Dashing Through the Snow

Author: knitting

Dec 20

Dashing Through the Snow – by Addie

Dashing through the snow on a pair of broken skiis,  crashing into trees, the snow is turning red I must have dropped my yarn and that is why your sweater is not finished!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I would add:  Sandbakkels, bourbon balls, the kitchen is a mess.  Oh what fun it is to deal with all the Christmas stress!

Ok.  Maybe we shouldn’t be quitting our day jobs to start writing lyrics any time soon.

There’s a lot going on around here.  We’ve got the first of 3 Christmas’ starting on Saturday and I still need to wrap presents.  Anything that isn’t done at this point has pretty much been written off.  I think my girls will get Valentine’s Day sweaters.  (the sleeve of one is pictured above).  I’m actually to the neck decreases on this sweater with both sleeves done so it’s feasible that it would be done by Christmas, however I’d like to give each girl their sweater at the same time so no one feels left out.

I’ve been working on the blanket for a trade.  I call it the Ugly Blankie.  It’s ok, it’s just not something I would normally choose to make.  I tend to struggle with matching more than 2 colors together.  This many colors is definitely a stretch for me.  Plus I’m dreading weaving in the ends.  I’m on the downhill stretch as I’m knitting it on the diagonal and I just started the decreases.

I did finish a scarf that is intended for a friend.  I think he’ll be thrilled to get it as he asked me for 2 last year.  The second one is on the needles and I hope to get lots of knitting done on it in the car on the way to my parents.  The second one is made from chunky wool so it’s going much faster.

The Beekeepers Quilt is slowly being worked on in fits and starts.  I love making the hexipuffs, it’s just a matter of other things taking priority.  The nice thing about our Christmas celebrations this year is that they are spread out over an entire week.  This gives me a little bit of wiggle room for getting the Beekeepers Quilt done.  And if it doesn’t get done….

well, there’s always his birthday in February.

 

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Cuddles

Author: knitting

Nov 8

Lily is cuddled up with me right now as we watch a movie on TV.  She’s got the day off of school courtesy of strep throat which means that I am trying to get some work done on the couch.  Or at least I was until I started this blog post.  I always think it’s funny that people assume that on days like this I should be knitting up a storm.  Clearly they don’t know how hard it is to knit with a little girl attached to their hip.  She’s a fabulous reader, so she’s editing this as I go.  She also loves cartoons and cooking shows (she wants to be a famous chef on Food Network some day) so we’re enjoying some snuggly TV time.

Which means I shouldn’t write about any super secret knitting projects.  This post has been censored by the Secret Squirrel.

Therefore I am not knitting a _________ for _________.  Although you could see the pattern link here.  It’s adorably cute and I’m making it completely out of stash yarn, which warms my heart.

I also do not have plans to finish a child size version of this for ______________.  I just have the arms to finish.  I kind of lost interest in this sweater back when the weather started to warm up.

There’s my potato chip knitting project.  It’s a swirly scarf that I’ve been working on off and on for awhile.  I’m hoping to finish this up for Christmas.

I also have a scarf to finish for a friend.  He asked me to knit 2 scarves for him last fall and this is the first one.  I’ve ripped and reknit several times and just can’t seem to get the cable crosses right.

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Less is More

Author: knitting

Dec 12

 

Malabrigo and Leaf Stitch Markers

This year, somewhere around the first of October, I had a stern talking to myself.  I said that less is more this year and that I didn’t need to go all crazy knitting for everyone in my life.  There was no sense in driving myself crazy trying to get everything knit in time for Christmas.  I always go over the top baking Christmas Cookies, and I generally commit to 2 more knitting projects than I can possibly get done in the allotted time.  But not this year! 

So why does my To Do list look like this?

