Now at A Local Yarn Store Near - You?

I've been selling hand-dyed yarn at Hidden River Yarns in Manayunk.  She currently has in stock an alpaca merino laceweight, and superwash 100% merino fingering weight.  Most colors are one of a kind - so go check it out!

Dungarees Cowl

Sock Yarn Blanket Photo Update

My sock yarn blankie is moving along slowly but surely.  This picture was taken in May.  I haven't worked on it recently, mostly because I have had other knitting projects with deadlines.  I never get tired of looking at it though.

Hand-Dyed Silk Scarf

 

 

Quidditch Fall 2012 - September

I'm organizing my stash - for those of you who know me, you know this is not a one day task.  I will be recording my progress here, to turn in for my class credit at the end of the week.

For Quidditch this first week of the House Cup, organization is the name of the game. Organize your stash (like I am), or your projects, or your queue (NOT ME, my queue would need full time attention to be organized again)

I'm casting on The City Skyline Scarf - following the Infinitude Scarf Pattern, using Patons Classic Wool in Worn Denim to reflect the pretty blue of the sky that is reflected into the tall buildings of Philadelphia.

So, I added the picture of the yarn into my stash this morning - and added the picture of the yarn into my project page as well.

The yarn has tried to be other things before, so it's photo is showing that it's been around the bin once or twice.

Unexpected Free Time

I've found myself with some unexpected free time. Except maybe free time isn't the word for it, since I've been busier than ever.  I'm recently unemployed and aside from worrying about how I'm going to pay my bills, I'm happy and happily doing all sorts of things I haven't had time for in a long time.

I thought it was perhaps time to start blogging here again.  I have a more active Tumblr page, but it's more for photos and less for streams on thought, and since one of the things that is keeping me busy is getting back into the swing of dyeing more, and getting ready to jump into launching a new line of hand-dyed yarns, I thought I should reach back out to those of you who might get a notification that I've posted again.

Keep your eyes open, there will be an Indiegogo and/or Kickstarter campaign going up soon.

But now, I'm running off to one of my last Dr's appointments before I have no more health insurance, and then to a baseball game (free tickets, FTW)

I hope you are as happy to have me back as I am to be here!

From the book, Taking Time For Friends. The author is unknown.

The Love of a Friend
Because you love me, I have found
New joys that were not mine before;
New stars have lightened up my sky
With glories growing more and more.
Because you love me I can rise
To the height of fame and realms of power;
Because you love me I may learn
The highest use of every hour.
Because you love me I can choose
To look through your dear eyes and see
Beyond the beauty of the Now
Far onward to Eternity.
Because you love me I can wait
With perfect patience well possessed;
Because you love me all my life
Is circled with unquestioned rest;
Yes, even Life and even Death
Is all unquestioned and all blest.

WineLovers Wine Glass Companion

WineLovers Wine Glass Companion

My parents geocache, teach wine tasting and pairing classes, host wine tasting parties and do a bunch of other fun things.

When they told me about the wine glass carriers that they've seen at wine tasting festivals and asked me if I could design a knit one I said yes without thinking about it. Then I sat down with a little bit of yarn and a few hours later I had this!

Using a size 7 needle and worsted weight yarn, cast on 40 stitches.

Knit one row and then join in the round. You can join in the round immediately after casting on, but I am very clever about making everything into a mobieus without that first knit row.

Knit 2 rows.

Next two rounds - K2 P2 around

R3 - k

R4 - ktbl

repeat rounds 3 and 4 three more times

R5 - k1 k2tog k to last three sts, k2tog k1

R6 - ktbl

repeat rounds 5 and 6 once more

Make opening for glass foot - start working flat on all sts

Row 7 - k1 k2tog k to last three sts k2tog k1

R8 - ptbl

repeat rows 7 and 8 until 16 sts total remain

R9 - buttonhole row - k2 bo2 k to end

R10 - ptbl to buttonhole, CO2 ptbl to end

R11 - K

R12 - ptbl

R13 - BO

Neck Cord

Pick up 3 stitches on one top edge of the body

Knit one row

R1 - k1 sl 1 k1

R2 - purl

repeat rows one and two until cord is desired length, then attach opposite the cast on sts

Block on a wine glass and attach button.

Mitered Square Bag

I will admit that I have a certain affection for mitered square projects. Once I started the sock yarn blanket made with mitered squares, I fell in love with the quick and easy construction. Have only a little time - make one square - have more time - make more squares. Have only leftover bits of yarn - not a problem either! In fact I have two more mitered square blankets in progress right now - one made of DK weight and heavier, and one made just of Malabrigo worsted.

