knitting gems

Hi strangers!

2007-09-28T16:53:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone,

I just decided to check my blog because I have been out of the knitting loop for so long and forgot about the blog for a while. This is the reason. I went back to work full time in May at this wonderful store! I applied there because I didn't think the clothes would fit me and therefore not blow my entire paycheck. Wrong! I have learned that there is a reason why they have a cult-like following! The clothes are cute and comfortable and addicting! I have not worked full time in so long, that it has taken me this long to get used to. My son is away at school and my 16 year old daughter just got her license, so now that no one's around (except hubby) I'm thinking about picking up a project. It has to be something quick and easy. I would love to find a dog sweater pattern with a team letter for Pookie to wear to the school football games. I'm looking forward to catching up on everyones' blogs! Gina

Kentucky

2007-04-09T11:32:00.000-04:00

Well I can't seem to get into any knitting projects other than dischcloths, but in the meantime I took my daughter and a friend to a cheer clinic at the University of Kentucky. They have the best cheerleaders in the country so it was a real thrill for her. She is normally a backspot, but here she got the chance to fly. In case you can't tell she is petrified!

Just couldn't resist

2007-03-09T07:52:00.000-05:00

One sleeve on my sweater is way to long and I have to frog, so just one more dishcloth before I begin the drudgery that is the finishing of the Mission Falls sweater.

Just a quick dishcloth

2007-03-07T07:03:00.000-05:00

I need that instant gratification between projects so here it is. I like knitting the round ones, they are not boring at all.

Socks finished!

2007-03-01T08:14:00.000-05:00

They're finally done. I had to frog a lot because first I was reading the toe decreases when I was doing the heel (I accidentally wrote "hell" first....hmmmm), then I kept looking at the heel (I wrote hell again!) while I was working on the toe decrease! Next time I will print out the directions on separate pages and color code them! So far I prefer the Plymouth Encore yarn over this fingering weight - it's comfier and goes more quickly.

Another WIP

2007-02-19T10:31:00.000-05:00

I can't finish the sweater until the 40" circulars come in to my LYS, so until then I'm working on 2 socks at a time using Socknatta yarn on sz 2 DPN's. I definately prefer a heavier yarn on larger needles....with my big feet these are taking forever!

WIP

2007-02-02T22:51:00.000-05:00

This is a sweater I started 3 years ago. I picked it up several times and knit it in different gauges so it will be interesting to see how it turns out. I hope to finish it this week.....I'll keep you posted.

What kind of needles are you?

2007-01-15T20:46:00.000-05:00

What kind of knitting needles are you?

You are interchangeable.Fun, free, and into everything, you've got every eventuality covered and every opportunity just has to be taken. Every fiber is wonderful, and every day is a new beginning. You are good at so many things, it's amazing, but you can easily lose your place and forget to show up. They have row counters for people like you!
Take this quiz!

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2007-01-15T15:56:00.000-05:00

What kind of yarn are you?

You are Cashmere.You are sophisticated and luxe. You can often be found in high-end boutiques and hobnobbing with the upper crust. You are one of the beautiful people and you don't let anyone forget it!
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Second Pair of Socks

2007-01-12T16:24:00.000-05:00

I'm finally using the gorgeous rosewood DPN's that my SP8 Janna gave me. I was afraid to try fingering weight yarn, but this is actually fun.

One skein wonder

2006-12-30T18:48:00.000-05:00

I had received this beautiful skein on Noro silk garden from my secret pal Jannahttp://knittingrelaxesme.blogspot.com over the summer, but couldn't find anything to make that took just one skein. So my DH bought me the book One Skein Wonders for Christmas, and what was in it but this cute little stripes and scallops hat which called for the very same yarn! It was such a fun and quick pattern to knit.

Christmas

2006-12-26T21:56:00.000-05:00

Here is one of my 3 new nieces, Mackenzie, with her cousin Liam. No, I didn't knit the sweater, but I should get going before she gets too big to knit for! Her twin cousins are still in the hospital until they gain some more weight, but we certainly enjoyed her on Christmas

I've managed to squeeze in some knitting

2006-12-22T09:12:00.000-05:00

I hope to start a bigger project after New Year's, but in the meantime here's another Mason-Dixon warshrag. What is it about pink that I love so much? Especially when it's combined with green?????

2006-12-22T09:09:00.000-05:00

and the December mid-month dishcloth
I like this pattern and love the pink/brown combination

JP is going to college!

