The Yarn Mystic

I've moved...

2005-10-30T23:52:00.000-10:00

Yup! I've moved over to Typepad. I'm still working out some kinks. Check it out, though. The YarnMystic blog was set-up as a knit blog. There has been some growth this year and I felt I needed a forum to include all of my crafting endeavors. Let me know whatcha think.

And Happy Halloween!

Who me?

2005-08-31T11:21:00.000-10:00

Neglect my knitting?

Guilty, guilty, guilty. This is the second half of my IK shrug fallen behind my futon bed. How long has it been there? A week...maybe two?

At least it's clean under there.

I have been doing crafty things though. Here is a pile of quilting fabric I've had in my quilting fabric stash. Pretty, yes?

So I decided on sewing up some yo-yo's. They are going to be made into a tissue box cover.

And this is a cute little tulip to be added to a pen for those too-cute flower pens I've been seeing everywhere.

And of course, there is the jewelry making...

This bracelet is almost done. Nothing original, a very popular design here in Hawaii. I love the lotus blossom charm added to the clasp. This will most likely be a gift for my daughter's teacher.

And here is the latest addition to my bead stash. I've been in a white mood. Perhaps it's no coincidence that I've been seeking for clarity in my career. I think I will use these for a clarity bracelet...

That's a dichroic glass charm upfront. It will be the focal piece of the bracelet.

And saving the best for last...my latest yarn acquisition!

I love this yarn. The colors are so pretty. Perfect for a pair of fall socks. I also received a sweet suprise of a mini-skein. Thank you to Adrian from Hello Yarn...

Can you believe tomorrow is the first of September? Prayers and positive energy to those effected by hurricane Katrina. Go here to help...

Snack-sized knitting

2005-07-16T07:44:00.000-10:00

I am done with one arm of the IK shrug. In my world of extremely slow knitting, that should in and of itself be considered a Finished Object! I should...okay, will...begin on the left side this week. Until then I felt as if I needed a bit of a knitting palate cleanser. So into my stash of Yarn of the Month treats I dove for some snack-sized knitting.

The white yarn is Angora by Elsebeth Lavold. It's 60% angora, 20% wool, and 20% polyamide. It's a very soft and rich yarn which I knit up in moss stitch. If only I lived in cooler climates, I would love to knit this one up into a warm, snuggly sweater. That fluffy blue ball of yarn is Pulcino by Lana Grossa, a 50/35/15 mixture of merino, acrylic, and kid mohair. The orange ribbon is Deco-Ribbon by Crystal Palace, a 70/30 mix of acrylic and nylon.

I also found a couple of mini skeins and hand-painted needles from a child's learn to knit kit from Peace Fleece. That's the pink and green yarn you see, they call it Perestroika Pink and Shaba. I love Peace Fleece and knowing the story behind their beautiful offerings, I feel that not only am I knitting with a wonderful product, I'm helping to foster their message of peace.

I enjoy receiving the samples and trying to to decide what stitch would best show off the yarns and vice versa. I think I will start scrapbooking the swatches. It will be nice to have a resource for stitches and different yarns. What works for me and not...

Now these two caught my attention right away. The funny yarn is Squiggle by Crystal Palace and the pretty copper number is Venezia from Lang, a 50/50 mix of mohair and acrylic.

I like the two colors and textures together. I think it would be interesting enough done up in garter stitch as a wall-hanging. Perhaps with some ceramic beads added throughout. It's soft enough for a fun pillow, too. My 16-year-old son says it reminds him of the stuff from the vacuum bag. Nice...

I bought this issue of Spin Off for the article on solar dyeing. I've been wanting to attempt dyeing but having to tend a fire or stand over a hot pot kept me away. With this procedure, this may be something I can easily put together and have some nice finished product.

The granny squares in this issue inspired me to try my hand at understanding crochet instructions. These are the squares I came away with...in some acrylic I had from my early days of knitting.

Do granny squares count as a finished object?

Finally...

2005-06-08T20:44:00.000-10:00

Some making of stuff!

I managed to finish six pattern repeats for the IK Bias Shrug while waiting at the doctor's office. Apologies for the poor quality photo. The color is a much deeper blue. I am just about ready to move to the back portion of the right side. I love this pattern and my mother is requesting a vest in this stitch.

Using stitch markers really help. And post-its to keep my place. Here is a photo of the back of the shrug. Pretty...

And I went to a little craft shop called Creations By You to check out their beads. It's a tiny shop that carries beads and yarn. The yarn they carry caters to the lei maker. I did see a cute little evening bag made from Waikiki by Crystal Palace and what looked like Eyelash yarn. But I did manage to find some beautiful beads to add to my collection. No ideas yet...just seeds for future creativity.

Here's the latest pair of earrings to manifest themselves...

That's turquoise, coral, agate, and Thai silver. If you are one of the patient souls waiting for me to send you a pair, I apologize for the lateness. I will get something in the mail soon!

I am hoping to take some classes this summer. As much as I love creating earrings, I have some ideas for bracelets, but still need to learn the techniques needed to put them together.

Hope everyone is staying cool in this summer heat!

No...not dead...

2005-06-05T22:34:00.000-10:00

I have just finished an extremely long stretch of non-stop work.

Seriously, 60-plus hour work weeks. Absolutely no knitting done. And feeling very out of sorts because of it. I am determined to get back into the swing of things once I get a bit of rest.

I'll be dreaming of knitting...

2005-06-02T23:20:00.000-10:00

Haloscan commenting and trackback have been added to this blog.

Honolulu SNB rocks...

2005-04-19T08:11:00.000-10:00

Wow, it has been a super busy last few weeks! I hope everyone is having a great spring and enjoying the warm weather.

At the Honolulu SNB's most recent meeting, we worked on MK Carrol's very special Womb pattern(MK is one of our SNB members!). Remember the Knitty '04 issue?

That's Kae and myself showing off a very pink and almost-done womb. Shouldn't we all be more loving to our wombs? This project has given birth(sorry, couldn't resist...) to many lively discussions. And no matter your viewpoint, it's important that we acknowledge the importance of taking care of ourselves.

I am using Noro Kureyon scraps for my womb. Who says that a womb needs to be pink? This represents my personality and life. Besides, recycling is always good. I'm already thinking of knitting these as gifts for my female friends. It should be fun picking out yarn and colors to represent my friends.

I actually have a finished womb. But my batteries died before I could snap a photo.

I did manage to capture a photo of my latest jewelry creation. They are dyed fresh water pearls with sterling silver wraps. I'm not big on pearls, but these I love.

Oh, and before I forget...check out this article on knitting in Hawaii. It features the Honolulu SNB and a wee-bitty quote from yours truly! We were all honored and excited to help out with this feature.

Fifth time lucky!

2005-04-01T19:23:00.000-10:00

Well, it seems I finally got the hang of knitting those darned clovers. I like the way it looks and am now enjoying this project. Lace knits up fast. I probably would be further along if it weren't for the first 4 tries at getting this right. Twice I decided to do things my way, and well, it wasn't working. Then when I did finally get it right, I must have dropped a yarnover and lost a leaf on one clover. Rip, rip, rip...

And today while watching the coverage of the Pope's illness, I dropped my knitting and when I reached down to pick it up, I accidentally pulled the needle out of all 106 stitches. Aaaaargh!

Quite upset, I deemed that ball of Rowan 4-ply jinxed and fished out a brand new one. Well, whatever it was, it worked. Because now I seem to be doing okay. I think I need to run one of those life lines through the project. I'm not sure exactly how that works...guess I'll have to do some research tonight.

I am offering you two photos of what I have today. Not much, I know...but it feels like a major accomplishment considering this is my 5th round with Lucky.

Check out the knit along to see how others around the world are doing with the wrap...

And if you haven't already done so, visit one of the newest and coolest on-line knit shops around...Knit Pixie from Missa of Midnight Knitter fame(who also designed this blog and button!).

I'm drooling over the Blue Sky Alpacas...such great colors!

There is a meeting next week of the Honolulu Stitch 'n' Bitch. I'm so excited as it has been a few months since our last meeting. This group has some really great knitters/designers. I will take my camera this time so that you can see how we do things here in Hawaii!

Till then, have a beautiful weekend...

No knitting...lots of jewelry...

2005-03-22T17:38:00.000-10:00

Well, not really. I have been knitting and even took photos. I downloaded a couple along with the shots of jewelry. And for some reason(weird cyberspace hoo-doo or totally airheaded mistake), I cannot find the knitting stuff. So, I give to you the wire and bead things I have created in the last week.

