Alaska, Long Beach

The Kitchener Stitch that Couldn't

Oh my what is this?  Is this an actual post!? About something relevant?! Yes.  Hi, me again.  This is a sock that I just finished this morning. 

I actually finished the knitting last night while watching two hours of Craft in America, but for some reason was incapable of doing the kitchener stitch.  That silly little stitch gets me every time; is it me, or does it just feel counterintuative?.  I seem unable to commit it to memory, and have to reread the instructions for each stitch.  Last night I did it wrong twice, then tried something "new" [something that I will not share since the idea was so terrible and cost me several rows that needed reknitting with a dropped stitch every few stitches] and then finally gave up until this morning.  Shoot.  But the sock is done and I am debating whether I want to make the second.  I don't know that I will wear these, and while I like the pattern, the fit is rather "slouchy".  And I am not in love with the yarn [this is my last variegated yarn project- why do I keep buying these when I never love how they come out?]. 

So that is the lovely sock that took months at best.  It is not "the sock" to which my knitting group remembers as the one that took a year to knit.  As in, "are you still working on the sock?"  This was also my first lace project and I feel now comfortable with the whole YO thing to which I was previously terrified.

It bugs me a bit to just have one of a pair so I might just be the type to cast on #2 anyway...

Cheers all!

Linen & Flowers

Being a newer sewer I rarely see a project and think, "I can do that".  Except the June issue of Martha which showed how to make a bag out of a pillowcase.  I read through the instructions several times and decided to make this bag instantly.  Since all my pillowcases are white, dingy cotton I used some linen and made a pillowcase shape.  The rest was incredibly easy and the results are perfect.  I love my new bag.  It's kinda nice that my skill level matches my taste.

I made a second bag out of this gifted fabric for a friend's birthday and she was floored.  Not only that I made it, but she loved it. I think it is my first sewn gift.

Cheers all!

Interlocking & Cabling

When I saw this hat pattern with those gorgeous interlocking cables I knew I had to make it instantly.  And I did.  It fits ok, but hats just don't look too good on me.  I end up looking like a giant hairless face... But I still love this hat!  I believe I got the link from here.

I made the 3" ribbed border originally, but it looked terrible on me.  So I undid the cast on [not recommended!] and painfully unstitched 15 or so rows stitch by stitch until I had about an inch ribbing, which still needed so be folded.  The cables well make up for the border.  I might even make this hat again.  I forgot what yarn I used [an inexpensive tweed from the local yarn shop]; looks great but itches a bit.

Cheers all!

Mellow & Green

Late.  That is where I am with the Mellow & Yellow swap.  I received a gorgeous package from my swap partner and have yet to send out my exchange.  Nothing like guilt to supplement motivation. [Sorry!].  It is being prepared and will be sent tomorrow.

Here is the greenery I received, gorgeously packed and thoughtfully prepared.  Many thanks!  You can view swapped packages here if so desired.

Cheers!!

Cross-stitch & Coffee Stains

Last night I made a triumphant return to my knitting group.  They meet every Wednesday night, but this semester I have had a class that night so I have been waiting for spring break to go.  No drunken bikini beach parties in "Cabo" for me, just a weekly visit to a knitting group.  Totally worth it.

Above is my latest and greatest completed project.  It is another french press cover, but this time I cross stitched a little design on the front.  I partially copied the image from a Japanese craft book [where else do you go for early American folk art designs] and selected the colours myself.  Then for a personal touch I added my initials.  I love it.  Though I wish I chose a different, lighter binding for the bottom.  I went with the practical brown [also the colour of the lining] so it wouldn't show coffee stains, but I think it is too dark for the image.  Oh well, I still love it and actually use it. 

If you haven't checked out Sew Green yet please do so immediately!  Sew many wonderful things are happening there.  Plus I hear we were even mentioned here.  How cool is that!

Also did anyone else catch this show last night?  I thought it was fantastic.

Cheers!

Tree-mendous & Wardrobe

Again another lengthy post-gap.  Hmm...  Anyway I have a few things to share.  After my previous post I realized that I forgot two very important notes on both mustard and the sweater I am intending to make.  First is that I recently acquired the scarf in the photo below.  I had seen it at Bazaar Bizarre and meant to return to the booth and purchase it, but by the time we left, had forgotten.  So I emailed the maker, Tanya Aguiniga, and asked her to make one for me [in nicer words of course], which she did and I love it.  Yes it is mustard and felt and beautiful.

