Selfish Sunday Knitters

2008-03-16T08:26:00.000-07:00

Selfish Sunday Knitting is alive and well...

For me anyway :) I've been buried under knitting for money projects. It's nice to get paid but it's never quite enough and it's a drag after awhile. I have a huge sweater that I need to finish (just the sleeves) for one of my bosses at work (no pressure there, eh?) and I finished and mailed out a huge shawl for a lady. I have to knit a shrug for my best friend out of her handspun, 2 purses for ladies at work, and a hat/scarf set out of wool/angora yarn that I still have to dye. But I did take a break after the shawl to knit some stuff for me :)

I don't know why I took a photo of this with spinning on it ~ it has nothing to do with the sweater!

This is the Berkshire pullover from the book Weekend Knits. When I first got this book, I didn't like it much but now I'm strangely attracted to a lot of projects in it. Anyway, I wish I'd been on Ravelry (I'm Yarn Or a Tale there) because I could have dealt with a couple of issues with this sweater. First, in yarn this bulky (it's knit on size 13 needles), the rolled bottom is NOT attractive in the least. It looks pretty bad on me, especially in the back. I have finished it except for weaving in ends, but I'm going to attempt to pick up and knit a hem. I want it a bit longer anyway, because there's a story with this yarn. I got it at Zeilingers, where I work. I know it doesn't felt because I had it for sale in my shop at one time and test felted it. It's a pretty stiff wool, but when you try to felt it, it softens up a lot and gets kinda fuzzy so when I started this, I planned to toss it in the washing machine for that effect and knit it pretty loose and big.

It's intended to be an Outdoor Chores sweater and something I can toss on and not worry about, it was a super fast knit and an experiment of sorts so I'm not overly obsessing over it. But, particularly with the washing thing, I want it a bit longer.

The neck is a tad smaller than I like and that's a recurring issue in the Ravelry projects too, so I would do that differently next time. And, I woud pick up less stitches for the sleeves and/or adjust the decrease ratio as well. It worked out OK but next time....

This was a spur-of-the-moment knit that just worked out so beautifully. One of those REALLY rare times where the yarn I had in stash was perfect, the pattern was perfect, the gauge was perfect on the first try.... It's the Droplet Hat from Knitting Nature by Norah Gaughan, whom I worship :) The yarn is a handspun jacob (spun and dyed by someone else ~ just check out that woman's perfectly handspun yarn ~ wow!) The yarn is very similar in color to the yarn in the book too ~ a very subtle type of shaded thing. Awesome!

It's finished completely, washed and everything, but I need to take photos of finished stuff still so that will come later. It's funny, because I am a confirmed hater of bobbles in knitting. Not doing them because I've never tried before, but I hate how they look! I still do on sweaters and things like that but they seemed really perfect for this little hat and Norah came up with a way of knitting bobbles that requires no annoying turning of the work, etc. Very easy, but a tad time consuming. Nevertheless, I knit this in a day pretty much. Started late at night on Saturday while Robert was out of town for drill, and finished Sunday morning during my SSK session. And it fits! I have a really hard time knitting hats that aren't huge for some reason but this one was perfect. Some folks think it's a smallish hat, but I have a pinhead so it's great for me :)

Onto some SSS (Selfish Sunday Spinning!)

This is some really delicious roving spun up that I have for sale on my site. It's Kid Mohair, Merino & Tussah Silk and it's awesome :) I saved 12 oz for myself and will spin it as fine as possible for a little shell with detachable cowl that I want to knit, that's also in Weekend Knits. I'm not sure I can get the yarn fine enough but I can try :) This was spun on my wheel.

This is a sample I spun on my spindle for some other roving I have for sale, and it's a lot of fun. There's 80 yards there but I'll probably snatch some more and spin up enough for a smallish project of some sort. It's wool with a hint of angora bunny. Not super soft the way you might think but there's some nice buttery halo in there so it's next to the skin for the most part.

I was spindle spinning a pound of this for my Mom for Christmas and had some left over for myself. I do NOT give away or sell my spindle spun yarn but I do for Mom and I wanted something special. This was pretty expensive ~ $48 a pound! It's 60% alpaca with the rest being mohair and wool with some angelina in there. But I was kind of unhappy about it. When I pay that much for fiber, I expect it to be pretty much free of VM, which it was not, and I expect the dyework to be top-notch and not bleed through 7 or 8 rinses when I'm done.
Mom loved it though and that's what counts :)

Here's what I have spun up for myself. I snagged some of the green, which is the same blend, from the mill out of the trashcan. It was the end of the run or what they cleaned off the carder and this had a lot of VM since it was pretty much the trash but I knew it would go with the red ~ it was from the same woman. The two colors go together really well and there's a couple hundred yards there, about a sportweight, so it's gonna be something someday!

That's it for me today! I've been working on cataloging my yarn stash so I can put it into a database (yes, I have THAT MUCH yarn!) There's no other way for me to be able to find something for projects I want to knit ~ this way, I can sort it by fiber type, amount, wpi, etc. and go straight to the box it's in and get my ass knitting! A lot of my problem was I'd find something to knit, know I had enough of something in the right weight SOMEwhere but not do it because it was too overwhelming to get in my room and dig for it.

2008-03-12T18:18:00.001-07:00

Well so much for me promising to be around more often, huh! lol I've been having difficulties keeping up with the blog load and decided to just spend my time quietly knitting. (snort...ok, not quietly.) So since it's been awhile I'm gonna hog a whole bunch of space and upload a bunch of pics too. lol

First up is my finished Jaywalker. I completed the pair in January and will definitely knit another pair. I had so many problems with knitting the first one all due to my own lack of concentration. Next time I knit it I'll knit a smaller size though. Even with all my false starts, I still managed to knit one size too large. VBG. I still wear them though as the fabric the yarn made feels soo good.

Next up is my Sofie bag. I knit this out of some of the first yarn I spun. It didn't shrink as much as I thought it would, but I'm happy with the size. I'm planning on lining it and trimming it out. It will probably become my new project bag.

Right after I finished Sophie, my pup ate my wool fingerless gloves. (Not totally, but they're basically garbage now.) I wear these things to drive anytime it's cold outside as I'm developing arthritis in a couple of fingers. At Christmas I was gifted some roving and after I spun it up I decided to try my hand (excuse the pun please) at knitting some gloves. So I give you my first ever knitted gloves. I needed extra length on some of the fingers so I just kept knitting until they fit the way I wanted. I've gotten a lot of use out of these already and will make more for next year.

Last up is my Ugly Socks. The pattern is Yukon Leaves by Lela Conrad and is absolutely wonderful! The "Ugly" is referring to the colors I chose to dye this Knit Picks Bare yarn in a sock dyeing class last year. I was in a hurry to get out of the way and didn't chose my colors wisely enough. Now I wish I had and I certainly will do so in the future. Ironically the socks fit perfectly the first time, no errors and look....even the strips matched up. Oh yeah, and the second one has the best toe grafting on it that I've ever done. I was thinking of giving them a new home, but I think I'll keep them as a reminder to myself of a few things. ;)

Next on the needles is a new pair of slippers for the hubster as he's worn is completely through. Oh and a pair of socks for a friend of mine. And of course I have to cast on something in lace as it's a new skill I'm learning and I'm utterly obsessed by it. I'm sure there will be something for me again in this bunch!

I hope all is well with everyone and that the needles are clicking for you all!

2008-01-18T11:01:00.000-08:00

I made these two soda tab purses recently. I hate to say it but they are not knitted, they are crocheted. This is actually the only stitch I can crochet. I love knitting so much more. I did have a fun time making the purses and it pretty much costs nothing, you just have to save the tabs. I did put a lining in them, because there can be some sharp edges. I used Red Heart Black yarn on one and Red Heart Grey on the other. I like the grey better and the bag is also larger. I ended up using 1190 tabs on the grey one.

2007-11-26T16:15:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! It feels good to get back to blogging ~ the summer was really terribly, horribly busy for me (long story ~ but closing my brick and mortar shop nearly killed me!).

Things have slowed down some but are still pretty busy and probably will stay that way for awhile. Good news is, I have LOTS of SSK projects on the needles lurking around as UFO's and I started a sweater for myself earlier this month too. I vow to knit at least one sweater a year for ME :)

I don't have any photos I took myself at the moment but this is the Interweave Knits Summertime Tunic I started early this summer and am almost finished with...I just have to thread the ribbon through and tie on the beads :) I'll get a photo of it asap. I wish that were ME in that photo but alas, my tunic is quite a bit bigger than that one ;> Anyway, it's a FREE PATTERN and really fun to knit if you don't mind acres of stockinette stitch on size 6 needles :)

I'm happy to see that some of you have continued to post in my absence and that's comforting to me. I hope we all get some SSK done this year and continue to post.

The UFO SSK projects I have on the needles are a very plain sweater from Weekend Knits, a Bonnet/Scarf thingee from Knit 2 Together, the Yukon Sox (yes, STILL!), Lacey Riverine Scarf in Jaggerspun Zephyr, The Sheep Shawl Epic Ordeal, and a vest that shall remain unposted at this time. I think that's it but that's not so bad, eh? THEY'RE ALL MINE!!!!!!!!

Back soon...meanwhile, post away Selfish Knitters :)

2007-10-17T16:19:00.000-07:00

Hey there all! It's been awhile since I cast on for a project for myself, but I couldn't wait any longer. Last Sunday I cast on a Jaywalker sock and had to restart it on Monday due to my usual issues. lol. Monday I managed to get the 1" cuff done before bed and last night started the actual patterning. I tell ya, this is one addicting pattern. I've been going back to it all day today! I'm going to try it on at the heel stage though because I have concerns on weather this is actually going to fit. ( yes I measured....heck I even did a three swatches for gauge! but I can never tell for sure.) I've got a whole line up of projects...just for me....so I should be popping in here on a regular basis from now on.

PS I'm finally setting up my Ravelry pages. Any one else on there yet? My ID is Ariadneo on there.

2007-09-12T21:57:00.000-07:00

Me, looking like a freak in my new Sunday Market Shawl (the photo was taken at like three a.m. on a sleep-deprived night of watching my boy toy play video games ;) -- you won't hold my freakish photo against me, will you?). I haven't blocked it or anything, but I'm counting it as done, because it's wearable. ;D

Sat market shawlette crop.jpg, originally uploaded by JeweledClaws.

Yayyy! I finished another thing for me! And I keep having this urge to make a small purse thing for myself, too. I just haven't decided precisely what I want...

2007-06-21T20:02:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been ages since I've blogged, in part because I hadn't done a stitch of knitting in months. But I'm back in the saddle (on the needles??) again, and here's a cute little something I turned out for myself using Leah's handpainted 50% wool/50% hemp yarn: a bath puffy, using the One Skein pattern. I admit, I cheated somewhat and instead of slogging my way through two feet of tubular knitting by hand, I did it on my antique circular sock machine. What a rush! It took mere moments to have all that stockinette knitted up. I think it actually took more time for me to do the finishing than it did to do the knitting itself. I like the way this turned out so much I'm thinking of making bath sets for all the female family members for Christmas.... Guess I'll be touching base soon for more yarn, Leah! :)

2007-06-03T18:08:00.000-07:00

I must confess to a loss of knitting mojo. I'm suppose to be working on the socks for DH, but each stitch is excruciating right now. I'm very much a "in the mood" type person and am just not in the mood to knit right now. Socks that should be done in less than a couple of weeks are dragging on for months and months. So, admitting defeat for the moment I pulled out a skein of my own hand spun, hand dyed silk-merino and balled it up to crochet. Ok, that's not entirely accurate. I pulled out the skein and attempted to wind it into a ball. Lacking a simple tool that I thought I didn't need, a yarn swift, I placed it on my skein winder with the intention to ball it. Somewhere early in the process it twisted making winding impossible. In the process of untwisting it on the winder, it flipped off and tangled up into approximately 500 yards of beautiful, soft blue knots and tangles. What was suppose to take 5-10 minutes tops to turn into center pull balls became a week of frustrating knot picking. This skein evidently loved to be tangled and knotted as it fought the un-knotting process through the whole 500 yards! This has happened to me before and I've always put it down to beginners bad luck. This time I believe the knitting deity was a bit miffed at me for planning to crochet instead of knitting. Yes, I am buying a yarn swift. Soon. Before I wind another skein into balls to be sure. Hopefully this will prevent another week of madness and desperation around here. As you can see from the pic, I did manage to get the ball(s) made and started in on the 4 Generations Shawl from a recent issue of Spin off. I'm not sure if I've got the pattern right yet as I can be a bit dense about these things sometimes, but I'm making some progress any way. The first part of the shawl is done in the round until it is a comfortable length. At that point it's folded in half to create the semi circle and then the lacy part begins. I'll work on this until I'm insane from the ever increasing rows....then I'll start knitting the socks again. ;) It's always good to know you're limits and plan for them. lol There hasn't really been much going on here in the fiber department until recently as I've been busy in the garden and with Tucker. Things will take a different turn now though as my stash has increased violently and I need to get some fiber cleaned and put away. I'm hoping to be able to dye some soon as I feel that itch coming on too. There's always so much I want to do, and so little time to do it, which certainly keeps life from getting boring. I hope all is well with the group!

2007-06-03T06:04:00.000-07:00

I finally am finishing up something totally selfish and for me!!! I have been working on these "Garter Rib" socks for the last 3 weeks. The yarn is Sockotta and the pattern is a super simple one from the book "Sensational Knitted Socks". I love that book and now I have added "More Sensational Knitted Socks" by Charlene Schurch to my favorites.

With spring here I don't get a whole lot of knitting or spinning time. It's more like yard work time!!! I like to take socks to work on during my whopping half hour lunchtime. But today is sunday and I plan on finishing the toe on the second sock and spending some very selfish but well deserved knitting time today!!

2007-05-30T14:55:00.000-07:00

Well, hello there everyone! Wow...so quiet here and I confess I've been the worst blogger alive for the past couple of months. Anyone getting in any SSK?

Not a whole lot of SSK going on around here but I did finish this adorable bag quite awhile ago...it's lined in the perfect flannel plaid (thanks Mom!) and the vintage leather button was perfect for it! I used double strands of my own handspun and some wool/mohair I had on a cone for it and love how it turned out...it's from One Skein Knitting. This is actually the very first purse I've ever knit for myself!

