knittinggenes.blogspot.com

I walked into my LYS 3 Bags in Northbrook, IL and what did I see? A Lucy Neatby scarf staring at me, This Sea Lettuce Scarf was made from Colinette Jitterbug. The pattern is for people who enjoy counting. Basically, you work one side of the scarf making a triangle, the work across to the other side and work a triangle. It gets a bit more frilly with the designed picot edge. Something new. Good gift idea. I was tagged by NatRedKnits for a list of quirky things about me. Well that is pretty much a running theme here! Here's the quirk for today: I have dreams about my teeth falling out. Hows that for ya? I'll talk to you in the comments. :)

I've been studying my decreases. They are, in a word, hideous. I started thinking about decreases. I love the way the decreases line up during toe making with socks. Their bulk is part of their beauty. Decreasing every few rows, as in my raglan sleeves, leaves abominable bumps. They are spoilers. I searched Ravelry forums under : avoiding ugly decreases. Of course, it had been discussed before. The very best tip I read said: avoid stretching the stitches at all cost. Bring the stitches to be worked together in the decrease to the very tip, nearly the point of the needles. This minimizes the stretch. I also readathat slipping the first stitich knitwise and the second purlwise helps a little too, before they are knit together for the decrease. Al took out some of her sweaters to show me her decreases were bumpy too. (hardly) You can see them a tiny bit in her green sweater photographed with her sunflowers. She also mentioned, yarn snob/snot that she is, that all her s...

Knitted up with gift yarn from Major Jennifer this summer. The yarn reminds me of wonderful swimming pools. I did not fall into the pool while this picture was taken. My neighbor and pool proprietress, Mary, helped with the pool shoot. This is hard work. I think I have new respect for those Swimsuit models. I'll talk to you in the comments. :)

Another post in which I couldn't get the image to flip. I did try. I don't mean to challenge anyone with this little blog. So I am sorry, but the needle holder must be viewed correctly with some effort. My neighbor's hibiscus is too sweet not to share. The needle holder was a purchase of necessity after reading someone's post about impaling a circular in her foot. I"d been using an old clinique bag as a needle holder. It was a big old mess and true to form, I usually just didn't open it up and put needles back when finished. This is because the needles would spring out like a Jack in the Box on steroids. This thing is a dream. It was made by FawnFace on etsy. It was her first sale! I may have to put up my feet more than usual today. A can of GULP fell on it just now. Gulp Is a fishing thing. Suffice to say I'm going to have a bit of a black and blue mark on the fat little hungarian foot .Speaking of feet. I'm a bit jealous of my sisters...

My cozy fall sweater needs sleeves and a few repairs. This very boring brown yarn is acrylic. I'll admit it. Gasp if you must. Think what you will. But, It ain't gonna itch me! And she's machine washable. She's the practice sweater. The thing about the practice sweater is there is no pressure. Some stitches have been dropped, the buttonhole spacing is not precise, and no one gives her a second glance when I take her out in public to knit . She's just for practice. I haven't been upset about this knit once yet. Karen from Musings of a mostly self-taught knitter blog, is making a sweater in just about the same color. We are calling them the twin sweaters. Hers is from a gorgeous pattern and mine isn't but they can still be twins. Separated at birth and all that. Go over and admire:) Amy of knitting.typepad.com wrote a funny, creative post last week. She talks about Bob Costas doing a segment on her Olypmic knitting. It is clever and funny. ...

Stacey from Sheep in the City included this cute little project bag with our August swap. Ahhhh the beach. We are hoping to get there next week. This is the time of year when Lake Michigan is warm enough to really swim in. Fireman likes it a bit wavy, so we'll have to hope for some wind that day. I should show you a picture of my cardigan, but it is kinda boring. I'd say I'm halfway done. Now it does have button holes and will need buttons. But, I've found a way to cheat. One of my knit hangouts is next to the cleaners. Sunny the woman who runs the cleaners is a doll. Well, I plan to just drag her down a few doors to the knit shop and have her pick the buttons that will work best. THen her seamstress can sew them on for me securely. What I won't do to avoid buttons. But, as some of you know from previous posts, I don't sew. Not even buttons. In fact I am throwing out the 25 year old sewing box that my dear mom's friend gave us as a shower g...

knit bloggers can say it again. Karen of Musings wrote that she worries sometimes that there is nothing new to say about knitting. (somedays) And, while it is certainly true that we have used puns, pictures and paragraph upon paragraphs to sometimes say the same things in different ways, I still enjoy it. Sometimes the WAY someone puts it, is a way I've always wanted to say it but couldn't. I have fun blogging on this post. I give it a bit of my time almost daily. What should I post about? is a daily issue. So Karen, and all the other brave bloggers out there who are willing to put their personal thoughts out there time after time. I say go for it. I love reading knit blogs. (by the way, my birthday yarn is out having fun while it WAITS to be a sweater. IT was riding on a gorgeous old car. It is next in line. Knitpicks Indigo Heather Merino washable. How did he know? I'll talk to you in the comments. :)

