November Makes Me Think About Pie. . . .

But since I don’t want to weigh 400 pounds I decided that rusty/pumpkin-y yarn was the way to go. This is another “original” design – a better way to phrase this is “stitch dictionary modification integrated with tried-and-true beanie bind-off”. However you take it, I like how it turned out.

The Vogue Stitchonaries  have been a huge source on inspiration on making some things that are more mine, as in I didn’t download it off of Ravelry. Maybe this will be the start of something wonderful design wise, maybe not. Either way I am really happy with the outcome.

That’s me!

So you start with the fancy, schmancy stitch pattern – then figure out how to write it in the round. Not the most creative thing in the world but I have to start somewhere. For those that are interested this is a herringbone stitch with a ribbed section in-between, which I found to be super fun knitting wise.

Ta-da!

Then you work the pattern till desired length, for me this is about 3 1/2 inches. it ensures that the ears will be covered and kept warm. Then work the beanie until it reaches desired length, again, for me this is about 6ish” or a total of 42 rounds. It may seem really anal to keep track of every round I do, but hey, you know I have OCD.

Then you do the tried and true 15 row decrease (I will include this at the bottom of the post). What do you get when you combine all these knitting ingredients: a hat. Moron 😉

Ta-da!

That’s me!

The bummer is that these hats look way better on than they do on the poor Styrofoam head, it looks a bit silly on the head to be honest. They fit like a dream though, nice and snug around the ears and a little looser at the top of the hat without feeling slouchy. Oh! This is Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice in Rust – just in case you were curious.

 ** The Tried-and-True 15 Row Decrease ** 

• I start with 100 stitches on size 7US needles (and worsted weight yarn) because I like a dense, warm beanie.

1. K8, K2tog
2. Knit
3. K7, K2tog
4. Knit
5. K6, K2tog
6. Knit
7. K5, K2tog
8. Knit
9. K4, K2tog
10. Knit
11. K3, K2tog
12. Knit
13. K2, K2tog
14. Knit
15. K1, K2tog

Leaving a 20″ tail, sew live stitches in the round twice and remove from needles. Pull tight to keep the top of the hat from looking like a bellybutton and weave in your ends.

That’s all I have for today friends and neighbors, although if you have time I would like to know what you think of the hat. I figure with the vast amounts of smarts you possess you will come up with a way better way to do this.

My First Real Big, Bad Frogging Experience

If you’ve perused this blog lately, this photo may look familiar to you. . . .

Nice huh? Well, not anymore!

**** **** **** **** **** **** **** ****

The brioche stitch is something I have never done before, so of course I thought I would try it for the custom order. I am looking at this particular order as a great learning experience, so why not try something new…and throw in a cable…and use two strands of yarn…

This is not easy, I am not sure why but it just isn’t. The pattern base is set up knitting the first and last stitch and in-between knitting (sl1, yo, k2tog). This shouldn’t be difficult, but for some reason I was dropping stitches left and right and then left again. I threw in a lifeline and thought “Hey! We’re in business!”

Mastering Brioche.

Setting in the Cable.

Getting some Length.

I had almost five feet (yes – 5 feet…:() when my lifeline broke while I was working a cable. I spent about…oh, I dunno, 2 hours wrestling with trying to get it back on the needles. I loved the look, I loved feel and I didn’t want to let it go. It was the moment I accepted defeat that I pulled out my niddy-noddy and used it for something that just shattered my knitting soul.

And so I frogged two days and five feet of work. I didn’t shed a tear – but I cursed like a drunk sailer on leave discovering they’ve landed in a place with no women. I am re-knitting the yarn in a straight brioche to get the rhythm of it, then I am going back to this pattern and I am going to knit the (censored) out of it!

I do want to share, in my defense, the factors that may have contributed to the utter failure of this scarf:

1. I was using two strands held together for thickness.
2. The two strands are acrylic (as asked for by the customer – sever allergies).
3. My cable needle was too small to hold all those stitches.
4. I was using plastic needles, so everything was slippery – and NOT in a good way.
5. I used a frayed piece of leftover yarn as my lifeline.
6. I bit off more than I could chew.