I'm currently working on the Summertime Tunic from Interweave Knits in this really cool rayon/linen blend tape type yarn I have at the shop....it's slow going on size 6 needles but coming along faster than I thought at first. There's a free pattern for it HERE ... a super easy knit and cute! As long as you don't mind stockinette forever on size 6 needles

Let's see...there's the scarf vest that I actually finally blocked and can now seam up and knit the collar but that's not a priority since I won't be wearing it till this fall. There's the other purple lace sock that I'll probably cast on after this...difficult to motivate myself for those size 1 needles but it's a perfect summery project. I also want to knit another little top from that same issue of Interweave Knits...it's the lacey little sleeveless tank number that's fitted under the bust. Can't think of the name of it right now but it's sweet!

Well, just thought I'd check in really quick and see if anyone's out there kicking and SSK'n :)

2007-05-01T19:21:00.000-07:00

It's official! I completed The Sweater last weekend with all loose ends woven in, pockets completed and zipper zipped! (I even wore it to work today!!!) I'm very happy about it being completed, but am suffering the completed project blues. I immediately picked up the hubsters sock to work on it and am seriously considering frogging it and starting over. I really like the toe up pattern and am on the heel shaping, but something feels wrong in the short rows. I don't know if it's just the fact that I've not worked this pattern before or what. I really really want to get these done so frogging is not a happy option, but it may be that I need to back up and get a running start at it again. lol. (Ever the one to do it the difficult way!) I hope all are well and getting some knitting time in!
(Oh, goodness Leah.....hear I go with the exclamation points again!)

2007-04-24T19:59:00.000-07:00

Hello?!!! Anyone out there?!!!

It figures, I finally get within eyesight of a finished object and there's no one here to see it! lol. I know you are all busy and boy, won't you be suprised when you come back! Yeppers. THE SWEATER.....it's almost complete. The only thing lacking is the finishing touches on the pockets, hopefully to be completed tonight....and the sewing in of the zipper (which is currently giving me fits.) It's been tried on and deemed beautiful and best of all....it fits! WOO HOO!

So sorry for the pic quality....it's not my camera...and well, tweeking it in photoshop didn't help much. lol I hope everyone's doing fine and that you're all getting a chance to selfishly knit, if not blog. I'm not sure what the next selfish item will be just yet, but I do have to complete the hubby's socks next. I believe he's feeling a bit neglected. It will be nice to knit with "normal" yarn again, maybe the sock progress will be quicker now. lol

2007-03-29T07:30:00.000-07:00

I finally finished both a UFO and a project for me: the Jamaica bag from One Skein Wonders. Whew! It's even made from stash yarn left over from knitting Christmas ornaments (I'm being a good little knitter at the moment, aren't I? ;)). Voila:

I finally crocheted the drawstring for my eyelet skirt the other day, too, so I could wear my selfish finished object (I counted it as done before because all it needed was two seams and a drawstring, but ... now it's really finished ;)). And I finally went back to my Moonlight Mohair cape from a knit.1 pattern of a while ago, and figured out what was wrong with it and what I have to do to fix it. UFObusting, stashbusting, and selfish knitting are, in fact, the themes of the month ... ;D

2007-03-28T07:05:00.000-07:00

Sorry I've been MIA folks...so much going on lately and I've not been knitting much. I lost my little buddy, Frank the guinea pig, a week ago Sunday, have been nursing my ancient old gal Bessie the pot bellied pig and, of course, THE HOUSE PROJECT just keeps expanding and making me want to scream. Then there's the dyeing I'm so behind on it's not funny!

But, I did manage to start some SSK the other day...another one of my weird needs to use up small bits of yarn, this time handspun. I can't really say what this is quite yet cuz I have a teeny contest going on for the UFO Knit Club blog BUT it's from One Skein Knitting. Using handspun and some wool/mohair doubled up. You know, it's weird but I was thinking I wanted to spin or knit something to remember Frank...he was this cool black/tan/white little guy and this project sort of looks like his colors without black but I think I can line it with black and that'll do :)

I still haven't blocked and sewn and then knit the collar on the funky scarf vest but I do believe I'm going to do that tomorrow morning...the blocking anyway, then sew it when I get home from work and knit the damn collar and add the fringe and wear it at least once this year! It's a little chilly this week and next so there's still time :)

I also got in an amazing SIX ROWS (ha!) on the Sheep Shawl, so am up to row 109 now. That's OK though, that project is an epic and I'm not in a race with it or anything.

Anyway...off to do some piggy nursing and get ready for work. Y'all are quiet...whatcha got on the needles???????

2007-03-26T13:13:00.000-07:00

I finally finished my first tank top. It was kind of a pain. Thank God it fits!!! I was alittle worried because the pattern was somewhat confusing. But thankfully I only had to make a few minor adjustments.

2007-03-06T11:10:00.000-08:00

A cashmere/merino sock. That's what I knitted on Sunday. I finished it last night - that would be Monday night. I was so busy knitting on Sunday that I couldn't bring myself to take time out to post.

I've already started sock #2 as well.

How did I get so much uninterrupted knitting time? Easy.

My husband is getting over the flu, I worked 6 days last week, AND we were watching the hockey game.

I certainly hope everyone else got some knitting in on Sunday!

sKs

2007-03-05T08:24:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone is doing well...I apologize for not being around whole lot lately but our remodeling is kicking my behind and I'm all out of sorts, which means my knitting is suffering. BUT...I have made progress on my scarf vest...I actually had to spin up some basil-colored silk/merino roving for the collar and fringe. I ran out of the original first handspun, which I expected would happen. I do have enough to add in with the different colored yarn for the fringe and the collar will be nicer anyway since the original yarn is a little picky :)

I thought I might share what used to be my master bath and this total chaos and destruction are also overlapping in what USED to be my laundry room and my bedroom and will soon be into my computer room, since we're moving the bedroom wall back into it (stealing space from the office area) for the new bedroom closet. There are stacks of sheet rock and lumber in the living room and dining room waiting to be the bathroom and bedroom, my laundry machines are all willy nilly in the bedroom (but hooked up thank God!), and my dining room is full of boxes of stuff from the master bed/bath. I'm sharing the closet-sized bathroom in the other part of the house with my husband and my dining room table is loaded on top and underneath with DH's tools and crap. There's also a wall knocked out by my stove in the kitchen because we're opening up what used to be the laundry room into the kitchen for a mud room.

This is what the bathroom used to look like, so it's not much worse today than it was...LOL! There also used to be disgusting carpet in there but I didn't take the pic before we pulled that up. I remembered to start taking pics when we'd already started tearing up the bathroom. Believe me, it was ugly no matter what!

Everything that used to be in the computer room is now in boxes but I at least got the computer set up again and it's kind of good to be editing out all the unnecessary crap that used to be in this part of the house, which is also open to my living room. UGH. My fiber cupboard will have to go into another area of the house soon or be converted into a linen cupboard in the master bedroom IF it will fit.

Ha...and I thought we were just remodeling the master bed/bath right now. And I overheard the DH planning on knocking out a kitchen wall before he can finish the alcove for my clawfoot tub...it's just NUTS! This is forcing me to get rid of a lot of useless stuff which is good but SO NOT FUN!

Just thought I'd share why I'm not knitting much...selfish or otherwise! And I'm getting a headcold and sinus thingee. yay. I'm sure I caught it from the house!

2007-02-26T17:55:00.000-08:00

I know, I know.....actual Knitting content from me! Here are some progress pics of The Sweater and the hubsters sock. I've taken to knitting a few rows in bed at night to be able to make some progress. I'm almost done with the second section of the sweater and will immediately cast on for the third. (I know you are probably all jealous of my model, but believe me...you can't afford her! It's amazing what I can get her to do if I lock the puppy outside.lol)

The sock hasn't seen much action lately but, part of that is due to the fact that the puppy has a great fascination (almost like a cat) for moving thread, yarn and anything truth be told. All must be tasted! Because the pooch is spending more and more time outside, I've been able to get more crafting done. I was able to actually spin on my wheel for the first time in a month last weekend!!! Yipee!

2007-02-20T14:25:00.000-08:00

Hello Yarn Lopi Tote

Like I don't have enough bags already! I knitted this bag from Hello Yarn Lopi Tote pattern. It was a very fast knit and it felted great. You can't beat sitting on the couch watching t.v. and knitting all day. No interruptions from the husband because he was on his first bird hunting outing. All is well he still has all his body parts in tack.

2007-02-19T08:00:00.000-08:00

I wanted to 'fess up! I did do some SSK yesterday. However, I did finish something for someone else on Saturday so I really didn't have to feel any bit of remorse or guilt at all.
Yay!
I worked on another sweater for myself using the same brown Colorado Yarns Dakota since I have so much left over. Someday, I will have a photo to post somewhere.
Knit on without guilt say I!

2007-02-18T15:24:00.000-08:00

It has been a busy month but I have managed some knitting. If you are interested in what I have been doing check here, I had planned to do some selfish knitting on my afghan today, which I did however, I think I spent more time Selfish Sunday Knitblogging. Last month I moved my blog to typepad. I like it alot but it was like starting over. So today I was adding more links to the sidebar because I finally took the time to figure out how to add buttons. Since for me selfish knitting is knitting what I want to knit. I am more of a process knitter so I tend to knit for others because I have no interest in using the item I just enjoy knitting it. So in my selfish enjoyment I have knit a couple pairs of socks for my girls (actually one just started), a dishcloth for my mom who loved it and requested more for Mother's Day. I have also been busy with the Test-a-long that just ended.
I knit a meathead hat which is to be included in the book,a pair of socks and a square for a blanket. It was a fun, different KAL. Well I have tomorrow off so it looks like a good day for more selfish knitting.

2007-02-16T07:40:00.000-08:00

Hi, all! It's been ages since I posted here, mainly because I've been knitting for everyone but myself lately. I did manage to make some progress on my fitted bog jacket, though:

I finally made my way back up to the underarms (after frogging nearly all the way back to the bottom hem when it turned out too wide), inserted the "thumb trick" and cast on extra stitches for the sleeves, which you can't see in this photo. I can already tell I'm at least a ball short in the main color, so I've put this aside until I can get to the LYS for additional supplies. (My %$#@! finger is also acting up again, so I've been trying to go light on the knitting for a few days, too.)

And in other "selfish" news, I've been spinning:

This is some of the merno/silk blend I got from my SP9 pal, Joni M. Isn't it gorgeous? I was feeling grey and gloomy and feeling like I've been spinning on my Big Bale Wool forever, and this was just the thing to pick up my spirits.

2007-02-15T16:01:00.000-08:00

OK...how boring am I lately? I've not been doing much SSK at all! The winter is just kicking my butt, I think...I truly hate it these days and when it's as hideously cold as it has been lately, I end up really tired. I have been working on some UFO's lately, trying to get those monkeys off my back and I'm half-heartedly knitting on my weird scarf vest thing I blogged about awhile back. I just have to finish the other front half, which won't take too long, and then sew and knit the small collar. Then I'll actually have something to wear if I'm not totally embarrassed by it...it's my first "real" handspun and it's kind of funky and might end up being a weird thing, I dunno. So, here's the pic of the back which I finished forever ago and the pic from the Knit 1 mag where the pattern resides. Woooweee...how exciting is this?? But...the stitch would be good for another kind of vest as well I think.

Anyway, that's about it for SSK...I've done a bit more on the Sheep Shawl here and there but the KAL kind of petered out and I'm not feeling any pressure to work super hard on it. Probably because the KAL being a bit of a flop bums me out. My head just isn't into knitting something super hard lately, which is why I'm actually knitting the Scarf Vest :) Super easy and actually, I thought I might share the garter slip rib stitch with y'all...it's a good no-brainer stitch and might be fun to do on something instead of plain old rib...like a hat brim or something. It's not super stretchy like most ribs either and might even be kind of cool in a garment. So I'm sharing the pattern stitch to keep you all from being hideously bored by my non SSK'ing and boring repeat pictures ;>

Garter Slip Rib Stitch: (worked on multiples of 7)

Row 1: *Knit 3, Slip 1 Stitch Purlwise with Yarn in Back* repeat across row, ending with Knit 3

Row 2: *Knit 3, Purl 1* repeat across row, ending with Knit 3.

That's it. Mindless stuff, I'm tellin ya.

I've been spinning up some interesting stuff lately, which I have yet to blog about on my personal blog and hopefully, I'll wake up tomorrow and be all fired up about blogging it. I've also been getting some dyeing done ~ this week I dyed some merino/silk crack (long story!) and some lincoln fleece/locks...that stuff was a blast to play with!

2007-02-14T21:07:00.000-08:00

Hey y'all! Here's a pic of what's been keeping me tied up for the last few weeks. There are LOTS more pics on my blog. lol This is Tucker, he's now two months old and over 25 lbs! Yep a big boy! He also loves wood and fiber and well.....anything he can chew. lol So I do have to keep all crafts out of his reach at this point. THE Sweater, sadly, has been behind closed doors since this darling came home. I have been able to work off and on at the hubsters sock and will take some pics on Sunday during Selfish Sunday (NASCAR)lol Knitting. I'm working the heel ( I hope.) and it's a different method than I'm used to so it all seems so foreign. We'll see if I've messed it up or not lol. I do love the yarn though and have no real complaints. It's so nice to knit with something that glides across the needles!

I've been drop spindling some Carbon Superwash that came as a sample in a package I ordered. Once again, out of sight of the pooch lol. (It's small and hidden fast, much like the sock.) It's very nice to spin and spins very fine, but I find that I'm trying to spin it way way way to thin.....causing it to break. lol So lately I've been practicing my joins. It seems I've gotten to "thin" in the spin department. I'm thinking that after I get this sample done up, I may have to knit some of those wonderful fingerless gloves that You-Know-Who had the free pattern on her website for. lol I wear my fingerless gloves most mornings when I'm driving or on cold evenings. My pair are at least 10 years old and most defiantly not hand made, but with a chew mark that a certain cat left in them. I may be up to that challenge soon, I'm not sure though. I may just be deluding myself a bit. My minds been playing the lace game lately. I think I'll pick one of my hand spun yarns and get the yardage off of it and then find a simple lace pattern to learn with it. I always think this.....but the lace always wins. lol We'll see.

2007-02-11T12:21:00.000-08:00

I started this little scarf last night. Don't you love the colors? The yarn is a single ply handspun by Leah's mom Darlene. The only thing is I am bummed it will be on the short side. I am debating if I can add anything in the middle to stretch the length out any longer or just finish as is and call it good. The pattern is a feather and fan pattern. Does anyone have any suggestions?

2007-02-04T19:14:00.000-08:00

Hi all! I'm just checking in to let you know that I have not dropped off the face of the planet. lol We have a new puppy and much of my crafting time is being taken up by playing with him. I'm afraid that I do not have any new pictures of anything other than the pup. To be completely truthful I've not done any crafting other than knitting a few rounds once in a great while on the hubsters sock...so there is not much to be taking pictures of right now anyways. ;) I'm working out the schedule so that the crafting can begin again. I really want to get that sweater done before it's too hot to wear it! VBG! I hope all is going along swimmingly for everyone else! All those pictures of beautiful scarves makes me want to start a hand made scarf collection!

