Fourth times a charm

Here is the last pattern that I have ready for now.

This pattern is for a cuff to cuff baby sweater. It fits 3-6 months. You could easily make it larger by simply using a heavier yarn and larger needles.

The sweater has simple garter stitch details that make it attractive in both solid and multi yarns. Cuff to cuff construction makes both the knitting and finishing go by at a super speed.



Materials:
1 ball of Lorna's Lace Shepard Worsted
1 set of #8 needles
2 stitch holders or waste yarn
Tapestry Needle or crochet hook
5 approx. 1/2" buttons

Price: $4.00 US

This is my other brother Daryl...

What I meant to say was that I had another 'nother pattern up.

Welcome the MeMe Hat. This hat was inspired by my best friend since we were little kinders. Rather than filling her wishful request for me to make this hat for her, I offered to teach her how to knit one. I imagined simply teaching her how to make a simple stockinette cap, but she was insistant on having a copy of a hat that I had made her twin sister. I am not one to discourage, so we leapt in and she quickly mastered ribbing, seed stitch, cabling, and decreases all in her first project.

Materials:
US 9 16" circular needle
US 9 set of dpns (double pointed needles)
1 ball of at least 100 yds worsted weight yarn
Cable needle, opt.
Stitch Markers
Tapestry Needle or crochet hook
Measuring Tape

Price: $4.00

'Nother Pattern for Sale

WOw! Two posts in one day, what an embarrassment of riches...

I have found the time to get this second pattern up here for your viewing and possible purchasing delight. This too cute pattern has instructions for two hat styles and a coordinating pair of booties. There is a girly version with a border of flower petals and a more rugged boys version with a border of star points.

Materials:
3 balls of Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino
US 6 16" Circular needle
Set of US 6 Double Pointed Needles
Tapestry Needle
Measuring tape
Price: $5.00 US

Patterns for SALE

Hi all!

I am trying to learn how to put some of my patterns up for sale. So bear with me for a bit.

This is the Top Down Shrug.

Sizes: To fit Bust Measurement - 28-30"(32-34", 36-38", 40-42", 44-46", 48-50")
Finished Shrug fits with 1" to 3" negative ease.

MATERIALS:
US 13 24" Circular Needle
Stitch markers
2 Stitch holders or waste yarn
Tapestry Needle
Measuring Tape
Ribbon or Cording (opt., for button loops)
3 fun buttons, 1" to 11/2" are best for impact

Short Sleeve:
216(216, 216, 216, 270, 324) yds of bulky, high loft yarn
Sample worked in Rowan Romance

Mid Length Sleeves:
375(375, 375, 375, 500, 500) yds of bulky, high loft yarn
Sample worked in Lamb's Pride Bulky

Full long Sleeves
500 (500, 500, 500, 625, 625) yds of bulky, high loft yarn

Gauge: 2.5sts./in. on US13 (yarn will be knit larger than recommended on the label)
Price: $5.00 US

...The Conclusion (of my Knitty review)

There 7 more things that I want to make from this Fall's Knitty.

Patch Pocket Raglan by Nathan Plante - This sweater would be great for my son. I am pretty excited about the psuedonym that Nathan uses, i.e. Kilgore Trout, at menwhoknit.com. I happen to be reading my hubby's library book, "Timequake", which is an eery novel from our mutual highly favored author, Kurt Vonnegut. Wanna hear the wierdest detail? Vonnegut wrote that his alter ego, Trout, dies at 84 - the age that the author left this mortal coil. It is a strange novel, quick and engaging, but very strange. Anyway, I have never seen the yarn used here. Anybody knit with it or touched it. Little jealous right now of the Californian living somewhere cold enought to require a good woolen sweater.

Cherie Amour by Ashley Adams Moncrief - This sweater is quite lovely and it falls into the category of my lace knitting experience. I really like how she broke up the pattern stitches to be very flatter figuring. It reminds me of a Twinkle tank that I made from last spring's IK (you know, the really good one with the light green sweater on the front). I am left wondering about yarn substitutions because most ladies, namely me, try to avoid bulky yarns (remember the rule of common sense: bulky yarn makes bulky sweaters that add evil bulk; booo on excess bulk). Of course, as I ponder the substitution task, it occurs to me that it would be a great chance to use some Manos or some Bunny.


