Moses In The Cradle

This plant sits on the porch of my Mom's little travel trailer in paradise. It's called Moses in the Cradle. Little white flowers peek out of small pockets at the base of the plant when the sun is out, and go back in later in the day.

Nanny's Noro Tam

*Click on photo's to enlarge*
Here are the pictures of my Nanny wearing the Noro Silk Garden Tam. I finished it Saturday. I think it turned out very well and looks super cute on Nanny. I knit the crown in a right slanting swirl pattern by using a k2 tog decrease. An ssk decrease would have resulted in a left slanting swirl. I didn't put elastic in the head band, but I'm thinking about it.

Pattern for Ian's Gloves

Here is the pattern for these fingerless gloves. I adapted it for my purposes from about 3 or 4 different patterns. These gloves are a tad on the short side for Ian. Bear in mind that you can add length at the arm (btw the wrist and elbow) and at the hand (above thumb gusset). Consult the gauge to figure the rows should you decide to vary this a little. Also, the nature of the 2x2 rib make these hug the arm. The negative ease is exactly as it should be. If I have forgotten anything important, please let me know. I want this to be as complete as possible.

Here goes:

Size
Women's S(M)
Finished Circumference : 51/2"(5 3/4")
Will fit up to an 81/2(91/2") circumference
Gauge:
16 sts and 24 rows = 4 "
Materials:
*Any worsted weight yarn...wool, cotton, blends, hand dyed's, you name it. Creative yarn choices can really change the look. Red Heart Super Saver used here. About 220 yards should be enough to finish one pair.
*US 8 double pointed needles (set or 4)
*Stitch markers
*Stitch holder (didn't have one, so I used a piece of waste yarn)
*Darning needle
Abbreviations:
k = knit
p = purl
m1 = make one. With the right needle, insert the tip under the horizontal strand that lies between the stitch you have just knitted and the next stitch, from front to back, and place it onto the left needle. Knit this new stitch through the back of the loop.
pm = place marker
sm = slip marker
BO = bind off.

Right Glove:

CO 30(32) sts. (The long tail cast-on works well and produces a neat edge for this piece)

Divide sts. as evenly as possible on three of the double points.(for larger glove, make sure needles 1 and 3 have 11 sts.)

Join and knit in k2, p2 rib until piece measures 51/2"(or 33 rows) from beginning.

Begin thumb gusset on needle 3. knit rib on needle 1 & 2 throughout.
Rnd 1: (needle 3) P2, k1,pm,m1,pm, cont in pattern as established.
Rnd 2: (needle 3) sm,m1,k1,m1,sm, continue in pattern as established.

Continue to work gusset by knitting into the back and front of the first and last sts between the markers on each round to 13(14) sts. between markers.

Place gusset sts. on holder.

Continue in round in k2, p2 rib for another 1" (1 1/2") or 6(9) rows.

BO.

Thumb:
Divide holder sts between 3 doublepoints. Join new yarn and knit 1st and last gusset sts. together. Work in stockinette or 2x2 rib for 4 rounds. BO.

Left Armwarmer:

Work as for right, but reverse thumb gusset sts to needle one as follows:
1. k1,p2,k2,p2,k1,pm,m1,pm,k2(p1).
2.k1,p2,k2,p2,k1,sm,m1,k1,sm,k2(p1).
3.continue to work gusset by knitting into the front and back of the first and last sts. between markers on each round until 13(14). sts between markers.

Continue as for right armwarmer.

Finishing: Weave in ends, using tail from thumb, seam the hole betw. the thumb gusset and palm. Be sure to do so loosely enough to allow thumb movement. You want a loose join here.

Ian's Gift

Here's a pic of Ian wearing the fingerless gloves I made
for him for his birthday. They were a big hit, so now I
have been commisioned to make a pair for Will and Hal...oh yeah, and my sister, Becky. I think that's it. They knit up pretty quickly, (I made Ian's in a couple of hours) so I don't think I'll have any problem knitting a pair each for those three. The yarn is Red Heart Supersaver; knit up very nicely.

Speaking of yarns, the yarn for DH's socks, posted below, is my favorite sock yarn, Lana Grosse Meilenweit. (100 gram ball) To me, the colors are the best! Sorry for the earlier omission.

Are you sure that's your homework, young man?! By the way, the dog in the closeup is my sweetie, Zoe. She's 100% mutt, but a great dog!

