The 88 Hat With a Rolled Brim

I just finished my green camo rolled brim hat made of Paton yarn. I love the way it came out. This one is for my shop but the next time I have some money I'll buy more of the same yarn and make me one, only with a long tail I think. I'm calling it the 88 Hat because that's how many stitches I need to cast on for each hat on my 16" DPNs.

Chemo Caps Always Free

If you need one for you or a loved one, email me at Pigglewiggins (at) gmail.com. and let me know your favorite color. Also, do you prefer solids or stripes or anything goes. Make sure you tell me if it's for a child, teen, or adult so I get the size right. And I'll need a complete address to send it to.

And if any of you are in the Anaheim area I also accept donations of yarn and knitting and crocheting supplies, as long as they are from a smoke free environment. That way I can keep the caps coming, and you can get your closet cleaned out of all the yarn Aunt Martha left you. And if you could never figure out that new fangled knitting loom, I'll be happy to have those available too. That way I can put the local teens to work making hats as well.

Pink and Yellow Beanie

I finished all the knitting on my pink and yellow hat last night. It looks like candy. I still have to weave in all the loose ends and it will be good to go. I also need to give it a wash because the older yarn is a bit grimy. It's acrylic though, so should clean up just fine. I think this one came out better than the green wool one because I made the crown a bit deeper. Then again some people prefer a hat that doesn't come down too far.

Knitting and Budgeting

Even in S. California a chill is in the air at night now. And I'm busy knitting away for my craft booth on Oct. 25, 2009 at an archery event in Pasadena. I want to have a pile of wool hats finished. So far I have maybe 2 finished and 6 in the works. I don't want to be caught unprepared.

I almost bought another hat knitting book at Joann's today. But I really should stop all purchases until after the first of the month so I don't run short on money for my trip Oct. 31. Traveling is so expensive. I'm going by train. And then I have to eat out a lot for 3 or 4 days. And that takes cash. If I sell anything on the 25th the money will be useful for the trip, but I can't count my chickens before they hatch.

Here's the book I almost bought: http://www.patonsyarns.com/patternbook.php?PBS=500577

Harf? Scood? ???

On Etsy I found two things that interested me. Some knitters make something that can be worn as a neck scarf or a hat and they call them a "Harf", or hat + scarf.  But I've seen other longer scarves with hoods attached and they call those "Scoods" (Scarf plus Hood). And I've yet to get around to making either one. So which gets your vote? Harf or Scood? Or both.

Knitting a Colorful Beanie

I finished the green wool skully type of hat (beanie) and set to work on one in more girly colors. This one so far is yellow and rose pink stripes. I think I was starved for color after working with the olive green. What can I say, I'm addicted to color. I took my knitting with me when we went to the hobby store too. I like keeping it handy so I can work on it a row or two here and there. That way my hands don't ache. If I knit too much I can't type and vice versa. Once I even knitted a long bag for my scimitar for belly dancing.

Olive Hat

I'm almost done with the wool olive hat I'm knitting. This time I got those 16" circular needles to work for me. I just have to remember to cast on 88 stitches, and even though that looks too small for an adult's head, it isn't. That's Wallop the cat wondering why he has to sit next to the new girl.

Knitting and Men

I took my knitting with me to the Pagan Fair. I'm making an olive green hat. As we were driving there my boyfriend looks over and says, "You knit hats?" Now I must have knitted at least 50 hats since I moved in with him, including 2 other ones this week. And he knows crocheting hurts my wrist. Sometimes I think someone took him and left a changling in his bed.

Making New Friends

I went to the S n B today and at least this time people were knitting. Marianne was working on some alpaca and wool socks from the yarn she spun herself. I met Heidi who was working on some crocheted cat toys and also a knit hat for her dad. I worked on a guage swatch for my next hat. And Laura worked on a wide scarf made from Homespun that looked to be about long enough to bind off. Which reminds me that my theme of the day was to make new friends, so at least I met my goal.

Tutorial Troubles and Sixteen Inch Needles

Because of the tutorial below I went out and bought the 16" circular needle and tried making a hat. Not that hat mind you but one I already started that I'm knitting from tip to brim. And the needle is working but it's really too darn short. So I checked with another hat knitter who uses a 29" needle and she said there is no way she'd use a 16...that would be too many stitches. And I believe her. I think my hat will turn out okay, but it's not comfortable working w/that many stitches on the needle. Granted that needle is an 8 but it's the smallest size Joanne's had in stock yesterday in a circular needle. I'm not saying the video won't work if you follow every detail. I'll have to try it and see.

