Ravelry Button

Uhhh, how the hell do you do it! I put the button into my picasa album and tried to write the HTML URL yak yak in like blogger instrx say to do buuuut not working. Freakin' Frackin' Double Dratt. Will come back to it later. Maybe someone with know-how-isms can explain. Letter by letter by dot and dash. Wowza.

my cute hand crafted spindle

Here is a picture my tinker toy spindle. I think the small rocks lend a rustic feel.

these are the items I used to make it

These knitting needles were bought from Walmart. Useless for knitting because they kept catching the yarn even after sanding them a bit. They just never worked too good. The needle shown is a size 10 1/2. I used a size 11 for my spindle which needed glued but a 13 would actually be a nice snug fit. You can see how much chunkier the red tinker part is to the size 10 1/2. I'd have put the other 11 in the picture but it seems to be missing. And if you saw my work room you'd know why.

this is the little darling that started it all. a gift from a nice local fiber artist. her blog

these are my first, ever, wee, plyed, hand spun hanks

The one on the right, with the unintended VM included, was made first using the gifted spindle. I used a small wire doggie comb that looked like a dinky carder. Not very good at removing unwanteds.

The hank on the left looks a little better. The spindle I made was a bit on the light side at first so added the small stones to increase the weight. It seemed to help. That time I used bigger doggie combs on the wool and they actually removed almost all of the sticks and stones... 

As to the plying. That was frustrating (...wanna break some bones?). One lady used two med sized terracotta flower pots turned upside down with the yarn balls inside. You'd pull the ends through the holes and ply that way. A super idea but, alas, no funds for such. I think I may have found something that will work. It's one of those lazy susan wooden spice rack. like this Mine I picked up at a flee market. 3 bucks maybe? I already removed the lazy susan part for a (some day) home made yarn swift. Lots of free instrux on the web for that. So many smart inventors out there in cyber space. I send out a big thank ya! Anyway, I think if I lay the thing on its side, stick the balls inside the 4 slats and pull the ends through two of the holes I should be able to ply that way. I am currently combing and spinning some more wool and shall continue on.

Hope some one can use my spindle idea.

Have a good day.

times they are a changin'

fast! Yeah every time I turn around there is something new is going on. Here at my house. The list:

Not working. I have to stay at home because my grandson will soon be out of early head start. And I have custody.

Two of my sons (who used to babysit so I could work) they now have work pending. They are wielders. A real hit and miss kind of thing. They are on the last rung at the bottom of the ladder. You know the score. BUT there is work to be had. That is a good thing.

Scored some fleece. Two actually. And so a new adventure begins. Which I am loving. These fleeces were a freebie. What up with that? Yes God I Will Follow You Down Any Fiber Path. Course I do not have a clue as to what anything should look like. One fleece was very dirty. 4 hot water washes this creature took. 3 bottles of blue dish detergent. I bought 2 thin wire dog brushes and 2 steel dog combs. Guess you know what those are for. As I sit combing out this fuzzy fiber my husband actually had the nerve to say, "that looks like something a crazy, evil person would do." Well babe you better start getting used to it. Oh yeah.

The fleece was given to me when I volunteered at a local fair. click next until you see the sheep's wool! Pretty grimy. You can see my pile to the left. I am standing behind the camera. Just the way I like. But the Heritage Farm Museum shows how our early settlers lived. A neat place do a vacation at.

Have been looking for equipment for spinning. On The Cheap. I made a spindle with a short wood knitting needle, size 11, a round wood tinker toy connector with small rocks glued into it's holes around the edge and a cup hook screwed on top. Spun and plied one wee hank. Not to bad. When my rechargables are ready, will put up pictures of my stuff. My goodies.
Want a wool picker and a some wool combs. Want a spinning wheel. For as close to free as I can get. I'm thinking Make It Yourself. Which is not free but close enough, really.

Here are 2 different links for a PVC pipe wheel. Dragons Keep's wheel  This'un's free.

Doni Stuff's stuff  This one's for purchase. 7 bucks.

The other two items on my list? Got blessed. A gent sent me two of his wood working plans. For combs and a box picker. Free. What's wrong with him?! He asked me to put a close pin on my lips about this. His web site is still being worked on and will soon begin sales for his Fiber Woodworking Plan Creations. They are priced very reasonable. But for those of you with folding money right now here is Kaydessa's safe box woolpicker . Some wool pickers look like something that dude from the movie "Pit and the Pendulum" might use to torture you. Slowly. Painfully. I would say you could not use these things around kids. But the one in the above link looks very safe.