Flower Power by Ann Squire - I can hardly wait to cast on this adorable hat. In fact, I can hardly wait to cast on, rinse and reapeat abut 15 times (or at least five for the five babies that have both arrived and are incoming from some of my favorite new mommies). I was recently contemplating the Umbilical Cord hat from the first SNB but was feeling a little wishy washy about the task. This adorable topper inspires nothing but the desire to act and then place on the round head of a little cherub. It doesn't hurt that I like her website name - annie-o.com. would that be considered name nepitism?

Foliage by Emilee Mooney - Could I be more excited? Another incredible hat pattern!!! And a lace pattern!!! It seems that this issue yields an embarrassment of riches for opportunities to use Manos, as well. The one thing that holds me back on having tons of Manos in the house is that it smells like hot dogs with sauerkraut. This food combo is certainly a favorite for me to injest but, as an aroma, it isn't something that I would bury my nose into and breath in deeply. (Yes, I am sure that it is the vinegar used in the dyeing process of the glorious color ways.) I also really like her the header on her blog. It reminds me of a UFO hiding in my knitting stash though.

Urchin by Ysolda Teague - I have been stalking this designer's blog for a couple of weeks now because I really want to make her beret pattern, Gretel. This should appease me for a minute or two. The thing with berets is that I worry that they may turn out to be like shawls where I feel awkward wearing them. I should have the genetic information required for carrying it off considering my high content of French heritage. Dare I say that I lighty considered the use of Manos on this project as well. I put it out of my head and have decided to wait out for a good drastically thick thin yarn. It is actually tempting to use my shabby spinning skills to my advantage here and create some for myself.

Q by aija goto - Right now, I am a little bit fixated by stranded knitting and have caught the sock fever that is ever present in the air molecules at AFY (I have about 5 pairs of socks on the needles - all two at a time - yup that is ten socks cast on). One time I left an accomplished sock kniter a questioning commentary in which I asked how one would wear such warm tall socks since my climate doesn't really allow or call for such feet/leg heat. I never heard back...so I don't think that I will launch the same query to this designer. I may simply make mine shorter but it really would be a shame to skip thst attractive calf detailing.

Cinderella by Katheryn Beckerdite - Have I ever mentioned the Cinerella is my very favorite fairytale? Every incarnation of it has delighted me - the classic Disney version, the next Disney live action with Brandy, and Ever After. I am actually pretty excited about Amanda Bynes upcoming take on it. I will be making a conscious effort to skip the Julia Stiles and Hillary Duff attempts, though. These socks might end up being the first sock pair that I complete, weighing in both the needle size and and needle count (just two). Plus, three cheers for cables!!! Check out her blog for some witty banter.

The End.

I Feel Like Reviewing Fall 2007 Knitty...

...if anyone is listening.

This issue of Knitty.com is one of the best in sometime. My basis for judgement is highly scientific - it contains the most things that I want to knit.

I'll start at the beginning:

Muir by Rosemary Hill - I have not really done much delicate lace work but this pattern looks like just the thing I am looking for in a very satisfying lace expedition. Ever since I read that chapter in Yarn Harlot in which she discusses a shawl that reveals sheep as the lace is blocked, I have wanted that thrill of blocking discovery. Rosemary's explanation of her inspiration from Muir Woods also adds on to my list of things I want to visit the next time that I go to the Bay Area. Rosemary also rocks out loud in my book because she has a great tutorial on how to get beads onto you knitting without prestringing which can really save your yarn from added wear during the process. I wish that I had seen this before I made my Odessa cap sans beads because I had to cast it on at an hour that prevented me from running to the store and picking up some sparkle.

Henry by Mareike Sattler - Last night, at AFY late night knit night, one attendee was raving about this gorgeous scarf. Upon checking it out, I agree about its rave worthiness. I really appreciate the designer's source of inspiration since I have also been greeted by the same huffing and puffing when I have thrown out a knitting offer. I don't know that I would give this finely knit item away upon completion, being that it is so gorgeous and knit on #1's.

There are a ton more patterns that I want to comment on but the clock tells me that I must get ready for work! So, I will taunt you with my least favorite ending to X-files and Heroes (of course, on Heroes it is redundant)....to be continued...

