Egads

Somehow while knitting a hat in the round I got my knitting flipped around and went to garter st! Very strange. If I could harness this mistake I could use it instead of purling. Funny how purling used to be easier than it is now.... How do you wrap your yarn? I've realized I wrap my yarn clockwise. I was reading Knitlist (Check out Knitflame if you want a unkinder, ungentler Knitlist on yahoo groups) and somewhere it stated that the wrapping should be clockwise... Guess I'll always wrap to the beat of a different drummer. :)

New web ring 

I am a lil Devil. 

Such a cute face! 

It is no more. 

Do you hear that sound? It sounds like a bullfrog.

I'm ripping the hat. The yarn was too expensive to do a risky felt.

The giant hat. 

New YS Yarn. 

Ball of tears. 

Manos Del Tears

I love Manos wool yarn. I love the varied color, the thinness and thickness, the way it feels in my fingers as I knit it. But the knots were nerve racking. While I hand wound the wool I surfed the net (www.wiseneedle.com, www.knittersreview.com) for Swifts and Ball Winders. Final verdict: I'd rather do it myself. My husband offered to help too! Bless him. The Kim hat from Last Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson is a mystery to me. I carefully chose my needles such that my gauge matched the prescribed gauge, and used the same yarn pictured as well. The women's hat would fit a giant. I realize that it's wool and I can therefore: give it to my husband or felt it. But I feel like whining because I know the colors will bleed. Maybe I'll make myself a smaller inverted version and he and I can match. Wouldn't that be lovely?! I went to the LYS in Huntington Beach (on Hamilton). There are some fabulous deals to be had. The yellow mohair blend cost 3.50 per, and the others were about 6.00 apeice. The owner makes the other blends with various yarns. The store is stacked to ceiling with yarn, much of it older and discontinued. But don't let that deter you. Old does not mean ugly. She also has some new fashionable, trendy yarns (IMO Berreco, Trendsetter etc). My only complaint is she didn't have 100% wool on the floor. Her blends of yarns are magnificent, and she is very pleasant and knowledgeable. Great place to go buy some yarn and not spend an arm and a leg.

Finis. 

Nephew's Halloween Surprise Hat. It'll be a surprise that it ever gets done! 

I have crossed over. I am now in the cult known as Knitting.

So I decided that I had to knit my nephew a hat (lil Devil toddler hat~pattern available on about.com/hobbies/...) yesterday. I started around 6pm, and finished the hat except for the horns and weaving in the ends at 12:30 am. I am normally in my first REM cycle at 12;30 am. Damn you Denise Circs and your siren like qualities! Luring me to knit like a fiend. Invisible Cast On Crochet Technique I admit my heart sunk when I saw this as part of the pattern. Basically you chain 10 st more than required for cast on in a contrasting color, ON THE BIGGEST CROCHET HOOK YOU CAN FIND AND AS LOOSELY AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE (sorry for the shout, I can't emphasize that enough). Turn over your chain and pick up the bumps with your needle. Then knit into the bumps (I counted that as my cast on row) and proceed from there. I highly recommend that you knot the end of the chain so it won't come unzipped. Finish the pattern, then come back to the chain, unknot the end and carefully remove the chain and pick up the knit stitches. So you are probably still wondering about the status of the hat, right? It's completely done save for the last horn. I'll get some motivation this afternoon and finish it up and ship it out USPS priority. There are a few mistakes that only another knitter would catch. I did some hinky stuff with the yarn pulled through the last 7 stitches at the top. I don't like the look of weaving in the ends on a stockinnette stitch, I am inexperienced and the ends shout out at me LOOK AT MEEEEEEEEEEEEE. Pics to come!

Knitting as Exercise?

Using Lead Needles to knit chain mail?

Don't you love it when you get one of these in the mail? 

First Denise project 

Denise Needles Update

After actually accomplishing something last night I have an official verdict on the Denise Interchanbeables! I love them. I'm using size US 11's and it's like knitting with two brand new crayons (I always loved the new, perfectly shaped crayons the best). The needles are deliciously smooth, and the circular knitting is quite enjoyable. I think I am actually knitting faster! I had a hard time putting down the hat I'm making. Now the big question is, can I knit up the little devil hat for my nephew today and send it out tomorrow in time for Halloween? *Grousing about needing US Size 11 DPNs for finishing up current hat*

Why?

Why does my blog look neat on Mozilla, and wonky on Internet Explorer?

Body Mass Index

I got my Denise needles! A small review: I like the smoothness, and most definately the lightness of the needles. I've been playing with the set on and off today. I have slight hand cramping (near my thumbs) from grasping the needles differently than single or double pointeds. Two things I don't like - the circular part doesn't have a 16" length, I have to make due with a 17" length, the second -the needles run in size from US 5 to US 15, I'd like some smaller needles. Both "dislikes" were visible to me when I purchased the needles, but you don't know these things sometimes until you have the product in your hot little hands. And I still will have to purchase more double pointed needles! Ebay needle lots here I come! I am attempting Kim's Hat from Last Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson. (Quickee book review, it is split up into project based on time to create the items, 2-4 hour gifts, 4-6, and so on through 8 + hour gifts). The gauge listed in Kim's hats is the following: 15.5 (? a half stitch ?) inches per 23 rows of stockinette st. Some problems are I had to go up to size US 11's to get the gauge (problem Numero Uno), and I had to do it back and forth on the denise needles (used as straights). The effort to make 80+ some stitches in the round for 23 rows just seemed wrong to me. So I suppose my gauge will be off by 20% or so (problemo dos). I will proceed with the Manos De Urugauy Kim's Hat until I see fit to frog or wear. So there.

