Nittineedles

Shetland Lace Shawl

2011-12-09T10:51:00.001-08:00

Many years ago I found this beautiful baby shawl in an old knitting book that belonged to my mother. I knit it, for the first time, when I was only 15 years old. Since then I have knit dozens; for my three children, my 8 grandchildren and custom ordered sales.

I have adapted the original pattern to modern knitting terminoligy and knit several shawls to make sure there are no errors in my pattern. The shawl in the photo was knit with acrylic yarn and not blocked. If it was knit with a natural fibre it could be blocked to a larger size, opening up the stunning lace design.

I designed my Ribbons and Lace Christening Gown to be a perfect match to the Shetland Lace Shawl.
Each of these PDF patterns can be purchased from my Etsy Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/Nittineedles

Ribbons and Lace Christening Gown

2011-12-09T10:22:00.001-08:00

This is one of my most popular patterns. It took me months to design and I knit not just one but two samples to make sure there were no errors in the pattern.

The gowns in the photos were knit with acrylic yarn and were not blocked. If the dress was knit with a natural fibre the skirt could be blocked for more length.

This hierloom quality Christening gown was designed to be a perfect match to the Shetland Lace Shawl.

Each of these PDF patterns can be purchased from my Etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/Nittineedles

My Etsy Shop

2011-11-01T11:56:00.001-07:00

Just click on a picture to see the details for each PDF knitting pattern or hand knit item.

My New Blog

2008-05-17T13:43:00.002-07:00

and lots of free patterns can be found at: http://greasy.com/nittineedles/ and http://nittineedles.blogster.com/

Just Finished

2007-04-27T17:04:00.000-07:00

Baby jacket and hat made with pink chenille and multi coloured eyelash yarn plyed together.

More Knitting

2007-04-26T01:32:00.000-07:00

This next one is the cardigan I knit up for my two year old grandson's third birthday this summer. It was supposed to be for Christmas but I expect he'll have out grown it by then. It's just a basic V neck cardigan that I've added some cables to.

I finished this pullover for myself. I call it my gold leaf sweater. This is not my design. It's from Paton's. The good news is: IT FITS!
Close up of the leaves and berries.

Damn Cat

2007-04-20T23:40:00.000-07:00

If I didn't love her so much I'd cook her up for dinner!

My First Handspun Knit Shrug

2007-04-20T23:33:00.000-07:00

My first knit item from my first ball of wool I spun on my first spinning wheel. After taking the picture I was able to step back and look at it with fresh eyes. I no longer consider it to be as hideous as I thought it would when it was still on the needles. Actually, it looks pretty darn good. It fits. It's warm. I love my new shrug! Maybe I should write down the pattern before I forget what I did.

I ran out of my home spun (light blue stripes on right sleeve and across most of the back) so I found a cake of denim blue Buffalo Wool and spun it up to finish the left sleeve. With all the different colours in it I don't think it's too noticeable.

My First Ball

2007-04-20T23:28:00.000-07:00

As per the instructions, I soaked the skein in hot water and dish detergent to set the twist. Then I rinsed the detergent out in more hot water and slung it in the washing machine to spin out the rinse water. It took forever to dry, draped over the back of my rocking chair strategically placed near the gas fireplace, but once it was I wound it into the thing of beauty you see below.

The next step is to find a pattern for something useful for myself, that only needs 100g and knit it up.

A Couple More Firsts

2007-04-20T23:10:00.000-07:00

First bobbin full of my hand spun wool.

As you can see, I have improved. Not by much but I have improved.

First skein on my niddy noddy. Apparently, spinners use cutesy names too.

My yarn looks much better on the niddy noddy as lots of the kinks got stretched out. The next step is to tie off my skein and wash it to set the twist. After it dries I'll wind it into a ball and knit something. I haven't yet decided on what to knit but whatever it turns out to be will be kept. I'm not giving away or selling any of my firsts.

I Gave My Spinning Wheel

2007-03-27T10:45:00.000-07:00

a whirl *yuk, yuk* and, as I expected, my first attempt at spinning was a complete and utter disaster but so was my first attempt at knitting so it really hasn't put me off. The instructions said to tease the rovings so I called it a fat, hairy gorilla but I think the roving is overly sensitive because it just wouldn't cooperate after that. No problem. My mom is coming for my birthday, next week and she'll show me what I'm doing wrong.

Also finished two more pairs of socks. One pair for my tootsies and a little pair from the leftovers.