Sally Melville Fan Girl

This weekend was amazing! At Anacapa Fine Yarns, Sally Mellville spent the weekend hard at work. I had no idea that this was going to be such a terrific experience. She began the weekend with a lecture on fostering creativity in which she plucked thoughts about the creative experience right from deep in my head. My neck was sore from nodding in agreement with all that she had to say. She is one well rounded knitter - she hopped from Winston Churchill to Quantum physics.


The next two days, she plowed through four more courses - two a day. When she comes to your town, sign up for at least one if not everything that she is offering. I went to Stripes and Stripes that aren't which is mostly based on the content of her third book about Color. Much to play with and tremendously inspiring. We learned how to stripe one at a time not in the round, lampshade, half linen stitch, mock houndstooth and two color ladder stitch. The best thing that we learned is how to keep stripes flattering, which I felt such a freedom by learning because I adore making stripes but fear the power of horizontal things. There are three things that all have to be present to make something striped hideous. Not gonna be a spoiler though - check out the book or take a one of her classes. Worth every moment!

As soon as I got my toosh home, I could hardly get myself in the door before putting my hands on one of my most current WIPs - a pullover for my son. About a month ago, I cast on with some yarn that I have had for awhile waiting to be a pullover for the young man. I haven't really felt moved to start the sleeves because I never feel moved to work on sleeves, especially when not in top down modas opporandi. However, this class showed such great ways to use varigated yarns to their fullest potential and I was in hyperdrive to get a pair of sleeves cast on. Now, please note, that regardless of my fury to get sleeves on the needles, I did swatch ;).
I introduced some purple from my stash using the lampshade stitch. I am going to keep the raglan shaping and carry the lampshade stripes that aren't through the yoke. Instead of a simple crewneck, I am going to do a split front crewneck. Last night, I doubled the lenght that you see in the picture - a whopping 8 inches with 10 more to go. I can't wait to get to the yoke. Any day now...I would just stay up and knit straight through but one of the most important things that Sally discussed this weekend was the importance of letting your mind get enough rest. You are actually cheating your brain from doing the bulk of its creative work and problem solving if you skimp on your sleep cycle. I have been following her advice since Friday night and I certainly appreciate the permission to sleep well. It makes it easier to get to bed with my early bird, teacher spouse.

the new math

The “I Will Impress You With My Math Prowess” Badge - The recipient is a whiz at substituting yarns and calculating gauge, can space increases and decreases evenly and is fully comfortable with the basic math encountered in all knitting projects.

I am confidently accepting this on the strength of my gauge swatch making and on the fact that I regularly spread that information. If you don't cringe when the idea of swatching is suggested, if stitches per inch times the inches you want to create just makes sense to you, then you should also award yourself this badge. Of course, my intense opinion about how easy gauge is leads me to tomorrow's badge acceptance.

Wanna giggle at the sticker follower? In case you cannot read it, the stickers says "Place Sticker on Forehead. Smile. (tm)" What the heck they trademarked a childhood activity that I feel certain I originated...do you think that I have a chance for legal action?

My Next Knitting Badge

The “MacGyver” Badge (Level One) - The recipient must demonstrate clever use of a non-knitting tool in a knitting-related scenario. For instance, recipient has used paper clips as stitch markers, or successfully whittled and then utilized bamboo skewers.
I am actually accepting this badge on behalf of a good friend and a great knitter, Seema. She turned me onto the coolest and cheapest (non waste yarn) stitch markers: she came in one day with those little plastic ponytail bands scattered through her row. You know the ones that are meant for tiny braids and some times come in such tiny diameters that you wonder how anyone can get two fingers in there to wrap around the end of even the finest itty bitty braid. You can get about a gazillion at the 99cents store, in many colors or in all black. She was lucky enough to find some that look like they were meant for #8 and smaller, while I found larger ones that are better for #11 and up but still do all the jobs that I have called 'em out to do thus far.

I have used plenty of non-knitting items as knitting tools, but I cannot think of anything that was originally my idea. I am often the first person to enlighten new knitters of using sandwich bags to contain unruly balls of yarn - but that is akin to a knitting colloquism - we all do it and who knows where it started. I have begun to collect plastic bread closure tabs to save my cast on ends a-la Lily Chin. One of my favorites is using hinged clothespins as bobbins for such tasks as intarsia , still not an original.

