The Greenhorn Knitter

Books That Can Be Loosely Linked to Knitting: Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann

2012-01-31T19:52:00.000-08:00

In this new feature to the blog, I will be posting brief book reviews on books that can be loosely (in some cases, extremely) linked to knitting. Why not, right? Everyone enjoys a good read...especially when we can related in some way. Please keep in mind that, though I love to read, I am not a book worm. I enjoy it when it is enjoyable. I like reading entertaining books and am not an intellectual book snob. This is not a place for me to list my literary conquests, so please expect some fluff reading to be mentioned.

For the first book, I would like to introduce you to one of my favorites. Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann.

"A witty philosophical murder mystery with a charming twist: the crack detectives are sheep determined to discover who killed their beloved shepherd."

This story introduces you to a flock of merino sheep that are far more savvy then one would assume due to the strong literary background they have developed thanks to their loving, book sharing shepherd. However, when the shepherd is discovered affixed to the ground with a garden spade, they must use their newly developed wit to help solve the murder.

Learn more here.

Song to Knit To: Kings of Convenience "Misread" Where does it take you?

2012-01-30T19:40:00.000-08:00

First of all, I love these guys! So classy and sleek...if sleek can even describe music. Every time I listen to their music, I feel transported to some European beach resort where I'm sitting on a lounge chair wearing a big, floppy hat sipping some tropical drink with an umbrella sticking out. How does it make you feel? Maybe it transports you somewhere different? Love how music can do that. Enjoy!

Delancey Cardigan KAL

2012-01-25T19:51:00.000-08:00

I am so excited to start my first knit along on February 6th! Allyson over at the Sweatshop of Love blog is hosting the KAL with the Delancey Cardigan from Alexis Winslow. Love this sweater with its vintagy (yep...just made up a word) shawl collar color contrasting and chevron stripes. I also love the color combo in the picture below, but I decided to go with Swish DK Cobblestone (MC) and Serrano (CC) from Knit Picks. Can't wait to start! Now, to finish my hubby's broken rib cardigan by February 6th. I can do it!

Wow! Someone actually created one!

2012-01-22T22:15:00.000-08:00

A couple years ago I admired Ralph Lauren's team USA beanie that Lindsey Vonn wore during one of her downhill races. Loved the design, didn't love the price. I wondered if there was a pattern out there, but at that time there wasn't one and I was a real novice anyway. However, as I was scouring Ravelry for a pattern to knit up with my lovely new Malabrigo worsted, I came across this:

Love this and can't wait to try it!

thank you

2012-01-22T20:36:00.000-08:00

I was so excited to find out that I scored my first giveaway prize! It's funny too because I had no idea that there was a giveaway going on on this particular blog. I never usually win stuff like that anyway...I guess everyone says that, right? Anyway, the yarn came from an amazing knitter over at The ADD Knitter. It's Malabrigo merino worsted in Buscando Azul. I love it and can't wait to work something up! Thank you so much Heather!

the sweater

2012-01-21T13:43:00.000-08:00

I'm just taking a small moment to show my progress on Branden's Broken Rib Cardigan. I know it's taking time, but soon it will all come together quite nicely!

It would even make a sharp vest as well! ;) Have a nice weekend.

Stitch by Stitch

2012-01-21T13:37:00.000-08:00

Even though there haven't been many posts and photos of current WIP's or FO's, they do exist! I just finished two projects and sent them overseas to my brother and sister-in-law in Spain. They are belated Christmas gifts and I am hoping to have them take some destination pictures of each that I can feature here. In the meantime, I've been exploring the world of sewing--my sewing world is a bit limited, but I will become more worldly with time--and working on Branden's Broken Rib sweater. I know, I know...I have no excuses.

As a means to gradually immerse myself in sewing, I picked up the book Stitch by Stitch: Learning to Sew One Project at a Time by Deborah Moebes and have begun sewing my way though. I've started small, but started I have:

Stitch by Stitch Mini Project 1: Stitch Sampler

Stitch by Stitch Mini Project 2: Thread Drawing

Stitch by Stitch Mini Project 3: Appliquè

Sew far, sew good! Haha! Happy knitting and sewing all!

Sew sew busy!

2012-01-15T14:57:00.000-08:00

So far, the new year has been full of new endeavors. I am starting some classes to get an endorsement on my teaching license to teach the Gifted and Talented program. I'm super excited about this! I am now also the proud owner of a Janome DC 2010 sewing machine! I have been yearning to learn how to sew ever since my sister in law started making adorable aprons with her sewing machine a few years back. Her designs inspired me. Before that I also had the bug to sew, but was intimidated by the prospect. However, as a knitter I find that anything is possible with needle and thread. That being said, like knitting, I dove in head first! In addition to my fantastic knit nook, I created a space for my sewing nook. I bought these perfect pegboards at Joan's for my spools of yarn, and used a sewing basket handed down to me from my grandma as a place to store fat quarters of fabrics and such. A perfect little addition to my craft space!

I am also working on several projects right now that I cannot post just yet. They are belated gifts to some very special people. I also tried my hand at designing and designed a cute little headband for my grandma. She loves narrow headbands, so I figured why not just put one together myself. It was pretty simple, and it allowed me to get a start on a collection of original designs. I will be posting the pattern as soon as I've given it a few more test drives. Here is the finished headband. It's worked up in Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk Aran.

The design is a simple cable with a garter stitch edging that gradually gets a bit wider in the middle. The simplicity is perfect for my grandma's taste, but next time I will definitely design a headband with some pizzazz.

Greenhorn tips from other knitters!

2011-12-30T17:34:00.000-08:00

A few posts ago, I talked about the difficulty with locating your row in a long and convoluted pattern. I had mentioned that I found that highlighting the row helped me to spot it quickly. Fortunately I also learned of some other really great ideas to remedy this.

Michelle over at CollegeKnitting says:

"...if it's something that I think I'll knit again, or if it's in book and I haven't made a copy of it yet, I use the little post-it tabs that are sort of see-through to mark my row. That way there's nothing permanent, and I can easily look through them if I have to go back. And the sticky part is pretty strong, so you can use them plenty of times!"

Another great tip is to try out the Knit Picks chart keeper which allows you to mark your place with a magnet. You can find these at the Knit Picks site.

My Knit Nook

2011-12-27T13:54:00.000-08:00

I really can only speak for myself here, but something tells me I'm not alone. I have a yarn problem. I covet it, obsess over it, crave it, and buy it. Even if I don't need it or have a pattern for which to use it. Needless to say, I have a bunch of it. Skeins, hanks, balls...expensive, cheap, middle of the road. It doesn't matter. If it strikes my fancy, I have to have it.........OK. So I've admitted my problem. That's the first step right? Well, I'm not sure what the next step is supposed to be, but for me it would be having a beautiful nook for showcasing all of the yarn I so love. I've mentioned this before, and knew that it would be quite the task to build a knit nook to the specifications that I was imagining. I'm not one to outright expect anything to be given to me. I was brought up with the notion that you do not ask freely for things that you do not need. Luxuries are to be earned. I truly value this notion and honor my upbringing, but a girl can talk about what she would love to see materialize someday, right? Sure. And talk I did. And people listened.

I am now the proud owner of my very own knit nook thanks to the thoughtfulness, craftsmanship, and creativity of my dad and my husband! These two have been planning and scheming for quite a while about building me a yarn cabinet. I had absolutely no idea. Branden had been spending hours at my parents house working with Dad cutting, measuring (twice so as to cut only once :) ), assembling, marking, disassembling, staining, reassembling, all in secret during the school day (I teach.). For Christmas, I was presented with a scrapbook of pictures by my mom documenting the whole process. (The cabinet had be left at home since we were spending the holiday out of town.) The album brought me to tears. I was floored.

I love the bookshelf at the top! The space in the middle of the cabinet also serves as a bookshelf.

And we made merry...

2011-12-27T13:28:00.000-08:00

For the Christmas holiday, my husband Branden, my mom, dad, and I drove up to Logan, Utah to visit my aunt and uncle. My brother Tyler and my sister in law Jessica moved to Barcelona in February and would not be here this Christmas, for, in my brother's case, the first time. I thought traveling to visit family would be a nice way to fill the void. It certainly was. The weather was crisp and cold, the little town of Logan was all decked out for Christmas, and my aunt and uncle warmly welcomed us into their home with open arms, delicious treats and a warm fire. How was your holiday? Hope all was and is well.

As for the wonders of gift giving and receiving, there were many. I finally finished the Leaf Mittens for my mom at 1:00 AM Christmas Morning. (It's truly just like me.) Here are a few photos to showcase the mittens.

Unfortunately, Branden's Broken Rib Cardigan was not finished in time. However, he did not go empty handed. He and I are traveling to Boston in June for our anniversary so I bought our tickets to watch the Red Sox play at Fenway Park. Merry Christmas to both of us really! I also included with his gift a little box that held a preview of his sweater.

I will be posting pictures of the sweater WIP soon.

I also receive some delicious yarn for Christmas! Three skeins of hand dyed wool/alpaca from Araucania. This yarn is so soft and sumptuous-I just can't wait to cast on!

Here's to a Happy New Year and Happy Knitting!

Greenhorn Tip #12 For the buggy eyed knitters among us...

2011-12-19T10:58:00.000-08:00

I would love to have eyes that can look across a row of stitches on a knitting chart and memorize them, but like many of you, I can not. I am also unable to look at a massive chart and immediately locate the row I am working--especially if that row is an even row since they typically do not number these on the chart. Therefore, when I started knitting this pattern (Leaf Mittens) my eyes starting to go buggy on me. The project was taking so long because I had to constantly look down and refocus on my row and stitch. BLEH! So, enter the highlighter. Yes-it requires you to stop and highlight a the end of each row, but it certainly made my knitting go much smoother and saved time in the long run. I already mark all over the pattern as I go, noting increase rounds, marking even row numbers, and such--what's a little color going to hurt? Definitely not my already mediocre eyes.

