Knitting Pearls

I think I'm getting a son

2012-01-27T18:34:00.000-08:00

or Kelli's getting a husband.

The four generations

2012-01-06T22:22:00.000-08:00

I'm amazed how many shots it took before all four of us could look in the same direction. It's the best of the lot. Scarlett was a little hyped up on sugar.

Machine Embroidery

2012-01-05T14:33:00.000-08:00

Not that I'm encouraging another hobby on anyone, but machine embroidery is neat to make personalized gifts fast. These are some examples I happened to have taken photos of. But quick Christmas stockings are fun to put names on for little gift cards. And one other great thing embroidery can be used for is if you're a bit of a slob and get stains on a favorite item of clothing - just pick a design or several and embellish it to cover - can even be in the same color thread as the fabric so that it doesn't stand up and grab you too much. Aprons, towels, and napkins can be embroidered quickly as hostess gifts. And if you sew, it's just almost a necessity. Okay. I'll stop. I'm just justifying yet another way to spend my money.

I'm feeling all girly

2011-08-05T15:12:00.000-07:00

I saw this apron in a foofoo-y store and they wanted way too much for it. No, it's not for me, but for someone else who actually could carry off wearing it! One fat quarter, 3/4 yd of lace, 1/2 yard of pompoms, and voila!

Three Bandanas

2011-07-12T13:51:00.000-07:00

Three bandanas at $1.79 ea at Michaels. I used a dress that fits Scarlett as a pattern. This is about a six to nine month size.

2011-06-09T09:23:00.000-07:00

I know my Amiga sweater doesn't hold a candle to that ADORABLE child modeling the clothes and hats that her Mimi made her, but I thought I'd throw it in there. I love this sweater. It's so light. It's perfect. Even my DAUGHTER said it was cute and she'd like a black one! My dear friend Abi's pumpkin sweater lives on. She ripped her first top-down and sent me the yarn.

I've not been working much lately

2011-06-06T10:36:00.000-07:00

So I've been crafting. Is there a term "craftoholic"? Now my grandbaby can match Mimi's purse.

Sock Machine Baby Sweater

2011-05-17T20:27:00.000-07:00

I cranked this from my sock machine, steamed and "steeked" where I needed to. Ready to start the hand knitting!

Clothesline

2011-04-10T17:31:00.000-07:00

I'm surprised they still make it! Who hangs out their laundry anymore? The neighbors would report you. "They'd" come arrest you and send a cleanup crew out. Good thing I found something to use it for. I'm ridiculously pleased with myself. I even have a fastener on hand for it!

Juicing for health!

2011-02-25T10:25:00.000-08:00

Everyone knows we're supposed to eat our five, nine, or whatever number it is of fruit and veggies e v e r y day. Well, some days I do really good, but there's too many of those other days. Then I read up on eating at least 50% RAW food a day. Now that's just getting crazy - especially with all my other weird eating habits. How do you do that on a sustained everyday basis? Well...I bought this Breville juicer,. It's extremely easy to clean (important when you're using it two to three times a day). I don't make large quantity of juice to drink throughout the day - only what I'm going to consume immediately. (My neighbor has the Jack Lalanne juicer that they carry at Costco. From a quick comparison, I decided this Breville was much faster/easier to clean.)

There are tons of sites out there with juicing recipes. These are two of my favorites: http://www.healingdaily.com/juicing-for-health/juicing-recipes.htm
http://www.hps-online.com/foodsjuices2.htm My staple is a couple handfuls of spinach (I buy the 3 lb bag at Costco for less than 6 oz at the grocery store) and a pear. Another is my version of V8 - tomato, celery, green onion, garlic, cabbage, red pepper, spinach, and some cucumber. I just wing it on amounts. I can't really down more than 8 oz of juice at a time. And the simplest of all is just juicing three carrots.

This was said to be a sinus cure: one apple, half lemon, one inch of fresh ginger, one orange, some cayenne pepper (and I really dump it on). I use the Breville for the apple and ginger, but squeeze the citrus by hand. I could drink this every day. I LOVE the taste.

When I drink a glass or two of green juice a day (or beet juice or carrot or whatever), I don't stress over a lack of vegetables when my dinner's just some rice pasta with bolognaise sauce and turkey sausage. I count my fruits and veggies like I do how many hours I sleep every night. That's normal, isn't it?

Scarlett Audrey Peterson has arrived

2011-02-09T20:30:00.001-08:00

And her mama couldn't be more beautiful or happy! And as for Scarlett's Mimi, I can barely contain myself.

New Sox

2009-11-25T15:58:00.000-08:00

CSM socks - for Mr. Hill if the color's ok for him. I love the colors! Can't even remember how I dyed this yarn, but I think it was kettle-dyed with Kool Aid and some food coloring. I'm sure I was aiming for black again... But these sure are purty.

Embroidery

2009-08-09T13:28:00.001-07:00

Today was day of rest/relaxation - well, at least the morning was. And here's the results.

First Christmas gift made. And this is quite a green gift - the off white was my neighbor's curtains and the black is a dish towel! Buttons were in the button drawer already.

The Sock Knitting Machine!

2009-08-08T17:47:00.000-07:00

Well, here it is if you can pick it out from all the junk around it! And yes, there really is quite a learning curve with these little gadgets. But I have been able to produce my first PAIR of socks on it. These are a hung hemmed 5x1 mock rib. The pink was the first real sock and it is on the 54 cylinder, 2x1 rib. I see lots of socks in my future!

PS It's totally your imagination that the legs are that white.

2009-07-24T17:03:00.000-07:00

I haven't attempted a quilt in a long time, but here's a gift I made for a special 1-yr-old boy! Probably won't use regular flannel for a quilt again. Even serging the seams didn't prevent some areas from fraying apart in the first wash! Operator error? Anyway I then used one of the quilting stitches on my machine to go over EVERY STINKIN seam just to make sure it doesn't happen again.

And I KNOW Mickey has NOTHING to do with the jungle, but I didn't have wrapping paper and his party invite had Mickey on it....

2009-06-17T19:14:00.001-07:00

So there's no knitting to share still. But I've done some machine embroidery lately. Bob's robe was tattered, so I ripped the terrycloth lining out of it and made a pattern for a new robe from the old one. I stuck in his old labels just because. And here are some napkins I made not too long ago. I love http://www.emblibrary.com/. The prices are great and there's a large selection.

Oh, how I wish I had not been bitten by the CSM bug. I want - I need, I should say - a Legare 400. I'd like to think I'd be happy with an Auto Knitter, but I don't know. And I really want to FIND one in a thrift store in just great condition for a mere pittance. The problem is I'd have to GO to a thrift store to look and do it regularly... Like that's going to happen.

Odds n Ends

2009-03-24T13:58:00.000-07:00

Just in case anyone's looking, here's a few new ones. Purse organizers just copied from pictures online - one view from inside the purse - and a gorgeous shawl from Knitted Lace from Estonia, the Lilac Leaf Shawl. Love it. See that little post for hanging your keys - it's a dowel covered in fabric.

Happy New Year

2009-01-04T08:07:00.000-08:00

The new year is a time to clean up. So here's my new FREEEE pattern storage units I picked up at Staples! I have no idea what their original display purpose was, but they serve my purpose, and the price was right.

This Badgley Mischka pattern (V1066) turned out pretty darn good. It's all in the details.

I bought this pattern for Kelli. Now I need the perfect material.