And so some changes are very good. Some are on the okay side. Some are a real bummer. Like making no money. That sucks!

Okay, have a good one.

How to mend a broken heart.

Well, maybe that is a bit over the top but I am a little sad. Here's the deal. I flubbed my awesome job with StitchDiva Studios. Yes. You heard right. I had to stop being a stunt stitcher. Because of time and it's limits thereof. Went back to work + family needs = one of Jennifer's projects being made incorrectly. I decided if I did not have enough time to do her work properly then I should not be wasting her time. I knew it was time to step down. And as I read her gentle and kindly note I thought the floor was moving from under my feet and that I was about to be swallowed whole into the fiery pits of h.e. double l. I might venture to say that the previous sentence is also a bit overblown. Though I was mortally freaked out. It was a sweet dream snuffed out by the harsh realities of life. Bummer. And so, hence, my sorrow. And shame. Yes that also. I will add, as each day passes, I feel less unnerved by this episode this sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach this walking into a telephone pole in public (of course in public, won't find one in private) this...oh gosh, there I go again. I hate being a drama queen. Sorry about that. Got a little carried away. But for real, through it all, I am glad I put myself out there. It shows that I may have a small tad, a tiny tink, of talent in the knitterly process. Its in the proper finishing of projects that I glaringly fell short. And that I have too much going on for the professional life. Those of you who have it all have my undying sympathy ooo I meant undying admiration! But seriously, to the pros, shock and awe. I stand amazed.

I now find myself thinking about when knitting reintroduced itself to me a few short years ago. I remember how it helped me through a very difficult time. Why did that journey, that obsession, begin? It was the process, my fascination of, and with, the ambidextrous nature of knitting. My knitting quest. It might seem crazy to many but it feels like I've come home.

A Free Quasi Pattern in Crochet

Little Chemo Cap  

This beanie was made for a young lady, the age of 5, attending our local Head Start Program. She has been taking chemo therapy and her hair is falling out. If you can believe that such a thing could happen! A child for gosh sakes. One afternoon the Early HS teachers asked if I could make something in pink for this child. I had it ready the next morning. It's the same stitch I used for the cozy I posted the other day. Please feel free to use this pattern for a cause that is close to your heart.

A worsted weight yarn and matching crochet hook. I had some pink and white ww acrylic laying dormat and was glad to be able to make good use of it. (you may have thought the same; stash buster!)

I made a chain to go around my grandson's head with a little bit of ease making the count an even number. Mine was 60 sts and about 18 " around. (I love to bottom up a crochet beanie).

Begin: To join this chain without twisting, fold chain in half with bumps out and take the hook out of the last loop. You then pull that last loop through the first bump with the hook. Your yarn should be behind the work toward your right (or left if a southpaw!) with the loop coming forward through the bump. Chain 2 and immediately turn. You'll work back the way you just came, instead of going on forward. For some reason continuing onwards causes a twist.

The Stitch: After the ch 2 make an *extended sc (ex-sc), ch1, extended sc (ex-sc) all in the next bump, then skip next bump* and repeat this * to * around the chain. You can see an explanation of the stitch ex-sc and the one I thought up from it (ex-sc, ch1, ex-sc) in one of the posts below. I then slip stitch around the beginning chain 2.

Continue: Ch 2. In each ch-1 space around work an ex-sc, ch1, ex-sc; sl st around beginning ch-2. Repeat this round until tall enough to begin decreasing. I make these beanies up, on the fly, and so forgot how many inches but I think it's 4 or 4 1/2" in height. To figure for your decreases, take a count of how many stitch motifs you have and decide on your divisibles. My beanie had 30 motifs and 5 x6 =30. I broke my decreases into 5 sections. 

Begin decrease: Ch 2. *(In next ch-1 space work ex-sc, ch1, ex-sc) 5 times; in next ch-1 space work 1 ex-sc only*; repeat * to * around; sl st into space before last ex-sc, sl st around beginning ch-2.

