Get Your Glam On! And, Stay Functional!

Functional Glam Scarf
Designed by Kristi for her Sister
57 X 4 inches plus “fringe” - Needles Sz 19-10
Lamb’s Pride Worsted Deep Charcoal
Lion Brand Incredible Accent on Black and Fun Fur Black

This a pretty economical scarf that could be made even more so by using Lion Brand Wool-ease. The pattern will be available about mid-January from Eliza Badurina of Moderngypsy in a one-shop knitting and spinning zine she is producing. I’ will definitely post here when the zine is available! So keep checking back!

Now I need to get serious on my mom’s bucket hat, but there is a huge part of me that doesn’t want to! Partially because the brim seriously hurts my hands and partially because she and my sister chose boring colors! Black and charcoal with no variation! BOOOOORRRRRRRIIIIINNNNNNNGGGGGGG! ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!

Instead I want to work on her convertible mittens. She has a guide dog and it’ll be really practical for her to ahve convertible mittens so she can harness and unharness Gaston without removing her gloves. When she takes them off to do that, she often drops them and thus sometimes looses them. And, mittens, though black, are different than what I’ve been doing so it appeals to me.

We have finally wound up 36 hours of snow fall. DH got out of here and to work in about 50 minutes or so, but his care is a bit better in the snow than mine and our street has never been plowed in the three previous winters we have been here so I don’t think I’m going anywhere - including to Stitch ‘n Bitch tonight And, and seems the Tuesday morning group has forgotten me. I have no clue where they are getting together because they broke up the rotation to go to a gal’s house and I don’t know if they just went to the next store or if they skipped it. I used to get called every week with information on it, but I haven’t been called since the week before they went to the woman’s house. But, unless we get some serious melting today I probably wouldn’t be able to get out tomorrow morning either.

That’s okay. The beginning of the week I never have as much play time anyway as I have classes to prepare by Wednesday morning. Half of the classes are over now though so I think I’ll get knitting time today and tomorrow with three less lessons to convert, edit and prepare. Yeah! I’ve loaded the TiVo with shows an movies to record so I have things to watch while working on all this knitting.

When I’m done with the gift knitting I’m hoping to knit myself a Christmas stocking. I have a design in mind, but haven’t found the right yarn. Though, I’ve been purposefully staying out of the LYSs until I’m done though. There is no sense in enhancing my stash any farther without knowing I’d be able to get the project done. I did check when I was in Hobby Lobby in hopes to find some cheaper yarn that I would like, but nothing struck my fancy. Everything was either not quite the color I was looking for or didn’t feel good and I’ve learned from experience that if I don’t like the feel of the yarn the project becomes a chore and stands a good chance of not getting done.

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!

Happy Turkey Day!

I wish all of you fellow American’s a joyful Thanksgiving with family (natural or chosen) and if you are traveling, safe travels!

Thanks for being here and offering praise and experience to my knitting adventures!

Holiday Wishes…

This is going around on LiveJournal, but I thought it would be fun to expand it (if it has already made it into general blog world I apologize, I’m behind on my knitblog reading as usual on Mondays and Tuesday)…

The specifics…

Step One
Make a post in your blog. The post should contain your list of 10 holiday wishes. The wishes can be anything at all, from simple and fandom-related (”I’d love a Snape/Hermione icon that’s just for me”) to medium (”I wish for _____ on DVD”) to really big (”All I want for Christmas is a new car/computer/house/TV.”) The important thing is, make sure these wishes are things you really, truly want.
- If you wish for real life things, make sure you include some sort of contact info in your post, whether it’s your address or just your email address where Santa (or one of his elves) could get in touch with you.
- Also, make sure you post some version of these guidelines in your blog.

Step Two
- Surf around your blogs to see who has posted their list. And now here’s the important part:
- If you see a wish you can grant, and it’s in your heart to do so, make someone’s wish come true. Sometimes someone’s trash is another’s treasure, and if you have a leather jacket you don’t want or a gift certificate you won’t use-or even know where you could get someone’s dream purebred Basset Hound for free-do it.
You needn’t spend money on these wishes unless you want to. The point isn’t to put people out, it’s to provide everyone a chance to be someone else’s holiday elf-to spread the joy. Gifts can be made anonymously or not-it’s your call.
There are no rules with this project, no guarantees, and no strings attached. Just…wish, and it might come true. Give, and you might receive. And you’ll have the joy of knowing you made someone’s holiday special.

