Tip Tuesday

So here is you tip of the week.



Ever see a stitch pattern in a book or online or in a magazine and want to knit it? Then you see that is says "multiple of 8 stitches + 2" What the heck does that mean?

Quite simple to do. Let's say you want a total of 4 repeats of the pattern. 8 x 4 = 32. So you cast on 32 stitches and then two more stitches for the "+2". You will have a total of 34 stitches. It's that simple. As for why it is done? I haven't gone that far into learning about the tip, but I can tell you that from the knitting I have done, it is usually used when you have an offset pattern. Cool, huh?


I ordered my wheel today. I can't wait for it to come in.... This will be the longest time waiting for it.

I haven't done any real knitting lately. Just a few rows on "testy". I have decided to call my test knit that, as that is how I become when I work on it. I am also trying to refelt a bag from a while back. WE will see how it goes.

I found a purse yesterday that I had knit a while back. When I first started knitting. YIKES. I can see so many mistakes in it. While quite amusing to look at it is nice to know that I have come quite far in my knitting.

I am off to the fiber factory today. I want to pick up some roving for the new wheel and get a couple of other things. Not that I need it though.

Happy knitting

and the day has come...

So Easter was a nice day. We went to Amy's mom's and then out to my sister's. We had a really good time at both places. We played Cranium at my sister's house. I love that game. Totally rocks.

But, here is the best part of my post for today... I am getting this.......

Isn't it beautiful. I have waited sooooo long for one... Over a year. But today Amy succumbed and said that I could get one. I am checking first to see if it is available at the Fiber Factory but if not I am ordering it from a place online. I have researched them out and haven't seen any problems with the place. OOOOOOHHHHH I can't wait.


That is just about all I have to say for the weekend. I will post more tomorrow.

Happy Knitting.

Done... (redux)

I realized only today that my post for Done.... was never posted. At least, the words weren't posted. So, I thought I would re-type everything over. I can't really remember what was all in the post except for one thing.

I finished my sister's birthday socks. They look super awesome and they are matching. I am super proud of myself. I am going out to her house tomorrow night to decorate easter eggs so I will get a picture of them on her. I think that with the left overs I am going to make her son a pair. I wonder if I can finish them before easter? Surely little kids socks are a lot quicker than adults right????

The toe-up German round toe socks are coming along quite nicely. I have about three more inches to do before I can do the heel. I am doing a reverse short row, so I will see how it goes.

Hmmmm... I was trying to think of what more I have to say, but alas I can't think at all. I had a long day at work and just want to relax and knit a while.

I will post more tomorrow.... happy knitting.

Toe-day

I made my own version of the toe up german round toe. I have been wanting to learn to knit toe up for the longest time and I have been lazy about it. So after I knit about 20 rows on Test knit I decided to go for it.

It looks pretty good so far. I think that it makes it look a lot nicer. I am also going to learn how to do a backwards short row. Cool huh? I was going to do an afterthought heel but I think that they look sloppy and my stripes won't match up. On my plate today I have work and then heading over to Amy's moms. When I left work last night I had 4 back to back clients and am going to be in one position until like 5:30 tonight. Ah well, that's one of the downsides to the job.


Of to work. I will try to get a picture posted of my sock toe.

Toe-day

I made my own version of the toe up german round toe. I have been wanting to learn to knit toe up for the longest time and I have been lazy about it. So after I knit about 20 rows on Test knit I decided to go for it.

It looks pretty good so far. I think that it makes it look a lot nicer. I am also going to learn how to do a backwards short row. Cool huh? I was going to do an afterthought heel but I think that they look sloppy and my stripes won't match up. On my plate today I have work and then heading over to Amy's moms. When I left work last night I had 4 back to back clients and am going to be in one position until like 5:30 tonight. Ah well, that's one of the downsides to the job.


Of to work. I will try to get a picture posted of my sock toe.

Done....

knitting accomplished... and tip of the week.

