Shhh ... It's A Secret (Sort Of)

I highly doubt that my new brother-in-law reads my blog so I think it is safe to reveal the hat I knit for him in this post. And I suppose it would be okay if he did see it because he commissioned me to make him a hat ... but I'd like a little element of surprise when I give it to him.

I am so honored that he asked me to hand knit him something. He requested a stocking cap with ear flaps to keep his ears warm as he rides his bike in chilly temperatures, and he told me he loves the color blue. This is a time when I love being on Ravelry because there are so many patterns (often free) and great tips from other knitters to pick through. I chose a hat that had ear flaps and a simple fair isle zig zag stripe. My conclusion: not bad for being my first hat!


Raveled here

Pattern: Leef's Ear Flap Hat by Leef Bloomenstiel

Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Encore Worsted in 517 (blue), 514 (light blue) and 389 (heather gray)

Time Elapsed: roughly a week.

Modifications/Notes: I followed the pattern exactly except I cast on 96 stitches and used a size US 8 needle to make a bigger hat. I also went around the edge and ear flaps with a crochet stitch to finish it off and reinforce the flaps. I found fair isle to be quite fun to do and not nearly as difficult as I expected. I am a little concerned as to how it will fit my brother-in-law, so my fingers are crossed. I hope to have a photo or two of him wearing it that I may post at a later date.

My daughter has already put in an order for a hat for her. But hers will undoubtedly be pink in color as she said the blue and gray "just isn't my style". Now that's a girl who knows what she likes!

Take Two

Well, it would seem that we need to have another shot at making yogurt. I just know I did something wrong - perhaps the temperature wasn't right or I added something at the wrong time because our fabulous homemade Greek yogurt was just a bowl of thickened milk this morning. It smelled faintly of yogurt but wasn't nearly fermented enough and it didn't have the thick and creamy consistency I dream about.

We will try it again. And, if you think about it, that bowl of thickened milk allows for more quality time in the kitchen with my little ones. So, all is not lost.

Happy To Help

After a conversation I had with my good friend Lindsay last week about various recipes and her amazing find, Fage yogurt, I was inspired to make my own Greek yogurt. I had actually been wanting to try it since I read about it in French Women Don't Get Fat by Mireille Giuliano and thought this was as good a time as ever. Crazy I know, but the process didn't seem difficult - just time consuming. What is great about homemade yogurt is that it is a lot cheaper to make than to buy, and I was able to have my son help.

Boy did that make his day!

In fact, as soon as I asked him if he would like to help me he grabbed his stool and positioned it so he could see over the counter. He found great joy in pouring the milk into the pot (he even convinced me to pour some milk into his sippy cup!) It isn't finished doing its thing (whatever that is) but it will be a fun treat to try out our yogurt tomorrow morning, and hopefully it will convince me that it is worth the effort. Of course, his happy giggles and enthusiasm made it rather worth it already.

Winding to Unwind

It's been an ... interesting few days with all the snow, a Fibromyalgic flare-up, my husband's birthday and battling my daughter's Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye). The days have been full of decontaminating all surfaces with Clorox wipes, preparing homemade chicken noodle soup, doctor visits, celebratory dinners and a bad case of insomnia. Through it all I am so grateful for brief opportunities to clack away with my knitting needles!

Sadly, I announce that our LYS (local yarn store) will be closing in March. Gleefully, I announce that I bought three high-end knitting needles and six skeins of yarn all for 50% off at their liquidation sale. So, I have been busy knitting my first hat, a simple fair isle hat with ear flaps, for my brother-in-law. Learning something new and taking a moment for myself has helped me through this somewhat trying week. Who would have guessed that winding yarn would be the perfect way to unwind my nerves?!

Kiddie Couture

It started out as a project for me - I had this overwhelming desire to make myself a simple little top. Then my daughter begged me to do a project with her so I decided to make a simple little top for her as well. I had in my mind that we would have coordinating fabrics that would go well together. Perhaps we would have a little photo shoot showing off our matching outfits. Then my daughter enthusiastically chose her fabric.

You can't get any more "Under the Sea" than this.

It had bubbles and sherbet colored sea animals. Her exclamations of "This is perfect" and "It will be gorgeous" deterred me from insisting on something a little less ... colorful. And really, it is totally her style: bright, cheerful and bubbly.

