Swatchless

In 2 months, over 2000 unique visitors have come from 60 countries to visit my little corner of the internet.  We had some cake to celebrate!

Here comes my A-Ha moment–I’m a blogger now!  2 months ago I never would have imagined it.  It’s been a good challenge to blog daily.  I’ve been more productive, and more creative recently, and that feels great!  Thanks to everyone who is following along….

Now, it’s your turn…audience participation required

Thanks to the wonders of analytics….here are some of the more “unique” search phrases that have brought you here.

• “how to dye roving outside when it is cold outside”
• “how to make a hat out of copper scrubbies”
• “how to start spinning milkweed fluff”
• “how to tie a sinai bedouin scarf”
• “how to make two person mitten”
• “how to wash thrummed mittens”
• “how to make intricate friendship bracelet with string”

Now….for the fun….which of these topics would you like me to explain to you (some may require more research on my part than others)

Vote in the comments.  (Voting closes on Jan 1 2010)

Last year at this time I was madly knitting. This was the WORST case of second sock syndrome that I had ever experienced. The pattern is Rhiannon Socks [Ravelink] by Cookie A. They are wonderfully intricate knee high cabled socks with fold over cuffs. As soon as I saw them I thought they’d be perfect for kilt socks! Who would want to cover up these beauties?!

This entire project was also my first real experience in stealth knitting. Although I saw the recipient weekly, I didn’t know them well enough to know their shoe size. It’s also a little awkward to casually work in calf circumference in day to day conversation. I tried to give the measurement mission to their family, but that was unsuccessful. I tried several times to line up my feet with theirs during a quick conversation to gauge how my foot would compare. In the end, without proper measurements, I was left to
pass the sock in progress around to all my male relatives for them to try on guess.

thanks mysterious sock model #1

The first sock was completed in the summer. I thought that I’d have plenty of time to finish the other one in the fall, but….somehow miles and miles of knitting cables on tiny needles just didn’t seem all that appealing. November came and went (why does October always disappear so fast?). Suddenly it was December, I had only one sock and a cuff of another. I was determined to finish that second sock to present to the recipient on Christmas day. This may have involved an all-nighter or three, and I may still have been finishing knitting them while opening my stocking on Christmas morning, but these socks were ready to be presented that afternoon!

I didn’t let them out of my sight without a full photo shoot, of the front….

thanks mysterious sock model #2

and the back…

thanks mysterious sock model #2

And this is the first time that the recipient wore them with the kilt. These must be the hottest ankles in town. The wool itself [Knit Picks Bare Fingering Yarn] is not thick, but the cables do add bulk which does tend to trap heat. I really appreciate that the socks were worn on such an important occasion. It means so much when a knitter’s hard work gets displayed!

super stealth sock photo

This was one of the biggest, craziest gifts I’ve ever made. I’m sticking to smaller projects this year!

Today my mom invented something AWESOME!

NINJABREAD MEN!! Photo credit: @ninjarunner

Here’s our family recipe for Gingerbread cookies, passed down from my great aunt.

• 2.5 cups flour
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 2 tsp cloves
• 2 tsp ginger
• 1.5 cups sugar
• 1 cup butter
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons molasses

Cream butter and sugar.  Add egg and molasses.  Mix dry ingredients and combine with the wet ingredients.  Chill dough.  Roll and cut into shapes.  Chill shapes on pan before baking so they don’t spread too much.

Bake @ 400 F for 5-8 minutes

Yield 3-4 dozen cookies.

Now….to turn some cookies into NINJABREAD men you need to add some green food colouring to a portion of dough, and decorate the finished cookies with coloured royal icing.

Royal Icing Recipe

1/4 cup meringue powder
1/2 cup water
4 cups sifted powdered sugar, perhaps 1/2 cup more

In large beater bowl, mix meringue powder with water. Beat until it peaks. Add the 4 cups powdered sugar and beat until light and fluffy, adding up to 1/2 cup more for desired stiffness.

Every day is a learning opportunity.  I know that I learn so much in the day-to-day interactions with people.  I make it my goal to keep learning new things even though it’s been a while since I was last taking a formal class.

Today, the learning opportunity comes in the form of an experiment. As a good science student, here’s my “pre-lab” writeup.

