Mad Caterpillar

Some friends of ours have a sweet little calico cat that recently had a litter of four kittens. My son instantly fell in love, and our friends graciously offered to give him one when it was old enough to be parted from mama kitty.

I wasn't so sure that I wanted another cat. My last cat died several years ago, and I haven't had the heart to get a new cat since that happened. He was a very special kitty and his last year was a rough one, for him and for me. I just wasn't ready for a new cat yet, but my son was truly smitten and not to be denied. My mom suggested that he be given a task to see if he was willing to earn the privilege of getting one of the kittens. He was to feed and water our dog, morning and night, and do scooping duty on weekends, for a whole month. I truly thought he'd get sick of it a quarter of the way through, but no -- he'd really fallen hard and he took his task seriously.

So a couple weekends ago we went back to pick up his new kitten, a calico that he'd decided to name Momo. While he was fussing with her, one of her brothers, an orange tiger striped tabby, came up to me, crawled into my arms, licked my nose, started purring, and fell asleep.

I plead insanity brought on by extreme cuteness. We brought him home too.

Oh yeah, I've been knitting too! Here's a cardigan that will be winging its way to the east coast shortly for a special baby due in July. Hopefully I've sized it correctly so that it will fit him or her (the parents love surprises) by the fall.

The pattern is "Sam" from the Mission Falls Wee Knits book. I love this pattern, it's quick and very fun to knit. This one was done in Mission Falls 1824 Wool, which is one of my favorite yarns to knit with. I have another on the needles that is almost done as well, this one in the Mission Falls 1824 cotton for a Bay Area baby to be born next month. I make one change to the pattern when I knit it -- I omit the first bobble on the cast on edge of the sleeves. I like how the sleeves look better without it, and also I worry that a baby might find it too tempting to chew on.

And just for the heck of it, here's a yummy recipe straight from my childhood to share with you. I got the sudden urge to make these this week, and after getting the recipe from Mom I discovered they were just as delicious as I remembered!

Salmon Patties

• 1 large (14oz) can of wild salmon
  
• 1 egg
  
• 2 cups cracker crumbs
  
• 1/2 onion, chopped fine
  
• dill
  
• salt
  
• pepper
  
• canola oil
  

Put half of the cracker crumbs in a bowl and set aside. Combine the salmon, egg, onions, and spices in a bowl and mix well. Gradually mix in the rest of the cracker crumbs -- stop when the mixture gets to the point where it can stick together when rolled in a ball, but is still moist. Form the mixture into patty shapes about 3" in diameter and 3/4" thick, and coat the outside of each patty with the reserved crumbs that were set aside. You can make them any size you like, but at this size you should get about 8 patties.

Fill a shallow frying pan with about 1/4" of canola oil and place over medium-high heat. Fry the patties for about 5 minutes on each side. Place the patties on a paper towel covered plate before serving to soak off any excess oil. These are great with any number of sides -- green salad, mac-n-cheese, steamed broccoli, mashed potatoes, sauteed greens... yum!

Posted by Danielle at 10:11 PM | | Comments (2)

I have way to many projects on the needles right now. But I had to put them on hold for a little while as I absolutely had to start knitting socks from this yarn the moment I got it in my hot little hands.

Click pic for skeined view.

It's Fly Dyed Monarch Knit Paints in the "Plum Trees in Full Bloom" colorway. I found it at a store in Seattle that I never knew existed BR. (That would be "Before Ravelry".) Little Knits is a lovely little shop in West Seattle that is only open to the public two days a week, although it's always open online. They have an amazing assortment of yarn at great prices, including some sock yarns I'd never seen before, such as the one above.

The Knit Paints yarn is especially interesting to me because of the way that it is dyed. The dye is painted onto a pre-knitted tube, then the tube is unravelled and the yarn is re-skeined for sale. It is very pretty stuff. Intense dappled colors and a tightly plied and springy yarn base make for a very pleasant sock knitting diversion.

Pattern: Uptown Boot Socks by Jennifer L. Appleby in the "Favorite Socks" book published by Interweave Knits. I did make a slight change to the pattern in that I knit them toe-up with a short row heel in order to maximize the height I could make the cuffs. This was my first foray into toe-up sock knitting, and while I still prefer the cuff-down method I would like to try toe-up with a reverse heel flap and gusset sometime in the near future.