2006-12-19T07:54:00.000-05:00

We just found out JP got accepted to Wake Forest on the early decision plan. We are so proud !

3 Babies in one day!!!!

2006-12-03T22:44:00.000-05:00

Remember in my last post when I was musing about which baby I was going to give the blanket to? Well today, all 3 were born, and all 3 are girls!!!! We had a shower yesterday for Alison, who was due in February with twins. Well Beth couldn't come to the shower because she was in labor, then at 2AM, Alison's water broke and she went into labor (at 30 weeks). Beth's baby was born at 7AM a healthy 8lbs, 6ozs. Her name is Mackenzie Kathryn and she has red hair! Alison delivered 2 girls, Emma Grace and Maggie Elizabeth around 4PM in the same hospital as Beth. They were each over 3 lbs., and were able to receive a dose of steroids to develop their lungs before they were born, so although they are quite premature their prognosis looks good. I'm so excited to be a great-aunt again and can't wait to see the little cuties!!!

Baby blanket

2006-11-15T07:10:00.000-05:00

This is for neice #1, due Dec. 6th. I think there is too much pink if she has a boy, in which case it goes to neice #2 who is having twin girls, and then I will have to make another one. It is basically a giant dishcloth knit with Meunsch Big Baby on size 13 needles....the perfect size for a stroller.

4 dozen things about me, in case you're interested

2006-11-05T18:02:00.000-05:00

I stole this from Terri
1. FIRST NAME?Gina
2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?my mother
3. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY?Got a little teary during the football game last night
4. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?No...too Catholic school
5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCHMEAT?chicken salad
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?maybe
7. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL?no
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?yes
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?never
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?Quaker 100% Natural and Frosted Mini Wheats
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?no
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?medium
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR?peach
14. SHOE SIZE?big
5. RED OR PINK?pink, naturally!
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?wish I was more athletic
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?Mom and MaryBeth
18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU?yes
19. WHAT COLOR PANTS, SHIRT AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?black yoga pants, cream fleece and slippers
20. LAST THING YOU ATE?
tostitos
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
Nothing.
22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?periwinkle
23. FAVORITE SMELL?chocolate chip cookies
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?Maura
25. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE YOU ARE ATTRACTED TO?Height...I'm only attracted to my husband and he's tall
26. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON you stole THIS from?Yes.
27. FAVORITE DRINK?Iced Tea
28. FAVORITE SPORT?tennis
29. EYE COLOR?blue/green
30. HAT SIZE?big...get the idea that I'm a good size?
31. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?yes
32. FAVORITE FOOD?Baked ziti
33. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?Happy endings.
35. SUMMER OR WINTER?Summer
36. HUGS OR KISSES?both
37. FAVORITE DESSERT?creme brulee
38. WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND?Maura
39. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND??
40. WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING?The Disappearance of the Universe
41. WHAT’S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
Dell logo
42. WHAT DID YOU WATCH LAST NIGHT ON TV?Wake Forest/BC game
43. FAVORITE SOUNDS?seagulls and waves
44. ROLLING STONE OR BEATLES?rolling stones
45. THE FURTHEST YOU’VE BEEN FROM HOME?Madeira
46. WHAT’S YOUR SPECIAL TALENT?artistic endeavors
47. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?Brooklyn, NY
48. WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?
Stole it from Terri

Cable Knit Purse Pattern

2006-11-04T17:14:00.000-05:00

By popular demand, here is the blog where I got the cable knit purse pattern. I used Lion Brand Thick and Quick yarn, which is bulkier than called for and makes a larger purse. I tried one in the weight she recommended, and it seemed a little on the small side. Here's the link http://spytastic.blogspot.com/2005/07/cable-knit-purse.html

Cable Knit Clutch Purse

2006-11-02T19:56:00.000-05:00

Isn't this cute? When I saw this purse in a store last year for $90, I knew I had to make one. I'm just sorry I waited so long! It took me 2 hours to knit, the most tedious part was sewing the lining, but it was worth it. All my neices are getting these for Christmas. I love the knitting needle handles.

2006-11-02T19:55:00.000-05:00

Here it is in brown

Fingerless gloves

2006-10-29T18:06:00.000-05:00

These are easy to make....2 days of leisurely knitting. I thought they would be good for the car, but my fingers were cold! They were fun to make though.