Experiment:  Felted Elf Slippers

Question:  Is it possible to make a pair of felted Elf Slippers before Christmas?

Hypothesis:  If sleep is ignored and other tasks abandoned it will probably be possible to finish knitting the slippers.  Time until Christmas in this case is the independent variable, and caffeine consumption is another independent variable that will work to decrease the amount of sleepiness.  Large gauge needles will decrease the time taken to complete the socks, but the immensity of the pre-felted slipper will counteract any advantage given by the needle size.  Felting has many variables (washing machine, water temperature, time) and since it is the first experience with felting, results will be unpredicted.

Materials:

• Cascade 220 1 skein dark green
• Cascade 220 1 skein bright green
• 6.5mm DPN

Procedure:

Refer to Flint Knits Felted Elf Slipper pattern

Data:

Image courtesy of Through The Loops

Dec.22.2009  11:00 PM  Inspiration hits. Wool run planned for 23rd

Dec.23.2009  4:00 PM  Wool run  to Wool-Tyme.  Cascade 220 and needles acquired.

Dec.23.2009  7:00PM  Cast-on first slipper

Dec.23.2009  10:00PM  Astounded by size of slipper in progress, caffeine consumed

Dec.24.2009  12:30AM  Overcome by sleep.  Slipper 1 complete

Dec.24.2009  8:30AM  Caffeine consumed, slipper 2 cast on

Dec.24.2009  10:30AM  Second Slipper Syndrome Already?  Break for nourishment/present wrapping/delivery.

Dec.24.2009  1:00PM  Successful Santa mission, and delivered an awesome hat to a cute little boy

Dec.24.2009  2:33PM  Second slipper is growing.  Decision made:  gift could be pre-felted slippers….if time runs out.  Then they could be felted-to-fit….that sounds like a good plan, right?

Dec.24.2009 5:12PM Second slipper is 8 inches from completion.  Must rest fingers and wrap more gifts.

Dec.24.2009 7:30PM Digested dinner and knit 8 inches by the fire.

Dec.24.2009 10:30PM Church break.

Dec.25.2009 1:00AM DONE….ends sewn in and everything.

I had only this much yarn left over!  About 2 meters…..Cutting it close!!!

Since late night early morning felting sounds like an all around disaster a BAD idea, the HUMONGOUS slippers are under the tree, and will be felted to fit tomorrow afternoon between turkey basting sessions.

Dec.25.2009 11:30AM  Slippers unwrapped, and tried on.  Dad confused by size.  They fit like a hat!

Dec.25.2009 12:30PM  Slippers put in a zip up pillow case and washed (no soap) in washing machine.  Settings: low water level, hot temperature.

Dec.25.2009 1:00PM  Felting accomplished!  Slippers stuffed with plastic bags drying on heating register, and in front of the fire.

Dec.26.2009 1:00PM Slippers still slightly damp.  Gave up and put them in dryer for 15 minutes.

Dec.26.2009 1:20PM  Slippers are done and being worn.

Conclusions:  Felting works.  Pre-felted items are HUGE, but shrink down to a very nice size.  It is possible to knit a pair of elf slippers and felt them in a day and a half.  The drying is the unexpected variable.  It took a very long time to dry!

before felting

After Felting

I’d recommend the CRAFT VIDEO App for Knitting to beginner knitters. This app compiles Youtube videos explaining basic stitches, and some simple projects. There is a particularly nice 4 part video lesson in making socks cuff down, which teaches how to cast on and knit in the round, turn a heel, and how to graft a toe.

Although these videos are all on Youtube, the $0.99 is worth it to have good videos collected for you, and made available in the palm of your hand. I look forward to seeing more patterns available, or more complicated stitches like lace knitting or cables, or how to knit socks two at a time with the magic loop method.

There is a chat feature as well, which could be useful if lots of knitters were online using the app. You could always find someone in some timezone that is awake and knitting! I could see this being a great help for late night knitting emergencies.

Published by Interave Media LLC, it was released October 9th 2009, and was last updated November 24th 2009.

What did I learn? Not much actually. But then again I’m not a beginner.
What would I use? The toe grafting video would be a help. That is a skill that I often forget (but I knit socks toe-up which doesn’t use grafting). The chat might be fun once it gets more popular.

