Pink Halter Top

With Patons Grace,
Pink and Red

Hook: 3.5 mm

Time: about 4-5 hrs.

Knitting a hoodie

Friday, October 24, 2008

Here I am, trying to finish the second hoodie. The one with red and pink yarns.

Meanwhile I tend to do anything else but knit.
I got a sudden craving for a Jansson's Temptation casserole. But I don't have cream or anchovies.

I am on a mini vacation trying to finish my knitting WIPs for the grand kids, and then continue on with my own Kimono Jacket, that is waiting patiently on top of my hoodie yarn pile.
I'm on the hood part on the last hoodie, but my mind keeps wandering every this way and that.

There are too many things in my mind that knitting has become secondary.

I finished the hoodie, finally, and then I heard that our granddaughter really likes the yellow halter top I made for her in 2007. Now she likes pink. Guess what, I started one in Lily cotton yarn on Friday night. My intention was to continue with that yarn and decorate with some other colors.
However, the yarn is more peachy than pink, and I am somewhat crazy about that sort of thing, the color is not perfect, and it bothered me to a great deal. I am sure, Valen would like the halter top, no matter what color.

On Saturday morning I was getting ready for my babysitting event later in the afternoon.
I had the halter top start, design by Margaret Hubert, and three crochet books for toddlers.
I decided to go and visit my long-time yarn store friend, who has a small store
in the eastern part of our city. I have been going there for years. If I want Patons Grace,
or other good quality, not too expensive cotton yarn, I will go there.



This time I wanted pink Patons Grace. Sure enough, she had it, and then I got some
red to improvise the pink.

Needless to say, my hook for Grace was not in the right size, it was for the yarn I had
in my nice black, leather Jordana Paige bag. There I went again, at the hook section.
I found Aero, and Prym hooks and took one of each that might be good for my pink yarn.

On my way towards my son's home, I decided that my DIL needed socks for a birthday
gift, so I stopped at Zellers nearby. Went straight to the yarn section, where else? Haha.
I had almost given up, when I saw this beautiful charcoal colored yarn on the top shelf.

It was Bernat's Alpaca yarn, so soft that I had to feel it over and over again. There was
winter white skein of the same yarn, only one ball, and it looked with its big whitish
eyes at me, and begged me to make a date with that handsome charcoal skein.

Romantic as I am, I complied with that suggestion. Of course, then I needed needles.
Why, oh why they still sell needles in four-sets. I had to get two.
There was a nice surprise at the cash, the yarn was less than the sign on the shelf
had indicated. The needles were more expensive than the sign had said, or what
I thought it had said, but my total was still less than what I had calculated in my head.
I was never good in math at school, by this time of my life, I might have learned
a little bit more.

My babysitting subject, hehe, my grandson was sleeping, and I got into my knitting,
never mind the halter top. The birthday gift had to be done in a few days.

I got to the heel part, and happily did the decreases. Something looked really funny
in that area. I kept counting stitches, and counting decreases, but the bottom of
the heel was still strange looking. Finally my brain cells started receiving the smart
juices and I realized that I had not done that funny short row decrease thingy. (it's "turning
heel flap") It was time to frog. Fortunately the yarn is thick and I didn't lose any
stitches. The sock is now waiting for me to do the flap turning, but I had to find
a sock book that has the same amount of stitches as I do. The book I have for that
is "Not just Socks" by Sandi Rosner. I have made a few big socks, and the pattern
in that book is perfect.

I am not experienced sock knitter. I have done lots of cuffs, but not so
many heels. (in other words, lots of sock starts)

After frogging some of the sock, I put it aside, and started another halter top, the first one can
wait, since I had nice new yarn now. I crocheted quite a few rows, and fortunately it works up
quite fast, so I can get those two halter tops done in plenty of time before our SIL comes to visit.

It's Sunday morning, and I should be either knitting, or getting ready for some milk shopping, or doing laundry, or go to Purple Purl to visit the girls, but the way my mind works this day might
be anything but any of those ideas.

We'll see.

Cable Beret from Caron

Aaaawk, I am transforming to a cat!

I have whiskers growing on my chin.

Here is the pattern for my Cabled Beret that is now done. Everything else is still as a WIP, except the navy blue hoodie.

It was frigggging snowing when I was coming home from work
Here are two short videos showing, if you can see, snow in October 21st, 2008.

Blogger's block

It's been a while, once again.

I am drinking tea! With a little bit of milk and a touch of sugar, just to take the bitterness out. My tea is very strong, just like my coffee, when I make it.

What have I been doing? Knitting like a maniac. Two of our grand kids, live in S.A., their dad is coming to our city on business, in the beginning of November. He is going to stay for a few days, and I have decided to knit hoodies for both kids. One "Wonderful Wallaby" is done, the other is in very good state of startitis. The picture does not show the real color which is very dark navy blue. Showing that, the picture would be quite dark.

