New Free Pattern

In case you haven't noticed, I added another page tab to this blog.  It is beneath the header that you will find a HOME tab and a MY FREE PATTERNS tab.

Under the my free patterns tab I have added a new free pattern that I designed.  I have called it Team Colors Reversible Cabled & Ribbed Scarf.  The colors pictured to the right are for Iowa State University.

The pattern has a long name, but it is an easy knit.  If you haven't done reversible cables before, they are wonderful.   The trick is using ribbing in the cable, so there isn't a stockinette side and a garter side.  Just ribbing on both sides.  The pattern uses a bulky yarn so it knits up fast and is super warm.   So check out the new Free Patterns Tab and try a reversible cable.  Please, contact me with pics of your teams colors too!  Happy creativity to you all!

Cabled Gaiter

Do you hate cold drafts on your neck?  This cabled gaiter is a quick knit in bulky weight yarn with a crocheted edging.  Also, this is a wonderful way to show off some lovely buttons you have collected.

I have this pattern available for purchase on Ravelry or my Etsy shop.  If you are not a knitter, then please contact me to set up a custom creation!

Some knitting, finally!

Okay, I have dug out the camera and taken some pictures. Perhaps I should have warned you to sit down for that shocking news. I really haven't been knitting that much, or at least not that productively, since the holiday knitting ended. I have been rather fickle about projects, starting and then just frogging the whole thing to start something else. I have no interest in my WIPs at all.

I have finished two projects. The first is a pair of fingerless mitts for.....hold onto your whatevers ....ME! My hands get achy and cold while I knit and crochet, so I decided I need at least one pair of these handy mitts to help me be more comfortable. I may have accidentally discovered a new addiction. Watch out socks, here come the mitts! These are Mirror Twist Mitts designed by Rachel Maxson and made up in Schachenmayr Nomotta Regia Jacquard in the Farbe Partie colorway. The only changes I made to the pattern were to cast on 12 more stitches to accommodate my fat hands(the designer advises adding multiples of 6 stitches to enlarge) and I added matching ribbing to the thumbs.The next project was just easy fun. A cute Starfish Cloth designed by Sew-Funky and made up in Sugar & Cream cotton. Finally, I currently have on my needles a scarf that I am calling Cotton Candy Haze Scarf that I am working up in Berroco Classic Mohair on US size 10.5 needles. What have you been knitting or crocheting? Do you make things mostly for yourself or mostly for others? Do you go through phases in your knitting where, perhaps you only make socks, or only do lace or colorwork? Please share with me in the comments.

Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

I bet my neighbors heard that squee and with as much noise as they have made in the middle of the night and early mornings lately, I really don't care if they did hear it. After all, I squeed with glee when the mail arrived at 2 in the afternoon, not in the wee hours of the morning, when their disruptions of my sleep occur. I know this is not a very mature attitude, but I am cranky from the constant loss of sleep.

What did I squee about? I won! A few months ago, Vicki Howell (yes, the Vicki Howell) ran a contest on her blog. She had just put out a podcast that included an interview she did with Drew Emborsky, aka The Crochet Dude, and then asked her blog readers, "What was Drew's former profession, before becoming a crochet designer?". To which I replied, "He painted pet portraits!". She drew winners from the correct responses, of which mine was one. What did I win? Look what came in the mail today!

You would squee too, wouldn't you? I must say this book is incredible. Not only is it well written by Annie Modesitt and Drew Emborsky, but it is just a beautiful book. It is a hardcover with very hefty, sturdy pages and great photography. I am not sure what I enjoyed looking at more, the two-legged models, the four-legged models, or the patterns. Eye candy for everyone!

I must admit to having a couple of favorite patterns in the book which will be making it into my queue. One of them is the Man's Rasta Hat, which I find is a free pattern now that I own the book! I am hoping that one of my nephews will enjoy wearing this hat once I make it. Also, there are a couple of very helpful charts in the book. One showing mens size measurements up to 4x! The other of note is the doggy size chart. Where else are you going to find one of those?

Here's a quick update on my Ravelympic knitting. I did finish the Rainy Day Scarf at 12:34 am on Aug, 18th, 2008. This is a nice easy pattern that I will most likely make again. I think it would look better in a variegated yarn than the solid color I used.
Finally, I have cast on for a pair of mittens and I will try to get a picture of the WIP up tomorrow. I hope that you find something to squee about today!

Ravelympics Event #2

What did I decide to cast on? It was the Rainy Day Scarf from Unique One Sweaters & Yarn. The pattern is simple and clearly written and I am finding it easy to keep on track while watching the Olympic coverage. There is a 32 row repeat to the pattern so a row counter is a must for me. I have 2 photos here to show you how very different the lighting is in my living room which is why I have a difficult time capturing the color accurately in photos. Again, my walker is the display piece ;)
The yarn was purchased by my Mother at a yard sale. It is Orlon Sayelle, 4 ply, worsted weight in the Aqua colorway. I am not fond of this yarn, and I hope it softens with washing, but the price was right. I am knitting on Takumi bamboo US size 9 circs. It should be working up faster than it is, but my hands and wrists are starting to ache from the knitting frenzy of the Ravelympics! I am off to the first aid tent. Ha!

The Sock Knitter :)

I received a small package in the mail today that touched my heart. It was from Darlene, thesockknitter on plurk, who knew that I haven't been able to afford to buy yarn for a while. In the package was a skein of Drachenwolle sock yarn, that is so soft and has a lovely colorway. I am so grateful for her generosity and I don't know how I will ever repay her. Mostly, I am lucky to have her friendship, and I cherish it. In other matters, I have finished the Fuchsia Cabled Scarf. It is shorter than I would like, but I only had one skein of this lovely, tweedy yarn to work with. The pattern is the same as the Lilac Cabled Scarf I made a while ago: Fancy Cabled Braided Scarf designed by Trish Day.Lastly for today's post, I have cast-on another Nanner Sock designed by Wendy D. Johnson. The yarn for these socks is called Nanners and I purchased it from the chicks with sticks. I highly recommend that you check out her etsy shop, because I love this yarn and she was wonderful to deal with.