LaurieKnits

reusing the scary yarn colours...

2006-06-30T14:24:00.000-02:00

I posted on knitty about a dye question I have so I'm putting the yarn pictures up, but don't have time for a full message...

These are the two problem yarns. I would like to uset them but I hate the colours. The colours in the picture look a bit better than in real life. The one on the left is really more orange than the nearly-red it looks here. And its like glowish nearly neon orange.

To the right the yarn is more off the true colour - the real thing is sort of a nearly mustard nearly pumpkin colour.

These are some of my other recent dying attempts using food colouring or kool-aid, or both. Some yarns I tried contain all natural fibres or at least a precentage of nautral fibres. I also tried it on "non-natural" yarns like acrylic, though the instructions I read don't recommend dyeing yarn from synthetic fibres, I gave it a try anyway, and I got okish results.

The colours just didn't seem to soak in as well, you end up with a pastel version instead of the richer colours achieved by the natural fibres.

The picture has the original in the middle , a slightly off white acrylic yarn, and to the left a light blue dye that some purple got into, so it is almost a greyish lilac. The yarn to the right is the same, but with a green dye.

The next picture shows the same green dye as above results in a richer colour when there is natural fibre present - also the underlying original colour of the yarn is beige so that tones down the green to a more earthy colour like moss.

The picture opposite is originally a blue white flecked Opal Sock yarn - maybe called Petticoat.I put it int0 a green dye bath and it came out really funky - the green really acentuated the contrast between the coloured yarn and the previously white bits. I believe this yarn has alot or at least some animal fibre.

My favourite so far is the handspun yarn*shown below, original on left, which was really more of a grey colour under normal lights. I was given this as a gift - it was really a pretty colour in the first place, but as to wearing colours I try to about soft colurs or pastels as they are pale and I am pale and I end up looking like zombie ghost girl...

Mystery yarn mixing it up...

2006-05-06T10:42:00.000-02:00

This is a picture of two yarns I am thinking of combining - once I learn how to do it without the tangled mess you see here!

I know these are crap pictures, but I'm not too good with the camera, esp. indoors. The colours are really the dark not quite navy blue ball of cotton, and the spool is a super thin fillament embroider thread (for sewing machine I think , I just had it for some reason)

It is a blend of purple navy, plum and copper - sounds odd but it quite dark and not to flashy but it does add a mysterous sparkle as you don't really see the thread at all when it is combined - just these little shimmers. I will put a swatch up here when I can get it done.

I just keep wondering if I should be combining them in a more strenuous way like something a spinner would do to twist them up together - not that I am a spinner (yet - one obsessive addiction at a time, go back and wait in line Spinaholicism...) so, any tips would be fab! If anyone ever reads this - you never really can tell can you?

I am also trying to find good suggestions for someone who wants to do some charity knitting for local women's shelters, maternity hospitals and so on... I know I read about the whole "Prayer Shawl" idea for charity knitting. I would like to help her find a pattern that would be good for a mom and baby during breast feeding (as a cover up if the mom wants to do that) and that would still be non-babyish enough for the Mom not to feel like a walking burping pad/tent draped feeding station!

So, something stylish but practical - I don't have kids so I don't know that much about breastfeeding, but I wuold imagine you would want something washable and simple to care for at that time! Not sure as well what shape would be best - semi-circular? square? Triangle? rectangle? And not too heavy as it will be worn in doors and not so much for warmth. Thanks fo any ideas guys!

This is the wrap I am knitting for myself with the Blue Jean Knit Picks Gossamer-It is light, lovely and soft. Extremely (well for me anyway!) thin and fine, but I find the Denise needles work well for me (the needles are certainly large for the yarn weight - but I wanted it light and airy for the lace effect - I have the feeling that it is going to be alot warmer that it would look... Wool is just so great like that. And I can see how some lace patterns would be lost under the stripes of varieagated colour but this is I believe an almost perfect stitch for the colour.

I'm surprised t how well this is going actually as when I was trying the triangle shawl Wave and Shell type pattern and I swear on the lives of cat and 2 rats, that I must have done the first 40 rows about 75 or more times. Literally. Why I'm confessing this I don't know. I would work on it and start then frog then re-start each day abou 6 or so time and it was a long long long coupla weeks knitting wise! (patterns I am discussing in this entry are linked in an earlier post to their source if you are looking for them..

My futile efforts and continual repetion of the same mistakes reminded me of my two roomates in University - there we were about 2 and 1/2 degrees between the two of us, and could we manage to set up a dollar store bait and spring snap mouse trap without having it snap on our fingers 3 or 4 times each... So, so, so very very sad... And - the final insult.... The mouse got the peanut butter bait and not the guillotine. Apparently he was one of those rare Croucihing Tiger Hidden Mouse martial artists who could hover in the air? Anyway were were definitely outgunned.

(dont read this part if you get grossed out easily)
One late night / early morning writing a paper I was looking for a snack so I made some toast and Peanut Butter... In the little toaster oven.. It was a little burnt I thought, but hey, no problem. I was rather shocked to be awoken a few hours later with the shrieking banshee howls of my roomate who was gonna make some toast too, but unfortuantely the mousie beat him to it. so he might have escaped the trap but in the end he got the death penalty. And me ? I got one of the rarest taste sensations in the area... Mousie Smoked Toast and Peanut Butter - by the way the kitchen was dark so that was why I didn't notice the mousie. I swear it was an accident. MOral of this - clean you crumb tray often - or if you are having mouse problems put the trap in the toaster oven...

(end gross out)
-----------------------------------------
For some reason I've always had this love of wave/shell/ocean motifs and textiles. To me this totally looks like an abstract white capped Nova Scotia windy day - Little white caps on alot of the waves... I am kind of torn now. I had this other knit picks yarn and I was going to use one colour (2 skeins) of the one type and one colour for another project - one to be given away

... but now it turns out that I need to do this rectangle wrap to really get the hang of simple lace before dealing with the increases or decreases and changing stitch count of the triangle - will I be greedy and keep both - maybe!

Soft Uglies by Mary Kim

2006-04-21T21:36:00.000-02:00

This is a display which was in the Argyle Street Art Gallery - some friends had their wedding rehersal reception here - normally an open art gallery, but it does close down to host private parties sometimes, qwhich we thought was a really clever idea - it was a good way to get a bunch of people together from all different parts of the couples life, and everyone had something to experience together and chat about, without even trying - everyone could look at and talk about the art even if they didn't know each other at all. And it was a really nice space with several different areas and levels.

The little creatures featured here are by a local Halifax artist, Mary Kim, (photo at right) whose work you can read about in an article in our local indie paper "The Coast" where I found the picture of the artist and of a single close up example of one of her creatures.

I thought I had taken more pictures of this display, but I guess not! EAch creature was completely unique and completely unconventional for normally cute and fluffy stuffed toys.