When I come home and have checked my e-mail, I sit down with my knitting and hope to get as much as possible done before our son-in-law arrives.

Well, this morning I had to go and visit a physiotherapist, since my extreme knitting has caused some unwelcome pain in my left hand, arm, shoulder blade, and shoulder. It's probably due to the way I sit. When I had tingling in my hands, my doctor told me that "change your sitting position". This was long time before my back surgery and testing for carpal syndrome. He doesn't even think that I am serious when telling him that I have a crazy leg syndrome.

He is semi-retired now, and I had a great young doc on Saturday morning, giving me the referral slip for the physio. I think it's time to start looking for a doc who is current with modern syndromes. Like knitting fingers, crazy legs and so on.

It's been a great day so far. Amazon delivery brought a book for me. Of course I had ordered it, but the amount of books I get from Amazon, they should just bring me some books for fun.

This newest babe in my collection is Nicky Epstein's "Knitted Embellishments"

I have not been able to check the book too much, but what I have

seen is great. Not that I will ever make anything from this book, but looking and imagining of making things has to be enough, for now. I want to add an applique of a car on the hoodie pocket. I'm

sure I can buy one somewhere.

A friend of mine had posted a link to a great block. The lady is in her 80s and writes about politics. Great humorous stuff.

http://margaretandhelen.wordpress.com/

Yes, I voted yesterday. My guy didn't get in, but I voted.

Now I am entitled to complain if the government screws up. Pity that so many people who have the right to vote, didn't. I think only 59% of us voted. SHAME ON YOU ALL who didn't.

I am politically challenged, but I know when to use my civil rights.

The funny thing is that some of those who don't vote, scream and bitch the loudest about

how bad our government is.

I better stop now, before I get too many enemies.

Apple Hat and Cowl

All right then, another hat, and quickie Cowl done.

Pumpkin Hat and Cowl

This was one of those days that startitis hit me.
I had, at work, yarn for a pumpkin hat for my grandson; Kimono Jacket WIP and a hoodie WIP for my granddaughter.

I started the pumpkin hat at my lunch time, and continued when I came home. The pattern is a combination of several Pumpkin Hat patterns from the web. That is why there is no link to the pattern.

As the evening progressed, I started thinking of a gift for a friend, and spent almost an hour looking for yarn which was in my mind for the gift. Guess what, I didn't find that yarn, but found some other yarn that I started using. I also found a pattern almost immediately. It is listed in Ravelry, but linked to this blog. It is called "Quickie Cowl.

These are pictures of the yarn, and the start of the cowl for my friend.

She likes green, and I hope this
gift will please her.

Kimono Jacket

Here is my wip on Kimono Jacket, so far.

Do you like my blocking tools? (scotch tape)

There is no chart or drawing of the pieces with the pattern instructions, but I think that the wider part is one side of the back and the narrow part is part of a sleeve. I could be wrong, but nah, no.

I am loving this work, and can't think of anything else to make right now. Let's see how long this mood is going to last.

This morning I spent over an hour fixing pictures from my Portland trip (over 300 pictures in all), and then, duh, forgot to save the changes.

Must love Picasa, I went back to see if there are any interesting pictures (I had closed the dang thing), and there it was "save the changes?" WOW, I clicked on it, and all my changes are there in my files. Somehow I feel happy. Little things make me happy. Just like seeing all kinds of bridges when sitting in that Max train.

I'm still seriously thinking of knitting a hoodie, but have not found a pattern that I reeeeeellly like. There is a nice pattern in Big Girl's knitting book, called Susie Hoodie, which I like very much.

Startitis strikes again

I was to tell you more about Portland trip, but I got distracted with some new projects.
One of them is a Kimono Striped Jacket, pattern from Crystal Palace Yarns.

Since I am not even near feeling comfortable in those colors, I decided to make mine with colors that suit my whims. This is a sample of my new project.



I have done quite a bit already, and starting to increase stitches to over 280, ack!
Other than that, I have been checking my stash room and finding many UFOs that should be worked on as soon as possible.
However, as my startitis aches my being, I have not been able to work on one project for too long.

Here is some pictures from Portland, just to keep my promise of showing more pictures.




















I really like the costume Laurie was wearing. She even had her "hook" with her.






My freeform vest from the back.










I took a freeform
knitting class with Jenny Dowde. It was an interesting experience. I learned a few new tricks, and lots of inspiration. Jenny is a wonderful instructor, and her work is amazing.









My friend Janet and I spent a wonderful time together. We had smoothies every chance we got, and she told me how to make them at home. We went downtown, got some souvenirs and went to Powell's book store (of course). I bought Melissa Leapman's book "Hot Knits".

