I love yarn day

Yes, there is such a thing and I wish I was celebrating it properly. What a great reason to buy lots of beautiful yarn at a local yarn store or sit on a comfy sofa knitting the day away.  Instead I'm heading to see William!!! Yay. A very good alternative. :)

Happy I love yarn day everyone!

Basic Easter Egg Knit Pattern

All of our Easter decorations are a little too fragile for Meri and Audrey to play with.  Audrey can help me put up the Easter tree, but since many of the ornaments are glass, I then put the tree up high.  Lately, I have been thinking about knitting up a few eggs for the girls to play with.  They loved to throw the knitted ornaments about when I made those, so I figured eggs would be just as fun.

The first egg I made using some cheap acrylic yarn.  I bought it for the girls at Walmart because they *loved* the color and begged me to get it.  I figured it would be a great way to let them play with yarn and not mess with my fancy yarn.  So far, I have used it to make a heart garland for Audrey's bed for Valentine's Day.  I let the girls make necklaces using this yarn and various cereals (cheerios, fruit loops, apple jacks), they both like to "knit" (make knots in yarn with needles), and generally tie their toys up and drag them about the house.  

Back the eggs, I made an egg out of this yarn because I knew the girls would love a hot pink egg.  Even though I did not really enjoy working with this yarn, I will probably make another one, because they really do love it.  I found myself wishing that I had other colors of acrylic so that I could do a little fair isle into the egg...

I also pillaged my cotton yarn supply.  I have a weakness for cotton yarn.  I love homemade dishcloths, so whenever I see a cool colorway for a dollar or two, I just grab it.  At least I used to, until I realized I had an entire large tub full of cotton yarn...  So I started raided the cotton yarns stash and grabbed bright spring colors.  I love the way these eggs are so bright and colorful with the variegated cottons.


Basic Knit Eggs
Yarn: worsted weight
Needle: size 4 DPNs - 4 needles

Abreviations:
k: knit
k2tog: knit 2 together
kfb: knit front and back of the same stitch
ssk: slip, slip, knit together the slip stitches through the back
st: stitch(es)

Directions are the same for each needle, the instructions are given per needle.

Cast on 12 stitches using long-tail cast-on method.  Being careful not to twist the stitches, spread the stitches over 3 needles (4 st per needle) and join.

Bottom of the egg
Row 1: k
Row 2: kfb, k, kfb, k (6 st)
Row 3: k
Row 4: kfb, k3, kfb, k (8 st)
Row 5: k
Row 6: kfb, k5, kfb, k (10 st)
Row 7: k
Row 8: kfb, k7, kfb, k (12 st)

Body of the egg
Knit in the round for 12 rows

Top of the egg
Row 1: k, ssk, k6, k2tog, k (10 st)
Row 2-3: k
Row 4: k, ssk, k4, k2tog, k (8 st)
Row 5-6: k
Row 7: k, ssk, k2, k2tog, k (6 st)
Row 8-9: k
Row 10: k, ssk, k2tog, k (4 st)
Row 11: k, ssk, k (3 st)

Cut yarn and pull through the remaining 9 stitches as if to knit.  Secure the yarn and pull the end into the egg.

Stuff the egg with fluff from the bottom.  Using the rest of the cast on tail catch the end of each stitch and pull it tight.  Secure the yarn and pull the end into the egg, trimming as necessary.

Variations:
 - The main body of the egg is just begging for a bit of color work.  I would love to do some little flowers or animals - a bunny or chick - something in the main body with fair isle.
- Sock yarn and size 0 needles would be really neat for smaller eggs.

Christmas makings - ornaments

As previously mentioned, this year I planned to make ornaments for cousin Christmas gifts. I started with the cousins on Ryan's side because we usually buy something for each of the kids, so each present I made was money saved.

I found some graph paper from my nerdy days of math fun (sometimes being a packrat is useful) and sketched out each of their names across a grid of 32 x 13 squares.  Each square represented one stitch in the middle of the ornament, and I repeated the pattern once for a total of 13 rows of 64 stitches (16 stitches on each of 4 needles).

Once I got the hang of it, the ornaments went really quite fast.  I also realized that my color work skills are still at the beginner level.

