Knitting Knot

Mittens!

2012-01-23T10:56:00.002-05:00

After the ice storm we had, I decided I really needed to finish my mittens. My gloves got soaked and I wanted a warm dry pair to change into and I didn't have them. The horror. Therefore:

Pattern: Brier Twist

Yarn: Paton's Classic

Mods: Made cuff longer

I've been wearing them for a couple of days now. I think I would cast on a few fewer stitches across the palm of the flip top part if I made it again. They are a little big on me. I would also make the ribbing on the bottom part of the flip top (ie the part that is stationary) a bit longer.

Overall, the pattern is good, very easy to follow. I would suggest that you put a lifeline in on the last row of pattern before you do the ribbing so that it is easier to pick up the 20 stitches for the flip top part.

Ciao!

Fingernail Friday!

2012-01-20T02:05:00.000-05:00

Chug Chug Chug.....

2012-01-15T15:46:00.002-05:00

Not much exciting happened on the knitting front over the last little while Chez Knot. Still working on the hub's stockinette hat. I picked up the provisional cast on and am knitting the second hat. In stockinette. So it is a lot of knitting in grey fingering weight yarn. Did I mention it is stockinette? Round and round and round and round.

If you are interested, a couple of progress pics:

See? Boring. You can kind of see where the provisional cast on was if you look closely. Not that that is a problem as that is the edge of where the inside hat meets the outside hat...

Who knows, that may even disappear after blocking. At any rate, it is good tv knitting. Sadly in December I had very little time to sit in front of the tv. Hence how loooooong this project is taking. Did I say that it was stockinette? In fingering weight grey yarn?

All right, I guess I should go knit on it some more.....

Ciao

Fingernail Friday!

2012-01-13T01:30:00.000-05:00

Cat Photobombed my Knitting

2011-12-18T16:58:00.002-05:00

Or some such. I set down the hat I am knitting for my hubby as today is Get All The Things Done Day. I went back to pick it up to do a few more stitches while waiting for the laundry to dry. And found this:

Normally Elvis licks wool and felts it. For some reason this yarn was deemed worthy of sleeping on without correction as to texture. (red arrow points to knitting in question)

I am approx 8.5 inches into the hat. No point in posting another picture of the WIP as it is a boring stockinette hat. I guess I should thank Elvis for giving me a photo op?

Ciao

Fingernail Friday

2011-12-16T01:14:00.000-05:00

Hat Knitting

2011-12-11T16:03:00.003-05:00

My mittens are on hold. Hubby asked specifically for a hat. A very particular hat. So we went to the yarn store and he picked out the yarn:

At least it isn't black yarn!

I had to do some digging around to figure out how to get what he wanted. Specifically, an all-stockinette hat. With an edge that doesn't roll. I opted to go with a reversible hat design. Basically, you do a provisional cast on, knit one hat, then undo the provisional cast on, knit another hat from those stitches and then push the one hat into the other hat.

All in fingering weight yarn. Yah, it's taking a while. Although it is good tv knitting.

The provisional cast on was a pain. I didn't want to do the crochet chain one. I've done it before and detested undoing the chain. So I did a looped provisional cast on. The fist time I thought I'd be smart and do it onto a circular needle so I wouldn't have to pick up stitches. That just made the whole cast on waaaaaay too tight. So I did it with waste yarn. (the blue yarn above). In retrospect, maybe if I had tried it with a longer circular it would have worked. Either way, it's cast on.

Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire....

2011-12-06T21:25:00.002-05:00

Warning:this post contains nuts and references to nuts. Do not continue if you cannot handle references to your nuts. Yes I am 12 in my head sometimes......

This is the time of year when a woman's thoughts turn naturally to...nuts. No, get your mind out of the gutter. Chestnuts. Roasting chestnuts to be exact. Roasting chestnuts is an activity I remember doing with my parents as a small child. Mom would peel them for me since they were hot. As an adult, I still have trouble peeling them. My sister blames it on my fingernails. I blame it on the chestnuts!

I had always roasted the chestnuts in a frying pan. with a lid. Every so often you would have to open one to see if they were done. This was a major pain. Recently my sister told me about an easier way she had discovered on the intartubes. This method makes them MUCH easier to peel.

I will now share it with you.

Step 1. Cut an 'X' in the shell of your nut.(snerk) A small paring knife works fine. I prefer one with a slightly 'hooky' tip like this:

Step 2: dunk your nuts (giggle) in a bowlful of water. Turn on oven to 425F

Step 3:When the oven is preheated, fish your nuts out of the water (tee hee) and put em on a cookie sheet. I like to lay em cut side down.

Step 4: Set the timer to 20 minutes and walk away. I am afraid I did not take a picture of this step. Use your imagination

Step 5: When the oven timer tells you that 20 minutes has elapsed, take your nuts out of the oven. (snicker) They should look something like this:

Step 6: You need to peel your nuts while they are hot. (that's what she said) Do so. I find a cutting board is helpful. Sometimes if you give them a smart slap with the palm of your hand they peel easier. Sometimes they don't and you have to pry. This step is significantly easier because of the soak them in water trick.

Step 7: EAT!!

And the Holidays have begun!

2011-11-30T21:27:00.001-05:00

They ugly but cute!

Knitted Mittens for Me!