Of course there's been lots of undocumented knitting going on around here, but I was too distracted with other issues to post. The Japanese Feather and Fan shawl is a really cool pattern and so are the Praire Boots.

North Roe Shawl and other odds and ends

2008-10-16T14:24:00.001-07:00

This lingered on the needles far longer than it should have. It was thrown in the back seat of the car to occupy my dead time. Had I known I was going to add BEADS to it, I don't think I would have mistreated it so. I simply cannnnnot wait to wear this somewhere with anything.

A few other things I've finished up were the Little Black Top - This I think I'll wear a lot. It's comfortable and easy to wear, looks good with anything. I've already worn it to work a couple times.

And this winter's PJ's! Cute little lady bugs....

Fleece Robe

2008-09-16T11:17:00.000-07:00

Well, everyone knows the story of the fleece robe already. Anyway, this is it in its salvaged glory. Serging those chain stitches really helped the drape improve! Perhaps a plan next time I do that? Nah.

The Invisible Woman

2008-09-11T07:40:00.000-07:00

I walk in the mornings. I leave the house between 6:30 and 7:00. I've tried to change this many times just to avoid people, but as most, I'm stuck in a routine. So weekdays, depending on my path, I pass many teenage school bus stops, several solo teenage stragglers, and one grumpy old man who looks as though he thinks I'm going to grab him. Since I am a woman of a certain age, these teens do not deem me worthy of acknowledgement, not a nod and certainly not a return "good morning." Today I decided I would play my role of invisible woman properly and not disturb anyone with a gracious good morning greeting. This feels odd to me as I don't particularly like to be rude on purpose, but it seems to be working out well. At the top of the hill I see ahead of me three girls huddled together. As I get almost ready to pass, the middle one sweetly says "Good morning." Now, what do you think of that?

Influence can be good and it can be bad. I'm old enough to know better. This young girl reminded the invisible old woman to mind her manners despite her surroundings.

Wallets: Doing things the hard way

2008-08-20T13:18:00.000-07:00

There are some lovely tutorials out there for making wallets by DarnKat: http://darnkat.wordpress.com/quilted-fabric-wallet-tutorial/ and on Crafster: http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=16097.msg137772#msg137772

BUT no, I had to have a coin pocket and whatever JUST like my old wallet. It's not great, but it'll do. Many improvements could be made "next" time (hahahahaha)

Domino Art?

2008-08-18T09:47:00.000-07:00

Wow. Google that one. Fantastic stuff. But I don't need a new hobby. www.flickr.com/photos/perpetualplum/tags/dominoes/
www.rubberstampsclub.com/tips/monthly-projects/august02/august02.html

An extra long black scarf done quickly for a hostess gift. This is an easy, standby pattern that I need to branch out from http://www.yarnagogo.com/good_ole_cabled_scarf/

And on the sewing front a shirt.
I used my automatic buttonholer thing on this, and it worked! Over and over again, it worked! Using a buttonhole cutter makes an unbelievable difference over opening a buttonhole with a seam ripper. Which you can buy here: http://www.sews.com/notions/buttontls/buttontls.html

Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny

2008-08-02T17:48:00.000-07:00

No, it's not a yellow polka dot ... BUT it's done. And with time to spare. Kelli's friend's taking her to Hawaii in a couple weeks.

It was an experience. The serger doesn't always want to cooperate with the cover stitch and the picking out is a pain in the rear. But I think it's a dang good first bathing suit effort. Loosie's got a great friend who used to work for Catalina bathing suits and I need to pick her brain.

Panache

2008-08-01T06:57:00.000-07:00

How could I forget to blog my finished shawl! Here it is in all it's glory, appropriately titled "Panache" in www.knittingpatterncentral.com free patterns. The designer based it off of some doily pattern with the word Peacock in it! I LOVE peacocks. I had thought about buying the Pretty as a Peacock shawl pattern, but felt this one would do the trick and was free. I used Jaeger's silk/wool DK yarn for it and it's incredibly cuddly. This is the same yarn I used to make the Clock Vest out of - and the yarn was NOT a good choice for that, but perfect for this.

Swimsuit Sewing

2008-08-01T05:57:00.000-07:00

This is my first foray into sewing swimsuits or with lycra/spandex materials, and I'm so excited. I thought this stuff would be slippery and hard to sew, but it's just the opposite. The only downside so far is the cost of the material! http://www.sewsassy.com/ was a great site for the chlorine-resistant elastic, s-hooks (which I'm not going to use afterall), and lining (better than what's available at Joann's) and very supportive swim cups! The brown is the prototype and the black is my copy. I had read a lot on line about this first so I knew to put the lining in the suit and baste the two together at all openings. Then I sewed the elastic in the legs by leaving the fronts at the same tautness and pulling the back elastic in the cheek area. I used the three-step zigzag when sewing the elastic to the edges and then folded down once again and used the cover stitch on my serger. I had a McCalls swimsuit pattern to use, but the best help was my daughter giving me her favorite suit to copy. So I compared the pattern pieces to the suit and made some tissue patterns that were just slightly adjusted.

This fabric does not ravel at all. So to make a swimsuit sarong, I cut a rectangle - fabric was 54 or 60 wide, which is what goes around the waist and the bottom I curved up. I initially tried hemming all around and didn't like the look. So I cut with pinking shears and it's fabulous. Then I made a simple tube out of the remainder that she can just pull on as a little top over suit if she wants more coverage - almost looks like a dress. I just made sure the bottom of the sarong would go around her and meet and tapered the top edge a bit. The tube has one seam up back and pinked around top and bottom. Yep, went a little crazy and used another remaining strip to make a hair band. The sarong has been wadded up on my desk, so it's a bit wrinkled, but you get the idea.

Fruit Tarts and Yarn Bon Bons

2008-07-19T14:08:00.001-07:00

Was it my birthday and I forgot?? Did Christmas come early?? Nope, I didn't lose any teeth. Ms. Abi aka Miss Holly, Mrs. Bear, Ms. Gallagher, or Gail sent me the biggest surprise ever! I have no idea what I'm making yet, but ideas are flying. These are yarns I've read about but never splurged on. They feeeeel good. I always go for the low dollar and then am disappointed. But now I'm afraid to start something. Will it be worthy??? Egyptian cotton by On Line Linie in sherbet colors, Schulana's Sojabama in cream, Ornaghi Filati Le Fantasie, Austermann Step for some great socks, some Shepherd wool, some Louisa Harding Coquette with SPARKLES. What to do, what to do!

This is Loosie's recipe for fruit tarts, but I think I didn't do her justice. Sort of overcooked the crusts. Should have put some banana in there for color. But even still, they look good.

English Muffins and a Baby Sweater

2008-06-28T14:36:00.000-07:00

Last night my cooking buddy asked if I ate tuna, and if so, could I save him the tins. This sounded quite familiar to me. Why? He says he's going to make Alton Brown's english muffins for an upcoming brunch we have slated. Well, I go to dig out my tins from the trash and notice that there is no way in heck he's going to get those new-fangled rounded bottoms off. So I look to see if I have any water chestnuts and pineapple and I do. Then I start thinking, gee, this all sounds familiar. I dig through cupboards and sure enough I find five of these already bottomless. Then I read the recipe and think, hmm, I have it all. So thinking a bit first, I read all the reviews (lots of people knew about the pineapple and water chestnut cans working - one poor soul sat with a hammer, chisel, screwdriver tryin to get the rounded bottoms out of the tuna cans .....) and, not meaning to steal any thunder, I thought I'd try them as I had everything ready and I haven't done them since I became a King Arthur flour fan. Then I set out to, a, make them not too fat, use some cornmeal in the bottom, etc. And yes, indeed, they take a lot longer than his 5-6 mins per side and the cast iron pans I'm using have to have the fire just barely on below them. The first ones turned out just a bit fatter than I'd like. The later ones look pretty darn good. It did make ten muffins. Bob wolfed three of them pretty quickly. Myself, though, I'd prefer more "nooks and crannies." But these will definitely do. I'd say the recipe is a keeper.