So I’ve learned my lesson friends and neighbors, don’t knit off more than you can chew. Ambition and learning is great don’t get me wrong, but some times you have to start at the very beginning to get a handle on it. Has this every happened to you? Have you tried to skip the necessary learning steps and made a massive mistake? Or on the way more optimistic hand did it work for you?

Cannot wait to hear from you, and thanks for reading – it still blows my mind that you do! 🙂

Stitch Pattern Week 11 & The Goofy Hat That Lead to Entrelac Knitting

It’s that time again friends and neighbors! GG has left me with yet another cryptic knitting pattern to decipher for your viewing pleasure. So with no further adieu, Stitch Pattern Week 11 – The Diagonal Rib Stitch!

Diagonal Rib-Darkened.

The past few weeks I have knitted with white yarn, which has been hard to translate on film – hard for me at least – so this week I went back to my Sea Glass colors and rocked out a very pretty dishcloth. Unfortunately, this is also hard to see as well, but it gave me the opportunity to play with some filters to see if I could improve it. Now you get to be the judge.

Full On Pattern- Natural

Diagonal Rib Stitch

Diagonal Rib-Darkened.

Full On Shot-Lighteneded

Diagonal Rib-Close Up

Full On Shot – Sharpened

So GG – What pain is in store for me this week? Be gentle, it’s already been pretty rough!

* * The Diagonal Rib Stitch * *

. . . . – The Diagonal Rib Stitch (Once again no pattern name, but I found it on Stitchopedia on my  iPad of all places).

-k2p2 – Row 1: *K2, P2; rep from * till end (Okay, not to shabby so far, feeling a bit cocky!).

-again – Row 2: Rep. row 1 (Still feeling pretty good about myself).

k1p2k2 then p2k1 – Row 3: K1, *P2, K2; rep. from * till last 3 stitches, end P2, K1 (Come on now, I frogged this twice before I figured out my stitches should be leaning. Give a great-granddaughter a break here!).

-p1k2p2 then k2p1 – Row 4: P1, *K2, P2; rep. from * till last 3 stitches, end K2, P1 (At least with row 3 figured out this didn’t hurt that much).

-p2k2 – Row 5: *P2, K2; rep. from * till end (Smooth sailing, maybe I deserve a cookie!).

-again – Row 6: Rep. Row 5 (Alright damn it, I am going to go get that cookie!).

-43over (I shouldn’t have gotten my cookie so soon….so sad. This is where the stitch dictionary came in handy. I’ve said it before and I will say it again, Thank Heavens for the Internet!)

Row 7: Rep. row 4.

Row 8: Rep. row 3.

A simple repeat of these 8 rows really did created a fun, visually interesting dishcloth. The sea glass colors really helped it pop and I recommend this pattern to anyone of any skill level just for something new to try.

 ♥ * * * * * * * * * * * *  ♥

  – The Hat That Turned To A New Skill –

So last week I went on a bit of a hat spree, first with the OSU Buckeye Hats and then with another, less successful attempt. The pattern came from Holiday Knits, a book I have rather enjoyed up to this point, which made the disappointment all the more acute. I will take full responsibility for NOT swatching this project, the yarn I was using was the same weight, but a very different (much cheaper) fiber. So the soft, fluffy goodness that this hat was supposed to encompass turned into an ultra long, ultra heavy, super goofy looking disappointment.

SUCH a Promising Start

Right Side

Full Frontal Heavy Goodness.

For Gloria

The Back

So Heavy I Had to Hold It.

Covering the Face in Shame.

As you can plainly see, this thing is HEAVY! I took pictures of both my husband and I wearing it, but I am just a little shy of showing off that embarrassment. Either way, I know come winter I will wear this hat – I cannot stand to think of it going to waste – but I’ve learned to embrace my goofiness.