2007-02-04T11:50:00.000-08:00

Is everyone out there knitting? If you're not, get to it!

Come on, it's Superbowl Sunday and we all knit on Superbowl Sunday!

See that brown sweater over there? I'm going to be working on that real soon. Ok. So, it's 3:00 and I haven't yet. I've been working on something else.

Yep, had to clean the fish tank that's right here next to my laptop. The poor fishies were looking sad. Now, they're looking better. It's a tank full of pond fish. 4 minnows, 3 bluegill, a tiny big mouth bass and a koi that's huge compared to his buddies. How did this happen? It just did. They're out of our pond in the backyard.

Now, back to knitting. That sweater is #12 in knit simple. I think it's #12. It's the blue/purple one. I'm making it in brown/tan. The yarn was from the WEBS sale that was going on during Christmas. I only paid $34 for enough Dakota Durango to make my sweater. It's so soft, too. I wanted to check to see if they still had some while I was online yesterday. I got sidetracked and spent some $ elsewhere. What did I buy yesterday?

I'll tell ya.

A 2-lb cone of mohair in camel, 2 balls of cashmere/merino for socks and AVON. There's a lady we all know that sells Avon. I went to her website to look at yarn and saw exactly what I needed. When the big 50 is looming on the horizon you do anything you can to keep that younger look going.

Back to my knitting.

You all get back to your's too!

2007-02-04T09:50:00.000-08:00

I finished my Welt Fantastic socks from Sensational Knitted Socks book. I love this pattern and it worked so well with the yarn. I love the pinks and purples.

I am knitting all day today but my new project on the needles won't be for myself so I won't get to post for a while. I have to get a birthday goodie done and in the mail by early March.

2007-02-01T13:03:00.000-08:00

I know it's not Sunday but I might be too busy knitting this Sunday to add a post here. No really, is that possible?
Sure is. How can we be that way? Easy. Real easy. I spent all day last Sunday putting this year-old cardigan-in-progress together just to find out that I was just a little bit off with the buttons. So, last night, a Wednesday night to be exact, I took them all off. No, not all. All but the top button. Turns out, I was off by 3 rows at the very bottom button so, by the time I got to that top one, it was way off. It's all better now. I wore the sweater today and got several compliments on my work.

How did they know I knitted it?
I told 'em so.

I've already got my Sunday Knittin' project lined up for this week. I'm working on it right now. Yep. Thursday. I should be working on the other projects. I will devote some time to them this evening. My "right after I get home from work time" is my knittin' for me time.

Keep knitting!

Susan in SE MI

2007-01-24T18:14:00.000-08:00

Apparently, I win the Most Scarves Ever contest ~ hee hee! Like there's actually a contest and like anyone really cares! But, I do seem to have the most scarves and I'm still so surprised that all knitters don't have a ton of scarves. I tend to want to work up a scarf when I can't afford a lot of something really expensive or there's a yarn that I *must* have touching my bare skin ~ I mean, I could knit a sweater with them but usually there isn't enough of them for that :) And I don't really want to wear a 100% angora sweater since I don't live in the Arctic.

These aren't even the lot of them...there are about a dozen at the shop that I've designed and knit for store samples as part of my Scarf of the Month thang that I do ~ they're "technically" mine but I think I would sell them (and have sold a couple) if someone wanted them bad enough, except for my Mardi Gras scarf :)

The dark blue scarf is something I knit for myself while up North visiting my Grandma before she died...it's knit in seed stitch with a lovely mohair and a silk yarn...I alternated yarns every other row, carrying them up the side and it's gorgeous...this is the kind of scarf I need to buy a coat for! There's lovely teal greens in the silk yarn and the photo doesn't do it justice at all. The light blue one next to it is an acrylic scarf that I knit for Snow Fest when I was bartending in Frankenmuth. It's Red Heart acrylic, that Light and Lofty stuff. Kinda eh...but it's a pretty color that always looks nice on me and it's super long. Most of my scarves have the super long thing in common :) It's one of the first things I ever knit and there's a matching hat that's a bit too big but kinda cute still and I do wear it. Oh...I also knit fingerless mitts for the whole Ensemble. ha! We got to wear scarves and hats and stuff while we were working and something really nice would have gotten trashed behind the bar.

This scarf is really yummy...it's a Debbie Bliss alpaca/silk (I think) in a dark coral...I used a pennant stitch pattern, which I love to knit, and it has matching mitts too. Also one of my early knit projects which turned out fab...I think the set cost me about $40 + in yarn and I remember that my BIL was horrified at that. Silly silly boy.

The wacky orange and black scarf is my Halloween scarf...again, funky acrylic and some fun fur. I do wear it though during the Halloween festivities. Then the yellow fun fur scarf is what I was doing for the FRG when my husband was deployed...I was in the Lion Brand newsletter and they wrote up a pattern for it and donated about 300 skeins of yarn and a boatload of needles to the project. I'm very loyal to LB for that reason and am really excited that they seem to be doing some very cool things with their yarn lines these days. The write up in the newsletter was kinda goofy but it was a cool thing at the time. I'm not going to make it easy for you to find the article, but if you're really dying to read it and see the goofy-ass picture, you can search for "Knit the Distance" on the LB site (if you absolutely must)

Ripples in My Stash V1 (photo directly left) is now done and wearable as all get out! I'm going to blog it this week sometime...I have more pics and directions for doing the whole russian join, measuring out scraps, etc.... Love this scarf and it's about 100 inches too. So soft, (alpaca and angora handspun yarns) so dreamy...my scarf design abilities are definitely improving :) I'm working on V2 as my shop Scarf of the Month and doing it in a funky merino/angora/nylon tiny little half boucle type yarn. It's a longer repeat of the pattern (wider, actually...it won't be a longer scarf!) and I'm working it on size 6 needles so it's taking a bit of time but it's COOL.

And then there's the aforementioned and photographed Infamous Dr. Who Wonder Scarf...OMG! I left the camera at work but I'll try to take a pic of me wrapped up like a mummy in it tomorrow. This thing is like 13 feet long...you MUST drape it around your neck or it'll drag the ground. And it's quite wide. Just an oddity fer sure. BUT...everyone who sees me wearing it covets it...they DO! I can totally wear the alpaca/silk stunner or the gorgeous mohair silk and no one says a word. Wear the wacky Dr. Who Scarf and they are beside themselves. Go figure. They all want one and, of course, can't afford one because it took a thousand hours or so to knit. It's so wide and horribly long that I can totally drape it over my head and swath myself against sub zero blizzard conditions. It's hilarious...it started out as a gag gift, which I couldn't part with, and kind of a joke for me...I mean, plain garter stitch in ACRYLIC??? But, the Red Heart Soft Yarn is kind of good, really it is. Very soft, very drapey. And the color choice from the Season 15 Dr. Who scarf is a winner :) I want pillows for my sofa outta the leftovers. I'm thinking Log Cabin pillows will soon be mine!

These scarves were not harmed in any way during the photo shoot, although they are lying naked in fresh snow

2007-01-23T05:45:00.000-08:00

Lookie! I finally finished both halves of Knitty's eyelet skirt that I started last year for myself and have had trouble convincing myself to work on ever since. :D The cat keeps waking me up at five a.m. to be fed (nice kitty ... ;P), so I went ahead and did the last few eyelet lace rows and the picot edge this morning. Ta-da!

Obviously not seamed yet, but I'm waffling on whether to actually block the pieces first. Usually I don't, but on the other hand ... if it'll make them behave better while I'm sewing seams, then why not? ;) Hopefully I'll decide by tonight and have the next step done, anyway.

Just in time to potentially wear out to dinner on my birthday, or some other time this Birthday Week. :D Whew!

2007-01-18T15:07:00.000-08:00

Hey! I finally found my way over to the new and improved blogger format site. This is pretty neat. I keep waiting for blogger to switch my own personal blog over, but so far I'm still hanging out with the old-sters. Thanks for the re-invite Leah. Now I can get all caught up. I've been doing a lot of selfish knitting and not just on Sunday's. OTN: Calormetric and fingerless mitts in the new Chrystal Palace Yarn Taos. It is a great yarn.

2007-01-18T08:08:00.000-08:00

I have a few scarves I have made in the last few years. I love making scarves from my handspun and these all are except for two on one end, one is green, the other with burgandy eyelash. I even bought a dark gray pea coat so I could make all kinds of scarves in different colors. I had actually planned on making alot more but I always seem to get side tracked with other projects. Usually the spinning or sock knitting.

2007-01-16T21:15:00.000-08:00

You all are doing so wonderfully!! I have no scarves made for myself to snap pics of and post here. I have a few commercially made ones that I use occasionally and one that Mom made me last year on my Niddy Noddy. That one's gotten some use this year as we've had an unusually cold fall/winter so far. I have yet to make one for myself as the sweater looms so largely in my life. lol. Ok, to be honest, I've avoided it for a month and worked on other selfish items. lol Every time I would pick it up I would knit a row and want to do something else. Then I'd pick up the hubster's sock, and wish I was working on something else! Finally I accomplished something in beading, then in beaded crochet***, so the knitting started clicking again. Thusly (yes I know it's not a word....I used spell check! lol!) I present you with progress pictures of the left front side of the sweater. (I tell you, it kept me up late one knight until I figured out what the pattern meant and that the sewing up of the inside of the pocket happens dead last!!!) So this pic shows you the front pocket folded down as I haven't quite reached the point of joining those two needles yet. (The red needle stitches are on hold until the blue needle stitches have caught up...then they will join in wedded happiness on ONE needle! Yes, you experienced knitters probably understood that to begin with....but this is my first large knitted project. I was terribly confused. I was really starting to wonder if I should pick out more decorative stitch holders for the future. lol)

This shows the pieces laid out over each other as they are meant to be. Due to the magic of photography, variegated and bucille yarn and crappy lighting it looks seamless. Pretty cool huh?! I know, many work for years to obtain this seamless-ness. lol

I do find that I am mentally pushing myself to finish hubster's socks so I can cast on my own. He's waiting ever so patiently for his..lol. And I'm pulled to work on the crocheted bag for my spinning wheel. But then again, I need to work on the border for the crocheted afghan so I can cross that off the WIP list and move it to a FO list. I've not touched it since finishing the center of it. Of course, if I ever finish these items I'll have to modify the personal blog and install the Finished Objects list. Hmm...I've not figured out what I want that to look like exactly yet so I better hold off. lol

***Check out my personal blog for posts on these projects!

2007-01-16T20:34:00.000-08:00

In response to the question about how many scarves we all have that we've made for ourselves: Here's the one and only scarf I have that I made for myself. It's crocheted out of some sort of Lion brand bulky yarn (I forget which one) and even though you can't really tell in the photo, it's super long and very warm. One of my nicer selfish projects!

2007-01-16T20:23:00.000-08:00

Whew! I finally got back on the list after the switchover to the new Blogger. Thanks, Leah, for getting me all squared away!

So, my selfish knitting isn't going as well as I'd hoped. After knitting my fitted bog jacket all the way to the underarms I had to frog it all the way back to the waist because it was coming out WAY too big. AAARGH!

I've had much better luck with my Kool-Aid dyeing in the crockpot.

The skeins are Knitpicks dye your own merino in fingering weight, and the locks are some mystery roving I had on hand and wanted to play with.

Dyeing in the crockpot is so easy and so much fun I can't believe I didn't try it long ago!

Now I just have to start searching around for some different colors to play with....

2007-01-16T07:01:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! I finished something for me, which created minor guilt because I'm doing this whole UFO Knit Club thing (another blog and you can join if you want ~ let me know!) BUT I did finish an obligatory knit before I spent 2 whole days on this :) I'm going to do a blog post on my regular blog tonight, I think, with the pattern and the whole saga of it, but I'm pretty pleased with it. It's called "RIPPLE IN MY STASH" and is made out of small bits of angora and alpaca handspun...one of my favorite lazy things to do is come up with ways to use my most precious little yarn bits and this worked out really well and was totally addicting to knit! And I wish it were washed because I want to wear it TODAY...it's cold out there (about 17 degrees) with several inches of snow on the ground but I guess I'll be forced to wear another alpaca scarf or maybe my mohair and silk scarf...which brings me to THIS question:

HOW MANY SCARVES DO YOU HAVE THAT YOU KNIT FOR YOURSELF?

I don't have as many as you might think, really...which is odd because I do love to knit them when I'm feeling slovenly in my knitting and want some quick satisfaction :) So, let us know how many YOU have and post some photos. I'll take some of mine tomorrow, since this is a fly-by posting and I have to go and shovel out the pot bellied kids and take care of the buns and get my own butt ready for work.

2007-01-15T06:46:00.000-08:00

I started my Selfish Sunday Knitting project this weekend. Another pair of socks which is my all time favorite thing to knit. These are done with Lorna's Laces in the Girly Stripe color which is a bright pink and purple. I am doing these on size one needles and using the pattern called Welt Fantastic from the book "Sensational Knittted Socks". This book is awesome! I have made several pairs of socks from this book.

2007-01-11T15:57:00.000-08:00

Huzzah! Finally I'm making a post! I had a fit of knitterly selfishness and whipped up a Calorimetry for myself, inspired by my Mystery Skein Swap partner Elabeth's two versions. It's knit in a soy/wool blend I bought one skein of at Michaels and can't remember the name of. ;)

Here it is without the button and with the tails not yet woven in (this is a clickable thumbnail):

And here it is on me (this isn't a clickable thumbnail ;)):

I love the way the color blend turned out, and I've already worn it around quite bit. Yay! It's exciting to actually have made something for myself. ;) I've also been working on a cotton A-line skirt for several months now, and I finished a mini version of Knitty's Intolerable Cruelty at light-speed last month for a Christmas party, but I don't have a photo of that yet. Phooey. ;D Anyway, whew. I'm finally an "active" member of the SSK club -- selfish knitters, unite!

2007-01-10T05:55:00.000-08:00

I finished and blocked my lace scarf. Here is a pic of the finished project. Boy do I ever love this scarf!

On the needles I have a pair of socks and my purple sweater. I think it might take a while to get the purple sweater done because I keep getting side tracked with other smaller projects.

I like this being laid off of work business, I almost hate the thought of going back. I sure have had alot more time to work on my knitting and spinning

2007-01-07T10:47:00.000-08:00

Post Holiday Recovery...