Motion Mitten Progress Pic 

This was my first scarf! 

Crackers and Tea (Chamommile)

I am working on my new purse, and mittens in the round. Thus far I have restarted the mittens thrice. I have a jumble of needles and yarn, but most importantly my sense of humor is intact. It better be 'cause I think I twisted the yarn somehow. At least I'm humble (sort of). Still impatiently awaiting my Denise Needles! Where are you UPS? My brown brown? My ebay yarn arrived. It weighed in (cone and all) at 9 oz. I am lusting after a ball winder, but can't justify it. And I want those woven labels that have my name. I am a knitting whore....

Another happy recievee!! 

A happy recievee! 

Scrap Scarf 

My First Blog Ring 

LYS Goodies 

Madonna and Early Morning Sunshine

I finished the poncho (no pics, it looks just like the other one I made), and finished 'a' bootie in pink Bernat sport weight yarn. Now I'm making a scrap scarf (cast on 140 +/- 40) on 13's. But my pretty yarn (Pengouin) BROKE mid-row. So I'm contemplating what to do. I figure it won't really matter because the yarn is so textured. I am also doing a cutie patootie bunny pattern in the same yarn as the booties. I went to a lovely yarn store, www.velona.com. The owners are wonderful people. I liked the atmosphere. I found Noro Kureyon (YES!) for 8.95 in color no. 57. And Manos de Uruguay in two great colors. Plus some fab metallic yarn for a purse for a friend. I was so tempted to buy the gorgeous purse handles there. And I got a Kacha Kacha! The puppy thinks it's his training clicker lol. I'm sad I must wait for my Denise circs to arrive before I can start some new projects, but I think the scrap scarf will inspire me. So far Knitting Without Tears by E. Zimmermann is good. There are some great sweaters in there, as well as mittens, scarves, and techniques. I love my new books! I just need those circs.... I gave some extra yarn (for the adult devil hat) to my SIL along with a bamboo crochet needle I didn't like. She remembered how to crochet from years and years ago. I'm glad she enjoyed it. I like to spread my addiction to the world ;). Maybe I could whip out a toddler devil hat for my nephew with those circs..... I'm sending out the poncho, and the knit/crochet scarf and hat combo today. It feels good.

It's raining so hard it's pouring

People out here act as if rain is as big an event as the major snowfalls back east. I guess in a way it is. I don't mind, I like the tumultuous weather-reminds me of the east coast. I finished the dreaded poncho finally! And I finished the shawl. I am going to attempt to block the shawl as soon as I figure out what will work with 2' x 6' dimensions. I ordered the Denise Interchangeable needles today. Am waiting ever so impatiently by the mailbox. Or will be starting Thursday. I got my Amazon books, they have really inspired me and given me some overall great ideas. Tonight I fiddled around with a saxon braid cable. For the first time I made something that resembled a cable, before I frogged it. I need that 3x5 spiral notepad so I can write down each rows direction. Next projects, PURSES galore. And that pesky bday gift for my friend and classmate...

Hawaii 

I love Dave Chapelle

I discovered I can do the knit stitch by feel today. I've sorta been experimenting with it lately and today I got it. Not so sure how clean my work on the shawl was, but that's the beauty of big needles! Did a bit of work on the poncho this morning. That project is just creeping along.......................................................so..................slowly..................... I know, I should start a new project! That's what I should do. Maybe another pair of booties in a better yarn (Bernat Baby Yarn), or a lovely scarf for a good friend on her birthday (can't wait for that yarn to arrive in the mail!). My Husband failed the Piaget test. He thinks my shawl is only a mere 40" in length. *Running to get measuring tape* It's 54"! I googled pashmina shawl dimensions to get an idea of the length I'd like (results returned 3o" x 8o".) So 26" more to go! About 2 skeins I think. I got plenty extra skeins. This is my first major multi skein project. I can't wait to wear it on campus although I haven't determined how to wear it with a bookbag. I have to start sending out the finished objects-It's amazingly easy to part with them thus far. I'm dreaming of Noro yarn. I want it. I must have it. It will. be. mine... ha

The shawl I love. It's almost half way done. 

Blurry baby booties. Next time I will use a more appropriate yarn. 

The poncho that won't die. It's about half way done! 

Crochet hat and knit scarf 

Die Poncho Die

I am so sick of this %!*$#&@^$&*! poncho. :'(

Fishsticks and Nachos

I got a lot done today. I completed my baby booties, scarf #3, and the knitting part of the bag for my SIL. All those things were 90% done, so finishing was just a formality. I (barely) started with that awesome pattern from www.needleandhook.com, and made good progress with my poncho #2 (only 10 rows left! woot woot). I'll be busy until after my birthday next week with school. I guess I can't procrastinate that stuff forever! Still waiting for my knitting books from Amazon. Impatiently.

My first attempts at knitting. They are in a pile on my dresser. 

A scarf. Yeah that's me.