The Blue Sheep Knits

starlight, starbright

2010-12-03T13:24:00.000-08:00

It's the holiday season again. Which means it's time to pull out the glue guns, knitting needles, and crayons, because it's crafting time.

Most recently I've been frantically folding, making tons of annekata's paper stars.

I'm using up some tiny origami paper that I have hanging around.

I've been adapting the project just a bit too.

Instead of Elmer's Glue, I'm using a glue stick for the stars points. (On the small one's I use a toothpick to spread the glue on evenly.)

It's much faster.

The small stars, I've been playing around with.

I've managed to fasten one to a small hair clip.

And another to a safety pin, so I can wear it as a brooch.

I'm really enjoying them so far! (I have to be careful not to squish them though.)

I think I might string some together into a garland. Right now though, I have all the stars sitting in a bowl. That looks really great too! It might make a nice centerpiece for your holiday table.

I love how cheerful the little stars are. :)

The Quick Explorer's Rucksack

2010-08-18T08:02:00.000-07:00

While browsing Etsy today, I came across an article in which they there was a tutorial for making your own sandals. I found it fascinating so I followed the link at the bottom to annekata. Wow! Um… how did I not know about this blog before? It’s awesome! Still browsing I came to the DIY section. I found this neat no-sew bag project. I thought I’d take a whack at it. It’s the Japanese art of folding called, “furoshiki”. I looked through my fabric bin, and found a piece that I’ve had for years. I picked it up at a thrift store. It’s got lots of wild animals on it, and the words “wild territory”.

This is the perfect explorer rucksack. Easily and quickly wrap up your gear so you can dash off to… explore!

It holds so much, I started with just a few things and then kept adding more to show you how much it really can hold. Here it’s holding some laundry (including a pair of jeans).

Annekata says she uses hers for summer picnics, which is a brilliant idea. I think this one might be a holiday gift for my brother. I need to make one for my own! What a great project this would be for kids, super easy, no sewing or gluing, and a really nice, really handy finished product.

Time for a Shake Up

2010-08-17T19:55:00.000-07:00

I'm feeling that it's time to brush off the cobwebs and start anew. I'm going to be shaking up some of the things on this blog, and I really want to start hand-crafting more. So what I'm going to try to do is work on something, doesn't matter what, at least once a week. I was going to say once a day but I think that's a recipe for trouble. Knitting is not very active right now in the 90+ heat, so I'm thinking...

cooking, sewing, paper arts, jewelry, and photography.

Yeah, I think I can do that once a week.
Stay tuned.

Pure

2010-04-01T10:06:00.000-07:00

Lovely things.

The Cherry Orchard

2010-03-22T09:13:00.000-07:00

My cherry isn't quite ready yet, but soon.