Tutorial on Knitting Your First Hat

This is an excellent video for those wanting to knit their first hat or for those who need a review on circular knitting. It is a beanie (skully) style of hat made from one color of yarn.

Unisex Slouch Hat Spotting

Today at Starbuck's I spotted a young man wearing a cream colored slouch hat. It was knitted and the center was gathered. (Like when you knit a tube and then gather it all into a bunch with a drawstring). I'm glad to see a style that suits both men and women.

Pete Seeger Hat from the Inaguration

http://socklady.wordpress.com/2009/01/18/pete-seeger-in-a-socklady-hat/ I found this photo of the Pete Seeger Hat from the Obama inauguration. Unfortunately the youtube video has been blocked for copyright reasons. Maybe this land isn't your land Pete.

A bigger view on flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/usatoday/3207831770/

Slouchy Hat Patterns

I've been wanting to make a slouch hat so I thought I'd share some free patterns I've come across.
http://jessicasuzanne.com/craftypants/2007/09/13/pretty-puffs-slouchy-hat-with-pattern/
http://www.knitandtonic.net/knitandtonic/2006/12/leslouch.html
http://slomoeknits.wordpress.com/2007/03/25/slouchy-copy-cat-hat/
http://parallaxknitting.com/2008/02/free-pattern-slouch/
Most of these weren't truly 'slouchy' but this next one is:
http://caffeinatedfrenzy.blogspot.com/2009/06/pattern-slouch.html

Here's a good one:
http://www.straw.com/cpy/patterns2/accessories/taos-slouchhat.html

Spats and Gauntlets

I wonder if I should try knitting some spats for a Steampunk outfit I'm working on. For once, the male costumes are just as cool as the female ones. If you don't know what Steampunk is, look it up on Youtube. A video is worth even more words than a photo.

Yesterday we visited with friends and I worked on my knitted mitts. I'm almost done with the first one. People still ask me what they are for. I guess the mainstream has never seen wrist gauntlets/cuffs/mitts. Funny how I got the same reaction from people in the 1970's. They've never been really mainstream. Though jugglers and belly dancers have worn them for as long as I can remember.

Wrist cuffs

I recently started knitting a long tailed hat, and I've barely started it but now I'd like to knit some tattered looking arm cuffs. (Gauntlets). I wish I had some funky hand spun yarn for that. I should work with my drop spindle more.

At the S&B I got to finish a knitted scarf made from trellis yarn. Everyone oohed and ahhed over it so I must have done something right.

Stitch and Ahem

This afternoon I'm going to a Stitch-n-Bitch at the home of an archer I know. I just wish that name hadn't caught on and stuck. It makes me cringe and I will never feel like it's cool. To me it's equivalent to calling something (Knit with the insert N word).(Cringe again). Yes, that's how strongly I feel about both those words.

Still, my friend is a nice lady and she invited me so I'm going. And as much as I knit, I can't believe I can't even decide which knitting project to work on. I guess it's going to have to be something easy because I can't knit and talk at the same time to save my life. Not without making mistakes. And I've been knitting for 37 years.

Striped Tunic

Today I worked on an old knitting project and a new one.

I finished the sleeve on the sweater that's been sitting in a bucket for a long time. I still have to sew the parts together.

And then once I freed up my jumbo needles I started working on a striped t-tunic inspired by a blouse I saw on American Idol Remixed. I'm not sure it will transfer well to yarn but it's worth a try.

Knitting Blunders

I was knitting along today on a rectangular project and after about six rows I realized I had switched from stockinette stitch to garter stitch. It looks fine so I'm not too worried about it, but it's a little unnerving when my subconscious mind makes design decisions without me.

Stitch Markers

The one thing I can say about the bikini top I'm knitting is it is sure giving me a chance to practice different kinds of decreases.

Also, I need to make more stitch markers. I don't know where all mine got off to. Making them is easy. You take some split rings and some cute charms and attach them all together. Make sure your split rings are big enough to go over the needles you are using for your project. I like to make each one different, because if they all match you may forget which stitch you do at each marker. Or you can buy stitch markers on Etsy.com, but why not try making your own first.