I would love to see more of her work; unfortanely she does not seem to have a website or any other online mentions that I could find. Still if you ever gett he chance to see her work you should definitely take her creations in!

Latest Knitting Project - "Comfort Shawl" using Knitipicks Shimmer

2006-04-21T16:55:00.000-02:00

My latest project is a triangular "feather and fan" type stitch shawl.

I am using the "Shimmer" y arn in Turquoise Splendor that my Secret Knitty Pal gave to me - a very fine lace yarn (70% Baby Alpaca, 30% Silk).

If you haven't heard about it yet, you should check out the KnitPicks site - they are making some fabulous luxury-type yarns available at regular very low prices - I think they have done this by cutting out the middle party in the yarn food chain - they develop direct relationships with their yarn manufacturers in places like Peru and Italy.

The prices are literally 1/3 or 1/4 of the price you would pay for similar yarns that are made of such pricey fibres (silk, wool, alpaca, etc.)

I haven't bought anything there myself yet, but the reviews on the Knittyboard seem great as far as customer service etc. - I was lucky enough to recieve 2 seperate gifts of yarn from the site.

I have two skeins of this Shimmer, and I might get some more, depending on how much shawl I have after I've worked through the first skein!

The other knit picks yarn I recieved is a similar very fine lace weight, but is 100% merino wool, and I'm not sure what to do with it either (suggestions anyone?) In the meantime it is pretty cool to have such fancy-schmancy yarns hanging around waiting to be used!

My other Knitpicks yarn is called "Gossamer" in the colour "blue jeans" which is a variegated blue, light blue, to grey colour...

I would like to say a special thank you to all the great knitters, who help each other out all the time on the Knitty Coffeeshop, the message board for readers of Knitty, the online knitting magazine. I can't recommend the magazine or (especially!) this message board enough - particularily if you like innovative and creative knitting patterns, and even more so if you don't have any knitting pals in your area, or if you are the most advanced (read obsessed) of the knitter's you know.

I have never failed to get some answers to my weirdest questions here, and even better, it is very busy and very widespread - so no matter how late it is, someone is probably around to help you out!

And thank you to all the kind people who put free knitting patterns and tips online! Like this great Feather and Fan Comfort Shawl that I'm working on now.

I had done, ripped out, and done again, the first 30 or so lines of the pattern several times, until I finally realized that the mistakes I kept creating were because I was doing the yarn over's (YO) the wrong way.

Now, with this challenge fixed, I am having a much smoother go of it. This seems fine, except it doesn't really look like a pretty wavey pattern at all... Even when I had completed to the 30th line or so (with mistakes, granted) it still just seems to be tiny thread circles looped into very round looking interlocked circles.

(this is scanned in, so the colours are a bit funny but you get the idea)

I have read that lace patterns really don't show up nicely at all until you have washed and blocked your lace project, and I'm hoping that is why it doesn't look too spiffy just yet...

I would love to hear from some more experienced lace knitter if there is any possibility that the knitting which looks like this will eventually take on the right shape and pattern, as shown in pictures of the completed shawl...

It is alot of fun though, I thought the very fine yarn (of a width like 2 strands of sewing thread twisted together, I swear!) would drive me batty but it isn't like that at all - the large-ish needles (4mm or US size 6) I'm using seem to make all the difference. I am sure it would drive me nuts if I was using very fine needles.

Maybe I should just ask Gonzo for some help?

Childhood dream come true!

2006-04-20T10:38:00.000-02:00

How cool is this? I finally got the Gonzo doll I've been wanting since I was 3 or 4 years old...I remember so well, my Uncle David was going to get me a present and had asked what I wanted - I was lotally in love with Gonzo and this was just at the time that they started making Sesame Street/Muppet show dolls.

Unfortunately my Uncle went with this description when he asked the store clerk for help finding the right doll... "Fuzzy, with a long nose and big eyeballs" - Imagine his suprise when I unwrapped my gift and screamed "Wow! Snuffalupagus!"

He didn't know what I was talking about - probably thought "Suffalupagus!" was 4-year old speak for "Wow, Thanks for the Gonzo Doll!"

I ended up with Snuffalupagos! Not that I didn't love him - I sure did, so much so that at some point he lost one of his huge egg sized eyeballs and just ended up having a flap of fur for one eye - he looked kinda like something out of a creepy Sesame street nightmare, or perhaps "Gangster Snuffy"....

But, my super sister was in Florida and visited MGM studious (I think that was where) and she saw this little guy and got him for me. I added the knitting parephenalia..... Gonzo is currently working on his first knitting project, a jaunty yellow scarf. Also planned in the works is a skinny 80's knitted tie to go with his preppy look. It is hilarious - he has saddle shoes, a sweater vest, and even - get this - old man pants! Yep, the waistband is right up there so the cords reach almost to his little Gonzo chest!

Also the rats are totally in love with their newest cage addition - just a simple wooden box that you get mandarin oranges, or whatever in, attached to the roof of their cage with some rags in to snuggle with and they haven't left it for about 2 weeks! I also tired sticking in a mini mouse, and mini knitted bear to see how they'd react. I wondered if they might be like Mr. Bunny and react to these little stuffed critters as tho they were alive. They were not fooled however, and seem to use the toys as just more stuff to sleep on.

I guess Mr. Bunny really did have some ulterior motives though - he was an un-fixed Mr. Bunny you see, and rabbits are really into pair bonding. It took only moments before Mr. Bunny turned the tiny teddy I gave him into his bitch, just like he was in real jail instead of a protective Bunny cage... It was both disconcerting and hilarious to see Mr. Bunny's uhmm ... Interactions... with the teddy. It might not have been true love, but it was definitely passionate.....

In other rat news, we had our first escape scare the other day... I wil often take one or both rats out and put them on one of a few wooden dining room chairs we have in the living room... They know that it is too far for them to jump down, and they are extreemly happy just hanging out on the chair seat for long periods of time. Not sure why this makes them so happy, as the total surface area is much smaller than the cage they live in, but they seem to feel all happy and free on the chairs. I made a bit of an error though, and one of the chairs was too close to the couch. Baby thought he could make the jump so he did, and promptly slipped off the blanket that was on the couch.

I had read and had experienced that Rats will instinctively run for the edge of the room where a wall meets the floor - makes sense as this allows them to sort of keep their "back to the wall" and only have to worry about what is coming at them from limited areas. Baby in particular (the previously more shy one) was always wanting to squirm away and get against the wall. We have some large storage drawer type boxes under the couch, and of course he darted right under there, so I was frantically moving the boxes and checking there and calling him.. a few seconds later I heard Pierre say from the other room - "Why is the rat in here?!" It took him like 2 seconds to get to a place that might take me 10 or 15 seconds to walk to - and my legs ar about a billion times longer than a rats! super speed!

