Category Archives: Knitting

Home?

Posted on by

Back in the land of heat and humidity and the yard weeds are taller than the plants that we dug holes for. Go figure! At least the pots in the front yard aren’t dead and my (now) puny “jazz hands” palm tree is still alive and growing after a near death experience.

I’ve had a fun day today and am going to continue having fun when my girlfriend comes for dinner but I thought I’d take a few minutes to show you what I’ve been working on while I wasn’t blogging … it’s not “much” but it’s work, none the less!

I’ve finished the coveted “Turkish Bed Socks” (find the pattern HERE at Churchmouse Yarns and Teas) and it just reinforced to me how much I love knitting with Koigu wool. It’s simply wonderful to knit with … if you try it on my recommendation and don’t love the way the yarn feels and knits, let me know and I will buy the yarn from you. The colorways are endless, too … you’re bound to love at least one (hundred) colors! The construction was interesting and I only got a bit confused once … and when I stopped reading ahead, I was fine. They’re cute and I’ll be they’re super to wear with my clogs in the winter.

I have made two more pairs of fingerless “Gauntlets”. One is in a gray alpaca DK weight yarn from Village Farm Alpacas in Waldoboro, Maine. The yarn is absolutely the softest and it was good to knit with … nearly as good as the Koigu, just not quite.

The second pair is almost finished. These were knit with a wool and silk blend from Plymouth Yarn Company called Mulberry Merino in a dark emerald green colorway (color 686, Lot 531). The yarn is so soft and the fingerless mitten pattern is wonderful. The yarn is spun loosely and it’s not as much fun to knit with because it splits on the needles and then gets stuck which is annoying! These will either go up on my Etsy site or be given away when I reach 100 “likes” on the Queen Bee Knits facebook page.

My vest in coming along. I’ve finished the back and have started working up one side of the front but I have to be honest, I haven’t really done much knitting. The last few days I was playing with my “old” friends from college at Virginia Beach and there was no time for knitting … I was out riding the waves (body surfing) for over an hour on Saturday. I’m sunburned and getting that “I’m going to peel” itch but it was worth it.

So, now I’m home and I have an order for a baby hat for one of my former au pairs. She’s adopting a little Latino boy from Illinois in October. She’ll be present at the baby’s birth if she has enough time to get from her house to Chicago area in time. How exciting is that? So, I’m off to find some cute patterns for the baby hat and then will hit the shops in person and/or online for yarn. Any suggestions?

Gone knitting … or pattern hunting!

 

On Summer

Posted on by

Firefly!

The first thing I think about when I think about summer is fireflies (second only to honeysuckle and other flowers and the call of loons and swimming and …)

I remember collecting them when I was a child and then passing on my love of these brilliant bugs to my children. We’d get a great big glass or plastic jar and punch lots of holes in the lid for air. They’d fill the bottom with grass and sticks and leaves and then the fun really begins – collecting the bugs and watching them light up. Running around outside in the dark (without the fear of stepping in dog poop) and the squeals of glee when, “I caught one!” was called. It was always such fun to watch their little faces peering into their jar watching the bugs light. They (and we) would have been outside all night – or at least until all the bugs were caught or asleep!

When I was a kid, I always wanted to take them to my room and keep them for a night light … and in the morning they were all dead (or nearly dead) and I’d release them anyway. (Because we all know that miracles happen.) I don’t remember my kids taking them inside to die. I think we were more concerned with teaching them to respect all living things and that the reality is that they’ll die in captivity. Real world, heartbreaking reality. But it helped my kids turn into compassionate human beings.

Lightning bugs still are harbingers of summer in my mind and there’s nothing better than a lovely summer night when the fireflies are out and I remember the wonderful days when my children were little and passing on the traditions of collecting fireflies. Gotta love summer!!!

Loom Dude's Knitted Firefly

Here’s a compatriot’s pattern for knitting fireflies! What a wonderful idea, Loom Dude! Click HERE to flit over to the Loom Dude’s blog to collect the pattern!