Greenhorn Tip: Use a highlighter to mark the charted row on which you are currently working. This allows you to glance down at the chart, which can sometimes be long and visually overwhelming, and locate your position in the work. When you finish, the whole chart will be highlighted, so if you choose to knit the same pattern again, just use a different color or make several copies of the pattern. I like to make copies of all of my knitting patterns so they can bee nicely folded up and placed in the Ziplocs with the project, and it also keeps my knitting magazines and books in good shape.

Stopping by to show off some progress...

2011-12-14T21:59:00.000-08:00

This week has been extremely busy. It's the last week before Christmas Break as well as Parent/Teacher Conference week. 30 conferences in one week. Tiring. However, I have been able to make time each day for my knitting. Especially since Christmas is right around the corner and I still have a GIANT cardigan to knit.

Anyhow, I wanted to take a moment and show some progress that I have made on my mom's Leaf Mittens from Vogue Knitting.

I love the color I decided to use. It really shows off the pattern.

When things slow down (after Friday) I'll be back to show more! Happy Knitting!

Loose ends...

2011-12-10T15:53:00.000-08:00

Now, I have been told that my ambitious and type A personality could lead to the tendency to start many projects and actually finish only a few. Yes this tends to happen, however, since I started knitting almost three years ago, I have seen most of my projects through to the last woven-in strand. But when it comes to knitting for others, I am quite the perfectionist. After all, I want to give the best I can to the people I love. Indeed, handmade gifts have that handmade charm with minor flaws and such (even though I try to avoid such flaws), but when the design and fit is just not "perfect", I tend to want to try something new. As you may have noticed from my last post, I started knitting the Plain Talk Ruffled Mittens from Boutique Knits. This pattern is adorable, don't get me wrong, but after finishing one mitt, I realized that I (thinking of my mom-who would be receiving these mitts) wanted something more....textured. {{Shrugging my shoulders with a "I know, I know" smirk}} Yes, I will be finishing these some day, but not for Christmas. Oh well. This mitt has come along cute though, huh?

So, I decided on the Leaf Mittens from the Fall 2011 issue of Vogue Knitting.

I really like these, and they have all the texture to show off! Of course, because these are for my mom and she is super special, I needed to do them in a super special color. The yarn the pattern calls for is The Fiber Company Canopy Worsted, but being the yarn substitut"er" that I am, I found an amazing periwinkle color in Debbie Stoller's Bamboo Ewe.

I also visited my LYS and picked up a few new skeins to stash away for a "knit for me" day. :)

I have never knit with Brown Sheep Company yarn and have heard good things about Lamb's Pride Worsted. Plus this color is great!

I am also obsessed with Cashmerino, and wanted to try something in a DK weight. This navy is also lovely. I'm thinking some mittens. I think I have caught the mitten bug!

And as for holiday knitting, I am making progress on my man's cardigan. I've been told a few times now that I am "ballsy" for trying a cardigan in pieces. I thought it was funny, because I never thought it to be a daunting task...ignorance is bliss and all. So, I am hoping that it all turns out ok. I studied up on sweater knitting before casting on, so all should come out nicely. We'll see. Hmmm...should I buy Branden a back-up gift just in case? Hehe...nah! :)

I know. It looks huge, huh? Well I chose to knit the XL because Branden is 6'5'' and most larges aren't long enough in the sleeve and body department. It may be roomy, but I'm sure it will be super comfy. Happy knitting all!

WIP Wednesdays!

2011-12-07T17:45:00.000-08:00

Last weekend, I knitted up a pair of Fetching mitts for my best friend, Jaclyn for her birthday. I absolutely love the pattern because it is super fast and very fancy. Perfect for a gift! I have also been trying to find the perfect mitten pattern for a lovely pair for my mom for Christmas. Perhaps a merino cashmere blend. While flipping through Boutique Knits I happened upon the perfect pair! The Plain Talk Ruffled Mittens. I love these because they are simple and elegant. Perfect for Mom. I also love the suede palm and thumb pads. So classic! The pattern calls for two tones of tan, but I decided to spice it up with a gorgeous plum color.

The pattern also called for Mission Falls Wool (100% superwash) in two tones, #006 oatmeal and # 002 stone. I loved the colors of these yarns, but like I said, I wanted to add some spice. I chose Lion Brand's Superwash Merino Cashmere (72% superwash Merino wool, 15% nylon, 13% Cashmere) in Wine and my accent in Blossom.

So far, these mittens are super fast and fun to knit. They offer a fair amount of diversion with just enough ease for mindless knitting. They begin flat and then the edges are brought together and attached.

I just can't wait to pick out the buttons! I'm thinking antique gold to set off the wine color.

Happy knitting!

Great Balls of Color!

2011-11-30T18:50:00.000-08:00

I'm usually not one to purchase things from the Internet, partly because I am and instant gratification sort of person, but yarn is so different. First of all, the yarn stores in my area only have a limited supply of the yarns that I love to use or that I would love to use, and second of all, there are very few simple pleasures that give me the same satisfaction as waiting for a package full of beautiful yarn to come. To be completely truthful, it's yarn and bills that keep me going to the mailbox from day to day. (Of course those cards from family and friends are also much loved!) So, needless to say, when I received my bundle of Artesano 100% alpaca DK in five amazing colors, I was like the kid in the Christmas Story waiting for his Little Orphan Annie Secret Circle decoder pin to grace his mailbox. Especially because these new fibers were going to be used in my very first Fair Isle hat! The lovely Naledi by Tanis Gray.

I immediately got started on my swatch! I couldn't wait to watch the colors come together.

I've also been spending some time on my Broken Rib Cardigan by Debbie Bliss.

Even though this cardigan is turning out to be very nice, my favorite part is that, with the yarn substitution, it's going to cost me $150 less! Instead of Debbie Bliss Como, I used Pattons Pure Wool Roving in dark grey.

Bloglovin'

2011-11-28T18:06:00.001-08:00

I am now on Bloglovin'!

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Holiday Catalog Knitting Inspiration

2011-11-27T14:50:00.000-08:00

I was snooping through the latest holiday catalogs to grace my mailbox, and I found some really cute inspiration for knitted gifts. Check it out:

Soft Surroundings Knit Beret

Kalispell Knit Hat

J Crew Hearthstone Scarf

J Crew Metallic Snood

Desert Lineup: Chocolate Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars

2011-11-26T15:50:00.000-08:00

Now, let's say for a minute that I didn't like brownies, cheesecake, or pumpkin pie. Outrageous, I know. But, if that were the case, these delectable delights would change all that. Please meet the Chocolate Pumpkin Cheesecake Brownie Bar.

I was in search of a tasty treat to take over to my mister's family's house for Thanksgiving, and I happened upon these in the latest issue of Taste of Home. They have just enough ingredients and steps to keep things interesting, and still, prep is easy and relatively quick. My only advice is to allow for at least 20 minutes of cooling time before cutting (duh right?). You see, I'm super impatient and want to start enjoying the tasty little devils right away. Anywho, I altered the recipe a bit, so I am going to share it with you.

Ingredients:
1/3 cup butter cubed
1 1/2 oz, unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped
1 Chai Tea Bag (I used Tazo Chai Tea) {The Taste of Home recipe calls for 1 Tbsp. instant coffee granules}
1/2 cup boiling water
1 cup canned pumpkin
2 eggs, lightly beaten
2 cups AP flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt

Cheesecake Batter:
1 package (8oz) reduced fat cream cheese
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
3/4 tsp ground ginger
1/8 tsp ground cloves
1 egg
1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

1. In the microwave, melt butter and unsweetened chocolate in a microwave safe bowl. Stir until smooth-cool slightly.
2. In a large bowl, steep Chai tea in boiling water. Stir in the pumpkin, eggs, and chocolate mixture. Combine the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt; gradually add the chocolate mixture. Transfer to a 15X10X1 in. baking pan coated with cooking spray.

3. For cheesecake batter, in a small bowl, beat cream cheese and pumpkin until smooth. Beat in the sugar, vanilla, and spices. Add egg; beat on low speed just until combined. Spoon over chocolate batter. Cut through batter with a knife to swirl the cheesecake portion. Sprinkle with chocolate chips.

4. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes clean. Cool.

Enjoy!

Recipe by Judy Castranova

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

A few new things...

2011-11-25T10:53:00.000-08:00

Last weekend, my mom and I took a drive out to St. George (about 2 hours east of Las Vegas) to check out some local shops and to just get away for a bit. One of the shops we came across was called Tai Pan Trading Company. Wow! This place was huge and had everything from home lighting and kitchenware, to handbags and accessories. Not to mention, the prices were extremely reasonable.

Anyhow, I have been in the market for a new knitting bag and luck would have it that I found the perfect one at Tai Pan Trading Company.

Cute huh?

Plenty of room for my notions bag (which is pretty big) and at least two projects. The WIP you see is an XL cardigan for my Mister.

Expansion zippers!

Outside pockets perfect for holding magazines, patterns, needle cases, etc.

I love the color and the metal details.

During my visits to other blogs, I have noticed other knitters discussing the tools they keep in their notions bags. I love reading about this. It reminds me of those columns in fashion magazines where they dump a celebrity's purse to peruse the items she hauls around. Well, here goes:

Yes. Two tubes of chap stick. A bit of an addiction. The green and white tube is Peppermint Oil lip balm from Trader Joes. Seriously,some of the best lip balm around.

I love these vintage sewing scissors. And a must have for me, the crystal nail file. Who wants to snag yarn on rough nails?

What's in your notions bag?

Dessert Lineup: Chocolate chip peanut butter banana cookies!

2011-11-20T17:51:00.000-08:00

Today was such a lazy, cold, cloudy, Sunday. Just the way I like a Sunday. Nothing to hurry to or for and plenty of time to spend with my mister, Branden. Also, the perfect opportunity to explore a new recipe from the new edition of Better Homes and Gardens 100 Best Cookies. While flipping through the recipes this morning, I spotted and amazing looking chocolate chip peanut butter banana cookie. An instant go. Until Branden and I both notice banana chips in the recipe. Now, don't get me wrong, I love bananas-especially with peanut butter and chocolate, but banana chips are quite a different story. Too sweet, crunchy, and not fresh---maybe that's why they don't do it for me (or Branden). I thought it over and decided that I would just use fresh banana and add a bit of flour to the batter to absorb the additional moisture of the fruit. Perfect.