So, when I joined the bag swap on the Karma Yarn Swap group - I kept trying to decide what I wanted to do for the handmade bag. Buy one, knit one... My swap spoilee liked the entrelac clutch pattern, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to make it again. Then it hit me - why not make a mitered square bag?

My first attempt didn’t go so well, I was going to felt the bag and started with some bulky weight for the bottom. It got floppy. I didn’t do the proper math for making a circle or something. So I frogged it, and started over with larger mitered squares. Then I made a ring of smaller mitered squares. Then I picked up from the bottom of the larger squares and decreased around until it closed up on the bottom. Then I kept making the smaller squares until I decided the bag was tall enough. Because the yarns were all different weights and fibers, I dropped the felting idea, afraid it would shrink into a tangled mass of ugly. Then around the top tier, using the same yarn as I made the bag’s base, I made a circle of triangles to fill in the top. Then a shoulder strap. Then I lined it with fabric (it scared me but I did it)

Here is a picture the recipient took of the finished product! She is Mandarella on Ravelry and I much appreciate her excellent photography of this project, since the photos I took with my phone’s camera while it was sitting on my couch are less than flattering.

So now the plan is to make another, and write down the process so others can make it! I have the yarn picked out, and I have plans to maybe make a third to actually felt, if I actually get around to it. The pattern will be available on the Social Knitworking Site, and on Ravelry.

Edging the Hemlock Ring Blanket

I started to bind off today - Had NO idea that it was an edged BO, so I'm alternating. I'm afraid I'm going to run out of yarn, and then have to break into another skein of another color.

I can't wait to see how big it actually turns out to be!

My Needles Overfloweth

What am I working on now? I cast on Arbor over the weekend. Several times - since I kept dropping stitches off the waste yarn on my provisional cast on. Then I only got a few rows in because my printer is out of ink, mostly and won't 'make up' colors when one is completely out. So I had to wait til I had access to a printer with enough ink to print out the chart. I'm being good, knitting from my stash, using EL Silky Wool in a pretty gold color. I'm not sure it's a color I would like as a garment for myself, so if it ends up that I can't take the color the way it is - into a burgundy dye-bath it will go.

I'm making good progress on my Hemlock Ring Blanket. I'd guess it's about 3 feet across right now, if sticking my arm in and measuring it up against my forearm for half of it counts as about 1.5 feet :) I'm still on the denim blue yarn - which is pretty amazing - I knew it was a big cake, but I didn't know it was that big. I have about seven increase sections left to work, and I've already worked seven.

The stool cushion is wavering around the first round on the second half of the cushion - since I need it sooner than later, I should probably use that as my tv knitting instead of my hemlock ring blanket. Especially since it still needs to be sewn together (crocheted is more likely) and stuffed.

Speaking of 10 stitch blankets, I got to work on my square ten stitch this past Saturday when I went to see the Eclipse movie with my inlaws. Wow, what a painful movie full of not much that pertained to the book. Just a lot of whining about turning or not turning Bella while teen-aged boys have a pissing contest trying to get or keep her attentions. Anyway, I've turned another corner and am working my way still with the thick and thin yarn I got from Rhinebeck. It's not big enough yet, so I'm going to keep on going with it for a while. I did get a bunch of nice single ply from Kraemer yarns for use in this blanket, and I'm almost to the point where I can attach that pocket over the blurb of un-attractive color I added in for some strange reason.

My sock yarn blanket is anxiously awaiting church of the blanket day (11 days from now).

I've gotten some great Mal in destashes for my malabrigo and worsted weight blankets. I haven't knit on them lately, but I need to get them wrangled in and put away. I think I will have a sweater's worth of Paris Night soon, instead of the bright multis I was collecting for the other sweater, which is just too bright for me. Not sure what I will do with them, although a pair of slippers is very tempting. I was going to make the Nantucket Jacket with Mal, but I might make it from fisherman's wool instead, and leave the mal for something else, Summer's End probably - or Tailored Scallops.

Traveling woman still isn't traveling very far. I just need to get her finished. I reprinted the chart, since the last time I was going to work on it, the chart was missing. So then I'll need to figure out where I am and just forge ahead. It's so lovely. I'd consider wearing it to Ryan's wedding, but I have a feeling that I won't need to be covering my shoulders for anything.

Evenstar is still hibernating in that spot with the columns. I really do love the design and want to finish it, but it's going to hibernate a bit longer.

