K1, P1 round and round

I haven't had time to take pictures and to be honest it isn't anything yet. Still, I'm proud (and a bit crazy) for having today cast on a hat for someone special. I pulled out some variegated wool, in autumn shades of brown, and am hoping inspiration hits by the time I'm done with the ribbed band. It is for a man and I'm not used to that. We'll see how it goes. :) Photos soon, I hope. The second liner mitten is on the needles as is the second purple sock. I found the leather I had tucked away and found the perfect spots to cut from. Things are falling into place. Four week countdown here I come!

WIPs: Mittens times 4 and Stripey Socks

I've blogged before about a very special pair of mittens that are underway. I've made a lot of progress and think I will be able to finish without a problem, before Christmas (knock on wood). I've finished the two mittens using the soy/wool combo yarn. Now, I've moved on to using Caron Simply Soft to knit the liner pair (the inside-out mitten shown below). This will, I hope, eliminate any scratchiness from the wool as the recipient reportedly doesn't like wool next to her skin. So far I have one liner done and it fits in fine and my hand will, too.

When I'm done with these I think I'm going to cut some leather (from an old coat) to use for the palms so they can also be worn for driving. As I may have said, the recipient has very, very cold hands.

On another set of needles is a sock for my youngest. I'm using two size three, sixteen inch circular needles. My daughter went through a phase, when I purchased the yarn, where she adored purple. Shortly after she went back to thinking everything has to be pink. So, I used the purples I had intended (Caron Simply Soft) and stole some pink from the yarn for her sister's pair, making the heel. Not sure how long I'm going to make the cuff, but so far it is turning out pretty well. The foot part is striped and the cuff will be solid in the darker purple. Quirky, like that daughter.

Happy Knitting!

FOs: Doll Clothes

I know, I know. I need to put more on here about WIPs (works-in-process) but I have trouble remembering as I focus on the stitches. As far as that goes, I also have a bit of trouble scheduling writing time as well. Eh-hem. Ok. So, here we are on a Saturday morning and I'm taking a few minutes to say "Hey, world!" here's what I've been up to.

I have a friend who got me into knitting for 18 inch dolls (American Girl) and I've really enjoyed the journey. Last week I put the finishing touches on a few items and shipped them off to her. So, here's what I've been crafting:

 

With My Own Two Hands

 Over the Summer we had a visit from a dear friend, who kindly introduced us to the music of Jack Johnson. The girls and I have been listening to the Curious George CD over and over again and this song has just touched me lately on a lot of levels.

It dawned on me that those knitters that do so for charity, or provide patterns for free, or even just knit for loved ones...we change the world by sharing that love. Think about it, if even just for a moment...we CAN change the world, with our own two hands...isn't that a happy thought?

Fall Hits Arizona (FO)

I've been waiting...even forgot a few times. Then, the other day I got an email from a friend. Yes, Fall has hit in Arizona and now that days are down near 70 degrees she was taking a moment to try on the socks I knit for her (in honor of ones her Grandma used to make). Thanks, for sharing a photo:

These were knit on two straight needles and seamed along the sides and heel. I like that they are a bit thicker yarn (sport or worsted weight) and larger needles (sz 3 or 5) so the socks work up faster than traditional ones. I've since altered the oh-so-basic pattern and put it on two circulars and knit toe-up. I'm thrilled and can't wait to make more to share.

Busy Bee, that's me

I guess it's only appropriate, as my name does mean "bee", that I've been buzzing around knitting crazy the past few days. I'm so glad to have finished the cabled skull cap, but I had some of the Simply Soft Eco left and it was too good to pass up. So, I cast on another (88 sts on sz 7 bamboo needles) and came up with this one (Eco for the grey and regular Simply Soft for the black):

(another good photo by my little one)

Then, I started a sweater for my eldest daughter. I'm making it up as I go, so we'll have to see how that turns out. The white was purchased months ago with the intent to make shrugs for the girls to wear on cool summer mornings, with their dresses for church. Silly me...nope, never made it to the needles. So, now I'm looking toward Christmas and toward using some yarn from my stash so I grabbed a skein and cast on. Seeing as it is almost Winter now I thought I'd add some colors to the white to make it more versatile for all seasons. It has a picot detail at the bottom, garter stitch "side seams", stipes of dark and light shades of the same color, and it will be a cardigan of some sort to be thrown on over any t-shirt. So far so good:

