Category Archives: Knitting

Today’s Completed Projects

Posted on by
Reply

I wrapped up a couple of projects today and it feels good to get things finished. No pressure, for sure, but good to finish none the less. Here’s my story about one – or at least it’s a partial story!

I’ve made a twelve inch square for a group gift that my group will be assembling for a special member. I’ll explain more after it’s been presented but here is my square …

"The Candle Tree"

I didn’t want to do just a plain square. Tried a couple of stitches that I was unfamiliar with and then found this one in one of my stitch books – Barbara G. Walker’s A Treasury of Knitting Patterns (if you want to buy a book of stitches, this is one of the ones to buy. Clear concise directions and a ton of different patterns. The only “problem” is that there are more than one treasury … so start your library!)

The pattern (on p. 290) is called “The Candle Tree” and it’s a panel of 35 stitches. I liked the idea of the candles as a memorial – I’ve explained my love of the Jewish tradition of Yarzeit candles before in my blog and that’s part of why I love the pattern. The tree is a symbol of family (think “family tree”) and strength (think “mighty oak”) and perhaps also a bit of the natural circle of life. and the tree as a symbol of family and strength. When I can tell you more about the gift that we’re giving, you’ll understand why this patch or square is significant!

I didn’t get the tree perfectly centered but it’s now blocked and ready to go to the assembly team (of one?) I am excited to see the end result – and if I do say so myself, it’s a really thoughtful gift – and see how its recipient likes it. I think she’ll be very touched.

I also did some baking today. Needed to attach my feet to the ground. I love this recipe which I found on the Internet … Levain Bakery’s Oatmeal Scones. I have been making this recipe for quite some time and my brother once said they were the best scones he’d ever eaten. I use a gluten-free flour and craisins in lieu of all-purpose flour and raisins. Today I even threw a few currants in because I didn’t have quite enough craisins. They are so delicious. You really should try them! And it’s easy to make scones – I mixed all the ingredients together and then added the diced butter and mix it all together with my hands until crumbly and then add the milk/cream/buttermilk and quickly mix it together with my mixer. Rather than mess up my counter, I use an ice cream scoop and have perfectly shaped, similarly sized scones that freeze really well … and we can warm up one or two each morning! I love Turbinado Sugar as a sweet and crunchy sprinkle on top! You could also make a little “frosting” with confectioners sugar and milk or orange juice and drizzle on top. Try it out!

Gone knitting (well, walking first and then knitting!)

Cabled Baby

Posted on by
Reply

The hats and booties are done and adorable … if this Queen Bee does says so herself!

The patterns were both found on Ravelry and the hat pattern was flawlessly written. The pattern is Heirloom Stitches’ Little Boy Blue Hat. It knits up a hat for a 12-24 month child. I think this is a great gift to give to a new baby … because people are apt to get teeny tiny clothes but not much for the baby when he or she gets a bit bigger.

The booties were a bit more difficult and had a couple of places where I had to go to work “fixing” the pattern. So, next time, when I have to make some booties, I’ll be writing my own pattern. The pattern, also from Ravelry, is called Seamless Cable Booties by Crumbgrubbers Knits. It’s a free download and I just noticed that there are comments that repair the “problems” – so, the problems were mine! LOL! I made one pair for a girl and one for a boy – if one can’t figure out which is which … well … ’nuff said!

Gone knitting!

 

Happy Easter!

Posted on by
Reply

Thanks to theRaineySister.com for this knitting peeps photo!

Happy Easter to all my readers and knitting Peeps! (LOL!)

I just read a blog about hot cross buns and I’m feeling like I want to bake some today – before our Easter feast. It’s been a lot of years but I made them for several years when my kids were younger and at home. Lately, I’ve been rekindling these traditions – does that mean that I’m coming back into my own? Recapturing that lost part of me? I think it does and it feels good.

Happy Easter, Happy Passover to my wonderful knitting peeps!

Gone knitting (after I bake!)!

 

 

 

Lost & Found

Posted on by
Reply

I lost my 40″ circular needle wire (with some points on it) and was having difficulty knitting the booties that I wanted to start. wanting to make I’m not sure I’ve ever made booties before and wasn’t sure how the process went … consequently, my super long cord was essential to the project. I searched my entire Atelier to no avail. But yesterday after my Michael’s knitting demo, I searched for a third time and voila! I found the needle! An Easter miracle the day before Easter?

