Supper Time

Summer Lunch - Let's Eat
Originally uploaded by pezdiva.

Wheat bread, tomato slice, lettuce, jack cheese, avocado.

Mustard and tea, too.

This is my favorite part of these knits. I am a freak.

Knit Unto Others

But only when you you have your own little Miss model first, ah the joys of knitting for children your own child's size. This is one for the many swaps I have been working on. The pattern is an original, as in I cast on for the ruffle and made my way up the top. I have knit this style top many times before, and I always mean to write the pattern down but I never do, it is on my to do list, I swear. It is your basic 3x ruffle done in the round, decreased up for the body, extra decreases at the sides to make it a bit swingy. This version has seed stitch panels with Icord ties. Knit with the old Sugar and Cream stand by with a matching cute little yarn over half square kerchief with crochet ties (warshrag modified - ha!)

I'm a few days late with this swap, so of course the top needs to be blocked. The Divine One looks like she has a huge giant head, which she sort of does but I don't think it really is as big as it looks in this photo. The top is off to live with a super sweet little Redhead 3 year old, I hope the mama likes what I have made for her. They were not expecting the kerchief so I hope it is a fun surprise.

I was starting to think that we should rename the blog something like 'I-95' knitting, but I see a few of you have come out of the knit work, I slay me. I've been thinking a lot about our sweet little Miss d and her mama Melissa, strong heart thoughts to them.

Smooches

Pressure

I work well under pressure. Really, I do. That must be why I seem to be trying to create some for myself.

I've been progressing well on the Tuscany Shawl for my sister. I am halfway through the 7th pattern repeat of 11 total. I think I might need a couple extra repetitions since I've subbed both smaller yarn and needles. Even so, it's looking good that this gift will be completed, blocked and wrapped by it's due date.

So, obviously, I brought home this:

Anne by Schaefer. I'm not sure which color without checking the bottom of my yarn bag for the tag.

I started thinking that since my sister is getting some handknit lace for her very special 30th birthday, doesn't my mom deserve some lace for her equally special 60th birthday? Here's the thing...mom's birthday is 4 days before my sister's.

Ignoring the idiocy of this plan and the slim chance it has of success, help me pick a pattern! I am thinking either

a.) Knitpicks Candle Flame Scarf (the colors make this seem even better)

OR

b.) Branching Out form the Spring 2005 issue of Knitty.

I want to make either one as a smaller scarf that would be worn maybe draped around the neck with a button down blouse.

In other news, my peach tree is blooming! After 10 years in a townhouse with a yard only big enough for the dog to "go" in, all the plants growing in my yard are just amazing.

May the force be with you

DSC00963
Originally uploaded by pezdiva.

Whew, I think I am finally over my 'warshrag' addiction, well, okay maybe that is a lie but this was a fun knit and it made me stop knitting warshrags for a few days. Small enough to not be boring, and challenging enough to hold my attention (seams people, seaming is hard for me). I have knit a few sweaters flat but this one is my best finishing yet. I am usually pretty shy about my finishing work, mainly because it is not my strong point, but this sweater feel free to open it up and look inside - it looks good. This is for my best friend's baby due in August, so I am ahead of the game.

The pattern is the Baby Yoda sweater. I used good old cheapo Peaches and Cream, I think this is 3 skeins but I cannot remember for sure, all I know is that I ran out of yarn to do the ties in icord. I don't usually knit gifts with the cheap stuff but 1) my friend is not a knitter, 2) she is having a summer baby, 3) this is all I had on hand and I needed to knit this pattern (had to, no time to wait on yarn from WEBS, 4) I am knitting a huge layette for her already blanket, hats, booties and 5) I like Peaches and Cream (and I really do, I will knit my kids stuff with this)

I had M try the sweater on just for fun, and it actually fit. It looked like a super cute cropped bolero. I would like to find a way to knit up a stack of these for her hospital stay, but I am holding off trying to figure it out, I keep holding out hope that she will not need surgery.