Sorry for my absence

2006-10-03T19:39:00.000-04:00

I'm still knitting dishcloths, but I have had a lot of stuff going on lately.....
scroll down

Attending a black tie wedding

2006-10-03T19:37:00.000-04:00

I wish I could look like this all the time, but it only comes together once every couple of years.....I can't believe I didn't have the right shawl to go with this dress! I must get started on one right away!

Taking JP to see colleges

2006-10-03T19:34:00.000-04:00

On this day we saw Villanova and St. Joseph's in PA....

2006-10-03T19:32:00.000-04:00

and finally, Holly went to heaven on September 29th....some of you commented on my previous Holly post and said "you'll know when it's time"....how true We miss her terribly...it's the one bad thing about sharing your life with an animal

The guys visit Notre Dame

2006-09-23T08:20:00.000-04:00

Sorry I don't have any knitting news....it's been quite busy with the back to school hustle and bustle, but in the meantime my boys went to the Notre Dame - Michigan game and had a blast.

My original design finished!

2006-09-05T22:16:00.000-04:00

OK so it's not such a difficult pattern, but I'm pretty darn happy with my creation, and it goes with my Sausalito shoes beautifully!

2006-09-05T22:11:00.000-04:00

the back

2006-09-05T22:10:00.000-04:00

and here they are....the fabulous shoes!

2006-09-05T22:07:00.000-04:00

another angle...I love these shoes

2006-09-05T22:05:00.000-04:00

close-up of shoe detail

Surprise! I'm your secret pal!

2006-08-31T18:49:00.000-04:00

Hi Jillian. Obviously you received my final SP8 package which gave my blog address. So this is me with my self-designed shawl that I'm currently working on. I'm making it to go with a pair of shoes I bought (a little backwards, I know, but somehow I think you'll understand). It has been fun spoiling you, you are always so grateful and upbeat. I will continue to check your blog and see what you're up to. Maybe someday we'll meet at a knitting event or something.
xoxo,
Gina

last of the summer dishcloths

2006-08-28T22:34:00.000-04:00

I guess this is my last summer dishcloth. If not for my beloved dishcloths, absolutely no knitting would have been done this summer. They have served me well....

JP wins golf tournament

2006-08-23T08:50:00.000-04:00

I'm so proud of my son, JP. He won the junior club championship at our golf club. That's me , JP and my DH Jim.

What I did during the concert

2006-08-17T09:12:00.000-04:00

While my 15 year old and her friends were attending a concert at Jones Beach, I sat on a bench and knit this. It was very interesting...I'm in at least one teen group photo with kids who found my knitting entertaining, and I made friends with 2 security guards.

A beautiful weekend

2006-08-15T16:01:00.000-04:00

Here's my daughter Maura with my great-nephew, Liam. He is the best baby ever, and a cutie too! We spent the most gorgeous day of the summer on the beach in Long Island with him. There is no place better to me in the world than the ocean.

the hip side of knitting

2006-08-10T09:19:00.000-04:00

I thought you might enjoy seeing this gift my husband gave me. Isn't it cool? It is also extremely functional, with long pockets along the side for your needles and shorter ones on the other side for your other stuff. The handles have a grippy fabric too so it doesn't slip off your shoulder. I had a great birthday...the best present though was a garden angel statue that my 17 year old son picked out himself and bought with his own money. He is turning out to be a very thoughtful gift-giver like his father. I am so blessed.

Birthday

2006-08-09T08:06:00.000-04:00

Since you don't know when my birthday is, I might as well let you know it's today...I'm 47. Do you know anyone born on August 9th? It is a very popular day to be born. I know of at least 6 people with the same birthday. Veteran's Day is 9 month before....who knew it was such an amorous holiday? Anyway, here's my Monthly Dishcloths lighthouse. While still enjoying the dishcloths and continuing with them, I picked up a shawl last night that I started at the beginning of the summer. It's done in novelty yarns (I do like them) and it's kind of my own pattern (yipes). Nothing fancy, just straight and then increasing around the back. I started it to go with a very expensive pair of shoes that I bought while in San Francisco. Can you relate? I bought the shoes, now I just need the outfit to go with them! Will post pictures later....gotta go get ready for birthday breakfast with friends.

Embracing entrelac

2006-08-07T14:51:00.000-04:00

This is a fun dishcloth that I think was designed by one of the Mason-Dixon gals. I had a little trouble, but Trudy at my LYS set me straight, and then it went really quickly. It has a nice texture for scrubbing dishes (yes I really use them!) What a great way to break into entrelac!

