Sunday, March 22, 2015

It's Been a Quiet Week


Working busily on lots of projects at work and following a number of word game apps on the Kindle (trying to improve/save what memory I have left). That left minimal time for knitting this week.

Only FO is a tiny pair of baby sockies. They are knit from some leftover hand painted/dyed yarn that comes out self-striping at this tiny size.

Needles are 2's. Pattern is a basic sock, found long ago on elann.com which only exists in memory these days.

Cast on 30 stitches, join being careful not to twist. . .

Labels: ,


// posted by Ann @ 3/22/2015 09:35:00 AM 0 comments

Sunday, March 15, 2015

Whatever Lola Wants

There's a song from Damn Yankees that says it all. You can hear it here.


And here's Lola. In the sweater that she wanted (okay, her mom wanted). I made one like it (without the pink trim) for her partner in crime, Charlie.

(No, Lola and Charlie are not mine!) Sweaters were a special request from Younger Son for a friend. 

Yarn, Stylecraft Chunky Life and Vanna's Choice. Free online pattern here.

What Does the Fox Say?

I'm not certain that we will ever know.This one (who goes by the name of Fleabag) is destined for an Easter egg hunt at the home of the Baby Grands.

So far, he's been silent.

And I need to make at least 2 more equally cute egg stuffers pronto! Easter is a mere 3 weeks away.


Pattern in the OOP book in the background. Yarn, odd bits of sock yarn, probably Brown Sheep Wildfoote.


I'm not especially inclined to review this book. A quick search tells me that it's available (possibly) from UK vendors, but Amazon lists it only in the used state. I bought mine (remaindered) at Ollie's (good stuff, cheap) a couple years ago--for less than $5. I have made up only one of the patterns (Fleabag) and it is fiddly beyond beyond. Part of that is My Own Fault, as I used sock weight yarn and size 1 dpns. The pattern calls for DK/worsted and size 4s. I think you can see the problem.



Baby, Baby, Bay-BEE!

 And I am replenishing my stock of baby presents.

This newest carseat blankie is in Webs house brand Valley Yarns Dana in a baby blue. When dawn has failed to crack (darn you, DST!) it's hard(er) to get an accurate color on an iphone camera. It's a little deeper IRL

I'll make a pair of matching booties and stash this one away for the next hypothetical future person.

Can't say enough nice things about this Leisure Arts pattern booklet . I've made several of them (Look back to Januaryish 2014 for more pictures). There's a crochet version also available. Most knitters and crocheters would not need (technically) either of these booklets, but frankly, I'm not sure that I would have gotten the concept without mine! I mean, small blankie, perfect for tucking around a tiny infant; no excess fabric to trip up Mom (or Dad). Come on, am I the only one who was in the dark?

Labels: , , ,


// posted by Ann @ 3/15/2015 05:40:00 AM 0 comments

Monday, January 26, 2015

Works In Progress; Finished Objects




Monster Pants are progressing nicely. A combination of washable wools (well-aged) are (dark blue) Austermann Juwel and (all the other colors Filatura di Crosa 501.

The actual Monster Face is embroidered in duplicate stitch or sewn on as knitted appliques.

Leg #1 is finished. This is not Sleeve Island.    And besides, they are very small.

It seems that I am getting into this random pattern thingie.


And for something a bit more traditional, this weekend, I finished a shawl, following the basic triangle that's started at the neck. Increase 4 stitches every other row, 2 in the center, two on the edge.

I used some stashed merino silk blend that I bought on-line umpty two years ago. I wound up over-dyeing  a lot of it with Wilton icing color (I think) in a strong blue which made  for shades of purple-y and turquoise-y that I striped with the green shades that seem to be original.

I used a little over a pound of worsted weight to make the shawl. It's about 80" wide.


I finished the whole thing off with a knitted lace edging from Sally Melville's The Purl Stitch that served to both embellish and bind off.

I'm pleased with the way it came out, though I did find Ella (our cat) had decided that she really, really loves this yarn. She was sleeping all over it on the blocking mats.*

In fairness, the blocking mats were on the pool table which is where she spends a lot of her time.

I may have to use the odd bits to make a little toy for her.

