Queen Bee Knits

Knitting, Living, Loving, Baking, Tips, Tools and Idle Chatter

And they’re D. O. N. E.!

Posted on November 10, 2013 by Queen Bee Knits

Three projects hit the finished projects file today. It feels good.

My daughter in Chicago asked me to make her a cowl in a dark gray, chunky yarn. I found her a lovely gray bulky merino and alpaca blend (Knit Picks Cadena) in the Kestrel colorway. The pattern wants three skeins of yarn and knits up really quickly. Of course, it’s bulky yarn! I think she’s going to love it. And it didn’t break the bank. The pattern, free on Ravelry, is the GAP-tastic Cowl. Knitting it is super simple and no seams. You cast on a bazillion stitches but it’s a short knit! It can be worn singly or wrapped double. A fun cowl – and one that I was honored to knit at her request. (She’d seen a bulky cowl in a store and thought that since it’s my business, knitting, she’d ask me to make her one!)

Gaptastic Cowl in Knit Picks Cadena, Kestrel

The seed stitch fabric is just lovely … and it feels nice and soft with the addition of the alpaca fiber.

Next, I finished her headband.

The pattern that I used was a cabled headband, “Green Forest”. I love the seed stitch (matches the GAP-tastic cowl) and the cables. I normally would make a cabled pattern with plain yarn as the alpaca sort of softens or makes the pattern less visible but I wanted to use this yarn! So, I did. And I’m pleased at the success. I think she’s going to love wearing the headband in Chicago this fall and winter! OK, maybe fall. I added a second button hole so that she can tighten up the headband if the alpaca yarn stretches a little bit. And I made her headband 32 repeats of the 4-row pattern. I think I will have to make another one for my sister-in-law in Massachusetts.

Green Forest cabled headband

Last, but not least, is the sample dish cloth that I made to teach a new bunch of knitters at work. Or at least my boss! She wants to learn to knit because she wants to knit dishcloths! I think it will be a riot and a half teaching my wonderful boss. And an added bonus will be if any of the other staff choose to join us! It has also given me a great idea for Christmas gifts for my co-workers! But, suffice it to say, it’s a secret for now!

Basic (easy) Dish Cloth

I know I haven’t been blogging much since I started working and I haven’t really been knitting that much either. Life has taken on a different turn for now and I am quite satisfied by the way it’s going. I love my job and the people that I am working with. It’s already November! A couple of weeks and we have a long weekend for Thanksgiving and then before we know it, we’ll have several weeks off for Christmas! Before we know it, I’ll be heading back to Maine for the summer.

I’d rather be knitting … in Maine any day! Can’t wait to be on my summer porch!

Gone knitting!

Great Class & Frustrating WIPs

Posted on October 19, 2013 by Queen Bee Knits

I feel badly that I am not knitting and blogging more but my days are quite full with my “new” job and life after work. So, the blogging and knitting have taken a back seat for now.

I had a great sock class at The Black Sheep this morning. Five students took on the “Lesser Evil” socks pattern, learning the Magic Loop technique and a Turkish cast on at the toe. Two of the five left class with two toes all ready for knitting the foot. The other three were also well on their way to success with this pattern. I do love teaching knitting and I love sharing new ideas and ways of thinking about knitting with people. It’s supposed to be fun, too!

Noro Shawl

My knitting projects (WIP=work in progress), however, are far from satisfying. I have decided to frog the Noro shawl and use that beautiful Noro yarn to knit up a Bermuda shawl. I am not thrilled with the pattern from the Noro magazine after all and would rather have a light colored, colorful shawl/scarf that I love. So, I’ll be frogging later today.

I have all the pieces knitted for the French Press Knits Felted Slippers. And when I use all my seaming experience it still looks awful. I know, intuitively, that the felting will make all sorts of flaws disappear. But, for goodness sake, it shouldn’t be such a battle. For today, I’ve set the pieces and the pattern aside and I’m going to tackle it again another day.

I am waiting for yarn to come from Knit Picks (duh! I somehow sent the yarn to the house in Maine instead of the house in Florida where we actually live most of the time … and where we are now!) Fortunately, I caught it and Knit Picks has re-routed the yarn to Florida (think it was Freudian?) I am looking forward to making the Gaptastic Cowl for my daughter in Chicago.

I have signed up for the 30-day Sweater Challenge. Not sure how I really feel about the project considering my time constraints BUT I may have a look and see what I can come up with.