1.  Bourbon Balls (people started asking for these right before Thanksgiving, guess I have a reputation)

2.  Chocolate Covered Oreos

3.  S________ for ____________

4.  Sweater for Lily

5.  Truffles

6.  Pecan Tassies

7.  Thumbprints

8.  Shortbread/Raspberry Sticks

9.  Hats for 4 Children who live in Alaska (and therefore it needs to be sent early) – 3 done

10.  Booties for Godchild in Alaska to match one of the hats

11.  Sweater for Addie

12.  Socks

13.  S____________ for _______________

14.  Gingerbread Cookies

15.  Make up 2 new cookies on the fly

Yeah… less is more all right.  At least most of the traditional shopping is done.  I have a couple of things to pick up for the Grandparents, but mostly I’m done with that.  I’ve spent most of the last 2 days in the kitchen and I am wiped out.  I’m going to take a knitting break and try to work on one of the other projects for a bit. 

In the meantime, take a brownie mix, a mini tart pan, a batch of chocolate truffle filling.  Make brownie mix according to package directions.  Fill mini tart wells 2/3 full of mix.  Bake for 14 minutes.  Press down center of each well (use a wooden spoon handle).  Fill well with truffle filling.  Do I top this with more melted chocolate to make a hard shell on top?  Is that just too much decadence in one cookie?  Please discuss. 

 

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Gifts for Knitters 2010

Author: knitting

Dec 6

I’ve been asked several times over the last few weeks what would make a good gift for a knitter.  These people all have knitters in their lives that they would like to buy something special for.  Something special that says they love the knitter enough to get something fibery.  So in no particular order, here is my Top Ten Gifts for 2010

10.  Blue Moon Fiber Arts Rockin’ Sock Club.  At $240 this is the most expensive thing on the list.  If you want the undying love and affection of your knitter, this is the thing to get.  Every other month your knitter will receive a package in the mail of amazing fibery goodness and patterns by amazing designers.  (I wouldn’t actually know as I’ve never coughed up that much dough, but I’ve heard it’s the best Sock Club out there.)  If you don’t want to spend that much, a Sheep to Shoe kit would be great for the spinner & sock knitter in your life.  I have knit with BMFA yarn and in my opinion it is worth every penny.  It comes in fantastic colorways, so many that it might be hard to choose just one. 

9.  Your knitter doesn’t spin you say?  Well, how about starting them out with a drop spindle and some wonderful fiber?  Locally, Yarn Harbor carries both the basic drop spindle and fiber.  If you search a little farther afield you can find even more options.  You could be slightly sneaky and check the search history on your computer to see if your knitter has been looking at fiber for spinning.  Go with a Corriedale or BFL for a first time spinner (that’s my non-expert opinion).  I’d also recommend that they sit down with someone who is proficient in drop spindling or take a class as there is a learning curve. 

8.  How about some pretty needles.  Just like any other job, in knitting you need the right tools to do the job right.  Harmony wood needles are some of the prettiest around.  Especially when you consider the reasonable price tag.  If your knitter knits a lot of socks, the Double Pointed Set is a great choice.  If they’re a lace knitter, I would go with a circular needle in several different sizes. 

7.  Speaking of lace, I’ve heard that this is one of the best Chart Keepers around.  This little easel helps keep your place if you’re frequently interupted (i.e. if you have children or pets or live with anyone).  It also folds up to keep that place even when you’re not knitting. 

6.  Blocking Mats – these are great things to have for blocking your knits.  You don’t have to be a lace knitter to benefit from blocking.  The mats repel water so the items aren’t sitting on a soggy towel for days, plus the foam will hold the pins exactly the way you want it to. 

5.  What better way to wear and show off a beautiful hand knit shawl than with a shawl pin.  I’m constantly messing with my shawl trying to get it to stay in the correct spot. 

4.  For the fashion conscious knitter, there’s a Namaste Mini Clutch.  This is so clever, and I didn’t even know it existed until just now!  There’s even room for a cell phone.  Like the Boy Scouts say, “Always be prepared.  You never know when you’re going to need that knitting fix.”  Or at least they say something like that. 

3.  Interweave Knits CD Collection.  This is every issue (in one year) of one of the best knitting magazines, all on a handy CD format.  If you live in a small space or are trying to downsize, this is a great way to get rid of the clutter that magazines bring with them. 

