Knitting Dragonflies

I knitted a shrug pattern a bit ago, and it turned out very nicely, but I wasn’t happy with how it looked on me, or the functionality of it. The Shrug is often seen as a bridging item for beginning to intermediate knitters. An item for the “I’m tired of knitting scarves, hats and shawls etc.., but don’t feel like I’m up for a sweater yet”. It attracted me because I thought it would be easy mindless knitting for watching TV or visiting, and also a useful addition to my wardrobe. It was a lot of knitting. The pattern I picked was all stockinette stitch. Whew….really long and boring. I would recommend picking one with a simple pattern to keep it interesting. And while it looked nice, I didn’t find it to be very useful, for myself. My husband called it my buttwarmer, and that is a good description of it. It stayed open in the front, where I was cold, and bagged in the butt area, which I don't need to emphasize. I did like the shorter sleeves and  that it was large enough to put ove...

I was bogged down with my Dummy Clap Shawl (pattern by Anna Peck), I thought I needed something mindless to knit, but maybe I didn’t. It was too boring. I stopped knitting and thought I was going to frog it, but after seeing a video on 20 ways to wear a Eternity scarf, I’m thinking I’m going to keep knitting. Ave measurement of an eternity scarf = 30 x 80 inches. Even if you don’t knit one, you can sew one with knitted fabric or just buy one. I love this video! Check it out!! So I’m knitting again, I’ve also been buying some (ha, well maybe more than some or a few) knitting books and I’ve got lots of ideas!

I’ve had an energy spurt with the onset of spring and nicer weather. Thank goodness the sun has shown up, just in time. Here is what I have going on over here…. I pledged to finish my simple diamond lace shawl, and I am working on it! [ rav link ] I frogged my Kumara bed socks   [ rav link ] and decided I would use some of my hand dyed. I picked my Spicy Mama color way   I was anxious to see how it would knit up…just getting started, but I’m very pleased with the colors. I had some round bamboo handles in my stash that I have never used, I found a pattern by Patons, a nice cabled bag pattern , and decided I need a sunshine color for it. [ rav link ] I kettle dyed up several skeins of this I think it will make a pretty summer bag. I have been spinning with a girlfriend of mine, who is moving back to Michigan soon. She is the only spinner I know down here! Even though she is a new wheel spinner, she has already started wrapping and coil spinning! I am f...

Burrrr……It is cold here! We have had about 2 weeks of very cold weather for Southern Indiana. With temps in the single digits at night and in the teens during the day, we are bundled up and ready for some warmer temps. As usual, we are the marathon dog walkers, no fenced yard, and large dogs equals our own exercise routine. This has resulted in a hat knitting binge for me. Quick and warm, everyone needs a hat. My mother always taught me that most of the heat escapes through your head, and you need to wear that hat to stay warm. Now I have read the study that determined that may have been misleading , but when it’s 4 degrees out and the wind at 30 mph, I’m not going out without my hat. When the temp dips this low it feels great to put on a knitted wool hat and bundle up against the winds. The pattern I used is a free one from Bernat for bulky yarn, I used Bernat yarn felting natural wool in color 94310, (a pink/purple blend). On size 8 US circular needles, using the magic l...

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!