My Spinning Wheel

2007-03-19T00:11:00.000-07:00

was delivered last Wednesday but I didn't have a chance to put it together until today. It came in a box about two feet by three feet and six inches high. I opened the box and immediately thought of Christmas Eves long past, sitting up 'til 3:00 am assembling whatever stupid toy the kids couldn't live without. I didn't count the bits and pieces of wood as I unwrapped them from their newsprint blankets but they littered the livingroom floor like shells on a beach. The instructions were interesting. Damn! I finally get to assemble something from an English speaking country (New Zealand) and there are no words. Just pictures. I suppose I could have knocked a good half hour off the six it took me to put it together if I hadn't put the cross pieces on upside down. I only hollered for DH when a rebellious screw refused to be tightened and when I needed an extra pair of hands.

Here is my little beauty. I'm going to give her a name once we get to know each other better. I only have one little problem. I can't use her. My rovings (fuzzy strips of wool that are spun into yarn) won't arrive until Wednesday.

Knittin' Funny

2007-03-06T22:30:00.000-08:00

Nice, Warm, Woolly Socks

2007-01-30T13:24:00.000-08:00

Santa put a gift certificate for my LYS (local yarn shop) in my stocking at Christmas. It was only for $25.00 so I had to take my time and choose wisely. I walked into the shop and realized I didn't have a clue what I wanted to knit, let alone which yarn I wanted to knit it with. I spent a good hour in the little shop waiting for something to scream, "BUY ME!" but all I heard was a shy, little voice saying, "You can buy me if you want to." so I did. The shy, little voice came from the shelves of sock yarn and I ended up spending a bit more than the gift certificate (Serves Santa right for being such a cheapskate). I bought one 100 g ball of blue, grey and white Regia for $12.95, two 50 g balls of yellow, tan, teal and white Confetti for $4.95 and one 100 g ball of denim blue and grey Austermann Step with Aloe Vera and Jojoba Oil for $17.99 for a total of $43.49 including tax. Now I just need to psych myself up to knit my nice, warm, woolly socks.

My Latest Work of Art

2007-01-26T15:40:00.000-08:00

Unfortunately, this one doesn't fit me either. It's waaaaay too small. I swatched! Really I did. Oh well, it's not too difficult to find someone smaller than me who I can give it to.
The colours are a tad deeper and richer than they appear in the picture.
I didn't use a pattern. It's just a basic vest with a tie front. I found the yarn at Walmart in a 1 lb. bag stating "100% Unknown Fibre" for $5.00. I suspect it's an acrylic chenille because it is soooo soft and silky to touch.
The lovely, brown t-shirt is not included.

My Spinning Wheel

2007-01-08T19:37:00.000-08:00

will be made in New Zealand, shortly. Then it will be shipped to my dealer in Greenwood, BC. Then my dealer will ship it to me. I should have it in seven to nine weeks. If I had known it was going to take that long I would have ordered it seven to nine weeks ago. :o(

Bug Sweater

2007-01-02T16:57:00.000-08:00

I knit two of these for a couple of my grandsons.

My Calendar

2007-01-01T17:18:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year again.

"Knitting Pattern-a-Day Calendar 2007"

I see they have April 5 on display. Were they to have shown the weekend of June 16/17 you could have seen my pattern that was published. Oh heck, I'm gonna show it to you anyway.

And The Wheel Goes Round And Round

2006-12-26T20:20:00.000-08:00

Traditional Wheel
Your First Wheel! Start your Creative Journey...

If you're starting out and looking for a good first wheel, I would suggest the Traditional with scotch tension. This is a very popular wheel because it is so versatile. It's easy to learn to use, with simple add-on kits that allow you to adapt the wheel to specific types of spinning as you begin to experiment more.

The Traditional is available in single or double drive. If you are left- handed there's a version especially for you. This wheel includes four bobbins and Lazy Kate.

As you can see, it is also a classically styled wheel made from beautiful New Zealand silver beech, so it will look great in your home.

-- Priced starting at $479.

I am adding my Christmas money to the money I've earned delivering newspapers and now have enough to buy my spinning wheel. It looks just like the one above but has a few extra features that brings the price, including tax and shipping, to $582.00. Of course it's Boxing Day so I can't order it yet and I don't know how long it will take to arrive after I do order it. So, I'm anxiously awaiting tomorrow.

Knitting With Cats

2006-12-09T10:55:00.000-08:00

I think Angel-Who-Isn't has finally clued in that when she curls up on Mommy's lap I'm not knitting to maliciously annoy her. It's just something I do. She used to lie quietly dozing for five or ten minutes before viciously attacking my hand and arm but now she seems to understand that if she doesn't like my yarn being dragged across her back, if she doesn't enjoy the sound of my row counter rattling in her ear, if she doesn't take pleasure in being bopped on the head and rump by the ends of my needles and if she doesn't revel under the blanket of sweater back (actually, I think she does like this one) then she is more than welcome to move to Daddy's lap or bunk down with the dog.

