tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206389352024-03-18T20:17:18.303-07:00Knit the StashWhen the yarn starts to take over, it is time to knit the stash.Elizabeth Boylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16606885657029096766noreply@blogger.comBlogger147125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20638935.post-6928938744452539702011-01-13T08:33:00.000-08:002011-01-13T08:56:26.329-08:00Recently FallenI've been neglecting this page for far too long, though I do have a good reason. I was blogging at Paton's for the past year, so it isn't like I haven't been chatting about yarn, just not around here. <br /><br />But that is all about to change, as I finish up my commitment there and move back over here to discuss and post about my latest knitting projects. Really blogs are nothing more than a grown up version of Show & Tell. Or as my father used to say, Bring & Brag.<br /><br />So in the spirit of Bring & Brag, I would like to share two hats that recently fell off my knitting needles:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Rain Down Hat</span><br />(<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/rain-down">Ravelry Link</a>)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLtHN97wknvLPBlxrk2CK3RfCGRP5jiL1Ps6a0ROPQqTC3N11d9cNANHlVyjlRY6rBov0Ir9DjCx3OEW_6cq2977ZKGJykiPU7h9D3n83Y4EFvLimozWNxBkfjfsEZz3aqaRpsPQ/s1600/DSCN2498.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLtHN97wknvLPBlxrk2CK3RfCGRP5jiL1Ps6a0ROPQqTC3N11d9cNANHlVyjlRY6rBov0Ir9DjCx3OEW_6cq2977ZKGJykiPU7h9D3n83Y4EFvLimozWNxBkfjfsEZz3aqaRpsPQ/s320/DSCN2498.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561712827872620226" /></a><br /><br />This is a free pattern I found on Ravelry that makes a great hat. The recommendation is to knit it in favorite team or school colors. I chose the colors of my husbands winter coat and his running jacket. Sorry for the horrible pic, but the light today is terrible.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Machu Picchu Earflap</span><br /><br />And with that completed, then I made the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/machu-picchu-earflap-hat">Machu Picchu Earflap Hat</a> (Ravel linked) by <a href="http://www.bluegirlknits.com/purchase/index.php?main_page=document_product_info&cPath=3&products_id=6">bluegirl knits</a>, using up the Cascade 128 Superwash leftovers I had from Nicholas's Christmas sweater. (Wow, I guess I will have to blog about that as well!)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe9T4KGXOj9Nl2o-P49Zo-ARdPiP9KFhehGKsRRwts-_qlD3-q-zGsTFYAO4woVdjRqC0V6c5WXYPNU1SYTSeTcdeet45F5TYkMBmH2SZIgWAU2QvUcsRrJ2z9VCS1crRCyUKdww/s1600/DSCN2497.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe9T4KGXOj9Nl2o-P49Zo-ARdPiP9KFhehGKsRRwts-_qlD3-q-zGsTFYAO4woVdjRqC0V6c5WXYPNU1SYTSeTcdeet45F5TYkMBmH2SZIgWAU2QvUcsRrJ2z9VCS1crRCyUKdww/s320/DSCN2497.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561713603281681906" /></a><br /><br />As you can see, it also includes a remnant of polar fleece--because I am going to attempt to line the hat to make it extra warm. That remnant was a steal--70% off! So I got a nice sized piece of polar fleece, nearly half a yard, for a $1. And it matches perfectly. Oh, yeah, I like it when a plan comes together. Well, it isn't together quite yet, but this weekend . . .Elizabeth Boylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16606885657029096766noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20638935.post-59631994375124457322010-03-21T12:23:00.001-07:002010-03-21T12:26:31.750-07:00Comfort KnittingI was working on a project that went wrong in so many directions it isn't even funny. So when I threw it down in frustration and refused to look at it for a week of moping, it was time for some comfort knitting.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1nUkn5Hd08z9H5w2asFfrp859LjCkZFM92Ga3PoDTqpRzuc5zpfxLKFpNU-bZb7-Sjymo-siiQlLNUATcWFleXL9L8WAfpCeMF8Pf_SRNlyLAJumiuZUFs_udoqFYbwuMVnTUgQ/s1600-h/DSCN1738.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1nUkn5Hd08z9H5w2asFfrp859LjCkZFM92Ga3PoDTqpRzuc5zpfxLKFpNU-bZb7-Sjymo-siiQlLNUATcWFleXL9L8WAfpCeMF8Pf_SRNlyLAJumiuZUFs_udoqFYbwuMVnTUgQ/s400/DSCN1738.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451170461082798658" /></a><br /><br />When all else fails, there is something so comforting about knitting a plain pair of toe up socks with a self-striping yarn. And boy, did I need these!Elizabeth Boylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16606885657029096766noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20638935.post-11712348381737212402010-03-03T17:02:00.000-08:002010-03-03T17:19:51.542-08:00Vested InterestI began this vest ages ago, and it got put down for Christmas knitting and when I picked it back up, I realized I hated the short rows I'd put in for the bust.<br /><br />The project is a <a href="http://www.metapostmodernknitting.com/Archive/Spring2008/MetaPatterns/Vestish/tabid/67/Default.aspx">Vestish</a>, which I am knitting in KnitPicks <a href="http://www.knitpicks.com/yarns/City_Tweed_DK_Yarn__D5420184.html">City Tweed DK</a>, in Plum Wine. I loved this pattern the moment I saw it--seconded by my love of vests. And the City Tweed? Nummy with alpaca! Just check this out:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkssUSsBobhLKdd2Ene54yvzJVqvgbq2e5oCoAjVmLK3azzbgO8_ZQAB_f2CkbwS7xreLbqKZf7c2CUF8xp671MgDS2eJ06SsUvb1BzNlPjvt1OtsOE16nNuzfY1MWDuL64_eU8w/s1600-h/DSCN1707.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkssUSsBobhLKdd2Ene54yvzJVqvgbq2e5oCoAjVmLK3azzbgO8_ZQAB_f2CkbwS7xreLbqKZf7c2CUF8xp671MgDS2eJ06SsUvb1BzNlPjvt1OtsOE16nNuzfY1MWDuL64_eU8w/s320/DSCN1707.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444581780917154818" /></a><br /><br />So all those months back when I started this, I thought I needed more shaping up in front for the girls, but when I tried it on, it looked silly, so I frogged back 7 inches of stockinette. That hurt. So this week, when I ran out of yarn on my latest Paton's project (another "oh, crap" moment), I picked this up and swore I would finish it so I can wear it to the PLA (Public Library Association) conference in Portland at the end of the month. Nothing like a deadline to get the knitting moving. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxj99DlA8CW4pcso_H-KxoYbJ37QnzQTxoZwINhgnYTKeZEimKgVhDTil4puVfwonrqLtYTu_qB7xhRQZfk1jqLmUrB3ulvJZQfpeFMJtcrC36G7zoWg5ojqZrQ6BZhwfaeN8q7g/s1600-h/DSCN1705.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxj99DlA8CW4pcso_H-KxoYbJ37QnzQTxoZwINhgnYTKeZEimKgVhDTil4puVfwonrqLtYTu_qB7xhRQZfk1jqLmUrB3ulvJZQfpeFMJtcrC36G7zoWg5ojqZrQ6BZhwfaeN8q7g/s320/DSCN1705.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444582036367510962" /></a><br /><br />I also modified the pattern by knitting it in the round rather than pieces, so it does take some time to get from the bottom to the divide, but tonight I will hit the happy 16 inch mark and be able to start dividing it up. After a lot of cabling and calculating on another project, I am in love with the joy of just knitting, round and round.Elizabeth Boylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16606885657029096766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20638935.post-63551573937917323972010-02-22T18:43:00.000-08:002010-02-23T10:57:42.033-08:00In BetweenNow that I've begun blogging for <a href="http://www.patonsyarns.com/blog/">Patons</a> (you'll find me over there as "YoElizBo") I have found my knitting divided: my projects and their projects. Since I have to share what I do for them over there, I thought I would fill in with a little bit about what I've been doing on the side.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Socks . . . </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61HVR7TT4YL._SL160_AA115_.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 115px; height: 115px;" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61HVR7TT4YL._SL160_AA115_.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>I took a mini-class at Madrona Fiber Arts with Charlene Schurch (YES!!! That Charlene Schurch) and it was awesome. The class was on making socks more durable, a class I desperately needed as I have worked holes in nearly every pair I own. Mostly having blown out the heels. Charlene had some great suggestions like:<br /><br />1) use the needle that gives you the tightest fabric. If you are seeing too much air between your stitches--it is too loose. Even if that means going down to 0s or smaller.<br /><br />2) Use heel stitch all the way down the back and under your heel. Duh! This dense, thick fabric will keep your heels in play longer.<br /><br />3) Use carry along thread to add an extra bit of support.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJAlSZEd23xk2xDB2dVJKGsqI1vkPAjdJZaDYkoH3bb-yzV3JZaJgPu7eeRLiwt5g_dc-DxkPC4RTVm1Y5T1jYYGsf3XDS-9zpkmvTC3a5jXCFtGvwfuN3Q7LwlYbREMk1q6Le9w/s1600-h/DSCN1681.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJAlSZEd23xk2xDB2dVJKGsqI1vkPAjdJZaDYkoH3bb-yzV3JZaJgPu7eeRLiwt5g_dc-DxkPC4RTVm1Y5T1jYYGsf3XDS-9zpkmvTC3a5jXCFtGvwfuN3Q7LwlYbREMk1q6Le9w/s320/DSCN1681.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441266931698639922" border="0" /></a><br /><br />When I sat down this Saturday to patch my very first pair of hand knit socks, I realized all too quickly they were more hole than sock and they needed to be . . . tossed. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOoGJ_lvvK6OSZsjAuFFK0ZAf7kNKiRklUxJYL0vFrz3C5NLJ3UoIG6k5BDqPstvpm-hScXoUDWp6acEOTliE89hqFmVCHesbVuouWMZ2MNG0G2-1YjEG_6i986INVU-cuDDMAbA/s1600-h/DSCN1682.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOoGJ_lvvK6OSZsjAuFFK0ZAf7kNKiRklUxJYL0vFrz3C5NLJ3UoIG6k5BDqPstvpm-hScXoUDWp6acEOTliE89hqFmVCHesbVuouWMZ2MNG0G2-1YjEG_6i986INVU-cuDDMAbA/s320/DSCN1682.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441268993825337330" /></a><br /><br />It was hard to do, but there it is--they gave me eight years of warm feet, so I have to say I got my money's worth with that pair.<br /><br />I also took the current pair I am knitting and frogged the first sock back about three inches and starting doing the sole stitches in heel stitch to thicken up my "trouble spot."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">And Using Up Sock Yarn . . . </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBOL1nX6wgKeIZqQ5tubEoywzuzxmlHmcG3nfuPJ1qrUCLY0Mu6z3n4LX9vNslytiSE-eAaK0XiCTlCh4MSel6uP0IMLLSzIj1LhOlGAxjJhKbP7FjXSoTS4blBKTJf3vR76Z22g/s1600-h/DSCN1663.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBOL1nX6wgKeIZqQ5tubEoywzuzxmlHmcG3nfuPJ1qrUCLY0Mu6z3n4LX9vNslytiSE-eAaK0XiCTlCh4MSel6uP0IMLLSzIj1LhOlGAxjJhKbP7FjXSoTS4blBKTJf3vR76Z22g/s320/DSCN1663.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441267622999992210" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I saw this absolutely fabulous version of the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/gemita/multnomah">Multnomah Shawl</a> on Ravelry and could not resist trying one with some Trekking XXL I had on hand. I think this is going to be fun, bright and warm to toss on, as well as being nice and soft.Elizabeth Boylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16606885657029096766noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20638935.post-25758059059250877882010-01-27T15:09:00.001-08:002010-01-27T16:29:07.341-08:00Slipping into 2010I went into this New Year looking for something new to do with my knitting. So many people on Ravelry were doing "10 for 2010" lists--you know, ten things they wanted to do this year, but as I read the lists, I realized that I had done a lot of that last year. <br /><br />I made strides in my lace aversion and actually knit several lace projects. I learned entrelac. I've given up trying to learn new and faster and improved ways to knit. I find those classes don't improve my knitting or my speed, and I end up spending money to have a teacher sniff over my knitting and telling me how much better I could be if I did it <span style="font-style:italic;">their</span> way. And since I am a good, even knitter there really is no need for changing. Took me a few classes, dollars and soul searching to figure that out, but I'm good with how I knit.<br /><br />So this year I didn't need to go out and conquer the new, I needed to find something different--a different direction. And of course, when you go out and ask the universe to send you something, amazing how it finds you. So I answered a post on Ravelry to be a blogger over at <a href="http://www.patonsyarns.com/blog/">Patons Blog</a>, and I am now part of their team. They provide materials and projects and I get to knit them. So, I essentially get paid in yarn. So the right thing at the right time. Watch for my first posts over there sometime after Feb 15th. And my first project? To cute! But for now it is a secret.<br /><br />Starting 2010 off right, just what have I been knitting since the beginning of the year? Well, baby, its been cold outside and so I've been knitting slippers. Three pairs of them. I discovered that all the felted slippers and booties I had were just plain worn out, so it was time for some new feet around here.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/felted-clogs-ac-33">Felted Clogs</a> for me. I've wanted to do this <a href="http://www.fibertrends.com/product/149443/AC33/_/AC33_Felt_Clogs__%28new_version%29">Bev Galeskas pattern</a> for ages, and then got this wonderful reddish burgundy Cascade 220 yarn in a swap and knew it was the perfect yarn for my clogs. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj71N4ZKcQrfgVfh8FuBChYtHOVDwdhwpbPQI67aKHNdXuy-y4ljTiP6CGDFU_1IuhTywryECH6lCSJ-nOOAiJe4XJ_4bBBbbs2mVru53AJ-NaJCVaNkf4UWoL6EG5xwaPJf-kawQ/s1600-h/DSCN1406.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj71N4ZKcQrfgVfh8FuBChYtHOVDwdhwpbPQI67aKHNdXuy-y4ljTiP6CGDFU_1IuhTywryECH6lCSJ-nOOAiJe4XJ_4bBBbbs2mVru53AJ-NaJCVaNkf4UWoL6EG5xwaPJf-kawQ/s320/DSCN1406.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431564979844553762" /></a><br /><br />I love how big they are before you felt them and then "Voila" out of the washer they come and they are just your size. Though I have to admit that they took longer to felt than I would have thought. It took three run thrus to get them down to size.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_sTfx6DbiYPbfHZUe4IDqiMmcPSUmnSUW0E5gBM3A9UbERYDvkZvhFofPBGC369BmwFgNBGKg_moEGLaGrv1XR7rXYA180Ft-2veMa4aPa6T4o9JsjNcS52ieIskNUVgkW0-EWw/s1600-h/DSCN1474.