Major Knitter

Vintage Velvet Scarf

Remember that beautiful blue yarn I received from my Secret Pal 5?  My SP5 sent me THREE skeins of Classic Elite Inca Alpaca in a gorgeous dark blue and suggested that it might be the right amount for a scarf that she had seen in Pam Allen's scarfSTYLE. 

I totally agreed, but I had another scarf in mind from that book.  I like the Vintage Velvet Scarf designed by Lisa Daniels.  I think it will turn out beautifully, but I'm a bit worried about felting it.  I'm not sure I want to do that.  Right now I've cast on my 34 stitches and managed to knit about 20 rows.  I'll post a picture when it's a little bit more interesting.  Maybe by later tonight or tomorrow morning.

I guess since the boys are getting ready to go back to school, I'm also getting ready for fall and winter by turning my thoughts to knitting scarves and sweaters. 

Chemo Cap

Last summer, just at the beginning of my divorce, I went with Tara to The Knitting Niche in Greenwich.  It's a lovely store and I had a great time.  I picked up a skein of yarn for the store's Chemo Cap project.  Well, in all the hulabaloo of the divorce, it got lost in the yarn stash.  I'm so sorry. 

Today I decided to clean up all my yarn, needles, accessories, etc. and rediscovered the skein of Berroco Pronto and the free pattern by Joan Fernbach (altered to fit the Berocco Pronto yarn) and realized that it's better late than never.  I hope that old adage holds true.

I spared you all from the before/after pictures of my knitting needles in disarray and then in "array" as I was slightly embarassed by the amount of needles I found inside bags with long forgotten knitting projects.  I managed to sort most everything and it looks much better.  This pattern proved to be quick and easy and I recommend it if you're looking for a pattern.  Click HERE for Joan Fernbach's free pattern for the "One Ball Really Easy Instant Chemo Cap"

Felted Bottle Cozy

Jenn from KnitWit Momma wrote to me the other day asking if I had the pattern for the felted water bottle holder that Regina sported at SNL a while ago.  I decided to create a pattern.  Here's the pre-felting view of the bottle cozy.  Keep your fingers crossed.

Now I'll throw it in the washer in HOT water with some mild soap and a pair of jeans (for agitation) and hope that it shrinks to the correct size.  Good thing that water bottles come in small, medium and large.  Depending on how it shrinks, I'll just use that size bottle as if it were planned.  It really is part math and part luck with this whole felting business.  The general rule of thumb I use is that it will shrink about a third during the felting process.

Keep your fingers crossed!

What is it??

It's a whole lot of knitting, that's what.  My Finishing Friday really paid off.  OK... technically it's Saturday, but I finished knitting the main portion of my oversized felted bag.  Look at the size of this thing.  I wasn't kidding when I referred to it as my sleeping bag.  I worked on this today at Saturday kNit Live ("SNL"), determined to bind off the 220 stitches before I quit knitting.  Then I started on the straps.  I want them to be extremely thick and sturdy, so I'm using 4 strands of yarn at the same time to knit the handles.  I think that will be strong enough for this tote bag.  I'm also working up the pattern so you can delve into a project like this for yourself. 

I weighed the bag after I finished it.  Guess how much it weighs?   Three (3) pounds!  That's a lot of  yarn.  Who am I kidding?  That's a lot of knitting.

Tomorrow I hope to finish the straps and weave in the loose ends.  I'm not sure if I'll be able to felt it in my front load washer, but I'll try.  If not, Regina, I'm coming over to use your washer!!!  (I hope that's OK with you.)

Happy knitting everyone.

Finishing Phobia

I have a dirty little secret to tell you.  I hate finishing my projects. 

 

OK.  I probably don't have to tell you that.  Many of you have written asking me "Whatever happened to the BF sweater?" or other similar questions.  Often times I get to a certain point in a project - and *POOF* - the project comes to a screeching halt.  I'm getting a little overwhelmed by my UFOs and WIPs, so I decided to do something about it.  I'm going to address my finishing phobia by creating a new knitting day -

What do you think?  Do you want to join me?  Maybe together we can fight this dreaded disease.  I made great progress today (but I really didn't want to bore you with photos of my hands weaving in the loose ends of the Mets blanket and knitting another 4 inches on the oversized felted bag.  I want to get the felted bag off the needles before I post another picture of it. 

So that's it for tonight.  Tomorrow morning is SNL - Saturday kNit Live - at the house.  I'm not sure who will be coming.  It's always a bit of a surprise.  Anyway, photos tomorrow.  I promise.

Prairie Dogging

Today our friends (amazing photographers and zoo volunteers) Judy Wolfe (aka Judy Lobo) and Mary Schwalm came to Westport for a day trip to the Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport, CT.  The zoo is sporting some adorable new tiger cubs which were a delight to see.  We took the boys with us and their favorite part was the interactive prairie dog exhibit.  Take your family to the zoo today!

 

Crafty Quilter

I'm not the only crafty person in my family.  Remember my sister-in-law Priscilla?  She knits, quilts and embroiders, too.  Look at this lovely quilt she made for our niece Molly as she heads off to college.  Molly's new school colors are blue and gold.

And look at this nice note Priscilla sewed on the back of the quilt. 

Good luck Molly!  Have fun in college.

Priscilla - Magnifico!  What a beautiful gift that will be treasured forever.

A Night on the Town

I picked up some Gedifra Techno Hair Oro (you could pick up about any eyelash yarn that catches your fancy) and made this quick and easy top for Barbie's night on the town.  She can wear this off the shoulder, as a tank, or just off one shoulder.  Now I think she needs some black leather pants and some spiked heels.  Ooh la la!

Download barbie_night_on_the_town_sweater_pattern.doc

Outrageous Orchids

My good friend sent me this surprise thank you bouquet of flowers today.  It was totally unnecessary, but I have to admit, between you and me, that these are some of my favorite flowers in the world.  They also arrived at the perfect time today to really make my day.  Thanks my friend!

Barbie's Pink V Neck Sweater

Well, now that she's a Top Model, it's hard to keep her in one spot long enough for a fashion shoot.  Here's what we caught Barbie wearing today.