Posted by Danielle at 09:10 PM | | Comments (2)

Last Saturday, my son went from being here:

To being here:

in the space of three hours. That is just too cool for February. The week since has been just as nice; I figured I should probably get this posted before February actually ends, though.

I have been knitting, sewing, and actually finishing things over the past few post-less months, and even remembering to photograph them. So I'll play catch up a little over the next few posts. Remember these? After all my preaching on sock monogamy, it still took me until January 08 to finish them. I was faithful (from a sock-knitting perspective, anyway -- I did have other holiday/gift knitting to do, though) but just had to put them aside for awhile. Here they are, all finished up:

As a recap, these were knit from Yarn Pirate 50% merino 50% tencel sock yarn in the Karma colorway. I used a basic simple sock pattern, 64 stitches with a picot cuff. In retrospect I wish I'd done a short row toe instead of using standard toe decreases, as the short row toe fits my foot better. But they do fit well, and I love the colors. I'm curious to see how this sock yarn holds up over time and many washings. My favorite part about these socks is how the bright green peeks out between my jeans and shoes:

Another little February highlight -- finding a little bag of cute vintage buttons at the thrift store:

I'm not usually a big fan of February in Seattle, but 2008 has changed my perspective on the matter!

Posted by Danielle at 10:58 AM | | Comments (1)

Things are afoot here at Mad Caterpillar; I just haven't had much time to write about them lately. Hopefully I will be able to remedy that situation very soon. In the meantime, I have started working on a shop update, and I hope to have a few new fun designs to post there soon.

After a bit of a summer hiatus, I'm back to knitting again. I have almost finished knitting the mate for this long neglected sock -- the completed pair will be a gift for a very special person whose birthday is coming up soon.

This is the beginning of a Plain Jane cardigan for a soon-to-be niece/nephew. The yarn is Gedifra New Age in a pea green color. I think this yarn is discontinued which is a shame -- it is lovely to work with, very soft and squishy and light as air. Should be perfect and cuddly against a newborn's skin.

Tonight hubby and I plan to see Laurie Perry talk about her new book at Barnes and Noble in downtown Seattle. I'm really looking forward to seeing her -- her website is one of my absolute favorites. I just know she'll be as charming and funny in person as she is on the internets! I wonder if she'll be wearing her bronze snakeskin boots?

Posted by Danielle at 03:57 PM | | Comments (0)

I'm a bit of a sock polygamist. I can't help it -- I just can't seem to stay faithful to knitting only one pair of socks at a time. Although I did have a go at sock monogamy with my Sockapalooza4 socks, and lo and behold I finished that pair faster than any other pair I've knit before. But already I'm back to my sock philandering ways. I currently have five different socks on the needles, each in a different phase of completion. The good thing is that I am always finishing one pair around the same time I'm casting off for another.

So it's no surprise when I spied this skein sitting in a local yarn store that it was impossible to resist.

It's Yarn Pirate 50% merino 50% tencel sock yarn in the Karma colorway. The colors are so beautiful, ranging from a deep grass green to light cornflower blue to shale brown. And the wool/tencel blend is so shiny and soft. As always, the joy of knitting with hand dyed yarn is watching how it knits up. Here is how it looks after being wound into a ball:

And here it is in soon-to-be-finished sock form:

It stripes! This yarn has been so much fun to work with that I haven't had any desire to dally with my other socks-in-progress while working on this pair. And the main benefit of sock monogamy is a fast finish -- that sock has since been completed and I'm half way down the cuff of sock number two.

Speaking of socks, my Sockapalooza4 sock pal's package was dropped off at the post office today! I can't wait to see if she likes the pair I made for her...

Continue reading "Good Karma" »

Posted by Danielle at 08:43 PM | | Comments (0)

So I've had this design for a sock knitting bag in my head for awhile. I usually carry my sock projects around in a ziploc bag, or a little canvas bag with an elastic opening. I don't love either of those two methods, though. Dpn's can poke through plastic bags and get lost, and the elastic top of my canvas bag invariably catches on the yarn ball when I put it in or take it out. I knew I wanted a drawstring closure -- one with locking cord stops so that the contents of the bag would be secured when closed. Especially for those times when the bag gets tossed into a larger tote -- I don't want the contents tumbling out and mingling with my notebooks and pens.

I wanted it to have an outer pocket where I could safely tuck a pattern sheet, and maybe a couple small notions. And I wanted it to have a removable strap so that it could be worn it over the shoulder while out and about.