Nothing else to note really, I have been finishing up a few 'knit food' orders. Every time I say yes to knitting food for trades and stuff I swear it is my last time doing it. I want to say it again 'this is the last time I am doing this' but I doubt I will stick to it. I don't totally love knitting the little food toys and the work is not very rewarding. My favorite part of knitting the food is being able to take photos of it, but even that is not as fun anymore.

About the beeeeuuutiful Clapotis, I am going to have to say it looks more boring to knit than a warshrag - at least the warshrag has a few slip stitches in there to make the the color work fun but I bet there is something nice about being able to drop all those stitches - on purpose. I love the look of the Clapotis so maybe I will pick it up for my 'on the run' knitting.

Progress

On the Clapotis. Pez, don't kill yourself making room for this on your list. I like the look of it but it is as boring as, I don't know, a WARSHRAG. But it doesn't go nearly as fast, because this sucker is looooooooooong. Part of the problem is that I am typically a monogamous knitter, and won't start on anything new unless I am done with the last. But this project may be the trend-breaker, as I am bored silly by it. This is good for stuffing into your bag and toting with you for some mindless knitting while you are waiting at the doctor's office, or on the playground, or waiting at the DMV. Or in purgatory, where you might actually find the time to finish it.



I am in the section where you are supposed to start dropping rows. It's nice to see some progress, but in this section there are 12 repeats. Kill me now.

In other news, I got myself a nice little tin at Borders the other day to hold my knitting supplies. I used to use a bag, but everyting was always collecting at the bottom and I was always dumping the contents out to find something. This 3.99 tin solved that problem. It holds everything and has a official sounding "click" when you close it. Very comforting.



Doesn't everything look all tucked in and ready for bed? Hope y'all are having a nice Memorial Day weekend.

Question of the Day

Do the people at Wendy's (Knit and Tonic) LYS know she keeps a blog? And actually writes down their conversations? And understand the underlying condescending tone?

Just wondering.

Clapotis, Take 2

The original plan was to make Clapotis with some Claudia's Handpainted Yarn (Plumilicious) and carry it with some KidSilk Night. Unfortunately, the Kidsilk is too dark and muting the beautiful browns and dark purples in the other yarn.



Personally, I like it, but I know my mother will hate it. It's too close to black, and she has not worn black since she was a nun. Yes, you read that right: a nun. She was a novitiate for four years and decided to bail out before her final vows. Thank the God I don't believe in for that. There are some great pictures of her in a penguin suit, though, so it wasn't a total waste. So, understandably she equates dark colors with oppression, subserviance and itchy polyester habits. I decided to knit it with only the Claudia's, and the effect is much nicer.



In other knit news, I found a gorgeous brown silk to carry with the Tilli Tomas yarn I got at Maryland Sheep and Wool. It's going to make a fantastic scarf. I am thinking of a very simple pattern--any suggestions, peeps?



Please note how I am not going to remark on the previous post's mention (and photo) of crocs. I will say this: i do love that gnome. Oh, not that Pez would ever make fun of me for this, but I spent the better part of yesterday trying to figure out who "Dee" was. I am not kidding. I think any criticism of footwear is negated at this point.

Crocs and Warshrags

People have some strong opinions about both, don't they? You either hate 'em of love 'em. Me, I hated Crocs when I first saw they, now I love them. I know they are ugly and they don't do much to give you a sexy leg but I am all about them. They are so ugly they are cute, so says me. And honestly, they are easy. Easy to clean, easy to go to the pool in, the park, just all over easy.

Now, about the warshrag - I don't actually call them warshrags, round here we call them washcloths. But around here we also don't use them. Why? I don't know but they seem to big to wash with and too small to dry your hands on, so why on earth do I keep knitting them? I don't even know. But if I don't do anything else this week, I will at least weave in ends and start using these ugly little cuties.

Work on the Baby Yoda sweater is almost complete, I need to seam up the sides and put some ties on it. Boob hat pattern by me, still is the works. Speaking of boring knitting, the never ending baby blanket needs work too.

Off to be mocked in the garden by the dude who thinks I stole his shoes.

