knitavorocity

Ginger Beard

2012-02-13T19:35:00.000-08:00

Yarn: Cascade 220, Pumpkin Spice
US 5 needle

CO 81

Row 1 k1 *(k1, yo, k1 in the same stitch), K1 repeat from * to the end of the row
Row 2 Purl
Row 3 k1 *(sl 1, k2tog, psso) k1 repeat from * to the end of the row
Row 4 Purl
Row 5 *(k1, yo, k1 in the same stitch), k1. Repeat from * until you have 1 stitch remaining, (k1, yo, k1) in the last stitch
Row 6 Purl
Row 7 *(sl1, k2tog, psso) k1 repeat from * to the last 3 stitches, (sl1, k2tog, psso)
Row 8 Purl

Repeat rows 1-8 two more times (you will have 6 rows of “bumps” and 24 rows).

Row 25 *(k1, yo, k1 in the same stitch), k1. Repeat from * for a total of 30 stitches consumed. Because you’ve been knitting 3 stitches in one every other stitch, you’ll have a total of 59 stitches on your right needle. k1. CO 20 stitches. k1, *(k1, yo, k1 in the same stitch), k1 to the end of the row, ending with a *(k1, yo, k1 in the same stitch).

Row 26 p61, CO 20, p60

Row 27 *(sl1, k2tog, psso) k1 repeat from * 15 times, k21 , *k1, (sl1, k2tog, psso) 15 times. 
Row 28 purl

Row 29*(k1, yo, k1 in the same stitch), k1. Repeat from * until you have 1 stitch remaining, (k1, yo, k1) in the last stitch
Row 30 Purl
Row 31 *(sl1, k2tog, psso) k1 repeat from * to the last 3 stitches, (sl1, k2tog, psso)
Row 32 BO all stitches purlwise.

The “wrong” or purl side of the work is the outside of the beard. Sew it into a hat and stay warm... the beard is long enough that it should extend into the hat far enough to cover the ears of the wearer.

Please let me know if you knit this and find any errors so I can correct them!

Body scrub and Lip Balm

2011-12-11T08:34:00.000-08:00

In the search for handmade Christmas gifts, I've come across quite a few recipes for natural body projects. Here are a couple I've used myself and have fallen immediately in love with:

Brown Sugar Vanilla Body Scrub

1 C. brown sugar
1/2 C. white sugar
1/2 C. light olive oil
2 tsp. vanilla extract

Mix the 2 sugars together in a small bowl, blend in the oil and then add the vanilla extract. This will fit in a 1/2 pint jelly jar. I use about a teaspoon of scrub, and my hands are soft and smell delicious!

Lip Balm / Cuticle Cream

1 oz beeswax
1 oz olive oil
3-5 drops essential oil

Clean, empty soup can
Popsicle stick for stirring
2 clean, empty Altoid tins

Get a small sauce pan and put about 1 inch of water in the bottom of it. Chop up the beeswax and put it in a clean, empty soup can. Place the soup can into the pan of water and use it as a double boiler to melt the wax. Add the olive and essential oils in, mixing with a popsicle stick until the wax is melted and completely combined with the oils. Pour the melted mixture into 2 Altoids tins. This makes 2 ounces of product, enough to fill 2 empty Altoids tins.

Wordles

2011-12-07T21:34:00.000-08:00

Well this is fun...

To Die For

2011-03-11T18:46:00.000-08:00

Stumbled upon this incredible recipe awhile back. As I type this, there's one in the oven baking to crispy and chewy goodness. This whole-wheat-chocolate-chip-cast-iron-skillet-cookie is rustic, hearty and delicious. Plus, whole wheat is healthy, right? This cookie, like the two before it, won't last long in our house.

Skirt of Stars

2010-09-07T18:36:00.001-07:00

My middle sister (there are 5 of us, all sisters!) gave me a gift certificate to my favorite local fabric store for my birthday last month. So, I grabbed my fabric-junkie friend Meg and went shopping. She picked out this awesome fabric, which is something I'd allow only her to do - give her incredible eye for my tastes. I'm in love, again...

So I leaned again on the pattern I referenced in my previous post, only this time with plenty of fabric. I kept my bias-tape waistband with a drawstring ribbon, and even made some silky "bloomers" out of a pajama shorts pattern, cut on the bias of lining fabric to wear under these skirts in the summer. They've both made their debuts, at two weddings in the last 2 weeks, and they wash up and wear wonderfully. I'll be making at least one more, I think!

Skirt of Roses

2010-08-05T15:31:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking about making a cute bias cut skirt ever since I saw this post over at Angry Chicken a few months ago. I shopped for the perfect fabric, and finally had a couple of hours to whip this lovely up last weekend. I made this with just 2 yards of quality cotton fabric, and a white ribbon from my stash. (Total cost: less than $20!)

Modifications to Amy's design:

1. 2 yards on the bias wasn't enough to both fit around my voluptuous hips/waist AND be the length I wanted it; so I cut it as long as I could to accommodate my waist measurement, and then cut a 6" bias strip out of the leftovers, piecing it together to sew along the bottom. To keep the hem from stretching while sewing, I did a quick stay-stitch along the bottom edges of each piece first thing. Then, I added the 6" strip to the front and back, and stitched up the sides, then top-stitched the seam between the strip and the bottom hem. I think this would look FABULOUS with a contrasting color along the bottom, but I can appreciate the subtle line created by the break in the pattern. Last, I just did a quick 1/4 inch hem along the bottom, being careful not to stretch as I sewed A little Bohemian, but still professional:

2. Rather than the fold-over elastic for the waist, I cut a 1 7/8" strip of fabric on the bias to make my own bias tape. (Yay, Clover bias tape makers!) I applied this along the waist, leaving an opening in the middle of the front so that I could use it as a casing for my ribbon:

The result? I love it. Flatterning, flirty and fun. No zipper, but the bias-cut allows enough stretch that a quick shimmy-shake lets me pull it on without stretching it out, and the drawstring ribbon pulls the waist in just enough to allow it the skirt to sit atop my hips without falling down or creating an unflattering muffin top. The hem hits just below the knee, a perfect length appropriate for my age and body type.