The recipe is so easy and pretty much mess-free. I simply mixed 16 oz of peanut butter cookie dough with 1.5 cups (calls for 1 cup, but I really like chocolate ;) ) and two smallish bananas, coated the dough in turbinado sugar, and dropped the dough balls onto a cookie sheet.

Cook for 14 minutes at 375 degrees and...tada! Delicious fresh chocolate chip peanut butter banana cookies!

And yes...I have to dip them in milk. Please try them and let me know what you think. They're sure to delight. :)

Greenhorn tip #11: How's your join?

2011-11-18T19:34:00.000-08:00

As a new(ish) knitter, I am all too familiar with jumping the gun on a new in-the-round pattern. I find something adorable to knit, snatch up some sumptuous fiber, and find that I do not have the needle size or cord length it calls for. I check the clock, throw on some shoes, and hit up my local Michael's or Joanns. Even though these places are some of my most frequented spots, they tend to lack in the circular needle department.Anywho, I rush in and find the circular in the size I need, throwing caution to the wind about quality. Once I get home and begin knitting, I start fumbling with the needles because they constantly snag my yarn right where the needle meets the wire. This connection is called the join and it can make or break your sanity while knitting.

For my Greenhorn Tip #11: Check the "join" of the needles before committing them to the project. Granted, you can always return them, but who wants to transfer needles once they've started? Be sure the join is smooth and free of exposed edges. Even some of the most fancy interchangeables, like my Addi clicks, tend to snag.

Here is my recommendation for a great set of interchangeable needles by Knit Picks. I especially like the Harmony Wood.

Hope this helps! Keep posted for the next Greenhorn Tip. Happy knitting all!

Knitting History Bit #1: Wartime Knitting

2011-11-17T18:16:00.000-08:00

Who would dare presume that a wholesome, innocent knitter would have the cunning and know-how to spy on an enemy's military? Not many. That is why "Old Mom Rinker" of Philadelphia, a figure of patriotism during the Revolutionary War, and a knitter of copious military garments, was able to glean important military intelligence from the British soldiers drinking at her tavern. "Rinker" would stuff notes to General Washington in her balls of yarn, wonder up on to a cliff outside of town, and wait for the general's troops to pass along below. As they would pass, she would casually nudge a ball of yarn over the cliff edge, landing at the feet of the passing men. A soldier would pick it up and rush it to General Washington.

From Knitting for Peace: Make the World a Better Place One Stitch at a Time by Betty Christiansen

Sneaky knitters, we. Happy knitting!

Holiday Dessert Lineup

2011-11-13T22:55:00.000-08:00

It's usually around Halloween when I start getting REALLY excited for the holiday baking. However, I just got started today with my holiday dessert lineup. I like to do a dry run of all of the dessert options to either give as sweet holiday gifts or to serve at the holiday feasts.

One of my all time favorites, of course, is fudge! So simple, yet so delicious! While the mister and I were grocery shopping today, I came across the Carnation Famous Fudge Kit. So simple, so fast, and oh so delicious!

Tomorrow, I am going to test the Pistachio Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies from the Special Interest Publication: 100 Best Cookies. I may actually bake my way through this whole magazine because it looks so damn good!

On a roll...

2011-11-11T16:33:00.000-08:00

Last night, I casted on to the mister's Christmas 'Broken Rib Cardigan' by Debbie Bliss. I had been out most of the evening at Wooly Wonders, coveting some gorgeous new yarn, but I was excited to get home and start a new project. I had just finished my Francisca Hat the day before (SUPER cozy-seriously tempted to sleep in it).

So, I needed my next fix. Enter, the Broken Rib Cardigan. The pattern calls for 'Como' by Debbie Bliss, but that would have ended up running me close to $200! I needed to substitute. Fortunately, Patons makes a great roving yarn that is 100% pure new wool (no cashmere infusion, but beggars can't be choosers). The yarn works up to the same gauge with minor tweaking, and looks great!

Debbie Bliss Como

Patons

The fabric is so lovely and light that it will make for a great autumn to spring sweater. I'm also really excited to add the leather buttons! So classy. Ahhh, the simple things that make us smile.

I've started storing all of my 'in progress' projects in plastic zipper bags. Makes things very easy!

Challenge accepted.

2011-11-06T10:04:00.000-08:00

On my last visit to my LYS, Wooly Wonders, I was offered a knitting challenge which requires me to choose inspiration from nature (plants, landscapes-no people or animals) to design a scarf. Perfect! I have yet to design my own knit, so a scarf is a great place to start. I have also been yearning for a luxurious new scarf and have continually scoffed at all of the beautiful ones being sold in stores, proclaiming, "I can make that myself!"

Just a side note on some coveted scarves:

Carrie Bradshaw's cabled Chanel scarf in Sex and the City the Movie

Free People's Druki Pom Pom Scarf in Berry

And yes, I most certainly could make those myself, but that is for a different day. Now, I need to use nature to inspire me, not Chanel. :)

So, I'm thinking tree bark...

.....green cables, perhaps?

Tree bark reminds me of these twisted train tracks.

Stay tuned, and feel free to send your ideas!

A nod to a great yarn store!

2011-11-05T13:54:00.000-07:00

Over the Halloween weekend, we visited some close friends in Aliso Viejo, CA for a Halloween party. After running around and collecting things we needed for the party, I slipped out with my lifelong friend (and sister knitter) and headed to her LYS, Yarn Lady. As we pulled up to the storefront, I could tell that this was going to be a very large shop. ( Here in Las Vegas, we only have two LYS that are relatively small, yet charming to boot.) The store boasted large glass windows fully stocked with mannequins , trunks overflowing with skeins of Bella Rae Mega, and cozy knitted projects draped luxuriously. When you walk in, you are greeted by friendly faces of several women knitting around three large, antiques tables. There are barrels and baskets of beautiful yarn, shelves stocked with colorful skeins of all kinds of fiber. Everything is organized and obviously cared for. I absolutely recommend stopping by to check out this gem in Laguna Hills. Totally worth the visit!

While I was there, I picked up some adorable kit patterns and some Suri Merino from Blu Sky to knit my Francisca Hat. What I loved about the kit patterns was that each came with an aborable stitch marker!

My future Francisca Hat with the adorable little stitch markers from Yarn Lady.

Knitting to the rescue!

2011-11-05T12:57:00.000-07:00

For some, when things become a tight knot of stress and anxiety, they turn to exercise, travel, baking, eating, and family among others. For me, yes, yes, yes, yes, and yes. But like many of you out there in 'knit blog land', it is times like these that bring out the needles and wool to comfort and sooth with a soft hand, gentle rhythm, and the satisfaction of a fabulously cozy piece.

For me, knitting brings the sense of control that we so often need to feel at times when the things we worry about the most are out of our control. The yarn moves, twists, and loops just for me. I control the fabric and when I am finished I revel in my own little masterpiece. What could be more satisfying?

A few quick and comfy completed projects:

Lara's Cowl is such a simple and cozy pattern. This has fast become my favorite piece. It goes with everything!

The Shroom Beret, with Spud and Chloe (amazing!), makes for a perfect go to on a crisp, autumn day.

The Icing Swirl hat by Ysolda Teague. Lovely, but definitely requires a ribbed brim.

Getting ready for Halloween!

2011-10-23T21:58:00.000-07:00

Last night, Branden and I got together with some good friends and had a pumpkin carving "social". :) We had a a great time and I got some nice compliments on my Shroom beret!

Some new yarn, a new project, and a new season...

2011-10-20T18:10:00.000-07:00

I was snooping on Ravelry a few days ago and happened across the adorable Shroom pattern . I immediately ordered the luscious looking yarn from Spud and Chloe in a wonderful periwinkle blue. I will be casting on tonight! Stay tuned!

I know it's already October, but let me show you around my classroom...

2011-10-20T18:03:00.000-07:00

These pictures are from the VERY beginning of the year, so the room is not very "lived in" yet. I will post more recent pictures soon. I just wanted to take the time and share a part of my life outside of knitting; what I spend a LARGE majority of my time doing. Welcome to Mrs. Earl's class!

august

2011-08-10T22:50:00.000-07:00

Summer vacation has come and gone and now it is time for me to become a working professional once again. Reality is setting in and I am now stepping foot back into the role of a fourth grade teacher. I am excited and ready for the new year!

Yesterday I visited my classroom for the first time since early June. It is completely clean with the fresh smell of carpet cleaning solution. My walls are empty and all of my furniture is sitting in the center of the room. To a teacher, this clean slate is glorious! Every year is different in some small way, and it is best to be able to start with a new perspective on your classroom space before each new batch of kiddos walks in. Though I did not stay to begin redesigning my room, I did pack several pedagogy books and teachers' guides into my cart to take home. It is now planning time. I love this part of August because I get to focus on my long range plans for the first trimester without the burden of other school work such as grading. I can lay out all of my resources, strewing them over the kitchen table, and work until the cows come home--or my lovely husband. I hate to overwhelm him with my heaping library of teacher books all over the dining area; the most distinct evidence of the August hustle and bustle. He is so understanding of my sense of urgency though, and I love him for that.

Anyhow, it is that time. Fortunately I have made some progress on my Berroco Sarkis. It still does not resemble a bag, but it will! I am also planning on filling the craft/knitting void with some great classroom before and after photos and posts regarding August in the life of a teacher. Please stay posted!

Housewarming Capture-the-Keys Game

2011-08-03T17:56:00.000-07:00

Today, I am helping my best friend host her house warming party. I am in charge of the games for the evening. Although it isn't common to play games at a house warming party, I feel that it certainly helps break the ice and allows people to interact more easily. The games I have planned are Pictionary with a large white board and easel and Capture-the-Keys. The latter is a game similar to the well-known baby shower game where you must avoid saying certain names or words or else your Mardis Gras beads are captured by another guest. The guest with the most beads at the end of the party wins a small prize! I really love this game and wanted to include something similar at my friend's party.

