Rhonda's Knitting - Knitting News Cast

Knitting News Cast Web Site

2011-01-11T19:10:00.001-08:00

The Knitting News Cast web site is back up and running at:
http://www.knittingnewscast.com

The Wrist Warmer Knitting Pattern Generator has been updated. You can create a custom wrist warmer pattern based on your needle size, yarn, and gauge.

Another popular page on the site is about free ear flap hat knitting patterns. With the especially cold weather here in the US, this is a great time to knit one.

Finally, I have moved the knitting news to a new blog at http://knittingnewscast.com/blog. I hope to be uploading some new posts soon.

For now, happy knitting!

Hat Recipent

2009-10-28T21:54:00.000-07:00

Had birthday brunch with my brother, his girlfriend, and my mom on Sunday. I gave Brian one of the hats I knitted. It looks great on him!

And I love this picture that Amber took of us.

Hats, Hats, Hats

2009-10-26T07:20:00.000-07:00

One of my friends asked me to knit them a beanie style hat a month or so ago.

And that got me started on a hat kntting streak. So over the last month and half, I've been knitting hats. Most of the them have been the Pro Bono hat pattern by Angelina Fagan.

I really like this pattern because it is an easy K2P2 one using chunky yarn. I also used worsted weight yarn for several of the hats and just increased the cast on to 88 stitches. I may make a few more but I either need to decrease the needle size and/or the number of cast on stitches. They are a perfect size for my head but I've had several women with not so much hair as I try them on and they fit but could be a bit more snug.

I also knitted a Robin's Egg Blue Hat by Rachel Iufer using Malabrigo Chunky Yarn.

Finally, I knitted The Amanda's Hat(pdf) by Gina House.

I like the stitch pattern so much and I had just enough yarn so I made a cowl too.

One For You And One For Me

2009-08-25T07:48:00.000-07:00

As promised, here are the current WIPs. I cast on both of these about 2 weeks ago, although I had to rip out the wrap and start again this past weekend because it was too small. I knew I needed to do it but I made my knitting group tell me too so that I didn't feel so bad!

Name: One Row Handspun Scarf by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee
Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Merino Worsted in Cognac (#158)
Needle Size: US 7 / 4.5 mm

Instead of 26 stitches, I cast on 30. The stitch pattern is easy to remember and makes this knit a great project to take to knit night and other places where I'm easily distracted.

The zigzag of the darker color through the scarf makes it more interesting, I think.

This will be a gift for Xmas. Although, I love the feel of this yarn and may have a hard time letting it go.

This next one is for me!

Name: Every Way Wrap by by Okmin Park in Interweave Knits, Fall 2009
Yarn: Cascade Yarns 220 Wool in Blue (#7816)
Needle:

The cable chart was printed incorrectly. Here is the correct one. (You can also see a picture of the completed wrap from the magazine on this page. It is the picture on the right.)

I think this one is going to take a while to knit. I just started the 3rd pattern repeat out of 18 and I may need to go longer since I'm tall. Hopefully, I won't run out of yarn.

Sunset

2009-08-17T12:59:00.001-07:00

Okay, I know I'm going a bit crazy with the posts today. But here is the incredible sunset we had last night:

Awesome!

Actual Knitting Content

2009-08-17T12:32:00.001-07:00

The summer has been busy, busy, busy. Between Storm games (go LJ!), geocaching, and hanging out with friends, I haven't gotten much knitting done. The only time I was knitting was once a week at knit night and I didn't make it every week.

However, last week I did get a couple of projects finished and started a couple more (I'll post about those soon...promise).

Here's the FOs:
Daisy from Going Straight - A New Generation of Knitted Hats (don't worry...this going straight as in knitting with straight needles!)
Yarn: Louisa Harding Nautical Cotton = 2.5 skeins

I knitted an extra pattern repeat because my gauge was smaller and I have a pretty big head because of all the curls.

Slinky Ribs by Wendy Bernard from Custom Knits
Yarn: Custom Blend of Bamboo and Cotton from Yarnia
Needles: US 1

The original pattern had a deeper scooped neckline and also some buttons. I wanted to be able to wear mine without having to have a camisole or t-shirt on underneath.

Up next: Xmas gift scarf and a wrap for me (plus lots more Xmas knitting)

Saddened

2009-08-17T10:22:00.000-07:00

Three things literal saved my life last year during the deepest days of despair after the break up of my marriage: my pets (who was going to take care of them if I left the car running in the garage), AA (which gave me a host of friends and a sponsor who held me up when I couldn't make it on my own) and Susan Eliliot (who's website I found the week I found out that my ex was having an online affair and was leaving me because of it).

Susan's husband died today and even though I don't even know her personally, I feel so much for her because of her loss of the man who finally was the "one".

Rest In Peace, Michael.

Decline To Sign 71

2009-07-16T16:00:00.000-07:00

Join the Impact volunteers have just made a video to remind voters just how much is at stake for Washington families if Referendum 71 qualifies for the ballot.

WARNING: Read any petition before your sign!

There are reports of people collecting signatures for Referendum 71, but telling people the petition is pro-gay rights. People are signing the petition thinking they are supporting LGBT people. Read any petition before your sign! Do not sign anything that says "Preserve Marriage, Protect Children" at the top.

Henna Tatoo

2009-06-27T18:42:00.001-07:00

Went to the Capital Hill Pride Festival today. While I was there I got this henna tatoo around my ankle. I'm thinking of getting something similar in a regular one.

Low Tide

2009-06-24T21:49:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was the lowest tide of the year. So I took a break at lunch and walked across the street to check out the beach. I saw several starfish, which I got pictures of, and one really big crab which was too fast to get a picture of.

Amazing huh?

Tacoma Finish

2009-05-31T09:09:00.000-07:00

My little brother's band:

Tacoma Finish, a Alternative/Rock/Jam Band in Seattle, WA.

Check it out!

I Won't Back Down

2009-05-26T10:57:00.000-07:00

It is another day of hate as Prop 8 in California, the ban on gay marriage, stands.

But we won't back down. One day it will be equality for everyone and then no one can tell us our marriages and love are illegitimate.

Stand with us.

MJ's Baby Blanket

2009-05-21T12:13:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure to work on baby blanket with my Renton knitting group over the last 4 or 5 months for MJ, one of our members due in June.

We came up with the idea of knitting different squares in several different shades of green and purple. Angi who owns A Swell Yarn Shop was kind enough to put her expert yarn dyeing skills to use and supplied us with some wonderful yarn.

The yarn was then distributed to members secretly and each made one or more squares using different stitch patterns.

Here are pictures of my squares:

And here are the squares before we seamed them together. It was quite the puzzle to put together!

But Bella kept us entertained and we got it all seamed in one afternoon.

Here is MJ with her blanket at the baby shower we had for her:

Didn't it turn out beautiful?!?

You can read Shawna's write up on MJ's blanket and see more pictures.

For The Renton Gals

2009-04-30T07:54:00.000-07:00

Happy? ;)

Eagles

2009-03-26T07:43:00.001-07:00

On my morning walk I saw a couple of eagles.

Rainbow Invasion

2009-03-17T09:09:00.000-07:00

It is raining on and off today. Right now it is partly clear. Earlier there was rainbow by Blake Island. And as I watched it, it got closer and closer.

Here it is halfway between Blake Island and my street.

Here it is nearly across the street.

I think there must be a whale with a pot of gold on his back swimming in the sound!

Modified Susie Hoodie Parts

2009-03-01T09:17:00.000-08:00

Last summer I started knitting the Susie Hoodie from Big Girl Knits. I knitted up swatches until I got gauge and then started knitting on the body. I got a good portion of it knitted to the waist when I realized that the gauge was off. So I put it aside because I wasn't ready to frog it. And I had Christmas knitting to start.

I've picked it back up in the last couple of weeks but have decide that I'm only hand knitting the fun part (the cable braid) and then I'm going to use my knitting machine to do the rest. So it isn't really going to be the Susie Hoodie at all but an inspiration of it, especially since I decided to have a collar rather than the hoodie.

Here is what I've knitted so far:

These are the cuffs and I plan on putting them on the machine and knitting the rest of the sleeve with it.

Here is one of the button bands (although it won't have buttons):

I'm going to knit the back and the two fronts on the machine and then attach the bands after I knit a bottom garter stitch band and top garter stitch collar. I will get to practice the seaming technique I learned in Jean Wong's finishing class a couple of weeks ago at Madrona. This is very timely and has given me the courage to try a project that will require a bit of seaming.

Yesterday I spent some time working out the calculations for the number of rows and stitches I need to use on the machine. I used a favorite cardigan of mine that fits the way I'd like this one to fit for the sizing and Ann Budd's Knitter's Handy Book of Sweater Patterns to get all the numbers.

I hope to knit the back tonight. I need 96 stitches across and the machine has 100. So I'm glad I'm using a worsted weight yarn (Cascade 220 Superwash) or else I'd have had to bought an extension.

Signs Of Spring

2009-02-27T07:33:00.000-08:00

I know that it snowed yesterday but the signs of Spring have already started to appear. The other night a friend exclaimed about it being Spring when she saw some Crocus that was starting to bloom.

And that made me realized that I don't know the flowers here that indicate that Spring is coming. I have a great love for Texas wildflowers and when the Texas Toad Flax would start to bloom in early February, I knew another wonderful season of flowers and Spring were about to begin. I was blessed to have lived among a sea of wildflowers when I lived in Texas and I would often spend hours at the Lady Johnson Wildflower Center looking at and taking pictures the many varieties of flowers there.

Last year I bought a book on Washington wildflowers but I was disappointed to find that many of them don't bloom until late May through August. And of course, they don't bloom here in the middle of Seattle.

I also love other types of flowers like tulips and daffodils. It was my great folly to try to grow them in Texas every year. They might make it a week or two before the heat and lack of water killed them. But I kept trying every year thinking I could keep them alive by paying more attention to the amount of water I gave them. But the Texas sun can be brutal for a fragile flower not accustom to draught.

When I moved to Seattle in late 2007 I planted tulip and daffodil bulbs in my back yard and got to enjoy them the following Spring. And for much longer then a week!

Anyway, there a people who think that Texas wildflowers are weeds. And maybe that is so if you consider non-native flowers and grasses not as weeds. But I think "weeds" are beautiful too. So I'm noticing the "weeds" that are flowering here.

Right now the clover is flowering. Clover is a plant I remember from my youth in New Jersey and Chicago. I loved looking for four leaf ones and was always so excited when I found one. I knew it would bring me good luck. And here in the great Pacific Northwest there is clover. I tried to take a picture with my cell phone. But it didn't turn out. I need to start carrying my regular camera with me on my walks with Pachebel.

