This is from the Lacy Round dishcloth pattern. I like the pattern because it's interesting to knit and easy to remember. I also love the Buttercreme colorway of this SnC yarn:
I'm still struggling with my finishing techniques. Here's a close up of the seam. I wish I knew how to make it invisible.
I'm done! Here's the front:
A close up of the crochet flower:
Here's the back:
And a close up of the picot edging on the neck and arms.
I completely forgot yesterday that I have a holiday dinner with my knitting guild scheduled for today. My workout buddy reminded me. The thing is, we have to bring a knitted ornament.
Luckily, I had already decided early on what I wanted to knit, so I had the pattern saved. It whipped up really quickly (I'd say about an hour). I did the bottom a little differently than what the pattern called for. It called for a simple bind off. I did a two stitch i-cord bind off to thicken up the flare of the bell.
Inside I put a jingle bell.
For some reason, I got motivated today to give blood for my birthday. I haven't given blood in quite some time and I usually get hounded this time of year because my blood is good for the itty-bitty babies.
I go in and during the interviewing process they ask if I had ever lived in Germany, Italy, or Turkey more than 6 months from 1980 to 1996. I'm an Air Force Brat and had lived in all those places.
I was promptly booted to the street. They won't take my blood. After visiting the FDA site, it seems that I could be a carrier of some type of virus. The chances are very low, but they have decided to not chance it.
Well, crap.
All this time I've had great guilt over not donating and as of 2001, they would not have taken my blood anyway.
So I now have something in common with Denny Crane: I have the Mad Cow Disease. :)
(not really as the Mad Cow Disease is like rabies and is fast acting. It's just fun to say.)
I'm finished with one of the sides and am about 1/3 finished with the other side.
I must admit, I don't like how the decreases look and I'm doing it by pattern. The k2tog look good, it's the k2tog from the back that look wonky. I'm experimenting with ssk but I can't see an appreciable difference.
Anyone have any suggestions? Or am I making too much of it?
Yep, today is my birthday and I've hit the big 4-0. I remember my mom turning 40 when I was 18.
Bleh.
All in all, though. I feel okay about it. I'd rather be forty than sixteen. I got an aroma therapy basket from my folks and a nice television set with a great stand from my husband (okay, we gave each other that gift).
M was cute this morning. She came in and woke me up by singing Happy Birthday. While I was getting dressed, she insisted that I put on my fanciest party dress. As I'm not a dress person, I told her that I wanted to wear comfy clothes. She then picked out my shirt - it's pink with some silver threads - i.e. sparkly. Then SHE had to wear a party dress, "Because it's your birthday, Mama!" She has art today, so I didn't want her to wear one of her fancy dresses. She then put on her red boots - because they're sparkly.
See a trend here? I guess sparkly is very important in the world of a four year old.
But I digress. Happy birthday to me.
While I was in Nashville in our hotel room, I ended up watching CSI NY. The story was some guy had been killed by a hand saw. They showed how the person was killed using the saw.
Of course, during the commercial break, we saw an ad for the very same saw. You can buy it at Sears.
Really.
Let me get this straight. Sears made a product placement for an item that was used TO KILL SOME ONE.
"Sears. Your one-stop shopping place for all your killing needs. . ."
Not such a good way to place your products if you ask me. I'm just surprised I haven't heard anything from the talking heads on this.
Despite the name of this blog, I really don't do a lot of bitching. I will, however, do so today.
I am self employed and pay way too much for health care. It's my #1 largest expense in my company. And it's not all that good. Sure I have co-pays, but at $25 a pop they can add up in a hurry. I also have a deductible of $2000 for me, $2000 for J, and $2000 for M. Also, just like car insurance, if you use it, the next year you're going to get a huge raise. This year ours went up over 20% and it's been doing that consistently for the past couple of years.
Oh, and did you know that as soon as you have a birthday that ends with a 0 or a 5 they'll "adjust" your rate? J turned 40 and I will too, soon. His adjusted up by $63 a month and mine went down a whopping $5.