To make the game more fitting for a housewarming, I collected some old keys of different sizes and shapes. You can find keys at antique markets or garage sales.

I then strung all of the keys and stretched the string between two tie-offs in order to give them all a quick base coat of spray paint. I had some gold leftover from my gold sconces.

After giving the keys a quick spray, I touched up the parts covered by the string.

After the keys dried (they dry super fast!) I snipped lengths of red yarn, about 15 inches, and strung each key onto each length of yarn.

Et Voila! Perfect little necklaces for Capture-the-Key at a housewarming party! What's more, you can reuse the keys after the party to make a charming little wind chime or piece of unique decor! Stay posted!

an old hobby with a new identity...worldwide!

2011-08-01T01:07:00.000-07:00

A few days ago I found myself waiting in line at the DMV to get my new drivers' license. We all know how that goes. Fortunately, I was prepared for the humdrum wait with a knitting project and a backup New York Times crossword puzzle book. This time I opted for the knitting. I slid down the wall to settle on the floor for lack of actual seating, reached into my bag and pulled out my ball of yarn and knitting (which was resting on size 15 silver addi clicks). Not really inconspicuous. But, was I hoping to be? Interesting.

As soon as I got settled into my groove, clacking away, I became lost in my little woven revery. I found myself people watching, stitch watching, thinking aimlessly, and oh my! I was even eavesdropping! The teenagers sitting somewhat nearby were talking about me. Nothing cheeky or curt; just small comments about the fact that I was 'actually knitting.' I even heard one of the girls mention that she thought it was 'cool'. Hmm. And this wasn't the only quiet attention my behavior was earning me. I also started to notice people taking second glances, probably wondering what a young, seemingly stylish girl was doing knitting at the DMV. Even though I noticed this, and felt tiny spurts of heat in my face, I liked the attention. I felt proud and really cool! I stood out because I was doing something completely unique.

I'm reminded of this because today I received a small note from my sister in law in Spain attached to a magazine article from the Metropolitan, a local, English publication in Barcelona. The article was called Knit One, Purl One by Johanna Bailey and was about the growing knitting community in Barcelona. The author remembers sitting in a park on World Wide Knit in Public Day in June of 2005. She talks about feeling somewhat uneasy because of the series of double takes and "expressions of incredulous wonder." Somewhat like knitting in the middle of a busy day at the DMV, no?

As I was reading, I felt especially connected to the part that discussed how knitting has become an empowering hobby for most who do it. For me, watching something beautiful appear from in between my needles makes me feel very in charge of myself and the things around me. Silvia Lopez, owner of the wool shop IFIL in Barcelona, Spain says, "Knitting empowers you when you see that you can create something. You can then take the empowerment and apply it to other parts of your life--maybe you'll break up with your idiot boyfriend or leave a job you don't like."

So, there's something to be said for the looks we have thrown our way when we pull out or wool in a busy DMV, bus station, airport, doctor's office, or even the break room. People recognize our uniqueness and power. They can plainly see that we have it together enough to take our creative efforts outside and show them off. And why not? When it comes to women's roles, most want to be liberated from the same old, same old. And even though knitting brings us back to our original place in the line-up, tending to the mending, it actually liberates us because it gives us the power to create whatever we want, wherever we want. So, needles up ladies and happy knitting!

running in the rain

2011-07-31T18:49:00.000-07:00

Last night it rained. It's amazing how the weather works. Just when the smoldering heat of July in the desert becomes more than one can stand, and literally holes people up in their homes until the late evening hours, the clouds shatter and rain cools the poor, torrid souls of the desert. Today I ran. It's not like the first time in a long time or anything, but today I really let it go. Recently, I've been logging about two to three miles every other day because I simply cannot stand these dog days. But today, after half a banana and downing a bottle of water, I took off. Quite literally. I laced my Nikes, started my HRM, and flew from my doorstep.

I planned on 3 miles. Nothing hard, just easy strides. But after bursting out my front door and feeling a cool blast of air on my face, my plans changed. I kept telling myself that this weather calls for more than just an easy jog. The light mist in the air left a cool, welcomed slick on my skin and I decided not to stop until I was really tired. Take advantage of this while it lasts, you know? So I ran. After about a mile, the darkening clouds tore open and let out the leftover rain from the overnight downpour. Now we're talking! It was probably a good thing that I was wearing sunglasses. It wasn't bright, but the lenses kept the rain out of my eyes. Frankly, I wouldn't have minded if I had forgotten them.

I kept my pace steady, reminding myself to stretch this out as long as I could. Sometimes a car would drive by, and I would imagine what they were saying about me. Not that I cared so much as I was curious what one thinks of a soggy runner. Maybe they wished they had laced up this morning and took to the wet roads. Who knew. What I did know was that running in the summer rain is priceless. It sends you back to your childhood when playing in the rain seemed magical. How stomping in puddles made us feel so much bigger than we really were, and listening to the thunder tested our bravery.

After reaching my second water checkpoint at a park 4 miles away, I sat on a bench and rested a spell. That half of banana and water from the morning was probably vapor by now and all I had left was my will and urge to finish strong and take in some more of the cool weather. And so I did. Before taking off, I spotted a runner on the trail who I had passed going the opposite direction. He looked tired, but he almost seemed to be smiling. I took a turn around the baseball field near the water fountain hoping to pass by the wet runner one last time. I wanted to share a sort of 'goodbye and have fun' wave with the only other person I saw out today. He seemed pleased and smiled. I picked up my pace and was on my way back. The rain had stopped and was more of a cool, wet spray now, but it still felt so good to be running in it.

When I reached my front door, I had run eight miles. My body was tired, I was very hungry, and my clothes were soaked. I didn't plan on running that far, nor did I prepare for it with the right kind of food, but I loved it and I ran strong. I suppose this is because my run today was more like playing in the rain. On the truly hot days (reaching 110 degrees), when I usually wait until seven to run hoping for cooler temperatures (in vain most of the time), I run because it is my routine; because I'm keeping up my fitness and staying in shape. On those days I prepare. I can't really say that I pound the pavements on days like that because it's fun. But just for today (maybe tomorrow if I'm lucky), I ran outside to play.

Welcome home, Doily!

2011-07-28T19:27:00.000-07:00

There are some classic style elements that need to make a comeback: men wearing classic hats (this is coming back!), macrame, wearing Sunday's best on more than just Sunday, women wearing classic hats, and doilies as house warming gifts! Nothing says "happy homecoming" like a sweet knitted doily in a warm color. I hope that this flower doily does just that for my best friend's house warming!

I chose to knit this in worsted weight wool to use up some leftover stash yarn, but the pattern calls for tiny needles and crochet thread. I love the chunkier looking doily myself, but both are beautiful. Here are some new tricks that I learned from this project:

knitting multiple times into one stitch
casting off with a scaloped edge
how to starch a doily-I used spray starch and pressed the doily with the iron set on steam and a towel over the wool.

A thought upon finishing:

Sometimes our opportunities are presented to us much like an unstarched doily: great potential, beautiful future, but not without a little "starching" from us. Don't expect opportunities to serve themselves on a silver platter-perfectly ours. Be prepared to take some action to make them truly yours. Happy knitting!

breakfast for dinner

2011-07-24T14:44:00.000-07:00

Delish, no? Oh, it certainly was. Yesterday, after a busy and strenuous time of moving our friends into a new place, and shortly following a giant (and most likely obnoxious) cannonball into the pool, we and our great friends Travis, Jaclyn, Carl, and Celeste enjoyed a fabulously heaping pile of waffles, homemade syrup, crispy bacon, scrambled eggs, and chocolate chip cookies. It was a great way to celebrate a new home for our friends Jaclyn and Travis as well as great friends!

As we unwound, us girls started playing with decor. We leveled, hammered, and hung things around the house, and I soon started to see a trend in our design tastes. I would like to share some of these ideas with you. They are simple; nothing especially new, but super cute.

I have found that sometimes people overload their shelves with a surplus of small picture frames. Though it is not unacceptable to place small picture frames on shelves, I feel that this collage approach adds immediate interest to the room, and solves the problem of too many picture frames and nowhere to put them. If you have a relatively sparse wall and nothing large enough to place there, as well as a bunch of small framed pictures in various colors, start collaging. There's no pattern, just have fun.

One idea that Celeste had was to choose one central piece and work around that. Here, Jaclyn has a very interesting piece that was given to her from her grandma.

Another idea for accessorizing your memories is using a kitschy knic knac that ties in with the photograph or artwark on display. Here, Jaclyn has a photo of a boat in a harbor. We decided that the wooden mariner would be perfect standing near this photo. It draws your eye and makes this photo that much more interesting.

flowers in my hair

2011-07-19T23:02:00.000-07:00

I was snooping around on some DIY blogs and happened across this wonderful little flower halo on Honestly...WTF. This reminds me a lot of some of the beautiful flower halos that they sell on ban.do.com for $130! I couldn't help but make one for myself.

The Inspiration:

The Inspired:

Domestic Upgrades on a Budget

2011-07-19T18:15:00.000-07:00

When I moved in to my first apartment, I bought two sets of dining chairs from a thrift store. They were old, tired, and had the most hideous paint and upholstery! One set was blue black with leopard! Anyhow, I bought some grass green paint and fabric with a vintage floral pattern to spruce them up. That was about 5 years ago and now I feel that its time for an update. Here is my update on a budget:

Materials:

4 dining chairs (thrift stores sell them for as little as $8 a piece!)
4 cans of 2x cover spray paint in desired color-$12
2 yards of pretty fabric-If you're thrifty, you can get the fabric for as little as $6. I did!
Depending on the previous coat of paint, you may need primer. I used 2 bottles-$6
Total: $56 for some snazzy new dining chairs!

Here's my before and after:

BEFORE:

AFTER

Another bit of upgrading to help me with the vacuuming! This idea may be of some help to you as well.