I was so inspired by this skirt project, that I've found the perfect color of green yarn in Cascade 220 to knit the Acorns cardigan in this month's Twist Collective. I can't wait to pair the two this fall for a completely handmade outfit!

Turtle Cheesecake

2010-08-01T18:53:00.000-07:00

My youngest sister and niece were over this week, and thankfully my sister brought over her famous cheesecake recipe! She also has allowed me to share it with you, so enjoy!

Viki’s Basic Cheesecake Recipe

Crust:
1 stick of salted butter
1/4 C. white sugar
6-8 oz crushed graham crackers (about 1 pkg)

Filling:
3 pkg cream cheese (full flavor, please)
1/4 C. heavy whipping cream
1/4 C. sour cream
3 eggs
1 C. white sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract

For the crust, crush the graham crackers in a sealed plastic bag by gently rolling over them with a rolling pin. Meanwhile, melt the stick of butter in the microwave. (about 30 seconds on high does the trick.) Add 1/4 C. White sugar to the crushed crackers and mix. Then, mix in the melted butter until all of the crumbs and sugar are moistened in buttery goodness. Press the mixture into the bottom of a springform pan.

*Vik’s pro tip: If you’ll be serving a bunch of people cheescake in one sitting, this recipe can be divided into two 8-inch circular cake pans to make 2 short cheesecakes :)

Next, begin mixing up the filling. Place the 3 packages of cream cheese (brought to room temperature) into a medium mixing bowl. Stir the cream cheese until smooth, and then add the sugar, heavy whipping cream, sour cream and vanilla extract, mixing after each before adding the next. Then, add the eggs one at a time, mixing until smooth before adding the next.

Pour the cream cheese mixture over the crust. Place the springform pan on a cookie sheet, and bake for about 1 hour at 325 degrees F. Remove the cheesecake from the oven when the cheesecake is like a good man... firm around the edges but a little bit jiggly in the middle. Allow to cool. Serve and enjoy.

Variation: Turtle Cheesecake!

Before pouring the filling over the crust, add about 1 C of mini chocolate chips and mix evenly. Bake as directed above. Once the cheesecake is cool, top with pecan halves, a handful or so of mini chocolate chips, and then drizzle the top with melted caramel.

25 Things I Know Now as a Parent

2010-07-15T19:25:00.000-07:00

I just read this post on PBS Parents, and felt compelled to make my own list of 25:

My parents weren't perfect, and that's OK. We turned out just fine.
Having sons means frequently having to yell "Don't Fart!"
Never make a threat that means more work for yourself if you have to carry it through.
Always carry through on your threats. Idle threats cost your respect.
If you bail your kids out when they're young, be prepared to still be bailing them out when they're 37, 49, and so forth.
Ice Cream and brownies can help fix a broken heart.
"Friending" your kids on facebook is a good idea, and it's actually kind of fun.
A dog can really be a boy's best friend.
Even 14 year old boys need a hug once in awhile.
That which does not push us entirely over the edge really does make us stronger.
Sometimes, you have to sacrifice a sock.
Having one good friend is better than having a ton of mediocre ones.
Boys above the age of 4 don't really appreciate handknits, but sometimes they'll lie and pretend they do.
Brothers fight, wrestle, hit each other and call each other names... but they still love each other.
Nieces and Nephews are fantastic!
It's OK to like the same music as your teenager.
Wrestling smells worse when your son isn't on the mat.
One day you'll call home from work to check on your little boy, and a man will answer the phone.
All kids make mistakes, and that's OK. Love them anyway.
Singing in the car at the top of your lungs as a family is seriously underrated.
Sometimes all you have to say is "I'm proud of you!"
Football is never as interesting to you as it is when your son is on the field.
Teach your kids to cook. You'll NEVER regret this one. Trust me.
Bedtime stories are worth it.
Revel in the traits your kids picked up from you... and love the differences.

Full Circle Quilting

2010-06-16T15:02:00.001-07:00

I recently found this great tutorial from Anna Maria Horner's blog on sewing the perfect circles into quilts... but it wasn't for me, so I found this one instead.

It works like a charm, and so I used a bunch of Amy Butler fabric scraps I had left over from this project with some ideas on quilting with embroidery floss from Ms. Horner's blog.

So far, I'm loving the effect, and I'd like to try the same butcher-paper technique for some other cool shapes. I'm thinking fish, or birds.

Cancer, it's ON.

2010-06-08T20:33:00.001-07:00

Cancer;

I've never liked you. I'm tired of you attacking good, wholesome people with families and friends. People who raise children, go to work, laugh and love and cry. You really suck, you know? We're taking you on, and we're not going to be nice. Get ready, 'cause we're kicking your ass. It's ON.

Sincerely,

Jessica

Dear Friends,

2010-03-16T12:11:00.000-07:00

Meet My mom, Crystal - aka Superwoman.

After surviving breast cancer for several years, my mom was recently diagnosed with Leukemia. As you can imagine, this news was immediately devastating! Since her diagnosis on November 3, 2009 my mom has undergone extensive chemotherapy treatments, spent literally weeks in the hospital, put her teaching career on hold, and missed the birth of her most recent grand-daughter just to fight this horrible disease. During this time, my step-dad has been by her side - literally caring for her every minute on the worst days. As if that weren't enough... he has graciously volunteered to shave his head in a public ceremony that will benefit the American Cancer Society's Hope Lodge in Kansas City.