2011-11-28T15:49:00.002-05:00

I decided I needed new mittens for me. After perusing various patterns, I decided on Brier Twist as it is a flip-top mitten which will come in handy. (Handy. Get it? heh heh. I crack me up)

The first one is almost done. Thumb not finished , ends not woven in and there is something funky going on where the one side of the flip top meets the mitten. However I am confident that I can fix all that. Want to see a picture of my not quite finished mitt? Of course you do. You are a knitter! (I suspect. However if you are just popping by for the hell of it, welcome!)

Same mitten, flipped open:

The cuff is a bit longer than the pattern calls for, I wanted it that way, I hate scraping ice on the car and getting cold bits on my delicate skin.

This is just the first one. I still have to cast on the second! SMS anyone? (second mitten syndrome. related to Second Sock syndrome)

Ciao

Fingernail Friday!

2011-11-25T01:28:00.000-05:00

Winter Snow and Rain

2011-11-23T15:02:00.001-05:00

I guess I was lucky the winter weather held off as long as it did. Today I went out to sweep the snow off my car and found this:

Yup, freezing rain UNDER the snow. Blech

Ciao

Fast Christmas Knit

2011-11-21T16:22:00.002-05:00

This was a VERY fast Christmas knit. 6 days start to finish.

Pattern: Spiral Knit Tube Sock

Yarn: Bernat Satin Solids

As the pattern name says, it is a tube sock, no heel to turn. Thus it is good tv knitting. Since the pattern calls for worsted weight yarn, it is a pretty substantial sock. I am planning on giving this pair to a friend of mine as "Slipper Socks". I am also thinking I may make myself a pair too.

The hubby said they 'look fancy' so I think I'm safe in saying that simplicity does not detract form the pretty.

Ciao

Fingernail Friday

2011-11-18T01:47:00.000-05:00

Christmas Knitting

2011-11-13T13:44:00.002-05:00

Almost done the Christmas knitting! last dishtowel:

pattern:Chinese Waves Dishcloth

Only instead of a dishcloth, I made it bigger for a small towel.

One more Christmas knit to go!

Ciao

MOAR YARNZ

2011-11-08T21:52:00.002-05:00

i have been remiss. I have more yarn I bought while I was in Italy and haven't shown it to you yet. Here is the next lot of interesting yarn:

It is very thick ribbon yarn with a 'traintrack' along one edge. I'm not even sure how to knit this, it was just interesting. I think you knit it through the traintrack part.

Here's a better picture of the yarn:

I'm thinking this may become a poncho or similar.

Another One!

2011-11-01T01:04:00.000-04:00

Another dishtowel complete! That leaves me one to finish before Giftmas comes. I think I can, I think I can.....

This is the Double Bump Dishcloth pattern, but done over 47 stitches and longer so that it is a dishtowel instead. Yarn is Bernat Handicrafter Cotton in Ombre. ie self-striping

Ciao

Happy All Hallow's Eve!

2011-10-31T01:03:00.000-04:00

Knitting and Yarn!

2011-10-19T10:08:00.003-04:00

Still knitting here. This is for the Giftmas box:

Another cotton dishtowel. Just plain stockinette with a garter edge.

And now for another taste of Italian yarn!

This yarn is microfibre. It is sooooooo soft! And nubbly, as you may guess from looking at it. I was thinking maybe a slouchy hat and an infinity scarf.

Ciao

New Yarn!

2011-10-16T11:58:00.002-04:00

Before I went to Italy, I went to a yarn store that shall remain nameless. They did not have what I wanted. They tried to sell me something else. Were quite pushy about it, actually. I tried to escape gracefuly by saying, "Well, I'm going to Italy in a week, I'll see if I can find it there and if not, I'll be back..." The woman looked down her nose at me and said "It is getting VERY difficult to find GOOD yarn stores in Italy, you know." Uh huh.

I'll spread the funky yarns over a few posts so you don't get bored, folks.

First up, Louisiana from Lana Gatto:

This is VERY thick yarn:

Basically roving in a net tube. I got 2 skeins of it and am thinking an infinity type scarf for it. The yarnshop lady said that most people work it with their hands, they don't bother with a knitting needle. I can see why!

2011-10-10T15:09:00.002-04:00

As my last post indicated, I was on vacation. So, I will be presenting, over the next few posts, a selection of pictures from my trip. I was in northern Italy where they grow rice. ie around Milan. The mosquitoes are fierce. As a result there are many efforts at killing them from wall plug-ins to electrified tennis rackets to sweep through the air and zap em. While poking around in stores near Turin I found a flyswatter.

please note the target:

My aunt actually managed to kill a mosquito with this. She did not, alas, score any points.....

Seaside Piccies

2011-10-03T18:44:00.002-04:00

The radio silence has been due to me being on vacation. In Italy. Where the vistas included things such as this:

Not much knitting occurred during this time, but it was oh so nice!

Colourwork-I'm Going In

2011-09-07T19:51:00.003-04:00

I saw this on the Yarn Harlot's blog and loved it. So I went to Ravelry and looked at all the lovely projects people made. I thought to myself, "I haven't really done colourwork, this looks intriguing". Then I went stash diving and found some yarn that would work! (shocking, I know). Clearly the Fates were with me. Then I swatched. (another shock, I'm sure). The pattern is Catkin by Carina Spencer.

I'm glad I did swatch, as a couple of the stitches are different. Also, there are spots on the chart where the symbol(s) go over 3 or more stitches. Took a few minutes for my brain to realize that I wasn't looking for ONE symbol on the legend, I was looking for 2 or 3 grouped together. Otherwise it went pretty smoothly.

