I've worn my Champagne Bubble Wrap twice since I blocked it. I feel so regal while I'm wrapped in it's pretty pink and blue triangles. I specifically purchased a dark gray turtleneck sweater to show off the colours of the wrap.
I've learned that a very finely knit garment looks like buckess until it is blocked. I've read that somewhere, most likely in that exact language, but until I've seen the results for myself I could never believe the difference.
Knitting My Life Away
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Folded Tweed Bag Update
I HATE PICKING UP STITCHES!
I've been working on the edge of the bag for the last 10 days. The bag was finished ever so quickly, but the picking up stitches is driving me crazy.
I even drew a plan for myself so I could see where the stitches would be in relation to the 4 stitch holders I was suppose to be using and the 408 stitches would go around the rectangle. Since making the plan, I've lost it. (Deh, I have the pad of graphpaper, but no plan). And, I can't seem to be able to count up to 408. I'm going to try again tonight and use the split stitch markers so I can divide the counting up.
The worst thing there are only 6 rows of knitting and then the bag is finished.
Oh, and I broke my own rule about not buying new yarn until I finished something I've already started. But I found a really cute pattern in the Knitter's Magazine Issue 96, Fall 2009. On page 26 of the magazine they have a beautiful a Hobnail Wrap, which is a large cowl. I decided to make one for Christmas for the elderly mother of a wonderful man from work. This gent is a member of my building security and is a one of those people who make you feel good every morning when you arrive in the building.
I found a beautiful cranberry coloured yarn from Kertzer. It is the new Northern Chunky in Cranberry Cocktail (0409). I chose the yarn in acrylic as it will may need to be washed frequently, and I know this gent does the laundry. It isn't my goal to make his life harder.
It is almost half done yesterday evening, even after it took me half a row with bobbles to figure out how to make the bobbles (oh, it's knit together, not knit. It's going so fast as you knit with 2 strands of the chunky yarn together on size 9mm needles. Hopefully I'll have it finished tonight.
I've been working on the edge of the bag for the last 10 days. The bag was finished ever so quickly, but the picking up stitches is driving me crazy.
I even drew a plan for myself so I could see where the stitches would be in relation to the 4 stitch holders I was suppose to be using and the 408 stitches would go around the rectangle. Since making the plan, I've lost it. (Deh, I have the pad of graphpaper, but no plan). And, I can't seem to be able to count up to 408. I'm going to try again tonight and use the split stitch markers so I can divide the counting up.
The worst thing there are only 6 rows of knitting and then the bag is finished.
Oh, and I broke my own rule about not buying new yarn until I finished something I've already started. But I found a really cute pattern in the Knitter's Magazine Issue 96, Fall 2009. On page 26 of the magazine they have a beautiful a Hobnail Wrap, which is a large cowl. I decided to make one for Christmas for the elderly mother of a wonderful man from work. This gent is a member of my building security and is a one of those people who make you feel good every morning when you arrive in the building.
I found a beautiful cranberry coloured yarn from Kertzer. It is the new Northern Chunky in Cranberry Cocktail (0409). I chose the yarn in acrylic as it will may need to be washed frequently, and I know this gent does the laundry. It isn't my goal to make his life harder.
It is almost half done yesterday evening, even after it took me half a row with bobbles to figure out how to make the bobbles (oh, it's knit together, not knit. It's going so fast as you knit with 2 strands of the chunky yarn together on size 9mm needles. Hopefully I'll have it finished tonight.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Champagne Bubble Shawl
Before I begin documenting my works-in-progress, I thought I should document my finished projects.
First off I have my Champagne Bubble Shawl. I call it Champagne Bubble Shawl because I knit it this July when my sister Kathryn was home for her week vacation. When Kathryn is in the house, Lawrence Welk is playing on the t.v., ergo the name of this shawl. It was knit to the soundtrack of LW.
Yarn: 3 hanks of Cadenza Hand Paints by Estelle, 80% Superwash Merino Wool and 20% Tussah Silk in colour 966 (Verigated pinks and blues), 350m to 100g
I have 60 grams left over.
The pattern is from the Lace Live article by Jane Sowerby in the Summer 2008 issue of Knitter's Magazine, Page 28. The pattern was called Midori Green Shawl
I finally got around to weaving in the ends and blocking it today. With the change in weather I'll be able to use it as soon as it is dryed.
First off I have my Champagne Bubble Shawl. I call it Champagne Bubble Shawl because I knit it this July when my sister Kathryn was home for her week vacation. When Kathryn is in the house, Lawrence Welk is playing on the t.v., ergo the name of this shawl. It was knit to the soundtrack of LW.