This is how I make the jumprings for chains and connecting pieces. It's actually fun to make the sterling coils and cut them into the rings. Here I have used 18 gauge sterling wire. And I'm learning to create my own closures.

By learning this simple technique, I have discovered that I can create my own chains. The flat coils are something I did by using an anvil and chasing hammer. The next step is to learn to solder the rings closed...which involves a torch. Which I'm a bit intimidated by...fire and me? A bit scary!

I made another flower pendant...this time with jasper and pearls. I like this design. Someone actually offered me money for the carnelian pendant. Except I have absolutely no idea what to charge for these things. Have you ever sold any of your own creations? As flattering as this is for me, I can't imagine ever accepting cash for something I've made...I'd gift it before anything else.

These earrings were inspired by the view from our home(there's a saying here, "Lucky you live Hawaii!")...

And I love the honey color of these drops...

So...back to the knitting. I am still working on the Bias shrug from the current IK and have started the Lucky Clover Wrap for the KAL that Lolly is hosting. I have to admit I love knitting with Rowan even if I'll be frogging for the third time tonight. It's like the difference between Hershey's and Godiva...I love chocolate and I will eat Hershey's, but whenever possible a bit of the fancy stuff is wonderful.

Speaking of IK, I just saw this and now I must have it! I know I already have a gazillion things going on! Some of you know how it is. And I envy those of you that are monogamous to one project at a time. How do you do it? Such strength and willpower I can only dream of...

Oh well, I am on vacation until April 2nd. Maybe I will finish the shrug?

Yarn, beads, wire, and books...

2005-03-10T09:34:00.000-10:00

Oh, my! It's been a super busy week. Besides work, my creative energy has been in overdrive. I made some progress on my Bias Shrug...

There were a couple of hairy moments where I thought I might have to frog the thing and start over, but I think they are minor enough for me to ignore. See..if I don't mention them here, no one will notice(yeah, right!).

And I've had a surge of inspiration and ideas with my bead and wire jewelry. The following project is from the Interweave folks. I am beading the Sacred Healing Bag. This is my first attempt at the peyote stitch and despite the itty-bitty size of the seed beads, I've managed to enjoy learning something new. The instructions are pretty clear and I only had to undo my stitches once.

I don't remember where I first saw the following project. But a trip to a nearby bead store gave me tons of ideas and I fell in love with these carnelian beads.

I found some beautiful freshwater pearls for the center and picked up some 24 gauge sterling silver wire. The original project calls for teardrop shaped, side-drilled beads which lays nicely while wire-wrapping. I had a bit of difficulty keeping the round beads from moving around while maneuvering the wire. But I really love the end results. I'm looking forward to creating more jewelry.

I also went on a book buying binge! There is a knitting book in that pile...

Knitting for Anarchists by Anna Zilboorg. A passage that really prompted me to think more about how and why I knit is this...

"If we take control of our knitting and do with it what we like, we have nothing to lose but our chains and we have a world to gain."

I have a tremendous desire to create. Whether it be knitting or beading or something as simple as a meal for my family, I derive a deep satisfaction from these activities. I believe it is that age-old adage that such activities connect us with our history and to the spiritual cloth of being on this planet. When we create something, we are offering up to the world a part of ourselves. We are saying, "Look this is me...can you relate to it?" I realize this has all been said before but sometimes it helps me to regain my center after a stressful period to remember why I value creativity.

I am waiting on my yarn for the Lucky Clover KAL. I ordered ten skeins of Rowan yarn in black from Janette's Rare Yarns on eBay. I'm a bit excited because this is my first Rowan purchase. Is Rowan as great as I've been reading? Will I fall in love with their yarn? Stay tuned...

Progress report...

2005-03-02T10:24:00.000-10:00

Quick progress report on the IK Bias Shrug before I start a busy work week...

I just finished the third pattern repeat(correct terminology?) of the first sleeve. Ten more to go before I start on the increases. This shrug is moving along quicker than most other projects I've worked on. Maybe it's because I am really enjoying having to use a chart. Is that strange? It's very straightforward and much easier to see where I am going with the pattern. What with all those symbols and graphs, it's more like a map(I love cartography). There weren't many patterns in the latest IK that caught my eye. Besides the shrug, I like the Bi-Color Brioche and Cable-Eight Top.

I will be working through next Tuesday with two huge projects due(aargh!). Hopefully, I'll have at least one sleeve done by then...

Here is a treat my mother gave me today. There is only one location in Honolulu to purchase these. I hear the lines are frighteningly long...

Mmmm...but so worth it!

Have a great week everyone!

Finished object and a new one on the way...

2005-02-28T23:49:00.000-10:00

I love this tam! I want to make more...baby tams, kiddie tams, plain tams, and fancy tams. So much fun! I haven't blocked it yet but wanted to post photos for you. I was going to add a tassle...but I think it's fine the way it is. The colors are so gorgeous. My non-knitting friends think I have such mad skills...if they only knew it was all in the yarn!

I had to add another shot of it. I can't get enough of Noro. The colors are so amazing. How do they do it? Yarn magic, I'm sure.

But first I have decided to try a lace project from the new IK(I'm still waiting for sis-in-law's poncho kit). I've had the Mission Falls 1824 cotton sitting in my stash for over a year. And when I saw that this shrug was knit in the same yarn, I just had to cast on.

First off, I must say I am thoroughly enjoying the way this yarn knits up. It is much easier to knit and softer than most other cotton I've worked with. I will definitely be adding more colors of this yarn to my stash.

As for the lace thing and the chart thing, so far so good. I'm actually having fun wtih the chart. I hope I'm doing this correctly...hey, it looks like the picture so I must be doing it right!

I ordered some yarn from ebay...Rowan 4 Ply cotton in black. My first pack of Rowan. I want to use it for Lucky Clover from Stitch 'N Bitch Nation. Lolly is hosting a KAL for this project. But I think joining a knitalong might be too much pressure for me. You know, being the slacker that I am!

Oh, well...back to having some fun with my shrug!

A bit of Kureyon and Kyoto color

2005-02-20T20:24:00.000-10:00

Almost done with the tam! Here is my daughter, Oli, in her strike-a-pose mode...

I love knitting with Noro Kureyon. This colorway is striking. It was yarn I received in a trade with Amy. Kureyon was originally intended for the French Market bag, but inspiration struck when I saw a tam knit by Angela...scroll down a bit and you can find a couple of photos of her tam. Very nice, indeed.

I have decided not...NOT...to plan on projects, so not much more to report on the knitting side of things. I'm still waiting on my sis-in-law to show up with her poncho kit. Otherwise, no planning. I will let inspiration fuel my knitting from today on. I find spontaneity gives me the energy to finish a project. And enjoy the process so much more. Besides I am such a slow knitter, I start feeling like a loser if I can't keep up with my crazy list of to-do's in my project pile.

Here is another dash of color. These are umbrellas I brought back from a trip to Kyoto a few years back. Ohhh, isn't it bad luck to open an umbrella in the house?! Yikes, I didn't think of that...they needed airing out.

Maybe it doesn't count when they are as pretty as these.

A quickie...a query...

2005-02-16T20:17:00.000-10:00

Just a quick post to update the only project I'm working on at the moment. It is a Noro Kureyon #71 tam knitting up in a pattern from Ann Budd's book of patterns. Apologies for the blurred photo.

And a couple of photos of some very exotic fruit given to me for Chinese New Year. Does anyone know what these are...

Cut open, they look and taste a bit like Lychee...

They were so beautiful and unusual, I had to photograph them! Except no one in my close realm seems to know what they are called.

Do you?

Update: Thanks to Darlene for sending me an email explaining that the fruit is called Rambuton. And it is from Hawaii! I've lived here most of my life and have never seen or heard of such a fruit. I must really do some exploring of the islands...

Aloha...

2005-02-09T21:02:00.000-10:00

I am still here. And still knitting. Just haven't had a chance to blog because of computer problems and camera issues. I will be purchasing a new desktop this weekend and should have it by March. I am hoping that my digital camera issues are computer-related and not anything with the camera itself.

Until then, I managed to use my cell phone to snap a photo of a beanie I've been working on for my daughter.

I once again used my handy-dandy book of patterns by Ann Budd. The yarn is Lion Brand Wool-Ease in worsted weight and I used a single rib for the lower edge and finished the top off with an I-cord. I have also started a tam out of Noro Kureyon from the same book. I'll try to have photos of that up soon. Nothing major, as my sister-in-law has asked me to knit her a poncho using one of Rowan's patterns. So, I will be holding off finishing anything huge until she gets the kit to me.

