Here's Rhapsody, posing in her newest tanktop. This was probably one of the easiest projects I have ever knit without a pattern, because the feather and fan stitch is now burned into memory and the strap lace was a simple yo, k2tog that alternated every other row. Maybe I will post the pattern, if I can get it off Rhapsody long enough to count stitches...



And then there is the slippers, which just fit perfectly but Corinne suggested that the next pair I make should probably have more of an edge, maybe a couple more rows around the heels before I bind off the back section.

There's the pattern and the yarn that I am using for the Shrug (by the way)!
I am right now binding off for the Oregon Ducks hat, and the Little Girls Shrug is drying (I am still not quite as adept at blocking as I would like to be). Taking a short break from knitting for awhile, to get some sewing projects done. I am slowly but surely mastering my new-ish machine, and just made a mini version of the Olivia blanket for Oly's doll. Maybe fifteen minutes start to finish? Sewing is definitely more gratifying to me in terms of time, but I still prefer knitting for those extra special projects.

Recently, I have been...

attending many work related trainings that provide for ample time to knit! On June 7th, I knit a pair of the house slippers from Knit2Together. On June 8, I worked one half of the Baby Surprise Jacket from Elizabeth Zimmerman. Yesterday, I finished one Cropped Baby Shrug during a morning training as a gift for my niece Hannah, and then went directly to Fancy Image Yarn in Shelton as soon as I got off work and bought another skein of her incomparable DK yarn in the Oregon Ducks colorway. During a meeting this afternoon where my client and I waited around for another case manager I had time to cast on and knit about 15 rounds on a hat using that yarn. All these months I have been lamenting my lack of knitting time while working (I know, boo hoo, some people have jobs where you can never knit) and I get an inundation of time to finish lots of fun new project.
As soon as I can download some pics, I will. (including some more of Rhapsody in her new tank top and me in my cropped cardigan-which now needs to be downsized due to the recent weight loss most apparent in my bosom)

Rhapsody's Tanktop

Yeah, so this one is pretty darn cute. take a look at the flickr badge!

done, finito, ya!

The cropped cardigan is done.{stop} pictures forthcoming. {stop} It is possible to knit size XL with four skeins of Comfort. {stop}

Recently visited not-so-local-yarn-stores

On Friday, a current work case with a client necessitated a trip to Lakewood, WA. I knew there was a yarn store on Pacific, one that I hadn't been to before and that according to their website, carried Berrocco Comfort yarn (I was still wavering about how much I would need to finish the fronts of my cardigan, in relation to how much I still had left on the skein). I stopped into Lambs Ear Farms which outwardly appears to be a house, but the insides have been miraculously transformed into a yarn store. Yes, they carry Berrocco comfort yarn, but not in the color that I needed. (I will find this yarn, I swear!) The shop owner, Roxi, was in the back unpacking a box of Malabrigo worsted-my timing is amazing, I know-and we struck up a conversation on Peru and knitting and travel. I can wax poetic on Peru for hours, but I am trying to curb this need to convince everyone I meet to travel to South America. The shop has a great selection, smells deceptively like hot apple cider ( I say deceptively because I saw a coffee pot but no cider), and Roxi has knit an absolutely beautiful Baby Suprise Jacket using Zauberball yarn-I am now kicking myself for not taking a picture!
On Saturday, my older sister and I had planned a garage-saleing (sp? how do you say that? garage-sailing?) trip that somehow found us down at the Port Orchard Farmers Market smelling garlic and gouda cheesey bread when the omnipresent clouds opened up and began pouring buckets of rain. We made a dash for the car, turned on the a/c to defog the windows from all the moisture evaporating off of us, and headed the car towards Silverdale, where the clouds were not as dark and menacing. We arrived at Linda's Knit and Stitch, which according to the Berrocco website sells Comfort yarn, wrung out our clothing and headed inside. The last time I was in Linda's they were still selling out of the basement of the church building, but now they have moved to a loftier locale, upstairs in the same building. Strike two, no Comfort yarn in the color that I desperately needed. We perused, squeezed, fingered and smelled yarn for awhile, made small talk about farmers markets in the area versus some down in Oregon (the shop attendent was from Beaverton, I know the Eugene market), and I, true to form, began discussing Peru with the gentlemen in the back office (Linda's husband?). Not just the fibery parts of Peru, but the logistics of Machu Picchu and the downfall of modern construction when faced off with Mother Nature. My sister pointed out that I sound just like our grandfather, talking to everyone about everything. (Here's grandpa discussing yarn with a llama, IN PERU!)
All in all, two more stores visited, not a single skein of Comfort yarn purchased, and I realized once I got home that I probably had about 50 yards left. I wound this into two almost the same size balls, and will finish this sweater today. Wish me luck!

oh, look!!!

