Showing posts with label knitting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label knitting. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Catching up
I had a very busy weekend. I saw the movie Amelia about Amelia Earhart. It was a good movie (but we all know how it ends) and also saw the Chipmunk movie. It was pretty funny. I remember watching the tv show when I was growing up. On the hat front, I'm about half done with the hat. I'm still working on getting even tension. I'll do more tonight while watching the women's skating on the Olympics. I checked out the craft stores this weekend to see what new stuff they have in. One thing that bugs me about certain stores is that they rearrange the store every couple of months. So if you want to quickly run in and out for a special yarn for example, you enter the store and go down the first aisle and turn right expecting to see the knitting section and you see.....beads. The yarn is now at the other end of the store. I understand why they do it, they want people to see the other things they have and maybe buy more, but it drives me crazy when I'm in a hurry.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Thursday and Payday
Today is payday or as I like to call it, "Pay everyone else day" because when you get through paying all the bills you don't have any left for yourself. My cat seriously needs to get a job. Her food, litter and treats sometimes cost more than my food!
On the knitting front, I'm struggling with keeping the yarns stranded when working with 2 colors. I have to make my stitches so loose that they seem sloppy to me. I hope with practice it will get better. Pictures soon.
On the knitting front, I'm struggling with keeping the yarns stranded when working with 2 colors. I have to make my stitches so loose that they seem sloppy to me. I hope with practice it will get better. Pictures soon.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Terrarium Pics
As promised, pics of my terrarium.
Worked on the K.O. project last night while watching Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader and then the skating on the Olympics. Why do four day work weeks always seem longer than five day ones?
Worked on the K.O. project last night while watching Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader and then the skating on the Olympics. Why do four day work weeks always seem longer than five day ones?
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Staff Training Day
Yesterday was President's Day. It was also Staff Day at work. I learned the latest news, saw some people I haven't seen in a while and took a class. I took the horticulture class and made a terrarium. It was fun. We also had a scavenger hunt and my team came in second. I won a Barnes and Noble gift certificate. I love to get new books. I wish that it was on a Friday though because after all that running around and going up and down all those stairs, I could use today off to rest. I was so tired when I got home I only knit 2 rows on my hat. So not much progress to report there. But altogether a great day. Pics of the terrarium tomorrow.
Monday, February 15, 2010
K.O. Day 3
Short post today. The progress of my project as of yesterday, 3 inches of ribbing done and ready to start the color work. I've never worked from a chart before. Wish me luck.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Lazy Saturday and Day 1 of the Knitting Olympics
I'm posting late today because Saturday mornings are for decompressing from the week, just sitting back, drinking cinnamon coffee and eating something sweet. Today it was a lemon bar. If anyone has an easy recipe for lemon bars I'd love to have it.
I cast on for the hat during the opening ceremonies but it was tough with the time difference. It was 9 pm here and by that time I'm usually ready to fall asleep, not count stitches.
There were 2 small glitches so far: I couldn't get one of the colors I needed so I had to substitute a color called chestnut for the one the pattern calls for which is chocolate. I hope it's close enough. Then I had to switch needles. I cast on a #6 Boye interchangeable needle but found out the cord is 24 inches not 16 and was too big. I have a Knitpicks set but it doesn't have a cord that small either. So I have to use my old Denise set. It's annoying because I hate to knit with plastic needles because they drag. I much prefer metal ones. But I'll just have to deal with it. I used a cable cast on. The long-tail cast on is faster but I usually cast on too tightly with it. I don't have to start the fair-isle part yet. First I have to do ribbing for 3 inches.
Here's the start of it:
I cast on for the hat during the opening ceremonies but it was tough with the time difference. It was 9 pm here and by that time I'm usually ready to fall asleep, not count stitches.
