tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196991462024-03-07T02:24:05.722-06:00Lesley's Knitting BlogLesleyKnitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02088443828224972748noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19699146.post-36164367898608603422008-02-29T15:08:00.003-06:002008-02-29T15:28:32.717-06:00I am a bad blogger....but here are some FOs<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5e7wAGlWBvnjx6Oqs0m5zIxNb5w35SIlylVQvmbKt5cXB0eNRaZKdYhq6QjRkaHJtkv-Wgf3DVvPCxWWxJ6-9zrQHNd0ZiSSk8sOq6GSmofBkEFcK3u2RVmXzKx1Af3nym2vHVg/s1600-h/MrGreenjeans.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5e7wAGlWBvnjx6Oqs0m5zIxNb5w35SIlylVQvmbKt5cXB0eNRaZKdYhq6QjRkaHJtkv-Wgf3DVvPCxWWxJ6-9zrQHNd0ZiSSk8sOq6GSmofBkEFcK3u2RVmXzKx1Af3nym2vHVg/s200/MrGreenjeans.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5172513648680504194" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Pattern: <a href="http://knitty.com/ISSUEfall07/PATTgreenjeans.html">Mr. Greenjeans </a><br />Yarn: Malabrigo Merino Worsted in Azul Profundo<br />Started: December 2007<br />Finished: February 3rd, 2008<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8dIHTfNOWcEby5Jt7IrvYSIKHWVc4GaVPThrBFIv3NalZ_AaCH_YejmvFCf3nM1vb6F3v4LFHPiMouHVF_4y3XigYluRDFRfklY3jkFnVi1RENpCmMJLFVEqsFwpPZemwc9yoXQ/s1600-h/CherryTreeHillSocks.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8dIHTfNOWcEby5Jt7IrvYSIKHWVc4GaVPThrBFIv3NalZ_AaCH_YejmvFCf3nM1vb6F3v4LFHPiMouHVF_4y3XigYluRDFRfklY3jkFnVi1RENpCmMJLFVEqsFwpPZemwc9yoXQ/s200/CherryTreeHillSocks.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5172513661565406098" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Pattern: Knitting Pure & Simple Lightweight Socks<br />Yarn: Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Potluck in Green Mountain Madness<br />Started and Finished: Well, I'm not going to say because a pair of socks shouldn't have taken as many months as they did! What I will say though is that they got pushed aside so I could finish other projects.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQwggy24iiEefxIkniz_zajIxk9azYPS6lk6aKfsJ6k9GPok1sbP-450ZjYWueAiBQuWQUyMFfZyYqjRLOi_mGcGiCoNY8wsZzLBSAHFduFG9pV7CIE41BLFyf15rGqMNW2fIzlw/s1600-h/KyraSocks.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQwggy24iiEefxIkniz_zajIxk9azYPS6lk6aKfsJ6k9GPok1sbP-450ZjYWueAiBQuWQUyMFfZyYqjRLOi_mGcGiCoNY8wsZzLBSAHFduFG9pV7CIE41BLFyf15rGqMNW2fIzlw/s200/KyraSocks.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5172513661565406114" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Pattern: Knitting Pure & Simple Children's Lightweight Socks (#245)<br />Yarn: Brown Sheep Wildfoote in Columbine<br />For DD - yup, they're a little big but that was intentional since I wanted DD to have some room to grow into them :)<br /><br />So now I'm onto a few new projects including <a href="http://knitty.com/ISSUEfall06/PATTayla.html">Ayla </a>which is also from Knitty. Here is an in progress pic...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7hQvbR_6OBJsshiVmlPmzqac5Ty1WMk-UgFtzO-Ey_sMmthhQWjkPFblStyUlmcMbnQyGxJbpCT0KzghoFAbUPEXC7QnJpeQ8FRyTFCy0oafOkzRr9whyphenhyphenPyY4t_QXyCYk-HgUCQ/s1600-h/Pictures+014.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7hQvbR_6OBJsshiVmlPmzqac5Ty1WMk-UgFtzO-Ey_sMmthhQWjkPFblStyUlmcMbnQyGxJbpCT0KzghoFAbUPEXC7QnJpeQ8FRyTFCy0oafOkzRr9whyphenhyphenPyY4t_QXyCYk-HgUCQ/s200/Pictures+014.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5172516655157611442" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I'm also taking a lace class at my LYS so I'm working on a feather and fan scarf and a Fiber Trends scarf.LesleyKnitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02088443828224972748noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19699146.post-71754313197108180982007-12-13T05:55:00.000-06:002007-12-13T07:14:29.353-06:00Basic CableMy winter hat is done! I finished up last night and I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out. I read comments on Ravelry about it and with all the too-small remarks I decided to do 6 pattern repeats instead of 4. It definitely covers my ears now!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1k7s4K8EJIqZ4WY5jyxDYoIK7GjKx7K0CRSWXPQCM2_4sn2RBltrf7MbLr45PsXNI5CEHCRHUTeKfjhuWcdh_YS7tjQWJeOlRs3QNFrPX0CTZxxk6RpRHg8vC6-CYMEFYFMYK9w/s1600-h/Knitting+001.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1k7s4K8EJIqZ4WY5jyxDYoIK7GjKx7K0CRSWXPQCM2_4sn2RBltrf7MbLr45PsXNI5CEHCRHUTeKfjhuWcdh_YS7tjQWJeOlRs3QNFrPX0CTZxxk6RpRHg8vC6-CYMEFYFMYK9w/s200/Knitting+001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143427168182997058" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Pattern: Basic Cable from Stitch n Bitch Nation<br />Yarn: Lamb's Pride Worsted in Onyx<br />Needles: US7 and US8 Denises<br /><br />I am sorry to say that poor Branching Out is in hibernation mode :( I haven't even picked it up except to steal the needles for a new project. Yes, startitis has hit BAD. I have been wanting to do <a href="http://knitty.com/ISSUEfall07/PATTgreenjeans.html">Mr. Greenjeans</a> and now it is begun! I picked up some Malabrigo Merino Worsted at <a href="http://woolandcompany.net/">Wool and Company</a> the other day and cast on Greenjeans, well, actually Tealjeans. I am in love with this yarn already - it is soft and gorgeous!<br /><br />I also picked up some new yarns recently. <a href="http://www.fringeknitting.com/pages/home.html">Fringe Knitting</a> in Aurora is unfortunately going out of business - but from what I understand about the closing, the silver lining is that their <a href="http://www.dreamincoloryarn.com/">Dream in Color</a> yarn has gotten so popular that running the store is no longer feasible. So I went to the first day of the going out of business sale (which was crazy busy!) and picked up these:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj19LU1m_ywHgzv8oYfoYeXyGtI_L1jqEoQSTITvLCQAZ64X9HYpcO49P-vSWDdeOuNNzO71OYqLpFhTrYuWocaonUTlFNV2SCX5DqiSdjKk4G2i9dJQQjZJrSU9gclCnijKlsbRA/s1600-h/Cherry+Tree+Hill+2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj19LU1m_ywHgzv8oYfoYeXyGtI_L1jqEoQSTITvLCQAZ64X9HYpcO49P-vSWDdeOuNNzO71OYqLpFhTrYuWocaonUTlFNV2SCX5DqiSdjKk4G2i9dJQQjZJrSU9gclCnijKlsbRA/s200/Cherry+Tree+Hill+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143444459721330786" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoeB1MtH2nZwyjFbH9DXI4FTJwyaK1azdu6a79gU_Zv4d7vJkvXgjEFP2l10fJVV1rzqOjKX170nSRAXd-hVM9XvQtahiuJuCloj4aS7X5yqCKeUUyyeFSuph3UpaJVXDzj-PaFA/s1600-h/Cherry+Tree+Hill.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoeB1MtH2nZwyjFbH9DXI4FTJwyaK1azdu6a79gU_Zv4d7vJkvXgjEFP2l10fJVV1rzqOjKX170nSRAXd-hVM9XvQtahiuJuCloj4aS7X5yqCKeUUyyeFSuph3UpaJVXDzj-PaFA/s200/Cherry+Tree+Hill.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143444446836428882" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4THYD6MCCG6FpbIJXaF6bioDy9pZhs-_acFiM3N2Y_CP9WoQF8fSQh4r14kxW823QnOhwndkWMLFc_ZV3_7tZniuOXy0kxwNm1qgYB-chhxrgCVyttDjjJynXnqULQjq8-fL0xg/s1600-h/Dream+in+Color.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4THYD6MCCG6FpbIJXaF6bioDy9pZhs-_acFiM3N2Y_CP9WoQF8fSQh4r14kxW823QnOhwndkWMLFc_ZV3_7tZniuOXy0kxwNm1qgYB-chhxrgCVyttDjjJynXnqULQjq8-fL0xg/s200/Dream+in+Color.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143444472606232690" border="0" /></a><br />The first two pics are Cherry Tree Hill Potluck Supersock which I love love love! The last pic is what was labeled as Dream in Color remnants. I loved the colors - greens and purples - and I'm thinking that those two hanks will make a good scarf - either Here and There Cables or <a href="http://www.sheepinthecity.prettyposies.com/archives/000079.html">My So-Called Scarf</a>.