Sunday, November 11, 2007
The New Interweave Knits
Saturday, October 20, 2007
It's Been a Long, Long Time
O.K., I'm only joking! This was at Alcatraz which I visited last night with some of my teammates. Some of the cell blocks were set up as if prisoners were still living in them, and on the audio one of the ex-prisoners was talking about teaching some of the other prisoners to crochet.
Pretty interesting, eh? I guess the prisoners had to have something to do to while away their "time."
I'm visiting a needlepoint store later this morning, so hopefully I'll be able to post some photos later of that.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
World War II Knitting
Here's Steven (in a sweater made out of multiple fibers, including 8-track tape!):
You can just barely see in the background a mannequin with a fantastic dress made out of a silk underdress, covered with an overdress made of copper wire! It is so cool. I wish I had gotten a better photo... It was made by a local fiber artist (can't remember her name) and is called something like "Yeah, I'm a Goddess."
At my table there was a wonderful woman named Trudy (sorry, I've forgotten her last name) who is 82 years young. She had a couple of great anecdotes about wartime knitting. In addition, she has given a couple of her hand-knitted items to the collection. Here she is (on the left) with Linda McShannock and Trudy's beautiful, Chanel-inspired sweater. The sweater was a blue ribbon winner at the Minnesota State Fair in the 1990s.
Saturday, September 01, 2007
Progess - Slowly
Hence the slow as molasses progress on my needlepoint piece. Here's a photo anyway:
Mostly, I have a bunch of green left; however, I do still have to do seven stars plus some beads on the bottom of the pants and some sparkly thread (Kreinik) in some places. But then it will be ready to go the finisher. This piece is 7" x 17" - a perfect size for a wall-hanging.
I also have to finish my 'Maude' jacket/duster this weekend, since it needs to go up in 3 Kittens for a class sample. I made the XL size, but now I'm thinking I should have made the L. It worked up so quickly that I might just have to make another one in a different color! Photos to come when the first one is done.
Friday, August 24, 2007
Maggie Jackson at 3 Kittens
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Finally Photos!
This is the Knit One Crochet Too Ty-Dy top (modelled by Tiffany, one of the employees at the store).
A fun little cardigan with an interesting shape, made out of Berroco Touche from one of Berroco's summer pattern books.
Ascot-style scarf made out of Simply Shetland's Lambswool Cashmere. This is a free pattern with the purchase of the yarn at the store. It only takes one skein - 10 bucks!
I love this scarf. It is crocheted out of Berroco Keltic (modelled by Ana, another employee). This is a free pattern from the Berroco website. It's part of the Dram set which also includes a hat and mittens. I did make the mittens but am not enamored of them. Apparently, Berroco also has a knitted version of this pattern, but I haven't looked at it.
I've also done about a zillion swatches for the store. No one likes to do swatches, but it does give you a way to learn which fibers you like and why. We just got Nashua Velvet Wool and Vignette in the store, plus the Mirasol project yarns. I can't wait to do swatches of those! Kind of...
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Finished Projects - No Photos
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Languishing
This is the Whirlwind Scarf by Christine Furber, part of the iKnitiative line of patterns. It's made out of Berocco Suede. I fell in love with this scarf at The National Needlearts Association convention in June. I took a class with the owner of iKnitiative on using ribbon yarns, and she had this scarf made out of browns and blacks - way cool colorway, too.
I'm also plugging away at my Kaleidoscope Tote by Sheryl Lange. The Kaleidoscope Tote is one of our 3 Kittens Designs, but this version is for my own use - not a store sample. And, I'm working on my needlepoint. Plus, we've gotten so many new yarns in the store in the last week or so, I have a ton of gauge swatches to do. So, as you can tell, I really have nothing to complain about.
I guesss what's bothering me the most is the lack of mobility. I'm a pretty active person, and right now I'm stuck lying on the sofa with my foot propped up.
I'm trying to keep the swelling down - not really doing a very good job of it though - look at the 2nd toe on each foot! EEK! But, the pain is getting better... Anyway, I wish I could do my regular stuff - even the laundry! SIGH! I do have it bad...
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Ouch!
This is our 1907 Franklin (with my daughter in the front seat and my oldest son and nephew in the back). We joined about 20 other very early cars for a Horseless Carriage Club tour in Superior, WI and Duluth, MN. Most of the time I rode with my other son in another car, because we didn't have enough room in our car to carry everyone.
I got quite a bit of knitting done on a new sweater out of orange Berroco Touche (you may recall that originally I had tried to crochet a pattern from the newest Berroco crochet booklet out of this yarn, but the pattern was incorrect - Berroco sent me a hand-drawn chart with the correct pattern, but they have yet to put written errata on their website and I'm just not proficient at reading crochet charts). However, much of it was done while I was in the emergency room after ... I broke my leg!!