There were 2 small glitches so far: I couldn't get one of the colors I needed so I had to substitute a color called chestnut for the one the pattern calls for which is chocolate. I hope it's close enough. Then I had to switch needles. I cast on a #6 Boye interchangeable needle but found out the cord is 24 inches not 16 and was too big. I have a Knitpicks set but it doesn't have a cord that small either. So I have to use my old Denise set. It's annoying because I hate to knit with plastic needles because they drag. I much prefer metal ones. But I'll just have to deal with it. I used a cable cast on. The long-tail cast on is faster but I usually cast on too tightly with it. I don't have to start the fair-isle part yet. First I have to do ribbing for 3 inches.
Here's the start of it:
Friday, February 12, 2010
The Knitting Olympics
I've decided to join the Knitting Olympics. Basically, you knit something challenging for you. You cast on during the opening ceremonies of the real Olympics and you have to finish it within 17 days by the time the torch is put out. The full rules are here on the Yarn Harlot's site: http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/archives/2010/02/10/the_2010_knitting_olympics.html
I've decided to try this pattern from Knitpicks: http://www.knitpicks.com/cfpatterns/pattern_display.cfm?ID=50777220
Learn to Fair-Isle Hat and Mittens set. I've never done fair-isle before so it should be challenging.
I'll post pictures of my progress.
I've decided to try this pattern from Knitpicks: http://www.knitpicks.com/cfpatterns/pattern_display.cfm?ID=50777220
Learn to Fair-Isle Hat and Mittens set. I've never done fair-isle before so it should be challenging.
I'll post pictures of my progress.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
The Neverending Blanket
Last year I (stupidly) agreed to make a blanket for someone. I call it the Neverending Blanket (NEB).
She wanted Acrylic for ease of care, which I understand even though I'm a bit of a yarn snob and prefer wool.
The major problems are the colors, really bright red, blue, yellow, green etc. After this I'll probably only want to knit with pastel colors.
It's also pooling some but I'm leaving it that way. You know what they say 'One time is a mistake, two or more times is a 'design feature'.
She wanted Stockinette Stitch, and it has 375 stitches across so I have miles and miles of knitting and purling to do.
On the plus side, since I've had so much practice, I've learned to knit more smoothly and hopefully faster. I knit continental style (yarn held in the left hand) and it's supposed to be the fastest. I'm usually a slow knitter and only do about a half inch at a time.
It's getting pretty heavy. I've done about 54 inches and have about 31 more to go. At this rate she'll probably get it next year.
Updates to follow.
Close-ups of the NEB
She wanted Acrylic for ease of care, which I understand even though I'm a bit of a yarn snob and prefer wool.
The major problems are the colors, really bright red, blue, yellow, green etc. After this I'll probably only want to knit with pastel colors.
It's also pooling some but I'm leaving it that way. You know what they say 'One time is a mistake, two or more times is a 'design feature'.
She wanted Stockinette Stitch, and it has 375 stitches across so I have miles and miles of knitting and purling to do.
On the plus side, since I've had so much practice, I've learned to knit more smoothly and hopefully faster. I knit continental style (yarn held in the left hand) and it's supposed to be the fastest. I'm usually a slow knitter and only do about a half inch at a time.
It's getting pretty heavy. I've done about 54 inches and have about 31 more to go. At this rate she'll probably get it next year.
Updates to follow.
Close-ups of the NEB
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Cat-alog of my interests
Sorry, I couldn't resist.
About my many interests; my parents used to use an expression 'Jack of All Trades, Master of None' to describe someone with a lot of interests. I personally don't believe it's necessarily a bad thing. I think that you should try a lot of things to see what you like and what you're good at. As a child I tried latch-hooking, cross-stitch and embroidery, chocolate making and candlemaking. Now I knit, loom knit, crochet and do hairpin lace. I'm sure there will be other things in the future.
A couple of my recent projects:
Loom knit hat and crochet scarf
About my many interests; my parents used to use an expression 'Jack of All Trades, Master of None' to describe someone with a lot of interests. I personally don't believe it's necessarily a bad thing. I think that you should try a lot of things to see what you like and what you're good at. As a child I tried latch-hooking, cross-stitch and embroidery, chocolate making and candlemaking. Now I knit, loom knit, crochet and do hairpin lace. I'm sure there will be other things in the future.
A couple of my recent projects:
Loom knit hat and crochet scarf
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