<br /><br />Oh, btw, the Namaste bag is AWESOME!! I love how roomy it is and a lot of people have complimented me on it not realizing it's a knitting bag :)<br /><br />Time to get the kids ready for school...LesleyKnitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02088443828224972748noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19699146.post-12913567728199824812007-11-29T13:13:00.000-06:002007-11-29T13:32:32.876-06:00New Knitting BagI am so excited! I did a little early Christmas shopping and picked up something for DH to give me. Here it is!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuwR6MFB00VN7pqsAsCbflDur0e9C4fmfTztFVcSoTH55VWu_NZjABERmTkkyoWD5a9fkW2Khnl5ne8GCUu3HRUTVbZSu4e7D3VLluuVb15uZK90SjMos7Bh3X2AZF6AFM6qsi7w/s1600-h/Picture+034.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuwR6MFB00VN7pqsAsCbflDur0e9C4fmfTztFVcSoTH55VWu_NZjABERmTkkyoWD5a9fkW2Khnl5ne8GCUu3HRUTVbZSu4e7D3VLluuVb15uZK90SjMos7Bh3X2AZF6AFM6qsi7w/s200/Picture+034.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138346052231495746" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It's the Namaste Everyday bag in Brick Red! I put two sock projects, a hat project and my personal stuff in it and it works out great for every day :)<br /><br />So...I'm still working on my Cherry Tree Hill socks - sock #1 is done and I'm almost ready to start the heel on #2. I'm working on the gusset for the first sock for my daughter using Wildfoote.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIjRVDz48Z3Z0HMFk3bFjomZaueQcuvxMxd7RytXyotfSRuefyQJcPCSHI96cu3WFJOlGlN6qwGwpZNNGf7HsciaOJ318pTyVrV8jovFsrQPJSdZrDKlaT8d3Eh5PICoR6Qmy5mQ/s1600-h/Picture+035.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIjRVDz48Z3Z0HMFk3bFjomZaueQcuvxMxd7RytXyotfSRuefyQJcPCSHI96cu3WFJOlGlN6qwGwpZNNGf7HsciaOJ318pTyVrV8jovFsrQPJSdZrDKlaT8d3Eh5PICoR6Qmy5mQ/s200/Picture+035.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138346735131295826" border="0" /></a><br />And after remembering that I left my hat at a restaurant last spring I also cast on for the Basic Cable hat from SnB Nation.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvZ7V0lrj44upBQv1spnRWMQkJjhYzV7yusoK7smM_z1_a17BH9w5eKsBb2F15mDbFgnDYdr82LIwA91eZy1HJxtNW4EzF7fx9J-gwigjSUlszgPEhy1xmIZgv0o2KiKXd82kgNw/s1600-h/Picture+036.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvZ7V0lrj44upBQv1spnRWMQkJjhYzV7yusoK7smM_z1_a17BH9w5eKsBb2F15mDbFgnDYdr82LIwA91eZy1HJxtNW4EzF7fx9J-gwigjSUlszgPEhy1xmIZgv0o2KiKXd82kgNw/s200/Picture+036.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138347211872665698" border="0" /></a>LesleyKnitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02088443828224972748noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19699146.post-30007196691824648732007-10-17T11:48:00.000-05:002007-10-18T10:01:18.566-05:00Children's Neckdown Cardigan - done!Wow! Could it be that I've completed a child's sweater in less than two months? Yes! The neckdown cardi for my daughter is complete! Here is the picture:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUrJZfEwUZWBe74j4rgeW1o_fPtjdasfOagosJSHX5nxl-ObTO1r3kyxYQ5jDmuzlf_ay7k78DLOgpGRkmnmXCDsX_YSAIgQt9jVB4mSX_CwDHTiQt58MW_7Qypqc2l4_mHFft7w/s1600-h/P1010482.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUrJZfEwUZWBe74j4rgeW1o_fPtjdasfOagosJSHX5nxl-ObTO1r3kyxYQ5jDmuzlf_ay7k78DLOgpGRkmnmXCDsX_YSAIgQt9jVB4mSX_CwDHTiQt58MW_7Qypqc2l4_mHFft7w/s200/P1010482.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5122690362781506962" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Pattern: Knitting Pure and Simple Children's Neckdown Cardigan (#981)<br />Yarn: Filatura di Crosa Primo in lavender (6 balls)<br />Needles: Denise and DPNs in US9 and US6<br /><br />I really thought I was going to run out of yarn for this project. The body of the sweater ate up FOUR balls of the yarn and I was in a panic. But the sleeves ended up using only two balls so I ended up with two extra (wristwarmers perhap?)<br /><br />So next up are some small projects. I have done NOTHING with poor <a href="http://honeybeeknits.blogspot.com/2007/08/newly-on-needles.html">Branching Out</a> so I'm going to start up the 10-minute rule mentioned on KR. I must work on it for ten minutes before working on anything else.<br /><br />Aside from BO I still have my Cherry Tree Hill socks, a chemo cap that I've frogged three times and a pair of socks I'm starting for DD. I also wound a ball of Hempathy for the <a href="http://knitty.com/ISSUEsummer07/PATTeverlasting.html">Everlasting Bagstopper</a> so I may be starting that as well.LesleyKnitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02088443828224972748noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19699146.post-13746540928662972662007-10-03T13:28:00.000-05:002007-10-03T13:42:31.624-05:00Ravelry - I'm in!I got my invite last week, I don't remember what day exactly, it's been kind of a blur! Anyhow I have been adding projects and taking pictures of my yarn since then (I'm LesleyKnits). I love how you can really see exactly what yarn you've got. And it also helped me to see exactly how long I let particular projects sit!<br /><br />I had put <a href="http://www.xtreme-knitting.com/Dinosaurspattern.pdf">Bronty </a>on the back burner while finishing other things and when I went to add him to my project list I realized that I started on him NINETEEN months ago! Crazy :P He is what should have been a project easily finished in a few nights (at least at the pace I was knitting 19 months ago) but for some reason I let him sit quietly in my knitting bag.<br /><br />So of course as soon as I realized how long it had been I took the 40 minutes necessary to finish poor Bronty and here he is...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVrhXVNcVc-oGftXUABUjFsyUc0c-BbhTApYH9UsZoOpVJsmKgqkkH2-ZtZuKJb6iMQ7yQ9w7Lwi5Uuun6tl_XmFqDsFgothajvzbe3U3FTxJVtNdarhDGWHvSpk6e3bj7TRQ_Vw/s1600-h/P1010459.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVrhXVNcVc-oGftXUABUjFsyUc0c-BbhTApYH9UsZoOpVJsmKgqkkH2-ZtZuKJb6iMQ7yQ9w7Lwi5Uuun6tl_XmFqDsFgothajvzbe3U3FTxJVtNdarhDGWHvSpk6e3bj7TRQ_Vw/s200/P1010459.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117180568158261218" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This was a project I started less than a year after starting to knit and had I known what I know now I would have knit him on smaller needles, you can see the stuffing very clearly even from a distance. Oh well!<br /><br />I put Bronty where my son could see him when he got home from school and he was thrilled that Bronty was finally done!<br /><br />I also pulled out a sock that I started earlier this year. The reason why the sock fell by the wayside - beside other projects taking over - is that the skein got horribly tangled. I don't know if that usually happens when you have a 400-yard skein of sock yarn but the other day I sat down and unraveled the whole thing. So now I'm making progress with the sock tucked in my purse. I even worked on it today while my daughter played in the mall playground. Here it is...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl_jbLZKFi1JFtCJIxcRFCpy5JuHn3k4Ub53ybLRUllBXN3LnY5FwnEjrpcZmKQwDO4ytbn055zBjZ_ZbPlFQM7LhoPAIerAaIigQ5nYwrK-almqCBbqhTJGPc_XqUhjuohZhfFw/s1600-h/P1010470.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl_jbLZKFi1JFtCJIxcRFCpy5JuHn3k4Ub53ybLRUllBXN3LnY5FwnEjrpcZmKQwDO4ytbn055zBjZ_ZbPlFQM7LhoPAIerAaIigQ5nYwrK-almqCBbqhTJGPc_XqUhjuohZhfFw/s200/P1010470.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117181594655444978" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I've made a lot of progress on the sweater for my daughter since I last posted. I took this picture last week but I'm now on the 2nd sleeve.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA9-6HbE6kf0wywaAGqh6YJ-Zmox5fEuQRLyJLfdQVVtuSOKEBLDgmuL1vaZW6CU37NP1vuSU-H5Dgf28-E6oIwjYZeg8CxDvtDVA55hk3U60Bi7ioJFEWGQagDqyowF6I4Ct0oQ/s1600-h/KyraSweater.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA9-6HbE6kf0wywaAGqh6YJ-Zmox5fEuQRLyJLfdQVVtuSOKEBLDgmuL1vaZW6CU37NP1vuSU-H5Dgf28-E6oIwjYZeg8CxDvtDVA55hk3U60Bi7ioJFEWGQagDqyowF6I4Ct0oQ/s200/KyraSweater.