I *should* be cleaning.....

and packing and a bunch of other stuff, but what am I doing? That's right knitting....

I finished knitting up my hair curlers and sewed in the ends this morning. So they are now in my hair and I am wanting to make more knitting stuff. I won't let myself but still have a burning desire to knit. Crazy I know.

On a good note, my little sister wants me to knit for her and she is providing the yarn. Yippie! I like free yarn. Her B-day is in March so should have it done really quick.

Finished that &#!@$% baby hat!

For the last 3 days I have been *obsessed* with making my daughter a hat and finally got it right. I was changing the yarn from fingering to bulky so lots of changes had to be made to make it fit. Not hard just frustrating.


I think I was just avoiding finishing that BSJ jacket for my little niece. Now I have no excuse and will be finishing it tonight.

Well that was quick....

I made a calorimetry yesterday and have been working to make a baby hat as well. It is in bulk and I do have pics but I also still have that pesky virus on the computer.

Anyway I did finish both but discovered that the hat didn't fit a 2 year olds head, though 42 stitches in bulky would work for a preemie if anyone is interested! I ripped it and am knitting that again, which it really no wast due it taking only 3 hours steady knitting time. I am posting everything on Ravelry so check it out if you have account.

What I have been up to...

Well, I have been very busy lately and have taken photos but due to crazy computer updates, we have a computer virus and I am taking no chances with my digital camera. I can at least tell you what I have been doing.

1. I have almost finished a Baby Surprise Jacket (BSJ) by Elizabeth Zimmerman for a little cousin's X-mas present.

2. I have made 2 more free patterns, only crochet. I won't be posting them until I can get photos up though.

3. I made a diaper cover (soaker) of my own design that I plan to sell (no photos of that until I sell it though).

Over all I feel very productive. I am hoping to get the BSJ done by tomorrow or the next day, well at least the knitted part. The seams will take longer and so will the button.

Pay It Forward contest like thing.

Ok, so The Crafty Cat is taking part in a pay it forward thing on her site and well, I decided why not. I am going by the standard rules, plus my own rule so as not to get stiffed.

1. The contest starts when I get my package from The Crafty Cat. I will be posting a pic of whatever she sends and THAT is the actual contest post. (I will be linking to this post but this is not the post to comment in to get into the contest)

2. Only the first 3 people to comment will be getting whatever I am sending. (Sorry, USA only)

3. You forfeit your entry to the next person that commented if you don't post about entering on your own blog saying you are participating (this means you will be doing a pay it forward on your blog) and you MUST link to my blog.

4. I have 365 days to get this sent to you, though I hate to have stuff looming over my head so it will most likely be sooner.

That is all. Thank you.

that A.C. Moore class

Seems I was celebrating a little too soon, someone did sign up for one of my A.C. Moore classes but has since withdrawn.

As you can see I didn't do a soap making or a yarn dyeing class, not enough interest for me to convince myself I can make up the costs to actually go out and buy supplies. I am planning to do soap making in Feb. but I need to make some money with the knitting and crochet classes before I go and buy the materials to make soap. I need 4 people to sign up for classes before I can afford examples and a board to display on.

I am sick today, but I am hoping to be better enough to get to the Barnes and Nobel knitting night tonight.

Contest!

Knitting up a storm is having a contest.

Ends: Dec. 8th, 2007

Free yarn!

Ok, so the awesome yarn artists at The Unique Sheep have accepted a pattern idea of mine to get free yarn for. I am hoping to have the yarn before X-mas so that I can see about getting swatches done and get the pattern submitted to Knitty. Sadly I can't tell you what it is, due to how Knitty runs itself nor can I post pics of WIP. Sorry

Fiber art's meetup failure

Ok, so I made it to the fiber art meet up at Barnes and Noble and was the only lonely person there. Hung out at the coffee shop for about 30 minutes then transfered to the knitting section of the store and hung out there looking at books for about 45 minutes. I did meet several other knitters looking for books and told them that I was trying to start a knit night or sorts. Got several "I'll be here next week then!". I hope Hubbies schedule permits me to make it next week...

The naming....

So after much thought on the name this yarn should have I went to the thesausus and started to look up synonyms for the words I though described it.


I ended up liking Ardor, so Ardor it is.

Kool-aid dyeing part 2

So I said I would wait til Monday... I couldn't... so I did it tonight!