*Earlier, I found her dancing on the shawl-in-progress.

Labels: , , , , , ,


// posted by Ann @ 1/26/2015 07:21:00 PM 0 comments

Saturday, January 24, 2015

Special Request


A few days ago, the Purple Warrior Princess's Mama shared a photo on Facebook. It was Monster Pants. I am going to have to suggest that you search this one either on Ravelry or Google Images, because there are so many adorable variations on this theme that I would be selling them short if I provided a link, because one link does not do them justice. "Monster Pants" should get you there.

Of course, I replied "Mammo's on it!" Then, I had to find out if the request was for a Sesame Street-type monster (Elmo or Cookie or maybe even Oscar), or what I term a Crazy Monster (with oogly eyes and ver' vicious teeth).

Crazy Monster it is! And the very day I finished my last project (a shawl that hasn't yet been blocked (film at 11; patience, Grasshopper!), I cast on a pair of Crazy Monster longies (that's an EZ term--see Knitter's Almanac). Colors as shown in the photo: deep royal blue, bright blue, lime green, sunflower yellow, plus red for the ver' vicious mouth and white for the ver' vicious teeth.

The butt is finished. I am ready to start the legs.



Labels: , ,


// posted by Ann @ 1/24/2015 08:48:00 PM 0 comments

Sunday, January 11, 2015

Eleven Days


Eleven days into 2015 and I have exactly one FO to show!

Baby hat made from sock yarn (Rabbitworks Revenge colorway). Because of the ribbing, it will probably fit newborn to about six months and it's machine washable wool, so some little one will be toasty. If you look at the posts from December, you'll see that there are sockies to match.

Recipient to be named at a later date.

Labels: ,


// posted by Ann @ 1/11/2015 06:58:00 PM 0 comments

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Going Out with a Bang

They say that you start the new year as you finished the old.

If that's true, 2015 will be the year of the sock.

Following the completion of the Mitered Sock Yarn Blankie, I started turning the leftover sock yarn into, well, socks. Baby socks.

Awaiting a suitable recipient.

Labels: , ,


// posted by Ann @ 12/31/2014 08:10:00 PM 1 comments

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Brain Dead



I am off for the week, trying to use up vacation days that I will lose otherwise.

That's allowed me to assess my annual yarn output and to discover that I am coming up alarmingly short of FOs!

Which led me to a desire, no, a need, to complete some very small projects.

Witness the booties and dish/facecloth to the left. There were 2 more face cloths completed, but they are already in the hands of the USPS, so no pictures.



End of the year also forced my organizational skills to kick in. I sorted through several years of accumulated knitting/crochet magazines and leaflets and discovered these beauties (Mon Tricot, I think) from the 70s and 80s.

They, also, are in the hands of USPS, winging their way to Kentucky, where I hope they amuse my friend, who, I hope, will not recreate. . .






And as we were setting the table for Christmas dinner, I opened the drawer where we keep the napkins and discovered

Dave

at least I think that's his name.

He, too, is in the hands of the USPS. . . 

Edited to add: that Minion is Not Dave; he's Stuart!
How could I get that wrong??  

Labels: , , ,


// posted by Ann @ 12/30/2014 03:53:00 PM 0 comments

Sunday, August 24, 2014

Another Batch


Here are another few of the fair entries for this year.

At right, an adult cap. This was the first item I finished since the last fair, and truthfully, I nearly entered it as fair isle.

Yarn is a blend of wool and ack. Pattern?? Who the heck can remember?


This year's Red Scarf Project scarf.

Baby set (2- or 3-piece) using a very old pattern from Spinnerin (c) 1975 The New Wee Moderns (so, before I was knitting for my own kids) for the hat and booties. The sweater is a basic top down with the same texture knitted in.

Yarn is Cascade Cherub (all synthetic) that I am dearly glad to (finally) be rid of.


Cowl from (I think) an IK special edition. Yarn is Fibranatura Baby Merino, another one I'd love to be done with. The color is called Johnny and is blue, tan, and olive drab.


Felted "other," a cute little vase knit from the last of some Noro Kureyon that I had stashed a good long time. Pattern from one of the newish Cascade books.