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117182075691782146" border="0" /></a>LesleyKnitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02088443828224972748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19699146.post-13639402962271157872007-08-24T11:15:00.000-05:002007-08-24T11:26:45.904-05:00Newly on the NeedlesWell, now that my son's hoodie is <a href="http://honeybeeknits.blogspot.com/2007/08/top-down-sweater-done.html#comments">complete </a>I am moving on to two new projects.<br /><br />As I mentioned before, Branching Out is my very first lace project. I have completed two pattern repeats and now that school has started again I'm hoping to have a quiet house where I can concentrate! I understand now the benefits of knitting from the chart but it requires my full concentration - at least this early into the project. So here is what I've done so far...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5kOqR2fCPYSkx0EqTIQv0Z-E7dxbHqG0Q0bY8C1sz-BLlSVzZCdsUoa17dSq9b0ZvCpyMLomp-zYC7gWO1vUphjJqRevyQp5_HdPgdw7yiXXPRrDKVsEX02a72d8V9zcHy_HAQQ/s1600-h/P1010427.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5kOqR2fCPYSkx0EqTIQv0Z-E7dxbHqG0Q0bY8C1sz-BLlSVzZCdsUoa17dSq9b0ZvCpyMLomp-zYC7gWO1vUphjJqRevyQp5_HdPgdw7yiXXPRrDKVsEX02a72d8V9zcHy_HAQQ/s200/P1010427.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5102302619740034146" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It's hard to tell from the photo but if I stretch it out I can see the pattern forming.<br /><br />My other current project is a top-down cardigan for my daughter. I'm using the Knitting Pure and Simple Children's Neckdown Cardigan pattern and Filatura di Crosa Primo yarn. It's a heavy worsted superwash wool. Here's the start of that sweater...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSdpOMuiVarINZFB6p0KqSpyRfDuY4ZLheatUibldt2kT8f9t9ugL1KxYLx4PAZCx6zJuJBpkRHDKwfq10qIReRC0MSIaYWcXA-7RpMEn78AynfAed4gYdoQENCyLtkhP0vigDBg/s1600-h/P1010428.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSdpOMuiVarINZFB6p0KqSpyRfDuY4ZLheatUibldt2kT8f9t9ugL1KxYLx4PAZCx6zJuJBpkRHDKwfq10qIReRC0MSIaYWcXA-7RpMEn78AynfAed4gYdoQENCyLtkhP0vigDBg/s200/P1010428.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5102303367064343666" border="0" /></a><br /><br />My daughter is pretty excited about it especially since it's "puhple" her favorite color. And this time around the sweater should have buttons and buttonholes unlike my <a href="http://honeybeeknits.blogspot.com/2006/01/done-and-done.html">last attempt</a> at a sweater for this child.LesleyKnitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02088443828224972748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19699146.post-55735487072695754212007-08-15T08:35:00.000-05:002007-08-15T08:59:35.999-05:00Top-Down Sweater - DONE!Yippee! The topdown sweater I was knitting for DS is finished! I love topdown design - it is just genius the way the directions are almost like a magic trick. I did end up frogging that first sleeve where the pooling occurred so it does look better now although I see some spots where there is slight pooling. But my son is happy and it's done well before the cold weather will hit!<br /><br />So here it is...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH2WhcrQ7GbLNyJoZ5UIep5WXk-AvTbAEJpHeVhOA-seKOO6wM5M7CF89H_VKtAk_VBqPl0Gg7vsXLgYWUQrfY3RVQlUS5I8c3kx2dRND7ezzC72ZGU4HU-aCvFWIRUOEpamvzIQ/s1600-h/Hoodie.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH2WhcrQ7GbLNyJoZ5UIep5WXk-AvTbAEJpHeVhOA-seKOO6wM5M7CF89H_VKtAk_VBqPl0Gg7vsXLgYWUQrfY3RVQlUS5I8c3kx2dRND7ezzC72ZGU4HU-aCvFWIRUOEpamvzIQ/s200/Hoodie.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5098926584245834146" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Pattern: Knitting Pure and Simple Children's Tunic #232<br />Yarn: 2 3/4 hanks Lorna's Laces in Seaside<br />Size: 6-8<br /><br />So next up is another Knitting Pure and Simple pattern for my daughter. It's the Children's Neckdown Cardigan and I've got Filatura di Crosa Primo in a lavender shade for it.<br /><br />I also started my very first lace project. I decided to give <a href="http://knitty.com/ISSUEspring05/PATTbranchingout.html">Branching Out</a> a try. So far it's been a little frustrating. First I cast on the wrong number of stitches and didn't notice til I finished the garter stitch border. Then I ended up with the wrong stitch count on row 7 and ended up starting over. But now I've got one pattern repeat down and I put a lifeline in. I'm going to move the lifeline every time I finish a pattern repeat. But the good news is I'm getting better at chart reading!LesleyKnitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02088443828224972748noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19699146.post-63807155433486355802007-07-13T07:11:00.000-05:002007-07-13T08:00:17.258-05:00Pooling ProblemsFirst of all, I am back from vacation! My husband and I took the kids to Disney World followed by a few days at the beach. We had such a great time! My daughter keeps saying she wants to go back and I tell her "yeah, me too!"<br /><br />I'm still plugging away on my son's sweater but I've run into a dilemma. In finishing the first sleeve I ran into an area where some serious pooling started to take place. I saw it there, plain as day. But you know how it goes, you think "Next row, it'll stop...okay next row...okay next row is a decrease round surely the lovely striping will return"<br /><br />Here's the sleeve in question:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjiYDMdtLpRsqFAWx2zr2gU-9P2-6EcJhysoOOW_VALQdrJGYrLdw1B2BRq3G0l-5yZc24rvG90njQygRm3jjWZq6WNBJtPy8nokQBou7nNC_PAvfvsZtwas-HaUPD7wiLpCBCkQ/s1600-h/ZachSweaterSleeve.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjiYDMdtLpRsqFAWx2zr2gU-9P2-6EcJhysoOOW_VALQdrJGYrLdw1B2BRq3G0l-5yZc24rvG90njQygRm3jjWZq6WNBJtPy8nokQBou7nNC_PAvfvsZtwas-HaUPD7wiLpCBCkQ/s320/ZachSweaterSleeve.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5086655052642945362" border="0" /></a><br /><br />See that lovely C-shaped pool? Now that I see a photo of it in the light of day, ripping it out seems like the only answer. *sigh*<br /><br />I did find a yarn store while we were at Cocoa Beach. The store also sold needlepoint and tatting supplies so the yarn selection was not what I am used to at my two LYSs. But I did find some Wildefoote to make socks for my daughter and Mission Falls cotton for baby hats.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbHJ4z6sti_g6xWplKzeG7OLzFL4y80upbJA-MfsyRq5Ov24fcVhcFwVO0V8A1pooY9fIurJ45nJJigiQweElQ8dfilvtVEaRCiQeBbX-aQZmS-m0cqmFPpkkkV0UO5-Fucw1WmA/s1600-h/FloridaYarn.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbHJ4z6sti_g6xWplKzeG7OLzFL4y80upbJA-MfsyRq5Ov24fcVhcFwVO0V8A1pooY9fIurJ45nJJigiQweElQ8dfilvtVEaRCiQeBbX-aQZmS-m0cqmFPpkkkV0UO5-Fucw1WmA/s320/FloridaYarn.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5086664304002500962" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here is the first hat:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidNXCX87NASTirtUgh8tHdOUUw8GtBFaSghxUaJL2_Ps77v_-3fCIvncO-Jos-R2GOBsDL3xcknnbE6unOivClbf2UoxjoVXhzAGBGyygNynO4coGMV-dl3cO3zGaduywf9raxKQ/s1600-h/BlueBabyHat.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidNXCX87NASTirtUgh8tHdOUUw8GtBFaSghxUaJL2_Ps77v_-3fCIvncO-Jos-R2GOBsDL3xcknnbE6unOivClbf2UoxjoVXhzAGBGyygNynO4coGMV-dl3cO3zGaduywf9raxKQ/s320/BlueBabyHat.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5086664651894851954" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I used the Children's Cotton Hats pattern from "Last Minute Knitted Gifts" for the most part. I did omit the eyelet round and add some ribbing. The 2nd hat will use this blue in its stripes.LesleyKnitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02088443828224972748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19699146.post-7272654571097155512007-05-15T11:03:00.000-05:002007-05-29T10:29:25.402-05:00Some new projects...Okay so I was flipping through my blog and noticed a pattern - most of the time I post only when I have a FO. And considering how infrequently I actually finish something that makes me an occasional blogger.