1789 yards!

Remember back in July I did some “emergency knitting” for my mother? She wanted a baby blanket in a week. I knit my hand into cramps but I got the blanket, two pairs of booties, and a cap done in time. Eight months later the baby is finally large enough for the hat. Her grandfather proudly shared this photo with my parents who were both pleased to see such an adorable baby.

Like every knitter, I absolutely love the feeling of finishing a project, but even more than that, I love to see photos of my items in use. It’s so rewarding to know that the time and energy I put into making someone something is appreciated.


In other news, I crossed the mile finish line today. Current count is 1,789 yards. Thank you socks!

Still no camera but photos will follow soon

I would like to be a Neptunian

I would like to be a Neptunian from Futurama. That way I’d always have a set of hands to be knitting while I went about doing all of the other things that must be done. (this is Elzar, a Neptunian cook taking on a slug).

Today I painted the interior of the two front doors. I’ll share a photo later on when I have my camera. I seem to have left at work last week. The boys have definitely not enjoyed the day in the upstairs bathroom. They have all the necessities, food, litter, places to sleep, yet they are still scheming on ways of escaping their confines.

Mac did dart out when The Boyfriend wasn’t looking. He made a beeline downstairs are rubbed on the wet door frame leaving lots of his fluffy hairs behind. Luckily I immediately caught him (although he was doing his favorite thing running away purring). The damage was repaired and some how Mac came out of it paint free and purring.

I was thinking about it, and in the 41 months that we’ve lived here, I’ve painted the following…

• One wall in the master bedroom
• Downstairs bathroom
• Upstairs bathroom
• Bue half of the living room
• Laundry Room
• Cathedral Ceiling
• Upstairs bathroom
• Downstairs bathroom
• The Front doors
  

That just leaves the kitchen, dining room, and guest room without my handy work. I'd say that's pretty good for someone who doesn't like to paint. I think the kitchen is next on the list. The wine color could really use a fresh coat. I think darker colors show more dings and scratches.

For fear of ending up on CuseGirls list of knit bloggers without knitting content, I must inform you of today’s total so far. 1,525 yards! I didn’t think it was possible but the goal does seem to be within my grasp. I need another 235 yards before next Tuesday. That’s totally doable!! I will be thrilled to start my April challenge which will be the April Apparel Aspiration. Last week I began knitting one of Julie’s designs for an A-shaped sweater using one of our new yarns. I would love to finish the sweater in time to wear it this year. I am two inches into the sweater but after watching Meow Meow Head bust through garment after garment in the time it takes me to knit a couple pairs of socks (typically a week a sock). I’m hoping I can pull this off.

Today 1,459 yards

We had work knitting today so I got a lot done.

5 Days and counting 1309 yards!

Check this out

I saw this video of knitting with 1,000 strands of yarn. That's crazy!!! I have a hard time knitting with 2 strands, let alone 998 more.



At this moment, knitting one strand at a time, I'm at 1,099 yards for this month.

Posh Vino Pouch

As you may recall The Boyfriend asked me to knit him 7 wine cozies in under three weeks. I accepted the challenge and created a new pattern, knit like the wind, felted them and had them all dry and ready to go by December 21st. He gladly gave them, with the necessary wine to coworkers and faculty. Well, all except one which he didn’t give to the intended recipient until last week when he saw her for the first time since then. She was thrilled with the gift and a few days later wrote to say “Thank you for the wine sock”. I had to laugh, I guess in the regular non-knitting world the word cozy isn’t frequently used.

Posh Vino Pouch
© 2009, Mychawd
This wine cozy paired with a bottle of wine makes a perfect gift for the host of any party. The felted nature will keep chilled bottles cool and the handles makes it a convenient tote bag.

