Knitting Dragonflies

It is so disappointing to pick out a knitting pattern, agonize over the yarn choice. And then complete the sometimes long process of swatching for gauge. Only to discover that you are so confused by the pattern that you give up. I’m sure this has happened to many of us for many reasons. Skill level of the knitter, and skill level of the pattern author, may be the foremost. Pattern writing is not easy, nor is understanding patterns. On the knitters side of things, I’ve found a good resource to help understand what the pattern is telling us to do, take a look at Dummies.com Understanding Knitting Patterns and Techniques. It covers abbreviations and knitting terms, common phrases and how to follow written stitch patterns, and also charts. This and your local yarn store, (along with Ravelry, I like to look there and see if everyone that is knitting the pattern is having any trouble or it is just me), will help you discover your way. Don’t forget to Google and print out the errata page ...

Finished up my Christmas trees, have a pink one and a white one. Pattern is from Helen Free, it is a fun and fast pattern. I would recommend it. White Christmas Tree, no ornaments yet, I’ll pick those out next year. I used snowflake buttons and some sparkly glass beads for this tree. I’ve been listening to Stash and Burn podcast while driving back and forth to my Dad’s house, which is about a 4 hour drive one way. I’m getting inspired to get knitting and am going to keep track of the yardage of yarn I knit up this year. *grin* see the KnitMeter.com , on my side bar, this tool is available for crochet, spinning and knitting, you can add it to your ravelry page and any blogs. Have fun and keep track of how much you knit with me this year! Now that I’m done with the holiday projects, I’m ready to start working on my Zuma tunic from Wendy Bernard’s Custom Knits 2 book. I’ve gotten to just below the arms, and I’m ready to get going on it again. Zuma tunic is a top down knit in the ...

My husband is retired now, and in the middle of painting the walls of the bedroom. He says he is going to remodel the whole inside of the house. *yay*  So far at only days into retirement he is working at a breakneck pace like he is at work. I told him he will have to slow down and enjoy himself. I picked out and bought the paint for the bedroom so long ago, (about 3 years minimum) I had forgotten what color it was. I called from work and he said he had started painting. So it was a pleasant surprise when I got home and discovered I still liked the paint color we had picked out. Now I think I will make curtains for the bed room. Paint is called silver grey and it is actually a warm grey, looks like it has a purple undertone to it in real life. Our bedroom had been lavender, maybe you can see the color at the far end of the photo past the bottom of his legs, back wall. Ugh, it was a paint color that I thought I would like but when it got on the walls, ick, I never liked it. Tre...

Wishing you Joy and Peace at the Holidays and throughout the New Year May your knitting be out of this world this year!  Got excited with my new camera. *grin* Happy Knitting! Taken in my backyard Christmas Eve, clear beautiful (and cold) night! Happy Holidays from Evansville Indiana. Pattern from Emfy's crochet (Helen Free), she has a selection of free crochet patterns. The tree, and the bling….I enjoyed making it so much I’m making a pink one now and bought some yarn for a white one. Check out these Ravelry people that have created one.

This season many of us will be on the road traveling. If you are like me, when packing I always have to have my knitting, and plan out what project(s) I’m taking with me. I always seem to forget something! My most forgotten item is a yarn needle, I have made one from many items and even just a piece of scotch tape on the end of the yarn, (shoe string like) to get me though. I love this site and use it often, no matter what area you are traveling though, plug in some cities and it will bring up the yarn shops, and reviews of them!  Lets you see the hours, and even has a “open right now” option, in case your confused about local time. Truly a life saver! Knitmap.com – Fun to use, even if you don’t have a yarn emergency, sometimes you just need to go squish some yarn while visiting family. My travel (must have) items for knitting, I like everything to fit in a zip lock bag I like to make a copy of the pattern and put it in a sleeve protector, also have a pencil to make notes on...

I’ve been knitting ornaments. Here are a few I’ve gotten done. I had planned on knitting one for everyone I work with, but that would be around 20+ ornaments, after knitting around 6 I decided I was not up to that!  Maybe some baking, of course it is already the 20th of Dec. Oops! Below are two stocking ornaments from the same pattern. Lion Brand Christmas Stocking, I knitted several in the first version with the green tree, and then decided to try a white tree. Free Pattern from Lion Brand Yarns pattern here Pattern is fairly easy, knitted flat and shaped then sewn together. and tree sewn in duplicate stitch. Below pattern knitted flat and then ready for duplicate stitch and sewing up. I also knitted some mitten patterns. Pattern also knitted flat and then sewn up on the sides. Pattern from Lion brand yarns pattern link here.  Turn out cute and fast, I’m knitting more of these, but don’t have photos yet. Happy Knitting!! Happy Knitting, do you have a favorite knitte...

I saw this little stocking ornament on the front of a Joann's ad and fell in love with it. After finding the pattern online I decided to knit it. Stocking ornament pattern here . I had a hard time finding some red and green yarn, everyone had sold out, I finally located some. Whew…. This pattern would be good for a beginning knitter also. the pattern is knitted flat, and the tree is done in duplicate stitch. I added the little bell on the top. Yarn used: White is Yarn Bee Boucle Traditions Brushed, The green yarn has a little tinsel like thread running  through it, I thought it would be perfect for the tree, Green Yarn is I Love This Yarn in Jelly Bean Sparkle, the Red is Lion Brand Jiffy which is a slightly fuzzy yarn color is True Red. I located all of these yarns at my local Hobby Lobby store. I had not used any of these before and am really pleased with the results. First photo is sock cuff and body, after dividing the foot into 3rds, and knitting for several rows on the...