While in Nashville, I visited a local yarn store (Threaded Bliss) and this subject came up while I was sitting, chatting, and knitting there. I am not alone in my frustration at the high cost of health care.
The worst thing about going to Nashville, though, was listening to my in-laws talk about how the US has the best health care system around and that universal health care would be the death of it. (I'm paraphrasing here: "Just look at Canada and England. If you really want good health care, you will still need to buy supplemental health insurance.")
Meanwhile, my FIL has a hip that has been bothering him for over 5 years. He can't sleep lying down and travels with a reclining chair for hotel rooms. He is waiting until he turns 65 and qualifies for Medicare to get the hip replacement.
So, the folks who don't support universal health care for everyone have endured 5 years of pain in order to have the government fix it.
I just don't get it.
Yarn: white (W) & red (R) worsted cotton
Needles: size 5 (illusions look better knitted a little tightly)
CO 41 stitches with red
R1. (R) k across
R2. (R) k across
R3. (W) k across
R4. (W) K3, P35, K3
R5. (R) k across
R6. (R) K3, P35, K3
R7. (W) k across
R8. (W) K3, P35, K3
R9. (R) k across
R10. (R) K5, P2, K34
R11. (W) k across
R12. (W) K3, P2, K2, P31,K3
R13. (R) k across
R14. (R) K3, P7, K31
R15. (W) k across
R16. (W) K10, P28, K3
R17. (R) k across
R18. (R) K5, P7, K29
R19. (W) k across
R20. (W) K3, P2, K7, P26,K3
R21. (R) k across
R22. (R) K7, P7, K27
R23. (W) k across
R24. (W) K3, P4, K7, P24,K3
R25. (R) k across
R26. (R) K9, P7, K25
R27. (W) k across
R28. (W) K3, P6, K7, P22,K3
R29. (R) k across
R30. (R) K11, P7, K13, P3, K7
R31. (W) k across
R32. (W) K3, P8, K7, P13,K3, P4, K3
R33. (R) k across
R34. (R) K13, P7, K9, P7, K5
R35. (W) k across
R36. (W) K3, P10, K7, P9, K7, P2, K3
R37. (R) k across
R38. (R) K15, P7, K9, P6, K4
R39. (W) k across
R40. (W) K3, P12, K7, P9, K6, P1, K3
R41. (R) k across
R42. (R) K18, P7, K7, P6, K3
R43. (W) k across
R44. (W) K3, P15, K7, P7, K9
R45. (R) k across
R46. (R) K20, P7, K3, P7, K4
R47. (W) k across
R48. (W) K3, P17, K7, P3, K7, P1, K3
R49. (R) k across
R50. (R) K22, P13, K6
R51. (W) k across
R52. (W) K3, P19, K13, P3, K3
R53. (R) k across
R54. (R) K27, P4, K10
R55. (W) k across
R56. (W) K3, P24, K4, P7, K3
R57. (R) k across
R58. (R) K3, P35, K3
R59. (W) k across
R60. (W) K3, P35, K3
R61. (R) k across
R62. (R) K3, P35, K3
R63. (W) k across
R64. (W) K3, P35, K3
R65. (R) k across
R66. (R) k across
Bind off.
Weave in ends.
This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.
I have to knit a baby dress before December 21st for the charity auction I participated in. Here's my first picot edging I've ever done. I'm quite proud. 
Close up on the front:
Close up on the back.
Here's my attempt at knitting the 2005 Mid March Lacy Round. I didn't quite finish this before we got home, but I really love the colors and the lacy holes. This will go to my folks. It's the SnC Buttercream colorway.
Here's dishcloth number six of nine for the teachers. It's the free pattern from Havest Moon Designs.
And dishcloth number seven of nine. It's the January 2006 monthly dishcloth.
Whew! I'm back from Nashville and, boy, are my arms tired.
Really.
