Dreams of Yarn

No olympic medal this year.

2010-02-22T13:13:00.000-08:00

I think my project that I picked to knit for the Knitting Olympics was a bit much. It would have been great if I didn't have to work the weekend the olympics started and then work my normal job the rest of the week ....while nursing a sinus infection. OK... so I am whining a little bit. But I am glad that I picked my pattern because I REALLY....REALLY want this sweater. I will have pictures later of the back almost done. YES...I did say back...only. That is all I have finished. The sweater is mostly seed stitch and has a wonderful reversed stockinnette stitch and slipped stitch pattern about half way up the back to the top of the back. The pattern is from Peace Fleece. Her is a pic.

I will give pics of what I have accomplished so far a little later. I really do love it...but I think next Knitting Olympics I will pick a more realistic project.

Winter Knitting Olympics 2010

2010-02-12T13:45:00.000-08:00

I signed up for the Winter Knitting Olympics with Stephanie Pearl McPhee. I can't believe I actually committed myself. I start tonight, although, I am working tonight at the Pittsburgh Knit and Crochet Show. I am helping Terri (my boss and friend) to set up the booth we will be in. Tomorrow is the opening day. We will both be knitting tonight after around 9:00pm. Wish us luck.

Christmas Gifts

2010-02-04T07:39:00.000-08:00

I was a busy knitting fool this holiday. I knitted my little fingers off for gifts for Christmas.

Here are some of my projects ....personally...I think my family was pretty lucky. But that's me. ha.
Here is a jacket I knitted for my great niece. It is the snowcoat from Sirdar and knitted with Sirdar Big Softie. I loved knitting this. It is fast and easy and elegant looking.

Next I knitted this sweater from French Girl Knits. I used Sirdar Big Softie to knit this. I changed the pattern a little by omitting the lace pattern from the back. So the back of the sweater is plain and the lace is in front. I made two of these for two of my nieces.

I knitted a seed stitch scarf using Katia Peru. That is also one of my favorite yarns. This was a true red. I knit it for a co-worker. I have started knitting anything in seed stitch or ribbing in the portuguese style of knitting. I find that it is easier and my stitches are very even.

I knit a hat and slotted scarf using a Plymouth yarn. This was for a child and I thought that a slotted scarf would be great because there would be no long tails to get caught on anything and it will stay nice and snug around the child's neck.

I knitted up a couple more scarves using Katia Peru but basically they were just a mistake rib scarf and a drop stitch scarf. As you can see.... I WAS BUSY.

My current projects are a seed stitch scarf, a baby blanket, a shawl and some socks.... I am sure I left out a few.

I will try to be back soon with more pics and posts. In case anyone is interested in learning the Portuguese Style of knitting...WHICH I LOVE... you may go to http://www.andreawongknits.com/.

Holy Cats and Dogs!!!!!

2009-12-08T08:13:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it has been over a year and I haven't updated my blog. WOW! I guess I have been toooooo busy working and checking out the Yarn Harlot's blog and Brooklyn Tweed's blog. (My two favorite blogs ever.)

I have knitted may things within this past year. One of them is this precious baby bootie. They were done in a wonderful yarn that I got at Wolf Creek Yarns in Grove City. Great gift idea too, for those who are looking for a quick little gift for a baby.

You can also do up a bootie in One skein of Panda Wool (Crystal Palace Yarns – 46% Bamboo,
43% Wool and 11% nylon). Needle Size US #1. The peachie one on the right... Free pattern at
http://andreawongknits.wordpress.com/free-patterns/ It is Andrea Wong's website. Andrea Wong teaches Portuguese Style Knitting. It is a great technique....

I will add more to this later...I PROMISE. But for now that is all I have to show. Chat later.

Here...FINALLY...are some pics

2008-07-30T09:27:00.000-07:00

Here is a sweater I finished a couple of weeks ago for a friend's little boy. It is simple but jazzed up with that cable along the front button band.