I wanted it to have a fun lining, and it was an easy enough matter to make it reversible as well.

And last but not least, I thought it would be fun to applique a small piece of the lining on the side of the bag opposite the pocket. In the end, I'm very happy with how this little bag turned out. It's just the right size -- it fits a large ball of sock yarn and the sock-in-progress with enough room left for an eyeglass case, a mini notebook, and small notions like a tape measure. I also made a tiny sock cheatsheet to stick in the front pocket with my favorite basic sock pattern and grafting instructions, and a darning needle stuck in for good measure.

After making a prototype for myself and deciding it was exactly what I wanted, I made a few more. The one pictured in this post is for my Sockapalooza4 Pal, and I'm hoping she'll like it as much as I do! I've put the others up for sale in my Etsy shop.

It was so much fun to make these little bags, and I foresee some quality time spent with my sewing machine to make lots more in the future!

Posted by Danielle at 03:37 PM | | Comments (6)

I love beaded stitch markers, but find that they tend to snag on the work-in-progress. About a year ago, I had an idea to make some fun stitch markers using seed beads that wouldn't dangle, and I really loved how they turned out. Here's a set that will be winging its way to my Sockapalooza4 Sock Pal on August 2nd:

I've been giving these stitch markers as gifts to knitting friends and have finally decided to put some up for sale on Etsy. So in honor of my new shop, I'm going to do my first ever blog giveaway! I made ten stitch markers from some gorgeous clear seed beads lined with opalescent metallic green paint:

I will give five of these markers to the first two people to leave me a comment telling me that they would like them!

Posted by Danielle at 10:24 PM | | Comments (4)

The second sock just never gets its picture taken as often as the first. But it is all done -- here it is, with its mate, ready and waiting for the August 2nd Sockapalooza shipping date! I sure hope my sock pal likes this pair!

Again with the details:

Yarn: Fleece Artist Sea Wool in red/brown colorway
Pattern: Go with the Flow by Evelyn Clark from Favorite Socks.

I loved knitting these socks. The pattern was easy to memorize, and worked really well with the variegated yarn. I will definitely be making more pairs of these in the future. But in the meantime, I’m going to work on a neglected sock project that I started last year and stalled on:

The Purple Pomatomus. The yarn is Trekking XXL in color number 75. This pattern requires dedicated attention (no knitting while watching movie rentals) so it will probably take a while to complete. But there is no deadline for these, and I’m not in any hurry. Summer is finally here – time for bare feet and sandals!

Posted by Danielle at 10:21 PM | | Comments (4)

I finished my first Sockapalooza 4 Sock Pal's sock last night at around midnight. Here it is, after a good soak and a block:

Click here for a closeup of the knitted fabric.

This Fleece Artist yarn really knits up fast, and the four-row repeat of the "Go with the Flow" pattern really keeps you going... With the flow, I guess. I cast on right away for the second sock, in a hopeful attempt to avoid the dreaded Second Sock Syndrome, to which I tend to be susceptible, as evidenced by this sock which has languished in twinless sock limbo for the better part of two years now. But fear not, oh mystery Sock Pal, I promise to finish in good time.

I like weaving in toe ends because it gives me the chance to use this wonderful tool:

It's a yellowheart darning egg turned by Phil Powell that I purchased from Janet Lynn at The Wheel Thing. She has an extensive collection of gorgeous fiber tools on her site and she is a true pleasure to do business with. I have no affiliation -- I'm just a happy customer and I recommend her store highly. And Phil Powell's work is beautiful, a true testament to form and function.

Posted by Danielle at 08:04 PM | | Comments (12)

Here is the sock as it stands right now, just past the gusset and enjoying the sunset view from a local park:

Here is what the sock was looking at:

It was a beautiful evening here in Seattle.

On the topic of socks, if there are any visitors here from Sockapalooza, I'd love to get your input on whether or not you use sock reinforcement thread at the heels and/or toes of your socks, and what your favorite type is. I usually use Schoeller+Stahl Fortissima Socka reinforcement thread at the heels and toes of most of the socks that I make. It seems to come in a variety of colors and you can find it almost anywhere. I'm using a dark brown in this latest sock for my Sock Pal. Does anyone know where one could find this stuff in bulk -- on small cones or something like that?

Posted by Danielle at 08:47 PM | | Comments (12)

The state of the weather.