Last, but not least, I finished the first gift mitten. The yarn is a blend of wool and soy. Strange sounding to me, but it is remarkably soft and great to work with. The outside of the Patons SWS (soy wool stripes) isn't very soft, but once it is pulled off it unwinds a bit and is much nicer. I hope the person receiving these will think so, too. The yarn is self-striping (subtle in the middle of the mitten). I purchased two skeins (on clearance, I think) without checking how much I'd need. I was worried I would run out, but when I pulled out my reliable two-needle pattern (Many Mittens by Mary Lamb Becker) it showed that I may be able to make the pair with just one skein. Bonus! Maybe I'll get a pair, too. I've modified the pattern just slightly, to make the cuff a half inch longer for any size. I found that if I use the printed measurements the cuff isn't long enough to stay inside a coat sleeve,which in winter here is important. Who wants to play in the snow if you constantly have to adjust the mittens? I love to play in the snow!

 

FO: Cabled Skull Cap

This past weekend I took some "me time" and finished this hat. I need a few to wear in the office so I started by crocheting a chain so I'd know it would fit around my head. From there I guessed at a good cable and just knit for fun. It turned out to fit tight to my head like a skull cap and I like it that way. It is perfect for throwing on as I work on the computer.

The yarn is Caron Simply Soft Eco. I actually thought I was going to run out as I had used part of the skein for other projects, but it turned out that I still have enough left to incorporate into another hat. It is soft and washable which are two of my favorite attributes. It didn't hurt that I used my bamboo needles to knit with either. They are straight size 7s so I don't use them much at all.

The picture is horrible, but the webcam is all I have right this second.

11/3/10-better pictures, thanks to my four-year-old. Good Job little one!

WIPs

I used to hate those abbreviations like the title of this post and still get a bit confused by some. So, for anyone who doesn't knit or crochet or is new or confused, WIP is work-in-progress. If you've been to my home you'll know that I'm one of those many knitters who have far too many started but not complete items. Right now I'm working on the following:

• Doll sweater #1: Blue and white, empire waist, long sleeved
• Doll sweater #2: Thinking this may be an elephant Halloween costume, but I'm undecided
• Doll sweater #3: awaiting frogging (ripping out-rip it, rip it, rip it like the sound of a frog) or trash can. I knit what I thought was a pretty simple pattern until I had seamed everything and knit all the edging to find out that one side was significantly longer than the other. That should be a warning to me to stop knitting so much when I'm exhausted.
• Socks for LexiLoo: Pink with three purple stripes right above the toes-first time toe-up, two circular needles, and no seam. First sock is at cuff and now I'm ribbing 1x1 for a few more inches before I can bind off and begin again.
• Socks for Me: toe-up but seam at heel sides-green and blue striped. First sock is complete but bind off edge is a bit tight around foot when pulling on and off. I really don't want to pull the edge off so I'm working it out (I hope).
• Aran Knit Sweater: Lavender baby yarn to keep my 89-year-old Grandma warm. Only about five inches of the back done so far. Frustrating, to say the least. I wish I'd chosen a pattern worked in-the-round before I committed to this one. Too much money invested in the new needles and too much time on the three inches of ribbing to frog it now. Next time...
• Mittens for Carebear: One is done and the other just has some ribbing. They are two needle items worked from the cuff up. These are wool, some kool-aid dyed, and will be felted. These have a matching hat made completely out of the kool-aid dyed yarn. LexiLoo's set is fully knit. Christmas is approaching fast so I have to finish the mitten and get everything into the washer.
• Socks for Carebear: not yet started. I have new purple yarn, at her request, and think these will be two shades of purple and pink or just pink and purple-I can't decide yet. I'm using Caron Simply Soft for most of these socks as it works quick and will keep our feet toasty warm as the Fall progresses and turns into Winter. 
• Socks for a Friend: purchased another skein of a new favorite colored baby yarn. I think I'll knit some simple, happy socks for her feet to lounge in. Not skinny socks but warm ones for winter wear or around the house.
• Mittens for Family Member: Someone I know has very, very cold hands and I found some wool that I think will do the trick. Soft and fuzzy but warm as can be.