I completed all 7 ornaments for Ryan's sisters' kids and then I decided that everyone else (including my sweet girls) will have to wait another year.  I was pleasantly surprised that Audrey and Meredith were really excited by the ornaments and wanted me to make one for each of them.

Cool knitting project

Well I need a new project, like I need another hole in the head, so I am not starting this, but if I ever have a whole bunch of sock weight yarn around....

http://tinyowlknits.wordpress.com/2011/07/29/the-beekeepers-quilt/

What can I say, I love patchwork and I love hexagons and this is both in one - perfection!

Also, I am 36 and 1/2 weeks along...

Knitting Update

Since I joined the Dish Rag Tag earlier today, I thought it would be appropriate to update my lately lax knitting ways. I usually have a dishrag in some state of progress on at least two sets of needles, because I find that we use them so often, they are extremely portable, and I like pretty washcloths. I finished a cherry one for cherry season (my favorite food) last month.

And then I turned to *cashmere*. Ryan and I bought enough chunky cashmere to make a hat and scarf set for me 1 1/2 years ago at a fancy NY yarn shop during an anniversary trip. I was looking to make a black hat/scarf with cream skull and cross bones elegantly placed on the edges in cream. Cashmere makes it classy, pirates make it sassy.

However, I never really found the desire to make a scarf - it is just such a boring project, so instead I made a lacey cowl out of black. Unfortunately, the lace pattern did not show through like I was hoping and since it is cashmere, I decided to rip it out and now I am make a very boring (TV watching) black cashmere shell with 2 cream stripes at the bottom.

And that my friends is my current knitting.

Dish Rag Tag

I have watched green with envy for the last two years as other knitters have done the Dish Rag Tag.

This year, I am going to do it! I am going to set a reminder for myself Saturday morning and sign up first thing - wish me luck!

AnnieAmelia's sweetcase

An old acquaintance from high-school just started her own on-line yarn store - AnnieAmelia.

It is awesome - she carries really nice yarn. The one thing she does that sets her apart from other yarn stores is her "sweetcase". She show cases a special yarn and provides a pattern that really shows it off. Then she includes something "bodyish", a charm, ribbon and sends it off in a beautiful fabric bag. It is a really cool idea, especially if, like me, you are a little intimidated by all the varieties of fancy yarn on the market today.

So seeing this fancy idea, I volunteered to be a "tester". Lucky me, because she sent this amazing little skein of fancy Australian merino wool yarn with glass beads scattered throughout (tilli tomas), it is so beautiful!!. This is so much fancier than anything I normally buy that I feel totally spoiled.

The pattern she sent is for a headband. I am definitely making a fancy headband with this yarn, but I am really hoping there is enough left over for a coffee cup cozy - how handmade glam would that be (on second thought, i think i may order some "chocolate cherry" and make mug cozies for Xmas - yay another project :))?!

I think this idea would be an awesome gift for any knitter on your list (hint hint).

Oh and also the bag is just as cute on the inside (I turned it inside out for the 2nd photo) and the lip gloss is awesome!

Dishcloth set

I cannot for the life of me figure out why blogspot keeps turning this picture from landscape to portrait, but so it is.. the black is bats, the purple is a frankenstein, the orange is a pumpkin, the green is a witch, the brown is a tombstone and the cream is a ghost.For the dishcloth swap that I was a part of, I found this great set of "mini" dishcloth patterns on Ravelry and this blog.

So I decided since they were minis, and since they looked so cute as a set that I would do the whole set for my partner. However, they are only really minis if you do them with the recommended size 3 needles. I did that for one of them (the pumpkin) and then accidentally did the rest in size 5 - which made them slightly smaller than normal dishcloths, but not quite "mini". I really like this set and my spoilee had a great idea of starting an afgan with them. I may actually do that myself at some point with another set. We shall see...

Best Swap Spoiler ever!!