Our cat Ranger quickly alerted Pierre to the little fugitive, by looking confused and kind of half-assedly chasing him. I scooped him up and put him back in the cage, and vowed to be much more careful about their outside the cage adventures! They are never let out unsupervised of course.

Knitted Rat Snugglie Carrier

2006-04-04T15:22:00.000-02:00

This is my quick first model for a rat carrier... which I have been discussing on the Knittyboard.

The "sling" (a hat) was made from a thick double stranded worsted weight yarn in stockinette stitch.

It was just liying around to give to someone one day.

So I gave it to the rats!

I wear it cross ways over my chest. I think he likes it!

I took a bathrobe tie and wove it in a running stitch around the edge of the brim

I wear it cross ways over my chest. I think he likes it!

CSI Bear: Assault with Deadly Felting (Contains Images That May Not Be Suitable for All Ages)

2006-02-18T12:40:00.000-02:00

You may remember this bear from a previous post, where the victim looked something like this:

Forensic analysis indicates that the victim was bound using makeshift restraints, and immersed repeatedly in scalding and freezing water, concurrent with repeated, sustained traumatic surface abrasion with a cleaning agent, as can be seen in these crime scene photographs.

Evidence collected at the scene of the crime suggest that the bear was bound using makeshift restraints and arranged in this pose post-mortem.

Identifying features were obscured due to the violence of the crime, but creative reconstruction rendered these images.

The bear in question has yet to be identified. Anyone with information about this bear or any other details of this felting incident should leave comments here. The public is warned that the perpetrator is believed to be a repeat felter and should be considered dangerous.

Cast On - cool!

2006-02-17T13:32:00.000-02:00

I have just discovered that I can easily download radio shows to my cheap-o little mp3 player! I downloaded the first episode of "Cast On" and listened to most of it on the bus to school today. It was great - a North American woman in Wales doing a periodic show about what is up in the knitting world, including field trips to mills and farms, guest essays, and some really cool new music I'd not heard before! It is wicked cool. Can't remember how long it has been since I've used that phrase.... Check it out here: Cast On
where you can download this and future episodes...

invasion of the teddy bear clones....

2006-02-16T13:03:00.000-02:00

I present for your inspection my two latest endeavours in toy/doll making. Both are spooky "blank faced" because I need to find some embroidery floss to do the faces with.

So they are like blank clone cuddlies for now.

I did the bear from a really neat book "The Knitted Teddy Bear"by Sandra Polley. This book has a really cute selection of knitted bear of different types and styles.

The one I did was very simple - the bear was made entirely of rectangles of knitted fabric, the shaping was all as a result of running stitches and knots tied off to shape the various bear bits.

You can't really see it in the picture but he even has a snout.

Now that its done I'm kind of tempted to felt it.... I wonder what would happen? Any ideas?

I don't like the way the arms and legs atach to the body - Ican't really describe what is wrong but it is obvious in the pictures.

This was a simple, beginner bear at any rate, and I finished it in a evening. I want to try something more ambitious, better looking, and with button joints next time.

Also, I finished and felted my schmeebot but he didn't turn out quite the way I wanted. I think I overstuffed him... or something. He is still kind of cute in a maimed way... although in this picture he loooks like roadkill.

I also finished my small and further modiefied "coronet" hat. I added ear flaps, and when I did I wasn't sure if I had made them big enough. So I added a crcheted edgeing to the earflaps, that looks kind of ruffly.

And yes, this soes make Coronet the hat so nice she made it thrice! and then some.

My reluctant model says it all I think...

Oh what a Tangled skein we weave...

2006-02-10T21:31:00.000-02:00

I finally did it. Finally went to the LYS (Local Yarn Shop) that would have been mine if I hadn't gotten divorced. Its probably good that this LYS and I just visit each other occasionally. If I had been living next door to it,things could have gotten nasty. And fluffy. A Yarn intervention might have been needed. But happily for us all, the universe unfolded just as it should, thus I and Tangled Skeins became ships that pass in the night ... This is a lovely lovely, and did I mention lovely, yarn shop. The have all the Brown Sheep yarns that I'd read about in Knitty.

So I bought some Lamb's Pride Worsted 85% and15%Mohair, and it makes such a difference. I swear, its like the yarn is alive. It has such beautiful stitch definition, such perfect elasticity. It made 2 hours of sitting in a bus that is moving only slightly faster than you could walk an enjoyable interlude instead of a reason to go starkers and start pulling out my hair.

Tangled Skeins had several versions of the kind of yarn I bought, and a vast arry of others. It is always wonderful to meet "in person" the yarns you have read about in Vogue Knitting or the Knitty website. This is sad isn't it? Its like the yarns are celebrites or something and I am this rabid fan.... They were all nicely displayed, and the lighting and space was lovely. . And when you leave, they put yoour yarn in a lovely sturdy brown bag, perfect for gift giving, cat sleeping or rat housing... If you have not gone and you are located in an area that makes a visit feasible, i tell you GO TO THIS SHOP.
If you can't read it from the bag here is the info:
Tangled Skeins Yarn Shop
158A Portland Street
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
B2Y 1J1
902-464-0387
They don't seem to have a website.

I'm off to enjoy my luxury yarn...

Knitting Toys for Several Species...

2006-02-04T11:45:00.000-02:00

I recently knit this bunny doll for Kiera, Lynda and Andy's little girl, and it was a ton of fun! I have a post about it somewhere back in November's archives.

Something about knitting it, while thinking about the games that Kiera might play with it, the fun it might have, which makes you think of your own favourite toys of the past...

Not only that but it seemed to impress people out of all proportion to the accomplishment - I think the thought of knitting something with all those shapes *seems* really hard, though it was really quite simple, knitting, shaping, decreasing increasing - and after all it was quite forgiving of mistakes or "alterations" - it didn't have to fit anyone like a sweater for example!

Now, "hard" knitting - that is lace... or socks. I have made and continue to make attempts, but no real joy so far... don't know if I'm ever goint ot get it together for those!

I also have alot of fun making cat toys, and recently scored a "basement find" of a ball of real grey wool - I just had to make felted cat toys.

The little grey toy is supposed to be a lamb, but as Pierre said it kinda looks more like a clown mouse or something. The white yarn on the lamb is a mystery cheapo acrylic so no felting, hence the odd look of the lamb.

The grey yarn was quick and easy to hand felt in some very hot water (needed rubber gloves) and some shampoo - Not sure why this worked so much more quickly and easily than for example, the Kitty Pi I did with Lopi yarn in the hot cycle of the washer.. Maybe the lopi is slower? Or the water was cooler? Or the washer just doesn't agitate like my rubber glove-ed hand?

With the grey mousie you can see just how much the felting took, with NO stitch visible and quite a thickness gained.