Another New Design by Nittineedles

2006-12-04T13:30:00.000-08:00

I have been a busy little knitter. Most of these are destined to be wrapped up as Christmas gifts for friends and family.

I needed a pair of fingerless gloves to wear while delivering my newspapers. I wanted to keep my hands warm but my fingers free to feel for the papers in my bag. Each time I made a pair I tweeked it in some way. I am now happy with the resulting pattern. Unfortunately, I think I'm addicted. I know the pattern by heart and have a mad urge to knit more.......more.......MORE!

You can find this pattern at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/Nittineedles

My New Hobby

2006-11-29T23:45:00.000-08:00

I have recently begun a new hobby. It is knitting related so I thought I'd mention it here. I am making stitch markers. I didn't think I'd be able to manage picking up those litttle beads and slotting them onto wires as I have very unsteady hands but I found it to be creatively satisfying and fun if not relaxing. It's another craft where I don't look particularly busy so DH feels free to chatter at me with a few questions thrown in for good measure. One day last week I resigned myself to the fact that I can only work on my stitch markers when I am alone in the house. I've made quite a few of them as Christmas presents for the knitters I know. I have also discovered that with a little reshaping they make nice wine glass rings for the non-knitters. I will be peddling my stitch markers, for $1.00 each, at any venue I come across. Wish me luck.

I Can Not Believe What I Did!

2006-10-21T00:50:00.000-07:00

I don't often make a mistake but when I do it's a lulu. I started knitting this gorgeous long sleeve, tunic length pullover with some luscious plum coloured wool I've been saving for something special. With a 4mm circular needle I knit the four inches of k2, p2 rib around the bottom (in the round). Then I knit a further three inches in stocking stitch. At that point I thought I should make sure it was going to fit me so I slipped half of the stitches onto a 3 3/4mm circular needle, wrapped elastics around the ends of the needles so as not to loose any stitches and tried the sweater on. It did fit fine so I removed the extra needle and continued working stocking stitch, in the round, until the body of the sweater measured 20 inches (I'm long in the body). I thought I should try it on again, just to be on the safe side but when I picked up the spare circular needle I realized it was the size 4mm that I had removed from the stitches and except for the first seven inches I had knit the body of the sweater with the 3 3/4mm needle. I refuse to frog it. I am in the process of loosing weight and with luck and some dieting and exercise maybe it will fit me next winter. If not, I have a sister who might like it.

Decision Made!

2006-09-03T22:01:00.000-07:00

Not only have I made my decision but I have also made the items I decided on. We've been back from vacation for over two weeks now and thought it was about time I posted what I made. There was enough yarn left over from the baby blanket to knit a matching jacket, bonnet and booties. It's another of my own designs. I kept the pattern simple and easy to remember but I didn't write any of it down so it is one of my unique creations.

We were still a day away from home when I finished the baby set so I decided to knit a baby bib using the Chinese Waves pattern. It has lots of nice little ridges to catch the slobber and strained whatever dripping from baby's chin.

Decisions! Decisions!

2006-07-29T19:53:00.000-07:00

My husband and I are going on vacation next week and I thought I'd take along my current WIP, an eyelet baby blanket. However, I started this blanket two weeks ago and I'm pretty sure I will finish it before we can get back home to the safety of my stash. I have nightmares about being stranded somewhere with nothing to knit; no yarn and no needles. So now I must choose another project. Should I start something big or should I just make slippers and dishcloths until I get back. Decisions! Decisions!

Ribbons and Lace Christening Gown

2006-07-18T23:09:00.000-07:00

Ribbons and Lace is the name of the Christening gown I designed to match the Lacy Baby Shawl in my previous post. It took me about two months to design and knit this but I am very pleased with how it turned out.

The pattern for this gown can be found here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/Nittineedles

Lacy Baby Shawl

2006-07-14T16:21:00.000-07:00

I call this Shetland Lace Shawl.