Anywho, this lead to another problem – what to do with the leftover yarn? There wasn’t enough to make a scarf but too much for just one normal size hat (e.g. a hat not made for giants) so I had to find something else productive to use it for. This is when I logged on to my Craftsy account and realized that I still hadn’t taken the Entrelac Knitting Class. Common sense would say that if there was yarn to spare that had already turned out poorly, why not try to make something constructive out of this experience.

I am almost done with the class and it has been awesome! The teacher is fun and easy to follow, the directions are clear and simple, and there is the added benefit of getting to see how to knit without turning your work. This really appeals to me because you don’t just use your right hand, you used your left as well. If I could learn how to do this it would take a phenomenal amount of strain of my bad hand (in theory) and if not I get to gloat that I learned how to do something new. Gloat may be the wrong word, but you get the point. I’m not done yet but I will leave you with a picture collage (oh how I love collages) just so you can see where I am so far.

Entrelac Process So Far

I think that’s it for me tonight, but as always I would like to end with a question. So, friends and neighbors, is there a new skill you wish to acquire or are currently learning? I didn’t even know you could knit with both needles till yesterday so I am intrigued!

Another Award? Are You Sure?

– The Super Sweet Blogging Award –

Super Sweet Blogging Award

I am still completely overwhelmed and perplexed by receiving the Versatile Blogger Award, so this one has left me nearly deaf and dumb! It doesn’t help my confusion that I was given this award by Knitting with Heart, which is a blog that I come close to stalking! I want to thank you so much for even considering to pass this along to me and I will do my best to continue on this wonderful surprise. So with all awards there are some rules that come with it. I will try my hardest to do this right!!

THE RULES:
Copy & Paste This Whole Post and Replace All Your Information — who awarded you, for example.

1. Thank the Super Sweet Blogger that nominated you. (Done!)
2. Answer 5 Super Sweet questions. (Done!)
3. Include the Super Sweet Blogging Award in your blog post (Done!)
4. Nominate a baker’s dozen (13) other deserving bloggers.
5. Notify your Super Sweet nominees on their blog.

– THE 5 SUPER SWEET QUESTIONS –

1 – Cookies or Cake?
– Cake!! How can anything be as good as a slice of cake and a glass of milk?

2 – Chocolate or Vanilla?
– Vanilla

3 – Favorite Sweet Treat?
– Key Lime Pie….oh good God I love that pie.

4 – When Do You Crave Sweet Things The Most?
– Around four in the morning. Not the best time to crave sweets but with how I sleep I guess that is more like seven o’clock at night for “normal” folks.

5 – Sweet Nick Name?
– Shug (pronounced just like it’s spelled). This is what my Mom called me growing up.

OK, so now to nominate 13 other fellow bloggers of mine I feel deserve this award…This is the worst part of receiving a blogging award, there are just too many people I want to give it to. Okay…here it goes!

– My 13 NOMINEES FOR THIS AMAZING AWARD GOES TO……

1. Pointe Shoes Punk Rock and Purl– Yarn Bombs, Hysterical Videos, Helpful Tabs and a voice all her own. I look forward to every post which displays both talent and a wicked sense of humor
2. aHandKnitLife – Displaying an intimidating amount of talent, this blogger also supports Knitting in Recovery. Championing a cause as deserving as this makes you super sweet.
3. knittingsarah – An eye for photography and a spinning goddess, this blogger makes me want to buy local yarn every day. The clarity and colors in her work are fantastic, she could make any knitter feel a tad envious.
4. B.G.Bowers – Do you like to read? Well then there is nothing on this site that you aren’t going to like. Inspirational poetry, love of music and an openness that makes you feel like you are drinking coffee and talking in person – not just reading a blog.
5. kfklever – A Klever knitter indeed! Intricate lace work, gorgeous photographs and an easy, care free attitude when offering help makes her one of my favorite bloggers!
6. polkadotsandsparkles – Knitting talent, an easy sense of humor and great taste in music makes this blog a must read.
7. Knitting Rays of Hope – Another knitter championing a great cause, she shows her love for children and knitting one hat at a time. This blog is sure to be an inspiration to any reader.
8. knitnrun4sanity – This is an amazing blog, I will get that out of the way because it is obvious. This blogger also has helped me personally by sharing her strengths and advice from thing great and small, and it is greatly appreciated!
9. A World Created – A Blog with a little bit of everything that is good and fuzzy. Awesome writing, diverse posts and an air of sweetness. Perfect for this award!
10. Chris the Story Reading Ape’s Blog – Want to laugh while you are getting priceless insights to books, reading, writing and life? Check this out. Seriously…I will wait….
11. schmoozelfleugen – Want a little bit of everything? Check out this eclectic blogger who also happens to be an amazing conversationalist!
12. Monster Yarns –  I don’t know what to say about this blog because there are just too many good things to say. This blog makes me want to be a better blogger and knitter.
13. Movies, Silently – I love silent movies and I love this blog. The dedication to her posts are nothing short of miraculous, I check every day to see what movie she is going to review and am awed by her writing.