Knitting and a state of Pie

Yesterday I met a woman that just loves to knit. Though I did get a raised eyebrow when I told her I was knitting a bikini top. She said she likes to knit heavy wool sweaters. I said, "Well, it is southern CA. I don't remember the last time I needed a sweater." She laughed and invited me to her once a month Stitch and Bitch gathering.

Speaking of said bikini top, I worked on it this morning and found a mistake in the tutorial. I had to review four kinds of decreases because I wasn't quite awake this morning and nothing looked right. So I'm glad I got that squared away. At first I forgot it was a bikini top. I thought it was a scarf and started knitting rows in stockinette stitch. Then I suddenly remembered the scarf was in the house on the bigger needles, and the reason I had stopped working on the bikini top was because it was time to do the decreases and add the stitch marker. Oopsy! Exactly why you should always tag each and every project when you start it. Then you don't have to ask yourself, "What was this supposed to be anyway?"

Oh and the lady I mentioned at the beginning? She gave me a pumpkin pie. I asked her if she just randomly had extra pies laying around in case someone dropped by and she said the can makes 2 pies, and there is no sense in having half a can of pumpkin in the fridge. So guess what I'm having for desert tonight? LOL

Needles Sizes

I just measured some big needles I was using yesterday for the bikini top and they are size 15. I need size 10. But I liked the fabric I was knitting so I'm going to keep going with that and start the bikini with a different set of needles and yarn. I'm thinking the knitting I started on the 15's is going to make a nice shrug or tube top. Now I have to scare up some 10's for the bikini top.

Luckily we got a break in the weather today and it's not sweltering. First cool day we've had in 2 weeks I think. So I'm definitely going to knit outdoors under the tree on my patio.

Knit Pro I Think I Love You

I just found a free online site where you can convert your .jpgs into knitting patterns. http://www.microrevolt.org/knitPro/ Just drop in a .jpg and hit submit. Also great for other gridded projects like needlepoint and crochet.

Bikini Top

I was over on Threadbanger.com looking for a tutorial I found a while back and came across one for knitting a bikini top. I doubt it would support a buxom person, but it looks very sexy on someone that is say an A or B cup size. I will probably make one just to wear around the yard. It was the top only. Some commented that they were going to modify it into a halter top or corset top. It takes size 10 needles so should work up fairly quickly. She used a double strand of cotton. Make sure you pick something that feels good against your skin. Even if you line it, the straps may still irritate your skin if you pick scratchy yarn.

Little Green Sweater

I'm knitting a tiny green sweater ornament. I just started on the sleeves. Now I need to figure out where to get either tiny clothes hangers or tiny clothes pins to hang it up with.

Knitting on a Hot Hot Day

I got to spend the day outdoors with a bunch of blacksmiths. So while they were pounding away on hot steel on one of the hottest days of the year, I was sitting in the shade knitting this lovely scarf out of trellis yarn on circular needles. I also got another hat crocheted today.

Tomorrow is our bowyer's meeting so I'm going to take my knitting and crochet with me as well, and maybe some beadwork. That is if I ever get to bed and get some sleep tonight.

Heat Wave in July

I've confined myself to quarters, so to speak, during this heat wave. My truck doesn't have air conditioning and unless I have to be somewhere I'm going to work out of my home as much as possible. Luckily for me I have many knit and crochet projects going on right now, and there is no risk of running out of yarn anytime in this millenia.

I want to see the new Harry Potter movie that is coming out soon and fortunately movie theaters are air conditioned in S. California, so no worries there. And I want to find my Slytherin scarf so I can finish it to wear to the theater. But only if I go at night, because it's way too hot to be sporting a neck scarf in these temperatures.

Once again I'd like to remind the knitters out there that learning basic crochet is almost essential to be a successful knitter, because that hook comes in handy for retrieving dropped stitches, fastening odd bits of knitwear together and doing decorative edgings. In general, crocheted edgings work up a whole lot faster than knitted ones. But if you are looking for brownie points for having used knitting and only knitting for the entire project, have at it. I'm not your mother.

