A Scarf In Time For Summer

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Originally uploaded by nay_knits

Sunshine, 80 degrees, sunscreen, endless swimming, and bonfires. I know what you're thinking ... time to knit a scarf! OK, maybe not, but all those things mean the end of the school year for me. So while the kiddos splash away, I knit as fast as I can.

This scarf pattern is one of my favorites. The feathers and fan stitch makes any yarn look good. Well almost any yarn. For this one, I used 2 skeins of Madelintosh Tosh Sock head doubled throughout. It was love at first sight at the yarn store. Something about the pinks, fuschia, and black grabbed me and wouldn't let go. That hold lasted for about 20 rows and then the color pooling started. I kept cutting a strand and reattaching in hopes to avoid the mass areas of color, but it just meant pooling of different color combinations and more ends to weave in. I finally gave up, but on blinders and kept knitting.

Although I did not like the finished product solely for the yarn issue, the recipient (son's 2nd grade teacher) absolutely loved it! She had been eyeing the one I knit for myself all school year. I'm glad I made her one - she's worth every stitch!

Bunny Nugget Addiction

Hello.  My name is Renee and I am addicting to knitting Bunny Nuggets.  I just can not help myself and these darling little squishy things are taking over my kitchen table and my life.  I can't pass by my needles without making one (why not when they only take about an hour and a half to make).  

I started out making them as Easter gifts for my son and a handful of little nieces and nephews.  After the first bunny (yellow) my list grew to include as many little kids I could think up.  Even kids I don't really know got added to the list just so I could keep making them.  If you have child who would like one, let me know!

Baby Shower ... more like downpour

This past Saturday, I had 2 baby showers to attend.  One from 11-1 and the other from 1-3.  Not only was the timing cutting it close, but as usual, so was my knitting.  I was knitting up until the moment I had to leave.  This is nothing unusual for me - my mother always called me "Last Minute Sally Sue".  Hey, I think pressure is what gets it done.

This sweater is Snug by Hinke.  I've made it before and it is now my go-to quick baby knit.  It is knit, literally every stitch, in bulky yarn with minimal seaming.  I knit this one in 2 evenings using Berroco's Comfort Chunky.     I typically knit in more fun, gender specific colors but the parents didn't want to find out what version of kid they are having, so this one came out beige.   The buttons are bone buttons from Mission Falls.  The shower guests oohed and aahhed at the tiny size and snuggly soft fabric.  (I live for the oohs and aahhs!)

Next up was a blanket for a baby boy - Rhyce (that's Reese just spelled differently).  The mom registered for a striped rug at Target and I decided to knit a blanket to match.  I followed the general idea of the Bob Blankie by Mission Falls but with bulky yarn and a larger striping sequence.   The yarn ends are braided together - which I recommended doing as you go instead of waiting to the end.  If you wait, consider the blanket frogged.  

Now that baby season is almost over, I plan to knit a little something for myself.  I'm thinking a little sleeveless number to get me through spring.

So I might have to break one of my resolutions.  But I really, really have to.  I don't have the necessary weights, colors, and amounts of yarn to make a blanket that looks like the stripey swatch on the right.  It's a rug for a baby's room and the mom registered for the rug.  I can make a blanket that looks just like it out of Berroco Comfort Bulky, for little $, and in little time.  But I don't have it in my stash.  I'd have to visit Kaleidoscope Yarns.

I'm thinking of modifying the Bob Blankie pattern from Mission Falls.  Maybe minus the thin white stripe between colors.  Another knitter suggested saving time by using the Conair Hair Braider to twist the yarn ends.  I might have to stop by Walmart as well!

We had our carpets cleaned yesterday and this meant moving furniture and exposing some of my knitting hiding spots.  I found 4 more projects.  One got chucked - a DK weight granny square blanket that had about 10 out of 60 blocks done.  One is a finishing nightmare - a baby blanket using many different yarns with miles of ends to weave in - and I will finish it even though the recipient is now 2 1/2.  I found another baby blanket using Lamb's Price Cotton Fleece.  I'm thinking this one will get frogged and the yarn stashed.  Lastly I found these little beauties ...