I think it's going well! I'm back posting, anyway :) I totally burned out on holiday knitting and didn't even pick up my needles until last night. The list of stuff I did for Christmas is really pretty impressive, but the burn out is NOT! I made: 4 earflap hats (5 if you count the really huge one I made and had to do over...I didn't rip it out either, I was too disgusted!), one beret, 3.5 scarves, spun and knit one shawl, a pair of socks and a half, one sweater for the hubby, 3 sets of fingerless mitts and one embellished blue jean bag. I think I started the sweater before Thanksgiving but I didn't start anything else until after, so it was kind of a lot, eh? I am a much faster knitter since I opened the shop.

The one thing I actually knit on last night is totally weird and I'm oddly fascinated by and in love with it! First of all, it's ACRYLIC (gasp!) and it's totally huge and strange. One of my dear friends and customers' husbands comes into the shop with her all the time and is a great guy. We always chat about sci fi channel shows and one of those is Dr. Who. Well, I came across this weird Dr. Who scarf site and I thought...ahHA...I'm going to knit that for him. Well...even though mine is super modified, it's a massive thing! Mind you, I never saw the 80's show, and am not a totally rabid fan of the new show although I watch it cuz it's cheesy but not in a bad way and it's on before Battlestar Gallactica, of which I *am* a rabid fan. (not the old ones...just the new series).

So, that's it, in the pic! The original scarves were really long...like from 15-22 feet! And wider than mine. I'm working it in Red Heart 4 ply "Soft Yarn" which is much nicer than the old, regular Red Heart and it's on size 8 needles. I've no idea how long it'll be, but it already hangs to the ground. T Baker wore it to the ground while still being able to make a loop that hung down to his waist. It's very soft, and I just think it's cool for some odd reason. It's kind of a huge, impractical thing for the friend's hubby so I showed it to him and he chose homemade bread for a gift instead (wonder why ~ ha!) so I'm keeping it.

I decided on the Season 15 scarf, and then went by the list of row numbers but only worked half the rows called for. I don't think the scarf will be half the size, since the patterns call for sport weight and I'm using worsted. The ends are the worst part, weaving them in, but I do it as I go along and then glue them down ~ really! I use this clear fabric glue that's washable and use a dab to secure the woven in ends. I use it all the time...my Mom sews down her ends but NOT ME. It works really well :) My husband thinks I'm a nut case and he's probably right. I actually will probably use this left over acrylic to knit some pillows...I normally hate acrylic but this stuff is kind of OK. I like how all the colors in the scarf work together.

The only other selfish thing I've been doing is spinning up some spindle crack ;> This is some of the weird partially spun stuff that I pull out of the wool/silk laps I sell. Some of it's wonderful and some of it's too impossible to spin. I call it "spindle crack" because once I start with this stuff, I can't put it down! If I'm lucky, the pieces are loose enough so that I can draft them out and then they spin with almost no effort. Some of the pieces are too tightly spun and can't be drafted so they don't qualify as "crack". I dye some of the laps I sort out of the stuff I sell, then grade it for the website and sell it. But not the crack...oh no! I keep it! I keep it ALL! It's mine and I'm totally selfish about it. Not all the pieces are long, either...some are but there are shorter pieces. It would be a drag on the wheel cuz you'd have to join all the time, which isn't such a drag on a spindle spinning lace weight :)

I played with the idea of selling it, cuz right now I have a lot but that ain't gonna happen. This is being spun on my Bosworth featherweight and actually, I'm done with that spindle full and it has other colors on it too. There's never a lot of it so I just spin it all together and one day I'll ply it all together and have some totally wild yarn to knit with. This will probably end up being about a light fingering weight. The stuff is just soooo soft and silky...sigh...

I've started a UFO knit club too...right now it's just a yahoo group but I'm going to work up a team blog for it. And that's about it for me for the moment. We're in the middle of remodeling our master bed/bath and our home is a construction zone and it's making me pretty crazy. And the bunnies need plucking, and the house needs cleaning and the shop needs tending and the website needs updating...sigh. But I'm not working all day, every day on my days off! Nope.

BTW...I did upgrade to the google blogger thing and I'm pretty pleased with it so far.

2007-01-04T21:43:00.000-08:00

Well, I didn't knit this on a Sunday, but it's selfish knitting all the same! I finally started my fitted bog jacket in the Manos del Uruguay I bought last October. It doesn't look like much just yet, but I'm really enjoying the knitting and I love how the Manos looks!

2007-01-04T05:56:00.000-08:00

ATTENTION SSK'Rs........IMPORTANT INPUT NEEDED FOR THE BLOG!

I noticed this morning while signing into my blogger account that we can upgrade to their new format, which is a google thing as well. However, if I do that, then everyone who posts here will have to update their accounts or be unable to post sooooo....please let me know your thoughts on this, ok? I want to do it but don't want to make it impossible for the team members. I'm going to do a little more research but it seems pretty easy and straight forward. I need to hear from as many of you as possible, OK? Thanks bunches!

2007-01-02T06:25:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!! I hope everyone has a wonderful 2007!
My Donegal Tweed sweater has been on the needles for a couple of weeks now. I have been saving this project for knitting while riding in the car. It is a DK weight and all stockinette stitch so it is super simple and a no brainer while riding. This sweater looks simple but nice and hopefully I will like it enough to wear to work.

2007-01-02T06:19:00.000-08:00

I have been doing quite alot of selfish sunday knitting all week long! I have been laid off work since the thursday before Christmas and I go back Jan. 08 so I plan on lots of selfish knitting. Here is a pic of one of my projects. The lace scarf is made of handspun wool/kid moahair and it is so soft, Thanks Leah, I love it! Here is the free pattern from Crystal Palace Yarns

2007-01-01T10:34:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!!!! I hope everyone had a safe and fun evening last night. I spent the afternoon/evening on the couch crocheting away. I've finally "turned the corner" on the lap afghan and am reducing the row length to create the square. The nice part is that as I complete the rows, I'm able to tie off some of the traveling yarns and remove them from the tangle that is my working yarn. lol This was taken last night about 8 pm and it shows the corner progress. I worked on it until really really late...or really really early depending on how you look at it..lol, so there's much more done.

I should be able to complete this patterned piece either today or tomorrow. Then it's the border x 2 and then it's done! The border will likely take forever and that is the next hurdle. I still like the looks of it an the messy part will be over soon so hopefully I can stay motivated. There has been no motivation for knitting right now, so no sweater progress...and alas....no sock progress. Maybe later today. There has been much spinning done in the last week though and I've run into a bit of an issue. If you're a spinner...check out my "cable plied" yarn (posted today) and see if you can help me out with a few questions.

2006-12-28T17:19:00.000-08:00

Happy (upcoming) New Year, all! The post about the beautiful socks has inspired me to ask a question. Does anyone here have or know anything about circular sock machines? I've been interested in them for years but never bought one because the only ones available have been antiques/out of production and I didn't want to mess with trying to find spare parts, etc. Now it seems a New Zealand producer has started making the first new csm in decades, and from what I've read on the sock knitting lists people really like it. I would be a total newbie on one of these but LOVE the idea of being able to knock out a pair of socks in an hour or two. They are NOT cheap, so buying one would definitely fall under the heading "selfish knitting" (except, of course, I'd be making socks for my near and dear as well as myself). I guess I'm just looking for other opinions, experiences, advice, etc. Any input, anyone?

2006-12-28T06:24:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone is having a super holiday season!

I finally got to do some selfish sunday knitting. Although it may not have been on a sunday it was totally for me.

These socks are made of Regia Cotton in Surf Colors. I found this project in a tote bag in my craft room. I can't tell you when I started it, at least a year ago or more since I couldn't remember it at all. One sock was complete so I only had to make sock #2. Boy that was quick and the results rewarding. I used a simple basic sock pattern.

2006-12-27T20:24:00.000-08:00

Let me be the first......HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

LOL! Sorry, I couldn't resist! It's time to catch up on my posting and show some of what I've been working on. There has been very little progress on THE sweater (so no pics of it right now) as I've been working on a sock for DH. Before you smack my hands and tell me that it's not Selfish and therefore cannot be posted here.......let me point out how selfish it is that I'm making this sock for him. (evil laugh..lol). Firstly, it's actual sock yarn that I bought from Someone We All Know and Love..lol. That's a first for me. Second, I'm learning how to knit toe up socks and using the "Magic Loop" method as well for the first time. So see, I'm getting to try out a wonderful yarn, and learning new things at the same time!! And to totally make it selfish.......my socks are the next pair and by then I'll have worked all the kinks out of the pattern; meaning his will have all the errors in them! hehehehehe See how selfish that is of me?!! Normally the error ridden one would be mine...not this time! lol

These next two pics are of my lap afghan that I am determined to finish. It's the project I'll be working on when my fingers are tired of knitting on the sweater and socks. I'm a long time crocheter and sometimes it just feels good to crochete again. The pattern is called "Irish Chain" and is in an issue of Leisure Arts(I think) magazine. In the mag it was a baby afghan and I made it up for a co-worker a few (hundred) years ago. I loved the finished project and decided to adapt it to an adult lap sized afghan.

The only real issue I have with it is the carrying of the yarns throughout as they can get tangled up and messy. This was started before I knew about center pull yarn balls and the magic ball winder! I did untangle it again today and will locate the pattern again so that I can pick it up and work on it as the muse hits. I'm anxious to have this one done asap as it's been on my UFO list for at least two years now. It's been given notice though. 2007 is its year!

I hope everyone had a special holiday and that you all are safe and sound. I wish you all the best in the coming New Year!

2006-12-16T07:54:00.000-08:00

My final Christmas post.
Here ia pic of a little furry bag I made my daugher for Christmas. The before picture is in my prevous post. All I did for this bag was dig in my scraps and strand three different yarns together and felt. I used Patons Wool in cream, handspun wool that was brownish, and one strand of fun fur/eyelash type yarn. I used size 13 circular needles. I purled the first two rounds then knit 48 rounds. Sewed the bottom seam, bought handles from JoAnn's and Wa La!!! A funky little bag for my daughter. I hope she likes it!
Next post will be Selfish Sunday Knitting, whew, I am ready!

2006-12-15T05:37:00.000-08:00

I'm sooo happy! Christmas is almost here and I'll be raring to go on that very day, knitting on something for MOI! I'm still allowing holiday knitting content here so share whatcha got going on and DO share pics of your happy family wearing your lovely handknits for us to see! You can post these anytime after Christmas but the holiday knitting content needs to make way for SSK content come December 25th! Show us pics of your yarn and thoughts about what you're going to do with it if you don't have anything on the needles for you yet...it's a new year and a new SSK project for everyone, I hope!

I'm taking a big chance blowing it by posting here, but this is my super secret sweater project and I can't hide it anymore...I've been doing such a great job keeping it a secret that I'll kick myself if I blow it but this is the only photo content I have and I'm really proud of this! I modified a top down raglan design with a big fat chunky cable, appropriately called "Fudge Swirl" in the Vogue Stitchionery and it's working out so well! Can't wait to finish it...I have to finish the bottom ribbing and the sleeves but it's chunky yarn so goes really fast and this is The Project I WILL finish by Christmas if nothing else at all gets done.

Welcome Toni ~ thanks so much for posting and sharing that awesome pot holder link...ladies, go check it out...they are The Cutest Potholders Ever. Love that Mag Knits site!

For now, I'm making some progress and have almost finished all my obligations for customers as well. As a matter of fact, I have to finish up a super easy knit embellished jeans bag for a lady today and knit ONE MORE earflap hat for my hair dresser and then I can concentrate on finishing up for family. Never mind that I'll be knitting every available moment from now till Christmas Eve day! And there may be the dreaded One Sock in a Box syndrome happening, but oh well!

I've found a really nice beret hat pattern to share...well, 2, but I used the Lion Brand pattern. I dislike berets, really, but have no problem knitting them when the pattern is cute and easy. Older ladies, especially, seem to love them :)

Moonlight Mohair Beret Free Pattern

This one is really cute and a fun twist on the "normal" type of beret knitting:

Last Minute Purled Beret and you don't really purl it at all...you have to go look to see what I mean. It's a great designer's site...you'll enjoy it!

NOTE TO MEMBERS: PLEASE ADD PICS TO YOUR POSTS IF YOU POSSIBLY CAN, OK? If all visitors to our site see are long text posts at the top with no photos, they probably won't stick around to read our cool stuff! I know it's not always possible, but please try...for me? Links to pics are fine but I'd rather we don't always link to pics outside this blog...we need photo content here too. People love the pretty pictures :) Just a friendly reminder from your blog Mom...no stress, OK?

2006-12-11T22:56:00.000-08:00

Hello! My name is Toni and I am new to your group. I'm on the spindlers list with Leah and she invited me over. =) (ThanksLeah!)

I had been waiting til I worked on and photographed something selfish that I've been working on before posting but I've given up! =) This is the best I've got to share =)....this past week I did take a week off from most of my projects and focused on making hats for the Soaring Eagle Project (pics on my blog). Although all of the hats were for charity, I had so much fun doing it that it did feel selfish to take a whole week just to work on them =) I mostly worked on the crochet ones last week and they were very relaxing and low stress projects.