100% of the donations he collects will fund the operation of the Hope Lodge - a place were people undergoing cancer treatments can stay FOR FREE during the course of their treatments. My mom and step-dad will spend 100 days at the Hope Lodge so that my mom can be within a few miles of her doctor's care while her destroyed immune system recovers from her recent bone-marrow transplant. If they would have had to pay for a place to stay during her treatment, it would have cost about $16,000!

I recently spent a few days at the Hope Lodge with my mom, so that my step-dad Tim could have a few days off. The most devastating discovery I made during these few days is that Cancer affects everyone... cancer knows no prejudice. It affects the poor, the rich, the young, the old...

So. I am asking you to consider donating to the Hope Lodge - a place that functions entirely on the donations and volunteers. A place that far too many people have had and will have to call home during cancer treatments. Even if you can only give a dollar, every cent of that dollar will make a difference in my mom's life, my life, the life of a friend... and even your own life.

Thank you so much for reading this note. If you can donate or want more information, please read my mom's story here:

Support the Hope Lodge!

Bless me Blogger, for I have sinned.

2010-02-23T12:08:00.000-08:00

It has been 3 months since my last post...

More than a few projects have been started, some have been ripped out, and even more have been completed. Since I can't really think of anything clever to say about all this knitting, I'll just post some pictures for my own (and hopefully your) enjoyment.

First, Bird in Hand mittens from the lovely Kate Gilbert. These were born because I needed a complicated knitting pattern to work on following some difficult news. I was able to present these lovely mittens to my mom before she began a long and difficult chapter in her life. Warm hands tend to warm the soul, in our opinions.

Next, a pair of house-slipper-socks for myself to wear around the house. These were made on the fly, knit two at a time with a double strand of superwash sock yarn and some worsted superwash... followed by more double-strand sock yarn. A decent stash-buster, and a nice way to keep my always cold toes warm in our 62-degree house.

Fiddlehead Mittens for me, using some wonderful alpaca yarn that my dad and step-mother gave me for Christmas. The yarn came from an alpaca farm in Westmoreland, Kansas - and is undyed natural alpaca colored! They are warm and soft - and I had enough left over to make a matching hat. I made another pair of fiddleheads for my step-mother for a Christmas gift, using two colors of Cascade 220 in shades of heathered greens. She loved them, and I loved making them.

More to come...!

Sourdough 101

2009-11-14T18:01:00.000-08:00

I finally reached a point in my life... Where I feel responsible enough to care for a sourdough starter. It's easy: 1C water, 1C flour, 1 tsp sugar. I put it in the food processor and gave it a whirl, then poured it into a bowl. It sat on my counter, covered in a tea towel for a week. Then, I poured it all into a mason jar, and added another 1 C flour, 1 C water and 1 tsp sugar, and I keep it loosely covered on the counter for a couple days, then put it in the fridge until another week has passed. Each week, I remove a cup of the mixture and use it to make bread, and replace what I removed with the flour/water/sugar mixture above, leaving it out for a couple of days and then returning it to the fridge for the rest of the week.

To make the bread: take 1 C of the starter and bring it to room temperature. Pour it into a large mixing bowl and add 1/2 C warm water, 1 pkg of dry yeast, 1 tsp sugar or honey, 2 Tbs melted butter and mix. Add enough flour (5-6 C) to make a stiff dough, mixing it in 1 C at a time. Knead the dough thoroughly. Place the dough in a greased bowl and cover. Let the dough rise until doubled, punch it down and shape it into loaves, allow it to raise again, and bake it for about 20 minutes at 350 degrees F. If you want to be fancy, use a sharp knife to slash the top of each loaf before allowing it to rise the second time.

Nashville Birthday Shawl

2009-09-18T18:31:00.000-07:00

My sweet friend gave me 5 balls of Elsebeth Lavold's "Hempathy" in a delicious green as a birthday gift last month.

I searched for the perfect pattern, even being willing to purchase a few more balls of the lovely yarn if needed...

...but a Ravelry search reminded me that I have sincerely disliked lace knitting in the past, but have always longed to master it.

I found this shawl, for which I already owned the pattern, and so I began to knit!

The shawl went with me to Nashville, TN for a meeting. I was traveling with co-workers who don't mind driving, and so I was able to knit for 11 hours on the way and 12 hours on the return trip home! While in Nashville, I noticed a trend amongst the European women attending the conference; all were wearing beautiful stoles, whether with jeans and a t-shirt or with a dress.

They wore them tossed loosely around their necks as they walked from symposium to symposium - and when the air conditioning became a little chilly they simply unwound the stole and wrapped it around their shoulders. Beautiful. Practical. I was sold! (I bought a lovely hand-woven cashmere/silk shawl from the Nashville Center for the Visual Arts while I was there, but I will wear the handknit just as often!)

It's beautiful. I love the soft drape and the non-itchyness of the yarn. I briefly contemplated gifting the shawl, but it looks so danged good that I'm sure I'll keep it!

The "spawning run" 5K

2009-09-02T14:11:00.001-07:00

I've spent the last few days here in Nashville, TN (home of 1/2 of the "Mason Dixon" gals, of course). But I didn't come for the yarn! I came for the annual American Fisheries Society meeting, as I am the president of our local chapter this year. In addition to networking (read: drinking beer) with other fish heads, attending numerous symposia on a variety of fisheries management topics, and hitting a few local shops in the city, I also participated in my first ever 5K run. I didn't take any photos of myself running, but here's a pic of my number. I didn't place, but I never expected to. I did finish, and I ran far more of it than I walked, so I met my goal! My time was kinda ugly compared to the first place winner, but now I have a new goal and plan to track my improvement as I continue to run. Also, I got a T-shirt :)

Sewing project #2

2009-08-26T16:01:00.000-07:00

A yard and a half of leftover fabric and a few alterations to an Amy Butler pattern makes another cute top!