My family outgrew our tiny house in Seattle several years ago. But the housing market here being what it is, we can't afford to upgrade. And our location is so convenient, that we're not willing to move as far away as we'd need to in order to get more space. So we make do with what little space we have, fighting a losing battle with clutter, and remembering to enjoy the advantages of a short commute and proximity to the things we love to do and the places we need to go. What our house lacks in size, however, it gains in view. In fact the thing that attracted us to this house many many years ago is the beautiful view of the Olympic Mountains that we appreciate every single day that we are here. Even when you can't see the mountains, you can see the weather. And weather abounds here in the Pacific Northwest. Take yesterday, for example. It started out overcast and damp, progressed to slightly sunny, and by mid-afternoon it was obvious that a storm was about to roll through. Here is the view at 3:15pm:

And again at 3:45 pm:

And again at about 6:30pm. The storm blew by in a couple hours, and bright sun shone from behind the mountains as it set in all its weather-laden glory:

It looks like we're in for similar weather today.

The state of the granny.

I have finished 20 of these little squares so far. I have 364 more squares to go to make the size of blanket that I hope to end up with. This is going to take a while.

The state of the sock.

I am really enjoying knitting my Sock Pal's sock. The Sea Wool is delightful to work with, the colorway is even prettier than I thought it was in skein form, and the pattern is turning out gorgeous. I was a little skeptical about the cuff that the pattern called for, as the picture in the book really doesn't do it justice. (I'm knitting the "Go with the Flow" pattern from "Favorite Socks".) But I love how it looks in person, the ladder lace cuff is really different and feminine, and looks great with the main pattern of the sock. I really hope my sock pal likes it. Here's where I'm at so far:

Posted by Danielle at 03:45 PM | | Comments (0)

Sockapalooza4 sock pal matches were posted today! I was very excited to get the information for my Sock Pal and to peek around her weblog. It seems the Fleece Artist Sea Wool that I picked up earlier this month is definitely in a colorway that meets her preferences, so off we go! I hope she likes the pattern I have picked out -- it is the "Go With the Flow" pattern by Evelyn Clark in the "Favorite Socks" book by Interweave. I think the subtle variations in the color of this yarn will look gorgeous with this lacy pattern. This yarn is a pleasure to work with too, very soft with a lovely sheen.

I am a veteran sock knitter, but this is my first time ever participating in Sockapalooza, or any knitting related swap whatsoever, and I'm really enjoying being a part of this. To add to the fun, my own secret sock pal sent me a very nice email tonight to say hello!

Posted by Danielle at 10:25 PM | | Comments (1)

I am very excited to have signed up for Sockapalooza 4 this year! I have wanted to join in the fun for the past few years but the timing wasn't right. I'm really looking forward to getting my sock pal assignment and figuring out what kind of yarn and pattern they will like!

On the topic of socks, I just discovered the new sock yarn by Fleece Artist called "Sea Wool" -- it is 70% merino and 30% seacell, and has a beautiful shine and feel. I picked up this skein at my LYS in a gorgeous brown and raspberry colorway:

Perhaps my sock pal will be looking for something like this? And if not, well, you don't have to ask me twice to go shopping for sock yarn...

Posted by Danielle at 04:29 PM | | Comments (0)

I didn't know if I was going to come back to this. Life is busy. It is for everyone. I don't delude myself into thinking that anyone reads this, but it was never really meant for anyone else. Just a place to record some of the things that I do that I don't get to talk about much in real life. Things that don't fit in journals full of ink and personal ramblings. So I've missed it from time to time, and wanted to check in. To leave a sign of life, even if it's just a personal reminder. Things outside of my control (and sometimes within it) have kept me from doing many of the things that I love lately. But in bits and pieces, I have been working on a few things...

There are a few more things, too. Things that I never managed to take pictures of, like a Shetland Triangle out of Lorna's Laces for an auction, and more than a few pairs of pants sewn for the little man. And there are things that I started but haven't finished yet, like this:

Bits and pieces; little things that help me to keep my sanity. Mostly to give away, some to keep, and all from the heart.

Posted by Danielle at 06:00 PM | | Comments (0)

I finally finished my son's fingerless mitts out of the handspun alpaca from this entry. They were actually a very quick knit -- probably two hours total from start to finish. But I finished one and neglected to finish the other until just recently. I guess there isn't much motivation when it's warm outside, but I know he'll be grateful for these come late fall. I had knit him some mittens last year, and he loved to wear them when his hands got cold but he didn't like not having his fingers free to pick up things or to clamber around on playground equipment. I think he'll like these much better.