Lookie what I got from my Secret Pal!

2006-08-06T18:24:00.000-04:00

Looks like an ordinary copy of Knitting Rules by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, which is pretty cool in itself, right?
But wait! It gets even better....

2006-08-06T18:22:00.000-04:00

....it's signed by the Yarn Harlot herself! And it's addressed to me!
What a treasure to behold! Thank you SP!

another ballband

2006-08-02T19:25:00.000-04:00

another ballband until I figure out the entrelac dishcloth.....

Faux cables!

2006-08-01T21:43:00.000-04:00

Here is the mid-July knitalong from the monthly dishcloths group....I will definately do this one again!

I love Texas!

2006-07-24T22:42:00.000-04:00

Here I am with my
Premier Designs family hitting the Fort Worth Stockyards after our annual rally.
As you can see, we stopped at Steinmart first and were lucky enough to grab this limo to chauffeur us. That's me on the far left...didn't get much knitting done!

Away

2006-07-17T17:10:00.000-04:00

I'm away in Texas on biz....will post when I get back. Happy knitting y'all!

Surprise!

2006-07-14T12:26:00.000-04:00

Another dishcloth! This is the ballband cloth from Mason-Dixon knitting. It was a fun project (I'm currently knitting another one), but seemed to take a long time. I'm going to Texas on biz next week, so I'll bring along a pattern or two for the plane ride....any other Premier Designs jewelers out there?

A gift from SP

2006-07-12T16:37:00.000-04:00

My wonderful Secret Pal gave me a gift certificate to
http://kpixie.com and this is what I bought...a cute little tin
box with an assortment of knitting accessories. Now I will
have an extra set of things so I can have two portable projects
at once. Just two? I doubt it! Thank you secret pal....I love this website and will be ordering more you can be sure! They even gave me 10% off my next order (it's like getting 2 gifts in one!)

Holly

2006-07-09T13:58:00.000-04:00

Holly, our beloved 13 year old lab, was diagnosed with kidney failure about 9 days ago. She couldn't keep food down, and her kidneys were getting worse and worse. She spent a night at the vet, and he even offered to give her "the shot" while she was there, since we had already separated from her for a little while. After we thought about it, we decided to bring her home with some IV fluids to make her comfortable. My husband brought home a case of the special food too, and I thought, what am I going to do with all this food? Well, we started giving her the IV 2x a day for the first couple of days, then we tried the food and she kept it down. Well 9 days later she is eating heartily twice a day, drinking and no longer vomitting! I don't want to get my hopes up too high, but needless to say, I'm so happy we brought her home from the vet! I am going to bring her back to have her creatinin (sp) levels checked and see if the vet has a better prognosis for us. I am so grateful that we have had this time together... she is a wonderful girl.

I love this pattern!

2006-06-30T14:11:00.000-04:00

This one is going to be a hostess gift for a friend who invited us to her lake house. She is a beginner knitter, so I'm also going to give her a ball of yarn (I just bought a ton from JoAnn's), needles and a pattern for a simple dishcloth. I think I am going to knit these in every color!

OK this is it, I swear

2006-06-27T12:43:00.000-04:00

Hello, my name is Gina and I can't stop knitting dishcloths. Here's the pattern for anyone who's interested http://www.jimsyldesign.com/~dishbout/kpatterns/dbldmnd.html

another dishcloth

2006-06-25T15:27:00.000-04:00

I should be working on my FLAK, but I can't stop knitting dishcloths!

My socks

2006-06-22T10:56:00.000-04:00

Here they are all finished... a little short, but I needed to get them to the heel in time for my class, so I had to do whatever was necessary to get there. I am very happy that I worked them pretty much simultaneously. I will try my best to work my next pair the same way....

Mid June Dishcloth KAL

2006-06-20T20:54:00.000-04:00

Here is the mid-June dishcloth from the monthly dishcloth knitalong. Boy did I have trouble with this one! You had to cast on 195 stitches, and then there were slip one, k2t, psso but I kept forgetting to p the ss o! Anyway, with some help from the group I finally got into the rythm...thanks group! Suggested uses? Knit up several in red, white and blue and use under chip dishes at July 4th parties. One in each color would also make a nice hostess gift!

Almost to goal!

2006-06-19T18:44:00.000-04:00

Hooray! Today I weighed in at Weight Watchers, and have almost reached my goal!!!! I started around March 1st and I'm so psyched, I hope to become a lifetime member by my birthday...August 9th.