Enjoy what’s left of your summer!

Gone knitting!

Finished

Posted on by

I’ve finished the Noni tote bag. F-I-N-I-S-H-E-D!

With the Pattern

It’s finished! Done! Off the needles and waiting to be felted (and lined and handled…). Woo! Hoo! And just in the nick of time so I don’t have to part from it for ten days with several rows left undone. I just love it when the projects are completed – especially when they come out so well!

I am really excited to see it felted. It’ll have to wait a few days, though because I’m still on the road toward home.

What a fun project … despite a few challenges (like being able to count) … and I am thrilled with the way it has turned out. I really like the color choices (although I have to admit that I’ve thought it would look great reversed, too) and I am glad that I made the main color gray. The acid green/yellow is a good accent and the pattern pops! Yippee!

On the needles:

One down, one to go!

Alpaca fingerless mittens found on Ravelry … Basketweave Gauntlet by Isabeau Knits. This is a pretty simple pattern to follow. The first pair I made were finished in a day-ish and I loved them (as did their recipient). This pair is also a gift … and I think they’re going to be beautiful … and warm!

Sending the two socks on one needle home with N. His dog got into them today. He’s old and has Cushings Disease and fortunately there was no major harm done. I was stuck anyway … need some help figuring out how to turn the heel despite having looked it up on the Internet. Thought I had it but not so much! LOL!

My cotton vest is growing exponentially. I love it and I think it will be something that I’ll

Two inches to go on the back ...

live in come fall and winter … well, at least when we’re in Florida. It may not be warm enough for Maine.

Have purple yarn to make some more baby hats for Click for Babies Period of Purple Crying project. I’ve donated one so far and want to do a couple more. I will be donating mine in Maine.

Too late to knit more tonight but I’ll be back at it tomorrow … pictures are coming!

Gone … to bed to read!

 

 

On The Road Again

Posted on by
Reply

We’ve had to move out of our Maine house for the month of August which is N’s half-sister’s month. So, we’re on the road again … with our three crazy dogs.

First stop Ipswich, MA. If you’ve never eaten at the Clam Box, you’re missing the best whole-belly fried clams in the whole world! We’ve been there before and have never seen the place without a line out the door. We’re staying with our camp friend from forever ago, Bob … good company and a good friend!

Meanwhile, my Noni bag is mere single-digit rows away from completion! I’m really excited about this one because I’ve never done colorwork and I’m eager to see the finished project off the needles where I can really see the pattern. I got the handles delivered just before my birthday so I’m ready to put it all together when I get back to Orlando.

I’m doing my level best to work on it for a couple hours a day and get it all done before I’m dropped in Atlanta.

Two socks on one needle are frozen and in limbo. Who knew that when you got to turning the heel it wasn’t as easy to figure out. The needles only go one way and you can’t really skip over un-knit stitches to turn the heel as needed. God bless the Internet, though. I found a couple of sites with hints as to how to accomplish this feat … I’ll let you know how it works. BUT it seems that I have to turn one heel, pick up the gusset stitches and then do the second heel. I’ll try it … manana (in other, English, words … tomorrow!)

Gone knitting!

Hot! Hot! Hot!

Posted on by
Reply

My goodness! It’s not often that we’re really hot in Maine (much more normal in Florida) but whew, today is a stinker!

A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte – Seurat

I got a lot accomplished today, though not a whole ton of knitting because I keep getting sidetracked by a puzzle on the dining room table. I have a thing about puzzles and I have trouble leaving them without putting in just one more piece! All kidding aside, I really do like puzzles and this one is a great French art … George Seurat’s pointillist piece.


My vest is coming along. I admit that I knitted an entire right side row (which should have been the pattern stitch.) I had to frog the entire row – way too much to “repair”. But I’m making progress. Checked the gauge again today and I’m “on the money” so I’m hoping it will fit, too! (That’s always good when you’re knitting a garment … fit, that is!)

