A few days ago I decided to try a pattern with cables in it, something quick and easy. I found a nice little headband pattern that worked up within an hour or so. Working with homemade cable needles(coat hangar cut to about six inches in length with a v-shaped depression for holding stitches in the center). I wasn't real pleased with the outcome so I tried holding the crossover stitches on a No. 8 DPN. That worked better and my headband was actually developing a cable pattern.
After completion, I set it on my catch all table unsure of what I was going to do with it only to find that at one point today my little ears were cold. Wallah, the headband did a nice job of not only keeping my ears warm but holding my hair out of my face too.
I looked online for a long time today trying to find a knit pattern for a Ruana. My mother-in-law (bless her heart) gave me a very finely knitted Ruana years ago and I really love it..............it's just that now I want one that is a bit heavier and more earthy. I did not have very good luck finding what I was looking for but I did run across a pattern for a cable stitch scarf that I think looks beautiful. I can see multiple panels becoming a very nice and warm Ruana.
Problem is that the pattern is very cable intensive...........plus I have to pay mucho attention to the pattern so I don't get lost in my stitch count. I may have bitten off more than I can chew. This project may end up being JUST a scarf.
My husband made a comment the other day that made me decide to knit him a nice pair of socks. I had ordered some brown self striping yarn as well as some brown nobby type yarn from Knitpicks (http://www.knitpicks.com/ ) Love their stuff, especially the new line of needles called Harmony. I like them better than the bamboo ones.
I read an interesting article the other day by a male knitter about the "infamous boyfriend sweater" I thought it was very appropriate and made me involve my hubby in the "socks for him" project. I let him choose the color he wanted and we even talked about the length of the leg part that worked best for him. As we were watching TV this evening and I was slaving away on his socks, he said "are those mine?"
This way, he will not be suprised when the socks are done and I give them to him. He will have a chance to grow into the idea of having hand knitted socks.
It was sort of funny that he got chosen for jury duty and actually dressed up a bit and wore colored socks, not his usual white cotton socks and white tennies attire. All that just lent more support for the brown socks I am working on. I have never considered making him a sweater as he is not a sweater type of guy, but the socks seem to be something he is looking forward to.
I am still working on the Navajo Afghan, crocheted in Black, Gray, Red and White. I do a row here and there at my leisure and it makes a beautiful diamond pattern and self fringes. It is the width of a full size bed but has many rows to go to be considered a completed afghan. I have a sweater pattern that mirros the blanket that I hope to make some day.
If any of you have a Ruana pattern that you think I might like, feel free to send it to me.
I'm off and running again. Take care all
RRR
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Thursday, January 10, 2008
My very first sock has a mate
I did it! I really finished that Pair of Socks. If you look back through my posts you will find a picture of my very first sock. It had been on my mind and I knew I wouldn't rest easy until I finished the pair.
I learned a valuable lesson or two from those socks. I started that sock many many months ago and had forgotten the pattern. Although both socks are done, they do have differences. I will never wait 6 months to knit a mate, I will make sure that I have 2 sets of the same size dpns and plenty of yarn and will do the next ones simultaneously. That way I can be assured they will match. The heel flaps turned out different, the first one I ribbed and the last one I just used a stockinette stitch. The first one actually fits better and snugger. It has allowed me to see just what a difference a few purl stitches make.
I do plan on using them, for those days when I wish to laze around the house and be a bum. The floors get chilly in the winter and that lovely pair of pastel green socks will ward off the chill nicely.
That's all for now, maybe later I will post a picture of my precious socks.
RRR
I learned a valuable lesson or two from those socks. I started that sock many many months ago and had forgotten the pattern. Although both socks are done, they do have differences. I will never wait 6 months to knit a mate, I will make sure that I have 2 sets of the same size dpns and plenty of yarn and will do the next ones simultaneously. That way I can be assured they will match. The heel flaps turned out different, the first one I ribbed and the last one I just used a stockinette stitch. The first one actually fits better and snugger. It has allowed me to see just what a difference a few purl stitches make.
I do plan on using them, for those days when I wish to laze around the house and be a bum. The floors get chilly in the winter and that lovely pair of pastel green socks will ward off the chill nicely.
That's all for now, maybe later I will post a picture of my precious socks.
RRR
Sunday, January 6, 2008
It's A New Year
Hi Everyone, the holidays are over. I hope everyone had a great Christmas and New Year. We sure did. The kid was home from college for a week and that is always a fun time. I sure miss her when she's gone. The day she left I took down the tree and all the decorations, I usually do this the day after Christmas but put it off this year so I wouldn't have to clean while she was home. It is always bitter sweet and I get emotional when she leaves.
As I was putting away the special Hallmark ornaments that my brother and his wife send as a Christmas gift, I was thinking that next year I should put up several theme trees, say one with only Hallmark ornaments and another with all the ornaments I saved from my parents stash and then maybe a tree just for the ornaments the kids have made over the years. I hope that thought will pass as that sounds like way too much work; and besides, I don't have room for all those trees. Unless I put one up in the garage, not sure hubby would like that.