Hope everyone is staying warm, dry, and happy...

Hey...

2005-01-09T20:40:00.000-10:00

Well, it's been a long while. I hope everyone had a lovely holiday season! Despite the busy-ness, I had a great time with family and friends. Working in retail tends to make a person numb to the holiday festivities, but I managed to rise above that this year and have a bit of fun.

I haven't posted much because of the frenzy. But also because my camera wasn't downloading my photos and I don't like posting unless I have something nice for you to look at. So tonight I said a little prayer..."If this doesn't work tonight, I promise to take the camera in for repairs"...

Guess what? Pictures, y'all. Thank you, thank you, goddess of digital cameras!

This is one of the yarns I received for January's Yarn of the Month samples. It is Cotton Denim by Debbie Bliss. I like this yarn. It's going to be a cozie for my cell phone. I saw a segment on DIY's Knitty Gritty where they were knitting cozies for everything. And since I wanted to do something with the samples I get every month, I thought a cozy would be quick and easy...no pattern, no thought.

On the show, they knit an I-Pod cozy and used one of those double beaded ponytail holders as the fastener to close up the top. I think I'm going to rummage through my bead supplies and create something doublesided instead.

As for my other projects, I've been slowly finishing up my niece's haiku. And have gifted a couple of scarves and beanies. Speaking of my niece, here is little Jordyn in the baby beanie I knit for her a few months ago. I finally was able to get her to hold still for a second to snap this photo...

She is a doll! I think I'll be knitting a lot for this baby!

So this is Christmas...

2004-12-19T19:00:00.000-10:00

Can you believe it? Six days until Christmas. I am done with my shopping. And work is crazy busy...I will be working straight through the eve. I finished most of Haiku(I only need to do a sleeve), but had to stop because of work. Would post new photos but my digital camera seems to be acting up. So here is a closeup of the garter stitch and box stitching I had stored in my computer. Does it look a little off?

How is your Christmas? I imagine everyone is in a knitting frenzy finishing up gifts. I am working on a scarf and a felted bag for a couple of friends. I saw the Ugg-like baby booties on Knitty Gritty. So very cute! Would knit those up but I have pushed away all temptations of adding new projects to my list until I am done with what I already have planned. What do you think of the show? I like it...I don't have very many chances to watch others' knitting techniques so it's a treat for me.

Well, everyone...have a great week!

Still here...

2004-11-24T11:31:00.000-10:00

Wow...has it been more than 2 weeks since I last posted? Work has been busy getting ready for the holiday season. Needless to say, I have gotten minimal knitting done. A row here and a row there is all I have been able to manage with Haiku. I would post a photo but not much to see there yet. I've finished through the back and am on the left armhole. I'm hoping between cooking and visiting tomorrow, I'll be able to finish this thing. It really is quite an easy project and the average knitter would most likely finish this thing in a couple of days as compared to my weeks.

I heard somewhere the other day that we make time for the things that are important to us...so in preparation for being free to knit, I've been cleaning and organizing this mess...

It's just a matter of throwing out stuff and keeping only what is absolutely necessary. It does feel much better. I can actually walk across the floor without breaking or slipping on something! My yarn is in one large bin and a couple of overnight-type luggage. All my knitting supplies are in their own place and not strewn here and there. What is it they say? Cleanliness is next to godliness? Well, here's praying my knitting goddess is happy with my diligence!

Now when I find a free moment, I'll have both mental and physical space to knit!

Have a wonderful and happy holiday everyone!

Poetry?

2004-11-08T09:40:00.000-10:00

So I have managed to at least finish one side, through the armhole and part of the neck edge on the back of the Haiku for my niece. I did not want to have to order new yarn for this project and was able to find the Paris Rainbow by Plymouth in my stash. I bought this yarn at a yarn shop here where the owner is allergic to wool...she only carries cotton and synthetics. Mostly the fun and fuzzy yarn to crochet leis, which is hugely popular in our state. Most of the shops here cater to the lei-makers. It is very frustrating when you need a quick-fix of fiber and can't get what you want. I've resigned to on-line yarn shopping and learned to appreciate my mailman while being patient.

As you can see, this yarn isn't the best to show off the box stitch. But it is soft and light enough for our winters here in Hawaii. I love this project because it is very easy. At least for now until I reach the buttonholes and start the seaming. Then I'm sure you will hear a different story.

I was wandering today when it will be that I am expert enough to get through a project without some sort of drama. I'm still trying to figure out and have used every resource I have at home to learn the p3tbl from the Oli tank. I spoke to a knitter from our Honolulu group and I am trying to find a time to get together with her so that I can see how this is actually done.

And I wander...how many knitting books are enough? Here are the latest to be added to my collection...Textured Knits by Julia Cooper and The Yarn Girls' Guide To Kid Knits by Julie Carles and Jordana Jacobs. Both, in my opinion, are great. The first has some great cardigan designs and the latter has the cutest knitting for little ones...I want to knit it all.

Of course, the answer to my question of how much is enough? It's never enough. I can't seem to get enough of knitting...books, fiber and knitty doo-dads!

***I'm still reeling after last weeks election and although I realize moving on is paramount to changing our world, I have to mention how totally uplifted I am with the vision of many in the knitting community. I'm sure you may have already seen and read some of these blogs and links. But just in case you haven't, I have a couple of my favorites here for you...

Kerstin at At My Knits End

Geogia at On My Mind

Plus some information at Operation Truth, Turn the Tide Campaign, and ZNet.

Back to our regular programming...

2004-11-04T10:30:00.000-10:00

Finally, finally done! Finishing feels great. Here is the model shot by Olivia. I did not even have to prompt her for this one...

And here is a close-up of the underarm finishing. I may rip this part of the tank out and start over. But not for awhile, I just want to be finished with this one for now.

Some photos of mini-projects I knit to get me through all the election drama yesterday. A couple of practice swatches. The first is a basketweave stitch I found in 365 Knitting Stitches A Year. The heart swatch is from Debbie Stoller's Stitch and Bitch. The purple is an unknown acrylic from my mother's stash and the brown is a mystery wool from my bag of leftovers.

I used Crystal Palace cotton chenille for this scarf. It is suppose to be shipped to the east coast for a Christmas gift but I may decide to rip it. I doubled the yarn and the pattern is something I had written down in my notes. It is so heavy, I don't think it would be comfortable at all!

There was a bit of joy amongst all the nail-biting on Tuesday. I received my first order from Elann.

Not quite sure what I'll do with these, but I like the colors(can't seem to stay away from the oranges and pinks) and wanted to make them mine before they were all gone. I love the prices and I received my order in a matter of days.

I am working on something new for my brand-new baby niece, Jordyn. I know it is still too soon for her to wear, but I needed something simple and quick to get me through the next couple of weeks. I chose Haiku from the first issue of Knitty. I'll try to have photos up soon.

Have a great weekend everyone...

Do Not Lose Heart...

2004-11-03T08:45:00.000-10:00

I received this bit of inspiration from a dear friend. I am feeling extreme sadness at the outcome of our election. Yet am uplifted in knowing that I was not alone in the pursuit for change in our nation, that a great many of us worked hard to make our voices heard. Let's continue to work for our future...

"History is not over. It is, instead, ours to make." ~ Michael Albert

"It's a poor sort of memory which only works backward" ~ Cheshire Cat

"Peace cannot be achieved through violence, it can only be attained through understanding." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Keep on...

Don't forget to vote tomorrow!

2004-11-01T09:43:00.000-10:00

Straps, gifts and a hand felted swatch

2004-10-24T20:55:00.000-10:00

This is the Oli tank with the right strap done, being modeled by my daughter, Olivia...

I tried to get her to smile but she says that models do not smile! Children are keenly observant aren't they?

And these are gifts from my friend, Jen. She visited Oregon and brought these goodies for me. She is so great for surprising me and making me feel special. It's eerie how she knows me so well, or maybe I'm just that obvious. She told me that they weren't much, only small things. I told her that giving is always large...

I love the Bush gum. Very funny! And the wire art bookmarker will come in handy. The pin will be added to my huge collection. It says...Life, liberty and the pursuit of a good woman for president. My favorite part of her gift is this crochet hook made from ebony. It is made by Jim Langsather, a marquetry craftsman. It is very beautiful. I can't wait to use it...

One more thing I crossed off my list of knitting to-do's. I hand felted the Peace Fleece swatch for the tea cozy. Here it is pre-felting...