I'm laughing a bit as I typed all that and thought of the afghans sitting patiently in the other room, or the yarn for shrugs for the girls this Summer that never made it to the needles. This is in no way a comprehensive list. These are just the highest priority in my mind, for the moment. LOL!

Ok, time to log off and go wash Carebear's cup for daycare tomorrow. I had promised myself a reasonable bedtime to help fend off this complete exhaustion. Here's hoping. :)

Going Green (FOs)

I am, at heart, a liberal environmentalist. No, I do not compost all my waste and yes, I did use disposable diapers but mostly because of location not will. I'd love to do so much more than recycling and reusing shopping bags and such. Still, all this is a start.

What I have started doing it reusing clothing rather than throwing out items with holes or stains. Instead, I try to find a use for the good parts. It is fortunate that I have two little ones who can always use new items made from larger old ones. I also have been dragged into a world of doll clothes which I'm loving and they are certainly small enough to reuse material.

So, this weekend I put the finishing touches on a four-piece ensemble for 18 inch dolls. I've written a bit lately about trying socks and while I was knitting for my daughters my mind wandered to a doll pattern I'd come across in my stash. I didn't want to get that complicated, but why couldn't I adapt the easy, two-needle pattern from person size to doll size? Let's try. Out came one of our three measuring tapes and calculations began. Then the real trial was keeping my kids occupied for the tiny bit less than an hour it took to knit the pair. I used some green yarn I had sitting on my table from my eldest daughter's socks. I love green so this was added inspiration and the soft baby yarn doesn't hurt.

I finished the ankle socks and put them on my doll and voila! I couldn't resist. Now she had to have something to go with those.

Onto the needles went a sweater in the same yarn. My "normal" go-to pattern wasn't large enough around but I wanted to play anyway so I did a basic pattern, adding a cable to the front plackets and short instead of long sleeves. Then I finished with a crocheted scalloped edge and tie closure.

The doll I have doesn't look right showing her "skin" so I chose to recycle some clothing for her. I took the pockets off a pair of old jeans and sewed them together for a skirt. Then I cut part of the lace sleeve off an old nightgown to use for a tube top under the sweater.

Put it all together and here's what I got:

Crafting for Kiddies (FOs)

I want my girls to be Gap girls! I can't help it and I don't know why. I was talking to a friend the other day and confessed that I almost spent $50 on a pair of non-waterproof boots after seeing the cutest commercial ever last year and wanting desperately for Star to "fit in". I am so NOT a Gap girl. Our family never had the money to shop there and even if they had I don't know as I would've quite fit in to their clothing or image. In fact, for years I'd wander in and check out baby stuff and get snubbed by the sales associates.


The last few times I've been in have been different and I've actually been helped. I still don't look a thing like a Gap customer, but they treat me nicely anyway. When we were school shopping I couldn't help but wander in. Star oohed and aahed at some jeans and when I asked her what she liked about them, if they were a "must have" she commented that she really just liked the belts. So, we looked around for just belts and they weren't selling any so we moved on and added belts to her shopping list.

So, from my trip to the Gap here is one of the pairs of jeans (hover over the patches) and here is one of the belts. Last night I pulled out the remnants of a pair of jeans that I had cut apart to recycle for a blanket. I took the seam ripper to the back pockets to use them for a doll skirt. When I removed them I noticed these were awesome. The very faded washed jeans had very dark spots where the pockets had been. This got me thinking that maybe I could use the remains as a skirt for Star. We talked and measured and picked patch fabric and today I sewed and tried on her and sewed more and tweaked here and there and then cut and ironed and starched and sewed and so on. Until, drum roll please.........I came up with this (my knock-off of the jeans and belts):

The back where the pockets had been.

Woven belt with D-ring closure. I wish the photo was clearer as it really is cute if I do say so myself.

Saved the best for last...the whole skirt, front view.

I'm usually pretty humble, but for these five minutes I'm feeling pretty good about the skirt. I wish I were young enough to wear it myself.

Back to humble, I knit two pairs of simple two-needle socks. Each of my girls got to pick her colors, so there is no intentional Red Hat Society reference. Unfortunately, even after measuring my youngest's foot and knitting to the "right" length, I got hers about an inch too long. At least she can wear them around the house and look forward to something to grow into that is all hers instead of a hand-me-down. She loves the stripes anyway.