Oh look, my hats do fit the babies they were made for!



And, guess what, even though it only looks partially done, I am actually doing the bottom ribbing on the berrocco cardigan.
I can knit, just slowly....

Ooops

I forgot to post for an entire month! well, well, well, I have a new job and have to work Monday through Friday like the majority of Americans, and now I am so far behind on all my projects it is ridiculous. I did finish off an adapted version of Leigh Radford's Baby Bolero (minus sleeves, because I poorly judged the amount of yarn I had!) and also used some of my new grass green and black KnitPicks Risata yarn to make my little brother his birthday hat (this is tradition now, 7 years and counting). This weekend I cast on some Berrocco Comfort yarn to make a short sleeved cardigan for myself (or mom, if it turns out too small), and I finally finished that reversible rib scarf using Fortissima sock yarn knit together with Patons Lacette yarn.
Last week, in the midst of making room for a new dryer that works and cannot be used for clever hidden storage, I realized that I had half done projects spread all over the house. They have all been combined into two picnic baskets that now reside in the living room, right next to the couch-if I am sitting, I am knitting. I still have the flame lace scarf in Malabrigo Lace in the car, and have possibly knit four rows in the last week during traffic......
Tonight I will attend the library knit night, in an effort to socialize my knitting and possibly get a few pattern rows done...I knit faster with competition!

Hats? why so many?

here they are, in all their glory, the four projects I finished this week. The blue and green with flaps counts as a COMPLETED unfinished object-one more pair of size 7 needles available for future projects. The blue and purple baby hat is for little Savannah, whom is sadly allergic to wool and could not have the pink and white baby beret, that was gladly gifted over to little Adrianna whom does not suffer wool allergies. The brown green and blue billed hat is an experiment in billed baby hats, soon to be placed on the as-yet-unborn head of my next nephew, debuting any day now!

Fancy Image Yarn

I need to rave-I just washed my Odessa hat for what may have been the hundreth time, and it still looks fantastic. I haven't had it that long, so you may ask why it gets washed so often. I wear it all the time, because we all secretly love receiving compliments on things we've made, and this particular hat takes the cake. It's the colors. It was the perfect pattern to show off the color changes. It makes my enormous head look smaller (that may be exaggerating). In any case, for everyone that lives in Washington and occasionally ventures on Highway 101, you should stop in Shelton and visit Myra. Chances are, she's in the store. You can actually talk to her! The store is tiny, but the perfect size for showing off all that fantastic yarn. The selection of other yarn brands is small, but there is enough Fancy Image to keep your idea wheels spinning and the colors, beware the colors, you will want one of every skein!
If you are on ravelry, peek at my notebook-there is lots of Fancy Image yarn in there!!!

that new Singer

Okay, heres the scenario: I used my income tax return to buy a new sewing machine. For the last three years, my sister and I have been passing our moms' Brother sewing machine between Olympia, Bremerton, and Port Townsend to match our individual project needs. You know, two weeks here, a month there, what have you. Occasionally the sister and I would get together to sew, but mostly that machine was shuttled 60 miles at a time-not very environmentally friendly....So, I bought myself a Singer Traditional and have been sewing like no ones business. Knitting has come to a complete stop, and I have whipped out a couple of blankets, aprons, and pillow cases. What do you think? This is my niece Olivia with her 1st birthday blanket. No lie, she was asleep five minutes after wrapping herself up in this fuzzy pink reversible. I was going to make both sides pink, but then while waiting for my tires to get rotated I wandered into a quilt shop and found a white cotton printed repeatedly with Olivia-I took that as a sign!

This year I will.......

