I Gave My Spinning Wheel

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

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

Nice, Warm, Woolly Socks

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

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

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

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

My Calendar

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

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

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

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

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!

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!

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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.