Tunisian Crochet - First Panel Done

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

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

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

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

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

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

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~!

Tunisian Crochet: Looks A Bit Like Knitting

Now don't get your feathers ruffled, really, I did not mean to go down this road, but it called to me, with a siren voice.

After I attended the Knit A Thon, I went to take a class in Tunisian Crochet. I learned how to crochet when I was a kid. I can do single and double crochet as well as granny squares. I did not learn how to read patterns and do not do much crochet anymore unless it is related to my knitting.

However, I got interested in this technique and the project associated with the class.

So far it is going well. I have to knit a 49-inch panel in two weeks. It is one more thing on my must-do now list, better get back to it.

Knit A Thon

This morning I spent knitting moebius cowls to donate to the Choices group. I managed to get two finished in 3 hours and had already made some to donate when I arrived. It was lots of fun to meet some new knitters. I hope everyone finds way to contribute to their community with their craft~!

Camp Loopy 2: And We're Off

This morning I cast on my second Camp Loopy project. For this one I chose Wood Hollow Mittens by Through the Loops, Kirsten Kapur. The yarn is Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted in Purple Club.

After a couple cast on attempts, I realized that this pattern with its twisted ribbing would go really well with the Channel Island Cast On, so I went over to the video that features Eunny Jang and watched along with her demonstration. After several restarts I got it on the needles and am 11 rows into the 21 row cuff.

On another video, the cast on was described as "strong, stretchy and decorative in a picot-like way". Not much else you can ask of a cast on. I think I will try this on my next top down socks that I do.

Another difference, I am not accustomed to knitting over 4 dpns, my usual set up is with 3, however in reading the pattern I see the reasoning and will follow along until I get past the thumb gusset and then probably put all the palm stitches onto one needle, we'll see it that works.

I hope everyone has fun knits happening for their weekend~!

Book Review - It's About Knitting, I Swear

I highly recommend Casting Off by Nicole R. Dickson. I read quite a bit of it while I was working on the last garter rows of my Baby Surprise Jacket that has now taken up residence at the knit shop as a sample.

 I especially liked the stitch descriptions at the beginning of each chapter. I tried to find the reference that is noted however do not find it as a book, it is linked to the author's blog, click here to access.

The story takes place on a tiny island off the coast of Ireland. A textile archeologist, Rebecca Moray and her daughter, go there on a grant to write a book focusing on the fisherman's handmade sweaters aka ganseys. She discovers more than just a tale of knitting, but of community and family connections and memories.

This book came to me as a trade paperback in a very sad state of affairs, rescued from a yard sale. When I first opened it, it came apart in pieces. So, I took sections with me to read and then threw away the pages as I completed them. (all you book lovers out there, put away your pitchforks, there was no saving this one). I will buy another copy to pass around because I really think this is a great book.

Camp Loopy: Project 2 - Mittens with Cables

The second project for Camp Loopy is ready to begin and we were offered the choice of either adult size socks, mittens or gloves with a cable pattern. My project choice is cabled mittens because I have two sock projects going right now and I figured a third might be too much.

Sheri at Loopy Ewe made lots of pattern suggestions, so between her ideas and all the ones I saw on the Ravelry threads, I chose Wood Hollow Mittens by Kirsten Kapur. They will be knit out of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted in Purple Club, which I received in the mail today. I think they will be a great addition to my general winter wear. I am looking forward to casting them on this Friday.

I hope everyone is finding fun summer projects~!

UFO Update: Dad's Socks

I am into the foot of the second Ski Run Socks for dad. I will be glad to get them done and give them to him for his 91st birthday in August.

We have a fun, mini-break trip planned for him to go see the Pirate exhibition in Denver. I was going to go earlier this summer but when I mentioned it at family dinner he perked righ up and said that sounded like fun. So I postponed and, with mom's suggestions, made a reservation for hotel and tickets.

Maybe he can wear his new socks to see the Pirates. :-)

KWCG Sock of the Month - July Has Begun

Over the camping weekend I reviewed the pattern and yarn I wanted to do for July. The pattern will require a little adjustment to be able to knit it on 2 circs, so I calculated that as well. It calls for repeats of 7 over three dpns, that does not work to half it so I added a repeat and will do it over 70 stitches instead of 63.

I cast on Monday and got them started. I am doing the Froot Loop pattern by Kristi Geraci from Knitty Spring 2008 out of Austermann Step in colorway #16 which is a tonal denim. I think this will be a very fun knit. They are cuff down on size 1US (2.25mm).

I will keep you posted on my progress. Happy summer knitting to all~!

Camp Loopy - Setting High Goals

My high goals for this summer camp is: I have to finish the camp project and blog its completion before I choose and order what I want/need for the next one. It is the only way I will accomplish this challenge of three camp projects for the summer. So far, so good. I finished and uploaded the first finished project yesterday.

For the next project, Sheri at the Loopy Ewe blog announced on July 1st what the parameters/rules are for the second camp project.

Choices, choices, choices, it looks like I have to do a cable project in either socks, mittens or gloves. The decision is not as hard as it sounds for me this summer. I already have two sock projects on the needles right now. I think that three will be overkill.

So I chose the next best thing that I will get the most use out of once colder weather returns: mittens. I looked at all the choices she suggested in her blog post and decided on the Wood Hollow Mittens by Kristin Kapur of Through the Loops. She does beautiful patterns.

And I have ordered Lorna's Laces Worsted in Purple Club. That will be right up my alley. I hope everyone is finding fun summer projects to keep them happy~!

UFO Update: More Stuff Done

Finished the first of dad's Ski Run Socks. It is a fun pattern and I think he will like how they fit. I am knitting them out of Knit One, Crochet Too Soxx Appeal out of Cream and with cuff tops and toes out of Chocolate.

Baby Surprise Jacket is done. I knit this one as a different sample for the shop. It is knit out of Red Heart in Monet colorway, done on size 7 US needles. It looks like it will fit about a three-year old, according to mom. I did different buttons to set off the many colors blended in the yarn.

The last three samples for the Stitch of the Month Club are completed. I cannot tell you what they are because that will ruin the surprise for the club members.

And, the Felted Clogs that are just waiting for the fulling process.

Happy 4th of July to All!

Happy 4th!

I hope everyone has a great holiday~!

What I Finished On The Camping Trip

Cowls for the Knit A Thon fundraiser, finished one and am halfway through the second.

I also helped mom get through the start on the top half of her vest. It was  a successful weekend all round.

I hope everyone had a great weekend~!

A Camping We Will Go

Even if it is just in the yard. I am lucky to have a great place to park the pop up because it looks like a campground.

And, in any good camp, there must be bunting. This idea is from the Loopy Ewe blog and inspired by Camp Loopy and the pattern written and provided for free from Sheri on her Loopy blog. Her colors are the red, cream and turquoise.

So I rounded up my favorite color combo, in this case: grape, lime and tangerine, and started this project. I plan to hang them in the trailer when I use it and, if I can't camp, I will be hanging it in my house with twinkly lights. How fun.

The Tower of Yarn Power

I just had to share my new stash corral effort. I made some room to put all my yarn buckets in one place so I do not have to hunt all over the house for them. The result is a tower of corralled yarn. Or, as Pedro likes to call it, Pride Rock.

Guess my next career should not be in interior design.