Hello first day of 2010.
Will this be the year I finish Christmas knitting before December? Will this be the year I don't wrap up balls of yarn and tell my friends that they will have their [hat, socks, turtle} within two weeks of their birthday? Will this be the year, will, this, be, the, year?
My list looks a little something like this
January: Finish all projects. I am prohibited from starting anything new.
February: Start birthday knitting for three nieces, mom, aunt, uncle.
March:Maybe knit projects for the spring fair?
and thats as far as I have gotten.
My nieces have turned in their requests
My mom has hinted at things she likes
My aunt will finally receive a knit gift from me

We'll see. Its only the first of January and my dancing feet are still aching, my Patron soaked head is pounding, and I have to do laundry.

May all your wishes for this year come true :)

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

I stole some moments from my work schedule to post this-I am not done with my Christmas knitting. Christmas is in less than four hours, and I have two unfinished mittens on my hands, half a hat, and the worlds shortest scarf. Maybe next year? Maybe fake sick from family festivities tomorrow, and finish projects? I did whip out an impressive couple of hats already, but this hat is schooling me like nobody's business. In any case, now that my fingers have danced on the keyboard for two minutes, they are ready to return to gripping the needles-Merry Christmas to all, and to all a Good Night (of knitting)

Christmas in Port Orchard

on Friday, December 4th my sister and I set up a table full of our knit and crochet projects to sell during their annual holiday bazaar at the Festival of Chimes and Lights . Granted, on a Friday morning there are not many shoppers clamoring to get buy knit mittens, but it was nice to meet so many other crafters and see what they had created....I saw a few things I could probably make myself! Anything that doesn't sell will probably become Christmas gifts....or I could commit myself to photographing and listing on my Etsy page. Tomorrow marks one year as a member, and I have not listed one stinking thing! Sooner or later, someone will pick up on my hints that I need a new digital camera so I can actually photography and download immediately, not photography, develop, copy to cd, dowload to computer, then use. steps, paso a paso!

back on the stateside of things..

Yeah, working on back into a working schedule leaves me little time for much else. While in Peru I cleaned out a central market stall of their Indiecita baby alpaca DK yarn in deep eggplant-y purple, at an amazing price (9 nuevo soles, approximately 3 US dollars) Finished knitting a baby kimono for Fumi's babygirl to be, the rest will be saved for something for me...
Also picked up more laceweight alpaca, without labels but amazing for socks of every size as long as its doubled (this was a ridiculously well priced 100 grams for about 25 soles/8.5 US dollars)
I loved gifting some of the knits I had made for the family, and my grandpa went out on a limb and even purchased himself a hat while hanging out with the animals during one of our daily Cusco hikes.

check out the flickr badge for pictures of the most recent knits....

oh yeah!

wow. totally forgot. I am leaving for Peru in one week. My grandpa and I will go to Machu Picchu, Huanchaco, ChanChan, and every fiber farm we find down there that hasn't been cleaned out by one of the big names (Cascade, ahem)
seriously, one more week, then 17 days of fibery bliss...

The return of the dress

I just got my little baby dress back from Teresa of Diva Yarn, the one that I sent to the Jefferson County Fair and that was later moved onto the Puyallup Fair. Apparently, my dress was good enough for a blue ribbon at Jefferson, and I got back a scorecard of 84% from Puyallup. WHat? Sad. well, now that I have tasted sweet blue ribbon, I will knit earnestly (hardly) until next year, and then knock their socks off. Because I can!
In other knits, I finished Jeremiah's football season hat-red and black for the team colors, and with his name so that no one can steal this one.

Fiber Farm Tour

Thank goodness for good friends-today I happened to have plans to come home to Port Townsend. On the way, I decided to call my bestest best friend Corinne-whom promptly asked where I was between my house and hers-almost to the Hood Canal Bridge, I say, Why?-Stop at the farm on Beaver Valley Road, somewhere near the Egg and I-Whats going on at the farm? I ask-The WSU Jefferson County Farm Tour is going on, and this year they added Fiber Farms to their map!-Yay!, I think to myself and say to Corinne, groan says my wallet.........
Oh, as soon as I have a picture I will show you, but I bought some LUVLY natural white handspun wool at Spring Hill Farms, directly from the darling old spinner-Kudos to the diehards who never let the farmsdie!!!!!

Done with the Noro, onto other older projects.