Cats chillin' on the back deck

2006-06-17T14:06:00.000-04:00

Here are Petey and Moonlite sharing a chair for a late Spring nap.

My Secret Pal is the Best!!!!

2006-06-16T17:03:00.000-04:00

First of all, look how cutely she wrapped everything....all my favorite colors! And a handmade card to boot!

2006-06-16T16:58:00.000-04:00

I love everything! An adorable cat measuring tape (how did she know I needed one???) The cutest scrabble pieces markers, and rosewood dpn's...the Cadillac of knitting needles! Perfect timing, because I plan to make a pair of socks in a thinner weight than my first pair. I consider myself pretty hard to buy for, but everything is absolutely perfect! Thank you, thank you, thank you, SP! You are the best!!!!!

Sock class finished

2006-06-16T07:08:00.000-04:00

Well I finished my sock class last night along with my first adult sock. I learned the kitchner stitch and I also learned that I didn't need to knit as tightly as I did. I was worried I was going to make it too loose, so I really made an effort to knit tightly, to the point where my bamboos were bending. Thankfully I can relax a little on the next pair. It fits well and is very comfy.

Secret Pal 8

2006-06-13T21:25:00.000-04:00

My spoilee e-mailed me that she received her package. She seemed to really like it and posted a photo on her blog. My first one fell through, as she never posted a questionairre on her blog or answered my e-mail, so I was just assigned the new one last week. This is so fun!

Adult socks

2006-06-12T21:45:00.000-04:00

I am taking a class for socks on DPN's and here's what I have so far. They are done in Plymouth Encore, and feel like they are going to be quite cozy. I have the last class at the end of the week and am working on the other sock so I can finish them both around the same time. I didn't think I would like doing them on DPN's, but it is fun. I think the key is using thicker yarn so they go more quickly.

My oldest UFO finished!

2006-06-08T19:05:00.000-04:00

This was started over 2 years ago and was my oldest UFO...until today that is! It's the Summer in the City tank top from The Yarn Girls Guide to Simple Knits book, made with Zen and some other cotton/silk yarn in an off white. It came out OK. I don't know if I'll actually wear it though, it's kind of thick. I'm just glad to have it off my UFO list.!

2006-06-06T07:41:00.000-04:00

You Are a Plain Ole Cup of Joe

But don't think plain - instead think, uncomplicated
You're a low maintenance kind of girl... who can hang with the guys
Down to earth, easy going, and fun! Yup, that's you: the friend everyone invites.
And your dependable too. Both for a laugh and a sympathetic ear.

What Kind of Coffee Are You?

Shoreline shrug could stand to shrink!

2006-05-27T11:29:00.000-04:00

Here it is, the finished product. I am very pleased with the yarn choices, colors, textures etc. but I learned a few things along the way. First, even though there was no specific gauge, I should have gone down a needle size or 2. I am a very loose knitter (I knit loosely that is), and the weight of all the yarns made the loose stiteches even droopier once it was on and stretched out. I have very long arms, and the sleeves are even too long for me! Rather than measuring it flat on the floor, I should have held it up or hung it on a hanger for measuring. It is much heavier than I thought it would be, so even though it looks airy, I really cannot wear it until the cooler weather. I would definately do this project again, but go down a needle size and put less stitches on the needle. The pattern suggested stopping at 60 stitches, but because of my almost 6 foot frame, I went up to 96 stitches. Next time I will stop at 60 and that will make it go faster too!

Baby Liam at 3 & 1/2 months

2006-05-17T09:47:00.000-04:00

Isn't he cute? He is so good too. He must have laid happily on that playmat for an hour! No wonder my niece is already talking about the next one!

Dishcloth fever!

2006-05-17T09:43:00.000-04:00

I knit up this dolphin dishcloth on the train ride to and from NYC to visit my niece and great-nephew. I can't stop knitting dishcloths...they're instant gratification to the max! I have been using Sugar 'n Cream, but after reading all the posts on the superiority of Peaches and Cream, I need to seek that out and try it.

I heard from my Secret Pal!

2006-05-15T20:17:00.000-04:00

He or she sounds FABULOUS! I think it's a she because she loves pink, but you never know! She is also a Leo and historically my best friends have been Leos! Odd, since you'd think we'd always be fighting each other to be the center of attention! I have never done this before so I'm very excited!

