Tea Cozy Tuesday CAL/KAL

I joined the Tea Cozy Tuesday group on Ravelry.  

Tea Cozy Tuesday Cal/Kal 

There are a few teapots in my house, but they don't get used.  I tend to fill a cup, nuke it and put in a teabag.  Very practical, right?   I took a look at the teapots I own, not really practical.  One was from the china set I picked out before I got married and a pretty guided purple flower one.  So I went to the local flea market shops and was pleased with the two simple ones that are different shapes.  I won't feel bad when I put a cover on these.

January starts us off with a cute Aran Sweater Tea Cozy pattern by Patons.  I used a skein of LionBrand Wool-Ease in Wheat colorway that I picked up somewhere along the way.  Lots of fun cables, so I had to color code my chart to make sure I paid attention.  I ripped back quite a few times just because I thought I knew what I was doing.  OK, those of you that know me are laughing, please don't hurt yourself!  Making a cheat sheet with the each cable's directions really helped since two were pretty similar.  It was a quick knit and fun to watch the cable being created.

Looking through my button stash always makes me happy for some reason.  Maybe it is having a connection to the past, I inherited my grandmother's sewing supplies.  Found some old ones that look like they belong on an old comfy sweater.  The fit could be better, I didn't think of my teapot size before I got started.  Everyone talks about gauge, it could have helped here going down a needle size or two.  This picture is before blocking, I was so excited to put it on my new teapot.  

I can't wait to see what the crocheted cozy will be like for February.  Join me!

 

Double Moss Stitch Neck Warmer Pattern

I am excited to be able to link this pattern for anyone who wants to give it a try.  The Double Moss Stitch Neck Warmer pattern is free, copy  it below. (You can save it as a PDF if you like)  I originally designed this for my sister Charlie's birthday and included some fingerless mitts.

Enjoy!

Yarn to Dye for

I had a lot of fun the other day playing with Pass egg dye and Koolaid.  I am a member of 'The Dyer's Notebook' group on Ravelry, which has a contest going for the month of April.  We submitted pictures to be swapped for inspirational dying.  I received this great picture of pink hydrangeas after a frost.

I wasn't completeley pleased with the results, so more dying happened.

How fun is that?  I lost the golden colors during the second dying, but I'm very pleased with the results. 
Koolaid, egg dyes, and food coloring are safe ways to get started that are inexpensive. 

Here are some links to help you along the way:

• Knitty.com - Dyed in the Wool - Koolaid
• Dyeyouryarn.com - Easter egg dyes
• Dyepot Confidential Video - Using a crockpot & 'real' dyes

Have fun and see what you can do!

Knitting is Enjoyable

There are so many things I enjoy about knitting. 

 

The search through patterns looking for something that strikes my fancy.  So many creative designers, I will never be able to knit everything pattern I save/purchase.  I believe in libraries, the buildings with books and our 'stash' libraries full of patterns.  Necessary, very necessary for creativity. Some of my favorite designers right now: Stephen West, Thea Colman, and Laura Linneman.


My Hope by Laura Linneman








Rockefeller by Stephen West



Finding the right yarn for a project is another fun aspect of knitting.  There are so many yarn brands out there, plus choosing the fiber content.  Living in Louisiana, 100% wool isn't always the perfect choice, so I have begun using  bamboo, silk and rayon (natural cellulose fiber).  Then there is color choice.  I love color, many of us remember playing with combinations using our 64 ct. box of  Crayola crayons.  They have changed some of the names over the years, but the effects of different combinations still awakens the senses. 

What are your favorite colors combos?   

With all of the Indie dyers that create incredible yarns, it can be overwhelming.  I am having fun finding new yarn when I visit my husband. You must touch it and see the colors in person to really appreciate it.  Here are some that I keep up with thru their video blogs: Fibernymph Dyeworks, Highland Handmades, and Gynx Yarn.  Other well known artists: Unwind Yarn Company,  Dancing Dog Dyeworks, Araucania,  Sweet Georgia Yarns, and MadelineTosh.  There are so many dying techniques, go out there and find your favorite. Many have yarn clubs you can join.  I haven't done that yet, but receiving a package of yarn or fiber and other fun goodies sounds wonderful.  Many of the colorways are limited to the yarn clubs and difficult to get.

