Sticks and Strings

So I'm uninspired

2005-04-11T09:02:00.000-04:00

Lately, I haven't been knitting. Maybe it's just a Fall/Winter thing for me? I don't know, but there hasn't been anything I've been inspired to make lately. I'll have to work on that. I'll need a beach tote at the end of May, maybe I'll try that. Felted would be nice, with scrap yarn, maybe.

Anyway, I don't know how often I'll post here, as long as I remain uninspired. At least there are other places that are inspiring!

Finally, some new pictures

2005-03-18T10:43:00.000-05:00

Heh, oops. I sort of forgot to ask Mark to download the pictures off the camera. My bad.

There are five new ones. Go see.

Here's my favorite:

OMG

2005-02-11T14:51:00.000-05:00

This is hilarious and strangely compelling. Catchy too.

This and that

2005-02-11T11:46:00.000-05:00

I hate hats. My dad has a big head, but not as big as the hat I made! Seems like my gauge was off just a tad. Frogging and re-doing will ensue today.

Since I've been sick all week, I have done two scarves, pictures soon, along with Mom's purse and Dad's hat, once I rework it.

This looks like a nice shop for yarn and other things - I'll have to check it out. Plus it's only about 20 minutes away from my house. That's good news.

For Pops

2005-02-04T08:16:00.000-05:00

My dad is a very cool dude. Always has been. Of course, I'm a daddy's girl to some degree, but still. Actually both my folks are terrific - I'm lucky that way.

I've been able to make several things for Mom, which I enjoy. Of course I've also made several things for the kiddo, for my sis-in-law, for Carol Ann, and for me! I like creating something out of nothing; a useful, beautiful object out of sticks and strings. I especially like creating really special items for people I love.

My dad hasn't really wanted anything so far. My husband and my brother get nothing, because they both made fun of me when I was learning to knit. Nothing, nada, zip. But my Mom and Dad went to the trouble of getting me a gift certificate to Joann's (the only yarn supplier in town, except for evil Wal-Mart). They did this as a thank you for several things I'd made Mom, and just to support me in my hobby. There was no occasion, just an out-of-the-blue gift. Didn't I say they're terrific?

The other night I was looking at a knitting book I got from the library while we were over at my parents' house for dinner with all the kids and my brother and sis-in-law. My dad got interested in the patterns, so I was explaining how to read the patterns, and he was looking at the items. He found a hat he liked, so guess what I'm working on now?

Gah!

2005-01-31T13:47:00.000-05:00

I was messing around with some scrap yarn yesterday, and decided I'd make a cable belt (from Stitch N' Bitch Nation), just to use up the yarn and for cable practice. Damn if I didn't get about halfway through it and screw it up. I ended up frogging the blessed thing. I have the attention span of an amoeba, I swear.

On the plus side, I gave Mom her purse, and she loved it. So that's good. Pictures as soon as I can get the husband to take them off the camera. Yes, I would be perfectly capable of doing that myself if he didn't have his computer configured in such a weird way. And the pictures can only be downloaded to his computer . . .

So done with this

2005-01-27T09:39:00.000-05:00

The purse is basically done, I just have to add the strap. I blocked it last night, so I should be able to attach the i-cord tonight and sew in the lining. I'll post a pic when it's actually done.

Now, last night, since there wasn't any knitting to do on the purse, I started playing around with different cable patterns for my next project. It may take me a while, but hopefully it will turn out nicely. Cable patterns require mucho concentration from me, it seems. I'll have to be very careful . . .

Progress is being made

2005-01-24T15:26:00.000-05:00

I'm thisclose to being done with my mom's purse, and it's a good thing, because I'm sick of it. This is exactly why I stick to smaller projects that I can get done quickly. I may have the attention span of a gnat. Funny, I always think of myself as fairly focused, but I want to do something new now. I can't imagine working on a sweater. That would take weeks, and I'm sure it would drive me a little crazy. All right, all right, crazier than usual.

On the purse, I'm done with all the pieces, I've finished the seams, and worked in the ends. The i-cord strap is made. All I have left is to add the trim with eyelash around the top edge, do the lining, and secure the i-cord. Then I am done with this one. Cue celebratory cheers.

The strawberry stuff was a huge hit with the mother-to-be and all my co-workers. I had a couple of people ask me if I'd make a larger version for them, or for their kids. I said there would be a small charge . . .