(25 motifs; 5 single ex-sc's)

Next Round: Ch 2. Work ex-sc, ch1, ex-sc in each ch-1 space around, skipping over the single ex-sc's all together; sl st around beg ch-2. (25 motifs)

Next Round: Ch 2. *(In next ch-1 space work ex-sc, ch1, ex-sc) 4 times; in next ch-1 space work 1 ex-sc only*; repeat * to * around; sl st into space before last ex-sc, sl st around beg ch-2. (20 motifs; 5 single ex-sc's)

Next Round: Ch2. Work ex-sc, ch1, ex-sc in each ch-1 space around, skipping over the single ex-sc all together; sl st aournd ch-2. (20 motifs) 

Next Round: Ch2. *(In next ch-1 space work ex-sc, ch1, ex-sc) 3 times; in next ch-1 space work 1 ex-sc only*; repeat * to * around; sl st into space before last ex-sc, sl st around beg ch-2. (15 motifs; 5 single ex-sc's)

Next Round: Ch2. *In next ch-1 space work ex-sc, ch1, ex-sc; yo, pull up a loop from next ch-1 space, yo, pull up a lp from next space before the ex-sc (3 loops on hook), yo and draw through 2 loops, yo, draw thru last 2 lps, ch1*, repeat from * to * around. (5 motifs; 5 dec and ch1's)

Next Round: Ch2. Work an ex-sc in each ch-1 space and at each dec around, sl st around ch-2. (10 ex-sc) 

Next Round: Ch 2. *Pull up a loop from next 2 ex-sc's, yo, pull through 2 lps on hook, yo pull thru last 2 loops, 1 lp on hook*; repeat this from * to * around, sl st around ch-2. (5 decrease sts)

If the hole on top of beanie is not small enough for ya work a sl st in each st around and that should do it. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Please let me know if this was understandable! Drop by with a picture of what you made and have a good day.

knitting saves the day!

Took a vaca to New River Gorge. Me, my sis and Gorge-ous, the young man above. No. I do not white water raft nor would I ever. ever. bungy jump. We just meandered the route around the river and came to the falls pictured behind "The Dude". This spot, near the head of the New River, is called Sandstone Falls.

Another view of Sandstone Falls

A view of Sandstone Falls at Overlook across the river from on Rt 20

I've lived in West Virginny for a many years but this is a first time visit for me. I loved it. 

This is Grist Mill north of Sandstone. Way cooler in the flesh. Yes, it was raining.

This past week we camped near by but it was soooo cold in the mountains. So we had to cut camping short. Bummer! Still the trip was great and will remain a fav.

And how did Knitting Save the Day? Here's the deal. We pull into camp, pull tent from bag, pull poles (those crazy bungy rope/cord thingys) from their bag and boom, that new fangled bungy concept snaps! Uh oh....no tent poles, no tent!!
Sis says, "Heeey, I am freaking out!"
Course we could have gone to a motel but I thought, well, how about maybe we fix it.
"How the devil are we gonna do that? Look. Look where the sun is!" she says.
Yes, it was close to doing the sunset thing but I say, "let me get my tapestry needle!"
"What are we gonna do, sew it up?" She didn't say it but I know she wanted to. I saw the look. But she was freaking out hence the smart remark ready to leap from her lips. Bungy jump and dance a jig. Course she is very independent. A real tough cookie. Takes no shite from no one. Sick of being bossed around. All that kinda thing. But here we are in a pickle, so to speak, and being strong sometimes is not enough. Imagination may just save the day. I run for it (my needle) and my gold wool (a favorite color), tie yarn to cord, attach needle to yarn, drop needle into pole section and tamp it down. Well damn, it works! Dear nerve racked sister snatches the needle and begins to work. Must of been 15 of those babes needing need'ling. I did not think to take a picture of this intersting concept and, anyhow, the sister may not have stood for it.

I must add that I Always Take Along some kind of yarn craft. Many of my family members find this Very Annoying. But now I feel pretty justifited. Knitting does save the day. Guess knitting can have its uses.

Note: pictures were taked by sis. Thanks for taking me along for this adventure DC!

Free crochet pattern: Headband

Today is 5/5/2010.   Picture is now up so you can see!

I'm gonna put up these directions without a picture. I want to get it on paper while it's in my head but I promise to include a pic soon.

Any left over yarn and matching hook. I like this done up in cotton for summer. Wool, of course, is nice for cooler weather. This pattern is great for using up yarn. And all the young people around me love how it comes out.

Pattern St:
         Front Post dc (fp dc): with a loop on hook, yo, insert hook around next stitch from front to back and to front, yo, pull up loop, (yo, pull through 2 loops on hook) twice. One loop left on hook. Front Post dc made.
         Back Post dc (bp dc): with loop on hook, yo, insert hook around next stitch from back to front and to back, yo, pull up loop, (yo, pull through 2 loops on hook) twice. One loop left on hook. Back Post dc made.
         These moves are made around the post of the dc instead of working the chain on top of each stitch.