<br /><br />I had a birthday a few weeks back and got a few knitting-related presents. First off, my husband and the kids got me a yarn winder and swift! The yarn winder is the blue and white one that most places carry and the swift is made of wood. I spent the next week sneaking upstairs to rewind the leftovers from my previous projects. I also received a book - Knit Scarves! - from my sister and there are several scarves that will make nice future projects!<br /><br />But I have been doing a lot of knitting lately on a new endeavor - my first top-down sweater! I'm knitting my son the Knitting Pure and Simple Children's Tunic. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihOhXOAdwRfXf3GnoNExnxTW7wf7qbzmareBszsAzMCHtqZ6zG-rg2ySxI8CbNMqOmvnvpiv8MWIp3Rvv63j4Pqayy_c2_Dl1BvE43YKuUhVt1rvRvBsJUm31L01368o-X3TLAlg/s1600-h/P1010107.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihOhXOAdwRfXf3GnoNExnxTW7wf7qbzmareBszsAzMCHtqZ6zG-rg2ySxI8CbNMqOmvnvpiv8MWIp3Rvv63j4Pqayy_c2_Dl1BvE43YKuUhVt1rvRvBsJUm31L01368o-X3TLAlg/s320/P1010107.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5069996671822087970" border="0" /></a><br /><br />He requested it in the yarn used in the picture (Lorna's Laces Seaside) so I placed my first <a href="http://www.jimmybeanswool.com/">Jimmy Bean's Wool</a> order. I HIGHLY recommend them! I ordered late Monday night, got a confirmation email 30 minutes later, a shipped notification the next day and the yarn was in my mailbox on Friday!<br /><br />Anyhow, I am in serious love with the topdown construction. I love that there's no seaming. I love that the yoke increases form beautiful 'seam' lines at the front and back of each shoulder. I love that my son could try on the sweater the other day so I knew the sizing was good.<br /><br />But just as I am in love with topdown I am giving another seamless construction design a shot - a tank top knit in the round starting at the bottom. It's the Lutea Lace Shoulder Shell from IK Summer 2007.<br /><br /><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Lesley/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.jpg" alt="" /><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Lesley/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-1.jpg" alt="" /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgkuEmmrZzblrgSPNU3llJnblmvO139GHHYBnpb8atq3f6pl1iZtJwEvpNnFPzXzJdcsXSQwweuJkdM0WZaqiTVYvpjtKfpuGCrNm3SsZ9r0i2xhxsaU6WQmVrgXQtGiQhF-9xEw/s1600-h/lutealaceshouldershell.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgkuEmmrZzblrgSPNU3llJnblmvO139GHHYBnpb8atq3f6pl1iZtJwEvpNnFPzXzJdcsXSQwweuJkdM0WZaqiTVYvpjtKfpuGCrNm3SsZ9r0i2xhxsaU6WQmVrgXQtGiQhF-9xEw/s320/lutealaceshouldershell.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070002087775848242" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I'm swatching Tahki Cotton Classic in a lavender shade right now but I'm unsure how to handle the shrink/stretch factor of cotton. Since it's mercerized cotton, does it behave the same? I'm definitely going to have to machine wash and dry the swatch to figure out the right size.LesleyKnitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02088443828224972748noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19699146.post-22143575914567475392007-03-11T14:19:00.000-05:002007-03-11T14:52:06.517-05:00Warm Fuzzies ScarfI love FO time :) I think that makes me more of a product knitter than a process knitter. I mean, I absolutely love to knit, it's relaxing and I enjoy it, but I love the feeling of accomplishing. And I especially love that feeling when the knitted object is a birthday present.<br /><br />I wanted to make my friend Jenny a scarf and knew a couple of things about said scarf right from the start. First of all Jenny loves red, more specifically blue-red tones as opposed to yellow-reds. Second, she really likes great classic design with a little preppiness thrown in so I thought a cable-knit scarf would be perfect.<br /><br />So DS and I made a pilgrimage to the LYS where I found an amazingly soft angora/merino wool blend - <a href="http://www.yarndex.com/yarn.cfm?yarn_id=2284">Elsebeth Lavold Angora</a> in Cherry Red.<br /><br />Next up was the pattern. I tried the <a href="http://www.helloyarn.com/irishhikingscarf.htm">Irish Hiking Scarf</a> which I have made before but it just wasn't working for the yarn so I frogged. Then I tried the Reversible Cable-Knit Scarf from Lion Brand but again, a no go.<br /><br />I finally found what I wanted while flipping through SnB Nation. I noticed the Warm Fuzzies scarf and the fact that the yarn used was very similar to my yarn so I cast on and it looked great!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VRY2g23KNuc/RfRZmo0Jy2I/AAAAAAAAACc/Z1JHRrkw9Gg/s1600-h/P1000906.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VRY2g23KNuc/RfRZmo0Jy2I/AAAAAAAAACc/Z1JHRrkw9Gg/s320/P1000906.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5040752403260492642" border="0" /></a><br />The pattern is a mock-cable rib so you don't even use a cable needle, you just knit the 2nd stitch first and then the 1st stitch.<br /><br />I also really liked that the pattern is reversible - the WS is a 2x1 rib. I used this as continental knitting practice time. I've read and heard that ribbing and seed stitch are WAY faster and easier if you knit continental so I gave it a shot. Those rows totally flew by, it was amazing. I knit them as fast as if I'd knit in my usual English way but without the frustration of moving the yarn back and forth.<br /><br />Here's the finished product complete with fringe!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC8vTuqe1LFZ8LiYT4AQVTCfMq_7MNcySL78VHQSM_hSsAdH4kROLxOKp8CcDJWq-s5QJQgp4n8fmhV0YF_tRzJYroZ91X2Q2Szlp-fJhumnz3CTkXUE2B3fSbko0dUw5DitH7gw/s1600-h/JennysScarf.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC8vTuqe1LFZ8LiYT4AQVTCfMq_7MNcySL78VHQSM_hSsAdH4kROLxOKp8CcDJWq-s5QJQgp4n8fmhV0YF_tRzJYroZ91X2Q2Szlp-fJhumnz3CTkXUE2B3fSbko0dUw5DitH7gw/s320/JennysScarf.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5040752416145394546" border="0" /></a>LesleyKnitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02088443828224972748noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19699146.post-73652218971474662832007-02-20T12:55:00.000-06:002007-02-23T08:32:44.077-06:00GORGEOUS yarns (or, why I haven't blogged recently)It's hard to do much else when you've got not one but two yarns that are difficult to put down!<br /><br />First up is this scarf that I'm knitting for my friend for her birthday. I knew I wanted to knit her a cabled red scarf and found this amazing Elsebeth Lavold Angora at the LYS. It's unbelievably soft and the red is a gorgeous vibrant shade. I'm using the Warm Fuzzies scarf pattern from SnB Nation - it's a mock-cable rib that I love because the wrong side is ribbed so it looks good either way. My friend's birthday is in early March but I'm making good progress. The cable part is very simple, just two stitches.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtncMGroGy5U6UE3ew6XXAkDoXTNu95vch4EQGjPxhocyS3PTcqbkGRZkr1h8Mfn93jax9y3Q0_1_kPb5bs6NZ45MftSjx2P7A9-0rRepTKSMHHKWJil5GDlySOpsqRitOQ7zmGA/s1600-h/P1000906.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtncMGroGy5U6UE3ew6XXAkDoXTNu95vch4EQGjPxhocyS3PTcqbkGRZkr1h8Mfn93jax9y3Q0_1_kPb5bs6NZ45MftSjx2P7A9-0rRepTKSMHHKWJil5GDlySOpsqRitOQ7zmGA/s320/P1000906.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5033698766763367730" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Next up is a sock yarn - <a href="http://www.cherryyarn.com/index.html">Cherry Tree Hill</a> Supersock in Green Mountain Madness. The color is unbelievable - my photo below just doesn't do justice to the amazing shades of green and blue. It feels so soft too.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi__AiLYfgPXB2A_XBDpsMGgWepwqQxJ13Hda0DELrbg93VfQnFz-6IwL6dYyMDyaytl3-d8m8Vn_cujv0BvwyIiJq1NsstQAqmlKuznTP396Eo940lwfPgN4YKmXMfOGEz1LyNaA/s1600-h/P1000908.