And lastly, I have the fingerless gloves, Composed Mitts, that I found on Facebook and happened to have the pattern in a 2007 issue of Interweave Knits. The yarn is beautiful and if I could decide that I like the bobbles on the cuff edge of the mitts, we’d be in good shape. I have already tried starting the pattern twice: once knitting the pattern as written and once knitting the pattern using Annie Modesitt’s bobbles. I didn’t really like either one. Perhaps a picot cuff edge?

I have N’s slippers to be felted, too … since mine are being set aside, perhaps I should go ahead and felt his rather than waiting for mine. Or maybe not. 🙂

Gone knitting.

Deady Bear

Posted on October 5, 2013 by Queen Bee Knits

This summer my friend Beverly gave me the yarn and pattern to make a Deady Bear for her son-in-law. Sure, I said! I can knit it for you … and I finished it today. Yay, me!

The pattern is really quite simple to follow. It’s in the book Son of Stitch ‘n’ Bitch by Debbie Stoller. The pattern is by Arwyn Yarwood-Hoeppner. I had all the yarn in the colors as described in the pattern. If there is one comment about the yarn, I would say that it is somewhat “splitty” but very adequate. I had way too much yarn. I wondered on more than one occasion if I was supposed to knit with the yarn doubled throughout the pattern. But there is no mention of doing so. So, on I went with a single strand.

I only had a few anxious seconds on the muzzle of my bear where it appears that there is no Row 15. Not sure if it was mis-numbered or if I totally missed something. Either could be true! Regardless, I decided to just knit on and finish the sucker … and I did. All day today to “get ‘er done”! Photographed and now I just have to pack it up and send it to Maine where I hope it will be loved and cherished.

Overall, the pattern is very clear and easy to follow. A good beginner project for someone who wants to try to knit something other than scarves or hats. The pieces are knit mostly flat and then seamed. I am not a huge fan of seaming but it was easy to zip up the seams on this little guy (or gal?)

I love the fact that the bee won this time!

The bee … needs eyes. Just sayin’.

Gone knitting!

What’s on the Queen Bee’s Needles

Posted on October 1, 2013 by Queen Bee Knits

So, I have a few projects that I’m working on. One that I am putting aside for a bit …

Deady Bear – pudgy little belly!

I have the Deady Bear who just needs some arms and finishing work. I bought the new bag of fiber fill this past weekend and I’m ready to rock and roll and get him finished up and mailed to Maine.

Rita Scarf

Rita’s scarf is getting longer and longer. I am loving the feather and fan pattern with the variegate blue yarn. I think it will be a lovely and well-recieved gift … I sure do love the recipient! She gave me my big brother. The least I can do for her is to make her a pretty scarf!

Noro Shawl

I’m also working on a triangle shawl which I believe will be worn as a scarf in a cold(er) city that the one in which I live! I am making this in a Noro sock yarn (fingering weight) that I am absolutely loving knitting with. The colorway is a.m.a.z.i.n.g!!! It’s going to be beautiful and I am going to want to keep it!

Fingerless Mitts – colorwork is my nemesis?

The fingerless mitts that I have started and frogged once already are staying in my new knitting bag for the week. Well, I think it will be in my bag for a week … unless I change my mind!

I have to check out a Dr. Who scarf … may be another gift for the holidays. We’ll see what kind of time and yarn that takes! 🙂

Gone knitting!

Deady Bear Progress!

Posted on September 24, 2013 by Queen Bee Knits

Un-stuffed

I’m making this crazy bear for a friend. I’ve knitted an owl before and I love it. This, I’m not sure about yet. There have been several “softies” that I have been tempted to knit (and this one is not necessarily on the list!)

The pattern is “Deady Bear” by Arwyn Yarwood-Hoeppner is in the book Son of Stitch ‘n’ Bitch: 45 projects to knit and crochet for men. While it requires a bunch of yarn colors, the yarn is not super expensive. I’m knitting with the Nature Spun Sportweight yarn by Brown Sheep in the colors that were listed in the pattern. You could knit this bear in any sport-weight yarn, however, and in any colors that please your eyes.

I’m enjoying the process (as I do with almost all projects) and now that he’s stuffed and starting to take shape, it’s even more fun – partly because I’m almost finished and partly because, once again, I’ve tried something that I wouldn’t normally have tried and I can do it! Yay me!