It's Sew Awesome

2009-08-19T12:40:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking about a new sewing machine for awhile now. After saving some cash I was given as birthday gifts earlier this month, I grabbed my mom and went shopping. I knew what I wanted... more room in and under the arm so I could machine quilt, a few fancy stitches and a machine as dependable as my $200 Singer from Wal-mart that has served me so well for the last 13 years. I ended up with the Baby Lock Ellure, which was fully in my price range but has a lot of what I'd call "bells and whistles." It does far more than I expected to be able to do, but it does everything from simple straight seams to complicated embroidery designs with ease. The automatic needle threader is incredible, as is the spiffy addition of an amazing invention called the "automatic scissor," which cuts your thread at the end of your sewing line, before you pull your work out from under the presser foot. In short, this machine does a bunch of stuff I haven't even explored yet, but I'm convinced it's the last machine I'll ever buy - so I have a lot of time to figure it out. In the meantime, I'm enjoying the first project I sewed with it, a custom-fit shirt made from a combination of a Buttrick pattern and my own additions/adjustments based on my favorite button up shirt. I talked the salesman into a fantastic deal, far below retail and got a bunch of extra stuff, too. :)

Happy Birthday

2009-07-24T15:22:00.000-07:00

No birthday cake, just a large chocolate extreme blizzard from DQ. My little boy is becoming a man.

Garden Vegetable Soup

2009-07-20T17:05:00.000-07:00

6 - 8 tomatoes (I used romas)
1 medium yellow squash
10 new red potatoes
6 carrots
20 onions about 1 inch in diameter
6 C water or beef stock
2 T beef bullion (if using water)
1 lb stew beef

Brown the beef in a little olive oil. In the meantime, chop the veggies. Add the onions, carrots and potatoes, cover and simmer for about 10 minutes to give them a head start. Add the squash and liquids, simmer until all veggies are tender. Serve with baguettes.

Most of the veggies came from the gardens tended by my parents, but I grew the tomatoes and onions myself. I've envied my parents natural ability to grow things for most of my life, but the past two years have been the most productive for my own garden. It may be that I am finally gaining the wisdom that I always remember my parents having - after all, they were the age I am now when I was growing up. I did notice the first sign of crows feet this morning...

Strawberries

2009-07-05T11:32:00.000-07:00

Here's a quick snapshot of the berry crop today. We've been very fortunate to be able to enjoy a handful of tart red strawberries almost daily this summer.

Fishing for Quilts

2009-06-27T11:25:00.000-07:00

I've been working on this idea to make a dent in my growing stash of scraps, following a recent obsession with Escher. Hopefully, I'm keeping good enough notes to pass along a pattern!

Opinionated much?

2009-06-24T19:42:00.001-07:00

Today, our 8 year old son told us that a 10 year old girl on his swim team gave him an "energy pill" that looked like a jelly bean, and told him that it had "a lot of caffeine" in it and that he would feel really tired after it wore off.

Let me preface my next few paragraphs by admitting to how disappointed I was in both my son's decision to take this "pill" and in myself for not realizing that I hadn't done enough so far in teaching my son how dangerous this situation could have been.

So, I did what I could in impressing upon him the possible risks he had taken in accepting the offer of an energy pill, explaining that it was irresponsible for him to take something when he had no idea what it was. As any good mother would, I gave him several examples of the worst scenarios I could think of, including of course the possibility of his own death.

Next, I placed a call to his coach... And tonight I made a call to the mother of the girl who offered this to my son.

Turns out, after hearing a long list of justifications from her on why her daughter had jelly beans that have caffeine added and was peddling them off to other kids on the team - ranging from hypoglycemia to preventing dehydration (?) to "there's really not THAT much caffeine in them" to training for a triathalon (at 10 years old???) And blah, blah, blah...

I began to wonder: Why is a candy company jumping on the energy supplement bandwagon and marketing this stuff to kids? Energy supplements are worthless at best and deadly at worst. No wonder our professional athletes (role models?) and even olympians are under such scrutiny for performance enhancers. If we're telling our 10 year olds that they can't compete without "energy pills" disguised as jelly beans (candy!), then how can we expect them to know where to draw the line? Energy drinks? Anabolic Steroids?

In any case, I'm glad I got the chance to teach my son a valuable lesson about making responsible decisions if he's ever presented with this situation again, and I'm glad that it was just a jelly bean with a little caffeine in it and not something worse.

He knows that he can have fun and even compete without any extra energy. Even if he never beats the girl with the caffinated jelly beans, I'll make sure he knows who the real winner is.

I'm Not Martha...

2009-06-05T11:47:00.000-07:00

...But for a few bucks, I can pretend I am. My youngest and I are covered in glitter, and so is my kitchen floor. I found this kit at Wal-mart on the crafts clearance isle, and thought they'd be fun. They came out great, and the bird shapes are pre- cut double sided stickers. Almost homemade :)

Holey Knitted Fabric Batman!

2009-05-26T20:14:00.000-07:00

After maticulously cleaning every one of the 8 billion tiny parts and re-assembling each of them... It's ALIVE!!!! Mwah ha ha ha!

253 rows knitted in under 2 hours. Only a few setbacks, and a ton of new knowledge gained. Whew, I'm going to bed!

Strick Matador

2009-05-19T19:50:00.000-07:00

Here's a preview of what my oldest son and I have been working on for the past few days. Knitting machines are actually pretty simple in design, but holy cats are there a lot of teensy pieces to keep track of. We removed, cleaned, and replaced every single piece of this machine, purchased for $25 at an estate sale by a sweet friend with an eye for a deal. I hope it works!

Good Advice and More Garden Pictures

2009-05-08T13:26:00.001-07:00

Amidst all of the seemingly generic advice I've found in my fortune cookies, I've had a wierd run lately. This one rings particularly true.