Redwood Greenwood Knitting Panel

I've been continuing my experiments with cables. I found the pamphlet I learned cables from in the first place when I was cleaning my bedroom this morning. Right now it's just an experiment. I don't really want to make yet another scarf. We'll see.

I took apart a partially made teddy bear I was knitting in eyelash yarn in a shiny redwood color to use as a contrasting color. I didn't have enough to make the whole teddy bear anyway, and I was tired of having so many unfinished projects. Also, I didn't like the bear tying up a pair of needles.
I took the photo before I added the eyelash yarn.

Colorful Knitting

I went to my local library and requested 3 Kaffe Fassett books. And this morning I was cleaning my bedroom and found one of my knitting pamplets I've been looking for for ages that has a cabled scarf I wanted to make again. So I started on that this morning during the Michael Jackson Memorial service on TV that went on and on. I think they were about ready to call him St. Michael. At any rate, it's a day I won't soon forget.

I'm just never going to be good at knitting bland colors. I'm trying to make some solid colored hats for a male friend, but I keep drifting back to more colorful projects. The way I look at it, life is just too short to knit with beige. I've seen a seller on Etsy whose shop name is 'Kill Beige". I think that's great. And navy too while we are at it. Do any big beautiful women actually like Navy, a color foisted on us by the fashion industry for decades? I even hated the navy skirts I had to wear in choir and that was in the 70's.

Silly Knitting

Awhile back I knit this silly spiral hat. I never wear it much because where am I going to wear it, especially in S. California.

But now that I'm doing Silly Sunday Self Portraits I'll get to wear all my goofy hats. Yay hats!

bag of goodies

I was looking for my Harry Potter scarf and I went through a few buckets full of knitting and crochet projects and it wasn't in any of them. So I decided to start going through some of these things to see just what was in them anyway. So I grabbed up a bag and went through it. Evidentally it was from one of my train trips. Inside I found a Mary Englebreit notebook, a pencil pouch I'd made a traveling drawing kit in, train ticket stubs, the beginnings of a little knitted purse, my sunglasses, a bandanna, and some random balls of yarn. And a partially finished something on a pair of thin needles, only one of the needles is missing. Let me guess...it fell out in the living room somewhere? I'll have to go look for that. I've noticed I often start things on trips, but when I get home I'm tired and behind on everything else and then the projects get lost.

Kaffe and Slytherin

I got to see an interview with Kaffe Fassett on the Create TV show. I've always done colorful knitting so when I discovered his books it did wonderful things for my imagination. Of all the crafts he does, he said knitting is his favorite. It helps him forget his problems and escape for awhile. So as soon as I wake up enough, I'm going to go work on my knitting.

Also, with the next Harry Potter movie coming out in July I really want to finish my Slytherin scarf which I started knitting before the last movie came out. Or was it two movies ago? It's in a bucket around here somewhere. And high time I finished it off.

For more about Kaffe Fassett go here: http://www.kaffefassett.com/Knitting.html And he pronounces his name CAF, not Cafe like I was saying it.

Cable Knitting

I'm making slow and steady progress. I'm glad I don't have a deadline. That way I can enjoy the way this is turning out. I did 12 rows today. My hands were a bit sore from yesterday. Not all of that is from knitting. A lot of it is from typing. Seems like I'm always typing.

My cat is feeling good tonight. He's spinning around on my bed trying to catch his tail.

Cable Scarf Progress

I made some more headway with the cable knit scarf. When it stops being fun, I take a break from it. Cables make the stitches tight, so my hands get tired faster on that row with the crossover as well as the next row after that. Then the tension goes back to normal. It's a six row repeat so after about 18 rows it's time to put it away for awhile or even til another day.

Cable Knit Scarf

I started a new cable scarf with front cables, back cables and horseshoe cables. First I tried it with Caron soft yarn and the mistakes were too hard to correct. It doesn't hold it's loops if you pull the needle out of a stitch to correct a cable. So I unraveled that and started again with basic Red Heart yarn. I don't like the way it feels as much but it's a lot easier to see and fix mistakes. I know the photos look like a salmon color but it's really a dusty rose pink.

Knitting and Tea Interview

Meet the authors of Knitting and Tea in the Threadbanger interview.