And with Olivia's help, it took about twenty minutes to get it felted. We did a hot water and soap bath and after kneading it for a few minutes, did a cold water dunking. It was really neat because I could actually feel the fiber pull tight when it hit the cold water. I even broke a sweat from all the kneading and rubbing. Yes, I am out of shape...you know it's time to hit the gym when your craft projects wear you out!

Here is the felted swatch, aka gift pouch, blocking. Once dry, I will add a handle and try the silk-ribbon embroidery on it.

Once again going against my very own Knitter's Creed, I did not take any notes on this swatch. So I can't give you any specifics, except that I used Peace Fleece. By the photos, it looks as if it felted down about half its original size. What an amazing process! And so much fun.

The corporate guys are in town for work the next week and a half. But hopefully the Oli tank will prevail and I will have a finished object for you this week. Wish me luck...these guys can be so intimidating!

Actual knitting and a little bit of shopping...

2004-10-17T15:22:00.000-10:00

So I finally decided to buckle down and try to finish the Oli tank. Truth is, I've sort of lost interest in most of the projects I had been working on. But my daughter would give me a look everytime she spied her unfinished top(sad, sad face)...I just could not stand the guilt. I finished the back and am happy to report that I should be done with the front and straps this week...

Here is a close-up of the decreases. Ughhh, not very pretty. Because the pattern I was using confused me, I decided to do my own thing once I had reached the separation point for the front and back. The backside was done without any problems.

Different story for the front. The pattern called for using a p3tbl for a left slanting decrease. Is there such a thing? I looked through most of my resources and could not find it. I was confused on how this was done, so I tried a ssp(slip, slip, purl). It seems to have worked out okay. I'm sure there are some of you out there cringing at my technique...and if anyone has any advice on how I could have done this better and easier, please let me know! I am open to suggestions. I usually like to do things my own way and learn from my mistakes. I also do not like to ask for directions when lost...

A friend asked me to put together a Halloween costume for her today. We went to Savers and found some really hip 70's clothing for her. It was so much fun picking things out, I thought of how much fun it must be to be a costume designer or one of those people who does this for movies. She had to drag me away from anything that was crocheted or knitted. Until I found the aisle of heads, I did a dance and almost screamed when I saw a whole aisle of these styrofoam beauties. How could I pass this up? She was mine for $3.00!

I even did some online shopping this past week. I love zines. And found these over at Cut & Paste. There is one on how to screen print and another on crafts and DIY. It's fun to read these little creations. The photo on the right is of Ralph, a zine that a friend and I created when we were both taking our first Women's Studies courses. If I had the time I would love to do one about knitting.

It's back to work for me tomorrow. I will try to have a finished Oli tank for you by the next post...

The Yarn Mystic Is A...

2004-10-15T07:51:00.000-10:00

You appear to be a Knitting Guru. You love knitting
and do it all the time. While finishing a piece
is the plan, you still love the process, and
can't imagine a day going by without giving
some time to your yarn. Packing for vacation
involves leaving ample space for the stash and
supplies. It can be hard to tell where the yarn
ends and you begin.
http://marniemaclean.com

What Kind of Knitter Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Found this little quiz at Sit and Knit and couldn't resist. See...this is why I can't get any actual knitting done...distractions, distractions!

My Vacation Itinerary

2004-10-13T16:19:00.000-10:00

After working a whopping 56 hours last week, I started my vacation. Here is how I intended on spending it...

Sunday-Relax and knit
Monday-Relax, knit and celebrate daughter's birthday
Tuesday-Relax, meet with knitting group which would include a trip to our LYS and knitting together
Wednesday-Relax and knit
Thursday-Relax and knit
Friday-Relax and knit

You get the idea...

Well, instead I got to work yesterday and today. It's crazy, but that is life in retail management. I still have a few days left. Alas, all is not lost. My sister-in-law called and we are going to a huge craft fair this Friday morning. I am so excited. I won't even need to drive. I can sit back, relax, and knit. I wonder if there will be yarn and knitting with knitters? Maybe spinning with spinners? I will try to take pictures of the crafting by crafters. There is always unusual and fun Hawaii-type crafts going on at these events.

I have managed to get a wee-bit of knitting related activities going on. I received this package from ImagiKnit's Yarn of the Month Club.

It includes four different yarns, a pattern for a shrug using one of the current month's yarns, and an informational flyer about using natural dyes. Very interesting for me, as I am trying to learn more about dyeing my own fiber. I'm looking forward to swatching the samples.

Speaking of swatches, here is a picture of my first spinning attempt knitted up. I believe it is angora. I am thinking of felting it and making a keychain out of it.

Just this small amount of yarn has me craving to learn more about spinning. I enjoy visiting here and here for some major creative inspiration.

And a big thank you to Becky for the wonderful, surprise-filled package! Beads and postcards all the way from France, I love being gifted...

Mulling over ideas on what to create from the beautiful beads she sent...

Well, I had better finish this post quickly. We have been having blackouts because of higher electricity usage due to the heat(people cranking up the a/c and fans). It would be quite upsetting if I lost this post to a power outage!

Adventures in Yarnland...

2004-10-01T13:13:00.000-10:00

In attempts to navigate my way through the knitting doldrums, I've been trying several different tricks to get my slacking self motivated.

I have borrowed a dropspindle and some roving from a couple of knitters from the Honolulu SNB...thanks to Carol and Opal. I was given a quick lesson by Opal a few months back and have been itching to try my hand at it again.

So after a few false starts, I think I've got the hang of spinning.
With the help of Robert Sabuda's Alice, here is the finished product...

Not much yarn...but I like it. It was fun using the handspindle. And I've been drooling over the latest Halcyon Yarn equipment catalog. The spinning wheels are so beautiful. Do I dare treat myself to one?

But first I think I should get through some of my stash...

In that pile of yarn, there is going to be a Crystal Palace Cotton Chenille baby blanket, a Noro Kureyon French Market bag, another bag of my own design using the Red Hill yarn, a tank out the Patons Fun, and a Mission Falls 1824 cotton cardigan.

Will I ever finish what I already have on my needles? Will my daughter outgrow the tank before it's ever done? Will I go insane? Stay tuned...

Aaaarghhh...

2004-09-27T08:48:00.000-10:00

Aloha everyone...seems that the site that does my image hosting is having some major problems. How sad my blog looks right now! But there is nothing I can do but wait and see if it will be a fixable thing. Hopefully my photos aren't lost forever. I did do the backup thing, but will need to upload everything again. And try to decide if i want to change hosts. But I have a very busy week of work and can't get to this until Wednesday. Apologies for the broken links...

Any advice? How do you take care of your images?

Beanie, baby...

2004-09-22T21:39:00.000-10:00

Just a quick update with a couple of photos. My sister-in-law might give birth on October 1st. So I am trying to finish up a couple of quick projects to present to her when baby is born.

Here is a picture of the beanie almost done...

And here it is all finished and ready for a little baby's head...

I used the hat pattern from Ann Budd's book. Added the crocheted flower from a pattern by Melissa of Action Hero. And topped it off with an I-cord knot. The yarn I used was the Bernat Sox on 4.5mm dpn's and it was doubled throughout.

Has anyone picked up a copy of the Interweave Knits Crochet? I've always had a difficult time with crochet. But with such great projects out there, it's inspiring me to pick up a crochet hook and try my hand at it. Check out Crochet Me...there's some cool crochet there.

I am enjoying knitting for a baby. Now all I need is to make some matching socks or booties...

The Doldrums...

2004-09-17T11:56:00.000-10:00

The knitting kind...not quite sure where I want to be project-wise. There are a few major items I'd like to knit but need to find yarn for them. I really would like to do the Flower Basket Shawl in the latest Fall 2004 Interweave Knits. There is also the Simone bag from HauteKnits. Check it out...Amy has designed a really cool little project. And I'm trying to knit up a couple of baby gifts for my sister-in-law due in October. How fun it will be to knit for a little girl!

Since baby is due soon, I thought of something quick and easy to start with, a rolled hem beanie. I found some Bernat Sox yarn in a fun multi-color and over at Action Hero, Melissa has posted her crochet flower pattern. The beanie pattern is from Ann Budd's Knitter's Book of Handy Patterns. The yarn is an acrylic and nylon blend which I've doubled for this project. The flower is so much fun to crochet, it's quick and the pattern is easy to memorize.