I bought some threaded stem casters at Lowes, hoping they would make moving my super heavy ottoman much easier. Fortunately my ottoman has little feet that screw in, so the casters could just replace the feet. However, if you don't have feet on you ottoman, you can purchase the type of casters that can be attached using screws and a drill.

BEFORE

AFTER

Ahhh! Now a simple push and it's out of the way!

Greenhorn tip #10: When it's time to unwind....

2011-07-18T21:50:00.000-07:00

...only not in a good way. More like in a rip back through your knitting kind of way.

So I started working on the Berroco Sarkis bag last November, but had to put the project on hold to get some selfless, holiday knitting going. I got so busy in the hustle and bustle of the holidays, and making sure I had a project for nearly everyone on my list, that I completely forgot about my Sarkis. About two days ago, I was going through my in progress bag and came across the pattern and yarn, still snug on the needles. (In addition to this project, I also pulled out my unfinished Cozy sweater...I know, I know) Anyhow, since school is still a month away, and I have some selfless knitting time, I decided to jump back in to this sweet little project. (Perfect color for fall, by the way!) After perusing the pattern and checking my stitch counter with furrowed brow, I finally decided that I had the repeats and increases figured out. Not problem, right? WRONG! I was completely off on my rows. The number on my counter was the completed row, not the future row. Not only that, but I forgot to add my increase to both edges, not just the first edge. I had to rip the whole thing back. (I hadn't gotten very far..but still.) SO FRUSTRATING! And the worst part? It was all my fault!

Greenhorn tip: Keep a small notebook in your knitting bag so that you can write a detailed description of the status of your in-progress projects, just in case you have to stow it away for a while. The stitch counters certainly do not tell all! Trust me. This is not the first time this has happened to me. I'm sure that now that I know better, I will be less likely to "take my time to unwind." Happy knitting greenhorns!

Domestic Renewal: Gold Taper Sconces

2011-07-17T14:03:00.000-07:00

After spray painting the farfalle picture frame gold, I was on a roll. I picked up these wooden sconces at a thrift store for $2. With a bit of gold paint, they clean up nicely.

Domestic Renewal: Breathing life into tired, old decor...

2011-07-16T23:04:00.000-07:00

Remember second grade when you made Mom special gifts with macaroni? I loved those crafts! However, I can't help but think that my macaroni art skills have far surpassed those of my "early years" of crafting. Introducing the Gilded Farfalle Picture Frame. A super easy craft that costs less than $10 and looks super chic!

Materials:

thrift store picture frame-$1

bag of farfalle pasta-$1.50

metallic gold spray paint-$6.99

glue gun

Glue pasta to the frame in a slanted pattern. This allows you to wedge the pasta together and cover more space. If unpleasant gaps turn up, use broken pieces of the pasta to camoflauge the holes.

Then spray with a heavy coat of gold paint! et voila!

You can even snaz-up the light switch!

...a desperate girl's attempt...

2011-07-15T23:22:00.000-07:00

...to make a suitable dinner (while her husband works late) with an extremely limited pantry and fridge.

Today was a busy day: selling text books online, editing vacation photos, catching up on post vacation chores, washing my bug encrusted car, spending some time with my folks, fitting in a 4 mile run, and losing myself in some reruns of Sex and the City. Then, I realize that I'm hungry-really hungry-and hadn't had lunch. I sat in front of my fridge waiting for a ready meal to materialize, I perused my canned food and soup collection hoping for a gem to pop out, I even considered Golden Grahams (which wouldn't have been all that bad by any means, but I wanted something warm and savory)all this in a ravenous haste. Finally, I Rachel Ray'd some cream of chicken soup, Heart Healthy Bisquik, canned peas, and cheddar cheese to the counter. I whipped up a batch of simple dumplings with a cup of Bisquik and half a cup milk, heated up the soup with half a can of peas, and a handful of cheddar cheese. Then the dumplings were dropped into the mix. I watched the dumplings expand in the creamy and cheesy broth with mouth watering anticipation. It smelled super yummy and looked pretty amazing. I spooned a heaping helping into a big bowl and shoveled it down with another side of Carrie Bradshaw. (I had a build up of Sex and the City on my DVR :) ) It was delicious!

"If you're going to San Francisco (or anywhere for that matter), be sure to wear...

2011-07-08T18:32:00.000-07:00

(silk) flowers in your hair..."

Having short hair is great! No fuss, no muss, no need for high maintenance styling. However, accessorizing ideas seem limited. That's why I have fully embraced the oversized flower "hats." (I like to call them hats because they remind me of those adorable mini hats that they put on little street performing monkeys--and we're moving on...) I have seen so many great ones out there:

I couldn't help but notice how easy these would be to make! I have always loved going to craft stores and snooping through their pretty artificial flowers, but I've never really had any need for them until now. It is super easy to have your own oversized (or undersized, or normal sized) flower pin for very little money and time; especially if you hit up the clearance floral bins! Most stores will actually give you the decapitated little buds lying on the ground. (cough...Michael's...cough).

My most recent pick of future hair accessories! I love the leopard print lily.

And remember! These flowers make great pins for clothing. Here are a few I whipped up in the last week:

I will post a tutorial on how to make a hair pin/corsage soon!

"Not All Who Wander...

2011-07-07T00:05:00.000-07:00

...are Lost" -JRR Tolkien

Anyone who has followed my blog for any length of time has noticed the strange frequency of my blog posts. Full on in the winter and fall, tapering off to a drip of meandering posts in the Spring, and nearly nothing in the summer. I find that sometimes I may stow away my needles and pursue other hobbies. Does that mean I should stop posting about the things I am doing? I think not! Here's to my new outlook on blogging! The Greenhorn Knitter is expanding her horizons. From now on, I may post about great designs, fashion, DIY (such a popular blog theme), knitting, crafting, travel, and such. Consider it a blog about the spice in my life! So, stick around! I may be on to something.

nothing up my sleeve...yet

2011-01-25T19:21:00.000-08:00

I know it seems that I should have more of this sweater finished by now, but its been a busy couple of weeks. Here is my progress thus far. I'm pretty pleased with everything and can't wait to wear it when it's all finished. Keep posted!

Song to Knit to #10

2011-01-25T19:09:00.000-08:00

I was actually not knitting when this song caught my attention. It was a late work night and I was shuffling around my classroom preparing for the next day when Cat Power's "Metal Heart" came through on my itunes playlist. I immediately began thinking how perfect it would be to curl up on the couch listening to the supple, velvety voice of Cat Power, take an occasional sip from a hot cup of peppermint tea, and knit through the evening. Hmmm...I'm sure that CD's around here somewhere...and that box of peppermint tea...

Happy knitting, and listening!

run, greenhorn, run!

2011-01-08T00:09:00.000-08:00

Hi all! Hope your new year is turning out righ thus far! I have to say, going back to work after a two week Christmas vacay is very difficult. This week was all about getting back into teaching mode, and unfortunately I didn't pull off much knitting. Thankfully, the end of the week is here and I now feel that I am back in my swing! Time to finish my cozy sweater.

Anywho, to kick off the new year my husband, sister in law, and my brother are running in the Big Baz 12K (7.5 Miles) trail race in the Cleveland National Forrest in Southern California. Woo hoo! WIsh me luck! I can't wait to give the update when it's all set and done tomorrow. Oh, I am also planning on hitting up the local Costa Mesa yarn shop, Suzoos Wool Works after the run! Nothing like a good, long run and a bit of wool to make the day complete.

Me after my first trail run (9K) in the Santa Monica mountains in November of last year.

Happy New Year!

2011-01-01T21:11:00.000-08:00

Just a quick post to wish everyone a happy 2011! May the year bring us many great moments, close friends and family, and classic knits! Cheers!

...pesky little knots...

2010-12-31T00:27:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I was knitting along on my Cozee sweater, and found that my yarn had a knot that was holding two strands together. Apparently something done by the company, perhaps on accident? Who knows? Anyway, I figured I would just keep going, which is what I usually do in this case if the knot isn't too big. Dumb move on my part! First of all, I'm knitting with super bulky yarn. Second, I'm knitting stockinette, so any flaw will be more apparent. It's funny because I was reading some other posts today and found that Susie at knitting newbie was having similar issues. I figured I would just pull the knot to the wrong side and fasten to the inside so it doesn't escape through the loops.

Greenhorn tip #9

2010-12-30T15:12:00.000-08:00

So, you forget to check the dye lot numbers of the yarn and half is one dye lot and the other half is another dye lot. Errr... Here is a simple tip for using yarns from separate dye lots without severe color changes or "fading" effects: (This tip from The Chicks with Sticks Guide to Knitting)

The Chicks say, "Think zebra stripes!"

Work two or four rows from one ball, then work from the second ball for two or four rows. Just keep alternating the two dye lots evenly throughout the project, and the yarns will blend beautifully!

...and it was good..

2010-12-25T22:20:00.000-08:00

My dad loved my gift! He had it on all day, and even fell asleep on the couch with it snugly atop his noggin.

Two weeks ago I was scouring Ravelry for a pattern to knit up for my dad. You see, he is not an average man. He is very special. So, naturally I had to find a pattern that would suit him perfectly. I started brainstorming: beanie and scarf set? Nah. Too typical, not "Dad" style. Mittens? Nope. Just not his thing. Fingerless mitts? Close...very close. But, no. If I'm going to knit something unique for my pop, I am going to make it something challenging and new for me too. (Maybe not the best idea two weeks before xmas) I thought about this hat that I always remember Dad wearing when we were young, and even now. It was made by Capo. The design of the hat was much like a driving cap or Irish 'newsboy' cap. Anywho, I found The Morgan. With many new techniques to challenge and teach me, as well as a unique addition to my project portfolio, I knew it would be more than a perfect gift for my dad. It would be a learning experience. Understatement! I have never counted so much in my life! Because this hat starts at the apex and works out to build the crown, I was constantly counting stitches between random increases. Not only this, but I felt that I started a little miffed that the designer listed the gauge at 19 sts/4 inches on a size 6 needle with a yarn that knits up 22 sts/4 inches on the same size needle. I understand that all knitting styles are unique, but talk about frustrating. I found myself having to use the knit cast on instead of the long tail cast on in order to get a looser knit throughout. I ended up on a size 7 needle.

