Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Frog

Had to frog my sleeves back to row 6. Didn't read the directions for the increase rows, was supposed to add a stitch and the beginning and end of the row AND before and after the markers. Doh. Oh well it won't take me too long to get back up to the 20's.

Started my first lace project. I'm confused by the direction make "7 into 5" and the instructions on the pattern made no sense so I put it down for the night. Maybe I will try again tonight. I knit the first 18 rows and so far it looks very nice. I have not dropped any stitches and the pattern looks right. Dang the Misti Alpaca is super fine, this is my first time working with lace weight. It's also the first time in a while that I have used standard straight needles. Most everything has been circular or dp lately.

Tuesday, April 25, 2006

Rogue Week 12

The body of the sweater is complete. I folded up the hem and stitched it down last night and secured all the loose threads. I tried it on and it fits. I think it's a bit on the snug side but I was told it looked good. The hood looks great. Now to finish the arms.

I'm knitting both at the same time so I hope it won't take me too long. I think it will be ready for Fall. ::sigh::

I picked up the pattern for the lace scarf that I am going to make for mom out of the Misti Alpaca. I also purchased the size 0 round and dp needles for the baby sweaters. I'm seriously pondering purchasing more Baby Ull for the colorful ladybug sweater. It is so cute. One project at a time....

Monday, April 24, 2006

Successful Foraging

Saturday knitknot and I went to Yarnzilla and enabled each other. Success was found in the form of approximately a dozen Dale of Norway Baby Ull yarn. I have 2 colors of blue and a bunch of cream. Unfortunately I don't have time to play with it yet....Damn Crown. Someone tell me to sit on my hands the next time people are asking for a cook.

I was very tempted with the Rowan sale, still pondering purchasing the yarn from the website, along with some Dale of Norway Stork. I want to make the cover sweater in my Dale baby book. They had a sample of the sweater at the store. Tres cute! I purchased 2 skeins of Misti Alpaca in a lovely lilac to make a wrap for my mom. She loves the color and I hope I can get some of it started before I see her this weekend. My sister and I are celebrating her birthday (about a week early) this weekend. Maybe I can convince my sister to let me knit for her.

After the fiber binge we went for Dim Sum at Bui's Asian Cuisine, 422 W University Ave, St. Paul, MN 55103 (651) 222-1333. They have wonderful Dim Sum Friday, Saturday and Sunday and I am always pleased when I eat there. After stuffing ourselves on dumplings we headed to knitknots house and ground 56 lbs of pork and finished the process by stuffing the ground meat into casings on Sunday. 18 dozen bratwurst, with a little left over for grilling Sunday night. Yummy! Now I am exhausted and not really interested in work today. Would rather be knitting or sewing. Finished the hem on my linen twill, lots left to do before I can wear it.

Wednesday, April 19, 2006

The Fold

Next time I'm in IL I want to go to this shop.
Just leaving myself a little note.

This week is a handsewing week. I have half the seams on my new cote finished and the sleeves done, along with most of the buttons. If all goes as planned I will have a new dress in time for Crown, that I can wear in the kitchen all day. Seems like a waste of good linen twill, oh well.

Monday, April 17, 2006

Cheating

Yup, I was cheating and worked on Rogue this weekend. Well I worked on it when I was not cooking/ baking for crown feast. Finished all the shortbread and pie crusts, now to fill them and make the pear tarts. I think they are going to be a bit mushy when I freeze them, but I don't think that will hurt. So, yeah I finished the hood....oh look flowers!



Friday, April 14, 2006

Knitted dress

DONE! and on it's way to the new parents along with a bonnet completed by Knitknot.




The first picture reads a bit more pink than the actual yarn, which is lavender. I used Idena Bambino Bomull, color #187. This stuff is increadibly soft, such a treat to work with. The pattern is from the Sidar Snuggly Baby Book that I've had for a number of years and cannot seem to locate online. The gauge didn't quite work with the Idena cotton, so I had to scale down a bit. I'm very pleased with how it turned out.

Now to resume Rogue knitting on Monday, there will be pictures!

Thursday, April 13, 2006

Very mean

I just realized that I have been mentioning the baby dress that I am making for the last week, but I have failed to post any pictures. I just started the sleeves last night so it should be done tonight and I will post then, when everything is finished and steamed.

Those who were at the meeting last night got to see it up close and personal. There was obligatory oohs and awws and squeals of delight. Excellent. Hopefully the parents like it, and it actually fits. ::fingers crossed::

Wednesday, April 12, 2006

SPRING!!!!!!!!

Cleaned out the dead stuff from the garden yesterday. Found all sorts of green things growing and many blooms. So pretty!



I had lots of help from both kitties who were interested in what I was doing.



As you can see Lenny was working hard.

