Purple Poncho Madness

Needle size-35 mm
Yarn-purple Red Heart "Misty"
Cast on-40
Pattern-knit one row, purl one row (hehe...I typed "purple" instead of purl) until it's really freaking long, then do a weird twisty thing to sew one end perpendicular to the other end without actually twisting the cloth over

Final dimensions-poncho size

Pictures will be forthcoming.

New toy.

I got something called the "Knifty Knitter", which is a set of four round knitting looms. I got it the other day and tried it out tonight making the hat described below. As soon as I get my camera working again, I'll get a picture of it, or else get a picture of the intended receiver wearing it. :) Either way.

The Knifty Knitter is really cool and REALLY easy to figure out, especially if one already knows how to knit. I finished the hat in less than two hours after opening the package.

Knifty Knitter Baby Hat

Needle size-Second smallest ring
Yarn-light green bulky yarn
Pattern-knit around for about six or seven inches, bind off and draw the top tight. Add a poofy pom pom if you want.

Final dimensions-big enough for a toddler, I think. I didn't have a toddler to measure it on. I'll give better ones later...when I get a child to model it.

Ooh, actual content...

Question for all ya stash-a-holics out there. What's a good way to store the stash? Currently I've got mine either stacked in shelves (a la knitting stores) or in plastic drawers (not airtight) or in a big giant Tupperware-esque container. They can breathe in all these places, nothing is airtight and I don't have any yarn that is composed of wool, so moths aren't a worry. Damp DEFINITELY is a worry, as those of youse who have been following my other blog know, so I don't want it stored in a way that mold will grow. Also, I don't have pets, nor does anyone smoke.

Update for Update's sake

Still not knitting. Battling evil flood waters of ultimate DOOOOOOOOOOM. Yuck. Did some stuff on the side bar, but it's not showing up yet. I'm lame-HTML person. Yup. That's about it.

Not Much With the Knitting

I haven't been knitting much lately. I've been carrying my knitting around with me, but I've been doing other stuff whenever I get where I'm going. I haven't been watching TV solo either, or waiting for buses. These are my gold knitting times.

So, yeah. :p

KIP

Now that I've suddenly got loads more free time, I've signed up for knitting circle get togethers. Go me! I can't make Wednesdays this month, and I've got finals until the 8th, but hopefully I'll make one in December!!!!

And it looks like I'll have my own place in Feb, *squee*, so I can host stuff in my home as well. :)

I'm going to add a "Works in Progress" section to the sidebar, as well as a "Completed Projects" section...but not now. Tonight I sleep.

From Justy's Site

You appear to be a Knitting Guru. You love knitting
and do it all the time. While finishing a piece
is the plan, you still love the process, and
can't imagine a day going by without giving
some time to your yarn. Packing for vacation
involves leaving ample space for the stash and
supplies. It can be hard to tell where the yarn
ends and you begin.
http://marniemaclean.com


What Kind of Knitter Are You?
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Knitting Circle

I would like to start a knitting circle, and I've been thinking about names. A couple I've thought of are "Stitching Bitches", "Naked Knitting", "Chicks with Sticks" (Chicks and Dicks with Sticks, if we get a member [hee hee] of the male persuasion). Anyone else got any ideas?

I know that I can totally host the knitting thing starting in March or so (Burnaby), but Kate and D would probably like it right where they live... so I open the floor. I figure if there isn't a knitting group in the next three months, I'll be organizing it. Besides, I'll be right out by Peechie and pretty close to no name yet. :) (Neither of whom have expressed interest in a knitting group, but hey, I'm just like Florida...counting votes 'creatively' ;) )

Don't Hate Me!

Look what I've got.

A bunch of it got really tangled at work today, and since they were going to throw it away, I got to take it home with me. I don't know how much I have, but there's at least four or five different colours, and probably eight or ten balls.

::GLEE::

Purchasing Online

I wonder if I'd ever be able to buy yarn from online? I suppose if it was something I knew already...like Boa, or Fun Fur, or something like that. But so much of yarn shopping for me is tactile. First, the colour catches my eye, but then I have a need to pet it. I've been known to surreptitously (and not so much) pet the yarn that comes through my till.

Would you ever buy yarn online?

Worthwhile investment.

The five bucks or so that I spent on the yarn to make my stripy toque and scarf are probably the best $5 I have spent in ages. Not only did they keep me busy during various times (bus rides, hospital stays) but they look fabulous and I wear them ALL THE TIME.

Boa Keyhole Scarf 

Here's how it looks draped a little 

Red Haired Striped Yarn Ninja! 

Kate: Read this before you start that hat!

Now that I've got your attention... ;)

Check your yarn! If you're using worsted weight yarn, you'll need to add 22 stitches onto your initial cast-on, then follow the same directions. I used bulky, but adapted it so that it fit. Gauge isn't stupidly important for hats, but you might wind up with one that will only fit your sister if you follow the directions I gave.

Stripy Ribbed Scarf

Needle size-10
Yarn-Bulky weight Red Heart "Misty". I used whatever was left of the ball I used to make my stripy toque (AKA my jaunty new chapeau) plus another 4 oz ball.
Cast on 24 (EDIT: Sorry...mine has 36) stitches, or however wide you want it (multiple of six)
Knit 3, purl 3 all the way across the row. Repeat until it's as long as you want.

Final dimensions-mine wound up being about five and a half feet long and about six inches wide. And wow, is it ever soft and comfy!!!

Christmas Presents

I've started making Christmas presents now. I'm planning on giving two people "knitting related" stuff and at least five people knitted goods. This will severely cut down on the amount of money I'm spending, since I have all the yarn and needles I need for everything, but it will eat up time like mad. I hope my boyfriend doesn't mind me knitting instead of cuddling while we watch TV some nights. :/

Better detail (I hope) on the keyhole

You should first have a bunch of rows knitted. That's the easy bit. Next you knit half of the rows, turn the knitting, then knit them again. Knit those rows again, then turn the knitting and knit back to the beginning of the row. Do this a bunch of times, until the strip of knitting is as long as you want. There should be a poor, neglected set of stitches on one of the needles.

OH! I think I remember the step I forgot to include in the original keyhole instructions. (sorry...I didn't have the scarf in front of me...) Cut the yarn when you've got the Right (as in "correct") Side facing you. This would be either side, since we're doing garter stitch (knit each row).

Join the yarn to the end of the poor neglected stitches and knit as many rows as you had, then knit across.

Knit until you run out of yarn or until you've gotten to the right length.

Better directions found here.

Boa Keyhole Scarf

US size 10 needles (note: don't make my mistake. Don't use purple needles with purple Boa. You'll NEVER find that stitch you dropped. EVER. I had to frog (rip it...rip it...) out the first three rows about eight times)

Cast on 22 stitches
Knit about ten rows, then create the keyhole.

Keyhole: knit 11 stitches, turn the scarf then knit them again. Do this for about ten or fifteen rows, then do the same for the 11 stitches on the other side. Knit that side until you have the same amount of stitches, then knit across both sections.

Knit until you run out of boa.

Final dimensions: varies. It's a really stretchy sideways and lengthways.