I knitted so many things. My pinkies are aching just a little. I hold my yarn weird. I think it's a hold back from my crochet days.
So here goes the grand photo sharing of what I did on my Thanksgiving vacation. Here's my attempt at the mid-November monthly dishcloth. I thought it was quite lovely and gave it to my MIL for Bauble Day. 
Bauble Day is celebrated with the in-laws around Thanksgiving and it's for small gifts - you know, baubles.
I gave Captain Underpants to the oldest nephew and the alligator mittens to the youngest one. The nephews LOVED Captain Underpants and the alligator mittens. We had impromptu plays of Captain Underpants getting attached by the giant alligators all night long.
My DH and BIL went to Texas A&M. Here's the dishcloth I knitted in the car on the way up for my BIL's Bauble Day gift.
Here's my first attempt at writing my own illusion knitting dishcloth. I gave it to my FIL. The lighting is such that you can see the pattern from the front. I'll also write up this pattern if anyone is interested.
The finished purse for my SIL.
A photo of the inside. 
It's lined with a plastic needle point board and pink fabric. I added a 9" zipper and the handle is attached with a leather boot lace. I bought the handles from Joann's (they're Purse n-alize-it! vinyl handles and are exclusively distributed by Joann's).
I knitted more on the way home, but blogger isn't playing well with others right now. More to come. . .
A simple cable knit purse that is knit in one piece and sewn up on the sides.
Needles: Size 11
Yarn: Chunky wool.
Special stitch:
C10F: Slip 5 stitches onto a cable needle and bring to the front (I just used a size 10 DPN). Knit the next 5 stitches. Knit the stitches on the cable needle.
CO 32 stitches.
R1. K1 P10 K10 P10 K1
R2. P1 K10 P10 K10 P1
R3. K1 P10 K10 P10 K1
R4. P1 K10 P10 K10 P1
R5. K1 P10 C10F P10 K1
R6. P1 K10 P10 K10 P1
R7 through R14: Repeat R1 & R2
R15. Repeat R5
R16. Repeat R2
R17 through R 26: Repeat R7 through R16 once
R27 through R30: Repeat R1 through R4.
Bind off in pattern.
Mattress stitch the sides. Pick up 60 stitches along the top of the purse and knit an i-cord border. Sew in a zipper, then the lining, and add a leather purse handle. You can also add a bow to the top to make the purse match the one you can buy in a store.
Variation: If you want the clutchette to become a more functional bag, simply keep repeating R7 through R16 and finish up with R27 through R30. If you can think of the cable as a 10 x 10 cable, then you could keep track of your knitting a little better.
This hasn’t been test knitted yet. If you do try it and find errors, please email me with questions.
This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.
I have to line this and put a handle on it, but all of the knitting is done.
I used two stands knit together of Plymouth Encore. It's a simple 10 stitch cable and was inspired by a purse I saw for sale.
Mine is deeper, but the width should be the same. I thought it would be more convenient. I also added an i-cord border to the top of the purse. I did a mattress stitch for the sides, but now wish that I had done a selvage stitch on either side of the purse so I could have made sewing the sides up less obvious. I also will use a chunky wool as the Encore is too stretchy. I'll also use smaller needles. I used size 13. I think a tighter knit would look better.
If I have the time, I'll try to write up a pattern for this one.
It's interesting to knit something again that once took you forever. What a difference a year (or so) makes. I knitted M some of these last year for my Olympic Knitting project. This time around, the mittens were SUPER fast to knit.
I decided to use Plymouth Encore yarn as it's washable. I have noticed that it just doesn't hold it's shape as well as the Cascade 220 did.
I do like how I did the eyes on these mittens. I used two buttons - one large white one and a smaller black one. They are much more secure than the googly eyes on M's. I love googly eyes, but am pretty concerned they are too easy to pull off. Not good for 3 year olds. These mittens will be paired with the fair isle hat for my nephew.