I got to sit down and knit last night. I met up with some of the ladies at Essenza. A nice little place. Not somewhere I would take my first date to but it was cute. I cast on for the Denim Drawstring baby pants from LMKG. Tres Cute! *thank you again secret pal* They are moving along rather nicely.


I found my Southwest test knit. It was in my living room the whole time. I was asked where the three places it could have been were... My sisters, my work or somewhere in my house.... I am not too fond of knitting that but I know I need to get it done.

My sister's socks are begging to be knit. I have to do them! They just have a few more inches and then the toe is complete. Oh, Jen, the link to the German Round toe is on my sidebar.


I also wanted to share a knitting tip of the week. I am sorry about not doing one last week. I forgot..... So, in making good I have a few little tips to share with you...

Did you ever wonder why those size 7 bamboo needles are great and you can get gauge with them every time and those size 7 plastic needles make a big ol mess of you knitting?

Well, they probably aren't the same size. As much as we love our American sizing, there really is not rhyme or reason to it. It is a general estimate of the size of the needle. So that size 7 needle could be 4.5mm, 4.3 mm, 4.75 mm. So, always check what the mm size is on the needle. As that will be accurate. If it doesn't say the mm size on the package, you can bet that it probably won't be a "true" size.

Bonus Tip: We know that when you want to have a loose bind off you can just go up a needle size and bind off right? If you are find that your cast on is too tight, think about going up a needle size for you cast on too!


Have fun with these tips....

Happy Knitting.

I will knit today.... I mean it...

What to fill in on?


Yesterday Amy and I went to breakfast for our Anniv. and we had the worst waiter EVER! Okay not ever, but pretty darn close. To give a small peek into our time there, when he asked to take our order we were asked " What are you gonna eat?", Amy ordered hers and when she asked what yogurt was available he said, "It's in the menu....". I started giving him my order but I had to call him back so I could finish my order.... Everything went okay from there, but I had gorged myself early on in the meal so when he came up to see if everything was okay, rather than just asking that, " I got....."What's wrong with your food?" Nice huh? A few minutes later it was very obvious that Amy was still eating, she was putting food in her mouth.... He came up and tried to take her plate away. Amy stopped him, but his excuse.... "Well, we're busy." I will not give out the name of the place as I love love love going here and I don't want others to get a bad idea of it. I have never had crap service there before and I doubt I will again, but sometimes you just gotta vent. Other than that our anniversary was great.


Project update:
Amy's birthday socks: incomplete. I have just been lazy.
SWTC test knit... MIA.... I don't know where I left it at... I am thinking of three places

Those are really the main things I have been working on. I want to start on a tank from the new Interweave Knits. It is made with Pakucho Cotton, but I think I will make it out of some of the chenille I got from the southwest sale. We'll see.

Oh, for those that don't already know I have set up a SNB blog for our Phoenix group. It is quite plain right now but I will have more stuff added on later.

Happy knitting

what is there to say????

Not too much important news to say today. It is our anniversary. 6 years together. We don't have any real plans, just going out to practice and then we are hitting my sister's house... life can not interfere with Amy's band practice. ;)

I still haven't finished my sister's birthday socks. I am going to try and finish those up today.
I will post more tomorrow


Happy Knitting.

have camera...must show pictures....

I took a few extra pictures this morning so I would have some things to post about later on... but I of course want to show them all off. I have to be at work at noon today and I am having a terrible time getting going...I want to be at home basking in the beautiful sunlight.... and knitting my heart away.... Speaking of knitting, I have a few projects planned out for the next few months..... I know that some of them will go rather quickly but I am still going to say a few months...

The first yarn is actually knitted up, I am just doing the detail work on it. This is a prototype bag for something bigger planned. I had said before that I was thinking about doing a pattern for Southwest Trading Co. but still not sure. The inspiration came from this bag. If you click on the thumbnail and look at the very top you will see a a row of freshwater pearls in the holes. I am really liking how this is turing out.

(oh this yarn was also an RAOK that was sent to me!)



The next one is a scarf called Strawberry Parfait. If you look closely at the little beads on the upper left side they are little strawberries. How Cute, huh?