And this is my lastest finished object. A lacy baby sweater I made from a pattern in Knitting Pattern Central (Lacey Baby set). I changed up the lace pattern just to make it go quicker. And I picked up all around the front with a smaller needle and did a garter edge with buttonholes. And the hat is stinking adorable. I made the poppy from another baby set in Knitting Pattern Central baby patters (Poppy something or other) and used the bottom border pattern to make a simple beanie.

I could do without summer

2008-06-22T08:14:00.000-07:00

Well, if it would only cooperate and only get tops to 85, I wouldn't mind so much. Since it's too hot to talk, I'll put up a pictorial of my summer so far.

I've sewn a bit, gardened a bit, put up some shelves, made a dress for Loosie. I'm not always that messy when I serge as it is in the Orange shirt - made this from Ottobre magazine - fits great. Made the pattern twice so far. The green top is a great pattern, but cheap fabric and it shows. I hope Loosie's frock isn't too loose. And the blue top is losing that tie belt. Fine when you stand, but once you sit and gravity does it's thing with the body, the belt shifts up to the chest and there's trouble.

No time to play

2008-06-05T05:15:00.001-07:00

But a few pics of some recent stuff. Here's Abi wearing this, as she calls it, "Hoochie" apron. She looks adorable. The grocery bags and I made a trek on foot to do the marketing, so I got not only a walk in, but some weight-bearing too - thought my arms were going to fall off. I sort of overdid the buying. That's my second peasant top, and I sort of used the same design in front. I did my first attempt at "shirring" on it. Finally got that elastic bobbin thing to work - but I sure didn't wind it by hand as they all tell you to. I just machine wound it, and it worked beautifully.

AND as far as these little soakers go, I think they're the cutest, most practical thing. They almost make me wish I had a baby to stick in them. If you don't know, these are to put over cloth diapers instead of rubber pants. This sounds weird, but you just keep using them for up to a couple weeks - rotating with another pair or two and only airing out between unless soiled. No, they don't smell. Hmmm or so they say.

Trinity Jacket

2008-04-23T08:59:00.001-07:00

Well, well, I do believe if I ever finish this that it will accompany me on jobs regularly. This will have three-quarter sleeves. I think two more inches and I'll bind her off. How fitting that my trinity jacket has three buttons.

My bit for the environment

2008-04-21T20:24:00.001-07:00

Or maybe that threat of $.25 per bag made me do it. Or maybe I want to be like Ed (begley)...I did buy his book.

But whatever the reason, it's STINKIN cute. I'll be making more. I just made this out of some Grace cotton I had hanging around begging to be something. And can you think of a better way to while away the hours hanging out at the Digestive Disease Center while your husband's undergoing some very unnatural process? Here's the pattern link: http://nephele.files.wordpress.com/2007/03/sunshinebag.pdf

Oh! On another note, My Favorite Neighbor never ceases to amaze me with her needle wizzardry. I hope her niece treasures this forever:
This is Knitty's Trellis pattern made up in Knitpicks Shine Sport. It's perfect! Unlike anything you can buy for an infant.

And here's what I made for her niece - look familiar? But I did add a hat to this ensemble.

Making Baby Stuff

2008-03-29T19:11:00.001-07:00

Everyone's having boys! I'm getting worried about human extinction here in the U.S.

The baby boy's big sister need a little something too. Sure hope this fits:

Garter Raglan Beginnings

2008-03-16T17:09:00.000-07:00

This yarn has had a tough go of it. It's Jaeger Trinity, a discontinued yarn. Does that give you an idea? Anyway, this is it's third life. It started as a lace cardigan. Then it was going to be a multi-directional tank. Now it's going to be a raglan - love the buttons tho. It'll have three buttons and lower half hanging open. I'm really hoping that I can wear this for work with a pair of black slacks and a black tee - or brown slacks and brown tee.

Mama and her babies

2008-03-13T21:35:00.000-07:00

Just for Linda Lou, I'm posting the hummer and her little hummers. Gosh, wouldn't it be a little bit uncomfortable to sit on those pointy beaks??? Actually, I'm not sure what's worse! Sitting on those pointy beaks, or having her rear on their heads! Either way, it's just not good.

Boucle Wonder

2008-03-13T15:34:00.000-07:00

Seems I'm slow in finishing things and posting. But I'm pretty happy with this as a first lined jacket, or lined anything for that matter! The cost was right - Joann's 1/2 price red tag sale - totalling up to probably $10 with thread and lining.

Peasant PJs

2008-03-13T11:02:00.000-07:00

It's huge, it's comfy, and I LIKE it, but I just don't think I'd wear it as a shirt. This will become my summer morning lounging wear. Perhaps I'll make some knee length bloomers to go with it! Yes. That's the idea.

It was entirely made with junk from the sweat shop stash and I was playing with the embroidery design.

Must Have Finale

2008-03-12T12:08:00.000-07:00

It took a bit longer than I thought it would, but it's there. I love it. Ready for next winter, I guess. Sure can't wear it now.
>

Sunshine Tote

2008-02-20T16:57:00.001-08:00

Really, I'm going to get back to the knitting. But here is a tote I made using a tutorial I found on line. I don't have to worry about not finding it in a heap. I probably don't have to worry about anyone taking it from me. I think it's mine to keep. It would be a great beach bag if one were so inclined.

Denim Bag

2008-02-20T11:34:00.000-08:00

Today's project - kind of cute. I used this tutorial (http://lulalouise.com/Tutorials.html), but had to make it a wee bit smaller because I didn't have enough material and I definitely WASN'T going to go buy any - MUST USE STASH. I did interface it also to give it some body and added pockets for the necessities in life (inside and out). It is reversible, but I doubt I'd ever use the pink side.

It's not that big but holds a lot: wallet, umbrella, bottle of water, makeup bag - and lots of room still - especially if you don't button on it! I probably could have gotten a little more creative with that pocket.

One Hour til Brunch Time

2008-02-09T09:27:00.000-08:00

There's butterhorns, cream cheese, and some pastry cream/raspberry danishes. And isn't this a unique flower vase thingy? Or at least I'm assuming that's what it is. What else could it be? It's from my m-i-l that I never met, so couldn't ask. But I do love it.

Must Finish Must Have

2008-01-31T18:21:00.000-08:00

I'm getting a little weary of looking at this. But once you get going, it is an easy knit.

Uniquely Me

2008-01-20T11:45:00.001-08:00

This is Clothilda's last stand. I ordered Uniquely You today for my fitting twin. Next up is Rhetta's Chanel knockoff. Tissue fitting the Vogue pattern pieces here on a slightly distorted paper tape Clothilda (I steamed some sweaters I was knitting on her - so I used the "good" side). I found some boucle material at a ridiculously low price (not wool...), bought some lining material, made some trim from various yarns. Will be searching for some chain for the hem. I suppose you'd call this my "mock up." I'm excited.

What 2008 holds in store.....

