The Knitting Patch

Spring has been Flung

theknittingpatch — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 14:59:08 +0000

Just returning from the Loopy Ewe Spring Fling in Colorado. Here was the view from my room:

Simply beautiful. Could you imagine waking up to snow-covered mountains all the time?

I took advantage of my downtime and had a nice massage at the hotel. I had plenty of knitting time and visiting with friends old and new. A wonderful class with JC Briar. And, of course, a trip to The Loopy Ewe! (check out the newly designed website)

Above are my spoils. The box in the background is a Cricket Loom. I have not yet set it up. I have a stand on order for it and am waiting for that.

I also want to thank Janet for my swap package. I absolutely love it!!!! I started knitting up the Starry Night Sampler at the Fling and am still knitting away.

Including in the package was a yummy Lavishea Lotion Bar and an awesome tool, Fix-A-Stitch. (Not that I want to make a mistake, but I can’t wait to try this!) There may have been some chocolate in this package too, but there is no evidence of it.

A great time was had by all!!!!

Next week, I’ll be at Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival on Saturday. I hope to see some of you there. :-)

Knitting at Carnegie Hall

theknittingpatch — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 13:47:28 +0000

While waiting for the symphony to start, I did what any other knitter would do: KNIT!!!!

theknittingpatch — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 12:12:26 +0000

This so should not be taking me so long to knit. That said, I’ve been pretty busy work wise and I’ve started packing my apartment to move (no place has been found yet, but moving all the same) so my knit time has been limited. I have about four more repeats of this scarf to do and it will be completed and ready to gift.

The socks that I was working on last time? I just started the second one. I try to limit that to just my train time. I’m really happy with the way they are coming out. I’m just about to start the pattern on the second sock, the toe is complete.

Sad story about this sock. I was on the train, knitting the cuff, when all of sudden, to my horror, the needle separated from the cable. I was truly stunned. This should not happen. I mean, I know it happens, but wasn’t expecting it to happen from a Signature needle. I felt all sorts of things; anger, sadness, more anger. I contacted them once I calmed down and they are replacing with DPN’s at my request. The circulars are on back order and I’d prefer the DPN’s.

I got to spend a lovely weekend with one of my best friends while she was in town. She and I did a little running around the city (a mini yarn crawl if you will) and lots of kicking back in her hotel room just visiting and knitting. I miss her already and we are planning our next get together sooner than later. Love when times like this happen. Sad to see them end.

I do have some stash enhancement, but will leave that for next time so that I have the chance to photograph it and save to stash on Ravelry.

I’m off for now and I’m really trying to be more regular about this so I hope to post again sooner than later

Quick Update

theknittingpatch — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 00:40:54 +0000

I’m loving Reversible Cables!!!! I’m pretty much knitting on it when I can while at home. I have plenty of time before it will be gifted. I’m actually considering one for me.

When I’m on the train, I’ve been knitting on my socks. Makes the train ride more enjoyable.

I’ve been neglecting my spinning. I plan on getting back to it this week between the knitting, working and going to the gym, oh, and maybe a date night!!!

On the needles:

theknittingpatch — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 03:26:17 +0000

On the needles:

This is what I call my plain vanilla sock. I’m doing a toe up version of Cookie A’s Monkey sock for the pattern. For the toe and heel, I use what Wendy taught me in class at the Spring Fling five years ago. Makes for an awesome fitting sock!!!

Question on Cables

theknittingpatch — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 15:03:41 +0000

I’m knitting a reversible cable pattern and have come to a screeching halt because the cable just isn’t making sense to me. Let me know if it makes sense to you.

Cast on 96 stitches
Work K2, P2 rib for 6 rows

Good so far, right?

Cable row 1, slip 12 stitches to a cable needle and hold in front, (p2, k2) 3 times – um what? the next stitch after the slipped stitches is knit, am I reversing the ribbing?

I read the pattern three times. Nothing stated that I would be reversing the ribbing, only the cable.

PM’d the designer on Ravelry, designer states it is correct.

I’ve gone so far as to chart it out on Excel, stitch by stitch and still made no sense.

Am I missing something? Should I just trust in the pattern? I really like the design and am knitting as a gift and want it to be perfect.

EDITING TO ADD: I heard back from the designer and there was indeed errata – should have been P2, K2 for 6 rows and then the cables as written. Thanks to all those that weighed in to me privately

Resolutions

theknittingpatch — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 04:09:43 +0000

Do you make New Year’s resolutions? I use to, but have stopped. I felt it just set me up for failure and that was the last thing I wanted to do. I want all the negativity out of my life and only concentrate on the positive. So here’s what I decided to do after reading about it on a few other sites. I got a mason jar. You can pick these up at a dollar store, hardware store, or even the grocery store. When good things happen to me, I’m going to write it on a piece of paper and fold it all up and place it inside the jar. Come next New Years Eve, I’m going to open the jar and look at all the good things that happened to me over the course of 2013. I’ve already put some things in the jar. I can tell that this will be a great year!!!! Anyone want to join in?

A little Knitting and A little shopping

theknittingpatch — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 02:50:59 +0000

A little Knitting

It was a rare day today. I had to commute to the city for work for a training class. This meant that I would have time to knit on the train back and forth. I didn’t really have anything portable to take with me, so I grabbed a ball of Lollipop Yarns in Whisker Lickin’s

Two things I discovered:

I absolutely don’t miss commuting for work.
I absolutely miss my knitting time while commuting.

I truly love this yarn. I was able to get the toe done and start in on what I call my “vanilla” sock pattern of Monkey Socks by Cookie A (yes, I do them toe up). I’m using my Signature Circular Needles on a US 1 and I have to say that I love them. I will keep them my train project as I will be going on the train more often to go to the city or to the gym.

A Little Shopping

While in the city, I stopped into Sephora as I was in the mood for some new eye shadow. Here’s what I came up with. It’s a gorgeous palette and so my colors. I can’t wait to try it out!

A while back, I want on an accidental shopping spree at Wollmeise. I woke up early and happen to have caught an update. Two of the colors I was lusting after were available, Meilenstein and Mäuseschwänzchen. I got three skeins of each intending on knitting a shawl out of each colorway. When they arrived here, that thought went out the door. Take a look and you’ll see why.

Though they are two different colorways, they are so very close; so close that they can pass for the same. I decided that I need to find something I can knit with both colors in one project. I’m thinking this. What do you think?

Happy New Year

theknittingpatch — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 03:04:03 +0000

I hope that 2013 is fabulous for all of you!!!!

In the last 20 minutes of 2012, I managed to finish the sockhead hat

I did also work on my spinning and am about 3/4 of an ounce of being done with the first bobbin of fiber. The targhee is a dream to spin and I’m loving it.

New project started. The Molly Scarf. I’m using Miss Babs Yowza in Crimson Fronted Barbet.

New Acquisitions:

Three skeins of Miss Babs Yummy sock and Tempted Jacob fiber. The Jacob will be next on my wheel. I’ve never spun Jacob before, any pointers for me?

Handspun into the New Year

theknittingpatch — Sat, 29 Dec 2012 20:26:32 +0000

Sockhead hat out of handspun. I should be done with this, but I keep stopping to admire it. Who knew that handspun could be so fun to knit!!!!

I’m going to make a deal with myself for 2013 to have at least 20 minutes of spin time per day so I can knit with more wonderful handspun yarns. The only exceptions will be when I’m traveling.