I finished the little sweater - it fits a wine bottle perfectly if you want to decorate a wine bottle. That's about all I can think to use it for.


Tonight I made the tiny sweater from "Weekend Knits" and it is really cute - just like the photos from the book. Less stitches, but it might take just as long. I'll make another one for sure.


Now I am waiting for brownies to cool. Mmmm.

I finished the Bottoms Up Bucket hat really quickly.
It is huge....beacuse I still have to felt it. I can't wait to see how it turns out.



I also tried out this pattern and I'm not impressed at all. I am going to re-write it and call it mine! The directions suck.
Here is the way they suggest to finish the top - I took this appart and didn't cast off at all. I used the kitchener stitch to seam the shoulders and put 12 sts on the middle on each side to hold for the neck.

I don't think I'll make another because it's so big - I don't know what I'll do with a little sweater. I want to make the one from Weekend Knits instead - I won't waste an entire evening on it.
I was surprised that it took me so long!
OK- I really need to stop complaining - the pattern was free. :) I think I need to make it with sock yarn, NOT Cascade 220.

Knitting Charts: The Mr Men

Aww- remember Mr. Happy?

When I was in London in 1999, they were back in style, I got my friend Amy a Mr. Man flower pot at the grocery store. It was so cute.

It's all done!

Now I am going to make the Bottoms Up Bucket Hat - felted for my friend. I took her Cascade Quatro and I'll give it back as a hat ;)

Vogue Knitting Magazine

I'm not super excited about any of the Fall Vouge patterns. The first blue one is pretty sexy though.

This weekend I focused on finishing up my Vouge cover tank... I JUST need to seam the sides and I need to get the Kitchener stitch down again.

I am convinced that the decreases on the armhole shaping are not written correct. If I followed the instructions, I would have had used up too many stitches. It looks fine, but I wish I could follow the pattern w/o improvisation.

Saturday I went to the Churchmouse Sale on Bainbridge Island. I have no plans - but I really like the Sincopated Rib Sweater from the new Interweave Magazine. I got a cream white JoSharp Aran (wool/sik/cashmere). It was 50% off so I got 12 balls for $52. The gauge is not exactly the same as the pattern, I will try to tweak it first. I don't want to mess this one up.


After, I went to Warren G. Magnuson Beach and sat in the shade for 3 hours knitting after I swam. I hate the rocks, it shouldn't be so painfull to go swimming, I guess it's better than walking in lake goo. Maybe I'll swim with sandals next time. It was my first lake swim this year.

I made Stella a WonTon cat toy. She's ignoring it. I think she likes the skinny dangly annoying in her face items, like my knitting needles. The wonton is really fat. She doesn't seem to care about the catnip so much. She seems happy enough, so I guess it doesn't really matter.

 

Arianna is in Italy and she sent me a report on her bikini I made her - lookin' good!

In other knitting adventures, I went to Bellevue Park last night to meet with the Eastside Stitchers. I was sure it would be super hot, but we ran out early because the shade was too cold. Phoey. I made a orange mohair flower and cast on for the front of my Vouge Summer tank.

I have finished the back side of my Vouge cover tank. I think the directions are a little off in the armhole decreases. I figured it out to work though.

I made a little orange flower from the yarn Jill gave me - it's the same type of yarn as my yellow poncho - but orange. I just need to weave in the ends tonight.

I am also excited to knit outside this evening at the park with the Eastside Stitchers. I'll bring my new Interweave Magazine too.

I am ready to cast on the front of my tank as soon as I finish using my size 6 needle for flowers. I love my little flowers! So much that I can put up with weaving in the ends.

I had planned to be at the Fremont Market this coming Sunday - BUT my booth partner cannot do it. He also will be busy on Sunday's for the next 2 months! Boo hoo!

I am am relieved and bummed at the same time. I really want to build a better inventory and make my Vellux coats to sell to people when it gets cold out. This summer is not good for selling a big warm coat - no matter how rockin' it is.

THANK YOU to Jill who already loaned me a card table to use. Maybe I'll set-up a lemonade stand instead (j/k).

But on a happy note, I don't have to feel so guilty about spending my time on my Vouge tank top, I can go to brunch on Sunday with friends and I might even go to Bainbridge Island to check out the Knitting sale. I am a free woman!

To begin with, here is Stella lounging with my new pillows...



I also need to show you what happens to people who leave unfinished projects lying around:



I only need to sew the sleeves into my Rebecca wrap- why don't I want to??!!

(Note: No knitted garments were harmed in this house cleaning fiasco)

I figured out the DNA chart! I grabbed the Interweave Mag from the library yesterday. I see now that the first and last 2 rows in the chart are skipped un the repeat.  Now I am on track again and still off track- because I don't REALLY want to be knitting another scarf.
 
