Tuesday, February 28, 2012

WIPs And Another Stocking

 

On the needles now, a sweet summer shrug

using a bright solid green and trimming in

Green Strings Mountain Meadow

This photo was taken last night and is now much further along.  I’m working on the collar and the sleeves will be next.  Should be completed tonight with possibly a touch of embellishment if there are enough scraps left

Fresh Spring 003

Also on the needles a Something Beautiful Shrug (which I also would like to complete tonight)

It will coordinate with the Capri's shown.  The Capri’s have been my car knitting all winter.  Train delays, school pick up/drop off…they’ve nearly become a permanent fixture in my car.  Time to getrdone!  The cuffs and ruffles will depend on how much of the colorway is left once the shrug is completed.  I’ve no idea what the colorway is actually called, I’ve lost the wrapper so…I call it “Mom’s Iris’” My mom used to grow the most beautiful Iris where ever we lived…they always meant home to me & yes, I have a boatload of Iris growing in my flower beds

Moms Itis set 001

Stocked to the Katidids Etsy shop this morning a couple of Spring/Summer knits…

Small Shorties using 100%Purewool in the colorway red-brown….which is actually shades of lovely pinks & chocolate.

Pri's & shorties 001

Also a pair of SMSS Bloomers without the ribbon eyelets.

A nice summer weight Gaia

Pri's & shorties 002

Both are freshly laundered, lanolized and ready to ship.

Well better get busy

Stay warm out there!

Katie

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Shorties Stocking and a Custom

Stocked to the Katidids Etsy Shop large shorties sing Mosaic Moons “Seadragon”

Looking back through my notes I think this was one of the first “Mosaic Moon” skeins I’d purchased.  It had been buried in the wool bin till the other day…

Cabled slouch hat 010 Knit on Targee a nice sturdy & long wearing wool.  They are lanolized and ready to ship.

 

A YYMN custom

Star Crossed Slouchy Beret by Natalie Larson

knit using squishy & warm Manos del Uruguay Maxima

Cabled slouch hat 022

Photo showing hat drying on a full sized dinner plate

Cabled slouch hat 026

The hat was knit to coordinate with her “Bella Mitts” knit earlier this month.

 

On the needles now is a YYMN “Butterfly Cowl” I should have completed this afternoon & a pair of shorties that are waiting for the ends to be woven in. I hope to have them stocked Monday.

Hope your having a great weekend!

Stay warm out there

Katie

 

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Be Patient, Test Knit

Another winner from Dakine Knits!

The last in the “Be” series based on the Fruits of the Spirit.

(Galatians 5: 22-23)of the “Be”Series.

This is pattern #9 of this wonderful collection.

Cabled slouch hat 007

Single color Honeycomb version

Be Patient2 003This pattern has 2 options,  simple and quick, you will use worsted weight yarn for a simple stockinet stitch beret/slouchy hat. If you are ready for a challenge and some patience, choose 2 coordinating colors of DK weight yarn for the Honeycomb version.

As with most of her patterns there is sizing options of child to adult and are available through Ravelry or, The Dakine Knits Hyena Cart Shop. Very clear directions and a fun knit

Have a great weekend and stay warm out there!

Katie

 

 

Friday, February 24, 2012

Lovely Loot!

A while back I started following a wonderful knitting blog “Two sides of the Same Stitch”  It’s a tech knitting, fear stomping, educational blog written by 2 women Gwen & Kellie. Designers, teachers, daughters, Mom…. they write dropping nuggets of knitting gold through their blog posts.  

Recently Kellie wrote this post asking readers what knitting tricks they used…well from this post they had a drawing and……I won!

I feel like I should talk like a pirate Arrr, look at this booty!  A treasure box to be sure..

A sweaters worth of Comfort cotton! 

Totally drool worthy..I’d not used it before and plan to be selfish and knit for ME

Same stitch prize box 017

“The Knit Kit”, which is a self contained package of nearly any tool a knitter would need….a “Fix a stitch”..both of which will be invaluable

Same stitch prize box 018Same stitch prize box 019

 

A beautiful Shawl Pin…I’ve been looking for one to use with a test knit YEAH!!Same stitch prize box 020

This adorable Wacky Woolies Key ring (LOVE)!

Same stitch prize box 021

It Itches which is a HOOT!

Same stitch prize box 024

And at the bottom of the box this fun book of crochet designs by Lucinda Guy

Same stitch prize box 022It wasn’t even out of the box and I was flipping pages (how fun is this!) so,

 Same stitch prize box 023

Imagine my surprise when I did pick up the book and found even MORE!

This great project bag from Tangled String (perfect for sock knitting) and a beautiful beaded Clover Thread Cutter Pendant

Tangled String 001

And 2 more smallish clear bags for tools…which will be great to have filled with my new tools, ready in my knitting go bags!