Okay, the scarf is done, I didn't need it right away but I had to make it so that I could say that it was done. You understand. Now for that heel and foot of one last sock, for that cuff on the second sleeve, for the sewing together on the cardigan-all the small things that get pushed aside. Not that Joey will die without a pair of my handknit socks, but his birthday was last month. Not that the weather has cooled off so much that I need the sweaters, but they have overstayed their welcome in the matching blue project baskets.
And on the other hand, I did just start a hat last night, intending to gift it to the husband today for his birthday, but instead I am writing about it instead of knitting...

procrastaknitter

procrastaknitterhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/24446368@N05/3878610286/

knitting in traffic

I've been doing lots of knitting, but not lots of blogging. You know how it goes. I recently whipped out a coffee cup cozy and a bird, as gifts for co-workers. The overdress(ed) pattern is finally available (see below). The baby dress I knit won first place at the Jefferson County Fair here in Washington, and is now going to be displayed at Puyallup Fair, to a much larger audience. Definately excited about that one!
I have been working on the Noro Striped Scarf from jared floods website, and that is my reigning knitting in traffic project. Two colors, switched every two rows, I can knit and purl my way through every red light and lookie-loo backup on Interstate 5.....
more another day

Two of the most recently finished, a crab and a dress. The dress was made from the leftover cotton I had used to make the fern tee, but because no self-respecting two year old girl would wear taupe, I dyed the entire thing with one box each of black and purple RIT dye, ending with a very deep eggplant. The ribbon is a leftover fuschia velvet that I had used to edge a purse long ago, and there was just enough to go around and still leave 6 inch tails. This picture is showing the back of the dress, where the feather and fan pattern is repeated on the back/shoulders. The front is a plain v-neck stockinette stitch (for modesty), and the whole shebang is a mini version of the overdress(ed) pattern. As soon as I have a picture of Hannah wearing the dress, I will post it! promises.

overdress(ed) pattern!

Realize that this dress was knit for me, but because I love it so much I needed to share it-you can use this pattern as a guide for yourself, and enjoy creating something uniquely you.

overdress(ed)
size 18/20 (with instructions for modifying)
Yarn: Patons Lacette 4 skeins, with about half a skein left over. This yarn is discontinued, but can currently still be found at JoAnns craft stores, Michaels craft stores, and Big Lots clearance stores.
Needles:
US 10½ / 6.5 mm, 29" circular and 1 set double point needles
US 13 / 9.0 mm, 29" circular
Notions:
stitch holders, or spare circular needles, darning needle, and something to wear underneath this lacy little number...

Feather and Fan Stitch in the Round (from Gaby Monson )
Round 1 and 2: Knit around
Round 3: *K2tog 3 times, (yo, k1)6 times, k2tog 3 times. Repeat from * around to beginning marker.
Round 4: Knit around

Gauge: approx 3.5 stitches per 1 inch, but the yarn is stretchy.
Size: finished measurements (lots of stretch, people)
I have a 42 inch chest, a 38 inch waist, and my butt/thighs are probably 48, but my mother put in on and it fit her as well. She is a 36 inch chest, a 36 inch waist, and a 40 inch butt/thighs. Use your imagination, or just modify the number of pattern repeats you cast on in the beginning-remove or add stitches in groups of 18.