But I did get a picture of this flower. I'm not sure what plant it is from.

And here is another picture I took of flowers that were planted by the bus stop at the park down the street:

They may be daffodils but I'm not sure. I think these small flowers that look like daffodils have another name. Looks like I have a great adventure ahead of me learning about the native and non-native flowers that thrive here!

And I think I'm going to buy a bunch of tulips and daffodils for a vase here at home.

February Snow

2009-02-26T07:45:00.000-08:00

Took an invigorating walk with Pachebel and got these pictures of the snow this morning.

ETA: Look while I was taking pictures of Pachebel, some one was taking pictures of us!

The Mountains Are Out

2009-02-21T08:31:00.001-08:00

Ferry And Mountains

2009-02-21T07:57:00.001-08:00

Saturday Morning Sunshine

2009-02-21T07:56:00.000-08:00

Join The Class

2009-02-20T23:29:00.000-08:00

Phone camera vs. Camera

2009-02-19T07:43:00.000-08:00

This first photo is from my camera phone, a motorola q. The next is from my canon camera.

Not much different, huh?

Both were taken at a park just down the street from the condo I moved into back in December. I take Pachebel walking there every morning. The mountains weren't out when we were there, but here is a shot (with my regular camera) of the veiw of them from my home office window. The sun isn't quite out yet so you can't see them that well (click on the photo for a larger view). Maybe I'll get out at lunch and take some better photos. It is supposed to be a "balmy" 55 degrees today.

I feel very blessed to live here. And lucky too!

Pachebel

2009-02-18T10:15:00.000-08:00

I'm testing sending posts to my blog from my phone. Here's my dog Pachebel. Isn't she cute?

Madrona

2009-02-16T07:37:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I had the privilege of taking a Finishing Class with Jean Wong at the Madrona Fiber Arts Retreat in Tacoma. If you ever get to take a class with Jean, I highly recommend it.

The class was pretty labour intensive. We had to knit 11 swatches, small swatches mind you, but 11 swatches nonetheless, before the class. Then in class we learned how to do an invisible cast-off on 1 by 1 ribbing and 2 by 2 ribbing for cardigans and pullovers. We also learned the Japanese method of short rows which I've been wanting to learn because it creates a fabric that doesn't have holes. At the end of the class we learned how to mattress stitch our 2 by 2 swatches together and our 1 by 1 swatches together so that the pattern continues without losing a stitch. Very impressive.

Jean has a Professional Finishing Techniques dvd that I purchased so that I can remember everything she taught us. I think I'm going to need it because we covered a lot of techniques in the class.

Courage To Change

2009-02-10T08:24:00.000-08:00

A year ago today my marriage fell apart. Make sure it doesn't happen to those who want to stay together. Join the Courage Campaign:

"Fidelity": Don't Divorce... from Courage Campaign on Vimeo.

Japanese Baby Hat

2009-02-07T09:30:00.000-08:00

This hat is for my friend's yet-to-be-born baby girl. She is due in May. I knitted it as part of KAL on the Japanese Knitting and Crochet group on Ravelry.

Pattern: Baby Jumper-skirt & cap (pdf)
Yarn: Rowan Pure Life Organic Cotton
Needles: Size 1 DPNs

I plan on making the matching dress next but in reverse colors.

Secret Admirer?

2008-12-22T08:06:00.000-08:00

Woke up this morning to discover these two interlocking hearts at the end of my driveway. Kinda odd, huh?

Snow Socks

2008-12-21T12:32:00.000-08:00

It has been snowing like crazy here in Seattle for a week now. As I type, it is snowing again.

I took the above picture from my backdoor. It shows an accumulation of all the snow we've had since a week ago yesterday. I'm guessing it is a least a foot of snow.

There is a crust of about an 1/8 of an inch to 1/4 of an inch over the top of the snow which you can see broken up from where my dog, Pachebel, walked when I let her out earlier.

She was none to fond to be outside!

The snow has been good for one thing though. I was able to finish a pair of socks that I started when I was teaching a friend how to knit socks. If you think your monitor is off or the lighting in my picture is off, because the two socks are different shades, you'd be wrong. They are actually different shades of the same colorway. One of the socks is much darker then the other. Something I didn't notice until I started knitting the second one. Don't know if they are from different dyelots or not since I threw away one of the ball bands.

The yarn is Lane Cervinia Calzetteria and I used size 1 DPNs. I just used a K2P2 stitch pattern. I like to knit socks with that stitch pattern because it is easy to remember and is pretty forgiving in size. Since they are socks I'm not to worried that they are so different in shade. Not many people will seeing them on my feet anyway!

Snow, Finished Objects, And Being Published

2008-12-15T12:37:00.000-08:00

The weather has been crazy here in Seattle. We had about 3-5 inches of snow at my house on Saturday night. It hasn't gotten above freezing since. I didn't leave the house yesterday because I kept reading about bad roads on the Internet. My street is one big ice rink.

But since I wasn't prepared for the snow or freezing conditions, I didn't have much food in my house. I did learn this morning that depending on the coffee, not having 1/2 and 1/2 isn't a crisis. I drink Cafe Ladro coffee. I love their Fremont roast (and they make a great Latte' if you ever one want one). It wasn't awful, it was pretty good, but I like my 1/2 and 1/2 and food. Did I say I didn't have much food in my house?

So I just ventured out to the grocery store. I made it back safe and sound but had to park on the street now instead of in my garage because it is impossible for me to get up the driveway. Hopefully, I won't get side-swiped or run into by crazies driving down the road. Did I say how icey it is on my road? I think I might have been one of the crazies driving down the road. But I took it nice and slow and didn't run into anything.

Staying home all day yesterday, I was able to get a bit of Xmas knitting done. I finished weaving in the ends of my machine knit wash clothes that I'll be giving with a bar of handmade soap I picked up at Urban Craft Uprising.

I also knitted a Button-Tab Hat for my brother's new girlfriend. I think it is super cute. Hope she likes it.

Now for totally unrelated knitting news, but something I was surprised and excited to see today was a link to a book I helped write 10 years ago when I worked for IBM. I didn't know it had been made available outside of IBM. It is called Data Modeling Techniques For Data Warehousing. I know totally boring! But it is my claim to fame, so I'm going with it. ;)

Christmas Cookie Exchange

2008-12-03T21:40:00.000-08:00

Tonight instead of meeting at our usual Starbucks, a lot of the women in my knitting group got together at my friend Erica's house to knit and exchange cookies.

Last night I made over 10 dozen Toffee Squares. And this is what I got in return. 20+ different kinds of cookies:

Outrageous. Between all of us there was over 2400 cookies!

Shawna was an overachiever and made an assortment of cookies:

I don't know how she did it. She has her hands full with her lovely daughter, Bella, who is such an angel:

And for my final picture of the evening. I present Erica's wall-o-yarn:

Toffee Squares

2008-12-02T20:13:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow evening I'm getting together with some of the women from my knitting group for a cookie exchange. I was hard pressed to come up with a recipe, especially since I don't eat sugar anymore. I had thought about making some sugar-free version with Splenda but I just didn't find something I liked right away in my search on the Internet. I did find a Lemon Bar recipe that I want to make sometime since Lemon Bars are my favorite and I haven't had any in years since I gave up sugar. :(

Anyway, when the ex left she left her Betty Crocker Cooky Book. This book is older then me, printed in 1963.

It has some great recipes in it for all kinds of cookies. I wanted something that would be easy and wouldn't require me to form or mold individual cookies. The Toffee Square recipe was perfect.

Because I bought the butter required for the recipe an hour or so before I started prep, I looked online for a quick way to soften butter. Several places suggested cutting small slices so that the individual pieces would soften quicker. The trick worked although it does look like a lot of butter huh?

This is what the pre-cooked crust looks like once the egg yolks, butter, brown sugar, and vanilla are mixed with the flour and salt and spread on a cookie sheet.

The recipe calls for chocolate bars so I splurged (they were on sale too) for Ghiradelli. When I opened the packaged and caught the smell of the chocolate I almost couldn't resist eating some. I didn't and all the chocolate was used for the Toffee Squares.

Here is the crust after it came out of the oven.

It was fun putting the chocolate squares on the crust and watching them slowly melt across it.

Here it is with all that chocolate goodness spread across the top.

Then I sprinkled almonds pieces that I crushed across the top.

And here they are cut into squares.

I ended up making three batches since there will be between 16 and 20 people coming to the cookie exchange. I need 1/2 dozen for each person.

I hope everyone likes them!

Seattle Half Marathon Finisher

2008-11-30T14:38:00.000-08:00

I just got home from walking the Seattle Half Marathon. It was a lot of fun but I'm beat!

Here I am before the race in front of the Seattle Fit booth. Seattle Fit is the group I trained with to prepare for the race.

This is the starting line. There was over 11,000 people between the Full and Half Marathon Races.

And here is the proof that I finished the race. My medal:

Here are my stats for the race.

Overall Place	Division Place	Chip Time	Official Time	Split 1 (10K)	Split 2 (6.9 miles)	Pace
853	111/125	4:08:58	4:10:26	1:53:05	2:17:21	19:07

Now it is on to training for the Rock N Roll Half Marathon in June! But I'm taking December off first! :)

A Hat Fit For A Brother

2008-11-29T17:15:00.000-08:00

Another Xmas gift down! This one is for my brother. The original is called A Hat Fit For A Boyfriend. It was a quick knit. I started yesterday, got about 4 inches in and decided I needed to go up 2 needle sizes and so I ripped it all out and started over today.

It is supposed to be a skull cap that just covers the ears. I hope it is long enough. I'm used to longer hats.

Project Info:
Pattern: A Hat Fit For A Boyfriend
Needle: US 7 / 4.5 mm
Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted Solid in Douglas Fir (1/2 skein)

Seattle Xmas Tree Lighting

2008-11-29T09:28:00.000-08:00

My friend, Myra, who lives in downtown Seattle near the Space Needle invited me to go see the Westlake Center Xmas Tree Lighting yesterday. She has a wonderful view of the water and Harbor Avenue across it on Alki.

Because I'm still relatively new to the city and because I mentioned that I had never ridden the Monorail which passes by her building, she suggested we take it down to the Tree Lighting. I was smiling like a 10 year old riding an amusement park ride for the first time!

The tree lighting was fun too. There was a couple of choirs and Xmas carol singing. And then right before the lights were to come on, the sound went out. But they were still able to do the count down and light up the tree.