I am more famed for making one tool do as many tasks as possible (like Alton Brown in the kitchen). For example, I see no use for a cable needle - I replaced that tool with any double pointed needle that I might get my hands on. Then, I moved into the Annie Modesitt camp and cable needle free. I say fooey on stitch holders when you could use waste yarn. I like to think that Macgyver (whom I have loved since the age of four) worked in that spirit - using what was handy but traveling light (hmmmm....Macgyver wondering around in nothing but a smile and his red Swiss Army Knife...or was the Swiss Army Knife belonging to Magnum P.I.?...even better....).

How do you like my refreshing Ikea glass of Ikea ice water? (Ikea glasses were actually purchased by the man at 99cents store...he didn't notice that they were Ikea until about a week ago.)

Return of the Knitting Jedi

I suppose that it is a little presumtious to call myself a knitting Jedi, but I am going to run with it. Some days I feel like I might be on the concil but might not be promoted from Padawan.

Anyway, not only have I been fighting a fever known as blog/podcast fade, but I have also been struggling with listening fatigue. I am really behind on all of my favorite casters current episodes. So, I was slow to learn of Brenda Dayne's Knitting Scouts. (I was actually directed to it from another source - The AntiCaft. I think that I am worthy of quite few of them already - and to get back into the blogging spirit I am going to proceed to spend a few entries explaining why I deserve each one. These badge opportunities are very exciting to me as I never participated in any scouting organizations as a child (but I knew that I would marry an Eagle Scout since I was 15 - a strange thing that came true).

The “Proselytize Knitting” Badge - As a knitting instructor, I believe that I have well earned this first badge. I started spreading the knit professionally many years ago at Simply Knitting in Santa Clarita. It was a couple of years later before I picked up the role of instructor again at Yarn Garden/Pink Porch in Studio City. I am now in the process of moving on to Anacapa Fine Yarns in Ventura.

I would like to share my current schedule of Proselytizing:

Design A Sweater
Four Sessions-Mondays, September 10, 17, October 1 and 8, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. $75, supplies not included. Skill Level: Advanced Beginner, able to knit and purl confidently. Instructor: Anne Lecrivain-Cozzoli
If you can make a scarf and have done so once or a couple of times, then you are more than ready to progress to a sweater. In this workshop, we will work out the pattern for a sweater that will fulfill all of your sweater dreams. Once we have completed the dream planning and conquered any of your fears about sweater knitting, we will cast on and work through your masterpieces.

Stitch Sampler Hat
Two Sessions-Saturdays, Sept 15 and 22, 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. $40, supplies not included. Skill Level: Advanced Beginner, able to knit and purl confidently. Instructor: Anne Lecrivain-Cozzoli
Want to see what the stitching world holds beyond garter stitch and stockinette? Are you ready to be the master of moving simple purls and knits into deceivingly simple and impressive designs? Come and learn how easily to combine cables and seed stitch into an attractive hat design.

Baby Hat & Booties
Two Sessions-Tuesdays, October 9 and 16, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.; $40, supplies not included. Skill Level: Know how to knit confidently, no purls necessary. Instructor: Anne Lecrivain-Cozzoli
Adorn an already adorable baby with a cute hat and bootie set. For the girls, we will make a hat linedwith flower petals. For the boys, we will frame their boyish charms in a star. The booties are worked in coordinating colors - cute and functional for sweet little piggies.

Baby Sweater
Two Sessions-Tuesdays, October 30 and November 13, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.; $50, supplies not included. Skill Level: Students must have mastered the basics – able to knit and purl confidently. Instructor: Anne Lecrivain-Cozzoli
Join us as we create a sweet and easy baby sweater to wrap a precious child in stitches of love. This project is a great way to make a memorable gift for someone dear or an heirloom for your own family.

Top Down Shrug
Two Sessions-Mondays, November 5 and 12, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.; $40, supplies not included. Skill Level: Know how to knit and purl confidently. Instructor: Anne Lecrivain-Cozzoli
This shrug is just the thing to cut the chill as the weather changes and to take some of your favorite summer clothes along through the winter. Worked in the easy-to-master top-down raglan style, this project requires the bare minimum in finishing and can be quickly worked up in many styles of yarn to top off your wardrobe.