This one was fun to knit and felted up quite nicely. I will probably use it just for show. Perhaps with some dried grasses.


Felted purse. Needs a button in the center of the flower, I think. Too late now!

Yarn is from SERRV (fair trade non-profit). Want more. No longer available. Drat!


Lap robe in the Mason Dixon ball band dishcloth pattern.

I used Decor/Encore odd balls in 3 colors.

So now you have seen everything I photographed before dropping my stuff at the fairgrounds. And now, I wait.

Labels: , ,


// posted by Ann @ 8/24/2014 06:04:00 AM 2 comments

Sunday, June 08, 2014

Trying to Catch Up

I'm afraid to look to see how long it's been since I posted. I report in weekly on one of my email lists and promise "film at 11" but never seem to get around to 1) taking pictures and 2) posting them.

This is an attempt to get back up to speed.




Afghans for Afghans is having a baby shower this month. Needed are socks (real socks with turned heels) and baby hats for the approximately 85 new babies born each day in Kabul.

Imagine! 85 new babies all entering the world, stark naked!
I'm really pleased with the way the self-patterning pair came out! No, they aren't identical, but they are close and that's what I was hoping for.

Here are all of my offerings. Baby sockies are so quick to make. If it weren't for other deadlines looming, I'd devote my summer (or at least June) to baby socks!

And here's one of the deadline projects.

This one is destined to be a fair entry then it will be the Purple Warrior Princess's Christmas sweater.

Buttons are coming. The pattern suggests toggles. I am tempted to go buy them, but my button stash is probably bigger than my yarn stash, so I am considering faux leather or some cross-cut antler. I think it needs something more natural than plastic.

On the health front, my spine surgeon has cut me loose. The Physical Therapists, ditto. I have to continue exercising and walking, probably for the rest of my life. The pain in my legs (except for the arthritic knee) is gone. I'll take it!

On another note, I am seeing a cardiologist regularly to deal with my blood pressure (not a new issue) and atrial fibrillation (that manifested during surgery). Three new medications and it is getting under control.

Getting old is not for the faint of heart!

Labels: , , , ,


// posted by Ann @ 6/08/2014 08:51:00 AM 0 comments

Sunday, March 09, 2014

Just Off; Going On the Needles

latest car seat blankie

up close and personal-can you see them?
I am hoping that the intended recipient is not one of the three of you reading this blog!

and the next project


A dear friend and fellow Rotarian assists with a project called Rotoplast. Every year in December, our local district holds an on-air auction to raise funds for the project. This will be my 3rd donation of a handmade shawl. It's a small thing, but one child will have a happy smile (and be able to eat) as a result of my donation.

The yarn is wool, from The Great Cone Sale at Webs that I over-dyed years ago in the Great Kool-Aid Experiment. It was time to put it to good use! The cone top right is the original "amber;" the cakes to the left are just some of the variations on a theme.

I am really looking forward to finally putting this yarn (that I originally bought for charity knitting) to good use.

Labels: , ,


// posted by Ann @ 3/09/2014 08:16:00 AM 1 comments

Sunday, March 02, 2014

Car Seat Blankies, Again


Working my way through the car seat blanket booklet has been (pick one) challenging, mind-numbing, an exercise in stupidity, a good way to replenish the baby gift stash.

Number 4 is shown at left. Lace Stitch. This is one of those patterns that I love to hate. It's unbalanced and biases, and even a good soak and dress helps only temporarily. I know that it will revert to parallelogram soon.

Close up of the pattern stitch (4 row pattern, stockinette on 3 rows, YO, K 2 tog on the 4th. I followed the pattern as written. If I do this one again, I will change up every other eyelet row so that the biasing is less severe.

In the meantime, this one is in the gift box along with booties to match.

Next up, Variation On the Theme. The beginning of another car seat blanket, this time in true cables that will be embellished.

I tried (really, I did) a tried and true spelled out version of this cable. After several trips to the virtual and real Frog Pond, I googled and found the cable charted.

Smooth sailing (as long as I don't run out of yarn)!

And now, in the category of I Stand Corrected: The Cascade Greenland behaved beautifully after it's soak and block! It's still sproingy, but is considerably more drapey and grew quite a lot. I am pleased. (But I still think it was the wrong yarn for the project.)