I got to wear my La Chapeau hat for awhile but it was actually not cold enough to wear it so it didn't stay on much.

Project Info

Name: La Chapeau Pattern from the November Lucky Lurker Club at A Swell Yarn Shop
Needles:
US 1 / 2.25 mm
US 2 / 2.75 mm
Yarn: 1 skeins A Swell Yarn Shop Duet Sock Yarn in Beau Monde (Exclusive Lucky Lurker yarn)

Disco Thanksgiving

2008-11-28T09:30:00.000-08:00

You can always expect something lively at my brother's house for Thanksgiving. This year the theme was "Disco Dining". It included a wonderful feast along with 70's music and disco light. (He tried to get a fog machine, but to no avail).

As you can see it is true what they say about white males and dancing. ;)

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T09:07:00.001-08:00

Wishing y'all a Happy Thanksgiving! Many of you have been very supportive this year and for that I am grateful! Have a good one!

Today I'm off to share Thanksgiving with my brother, his girlfriend, and my Mom. I'm making deviled eggs and green bean casserole. Right now the eggs are on the stove.

Here's the recipe I use to make hard-cooked eggs from the Betty Crocker's 40th Anniversary Edition Cookbook:

Place eggs(s) in saucepan. Add enough cold water to come at least 1 inch above eggs. Heat rapidly to boiling; remove from heat. Cover and let stand 18 minutes. Immediately cool eggs in cold water to prevent further cooking. Tap egg to crackle shell. Roll egg between hands to loosen shell, then peel. If shell is hard to peel, hold egg in cold water.

Betty is anything but not thorough! But since I rarely make hard boiled eggs, I pull this out every time. Crazy huh? Who doesn't know how to hard boil eggs?!?

Here are the recipes I'm using for the Deviled Eggs and Green Bean Casserole. (Sorry Betty... technology is putting you out of business)

Garter Stitch Hat

2008-11-19T22:01:00.001-08:00

Finished this tonight at knit night. Thanks to Angi for trying it on over and over again to make sure it fit right!

This was a simple pattern I made up to go long with the Garter Loop Through Scarf I made. First, I casted on 110 stitches and worked in K1P1 for about 2 inches and then switched to Garter Stitch for 5 inches. Decrease 10 stitches every other row until the last row is K2TOG all around. Cinch up remaining stitches. Weave in ends.

Needle- US 3
Yarn - Rowan Tapestry 1 Skein

I really like the Rowan Tapestry yarn. It is very soft and goes really far. I bought 3 skeins originally and have one left after making the scarf and hat. If I have time before Xmas after finishing other gifts, I may make some fingerless gloves to match.

Actual Knitting Content

2008-11-17T07:33:00.000-08:00

Yes, I remember that this is a knitting blog. So here are some updates:

Last night, my friend Tammy came over to learn how to knit socks. Granted, it is near impossible to learn how to knit socks in one evening, but I did get her started on DPNs which she had never used before.

I'm having her knit a basic cuff-down afterthought heel sock. I also cast on with her so we could work through doing the join in the round and the start of the K2P2 ribbing.

The yarn is Lane Cervinia Calzetteria in a lovely Blue, Green, Purple mix. And I'm using Size 1 DPNs, although I plan to switch to a circular needle after I have the ribbing of both socks knitted.

I got to show of my swift and ball winder too which she hadn't seen before either. I was almost hesitant to tell her about the dark side of knitting, Ravelry, but I did. We can always use another good knitter!

I'm also knitting a garter stitch hat to match the the Garter Stitch Loop Through Scarf I finished recently. Both are Xmas gifts.

I'm using Rowan Tapestry yarn. I need to check the needle size but I think it is a 3 or a 4.

And my final WIP for Xmas is a pair of Fetching wrist warmers in Berroco Ultra Alpaca Light on size 1 or 2 needles.

I have some other Xmas knitting gift ideas in mind but I'm waiting to start them until the Xmas gifts I have on the needles are done first. And the socks... well they have to wait too. That is if I can keep my hands off of them!

ETA: Here's a picture of Erica with my Myvu glasses on at knit night last night. These thing rock! Check out the demo on their site.

Prop 8 Protest March

2008-11-16T08:46:00.001-08:00

History was made all across the USA and the world. Where you there?

This pictures is from the Seattle march. You can see more here.

P.S. If you see me in the photo pool, leave a link in the comments! :)

Join The Impact

2008-11-13T07:23:00.000-08:00

Saturday, in cities all across the USA, there will be rallies and marches protesting the passing of Prop 8 in California and the discrimination GLBT's suffer everywhere. Seattle's Rally starts at Volunteer Park. If you are in Seattle, I hope you join me and all my GLBT sisters and brothers, in this show of support against discrimination.

If you aren't in Seattle, you can still show your support at a rally or march in your city. Find out more at Join The Impact.

Happy Birthday Dad

2008-11-07T07:29:00.000-08:00

November 7, 1944 - May 23, 2004

Vacation Yarn

2008-11-05T07:20:00.000-08:00

While I was in California on vacation I stopped at several yarn stores. I didn't pick up a lot of yarn but here is what I did pick up:

Colinette Jitterbug at Ball & Skein & More in Cambria.

Colinette Taos at Ball & Skein & More in Cambria

Berroco Ultra Alpaca Light at Yarns...at the Adobe in San Luis Obispo

Ranch Of The Oaks Alpaca at The Village Spinning and Weaving Shop in Solvang

I also stopped at a couple of other yarn stores but didn't make any purchases. My favorite of those was Loop and Leaf in Santa Barbara. I visited the store on my way to the airport and didn't get to spend a lot of time there. They had a wonderful assortment of yarns including Hand Maiden and Habu. I hope to get back there again on my next visit to California in December.

I also did some knitting while I was in California. I finished one Garter Stitch Loop-Through Scarf using Knit Picks Telemark in the Aubergine color way and size 3 needles.

I started another one (and finished it after I got back) using Rowan Tapestry in a pink and gray color way.

I plan on giving both of the scarfs as Xmas gifts. I have two balls of the Rowan Tapestry left in my stash, so I'm going to make a matching hat or wrist warmers with those.

No On Prop 8

2008-10-30T14:29:00.001-07:00

I haven't gotten to finish posting about my vacation in California yet. I'll try to at least get my vacation yarn photographed and posted. But I have a ton of beautiful pictures too.

Anyway, about the only thing about my trip that I didn't enjoy was seeing signs and hearing ads on the radio about voting yes on Prop 8 in California. Having had to go through my own horror story this summer regarding my marriage, I'm very sensitive to being discriminated against on this issue.

Let me tell you, feeling like a second-class citizen and being treated like one SUCKS. When 2 people love each other and want to spend the rest of their lives together (even if that doesn't work out they way you hoped, as it did in my case), they should be able to do that and have equal protection under the law.

Find out more at No On 8, Don't Eliminate Marriage For Everyone

And if you live and vote in California, please vote NO on Prop 8.

Butterflies and Dogs

2008-10-24T10:03:00.000-07:00

Besides the crashing of the waves outside my window, butterflies and dogs are what I will remember most about Carmel, California.

I'm about two blocks from the beach on Carmel Bay and went walking along the water last night and today. Carmel must love its dogs because the whole beach is a leash-free area for dogs. It was so fun to watch the dogs playing in the water and chasing each other. Made me think of Pachebel and how much she would love being on the beach. Maybe next time.

Butterflies... I didn't realize I missed them until I saw several flying around the flowers at the B&B I'm staying at, The Colonial Terrace. The grounds are immaculate here.

I wish I was staying another day but today I'm driving down the coast to San Simeon. I'll be staying on the beach there too. I plan on going to see the Hearst Castle tomorrow. It is supposed to be spectacular.

Coast Starlight Train To California - Day 2

2008-10-23T21:25:00.000-07:00

I made it to Carmel By The Sea today after riding overnight on the train. I'm pretty tired so I'm going to just post a couple of pictures and call it a night. These are from the beach on Carmel Bay about 2 blocks from where I'm staying. I have my window open and I can here the rolling of the waves. So peaceful!

Coast Starlight Train To California - Day 1

2008-10-22T21:16:00.000-07:00

This morning I boarded the Amtrak Coast Starlight train in Seattle with a destination of Salinas, California. I booked a roomette for the trip since I’ll be on the train overnight for the more than 24 hour trip. It was a good choice because you get private accommodations and meals are included. I lucked out and when I booked my roomette, the family size roomette was somehow less expensive then the smaller two-person roomette. So I have an extra large room meant for 3 or 4 people all to myself!

The trip has been beautiful so far. The leaves on the trees are changing colors and all along the route, there are fall colors in reds, oranges, and yellows. We’ve ridden past Puget Sound and the Columbia River.

I’ve spent most of my time in the Parlour car which has lounge chairs and floor to ceiling windows. I’ve met some nice people, most of them older and retired, and eaten some good food.

Tonight they are supposed to have a movie playing on a large HD Flat Screen TV but I’ve decided to chill out in my room and watch movies on my new iPod and the Myvu Crystal Video viewer I got recently. It is like watching a large screen movie but they are the size of glasses. Really cool!

I’ve been doing a bit of knitting too but can’t post any pictures or give any clues about what I’m knitting because it is a Christmas gift. I have plans to stop at several yarn stores while I’m driving down the coast of California. Vacation yarn doesn’t really count as stash yarn right?

We cross over into California sometime in the night. And I’ll be getting off in Salinas around noon.

Finaly, Two At A Time Success

2008-10-20T07:18:00.000-07:00

I finished a pair of socks a couple of weeks ago but haven't posted about them yet. I knitted these 2 at a time using 2 circular needles and they actually turned out great. I did them toe-up with a K2P2 pattern and an afterthought heel. I also used a Russian bind-off.

Yarn: A Swell Yarn Shop Duet in Chocolate Fantasy
Needle: Size 0

Team Gina

2008-10-18T19:20:00.000-07:00

Totally not knitting related, but I just got home from watching the Girl Shorts at the Seattle Gay and Lesbian Film Festival with some friends. Here is one of the "shorts" a music video by Seattle's own Team Gina:

Hilarious! Scary, that I'm old enough to be these girls' mom and they know more about the 80's then I do! (Listen to Product's of the 80's on their website if you want to feel really old!)

Mom's Mittens

2008-10-11T19:56:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, I went to Port Townsend with Charity, Ialiuxh, and my mom. We took the Edmonds Kingston ferry and spent a nice afternoon walking the main street and shopping at the two yarn stores there, The Twisted Ewe and
Diva Yarn & Trim.