I don't have names for the other two projects. I just really liked the beads and how they went with the yarn. I don't know how I am going to attach any of them right now but I will figure that out later.


Happy Knitting!

THANK YOU SECRET PAL!!!!!

I have a few pictures to post of yarn.... The first one is a great big whopping thanks to my secret pal... I love everything in there..... Here is what I got in the mail from my secret Pal yesterday.





What is all this stuff?

There is a great CD with a great mix of songs on there. I will write more about what music I like for you later....

There are some handmade stitch markers (in purple my fav color)
Three Skeins of Rowan Cotton Denim... to make the baby pants from last minute knitted gifts that i have been wanting to make for forever... and yep three skeins are enough!
Some wonderful merino sock wool... Don't think I will make socks out of it but I will make sumthin....
A really cute card with a gorilla/monkey guy on the front... Sorry I don't have a picture of that to show... but you can see it's foot in the picture...
and the cutest little sheep tape measure... I have been wanting one of those for awhile but I have been to cheap to buy one.

I am also posting a picture of the Valentines gift my secret pal sent to me.... I had to collect everything back together to take the picture... *the box of chocolates was eaten that day, but I have it filled with beads now, along with the other little tin....



There was knitting tonight at Mama Java's and it was pretty fun. I didn't get to knit to much because we had an "emergency" committee meeting. Before that, though, Martha and I went to Southwest Trading CO's yarn blow out... there wasn't much left when we got there but I did manage to walk away with a few things... Some turquoise chenille and melody yarn that will be a shawl or something, a $2.00 drop spindle. I am not too sure how good it is but I will try it out.... I also got two skeins of some hand dyed soysilk... Martha got one of the same color ways and it is knitting up quite lovely. So, here are some pics of what I got... Think I did quite nicely for $27.00. Don't you think?


Happy Knitting...

knitting anyone?

I had a wonderful post done and then blogger ate it... I hate it when that happens. So, seeing as how I am pressed for a wee bit of time I will make this post short and write more later.

Later today I will be knitting at Mama Java's around 4:30 or 5:00. And then will be staying for the poetry night. If anyone is interested let me know on the SNB site... Happy Knitting

You asked... So I shall answer...

I got a question for where the bead shop I went to was.... the one I went to was D and I beads in Glendale. Lots of beads, a wonderful staff and awesome prices... I have to admit that I went again yesterday afterwork and spent about 20 bucks there... I walked out with a ton of beads and a load of ideas... I have been wanting to do some beading with my knitting lately but couldn't really think of anything to do. With some of the yarn I got from Southwest for my sweater I knit I have a couple of projects planned out... I am going to my sister's today so maybe I can get some pictures up... Hopefully...


I don't really have that much more to input here... I have been working all week and haven't been doing much knitting. The knitting I have been working on is a test knit. So same ol same ol.

Sorry for the boring post...

Happy Knitting

beads galore...

I went into a bead shop today. This was the first time I have been into a "real" bead shop. I was looking for a needle to fit on some freshwater pearl beads. I had been into a bead shop in Sedona and the Bead Museum store in Glendale but this was awesome... Who knew that there were so many dang beads in this world. I was talking with the owner and she had told me they are planning on expanding... YIKES!

So, my goal this evening is to get the pearls attached to the purse that I am working on. I also want to finish up a felt bag that I am knitting too. These are just little side projects. I was having no desire to knit on the Oasis Shell from Southwest today. I think that if I get a few of my projects done it will inspire me to work a little more on it...

Happy Knitting.

Tip Tuesday and more yarn to talk about...

So, here is my knitting tip of the week for today. I found this tip out when I just gotten into knitting...Some of you may have heard it last week on Knitty Gritty but here it is...

You find two yarns that you are in love with and want to knit them together but don't know what needle size to use.... Look at the ball band and see what the mm size for the needle is...(yep, those are finally coming in handy for us Americans) Just add the mm sizes together, then find what the closest mm size in for a needle and start knitting.... Example?

You have these two balls of yarn...

