knittinggenes.blogspot.com

So the charity purse is coming along. In this shot it looks more round than in reality. It is kind of a daschund length at this point. It has been over 5 weeks since I have been to 3Bags Full. Hoping to get someone to drive me there tomorrow. I need the knitting store people fix. I also need them to reassure me that NORO Swing Coat sleeves are indeed being done correctly before I go any further. The unusally cold temps are motivating me to finish it now. Funny how that works! Please leave me your email or blog so I can thank you for your comment.

Al's socks. yarn: wouldn't you know it.....Koigu! pattern: from SockBug's blog. Candy: candy corn for the season. I believe we have now had: Socks on the Rocks Socks with Locks and Socks with Brachs.... Please leave me your email or blog so I can thank you for your comment.

Sorry. I had to. We have the only farm remaining in Cook County in our little town. I got to visit the new milking barn/educational center today for a few minutes. This little piggy might have had roast beef, but no spinach to be had around here. Is it just me, or are you dying for a spinach salad just because we can't? The purse is offically started. So far, thanks to Karen's great calculations in the comments, I can expect a 66 percent reduction in size after felting. Okay. Felting is a bit of luck, so don't worry that I'll hold you to it Karen. The purse began this way; I chained 50 with the yarn. Then I turned, made a chainstitch, or vice versa. I did a single crochet for the first ten stitches, double for the next ten, triple for the next ten, then double for the next ten, and single for the last ten. This created a half moon shape. I repeated this same shape for 5 rows. Then I had a synapse stall. Since I took the crochet flower class at LYS recently, I...

I have been behaving. Al and I have decided to create a purse for the local animal shelter benefit. I've decided to crochet the purse, as it is so much faster for me. The yarn was AUTUMN, won in Claudia's MS ride fundraiser. So why am I patting myself on the back? I actually crocheted a swatch and felted it, for starters. I love the colorway felted up. The initial size of the swatch was 71/2 by 6 inches. One wash later it was 6x5. The second wash was 5x4. Someone very mathmatical out there will figure out the pre and post ratio. Well, Al will use this information to help me crochet to the correct size prior to felting. We have some cute ideas for the bag's theme. We are making up the pattern. Of course, I'll share the progress. I've also been behaving with the sleeve knitting of Swing Coat. It is like torture to me currently. I spent most of Sunday's knit time wondering if I am doing it correctly. Off to LYS as soon as I am able to have them check...

There has not been much sunlight the past two days in the Chicago area. During a current downpour, I decided to try to take a post picture for today. I do love available light, and this shot does show the truest color of the Misti Alpaca. Soft? This stuff defines soft. I was going to make a pocketed vest with a hood, with this yarn. It was an Oat Couture pattern. I'm froggin it. Stuff this soft should be next to skin, not anything else. I am thinking sleeveless turtleneck. Maybe. The reason I frogged it: I forgot where I was in the pattern. Seems I started out knitting for one size yarn and picked up and knitted for another. Oh well. Must watch this in the future. Say use a pen or something? It is no bother at all to restart with this stuff. I could knit forever with this soft alpaca. Mmmmmmmm. Happy Fall. Please leave me your email or blog so I can thank you for your comment.

Irisheyes Lynn sent me the STR yarn. Ohhhhh, doesn't it knit up lovely? Basic sock pattern, nothing fancy. Im showing off the yarn. I'm midway through the second sock. The locks....are being mailed to Locks of Love today. I had fun growing the hair out for the donation. The new "do" is kind of fun too. When KEVIN my new hairguy cut the ponytail off, and handed it to me, wet, it was kind of like holding a wet mouse....ewwwww! Anyhow back to knitting. To the anonymous comment person who left such a great uplifting note, here are my sock tips. I'm no expert but my love of socks may lend itself to helping you: You will learn to love doublepoints. Just think to yourself, you are only knitting on two of the needles at once. The others are just resting, waiting, hoping for their turn. Start with a sock yarn that knits up at 4 or 5 stitches per inch. You could do this with Cascade fixation. This way you are not squinting and working with the tiny toothpick ...