While we were in Diva Yarn & Trim, my mom spotted a Sweaterkits Handpainted Silk Mitts kit. The yarn is super soft and jewel toned. The colors in the silk yarn are just beautiful.

These knitted up quickly on size 3 needles. I didn't knit both at the same time and wish I had because one is slightly smaller then the other one. Sigh. Anyway, they fit pretty much the same and that is what counts. Hope mom likes them!

Do We Have A Winner?!

2008-09-30T21:58:00.000-07:00

I finished my wraplan tonight. When I started knitting this evening I had the collar, button placket, and buttonhole placket to knit. Erica posted this morning that she had all but the weaving in to do. So I figured I would just knit and sew in my ends and not check to see if she had posted hers until I had mine photographed and posted.

And she hasn't posted hers yet! I can't believe it. I may have snuck in at the end and stole the sushi dinner!

It isn't 100% complete, of course. It still needs the buttons and I want to block it because the plackets seem taller then the rest of the wraplan. But Angi only required us to have all our ends woven in (and there was a bunch of them). So for the contest I'm done.

Tomorrow, I'm going to look for some cute buttons before I go to knit night and gloat... I mean show off... I mean sew on the buttons. ;)

Contest Progress - Day 5

2008-09-29T07:18:00.000-07:00

I worked on the Wraplan last night while watching Robin Hood on DVD (Robin and Miriam are finally together!) and got the sleeves done and started on the collar. Well, I picked up for the collar. I was pretty tired after a busy weekend despite a 2 hour nap yesterday when I got to that part. I picked up 3 times (is this a theme?!?) before I decided my head was too muddled to figure it out.

Don't know how much I'll get done tonight. But maybe I can get the collar done. Erica has her project marked at 90% on Ravelry so I think she is still ahead. She hasn't posted on the Lucky Lurker forum or in her project notes actual progress, so it is hard to know.

Onward!

Contest Progress - Day 4

2008-09-28T08:46:00.000-07:00

No progress yesterday on my Wraplan. I did bring my knitting but it was just to beautiful out to be inside knitting.

The Bead Exhibit at the downtown Seattle Art Museum was interesting. They had it in the form of a quiz. So at each display, they would have a question about what a set a bead garments were or who used the beaded item. Then next to the display they had a bunch of cards with pictures of the beads or beaded item and on the back information about it.

I did not like the format. I like to have the information cards posted next to piece of art. In some cases, I couldn't find a matching card. In any case, it was a good exhibit and because I used to sell beads and study bead history for fun, I knew or could guess what the beads were and who used them.

Afterwards, we walked down 1st Avenue to So Much Yarn which was a nice shop but one I probably won't go back to since it is downtown and didn't really carry anything that I can't get at a more accessible yarn store around Seattle.

Downtown was bustling with people which stills surprises me because most Texas cities don't have vibrant downtowns where people live, work, and shop. We were down by Pike Place Market so we stopped to have a smoothie and some roasted nuts.

The water taxi to and from West Seattle was beautiful. Mount Rainer was breath taking. Ernestina is a native of Seattle and so she isn't phased by seeing it. Most people from Seattle seem to not even notice it. I guess they are so used to it.

But I remember most times at least noticing the UT Tower or the Texas Capital when I was driving around Austin. And I always loved looking at the lakes when I drove by them or crossed over them. And wild flowers in the Spring were one of my favorite things.

Anyway, I hope I never lose the joy of seeing Mount Rainer or the Cascade Mountains or the Olympic Mountains especially since they aren't available to see most of the year because of the clouds and grey.

Today is supposed to be another beautiful day and I have a party to go to this afternoon for a friend who is moving to Olympia. Hopefully, I will be able to do some knitting tonight while I watch some episodes of the BBC Robin Hood. Erica hasn't posted her progress but she may be done by now already. :(

Contest Progress - Day 3

2008-09-27T06:33:00.001-07:00

Someone on the Lucky Lurker board has already finished the Wraplan! So I won't be winning the discount on the Duet Yarn but Erica hasn't finished yet, so I'm still in the running for the sushi dinner.

I got a couple of hours in yesterday when my computer at worked bombed. The computer is in Califorina. I remote into and all my work is on it. So when I can't get to it, I can't work. Poor me, I had to knit.

I finished the mock ribbing at the bottom of the body and I'm now onto the sleeves. I'm knitting 2 at a time on one circular. I've finally learned how to do that properly on my last pair of socks which I realize now as I type this, I haven't posted here.

I went out with friends to a an Ethiopian place called Mesob last night. It was pretty good. I've only had Ethipian food one time before about 10 years ago in DC when I was on business. It was much more fun to eat it with a bunch of friends. The style of eating is very communal.

I'll post pictures of my progress on my Wraplan later today. I'm off to walk 9 miles with Seattle Fit as part of my training for the Seattle Marathon in November. I'm doing the 1/2 marathon. And them I'm off to take the water taxi with a friend across Elliot Bay to downtown so that we can go to SAM to see a bead exhibit and some artists. If we have time we are going to So Much Yarn.

I'm going to take my knitting with me to downtown. But I doubt I'll have much time to knit. Drat! Looks like Erica is going to win!

Contest Progress - Day 2

2008-09-26T08:09:00.000-07:00

I got some more knitting done on my Wraplan for the contest.

Since my gauge is still big, I decided not cast on again with more stitches. I'm knitting the length and the rest of the wraplan for a 9 to 12 month.

I made it to the first couple rows of the contrasting mock ribbing at the bottom. I would have gotten more done, but I'm working overtime on a website that goes live in a week and a half.

Erica says she has started on one of the sleeves. Maybe I'll catch up tonight or over the weekend. Of course, that is if she doesn't get finished first!

The Race Is On

2008-09-25T08:43:00.000-07:00

Angi over at A Swell Yarn Shop has a contest going on using her Duet or DeKAY yarn. The winners who finish first get 50% off a skein a yarn. She has posted 2 patterns so there will be 2 winners.

One of the patterns is Broadripple which I've already knit. And the other is the Offset Wraplet (pdf).

I've decided on the Wraplet. It will be really cute with the contrasting yarn for the neckband, button band, and cuffs. Of course, I don't know any babies in my life right now but that doesn't mean one won't show up to gift to.

I'm using some Duet yarn I bought earlier this year:

I know I won't be the first one finished but my friend Ericka and I have a side bet going. We are both working on the wraplet and whoever finishes last has to buy the other one sushi.

So last night we both cast on at the knit night we go to. However, she is in the lead because I had to cast on 3 times before I got it right. First, I miscounted. Second, I counted correctly but the gauge was way big, 10 inches to big! So on the third try I went down a needle size and cast on less stitches. This gives me an advantage though since I'll end up knitting less stitches overall.

Hmmm... should I cast on again tonight with the correct number of stitches and a smaller size?!?

There is sushi on the line after all.

Crap! I can't cheat. Not over knitting. So down one needle size and casting on again! Ugh! I may need to stay up late and knit, knit, knit so I can catch up!

It is all in good fun though. In either case, I'll get to have sushi and there is a new Blue C Sushi over at South Center mall that we can try out.

Wish me luck!

Yarn Goodies

2008-08-28T07:35:00.000-07:00

Last night at knit night I was gifted with 4 lovely skeins of yarn from my two friends Charity and Ialiuxh. I met both of them late last year, a month or so after I moved to Seattle. Since then we've been going on fiber related adventures including a trip down to Oregon for a Blue Moon Arts De-stashing sale, a trip to Westport, the Portland Yarn train, and the LYS Yarn tour.

We also get together to knit and check out yarn stores. I've learned a lot from both of them about yarn, knitting, and fiber. They have been especially important to me during this last year since my break up. I feel very lucky to have them in my life.

Charity has taken up spinning with even greater enthusiasm since she got her spinning wheel for her birthday last month. She had been spinning the most beautiful yarn! And last night she gifted me with 2 lovely skeins of wool/silk yarn. They are so beautiful!! I plan on making wrist warmers out of them so I can admire the yarn when I'm in office typing with cold hands.

Ialiuxh has started an hand-dyed yarn company, Lollipop Cabin. She lives in a little cabin in the forest where she uses rain water to dye her yarn. I especially like the skein of yarn she gifted me for my birthday:

Of course, it is in my favorite colors! Hmmm.... I wonder how she knew?

Ialiuxh also gifted me with some incredibly soft baby llama yarn by Mirasol. It is like buttah!

My life is full with friends and yarn. Who could ask for more?!?

Ravelympics Finisher!

2008-08-23T13:56:00.000-07:00

Sing it with me: "We are the Champions, we are the champions, no time for losers, cause we are the Champions!"

Yipee! I finished my project for Ravelympics with only a few hours to spare. The knitting was done on Thursday but I still had to get the buttons sewn on. Which I did today.

My stats:
Team: Team Japanese
Pattern: Cushion Cover
Yarn: Berroco Ultra Alpaca
Needles: size 7
Start time: 8/8/08 7pm PDT
Finish time: 8/23/08 1:30pm PDT

A Swell Yarn Shop Kinda Day

2008-08-17T08:44:00.000-07:00

**** SPOILER ALERT FOR LUCKY LURKERS --- AUGUST 2008 WELCOME PACKAGE PICTURE BELOW ****

Yesterday, I cast on for 2-at-a-time socks using the Opps yarn I got a couple of weeks ago from A Swell Yarn Shop which is owned by my friend Angi from my Renton Knitters group. She is an awesome yarn dyer and has the best sense of color I've seen. Her coordinating sock yarn, Duets, have the best colors!

So far the socks are coming along pretty well. I'm kinda improvising these socks as I go. But so far I've cast on 14 stitches using the brown coordinating socks yarn with size US 1 DPNs. The yarn is a deep chocolate brown. I increased every other round until I had 24 stitches. I then changed to a size US 0 circular needle and increased every other round until I got to 28 stitches. I knit a couple more rounds and then switched to the main yarn which is a combination of deep red, pink, and the chocolate brown. I knit the coordinating yarn for one round and then on the top of the sock I started knitting in K2P2.

As I was knitting these socks, I kept thinking that they look like chocolate sundae colors. Since I don't eat sugar, these socks will be the closest I'll get to a chocolate sundae, so I'm really appreciating them!

My plan is to decrease a couple stitches on each side on both the front and back of each sock now that I'm at the instep. Also, I'm going to do an afterthought heel with the coordinating yarn. I may increase back when I get to the leg, but I'll try as I go to see what I need to do.

