Sunday, March 16, 2008

I've been busy, very busy! Blogging has taken a hind seat.

Very few people read my blog, so it doesn't matter.

By next Saturday I'll be at home for at least 6 weeks.

I can't wait!!

After mid-May, I might find time to update my blog.

We'll see.

Another picture heavy post but we all like lookin' at pictures, right? ;)

These are yarn sample cards I got from Jacob's. Thanks to this great gal, who introduced me to this yarn shop, I'll be in 7th heaven. I just placed my first order so we'll see how long the yarn takes to reach me.

In the meantime, I've been playing around with knee length socks. I've never owned handknit knee socks and I had this 2-ply wool floating around for ages so I'm giving it a go. One down, one to go. That one sock took me a week! The pattern is the Latvian sock from Nancy Bush's Folk Socks.

I finished the Hemlock Ring! It's not that large, only 45" in diameter, but will be perfect for my new granddaughter.

This is the last fiber I got from the Yarn Yard Fiber Club. It's merino/tencel and loaded with sheen. It glitters & sparkles all over the place. Really pretty!

From the 100 grams, I got 3 small skeins of 3-ply, 254 yds.

I have no idea what I'll do with it other than stroke it a lot! ;)

I've been tagged by Vicki with the 7 Random facts meme!

So, here goes >>>

These are the rules:

-Link to the person’s blog who tagged you.

-Post these rules on your blog. List seven random and/or weird facts about yourself.

Tag seven random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.

-Let each person know that they have been tagged by posting a comment on their blog.

My 7 random facts:

1. I'm very comfortable with my own company

2. I refuse to watch sci-fi or fantasy movies. They're just a waste of time.

3. I suffer from Raynaud's Syndrome

4. I could easily become a vegetarian if I could eat chicken & fish

5. I don't have an athletic bone in my body. Ha!

6. I've been overweight since I was very young. *See No.5*

7. Dah... too early in the morning to think of something else... later gator.

I won't tag anyone so no pressure there. But if you want to list random facts about yourself, that would be kool. ;)

Love contests? Love to give from the heart?

Goooooooooooo>>> http://www.freewebs.com/peach-blossom-knits/charityknitchallenge.htm

Saturday, January 19, 2008

Pictures speak louder than words so this post is more of the former. ;)

Hemlock Ring blanket. After Row 46. (true colour of yarn shown here)

... After row 62.

I desperately needed a new pair.
These knit from 3 strands of leftover sock yarn.

These also knit from 3 strands of leftover sock yarn with cute pom poms for a 5 yr old sweetie.

A highly modified version of Mr Greenjeans cardi from Knitty.

Instead of YOs for raglan increases, I used M1.

I totally changed the cable pattern and lengthened the cardi to cover my butt -- total length 28".

The buttonband was knit seperately and sewn in place as I went along. It's a good way to control the spacing of the buttonholes.

The buttons were a bargain find and really don't do justice to the cardi but all in all, I'm satisfied.

This fibre from the Yarn Yard fiber club was in my mailbox yesterday.

It's a merino/tencel blend .... dreamy soft!

Included in the fiber package was a sample of pure white. I spun & navajo plied it. I love the result! It's very soft and will have wonderful drape when knitted up.

A NEW ARRIVAL IN OUR FAMILY.....

My granddaughter

Cailey Brianne

Born January 14, 2008

Very happy Mom & baby

Thursday, January 3, 2008

Just a quickie post and a few pics.....

I finished the Tidal Wave socks. They're soft & squooshy, and they fit!

I've also finished this T.

It'll be a great cotton summer top for slouching around.

It's a bit big but I like baggy when I'm just lazing the day away.

I knit this Mr Greenjeans cardi in 5 days! I wore it before it was blocked too cuz I love it!

OTN -- still the Minimalist cardi (had to frog & redo the right front),
still need to finish my Fensterl sock, and just cast on some clock socks that I'm kind of designing as I'm going. They're lookin' good! ;o)

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

A while ago I knit this scarf & hat up from some handspun, hand dyed wool. I was going to keep them for me but .....

... this little gal liked them so much that I gifted them to her. Now she's a cute little happy camper. :)

These socks were a breeze to knit!

Size 4.5 teeny feet, straight stockinette stitch.
Handspun yarn -- 2- ply: shades of pink superwash merino/ brown wool

I'm still working on the mate to this one.

Tidal Wave socks -- free web pattern from SWTC

Lisa Souza Sock! colorway Lime & Violet

Monday, Dec. 17, 2007

UPDATE OF WIPS:

(mostly for my own benefit since I get sidetracked too easily)

I got these awesome fibery goodies from this super duper overly generous gal.

She spoiled me beyond my wildest dreams!

The smaller bag of fiber is 4 oz. of Suri Alpaca and the larger bag is 4 oz. of Llama. I've been spinning the llama and loving every minute! It's soooooooo soft!! I'm aiming for a sport weight that I can knit up with some alpaca for a cardigan. Which cardigan? I'm not sure yet but have a few in mind.

Here's my progress on the Minimalist cardi -- pattern from IK Fall 2007. Finished the back and working on the right front. Even though the picture looks pinkish, the colour is actually very red.

After I frogged the Bayerische, I started these Austrian Diamonds with the apricot Palette. It's going a lot better this time, thank goodness!

This will be ...... another project I just had to start. What kind of knitter would I be if I didn't have at least 4 wips, hah!


My Fensterl sock. I still haven't knit the mate so this is my 4th wip.
If anyone is interested in these socks, the pattern is available FREE by sending an email to me: electra_nina at yahoo dot com :)

Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2007

Recent activities.......

Yesterday I made 5 Calzone. We had them for lunch. They were very large, so large, in fact, that after eating one, I was stuffed! As you see, there is only one left on the plate which means that the boss ate 3. You think he liked them? ;o)

On the knitting front........

I finished these socks for my son. They wer supposed to be in the Christmas parcel I sent to him in Canada but, they weren't finished on time to mail. I'll send them later or take them with me when I go home in the spring.

Remember this sock? I knit this one up in Feb/Mar of this year. I started the mate but just couldn't find the ambition to finish it, so .......

....... frog pond, frog pond here I come.....

I frogged the works!!
I feel relieved even though I promised these socks to a friend.
But, never fear my friend, I have started another pair of socks with bavarian twisted stitches just for you. You will love them, honest! ;o)


And my latest project is ......
..... my own design!

Yes folks, I do love those bavarian twisted stitches. However, I really don't like patterns that are so complicated and so convoluted, twisting the poor stitches hither & thither, that I designed this sock to have the same visual beauty but with much less work. If I can knit this sock up in 12 hrs, so can you!
Will I share the pattern? Yes!
I'm now in the process of writing up the chart and hope to have the written works up for scrutiny within a few days. So, if you'd like to test knit this sock, please do ask for the pattern by emailing me at:

electra_nina at myway dot com

After you've knit it, please let me know if there are errors or any other problems.