I need to photograph Citron and my Turkish Bed Slippers. I was able to camera-photo my mitered square bag, which I need to write up the pattern for. I did buy some awesome single ply wool from Joann's with which to my 6 square prototype. The one I made first was 5 square and I need more symmetry. I am also tempted to felt it - but we shall see.

I need to get some dyeing done. Was going to over the weekend, but had husband in the way syndrome. I also need to find another twitter for igoogle so I can update my dyeing twitter feed more often.

I also need (whoo, three need paragraphs in a row) to pick out at least one, but maybe two more shawl patterns to be used as breastfeeding shawls. The first one I did, Ishbel, was a huge hit with the Mom, I just hope it works as intended (her baby boy was born on July 3 - 4 days early - and 9 pounds!!! - Glad I didn't get him any newborn stuff). I will probably use some of the Cestari like I'm using for my hemlock ring blanket for one of them, maybe both, since they are a good combination of cotton and wool, and knit up quickly due to their almost worsted-weighted-ness. I like the triangular shawl with a garter or stockinette panel at the top to hide the baby and its meal, with a pretty edge to dress things up. Regular breastfeeding blankets are ugly and obviously not fashion accessories. I prefer a shawl that can be used as an actual fashion accessory when the baby is eating on its own! The first one (that I'm sure about) isn't needed until November. The BoneYard Shawl might be a good choice. Or maybe I can do Milkweed again. Or go for Multnomah, Herbivore, Saroyan, the Ten Stitch Triangle, or Damson... At least I have choices... It will also depend on which yarn I use, since some of these won't look right in plain plain yarn...

Hemlock Ring Update

I'm finally on the feather and fan portion, and buggered it up by not paying attention to which row I was on - luckily I'm using stitch markers and was able to tink back and remind myself to pay attention.

I'm still on my original circular needle, and will be for at least one more increase, then its on to the next length up. I still seem to have plenty of the denim yarn.

Speaking of which - this yarn is delicious. I'm already planning another breastfeeding shawl and I will probably use this yarn for it as well.

I'm Finally Making the HRB

Pattern
Hemlock Ring Blanket by Jared Flood
Craft Knitting
Made for me
Size til I'm done


Needle and yarn
Needle
US 8 - 5.0 mm
Yarn
Cestari Special Cotton Blend
Stash
609.0 yards in stash
Colorway Denim

Notes
I did the center part of the pattern for a hat not too long ago.

I’m trying to work from already caked stash, so I’m starting this in the denim. I plan on going until I can’t stand it any longer, as I have plenty of colors that will go with this.

I usually don’t like yarn that is a majority of cotton, but this is soft and comfortable to work with.
I’m magic looping at the beginning and having no trouble with it at all.

Wanting to Blog more

I was hanging out with the TSR crew yesterday for socialknitworking for KIP day - and I realized I really wanted to use this more.

Of course, now that I've entered two projects onto my Ravelry page I'm all done with explaining myself.

Citon is finished, with the exception of weaving in ends and finishing fixing a dropped stitch.

I have half of my brother's birthday present done.

I have socks started, cute little turkish bed socks.

I have Traveling Woman to finish - I'm so close I need to just bite the bullet.

I have dyeing to do - both for myself and for a blankie swap.

I have a sk of Anne that is caked that I have no idea what to do with it. Shawl I guess. Maybe I should trade it. Maybe I can trade it for another color, since the problem I'm having with this is the color!

It's been a while

I had claimed some boomerang quite some time ago, and it was already caked. My knitting ‘rules’ this year include knitting from my 10 in 2010 list, gift knitting (which should use that list or already caked yarn if possible), or knitting with caked yarn.

I’m making an entrelac scarf. I have no reason to make it except I wanted some ‘brainless’ knitting and I was getting a wee bit bored with my Ten Stitch Twist Blanket - which isn’t on my list but is my brother’s birthday present as a foot stool cushion.

Today is part one of knit in public day - I hope to make some progress on my traveling woman shawl, so I can finally cast on Garden of Alla - which I bought yarn for at MDSW

SocialKnitworking Has the Clap and other Knitting Projects

We're group knitting the Clapotis - and I'm trying to get my February Lady Sweater done prior to the end of February.

I also have decided to join a lace knit a long that has me pretty scared. I think I'm going to get my friend a copy as well, so he can hold my hand through the process.

Next up? Probably Peaks Island Hood, and if I get the yarn soon, the thrummed muff.

So much I want to knit - so little time to do so!

I'm also trying to dye a little more often, and photograph it so that I can sell it more than trade it.

Fruit Cake

Yeah, I know, but this is good. I need to make some, but not this weekend, too much snow, not enough butter and eggs!