Stuffed

Gone knitting.

Foiled … or Frogged Again!

Posted on September 15, 2013 by Queen Bee Knits

One side in process … double strand worsted weight yarn on size 6 US needles!

This summer I started knitting the most wonderful bag. My Friday Knitting teacher had one that I absolutely loved and, of course, I needed one, too! So, I bought the yarn they suggested and started knitting.

The pattern is called the “Just So Bag” by Andrea Babb and calls for Rowan Pure Wool Aran (Superwash). It was suggested to me that we could use Lambs Pride Worsted in its place. I wish I had been thinking about that – because the mohair in the Lambs Pride yarn makes it fuzzy. Duh! (And the worsted is a little bit heavier weight than the aran.)

The first parts to be knitted are knit with double strands of worsted weight wool. On fairly small needles. Hard on your hands! But I got them all done. And they look good!

But the lace ends of the bag (one needs to knit two) … another story all together! Ugh!

The lace end … 2nd or 3rd attempt! See the fuzz?

Today I frogged the lace end (I’ve only started one … and started and started again) for the third or fourth time. Ugh! I really need a bigger chart and I really need less fuzzy yarn. When you’re knitting lace (even if it’s worsted weight yarn) it really needs to be smooth so that the stitches are visible. These are somewhat blurred (and I helped by dropping a stitch that I could not recover.) Because of the mohair blended in, it’s very difficult to read my stitches and makes repairing a dropped stitch, or any other mistake (yes, I do make mistakes!) much more complicated than if it were plain wool. (Which is why the pattern calls for wool, BTW, and not a wool blend.)

So, I will start again but not until I have knitted something cute that I want to knit … something relatively simple. Maybe the cute pair of striped fingerless mitts that I’ve been seeing. Or the felted slippers (I only bought the pattern ages ago!) Or the little sweater for Faye for Christmas. Or the headband for Libet. So many choices that I may have to just go have an adult beverage and a swim and call it a day! Tomorrow is Monday after all and I am back to work! This job has sure cut into my knitting time! 🙂

Gone …. well, maybe I’ll be knitting.

Always On My Mind … a gift for Rita

Posted on September 14, 2013 by Queen Bee Knits

“Misty Garden” by Jo Sharp from the book Scarf Style

I have posted about my “new” big brother before in my blogging. The wonderful cousin who shared the fact of his existence is getter older and lives in New York City where it gets mighty cold. The last time we were in the city for my daughter’s engagement party, I saw a lady on the subway with a hat and scarf on and I thought about Rita.

Yesterday I cast on a project that will be a gift for Rita. A scarf and probably a hat, too. I am knitting the scarf from a beautiful (Reynolds Odyssey 100% Merino Wool) yarn in shades of blue. I have four skeins (415+ yards) of this great yarn for the scarf. The hat will have to be in a coordinating yarn. Maybe I’ll make some gloves or mittens too. I just want her to know how much I love her.

The pattern that I am using is from the book Scarf Style by Pam Allen. And is called “Misty Garden” by Jo Sharp. It was meant to be for a mohair blend yarn (thus the “misty” part) but my merino is knitting up really well … and the colors will compliment Rita’s blue eyes!

It’s a feather and fan pattern, basically and it’s easy to remember so I don’t have to carry the book with me. Makes my project much more portable! And I hope it will tell Rita just how special she is to our family and that she’s always in my thoughts.

Gone knitting!

I’ll have photos as this new project progresses.

For now, though, I’ve … gone knitting!

Finishing Projects

Posted on August 17, 2013 by Queen Bee Knits

Today I can proudly say that I survived my first week as a Clinic Assistant. It wasn’t without bumps and bruises but I escaped mostly unscathed.

This weekend is a little bit bittersweet since I say goodbye to my guy on Monday for a week – he’s spending a week with the guys in North Carolina – and I have decided that I need to concentrate on finishing those projects that I’ve been carrying around for ages … well, at least one has been carried around for ages.

DROPPS Tunic … ready to travel

My DROPS Design tunic is the first on my list. I’ve taken it to my knitting guild meeting and to my knitting group this week. I have an inch or so of 1×1 ribbing (on size 1 needles) to go before I reach the straps … and then I “just have to seam it”! Since it’s been so blasted hot here in Florida this August, I’ll be excited to have it finished and be able to wear it!