For the record the colors used were:
1 Wyler's Lemonade (yellow),
1 Mixade Lemon-Lime (green),
1 Kool-aid Twists Berry Blue (blue),
1 Mixade Grape (purple),
and half a package of Kool-aid Fruit Punch (red)

I started by soaking the yarn for 20 minutes then draining all the water that would pour out with out pushing on the yarn.


I made an X of the Berry Blue first, then filled each quadrant with either the grape of the lemon lime. I put the fruit punch on the grape in one big clump and the lemonade on the lemon line on one big clump.


I did the double boiler method and it took 30 minutes (I actually didn't check for 30 minutes and by then it was done). If you do this method it goes faster with a lid... I did use a cooking thermometer (100 F) to see what temp the yarn got to but the picture didn't turn out...

The reason I like the double boiler method is because you can get AWESOME colors and you can basically forget about it for periods of time because the yarn pot will never boil. In the boiling method, you can walk away but might just get a felted mess and I have never been able to get the microwave method to work. Another method I like is the steam method but that is basically what I did just not in a bag.


See the water is all clear!


The YARN!

Ok, I can live with it but I wish that it was more violet/purple than red. Oh well, It will still look good!

See the yarn Here

"Learn to purl" washcloth/dishcloth

Since my class is tomorrow, I figured I might as well post the pattern here that I am going to teach in my class... at least for those that are up to learning the purl stitch....


Yarn:

I used Sugar N' Cream. One of the small balls and not even half of it. I like cotton, so I used cotton but acrylic does work better for a dishrag.

Directions:

CO 30 sts.
Knit next 4 rows.
*K3, P24, K3 turn.
Knit whole row and turn.*
repeat between *'s until desired length (to make a square fold cast on row to knitted edge.)
Knit 3 rows.
Bind off.

copyright info at bottom of page.

A.C. Moore class

Well I have one person signed up for my knitting classes at A. C. Moore so I am really excited. (Even though was hoping for something like 5 or 6 people but it is right before X-mas.) I have signed up in January to do one knitting, one crochet and maybe a soap making or a yarn dyeing class. I really want to do the yarn dyeing but think I might have more interest with the former.

In other news I am hoping to get the yarn dyed with Kool-Aid on Monday or Tuesday so expect an update the following day.

Contest!

Get yarn for free! Just post what she wants.

Knitting and Sewing and all forms of procrastination....

Ends: Dec. 7th 2007

Kool-aid dyeing part 1

Today I tied up the Knitpicks I am going to Kool-aid dye some time next week.

It is about 3.5 yards around so we are looking at some longer repeats. I am sooo excited! I don't want to wait. I was really contemplating just making a huge knot (with help from my 2 year old daughter) and then dying that and seeing what I get.


Here are the "Kool-Aids" I have. As you can tell some are off brands but off brands work just was well so it really doesn't matter. I don't know yet what colors I want to go with. As you can tell I have and opened Kool-aid fruit punch that needs to be used, but I really don't know if I want red. Maybe a violet-blue-green would be better. I could use the red with the berry blue and add the mango and lemonade.... too many possibilities!

And the method! Which method to use!? Give me a week and I'll get the full details up!

Edit: Link to part 2

Contests

These are links to contest that I have entered today:

Grammieknits: she wants you to post something weird about yourself.

Ends: Dec. 1, 2007

HissyKnit: She wants you to post on her blog why you knit.

Ends: Dec. 10, 2007

"My first knit" dishcloth/washcloth

Since I am teaching a class at A. C. Moore and I wanted a REALLY easy and fast knit for the class, I decided to write my own.

I used Sugar n' Cream yarn because I like the feeling of it though Red Heart works better for dish cloths and size 7 (US) needles.

Cast on 24 stitches. Knit until you get the desired length (to get a square you fold the cast on to the knitted edge). Bind off.

Gauge is unimportant.

copyright info at bottom of page.

I have a computer!

I haven't had a computer for about a week so I haven't been updating. But now that the computer situation is better I have pictures, and they are yarny photos at that!


As promised in this post, I am showing photos! This first photo is of yarn gifted to me through a Ravelry member. It is very nice Rowan All Seasons Cotton and is soooooo lovely! I have no clue what to do with it due to seeing so many possibilities!

This on the other hand I know what to do with! I am so going to Kool-Aid dye this Dec (too much to do with Thanksgiving). I can not wait! Lots of photos to come!