They are another pair of legwarmers, only this time they are for my sister-in-law (mother of the striped legwarmies).  I've been looking for a project to leave in my car, should I encounter a traffic tie-up of some sort.  Something mindless and without any actual pattern to have to worry about following.  This is it!!
So I'm not wishing for unfortunate vehicular issues, but if I am stuck in stand-still traffic, I'll have something to do.

I resolve to ....

First, here is my most recent WIP - Legwarmies (designed by Alana Dakos).  They are for my niece "Baby Belly"!  She's 14 months old and her mom's a dance instructor.  I think dancing is in her blood.  The legwarmies are modeled by my dog Maisy who is not a dancer.


RESOLUTIONS

Although we are half way through January, I thought I'd jot down my knitting resolutions.  I think I should reward myself for completed resolutions.

1.  Finish WIPS.  I think I have 6, but as I dig through my hidden stashes, I think I'll find more.

2.  Use as much stashed yarn as possible, when possible.  (Love the little out I put in there for my LYS addicted-self.)

3.  Design something knitted.

4.  Knit a project that involves intarsia.  I am afraid of intarsia and will go out of my way to avoid it by stranding or knitting something else.

5.  Knit a Christmas gift a month.

I'm sure I could make 100 more resolutions, but why set myself up for failure.  These 5 are going to be stretch ... especially the using stashed yarn.

Resolution In Progress (RIP)

I'll admit that I have WAY too much yarn, an addiction to Kaleidoscope Yarns, and not nearly enough time to knit.  My stash (not the one on my lip that requires waxing) grows on a biweekly basis - on average.  So for the second year in a row, I am resolving to used up stashed yarn as much a possible for new projects.  I purposefully put the loophole "as much as possible" in that resolution because, well ... you don't always have what you need and a year is a really long time!

I am hoping to make the following with the following:

• French Press Slippers (at least 4 pair)  /  Knit Picks: Wool of the Andes
• Classic Washcloths (2-3)  /  Crystal Palace:  Cotton Chenille
• Peruvian Tweed Shawl  /  Joseph Galler:  Peruvian Tweek
• Foliage  /  Malabrigo Yarn Chunky
• Laptop Case  /  Cascade 220
• Cabled Vest  /  Jo Sharp Silk Road Tweed DK
• Simple Garter Baby Blanket  /  Classic Elite Premier
• Otis Kimono Wrap  /  Classic Elite Premier
• Captain's Hat and Bella's Mittens  /  Berroco Comfort Chunky
• Whisper Cardigan  /  Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Semi Solid

Argghh! Not enough time to knit matey!

The summer's been pretty crazy around here - 2 college courses for me, our seven year old out of school, and unpredictable weather. I was able to squeeze in a few rows here and there and complete a few little projects.

Along with a handful of other WIPs, I will add a fair isle hat of skulls and crossbones. It is for my son's best friend Gabrielle for Christmas. Skulls are her thing right now and I think she's going to love this hat!! The pattern was a free pdf download from Helloyarns.com. I've chosen a black yarn (Berroco Pure Merino DK) and a self-striping sock yarn (Plymouth Encore Sock DK). The sock yarn adds a really cool effect to fair isle. I used a "What's My Pirate Name" website to name this project Red Grace Bonney. My project names tend to be bland so I thought I'd get a little more creative with this one.

If all goes well, I will cast on for this project tonight. If all goes well ....

Gauge and Taxes - the 2 are related.

I try not to knit much during January and February because in my house, it is tax season. And although I am not an accountant, we have a small business that is both complicated enough, and not-so-small, that it takes me 2 months to prepare so our accountant can then prepare. I'm not a fan of paying the government thousands of dollars, so the topic of taxes makes me knit a little tighter! My nice, even gauge constricts in unison with my blood vessels at the mere mention of paying MORE money in April after we've paid 4 other times throughout the year, PLUS what I've had withheld from my weekly checks. Couple this with the "Stimulus Package" and "Bailouts" and I've got myself a piece of knitted fabric that is so stiff and dense that it is now impenetrable.

I have two resolutions for the new year. The first, and already broken, was to use stash yarn instead of buying new. (HA! Never a possibility.) The second is to embrace my weakness and figure out a way to make them work for me. My tax related high blood pressure and tight gauge condition (AKA Vasogaugo Hyperknitus) can be put to good use. I'm knitting a straight jacket at a blindingly small gauge, that can be worn to prevent law makers and fat-cat executives from doing anything. On my design board are plans for a chastity belt. Forget the governments upcoming Contraceptive Plan - you can't make someone take a pill or practice safe sex, but a liquid-proof chastity belt ain't coming off!