Procrastination

So, I am super far behind everyone else. I have been procrastinating over my first post because I have no pictures to share. I had pictures of the new tank I knit for B on the camera when DH left with it for his 3 week cross-country road trip, and pictures on the laptop, also traveling now, but not a single solitary picture of handknit anything to post.

But, I decided I could not wait the week that is left before camera and laptop (and dh) return home, so I can, at least, post my answers to the poll. I was surprised by how many I had done, and more surprised by the ones I have absolutely no desire to ever do. Knitting for a wedding? No thank you, not unless it was my own and I've already walked down that particular aisle. And knitting with dog or cat hair? Eeeew. I have been supremely annoyed (not to mention sniffly and scratchy) due to the copious amount of cat hair hidden in my most recently purchased indie hand dyed Etsy skein, why would I do that on purpose?

I put together some shelving cubes and organized my yarn cubby last week. Ahem, pictures will be forthcoming, I am inordinately proud of my new little area. It was scary though to see laid out in one big pile just how many WIP's I actually have. I am the original ADD knitter. I can work on any given project for no more than a couple of days before I am compelled to cast on something new. In fact, just last night, when I had promised myself I would finish one of my current pairs of socks, I cast on for a felted purse instead. Oh well, it works for me anyway.

Here's my version of the list....

Mark with bold the things you have ever knit, with italics the ones you plan to do sometime, and leave the rest:

Afghan (Bold and italic to signify the half completed full size afghan that's never going to be ready by Father's Day. )
I-cord
Garter stitch
Knitting with metal wire
Shawl
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down
Socks: toe-up
Knitting with camel yarn
Mittens: Cuff-up
Mittens: Tip-down
Hat
Knitting with silk
Moebius band knitting
Participating in a KAL
Sweater
Drop stitch patterns
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
Slip stitch patterns
Knitting with banana fiber yarn
Domino knitting (=modular knitting)
Twisted stitch patterns
Knitting with bamboo yarn
Two end knitting
Charity knitting
Knitting with soy yarn
Cardigan
Toy/doll clothing
Knitting with circular needles
Baby items
Knitting with your own handspun yarn
Slippers
Graffiti knitting (knitting items on, or to be left on the street)
Continental knitting
Designing knitted garments
Cable stitch patterns (incl. Aran)
Lace patterns
Publishing a knitting book
Scarf
Teaching a child to knit
American/English knitting (as opposed to continental)
Knitting to make money
Button holes
Knitting with alpaca
Fair Isle knitting
Norwegian knitting
Dying with plant colours
Knitting items for a wedding
Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cosies...)
Knitting socks (or other small tubular items)on two circulars
Knitting with someone else's handspun yarn
Knitting with dpns
Holiday related knitting
Teaching a male how to knit
Bobbles
Knitting for a living
Knitting with cotton
Knitting smocking
Dying yarn
Steeks
Knitting art
Knitting two socks on two circulars simultaneously
Fulling/felting
Knitting with wool
Textured knitting
KitchenerBO
Purses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching
Long Tail CO
EntrelacKnitting and purling backwards
Machine knitting
Knitting with self patterning/self striping/variegating yarn
Stuffed toys
Baby items
Knitting with cashmere
Darning
Jewelry
Knitting with synthetic yarn
Writing a pattern
Gloves
Intarsia
Knitting with linen
Knitting for preemies
Tubular CO
Freeform knitting
Short rows
Cuffs/fingerless mits/armwarmers
Pillows
Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine
Rug
Knitting on a loom
Thrummed knitting
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets
Shrug/bolero/poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair
Hair accessories
Knitting in public

Boredom

I am easily bored. For me, this is the most likely reason a project will be abandoned. My friend was over for dinner this weekend and showed me the baby blanket she was working on.

It's beautiful and soft, and um...big enough don't you think? She said she had 3 more skeins and was enjoying the pattern so she was going to use them. I don't understand. Why? 3 more skeins of knitting the same thing over and over and over again. It sounds like the seventh circle of hell to me. Then again, I would have done 3 or 4 pattern repeats and started measuring obsessively and bargaining with myself about how big is big enough.

