An Odd Bit of Knitting

I started knitting something new yesterday inspired by this book. I didn't have the book with me though, so I'm winging it, because that is how we roll here.

The Jinx of the Gold Scarf

I love the gold yarn.

I'm beginning to think my gold scarf is jinxed. I've frogged it twice already. I redesigned it to be only 6 stitches across because I don't want to buy another skein of yarn and it was clear halfway though that I didn't have enough yarn for a wide scarf. I wanted something simple that I could make with one skein so that I could sell it in my Etsy shop and still make a profit. Even with a five dollar skein of yarn, and 2 hours of labor (if I could indeed knit it in 2 hours), I'd have to charge at least $30 to make a profit. ($5+ materials plus $12 an hour labor). If it takes 3 hours I'd have to charge $42. Soon, the item would be so expensive no one in their right mind would buy it. You see my dilemma.

Then I carried it outside to work on it and spilled red Mt. Dew on it. So I washed it, and laid it on a table to dry. About the time it was dry, the new kitten took a flying leap onto the table and dumped over the can of Mt. Dew on it again! Ack!  So I washed it again and left it on the clothes line to dry.

Houdini the new cat.

Knitting a Snake

I am an impulsive person. When I found out my grandson was visiting around my birthday (Jan. 3) I thought it would be fun to knit him a snake for a Christmas present. Easy peasy, right? I totally forgot how long it takes to knit a tube of that length. On the last day of his visit, I stuffed the snake in a bag and decided it was more important to spend time with him in the park than to sit there knitting.
   So here it is the end of February and I'm still working on it. It was my 'truck project' but my boyfriend started working almost 40 hours a week, so I wasn't going anywhere in the truck. Today was a trip to town to shop, so I took it along and worked on it on the drive home. Then tonight I realized I better put more stuffing in because the tube was getting really long and I only had the first foot or so stuffed.  (Yes, I know snakes don't have feet, I meant 12 inches).

So tonight before it got dark I put some more stuffing in and took some photos so you don't have to sit there trying to imagine what the snake looks like.

I also have 2 grandsons so I may have to make another snake. It's fun though, once I sit still long enough to do it.

There is no head yet. I am saving that for last. And there is no pattern, so I can't show you the final outcome until I'm done.

My geeky self.

Lots of ends to sew in. Knitting looks very messy sometimes.

Coiled snake and double pointed needles.

Using a yardstick to push the stuffing down

Stuffing the snake.

A snake is a tube that is narrow on each end and fatter in the middle.

Knitting a Snake

I'm not sure when it happened, but I've been knitting daily for awhile. It wasn't like I planned it as a goal or anything. Today I made some progress on the second half of my poncho.

I also got some more knitting books at the Apple Valley library. I also got a book on dyeing and one on spinning, because I think I need to know more before I start teaching classes and hosting workshops.

I would like to do some felting, but the regular kind and needle felting. The only reason I've put it off is because of the expense of buying all the tools and supplies. One of the books has a cute and funny knitted and felted pink poodle. That would be so much fun to make.

Right now I'm knitting a snake for my grandson.

Knitting a snake. I also knitted the hat I'm wearing a few years back.

Knitting a Poncho

Hello Knitters,
I'm happy to report that I got a ride to the Apple Valley, CA library for the first time and found quite a few books on knitting. Since I just started a poncho  a few days ago, I couldn't resist checking out some poncho books. I'm making it on some great vintage wooden knitting needles that I inherited. I can't help wonder what Nadine made with these needles. They are quite large. Was she knitting lace? Hammocks? Curtains? My mom knitted a hammock out of nylon cordage once. I spent many happy hours in that hammock when I was a teenager. We had a giant front lawn and I'd watch the hummingbirds. What memories do you have of people that did knitting when you were a child?

So far my poncho is light pink. I'm sure I'll add other colors. I'm looking forward to wearing it this winter. It's basic stockinette stitch. I needed something simple for taking on car trips. Like today I was working on it in a waiting room while my boyfriend was getting some medical stuff done. This waiting room didn't even have magazines. I was the only one in there that had something fun to pass the time with. It's so easy to take knitting or crochet along. I'm surprised everyone doesn't do it. And it keeps me so relaxed. I also got to knit all the way there and back, so that's a good 2 1/2 hours worth of knitting today.

The knit side of the poncho.

The purl side of the poncho.

Six Colored Spiral

I spent part of last night and a better part of today trying to figure out how to knit a 6 colored spiral. I think I started over 7 times, but I think I finally got it. Here is a photo of it so far. As the rays get wider, I'm not sure how to manage the floats on the backside. I may have to add a new strand of yarn every time I go around.

Designing a Neon Green Teddy Bear

Hello knitters,
Today I made some progress on my neon green teddy bear. I had to design the leg and foot part. The first version came out with the foot too tall, so I frogged it and started again. This time I was more or less happy with it, but on the next one I'll make the legs thinner. I have a photo showing the head, two arms, and the leg I knitted today.

Designing a teddy bear leg and foot.

Teddy bear head, two arms and a leg.

Knitting in Anaheim

Last night I found myself unexpectedly at a knitting meeting and I had my knitting with me. Guess it's always good to have some project handy.  I had my jester hat project.  I finished the first horn.  It's not a traditional hat. It's more like a hat with dreads.  It's in my mind; I have to make it. I keep forgetting Ravelry exists but I met another knitter from Ravelry last night that makes patterns and she inspired me. I think she said her name is PJ.  Must go find her on Ravelry.  Yes, I'm on there but I forget to check it usually.  Here I am.

Knitted Vest

After watching a funny knitting video last night, I was in the mood to knit this morning. It was high time I picked up the vest I'd set aside before I forgot how to do it. So I knitted for about an hour and a half and got the back section done. Now I have to do the last bit of the front panel and sew it all together at the shoulder seams.