Beginners out there, try it and let me know what you think.
Best iPhone apps at AppStoreHQ

Ravelry is not new to me this year, but I seem to be regularly informing new knitters about what a great website it is.

If you are a knitter/crocheter/weaver/spinner and have not signed up for a free membership do so now!  Add me as a friend.  My name is knitaddict.

Ravelry is like facebook for knitters.  It is an online community where you keep track of your projects in your online notebook where you share pictures of your work.  You can also search an online database of patterns (many are free).  You can look up different yarns, or find projects recommended for a certain yarn that you already have.  You can find friends by geographical region, or by common taste in knitting patterns. There are groups and forums to ask for help, or discuss just about any topic imaginable!

knitaddict's Ravelry notebook

There is a messaging function, where you can send questions and comments to people about their projects, or to designers about their patterns.  I’ve found this part very useful.  How many times have you wanted to ask “What did you mean by this line in your pattern”, but of course, without this forum for communication you were left to give up make something up….

There’s a store (no membership required) with so many things you could get for your favourite knitter. T-shirts, tote bags, buttons, pins, pint glasses….I bought a shirt from them last year and was very pleased with the service.  Many of the items are designed by fellow “ravelers”

Image Courtesy of Ravelry.com "A Daily Dose of Fiber"

In 2008 many of us gathered together to participate in the Ravelympics, and many have already joined up for the 2010 competitions.  Events are still being finalized, but stay tuned to the forums for more information.  It is a lot of fun to challenge yourself to finish a certain number of projects during the span of the games

my patterns on Ravelry.com

Recently I became a “designer” on Ravelry, which lets me post my patterns, and sell them.  I’ve got several free patterns available, and my Red Olympic Mittens pattern is for sale (raising money for the Penguins Can Fly swim club for disabled children).  I’m enjoying the chance to share my creativity with others.  So often knitters feel isolated, fighting against many stereotypes….but now we have a place where we can all find each other!

Although a great source of inspiration, it is possible to spend TOO MANY hours gazing at beautiful projects and yarns….

Consider yourself warned!

So….I’ve finished another project! Hopefully I’ll get organized to mail these soon.

Small Fox Socks:

2.5mm needles, 100% GEORGA wool, 100 g blue, 100g green. Undyed Kroy held doubled 50 g. scraps of orange, peach, black and brown for fox motif

Pattern Notes: Figure of 8 cast on 16 sts in blue.

Increase every alternate row to 56 sts.

*Knit 1 round white, Knit 8 rounds green, Knit 1 round white, Knit 8 rounds blue*

Repeat from * to * once

Gusset: Increase every alternate row maintaining stripe pattern (green, white, blue, white, green, white)

Heel: Put center 28 sts on one needle. *Knit in blue to the last two sts. K2tog. Turn. Purl to the last two sts. P2tog.* repeat from *to* until 10 sts remain.

Pick up and knit 9 sts from each side of the heel (28 sts on needle). turn.

*Purl heel stitches until one st. remains. Purl it together with a gusset stitch. turn. Knit heel stitches until one remains. Knit it together with a gusset stitch. turn.*

Continue from * to * until all gusset stitches have been incorporated.

Leg: (60 sts in round). Continue knitting in striped pattern for two more repeats.

Knit 1 round white, 1 round blue, 18 rounds white, 1 round blue, 1 round white

Cuff: K1 P1 for 15 rounds. Cast off in ribbing.

Fox Chart: work in duplicate stitch. Leave one row of white on top and bottom of chart.

These socks are to replace THESE socks that were lost in the mail.

Have you seen my pattern for Olympic Red Mittens yet?

Being fairly new to designing knitting patterns, I was so excited when I was asked several weeks ago to design a hat for K’s toddler.  The requirements were that it be an “elf” hat with more than just Christmas colours.  I learned that “elf hat” means long and pointy. K requested that it have some patterned sections and stripes.  We agreed that ear flaps and ties would be very useful and a pompom would be fun too.  So after a chat and a quick sketch, and some toddler measurements, I went home to think and draw….but nothing much happened.

I bought some lovely “crayon coloured” acrylic yarn….I know….I usually don’t buy acrylic, but this hat is for a kid and it will need to be washed from time to time without felting.  Still…..no inspiration….