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 310px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_sTfx6DbiYPbfHZUe4IDqiMmcPSUmnSUW0E5gBM3A9UbERYDvkZvhFofPBGC369BmwFgNBGKg_moEGLaGrv1XR7rXYA180Ft-2veMa4aPa6T4o9JsjNcS52ieIskNUVgkW0-EWw/s320/DSCN1474.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431565253200088450" /></a><br /><br />But apparently you can't knit just one pair of these. And since they are uber-fast to knit and fun, I knit a pair for the oldest child, because he wouldn't take mine off. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA5JCt6WerZF9XXaMFO8ghZGLOlGGKNlUgPOvrDOtA4mD8Ca46LmKmPkhPtj7ndzqCh4YDfZseW7k29CcIfwLuLg3yHNKKr1yYl3bVJJaKikg0ryAHe7gvF4c0ZOeaLnwc12tOEA/s1600-h/DSCN1525.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA5JCt6WerZF9XXaMFO8ghZGLOlGGKNlUgPOvrDOtA4mD8Ca46LmKmPkhPtj7ndzqCh4YDfZseW7k29CcIfwLuLg3yHNKKr1yYl3bVJJaKikg0ryAHe7gvF4c0ZOeaLnwc12tOEA/s320/DSCN1525.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431565615599336962" /></a><br /><br />This turned out to be the best way to get mine back. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_aGIRYsL1rK9hsXQRdbGK5t5Wm0qHs-q1diO09GX689LrcWNCeBPKXhSM1rAWx_C5v-x4gJvJRO9ZVlfaShXDhGFHk2hhitdH1QiRTMbF67vsDlF1I2pPl-HX3koS_oreoWjZLA/s1600-h/DSCN1544.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_aGIRYsL1rK9hsXQRdbGK5t5Wm0qHs-q1diO09GX689LrcWNCeBPKXhSM1rAWx_C5v-x4gJvJRO9ZVlfaShXDhGFHk2hhitdH1QiRTMbF67vsDlF1I2pPl-HX3koS_oreoWjZLA/s320/DSCN1544.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431565899819413794" /></a><br /><br />And now there is a second pair of happy feet in our house:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgng8BuRhymVc8C9Ry2tTCbk8-_YguK7LLzdRtUdZxWCWQ6QU_I2DRhYSuviesN78rnl5pbbjBcYeTOHQ3D3hb2WsGrzOQCJfqrAil8rhy7o6X1AI8vU_IBfa7Zd-TvJedd07fwOA/s1600-h/DSCN1545.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgng8BuRhymVc8C9Ry2tTCbk8-_YguK7LLzdRtUdZxWCWQ6QU_I2DRhYSuviesN78rnl5pbbjBcYeTOHQ3D3hb2WsGrzOQCJfqrAil8rhy7o6X1AI8vU_IBfa7Zd-TvJedd07fwOA/s320/DSCN1545.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431566284554922114" /></a><br /><br />Then I came across this pattern, <a href="http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2009/12/craft_pattern_bunny_hop_slippe.html">Bunny Hop</a>, and went into a "Must. Knit. Now." knitting zombie mode. I made a pair of thrummed mittens years ago, so I was familiar with the technique, and had to imagine all that warm wool around be awesome.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8JRmj4vUshMjAEsU0pR0vf52hL5fBs3vydTOCqmvKgoZ5C5IzugVix9aYEcQF2IbRJetK4tWBtSOUnNVEMTHgbB3W6qxVtsViXu2e6ym2lhbaaPFP5o38f7_dWPR2FjLIMatoog/s1600-h/DSCN1466.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8JRmj4vUshMjAEsU0pR0vf52hL5fBs3vydTOCqmvKgoZ5C5IzugVix9aYEcQF2IbRJetK4tWBtSOUnNVEMTHgbB3W6qxVtsViXu2e6ym2lhbaaPFP5o38f7_dWPR2FjLIMatoog/s320/DSCN1466.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431576785324008962" /></a><br /><br />Got all the materials and promptly sat down to knit them. I love how the thrummed stitches (which is a knit stitch with a piece of wool roving knit along with the yarn) make a cool pattern on the outside.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4t3UPCRQmnO9-R_Db5lOyGULn0Q8809AnXk36fblwKSyBeaspfMDtl2uyVZaBOHNVvWSIQhul9uFd8bMz5BbaQRwqi9GwyL5OcTl55pIgdsmAgAtlX5nAmUOSHNqBsPkTctaEKg/s1600-h/DSCN1464.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4t3UPCRQmnO9-R_Db5lOyGULn0Q8809AnXk36fblwKSyBeaspfMDtl2uyVZaBOHNVvWSIQhul9uFd8bMz5BbaQRwqi9GwyL5OcTl55pIgdsmAgAtlX5nAmUOSHNqBsPkTctaEKg/s320/DSCN1464.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431578594886987794" /></a><br /><br />Of course the inside is another matter. My DH looked over one night and asked if I was knitting a poodle. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7J3ATtQHpwUoBPfAeV9MZPSbNzgM84L8ow7hBsPBUDLsEJ6ZTTWlEv3mJIi3Cc_fe8Du1Y_s3PJiWNHnG-gHbQ8jh_fwekDMf6ZVzgmj9LiZNBNttLrgFiHgA1JyHHfDd1iBQ-A/s1600-h/DSCN1468.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7J3ATtQHpwUoBPfAeV9MZPSbNzgM84L8ow7hBsPBUDLsEJ6ZTTWlEv3mJIi3Cc_fe8Du1Y_s3PJiWNHnG-gHbQ8jh_fwekDMf6ZVzgmj9LiZNBNttLrgFiHgA1JyHHfDd1iBQ-A/s320/DSCN1468.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431577040713147362" /></a><br /><br />Okay, so maybe they do look a little poodle-ish on the inside, but slide your toes into that thrummed roving and you will want poodle jammies to go with them. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQENBC-w0tKFq5j8qwf-xH-3IoZ9qXfGgv4cGLy8pL4mb6u6VHAMJ8o7Z5MBtjNH0ndXs77HGlNwTYtBdeUeSmgoB3EOeqwxSwmwXxxSqnaoWXTPaUTsTcYVwcESh6c8bV8vghiA/s1600-h/DSCN1467.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQENBC-w0tKFq5j8qwf-xH-3IoZ9qXfGgv4cGLy8pL4mb6u6VHAMJ8o7Z5MBtjNH0ndXs77HGlNwTYtBdeUeSmgoB3EOeqwxSwmwXxxSqnaoWXTPaUTsTcYVwcESh6c8bV8vghiA/s320/DSCN1467.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431577634997545890" /></a><br /><br />Case in point: I let him slip his toes in and he decided they were heaven, but complained that I shouldn't have made them pink. The boys loved them as well, but the pink is like kryptonite to the three fellows around here--they really avoid it, so these little bunnies are all mine. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsCbBl3_kqkIP1OnAI3mOAZz4Q48LFEj_7aMyNFmXYRqQ8fIx7NbFgMtCKsh7xBx2Kp3P6GeoKqWlB93TOheC8c_WrC8iz_CvZjLxa2zEIFR9sId2kQcfukrbjxsCtegweirO4IQ/s1600-h/DSCN1529.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsCbBl3_kqkIP1OnAI3mOAZz4Q48LFEj_7aMyNFmXYRqQ8fIx7NbFgMtCKsh7xBx2Kp3P6GeoKqWlB93TOheC8c_WrC8iz_CvZjLxa2zEIFR9sId2kQcfukrbjxsCtegweirO4IQ/s320/DSCN1529.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431577893053477042" /></a>Elizabeth Boylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16606885657029096766noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20638935.post-80753895916643999242009-11-29T19:10:00.001-08:002009-11-29T19:41:04.849-08:00Thanks for Knitting<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTnQhpZ9qPYh7ATwD0EWXb2_KjTIGXWBsNlZNd36VbetA_sliSkAoEPu0AfhrHoXdd1ujIa2dztZMW4Lc-BsHQaEHoZiagaj8aq42Tsev47HSThFyU_n8XZgPBRlYm1afw7a-74A/s1600/DSCN1246.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTnQhpZ9qPYh7ATwD0EWXb2_KjTIGXWBsNlZNd36VbetA_sliSkAoEPu0AfhrHoXdd1ujIa2dztZMW4Lc-BsHQaEHoZiagaj8aq42Tsev47HSThFyU_n8XZgPBRlYm1afw7a-74A/s200/DSCN1246.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409729539969658594" border="0" /></a>We went to the Oregon Coast for Thanksgiving and spent a good part of the week knitting while watching the waves roll in. The weather had been horribly stormy the week before we went, in fact we came skating in on the heels of the last storm--the power came back on an hour before we arrived. Very glad we decided to go on Sunday, not Saturday!<br /><br />While I had just a smidgen of my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Elizbo/autumn">Autumn Shawl</a> left to finish, I packed up a big bag of kitchen cotton, a couple of dishcloth patterns and settled in to knit a pile for Christmas gifts. I have to admit, dishcloth knitting isn't my favorite, but I really do like having them in the kitchen and they make good gifts, so I left myself no choice but to knit them by only bringing them to work on.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxyItFcee5ih4dbb6uP9H6cpvhQIxo6XrrqVeacfAhgtC0nzjIYOiiJZ0cz0qUkGhS3AghfAa3PkmafzwRl_8Vc_gDRriCG-8B8linXjIBAFruPyCWQrZUkRjMCI2t7N2jR2YUKg/s1600/DSCN1289.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxyItFcee5ih4dbb6uP9H6cpvhQIxo6XrrqVeacfAhgtC0nzjIYOiiJZ0cz0qUkGhS3AghfAa3PkmafzwRl_8Vc_gDRriCG-8B8linXjIBAFruPyCWQrZUkRjMCI2t7N2jR2YUKg/s200/DSCN1289.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409730316105853410" /></a>Of course there is my go-to pattern, the <a href="http://www.peaches-creme.com/Ballband%20Dishcloth.htm">Ballband dishcloth</a>, that is easy to do and is a workhorse in the kitchen when you put it through its paces. I did this one in a variety of colors including a few in Christmas colors. I really love this one, with the blue/green variegated and the pretty lime green. I got so I was knitting these on remote.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-LxjeMHESLO-CTGQswrB70SGLs9fDjouJKsWjsjZCOcbhGkNL1sWV9E1jCBbxleAdbxH-0u5ZdMdY2yTlekwdfvQGTOv3p-YhFPTV08rUVkUA8KZ4DrBS3Z4DN9usd4TCxOgXLQ/s1600/DSCN1287.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-LxjeMHESLO-CTGQswrB70SGLs9fDjouJKsWjsjZCOcbhGkNL1sWV9E1jCBbxleAdbxH-0u5ZdMdY2yTlekwdfvQGTOv3p-YhFPTV08rUVkUA8KZ4DrBS3Z4DN9usd4TCxOgXLQ/s200/DSCN1287.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409730896602545410" /></a>Then I went on to try a new pattern that I had been dying to give a knit. This one is from the <a href="http://www.purlbee.com/">Purl Bee</a>, which always has such cute patterns and crafty ideas. Taking a cue from the quilters, they came up with this <a href="http://www.purlbee.com/log-cabin-washcloths/">Log Cabin</a> wash cloths. I love that you can take four small skeins of kitchen cotton and come up with four really neat dishcloths. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7n2_ZwJaywv6MiGbh36FgsYmfGlcaoGJCD_n23INum14VZidgHotAIMP0n__GWGHUH3Y8PTSfLUYJj8OL8lmrlDIZEU3nvZPYfAjHKZyY2TKtgwl_J0yIh2rU_lOMPaYmZdnvGQ/s1600/DSCN1293.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7n2_ZwJaywv6MiGbh36FgsYmfGlcaoGJCD_n23INum14VZidgHotAIMP0n__GWGHUH3Y8PTSfLUYJj8OL8lmrlDIZEU3nvZPYfAjHKZyY2TKtgwl_J0yIh2rU_lOMPaYmZdnvGQ/s200/DSCN1293.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409732224188538722" /></a>These things are like popcorn, you just keep casting on and knitting without any thought until you realize all the yarn is used up and then you start scrounging around for more combinations. Hence this one, which I think I will keep as it isn't all that cute.<br /><br />At the last minute, I had also thrown in the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/basic-twined-hat">Twined hat</a> I've been knitting. This is another one just like my green one, that I wear every morning to walk Matthew to school. I knew I should probably make another one before I start being referred to as that "green-hat lady who never takes it off." <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvxrRSzvfXU4fy_q3oL53oDaRL3AR_sBCgXcVv_XJu_11sujEiecrCQwMEhydHoxAg8rKUUF3tdZAflYlmuniY9LqEGH9rEj0-rHtOx3VUKjfunQxN82mCrOyEN67Fea9j3u0H7Q/s1600/DSCN1298.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvxrRSzvfXU4fy_q3oL53oDaRL3AR_sBCgXcVv_XJu_11sujEiecrCQwMEhydHoxAg8rKUUF3tdZAflYlmuniY9LqEGH9rEj0-rHtOx3VUKjfunQxN82mCrOyEN67Fea9j3u0H7Q/s200/DSCN1298.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409732502748087954" /></a>You never know, but it could happen. So I decided to mix things up a little with this <span style="font-style:italic;">pink</span> one. Yeah, I know, it isn't much different--but this <a href="http://www.lisaellisdesigns.com/">Lisa Ellis</a> design is the best hat pattern and the warmest hat you will ever own. <br /><br />Now back to throwing projects in the car at the last minute is that you don't think it through. I started doing the decreases and realized I'd forgotten the dpns for when the stitch count gets to small for the circs. And while, yes, I know I could have bought another set, (because I did go to Custom Threads in Astoria and took a quick dash through Fred Meyer in Warrenton for some tax free Christmas shopping) I just couldn't do it when I have a perfectly good set at home. So this is where I stopped, which coincided with us stopping at Starbucks on the way down and switching who was driving. <br /><br />Note to self: remember the dpns and when husband says he doesn't want a coffee, order him one anyway so he doesn't drink yours.Elizabeth Boylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16606885657029096766noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20638935.post-4848418972150248072009-11-11T14:50:00.000-08:002009-11-11T15:02:36.034-08:00Addicted to Entrelac<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.jojoland.com/images/item_images/pattern-small/8-m09-shawl-s.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 330px; height: 400px;" src="http://www.jojoland.com/images/item_images/pattern-small/8-m09-shawl-s.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Walked into A Good Yarn Shop and found myself faced with a sample of this <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/autumn">Autumn Shawl</a> by Jojoland. It was like putting a leftover bowl of Halloween Butterfingers in front of me. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSRS43QjH23bzXjW_Fwu12OMe6to_P1FjAVr3HpLKpV1c9lFcIG8qe7KrG0PjjF7foww4ikyOvxVzhaZXF1C-43Pla3Snqy-8PKi5oI1azyZYLMofqyurZZS1kU4hX_ynV0KCjZA/s1600-h/DSCN1196.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSRS43QjH23bzXjW_Fwu12OMe6to_P1FjAVr3HpLKpV1c9lFcIG8qe7KrG0PjjF7foww4ikyOvxVzhaZXF1C-43Pla3Snqy-8PKi5oI1azyZYLMofqyurZZS1kU4hX_ynV0KCjZA/s320/DSCN1196.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402984357365290770" /></a><br /><br />Ever since I took the entrelac class last summer, I haven't been able to shake the bug. It is a knitting addiction. Just one more little rectangle, I tell myself. I'll just finish this row. Then it becomes, I'll just finish this skein and see where the next one takes me. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc5UW9z2Nv6L1lRb6wR4PceQTHMCPAW7BMbXuU8Nl7R5HSKXYBLS2FReK15c4MymqIQV1DWY8F0OauVdQ1mhN4POIuW3TJMvzCJGH9IVzUTIPC_-NCVrc6DADJmXbvenk04fLHdQ/s1600-h/DSCN1191.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc5UW9z2Nv6L1lRb6wR4PceQTHMCPAW7BMbXuU8Nl7R5HSKXYBLS2FReK15c4MymqIQV1DWY8F0OauVdQ1mhN4POIuW3TJMvzCJGH9IVzUTIPC_-NCVrc6DADJmXbvenk04fLHdQ/s320/DSCN1191.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402984595695587106" /></a><br /><br />I was right in the middle of this hat for a friend who is going through chemo for ovarian cancer, so I had a very good reason to get the hat done, but the allure of entrelac was too much and I cast on the moment I got home. After two of days of knitting like a madwoman, I bundled it all up, packed it under the bed and told myself I couldn't get it out until I finished the chemo cap. Voila! A finished hat.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyphenhyphenwfTf01q_RzbKZO27zkJz7YDayoYXkgVRLQTFEljt817Urbags4g_I3uO72zF2Ls3hTb8ivn8OH9mEKJXN3HNneH_SMVgGuYp8Znx8XA5D-r-1tx8zyaCfEBMF9FRke9y_TFcw/s1600-h/DSCN1194.