I figured I'd include the pattern here in case anyone is interested in making child-sized fingerless mitts for their kiddos. So here goes:

SIZE: These children's fingerless mitts are quite stretchy and should fit most children between the ages of 5 and 9.

YARN:: The example shown uses 75 yards of handspun alpaca at 9 wraps per inch (wpi). Commercial yarn substitutes could be any aran weight yarn, such as Mission Falls 1824 Superwash or Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran.

GAUGE: 4.5 stitches per inch in stockinette stitch

NEEDLES: Size 6 DPNs or whatever size is needed to get gauge. (This pattern can be knit using two circular needles, however specific instructions are given only for DPNs.)

ABBREVIATIONS:

PM - Place Marker
SM - Slip Marker
M1R - Increase 1 by slipping needle into the bar between two stitches from back to front.
Knit into the front of the resulting stitch.
M1L - Increase 1 by slipping needle into the bar between two stitches from front to back.
Knit into the back of the resulting stitch.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1: Cast on 28 stitches. Divide stitches onto 4 DPN’s so that Needles 1, 2, and 3 all have 8 stitches, and Needle 4 has 4 stitches. This negates the need for a stitch marker to mark the beginning of a row. Every time the needle with four stitches is knit, a row is completed.

2: Join stitches for knitting in the round, taking care not to twist the stitches. Knit it K2, P2 ribbing for 2.75”.

3: Knit 1 row plain.

4: K7, PM, M1L, K2, M1R, PM, knit to end of row.

5: K 2 rows.

6: K7, SM, M1L, K4, M1R, SM, knit to end of row.

7: K 2 rows.

8: K7, SM, M1L, K6, M1R, SM, knit to end of row.

9: K2 rows

10: K7, SM, M1L, K8, M1R, SM, knit to end of row.

11: K7, remove marker, place 10 stitches between markers on yarn scrap or stitch holder, cast on 2 stitches over the gap, remove second marker, K to end of row.

12: K2 P2 ribbing for four more rows.

13: Loosely bind off in pattern.

THUMB:

Place 10 stitches on holder onto three DPNs as follows: 4 stitches on Needle 1, 4 stitches on Needle 2, and 2 stiches on Needle 3. Pick up two stitches from the top of the hole for the thumb and place these on the end of Needle 3. Join in round and knit K2, P2 rib for two rows. Bind off loosely in pattern. Weave in ends, and make second mitt same as the first. Find some little hands that need warming up.

Posted by Danielle at 01:19 PM | | Comments (0)

I must have yarn on the brain, because I seeing fiber-related things no matter where I go. Take, for instance, a recent trip to the grocery store. Glancing around the produce department, I find fruit, gently nestled in...

If you have never tried an Asian Pear, I highly recommend them. At $2.99 per pound, they are a bit of a splurge, but are so worth it as a treat every once in a while. They have a delightfully crisp texture with a light pear taste, and are so very refreshing on hot days. They are jam-packed with liquid, but aren't drippy-juicy like plums or peaches. It's like every single molecule of water that could possibly fit in there has been infused into the fruit and doesn't come out until you take a bite and chew.

But back to having yarn on the brain. I just had to give it a try to see if it would work, and sure enough it did:

A quick detour online tells me I'm not the only one who has had this idea...

The yarn is destined for this pattern from the Summer 2006 Knitty. I can't resist a pair of cute fingerless mitts.

Posted by Danielle at 08:01 PM | | Comments (0)

Click for right side.

Sometimes the inside looks so much more interesting than the outside. Regia Jubilee colorway 5471. One sock down, one to go...

Here's a preview of the latest fiber to come off the bobbins:

Finished two-ply pics and info to come at a later date...

Posted by Danielle at 06:45 AM | | Comments (2)

This was made with this handspun yarn. White Berrocco Plush was used as trim. The pattern is my own and needs a little tweaking where the hat decreases, but I'm pleased with how this turned out. I love the view from the top:

The handspun yarn made a squishy-soft fabric, and the Berrocco Plush is aptly named. So this should be super comfy and warm for the little person it's intended for. I have enough left to make one in a smaller newborn size, too. My cousin is having a baby girl this September; this hat is for her 2 year old daughter, and now the two girls can have matching hats for the winter.