New Socks For Hubby

Here are the new socks I completed for Hal. He loves the colors. ( It's nice to knit for someone who appreciates it.) Remember the Noro Tam? Well, I finished that this weekend, too. The weather was nice, so Nanny and I sat out for a little while. Well, I put the finished tam on her head and now, I can't possibly keep it. It looks way too cute on her! Oh, well! I'll just have to knit another one!

Ang 

So Many Thoughts, So Little Time....

No, really...I have been thinking alot lately about different ways to fulfill the new American Dream...doing what you love for a living. Hence, I want to work at what I love, which is knitting. I will be working with someone with anxiety problems next week, teaching them to knit as therapy. Knitting has many benefits, as we all know. I can only speak for myself, but, not only do I experience greater calm while knitting, I improve my ability to focus, learn patience, I have learned the value of following through to a finished project and, currently, am learning the value of following directions and trusting in the designer! ;-> Case in point, the moebius cowl (still getting up the gumption to restart this one). Besides all that (and more). I have all of you truely wonderful people that I have met while knitting and blogging. I believe it has been a gift to me from God...really, as have all of you. So, I am happy to share these benefits with others, can see it as a mission, even. Been there. That's all I can say. Moving right along.... I have finished a couple of projects and will be posting pics as soon as I can get home to my own computer. (staying with my Nanny this weekend, as my parents are gone to the beach) Hopefully, I'll get to it by sometime Tuesday. Please say a little prayer for my Son, Sam. He is in L.A. now, and is a little homesick and lonely, as he has made very few friends as yet. Love you, Sam!

Extreme Knitting 101

You are looking at an hour's worth of work....yes, I, Angela, spent one hour winding this lovely, hand-dyed, baby alpaca and silk hank into a ball...and this is as far as I got. With any luck, I will have all of this wound by sometime next week. Why don't I have a ball winder??!!
Of course, when I ordered this yarn from KnitPicks, it never occurred to me to ask them to wind it for me. As a matter of fact, I assumed I would be starting the Rectangle Square Shawl last night. I worked yesterday putting-up magazines at a local Harris Teeter.(Yes, the new Vanity Fair is out, complete with picture's of baby Suri...very cute, she is, too.)
I worked very hard that day, thinking how nice it would be to get home, get chores and homework out of the way, and start on that shawl. 32 totes of magazines later, on my way home, I was imagineing how much fun it would be to start this pattern with this yarn. I assumed the cast-on would be trying, (lots of stitches) but just knew I would be able to finish at least one pattern block before the night was over. And, I thought this, up until I actually pulled the yarn from my stash. Then it hit me. Oh. It's still in hank form. I need it to be in a ball to knit with it. (dummy) Then I unwound the hank and looked for the end. Forty minutes later, I realized that I would be lucky to start a ball, much less cast-on one stitch this evening. So, needless to say, I am still winding, and winding....

In other news, check-out the new Knitty. A new sock tutorial is here, and Ann, this one may get you onto something better than magic loop...that's right, I said better! I know Melissa and Sgeddes knit socks, as well, so check it out ladies! Master this technique and you'll be deemed 'knitting guru' for sure! Can't wait to see what you all think. Back at you later.

Ang

Fall Sunday

Today is Sunday and is for sharing. Found some beautiful pictures of the Austrian Alps at Dipsy Doodle's blog. She lives in Insbrook, I believe, and often posts some wonderful pictures of downtown and the Austrian countryside. Sometimes she has a tendency to go on and on about Hockey, but you can overlook that!;-> (just kidding, dipsy)

I have nearly finished the 'Cabled Newsboy' for my son, Ian. He's 16 and a skateboardin' dude. He'll have his 17th birthday tuesday, September 12, but he, being 'the dude,' is extremely difficult to knit for. I am hoping this will go over well. This is a picture of what it will look like.(making his red) The pattern is from 'Stitch-N-Bitch Nation,' by Debbie Stoller.
Thought he would like some fingerless gloves, also, so I'll give some of those a go as well. Found this one at Knitty. What do you think? I'd appreciate any other ideas for possible christmas gifts for this guy. He's my bud. -------->

Will be using the new 'Shimmer' yarn in a Knit Picks Shawl pattern with Melissa. She and I are both new to lace and figure we will help one another with the same pattern and yarn. She is using 'Shimmer' also, but in the 'Happy Dance' colorway. You guys need to pray on the heavy side for me. I can imagine myself ripping several times before I get this right....yikes!