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyphenhyphenwfTf01q_RzbKZO27zkJz7YDayoYXkgVRLQTFEljt817Urbags4g_I3uO72zF2Ls3hTb8ivn8OH9mEKJXN3HNneH_SMVgGuYp8Znx8XA5D-r-1tx8zyaCfEBMF9FRke9y_TFcw/s320/DSCN1194.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402984906331203202" /></a><br /><br />Amazing how fast you can finish something when there is entrelac under the bed.Elizabeth Boylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16606885657029096766noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20638935.post-52179141462376192892009-09-08T16:32:00.000-07:002009-09-08T16:44:01.139-07:00Dog GoneI have had Jill Eaton's Bow Wow Sweater pattern in my pattern collection for years. I've had yarn to knit the pattern for nearly as long. But as the years passed, I never got around to knitting it. As a mom with two sons, there is really no excuse for not having knit this quintessential boy sweater. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.minnowknits.com/images/patterns_large/152-Bow-Wow.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 500px;" src="http://www.minnowknits.com/images/patterns_large/152-Bow-Wow.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />So when my cousin's son's wife had a baby boy (is that a long strung out line of relations or what?!) I knew I had to knit this sweater. My boys are almost too big for it, and I thought that I would give it a try in a smaller size before I knit in the larger sizes for my growing pair of lads.<br /><br />What I love about this sweater is the color. That yellow just screams little boy. It also screams, "I'll be able to spot you across a crowded playground like no one's business." So I dug out the skeins of Lion Brand Wool-Ease that I had stashed and cast on for Wyatt. It is really an easy sweater to knit, and super simple: Here it is already to sew up the side seams:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh48u_ZT71Fcsdub2V5zSlziCDt7iYEo_np5saOqfcuNwLrtQLEHxm4qxzAsann02eerrlrRXOH0YJosS-yrdd-BNUxVAjreUgC-Mk6WdX4ljbu6gxniyCOcz4EvbLN_EckWV-RrQ/s1600-h/DSCN0959.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh48u_ZT71Fcsdub2V5zSlziCDt7iYEo_np5saOqfcuNwLrtQLEHxm4qxzAsann02eerrlrRXOH0YJosS-yrdd-BNUxVAjreUgC-Mk6WdX4ljbu6gxniyCOcz4EvbLN_EckWV-RrQ/s320/DSCN0959.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379245325301074434" /></a><br /><br />You can't tell by my washed out pictures, but the color is really a good goldenrod, and not this faded yellow. Here it is all sewn up:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqdGloULOvak6T9cD62ZTzj7WFe987uQFYXeT2AlWz4q6q_cJIuyUjD2yVRdKC33WvFSPk2HLK5s5qNJ8e2SAyceJiMM9_4PPmzXMVYLtFhoCVF6_Fz01boVWytWRXepVraKx1gw/s1600-h/DSCN0961.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqdGloULOvak6T9cD62ZTzj7WFe987uQFYXeT2AlWz4q6q_cJIuyUjD2yVRdKC33WvFSPk2HLK5s5qNJ8e2SAyceJiMM9_4PPmzXMVYLtFhoCVF6_Fz01boVWytWRXepVraKx1gw/s320/DSCN0961.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379245520026163810" /></a><br /><br />Isn't that just adorable? And if Wyatt is half the trouble his grandfather was (my cousin) his poor parents will need that bright color to keep tabs on him.Elizabeth Boylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16606885657029096766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20638935.post-40334033146997331462009-09-01T09:03:00.000-07:002009-09-01T09:43:49.146-07:00Because I PromisedI saw my aunts recently and they both read my blog. And of course they were on me for not updating it more often. But with summer on, the kids at home and just everything happening, having the time to settle in and share has been short at best. So a little craft round-up.<br /><br />Last spring after spending way too much time lurking about the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/lady-eleanor-entrelac-stole">Lady Eleanor</a> page on Ravelry, I swore that this fall I would take a class on Entrelac. Entrelac is crazy easy, but when you read the instructions it is hard to just have faith that it will work. It is rather like Elizabeth Zimmerman's Baby Surprise Jacket. Just knit it as the instructions tell you to, and don't sweat anything past your current row of knitting.<br /><br />Then joyfully and triumphantly watch it all come together.<br /><br />But for some reason I couldn't take that leap of faith with entrelac and resorted to taking a class at Renaissance Yarns in Kent. Yeah, I could have probably found a bunch of tutorials on YouTube, or done it by digging in and knitting it, but I thought taking a class would do the trick quickly--immerse me in the technique and learn the tricks. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheXmdp44aT8Z5sP4Jsc1IF1YtYYI2v6cJ52Ydh-IXUV6D0a2_5-X_t8r0TEfJgdURYtWZmwgErDZ4RNnW0_zyVI5vpZU6aH5jowlmwMF1bEak6O3a7zi7Odm_v-iyrakla7h_Ycw/s1600-h/DSCN0967.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheXmdp44aT8Z5sP4Jsc1IF1YtYYI2v6cJ52Ydh-IXUV6D0a2_5-X_t8r0TEfJgdURYtWZmwgErDZ4RNnW0_zyVI5vpZU6aH5jowlmwMF1bEak6O3a7zi7Odm_v-iyrakla7h_Ycw/s320/DSCN0967.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376535929517406242" /></a><br /><br />And I boy did I love it! I was hooked by the second tier. This is my working sample done in Wisdom Yarns Poem.<br /><br />I was also spurred on to learn entrelac by a one skein project I saw at Seattle Yarn, the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-simply-lovely-clutch">Simply Lovely Little Clutch</a>. Before I even took the class, I'd picked up a skein of the Noro Tidiori that the pattern calls for. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbtYNFuaUSFlK-ZBcY1l9gweacVVWvCAudnALT7V1dkxljYV5lViQ-3JB21sLmPFvOBN59f946Twb0RjASL9es0PhIsy10Q2d6Dq_jbMVtLKz94i0WiKeZJ6-Ooj0sYCMSQE2DkA/s1600-h/DSCN0985.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbtYNFuaUSFlK-ZBcY1l9gweacVVWvCAudnALT7V1dkxljYV5lViQ-3JB21sLmPFvOBN59f946Twb0RjASL9es0PhIsy10Q2d6Dq_jbMVtLKz94i0WiKeZJ6-Ooj0sYCMSQE2DkA/s320/DSCN0985.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376535647114389778" /></a><br /><br />So I took the class, fell in love, and then the next day, we went off on vacation. I had the clutch pattern and one skein of Tidiori, and knit the clutch up the first day--falling hopelessly and helplessly in love with entrelac and this fun pattern.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzHQTisjpDYkgBBlOZSGzmSeJ5QwLOyisELuPV5VLQ8Fz4-Vnf4rJR8XVi3eZUEnlyt9jo7vTRj3VDgjf4m2pi-dvkBjqHNzNzBRgACjLWR91rGWyuYesWbvqFgHkLkKXd5t-67Q/s1600-h/DSCN0964.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 283px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzHQTisjpDYkgBBlOZSGzmSeJ5QwLOyisELuPV5VLQ8Fz4-Vnf4rJR8XVi3eZUEnlyt9jo7vTRj3VDgjf4m2pi-dvkBjqHNzNzBRgACjLWR91rGWyuYesWbvqFgHkLkKXd5t-67Q/s320/DSCN0964.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376534376631428802" /></a><br /><br />When folded for the clutch, it looks like this:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjASQMLlHZtA-kFYgEXUaOn8gWwPpuQ8kUt5EzIqjJFgulrmeBWDHbZ-poFH0ZlLTQHsa07vNCBSDTB9mp6AaE8XpjD28n50bZIvdSm2jcv_jkEtJQySgmyNWqEw-OM0KIQ4a4AnQ/s1600-h/DSCN0965.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjASQMLlHZtA-kFYgEXUaOn8gWwPpuQ8kUt5EzIqjJFgulrmeBWDHbZ-poFH0ZlLTQHsa07vNCBSDTB9mp6AaE8XpjD28n50bZIvdSm2jcv_jkEtJQySgmyNWqEw-OM0KIQ4a4AnQ/s320/DSCN0965.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376535408539910802" /></a><br /><br />or this, depending on the side. That is the joy of this yarn, both sides are unique.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNfSW7TzdSHeu7zfnpPxv-2fsFyonoHTcKjN-TfcQp3NPLslPZ69o_WwZSbSR819yQ53bR0JCLIBCoTMz7j9k5Jq1RhNqu2rrT1CfFMOIXqFBARLd-GPWBxCv-PgvQhDzYsR53bQ/s1600-h/DSCN0966.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNfSW7TzdSHeu7zfnpPxv-2fsFyonoHTcKjN-TfcQp3NPLslPZ69o_WwZSbSR819yQ53bR0JCLIBCoTMz7j9k5Jq1RhNqu2rrT1CfFMOIXqFBARLd-GPWBxCv-PgvQhDzYsR53bQ/s320/DSCN0966.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376538902749849714" /></a><br /><br />So the next morning I jumped online to find more yarn, imagine my horror when I discovered that this particular Noro yarn has been discontinued. So I got online and hunted down as many skeins as I could find--between eBay and Ravelry I had enough to feed the obsession. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2O2BVH5R9vBvyId0OTlumQX_hnN0K0SkRKoLVRPdJWsvU0vuQ5o1peH_sM72Ff3Aat85CkYWMD9ijdoRaGYWxl6PouNryf2y_MC8NgapKv9PaAoZOu24wLJChvV1xARtijK3d4g/s1600-h/DSCN0968.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2O2BVH5R9vBvyId0OTlumQX_hnN0K0SkRKoLVRPdJWsvU0vuQ5o1peH_sM72Ff3Aat85CkYWMD9ijdoRaGYWxl6PouNryf2y_MC8NgapKv9PaAoZOu24wLJChvV1xARtijK3d4g/s320/DSCN0968.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376537019090466050" /></a><br /><br />Since then, I've been knitting <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Elizbo/the-simply-lovely-clutch">Simply Lovely Clutches</a> for everyone. I've done eight of them so far. I made myself quit this weekend, before I forget how to knit anything else. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmRUyugfVtealknOqJgt4XTqN5agPRqbA1mfemktWqIlvGiqZPG8Ygi9eEpnDhHK0MkOl5tUo3GyhDGMpkRaszCEnIvaEgGDg6_1ZdBWSYFZOL-mjdTElBkjb4LOjQmAavZFacbw/s1600-h/DSCN1020.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmRUyugfVtealknOqJgt4XTqN5agPRqbA1mfemktWqIlvGiqZPG8Ygi9eEpnDhHK0MkOl5tUo3GyhDGMpkRaszCEnIvaEgGDg6_1ZdBWSYFZOL-mjdTElBkjb4LOjQmAavZFacbw/s320/DSCN1020.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376537435470281778" /></a><br /><br />I plan on finishing them with i-cord borders and line them with a bright and fun silk fabric. They close with the magnetic snap. And voila! <br /><br />So what am I going to do with 8 clutches? Christmas gifts, folks. Teacher presents, friends, but not aunts. I've got other plans for them.Elizabeth Boylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16606885657029096766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20638935.post-90594010033500401172009-07-19T12:12:00.001-07:002009-07-19T12:31:32.298-07:00Monkeying Around<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEialnrnjhDR6bQvMIHQpdfx7V0lIDd5HJCdjsAFri1YVoduUHSow9KoPHEM90MDTl4OcV8SKYvFZDmIDJYX_yfskD_YSy6659N06HquP4YLwN5YKhHlG3Kv4A2CgNOZEWIO7MUIyw/s1600-h/DSCN0893.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEialnrnjhDR6bQvMIHQpdfx7V0lIDd5HJCdjsAFri1YVoduUHSow9KoPHEM90MDTl4OcV8SKYvFZDmIDJYX_yfskD_YSy6659N06HquP4YLwN5YKhHlG3Kv4A2CgNOZEWIO7MUIyw/s320/DSCN0893.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360252751157032050" /></a><br /><br />I saw a book in Crafter's Choice recently that made me laugh. It was about repurposing old pillowcases. Ya, wha-a-at? So I ordered <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1600594026?ie=UTF8&tag=elizabeboyleroma&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1600594026">Craft Challenge: Dozens of Ways to Repurpose a Pillowcase</a> from the library and much to my surprise and chagrin, it is actually a really fun book.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1rw_yNPGaUgf4DGVlQ9LizTlSFSQwa5CWPkRNkjo9NFdOltqMCe0jzHwAif9wnMy7OkZ0yh0PijDkXDEDqCbDkjVjkstKJbL6NOLlNlVREf8YkD9yZK-uBaEpQvOJFkWFzx6Hlg/s1600-h/DSCN0891.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1rw_yNPGaUgf4DGVlQ9LizTlSFSQwa5CWPkRNkjo9NFdOltqMCe0jzHwAif9wnMy7OkZ0yh0PijDkXDEDqCbDkjVjkstKJbL6NOLlNlVREf8YkD9yZK-uBaEpQvOJFkWFzx6Hlg/s320/DSCN0891.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360252218135248370" /></a><br /><br />So much so, that Friday night, I dug out some funny monkey fabric I'd picked up for some long forgotten project and made a groovy little project bag in about 45 minutes. It was fast, fun and now I have a nice sized, summery monkeyshines bag to haul around my latest WIP. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZIoP0OcJEKAqXPNKPeIuXHPKyUpuWhfE1f7Nf01qe2XsFNc1rkSrlCxQUL4QTnFWOYUquN8BGMfrkLyWYOuEF3HPlb9aX_bLF8U2bB-J8daJaLoLyoqJcsGgNC45gk8gViB09Og/s1600-h/DSCN0894.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZIoP0OcJEKAqXPNKPeIuXHPKyUpuWhfE1f7Nf01qe2XsFNc1rkSrlCxQUL4QTnFWOYUquN8BGMfrkLyWYOuEF3HPlb9aX_bLF8U2bB-J8daJaLoLyoqJcsGgNC45gk8gViB09Og/s320/DSCN0894.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360252531333372786" /></a><br /><br />Which as it turns out, fits my latest project in the "Wrestling WIPs" challenge, My <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Elizbo/lacy-stole-70337ad">Lacy Stole</a>. The yarn is Sundara's Basil over Buttercup, which I think is currently part of her July month of color. The hues and sparkle to this yarn is wonderful and it is lovely to knit with. And best of all, I have only 11 more pattern repeats and then I am done. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc0VzVy3eMfA1wBcLpI_0_ezCJRUoUJTI1Wz8OOvFMT8W3EMh7dgJXPbKdz7huHMyRv1QNtV7d9ABW4wzvsVA6U2pm30ygZVPI5GWMy0FrOzxiSTsG-v-p_mpJiJwD2TSHyVlyNQ/s1600-h/DSCN0898.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 174px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc0VzVy3eMfA1wBcLpI_0_ezCJRUoUJTI1Wz8OOvFMT8W3EMh7dgJXPbKdz7huHMyRv1QNtV7d9ABW4wzvsVA6U2pm30ygZVPI5GWMy0FrOzxiSTsG-v-p_mpJiJwD2TSHyVlyNQ/s320/DSCN0898.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360254294679885250" /></a><br /><br />The pattern is free from Lion Brand and easy to do, if you cheat like I do--using stitch markers to remind me where every repeat is, and an excel chart of the stitch pattern that I check off on each row, so it is never an issue which row I am on. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIlYbBo2LIZbMknJNEclxOYXVVKOBS3HlzdUw1smiaVFm1qELcRDEQ8QE2ogljCicyiTuJkwt4nRnuNWiumT2qpVK1lMvmiDWy0HV5hmirrpJ8hi-0HDKmwx0U93S2bJMGkcOgSA/s1600-h/chart.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 190px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIlYbBo2LIZbMknJNEclxOYXVVKOBS3HlzdUw1smiaVFm1qELcRDEQ8QE2ogljCicyiTuJkwt4nRnuNWiumT2qpVK1lMvmiDWy0HV5hmirrpJ8hi-0HDKmwx0U93S2bJMGkcOgSA/s320/chart.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360255616392549698" /></a><br /><br />Oddly enough, I haven't had the least urge to cast on any new projects--there has been a real delight in picking up these old, nagging WIPs and just getting them done. I think that is because I know that next month I am going to dive head first into Christmas knitting. I have three projects I want to cast on and finish over the month, and then I will be well ahead in my usual Fall panic over "what the heck to knit for Christmas???!!"