**** SPOILER ALERT FOR LUCKY LURKERS --- AUGUST 2008 WELCOME PACKAGE PICTURE BELOW ****

Also, yesterday, I received my welcome package from the September-October-November Lucky Lurker Yarn Club hosted by A Swell Yarn Shop. Usually, Angi doesn't send yarn in the welcome package, but this time she sent a sample 1/2 skein each of coordinating and main color yarn in her new line of sock yarn called DeKAY in a lovely colorway called Mystic Calm. It also came with a pattern called Save Your Sole Footy Pattern by Tori Barnhart.

**** SPOILER ALERT FOR LUCKY LURKERS --- AUGUST 2008 WELCOME PACKAGE PICTURE BELOW ****

Aren't the colors just lovely and calming looking!?! And the yarn feels fantastic. I think the twist is a bit more tight then the original DK Duet yarn. Now I need to finish up my current sock pattern so I can work wit this yarn!

Los Monos Locos Finished

2008-08-15T07:50:00.000-07:00

I finished my Los Monos Locos socks this morning. I know, I know. I should be working on my Ravelmpics Japanese Cable Cushion Cover, but it was hot and I have no AC, and the thought of a pile of Alpaca yarn in my lap did not appeal to me!

I finished the knitting last night and the weaving in ends this morning. I knit each separately and once again one is bigger then the other. It is longer and wider because the stitches are larger. Ugh! I'm really going to have to try knitting 2 socks at the same time again. When I tried it back in February and March I was just going through the beginning of my break up when I couldn't eat, sleep, or hardly concentrate. Maybe now that I'm a bit better, I can do it.

I do like the Los Monos Locos pattern better then the original Monkey. The original has a lot of purling, where as Los Monos Locos does not.

I'm not too thrilled with the color of the yarn of these Blue Moon STR yarn. However, I did buy them at their seconds sale last year, so maybe they weren't up to snuff for them either. All my other skeins had wonderful colors though.

I think these socks will be my at home or in boots shoes. I don't think I'll be showing them off by wearing clogs.

But I am glad I'm done, because now I can start on another pair of socks. I think I'm going to start a pair with either my Duet sock yarn or my Noro sock yarn. The colors in both are beautiful. And I'm going to try knitting both at the same time. Please wish me luck on that!

Stitch and Pitch Picture Slide Show

2008-08-08T13:54:00.000-07:00

Stitch 'n Pitch

2008-08-07T22:28:00.000-07:00

Just got home from my first Stitch 'n Pitch at Safeco Field watching (well kinda, there was knitting and yarn shopping going on after all!) the Seattle Mariners beat the Tampa Bay Rays. It went all the way to the end of the 9th inning and we won with a home run.

I did get a few rows knitted on my Los Monos Locos socks. Here's the proof they got out of the knitting bag:

Here's the group of gals from my Renton Knitters group that I went with. We had a great time!

Me, A Nerd? Who Would Have Thunk It?

2008-08-04T08:14:00.000-07:00

Joanne posted the results of the THE NERD? GEEK? OR DORK? TEST. So I thought I'd play along.

Pure Nerd
52 % Nerd, 13% Geek, 26% Dork

For The Record:

A Nerd is someone who is passionate about learning/being smart/academia.
A Geek is someone who is passionate about some particular area or subject, often an obscure or difficult one.
A Dork is someone who has difficulty with common social expectations/interactions.
You scored better than half in Nerd, earning you the title of: Pure Nerd.

The times, they are a-changing. It used to be that being exceptionally smart led to being unpopular, which would ultimately lead to picking up all of the traits and tendences associated with the "dork." No-longer. Being smart isn't as socially crippling as it once was, and even more so as you get older: eventually being a Pure Nerd will likely be replaced with the following label: Purely Successful.

What are you? The Nerd? Geek? or Dork? Test

F is Fiber (and Forty Something)

2008-08-03T21:24:00.000-07:00

Friday was my birthday which I spent working which was followed by a lovely dinner with my family at Chinook's. I've been in Seattle for 11 months now and I had yet to have been to a seafood resturaunt other then Spuds on Alki. So I decided that was what I wanted to have dinner. My brother was a sport and payed for the whole meal even though for his birthday we went to some cheap hole in the wall place. He picked it though! The food at Chinook's was great and it was nice seeing the boats docked at Fishermen's Terminal and the ducks floating around. Plus I scored a couple of gift cards, one from Barnes and Nobles. Can you say "knitting books"?!? Mom got me a Kohl's card so I'll be getting some much needed new clothes!

Saturday, I met up with Charity and Ialuixh for a yarn store trip to Hilltop East in Bellevue. We had a great time. I didn't end up buying anything because Charity gave me a wonderful birthday present of Cascade 220 in blue, enough for a sweater. She wrapped it up in some lovely blue plaid fabric that has a silver thread running through it that you can't see in the pictures. It is very pretty and I'm already thinking of ways to use it.

Today was another day at the beach at Alki and lunch with friends. Overall, a great birthday weekend.

A Swell Yarn Shop "Opps" Duet Sock Yarn

2008-07-31T07:35:00.000-07:00

I have the lucky privilege to belong to a knitting group started by an awesome hand-dyer, Angela of A Swell Yarn Shop. I recently joined her Lucky Lurkers Club, a monthly yarn club featuring her famous and (soon-to-be-more famous) Duet Sock Yarn. My welcome package comes in August and that is followed by 3 months of yarn goodness. Can't wait.

The great thing about Angi's yarn is that she provides one skein for the main part of a sock along with another smaller skein for the heels and toes. They are always great color combinations.

Last night she brought another batch of her "Opps" yarn. I put it in quotes because her "Opps" yarns seem anything but. I have several skeins in my stash already but I was able to add two more sets of Duets with these:

Original Duet Sock Yarn, Chocolate Fantasy:

Original Duet Sock Yarn, Panjandrum:

I'm thinking of making a small bag with one set and some flip-top mittens with the other. For now, I'll just be admiring them while I work on other projects.

Chicken Stir-Fry

2008-07-29T18:32:00.000-07:00

Thanks to my friend, Carolyn, I actually cooked tonight for the first time in FOREVER! I've been eating tv dinners and take out for awhile now. When I told Carolyn this, well, I think she was shocked and a little bit sorry for me. So she went to the grocery store with me on Saturday and kept me company while I picked out the fixings for stir fry.

I made Quick Chicken Stir-Fry. It wasn't as fast as cooking a tv dinner, but it was much tastier and I'm sure much healthier!

First, I stir fried the chicken and set it aside. I then stir fried the vegetables. Don't they look lovely:

I added the chicken back to the vegetables and poured on the soy sauce sauce.

And then it was dinner!

Yum! And there is enough left overs for 2 more meals too!

Susie Hoodie Swatch

2008-07-29T07:43:00.000-07:00

I'm waiting to start my Ravelmpics project until next week, so I thought I do some swatches for the Susie Hoodie from Big Girl Knits to check gauge and practice the cable braid. It took me 6 tries before I actually figured out how to read the chart to get it right.

Reading charts still stump me. It seems that there should be some kind of standard. Row 1 should always be the RS if you ask me. And it should be read from right to left. And Row 2 should always be the WS and be read from left to right. But not this pattern and it took me all those tries to figure it out. Ugh!

But I hung in there and I finally got the swatch knit correctly! Yipee! The picture is two repeats. The braid is the band along the opening of the cardigan and goes up and around the hoodie. I've seen lovely, lovely, lovely FOs of it on Ravelry. I want my own!

I plan on casting on today or tomorrow. This will be an at-home project since I need to concentrate on getting the braid right, especially since each row has over 200 stitches. That is a lot to frog especially if you don't realize your mistake for several rows!

Here's what I aspire to knit:

Wish me luck, cause me and cables have a history... a not so good one, right Silver Belle?

Elliot Bay Water Taxi

2008-07-27T18:45:00.000-07:00

Today I took the Elliot Bay Water Taxi from West Seattle to Seattle so that I could go to Pike Place Market.

Here are some pictures from the boat:

And here is the lovely bouquet of flowers I bought:

I also bought some cherries, raspberries, and blueberries. Yum!

Ravelympics 2008 - Gauge Swatch

2008-07-26T17:23:00.000-07:00

Here's my gauge swatch for the project I'm going to be working on for Ravelympics 2008 being hosted on Ravelry. The idea is to pick a challenging project, cast on during opening ceremonies on August 8th, and finish the project by closing ceremonies.

I'm entered in the Cable Steeple Chase for Team Japanese. I'm going to knit one, maybe two, cable cushion covers from a Japanese knitting book I have, Favorite Aran Knits.

I've had a couple of false starts with cable patterns and I'm hoping since this is a smaller project and one I have to worry less about fitting me, that I'll have success. Plus I'd like to use my knitting-cables-without-a-cable-needle skills that I picked up in April from Annie Modesitt before I forget.

I'm using Berroco Ultra Alpaca in White. It is like knitting with buttah! It is so soft. Part of me is wondering if I should save this yarn for some type of knitted garment but it has been languishing in my stash for a while now, so I might as well use it. I have two skeins and I think this will be enough for two pillows.

The pattern is for a 14 X 14 inch cushion. I'd also like to make a larger, say 16 X 16, pillow cover in another color with a slightly different knitting chart that is also in the book. But I don't want to put too much pressure on myself during Ravelympics so if I get two done that will be great.

Fiber Fantasic

2008-07-24T07:28:00.000-07:00

Last night at my Renton Knitters group we had all kinds of fiber related activities. We always have people knitting. But last night we also had crochet, loom knitting, spinning, and drum carding.

Here is Charity with her new spinning wheel. She has already made some really lovely yarn. Can anyone say birthday present please? ;)

Angi showed Joann's daughter how to knit. She picked it up really quickly. And she is such a cutie.

Joann brought her drum carder and carded several batts from fiber she had also brought.

Charity was the lucky receipent of this batt.

Angi also did some spinning with a drop spindle.

Don't show this picture to Angi's in-laws! They may get the wrong idea! This lovely baby has been gracing our presence for about a month now since her mother started attending our group.

I also scored some free yarn last night from Erica. She has a friend who took up knitting and, gasp, decided she didn't like it after spending several hundred dollars on yarn. Erica brought what she didn't want to the group. I got a total of 3 skeins of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted. This one is called Douglas Fir.

These two are called Tahoe and seem to coordinate with the Douglas Fir.

Now I have to figure out what I'm going to knit with them. Of course, I have other yarn in my stash waiting to be knit, so it might be awhile before I get to these beauties!