Because the pattern works many decreasing short rows to shape the back of the hat, in addition to a small ribbed band that gets folded up and under the back edge, my hat started to work up with too small an opening to fit a medium size head (22.5 inches) which is what I was knitting it to fit (after checking gauge and everything). Sooo...at 11:30 at night on Christmas Eve, I ripped back through my bind off and back about 10 rows, removing the short rows and several decreases. I placed the hat on my head, which is about 1/4 " smaller than my Dad's, and it fit nicely. I questioned why the designer would add the extra rows...So I created a small ribbed band and bound off...too tightly. The hat was once again too tight for comfort. Errrr! Back again, I ripped. This time binding off loosely. Et viola! With a few changes to the original pattern, the hat was golden. Finished it off with a nice steam blocking, wiped the sweat from my brow, and hit the sack at 4:30 am. I could swear I heard the pounding of eight tiny reindeer on the roof....goodness knows it was the appropriate time of night! Hope you all had a very merry Christmas!

...a handmade Christmas...

2010-12-25T21:28:00.000-08:00

I couldn't have asked for a more special Christmas. Family, friends, great food, and classic gifts to give. Many handmade. I feel that when the holidays come around, meaning and care get stripped from giving because many of the gifts have been requested, and are expected. Sure, this is an important part of the gift giving holiday (we cannot expect people to be mind readers, can we?) but I think it is truly heart warming to receive a hand made gift, that took time, effort, and love. Here are a few of the handmade gifts exchanged at my family Christmas:

My mom made Branden and I the most wonderful scrapbooks of our engagement and wedding. Beautiful. Simply beautiful.

I found this pattern in Knit Simple. Here is a link to a similar pattern. Super adorable-super quick!

I knit Jessica an owl brooch....because I give a hoot... :) I did this one on a size 10.5 needle with worsted yarn.

The Morgan for Dad. He looks so handsome!
This hat has been the most challenging
piece so far. See my next post for my review of the pattern.

I knit Jessica a version of the Pip Squeak Chapeau neck warmer from the pattern by ellybeth. Love it, but wish I bound off more loosely. Anyhow, it looks great on her!

The top edge will stretch and begin to curl like the bottom.

Mom knit me a luscious purple cowl that is softer than butter!
Mmmm mmm good!

A cute banana yellow scarf from Mom with a fancy mohair fringe!

Ty's oatmeal ribbed scarf using Wool-Ease Thick and Quick by Lion Brand!
I love how luxurious this looks and feel

This yellow infinite scarf was knit by my mom for my brother Tyler. (pictured is my husband; Tyler was busy playing ping pong with Dad. :) )

Mom knit another wonderful scarf for Jessica. She's a pro at scarves of
many different fibers!

This sign was designed and carved by Dad. This picture does it no justice, but the sign is super shiny and a beautiful maple wood color. It reads:

the Earls & Oscar (Oscar is our cat-shown here as a fat black cat! :) )

the morgan...a gift for Dad...

2010-12-23T19:50:00.000-08:00

I started working on this pattern, the Morgan, about a week ago. I knew it would be challenging, but challenges have helped me learn new techniques. So far this project has taught me to:

short rows
provisional cast on
creating faux piping by knitting into the "great grandmother" stitch below

I can't wait to finish it tonight! Pa will love it. I mean, what do you knit for the man who has everything and doesn't wear mittens, scarves, or beanies? A morgan!

*In the picture, you can see the red waste yarn. When I first started to knit this hat (knitting from the center and increasing out with two dpns) I noticed a little "nipple" like protrusion at the very apex of the crown. It wasn't going to fly, so that's where the provisional cast on came in. I can now remove the waste yarn and thread the yarn through to tighten the top. Viola!

putting my wedding tins to work!

2010-12-12T20:57:00.000-08:00

As centerpieces at our wedding, my mom and I filled vintage tins with wild flowers. It looked beautiful and so natural! Now, as a sweet reminder, I have the tins adorning the ledges in my kitchen and bookshelves throughout our apartment. Except two that I have employed as needle holders. I used my handfuls of scrap yarn to stabilize the needles in the tins. Super cute, I think!

Song to Kit To # 9

2010-12-11T14:52:00.000-08:00

This song is beautiful and very soothing. Perfect for a quiet afternoon of knitting. I'm not sure what she is saying, and from the looks of the video, it may be something sad or emotional, but still a great sound. I love Latin music! Knit on!

Long fringe, short fringe, no fringe...?

2010-12-11T14:39:00.000-08:00

Over a steaming cup of coffee and giant bowls of oatmeal, my mom and I were discussing knitting and the ins and outs of knitting for men. Do they like scarves? Sure. Would they prefer more muted colors or dark hues over brights and whites? Perhaps. What about fringe? Short, long, none? Hmmmm...good question! I looked through a few of my books that have men's knits and found a mix of long, short, and non existent. There's also the question of long or short scarf in general. I think I am more apt to say that the longer the scarf, the better for both a man and woman. However, I think age also plays a part in this style preference. Anywho...the questions really started because my mom is knitting a beautiful mohair/wool/alpaca (three strands together) scarf and has finished 61 inches. We were wondering if the scarf should be longer or if fringe would do the job. Also, if she relied on the fringe to pick up the rest of the length, would it be long fringe or short fringe. Dad says short, but Dad is conservative and clean cut. Tyler is not conservative (however clean cut) and likes a bit more edgy look. Soo...what do you think? I'm curious to embark on the great fringe debate and see what comes of it.

P.S. I just asked Branden (my hubby) and he said long fringe or no fringe. Hmmm...very interesting.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

2010-12-05T22:12:00.000-08:00

I love the holidays because it means cooler weather, winding down school trimesters, and KNITTING. With skeins of lush yarn waiting to "grow up" and turn into beautiful hand knit gifts, I have plenty to keep the needles clicking through the holidays. This is the time where I really supercharge my hobby. So far I have completed my Pip Squeak Chapeau neck warmer look alike by ellybeth, and an adorable baby hat from Last Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson. Take a look! If you think you would like the neck warmer a bit more loose fitting, elegant musings flikr photostream has some helpful modifications.

a new project...

2010-11-05T22:21:00.000-07:00

I'm so happy that I have found my footing and am able to grasp the parts of my life that keep me grounded. Knitting being one of those things. Last year was a crazy whirlwind of ups and downs that threw me into disequilibrium BIG TIME. Stolen car, ruptured appendix, :( new car, brothers wedding :), MY WEDDING :)) new school year. Crazy. But what doesn't kill us...and all that, right? Anyhow, here is my latest project. I love this luxurious neck warmer from Pip-Squeak. Pattern by ellybeth. I chose to do this one in Misti Alpaca Tono Chunky in avocado. Pictures of my work to follow.

memories of a wedding...

2010-11-05T22:10:00.000-07:00

As promised, wedding photos. Please follow this link to my sister in law's wedding photography site. Check out galleries for Tayler + Branden. I'm eager to know what you think.

The new Mrs. Earl...

2010-07-14T21:26:00.000-07:00

Ahhh...my long lost blog. How refreshing it is to type into this text box I so frequently visited months ago. Well, now I am married, school is winding down, and my knitting is getting back on track. I will post soon with pictures from the wedding as well as my new knitting project.

Be back soon...

2010-03-15T19:10:00.000-07:00

Weddings are hard to plan. Understatement of the year. Needless to say, my mom and I are planning my wedding from scratch with the help of my MOH and future mother in law. I have been so consumed with planning,researching, planning, etc. that I have found little time and energy to begin a new project. Not only that, but the rushed--almost frantic--knit for Jess and Ty for their shower (a slouchy alpaca beanie and fetching fingerless mits in five days-which came out perfectly and much loved)has made me desire a short knit break. Not for long though. I have two skeins of lush cashmere Tahki Stacy Charles waiting to be knit into my mom's lace shawl for Ty and Jess' wedding mid April. I'll be starting this this week. Wish me luck. This is my first attempt at knitting with such a fine yarn. BTW: here are some pictures of Jess's berry red fetching mitts:

For those of us who find that it truly IS an obsession...enjoy!

2010-03-07T00:24:00.001-08:00

a diamond in the rough

2010-03-05T23:16:00.000-08:00

On a recent, post-op trip to the Hoover Dam (Doc says I should get out and be active...) my mom and I came across one hell of a yarn shop. Nestled cozily in the heart of Boulder City, Nevada's antique "district" lies a craft store---the name escapes me at the moment. The store was boxy and resides in an antiquated retail complex perhaps 40-50 years old. Yes-allow those images of the quaint little yarn store you frequent each Saturday to slip away. This was not your average knit shop. Let me explain:

As you open the glass door between two protruding glass display windows, bells jingle and the overwhelming aroma of age and must is nearly unsettling. The store is disheveled and unkempt. Craft supplies pour from the walls and shelves, peeking out from around nooks and crannies created by leaning craft books and boxes of fabrics and linings. Nothing seems truly organized, but the pleasant old woman sitting on a small wicker bench near the back greets you with a welcoming smile, letting you know that she is open for business. She is knitting--socks from the looks of it---and is completely surrounded by yarn, magazines, books, knitting needles, boxes of buttons, and any other indiscriminate objects you may find in a craft store. It is amazing. But the best part lay just beyond the lady and her wicker perch. In a backroom, which appeared to be off limits, but fortunately was not, were stored boxes and boxes, shelves, and shelves of yarn. Nothing was organized, but everything was accessible. She told us to snoop through whatever we like. Take our time and have fun. We did indeed. Beautiful, vibrant skeins of yarn were everywhere-bulging from boxes and hanging over shelves. I would have never guessed that such a place would hide such treasures. Needless to say, I made some purchases. Lesson learned here: Never judge an old craft store by its initial impression...they may just surprise you.