Views of a Tulip

2010-03-20T07:11:00.000-07:00

~~~~~~~

They are coming up! How exciting!

Early Bloomers

2010-03-19T11:35:00.000-07:00

I was wandering around the back garden yesterday, looking at the tulips, when much to my suprise, I spotted little clusters of forget-me-nots.

Usually they don't appear untill the hot summer months. It's nice to see them so early.

Rustic

2010-03-18T11:00:00.000-07:00

Hmm. So I've been thinking about my Multnomah.

I love the colors and the pattern together.

But there are some mistakes, and it's awfully small.

But I've used up so much of the yarn that frogging it will be a nightmare.

I don't know. But I do like it. Will this piece be wearable?

Happy St. Patrick's Day

2010-03-17T18:47:00.000-07:00

I love St. Patty's day.

I cooked up some potato soup.

And some "Tipperary Squares" (sponge cake with frosting and nuts.), which are apperently a St. Patty's day treat.

Now I'm off to watch The Quiet Man.

Erin go bragh!

Less talk, more yarn

2010-03-16T14:58:00.000-07:00

Back, again. But enough of that.

I've been working on my Swallowtail shawl.

Look.

Yummy spring colors!

Spring forward, Fall back

2010-02-22T12:58:00.000-08:00

I finally finished these socks. I really like them, they are nice and soft.

I didn't think I'd like the colors but I do. They are really rich, like a spice market.

Mmmmmmmmm!

The Great One

2010-02-16T05:39:00.000-08:00

Are you really into the winter Olympics?

I am (this year).

Well I got these mittens from my Canadian grandparents.

I thought, "Very cool."

But then I watched the opening ceremony, with Wayne Gretzky lighting the Olympic flame, and I nearly jumped out of my seat, because what do you think he was wearing?

THESE MITTENS!!!

In Vancouver too!

I heart my new Wayne Gretzky mittens.

Back

2010-02-15T12:39:00.000-08:00

Okay, after a long break from knitting and blogging, I am happy to say that I am back!
To bring you up to date I finished one sock, and have started another, both of these are victims of sss (second sock syndrome).

Well, I is back!!! Um... I don't really know what to say because I really haven't been knitting or on Ravelry at all for a long time. Er... yeah.

Sew Fun

2010-01-14T16:57:00.000-08:00

Today I did a bit of sewing.

Machine, not hand, although I can do both.

Whipped up some things I've been meaning to repurpose for a while.

Like on of my favorite t-shirts.

It's now a roomy tote bag.

And a bunch of little pouches,

you can see some in there.
I like to sew, and I'd like to do it more often. Good thing to do on rainy days like today...

Happy 2nd Birthday Blog!!!

2010-01-10T14:59:00.000-08:00

Wooohooo!

I even made a cake!

Yep, it's a tempting green with sharks and dinos.

It's epic.

The food coloring made little blotches of green on my hands, so now I look like Sherlock Holmes with acid stained hands. YES. This is truly the best cake ever.

Here's to another year of awesome blogging!

Awesomeness

2010-01-09T11:23:00.000-08:00

Okay I finally got around to taking pictures, and here it is, the "Star Wars Awesome Blue Triangle of Awesomeness"! You're probably wondering about the name. Well, I knit it mostly durning a Star Wars marathon, the rest just sorta happened.

It's just a little triangle of knitted fabirc, I wear it cowboy style as a bandana.

Yeehaaw!

P.S.

Tomorrow is the blog's second b-day. WOW! I can not believe that I have been blogging for two years! It all seems like just yesterday.

EZ to be hard

2010-01-03T09:41:00.000-08:00

You know I got Elizabeth Zimmermann's Knitting Workshop for Christmas right?

Well I had some yarn leftover from my sweater lying around, so I cast on for EZ's "Ribwarmer".

I thought it was going to be simple.

Uh, no.

First off, the directions in the book are... rather scanty.

So when I was instructed to do short row shaping, I uh, make a heel, like in sock knitting.

So I finish knitting this heel, then I say, "Okay that just looks wrong."

So I frogged back and turn the corner properly.

I've used up about two balls of yarn on the first half, so when I was ready to cast on the second half I went looking for the other yarn.

All I could find was, one ball.

Great.

It's so stash busting that I have to go out and buy more yarn!

There is a silver lining though.

This is possibly the best TV/movie knitting ever.

Back and forth, back and forth.

I love it.

Caterpillar

2010-01-02T13:24:00.000-08:00

The beginnings of Swallowtail Shawl.

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T00:00:00.000-08:00

HAPPY 2010!!!!!!
Here's to a wonderful new year!

Ah, now that we are no longer in 2009, it is time to look back on the knitting that went on.
My favorite knitted item of 2009 was...
The Woodland Shawl (link)
Coming in close second was...
My Star Trek Cowl (link)
Now there were a lot of firsts in my knitting in 2009, amongst them were...
First mittens and first colorwork (link)
First holiday knitting (link)
First item faveorited on Ravelry by a famous person (link)

In the new year I would like to:
Knit even more
Spin more
Adapt one of the vintage french patterns into some thing knitable
Design a pattern
Dye some yarn
Blog even more
Come up with a new design for the blog
Knit knee socks (and wear them in public!)
Use up all of the yarn I purchased in 2009
Learn how to crochet
Get a job at a yarn store
Make the world a better place

Receiving

2009-12-27T08:49:00.000-08:00

I received many beautiful gifts this year. Amongst them, lots of yummy yarn!

I'm already planing what projects I'm going to make. Colonnade and Swallowtail are on the list.

I also got a great book called Victorian Lace Today. And EZ's Knitting Workshop.

I think I'm all set for a while.

Giving

2009-12-26T09:18:00.000-08:00