I took a little spill down a water runoff on a slope near the shore of Lake Superior and broke my tibia about 3" above my ankle and sheared off the back of my ankle bone. I'm hoping to get lots of knitting and needlepointing and crocheting done while I recuperate!! (There's always a silver lining...) I don't have a cast yet - just a splint, because I have to see the orthopedic surgeon tomorrow to find out if I need surgery. I hope I don't and that they can just cast it up and send me home!... I'm going to be fine, but there goes my trip to Disneyland with the kids in August as well as the Nike Women's Marathon that I was going to do with Team in Training in October. Sigh!
Thursday, July 19, 2007
A Star is Born
I'm the one in the red shirt behind the guy with the blond hair (Steven Berg from The Yarn Garage who was immortalized today in the Star Trib). The only person interviewed from the group of stitchers was the little girl on the left who surprised the interviewer by answering the question of what she was knitting with "A hedgehog." You should have seen the look on the interviewer's face - it was classic: skeptical, amazed, etc. I was happy I had brought a few props along, because not only did we get the hat my partner Cis made for TC (the Twin's mascot) on air, but they also talked about our Twins tote during both segments!
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Crocheted Bowl #3
Here’s a needlepoint canvas that I’ve been doing. It’s 13 mesh. I’m using primarily Silk & Ivory threads with some Kreinik braid and Rainbow Gallery Frosty Rays for the bird and other things. I think it’s rather cute!
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Happy Independence Day!
So now, I'm using a D hook and I'm carrying along some jewelry/beading wire (Soft Flex Medium - 49 strands). I was given the idea to carry along the wire by our Karabella rep, Kathy, whom I was telling about the original woven bowl. She asked if it was woven around some basketry fiber, and I said I didn't know, but it put the idea in my mind! I'm about half finished with the bowl; we'll see how it goes!
Friday, June 22, 2007
Finished Objects (Sort of...)
This is my version of the Bangle Bracelet, a free pattern on Knitting Daily. My yarn was thicker than what the pattern called for, so I only ended up with four squares. I used Needful Yarns Dubai Stretch, so it's easy to fit over my hand. I'm not sure if I love the colors, so I'm doing a 2nd one with smaller granny squares and without the pale blue.
This is my crocheted sock that I finally finished, but alas the foot really is too long, so I've ripped it out past the heel, and I will be redoing it. It worked up pretty fast - that is when I actually worked on it, so I don't feel too bad about ripping it out!
Monday, June 18, 2007
Finished Needlepoint
There will be a cute longhorn steer to go inside the stocking, and the whole thing will be made into a fabulous Christmas tree ornament - and some lucky relative is going to get it for Christmas! 'Nuff said.
Of course, because I finished something, I had to start something... Sigh! I started the fabulous Bangle Bracelet pattern from Knitting Daily in Needful Yarns Dubai Stretch - which is a bit too large for this pattern, but at least I won't need to make as many granny squares!
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
More Garter Stitch Please
It's the Ty-Dy bolero from K1C2. I've already finished the other front, and after my daughter's soccer game last night I'm almost finished with this front, then on to the back. The skeeves are incorporated into the front of the sweater, so I won't have to do anything extra there. I think I can get this finished & up in 3 Kittens pretty quickly.
But, I do need to finish the Maude jacket, because we have a class starting next week, and because we don't have a sample up in the store, I don't think we've got any takers yet. Unfortunately, my sleeves ended up way long, and I have to rip out the seams and the sleeves themselves and redo them, and I just haven't had the time to do that. SIGH! Maybe tonight. Here's what it's supposed to look like when it's done:
Saturday, June 09, 2007
World Wide Knit in Public Day
While I was at market last weekend, I took a class on how to reach out to teens and tweens for our store, and one of the key points that I took away was that young people (as well as not-so-young ones, I bet) need to see people doing their craft or wearing their products many times before they get the "bug." So spread the gospel of knitting, crocheting or stitching today!
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Maude Jacket
Of course, I should have been working on my Colinette 'Rossetti' shawl jacket
which is supposed to be done this weekend for a wedding (my sister Jenny's in San Antonio). Looks like I'll be looking for a new dress this week, since there is no way I'm going to get the shawl jacket done... SIGH! Sounds a bit familiar, doesn't it?
Saturday, June 02, 2007
Wish You Were Here
What fun!
Saturday, May 26, 2007
One of My Many Projects
This is a Kaleidoscope Tote pre-felting. As you can see, I have a long way to go - one more side, the rest of the front, the back and the handles. And, it all has to be done by Wednesday! EEK! But, I can do it!
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Projects
I was working on a sweater from The Happy Hooker by Debbie Stoller in to-die-for Louisa Harding Grace (silk & wool). It's so yummy to work with!
I would also show you a picture of the 'shawl jacket' I'm doing out of Colinette Tao Silk and Parisienne (a mohair blend), but my DH apparently took the memory card from my camera to work. I worked on it for most of the trip - more than the crocheted sweater. I have a deadline for it - June 9 for my sister's wedding in San Antonio, TX.