Hair Elastics holding my stitches on the DPNs

The beaded scarf is ready to be grafted together. The construction is unique to me in that it is knitted from the bottom up in two pieces (with the beading being on the bottom or at the beginning of each piece.) Now, both pieces are a bit longer than the 27 inches that is suggested in the pattern so that (I hope) it can be wrapped double around my neck and the beaded edges pulled through the loop. We’ll see when it’s grafted. I haven’t ever grafted a 2×2 rib before so this will be a new adventure for me. I found a YouTube video that was a very *very* brief explanation of how to do this and I’ll be writing about my experience after I’m successful!

I have my bag with the lace end panels, too, to finish. They’ve really taken a back seat in my knitting bag. Mostly because I have to start working on the lace in relative seclusion. So, next week, when I’m alone at night after work, I will be working on the lace panels. I’ve already knitted and frogged the first panel several times. Maybe the fifth or sixth time will be the charm.

Felted Scuffs ready to be Felted Today!

Last, but not least, I have to felt the scuffs that I knitted in Maine this summer for N. Just a bit of hot water in the washer and I’ll be good to get that done this afternoon. Maybe after his daughter, R, washes her couch slip cover … I hear it needs it! 🙂

Gone knitting!

Learning Something New

Posted on August 10, 2013 by Queen Bee Knits

This week I started a new job with a day of training and then “bam!” I hit the ground running. I am the Clinic Assistant at my local elementary school … what used to be the school nurse but public school budgets don’t have the budget to pay an RN so they train us to do the job under their supervision.

So, I’m learning a lot of new things. How to take in and administer medications for students in my school. How to deal with angry parents who didn’t educate themselves. How to follow new procedures. How to deal with “politics” in the office and how to create healthy boundaries so that we all do our jobs in a cooperative, collaborative and happy environment.

Today I taught myself something else new. I learned to crochet!

I learned it by watching this most excellent tutorial on Youtube! It’s provided from All Free Crochet (dot) com and Nastazia … check them out (since I can’t teach crochet just yet!)

My first attempt was nowhere near a square shape. The sides were all sorts of wonky.

First Attempt

It was supposed to be a washcloth or dishcloth but I didn’t have the proper size of crochet hook. My hook was somewhat smaller and so was my swatch … so we’ll call it a coaster! 🙂 I also used cotton rather than acrylic (because if my dishcloth had been dishcloth size, I would certainly not have wanted it to be acrylic … acrylic doesn’t really absorb! Anyway, my first attempt (which isn’t well photographed) looks much better here than it turned out. It was the most oddly shaped piece of work EVER! So, I frogged it and started again.

I’m super pleased with my second attempt!

Second Attempt

My second swatch is a real square and it has fairly decent tension. Tah! Dah!

I guess I am going to have to take a trip to Joann’s now to buy some larger metal crochet hooks so I can keep learning … it is a lot quicker than knitting and some of the new patterns that I have been seeing (in crochet) are so cute. I have been threatening to learn for so long. It’s about time I finally just did it!

And now I am feeling proud!

I can crochet … the Queen Bee Knits and Crochets, too!

Gone shopping!

The Most Wonderful Colorways

Posted on July 17, 2013 by Queen Bee Knits

OK, so I am knitting another couple of squares for our “charity” project, a Lizard Ridge Afghan for Linda in our Friday knitting group. I’m knitting two more because I knit more quickly than Beverly does. Hmm. I’m thinking that she wanted me to knit them because she didn’t enjoy it! Right, Bev? LOL. Well, I have to admit that I do enjoy it and can get one finished in a couple of hours. An enjoyable quick project. And the yarn …

I adore the Noro colorways. I picked one ball for my original square that showed me that it was going to have greens and pinks (very 70’s preppy) and it knitted up into this …

Noro Kureyon
Color #95, Lot U

It’s gorgeous!

Today I’m knitting my second square and it’s knitting up like this …

Noro Kureyon
Color # 250 Lot F

And I have this one left to knit.

Noro Kureyon
Color # 284 Lot B

I wonder how it will knit up! It’s always a bit of a surprise!

It’s a pleasure to knit with this yarn and a wonder to watch as one more color or a different shade slips out of the ball. It may feel scratchy (it is wool) but in my experience it softens up as it’s worked. And the colors. Oh, the colors … they are exquisite. Thank you, Mr. Noro!

Gone knitting.