I just have to post pics of the most amazing and generous and thoughtful swap package I've ever received (which is saying something, because I have had some really awesome swap spoilers).
But JoAnn, this was amazing. This package had: a book of dishcloth patterns, because I mentioned I would like some, another knitting book "Knit 2 Together" which is already distracting me from my required study time, a *huge* skein of lovely cotton yarn - I think I am going to make the bathmat in the Knit 2 Together book with it, KnitPicks 14" size 10 harmony wood straight knitting needles (again, I have totally been wanting to try their sticks), the yarn cutter that I really wanted for travel, some great pumpkin spice soap, a bag of Halloween colored M&Ms (which Audrey has quickly claimed as her favorite potty treats), 2 bags of trail mix (we will be bringing these on our apple picking adventures tomorrow), purple witch socks (I wore them to work on Thursday), a purple bat dishcloth and scrubbie and if all that wasn't an amazing package - she also sent a hand crocheted grocery getter bag.

Seriously - thank you! You have set the bar so high for paying it forward on my next swap :).

Breaking News!!

While reading the Yarn Harlot, I saw this...
Obama holding a half-finished knitted sock. Knitters are crazy and so much fun. Things like this make me proud to call it my hobby of choice. :)

Caveat: I am not making any sort of political comment with this post, just posting for fun.

Knitting Notions Wishlist

Well, in my last post on knitting I said that I wasn't so much a notions type of gal, but then as part of the swap I am in, I was reading lots of the other participants blogs and I realized I am in fact a notions gal. Here are some I would love to have (and will probably slowly acquire with the weekly 40% off coupons from Michaels).

The lovely yarn cutting pendant - truthfully, I could see myself actually wearing this on travel, just so that it is handy at all times.

The somewhat sassy, somewhat piratey t-shirt - does that qualify as a notion?

The new knitpics straights in the longer lengths - any size will do, I use them all.

This list will grow I am sure as time allows.

Cozy Fun

Because I like cozies so much, I may just have to knit a set of these for any and all of my drinking relatives. I think this could be the perfect gift for my bro for Xmas? :) I saw this on Lime & Violet's blog, in case you are actually curious.

Knitting - dishcloths (again)

It has been far too long since I have been really active on my blog - which is a shame, because I really enjoy posting.

Recently I have decided to admit (to myself) that I just love knitting dishcloths because they are quick and easy, they travel well (as knitting projects go - i almost always have one on needles in my purse) and there is never any guilt associated with not finishing one for a month or two if you get busy.

However, how many dishcloths does one girl really need - not that many, so I have decided to start swapping them with other people who also love them on a site called Swap-Bot. It is actually really cool because unlike my previous swaps, these are quite simple - just dishcloths - so I don't have to find the time to shop for other goodies to include in the package.

So imagine my surprise when I received a swap package that was so thoughtful and touching it nearly made me tear up - and we are talking dishcloths - not generally an emotional type of gift. This lovely lady, Timiae, hand-dyed the cotton yarn then made me a dragonfly dishcloth and an "om" symbol dishcloth out of this yellow cloth that she said reminded her of Buddhist monks' robes, which is why she calls the color 'meditation'. And if that wasn't enough - she included a hank of beautiful cotton that she dyed for me to use in a project of my own!

I took pics, but it will be a while before I download them onto my other computer and then post them. If you look on Timiae's blog, you can see pics of both the dragonfly and the om dishcloths.

Recent projects

I haven't written in far too long, but I have been knitting even if I haven't been blogging about it.

I recently started making the "dishcloth reloaded" from the Mason Dixon Knitting book. It is this fabulous hexagon shape and it goes pretty quickly. Plus I love making something both functional and fun. I will post pics once I download them from my "new to me" camera.

Are there any knitters out there with other unusually shaped patterns for dishcloths that they enjoy?

Mom's bag

Since my mom knows that I am working on a bag for her, I figured it is okay to talk about it.

To be honest, this has been a fantastic learning tool for me, so I feel a little bad giving my mom my practice bag.

I learned how to use dpns (double pointed needles) and how to knit on circular needles too. I also learned how to weave a new ball of yarn onto an existing one without a knot. I have learned yarn overs and knit two together, basically it is a very loose lace pattern.

The idea was to knit a green "green bag" ie a reusable grocery bag for my mom. Here is a picture of the progress to date.

Xmas shopping complete

You read that right - I am done shopping for presents and even stocking stuffers. Yippee!

The funny thing is that I really enjoy Christmas shopping, but I don't like shopping during the rush - feeling pressure to find the "perfect" thing, waiting in miserable lines and fighting for a parking spot - I will pass on all of that.

