Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Back from the Reunion
Sadly the week is over. A wonderful time was had by all, friendships were forged and old ones renewed. It feels wonderful to be in the bosom of a rollicking, loving family.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Has it been a month?
Oy-vey! I've been too busy knitting, riding, and reading other people's blogs that I've neglected my own. My new goal is to make this thing more interesting, and we'll start by including some instructions for making this great clear-stamp storage thingy. I outright copied it from an item I found in Michael's in the Tim Holtz section, so I'm going out on a limb to say this is an out-right rip-off.
First of all - Roger gave me a big box of scrap paper a few years ago that came in a really pretty 12x12 box.You'll need a similar box and you'll have to kill and eviscerate an old ring-binder for the ring-binder part. Just get a craft knife and have at it. Trim the chipboard away from the binder part.
Then I scored two of the corners so the sides will fold out flat. Glue the top on with some kind of heavy-duty glue and let it cure for at least 24 hrs. At this time you can glue down the ring binder part, too. Glue it down about 2 in from the edge.
For the storage sections, I used various photo pages that I had - some 3x3, some 4x5and some full-page. This arrangement makes it nice to see exactly what you have. My former system was using cd cases which became a little frustratying for me because it took so long to pick through them to find what i wanted. I'm going to blog next about my craft room and the organization. It's been a work-in-prgress for a long time and I think I've finally fine-tuned it to my exact specs!
Thanks for reading!
Rosie
First of all - Roger gave me a big box of scrap paper a few years ago that came in a really pretty 12x12 box.You'll need a similar box and you'll have to kill and eviscerate an old ring-binder for the ring-binder part. Just get a craft knife and have at it. Trim the chipboard away from the binder part.
Then I scored two of the corners so the sides will fold out flat. Glue the top on with some kind of heavy-duty glue and let it cure for at least 24 hrs. At this time you can glue down the ring binder part, too. Glue it down about 2 in from the edge.
For the storage sections, I used various photo pages that I had - some 3x3, some 4x5and some full-page. This arrangement makes it nice to see exactly what you have. My former system was using cd cases which became a little frustratying for me because it took so long to pick through them to find what i wanted. I'm going to blog next about my craft room and the organization. It's been a work-in-prgress for a long time and I think I've finally fine-tuned it to my exact specs!
Thanks for reading!
Rosie
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Got off my butt - or rather, on it.......
A former professor of mine at UF said that writing was %1 talent and %99 keeping your butt in the chair. Wise words. Also memorable (and rather nagging if I may say so) are the words of a friend, "What your story really needs is finishing."
Well, I can finish a sweater, that's for sure, but lately the unfinshed work is piling up.
I'm back from Tampa - a land where no one knows how to knit. The usual stores are minimally stocked with knitting supplies there. I was happy to see an old favorite still thriving: The Flying Needles in Belair. I used to haunt the place when my aunt & uncle lived around the corner on Los Gatos Drive. I did needlepoint then, mostly - and loved the selection available.
I'm going to plug Brenda's daughter, Leah Ordext, in her You Tube video singing with a Led Zeppelin cover band in New York.
The warmer weather has inspired me to try the crocheted fly bonnet. I'll add the address later when I dig it up. The saddle pad for Paint Bob was really great but I hated the look of it - I'm a white saddle pad person - so it become a great laundry room rug.
Thanks for reading.
Rosie
Well, I can finish a sweater, that's for sure, but lately the unfinshed work is piling up.
I'm back from Tampa - a land where no one knows how to knit. The usual stores are minimally stocked with knitting supplies there. I was happy to see an old favorite still thriving: The Flying Needles in Belair. I used to haunt the place when my aunt & uncle lived around the corner on Los Gatos Drive. I did needlepoint then, mostly - and loved the selection available.
I'm going to plug Brenda's daughter, Leah Ordext, in her You Tube video singing with a Led Zeppelin cover band in New York.
The warmer weather has inspired me to try the crocheted fly bonnet. I'll add the address later when I dig it up. The saddle pad for Paint Bob was really great but I hated the look of it - I'm a white saddle pad person - so it become a great laundry room rug.
Thanks for reading.