Posted by Danielle at 06:03 PM | | Comments (0)

Pattern: Button, Button, from "Minnowknits, Too" by Jil Eaton
Size: 1 year
Yarn: Random handspun from 100% wool pre-dyed roving.
Gauge: 3.5st/inch
Needles: Size 11

Some modifications to the pattern had to be made to adjust for gauge. I also always make two specific modifications to this pattern as written: I do the three needle bind-off for the shoulders with the right sides facing so that the seam is on the inside of the sweater, and I knit the sleeves in the round after picking up stitches from the sides.

So far, no luck with finding the right buttons for this. If anyone knows of any good online sources for buttons that they could recommend, I'd really appreciate your input!

Posted by Danielle at 10:35 PM | | Comments (0)

Click for side view.

I finally finished this pair of socks that I've been working on since last summer. They were my "waiting for my son socks" that I'd work on while waiting to pick him up at his school or from the bus stop. The pattern was just a generic sock pattern that I've memorized and can do without thinking. 64 stitches around, picot cuff, heel flap with gusset, and short row toe (a la "Simple Socks" by Priscilla Gibson-Roberts).

The yarn is a cotton/wool/nylon blend by Meilenweit -- I think it was called "Cotton Fun" but I lost the label so I don't have the exact details or color number. They are super comfy, and wash up just right. They are the first pair of cotton-blend socks I've knit for myself (other cotton pairs have been given as gifts) and I think I'm going to have to make a few more pairs like this for me!

Posted by Danielle at 06:33 AM | | Comments (0)

This is a skein of yarn that I spun on my wheel last year. It was an experiment on my part, rooted in a desire to have some fun with color during a dreary Seattle winter. I had recently purchased a bag full of several different colors of pre-dyed commercial wool roving and a set of hand cards. I wanted to see what would happen if I carded random bits and pieces of the roving together and spun it with no apparent plan in mind. The resulting singles were two-plied and ended up as the chunky-weight yarn you see above. My plan for this yarn was to make a baby jacket using the Minnowknits "Button Button" pattern -- a standby favorite of mine for babies and toddlers. I was all set to start knitting for a certain newborn when another pattern caught my eye and I decided to save this yarn for another day.

After a recent stash dive I rediscovered the yarn and could not stop thinking about it. I had to see what this stuff looked like knitted up. With only 230 yards total I decided to stick with the original plan, and cast on for Button Button.

This is where the pleasant surprise came in. Stripes!

Click for closeup of fabric.

I certainly hadn't expected stripes, but I like them...

Posted by Danielle at 06:50 AM | | Comments (0)

Pattern: Knitted Lace Wedding Garter by Diane Willett
Yarn: Misti Alpaca Lace, color RJ-2004 (red).

My future sister-in-law’s wedding shower was a couple weekends ago, and she seemed very tickled with her red garter, which was made by request to coordinate with the trim on her dress.

The alpaca laceweight was a lot less stretchy than the merino/silk blend that I’ve used for this pattern in the past. It made the resulting garter a little less wide (as knitted) which I liked, but the smaller size paired with the fuzziness of the alpaca made for some serious difficulties when threading the elastic and ribbon through the center eyelets. I was scared stiff that all of the pulling and tugging would have caused the yarn around the eyelets to snap at some point, but fortunately that particular disaster didn’t happen.

The wedding is this weekend. I don't know if she plans to throw it, but I'm hoping if she does that the man that catches it will be willing to give it back to her as a keepsake. Assuming that she wants to keep it, of course...

Posted by Danielle at 10:09 PM | | Comments (0)

The last time I made one of these, I made it in white:

My future sister-in-law has chosen a very modern and quite fetching wedding gown. It is white, with a red ribbon lacing up the back corset-style. It looks something like this but I don't know if that is the exact gown.

She asked for a red garter with white ribbon, and I was more than happy to comply! Misti Alpaca laceweight yarn in bright, true red made for fun knitting and a soft, fuzzy twist on tradition.

The pattern is the "Knitted Lace Wedding Garter" by Diane Willett and can be found here.