Materials you will need:
J.Knits Dreamy Worsted -3 or 4 skeins
US Size 13 16” circular needles
Tapestry Needle to weave in ends

Finished measurements: 17” by 10” around

Gauge: 12.5 sts x 12 rows for 4”

Main Color (MC): Indiana (Stripes) or Iowa (Dimonds) 2 Skeins
Contrast Color 1 (CC1): Georgia (Stripes) or Santa Fe (Dimonds) 1 Skein
Contrast Color 2 (CC2): Rancho Mirage 1 Skein

Base of the Cozy:
Cast on 6 sts, connect to work in the round
Round 1: Knit
Round 2: Kf&b each stitch (12sts)
Round 3: Knit
Round 4: *Kf&b, K1* repeat 5 more times (18sts)
Round 5: Knit
Round 6: *Kf&b, K2* repeat 5 more times (24sts)
Round 7: Knit
Round 8: *Kf&b, K3* repeat 5 more times (30sts)
Round 9: Knit
Round 10: *Kf&b, K4* repeat 5 more times (36sts)
Round 11: Knit
Round 12: *Kf&b, K5* repeat 5 more times (42sts)
Round 13: Knit
Round 14: Purl
Round 15: Purl
The base of the cozy is now complete, you will now simply knit in the round until piece measures 13”

To achieve Pink stripped pattern...
Knit with MC until piece measures 7” from second purl row, work 2 rounds CC1. Change to MC, work 3 rounds. Change to CC2, work 4 rounds. Change to CC1, work 4 rounds. Change to MC, work 3 rounds. Change to CC2, work 2 rounds. Return to MC and work until piece measures 13”
Work Handles.

To achieve Brown diamond pattern…
After completing round 15 above, knit 4 rounds (MC).
Round 1{Kf&b K1 (MC), *K1 (CC1), K3 MC repeat from * 4 times} repeat portion between {} once more (44sts).
Round 2 *K1 (MC), K3 (CC1), repeat from * 10 more times.
Round 3 Knit (CC1).
Round 4 *K1 (MC), K3 (CC1), repeat from * 10 more times.
Round 5 K3 (MC), K1 (CC1), repeat from * 10 more times.
Return to (MC) and work until piece measures 11”.
Repeat round 5. Repeat rounds 2-5. Return to (MC) and work 4 rounds, piece should measure 13.5”
Work Handles.

Handles
Round 1: Knit first 21 sts and place stitch marker
Round 2: (CC1) K3, (MC) K16, (CC1) K5, (MC) K16, (CC1) K2
Round 3: (CC1) K3, (MC) K16, (CC1) K5, (MC) K16, (CC1) K2
You will now work back and forth between stitch markers, working one side of the handle while the other side waits. Then you will work the second side as the first.
Row 1: Worked over 21 stitches, (CC1) K2tog, K2, (MC) K15, (CC1) K2, Turn (20sts)
Row 2: (CC1) P2, (MC) P14, (CC1) P2, P2tog, Turn (19sts)
Row 3: (CC1) K2tog, K2, (MC) K7 K2tog, K4, (CC1) K2, Turn (17sts)
Row 4: (CC1) P2, (MC) P11, (CC1) P2, P2tog, Turn (16sts)
Row 5: (CC1) K2tog, K2, (MC) K5 K2tog, K3, (CC1) K2, Turn (14sts)
Row 6: (CC1) P2, (MC) P8, (CC1) P2, P2tog, Turn (13sts)
Row 7: (CC1) K2tog, K2, (MC) K3 K2tog, K2, (CC1) K2, Turn (11sts)
Row 8: (CC1) P2, (MC) P5, (CC1) P2, P2tog, Turn (10sts)
Row 9: (CC1) K2tog, K2, (MC) K4, (CC1) K2, Turn (9sts)
Row 10: (CC1) P2, (MC) P3, (CC1) P2, P2tog, Turn (8sts)
Row 11: (CC1) K2tog, K2tog, K3, (5sts)

Now begin working as an I-cord using only (CC1). Work I-cord for 3”, place on holder.

Return to held stitches, begin working on side where there are 3 stitches in (CC1). Work rows 1-11 as above.

Kitchener stitch the two I-cord pieces together. Piece measures 7” in diameter and 24” in length from cast on to Kitchener stitches.


Weave in ends and felt.


Being careful to not over felt, check size every 5 minutes until desired dimensions are reached, 5” in diameter and 17” in length from cast on to Kitchener stitches.

Spring has Sprung

Saturdays are typically a day of knitting, napping, sunshine and history. I knit while listening to audio books or podcasts while The Boyfriend reads. Then we usually watch something history related during which I continue to knit and he takes a nap. MacOban and Linus alternate taking naps in the sun or on us.