Rosie
Thursday, March 18, 2010
In case anyone is wondering whether or not this is the sock blog - yes, it is - I just got a little carried away with my knitting. I just heard of the impending arrival of friends Tyson & Kristy Hough’s first baby in August, so I’m going to be cheating on my sock count by making some of those socks in infant sizes. That’s one way to catch up! Also, one long car trip produces several pairs. There’s a long one this summer to the Motis reunion in the north woods of Minnesota. I’m really interested in branching out in my knitting so the next pair of grown-up socks I make will be lace. I still stand firm in my pledge: Fifty-two pairs in 2010.
I realize I might have made some sort of promise that I would use up all of my yarn before buying more, but I sort of forgot. I went to Mary Maxim yesterday and found Young Touch dk Egyptian cotton on sale for $2.99 a 50gm ball. I bought twenty-four balls in three beautiful colors. Was that wrong?
Completed my ‘beach sweater’ out of Cottontots and I have worn it enough to have thrown it in the wash already. We’ll see what happens to it! I have completed a pair of “corncob” slippers for my little friend Heidi Vosseler. They’re from a great old pattern book by Beehive yarn “Bazaar Novelties and Gifts”. If you’re interested in a quintessential toilet paper-roll cover, this is the book for you. They do have several cute tea-cosy patterns and some unique dog sweaters and other bizarre novelties. I’ll post photos as soon as Roger gets back with the camera…..
Til then, have a wonderful day. The warm weather is holding out so poor li’l paint pony gets his bath today!
I realize I might have made some sort of promise that I would use up all of my yarn before buying more, but I sort of forgot. I went to Mary Maxim yesterday and found Young Touch dk Egyptian cotton on sale for $2.99 a 50gm ball. I bought twenty-four balls in three beautiful colors. Was that wrong?
Completed my ‘beach sweater’ out of Cottontots and I have worn it enough to have thrown it in the wash already. We’ll see what happens to it! I have completed a pair of “corncob” slippers for my little friend Heidi Vosseler. They’re from a great old pattern book by Beehive yarn “Bazaar Novelties and Gifts”. If you’re interested in a quintessential toilet paper-roll cover, this is the book for you. They do have several cute tea-cosy patterns and some unique dog sweaters and other bizarre novelties. I’ll post photos as soon as Roger gets back with the camera…..
Til then, have a wonderful day. The warm weather is holding out so poor li’l paint pony gets his bath today!
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Happy (Soggy) weekend
Finished a beach sweater out of Bernat Cottontots in "Pretty in Pink", a lovely toe-shoe pink. I really don't like knitting the stuff all that much, but the purchase of Addi straight needles sped the job along in the end. I have everything perfectly blocked and ready to stitch together. I've knitted so many sweaters that i just pieced together some instructions off of basic sweaters and just went my own way - it's actually the first sweater I have ever made that fits.
I do have one aside note to make on the above, one which I believe is crucial in making sweaters that fit: SWATCH SWATCH SWATCH!!!!!!!!! I never thoght I would hear myself say it, but there you go. I also have found that swatching is a really good excuse to knit when you just want to....knit.
A most useful book when it comes to basic knitting: "The Yarn Girls' Guide to Knits for All Seasons" by Julie Carles and Jordana Jacobs. I made my beach sweater from the "Separation Sweater" pattern.
Happy KNitting! Let me know if you are around......
I do have one aside note to make on the above, one which I believe is crucial in making sweaters that fit: SWATCH SWATCH SWATCH!!!!!!!!! I never thoght I would hear myself say it, but there you go. I also have found that swatching is a really good excuse to knit when you just want to....knit.
A most useful book when it comes to basic knitting: "The Yarn Girls' Guide to Knits for All Seasons" by Julie Carles and Jordana Jacobs. I made my beach sweater from the "Separation Sweater" pattern.
Happy KNitting! Let me know if you are around......
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Happy Sunday
Happy Sunday to all of you out there. (Anyone?)
I'm veering off a little from my sock knitting to make a summery "beach" sweater. It's out of Bernat Cottontots, and to tell you the truth - I am not sure if I like the stuff or not. It's funky to knit. It doesn't flow smoothly on the needles. I've tried several different kinds: plastic, metal, bamboo, and not really happy with any of them. I'm almost finished with it so it's practically a moot point.
A tip for others of you who knit and purl unevenly, making for odd rows in your work. Use two different sizes of needles. For instance, I tend to purl tighter than I knit, so I purl with a needle one size larger than what is in the directions. Try it and see if your work doesn't look better on the RS.