2.  Knitwear Design Workshop.  Just about everyone I know adapts and modifies their patterns.  This book walks you through everything from modifying a pattern so it fits you better to creating your own designs.  This book is not for the faint of heart or for beginning knitter, but if your knitter has a few sweaters under their belt they should do just fine. 

1.  A Bohus Knitting kit.  I might have lied about the Sock Club being the most expensive thing on my list.  A Bohus Sweater was once considered the height of fashion.  Now it’s a classic and beautiful piece that will fit in anyone’s wardrobe.  It’s knit on teeny tiny needles with teeny tiny yarn (that’s the technical definition) and will be something your knitter will be proud to show off.  These sweaters are stunning in person.  The kits come from Sweden, so you’ll have to do the conversion from Swedish Crowns to figure out the US cost as each sweater is different.  There’s also an option for a hat for those that are a little more budget conscious.  The yarn for these kits are dyed by one woman in Sweden to exactly match the original colorways.  Everyone involved in this organization is committed to preserving the tradition of the Bohus Stickening. 

0.5  My 6 year old keeps telling me what she’s giving me for Christmas. ”It’s L-O-V-E!”

 Happy Holidays everyone!

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Christmas Wrap Up

Author: knitting

Dec 23

May your Christmas be a filled with love and fun as ours. 

I may not be done with all my Christmas preparations, but I feel like I’m in a good spot.  I’ve got 2 gifts left to pick up (one of which doesn’t need to be done until next week).  I’ve got 2 gifts left to knit – one is a slipper that doesn’t need to be finished until next week and the second is a hat that I can finish up in an evening.  Wrapping can be done Christmas Eve afternoon while the kids are at their daycare party.  I think I’m done making Christmas cookies.  It’s totally reasonable to think that I’ve got this Christmas thing licked.  Which should be reason enough for fate to kick me in the butt before tomorrow night rolls around. 

My guess is that fate is going to hit me in one of two areas.  The first is the giant storm that is supposed to be rolling in.  I love snow and I really want snow this winter, but it’s coming at a time when I’m supposed to be travelling to my parents house for Christmas Day!  The other way that fate might send me screaming to hide under my covers is that I’m working on a gift for our daycare lady that just doesn’t seem to want to come together.  It’s a scrapbook with little things about each kid in the daycare.  I’m waiting on photos from the other parents and just hoping that they’ll come in time.  I know better than to do this sort of thing at the last minute.  It’s craziness I tell you, pure craziness. 

Despite the threat of a snow of epic proportions, I’m going to make the bread I promised my Mom for Christmas Day dinner.  It’s the bestest, most easiest recipe I’ve found for making bread.  And despite all my efforts, I’ve yet to screw it up.  It’s from Arisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day.  You make a giant batch of the dough (which takes maybe 5 minutes) and let it sit in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.  Any time you want fresh bread you take it out, saw off a hunk of dough and let it sit on your countertop for 40 minutes and bring your oven (and a good quality pizza stone) up to temp.  Throw it in the oven and you’ve got awesome bread.  I’ve thrown in flax seed for a really yummy change.  So even if we get snowed in, we’ll be eating well at the Big Blue House. 

Merry Christmas Everyone!

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Down to the Wire

Author: knitting

Dec 16

I’m down to the wire with my required Christmas knitting.  I finished up this scarf for my husband’s cousin last week, blocked it after our company left and now it’s ready to ship to the Windy City.  It’s the only item that I agreed to knit for someone else to give away. 

Honestly, I only agreed to it because a.) she asked me in August b.) she offered to buy the yarn and c.) she is a wonderful person who has done many wonderful things for my girls and my husband and I.  Even with all of these things, the scarf ended up being extremely stressful because it was knit for someone else to give away. 

