Archive for the ‘Clubs’ Category

Swallowtail

My finished Swallowtail, knit in “Black Madera Fig” from the Madeline Tosh Society.

1st, what’s wrong with this picture?

I had finished the Swallowtail months ago, but had yet to block it, but thanks to Cheryl, I now was able to block it. Being that it had been a long time, I forgot how my Swallowtail was supposed to look, and blocked the right/left edges wrong. But I referred to the pattern and voila!

Let’s get it started!

I’m psyched out for this year! Is it too early to start talking about Stitches West 2009? This will be my 2nd visit and I can’t wait, I tell you, I can’t! All the wooly goodness makes me super-uber happy! I have alot of sharing to do, and geez, just don’t know where to start? So excuse me if I’m all over the place

Since I’m talking about Stitches West, last year I saw Jennifer Hansen from Stitch Diva Studios there demonstrating her stash busting Tunisian blanket, which was totally gorgeous! I quickly bought the Jenkin’s Tunisian Crochet hook in S with a stopper, thankfully, her blanket was such a hit that Jenkin’s has these on back order still because of demand. After Stitches I went to a knit along for this blanket at Knitting Arts and started my blanket. I worked on it and found the method very easy and great “mindless” crocheting, or a cross between crocheting and knitting. I finally finished this, and am so proud of it. I love it so much. There are 9 different yarns in this, including Alpaca silk! It’s so soft, and warm, this is fast to make if you actually spend the time working it, for me I put it away and finally decided to bring it out again.

I’ve been steadily knitting along on my Tech Square Afghan blanket, and finally, oh finally finished my Pocket Square! There are 3 pockets to it, a Kangaroo, Ribbed, and Pouch pocket. All are different methods and pretty darn interesting. I went on faith when following the directions, and thankfully the designer didn’t fail.

In the middle is the Kangaroo pocket, method is fairly simple, you knit the center stitches to the desired length of the pocket, while leaving the sides on waste yarn, when your ready to knit the back of the pocket, you start knitting the live stitches on the waste yarn and when you get to the pocket front, pick up stitches in the back of it, in a straight line then continue knitting the remaining live stitches on yarn, and when you reach the same length of the front pocket, you use 2 needles, one for the back stitches and one for the front pocket stitches and knit the front and back stitches together, creating one seam stitch. Here’s a close up:

This is the Pouch Pocket, the angle is looking at the inside or opening, that is lined with Red yarn. To start it off you take waste yarn and knit 2 rows of X amount of stitches you want for your pocket width, and then continue re-knitting the same stitches of waste yarn with the working yarn, and continue on your piece. When your ready to work the pocket, you remove the waste yarn, leaving 2 rows of live stitches, top and bottom row. You take these stitches and knit in the round, picking up a stitch at the corners to close the gap, and knit for however deep you want your pocket. You knit in stockinette so when you push the pocket inwards, it’s knitted inside.

This is the back of the square:

The last pocket is a Ribbed square, you do a YO every other knit stitch, and then the next row you knit the knit stitches and transfer the YO’s to waste yarn. When your’ve ready to knit the back of the pocket, you knit the YO’s thru the back stitch, knit tightly, and keep going until you’ve reached the ribbing. You then seam up the sides.

Opening of pocket:

Out of all 3 pockets, all methods are pretty interesting, I like the Pouch pocket for being a loose change pocket, you really can’t loose anything in it, the Ribbed one is nice, but you need to seam nicely, and the Kangaroo I love, very pretty and so many designs you can incorporate with it, I just don’t care for picking up stitches on the purl bump side. I was so happy to finish this square, it had be hibernating for awhile because I was knitting other things or got stuck in the holidays.

I quicky cast on for my next square, the Entrelac square. I’ve made leaps of progress with this, almost done, but need to buy more yarn. It has 2 of my fave colors, green and red, oh my! I’ve never done Entrelac before, this is my first attempt, and I admit when I was first looking at the instructions, I was like, WTF, but mainly because the picture was far more confusing then the actual method. Anyways, I followed the instructions like a good little knitter, and sure as day, was speeding along in no time. This is why I love this project, you get something of everything and your smack ready for a real garment, like a sweater, or vest.

