My New Socks!

Yay! I'm finally finished with my Regia Bamboo socks! I can start something else now! Actually, I have a lot of things I want to finish first. These socks were knit using the baby cable rib pattern in Sensational Knitted socks, but I used the top down pattern for 5 stitch repeats in the MORE Sensational Knitted Socks book. I'm pleased with them, and most importantly, they fit!

A Knitting Questionaire snagged from Knitting Help's Forums

1.) What are your favorite things to knit? Right now, socks. And things for my kids.

2.) What yarn/fiber do you like most? I like wool. But I knit with other stuff too. The only things I don't like are really cheap yarns (except cotton) and Mohair! Mohair bothers my contact lenses for some reason.

3.) What needles do you tend to use (i.e. type/material)?Circular ones. I use DPNs for socks but I'm trying to learn how to use circulars for them too.

4.) Do you tend to knit more in one specific part of the year than others?I knit the same way all year long.

5.) What style of knitting do you use? Continental. It's the way I learned from a book and since I'm left handed, it works for me.

6.) Do you consider yourself a "fast" knitter? No, not really. I've started choosing smaller projects since it takes me so long.

7.) Who is your favorite knitting author? Charlene Schurch right now. Love those sock books.

8.) What is your favorite by said author? More Sensational Knitted Socks

9.) How long ago did you learn to knit? 2 and a half years ago. January 2005.

10.) How do you knit small in-the-round objects? I use douple points, but I'm going to teach myself how to use circulars.

11.) What is the most useful technique you've learned so far? Yarn overs! Now I can knit lacey patterns.

12.) Do you prefer to knit fine gauge items, mid-range gauge items, or large gauge items, or do you like it all ? I like a gauge of about 5 stitches per inch. Except when knitting socks, of course.

13.) How do you like to knit your sweaters? I really haven't knitted that many sweaters. I doing one for my daughter knit flat in pieces. I don't really like finishing, though, so I think I'd like to knit in the round next time.

Yeah, I'm a Sock Addict!

Well, I've joined the wings of the sock addicted. I've only actually completed one pair so far, though. On my birthday I went to the local yarn store and bought some Regia Bamboo sock yarn and some Panda Wool sock yarn. I'm currently working on the Regia socks, and I really like how it's knitting up. The yarn is so soft. I gave in and purchase More Sensational Knitted Socks from Amazon, since I have the first book and I like it so much. I'm pretty determined at this point to knit the yarn I have, or at least a good portion of it before I buy anything else. I don't really have a large stash, but it's still a stash, and I want to bust it!

Clover VS Crystal Palace

I thought I'd put my two cents in. I recently bought a set of #2 Crystal Palace Bamboo DPNs to knit my first pair of socks. I liked them just fine, but they were a little pricey, $8.50, I believe. At the knitting store in Manteo the other day, I bought a pair of Clover Bamboo DPNs size 1, and I must tell you that I'm not as thrilled. The clover ones were cheaper, $6.50, and that's the reason I bought them. Let me tell you, the 2 dollar difference in price no longer matters to me. The Crystal Palace ones are smooth, yet not slippery at all. They held my stitches wonderfully, and I didn't have worry about dropping any. Not so for the Clovers! Very slippery, I felt like I might as well be using aluminum, which for me, on socks, would be a bad choice. So next time, note to self, buy the Crystal Palace!

Sad, Sad, Sad

What a depressing moment. I've been working on a sock for over a week and I just turned the heel last night. I tried it on, and lo and behold I realized that it was going to be too small. So I frogged it this morning. What a sad waste of time. I guess that's just part of knitting, though. So now I have to make another gauge swatch using my #2 needles, since I was using number 1's before. I think I might switch stitch patterns too while I'm at it and try a yarn over. I was using the double rib pattern from Sensational Knitted Socks, but I think a different one will keep me from getting bored with it. And for that reason alone, it's worth it. *sigh*

I'm Still Knitting

Hello,

Well, it's been one heck of a hiatus, I'll say that much. I'm still knitting quite a lot actually and I've picked up crochet along the way. I'm going to start posting again. I like to think I'm a better knitter now, or at least I've had more experience. There's still some things I don't know how to do. Still haven't learned to yarn over, but I'm going to soon, when I need to. Right now I'm passionate about socks, and I'm knitting my second pair. I'll post a picture of them soon.

