Knitting Dragonflies

Out on the front porch having coffee & a consult! Jodi doesn't seem to agree with me about the summer shawl.

I’ve been on a knitting break. I use to think I could knit through all things, but that has turned out false. I did finally perk up one day and think, “I need Yarn!” To anyone else who needs some knitting inspiration… Photo is Night Light from https://www.flickr.com/photos/donald_palansky_photography/ Go check out more of his inspirational photos Keep knitting!

So I have been looking at Kimono’s and kicking around the idea of sewing a Kimono cover of some type for a couple of years. I’ve watched numerous YouTube videos on how to make the pretty flowy ones that look sexy. But couldn’t find a scarf or fabric that I wanted to make one out of. Cut to me online looking at things, I ran across some Kimono tutorials again, and  thought Oh! I have some fleece that I bought to make a hoodie for a present, and that never happened so maybe I could make a kimono robe from it! I made one once from a real pattern and loved it and wore it for years. But I don’t want to invest in buying a pattern. I run across this vague tutorial on http://www.instructables.com/id/Instant-Cozy-Kimono-Robe-Made-from-Blanket/ . Interesting, but I was having a hard time understanding how to put it together, Sew lines??? This is how I figured it out!  Instructable directions, cut 3 lines in blanket. WTHeck?? OK I see, So I got my fleece out, and laid it out on the f...

Well, I read and looked at reviews, talked to people who had one, and finally purchased a Fit Bit. I decided on the one. I didn’t like the look of a rubber bracelet. Little did I know that this little device was going to launch me off of the sofa to crazily walk everywhere. I literally got hardly any exercise, my excuse was I’m always standing at work, and walking. And I do walk quite a bit of work, but seeing the numbers, for some reason really made it “click”. As David Sedaris  people either get a Fit Bit (or other activity monitor) wear it and when the charge runs out, put it in the drawer, or worry because they won’t be wearing it while it is charging. Well that was me. When to charge it? I’m loosing steps! Maybe I am slightly obsessed, one morning I dropped by fit bit one while transferring it from my sleep band (for my wrist) to my clip, and dropped it! It landed just on the corner, and it wound not record steps! I gave an involuntary shriek, and my husband says “what's wr...

I’m always on the look out of free knitting and crochet patterns. There are so many talented designers that publish online for free! I’ve started linking to these on my Facebook page, I’ve tried to I include some daily, but if not daily then 2-3 times per week.I may accidently link to a pattern that is not free, but that would be an oversight on my part. If you are interested in checking these patterns out I’ll leave my Facebook page link, not selling anything or capturing any info on anyone, just trying to share great patterns from Indy designers, and big name also! https://www.facebook.com/knittingdragonflies main page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Knitting-Patterns-and-Tutorial-Links/172573586122205 I actually am linking to patterns from both pages, different patterns, I was going to try to consolidate into one, but had people following both pages. Enjoy, and if you know of any great patterns, please share them with us! I also have a Pinterest page with free knitting patte...

I like to knit with unexpected materials. I’ve knitted with wire before and made some fun birdhouses, which held up well and have had many generations of bird families in them. ( See posts here ) I found some Sisal at my local Stuff Mart, and bought 4 balls. Ended up casting on with size 8 needle and about 20 stitches to test it out, and the result was two very nice mats to sit plants on in our sun porch. My original plan was to make a door mat, but I decided I would start small. In the meantime I’ve found some cheap trays and am making inserts for them to set plants etc.. on. The larger mat (above) is done on size US 13 needles and cast on 30 stitches and knit until it is long enough. The casting on it the hardest part of the process. Then I cast off and I did a row of single crochet all around to make it neater looking. I had though of crocheting an entire mat, but this proved to be too hard on my fingers. Before soaking above, all wavy & stiff     ...

My husband and I have spent much time in the Smokies. Good memories of hiking and knitting and great adventures. I love this photo from Dave Allen Photography, Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Morning Haze at Oconaluftee I couldn’t resist sharing it! I would love to be there looking out over the hills and casting on a new project. Where have you been knitting lately? May your knitting needles fly as fast as Dragonflies….