I’m loving the color combo, my hubby picked the 2 to go with out of my entire color scheme. So far these are all the squares I have done, the Entrelac is not shown yet cause it’s not yet finished.

From a previous post, I never got the chance to post a picture of the Dayflower gloves I knitted for my daughter for Christmas, here’s her pose (note she wouldn’t let me show her face, kids??!??)

This is yarn scrumptous!

I also participated in a Christmas Stocking Swap with Yarnwhisperer on Ravelry for the Death By Socks group. All the members thought it would be nice to knit a stocking, no competition, but a way of knitting something nice for someone else.

Here’s the stocking I sent her:

And here’s the goodies and stocking she sent me:

I love the stocking, good color choice, and I love the Noro Kureyon Sock Yarn! All the goodies she sent, plus the lovely magnets and ornament.

Oooh.. and last, but not least, I received my Scout’s Swag shipment, “Red Pear Tweed”, I’m loving this color! Great for the upcoming Valentines day!

Phew! Sorry for the long post, but gosh I just needed to share all this, I have more, but I’ll spare you and save it for another post.

R

It’s all about the “1″

No. “1″ for 2008 has been a milestone number.

As most of you know I didn’t start knitting until December 0f 2007, when a good friend, Leslie B., taught me the basic Knit and Purl. Before that, I knew nothing of the fibery world beyond the staples of Knit and Purl. Little did I know at the time that it would be a craft I would wholeheartedly embrace and thrive in. Since then, knitting has been a “gateway” of wonderful things for me.

I’ve learned how to knit useful, beautiful, and creative garments. I’ve met other wonderful, creative knitters, crocheters, spinners, dyers, to name a few would be Marisol, Nell, Leslie, and Cheryl. All are great knitters, crafters, creative and inspirational in their own special way. I have knitting to thank for meeting them.

I’ve learned more about myself, how my love for this art really has a deeper meaning, finding out that my late Grandma Luz was a natural in this craft. Many times as I’m going through my stash, knitting, or anything that involves the wooly stuff, I often think of her. It’s a connection with her I never knew when she was alive, but one that I’m thankful for now because I feel her presence with me when I knit. Other great things I’ve experienced are swap, competitions, dyeing, spinning, and novice designing.

I’ve compiled a mosaic of pictures all from my 2008 year, which now that I look back was filled with so much. Especially this blog, something I enjoy so much. I’ve been maintaining it for 1 full year now, and am proud of what it inspires and how I can look back at my past.

There were so many more pictures I wanted to include, but felt this was pushing it. I won’t list what each picture is because there’s too many, but for short will list an overview below.

I look forward to another year of knitting, blogging, dyeing, spinning, and crafting.

-Sock Wars Socks, 3 kills
-Mini Scarf pin (personal project for Etsy)
-Tunisian Blanket
-Tech Square Afghan project (4 squares shown)
-Traveling Scarves Groups
-Crochet bag, Crochet Cowl
-Christmas Stocking
-MS4, SofSIII, Elm Row
-Basetweave scarf, Niners scarf
-Bookmarks, Dishcloths
-Gloves, beanies
-1st Rockymoreno “Skull” Cowl design
-My own dyed yarn, My handspun, knitting at night needles, knitta tag

Where have I been?

It’s been more than a few days since my last post and I feel horrid. I hate to miss posting, but things have been so terribly hectic for me lately. I have too many things to get done and not enough time. Besides my posting taking a hit so has my knitting. I have to say that it looks like I’ll only have 2 completed FO’s for Xmas gifts this year 8( But hey, it’s my first year balancing out my passion for knitting with all the other things I have to juggle, so 2 FO’s will do!

First I’ll share this luscious yarn I scored at Artfibers months ago, and don’t think I ever shared it? It is Satori, and I purchased 300 yards. I didn’t write the color # down, but it is basically black with a purple sheen to it, it’s pretty cool in person. My camera isn’t that great at picking up the purple, can you tell?

I bought this yarn specifically for my daughter, to knit her something with, and for her Xmas gift I’ve started to knit “Dayflower Fingerless” gloves from HandJiveKnits. This yarn is so soft and warm, I’ll have enough to make me a pair or maybe a cowl??? Hmmm..

