Knit Quest

Almost Time

I’m supposed to be doing Favorite Thing Friday, but I’m not. I’m packing.

Tomorrow at o’dark thirty in the morning I’m getting on the Clipper with my buds and heading for Victoria. After that it’s on to a week of fun and knitting with more awesome knitters at sock camp.

I’d love to tell you about the second round of box bags I made, and I’d love to do an FO post for my Urban Aran (finished today!!) but as I said I’m still packing.

Some of you I’ll see in a few days!! The rest of you I’ll miss and I promise I’ll take lots of pictures and tell you all about it when I get back.

Have a great week! I know I will.

How $37 Can Save My Marriage

When I need pictures of a knit item with a model I have limited options. I can take a picture of myself in the mirror, doable but all the pictures look the same. I can stretch my body in to shapes usually only seen at Cirque du Soleil. Not my first choice and my neighbors already think I’m crazy, no need to confirm it. Or I can ask my husband to help me.

While my hubby rocks in so many ways, photography is not one of his talents. There is stuff in the background, glare, or my hair is sticking up and he doesn’t say anything.  He either snaps me and half the neighborhood, or cuts something off. He points, shoots and figures I can edit and crop my way to a good shot. But I’m asking for his help and I should accept it and be thankful.

Well that’s what I try to do, but I’m not always as tactful and appreciative as I could be. I may have said things like “Seriously, How could you not see that the shawl isn’t centered!” or “Oh My God! The dogs butt is in the shot! No dog butts!” or even “I really wish you were a girl so I could take your picture instead.”

After the last photo shoot for Shawl That Jazz we’d both had enough frustration. A few minutes on Ebay (this is what I got) and the solution was on it’s way. My new dress form. Isn’t she pretty?

Photos and marital bliss. Good stuff. All she needs is a good name.

I’m going to go finish my Urban Aran just so I can take a picture.

Sew Sweet

I’ve been meaning to try my hand at these adorable bags ever since my my made me a tiny one for Christmas. Glitter Queen decided she needed a new bag this morning, so I agreed we’d try sewing her one. It must be the full moon or something.

Hers is made from leftover fabric from her quilt and as you can see it’s already in use. Glitter lip smacker and dragons, very her.

I tried making mine with a thrifted, felted sweater. I like the result (especially the cables) but getting the zipper in without stretching the fabric was quite a bit more difficult then the fabric version.

Mine is holding my new purse project, a basic sock knit in Schaefer Yarn Lola, Cherries Jubilee.

Favorite Thing Friday: Oriental Salad

I’m supposed to be running out the door to a friends for Friday night cards and potluck, and as usual the day has gotten away from me.

I’d planed to show you all my favorite colors today (double duty for camp homework), but instead I’m sharing my go to salad for potlucks, get togethers and such. Everyone seems to like it, I can have it made in under 10 minutes, and best of all I love it. That way even if I don’t like anything else there I’m happy and full.

Oriental Salad

Dry Ingredients:

1 Packages Ramon Noodles-Beef Flavor (crush noodles into small pieces)

1 Package Cole Slaw-1 pound size

3/4 cup slivered almonds

3/4 cup sunflower seeds

3/4 cup green onions

Mix the above except for the flavor packet from the Ramon Noodles. Set aside.

Wet Ingredients:

¾ cup veg. oil

1/3 cup cider vinegar

½ cup sugar

flavor packet from the Ramon Noodles

Mix the wet ingredients together. I put them in a tupperware and shake.

Right before serving, pour wet ingredients on dry ingredients and mix well.

As a bonus little helpers love to smash the noodles. Is she cute or what?

Can you see the goo on her face? We made chocolate chips cookies too.

(sorry about the red eye, I can’t fix it in 10 minutes)

Shawl That Jazz

The teasing is over! Shawl that Jazz is ready to be seen and knit.

Look how happy I am.

Casual, comfortable, and chic! This shawl uses a unique construction to create a rounded edge with ruffle border. No picking up stitches for the border, no holes down the middle, and no arrow straight to your tush! You get a great looking shawl with plenty of width to wrap around yourself and not so much length that it gets in the way. Perfect with jeans, or dress it up if that’s more your style.

Fling the ends over your shoulders, tie them in front or the back, or just let them hang, however you choose to wear it the slight curve at the top helps it stay on comfortably.

Yarn :1140 yards Koigu Kersti (10 balls)

Needles : US size 8 needles for body, US size 10 to cast off

Gauge: 4 sts and 7 rows per inch in garter stitch

Size: 67” wide at top border by 28.5” center back

The pattern is available for $5 US. I hope you like it as much as I do.

Three for Three

My goal for the year was at least one pair of socks per month. Check off March!

I give you Twinkle Toes! Guess what I’m wearing for St. Patrick’s day?

Details: Plucky Knitter Sport Weight, color Bainbridge, on US size 4. Knit toe up with a short row, no wrap heel. Plenty of yarn left.

I wasn’t sure if I’d like the thicker yarn or that much texture and lace on top of my foot. Turns out I like it fine. I don’t really notice the difference on my feet, they seem to fit in my shoes just fine, and best of all they knit up super fast. Only 10 days a strictly a purse project!