I Like Stripes!!!

I'm enjoying knitting my beach bag. It's a red, light green and light blue stripe pattern and it makes me happy just to look at it. I got a great knitting book from the library today (the girls and I go practically every week). It's called "TheKnitting Experience: The Knit Stitch" and everything in the book is made in garter stitch. You'd think the patterns would be bland, but instead they are absolutely stunning! I may have to make one or two of them. A return to the basics, I guess. I also spent a good deal of time untangling some yarn today and I learned a very valuable lesson. I bought it in a skein and had to roll it in to a ball, something I've never done before. Next time, I'm using an extra pair of hands!

I've Been A Felting Fool . . .

Hello Mom, and anyone else who's reading this. . . well, as you can tell, I've been knitting lately. So what else is new, huh? I finished the teddy bear that I was making as an experiment so that I'll be able to make a couple of nice ones for the girls for Christmas or some other occasion. I think he turned out really cute! I made him using a pattern from a book called "The Knitted Teddy Bear". Once I finished the bear, I knitted up a purse in Paton's Merino Wool and then . . . yes .. . I felted it on purpose. It knitted very quickly and it was the first time I've used a circular needle. I've posted the before and after pictures. It certainly got a lot smaller, I think I let it go a little too long in the washer, but I really like the way it turned out! Yesterday I dyed some Lion Fisherman's wool in Lemonade and grape Kool aid (to make another purse probably and I have a slip stitch hat in mind) and I started a striped beach bag that will probably take a while. I'll knit during American Idol! Go Bo!

My Felted Purse After the Felting

My Felted Purse Before the Felting

Sorry its sideways!

New Bunny

I finished Ben's rabbit and gave it to him. Right now he doesn't care about is very much but I'm proud of it. I think it's very cute.

Ben's New Rabbit

Now, On to Something Else!

I finally finished the bag that I was making. The pattern's called Zeeby's Bag, and I posted a picture of it below. I made a lining for it, and that took a few days because I hand sewed it together and then into the bag. The pattern didn't do a lining but I used a different yarn that was called for (it wanted me to use wool, I used acrylic) and so it was a little floppy. Now I'm going to do a dishcloth and then make a tank top using a ribbon yarn that I bought. I hope it turns out well. Wish me luck!

Zeeby's Bag - Finally Done!

The Scarf is Done!

Okay, I just posted a picture of my scarf. So Mom, you're probably the only one reading this blog . . . what do you think? I made some mistakes, but on the whole, it turned out well, I think. Just in time for spring, huh? I'm giving it to Rob, but it's still drying because I washed it in woolite and blocked it. I made it using bulky Wool Ease, and size 10 needles. I think I'll have to give up scarf making until next fall, and concentrate on summer accessories, like tank tops and hand bags. Maybe I'll try to make a cardigan for one of the girls, after I finish my purse, and my dishclothes, which will probably take me another month.

A Close Up of the Scarf

The Whole Scarf

Back From the Beach

Knitted on the way to and from the beach, and one thing about knitting in the car - it's not easy. Sure, it sounds like the perfect activity for a long car ride, but with all that joustling, it's so easy to make mistakes. Maybe I just need a smoother riding car . . . I have almost completed the first side of Zeeby's Bag (from Stitch N' B) in stockinette stitch, and I'm pleased with how well it's coming. My ribbed scarf is almost done too, I'm going to try to finish it during American Idol tonight and then block it, and I'll post pictures when I'm done. Rob caught me knitting by the pool at the beach and said I had gone nit-sirk - which is my name backwards. How funny. Okay, so maybe knitting by the pool is a little much, but it's a great hotel room activity.