N is for Needles

Knitting Needles, of course! and on my needles right now I have these various knitting projects:

a red vest...


a pair of wool & silk socks...

a wool mitten...this pair of childrens mittens is destined for the Afghans for Afghans project...since they are currently collecting handknit items for children ages 7-14.


a "scrappy" striped scarf...thriftedly using up my yarn scraps...in a fun simple lace pattern I adapted for this scarf...


and a sweater (for Kesia) --also using up scraps...this is the back of the sweater--this sweater very close to finished...it rather randomly knit with all types of yarn--wools, angora, alpaca, mohair...

If I poked through my closets more, I probably have a few more small projects on some needles..but these are the ones I am actively working on....this week I mostly knit on the sock...

I keep my tables loaded with knitting and needlework so I don't have to dust them...if I knit fast enough does it count as aerobic exercise?

Mad Mad Hatter

This summer when I wasn't cooking, picking berries, painting or reading ---I was knitting--hats! I find knitting hats very satisfying for 2 reasons:
1) I can finish one fairly quickly--so there is almost instant gratification
2) I can play around and make each one unique---so I never get bored knitting the same thing over and over
Plus, they make great gifts....







"Knitting is a boon for those of us who are easily bored. I take my knitting everywhere to take the edge off of moments that would otherwise drive me stark raving mad." ~Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, At Knit's End: Meditations for Women Who Knit Too Much

2008 KNITTING

I really had no idea of how productive I have been the past year with knitting until I started organizing my Flickr photos into "sets".... here are just few of my 2008 finished knitting projects. For closer look at each one, you are welcome to visit my Flickr account here.


Today's Quote--in honor of Martin Luther King Day---

"Don't let other people's opinions burn holes in your dreams." -----Elsa Joy Bailey

Welcoming the New Year with a Vintage Pin Cushion

One favorite present I received during the Holidays was this very colorful and fun (and practical) vintage pin cushion (thanks Ardie!)---isn't it cool? it came with the pins in it..

And her (soon to be 9 year old) son gave me this vintage stuffed squirrel (thanks Hayden!)--it has quite a bit of character for a stuffed toy....

and my son-in-law gave me this lovely soap he made....I really love the presentation with the fragrant cinnamon stick attached....(thanks Dustin!)



of course--- I currently have a few projects on the needles....seems it is about time to finish up some of them....this is the first of a pair of "half mittens"

this lace and cabled hat is knit with hemp/cotton yarn

and here are some itty bitty baby bootees---I am using fine lace weight wool to make these tiny sized for a newborn

I do manage to finish some projects---
In fact, I created these warm, fuzzy, soft slippers for a Holiday present for my daughter---I liked them so much I plan to make a pair for myself!


and a couple of hats.....



Quote for the Day: "If I knit fast enough--does it count as aerobic exercise?"---author unknown

Tutorial Round-up # 2

Here are some more tutorials from the list I've been bookmarking for about a year...I just saved any crafty projects with good tutorials that I hope to make ...someday....(anyone know when someday actually comes?)



1) Brooke's Columns of Leaves Scarf ---here
I just love this scarf...and so do other knitters, it seems...



2) Sew Green : Recycled Slipper Tutorial
Use a thrifted wool blanket (or maybe a thrifted wool suit?) to make these slippers; meanwhile check out the Sew Green blog .


3) Baby chenille bibs tutorial from happythings blog. Can't wake to make some cute bibs for the expected grandbaby!


4) At Evil Mad Scientists Laboratories a great tutorial for a "camera cozy" or a camera bag

5) and here is an outdoors--(at the beach! no less ;-) project for nature lovers!
THE WORLD BEACH PROJECT

Devised by Sue Lawty in association with the Victoria & Albert Museum.

"What is the World Beach Project?

The World Beach Project is a global art project open to anybody, anywhere, of any age. Building on the experience many of us have of making patterns on beaches and shorelines, this project combines the simplicity of making patterns with stones with the complexities of shape, size, colour, tone, composition, similarity and difference....."

"To Do" Lists and Knitting

For the knitters who read my blog--yes, I am knitting those holiday gifts! I have this scarf finished (just need to block it)



and this one on the needles....




and then I interrupted the frantic scarf knitting to knit a few squares for Kay at Mason-Dixon Knitting for Oliver's Blanket. These were fun because they provided instant gratification--I knit all three in one evening. They are 4" x 4" and knit with nice wool sock yarns.



And I am mightily resisting the strong urge to start another project---crocheting (with the gorgeous red wool/silk yarn I bought last month at ArtFibers) a lovely lacey sweater to wear to those holiday parties....[note to self: must must finish those scarves first, no more yarn projects! --- until scarf is finished]

On another more literary note--I attended a fun "reading" for this book the other night



The author, Sasha Cagen, had a "list slam" where folks read their "to do" lists out loud --some quite hilarious...and she has a great website here. If you area list-maker----(I am;-) you will probably enjoy this funny book!

Here is my current craft project list (well--- some I have to withhold from putting here because they are holiday gifts surprises--so I actually have more projects going and/or planned than this list)
1. sew some (more) coffee cup cozys
2. sew some aprons
3. sew an afghan from felted repurposed sweaters
4. knit hat to go with scarf (maybe?)
5. finish scarf on the needles
6. finish socks on the needles
7. sew more pin backs on "inchies"
8. crochet red holiday sweater
9. sew some baby bibs
10. sew some (more) grocery shopping bags

What is on your list?

New on the Needles

What!? yet another project??? Yup! I succumbed to darn old "startitis" and made a quick trip to the yarn shop--and found this lovely alpaca--this soft yarn just called out to me "lacy ripple scarf" so I'm knitting away.

And then I remembered this lacy scarf I knit for myself last year--my experiment with knitting with beads. This is knit of a grey-lavender lace weight mohair, with beads at each end.



TODAY'S QUOTE:
"There is no right way to knit; there is no wrong way to knit. So if anybody kindly tells you that what you are doing is "wrong," don't take umbrage; they mean well. Smile submissively, and listen, keeping your disagreement on an entirely mental level. They may be right, in this particular case, and even if not, they may drop off pieces of information which will come in very handy if you file them away carefully in your brain for future reference. " ~Elizabeth Zimmerman