I have the attention span of a gnat. I look forward to the shaping in a sweater or the color changes. I look at an aran sweater and instead of thinking that looks hard, I think I won't be bored. I rarely knit scarfs or blankets for this very reason. I also knit alot of baby and kids clothes because the boring sections of plain knitting are blessedly small. Unfortunately my taste runs towards the plainer more classic pieces, so I often have several items in progress at once. The plainer the project, the longer it will take me to finish it.

My daughter asked me to make a blanket just for her. I dutifully promised and then panicked about how I would manage to complete something a large and as boring as a blanket.

It's blinding, but I'm not bored.

Wake up, Jeff!

Is what Alex was yelling earlier today at the Maryland Science Center.
.
I like how he is totally unfazed about the hugeness of the sculpture, and is shouting commands at something ten times his size.

Because we were away for much of the day, progress on my new project was minimal. Remember my love/hate relationship with Kate Gilbert designs? Yeah, well, I am making a Clapotis for my mother. I'm using Claudia's Handpainted Yarn and carrying with it some Rowan KidSilk Night to give some haze and sparkle.

I hope she likes it. I have found I can only knit for those that I truly love, because I end up thinking about them during the entire process of the project, from yarn selection to bind off, and with every stitch I form. I can't really waste my time thinking too much about people who don't make the cut. This is an admittedly perverse way of evaluating my friends, but it is fairly useful.

See that curled up little triangle on the needles? I am hoping it's more rectangular next time I post.

Peoneme

I truly love spring in DC. Growing up in California made me immune to the changes of the seasons; the winters are so mild that nothing ever really dies. But now that I live in a place where there are true, distinct seasons (even though they are mild, relative to many other parts of the world), I await the bloom of every bud on the dogwoods in my yard. And the peonies and the azaleas and the bluebells and lilies of the valley and the irises. But the grand prize for me is in June, when my beloved hydrangeas bloom. I can't wait to see what they look like this year. I planted them last year and literally spent hours tending to the delicate balance of water and shade they required as new plantings. They are very high maintenance plants. But I expect a big payoff. Already my dwarf hydrangea is three feet tall, and I see lots of potential blooms on my mopheads.

I never, ever thought I would have even a passing interest in gardening. But I love it. I love witnessing the life cycle in its fierce and compact time schedule. I love the fun and challenge of planning a perennial garden (my current project for that little strip of land between the sidewalk and the street), predicting what will bloom when and what will look good next to each other. This year the kids and I are going to raise monarch caterpillars, once the milkweed shows up at the nursery. Pictures to follow, obviously.

But back to the meme. I got all woozy reading all of those. I'll just talk about what I like and what I want to knit next and things that annoy me. Probably a lot of that, now that I think about it.

I like knitting with wool, and wool and silk blends.
I would like to try bamboo.
I slightly prefer two circulars instead of DPNs, but not enough to always choose one over the other.
I am tired of following directions and want to branch out to designing my own stuff.
I can't steek to save my life, and you will all be relieved to know that when Stitches East comes to town in October, I will be attending the "Joy of Steeking" class.
I don't really like self-striping yarns.
Noro? The World of Nature? Whatever.
Love the Yarn Harlot blog, hate the books.
I like cabling. A lot.
I know people who hate intarsia. I don't understand why. I neither love it or hate it. If the pattern calls for it, I do it.
I do hate seaming, though, and take great pains to pick up stitches for sleeves so I can knit them in the round.
I am so over felting, but will be felting one more bag before hanging up the felting for awhile.
Knitters I admire: Elizabeth Zimmerman, Nicky Epstein, Jenna Adorno, Eunny Jang, and La Pez.
I do not love the washrag. I do not understand the washrag. I do not understand the appeal of the slow-witted style of Mason Dixon Knitting. I have met the authors at a book signing and love them. They are incredibly nice and funny, and their friendship is really lovely. But the book? Not so much.
I love the Geico cavemen. Just had to throw that in there.
I am currently trying to figure out how to incorporate Keanu Reeves as a design element in a project. I am not kidding about this. Y'all have not seen my Keanu Reeves tabletop fountain (which I MADE, by the way) so you have NO IDEA how deep the madness reaches.