<br /><br />Am I jumping the gun? Are you knitting for Christmas yet?Elizabeth Boylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16606885657029096766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20638935.post-26212179537172477642009-07-10T14:03:00.000-07:002009-07-10T14:20:50.409-07:00Wrestling Socks<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2622/3679855124_e4ba84882e.jpg?v=0"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 375px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2622/3679855124_e4ba84882e.jpg?v=0" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />I joined the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/wips-wrestlemania-2009">WIPs Wrestlemanis 2009</a> group on Ravelry, (Team: Burning Down the Stash) with the much needed goal of spending the month of July cleaning out the old works in progress that need to be, well, finished. And I dug out a few:<br /><br /><ul><li>Six pairs of socks<br /><li>1 Lace Stole<br /><li>1 Lace scarf<br /><li>1 cardigan</ul></li><br /><br />So I attacked the socks first, going after all my cast-on craziness that I'd done during May and June while I was stuck at home. I've been devouring Cat Bordhi's book New Pathways for Sock Knitters, and pulling from the stash to make her wonderful examples.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3239/3705429381_76a03cca58.jpg?v=0"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 461px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3239/3705429381_76a03cca58.jpg?v=0" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />These are the socks I started at Madrona last February in Cat's class on Sock Architecture. Knit on 0 dpns, and using the Riverbed architecture, they were a great learning sock. I even finished them with this cuff, which I find I like better than your usual K2P2.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2581/3705429883_1f700da883.jpg?v=0"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 375px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2581/3705429883_1f700da883.jpg?v=0" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />I also had these socks on the needles, but I didn't like the plain heel that I had done on the first one:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3649/3679044135_e076558458_m.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 240px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3649/3679044135_e076558458_m.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />So I frogged it back and did a reinforced heel. Then I noticed that there isn't a single heel in Cat's book that isn't done with anything other than a reinforced heel. Now I know why, especially when you see the difference:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2492/3706236276_5f1cde447f_m.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 240px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2492/3706236276_5f1cde447f_m.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />I've one more pair of socks off the needles and just in need of few finishing touches then it is onto my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Elizbo/lacy-stole-70337ad">Lacy Stole</a> which has languished for far too long.Elizabeth Boylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16606885657029096766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20638935.post-65753480430080164362009-07-03T10:17:00.000-07:002009-07-03T11:05:17.543-07:00Goodness, Time Flies<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDJ0v1WcjF6T_XALmGqMauhyphenhyphen9zQHTG2zlOb4vB7QZT-l6WnNTAej_y5IQ6UDMpmw78llEcGOx2ID6BvjDQknlqcvcYapWUBLItrVVO4w6bcn-GXw4INMcueNICxvB389mnDOQTdg/s1600-h/DSCF3368.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDJ0v1WcjF6T_XALmGqMauhyphenhyphen9zQHTG2zlOb4vB7QZT-l6WnNTAej_y5IQ6UDMpmw78llEcGOx2ID6BvjDQknlqcvcYapWUBLItrVVO4w6bcn-GXw4INMcueNICxvB389mnDOQTdg/s320/DSCF3368.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354290966144916274" /></a><br /><br />When you have pneumonia. Sorry for the long absence, but shortly after the last post, I got pneumonia and my Spring disappeared from me and now here it is Summer. At least I could see my peonies from the window and enjoy their splendor this year. We really had an awful winter, but the payback was a glorious load of peonies. <br /><br />As for the pneumonia, it hit fast, hard and kept me down. You know you are really, truly, see-the-light-sick when you don't even feel like knitting for several weeks. Yeah, that sick.<br /><br />But once I got to the point where I could knit, my Dad had come to stay with us and help take care of me. I was knitting this pair of socks at the time:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmYA1jCaHHMR3EQn0T_sK5N_CZAoKSfs5T2uvk4c7znLedKwNZtgXo8xABZXQX0intCbSb_Y4lf2VZrq6exTy8LJiuHpi3f27z8w-1iTqzCqGmi3l8eoNE5EqVVioFcZLyEHF0wA/s1600-h/DSCN0736.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 246px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmYA1jCaHHMR3EQn0T_sK5N_CZAoKSfs5T2uvk4c7znLedKwNZtgXo8xABZXQX0intCbSb_Y4lf2VZrq6exTy8LJiuHpi3f27z8w-1iTqzCqGmi3l8eoNE5EqVVioFcZLyEHF0wA/s320/DSCN0736.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354287885612804546" /></a><br /><br />And he would take the kids to school or run out to get groceries and all that other stuff I couldn't do, and when he got back, he would check for progress to make sure I had stayed on the couch and wasn't getting up and doing stuff. Like I really I wanted to. He made me laugh as he counted rows and nagged at me to take care of myself. Yes, Dad! He was so good to come up from Southern Oregon to spend a week with us. We really didn't want him to go.<br /><br />BTW, the socks are from Cat Bordhi's book, New Pathways for Sock Knitters, using the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/riverbed-master-pattern">Riverbed</a> architecture. Which, come to look at them, I did wrong. But here is the joy and beauty of Cat's sock philosophy--they still worked out just fine.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv9y3NwHa9DiE-szG9NQBWW4nZjxEkbFygJk4GEoWGjj3OIvXqgJrNwS2fKzDi_VrCJ5cZyfxj8efUZNgH652hbyfxWuOW2k3dDb0EKtSqN_dN2y8spMZ0n7crVzVbK1x_Pn9oSg/s1600-h/DSCN0733.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv9y3NwHa9DiE-szG9NQBWW4nZjxEkbFygJk4GEoWGjj3OIvXqgJrNwS2fKzDi_VrCJ5cZyfxj8efUZNgH652hbyfxWuOW2k3dDb0EKtSqN_dN2y8spMZ0n7crVzVbK1x_Pn9oSg/s320/DSCN0733.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354296308465348066" /></a><br /><br />Being housebound, I've been forced to knit from the stash, but I've found a real joy in using what I have. Odd as it might sound, getting this sick has turned out to be a blessing in many ways. It brought a lot of things into focus, including giving me back a real joy in using what I have.<br /><br />My mom had been with us the week earlier when I couldn't knit, and she brought with her some knitting (she likes to make premie hats to go with the quilts she makes and donates) and I accused her of taunting me with knitting. She laughed and kept on knitting. But huge props go out to both my folks for jumping in with both feet without even having to be asked. That's why Terry and I love them so much. That and they both are great cooks and good company. What more would you want when you are sick? Or well, for that matter!<br /><br />Not to be outdone by Mom's charitable endeavors, I worked on my <a href="http://www.interfaithcouncil.com/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=161">Warm for Winter</a> hats. I felt the need to give thanks for feeling better, and what better way is there than some charity knitting. I like to knit at least 12 hats each year for this wonderful endeavor, and so I knit these two:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhXETkyc8FeNOqYJiVKoRxStKi-AuaKPOQMQMcWHurVrI7pZmSsq9vUQ5eL4i_VLTgoVniJtRl8TLgnOmalH_nbHEg2mIz9_1cgPkDdyu7vXreHesIlSgxIk7tqSPX-fHVZmOLZg/s1600-h/DSCN0745.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhXETkyc8FeNOqYJiVKoRxStKi-AuaKPOQMQMcWHurVrI7pZmSsq9vUQ5eL4i_VLTgoVniJtRl8TLgnOmalH_nbHEg2mIz9_1cgPkDdyu7vXreHesIlSgxIk7tqSPX-fHVZmOLZg/s320/DSCN0745.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354288464935632466" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmZMMtt1vcYLTvFz3TLktzOMtZ0LbPtJLHT7ObToQEpnWEeYhHgbPGrUOSgaWdQ0WrvUvW6Cs2NZXvaxMqlVdRgi4wajYhJXBkmCg-WMqfUZP1cVuG_uDfiI7X_So0v42KnAKLEA/s1600-h/DSCN0747.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmZMMtt1vcYLTvFz3TLktzOMtZ0LbPtJLHT7ObToQEpnWEeYhHgbPGrUOSgaWdQ0WrvUvW6Cs2NZXvaxMqlVdRgi4wajYhJXBkmCg-WMqfUZP1cVuG_uDfiI7X_So0v42KnAKLEA/s320/DSCN0747.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354289894607685170" /></a><br /><br />This is Elizabeth Zimmerman's <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/very-warm-hat-wg-11">A Very Warm Hat</a>. I love it because it is fun to knit, a great way to use up leftover stash and makes, just as the title implies, a very warm hat for someone who has to be outside all day. I also make sure to always do these in wool, since wool stays warm even when it is wet, and in Seattle in the winter, it is hard to stay dry, let alone warm.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOMuI2cK-nZcvxZqk_Ixx_dxqEUFaEzbPgEox_pMxXFCy3ruPR8SZ2FLnUN0WkAHJyu7lv9ka5RFMAqt89FZWy6Zoi81JgQoizPTv5VZrew2NyBcy9ZT6D30GtHxReNfFlJMNDOw/s1600-h/DSCN0738.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 269px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOMuI2cK-nZcvxZqk_Ixx_dxqEUFaEzbPgEox_pMxXFCy3ruPR8SZ2FLnUN0WkAHJyu7lv9ka5RFMAqt89FZWy6Zoi81JgQoizPTv5VZrew2NyBcy9ZT6D30GtHxReNfFlJMNDOw/s320/DSCN0738.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354290125224461522" /></a><br /><br />This hat, the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/swirled-ski-cap">Swirled Ski Cap</a>, from Knitting for Peace, is also from leftovers and was intended to go with a baby present, but the hat is more large toddler sized, so it is going into the Warm for Winter pile, since sadly, kids end up out there as well.<br /><br />Seems funny to talk about knitting for winter in the middle of summer, but I find I like knitting these sort of smaller projects this time of year.Elizabeth Boylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16606885657029096766noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20638935.post-25186670146480581012009-04-08T08:29:00.000-07:002009-04-08T08:47:23.410-07:00Stops and StartsI've been knitting. Really I have. Just not as much as I would like. Or rather not on the things I want to be knitting on. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7dfXsQQ5B7enhmcRmfEx0QSyd9LaaXXLzvhJBp3O-9LhcPER97L_AMcmq4KIzzA7SXxf2Ul4H4ugQ_hrjkaW04NjirCfD8RHcJnal5eMRHAVzd9OTQxX0LunbLstLFYMrT3FP/s1600-h/DSCN0593.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7dfXsQQ5B7enhmcRmfEx0QSyd9LaaXXLzvhJBp3O-9LhcPER97L_AMcmq4KIzzA7SXxf2Ul4H4ugQ_hrjkaW04NjirCfD8RHcJnal5eMRHAVzd9OTQxX0LunbLstLFYMrT3FP/s320/DSCN0593.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322344463467790306" /></a><br /><br />That is my own fault. I went on a test knitting jag, and knit two different items for people developing patterns. One is already available on Ravelry as a download pattern and it was fun to make, mostly because I knew Matthew would love it. Here he is modeling <a href="http://baxterknits.blogspot.com/">Baxterknits</a>' <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/aegean-childs-vest">Aegean Vest</a>. I do like this pattern and it is a great way to use up leftovers.<br /><br />I decided to do this test knit because Matthew loves wearing vests. Go figure. The kid who usually wears only pajamas, adores putting on a vest. If he's going anywhere special or just wants to "look handsome" he pulls on his vest. So I knew he'd love have another one. <br /><br />The two disadvantages of test knitting are being a deadline and having to stop whatever else you are knitting. Like this post heading, I've been knitting in stops and starts on two pairs of socks. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2qhWpj8t9NNgz0QQngzEPC1wbCHxoWNgc3EL1cFMMrB1lK1-W4WorwLKB47VNA8gcGtX7CxudLQrrmYmjz1nMpEOwDt3GyACZznVQS-gw3frX0UxAapiA4MyvxzUBn_K8JGgW/s1600-h/DSCN0574.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2qhWpj8t9NNgz0QQngzEPC1wbCHxoWNgc3EL1cFMMrB1lK1-W4WorwLKB47VNA8gcGtX7CxudLQrrmYmjz1nMpEOwDt3GyACZznVQS-gw3frX0UxAapiA4MyvxzUBn_K8JGgW/s320/DSCN0574.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322346437181933458" /></a> I love socks for travel because I can tuck them in this fancy pencil bag I got last fall at Target. Fits in the purse and sits happily on the tray table so the yarn doesn't end up rolling down the aisle.<br /><br />On this last journey (to Wichita) I ended up having a hellish trip back--what was supposed to be about six hours of travel turned in 17 hours of airport delays. And I worked on my socks, read a little Georgette Heyer, and worked on my book which has a May 1st deadline. I really like airplane knitting cause it does make me a calmer and less obsessed about the flight. But when you are in the middle seat it is darn hard to try on the sock you are knitting to see if you've got it right. <br /><br />I think on my next flight, I'll just make sure I am at the heel turns so I don't have much to try on. Which if you are wondering is Seattle to Orlando. So I could probably do several pairs of heel turns over the course of that 5 hour flight. Well, let's hope it only takes 5 hours. I've seen quite enough of airports lately, thank you very much.Elizabeth Boylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16606885657029096766noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20638935.post-55255461239904074222009-03-20T13:13:00.000-07:002009-03-20T13:56:04.532-07:00If Spring is here, Why am I still wearing Wool?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX9Th9x6NefL-CsqHBibW_Q-Efyimcvb2QmlYmHLRBtsVylHE70-1SRBB2FfXMdfg7w7_JKIP8zMCFWPTMtw7m8Eaka53dRbGaMldsty2XIhkWO8Gw84jdq4qQXJOe763NrStV/s1600-h/DSCN0549.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX9Th9x6NefL-CsqHBibW_Q-Efyimcvb2QmlYmHLRBtsVylHE70-1SRBB2FfXMdfg7w7_JKIP8zMCFWPTMtw7m8Eaka53dRbGaMldsty2XIhkWO8Gw84jdq4qQXJOe763NrStV/s400/DSCN0549.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315368749733388082" /></a><br /><br />So today is the first day of spring and I can't wait to leave this winter behind, but instead of daffodils blooming in my yard and my primroses blooming happily in my gardens, the yard is much as it has been all winter.