Here is a close up of the collar.

Here are some of the dreaded swatches for the Level 1 Master Knitters Course. haha. I really have gotten over being nuts about trying to be perfect. I also have found out that blocking does wonders. whoo hoo. I have more done but not blocked. There are 16 or 17 in total but I have only about 11 or 12 done so far.

This was the worst one to do. I never realized that seed stitch can produce holes...geez...but finally... a nice swatch. NO HOLES...I hope. ha

Here is a little sweater I am working on. Just something fun in a new yarn that Wolf Creek Yarns just got in. I can't remember the name right now. It is a mix of acrylic and wool. It is heaven to work with. It is a really true worsted weight. I love it.

Here is the blanket I am making with the yarn called PLAY TIME. It is like butter. Simple garter stitch with a stripe thrown in from time to time.

Here is a top down sweater in progress. I am planning to teach this as a class. I am doing it in Sheeps Pride Cotton

Finally...a pair of what I call slipper socks. I love this yarn -MISSION FALLS. Great stuff.

What a trip!

2008-07-17T07:05:00.000-07:00

Well...as you can see I have not added any pics. Why? Because it seems that I have been knitting and knitting and getting nothing finished. I am knitting a simple but really cool blanket for my friend Lori's daughter who is having her first baby. It is in garter stitch and I am using Reynolds Play Time yarn. It is wonderful to work with and knits up so soft and spongy. I love it. The colors are an off white and Camel and soft blue. We believe it is a boy so I decided the blanket will have random stripes with a nice border knitted around afterward.

My downfall and the reason that I am getting NOTHING finished is because I am knitting and re-knitting and re-knitting those darn swatches for the Masters level 1 course. It is my own falt. I am my own worst critic. I have finally decided that I will just do them and then - after they are all blocked, because it is amazing how different the swatches look after blocking - I will redo any that really look horrible. Actually, I may even have a neutral party look them over and decide for me, because to me they are never quite good enough. It's amazing .... I would never be this hard on anyone else. ha.

My worst swatch was the seed stitch. The directions say that there is to be NO HOLES seen between the stitches. One would think that ...well...it's seed stitch and how can holes get into seed stitch? WELL LET ME TELL YOU.... that evil little Gnome that lurks in my knitting was putting all kinds of holes in my seed stitch. To most people ... it was hard to see...but to me...they stood out like a sore thumb. I must have whipped up 6 swatches alone just in seed stitch. I tried different size needles, different brands of yarn, knitting with the yarn wrapped around my fingers till they turned purple and still those holes... But...I WAS DETERMINED! Finally, I got a swatch that looked pretty good and soaked it in water till the fibers swelled like a sponge...haha. And if I had read the directions correctly in the first place that stated that on the increase swatches that the increases were to be made every second right side row (which interpreted means once every four rows..da to me) I would not have knitted them up increasing every other row. And wouldn't you know it that they were perfect, unlike the ones I redid with the increases every other right side row. Heaven help me. Oh well...I keep telling myself that this experience will make me a better knitter.

Anyway, I promise I will get pics of the baby blanket and yes...those darn swatches.

It's been a while!

2008-05-28T06:31:00.000-07:00

I have been sooooooo busy. I just have not taken the time to update my blog. But I hope to keep it going from here on in. My goal right now (besides working on about 25 different projects at one time..ha) is to complete my Level 1 Master Knitters Course through TKGA (The Knitters Guild of America). I have had this for soooooooo long but just never got past the first three swatches. At one point I had all the answers (except the first three or 4 questions that relate to the first three or four swatches) completed. However...disaster struck...My computer where I had my file stored died....and I had no backup. AHHHHHHHHHHHHH! I was so upset that I put everything away till now. At the LYS where I teach some classes, a group of us have gotten together to complete this Level 1 Master Knitters Course. I got sucked in kicking and screaming but I am glad that the group is finally MAKING ME finish this. I feel in the end I will become a better teacher of knitting, as well.

