Knit n Things

Rose Red put up some pics for my photo scavanger hunt. They're great! Go look.

It's not to late - if I hear from you today you can still enter you pics for fabulous prizes! The list is here.

Now that the gifts have been gifted - I can show you what I've been working on behind the scenes. It's been killin me not to show you guys these little things cuz they're so darn cute! The yarn is the Moda Dea washable wool. I couldn't say enough nice things about this yarn. It's soft and full & washable holds the cables wonderfully. Then I washed it. OMG I didn't think it could get any nicer! It washes up SO soft and it blocks beautifully. Wonderful, wonderful yarn!

I also whipped her up this little sweater. The baby kimono from the Mason Dixon book. Cute little quick knit. I should have seamed it with something else though cuz the seams are really heavy. I also changed the ribbons to a button. I thought a button would be easier for mom to put on a squirmy baby plus I couldn't resist the little ducky.
I don't think Allison cares much about it though - this picture was taken mere seconds before she started to scream.

She weighed in at 6 lbs 11 oz which is really great because she's several weeks early. Tisha and Allison are doing fantastic.




I was blessed an honored to be invited to witness the big event. Although at 4:00 this morning I wasn't really thinking I was much blessed ;) It was a long and amazing day - Tisha was absolutely incredible. I'm in awe of her. She's been having a difficult time of it these last few weeks and today we weren't sure if the doctor was going to help her deliver or send her home... again. She managed herself with out hysterics or curses despite it all and shed a few tears in relief of being told that yes, there would be a baby today. Tisha delivering her daughter was the most beautiful, amazing, incredible thing I've ever seen. Words simply can't describe what I felt watching this perfect little life take her first breath. I'm truly humbled by the whole thing and have a whole new respect for mothers everywhere.

Welcome to the world little one.

Remember the MP3 Sock? Dad LOVES what he affectionately calls the "MP3 Condom" and has been after me for ages to make a few improvements on his original idea. I finally got around to making it up last night. His first change was to make it a smidgen bigger cuz he likes to stuff the headphone and extra batteries in there. That's easy enough.He also wanted to add a draw string so that when it's hanging around his neck it stays shut - no batteries flying out when he bends over. So I threw in a couple of YO k2tog at the base of the ribbing and threaded the crochet chain through it.
He seems to like it. We'll wait and see if it passes the practical test. I'm sure he'll come home with new improvements to add. It's a good thing these little buggers only take a couple of hours to make.

By the way you guys haven't forgotten about the scavenger hunt have you? I went camping last weekend & thought about you guys & took a few shots that fit the list nicely. I'll post them later.

Labels: FO's

Once upon a time there was a young girl. One day the girls' mother attempted to teach her to knit.She gave the girl some blue red heart and a pair of plastic needles that used to belong to the girl's grandmother. The girl watched her mother cast on and then duplicated her movements with her own yarn and needles. She watched her make stitches and then made her own. The young girl laboriously made several rows of crooked knit stitches. Then the mom showed her to purl and with tongue clenched between teeth the girl made rows of purl stitches.

In due course the girl got herself a smallish stockinette swatch and handed yarn and needles back to her mother. The mother examined over the beauty of the fabric the evenness of the stitches. She told her daughter she was a natural and should continue to knit the blue fabric. Or better yet she should pick out a pattern and the mother would help her to create a knitted garment. "No, thanks" said the girl, "I don't like it. Crochet is easier and faster, I don't like knitting. Saddened the mother took her yarn, needles and put them away.

Undeterred the mother tried again several years later. "Look what I bought you darling, the woman and that yarn shop said you only need this one ball to make this beautiful scarf. I thought it would look great with your black coat. And I bought you your own needles too, they're bamboo they're supposed to be really great!" "Thanks mom," said the girl "but I don't like to knit." Away went needles and the yarn.

The mother was determined, she continued to ploy the girl with better yarns, "look it's cashmere" and cool knit toys "look it makes I-cord" but the girl held fast, happily crocheting her acrylic baby blankets. Then one day the mother heard about this book. She immediately went out and secured herself a copy. "Hey Jo, so and so told me about this book. She thought you might like it." The girl being a something of a book nut started looking through it with curiosity.

A few glances was all it took. An all night reading binge later had the girl furiously digging through forgotten boxes looking for that soft fluffy stuff mom had bought the year before. The book had this interesting description of something called continental knitting that the girl was anxious to try. Casting on was painstakingly remembered. Knit stitches were re-learned and rapidly mastered. Decreases were quickly learned, as there was much random increasing in the first several rows. It was soon discovered that fuzzy yarn is not such a good choice for a beginner regardless of how soft or how beautiful or how well it might hide mistakes. But the girl carried on. Some increases were needed to make the bottom match the top and a scarf was born.