Amazing when inspiration hits isnt it?  I can honestly say that I must have dreamed up the design.  Yesterday I had yarn in a basket, and a bit of a graph coloured in.  Today I have a hat!  (I don’t have any groceries or laundry done, but that’s beside the point)

Pattern details will be coming shortly (I have to remember what I did!)

The hat is knit on 4mm needles.  The yarn is called HIT by Schoeller + Stahl.  I knit with the yarn doubled and paired it with some Red Heart Acrylic that I had left over from knitting robot hats.  The HIT is really nice to work with.  I’ll have to think up another fun project with all the yarn that’s left over.

Now…on to the next.  Plenty of Christmas knitting awaits, but that’s top secret for now.  I wonder what I’ll dream up tonight!

Happy Holidays Everyone!

I have been looking for a project that could be finished quickly.

Something that with minimum effort would give maximum results….

And it has to be festive.

I decided that it would have to be a TINY project.

One that is small enough to fit in a little glass ball, and hang from my Christmas tree.

Instructions….Just in case you are in the mood for some tiny festive knitting

Mini Striped Sock (toe-up)

With 2.0mm needles and laceweight red yarn cast on 8 sts (figure of 8 method)

Knit in round increasing at either side of the toe every round until 16 sts in round

Knit in alternating red and white stripes (I did it so there were 5 white stripes)

Make a short row heel in red

Continue knitting up the leg of the sock (16 sts in round) in alternating red and white stripes (I did it so there were 7 white stripes)

Knit 4 rounds of K1P1 ribbing. Cast off in ribbing.

Mini Mittens (make 2 and put on string)

Cast on 10 sts in the round with white

Knit 3 rounds white

Knit 1 round red

K1 red K1 white around

K1 round red

K1 round white

put two stitches on spare yarn for thumb

Cast on 2 sts over thumb hole

Knit 5 rounds.

K1 K2tog until 2 or 3 sts remain. Draw yarn through remaining sts and pull tight.

THUMB: pick up 2 sts from scrap yarn, and 2 sts from above thumb.

Knit 3 rows on those 4 sts.

K2tog twice

Pull yarn through sts, and pull tight.

Santa Hat:

Cast on 20 sts in white.

Purl 3 rounds white

Knit 6 rounds red

Decrease. K3 K2tog until 3 sts. remain.

Knit remaining 3 sts in white for 3 rounds.

Cast off. Tie tail yarn around where the white joined the red to make it look like a pompom.

Festive Knitting: (sticks and strings)

Cast on 10 sts in white. Knit 4 rows. Knit 4 rows green. Knit 4 rows white.

Transfer stitches to round toothpicks that have been cut in two.

Wrap up the ends into small balls of wool (use a half hitch to secure the ball so it wont unwind)

suspend from both ends of needles.

What should come next???

Note: Glass balls were purchased from Michael’s Craft Store.

Have you seen my pattern for Olympic Red Mittens yet?

Ossama! He was our tour guide in Jordan, and from the first smiles on the bus, I knew that it was going to be a fun 5 days together. From impromptu Arabic lessons on the bus, to stories about the different archaeological digs, and stories about his own family, Ossama added a personal touch to our tour. He spent time with all of the group, getting to know each of the 14 of us, and asking us about our countries and lives.

fashion lessons on the bus

Even though he has been to all of these places so many times before, he presented each historical site with enthusiasm. He showed us through Petra, pointing out things that we would never have noticed on our own. He showed us around the Wadi Rum desert in the footprints of Laurence of Arabia. It was that night, camping under the stars in the desert that we got to really appreciate his sense of humour. Thanks Ossama to being on scorpion patrol!

At the end of the trip, we exchanged contact information, and have continued to be penpals over the last few months. I’m glad to have made such a nice friend in a far away land. I’m learning so much about the everyday life of a tourguiding nomad!

To thank him for his fantastic tourguiding, I made him some lovely wool socks for his birthday….but they got lost in the mail (which makes me quite upset).

the missing socks

So, Ossama….I’m sorry that these haven’t found you yet. When you are in Amman, take a close look at the footwear of those around you. Let me know if you find these socks walking around somewhere. You’ll know they are yours….they have a “small fox” on each sock.

(for the knitting geeks out there: Socks were knit cuff down, and fox sewed in afterwards with duplicate stitch)