Besides those two projects, here's what I'm working on:
- A Kaleidoscope Tote in Manos (deadline of June 1 so I can carry it around at The National Needlearts Association market in Columbus)
- An Einstein Coat from Sally Melville's The Knit Stitch for the 3 Kittens Knit-Along
- A Kathy Schenkel needlepoint mini-stocking for my sister-in-law for Christmas
- The Curtis sweater from a Berocco crochet booklet (which I am waiting for the errata on; Berocco has sent me the designer's hand drawn charts, but I'm not adept enough at crochet to be able to figure that out)
- The Sunrise Circle Jacket - just needs to be assembled
- Crocheted socks from www.crochetme.com
- ? I'm sure there's more, but I just can't remember right now
So, I have been busy - just not posting!
Monday, April 30, 2007
Forgive Me
Sad, huh?? O.K., so I've bought some more Kureyon (different colorway), and I'm going to have another go at it. I've decided not to try to felt it, because I think the fabric was pretty nice before felting. And, I will be doing it on much smaller needles to get a denser, more sturdy fabric that hopefully will hold the shape of the bowl better. Wish me luck!
I'm also working on a Twinkle pattern from the current issue of Vogue Knitting. Of course, Vogue doesn't have a photo of that particular sweater on their website, but it's coming along very quickly. All of the Twinkle patterns do, since the designer only uses big needles and her own yarn (now that she has a line of yarns through Classic Elite). The sweater that I'm making uses 4 strands of Twinkle Cruise, a cotton/silk blend on size 13 needles. Unfortunately, Twinkle generally doesn't design for "big girls," so this sweater won't fit me, but it will look good in the store!
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Progress
Obviously, it's a toe-up sock! I've just completed the gusset portion, hence the increases near the top, and I'm about to start the heel.
I've also started a Kaleidoscope Tote. I've tried a couple of times to upload a photo of the tote onto this blog, but for some reason it's just not working. So if you'd like to see a photo check it out on the 3 Kittens Patterns page. I had some skeins of Manos that having been aging for a while in my cedar closet, so my colors won't be the same as the original, but I think it will look cool nonetheless!
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Crocheted Socks???
I started the socks this afternoon at the store, and although I've ripped out once because they were too big, I'm about half way finished with the foot part of the first sock. It's exciting!
By the way, if you haven't heard, Kim Piper Werker, the founder and editor of CrochetMe.com is now the new editor of Interweave Crochet which is going quarterly. I love the newest issue of Interweave Crochet - especially the Fun in the Sun Hat (see my previous post) and the Beachcomber Tunic (for which I have yarn picked out and waiting for me to purchase). And, if CrochetMe is any indication, I think Kim Werker will do a fantastic job with Interweave Crochet!
Friday, April 13, 2007
Fun in the Sun Hat
Friday, April 06, 2007
I Give Up
I hate, hate, hate the self-loathing that I experience about my weight. I want to be thin(ner). I have many reasons, some legitimate, some left-over from my eating disorders days. Right now, the main thing is that I'm going to be running the Twin Cities Marathon in October, and I would like to weigh less this time around in the hope that I can post a faster time than my last marathon. The other looming reason is I have to go to San Antonio in June for my youngest sister's wedding, and I just don't want to be "fat." That is not really a legitimate reason in my book - trying to look good for other people. Why should it matter what other people think of my appearance? Finally, although my blood pressure is looking pretty good these days, I would like to have it consistently low so I can get off the blood pressure meds.... On the other hand, I would like to accept myself the way I am. Why can I not just look at myself and say, "You look fine. And look at all the things your body can do - run a marathon, get your black belt, play 'abs of steel' with your kids." Or even better, "I love myself just the way I am."
So, what's a girl (me) to do? I'm not having luck with the no-sugar thing or with Weight Watchers. I think I have to just concentrate on portion control. Eat what I want, but eat it slower, with more thought and enjoyment, and slower. And practice self-love or affirmations or something.
Requisite crafting content: I ripped out the crocheted cardigan last night after actually measuring the back and finding out I was TWO inches larger than I was supposed to be. I'm almost back at the place I ripped from yesterday. Thank God crochet goes so quickly - and that I am a process person not a product person!
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Crocheted Cardi
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Skinny Linny
Now, I have to decide what to do next - work on the Sunrise Circle jacket or start a new sample for the store. I brought home a beautiful orange Berroco Touche today to crochet the Curtis sweater. But I still have the crochet sweater from Happy Hooker to do as well. Plus, of course, there's always the 7 year afghan and the Macalester College scarf and...
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Wrists & WW
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Purls
Monday, March 19, 2007
Oops!
I've wanted to do this coat for a long time, and now I can get other people to do it at the same time. I love garter stitch - it's great fun to knit and has wonderful construction possibilities. I've picked out and ordered my yarn - Reynolds Rapture. Rapture is a silk and wool blend which will be perfect for a fall and spring jacket. I figure I'd better get my yarn all in hand if I'm going to be leading the KAL. I think we'll meet each month for 4-6 months, then at the end we'll throw a party and fashion show.
I'm off on vacation in a couple of days - Tucson, Arizona. I'm not sure if I'll get around to posting on the blog until I'm back around the 27th. You may get lucky though...