So, while I chose something more understated and elegant, I happily stitched away at her summery top. And judging by her prancing around in it with her mermaid doll in hand, I would say that she is quite pleased with her choice!

Lake's Edge Phenomenon

In the last year or so since learning how to knit I have made: four scarves, two pairs of socks, two sweater vests, one pair of booties, a throw and one rather challenging sweater. I decided it was time to try my hand at mittens (pun intended)!

Aside from wanting the experience, the other motivation was to use up some stash yarn I had laying about. I wanted something warm for the winter months but that would be soft too. After looking at several patterns on Ravelry, I decided on some long mittens with a cabled pattern and a thick, padded palm.


Now, I do feel like a bit of a hypocrite because technically these mittens are just like ones that were worn in one of the Twilight movies. You may recall that I posted about how I have grown tired over all the hype with that series. But in my defense, the pattern was free, it used up a lot of yarn, and the design is utterly adorable!

Raveled here

Pattern: Phenomenon by Carine Ancel

Yarn: Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Worsted in Sandy Heather; unknown homespun/hand-dyed yarn in woodland colors bought at Goodwill.

Time Elapsed: a smidge over two weeks.

Modifications/Notes: I followed the pattern exactly as written but added a single crocheted band to the cuff in pretty woodland colors.

I have enjoyed wearing these mitts when I take my daughter to the bus stop in the morning. My only complaints are that their bulkiness make it very difficult to zip things up and it is a great challenge to photograph them creatively. Chunky mittens don't make very good models!

As I artfully demonstrate here, my "Lake's Edge" Phenomenon mittens are very soft and warm.

Casting On

Sure my house is a mess. There are still boxes to be taken out to recycle, the now dead Christmas tree is about ready to go up in flames at any second, and there are piles of laundry to be done.

But hey, I need a day to recover from all of the fun we have been having lately. So I took some time to cast on a new knitting project - something toasty and warm for the winter months. I think it is important to start off the new year knowing I had some time to relax and get my bearings. Not to mention having a little (and much treasured) time to myself.

Oh My Stars!

What is more adorable than baby booties? Converse baby booties of course! In my search for the perfect project for my yet-to-be-born niece or nephew, I settled on these classics:

Raveled here

They will go with anything, can be for a boy OR a girl (although pink shoe laces may be in order if it is a girl), and they are just so darn cute!

The stars and circles were carefully handcrafted out of wool felt, and I am pleased to say that I know how to knit shoe laces (an I-cord).

Pattern: Converse Baby Booties by Xalleykatx.

Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Dreambaby DK Solid: one skein of black and one skein of white.

Time elapsed: Three weeks - considering other projects I was working on and Thanksgiving.

While it was a simple pattern, not all went smoothly with this little project. Mainly because my dog ATE a nearly finished bootie. And by ate I mean that she destroyed and consumed so much of it that it was not salvageable. Yup, I was pretty livid. Fortunately it didn't take too long to knit another bootie and they turned out quite well.

So well, in fact, that my husband would like a pair for himself ... of course I would need more yarn!

Officially Untangled

Well then. After a long and wonderful Thanksgiving holiday I am getting down to checking neglected things off my list. I had intended to post about my Tangled Yoke Cardigan a while ago, but ... life happened!

Can I just say that I LOVE this cardigan!? It is so choice, if you have the means I highly recommend knitting one. Here are the details:

These glam shots were taken at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco. A much better location than my backyard if you ask me!

Pattern: Tangled Yoke Cardigan by Eunny Jang. Interweave Knits Fall 2007

Yarn: Rowan Felted Tweed in Seafarer. For the 32" size, it took about 6.5 balls.

Time elapsed: Three months. I started in August and had an injured hand for a few weeks and lost some knitting time somewhere in September.

Notes:

Raveled here

1. This was quite an accomplishment I think, especially since I only learned how to knit last Thanksgiving! What a perfect way to celebrate my new found skill. Call me crazy, but I actually named this sweater "November".

2. I added about 1" to the garter ribbing at the cuffs and bottom hem. I have long arms and don't like short sweaters. Other than that I followed the pattern as it was written.

3. To reinforce the buttonholes, I chose a cognac colored grosgrain ribbon. It contrasts nicely with the navy blue of the yarn, and it keeps the sweater from forming gaps in between the buttonholes when it is buttoned up. And since I chose bigger buttons than the pattern called for, instead of a 3-st-1-row buttonhole, I did mine as 5-st-1-row.

