knittinggenes.blogspot.com

Ice fishing! 

I'm here and glad of it. I had my long awaited first ice fishing experience on wednesday. Yes, that is me in the lifevest with the auger. It defies logic, I know but I felt this maternal and personal preservation desire to bring it along.... and wear it. I'll have you know, I was warmer than those who wore the fashionable ski parkas. I had my newly knit alpaca scarf and hat and wore them wisely. I cannot decide if I can share the digital details. While this blog is dedicated to knitting and all, the photo of my new alpaca scarf worn babushka style over new alpaca hat could be fodder for criticism in the eyes of the unkind. Odds are I'll post it, with Lynn's help. I've yet to meet an unkind knitter, and I don't want to start limiting myself now. You'll get a chuckle out of it and it will remind you of my very Hungarian side. When our host, John, was teaching me to bring up the bait he urged me to watch the line and don't let it tangl

Kathy's Sockapalooza socks 

Allison's Lucky sweater 

Allison's baby Uggs 

I know that it's a little early to be talking about Valentine's Day (although not according to Walgreens, they have a whole aisle set up already), but here are some cute ideas for V-day (stolen from about.com)! This little heart pin is cuter than I thought it would be, although I might use it as a satchet rather than a pin: http://www.frugalhaus.com/homepage/heart.htm This is more useful, a pattern for purled hearts that you can use on anything, might be really cute as a border for a blanket (or sweater if you're feeling adventurous!) http://knitting.about.com/library/blcloth16.htm

Still plodding along on my Lucky sweater. The back is almost done, I just have to finish the shoulder shaping. Then I just have the sleeves, the two front pieces, and the belt to go, plus the finishing, but that's nothing, I'll be done in a snap! But seriously, I need to get something done before the apocalypse. So I've started my first pair of socks. I picked out Fixation because it's cotton and stretchy. It should be a good yarn for my first pair of socks. It's going to be in white and turquoise. I'm using the Ann Norling basic sock pattern, but I may modify it to include a cable. And for some non-knitting news: the Oscar nominations come out tomorrow morning! The Oscar's are my ultimate guilty pleasure. I always get so into the competition for the best film (and the best dress-of course!). I hope that Zach Braff gets nominated for best original screenplay for Garden State. Other than that, I'll just be happy to watch the show!

Good Snowy Morning, As I always say, its great knitting weather today. I allowed myself to post, but will not allow myself to pick up the needles until I walk the Golden in my life for at least 45 minutes. Brrrrrrrr. Must wear Alpaca hat and scarf. As I enjoy reading others blogs this morning, I realize that most bloggers are not in their 40's. They are younger and much more computer savvy. Could this be why I am still struggling so with the basics of this very fun pasttime? I remind myself: I had the joy of growing up with telephone that hung on our kitchen wall. Friends marveled at it. It didn't have to sit on a counter. I also had the pleasure of being on Bozo's Circus. IN REAL TIME. Shorthand was part of our curriculum. A step above mastering typing skills. You get the picture. My generation (Oh my I just used that term!) was blessed with NEW MATH, that boggled our parents minds. I watched Johnny Carson but didn't get the

Progress on Lara 

We got about a foot of snow up here in the northern suburbs of Chicago. Fortunately I made a stop at 3 Bags Full on my way to work yesterday, so I have plenty to keep me busy while we're snowed in. I'm still working on the Lara sweater; I added the stitches for the body, so the rows are now 182 stitches long! It takes me awhile to get through one row. Yesterday I bought some Berocco suede to make the cute booties Kathy and Allison were working on, and the new issue of Vogue Knitting. It will be a great day for sitting by the fire, drinking tea, and knitting!

Ugg class 

Okay, Its official, our neighbor Margaret can have the baby now. AL and I finished our Uggs tonight. Class was very relaxing and fun at 3 Bags Full Last night. If its a girl, she gets Al's purple Uggs, if its a boy, she gets the brown ones! They are quite fun to make. Just a little sockish boot without all the picking up stitches. Ugg ugg ugg

Rosalyn modelling Allison's Koigu belt 

Kathy's beaded felted purse 

Hi A few things to share: Al and I are taking the Baby Ugg class tonight at 3 BAGS FULL. I'll rate the success of my Uggs somehow. Although I love socks, I am very intimidated by this baby bootie thing.... If you read Stitch and Bitch or Nation, corrections to the patterns are on a link called Knithappens. I'd suggest you go there first. Someone told me of a site that lists many pattern corrections......does anyone know what I am talking about? I can't remember it now.....and I want to make it a permanent favorite. I try not to go into my Richie Daley routine when I fail because a pattern is miswritten, but I can never succeed! Will post some photos ....with Lynn's help....again! One photo is of Allison's leftover Koigu belt, against Rosalyn kitty's back. One photo is of my finished felted purse with some beading.