Yes, here are the gifts I actually gave away this Christmas.

An Earflap Hat for my Bro.

Mittens for my Mom.

It was so fun! I'm going to keep making gifts!

Happy Holidays

2009-12-24T09:48:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays!

Wishing you and your family a safe and happy holiday.

I made it!

I finished all gifts before Christmas eve!

Now they are all wrapped up in awesome Elmo paper.

Holly!!! We have holly!

My mom bought some and walked in the door looking just like Dr. Watson in The Blue Carbuncle.

I love Christmas!

Now hopefully I will be able to blog more, after everyone has opened their presents!

Little Miss Smarty Pants

2009-12-17T14:38:00.000-08:00

A cute tweedy little bow, made for me with Hermione hat leftovers. I feel so smart when I wear it!

Santa's Elf

2009-12-10T12:50:00.000-08:00

WARNING THIS POST CONTAINS CHRISTMAS SPOILERS!!!

So if you are someone that might receive a gift from me this holiday season, DO NOT READ THIS POST!!!

Okay for double security I am blacking out the words, so you’ll need to click on them three times to make them magically appear. Got that? Good, I think we can proceed now.
So this year I’m making some holiday gifts for my family. There are a set of mittens in the works and a hat. Wow, I cannot believe that I am actually knitting holiday gifts. I don’t usually knit gifts. Or if I do they always seem to end up with myself as the recipient. I didn’t really intend to make any gifts, but I got so many comments on the hat and I was even asked if it could be borrowed, and things just sorta fell into place. The mittens are going to be awesome! They are Herringbone Mittens with Poms, like I made in pink last winter. This time they are Navy and red (in a shade that constantly reminds me of tomato soup) and again I am omitting the pompons. I like them, but not enough to wear them. I hope they fit the recipient. They have larger hands than I do. But I think it will turn out with a little blocking. Oooh! I can’t wait till after Christmas, then I can show you them!!! He-he, everyone is going to be so surprised!

Okay I had way to much fun with the Spoiler stuff. :) It is extreme. Ah well.

Vanilla Twist

2009-12-08T10:31:00.000-08:00

I don't spin very much.

Not really.

But I am getting better!

It's starting look like real yarn now!

In fact I just saw some that looks exactly like it! Here.

Feather n' Fan

2009-12-06T07:14:00.000-08:00

I like this.

It makes me happy.

Icy tones

2009-12-05T07:03:00.000-08:00

I finished up my Rapids cowl.

It is very toasty.
You can't see the color work as well when I have it on, but it is still beautiful. It reminds me so much of fishermen, don't ask me why, but it does.

It's also cold outside.

2009-12-04T11:14:00.000-08:00

So cold that I say to myself, "It might snow! You better make yourself a warm hat."

So I did. Just a plain ol' hat.

But I don't think I'm going to keep it.

I think it's going to be a Christmas gift for someone...

Baby it's cold inside

2009-11-28T09:18:00.000-08:00

Did you all have a nice Thanksgiving? I did. Then I got this dreadful cold that has been going around. Ugh.
So, I got Multnomah, and pulled out the sock which I have yet to finish, and settled myself in front of the TV.

Re-watching old television shows, and random movies. If I didn't feel so yucky this would be really fun!

Noro Rainbow

2009-11-24T10:51:00.000-08:00

My hand is much better, so I started a new project! I was getting sorta annoyed with Riverbanks.

When in doubt, Shawlette!

This one is Multnomah (rav link). I'm really liking how it's turning out so far. And I must say I do like the Noro a lot. I wasn't sure but now I really like it. The colors remind me of summer here in Seattle. It brighten's up my gray days.

Ow

2009-11-13T13:45:00.000-08:00

I have been knitting up a storm over the last few days.

I finished the rapids cowl.

And started the Riverbanks hood from Knitty.

But all this knitting must come to a grinding halt, because I burned the palm of my right hand while making cookies this afternoon.

Ow.

Pardon Me While I Faint

2009-11-11T11:25:00.000-08:00

I'm on Ravelry, bluesockmonkey, that's me. (I have a thing for blue and animals, don't I?)
You know my Twinkle shrug? It's on rav.
You know who favorited it?
Kay Gardiner of Mason-Dixon Knitting.
Check it out!
I could have died with excitement when I first saw that. Maybe now I'll actually wear it!

The Desert and the Ocean

2009-11-05T14:32:00.000-08:00

Oh to be in Seattle now that fall is here! Rain, rain, rain!!!

Anyhow, I was watching a movie yesterday, Lawrence of Arabia, and I made sure that I had my sock with me. It’s a four hour movie. There must be knitting.

So I knit.

It is now my Lawrence sock. I don’t love this movie, but I do like it. The music is amazing!

It’s very romantic, you know. Riding camels across the shifting sands….

Sounds dreamy! Nice and dry too.

Purple Haze

2009-11-03T09:02:00.000-08:00

Noro and plain purple wool. That's some rockin' harmony.

Back in the Saddle

2009-11-01T14:58:00.000-08:00

Yep, I'm knitting again.

I started these toe-up socks yesterday. So I could have something to knit on durning my Halloween movie marathon. I really like the colors.

ahhhh

2009-10-19T14:01:00.000-07:00

Time to settle down into the folds of the sofa, and browse trough my new Interweave Knits.

Giddy-up

2009-10-14T14:07:00.000-07:00

Socks, meet my new cowboy boots!

Don't they look great together. I think they are going to be great friends.
I can't believe I finally have cowboy boots! I've wanted some since I was six!

Slow going

2009-10-12T13:12:00.000-07:00

Knitting and blogging are really on the back burner of life right now.