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi__AiLYfgPXB2A_XBDpsMGgWepwqQxJ13Hda0DELrbg93VfQnFz-6IwL6dYyMDyaytl3-d8m8Vn_cujv0BvwyIiJq1NsstQAqmlKuznTP396Eo940lwfPgN4YKmXMfOGEz1LyNaA/s320/P1000908.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5033698775353302338" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Since taking this photo I've moved all the stitches onto a circ because I'm giving Magic Loop a shot. After needles falling out TWICE and several "dig through the couch cushions/knitting bag/purse for the missing DPN" I decided to pick up the ML booklet and the new circ.<br /><br />So far I really like ML - adjusting stitches and needles only twice in a round is definitely making the work go faster. I also like the fact that I can pull the needles through so that all the stitches are on the cable, less chance of dropping any.<br /><br />So DH and I recently purchased a set of bedroom furniture. It's beautiful and I love that we no longer are cramming clothes into too-small drawers. But one of the big benefits is that one of the old dressers was moved to the guest bedroom - and it was completely empty...until now!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqwgPLSXxRUFyDf4aOzc-vN8mMoPGO7GHZ3XdB2U2rk5j2jeQuJIxAu0n_QVYXJXa6SzaHV9nKqPWf-oWrpKpfv8vdPu8A4AcIJk0BhDLtiX4F2gRgCVr8mYJsEeuVfNAKwdTYCA/s1600-h/P1000912.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqwgPLSXxRUFyDf4aOzc-vN8mMoPGO7GHZ3XdB2U2rk5j2jeQuJIxAu0n_QVYXJXa6SzaHV9nKqPWf-oWrpKpfv8vdPu8A4AcIJk0BhDLtiX4F2gRgCVr8mYJsEeuVfNAKwdTYCA/s320/P1000912.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5034733698794975826" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Yup, that's it, my rather meager yarn stash! I'm not sure that even qualifies under the definition of 'stash'!LesleyKnitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02088443828224972748noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19699146.post-41339732287420412762007-02-07T09:58:00.000-06:002007-02-07T14:05:41.191-06:00Two firsts! Socks and a Felted BagI have two FOs to share - the first is my very first completed pair of SOCKS! Woo hoo!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCASzxGNWKEqqyPwzPcylP8bDHAcz7ZbHH4tCU6ssy8-Pi6BXHmDFNi3eQRuSpWURKZDyBpPypDZAydhdMHvMwmYUfX1Ai8klmNAG0jExxYi1nUlmHVlRIzx-AHXyhCMNHc2VoWQ/s1600-h/P1000899.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCASzxGNWKEqqyPwzPcylP8bDHAcz7ZbHH4tCU6ssy8-Pi6BXHmDFNi3eQRuSpWURKZDyBpPypDZAydhdMHvMwmYUfX1Ai8klmNAG0jExxYi1nUlmHVlRIzx-AHXyhCMNHc2VoWQ/s320/P1000899.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028822684745063858" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Pattern: Knitting Pure and Simple Beginner's Sock Pattern<br />Yarn: Plymouth Encore<br /><br />This was a great newbie sock pattern. It was needle-by-needle instructions which really helped me understand the basic construction of a sock. And the fact that the pattern called for worsted weight yarn was nice too because it went very quickly so I could see what I was doing.<br /><br />I was so excited about finishing them that I cast on for <a href="http://www.magknits.com/Sept05/patterns/jaywalker.htm">Jaywalkers</a> but for some reason they were clearly too big so I frogged them and will try a smaller needle size. I did an in-the-round swatch so I'm not sure what happened. I used US3s for the swatch and the first attempt so now I'm going to try my 2s.<br /><br />Next up, my felted bag! It was the Kitchen Sink Bag from Two Old Bags and I used Cascade 220. I started this bag about a year ago but it kept getting pushed to the back burner. Finally I completed it and felted. But now that I'm looking at the photo I'm realizing it really does need another trip through the washing machine, the stitches are still visible.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYi9hxh20pN6wpuVEGSvOh6Dz4ZQfhKfswfcCCmRIjo16xsrMfX9976bG0u6jjhSIBGI9eHi8AbaLPR3Bhckpm6CPuNQgWQOmGJpKHwoiConZsXrzdd-LzmTlyF0tIGo0iZL79pw/s1600-h/P1000885.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYi9hxh20pN6wpuVEGSvOh6Dz4ZQfhKfswfcCCmRIjo16xsrMfX9976bG0u6jjhSIBGI9eHi8AbaLPR3Bhckpm6CPuNQgWQOmGJpKHwoiConZsXrzdd-LzmTlyF0tIGo0iZL79pw/s320/P1000885.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028825016912305602" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Pattern: Kitchen Sink Bag<br />Yarn: Cascade 220<br /><br />One last thing, I just want to talk about what a great LYS I have! I go to <a href="http://www.woolandcompany.net/default.aspx">Wool and Company</a> in Geneva. They have a great selection of yarn - almost every time I see a brand of yarn on the internet or in a magazine that I want to try it turns out they sell it.<br /><br />So anyhow I stopped in last week with my 2-year-old DD. I know what you're thinking - 2-year-old in a yarn store? But she is well-behaved - there is a crate of books and toys and she will sit and play quietly.<br /><br />I needed a substitute for a yarn that had been discontinued - DH wants a brown scarf. So I asked the two women working in the front and they started to make numerous suggestions showing me all types of yarns. Then one of the women remembered a yarn that wasn't out yet on the floor that could work and went in back to retrieve 3 balls of it for me. That yarn (Lang Tosca) turned out to be the winner!<br /><br />I was so grateful for their help - I was able to get what I needed and get out of there quickly!LesleyKnitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02088443828224972748noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19699146.post-33584589636241242302007-01-15T11:46:00.000-06:002007-01-15T11:56:46.465-06:00Men's Rustic Scarf from 'Last Minute Knitted Gifts'<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggOZnpfDzKXNysFJy-N0be_3NKF3ZKYPCM5M_kYCh81EK2rxAjsHaECsqwz1_Ftw2_lVR30GOM1ZGwM167ZMiBDk5VIrfj-IiSyU48iFlI20AKPU3C04u9gaNB-pMQeKWE7FBRZw/s1600-h/P1000876.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggOZnpfDzKXNysFJy-N0be_3NKF3ZKYPCM5M_kYCh81EK2rxAjsHaECsqwz1_Ftw2_lVR30GOM1ZGwM167ZMiBDk5VIrfj-IiSyU48iFlI20AKPU3C04u9gaNB-pMQeKWE7FBRZw/s320/P1000876.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5020316711813071666" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here it is, the first knitted item for my husband! It's the Men's Rustic Scarf from Last Minute Knitted Gifts done in black and two gray tones. It was a VERY quick knit - started Tuesday night and finished yesterday afternoon. I love the blips of the previous color that show up.<br /><br />Now Husband would like a brown version. I love the browns used in the book but unfortunately that yarn is discontinued so I'll just have to go to the LYS and figure something else out. I've done some searching on other people's blogs and found where someone did a brick red with two browns, I like that!LesleyKnitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02088443828224972748noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19699146.post-18689885476675337102007-01-10T10:03:00.000-06:002007-09-27T12:44:40.861-05:00Pirate Sweater CompletionYippee! The pirate sweater is done. My son is wearing it today and he's happy with it :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLFWjmUsXtgW-mU-S8DoKq2f__BRWgNJvRV5OfbXesNqBd1b8zR3re1uJAJIs3jDCpTxMD2mS8zC_XolI_otllI-D_41okXRqF88E8lYoMUa6LchfA4AO2tyMYswhp4DhhYQ3YkQ/s1600-h/P1000864.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLFWjmUsXtgW-mU-S8DoKq2f__BRWgNJvRV5OfbXesNqBd1b8zR3re1uJAJIs3jDCpTxMD2mS8zC_XolI_otllI-D_41okXRqF88E8lYoMUa6LchfA4AO2tyMYswhp4DhhYQ3YkQ/s320/P1000864.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5018434227647234818" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Pattern: Pirate Sweater from Zoe Mellor's <span style="font-weight: bold;">Adorable Knits for Tots<br /></span>Yarn: King Cole Smooth DK<br />State Date: late August 2006<br />Completed: January 9, 2007<br /><br />Next up - the <a href="http://http//www.yarnmarket.com/images/last-minute-rustic-scarf.jpg">Men's Rustic Scarf </a>from <span style="font-weight: bold;">Last Minute Knitted Gifts</span> for my husband. It's shown in brown tones but I'm knitting it in black, charcoal gray and heather gray using Lamb's Pride Bulky.