That's it for now. Have to go practice my Spanish. La chica es loca.

This list makes me look more impressive than I am....

There is no symbol for "done well". I am still learning to do a gauge and to change according to the outcome. :) Hopefully, I will get as flawless as all of you are with every project. Nowadays, it is a case-by-case basis.

I have been knitting since 1998, when I learned to knit to pass the time on my 2 hour ferry commute days to Seattle. I had wanted to learn since 1988, when I was an exchange student in Australia and they taught knitting in their home economics course (should have taken that instead of drama!!). I knit now in those hazy moments before sleep in bed at night, or in the car. There is never enough time!!

Afghan
I-cord
Garter stitch
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down
Hat
Knitting with silk
Sweater
Drop stitch patterns
Cardigan
Toy/doll clothing
Knitting with circular needles
Baby items
Scarf
Teaching a child to knit
Button holes
Knitting with alpaca
Knitting items for a wedding
Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cosies...)
Knitting with dpns
Holiday related knitting
Teaching a male how to knit
Bobbles
Knitting with cotton
Fulling/felting
Knitting with wool
Kitchener
BOPurses/bags
Stuffed toys
Baby items
Darning
Knitting with synthetic yarn
Intarsia
Knitting with linen
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets
Shrug/bolero/poncho
Knitting in publi

Morning MeMe #4

I am an occasional contributor, but a constant (albeit very slow and time limited) knitter. I love to crochet (gasp!) too. Actually any kind of craft I can find time and/or money for is fair game to me. :D I have to craft.

I'm relatively new to this knitting thing, although I've been a needle crafter for years. I enjoy it, but cannot seem to find enough time for it with three kids and their activities. I knit at the ball fields, in the pick-up line, in the car, at the soccer fields, at chorus concerts, and at PTO meetings! ;) and yes, I've been called "Granny" before for it!

Mark with bold the things you have ever knit, with italics the ones you plan to do sometime, and leave the rest

Afghan (crocheted!)
I-cord
Garter stitch
Knitting with metal wire
Shawl
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down
Socks: toe-up
Knitting with camel yarn
Mittens: Cuff-up
Mittens: Tip-down
Hat
Knitting with silk
Moebius band knitting
Participating in a KAL
Sweater (doing this one now, but not finished!)
Drop stitch patterns
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
Slip stitch patterns
Knitting with banana fiber yarn
Domino knitting (=modular knitting)
Twisted stitch patterns
Knitting with bamboo yarn
Two end knitting
Charity knitting
Knitting with soy yarn
Cardigan
Toy/doll clothing
Knitting with circular needles
Baby items
Knitting with your own handspun yarn
Slippers
Graffiti knitting (knitting items on, or to be left on the street)
Continental knitting
Designing knitted garments
Cable stitch patterns (incl. Aran)
Lace patterns
Publishing a knitting book
Scarf
Teaching a child to knit
American/English knitting (as opposed to continental)
Knitting to make money
Button holes
Knitting with alpaca
Fair Isle knitting
Norwegian knitting
Dying with plant colours
Knitting items for a wedding
Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cosies...)
Knitting socks (or other small tubular items)on two circulars
Knitting with someone else's handspun yarn
Knitting with dpns
Holiday related knitting
Teaching a male how to knit
Bobbles
Knitting for a living
Knitting with cotton
Knitting smocking
Dying yarn
Steeks
Knitting art
Knitting two socks on two circulars simultaneously
Fulling/felting
Knitting with wool
Textured knitting
Kitchener
BOPurses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching
Long Tail CO
Entrelac
Knitting and purling backwards
Machine knitting
Knitting with self patterning/self striping/variegating yarn
Stuffed toys
Baby items
Knitting with cashmere
Darning
Jewelry
Knitting with synthetic yarn
Writing a pattern
Gloves
Intarsia
Knitting with linen
Knitting for preemies
Tubular CO
Freeform knitting
Short rows
Cuffs/fingerless mits/armwarmers
Pillows
Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine
Rug
Knitting on a loom
Thrummed knitting
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets
Shrug/bolero/poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair
Hair accessories
Knitting in public

Morning MeMe #3

I'm one of the knitting "babies" on the blog. There are still many, many things I want to do. If only I had more time in my day!