2008-01-07T08:13:00.000-08:00

It's starting out feeling good. My Must Have is progressing and I have made every imaginable (and one incomprehensible) mistake. So I've had to rip back the seed as I changed pattern on the back side when I shouldn't have (THREE TIMES, I might add). Yes, I twisted the nine-stitch cable the wrong way once. The wrap 3 - well I knitted the three after wrapping instead of k1, YO, k2tbl (THREE TIMES!) The triangular cable thing - YEP, I transferred the purl stitch to the wrong side of it one time.

The good news? I'm getting quite adept at fixing mistakes. The incomprehensible mistake? Well, l obviously, when fixing something, twisted the rows of yarn. I couldn't even figure out why the heck it looked funny and kept ripping down, ripping down. Then I had an AHA moment. Anyway, I think it's goin to be worth the work. And actually it does go faster than I thought it would.

On the sewing front, I'm gettin good at making pants! I made these cords from a McCalls Perfect Jeans pattern, and maybe not perfect, but they turned out well.

And this pic I'm including because it makes me ridiculously happy to open my cupboard and see this. It started out with one cup my DH bought me. I used it every morning. If it was dirty, I'd dig it out of the dishwasher, quick rinse, and voila. Then he made a comment how nice it would be if all our cups matched. I needed no encouragement. The only problem was it seemed it was difficult to find the cup with the black printing. Like it was some kind of collector's item or something! Then I found the "Holiday" cup - same ole cup, just a barn red printing - well, I LIKE that. Buy one, get one free - even better. I got me NINE cups now. I never gotta use a dirty one again.

So what I'm hoping for 2008? Good health for friends and family (heck, after reading this I realized I should throw in the people I don't know, the people I know and don't like even), lots of knitting, lots of sewing, perhaps riding my bike again, not too much work and lots of play - Balance - That's what I want for 2008.

Finishing and Starting Anew

2008-01-02T11:08:00.001-08:00

Clock vest was finished just before the year ended. It's doing it's second finishing - blocking again, bit wider/shorter. And I must have this Must Have Cardigan. It was begun just before the new year started.

Each project I knit, I say, Now this is the best so far! I don't think the Must Have will be dissappointing. I will make NO modifications. This will be an exercise in following instructions. (Something I'm not the best at.)

Dessert from Hell UPDATE

2007-12-29T07:42:00.000-08:00

OK - not exactly like the book picture. But with a wee bit of effort it could have been. I chose to melt truffles I had made for the holidays for the plate as I'm NOT eating more sweets for a while. I started just squirting caramel sauce on willy nilly in an effort to get them all to the table before it turned midnight!

Just going for a WOW factor here. Will it look like the picture in the book? Hmm... Will it taste good? Who knows? Will all the pieces get to the party without breaking? Who knows? The recipe on the sugar spirals said "Practice may be required." Duh. But here are some of the parts of the dessert. Still have to make cake -- that has to be carefully lowered into the bottom of the caramel boxes -- and mousse that has to be put on top of the cake, and sauces to decorate And will I need a trailer to transport all this to the party? And I already know that this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me.

Corset Making

2007-12-25T13:32:00.000-08:00

This was a Simplicity bridal pattern that I altered to put in a busk. Probably could have gone down one size. But still it fits pretty well. It should not meet at the hips in the back. The opening should be about 1.5 inches all the way down, but she laced this up herself. I like the way the top is higher in front. She can probably just wear this with an open sweater and still be quite "decent." Perhaps the next one I'll try putting a privacy panel in the back.

Merry Christmas

2007-12-25T13:16:00.000-08:00

Since we "do" Christmas on the 24th, here it is! First up is Kelli opening her "box of money." This was by far her favorite gift!

Bob is calculating how much it cost him.

By far this is the best picture - Mom and Kelli! Notice she is wearing her Swallowtail shawl!

And watch out Nashville!

Ravelry, Knitting, Sewing - oh, my!

2007-12-21T09:48:00.000-08:00

Yes, I joined Ravelry because, you know, everyone's doing it. Slow on the uptake, but I did it. Actually I'm RhettaRic (thank you, My Favorite Neighbor, for giving me yet one more name). These are one of my latest sewing FO's - jeans. And Green Cables is taking an outing with them today. I'm a little nervous about wearing something I can't just rip off like a cardigan or jacket if I get hot, but I've decided to just take a walk on the wild side today.

The jeans are out of stretch denim and using KwikSew pattern I've had forever. They are by far the most comfortable of pants I own. For the pockets I traced the design on tissue paper, placed it over the pocked, and stitched.

More sewing - pj's

2007-12-19T19:20:00.000-08:00

These are just too dang cute. Supposedly they really call this baby Fat Boy! Sure hope he doesn't get a complex.

Mama's Apron Strings

2007-12-12T19:01:00.000-08:00

Been playing with aprons and the pics don't show up quite as good as they do in person. The orange/purple is really vibrant and the stripes are so cute - waves, stars, dots. The stripey one is finally getting there. It works better to make them reversable, double thick.

Staying warm

2007-12-08T07:54:00.000-08:00

I've been playing with fleece a bit these days. Here's what I made yesterday. Not perfect, but with a little work, maybe next time. And because I haven't had much knitting content, I'll throw this Christmas earflap hat in the mix.

My Daughter Audrey!!!

2007-12-04T15:24:00.000-08:00

This was my kid on Halloween. I stole it off her Myspace. And I can't believe I birthed this!!

HH Apron Knockoff

2007-12-04T08:08:00.000-08:00

To think I almost threw it out and then find out my DD loves it??!! But the next one will be better.

Thinking about Chicago...

2007-11-29T15:00:00.000-08:00

Am I just in the dark ages? When did toilets start having babies?

Clock Vest (Folk Vest by Cheryl Oberle)

2007-11-29T14:37:00.000-08:00

I know, who wears these? Well, I guess I will. It is stinking beautiful even if it is a vest. Had a rough go to start, but after that, it's smooth sailing - well, except for the fact I got smart and decided to lengthen it which is throwing cable charts off and then the pu along the front will be off, and the count for the buttonholes will be different and I may need seven instead of six buttons. Hmmm. But here it is:

This time last year we were in Chicago with Gwen and Steve looking for a little snow. Since she's a little slower at processing her photos, I just got this!
Yes, yours truly knit those scarves and my hat. And here I am talking on the phone, taking a picture of something, while someone is taking a picture of me!

Making Marshmallows

2007-11-21T09:12:00.000-08:00

First gluten-free Thanksgiving in this house. I thought of just skipping the marshmallow topping for the yams as I heard store-bought ones had something evil in them (I didn't check myself though). But the wrath of GF daughter would not be worth it. So here they are. Will cut into little pillows tomorrow and roll in powdered sugar.

Oh, my! (Minimalist)

2007-11-17T07:46:00.000-08:00

Well, it certainly wasn't EZ, and there was no sliding involved. It was more like a very old man trying to pull a 6x10 foot loaded wagon up a steep incline on a dirt road. BUT she's done. There she is. She's got a bit of a turn on that collar which may or may not stay that way. She definitely wasn't meant to have it. But now that this is done, I have to make another with an intentional shawl lapel in this cabled pattern as the border is really quite stunning in my eyes.

And while I was on a little trip recently I bought a beautiful wooden stick for closing my shawls and more than likely this cardigan. It was a yarn shop in Sewickly where the help makes the shop (well along with the yarn selection). I also bought a pattern that absolutely screamed out MAKE ME! MAKE ME! I haven't the yarn yet.