As we proceed into March, our tax stuff moves from my desk to the accountant's. My even-gauge projects come out and my Vasogaugo Hyperknitus is under control. I hope to get several projects done, before the dreaded "How much you owe" phone call comes in and I forced to go back up to a size 15 needle just to get 4 stitches to the inch.

Fun with Scraps

The break from school is awfully nice. I'm actually getting some knitting and crocheting projects done. There's still some javascript homework outstanding, but, honestly, I'm working on that too!! (Just in case my prof. reads my blog!!)

So this is a "Scrat" - a hat made from scrap worsted weight yarn. I borrowed an idea from another crafter who tied small scraps of yarn together and then winds it into a ball. It creates a very unique fabric and the color combinations can easily be altered to the individual. I used a basic crocheted hat pattern and a Size J hook. This Scrat happens to be a bit too big because after the 6th increase round I was worried it was too small.

Up next .... a "Scarp" - a scarf made from scraps!

Lady Eleanor Entrelac Wrap - all wrapped up.

Started 12/18/08 and finished, I mean completely finished 1/1/09, is one of the best items I've ever knitted. This wrap was my first attempt at entrelac, and just like mittens and socks, I don't know what I was so afraid of. Knit some, knit two together, turn and purl. Repeat. What's so hard about that??!! Absolutely nothing.

The yarn is Silk Garden by Noro. 45% silk, 45 % kid mohair, 10% lamb's wool. Definitely pricey, but 100% worth it. At first it felt really scratchy but after I soaked it in "Soak" and blocked it, the scratchiness became silky-smoothness.

I wish I could keep this project but the recipient is well-deserving. All I have to do know is wrap it up and pass it on.

Pattern: "Lady Eleanor Entrelac Wrap", in Scarf Style, page 52-56.

Facebook Takes The Cake

OMG! I haven't been this addicted to anything on the web since my first AOL account 10+ years ago. No homework or knitting has gotten down since I created an account on Monday. Hopefully non of my professors are reading this .... People just keep popping up that I haven't seen or talked for eons (not quite sure how to spell that one). Very cool toy.

I was chatting tonight with a neighbor who is over in Iraq. It was amazing to think about how fast we communicated. We updated each other on the local weather and my forecast of cold with a dusting of snow was trumped with kind of cold with a dusting of dust!!

I know I should immediate turn my attention to homework after I sign-off, but I'd rather knit!

Stitches versus Studies

Ladies and gentlemen ...

Let's get ready toooo ... ah ..um .... aww crap I've got to do homework. I just want to knit. Baby booties, and little tiny hats, and Christmas presents, and warm wooly socks, and felt handbags. These are a few of my favorite things .... sorry.

A quick shout out to all my fellow JavaScript classmates - Hi ya'll! How's that coding going for you? Not so well for me. I'm still stuck somewhere in Chapter 8 and seeing how I should be in Chapter 9 by now ... YIKES! Anyway, when I started this blog I was not in school earning my degree so I had a ton of time to knit and blog. Now I barely have the time to sleep!

So instead of just one more row, I find myself saying, "Just one more code example."

Knit Night in Milton

The following is a copy of the article in the Burlington Free Press about the knitting group I started in Milton. We now meet weekly and seem to add a knitter at every meeting!

Once a solitary hobby, knitting now a social event.
Tuesday, January 2, 2007 By Lauren OberFree Press Staff Writer

Elaine Campbell hates knitting thumbs. If she had a choice, all mittens would be thumbless. Jane Lewandowski is a whiz at making socks. That's all she makes, but she'd like to change that.

Barb Consentino is a bit of a knitting newbie, but already she's addicted. She now sneaks yarn into the house.Each woman has a different knitting tale, but all made the choice to move their solitary hobby to a more social environment at the first meeting of a newly formed knitting group in Milton. The group drew nine women to The Alley Coffee House recently to knit, swap stories and drink coffee.

Renee Johnson, a Milton resident and long-time knitter, came up with the idea for a knitting group in Milton, although she insists that the group is not exclusive to Milton residents. Johnson wanted an informal group to share ideas about patterns, stitches and yarns while getting out of the house, a brief respite from the toils of everyday life.