The only real thing that I have going on for selfish knitting is dishcloths! lol I joined the monthly dishcloth list and have one half finished of one finished. Also in the newest Magknits, they have a pot holder project that I absolutely loved on first sight! I managed to knit the knitted part of it in one evening but have been sidetracked and not sewn all the rest of it together yet. I had thought if I liked the finished product, that I would make a Christmas set, but at this rate it might be for next Christmas! =)

Nice to meet ya! Have a great holiday season =)
Toni

2006-12-10T21:51:00.000-08:00

Well you all (almost) put me to shame with your holiday knitting! Almost...but not quite. lol. I do admire all your work so that others can open a wonderful package hand made from someone that cares about them. I am not hand making any gifts this year. The socks that I was going to make as a suprise for hubby, I wisely let him pick the yarn for and let him in on the project. (I think it will be more fun to have his imput on them anyway! He's not a knitter, but picking up the lingo and pretty savy on how things go anyway.) While I'm in the Christmas spirit, I'm not into the hustle and bustle this year and hubby and I are going to play it low key this year. Things are falling into place to allow that to happen without too much fuss or muss and we're happy to see it be that way! Yipee for us!
I finally worked on the sweater again today. I realized that I was reluctant to tackle the pocket part of the front of the sweater and that was why I wasn't knitting. I'm always able to find other things to do to avoid the scary parts until I'm ready. lol. As it sits right now, I've split off the stitches onto a stich holder for the outside of the pocket and am knitting the lining of the first pocket (left side) as part of the left front side of the sweater. It's strait and plain sailing right now and I'm only a little apprehensive about the part after this one, so I'm enjoying this section right now. lol
Hubby and I spent the day relaxing; watching movies and crafting while it rained outside. All my terrific snow is gone but I'm sure there will be more. I did complete spinning the moss green yarn today and will have to wash it up for pictures. I immediately started on the very yellow roving I've got. It's nice to be making progress through my dyed stash and I'm tickled to death that I've started to ply in a balanced manner finally. I have some of the moss green single left and plan on trying it plyed up with some yellow or some brown...not sure yet which. I also made a start on a very cute Spindle lapel pin--very much like the ones sold at the Woolery--and wrapped with my own dyed handspun silk/merino. When it's complete with clasp I'll take a pic and show all.
I do wonder if there would be very severe "punishment" for posting crochete progress here it it's STRICTLY selfish. See, I have this wonderful little lap blanket I'd like to work on when I'm not working on the loverly sweater and really would like to share. If it's frowned on....let me know and I'll resist posting it here and keep it strictly on my personal blog. ;)
The last bit of progress is a bit of a suprise for even me. DH and I have been on a diet and Sunday morning is when we do our weigh in and measuring. I stepped on the scale today and to my own suprise I lost more last week than I expected. I'm down a total of 19.5 lbs! YIPPEE for MEE!!! This is a huge sucess for me and I can't help but tell everyone! I'm within grasping distance of my first goal and CAN NOT believe it! I've never had success dieting like this and I'm totally pumped up about it. I guess it's a lot like when I quit smoking. It just had to be at the right time and I had to be ready to be truely motivated. While I usually look at the amount of weight and say, "Hmm...5 #'s is the same size as a bag of sugar;" today I spent some time imagining 19.5 # of fiber....that's a WHOLE bunch. lol
Sorry for the last paragraph of blowing my own horn.....I forget sometimes that it's exciting for only me sometimes. lol Thanks for all your knitting support gang! Hang in there...the holiday season is almost over!

2006-12-10T07:05:00.000-08:00

I finished pair #6 of my Fiber Trends Felted Clogs this week for my future (I hope) daughter in law. Also I made 3 hats done in 2x2 ribbing and started a little felted bag for my daughter. Thank goodness for quick knits, it is the 10th and time is running out.

I got on the hat kick because I took a look at dh's hat I made him 5 years ago. He loves this ugly old hat I made of gaudy yarn. The poor thing is worn and pilling and I thought it was time for a new one for him. His is the gray one made of wool/alpaca and nylon, 3 strands held together. That should keep his noggin warm when he is outside tramping around. The little red one I made out of left over yarn from my last sweater for my little grandson. He wanted a hat like Papa's too! The green one is for my brother in law that lives in West Branch. He is an avid hunter and fisherman and has asked for a hat for 2 years. I thought it was high time to
get him one too.

Well maybe next week I can do some Sunday Selfish Knitting. Until then, KNIT ON!

2006-12-08T05:39:00.000-08:00

Hi there SSK folks! I'm in the Christmas knitting abyss here and, like Cheryl, have been making this one item OVER AND OVER AND OVER again and I'm about to scream! I've done 5 and have one more to go! I thought I might make one for my Mom and best friend BUT...I'm sick unto death of them and that may not happen this year (particularly since I'm stressing over the other FOUR projects I have to have done by Christmas and they aren't fast, easy earflap hats!) My nemisis this year is earflap hats! Ugh! I love them, and it started out with me making that cute little cabled earflap hat I posted about out of my handspun from Vogue Knitting and that was lovely. So I decided to make a store sample too...which was meant to fit a child but it's too big but no big deal since it wasn't meant for anyone in particular

It's very cute and is knit on straight needles (which isn't my preferred method) and I ran out of yarn for the ties but hey...that's OK too :) I can't find the free pattern in a search right now so will get the URL from the copy I have at the shop and post it. It was OK to do straight...kind of a fun change.

My favorite so far is the Vogue Knitting pattern BUT I've made two of these and like them very much KNITSCENE EARFLAP HATS IN THREE SIZES ~ I sell this mag in the shop and it's really cool...kind of pushes the knitting envelope a bit and has some fun, funky stuff in there. It's an Interweave Special Publication so only comes out a couple times a year. Love it! The website always has nifty free patterns

This pattern starts at the top on DP and I didn't find it easy to do the "lift the bar" type increase so I just did the knit in the front/back increase and it looks fine. I have one more of these to do (this is part of my debt to my hair lady for her three boys) I have to wash them so will post a pic of one of them when I get to the shop today and take a picture.

I also made one out of orange wool for a hunting hat for my BIL which is a kind of disaster but he says he likes it...ha! I used this pattern and am not sure I like it yet: Ski Hat with Earflaps . I had to felt it a bit cuz it was huge, then I didn't want it to be too short so had to stop the felting and it's STILL too big so I'm going to try to tighten up the back but I dunno. Maybe there will be a man in the shop with a giant head who wants it. Which means I need to find more blaze orange wool and try again but probably can't get it done before Christmas unless someone wants to send me a skein of blaze orange wool or wool blend because they feel really bad for me...*shameless begging alert* and yes, this is about the right color ;>

I feel safe enough posting this here since my sister probably doesn't read my blogs...one of the Regia Cotton sox I'm making for her... I'm about half done with the cuff for the second sock. They're a bit snug on me but they should be fine on her and she saw one and pronounced it "cute" so I feel good about it. If they don't fit, I'll give them to someone else and make her another pair. I *don't* like knitting with this stuff though. Everyone raves about it but I don't like it! It's pretty though and not at all scratchy for her tender feet so onward through the hated yarn! It's the basic sock pattern from Folk Socks and I'm not diggin the toe shaping either.

I have other top secret knitting projects in the works so that will have to wait for show and tell :) And I have two more custom orders to do...a beret, scarf, mitt set which I've not even started and I have to finish a handspun scarf for The Pickiest Customer in the Entire Universe. Sigh....but...these get done at WORK and don't cut into my precious home knitting time. A gal's gotta draw the line SOMEwhere....of course, this means that some things are left undone at the shop but oh well...I'm only a human bean dammit! I'm NOT A MACHINE!!!! *sniff...sob...*

Take a breather everyone and post something so we know you're alive and not buried under a huge pile of GUILT....aaaaaaahahahahaha...........

BTW...IF ANYONE HERE POSTS A *%$^!@# CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN METER OR EVEN BREATHES A WORD ABOUT HOW MANY #$%^*&! DAYS ARE LEFT TILL CHRISTMAS, I'LL WHIP YOU WITH A DIRTY FLEECE! IGNORANCE IS BLISS MY FRIENDS...

2006-12-01T06:36:00.000-08:00

Time for some Selfish Friday Knitting because it is a snow day here! I am actually a great selfish knitter because all I want to knit is my second afghan. I love my first one about as much as a toddler loves their blanket and I just love knitting with Lamb’s Pride Bulky on my addi turbos.

However I will work on finishing the Meathead Hat and a baby gift. Check out more pictures here.

Jeremy

2006-11-26T16:19:00.000-08:00

Well it's early here yet to be completing my knitting for the day, but I wanted to post up the current progress. I'll definately knit more later today but I'm very excited to post a picture of the back of the sweater. (Sorry for the poor quality.) YES! The back is DONE! lol Now I get to start on the front with pockets....er...um....new territory. Hopefully each piece from here on out will be a bit quicker as they are smaller. I'm anxious to wear my new sweater. hehehe.

We decided to take today and do only the necessary things....all else could wait. So there has been much knitting and there will be more fiber play after I'm done posting. It started snowing here today so it's great weather for spinning and knitting! I decided to post here first today, but if you're interested in seeing how my silk/merino dyeing experiment went on Wednesday, check out my main blog. I'm posting pics in a few minutes.

I hope everyone's holiday went great and that the left overs aren't killing anyone! ;)

2006-11-26T10:19:00.000-08:00

Hi there,
My name is Cheryl and this is my first post on Selfish Sunday Knitters. I have been working on Fiber Trends Felted Clogs for all the ladies in my family for Christmas. This particular pair is made from Knit Picks wool and fun fur. I have 5 pairs done and still one more to go. I guess there won't be any Sunday Selfish Knitting for me today! Maybe after Christmas.

2006-11-22T22:30:00.000-08:00

Meathead Hat

Here's the photo of my Meathead Hat, as promised. I am loving this pattern! The hat knits up in just a couple of hours on size 15s with super-bulky wool (in this case, Rowan Big Wool). I just finished a second Meathead out of Lamb's Pride Bulky (doubled) as a Christmas gift for a friend's stepdaughter -- what fun!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone -- enjoy your knitting! :)

2006-11-22T06:10:00.000-08:00

Can we post selfish knitting done on other days. I have found my Sundays very busy lately so my selfish knitting seems to take place on week nights. One Monday night I finishes my favorite project. The Pure and Simple Afghan. I spent 9 months (including the summer months I didn't work on it because of the heat) and loved every minute of knitting it. I used Lamb's Pride Bulky and this afghan is mine all mine. Or so I thought but it seems Smokey has another idea.

My daughter Joy also likes it so that is why I have started this.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Jeremy

2006-11-21T22:02:00.000-08:00

There's been plenty going on this week, but for some reason it feels like it's all been in the kitchen. I guess it's just that time of year. DH and I are on a diet and it feels like all I ever do is think about food. What to buy, how to cook it and how it's going to effect the waist line. So far all is good. To reward myself Sunday I spent a HUGE amount of time knitting. I'm not knitting any pressies for anyone who does not read this blog this year so there is a lot of Selfish Sunday Knitting going on at my house. (lucky for me!!!) It felt like it was taking forever but......I give you this....
This is the most current picture of 15 inches of sweater back. (Ok, I realize most of you have knitted far larger items...lol...this is a first for me and I'm totally amazed with each step that gets completed. The whole "I did that?" thought kicks in and I have to giggle. This is the largest project I've EVER knitted. lol I'm sure I'll get overmyself soon.) I had to take a pic before starting the arm hole shaping cause you know, all heck could break lose and this could end up in the frog pond. I will confess to not using lifelines at this time and triple counting everything before beginning a new row. Not that I'm paranoid...but really....this is the largest item I've knitted so far and I don't want to screw it up! (BTW...I've only had to tink back one row....the first decrease row as I didn't decrease enough lol.) I did start the armhole shaping and am truely nervous about this. I really don't want to screw this up and keep reading the pattern thinking..."This is much to easy to be true."lol ( Paranioa....will destroy ya.. ...lol. sorry...rebel rocker days kicking in.) I keep telling myself that this is the largest piece to be knitted for this sweater. I could be wrong...the hood may be technically larger...but still...the front panels and sleeves have got to be narrower! Right now I can't put it down. That's really good because I couldn't pick it up all week. I just had other stuff on my mind. lol.

I've since started the armhole shaping which for some reason excites me as it feels like I'm "really knitting a sweater" for some reason. Did I mention I've never knitted a sweater? lol I'm a doof! I can't help myself from already thinking about casting on for the next piece. I guess that's good because I'd really like this sweater done this winter! lol If I can keep up at this rate I'll be able to meet the goal. (I'm not holding my breath though I've got a lap afghan (crochete) that is currently 3 years old and only 1/4 done.)

Well, it's time for me to get offline and make my "to-do" list for tomorrow. I'm lucky enough to have tomorrow off and need to use it wisely for Thanksgiving day prep. Therefore, I'm making a list of stuff to get done tomorrow. I'm also lucky enough to only have two other people that I'm cooking for and our diets all work together and .......neither care if I clean the house! Gotta love that in a guest! So, I do believe I'll make the extra effort to actually clean the house tomorrow. ;)

2006-11-21T07:12:00.000-08:00

OK...I'm giving in. I'm going to allow my SSKrs to post their Christmas knitting projects if that's all they have to share at the moment. Obviously, we can't escape knitting UNselfishly for the holidays (and we shouldn't!!) so instead of this blog being dead quiet, let's see whatcha got on the needles and what you finished so far! And let's hope you *do* have time for some SSK and share that too!

I've been working on some SSK though ladies...mostly when I can't work on certain Christmas gifts cuz Certain People are around :)

I'm doing the ONE LEGGED SOCK KNITTER FO DANCE !

Of course, this wasn't a totally selfish act. The sock had been languishing on the needles that I needed to get busy on a pair of Christmas sox so I *had* to break down and kitchener that toe. And the sock turned out to be just like I'd hoped...the yarn bloomed, the sock fit and looks pretty and I'm motivated to do another that will probably take me until June of next year if I start it directly after Christmas. If you dig this pattern and wanna try it too, here's the LINK for the free pattern again. It isn't hard really but I was using a double strand of some pretty fine yarn and size 1 needles for the entire thing so it took me awhile. It's a 12 row repeat and I could only handle about 12 rows at a sit down so I moseyed my way through it at a pretty leisurely pace.

I haven't been knitting on the funky scarf vest BUT I did weigh the yarn after I finished the first half of the front and I DO have enough to finish and can maybe even squeeze out the collar aswell. Whew!

I have been managing to get a few rows in here and there on the Sheep Shawl...up to row 92 baby!

This thing is HARD. hard hard hard hard. HARD. Not Easy. Of course, I'm not a High Priestess of Lace Knitting either...just a lowly novice, really....maybe just into the intermediate range of skill. But this is epic knitting, I tell you! EPIC. A True Accomplishment for any knitter. Wow...look at me go with all this lace...lace socks, lace shawl, lace washcloths. I do love me some chunky easy knitting, really I do! I'm just wondering when the heck I became this crazy lace knitting woman?

I just got the Mason Dixon knitting book into the shop the other day (yeah, I know...I'm way late for this bandwagon but it was backordered for like a thousand years!) and I MUST MAKE THE NIGHTIE. I want that nightie in there! I. WANT. IT. BAD. And I think there's some lace in there somewhere...sigh....

Well, that's enough about me for now...if you want to read other stuff I'm up to (like the lace washcloth and spinning stuff, etc) check out my other blog :) The first bit is about The Sock but there's other stuff if you scroll on down!

GET POSTIN LADIES...SHOW US YOUR STUFF!

2006-11-18T21:37:00.000-08:00

No Post Is...Er, No Post

Well, the good news is I've been knitting up a storm, bum finger be damned (and yes, I do realize that I may live to regret this). The bad news is none of the knitting has been for me. Although, it's not ALL that bad a bit of news seeing as how it's the holidays and all...do unto others and all that.

So, even though my knitting of late has been more Selfless than Selfish, I still wanted to check and say "hi" to all my fellow SSKers -- I miss you all! And don't worry, I have plenty of plans for selfish knitting just as soon as the holidays are over.

