Now, why was I gonna rip this....

stitch close-up using just under 2 balls of Rowan Polar in color stony (640)

I thought when I originally finished this cowl that it was a tad on the big side. However, I did not want to rip it 'cause I was amazed at how Bonne Marie instructs you to bind off. Great pattern that you can find here (scroll down). I plan on using it for a few other cowls in mind. I worked it in 2x2 rib. It really created a cast-off edge that resembles the cast-on edge beautifully. Now that I'm in the process off clearing out my knit baskets, I ran across this and can't believe that I haven't been wearing it. The Polar just feels wonderful. I just need to weave in a couple of ends and we're off.

I hope some other knits have worked themselves out in the basket, lol.

Hop on over

Trying to give my wrist a bit of a break, I have decided to work on small projects that won't allow me (yeah, i'm not banking on my ability to stop knitting on my own) to knit too long due to the size or shaping.

First on my list was Kate's bunny. I used bamboo US 8's, but plan on using bamboo US 7's for the next for a tighter knit. The current one is the smallest size. Such a fun little knit. The most difficult part for me is the face embroidery. It's just amazing what a slight variation of a line can do to change the expression on a knitted animal. I'll have to give it another go later once I have made a bit of progress on bunny number two. I am using GGH Esprit. I'm just lovin' this orange. This is my first knitted toy and I am really enjoying it. But most of all I am enjoying the fact that mini can enjoy making the toys with me.

~mini is the "official bunny stuffer"~ she gets so tickled when i say that~

We had a little stuffing party while watching Maggie and the Ferocious Beast on Noggin. She loves that show. We were watching the episode where they were knitting (of course, hee, hee).

~listen mom as i explain how to stuff a bunny~

So not only do I have to thank Kate for a great pattern, but I have to thank her for what will become a new fun task for me and mini - knitting toys and the extra perk of a mini stuffing party. She has requested that we have tea at our next stuffing party. I see many more animals in my future. I hope to start on another one tonight.

Another highlight was being invited by the wonderful Lauren to join her, Heather, Ei, Donna, and Nicole at Folk Arts Studio. Had a great time! Now do they know how to knit it up. Oh yeah! We had good eats and lots of knitty treats to see at the shop. I'm sure you've already seen their recaps. I feel very lucky to have been able meet them and yes, they are all as fabulous as they seem on blog. Even more so actually. Hope to meet up with you guys again soon. Thanks again!

Sick o' socks?

~i'm not sick o' socks, but my wrist is~

I have to say that I don't think it was the tiny needles that caused the wrist pain, but I think it was my attempt to make gauge using needles that were two big for my loose knitting prior to purchasing the 00's. I tried to force the gauge on the 0's and 1's that I had to keep from buying a smaller pair and the strain on my wrist was a bit much. I also forgot that another good reason to knit several projects at once is to reduce the possibility of repetitive movement that causes pain and multiple projects on multiple sized needles has always helped me in the past. I guess the variance from 1's to 0's just wasn't enough. So for now this is my new best friend with another pal pictured above hanging out in the freezer to pick up just where the best friend left off. So for now the socks are on hold. Guess I better enjoy these. I have been wearin' them out. And I was so looking forward to using this. I'm definitely feeling orange right now.

And this is leaving me a bit swatchy. Its only the small needles stressing my wrist right now. I'm easing into other needles slowly. So here we have a rogue swatch. The bottom square is how I would prefer to see the magpie knit up, but the top square is knit at gauge. I started with US 3 and ended with US 6. I decided to give it a go using bartlett yarn (that pic was for another purpose but the pics for the swatch didn't represent the color so well and isn't that origami bowl cute). Mini and I had tea at Teasim the other day and the cashier was so kind and made a bowl for her. Mini made her own origami jewel using many folds to return the kind gesture and though it wasn't actually origami the exchange was quite cute. I only wish I had my camera at the time to take picture of her precious jewel. But back to the bartlett swatch. I started with US 5 and ended with US 6. I would prefer a chocolate rogue, but we'll have to see.