Ranger is always eager to help with the catnip stuffing and the toy testing - so much so that I have to hide the toys I want to give as gifts before they end up looking like something a cat barfed up rather than recieved as a gift.

The great thing about these little toys are they are so quick to make up and so portable, you can slip one right in your pocket and knit anywhere! When you are feeling discouraged about your knitting or about anything in life, it is great to sit down, and in an hour or so finish a complete project. Makes you feel ready to take on the world. Or at least your favourite cat.

The "lamb" is one of a set of barnyard fingerpuppets from this book:

"Knitted Toys" by Fiona McTague. It has alot of cute things in it. The finger puppets I just knit up as directed, then stuff with catnip and sew shut the bottom where the finger would go, and voila! a cat toy! If you wanted to live dangerously you could use it as an actual finger puppet and still use it as a cat toy, but you would be a braver and more foolish woman than me!

I made a fingerpuppet/cat toy for my sisters cats for xmas, out of blue fake mohair, a little blue bunny. It was quite a hit too.

So, does anyone have a favourite toy pattern they'd like to recommend - or favourite toy knitting books?

I like this pattern and have made it again and again for friend's cats...

Free knitted catnip mousie pattern (felted or not felted, its up to you!) by Jo Chandler.

These also look interesting but I've not tried them yet:

A bunny by Jess Hutchison, who designed the toy featured in this issue of Knitty

Dinosaurs (link to a .pdf file bellow pic) including Bronty, Trice and Mr. Stegs, on Jennifer Thurston's X-treme Knitting Blog

Snakes and much more by an interesting knitter who designs and does her own patterns, but does not use conventional patterns or pattern writing at all!

And finally I just realized I HAVE to make one of these, probably with the remaining grey wool...

Schmeebot, an absolutely adorable quirky creation by a blogger who goes by the same name in her blog The Knitting Chronicles - this toy has been called "the cutest out there" by several bloggers I've read.

I'm going to cast schmeebot on now - anyone tried it? Any hints?

Won't you tell me 'bout my mystery yarn...?

2006-02-02T22:59:00.000-02:00

(To be sung to the tune of Elvis Costello’s “Mystery Dance”)

…Won’t you tell me ‘bout the mystery yarn,
Won’t you tell me ‘bout the mystery yarn...
Won’t you tell me
‘cause I’ve tried and I’ve tried
and I’m still mystified,
I can’t swatch anymore,
and I’m not satisfied…”

This is one of two odd yarns I got for xmas – the other containing possum fur, and recently knit into the purple “Coronet” hat seen earlier on this blog. The possum fur was labelled though.. This was really oddball stuff – my Mom got it in Newfoundland, and it came on a cone – I’ve never had “cone” yarn before – I think it was remnants of stuff from a mill or something.. anyway.

As you can see I have pulled it off the cone and wound it into a nice loose centre pull ball (for some reason I find doing this immensely satisfying and I don't think I would ever use a ball winder - I will even compulsively wind other people's yarn into balls... I just love the feel of the yarn I guess!)

It may be hard to see in these pictures (my colours always seem a bit off - probably because I always get inspried to snap them in the dark of night in the study with the bad lighting?) but it is an extremely fluffy navy blue, with a bright orange almost brand new copper penny colour cord twisted around it.

The blue yarn seems to be a natural fibre maybe, and the copper most likely a synthetic. The copper also has sporadic bits of coloured yarn trapped in it – this is crazy neon rainbow colours, and seems like little tiny (and not so tiny!) hunks of unspun roving trapped by the copper thread – maybe natural fibre as well.

This swatch was knit up on 4.5mm needles. It is fairly open and loose. It is 20 stitches and stocking stitch except at the top part where I tried drop stitch.

My questions are:

-does anyone know what yarn this is?

-has anyone ever used similar yarn?

-anyone got any idea what to do with this one ball of the stuff? (said 65g on the cone?)

-any ideas or info or suggestions about how to best use this yarn?

I ripped out this swatch and started something on bigger needles 10 mm needles - just a drop stitch sort of thingy to see what a bigger needle would do.

It is nice that it is more open and lacey. The pattern is kind of wonky and I'm not sure if I like it or think it is ugly... anyway its all a test! Let me know your thoughts..

As usual I have a few pictures, trying to get the truest colour and best quality photo - hard when you suck as much as I do as a photographer - even with my fabulous gift digital camera!

Coronet Two, or The Hat So Nice She Made It Twice

2006-01-31T19:13:00.000-02:00

At the request of my mom, I made another coronet hat. Again, I used the fattened up cable, just adding a stitch to every component of the original cable pattern. The yarn she had was a lovely wool variegated from turquoise to brown to green to khaki or something like that. It really is lovely and sturdy and will be very warm no doubt, especially the doubled up brim and cables which create air pockets of warmth around the ears.

This time, the grafting worked out much more neatly and nicely. I found it helpful to repeat to myself, "knit slip offf, purl leave on, purl slip off, knit leave on." This kept me focused enough that I didn't make mistakes, like I did with my own hat where I ended up with too many stitches on one needle at the end of the grafting. This time it worked out perfectly, and the result is an almost invisible join - it really is quite magical, whoever thought it up was a genius.... For great instructions on how to do the kitchener stitch go to this article in Knitty.

The Photos don't really do the hat justice - they make the colour variations seem hash and obvious. In the real world the are much more subtle and muted. Still I don't know about using such a colourful variegated yarn with a cable - the cable kind of gets lost in the colour, if you know what I mean. I think cables are best in solid colours, although a very very subtle variegated yarn might be ok, especially if it was in the same colour family. Anyway, a finished hat and well done without too many mistakes. I am getting a ton of knitting done what with all the hospital room sitting and waiting with Pierre in recovery from his hip replacement surgery. I did mom's hat, I ripped out my hat and re-did it (it was too short, so the brim didn't cover my ears enough), did about an inch and half on Pierre's sweater, including some very tricky correction of mistakes by purposefully dropping stitches and picking them up with a crochet hook - thereby eliminating the need to frog about 4 entire rounds - not inconsiderable when you are talking about 700 stitches, (I had accidentaly knit when I should have purled, having been distracted by the patient liason nurse's update on Pierre's condition), and untangllng the snarly mess of my unfinished Noro Silk Garden Multidirectional triangle scarf from last winter.

I had fun on the bus this morning, staring at everyone's knitted garments, assessing which were homemade, and analyzing how they were made. This is what I love about learning new crafts, it opens up a whole new, richer, more information packed world to you. Before knitting I would probably go "There is a girl wearing a hat" - Now I look at the same girl and I see "there is a girl wearing a hat - I think that is a cable with a small number of rows in the repeat, braided. I like the ribbing that does not fold over to make a brim, just acts as an edging of knit 4 purl 4. Looks like it is made of a chunky weight natural wool yarn. " And so on... I swear some people give me funny looks, thinking I am staring at them too much, when really I am staring at their garment too much...Crazy Knitting Girl strikes again.