A somewhat unwelcome guest. I only allow it because the plant is literally buried behind a fence and among some trees in our yard, and so I'm certian that I would be facing an ugly episode of poison ivy just trying to get rid of it. For that reason, and because poison ivy is one of the showiest and most beautiful of the foliages in the fall, I will put up with its presence for now.

The front yard garden, with dames rocket in bloom, (or is it Sweet William? I always confuse them.) and my herb garden in pots on the porch.

Now that we've been in our house for two summers, things are really starting to take off and become established. I'm still finding new plants left over from the last owners, and our vegetable garden is slowly coming along as well. The million or so inches of rain we've had in the past 3 weeks has certianly helped!

Poppy

2009-05-06T17:51:00.000-07:00

Today, as I planted the tomatoes, a flash of orange caught the corner of my eye! The poppy I only recently discovered on our fenceline has bloomed. Her unexpected arrival is the perfect compliment to an otherwise wonderful day.

Projects

2009-04-20T06:43:00.000-07:00

Saw this pattern this morning at the Purl Bee blog, and loved it!

I'm thinking about making my very own magnetic aquarium...

Ice Cream and Fish

2009-04-10T16:56:00.001-07:00

The Knee-a-politan socks are done, I've actually worn, washed and dried them twice now, and they fit beautifully.

Trekking XXL has been a favorite of mine for awhile now, and this yarn is so delicious that I actually bought another skein I found on Ebay while I was knitting these socks. I have a pair of thin mittens or gloves in mind for the new skein and knee sock leftovers.

Next on the needles is a tessellation study with fish made from sock yarn leftovers. I lack the patience to make an entire blanket of fish on size 0 needles... so I'm thinking about a pillow front instead. The fish will be knit end-to-end in strips, and then seamed together. I'll add faux seams between the tails and noses within the strips to keep the illusion that they were all knit seperately by someone with more patience than me!

Bye Bye Beetle

2009-04-08T19:32:00.000-07:00

Hello, Chevy HHR :)

My inner rebel

2009-04-06T08:29:00.000-07:00

A friend sent this to me today, and I have to say that my inner rebel was definitely touched. I'm daydreaming about how I could cover my entire car with knitting!

PS Anyone interested in purchasing a 2005 beetle TDI? It's loaded with heated leather seats, a sunroof, power everything, and its diesel engine gets 42 MPG average without even trying. All scheduled maintenance has been done, and it has 80 K on it. It's a wonderful car, I hate to get rid of it... but I have to be honest with myself and try to get something a little bigger that will accommodate the fact that my boys are getting very tall these days...

How I spent my Sunday

2009-03-23T19:38:00.000-07:00

My quick and smaller version of Anna Maria Horner's Folk Dance Quilt. I used Amy Butler fabrics, all purchased on the cheap via ebay and at a going out of business sale. I still need to add the binding (I'm thinking coral or green) but I'm in love already. I've been wanting to make a zig-zag quilt for ages, and Ms. Horner does a wonderful job of writing easy-to-follow directions.

Needle Case Obsession

2009-02-25T15:24:00.000-08:00

The other day an idea popped into my head to make a needle case/roll for my straight needles, using some leftover fabric odds and ends from other projects. I found some rough cotton for the backing, and used some leftover bias tape I'd made for the color wheel quilt. So I made one...

And another...

And another...

(I got fancy with this one, and used a print on the outside!)

And I'm happy to say that I love them all. Now, I have needle cases for my long straights, short straights, and both lengths of dpns.

Knee-a-politan Socks

2009-02-16T18:02:00.000-08:00

Pattern coming...

Nothing to say

2009-01-30T18:12:00.000-08:00

I haven't updated in awhile, mostly because knitting has been a bit on the back burner lately. I got this invite on Facebook today, and just for kicks I did it. So, here's 25 random things about me:

1. I talk so much that I can't believe I could come up with 25 things that everyone doesn't already know about me... but here goes.
2. I've never had a bloody nose.
3. I am happy to be the mother of sons.
4. Because I like to get dirty.
5. I love to knit.
6. No, really. I LOVE knitting.
7. Not so much crochet, though - but I'll do it out of neccessity.
8. I love knitting and making stuff for other people.
9. It makes my day when they love what I've made for them, and they wear it / use it.
10. I am so proud of every one of my four sisters. We are all so different, yet so much the same.
11. I've always thought it was a big responsibility to be the oldest of 5 girls.
12. I hate commercials about female products. I almost always change the channel.
13. I think it's hilarious when people throw up. I can't stop laughing at their sad misfortune.
14. I hate being cold, but I love working outside, especially in the cold.
15. I try to learn something new every day.
16. I have minors in art and vocal music.
17. I'm the first and only female fisheries biologist in Kansas.
18. But I admire 99% of my coworkers, especially the old, salty, crass ones.
19. I have the best friends in the world.
20. Until 2 years ago, I hated the color pink. Now, Pink is my favorite color.
21. I have a blog. It's (mostly) about knitting.
22. Mollydoodle is the first dog I ever liked. I think I might even love her, even though she puked on both my leather purse and my antique hand-hooked rug last week. And took an 8-lb crap on the kitchen floor.
23. Our other dog, Bocephus, sounds like Cartman when he talks.
24. I used to think my aunt was a complete dork for talking for her dog... but now I do it all the time.
25. My parents drive me bonkers, but I love them.

Is it possible...

2009-01-20T16:38:00.000-08:00

... to be in LOVE with a handbag?

Yay for my new Namaste "Malibu" from the Cali Collection, in Hollywood Pink. Purchased at my favorite little yarn store, Twist. It arrived today, and I've never loved a bag like I love this one. I can't wait to carry it around, it's big enough for all of my stuff, AND my knitting! (I bought one of those cool little magnetic buddy cases to match.)