Clapotis FO

2008-07-07T21:04:00.000-07:00

I finally gave into the "peer" pressure to do a Clapotis. I mean everyone but me has knitted one. I'm not sure when or if I'll ever use it. I'm not a shawl person, but I love the yarn too much to think about giving it away. :)

Pattern: Clapotis
Yarn: Blue Heron Rayon Metallic, Raspberry
Needles: US 6 / 4.0 mm
Started: June 28, 2008
Finished: July 7, 2008
Modifications: I did only 8 repeats of Section 3

Cherries!

2008-07-03T07:28:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I was sitting at my desk and while looking out my window I noticed that one of my trees had red "things" on them. I walked out to investigate and discovered I had a tree full of cherries!

I filled a large bowl with the ones I could reach. They taste great! Now I have to figure out what to do with them that doesn't involve sugar. Ideas?

Seattle Pride 2008

2008-06-29T17:41:00.001-07:00

Just got home from a wonderful day with my Seattle Queer Knitters at Seattle Pride.

We took the bus down to the parade in downtown and then afterwards walked to Seattle Center where we played in the fountain and people watched.

In the slide show you can see the Honeymoon Cami from Knitty I finished this week along with my Snatchel bag. I got the button sewn in just in time last night. Everyone thought it was great.

Cross Stitch Song

2008-06-27T21:54:00.000-07:00

This is a hilarious song: Cross Stitch (mp3)

My favorite is:
"Knitting Needles Don't Kill People, Old Ladies Do"

Or How About:
"I see your ball of wool and smile"

Or:
"I get ectasy when I make tea cozies"

The chorus:
"knit 1, purl 1, drop 1, cast on, cast off. (crochet, crochet, crochet)"

Enjoy!

Cami FO

2008-06-26T20:48:00.000-07:00

I finished knitting my Honeymoon Cami from Knitty tonight. I really like how it turned out. I used a Bamboo/Rayon mix yarn that I had made up at Yarnia in Portland.

It has a wonderful drape and feels soft and light. A great top just in time for summer.

Cute But Totaly Not Right

2008-06-21T11:32:00.000-07:00

You can see more shocking photos and the pattern for this here.

I Love You ASL Cloth

2008-06-19T20:53:00.000-07:00

I started this cloth back at the beginning of April and finally got back to it tonight. It has been sitting in my bag for a week waiting to be knit. I put it there after I finished my Josephine Top.

Carry reminded me that it was there when I saw the one she started yesterday on Ravelry. I bought the whole ASL Alphabet when I downloaded this free pattern. I'd like to make a blanket for Evie using the letters. I'll have to really get to it if I want to do the whole alphabet by Christmas!

I don't know what yarn I used. It was an extra ball that I've had around for awhile. I think it has some cotton in it but it has too much drape to be 100% cotton.

I think this is going to be a practice cloth. I bought several different brands organic cotton yarn last month during the LYS tour. I may use one of those to knit up another one that has a little less drape and is more dense and see how it turns out.

Josephine Action Shot

2008-06-15T08:47:00.000-07:00

Not the most attractive picture of me. Damn, I have a lot of hair! But you can see me wearing my Josephine Top. This was taken yesterday at Olympic Sculpture Park at WWKIP day.

WWKIP Day at Olympic Sculpture Park In Seattle

2008-06-14T16:32:00.000-07:00

Today was World-Wide Knit In Public day which was celebrated by knitters (and spinners and crocheters) all around the world. I took part in a gathering by the Capitol Hill Knitters at Olympic Sculpture Park in Seattle in the Belltown part of town.

The sculpture park has some very interesting sculptures. I didn't walk around to see them all and need to go back when I have time to appreciate (or at least look at) them. Apparently, these large traffic cones are new as several of the women remarked that they hadn't been there before.

There was probably a total of 50 or so knitters who attended over the 4 hours I was there with 30 to 40 at one time. It started off grey and overcast but I wearing layers (see I do listen to you Ialiuxh!) so as the sun came out and it got warmer I was able to adjust accordingly. First the coat went and then the sweater and I was left just wearing my Josephine Top.

I think I may have gotten a little bit of sun on my face despite the sunscreen! I did get another 3 repeats done on my Los Manos Loco socks. All and all a great day!

Beach, Sun... No Yarn

2008-06-10T22:36:00.000-07:00

I got to enjoy a couple of days of the sun while I was down in California on business. I stayed in Ventura at a hotel on the beach. I had a really nice view of the beach, water, and pier next to the hotel. In the mornings, before work, three of the women I work with and I went walking on the boardwalk along the water. It was great way to start the day!

I wasn't able to go to the yarn store in Ventura though. They were closed both Sunday when we got in and yesterday after I was done working. Today we had to go see a client on the way to the airport in Burbank so I didn't make it there today either. :(

I did suggest that my boss drop me off at the yarn store in Burbank just 2 miles down the road from the airport since we had time to kill before our flight. I told him he could pick me up after he went shopping at Fry's. However, he didn't go for it so I ended up sitting in the airport reading a book. (why don't they sell knitting magazines at airports!?!)

I finished my first Los Monos Loco sock while I was in California but I didn't feel like starting the second one. Tomorrow is knit night so I'll probably start it then. For now, I'm pooped and I'm off to bed.

ETA: I wore my Josephine Top and it looked fabulous!

Josephine Top

2008-06-08T08:55:00.000-07:00

I finally finished my Josephine Top from the Summer 2007 Interweave Knits in Knit Picks ShineSport (color: Willow) last night. I love how it turned out! I had to rip out the part of above the lace twice halfway through it because I kept messing up on the decreases. I eventually wrote down each line of the pattern for the front. I did each front side separately instead of at the same time as the pattern suggests because it was easier for me. I made less mistakes.

I had started on this last summer while I was still in Texas as a summer/fall top. But once I moved here to Seattle I put it down to knit winter items. Now that it is supposed to be summer soon, I figured it would be a good time to start knitting on it again. However, I think I'm going to have to wear it under a cardigan for awhile until the summer they keep promising that is coming shows up. Luckily, I'm leaving for California for a couple of days on business and will actually get to see the sun! And we are staying on the beach in Ventura too! :)

I had hoped that I might have time to hit a yarn store in Ventura but I just don't think the agenda they have set up for our quarterly meeting will allow it. I have to do a presentation on Monday. Hmmmm.... Should Josephine come with me?

I really liked the details on this top. The lace part at the bottom was a simple repeat once I got it. I did it in the round because I really dislike seaming. But I had to change to knitting front sides and back separately once I realized I couldn't keep up with all the different things that were happening on each row.

The cap sleeves are done in Moss Stitch to match the lace portion. I added this to the neckline which I think made it come all together better.

I actually finished the knitting part on Saturday but I still had the cord to do. The pattern calls for a 300 stitch cast on followed by a row of binding off. I did this on Snatchel and didn't like how it turned out. So I tried it with a long-tail cast-on vs. a knit on cast-on and a sewn bind-off vs. a traditional bind-off. It gave it a much more finished looked but took several hours to do.

I could have worked on it at the movies with Ialiuxh and Charity yesterday when we went to see Narnia (finally!). They both can knit in the darkness of the theater but I didn't want to attempt sewing in the dark. Oh well, I enjoyed the movie. If you saw the first one I think you won't be disappointed by the second one, although I liked the first one better. No knitting to speak of in the movie although we did think the baby's christening gown and top with its lace look could almost have been knit but I think it was fabric.

Now that I'm finished with Josephine, I'm ready to move onto another summer top using the yarn I got at Yarnia (which rhymes with Narnia, ha!) in Portland in April when I was down there for classes with Annie Modesitt. I have about a million (or at least 10) different tanks/camisole type tops in my queue on Ravelry to pick from. Plus I just picked up a couple more Japanese knitting magazines last week. So I should be able to pick out something, right!?!

I'm going to take Los Monos Locos with me on the plane to knit. It requires some counting and concentration so let's hope I don't mess it up or have my knitting needles confiscated.!

Snatchel Complete

2008-06-01T20:35:00.000-07:00

Snatchel was a quick and fun knit. I still need to add a bead or button. But other then that I'm happy with how it turned out.

Yarns used: Shepherd Classic 100% Wool in Red (#0036), Lamb's Pride Worsted in Purple (M-28 Chianti) and Skacel Bravura in Black (#5014).

I learned how to do Applied I-cord which wasn't too difficult. I'm thinking it will make a great looking "piping" for some pillow covers I want to make.

Pride 2008 Snatchel WIP

2008-05-31T08:55:00.000-07:00

A friend invited me to go to Pride in Olympia in a couple of weeks. And since Pride in Seattle is the following week, I thought I'd knit up a special bag, the Snatchel. I'll let you go read the description. Come back here when you are done!

Isn't that great! Such a hoot!

Anyway, the ladies at The Yarn Stash in Burien thought so. They were so helpful in getting me the right color of red for the main parts of the bag. A woman was in the store knitting who daily gets a look at the real thing everyday as her job as a nurse. So she let me know which color to use for the upper inner part. :)

Look at the lovely black yarn that Beth gave me while I was there. The yarn smells like lavender and will make a great addition to the bag... I'll let you guess which part! ;)

Right now I'm to the V-word part of the bag. I hope to have the rest of the main part of the bag done this weekend. I'm not looking forward to the miles and miles of I-cord for the handles but it will be good TV and knit night knitting.

The Perfect Sock Pattern?

2008-05-24T10:30:00.000-07:00

I don't know how many different sock patterns I have tried over the last few months. I'd start them and then I'd have to frog (rip, rip) them because there were too many mistakes. I was having a hard time focusing on the yarn overs and SSKs and K2TOGs especially at my knit nights.

Back in February, shortly after my ex left, I posted about a simple pattern to knit because I needed something that didn't require concentration because besides not being able to eat or sleep and crying/sobbing all the time, my concentration sucked.

Emiko, Raven, and Suna all suggested socks with an easy pattern like Stockinette or ribbing.

I went for the ribbing and I thought I would try knitting 2 at the same time on 2 circulars (mistake). That didn't work out for me. I felt like I was going to poke an eye out with the circular I wasn't knitting with. So then I tried knitting 2 at the same time on 2 circulars (another mistake). My circular was a little too small for that but adequate. However, I kept getting ladders on the inside and losing stitches.

It was mindless knitting grant you, but I was so mindless and unable to concentrate and I'm sure crying out of grief sometimes, that there were a TON of mistakes. A TON of mistakes. But I kept knitting thinking that somehow I could live with the holes and the ladders and twisted stitches.