Anyway, back to this little shop - if the stellar employee (name unknown, but who was amusing enough to not be forgotten) who is planning a trip to Burbank in February happens upon my little lonely blog again, I hope she emails me or leaves a comment so if I happen to not be working, we could venture together on a yarn crawl further than Burbank.

Sliding on home with EZ at my side

2007-09-30T17:39:00.000-07:00

Whooo, this was the first time I knit from bottom up to the pits, stopped, knit the sleeves, and then attached the sleeves to continue in one piece to the top. I was sweating there for a bit, but it's all together and looking good. I did a three-needle bind off under the arms - but put all the underarms on extra needles first while I got the whole thing together on one needle. Then when I could take a breath, I went back and bound those off to get rid of the extra four needles dangling in the inside. The first time doing something is always the worst. Still, I'm not sure it's worth it to save a few seams. Less bulk in your lap to knit in pieces and then put it together.

Corseting Away

2007-09-25T16:53:00.000-07:00

I'm posting this for anyone who stumbles across my blog and gets tired of the same ole thing. I am working on another currently, but here is a more attractive view of my first finished corset with a lovely model. I just slapped it around her regular clothes, but you get the idea. It's actually big for her as it totally closes in back and when the right size is made, her waist can actually be drawn in easily 2-3 inches.

And here is my second corset. Kelli's clone was kind enough to model.

Natural Minimalist Cardigan Twist

2007-09-04T13:42:00.000-07:00

What? A little knitting on a knitting blog? What am I thinking?
No, I haven't finished my lace cardigan yet. But maybe I'll feel more like it after I do something else that reminds me how much I love knitting. This is being done all in one piece. My inspiration is the Minimalist Cardigan in Interweave Knit's fall issue, but I didn't like that plain border that I thought might curl or something. My NMC will be a bit longer and will just hang open - no buttons, zipper, etc. Who really buttons their sweaters anyway? For some reason this sweater is beautiful to me - just Encore from my stash, but it's knitting up pretty and will be washable. Big debate is whether to make it full length sleeves or 3/4 - bracelet length.

Coutil, Supplies

2007-09-02T11:31:00.000-07:00

Here is the real deal, coutil, corset fabric. And here we have supplies. Hardly looks like supplies for something to wear!

Bones and Grommets

2007-09-01T22:15:00.000-07:00

This was the first fitting before lining is finished or all the bones are in. This is not a project for the faint of heart. And to think this is just a practice run..... Now I know why custom corsets cost a few hundred or more. Grommets went in so nice with my Osborne grommet setter. I bought some plastic coated steel bones for the back and some spiral metal boning for the rest - which has to be cut and have boning ends placed on them. All I will say is it involves a LOT of strength to cut with just wire cutters. And the tips - Lord help me. The tips require you to hold a pair of plyers in your left, a pair of plyers in your right - somehow (I guess with your third hand) you slip the boning into the tip which you grip with one set of plyers, then you use the other to squeeze the ends of the tips with the other hand while simultaneously squeezing both evenly. Yeah...that's what I said. My DH's helpful comments during these maneuvers could have resulted in some serious injury if he hadn't retired to bed when he did.

I'd tell you why I had to make two trips to Farthingales in Santa Monica for supplies this weekend except I don't want you to know quite how stupid I can be. Let's just say I'm geographically challenged at times. (And my mother who accompanied me on my first excursion is far too sweet to even raise her eyebrows at me when we returned empty-handed.)

Again, why am I making this? Is it because I need a corset? No. Is it because I'll wear a corset? I don't know. Is it because it's a challenge? Yep. Will I even want to make a second one? I doubt it. Generally I just need to do things once to prove to myself that I can. So I hope Kelli gets hers. It is highly doubtful that this corset will be a FO this weekend.

The Knitter Sews a Corset. Why?

2007-08-17T12:53:00.000-07:00

Here we have Laughing Moon's Victorian Underwear pattern - the Dore and the Silverado corsets. The fitting muslin for the Silverado went like clockwork. At some point I am sure I will get back to the knitting, but this sure is fun. (AND NO, it's not kinky)

Farthingales explains it all:

"Why wear a corset?
A corset can be worn for many reasons. At Farthingales L.A. we focus on beauty and practicality. Yes, a corset is seen by some to have sexual connotations but no one can deny that more than anything they beautify the body. The shape is appealing to the eye and there is something fascinating about the structure. You will never be missed if you’re wearing a corset but more importantly you will feel great.
Wear a corset to be noticed.
Wear a corset to feel confident.
Wear a corset to get a vintage silhouette and fit a period costume
Wear a corset to fit last years dress or this year’s bargain buy
Wear a corset to fit into vintage dresses!
Wear a corset to support your back
Wear a corset to encourage better posture
Wear a corset for FUN… we may even still have the pink camouflage one in stock… or the purple leopard skin.
Wear a corset for elegance
Wear a corset because there is no better way to go strapless!
Wear a corset to make a statement. "

http://www.farthingalesla.com/

http://www.lafnmoon.com/

Progress will be posted.

Poster is DONE!

2007-08-16T16:34:00.000-07:00

It's pretty neat!

Creativitis

2007-08-14T06:51:00.000-07:00

The internet has been blamed for the illness that has been spreading like wildfire. The crafty opportunities are endless. Can't wait to finish this.

Kelli looks smashing, yes? This poster is not done, but was created using Rasterbator, something I saw on Not Martha. You can make HUGE posters out of these little dots or big dots, your choosing.

Bartering

2007-07-23T06:56:00.000-07:00

So our friends Brenda and Roy are going to Alaska and needed hats. We did a trade, a barter. I made hats and she (is in the gourmet food/stuff business) delivered the goods photo'd! I'd say it was well worth the knitting time. Love it all!

We went down to their house in Carlsbad for the Big Exchange, a visit to the Del Mar Race Track, and Roy's famous bbq'd hamburgers before heading back home. For summer in Southern California, the weather was o u t s t a n d i n g! I almost could have used a sweater!

Cloning Kelli

2007-07-13T05:33:00.000-07:00

Since my DD complained that I haven't updated, I thought it only appropriate to post my latest creative effort. Believe me, I herniated myself trying to work as fast as I could before the little pill lost patience. These pics don't do DD quite justice in that she's been working out with a personal trainer and it sure shows - not just her shape, but what she's eating has paid off in the condition of her skin - it's stinking gorgeous.

I still have a little finishing work here, but it's close. She needs a pin head and to be polished up with a bit of shellac and perhaps a stable base. I tried not to overthink the decoupaging. But this is harder than it looks. I started goin through magazines (Oprah, Real Simple, Bon Appetite - the only ones I had around) and clipping anything interesting to me or that I thought represented her interests (hence the muts, but I take total credit for the 90-year-old naked woman gracing her left armpit.) Then I tried grouping pictures on the floor. But when it came down to it, the groups had to give way to what size was needed where. (Kelli IS in a bathing suit during this process)

What I've been up to

2007-06-01T17:58:00.001-07:00

Yes, pj's, mock turtle, couple cam shirts, ill-fitting capris - lots with my NEW Viking Designer I!!!!

New Beginnings

2007-05-30T08:09:00.000-07:00

This is with my Jaeger Trinity batch I got on Ebay - all the way from England - for complete price of like $41 for 2200 yards! It's a discontinued yarn made of mostly silk and cotton. I've started this over many times. One because the pattern is made only in the small size! So first I added a couple repeats and I think it was goin to be too big. Started over and did it with one extra repeat. Looks right to me.

