Knitted Headband Photos

I finally got some decent photos of the headband I knitted for the pattern I designed and mentioned earlier in this blog. This is the first one I knitted. I still have to do photos of the pink and green camo one. But today is almost over and I still have five or six things on my to-do list.

Easy Knit Scarf

I got tired of crocheting at the archery range yesterday and luckily I had a pair of big needles with me so I started crocheting a scarf in steel blue and medium purple Caron yarn. I did it in garter stitch and I got about a foot knitted before it got too cold to knit. That's the thing about Boye aluminum needles; in cold weather they are just like holding two popsicles.

The big needles will make a nice fluffly scarf. It's basically 20 stitches across and knit every row. It's what I call 'mindless knitting', a simple project to pass the time that doesn't have any finicky details or patterns to refer back to. Easy enough to knit in public while carrying on a conversation and watching people go by.
I leave my complicated projects at home for times when I'm alone and can concentrate.

One More Sleeve To Go

So far on my sweater I have the front panel, the back panel and one sleeve finished. Things have been hectic, but it shouldn't take too long to make the last sleeve if I can just find a few hours of uninterrupted time. I've already had to renew the book once, so I'd like to get on with it. I'm thinking of just buying the book from Amazon is it's out in paperback too. We'll see.

Sleeve and Video 51 Things

Today I finished the sleeve for the confetti sweater. I also made a youtube video called 51 things. My knitted headband is on there. Also some items I crocheted.

Confetti Sweater and Book

This is the knitting book I'm doing the sweater from. It's page 95.

Confetti Sweater 5 AM

I woke up before five AM with a tummy ache. Since I needed to sit up for awhile, I started working on my confetti sweater. After about an hour of knitting I felt I could lay down again and get some more sleep. I'm just about ready to put the marker in place for the V-neck.

Confetti Sweater Update

I finished the back panel of the sweater and I am well on the way with the front panel. This should be faster now that I know how the pattern goes. This sweater has no ribbing so I hope I like it. If it comes out I want to make more.

Tags and Blog Labels

I added labels to my blog again so it's easier to search by topic or follow along with a certain project. The tags are listed in the right column at the bottom of the page. That should help you track down the parts of the blog you want to read.

Sweater Back

I almost have the back section of the sweater finished. This pattern has four parts; the back, the front, and the sleeves. So I'm happy to be almost done with part 1. The front is much the same as the back, only its split in the center to form the neck.

Multidirectional Scarf

Today I needed a project to take on a day trip, and I grabbed a headwrap I was knitting. Then I grabbed a tote bag to stuff it into and we rushed out the door. I didn't have time to clean out the totebag first and later in the day I went through the bag and found the multidimensional scarf I started a year and a half ago. I worked on it a while hoping I'd remember the technique, but not a chance. So I ripped out the stitches I did today and when I got home I looked the directions up again on the Internet and ultimately found the link on my own blog that led to the directions. So here they are: scarf Now I need to go in the other room and see if I can correct the part I did wrong today.

Loom knitting

Today I took a break from knitting on needles to knitting on a loom. The knitting is still done one stitch at a time with a hook. It makes a very nice texture. My loom knitting is on a different blog though.Here

Yellow Sweater cont.

Now that I've got about a foot of stockinette stitch done on my new sweater back, it's a lot stretchier than I thought and there is a chance it might fit me after all. My guage was a bit on the big side and that slight difference could give me just enough extra space to fit me. We shall see. I'll probably add an inch or two to sleeve length as well, because I have longer than average arms.

The Cost of Knitting

I've seen some lovely knitted items on Etsy.com and people keep saying they are selling their knitting. But I've never been able to sell a single knitted item on Etsy. My prices reflect the time invested, and I see many other knitters only covering the cost of their supplies. They don't seem to add any wage for their time spent. Not all of them, but some of them. I do know one lady that manages to sell $300 hats. But I just can't see selling a handknit hat for $20.00. And I can't compete with those that do. I know they are trying to compete with Walmart/Kmart prices. Or they live in countries where $1.00 an hour is considered a good wage. It's really a no win situation.

Knitting and Cross Stitch

Yesterday I got over to Michael's and got the embroidery floss 791 I needed to finish the Twilight cross stitch quote. I might design some sort of artsy border to go around it and to add more color.

I also started working on that multicolored sweater and did some more this morning. It's knitting up fast on the number 15 knitting needles. After my recent tedious projects it's nice to see so much progress so quickly. It's been foggy out and there is just something so cheery about knitting with bright colors on a gloomy day.

Sweater

I just started knitting a new sweater. The largest pattern size was L and I'm XL so it's probably going to be a gift or go into my Etsy shop. But I thought I'd learn some valuable techniques along the way. It's multicolored acrylic yarn that is mostly yellow. I got the yarn for free and want to put it to good use.

Velona and Kaffe Fassett

Yesterday I was looking up local yarn stores and found this Kaffe Fassette interview at Velona yarn store. http://www.velona.com/items/velona113.html

Kaffe's books are famous amongst knitters and fiber artists.