You can call to sign up ;). (805) 654-9500

If it doesn't work for your schedule and you like something, you can also ge the pattern at AFY or, someday, when I figure out how to sell things that you download, I will have them here.

Unannounced Hyatus

I have not completely faded into the distance. My wedding is fast approaching and since the last episode I really have not had any extra moments to spare to continue. I will be back with a ton to say in july.

Episode 8, Definite Breavity plus Hopeful Quality

Music:
Artist of the week: Amy Ayers

Ordinary Girl
Movin On
One More Day
Tomorrow
A Little Time
My Place
Alleluia
Away from You

FO:
Sludgie the Whale
One Variation of the Ruffle Rose

UFO:
Cardigan from last week...

In the Queue:
Soaker
R2D2 Hat
R2D2 chart

The Literate Knitter:
Punk Knits: 26 Hot New Designs for Anarchist Souls and Independent Spirits By Share Ross
Pretty in Punk: 25 Punk, Rock, and Goth Knitting Projects by Alyce Benevides and Jaqueline Milles

Knitting in the Dark:
Hot Fuzz
Shaun of the Dead

Etc etc etc:
Film and Fiber
Knitting Time Together

Finally, The Hat

I thought that I would take the operation photos of the hat and promptly post them as promised, but things changed when I got to work. Showered with praise from two people, whose style opinions are highly respected, Debra and Tiffany (pictured), they wooed me not to sever the bit of excess hat anatomy. They said that it was too cute and more like a stem than anything else. I don't think that I could wear it now after my mind went for a swim in the gutter.


Here is what the before and after would have been like. For now, it stays as an outie and is on sale at the Pink Porch if you just can''t live without it. ;)

Episode 7.5, Just the Music

Basically, you are receiving this sorta episode for a couple of reasons. My first thought was that I really didn't want to wait until friday to claim my feed on Odeo and I didn't want to put up a lame-o "hi, I am claiming my channel" post. So, those thoughts led to the need to justify publishing something before Friday - i.e. the second reason or the reasoning. I decided that it might be a little bit of fun to have a set of my favorite songs from each episode. I love them all, but these are the ones that I just can't stop listening to. They are not in any particular order. I dropped them into an iTunes playlist and then kept on letting it randomize them until no artist went more than one at a time. So pick up your latest UFO and needle away. I am making flowers today.
Oh yeah:
Here is my Odeo channel. Click on the birdie to leave me a voice message, pleeeaassse.
My Odeo Channel (odeo/74c9b6e199653db7)

In the spirit of KnitTunes (only not as carefully considered) -
Play list:
Hell Of A Boy, The Lascivious Biddies
Skullcrusher Mountain, Jonathan Coulton
Suil a Ruin, Ceili Moss
A Dozen Bloody Roses, Dust Rhinos
Make New Friends, John McCloy
Lend Me Your Love, Slacksting
I Will Knit For You, Wren Ross
Lay Back, Slackstring
Dance, Soterios Johnson, Dance, Jonathan Coulton
76 Stitches, Wren Ross
I Hate California, Jonathan Coulton
Neighbor, The Lascivious Biddies
Half as Cool as Han Solo, Dan Beahm and the Invisible Three
Famous, The Lascivious Biddies

Laziness...

Sorry for the lazy delay on the shownotes. We had a sorta busy busy weekend.


FO:
Will post before and after pics tomorrow.

UFO:
Here are the colors of the French String Sweater that I started. The colors were put together on Colourlovers.com.


In the Queue:
Check out Colourlovers.com!!!!!! It is a fun place to play with colour without consequence and perhaps you will prove to be terribly brillant and influence the design world forever and always after. Of course, that first link took you to my colour play. Go here to sign up and start your own.
Make sure that you vote and comment a ton so as to spread the love and subsequently move on up.



The Literate Knitter:
Tracy Chevalier
Girl with the Pearl Earring
Falling Angels
The Lady and the Unicorn
The Virgin Blue
Burning Bright

Knitting in the Dark:
Girl with the Pearl Earring
Threadbanger
Learn to Surf for Beginners
Let's Knit 2gether

Etc, Etc, Etc:
I am sure that they will walk again next year so check out the Lascivious Biddies and their rumpus room of a musical podcast.
Let me know if I missed linking to anything else that you might want to know more about.
Thank you.
Happy Needling.