1/2 a shrug

2006-05-11T08:58:00.000-04:00

Here is my Shoreline Shrug at the halfway point. Can you tell these are my colors? Just look closely at the tips of my shoes...they're pink with tan trim!

Dishcloth

2006-05-10T07:07:00.000-04:00

Another first....my first dishcloth! This is from the yahoo groups monthly dishcloth knitalong . What a fun group! On the first of the month you are given 8 rows to knit (I guess it can vary each month based on the pattern), and then each day you get a few more rows until it is done and the pattern is revealed.

A pair of socks

2006-05-10T07:02:00.000-04:00

Yes, I actually finished the second sock of my first pair of socks. Now that I've entered the world of sock knitting I wanted to get off on "the right foot" and finish the second sock. Hopefully I have staved off the dreaded SSS disease! These are for my great-nephew who's not walking yet, so no worry about fit.

Secret Pal 8 Questionnaire

2006-05-02T12:00:00.000-04:00

I'm looking forward to participating in my very first Secret Pal. Thank you in advance whoever you are and here are my answers:

What is your favorite yarn to knit with? I haven't met a yarn I didn't like so far. I am currently working on my first dishcloth using Sugar and Cream. I just completed my first pair of baby socks and am about to tackle an adult pair, so sock yarn is good. I also love all the novelty yarns
What do you use to store your needles in? It's pitiful, really . They're just thrown in a basket that they don't fit in.
How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? Intermediate
Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? Amazon
What's your favorite scent?Lavendar
Do you have a sweet tooth? Yes, anything Weight Watchers chocolate
What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?
I'm trying to stick with just knitting right now and I don't spin
What kind of music do you like? 60's, disco, new age, Latin jazz, 40's and I have an ipod and CD player
What is your favorite color? Pink! I love all shades of pink, pastels, all shades of green, aqua, turquoise. My least favorite color is red or any primary color
What is your family situation/ any pets? I am married with a teenage boy and girl, we have 3 cats and 2 dogs
Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens, ponchos? Yes, size large in all 3
What are your favorite items to knit? Quick projects...anything goes
What are you knitting right now? An Aran sweater, a triangular shawl, socks, a shrug and a dishcloth
Do you like to receive handmade gifts? Yes
Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? I use them all. I just bought a pair of rosewood that I love!
Do you own a yarn winder or swift? Yes and I love them!
How did you learn to knit? I taught myself using the Leisure Arts "I Can't Believe I'm Knitting!" Booklet
How old is your oldest UFO? 2 years
What is your favorite holiday? Christmas Eve
Is there anything that you collect? not really
Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? Nothing in particular, Interweave, Vogue Knitting
Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? Fair Isle, lace, intarsia
Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? Yes, size 10US
When is your birthday? August 9th

Shrug progress

2006-04-27T18:50:00.000-04:00

Here's what I have so far. I've had to add about 4 inches so far to accommodate my super-long arms and figure I have another 6 inches just to get to the middle of the back, otherwise the cuff band will be above my elbow and will not be comfortable. I have been working even from where the pattern ends so I hope it's drapey enough, I just didn't want to end up with 144 stitches on the needle!

My first sock!

2006-04-26T18:28:00.000-04:00

Isn't it cute? I wanted to try socks on a very small scale so here it is, the first of (hopefully) a pair for my grand-nephew Liam. It is the baby sock from the Magic Loop booklet knit with a 40" size 3 circular. It was quite easy to do and I think I will try to transfer an adult pattern to the ML technique. After I do the other sock of course!

Finally, a FO

2006-04-24T08:42:00.000-04:00

I needed a quick fix amidst my FLAK marathon, so I picked up this gorgeous skein of multi texture, fiber yarn in Half Moon Bay, Ca. and knit up a scarf one afternoon while the kids watched a movie in the room. It was just what I needed. One thing I realized this vacation is always bring a scarf! San Francisco is a little cool this time of year with weather that changes throughout the day, and you really need a scarf to fill in the gap above the jacket.

Shrug started

2006-04-24T07:19:00.000-04:00

I started my Shoreline Shrug and am loving it! It's very easy but not boring due to all the color and texture changes. I bought a ton of yarn for this project, but am finding that I might even need more. If you are doing this I suggest many different weights and textures in the off white family. I didn't get a chenille but could have used one. I think the other sleeve is going to be a little different. For one thing, I used leftover squiggle yarn and I don't know if I'll have enough for the other sleeve, but that's ok, I think it will be more interesting that way. I already bought yarn for the Watergarden shrug!