It's been a while!

2007-08-04T18:07:00.000-07:00

Whoo Hoo...it has been a while! I have been busier than a bee in a hive. Lots of knitting, and still rearranging stuff in the new house...and always something to fix or redo. Also, I have been running around putting in resume's and going to interviews. Prime Outlets here in Grove City called me back for a second interview this week, but so far no word. Fingers crossed. Anyway, the King and I went out the other week for a few hours and look what we came home to.

A giant limb was on the roof of the kitchen. Now that was a surprise. We thought that after a nice relaxing day, visiting with the King's relatives, we would come home to a nice relaxing evening....WRONG!

We had clean up duty. Bummer. Luckily, we had no damage to the roof. Can you believe that? How lucky can one get (other than NOT having a big tree limb land on your roof).

On the knitting agenda, well, let me tell you that I have been sort of good and sort of bad. I had this plan of only working on already started but stored away projects. Well, I was doing well but a few new ones snuck their ugly little heads in there...haha... Here are some projects I am working on.

Here is my Sally Melville Fair Isle purse project that I was teach back in Reading. I actually did about 2 motifs on it. I am hoping to finish this before fall... Whoo Hoo... Wouldn't that be nice!

This is a relatively new project that I started from a sock knitting group on Yahoo. I love the pattern. It is called snowflake. Beautiful. However, I just can't get my heart into it because I hate the yarn I chose to make it. I hate to quit because I have invested time and energy into accomplishing what I have. I think this sock would be much prettier in a softer yarn...not cotton. I doubt if I will finish it. Actually, as I write this, I have come to the conclusion that I just have to bite the bullet and rip it, rip it. I won't be happy with it and I won't make the mate...so why throw away more time and effort. Thanks for helping me decide...haha.

Ahhhhhhhhhhh...Now here is a wonderful, finished sock. This sock is made from Debbie Bliss Cashmerino that I got from Yarns R Us, and I finally finished this sock. AND... believe it or not, I actually started the second one. I can't wait to put these babies on my little feet... OH WHAT SOFT LUXURY! Can you get from this, that I absolutely love this sock. I did not use a pattern with this sock. I had just cast on a bunch of stitches (56 to be exact) and did a k2, p2 ribbing until, as Elizabeth Zimmermann would have said, I was sick of it. Then I knew that that number of stitches would have been too many for my foot so I decreased (down to 48 stitches) and continued with the foot. I did that because I hate socks that are way too tight on my calf...this one is JUST RIGHT...WHOO HOO. Next....

Now here is luxury, too. These will be my very own pair of Twinle Toes Socks... Wow. I purchased the yarn that they suggested for the socks. Blue Moon Heavy weight. What wonderful yarn. It is superwash and thick and knits up really fast. I think these will be wonderful in the fall along with my fair isle purse I intend to finish, too. hahaha. I really love these... this is a new project. I felt I needed to treat myself even further after I finished the socks above. ANY EXCUSE IS BETTER THAN NONE!

Now this is a project that I created for a NEW local yarn shop in Grove City. It is called Wolf Creek Yarns and I will be teaching an intro to cables class and this is a hat that I designed. It has big 6 stitch cables going up and smaller mock cables in between. I think it turned out really nice.

Close ups are below.

Also, If you are wondering what on earth is the hat sitting on...well, it is a balloon sitting on a cup. Pretty smart idea, don't you think?

Busy...Busy...Where does the time go?

2007-07-14T21:34:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted for a little bit. I somehow decided to paint some kitchen cabinets...WHY I DON'T KNOW. I hate painting but the cabinets were black and that was just a little too depressing to me...so I had to do it. But of course, that cut into my knitting time. However, I did get one cream sock completely finished and decided that I didn't have time to do two pairs of socks by July 15th...the day of my party...for my nieces...sooooooo...seeing that my friend Lori is coming to visit on the 19th I decided to knit her a pair of these great, easy to knit lace socks. I know she will love them. She is my biggest fan of my knitting. I have knit her granddaughter and new grandson many things and she always just loves everything. I am going to post the cream colored sock that I finished but Lori's...which I have already started the second sock... is in a burgandy color.