The picot edge was my addition as the original pattern had a ribbed cuff. I like this one a bit more and will probably do more pairs in this style.

Happy Feet!

Both wanted short socks and this is about as short as I can go with this pattern or they start to slip off the back of the heel.

All this crafting was amazing and fun but I'm stuck wondering if I'm just a "too cool" Mom or if I'm sending my daughters down a road of loathing me and being mocked by classmates. I pray it is the former as my eldest is heading back to school with a handmade skirt from last year and a shirt I embellished to match. She's very excited, but I do worry.

Tiny Toes

I know it just isn't the same to post without photos, but I don't want to go too long without writing or I'll forget all I'm up to. Besides, I can always come back and add the photos later.

I've been knitting like a crazy lady. I have a pair of socks for each of my girls...lime and yellow for my eldest and purple and red for my younger (they picked the colors). I also have cast on for a second pair for my eldest, to be slouchy over a pair of cool peace sign leggings. These are simple socks but make them smile.

I looked at their socks and a pattern I'm going to try for doll socks and tried a simple one today for my 18" doll. Zoe (the red-headed doll) is now sporting a pair of lime ankle socks and I'm so excited!

I've also finished another hat and scarf set for the dolls. I have a doll sweater on the needles, from the pattern book my friend sent me and I have picked the yarn for the next two of my own design.

As if that weren't enough, I spent this evening taking the back pockets off the back of a pair of jeans I had recycled most of previously. When the pockets were off I realized how cool the denim looked and decided I could alter it further to be a skirt for my eldest. So I spent a bit longer ripping more seams and planning and getting more and more excited. It was a big night for craftiness.

Well, I guess I'd better hop off if I'm going to have any time to finish these projects before my daughter starts school next week. I also have an unfinished pair of mittens staring at me and I really do want to start some mittens for my Mom and some socks for a friend and I am still staring intimidated at the purple aran knit sweater I've barely started for my Grandma. She deserves it and I need to make that a priority to keep her frail little body warm this winter.

Christmas Is Coming

Yes, that dreaded term has popped up on other blogs and I thought it must be my turn. Close your eyes and turn your head away and scroll down or click off the site if you don't want to think about it, but Christmas is coming. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!

Maybe you're all much faster or more committed knitters than I am, or maybe not. For me the thought of September makes me panic that I'll never finish all my gift items in time. This year I'm doing much better already planning and I think I'll be ok...yes, positive thinking...I will not over-commit, I will not stay up until midnight each night, I will not...

YEAH RIGHT! Who am I kidding? I'm already over-committed and there is no end in sight. LOL! Well, at least I have two cute doll items to ship off to my friend. That's at least something. :)

The white is, I think, Lion Brand Homespun (the same as the earlier "cloud" outfit). Although you can't really tell from the photo, the red is ChaCha and is one of the softest things I've ever knit with. I carried it along with Caron Simply Soft so the sweater and hat would not be transparent or hard to get on the doll. I did make the sleeves a bit too narrow so maybe she'll use it for Bitty Baby instead. I'm just happy it is cute and fuzzy and fun. :)

Mondays

Let me start by saying, I'm sorry for the quality of the photos. I often think to take pictures only after the kids are in bed and my lighting is great for relaxing but not for photography.

I know almost a week has passed already, but I've been meaning to chat about Mondays. I'm a single (not-by-choice) Mom of two marvelous little girls, ages 6 and 4. So, as you all probably know, that leaves very little "me" time. I work a normal "9-5" job and then at night I try to keep up the house and knit custom orders as much as I can to "make ends meet".

I have tried, however, to keep a bit of time for me and unfortunately it is due to tv. I found that I like the PBS show, Antiques Roadshow. Then, over one summer I discovered History Detectives and now I'm hooked. I am disappointed when summer ends and that show disappears from my Mondays. I therefore make time to just relax on Monday nights during the summer. It is strictly observed for me, and me alone.