Checkerboard headwrap

This morning I finished the knitting part of the checkerboard headwrap. And not a moment too soon, as I only had about a foot of yarn left. Then using the same needles I started knitting another one out of Lion Trellis yarn.

That Does Not Compute

Here it is Friday the day after the American Thanksgiving. I'd rather be knitting but my computer is being impossible. For no apparent reason, my computer suddenly goes silent and whatever windows are open at the time just freeze on my screen, and I'm just dead in the water. The only thing that works is to turn the power off and then back on, and even then, it's taking a good 30 seconds to five minutes to kick back on and restart itself.

I spent an hour running a virus scan and just when it was about complete my computer froze again and I lost the scan. So now I'm running a 'quick scan' hoping it gets through before my computer has another seizure.

If I had to choose between computer problems and knitting problems I'd go with the knitting problems.

Vintage Book

Someone gave me some vintage knitting pattern books, so I'm trying out a bit of those on the new yellow and navy project I started yesterday. I had gotten through the first row of the pattern repeat when I spotted something fishy. So I tried to rip back to just that spot, but then I dropped another stitch, and eventually took out 3 rows, and tried again. Now an hour later I'm about to the point where I made the mistake the first time. Part of the problem is I'm using two strands of yarn and have to knit into the back of every other stitch so it's binding up a bit. Still, onward and upward.

Two strands together

I was cleaning and came across some navy yarn and some gold yarn. So I cast them on together on some rather large needles just to see how it would look. Sometimes I like knitting nothing in particular just for the heck of it.

Knitted headband with squares

Still working on this one but thought I'd share a few photos.

PLARN

I'm writing an article on using Plarn, or plastic yarn. Yarn that's made from cutting up plastic bags. So I need to make some samples for the article. I started a hat many moons ago, but I'm not sure where it ended up. So I'll start afresh on something new.

Another headband

I couldn't resist starting a new headband today in a checkboard pattern in pink camo yarn. If it turns out I'll share how I did it.

Getting Organized

I just spent over an hour sorting a tote bag full of tangled yarn projects. It had a hipband in progress, a finished pink snood, a Christmas scarf almost finished, a doll I started about 15 years ago, several balls of yarn that didn't seem to go with any of the projects, 2 crochet hooks, a circular needle, 2 stitch holders, and other odd bits. Now they are all hanging safely on hangers in the hall closet.

Projects Revisited

Here are photos of an original tube top I knitted a while back.
Projects like this are a great way to use up small bits of your favorite yarn.

Prayer Shawl Update 2

I worked on my prayer shawl tonight. Remind me not to try that again without wearing my reading glasses. Hard on the eyes with those little stitches. But at least I made some progress.

Yarn & Needles Tip

If you are working with a yarn that plies loosely, in other words, it keeps seperating, use needles with blunter tips to keep from splitting the ply. With any new yarn test it out on the needles you plan to use, and if it's a hassle make another choice before you've invested lots of hours in fighting with it.

Prayer Shawl

I have been knitting a prayer shawl for my aunt, who has stomach cancer. I get depressed when I work on it so I'm not doing that much on it at the moment. It's a pearly gray color and it's a lacey pattern in a triangle shawl.

Here is the pattern if you are in need of such a thing. Triangular prayer shawl.

Knitting Blogs and Pricing Your Knitting

I just realized I have three different knitting blogs. This one of course, then one on loom knitting and one on freeform knitting. I must really like knitting.

Today I got into a not very pleasant discussion in the Etsy chatroom about how it hurts all knitters when someone prices their items too low on Etsy. I know buyers can't understand why hand knitted items cost so much but they don't knit and haven't a clue how labor intensive it is to do even the simplest of knitting. Then you start tossing in cables and handspun yarn and beads, and the price goes up and up. But it's hardly fair to expect someone to offer a hat for sale that took them 10 hours to make for $20.00, now is it?

One lady asked how much she should charge for knitting a custom sweater. And I said I can't tell you, but you have to factor in how fast you can knit, the cost of yarn, buttons, and trim, your hourly wage (yes you should have one, you have to eat too), and how much time it takes to fix mistakes because you are working with a new design and there will be mistakes.

Free Head Wrap Pattern for beginners

Today I am knitting a head wrap out of Homespun that is 2x2 ribbing and 14 stitches wide. You can make one too.


Supplies:
Pair of knitting needles in a size you are comfortable with
Yarn that feels soft against your face
Yarn or tapestry needle.

Stitches you need to know: Knit and Purl
You must also know how to cast on and cast off.

Cast on 14 stitches.
Knit 2, Purl 2 until you reach the end of the first row.
Turn
Purl 2, Knit 2 until you reach the end of the 2nd row.

Repeat rows 1 and 2 until the piece is long enough to form a tube around your head.
Cast off.
Use yarn needle to sew narrow edges to each other using an overcast stitch or your favorite joining stitch.

Optional: Sew on an artificial flower or decoration.

Put head wrap on, take photo, and send me your picture and I'll add it to my blog.