Unfortunately I am not finished making Xmas presents - so I spend my extra hours knitting furiously in an attempt to get things done in time. Luckily, that part involves a nice cup of tea and a cookie rather than the other frantics mentioned above.

Oh also, a shout out to Genny - who wrapped all the presents (even hers)! They are now pretty under the tree.

Spoiled!! Coffee Swap

This post is also long overdue. My coffeeswap partner Lindy sent me two terriffic packages.

The first one was straight from a yarn store. She sent this yummy cashmerino (100% merino wool yarn that is soft like cashmere) lace weight yarn in charcoal grey - love love love. Along with 3 lace patterns and a cute stitch marker (this is my first stitch marker - thank you). This was such a thoughtful treat. I mentioned that I wanted to try some lace, but didn't know where to start, so she took all the guess work out of it. I am so excited to start on this - after the holidays. I am planning on doing the middle shawl :).

Then she sent a separate package with goodies from Australia - coffee, plastic knitting needles (I think these will be Audrey's first real pair of needles when she is old enough to learn), dark chocolate - yum, a cute stuffed Koala, three kids Koala books and a cute Koala ornament. It has been fun learning about Koala - now we will have to check our zoo.

Thank you so much Lindy!!

On the needles

A scarf (my first ever) in this yummy alpaca yarn that I got at The Point in NYC. It is a "ribbed for her pleasure" scarf (pattern from the Stitch n Bitch Nation book that is way past due from my local library). I made the ribbing a little wider than it suggested and I wish everyone could feel how soft this is.

This is Ryan's xmas present - even if he did pick out the yarn.

Knitting lately

I taught G how to knit a little over the weekend and so we made several phone cozies. They are actually quite fantastic. Then yesterday I went to my LYS at lunch and got some cool yarn with some bling - so don't be surprised if you get a sparkley phone cozy for Yule this year.

Coffee Swap Questionairre

Here are the questions:
QUESTIONS
1. Whole bean or ground?

Definitely Whole bean - I grind my beans fresh right before I use them.

2. Fully-loaded or decaf?

Both, most of the time I go fully-loaded, but I recently found a decaf that was really good, so I enjoy that in the afternoon sometimes.

3. Regular or flavored?

Regular - I haven't had any flavored coffees that I like yet. But I do like to add spices (nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, cloves and occasionally vanilla) to the finished product. I love the natural flavor of Kona coffee - those Hawains are awesome!

4. How do you drink your coffee?

Generally I make a double shot latte. I have a cool machine called the aerobiepress that makes the most fantastic coffee/espresso. I usually make a double shot with that, add a little raw sugar and whole milk.

Much to my surprise I also really enjoy the Kona coffee black.

5. Favorite coffee ever?

Kona

6. Are you fussy about your coffee or will any old bean do?

I am a bit fussy, but I have noticed that has more to do with freshness than anything. I like to try new beans, but I stick by my old favorites - which incidentally are all from Costco :).

7. Favorite treats to have with your coffee?

A croissant in the morning. Or a piece of dark chocolate in the afternoon. I also really like to eat macadamian nuts while drinking my coffee - though I don't do this often.

8. Anything else about your coffee preferences?

I for one feel that the mug makes a difference in my coffee enjoyment. I have an adorable caldron shaped mug - black with green interior - that I got for halloween and my sister just got me the one from starbucks with all the coffee beans on the outside. Big, cute mugs with comfortable handles and nice shapes are my favorites.

9. Yarn/fiber you love?

I love it all, but am inclined to use the non-itchy stuff. I have been dyeing to try some sort of cashmere for a shawl - but have yet to find a pattern that I want to make my first attempt on (suggestions appreciated).

I use a lot of cotton because it is readily available and useful in my favorite thing to make so far - dishcloths/facecloths.

10. Yarn/fiber you hate?

Acrylic - does this even count as yarn?

11. What's on your needles?

A couple of dishcloths, a bib and a bag.

12. Favorite colors?

In general I love black, but not in cotton because it fades and just looks bad very quickly. I love punches of saturated colors and more muted earth tones.

13. Allergies?

none

14. Anything you really love, really don't like, or just need to get off your chest?

I am so excited for this swap and I can't wait to meet new friends with