Sewing the grosgrain ribbon onto the buttonholes was a royal pain in the tookus, but I am SO glad that I did it.

4. This was the first time I ever read from a chart! I highly recommend color coding the chart because of the six different cables required for the tangles. I also took my time with the tangled pattern. It was tricky and I had to rip it back a couple of times to restart it. Stitch markers were invaluable during this process.

5. The cardigan taught me a lot about patience. It was a challenge, especially since it was the first time I had ever knit a bobble, sideways cable, buttonholes, sleeves or used a chart. When I messed up, I ripped it back and tried again because I wanted this sweater to be right. And something I would be proud to wear. Which, I am pleased to say it is!

"You lookin' at me? Oh, you're looking at my sweater ... well, I don't blame you!"

Sweet November

This is how our lazy cat spends a dark and rainy November afternoon.

November is definitely here. Just overnight the vibrant colors of October have dulled, the sky has turned gray, and the temperatures have dropped. Threats of snow lingers in the air as does the cravings for hearty meals. I personally enjoy November as it is an easy transition from fall leaves to Christmas trees.

I confess that I have already bought a carton of eggnog. My husband is so firm on not breaking out the Christmas music or movies until Thanksgiving. I try my best to abide by his "rule" but I could not keep myself from enjoying a little festive 'nog. Besides, I have been very good at resisting the urge to pop that famous Bing Crosby record into the old player!

November makes me want to snuggle up with a good book. I have quite a hankerin' to make some apple pie. And it's a great time to plan out my future knitting projects and visit the yarn store. It's a great time especially since I have completed my Tangled Yoke Cardigan! My goal was to get it finished by Thanksgiving, and I met that goal with 2 1/2 weeks to spare. Therefore I call it "November" and it is instantly a favorite staple in my wardrobe. Here is a sneak peak at it as I have yet to get some glamor shots taken of it - I'll have all the details when I post those later.

The grosgrain ribbon and leather buttons add a pop of color and sophistication to this stormy hued sweater.

The "Tangled Yoke" is so pretty - an unexpected detail to such a basic cardigan.

Feeling Knitty

So, here we are on the 4th of October and it is snowing. Seriously. It's not accumulating, but I can see the white flakes falling, causing me to want to retreat into my cozy house, wear sweats, drink hot tea and take care of my under-the-weather little girl. I also have a hankerin' to knit.

I know that it is a bit early to be thinking about Christmas, and I don't mean to go there, but I saw these Felted Christmas Trees on the Purl Bee website:

I think they would be super fun to make, now that I am an expert on knitting-in-the-round and increasing/decreasing. They probably wouldn't take too long and would fit in with my Christmas decorating style perfectly. I adore the little colored French knot "ornaments" and the rounded bottoms. Plus, these decorations would be difficult for little hands to destroy, unlike glass ones.

But alas, I shouldn't stray from the task at hand: my Tangled Yoke sweater that I started in August. My goal is to have it finished by Thanksgiving and I have to admit I am feeling a little pressed for time.

Look, it's a sleeve!

I have the torso, one full sleeve and the cuff of the second sleeve completed so far ... and I haven't even begun the hard part yet! However, I am enjoying the project and can't wait to wear my new sweater when it is finished, and get started on another knitting adventure ... whenever that will be.

It's Just As I Imagined It

Back in May I was planning my flower window boxes with great anticipation. Adding a pop of color to the front yard is so charming and I spent a lot of time contemplating the right color for the boxes and what flowers would reside. I did a great job ... if I do say so myself!

The little blue flowers (lobelium) have gone crazy! They thrive in our little cedar boxes. The grass adds nice texture and the petunias add glorious color. I can't help but smile when I pull up to my house.

The Great Yarn Saga

Let's see, it was at least a month ago that I posted my plans for my next knitting project. I had meticulously researched everything. Finally I had chosen the sweater,the yarn, and purchased the required needles. Therefore, I figured I was good to go as soon as the yarn arrived. So I waited ...

and waited ...

and waited ...

Um, where was my yarn? It turns out that the online yarn store I had ordered from did not have the yarn in stock (this was not indicated on the site when I bought it. That would have been helpful!) but it had been ordered from the warehouse. It was expected "later in the month" and since I ordered the yarn on July 10th, I waited patiently for my yarn to come for a good three weeks. August 1st came around and ... nothing.