Second, I was so suddenly inspired to make a cardigan after seeing Notes on a Scandal.  Now I liked that movie, not loved but liked, but I loved Cate Blanchett's wardrobe.  She dressed so beautifully simple, unfussy & comfortable with great a great colour palette.  In one scene she is wearing a gorgeous and obviously hand knit cardigan which immediately I wanted to make.  So that is why i was searching around for a simple loosely knit cardigan.  I found a partial picture of what might be the sweater here, though if you find a better image please let me know.  But I am still torn on the movie plot.  Good, but a cat-obsessed, lonely, crazy old lesbian in a major movie?  That always irks me. 

And finally I found the BEST valentine's gift ever; even for people like me who choose not to celebrate the day.  Buy an eCard which plants a tree in the honour of your love.  Tree Greetings gives you a customizable ecard that lets your loved one know that they are "tree-mendous". 

Have a tree-mendous v-day!

Cheers! 

Cables & Mustard

I have been quite a busy knitter the past few weeks.  There is nothing to get you more motivated to knit then finishing a project.  It all started with this book that was brought to the Stitch n' Bitch meeting, and since then I could not stop thinking about the cable slipper socks.  So I ran out to buy the book, and I paid retail [no discount, no used version off Amazon, no wholesale purchasing etc.] which is extremely rare for me [I am a store buying by trade].  I love this book because my entire stash is single skeins that are in need of a good knitting up. 

I started the cable slippers straight off and had a wonderful time making myself one in orange.  Then T saw it and wanted her own pair, so I started and completed the brown pair for her.  Then I decided my mom should have a pair to be gifted on our upcoming spa day [a birthday present we are giving to each other even though it could be scheduled until almost 4 months after our actual birthday, which we share].  So the burgundy pair is for her.  And soon I am going to finish the pair for myself.  These slippers are fun little projects that I highly recommend. 

Then there is this arm warmer which is quite a beast.  I only have the first one done since I ran out of yarn for the second, and which I have order but have not received.  Thanks guys.  I do love the warmer, too bad they won't be finished until next winter.

Also I have decided to start a new sweater.  This sweater in mustard.   I immediately regretted the colour after I labouriously selected it.  But I think I will love it since mustard is the new black and one of my long time favourite colours.  See great examples here and here though usually I wear it as a slight accent like here.  A whole sweater that colour?  Can I do it?  Oh and it will look great with my wallet and new scarf [see post to come].  I seem to have a long running love affair with mustard.  My couch is mustard tweed and I had a mustard painted wall for a while and I had knee high boots that colour in high school and so on.  I hope it doesn't start to look dated after the trend comes and goes.

Cheers all!

Lavender Jars

I picked up these two jars at Ikea the other day.  For the store I purchase all my displays from Ikea so I am there weekly.  But when I saw these jars I realized instantly that these were the perfect solution to house my growing [drying] lavender problem. 

In the first jar is lavender I bought fresh, forgot about, and it became wonderfully dried and scented.  I had no place to store it so it stayed drying for possibly just less than a year.  The second jar is dried organic lavender I purchased from here that I use to stuff the lavender bags I make.  I love how these jars look and smell... now where to put them?

Cheers!

p.s. Read some glorious historical information on lavender here.

Makin' Stuff

So regardless of all my chicken and fruit posts I still have been busy making stuff.  First up are these gorgeous knitted little birds from the holiday edition of Knit Simple [great magazine title!].  The birds are simple diamonds folded over and stuffed with beaks, eyes, and legs added in.  If someone wants the pattern I scanned it: Page 1: View this photo , Page 2: View this photo .

The detail shot:

Next up is the apron I finished in my sewing class in November.  She has been patiently awaiting her blog debut.  I believe we used a Simplicity Pattern in the class and the total time it took for this was, oh, somewhere in the range of 6-7 hours. 

And finally, though not a completed project, I bought a cheap little sewing machine from Target [against the collective will of sewing class instructors everywhere].  I didn't intend to buy this, but there was another one on sale and I almost bought it, then the simple design and lack of knobs drew me to this one.  I like electronics with as few switches and dials as possible.  T's toaster oven has around 40 different little buttons and it drives me crazy since all the thing does is get hot.  Mine has one knob that is the on/off timer.  Simple and easy.

So, uh, back to sewing.  I have the Amy Butler book but everything is way beyond my skill set so I am searching for some simpler "learning" projects.  Any suggestions?

Cheers all!

A Swapping Good Time

I am participating in two swaps and so far I have received two packages and sent none.  I have things ready to go... but have to fight through work work and school work in order to get anything done.  To my dear pal, my apologies for the delay. 

For the Beautiful Use swap I received the amazing package below.  See the Fleur De Lis amber cups, the Paris notebook and the swirly bowl?  Yes.  They are all mine.  Thank you Jill!  Yours are in the mail tomorrow.

Second, for the Vegan Pal Swap I first received the most amazing handmade stitch markers, and today I received the most amazing fabric!  I want to share this, but I am waiting for the complete package.  Thank you Vegan Pal!

Cheers all!