06.29.05
Posted in Yarn and Tools at 5:53 pm by Rachel
I don’t know precisely what I was thinking when I ordered 22 balls of Knitpicks Crayon in assorted colors. I had some of it planned for a particular project, but the rest? I don’t have any good answer. Well, the fact is, I just love this stuff, and I know it’ll get used eventually. Also, I’m a tiny bit worried that Knitpicks is going to turn out to be the Wal-Mart of the yarn world, with evil labor practices, and then I won’t be able to order from them anymore. But if I order from them now, I’ll already have then yarn when the expose finally happens and I’ll be able to plead ignorance. Anyway, I may make a colorful baby blanket with this, or send some to a secret pal, or who knows what. I just can’t get over what a soft, light fabric it knits up into. I’m not worried about it languishing in my stash for too long.
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Posted in Works in Progress at 5:44 pm by Rachel
I have begun two coordinating pullovers for the incubating twins of a coworker. The pattern is the Sweetheart Pullover from Knitting for Baby (I have done nearly every project in this book now), and I’m using Knitpicks Crayon yarn, which I’ve raved about before. I will be using a flower pattern instead of a heart, though — you can see what I’ve charted out in the photo below. I’m also considering a big star…I can’t decide.
One pullover will be orange with a yellow flower and the other will be pink with a red flower. These sweaters won’t be the stunning, heirloom-type sweaters that there are many patterns for, but they’ll be bright and fun and cheerful and machine wash and dryable. I’m guessing parents of twins will appreciate that.
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06.23.05
Posted in Knitty Secret Pal at 10:55 pm by Rachel
Here is the wonderful package I received from my secret pal:
In case you can’t see everything, she sent me a recent Knitter’s magazine (some great patterns!); the amazing Rogue Pullover pattern with all corrections, tips, and addenda; two skeins of Mission Falls Cotton (the first yarn I ever fell in love with, and I love it still); three skeins of Rowan Cotton Glace in a heavenly periwinkle; outrageously delicious Ghiradelli mint chocolate squares; a wooden cable needle (my collection of knitting tools has become much more robust since Knitty Secret Pal begain); the book At Knit’s End: Meditations for Women Who Knit Too Much (I enjoyed the first few mediations over breakfast this morning); and the very best stitch markers in the whole wide world! Made by my SP herself! Those deserve their very own close up photo:
Aren’t those fantastic?? Good bye, old hair elastic stitch markers! With my Red Sox point protectors and stitch markers, do you think Johnny Damon would notice me if I brought my knitting to a game at Fenway?
My awesome secret pal also sent my husband and Barnes and Noble gift card for his birthday! Can you believe her generosity? He was just floored. AND she sent him an e-card today. Seriously, she’s showing me up in a big way.
I also just want to say publicly how much I’ve enjoyed getting to know her over email in the last month or so. She’s an incredibly cool woman with whom I have a lot in common, and I’m looking forward to getting to know her even better and eventually meeting her in a couple of months!
A giant cyber thank-you to you, Secret Pal!
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Posted in Yarn and Tools at 10:40 pm by Rachel
The yarn for the Reversible Rib Shawl, which I ordered from my mom’s LYS, arrived today. It’s a beautiful garnet color, not at all pink (as may look on some monitors, like mine). I probably won’t start the shawl for a couple months, but I’m really excited to have it in the queue!
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Posted in Knitty Secret Pal at 9:31 am by Rachel
I got another wonderful package from my secret pal last night. Highlights include gorgeous yarn, delicious chocolate, and the very best stitch markers anyone has ever had, ever, in the history of knitting. PLUS a special gift for my husband, who turns 30 today! (He was totally blown away.) And more! Like the pattern for the amazing Rogue Pullover that I have had my eye on for weeks! Seriously, SP, are you tracking my internet activity? I am forced to conclude that you are, because I don’t even remember mentioning it.
I had a class last night so I didn’t have an opportunity to take pictures yet, but I will do that tonight to showcase the terrific loot that my SP spoiled me with. Thanks, SP!