Colourwork ahoy!

Lazy Katy Tuch/Shawl is Done

2011-09-05T14:37:00.002-04:00

This was a pretty quick knit. It took me awhile only because I was working madly on the Ice Cream Blanket.

Project Details:

Pattern: Lazy Katy Tuch/Shawl
Yarn: Smooshy by Dream in Colr
Colourway: Lipstick Lava
Yardage required: 301 yards
Final size: 54" x 22"at the longest widest point

This is really more of a scarf than a shawl. The unusual shape makes it hard to drape over the shoulders effectively.

Other Project

2011-08-24T01:12:00.000-04:00

Having finally finished the Epic blanket knit, I can now work on my Lazy Katy tuch/shawl guilt free. I've started on the edging.

At Long Last

2011-08-21T20:23:00.004-04:00

The lighting was horrendous today, I will try for better pics another day, but I am too excited to hold out! Ta DA!!!!!!

And a closer up:

And even a pic of the back for those of you who like to look at the finishing on things (and the heavens know there was A LOT of finishing involved in this project):

DONE. Whew, that was more work than I want to contemplate doing any time soon.......

Continuing On

2011-08-04T18:41:00.002-04:00

The seaming is complete! Whew. Here's proof:

Um, yeah, Elvis decided this would be a good spot.....

Edit: this isn't finished yet! Still working on the border...

Fingernail Friday

2011-07-29T01:32:00.000-04:00

Not so much knitting as....

2011-07-24T17:05:00.001-04:00

seaming! and seaming and seaming...it never seems to end! But I have gotten thus far:

Landon Bay

2011-07-05T01:52:00.001-04:00

Checked out the Landon Bay hiking trails. These trails were a bit more 'rustic'. In other words, they were more what I would picture as a hiking trail. Ups and downs, rocks to go around and over etc. The trailhead was marked nicely:

A pic of the trail:

See? Rocks and trees and stuff! The trail lead to a nice view of the bay:

and a little bridge along the edge of the bay:

All in all, a very nice place to take a hike!

KP Trail

2011-07-03T01:48:00.000-04:00

Went hiking out on the KP Trail. It is an old railway right of way that has been rehabbed into a hiking/biking/horseback riding trail.

There were a multitude of deerflies, so bring your bugspray! It goes through farmland so the view is pretty much what you would expect.

Aaaaaand then I got home and saw this in my backyard:

Hiking in the wilderness indeed! Apparently my backyard was more wild than the trail!

Lazy Katy Progress

2011-06-30T16:43:00.002-04:00

I am currently working on a Lazy Katy shawlette/scarf. This is Smooshy sock yarn.

It doesn't look like much right now. I just started the first row on the lacy border and realized about 1/3 of hte way in that I started on the wrong side of the chart. headdesk
So I will have to tink back a bit and try that again....

Fingernail Friday

2011-06-17T01:00:00.000-04:00

Fingernail Friday

2011-06-03T01:34:00.000-04:00

NOT with Extra Protein

2011-06-01T01:35:00.001-04:00

I like to sit on my deck. I like to have refreshig beverages while sitiing on my deck. I do not like having bugs befoul my refreshing beverage. I have devised a method to prevent said bugs from committing suicide in my refreshing beverage:

To whit, the saucer from my espresso cup set.

Next up!

2011-05-31T01:31:00.000-04:00

I am on a shawl roll. I keep seeing lovely ones that NEED to be made. The next one is the LazyKaty.

Ciao

An FO!

2011-05-28T15:24:00.002-04:00

I have finished my first Faroese style shawl. It has been christened the Camoshawl.

Fingernail Friday

2011-05-20T01:49:00.000-04:00

A tribute to childhood

2011-05-14T11:18:00.003-04:00

Having trouble with the sizing...click on pic and select original size on Flickr...

By Chris Lester

Fingernail Friday

2011-05-06T01:43:00.000-04:00

Sometimes I wish...I was on a tropical beach...

Next Up!

2011-05-01T18:25:00.001-04:00

Having finished the lovely circular shawl, I started poking around trying to decide what to make next. In the midst of all this, hubby and I discovered that his credit card may have been hacked when Sony screwed up with the information protection systems. So I am restricted to free patterns, until this is sorted. Fortunately, there were no funky charges on the card, so it's just a matter of getting a new one. I have been looking at Faroese shawl designs and decided to try a simple one first. Summer Shawlette , it's a free pattern at Knitting Daily. So far, it's been a clear pattern, with no surprises.

I am not quite getting gauge. Should be 4 stitches per inch and I am getting 4.5 and row should be 6.25 rows per inch and I am getting 5. However, that is unblocked and, lets say it all together, swatches LIE. And that is all this is at this point, essentially, a swatch. Besides, it's a shawl, not exactly a gauge-critical project, right?
Ciao

FO Time

2011-04-25T03:43:00.000-04:00

I have finished the shawl!

Elvis Approves of this shawl.

Stats

Yarn: Sweet Sheep BFL superwash. super skein. (about 800 yards)
Needles size: 7
Time to completion: approx a month (project monogamy FTW)
Diameter of shawl: 46 inches

The cast on was a complete and utter pain. After I got it, a friend on Rav, upon hearing of my frustration, told me of a trick used in circular starts with few stitches: cast on with doubled yarn for half the number of stitches and then 'spread' the stitches out. The errata on the project page has NOT been put into the pattern, so please make sure you know where the errata goes!

