Keeping You Abreast.

Went to the knitting shop - JUST TO LOOK - and walked out with three more skeins of Noro yarn. It was so heavenly beautiful - I couldn't resist. Now I have to decide if I want a scarf or maybe a new hat. Are cables difficult? Because I absolutely love this hat. (from this blog)

It's ssssssso cute.

This snake scarf was so fun to knit because it's entirely brainless. . . perfect for us beginner people. And the yarn was so fun and yummy. And my solution to the problem: Will my 6 year old out-grow it by next fall? - is ok because my tomboy girl (4) loves it. Phew. Anyway, there it lies, drying on my ironing board (that's L at the end). I have to crochet a little tongue and attach felt eyes and voila!

Beside this scarf, I am almost out of things to talk about. Knitting projects, that is. Since I overspent the last time I went "knitting" at the local knit shop, now I have to wait until the middle of April to start (buy) anything major . . . which will be a bathrobe for my big kid. I know! A bathrobe! But it's so darn cute and he actually requested it. . . (I've heard this somewhere before). It's from Linda Guy's And So To Bed . . . book.

PROBLEM #1: I've never knit a sweater PROBLEM #2: The size in the book only goes to 4-5 and my 8 year old is in 10-12 (nordic genes) I'm hoping that the lovely lady, from whom I will buy all 100 skeins of wool for this project, will lovingly size my chart for me. (insert smiley face)

Supporting J.K. Rowling . . . oh, and the Troops

I'm not ashamed to admit that beyond all that's going on in the world, what glued me to my chair last night while waiting for the evening news, was the tag for the new Harry Potter book cover, just released. I'm fully aware of how pathetic that is, but there you are.

And since I have no new pictures of my knitting because the only progress made has been more inches on the green snake scarf, I will instead share the new US cover of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

By the way, we are actually at war. Ok, well we're not, but our troops are. And some of our military service men and woman have requested slippers and hats. PERFECT for us knitters (and closet crocheters, achem). The Minnesota Knitters Guild is currently doing this project. But you can by-pass them and go straight to the project website. There are plenty of quick patterns. I've included links to my two favorites. Hat or Lopi Slippers.

The snake scarf is so darn cute and almost done. It's for my 6 year old, L - but here's the clincher. He'll be 7 and in 2nd grade by the time it's cold enough to wear it. I think he may become too cool for it by then. Sniff.

When it rains, it pours!

I received two knitting packages in one day! First, came a book from Amazon that I am beginning to understand is a staple for most obsessive knitters. Knitting without Tears. Not ten minutes later, the dog started woofing at a UPS truck that turned down MY driveway and delivered this beautiful golden package full of patterns I've ordered. Oh, lovely lovely day. I won't even begin to dream about these patterns yet. I've only just begun learning to knit socks, but I'll file them away for a rainy day (and a class or two).

Quick update!

I found Heather. Turns out, she's one of the blogs I visit daily for a good giggle! Just didn't put it together! The ultra-cool sock yarn from the picture below is Katia Jamaica (cotton, color 4004 - the watermelony one and color 402). I bought mine at Knit Wits in Chanhassen. Another great pair I want to knit is HERE.

I finished my 6 year old's 2nd sock, but can't post a picture because it was completed last night around 11:30 PM and he wore them to school this morning. I made him wear his croc-knock-offs so people could see the color through the holes. Who am I kidding? No one cares. (Heather, do you have a 6 year old?!)

If you like mittens . . .

If you love to knit mittens, especially traditional designs, you'll LOVE this! (Click here). I am trying to find out more about this woman and her mittens. When I do, I'll be sure to post the links here! The link is to a blog that features a woman near Ely, Minnesota - Iron World - who has been knitting mittens from around the world. It's really cool.

The picture above is from a book you can get on Amazon - Latvian Mittens. Check your library - Hennepin County has this book.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

I'm not Irish, but here's some green anyway. I ordered a snake scarf kit from Morehouse Farm. They have a bunch of really cute patterns and kits for kid knits. The yarn they sent me did not look like what was on their web site, but I actually like this better. It looks hand-dyed and is striping nicely. I also like a hat I found on their site for E. Or for myself, I guess. I must stay away from new projects until I finish all my socks! I must stay away! I'm almost done with L's first sock and my second 'watermelon' sock is also on it's way.

Also, I'm in the process of shaping the Noro scarf before I sew up the edge and add fringe. I took a picture of it while it was still wet because the colors were even better. The site where I got this pattern is still 'down', but I'll add the link as soon as it comes back. For now, use two skeins of same dye lot - in stockinette stitch - 2 rows skein #1, 2 rows skein #2

I Can't Stop.

I finished the length of the Noro Scarf. I got the pattern here. It needed 4 skeins (Noro Silk Garden Color No. 84, Lot No. D - I bought it from Knit Wits.) The yarn was a bit too expensive for me, so I don't know if I'll do another one. It is beautiful - and if I did it again, I'd use double pointed or circular. I knit this flat which means I'll have to shape and stitch it up the side. I'll also attach fringe and then send it off to a friend who I know will appreciate it.

Couldn't stop myself from starting another sock - this one for Little L. We'll be the family with one sock only. I just can't seem to finish the second socks. Socks for little feet are much faster and I can be confident that I'll only need one skein. This sock yarn is Katia Jamacia. Very fun. This brilliant knitter does two socks at a time on her circular needles! It's too advanced for me at this point. I also bought this yarn at Knit Wits. I'll check back with the name of the yarn.

One Sock . . .

I did it! My first sock. I saw this sock at Knit Wits and bought the yarn/pattern and there you go! Not perfect, but it fits and it's comfortable . . . and cute. The heel stitches are goofy because I was still using my old way of knitting (the wrong way). And I bound off on the outside of the sock because I couldn't figure out how to turn the sock inside out with the needles still attached (and I was too lazy to take the needles off). I'm already onto my second sock. I know what my poor family and friends will be getting for Christmas 2007!

The Noro scarf length was finished, but I'm not happy with it. So I went and bought two more skeins and I'm going to knit another foot. If I make this again, I'll do this on double pointed or round needles. Size 9 or 10 and about 35-40 stitches. I already bound it off, so I'll have to unravel it a bit and hopefully not goof it up too much. We'll see. It's really pretty, but the yarn is expensive . . . and 4 skeins? I don't know if I'd do this one again unless someone buys the yarn for me. It's fun to knit because the colors are so awesome and you never know what combination you'll get.