The difference this Saturday is that my knitting mojo seems to have abandoned me. I cast on a new sock, knit 3 inches while designing a pattern that will appeal to men, and then decided that I was using the wrong needle size. Rippppppp

I have 8 rows to go on the cuff on the birthday socks and can’t get motivated to pick them up.
And I’ve now cast on again but each row seems tedious. This is so odd since the toe and heel are my favorite parts of a sock. Perhaps it’s that the color doesn’t move me. I was digging through the knitting bag and found those Sugar Maple, red-yellow socks I had to knit. I haven’t touched them in weeks but I’d sort of like to be working on them right now.

Due to the lack of knitting mojo, I went for a walk around the yard. It’s in the 46 degrees out. The snow is melting and the tulips are starting to poke up through the mulch. It’s dinner time. “Here comes the Fun Cooker!” Perhaps I’ll have something to eat and try knitting again.

Life as a Samurai

Day 14 of the cold and I’m still raspy. Fortunately, every day is better than the day before. I caught the cold from a co-worker and both Julie and I came down with it at the same time. But neither of them have the lovely smokers voice that I do, same cough though. I’m wondering if this is a sign that when I’m older I’m going to be like my Grandmother and Aunt who have frequent laryngitis. Can you imagine a Samurai with so much to say and unable to say any of it?!?! Oh nose!!!!

This past week the Seacoast Knitters had the St. Patrick’s day swap. As you can see, fingerless mitts were the hot item.

I’ve been knitting like a fiend to try and make a birthday deadline on a pair of socks. It’s so nice to knit for someone with the same size feet as myself. I can keep trying them on to be certain that they’ll fit her. These are the Staccato Socks by Veronik Avery. It’s a great two row pattern. I think it would be better highlighted with yarn that is more variegated, maybe a 5 or 6 color sock yarn instead of the 2. It’s lovely none the less.

Tonight The Boyfriend is out and I’ll be eating Pad Thai, watching Law & Order SVU and knitting til my hearts content, or I get sleepy, whichever comes first.

Oh and FYI I'm at 782 yards knit this month. Another 1,000 and I'll make my mile. Yeah...if I stopped working and knit for 8 hours a day for the rest of the month, maybe I'd make it.

3 Levels of Sickness

It’s been a long week. Lots of coughing and sneezing as I struggled through a severe cold. Based on my 20+ years of experience with colds and flues, I submit that there are three levels of sickness.

• First Level of Sickness: you are sick, so sick that can’t work or go to school. But you are able to take medication, to dull the symptoms. You can focus your attention allowing you to read your book report book you are behind on, or knit complicated patterns that will take your mind off of the unpleasantness in your body.
• Second Level of Sickness: not only are you too sick to work, but you are too sick to concentrate. You feel achy and the medication isn’t enough to relieve your suffering. You can watch TV and may be able to knit stockinette for short bursts but are frequently frustrated by your constant need to blow your nose and take Tylenol. (This by the way always upsets my stomach if I take it for more than 4 hours, so I get the added bonus of stomachache!)
• Third Level of Sickness: you sleep. You can’t do anything except sleep. No TV, no knitting, no reading. Barely any eating because you need to sleep.

I spent the majority of the last 7 days between the second and third levels which means scarcely a stitch was knit. There is no way I can make it to a mile by the end of the month.

I did finish the Melaine socks. They are thick and tall. I like them but am no longer crazy about the color. It goes well with jeans though.

I also started a bag for my new laptop. It’ll be felted when I’m finished and knit on size 11s it’ll be a quick knit. I’m using Berroco Jasper and Oak Grove Studio Kid/Merino Blend that I got at Rhinebeck.

I’m also working on another sock pattern for the J.Knits Fall 09 line. It’s the first man’s sock I’ve ever knit. I love the pattern and of course am a fan of the colorway.

'Cause only k-nitwits like to k-nit

The other day my Mum sent me the lyrics to the Fraggle Rock Doozer Knitting Song...I thought you'd like to hear the song too.

What's your word

Your Word is "Love"

You see life as possibility to form deep connections with a few people. Relationships are the center of your world, and you always take time to bond with those you love. You are caring and giving. You enjoy helping those you love. And when it comes to romantic love, you feel passionately ... even in a very long term relationship.

What's Your Word?