Otherwise, this is a mindless knit once you get into the repeat section and is very impressive once it is finished.

ciao

Round and Round and Round and Round

2011-04-18T01:06:00.000-04:00

.....we go! My Candian Shawl continues. Current stats: approx 92 inches around. Approx 100 gram of yarn left (on my incrediby inaccurate kitchen scale) Ciao

Fingernail Friday

2011-04-15T01:55:00.000-04:00

Spring Thing nails!

Round and Round and Round and Round.....

2011-04-10T15:16:00.002-04:00

I am working happily on my Candian Whirlppol shawl. It's 408 stitches around, currently. So it is growing a little less quickly than it did at the beginning. here's a couple of crappily lit pics: It's grey and thunderstormy out, so the natural light leaves a lot to be desired. The flash leaves a lot to be desired too, but beggars can't be choosers. I don't want to switch to longer circs till I have to, so it's all squished up on the shorter ones. I am rather glad the rain came as forcast today. Yesterday hubs and I did the sprinkling of the cornmeal on the lawn to keep the crabgrass away and give the grass a bit of a feed. So the rain will help melt that in a bit. Spring. It might actually be here!

Fingernail Friday

2011-04-08T01:56:00.000-04:00

The "I Hope Spring is Here" Edition.....

Spring!

2011-04-04T02:57:00.001-04:00

The weather today is beautiful....for once. It's been a long, grey winter. So, I decided the other day to cast on something with spring colours. The Vortex shawl in some 'mistake yarn' dyed by the Sweet Sheep. The cast on was a MAJOR PITA. 8 stitches on 4 dpns. Yeah, twisted the stitches, dropped dpns, you name it, I did it. Finally tried it via magic loop, and while I still had to cast on a few times to get it right, it was slightly less frustrating. If you try this pattern, please note the errata on the Ravelry project page. I mistakenly assumed the pdf would have been corrected. It was not. Much swearing ocurred. Another note, when the designer says 'place stitch markers beteween sections' or repeats or whatever, she means the grouping of stitches. Also, when you get to the ....and repeat these 2 rows until size desired is reached....part, the directions are for each repeat between the stitch markers. The pattern is a little unclear about that. All that aside, once you get going it is very easy to do. It is lace knitting that can be done in front of the tv. It is also very impressive looking. The second picture has truer colours. On my monitor at any rate. Ciao

There Is Not Enough* Headdesk* In The World

2011-03-26T15:52:00.003-04:00

So, I was excited. I had finished knitting the pieces of my Whiskey sweater. I pressed the pieces as advised by the designer. I seamed the sleeves onto the sweater. I sat down and prepared to pick up stitches to knit the neckband.

"Hmmm", I thought to myself, "this looks a little weird". I proceeded to begin picking up stitches anyway. (de nile, it ain't just a river in Egypt) Ran into a roadblock immediately. The pattern read "pick up 10 stitches across top of sleeve". Ummmm, I had no top of sleeve.

I laid out the sweater carefully on the floor. The knitting inspector ran over to investigate.

I seamed the sleeves on UPSIDE DOWN. fuuuuuuuuuuuuck.
I need a drink. Of actual whiskey, I think.

Fingernail Friday

2011-03-25T18:00:00.003-04:00

Sorry for the delay posting this. I had to oust the troop of gnomes practicing riverdance on the inside of my skull. I had to bring in the local sheriff, but they have been evicted. So, on to the fingernails!

Whiskey Shots

2011-03-20T20:40:00.002-04:00

Most of my Whiskey sweater is knit up:

Now to weave in the ends, sew in the sleeves, pick up the stitches for the neckband...wow, that sounds like a fair bit of work left for an almost completed sweater!

I'd better hold off on the celebratory drink.

Bob's new boots

2011-03-16T01:09:00.000-04:00

For those of you wondering, Yes, this is Bob of Ravelry fame!

Wonky, Like Me

2011-03-14T20:26:00.002-04:00

Dishtowel #2 has been christened 'Wonky'. Somehow I made it a little off-center. Which is prettty much how I feel after the spring forward daylight savings time thing. Please forgive the uncropped photo. I feel like a truck ran me over. Too. Tired. To. Go. On.

4 more to go!

Fingernail Friday

2011-03-11T01:56:00.000-05:00

I Need a Drink

2011-03-08T01:57:00.000-05:00

I cast on for a sweater. Tess by Kim Hargreaves. I love me some Kim Hargreaves.
I did not have enough bulky yarn in my stash, so I am using some other yarn doubled up. I think it might still be a tad less thick than the pattern expects, but it is turning out nicely, so I'm not worried.
Getting this knit started was a bit of a process though. I had to cast on 3 times. The first time I started knitting the medium size. It was HUGE. Probably due to the yarn sub I did. So I cast on again for the smaller size. And then screwed up a stitch. And dropped a couple of stitches trying to fix the screw up. Swore and threw yarn across room. Ripped. Cast on AGAIN. Third time is the charm, I suppose, as it is going much better now.
The knitting has progressed to the splitting for the sleeve-holes. so the knit looks a bit funny as it is curled up on the cables, but here is a progress picture:

Here is a better angle for the eyelets along the lower edge:

Obviously, this is unblocked, raw knitting...and just in case you were wondering at the project box:

Seems appropriate considering the trouble I had getting this to start off properly. Verily, I name this knit.....Whiskey!
( this project 'bag' has the added bonus of being cat-proof)

Breaking the Silence

2011-03-06T15:52:00.002-05:00

Oops! I had no idea it's been so long since I posted!
So, I have finished some Giftmas knitting,

A dishtowel. I got a bunch of Bernat's Handicrafter cotton at a really good deal, so I figure I'll make up some dishtowels as little gifties for people at Christmas. This is, technically, the placemat pattern on the ballband. I knit it on slightly bigger needles (5.5mm) to make the fabric less dense and more suited to a towel. It turned out nicely. I have enough of this cotton to make another 5 or so towels. But I think I want to change up the pattern to avoid boredom. What patterns do you like for dishtowels?