No Fringe Will I Ever Make

2007-05-24T13:10:00.001-07:00

This is the one thing I gently requested of my gramma's things (after first inquiring if anyone was using it and being assured that no one wanted it because it was so stinking heavy). My best guess is my gramma crocheted this about 45 years ago. I remember her sitting on the porch with her cotton and hook for what seemed to me to be a lifetime. She was a knitter too. My aunts said she made far too many sweaters for my cousins. I guess she thought because I lived in California that Kelli didn't need any. (We're from Michigan originally.) I figured my aunts forgot that I wanted it, but one day a big box arrived. I threw it through the washer, hung it out to dry, and put it on my bed for many years. When I moved, I put it away as it had a couple holes developing and one very tiny rust stain.

Well, today I dug it out, poorly mended the two holes, soaked and bleached and washed and hung it out to dry again.

Well, it'll work on my queen size even tho it's really made for a double. It sure needs some pretty little Green Gate-ish pillows!

But what the heck does one do to straighten all that fringe!!!

(Funny how I'm dressed like my dad! But there's my crafter-granny right there in the middle)

Update of Green Cables

2007-05-18T08:19:00.001-07:00

UPDATE: TADATADATADA Now it's complete. It's on to other things.

Here it is ready for the big finish, block, store till next winter being modeled with today's PJ's in the bathroom mirror. Sleeve bottoms may need to be ripped and redone. We'll see after being blocked.

Green Cables

2007-05-13T13:28:00.000-07:00

This is going along pretty well. The I-cord will run through the bottom border (it's a tube border, but flatter than the neck as I just did SS on the back side of the cables there and there are holes the cord can come through on the cables)

So my dilemma is, do I just knit to wrist, do turning row, and hem?? Do I do the bottom border again on the sleeves? Hmmm.

This does fit just fine as is. But it could have been done a lot looser too. I think it's more fitted than I had imagined when I started.

Here's the best of DH's attempt to take a pic

And if only my arms were longer, I could do everything myself . But you get the idea.

Friday night we had pizza here with good friends Gwen & Steve. We had minestrone, Gwen's antipasta salad, Chicago-style pizza, and a mix of Ben & Jerry's ice cream refashioned into some kind of new age spumoni.

Red looks much better on her new owner, Gwen! Notice how the sleeves are longer and looser? She looks smashing! I'm so glad it fit cause ripping a perfectly beautiful Red for salvage materials would have ripped my heart!

Doilies and Aprons

2007-05-03T19:07:00.000-07:00

What year is this again? Oh, yeah. Everything old is new again.

This post is mainly for Nona. This is what you do with another damn doily! This was made by "Dead Daph" - a friend of my mother's whose dream was to move to California. She finally did and died within a month!>!.! The doily isn't treated very well as I just throw it in the wash and never block it. But now I'm getting the urge to knit a bigger one to cover the top of the table.

After visiting Greengate I felt compelled to make an apron. Browse their brochure. You'll be sewing too. It's really cuter than this mirror shot. It's just stinking cute. I've worn it all day - baked bread, made meatloaf, macaroni and cheese. I spent the day in the '50s.

(After looking again at my picture of the doily, I realized that one might think a monkey might live here, but no, just two banana-eating adult humans.)

Green Cables

2007-04-16T18:39:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm less than enamored with Red (Nantucket), but I've worn her a couple times. Couple things - not too sure about those short sleeves that cut right at elbow and get a bit munched from bending your arm. It's cotton. If it just grew in length, that wouldn't bother me. But seems she's bigger around and bigger around. Moral of that story? If I knit in cotton again, it will be a straight tube like my Blue cotton one. But more than likely, I'd get a blend in the future.

I've got my fingers crossed for Green Cables. So far, so good. Love that stand up collar. Love the cables at the raglan. I want this kind of loose, comfortable, sweatshirty like. It'll have the kangaroo pocket in front, I think. That neck band will be repeated at the cuffs, I think. I may do it at the hem or just do a simple straight hem. I wanted so badly to throw a celtic cable emblem in the middle top up there, but decided to make it simple stupid and not overdo it all. I got the idea for the neck from Alice Starmore's Fishermen sweater book. She said to do it 25" long, but I wanted it a little higher up, so I did about 22". It's three cables and folded right smack dab in the middle of the third. Then I picked up stitches, 2 for every 3 rows around it and divided them up reasonably for a raglan. This is made out of my Rowan Pure Wool that I nabbed from Elann at a fantastic price. I'm planning on trying to do armhole gussets with a little pattern in them.

Nantucket

2007-04-11T15:36:00.000-07:00

Do I love it as much as I should? No. But I'll wear it. I've steamed the heck out of it. Done everything a woman could do to make the bottom look finished. A little mistake here, there, added a few inches in length. So it doesn't look perhaps like the designer intended, but it's my Nantucket!

This bottom picture is more true to color.

Doll Dressing

2007-03-31T09:07:00.000-07:00

If I'd spend a little less time dressing Chloe, I could probably knit a bit more! It's definitely time to quit playing and start working around here.

When life gives you lemons

2007-03-30T14:28:00.000-07:00

make lemon water. Squeeze one lemon into a cup of boiling water and add some honey. It's good for what ails ya. This one thinks it's a grapefruit. I love everbearers.

Now about Nantucket - this pattern's no lemon. I've added a few inches. I'm still in love even after checking around on the internet and finding a number of them that I was not overly enthused about. The color in the pictures I'm posting on it are so off. It's really deep berry colored, more like the sweater on the magazine cover.

Nantucket Grows Slowly

2007-03-28T10:30:00.000-07:00

Saturday was the beginning of a scratchy throat, but I was no woos and I walked with MFN. Sunday I thought, yeah, I'm kinda getting sick, but if this is sick, I can do it; I feel pretty good except for that throat. Monday ditto - Kelli's birthday and I ran around like a chicken with her head cut off. Work said there was nothing for me on Tuesday, which was okay with me, but I figured if they had had a job, I could have worked no problem. Tuesday I woke up, threw some bread on to rise, sipped my lemon water, and realized that yep, I'm sicker than a dog, a barkless dog. I could barely make a sound. But worse, I felt sick. I tried to remain vertical for a little knitting, but I didn't get too far. Here's Chloe checking to see if it's going to fit around her butt.
Looks good so far.

And here's a shot of that oatmeal bread.

Happy Birthday!

2007-03-27T07:41:00.000-07:00

I know what I was doing 28 years ago today. It was even a Tuesday, bowling night. The team came to the hospital to await my new arrival. I was petrified it might be a boy, but I guess He knew what I could deal with. But if I did have to have a boy, this one would have been okay. There they are in junior high, sometime after high school when they thought they were all grown up with their coffee drinking, and now. They just get cuter and cuter. I was hoping to finally meet his wife, Katie, last night now that they're my neighbors and all..... another time.

Happy birthday, baby!

(p.s. If you'd been raised with my three brothers, you'd have been petrified to have a boy too!)

Nantucket

2007-03-23T14:00:00.000-07:00

Oh, those wonderful beginnings -- you know, when your heart's atwitter, your appetite's diminshed, you feel like you can stay up all night just to have some quality together time because you're in love? I'm there.

I began small with a sleeve to check the gauge, which should have been off terribly, but in reality, it's fine. One small unintentional pattern modification with a twist on the twisted stitch pattern was born early, and an executive decision was made to let it be - all the way throughout the sweater as if it were an intended consequence of thought.