And then I realized that like the relationship that had just ended that I just had to give up on them no matter how much I hoped they would work out. So I frogged them despite the fact that I really loved the yarn, really loved it. It was just the right colors, ocean blues, and it was Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks That Rock so they felt great despite looking crappy.

And then I cast on for another pair of socks. But somehow I still haven't been able to knit a decent pair. I'd start a pattern and it just wouldn't go right. They would either be too big or too small or the stitch pattern hard to memorize and I couldn't seem to get gauge no matter how many needle sizes I went down.

It has been very frustrating. But then I thought I found THE pattern, Tidal Wave Socks. Here was a pattern that had a pretty easy stitch pattern to follow and when I knitted it I was able to knit it even at knit nights.

But then last week at my Thursday night Stitch n' Bitch, Beorn asked me if I was working on sweater sleeves. Now Beorn is pretty new to knitting so I figured he hadn't seen too many socks being knit. And yes they were huge but I tried them on and they were kinda loose, but I could live with it right? I just didn't want to start over again.

But then this week at my other knitting group in Renton, I mentioned that Boren had said that my socks looked like sweater sleeves, and everyone agreed! Lauren suggested that I make them knee highs so that I could decrease down to the right size. I like this idea except for the fact I really don't like knee highs and I don't think I have enough yarn to knit socks that long.

I wasn't about to give up on the socks though. And I kept knitting. It is the process right?!? Well, last night I pulled them out to work on and I realized that I hadn't used a smaller knitting needle after the ribbing on the second sock. So it was even bigger then the first one.

Time to admit to myself that it wasn't working out. And so I frogged them. (Ialuixh you should be proud of me!)

Now it is on to another pair of socks. This time it is the Los Manos Locos socks (appropriate huh?!?) that are a knit stitch version of the famous Monkey socks by Cookie A. I cast on a few less stitches because my gauge is 7.5 stitches instead of 9 stitches per inch. But I know how to be flexible, gotta be in this life right?

So my socks kinda represent the grief process I've been going through the last few months. Betrayal/Disbelief/Shock (my socks are okay, how could anything be wrong with them? isn't this like the 100th time I've tried to get them right?), Anger (how can you call my socks sweater sleeves? Can't you tell they are socks!), and Acceptance (okay, these socks really suck and it is time to rip them out no matter how much I want them to work out).

Knitting and life, gotta love it! Neither are perfect (at least mine aren't) but that's okay.

LYS Tour Details

2008-05-18T18:24:00.000-07:00

This weekend was the annual LYS Tour in the Seattle area. There were 24 stores in the tour (out of about 55 in the area). Each store had a daily drawing, a free one skein pattern, and a 10% discount on the yarn used for the free pattern.

I made it to 13 of the stores. I had no expectations of doing all 24. So I didn't feel rushed like some people I've read about on Ravelry.

I didn't buy yarn for all the free patterns. A couple of stores had projects that use $30+ skeins which I think is ridiculous. The stores that used $5 - $10 skeins were my favorites but I did buy some Malibrigo at Knot Just Yarn because I really like their pattern for a felted drawstring bag and who can say no to 10% discount on Malibrigo!?!

Below are the stores, patterns, and yarns. The yarns with a star * are yarns I purchased.

Thursday: 2 stores - I had to work on Thursday so I took a long lunch and went to
The Yarn Stash In Burien (pattern: Lariat with flowers, yarn: Urban Silk*).

After work, I went to Seattle Knitting Co(pattern: Knit Baseball, yarn: Lion Brand Organic Cotton*).

Friday: 6 stores - I took the afternoon off and hit 3 stores in Seattle plus 3 outlying stores. They were: Tricoter Knitting(pattern: Diamond Lace Scarf w/Ruffle Edge, yarn: Filatura Di Corsa (at $30, I did not buy this)), Acorn Street Shop (pattern: Felted Sprint Bag, yarn: Alpine 14 ply wool), Weaving Works (pattern: Crochet Dish Towel, yarn: Southwest Trading Company "Bamboo"), Hilltop Yarn East in Bellevue (pattern: Tulip Lace Shawl, yarn: Alpaca With a Twist), Renaissance Yarns in Kent (pattern: Trellis Lace WashCloth, yarn: Sublime Organic Cotton*), and The Knittery in Renton(pattern: Cable Round Bag, yarn: Cascade 220*)

Saturday: I picked up Charity and Ialiuxh and we drove up to Bellingham and did a total of 6 of the north stores: J&J Needle Arts(pattern, Water Bottle Bag, yarn: Noro Kureyon*)

and NW Handspun(pattern: Fixation Hat, yarn: Cascade Fixation) in Bellinghham, Ana-Cross Stitch in Anacortes (pattern: Fluffy Stole, yarn: Bulky Handsupn Yarn (another $30 skein..pass), Knot Just Yarn in Burlington(pattern: Felted Drawstring Bag, yarn Malabrigo*),

and Wild Fibers in Mount Vernon (pattern: Laura's Floppy Beanie, yarn: Rowan Felted Tweed (They also had their 2007 pattern for a Fixation Headband, yarn: Cascade Fixation*).

In addition to the yarns I purchased for the one skein projects I also bought some sale yarn at Hilltop East. They had Lambs Pride Worsted on sale 1/2 price. I bought 8 skeins. I plan on making a felted bag.

At NW Handspun I bought a skein of Blue Heron Yarns Rayon/Metallic in Raspberry. I think I'm going to make a shawl with this but I'm going to look on Ravelry for other ideas too.

At Ana's Cross Stitch I purchased 6 balls of Debbie Bliss SoHo at 30% off.

Also, while we were in Bellingham we went to Farmers' Market and I purchased a skein of Spincycle Yarns BFL Wool and a pattern for some cable armwarmers. The colorway is called Ursus Horribilis in honor of the grizzly bears. 10% of the price of the yarn went to a grizzly bear protection organization.

The fourth day of the tour was today (Sunday) but I didn't go to any more of the stores. I think 3 days of yarn store shopping is enough!

I had a blast and now I have enough yarn for one skein knitting projects to keep me busy until next year!

LYS Tour 2008

2008-05-17T22:06:00.000-07:00

13 stores from Bellingham to Kent in 3 days. More details tomorrow, I'm whooped!

Getting Lost With Natasha

2008-05-02T22:19:00.000-07:00

This evening after work I was headed over to the Admiral district and got turned around and ended up on Harbor Avenue along the waterfront on Alki. I had been wanting to drive by there anyway so I figured it was meant to be. I drove by Salty's and looked at downtown across the water.

Natasha then guided me up California Avenue from there and that is where I saw the most incredible view of downtown Seattle with the mountains in the distance from Hamiliton View Park.

Here is some pictures I took. I wish they had captured how beautiful it was. But I feel lucky that I got to see it.

I'd like to go back there on another clear day to get better pictures and take in the view again.

Training For Marathon

2008-05-02T11:09:00.000-07:00

In February 2005 I walked the Austin Freescale Marathon. It took me nearly 8 hours. Here are my results:

Place	Name	City	Over all	Chip Time	Total Time	Diff	Pace
349	Rhonda Bell	Austin TX	1857	7:35:48.7	7:41:46.0	5:57.3	17:24/M

In my age group, I was next to last finishing, which, of course, should be expected. I was walking, not running. I trained with the Austin Fit walking group. And I also did the Houston 1/2 marathon in January of that same year.

Why am I telling you all this? Well, one of my friends from Seattle SnB knitting, Jenna, is training for a marathon right now. I think the Portland one that is coming up soon. That got me to thinking about the marathon and half marathon I did 3 years ago. Seattle Fit is starting their training program for the November 30th Seattle Marathon the first weekend of June. I think I'm going to sign up. And this time I'm going to run. 8 hours is just way too long to walk!

Anyone want to train/run with me?!?

Annie Modesitt Classes

2008-04-26T13:06:00.000-07:00

Thursday and Friday I took 3 classes with Annie Modesitt. The first two, Cable Without a Cable Needle and Lovely Laces, were held at Abundant Yarn. The third, Combination Knitting, was held by Knit Purl.

I really enjoyed the two classes on Thursday. I had tried knitting cables without a cable needle before using a tutorial online previously. But I had problems dropping stitches so I gave up on that method. Instead, I went back to using a cable needle which to me is very cumbersome and time consuming since I'm apt to lose the needle between rows even when I put it in my lap.

Seeing Annie's method in person made much more sense to me and I was able to pick it up rather quickly. And when I followed her way exactly, I didn't drop stitches. I think I'll be doing more cable work in the future because of this.

The second class at Abundant Yarn was called Lovely Laces. In it we learned how to read a chart and practiced knitting lace. I knew a lot of the things that Annie taught us already but she did show us how to do a left leaning decrease that rocks. It is done over two rows, so it is a little confusing and I don't think I would have ever gotten it from a book or a video. But seeing her do it and explain it, made sense. Now my left leaning decreases won't be looking jagged ever again!

On Friday, after Therese and I went to Yarnia (more on this in another post) and Powell's bookstore we took our third class, Combination Knitting. This was the class I was looking most forward to since I'm a combination knitter but struggle with how to interpret increase and decrease symbols that are written for western style knitters. Unfortunately, Annie didn't really cover this except to say she wished that patterns were written to be more universal in this approach. So I was disappointed by the class because of that and because it repeated material from the Cable class. Oh well, it was good to have that reinforced.

I guess I'm just going to have to figure the increase/decrease thing on my own. I've been fudging it up to now anyway. Grumperina has a chart on how to translate instructions for combination knitting, so I'll use that as a start.

Anyway, over all I enjoyed Annie's classes. She isn't exactly PC in all communications with the class. I could tell she offended a few people with some of her remarks. I tried not to be one of them when she said something about lesbians. I try to give people the benefit of the doubt. Although sometimes that is hard!

Annie Modesitt's Lecture At Abundant Yarn

2008-04-24T08:43:00.000-07:00

Last night I drove into Portland for some knitting classes with Annie Modesitt today and tomorrow. I drove in a night earlier to see Annie Modesitt at Abundant Yarn give a lecture called Knit with Courage, Life with Hope. She spoke about her husband's battle with terminal cancer and how knitting has helped her get through the last year. It was touching at times and nearly brought tears my eyes.

Annie also talked some about being a knitting designer. Did you know that knitting magazines pay designers nearly the same amount that they did back in 1986? 1986!!!

That is ridiculous. The publishers, photographers, stylists, and editors are making more money then they did back in 1986? Why do the designers, who's designs are the book and the magazines, get paid so little? Ridiculous.