I was in the middle of a knitting project this Monday (a doll sweater for order) when I thought I'd really make it a night for me. I had recently finished a pair of simple, two needle socks for a dear friend. We were chatting one day about my knitting and she mentioned she liked the ones I had photographed on my feet as they reminded her of ones her Grandma had made her but were now getting holes in them. Her Grandma (Alice) is still alive and relatively well, but carpal tunnel syndrome has made it so she doesn't knit anymore. So, I started a pair of red and white striped socks for my friend and finished them over the weekend. She was thrilled.

When Monday rolled around I was eager to translate that simple pattern to toe-up socks on two circular needles, two techniques I've only read/heard about. It can't be that hard. Well, so far I'm loving it!

Don't get me wrong, these will still not be the best darn socks ever, but for me it was a foray into self-value. I put down my work-for-hire item and concentrated a whole evening just on me. What a wonderful feeling! The yarn is Caron's Simply Soft and it feels fantastic on my feet and in my hands as it slides through my fingers and over the needles. The colors, as they don't show very well here, are a bright lime type green and turquoise. Oh, and these yarns were ones I had purchased for a custom order so I'm helping ease my stash as well. Win-win!

That glee ended quickly the next morning when I made the mistake of showing my little ones and they promptly whined about not having any of their own hand-knit socks. So, the rest of the week was spent staying up late knitting the two needle type for my eldest...a picot edge and stockinette stitch instead of the rib that was the cuff on the others I've made.

I've just begun the mate to this one but should have it done well before school starts and hopefully the littlest one's pair as well. I didn't want to get too far into the second without having my daughter try it on first...read on...

The first night I tried socks for my eldest I looked at my own sock and figured my 6-year-old's foot should be about 2/3 as wide as mine (size 7 but wide). So, I cast on and knit striped goodness until midnight. The next day I brought them to her foot only to discover that, with quite a bit of stretching, the sock might just fit my 4-year-old (who vehemently refuses to wear those colors). I was too exhausted to begin frogging that sock and figure maybe I'll finish a pair and donate them to a toddler somewhere who can tolerate yellow and orange.

Ok then. It is Friday night and my weekend is full to the brim with tasks and knitting. So, I can just now click on a show and relax for a few minutes before I fall into bed and dream of Monday night, when I can pick up and work on my sock again.

Meow! (FO)

I told you how I've been obsessed with the yarn I received on Saturday. I knit the cloud outfit and immediately cast on for another. This black Lion Brand Homespun was calling to me...well, actually purring and meowing a bit. Last night my eldest daughter was up coughing until after midnight so I took some time till about 1 am and knit most of the hood. Then tonight was able to draw the ears, knit, seam, and finish this.

I also received a book of patterns from the same caring friend. I had already planned my hooded kitty sweater when I saw that the book also had a hooded one (not for a kitty or other animal). I promised to cast on a few sweaters for my friend, from that book, but I've got another idea first. The holidays are coming soon enough and I'm preparing.

Cloud Complete (FO-finished object)

I pulled out what I'm calling the cloud yarn (I think it is Lion Brand Homespun in a pure white) and I cast on for a doll sweater yesterday. The bulky yarn required some tweaking of the pattern, but I think in the end it looks good on (somewhat funny just hanging or folded). I couldn't resist making a scarf with what was left of the first skein and then just needed to make a hat to match. After all, what girl could go out in the snow without these things? I did snap a picture, but bear in mind that my friend will be making the bottoms (pants, skirt, leggings, etc.). I can't help but imagine it with some sort of leggings and a pair of ice skates.

As with most of us obsessed knitter types, I've already cast on for the next one I have running through my mind. I guess I do think that sometimes the yarn tells us what it wants to be. :)

Special Delivery

The doorbell rang today, which is odd. I rushed out to the kitchen and was slipping on my flip flops when it rang again. Ok, that's annoying. I popped out the door and rushed down the stairs to let in the mailman.

I've been waiting on a package from a friend and I keep checking the mailbox and being disappointed. Well, I had no idea that when she said a package she meant a huge box full of goodies.

I was expecting a check (for a custom order) and a couple skeins of yarn. What I received was a check and

tons of fun yarn and a new pair of needles. (sorry for fuzzy pictures, not sure if the settings on the camera got switched). 