Week two of my Human Biology online class is done. I took the quiz today and did OK. It’s a real struggle for me to take a class and memorize information that has no logical application to my life. I know, I know, I’m human and thus it could be interesting – and it is on one level but also way more information than I think I’ll ever use in my next profession. Why it’s required in order to enter the MSW program, I’m not sure. When they admit me, I guess I’ll find out! 🙂

Well, eight minutes are left for my ebay auction … sure do hope I win! I have a very special person that I want to send it to … I love him/her a ton! 🙂

Off I go to watch the last few minutes … refresh buttons are wonderful!

Gone shopping!

Clicking for Babies …

Posted on by
Reply

My Purple Hat for Maine Babies

I’m clicking for babies today.

At my Wednesday night knitting group/class, Betty shared this community service project with us and I decided to participate because I can empathize with tired, stressed new parents who have a baby that won’t quit screaming!

I’ve often shared my story about one particular night when I was a new mother and my daughter woke up in the middle of the night (as newborns do!) and I changed her, nursed her, put her back to bed and she would not sleep. She just screamed. I tried everything that I knew to do – changed her again, nursed her again, rocked her … although by that time I was so stressed, I’m sure she sensed it in me. And then she pooped and it dripped out of her diaper, down my nightgown, down my leg, on the rocking chair cushion and onto the carpeted floor. Yup! I lost it … and thank God her father was snoring in the other room and I could yell for him and he came to take over so I could get cleaned up or I may have jettisoned her out the second story window like a football!

I was never told about a period of purple crying as a natural developmental stage of all infants. Here’s some information for new parents (or grandparents) that shares what this is all about …

Click here to watch a video by child crying expert, Dr. Ronald Barr.

So, today I’m knitting a purple hat. In Maine, as I understand it, the hats will be distributed to all parents of newborns in November (?) and will be accompanied by literature about babies’ purple crying (purple is an acronym and stands for something!)

Click on the link at the top of this post, share the site with knitting or crocheting friends and join me in clicking for babies! I’m even giving you my free pattern! There is another pattern (also free) on the clickforbabies.org website!

Gone knitting!

Finished! (I added an I chord "loop")

Purple for Crying Baby Hat

Size 6 and 8 knitting needles
1 stitch marker
purple yarn in a DK or light worsted weight
With smaller needles, cast on 61 stitches
K2, P2 across the first row ending with a K stitch
P1, and then K2, P2 to the end of row
Repeat these two rows for three inches
Change to larger needles and on wrong side, knit across the row
Continue in stockinette stitch (knit one row, purl one row) for three inches more (hat measures six inches from cast on edge… if you’d like to knit stripes, go wild! The only requirement is that the hat must be more than 50% purple.)
Begin decreases:
[K2tog, knit 11 stitches, sl1, K1, psso, place marker] 4 times, K1
next row – purl all stitches
[K2tog, knit to 2 sts before marker, sl1, K1, psso] 4 times, K1
purl 1 row
repeat the last two rows until there are 13 sts left on the needle
break a long piece of yarn, with a needle pull yarn through all stitches remaining and sew the seam – make sure to switch to the other side half way down the ribbed (cuff) section.
Weave in ends.

Now THIS is More Like It!

Posted on by
2

Yesterday was a hot one. Plain and simple. When it’s that hot, it’s best to leave me alone … it was too hot to bake, too hot to knit, too hot to sit with my laptop on my lap, too hot to hug. The only thing I managed to do yesterday was to get a load of sheets washed (and dried) and read a chapter for my Human Bio class.

Just a few days ago ...

... and today!

I’m already into today and have accomplished several rows on my Noni bag, have a load of wash going in the machine, and am into Chapter 5! It’s warm in my summer office today and I have to admit to some perspiration, but the strains of music are floating over the lake from the Music Camp and I am feeling much better and more productive.