<br /><br />So I continue with the Winter Knitting. I've been working through some projects and UFOs per my desire to get some things off the needles this month. And first up is my <a href="http://www.siviaharding.com/patterns/harmonias_rings_cowl/">Harmonia's Rings</a>, a cowl/shoulder wrap Cat Bordhi and the designer, <a href="http://www.siviaharding.com/index.html">Sivia Harding</a> were wearing at Madrona--not at the same time, they each had their own--which was tempting to just corner one of them, rip it off their shoulders and run. But then again, I can knit my own. And I did.<br /><br />I used two skeins of <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5130205">See Jayne Knit's</a> hand dyed merino in the colorway Chocolate Truffle Berry. Okay, she had me at "chocolate." The yarn is wonderfully soft and cozy and I've been wearing this constantly. <br /><br />Sivia's pattern for Harmonia's Cowl gave me two challenges, knitting a moebius for the first time and doing a moebius cast on. Thank goodness for Cat Bordhi's excellent <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC_-W6kVrquZgOH8NjDU7AF8Z0hq7inKmiA5-Bz2EUy1FCnzQkVwIFOtDXJl1FKdfTxZjBqu3z3sSTTDbqmpNTppt9x5fLV-oXh__jbSk-YRtBX3-jfVWne6THalC95eRWGPjV/s1600-h/DSCN0483.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC_-W6kVrquZgOH8NjDU7AF8Z0hq7inKmiA5-Bz2EUy1FCnzQkVwIFOtDXJl1FKdfTxZjBqu3z3sSTTDbqmpNTppt9x5fLV-oXh__jbSk-YRtBX3-jfVWne6THalC95eRWGPjV/s200/DSCN0483.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315371266785885826" /></a>youTube video, I was up and running in no time and it is really addictive knitting. <br /><br />The pattern repeat is easy, but lately I've found that I can't follow a chart or even simple row repeats to save my life--just way too much life filling up the bandwidth and remembering what row I am on seems impossible--so I've come up with a solution. My own sort of cheat sheet that I make for each project using Excel, and making a small chart with the rows and repeats and just check it off at the end of each row. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCU7ThCuYGsW_0N3dr_VjaaEob8Ome13R7Jl4-S2Xe4kkyiowBrh0JjhCo9ajmsoEH8zQ0hY-vsnM3YdkOX2gEsvsrZAb6DFLPwTNikd8xqQIvfr6EIjIaQMUapqBraSanNxzr/s1600-h/DSCN0565.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCU7ThCuYGsW_0N3dr_VjaaEob8Ome13R7Jl4-S2Xe4kkyiowBrh0JjhCo9ajmsoEH8zQ0hY-vsnM3YdkOX2gEsvsrZAb6DFLPwTNikd8xqQIvfr6EIjIaQMUapqBraSanNxzr/s320/DSCN0565.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315368444461240978" /></a>Then when I come back to it, or forget halfway through the round where I am, I can just glance over figure it out without doing a bunch of frogging back. This is the chart I used for my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Elizbo/veste-everest">Veste Everest</a>.<br /><br />I hadn't planned on doing the beaded picot bind off around the neck, but then as I was looking for something else, I found a tube of beads I'd bought years ago for something else and never used, so the beaded edge it was.<br /><br />I loved knitting this so much I plan on making two more for Christmas presents, I have the yarn for one, and am keeping my eyes peeled for the perfect yarn for a second one, though I may just use some stash yarn.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4vdW9NfHkr7lCeWpRMtHlj7QywRtdRsyiMNuGTiGOHCbO48SIIkVgYwxpxHDCkGbiqgieWPTPk_-JD3ZkjXVsUPBVwBJv-DuCqFtZmO7fV6h1vLN6S4tTDoBHJw7D8R2wyqSL/s1600-h/DSCN0566.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4vdW9NfHkr7lCeWpRMtHlj7QywRtdRsyiMNuGTiGOHCbO48SIIkVgYwxpxHDCkGbiqgieWPTPk_-JD3ZkjXVsUPBVwBJv-DuCqFtZmO7fV6h1vLN6S4tTDoBHJw7D8R2wyqSL/s320/DSCN0566.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315375117621044466" /></a>The other project that found its way onto my needles after Madrona was a pair of <a href="http://a-friend-to-knit-with.blogspot.com/2008/09/toasttoasty.html">Toast</a>. Again at the Cat Bordhi class (that was just a day of inspiration in so many ways) I was sitting next to Kari, who also spins for her Etsy shop, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5201299">Mud.Creek</a>, and she had knit a pair on the plane up from Arizona. I was immediately enamored and when I got home, cast on. I know some people don't "get" fingerless gloves, but I adore them. My hands get too hot in gloves or mittens but fingerless? Oh, they are perfectly toasty without getting too hot.<br /><br />These are modeled by one of the boys, so they are a little large on him. Again I used a skein from See Jayne Knit, a handspun silk and merino blend in Watermelon. I have another skein in another colorway, which will probably get used for yet another Christmas present.<br /><br />I also finished up a small shawl on the plane to Chicago this week, which I'll get blocked this weekend. Then it might be a bit before I finish anything more because I had to sign books for two days straight, now it is my wrists who are toast and I have to take a few days off of knitting to rehab them. Stinks, but I knew that would happen. Instead I'll keep enjoying my new FOs, and dreaming of Spring.<br /><br />And Spring knitting . . .Elizabeth Boylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16606885657029096766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20638935.post-12489477648749257602009-03-08T11:05:00.000-07:002009-03-08T11:33:27.901-07:00RandomnessI've been starting and stopping projects for the last two weeks and can't say that I have anything to show for it. I'm nearly finished on two projects inspired by some wonderful items I saw at Madrona, but not quite done.<br /><br />With so much going on around here--I've had five books I had to read for my working life, two test knit projects I'm working on, a book due next month, two books coming out in the next two months, and more travel over a three month period than I have done in like the last three years. I've been to Madrona, then last weekend went to a romance reader's conference in Portland, Or. Next weekend I am off to Chicago to sign books at the warehouse. Which means NO KNITTING for like three or four days. I need my wrist in top form to sign about 8,000 copies of my next book, <a href="http://elizabethboyle.com/books/black.php">CONFESSIONS OF A LITTLE BLACK GOWN</a> <span style="font-style:italic;">and</span> be able to keep typing on the book that is due. Yes, you read that correctly. 8K. Sigh. The glamorous life.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk0YrsMaFOBMKb4cVcCVsDHSzvgdB5oXb91vqp2PH5J_SVbxVLrhAuVOQfejqFl_DRpKqIb66yEF49FYZtwIETkRz2-MB4PAm2P2hbDVBEv_csmw5KbpxnC7dGOQguFJ5swui4/s1600-h/08-lit-signing.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 258px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk0YrsMaFOBMKb4cVcCVsDHSzvgdB5oXb91vqp2PH5J_SVbxVLrhAuVOQfejqFl_DRpKqIb66yEF49FYZtwIETkRz2-MB4PAm2P2hbDVBEv_csmw5KbpxnC7dGOQguFJ5swui4/s320/08-lit-signing.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310884162818549346" /></a> Two days in a warehouse signing books. Actually, it is kinda fun, a sort of marathon adventure but the no knitting part stinks.<br /><br />Then off to Wichita for the Midwest Plains Librarian Association conference, where I speak and do a <a href="http://elizabethboyle.com/events.php">booksigning</a> at Barnes & Noble. Then it is off to Disneyland for spring break -- which neither of the kids have on the same week, so we are going the week in between when they both have school. We figured two wrongs make it all right. Then I get a breather for like three weeks and then I am off to Orlando for the Florida Librarians Association where I speak again and <a href="http://elizabethboyle.com/events.php">sign again</a>, this time at the Borders in Clearwater, FL. <br /><br />I was invited to another conference the week after, back again in Orlando, but twice across the country in two weeks? Uh, no. Because in July I go to Washington DC for a week for a big writer's conference. Then the Sock Summit is lurking on the horizon. I actually have a hotel scoped out, and my escape plans for that one in sort of a sketchy, hazy outline.<span style="font-style:italic;"> Really, honey, I know I've been gone a lot, but this is a very <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmLgcBklA3faFRZKuAy6Lmk8ifJEH3ZopnBK7pmKB8Joe7vrBfj0dWw50SVrDDmR8tGuxafx1jyUsFEKR0oj27gnTqFFMb-uL9tyd3fGYNldNEcCYFEwb3emOSq8eMNBXScZeB/s1600-h/DSCN0488.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 285px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmLgcBklA3faFRZKuAy6Lmk8ifJEH3ZopnBK7pmKB8Joe7vrBfj0dWw50SVrDDmR8tGuxafx1jyUsFEKR0oj27gnTqFFMb-uL9tyd3fGYNldNEcCYFEwb3emOSq8eMNBXScZeB/s320/DSCN0488.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310885072324378034" /></a>important knitting event . . . </span><br /><br />So with all this on the horizon I can't really get excited about knitting something big, like I did in February with the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/vest-uary">Vest-uary KAL</a>. I got my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Elizbo/veste-everest">Veste Everest</a> done, which I've been wearing daily. But right now, I don't have the bandwidth to cast on a big project. So it is small, packable, easy on the wrists projects for the foreseeable future. And hopefully I can get some of my UFOs out of the stash and into the world being useful before some new wonderful can't resist, time-consuming project hits the radar.<br /><br />So here is the critical question for all of you. Because when you travel you need one key piece of advice: What are the good knit shops in Wichita, Orlando, or Washington DC? Anyone?Elizabeth Boylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16606885657029096766noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20638935.post-6002973410854055162009-02-22T13:16:00.000-08:002009-02-22T14:40:23.040-08:00The Dye ClassI told someone I went to a class on dyeing last week and they became alarmed that I was sick. Non-knitters! Whatever are we to do with them? But I have to say the most fun class I took at Madrona was Judith MacKenzie McCuin's <span style="font-weight:bold;">Just Dyeing for Socks</span>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz2nz1o2LxSuyi1qynZxom4smV5tMPgOE95CvCfCvPSRYw3wMqez9kYQIrVwOdHKw3akNdEo2PRSPIxsohFm3EMS2tC7UexeQ0-NST2ONSzHbzdFo1OLEqV1OMXidMdvVQSZqQ/s1600-h/DSCN0366.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz2nz1o2LxSuyi1qynZxom4smV5tMPgOE95CvCfCvPSRYw3wMqez9kYQIrVwOdHKw3akNdEo2PRSPIxsohFm3EMS2tC7UexeQ0-NST2ONSzHbzdFo1OLEqV1OMXidMdvVQSZqQ/s400/DSCN0366.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305752261265561442" /></a><br /><br />Nothing like being given a room protected in industrial strength plastic and being let loose with a boggling range of color possibilities and told to "have fun." Here are the advantages of dyeing at Madrona:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyWnxqQ_DmYnc4Iy38YIPhxy3gdg-TIqSVNt2gzT44UcapwRrrAguICgEi4vlF_PlRfltnEAGFfwXzC3R3ArD7b-vWxPeFJU_M_tBHBg91n83Hl1bysvSGrpPWPUsyvTfgi3Hx/s1600-h/DSCN0454.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 188px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyWnxqQ_DmYnc4Iy38YIPhxy3gdg-TIqSVNt2gzT44UcapwRrrAguICgEi4vlF_PlRfltnEAGFfwXzC3R3ArD7b-vWxPeFJU_M_tBHBg91n83Hl1bysvSGrpPWPUsyvTfgi3Hx/s400/DSCN0454.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305752839772569826" /></a><br /><br />1) Not in my kitchen.<br />2) I don't have to prep it all.<br />3) I don't have to clean it up.<br />4) And best of all, I don't have to clean it up.<br /><br />So I repeated the last ones, but come on, those <span style="font-style:italic;">need</span> to be repeated. Special hurrahs to Judith and her pair of helpers who did all the grunt work so the rest of us could play. <br /><br />We started out with skeins of Worsted/Mohair mix. Mine turned into a clownish mess, but that is how it is supposed to be your first time out. I listened to other students worry over not getting it perfect, but for me, it was the lessons of doing it all wrong in the first skein that helped me with my next two: a sock blank and a skein of merino/silk blend.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZKN40TFhlQGTbhZ-mOO_3GGS5yaSCAjVYp7ksg94H9AQWBGwKlPRjRkUKI0vYQBN3Sl__9ux5e4RBLbyQh_fHtiri1zezIVoqs453dh7LpH9q1SSY7Gpi5TjDpGJ4TCN9UFCb/s1600-h/DSCN0455.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 202px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZKN40TFhlQGTbhZ-mOO_3GGS5yaSCAjVYp7ksg94H9AQWBGwKlPRjRkUKI0vYQBN3Sl__9ux5e4RBLbyQh_fHtiri1zezIVoqs453dh7LpH9q1SSY7Gpi5TjDpGJ4TCN9UFCb/s400/DSCN0455.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305754910551357442" /></a><br /><br />Isn't this silk blend beautiful? I just love how the greens and blues and yellows blended. I'm thinking of making a lacy little scarf with this skein. The clown yarn will probably get knit into something to felt, but I have to decide whether or not I want to risk hives over knitting with mohair.<br /><br />After all the painting, the skeins went into ziploc bags and then into the pot to cook. Oh, yum, Mom! What's for dinner?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJOmRglzWP7CMDyNfMb2uzTFlaur0vct19V-m-B-rGD2yNKcBZQhgIYOEhKw3KDjErYe63Go_8flRyHPyDhDhoO8Tw0AghYFN1fqAk_7rejuB6Of2l3rvv02Iyj1YDpy0iKyk9/s1600-h/DSCN0368.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJOmRglzWP7CMDyNfMb2uzTFlaur0vct19V-m-B-rGD2yNKcBZQhgIYOEhKw3KDjErYe63Go_8flRyHPyDhDhoO8Tw0AghYFN1fqAk_7rejuB6Of2l3rvv02Iyj1YDpy0iKyk9/s400/DSCN0368.