New Toy, New Toy, New Toy!

Back again! Christmas was really busy, with work to finish and presents to buy and traveling to visit with family and friends. This year was pretty crazy, so I decided to treat myself with a new toy. I love knitting and spinning, but I also find weaving quite beautiful, especially after purchasing a beautiful silk wrap at the local weaver's guild show. So, I decided that Santa (me) could get me a loom for Christmas. After some searching, I decided on a Ashford Knitters Loom (20 inch). This is a "portable" loom, but I am not sure how easy is is to weave without a table! I decided on the larger loom to add the flexibility of doing wraps, table runners, etc. The first attempt at warping (the yarn that runs lengh-wise) was a disaster- it took 3 tries to get it set up, but I was done in under 1 hr. For my first project, I decide to try a simple scarf in Ohio State colors- partly because I had planned to give this as a gift and the yarn is easy to work with (plus I am a Buckeye fan, even though they will likely get stomped on in the Rose Bowl!). Anyway, the warp in is Cascade Wool 220 in Grey, and the weft is in Cascade Wool 220 Red. The dent (reed) used in 7.5, which comes with the loom. I finished this in under 3 hrs, and decided I hate doing fringe! I did have issues with the edges, too tight and sloppy, but overall not bad for my first. I think my beating is also a bit uneven, but I am sure it will be better. The final scarf is 5 1/2 by 64 (with fringe). I really enjoyed working on this, and it was a nice change to have a finished product in a few hours. Maybe I will try cotton next. I have it up on Ravelry if interested: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/tagin/ohio-state-scarf-1st-weaving-project-12-09state-scarf-1st-weaving-project-12-09

Yuck

Another dreary day in Kalamazoo- it is foggy and overcast today, but at least it is not snowing. I heard a rumor there is a possibility of snow next week. So, on that note, here a a picture of my tulips from last spring. At least spring will eventually get here.

I got a new camera last week and need to get everything set up do download pictures. I want to set the library up on an external drive to save memory, so it will take some time to get things in order between the two computers. On the knitting front, the Colonnade from Fall '09 Knitty (knitty.com) is coming along, I am about 1/2 done. More on that project next time. I will try to get pictures with the new camera this weekend. The Entwined shawl is further than this, but this is all that I have for now. I am using Moochi Plus from Crystal Palace. I want to love this yarn, but at times it is frustrating. This yarn is a single ply, so you expect there to be think and thin parts due to the twist. but there are stretches of this yarn that is just too thin followed by un-twisted areas... in addition, the green dye comes off in my hands. It wouldn't be so bad if the thin was a bit "less thin". Also, some of the color runs are inconsistent in length. Again, I don't hate the yarn but it was not a good pick for this project. I am ready to get this projects off the needle and start a lace project. I also need to select a mindless project for travel and meetings. maybe I should try to finish my Mini Moochi socks!

Happy November

So, I have been getting a lot of ribbing because the blog has not been updated in a while. Well. life, computers, camera issues and such was just getting in the way. I will try to be better! It is overcast today... I ventured out to town to run a few errands- I have to remember not to go to Toys R Us on a Sunday ever again! It amazes me how ill-behaved most kids are (my mom is convinced it is because parents don't spank any more-- I remember smack to the rear got my attention!). Anyway, I thought I would share a beautiful photo of a couple of angels...This is a photo of my friend Traci's beautiful kids, Addy and Kaden. What does this have to do with knitting you say? Well, Kaden is wearing a sweater made my me! This was the second baby item that I made- not too bad. The pattern is "Baby Blueberry Cardigan" by Elizabeth Smith (Free on Ravelry, Blogger link http://thebrownstitch.com/2009/02/baby-blueberry-cardigan.html). I made it as the pattern except I used Cascade 220 in brown. This was a wonderful yarn to work with.

As for other projects, there are many WIPS: Entwined Shawl, Wrap-me-up wrap and Colonnade. More on these later. Oh, and if I was not busy enough, I have started to Spin!

Rainy Sunday...

Back again, sorry I have not been on for a while, but work has been killing me. Hardly any time for fun. But I have managed to get a few items done. I finally finished the Tiramisu blanket for Amy (good thing too, since she is due at the end of March!). The pattern was pretty easy, but I had to increase the size (as mentioned in the last post). Here is the finished blanket, with a blue satin trim. I had to use a 5/8-inch ribbon for the trim, it is a bit too large but will have to do. The pattern called for 1/2-inch, but I think after washing even that would be a tad-bit too small.

I also finished a hat and kimono set. I started with a skein of Yarn Bee Baby Delight (Sage) and finished the hat first. The hat is a leaf hat (there is a leaf on the top) and I thought it was nice for a baby boy. Faced with a lot of left-over yarn, I searched Ravelry and found this Seamless Baby Kimono-- perfect since I am a bit "seamed-challenged". I thought the gage was a bit big after finishing the body, I am not really a loose knitter, so that was a bit strange. I then realized I pick-up the wrong needles, they should have been 7 and I used 8. Oh well, that happens and I am not frogging it! Not too bad for my first real garment!

Mailboxes, snow and other problems

This has been some week so far. The winter is never ending-- and so far it is winning. The current count is Snow plow-4, Tonia-0. To date, I have lost 4 mailboxes/posts to the plow. I am sure there is no reason the plow driver could be mad at me (unless he is also the manager at Best Buy), so I am assuming is new/inexperienced-- because it is now 4 boxes in ~ 1 month. I called the county road crew to plead for mercy and surprisingly the person on the phone was very sympathetic. I was assured the Supervisor would be informed and somebody would be contacting me to arrange compensation-- can you believe it!