 

For the life of me I cannot remember what the pattern is.  It’s a simple cable, repeated over 12 rows.  Basically 2 of the rows are cable rows and the rest are just all knit or purl.  Repeat until you are completely bored or until the 2 skeins of yarn run out.  The yarn is Berocco Vintage Wool in Douglas Fir. It’s manly, yet soft and warm. 

Since we’re down to the wire before Christmas, send me your best Christmas knitting and we’ll post the favorites.  Email me at jposkozim at duluth news dot cahm (separated to keep the spammers from finding it) a photo of your favorite knitted (or crocheted) Christmas gift and a little blurb about it including the pattern (with link if possible).  I’ll do a final days of Christmas knitting post. 

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Knitting for a Cause

Author: knitting

Dec 14

Christmas Knitting is in full swing at our house.  I finished up several projects over the weekend and took the time to work on a hat for a good cause.  This hat is going to the Newspapers in Education Auction that we hold at our office every year.  NIE works to put newspapers in classrooms, helping teachers with lesson plans and supplementing the textbooks and teaching materials that the schools already have.  More information can be found at the NIE website. 

The Details:

Pattern:  The Yarn Harlot’s Unorginal Hat.

Yarn:  Misti Alpaca Chunky

Modifications:  I used a size 10 needle.  The pattern calls for a 7mm needle which is somewhere between a US size 10 and size 11.  I think next time I’d go up to the 11.  It just occured to me that I never checked my gauge.  So I’m not entirely sure how accurate it is to tell you what size needle to use.  Heck, use your best judgement.  It’s a hat, so it will fit someone.  If it’s a gift though, check gauge.   It also probably wouldn’t hurt to run another strand of yarn (maybe dk weight or so) along with the Misti Alpaca.  Something that would help beef up the size of the yarn and give some stitch definition once the alpaca goes all fuzzy and blooms. 

 

 

It fits a 5 year old girl very nicely, but will also fit a women’s small.  If I make one of these for an adult, I think I’ll go up a needle size.  For a baby, I’d just reduce the number of pattern repeats – do 3 instead of 4 and perhaps shorten the length (although it’s awfully cute with a rolled up brim). 

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Hippie Spice Socks

Author: knitting

Dec 9

One gift down.  Lots more to do! 

These are what I’m calling the Hippie Spice Socks.  They’re going to our daycare lady for her birthday this week.  No, she’s not a hippie.  I just find the name funny since it’s a combination of Market Spice and what I think of when I hear "flower power." 

Pattern:  Market Spice from Wollemeise.  Follow the link for a free pattern. 

Yarn:  Flower Power from Socks that Rock, Blue Moon Fiber Arts and a bit of Dream in Color Smooshy for the toes.

Modifications:  I decided not to follow the slip stitch pattern all the way down the foot because it might be too irritating when you wear socks.  I hate having something with texture across the top of my foot, it always feels like my shoes are laced too tightly.  These are made to fit a women’s size 9 foot.  I ran out of yarn right at the toes of the second sock.  I ripped out the toe of the first and knit them both in the Dream in Color yarn that I had left over.  I think the colorway is Stormy Skies or something like that.  The ball band is long long gone. 

I think this photo shows off the colors better.  I took the picture thinking you’d be able to see the texture on the leg better also.  I can’t wait to wrap these up in a pretty package.  Our daycare lady wears crocs most of the time and I think these will help keep her feet warm when she’s outside with the kids. 

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Author: knitting

Nov 13

After 2 swimming parties with the kids in 2 days, plus nursing my husband (who quite probably has pneumonia) back to health, it’s entirely possible that I am too tired to knit.  My arms are worn out from carrying our 3 year old around in the pool all day.  I have a pile of Christmas knitting that is sitting there staring at me.  You know the Geico commercials where the stack of dollar bills has eyeballs on it?  Well, thats how I’m feeling.  My knitting is sitting there by the couch staring at me singing a little song.  It’s creepy, really. 