Madison Wi farmer's market street entertainment. I'll talk to you in the comments. :)

Well, I never. And I probably won't ever. But Al has. A certain Pete is going to have quite a nice pair of handknit socks this winter. As for me, I'm really tired of socks. I am nearly finished with the pretty blues yarn from Major Jennifer and then I'm done with socks for a bit. There is nothing like wearing a pair or your own hardknit socks, no question. But, I am weary of size one needles and evil little dropped stitches. The Cub thing is really starting to deserve my conplete attention you see, and I cannot easily frog and then pick tiny evil little stitches up easily. I suppose if I use floss and a sewing needle it may be doable and I'm certain sock devotees do it all the time, but I need a break from skinny little sock yarns. The Cub thing is getting to a serious place. An every game counts so much kind of serious place. A I'm getting my hopes up kind of place...... certainly not the kind of place where tiny needles and tiny stitches can play around...

*ivy on the walls. My neighbors are having a wedding soon. This is the ivy that greets me from across the street. I love ivy. (wrigley ivy mostly,) This growth is pure angel. I have to call my neighbor b/c I believe it is a gift from her little niece who died of a brain tumor. Thanks little Emily, I will make sure Auntie Jule sees it. And you great mom Katie too. okay now, put away the tissues. I also love *hearts. I collect them . My engagement diamond is a heart. * Closeknits in Evanston. Great sweet little shop. Sweet people work there. *The new GPS system that finds such places for me. (recalculating recalculating) *What this woman did with a unsure baby gift is something i love: go see at Knitabulous.blogspot.com *The beautiful dreamy sight: Cakespy.com *Equestrian, Olympic style. I'll talk to you in the comments. :)

Huck got a new bandanna. The new hairdo looks even better with a bandanna. Couldn't pass this one up at the farmers market today fore 4$. I spent about half that on 3 ears of bread and butter corn on the cob. I wish I could send you all an ear. Tis the season here in the corn belt, and it is like eating August. I"m knitting with the little ball of brown you see tucked into Huck. I'm knitting very calm right now. Top down raglan cardi for me. I know this knitting, I understand it, I can see it. This is my favorite kind of knitting. Calm knitting. Happy knitting. In my comfort zone knitting. BIg needle knitting. Easy to see knitting. Can't wait to knit knitting. But now, the crickets are singing and they too are the sound of August for me. They are lulling me into sleep. Zzzzzzz

Andrew and Cara were over last night. Both were great when I asked if anyone would model for the blog. See Zach, real men wear cowls for the blog. The red cabled cowl is made of an angora mix that Grace from LovinComfotKnits sent me. She sent it just because. Grace, I love the yarn and this gift will be wonderful to give in December! If you want to see a magnificent shawl, head over to TheJoyofsox.typepad.com. It is enough to make me wish I could knit lace. I think I could probably crochet lace. One live stitch at a time. Even that thought is daunting. What is on my needles? Well, some adorable socks, one down, one to go. AND, a new cardigan top down for ME! No place for lace round here. I'll talk to you in the comments. :)

"It was a dark and stormy night," as Snoopy would always write. I love storms you know. These are the clouds lit up by some negative ion lightenings. What a beautiful display of light and power tonight. I did sneak out and take a picture for the blog, but don't worry I did not have my metal needles in my hand. THEN I put all the names, ( one ticket for each answer given with your name on it in paper grocery bag), and Karen's name was pulled! She did answer all of the questions. So I guess her odds were better than some others. I'm delighted she won. Karen is at Musings of a Mostly Self-Taught Knitter. She is a neat girl. Karen, Send me your addy and the yarn is all yours. Bianca of Langsingerland also wins a prize. ( I decided to pull a second name). Katherine, Darcy and Kimberly you were great players with many tickets in the drawing as well. Thanks to all who played. I loved the answers, serious,silly and sweet. MY Snoopy is upstairs now, snoring ...

Al is making this cute sweater from SUBLIME Aran hand knit book #604. It is a gift due at the end of the month. It will be fun to see if she gets it done for the party. I'm betting she will. Okay, you tunafish lovers. My goodness. I do not have that gene. When someone is eating tuna fish I turn up my nose and say EWWWWW. I almost choke at the smell of it. Now that I know how passionate you all are about this apparent delicacy, I'll try to tone it down. As for fudge, it is all about summer here at our house. THe fudge shop in Minocqua is a tradition as we head to our cabin. I'm too busy eating all the Christmas cookies I can get to eat fudge in December. Okay last questions for the contest. Please answer : WHAT IS......just like we are on Jeopardy. Biance you are forgiven as I doubt you know the gameshow. Category: Lucious Loops: Novelty yarn has its place, What is this place? Category : Geogrpahy: A blog your read that is out of the USA Category: Out of t...