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06.21.05
Posted in Works in Progress, Yarn and Tools at 9:20 pm by Rachel
In spite of the dearth of posts recently, I have been managing to get in a small amount of knitting. In addition, I have been planning ahead for some projects (read: buying more yarn when I SWORE I WOULD NOT BUY MORE YARN). But never mind, it’s all water under the bridge. So, a little progress report. First, I’ve just cast on for a cotton hat from Last Minute Knitted Gifts, sent to me by my secret pal. It will match the cardigan in the post below. The tie will be white.
I also finally bought some yarn for the Ribby Cardi, but I think I accidentally left the store with one fewer skeins than I meant to buy. Anyway, it’s good old Cascade 220, and I’m looking forward to casting on for it.
My cat mat was a big hit with my mom’s kitten (see a couple posts below), so I am making one for him. My mom picked out the yarn herself – wonderful blues and oranges. This should be fun to make, too. Then I will probably be done with cat mats for a while. Just a while.
Finally, although I have realized that trying to reign in my spending on yarn is fruitless, I have taken a baby step toward reducing my overall knitting spending slightly:
A LIBRARY CARD! The Providence Public Library actually has a good selection of knitting pattern books, and I plan to take serious advantage of this.
I also ordered some yarn for the Reversible Rib Shawl, and I ordered some Knitpicks Crayon yarn to make two cute coordinating (with each other, not with the aforementioned shawl) sweaters for my coworker’s twin girls due this fall, but I’ll post about that when it gets here.
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Posted in Finished Objects at 9:10 pm by Rachel
Pattern: Garter Stitch Cardigan from Knitting for Baby
Yarn: Mission Falls Cotton — I love this stuff
Notes: I have made this cardigan before and really liked it. I had the yarn in my stash for it, so I decided what the heck. What I did not have was anyone to make it for. A little weird to make baby clothes for no one, but I was sort of in a rut and needed a project. I added a couple little details (the white edging, for example), and I’m really happy with how it came out (it’s much cuter than the picture shows, as is usually the case with knitted items). My husband will think I’m insane, but I’m putting this away and keeping it for us to use someday (as in, put on our kid, not wear it ourselves). The parenthesis is the official punctuation mark of this blog.
I am planning to make a matching hat out of Last Minute Knitted Gifts (see adjacent post). I think it will be adorable.
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Posted in General at 4:48 pm by Rachel
Tonight I will catch up with my blogging and put up a nice long post updating you all on my scintillating activities. For now, though, I just wanted to show another photo depicting the popularity of the cat mat. I took it to my mom’s this weekend to show her, and her 5-month-old kitten instantly took up residence on it. (Yes, this is a different cat than in my previous post.) So, of course, I’m going to make one for my mom (well, for her cats).
By the way, if you’re debating using eyelash yarn, do it – it’s a big hit.
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06.12.05
Posted in Finished Objects at 6:43 pm by Rachel
Pattern: Kitty Pi cat bed with alterations to make it into a flat mat
Yarn: Pierrot Print Madil (100% merino wool, thick and thin); eyelash yarn
Notes: When I made my first kitty bed, I was somewhat disappointed that the sides really couldn’t hold their shape and just collapsed. So I thought maybe a mat would work better. I am really, really happy with how it came out. I am going to make matching kitty toys with the leftover wool.
Pre-felted:
Post-felted:
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06.06.05
Posted in General at 10:52 am by Rachel
What a great weekend! Mostly because there was plenty of time for this:
In this photo I’m making a second baby bucket hat (original FO here) for a friend whose baby shower is tomorrow. This one I made in Katia Pisco, a linen/cotton blend. It’s still not as stiff as I’d like, and the floppy edges make it a bit bonnet-like (the baby is a boy), but I think it came out pretty cute. The pattern (from Little Turtle Knits) calls for something like 4.5 inches of straight knitting from brim to crown, which is ridiculous. I did a little less than 3.5 and it still looks a little top-hatty. Oh well.
In addition to finally finding time for knitting, it was a wonderful first-summer-weekend kind of weekend. Saturday night we had some friends over and ate outdoors on the patio and it was idyllic. Horray for warm weather! Check out that beautiful summer noodle salad Matt made.
I’m not sure what’s next for me, knitting-wise (aside from finishing the second kitty bed), but it’ll have to be out of my stash because my hobbies are taking quite a toll on my checkbook. I may attempt to make the ribby cardi out of Katia Pisco, which is a bit of a risk, but I have to use those 20 balls of yarn for something. We’ll see.
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