...after quite a speed bump, she returns to knit again...

2010-02-28T18:18:00.000-08:00

Thank God! I honestly felt that my recovery would never come. Though I haven't completely recovered, I feel so much relief already. My pain is minimal (especially with the help of the pain pills they prescribed), and I am sleeeping well, and often. I've been staying with my parents, and they've been so good to me. I've lost 10 pounds from simply not having an appetite for over a week, but this could be worse. I don't recomend the appendectomy diet by any means, folks.

Anyhow, I'm back on the knitting "wagon". I've started working on a thick black alpaca slouchy beanie for my brother-as per his request. I am also crunching to finish a few gifts for my future sister in law's bridal shower. Would've been on schedule, but...you know. I will post pictures soon, when there isn't much risk of Jess or Ty seeing their gifts early. In addition to this, my mom and I are also diving head first into wedding planning. We found the most beautiful knit flowers for the wedding favors. Take a look:

Simple and elegant. Another option we've found is this "tearose" shown on the edge of the bag:

Both are found in Nicky Epstein's Knitted Flowers

There comes a time when even knitting is a chore...

2010-02-21T11:32:00.000-08:00

On Thursay, Feb. 17 I was noticing some very bad abdominal pains. I tried pepto and ginger ale, but nothing seemed to work. Finally, on Friday, I had my mom take me to the ER. After bloodwork, CT scans, etc. it was determined that I had a ruptured appendix (I'm guessing that's how you spell it). This makes sense because the pain was terrible. After the CT scan and results, I waited for about 3 hours to have the opperation. Afterwards, I was settled into a room and given a diet of ice chips and sips of water. Big time! Anyhow, I have this computer/TV and wireless keyboard in my room. I can surf the web and watch movies! My nurse actually recommended that I look up a periscopic appendectomy on youtube...not so sure about that. Well, hope you are all having a great weekend ( do some carefree knitting for me). Should be back at the needles in about a week.

Hmmmm...Ralph Lauren has a realllly cute "team USA" beanie...

2010-02-18T18:23:00.000-08:00

I wonder what it would take to create a "look-alike" of this hat. I wouldn't want to buy it, but would love to knit it! Any suggestions??? BTW-Go Lindsey Vonn for taking the downhill to school!

Ahhh...the aftermath of a truly relaxing weekend of friends, fun, and knitting!

2010-02-16T19:19:00.000-08:00

This weekend was fantastic! Branden and I kicked off the Olympics with my mom and dad. Mom and I went shopping on Saturday, followed by a delicious dinner and evening visiting the Billagio and Caesar's palace Seahorse Lounge. Valentines was very nice with a simple evening of Blue's BBQ (delicious!) and the beginning of the pairs figure skating and men's moguls. On Monday, we wound down with a late morning breakfast, r&r, and then dinner and games at our dearest friends Paul and Alyssa's house! What an eventful weekend! And to top it all off, I finished my mittens and a new hat for Branden! Take a look!

a 'fetching' new project...

2010-02-09T18:39:00.000-08:00

I've decided to put off the Swan Lake whimple until track break...it will take some seriouse focus on my part and I frankly don't have enough of that with testing at school and preparation for the break. However, I did begin a new project.

I foound these fingerless mittens on Ravelry during one of my late night stints of pattern browsing. (again my eyes are bigger than my knitting needles right now...). I love the tightly cabled cuff and ribbed texture. I'm making mine with a bamboo/wool blend. As a matter of fact, I was cruising Joanns a while back and happened on this yarn on an end cap. Typically, when shopping big craft stores, I avoid the end cap yarn, but this time I lucked out! The yarn is called "Bamboo Ewe" and its by Debbie Stoller, the author of Stitch 'N Bitch. She also has an alpaca, and peruvian wool. No acrylic here. Next time you stop by a Joanns, check it out. I reckon you'll like what you find. Anywho...here is the pattern for the Fatching fingerless mitts.

Keeping his ears warm....

2010-02-08T18:33:00.000-08:00

I really enjoyed this knit, but wish the pattern ended each stripe on an even row so I could simply carry the yarn up the side with me after each color change. However, weaving in all the ends was pretty painless and quick. Plus, I love the way it turned out. For some reason the varigated stripes give the illusion of a zebra-ish pattern. New word-"zebra-ish"...count it! ;)

Handsome, no?

It's time everyone take the pledge...

2010-02-03T23:04:00.000-08:00

Turn things around and abandon the phone while you are driving. Many lives can be spared...including your own. Take the pledge here.

It's almost time...

2010-02-03T22:48:00.000-08:00

...for a much deserved break. In about two weeks I will be going out for my second track break this year! My break will be three weeks long followed by only two weeks of school and then Spring Break! How sweet is that? Sooo...I must keep myself busy. This break will be devoted to wedding planning, whimple and flower knitting (flowers for the wedding favors), as well as some sweet R&R. Can't wait to get started! I will definitely be posting some great wedding ideas throughout my break (a bit off the topic of knitting, but relevant in my life right now), but never-you-fear. I will certainly pepper in plenty of knitting content! Let the countdown begin...

Daily Greenhorn Tip #8

2010-02-02T17:20:00.000-08:00

As a teacher, and because of the endless paper handling, it is so hard for me to maintain a decent manicure . Beause of this, and the dry weather her in Las Vegas, I tend to have rough fingernails that could potentially snag my yarn (and have on several occasions). SOO...I carry a nail file in my tool kit to use when I notice that my nails are attracting a lot of unwanted yarn fiber attention. Also a great way to keep those bamboo needle points sharp and ready! Happy knitting!!

Song to Knit to # 9

2010-02-02T17:07:00.000-08:00

After my last finished project, and the post, I've had Prince stuck in my head. Sooo...the only way to release the geanie from the bottle is to listen to it! And knit to it!!
Raspberry Beret by Prince Enjoy!

A new project...with a deadline!

2010-02-01T18:47:00.000-08:00

In April, my brother and his amazing fiance will be tying the knot and I am in charge of knitting the gorgeous (in pictures--hopefully I can make it that beautiful) Swan Lake whimple my mom will be wearing by Tahki Stacy Charles inc.. I can't wait to get started, but am a bit nervous to work with fine mohair for the first time. I am pretty comfortable with lace knittng, but this will be new territory for me. Let's hope it goes well. OOOO I just love weddings!

my new "blueberry" beret...the kind you find in a second hand store... ;)

2010-02-01T18:23:00.000-08:00

It's hard not to quote Prince here. Anywho, here it is! The mystery beret from Ravelry. I am so pleased with the way it turned out. The pattern gives repeats for slouchy and extra slouchy, but I chose to go about making it without any extra repeats. I'm really glad that I did, because it is certainly slouchy enough. Especially now that I have so little hair!

Doesn't the "starish" design give just the right amount of whimsy?? I just love it! >>>proud sigh<<< Here is the pattern! Give it a shot--perhaps with a nice bamboo blend for spring! Happy February!

By the way...here I am with my new chop! I went a little shorter than I originally planned, to give it some grow out time. Thanks Neil at Ulta Salon in Costa Mesa, CA!

Think Natalie Portman in Darjeeling Limited. Yay!

I just have a much bigger forehead..hehe!

Certain New Year's resolutions are meant to be broken...

2010-01-29T11:09:00.000-08:00

One of my resolutions was to grow out my hair for my wedding in June. I was thinking perhaps a Victoria Bekam style bob or some such thing. Well, that was short lived. You see, I typically wear my hair very short--think Jean Seberg. I really love it short and suprisingly so does my fiance. When asked, he actually said that he prefers it short and choppy. I mean..how great is that!? You want to chop it off and he's completely on board! Well, needless to say I scheduled myself for a 5 o'clock chop today! Yay!

Me! Jean!

Song to Knit to # 8

2010-01-27T23:25:00.000-08:00

OK...it's been a while since I have posted a song to knit to, so here's a double dose. Both of these songs have a charming melody that lingers even after the song is over. I really enjoy the sound of Lake Michigan by Rogue Wave. It reminds me of singing in the round in an elementary school music class. Simple yet pleasing. Hmmmm...perhaps music for knitting in the round...perhaps.. Austrailia by Bicycles is new to me and I just thought I'd share it. Enjoy.

back and in full effect...

2010-01-24T13:06:00.000-08:00

I have had a very busy week. The week following a Staff Development day is always hectic. Thank goodness it's the weekend. Next week will be less busy and I now have some time to tend to my blog. Anyhow, I am now working on the Meret beret from Ravelry. It was a mystery knit a while back and there is a really great discussion post that walks you through the whole process here. I really love this pattern and can't wait to see how the lacy texture will turn out. I am also working on a hat for my man. I just bought this really great book by Erika Knight called Men's Knits and in it I found some really fabulous knits! The hat I am working on is the striped beanie. It has a really nice roll edge and varigated stripe that looks classy.

BTW: I updated my queue on ravelry. I think my eyes may be bigger than my fingers! At least I'll be busy with some great projects!

starting anew...

2010-01-18T15:03:00.000-08:00

Remember the Aslan Trends yarn I was touting a few posts back? The beautiful jewel toned red? Well I started the star crossed slouchy beret with this great yarn, and it really started out looking fab, but the yarn's varigated texture caused the hat to almost stand on end instead of slouch down the back. Needless to say, I scrapped the project and started again with a true worsted weight merino wool blend yarn. Other than a few slip-ups (that are virtually invisible), I'm very pleased with the outcome. Third hat down!

moss green cables and turtleneck dreams...

2010-01-14T19:16:00.000-08:00

This may seem like a lofty goal for a beginner, but I am going to knit this sweater. I have the pattern, and after looking over the schematic, I'm pretty confident that I can handle it. I absolutley love this color, and haven't seen a chunky cabled turtleneck this cute in....maybe ever! Check it out here. BTW: If you like this and are of normal financial means-like me, don't expect to buy the Andina yarn by Lang. The pattern calls for 17 balls for a small size. Each ball runs $25. That makes this a $425 sweater. Takes the fun right out of the project. I found a really great substitute here (same fiber content, same gauge) for only $12/ball!