This is still the twinkle toes sock...I have now memorized the pattern and can whip them up like nobody's business...ha. But they are such an easy lace pattern and using fatter yarn they are sooooooooo fast to make. I'm sure Lori will love them. After her socks are finished I will make the mate to this one for me. Have I said how much I LOVE making these socks...whoo hoo.

Well...tomorrow is our cookout. I made my potato and macaroni salads and have the hot dogs, burgers, chicken, chips, pretzels, corn chips, salsa, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, condiments and soda and beer. I think I will be working way to hard to get in much knitting. But it will be a great time with some friends and family. Although, my friend Lori won't be here...she will be next weekend so we will have to do something special for her when she comes.

My dear friend Kim from Yarns R Us in Hamburg, PA called me this week to chat. It was so nice to hear from her. I miss teaching classes there and especially I miss her and the other knitters I have gotten to know. Well, I had better get to bed...or we may be having burnt offerings tomorrow at the cookout...I have to keep my whits about me when cooking on the grill. I'll check in soon...Hopefully with something other than a sock that I am knitting.

"What about the twinkle toes socks?", you ask.

2007-07-03T19:19:00.000-07:00

I must be out of my mind. I had the sock almost finished...however...deep down in that big black hole where that stupid creature MY CONSCIENCE resides there came that horrible nagging voice that kept pointing out to me that because I knit loosely I should have knitted the sock on a size 3 needle. That voice kept telling me that the sock would look better if it were knitted a bit more firmly. Again I say...I WAS ALMOST FINISHED...ALMOST TO THE CUFF... I surely can't rip out all this work I have already put into it. I will just look for a person with a big foot to give it to...God...I can't stand that nagging little voice. To make matters all the worse, I had ordered Lucy Neatby's two DVD's on sock knitting and they arrived yesterday. And what was the one thing Lucy stressed when I watched the DVD's last night???? A sock should be firmly knitted. By the way... the DVD's are great! But back to my delema....OK....I give in... you win nagging voice. Soooooooooooooooooooooooooooo I ripped out the whole darn sock and started anew on size 3 needles. I HATE WHEN THAT LITTLE VOICE IS RIGHT. And now there is peace in the valley. I do have to admit that I am much happier. I know that a lace sock doesn't have to be extremely firm but this one is soooooooo much better. I have worked on it today and am up to where I start the short rows heel. Here is the fruit of my labor.

At lease maybe I will be able to sleep tonight while that perfectionest beast is asleep.
I will take a better pic tomorrow when the light is bright and I am not so tired.

GUILT TOOK OVER... No socks today.

2007-06-30T20:24:00.000-07:00

Well I never got to knitting my Twinkle Toes socks today because that nagging devil GUILT reared it's ugly head and with it's perpetual nagging little voice in the back of my head kept telling me to finish the Baby Surprise Jacket that I had in my knitting bag. It was all but finished...just sewing in the ends, and sewing up the seams. Anyone who knows me knows that I absolutely HATE to sew. So there it sat in my knitting bag...the only thing between me and those socks. So I gave in to guilt and finally finished the jacket. Here it is in all it's glory.

I made it using TLC Wiggles. It is an acrylic sport weight yarn that was a real pleasure to knit with. It has these periodic little loopies of color along the strand of yarn. Great feel, easy to knit and fun colors. SO NOW IT IS DONE...except for buttons... AND NOW I CAN...WITH A CLEAR CONSCIENCE START KNITTING MY SOCKS...WHOO HOO!

Red Sweater Finished!