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305752456362727794" /></a><br /><br />Now the only downside of all this, is that we also dyed sock blanks, but mine somehow went missing. They were left on tables in the back of the classroom over the next few days for all of us to pick up, and mine got lost in the shuffle or someone just picked up the wrong one. But even if I hadn't come home with anything, I would rate this class an A+ for fun. Like being allowed to color on the walls and outside the lines all at once.Elizabeth Boylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16606885657029096766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20638935.post-30721055818060060812009-02-17T10:29:00.000-08:002009-02-17T11:04:38.862-08:00Coming DownI'm back from the Madrona Fiber Arts Retreat. I've been back since Sunday night, but I couldn't type yesterday to save my life. Now I could go on and on about the classes and what I learned, and all the cool knitters I met, but I think everyone prefers seeing what you get when go to a knitting conference. So, since my brain is still mush, I give you my own personal Madrona yarn crawl. And just a warning, I do have my firewall up, so no trying to sneak over and steal my precious'es:<br /><br />First up, I hit the Toots Le Blanc booth. I haven't knit up the last yarn I bought there, but that didn't stop me from stocking up, 'cause you know, it's 50% Alpaca, 50% Jacob, in a DK weight that I think will be lover-ly in the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/honeycomb">Honeycomb Vest</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib3GI51-p3SgOaXReI4q8Uo2tGM8ZydA6gewgJF0GNjiDQ-ZCEpPK3nhy5xpCReoEwrnew36Yb3g54F0ZKctLCXl863MQ_ZxnD6mj7OmUlQqzBWA6WV7fFtqfL-iZzmPRU7ubk/s1600-h/DSCN0410.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib3GI51-p3SgOaXReI4q8Uo2tGM8ZydA6gewgJF0GNjiDQ-ZCEpPK3nhy5xpCReoEwrnew36Yb3g54F0ZKctLCXl863MQ_ZxnD6mj7OmUlQqzBWA6WV7fFtqfL-iZzmPRU7ubk/s400/DSCN0410.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303836701475576674" /></a><br /><br />After Cat Bordhi's class, I'd spotted some sock yarn in a linen/merino blend, by <a href="http://www.tactilefiberarts.com">Tactile</a>, that was so bright and pretty, I had to have some . . . because well, I am now an enthusiastic sock knitter. Yes, I am.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPDdX_VLwCU-Htlv3kSc8o83dbWKwzks2ja0eUUrNq-GV6mG0hM3B4BPqhzJ75_wiimSJIouw_CJu4uuKjupZJUnUwFYaY6xJmnMdN3FYMUbQWS6muwjAo0RX_SiIwCAI2XwtC/s1600-h/DSCN0413.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPDdX_VLwCU-Htlv3kSc8o83dbWKwzks2ja0eUUrNq-GV6mG0hM3B4BPqhzJ75_wiimSJIouw_CJu4uuKjupZJUnUwFYaY6xJmnMdN3FYMUbQWS6muwjAo0RX_SiIwCAI2XwtC/s400/DSCN0413.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303837374105304498" /></a><br /><br />Yeah, that pink will wake up the feet. Though I may be doing something else with it. Not sure.<br /><br />Then it was onto <a href="http://www.fibergallery.com/">The Fiber Gallery</a> booth were she had the Fiber Trends <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/leaf-lace-shawl-s-2010">Leaf Lace shawl</a> hanging in the booth. I'd been having shawl envy since I walked into the conference and there it was, taunting me. "<span style="font-style:italic;">Knit me, knit me,</span>" it whispered from across the aisle. "<span style="font-style:italic;">I won't drive you <strike>to drink</strike> crazy, I promise. . . </span>" Now we all know me and lace knitting. But ahem, I also mean to give this a try. So I bought the pattern and these two skeins of Handmaiden Sea Silk:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMwa69WGVJveQ3H-Xx6H0A8KrC6X3McOq6KBlkHxZ2LU6H9PxI_9okAyeayQpaO-sjb7_9OZaOWp81qWjME1_0W-KBsbYM4sMEgTqmHlZb7twkqhgyIMhO-EfY022_nT0SLFzJ/s1600-h/DSCN0416.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMwa69WGVJveQ3H-Xx6H0A8KrC6X3McOq6KBlkHxZ2LU6H9PxI_9okAyeayQpaO-sjb7_9OZaOWp81qWjME1_0W-KBsbYM4sMEgTqmHlZb7twkqhgyIMhO-EfY022_nT0SLFzJ/s400/DSCN0416.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303838028947089394" /></a><br /><br />I was shopping with my new friend and great designer, <a href="http://www.lisaellisdesigns.com/">Lisa Ellis</a> and she and I went back and forth over which skeins worked best with my colors, and we had a lot of help picking them out. Isn't that great when you have lots of people to help you buy yarn?<br /><br />Now I didn't need any help when I got to the Blue Moon booth. Despite having knit the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Elizbo/working-socks-from-the-toe-up">World's Ugliest Socks</a> out of one of their skeins, I still can't resist their yarns. The names and the colors just knock me over. And so I got two skeins of:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOdIy06XcsNL6ILXa5I_0fFO8hJekBcTeIXs00uTcLNNo0O7YrglI5GMJH80mozHQ58wouTu3P3osl2Y7Oa670-iKL2i0bW11uswSXUb95OHr8lpAghEn5W_DYU9rUZfFF-8yb/s1600-h/DSCN0414.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOdIy06XcsNL6ILXa5I_0fFO8hJekBcTeIXs00uTcLNNo0O7YrglI5GMJH80mozHQ58wouTu3P3osl2Y7Oa670-iKL2i0bW11uswSXUb95OHr8lpAghEn5W_DYU9rUZfFF-8yb/s400/DSCN0414.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303838924393676578" /></a><br /><br />Jabberywocky in the Lightweight version. I thought if the shawl project is a success then I will try another one, and if not, well, then socks! And since I know of about four babies about to make their way into the world, I got this wonderful skein of Mediumweight STR in Grimm's Willow Wren:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfmwjy2TULxr3geQqmg7NTNBlPKLMZRngpy5jGwORrBeS2e4LCarhHEEHH16wF_LP_SZ-KCrUu-e_QAeNK99cYamVufo4hQjlXEYSQ0xJnWyvqmn2SmpnNm54PcQPDrmcPehPv/s1600-h/DSCN0419.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 162px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfmwjy2TULxr3geQqmg7NTNBlPKLMZRngpy5jGwORrBeS2e4LCarhHEEHH16wF_LP_SZ-KCrUu-e_QAeNK99cYamVufo4hQjlXEYSQ0xJnWyvqmn2SmpnNm54PcQPDrmcPehPv/s400/DSCN0419.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303839557883624226" /></a><br /><br />Which is going to make the coolest, sweetest Baby Surprise Jacket (like this <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Elizbo/baby-surprise-jacket">one</a>) for some little wee pumpkin. And then I went back in the market at the last hour and probably shouldn't have, but found the colorway of Taos I've been looking for and bought it:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwgRPoAw9ltvvxRwcxzKPWfAXfr9UeCaYnUFtMYz7fVzqaNdYN4CFWXVHmxm8gTGImj112s0ONqj5WZIFHe6TdNDNz7Um4_1s2E1hFge-Aob2BYGVMwUlRtDMp8W7-ireQlLng/s1600-h/DSCN0399.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwgRPoAw9ltvvxRwcxzKPWfAXfr9UeCaYnUFtMYz7fVzqaNdYN4CFWXVHmxm8gTGImj112s0ONqj5WZIFHe6TdNDNz7Um4_1s2E1hFge-Aob2BYGVMwUlRtDMp8W7-ireQlLng/s400/DSCN0399.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303840265926774642" /></a><br /><br />Okay, I bought all of it. But I was tired. And not thinking straight. And it will make the coolest . . . something. <br /><br />Next, I will share all the great patterns and knits I saw, so check back! And if you went, what did you get that you can't wait to knit?Elizabeth Boylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16606885657029096766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20638935.post-66437959436284527142009-02-12T14:17:00.000-08:002009-02-12T14:28:09.475-08:00Baby's Got Back . . . And a New ShawlSo now that we have all purged the memories and visual aids from my last post, on to happier subjects. Like my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/veste-everest">Veste Everest</a>. Which now consists of a back:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5D0yzvTVBB0h4v1BysRnCh8ePfBm7YkJW2WV-BB16sIESW7Zyb2cTj0BTxoocsh0kekMiIRuT0oe1I5trchnmICviNn8MK6pXkSlK1ZZpmej3yT0l9T08Km2hBdX9ihuTGi1B/s1600-h/DSCN0363.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 296px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5D0yzvTVBB0h4v1BysRnCh8ePfBm7YkJW2WV-BB16sIESW7Zyb2cTj0BTxoocsh0kekMiIRuT0oe1I5trchnmICviNn8MK6pXkSlK1ZZpmej3yT0l9T08Km2hBdX9ihuTGi1B/s400/DSCN0363.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302040028649017618" /></a><br /><br />And the beginnings of a front:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihMciTTK4Hf7va2WTF4LLcs1H0VpXltfIBrOg7K9OG806M1BC59A0_-QuQP2bn0kbZvFy9PuAE7BH4EHTUu0IbeTBnqZ031u1RFRijbvCbYk7hyJ7OBNs1RC8hhyv35PYiZ89b/s1600-h/DSCN0365.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihMciTTK4Hf7va2WTF4LLcs1H0VpXltfIBrOg7K9OG806M1BC59A0_-QuQP2bn0kbZvFy9PuAE7BH4EHTUu0IbeTBnqZ031u1RFRijbvCbYk7hyJ7OBNs1RC8hhyv35PYiZ89b/s400/DSCN0365.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302040764826184354" /></a><br /><br />I also did a little more finishing and finally got the ends woven in on my <br /><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/symmetrical-flying-v-shawl">Symmetrical Flying V Shawl</a>. After a good dunk and a bit of blocking, it turned out wonderful--though not quite symmetrical because I ran short of yarn, but I can overlook that small problem. I hadn't been real pleased with it when it came off the needles, but sometimes, as it turns out, blocking can be your new BFF.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC-cU51SbwPX973E_-sMS9YgauHZAp4nCgiMxtRnh2BsxF89mzEgc9BNArEafxzdk7_YVM09QmZL_ogAP26Ipme8qH6akOFGLOoG-B5qvy1lUj139oD_bKkr6frpRTz1YSGBCY/s1600-h/DSCN0361.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 251px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC-cU51SbwPX973E_-sMS9YgauHZAp4nCgiMxtRnh2BsxF89mzEgc9BNArEafxzdk7_YVM09QmZL_ogAP26Ipme8qH6akOFGLOoG-B5qvy1lUj139oD_bKkr6frpRTz1YSGBCY/s400/DSCN0361.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302039241226979698" /></a>Elizabeth Boylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16606885657029096766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20638935.post-6706398310795642792009-02-08T08:54:00.000-08:002009-02-08T09:17:54.396-08:00I don't know what to postI started the week with a big bunch of enthusiasm for Vest-uary, starting my vest with a big smile, and then realizing I'd used the wrong sized needles. Well, rather than go through my four painful false starts over again, I finally got going on the back of my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Elizbo/veste-everest">Veste Everest</a> with the right gauge, the right number of stitches and the correct needles. One more repeat and I'll be at the bind off for the underarms. I feel really good about this.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqZi7LU28uEtHvf6LPPRjrTNEi_anm1yTTG7CEf12LTIfElrMo06lS3JJS_hbbB8LSzxkbLL8phfCw0g9EYU-y4gEckzQE2bwr1dBK7PAJP8dAnQBCj9OkvaaxgiRafrXNGqFV/s1600-h/DSCN0340.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 233px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqZi7LU28uEtHvf6LPPRjrTNEi_anm1yTTG7CEf12LTIfElrMo06lS3JJS_hbbB8LSzxkbLL8phfCw0g9EYU-y4gEckzQE2bwr1dBK7PAJP8dAnQBCj9OkvaaxgiRafrXNGqFV/s400/DSCN0340.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300476053358085298" /></a><br /><br />I wished I felt the same about my<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Elizbo/77-vine-lace-top-down-cardigan"> Vine Lace Top Down Cardigan</a> which I blocked this week. Wherein it turned into a disaster. I will not model it, so don't even ask, I look like a Boobah in it. I have no idea what happened, but I now believe I can drive my minivan through the neck opening. With. It. Buttoned.<br /><br />This:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZXZ9UpPR0sjmwRWRlVJ1vwmdb9-Pbn5FjOToFASNA8wZcDO7gdeNoIHKXzuzOWZk1JZFB9-elO7D-W_6qetXoSfF_W0PBdqQeJfdzXU8uk-o5Okf4QV4tWugm2WIjmB18Bi7/s1600-h/DSCN0249.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZXZ9UpPR0sjmwRWRlVJ1vwmdb9-Pbn5FjOToFASNA8wZcDO7gdeNoIHKXzuzOWZk1JZFB9-elO7D-W_6qetXoSfF_W0PBdqQeJfdzXU8uk-o5Okf4QV4tWugm2WIjmB18Bi7/s400/DSCN0249.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300474643170720418" /></a><br /><br />Makes me look like this:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvS_IicKjSiZlk5qzwrUjtS5VRXYh06UiEPTlaLrmX_s4x0xPydtphc5fIC3ucsUVDGkCAKBgYEF2GcuNfU6ujyU5Rls6A4bQeq7ddw8I-lg3TO4UQA6Apwx7sUH2CM3A1y_Nr/s1600-h/Picture+6.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 216px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvS_IicKjSiZlk5qzwrUjtS5VRXYh06UiEPTlaLrmX_s4x0xPydtphc5fIC3ucsUVDGkCAKBgYEF2GcuNfU6ujyU5Rls6A4bQeq7ddw8I-lg3TO4UQA6Apwx7sUH2CM3A1y_Nr/s400/Picture+6.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300475418089257474" /></a><br /><br />Huge sigh. It is still sort of wearable. In my office. With the door closed. The blinds down. And no deliveries expected from UPS. I just have to remember to take it off before I go flying out the door to pick up the kids. I don't want the minivan door sliding open at school and it setting off a stampede of elementary aged children screeching, "My eyes! My eyes!" Yes, it is that hideous.<br /><br />I had hoped to wear it proudly to <a href="http://www.madronafiberarts.com/">Madrona</a> next weekend. I don't think so. I would probably get tossed out of the conference and banned for life from ever attending again. My knitting needles confiscated. My name blacklisted at all the local yarn shops and most of the prominent online shops. <br /><br />Truly, I've resigned myself that some projects were just meant to hang in the closet and remind us that knitting is a craft. And there is always room to learn.Elizabeth Boylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16606885657029096766noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20638935.post-27415296366879457282009-02-02T07:08:00.000-08:002009-02-02T07:25:25.157-08:00Happy Vest-uaryI know it is Groundhog Day, but to all of us on the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/vest-uary">Vest-uary KAL</a> over on Ravelry, it is Happy Vest-uary, for all of us knitting a vest this month. Just so you can be in the know, the correct response is, "And how is your vest going?"<br /><br />Being really jazzed about this KAL (which I am not really much of a KAL person, try as I might) this one is heaven sent. I'd been planning on knitting a vest this month anyway, but not I have an excuse to hang out with a bunch of like-minded, sleeve-less happy co-knitters. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAX-9fZ6yH3eY2aekl_xZ8JEUrA2yEX_Y0pxXZu68bJAGi9PRTrzStJQPtesXl0SwgsYBv3uj46dfh701dYmjXJxPaCRbo96-KB1z5gFLQMMrKx7wmnQMVrkswiiKGhBayPukl/s1600-h/DSCN0283.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAX-9fZ6yH3eY2aekl_xZ8JEUrA2yEX_Y0pxXZu68bJAGi9PRTrzStJQPtesXl0SwgsYBv3uj46dfh701dYmjXJxPaCRbo96-KB1z5gFLQMMrKx7wmnQMVrkswiiKGhBayPukl/s400/DSCN0283.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298220017856605954" /></a><br /><br />I had my pattern at the ready, (<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/veste-everest">Veste Everest</a> from the Fall 2005 issue of IK), spent Friday evening winding the yarn (some Aran Tweed I bought a while back from an Irish vendor on eBay), and getting everything lined up.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiru24UohtHsOsPUqxcejCO98zT3gl5BGLJEWtMVR2kYSQH9VbrzpFbPNdtdYmyMkD_-OuQQpeiSNfw7QhABgIWlpXe0v8OA71XeRu1_eb1fDo3pUj55RZx-wXnHytgne2qD2rt/s1600-h/DSCN0296.