I organized my house last night - I got another plastic tub for my yarn stash, I need another still. But I was able to toss 3 plastic bags :)
 
I made a Berry Pie, (I made it Sunday also) but I just had to clean out my berry stash in my freezer. I added strawberries too, so I am changing the name to "Fruits of the Forest Pie."
I am also making the yummy pasta salad I had on Monday at the potluck and excited to see it turned out the same. Two of my friends are coming over tonight to go see Farenheit 9-11, I hope I'm not tramatized.
 
Also, I hear Martha Stewart will be spending 5 months redecorating a low security prison. I think the prison is taking Jadite donations already.

I started the DNA scarf and last night got through the chart until I had to repeat from the beginning again... I think there is a problem. I am going to check out the old Interweave issue that also had this pattern and maybe the mistake is not in the chart. I swear the pattern won't work if you start the repeat on row 3. I AM a rookie cabler though, so what do I know!
If you've made this pattern, please let me know!

I flipped through my summer Vouge knitting and went on to start the tank on the front cover. I didn't mean to start this big project - it just happened - mainly because the gauge was right! I am using the yarn I got from the craftster.org yarn swap. Turquoise "Aurora" (a cotton/acrylic tape). I think it will go well with my khakis. I don't own anything bright turquiose, but I will!


I was so good and went to the gym last night, then went to the Eastside Stitchers group. It was twice the size group I've seen before - how great! That will make me more motivated to got regularly. Even though Wednesday is my workout day...

Animated Knitting Techniques

This is fun! I will have to send this link to people I teach.

Backwards City: Our Brains Don't Work

THIS IS WIERD!

The New York Times > Opinion > Op-Ed Columnist: The Real Enemy Staring Us in the Face

I am interested to see the articles that come out when an equivalent number of American soldiers die in Iraq as were killed on 9-11.

I am so excited that I found my favorite British snack at my local grocery store!!!



If you've never had these, they taste similar to graham crackers - but better. My favorite kind had a milk chocolate layer on top.

Yum! Now I can have "bickies" and tea today.

I finished the poncho last night. (sorry for the blurry photo)


I made a cute flower to attach. That will give it a fun look. I am excited to make more little flowers.



Here is the pattern I used:
Use circular needle (I used size 6 on a mohair)

CO 2
increase 1 st at beg of each row until you have 11 sts.
Break yarn.
Slide petal down cable.

Cast on again and repeat until you have 5 petals. Don't break yarn on last petal.

K accross 55 sts.
Next row: K2tog accross, k last st -- 28 sts
Next row: K2tog accross -- 14 sts
Next row: K2tog accross -- 7 sts
Pass 6 sts over first st - 1 st
Fasten off. Sew seam.
Sew beads to flower center.

I made 4 of these this weekend:Buckwheat Neck Roll
I didn't make the sleeve because I am actally going to use them for back support on the couch instead of for my head.
I got the fabric for free from the L.A. fashion district. It was a remnant the guy in the store offered me to use. It's nice decorator silk.



I started a poncho - hopefully I can sell it - I'm not the poncho type.


I am using a vintage Lion Brand yarn I inherited. It is a happy butter yellow.


I also adopted my friend Michelle's kitty cat - Stella yesterday. She is going to Milano, Italia to study for a few years. I am allergic to kitties, but so far it has been pretty good with Clarinex everyday and a nose spray -yuk. She loved been pet and brushed. She's not allowed in my room though- so when I go in there to sew, I disapear into the mystery room. She's sleeping on my roommate's bed, so at least there's a bed she can hang out on.

I finished my Rebecca wrap... just the dreaded finishing to do.

In procrastination, I am knitting a monotonous "black frost" scarf from the Yarn swap yarn in garter stitch.

I also decided to try out a cable last night and am knitting a simple 4 stich, 6 row twist with Kool Wool (Fuchia). It will be a very cute scarf to match the complicated grey cabled sweater I plan to make when I get the guts. I used the SNB book cable directions, very simple, but I need a guide on how to read cable pattern graphs. I know it's easy! I just don't want to screw up this sweater and I'm not going to start until I make another more complicated sample and not mess up.

I'm back in Belleve from a wedding in Spokane. It was lovely and I performed as a bridesmaid for the first time. It was fun, but it's great to be home again.

Today I finished one more strawberry baby hat (6 mo.) and I am going to have to get focused on making more things to sell and plan my display.
I am also going to make coasters. NOT knitted ;)

SNB tonight - gotta go!