Major Knitter

Lisa's Loops

While we were all casting on well over 200 sts for our actual Kaffe Fasset Floral Garden Jackets we discussed how we manage to keep track of so many stitches.  How many times do you recount your stitches to be certain you have the right number?  Do you put stitch markers every 10 rows?   Do you put them every 50 rows?  Should we buy 5 more packages of stitch markers?  Lisa had a great solution.  She bought these little pony tail holders at the local drug store and has an endless supply of economical and colorful stitch markers

Did I mention that Lisa is brilliant?

New Knitting Needles - A Knitting Necessity!

I was surfing the website of my favorite LYS last night and I read about Cynthia's latest find - Signature Needles.  Fab Designer Jane Elliott swears by them.  Jane insists that they're the only straight needles that she simply cannot break.  These needles are cool.  These needles are hip.  These needles are ever so stylish.  So what do you think I did?  I picked out a new knitting project to cast on that required a purchase.  Look at the yarn that was in my stash simply calling my name.

I purchased this yarn last year with a gift card from the Scouts and families of my Boy Scout Troop.  It's going to be knit into the Sampler Afghan which is a house pattern at my LYS.  You've seen Joanne's various Sampler Afghans on my blog in the past.  But it asked for a size 8 needle.  I only had Turbo Addis and I wanted a short straight needle for this sampler which is knit in strips. 

I purchased two pairs of Signature Needles - one in a size 7 and one in a size 8.  Aren't they lovely?  I can hardly wait to click, click, click away with these beauties. 

Sloggers and Socks

I actually managed to finish my Skip Along Socks from the Knitting Central Sock Club while I was home this past week.  I was knitting nervously at the hospital and then completely stopped once my Dad passed away.  I didn't pick up my knitting needles the entire week until the flight home on Sunday.  Then I managed to finish all but the kitchener stitch on my socks.

But look at this great find at Susan's Yarn Garden - Sloggers.  These transparent plastic clogs are meant for gardening - but they're just the perfect accessory for showing off my collection of handknit socks.  Do you have some Sloggers?  What are you waiting for?  Go buy some today!

If the Name Fits...

Joanne got these cute little sticky notes as a gift for me.  She found them at our LYS - Knitting Central.

Some people might find this a bit offensive.  But I have to admit - it fits me.  I'm such a hussie when it comes to knitting.  You know that about me.  I'm having the hardest time focusing on the 12 projects on my WIP list.  I'm even trying to decide which I can finish the quickest - because that would surely allow me to add a new project to my queue.  I have seen so many gorgeous projects out there in knitterdom that I would really like to try my hand at.  But then I see my Yarn Slut sticky notes and think - Focus.  Focus.  Focus.

Vintage Knitting Accessories Bring on Inspiration

I was cruising ebay last month and I found this great treasure from 1962.  It's a cardboard knitting tin (with a great hole in the top of the tin lid to guide the yarn) and instructions for knitting items for Barbie.  Mine came without the instructions, but with some cool buttons and zippers just the right size for a 12-inch doll.

This inspired me to think about knitting some doll sweaters... but my thoughts quickly jumped to the 18-inch doll (aka the American Girl Doll) so I grabbed some of the Zara and the US Size 5 Turbo Addis and I cast on for half a sweater

I haven't decided if it will be a cardigan or a wide-neck pullover.  We'll see what the knitting gods bring me for inspiration.  I'm going to make this pattern a very simple-to-follow pattern.  I generally knit from the top down - and it often confuses the average knitter.  I'd rather have a pattern that everyone can use - so that's my plan.  Stay tuned.  This should make some little girls very happy. 

Mini Sock Key Chains

I first saw this cute adorable knitting item with one of my knitting buddies.  I think it may have been Karen or Joanna.  After I taught James the Magic Loop method for socks and knit up my own miniature sock, I decided I should try to find the source for this adorable knitting must have item.  Do you already have one?

I got my Keychain Sock Blocker Sock from The Bellwether.  It's a clever idea and a very cute way to show off your fab leftover sock yarn.  Everyone will know you're a knitting aficionado with this keychain.  I'm just glad that my miniature sock happened to fit on the sock blocker!

Going Postal

BF and I went to the Post Office today and I discovered that they are honoring knitters with year's holiday stamps.  Have you seen them yet? 

Run out and get your Holiday Knits stamps today.   Or, if you prefer, you can order your stamps online by clicking on the USPS site.  Happy knitting.

Warm Fuzzies in Jewel Tones

I forgot to share with you Jennifer JZP's finished neck warmer and her latest and greatest find:

Jennifer JZP is always on the lookout for the next knitting MUST HAVE item.  She recently found these jewel topped knitting needles.  They're custom made by The Country Trunk.  Aren't they fun needles?

Stitches!

I bought something pretty on Danielle's Miss Purl's Etsy Site the other day and they just arrived.  Just the handmade packaging made me go "awwww".

Aren't they wonderful?  Please visit Danielle's site to learn more about her or go to her store.

Happy Halloween!

Wilma?  Wilma!  Wiiiiiilllllllllllllmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmaaaa!

