Fingerless Gloves

I knitted a pair of wrist warmers a whlie back that I'm giving to my mom for Xmas instead of the cardigan I had hoped to give her. Yeah! I know big difference, but once my arm started hurting earlier this year, I pretty much had to give up knitting for awhile.

I really like the gloves I made and I'm kinda sad to see them go. So I did some searching on the internet and I found several other free patterns for fingerless gloves.

Some of them actually have partial fingers covering up to the knuckle. I may try some of those later, but I think I'm going to do another pair for myself without any type of finger covers.

New Book and Magazine Reviews

Just got done posting a couple of reviews to my Knitting News Cast site. The first one is a book by Donna Druchunas called Arctic Lace: Knitting Projects and Stories Inspired by Alaska's Native Knitters. I met Donna on my KnitDesign group. She has been doing a lot of teaching this fall and is teaching next year at TNNA and the Mile High Lace Knitting Conference in Denver. I wish I could get to one of her classes. The lace in the book is so lovely. This is a technique I really want to learn now. Read the review of Arctic Lace.

The other review is on Interweave Knits Holiday Gifts magazine. It is a special issue publication. There are some great patterns as well as gift ideas. I want to knit the sachet trio and bag by Leigh Radford on page 18. They would be a quick knit and since my arm gets tired quickly now, I need to focus on small projects. Read the review of Interweave Knits Holiday Gifts magazine.

I also got some yarn from Liisu Yarns. These are some wonderful hand painted yarns. I plan on knitting up some swatches this weekend so I can do a review. But I can tell already that I'm going to love knitting with this yarn so my arm better not start acting up!!! Check out the Knitting News Cast website later on this weekend for the review.

Where Has The Time Gone?!?

It has been awhile since I last posted. Life got fuller not less hectic like I thought it would when I started working 4 day weeks instead of 5. I've been focusing on some othere areas of my life and haven't had much time for knitting, podcasting, or blogging.

Also, I think I just figured out that knitting is part or maybe all of the reason that I have been having carpal tunnel syndrom or repetitive motion syndrom in my right arm. This last month or so I haven't been knitting much and so the symptoms had subsided. I just figured it was the brace I was wearing every night to keep it stable. My mom's doctor had recommended one for her and when she was here in May she told me how much it helped her. So I started wearing one and I did start seeing some relief.

This week I started knitting more. I'm working on some booga bags and a sock monkey hat. Well, this morning I had to stop knitting because I noticed the pain in my wrist again. And I'm still having some now.

I really like knitting and this is really upsetting. So I need to look into some ways to be able to knit but not get the pain in my arm. Anyone have a similar problem with knitting that you were able to relieve?

Secret Pal 8 Goodness

Lookie, lookie! Here is the great stuff my Secret Pal 8, Angel, sent me this week. The Hot Knits book by Melissa Leapman has some great patterns in it. I especially like Mackenzie on page 12. It has ruffle trim at the bottom and sleeves. The sleeveless dress, Katherine, on page 46 has a great stitch pattern at the neck that I think would look great on a sweater. I just don't have the right figure to pull of a knitted dress! And the sleeveless tank, Diana, on page 60 is great too. More stuff to go onto my knitting list.
Angel also sent a keychain sock blocker with a pattern to make these cute little socks to put on your keychain. You could make a ton of these with a skein of yarn or a few with left over sock yarn.

In the package was 4 skeins of yarn. One is Trekking sock yarn and another is handpainted Schaefer Yarn. The final two skeins are Ultra Alpaca by Berroco in a alpaca and wool blend. These are to try my hand at dyeing. Can't wait to do that!

Finally, she sent some beautiful stich markers on a stitch holder and some cute note cards with an image of a woman knitting some mittens. All of this came with a jute bag to carry everything in.
Even RJ approves!

Thanks Angel for being such a great secret pal. And thanks for all the great knitting stuff you sent me this summer. I've had a lot of fun! 

One Skein Secret Pal Goodness

Check out this great looking felted bowl my One Skein Secret Pal, Kim from NYC, sent me. It is incredible! I had seen the patterns for the felted bowls in the book, but I hadn't thought about making any. But now after getting this one, I see some in my knitting future. The bowl looks almost ceramic, especially from a distance.
Kim also sent me this great silk pouch with velcro closure. It came along with a really cute tape measure from her LYS.

I've really enjoyed having Kim spoil me this summer with yarn and gifts. Thank you Secret Pal!!!! 

Wrist Warmers

As promised. Here is the wrist warmers I finished up last week. I need to post the pattern. Really, I'll get to that soon! 

Knitting Weekend

I like 4 day weekends because I can spend a whole day knitting and not feel like I haven't had time to do other things during the weekend.

So today I've been working on the cardigan I started earlier this year. It has been way to hot this summer to have it in my lap. I think this summer we had more 100 degree plus days then typical. At least it felt that way.

But I've gotten the cardigan back out and I'm making progress again. I've got the back and two front sides knitted. I did the bottom portion to the armholes in one piece so I wouldn't have to seam the sides.

I've seamed up one shoulder and should have the other one done later today. I need to do the dishes first. Getting back to knitting my cardigan will be the "reward" for doing a chore. Do you ever do that with your knitting? Bribe yourself to do something you'd rather not do with getting to go back to your knitting feeling guilt-free?

I'm hoping to pick up the stitches for the neck ribbing today too. Then after all that is done, I will knit the arms. I'm knitting those top down by picking up stitches at the armhole. I really do hate sewing seams!

This week I also finished some really cute wrist warmers. I adapted a pattern I found to fit my arm and hand better. I'll be posting my version on the Knitting News Cast website later this week.

I can't post pictures right now because my camera quit on me this week. Looks like I'll finally be spending my tax return money on a new one. Got any ideas for a good digital camera?

Oh, and now I've gotten both Caramel and Coco eating alfalfa from my hand. Coco really doesn't want to, but he wants the alfalfa more. Right now I'm feeding them with a fence between us. Next weekend I'd like to get in the area they stay in and try feeding them that way. So far I haven't gotten spit on. And that's a good thing.