Mark with bold the things you have ever knit, with italics the ones you plan to do sometime, and leave the rest

Afghan
I-cord
Garter stitch
Knitting with metal wire
Shawl
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down
Socks: toe-up
Knitting with camel yarn
Mittens: Cuff-up
Mittens: Tip-down
Hat
Knitting with silk
Moebius band knitting
Participating in a KAL
Sweater
Drop stitch patterns
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
Slip stitch patterns
Knitting with banana fiber yarn
Domino knitting (=modular knitting)
Twisted stitch patterns
Knitting with bamboo yarn
Two end knitting
Charity knitting
Knitting with soy yarn
Cardigan
Toy/doll clothing
Knitting with circular needles
Baby items
Knitting with your own handspun yarn
Slippers
Graffiti knitting (knitting items on, or to be left on the street)
Continental knitting
Designing knitted garments
Cable stitch patterns (incl. Aran)
Lace patterns
Publishing a knitting book
Scarf
Teaching a child to knit
American/English knitting (as opposed to continental)
Knitting to make money
Button holes
Knitting with alpaca
Fair Isle knitting
Norwegian knitting
Dying with plant colours
Knitting items for a wedding
Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cosies...)
Knitting socks (or other small tubular items)on two circulars
Knitting with someone else's handspun yarn
Knitting with dpns
Holiday related knitting
Teaching a male how to knit
Bobbles
Knitting for a living
Knitting with cotton
Knitting smocking
Dying yarn
Steeks
Knitting art
Knitting two socks on two circulars simultaneously
Fulling/felting
Knitting with wool
Textured knitting
Kitchener
BOPurses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching
Long Tail CO
Entrelac
Knitting and purling backwards
Machine knitting
Knitting with self patterning/self striping/variegating yarn
Stuffed toys
Baby items
Knitting with cashmere
Darning
Jewelry
Knitting with synthetic yarn
Writing a pattern
Gloves
Intarsia
Knitting with linen
Knitting for preemies
Tubular CO
Freeform knitting
Short rows
Cuffs/fingerless mits/armwarmers
Pillows
Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine
Rug
Knitting on a loom
Thrummed knitting
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets
Shrug/bolero/poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair
Hair accessories
Knitting in public

Morning Meme 2

Mark with bold the things you have ever knit, with italics the ones you plan to do sometime, and leave the rest

Afghan

I-cord

Garter stitch

Knitting with metal wire

Shawl

Stockinette stitch

Socks: top-down

Socks: toe-up

Knitting with camel yarn

Mittens: Cuff-up

Mittens: Tip-down

Hat

Knitting with silk

Moebius band knitting

Participating in a KAL

Sweater

Drop stitch patterns

Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn

Slip stitch patterns

Knitting with banana fiber yarn

Domino knitting (=modular knitting)

Twisted stitch patterns

Knitting with bamboo yarn

Two end knitting

Charity knitting

Knitting with soy yarn

Cardigan

Toy/doll clothing

Knitting with circular needles

Baby items

Knitting with your own handspun yarn

Slippers

Graffiti knitting (knitting items on, or to be left on the street)

Continental knitting

Designing knitted garments

Cable stitch patterns (incl. Aran)

Lace patterns

Publishing a knitting book

Scarf

Teaching a child to knit

American/English knitting (as opposed to continental)

Knitting to make money

Button holes

Knitting with alpaca

Fair Isle knittingNorwegian knitting

Dying with plant colours

Knitting items for a wedding

Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cosies...)