The knitted dress is coming along nicely. I finised the bottom edge, the neck edge and the back opening and cast on for the sleeves. I should be able to have everything done for it's trip to Fargo on Friday. I do need to find cute little buttons for the back though....

Tuesday, April 11, 2006

Rogue Monday week 10

There is NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO week 10.

Well we got together, but it was baby cotton goodness instead of Rogue. I finished the skirt and front and back of the little dress. Now I need to sew things together, weave in ends, crochet around the neck edge and do whatever I need to to make the back close and sew on buttons. Once that is done I get to start on the sleeves. My hope is to have everything complete, washed, blocked and CUTE by Friday morning so knitknot can take it with her to Fargo. Once the baby dress is done I will probably do a few more rows of Rogue so I can get that off my plate before summer.

I have lots of blooming bulbs in my front garden and since it is such a lovely day I think it is time to get on the silly floppy garden hat and clean up the beds a bit.

Monday, April 10, 2006

Not a knitting post

Just a couple pictures from Coronation.


The top photo is me at morning court in my 15th c. German Frau garb and my "alien Queen" head piece. I'm looking very stunned because I just received a Saltire from Aesa and Raito.



I like this photo, mostly because HG is hiding me. ;^) We performed a 16th c. Persian dance at Feast during the first remove. I heard good things about it and I felt we did very well.

Good weekend.

Friday, April 07, 2006

Online shopping

I purchased the Dale of Norway Soft Treasures for Little Ones book yesterday. Found it on Woodland Woolworks. I wanted to try to find a place where I could purchase the Baby Ull yarn and the book in the same place, preferably local. Why didn't I just call Yarnzilla? 5$ flat rate shipping and they have Dale of Norway Baby Ull for $.10 cheaper than any other site I have visited so far. Plus the fact that they are located in MN, granted they are at the other end of the city from me, but I have a car. AND they have the book I need too (sure it's $3 more, but come on!) Grrrrrrr

Repeat after me: always check your local stores...you have really great local stores...

Yarnzilla has a blog and I was snooping through it and found a picture of ME when they had their big yarn sale back in November. I'm pretty sure that the dishevelled blond on the right in the top picture is me. Considering that I spent a great deal of time combing through the Cascade 220 bins, I think it's a good bet. (that and I'm head and shoulders taller than the rest in the store) If you look close enough you can see that I have a whole armload of the Quattro that I'm using for Rogue.

I've been inspired by yarnharlot to try my hand at fairisle baby sweaters. I obviously learned nothing from reading her blog on the experience. LOL! My apprentice is having her first baby in December (fingers crossed for Dec 18th!) and I want to make something special. I'm sure it will be the first of many special things that are made. I'm the honorary aunt/ un-godmother so I need to knit! I'm not making the same pattern. I'm going to wait until my book arrives and make my decision then. I am seriously leaning towards the Fana cardigan and cap. I'll ask my knitting consultant and see if this is within my means.

Already started a lilac cotton dress for my friends who had their first baby a week ago. It will have matching socks and bonnet. Very girly. I started Thursday and the skirt is already 2 inches long. I plan to knit a bunch in the car this weekend on the way to and from Madison. It's supposed to be knit in pieces and then sewn together, which I detest, so I'm knitting it in the round. I may have to work the front and back independently once I get to the armholes, but I have a way to go before that.

Tuesday, April 04, 2006

Rogue Monday week 9

Ok, back on track.

Didn't get a lot knitted, was busy re-checking my shoulder seam, and yep I was right the left shoulder was a couple rows shorter than the right, which is why it was pulling forward. Took out the seam, frogged it down before the shoulder shaping and added a couple rows, did the shaping and re-sewed. Looks MUCHO better. Molto Bene!

I got 26 rows of hood knitted so I'm well on my way. Pictures later. The cables look really nice. Soon I can begin the sleeves. I may have this done by June. Then I can block it, carefully fold it and wait for Autumn. ::sigh::

I'm thinking the East Side fiber enabelers will have to meet at my house in May since the current place will be a work zone that month.

Monday, April 03, 2006

Its a GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!

My friends in ND just had their first baby on Friday. Victoria Pauline. How lovely. Now I get to knit cute girl baby things!!! I wonder if Rogue Monday will be delayed for a couple of weeks while we go BABY SOCK WILD!!!!!!!!!

I already have yarn set aside so i think I will cast on something this week, and browse through some free patterns on knitty.com

Anyone who has tried and true patterns that they love, please send them my way.

Found a couple pictures

Ok I found a couple pictures from a demo I did back at the end of July 2005.




I think it was 105 F that weekend. We set up Saturday afternoon and the dew never fell that night. Just beastly. Anyhow, that's me cooking flat bread over the fire in the green dress. Yes, I know, CRAZY! And that's my tent set up on a stoopid slope cause that was the best we could find and still have shade.

The text is in Latin and is a rough approximation of "get off my lawn".