Both things that should be getting done, but are not.

Maybe it is the fact that I don't have any interesting projects on the needles right now.

But here is what I have been doing:

Reading and Watching The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
Playing too much Wizard 101 and Animal Crossing Wii

Birdwatching

Drinking obscene a mounts of tea

Hopefully I can find a new project soon. Then you'll have something really interesting to read.

Our Fall Collection

2009-10-05T15:40:00.000-07:00

So today, we went to the mall to shop for jeans for my bother. I was looking around at the clothes and I decided that it was time to put together my fall wardrobe.

So I pulled out my tweeds, my hound’s-tooths, and herringbones. My pillbox hats and my slouchy berets.

And then as I was rummaging through my closet, I found my Twinkle sweater/shrug! I thought, that's great! It will work really well for the warmer fall weather.
Only, it's sorta tight, in the arms.

So I dunked it under the tub faucet and I stretched it out on my floor.

I know, it looks... bad. But it'll be fine.

28 inches

2009-10-04T12:20:00.000-07:00

"I might respect you, Ernest, I might admire your character, but I fear that I should not be able to give you my undivided attention." ~ Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest

This is such an Algernon project.

Button Wars

2009-09-30T09:45:00.000-07:00

So I was stash-busting the other day. And I happened upon some Manos del Uruguay Wool Clasica and I decided to make the Blackberry cowl.

I finished it (whilst watching "Strangers on a Train", totally creepy movie!) and then I found that I needed some buttons.

I don't have a lot of buttons like some other knitters do.

These ones are the only really nice ones I have.

The thing is, I love them. I don't want to give them away.

But I don't have any other buttons.

What's a girl to do? Buy more buttons I guess. ;)

knit 1 row, purl 1 row, rep from

2009-09-25T10:20:00.000-07:00

I'm working on a sweater right now.

28 inches of stockinette stitch.

This is just the back piece.

I should have done this one in the round.

My Space

2009-09-22T11:54:00.000-07:00

Look!

It's my very own studio! Okay, it's just a work-bench in my basement but it's still my studio.
But what I'm going to do in it, I'm not really sure.
I'm thinking dyeing yarn.

I've been reading up on it and starting to gather my supplies, and I think it's going to work for me.

I've never dyed yarn before but I have dyed fabric. It seems pretty easy.

I think I'm going to try easter egg dyes first, since I have them.

Guess what's in the magic garbage bag? A microwave! Yeah! Now I can stuff all the yarn I want in to there without making a mess of our nice microwave! (Yes, you can heat set dye in a micowave.)

I'm almost all set. I need yarn though, cheap yarn. Stuff to practice on. A trip to Michaels is in order!

Vacation, part v

2009-09-21T05:10:00.000-07:00

On the last day of the vacation, we drove through Astoria. We enjoyed lunch at the amazing Bowpicker, the best fish and chips ever right across from the Columbia River Maritime Museum. We enjoyed views of the mighty Columbia, imagining what Lewis and Clark must have felt like.

Then we came home.

It's good to be home.

Vacation, part iv

2009-09-20T05:13:00.000-07:00

Another part of my vacation that I will miss, is the chocolate dipped twinkies.

Oh! My twinkies! I shall miss you!

Vacation, part iii

2009-09-19T05:00:00.000-07:00

I got to shop at one of my favorite LYSs on my vacation.

Creative Beginings.

And I was able to buy a bunch of yarn that I've never tried before!

Like Dye For Me, a yarn that is made for dying. I've never dyed any yarn before, that will be an adventure.

This is the sock yarn weight.

And this is the yummy llama sparkley stuff. Also Dye For Me. Yum!

I also got some Noro for the heck of it. I don't use Noro all that much, but I'm giving it a try.

Vacation, part ii

2009-09-18T16:47:00.000-07:00

Much time was spent on the beach, relaxing.

And kite flying too.

Vacation, part i

2009-09-16T12:11:00.000-07:00

Here's the knitting I did on vacation.

It's Hermione's hat from HBP.

It fits really nicely.

I'm going to try to wear it a lot this fall.

Home again, home again

2009-09-14T16:11:00.000-07:00

Well my vacation just ended. I am happy to say that I did get some knitting done. Not to mention about $60 in yarn purchases. Posts to come. I've just gotta get settled in and take some photos.

Anchors Away

2009-09-09T04:53:00.000-07:00

I'm all packed!

It's amazing how much yarn you can stuff into a suitcase.

Now if I only didn't have to worry about clothes.

Preperations, and Problems

2009-09-08T18:09:00.000-07:00

My socks are too small. There, I said it! My vacation knitting is no more. Why knit on socks that are too small? And I don't have any easy projects just lying around. Nothing that’s summery and beach knit-y. I have Fair Isle. No.

Awwwwww. I was gonna tell you all about my socks! I had the posts all planed out, I was going to tell you that they were Charade socks, then I was going to make daily Charade quotes, because that is one of my favorite movies, and then I was going to tell you all about how cool it was that I was knitting Cary Grant socks and reading his biography. But now I can't! Because they're too small!

What am I going to take with me on vacation?!? There's less than 48 hours to find another pattern!

...I wish the knitting fairy would come and magically make my socks bigger.

A Pocket Full of Yarn

2009-09-04T16:26:00.000-07:00

As I await my vacation eagerly, I have been trying to preoccupy myself.

Today I watched a handful of Miss Marple movies.

I love Miss Marple. She's really awesome and clever.