I wonder

2005-01-19T13:18:00.000-05:00

This looks like it could be an interesting online mag. I signed up for the notification e-mail, so I'll let you know once it actually launches.

I also wonder what I'm going to do with an absolutely gorgeous hank of handpainted alpaca yarn. There was only the one hank, in beautiful shades of red and gold. I'm trying to find just the right project to make with it. Ideas?

More new pics

2005-01-18T07:57:00.000-05:00

Here's the tube scarf, modeled by the adorable child:

and the strawberry baby items:

Go on over to my knitting set on Flickr if you want to see larger images.

Eureka!

2005-01-17T07:44:00.000-05:00

I figured it out. A strawberry baby hat and booties! I am even already finished with all three pieces. Are you impressed yet?

Although I do think that when patterns make a point of how easy they are, that's a big fat lie. It wasn't too hard, but it wasn't easy. I really like how they look, even the color changes came out nicely. Pictures later.

Hmmmmmmm

2005-01-14T13:28:00.000-05:00

Well, in the middle of one project, and I need to do another one. I just found out that there's going to be a surprise baby shower for a co-worker at the staff meeting next Friday.

So I need to find a quick, easy project using just a little yarn. She's having a girl, I know, and I think I'll find some appropriate yarn in my stash. Maybe booties, or a little hat. I'll look here or here or here for inspiration, not to mention a pattern. Ideas and suggestions gratefully accepted.

Mom's purse

2005-01-11T21:45:00.000-05:00

You know, I just couldn't leave well enough alone. I decided that the plain navy yarn mom picked out would be kind of . . . boring, as opposed to the ribbon yarn that I used for my pink and brown purse. So I decided I'd find a more interesting stitch pattern to use instead of seed stitch.

I am a fool.

Actually, it's not that the pattern is that difficult, I just keep getting interrupted and losing my place. It's a really pretty basketweave stitch, and I think Mom will love it when I get it done. I plan to finish it before they return from vacation, which is not this weekend, but next. However, I've had to frog the damned thing twice because I screwed up the pattern midway through, totally beyond repair. I've also changed from circular needles to straight needles after the first frogging. Actually, I think I subconsciously just wanted to use the bamboo needles to give them a test drive. They are nice.

The third attempt is going well so far, keep your fingers crossed for me.

New pic soon

2005-01-10T15:19:00.000-05:00

I finished the tube scarf last night. I'll put it on my kid tonight and take some pics to share. Next, the purse for my mom which will be fairly mindless knitting, then a somewhat challenging purse for me. I got some really nice brown lamsbwool this weekend at a yarn store in Cinci, and I'm planning to make a drawstring bag with big, fat, chunky cables all over it and i-cord for the handles. That may take a while, because cables can challenge my short attention span. Plus I'm frequently interrupted by the child, and then I lose count. Ooh, I also got some bamboo needles, which are really nice. I may need to look for more of those.

New pics

2005-01-07T23:00:00.000-05:00

Three new knitting pics here, or, for the moment, over to the right.

There's a scarf for my adorable niece - it's kind of bad picture quality, it's cuter than it looks. One end has a K on it, for her name, and the other end has a large pocket for her little tiny hands. She was beyond thrilled to have it. There's also a purse for me, and a scarf for Packers fan extraordinaire Carol Ann. This weekend I'll finish a tube scarf for my sister-in-law (I'll remember to take pictures of this one). These are made entirely of eyelash so they're kind of a pain to knit, but worth it. It can be used as a scarf, a muff, a neckwarmer, a hood . . .

Well, this seems appropriate . . .

2005-01-07T13:01:00.000-05:00

As an example of the great random timing of the internet, I give you:

You are bamboo.
Warm, cozy, and thoughtful, you take your time and
enjoy how things feel, smell, and taste. You
love the craft and beauty of traditional
things, and you value the comfort and
experience of knitting as much as the results.
But while you are reveling in your warm cozies,
don't get stuck. Warm is wonderful, but so is
the whole wide world!

What kind of knitting needles are you?
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Welcome

2005-01-07T11:25:00.000-05:00

If anyone (hint hint, LL) would like to be a member of this blog to post about their very own obsession with yarn, send me an e-mail.