7 posts tagged “knitting”
Since my poor camera has bit the dust, but I finally have managed to keep the cable somewhere where I can find it, I give you some pictures from when I was on my blogging hiatus.
In August, we attended Stitch n' Pitch night at the Chicago White Sox. It was great fun and the kids had a blast. Since we didn't get to see any fireworks up close over the 4th, we were extra-happy to be up close and personal for the Sox fireworks presentation after the game. Too bad they lost, but I made good headway on my first pair of socks!
The kids had so much fun rocking out to the music and the entire night would have been a blast except that this group of Lincoln Park Trixies all traipsed in about halfway through the game and after fighting with the people behind us about their seats, all sat down. That would have been fine, except the girl DIRECTLY behind me was apparently a Mariners fan and had to proclaim this by screaming so loudly that her voice was obviously getting hoarse. Loud Girl kept screaming how the Sox were losers and and that Seattle was the best place in the world and proceeded to list all the big companies that were HQed there. I think Boeing, some others and Microsoft? Microsoft? Really? That makes a city the best place in the world? Anyway. Everyone kept saying either to give Loud Girl a beer because she was getting so hoarse, or to tell her to stop drinking because she was obviously drunk. Upon which, her friend replied that Loud Girl had not even had anything to drink. Geez, at least you coulda blamed your stupidity on the booze, Loud Girl!
Still, it didn't really faze me UNTIL, little S, decked out in Sox garb got up from my lap, annoyed from all the screaming and went over to the other end of the row where her dad was sitting. Loud Girl's friend said, See, you're scaring away the little kids!" in an obvious attempt to get Loud Girl to shut up. Loud Bitchy Girl then said, "Well, once a loser, always a loser," under her breath but obviously in reference to my precious little cutie pie. I whipped my head around so fast and gave them the dirtiest look. I would have gotten into it with her, but didn't want to be a bad influence on my girls and having to explain to my daughter that someone called her a loser and Mommy got thrown out of the ball park for fighting. Plus, we were up very high and I didn't want to fall over and tumble down out of the upper deck! Loud Girl's friend got a very scared look on her face but Loud Girl was too busy trying to see what was going on. Whatever. I'm there to knit. Not fight! They left the next inning. Thank God! Stupid Loud Girl notwithstanding, it was still a good time.
How could you possibly call this little cutie a loser? Okay, so the Sox have been pretty much sucksville lately, but that doesn't mean she does!
Oh yeah, and here are the socks that I was working on!
After coming home from seeing Ratatouille yesterday with the family (cute, cute, cute movie! can't wait for DVD) I opened up my email to see my invitation to Ravelry from frecklegirl! Hoorah!
Oh, I have been patiently, patiently waiting to get into the fabulous wonderland that is Ravelry. I've been hearing about it on numerous podcasts, several of my Voxy neighbors have gotten in and raved about it, too many bloggers to count have been boasting about their entre into this beta world. Well, finally, I'm there!
I put in a few projects last night, and today is a sunny day, so I'll probably start uploading my stash. I love that I can see others' WIPs and FO of patterns that I'm currently working on, and also add to my queue of projects that I want to knit.
So if you're in already (which it feels like I'm the last one in), feel free to add me, I'm lulubird6 there too!
SQUEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I had started to write a post on Friday about whining wanting to get into Ravelry, but decided not to sound like a whiner! Yay for not whining!
Nothing on mine yet...despite the fact that it's next weekend. But I do have a project planned and will just tell the Ice about it on Sunday. I am dreading the lace panels, but I will soldier on.
I plan to knit him this from the summer Knit.1 Green Issue. There's lots of really cute patterns in this issue. I've never looked at a Knit.1 magazine before, considering I've only been knitting really for a month. Am I ambitious? Yes. Will I finish it? Maybe, maybe not, but it's so cute! And I think it'll look really good on him. He's such a cutie and can carry this style off well.
I don't know about you, but the colors of yarn they used on the shirt on my computer look a bit like baby poo! It looks much better in the magazine. I've never used the Euroflax before, but was thinking of subbing for some hemp yarn. I think both would be light and airy. Are they comparable in weight? Guess it looks like time for another trip to the LYS to fondle, er, I mean analyze the two yarns. I've been wanting to roadtrip to go to Loopy Yarns and Vogue Fabrics. It's a roadtrip of only about 7 miles, but I must admit, I'm lazy to drive from one end of downtown to the other!