2007-06-29T14:03:00.000-07:00

Here is the red sweater that I was working on. I blocked it and it is now drying on my sink. I think it is so pretty and yet it was very easy. I only got the pattern on Tuesday and started the hood part that evening. It doesn't take long when you are using size 9 or 10 needles and worsted yarn. I used size 9 because I have a tendency to knit loosely. I just love the lacy yoke and the picot edging on the bottom...whoo hoo...I think I will make a bunch of these soon. But first I need to finish my socks that I was making before the red sweater took priority.

Here is a closeup of the sweater.

Am I proud of this puppy or what!

Well...I had better get busy on dinner and then relax and finish my "Twinkle Toes" toe up sock by Cookie A on Knitty Gritty. I really like it but I think that next time I will use a size 3 needle due to my loose knitting. I have 2 nieces who are having birthdays within the next couple of weeks and I wonder if I can whip up 2 pair of these socks by July 15. That is when I am going to have a party as a "thank you" to all my family and friends who helped with our move and they will be here. Hummmmm...I do love a challenge. ha.

Today is the first day of my blog!

2007-06-28T23:45:00.000-07:00

My absolute love for knitting has brought me here to my very own blog. I say love for knitting but I guess the truth really is ... MY ADDICTION TO KNITTING... I love everything about it. Let me list some of the things I love:
1. I love the actual act of moving yarn and needles to produce the knitted fabric.
2. I love buying and trying new patterns.
3. I love trying to create my own patterns.
4. I love learning new techniques
5. I love teaching others the knitting knowledge I have accumulated throughout the years.
6. I love yarn...the colors, the textures, feel, smell, etc.
7. I love accumulating yarn..."He who dies with the most yarn goes to heaven" hee hee.
8. And most enjoyably... I love making things and giving them away as gifts.
Need I say more? No. I am sure there must be at least a million other knitters out there who feel the exact same way as I do.

I have just moved to the Grove City, Pa. area and have not met very many knitters. Actually, I have only just recently found a near-by yarn store. It is in Mercer and is called Otter Creek Store. The owner is a very nice lady and I was soooooooooooooo thrilled to have found another kindred spirit who has a love of knitting. Back home (the Reading, Pa. area) I had several yarn stores very close by that I had the honor of teaching classes at....and feeding my yarn habit. One was Yarns R Us in Hamburg, Pa. and the other was Yarn Gallery in West Reading, Pa. Another yarn store that was about an hour trip from my house was the fantastic Mannings outside of York, Pa. So as you can see... I was an avid yarn store groupie. ha. I heard that there may be a yarn store opening up right here in Grove City soon... I sure hope so for my sake. Geez...am I hooked or what???!!!

Sooooo...what am I working on now? Well believe it or not ...because of the move I did not knit for almost 3 whole weeks. But now things are getting into shape and I am knitting like a starved child again. I started a pair of socks. I got the pattern off of a web group. But then... I had tivo-ed Knitty Gritty and watched an episode called Twinkle Toes by Cookie A. Great pattern. It is a toes up sock with a short rows heel and lace pattern on the top of the foot and up the leg. Really nice and fast seeing that one uses size 4 needles and fat yarn. I have one almost finished but then I stopped into a local craft store that had this wonderful baby sweater pattern that was free with the purchase of ...guess what....a skein of yarn...whoo hoo. It is started from the top...hood area, knitted through the body and then the sleeves to finish... Very fast knitting and cute as a bugs ear. Anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE making baby things.... So the sock was put on hold till I whip up the sweater which, I must say, is almost completed. I will add pics as soon as it is finished. I must add that I have about 10 unfinished projects that I used to demo techniques for my different classes and just never had time to finish for myself. I'm hoping that little by little I will be able to get back to them...but there are soooooooooooooooo many new patterns out there....sooooooooooooo many new yarns coming out....sooooooooooooooo little time...hahaha.

Well...it is getting late and I have to save some room for next time.