The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread

Searching through one of my many knitting magazines, I found a small article about the newest way to block your projects. The Knitter's Block is a bag that carries multiple puzzle-like blocks that you lay out in the size of your project. The felt like blocks keep the project in place but there are also a small container of push pins if you ever have that project that just doesn't cooperate. Contained in the bag is also a soft piece of fabric, made of 100% Egyptian cotton can be used to either assist in drying the project or a barrier when you want to block by iron drying. There are two different sizes of Knitter's Block bags (the picture is of the smaller version), one small and one large. I recently used the Knitter's Block on one of my recent sweater projects and it was amazing the difference. I am so used to improvising when it comes to blocking. It was down to the point that I was using a large framed photo on top of the project to flatten it. Sounds weird? Well, you do what you have to....plus it worked! Anyway, the Knitter's Block is absolutely amazing and I would suggest it to any knitter. You can find the Knitter's Block at http://cocoknits.com/block/knittersblock.html

Star Jackets for Everyone!

One of my latest projects, a star jacket that I found in a older Noro book. Unfortunately the some of the yarn stated in the pattern was long discontinued so I substituted Lamb's Pride for the grey portions, and the stars are Noro Kureyon. Well, shortly after buying the Lamb's Pride color Silver Sliver I found out that it had been discontinued!! I was short 4 balls and no one in the area had any left. There seems to be something saying "Hey Lady....don't make this jacket!!", cause I couldn't be this lucky could I? After searching the Internet and running into other brick walls, I found a shop called Yarns By Design in Neenah, WI. Barb at the shop went out of her way to find me the right color. She even ordered the right color from a different shop and is going to ship it to me. It's people like Barb that remind me that there are wonderful people in the world, no matter how many horrible stories you hear on the news. Now, feeling much better about making this jacket. I had already had some apprehension to being with, being that this was the first larger project with fair aisle that I had done. It's actually not as bad as I had thought. With each passing project that comes out great I find myself with the inspiration to work on more projects with harder stitches or more color. The best part of knitting, the inspiration that comes with the passing time. If each aspect of our life had this much inspiration we might find ourselves enjoying life so much more, rather than focusing on things like the economic downfall and war across the water. Who needs a therapist when you have knitting?

The Magic Loop

After much debate I have started working on the magic loop socks that so many have talked about....but have been afraid to try. Is it hard? At first yes! While I have never tried the two needle method and went straight from double pointed to one continuous loop it was awkward to say the least. But once you get a couple rounds under your belt the rest is easy sailing. Granted....I have not finished them yet so my opinion might change slightly before I am done but I will have to say that seeing the two socks created at one time gives you a bit more determination to get them done. Working one sock at a time in the past, I have found that it will usually be at least 6 months before I do the other and create the pair. Doing the same thing that you just completed makes most cringe when as a knitter we are people that look forward to getting the project done and moving on to bigger and better things. Time will only tell how it goes but in the mean time...the magic loop continues.

Congratulations!

I would like to congratulate my mom, Linda Lou, on having the courage to pick up a knitting and crochet needles again! She even went to the knitting group in Bend with little knowledge of knitting and during the meeting picked it up again and was on her way to making a beautiful scarf. I hope she keeps it up cause I think she would continue to be great at it! She has also started crocheting again, which she just decided was more her thing. She finished her first purple scarf and it's beautiful.
Good job mom!

The Redmond Stitch n' B*tchers Have Arrived!

After much consideration, and some pushing by a few people, I decided to start a knitting group in my home town. While I love the group in the next town over....I keep finding it so hard to get over there while still trying to live my life of school and work. The ever rising costs of gas and the patience needed to get through traffic was enough to make it final. Now I am the only group member at this very moment but granted I have only started this 3 days ago on meetup.com and just put an announcement on craigslist.com last night. I do hope this works out because I would really like to knit along with others so much more than I am able to at this very moment but time is just not allowing it. We will see what happens. And if it doesn't work out?? I guess I can just always keep knitting along with myself and Tigger (the cat) who seems to enjoy sitting by me while I knit away on my many projects.