The Crystal Effects yarn is knit on size 8 needles, so that makes it 5 mm. The Odyssey yarn is knit on size 7 needles, so that makes it 4.5mm.

4.5 + 5 = 9.5

The closet mm size to that is a size 13 (9mm).

Cool huh?

So, I also forgot to mention that I went up to Jessica's on Sunday. I didn't stay very long. Amy had a class that I had to pick her up at. But I did manage to walk away with some Baby Alpaca yarn. Nope, it's not for me. I am sending it off to my Secret Pal... I have the package all done and I just need to send it off today. I hope that she likes it.

Amy and I are off to Ikea today. We are going to get some chairs for the living room. Not anything to fancy, we just have a couch and if you have more than one person over some one has to sit on the chairs from the dining room table.

I started on my next project form southwest. It is tank and it is coming along nicely. It is a very mindless knitting project so I can work on that in front of the t.v.

I might meet up with Brooke tonight to do some knitting, so if anyone is intersted let me know and we can figure out where to meet at and junk...

Happy Knitting .

oooo yarn and lots of it...

First I got my first RAOK the other day. I got it on Friday. I checked my mail box and there was this wonderful package from Michelle. It was this wonderful yarn that has a tweedy effect to it. I love it!!!!! Of course, I had to start knitting with it right away. I am just about finished with a purse that will be my spring purse. Sorry Party and Sun yarn I love this one so much better. :(

I went to Southwest today and turned in my Calypso top. I didn't get any pictures of it, sorry folks. I came home with a toooonnnn of goods. I did take a few balls of Calypso in a beige color and then I also got lots of misc skeins that are tester and sampler skeins. Way cool. I have so much now that I don't know what to do with it all. It will just be added to my stash. I was also thinking about designing a purse pattern for them. I have been thinking about it all weekend as for how to do the pattern but I havne't quite gotten the schematics worked out on it. I will try to get a picture posted of what I got but I have to borrow a camera... I hate not having one... I was thinking even if I get a cheap one it will still be better than nothing....

We'll see.

Happy Knitting

I finished my Calypso top. Most of you who were at the Changing Hands SNB know that already. I am going to take a picture of my niece in it this weekend. It is supposed to be a medium but it looks like it will be one of those mediums that will be tight on someone who wears a size zero. I am giving it back on Monday. As horrible as it is to say this, I am glad that it is going back. I got a little tired of working with the yarn by ball 4. It just got tiring. Although, working on that sweater has inspired me to knit more sweaters. I am not sure if any of them will be for me but I want to. I think that maybe I will concentrate on some baby sweaters.


I have to finish Amy's sock by Wednesday. I have been putting that off. I started and completed a purse. Well, at least the knitting and crocheting part of a purse. I also bought the jump ring and the clasp for it. I just have to get the collars for the handles.

I am going to Jessica Knits on Sunday. I need to pick up some Koigu for my secret pal. I was also thinking of stopping off at the Eddie Bauer store tomorrow. But I will see how my tips go before I decide whether or not to go there.

That is the nice thing about my job. Most days I will have cash on hand. Even if it is 5.00, it is still cash! I am horrible about carrying cash with me.

I am off to work on another purse. I want to get my melody yarn knit up.
Happy Knitting

Tip Tuesday.

I am trying a new format on my sidebar. I am going to post a tip for the day of Tuesday in my post and then will have that tip all week long on my sidebar. I have been coming across some lovely little knitting tips lately and want to share them.

Here is the first one....

If you are knitting with an eyelash or fancy dangly yarn...









Cast on and bind off very loosely. Take a strand of the yarn and gently pull it through your fingers. Look at which way the fringe is going. When you start knitting with it the strand of yarn should flow "away" from you... (facing the world and not you). If you need to pull the sloops formed with the tip of your needle to make it fuller. And then... the biggest part of all use the PURL side as your Right side for your work. This will give you full dimension of the yarn. It sits better and allows for all the texture to show through. The stitches are less compacted on the purl side.

Hope you have fun with that piece of information.

Happy Knitting