Okay, this is disgusting (in a cool college days way), but I couldn't look away. Mmmmm - Cochicken.
I added an i-cord border to the hat along with flaps and ties. I was going to put a pom pom on the top but like the hat with out it.
Now on to the mittens! I have to get these gifts done because we're going to Nashville next week! Eeek!
I finished the first blanket for one of my nephews. It was made with four strands held together of Lion Brand Homespun. Their school colors are red, black and white. I used Candy Apple, Black, Edwardian, and Covered Bridge Red. I also held a strand of Trellis yarn (Night Life) with the Homespun. I won't do the second one with the Trellis. It really didn't add anything to the blanket.
This was knitted with speed stix (size 50 needle).
I made a turkey yesterday because J got one cheap and I've found having cooked poultry around for lunch times makes it easier for me to stay on the WW program.
But M is determined to have turkey for Thanksgiving ONLY. She wouldn't even try it.
"No, thank you. I'll have turkey on Thanksgiving in Nashville," she poo-pooed.
I think someone is excited about sleeping over at her cousins house in Nashville next week.
Now I need to find out what to do with Mel.
I'm not quite done with this one, but it's the fair-isle hat pattern in the back of the holiday Interweave (2006) magazine.
Size 5 DPN needles, Plymouth Encore yarn. I have the ear flaps, pom-pom, and the cords to do to finish this up. They'll be paired with a set of alligator mittens (SnB Nation) made with the same colors/yarn. It's a present for my other nephew in Nashville.
J & I went to M's school auction on Saturday night. It was fun, but I always feel out of place at these events. I don't like wearing cocktail dresses and I'm finding that crowds make me very anxious. J knows this and is wonderful at getting me into a quiet place and calming me down.
I donated the two Gnomes and they fetched over $200 for the school technology fund. I also will be knitting a baby outfit and another Noni purse. All in all, my donations made over $300. I'm somewhat pleased. I think if I do this next year, I'll have things knitted beforehand as finished items seem to fetch a higher price. I'll probably make a Captain Underpants and some more Gnomes. Perhaps I'll knit some other toys, too.
I'm glad I went, but I'm equally glad it's over.
I like watching Project Runway and now Top Chef. These are reality shows, but unlike the ones on the networks, the participants actually have talent in their respective fields. The Top Chef show seems to be a little more rambunctious than Project Runway.
Since my in-laws LOVED the candy corn illusion dishcloth so much, this is one of their Christmas gifts. I knitted this up on Saturday afternoon while driving all around town. 
Ding, dong, the purse is done.
The wicked purse is done!
I did not want to put black and white flowers on this purse. I did not want to knit it in black and white. I just hated knitting this project.
But doesn't it look great? :)
The recipient loved it, so I'm happy.
I'm finally finishing up the flowers for the Noni Majorlica Vase Bag. It's the Unfurling Rose from Nora J. Bellows.
The flower on the right was made with one strand of cream and one strand of black. Plus, I knitted the outer petals with a 4 stitch/8 stitch long petal.
I also have some of the gray heathered yarn that I think I'm not going to use on the Hex Coat so I made a fourth flower out of it. Here it is before I felted it. I photographed it right next to the cream flower to show the size difference.
GOAM mentioned that the cream flower looked like a magnolia blossom. I have to agree.
Here's a photo of my latest dishcloth. It's the November Monthly Dishcloth KAL pattern.
Materials:
1 ball Hayfield Bonus Toytime DK Yarn Flesh tone (963)
1 ball white sport weight yarn (I used Red Heart)
1 ball red sport weight yarn (again, Red Heart)
Black embroidery yarn for detailing.
Washable stuffing
Needles:
Size 2 DPN’s or 40” circular size 2 (magic loop).