I, like most knitters, couldn't wait so I've already cast on a new doll sweater (that's what I make for this friend) using a yarn that I must call "cloud". I think it is Lion Brand Homespun, but there wasn't a band on it. It is soft and lofty and I just can't stop. Pure white. Lovely!

I've got ideas spinning in my head for more and more and more sweaters, caplets, hats, scarves, even tiny socks. Aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh!! I need more hours in the day.

Well, enough of this. It's late and I want to be knitting, so I'm off. Hope your day was also filled with pleasant surprises!

In the Habit

I've found a new habit, no not the black and white head-to-toe kind...blogging. It isn't completely new as I've been writing here and there for about three years (wow, typing that I realized it has been a while) but what I haven't done much of is blog reading...until recently. I started reading one after a kind local woman helped me on Ravelry by suggesting a book that contains a pattern for toe-up kids' socks. Then, I jumped to reading blogs she had linked to. Now, months later, I have become in the habit of the following:

1) put the girls to bed
2) log on
3) check email
4) check Facebook
5) browse blogs

It has become an almost nightly routine. I'm not an RSS kind of gal so I've just setup the blogs in my Favorites folder in a specific order for how I like to read them. I warm up with one or two good ones, then pop over to a favorite, then to a middle one, then to another good one, then back and forth. It is silly, I know, but I'm finding a community of like-minded individuals. In some odd way this is healing, as much as sitting with my needles.

So, tonight as we were home late I'm now typing late as well. It is time for me to knit a few rows but I guess I just had to say hello and thanks to the bloggers that are out there putting themselves out in the world and helping some of us along the way.

Cheers!

Pouring Out the Bag

I have become hooked on Eskimimi Knits' blog. I admit that I'll read others first and wait to end with hers as it is almost guaranteed to make me smile.

Some time ago she posted Who Would Knit with a Bag Like This? which was an exposé of what is inside her wonderful knitting bag. I peeked at mine and made a comment but that's as far as I got...until tonight.

I finally took the time to pour mine out and look at my life, or what I take with me by choice at least. So, without further ado..

Let's start with the bag itself. This small,  half circle plastic bag was a give away from Spin a Yarn. I remember the day I got it looking and thinking there was no way my sharp, pointy scissors would make it more than a day or two in that bag. So, I loaded just a few things at first. Over time (4-5 years now) I've loaded and unloaded and never had a puncture yet. I am still amazed, but loving it.

I have the "normal" stuff...paper and pen to write notes as I go, scissors and a metal gauge thingy, just enough stitch holders to complete my standard doll sweater (needs three) and two circular needles for said sweaters and other small projects.

What makes me chuckle are the memories as I laid these out. There is a tiny paper chart of a star and the heart one I found I had left inside the bag when I snapped this photo. I don't quite remember what I used them for but vaguely remember drawing them. The tapestry needles are down by one. I look in my bag each time and grumble that I still cannot find the third, which was my favorite.I swear it fell into the couch but I cannot find it anywhere, for months now. It was one a friend's Mom had passed along to me and it was the perfect size, with a smaller eye than the others.

The stitch markers range from thin new ones in a tiny box to a piece of yarn tied small or safety pins. The bee, peace sign, and Mary medal are new and are actually jewelry findings that were on clearance. I love the bee, although I hate insects, because my name means "honey, a bee". You'll see the small amount of red yarn on the bobbin and quite a few bread ties. I believe I learned on Knitty Gritty, to save those and use them as bobbins. It may have been another HGTV show, but I'm not sure as it was years ago.

Three crochet hooks live in my bag. I crocheted before I could knit so I have a fondness for them. I have actually used the light on the pink one that I only purchased because it was the right size and just $1. It was actually fun to finish a project one night by the light of my hook. LOL!

My favorite items I've saved for last. You'll see a button with my eldest daughter's picture and a cutout of my younger one whose button broke. These are obvious favorites because they're my children but they also remind me of my determination to take care of my kids. I had taken a retail job and those buttons were on my lanyard with my name badge. I took my knitting to that job for break times and somehow managed to maintained "me" in all of the commotion.

Well, thanks for peeking into my knitting. I hope you saw a bit of yourself and maybe you'll want to share as well. What's in your bag? What kind of bag do you use?