Knitting a Tam

Although I'm really good at crocheting tams, I've always wanted to knit one and haven't succeeded yet. Does anyone know of an Internet site with a tam or beret knitting tutorial I could try? I think my problem is I've been trying to do the complicated kind with a lot of colors, when I should just knit a solid colored one until I get the hang of the technique.

The Knitted Bunny's New Home

Now that I'm knitting and crocheting quite a bit again, that strange blister under my thumb is breaking out again. Does anyone else have this issue? It gets all red and irritated, then eventually the skin all peels off like a blister and starts all over again.

Anyway here are some more photos of my trip to San Luis Obispo CA last week.

Tiny Sweater Knitting

This teeny tiny knitting is truly a bit of magic.



This teeny tiny knitting is truly a bit of magic.

Coffee Cozies

I need to design some coffee cozies. I don't use those paper sleeves all that much but as I've been traveling I'm going through about 4 a day. And I realize my daughter would use one a lot if she had it. And when I got her coffee this morning it was so hot that the thin paper sleeve didn't really work anyway. I like the coffee cozies with cabling on them so maybe I'll try that. And I like the ones that look like little corsets.

Magenta Scarf

I got a little knitting done today on a magenta scarf. I'm out of acrylic yarn so I'll have to wait until I get some more. It's a nice wide scarf. A silver brooch would look lovely on it. I'm going to use 2 other colors on it. I'll decide which colors when I see what's available at the store. Or if I get home before I get to the store I'll use my existing stash. I really don't have the room to store any more yarn so I'd like to use what I have. And I don't want to move it all again. Not that yarn is heavy, but it's bulky. We bought some of those suction bags to store it in, but then I read yarn should never be stored in plastic. So now what?

Bunny One is Done

I'm almost finished with the camel and pink yarn bunny. I made him a fuzzy green scarf out of fun fur last night. Now I just need to make a carrot and then wrap him up for my grandson. I meant to give it to him last Sat. but the event was just too busy and his mom took him home straight away afterwards because it was cold and windy at the beach. But today I'm driving down to Santa Maria to spend the night with them so I'll get to see him lots.

I've already started another bunny in a technique I learned from a book on Sat. This one is in Lion Brand wool in the color called 'pumpkin'. The head has a gusset. I just hope I'm sewing it together right because the only directions the book had was 'sew the two pieces together and leave an opening for stuffing'. One piece is shaped like a diamond and the other like a long rectangle with a pinch in the middle. We'll see.

Pink and Brown Bunny

I took a lot of photos of my knitted bunny today. I have it all assembled. Tomorrow I'll do the face, wrap it and give it to my grandson on Tues. Then I'll make another one for my Etsy shop now that I have the pattern worked out. I'll have to wait until I get home to my own computer to post the photos though. I have some orange yarn with me so I may knit a carrot to go with it. And if I have time I'll make a green scarf for the bunny nexk.

Another Bunny

This photo shows the colorway of the new wool bunny. I had to start over five times to get the face the right shape. I kept ending up with a little volcano nose. My cat tried to steal the yarn last night and kidnap it. I'm making this one on DPN's too. The yarn is Lion Brand Autumn Sunset.

Bunny Ears

I just finished designing the ears for the bunny. This time I remembered to take my camera. I might make some changes if I do another one. But not bad for a first try. So now I have the body, the head and 2 ears. Now I need to make arms, legs and a tail. So far so good. The weather is pleasant so I've been knitting out on the porch. I haven't decided what I want to use for eyes but I have some of those lock tight eyes I might use. Or I could do felt.

More Knitted Bunny Work

This morning I could tell I wouldn't have enough of the camel yarn to knit the whole bunny. So I'm saving what is left to use for the ears and I'm moving on to a pink/gray/white fuzzy yarn to make the pants with. I got a few more inches done on it at the park this morning. Even though I'm visualizing in my mind the way I want the rabbit to look, it's kind of taken on a life of its own and now it's telling me what it wants to be. Nothing is set in stone and I'm as curious to see how it comes out as you are.

Camel Bunny

I got started on my bunny in some vintage acrylic yarn from Fedmart. I think that department store went out of business some time in the '80's. It's a lovely camel brown color. When acrylic yarns first came out, no one knew how they'd hold up to daily use. I've found them to be low maintenance and practically indestructible. (I can hear the yarn snobs groaning from here).