I am hoping to get some wind back in my sails soon. It's a bit frustrating to know I have projects that need to be done. And feeling like a slacker is never a positive thing for me. But then again, it's not a good idea to be so hard on myself. I haven't mentioned it before because I didn't feel it important or necessary to let y'all know in blogland what happens in my private life but maybe a bit of information will help alleviate some of my guilt at being unproductive. I have had some recent health issues which entails some days where I am dealing with a lot of pain. It's called adenomyosis...not a death sentence...but still can be frustrating at times. The only quick explanation is that this is sometimes called internal endometriosis. Also, with my promotion at work and the ensuing extra workload, I have had to withdraw from my classes this semester. Which has been the hardest thing for me to deal with. I was very sad when I had to hand in my withdrawal papers. So not awfully terrible...just need to do a mind shift which doesn't leave room for much else in my already over-crowded brain.

But life goes on...so does my knitting.

Happy Sunday

2004-09-13T07:50:00.000-10:00

Yesterday I met up with some friends for a movie, some food, and knitting. We went to see Garden State. What a great movie. And a wonderful soundtrack. Zach Braff is a fox. But it is the story that will make you laugh, make you cry, make you laugh and cry. If you have been holding off on seeing it...don't. Grab a friend you'd like to share a warm fuzzy moment with and go see it.

Naturally afterwards, we had to find some food. Afterall, a vat o' popcorn and large soda is never enough. We went to a little hole in the wall in Chinatown to find some Polish piroskis made by an old Filipino lady. She has squid, chicken, or beef piroskis. She was sold out of the chicken and none was bold enough to do the squid. We opted for the beef. Doesn't it look yummy?

With our tummies full, we decided it was time to knit. We found a section of a certain large chain bookstore to sit and knit(I won't mention any names especially since we were kindly asked to move...I think they were anti-knitters). I had the immense pleasure and honor of teaching Hersha and Jason to cast-on and knit. Just look at their extreme diligence...

Then we moved to a little cafe called Mocha Java for more food and knitting and friendlier staff. I had some wheat pancakes. More gooey yummy-ness. It was so much fun. I'm looking forward to seeing Jason and Hersha's finished knitting. Especially Hersha's ever morphing project...from scarf to cat toy to sweater to poncho to table runner...she had us laughing the whole day. Here we are in our self-timer slightly blurred photo...left to right-Jen, Jason, myself, and Hersha...

Not much of my own knitting getting done. I seem to be in a bit of knitting slump. Not sure what I want to cast on for yet. Life seems to be a bit out of focus for me at the moment. Is it just an end of summer slump?

Perhaps I need to do some yarn shopping...

Meathead done and the jogless jog...

2004-09-08T16:52:00.000-10:00

The hat is ready to be sent. It was really fun knitting Meathead. I was done within an hour, which I think is a record for me. Tomorrow it goes in the mail. I can't wait to see the complete project!

I'm done with the swatch for the tea cozy. It's too small to run the washer for felting. I will be hand felting it instead. Photos of the process will be up soon.

As for the Oli tank, I'm having a bit of a quandary. I didn't realize that there is an actual technique to disguising the color jog...when you change colors, there is a misalignment of the stripes at the beginning of a round. The stripes are higher on one side than the other. Like this...

I was under the impression that it was something I had to live with when knitting stripes. Then I ran across this tutorial. My dilemma is whether to rip and start over. Or to continue on and learn my lesson of the jogless jog.

What to do...what to do???

Honolulu knitters...

2004-09-02T22:32:00.000-10:00

Last night was a meeting of the Honolulu Stitch 'N Bitch. We had several new members arrive and it was wonderful to see all the different projects. I will take more photos at the next meeting. I get so involved with everyone's knitting that I forget that I have my camera with me.

I did manage to snap this one of Jen with her scarf. It's done in Red Heart with a k2p2 stitch pattern. This is Jen's very first finished object. She is proud...as she should be. The scarf looks great. I am also very proud of her. I taught Jen to knit this past spring and she is doing just fine. Yea, Jen! I can't wait to see her next project...

My Meathead kit arrived! I'm very anxious to get started on this hat. Besides instructions on the how's and when, Larissa included several ounces of Web's natural 1/1 roving. Surprisingly, I managed to find the US19's required for the hat right at a local Ben Franklin(but was shocked at what they were actually charging me for it...ouch!). Silly me, I thought the tea was something required for the hat. I even read the pattern twice looking for instructions on what to do with it. Until I realized it was a little gift for me. Yum...can't wait to brew a cup and sit down to knit.

I guess by now everyone has seen the new Magknits. I love Frida. Not sure how often I will need to use a poncho here, but I want to knit it. One of the yarns recommended is the Mission Falls 1824 cotton. I have ten skeins in navy that haven't been assigned to a project. I also like the Swirt. I have several skeins of Trendsetters Zucca which is comparable to the GGH Esprit.

Do you have any favorites?

You are loved...

2004-08-30T10:48:00.000-10:00

Yes, you are...this post is mostly in appreciation of those that stop in to read my ramblings and support my love of knitting by offering up advise, hints, and encouragement. And patiently watch from the sidelines while I struggle through my knitting endeavors. Whether you make yourself known or prefer to read(and hopefully, enjoy) from the sidelines, know that I tremendously appreciate every moment you spend here.

Okay, so 'nuff of the mush and on to a wee bit of knitting. As you may or may not know, I started classes and was promoted at work all in one week. Which means I now have less time to knit. I am still working on the Oli tank and liking it so much. I can't help but feel happy when knitting with such happy colors!

I have also started swatching for the Tea Cozy Cottage. I am using the worsted weight Peace Fleece in Negotiation Grey for the sides of the cottage. And will be using Grassroots for the roof, doors, and windows. I will also felt the swatch and once done with that I will try some silk ribbon emroidery on it. I'm using dpn's because once I'm done with the felting and embroidery I plan to make a little gift bag from it. I saw something like this done in Felted Knits. A good way to utilize felted swatches. I love the way this is turning out. This yarn has a real rustic look to it. Almost primitive. I can't wait to see how it felts...

BTW...see those little red pins in the photo? They are for you! Email me(see my profile for email link...sorry, it's the one thing I haven't figured out how to do is link to my email) and let me know in which language(s) you would prefer. The I am loved pins come in Japanese, Italian, French, Hebrew, and Spanish. I have a bunch and they are just my little way of saying thanks. If you'd like to know more about these buttons, click here(they are free for the asking!). I ordered them to pass out at peace rallies and many of my friends wear them. And now I want to share its message with all of you...

Multi-tasking...

2004-08-23T10:00:00.000-10:00

Or just plain ol' short attention span. Fall semester starts for me tomorrow. So to get into the swing of things I began reading an anthropology text I had on a bookshelf. In the midst of reading about the collapse of Easter Island, the Oli tank beckoned to be worked on. That's when I thought what better time than now to check out my new dvd of The Royal Tenenbaums.

This is a closeup of the moss stitch edging on the tank bottom. I am making up the stripe pattern as I go along and making sure I am taking better notes this time around. It's stockinette stitch all the way to the straps which will be done in moss stitch.

I've also been practicing some silk ribbon embroidery. I want to use it for a project I found in a book called Knitter's Stash. It's the Cottage Tea Cozy...the sides of the cottage are felted while the roof, door, and shutters are knit in double seed stitch. The embroidery is used to decorate the cottage with flowers and insects. I'm thinking a romantic country cottage...

I don't need a tea cozy, but I have some Peace Fleece I can use for felting the little cottage. And it was a good excuse to continue practicing my silk ribbon embroidery.

I think that's enough for one day. You may not hear from me the rest of this week unless I finish the Oli tank. Wish me luck with my first day of school! I'm taking a religion class called Understanding Buddhism and one for sociology called Sociology of the Family. With single parenting and working full-time, two classes are about all I can handle.

I wonder if my professors will let me knit while they lecture...

Another WIP done...

2004-08-21T00:01:00.000-10:00

This one is the Beanie For A Friend. I was knitting this one up sans pattern and since I wasn't quite sure how to start the decrease, BFAF has been sitting in a bag since February. It was suggested to me on Tuesday by fellow Honolulu SNB'er, Michelle, that I might find some use from Ann Budd's book, The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns. It's also very much the same beanie as the Hot Head I finished earlier this summer. So I don't know why I was hung up for so long.

Luckily, I found a copy at a nearby bookstore that evening. I haven't had a chance to look through the rest of the book but I was able to figure out how to decrease the beanie by using the charts provided. And here is the result as modeled by my daughter...

It feels so great to finish a project. It's definitely motivation to go through my baskets(yes, that is more than one basket) and get to binding off other WIP's, including some of my crocheted items. I have no plans to cast-on for anything new until after the first week of September. Except for helping out Larissa with the Massive Meathead Knitup. It will be fun and I can't wait to see her end results. Check it out... and join in.

Next in queue for finishing is Oli's tank. I'm using this as inspiration...