So, in addition to the plow issue, I have been wildly working on the project from the last post. Because I am pretty sure Amy does not venture to the blog-- I can reveal this is a blanket for her new baby boy due in March (if Amy does check in-- SURPRISE!). Anyway, I was following the pattern and quite proud of the progress and the stitch (very pretty and quite good for me crocheting, even if I do say so myself...). Needing positive comments and ohhs and awwwws (yes, I am sometimes needy), I proudly showed the progress to a very experienced (in needle arts you pervert!) friend Karen-- she commented that in fact the stitches were done well and it was pretty, but awful small. WHAT! Well, that is the pattern and there is edging I explain-- still small she countered. Not to be deterred, I stumbled off for another opinion-- after all, I have 2 skeins invested and it is PRETTY! (and the baby is due in a month!)... same comment from Janet. Well, this was late in the day and it was knit nite, so I am sure the other knitting crew (minus Amy of course) would provide support-- after all, it is PRETTY and 2 skeins worth done! Needless to say, same comment. So, I am resigned to frog the "dishcloth-sized" blanket and start again. I know, it is better to do it now than when the blanket was finished-- but it was pretty and 2 skeins worth! I have to say, I am still loving the Cotton tots yarn! Next time, socks and chemo hats!

Anime Sunday!

Well, here it is another week gone. Work was a bit last week-- lots of stuff going on, some late nights, working from home and sleepless nights. It has been a bit much lately, and I still have not recovered from this cold. I had an interesting thing happen last week. So I was getting over this cold, and I thought that I was getting a bit better. I started working on another knitting project-- using yarn purchased from Ollies (sort of like Big Lots), it was a good deal on Lion Brand... anyway, I had a relapse of cold symptoms-- but this time watering eyes, sneezing, etc. It took a couple of days to start to feel better, it was so bad that I couldn't even knit. After a couple of days, I picked up the project again, and what do you know the sneezing and eye leaking started again! It seems that there is something on the yarn causing a reaction-- this is a first (and it is synthetic, so it should not be the yarn!). So the stuff is sitting in a bag (8 balls of the stuff) until I can decide what to do.

In the meantime, I started another project-- this time with good old cotton. It is a crochet project and the stitch is pretty easy. The easy part is really important since, other than to do some edging or pick up stitched, I have not seriously crocheted since high school (and no, that was not the dark ages or by candle light!). Here is a couple of pictures-- not too bad if I do say so myself. And I suppose you are also asking why the title? Well, since today has been devoted to making a dent in the project, I have been in front of the TV all day-- which makes it perfect for catching up on movies and such. Luckily for me, Comcast On Demand has a pretty good Anime selection and today was catch up on ongoing series (GTO, Tsubasa, Beck, etc.)

Winter, YUCK!

Another day, another snow. I can't say how much I am over winter right now. Every day-- something white or frozen is falling. I am done, done I say! Anyway, I had to stay home today from work, sick with a sore throat and fever. You would think that I could bash out a lot of knitting in that time, but I could not even lift the needles for more than a bit. I did get through a couple of Netflixs (2 discs of Code Geass (anime- love it!) and "An American Carol" (right-wing satire, but not as funny as I thought it would be). I also had a chance to watch a couple of On Demand movies-- The Namesake, Definitely Maybe, and Reservation Road.

I did get a little knitting done. I started to work on another scarf-- this is a replacement scarf for my mom. During Christmas, I finished this one for her while at home-- it uses JoAnn Sensations Angel Hair yarn-- extremely soft. Well, I was knitting away and finished the thing in two days! Yay for me! However, when mom tried it on, the bloody thing was hanging down to her knees! I promised to make another (about 6 inches shorter) and mail it. This pattern is perfect when you need to stretch your yarn amount or if you want to show off a hand-spun. It uses a double drop stitch, is reversable, and uses only kint stitch (the key is how you wrap the yarn around the needles)-- perfect for a beginner. Here is a picture of the "long" scarf.

Even more exciting (at least for me!), I was reading the Yarn Harlot's blog and she showed a beautiful cashmere cowl she designed-- I have been looking for just such a pattern for myself. (blog entry here: http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/archives/2009/01/09/pretty_thing.html). I even had a dream that I ran into the YH at a fiber show and convinced her to give me the pattern (sick, I know). So you know it was a fantastic day when I checked on the Ravelry YH forum and after all of the pleading from admirers of said cowl, she is working on getting the pattern for us-- SCORE!

Back in Action!

Hello All!

Contrary to popular belief, I am still here. After a few crazy months dealing with yard work, family visits, computer issues, a new camera and holidays, I plan to be back on track. I did accomplish a few projects-- I will post some of these pictures in the interim. I am currently working on two projects--

Project #1: Ear warmer/Neck warmer (pattern in Drops). This project is going well-- the yarn is a Angora-Merino wool mix by Garnstudio. It is very nice to work with, but is prone to breaking is pulled too hard. I have yet to do the edge work (need to get a larger crochet needle)-- which should be interesting since I have done crochet in years. The scarf is also coming along...

The second pattern is a Snow Drop lace shawl published by Stephanie McPhee (The Yarn Harlot). This project takes all of my concentration-- and is my first time using charts. After a number of froggings, it is finally taking shape. For you lace knitters-- learn to use lifelines, it has already saved me once. (If you look at the picture, you can see the lifeline is purple). This project is for my friend Jill (yarn hand-dyed by Jill) to show a completed project at Michigan Fiber Festival this summer. Well, that is all for now. I have to go work on my projects since work starts anew on Monday (yuck!)...