<br /><br />Also - I received money for a gift this Christmas so the other day I took a trip to the yarn store and got...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCr_6fqQ_FCJZ8bqQhNx7NP65H6cUqXYYWbu6wR4vK3irBzdLPcwMw3Zz3dJ6O4EnSI3PXnlkj5vGmskl2nbb8sE4ApwhLy3eTdKrP7qm6oY3-XmEBnsW2cIoI1TzHzDTkseQEHA/s1600-h/P1000860.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCr_6fqQ_FCJZ8bqQhNx7NP65H6cUqXYYWbu6wR4vK3irBzdLPcwMw3Zz3dJ6O4EnSI3PXnlkj5vGmskl2nbb8sE4ApwhLy3eTdKrP7qm6oY3-XmEBnsW2cIoI1TzHzDTkseQEHA/s320/P1000860.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5018436014353629986" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><ul><li>The basic sock pattern from Knitting Pure and Simple</li><li>Two sets of DPNs for the sock pattern</li><li>Denise Interchangeable needles and an extra cord</li></ul>I'm using the Denise needles for the scarf and already they've made life easier. I cast on using a US15 on a long cable and then switched to the US11s the pattern called for. I really like plastic needles - they're lightweight and I feel more in control of the yarn than when I've tried metal.LesleyKnitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02088443828224972748noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19699146.post-75348489520957761612006-12-20T14:04:00.000-06:002007-09-27T13:08:29.915-05:00Pirate ProgressWell, the pirate sweater is nearing completion! The front is done and here's a pic:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVxeXrvzQ_lWDb0iRWg3zUA2JBkkH0Zr8wB4nb8Puk2-drBax0ZZONTRDCBgy4MGGHhqJm0ADGXbf_Ddq_AsblPBkfjYgaZ7W8yOTTSj_DGE-nVmJeDTD5fZlSCtFFAFGcP0A1A/s1600-h/P1000775.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVxeXrvzQ_lWDb0iRWg3zUA2JBkkH0Zr8wB4nb8Puk2-drBax0ZZONTRDCBgy4MGGHhqJm0ADGXbf_Ddq_AsblPBkfjYgaZ7W8yOTTSj_DGE-nVmJeDTD5fZlSCtFFAFGcP0A1A/s320/P1000775.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5010703170235830866" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And Sleeve #1...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh12kaUiwu0afMDbrj1JVWVz0VsVVUEH4KGGTEsaSGIKcLG8xmHNwITaA7Y4wckZMb1UJ_sWARscK-TtjFRmfneh3az-Q5IBM8HU-LvdVYf8XR_UPOXdYSlbegLoNHYVJSqK5upbg/s1600-h/Picture.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh12kaUiwu0afMDbrj1JVWVz0VsVVUEH4KGGTEsaSGIKcLG8xmHNwITaA7Y4wckZMb1UJ_sWARscK-TtjFRmfneh3az-Q5IBM8HU-LvdVYf8XR_UPOXdYSlbegLoNHYVJSqK5upbg/s320/Picture.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5010704188143080034" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I added one more stripe to give DS a little more time to outgrow the sweater :/ I must be getting faster - that sleeve took no time at all. Of course it is just stockinette and I REALLY REALLY like to purl (yeah I know how weird that sounds!) I cast on for Sleeve #2 last night and I'm hoping to finish up before the end of 2006.<br /><br />DS is getting pretty excited now that he sees his sweater taking shape. He really liked the Iceland yarn I used for my <a href="http://honeybeeknits.blogspot.com/2006/11/multi-directional-scarf.html">MD scarf</a> and has been giving the needles a try...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VRY2g23KNuc/RYmaGEjUknI/AAAAAAAAAAc/pL9_Ry7i9G8/s1600-h/P1000774.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VRY2g23KNuc/RYmaGEjUknI/AAAAAAAAAAc/pL9_Ry7i9G8/s320/P1000774.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5010705489518170738" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Happy holidays!LesleyKnitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02088443828224972748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19699146.post-56388199661749849712006-11-14T10:53:00.000-06:002006-11-14T12:07:52.191-06:00Multi-Directional Scarf<span style="">I started this scarf almost a year ago - December 2005 - but since it was something I planned to keep for myself it got put on the back burner in favor of gifts for others, so much so that when I picked it up a few weeks ago I had completely forgotten how to wrap and turn! I kept trying to turn and wrap and got big holes.<br /><br />So here it is - my MD scarf that I've already worn a few times. It's long enough that I double it up and pull the ends through the loop.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/5578/2404/1600/P1000680.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/5578/2404/320/P1000680.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Pattern: <a href="http://douma.net/Karen/knitting/Accessory-Scarves/Multidirectional_Diagonal_Scarf.htm">Multi-Directional Scarf with Alternate (squared off) ending</a><br />Yarn: Crystal Palace Iceland in color Icestorm<br />Needles: US10.5<br /><br />Now I also wanted to show the picture that is below. I started this scarf almost a year ago when I had been knitting for only about 5 months and the starting end is much more tightly knit than the last triangles that I did. I tried blocking it and that did help a little but it's still noticeably different. Oh well, I love my imperfect little scarf!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/5578/2404/1600/P1000677.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/5578/2404/320/P1000677.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>LesleyKnitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02088443828224972748noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19699146.post-10359595800394081002006-10-07T20:46:00.000-05:002006-10-07T21:11:11.216-05:00Still here :)Well, it's been a little busy lately. Last month DH and I went to China for 2 1/2 weeks. It was a great trip! I did see yarn in Tibet but did not purchase. The yak yarn was VERY coarse and I couldn't tell what gauge the wool was.<br /><br />Before the trip I assessed my WIP pile to figure out what I was going to finish up on the plane. As you might have guessed not ONE of my projects (present or future) was appropriate for plane rides. DH's scarf? It requires a very LONG circ - no good for a plane ride, right? The multi-directional scarf? Well, there wasn't much to finish on that so it would be pointless to bring. (and no, it's STILL not finished!). So I immediately headed to the LYS where I purchased yarn for the <a href="http://www.thewoolshack.com/images/photos/books/pages/1150.jpg">Pirate Sweater</a> from Adorable Knits for Tots. And I have gotten quite a bit done thus far.<br /><br />Here's the back:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/5578/2404/1600/P1000638.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/5578/2404/320/P1000638.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And here's the front...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/5578/2404/1600/piratesweater.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/5578/2404/320/piratesweater.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />You can see the beginnings of the Jolly Roger motif on the front. <br /><br />Oh! I finished my 1st crochet project but I forgot to take a picture of it before I gave it to a friend for her birthday. My LYS had a Learn to Crochet night and we made the One Skein Scarf from SnBHH. I really enjoyed the project especially the near-instant gratification of it! In a few hours I had a scarf :)LesleyKnitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02088443828224972748noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19699146.post-1154036130166178722006-07-27T16:03:00.000-05:002007-02-20T16:02:59.240-06:00Big Bad Baby Blanket!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/744/1955/1600/Picture%20002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/744/1955/320/Picture%20002.