Start Here:
With the size 13 needles, cast on 144 stitches LOOSELY (I used the e-wrap/backward loop cast-on)
Knit one row, placing a marker every 18 stitches, then place final marker and JOIN stiches, doing the usual check to make sure nothing is twisted, etc. etc.
Begin Feather and Fan pattern on Round 2, and work six repeats of the 4 round pattern, work will measure approximately 12 inches.
Switch to stockinette stitch (knit every round) and knit until work is approximately 15 inches from high point on bottom scallops, switch to size 10 1/2 needle, and continue until dress is the length you would like up to your chest.
Eyelet Round-*Knit 7, Knit2together, yarnover. Repeat * from until end
Knit 3 Rounds Stockinette stitch, then begin Feather and Fan pattern again
Complete 7 repeats of the 4 round pattern, then knit one round
Get ready for some serious binding off, LOOSELY, and grab those stitch holders.
Bind Off 18 stiches for the Back, K 18 stiches for Left Back Strap and move to holder, Bind Off 18 stiches for the Underarm, K 18 stiches for the Left Front Strap and move to holder, Bind Off 36 stitches for the Front of the dress, K18 stitches for the Right Front Strap and move to holder, Bind off 18 stitches for the Underarm, K18 stiches for the Right Back Strap and turn (we will work the straps individually now)
P2tog 3 times,(p1 yo)6 times, p2tog 3 times
Knit 1 row
P2tog, P14, P2tog
Knit 1 row
P2tog 3 times, (p1 yo) 4 times, p2tog 3 times
Knit 1 row
P2tog, P10, P2tog
Knit 1 row
P2tog 6 times
move these 6 stitches and about 24" of tail yarn to a stitch holder, and rejoin working yarn to the next set of strap stitches with right side facing.
K2tog 3 times, (k1 yo) 6 times, K2tog 3 times
Purl 1 row
K2tog, K14, K2tog
Purl 1 row
K2tog 3 times, (k1 yo) 4 times, K2tog 3 times
Purl 1 row
K2tog, K10, K2tog
Purl 1 row
K2tog 6 times
move these six stitches and about 24" of tail yarn to a stitch holder, and repeat this sequence for remaining two straps.

You will now have four straps with long tails-work 6 stitch i-cord on front straps until strap is long enough to meet the corresponding back 6 stitch strap-join with kitchener stitch. I played with mine, tried the straps straight, decided I liked the look of crossed in the back better-knitters choice!

Now, make a 4 stitch i-cord long enough to go around your midriff, through the eyelet row, and tie in the front (or back).

Wear it over your pajamas as you dance around the house, then find something much sexier to put underneath for the real unveiling!

(over)dressed is on its way!

In case someone actually was following my infrequent blogging posts, I wanted to let the world know that my pattern for (over)dressed is being edited to publish-the sizing will be limited because I just tried to confuse you by making you think there was an editor involved, and not just me trying to make sense of the scrawl in my coffee ringed knitting knotebook.
I figure that if you bring down the needle sizes, you will make be able to make the dress smaller than me-size (18-20). There is lots of stretch to the pattern and the yarn, so sizing could be fairly universal-my mom put it on and it looked just as lovely, she is a 12-14.
okay. just so you know. In case you were waiting, it is coming!

knitting across the ages

Yesterday, my sister invited me to come to her work and share some of my knits. She is the activities coordinator for a retirement community, so I was a bit hesitant-why would these ladies, most likely accomplished knitters in their lifetime, care what I have on {and off} my needles?
The worries were unnecessary-they were ECSTATIC to see a young-ish knitter using creativity to invent projects that were tailor made for the recipient. They claimed to be the faithful of strict pattern knitting, and many had even been war-era knitters that cast on many socks and sweaters for the cause
The yarns that I am using, that I have used in my six+ years of knitting, were amazing to them-apparently multicolored sock yarns that feel like butter (socks that rock) and self-striping (Noro) yarns were not around when most of the ladies were in their 'knitting prime' (sadly, many of them can no longer hold needles or manipulate their fingers successfully).
Some of the women even scooted back to their personal rooms to drag out clothing and afghans that they had knit when they were still able. My thirty minute "sharing session" turned into an hour and a half knitting centered conversation.
once again, knitters unite!

Earth Day project!

Global Ball


Here's a quickie project for stashed yarn, the Earth is meant to be shared on any day, I just happened to make this one up on EARTH DAY!

Yarns: Stashed is best to bust! I used two light DK weight yarns doubled, and Antarctica and Greenland were embroidered using Patons Brilliant silver yarn. The remaining continents and countries were embroidered using Mountain Colors Bearfoot yarn, and the oceans were a handspun farm-purchased wool from my travels in Peru.
Needles: size 6 (set of five double point needles)
Other Necessary Notions: tapestry needle, scissors, fiberfill stuffing, a world map ( Google) and patience.
Gauge: not that important, but should be tight enough that stuffing doesn't poke out.