I am getting ideas for this but am not going to spill the beans. It is very pretty and nice. I lover it!


These last three came in the mail yesterday from a friend on Ravelry.
This is Reynolds Saucy, which is some very nice feeling cotton. I am really liking the color and feel, though have not a clue what to make with it. I got 2.25 skeins of it so something smallish?

This is Swedish yarn that has Saint-Tropez really big on the label. I have no clue what is in it because the label is *surprise surprise* in Swedish! I have something like 6 or 9 balls of it (3 are still in skeins the rest are balled so who knows) so I might be able to make a top? I will think on this....

This is Baby Bee Sweet Delight. I have no clue at this time what to do with it. It is really soft though and I am with child so something baby for the baby?

Personal knitting news.

Well, since MY computer is out (I am on hubbies) I can't post pics for now. I am disappointed but not much can be done for now.

I am designing some baby knits for a yarn designer (Unique Sheep) and am hoping to make some money off of pattern sales on her site or sell the patterns to Knitty. If Knitty doesn't want them then I will most likely sell on her site until Ravelry starts hosting patterns for sale (it is on the "to do" list).

A.C. Moore is doing ok so far. I am going to visit today and get all the paperwork signed up. I have an example all finished of the project (no pic! Grrrrr!). Should be good though.

Mystery yarn contest!

So read the post and enter.


Lotus Knits Contest

Ends: Nov. 15th

Mystery contest!

It is Nov. 10th post so check it out if you can.

Knitting Underway Contest

Ends: Nov. 15th

Contest of cards!

Enteried are based on posting and you get an extra one if you blog about it.

Bark n' Knit Contest

Ends: Nov. 25th

Yarn contest!

Free yarn! Who would want to miss out?

Prefect Day Yarns Contest

Ends: Nov, 18th

Contest!

Another contest! Very fun earrings in it. Just take a look!


Saving Nine Contest

Mention "MamaMay" if you enter.. Please?

Edit: ends Nov. 23rd

I am teaching a knitting class!

Went to A.C. Moore today and signed up to teach knitting classes in January! We are going to make dish cloths. I am so excited.

On another note my computer died and well, I can't download the photos of the lovely lovely yarn to this blog. Sad, I know. I hope to get it back some time soon because I don't want to do Kool-aid dyeing until I a way to show everyone. Only wish I knew if anyone was actaully reading my blog... oh well, someday!

Contests!

I like to post links to all contests I find (regardless of if I enter or not) because I am nice like that. So here we go:

Shut up I'm counting Contest

Crafting Jen Contest

Good luck to all!

Happy Yarny Day!

I got a gift in the mail yesterday from a friend on Ravelry. It was three skeins of lovely lovely lovely Rowan All Seasons Cotton in a mustardy yellow color and a woodsy smell. I have no clue what to do with it but am happy to just pet it for now. I will post pictures when I find batteries for my camera.

Today I also got Licorice by Jo-ann's and Knitpicks in the mail from a contest I won on this site! I am soooo happy. I do know what to do with the Knitpicks. Kool-aid dyeing!!!

Knitting group success?

Last night I went to my first knitting group meeting here in Fort Myers. It was in Barnes and Nobel and I am happy to say that I escaped the store with out a single new book. Sadly, It seems that no one showed up other than the group founder. She said that 4 people were supposed to be there but no one showed. In fact the person that invited me didn't even make it! Very sad. It is supposed to be a monthly thing so I will attend next month and see how it goes. If it just the two of us 2 months in a row it might not be worth it.

While at the beach last weekend....

I found some fun shops, two to be exact. Since I just moved to this town about 3 months ago this was a happy surprise.

The first store is named Geez Leweez and, though, having a decent selection of yarn, doesn't have the quantities necessary for a sweater or any other medium to large item, though from what I was told by the owner is that she was waiting on several orders. They do have a lot of needle point though, so if that you do needle point, do check it out.

The second store was called Three Crafty Ladies (no webpage but is right down the street from the other store). They appear to be clearancing all the yarn they did carry. They are now down to about a half hamper full of eyelash like yarns with a few balls of ribbon yarn. They do have a bunch of scrap booking stuff as well as beading, and quilting. I was completely ignored by the employee but I have a feeling that was because I came in looking for yarn and not something they really carried.