I got the first bootie cast on and finished now. It’s cute. I’ve used a pattern that I found on Ravelry but I’ve changed it up a bit – as a knitter has a tendency to do. So, one little bootie is finished. Three to go! (And I have to make a couple of pompoms for the matching hats, too.)

Haven’t moved much on the first of three (or more) baby blankets but those aren’t “due” until summer. And I have all the days of driving north … it’s almost time again!

It’s a beautiful day here in Florida. Great Easter egg-hunt weather and I’m sure kids all over are having a joyous day. I have such fond memories of the egg hunts at our house when the kids were little (and not so little) and one failed hunt when I decided to fill the kids’ baskets and hide the baskets. That never happened again (though the baskets were a success!)

Gone knitting!

I’ve lost it!

Posted on by
Reply

I went looking for my 40″ circular needle “wire” yesterday. I need it so knit up a quick pair or two of baby booties with the magic loop method. I love that with the magic loop I don’t have oodles of pokey needles aimed at all times at my wrists!

Anyway, I can’t find it at all. I’ve searched my needle “organizers” (and they certainly must not work if one is lost!) and one of my two knitting bags. I know I had it when I was knitting all those bazillions of fingerless mitts around Christmas time … where it’s gone?

Gone … knitting when I find my needle! 🙂

Another Knitting Post? Reversible Cables Baby Blanket

Posted on by
Reply

Just to shock the hell out of you, here’s another post on knitting.

Cables are really not a difficult stitch. They may look intimidating but they’re really not difficult. There are only two stitches in knitting: knit and purl. (And dropped or added which are not official stitches and they’re not welcome in my knitting.)

Reversible Cables Pacific Heights Organic Baby Blanket

This blanket is a pattern that I found on Ravelry. I liked it for its simplicity and its cables! I love cables (must be my Irish heritage!) Blankets for babies should be washable and dry able because they’re going to be washed and dried a lot – and they’re meant to be used! This one is white … inconsistent with the mess that babies make but totally in line with their innocence. I love white baby blankets.

The yarn that I chose for this is “cheap-o” yarn from JoAnn Fabrics – Sensations Rainbow Classic. Described as “a classic brushed yarn, it’s a big ball and it should be enough for the whole blanket. (I hope!) it’s really soft and a little bit fuzzy like a mohair yarn (but acrylic). It’s a bulkier weight than the pattern called for so I’ve changed the number of stitches that I cast on and we’ll see how it goes. I also decided to use a larger needle and pulled out my Denises … in a size U.S. 11.

The pattern is called Pacific Heights Organic Baby Blanket created by Patty Thomas. It’s a simple pattern with Garter stitch with a lovely bunch of cables in the center. They are reversible cables which means that you can turn the blanket over and the cables look good on both sides. Very clever! And I really love that when I forgot the pattern when I went  into work the other day, that the repeat is simple enough that I could remember it! Yay!

I’m knitting this blanket for my sister Annie to give to a friend who is having a baby this summer. She’s actually asked for three blankets. Yikes! I’d best get busy …

Gone knitting!

Spud and Chloe Little Boy Blue Baby Hat – in progress

Posted on by
Reply

It must be time for a post about knitting! (Ya think!?)

Heirloom Stitches "Little Boy Blue Hat"

I’m making a baby hat for my sister to present as a baby gift for a friend (booties will be knitted to match). I bought a pattern and yarn in Cincinnati when I was there to be a back-up support for my kids. Who knew that I could love a yarn so much?

So, here are the details.

1. LYS – Fiberge in Montgomery, Ohio. Fiberge has changed hands and moved to a new location since I lived in Cincinnati. it’s still a nice little yarn shop, however. The selection of yarns is delicious – and I had a difficult time figuring out what I wanted to knit with. Always a good thing! I decided to be responsible and since I had just purchased a ball of really special novelty yarn here in Florida for me, I bought a pattern and yarn for one of my orders … which leads us to the pattern.