I knit up this quick little Wilma Flinstone dress for Wilma for her Halloween costume.  She really loved it and would have been happy to wear it all night.  What a sport.  Too bad she didn't have the pearl necklace.

Our neighbors did a bit of haunting and created quite the fright night.  I love it when people get into the spirit of things (pun intended).  I hope you weren't just hanging around for Halloween.  Did you get tricks or treats?

 

Baa Baa Black Sheep

Look what I finally own!  It's the Lantern Moon Black Sheep tape measure (in both inches and centimeters).  I went to Knitting Central as soon as I got the call that mine had arrived.  The cops didn't even stop me.  Isn't he just adorable?  Baaaaaa.  Baaaaaaa.

Knitting in the Dark

Did you see this article Sunday's New York Times?  What a clever idea - knitting needles with luminescent LED tips for knitting in the dark.  Very cute.  The article says these little light-up needles are perfect for knititng in the theatres during the trailers, but I wouldn't be able to stop once the main attraction started, so I guess I'll still have to knit in the dark.  If you need a pair, check out La Knitterie Parisienne and get some for yourself.

Friends/Family/Shopping/Knitting

My trip to Toronto was very brief but it was wonderful to see my dear friends again.  Ronald, Cristina and Nina are like family to me.  Since my family is in Iowa and their families are in the south of Brazil, we have spent the last ten years in the NYC area sharing many events together - everything from a wedding, to Christmas, births, promotions, 9/11, vacations, Thanksgiving, work, moves, the big 2003 East Coast Blackout, sad times and happy times together and so much more.  It was very good to see them again. 

Que Saudades!

Cristina, Ronald and Jennifer at the Eaton Mall.  Below, Nina shows off her new scooter.

There was lots of chit-chatting, reminiscing, delicious food for eating, shopping, sightseeing, and even this little bit of knitting related content:

I bought this French knitting spool at the toy department when Nina got her scooter (which is very cool, by the way).  I think it looks like a great deal of fun.  I can hardly wait to use it.  I hope to make it back to Toronto again soon.  Maybe next time, I'll fly though.  The drive was breathtaking, but it really cut into my knitting time.  Next time, if I fly and I can knit more and spend more time with my friends.  That sounds like a definite win-win situation.

Gettin' Knit Together

Jodi - aka Purl Needlemeyer - brought her finished Knit Kit to SNL yesterday.  She calls it Gettin' Knit Together  which includes such wonderful knitting tools as a Needle Minder, Pattern Minder, Yarn Minder, Project Minder and Measure Minder.  Jodi is so creative and also has the ability to take an idea from concept to product in record time.  I know you probably can't live without a Knit Kit so hop on over to her site and order one today. 

Baa Baa Black Sheep

Aha!  This is what the blacklisting is all about.  Lantern Moon Sheep Tape Measures are sold to stores in bulk.  For every dozen tape measures sold, there are 11 white sheep tape measures and one cute little black sheep.  Can you see him in there?

It's all the rage to ask your LYS to put your name on the waiting list to get the black sheep in a future shipment.  I believe I'm second or third on the blacklist at my LYS.  I hope that means I'll have my little black sheep tape measure by the summer.  Maybe even sooner.  Who knows.

Go to your LYS and see if you can get blacklisted, too!

I've Been Black Listed

I finally did it.  Yes.  I know.  It's hard to believe.  Me.  Blacklisted.  I'm so straight and narrow that I can't even make Jaywalker socks because, well, I wouldn't ever dream of jaywalking.  So how could I get blacklisted?  What's the world coming to?  I feel like I've become a black sheep.  What's a girl to do?  Have you been blacklisted yet?

Stay tuned for more arresting developments on this story.

Traveling Accessories

Remember the little hip bag called a "Go Knit Pouch" that Tara brought to SNL a few weeks ago?  I was at Knitting Central on Tuesday and a new shipment arrived.  I bought one in camouflage (of course), as well as some more Turbo Addis 40" long US size 1 plus red Lorna's Laces yarn for my next pair of socks.  All of these items are going with me on my second big trip in two weeks.  Ah.... this is the life.

 

Christmas Creativity

It's so wonderful to have knitters as friends.  Everyone is so generous - so creative - so loving.  That's how I feel when I get together with my knitting buddies, new and old.  Look at the gifts I received from my girlfriends at a holiday dinner.

First, the tree was resplendent - this picture just doesn't do it justice.  It was simply spectacular.

Our hostess made flower topped knitting needles for each place setting with polymer clay name tags.

Here's a close-up of the entire bouquet of polymer clay topped knitting needles.

We had a yarn exchange.  Everyone was supposed to bring 2 skeins of yarn and possibly a scarf pattern to exchange with another knitter.  I received this gorgeous magenta Black Sheep Handspun yarn.  I got the Holiday Knits pattern book with great patterns, some Burt's Bees hand salve to keep my hands smooth while knitting, some chocolates and this sparlky Georg Jensen Christmas Candle ornament.  It was such a wonderful evening.  My little note cards were a hit.  All the knitters said I should go into production.  Hmmmmm.  Maybe I will.  Stay posted for a potential small home business.  I hope your knitting holiday is fun filled, too.