Oh, I almost forgot. When I was hired at my current job each new employee was given a large canvas tote bag with the company logo. My first thought at seeing the large pockets was how much yarn and knitting goodies I'd be able to fit in it. So, many times the Spin a Yarn bag and my work-in-progress (WIP) get thrown in with my "day job" stuff in that fantastic everything bag (which happens to have my own embroidered flowers on it now).

Runway for Dolls

I apologize as I do have a list of posts I'd like to make but I've been swept away in the commotion of daily living and knitting like crazy. I must take photos and get them on here before I can even chat much.

In the meantime, I did finish a whole bunch of doll dresses and hauled them off to work for my co-worker to pick. She wanted at least three to save as Christmas gifts for her daughter. Three I showed earlier, but she also picked one with hearts on it (which is the only one I forgot to snap a picture of). So, here are two of the leftovers:

This striped dress has a flounce bottom and what I think is a really cool halter closure. I purchased book binding rings from Staples and knit a casing for it to slip through. The ring can open to slide around the doll's neck then close securely. I accidentally made the dress longer than I would've liked but I'm still pleased with the concept. I have more rings and more ideas.

The simple rainbow dress always makes me smile as I think of summer sunshine and fun days as a kid.

Last, I made this little wrap sweater to go over the red dress with the daisy. I think I'll make more of these as it came together quickly and looks nice, is a bit unique, and I love to pick buttons.

Hope you're all crafting as well. More to come so please stop by again. Also, I think I had inadvertently disabled comments but that should now be working again, so please say hello if you'd like.

Dyeing to Drink

I've been dying with Kool-Aid again. These are the photos from when my eldest daughter helped dye a skein for her teacher. I love that it is safe for the girls to use as well as for me (although I usually end up with colored hands).

I didn't realize until cropping this tonight that she was wearing the same colors as in the yarn we dyed. LOL!

This weekend we attempted tie-dying with Kool-Aid as well. I'll have to click pictures after ironing the shirts. I think mine won't keep its color as I mistakenly used fabric softener on it. After reading on the web I re-washed the girls' shirts and I'm hoping theirs stay better.

Knit, Knit, Knit...Sew, Sew, Sew...

I've knit and knit and knit some more and I finally took time for some photos. There are, of course, more to come. Here's what I've been up to:

Missing: Mind (oh, and needles, too)

I'm still going strong, making tons of doll dresses to present to a co-worker for her choice of Christmas gifts. I've been using a 16-inch size 7 circular needle for most of the work. I had it today as I Kitchener stitched the shoulders of a little white shrug. I set the needle down on the arm of the couch and didn't think of it for quite some time. I've been so busy that I'm casting on the next dress before I seam the last. This time I didn't.

So, hours later I went to grab my needles and work on a piece I had put on a string to await more yarn. I searched, my kids searched, and now hours later I'm still grumbling. I admit it, I'm hooked on that needle. It is funny. I am one of those knitters that have multiples of all my needles, stuck in a work-in-progress somewhere. I often buy another set or circular instead of searching too much. No one set or circular means much to me.

Today it irked me. I had been using this circular and some time ago wanted a second to make binding off easier. I didn't think to write down the size and ended up buying a sz 6 instead of a 7. Now the sz 6 is in a hat I'm knitting for one of my daughters for Christmas. I had recently purchased another 6 for a sweater to make for my Grandma. I vowed to keep all those needles with the yarn so I wouldn't be without when I needed them.

Irked! No time or money to go to the store today. So, I broke my vow and opened the one-size-too-small needles from Grandma's sweater and am finally back knitting again. I just wish I could figure out if I accidentally threw out the original. I've never loved a needle so much, but I've spent some serious quality time with that one and was just today noting how the bright pink finish was chipped in a spot. My pointer finger is just now calloused to perfection. I can't quit...ah, well...onward with the substitute.

Knitting Frenzy

I've been a crazy knitter lately, whipping up doll dresses galore. You can see photos to the right, on display in my Etsy shop. I have another almost seamed and another on the needles. I'm very lucky to have a co-worker who wants to start Christmas shopping in July, so I need quite a few to give her choices. Her 12-year-old daughter loves the dresses.

I took time away from doll dresses to finish the Summer shawl I'd started more than a month ago. I fell in love with the colors of this baby yarn and just had to do something good with it. The yellow buttons are both functional and decorative. The buttonhole edge is just a single crochet with chains to make the holes.