I do notice a reluctance of people to sit with me when I am knitting on the bus. I am not sure why. I don't take up much space and I don't have big pokey needles made of wood or bamboo that look like they could double as vampire stakes (or at least I don't since my lovely sister bought me my lovley Denise needle kit!), and certainly might poke a seatmate in the ribs.... Maybe it is because I look like I'm busy? Or maybe they think I am some kind of crazy knitting freak lady. Which, of course, I am...

Hopeful Knittyheads Webring Applicant

2006-01-29T15:16:00.000-02:00

That's right, I'm attempting to join the knittyheads webring again with my new blog. Here's hoping it goes ok this time!

We Have A Winner!

2006-01-23T19:17:00.000-02:00

Finally! My long running baby sweater contest comes to a close, as I recieved the news last night that my dear friend Lynda will be having another baby! This contest was started on my original blog, which was on modblog, but experienced too many technical difficulties. If you wish to find out more you can check it out here. But, in brief, this was the contest:
I will give this sweater to whoever presents me first with a baby that needs to be sweatered. I know, I know, its hard work, but chin up, and remember - in the end you will have a really nice sweater. and a baby. The sweater goes to the first couple to present me with a baby suitable for sweatering.... And Remember, I will accept entrants of other species.

And may I say about time folks. I was getting quite discouraged at my contestants lackluster response, but the Earle-Blackadar household has come through in the end!

Here is the prize....
If I get enough interest, the contest could easily be re-opened. Baby sweaters (or other gear) are great as they are fast and fun and cute. So, PROSPECTIVE CONTESTANTS... Leave a comment if you would still like to be considered "in" and I'll see what I can do about a new prize!

Coronet - Finished Knitting For Me!

2006-01-21T13:50:00.000-02:00

I finished Coronet, using the Naturally possum fur wool I got for Christmas. It was alot of fun, and quite simple, I'm even thinking of making another for a gift.

Here are some pictures.

The first, fuzzy one gives you a better idea of the true colour of the yarn, which is sort of in between the blurry and the clear photo colours, and the last ones show an actual non-blurry picture.

This is after I washed in with a bit of shampoo. The possum fur yarn fluffed up quite nicely!

I changed the pattern a tiny bit to widen the cable - I just addded one stitch to each element of the cable (edginng and braids) and I like the way it turned out.

Knitting for Me

2006-01-17T21:29:00.000-02:00

I've finally been able to start a little knitting for me now that christmas is over. I am using the purple possum fur yarn my parents gave me to make Coronet by Alexandra Virgiel,from a back issue of Knitty. It is a hat pattern that consists of a cabled band around the ears, like a head band, then you pick up stitches and just knit it like a stocking cap. This means you have a double layer over your ears for extra warmth, since the brim folds up.

(picture model/photo: A. Virgiel, from the Knitty issue linked above)

I wanted the cable, and hence the brim to be a bit wider, therefore I added one extra stitch to everything - so my cable looks fatter and wider, which I like. Knitting cables is alot of fun. I've been trying to do it without refering to the pattern too much, trying to make cables become more intuitive for me. Some progress made, definitely. Here is a scan of the cable-in-proogress. I am enjoying the yarn, it has a curiously solid , spaghetti like texture - you don't feel or notice strands or plys - it is one consistent tube, much like the width of a spaghetti noodle.

I'm wondering if I should wash and block the cable headband part before picking up stitches around the edge, so things are even, and hence the stitches are picked up evenly. Any input or suggestions would be appreciated!

And finally, as a special treat to my family, these pictures of Pat's kitten, named, uhm.. Kitten - Just because she looks exactly like my childhood kitty Travis. Now really, how cute is this... Damn the Paparazzi! I know I am beautiful, but why must they torment me?

Why the Library Rules

2006-01-11T11:42:00.000-02:00

Pierre and I were at the Library last night and I was kind of shocked and thrilled to see a large number of teen and barely-teens gathered excitedly in the library. Now, this is the kind of behaviour I would have exhibited as a teen (being excited at a library) but not what you see there every day. Turns out they were having an open mic night, and anyone who signed up could perform a song, a skit, a reading, any kind of performance... we overheard things varying from some pop-style karoke to some rap in the short time we were there. What a great way to get kids expressing themselves - and they were all so psyched to be there having a chance to perform for each other! Imagine how much more excited I was when I saw a sign at the checkout saying this:

--------------------------------------
YAK Club (Young Adults Knitting)
Ages 10-18 Sackville
Wednesdays, January 25 & February 8, 22/7- 8:30 pm
Need a creative outlet? The YAK Club is in opportunity to hang out with friends, meet new people and create really cool things.
-------------------------------

If you need more info here is the link to the page on the Halifax Public Library site. I've emailed the library offering to help out if they need any help, but it is probably too late to get in on this session for me(as a volunteer). Still, if I actually have any readers, and (even further from likely) any of them are teens in Sackville, you should call and sign up! And, remember knitting is not just for girls!

I also am going to make a point of asking about an adult knitting group at the Sackville branch, and would encourage any locals to do the same. One of the librarians mentioned there was interest amongst the staff, but they need to see interest from the patrons to get a group going! I know not everyone lives in Sackville, but if you do, the library is right there on the ubiquitous 80 bus route! It would be a great thing to get going don't you think? Any Knitty readers of Loop Cafe habitues interested?

This reminded me of a great book I had (from the library of course) about teen knitting... "Teen Knitting Club : Chill Out and Knit Some Cool Stuff" by Jennifer Wenger, Carol Abrams, and Maureen Lasher. It was well written and had some fun beginner projects. I'd recommend it to kids, teens, or adults - especially if you are trying to get a teen into knitting! The book is nicely photographed and spiral bound, and it emphasises the fact that knitting is for everyone, not just girls! I often find that more care is taken to have clear well-written and illustrated intruction books on the same subject when they are written for younger readers. Sometimes the quality far exceeds the "adult version"!

Right now, I'm busy trying to sort through my first attempt at a course in Pre-Chaucerian english lit. This is the text I'm studying - "The Auchinleck Manuscript", and it has a great website done by the National Library of Scotland. It is going to be a bit of a leap for me but I'm determined to do well. Once your eye gets used to the differences in spelling and so on it doesn't seem so puzzling - but it really does sound different. I was playing a clip of a reading and Pierre's comment was "I thought you were studying english, not gaelic!" I always find it so fascinating to find the same stories and themes retold, no matter how old the manuscript... for example this week we are studying a poem where a guy (my bad paraphrase) "...laid by a maid and swore to love her all his life, but told her little of his wife.." Some things never change do they?