Pattern copyright 2008 by Fayme Harper
For non-commercial use only.

Need help learning to knit? My favorite site is http://www.knittinghelp.com.

I just signed up for Tagfoot. http://ping.fm/lfV6m Come see all my links and comments and my wishlist.

Want to join ping.fm too? Go to http://www.ping.fm.Use the code 'legendofping' and you could have the luxury of posting to all your blogs in one fell swoop like I do. Way more efficient than doing it one by one.

I'm not sure what 'ping my default' means but I guess I'll find out when I hit send.

The week sure went by quick. I had a lot more planned but didn't have the energy to do it. My hands are still sore from woodcarving, and so I've had to lay off the knitting and crocheting. I'm looking forward to the weekend. My daughter may visit. We'll see.

Come view my Flickr photo stream. Over 3000 photos I've taken are waiting there for your pleasure. http://ping.fm/3TTAi

I just signed up for Ping.fm to make social networking more effiecient.

Tubular scarf

I worked on my circular scarf today at the archery meeting. Got a lot of compliments on the colors and detail.

tychus hat from knitty.com

Felted Purse

I started a new purse with pink wool. I'm probably going to stick to basic garter stitch since it's going to be felted.

Long hat

I'm trying to make a hat in this style, only knitted http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3187/2593431198_fa62738227_b.jpg

Knitting blog ring

Does anyone know of a good knitting blog ring I can join?

Jester Hat beginning

Friday I started working on a new jester hat in a silk/wool blend mossy green yarn. Then Sat. I had to go to the ER (but I'm fine) and so today I got back to knitting the hat. The knitting was putting me to sleep so I didn't get very far yet. Yes, knitting is relaxing but sometimes it is too relaxing. So I quit and worked with my hula hoop for a while. Because knitters need exercise too.

More spinning photos

Couldn't fit them all in in the previous post. More photos from World Juggling Day at El Dorado Park.

More knitting

I see I'm a little behind in posting my knitting projects. The two close-ups are scarves I am knitting. The woman with the fish is my friend Renata Fossett and the fish she made for the mystery knitting contest. The alpaca and the spinner were taken at a World Juggling Day gathering I went to last weekend at El Dorado Park in CA.

Fair Isle Purse

I worked on my fair isle purse at Jack In the Box yesterday and noticed the bottom strip of the pattern just wasn't quite right. I've decided to let it go. I've already started over once, and I'm so far into it now. I'm learning a lot and that counts for something. I'll just have to be more careful with future rows.
It's a delight to work with various colors. Each row only has 2 colors so it's not as daunting as it might appear.

I'll never win

All my life I've tried to convince people that knitting and crocheting isn't just for grannies but the stereotype has persisted. I was in grammer school when I learned how to crochet and I was in high school when I learned how to knit.
Finally people are trying to convince the whole world that it's an art for the young and it's fashionable and not dumpy and dowdy like grannie's old afgans.

Bad news folks. Come Sept. I will be a grandmother. So now the very message I tried to get across all my life is about to backfire on me. I fought for the cause all my life and now I'm the stereotypical grandmother who knits and crochets. Save me.

bonding with knitters

I was waiting for my table at Chili's in Santa Maria and a lady who was also waiting was knitting a cabled burgundy sweater. I told her I was going to goof her up by mumbling 'purl, purl' at random moments. She laughed and then we discussed knitting on trains or while waiting in line at amusement parks.
That reminds me of a book I saw called Knitter's Night Out. It made me long for a group of people to knit with once a week.

Bunny hand puppet

I've been designing a knitted bunny hand puppet.

Yarn Bargain of the Day

I've paid about $5 or $6 a skein for this Lion brand yarn at yarn shops. Imagine my surprise when I found it at the .99 store for .50 a skein. And I needed some to finish a shrug I'm making so I bought 6. I suspect the yarn came from Walmart since many of them have closed their arts and crafts depts. I've also heard of it showing up at Big Lots so keep your eyes peeled.

More Knitting

I just listed three more items in my etsy shop and two of them were knitted. http://www.pigglewiggins.etsy.com

The red scarf I finished this morning. The purple hat I made for a class display at Michael's and the manager refused to display it because it was a 'family oriented store' despite the fact that the main display by the registers at that very moment was for Pirates of the Carribean. So I quit shortly thereafter and the poor hat has been sitting in a bag ever since.

New Knitters

Yesterday I taught two of my friends to knit. At the other end of the table men where working away on bows and making a lot of noise so it was hard to concentrate but they both got the 2 basic stitches down.

My first mittens

This is the first pair of mittens I knitted. The pink camo ones were the 2nd pair.

Pink Camo Mittens

Things were getting so overwhelming that I made myself sit down and write 3 pages in my journal to clear out my brain. Then I took a walk in the sunshine after hearing sunshine on our retinas produces seratonin, which cheers us up. A little sunshine every day, especially in winter, and no more cabin fever. While on my walk I finished a pair of mittens and listed them on Etsy. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=8990779

I'm so happy to have one more project in the 'done' pile.