Friday, July 28, 2006
Two Finished Objects for the Price of One
And one was a UFO as well. I promised photos of the baby blanket, and you shall have them. I also pulled out a top that was a little over half finished last year, and finished it off for Amira. I had her put it on for me to take pictures, and she won't take it off now. She is evidently a born model as you will see in the photos that follow.
This is the blanket draped over a chair. I promised the pattern, it is still pretty rough, so I will clean it up and post it to the free pattern blog soon.
Here it is laid out on the floor.
Amira in her Not Square Play. I modified the pattern from the Summer 2004 Knitters' pattern, which used self patterning sport weight sock yarn, in an adult size. I thought it looked kind of dumb on a grown up, and a little busy with the self patterning yarn. However, on a child, with smaller squares, I thought it would be a nice use of hand painted yarn. I had thought of adding small sleeves to it, but I like it with the garter edging on the armholes.
This last one is of Amira posing. She is saying what a fun top it is.
This is the blanket draped over a chair. I promised the pattern, it is still pretty rough, so I will clean it up and post it to the free pattern blog soon.
Here it is laid out on the floor.
Amira in her Not Square Play. I modified the pattern from the Summer 2004 Knitters' pattern, which used self patterning sport weight sock yarn, in an adult size. I thought it looked kind of dumb on a grown up, and a little busy with the self patterning yarn. However, on a child, with smaller squares, I thought it would be a nice use of hand painted yarn. I had thought of adding small sleeves to it, but I like it with the garter edging on the armholes.
This last one is of Amira posing. She is saying what a fun top it is.
Monday, July 24, 2006
Birthday Greetings
On my birthday, that is. I am 30 today, the kids and Rich sang happy birthday to me this morning, and I have spent much of the day knitting or in rest on the couch. The boys were eager for their father to come home early, so they could get me a present, they said. The only presents I want are already on their way here, and we're going out for a fun dinner that I've been craving for some time now. I am making a flourless chocolate cake for the birthday cake, though I don't think we'll be able to do candles on it that well.
My birthday is shared with Amelia Earheart, perhaps not the best pilot, but an interesting character, and the state of Utah. Also, oddly enough, Rich's boss has the same birthday.
I finished the Tilting Blocks Blanket yesterday, and will post photos and the pattern soon. I haven't washed it yet, just wove in the ends, it is quite soft and a lovely color. I've had more unsolicited compliments on the color of this while I've been knitting it than just about anything else I've worked on. Perhaps I ought to wear this color more, myself.
My birthday is shared with Amelia Earheart, perhaps not the best pilot, but an interesting character, and the state of Utah. Also, oddly enough, Rich's boss has the same birthday.
I finished the Tilting Blocks Blanket yesterday, and will post photos and the pattern soon. I haven't washed it yet, just wove in the ends, it is quite soft and a lovely color. I've had more unsolicited compliments on the color of this while I've been knitting it than just about anything else I've worked on. Perhaps I ought to wear this color more, myself.
Labels: Birthday
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Baby Hat and Blanket Progress
I never posted about finishing the baby hat. I used the cotton hat pattern from Last Minute Knitted Gifts, only I didn't make the I-cord into a bow, I just tied a knot.
I have a little of the Cotton Silk left, I may crochet it into a hair scrunchie to use it up. I will not be buying any more of this yarn, clearance or not.
As for the baby blanket, I am very close to finished. I have three and a half repeats of the pattern to go and then eight rows of garter st. I will probably finish by the end of the week.
I have set aside my design that I was going to make for the contest, but I would like to have it finished to give as a shower gift/engagement gift to the young woman at church who is getting married.
I have a little of the Cotton Silk left, I may crochet it into a hair scrunchie to use it up. I will not be buying any more of this yarn, clearance or not.
As for the baby blanket, I am very close to finished. I have three and a half repeats of the pattern to go and then eight rows of garter st. I will probably finish by the end of the week.
I have set aside my design that I was going to make for the contest, but I would like to have it finished to give as a shower gift/engagement gift to the young woman at church who is getting married.
Friday, July 14, 2006
Yarn Review
With the exception of the yardage and price on Debbie Bliss yarns, I have overall liked her line. So, when I saw the Cotton Silk Aran on closeout at Elann, I thought I'd snatch it up for a jacket I have been planning for some time. The only two colors left that I liked by the time I got around to ordering were white and delphinium, and there was only one of the delphinium left. Well, I really preferred the blue, so I thought I'd order the one ball, along with some other stuff I was getting and just try it out.