And she knits. You don't see Sam Spade doing that.

When I'm old, I want to be like Miss Marple. Clever, observant, kind, fearless, and smart. And also solve murder mysteries!

Places to go, part ii

2009-09-03T09:59:00.000-07:00

On my vacation last year, we traveled farther down the Oregon coast then we will this year.
We went to a couple of yarn stores that I will miss this year.

In Manzanita,
T-Spot.

The store is small but good things come in all sizes.
Lots of really nice yarn, yummy chocolate, and tea too!
I didn't actually buy any yarn there (I spent my whole budget at the next yarn store,) but I did get the chocolate. And even if you're not a knitter, it's worth dropping by for!

I didn't get a picture of this next yarn shop, but I did get a picture of a cute puffin that lives in the great Oregon Coast Aquarium that's just down the road.

In Newport,
Yarn For All Seasons.

It has great sock yarns! I wish I could go there again and spend lots of money! And visit the animals at the aquarium. SAVE THE SNOWY PLOVERS!!! Yeah! Gosh I love those little guys.

Anyway,
if you're heading on down the Oregon coast, check out these shops. I'll have to explore some other LYSs this year. I wonder what there is around Seaside?

Surfer Girl

2009-09-02T13:25:00.000-07:00

Here's a preview of vacation knitting.

Styled on my lovely polka-dot skim board.

Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock Multi in the colorway Devon.

Pattern: well...
I'll give you a hint.

Getting warmer?

You know you have a knitting obsession...

2009-09-01T06:48:00.000-07:00

...when you knit covers for the swiffer, and test different locations for taking pictures of it for your blog.

Places to Go

2009-08-31T07:24:00.000-07:00

When I first get to my vacation spot, Seaside, Oregon, there are some places I have to go.

1. The Candy Store: the chocolate dipped Twinkies are calling me!

2. The LYS: probably my favorite yarn store ever.

3. The Boardwalk: strolling past the shops, sipping Nehi, aaaaaah.

4. The Beach: skim boarding, kite flying, relaxing on the really nice beach.

Brainstorm

2009-08-28T11:41:00.000-07:00

I'm trying to decide what yarn/projects to take on my vacation in about two weeks. If I start now, I should be able to pick what projects I want to take and get them started so when I'm on the beach, all I have to do is knit.

I'm finding it hard to pick something suitably beautiful to go with the yarn. Also letting go and ripping out projects that will never get finished. Much time will be spent on ravelry this weekend.

This Means War

2009-08-26T07:16:00.000-07:00

I was watching back episodes of Lets Knit2gether, and I watched the Sock Wars episode.
That sounds so FUN! I have heard of Sock Wars but I didn't really know what it was. Oooooooh! I must do that next year! Speed knitting. I think I'll have to go into training...

Wild Thing

2009-08-23T17:57:00.000-07:00

Here's something I haven't shown yet.

Made with my own handspun, bad handspun, but still.

I've been inspired to wear it (for the first time) by my awesome new shirt from Blackbird Tees.

It's so very safari! But totally urban and cool.

One foot...

2009-08-20T12:06:00.000-07:00

...in front of the other.

I'm really not in the knitting groove. I'll knit a ton, then stop, take a few days off, start a new project, knit a ton, etc.

It bugs me.

Just gotta keep trying I guess.

Giving

2009-08-15T16:25:00.000-07:00

I'm trying to be more Eco friendly this year, so I've been saving the comics out of each day's paper to use for wrapping.
Not only is it green it also helps out the newspaper business and people get a comic with their gift!

Fetching

2009-08-13T08:56:00.000-07:00

Well now I have finished a pair of Fetchings.

What next?

Thank You for Holding

2009-08-12T11:58:00.001-07:00

Knitting (and blogging) has been put on hold for the last month.
But now it's back in full force!
I've started stock piling gifts for the holidays.

And working through some of the classics, like fetching, whilst I'm at it.

Plus I'm stash busting.

Yikes! Is there anything I'm not doing?

Don't Even Look

2009-07-28T08:24:00.000-07:00

Just looking at woolen mittens is making me sweat.

Old

2009-07-27T08:25:00.000-07:00

A recent vintage knitting needle find.

Bakelite needles!

Now that's really old!

Sparkle

2009-07-26T09:26:00.000-07:00

A vintage shoe clip adds great sparkle to my very favorite Milward's Phantom Knitting Pins case.

I love you vintage

2009-07-24T10:31:00.000-07:00

Some snaps of my new vintage summer dress.

So very 60's.

Nice and twirly too!

I love vintage stuff!

Summer Sock

2009-07-20T11:57:00.000-07:00

Do you like my jellies? Rembemer jellies! They are totally a blast from my childhood!

Randomly Favorites Tuesday

2009-07-14T11:45:00.001-07:00

Favorite Singing Cowboy Musical: Calamity Jane

Comfort Food

2009-07-12T16:50:00.000-07:00

Sunday afternoons like this one are for comfort. Cloudy and gray, it's time to snuggle up with the current knitting project and watch a favorite movie.

Pull out the cookie dough from the freezer.

Get yourself a cuppa.

Put on your coziest socks, pull a quilt over you and you're all set!

It's relaxing time.

(I make this whole nice thing for myself and guess what I end up watching? The Calgary Stampede. Bull riding. Relaxing? As if.)

The Fast Lane

2009-07-11T16:10:00.000-07:00

Yup, I've started knitting again.
And as you can see, I am knitting rather fast.

What can I say? Socks fly when you're watching spies. (I Spy, actually. Yeah, that's the show I'm obsessed with at the current moment.)

How to..

2009-07-10T12:32:00.000-07:00

...Knit a Suitably Long Ribbed Cuff Without Boring Yourself to Death.