We also went to see the artesan, which was overwhelmingly large. I was dead tired by the time we had gone thru four aisles. That meant that we headed back to the hotel to take a rest before dinner and Fashion Show. Janet has some fashion show pictures in her blog.

I was pleased to meet Jorel from California and Bonnie from Washington state. We have "talked" by e-mails in our Freeform group, but meeting the person in real life is a wonderful experience. When I heard someone talking about me behind me, at a lineup in a cafe, I turned around and there was Vashti. WOW,
that was amazing. We had a quick hug, and some words and my smile lasted a long time after that. I guess until I started eating my lunch.










Of course I was also delighted to meet Margaret, Myra, Mel, Noreen, Pam and Crochet Dude, and many, many other friends from our International Freeform group.

Portland, OR part 2

It was early in the morning when I went to the airport. The flight to Vancouver was over 4 hours, which worked out quite well, with some napping and watching the personal screen in front of me.

Vancouver airport. What can I say? It's nice and fairly big, and modern. HOWEVER, why in the friggggging world didn't the builders put some moving walkways? I think I stepped on one or maybe two, and that's it. To get to Portland gate I had to walk forever, and thensome. Plus I had to leave my orange juice bottle at the security, even though I had just bought it, inside the airport.
Oh, I know, I know, you don't have to tell me. And I knew I couldn't take it inside the secure area.

I had a long sip of the juice before I threw it in the bin, where all the other prohibited items were.

As soon as I got to the other side, another bottle was in my bag. Somewhat expensive orange juice, don't ya think?

Portland! Airport! My aim was for Red Lion Hotel by the Convention Center. I remembered the talk about this MAX train. I found it and it was FREE, can you believe it?

Arrived at the hotel, and met Janet, my friend from California. She had driven 1000 miles just to meet me. That is so special.

We settled into our hotel room and chatted and chatted. Then I decided that I was hungry and Janet had no objections. We walked across the street to Burgerville.

I had fish and chips. Janet had sweet potato fries, and a smoothie. My late lunch was great, but I didn't care too much for the sweet potato fries. I took one to taste from Janet's serving.

After the meal we headed towards the convention center and then to the Knit and Crochet Show Vendors' Market.
I did buy yarn, even though I had promised everyone else but me that I would not buy any. How can you resist, when there are so many yummy yarns calling your name. More coming another day.

Portland, OR

I am feverishly working on my freeform vest, and this has been a real ordeal. There has been a lot of frogging, crocheting, tears, heart palpitations, joy, and frustration.

The best part is that I will be leaving on Thursday morning, and getting to Portland in the afternoon.

I am not sure how the vest is going to look, but I will take it with me, and then if there are any
corrections to be made, I will do that when I get back home.

Talk to you after my trip.

Bod Dylan Tribute concert

We went to CNE to listen to a band (The Dylan Tree) that plays Bob Dylan songs. Not that I was a huge fan of Dylan's but he did have some songs that I liked. "Like a rolling stone" and "Tambourine Man" .
(Bob Dylan himself sings the TM in that you tube video)

Before I got my brain working cleverly, the battery in my camera was going down and down. I managed to get one song completely, but only 11 seconds of "Tambourine Man"

The musicians in the band are Canadians, and boy, was a ever impressed of their talent.

While waiting for the concert to begin, I was crocheting, and chatted with a lady from California.
She said that she only uses sc stitch. That's so cool to be able to do that.

Here is a link to Xenobia's site. I think her work is fabulous. I believe that she uses only sc stitch.

Ravelympics 2008

FINISHED my project! It's a freeform bag.
I used stash leftovers, Sherri's homespun, Koigu yarn given to me by Julia, and some beads at the bottom.

August weekend

Our grandson turned one year old.


His party was great. There were lots of kids, lots of moms and dads, grandparents, aunts and uncles.

The table was full of goodies, meatballs, cookies, salads, some other stuff that I don't know the
name for them. Plus, of course hamburgers, hotdogs, chicken, lots of water and other drinks.

The kids were having a ball in the pool, sliding down and playing with water. It was a great day, and even the rain stayed away.

Of course there was the cake, and this little birthday boy had the cake all over him and his face. That's what happens when one eats with his little fingers.

Today is another beautiful day. It was warm and sunny all day. I foolishly stayed inside all day, knitting a scarf for a co-worker, who will have a birthday on Thursday, but since she decided to take a vacation for that day, we are going to have a luncheon for her on Wednesday.
There is no escape here for her. Here is a picture of the scarf. It is done in garter stitch, with
size 5 mm needles. The "yarn" is Eros Herwool. It's some sort of ribbon yarn. There is no way a pattern would show up, so just a plain garter stitch is the best.