Begin:
       Make a chain to go around your noggin' plus 3 or 4 more, making for an even count. Not tight. Fold the chain in half with the bumps outward. Take hook from last chain and pull loop through first bump, chain 2 loosely and immediately turn. You will work back the way you just came and not forward, as in the usual manner when working in the round. This helps to prevent a twist in your chain. My head usually requires from about 78 to 90 chains depending on the yarn.
      In next bump and in every bump around, work a Double Crochet (dc); slip stitch (sl st) around the beginning chain 2 (ch2).

Next Row: Ch2 loosely, *fp dc in next dc, bp dc in next dc*, repeat this around, sl st around beg ch2.
Next Row: Repeat this row for about 8 or 10 rows or less. Whatever you might like. Or whatever your yarn will yield. A wool headband is nice, wider, for warmth. The one shown above has 5 rows in cotton. I like to finish with a row of reverse sc.
For the edge: after last sl st of last row, ch1, sc in each dc, sl st to beg ch1, reverse sc in each in every other sc around going the other way (also called crab st). Sl st to beg reverse sc. Fasten off, and weave in end.
Attach yarn with a slip knot to any dc on opposite edge. Ch1, sc in same spot, and in each dc around, sl st to beg ch1. Work reverse sc in each in every other sc around, sl st to beg ch1. Fasten off, and weave in end.

This stitch makes the headband kinda chunky. Hope pattern's easy enough to understand! Enjoy and drop me a note on what you think of your headband.

Note:  I put the strikethroughs because I made this headband last night and realized there's not supposed to be a round of single crochet and also because the reverse sc is done in every other stitch instead of each stitch. This makes the headband both snug and stretchy. The one shown is made in Universal's "Cotton Batik Supreme" in the color Farmers Market. I like this color. I had already knit up a beanie in it and had enough left over for the headband. Hope you's like it!

Have a good day.

Free Pattern: Crochet

It's something I sorta made up but not kinda thing. In Donna Kooler's "Encyclopedia of Crochet" there's this neat stitch called "Extended Single Crochet" (ext-sc) and it goes a little something like this....

Insert hook into next chain (or stitch), yo and draw up a loop (2 loops on hook). yo and draw through only one of the loops on hook (still 2 loops on hook), yo and draw through both of the two loops on hook. It's like an all-in-one single crochet, chain one. Very Kool. And so worked this up and decided to share.

Cell Phone Cozy or any other sort of gadget holder.

A simple custom fit pattern.

Any yarn and hook size to match. Mine used about 9 ozs/24 grams of Universal Yarn's Cotton Supreme Batik in Watermelon Patch, left over from a matching beanie (picture up soon). Such a yummy color. Can anyone say summer! I used a G hook. I think this stitch looks better a bit on the tight side.

A tapestry needle.

A cute button. Or you can make one yourself as shown above.

The Stitch:

Set up round or row: *in next ch, ext-sc, chain 1, ext-sc, skip next ch*. Repeat this sequence from * to* to end.

Continuing the pattern: *in next ch-1 space, ext-sc, ch1, ext-sc.* This is repeated in each ch-1 space of round or row.

Begin by making a chain the width of bottom of item to cozy and add 3 sts making for an odd number. I started with chain 15 for my cozy which, by the way, fits my camera pretty good. But not any phones laying around the house.

You will be working both sides of the chain. In 3rd ch from hook make an *ext-sc, ch1, ext-sc in next single strand of ch, skip next strand of ch*, repeat * to * to end of side.

You will now turn your work around and work the loops on the other side of the chain beginning right next to the slip knot. You may need to wiggle the hook a little to open up the chain at this spot. Make your ext-sc, ch1, ext-sc in this spot, skip next ch, *ext-sc, ch1, ext-sc in next ch, skip next ch*, repeat * to * making a ext-sc, ch1, ext-sc in strand of last chain.

This gave me 14 motifs total from my chain 15, 7 for each side. They are basicly across each other, two for each chain. Looks kinda flat, don't it? The sides will begin to stand up after a round or two. We'll go round and round instead of slip stitching to the beginning of the rounds.

Next Rnd: Ext-sc, ch1, ext-sc in next ch-1 spot between the extended single crochets on the other side, (hey, it's starting to stand up!) *ext-sc, ch1, ext-sc in next ch-1 spot, repeat this to end of side*. Repeat this sequence from * to .* Another words, round and round until you have the height you need for your cozy. Sides and bottom are all one piece. I worked for 4 1/2" and it's width was 3 1/2".