Handmade Christmas Part II and a do-over

2009-01-06T06:41:00.001-08:00

My dad got a new lathe for his birthday in October, and he's been spending a lot of time learning how to use it. For Christmas, he gave me these beautiful drop spindles and sock darning eggs! There are no words to say how much I completely LOVE THEM.

I gave Grandma the ribwarmer... and it was a little too small, even on her 110 lb frame. So, I'm re-knitting it right now on size 9 needles and I'll also do the I-cord edging larger this time. :)

Aaron models a hat/scarf/mitten set I made for his auntie Em, using Berroco Peruvia in the Raku Glaze colorway.

Purple cabled socks for my SIL. (She loved them!) Size 0 circulars, knit 2-at-a-time with Louet Gems in eggplant. Toe up flap heel is wonderful... now I need to see if I can duplicate it on my next pair.

Socklets for my MIL, in my own pattern. 1x1 rib for the cuff and the top of the instep, doubled fingering weight yarn on size 3 addi turbos.

Happy New Year!

Handmade Christmas, Part 1

2008-12-10T08:08:00.000-08:00

First, a quilt I had worked on for quite awhile. This quilt came about when I purchased about 25 fat quarters in varying shades of green with the intention of making a somewhat crazy quilt. I began by cutting the fat quarters into 4 inch strips, then cutting those strips at random lengths at a 45 degree angle. I then sewed the angled edges together to make new 4 inch wide strips, then sewed the strips together to make a quilt top. I used a thin old blanket that we didn't use any more for the batting and found some backing fabric that matched. The binding is attached by machine, and the quilting lines are random curves that run the length of the quilt.

Next, the finished color wheel quilt! I am so pleased with this one I can hardly stand it. Giving it to the recipent will be bitter sweet, but I know she'll love it and I still have plenty of fabric left to make another one for myself.

My first official and completed Elizabeth Zimmerman project. I can't believe how much I truly LOVE garter stitch. I didn't really make any modifications, except I added the i-cord edging and I wrapped stitches in the short row parts. Love it. I hope it fits my grandmother, and I'm making one for myself next... I've already cast on, but I'm knitting it on size 9's this time and adding 20% to the stitches per row and the number of rows. Check it out on Ravelry here.

Up next: More Christmas Projects!

Conversations with Grandmother

2008-12-05T07:45:00.000-08:00

My Grandmother is 89 years old. Last year at Thanksgiving, she greeted me with "How are you? You look like you're getting enough to eat!" I can always count on her to be brutally honest. This year, I asked her what she wanted for Christmas...

Me: Grandma, is there anything you'd like for me to knit you for Christmas?
Grandma: Oh, I don't know sweetie.
Me: Did you like those socks I made you last year?
Grandma: Oh, no. I never wore them. I didn't know what to wear them with, I can't wear them with shoes, they're too thick.
Me: Well, you can just wear them to keep your feet warm at night, they're meant to be warm socks. Is there something else you'd rather have this year?
Grandma: Did you knit that sweater you're wearing?
Me: Yes.
Grandma: How about a sweater?
Me: Ok, I have a pattern I think you'd like. Something simple? What color?
Grandma: I like the color of your sweater. Maybe that, or off-white?

So, the search began. I'm going to make EZ's Rib Warmer (using Jared's modifications) for her, because I think she'll actually wear it - but if she doesn't, I know she'll tell me. Sometimes I wonder what I'll be like when I'm 90 - probably a lot like her!

Another project I'll be working on before the end of the month: A hat for a friend who'll be working on a fishing boat in the Bering Sea for the next few months. (Think: Deadliest Catch) I'm thinking that only a hat with traditional gansey stitch patterns, including the wearer's initials, will do in this case.

Nearly There

2008-12-04T09:59:00.001-08:00

I'm almost done with my Christmas Knitting, so I took a little break today and ordered these from Jenny at All Sorts. I can't wait to embroider them!

Christmas Knitting was light this year. Little Miss B will be recieving a pair of booties in hot pink, and her mama will get a hat, scarf and mitten set. Littlest sister will be the lucky recipient of the color wheel quilt (next I have to make one for me). I made socks for MIL, SIL and Grandmother, and that's about it. There might be a few more projects on the needles in the next few weeks, because there always are! Pictures will follow when I remember to take them.

Blonde Moment

2008-11-25T11:02:00.000-08:00

So, I've been looking at the book Knit So Fine for about a year, now - lusting over the Traveling Stitch Legwarmers pattern, and dreaming of ways to knit them into socks. I just couldn't bring myself to spring for the whole book for one pattern... and then the other day I was looking through my old interweave knits mags, and found the pattern in one of them. I've had it the whole time.

Color Wheel Quilt

2008-11-14T12:23:00.001-08:00

My phone doesn't take the greatest photos, but even a crappy photo makes my point... I love this quilt pattern! It's from Last Minute Patchwork & Quilted Gifts and it's quicker than you'd think. It's also quite inexpensive to make, if you've already got a rainbow of fabric stashed.

This isn't the only thing I've been spending my time on lately... and it's one of the first projects in my attempt at a mostly handmade Christmas this year.

Spencer's Hat

2008-10-28T06:19:00.001-07:00

Needles: US 5

Yarn: Brown Sheep Worsted Superwash

Size: Adult M/L

Gauge: About 6 stiches/inch in pattern, unstretched.

Pattern:

Cast on 100 stitches, using the tubular cast on method.

Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist.

Work in the round, in 1x1 rib for 1”.

Switch to 3x1 rib and work in the round for 8.5”.

Begin decrease rounds:
1. (k2tog, k1, p1, k3,p1) repeat to end of round.
2. (k2, p1, k2tog, k1,p1) repeat to end of round.
3. (k2tog, p1, k2, p1) repeat to end of round.
4. (k1, p1, k2tog, p1) repeat to end of round.
5. (k2tog, k1, p1) repeat to end of round.