OH! And I almost forgot. I accidentally knitted something for myself tonight. That's right, accidentally. I joined the Meathead Hat KAL (now, sadly, closed), which has a deadline of the end of this month, so I figured since my size 15s were newly freed up and I had a whole movie's worth of knitting I could do tonight, I might as well try to do the hat sooner rather than later. Once it was finished and I tried it on, I knew that despite my initial thoughts of using it as a Christmas present, nobody but me would be wearing that hat. I don't have any good photos yet, but I'm going to try and take some tomorrow and then I'll post them here.

G'night all and happy knitting! :)

2006-11-14T06:50:00.000-08:00

EARLY HOLIDAY GIFT FOR MY SS KNITTERS!

I finally finished my Nature's Way Fibonacci Wrap, which is for sale in my shop and on my website soon but I'm going to give a copy to my SSK Team! The only requirement for receiving the shawl pattern is that you must have posted to the blog at least once with pictures :) That's it! Email me if you want a copy and I'll send the PDF file to you. If you haven't posted yet, this is a good incentive to get busy and post with a photo! It's super easy and I designed it especially for handspun but you can use any yarn. There are a bunch of tips for changing the wrap in the pattern as well. You can actually knit this up in a weekend, no lie!

This one is my very own shawl which I haven't worn yet because it's a pita to get back on the stupid mannequin at the shop. It's not hard to get on ME (or your body) but for some reason pinning it exactly that way on the stiff mannequin is not so easy. You can wear this thing a bunch of ways...one really cute way is to pin it evenly in the front so it looks like a vest...cute!

2006-11-12T08:07:00.000-08:00

I have a sneaking suspicion that Christmas knitting is kicking our collective SSK butts! I know it's kicking MINE...between huge Christmas knitting guilt, procrastination and general blissful optimism I'm screwed. Ha! Is there a special Christmas knitting project for me in the cards? Hmmm... that sounds like a wonderful idea, dontcha think? I challenge each and every one of you to start (or finish!) something really special for YOURSELF in time to wear on Christmas morning. You can do it! C'mon...how much difference is that hour of SSK knitting going to make in your Christmas Knit List? Hmmm? You figure that you have 6 hours for a SSK project
if you spend on hour each Sunday knitting for you. You're worth it. We all are!

Cleaves is no more...sigh. Cool thing but knitting it out of my first "real" spindle spun handspun was not practical or good....while I have quite a bit of yardage, the stuff was way different in size from ball to ball. Soooo...I decided to try this funky scarf vest from the Fall 2006 issue of Knit 1 and it seems to be working out OK but I'm knitting on the edge, not sure if I have enough yardage. I guess I'll finish the first front panel and then weigh the thing then weigh the remaining yarn and pray that I'm not ripping and starting over with something else that's totally boring since I'm exhausted dealing with this yarn. Actually, anything knit from it won't be boring...it's crazy stuff!

Yep, it's striping but I already knew that. Didn't expect it when I was first knitting with it but there it is. I "solved" the different size problem (bulky to light-worsted-almost-sport-weight) by knitting the back with the bulky stuff since I had 2 balls of the lighter stuff and thought the drape would be better for the front panels. So there's the back...short but it's supposed to be. It's like 8 inches. Hope it doesn't make me look like a line-backer. Sigh...

Woooeee.....lookit those stripes! Ha! Here's the front panel with the pathetically small amount of yarn left in that ball. I'm almost at the 20 inches to complete the straight part and then will start decreasing for the armhole. This thing is supposed to have a collar, which I may have to forego if I'm lucky enough to have enough for both panels. I *could* make it shorter than it calls for but what fun is that? I'm sure it will be because when I measure it, I stretch the heck out of it to make myself feel a little better.

This is really mindless knitting though, it's the garter slip ridge stitch (totally wrong name for it, I know!) Very very easy and pretty fun to knit though. No thinking there folks!

I have more SSK adventures to share...well, ONE...that Sheep Shawl wherein I had a close call with disaster and saved myself some serious heartache by actually inserting a lifeline...imagine that! I went by the book...sort of. I don't see the point inserting lifelines before you need them though. I mean, why not just insert them after a disaster instead of wasting time doing them when you don't need them? Hmmm? Anyone else with me on this? Or is my rebel nature just blissfully unaware of something? I tinked, had disaster with the *&%^ sk2p (slip one, k2tog, pass slip stitch over)...who the hell can tink that in laceweight Zephyr I ask you? So, I went down to a nice safe area of many garter stitch rows and used a darning needle and some waste yarn to pick up the purl bumps then ripped back, holding my breath and it WORKED. Beautifully. Whew. I'll post some pics of the process later...I'm going to be late for work if I keep blabbing here.

WHATCHA KNITTIN?????? C'MON ~ WE WANNA SEE!

2006-11-10T22:03:00.000-08:00

Hello to all you SSK'ers! I'm new to the neighborhood and I joined up becase I often forget to knit for myself.

My name s Lisa and I live in central Arkansas with my husband and sons. I knit alot for other people--family mostly, but occasionally I manage something just for me. Right now OTN is a two tone sweater from the book The Purl Experience. If you haven't seen that particular book, it is definately worth a look. There are three books in the set and all of them are great. I can't remember which, but one of these books has the famous "Einstein Coat" pattern.

Today I knit my oldest granddaughter a toboggan. Poor sweetheart didn't have one so Mimi(I) just had to fix her up. I loosely followed a basic hat pattern, but did alot of custom work so the hat came out very customized and totally CUTE! She'll love it!

I am also a spinner and have always got a conflict going inside my head about should I spin tonight, or knit?? Right now since I'm working on my sweater, I haven't even touched my wheel in weeks. I have tons of raw fleece to work up so I really NEED to get busy washing and carding. Just yesterday, I got a huge box of fleece in the mail to add to my chore list. This newest fleece is just beautiful, so it won't take alot of work to prepare. I just need more hours in my day.

2006-11-06T20:21:00.000-08:00

Here is a progress picture of the Hooded Sweater I am currently knitting. I picked up a circular needle today at the craft store and transferred the knitting over to that. It has made a world of difference! Not only am I knitting a bit faster, but the weight of the yarn is not hanging on my wrists so I'm able to knit for longer periods of time. I have only been able to work on this for an hour so far today, but I'll knit some before bed. I don't have any other projects on the needles, hooks or beadbox right now, so any craft time I take during the week is split between the spinning and the sweater. Mostly this week it has been spinning as the knitting was slow and painful. Now that I have it on a circular, I'm hoping to make better progress.

With the cooler weather this week (rain, rain, rain Oh yeah, it's Washington....that's normal!) I've been able to wear my handknit socks to work. It's a first and was wonderful. My feet didn't hurt a 10th of what they normally do. (I normally wear cotton socks that are fairly thin.) I'm planning on spinning some "sock yarn" to knit into socks for myself but I think I'm going to have to pick up a skein so that I can have an actual "sock yarn" to use for gauge. As much as I love to read, I'm a visual person and need to see it to understand it fully in matters such as these. Hopefully I'll be able to knit a new sock soon. ;) ( The previous socks I've knitted were made from larger yarn.)

This post is cut from another posted at my main blog. I try to keep only the rest of my posts from spilling over. If you're interested in checking out what I'm up to, come on over! http://crafterscupboard.blogspot.com/

2006-10-31T20:35:00.000-08:00

Last Project, Next Project

Well, I have good news and I have not-so-good news.

First, the bad news: I wound up frogging my Moebius scarf. Yep, all the way down to nothing, just because I simply hated the way it turned out. It was too narrow; the garter stitch didn't show off the wonderful colorway of the Schaeffer yarn I'd chosen; the center "seam" of the Moebius cast-on was visible -- yuck all around. So, after frogging and casting on again and frogging again because I still didn't like the way it was turning out, I finally just accepted that this yarn does not want to be a Moebius scarf. It wants to be a tube scarf, maybe done in Turkish Lace. I needed to walk away from the skein for awhile after my last trip to the frog pond, so I'm not entirely sure yet what pattern I'll use for the tube scarf; all I know is I'll just have to wait to make my Moebius.

Oh, well.

The good news is I bought yarn for my next selfish project: a whole pile of Manos del Uruguay in two solid shades of mustard/deep gold and one variegated gold/burgundy/brown -- gorgeous! I'm finally going to make the fitted EZ bog jacket I've been eyein in "Knitting Around." I don't think I'll start this project till after Christmas, though -- my finger has been acting up again and I think it'll be all I can manage to get gifts knitted. Once the holiday hubub has died down, I'll devote myself to my bog.

Since Blogger refuses to post my photos tonight, feel free to hop on over to my blog to check out the beautiful (if I do say so myself) Manos colorways: http://splindarella05.blogspot.com/

2006-10-29T20:51:00.000-08:00

I havn't been able to knit yet today, but will get a few rows in before I drop off to sleep. ;) It's been a busy day.
I have been knitting this week and completed the Felted Fuzzy Slippers. This is what they looked like before felting. I laid a previously knitted sock (that fits perfectly!) on top of the slipper sock just to give you an idea how ridiculously large the slipper is before felting. I looked at that and thought there was NO WAY this was going to felt down to the size of my feet!

I've never felted anything before (I know...I've said it a hundred times!) so whilst they were in the the washer I used the timer and checked them every 3 minutes as suggested in the pattern. I'm pretty sure she meant that figuratively...but with the way things have been working for me lately......I wasn't taking any chances! So as the first 4 or 5 inspections showed no change in size of the slippers, I was pretty sure that I goofed in some spectacular way. However the next time I checked them they were suddenly smaller.....then the next time they were a more realistic size....then finally they looked done. To be honest with you...they need a bit more felting. I managed to increase the number of stitches in the slipper that's now the right foot and it's a tad looser than the left foot. Both need a bit of shrinkage...one needs more than the other. I'm terribly pleased with them though and they are toasty warm... but not too much so. ( I was worried about them being too hot. Not a problem at all.) I am going to use puffy fabric paint to put some grip on them though as they are a bit slippery on the lino.

The pattern for the Felted Clog slippers arrived on Saturday (Thanks for the offer Leah!) in the mail and now I can figure out how much yarn I need to finish spinning for Melissa's slippers. DH is undecided on which he wants so he's waiting to see the felted clog ones first. I will, of course, have to make me a pair first to test the pattern out. (insert evil laugh... mwahahahahah!)

In the mean time....I've decided I really need this sweater. Sorry for the poor quality pic...but I only had the black and white photocopy to scan in to show you. As you can see it's a zipper front hooded sweater in the most basic of stitches. I saw this completed on the lady that shared the pattern with me and it was all I could do not to take the sweater off her! This looks so comfortable! The great part is that it's mostly basic knit or purl stitches and I'm pretty confident I can actually knit it. It's the largest project in knitting I've ever taken on, so we'll see if I have the stamina or not. It may end up in the UFO pile with the others...but I kinda doubt it. See, I can't wait to wear this thing! And the yarn I picked is so very soft. I chose the Lion Brand Homespun in #302 Colonial. I know, I know, it's acrylic and polyester and it's not handspun....but still....it's beautiful, soft (unbelieveably soft) and more important....if I need to wash this baby every night so I can wear it again the next day...NOT A PROBLEM! I plan on wearing this at work and work is a very dirty place most the time so that was a huge factor in the yarn choice.

Here is the start of the new sweater. It doesn't look like much but I just started it on Thursday. This is the back piece with the ribbing completed and working my way up the back. I am adjusting to working with metal straight needles again after using bamboo circulars for the slippers. I'm thinking I'll end up on a circular on this before too long as the weight of this is going to probably be too much for me to handle. We'll see though as I may be suprised by it.

2006-10-27T04:19:00.000-07:00

Hello SSKers! I was wondering if anyone was still knitting out there...yay April :) I've been quietly knitting away...I started on this the other night and am loving making it! It's kinda goofy but I've been wanting it for awhile... here's the Knitty link for it

*I* think it's lovely and cool but I know other people will tease me about my "half a sweater" like they did when I made a little stretchy half a poncho wrap thingee a long time ago, which I still wear but it wants to ride up all the time, cute as it is! I'll have to get a pic of it. It's fine if you want to stand around with your arms down all the time...ha! I'll have to try to wear it again this week and see what I think. If it still bugs me, I'll recycle the yarn, I guess.

I'm knitting it out of my very first handspun (well, the first stuff that's any yardage!) I've been wanting to do something with it and I figured that I had about 400 yards but I think it's actually closer to about 600...Mom plied this for me after I spun it on my boat anchor Ashford Turkish (my first spindle) and it's some crazy stuff! Not noticably thick/thin in the knitting though. I hope I have enough...and I should, just barely! It passed my eyeball test and Mom's too so I'm not very fearful. Look at me, knitting on the edge! Wheeee! I can fudge it under the cowl or whatever part with another yarn if I must but I don't think it'll come to that. It's going to force me to learn a cable cast on as well...always a good thing, forcing me to learn a new technique, since I own a yarn shop, I feel as if I must learn these things!

Not super soft either but I'm not a wool-itchy gal and I think with washing, it'll soften up a lot. It's a wool/mohair, which is what the pattern calls for (the bulky Lamb's Pride stuff) and it worked up perfect to gauge and everything. Yay me! How cute, to wear it with a t-shirt because sometimes I really need that whole layer thing at work and when I go to people's houses. Great for spring and early fall with a tank, like it's shown in the photo. And it's different, unique, and I think I'll feel cute wearing it. How fun to just knit sleeves...and I adore how the cuffs are so long and come over your hands a bit. That always makes me feel sexy for some weird reason.

CRAPPY PICTURE ALERT!

It's striping up in the knitting, which I totally didn't expect from this yarn so it's going to be a little on the wild side :) Sorry about the pic...takes forever for the damn sun to decide to come up! Sheesh...this is what I hate about winter here...eternal darkness in the North! No sun till 8-ish and now with DS time, it'll be dark at 5:30. Depressing! I had to use a flash, even though the sun has risen...just blah yuck out there right now.

I finished my Fib wrap and it's YUMMY! I have it at the shop and will write up the pattern this morning and take photos at work. I'm going to give all the SSKers the pattern free, too, so if you want it, EMAIL ME!

I've finished the YUKON SOCK! Well, I have to Kitchener the toe and wash it. And hope like hell it's gorgeous enough for me to want to cast on another one. I normally don't have SSS (second sock syndrome) but this thing was quite an adventure on size 1 needles! I tried it on and it looks gorgeous with the lace pattern...what a shame to hide it! I have to buy a pair of loafers or something so people can see all that work! I have such huge calves though...ugh...all that horseback riding in my formative years.