Finish working to one side then make a chain of 36, or just big enough to get around a persons hand. Fold chain in half with bumps outside, remove hook, place hook into last ch-1 space just made and draw the last loop of chain through this space, ch1 (joining into a strap), turn right back around to last chain and slip st into each bump all around the chain right back down to first bump and dock into this same ch-1 space proceeding on to ext-sc, ch1, ext sc-in each of the next ch-1 spaces as if nothing else is going on, to end of side.

At this point I worked back and forth to make the flap to close cozy, decreasing by making only 1 ext-sc in last ch-1 space at each side.

Mine went like this: after making wrist strap; 6 ext-sc, ch1, ext-sc in each of next 6 ch-1 spaces, 1 ext-sc only in last ch-1 space, turn;
5 ext-sc, ch1, ext-sc in next 5 ch-1 spaces, 1 ext-sc only in last ch-1 space, turn;
4 ext-sc, ch1, ext-sc in next 4 ch-1 spaces, 1 ext-sc only in last ch-1 space, turn;
3 ext-sc, ch1, ext-sc in next 3 ch-1 spaces, 1 ext-ch only in last ch-1 space, turn;
2 ext-sc, ch-1, ext-sc in next, 2 ch-1 spaces, 1 ext-sc in last ch-1 space, turn;
1 ext-sc, ch1, ext-sc in next ch-1 space, 1 ext-sc in last ch-1 space, turn.

At this point I made a loop: chain 6, slip st to other end of flap tip and slip st into each bump of the chain and then sl st back into flap to finish. I used one size bigger hook to accomplish this because my chains are a bit tight. Fasten off and weave ends.

Button: I had a bit of yarn left and so... ch3, 10 sc in 2nd ch from hook, 10 sc in each sc around, sc 2tog around and go around again with sc 2tog, slip st to last st and draw yarn through leaving a long tail. This of course is done in the round. Attach tapestry needle and sew this button down.

Hope this is understandable and if so, hope you enjoy making it. Let me know!

As you can see I don't have Donna Kooler's Encyclo of Crochet. That's her Knit Book! LOL

broken rib stitch, sorta

Is anyone like me? I really hate doing k1, p1 rib. It's just that, for me, this comes out looser than I like. It's the purl after the knit st. Almost forms a freakin' ladder. Frustrating. And so k1, p1 broken rib is always really annoying but I love how this stitch looks. On paper. The mind began wishing, thinking, then yarn and needles are pulled out. What I came up with is a couple interesting stitch patterns. One I call Garter Rib Stitch and one is Deep Rib Stitch. These come easy when I get the inspiration to do 'em but I always forget to write the thoughts down. Ugg.

Garter Rib: an even multiple of 4 plus 1. I think. This is wrong. Will correct soon.

The swatch: Cast on 25 sts. K2, p2 to last st, k1. Repeat this row.
The thing is the multi should bring you to a p2 before that last st which should always be k1.
When you turn to begin each row the k2, p2 rib makes a pretty garter pattern with a single row of k stitches running the length of the fabric. A soft rib sort of thing. Some of those delish springy wools look nice in this stitch pattern. I think I've seen this as Loose Rib in some pattern books. After busting my butt thankin' it up.

Deep Rib: an even multi of 3 plus 1.

Swatch: I forgot what I did! BRB. Okay, I think this is it. Try casting on 31 sts.
K3, p3 to last st, k1. Turn and repeat.

This is done basically the same as above always having the last st a k1 after the purls. This pattern is hard to describe. 1 garter st, 2 knit, 1 garter, 2 purl sts. That is how it seems to come out. It pulls in and pulls out. A lot. Weird. Not even sure what a pattern like this could be used for. Maybe a scarf? A yucky thick-ish tank top? Like I said. Weird. Very. I'm pretty sure I Have Never Seen this 'un anywheres. If someone should stop in, give this strange bird a run and see what you come up with. And as I wrote, the brain mentioned a scarf in colorful stripes might be interesting in these sts. Shall try it.

Enjoy your day, folks.