I see more sport weight socks in my future. I may have even ordered some Schaeffer Yarn Lola in Cherrries Jubilee.

Favorite Thing Friday: Victoria BC

One of the things I love most about Seattle is how close it is to so many other places I love, like Victoria BC. I love to walk around downtown and people watch, as well as shop. There are so many great restaurants it’s hard to choose. And there’s an Italian cafe 3 or 4 blocks from the Empress that makes the best lattes I’ve ever had in my life.

Why am I all excited about Victoria today? MisKnits, CaroleNJ, and I are taking a quick trip there before sock camp.

We will be traveling in style on the clipper. Scenery, comfort, knitting time, and less than 3 hours from Seattle to Victoria. The only downside is we have to be at the dock to board by 7am . This being Seattle I’m sure they’ll have coffee.

Overnight at the fabulous Empress and we’re even having tea on Sunday before jumping on the clipper for the return trip. How can you beat that?

I can’t wait to visit the Beehive Wool shop again. I still haven’t knit all of my haul from the last trip, but who can resist a room full of Fleece Artist. Not me!

Only two weeks until the fun starts! Now all we have to do if figure out how to fit all that fun into 2 days.

I Did It!

About an hour ago I dropped this package in the mail to Interweave Knits. I know my chances are only slightly better than winning the lottery, but no matter what happens I feel pretty good about it just having done it.

I’m taking a happy dance and pat myself on the back break for at least 15 minutes before moving on to my camp homework.

Nothing to See Here

My fingers are flying, but I have nothing to show for it. Actually I have quite a bit of knitted fabric and even some FOs, but I can’t show them to you yet. I may not be able to flaunt my fiber experiments, but I figured I could show you where I’ve been spending all my time the last couple weeks.

 

If you haven’t found me after checking my office and the kitchen, I’m probably sitting here. At night this is Hubby’s domain, but during the day it’s my knitting nest.  I keep my projects in bags with handles so I can throw one over the arm of the chair and knit with the yarn inside. It keeps my projects together, the yarn clean and tidy, makes it easy to pick up or move around, and last and most importantly keeps the dogs out of it. The lamp is an Ott-Lite and moves around the living room with me. Other key items are my favorite mug with a fresh cup of tea, a box of kleenx (I’ve got another stupid cold), my notebook, and my Ipod (today I’m listening to Sam lives in the PNW and spends her days knitting, writing, designing, and trying to keep up with her family and friends. You can read more about her adventures on her blog or Plurk, and reach her at sam@limenviolet.com.' target=_blank>Urban Shaman).

 

It’s important to have a little companionship and extra warmth near by. Jubilee is getting so used to having the fireplace on, she will sit in front of it and cry when I turn it off.

 

Once Hubby and the kids get home I can retreat upstairs to my room for a cozy quite knitting spot as well. This doesn’t happen often, but it’s good to be prepared.  Notice the similarities, comfy chair, good lighting, a project bag, a table close by and more tissue. No fireplace so I  keep my shawl handy. This spot has the added benefit of a nice view..

lots of sunshine, and being near my TV. My Hubby is crazy anal about recorded programs and keeping up to date on the TIVO. He was driving me nuts. So now I have my own recorder on our bedroom TV. That way I can record whatever I like and watch it when I’m ready. Speaking of TV did anyone watch Castle last night? I love Nathan Fillion and so far the show looks really promising.

I’ll leave you with a close up sneak peak of what I’ve been knitting. I can’t help myself. I must include a knitting shot.

Saturday Again?

First off, sorry I spaced Favorite Thing Friday yesterday. The kids had the day off school and I pretty much thought it was Saturday all day. When I had a moment to think that is.

I’ve also been super distracted with a project. Thanks to the encouragement of a good friend (you rock Julie), I’m going to try submitting some of my designs for publication. My obsessive and perfectionist tendencies are in full force and between that, all my nagging self doubt, and the fact that the deadline is in about a week, I didn’t even make it out of my pj’s today. I swatched, sketched, swatched again, measured, calculated, and then swatched some more. I’m pretty happy with the end result and if I’m super lucky maybe you’ll see the finished article somewhere cool.

In other news, I transferred my garter craving to miles of stockinette. Check this out.

Four balls of Kauni, destined for a crochet edge and the washing machine, before becoming a cozy wrap. Well that’s the plan anyway. And before anyone freaks out, no I did not knit it all by hand. I used my machine.

I did finish the miles of garter project, but I can’t show you that yet either. I totally suck today, so sorry. But you know what finishing means. Socks!

 

I give you Plucky Toes! Good golly are these fast socks. The progress you see is from one doctors visit, a couple minutes waiting at the bus stop, and a game of Canasta. It’s a good thing too.

I really need some new socks. I took my foot out of my shoe Tuesday night to discover my sock had become a bit drafty. That is so not fixable. Looks like I need to add a new pair of Monkeys to my queue.

Don’t forget to set your clocks forward tonight.