Fingernail Friday

2011-02-25T01:20:00.000-05:00

Infinitude

2011-02-21T10:11:00.002-05:00

A friend's birthday is fast approaching, so I needed a fast, fun knit for her. I also really liked this pattern, so the combination is a WIN! in my books. The pattern is Infinitude, an 'infinity scarf'. In other words, a big knit circle. The pattern comes in 2 sizes, I knit the larger one because I like drama.
Laid out to dry after it's bath:

Wrapped 3 times around the neck:

Wrapped twice around:

And a last, out of focus shot (sorry!) of how long it is:

The yarn is Lorna's Laces Lion and Lamb, it took a whole hank and about half of the next, so 300 yards-ish for the larger size scarf.

This took me about a week to knit up, with interruptions for, oh, work, eating, sleeping, migraines, you know.....life.

I am now tempted to make another for me. Although I have 2 new cowls I just knit!

ciao

Fix

2011-02-12T16:15:00.002-05:00

My clog/slippers developed a hole or 4. Not feeling like knitting a whole new pair right now as I am working on a couple of other projects I thought I would fix em.

The before pic (well, the 'I got started and then realized I should take a 'before' pic' ) :

Then I needle felted some fibre I had lying around onto the holes:

Tada! Like almost-new! I was a bit concerned the bottom of the slipper would feel lumpy, but it doesn't. I can't tell there is a patch at all. Or 4 patches, as the case may be.

Fingernail Friday-Valentine's Day Edition

2011-02-11T01:42:00.000-05:00

Hubby Hat or Melonhead II

2011-02-05T14:07:00.002-05:00

Hubby really needed a new hat. His old one is pilling and not very nice anymore.

His request was that it 'cover his ears'. So I cast on 96 stitches, k2p2 for 8 inches, decrease and done! Decreases were done as this pattern in the round has written up.

What to knit next? I am ogling 2 'infinity' scarves. What to knit? The Infinitude scarf or the Gap-tastic one...?
I know, I'll go raid the stash and whatever one I find yarn for first wins! Sounds fair ,right?

Ciao

New Knit!

2011-01-26T14:43:00.004-05:00

I finished anothe rknit. I am on a roll, I tell you. This time it's Spirogyra fingerless gloves. Made with Oceamwind Knits Merino II. A lovely yarn. I made the shorter version of the mitts and they are plenty long, 21cm from one end to the other.

This picture is closest to the actual colour:

All in all, a very successful knit. I cast on and it took 8 days to complete and that is with several days of not knitting at all due to work and the like. 2/3 of that was over 2 days. I could have knit the whole shebang in a weekend if I was dedicated.

I have already worn them and loved em!

Sewing

2011-01-23T14:34:00.005-05:00

I have managed to iron all the squares and sewed in the ends on all of them but one. I found a lonely one I missed in the bottom of the bag. I'll deal with it, eventually. Today I sewed up one 'cube' of mitred squares. It's about all I can manage at one go. Getting the stripes to line up is,um, fiddly.

This is the 3rd square out of quite a few that I have sewn up. Onwards!

Ciao

Fingernail Friday

2011-01-21T01:08:00.002-05:00

Nail art for the week:

Another One!

2011-01-19T15:59:00.002-05:00

I have another FO! Really. I'm shocked, actually.

I turned this:

Into this:

Which looks like this:

The yarn is soo soft and squishy it's sinful. It was very similar to Malabrigo in that it was a thick single. Maybe that's why it was squishy?

Details:

Pattern: Climb and Swirl Cowl
Yarn: Madelinetosh Tosh Merino in Baltic
Needles:Size 9 (one size up from the suggested needle size)

It's Done!

2011-01-13T14:41:00.003-05:00

I finished my shawlette! May I present, the Berry Citron:

This picture shows the colours most truely, and I just like the pic...

Pattern: Citron
Yarn: Handmaiden Kidsilk
Yardage: Slightly less than 410 yards

Thoughts: This turned out exactly as I had hoped. It's the perfect office weight shawl for me. Instead of pinning the ruffle when I blocked it, I should have pinned the section just above the ruffle. As it is, the ruffle was 'pointy' from the pins, so I steam ironed it to make it smoother.

Modern Technology Teaching...Sort of

2011-01-09T11:16:00.002-05:00

People tend to come into the pharmacy with all sorts of odd ideas picked up from the internet or tv shows. The example below I filched from Not Always Right/Funny and Stupid Customer Quotes, but is a pretty fair example:

A Bit Grey With Anatomy, Part 2from Not Always Right Funny & Stupid Customer Quotes by
(Bakery Concord, MA, USA)

(A girl begins to choke on some bread. The mother then proceeds to try and give the daughter some bizarre imitation of the Heimlich Manoeuvre.)