A Knitter was born along with that scarf. In the two plus years since that fateful day countless projects have come off the needles all due to a mom that wouldn't give up. Thanks Mom.

By the way I searched high & low for that scarf so I could take a photo for you. I think I found Jimmy Hoffa & proof of extraterrestrial life but no scarf. If it turns up I'll add a picture.

Labels: Swaps

Yup I joined another swap - The Sock It To Me Swap. I can't resist making socks for other people. Here's my questionnaire - if your not my pal feel free to skip to the bottom for some knitting.

What are your foot measurements? (Please give shoe size, length and circumference.) I wear a US size 10 - my foot is about 10 " heel to toe and 9 ½ " around. I like my socks to have some negative ease.

How long have you been knitting? How would you rate your experience? (Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced.) I'd call myself an advanced intermediate – I've been knitting for almost three years now.

What is your favorite color? Your least favorite color? I like jewel tones and rich earthy colors. I like all sorts of colors no real absolute favorite. I do not like fluorescents.

Do you have a favorite fiber? What type? I like anything as long as it feels nice – think soft and squishy.

Do you have any allergies to certain fibers? No

Do you have an Amazon, or other type of, wishlist? (If so, provide the link.) I do but it's so out of date it's useless

What techniques, if any, would you like to learn? I'm itching to do a log cabin type of blanket but I don't know that will require a huge learning experience.

Do you have a sweet tooth? What are your favorite snacks? Yea I've got one of those but I'm trying to watch the waistline a bit so please try to refrain from sending me edible goodies – my hips thank you.

What is your family situation? (Children, Husband, Pets...etc.) None of the above.

Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Metal, plastic or wood? Mostly circs - bamboo mostly but I use a lot of metal too.

Besides socks, what are your favorite items to knit? Anything small and quickly finished.

Is there a pattern, (sock or otherwise), that you are dying to try? See #7 just trying to justify the huge yarn cost of a blanket that I don't need.

Do you like to read? What are you reading currently? I read a lot – like 2 or 3 books a week – keeping up with what's on my nightstand is pretty tough – I just finished Ivy Cole & the Moon which was very good.

Do you collect music? (On an iPod or MP3 player.) Yes & no – I have an iPod and have lots of music on it but most of that is from my CD collection. I haven't ventured into iTunes as of yet.

What kind of music do you listen to? I'm very eclectic when it comes to music

Is there anything you collect? Just books & yarn – I don't particularly care for tchotchke's unless they are unbearably cute.

What are your hobbies, aside from knitting? Crafty hobbies? I do some bead/jewelry making, I sort of spin, crochet, I occasionally break out the scrapbooking stuff. Other types of hobbies & I big reader and I also play a lot of sports, basketball, softball, rugby, volleyball, rock climbing. It's a wonder I have time to knit at all.

Are you participating in any other swaps or knit alongs? I'm doing MS3 and Sockapalooza

Do you have a favorite scent? My current obsession is Bath & Body Works Sensual Amber – yum!

When is your birthday? (You don't have to add the year if you don't want to, LOL.) You just missed it – it was last Thursday the 5 ^th of July

In case you didn't know Tisha and I share a birthday. Usually we swap some sort of handmade gift - a tradition which I love dearly. You also may know that T is expecting a new addition in August and while I made some stuff for her birthday gift I just couldn't resist giving her this little baby gift as well. They're just so cute I knew I wouldn't be able to hold off giving her the itty bitty socks till August.

I used a 40 stitches and a PGR short-row heel and toe (that links to a tutorial.) It was way cool to learn a new short-row method and I liked it way better that wraps & double wraps. The heel is fab but the toe I'm not crazy about so if I do little socks again I'll probably use my regular toes.

Sound like fun? I thought so too. So without further ado here's the list.

1. Birthday cake – it is my party after all.

2. Wildlife

3. Knitting in a local tourist spot

4. A delivery truck

5. Your favorite food

6. Street art

7. Obnoxious looking yarn

8. A bowling pin - this was on every scavenger hunt I ever did so I had to include it.

9. An amusement park attraction

10. A non-knit thing you made

11. Stash

12. Water not in a glass

The only rule is that these must be your own pictures. No cheating and googling stuff. To be a winner you must complete at least 75% of the list. I have no idea yet what the prizes will be but I'll pick winners On August 1st so have your entry in by Midnight EST July 31st.