Anyone who has knit socks knows that making the ribbing on the cuff of a sock is an important part of sock making. Not enough ribbing and you've got baggy socks, blech. Here is a step by step how to on making sure you'll have enough ribbing, and get to the end without wanting to stab yourself/knitting/both with dpn.

Watch a television show that you have never watched before.
Become addicted to said television show (Suggestions: Get Smart, That Girl, I Spy, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Hogan's Heroes, MASH, Star Trek, Doctor Who, Miss Marple, All Creatures Great and Small, The Muppet Show, whatever floats your boat.)
Knit while watching your new favorite television show NOTE: this helps if the show is suspenseful. so you can knit nervously while watching, like the knitter's equivalent movie popcorn.
Enjoy your nice long ribbed cuff!

Randomly Favorites Tuesday

2009-07-07T01:46:00.000-07:00

Favorite Star Trek (TOS) Episode: "City on the Edge of Forever"
Possibly the best Star Trek episode ever. All the time travel and crazy conundrums! Gotta love it!

Happy 4th

2009-07-04T21:55:00.000-07:00

Happy fourth of July!

Every year on the 4th we sit down and watch 1776. Boy I love that movie! John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson all singing, what's not to love?

Also every year I have the darnedest time trying to go to sleep, on account of all the fireworks people are setting off. It's particularly bad this year for some reason. All last night they were being set off too. I'm sure to hear some tomorrow too. Oh well, I can always stay up and watch Yankee Doodle Dandy a couple thousand times...

No news...

2009-07-03T11:21:00.000-07:00

...is good news. So they say.
I'm not sure if it's good that I've not been knitting at all lately but it is true.
So until I can do something worth writing about, please enjoy this random yarn picture!

Randomly Favorites Tuesday

2009-06-30T02:07:00.000-07:00

Favorite Soda Pop: Orange Nehi
Oh yeah, old time soda! A special treat, good with chocolate dipped Twinkies! You want some? (and you know you do!) They can be found here.

Saltwater Taffy

2009-06-28T19:40:00.000-07:00

Look! The mini Twinkle BFF cardi is fini!

Big, and twisty.

Oh and did I mention toasty?

Lovely big cables. Reminds me of taffy.

Goes great with my cupcake necklace.

Lets just hope I don't get too hyper from all this sugar!

Randomly Favorites Tuesday

2009-06-23T01:58:00.000-07:00

Introducing: "Randomly Favorites Tuesday"! Just little random snippets of my favorites.

Favorite Writing Utensil: Pen
I like pens the best. Pencils don't even compare! Pens move smoothly across paper and are best for doodling and scribbling.

Old and New

2009-06-21T13:43:00.000-07:00

My Mom's B-day was yesterday and guess what she got,
a Kindle!

Oh so cool.
Lately I have been working on a fair isle project.

Fair Isle Rapids by Kieran Foley (you can find the in-the-round version on ravelry, that's the one I'm using,) I just edited it a tiny bit to make it a cowl.
It has a really old world feel to it. Like something a fisherman would wear out on the water.

What do you think Lewis Carrol thinks of my cowl?

Or Emily Dickinson?

I'm sure she adores it. How cozy she looks!

That gives me an idea! Knitted Kindle cover? You never know.

My Kittens Are Trekkies!

2009-06-18T14:15:00.000-07:00

My kittens,
Billie (as in Billie Burke, because she reminds me of her.)

and Jackie,

like to sit on my lap when I watch TV with them. They are not really into the TV, but there is one show they do like; Star Trek the Next Generation! Smart cats.

So when they were lonely today (Freddie and Sam where taking a trip,) I put on some music for them. But they didn't like The Bare Necessities, yes I have that on my iPod. So I put on a book on tape, The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis as read by Patrick Stewart. They like it! Haha! These cats are Trekkie's!

Did you know?

2009-06-16T20:13:00.000-07:00

I was watching Jeopardy tonight and they had a whole category on lace making! Did you know that the word lace comes from the Latin word "laqueus", meaning noose? Well! You learn something new everyday.

Feelin' Like Frankenstein...

2009-06-14T18:35:00.000-07:00

(...or Fraunk-en-steen. Just sayin',)

Behold! My creation!

(Sorry for the poor picture, my camera died right as I was taking it.)

My latest project I just found reminiscent of Dr. Frankenstein's monster, with all it's loose ends and crazy proportions.

Well this is the Best Friend Cardigan by Twinkle gone ~~horribly wrong!~~ small. I meant to do that. So now I have a new shrug. Great for those cool summer nights in Transylvania. Come Igor! To the lab! We must finish my creation! Muahahaha!

The Estate of the Nation

2009-06-12T11:32:00.000-07:00

Today my friend from Bumbershoot Designs/Supplies and I went to our first estate sale.

(These are some buttons from her supplies shop, which I refer to as "my buttons". You can not sell "my buttons"! They are mine! How many looks have there been on "my buttons"? No one can buy them! They are "my buttons"!)

(She graciously gave me some for my birthday.)

It was our very first estate sale but it was a treasure trove of stuff!

Like these,

two complete sets of vintage plastic dpns!!!

Can you believe it! Both are complete! Wow.

Some stunning vintage gloves. (Let's play "Who Wants To Look Like Audrey Hepburn?"!)

And a really pretty 40's photo that I really liked.

Last but not least,

a 1950 pattern book with fifty two patterns in it! Most of which are still really quite wearable.

It was loads of fun!

Right after we finished and were heading out I asked my friend when the next one was, "Two weeks," she said. Two weeks, I'll be ready.

Fun things