Done?!!

2004-08-17T12:21:00.000-10:00

Done!!!

Proof is in the pictures. As taken by my eight year old and through the heat of the Hawaiian sun...

Phew...it's been a long journey. There were moments when I wanted to dive into the frog pond and forget about this whole trip! But I persevered. Yes, there were a couple of times that I was not quite sure what was going on and it was sort of sink or swim, learn it or frog it. And the slacker in me wanted to give up. Then I would have to give myself a sort of pep talk..."Come on, if you give up now, ya ain't a knitter, just do it, finish it! Finish. It."

Uh, huh. Learned a few lessons, too. For one, take better notes along the way. Yep, especially when I got to the part that says "reverse shaping". There's no holding my hand along the way here, no step by step instructions, just "reverse shaping"...I was on my own. In this case it would have been nice to have a much clearer roadmap of my knitting. I also would have been less impulsive about yarn choice. Not that I dislike the Portofino Soufle. If I had been more patient, I would have waited for something that showed more stitch definition. I should have also been more careful with sizing. I chose to go with 34 inches. And although I stayed on gauge throughout, the cami is a bit baggy.

Overall? I love it...I've been wanting to knit Honeymoon since I first saw it in Knitty and will most likely try it again. In the smaller size with a different yarn.

Now I must decide on a new project. But according to astrology, Mercury is retrograde from August through mid-September, which means it's not a good time to start anything new. It is supposed to be a great time to finish things. So I will attempt to turn my WIP's into FO's. I'm eagerly waiting for the Rowan Vintage Style due out in October. There are a few projects in there I would love to knit.

Here are those beaded stitch markers that have been waiting in the wings...

I used some Bali sterling silver with various Czech beads. And also my newly acquired wire-wrapping skills I learned at "Beadmania". If you live on the Leeward side of Oahu, this is a great little shop with a wonderfully warm staff. Look them up...

Well, the Honeymoon is over! And I couldn't be happier...

***A very big "Thank You" goes to Missa at Midnight Knitter for the new look.

A quickie...

2004-08-13T08:11:00.000-10:00

The usual crazy busy-ness going on here...apologies for the sparse posting. Will have photos and updates in a couple of days. I'm almost done with Honeymoon. I think I'm finally getting the garment construction thing down!

And I have some beaded stitch markers ready for their photoshoot!

Happy Friday the 13th...

Update!

2004-08-06T09:53:00.000-10:00

Here is Honeymoon with the back right armhole and v-neck shaping done. I've decided to keep the straps a bit wider than the three stitches called for in the pattern. Pretty smooth going, as I've learned to read the pattern through than read each sequence again before proceeding with each part...itty-bitty baby steps.

Now I'm at the front right and I am stuck. I'm trying to figure out how to reverse the instructions for the front. I'm positive that once I have the time to sit down and think about reversing the pattern, I'll be okay. I started the front by purling a row than knit the next right side row. I did the 4 stitch bind off for the armhole, when I realized that would not work. I was left with a stitch all by its lonesome. It was a "Duh!" moment.

I've been focusing all my knitting energy on finishing this cami. So not much else going on knit-wise. I will be extremely happy when I'm done with this project. I'm sure y'all wouldn't mind seeing some finished objects either.

Until then, take a look at this Gallery of Honeymoons. Very impressive! Julia is the very talented designer of the Honeymoon cami. Mind of Winter is her wonderfully informative site.

Knitter's block...some crochet...

2004-08-02T08:45:00.000-10:00

It's been a really busy week with my daughter starting the 4th grade and a head honcho at work visiting the island stores last week. Thus, free time has been next to nil. I'm still working on Honeymoon...I'm still going through the "shape bust" section. So knitting update is minimal. I'd post a photo but it still looks like a lumpy, purple blob.

After feeling guilt at not keeping up with the knitting Jones', a comment by Rabbitch put things in perspective for me. She mentioned that there is no such thing as too fast or too slow. Learning to knit faster won't make me happy. After all, didn't I promise myself to enjoy the journey more and not worry so much about crossing the finish line?

That said, some embellishments have been added to a crochet project...

I had posted earlier photos in the Finished Objects portion of my photo album. This is a pattern my mother has been crocheting for over 30 years. It's a very quick project and can be adapted to many different sizes. I may actually try to write down a formal pattern for this, as it's been handed down through word of mouth. Since my Japanese mother speaks "broken-English" and I have no idea how to read crochet patterns, I'm not even sure her crochet terminalogy is correct. It will be an interesting challenge!

Here, some pantaloons have been added. Afterall, a doll can't go out without her pants...

As much as crochet is fun and I enjoy it for small projects, I still prefer my knitting needles...

Happily knitting away...

2004-07-26T21:19:00.000-10:00

When this thing, this...this...this knot pops up out of nowhere!

I've heard of this happening, but have never encountered it. Is this normal? How often has this happened to you? I was busy knitting and watching The Iron Giant, so I didn't notice it right away. Until I checked my work! Luckily, the knot ended up on the wrong side. I suppose there are simple remedies when encountering such frustration. Portofino was already in a ball when purchased, so there was no way of knowing ahead of time.

After a brief moment of wondering if I had purchased defective yarn, I went on to the utter confusion of the RRI(right raised increases) and LRI(left raised increases) on my Honeymoon. The decreases were a breeze...a snap...no problem-o! And they look just fine. I'm not sure the increases are being done correctly. They look okay to me. As mentioned before, the yarn is a bit forgiving. I'm just looking forward to finishing. I'm a slow knitter and it's a bit intimidating when I'm reading about everyone else finishing their projects and moving on.

There's so many things I want to start, but am holding off. At least until I finish Honeymoon and my friend's beanie. Oh, and don't forget, I still have my daughter's tank to work on. I've decided to modify the pattern on that project...so, I'm not going to put too much pressure on myself to finish that up in a hurry.

I'm wondering...how slow is too slow?

Beads and yarn...

2004-07-21T09:03:00.000-10:00

Still working feverishly(?!) to finish my Honeymoon. Not much to photograph, I'm just below the "shape bust" section of the pattern. And I promise to include photos once the cami gets closer to being finished.

I've been doing some beading to break up the monotony of knitting stockinette in the round. This is my take on a design I found in a Japanese bead magazine. The original called for a temari ball type design which I felt was a bit impractical for an everyday look.

Why all the beading? Well, I found a new bead shop in my area. Until recently, I would have to travel over 45 minutes through Honolulu traffic to find decent beads. So bead shopping was a rarity. Now, it's a smooth five minute drive on my side of the island. I will be paying them a visit again today. Do you think three visits to buy beads in week is a bit much? Thank goodness there aren't any yarn shops near by...

This beanie has been haunting me for months. I need to finish this soon. It's been promised to a friend and I'm sure he has given up on ever seeing it. I hope he appreciates it...I'm doing it sans pattern and have been stuck trying to figure out how to do the decreases. I really need to study up on garment constrution. I found a formula for hats a while back and if I can find it, I will definitely need its help.

It seems crazy to be working on cold weather gear when it's 90 degrees out...

Honeymoon, v2.0...

2004-07-17T09:21:00.000-10:00

Ahhhhh...now I'm glad I ripped my first attempt. Once I got past the eyelet portion and saw some progress, I felt like I was actually knitting.  I'm even enjoying the decreases. Although the left decreases are a bit confusing. I am hoping I'm not twisting or turning those stitches. This boucle is pretty forgiving...and I think it will be less obvious if there is a slight glitch somewhere. I hate to admit it, but I don't think I would recognize a twisted stitch if I ran into one anyway.

It's been difficult to find time to knit with full-time work and getting the kids and myself ready for the coming school year. My daughter has decided to stay in Hawaii, so I am busy getting her set-up for the fourth grade. I have yet to finish registering for my classes in the fall. I'm an anthropology major and it's been slow going with only 2 classes a session, but I will keep plugging away until I get my degree.  I'm more concerned that my son will be a high school junior next year. Yikes!(shudder) Driver's ed.

I am looking forward to starting a knitting group on my campus this fall. One of my friends that I taught to knit attends the same campus and we discussed starting one this semester. If you are reading this and attend the Leeward campus of UH, please contact me(see profile). Let's get together!

Here's some Peace Fleece I had in my stash. I'm thinking of using them for holiday gift giving. Just need to find appropriate projects.   I've been thinking of cell phone cozies to go with some of the beaded phone dangles that I'm making.

I'll try to post photos of some of my beaded projects next post...

I pledge...

2004-07-13T07:54:00.000-10:00

To read a pattern completely through before starting a project.