This pattern was inspired by a shawl a friend purchased. She brought it to work to show me and I commented on how simple it was. Since then I've made about a half dozen different ones and have ideas and yarn for others.

The basics: 12-14 inches wide by 48-54 inches long. The finished garment from my friend was 54 inches but I don't block things and when I knit to that length it ended up stretching far longer. So, if the yarn has a lot of give then I knit to 48 inches and they turn out very nice.

I love that it is such a simple pattern that can be changed to look so many different ways.

Here is the one I knit for my friend when she became a Grandma. It starts with a 12 x 12 crocheted granny square and has tiny granny squares incorporated throughout. Same dimensions but a totally different look.

Knitting Nerd

Nerd

• single-minded enthusiast: somebody who is considered to be excessively interested in a subject or activity that is regarded as too technical or scientific (often used in combination; offensive in some contexts) (as defined by Encarta® World English Dictionary[North American Edition] © & (P) 2009 Microsoft Corporation.All rights reserved. Developed for Microsoft by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc)
• an unstylish, unattractive, or socially inept person; especially : one slavishly devoted to intellectual or academic pursuits  (nerd. (2010). In Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. Retrieved June 22, 2010, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nerd)

I am what I'd fondly refer to as a Knitting Nerd! I fell in love with this Car Decal from Vinyl Wall Art on Etsy. I have ordered, I believe, four of them so far as I have had to change vehicles and misplaced at least one.

Not only do I love having this decal on the mini van just as a reminder of who I am, but I love that it is rare. I love even more that my four-year-old has taken to reading it each time we get in the van. She has a way about her and says it with pride in the fact that she knows what it says and it is our van and that is a good thing.

I think the decal just supports the nerdiness that I do exhibit when knitting. I was thinking that most poignantly the other day as I measured a knit wool swatch. I am not one to do a gauge swatch, but this is important. I purchased some recycled wool and then Kool Aid dyed it with my two lovely little girls. I chose the colors for winter hats for them (not that they knew it). I want to felt the hats so, I knit and measured a swatch and threw it into two loads of laundry. Well, the ends felted but not the swatch so I hand felted it and then eagerly measured again. I wrote it all down then dug out my calculator and that is when I just laughed.

I loved math in school, taking even more than one calculus class. I was a nerd throughout my life. So, as I figured the formula to determine what percent the yarn shrunk in each direction and then later calculated how many stitches to cast on based on the measurements of my daughters' heads I realized that this is what it is all about...math. Knitters love math! I have found a geeky, nerdy home amongst some of the most creative people on the planet. Now I know the secret...we have ambidextrous brains...thinking analytically and creatively.

Again, I'm chuckling. I was, you see, born ambidextrous (or so my older sister says) until I went to school and was forced to be a "righty". I know back then the teachers and parents were trying to do the best thing for me. I grew-up thinking I was right-handed. Now I look at some of my odd ways of doing things and realize the whole ambidextrous thing is probably why. I carry my purse on my left, can write pretty well with my left as well as my right, can knit left-handed if I put my mind to it, can use silverware with both, shoot pool with both, etc.

I guess then, my question to any who stumble across this little blog is, especially advanced knitters or crocheters...are you ambidextrous?

Kool Aid Dye

I've found time the last few months to wander the internet trolling for knitting sites. I consider myself very lucky to have stumbled upon a site that then directed me to others then to others and on and on and on.

One such site is Eskimimi Knits. This amazing woman writes from the heart and provides such inspiration. One such entry With Flying Colours detailed the process of dying natural fibers using nothing but Kool Aid. I was drawn in so much that I ordered some recycled wool and promptly went to the grocery store to pick colors. The girls helped mix and following Eskimimi's directions (mostly) I made some marvelous yarn which I cannot wait to use.

The process was fun and easy. I loved watching the wind blow the yarn around as it hung to dry. The scent is a familiar childhood friend. I even coaxed one of my nieces into sitting beside me a while as I wound the balls. This is one of my favorite knitting experiences thus far. I hope you'll try, too (perhaps you'll be more restrained and avoid green thumbs by not pushing the yarn into the dye with bare hands-LOL!).