Anyway, what're you making for Dad's Day? The Iceman never reads my blog and anyway, it's not much a surprise since he probably won't receive it until next summer with my knitting speed!
This is the third time I've tried to write this post. It's quite annoying that my Firefox keeps crashing before I can remember to save the post. I've figured out that if I set the post to save as hidden, I can edit it as many times as I like until I'm ready to publish publicly. Kind of like a "save draft" function that Vox doesn't have. Try it! You'll like it!
Awhile back, I finally finished the Chanson en Crochet capelet from Interweave's Wrap Style. I kept forgetting to ask someone to take a pic of me, so I finally did it myself. I hate taking self-portaits. I really, really need to suck it up and buy a Gorillapod. Since the Iceman just handed me a $20 giftcard to Best Buy, you can be sure of what I'm going to be purchasing tomorrow!
I need to change out the closure because the button currently on it is a drop-style button and the metal post at the bottom keeps snagging on the capelet! I purchased these to change it to, but have not yet committed 100%, so that's why I haven't changed it yet. What do you think?
Overall, I'm pleased with the results. I did this one in TLC Baby in sky blue. I love that stuff! However, after seeing a Crafty Cohort's WIP today, I think I will probably make it up again in a nicer yarn. Her capelet in a pretty buttercup mohair was the bee's knees!
I'm trying hard to cultivate my inner yarn snob. I tend to do most things in acrylic because of pricing and I live within walking distance to one of those Joann superstores. Plus, I always think I'll make a mock-up in the cheapie yarn before committing to dropping the dough on something more expensive like the Tahki New Tweed used in the pattern. After all, what if I don't like the pattern when I'm done. Frog the whole thing? I don't think so! Let's do the math. Four skeins of the Tahki at $9US a skein = $36US. One skein of TLC Baby at $3US a skein on sale at Joann = well, $3US! TLC Baby wins!
So I went to the LYS the other day to try out some vegan yarns...bamboo, soy, milk, etc. I got a pattern for this really cute shawl pattern from Fiber Trends. I ended up with some Southwest Trading Company Bamboo in the Parrot colorway. Although it's a bit thin for gauge, I'm going to try to make it work, anyway. It's a shawl! Does gauge really matter too much if it's just a smidge too small? (spoken like a true newbie!)
Whew! May went by quick! Try as I might, I just never got around to crafting anything with flowers, so my craft challenge for May went kablooey! Darn! Quornflour's buttons are so cute!
Instead, I've been spinning like a mad fiend. Yes...handspinning...with a spindle. I suppose you could say it's a reflection on the state of my mind right now. The end of the school year, end of year violin concerts and recitals, arrangements for summer activities, the taking of the MIL to the doctor for a battery of diagnoses and treatments, the most urgent, pressing need to buy a house and move out before August 1st: all of these combine to make a topsy-turvy lulubird.
I had been wistfully thinking of my spindles. Shortly after my last spinning post, I got all frustrated with attempting to ply and balled the whole mess up and stuck it somewhere out of sight. Unfortunately, they were never quite out of my mind, knowing that I had a pretty blue ball of roving waiting patiently for its chance to be spun once that dang natural corriedale managed to get off the Ashford. At the last SnB I went to, one of the kind spinners there helped me out with plying my snarly-unplied-wool-roving-ball of death. I was able to get bluey all spun up and plied all by myself! Here's my so-far 4 psuedo-balls of yarn that have been spun and plied so far. You'll notice, the first two are significantly smaller than the last two. But the last two are, well, just really small too! I think the blue only made about 35 yards. What the heck can I make with 35 yards?
So now I've caught the spinning bug. Yes, I have known for a very long time that I have crafter's ADD. Just ask my hubby...and my weekly crafty girls cohorts. They'll tell ya for sure. I bounce around from craft to craft, hyper-focusing and obsessing over one until something shiny and new catches my eye over there (or I just get frustrated and bored and want to do something else.)