To swatch a complete 6 inch sqare. Not 2, not 4...but 6.

To chronicle my projects in a journal.

To not expect the impossible from a yarn. A boucle blend will

not behave as a mercerized cotton.

To try a new stitch pattern at least once a week.

To become more discerning when shopping for yarn, especially

in pricing. Somewhere, there is a better price.

I felt I needed to set some guidelines for myself. I tend to get excited about starting projects and not think things through which usually end in disappointing results. My impulsive nature is being challenged. Patience is not only a virtue, it's become a necessity. I'm in such a rush to reach the destination, I'm not noticing mistakes along the way. Slowing down would be a good thing.

And learning a new stitch pattern keeps me focused on where I want to go with my knitting. It helps me to realize that I can do more than just knit and purl.

Here's a couple I tried this past week...

They are from the book "How To Knit" by Debbie Bliss.

It's one of the first books I purchased when I began to knit. I still like to use its stitch libraries and there is a entrelac workshop that I would eventually like to tackle.

But, for now, back to the cami...

Day off...

2004-07-08T20:58:00.000-10:00

Not really.

After a 7-day work week, I was hoping to get some relaxation time to knit...but nope. I was wrong. Kids need attention. House needs attention. And inside, my Self is whining, "What about me?!!"

To top it all off, I spent most of my second day off fussing with my computer. I was hoping to put in new USB ports, as the ones I currently have do not work. It looks like it may take a bit longer to get some decent pictures up.

I wanted to get the mundane out of the way so I could have at least a few hours to knit and read. But things just weren't happening for me.

Oh well, at least I attended the Honolulu Stitch 'n Bitch last night. It is always refreshing to spend time with fellow knitters. Everyone was working on some really wonderful projects. Michelle is knitting the shapely tank in black Cotton Fleece. What a great yarn! I really love the way it looks and feels. We talked about a knitting getaway(a knitaway!). A trip to the Mainland to go yarn shopping. I know it's something I would seriously consider doing. And check out Opal's tank...it's coming along nicely, too.

I was thinking of ripping my Honeymoon Cami. I enjoy knitting this pattern, but it looks a bit sloppy. Yes, this is what happens when I get really tired and should not be knitting or anything else for that matter, except to get some shut-eye. But working straight shifts for days on end, I just had to have a fix. Anyone ever knit in their sleep? Don't try it! And rather than keeping on and wincing everytime I have to look at it, I think it's time for Ms. Frog to do her "thang".

On the other hand, Oli's tank is coming along fine. And I'm looking forward to seeing it on my daughter. I love the colors. And the moss stitch I used for the hem is probably one of my favorites stitches.

Speaking of daughter, I took her to a place here called "Hanai Bear". Hanai in Hawaiian means to adopt. The shop has dolls and animals that a child can choose from. They are not stuffed and once a child finds one, she can help to fill it with stuffing from a huge stuffing machine. This is the most fun part. And the attendant asks the child if her friend is cuddly enough. If it's decided that all is okay, the child picks a little felted heart from a basket and says a pledge to promise to take care of her newly adopted friend. The heart is then pushed into the doll and then it is zipped permanently. The final step is to choose a name and fill out the "Certificate of Adoption". Here is a photo of Oli putting the heart into Emma Rose...

So cute, Emma Rose has been with Oli ever since.

Hmmm, looks like I'll have to find some time to knit doll clothes...

I am in the midst of a Honeymoon...

2004-07-03T10:13:00.000-10:00

I love this project. But not wanting to bore you, I won't go into another tirade about not having enough time to knit. I'm just hoping to get some time in tomorrow evening while watching fireworks.

Have a safe and fun holiday, y'all!

Are you a Bad-Ass?

2004-07-03T06:57:00.000-10:00

Bad-Ass Knitter, that is! Now this is what I'm talking about...check out what Wendyknits has to say about it. Join her...join me. And get one of these:

And while you are at it, get rid of that annoying little voice in your head telling you that you aren't holding the needles correctly or using the right yarn or that you are knitting too slow.

Celebrate independence!

Happy Friday...

2004-07-02T07:26:00.000-10:00

Not when it's a Tuesday in your work week. Haven't had much time to knit. Or for anything else. I have been working on my Honeymoon Cami every chance I get. This is a very fun knit. I'm still working through the eyelet border. It isn't as difficult as I thought it would be, as I was a bit worried I was not doing the "ktbl"(knit through the back loop) correctly. But so far it looks okay. I think the decreases are the parts that will have me pulling hair.

I will try to post a photo of the cami later tonight. My camera phone is okay, it just does not take the kind of photos I want to really post here. But it will have to do until I find a digital camera.

I am headed off to work. A lovely, holiday weekend for everyone, just another workday for us retail employees. I need one of those bumperstickers that says, "I'd rather be knitting!".

Have a great day...

It's a honeymoon...

2004-06-29T09:45:00.000-10:00

A couple of swatches for consideration...

My ebay purchase of Portofino Soufle in a lilac color. This is a 40/40/20 blend of cotton, acrylic, and polyamide.

The top swatch is for the
Honeymoon Cami featured in the current Knitty. It's in a stockinette stitch using bamboo circulars in size 6. The second swatch is for the Chevron Rib Tank from Interweave Knits. For this I knit a garter rib stitch using straight bamboo needles in size 8.

The Portofino is a boucle-type yarn. It knits up really pretty and it's very soft. I did not like the way the swatch for the Chevron tank came out. Besides not making gauge, I felt that the garter rib design did not "pop" the way it should with this yarn.

So...I have decided on the Honeymoon cami. I really like the design and although the pattern is going to be the most difficult I've knit so far, I think I am up for the challenge. Last night, I cast on the 171 stitches for my size. I am now a few rows into the eyelet border...not quite enough for photos yet.

I will be busy the next couple of days with work, but here's hoping I'll have some exciting photos by Friday...

Silly online quiz...minimal knitting...

2004-06-28T14:11:00.000-10:00

You are "Bowl of Oranges". You see life
to more than what most people do and you
genuinely care about people. You feel art and
music is the sure way of lifting your spirits.
You wish others could have appreciation like
you do, but, unfortunately, you are probably
the only one.

Which BRIGHT EYES song are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Hmmm???

I love Bright Eyes'...I love oranges...I like to eat oranges out of bowls. What does it all mean?

Swatches to come...

Knittin' under the sun...

2004-06-26T17:37:00.001-10:00

Last day of my vacation before I have to return to work. Sis-in-law, Wendy and I took the kiddos to the beautiful Ihilani Resort. There are four lagoons to choose from and each have limited parking as to keep the crowds to a minimum(a very nice plus). We stayed a few hours before the sun got too hot. Then we were off to enjoy some ice cream from Bubbies. They have the yummiest mochi ice cream...

I did manage to get in a few rows of knitting before heading into the water.

I'm about 5 inches into this tank top for my daughter. I like that it is so colorful. I need to order some yellow and some sort of deep red to add to the mix. The original pattern calls for 5 different colored yarns and I think these colors could use something else also. I really like the moss stitch at the bottom, although the K1 P1 stitch pattern is very meditative. I fell asleep twice before I was able to finish that section.

Yippee...I received one of my ebay orders. Five skeins of Portofino Soufle in a lilac color and five skeins of Patons Fun in a grey/white color. Both are cotton/acrylic blends. Time to swatch for some tanks for myself. Not a great photo...but here they are...

I have been wondering what to do with my swatches. What do you do? Do you put them in a journal for each project? Or are your swatches just laying about?

Hoping I'll have some swatches done by next post...

Swatch it, baby...

2004-06-25T09:33:00.000-10:00

I swatched for what is going to be the Tank of Many Colours, a design by Chris Behme, featured on Magknits. A cute little tank top for my daughter.

The pattern calls for Mission Falls 1824 Cotton. I wanted to use something I already had in my stash. So I decided on using Cotton Classic II from Tahki. I have a lime green, a bright pink, and some yummy orange. I think the yarn was originally destined to become a cell phone cozy from "Stitch 'N Bitch".

The swatch shows both the St st and moss stitch required in the pattern. I am using bamboo circulars in 5.5mm. And although I've found cotton to be slightly difficult to work with because of its "stiffness", I love the stitch definition. The colors are really fun together. Perfect for an eight-year-old.

I'm ready to cast-on for my first garment...

Sophie done...

2004-06-23T14:22:00.000-10:00

Here she is...pre-felting...

Tomorrow, a trip through the washer?

After much thought, it has been decided that I will leave Sophie in its original state. The Noro Kureyon looks so wonderful as is. All it needs is some blocking, a lining, and a nice button closure.