Congratulations guys! 🙂

There are so many more blogs I want to say “thank you” to, but since I can only do 13 these are my picks. Thank you bloggers, you are an inspiration to me.

Stitch Pattern Week 9 & Expanding the Store

Drumroll please….Here comes Stitch Pattern Week 9! The Linen Stitch!

The Linen Stitch

This week has seemed ridiculous, it just won’t slow down! I feel a tad bit guilty doing the Linen Stitch because I use this all the time. With a little Sugar and Cream yarn this makes the perfect face cloth! I probably have a dozen of these in my bathroom closet and use them everyday. I love the idea of being able to use something I make on a daily basis, I also love that the things that I make will always outlast anything that I can buy in a big box store. These are so simple to knit up and they never die! If they start to look a little grungy I just put them in with the cleaning rags and they get to live another life. They are also excellent for polishing silver, don’t ask me why…just one of the great things about knitted stitches!

Playing with Light

The Linen Stitch

Ahh..Bumpy!

Playing this some more light.

Alright GG, it’ll be a quick on today won’t it?

co odd – Cast on any number of Odd Stitches (Aces!)

r1 cor k then  sl yth k, rep – Row 1: (RS) K1 *Sl1 wyif, K1; rep from * to end of row. (I think the yarn towards heart (yth) is really starting to grow on me.)

r2wrg k p  then slp away k rep til end k – Row 2: (WS) K1, P1 *Sl1 wyib, K1; rep from * to last stitch, K1 (The wrg caught me a little off guard but like I said, I know this stitch backward and forward. I wonder if other women she knitted with wrote patterns like this?)

 *    * * * * * * * * * * *   *

– Expanding the Store –

I have spent the majority of my day so far right here, in front of my computer feeling my shoulders slowly inch towards my ears. I have added more items to my Etsy store and although they are items I fully back on every front, they are…dull. Dish cloths friends and neighbors, I am selling  dish cloths. I want to say that I know that these little babies will last forever, they are so strong and resilient to anything. Anyone who has every knitted with Sugar and Cream knows that it won’t die. I even reenforced the edges to ensure that the corners were double knitted just so the chance of them unraveling will never…ever happen. But who will buy these? My Panic Monster keeps telling that this too boring to try sell, even if the product is incredibly well made. My great grandmother mades these more than 20 years ago and they are still around, I hold myself to the incredibly high standards she set. That nagging fear of failure is still tapping on my shoulder, insisting to be be heard.

So what do you do when you’re stressed out about knitting? Stress out about photos instead!

Sunrise – Filter Fun

Sunrise- Filter

Summer Sky – Filter

Flower Study

Flower Study

Sunrise – Rainbow Filter

Flower Study

Sunrise – Texture

Bedside Table

Flower Study – Collages are Fun!

Flower Study

So what’s going on friends and neighbors? What do you think about the success/failure of selling/buying certain items of Etsy and do you think if you’re a knitter you’d look at it differently?