Gage:
6 sts per inch, 8 rows per inch. (but really, don’t sweat this. I like to knit toys tightly so when you stuff it, the stuffing is not really visible)
Abbreviations:
CO = Cast on
loop CO = Backward-Loop Cast-On
kfb = Knit Front & Back: Knit a stitch, leaving stitch on left needle; knit into the back loop of this stitch
ssk - Slip, slip, knit: Slip one stitch as if to knit, slip the next stitch as if to purl, knit the two together through the back loops.
k2tog = Knit two together: Knit two stitches together as if they were a single stitch.
(if you don't know what these are, always go to Knitting Help.com)
Body:
In white, CO 6 stitches. Distribute among 3 needles (spaces) and join, being careful not to twist. Place marker.
Rnd 1: Kfb around. 12 sts.
Rnd 2: K all sts.
Rnd 3: Kfb, kfb, kfb, kfb, kfb, kfb, k6. 18 sts.
Rnd 4: K all sts.
Rnd5: Kfb, kl, kfb, kl, kfb, k2, kfb, k1, kfb, k1, kfb, k6. 24 sts.
Rnd 6: K all sts.
Rnd 7: Kfb, k2, kfb, k2, kfb, k4, kfb, k2, kfb, k2, kfb, k6. 30 sts.
Rnd 8: K all sts.
Rnd 9: Kfb, k3, kfb, k3, kfb, k6, kfb, k3, kfb, k3, kfb, k6. 36 sts.
Rnd 10: K all sts.
Rnd 11: Kfb, k4, kfb, k4, kfb, k8, kfb, k4, kfb, k4, kfb, k6. 42 sts.
Rnd 12: K all sts.
Rnd 13: Kfb, k5, kfb, k5, kfb, k10, kfb, k5, kfb, k5, kfb, k6. 48 sts.
Rnd 14: K all sts.
Rnd 15: Kfb, k6, kfb, k6, kfb, k12, kfb, k6, kfb, k6, kfb, k6. 54 sts.
Rnd 16: K all sts.
Rnd 17: Kfb, k7, kfb, k7, kfb, k14, kfb, k7, kfb, k7, kfb, k6. 60 sts.
Rnd 18: K all sts.
Rnd 19: Kfb, k8, kfb, k8, kfb, k16, kfb, k8, kfb, k8, kfb, k6. 66 sts.
Rnd 20: K all sts.
Rnd 21: Kfb, k9, kfb, k9, kfb, k18, kfb, k9, kfb, k9, kfb, k6. 72 sts.
Rnd 22:.K all sts.
Rnd 23: Kfb, k10, kfb, k10, kfb, k20, kfb, k10, kfb, k10, kfb, k6. 78 sts.
Rnd 24: P all sts
Rnd 25-28: K all sts.
Rnd 29: P all sts
Change to flesh colored yarn.
Rnd 30: Ssk, k10, ssk, k10, ssk, k20, k2tog, k10, k2tog, k10, k2tog, k6. 72 sts.
Rnd 31: K all sts.
Rnd 32: Ssk, k9, ssk, k9, ssk, k18, k2tog, k9, k2tog, k9, k2tog, k6. 66 sts.
Rnd 33: K all sts:
Rnd 34: Ssk, k8, ssk, k8, ssk, k16, k2tog, k8, k2tog, k8, k2tog, k6. 60 sts.
Rnd 35: K all sts.
Rnd 36: Ssk, k7, ssk, k7, ssk, k14, k2tog, k7, k2tog, k7, k2tog, k6. 54 sts.
Rnd 37: K all sts.
Rnd 38: Ssk, k6, ssk, k6, ssk, k12, k2tog, k6, k2tog, k6, k2tog, k6. 48 sts.
Rnd 39: K all sts.
Rnd 40: Ssk, k5, ssk, k5, ssk, k10, k2tog, k5, k2tog, k5, k2tog, k6. 42 sts.
Rnd 41: K all sts.
Rnd 42: *k2, k2tog* repeat from * to the last st, k1, 32 sts.
Rnd 43 – 59: K all sts.
Embroider the black band between the purl stitches on the “underwear”. Embroider the chest. Embroider the face by looking at the following photo.