2. Pattern – Heirloom Stitches‘ Little Boy Blue Hat (you can find the pattern on Ravelry (Ravelry dot com) or on the designer’s site  … click here to be magically transported. It’s a really sweet classic Aran design with seed stitch (my favorite these days) and cables. Sized to fit a 12-24 month baby … always a good thing when you’re knitting for a new baby. They always get tons of tiny clothes and nothing to “save for later”. Anyway, I loved the pattern and it’s a breeze to knit! Pattern calls for US #7 needles and a yarn that Fiberge didn’t have but gauge is 5 sts = 1 inch. So, I picked …

3. Yarn – Oh. My. Goodness! I totally love the yarn that I chose to knit this hat! Spud & Chloe by Blue Sky Alpacas “Sweater Worsted” is a worsted weight superwash blend of 55% wool and 45% organic cotton. (They’re going to love that part in California!) Color is, again, that classic Aran ivory (color #7500 “Ice Cream” – love the name! – , lot # 0831). I simply love knitting with this yarn. It doesn’t split or pill and it’s so soft! The baby’s head will not be itchy at all and it’s knitting up to be so cute! I think I may be in love! 🙂

The hat takes a few hours to complete  – hey! I’m a purposeful knitter … each stitch is thoughtful and meditative. Therapeutic. Imbued with love and peace with wishes for health and happiness for the recipient.

I’ll post finished pictures later. But now, I’m gone knitting!

Knitting Certification – progress

Posted on by
Reply

I am a knitter!

In order to teach at Michael’s, I have to become certified to teach knitting with the CYC (Craft Yarn Council). I have been working on getting the swatches knitted for the first five lessons and I’m nearly there. One swatch (lace) to go and then the ends need to be woven in and they all need to be blocked. I’ll attempt to get this project done and in the mail this week.

OMG, that means today and tomorrow!

The certification is somewhat simpler than the requirements that I’ve experienced in the Knitting Masters Program through the Knitting Guild Association … which I will get back to working on as soon as I get some orders for knitted garments finished and sent. Orders from friends and family are keeping this Queen Bee’s fingers busy!

I’m grateful that my knitting can help them to give a hand-made gift to special friends!

Gone knitting!

Call Me “Teacher”

Posted on by
Reply

I haven’t written a lot about knitting in the last few posts. You must think I’m not knitting …

Well, I certainly am knitting but it’s been such an odd assortment of “oddities” that you may not believe it. I’ve finished a seed stitch bordered baby blanket and a newborn hat to match. I have finished a seed stitch dog jacket, as yet unnamed, to add to the Prima Dogma line by Queen Bee Knits. It turned out really cute, if I do say so myself! No pictures yet, sorry!

I’ve also been working on samples and demos at the Michaels store where I’ll be teaching knitting in April. I am not sure whether I misunderstood or if the store managers were unclear but, whatever, we’ll figure it out! I’ve got a calendar together for April and have sent out two emails to potential students who have been interested enough to give me their contact information. Signs will go up in the store next week when I get back from my trip to Chicago – in the yarn aisle. I’ll also have a few samples … I hope! I’ll be knitting them in Chicago with my own yarn. A couple of hats and a couple of fingerless mitts … and I’m hopeful that the classes will be attended!

I’ve knitted one uterus for the “government free v-jj” project headed by Annie Modesitt and another of her friends. I’m getting political? Who knew? But it’s fun to have an opinion and take the risk of sending a knitted female body part to a couple of Florida politicians. One as a thank you and one as a “hands off my uterus!”. 🙂

I’m also knitting swatches for my certification. I’d love to get them all finished and sent off by the end of the month. Not sure it will happen but it’s a goal to head toward.

All in all, life is good and I am feeling lighter and more hopeful. It’s nice to have a job to come home to after our summer vacation. Time to get some Queen Bee Knits patterns ready for test knitting (look out Ravelry! and Knit or Knot!) and to get some pieces knitted up for my shop.

Gone knitting … well, at least I’ll be dreaming about knitting!

It’s a BLUE ribbon day!

Posted on by
Reply

Two Ribbons - Central Florida Fair Creative Arts

I am not sure I’ve shared with you that I’m 53 (and a half). But I am, and frankly, I’m proud that I look younger than my 53+ years. Every gray hair and wrinkle has been fairly earned raising three kids and living an honest life. Today is a special day for me. I picked up my two entries into the Central Florida Fair … and my first ribbons. I don’t think I’ve ever won a ribbon before … I was not much of an athlete and I don’t really like competition of any sort. So, winning my first ribbons at my age is quite a thrill!

It’s a blue ribbon day for this ribbon-winning girl! Yay, me!

Gone knitting!