Knit the world- Cast on 42 stitches using whatever color will become your oceans, evenly distributing the stitches onto three needles (14,14,14) before joining. Knit ten rounds.
Begin decreases:
*K5,K2tog; repeat from * around (36 stitches)
Knit one round
*K4,K2tog; repeat from * around (30 stitches)
Knit one round
*K3,K2tog; repeat from * around (24 stitches)
Knit one round
*K2,K2tog; repeat from * around (18 stitches)
Knit one round
*K1,K2tog; repeat from * around (12 stitches)
Knit one round
K2tog all the way around (6 stitches)
cut yarn and thread through remaining 6 stitches, gather up on inside and fasten. (It looks like a very small hat at this point)

This is where I began embroidering, beginning with Antarctica and working my way north-you will want to start at the bottom, and use your judgment for placing the continents. If you can think spatially of the three needles as three sections, one is for South and North America, the second is for Africa and Europe, the third is for Australia and Asia.

Once you have finished embroidering the lower/Southern hemisphere continents, start at the cast on edge, pick up and knit 42 stitches. Knit 10 rounds
Continue embroidering as you go, because once you begin the decreases it becomes harder to fit your hand and the darning needle into the opening.Also, this is the best time to stuff your world with the fiberfill, and continue rounding off the top as you decrease.
Begin decreases:
*K5,K2tog; repeat from * around (36 stitches)
Knit one round
*K4,K2tog; repeat from * around (30 stitches)
Knit one round
*K3,K2tog; repeat from * around (24 stitches)
Knit one round
*K2,K2tog; repeat from * around (18 stitches)
Knit one round
*K1,K2tog; repeat from * around (12 stitches)
Knit one round
K2tog all the way around (6 stitches)
cut yarn and thread through remaining 6 stitches, gather up on inside and fasten.

Enjoy your world, cherish our world!

Sad! but then not so bad

After writing that post yesterday, I went to the Borders Cafe and saw not one solitary soul knitting in plain view. Maybe the shy ones were hiding in corners, but last weeks' table was empty and there was not a stitch in sight. After all that waxing poetic, and the group up and abandons me. Thats okay, however, because I decided to go to Value Village for miscellaneous fabrics, and found a complete skein of Trekking XXL in blue and gray for 2.99. Thats about twelve dollars off the price marked on the little sticker on the ball band! Luck was with me, at least in the buying department. Cast on immediately for a pair of socks for Marissa's birthday, she really liked the flip flop TMNT socks I made for Deb. se la vie; que sera, sera.

new knitting news

Last Monday I finally made it to one of the many local knit nites that abound in Olympia, and chanced to meet some lovely ladies in the most eclectic assortment of characters. They opened their yarn-tangled arms and welcomed me right in, where I immediately began coveting the yarn of the lady seated across from me, a fantastic Estonian yarn with long color runs that I can't remember the name of right now. I meekly shared the Fish Hat I am currently working on as a fantastic 10-year-olds version of a chemo cap, and guess what? I am going back tonight, because I can indulge my obsession while appearing sociable, and I don't even have to speak Spanish while doing so. Yeah, that works for me.

dedicated to my grandmother

apologies for the lack of new knits, I took some time off from everything to focus on my family. That sounds very Dr. James Dobson, but seriously. My grandmother recently passed away from pneumonia, and everything else just kind of stood still. I realized while at her funeral that I didn't know that much about her past, but she was an amazing person. AMAZING.

knit lately?

For Christmas, my dearest Carrie sent a gift card to me, for Canvas Works here in Oly. As soon as I walked in the store, I knew that whatever I was making would be for me, and that I would need it to be significant enough that I used it A LOT,but easy enough that I would finish within a month.
Enter: Cascade Eco Wool, shade 8020, dark russet-y brown {2 giant skeins}, and a little pattern from glampyre for a top-down raglan sweater. I have never knit a sweater for myself (too many skeins, and thats too expensive, hmm?)

christmasknit

Done! The Christmas knits fit, my needles are stashed, my next project will be for me! Merry Christmas to everyone, Happy Holidays

Debbie in the Mohair hoodie, Gabe in the leftover Mohair hat, Corinne in the Malabrigo hat

FREE pattern: Recyclable Shopping Bag, aka the meshy tote

Recyclable Shopping Bag
3 skeins Lily Peaches and Cream cotton yarn
16" circulars in the following US sizes: 6,8,10.5
1 stitch marker
darning needle for sewing in ends