But I'd spun up all the roving in the house and needed more. Like a crack addict needing a fix, I ran out to the nearest LYS, looking for more roving. In shock over the sticker price (have I ever mentioned how cheap I am?) I ran back home with only a sale pattern in my bag.
Then I haunted the Craftster spinning board. Yes! I knew it! Craftster totally rocks, again. It was there that I found out about The Sheep Shed Studio and their Brown Sheep roving mill ends. $7.50US per lb.! Wow, that sure beat the socks off the $1.75/ounce I was seeing at the LYS. I caved and ordered 3 lbs. It came lickety-split and arrived today! Yay! Check out the box, see how the roving is creeping out, like lava from a volcano!
Finally, it just poured itself all over the floor. Carol, over at Sheep Shed, so kindly sent me a bag of mohair as a goodie giveaway. And I swear, that is a heck of a lot more than 3 lbs., although I have no scale to prove it at this time.
I've been pondering the quality of my spinning. Yes, I know, I'm a beginner. Yes, I know, smoothness and consistency come with practice. But over at Craftster, they keep talking about overspinning the yarn. What does that mean? I think I overspun a bit on the blue, like where it's really thinly plied and still a bit twisty.
So too bad for me for May's Craft Challenge, but just because I wasn't feeling all flowery doesn't mean that I didn't complete some projects! Stay tuned!
Just wanted to remind everyone, in case they were interested. Signup ends tomorrow, May 25th! I'll be assigning partners on the 26th.
Here are some links for ideas. Go to my crochet and knitting links page if you want more links:
Knitting Pattern Central
Crochet Pattern Central
I've got this thing against bacteria. I know, I'm all about letting your immune system toughen itself up, but I cannot stand the thought of sponges and dishclothes being used for more than one day. What can I say, I'm a bit OCD that way. So I bought a giant cone of kitchen cotten and began making my own. I've had such fun with it, I've decided to host a swap for them.
I'm hosting my first swap over at Swapbot! I've been having so much fun over there, (so much so, that I've neglected blogging, sorry!) and wanted to host my own swap.
The swap will be for dishclothes, dishtowels, washclothes and scrubbies. Knitted, crocheted, sewn, whatever, they must be handcrafted.
Sign-up ends May 25th, just in time for some crafting over the long weekend. I'll try to assign partners ASAP so that you can get right on it while you're waiting for your brats and burgers to grill while the TV's blaring the Indy 500! Yay Hoosiers! Mail-out isn't until June 15th 30th, which gives you 3 5 weeks to craft your little heart out.
Anywhoo, here's the requirements:
I have recently become addicted to making and using hand-crocheted dish scrubbers, dishclothes and washclothes. I love all the fun patterns that are out there, lots of them are even for free. They can be crocheted, knitted, or even sew. But please, make sure that they can actually be used for their intended purpose. Who needs an extra-special mohair/angora scrubbie? Not me!
These items must be hand-crafted. Cotton and nylon are usually good choices, but I saw one where someone had put wool in the center of the scrubbie and it felted up nicely to clean really well. I leave it to your discretion with the exception of no fun fur! Please!
You will have two partners. You must make one set to send to each partner.
Sets will contain any combination of two items from the following list:
-one (1) dish scrubbie
-one (1) dishtowel
-one (1) dishcloth (at least 6" x 6")
-one (1) washcloth (at least 4" x 4")This swap is international as well. Please remember to give international senders adequate time for their packages to arrive, especially as this package will probably not be a flat envie.
Ratings of 4.5 or higher only. If you're a newbie, join one of the newbie swaps like Gram's Button Box's Fast Turnaround, Jessica Fancy!'s Weekend Newbie Swap #3, or Kimmie's Ratings Booster to get yourself some ratings. Newbies will need to have a FULLY filled out profile AND contact me to join. I'll be watching ratings closely and will ban those whose ratings drop close to the signup time.
Join in the fun! If you don't have an account over at swap-bot, get one, it's free!
UPDATED 6/04/2007 More links, some of which have been taken from the Happy Hookers discussion over at the flickr group.