Knitting socks (or other small tubular items)on two circulars

Knitting with someone else's handspun yarn

Knitting with dpns

Holiday related knitting

Teaching a male how to knit

Bobbles

Knitting for a living

Knitting with cotton

Knitting smocking

Dying yarn

Steeks

Knitting art

Knitting two socks on two circulars simultaneously

Fulling/felting

Knitting with wool

Textured knitting

KitchenerBO

Purses/bags

Knitting with beads

Swatching

Long Tail CO

EntrelacKnitting and purling backwards

Machine knitting

Knitting with self patterning/self striping/variegating yarn

Stuffed toys

Baby items

Knitting with cashmere

Darning

Jewelry

Knitting with synthetic yarn

Writing a pattern

Gloves

Intarsia

Knitting with linen

Knitting for preemies

Tubular CO

Freeform knitting

Short rows

Cuffs/fingerless mits/armwarmers

Pillows

Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine

Rug

Knitting on a loom

Thrummed knitting

Knitting a gift

Knitting for pets

Shrug/bolero/poncho

Knitting with dog/cat hair

Hair accessories

Knitting in public

Next!

Morning Meme

You say donut, I say doknit
Originally uploaded by pezdiva.

Mark with bold the things you have ever knit, with italics the ones you plan to do sometime, and leave the rest

Afghan
I-cord
Garter stitch
Knitting with metal wire
Shawl
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down
Socks: toe-up
Knitting with camel yarn
Mittens: Cuff-up
Mittens: Tip-down
Hat
Knitting with silk
Moebius band knitting
Participating in a KAL
Sweater
Drop stitch patterns
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
Slip stitch patterns
Knitting with banana fiber yarn
Domino knitting (=modular knitting)
Twisted stitch patterns
Knitting with bamboo yarn
Two end knitting
Charity knitting
Knitting with soy yarn
Cardigan
Toy/doll clothing
Knitting with circular needles
Baby items
Knitting with your own handspun yarn
Slippers
Graffiti knitting (knitting items on, or to be left on the street)
Continental knitting
Designing knitted garments
Cable stitch patterns (incl. Aran)
Lace patterns
Publishing a knitting book
Scarf
Teaching a child to knit
American/English knitting (as opposed to continental)
Knitting to make money
Button holes
Knitting with alpaca
Fair Isle knitting
Norwegian knitting
Dying with plant colours
Knitting items for a wedding
Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cosies...)
Knitting socks (or other small tubular items)on two circulars
Knitting with someone else's handspun yarn
Knitting with dpns
Holiday related knitting
Teaching a male how to knit
Bobbles
Knitting for a living
Knitting with cotton
Knitting smocking
Dying yarn
Steeks
Knitting art
Knitting two socks on two circulars simultaneously
Fulling/felting
Knitting with wool
Textured knitting
Kitchener
BOPurses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching
Long Tail CO
Entrelac
Knitting and purling backwards
Machine knitting
Knitting with self patterning/self striping/variegating yarn
Stuffed toys
Baby items
Knitting with cashmere
Darning
Jewelry
Knitting with synthetic yarn
Writing a pattern
Gloves
Intarsia
Knitting with linen
Knitting for preemies
Tubular CO
Freeform knitting
Short rows
Cuffs/fingerless mits/armwarmers
Pillows
Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine
Rug
Knitting on a loom
Thrummed knitting
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets
Shrug/bolero/poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair
Hair accessories
Knitting in public

You're Next!

How to make Gina cringe:

IMG_5049
Originally uploaded by pezdiva.

Warshrag, there I said it. Did that word give anyone else a full body shiver?

I don't do anything half way. Do I need to tell you all this? I think not. But these warshrags, knitting these warshrags are damn addictive. I'm not sure what it is, maybe it is that vintage domestic feel, maybe it is the daydreams of having my kitchen stocked with beautiful handknits, or maybe it is that they are so freaking fast and easy you can't help but love them. And they are cheap. Super cheap, so cheap even this non hoarding yarn loving chick is developing a cotton stash.