So, I e-mailed the online store and they hadn't received their shipment yet so I started to call around to see who might have it. I called a plethora of places and they either didn't carry it, it was out of stock, they didn't have enough, or they didn't have the yarn from the same dye lot. What a pain! Finally I called a little yarn store I had been into when I was in Lincoln City and to my delight they carried the type of yarn I needed. I said that I wanted eight balls of Rowan Felted Tweed in #170 Seafarer and ... they had exactly eight balls left! And from the same dye lot!

It was more expensive to buy through them but after nearly a month of waiting I didn't care. I paid for them to ship it to me Priority Mail on Thursday and it arrived on Saturday. Imagine my frustration when I couldn't get the mail box open! I nearly broke my hand trying to pry it open but nothing was going to get between me and my tweed! And it is so worth it. It is gorgeous with the flecks of periwinkle and cognac. I'm in love. Well, as much as one can be with sheep's wool and alpaca.

Beautiful! Gorgeous! Glad you are here! I have already delved into this sweater with much enthusiasm. I can't stop thinking about the end result, I just hope it lives up to my expectations.

Kilroy Revisited

About a year ago my husband bought a "project car". When he bought this old Jeep his intent was to fix it up cosmetically and give it a new coat of paint. Over the past year it has been a bigger project than originally thought and now Kilroy is all beautified.

When my husband was sanding, grinding, smoothing and filling, he noticed several layers of paint that ranged in color from army green to red to white. It was a fun challenge to choose a paint color. Trends in 2009 tend to run along the whites, silvers and black. But since this M38A1 is a "fun" car, we decided to go flashy. Now Kilroy is back to red. Cherry Red to be exact. His roll cage is a shiny black as are the front and back bumpers. I have to admit that I was skeptical that this old rig would ever be attractive. For months it sat in our garage, half sanded, looking like it had a flesh-eating bacteria problem. To put it mildly, it was an eye-sore!

Now there's just nothing pretty about this!

Now he looks great! It make such a difference to have to roll cage and hood put back on. Not to mention is snazzy new paint job.

Now that it is all pretty, it is likely that we will sell this car soon. Then what will we (meaning my husband) do with all our (meaning his) time?

Raveled

I finally took the plunge and started a profile on Ravelry. I don't know why, but I had been reluctant to do so, perhaps because I assumed it was for "serious" knitters. But wouldn't you know it, I found that it is free, a valuable resource, and I get to post my projects! I have found it especially helpful when researching future knitting projects.

I have been thinking long and hard about what I want to tackle next. I have decided on the "Tangled Yoke Cardigan". I fully expect it to be a challenge as it has a complicated tangled vine pattern, uses circular needles (in three sizes) and has nine button holes. But hey, I WANT the challenge. And I figure if I get started now, it might be done around Thanksgiving.

Taken from Interweave Knits Fall 2007, I have found that it is a very popular pattern - hundreds of people have knit it on Ravelry.

I just couldn't resist the tangled pattern on the yoke. It's a little scary, but I know I can do it!

The yarn has already been ordered: Rowan Felted Tweed in Seafarer.

This sweater is turning out to be quite expensive between the yarn and the needles required, but I don't want to compromise on this just to save a few bucks. The way I see it, I am gaining valuable skills and it will be something I'll wear for a very long time.

For now the hardest part is waiting for the gorgeous yarn to arrive ...

And Four Weeks Later ...

... my scarf is FINALLY finished! It may seem ridiculous that it would take that long to knit a scarf, but hey life gets busy. So, here's the skinny:

I am so glad that I washed the finished scarf before blocking it. As you can see, there was a lot of dye that ended up in the water.

Pattern: Hourglass Eyelet Scarf, by Chrissy Gardiner, from Holiday 2008 Interweave Knits

Yarn: Elsebeth Lavold Hempathy in Aquamarine

Time Elapsed: Four weeks

Notes: The scarf measures 70" long by about 6" wide. Knit with a thin yarn, it has a lacy texture that maintains its shape well. The pattern calls for size 7 needles, but I used size 4 needles to achieve the lace pattern. Once I figured out how the eyelet cables are created, it wasn't difficult to knit them and I enjoyed the repetitive pattern.

70" makes for a very long scarf! I wrapped it and looped it many times.