Please leave me your email or blog so I can thank you for your comment. I have a nice image to post today and the blog is on the blitz. Earlier today the cable network/wireless provider was out of sorts. Hmmmmmm. Is there a sunstorm? Will we get to see the Northern Lights or something great because of this? That would be so fun. Have any of you seen the Northern lights? Where? There is a pattern in one of the current knit mags, I believe it may be Interweave, and the sweater is called Northern Lights. I think I want some yarn colorway called northern lights. On a more balanced note, I left my Vogue in the doctors office waiting room, just over 2 weeks ago. Returned for a visit today, and there she was! Waiting for me to scoop her up and take her back. I proved to my driver, caretaker extraordinaree, husband that it was indeed ours. Al and I usually write all over them. Comments, like: Like the cable, would prefer it on a purse. or If she looks heavy in this WHY would I w...

In a very casual but thorough drawing, two names were pulled from a bag,... AND Sarah HB was pulled first. Birdsong was pulled second. Sarah HB you need to choose. Will you pick the pink/green or the Red/pink/orange? Birdsong will get the other lace yarn. I will include some other goodies for you both. Thanks everyone for the fun and varied websites. I am still visiting the sites and enjoying them very much. I am laboring over the sleeves of the Swing Coat. Just want it overwith. And, there are TWO sleeves to make yet. Ah, but the knitter can't quit. I do think I will run out of yarn! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. I better go searching for more of the Noro yarn in that dye lot. My LYS is out, I took it all. THat will lead to a mandatory break from the Swing until I can locate the yarn....... Please leave me your email or blog so I can thank you for your comment.

Here is the view of the Shrug as shown in Family Circle Easy knitting, Spring/Summer 2005. There isn't anything Im trying to hide with the front of mine, just no willing model today. The pattern is Marcia Cleary's Rolled collar shrug. Knit from shoulder edge to shoulder edge. They used "Jewel Box" yarn, I used Katmandu. It was an easy knit. Thanks for your comments. TOMORROW I will draw for the lace. :) Im so excited. Thanks to all for playing along and the great sites you left for me and others to check out for knitting. The Noro Jacket Swing Coat sleeves are killing me. SLooooooooW progress. I think I knit more than I actually sit still and knit. perhaps this explains it! Please leave me your email or blog so I can thank you for your comment.

The weather is just a bit cooler and I decided to wear my shrug today. I cannot believe I was going to frog this soft, wonderful little thing. It really was on my list to frog. Honestly, what was I thinking? I'm sorry little shrug. You were perfect for today. I have had fun going to all the contest participants websites. Thanks. Feel free to read the comments yourself and go hunting. I have to say a favorite was the beret that you turn inside out afterwards. Oh I am so sorry I cannot recall who gave me that tip, and I think it is your very own pattern too. It is on my must knits. I'm starting the jacket sleeve after dinner tonight...........Please look good and make no holes...... Happy Weekend to everyone even if you are working. I am off work awhile and I find being home on weekends really strange. NOT complaining, just sayin'. Please leave me your email or blog so I can thank you for your comment.

I'm making this really easy. Just leave me a comment with any kind of yarn/knitting email address. For Example, "I want the lace. Have you been to magknits.com?" That would count. Send me somewhere new if you can. Etsy pages count. Pattern pages count. Just about anything counts. The Weeping Willow branches and leaves remind me of an intricate lace. We have many weeping willows in this area of the midwest. Locust tree leaves remind me of lace as well. I love lace, I just don't want to knit it. Just looking at it makes me think of tears and frustration. Give me big old fat yarns.... Contest will end.....oh say....Monday Sept. 18th. Good luck. I have two prizes to give away. SO there will be two winners. Please leave me your email or blog so I can thank you for your comment.