Just a little tip for those of you who are like me...stressed out all the time over housework and that was seriously cutting into my fiber/knitting time. I can't relax and enjoy when my house is a disaster. My house used to be pretty orderly but then came the business and it all got just out of control. So, I decided to sign up for the FlyLady thing and while it seems goofy, it has totally changed things for me so far! It's awesome! You get these emails with little 15 minute tasks to do, there are zones to work on each week, etc. and it honest to goodness works! Everything around me is just feeling so much better...my house is starting to look really nice, I'm not stressing at all, and my brain has been orderly for days in a row, which was a real problem for me before. I confess, I don't do the shoe thing like she says. But I DO shine my sink...and as ridiculous as that sounds, it makes me feel as good as she said it would! My bedroom is organized, my laundry done, my bathrooms clean, my piles of paper are mostly gone, I don't wake up to dirty dishes anymore, my face is well moisturized, my teeth flossed every night and I'm happier! My chipmunk's nest (to borrow a phrase from Tasha Tudor) around the couch with my knitting, spinning, patterns, books, mags is still a problem but I feel like I'll get to that one day soon. Just thought I'd share because this was really bringing me down for so long. I don't keep a journal or anything like that yet, just use the emails to help me figure out where to start and to organize the way I do things.

2006-10-24T17:24:00.000-07:00

I'm still working on the Fuzzy Feet slippers and am finally making progress. I really like this pattern as it is so simple and knitting in the round is my new favorite! It's so much easier on my hands (and brain really!) I did misread the pattern and had to tink back two times so I've not made as much progress as I had hoped. I am almost to the point of decreasing for the toes and will probably do that tonight. I'll cast on the second one immediately and if history is any indicator the second one should go faster. I can't wait to felt these as I've never felted anything before.
I did check with Noble Knits and had TOTALLY misunderstood my order. (My fault, not thiers.) The pattern for the Felted Clogs is out of stock and that's why it has not shipped yet. I may have to try and find it on Ebay or something because it's been almost a month since I ordered and it's not in stock yet. I've checked other sites and no one seems to have it in stock so the hunt is on. I really hope I can find it! Anyone know of a vendor with it in stock??? lol.
I've already picked out the next object d'SSK. It looks simple enough for me to make good progress too! We'll see. More on that later.....

2006-10-18T19:50:00.000-07:00

Selfish Sunday Knitting seems to be turning out to be Selfish Knitting All Week Long with this project! I know it looks like a big tangle of yarn and needles, but in reality it's a Moebius Scarf knitted all in one piece lengthwise along the long outer edge of the moebius curve instead of knitting back-and-forth widthwise then giving the scarf a half twist and grafting the ends together. It's very weird knitting this way; the cable of my circ is actually twisted into a moebius curve, which made it quite difficult to knit the first couple of rows. Now that I'm a few rows along, though, it's a very easy knit, and I can't wait to see how it's going to turn out. I'm using up the skein of superwash merino in the Lola colorway that I got in trade earlier this year. I'm absolutely loving the fall colors, which is also part of why I've been knitting on it all week long -- I just can't wait to wear it! Now I just need to decide how I want to finish it off. I'm thinking maybe a simple knitted-on I-cord, but I might just pull out my Nicky Epstein books and see if there's something else that catches my eye....

2006-10-16T06:58:00.000-07:00

Everyone is so quiet! I do hope you're getting some SSK done though! I have to confess that I didn't do a whole lot of knitting for myself this past Sunday either...the thing I've been working on is a store thing but, ultimately, it's mine! I'm working on a Fibonacci Wrap out of natural colored handspun in primarily alpaca, with some angora and mohair in there in some of the yarns. I decided to do it after I made this for the shop for a fun Scarf of the Month Halloween project:

I wasn't real serious about it...just wanted to make something fun and wacky for Halloween but I ended up falling in LOVE with the bias design...the shape is just so cool! You can wear it like it's pictured (I used a plastic spider ring that has a split at the bottom for a shawl pin!!), or just let it hang over your arms and it stays in place OR you can actually pin it in front and it looks like a cute little vest

SCARY SPIDER DETAIL!

I was sooo excited I grabbed up some of my handspun, first an alpaca/angora blend in natural brown and white but was only 228 yards so I started thinking about the whole Fibonacci thing, and I found four other small skeins in naturals to add to it...most of them alpaca blends with one of them being the jacob/mohair yarn I used on the cabled earflap hat in my previous post.

I've just been fascinated by the whole Fibonacci thing because I love to mix yarns and dislike it not looking orderly, for the most part. So I chose to cast on in Fibonacci numbers, and also chose the number of different yarns that way and planned the rows/stripes that way as well. It's turning out really great, but I had such a hard time trying to figure out how many to cast on for the whole bias design...I know, I know...IT'S NOT THAT HARD! But I have a bad time conceptualizing certain things and that whole shaped bias thing was messing with my head!

There's how the striping and colors are working out together. I deliberately chose all marled yarns for it because I wanted to see how they work together and it's in garter stitch because I want the yarn to speak out, not the stitch pattern. Plus, garter gives it a nice drape, I think. I'm using bigger needles too, for that drape reason as well. I'm still not entirely positive I'll be happy with the length but it sure feels right so far. It'll end up being about 14 inches wide, so a pretty generous wrap without a lot of bulk. The yarns vary a bit between worsted and slightly bulky.

People aren't into natural colored yarns so much these days and I just don't get it. So, I wanted an example for the shop showing how wonderful they can be (particularly handspun!) And I can sooo see myself this fall and winter and spring even, wrapping that around my shoulders over a sweater for a quick trip across the street when I'm working :)

Needless to say, I have a bunch of patterns to write in my very near future! I have three for Halloween projects to write up and now this one.

I've been working on my Sheep Shawl too...I'm up to row 79! It's going fairly well, I haven't had to tink for a while now so that's always encouraging. I'm into the Orchard lace rows now :)

That's what I've been doing this weekend...what about the rest of you?

2006-10-11T19:38:00.000-07:00

WoW! It has been awhile since I posted here last. I have no exciting pictures to show of my hand work either. No work...no pictures. I've decided that knitting lace is going to have to go onto the back burner for awhile. Well, at least until I'm able to concentrate a bit and remember what I've read for more than a few seconds.

I don't seem to have any problem with basic knitting stitches and socks are seemingly able to knit themselves on my needles right now, so why fight it. I'm currently knitting these for myself while I await the pattern (and needle) for these. (I'm sure it's not taking near as long to recieve this in the mail as I feel like it is. lol I'm terrible when I'm expecting a package in the mail. It nearly drives me crazy. Ask Leah. I've ordered from her. lol) I've never felted anything and decided that the fuzzy feet slippers looked like a great project to try it on. That and I need new slippers. I bought the recommended needles and tried to start knitting. Did I tell you that I've never knitted on a circular needle yet? Um, yeah, even I could tell there was a problem. Problem solved when I knitted up a swatch and discovered the needles I bought to be not so appropriate for the yarn I picked. ;) I know, I know. I should have knitted a swatch first. Lesson learned. I did purchase the correct circular today in the right size for my yarn but had to buy it in bamboo as there was no other option. This could be a bad thing....they can get kind of spendy.....and it feels sooooo nice in your hand. heheheheh So the lovely thing is knitting up quickly as the pattern promises and I'll post a pic soon.

Someone posted a simple garter stitch pattern for a shawl on the Spindlers Yahoo group recently. I may give that a with the silk skein that I completed recently. If so, you'll see it here as it will be for me.

Leah, the sweater looks beautiful and I'm hoping that one day I can finish one for myself. I've already picked out and purchased the pattern. I'm just waiting to find THE yarn. Who knows, I may end up spinning it myself. (doubtful...lol)

2006-10-10T12:28:00.000-07:00

Yoohoo Selfish Knitters ~ What's up? What are you knitting?

I'm sorry I haven't posted recently but I'VE BEEN KNITTING! I finished TWO (count 'em ~ 2!) projects for ME! Up first...the 2-year Merino Sweater is DONE! Yay!

I'm so proud of myself! I *like* this sweater! I wear this sweater! People notice this sweater! I do have a couple other sweaters I've knit and they're ok, but not what I'd call fabulous. One is a sloppy acrylic boucle/terry cardigan that I actually like but it's not awesome. And I have a white cotton sweater that doesn't fit properly and is destined to go to the shop for sale, I believe. I do have a hooded bulky vest that I like a lot and I do wear it but THIS is my best sweater yet! I do need to tack down the bottom of the cable so it doesn't flare but other than that, I've been wearing it :)

My Mom helped me out with the mattress stitch in the finishing and wow! What a difference THAT makes! I actually don't mind sewing seams when they turn out as well as that.

After I finished that, I was looking through that same magazine...I've mentioned that I made the hooded vest from that issue (Vogue Fall 2003) and now the merino sweater and NOW THIS....

Sorry...the poor mannequin head is a little worse for wear but HOW CUTE IS THAT HAT? I made it out of some of my very favorite handspun...a little jacob/merino/mohair that I spindle spun ages ago. Very soft, bulky weight and it was perfect for this hat, which I knit in an evening. I had spun the jacob/wool and the merino/mohair as separate singles then plied them together. It's cool how the yarn striped itself somewhat and this stuff was such a dream to knit! My very first handspun garment for ME!

And here's the cute cable! I made the twisted cord ties on the spinning wheel. I thought about doing it with my mixer or by hand then went "what? WHY? I have three spinning wheels!" Worked out great and only took a minute!

Not yet impressed enough? (roflol!) Well, here's some lace knitting I've been working on. It's a KAL I started at the shop and online but it qualifies since it's for ME...

It's the Fiber Trends Sheep Shawl and what a piece of work! I wouldn't call it impossibly hard at all but it's a challenge, that's for sure! I got to row 13 and ripped it all back and since then, after 70+ rows, I've had to tink about 3 times and what an ordeal THAT is...yikes. We're just starting it so if anyone wants to join in, check out the yahoo group.

Most of us are working it in Jaggerspun Zephyr...I'm using Suede:) The photo above is about 30 rows or so into it and those are the Sunshine rows. Next up, in a couple of rows as a matter of fact, are the Orchard rows. I'm a lot farther than the pic there shows. The border is scaring me a little bit but plenty of time to think about that MUCH later. It's going a bit faster than I thought though, and I'm really enjoying it. I even learned how to do a crocheted provisional cast on, can you believe it?

One day, those Yukon Sox will be done...well, ONE Yukon Sock. One day....soon...maybe....

2006-10-03T13:09:00.000-07:00

First SSK Project Complete!

Well, it's not Sunday but I finished my first Selfish Sunday Knitting project anyway! It's a Variations on Beethoven's Dickey, from Elizabeth Zimmermann's Knitting Around. I made it with my very own handspun alpaca, so I'm extra proud of myself. I'm home sick from work today and had just enough oomph to do the final grafting, so even though it's been knit up for a week or so it's now officially 100% finished.

Since I'm sick, I'm in no state to take a photo of myself wearing my "masterpiece," so here's a shot of it sitting pretty on the dining room table. It kind of looks a bit like a manta ray in this position, but you get the idea.

Now what new project should I start for myself next Sunday...?

http://splindarella05.blogspot.com/

2006-10-01T16:18:00.000-07:00

Time to check in as it's Sunday again. How is everyone doing this week?

I'm taking a new direction with my lace. I've been fighting the Children Of Lir Stole with this yarn purely because the yarn did not want to be that stole! In swatching a Fan and Feather Lace scarf, intending to use my own hand spun merino/silk/tencel blend I discovered that the Fan and Feather is not what the silk wants to be.....but boy howdy the Red Lambs Pride wool loves it! So that is to be my Sunday project from now until complete! Eventually I'll find a yarn that wants to be the Children of Lir Stole. Heck, eventually I'll find a project for silk too!

I've been dyeing today (as well as mondo house work!) The progressional pics and other errata are posted on my blog here .

2006-09-30T21:24:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, just checking in to say hi! I haven't posted here yet, though I've been meaning to. Sunday is fast approaching and I plan to spend some quality knitting time with my saddle shouldered (well - I'm hoping I can figure out the whole saddle shoulder thing - I've got the Knitters Workshop and various other - knit-in-one-piece type books to help me figure it all out, but I could very possibly whimp out and make a raglan) cardigan.

Here's the progress a couple of days ago. I've started sleeve #2 (because it's kind of necessary) and am hoping to be able to get started on the whole yoke shaping thing soon.

The yarn is my own handspun - a 4 ply that's knitting up to 20sts/4". It's done in alpaca/camel down/tussah silk/angora wool blend.

Wish me luck! I really hope I can figure this out.

Thanks!

Abi

2006-09-27T07:09:00.000-07:00

I thought I should check in and update on some projects. Working on things for myself on Sunday afternoons or evenings is helping me to stay on track with personal projects. However, I've been really busy the last couple of Sundays and so haven't had a lot of knitting time.

Two Sundays ago, I had out of town company. The day before we went to the FingerLakes Fiber Arts Festival in Hemlock NY. Did anyone else go? I earned a few ribbons for things I entered, posted photos on my Garden Of Eve blog. Would you believe the only things I came home with were 5 pewter buttons?

This Sunday, my hubby was one sick puppy. My daughter had just landed a job (Thank God!) and needed some career clothing. So, I took her shopping for basics she could build on and left him to a quiet house.

I did complete the front part of my project, sewed the shoulders and have started the button band. No photos cause I don't want someone to see it yet. *G* I won't be started any new projects for myself until this is done. I'm not sure about those buttons I bought. I came home, went through a container of buttons my Mom used to collect and found some that match the color of my wool perfectly... hmmmm!

Eve

2006-09-24T05:02:00.000-07:00

It's Sunday and I look forward to working on my afghan again. I love the yarn, Lamb’s Pride Bulky. The color is oatmeal. I love the pattern, Pure and Simple from Fiber Trends Easy Baby Blanket pattern collection 2 . And I love the afghan. Ever since it was about 3 feet long I have been using it to warm myself. My house is finally getting cool enough again that I can snuggle up under it. It is now about 5 feet long and I have 7 skeins left. I am not sure how long I am going to go but it is ALL mine.

(The one mistake I made was being to lazy to minimize the problem of different dye lots, see the line) My daughter likes my afghan too so I am afraid she might be using it when I want it. So along with the fact that this has been so enjoyable to knit I bought more Lambs Pride Bulky in the Blue Magic colorway and started a second on using the Waves of Blue pattern from the same booklet.

My other project for myself the Ballet Camisole, I am not so fond of. Although the yarn, Knit Picks Shine Sport is a dream to knit with I find the stockinette on circulars boring. I have a feeling I will never end up wearing it when I am done. This is how far I have gotten:

I have a lot to do today but I know that I will have some time for some "Selfish Knitting" tonight during Desperate Housewives.

