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.

Multicolored Gypsy Shawl

I love all the colors.

After six rows my hands need a rest.

It's been a productive day. I just did another 6 row set on my gypsy shawl. It's been awhile since I shared a photo of that so here we go. I wonder how big I can make it before I run out of needle length.

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.

Hair Garland for Imbolc

Yesterday for Imbolc I started knitting a hair garland.  I won't be finished with it anytime soon though. The pattern calls for 8 different shades of green and gold. The first piece is called 'petals' and there are 18 of those. I knitted about 9 of them yesterday. Then there are about 10 more elements. So I'm just going to take my time. I have too many knitting projects going right now.

Knitting an Afghan of Many Colors

I'm thinking I should be talking about my knitting projects on this blog instead of on my craft-a-day blog. Especially since this new afghan knit-along has taken over my life. I got 3 new colors of wool blend yarn for it yesterday. I got a goldish orange, a medium teal blue, and a pale dove gray. I can't wait to see how they play along with everything else. If you can beg, borrow, or steal this book, you can knit-along with me.

Jayne Hat

I just downloaded a pattern for the Jayne hat at the library. They print five pages for free and the pdf is 4 pages. I already have the yarn so I'm looking forward to starting later today. My boyfriend already said he'd be a lot  happier if he just had his Jayne hat to wear while making arrows.  Who knew he was such a Firefly fan.

Tadpole Loom Knitting

I've been working on my Tadpole loom making a lilac scarf with darker stripes. I took a break to write holiday cards, but I need to get back out there and bring the loom in because the wind just picked up. Sometimes we get gusts up to 50 MPH. I think the loom may be slower than knitting with needles. At least I sure seem to be plodding along.

This is my second project on the loom. First I made a pair of baby booties for a friend that just had a little girl. My first pair made on regular needles was too small. Oops. Or if they don't fit this baby, my daughter is having another baby in February. I'm sure they'll fit someone.

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.

Brown Jester Hat

Yesterday at the archery range I started knitting a jester hat for my new jester costume.  The only  yarn I brought with me was dark brown, not the brightest color choice for a merry hat. But that's what happens when you go to bed at 3 AM and don't have your stuff ready when you leave the house the next day. Brown was the only thing I had handy that wasn't already tangled in another project.

So many people were schmoozing, that I only had time to knit one of the 'horns'.  I don't know what those points are called now that I think about it. I'm knitting it on double pointed needles.

One of the trees had a small belt of knitting attached to it in a red shade.  Urban knitting? I wanted to knit something to add to it, but I only had the one set of needles and they were already involved in the jester hat. Maybe if it's still there next month I'll add to it.

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.

How Much Have You Knit This Year?

I just hopped over and got myself a knit tracker.  Hopefully it won't be more trouble to use than it's worth. It's in the side bar with the red border around it. They also have one for spinning, so I may get that one too, but I'm not entirely sure I want to measure everything I spin. Wouldn't that be more trouble than it's worth?

Knitting a Multicolored Vest2

I worked on my knitted vest last night. I'm finally on the first shoulder strap. I can't wait to get enough along to try it on. I sure hope I made it big enough. If not, I'll sell it, but I'd rather wear it.

Knitting a Multicolored Vest

I've been busy knitting away on a heavy duty vest in many colors. It's so fun to knit in a riot of colors on big needles.  Truly loving it. I'm about to the point where I can add the arm holes. The back and sides are knit all as one unit.

And I already bought some white and off white yarn to make another one.  But I'm going to cut back to 3 yarns held together instead of 4, because I don't need 2 heavy vests.

Fan and Feather Socks

What's up with me and wanting to knit socks? I just got another book of sock patterns.  I'm making feather and fan socks. I'm about on row 8 of the first sock.  Once I get something worth looking at I'll add photos.

How to Increase on a Purl Row

I need this for the hat I'm designing. http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-increase-on-a-purl-row  It's a cable hat and the only way I can think of to add increases without messing up the cable structure is to increase in the purl sections of the hat.

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.