 

 

One of the things that I am marveling about today are the wonderful banana blueberry muffins I baked last week. I made a double batch because I had six bananas that were too ripe to eat. Now, I love the recipe that I’ve been using for years, but for some reason, with my new gluten-free flours, the muffins (and breads) have been a little bit different consistency. This time, however, it was amazingly light. Could it have been because when I read baking powder (and added it to the mix) and then saw that it was really baking soda (and added it to the mix) that I added the right balance of ingredients to change the outcome just that little bit? Well, I guess I have to wait until the bananas are too ripe again – as they always are! Or, I could try some other muffins … we’ll see how today pans out.

Banana Blueberry Muffins

1 cup sugar
½ cup butter
3 ripe bananas
2 eggs
2 cups sifted flour (or 2 cups gluten-free baking mix plus 1 teaspoon xanthum gum)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup fresh or frozen (Maine) blueberries (you can buy them from another state but they won’t be as tiny and sweet!)

Cream together sugar and butter. Add bananas and eggs; beat well. Sift together flour, baking soda and salt; add to batter. Mix just until blended, fold in blueberries by hand. I usually sprinkle the tops with raw sugar or cinnamon sugar. Pour into a greased loaf pan (or muffin tin) and bake in a preheated 350° oven for 1 hour (15-20 minutes for muffins). Test for doneness when a toothpick inserted at thickest part comes out clean. Yield: 1 loaf (or 1 dozen muffins)

Another thing I’m marveling about today are my feet. Yes, I know that sounds strange. But I’ve been diagnosed with plantar faciitis (and inflammation of the muscles under the feet that connect the ball of the foot and the heel) and I’ve been struggling to find the right “fix” to make my feet stop hurting. I’ve tried insoles, new shoes with better foot support (and higher prices) two doctors, cortisone shots in both heels, $350 custom orthotics, Birkenstocks with two different foot beds. None of them have helped my feet. (The custom orthotics are the biggest “hurt” to my purse and they will be going back to the doctor!) Anyway, I think I have found a solution that works for me… Teva sandals.

Yes, my toenails are blue!

These sandals ($59.99 here in Maine but they’re also on the Internet) have a most wonderful “anatomic” foot bed and great arch support and I’ve been wearing them for a couple of weeks exclusively. Yesterday, I was able to go barefoot around the house for a couple of hours which I’ve not been able to do in (probably) two years. That’s what I call progress. So, back to the store we’re going today to get at least one other pair. Woo hoo!

So, just for today, my feet are happy, my sweetie’s happy (he’s currently about 50 feet up in the oak tree in the yard) and my dogs are happy because they can lie inside or outside without being too hot.

And bonus – tonight I am going to my knitting class … life is good!

Halcyon Yarn … My Vest is on the Needles

Posted on by
Reply

This vest is on my needles! (In a different colorway because they were sold out of almost all their cotton yarns after this pattern appeared as a free pattern on Ravelry.com!) They only had two colors  … all the others (and there were many) were gone! Shelves were bare!

I love the simplicity of the pattern (and it’s easy enough to remember … even when I’m talking – or having a martini!) and the yarn colorway that I chose is great. Neutral but rich enough that I believe I will be able to wear it a lot.

The yarn, Halcyon‘s cotton, is fabulous to knit with and maintains the shape of the garment and doesn’t stretch out like with “normal” cotton. (Not to say that this yarn in abnormal, it’s, quite frankly, the best cotton that I’ve knit with to date!)

The pattern is a simple two-row pattern with the first setting the pattern and the second is just knitting. Together they create a diagonal stripe effect that I hope will be slimming and comfortable, too!

Pictures coming up!

Off I go to the porch … my summer office is sunny and clear today and I’m going to take full advantage. (The class work will have to be put aside today in favor of the sunshine!)

Gone knitting!

Clean, Green and Frugal!