Me: “Ma’am, wait for her to stop coughing before you help her.”

Customer: “What? She’ll die by then!”

Me: “I’m certified in CPR, I know what I’m talking about. It’s not an emergency until she can’t cough. When she can’t cough anymore, I can help her.”

(The customer is now basically punching her daughter in the stomach, and I’m becoming increasingly worried that she is going to injure her. Suddenly, the girl stops coughing.)

Customer: “See, I didn’t need your help. And you know what? I’m certified too; I watch Grey’s Anatomy every time it’s on!”

Fingernail Friday

2011-01-07T01:24:00.001-05:00

The first Fingernail Friday of 2011!

Kitties Share?

2011-01-03T19:00:00.000-05:00

My Citron shawl is in the final stretch. In the meantime, look! Kitties!

I can too share the Mamma's lap!

Although I am perfectly happy to have the lap all to myself, you know.

Alright already!Mamma! You can stop with the blinky light flashy thingie!

Fingernail Friday!

2010-12-24T01:01:00.001-05:00

Happy Holidays, All!!!

Fingernail Friday

2010-12-17T01:50:00.000-05:00

In honour of all the snow that's been arriving in various parts of the continent:

Better

2010-12-12T18:45:00.002-05:00

I am feeling better, if still a bit drippy. Thus the knitting has continued! My Not Citrus shawl. It is the Citron pattern. Done in Fleece Artist kid-silk 2 ply. Not sure how big it is going to get. I figure on knitting till there ain't no more yarn...

Up close picture:

...and full view so far:

ciao for nao!

Gratuitous Kitty Pic

2010-12-06T15:28:00.000-05:00

A nasty cold is circulating Chez Knot,so there is
nothing much to say here. Here, have a gratuitous kitty pic:

Or 2....

Fingernail friday!

2010-12-03T01:55:00.000-05:00

Not My Customer-Thank Goodness

2010-12-01T01:02:00.000-05:00

Found on Not Always Right/Funny & Stupid Customer Quotes:

(A patient walks up to the pick up window looking like he just came from the emergency room.)
Me: “Hello, sir, how can I help you?”
Customer: “I wanna drop this off…” *hands me an ER prescription*
Me: “Sir, this is the pick up window. You need to drop off the prescription at the drop off window.”
Customer: “Where’s that?”
Me: “The counter at the entrance to the room with the big sign that says “Drop Off Window’.”
Customer: “Where?”
Me: “You know, you already waited in line so I’ll just take the prescription here. Have you ever had any medication here before?”
Customer: “I don’t know, have I?”
Me: “I’ll take that as a no. Do you have any allergies to medication?”
Customer: “Well, when I mix heroin and battery acid, I get a rash.”
Me: “… I’ll make a note on that.”

That wasn't me in the vignette, but some days I wonder.....

Frilly!

2010-11-29T01:49:00.000-05:00

At work we do a Christmas gift exchange. This year I thought I would knit something up. I didn't want to wait till I knew who I drew out of the hat, cause I don't always knit so fast, so I decided a nice scarf out of Frill Seeker yarn would be good. I totally blame Curlerchik for showing me this yarn, by the way.....

While this was a fast, fun knit, I must say I was NOT amused at the 5, count em 5 knots I found. Fortunately this yarn hides the ends nicely, but still, this yarn ain't cheap and 5 freaking knots!!!

ciao for now

Actual Knitting

2010-11-22T01:54:00.000-05:00

I finished the cowl! Woo and Hoo!

I am quite pleased with how this turned out. To recap:

Yarn: Berrocco ultra Alpaca
Pattern: Ciara's Cowl
Needles: 3.5mm

The knit inspector in the top photo was satisfied with the quality of this knit too.

Ciao

Fingernail Friday

2010-11-19T01:32:00.001-05:00

Apple Can Suck It

2010-11-17T01:07:00.000-05:00

As regular readers here (if any) know, I wear hearing aids. This poses a problem when it comes to things like cell phones. Cell phones that are not shielded properly create a buzzing that is very unpleasant and makes talking, or rather hearing the other person very difficult. On an old fashioned landline analog phone, there is a setting on the hearing aid called a t-coil (telecoil) that interacts directly with the phone. Some cellphones have t-coil compatibility. These are rated with T4 being good and T1 not so good. In the US FCC mandates that cellphone manufacturers of a certian size must have a minimum percentage of their phones that are hearing aid compatible. (I have no inclination to look up the actual numbers, if ya feel like it, knock yourself out).

I, like many other people, like gadgets. Apple's iPhone is an ultimate gadget. However if I can't use a phone like,well, a phone, there's no point in spending mucho money on it. I went hunting for info. Found this website on which Apple goes on and on and on and ON about accessibility of their gadgets for disabled people. Yeah, the section on hearing disabled blathers on about things like the video option is great for sign language. Not a fucking peep about hearing aids. I know we are not the largst percentage of the population, but dammit, we are not miniscule either.

Apple is ignoring us. Assholes.

Fuck it. Blackberry anyone?

Happy. Not.

2010-11-15T01:19:00.001-05:00

An hysterical open letter that totally sums up what I and many other women, I am sure, feel.