Here are my wishes, some grantable and some not…
1. To spend Christmas with MY family for once…
2. Citrus anything, especially if it’s heavy on the lime or grapefruit - lip balm, candles, lotion, shower gel, soap etc.
3. A watch, big enough for my ample wrists and a bit loose (~8 - 8.5 inches), preferably a combo of gold and silver and okay for everyday wear and I love unusual shapes!
4. Neutral fiber that spins easily and can be dyed and of course a spinning wheel so I can stop hurting myself spinning!
5. Knitting Notions such as a Row Keeper Braclet, blocking wires for blocking lace, yarn bras, coilless knitter’s pins, greasless hand lotion/balm, addi turbos in 32″ length any size, 4″ DPNs in SZ2-6, homemade needle organizers, Knitting Pattern a Day 2005 calendar etc.
6. Sock yarn! Sock weight, sport, DK or even light worsted weight. Especially those with purples, greens, rusts or blacks. I’ve not had the pleasure of using any hand-dyed like Kiogu or Lorna’s Laces yet, but I’m not picky.
7. A new car where I don’t have to worry about grabbing the door exactly right when closing it…
8. A fun, arty, handmade bag that can serve as a purse/small knitting project bag (will hold socks or scarves in progress) - fav colors are purple and black, but would love anything
9. Books, books and books - see my Amazon Wishlist
10. “Risque” Vintage photographs for use in my mixed media art

Contact Info: Kristi, PO Box 2163, Ft Collins, CO 80522-2163

Short Row Heel Tut…

Purlwise has put up a great tuotial on short row heels at http://avocations.blogs.com/ShortRowHeels/index.htm.

I haven’t tried it yet, but a cursory glance looks good and her other tutorials have been good as well. After I finish the retro rib socks I plan to do a two-tone pair with a short row heel.

Freakin’ Out!

I have 21 days to finish knitting, felting and blocking the gifts for my family! Yikes!!!! How will I ever get it all done????

More Socks… (and a bit on scarves)

Well, I cast on for the Retro-Rib socks from the latest issue of Knits. I adjusted it for the Northern Lights Lamb’s Pride Superwash I had picked up for a second pair of socks for my dad. I’m waivering, however. I’m thinking the pattern is not going to be one I can easily memorize or execute while talking or listening. Since my sock projects go with me everywhere - restaurants, car, movie or game nights with friends etc. I’m not sure about it. But, I’m falling in love with this color and wouldn’t mind having a pair for myself in this color and I do have one pair done for my dad. So, I think I’ll perhaps press on and if it doesn’t get done in time to mail for Christmas I can either send them to him later or keep them for myself

I didn’t resist the urge to design a scarf for my sister, LOL! I’m sure you’re all surprised, right? I am a little disappointed in that the best stitch for the main body of the scarf ended up being the good old garter stitch. I guess that means it’ll go quicker. The end is an exaggerated and slightly oversized ruffle in some coordinating novelty yarns. I really like it. I hope it isn’t too unique for my sister. I am going to ask her to be candid with me and if she doesn’t think she’ll wear it, I’ll take it back. It’ll look nice with my charcoal pea coat and there is no sense in all the yarn and hard work (it took me 5 times to get the ruffle like I wanted) to waste. This scarf wants to be seen!

I’m at DH’s work all day today because his car is in the shop and my back/neck were not up to making the round-trip commute twice today. I’ve been catching up on my blog reading which as been neglected lately and I brought a movie with that I might pop in and watch on my laptop while working on the Retro socks.

Dad Socks Done!

48 Sts, Sz 5 needles, Beaded Rib
Lambs Pride Superwash Midnight Pine

These might be just a tad snug. I think the second pair (if I get that far) I’ll knit about 1/2 inch longer before starting the toe. But, I knit about 3 rounds, did the heel flap, turned the heel, completed the instep and the toe all yesterday! Yeah, computer admin days! I ran all my various scanners yesterday so that took a couple hours then we had SnB as well.

I don’t think there’ll be a ton of knitting time today. I should be at knitting tea right now, but I don’t know which store they are at this week since they left the rotation last week and went to one of the gal’s houses. Plus, I have a bunch of proof reading to get done and then make the necessary changes, save as txt and PDF files, upload them to the classroom and add assignments and forums etc. for tomorrow. So, that’s okay. I hope to sneak away in the later afternoon to knit at Textiles A Mano tomorrow.