Boy, was I glad. The color is gorgeous, and I like the fiber content, but it is spun more like string than yarn. I decided to make a baby hat for our new one to test out the yarn, and I am so glad I didn't buy 16 balls for the jacket without trying it out first. I think I will return to my lovely Cotton Angora.
In the meantime, the hat will be machine washable, and quite adequate for a baby born in August. The fabric itself is fine, but working with it made my hands stiff.
Boy, was I glad. The color is gorgeous, and I like the fiber content, but it is spun more like string than yarn. I decided to make a baby hat for our new one to test out the yarn, and I am so glad I didn't buy 16 balls for the jacket without trying it out first. I think I will return to my lovely Cotton Angora.
In the meantime, the hat will be machine washable, and quite adequate for a baby born in August. The fabric itself is fine, but working with it made my hands stiff.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
That Time of Year
it is time to remind all of my faithful readers of my birthday coming up. 11 days to go. This year marks a milestone for me, I turn 30.
If you feel moved to give gifts, please consider checking out my amazon wishlist, otherwise, just eat a scoop of ice cream in my honor on July 24.
If you feel moved to give gifts, please consider checking out my amazon wishlist, otherwise, just eat a scoop of ice cream in my honor on July 24.
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Independence Day
Not much knitting was done here yesterday. We were busy preparing for the holiday festivities.
A dear friend of mine, and her son, came to visit us from Florida where they moved last year, just in time to be hit by three hurricanes. They are counting down the time they have left there, until they can move back. Anyway, we've spent the last week enjoying ourselves immensely and doing little work.
I don't normally discuss much food here, but since this is what we were up to, I will share. We invited another couple over to our house last night for dinner and fireworks. We made grilled salmon, wild Alaskan sockeye was on sale for $4.99 a pound, sprinkled with salt and pepper and spread with crushed garlic and a little butter (unsalted!), I made my potato salad with all blue, yukon gold and red potatoes, our other friends brought salad and corn that we roasted and ate with butter, salt and chili powder, and for dessert we had a blueberry-strawberry shortcake, a raspberry custard pie that we decorated with blueberries, strawberries and whipped cream to give the impression of the flag, and a store bought cake that was bought on impulse and served to feed the kids their intake of fake icing. We had a Sumac Ridge Gewurztraminer and a Barnard Griffin Merlot to drink, coffee with dessert.
After eating, I read a passage from Little Town on the Prairie, in which a speech about Independence Day was given, the Declaration of Independence (each link is distinct) read and My Country Tis of Thee sung, marking especially the final verse. Laura is set to thinking that America's King is God and that it is only God's laws which give anyone the right to be free.
A dear friend of mine, and her son, came to visit us from Florida where they moved last year, just in time to be hit by three hurricanes. They are counting down the time they have left there, until they can move back. Anyway, we've spent the last week enjoying ourselves immensely and doing little work.
I don't normally discuss much food here, but since this is what we were up to, I will share. We invited another couple over to our house last night for dinner and fireworks. We made grilled salmon, wild Alaskan sockeye was on sale for $4.99 a pound, sprinkled with salt and pepper and spread with crushed garlic and a little butter (unsalted!), I made my potato salad with all blue, yukon gold and red potatoes, our other friends brought salad and corn that we roasted and ate with butter, salt and chili powder, and for dessert we had a blueberry-strawberry shortcake, a raspberry custard pie that we decorated with blueberries, strawberries and whipped cream to give the impression of the flag, and a store bought cake that was bought on impulse and served to feed the kids their intake of fake icing. We had a Sumac Ridge Gewurztraminer and a Barnard Griffin Merlot to drink, coffee with dessert.
After eating, I read a passage from Little Town on the Prairie, in which a speech about Independence Day was given, the Declaration of Independence (each link is distinct) read and My Country Tis of Thee sung, marking especially the final verse. Laura is set to thinking that America's King is God and that it is only God's laws which give anyone the right to be free.
Monday, July 03, 2006
Engagement Gift, No Contest
Well, I actually had a good chance of finishing my design for the contest, but somehow hurt the tendons from my thumbs in both hands/arms on Monday night, so couldn't knit at all (or do much of anything else that required movement from those tendons) Tuesday or Wednesday. I got a little finished on Thursday, but would have had to knit all day Friday to even have a chance to finish, and with four kids, some friends visiting us from Florida and a house to try to keep going, not to mention being pregnant, it just wasn't going to happen. So, it will make a lovely engagement gift, but I have no chance of winning the contest. It is a shame, because although the pattern was quite simple, the construction was pretty creative, I thought, and had a good chance of catching their eye because of that. I was over two thirds of the way finished, too.