Each woman had a story to tell about her knitting experience. Johnson started with Icelandic sweaters and has made everything from hats and scarves to felted bags and bowls. Colleen Sauve learned to knit as a little girl and recently returned to it, making chemo caps for her sister-in-law, who has cancer. Jeannette Cavanaugh's grandmother taught her to knit and while recovering from a long illness, Cavanaugh found herself digging back into her old yarn stash to pick it up again. Sarah Shepherd, who whipped her way through a lap blanket, thought the group would be a good way to meet new people, especially as a relative newcomer to Milton. "I thought, 'This sounds like a good way to be social,'" Shepherd said, her fingers moving the needles at dizzying speed.

Many of the women brought pieces they were working on, including a wool shrug, a few winter hats and a royal purple wimple, headgear that covers the head, neck and chin. They swapped opinions about the best yarn and the best place to buy yarn. Julie Gennrich, the owner of the coffee shop, crocheted a hat between serving customers. The group decided that charity knitting would be a good way to put their vast and varied talents to good use. They discussed knitting chemo caps to donate to cancer patients at Fletcher Allen Health Care and making soft caps for premature newborns. Gennrich, who is on the board of directors for Earth Angels, an organ donation advocacy group, proposed a plan for the group to knit prayer shawls that transplant recipients would give to the organ donors' families.

The group, still in its developing stage, is looking for knitters. While the group is not instructional in nature, group members will try to teach tricky knitting, such as continental stitching or making those pesky sock heels.

Baby Brights

This is version #2 of a baby cardigan pattern by Fiber Trends (Baby Brights). Version #1, size 6 months, was knit in Encore Worsted for a baby due at Christmas. She arrived 5 weeks early! Even though Version #1 was complete and in the parent's possesion, it wouldn't fit little 4 pound Brooke until she was ... 2 or 3 years old!

Thus Version #2 was made. This one was knit in Colinette Cadenza, a DK/Sport weight yarn. Using the same instructions and stitch counts, the smaller gauge yarn made it the perfect size for the now 8 pound Brooke! So she may only be able to wear it for a couple months ....

A few words about the yarn .... I loved it! It's one of my favorite yarns now. Smooth, delicate hand with the bonus of machine wash and dry-ability. Great color combinations when you don't have time for colorwork. Try it.

Winter Warmth

It may be months between posts on this blog, but that just means that I have been busy knitting! I keep saying to myself that I've got to download the pictures off my camera and onto the blog, but instead end up knitting more rows!

I quickly started and finished a hat for my son, but I wasn't thrilled with the way it looked on him. So, I started and finished another one, complete with mittens, that came out much better. He loves them!

The set is knit in Bernat Camouflage - his choice. Although it is not my choice of yarn to knit with, it has worn and washed well so far. I wrote my own pattern for the hat - rolled brim followed by a section of 2x2 ribbing. The remainder of the hat is stockinette stitch with evenly spaced decreasing rows at the crown. Instead of a pompom or tassel, I made 5 curly-Q's at the top (CO 15 stitches. BO all stitches). The mitten pattern is from "The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns". I knit these with a tighter gauge for warmth and longer cuffs. My son does not like snow on his wrists (who does) but gets equally frustrated with bulky mittens tucked into his jacket sleeves. The two pattern changes made the perfect mittens for my little guy!

Knitting Circle

Several women in the book group I belong to and students from previous knitting classes have asked me to start a knitting circle. Why knit alone? I agree, but don't really know how to go about setting one up.

Any suggestions ....

Blog or Knit

After viewing many other knitter's blogs, I have decided to create my own. I am easily inspired by the photos and postings of completed knitting projects and those still in progress. It makes me want to go out and buy more yarn and patterns ... although I could run a small yarn store out of my basement.

I just recently finished a baby blanket, hat and mitten set for my brother and sister-in-law using Reynolds Signature. I made myself use yarn from my stash when usually I would make a trip to the LYS. I didn't follow any pattern, but used the stitch gauge to estimate the number of stitches to cast on. Random striping made it fun and fast. I backed the blanket with some flannel fabric. It was a very cute set.

I have several projects in the works right now. Some have been on the needles for months and other have to meet a specific deadline - birthday, baby shower. And then there's my Christmas knitting ....

So for now, I should knit. Not blog.