I don't exactly hate wool, but it makes me itch (all kinds of wool even merino). Of course I could make a bunny in wool, and I might, because you don't wear a bunny. Then again a baby can't tell you their wool snuggle bunny is making them itch.

I'm all for other organic yarn like corn, hemp and bamboo. Some of the those are finally trickling into Joann's. But if the yarn for a project costs twice as much as acrylic, I can't sell it for double. The market just won't bear that extra cost. Then again if the customer wants a custom order in $25 a skein yarn, and they are paying for the yarn in advance, I'm happy to do it. Or maybe you are a spinner and prefer just to mail me the yarn for your project, that would be fine.

Anyway, I got the bunny's head knitted and now I'm starting on the body.

Bunny Madness

I saw some amazing knitted bunnies on Etsy this morning and now I have knitter's envy. And I started wondering whatever happened to that pink bunny puppet I was knitting last year. I lost it when I rearranged my bedroom to squeeze a bigger bed in here. I'm sorely tempted to start a new bunny (I know I know I need another new project like I need a hole in the head). Chock it up to Easter or Ostera or Spring but I have 'bunny madness'. Sigh. Now where did I see those double pointed needles?

Here is the bunny that pushed me over the top: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=18454483 Did I mention it glows in the dark? That vendor also sells the glow in the dark yarn here: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vl_other_2&listing_id=19276342

But just use the etsy.com search feature to see the plethora of bunnies big and small.

I'm almost done with my Lipstick scarflette. Hopefully I'll finish it today.

Lipstick Scarf Cont.

I got a good bit of knitting done yesterday on the lipstick scarf. I decided to add a slit to thread through one end of the scarf in lieu of a button closure. I might still add a button to spice it up a bit, but it fits quite nicely on the neck right now. I have about 10 more inches to knit and then it will be ready to list in my shop on Etsy. Yay!

I love knitting with these wooden needles I inherited. I need to go get the camera out of the other room and upload the photos I took so you can see what I mean.

Camping Update

I did get to do some knitting during the archery campout. On Sat. night while waiting for the concert to start, I got in line and took my knitting with me. I was working on a simple rainbow scarf. By the time the doors opened I'd made some good progress. Unfortunately the chair I sat in had poor lighting so I had to stop, but down the row from me another woman was knitting away like crazy on some frothy bit of knitting. Maybe she was knitting by feel, or maybe her eyesight is a lot better than mine. The sun had already set, and the only lighting was small mood bulbs and space heaters.

Here are some photos of the event. It was at a ranch near Springville, CA.

Lipstick Scarflette

A 'scarflette' is a small scarf made to wrap around your neck. It's often fastened with buttons and loops.

I started a new knitting project today. It's a scarflette in a colorway called "Lipstick". I used large wooden needles that I inherited. I'm not used to that much friction but I'm working with it.

Last night I was watching a PBS special on street musicians around the world. One group was a youth choir in Ireland that was half Catholic and half Protestant. One thing I did notice is nearly every girl in the choir had a knitted or crocheted scarf on. So I figure living in CA isn't helping my sales any. It's funny the things knitters and crocheters notice. Anyone in Ireland want to buy a scarf from CA? Or prove you are in that choir and I'll make you a scarf for free. Then it really would be a small world.

Camping and Knitting

This weekend we are going to the Sierras to do a bowmaking demo at some sort of Irish music event. I'll be taking my archery stuff but I will also take my knitting. I tend to get a lot of knitting done at things like that. We will be camping for three days without the distraction of telephones, computers or television (Yay)!

I love it that knitting is so portable. And it gives me something to do while the rest of the archers are hiking over hill and dale. I do some of the archer roving events, but not when it's 100 degrees up steep mountain trails. Yes, I'm a wimp. But I'm also 51 years old with a bad back, so I do as much as I can.

Knitting in the April 2009 Crafts 'n Things Magazine

The April 2009 issue of Crafts 'n Things Magazine has some wonderful knitting projects in it including a women's sweater, a swirly tablecloth with beads and a baby cardigan. The circular Knitted Swirl Tablecloth is fancy indeed. Then they have a knit-across sweater in a mossy green.

There is also a baby cardigan called the Boston Baby cardigan shown in peach. It has a collar, buttons, cables...so if easy projects bore you, this could be just the thing.

If you prefer crochet projects, there are some of those in the magazine too.