And almost as ridiculous is the fact that the editors who edit the books, 9 out of 10 times, aren't even knitters. They change patterns and take things out without any knitting knowledge or consent of the designer. And sometimes the pictures in the books have the items upside down, or inside out because that is how the photographer or stylist wants to do it, never mind the knitter who wants to make the item and wonders why the pattern doesn't mesh with the photo.

I've always wondered how a designer could create a poorly written pattern and it make it through the editting process. Now it seems that it is the opposite. They spend weeks, months, getting the pattern perfect. They have people test knit and tech edit the patterns until they know it is right. And then all the work is shot because some non-knitting editor doesn't like something about it.

So if you are pulished knitting designer, I salute you. And I will never blame you again for an incorrect pattern in a book or magazine again. I know in most cases it isn't your fault. And you deserve a raise!

Broadripple Socks

2008-04-22T20:29:00.000-07:00

I finished a pair of Broadripple Socks tonight. I did an afterthought heel instead of a heel flap and I like it so much better. I think I'm going to do all my socks with an afterthought heel from now on. I used this Afterthought Sock pattern(PDF) as a guide on how to knit the heel.

The socks are knit with Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks That Rock Lightweight. The color is called Hen Pecked I just love how they turned out. And they feel comfy too!

Pachebel approves!

What Tree Is This?

2008-04-21T09:53:00.000-07:00

Anyone know what tree this lovely smelling flower belongs to? I took this photo yesterday at the botanical gardens at the locks in Ballard. But this morning I noticed my neighbors also have this tree. I'd love to know what the tree is!

Good Karma Baby Blanket

2008-04-21T07:39:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend, I started and completed a baby blanket on my Bond Sweater Machine. It is made from 4 skeins of Caron Simply Soft. I knit it as part of a swap on Ravelry called Guilty Pleasures/Good Karma. In the swap you give luxurious swag & as thanks for receiving a box in kind, donate a knitted or crocheted children’s item to Warm Woolies,

I thought this would be a great time to try out one of the patterns from the pattern book that comes with the sweater machine. In it you knit 3 strips of squares in different colors. As you knit the 2nd and 3rd strip, you seam as you go by placing the last stitch of the previously knit strip on the last needle of the strip you are knitting. Then you don't have to sew as much. I liked this technique but as the blanket got longer the weight made the stitches on the end looser and those don't look as nice as the stitches at the bottom. I was using the weighted hem that comes with the machine but I've read on the Bonders list on Ravelry about using claw weights and this might help. I'll have to check it out.

After, I knit the 3 strips on the machine. (I finished 2 strips on Friday night and 1 strip on Saturday), I crotcheted the short ends with a row of single crochet and 2 rows of double crochet. It still wasn't enough to keep it from rolling, but it did help some. The hardest part of the blanket was sewing the hem on each of the long sides. Well, it wasn't hard, just time consuming.

I like sewing things in the round so I don't have to do seams but with this blanket you can't do that. In a flat knit item I could have knit a garter stitch border but that isn't really easy to do on the machine. One of the people who made this blanket did a ribbing on the side. That is easier to do on the machine but more time consuming that just striaght knitting. But it probably would still be faster then sewing at the end. Plus when you finished knitting all 3 strips all that would be left was the crochet bottom and top and weaving in. Or I could use waste yarn when I start and then pick up those stitches to do a ribbed bottom and I could do the same at the top.

Anyway, it was a fun blanket to knit and it was nearly instant gratification. Nearly.

Botanical Gardens and Golden Garden Park

2008-04-20T16:48:00.000-07:00

This morning I drove up to Ballard to the Locks to get out of the house and see the Botanical Gardens. I wasn't expecting to see much really. I just figured it would do me good to get out of the house since I've been home bound due to the crazy Seattle weather. It has been snowing on and off with occasional sun breaks for the last 2 to 3 days.

But I did get to see flowers and even though it was grey out and SNOWING, I did get a couple of good pictures:

I don't know what type of flower this is but it looks like an upside down tulip to me.

After freezing my ass off walking around the gardens and the locks I ate some lunch at a place across the road called Totem House. The seafood chowder was awful but sounded like a good idea at the time. I did have a piece of fried cod and fries that were good though.

I then drove up the road to Golden Garden Park where the sun was SHINING and walked along the beach. It was low tide and I got my shoes all wet. As I was walking back to my car I heard a woman tell some people she was with that it is a Seattle tradition to ruin your shoes at low tide. I'm not so sure I like that tradition! Now I need some shoes that don't smell like seaweed!

I headed over to the Fiber Gallery as I hadn't been to that yarn store yet in my quest to hit all 52+ yarn stores in the Seattle area. It is a nice store over in Phinney Ridge. They have a lot of basic yarns like malabrigo, manos, cascade 220, lambs pride, and debbie bliss among others. I was looking for more exotic/special yarns as I'm in swap on Ravelry and wanted to get something for my swap partner. They did have HandMadien Sea Silk but I didn't end up buying it. I'll be in Portland later this week for some classes with Annie Modesitt at Abundant Yarn & Dyeworks and Knit Purl. So I figure between those two yarns stores and Yarnia, I'll be able to pick up something good.

I did buy the Leaf Lace Shawl pattern by Evelyn Clark. Charity, Ialiuxh and I are going to start a Shawl KAL. However, neither have finished their sweater from our Sweater KAL, so I'm not holding my breath! :) Ialiuxh has already started the shawl though. I don't know what yarn to use for mine. But I'll be on the look out for that too when I'm in Portland if I don't find something in my stash.

Cracker Jack Prizes

2008-04-18T07:30:00.000-07:00

When I was a kid I loved to get Cracker Jacks to get the surprise at the bottom of the box. It was a doubly hard wait to eat the caramel popcorn to get the prize because I had to pick out all the peanuts since I'm allergic to them. The prize would always be some cheap trinket but I didn't care. And it was always a race between my brother and I of who would get to the bottom first. He'd usually win (he didn't have peanuts he had to pick out) until I figured out I could turn the box upside down and get the prize right a way.

So I've always been intrigued by little prizes, notions, beads, etc. all my life. And knitting notions are the best. There are stitch markers and seaming pins and row counters. I have a whole zippered bag I knitted full of them.

Well, I once again fell for the prize when I bought the Spring 2008 issue of Simply Knitting which is a publication from England. They always include some free knitting related thing with each issue. I have their 2008 calendar hanging up in my kitchen.

This time though they have this unique row counter. It not only keeps track of rows knitted but also increases and decreases. No more writing it down or ticking off on patterns. I just have to use my new handy dandy pattern counter. It is kinda cheap. I think I will probably lose one of the sliders at some point, but for now I think it is a fun way to keep track of my knitting. And I didn't have to wait to get to the end of the magazine or guess what the prize would be. The pattern counter was stuck to the front of the magazine to entice me to buy it!

Oh, and there are a few cute patterns in the issue too!

Fernwood Woolworks Rainy Day Socks

2008-04-14T18:33:00.000-07:00

I received my package of socks from Fernwood Woolworks today. These socks are made from yarn I got at the Blue Moon Fibers Arts Mills End in November. The owner, Lynette, knits socks from your yarn on an antique knitting machine.

I love how the socks turned out, especially since I didn't have to knit them. The top cuff is turned over and has K6P1 ribbing for about 2 1/2 inches. Then the rest is knit in stockinette. The toes and heels even look great!

I have a lot of sock yarn in my stash and at $13.50 a pair, having socks machine knit is quick and inexpensive way to increase the number knitted socks I have. I really like knitting socks but I can only knit so many. This way I can get more socks and allow myself to buy more sock yarn, something I have stopped doing. :)

Westport - Friends, Beach & Knitting

2008-04-13T18:07:00.000-07:00

I just got home from a wonderful weekend in Westport with Ialuixh and Charity. Ialiuixh had invited Charity and I to go down there while she was visiting her mom. We were blessed with a beautiful, clear and sunny day on Saturday. The sky and the ocean was so blue. It was hard to believe that we were just 2 1/2 hours from Seattle. Of course, today it was overcast again but still nice.

We arrived late on Friday night and had just a little bit of time to talk and knit before we crashed. Early Saturday morning we got up and ate breakfast before heading out to the beach. Ialuixh gave us the grand tour starting with a drive through the dock part of town with all the charter boats and little shops.

Then we headed up to Grayland to beach access so we could drive and park on the beach. We spent a couple of hours beach combing. Iaulixh was looking for agate and Charity was looking for beach glass.

I wasn't looking for anything in particular until I found a sand dollar. The first one I found was broken but I picked it up because I figured it was better then nothing. But then I looked around and there was sand dollars all over the place. I picked up at least 40 of them.

Sand dollars on the west coast look slightly different then sand dollars I've found on the Atlantic and on the Gulf of Mexico. These are more round. And bigger. I was so thrilled to find one intact one yet alone so many others. I've never had that luck before.

After the beach we headed to the Yarn and Darn shop in Grayland. It is a small yarn and embroidery thread shop. I picked up a couple of skeins of Berroco Ultra Alpaca to use for socks. Not that I need any more sock yarn. So I may make a scarf instead.

On the way back to Westport, we stopped at an antique store, probably one of the best looking ones I've been to. They had a lot of stuff I had never seen before like an old time toaster and hand crank record players. But the best find I found there was two Pyrex covered casserole dishes. They match the set of mixing bowls I already have. I'm happy to add them to my collection. I also bought a small Pyrex bowl to make scrambled eggs in.

Ialiuxh and her mom, Barbara, kept us well fed. Ialiuxh did a tofu and vegetable stir fry with brown rice for Saturday lunch and Chicken burritos for dinner which we also had for left over for lunch today before we left.

Saturday night we hung out after dinner and knit and talked. Ialiuxh's mom is a real doll. She was super sweet and hilarious! I really enjoyed spending time with her.

This morning before we left, we went back to the beach for another walk. It was overcast and a little bit cooler today. But it was still great to be out on the beach.

Barbara has invited us back whenever we want to visit. There is a kite festival in July and an Art Festival in August, so we might go to one of those. I'm so happy I live so close to the Pacific ocean and the beach!

Twitter

2008-04-10T09:23:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know you want to keep up with my mundane life!

Check out my Twitter. And if you have a Twitter account, you can follow me!

Hey! And Barack Obama is following me, why not you?!? :)

Evie I Love You In ASL

2008-04-07T15:43:00.000-07:00

I am totally making these clothes for Evie. I'm one of her "aunties". She is the daughter of my best friends back in Texas, Andy and Kelly, and she was born deaf. I made her a shrug last year but I think these are so much cuter.