It has been soaked and stretched and starched, and is now awaiting the finishing touches. A red backing needs to be hand sewn on, the ends grafted together, and the ribbon and elastic woven through the eyelets. Believe it or not, it was this last step that gave me a huge headache the last time I made one of these. The pattern instructions say to weave the ribbon through the eyelets and then to insert the elastic between the lace and the backing. However I found that when this was done, the elastic would gather up the lace nicely but would NOT gather the ribbon. This resulted in the ribbon poking way outside the eyelets, looking just like that ribbon hard candy that you can find at Christmas time. Not being very good at sewing, I was in a tizzy at the thought of having to hand sew the ribbon down somehow. Then my Dad's wife came up with the great idea of actually sewing the ribbon and elastic together and weaving both through the eyelets as one piece. It gathers the ribbon in a very feminine manner, and looks fantastic stretched or at rest.

I am waiting for my stepmother to sew up a couple lengths of ribbon and elastic on her machine and will post a picture of the finished garter once it's ready to be wrapped for the wedding shower.

Posted by Danielle at 09:47 PM | | Comments (0)

I do so love knitting for babies. Here's a wee ensemble that I finished back in February and sent to some good friends for their new baby girl:

Cardigan Pattern: "Plain Jane" by Minnowknits

Hat Pattern: "Candy Cane Hat" by Penney Kolb from Holiday Handknits

Yarn: Schoeller+Stahl Portofino, colors 4774 and 4708

Buttons: LYS

I knit this in the 1-year size (to hopefully fit her in the fall) and needed two balls of each color to finish both the cardigan and the hat.

Most of my baby knits also go out with this CD, which I cannot say enough good things about. Fun, soothing music that parents enjoy listening to as much as children do.

Posted by Danielle at 10:28 PM | | Comments (0)

My first finished object of 2006! Here are the details:

Pattern: Minnowknits Orangini

Yarn: Blue Sky Organic Cotton, colors 80 and 83.

Buttons: Purchased from my LYS.

I cast on the number of stitches specified for the smallest size using size 5 bamboo needles. My gauge was a little off (the pattern is written for Manos Cotton Stria) but it worked out well because the resulting width of each piece measured out to the next size up. So I just knit the length of the pieces to match that specified for the larger size. I used one skein of each color and had enough left to make matching bootees using the "chunky ankle-strap shoes" pattern from Zoe Mellor's 50 Baby Bootees to Knit.

I chose this sleeveless pattern because the recipient will live in Los Angeles, and I figured a warmer wool or cotton sweater with sleeves probably wouldn't get much use. This is a fun, quick pattern to knit and the jumper is quite versatile – it can be worn alone over a diaper, or layered over a t-shirt and leggings for those air-conditioned spaces. I'm really happy with how this one turned out. I don’t normally enjoy knitting with cotton, but this yarn was actually quite nice to work with. The Blue Sky cotton is sooooo soft, and I loved the fact that it was organic and a natural undyed color.

The baby this was knit for has not actually been born yet, but she's due any day now. I'm so excited for the parents, this will be their first baby and they are in for a great adventure! The ensemble above will ship as soon as the wee one arrives, along with this CD, which I love.

Posted by Danielle at 07:48 PM | | Comments (1)

One of the reasons I wanted to start a weblog is because I knit and spin, and few of my friends or family members share my interest in these activities. So for the past year or so I’ve found myself reading all of the great knitting weblogs out there for inspiration and ideas, to learn new techniques, and to enjoy (albeit passively) the camaraderie in this online community. Perhaps in this manner I’ll be able to become a more active participant.

So I thought I’d start the new year by sharing some of my current projects. (I tend to keep several projects on the needles at any given time.)

Clockwise, starting from upper-left, these are:

-- Two socks-in-progress. The green one is Fleece Artist (I think the colorway is called "rainforest) and the striped one is Austermann Step in color 06

-- Fiber Trends "Braid and Bobble" hat in Lamb's Pride Worsted

-- Minnowknits "Orangini" jumper in Blue Sky Organic cotton

-- Minnowknits "Plain Jane" cardigan in Schoeller & Stahl Portofino

-- Stripey Bootee from "50 Baby Bootees to Knit" in Rowan Cashsoft DK

-- Double Crossing Diamonds Aran Pullover from "Men in Knits" in Cotton Fleece

As you might be able to tell from three of these, a few of my friends are having babies in 2006. And I just love to knit for babies. I'll provide more details on the individual projects as they are finished, and hope to have several more to share over time as well.

Happy New Year!

Posted by Danielle at 01:22 PM | | Comments (0)