The pattern is so pretty, now I know why it's called the "Hourglass Eyelet Scarf".

My reaction when realizing it took four weeks to knit this relatively uncomplicated scarf.

You can bet that I have already started planning my next project. It is a bit daring, it will take a heck of a lot longer that four weeks, and I can't wait to get started on it. I'll reveal more soon ...

Making Progress

It's funny, but I find that I become quite obsessive when it comes to knitting. I especially like using plain aluminum straight needles. I love the way the yarn glides smoothly across the cool metal. It really is therapy.

I have been making a lot of progress with my Hourglass Eyelet Scarf. There is a lot less thinking involved in making a scarf than there is with a pair of socks. Once I get the pattern down, I can just pick up and knit when I have the chance. I am almost done with my first skein of yarn and suspect I will be using another 2 to 3 skeins to make a 70" scarf.

I can't wait to wear this scarf. I think it will look amazing with a black tank top or a navy blue shirt.


As you can see the pattern is a series of cables with eyelet holes in the center of each cable. I always thought that cables were for advanced knitters only when really they are so easy! I am thrilled to be able to knit a simple cable without having to use a cable needle or J hook.

I would write more, but my unfinished scarf is calling me ...

Have A Little Hempathy

Truth be told, my favorite part of knitting is going to the yarn store. To walk into a shop that is full of color and texture is a treat for my senses.

First (as re-enacted by my daughter) I thoughtfully peruse the inventory, keeping in mind the type of yarn and weight I need for my project.

My eyes move from one vibrant spot to another, soaking in the rich hues.

My gaze falls upon that one color that makes me swoon. That one shade that sticks out over the rest. I check the weight, I check the yardage, I check the price and ...

... ding, ding, ding we have a winner!

This Elsebeth Lavold Hempathy yarn in Aquamarine dazzled me. It is made of all natural fibers, including hemp, and feels soft and light.

I have learned quite a bit since November in the art of knitting. I can knit, purl, increase, decrease, turn a heel and have nearly perfected a Kitchener stitch. It is time to learn something new. So, I am going to knit a scarf.

When I told my husband I was making a "summer scarf" his eyes got very big as he imagined me wearing a heavy wool scarf in 90 degree weather with my tank top and flip flops! Yeah, that's not what I'll be doing. To me, a summer scarf is lightweight, more of an accessory. I chose to do the "Hourglass Eyelet Scarf" that will help me to learn a lace pattern and cables.

Taken from Interweave Knits Holiday 2008 issue, I thought this scarf looked lovely. The price of silk yarn, however, not so lovely. So hemp yarn it is! My scarf will have a more lace-like texture.

Now, my hope is that this scarf won't take nearly as long as those socks!

It's About Stinking Time!

I have never been known as a quitter. I try my best to see something to the end, and that is why I didn't let the fact that I had to start a pair of socks THREE times hinder my determination to finish them. In my defense, it was the first time I knit a pair of socks using two circular needles. That's right ... TWO ... at the same time! The advantage of doing this is that you knit a pair of socks at the same time so they end up the same size.

A great sense of relief came over me the moment I wove in the last end on these socks. Over all, I don't know that I particularly enjoy knitting socks, but it's a skill I am glad to have. I like the way they turned out; they are cheerful, well made, and comfortable (although a little loose even on my big feet).

Aren't these Spring colors so much fun? It would have been nice to have finished them before sandal season, but hey, I'm not complaining.

The socks were made with Heart & Sole with Aloe by Red Heart in Razzle Dazzle. This yarn was on sale for $3.99 a skein - not bad at all!

Here are some of my thoughts on this project:

1. This was my first experience using circular needles and two circular needles at that! It was fun and has inspired me to knit a hat in the Fall. It was also my first experience using bamboo needles and I have to say that I missed the clacking noise aluminum needles make.

2. A friend gave me the book Knitting Circles Around Socks, and I got my sock pattern from it. The illustrations are clear and it didn't take long before I was able to understand the process of using two circulars.

3. Working with circular needles really helps with avoiding that weird "laddering" that double pointed needles produce. The rounds are fairly clean and the stitches even.

4. I am so glad I went at my own pace with these. It is very helpful not to feel rushed and the result is a well-made pair of socks.

Now I am free to decide what to knit next. That's my favorite part! I'm thinking of something with a lace pattern or perhaps cables ...