Update: Monday, April 26. I made a mistake on the whether these stitches should be an odd or even multiple. I said odd but it is most definitely even. (I switched this in the post above) The odd multiples will not work. Also the Garter Rib is not correct. I need my notes to fix the error but they, the notes, are in the same room as the sleeping Husband and I do not wish to disturb. Promise to finish the update soon.
                                             

I really have a bad habit of winging right through things and scribbling illegible notes as I go. But, I actually got some patterns written up in these stitchs and they are for sale at my LYS which pleases me to no end. Just wish someone would buy! Though, I know times are hard. Her web site is http://www.yarnandmore.com/ and its a small shop across the state line into Kentucky. That is all we have local 'round these parts. The other local yarn shop closed down, how could she be so cruel? Yes, yes, you speak true, times are hard. May the times become like soft, fluffy fiber. Lux.

what knitting does not do

Knitting does not make you skinny. That is the understatement of the day, week, month or year. Why do I say this? Well, for starters, a body does sit, a lot, when engrossed in the fiber arts. Is this not correct? Though I wouldn't say I am a couch potato. I couldn't say I am lazy when the housework grows ever more out of control as I bend over my latest stick and string technique fascination. I might venture to say I am an addict who can't seem to listen when I whisper to myself, "cut it out already. There are no clean clothes, no meals happening. What is wrong with you." It is a helpless feeling but what can ya do? Juggle. And so, we sit and focus and sit and let the time fly by. The Flow. But here is the contradiction. All this sitting can be not so good for the waist line. The pounds creep on and, at least for me, to tear away from knitting or crochet, to exercise? Years can go by before I ever get to that point, what with the feel of fiber slipping through my fingers? I tell a work buddy of mine why my fingers are black.
"It's from the yarn I've been working with."
He quips back, "you ever heard tell of gloves?"
"Dude, are you nuts?!" No. I like this black dye under my nails. It'll go.

I know I must get back on the wagon of work outs. Any kind, doesn't matter what. Just do it, already. I, the lady who was personal trainer to the Family, has gotten to the point, light years later, where I've actually developed a (minor) blood clot in my ankle. That is how my pop's side of the family has been taken out. Blood clots. "My" clot was like 3 months ago and I know, time to do so some tearing from the addiction. A serious wake up call. Stop the insanity. Already. Haven't I read of a few fiber superstars who died of a heart attack? Me own pap had a heart attack and, years later, a stroke. I know. I will.
Lucky for me there is another fellow worker at the bakery (I must be mad to work in a bakery) who lost 80 lbs and has kept it off for 9 years. I am so impressed that it has filled me with new hope. I can reclaim my waistline or at least snatch my health bakery, oh, I mean health back, before I keel over tomorrow. This dude is my new hero. I am inspired.

Now, to find the weights before the glow fades.

knitting sooths the soul

and so does crochet. They calm the the mind. If a person's day is filled with harshness, any sort of disharmony, these repetitious motions take the mind somewhere else. Can't quite explain it but some how when I knit, even when in abject misery, the brain slows and must focus on the movements. If there is a question for which there seems no answer or just simply can't find any peace in all the chaos, if I sit and knit, an idea floats up. From somewhere. From nowhere. Spooky. I ain't asking nothing, not even trying, just bent over the needles and concentrating on the stitches. A startling answer to the mysteries of my life surfaces. And life is full of all sorts of strange, sneaking mysteries and that's the truth. To have to stand by and witness a person's pain, in which I cannot help, is a mean ass place to be and hard to understand or even believe when in that place. So, I will sit and knit, stitch by stitch, right hand of left, forwards or backwards. And slowly the sorrow melts away and some crazzzy idea makes itself known. To be honest I like to think that any problem can be solved by talking it out, but you know what? Sometimes not. A very hard thing to face up too. I can't always soothe the the pain in my loved ones and that is hard for me. I guess a quiet mind is the best place to find a needed truth and not the usual brainstorming I like using. That is from my perspective and not really from theirs.

Just some random thoughts.

SDS project 3 is finished...

...and goes into the mail tomorrow morning. One is in lovely cashmere, so soft and cosy and the other's in silk/cashmere with beads. Very lux. We were trying to keep the amount of yarn for these beauties within a certain parameter. It was intense. More when pattern goes live.



We've been having crazy weather. This week is supposed to hit the 70's. What's up with that? Not that I mind. I like warm weather but get a bit nervous when the weather goes all soft and warm this time of year what with global warming looming on the horizon. What if the whole world gets hit with a superstorm or gets swept away with a world wide flood? Could happen. Has anyone seen the movie "The Day After?" Mother Earth may decide to have a hissy fit and this would not bode well for us wee peeps. I keep my husband in stitches on this.