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />It's done, it's done, it's done!! The Big Bad Baby Blanket knit in Cascade Sierra Quattro is completed as of today.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I'm really happy with how it turned out. The yarn knit up beautifully (I love Cascade!) and it looks pretty good after a trip through the washing machine (gentle cycle of course!). The pattern itself is simple and quick to knit.<br /><br />Although the recipient was just born under a week ago I won't be meeting her for two more weeks so I am actually done *gasp* early for once!<br /><br />I did by the way figure something else out during this project. I'd bought an insurance hank but the yarn store owner hadn't wound it for me because she didn't think I'd need it. But tight knitter that I am I did end up a little bit short. I was 5 rows from binding off when I ran out of yarn. Since I'm trying NOT to buy yarn lately and didn't want to make a special trip I decided to try to wind it myself. I found this great video on the <a href="http://www.knittinghelp.com/dynamic/php/video/index.php?file=/bas-tech-more/center-pull-ball-rds.mpg">Knitting Help</a> website and gave it a shot. And here it is, ta da!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/744/1955/1600/P1000058.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/744/1955/320/P1000058.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It worked out pretty well, it didn't get stuck or tangle while I was finishing up. I'm going to save this yarn and make something for my daughter, maybe a little purse or something.<br /><br />So...my <a href="http://www.woolandcompany.net/">LYS</a> is having an SnB Happy Hooker night in a couple of weeks! The first 30 people to sign up get the yarn (Patons Classic Wool) and hook to make the One Skein Scarf. There will also be crochet instruction that night so that everyone can make the scarf. I'm signed up! I can't wait, I've been interesting in crochet as well and I've messed around with it a little but I think I need some in-person instruction so that I know for sure that I'm doing it right. My sister picked up SnBHH for me last week and I've been following the directions. Here's a little practice swatch of single crochet...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/744/1955/1600/Picture%20004.3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/744/1955/320/Picture%20004.3.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>LesleyKnitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02088443828224972748noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19699146.post-1152582648541683642006-07-10T20:32:00.000-05:002006-07-14T13:53:54.610-05:00Soooooooooo close to doneOkay, yet ANOTHER gigantic lapse in blogging! But I am nearly finished with Mollie's blanket, just need to do 18 (or was it 20?) rows of seed stitch and it'll be complete! Just in time too since she's due in a couple of weeks. When that's done I'm going to see what UFOs may be lurking in my knitting tote.<br /><br />So, it looks like late August and early September will provide LOTS of knitting time for me - DH and I are going to China! We're going as part of DH's MBA program for 2 1/2 weeks and we'll be visiting Beijing, Shanghai, Tibet and Hong Kong. I'm excited but nervous about leaving the kids for so long, ugh!<br /><br />Edited to add...<br /><br />Here's a (blurry) picture of the blanket I'm almost done with!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/744/1955/1600/Picture%20001.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/744/1955/320/Picture%20001.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>LesleyKnitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02088443828224972748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19699146.post-1147283030980554212006-05-10T12:11:00.000-05:002006-05-10T12:43:51.076-05:00Yes, I'm still here...Wow, what is WITH me? It's been months since my last post. I am happy to report that the 1st Punk Rock Backpack is complete. Here is my niece sporting it...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/744/1955/1600/DSC01773.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/744/1955/320/DSC01773.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I am so glad to be done with it! The niece's birthday was almost 2 months ago so it's a very late gift. I felt so bad I ended up sending her a card with money!<br /><br />So I still have the other monkey bag to finish (already sent THAT niece her card and money LOL) and I started on the Big Bad Baby Blanket (from SnB) for my friend Mollie. I tried taking a picture but my digital camera seems to be on the fritz. So I'll just post a link to the yarn. It's <a href="http://www.cascadeyarns.com/cascade-sierra.asp">Sierra Quattro (Cascade) in #87 - the green, pinks and blue.</a><br /><br />Other than that I'm still trying to finish up on other projects, I have a severe case of not-enough-knitting-time right now. My work has kept me busy and my son just turned 4. I've also been doing a lot of planting in the yard, I'll try to get some pics up of that once there are some blooms :D I am new to gardening and I LOVE it! So between that and knitting I've picked up two hobbies in the past year :D<br /><br />Speaking of hobbies I have been reading a good book called '<span style="font-weight: bold;">The Distant Land of My Father</span>'. It's about Shanghai in the 30s.<br /><br />Well, I have to make a dent in my work today before I pick up the kids. Hopefully I'll have a productive evening of knitting and some pictures to show for it!LesleyKnitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02088443828224972748noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19699146.post-1141869483992702702006-03-08T19:41:00.000-06:002006-03-08T19:58:04.016-06:00Wake up, you funky monkeySooooo..................I think I may actually LIKE intarsia *gasp!* After ripping the monkey out and abandoning it for two weeks (three?) I'm back on it and it's going much better. I'm twisting like crazy and have about 18 bobbins hanging off the back (one for every little color section) but it's not too shabby. So without further ado, I give you the funky monkey!!!!!!!!!!!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/744/1955/1600/DSC01678.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/744/1955/320/DSC01678.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />(oops, sorry about my toe and pajama pants ending up in the picture)<br /><br />So there are a couple of areas that will need some double stitch but otherwise I'm pretty pleased and I think my nieces will like it. Did I mention I am making one for EACH of my nieces and their birthdays are both in March so I still have one more backpack (and one more intarsia monkey) before this is over? But actually I'm enjoying the entanglement of it all. And by the way, I'm using Knitpicks Wool of the Andes and I really like it! I wish the color palette was broader but it knits up very well.<br /><br />Onto books...I'm in the middle of <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Kite Runner </span>and if I didn't have the backpacks to worry about I'd be finished by now, it's an amazing book about Afghanistan from the 70s to now. On the other end of the spectrum I'm reading <span style="font-weight: bold;">Yarn Harlot: The Secret Life of a Knitter</span> which has me laughing out loud every page.<br /><br />Well, I got the kids into bed about 20 minutes ago and I promised myself the monkey face would be DONE tonight! So I need to get cracking, it's only 11 more rows, easily done tonight while watching last night's <span style="font-weight: bold;">House</span>. On 2nd thought I may need TWO shows to finish...LesleyKnitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02088443828224972748noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19699146.post-1140456664038865422006-02-20T11:15:00.000-06:002006-02-20T11:35:13.743-06:00Knitting WeatherWell, it is COLD here, over the weekend the highs were in the teens. I made a lot of progress on my felted tote and it was nice to have it resting in my lap warming me up a bit while I knit. Oh and my i-cord bind-off looks GREAT thanks to help from Kathy's sister at our knitting get-together a few weeks ago!