On Saturday I also finished the knitting portion of my sister’s BUBH…

Pre-fulled Bottom’s Up Bucket Hat
Lamb’s Pride in Deep Charcoal

I’m suspecting and hoping that the brim portion won’t really felt much since it’s double stranded and on smaller needles… Otherwise I think I might have a second hat that doesn’t fit her :-} But, since I can’t felt here at home I have to just proceed with the one for my mom and full all three hats at the same time. So, I’m crossing my fingers. Hopefully I’ll get to cast on for mom’s this evening…

*sigh*

I am having one crap of a week! I can’t believe it is only Wednesday! This had better turn around or this will be the longest week in history.

Knitting isn’t going so bad, though because the week has been so horrible there hasn’t been much of it. I did get to go to Stitch ‘n Bitch on Monday night where I completed the brim of the Bottoms Up Bucket Hat for my sister. But, computer glitches kept me from going to Knitting Tea on Tuesday or to the gather at Textiles-A-Mano today. So, I’ve picked up the knitting while waiting for the computer and have about 2 inches or so of the cuff done on my dad’s second pine sock and about an inch or so on the main portion of the BUBH for Amber. That isn’t much. But, it’s all quite boring stuff to look at so I’ll save the bandwidth and hope for a better end to my week with more knitting excitement.

I am having a hard time holding off starting on one of those double-knit scarves (though I still haven’t picked which one I want to do) and the mohair lace scarf I want to make for my grandmother. I think I settled on the Fishtail Lace pattern from Jan 15 of that perpetual calendar of knitting stitches. And, in the last day I had the brilliant idea to not only do the racing stripes double knit scarf for DH in charcoal and burgandy, but I thought I could full him a burgandy beret since he is always talking about the one he had and lost before he met me. Now, I do have until Jan 25 for that, but really, that isn’t much time when you add in all the other gifty things between now and then…

Speaking of that my gift goal list…

To be done and ready to ship by December 10th if at all possible
• Two pairs of socks for Dad
• Felted BUBH for Amber with coordinating gloves and scarf if time allows
• Felted BUBH for Mom with hat band to coordinate with her scarf she sent me to match and possibly long wristed golves if time allows

Completed by January 25th if at all possible
• Racing stripes double knit scarf for DH’s birthday in Charcoal and Burgandy
• Matching felted tam/beret in burgandy for DH’s birthday

Completed and shipped in early February if at all possible
• Fishtail Lace Mohair scarf for Grandma’s birthday
• Felted tam/beret in charcoal or tan for Grandpa’s belated birthday

Plus, it sure would be nice to knit something for myself! Here I thought I was getting such a head start on everything casting on for those socks and the multidirection scarf a few weeks back, but I’m starting to panic already!

Anyone else bite off more than they can chew on the hand knit gifts for this season? What knit gifts are you making this year??

Happy Knitiversary to Me!

As of today, I’ve been knitting for one year!

In that year I have knit approximately:
- 9 hats
- 6 scarves
- 4 pairs of mittens
- 3 1/2 pairs of socks
- 1 purse
- 1 shawl (though it is headed to the frog pond)
- 1/2 tank top

DH is amazed that I’ve stuck with it. But, while I make and teach art for a living I still needed a hobby. Plus, in the last 10 months or so I’ve met the most lovely of ladies which was also something I really needed. I needed to have people to socialize with instead of staying in my basement working alone all the time. Then there is the added benefit he has of my staying awake when we watch a movie or a TV show.

So, raise your glass to knitting today!

Knitting Mandalas…

If you look over to the right you will notice a new Art By The Inch button. The second 2004 ATBI began November 1st. Inspired by Ruth Temple, I’ve set out to make a 5-inch mandala a day for the entire month to help me reach my goal. How does this apply to knitting you say?

Well, it seems in the year (almost, as of Monday) that I have been knitting that my nature photography has fallen to the wayside. The majority of my photographs residing on my computer (I can only keep a years worth on my hard drive at a time) seem to be of knitting projects, LOL! So, most of the Mandalas I’ve made so far have been knitting related.

So, for your viewing pleasure…

Click on any of the above to open a new window and view the full size versions…

If you’re interested in keeping a watch on my ATBI progress check out my LiveJournal. All art-related posts are public there and include not only knitting but bookbinding, collage and more.