Long, long ago, I promised my ever-so-voxy! neighbor, Simone, that I'd put up some of my frequently used links for crocheting. Of course, being the lazy slacker that I am, I have yet to do it (sorry Simone!) So I'm going to go ahead and post some links for her. This is by no means a complete list because I find new ones every day, but for sure, I like these for one reason or another. I threw in a couple of knitting ones because I figure, "what the hey, why not! I'm a knitter now too!" And like I said, this list is totally incomplete. When I remember more, I'll just update the list and move to the top, so don't forget to check back.
So enjoy! Oh, and use some of these to get some groovy dishcloth/scrubbie patterns and join my swap, why dontcha?! Sorry! Swap is now closed!
Crochet
Crochet Pattern Central - a ginormous collection of links to patterns
CrochetPoet - a huge compendium of links of patterns
CrochetMe Magazine - an online magazine devoted to crochet with some of the funnest free patterns around.
Diane Langan Designs - some very nice patterns for sale and even some free ones too!
Marnie MacLean Inspirations - really adorable free patterns for both knit and crochet
StitchDiva Studio - Jennifer Hansen is an inspired fiber goddess, er, I mean diva!
Fable Handmade Goods - I am obsessed with these patterns. They are all just too cute, and some of the best ones are even free!
Little Projects Crafts - cute purse patterns and a tutorial on how to make your own hairpin lace loom!
Alison Beth - wonderful crochet inspiration, she's a terrific accessories designer
Knotted Mind - another huge compendium of links! fun!
Crochet Crafts - large link collection, including links to charity crocheting organizations and other crochet groups
Free Crochet Library - a collection of free patterns, including many funky, groovy retro vintagey type numbers
NexStitch - totally talented designer with patterns and the very, best, most helpful crochet video tutorials I have ever used.
CGOA - The Crochet Guild of America's website. For when you're completely addicted. Also, their membership gives you discounts at lots of LYSs. Cool!
Annie's Attic - the printer of all those ubiquitous little pattern booklets. also, has terrific stitch guide and a free pattern of the day everyday (thanks for reminding me, quornflour!)
Granny-a-long - c'mon! show those grannies some love! you, too, can join the a-long, or just check out some grannie pr0n (not that kind, get your mind out of the icky, icky gutter!)
Happy Hookers - the flickr photo group, not the celebrated ex-New York madam
Monster Crochet - such fun! needle-felted eyeballs anyone?
Crochet Carnival - cool! a compendium of crochet bloggers!
Crafty Daisies Crochet Lessons - don't know how to crochet? well go over there because they'll teach you how!
Craftbits Crochet Patterns - crochet patterns from the craftbits forum.
GarnStudio/Drops Design - terrific website with many, many free crochet and knitting patterns (over 1800!) in many languages
Groovy Crochet - C'mon get happeeeee! Remember those funkadelic patterns from the 60's and 70's? Well the patterns are right here! Marcia! Marcia! Marcia! (thanks Happy Hookers!)
Katrina's Crochet Creations - cute amigurumi patterns, free but don't forget to click on her sponsors! (Happy Hookers again!)
Knitting
Knitty - great knitting online magazine
Knitting Pattern Central - compendium of links for patterns and techniques
Knitting Help - forums and ever-so-helpful videos to help you knit. I use this one ALL THE FREAKIN' TIME!
Glampyre Knits - terrific knitwear designer with wonderful patterns, for sale and even some for free.
Knitta, Please! - graffiti knitters, taking back the streets! terrific knitting inspiration. I'd love to see the Bean sporting some knitwear! That'd be awesome! (submitted by laura-u-buggin, thanks!)
Knit On the Net - another knitting online magazine. cute patterns! (totally cribbed from Phisch, thanks!)
For the Love of Yarn - a newish knitting online magazine
Mind of Winter - mega-massive-ginormous list of knitting links. including blogs, podcasts, zines, techniques and resources
Craftbits Knitting Patterns - knitting patterns from the craftbits forum
MagKnits - an online knitting magazine with super-cute free patterns (thanks again, Phisch!)
GarnStudio/Drops Design - terrific website with many, many free knitting and crochet patterns (over 1800!) in many languages
Ambulatory Knitting @Everything2.com - Everything you need to know about ambulatory knitting. no, not knitknitting on the way to the hospital, but knitting while you're on the go.