Yarn: 3 hanks of Cadenza Hand Paints by Estelle, 80% Superwash Merino Wool and 20% Tussah Silk in colour 966 (Verigated pinks and blues), 350m to 100g
I have 60 grams left over.
The pattern is from the Lace Live article by Jane Sowerby in the Summer 2008 issue of Knitter's Magazine, Page 28. The pattern was called Midori Green Shawl
I finally got around to weaving in the ends and blocking it today. With the change in weather I'll be able to use it as soon as it is dryed.
Blogs: How many can I manage?
Blogs have been SO important to me as I've learned about the adoption process in Kazakhstan and in keeping me sane as I wait. I also, along the way discovered knitting blogs. They are a wonderful way of sharing my love of knitting and learning about this comsuming hobby. So it seemed natural to begin both a blog about my adoption journey and my knitting. However, somewhere along the line I started a third blog about my house. I guess somehow I'd separated my life into boxes and created blogs for each of the boxes.
Well, I've decided to do away with my home blog and I've deleted it. It's now gone. Hmmm, maybe I should have saved the entries first, oh well, it's not really gone for the next 90 days and then it will be really gone.
From now on I'll have a blog to keep track of my adoption and homelife (they are one and the same, right) and one for knitting.
Well, I've decided to do away with my home blog and I've deleted it. It's now gone. Hmmm, maybe I should have saved the entries first, oh well, it's not really gone for the next 90 days and then it will be really gone.
From now on I'll have a blog to keep track of my adoption and homelife (they are one and the same, right) and one for knitting.
Let the edging Begin
The body of the Folded Tweed Bag is finished. Now I begin the picking up stitches for the edging.
I will be using the light beige colour, the one called Autumn, to do the edges. The edges are done in garter stitch.
I'm really pleased with how this bag has knitted up and I love the feel of the yarn.
The colours of the yarn seem to be working too. I love the pink and the blue shades, and I love the MC, the dusty rose colour.
As I've been working on this, I keep thinking of all the lovely sweaters in Debbie Bliss' Fall/Winter 09 magazine that are in the tweed section. My mind keeps saying, 'Hmmm, maybe I could knit that sweater". Then I remember that I promised myself that I'd actually finish a bunch of my works in progress before I spend another penny for yarn. One day I should record all my works in progress. I don't know if it would encourage me or depress me entirely.
Actually, as I've been knitting all weekend, I kept hearing a voice in my head talking about an afghan that's unfinished. I really wish my brother would be quiet when I'm trying to knit, I'm sure I'll finish his afghan sometime in the next couple of years. It's not my fault he's soooooooo tall!
I will be using the light beige colour, the one called Autumn, to do the edges. The edges are done in garter stitch.
I'm really pleased with how this bag has knitted up and I love the feel of the yarn.
The colours of the yarn seem to be working too. I love the pink and the blue shades, and I love the MC, the dusty rose colour. As I've been working on this, I keep thinking of all the lovely sweaters in Debbie Bliss' Fall/Winter 09 magazine that are in the tweed section. My mind keeps saying, 'Hmmm, maybe I could knit that sweater". Then I remember that I promised myself that I'd actually finish a bunch of my works in progress before I spend another penny for yarn. One day I should record all my works in progress. I don't know if it would encourage me or depress me entirely.
Actually, as I've been knitting all weekend, I kept hearing a voice in my head talking about an afghan that's unfinished. I really wish my brother would be quiet when I'm trying to knit, I'm sure I'll finish his afghan sometime in the next couple of years. It's not my fault he's soooooooo tall!
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Folded Tweed Bag
As promised, pictures of the wool for the Folded Tweed Bag. It is knitting up very quickly and I'm liking what I see.
The pattern came from this book by Interweave Press. I bought the book because I want to knit one of the baby sweaters. However, since getting the book home, I've started on the cover mittens and now the Folded Tweed Bag. The book has a pattern for a knitted hobby horse, I'm sure that will make it to my 'work in progress' one day. Oh, and no, I haven't started on the baby sweater (YET).
This is what it is suppose to look like when it is finished. Finding the perfect buttons will be a lot of fun.
I've already have this much knitted (I cast on Thursday night after making a huge pot of Beer Chili, mmm it was delicious). So far I've done the front, bottom and about 1/3 of the back. When I've finished I add a border around the entire rectangle in garter stitch. The border will be in the Autumn colour which is the colour of the band I've just finished.