Knitting Poem

Take time to knit if you must sit
Make a cable if you are able
Never knit your boyfriend a sweater
Or he will find someone he likes better.

New Yarn New Grandson

I picked up some new yarn recently at Joanne's. Now that I have a grandson there are so many more new things I can make that I never needed before like baby blankets and booties and toys. I had two daughters so never really explored things boys like. It's like a whole new world. He's growing so fast. He just turned six months old. I've already crocheted him some things and I gave him a sock monkey but I haven't knitted anything for him yet. At least my bf's mom gave me a bunch of baby yarn. I shared some of it with my daughter. But one way or another that kid will have something knitted sooner or later.

Knit Fast, Die Young

I just finished another of the books on my 100 books a year goal. I'm mentioning it here because it has a knitting theme. It's called Knit Fast, Die Young by Mary Kruger. It's her 2nd one. I haven't read the first one, Died in the Wool. It would be fun to read it outloud at your local knitting circle. Since it's a murder mystery I don't want to give the plot away so I won't say too much about it.

Last Sleeve

I don't always want to knit so much as I want to just move the project along so it doesn't get buried. So today I made myself sit and knit for an hour on my sweater sleeve. I don't know why I've been procrastinating. I think I have an inner imp that just refuses to finish things. It's like a cliffhanger in a soap opera only the ending never happens. I'm sure my boyfriend is getting tired of looking at it at the end of the couch. Anyway I'm done knitting for the day I think. I'm going to go work on some beaded earrings.

I just wrote another gift article here: http://hubpages.com/hub/People-Love-to-Give-Gifts I'd like to make some knit cuffs so I can put the photo in the article. But that is a project for another day.

Making a Dress Form

My daughter came to visit and not only found my missing cable needle, but a matching crochet hook. I hadn't even realized I lost a crochet hook.

Today we helped each other make duct tape dress forms. Now I'll have something to hang scarves and scarflettes and scoods on to photograph for my Etsy shop. Seeing my duct tape twin in 3D form was shocking to me though. We don't normally see ourselves in the round and I was a lot rounder than my mind could swallow. In fact right now I have a towel covering the scary thing. I couldn't look at it and eat dinner at the same time. After stuffing the form, my first impulse was to throw it in the dumpster but then I had a vision of some neighborhood kid pulling it out of the trash, putting it in a red wagon and dragging it around the neighborhood.

It's going to come in handy for freeform knitting and crochet. I'll finally have something to pin the little pieces to that is approximately my shape. It's very hard to pin things on to your own back.

Lost Cable Needle

Yesterday I was knitting on the couch, and wanted to do some cables. So I found my cable needle stuck it in my yarn, and then life sucked me away from my project. It wasn't until this morning I had another chance to work on it. And now the cable needle has vanished without a trace. I have a feeling it's disappeared inside the sleeper couch somewhere. So tomorrow I'm going to have to unfold it and look again. I was so aggravated I didn't even do any knitting today. It doesn't help anything that the cable needle is gold, the blanket it was on is gold, and the couch is earth tones. I hate losing things and I do it with alarming regularity.

How Not to Make a Hat

I wanted to knit a hat so I got some yarn labeled papaya and set to work. I used double pointed needles, cast on 90 stitches and started doing a 2x2 cable for the brim. About an inch into it, I realized it would be too small for me, almost a little girl's size. So I ripped it all out, and cast on 120 stitches, figuring it would be plenty big this time. I did 4 or 5 rows and it's still going to be way too small. Even worse I don't have 5 needles and the 4 needles won't hold any more stitches. It's maxed out. I'm not sure what I want to do about it. But it's 1 AM so it will have to be a problem for another day.

Yarn

I used some of my birthday and Christmas money to buy more yarn at Joann's during their 25% off sale. This time I took my daughter Heather with me. She bought two shades of purple yarn to knit or crochet a scarf for herself.
I also bought some Celtic Knotwork buttons and some clasps. And I'm glad I got them on Sunday when they were 50% off because we went back there tonight and the sale was over.

Yesterday I started the last sleeve of the confetti sweater. I'm at that stage where I've lost all motivation to finish, and that is a dangerous place to be. It's where a lot of my knitting projects go to die. I can't let that happen this time. If I do, I'll only be disappointed in myself.