TinkKnit - Gorgeous patterns. I'll be able to knit these...in like 20 years.
Zephyr Patterns - Cute patterns and sassy stitch markers. Nice!
Fiber Blogs - so many blogs, so little time!
The Hook and I - Amy O'Neill Houck, knitwear designer of some renown
Mind of Winter - lovely, inspiring knitwear blog
CrochetbyFaye - terrific crochet designer's blog
Fiber Books that I have personally fondled and given the lulubird6 seal of approval
Stitch N' Bitch Crochet: The Happy Hooker - how could I not include Debbie Stoller somewhere in this list?
The Crochet Answer Book: Solutions to Every Problem You'll Ever Face; Answers to Every Question You'll Ever Ask - cripes, I think the name says it all!
Loop-d-Loop Crochet - looks pretty dang good, but warning, this is art-crochet wearables. might be a little intimidating for beginners.
Scarf Style - yes, I only have eight gajillion scarfs, but still, one could always crochet or knit up another.
Knitting School: A Complete Course - currently on loan from library, making my knitting adventures much more manageable
Pretty much anything by Candi Jensen - because she freakin' rocks and her designs are so adorable. the baby stuff is just to-die-for...well, not really, one wouldn't want to get blood all over your precious yarn!
DomiKNITrix - whip your knitting into shape! ummm, saucy knits for the adventurous. Jennifer also has a book out.
KnitFix - good for beginning knitters, kind of a knitting 911
Fiber Podcasts and other Media
CastOn - Brenda Daynes is just wonderful. No other words necessary.
Unwound - terrific podcast, she's terrific, and I'm so very sad that she's ending her podcasting career. however, all 12 episodes that she did are absolutely wonderful and easy on the ears.
Lime and Violet - to say that these two wacky ladies are yarn-obsessed (their words, not mine) is a bit of an understatement, but great fun to listen to while crafting.
CraftSanity - okay, so this is more a general craft podcast, but Jennifer has a lot of fiber artists interviewed. very in-depth, very fun and there's lots to inspire
Uncommon Threads - DIY Network's fiberarts show. Lots of nice patterns and tips here.
Knitty Gritty - "the hip knitting show", although they also cover other fiber arts.
PixiePurls - ack, the name itself it just cuteness! anyway, a really fun podcast/blog about knitting. she has the cutest little badges your can swipe for your blog, too!
StashandBurn - A little too much fiber in your diet? Jenny and Nicole will help you burn through it. Or just listen as they try to burn through theirs.
Fiber Forums
Crochetville - a HUMONGOUS forum dedicated to crochet, but they also discuss other topics. the hookers that frequent this board are very, very friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. they even have a podcast!
Craftster - OMG, this board is HUGE! scroll down to get to the fiber arts stuff: there's knitting, crochet, spinning, weaving, and on and on and on...go slowly because there's days and days worth of other crafty inspiration, ideas, craft-alongs, tutorials, FOs and other massively crafty goodness there for your perusal.
PixiePurls Spinning forum - because one must have spun yarn in order to do your fibercrafts! well, unless you felt, but I don't felt...yet! here's a forum for those questions. it's in beta now, but still, if you know of any other spinning boards besides this and craftster, LMK, because my spinning looks like a yak tried to eat a sheep and threw up on my spindle.
Spinning Stuff
Spindlicity - an online spinning magazine.
Windy City Handspinning Guild - meets once a month. I must attend the next meeting!
Spindle and Wheel - online spinning magazine. check out the cute pic on their latest issue
ISpindle.com - loads and loads of spinning videos. very helpful!
Spinderella's Handspun Yarn Chart - very useful wpi chart and ways to measure handspun yarns
Other Craft Sites That Have Fiber Goodness in Them
The AntiCraft - They have an antifest and everything! Fun patterns and tutes. I am strangely drawn to the knitted wire beaded areolas. Yes. You read that right.
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There's many, many more, but goodness, it takes a while to compile these things! I guess once I have them all compiled in one place, it'll be much easier. I have lots of links to specific patterns, but since my taste does not run to every one else's, I won't post those. In the meantime, have fun and keep on hooking/sticking/spinning. If you have any suggestions, feel free to put them in the comments and I will add them!
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