What I did on my vacation

2006-04-22T23:46:00.000-04:00

We spent last week in San Francisco and had a fabulous time. I was able to get a few rows of my FLAK sweater while taking in an Oakland A's game. If they were playing the Yankees, I would have had to concentrate on the game. As you can see, we had great weather. It had rained for 3 straight months, but cleared up while we were there. On our last day it started to rain again, so we were really lucky to have such a great week.

Yarns Down Under

2006-04-14T16:16:00.000-04:00

I'm so excited! I got to visit Yarns Down Under in Deep River, CT yesterday. I have been a subscriber to their mailing list for almost a year now, and I always feel sad when I receive e-mail updates about their classes and new yarns, etc. because they're about an hour & 1/2 away! Well yesterday I had a jewelry show only 6 minutes from the shop, so of course I left early so I could pop in. First of all, it is the most picturesque setting, at the end of a gravel road, behind and underneath a tiny golf course clubhouse. The owner and her daughter and baby grandaughter were there and were extremely helpful and pleasant. I told them of my desire to knit socks, which lead to a discussion about Magic Loop and me inquiring if they had the booklet, which lead to an impromptu ML lesson. Thank God for that lesson, because I practiced today and don't think I could have figured it out with the booklet alone! I got the books in the photo and already LOVE them, and would highly recommend them! I also got some pretty sock yarn, pictured above, and a baby blue for my great-nephew (which rolled under the seat of my car and was not retrieved until after the photo). I also have several 40" addi-turbos for future projects. I think I will take a class at YDU in the future, it is definately worth the trip.

FLAK front done!

2006-04-11T13:24:00.000-04:00

Here it is and I think it's going to be quite large. I don't know why, and at this point I'm just going to continue as I've been doing, but when I put it on my husband says it looks like football pads!

Shoreline Shrug

2006-04-11T13:08:00.000-04:00

I had so much fun picking out my yarn for Jane Thornley's Shoreline Shrug . It's all yummy, beachy colors and assorted textures. I probably won't start it until after vacation though, because with all the yarn changes, it would be a lot of yarn to carry on the plane. Perhaps I'll alternate between my first pair of socks and my trusty FLAK sweater.

ladders...shoot!

2006-03-26T10:29:00.000-05:00

I guess I lost count of my rows on the front, and I've had to ladder back all my waves. This is the last one, and as you can see I laddered back on the horseshoe, but the wrong # of rows. Luckily it's early on, and hopefully it will be smooth sailing after that. I've definately improved my laddering skills, so it's not a total waste!

Working the front

2006-03-24T12:56:00.000-05:00

Unfortunately, my daughter has been home with the flu since Monday. I wish she felt better, but I've been able to get more knitting done while sitting with her. I'm knitting a crew neck cardigan front at the same time on circulars, but I just noticed 2 mistakes that I hopefully will be able to correct by laddering back. They are up at the neck in the center, so quite noticable. Hopefully I will get a picture up soon.

Finally!

2006-03-20T16:02:00.000-05:00

It's been kind of quiet for a few weeks on the blog because I have been determined to get this back done! On to the front!

Just kidding

2006-03-04T08:15:00.000-05:00

Ignore previous, whiney post. I got it figured out finally. I realized I did not know how to read a chart! I thought all the vertical lines were knit every row, and all the horizontal lines were purl every row, but I finally figured out that the chart shows the right side, so that means do the opposite on the wrong sides! How did I figure that out? I went back and read the written directions....aaaaahhhh! Ok, got it now. My goal is to have the back done by the end of the weekend. Happy to be back on FLAK!

What the FLAK is wrong with me?

2006-02-28T13:49:00.000-05:00

Well after probably about a dozen hours of knitting, frogging, re-knitting the first 3 rows of the back of my FLAK project, I've decided maybe it's a wee bit over my head. I have the cables down pat, but I think I wrote my pattern out incorrectly, because it looks absolutely nothing like my swatch. So now I've decided to go back to the cut and past method that worked for me on the swatch and I've also decided that it's going to be at my own pace (what do I think it's been so far???? everyone else is on the sleeves!!!) No I mean reeeeallly at myyyy own pace. That means the 3 year plan. I was going to work this one through, no holds barred until I was finished and have my triangular shawl on the side when mindless knitting is required. But now I think the shawl will be my primary focus, with a new project and then the FLAK standing by when I'm in the mood. I'm not quitting, mind you, it's just going lower on the priority list. I'm not having fun with it right now, so why torture myself? Now the fun part, looking for the next project!

shawl knitalong progress

2006-02-22T00:51:00.000-05:00

Here is my triangular shawl. I can work on this while I'm watching a HS basketball game which I can't do with my FLAK project. I want it to be really big, so it will take me a little while longer. I'm not sure if the knitalong is even still going on?!!!