After you’re done with embroidering, stuff the body with washable stuffing.
Rnd 60: *k2, k2tog*, 24 sts.
Rnd 61: K all sts.
Rnd 62: *k1, k2tog*, 16 sts.
Rnd 63: K all sts.
Rnd 64: *k2tog*, 8 sts.
Break off the yarn leaving an 18-inch tail. Using yarn needle, thread through remaining sts starting with first k2tog stitch you made (st to the left of the st). Take this opportunity to make sure the very top of the head is stuffed to your liking. Pull tail tightly to close, tie small knot into fabric very close to the opening and hide yarn end inside the toy.
Arms (make two)
CO 8 stitches in flesh colored yarn. Distribute among 3 needles (spaces) and join, being careful not to twist. Place marker.
All rounds: K all sts
Knit until arm measures 2¼” long.
Break yarn, leaving a 12-inch tail. Using yarn needle, thread through sts starting with the st to the left of the last st. Pull yarn tail firmly to close the opening. Push needle through opening, and turn arm inside out. Make small knot inside, and break yarn. Turn back to right side.
Legs (make two)
CO 12 stitches in flesh colored yarn. Distribute among 3 needles (spaces) and join, being careful not to twist. Place marker.
All rounds: K all sts.
Knit until leg measures 2½” long.
Last round: *k2tog* around. 6 sts.
Break yarn, leaving a 12-inch tail. Using yarn needle, thread through sts starting with first k2tog stitch you made (st to the left of the st). Pull yarn tail firmly to close the opening. Push needle through opening, and turn leg inside out. Make small knot inside, and break yarn. Turn back to right side.
Cape:
The cape is knit flat
CO 60 sts in red yarn.
Knit in stockinette for 1½” (knit first row, purl second, etc. . .)
*k2, k2tog*, 45 sts.
Knit in stockinette for 1”
*k2, k2tog* to the last st, k1, 34 sts.
Knit in stockinette for ¾”
*k2, k2tog* to the last 2 sts, k2tog, 25 sts.
Knit in stockinette for 1¼”
Next Row: K 25, Loop CO 18 sts, 43 sts.
Next Row: Purl 43, loop CO 18 sts, 60 sts.
Next Row: K60
Next Row: P60
Next Row: K60
Next Row: P60
Bind off.
Finishing
Stuff the arms and legs.
Sew pieces to body using photo as reference.
Alternative (if you want to sit it on a computer):
Knit the body as shown above. Before you stuff it, slip a bean bag into the bottom of the body. Stuff as per pattern. Sew the feet towards the front so you can sit him.
Please email a URL of a photo once you're done with him.
I may make a shirt, pants and toupee to make him into a Mr. Krupp.
This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.
Ever watch Deal or No Deal? I really and truly hate that show. As someone who loves game shows, this one is really awful. There's nothing to it other than Howie asking someone if they want money. The only way I've been able to really tolerate it is to watch it in fast forward (I have one of those DVR thingies).
Well, last night I was flipping around the channels and came across Vas o No Vas on Telemundo. It was SO much more fun to watch. The ladies are dressed up sluttier than the American version and they dance in unison, too!
The banker is represented by a woman who comes out of the vault, stares at the camera with lots of eye make-up while opening the case. She's wearing what I would consider Fredericks of Hollywood style business suit.
Oh, and the top money is only $250,000.
Of course instead of yelling "Deal" at the television, I now have to scream "Vas."
I finally did it. I made my own stuffed plushy. With much inspiration from Jess Hutch's Sphery pattern, let me introduce my version of Captain Underpants:M loves him. He's actually a Christmas gift for one of my nephews. I may have to make one for her.
I have been musing about making one of these for a while now and just couldn't resist casting on and seeing if I can cobble something together. It will be a gift for one of my nephews in Nashville and I suspect M will want one, too.
Care to guess what I'm knitting? It's my own adaptation from the Sphery pattern from Jess Hutch.