Beginning with smallest sized needles (working back and forth to start) and one strand of MC, cast on 41 sts.
Rnd 1: Knit 1, Purl 1 across
Rnd 2: Knit across
repeat these two rows 20 more times, for a total of 42 rows.
Next row: work in pattern across 41 sts, Pick up and knit 30 sts along edge, Pick up and knit 40 sts. across cast on edge, pick up and knit 30 sts along edge, place marker and join for working in the round (141 sts total)
Work one round even in stockinette stitch
Bagbody pattern: Rnd 1- *Knit 2 sts. together (K2g), yo, repeat from * around
Rnd 2- Knit all sts
Repeat these two rounds 7 more times, switching to size 8 ndl on the 6th rnd and then size 10.5 on the 14th rnd.

Stockinette panel: Knit 10 rnds.
Repeat the Bagbody pattern rounds
2nd Stockinette panel: Knit 1 round,
dec round:*k8, k2tog; rep from * around to last 3sts, K3tog (126 stitches)
Knit 4 rounds
dec round: *k7, k2tog; rep from * around (112 stitches)
Knit 3 rnds
Repeat the Bagbody pattern rounds
Final stockinette panel: Change to size 8 needles, Purl 1 round
dec round: *k6,k2tog; rep from * around (98 stitches)
Purl 1 round
dec round: *k5,k2tog; rep from * around (84 stitches)
Purl 1 round
Handle round K18, Bind off 20 sts, K22, BO 20, K4
next round: *P to bound off stitches, CO 30 sts over opening, rep * around to beginning.
K one round
P one round
K one round
BO all stitches, weave in any loose ends, and enjoy!

This ones for Kristi.... and anyone else confused by the slant pocket pattern

Thanks for contacting me-This was my first published pattern, and everyone that test knit my project has been knitting with me for ages and understands what I mean as opposed to what I say/write! I am flattered that you chose this particular pattern.
The bag is should look like a large rectangle, a large triangular shape, and the strap. Fold the rectangle on the turning ridges, so you have something resembling a cereal box minus sides. Pin the strap to the bag using clips, and crochet (or whipstitch) from the bottom front up, over the two short flaps bringing them together at the center corners so that they meet in the middle, and then continue on down the other side. Repeat for other side. Fold the triangle on the turning ridges, lay it on top of the bag, and begin crocheting (or whipstitching) the pockets to the bag starting at one top corner going down, across the bottom, and then up the other side.
Does that sound better?

Those are the Bella tights, but the color is so far off you wouldn't believe me if I told you it was the same Cascade Heritage sock yarn that I posted a few months back-hows that for a cellphone camera?
And the yarn leftover from the Cloud armwarmers became the mini purse, made from Leigh Radfords' One Skein design, with some handle modifications because I was running out of time.

Happy December!!!

The countdowns on-24 days to knit, block, and seam my way into completion! The Bella tights are down, moms present is done, Debbie's is still on the needles and almost done, and then all the rest are impatiently waiting in the wings. too soon, too soon the holidays come...

some flickr photos of the recent knits

rearranging furniture.

today, after teaching my morning class and actually completing my morning workout without stopping to talk on the phone, I decided to rearrange the living room. Mind you, my living room is not big but my furniture is. I pushed everything to the center, pushed it away, rotated it 30 degrees, pushed it to the center, and so and and so forth for two hours. In that time, however, I found 14 stitch markers, 3 straight needles and 6 double pointed of various sizes. I also found a photocopy of a pattern I must have decided I like at some point, because it was cleverly stashed between two books on the bookshelf (yes, even that was rearranged!) As I had the pattern, I of course needed to see if I had the yarn required. Hmm, surprise, I did! So, as a break from the moving although my place was littered with misplaced belongings and no longer memorable mementos that fell out during the rearranging, I cast on. Knit 15 rows on a scarf, then cast on for a sweater. WHAT! you scream in disbelief? I remembered that the in a trunk that was now my tv stand, there was a cone of alpaca from my first trip to Peru, and it was patiently waiting its turn to shine-now I am searching for patterns that I can use to knit a top down raglan sleeve sweater, and not putting my living room back together. Heres to rearranging furniture...