Baby Liam's sweater is done!

2006-02-19T23:29:00.000-05:00

I finally finished my grand-nephew's sweater. I was concerned that he
would outgrow it before it was finished, but now it looks huge to me. I did a gauge, so the measurements are correct, but it looks like it will fit a toddler. Well at least it won't be too small! I'd like to make one for myself now, but instead I'll start the back of my FLAK sweater.

why I haven't been knitting

2006-02-07T14:29:00.000-05:00

I was in Pittsburgh with my "jewelry sisters" for a conference, so I didn't bring my knitting with me and got off track for about a week. I haven't yet finished my saddles, but am happy to know that everyone is at different stages of their FLAK project. I certainly will not be the first one finished, but hopefully not the last!

Sweater baby has arrived, safe and sound

2006-01-25T22:15:00.000-05:00

William Christopher is here! He was born this morning to my neice and her hubby. He's so cute, he has red hair! I finished his sweater pieces tonight and will put it together after the weekend. He's only 6lbs 5ozs so I think I have at least a week or two to finish.

Baby early, sweater late!

2006-01-24T09:37:00.000-05:00

Uh oh! I just got word that my niece is in the hospital, baby is probably going to be born today (almost 3 weeks early). I am knitting the Origami Sweater from Baby Knits 2 in cream color and am almost finished....I'm on the last sleeve. After I put it together and know the sex of the baby, my plan is to do a blanket stitch or perhaps do x's in a gender-specific color and add appropriate buttons. I also want to do a hat, so this is going to push back my (already slow) FLAK progress and Knitalong project. It's all so exciting! If the baby is born today, it is the same day as my 17yr old son's. He was also 18 days early which is a wonderful thing!

Moonlite on the printer

2006-01-22T00:30:00.000-05:00

This is Moonlight. She just loves to nap on the printer. I thought it was the heat from the scanners lamp, but she sleeps on it when it's off too. You may notice the cat hair in the background when I scan my swatches. Just thought you'd like to see the rest of the animal.

What's wrong with this picture?

2006-01-21T16:20:00.000-05:00

Help! My saddle looks nothing like the Flak photo. I am going to ask the list if I'm reading the chart wrong.

Triangular shawl knitalong starts Monday!

2006-01-20T22:55:00.000-05:00

Here is the yarn I'm using for the Knittinggeek knitalong which starts Monday. I have to finish my future grand-neice or nephew's sweater by then. It would be nice to actually have it done before the baby is born! I like these group projects because I want to keep pace with the others in the group, and so I really believe I will see these projects through to completion . And in a timely manner! Anyway I think I will use a sz13 needle. It will be mostly Party with maybe 2 rows of the other yarns interspersed here and there. I would like it to be pretty large. Pink and green are my favorite colors! Especially in the dead of winter...although it hit 59 degress here in CT today! Gorgeous!

Baby blue and pink shawl

2006-01-19T23:09:00.000-05:00

Here's a shawl that I've been working on and off for over a year. I couldn't decide if it should be a shawl or a throw, but I decided I had worked on it long enough so it's a shawl! I used about 10 or 12 different yarns, novelty, fuzzy, metallic, eyelash knitted on #11 circulars. You name it, it's in there! I tied off the ends of each row for the fringe. This is a great idea for leftover yarn.

I did it!

2006-01-18T23:21:00.000-05:00

Wow! I can't believe I am on my way to
knitting an Aran sweater! I really have to pay attention
as it is so easy to make a mistake! I made a couple
on this swatch, but I didn't rip them out since it is
only a swatch. I will be more focused on the real deal.

I'm trying an Aran sweater! Wish me luck!

2006-01-18T22:24:00.000-05:00

Here is my moss stitch swatch for the FLAK knitalong. It is knit on sz 4 needles
using Cascade 220 Peruvian Highland wool. I wasn't sure about the color but I
absolutely LOVE it knitted! It is a Spring green color with subtle shades of turquoise
and gold. It's very soft to the touch but holds the cables beautifully.