Today we are 40 days away from Christmas.  Although I don’t have a huge quantity of Christmas knitting to do, I have several large projects going.  I am less than halfway through the cabled scarf that needs to be sent to Chicago well before Christmas so it can be wrapped by the recepient’s receiver’s mother.  I keep trying to invision how long it’s going to be and if I’m going to have to buy another skein of yarn for it.  (I’m guessing the answer is yes).  I’ve pretty much written off the large men’s sweater I was planning.  I think if I can get the woman’s sweater done I’ll be in wonderful shape.  Oh yes, and the second sock.  And the 2 pairs of Fetchings that I bought yarn for.  And the Unoriginal Hat.  But those shouldn’t take long.  

 

By the way, when I say those shouldn’t take too long, I mean that I shouldn’t be knitting all these things past Christmas.  It does not mean that I want people coming up to me with their knitting wish lists.  I like knitting.  I like knitting for people.  I don’t really like knitting on a deadline and knitting on someone else’s deadline is even more stressful.  But hey, if I run out of projects before Christmas, I’ll be sure to let you know. 

Edited to add:  I don’t mean for that to sound snotty.  I’m just worn out and I don’t have time to do projects for others right now.  However, I’m happy to point you in the direction of some excellent knitting teachers.

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Gifts for Knitters

Author: knitting

Nov 6

With the holidays right around the corner, I thought I would give all the non-knitters out there an idea of what constitutes a good gift for a knitter.  All of these ideas should be easily found in the KupN area (meaning Northern Wisconsin and Northern Minnesota).  For the love of all things holy, please please please go to a local store owned by a person who lives in your community.  If you walk into a big box store, ask someone where to buy a gift for a knitter and they casually wave you back to the "craft area,"  walk away.  Walk away quickly.  That is not the kind of gift that your knitter really wants.  If you go to a local store that your knitter usually frequents (HINT: they probably go there for a "Knit Night" of some sort) you will get personal service and the chances are good that someone who waits on you will know your knitter by name.  Translation:  They will help you pick a gift that your knitter really wants. 

Gift Ideas:

1.  Gift Certificates:  They come in any denomination and are always appreciated.  As Barb from Fabric Works says, "You know she’s going to spend the money on yarn anyway, you might as well give her a gift certificate for it and look like a hero." 

2.  Sock Yarn:  Most knitters knit socks at some point.  Or hats with sock yarn.  Or mittens.  Or… well, you get the idea.  Sock yarn is great because you can knit an entire pair of socks for $14-$20 which is a great price range for gift exchanges. Plus, one skein of sock yarn will easily fit in someone’s stocking. 

3.  Barbara Walker’s, A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns.  This woman is amazing. Knitting greatness fairly oozes from her skin, she is that cool.  She and Meg Swanson belong on the Dream Team of knitting.  This book should be in the library of every knitter.  Hint, hint to my family – Fabric Works carries this book. 

 4.  Along those same lines, the Harmony Guides have been republished by Interweave Press.  There are 4 different versions, everything from how to make patterns using just Knit and Purl, to Lace and Cables.  Stitch guides are wonderful when you’re making up a new pattern or need to tweak a pattern that’s not quite what you want.  Or if you want to make some fun hats.  Or scarves. Or, well just suffice it to say they are darn handy to have around. 

Edited to add:  I believe Yarn Harbor carries the Harmony Guides.  They’re definitely at Barnes and Noble, but try Yarn Harbor or Playing with Yarn first. 

5.  Good tools.  Ask the yarn store about this.  Good tools are as imperative for knitters as they are for woodworking.  A really nice pair of scissors will warm your knitters heart.  What knitter doesn’t like a new bag, especially one with all sorts of pockets for your yarn and needles? 

6.  If you’re looking for something on the higher end or just a gift that will completely wow your knitter, join them in a Yarn of the Month Club.  Think Fruit of the Month Club, only for knitters.  One that I have heard nothing but amazing reviews from is the Rockin’ Sock Club from Blue Moon Fiber Arts.  Their sock yarn is amazing.  Along with the yarn, you also get a sock pattern and some fun items every month.  OK, so that suggestion isn’t from a local company, but it would make your knitter smile all year round. 

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