Same stitch prize box 026

Was I right?

Is this a treasure box or what!

Arrr, Lovely booty!

THANK YOU!!!!

Each will be put to good use!

 

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Newborn Sweetness

I love knitting longies and shorties but newborn items are some of my favorite’s.

No matter what color or style you use they’re just so sweet & offer nearly instant gratification.

This set is for a long time customer of mine who is expecting a little lady to join her lovely family in the next week.  So, she is receiving the hat she requested and a bit more.

Mosaic Moon Birthday Girl on BFL…oh the squishiness!

Please excuse the unblocked photos

Tia's set 005

Fae Folk Hat( Pattern by Carina Spencer SMSS) sans ties for a newborn

Tia's set 003

Simple “grow with me” newborn booties.. that stay on

Tia's set 002

I hope she enjoys using this set as much as I did knitting it

Stay warm out there

Katie

Friday, February 17, 2012

First’s in the mail

One of my knitting goals for the year is to learn to play with cables.  Get over the irrational fear of cables and learn to actually play with them….Well, the fear is gone and the play has begun.  I’ve been doodling a few ideas and hope to cast on soon.

I know I’m not the only one who gets to cozy in a comfort zone and is afraid to stretch.  I’ve been trying to figure out where it comes from & think at one point I was overwhelmed with needed items and didn’t have the time for errors or mistakes.  Now I’ve more free time & have goals to make myself stretch…..step even further out of that comfort zone.  Care to join me?

Another knitting goal was to knit Gloves. 

As in, gloves with fingers, not mitts or mittens but actual finger cozy gloves.  Then I had a customer ask me to knit gloves for her husband. GAH!! I wasn’t ready..but it was just the push I needed.

I’d played with a couple of patterns and 3/4 of the way through frogged them both. They just didn’t make since.  The construction was wonky for lack of a better term.  After they sat for a day or so I looked through Ravelry again and found Ken, don’t tell my husband but…..we had a love affair.

Ken by Berroco Design Team

YYMN Custom knit using Berroco “Campus” to coordinate with The Manly Hat

003

Very well written pattern,  easy to follow with the details written well enough for a novice and sized perfectly for a mans hands. This is one pattern I know will stay in my knitting  arsenal and will be making many more.  One thing I would change for ladies use is a worsted weight.  The Campus is a bit of a thick~in~thin which  made for a fuller palm so a few stitches would possibly be decreased or omitted or if you were knitting for a smaller hand.

 

And a pair of Bella’s Mitts

A YYMN using Manos del Uruguay Maxima.  Since this is a worsted weight I added an additional 4 stitches, 2 in the palm and one on either side of the cable to enlarge the size

WIPS 003

So soft and squishy I know the Mama will love them

Longies on the needles and summer knits are in the works.  If there is a size or color your looking for be sure and give me a shout out.

Stay warm out there!

Katie

Thursday, February 2, 2012

6 More weeks, Really?

What crazy weather we’ve been having……a statement I’m hearing from everyone lately.  Areas that are generally mild are getting hit with lots of snow, others  such as ours have simply had dustings. First time in years we didn’t have a white Christmas.  Yesterday & today its low 60’s and the doors are open….not that I’m complaining I love the fresh air.  But its like mother nature is teasing me. 

I want so badly to get out and putter in the garden. At least I can use this mild weather to weed the strawberry bed and lessen the work in the spring. We’ve been the recipients of weekly loads of rabbit poo to be dumped in the garden.  We’d had quite a bit to mulch with last year and the veggies loved it!  I’m expecting this year to be even better as all we’ve received this winter will be tilled prior to planting.  Never thought I’d be so excited about poo~

It’s been a while since I’ve updated here & there is a lot to catch up on.

The addition is pretty much done. We’ve yet to finish off the studio but, Larry (the most awesome husband) brought me home an 8 ft table so I can set up the sewing machines.  The wool is all organized in bins & needless to say there is more than I thought.    Translate that to mean I could have insulated the new addition with wool if I’d needed to!  Yes, gathered all together there is A LOT more than I thought taking up much needed space…which means I need to get busy knitting.  I could store some down in the land from which people never return basement but  I know me and it would be out of sight out of mind. 

I’ve photo’s aplenty on the lap top I’ll post once It gets home from the computer surgeon.  Seems I had some nasty virus that was shutting everything down.  It’s due to be done today but I’m not holding my breath.

We’ve had a few changes as I mentioned earlier.  A new baby added to the family and a wedding in May OF THIS YEAR for our oldest daughter Danielle.

Which means there will be a lot of DIY projects to come

Stay tuned!

Katie

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