Then I picked up some silk alpaca to try Lara. I made some progress on the sleeve and am trying to decide whether or not I want to rip back and try that tubular cast-on made famous by a very helpful oh so knowledgeable skinny rabbit. I was lucky enough to see a tubular cast-on first hand recently and was just amazed by how well it looked in knit (person). It made me want to rip my ribby cast-on just lookin' at it. I have to say that I'm currently not too amused by Lara. I am more excited about being able to use a set of interchangeable bamboo needles that I have had for a while now. I realized after purchasing it that I prefer addis, but since came to the conclusion that yarns demand a particular needles regardless of preference and I do have a few fibers are that more manageable on bamboo. Not 'til now have I knit a project that made use of the cords though. It helps not to have to worry about the possibility of needles being slightly off in size affecting gauge when switching for the proper needle cord length given Lara is knit in one piece (varying widths).

Edward Scissorsocks

not scissors, but oh so sharp

my those metals are pointy

I am now using metal 00's and talk about click clack these metals are something else, but it's creating that tighter knit that I've been lookin' for. Not nearly as difficult as I imagined to knit with. But man these things could really poke an eye out, or put a hole in a couch cushion (and yes, i know that from experience), yikes.

And I know that Edward Scissorhands reference was a stretch, but any excuse to bring up Johnny Depp and I'm all over it.

socktus-eruptus

why its a koigu volcano, hee, hee

That'll teach me to stop paying attention and feel as if I've made it to the end once I get near the toe. Boy, you gotta watch those socks. They can be a little rascally (new word i picked up at one of mini's friends at a birthday party this weekend, hee, hee) After I put it on I realized that it was not as bad as I thought. Just gotta rip back a bit and shape that toe. Ahhhh.....koigu!

Now why do I feel like Hermione Granger of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban would be proud of that title? Now if only I could get that second sock to magically appear.

Wanna knit list 2005 - 200?

After mulling over the idea that my list was a bit ambitious, I realized that my list is well....ummm.....ambitious. Considering we are well into February and I'm still trying to complete my list, I have to admit that my list may have grown outta my knitting bag well into the future. It is indeed easier to jot down a list than actually knit it. And realistically, I wouldn't mind spending all year on any one of these items though I know my knitting focus or lack of would not allow this to happen. So this is still my wanna knit list, but may be my actual knit list for many years to come, lol.

and to think it started out so simply...and then just grew from there

So here a recap:
(1)cables (2) socks (3)knit stash yarn (4)intarsia, fair isle and/or stripes (5)knitalong in moderation (6)zipper

and a continue cap...
(7) lace
I have been dreaming of knitting the IK Flower Basket Shawl and Rowan's infamous Birch. There is no need for links here. We all know what those fantastic pieces look like (or am i just too lazy to photo/scan, hee, hee).

(8) focus on utilizing books currently in house
I seem to have a knitting library, though I only intended to buy books that I felt were extremely helpful to my knitting experience. Now all of the books (and I am not only talking about pattern books) are very useful buys, but they would be more useful if I actually READ them. Say, how many times am I going to read about and even further comment at Becky's, about what a useful tip that is from Montse Stanley's Knitter's Handbook before I actually pick up the book myself and take a look (awful isn't it..to have resources and not use them) Can I give myself points for "knowing is half the battle" hee, hee. Okay, so I wouldn't even give myself a point for that. And there are others in there too. I mean really, how many how-to-knit books do you need. Many I purchased for the patterns though they were primarily targeted toward new knitters for learn to knit techniques. I have ohh-ed and ahh-ed over the release date, acquired them and then shelved them never to think of them again. Well, that is going to stop. Not that I am poopooing (do i need a thesaurus or what) any of those out there that are in bliss when it comes to getting new books. I can relate to it, but am just not feelin' it at the moment (i know, probably temporary). I have to admit though that its so much easier at times when knitting and surfing to just do a quick search on the web and voila! an answer link pops right outta goggle before I could walk upstairs and find a book on the subject. I guess the real problem is mere organization (of books). It's time to organize, utilize the most needed and trade or sale the rest. Hey, maybe there is a future trade in the air. I mean, I have more patterns for mini that one child can wear in their childhood. What's up wit' that.

(9) knitting backwards
I purl looser than I knit and am going to try some techniques that will hopefully even out my tension.

(10) combined knitting
Very interested in trying this technique.