Missing the Butterflies

The cold has started to come and with each passing night I begin to see my beautiful flowers wilt. With the wilting flowers the butterflies that I enjoyed watching so much begin to dissappear, flying away to their winter homes hopefully somewhere warm. Waking up early in the morning to get ready to get to school only to find snow on the ground showed that I need to knit that much faster. The four sweaters that are all in the midst of being half way finished must be done soon I tell myself, cause if they aren't I'll just continue to put them off till the next winter. It's amazing how it sneaks up on you. It seemed like just yesterday that we were sitting on the deck on a humid summer night looking up at the brightly lit stars that illuminated the sky, hoping to see just one suddenly bolt across the deep midnight sky. Then I am suddenly sitting in a classroom, starting the school year once again. And now it's almost time for pumpkins and ghosts with little people running from door to door in hopes for mounds of candy. It's time to knit to stay warm and all I can think about it butterflies. Before we know it....there will be butterflies and we will be dreaming of snowflakes and sweaters.

The Swimming Lesson

We went to the coast recently and decided it was time to teach Lucy how to swim. At first she decided to taste the salt water (like you see in the photo) while Max (my husband) took her for a walk, and quickly decided that wasn't the best taste in the world. And soon thereafter she was running down the beach and attacking the waves. Every once in awhile she would be walking and suddenly take a step in a large tide pool and the shock on her face when she got herself out was priceless. The weather was perfect all weekend, 60-65 degrees and sunny. It's weeks like this that make me want to dig up everything and plant roots in Newport or even Depot Bay. It's just too beautiful to not want to be there everyday. Just thinking about starting a little knit shop in Depot Bay right on the boardwalk as you look out to see the never ending parade of humpback whales go by gives me goosebumps. Some day that will happen, some day.

My First Knit Pattern Design....

I was looking through the photos on my computer today and found this one. I am absolutely addicted to bags (especially new knitting bags). So after looking around for a new knitting bag to purchase I decided "That's it! I am designing my own!". After looking through countless knitting books to pull out the different things I wanted to see I ended up with this bag. I have always loved the look of the basketweave stitch pattern. Never having stitched an actual design into a pattern before I added the waves (and for all of those that know me.....I have always wanted to live on the beach). On the backside I added two long knitting needles into the bag to help strengthen it but also have a holder for the needles (plus it just looks cool). While I am not a seamstress by any sense of the word I attempted to line the inside of the bag with bright yellow and blue fabric. Well...there you go! I decided to sell it (since that is what I seem to do with everything I make at some point in time) and a wonderful person on eBay decided to call it their own. I hope they enjoy it because I enjoyed making it!

We lost a loved one....

I have taken a break from writing lately due to loosing one of our loved ones. Mickey was one of those cats that was just happy to next to you. He would come next to you and head butt you to let you know "Hey I am here and ready for some petting!!". My best memory was the one in the picture. For some reason he loved to hug the couch arm. He would spread himself out and take a nap and you couldn't help but laugh. He loved everyone and we loved him dearly. It's even hard to write this still, especially looking at the photo. Mickey has the most beautiful blue eyes and the most crooked tail! The day we picked him up at the Humane Society as a kitten we didn't even notice. We got him home and realized he had 3 breaks in his tail that had healed into the craziest tail ever! Even though he is gone, he will never be forgotten. We know he is up there with Snowball (who was his favorite friend) hanging out in a field of catnip. Mickey we love you and will miss you dearly.

Entrelac: The Completed Bag

Well, it is complete! While I was a little concerned at the beginning I quickly realized that it was actually quite easy. I added a couple changes....a longer strap and felted hinges on the side to hold the strap. One thing I would have to say is that I am not so fond of the colors but hey....I finished the bag! Woo Hoo!! I used Noro yarn, which is the most amazing yarn with the colors they have. It was so much fun to see each
row completed and to slowly see the checkerboard come together. I would challenge anyother knitter to try out entrelac if you haven't already. Even though I love the bag I have decided it is on it's way to the
Snowflake Boutique craft fair at the end of the year. Hopefully it makes
someone happy!