Yarn review: Valley Yarns' Valley Superwash (100% extra fine merino) which is Webs' (www.yarn.com) house brand is super soft and a real pleasure to work with. I bought it specifically to make baby garments in pink, ice blue, and spring leaf. It is perfect for that task.

And a bit on my back. Yes, I saw a doctor. No, it isn't my back. It's sciatica. It's painful. I have drugs. And exercises. And a sock full of hot rice. If it isn't better in 4 more days (or starting to get better), I will also have steroids.

And there is more snow in the forecast. I. Cannot. Take. Any. More. Winter. DONE!

Labels: , ,


// posted by Ann @ 3/02/2014 07:09:00 AM 1 comments

Sunday, February 23, 2014

And #3 Is a FO!

Basket Weave pattern, Cascade Greenland yarn on size 7 needles

The third car seat blankie from the booklet reviewed earlier is now finished. This time I used the Basket Weave pattern and a new-to-me yarn.

Cascade Greenland is a washable wool and was clearly NOT the right yarn for this pattern. I muddled through and finished it, but it's Just Not Right. The twist of this yarn is very tight and it's incredibly sproingy (technical term). Though I had 2 ounces more than required, and should have had about 20 yards left after knitting the pattern to size, I found myself making this one a couple inches smaller than the pattern calls for. It was a nice yarn to work with, and I will probably buy more in the future, but it was the wrong yarn for this project.

I have not washed and blocked yet which might help the drape, but probably will have little effect on the size.

The booties shown are my go-to pattern (Morehouse Merino Knits) and match the last two car seat blankies. There is not enough of the Greenland left to do much more than trim a pair. I'll have to think about that.

Oh, and the color (which is pretty accurate on my screen) is called Lemon Yellow. Not even close.

In other news: I have done something to my back which makes standing up painful. Mind you, not sitting, not standing. Not walking. Not chopping ice or shoveling snow. Just getting from a sitting to a standing position. Twenty minutes of ice allows for 5 minutes of pain-reduced position shifting. Not fun. Yes, if it doesn't resolve (and quickly), I will be heading to the doctor.

Labels: ,


// posted by Ann @ 2/23/2014 10:36:00 AM 0 comments

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Something For the Babies

Everyone I know, it seems, is having a baby or a Baby Grand. What to do? What to do?


Enter a new (2013) and newly-discovered pattern booklet from Leisure Arts.

I got mine at Amazon.

Eight sweet and easy patterns for just-the-right-size carseat blankies. Worsted weight, pattern calls for size 8 or 9, mostly. I went down one needle size.



They work for strollers, baby seats, anything you'd use to "bucket" a wee one.


The good news is that any one of them could easily be up-sized to make a crib blanket or lap robe (or full size afghan for that matter).

But the good part of these and the size the pattern as written makes (16"X20" or thereabouts) is that there isn't a bunch of extra fabric to tangle up and trip baby (or parent).

I've finished 2 since I got the booklet.

This one is called Stacked Cables (no cables in sight, no cable needle needed). The technique is a wee bit tricky (yos from knit to purl and then back again), but 3 repeats in and I was speeding along on all but one of the 4 rows of the repeat. (It was the ws after the pattern row.)

Basic washable wool (Nashua brand) on size 7s.

Ribbed Chevron here in Plymouth Jelli Beenz (75/25 acrylic and wool) on size 8. The photographed sample is in a solid. If I make this one again, I think I will use a solid so that the pattern is more visible.

Making my basic go-to booties to go with each.

Labels:


// posted by Ann @ 2/19/2014 09:05:00 AM 0 comments

Monday, January 27, 2014

The Rest of the Story

And the question becomes, why can I not type where I want to, oh Great and Powerful Blogger?

And the answer is, "but you can, Grasshopper."

Booties to match the little hats posted earlier. These are the same yarn, but the pattern is from Morehouse Farm Merino Knits. Ribbon from JoAnn's, I think.


I've made so many pairs of these over the years that I can knit them in my sleep.
And here are a couple of gratuitous glam shots of Queen Ella.

Younger Son asked today if she is ready for a companion. No one special in mind (he volunteers for a rescue organization).