(11) short rows
Though I have used them multiple times, I still don't short row with the ease I would like. I am pretty happy with the end result, but tend to be pretty doubtful of the outcome 'til the end.

(12) ufo knitup
I would like to work on at least one of my ufo's this year preferably the dress for mini as I think it will now be a tunic for the spring though that may be a stretch (that's if i get to it). If not, I'll be gifting it I guess.

(13) and last, but certainly not least knit toys for mini
she has been wanting some for a while and those tiny needles have just been keeping me at bay, but I gotta start on those soon 'cause mini won't be mini for long (whimper, whimper) so I better get to it. She's been so enthusiastic about her knits and I know she really want toys. She has actually been asking about a sheep that gave me the back some time ago and I haven't felt up to it, but maybe a new pattern will give me a fresh start.

Okay, I think I'm done with that list. Iris, I guess I have another one to start on soon. But as you can tell from this one, I'm a bit slow with list. I'll probably be among the last to post it, but I'll give it a go. I have really enjoyed everyone's list action going on in blogdom. They have been quite interesting indeed.

Button Headwarmer

close-up

Inspired by this headband from Girly Knit, I decided to knit an earwarmer for mini. It's getting a bit warmer, but her ears are still a tad cold, however they get too warm with whole hat and caboodle. So I present the compromise. There is still a lot more from this mag that I want to knit from my first mention. And I still see one of those headbands in mini's future along with a wrist band too. I'm thinking a few of these will make good use of some odd balls I have around here. Hmmm...must start working on my intarsia project. A little color changing would be a nice addition as well.

close-up

coming full circle

two socks~one ball~does not a pair make(at least, not yet)

I'm having a bit of trouble with working through my second and I guess third sock (or it could be 2a and 2b). I have this weird thing with yarn that usually works for me. If the yarn (putting blame on yarn again) is not going to behave, I'll try knitting from the other end. I guess resulting in a little change in the original knitting karma. That is also coupled with the fact that I don't like to rip until I can identify for sure exactly what I don't like about a knit, documented the gauge/notes on a piece of paper somewhere and sometimes its I just want to compare what I don't like to what I'm supposed to like better (dontcha love mad run-ons, lol). And for some reason, it usually works for me. However in this case I have ended up with two socks coming outta one ball and neither one are working for me (or mini for that matter).

My second and somehow third sock is not working up as easy as the first for me. It appears to be a little big though only slightly in comparison to my best fitting store-bought sock. I even went further as to try it on off the needles which made it feel really big. Of course, now looking back I'm thinking that I could have just made it a bit shorter 'cause when I pulled it toward the heel it seemed to magically work to the tighten the fit, but that was after I have already committed to resizing the toe, so there was no lookin' back at that point (wait a minute, that toe looks fine in the pic below..where is that paper). I have begun to realize that I am a bit more picky with the fit of a sock as opposed to a sweater. I will enjoy without complaint a sweater that is a tad off in fit (a little bit big here or there doesn't offset the a sweater on the whole), but with socks a little bit seems like a big bother (to me) and worth a rip and reknit. And for some reason I'm diggin' this tick tack sound even without the promise of a sock everytime (or am i just trying to sike myself out). I am wondering though if my pickiness is just me missing a thing called lycra. If so, I don't really thing making a super tight sock will take away this "umm does this really fit" feeling.

definitely feeling the "this chair is too big" on this one

Okay, so the second try at the second sock or is that the third (yeah, i have confused myself with that bit too) ended up way to small, but I went on thinking "I planned on knitting mini a pair o' socks anyway right". And though it was going quite well after I realized this sock is too small for me but perfect for mini, after working the heel and commenting to someone that I am reknittting the toe on mine, mini announced that the toe on her sock just doesn't work for her either, humph. A coincidence...I think not. Actually, the toe bed is a bit boxy and these socks are meant for wearing so let the customization begin (again). But on the positive, the heel is a perfect fit so let me jot that down on paper so I can dup the stitch count and such there.

followed by "this chair is too small

Well guess I want goldilocks socks 'cause I really want it to fit just right and so does mini. So I guess back to the drawing board. However, I'll be making my own socks and not crashin' someone else crib wrecking their stuff.

yep, you guessed it...full circle

Can I get a rip, rip? (ok, not as catchy as a whoop, whoop).