I wanted to share a neat link with those of you who like new ways of doing stuff. Knit stuff. This is a brand new way to bind off dreamed up by Jeny Staimen. Jeny's Surpisingly Stretchy BO. This was published on Knitty AND Cat Bordi demonstrates how it's done. Pretty cool, eh, but for real, this is awesome. Very stretchy with excellent shape retention. Used for k1, p1 or k2, p2. I have never seen any thing like this anywhere. She has also has dug up an old Norwegian(I think) cast on which uses, of all the crazy things, a bunch of slip knots! Now, you might think this has got to be tight. Slip knots are always tight, right?. Wrong. It's one of those things which defies logic. I love that. It's a bit tough to get down because it actually is two knots twisted together. Somehow. At the bottom of the page she has a link to another lady's video whose technique I actually like better for this slip knot cast on. More my style.

http://sockselkie.blogspot.com/2009/09/jenys-stretchy-slipknot-cast-on.html Jeny's version
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKwYH-vqJLO the other



Thank You Jeny. Oh yes, Thank You the Other.

little beasties

I have yet to figure out the proper method of picture upload. They always go straight to the top of the page instead of where I leave off at when posting. Why? But are not these children beauties? The two above are siblin's. She with the blue eyes is a cuz. I made that dress shown in the skinny pic below and I reeally hate sewing. Buuttt how could I resist them cute brown saucers.

I'm not sure how my darlin' daughter made the picture this way. Maybe with my sewing shears?

I have 5 sewing machines. You'd think a person with that many would like to sew but you would be wrong. Very. There's a serger, a denim machine, a regular Janome, a old black Singer, and an old White. The White don't work and I can't part with it. Can't part with any of 'em. They all have their uses, well, maybe not all, but you may begin to see the perversity emerging. I guess I should explain such excess. I was the oldest of 7 and did a lot of hand repair work on my brothers jeans and such. 4 brothers. A lot of stitchin', folks. To this day it sets my teeth on edge to sew anything but there is great comfort in having my machines there awaiting should I get the crazy notion, ha ha, to construct with teeny tiny stitches. And here is the perversity. I love teeny tiny knit and crochet stitches. Go figure.

StitchDiva project 3 begins

The other day I went to the local thrift shop and found a big ol' sweater coat and these matching gloves, attached. Bought them. The coat has not left my frame since but the gloves needed a redo. Here I begin to remove the fingers to make for a pair of mittens. Much warmer, don't cha know. Now, of course, one mitt is bigger than the other. Always. I was a bit miffed to also discover that all the lovely colors were duplicate stitched. But got over that quickly. I like the colors enough as is.

StitchDivaStudios' "must haves" for the new season is on the drawing board. I've already begun working her amazing crazy stitches for practice. Didn't even get the dern yarn yet. I say, why wait. Lets get the show on the road! There shall be a knit and a crochet version and, which am I doing you may ask. I shall weave the magic of crochet. Always a trip when the Diva pulls out all the stops.

And now for the mundane and lowly. Not every creature that walks can be a mathemagician. I'm okay with that, at least, sometimes. Here are some pics...

riddin' myself of fun fur. the large black ponchawl has a crocheted off hem. a fun technique

knit on the Bond of America

handknit version of the Bond of America pattern

dimple stitch detail. prettiness which is hard to see here, but...

do not like.

some more prettiness. these are a few of the grandbeasties. ain't they cute. guess i need to fix the date on my camera. you think?

enjoy your evening.

StitchDiva project 2 is live.

The Causal Glamor Capelet laid bare. Pattern and picture found here at: http://www.stitchdiva.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=SDS-011

The yarn I used was 100% cashmere. Thee softest fluff ever to run through my fingers. A bit hard to see is the extra hem added at the bottom which becomes ruffly when this dreamy dish is thrown across the shoulders. Beautiful. The pattern says intermediate but it may just past up this marker. But that will not stop any red-blooded knit lovin' fool. I did enjoy working this babe.

September's almost over, already.

Lots of things going on at the same time. The needs of others, the needs of self. A tough balancing act. My grandson seems to have a problem with interacting with other kids. He uses the first strike method. Any perceived danger, real or imagined, and he takes 'em down. He is only 3 but sheesh, take it easy fella'. Before this young man could walk he knew how to grapple and do a half Nelson. All the men in our family thought it was pretty funny getting him riled up. Nobody listened to Thee GrandMa. They are listening now. Hmmm :0/, wonder if he is too young for karate or something...?

