Knitting Dragonflies

I begin to wonder if the number of sweaters I have planned to knit is similar to the length of the hair on a wooly worm. If so, we are in for a severe winter. It all began in the middle of summer, it’s hot, humid and I’m sweating. But for some reason keep begin drawn to bulky yarn, and sweater patters. Now I’m at that point in my life when I can have a full blown hot flash, anytime, anywhere. And I haven’t worn a sweater, unless it was a cardigan that I could whip off in an instant. OK, I need to back up, maybe it actually started last winter. The winter of 09 here was a bad one, we had a huge ice storm and lost power in the house, (and most of the city) for days. Some residents in Kentucky were out for 2 weeks, it was brutal. During that time we stayed in he house and bundled up. Rummaging through the closets and locating that specific item is difficult, especially with nothing but a flashlight. It was then, that the insanity began. I didn’t find what I was looking for,...

If you have the new Spin Off mag , you have probably read the fantastic article by Michael Cook about Growing your own silk , and his in depth website Wormspit. Well, I fell in love with the little wiggly spinners. A relatively new spinner, and I have only spin with a silk hankie ( or matwatas) once. But I knew I had to have some of the voracious little guys.   I’m planning on letting them all live out their natural life span, all of the info I have found indicate that if you desire the silk for thread, the worm must be killed while in the cocoon (the cocoon is one long filament), but if using to spin, it is not necessary to do that. More info at Peace silk Here are my eggs My husband had asked me “is there anything you would like me to get you for your birthday?”. And so  as I set out on an adventure, come with me on my wormy quest for silk. I hope to be able to make some silk hankies and dye them . I found a nice tutorial on how to dye them by Constance Ros...

Designs By Vanessa Vanessa lives in Arizona (lucky thing) and has an obsession for all things birdie. Her shop is fun just like her items. Charming Chickadee Necklace $25.00 Song Sparrow Earrings $15.00 Iron On Applique Patch - Pretty Birdie, Little Birdie or Speedy Turtle $3.00 These are just a few of her darling things. She blogs at Designs by Vanessa

When a pattern tells you to get gauge . I only wish it were that simple. Practically every fitting problem can be due to gauge. Go to you LYS and ask them for help with a pattern fitting problem and what are they going to ask you?  Got gauge? I started a sweater recently, and knitted my gauge swatch at work during my lunch break. Big mistake, evidently I’m a uptight knitter at work (you think?). I dutifully knitted, washed and measured my swatch, calculated my gauge and started off.  Have you ever been blindly knitting along thinking, “this looks a little big”, but you keep knitting? (Because you know you have gauge).  Listen to that little voice in your head, that’s your knitter’s intuition speaking to you. Get your ruler out and measure, your gauge is a fluid number, a force of nature, ever changing, like the wind. (especially during stressful times) Here is a great in depth article from Knitty and Jenna Wilson about gauge and yarn substitutions.   Wa...

Here are some links I’ve run across that are too good to keep to myself. There are so many great artists out there, here are some with free patterns.   Knitty fall 2009 out!! The Mountain Mom Report blog has a tutorial for a cosmetic case, I think this would be great to hold some knitting accessories, or carry along with socks to knit. Crochet a linen grocery tote with The Purl Bee Just in time for Halloween crochet a scary Eyeball with optic nerve! Thanks Crochetninja A great combo of knitted hat, scarf and mittens patterns from Pickles , nice yarn also. Get some exercise, and make some memories from by little hands , make a nature wreath to hang on your door. I love this girly backpack from My little City girl free pattern, crochet This would make a great knitting tote, pattern from Moda Bakeshop You know those coil less safety pins we love, Riot of Daisies found them in plastic   Enjoy these, quick go now and create something!

Evidence that life is a like yarn, sometimes it gets knotty, but with patience you can work it out, or if all else fails, cut it and tie a knot. This knitting story begins with a knitting girlfriend, a birthday and a series of catastrophes . I started knitting the felted knotted up bag because a friend was having a birthday. She has been knitting for about a year and has been admiring my felted bag. Her partner wanted to buy her some yarn so she could make one, but she was a total non knitter. So enter me.Armed with a budget, and a pattern, I set out. I find the perfect yarn and it was on sale! Yay! A lovely kettle dyed yarn that was perfect. I couldn’t resist buying some yarn for myself, and decided I would knit the purse with her.   I love this photo, it came in an email, does anyone know who these two women are? I feel like I should recognize them.   A week before her birthday a series of disasters happen, the worst one is that her uninsured father in in an ex...

Yeah, we know it, we are talented and knitter’s know how to look good in their knits. Last year, we were all knitting or crocheting the big neck wraps. Lots of patterns everywhere, in fact we have been knitting and crocheting them for a couple of years. Now, our scarves are showing up everywhere on the runways…. This year we have all price ranges Derek Lam scarf $35, Armand Diradourian scarf $438, Fendi scarf$180, Anna Kula scarf $225 to name a few. Instead of looking to big name designers, look to the “real designers” of these warm and beautiful items. Tudora by by Cheryl Marling she blogs at a simple yarn Aibhlinn by Mary Burr Baby it’s Cowled Outside by Megan Granholm who blogs at loop de doo Chic Cabled Cowl by Elizabeth at Loop Knits, and she has more patterns. Misti International , chunky, fast pattern ( rav link ) From Hello Yarn this classy Irish hiking scarf ( rav link ), and her Besotted Scarf ( rav link) Just to get you started, find some yarn, get your needles out an...

It all started with the book by  Melissa Morgan-Oakes ( rav link ). Knitting two socks at a time. I have tried several other methods of knitting two at a time socks and this is the one that “clicked” for me. The greatest thing about knitting two at a time besides not having the “second sock syndrome” is any alterations you make in the pattern, are immediately done on each sock. I had trouble writing it down, (thinking I’ll remember I did this), ha, no telling how long it would be between each sock.     2 at a time Sailor’s Delight Socks I love her book and the patterns. Almost all of the patterns are for socks I would actually make and wear, or gift to someone. Hot tip!! She is in process of writing another book! The second book will be out in April of 2010 and is toe-up, two at a time.     2 at a time Berry Season socks I did try other methods before this one made sense, if this book doesn't work for you try some others: Knitting Circles Aroun...

Upon a suggestion from a fellow Plurker, I am converting a pattern that I am knitting, to a top down pattern. I am well versed in knitting in the round, bottom up sweaters . I found and fell in love with Elizabeth Zimmerman early in my knitting life. But have found limited info on top down sweaters. Bottom up in the round sweaters made me convert any pattern I could into this type of construction. When you are done, there are none to few pieces to put together, your good to block and wear. Top down, in the round sweaters have had the same effect on me, plus, as everyone points out, you can try them on as you go. I feel like I am “in the flow”when knitting this way. I didn’t think trying them on would be a great plus, but it is. Now I am in search of more top down construction books and info. The best resources that I have found are: Barbara Walker’s Sweaters from the Top down, great book, good explanations, great section on increases, more types than I knew there was, and exam...