The pattern came from this book by Interweave Press. I bought the book because I want to knit one of the baby sweaters. However, since getting the book home, I've started on the cover mittens and now the Folded Tweed Bag. The book has a pattern for a knitted hobby horse, I'm sure that will make it to my 'work in progress' one day. Oh, and no, I haven't started on the baby sweater (YET).
This is what it is suppose to look like when it is finished. Finding the perfect buttons will be a lot of fun.
I've already have this much knitted (I cast on Thursday night after making a huge pot of Beer Chili, mmm it was delicious). So far I've done the front, bottom and about 1/3 of the back. When I've finished I add a border around the entire rectangle in garter stitch. The border will be in the Autumn colour which is the colour of the band I've just finished.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Romni Wools
I went to Romni Wools today. I'm still recovering.
I've been told how big the place was and I've heard about all the wool they have...but I was completely shocked by the place. I'm just slightly claustrophobic and I was a wee bit uncomfortable in the store. Luckily it is a yarn store, another kind of store and I would have been back out the door the minute I looked inside.
I was there on a mission to buy wool to make two bags. I found the patterns and wanted to make the bags as Christmas gifts. The first is the Folded Tweed Bag by Kathy Merrick in Interweaves Knitted Gifts. The one in the book is made with Plymouth Yarns, but I learned that no one in Canada imports Plymouth yarns. So instead I bought Jo Sharp's DK Tweed. The bag will be a bit smaller than the one in the book, but it is a bag, all sizes fit, don't they. The main colour will be Paper Rose (406) with Autumn (414), Celestine (401) and Treasure (424).
The second bag is from Debbie Bliss' Fall/Winter 2009 magazine. It is the Tweed Shoulder Bag. Now, I didn't realize until I was in the store that I'd picked two patterns that use a tweed yarn. I just liked the patterns and knew that they would work for my friends. For the Tweed Shoulder Bag I bought the recommended wool, Donegal Chunky Tweed by Debbie Bliss. I found a denim blue tweed colour that should be perfect for my friend. While I was wandering around the overwhelming yarns on the first floor, I came across a beautiful chunky alpaca yarn. It was ever so soft, unfortunately it would not have the stiffness for making the bag.
So, tonight after I make dinner, I'm going to cast on the Folded Tweed bag. It was suppose to be a light worsted weight knit up on 4.5mm needles. But, as I said, I have the DK weight and I'll be using 4mm needles. Hopefully, I'll find my camera and get some pictures. I also have to update my internet provider so that loading pictures doesn't take an hour a picture.
Off to make dinner. It's chili tonight. Mmmmmmmm. Perfect for a beautiful fall day like today.
I've been told how big the place was and I've heard about all the wool they have...but I was completely shocked by the place. I'm just slightly claustrophobic and I was a wee bit uncomfortable in the store. Luckily it is a yarn store, another kind of store and I would have been back out the door the minute I looked inside.
I was there on a mission to buy wool to make two bags. I found the patterns and wanted to make the bags as Christmas gifts. The first is the Folded Tweed Bag by Kathy Merrick in Interweaves Knitted Gifts. The one in the book is made with Plymouth Yarns, but I learned that no one in Canada imports Plymouth yarns. So instead I bought Jo Sharp's DK Tweed. The bag will be a bit smaller than the one in the book, but it is a bag, all sizes fit, don't they. The main colour will be Paper Rose (406) with Autumn (414), Celestine (401) and Treasure (424).
The second bag is from Debbie Bliss' Fall/Winter 2009 magazine. It is the Tweed Shoulder Bag. Now, I didn't realize until I was in the store that I'd picked two patterns that use a tweed yarn. I just liked the patterns and knew that they would work for my friends. For the Tweed Shoulder Bag I bought the recommended wool, Donegal Chunky Tweed by Debbie Bliss. I found a denim blue tweed colour that should be perfect for my friend. While I was wandering around the overwhelming yarns on the first floor, I came across a beautiful chunky alpaca yarn. It was ever so soft, unfortunately it would not have the stiffness for making the bag.
So, tonight after I make dinner, I'm going to cast on the Folded Tweed bag. It was suppose to be a light worsted weight knit up on 4.5mm needles. But, as I said, I have the DK weight and I'll be using 4mm needles. Hopefully, I'll find my camera and get some pictures. I also have to update my internet provider so that loading pictures doesn't take an hour a picture.
Off to make dinner. It's chili tonight. Mmmmmmmm. Perfect for a beautiful fall day like today.
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