<br /><br />I had to put the monkey bag on hold, first try on the intarsia was a mini disaster! I had holes (must twist!), the yarns all got tangled and it puckered because I carried the yarn too tightly. So I had to take a break. I'm debating doing the monkey with double stitch instead and saving the intarsia for after.<br /><br />Recently I went to an Oprah taping! It was such a great experience, she is well-spoken and intelligent. The topic was health and Dr. Oz was the guest. I already have his book so I was really excited to see him in person!<br /><br />Speaking of books I have now read TWO books in 2006! I picked up <span style="font-weight: bold;">The 5th Horseman</span> by James Patterson last week and finished it in a couple of days. It was a good quick read!LesleyKnitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02088443828224972748noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19699146.post-1138895726229037872006-02-02T09:42:00.000-06:002006-02-02T09:55:26.243-06:00Sooooo tiiiiiiiiired...................Well, tonight I am going to meet some fellow knitters at my friend Kathy's house. Apparently she has a knitting group. I'm looking forward to it since I really don't know anybody who knits except for my sister. Kathy's sister is an excellent knitter and she's going to help me with the I-cord bind-off for my felted bag. I still can't figure it out despite posting for help on KR. I think I need to see it for myself.<br /><br />I started on <a href="http://www.xtreme-knitting.com/Dinosaurspattern.pdf">Bronty </a>last night while I finished up LOTR: The Return of the King. He is so cute and Zach is going to love him! I'm glad I finally finished the LOTR trilogy. I wasn't too thrilled with the first two but RotK made it all worthwhile, it was incredible!<br /><br />I am REALLY exhausted today. Kyra was up in the night with tooth pain and finally I took her into the guest bedroom and laid down with her. She is a crazy sleeper, moving all over the place. And a few times she woke up ready to play - at one point I awoke to her blowing on my face! So after Zach goes to school it will be naptime for K and me. I better set an alarm so I don't miss picking Zach up.<br /><br />Just 9 days left til my moms' group has their big fundraiser of the year. The group raises money for our community - schools, the library and families in need. We have an auction every year to raise money and I'm on the committee that organizes it. I'm still trying to get donations from a few businesses but it's frustrating. I wish some people would just call back and decline instead of not returning my calls.LesleyKnitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02088443828224972748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19699146.post-1138639186045981332006-01-30T09:48:00.000-06:002006-01-30T10:39:50.413-06:00Christmas in JanuaryYes, we celebrated Christmas last night, kind of. My friend Rachel hosted an ornament exchange/cocktail evening/dinner at her house last night. We really had such a good time! I finished my ornament yesterday and here it is...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/744/1955/1600/DSC01647.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/744/1955/320/DSC01647.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It was so funny, someone opened it and everyone was like "umm" and then when they found out I knit it they were like "Oh so cute!" Ha! I got a really cute snowman ornament from my friend Jill to add to my tree.<br /><br />So I'm realizing how bad I've been about reading since I began knitting. I haven't read nearly as much lately - as of right now I have finished ONE book in 2006. Ugh! And the book I read was "A Million Little Pieces" so I feel like I have to read something non-controversial now. My book group picked "The Kite Runner" so I started on that one. I noticed that it does say fiction on it so there's no question! Honestly I wasn't surprised by the fact that AMLP wasn't all true. I mean between the root canal and the fact that he was recollecting events in such detail as he was detoxing I was skeptical. I did watch when he was on Oprah last week and although I don't feel like I was "duped" I was really annoyed by James Frey. He just sat there and barely said a word. He really should have had more to say. At this point he should have just come clean and said why he "altered details".LesleyKnitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02088443828224972748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19699146.post-1137499391222305942006-01-17T05:44:00.000-06:002007-09-27T12:48:28.557-05:00Done and done!My daughter's sweater is finally done! I have been wrestling with it for 4 months and finally have it completed with a few minor changes. First, I could not for the LIFE of me figured out the buttonhole row and after frogging that row 10 times I decided the sweater would be button-free. Funny thing about that is that when I tried the sweater on Kyra the other night the first thing she did was pull it together and try to button it! I was in tears laughing so hard at her attempts! The other thing that changed was the collar. It should have folded over but I got so sick of the ribbed trim that it is now a short collar. Sooooo, without further ado here is the sweater...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Fh4fmJ3cI8gc-vJggIjAEh3UkOJGD_btd2RdatBpP9i-vI8n499vAZUoDND7VXHHpPshnr9zMc9mFc9svg_kLJ6eZcQPmamPlQY-epjlNPS8PrI6zB7eI9OHl1CiX1JWYpmemA/s1600-h/DSC01612.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Fh4fmJ3cI8gc-vJggIjAEh3UkOJGD_btd2RdatBpP9i-vI8n499vAZUoDND7VXHHpPshnr9zMc9mFc9svg_kLJ6eZcQPmamPlQY-epjlNPS8PrI6zB7eI9OHl1CiX1JWYpmemA/s200/DSC01612.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5114942190117375954" border="0" /></a><br /><br />So now that I'm free of that sweater (at least until I attempt another one) I'm off to new things. I had a trip to the LYS yesterday (<a href="http://www.woolandcompany.net/default.aspx">Wool and Company</a> in Geneva) and picked up a skein of Cascade 220 in charcoal. I already have two skeins of Cascade 220 in Garnet and I'm going to make the <a href="http://secure.elann.com/images/image1/p3222268.jpg">Two Old Bags kitchen sink bag</a> with them. It'll be my foray into the felting world.<br /><br />I also picked up a skein of green Cotton Fleece to make my son these adorable little <a href="http://www.xtreme-knitting.com/Dinosaurspattern.pdf">dinosaurs</a>. Aren't they cute? He loves dinosaurs and since I made Kyra the sweater he's been asking what I'm going to knit for him. I just bought the one skein and I'm going to give the brontosaurus a try first.<br /><br />Since the whole DPN thing clicked for me I've been fascinated with making socks. On whim I picked up a ball of <a href="http://www.lionbrand.com/graphics/yarns/310-203b.jpg">Lion Brand Magic Stripe sock yarn</a> and now I'm making the first sock with them. I'll post a picture another time, I just realized the ones I put on the computer are fuzzy but I think I have a better picture on the camera downstairs.<br /><br />Last note: my sister learned to knit! She recently took a class with her friend and she's making a scarf! It's looking really good and I'm so excited that we have yet another thing in common. We're very close anyhow and now we can knit while we hang out!<br /><br />Okay, gotta go get ready for the day. We have a playdate this morning with my good friend Mollie and her little girl!<br /><br />Lesley<br /><br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><a href="http://secure.elann.com/images/image1/p3222268.jpg"></a>LesleyKnitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02088443828224972748noreply@blogger.com2