2009-06-11T10:25:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a day full of fun stuff!
First, we got a new washing machine.

Oooh shiney! And it makes noise when you push buttons!

Second, (and arguably better)
I bought some vintage french fashion magazines! (where? I will not tell you. Haha! ...oh, okay, fine! here. just don't hog the magazines! I only have three.)

They are so awesome! There are two from 1947 and one from 1943. All of them have knitting patterns in them.

All I have to do is translate them out of french, and convert the vintage knitting terms, then I'll have my very own vintage pattern! When I write it down it sounds really easy, but it isn't. I do not speak french and I am not familiar with vintage patterns.

This will be my summer adventure!

Up and away

2009-06-10T06:46:00.000-07:00

I saw the movie "Up" last weekend.
Whoa there were a lot of hand knits in that movie! Well, they might not actually be hand knits but that's not the point! I couldn't stop staring at Charles Muntz's sweater, and Carl as a little kid has a wicked vest on! Oh yeah, it was a good movie.

My bad

2009-06-09T18:09:00.000-07:00

Two things:

For not being at knitting group today. I completely forgot! Duh! Yeah, I'm still alive, and yeah, knitting group will go on as planned.
For neglecting the blog! I will make it up to you the only way I know how, with lots of pictures of yarn.

Here are the pictures of the rainbow shawlette.

It's wonderfully drapey and curly.

And bright happy colours!

I even got a complement on it from one of my very stylish friends! (KNITTING IS NOT LAME!!! not that it ever was but it's nice to be reminded of that by cool people.)

I'll be wearing this one all summer long.

Too Hot

2009-06-03T10:29:00.001-07:00

I was going to start a sweater this week, but it's just to dang hot! I was going to keep myself busy until Saturday (Upcoming event yet again stressful, and involves a lot of second guessing that I would rather keep my mind off of). I was going to finally use up that Twinkle Soft Chunky I have hanging around. I was thinking about one of these two sweaters: Miss Moneypenny (Because it looks easy and I might be able to get away with not buying any more yarn. Why oh why did I only buy five skeins?) or the Best Friend Cardigan (It's very cute. Also lots of people seem to have had success with it).

But I am not going to be doing any of those things. Extreme heat and super chunky wool yarn to not go together.

(There is something you can do if you're interested, check out the patterns I mentioned and pick which one you like! I'd like to hear someone else's thoughts before I pick one. Yes, no, maybe?)

Note to Self

2009-06-02T12:29:00.000-07:00

Despite the comfort of hand knit wool socks, they should not be worn after the temperature exceeds 70.

Swiftly

2009-06-01T08:59:00.000-07:00

In Mason-Dixon Knitting Outside the Lines, they have a pattern for a swiffer cover.
And since nothing traps all the little bits of dirt better than a swiffer, I have made one.

I know this is sort of a lame thing to be blogging about but nothing has really been happening.

But it's a nice pattern and it works really well. I'd show you the underside but trust me, it is really gross. That's great though! It's a broom for goodness sakes!

Freddie loves to ride the swiffer around the room. We have some crazy cats on our hands!

To Market

2009-05-27T12:03:00.000-07:00

We went to the Pike Place Market today. And boy oh boy, is it tourist season! Yeah, well we had a good time anyway.
Stopped into The Perennial Tea Room (did you know they have a blog too?), and got some real tea.

I finished my rainbow scarf and wore it out today!

More pictures of that coming soon.
I spent a lovely afternoon nibbling on yummy stuff and watching His Girl Friday. But now I am sleepy (Can't ya tell?), I think I'll go snuggle with the kittens.

Blossoming Snow Cones

2009-05-23T14:13:00.000-07:00

I got some yarn today.

This yarn reminds me of snow cones! Or, a blossoming garden.
It's very pretty and feels nice too.
Do I see some lace in my future?

(Freddie must be in everything!)

"The Most Wonderful Time of the Year..."

2009-05-22T04:55:00.000-07:00

Well it's that time of year again. WWKIP day is just around the corner! Maybe this year I will actually KIP! Ha! But even if I don't end up celebrating in public I still love the holiday. I think it's great that we set aside some time each year and share our love of knitting with the world. So even if you don't knit if you see a KIP walk by and check it out! Who knows, you may even learn that you to are a fiber addict.

Groovy

2009-05-21T15:52:00.001-07:00

My simple knitting is going really well. (Man am I gonna look groovy on the beach when this thing is done!)

The kittens and Sherlock Holmes ( I got the complete collection for my birthday! MUWAHAHAHA!) have been helping me get it done. The kittens are finally starting to understand knitting, yarn, and needles are not to be played with.

Now if only I could get them to understand that about my hair, fingers, clothes, and legs.

P.S.

Like the new banner? I was bored today so I decided to mess around in photoshop. I'm very pleased with it.

Into the Woods

2009-05-19T05:47:00.000-07:00

"Beside the falls of Nimrodel,

By the water clear and cool,

Her voice as falling silver fell

Into the shinning pool."

~ The Fellowship of the Ring, JRR Tolkien

This yarn reminds me of Nimrodel and Lothlorien. How beautiful.

Old School

2009-05-17T14:46:00.001-07:00

I'm making "Tapas" today. Musical tapas!

I know it sounds weird but trust me it's really cool.

I'm loading lots of music up onto the computer for my dad. He has to work all day today and I thought I'd do something nice for him.

Ooh, vinyls! Shiny!