My response was that Queenella has no need for minions. She has staff. (That would be the Other Half and me.)



Some days, I think it would be nice to have a lap-sitting cat. Ella is more of a Put Your Legs On This Footstool and I Will Lean On You cat. She doesn't like to be picked up, though she will tolerate it from the Other Half.

No, I don't think this house is ready for a second cat.

Unless it's a lap-sitter. Then, we can talk.

Labels: , ,


// posted by Ann @ 1/27/2014 04:21:00 PM 0 comments

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Two of Them


Shopping in the Baby-Stash of Mom got Younger Son nowhere on Saturday. A Coworker is about to become Father To Twin Girls (possibly already).

Quick as a wink, Mom (that would be me) cast on a pair of tiny Rib-a-Roni hats (smallest size) using Encore an a heathery pink and gray.

Both were finished during the never-ending Breaking Bad marathon (only 17 or so episodes to go) that we DVR'ed back in December and the first two episodes of Boardwalk Empire (Netflixed).

Baby hats are a quick present, and this pattern is fun. Click on the picture (right) to see the cunning decreases that maintain the ribbing.

Pattern is available (free) on Ravelry and comes in sizes from infant through large adult.

Labels: , ,


// posted by Ann @ 1/26/2014 09:28:00 AM 0 comments

Saturday, January 25, 2014

Random Acts of Crafting

 This morning, as we do nearly every Saturday, the Other Half and I will head south to the Allentown Farmers Market where we do 90% of our grocery shopping (buying mostly just things like cat food and TP at the regular grocery store these days).

My plan is to bestow these two hats at two of the vendors we frequent. Pink is Woodland Sprite for the very pregnant young woman at our favorite butcher. Brown is for the meat cutter at the deli.



And in other Acts of Randomness, this arrived a bit ago from my friend in Canada. Seems she saw that I liked this little guy on Facebook and ordered him for me.

He's a refrigerator magnet that has many changes of clothing.

Here he is, dressed as the Other Half in leather jacket.



And here he is as the Other Half in days gone by. Peace, out. Rock on. And all that hippy dippy stuff.

Random Act of Violence?

We woke up the other day to major overnight damage to our bird feeders.

Trying to figure out what seed-eater is strong enough/heavy enough to bend the shepherd's crooks (there are two) and bend the (really, actually, virtually) squirrel-proof feeder all to hell like this.


Certainly not these gentle souls!

Did I mention that we live In Town? Yes, near wooded areas, but there is a several-block buffer between us and the woods and at least a half mile (as the crow flies) between us and the river.

I don't even want to consider the possibilities (like bears??). This is the second time in the last couple of years that our feeders have been attacked in the night.

Already replaced the crooks. Picking up a replacement feeder this morning.

Labels: , ,


// posted by Ann @ 1/25/2014 06:24:00 AM 0 comments

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Look At Me!

Purple Warrior Princess in her Woodland Sprite hat and matching mitts. Because it's cold in the winter.

PWP is a happy baby and doesn't mind dressing up. And she's the perfect model for Mammo's hand-knits.

I understand that she has decided that "Edith" (the little doll I made along with her brothers' Minions) is quite tasty.

Yeh, wool.






.

Labels: ,


// posted by Ann @ 1/19/2014 08:15:00 AM 0 comments

Sunday, January 12, 2014

Another Week Gone By


Starting off this post with photos of two sweaters (very tiny) that were finished at the end of 2013. They are both ready to be packed up and mailed.



Minions! Those cute little guys from theDespicable Me movies, translated into yarn. And Edith (ditto). They are about 6" tall and just perfect for carrying in a pocket for those times when you need something, you know, despicable, done.


And lastly, a Woodland Sprite hat and mitts. The mitts were made by starting with one repeat of the hat pattern, throwing in an eyelet round, and finishing with a basic thumbless mitten.They are for the Purple Warrior Princess.

It has been the week from hell, between work, the weather,  and the dentist, but it's over and the new week promises to be a little calmer. I am hoping for that.

Labels: , , ,


// posted by Ann @ 1/12/2014 06:49:00 AM 1 comments

This page is powered by Blogger. Isn't yours?




Previous | Next | Random