Cinderella, or Best in Show? 

I have to follow-up on my yarn snob post of last week. Let me start by saying that the Cha Cha yarn was infinitely better behaved than the higher end yarn I used for my neices Christmas scarf. When Lynn posts the photo for me, I'll call this scarf Cinderella.....she is beautiful despite her humble beginnings at the......hobby store, and she didn't tangle once. This is ideal knitting weather. I'm cold and working with Alpaca...... I am making up a hat ( I hesistate to say designing......why is that?) knit from the Top Down . After I finished the crown I threw in a Stockinette Ridge. Maybe I'll make the scarf in the same Pattern. I will be knitting and watching the Eukanuba Dog Show tonight LIVE. Huck, my golden will be right next to me and Zach, my boy of 14, will not! Zach will , no doubt, come by from time and time and say, "Look Mom, that guy has 2 left feet." I hope they show a segment from the dancing dogs.......cha cha for now.

Misti mittens 

Misti mittens 

Lara-Debbie Bliss alpaca silk 

After my last post I had a bad case of knitting malaise. I couldn't decide what to start next and nothing really grabbed me. I did start a pair of socks, but didn't like the pattern, so those got frogged. Instead I made these mittens out of some Misti alpaca chunky that I bought at Stitches. The pattern is from Sally Melville's The Purl Stitch. They fit well and are very warm. I have some more of that yarn, so I think I will make a matching scarf too. As I was working on the mittens, I kept trying to decide what to make next. I finally decided on Lara using my Debbie Bliss alpaca silk. I started it last night and I like the way it looks and feels so far. It's worked in one piece from cuff to cuff, so the picture you see below is the beginning of the sleeve. Finally! An exciting WIP!

Finals week is fast approaching, but what am I doing instead of studying? Knitting of course! I am continuing on my sweater, I ripped it all out after talking to Lynette and now I'm back to where I ripped from. Oh well, it's really fun, I don't mind knitting it at all. I feel like I have no WIPs at all. I only have my Koigu belt, the sweater, and my bamboo shawl. The shawl has been hopelessly abandoned (I too have a "middle child" shawl, Mom), my goal is to have it done by my cousin's wedding in October, so I have plenty of time to finish it-and to find a dress to match!

It was me. I'll even admit it. I was buying Cha-Cha for my neices second scarf. It's 3 something a skein! She has no concept of fine yarns. I have to tell you all, it did not have ONE knot in it. Not one. It is a bit stripey, but ...... It is a special scarf. I am actually designing it. I'll call it Erin, Okay? Even if it is from...Micha.... I'll make it my first pattern. If it looks okay with the cheapy yarn when it's finished that is... I mean, the style is lovely. Wait until you see it. And her Christmas scarf was made with a reputable skein of .....Hey! I never took a photo of it. But I did blog about the wicked tangling it performed while you were looking right at it. Well admitting I was buying yarn at Michaels was a big step.....I don't have to admit it to Erin do I ? I know, I'll post them side by side and see if you can tell which is the ........frugal one....

Nothing like a weekend to get a project going, UNLESS THERE'S A MISTAKE IN THE PATTERN!!!! I had to rip out all of my sweater (only half of the back was done-but still!) because of a pattern error. If anyone makes the "Lucky" (not-so-lucky in my case) sweater out of Stitch and Bitch Nation please note that when they direct you to knit two rows, they mean, knit two pattern repeats. GRRR, I was so angry that my sweater got a time out for the whole weekend. On a happier note, I made a lot of progress on my belt I'm working on (self-designed so I don't have to worry about pattern mistakes). It looks so cute! I will post a picture as soon as it's finished (probably by the end of the week since I will be working on my sweater too). Because I was still avoiding my sweater, I also got some reading done this weekend. The book I am reading, Animal Dreams , by Barbara Kingsolver, mentioned a Stitch and Bitch club! And this was a book that was written in the early