Not Knitting

I was hoping to meet my friend Carol at a knitting meeting last night, but then the day dragged on, rain was forecast, and my mood went south for the winter. So I missed it. I hope she had fun. I think they only meet once a month so I may have to wait a long while to go back.

Skinny Black Knitted Fashion Scarf

I love knitting long skinny scarves. I found this one I'd already finished so I listed it on Etsy. I have some big bags of projects I just dragged out to the patio to sort. In one there are 2 tychus hats that need to be finished, and a pumpkin hat and a gob of other things. So I better get back out there and make some progress before it gets dark.

All Things STring Knitting in Public Day

Renata hosted a great bash. You can reach All Things String at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AllThingsString/

Knitting Event

On June 19, 2010 at El Dorado Park there is an event that combines World Juggling Day and Knit in Public Day. It's at an archery range. So I'm going to take my hoops, juggling equipment, archery gear and knitting supplies. There is a small fee to drive into the park. I think it's $7.00. Bring something to share at the potluck as there are no food booths. We are on our own. If you do not live near Long Beach, CA you can check the IJA website for other World Juggling Day events near you.

Multicolored Knitting on Straight Needles

The multicolored knitting I started yesterday. I got to work on it a bit more today. I think I may make a hat or a headwrap out of it. A vest would be nice, but I don't have enough of this yarn.

Knit a Bunny Rabbit

I'm designing a new bunny rabbit. So far I have his head, ears, and half his body knitted. He is purple. My fingers were getting pretty worn out last night so I had to put the bunny down. It's so hard to stop isn't it? But I don't want to injure my hands again. They've been doing pretty well lately.

This is a prototype. That means there is no existing pattern. It's trial and error. People wonder why one of a kind items cost more. It's because so much time is invested in research and developement. I may have to make four or five of these to work the bugs out. A prototype item will always take a lot longer to make than something done in assembly line fashion.

Knitting Event June 19 at El Dorado Park

My friend Renata said that on June 19th 2010 we are meeting again to celebrate World Juggling Day and a knit-a-long at El Dorado Regional Park in Long Beach CA. There is a park entrance gate that was $8 to drive in last time I went but other than that the event is free. Jugglers, knitters, spinners, weavers and archers are all welcome. The archery range is right there. We will be under the trees at the back of the archery range (by the street). There is no nearby street parking so I recommend carpooling or paying the gate fee. The last time I went it was a potluck, so you might want to bring food to share.

More Reasons to Knit

Lucky me, I was going through some old magazines, and I just happened upon a Vogue Knitting from winter 2007 that's full of Valentine's Day ideas. So I started straight away knitting a heart motif in black yarn that I will probably put on a T-shirt and let the shirt show through the lace part. And I got that idea from the TV show http://knitandcrochettoday.com/ rerun where they featured circular crocheted motifs around the neckline of a t-shirt. My imagination grabs things like that and just runs to the knitting needle organizer.

In other news, just before Christmas I started knitting my daughter a baby cocoon and a few days ago she called to say she's pregnant with her first child. Now I definitely have to finish that cocoon because they work best for baby photography when the baby is 0 to 3 months old. And I never told her I was making it so it will be a surprise for sure. (Unless she reads my blog). But she's far too busy right now for blog reading.

Knitting By Train

My knitting plans on the train flew out the window on Sunday. The trip is 2 hours by bus and 3 by train. Only the bus was packed, and then so was the train. It looks like many students took the train to Isla Vista for the Halloween party scene, and bought group tickets, because the conductor had a big ole stack of tickets and was checking it with IDs and everyone on my train car seemed to be under 24. I had no elbow room.

However, at the Santa Barbara train station, our train was delayed for an hour and a half. Another train was stuck on the rails, and our train ended up pushing it into town. So for about 45 minutes I got to sit on a bench at the station and knit. That was a great way to spend a block of time I hadn't counted on having. And I felt a bit superior that I was making a project while everyone else was fiddling away their time on their laptops or cellphones. I should finish that hat today and get it into the mail tomorrow. But I have so much work that piled up while I was gone. My daughter is visiting on Nov. 10-13, so I need to get the stuff unpacked and the house put back together. So far today I've done laundry, watered the garden, refilled the hummingbird feeder, and caught up on some of my writing.

Two Hats in the Making

I've gotten requests for two chemo caps this week so I'm going to be doing those on the train tomorrow. I almost have one finished. I'm using Caron Soft yarn because I sure don't want to aggravate sensitive skin. I just want them to be super soft and cozy. I do have some hats already made up for those in a hurry, but if possible I'd like to make the person a special one in their favorite colors if time allows. Then as I make it I can think of the intent of healing and the love that person needs during this trial in their life.

I'm also knitting a rug from a pattern in Oneskein by Leigh Radford. It's full of cool project that take a minimal amount of yarn in assorted colors. I'm going to take that on the train with me as well. So far I've started with a baby blue. The rug is made of a long tube that will be sewn over Wright's Piping Filler Cord  and then sewn into a spiral.

Crafts to do in Front of the Computer Monitor

I really enjoy the rolled brim hats so now I'm making one in shades of pink. I'm about 3" into it. I've been playing the game Evony on line, and knitting while waiting for my troops to storm the castle makes everything so much fun. Otherwise I'd be bored stiff as my little men hammer away at building a new tower. That's one thing I can say about knitting. It goes well with sitting in front of a computer monitor. I'd never be able to paint or sand a drum or plant a garden sitting in front of my monitor (Farmville doesn't count). I have been able to do some hand sewing like quilting in front of the computer. And crochet of course. I don't want to spend all day on line though. And knitting travels just as easily to the library, the patio or the train.