Repeat round 5 until you have 10 stitches total left.

Cut yarn, draw the tail through those 10 stitches and pull tight.

Weave in ends.

Using the smaller needles with worsted yarn produces a tighter knit for maximum warmth! This pattern could easily be adapted to use any worsted weight that matches gauge.

Knitting for Health

2008-10-02T08:24:00.000-07:00

For some reason, fall is always the time of year that I start paying attention to my health. The prairie I love so much is in it's prime, October brings a sea of pink for breast cancer awareness, and the air temperature is just... right.

I started knitting the Monteagle Bag from the newest "Mason Dixon" knitting book, and had an overwhelming urge to visit the grocery store; for the sole purpose of filling my newly knitted denim bags to the brim with fresh fruit. This started a grocery shopping spree of whole grains, low fat dairy and fresh fruits and vegetables.

I'm attributing my renewed interest in a healthier diet to my obsession with knitting, whether it's sane or not. :)

Progress in knitting is still progress

2008-09-15T07:18:00.000-07:00

We've been messing with numerous projects lately, and the only ones I can seem to complete are small knitting ones. I am making a bunch of these little amulet bags for Christmas Presents. J says that they're impractical and useless, but I say they're the perfect size to tote a certian prophylactic device. Useful in some situations, at least!

In other news, I made this sweet little denim sweater for my new niece. Props to my moms for letting me delve into her mad button stash! I can't wait to see it on her, it will hopefully fit her this winter.

The Prettiest Little Girl...

2008-08-15T09:08:00.000-07:00

Welcome, Brenna!

Gardening

2008-08-11T11:20:00.000-07:00

On a visit to my dad's a couple of weekends ago, he presented me with nearly a trunk-full of homegrown veggies. Only a little bit of what he sent with us is shown... I took this photo after the 20 + pounds of heirloom tomatoes had been reduced to 5 pints of home-canned spaghetti sauce, and including 20 yellow squash in one photo seemed redundant.

I've always (been jealous of) bragged on both of my parents ability to make things grow with seemingly little effort. Until this year, I was lucky to eek out a handful of sorry looking tomatoes and one zucchini before the squash bugs came...

This year, we've harvested 10 lbs of tomatoes, 50+ lbs of zucchini, and enough cucumbers to make 6 quarts + 6 pints of kosher dill pickles. I've also picked about 7 ears of corn, a large handful of green beans, a few small onions, and two tiny strawberries. The asaparagus won't be ready until next year. :)

Antiques Roadshow

2008-07-15T12:40:00.001-07:00

Eeek! Here we are at Antiques Roadshow last week when they came to our very own hometown. Sadly, neither of us is going to retire a rich young(ish) lady anytime soon... but I think we'll make it onto TV when they air the show in January. My dear friend and I were standing (and knitting!) behind a guy who was being filmed with some kind of Mongolian helmet. Fun!

Hemlock

2008-06-27T09:41:00.000-07:00

Did you know that the Apiaceae plant family contains many toxic species, such as Conium maculatum (hemlock), yet also includes carrots, parsley, cilantro and cumin? Socretes would probably have not appreciated this pattern as much as I do.

This was the longest bind off in the history of knitting, and the most nerve-wracking by far... I had a total of 3 INCHES of yarn left when I bound off the last stitch!

A long, long time ago...

2008-06-26T10:50:00.001-07:00

So I finished the mitered square blanket awhile back, and it's wrapped up and ready to go to its new owner this Sunday. I also knitted a cute little short-sleeved baby jacket that matches!

I've been knitting a lot for as hot as it is: socks for jeff and my Euroflax version of the Hemlock Ring Doily. And, I just started the blanket version of the Hemlock Ring last night!

It's not easy being green

2008-03-28T13:21:00.000-07:00

BFFH asked me the other day, "So, are you in your 'green' phase?" He was looking at my current pile of 4 UFO's:

Pictured above are: Baby Suprise Jacket in "Dublin" Knit Picks Swish Superwash, Socks for Veronik in "Grass" Knit Picks Essential, Gentleman's Fancy sock in Lang Jawoll, and a nearly completed Gathered Pullover in Paton's Classic Wool Merino.

Green is supposed to be the most relaxing of colors... and boy, do I need to relax right now.
Or, maybe I'm just feeling frisky, or I was inspired by my Irish roots or the grass starting to peek up from my yard?

Whoa, Nelly.

2008-03-13T10:16:00.000-07:00

Where did that last month go? Good grief.

Knitting and spinning have been going on, but sadly... no pictures to post. Briefly, the Gathered Pullover is on sleeve island, the Socks for Veronik are nearly done (but are certianly not designed for my feet. Oh well, a dear friend with "less foot volume" will love them!) and I started the Jacobean socks in a delightful spring green.

Here's where we're going for spring break. Enjoy :)

Saving Up

2008-02-15T09:40:00.000-08:00

The Tangled Yoke is finally done! I really loved knitting this, although the 4 inches after attaching the arms before starting the cable were the most tedious 4 inches of knitting ever. Now that it's done, though, I love it love it love it. I also love the square shell buttons I found! Someday (10 fewer lbs from now) I may even model it... although it fits me perfectly and I've already worn it in public. The only modifications I made were: Using #4 needles instead of #5, and knitting a size small around but length-wise, I knit the largest size. This was a nice way to accomidate my loose knitting and my big rack/long waist. I bought 10 balls of Rowan Felted Tweed and only needed 7, so the pattern seemed a little heavy on the yarn requirements. I have more photos of the finished cardi on Ravelry, but here's one for you:

As promised, pictures of GraceAnna's socks and the afterthought heel. I used the Yarn Harlot's tutorial and it was fairly simple (see more comments below.)