Lots of things going on at the same time on the needles. Here is the back of the sweater mentioned in a previous post from the British mag Simply Knit. A pretty chevron stitch which quickly becomes memorized. The yarn is Charisma by Yarn Art and, as you can see, is red. Yeah, yeah, the picture is crappy. There are other projects but those pics are even crappier; a unfinished knit ripple blanket in black, dark green, lt. green and soft white; a half conceived stocking cap made with Patons Wool in turquoise, red and gold. Nice color combo. I used the fascinating jogless jog single row stripe. At first my frustration was extreme. Each needle holds a different color to make for the unending, jogless stripes. I kept ending short of the next color change. A quick google search found what I needed here at

http://www.hipknitism.com/. Check out the Stashbuster Spiral Socks under Free Online Classes. Superb directions. All her classes are great. I wanna make lotsa her ribbed socks in wool for my job. It gets damn cold at the factory midwinter. Shoot, its already kinda cold now. Also worked up a crochet entrelac cap in the same Patons Wool but really didn't like how those colors came out in that project. Shall share pictures someday. Wish I was at least as good with a camera as with a knitting needle or two. Not that I'm all that great but at least I love it. Not so with the camera. That is not a great love. A true hindrance.

A picture of the ripple stitch afghan.

Getting a shot was a pain in the butt. But this one came out the best. Wonders never cease.

batteries not included, darn it.

I need to get real good recharge batteries for my camera. The ones I got are junkers. They petter out faster than regular batteries. And when I do get 'um I need to then figure out how to work the camera. Uurggg. It's just that I have many, many FP's to show and tell and well, I'm stymied.

Sweaters; shawls; hats, crocheted, knitted, felted; mittens and scarfs. My latest favorite hat design, which I mustered up myself, is a crocheted entrelac bottom up beanie. They have a pattern at http://www.anniesattic.com/crochet/detail.html?prod_id=22853 of a similar hat but theirs looks to be top down. Mine is bottom up and I'd love to share but first, my gosh, I need some pics. Don't ya think?

If someone blows by and you know of a good type battery and can tell a fool like me where in thee tarnation they can be bought, drop me a line. Like what's the best brand with the best price. Smart stuff like that.

Right now I'm working on a zip up sweater which I've been lusting after for quit some time. The back is almost finished and if the camera is up too snuff I'll put up a pic. Very pretty stitch pattern. It's in a British knitting mag, http://www.simplyknitting.co.uk/ from Issue 22 Dec '06. Problem is I can't find the cardigan I'm working on to link to but its a great place to visit. The magazine is 4 bucks a month! but we americans get it, like, 8 months late. Not a problem.

Alrighty, have a good one.

a knit techie queen

One favorite visiting spot: http://www.techknitting.blogspot.com/

This lady has tons of gems on how to do stuff different ways. Lots of great pictures and she's very detailed. She even dapples into knitting from a left handed person's perspective, more than anywhere else that I can find. Why do I care? Well, just because. Lefties wanna knit too and. Lefties wanna be able to be lefties. Right? This is something which bothers me about Thee Knitting Status Quo. A lot. Though I'm not necessarily left handed, many of my friends and family are. Therefore I feel kinda strongly about this. Maybe a tad bit on the passionate side. You get the idea. I try on handedness just to show myself and anyone else standing around, interested or not, it can be done.

A super helpful place to browse. And I do mean browse. Page after page she's got.

project 1 pictures

Now, ain't that garment somethin' else! I really enjoyed making this lovely thang. AND to tell truth it sure did not look like this on me. Hardy har. You can get a better look at http://www.stitchdiva.com/. Yes, I know I already said as such. But, oh well. =0D

This 'un is crochet and there is also a knit version. Check it out. The crochet is fun to make!

Further project pictures and info when patterns become live.

early headstart and back to work

The last few years have been a little on the rough side. That being said, things have settled down some and life has, strangely, gone back to the way it was. Five years ago one of my children needed a doctors care because of mental illness. She had a son and wasn't able to care for him. And so, as many a grandparent has needed to do, we stepped up to the plate. The turmoil has been intense but three very wonderful things has came form all of this.

#1: Of course. My grandson (he is number 5 of 9 grand kiddies)

#2: I have learned some important things about myself. I won't go deep but suffice it to say I now understand that my daughter is my teacher. I guess we are here to grow, to move beyond what we think is our safe place. I needed to become soft and strong. Not just soft or just strong. In a nutshell.

#3: Knitting.
People, let me tell you this. My knitting and crochet was, at times, my only friend. It has helped me through the these past few years. I would bend over my work, feeling very isolated, and practice whatever technique had grabbed my attention. Ah ha. There's that word again. Technique. A true comfort. Something which could be mastered, perfected. That which could be torn up with no remorse. Yarn. The intensity of my surroundings, no doubt, influenced how I worked with yarn. I'd say, for me, creativity was not an option but technique sure was! And so now the grandchild is in early headstart, the daughter is 20 years old and growing more sure every day and I am back to my old job. It has been a strange rite of passage. I sure hope I pass this test well.

Have a good day.