On my merino way...

2010-01-14T19:05:00.000-08:00

Nothing like a great movie and a new knitting project! Yesterday, I actually watched Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince for the first time. A crime. I know. Anywho, I also started a new hat project. In my slowly (but surely) growing stash I had some great varigated merino in a rich burgandy-ruby blend by Aslan Trends [Los Andes in Tango Reds 1334]. I decided to use it to knit up the oh-so-cute Star Crossed Beret (downloadable for free from Ravelry). This is what I have so far. Should be done with it to night. Can't wait to wear it out on Friday!

Song to Knit to #7

2010-01-14T18:54:00.000-08:00

I just picked up the album In Our Bedroom After the War by Stars, and was listening to it in my classroom on break. Miraculously I was able to knit a few rounds at the same time (typically I work and eat--teaching's tough. ;)). This song came on and got me into this great rhythm with my stitches. I sailed through four rounds before I had to go pick up my chilluns. Not bad! Enjoy Take Me To the Riot by Stars

el fin! The sideways grande hat is a success!

2010-01-11T17:32:00.000-08:00

I feel so great about this hat! It is my first completely successful hat, and I love wearing it! The alpaca is super cozy and warm, and the fit is great. I have very short hair, so nice fitting hats are very important. Hope you like it!

This is a great pattern for beginning hat knitters. It is knit flat, but it gives you a lot of practice with picking up stitches and mattress stitch. You can find this pattern in Boutique Knits by Laura Irwin

steps to success...

2010-01-11T17:27:00.000-08:00

My sideways grande hat in its final stages...so close I can almost feel it on my head!

Daily Greenhorn Tip #7

2010-01-10T22:02:00.000-08:00

Greenhorn Tip courtesy of Wenlan Chia from Twinkle's Weekend Knits!

I came across this tip during a random pattern search. Very interesting.

Suppose you lose the label for a ball of yarn and you aren't sure of the fiber content-NEVER YOU FEAR! Put your nose to the test. Yarn fibers vary, so their burning smell will vary as well. So...next time your are unsure about the fibers, take a lighter to the end of your yarn and smell away. Here is what you may smell:

Acrylic: burning plastic (go figure)
Silk: Burning hair
Wool: sheep (who knew ;) )
Cotton: a burning candle wick
Bamboo: a barbecue skewer from the grill

There you have it! The smell test to determining your fibers.

The home stretch..

2010-01-09T18:33:00.000-08:00

I have successfully passed the "picking up stitches" portion of my Sideways Grande Hat pattern. Yes! Now it's on to finishing. Can't wait to show it off when it's finished. Should be off the needles by Sunday evening. Stay posted!

New skills to add to my set...PICKING UP STITCHES! Daily Greenhorn Tip # 6

2010-01-09T18:29:00.000-08:00

Hooray! Today, Edi at Knit Las Vegas showed me how to pick up stitches along the selvedge edge of my work. It was a success! One tip for picking up a certian number of stitches (in my case, 68) divide the edge of the work that will be used for picking up stitches evenly. I divided mine into four sections using stitch markers (you could also use little pieces of stray yarn) and picked up 17 stitches in each section. Much easier. Here is what this looks like with a curved edge:

Here is a good video for picking up stitches.

Something borrowed, something blue, perhaps something handmade!

2010-01-07T20:20:00.000-08:00

I've been trying to think of ideas for relatively inexpensive favors for our wedding in June. I have several wedding magazines with some really cute things, but they are super expensive and not especially personal. Plus, I was hoping that I could incorporate something handmade into the wedding. After thinking about it for a while, it finally occured to me to knit some pretty little flower corsages for the ladies! It's a small wedding with only 50 or so people-about half of whom are ladies. Not bad. If I start now, I could make a bunch of pretty great flower pins. Not to mention, I just taught my mom to knit and I can employ her services! I found this great book called 100 Flowers to Knit and Crochet. Talk about lovely designs! In addition to corsages, I could knit some long stem flowers to mix in with the centerpieces (vintage tins with wildflowers). I just think it would be the perfect way to pull in some personal elements, and to share my new found skills with my friends and family. Some ideas I've found.

Pavi Yarns: Garden Gate Scarf

See in red...

2010-01-06T23:43:00.000-08:00

I own a lot of red things. I don't even consider it my favorite color (which is green), but I own a disproportionate amount of red shoes, scarves, shirts...hell...I even prefered the red KitchenAid mixer. In my opinion, red warms up the skin and blends with the natural sanguine tones of most fair complexions. I suppose one can never have too much red. Sooooo...I bring you my latest discoveries from Vogue Knitting...I absolutley love this shawl!

Twinkly Shawl

Feather-Fan Scarf

Field Trip Day!

2010-01-06T17:16:00.000-08:00

Today my class took a trip to the Las Vegas Philharmonic. What a great experience! The music was wonderful and the students had a chance to participate in Tschaikowsky's 1812 Overture as the cannon fire (shouting "Boom!" and pounding a foot on the floor). And also..I got in a few rows of my sideways grande hat on the bus! Score!

Song to Knit to #6

2010-01-05T19:16:00.000-08:00

A while back I shut myself up in the guest room with my ipod, headphones, yarn and some needles to do some secret Christmas knitting and I happened upon this song in my collection. The "spanish" guitar is luxurious and soothing and in the company of Amy Millan's haunting voice, a knitting song "masterpiece" makes! Enjoy Bury This by Amy Millan

P.S. The video is a bit intense, but the song is lovely.

Knitting the worries away...

2010-01-05T19:04:00.000-08:00

Knitting Zen

Since I have embraced this diverting hobby, I have noticed that it's a great stress reliever. This may be common knowledge to most knitters, but it is very good news for me. Teaching is quite satisfying and fulfilling, but it can come with its own boatload of stresses. Coming home, cooking something tasty, settling into a warm cup of tea, and knitting helps to alleviate this stress and is super rewarding. I find that a great session of knitting, whether during a movie or with headphones listening to Pandora radio, helps me to empty my thoughts and slip into a cozy frame of mind. All anxiety is literally forgotten for that time. I must admit that I have looked into procedures such as accupuncture for relaxation. But why tiny little pricking needles when I can just pick up a pair of perfectly soothing knitting needles?? Food for thought.

Today in class my fourth graders were coming up with synonyms for their vocabulary words. A group of students came to pastimes and declared "hobbies" as a suitable synonym (right they were!). The kids looked up at me and smiled, "Ms. Andrews-your pastime is knitting-we remember the cool scarf you made for Mr. Earl!" I chuckled and nodded. Yep-I knit. And with that, I felt a certain element of pride. So all in all, knitting is theraputic AND good for the ego. Keep on knitting ladies and gents! Let's make this as relaxing a year as we can--with bunches and bunches of great hand knits!

Photo from cafepress.com

Daily Greenhorn Tip #5

2010-01-05T18:09:00.000-08:00

Sometimes a knitting mistake is so miniscule that it isn't worth knitting back or unraveling to fix. However, there will be times when even the tiniest mistake stands out like a sore thumb. Trust me. I know.

Fixing a Mistake Without Unraveling
A few days back, while watching a movie with Branden, I made a purl when I was suppose to knit. >>tisk tisk tisk<< Fortunately for me it was on the wrong side of the fabric and is not noticeable, but I must admit I came very close to unraveling all the way (about six rows) back to fix the mistake. Had I decided to do this I would have been sorry for wasting the time because I just happened across a great video from knittinghelp.com that shows you exactly how to AVOID unraveling. (Keep in mind: if it is a mistake in increase or decrease stitches it is necessary to unravel.)

Just saw this and wanted to share...

2010-01-04T19:50:00.000-08:00

It's amazing what music and sound does for a movie--in this case even a trailer. Check out this alternative trailer for Stephen King's "The Shining."

Song to Knit to #5

2010-01-04T19:22:00.000-08:00

When knitting a beautiful garment or accessory, what better than a bit of show tunes to go along with it? One day I will accomplish my first garment, and when I do I will be singing like Maria! Here's what I mean. Feeling pretty?

Slips through my fingers like feathersoft, silky lovliness...

2010-01-04T19:14:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I pulled out one of the two balls of Cascade Yarns baby alpaca chunky and knit up my first sucessful guage swatch. I actually got it right the first time! I had that "this worked out too well; I must have made a mistake" moment, but am confident that I just got lucky. Actually let's rephrase-I managed to do a good guage swatch. Let's give me some credit. :) Anywho...the yarn is a dream. As a beginner, I have only worked up scarves in wool blends (good stuff, but no baby alpaca.) After a few visits to my local yarn shops, my eyes have been open to the beautiful world of fine yarn. I started knitting up my Sideways Grande Hat (from Boutique Knits) and was in love with the way the fabric draped over my fingers even with only a few rows completed. I'm on my way to a beautfiul hat!

Ysolda handknits

2010-01-03T19:11:00.000-08:00

I was surfing some blogs today, and happened upon a beautiful wrap on Voolenvine. The pattern is from Ysolda Original Patterns. The wrap is called "ishbel" and I love it in red. The lacy stitch patterns are wonderful. This pattern can also be seen in Whimsical Little Knits. Check it out here!

Song to Knit to #4

2010-01-02T01:53:00.000-08:00

I was finishing my heavy cable knit scarf yesterday and watching Dan in Real Life. First of all-great movie. Second-great ending song. I was noticing my knitting picking up rythm while the song was on. Definitely catchy and super upbeat. Check it out here. The artist is Sondre Lerche and Lillian Somdal and the song is "Modern Nature."

Scarf it down-tie it up...

2010-01-01T16:54:00.000-08:00

I finally finished the heavy cable knit scarf I was workng on for Jess. I was considering adding vintage buttons at the bottom near the fringe, but when it was all set and done I decided against it. The egg shell color and heavy texture is so pretty all on its own. I'll post the pattern tomorrow. I definitely recommend trying it if you're new to cable knitting. BTW---Happy New Year!!