Crocheted Doll

I haven't crocheted in years, but I made this doll for Nana. The pattern ended up being just a jumping off point (as usual) but I really had fun with it. 

Cat Pillow

This is the top of the pillow that I gave to Elizabeth for Christmas today. I had working on something in intarsia (not may fave technique). Now that the gifts are give, I can put them up my my blog! 

Red Yarn

I couldn't leave my top post to be in black and white, so here is some fabulous red. Close, futher, futher, leaving now...

This again is from a shawl I was knitting in several earthy colors and then just decided to frog it for the realization that it was too boring to knit and I'd never wear it. This baby is now free! A new life ahead of it, so to speak.

www.handpaintedyarn.com 

Okay, Now the Story

I knitted these socks with yarn from KnitPicks as my first project as a test knitter for them. I would have never have knit these socks without that pressure because they have all the elements of what I never wanted to knit! Toe up on circs, two lace patterns....etc.

So, I am happy (thrilled really) to say that KnitPicks is very pleased with the socks and I await my next project. I have to tell you that it probably took me over 70 hours to complete these socks. It was truly shocking. I'm the kinda gal who can knock them out in more like 20 hours at the top end.

I'm also teaching a sock class on my own these days (more of as a tutor really) and that's been great. I can finally call myself a professional knitter (even though at the time, these socks were called the "socks from hell." 

Hat From My Yarn

I am so happy to report that Nana made this lovely hat from the yarn I spun and gave to her for her birthday! The pattern is from the Winter Interweave Knits and it looks adorable. She lent it to me to take these pictures, but maybe I'll catch a shot of her in it. This past summer she knit her first cabled fingerless gloves out of some wool/silk that I spun. I'm glad SOMEONE is knitting with my yarn.

The roving was from Woodland Woolworks in Merino Top, coloway Cassis. 

Simple 1X1 Rib Scarf

Here I'm using a handpainted silk and wool brown yarn and an alpaca heathered yarn create a blue brown colorway my friend Riis requested. (He's already see it, so I can post it now.) Now I just have to finish it! 

Basic Rib Socks

I've been using these socks as "demos" while teaching and just decided to finish them. I had this great merino lying around and realized it was superwash! 

Midwest Moonlight Scarf

 

Japanese Yarn Shawl

 

To Knit Gifts or to Just Knit

I find myself tired of having to work on any one particular project after those last socks. Right now I just want to play with the yarn that strikes my fancy. Those socks were TAN! Ughhhhh. Tan. I like earthtones, but not tan. Today I'm making a shawl from the Japanese yarn and just loving the little metalic glitter going on. It's not about counting or numbers or anything that resembles the rest of my life. Yahhhhhhhh!

Thought for the Day:

You are free to do whatever you like.
You need only face the consequences.

Tweed Hat

This is from Knitters Fall 2006. I used a strand each of Rowen Tweed and a silk cashmere fingering weight to get to the right gauge. It came out rather smaller than I expected, but not smaller than they said. I just don't have a clear idea of head sizes I guess! It was fun to knit, but hard on the hands. Bulky yarn doing tight and scrunchy things. That's the only way I can describe it. 

Labels are Fine

And finally, I actually use one of my labels...

Silk/Alpaca Cap

With my usual model of a lamp here, I give you a greatly altered cap. I mean, altered from the orginal pattern. It was supposed to be all these traveling cables but I just couldn't get it to work past the first rows. So, I went and redesigned this into something I COULD knit. The yarn was just lovely and perfect for this. I used KnitPicks Elegance. As I am now want to do with all my knitted hats, I used elastic thread on the inside bottom rows for better grip on the head. 

The Adventure Ends

My first foray into being a sample knitter. More of an explanation to come... 

The Big Sock Adventure

Almost done with the first s.ock 

Sad Note

This was the blanket that a bunch of us around the world made last year for our friend in knitting, Charles. He was quite ill and we were hoping that he would do better with his illness than he did. We found out today that Charles passed away.

Sigh... 

Christmas Tree 2006

I was eager to get my tree out and up this year. Not sure why, but glad I did. I was gifted some lovely "femme's dream" shoe ornaments a few years ago and they have really grown on me. 

The Fella Who Taught me to Knit

This is my dad, whittling something with great concentration on his honeymoon. Clearly I am feeling rather...hmmmm....something these days. Yes, he did teach me to knit. 

Fan Request

For those of you have become fans of my elegant Aunt's knitting style (The fashion she wore while knitting), here's her big glamour shot. I realized today as I scanned this that it was taken in Hollywood, CA. 

With Love From Japan

"High Quality Loop Fancy" the label reads. No false advertising here. We really had to ready the labels though for the dye lots and color codes because all the yarn that Nana brought back was difficult to "read" colorwise. Like Noro, they have long color repeats and are wrapped somewhat randomly.

The Magazines that Nana brought back were pretty cool because they relied quite heavily on charts with international symbols. Except for the measurements, one could conceivabley knit from them, not knowing Japanese. On the other hand, the publications mixed knitting and crocheting equally within. The designs were really cute but I would imagine the sizing would make them out of the question for me. Although, I have to say it made me consider doing more crocheting because of the yarn choices they used, etc.

I love it when knitting fanatics travel and come back home to the nest! 

Only Once a Year

They fight (over me) constantly.
They pretend they hate each other.
Then this.
It must be a secret love... 

Yarn for Breakfast Again??

Oh, okay. It'll do.