sleeves, and more tights

I FINALLY put a sleeve on that mohair hoodie, after knitting and unknitting numerous shaping rows, and ended the cuff with Cascade 220 in the same color. Now, the next sleeve will only needed to be completed in the next 45 days, or so....
Yesterday, I had an all day staff training from way-too-early in the morning to evening (I normally work swing shifts), so I occupied my fingers and the eyes of everyone in my 'workgroup' with the lovely set of top-down tights I started with Cascade Heritage sock yarn-this pair will be for little miss Bella, and the pattern will be correctly recorded so that I can start sharing it with others. My mom always told me to share, but I don't want to mislead in the process. I haven't been knitting as much as I could, but I started that Spanish teaching in the mornings.

ravelry related reasons

I don't have a camera. Right, you knew that. BUT, I do frequently pester visitors to my house and beg them to take pictures of my knitting projects, and then load them onto my flickr account. Do you know how time-consuming it is to move pictures from there to here? Despite the fact that my friends are doing the dirty work for me and I don't really have to spend that much time on my photos...I use flickr for obvious ravelry related reasons, but my dear friend Captain Obvious pointed out that not everyone is on Ravelry, or knows Ravelry, or even cares about Ravelry. So, to those that aren't in the know, I apologize. Most of my finished objects end up in that cool little flickr box the the right of this post....you can have a mini-look!

Dressed, hatted, and gloved

The dress was stunning, neck and neck with the brides own get-up for compliments, and a few pre-orders placed by fellow wedding attendees. If only I hadn't shown it to you first, I could have used it for a Knitty pattern submission! In any case, it is done, the Noro hat is done, and I am already well into the second glove of the pair I just started Friday (Christmas knitting has begun, officially). These particular arm warmers, knit in Di.Ve Butterfly, should be for one of the sisters. Three more sisters, four brothers, two dads, one mom, two nephews, seven nieces, and I will be done with the immediate family! Pray to the gods of knitting for me, please.

photos....

Kerouac Socks:

Pisac Pocketbook:

overdress(ed)


Picture Update!!! I told you I was knitting!

holey goodness

still knot knitting the lacy dress, it is a whole 15 inches of holey goodness. I can't follow my own advice and not start new projects, so now I am using some thicker than tree trunk hemp to knit sandals, slow going on slowly bending aluminum needles. also, since someone else was showing interest in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle socks, I had to finish them-not finish, finish them, but work on them for a bit. The second sock is now past the heel, just up to the cuff and its done. yah.

checking me-self

the mask is done as of yesterday, I nearly cast-on for that blue vest thing in the fall Interweave and then checked myself-I MUST FINISH THE DRESS....Carrie's wedding is in 24 days-this is my deadline. I am half heartedly working on another brimmed newsboy, this time out of the noro silk that hangs out on my coffee table-it is great mindless knitting when the feather and fan lace gets to be too much.
I was hoping for a camera for my birthday, but apparently no one can read minds. Hmm. Might have to go buy myself one.

kerouac socks, and lucha libre

while I do not have the pictures to prove it, I did whip out a pair of comfy socks this past Thursday/Friday, and I finally started on the Lucha Libre pattern from Son of Stitch n' Bitch to make the snazzy balaclava for one of my coworkers. I am also modifying a feather and fan tanktop pattern from the yarn lady to make a lacy slip-dress-cover-thingy to hopefully wear to Carrie's wedding next month-no promises on that one. I spent the last couple of days teaching one of the young residents at my job to knit, and as she couldn't hide her amazement that she was knitting ("can you f-ing look at me, ME, knitting? I mean holy sh*t, I am knitting like a little ole f-ing lady!), I was secretly beaming with pride inside that she found something else to focus all of her intense generally misguided energy on!

Shame on ME

I don't have any new pictures to add, and I am hanging my head in shame at my inexcusable lack of posting. I received a polite reminder phonecall from a fan the other day, and she not-so-kindly informed me that it had been over a month and a half since I had written anything. FOR SHAME, I am wagging my finger at myself in that childish antagonistic way.
I was in Peru {again} last month, and didn't knit much but was inspired often~a friend took me to a museum in Ancon, where I ogled some impeccably well preserved knit and woven clothing, ceremonial wraps, and straps. I envy his weaving abilities, he admired my sock knitting prowess, and now I feel I must get this page up to snuff before he takes a look.