But since he has a really big record collection and I only know a couple that are his sure fire favorites, I deiced to heck with it I'll load a bunch of random ones! (See, that's were the "tapas" part comes in, plus I'm not doing both sides of the record! Why? Meh, I don't feel like it.)

Let's see so far I've done; The Supremes, very cool very old "Mowtown" record (copyright 1966, wow that's old,).

Barbra Streisand's People, every time I listen to her sing I am enchanted. What an amazing artist! Some Nat King Cole too, gotta love his voice.

Toots and the Maytals, Dad loves Pressure Drop so I made sure to load that up. Dad must have over a dozen Elvis Costello records so I made sure to do a couple of those.

All this takes some time so I'm knitting while I load them up.

Working on a plain triangle shawl for summer, with this rainbow yarn I've had for some time now.

Doesn't Phil look great with his new mustache?

So that's how I'm spending my lazy Sunday.

I got to get going, I just finished a John Denver album and I think I'll do a Frank Sinatra now, I told you it was random.

At the Farmer's Market

2009-05-17T05:42:00.000-07:00

I got this Misti Alpaca Hand Painted Sock Yarn for my birthday yesterday.

The color reminds me of a farmer's market. Lots of wildflowers and vegetables. On a bright summer day.

It's almost too good to knit with!

Almost.

The Curse of the Koigu

2009-05-16T07:57:00.000-07:00

So I have these two balls of Koigu Painter's Palette Premium Merino hanging around, and I swear, they are cursed! I've tried knitting socks with them (twice!). I've tried knitting a baby hat with them...

you can see how suckishly (is that a word?... It is now.) that turned out.

And nothing inspires me. Nada!

But I have a friend who is going to have a baby and so I think, Great! I can use up some of this Koigu up!

I work on the hat Freddie is wearing, cursed!

SO I transfer over to a pair of Saartje's Bootees whilst I vainly try and block out the hat.

It is a miracle! It worked flawlessly.

But this does not mean the curse has been broken, oh no.

I tried all Friday afternoon to make something else with this yarn. It ain't happenin'.

So does this mean that I should only make Saartje's Bootees' with this yarn? Should I force a dozens of pairs of these bootees upon my friend and her baby? Since she is the only one I know with a baby that small. Or should I give the yarn to one of my knitting friends in the hope that they are immune to the curse?

I have absolutely no idea. The curse strikes again! Ah!!!

Indulgence

2009-05-15T08:38:00.000-07:00

Eating leftover cheesecake and listening to John Williams a few thousand times.

Treasure

2009-05-14T10:11:00.000-07:00

Oh look at this.

Milward's Phantom Knitting Pins.

I got it for my birthday yesterday.

It's so cool!!!

When I first unwrapped it I immediately grabbed my vintage needles and stuck them in.

Oh it's so pretty.

I don't know very much about it though. It was bought here in Seattle, but the Milward company is British. I found a lacking wiki page about Milward. And a interesting reference to them in a book called "The History of Knitting Pin Gauges". The Milward company has been around for-EVER, but this display case I think comes from the 30's or 40's. Maybe even the 50's. Does anyone know anything more about this case or the Milward company? I'm dieing to hear more about them! This is SO COOL!!!

A Very Good Day

2009-05-13T17:20:00.000-07:00

Well, stressful event is over. Ah, now I can relax and enjoy my birthday. (Yup, it's my birthday today.)

I've already received so many wonderful things.
Like this 1940's french stationery.

It's spectacular.

Also a gorgeous necklace from GreenRiverStudio. (I don't have a picture of it but it's beautiful!)

And my personal favorite so far, my very own communicator!!!
You can flip it open and it makes that sound! And it says things like: "Spock here captain.", "Scotty here captain.", "Transporter room, ready to beam up."!!!
Every time I flip it open I start giggling with delight and giddily instruct Mr. Scott to beam me down some more yarn...

he has yet to do so.
But on the whole I think it has been a very good day.

P.S.
I was working at the computer today and I saw this flicker squished into our bird feeder.

They are really beautiful birds.

The Blue Sheep Knits

starlight, starbright

The Quick Explorer's Rucksack

Time for a Shake Up

Pure

The Cherry Orchard

Views of a Tulip

Early Bloomers

Rustic

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Less talk, more yarn

Spring forward, Fall back

The Great One

Back

Sew Fun

Happy 2nd Birthday Blog!!!

Awesomeness

EZ to be hard

Caterpillar

Happy New Year!

Receiving

Giving

Happy Holidays

Little Miss Smarty Pants

Santa's Elf

Vanilla Twist

Feather n' Fan

Icy tones

It's also cold outside.

Baby it's cold inside

Noro Rainbow

Ow

Pardon Me While I Faint

The Desert and the Ocean

Purple Haze

Back in the Saddle

ahhhh

Giddy-up

Slow going

Our Fall Collection

28 inches

Button Wars

*knit 1 row, purl 1 row, rep from *

My Space

Vacation, part v

Vacation, part iv

Vacation, part iii

Vacation, part ii

Vacation, part i

Home again, home again

Anchors Away

Preperations, and Problems

A Pocket Full of Yarn

Places to go, part ii

Surfer Girl

You know you have a knitting obsession...

Places to Go

Brainstorm

This Means War

Wild Thing

One foot...

Giving

Fetching

Thank You for Holding

Don't Even Look

Old

Sparkle

I love you vintage

Summer Sock

Randomly Favorites Tuesday

Comfort Food

The Fast Lane

How to..

Randomly Favorites Tuesday

Happy 4th

No news...

Randomly Favorites Tuesday

Saltwater Taffy

Randomly Favorites Tuesday

Old and New

knit 1 row, purl 1 row, rep from