I do try hard to make you readers smile so you'll return! Today's guest blogger is knitting as well. Huck, Golden Retriever extraordinare, using his light up needles to knit a vest. Nevermind the dog has two agility titles and an obedience leg. Nevermind he was a hospital therapy Delta Society service dog for 7 years. Rest assured he was not injured or stressed in any way during the photo op. In fact, Neuman's peanut butter dog treats were his reward. Having a dog who will do whatever you ask of him cheerfully is one of my life's greatest joys.... Additional help was needed to provide you with this guest shot. Nevermind he is a grown man who would rather be tortured by black flies and mosquitos than be involved in the blogpost. Nevermind he is a accomplished triathlete and cyclist. Never mind he is in the middle of chopping down a black walnut tree. Rest assured he was not really harmed in any way during the photo op. In fact, Sam Adams' Oktoberfest Ale wa...

This is irisheyes Lynn's fault. She gifted some Socks that Rock yarn to me. As of tomorrow, I am blatently disregarding any live thing on current needles no matter how much guilt I feel, and casting on for a pair of socks ..that WILL rock. The colors are my favorites. I've knitted for gauge and YEH BABY I don't have to knit them on toothpicks. AND Just winding the stuff was enjoyable. I did finish the body of Swing Jacket today. Just cannot bear to start the sleeves today. This is a known part of the diagnosis to the STR syndrome. Nothing else really matters, just gotta cast on socks. I am thinking of a contest. I have laceweight that someone really ought to use and enjoy. Who wants Laceweight? Just looking at it makes me think of knots and frustration. Blocking...ugh.. All of it. Does anybody want laceweight? anybody? let me know. You are a braver knitter than I . That's okay. It takes all kinds, my mom says. I'll post a photo of the two skeins I...

Things are well, slow around here. The back porch is THE place to be these days for me. The sun has been seasonally sharing herself freely this week. She's in a good mood. I am reading a book that my husband gave me a couple of years ago: SWINGING IN PLACE, Porch Life in Southern Culture by Donlon. We don't shell peas or anything on my porch. But, it is a perch from which the I watch the flurry of the neighborhood or lack thereof on Sunday mornings. Living in the heart of the dreaded west nile virus area, a screened porch offers me a certain peace of mind, without the DDT. At times the porch is as much of a mess as the rest of the house. I have acquired 5 rockers that line the south side. There is also a futon with its back to the sidewalk and an American Flag for some privacy (and Respect. My husband flew it on the porch on 9/11 and we haven't moved it since, altho it has needed replacing.) Much knitting gets done on the back porch. The knitting is slow for me right...

Not to copy Lynne at I Was Knit Together in My Mother's Womb, who recently posted great great socks in a crock after my socks flummoxed post, BUT my dear friend Diane gave me this gorgeous gift. It's WICK from KnitOneCrochet Too. Color 141. The little matching green scissors is so cute. I can never have enough scissors in this house. Diane knows I have 3 darling cats. I will take another photo of the cats her daughter made to look just like mine for the gift. Sometimes a gift is so pretty you hesistate to take it apart! My knitting efforts are scattered right now and I don't like how this feels. I am 3/4 done with Swing Coat. Just started Oat Couture's vest in alpaca, and have Crazy Woman fingerless going as well. Change of seasons....winds blowing around....thoughts scattered..this too shall pass. I read a RURAL PEARL that is great for knitters in COUNRTY magazine this month. I don't live in the country, but I pretend I may someday! The pearl is: Pat Pe...

Stu did the honors at our local Farmers Market recently. Isn't the pregnant fiddler darling? She looks, as my mom says, like she swallowed a gumball. Al claims I shove the yarn at the guest while asking for the photo, so fast, no one really has any idea what they are doing. I say the key is a big smile and a good eye for picking someone nice enough to comply. Sometimes those who don't want to play are embarassed or confused and they say nope. Thanks Stu, for saying sure. The group sounded great as we picked out our goat cheese and gouda, for as easy dinner before some porch knitting. The CheesePeople from Wisconsin are our favorites at the Northfield Farmers Market. Maybe I can get one of them to guest sometime. They are all as nice as can be. Please leave me your email or blog so I can thank you for your comment.