With this love of warshrags comes guilt however, I have about a million other things I could be knitting. Shirts for the Divine One, toys for the King, hats for the mister, something, anything for me. And then there is the 'business' knitting that I must do. But for now, come on over, sit with me in my shade garden on garbage day and knit a warshrag with me. You will have a stack of warshrags so puffy and fun you too will have thoughts of where you can find a vintage basket for the corner of your kitchen to house them all in.

Don't Drink and Steek

I love Kate Gilbert's designs. Let me clarify that: I love her designs, but I do not, at least so far, love actually knitting them. I bought yarn intending to knit the Sunrise Circle Jacket, but stalled when faced with the NINE PAGES of line by line written instructions. But when I saw the irresistably cute Pea Pod Baby set, I had to knit it. I also thought it would be a good opportunity to test my theory that I Hate Seaming. This theory was formulated early on in my knitting career, so I wasn't sure if I Really Hated Seaming, or if I hated it because I was Inexperienced and Didn't Know What I Was Doing. I found some acceptable yarn (Debbie Bliss Rialto) in a fabulous color (green, what else?) and commenced knitting this bottom up sweater with sewn in sleeves. Twice. Both because of my own errors. The first time I knit it, I accidentally did an extra repeat on the lace pattern which left me with longer body section than I had intended.



Which was fine, except that I had already knit the sleeves separately, and didn't make any mistakes, so I had a big body and tiny little sleeves. Here's where I decide to make lemons into lemonade. I thought, "Hey, let's just make two sweaters! And this time, LEARN TO COUNT." And here's the strange thing: I used the same yarn, same needles and actually counted correctly, and look what I got.



Two sweaters, the same size. The one on the right is smaller by maybe an inch. To make matters worse, now the small sleeves won't fit into the smaller sweater. What now? MORE LEMONADE, OF COURSE! "Even though I have no experience steeking, I'm going to do it! Yes! How hard can it be?" (DISCLAIMER) My judgement might have been affected by the glass of wine I had earlier in the evening. How did it go, you ask?



Tres horrible. What a surprise.

Here is the ultimate fate of the yarn.



Speed Racer needed a scarf, anyway. Oh, and it turns out I Really Do Hate Seaming.

Children and Lace

All morning at work I was daydreaming about coming home, sitting in the sun in the backyard and working on the Tuscany shawl from No Sheep for You while my children played happily in the yard.

*Snort*

I was greeted at the door by syrup sticky, pajama wearing, bed headed kids. No problem. I washed and dressed the kids and was ready to head outside. What? Hungry? Ok. Make, eat, and clean up lunch. Now, outside we go. Oh, you need something to drink? Alright, I'll just set my yarn on the patio table and run in the kitchen for a minute.

What do I see out the window not 90 seconds later? My son streaking by clutching a large ball of alpaca, yarn trailing the ground, followed by my daughter chasing him with the shawl end on the needles. Believe it or not they didn't pull off any stitches. I guess I need a safer place to keep my yarn when I run inside for a minute.

The shawl is for my sister for her 30th birthday. I'm really enjoying the pattern so far. It's not quite autopilot, so I'm not bored; but I'm still able to talk or watch tv while working on it. I've got just over a month to finish and block it. I'm not usually great with deadlines, but I am not giving this gift still on the needles. It could get very entertaining for everyone else as we get down to the wire.

Welcome Bungaknitters!

What do you think of our new digs?

I'll let everyone introduce themselves. I'm Dani. I've been married 10 years this fall to my high school sweetheart and I have 2 children, ages 2 and 5. I have a boring part time paying job and I am a passionate knitter. I learned to knit around 7 years ago after being a crocheter since childhood. I haven't put down the needles since. Joining me are a group of knitting moms who all met online. Yep, we're a copycat Mason-Dixon.

I'll be the first to show off my latest completed project.

Moose's Argyle Vest. This pattern is original, though inspired Eunny Jang's, and I'll offer it someday if there's any interest. Moose was a more than happy to model.

Does it get any better than knitting for a 2 year old? It's quick and they don't care if there's errors, so long as it's comfy.