I did get all my hand work projects done, I felt sort of lost with nothing on the sock needles so.............the Friday after Christmas we decided to go to Las Vegas and take advantage of some after Christmas sales. Husband and daughter thought we were going to LV so they could see the UNLV v. Nicholls State basketball game. As we were getting on the road I started a pair of knee socks that the daughter had requested. She showed some interest and I took that as a sign that she wanted to learn how to knit socks. I just happened to have an extra set of 3.5 double point needles (dpn's) and extra yarn (I try and do both socks at the same time). She took to it like a duck to water and we were knitting like mad women. It became a sort of competition......well, it was really a race against the clock as we had to have the socks done before she headed back out to school.
The knee high sock project worked out well with both of us knitting together (tog) as I was able to show her real time what to do as each step of the way. She actually completed her sock before I did so I showed her how to close the toe with a Kichener stitch. (Someone had to cook and clean, it's hard to knit while doing these chores)
When I finally got back to my sock, she was teasing me saying that her other foot was cold......hurry Mom....... Well, since she had done such a nice job finishing off her sock, I let her finish closing up mine to cement the Kichner stitch firmly in her mind. :)
She wore those socks for the next 2 1/2 days straight. Guess she likes them.
I finally got the computer set up in the gargage so that hubby can do his car repair research without having to traipse through the house and kick me off of my computer. I sent the sock pictures to his NEW email address and he
was so impressed
that he suggested that I send her some dpn's, yarn and a sock pattern so she can keep on knitting socks. Now, isn't that a great idea? Wish I had thought of that.
I had mentioned in an earlier blog that my very first sock did not have a mate yet. The let down of not having to work on a project for Christmas was so great that I decided to finish that PAIR of socks. For some reason this sock is so much easier than my very first one. The yarn is not splitting, I am not fighting with the dpn's.....maybe it is just that now I have more experience. This one is working up very fast. I am over half way done and I just started it yesterday. Interesting.
I have been surfing online looking for new sweater patterns. My friend Jennie is probably getting tired of all the new links to patterns I send her. She is such a GREAT knitter and knits so fast..........you should see her nimble fingers fly. I send her the patterns of the projects that are far too complicated for me...........and things that I think she will really like. Sorry Jennie, I just get so excited and this knitting thing is addictive.
I guess I better sign off here.......I have an urge to go knit on my sock some more.
Until next time. Cheers
RRR
As I was putting away the special Hallmark ornaments that my brother and his wife send as a Christmas gift, I was thinking that next year I should put up several theme trees, say one with only Hallmark ornaments and another with all the ornaments I saved from my parents stash and then maybe a tree just for the ornaments the kids have made over the years. I hope that thought will pass as that sounds like way too much work; and besides, I don't have room for all those trees. Unless I put one up in the garage, not sure hubby would like that.
I did get all my hand work projects done, I felt sort of lost with nothing on the sock needles so.............the Friday after Christmas we decided to go to Las Vegas and take advantage of some after Christmas sales. Husband and daughter thought we were going to LV so they could see the UNLV v. Nicholls State basketball game. As we were getting on the road I started a pair of knee socks that the daughter had requested. She showed some interest and I took that as a sign that she wanted to learn how to knit socks. I just happened to have an extra set of 3.5 double point needles (dpn's) and extra yarn (I try and do both socks at the same time). She took to it like a duck to water and we were knitting like mad women. It became a sort of competition......well, it was really a race against the clock as we had to have the socks done before she headed back out to school.
The knee high sock project worked out well with both of us knitting together (tog) as I was able to show her real time what to do as each step of the way. She actually completed her sock before I did so I showed her how to close the toe with a Kichener stitch. (Someone had to cook and clean, it's hard to knit while doing these chores)
When I finally got back to my sock, she was teasing me saying that her other foot was cold......hurry Mom....... Well, since she had done such a nice job finishing off her sock, I let her finish closing up mine to cement the Kichner stitch firmly in her mind. :)
She wore those socks for the next 2 1/2 days straight. Guess she likes them.
I finally got the computer set up in the gargage so that hubby can do his car repair research without having to traipse through the house and kick me off of my computer. I sent the sock pictures to his NEW email address and he
was so impressed
that he suggested that I send her some dpn's, yarn and a sock pattern so she can keep on knitting socks. Now, isn't that a great idea? Wish I had thought of that.I had mentioned in an earlier blog that my very first sock did not have a mate yet. The let down of not having to work on a project for Christmas was so great that I decided to finish that PAIR of socks. For some reason this sock is so much easier than my very first one. The yarn is not splitting, I am not fighting with the dpn's.....maybe it is just that now I have more experience. This one is working up very fast. I am over half way done and I just started it yesterday. Interesting.
I have been surfing online looking for new sweater patterns. My friend Jennie is probably getting tired of all the new links to patterns I send her. She is such a GREAT knitter and knits so fast..........you should see her nimble fingers fly. I send her the patterns of the projects that are far too complicated for me...........and things that I think she will really like. Sorry Jennie, I just get so excited and this knitting thing is addictive.
I guess I better sign off here.......I have an urge to go knit on my sock some more.
Until next time. Cheers
RRR
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