In other reading, I got a bit desperate as I was stuck at home with the flu, so I broke down and started reading the book I got for Pierre for Christmas, "Cryptonomicon" by Neal Stephenson. Not that I didn't want to read it but it seems rude to read a gift before the recipient gets a chance to. I have been a fan of this author since reading "The Diamond Age" and "Snowcrash". Cryptonomicon shows how he's evoloving into ever more fascinating and complexly entertwined plots, and is still great at exposing the reader to the world of technology, history, and other cultures, no matter what level of knowledge you go in with. You learn stuff while never noticing it, as you are so gripped by the plot twists. If you are into War thrillers, techno-thrillers, or just great, can't put it down reading, grab it. Don't be scared by the size, you won't notice it flying by!

Christmas Reading - "The Last Duel"

2005-12-31T12:46:00.000-02:00

I recieved this book as a suprise gift from our friend Pat, whom we visited over the holidays and I loved it! We had a great time with him, it was my first time meeting him and his companion cats, Hobbit, Critter and Kitten (glourious beasties all) though he is a long time friend of Pierre.

"The Last Duel: A True Story of Crime, Scandal, and Trial by Combat in Mediaeval France" by Eric Jager was great! I ate it up in about a day and a half. It tells the history of the last case of judicial trial by combat, a result of the scandal caused by the alleged rape of a noblewoman, wife of one of the combatants. I am used to reading things that are academic, even somewhat dry and still enjoying them, but this well-researched historical account was so suspenseful and exciting is was like reading a thriller. At the same time you learned a lot about mediaeval law and customs, armour, jousting, everyday life of the nobility, and much more. The writer is an academic, and this is apparently his first "popular" work (his other works are about Mediaeval literature, as he is an English prof), but I hope he will continue with writing for the non-academic crowd.

Since this was, to me at least, a completely unknown story (thought as the last judicial duel fought in France, it will be well known to history buffs, I'm sure) I was never sure how it would turn out, who would die, who would win, what would come next in the many twists the story took. This is pretty unusual for a factual historical account, and speaks to the quality of the writing and detail of the research. So, Thanks Pat for such a great gift!

Reading the details of jousting and armour reminded me of another great book, a long time favourite, that I often re-read, in whole or in part. "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White is a fabulously imagined re-telling of the Arthurian myth cycle, by another writer who immersed himself in his subject and researched exhaustively, but never let that dry out his writing. The copy I had had a quote which stated that the book brought to life the middle ages "...not as they were, but as they should have been" and I would have to agree. It also makes some very interesting philosophical/political points, as Merlin helps the young King Arthur understand the consequences of power by having him immersed himself in different types of animal societies, so he will learn how he best to rule his kingdom. "The Once and Future King" is actually the collection of several novels that follow each other, re-telling the arthurian story from Aruthurs conception to his fall.

Don't let this book pass you by, if you missed it as a child - it is one of those books that is great for all ages, and would be great for a long serial read-aloud to a child with the adult enjoying the process just as much. Happily, one of the side-effects of "Harry Potter mania" seems to be that adults are re-discovering that a well-written children's book is just as good as an adult book - some of us always knew that!

I'd love to hear any comments on either of these books, and I'm always looking for new reading selections, so don't be shy!

More Treats!

2005-12-20T15:53:00.000-02:00

Was ever a girl more spoiled!?

Pierre and I delayed our departure for a day and lucky me, this let me get a birthday suprise from my dearest, oldest friend Lynda in the mail! Included was news and a letter updating us on her family - I can't believe how fast her little girl Kiera is growing and how SMART she is! She can say the whole alphabet and count to 11! There are days that I can't do that, and I have about 29 years on her!

Lynda sent me the coolest thing - a Knitter's Amulet! This lets you insert the fluff of your choice into the pewter celtic style ball, so it would match any sweater or knitted item, potentially - though what is in it right now is so pretty it might stay for a while!

Also some lovely yarn from Lismore farms, - this is a local sheep farm that makes wool to sell, and they have a yearly "open farm" weekend that I must go to this year! This features sheep shearing and spinning demos, and I've wanted to see it since I heard of it. They even have Border collies to herd the sheep.

I can't believe how professional her packaging for the soaps looks! If she ever wants a career change she can quit the doctorin' and go into artisan quality soap! I will include pictures of the soap later, when I get a chance to set up the camera!

Finally I just wanted to share the fabulous cat picture that came on a christmas card we recieved - a kitty under the mistletoe!

Meowy

Christmas

Everyone!

Party Like It's My Birthday

2005-12-19T11:09:00.000-02:00

Though it was on December 16th...

Well, I just wanted to say a special thank you to all the kind friends and family who thought of me, wished me happy birthday and gave me lovely gifts! We had a family birthday party yesterday, and a little bit of early Christmas presents as Pierre and I will be in Quebec and away from my half of the family for this holiday.

And what a fabulous treat it all was (some of these are bday and some are xmas surprises)!

My sister surprised me (with her generosity even if I did know what the actual present was!) with a set of Denise needles!

Those of you who are in the know, will know that these are a special set of needles… uhm, think like a super-duper complete ratchet/wrench set, but for knitting needles.

Interlocking, interchangeable, and perfect for saving the budget conscious knitter on buying needle after needle!

I was so excited to see that even if I need to add to my set with spare needles or extra sizes I will still be paying about 1/3 of buying a whole new set of normal straight needles!

They work like a dream and I've already got 2 of my three on the go projets on them!

AND a membership in the Canadian Knitter’s Guild. If you don’t know and you care they have started (just this year I believe) a real “guild/apprentice” type program.

This means you can work through a series of things, mail them in, get critiqued and helped and get some real knitting street cred!

I can’t wait to get started. Canadian knitters, join up! See http://www.cgknitters.ca/

I also received from Meredith, a fabulous pair of grey knee-high socks with THE coolest black kitties – not cutes pootsey kitties, like black Halloween “Don’t cross me or I’ll hex you” stylized kitties. And a great book of short stories of Christmas cats from Clare, which will come in handy big time when I am away from MY kitty and missing him a lot!

Some lovely clothes, a nice beaded pullover, and a cardigans from my parents. The wool on the cardi is a wonder – it is all acrylic except about 10% kid mohair, yet my first reaction on touching it was “Wow! This must be a super-expensive all natural fibre!” I only wish I had some to knit with too!

From my granny I got some great socks and the cutest pair of knitted slippers that fit like a glove and look like little elfish shoes!

And, the sneaky Pierre surprised me with a plaque mounting of an ancient gig poster (signed, no less) from a Billy Bragg show that I went to way back in high school – I thought we threw it out, but no, he saved it and has had it hidden at work forever! It totally revived the sorry poster, and now looks great!