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiru24UohtHsOsPUqxcejCO98zT3gl5BGLJEWtMVR2kYSQH9VbrzpFbPNdtdYmyMkD_-OuQQpeiSNfw7QhABgIWlpXe0v8OA71XeRu1_eb1fDo3pUj55RZx-wXnHytgne2qD2rt/s400/DSCN0296.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298220368297796754" /></a><br /><br />In my excitement yesterday morning, after greeting my bewildered house of men with a cheery and rousing, "Happy Vest-uary" (let's just face it, living with 3 boys--and I count the DH in that head count-- just doesn't make for a lot of knitterly celebration), I was reminded that Sunday was the SuperBowl and they got on with their plans for nachos and pizza. I, on the other hand, cast on, and began knitting, until I got to the line in the pattern that read, "switch to larger needles." <br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Switch to larger needles?</span> Oh, bother. I'm already using the larger needles. So I frogged what I had done, searched for a pair of size 4s to cast on with, ended up sorting a bunch of needles, cleaning out my knitting basket, and finally about kick-off, got back to knitting. I'm hoping the rest of Vest-uary goes without any hiccups. How is your Vest-uary starting out?Elizabeth Boylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16606885657029096766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20638935.post-17611015332482734282009-01-28T16:12:00.001-08:002009-01-28T16:42:44.743-08:00HomeworkLately our schedule has given us some free Sunday afternoons. Around here a free afternoon is like gold, so I've been using my time to tackle some things that require some time, patience and, well, time. Like patching up my Duckie socks, and this past weekend, I tackled homework. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIqdV5athUJws6J-NS7kxMOco3zKpmseo6RxC_iRtT2vAQ_keEqdWzjooC11fB2GOTMgekIxkWYAvA08uMXcUgAEQPZUY6o6aJBlKEhPEHYMqmcL5Ejah1IJf_8pZbsGk8-9kN/s1600-h/DSCN0272.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIqdV5athUJws6J-NS7kxMOco3zKpmseo6RxC_iRtT2vAQ_keEqdWzjooC11fB2GOTMgekIxkWYAvA08uMXcUgAEQPZUY6o6aJBlKEhPEHYMqmcL5Ejah1IJf_8pZbsGk8-9kN/s400/DSCN0272.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296506267268629506" /></a><br /><br />I'm taking <a href="http://www.catbordhi.com/">Cat Bordhi</a>'s all day class at Madrona and I wanted to have a good understanding of her take on "sock architecture" before I spent an entire Saturday wondering what the heck she was talking about. So this Sunday I sat down to knit the learning socks from her book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0970886969?ie=UTF8&tag=elizabeboyleroma&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0970886969">New Pathways for Sock Knitters: Book One</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=elizabeboyleroma&l=as2&o=1&a=0970886969" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />. <br /><br />So with a latte in front of me (an essential learning tool), her book spread wide open, I started the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/little-sky-sock-sky-architecture">Little Sky Sock</a> just like a beginner would. I knit these with dpns, but for the next pair, I think I am going to use Magic Loop.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhzbxuouDOsRe-XRstzEdmkIZmn-Cl9QN6S0KnwBcfbp2Z8cifmLlXhiMNAvGXZv4Du8BBHzg41ur_GkN4UMPqUuZA13y_3n-QVF21hO_xp9VFdDUSmxKl6Sf05TgFg3LAfoAt/s1600-h/DSCN0275.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 386px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhzbxuouDOsRe-XRstzEdmkIZmn-Cl9QN6S0KnwBcfbp2Z8cifmLlXhiMNAvGXZv4Du8BBHzg41ur_GkN4UMPqUuZA13y_3n-QVF21hO_xp9VFdDUSmxKl6Sf05TgFg3LAfoAt/s400/DSCN0275.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296508625101320306" /></a><br /><br />These turned out a little bigger than I expected and my gauge was off, even though, yes, I did do a gauge swatch. Heave. A. Big. Sigh. This coming weekend I'll do the second learning sock, and keep reading the book.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQsM8LI3ISqzsvP3c6900jnF3jnORuTByy8hPxaP_EpuqIf4kEeFiEycg4RbML6dJsSrP1vhx2sYG5iHDhf2QZFGlDrQ0DsUt-0moEMFjSYUJxuB01yjw4XGeZ_tbgtnJF_Vxy/s1600-h/DSCN0276.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQsM8LI3ISqzsvP3c6900jnF3jnORuTByy8hPxaP_EpuqIf4kEeFiEycg4RbML6dJsSrP1vhx2sYG5iHDhf2QZFGlDrQ0DsUt-0moEMFjSYUJxuB01yjw4XGeZ_tbgtnJF_Vxy/s400/DSCN0276.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296507567220056354" /></a><br /><br />In the meantime, my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Elizbo/apple-blossom-toe-up-socks">Toe-up Socks</a> that I started in November, but got set aside for Christmas knitting are rolling along, (another of my UFOs that must be done before Madrona), and I am just so in love with this colorway that I've renamed the socks "Apple Blossom Toe Ups", because the colors have me wishing for spring and apple blossoms.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpSUyIAk-IkyKrtXuQBvoglKWNLS4OOHX63Hww3jG-1WCpj7XwypqHBg7uNZyPKZMoFTNxrdD0FuXMZCj_GiL0O_OKddd0LjhtIkOCUrWjmOhhncYZOe43kvUlGmWfy7wFpJUH/s1600-h/DSCN0279.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 328px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpSUyIAk-IkyKrtXuQBvoglKWNLS4OOHX63Hww3jG-1WCpj7XwypqHBg7uNZyPKZMoFTNxrdD0FuXMZCj_GiL0O_OKddd0LjhtIkOCUrWjmOhhncYZOe43kvUlGmWfy7wFpJUH/s400/DSCN0279.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296507179173930194" /></a>Elizabeth Boylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16606885657029096766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20638935.post-22641496900153038312009-01-25T08:01:00.000-08:002009-01-25T09:19:40.914-08:00February SwatchesAfter finishing the Vine Lace Cardigan this past week, I found myself at loose ends--literally, because I still need to bury a bunch, but also in the sense of <span style="font-style:italic;">what to do next</span>. Does that ever happen to you? You finish something big, or challenging, or even something small, stranded and worked on size 1 needles, and you just feel a bit off-kilter. It happens when I finish a book--I sort of knock about my office for a week, impatiently pacing about, not knowing what to do next--even though the obvious answer is right there--clean the darn mess of papers and notes up.<br /><br />And it isn't like I don't have UFOs circling my knitting basket threatening to make crop circles across my living room carpet, but there is something else on the horizon that drones out their buzzing.<br /><br />You see, the problem this time is that I am itching to start knitting a vest for the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/vest-uary">Vest-uary</a> group over on Ravelry. The goal is to knit a vest during February. Yes, February. Still, ever since I joined the group I've been in that impatient, pacing mode because I want to start knitting it now. But the calendar still says January. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ3GDgAAHRcmYzqHz-38ntsIPKEg92II9jhOMSiPQMpyn8dk_Pjxj-e3SXz2LW3yCMRgKTwAiyIvmJV4j0vPb5aG-ck80iG958B4w0zIXt6PbG7sZfaIDWzkYp5yRZFyZeYkLH/s1600-h/DSCN0073.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ3GDgAAHRcmYzqHz-38ntsIPKEg92II9jhOMSiPQMpyn8dk_Pjxj-e3SXz2LW3yCMRgKTwAiyIvmJV4j0vPb5aG-ck80iG958B4w0zIXt6PbG7sZfaIDWzkYp5yRZFyZeYkLH/s400/DSCN0073.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295274544329073554" /></a><br /><br />So I've spent some of my pacing trying to figure out what vest to make. I've been struck by two things as I've mulled my choices--the wealth of ideas that Ravelry affords you and that you can <strike>waste</strike> spend a lot of time searching patterns and yarns looking for the perfect project.<br /><br />I winnowed my choices down to three yarns from the stash:<br /><UL><LI>Emu Naturally<br /><LI>Mountain Colors Twizzle<br /><LI>Irish Aran Tweed<br /></UL><br />And the following patterns (all Ravel linked) <br /><UL><LI><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/honeycomb">Honeycomb</a><br /><li><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/veste-everest">Veste Everest</a><br /><LI><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/forapples/fence">Fence</a><br /><li><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/back-to-school-u-neck-vest">Back to School Vest</a><br /><li>Plain Vest pattern (no Ravel link)</ul><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrggEjGkwcIwBYoa8F6hDtBvgSZ7fig_WmBIDyxGMc0YetIZkjHaPm_9sCL0yEgloqlU2DQwEZZPIODiIxizE3pi9nW-x5G6NKFEDMIz_y1M_9NdXOEnZuESwW_a4Q55NaqNMt/s1600-h/DSCN0267.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrggEjGkwcIwBYoa8F6hDtBvgSZ7fig_WmBIDyxGMc0YetIZkjHaPm_9sCL0yEgloqlU2DQwEZZPIODiIxizE3pi9nW-x5G6NKFEDMIz_y1M_9NdXOEnZuESwW_a4Q55NaqNMt/s400/DSCN0267.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295271267087397554" /></a><br /><br />This weekend I dug out all the patterns, the yarn, the necessary needles and started swatching, which helped narrow the choices--sort of my version of Survivor: The February Vest. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcVGHgq2WRRCTnY8VHOkXTShfmFRWL1s9yHg2W3zGWaPswl9ti7gI_1K55nAr2KankarXcKOFDAjJMLpeKRbklzjySPuhQMu16Imqz77_9Kv_WlhHFYvHQufrFFxo42RTVBWti/s1600-h/DSCN0268.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 346px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcVGHgq2WRRCTnY8VHOkXTShfmFRWL1s9yHg2W3zGWaPswl9ti7gI_1K55nAr2KankarXcKOFDAjJMLpeKRbklzjySPuhQMu16Imqz77_9Kv_WlhHFYvHQufrFFxo42RTVBWti/s400/DSCN0268.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295270795334213010" /></a><br /><br />I had thought to use the Emu for the Honeycomb, but the Emu had other ideas. I bought this yarn off a Ravelry swap to make a sweater for my son, but when I got the yarn I knew it would never do for a kid. Can you see all that wooly matter sticking out and screaming, "I itch! I itch!" So this yarn would never fly with him, but I actually have little problems with wool, so I knew it would work for me.<br /><br />Unfortunately, this yarn doesn't show any kind of stitch definition, it just sort of blends away in the variegated-ness of the yarn,and the added wooliness of it. So <span style="font-style:italic;">ix-Nay</span> on the Honeycomb with the Emu. I may do just a plain vest with a large cable up the front with this yarn, but not right now. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWBjDwHeroos_5L9sccMAB0fugdHFlWQeXMemAo1wa96ZbywnnY2xEBGAkdnSDBDDCLMV7TMYU22lJfwpGsbdu7nWg1WcRRs9xIDBtwsK-Xtc69X9pOMWYhLKO4ypxHQF2roJF/s1600-h/DSCN0256.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWBjDwHeroos_5L9sccMAB0fugdHFlWQeXMemAo1wa96ZbywnnY2xEBGAkdnSDBDDCLMV7TMYU22lJfwpGsbdu7nWg1WcRRs9xIDBtwsK-Xtc69X9pOMWYhLKO4ypxHQF2roJF/s400/DSCN0256.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295271878268460418" /></a><br /><br />Next, I swatched this Irish tweed that I got off eBay ages ago. I had thought I would make a sweater out of it, but I'm not sure I have enough. And after I saw how it took to knitting the Veste Everest cable and aran inspired stitches, got gauge right on, and how it softened up when I gave the swatch a little bath, it came out the winner for the February 1st cast-on competition.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2qPzkHkl-wHctdSyquSRH49tVt6yJv3RhyIS7ehZQV_2wloDIxXEPQtaRdN5P0WH_7ZXlmVtNBSrHoEgYM0bvwS23RLbwBE8Qqq059PjjGvbTOkvKu5ygYegYaZKBjnfwEigu/s1600-h/DSCN0266.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 219px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2qPzkHkl-wHctdSyquSRH49tVt6yJv3RhyIS7ehZQV_2wloDIxXEPQtaRdN5P0WH_7ZXlmVtNBSrHoEgYM0bvwS23RLbwBE8Qqq059PjjGvbTOkvKu5ygYegYaZKBjnfwEigu/s400/DSCN0266.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295272411476519298" /></a><br /><br />In the meantime, I am swatting at the UFOs, including these Toe-up socks I cast on in November. Considering my collection of sock yarn, I need to get a little faster with the socks. I turned the heel last night:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzNOU9CeeJM4Y5gQSwjYEclG3GJko-fvnjIFr_uUru5GS8ePWssXmiHJ_DxDLEh_saCQLhaQz4P3mYrNi7a5hd5q8RRXcpDVBe-a8W6muqL6s3C2JfAmWJ1eFTKsP7eGkornpA/s1600-h/DSCN0269.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzNOU9CeeJM4Y5gQSwjYEclG3GJko-fvnjIFr_uUru5GS8ePWssXmiHJ_DxDLEh_saCQLhaQz4P3mYrNi7a5hd5q8RRXcpDVBe-a8W6muqL6s3C2JfAmWJ1eFTKsP7eGkornpA/s400/DSCN0269.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295281595516865890" /></a><br /><br />I'm knitting these at the suggestion of Tiennie, by knitting them both together. So I knit one sock up to the gusset, then knit the other to the same spot. That was were they were when I set them aside for a flurry of Christmas knitting. Last night I turned one heel, and tonight I'll turn the other. Then see how much yarn I have left to knit up the cuffs. Hopefully this will be one less project waiting around until my Vest obsession runs its course.Elizabeth Boylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16606885657029096766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20638935.post-56575007153850182202009-01-21T16:25:00.000-08:002009-01-21T17:00:14.493-08:00Clunk!!Look what fell off the needles today? My <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/77-vine-lace-top-down-cardigan">Vine Lace Cardigan</a>. Another UFO moves to the done side of the board. Hurrah.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAIo0Xd1zGjD0lWTMZQmG47zah3ntWJmK9M6ocsw0nr0AodG_iUvJapkWgtkZpFKYl5RPHVAvWhtewVSg7Rr0tBZXe6q60LNS33zRqVEEJP5SYYK9qMsb2bx_0PJV8spncTZW7/s1600-h/DSCN0249.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAIo0Xd1zGjD0lWTMZQmG47zah3ntWJmK9M6ocsw0nr0AodG_iUvJapkWgtkZpFKYl5RPHVAvWhtewVSg7Rr0tBZXe6q60LNS33zRqVEEJP5SYYK9qMsb2bx_0PJV8spncTZW7/s400/DSCN0249.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293909646672375410" /></a><br /><br />Okay, so it isn't completely done, because I still need to sew in the ends, and then block it, then sew up the sleeves. But the knitting is done and that counts for something. <br /><br />Next up, I am going to try to finish my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Elizbo/postwar-mittens">Post War Mittens</a> before the end of January for <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/naknimitmo-kal">NaKniMitMo</a> over on Ravelry. Perhaps I should have been a little less ambitious and knit the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bellas-mittens---twilight">Bella Mittens</a> instead. Size 10 needles with yarn held doubled v. Size 1 needles and stranded fingerweight yarns. Yeah, you don't need to be a rocket scientist to know which one is going to get done there.