Tag Archives: knitting

Wondering …

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… whether to maintain my Etsy shop or move my knitwear items to my website.

… why some people can’t seem to share.

… how people who love each other (or did one day) can be so hateful.

… why people can’t leave their children out of it.

… if it’s going to be cooler today.

… what to have for breakfast.

… to knit or study?

… how to make my love of knitting and people and martinis and little dogs into a business that will support me.

… when I’ll see all three of my kids next.

… how to make this blog more interesting (and get more readers.)

Ugh. Study time. Four more chapters. I can do this.

On The Road Again

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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!

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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 …

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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!

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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!

Increases (Stitches and Residents)

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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!

On the Needles

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The Bella mittens are on the needles and, thanks to a trip down to Concord, MA, the first one is nearly done. Had I brought my “ditty bag” full of all the markers and holders, it would have been completely finished. I’m using a really great red yarn that I bought in Bath last week.

The two socks on one needle are knitting up well. Not sure I love the fiber – it’s a bit rough but I’m sure my feet won’t mind. When the toes are warm, it’s all good.

I’m going to try to photograph how easy this two socks on one needle is and put the pictures up here.

I also love the way the thumb gusset is made in the Bella mittens – with a left and right leaning increase, it looks so professional and polished.

Pictures to come. BUT since I am “pooped” from our little foray into Massachusetts, I’m going to grab a little bite to eat and climb into my own bed.

More knitting tomorrow!

Lucky Me!

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This is my coffee cup. I made it in a pottery (wheel) class in Cincinnati ages ago and it lives here in our summer “camp” in Maine. This is my summer “office”, the front porch. Most days, this is what it looks like when I get to the office at 7 or 8 a.m. My typical day starts here with my knitting bag and whatever knitting project I happen to be working on – some days I even let myself choose to knit just for fun! I realize that not everyone gets to take their work with them on the road and I am feeling extremely grateful today that I have the most wonderful (and beautiful) “office” to work in.

I’m off to the office.  (*wink* *wink*)

On the Needles (and in my head)

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So many patterns and so little time!

I’ve got a couple of projects on the needles and I’m nearly finished with one of them. My big brother’s birthday socks – only a few more inches on the toe of the second sock and they’ll be done. I still love the yummy “java” sock yarn by String Theory … it feels so good knitting with it (and that doesn’t happen with all yarns!)

Today I visited my LYS here and bought a new knitting needle – a 40″ US 13 Addi that I will be using to make my life much (MUCH!) easier. I finished the bottom of my Noni Medallion tote bag and had started picking up the stitches around the bottom for the main part of the bag. The two needles that I had on hand were not working for me – yarn was getting twisted and it was a mess. My new needle makes life oh so very much easier! The two colored knitting colorwork is getting better and better with every row. Knitting in the round on the right side is so totally more easy than purling on the wrong side! Anyway, I got the new needle today because otherwise, I am going to have to knit with two needles and that’s a challenge for me – particularly since this is my first colorwork. Did I mention how much I like my colors? I am looking forward to seeing the bag once the colors and pattern really start to show!

When I was at the Yardgoods Center today, my darling Betty, who also happens to head up my Wednesday night knitting group, sold me a new sock yarn which I will wind and cast on this week! I’ll be happy to knit with and make another pair of socks – and she’s going to teach me how to do two socks at once. The yarn is a German brand … it’s hand-dyed and wound with two strands together so that when you make two socks at once they come out exactly the same. Fliegende Untertasse means flying saucer, she tells me … and that’s what the package looks like. Very different and we’ll see how it looks when I get knitting!

I started to look for a yarn with which to make some fingerless gloves for a darling girl who I haven’t knitted anything for yet. Her birthday’s coming up and she loves gray. Pattern will be with me on Wednesday (I love the Yardgoods Center! They have knitting classes several days and nights a week, it’s not overly expensive and you get a 10% discount on all purchases.) I’ll find yarn on my knitting night because I know I don’t have the right color in my stash that I brought up with me.

There are so many other projects that I have saved patterns for  … and they’re just burning a hole in my knitting bag (kind of like money burns a hole in a “normal” person’s pocket!)

OH, I forgot to mention  that I finished a new cowl. This one will go up for sale in my Etsy shop pretty soon. It’s made from two different navy blue wool blends so it feels really soft and it will be washable (in the machine, on cold and gentle cycle, always lay flat to dry) and wear like iron. I love the way it turned out and it reminds me of the color of our lake when it’s a beautiful blue day with a little breeze.

Bella mittens, colorwork fingerless mitts (fiddlehead pattern from Ravelry is really cool. The “yarn lady” at my LYS had a pair made in two shades of grey, black, cream and lined with grey – yes, in my head there is another pattern to try.) Oh, yeah, and there are the sweaters that I want to design for my dog line. Oh my goodness, there is a lot of yarn out there and I really want to try it all!

So, with that, I’m out of here – going to bed so I can knit again in the morning!

 

Yummy Yarn and One I Can’t Find in Maine

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I bought the most wonderful yarn to make my big brother a pair of socks for his double nickel birthday. I had to really search my brain to remember where I found this picture which was and is my inspiration for the pair that I’m knitting. But, I found it on Ravelry when I was searching for a pattern for a pair of socks for a man (with pictures and free.) The pattern was found on Ravelry (if you’re a knitter and don’t know about Ravelry, I’m sure you must have just crawled out from under a rock in a far, far off land!) but it was originally from Knitty (again … if you don’t know about it, not sure where you’ve been living.) If you visit the Knitty Website and search for “Java”, you’ll find this lovely sock pattern (and many other patterns) for FREE!

Anywhoooo … I have my very own tried and true pattern and since these are a gift, I’m going to use my trusty old pattern and I’m going to endeavor to add a couple of these beautiful cables. BUT, the reason that I’m writing about this picture really, is all about the yarn.

I loved the name, Java, first and foremost because I love coffee and so does my big brother. I’m not, however, a huge fan of brown but this pattern showed a lovely mix or tones of brown and so I decided to look into the yarn and the place from whence it comes. Which lead me to String Theory and their hand-dyed Bluestocking yarns. Imagine my surprise, when I realized that they’re only about two hours away in Blue Hill, Maine! So, feeling like this was karma, I ordered a skein of the yarn and had it mailed to our “camp” in Maine hoping that it would arrive before we had to leave for a weekend in Florida. Which, thanks to the good old US Postal Service (thank you very much!), it did!

On the Needles

And it is the yummiest yarn I’ve had the pleasure to knit with since knitting the Senorita Lolita sweater with the Koigu KPPM yarn (“skeinlettes” that I won in the Jimmy Beans Wool facebook design contest ever so long ago and which, it seems, I can’t yet buy in Maine despite the fact that it’s made just over the border in Canada!) I’ve wandered off again but as I reign myself back in to talk about the Bluestocking yarn from Maine, it’s the softest yarn and it’s a delight to knit with – never splitting and sliding smoothly over my needles and off. And … it really is pretty, too! And now I’m going to have to beg for another fiber field trip to the shop where maybe I can witness some dyeing!

… and according to the String Theory Website, there’s a fiber fair coming up really soon and I’m wondering what I’d have to promise my sweetie in order to get there for a workshop or two!

Gone knitting!