The Loop Craft Cafe in Halifax

2005-12-15T10:10:00.000-02:00

This is from an email I recieved from a person who is part of a joint venture to open a knit cafe in Halifax - can't wait to see how it all turns out!

"On October 1st we take over our space on Barrington St. downtown Halifax, and start transforming it into our knit cafe. It will be called "The Loop". We expect to open mid-November. We don't have a website yet, but we will, and will definitely have e-mail updates. I'll gladly add you to to list for sending out the web address when it's ready. And we love Knitty, it's very much aligned with the kind of mood & community we want to create. We are excited about the space we found (across from Loomis & Toles), we are convinced that this will become a happenin' spot! We are three co-owners, one of whom is a male knitter (my boyfriend Bill) and we intend to try to encourage more men to get involved too. It's great to hear from you and to know that there is a 'buzz' out there about the place ... please pass it on!"

Let's all support this venture and make it a success! I have paid a brief visit and the space is lovely and well-renovated. The yarns are the ultimate in luxury and most I've not seen in halifax before, just read about in mags like Vogue knitting - this means they are a bit beyond my budget, but it is great to see them "in person" as it were. The people were very friendly, and the workshops look intriguing and seem very reasonably priced. So if you live in the area go to the website, sign on to the mailing list and let's make it a success!

Go to The Loop

The website gives hours, location, products, a newsletter sign-up, and a handy calendar of upcoming workshops!

My great hope is that the intriguing "storefront display" highly visible window right on busy Barrington is going to suck lots of people in to see what is up and snag some new knitters in the process!

They also have alot of very very sexy handcrafted needles and other accesories that I drooled over!

GO GO GO!

Opinions Please?

2005-12-12T17:04:00.000-02:00

I have got quite a bit of the sweater body done, but now I'm thinking of starting over. I had an idea to make the sleeves more decorative, very simple, but something other than plain knit stitch. I like it so much, I decided I might try it with the body too. Which leads to one of the funny questions where I believe personality and knitting meet. Frogging.

How do you feel about it (if you are a non-knitter, an explanation - the term Frogging comes from the play on words," What do you do when you don't like the knitting? You rip it. Rip it = ribbit = frog noise = frogging). Personally I find it freeing and I like it. Unlike in life, you can take something ugly that you made a mistake on, rip it out, start all over and end with something even better. My mother reacts with horror at my willingness to rip out my work. To her, I think it makes her think of a lot of hard work wasted, and a project that was close to completion being far from started, all over again.

Me, I love the start of projects so that doesn't bother me. And I know what would bother me is to look at something I'd done and think "yeah, I could have done better on that, that isn't the best I could have done at the time." I know it won't be perfect and I don't care about that, but I'd like to do the best I can with what skill I have at the time. And I have learned so much from this attitude with knitting.

So, what I am thinking of doing is ripping out the body and putting a line or maybe two lines of garter stitch on the sweater. similar to the detail that I added to the sleeve, which you can see here.

I've included a sketch of the idea so you can see what I mean. And, I wonder about the back as well, should I put the stripe in that? I'd love to hear from any knitter and non-knitters, both about the idea of ripping out your work and what it means, and what you think of my modification for the sweater? Should I go for it?

In addition I'd encourage everyone to give this site a try and find out what your battle cry might be, shared with me from my friend Michelle... (Profanity is included if that bugs you)

http://chaz.bdmonkeys.net/battle.php

I'd love to hear your battlecries too.

...and she Reads Too

2005-12-09T23:02:00.000-02:00

Yes, it is true, I do read. Alot. Pierre will occasionaly watch me while I do and he says I look like Data (think rapid eye scans of page, not freakishly pale skin. Well, maybe freakishly pale skin too.) Someday I hope to be able to accomplish the feat that my great-grandmother is said to have mastered - knitting socks on double pointed needles (while not looking) and carelessly reading away at whatever she was into at the moment. Oh, to have this skill! Right now I'm only a tv-no-look knitter, but I figure it is a start. As for the speed and volume of my reading I can only thank my parents who indulged my obsession/addiction to books from a young age and encouraged reading by library trips and filling the house with books, and my lifelong need to learn new thigns. Thanks Mom and Dad! Inspired by my Secret pal, who let me on the fact that the first book mentioned "Fall of the Kings" existed, I will share with you a few current reads, and old favourites, hoping they inspire you to pick one up or give one to a loved one for the holidays!

The Fall of the Kings - Ellen Kushner and Delia Sherman
This is a great book, and it is fabulous to revist the world of the novel "Swordspoint" even if it is 60 years later (in the story world). Kind of a mix of the world of a historical novel and a fantasy novel. I have to thank my Secret pal for alerting me to the existence of this book. Kushner is sadly one of those fabulous but very non-prolific writers, so I had no idea she finally came out with another book. Apparently the new re-issue of "Swordspoint" contains a few short stories that fill in some of the time between the two novels, which I'd love to get my hands on, as well. The characters in the original novel, "Swordspoint" were so sexy, in such a seductive world, that it didn't matter if their sexual orientation was different than yours, you were falling in love with them anyway. And the sequel continues the trend. If you are homophobic beware, there is plenty of same-gender action in the book, and if this prevents you from a fabulous read, you are duely punished for your prejudice, so I won't say anything further.

Curse of the Narrows - Laura MacDonald

All about the Halifax Explosion, and all the freakish things that happened as a result. That is a lame review, but so far the book well written and the subject matter (in case you are not local or familar with it, this was the biggest man-made explosion until Hiroshima - but it was an accident!).

Due to my stupidly emotional nature I find myself frequently in tears while reading this book, probably because it hits so close to home, describing the utter destruction of areas of a city that I love. Also it is just filled with the heart-breakingly poignant human details of the aftermath of the explosion. Things like the lists of messages printed in the paper after the explosion of people looking for lost family members or worse still of unclaimed children too young to speak and give any information to their caretakers, whose families had presumably been completely decimated by the explosion.

Dead Reckoning: The New Science of Catching Killers - Michael Baden and Marion Roach

If you like the various CSI type shows then this will be a great read for you. Moreover, if you like great non-fiction writing you will find it here. The subject matter was what drew me to the book (I was interested in it before the CSI craze) but the writing was what really impressed me. A forensic pathologist goes through some of his most interesting cases and in the process exposes you to a whole new world of information. He also helps you to understand how one person deals with the aftermath of violent death day in and day out as part of a job, without going starkers. I was moved by his respectful, spiritual, yet scientific way of looking and and dealing with the dead. If I'm ever violently killed, I'd hope to have someone like this to speak for me. As a bonus to CSI fans, it will give you a serious leg up on understanding the clues to the mysteries they present. Certainly not for the faint of heart, but fascinating.

Fun with Rats and Knitting Needles

2005-12-08T13:36:00.000-02:00

There's a title to concern animal welfare advocates, but I assure you I have the best interests of my ratty little friends at heart!

