1. Been To A Wedding

    May 15, 2012 by Crystal

    Okay, I’ve been a lot more places than that since I last wrote. But I need to start somewhere, so that is where I am starting. My sister-in-law got married and we all had a blast. There were even crafts involved!

    Apparently there is a thing where a bride is given a wooden spoon that is she supposed to put around her wrist. It’s apparently taking the whole, “you are married now and should be chained to the kitchen” thing a bit literally. So I made a spoon all pretty and my little baby Rowan got to give it to her aunt at her wedding. No pictures of the actual hand-off, which went fairly well considering what it could have been like when you give a four month old a spoon, but here is a picture of the spoon.

    Wedding Spoon

    I tied some broad ribbon around in a bow and a loop for her wrist. Lace was wrapped around the handle to make it a bit prettier.

    The other craft was her garter! I actually really enjoyed making this even though I ended up having to hand stitch it because it was too slippery for my machine with the small seam allowance I needed.

    Wedding Garter

    I used the broad ribbon, sewn in half lengthwise. I then added lace to the top and bottom and ran an elastic through it. The little blue bow was tacked on after it was all complete. It’s really easy to make garters, it makes me wonder why anyone would buy them!

    Coming up soon: some FO pics and a recipe that I am obsessing over at the moment…

    Comments: No Comments | Categories: Sewing | Tags: ,

  2. Continuing Apace

    March 14, 2012 by Crystal

    It’s been a bit busy around here. It was so busy that I didn’t have time to mention that I went to ROME! I know, it’s crazy. If you would have told me 15 years ago that I will have lived in two countries other than Canada and been to places like Rome I would have laughed! I feel so lucky.

    Rome was magnificent. The weather was perfect and the city itself is beyond amazing. I am going to try and get my pictures onto flickr as soon as I can (I also have pictures of my first England trips that I need to post as well, talk about delayed!).

    There was knitting done while I was away. The gloves which are a replacement for those damn socks are looking good.

    Entangled Stitches

    This is the second time I have knit this pattern, Entangled Stitches. Last time I used Knitpicks Gloss in a beige, and this time I am using Berroco Ultra Alpaca Fine. I have to say I think the stitch definition was better with the Gloss, but the alpaca is warmer and I like the colour a lot more. The subtle shading in the yarn doesn’t help either, but who cares with such a gorgeous colour and smooth feel.

    For reference, here is the pair in Gloss:

    Winding Gloves

    These were gifted to my mom. You really can see the travelling stitches a lot better with it, but I just don’t like them as much. What do you think, is my current choice a mistake compared to the last pair?

    Even though the charts for this knit can make you cross eyed, I think I will be knitting it several more times (because everyone I know who sees them wants a pair!). I love it when I buy a pattern and get to knit it several times. Two Christmases ago I had a thing for Garter Stitch Mitts made from leftover stash, I’ve knit several EZ BSJ’s (I also got more Noro Nobori, so will be able to finish up that BSJ I currently have on the needles), two Rona Lace Shawls, and I could keep knitting Baby Bell Bottoms until the cows come home.

    Speaking of knitting, I am off to do some now. And edit some photos…

    Comments: 1 Comment | Categories: Knitting | Tags:

  3. $*&^#% Socks

    March 4, 2012 by Crystal

    This happens to me a lot. I start knitting some socks in a pattern I like with yarn I enjoy and then…

    $#@?! Socks

    They don’t fit. I am frogging the Nutkins.

    I don’t know if it’s my high arches or a too tight gauge or crappy patterns (or a combination of those three) but so many socks don’t seem to want to go over my heels. Stupid feet, being difficult.

    The saddest thing about this problem is that it’s not isolated. The Nutkins are not the only too-tight sock in my life. I have several pairs in my sock drawer that I only wear when I feel up to the struggle of getting them on my feet. I can’t even count the amount of times I have had to frog a sock in progress and ditch the pattern altogether because they are just too small. But the worst example of my sock crisis, the one that might just send me over the edge, is that the Cowboy Socks don’t fit either. Some of you might not remember them as I haven’t mentioned them in a while (the pain is too deep, I needed time to heal).

    Golden West Socks

    Frogging these would be too much, I just can’t. I think the solution may be to just frog the leg portion and then not work the decreases after I pick up stitches for the leg. There is a larger size included in the instructions, so I could just fudge the pick up to make the stitch count match and work the larger size for the leg. Such a pain! I just can’t face that much work again right now.

    I really love these socks and want them on my feet in a bad way, but I feel jilted. All this effort, time, love, and the socks repay me by being too damn tight. How can I keep being betrayed like this?

    I think a new sock measurement should be included with all patterns, the amount of give the sock has width-wise. It’s so heartbreaking to have to repeatedly pull out my work.

    So I cast on for some new gloves today instead. Take THAT, socks.

    Comments: 4 Comments | Categories: Knitting | Tags: ,

  4. Casting On

    February 26, 2012 by Crystal

    I have two new projects on the go and am actually finding little bits of time here and there to knit them. The first is a BSJ for Rowan out of the Noro Nobori I showed you last time.

    BSJ with some Noro

    I really like it so far but I will definitely need at least one more hank of this yarn, if not two. I may get two hanks so I can make it hooded. It’s working up to be about a one year size, which will be good timing for next fall/winter.

    The next project is for ME ME ME ME ME. Erm. It’s been a while since I’ve knitted myself something and I think it is starting to show!

    Nutkin in Zauberball

    This is Nutkin in Zauberball. The yarn was a birthday present from my friend Erin and I’ve always wanted to knit a pair of Nutkins. I haven’t worked a short row heel before so I hope I like the fit. I could have adjusted it for a different heel (afterthought heel comes to mind, which wouldn’t interrupt the colour progressions in the yarn) but I wanted to knit the pattern as is. Look at me, throwing caution to the wind! I am a crazy woman I tell you.

    Yep. Knitting a heel that I have never tried on a sock is about as exciting as it gets around here. Le sigh.

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  5. I Knitted!

    February 10, 2012 by Crystal

    Yes, I said “knitted”. No, I am not sure that is accurate usage. Yes, it should be.

    But I did, I did knitted er, knit. I finished up my husbands Christmas present – some knitted socks. They are super plain because that is how he likes them. Only the yarn adds a bit of interest.

    Matt's Socks

    It’s only recently that he discovered he likes handknit socks. I made him a pair a couple of years ago that he never wore. I kept trying to persuade him to try them on, but the only thing that got them on his feet was this cold house. He seemed kind of surprised that they kept his feet so warm. DUH, they are wool! So then he asks why he only has one pair. Well, when you never wear something I am not just going to waste my knitting time to make more of them. Now that he is a convert he definitely deserves more knit (knitted!) socks.

    You would think that all his family and friends that I have knit socks for would have convinced him to try them on sooner, they are always singing the praises of the handknit sock!

    As for upcoming knitting, I am marinating on making something out of this:

    Yarn Stash - Noro Nobori

    It’s Noro Nobori and I love it. At first I thought it was varigated, but it turns out that it’s actually long colour progressions, just like other Noro yarn. I know I shouldn’t be surprised by the fact that it is like all other Noro yarn. The hank was so deceiving! I am thinking it would make a good baby surprise jacket for the spring and summer months for little Rowan.

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