The Secret is Out

I'm heading out the door to a get together with fellow knitters, so I think it's safe to post the pictures of the gifts.  First, everyone is supposed to bring some yarn (either from their stash or store) in a gift bag to give to another knitter.  I bought this yarn from Blue Sky Alpacas yarn "Alpaca & Silk" and downloaded the pattern for the Opera Scarf.

I made these little gift enclosure cards for each knitter to include in her next knitting gift.

And I quicky knit up this little number - testing Jodi's pattern for the Anthro-Apology Mini Poncho.

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Wear the poncho either with a point at the center or squared off - depending on which look you find more flattering for your body type.

Spreading Holiday Cheer

Every year we have a fun-filled holiday party with our closest colleagues.  We give each other nominal gifts with some sort of extra thoughtful connection.  This year almost everyone gave me a wonderful gift with a relation to Major Knitter. 

I got a Marine Corps keychain and a Yarn Harlot book - to combine both the Marine Corps and the knitting.  I also got the cute little sheep measuring tape and Knit Notes.  Plus these two gifts.

I've been wanting a needle organizer.  This one is by Megan Reardon of The Organized Knitter.  This is also funny because my resume has a line on it that has always been a point of great amusement to one of our colleagues.  It says that I'm a "Born Organizer". 

Finally, I got the Curious George bag.  It's got about enough space inside to carry yarn and needles for a sock or maybe even an American Girl Doll sweater.  It has these two luggage tags M and K for Major Knitter.

I think I really scored with my knitting gifts this year.  Thanks everyone.

Audrey's Ice Skates

BF and I are going to our friend Audrey's annual Christmas party in a few weeks.  She recently confided that she has taken up ice skating.  Since Audrey always wears red clogs, I felt that some red pompons for her ice skates would be the perfect accessory.  It was made even more perfect when BF and I stumbled across these miniature ice skate ornaments in an East Hampton store last week.  Since the ornaments didn't come adorned,  I used the smallest circles of the Boye Pompon makers to make a miniature set of matching red pompons for the ice skate ornaments.  Let it snow!  Let it snow!  Let it snow!

Here's a close-up of the skates

Rope-A-Dope

A few weeks ago I went to Knitting Central here in Westport despite being on a yarn diet.  I was good, though.  I didn't buy any yarn.  Instead I bought my first pair of Lantern Moon straight knitting needles (my new favorite straight needles!) and three of these beautiful Knitting Spools by Skacel

I thought they'd be a great way to get children interested in knitting.  I was right.  The other day we took BF's mom to the airport after her visit and the boys each took a spool and some yarn.  My oldest son was fascinated that he could build his own ropes with my yarn.  Look what he made:

Now why didn't I think of that?

My friend Julie just sent me this link to an article on CNN about a new knitting gadget.  Isn't it cool? 

Kool-Aid Jammers

Look at the latest bag my sister-in-law Priscilla made. 

Here's my niece Julie showing off her Kool-Aid Jammer purse.  Isn't it adorable?  I'm thinking of making a tote bag for summer knitting and beach fun. 

Cutest Little Cufflinks I've Ever Seen

Need I say anymore?

Sporting My New Knitting Bag

Well, I couldn't wait a single second to sport my new Major Knitter knitting bag from Claudia Horner.  Here I am on the train platform at Zero-Dark-Thirty this morning waiting for my early morning train.  YES... most of you were still asleep when this picture was taken.  It's the Marine in me.  I like to get up early.

My Favorite Knitting Accessory Organizer

Here is a slide show of my favorite knitting accessory which I received from Mylene when I lived in Brazil.  It was my going away gift in 1988 and I've used it faithfully ever since to store my crochet hooks, darning needles, stitch markers, stitch counters, buttons, measuring tape, circular needles, double pointed needles, pen, scissors, bobbins, cable needles, etc.  I've asked Claudia to replicate this in denim to go along with the majorknitter.com denim knitting bag she's custom making for me.  I can hardly wait to see my new knitting bag!

Here goes...

Personalized Denim Knitting Bag

Wow!  Check out my sister-in-law Priscilla's personalized denim knitting bag!  Isn't it great?  Her friend Claudia Horner of Sioux City made it for her.  I can hardly wait to special order one for me.  I think I'll ask her to embroider www.majorknitter.com on the bag.  Wouldn't that be nice?  I don't know if you can tell by the picture, but this bag has an outer edge of just pocket after pocket after pocket.  There are special dividers for straight needles, pockets for holding the patterns, and long handles to drape just perfectly over your shoulder.  Isn't it grand?  Maybe I can convince Claudia to take more special orders so we can all have a bag.  Won't she be surprised when she becomes the Kate Spade of the knitting world?

 

I'll also see if Claudia can replicate my little knitting notions bag that I got in Brazil 17 years ago as a farewell gift.  It was really for makeup and jewelry, but I immediately saw its usefulness for knitting notions.