GO HERE

Christmas Cat Wrap

2010-11-13T11:27:00.003-05:00

In honour of Christmas and all that that entails, I give you:

How to wrap a cat

Keeping Warm

2010-11-10T03:57:00.000-05:00

As the weather turns cooler, kitties like to find all the warm spots in the house. elvis has dscovered, as did her brother before her, that the newly opened dishwasher is quite toasty.

silly kitty!

Cowl

2010-11-08T03:52:00.001-05:00

I am currently working on a cowl. It is taking much longer than I had thought, as the tooth that needs to have a root canal (this tuesday!) is complaining bitterly. Which means the heavy duty painkillers. Which are NOT conducive to knittng, as I discovered after I had to rip out an entire evening's work. So, here is the cowl thus far:

It's not too feminine is it? It's a gift. For a male. I think it's got some texture without being 'lace-like', but now I am second guessing myself....

Trimming Kitty Claws

2010-11-04T19:31:00.000-04:00

How to trim kitty claws

1. Search for supplies. Clippers, kitty treats. bandaids, gauze,wine (open the bottle first. trust me)

2. Search for cat.

3. Sit on floor with cat.

4. coax cat out from under coffee table

5. sit on floor with cat and pick up clippers.

6. wrap bloody scratches up with gauze, pry cat out from under sofa.

7. Sit on floor with cat held firmly.

8. pick up paw.

9. put bandaids on wrist.

10. pry cat out from under bed, grab paws and clip very quickly.

11. take kitty treats, throw box under desk, pour wine and drink.

Who us? No, we're GOOD kitties!

Money Grab

2010-11-02T01:24:00.000-04:00

The utility company has installed something called a 'smart meter' on my house. It measures WHEN I use electricity and then charges me depending on the time of day. There are 3 rates: Stupid Expensive(9.9cents per kWh), Sooper Expensive(8.00 cents) and Expensive(5.3cents). The highest rate applies during peak hours. During the summer, peak hours are 11am to 5pm off-peak is 9pm to 7am and the rest is intermediate. During the winter off-peak remains the same, but peak changes to 7am-11am and 5pm-9pm.

Now, I can change some things like when I run the dishwasher or do the laundry. I have , in fact, done these things. Yet my bill is half again as high as it was pre-smart meter. It's going to get worse, as I cook with electricity and peak time will be changing November 1st. I cannot change my stove to a gas one, as I rent. I have no fireplace to cook over the flames, so I am basically screwed.

I fail to see what else I can change. At night we only keep the one lamp on in the living room. We have lowered the wattage bulb we use dramamtically. The only things that run during the day are the furnace ,which IS gas thank goodness, and the computer and tv. The hubby rarely cooks during the day. Lunch is usually something he can heat up in the microwave or a sandwich.

However, once peak time changes to 5pm-9pm, I will be forced to pay the higher rate in order to eat dinner. I can't eat sandwiches all the time.

Quite frankly I think this is a money grab by the utlity company. They could do other things to promote energy savings. For example, in Italy, houses do NOT have 200 amp service as a matter of course, I think 'normal service' is 50amps. So if you try to run too many appliances at once, the breaker trips. This forces people to spread out what they are doing and reduces the drain on the grid.

I am really hating this as it is forcing me to spend all weekend doing laundry. (weekends and statutory holidays are just Expensive) I can't throw a load in the washer until after 9pm during the week, which means I'd be up till after 11pm to get one lousy load washed, dried and folded. Can't do it when I have to get up early to get to my job. Which I need to pay the enormous electrical bill.

Halloween!

2010-10-31T16:09:00.002-04:00

I present....The Brain Sucker!

I wore it to work on friday:

A successful second ever crochet project! Even better, it was done without a pattern or anything!

and now:

BRAINSSSSSS!!!!!!

(Happy Halloween!)

Fingernail Friday!

2010-10-29T07:53:00.001-04:00

Crochet

2010-10-24T13:50:00.002-04:00

I decided to try my hand at crochet. I thought it might be fun to make a Brain Sucker for Halloween. (sorry, pic is a sewed stuffie, but you get the general idea) So, I crocheted for a bit and the joins between rounds sucked. So I ripped back a couple of times to figure it out. The joins are still not fabulous, but they are much better. The book "Happy Hooker" has been very useful. Tunrs out I was making a couple of errors. The first one was I was making my turning chain too long by one stitch. The second mistake was not working the last stitch in the row. The joins are still not perfect, but they look much better, so I can live with it.

Modem Socks

2010-10-19T21:24:00.002-04:00

When my modem unexpectedly 'bricked' I had just finished one knit (the Siamese point cat hat) and was researching my next one. Suddenly that wasn't possible. So, I cast on a pair of socks for the husband using the Red Cross WWII sock pattern he likes so much. I finished em!

The yarn is from Dizzy Blonde Studios and is called Olivia. The skein was very generous. I think I have enough left over after knitting man socks to knit a pair of at least anklets for me. Not sure if I will, just saying.....

ciao

AAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!

2010-10-17T14:02:00.002-04:00

It's a Spaghetti Monster!

Or maybe it's a stack of pancakes?

Apparently not. It's actually the stack of mitred squares I knit up ages ago.

I just ironed the lot of em. Now to seam and take care of ends. Note I said 'take care of' ends. I am going to be bad and tie nice square knots in them. If I have to weave in that many ends, the nice men with the straight jackets might have to come get me.

Nature

2010-10-11T02:55:00.000-04:00

I went out for a hike in a local conservation area. Little Cataraqui Creek. It was lovely and silent. This area has swamplnd and is generally wetter than the last place I went. I had mud halfway up my legs by the end of the hike!