Tonight's S'n'B was great. We had a couple of new members. And I think more time was spent chatting then knitting. It's always wonderful to hear how everyone began knitting. Our group has multi-talented members. Some also spin and weave. Carol raises her own angora rabbits(sorry, we missed you tonight). And Opal was so nice to gift my daughter with a spindle, some roving and a lesson. Sharon arrived with a couple of vintage knitting needle sets from her mother and some great vintage patterns. It was so much fun to look through them. Opal also had some great yarn from Uruguay...beautiful.

I forgot to take pictures during, but was able to take a couple before I left. Here they are...

From left to right: Opal, my daughter, and Geri, who not only knits but also weaves.

This is another of myself with daughter and Geri.

I also picked up some needle felting kits that Opal had ordered from The Bellwether. They are the Pin Pal kits.

I am looking forward to learning how to needle felt. I think these would look very cute on a small tote bag or felted cellphone covers.

Now that I am done with Sophie, I must decide what project to start next. I feel like doing something bright and colorful...

Aloha...

2004-06-22T12:30:00.000-10:00

Since it's the time of Summer Solstice thought I would share some photos of things that make me happy I'm in Hawaii...

Plumerias from a tree in my front yard.

This photo was taken during my last trip to the Contemporary Museum in Honolulu. The museum is located in a gorgeous home in residential Makiki Heights. These trees are part of the landscaping and are large enough to walk through. When we arrived, the volunteer at the front was actually knitting her first project. I took this as a good omen. And it was. The house was beautiful and the art inspiring. I find that art in any medium influences me to view my knitting from a different slant.

Tomorrow I am going to learn to do toe-up socks from Opal. I will be taking my daughter to the meeting. She has been practicing her knitting and I will post a photo of her "project" as soon as she allows me to take a picture. She is so excited and feeling all grown up that she will be attending.

Thanks to Becky and Patti for the encouragement. I am truly appreciating all the support from everyone.

Hope to have some photos from the Honolulu Stitch'n'Bitch after tomorrow.

Enjoy the summer sun...

Hot head...

2004-06-21T16:37:00.000-10:00

Alex Zorn's design featured in Debbie Stoller's Stitch 'N Bitch using Lamb's Pride Bulky. This was a very quick knit. So quick, I did one for her doll, Rachel. Yea, something that can actually be worn...okay, maybe not here in Hawaii, unless we decide to do some ice skating(yes, we have a rink here!).

Another photo of hot head...

I have also been working on a basic K2P2 beanie in a maroon yarn with white speckles(misplaced the band, but it's a cotton/acrylic blend). It's my own creation and I am trying to figure out how to start decreasing. I'm pretty sure on how to proceed, it's just taking the plunge...start decreasing those stitches. I don't know what I'm afraid of.

And this is Sophie...

I should be done with it tonight. And hopefully have it felted in time for the Honolulu SnB meeting on Wednesday. My pictures are still yucky. I went shopping for digital cameras today. I'm at a lost. Any suggestions? I really do not need anything super fancy. Photos that aren't dark and blurry would be nice. And easy to upload.

I've gotten rid of the comments section, but have added a tagboard. I think it would be an easier means for communicating...

So, don't be shy, say "hi"...

Busy, busy, busy...

2004-06-20T16:38:00.000-10:00

Just a quick post...not much knitting happening. On row 26 of my Sophie bag. I received the summer update for the Patternworks catalog. So I will have to take a look to see what is new.

Very warm here in Hawaii. We had some shave ice treats to cool us off. This is our new machine. We just plug it in, pop in the ice and taa-daa...treats for everyone.

And, yes...that is a Hello Kitty toaster in the background. I am off to a Father's Day dinner. Will post more tomorrow and hopefully, have better photos of Sophie then...

Sophie in process...

2004-06-18T20:40:00.000-10:00

This is my Sophie bag done in Noro Kureyon#55. The photo came out too dark(okay, it looks like a big, dark blob), but hopefully it at least shows I've made some progress in the last few days. Having my daughter here is very exciting...and tiring. I haven't had much time to knit. She has fallen asleep early this evening. I will take advantage of this and do some knitting. Or sleeping...

The following is the Chinese Charm Bag from Debbie Stoller's "Stitch 'N Bitch" which I finished back in April. I used the Noro Gemstone in #8 and although I was only able to find faux bamboo handles, I am pretty happy with the results. The yarn was an ebay acquisition. I would like to try this bag again in another type of yarn.

I am patiently waiting for my ebay purchases. As soon as those come in, I can cast on for the Honeymoon tank. My last purchase arrived very quickly, within a week of winning my bid. I spoke to Opal and she is still waiting for a purchase she made at the beginning of the month. I hope I won't have to wait that long.

Hoping the postman will have goodies for me tomorrow...

And...there shall be PICTURES....

2004-06-16T22:03:00.000-10:00

Mini Skull&Crossbones Tote design by Hello Yarn Using Brown Sheep Worsted & Noro Kureyon

I finished this about 2 weeks ago. Since I did not have a color contrasting enough to do the crossbones design, I used Noro Kureyon in #115 to add a stripe to the bag. Apologies for the photo quality. I haven't had a chance to pick up a digital camera and had to use my camera phone instead.

Besides photos, check out my links. Finally figured out how to manipulate html a bit. Hopefully soon, I can add a photo album of WIP's and other things going on with knitting and the Honolulu Stitch & Bitch.

'Til then...

Oh, E-Bay...How I love thee...

2004-06-15T06:02:00.000-10:00

I have won three bids on E-bay. That is 20 skeins of yarn for under 60 bucks. I have found it next to impossible to find any yarn that I like here in Honolulu. Maybe I am being too picky. Maybe I just need to organize my thoughts more before I enter a room full of yarn. Maybe I should be more open to opportunity when yarn shopping. I bit of mindfulness I think would be helpful the next time I step into a yarn shop.

Three bids...10 skeins of Mission Falls 1824 cotton in Indigo, 5 skeins of Patons in grey/white cotton, and 5 skeins of Portofino Souffle in a lavender color. I plan on using the Mission Falls for a skirt. The Portofino is going to be used for the honeymoon tank. And I may use the Patons for another tank or maybe a summer cardigan.

I am a few rows shy of finishing up the bottom to the Sophie bag. Then I will be ready to pick up stitches to work up the sides. I am using Noro Kureyon #55. It is a grey, rusty brown, green colorway. Very earthy.

I am still working on learning how to blog. I can't wait to post photos. And am trying to figure out how to add links. I picked up a book by Biz Stone on blogging. It is pretty comprehensive. And I am hoping it will help to make things a bit more interesting.

I now have to run to the store and pick up some leis and a balloon to welcome my daughter at the airport. Yippeee.....I am very excited. Until later...

A little bit of knitting...

2004-06-14T08:30:00.000-10:00

I have been practicing the stitch patterns for the honeymoon tank and hopefully soon will be confident enough to cast on for this project. This will definitely be the most difficult knitting I have done so far. I know I will have tons of help though. The Honolulu S 'n' B is a great group to be a part of. Already I have been motivated by everyone's enthusiasm. Being pretty competitive, I like to keep up and dislike feeling as if I'm lagging in skills. I feel like such a newbie when I'm with these ladies. Being a part of a group definitely keeps me on my toes.

On a personal note, I started my vacation today. No real plans, not even leaving the islands. Just to either finish some WIP's(socks & Sophie bag) and to find some new yarn to add to my stash. My daughter will also be here to visit for the summer and I'm looking forward to teaching her to knit. I have purchased a kit from Peace Fleece with cute, child-sized knitting needles, two mini-skeins, and a handmade button of a cat's face included. It is going to be a little coin purse. She is 8 years old, hopefully not too young to learn.

As soon as I figure out how to post photos, I will do so. I plan on heading to the bookstore today to pick up some books on blogging. I am hoping to have things a bit more interesting in a few weeks. I definitely would like to change the template and colors. Until next time...

So...this is where it all begins...

2004-06-13T18:09:00.000-10:00

I do not know much about building a blog. But I am hoping to learn as I go along.

I am putting this together in hopes of sharing my knitting adventures with others. And in exchange, I know I will learn from my fellow knitters and crafters.

First, a bit about myself. I have been knitting for a little over 7 months. I have been trying to learn for most of my life, but finally got really tired of being envious of other knitters. So I sat myself down with a little pamphlet from Wal-Mart and forced my hands to knit. And as corny as this may sound, my life has not been the same ever since.

I hope you will enjoy my ramblings...