The pattern calls for wool and my Nantucket will be in cotton, Classic Elite Provence. Who in the world would want a short-sleeved wool sweater? Or at least in California I see no need for that. I will add an extra inch at the waist to lengthen the sweater just a bit. Cotton alone will, from what I've read, lengthen it in time (although I did make a blue cotton sweater and I notice no appreciable lengthening of that sweater).

Trellis

2007-03-22T05:59:00.000-07:00

Finally, in all it's glory, I present Trellis. It ended up about 74 inches long by 16 wide and took 3.5 skeins of Jamieson Shetland Lace. There was a lot of hoopla on the internet about the beginning and end not matching. For a brief period I was brilliant and modified the designer's pattern in what I was sure would be a matching end, that is, until I realized that she knew more than I do when it comes to lace and ripped back and did it her way. Looks good to me. Not sure if you can see the sides where I stuck the blocking wires. Nice little edge.

Coming soon to a new home will be some Rowan Pure Wool from Elann who had it at 40% off!! Really, before that though, I need to do something red, something cotton.

Latest Obsession

2007-03-17T07:56:00.000-07:00

I want to make a carpet bag, a PERFECT carpet bag and have been doing a lot of research. But I have a practice piece to show you which I've learned so much in making. I did manage to get a tubular frame in it, but the bag's way small. My machine doesn't like this project and will not sew upholstery thread through heavy material for some reason, but will sew it just fine on light-weight fabric. The bottom was cut from an old suede vest which belonged to Dr. G. The sides are stabilized with some heavy-weight stuff fused to the fabric. I have to remove the little flap with the snap and move it to the outside of the tubular frame. And for the next project I'll need to order some little feet. This frame is a 10" size. I had originally cut the fabric for what I thought would require a 12". Hmmm.

For THE CARPET BAG of my dreams, I think I need an 18" frame. The sides and bottom have to be much wider. AND I need a sewing awl to get through all thicknesses, which I've found at a quite reasonable price online.

On the cooking front, I made two loaves of rye bread yesterday on my pizza stone. In the oven right now is a coconut layer cake. The lemon curd is cooling in the fridge. The heaviest decision on my mind at the moment is do I make 7-minute frosting with coconut or whipped cream frosting with coconut?

More yarn is on its way to finish up my Trellis Stole. Then it's definitely got to be a project involving my Classic Elite Provence (cotton) yarn in the color French Red. I've had it sittin there far too long.

Rhetta Beasley's Cake and Knitting

2007-03-12T19:07:00.000-07:00

Let me eat cake:

Are you beginning to wonder is this a food blog or a knitting blog? Hmm. Well, I guess I'd just say it's a knitting/food blog. I really did work today. It's just that during my coffee break or lunch hour, I whipped up this cake. The layers are brushed with lemon syrup and filled with whipped cream/cream cheese mixed with a few raspberries and raspberry jam. Then I stabilized some whipped cream with a bit of gelatin and frosted the cake with that. It's very good, I must say. But I think there could be some improvement.

On a knitting note, I received one-fifth of my Amazon order. Being the thrifty person I am, I took the free shipping. Don't ever do that unless you really don't want what you're ordering. It's been over a month. I did get a notice that three of Barbara G. Walker's Treasury of Knitting books are shipping. But the last book is definitely coming by Pony Express. I have a couple skeins of Zephyr just waiting for this. But first I have to knit something besides a shawl.

I was born Brenda Diane, but called Cindy all my life (starting with my mom - just call it a fight with my dad over what to name me) until I became a court reporter and decided I should use my legal name. Even my dad didn't call me the name he won the fight with. He called me DeeDee and CC. Then of course I was called Mom. Kelli's friends called me Mama Brenda/Cindy. Fast forward to blogdom and Mrs. Bear has called me Kate. My Favorite Neighbor out of the blue has decided I'm Rhetta. At this point in my life, I think if somebody calls out a name, I'll just answer! But I've decided if I'm going with Rhetta, Beasley's going with it. Thanks, Tink.

Spring Forward Sunday

2007-03-11T11:07:00.000-07:00

Gotta move ALL the clocks forward an hour today. Hate that. What's wrong with everyone just getting used to the fact that some parts of the year, it's dark till 7 a.m., and other times it's light real early. As a transplanted Michigander living in California, anything that gives me a sense of seasons makes me happy. And as long as we're dreaming, a little snow now and then wouldn't be a bad thing.

So I'm gonna need a serious diet soon if I keep up this bread thing. Here's loaf two pictured. I did share the last loaf with neighbors. Now she's making her own!

And as far as knitting, this is all I have on the needles at the moment. Added a repeat to make it slightly wider and hopefully it will block out to about 18-20" wide and make an acceptable width for a "stole." I can't seem to stay with it very long at a time. Maybe my heart's not in it. But I know I will love it when it's done.

And to go with the bread some lentil soup with meatballs.

Playing House

2007-03-09T12:44:00.000-08:00

I think my favorite play-time activity as a little girl was playing house with all my dolls. No Barbies for me (which is all my daughter ever played with). I had baby dolls, nun dolls, bride dolls, Chatty Cathy - you name it.

Perhaps I'm old, but I still love it (sans dolls). Today I'm just enjoying myself. No housework. Just cooking, baking, knitting, crocheting. She (http://www.foodiefarmgirl.blogspot.com/) started it. She (http://www.catduck.com/Clog/) didn't help. And this (http://heatherbailey.typepad.com/heather_bailey/ ) sent me right over the edge. Did you know there was a whole 'nother world of blogs besides knitting blogs? I mean FOOD blogs, Crochet blogs, FARM blogs, etc. Good Lord the internet's fun.

The crochet bag needs lining and zippers yet. The bread's baking (in a Dutch Oven, if you can believe that!) The blueberry breakfast bars were fantastic. Check out FoodieFarmgirl above for the bars and bread. Just took the lid off that bread and WOW!

This bread is truly the EASIEST BEST bread I've ever made. Yes, you have to let it sit in a bowl for a long time, but that's as difficult as it gets. FarmGirl has the complete lowdown on this bread.

Today life is good.

I can't pull the plug

2007-03-03T09:49:00.000-08:00

Quote from some website: Euthanasia is a term we hear more frequently today. The word is derived from two Greek words--one meaning "well" and the other meaning "death" -- and so the word "euthanasia" has come to mean "an easy or painless death." In current usage, euthanasia refers to the practice commonly called "mercy killing." To painlessly put to death persons (blogs) who/that suffer from incurable and extremely painful diseases seems like an act of mercy to many unthinking people.

I even discussed it with my Pennsylvania knitting buddy, http://mrsbearswoods.blogspot.com/ - I'll pull mine if you pull yours. But I can't. There's still hope, a shred of life, potential. And maybe soon there'll be some knitting.

By the way, Mrs. Bear and I had our first REAL conversation (via phone) - this occuring after probably a year and a half of written communication. I've felt like I've known her for so long now, so why is that first voice communication still kind of scary? When I heard her message on my phone, I actually giggled out loud (even though I felt thrashed) cause her voice sounded just like it should.

New Year, New FO's

2007-02-12T10:34:00.000-08:00

I've been easing into the new year slowly. But yes, there are a couple wee FO's. One of the black Baltic Clementine socks was finished in 2006, and there it sat, lonely until just recently.