The saddle pad turned out great. Let me know if you find double worsted cotton anywhere!
I finished the garter stitch vest I made with left over Moda Dea silk n' Wool, a beautiful yarn that's been discontinued.
I'm going to knit a pair of socks this week, and knit a summery tank. I want a basic pattern but I'm going to attempt a more interesting stitch than stockinette or garter or seed! Maybe some nice diagonal pattern.... I have some TLC that needs to be used up.
Happy knitting until next time. Have a great week
Rosie
I'm veering off a little from my sock knitting to make a summery "beach" sweater. It's out of Bernat Cottontots, and to tell you the truth - I am not sure if I like the stuff or not. It's funky to knit. It doesn't flow smoothly on the needles. I've tried several different kinds: plastic, metal, bamboo, and not really happy with any of them. I'm almost finished with it so it's practically a moot point.
A tip for others of you who knit and purl unevenly, making for odd rows in your work. Use two different sizes of needles. For instance, I tend to purl tighter than I knit, so I purl with a needle one size larger than what is in the directions. Try it and see if your work doesn't look better on the RS.
The saddle pad turned out great. Let me know if you find double worsted cotton anywhere!
I finished the garter stitch vest I made with left over Moda Dea silk n' Wool, a beautiful yarn that's been discontinued.
I'm going to knit a pair of socks this week, and knit a summery tank. I want a basic pattern but I'm going to attempt a more interesting stitch than stockinette or garter or seed! Maybe some nice diagonal pattern.... I have some TLC that needs to be used up.
Happy knitting until next time. Have a great week
Rosie
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Time to type!
I can't believe practically an entire month has gone by and I haven't updated my blog. I have been knitting, though - which is most important. I know I swore to not buy any more yarn - but I did. I bought eight cones of double-wopsted cotton for a saddle pad and have whipped through more than half of it already. If I don't have enough for the pad I'll just turn it into a rug.
BTW - if anyone is here and is reading this, do you have any insights into finding some double-worsted cotton yarn? I know Sugar n Cream (Peaches n Cream? I can't remember - one is the US company, the other is Canadian) carries a line of it but their retailers are mostly in the Carolina area. (Looks like I'll be visiting Rick & Rebecca soon in their new Murphy digs.)
We were in the Keys form the 2 to the 11th of February and I met three knitters at the Seafarer. The first was Carol from Maryland - a mad sock knitter who introduced me to HiyaHiya nine-inch circulars. Then I met a really nice girl from Tampa but didn't get her name, and then there's Matt- the knitting jet pilot and future The Bachelor star. I'm serious, and he flies for JetBlue BTW.
While I was in the Keys I knitted two pairs of socks. (Might've been three - I'm ahead in my count and getting cocky.) I tried a new cast-on, which is the closed-toe method in Janet Fehfeldt's book Toe-Up Techniques. It makes a nicer toe for me than the figure-eight, which needs to be tweaked endlessly until it's right. I have stuck with the figure-eight for my new experiment:felted pointe-shoe pads, as it's smoother.
Current sock count:6
"See" you next time!
BTW - if anyone is here and is reading this, do you have any insights into finding some double-worsted cotton yarn? I know Sugar n Cream (Peaches n Cream? I can't remember - one is the US company, the other is Canadian) carries a line of it but their retailers are mostly in the Carolina area. (Looks like I'll be visiting Rick & Rebecca soon in their new Murphy digs.)
We were in the Keys form the 2 to the 11th of February and I met three knitters at the Seafarer. The first was Carol from Maryland - a mad sock knitter who introduced me to HiyaHiya nine-inch circulars. Then I met a really nice girl from Tampa but didn't get her name, and then there's Matt- the knitting jet pilot and future The Bachelor star. I'm serious, and he flies for JetBlue BTW.
While I was in the Keys I knitted two pairs of socks. (Might've been three - I'm ahead in my count and getting cocky.) I tried a new cast-on, which is the closed-toe method in Janet Fehfeldt's book Toe-Up Techniques. It makes a nicer toe for me than the figure-eight, which needs to be tweaked endlessly until it's right. I have stuck with the figure-eight for my new experiment:felted pointe-shoe pads, as it's smoother.
Current sock count:6
"See" you next time!
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