Jeremy

2006-09-22T06:15:00.000-07:00

Well, here's a pic (finally!) of my Beethoven's Variations on a Dickey, from Elizabeth Zimmermann's Knitting Around, in progress:

The turtleneck is finished and so is half the back, one side and almost half the front. I'm surprised at how quickly it's knitting up, and I really like the way it looks so far. I just hope I have enough yarn to finish! :)

2006-09-21T07:05:00.000-07:00

It's official. I'm a knitter. The other day I saw a reference to this blog (SSK) and I had to think what they meant by Slip Slip Knit.....then it dawned on me.....Selfish Sunday Knitters! heheheheheheh

2006-09-21T06:49:00.000-07:00

I'll not post a pic this time as the LIP (Lace In Progress..heheheh) is the same size as the last picture basically. I havn't been able to knit more than 1 repeat (1/3rd a row) since the marathon 5 hr knitting I did that Sunday. I was so wound up in the pattern, the repeats, the constant frogging....that I didn't take enough breaks to stretch out my hands. That coupled with a move up on the size of needles and my super controling grip that I'm trying to relax (VBG) caused me to be in agony much of the week. I thought for sure that I was going to have to have the hands amputated!!! heheh Let me tell you, there's not much sympathy for knitting related injuries around here. So all this adds up to no knitting, sporadic spinning and a grumpy fiber gal for a week. Sunday night I was able to do some spinning again and on Tuesday I made it through our spinning guild meeting. By the time the weekend arrives I should be back to knitting full force...with breaks and stretching. ;) I don't ever want to go through that again.

On the Fiber front....I ordered some Merino/Tussah Silk laps from a special person we know and they should be here any day I am assured. (Tis good to know as the postman is starting to avoid me.) I'm so excited about it I'm fairly bouncing around. I'm already dreaming of some dyeing I can do with it....heheheh I feel some SSS....Selfish Saturday Silk coming on. Thankfully the rain season has begun and I can spend more time working with fiber indoors without feeling guilty. Unfortunately I still have some 6 bags of fleece that need a primary washing to get the stench off as I don't know if it will ruin them if they stay "in the stink" over winter. (They're in the shed...not the house. Thank goodness!)

Well gang...I'm off to get ready for work. Hope all the projects are moving faster than mine! hehe

2006-09-17T08:58:00.000-07:00

Wheee!!! I was knitting for a couple hours this morning and I started blocking the 2 year Merino sweater :)

Here's a pic of how far I've come on the Yukon Sox (SOCK for the moment ~ I do believe I'll have SSS on this one (second sock syndrome). But, I knit 24 rows on it this morning so am pleased. Only 2.5 more inches on the foot before I can decrease for the toe. I won't be casting on the second sock right away on this one, I know. Besides, I need to wash and block this one to be sure it fits well and the yarn does what I think it *should* do, which is bloom properly and soften up considerably.

Now onto the truly exciting (for me, anyway!) THE 2 YEAR MERINO SWEATER IS BLOCKED AND DRYING AS WE SPEAK!!!! Well, I'm out of room for the back but I'm blocking both sleeves and the front. I'll block the back tomorrow :)

And here's the pic of what it's supposed to look like (Vogue Knitting Fall 2003) and a cable detail:

The yarn is a heathery purple merino I got from Zeilinger Woolen Mills forever ago and it was wonderful to work with. The big cable in the pattern was easy and fun to do! I've made the huge bulky knitted vest from the cover of this issue of Vogue Knitting (in brown wool with deer antler buttons) and there's at least one more sweater in that issue that I'd like to make.

Most of the time, Vogue Knitting has at LEAST one project I'd like to make but sometimes an issue will come along and I hate everything in it.

It probably looks like I'm a purple freak or something from the sox and the sweater, but I'm not. I've never bought one thing to wear ever that was purple but the alpaca/wool/nylon sock yarn was a cast off from hubby's sock knitting operation and seemed too good to pass up and, well, the merino was yummy!

So, it won't be long till the sock and the merino sweater are done, and I still need to finish the Soft Twist Cotton Tee, which I'm going to try to do this week. THEN I can cast on something NEW...so much more fun than UFO's, dontcha think?

COME ON LADIES......LET'S SEE WHATCHA GOT!

2006-09-15T15:36:00.000-07:00

Well, it was more like Selfish Sunday Swatching than actual knitting, but at least I did cast on my EZ "Variations on Beethoven's Dickey" in my alpaca handspun and I even took some time from my gift knitting this week to work on it during my commute. I now have a scant couple of inches of neck ribbing (not even worth photographing at this point), but I've set it aside till this Sunday to get my mom's birthday gift finished and frog the last inch or two of my m-i-l's Christmas scarf so I can re-do it the right way (do not ask -- I'm sure I could make the change I want some other way, but it would bother me that it didn't look perfect and it would probably take nearly as much time as frogging and re-knitting...yes, I'm obsessive and anal about certain things, and this seems to have become one of them LOL). I'm so glad I started on the dickey, though, and I can't wait to get back to working on it. I promise a photo once there's more than a microscopic amount of fabric to look at! http://splindarella05.blogspot.com/

2006-09-14T19:12:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry I'm late posting. I'll be better and "on time" from now on. lol. I didn't realize until late yesterday that the blog was up and going so I missed out on signing in until today. Now I'll apologise for the fuzzy blurry pictures.....I'm having problems with my fingers falling asleep and loosing my grasp on things this week...so picture taking is "interesting" to say the least. (So is knitting for that matter!)

I decided that I wanted to learn how to knit lace so that is what I'm doing with my "SSK" time. I chose the Children of Lir Stole pattern from the book "Traditional Knitted Lace Shawls" by Martha Waterman. Mainly I chose it because it isn't that large and the stitches seemed to "make sense". I'm a fairly new knitter and learned by making simple socks on tiny sock needles. These larger needles feel huge! (Larger was the plan for learning. lol) As I meet a new stitch I look it up and go for it. The fewer new stitches in the pattern....the faster I memorize how to do them. So far there has only been one new stitch...dbl dec....but it's early days yet. lol

This was started on Saturday night and I posted about it at my blog on Sunday with two whole rows completed. Of course it took me several tries and several froggings before I remembered to use stitch markers. It wasn't until Sunday evening, after 5 more rip outs,(yes....still on row 2 or 3) that I realized there must be a problem with the pattern. I looked online and sure enough.....the pattern in the book said to cast on with 73 stitches....the correction on the internet states to use 83! Things have progressed since then and I'm on row 8 now. (and using a life line!)This picture shows a "lacey" line of holes........I sincerely hope that they are suppose to look like that and that it's not a case of me just making a really regular mistake! Ah, if it were easy, I wouldn't enjoy it so much!

2006-09-11T13:51:00.000-07:00

Finished some projects...

With the idea of working on things for myself, I spend a good part of Sunday on knitting projects.
I bound off a triangle scarf which is drying at the moment, so no photo just yet. I also closed the toe and wove in tail ends of yarn on two pairs of socks I'd completed a while ago and had just set aside.

The red pair is the result of a pattern I've been working on and I'm pleased at how they turned out. I finally have red socks for myself!

The brown pair are made from worsted weight wool I dyed. I made them for me, but I have a feeling my daughter is going to try to swipe them for wearing with boots. No matter, I have more of the same yarn. *G*

I have a secret project I'm working, can't say what it is nor show photos. Although the project is for me, I don't want the person I got the wool from to see it. I can say that the Sinderella spun this wool for a friend and I love, love, love it, beautiful yarn!

Not really a Selfish Sunday thing.... but I had a visitor on Sunday and she brought me some rather interesting yarn. You can see it by going to my blog Garden Of Eve

I'm stumped about what to make for her... any suggestions would be appreciated.

Eve

2006-09-11T06:24:00.000-07:00

What time this coming Sunday do we "talk"?

2006-09-07T18:19:00.000-07:00

Thanks, everyone, for your encouragement about using my handspun for my first selfish Sunday knitting project! Here are a couple of photos of the sky-blue glitzy alpaca (from Winding Creek Alpacas and Llamas...NAYY, but I just LOVE their rovings!!!) I'll be turning into an EZ-inspired dickie:

Here's my skein hanging to dry. Look, Mom -- not too much twist!

I also just got some more Winding Creek roving in the mail today, this time in a 100% alpaca blue/purple blended colorway. I figure if I run short of yarn with my skein of sky-blue, I can always spin up the blue/purple and use both to make the dickie. Although, if anyone has a good way of measuring handspun yardage that doesn't involve a niddy-noddy (which I don't own) or one of those cool balance-thingys (which I'd love to get but have been too cheap to invest in so far), please let me know. :)

I'm so excited to be using this yarn. It's easily the softest, nicest yarn I've ever spun, and I can't wait to wear it next to my skin. I'll definitely be getting up early on Sunday to get in some extra knitting time!

http://splindarella05.blogspot.com/

2006-09-07T14:38:00.000-07:00

Let's get some content up in here!

Well, photo content anyway! Here is a basket of my own handspun. The blue and white is a yummy merino/angora/alpaca/mohair and metallic blend and there's enough yardage there maybe for a capelet (420 yds), the dk brown next to it is 200 yards of Shetland for a scarf.

The orange stuff is spindle spun wool fingering weight (396 yds) for socks I think, the grey/white is jacob & mohair spindle spun and plied together that I might make mittens out of but there's only 150 yds so I will need to add something to it for that even though it's bulky. Thing is, I don't really wear mittens a lot but fingerless mitts would work for me and there should be enough. I really like that particular yarn a lot ~ it's very soft and cozy.

The brown near the top is an angora/alpaca blend that doesn't know what it wants to be yet with only 228 yards. Probably a scarf since it's sooooo next to the skin super soft! The green is wool/mohair spindle spun with 398 yards, DK weight. It might make nice Bum Around the House socks or slippers :)

And the bright blue is a romney silk blend, spindle spun with only 100 yards. I have a bright green I spun up on a spindle too that I got in a swap so that would go well and make a cool bag but I kinda hate to felt spindle spun stuff. Hmmm...all together, the 2 would be like 320 yards and might make a cute hat although I honestly don't wear too many hats but maybe if it were cute enough I would!

Here's a picture of me knitting at my Mom's house a couple years ago...before I decided I NEEDED to open a yarn shop and would just blissfully knit and knit for no good reason at all ;> That is my preferred knitting position...cross-legged on the couch! I tend to prop my needles up in my lap (on my little fat rolls...hahahah!) and I'm a continental knitter. When I started knitting, I just naturally knit continental and didn't even know what they heck I was doing for years! I also had twisted stitches till I figured out the "right" way to purl.

Back to fiber...That is a pic of my very first handspun. Mom plied it for me cuz I was afraid to ply! I have about 500 yards, spindle spun on a turkish and it's destined to be a cape or small poncho of some sort. Pretty crazy yarn, eh? This will be my first SSK project after the sox and the merino cabled sweater that needs to be put together.

I have another basket of quite a few small spindle spun skeins...ranging from like 40 yards to about 100. Three of them go well together and are merino/silk so those will end up being something since it's about 300 yards all together. I think I'd like to make a modular knit something or other with my small skeins, as soon as I collect enough of them to make some sort of thing that isn't a scarf! It's so hard to decide what to do with small skeins...well, for me anyway cuz I don't want to felt my handspun!

If I *did* change my mind about that, I could make myriad Very Cool Bags. I tend not to like unfelted bags...they just seem to floppy for me usually. Sigh. I could just keep collecting small skeins and then make a nice cozy lap throw or Totally Bitchin Pillows for the couch. Maybe I could make cuffs that I could wear with the basic black sweater but that sounds sort of dorky, I dunno.

Maybe I'll make a totally What Kind of Hippy Is That Crazy Woman SKIRT...and wear it to my shop with leg warmers in the winter and some kind of heavy doc marten type of shoes. Then all the people in my home town could nod their heads and agree that they were all right about me after all! I know those women at the dollar store across the street look out at me all the time and gossip. I swear, I am NOT paranoid! They DO that! I have to keep up my unseemly appearances, even at 42 years of age! So I could make the crazy skirt, but mix in some "normal" yarn so as not to hurt anyone's eyes and thereby fool people into thinking it was a carefully planned & executed design. Ack...there's that whole stripe ordeal though. Maybe I *will* have to carefully plan and execute in order to minimize the fluffy appearance that would happen if I wore horizontal stripes.

Anyway, enough of my blabbing, eh? If anyone has ideas for really different and cool small projects, bring 'em on! Obviously, I need some help!

2006-09-06T09:04:00.000-07:00

Let's Get Selfish!

Wow, you know I was just looking forward to Sunday morning and thinking about which WIP to work on for my selfish knitting time, and I realized I have absolutely NOTHING on the needles for myself! I do, however, have a baby bib for a shower gift, a stole for a Christmas present, a scarf, a pullover, and a list of projects a mile long, all for other people. Sheesh!

So, my first big decision is what should I cast on for my very own self? Here's what I'm thinking about; please feel free to comment and help me with my choice!

A moebius scarf made from a skein of gorgeous, soft, autumn-colors handpainted yarn that I got in a swap.
An Elizabeth Zimmermann dickey made from sky-blue alpaca that I spun myself on my Louet wheel.
A Pi in Your Sleeves shawl made from Schoolhouse Press unspun Icelandic wool in dark grey (a pretty big, kinda intimidating selfish project -- don't know if I'm up to starting off with this one....)
Or maybe something else...?

2006-09-05T11:24:00.000-07:00

Hi Leah!

It is wonderful, you did a great job and I am happy to be one of your Selfish Sunday Knitters! My husband says we should go to church and knit----------this from the man who has not been in 20 years at least!!! LOL!!! op

2006-09-04T10:50:00.001-07:00

I'd like to extend a welcome and an invite to all knitters who never take time to knit for themselves to join this blog and post their projects here:) Please EMAIL ME for an invite!

Also...HEARTY THANKS TO Splindarella and Page for giving me a hand...they'll be receiving knitting prizes from the dye studio:)

This is what I worked on Sunday morning and some yesterday ~ the Yukon Leaves sock pattern from Boogie Knits. I finished the leg yesterday afternoon and started on the heel, which is way different than any other heel I've worked in a sock so far. My husband (sock machine knitter) called it a "Pouch Heel"...it has a band and no gusset so was remarkably simple to work. We'll see how it fits, eh?

My other Sunday projects are spinning and then knitting a Shetland shawl that I started for the Tour de Fleece challenge, and finishing my gorgeous cabled merino pull-over (Vogue Knitting pattern) that just needs to be blocked then sewn together and finished at the neck. I've been working on this for a couple years so I think today I'll block it out since it's dry and sunny so I can have it ready to finish for Sunday morning:)

WHAT ARE YOUR SELFISH SUNDAY PROJECTS?