Then I've been stinking obsessed with the Log Cabin socks, or more particularly with Brooklyntweed's legs?? A little too cheap to buy the book, I've studied many versions of this sock on the internet. None of them (and certainly not my own) compare to Brooklyntweed's - not in color, knitting, photography, or those lovely hairy manly leg models -

This, I assure you, is my LAST Swallowtail shawl. I believe I made FIVE.

Did you already realize that it's very difficult to photo finished socks? These were accomplished lying on the couch, contracting my abdominals while flexing the feet and extending the FO's high above me. Nice.

Sunny Southern California

2007-01-14T11:44:00.000-08:00

Having originally come from Michigan, I love weather, real weather - seasons, you know. Haven't had them since I was a youngster. Well, this year we have had some weather, just enough. Not the having-to-learn-to-drive-through-sleet/snow/ice kind, just enough -- Cold enough for knitting by the fireplace, drinking hot cocoa with homemade peppermint marshmallows, donning handknit sweaters, and piling on blankets (preferably quilts, homemade quilts) at night. Perfect. Even been using a new afghan a friend knit me for Christmas!

That ice was still on the pool at noon today! DH had to go break it up so the creepy could do its thing.

By the way, when someone knits you an afghan, you know they love you. They have just spent weeks with yarn and needles in hand working on something they can't wait to give you. And there is no adequate reaction for such a gift except use, lots of use - lots of getting up early, sitting by the fire, knitting, sipping on that first cup of coffee wrapped in your new afghan in the morning use. That, Nancy, is what I've been doing in this weather.

First FO of 2007

2007-01-05T15:31:00.000-08:00

Quick knit for Kayla. Looks a wee big?? And will that little beret fit? Time will tell. She's sooo dang cute!

The beret I made based on a Debbie Bliss pattern, but the pattern was for DK yarn and I was using worsted, so that involved a little playing around. The sweater was based on Book of Sweater Patterns sizes for size 4 and I added that little pocket that looks a little miniscule.... I started with the set-in sleeve pattern and then decided to split the neck and add a little collar.

Needle Size/Yarn Size

2006-12-27T13:42:00.000-08:00

Here we have a Swallowtail made on size 3 needles and merino lace yarn. Then we have the same number of stitches done on size 8 needles and Lavold Silky Wool. What a difference in size!

Baby Booties????

2006-12-27T12:56:00.000-08:00

Well, DD wants her Maryjanes and the only pattern I have for them isn't all that nice. If I make them out of 100% wool and lightly felt and stretch back into shape, they're pretty much okay, but it's a lot of worrying, manipulating, etc. There's a Fibertrends pattern for felted ones out there. And since I'm cheap (confusedly -- been told I'm penny wise, pound foolish) -- I made up the booties because the pattern was in the Knitting Encyclopedia and I happen to have the book. I figured I could learn how they did it, translate that into real people size. Hmmmm - what do we have here? A humongous fat foot slipper. Perhaps if I spent $5 on the pattern, I wouldn't waste $5/$10/$15 on yarn trying out a pattern!!! But dang, those booties are cute!

The Bride and Groom

2006-12-11T19:55:00.000-08:00

We drove to Laughlin for a wedding! Please note that Mom is wearing Swallowtail Shawl!

Mourning (Knitting content see end)

2006-12-08T13:42:00.001-08:00

Lambie is dead. God rest his soul. He lived 27 years, March 1979 to December 2006. His later years, he was a mere shadow of himself, coloring was off (perhaps liver disease). My daughter may never recover. I tried to make a replacement in anticipation of just such an event, but...

The demise was as follows: DD put his innards (all that was left of him) in the pocket of her pj's for safekeeping. Later in the day, she did her laundry. That night panic set in when she realized that the lint trap had had its way with Lambie. She has not been the same since. She cannot sleep. She wakes up looking for him still. It's only been a few days.

Here he was then. We have no recent pictures.

(Knitting content: The black thing on Kelli's head (which started this whole entry) was my last shawl. I used Skacel Merino and though it's nice to knit with, finished blocked project is not near as "substantial" as Zephyr. Result: I don't like this shawl/scarf much)

Chicago Getaway

2006-12-03T07:29:00.000-08:00

Well, I got my snow and still managed to get out on our scheduled flight. We dined at some great places, my favorite being Osteria Via Stato where you pick your main dish and they just bring various other dishes to your table. If you want more of anything, just ask. And we asked for some more of the BEST onions in the world. They were sliced rather thick, doused in cream, butter, and parmesan cheese and roasted in a pizza oven. My main course was short ribs removed from the bone served atop creamy polenta. The three restaurants we had dinner in were all so different - Tru's, Joe's Seafood, and Osteria Via Stato. Tru's was unlike anything we've ever experienced. This sounds weird, but my favorite dish of the evening at Tru's was a consomme! Of course, it was not JUST a consomme, but contained some partridge, chestnuts... The food kept coming. When we collected our coats to leave, they presented each of us with an individual wrapped banana loaf which we had the following day with our morning coffee. The shot of the four of us is at Due's eating our first Chicago pizza.

In these pictures you will see Gwen wearing the last hat I made which ended up being for her because it was PERFECT on her. Doesn't she look fantastic? Steve is wearing the Chicago Scarf I made for him. Bob and I got to wear hats, scarves, vest, sweaters - all the knitted goods we could. It was COLD.

Chocolate Scarf

2006-11-19T13:21:00.000-08:00

Thought you'd like a change of photo. I had a couple skeins left over from Fringe and put it to good use, of course with Chicago in mind.

Now, you all might say, Isn't this a lot to do about nothing for THREE days? Well, I do plan on New York this time next year. So....

Tweed is DONE

2006-11-16T21:25:00.000-08:00

Not bad considering everything.

Tweed One More Time

2006-11-15T09:50:00.000-08:00

I know you're sick to death of this. So am I. BUT it's almost done. Need to crochet around bottom and buttonholes, maybe the collar?, and put some buttons on and weave in a few ends. It'll probably take days to dry as it was pretty soaking wet. I added some seed stitch cuffs on it. Maybe just one button on them cause they're pretty small.

A few soaks in Pantene conditioner has softened it up. I'm anxious to try it on to see if it will be part of my Chicago wardrobe. I could sure use a cream colored scarf to wear with this... OR would I look tooo knitted up?

The examination gloves are there because if I handle wet wool, my hands break out in blisters and it's not fun. Dry wool I have no problem with.

Weekend Away

2006-11-13T08:49:00.000-08:00

At the last minute Favorite Neighbor decided to go up and see Favorite Neighbor Child2 swim and I got to tag along. Here is a bit of our weekend. What you can't tell from the swim pics is that FNC2 had a serious ear infection in BOTH ears and was so dang dedicated that she swam anyway knowing every time she would dive into the pool her pain level would increase. She even went to San Francisco with us afterwards to eat at Sam Wo's - only the pics can do them justice - and powered through as if she was fine. FN was able to get a prescription filled and get her on the road to recovery before we left.

Not a lot of knitting was accomplished, but a lot of firsts - first swim meet for me, first time I stayed in a college kids' apt, first time I took the BART, first time I ate at Sam Wo's - oh, and first time I was in a 70 mph vehicle that had a front tire blow out!

My Favorite Neighbor

2006-11-10T12:15:00.000-08:00

Finally I get my neighbor to put her dang sweater on! She's a beauty - both of them. (Look in finished objects to see sweater detail.)

Now she's getting a little annoyed with me and my camera:

But now, she's into it. Work it girl!