Here are the stitches picked up:

and the middle stitch snipped

and ready to knit the heel

and done.

Not a fan of the afterthought heel, but I should have known that given that kitchener stitch is involved. I don't mind how it turned out, but it would have taken far less time just to knit a heel when I was supposed to.

In more knitting news, I started the Gathered Pullover I mentioned in this post, and started the Socks for Veronik this week as well... following a brief obsession with the Ball Band Dishrag Pattern from Mason Dixon Knitting:

This weekend: Quilting and Spinning. The spinning wheels mentioned in this post are finished, and mine is calling my name along with some merino/bamboo roving I scored on ebay this week. :) ... and I owe my friend a Denver Broncos quilt for his FREAKING AWESOME job at building our wheels!

Ninety-Seven.

2008-02-01T12:54:00.000-08:00

That's how many pictures were on my camera today when I downloaded them. Here's the one I was looking for:

The 96 others were the apparent result of wee A's attempt at being "artistic," as they varied in subject matter from portraits of the dogs laying on the living room carpet (badly in need of a good vaccuuming), yarn/roving/my spindle (hee!), his pet fish and stuffed puppy, but the funniest ones were the extreme closeups of his nostrils and teeth!

Anyway, I plan on spending a bit of time making a few more of these delightful little Garter Mug Cozies, from the Interweave Knits Holiday 2007 Magazine. I only made one to begin with, and had to make a couple of alterations (size 5 dpns, not quite so many increases, and washable yarn instead of wool.) But I've had a request or two from the self-portrait photographer himself, who loves drinking hot cocoa almost as much as my camera.

Too Many WIPs...

2008-01-28T10:25:00.000-08:00

And I'm not talking about just knitting, either!

Here's the project we've been working on, headboards with shelves! The boys designed the plans, measured the wood, sanded, and stained and finished them almost entirely by themselves (I ran the circular saw). They are SO proud of their work, and I am SO proud of how hard they worked on them.

However, in knitting news:

I'm nearly finished with GraceAnna's socks and I'm excited to do the afterthought heel, which I'm planning to tackle tonight using this method. Pictures will follow in the next post.

I visited the Gove City Yarn Shop with my sister-in-law and was overwhelmed by the amount of yarn stuffed in and around antiques. This town is seriously tiny, and we were the only ones there... yet there was yarn everywhere! I did see these Needle Binders there, which I am currently coveting. I bought 2 skeins of Wildfoote in Blue Blood Red, and am planning to use them in the Socks for Veronik pattern.

I'm currently slogging on the 4 inches before the "tangle" in the Tangled Yoke Cardigan. ( I love Eunny, but this is like knitting a sweater-sized sock. Number 4 needles and sport weight yarn!) I hope I can wear it at least once before it starts to get warm. Pictures to come...

Update: My tall sister, she picked the Gathered Pullover! This is fantastic because that's the one I wanted to knit for her. I should have it done (read: cast on) by the time it gets really, really hot here.

Twisted Sister

2008-01-17T12:38:00.000-08:00

Last week, I took advantage of a great sale on Patons Classic Merino, and ordered five skeins each of tree bark and dark natural. It arrived a few days ago and the skeins have already found their way into my stash… but not for long – they (at least half of them) were ordered with a specific project in mind!

My sister recently asked me if I could knit her a sweater. Being rather tall, I suspect it’s only because she’s intrigued by the prospect of a custom fit that will keep her wrists warm as well as the rest of her, but she may have other motives. (Just kidding, T!)

You know how you get an idea in your head of exactly the thing you’d like to knit for someone? I called her yesterday for her measurements, and I’m hoping that she likes one of these:

Gathered Pullover:

I love how the cables in front are used to shape the sweater, and the rolled edges and v-neck would look really nice on her. Plus, it will be super easy to lengthen for a tall girl.

Cobblestone Pullover:

Yes, the original pattern is designed for men, but I’ve seen a couple of these on Ravelry that have been adjusted to fit women, and it looks fantastic on tall girls! Libby knit one for her hubby, and I loved the way it fit me when I tried it on. (Note to self, if my sister doesn’t want one, then I do!) Lilybeth has knit one for herself and replaced all of the garter stitch with moss stitch, a look I am in love with.

A Tale of Two Spinning Wheels

2008-01-14T06:42:00.000-08:00

I hardly knit this weekend, for I had other projects calling for my time. Libby and I met our dear friend in his woodshop to help out with some sanding on his latest project. Using the "No Lathe Saxony Style Spinning Wheel" plans along with his AMAZING talent, he is nearing completion on two spinning wheels, which will soon be ours!

Some delicious photos for your viewing pleasure:

I can't wait... !

Hello, Goodbye

2008-01-10T11:00:00.001-08:00

I said goodbye to an old friend last night.

The Bistro Shirt was the first sweater project I ever tackled, the first real yarn I bought from an LYS with a specific project in mind, and a first for many techniques (seaming, following a pattern, a lesson in GAUGE, the 3-needle bind off).

It drives BFFH crazy, but I've never been one to resist a good and warranted frogging. This isn't the first time I've knit (and seamed!) an entire project, only to wind the entire thing back into balls. BFFH can't understand why one would spend all of that time... only to tear it all out at the end. I consider myself an organic knitter - while it's mostly about the process for me, I can't stand making something that isn't useful.

And this shirt wasn't. I didn't wear it once. Although I tried it on many times, it never looked right on me and it simply sat, unworn, for 2 years. As I frogged and wound last night, I recounted how much I enjoyed knitting this shirt and how carefully I had seamed. I remembered shopping for the pattern and the yarn, knowing NOTHING about gauge or yarn weight.

And then, I started thinking about all of the possibilities with the reclaimed yarn...