The Pattern for this shawl can be found here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/Nittineedles?ref=si_shop

Lacy Baby Shawl

2006-03-22T14:26:00.000-08:00

I had been working on a turquoise, lacy baby shawl as a gift for my grandson, Tyler, who is due on May 30th. The thin, cone yarn I was using had been found at a Salvation Army Store. To make the yarn thick enough I had to knit with two strands of it together. Everything was going swimmingly until I got about half way up the last side of the shetland shawl. That's when I knew for sure I wouldn't have enough yarn to finish the shawl. I frogged the entire thing and spent the next two days separating the two strands of yarn and rewinding them into balls. I paired the single strand of turquoise with a single strand of off white and started again. The shawl is turning out much nicer than the first one. The darker turquoise has been toned down to a nice light, heathery shade, much more appropriate for an infant. Another four weeks and it should be ready. I just hope Tyler appreciates the blood, sweat and tears (and swears) that have gone into it. LOL
I tried to get a picture but my scanner won't pick up the green and the shawl ends up looking like it's a grey/blue colour.

Dishcloths

2006-02-13T09:03:00.000-08:00

I had originally planned to knit two Valentine's Dishcloths for my mom and two for my younger sister but instead, gave one to each of my mom, sister and MIL. When I first designed this dishcloth I had only ever used store bought. Since then I have used the hand knit and found they shrink quite a bit. The first dishcloth I knit from my pattern would have been the size of a postage stamp after it was washed and dried in the machine so I had to resize the pattern for the next two. Then I ran out of time for the actual knitting part so I ended up with three dishcloths instead of the four I needed. Hence my MIL got the little one. It actually works out great because she told me it's too beautiful to use, also, she thinks it's a hot mat. So, as I suspected, hers will be put in a drawer somewhere, never to see the light of day again.LOL Valentines Day isn't until tomorrow so I'm knitting three more. One each for my two DDs and one for my DDIL. If my DS complains that I never knit anything for him I'll tell him his wife is more than willing to share her dishcloth.LOL

2nd Attempt at Posting My Blog

2006-02-06T11:25:00.000-08:00

My mom's slippers were well received and can you believe it? They matched the pants and top she just happened to be wearing. lol

Now I'm working on some Valentine's Dishcloths of my own design. I thought I'd give a couple each to my mom and younger sister who has been there every Sunday since our dad passed away, except for one when she was sick.

Guess I Should Have Tried Them On

2006-02-04T15:23:00.000-08:00

The moss green slippers I knit for my mom were too small. I know because we take the same size. Not much of a problem to fix. Just undid the top stitching and tinked back to the last pattern row, then added one more pattern. Fortunately I tried them on before I knit mine. Feet are getting a bit chilly. Think I'll go put on my new slippers. :o)

2006-02-03T17:03:00.000-08:00

I have finished a pair of moss green thrum slippers for my mom. I knit the slippers with Alafoss Lopi and used alpaca rovings for the thrum. They should keep her tootsies warm. It only took me an average of six hours to knit them so I knit a pair for myself as well. Mine are a royal blue with red and orange bits in it. Unfortunately, the groundhog didn't see his shadow yesterday so I probably won't have a chance to wear them until next winter.
The blue with silver thread baby blanket is coming along slowly. I'm making it for my sixth grandchild, Tyler, who is due around the end of May. I also have to knit the lacy baby shawl that I've knit for the previous five grandkiddies. Those along with the other baby things I've already knit should complete Tyler's Birth Day gifts.
My fingers are itching to start the forest green and brown alpaca vest I want to knit for myself. Sigh........................So much yarn. So little time.

2006-01-31T16:06:00.000-08:00

OK. Since I was able to figure out how to put my picture on here, I'm going to give this another go. Can someone, anyone, PLEASE, explain to me in very simple english how to get links to other bloggers? I am SOOO computer illiterate.

2005-12-20T19:43:00.000-08:00

Did you hear about the cat who swallowed a ball of yarn?
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She had mittens.

2005-12-05T21:52:00.000-08:00

I have purchased the book, "Knitting from the Top" by Barbara G Walker and I'm almost finished a three quarter length sleeve, V neck, pullover in salmon coloured Baby Silk (80% baby alpaca, 20% silk). It is so soft I can't help stopping knitting to pet my new sweater. I bought too much yarn and will have about 150g left over. Socks? Fingerless gloves? A scarf? Please help me decide.

2005-10-28T23:57:00.000-07:00

I spent some money on my addiction today. I bought four "Knitting Pattern-a-Day Calendar 2006" (because some of my designs have been published in it) and the book "Knitting from the Top" by Barbara Walker. I purchased them on line at elann.com so it will be a week or so before I have them in my hot little hands. I'm really looking forward to the book as I hate running out of yarn half way up the last sleeve or finding I could have made it another inch longer.
I'm currently working on a mohair jacket for myself, an Aran sweater for my sweety, DH, a little Aran sweater for my 15 month old grandson, thrummed mittens for my son and slippers for my youngest daughter and her three year old and 7 year old sons.