on the fabric, I found it much easier to understand.

Now it is on to the second panel, I need to have it done, ribbed and both blocked and ironed by mid-August for the last class.

I best get the needle moving!

Camp Loopy - Mitten Blockers Reviewed

2011-07-29T10:24:00.015-06:00

With pair of mittens I realized that I needed to order a pair of mitten blockers for future use. I own and love my sock blockers and anticipated that it would be the same for mittens.

The blockers arrived yesterday, so I soaked the mittens and put them on the blockers. Today they are dry and ready for colder weather to arrive. The blockers worked great. They are available from Seven Yaks on Etsy, they were just featured in the Interweave Knits Summer edition. They have very smooth edges so no snagging, come with a thumb insert that doubles as a wraps per inch (wpi) tool and are very reasonably priced.

I ordered mediums and will eventually have to order the large version as well. They are a great addition to my tool collection.

KWCG Sock of the Month - July Update

2011-07-26T07:23:00.009-06:00

One sock is complete. And with a couple adjustments, these are the best fitting socks so far. I did a 2 1/2 inch heel flap, and added 1/2 inch to the toe before I started the decreases. For me, that is the answer.

It is great to learn something new every time I knit a pair of socks.

The second sock is started and has 2 inches of cuff/leg done. I should be able to finish this one close to the end of the month.

I am excited about my August socks, I will announce what I plan to do the first of the month. It will be a different method for me and probably will be a house knit this time.

I hope everyone has fun summer projects going on ~!

Camp Loopy 2 - Pool Water Glitters

2011-07-22T10:42:00.000-06:00

If I had used this yarn in a blue colorway it would have looked like pool water; maybe it does at sunset or twilight anyway.

I have one mitten done and the other is on the needles. Since they are knitting so fast, I am doing some covert crocheting in my evening TV time.

I really like this pattern (Wood Hollow Mittens) and next time I do it I will choose a solid or heathered colorway so the cables show up better. These fit beautifully and will be very warm for car wear this winter.

I also ordered my Camp Loopy shirt, it should be here by next week. I will pose it with projects in the future. How fun to have a camp shirt. Thanks, Sheri, for your creativity and commitment to details~!

KWCG Sock of the Month - July Update

2011-07-21T18:39:00.010-06:00

I am almost to the toe of the first July Sock. This one is knit from the Froot Loops pattern in Austermann Step yarn in a denim colorway.

I really like this pattern, might even use it for a pair of handwarmer this year. It has a lot of interest and behaves like ribbing when you wear it.

I had to CO 70 stitches and do 35 on each needle to accomodate the pattern repeats on two circs, no other modifications necessary.

Happy July Knitting~!

UFO Update: FO's and What's Next

2011-07-19T20:59:00.010-06:00

I finished dad's socks, they will be gifted in August for his birthday. I read on my pattern that I had started them in October last year and meant for them to be a Christmas gift. At least he will get to wear them before Christmas this year. ;-)

I finished the Baby Surprise Jacket that is in the shop now as the new sample. It was lots of fun to knit and the buttons I chose look great.

Up next, is to finish the entrelac sample and use that as a shop sample. I think I am going to finish it as a cell phone carrier with an I-cord edging that doubles as seaming. At this time, it is a pipe dream because I have not finished something like this before, so I am ready to learn something new.

This batch will conclude my UFO management assignments for the month of July.

Camp Loopy 2 - Mitten Went To HP 7.2

2011-07-18T06:09:00.000-06:00

The Mittens got some attention this morning at the 3D theater while I waited for the opening credits of Harry Potter Deathly Hallows Part 2 aka The End. I got there early to procure a seat and had about 30 minutes of previews with enough light to knit by. So I got a few more rows on the cuff.

After I go home from the movie, which by the way was FABULOUS! I go the cuff done and the thumb gusset completed before I put it down and went back to the Tunisisan Crochet. I did stop at the shop on the way home and checked in with the instructor to make sure that I am doing it correctly. I certainly do not want to knit the whole 49 inches of the first panel and find out at the next class it is wrong and I get to start again. That would be too frustrating.

I hope everyone had a fun-filled weekend~!