Ranco Multi by Araucania

The process of creating the project gives me so much pleasure.  Tackling a new technique builds up my confidence and getting compliments on a beautiful shawl makes me happy.  I don't always take my time and enjoy slowly knitting for the sake of knitting, mostly because I already want to wear the beloved knit.  Patterns and yarn can be addictive.  Just one more row, repeat, or color change...

Giving a knit to someone who appreciates all the hours it took to make the gift.  Cherishing the time spent thinking about the past, present and future.  And then there are prayers sent heavenward for the recipient.


 



Charlie's Horse Shawl & pin

 


 



Went to Suzie in South Dakota
to keep her warm.

 


 



Made from Jean's yarn stash
for my Sister-in-Laws



We knit because we love to,

therefore we knit because we love.

I enjoy watching Knitting Video Blogs

I have a solitary job and it is really nice to spend part of my day with friends who knit.  Video blogs help me stay connected.  I started watching TheKnitGirllls over a year ago, and soon had about 5 that I check on each week.  Fibernymph.com, thefiberistafiles.com, knitting in Circles Podcast, Round the Twist, It would be great to have 2 new ones each weekday, so I look around occasionally to find ones that suit me. 

I want to wish the Stockinette Zombies a Happy Birthday on their 1 year anniversary!

I hope all your knitting is going smoothly

 and you are learning new stitches

and techniques to add to your arsenal. 

The KG Square Swap #2

 
I am happy to say I received my second swap square from Erin of Ellettsville, Indiana.  It is a very pretty knit/purl square block.  She was kind enough to send the rest of the Knit Picks Simply Cotton in worsted, Bermuda Heather.  I will be able to make up my own squares now to match.  I am excited.

It has been fun finding squares to make for someone I don't know.  Finding out what they prefer in pattern, color and the goodies to include.  I have my next victim...what should I do to them this time?



Join a Square Swap and make friends!

The Reunion Catkin (w/ correction)

 

I am happy to say I have finished my Catkin by Carina Spencer.   I made it out of Madelinetosh Merino Light in the Oxblood and Rosewood colors.  I was trying to come up with a cute name for my Catkin using the color names, but with ox & blood nothing sounded right: Oxrose, Bloodrose, Oxwood, Bloodwood.  It is too pretty to have an unpleasant name.  It is my Reunion Catkin since I made it to wear to the football game back home during my 30 year reunion.  Go Tigers!  Our school colors are/were maroon & gold, as you can see.  This yarn is a single ply and a dream to knit with.  Since it is very round, the stitches pop.  I did find that where I had to rework an area, the yarn wanted to untwist itself a little, but I don't think it hurt the finished project.  I won't call myself a yarn snob yet, but I am beginning to really appreciate all the wonderful choices out there.



Madelinetosh Merino Light



I am still trying to figure out what I did to cause the short row effect right at the beginning/neck area.  Maybe I increased every other row and should have been every row for awhile.  I thought it would block out, but it didn't.



Once I get some blocking wires, I will try it again.  The length was 42" and should be 50", so it can block out some more with the wires helping me.  I found some cute hexigon shaped metal buttons at Hancock Fabrics, used a coupon and was pleased it cost only $3.50 for 2 cards or 8 buttons.  I didn't get a close-up of them for you, I forgot.  You can still see the yarn ends from where the buttons were sewn on.  lol
 

Finally on knit rows!



This has been a challenge for me.  I read from a chart, actually it has Chart 1 for the tan area, then Chart 2A, Chart 2B and Chart 2C for the color work section.  There was some ripping back, dropping and correcting stitches.  I am pleased to say that I took the time to get it right.  Now if I can only find out what I did wrong that made that funny bump...

UPDATE: I found out what I must have done wrong on my Reunion Catkin.  After reblocking, (thanks MrsAbi) I had way too much in the center back.  I folded it back on itself, pinned it and tried it on; and yes, the increases were wrong.  I increased every other row on both sides instead of every row.  The best way I could figure to make the corrections was to create a provisional cast-on where the tan color began.  Working the maroon back to the beginning would allow the cute slip stitch on each edge.  It isn't as neat since it works better with the increase as designed, rather than the decreases.  So far so good.  I know my tan was the correct # of stitches and I am working backwards decreasing both ends on every row.  I'm not sure if I will be able to do the final 4 stitches to look like the 4K edging, but that is at the basee of the neck & no one will really see it.  I have learned alot about fixing errors on this project.  I will call that a good thing

Reworking the Catkin, lol



Find a challenge and knit it.