Heat oven to 275 degrees

3/4 lb softened butter
2 cups white sugar
beat together

separate 6 eggs and beat yolks well, then gradually mix together with 1 oz lemon extract and 3 cups flour

whip eggs whites and fold into mixture, one half at a time

Add 1 lb pecans, 1 lb golden raisins, 1/2 lb glazed cherries, and 1/2 lb glazed pineapple - all cut into small pieces

Pour mix into lightly greased and floured loaf pans and banked approx 2 hours

Place shallow pan of water on bottom shelf of oven and keep water in the pan while baking

It's been a while

I'm still here! Super busy. School was a bear this semester and I've been knitting happily to drown out school annoyances!

I'm doing some happy Christmas knitting now. I've also started a ten stitch blanket because the sock yarn blanket just wasn't enough blanket for me. I've got a fabulous Juno shawl on the needles too, and found a new sock yarn base that I'm really happy with.

Need a gift for a knitter in your life? I'd be happy to customize a yarn color for that person - just send me a message on Ravelry or leave a message (text or voice) on my google voice number- 267-702-knit and we can work something out.

I'm looking forward to the Christmas break at work, and spending lots of time cuddled up with my dogs drinking hot tea and knitting. Are we there yet?

Happy Holidays!

Busy Weekend

Started my WineLovers colorway collection - have 4 colors so far - and they commissioned a knit project which I designed and knit and dyed the first prototype today .

Need to get some holiday knitting started.

And I have swap packaged that need finishing assembly and mailed

Quintessential Now

My playlist for the Third Street Ravelers Quintessential Now CD swap

The Way I Live [Explicit] Baby Boy Da Prince M. LaCour Across The Water [Explicit]
It Can't Rain All The Time Jane Siberry Jane Siberry The Crow Soundtrack
Misunderstood Common Feat. Bilal Kanye West Finding Forever
Faith Limp Bizkit George Michael Family Values Tour
Rock Yo Hips (Album Version) [Explicit] Crime Mob Rock Yo Hips [Explicit]
Milkshake (Radio Mix/Album Version) Kelis Pharrell Williams
Day 'n' Nite [EXPLICIT] Kid Cudi Day 'n' Nite [Explicit
Welcome To Heartbreak Kanye West Patrick Reynolds 808s & Heartbreak
Freak On A Leash Korn Brian Welch/David Silveria/Jonathan Davis/James Shaffer/Reginald Arvizu Family Values Tour
Deja Vu (Uptown Baby) Lord Tariq & Peter Gunz The Source Hip Hop Music Awards
What Them Girls Like Ludacris Feat. Chris Brown & Sean Garrett LUDACRIS Theater Of The Mind
Lapdance N*E*R*D Feat. Lee Harvey & Vita The Neptunes In Search Of...
Bombay Timbaland Feat. Amar & Jim Beanz Timbaland Timbaland Presents: Shock
If I Ruled the World Nas Featuring Lauryn Hill
The Sun Doesn't Like You Norah Jones Lee Alexander Not Too Late
Kiss Me Thru The Phone Soulja Boy Tell`em D. Way
Bounce Timbaland Feat. Dr. Dre, Missy Elliott & Justin Timberlake Timbaland Timbaland Presents: Shock Value
You Spin Me Right Round Artist Unknown (I have someone I can ask if you want to know)
Oops, Oh My Tweet
Stripped Rammstein
Love Lockdown Kanye West LaNeah Menzies 808s & Heartbreak
Kiss Me Thru The Phone Soulja Boy Tell`em D. Way
Do My Memphis Bleek Feat. Jay-Z The Understanding
If I Ruled the World Did this get duplicated? Sorry, I tried to catch them!
#1 Crush Garbage
Addictive [Explicit] Truth Hurts Billy Nichols Truthfully Speaking [Explicit]
Penetration Next Feat. Naughty By Nature Cliff Lighty/B. Robinson/K. Morse/Keir Gist/Darren Lighty/Anthony Criss/D. Damon Rated Next
Release Timbaland Feat. Justin Timberlake Timbaland Timbaland Presents: Shock Value

Best I Ever Had [Explicit] Drake M. Samuels
Break My Heart Common Kanye West Finding Forever
Doo Wop (That Thing) Lauryn Hill Lauryn Hill The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill R
Never Scared (remix) Bone Crusher
Renegade Jay-Z Feat. Eminem S. Carter, M. Mathers The Blueprint
Tainted Love Marilyn Manson
Ambient World Lee G & Delon lOOk @ The Tree
Swagga Like Us [Explicit] Jay-Z Clifford Harris Swagga Like Us [Explicit]