Ang

Fiber Fantastica

The new yarn I ordered from Knit Picks arrived yesterday and I am now ready to begin my christmas knitting! It's all wonderful. I have plans for the white tweed....Bavarian Twisted Stitch socks from Cat Bordhi. Not sure how to read the chart, so that's a 'maybe' at best.







This lovely blue yarn is 'Shimmer,' lace-weight Baby Alpaca and Silk. I could use some pattern suggestions for this yarn. I like this one? I have done very little lace knitting, so something lovely but on the easy side, please.








The blue to the left, here, is called 'Gloss' and, I am thinking, will be another moebius. It is 70% merino wool and 30% silk. Yummy! It's been a long time since I purchased this much yarn for projects. Woohoo!




The brown yarn you see in the bag above is 'Essential Tweed,' superwash and for socks. Of course the Simple Stripes will be socks, too.

So, three pairs of socks, a shawl and a moebius. Not bad for $30.00!

In other news, I have to rip the other moebius I was knitting in Silky Wool. What can I say...I should have knit a gauge swatch. One day, knitting will teach me to *not* assume anything. A hard lesson for me...I want everything to be uncomplicated. It's been a few days since I realized I could use the thing for an arm sling and my friend, Ann, helped me figure out the gauge problem. So, I feel okay about ripping it out and starting over on a size 8 (down from the previous size 10 ). The more I use my Denise needles, the more I love them. That reminds me, I did not receive the 'Options' needle I ordered from Knit Picks. I wasn't charged, so I don't think the order went through. Will reorder later and let you know what I think. Sorry, sgeddes:-(.

Hope y'all are having a great weekend!

Hugs,

Ang

Knitter's Rosary

Here is a picture of the knitting rosary I made for myself this afternoon. The large beads represent 10's and the small beads represent ones. The number '13' is shown here. I'll be using this to count rows in my knitting. The clip at one end allows me to attach it to my knitting bag, belt loop, etc....

Goody Package Expected

Well, I've placed my first online order for yarn. I wanted something silky, so I ordered this from Knit Picks. It's a lace-weight yarn called 'Shimmer.' I was thinking of Moebius knitting. I also ordered an Options nickel-plated circular from them in a size 10. I wanted to try knitting with the turbo type needle to see how I like them.

Best of all, I ordered something Ann and I have been drooling over since we saw it. We want to make these socks in this yarn. This is in Knit Pick's Bare line and is meant, I think, for hand dying. But I think this yarn is great un-dyed.

On the home front, I have been bugging my DH, who dabbles in beadery, to make a knitter's rosary for me. It is a simple string and bead tool for counting rows in knitting. (I am very bad to lose my place) Think I will push the issue by buying the necessary beads and cord today.
I'll post a pic when it's ready.
To the right, is the lovely moebius I have nearly finished. Nearly because, in tradition, I have run out of silky wool, despite the fact that the pattern calls for 170 yds. of a yarn which is exactly the same gauge as the yarn I used and that my skein contained 176yds. Appearently, I knit big. ( or, ahem, I knit too many rows, which I could totally see, considering my afore-mentioned tendency to lose count) No problem, though...they have more of this color at my lys. They are just closed for the weekend, so I'll have to wait for tomorrow. (Pesky holidays...). Now, off to Michaels in search of rosary beads, appearently becoming more and more necessary;->

Ang

Distractions From Knitting

Sorry to have kept myself from you all for so long, but work is work and I have had plenty of it this week. My new job involves merchandizing magazines...taking down the old ones, and putting up the new issues. Sounds simple enough, doesn't it? Doesn't sound like that would take very long, either, does it? Wrong, wrong, so wrong....

Anyhoo, I have been knitting, nonetheless. Oh! ! On top of my working and obvious child rearing and chore-doing activity, my 20-year old daughter decided she was going to babysit this for the neighbors:



Now, I know this little bitty critter is beyond cute, but he requires lots of attention plus, his running underfoot of a 5 and 8 yr old is extremely dangerous for him, so I have my hands full. (I do admit to enjoying hearing him purr when he curls-up under my hair for a nap). Honestly, this kitten is way too little to be away from his mommy and is currently being bottle-fed. He is strong, though and I believe he will be just fine.



I did catch him, though, in too close proximity to my yarn bag.....

(I'm not getting into your yarn...I swear! )



I love this little bugger!



Ang