Tuesday, February 28, 2006

Another order


So, Joann.com is (apparently) my favorite site on the internet - I went ahead and ordered another skien of the suede yarn - My thoughts are that I can make a pillow sham out of the extra. So I'm okay with it - and I'm of course thinking that I now need more.

I tore out the baby blanket - made a mistake - so I thought I'd try another pattern - but then I tore that out - and started the chevron pattern again - so I'm 14 rows into the 2nd (technically, 3rd) "re-do". This blanket is going seriously mess up my sleep pattern - it already has.

I've ordered yarn for the next baby blanket - I went a little crazy with the colors - we'll have to see when it arrives.

Hasn't been shipped yet - but I can't wait!

Monday, February 27, 2006

Throws and woes


Yet again I have fallen victim to NOT purchasing a "buffer" skein of yarn. I'm 1 row and casting off short on the Suede throw and a little disgusted with myself - It's Murphy's knitting law I guess - but you'd think I would have learned by now. So my choices are to "fudge" the one side of the throw or to buy another skein and (again) hope that the colors match up - this case being a little more dire in that they will be knit into each other. Oh bother.

In the wake of this I've finished one of the scarves for my co-worker's daughters - I'm toying with the idea of giving that one and one from my "to be gifted collection" - if I wait much longer, winter will be over.

And I've started baby blanket #1 - it's the pattern from the Creative Knitting magazine - it's supposed to be rippled but it's turning out to be a pretty sharp chevron - Of course I'm using a smaller gauge and needles than the original pattern calls for - but I like it all the same. I started it on Saturday, and made a mistake on the 2nd row (didn't figure it out until row 5, of course) - so I tore it all out; I picked it up again on Sunday evening - I'm now on row 14 and everything is going well. I'm using size 6 needles (132 stitches across) - so it's taking a while to see real "results" - but, as I said above, I like it so far.

Thursday, February 16, 2006

Vogue Knitting has arrived!

The package from Joann's arrived yesterday - the yarn is a perfect match - no problems there.

And the "book" is here too. It has nearly every stitch pattern you could imagine. I'm quite pleased. There are a few full patterns - all by designers - fancy pancy.

So now I'm back to working on the Suede throw - I have a busy weekend planned - but I should have it finished in a week or so.

Wednesday, February 15, 2006

So...


I'm still waiting for the additional Suede (and Vogue book) to arrive - I've scraped the dream scarf because I'm using the yarn as an accent on the Suede Throw. I was so excited when I ordered the yarn - but this waiting this is torturous - Of course I have plenty of other yarn to keep me busy. I have 5 bibs finished - they need to be laundered and have buttons sewn on. I started a scarf out of the Bernat Boa - fun bright pink and purple - it's for a seven year old; I'm nearly half-way done.

I've been knitting while watching the olympics - I'm finding it a bit distracting (the olympics, that is) - you really don't get much out of winter sports, I'm finding, by causally watching - the audio commentary on figure skating is a bit lacking for the visually impaired and those of us trying to count stitches.

Wednesday, February 08, 2006

New "throw" project and updates

I've begun the Lion Suede Throw project - Coffee colored throw for Suzanne's new decor. I think I cast on too many stitches for the amount of yarn I have - and I should have cast on with larger needles because this yarn has little "stretch" - but I just ordered more yarn (to double what I have) - hopefully the dye lots won't be a problem. If they are I'll improvise, and maybe start over.

The bib project is underway- the first 3 have been gifted to (reported) rave reviews. Suzanne bought a pile of adorable buttons. I think I'll work on making a few more soon - they just go so quickly!

I've "tried" the Lion Fun Fur Stripe - it's great - very much like the German eyelash.

A co-worker has asked if I will knit scarves for her daughters - put 'em on the list - I'm lucky that ground hog saw 6 more weeks of winter!

I should probably start the dream scarf first - that poor yarn has been sitting for a while.

So, I made an "investment"


today. I ordered the Vogue Knitting book - a huge majority of the blogs I've read say that it's a "must have" for stitches, techniques, etc. I got it for ten $ off the msp and free shipping. I'm pretty excited about it - of course now I have to wait 7-10 business days for it to arrive.

I actually used the vogue knitting website as my main reference when I was "re-teaching" myself to knit a few years ago - The website alone is a great tool - hopefully the book will be even better!

Baby Bibs

The baby bib extravaganza has begun. The first 3 have been gifted - Suzanne gave them to a co-worker and, reportedly, they were a big hit.

Suzanne bought a pile of cute buttons (the fastener for the adjustable strap).

Monday, February 06, 2006

L'afghan c'est fini!


Okay - I still have to weave in the ends - and decide if I'm going to put on a fringe - but the knitting is complete - I finished it after the Super Bowl - I got a little distracted during the game.

It's huge - it's big enough to be a bedspread.

now I have to decide what to work on next - I got MORE yarn over the weekend. I found some nice baby yarn for one blanket - now I just need a pattern.

I got a huge (1lb) spool of cotton - blues and white - It'll be great for the bib projects and tailgating items. I'm very pleased. We shopped at a Joann Fabric Super Store - it really was super - it was like a Michaels and a Joanns got married and had a really big baby - they had all of the crafty stuff and ALL of the sewing items - most notable were the designer and home furnishing fabrics - they had an amazing selection.

Wednesday, February 01, 2006

I love this cartoon


I may post it on each of my blogs!

Afghan nears completion

I have not been working on the afghan as rabidly as I had before - I'm very close to being finished - but not quite - I think it's making me anxious to be finished. I have, approximately, 64 rows to go (out of 352) - and I want to add a fringe. So maybe 6-8 hours of knitting?

of course it's the fringe that will take the longest (and the weaving in!!)!

I may put it (the afghan) "down" for a night or two and do some smaller projects - I started (yes, I feel guilty) the Lion Fun Fur Stripe - It's gonna be pretty cool.

We'll see.