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Doesn't the snow make the perfect backround? Speaking of backrounds, many thanks to Al for making the blog format a bit easier on the eyes. Aren't we looking good? Too bad she's losing her free period next semester. ......I think this is when some really good ideas come to her. Snow prevented Lynn and Maureen and I from a little 3 Bags Full trip. Missed seeing you guys. Not sure if the photos will appear in order of the paragraphs, but think of this as a mental challenge without much challenge! Match them up if you will. Paragraph 1: Hungarian Hanger. Made by my Irish sister Deb. My Hungarian aunt Eleanor taught Deb the crocheted craft, because Deb asked! These hangers are the best! I can hang lots of handknitted scarves and hats on on hanger! I thank her for the nice blue color; (in other words thanks for not using afghan orange.....) Now to get Deb to make me a few more......... I have eaten every Hungarian cookie my father gave me for Christmas

As we all know, I love to knit, but I also love to read. Unfortunately for me, my two passions conflict! I still cannot figure out how to knit and read at the same time (I think I may have to implement my toes). Today I found someone with the same problem, Cara from the "january one" knitting blog posts about knitting and reading! Although be assured strictly knitters, it is technically a "knitting blog". Check it out at http://www.januaryone.com , I love the stitch markers her friend sent her. I think I may have to figure out how to make my own because they are so cute and the snazzy ones at Three Bags cost a fortune (even with employee discount!). If you're in a reading mood after this, check out my favorite book blog, The Waterboro Library blog http://www.waterborolibrary.org/blog.htm . Hope no one has been too busy shoveling to knit!

Stockings hung by the chimney with care... 

I am in LOVE with this yarn by GGH, Amelie, but I do not know what to make with it :( So I am offering to you the chance to give me ideas. The winner will get a GREAT su-prize (I don't know what yet but it will be really good, I promise). The only restrictions are that it must use the "beige" color (which is actually more of a light gold-so pretty!) and cannot use more than three balls of the Amelie because that is all Three Bags Full has right now and I want to get started soon. Thanks everyone-good luck! Meanwhile, I am working on my "Lucky" sweater from Stitch and Bitch Nation. The directions are not great so it took a couple of tries to get started, but I'm cruising along now. I hope to be finished by my birthday (February 27), just in time for spring! I'll post a picture as soon as I can Hope everyone is doing great on this snowy day (the perfect opportunity to knit!)

And these are some really cool boots that I bought at Nordstrom today. 

This photo (and I think they may be switched here) is the skirt section of an Einstein coat. It's in a really great hand-dyed thick-and-thin wool in reds and greens.  

Hello ... nice to be back! I took these photos on my cell phone camera so they're not very good nor are they true to color, but they're better than nothing. This is the sleeve of a striped v-neck I'm making for a class. The cuff border is two rows of braid with bobbles in between. Another row of braid separates each color (colors are actually purple and blue). This is Green Mountain wool/mohair and it's really soft. 

Happy Feet 

We celebrated Christmas with my brothers and their families on New Year's Eve this year because of trip to Disney World. Thank goodness we did, because it gave me an extra week to finish all the gift socks. My nieces were all excited to get socks, even the 2 little ones. Their mom told me that whenever they get cold they put on the socks I knit for their birthdays 2 years ago. It's always nice to know that our hand-knit gifts are appreciated, isn't it? Now that I am done with gift knitting, I'm trying to decide what to knit next. Suddenly, it seems like I have lots of yarn waiting to be knit up. I'm almost done with the back of the Peace Fleece cardigan. Then I have some pretty Debbie Bliss alpaca silk that is trying to decide what it wants to be. Then there is some elann wool that will become the Ribby Cardi . But, guess what I have an urge to cast on today? Socks! You would think after all my whining about the Christmas sock knitting that socks woul

Picture this: Why? Because I resolve to use only rechargeable batteries and I have to go out and purchase two more before I can abuse Lynn and ask her to post photos for me. again. So here are our WIPS: please use your imagination...... *My NORO purse roughly resembling BlackSheepBags Booga Bag Pattern. I am using Cascade in a complimentary color to frugally make it bigger. Green beads in a fuschia part adorn its little fat body. *Neglected but ever-s0-patient like a middle child afraid to complain, summer shawl from St. Seraphina Pattern. Its shades of blue and a 12 line pattern repeat. I am going to call it Middle Child from now on. *On Jill's needles (Jill is Al's friend.....I've called her THE VOICE OF REASON ever since she and Al met in 7th grade, and before that she was apparently Paula's friend. ) Anyhow she is making a scarf: Debbie Bliss Cashmerino, in pink. This is Jill's pattern: she casted on 28 stitches on size 7's K2