Here’s the right glove done

I’m about halfway done with the Left glove, should finish tomorrow. My other Xmas FO is not done but will be my mission to finish after I finish the Left glove. I was so lucky to at least get this done, my time has been little lately.

In the midst of my crazy life, I got some yummy cookies from Marisol, she’s so kind to have mailed me these.

I got these cookies a few days ago, and they didn’t last long. Everyone loved them, and gobbled them up quickly.

Some other goodies arrived too, the last installment of the Woolgirl Sock Club 2008 came in, and it’s a treat, we get yarn from Hazel Knits in “Whispering Pine” colorway. A very pretty color that fits the weather so well. In this package is 400 yards of sock yarn, a Sheepy calendar for 2009, personal hand knit tags, and a stitch marker.

Last, I’ll leave you with my doggy, who looks so comfy. I’ll also be heading to sleep myself, it’s already going to be Monday 8( but hey it’s a short week!

Happy Holidays Everyone!
R

Everything at once

Over the weekend we went to my little cousin’s 7th bday party, Alyssa. She is so cute and the sweetest girl. Her parents surprised her and had her birthday party at Boomer’s in Modesto, CA. They have everything there, from go karts, to water boats, mini-golf, rock climbing, batting cages, lazer tag, arcade games, you name it.

The kids had such a great time, and really enjoyed the rock climbing. My son climbed the rock wall over 4 times and did each turn in record time. We said he looked like Spiderman up there, he navigated that wall like it was nothing.

My daughter tried too, but had a wee bit harder of a time.

It was such a great time, but very tiring. The long 2 hour drive to the party gave me plenty of time to finish knitting my Holiday Stocking. I made one for my Death By Socks Christmas Stocking Swap Pal, Yarnwhisperer. I have to apologize to her, I had over a month to get this done, but fell behind on so many projects and ended up casting on this past Friday 11/21/08.

I didn’t know what to do for a stocking, so I decided to wing it and let the project happen as I knitted it.

I started off with a provisional chain cast on and knitted in red for about 9 inches, then turned the heel, onto the toe, which was about 2 1/2 inches. I used a plain stockinette because I felt it would look nice.

I then swiss stitched in a snowflake design, plus Yarnwhisperer’s initials “A T”. After closing up the toe, I removed my crochet chain and picked up the live stitches, then with white yarn, knitted for 2 rows, then reversed knitted the opposite direction to make the right side the wrong side. I was pretty skeptical at first, but it worked out better than I thought. The 2 knitted right side rows allowed the reverse knitted (purls on right side) to puff out, so it really looks like a stocking.

For the yarn, I used Vanna White’s Red Yarn, very soft, and economical, and this yarn from Stacy Charles that is white with laced tinsel sparklins through it. I thought it would be perfect and it is!

For added flair, I weaved in some red beads for the snowflake. I’ll put together the notes from my pattern and share for free again! I plan on making another one, but for my daughter, I might switch up the design though.

That’s my Bear in the picture, he had to share the spotlight.

Can you see those beads? I love how they turned out.

Besides my stocking gift, I also got a few gifts of my own, a lovely Starbucks & Yarn Package came from Shoegirl on Ravelry.

I got some really pretty Lorna Laces sock yarn, 217yds!, a cute mug cozy, in my fave colors, neutrals, a Starbucks gift card, Giada’s Tuscan Spice from Crate & Barrel (I love this!), Giada’s little menu, and some hand cream (which I love cause I’m always washing my hands).
Thank you Shoegirl!

Another goodie came Saturday, it is “Autumn Haze” from Socks that Rock 2008. This is the final installment and I’m in love with it. My absolute #1 fave of the entire 2008 club. I need more of this colorway, so I can make something absolutly pretty with it.

Aren’t those colors beautiful!

Ok one more goodie for yah, today I received the latest Madeline Tosh Society shipment, “Tourmaline”, and is to die for! It’s 1000 yards of luscious silky soft Tuscan silk! This is definitely an early Christmas present for me.

Oh, before I leave yah, if you want to enter a fun contest, please check out the Nautical Knitter’s blog, she is giving away the cutest Snowman stitch markers!

I’ll post again before Turkey Day!

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