I simply found a way to use some spare needles and a tube of fabric from an old t-shirt to make a new tunnel/hammock for my rats. With the needles to afix the edges of the fabric to the wire cage top, you get a nice cozy rat napping nest.

This has prove a very popular place to nap and hide, and they spend about half of their sleeping time in there. Of course, since it is attached to the roof of the cage, which lifts up, one has to be careful about "lifting the lid" when rats are on board!

They are really cute in here, sometimes sleeping end to end, sometimes front to back, and sometimes side by side.

Alot of the time however, the big one (Bear) just seems to pile on top of the little one (Baby) in a big squashy pile.

I have been knitting like a fiend, trying to get some progress done on Pierre's sweater. The space between the two grey wool knots is yesterday's progress. I had been quite impressed with this but now it seems a bit feeble. I will shoot for more today. This is the simplest of all knitting - don't even really have to look, so I'm watching alot of tv/dvd - yesterday, I started Angel season 2 again, and we watched "Hitch" with Will Smith. Pierre learned some new dance moves, like "The Q-tip" Watch for Pierre the RIpper at a venue near you soon...Today I have season 4 of "Sex in the City" or is it "and the city" I never know - I've never watched the show, but my sister liked it and it was at the library. I also am watching "Fight Club."

The sweater itself is fairly plain and boring, but I hope it will turn out nicely. The wool is lovely and quite warm. My design includes a striaght bottom - I don't like the "tight waist band, bunched over" style of sweater, and I don't htink it looks good on people. It has a garter stitch hem, and is stocking stitch throughout. I am thinking of doing something more interesting to the arms - maybe a cable up the side or a band of garter stitch? Would that look weird? Comments and suggestions welcome.

The design is based on the principles of Elizabeth Zimmerman, as told in the article on knitty.com "Knitting By Numbers" by Julie Theaker.

http://knitty.com/ISSUEwinter04/FEATknitbynumbers.html

The idea is basically if you can measure the person and measure your guage you can make a simple sweater pattern of your own using percentages. It sounds mathy but it isn't.

Until the sweater is complete, PIerre is forced to huddle beneath blankets with Ranger the Cat for warmth. Sad isn't it? Actually, I walked in on these two in this pose and thought it was hilarious that they looked so much the same.

Exciting Gifts from Secret Pal

2005-11-24T18:18:00.000-02:00

I just got a great package from my secret pal!

For those of you who don't know this is a sort of club run by people who read the fab online knitting magazine www.knitty.com. You are set up with a secret pal who you learn about through the website they make (a blog) and you send them periodic gifts and treats for a few months. Simultaneously someone is doing the same for you and thus you are getting special suprises from an unknown friend. It is alot of fun and you meet really interesting folks who share your knitting passion.

It totally brightened up a very grey day for me and my sidekick Ranger (the cat). It has been raining and blowing very hard, the end of a big windstorm. This means Ranger cannot go outside, because as we all know, rain is a sort of anti-cat kryptonite, and will melt cat flesh upon contact. This doesn't stop Ranger from running to the door and tripping me at every chance. Nor does it stop him from hissing at the rain when I open the door and show him that yes, it still is raining. Nor does it stop him from glaring at me and using his kitty mind-meld powers to try to make me change the weather. At any rate, on one these many door jaunts I found a lovely package waiting.

I opened it with great excitement and set up the contents to take a picture - check out the loot!

Included, some more of the fabulous knitpicks yarn in a merino wool, in a lace-weight. More and more incentive to get myself into lace (post xmas gift making projects! must not dabble yet! I telll myself repeatedly). And speaking of Xmas there are some lovely flaoty pointsetta candles, particularily appropriate as that is my bday flower (being a near xmas baby). Also a book mark and book plates and if you know me you know that book accessories are always appropriate for the reading fiend - as are books - and one was included "Knitting Lessons" a series of essays about knitting which looks great - I had seen it at the library and was tempted but now it is my very own!. Then some lovely spa-ish products, including a face cleanser (great as I'd been noting with some horror the flakies on my forehead - I know too much info!), a hand cream, and a mango body butter. All have been appreciatevely sniffed. Finally a lovely little needle case which when opened revealed LANTERN MOON NEEDLES! I believe this is my favourite of all as I love the various types of knitting implements and am a great student of "history of everyday life" type things - including historic needlecraft and other artifacts of women's work. I have, therefore always been curious about "horn" knitting needles and now I have a pair of my very own.

Ranger was highly unimpressed with the gifts however... He did not see why they were displayed on his chair, and why they were worthy of attention that should rightly be bestowed on hm. Therefore he promptly used a time-honoured cat zen technique of attention-re-directing. "Sit On Object Of Human's Attention" worked well, as you can see....

After the offending objects were moved from the chair, Ranger sniffed them and was disgusted to discover that the scents were all quite repulsive, including no catnip, female cat scent, or fishy cat food odours.

I however, was thrilled with all of it and just had to rush off to try the needles and the hand cream and fondle the yarn right away!

THANK YOU SECRET PAL! YOU ARE MY HAPPY DAY MAKER!

New Blog

2005-11-21T23:45:00.000-02:00

Since Moddblog doesn't seem to be recovering and I really liked keep a blog a I've switched to this site. I don't really know what I'm doing here, hence the screwy layout and ugly placement of pictures.

This is a picture of the toy I've made for a friend's little girl. It is a fluffy bunny that was alot of fun to make, and not very hard. The only problem was that this yarn was a bit thin for guage and hence the bunny was a bit "holey" which I remided by darning the holiest bits. Looking at these pictures it seems I might still do a bit of darning on the feet so the stuffing doesn't show through. I also made a dress for her. It looks awfully homemade, but it was my first toy (other than catnip mousies!)I hope the little girl will like her. The book she was made from was quite fun, and I plan to try a few more toys from it. "Knitted Toys" by Fiona McTague

I have also been working on dog sweaters – Particularily one for Rita – a teeny tiny miniature Jack Russell terrier. Here we are at the Helliewell's this summer.

I got this fabulous book from the library. They have lovely things, including matching pet person outfits (not as bad as it sounds - think Aran fisher knit dog sweater and matching fingerless gloves for person) a squeaky cat chew toy for "hours of vindictive fun". It is called “Knitting for Dogs” by Kristi Porter at the library. Rita is a great test subject because she is so small that the sweaters knit up fast – this one in about 2 hours watching tv! I had to use a stuffed dog toy to model this because it is just too small for Ranger the cat!

I have started another sweater from this book for a slightly bigger dog – this one is a cute turtle neck in a variegated yarn, which is much less ‘froofy” – it is for a boy dog. It involves steeking for the sleeves which I’ve not done and am somewhat afraid of but am game to try – hope it works out! Ths is a great book that I'd highly recomend!