Knit-Nerd-Rant

As an obligation for all bloggers, it would seem, it's time to apologize for going so long without an update. This one takes the cake, however. 3 years is an awfully long time to leave folks hanging! In my defense, beyond a demanding work schedule, there's been a lot going on. In summary: Boyfriend became very sick in about 2015 and that took over both of our lives 2016 my mother died from an aggressive stomach cancer Broke up with boyfriend because I couldn't sustain that relationship with so little support Started dating again and met an amazing man who is fabulously supportive Bought a house out in the burbs with said amazing man Got married to this amazing man to be referred to here now as the husband And in slightly less life-altering news, got my first commission knitting job So, it's safe to say that there's been a lot going on that has distracted me from my little crafting and nerding out blog. Life is still plenty stressful with working an ...

I promise that I am not dead! The first part of this year has flown by in a whirlwind of traveling, hiking, seeing friends, working too much, and generally being a wee bit over scheduled. This cowl is NOT an easy pattern, it has some tricks to it, but I am so happy with the result. I found some yummy merino wool from Mountain Meadows which really inspired me, mostly because it is so lovely and soft that I wanted to make it into something that would be near my face. The Oyster stitch I found from 101 Stitches to Knit (Erika Knight, ed), but it was clearly written for something being worked flat. But with some adjustments, I was able to figure out how to translate it into something that can be worked in the round. There is a set pattern for the rows and a small trick to adjust the steps where the oyster is split across the stitch marker. Basically, you'll knit the last 2 stitches of the previous row, transfer those 2  stitches back to the left needle, then work them into the oyster a...

So my nearly-mother-in-law has been volunteering at the neonatal ICU at her local hospital and put out a request for baby blankets for the tiny ones that need help staying warm. So I went over to the local big giant box store in town (because fancy yarn shops are not willing to stoop to selling Red Heart Super Saver and other washing machine friendly acrylics) and stocked up. I wanted to be able to churn out some blankets quickly, and so this is the first of some unknown number of simple blankets that don't really have a wrong side.  I feel like it saves time to know that both sides are right sides, because we all know that nurses have nothing but free time... This has basically a frame of seed stitch and rows of alternating directions of stockinette in the contrasting colors. Here's the first one: Supplies: Size 10.5 circular knitting needles (not a short circular, but doesn't need to be enormously long) Red Heart Super Saver in any 2 contrasting colors you l...

So the belly dance has continued apace, and thanks to the recent discovery (via random Pinterest link) of a great tutorial on creating cabaret belly dance tops , I've finally gotten up the courage to create my own.  While I"m not ready for performances, I'm hoping that by the time I do get there, I'll have an awesome costume ready to go. This one features some really fun purple lame fabric found at a recent blow out sale form Bits of Thread, and the beads so far are from previous projects. I'm really excited about it! Was talking with my mother earlier and she noted that when my dad started back into his old cycling habit, he warned her that he would be enthusiastic/obsessive, and that didn't end up getting anywhere hear close to describing reality. So at least I know where I get it from! I'm also working on some simple baby blankets for the newborn ICU where the soon-to-bee mother-in-law volunteers.  So there's a lot of crafting going on up in h...

I've been working on trying to finish up some projects (so as not to leave so many things unfinished when the calendar turned) and found my favorite, trusty size 6 circular needle! It's one of my favorite needles and one of the earliest that I ever bought, and has been my most reliable and versatile thing in my knitting arsenal. It's part of the reason why I had been so excited to find the interchangeable set that I did, and now it's back!  It was hiding in with my scrap yarn for my beekeeper's quilt that I haven't had time for in a while. Now my circulars tree is back to full strength (particularly now that I finished my first set of 2-at-a-time socks and can put both 4s back). I hope your new year is off to such a great start.

It's been a while since I posted because I kept intending that the next post would be the pattern for this new sweater... and things got in the way.  I designed it on the needles, as I often seem to do, and just haven't sat down and reverse-engineered it.  It's a super big and floppy neckline, which is just oh-so-cozy. It's a bit theatrical, and perhaps not for the faint of heart. Here goes! The yarn suggestion is a  little tricky.  I rescued some super scrumptious tan lambswool from a Gap sweater that I found at a rummage sale that was just an atrocious pattern (turtle neck sweater with ribbing from the neck to the shoulders, then stockinette, also known as turns fashion model figures into potatoes). It's a chunky yarn - thicker than worsted weight, but probably not a full "bulky" weight. Needle suggestions - I did this all on a pair of straight 10.5s, though, if you have a circular of the same gauge, I would suggest that for the neck. Unless yo...

I'm happy to share a new pattern, it's pretty basic, and it's my first ever pair of toe-up socks. I've made them specifically for my boyfriend, making the pattern up as I went to fit his feet - haute couture socks :-) These instructions are the way that I think of them, so, as someone discovering toe-up and short-row heels, experts should feel free to skip some of the details. For yarn, I used yarn that I salvaged from an old sweater that had run into the end of its life. Lots and lots of yarn from that puppy! But I liked the color, figured lots of it still had good life left in it. It's green! (It's also cheap) I also was eager to take advantage of some techniques in my new copy of Stitch 'n Bitch: Superstar Knitting   (a Christmas present to myself). So, that's a good place to look up any details of techniques described in this pattern. Gear up: (I used the following for this project) 5 double-pointed needles, US size 4 1 stitch h...

A while ago, a woman from my church community gave me a large bag full of knitting odds and ends, since she was no longer able to do it herself.  I had recently started a monthly "Fibre Party", basically a nicer name for a Stitch-n-Bitch group, at the church and this woman decided that I would be able to give these odds ands a happy home. When I opened it up, there were some amazingly kitschy acrylic yarns, a couple random darning needles, a set of very long, straight size 8 needles, and a whole bunch of old patterns.  The patterns are AMAZING. Between the fantastically cheesy (see the photo above) to the fantastically hideous Christmas stockings, it was a real treasure trove.  There were 2 thick books of sweater patterns for men and family full of Scandinavian fair-isle patterns from the mid-1940s, some children's sweater patterns from the 1970s, 1970s christmas patterns and random mimeographed versions, and a couple more odds and ends. Particularly the forced poses...