<br /><br />Still, I want to make a pair of the Bellas for my Twilight mad SIL. I still may make them next month, as I now have a trip to Chicago on the books, so I could take them to her. Then I could use them to check a notch in both the Mitten KAL and the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/year-long-gift-a-long">Year Long Gift-A-Long</a> group. <br /><br />I am just thrilled to have my finishing list moving along. Now with that big clunk from the Vine Lace Cardigan, the next three to finish are aforementioned Post War mittens, the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Elizbo/lacy-stole-70337ad">Lacy stole</a> and a cardigan I've had on the needles for probably five years. It's my oldest UFO and I am determined to finish it before it demands to be sent to Kindergarten. Yep, I'm cooking along. <br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">How are your January resolutions working out?</span>Elizabeth Boylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16606885657029096766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20638935.post-74173273895657467212009-01-18T08:09:00.000-08:002009-01-18T08:53:21.089-08:00Patcing up a Duck<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihAsNdgfLk2E1Nns2YylKkreFjRpmtsvE3dfYCXKxzSFcFps9lR7r-L_znm77rrYIuvq0EodgrMBJg1vQ1mfb87VCkliMM8zooMpAlhI41BQ7_Y_3YYO-vUbFIt3iauY2RyXHH/s1600-h/DSCF3679.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihAsNdgfLk2E1Nns2YylKkreFjRpmtsvE3dfYCXKxzSFcFps9lR7r-L_znm77rrYIuvq0EodgrMBJg1vQ1mfb87VCkliMM8zooMpAlhI41BQ7_Y_3YYO-vUbFIt3iauY2RyXHH/s400/DSCF3679.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292668541680617250" /></a><br />I was doing laundry this week and discovered that my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Elizbo/duckies">Duckies</a> (Ravel linked) had lost their heel. Not just a little worn spot. The entire heel was just gone, like someone had gone Duck Hunting and just blown the heel out. Not sure how this happened, but to say the least, I was shocked and really bummed. I just finished these in September and now they were DOA. The picture above is of my Duckies in happier times.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjARJEyHl-nGBjYkGvQNOZjZ6tS_cwFBrm86b0bqZAf7NiQQxx5ib4iX6LTBpiTvr-YISsCLlPMhAaFs_IyxJNaBNaUFTPTWW_0sHe6JtoMvO5oVQREIIZMaxTdA1yHolPs1MhG/s1600-h/DSCN0207.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjARJEyHl-nGBjYkGvQNOZjZ6tS_cwFBrm86b0bqZAf7NiQQxx5ib4iX6LTBpiTvr-YISsCLlPMhAaFs_IyxJNaBNaUFTPTWW_0sHe6JtoMvO5oVQREIIZMaxTdA1yHolPs1MhG/s400/DSCN0207.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292669859258152882" /></a><br /><br />But as I looked at that poor sock without a heel (there is a joke there, I mean we can all live without heels in our lives) I had some real qualms about throwing it out since the other sock was fine. Then again, on cold nights, I don't care if my socks don't match--one wool sock is as good as the next. Then again, I wasn't about to just toss all my work away--and that was the rub. I adore my hand knit socks, and I labor and labor to get them done, so I couldn't bring myself to pull the life support on this barely breathing sock. <br /><br />No, it was time to do some good ol' fashioned fixin'. And yesterday afternoon I did just that.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizNpf007bXJ3wAa2TwMdlMtoxnDyjadYFLcyDrj1By_2TVBW3Dfm1rqNsO0UJm4lF_jslBHTLEXh70rJUV78RCGbyj9dUFf55_9G9tmKIXh8mgOv0DXJtFbY4ewADi7H5dsCMp/s1600-h/DSCN0210.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizNpf007bXJ3wAa2TwMdlMtoxnDyjadYFLcyDrj1By_2TVBW3Dfm1rqNsO0UJm4lF_jslBHTLEXh70rJUV78RCGbyj9dUFf55_9G9tmKIXh8mgOv0DXJtFbY4ewADi7H5dsCMp/s400/DSCN0210.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292670459536900226" /></a><br /><br />I got out what I figured I would need: a yarn needle, the dpns I used to knit the sock, scissors and the leftover yarn. Now see, there is a reason to keep all those bits of sock yarn. Now it isn't like I haven't darned socks before. When I was a poor college student, I darned and patched just about everything I had and had a small side business repairing jeans. I remember my mom and my grandmother darning my dad's thick hand knit hunting socks, so operating on my poor Duckie couldn't be too hard.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA_ZLFjojBFor74tWjoY5-CX3a0bVZz2gdXJNk49nayjxA4lYo40srlVymySTXmWMfQGs7obMxA4n0PP81PAdmGhwilLZEwKLBxct3vjlNoyVndmBgEzYRwR4UjPAbhLS-QCmV/s1600-h/DSCN0208.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA_ZLFjojBFor74tWjoY5-CX3a0bVZz2gdXJNk49nayjxA4lYo40srlVymySTXmWMfQGs7obMxA4n0PP81PAdmGhwilLZEwKLBxct3vjlNoyVndmBgEzYRwR4UjPAbhLS-QCmV/s400/DSCN0208.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292670835690679794" /></a><br /><br />I sort of examined the patient again, and slid one of my dpns into the first row that appeared to be entirely whole and intact. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_4XI30of74jMNvmZohjt05DU-oJGVTE9YmnvHKudnt487Pqh9TSjSXuFjvU9TTKVCJz8ZpZ-9KiRfxmFeoE1eBdT6OrkQdzEJCiJ92y3wUXRp1pLCgulQLHuZdP0dv5LJ5y5/s1600-h/DSCN0211.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_4XI30of74jMNvmZohjt05DU-oJGVTE9YmnvHKudnt487Pqh9TSjSXuFjvU9TTKVCJz8ZpZ-9KiRfxmFeoE1eBdT6OrkQdzEJCiJ92y3wUXRp1pLCgulQLHuZdP0dv5LJ5y5/s400/DSCN0211.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292671946953876818" /></a><br /><br />then snipped back the really fuzzy stuff until I got to solid stitches I'd captured with the dpn. Then I did that all the way around. I went <span style="font-style:italic;">very</span> slowly because I didn't want the entire thing to unravel, but having been worn a bit and the insides were all feltly, the stitches held together rather well.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimJTZAvnqsneQLuE9hr0a1XktQvHqVd6CIXDjSlCuOUbqiIYwEBC7u53HxeBiCDqF-XbQ0tkwvMo91fCeDLfb04SBwHVbEacowOzwr8mkzlvfa0kasUG8AhxpxIx0XmOynDoI8/s1600-h/DSCN0213.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimJTZAvnqsneQLuE9hr0a1XktQvHqVd6CIXDjSlCuOUbqiIYwEBC7u53HxeBiCDqF-XbQ0tkwvMo91fCeDLfb04SBwHVbEacowOzwr8mkzlvfa0kasUG8AhxpxIx0XmOynDoI8/s400/DSCN0213.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292672291460015250" /></a><br /><br />Then I knit a round just to make sure all the sides were now solid, new stitches. Then knitting only on the sole stitches, I knit up a new heel, making a triangle out of the sole stitches. I'd decrease 1 stitch on both sides every other row, until I had about 5 sole stitches left.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfA7G-e0dGo9zRGaAUzVkyosY3hig02k1O4WQd2dWlKOXOXw7ueTCPHPSo2mxqZVjaDfr9PQHpB_6ysDO36AnztEs4TBF_36p-X5ZgNaWw4nSC-jEn0lBFFilw2iELST3InqUf/s1600-h/DSCN0215.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfA7G-e0dGo9zRGaAUzVkyosY3hig02k1O4WQd2dWlKOXOXw7ueTCPHPSo2mxqZVjaDfr9PQHpB_6ysDO36AnztEs4TBF_36p-X5ZgNaWw4nSC-jEn0lBFFilw2iELST3InqUf/s400/DSCN0215.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292673132621563458" /></a><br /><br />Then I grafted the remaining 5 sole stitches to the 5 center back leg stitches, and then sort of grafted the knit edges of the new heel to the remaining live leg stitches, using an improvised Kitchener stitch. And voila, my Duckies, they live to quack another day.<br /><br />I am disappointed in this yarn, (Three Irish Girls Kells Sport Merino) because the insides are felting to pieces, and they are wearing out so quickly, so I don't think I'll knock myself out to knit socks with it again. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsAGdsdYXPpTos_v0Efq0ct5tBbDeyMcNw0dckp8cIBRTX3fcnvtbgxLzgCKf4YeC-syF0cFiohVWZz39SQZsQ6tfKyaPHtJPdlM58fSPBw5yHA1ba3MHXlYszuX17TGB0SG_G/s1600-h/DSCN0216.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsAGdsdYXPpTos_v0Efq0ct5tBbDeyMcNw0dckp8cIBRTX3fcnvtbgxLzgCKf4YeC-syF0cFiohVWZz39SQZsQ6tfKyaPHtJPdlM58fSPBw5yHA1ba3MHXlYszuX17TGB0SG_G/s400/DSCN0216.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292675601619455010" /></a><br /><br />In comparison, here is the first pair of socks I knit nearly eight years ago, and they too finally had the heel start to wear out. After eight years, not just a few months. Goodness, where did I put that leftover yarn . . . <br /><br />Do you repair your hand knit socks?Elizabeth Boylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16606885657029096766noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20638935.post-2383293002714842682009-01-15T16:08:00.000-08:002009-01-15T17:16:31.932-08:00The Pitter Patter of . . .<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdy3hp5Y8eoGVABM6T9d6dfWO1nUOThP3Q4s9Qm8OM2NaXKlWToBRZZnvbwkv_RATjA1-QYR0Udhu_V5Er9Vtbs49fByFawrxbQW91Cyh3NbbtuvDqq6BjxDlpNlujR8DUbZDD/s1600-h/DSCN0153.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdy3hp5Y8eoGVABM6T9d6dfWO1nUOThP3Q4s9Qm8OM2NaXKlWToBRZZnvbwkv_RATjA1-QYR0Udhu_V5Er9Vtbs49fByFawrxbQW91Cyh3NbbtuvDqq6BjxDlpNlujR8DUbZDD/s400/DSCN0153.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291691713081604514" /></a><br /><br />FOs falling off my needles. What a happy sound. Especially since I have way too many projects on the needles. Ever since <a href="http://knitthestash.blogspot.com/2009/01/inside-stash.html">SCCD</a> (Stash Come Clean Day), I've been concentrating on finishing, hoping to use this month to clear the decks of lots of UFOs, and then be able to go to <a href="http://www.madronafiberarts.com/">Madrona</a> with a clean slate ready for inspiration.<br /><br />One of the first to fall were these Men's Fingerless Gloves, a KnitPicks pattern that I've done before for gifting. These were a last minute Christmas gift, as during Christmas dinner a friend leaned over and said, "Hey, would you knit me a pair of those?"<br /><br />Sure, it's not like I don't have some extra yarn lying around. Out came the Mission Falls 1824 Wool I had leftover from some of last year's Christmas knitting. See, stash does come in handy.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNqEVxgIwFzT4zFK2W1i55-eaqmRDzHgxIW9IiaSYLrmT1V8MBCdq18f6M7hWvgpkWo9yCOunVdT5Uei_KaDI-00kaeWFUzXK7PzA3hd7Jh1XW6hyphenhyphenY-Xyv2FunEH1nevek4BP7/s1600-h/DSCN0152.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNqEVxgIwFzT4zFK2W1i55-eaqmRDzHgxIW9IiaSYLrmT1V8MBCdq18f6M7hWvgpkWo9yCOunVdT5Uei_KaDI-00kaeWFUzXK7PzA3hd7Jh1XW6hyphenhyphenY-Xyv2FunEH1nevek4BP7/s400/DSCN0152.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291692025024534306" /></a><br /><br />But then I remembered why I don't like this pattern. The fingers are fussy to knit, and the mitt itself sort of pouches out above the cuff. I really had to force myself last weekend to sit down and knit the fingers. <span style="font-style:italic;">Okay, self, do two fingers and then you can knit something fun.</span> This is not how knitting is supposed to be. But finally they fell off the needles, the ends were tucked in and it was gifted and out the door. Good riddance.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSTmAtD3mRCwj2mx_DLUFPibuacBomVt66MMcvkq2tFPEdl8e2MTDRQFG_oJF4mF0QOaowTVYVIcqx-CK2OpX2sSeYekgnbJkBiQHm2x4U3YNBpxw5WLVWRT6XbcLqqu0nVxpT/s1600-h/DSCN0004.JPG"><img style="float:center; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSTmAtD3mRCwj2mx_DLUFPibuacBomVt66MMcvkq2tFPEdl8e2MTDRQFG_oJF4mF0QOaowTVYVIcqx-CK2OpX2sSeYekgnbJkBiQHm2x4U3YNBpxw5WLVWRT6XbcLqqu0nVxpT/s400/DSCN0004.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291690864808828722" /></a><br /><br />With the snowfall and disruption to the holidays, I also had time to knit up a pair of <a href="http://knitty.com/ISSUEsummer06/PATTfetching.html">Fetchings</a> for the kids' circus teacher. Yes, I send my kids to circus school. So when I tell them they can run away to the circus, I actually drive them there. But she's been so kind to Matthew that I wanted to do something special for her, so back into the stash and I dug up some Lion Brand Cashmere. It's a nice sub for Debbie Bliss. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkXOBO4QyeWKecE9b8ttp_d6a7bGvlY3fztiT_T0aGCdxfuHEZKvaMB7PbAN_PcE49XN4tlvriCoEyqS0BYRbSaGaz2dKzOhfktDpn_ChdHePDs13PboudXAqK0zOfO5O_KQ8x/s1600-h/DSCN0009.JPG"><img style="float:center; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkXOBO4QyeWKecE9b8ttp_d6a7bGvlY3fztiT_T0aGCdxfuHEZKvaMB7PbAN_PcE49XN4tlvriCoEyqS0BYRbSaGaz2dKzOhfktDpn_ChdHePDs13PboudXAqK0zOfO5O_KQ8x/s400/DSCN0009.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291691160968273186" /></a><br /><br />I've made so many pairs of these fingerless mitts, that I have my own version of the pattern. I always add one more cable repeat to the wrist to make it longer, and then after I do the waste yarn for the thumb stitches, I reduce out the 4 knit stitches and a purl stitch right above the thumb over the course of the next 5 rows. It tightens up the portion around the fingers that if you don't reduce, on other pairs I've knit, gets way too loose. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB1N0iF6ezQmS8K9MZjClWUJNqsV-p13xhwDNgN1pmFiWkWYQ9k4lRoi4eRbSJ4p9Zm379dHnO1O1PfFUcae3XBr-BZFi2D07A1fMJbM6TuAjQRC1lUaKuXuHvUTxUGixgh31e/s1600-h/DSCN0191.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB1N0iF6ezQmS8K9MZjClWUJNqsV-p13xhwDNgN1pmFiWkWYQ9k4lRoi4eRbSJ4p9Zm379dHnO1O1PfFUcae3XBr-BZFi2D07A1fMJbM6TuAjQRC1lUaKuXuHvUTxUGixgh31e/s400/DSCN0191.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291692666790272530" /></a><br /><br />But for every couple FOs, a girl's got to cast on something new. And to continue this theme of mitts and gloves and mittens, I did just that, starting up a pair of <a href="http://www.twistcollective.com/collection/index.php/component/content/article/60-winter-2008-patterns/137-postwar-mittens-by-mary-ann-stephens">Postwar Mittens</a>, from the <a href="http://twistcollective.com/2008/winter/magazinepage_01.php">Twist Collective</a>. I've been eyeing the completed ones on <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/postwar-mittens">Ravelry</a> and just love this pattern and the endless possibilities. Pretty, huh? <br /><br />And best of all? No fingers.<br /><br />What have you cast on lately?Elizabeth Boylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16606885657029096766noreply@blogger.com3