Posted on by
Reply

So, we’ve been talking about making our own laundry soap and other household cleaners. Part of the desire to do this is that we’re in Maine for the summer and everything here just seems cleaner and more natural. The other part is that the stuff you buy in the grocery store is anything but natural and it’s pretty expensive. So, we raced to the Internet and here’s what we found.

I found several websites with my Google search for “natural laundry soap recipes” but the “best” one that I found is on Tipnut.com which has ten (yes, ten!) recipes and some other ideas and suggestions (click here to visit). And the bonus is that we have all the stuff we need here in the house. So, we’re going to try one or two of them and I’ll report back on how the clothes look (and smell!) We have had a challenging towel situation and I’ll tell you more about that, too.

All of this natural cleaning stuff really started because of my allergies … I have had an allergic cough for ever. So, since we’re here and it feels like the thing to think about and discuss in the evening, I’ve also been researching natural home cleaning products. Yes, I may be willing to give up my swiffer – or at least the disposable and perfumed cleaning pad part! And I may be sharing a knitted idea that will replace them. Stay tuned!

One thing that I’ve learned so far is that one of the best natural disinfectants is vinegar. Yes, plain old white vinegar! And the only reason that the information isn’t “out there” is because of “red tape”. You’re welcome to read more about this here but suffice it to say that the EPA has fouled this up … and, um, doesn’t natural disinfectant protect the environment? So, anyway, if you’re cleaning a bathroom, check the link for tips … and don’t buy toilet cleaner and shower cleaner and floor cleaner and sink cleaner any more.

We’ll update you when the house and laundry are clean!

Till then, I’ve got some knitting pattern research to do!

 

Increases (Stitches and Residents)

Posted on by
Reply

I’ve been making a pair of Bella Mittens (and they’re quite lovely) from the free pattern on Ravelry but you can find them on Marielle Henault’s blog by clicking here. I really like the way they’re knitting up and the yarn that I bought for them at Halcyon Yarns in Bath is really soft and a pretty color. I’m quite pleased.

One of the things I like best about the pattern is the way that Marielle does her increases in the thumb gusset. I’ve made a bunch of gloves and mittens and never were the directions (at least it’s my perception) so clear. And she has designed using M1, one is a left-leaning increase and one a right-leaning increase which makes the added stitches look so pretty on the finished garment.

The left-leaning increase or M1L is made by using the left needle to pick up the stitch between the two needles from the front to the back and then knitting into the back of the stitch. Thus adding a stitch.

The right leaning increase is just a tiny bit different – you pick up the stitch from the back to the front and then knit into the front of the stitch. Notice how each different increase leans slightly to the left or right … cool, huh?

The end result is a really nice looking gusset (once you’ve increased a few times, you’ll see the pretty pattern developing. This can really be used in any mitten or glove pattern where there are increases for the thumb gusset and they make the piece look so professionally done. Imagine caring about the garment that you are making?! 🙂

So, now that you’ll be practicing your increases, the residents in our home will also be increasing. My brothers all arrive with their wives, families and dogs on Thursday evening. We can hardly wait – although our dogs will be a bit less comfortable with all the cousins around. My eldest daughter is also coming with her boyfriend and dog. We’ll be ten adults, three children and eight dogs. One brother and two sisters (I’ve told you before how I don’t like the in-law tag, right? I believe that my brother’s wife is my sister and that’s just that. Having been an in-law for almost 30 years, I never was made to feel an equal in their family and I don’t want that in my family) … as I was saying, my oldest brother and two of my sisters, happens to be the two newest ones, have never been to Maine. So, we’ll be eating a lot of lobster and touring our old stomping grounds from when we were kids. The house will be full of fishermen and women, knitters, dogs, dirt, laundry, cooks, dish washers and lots and lots of love.

I feel so blessed to have my family growing exponentially after the age of 50 … and it’s just not my kids who are adding those family members! Maybe that’s the coolest part of all. One new sister by marriage and a new big brother and sister by miracle.

Life is good!

Gone knitting!