Pictures:

Fingernail Friday

2010-10-08T01:20:00.000-04:00

Oh Hai!

2010-10-05T19:17:00.003-04:00

Sorry about the sudden silence. My modem 'bricked' (turned into a brick instead of staying a modem) and it took the internet provider nearly 2 freaking weeks to get me a new one.

Onwards....

I have an FO!!!!
Voila, the Siamese Point Cat Hat. Also known as the Sockhead hat. I used Zauberball yarn for this, and the colours reminded me of a Siamese cat's colour points.

I am super pleased with this hat! As a bonus, it matches my hair....

Who'd a Thunk?

2010-09-20T15:13:00.002-04:00

One of the nice things about living where I do, is the abundance of natural scenery. I have decided I need to get out into it more. So I found a conservation area nearby (Like less than 10km away!) and the hubby and I went for a nice ramble today. These are some pictures I took at Lemoine Point today.

It was a beautiful day to wander along.

Arr Mateys!

2010-09-19T11:08:00.001-04:00

Today be Talk Like a Pirate Day. I swilled too much grog and found out:

You are The Cap'n!

Some men and women are born great, some achieve greatness and some slit the throats of any scalawag who stands between them and unlimited power. You never met a man - or woman - you couldn't eviscerate. You are the definitive Man of Action, the CEO of the Seven Seas, Lee Iacocca in a blousy shirt and drawstring-fly pants. You're mission-oriented, and if anyone gets in the way, that's his problem, now isn't? Your buckle was swashed long ago and you have never been so sure of anything as your ability to bend everyone to your will. You will call anyone out and cut off his head if he shows any sign of taking you on or backing down. If one of your lieutenants shows an overly developed sense of ambition he may find more suitable accommodations in Davy Jones' locker. That is, of course, IF you notice him. You tend to be self absorbed - a weakness that may keep you from seeing enemies where they are and imagining them where they are not.

What's Yer Inner Pirate?
brought to you by The Official Talk Like A Pirate Web Site. Arrrrr!

Fingernail Friday

2010-09-17T01:25:00.001-04:00

Another FO!

2010-09-13T14:46:00.002-04:00

I'm on a streak. A slow streak, but hey, I'll take it. I finished my shawlette, Three. It took me 3 failures before I found a pattern that would work with the Rumple silk boucle yarn. I can totally see why most people did the pattern for the shawl that came with the yarn. Which was a rectangular k1yo type pattern. I wanted something more substantial. So I eventually cast on 3 stitches and marked the center stitch. Then I did a yo before and after that stitch on the knit rows and purled back. I did a garter stitch 3 stitch border on the edges to keep it from rolling.

I am quite pleased with this. Now I just need to buy a pretty shawl pin. Etsy here I come!

Trill FO!

2010-09-08T01:52:00.000-04:00

Finally got some decent photos of my Trill (Rill). Overall, I am very happy with this knit. I could have knit a size smaller (I made the 38), but it doesn't bother me, so I'm good.

This knit took a LOT of yarn. 15 balls of the Madill Eden, to be exact. It is a very dramatic cardigan and the bamboo feels soooooo soft and squishy.

Knitting!

2010-09-06T10:12:00.002-04:00

I have knitting! I have an FO too, but I cannot seem to get good pics of it. That would be my Trill. I tried yesterday and all I got was the wind blowing my hair in my faace, and the Trill looked like it was trying to take flight. So that will have to wait for another day. In the meantime, I finally have a decent knit for my Rumple yarn.

I am calling it Three. Since it is the third try at a knit with this yarn AND since the pattern has a lot of 3's in it,

And a close-up:

I cast on 3 stitches, k1 yo k1 yo k1, k back, do this for 3 rows, then continue but knitting the first and last 3 stitches and purling back, doing yo's around the middle stitch only.

Therefore, Three. I am hoping for a small shawl or neckerchief type FO.

Fingernail Friday-Handpainted edition

2010-09-03T01:20:00.000-04:00

This weeks fingernails were handpainted. And beautiful!

I'll Sleep On It

2010-08-18T19:15:00.002-04:00

Like many peope, I have a spouse who snores. This interrupts my beauty rest. So I keep buying new pillows in the hope it will curtail the noise. Latest experment was a buckwheat pillow. Supposedly, it gives better support to the neck and keeps it in a neutral position. Tried it. Husband hated it. I was curious so I tried it.

In the past, I have slept on hard pillows. I do not like it. My ear will occasionally hurt even if I am sleeping on a feather pillow. So sleeping on what was essentially a beanbag seemed rather...dubious.

The pillow I bought was the $20 buckwheat pillow from the showcase store at the mall. You know the store...the one that sells all the 'Made for tv' stuf like Bumpits etc....

To sleep on the beanbag pillow, the instructions say to smooth out the surface and then make a shallow bowl in the cente. then lie down on the pillow and pull firmly to the shoulders.

I did that. I slept wonderfully! I didn't hear the hubby snoring. I eally likemy pillow. If my ear feels a little tender, I simply push some of the stuffing out to make a hollow for my ear.

I did find the $20 pillow a little small. So I bought a queen sized one. This one has a zipper in the side, so I could pull out some of the stuffing if it was too high.
Which I did wind up doing.

The verdict is that I sleep better on the buckwheat pillow. I love mine. Try it.