I heart german stockings.

Oh my goodness, I stumbled across this pattern on CookieA's website. I am so going to make these when I have the money to buy this pattern and suitable yarn! I don't think I will use the Louet yarn that is recommended. Something superwash, I just don't know which yet! The Loopy Ewe sells the pattern. I will probably buy the yarn through them also. Anyways...droool!

Lots of Pictures!

Here are pics of what I have been doing for the last week. I finished knitting my Stafford bag for the Spring Felted Bag Swap. Here it is pre-felting. The front is green with purple and the back is purple with green.








Here it is post felting. I really like how it came out! It retained quite a bit of the original texture. It is knitted in a double seed stitch and looks all woven and bumpy. The felting softened the lines and gave it a rounder look, but thankfully I didn't lose too much size!

These are the stitch markers that I got in the mail a few days ago. The large turqoise markers are from Jen. They are so pretty! Each on is a different shape and they have a great layered texture that doesn't come out in the pic. The little blue markers are from Knit Girl. The beads are cute little swirls. They look like little candies! And last, but not least are from Robyn. Very pretty! I love the stacked beads! They remind me of the shell jewelry I used to always see in the cute shops back in Washington. Five sets down and one to go! I can't wait to see what it is!


Here is the prize pack that I got from Anne with the Felted bag swap. I actually won one of the contests. How cool is that? I have had this for a little while and only now got to posting it. It is so great! She included SWS in plum, a sheepy pad and yummy lemon-y soap. Because of the soap, the yarn smells and yummy lemon-y also! :)
I am just so spoiled!!!
lol
more soon!

More Thank Yous!

My internet has been wonky to non existent for about a week now. Thankfully it is fixed and I can post yummy pics of the latest stuff that I got in the mail!
Here are the stitch markers that I have gotten so far-















Pretty tiger striped from Laura and nifty green from Marion. I like Marion's design - they are strung over a loop of plastic (?) cord and fastened at the end.

















And now for a huge (and belated) THANKS! My felted bag swap partner is so sweet! She sent me all kinds of yummy stuff. Coffee and coffee accessories! And Chocolate. (yes, with a capital C.) She also sent very pretty lion suede yarn that I will be using with this pattern.

Belated Thank You!

Here is my Dishcloth Swap package! I recieved this last week and it took me forever to sit down and take pictures!

My pal, J, picked fab colors for my cloth and yarn! (I took the pic on one of my new dish towels for reference!) The chocolate is long gone, do are the candies, my hubby has stolen the espresso cup, there are notes in the sheep book and the markers are happily dangling from my cardi in progress. Yes, I know I haven't mentioned THE SOCK YARN. I am doing my best not to play with the sock yarn until I am done with my selted bag and the other pair of socks that I have on the needles. I need to finish the first pair. I am supposed to have them done for hubby's b-day on the 21st. This may not happen. I mean, how am I supposed to resist yarn that is named Peppermint Mocha? (yum.) I have found the pattern that I think I will use. It is the Errant Ankles Lace Socks from the Socknitters webpage. I really like the lacy-ness of the pattern and I hope it will stand up to the colorway of the yarn. I don't want plain socks, but I don't want really busy socks either! Hopefully next month I will be able to tackle this project! Thanks again J!

More photos!

I finally found the camera and good batteries at the same time! (applause) Here are some of the FO's and stuff that I have been and am working on.
Here is a sock bookmark I made out of leftover Bernat Sox yarn. I started using this up for other stuff since I did not have enough for a whole pair of socks. (Only bought one skein!!!)
Here is my bag for the Felted Bag Swap!
I am so crazy excited about it. I wish the colors had come out better in the photo. The purple streaks are variegated violet and lavender and the green is shades of lime, lemongrass, and teal. This bag is a lot of fun to make so far. I got to dye my own yarn! My swap partner is a big fan of green and purple and I just could NOT find pretty wool in that combo. So...I dug out the gel food colors, lemon juice and crossed my fingers! I have only dyed wool one other time. For the bag I am using the Stafford pattern from Magknits. It calls for a worsted weight yarn and my dyed stuff is leaning more toward DK, but hopefully it won't shrink too much when it felts! (Will only partially felt...I looove the texture!)
Here are my washcloths for the Spring washcloth exchange. They turned out soooo soft! I used Bernat cotton. I forget which one...threw away the labels! I got a little carried away, but there was so much yarn! I need to finish pulling this package together and get it sent out! i have until the 21st, but I already got my package from my partner!







Another cloth I made from scraps for myself!
The homemade goodies I put in the package for my Felted Bag Swap partner. An itty-bitty Bernat Sox sock-keychain, and a Peridot cupcake! (August birthday!)

Contest 2 - Final Question

Kristan W. and I are both participating in the Knit with Phillis KAL.
Laurie D. and I both have to deal with cottonwood trees in our yards and are coffee drinkers!
Anne M. and I both like Linkin Park and coffee!

Knitted Purse Swap

Yay! My partner from the Knitted Purse Swap finally got her package! I'm so glad she likes it! She posted some lovely pics and praise on the swap blog, but here are a few more pics that I took before sending it out.
The bag and lining.















The crochet red squirrel fridgie.

Beaded wood needles.

I am so glad all of this made it out to L safe and sound!

As for other knitting, I will be starting on my felted bag swap bag soon...I need to round up the yarn for it. I am thinking of doing the Hip-Hop bag from Crochetme.com. I also have to finish the package of goodies to be sent out to this partner also!

Soon I will get to order the yarn for my Sockapalooza socks! I am going to do the Snowflake Lace socks from Magknits in Mistletoe (sage green) Wildefoote sock yarn. This will be my first real gift socks! I have made ankle socks for the hubby, but that doesn't count!

Back to knitting!
(More pics soon!)

Contest 2- Question 3

My absolute favorite place to knit or crochet in my house is the big red chair. This is an overstuffed 1 1/2 chair with the big cushy pillows for the back and side cushions. I love this since I can dump all but one of two of the cushions off and be able to curl up with my knitting! And, of couse, the chair is lipstick red. With chrome feet. Cool, huh?

Update to Dishcloth Contest

I have gotten hooked on a new show. (Well, at least it is new to me!) Man vs. Wild on Discovery. I just saw the episode where the host simulates being lost on a desert island.
So....
My one food would be coconuts, beyond being a source of water, it is high in potassium - it is supposed to be an electrolyte.
Also, I'm kicking the hubby off the island and will take the host from the previously mentioned show. No offence, hubby, but this is an expert survivalist and a hottie with a british accent! :P
lol...
A few knitting projests done...
I finished a dishcloth for a swap and have finished a small bag that whould be the right size for a cake of sock yarn.
Pics someday! Still can't find where hubby left the phone....

Survey from Lara's Blog

This is a knitting survey……

Mark with bold the things you have knit, with italics the ones you plan to do sometime, and leave the rest.

Afghan (still on needles)
I-cord
Garter stitch
Knitting with metal wire
Shawl (still on needles)
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down
Socks: toe-up
Knitting with camel yarn
Mittens: Cuff-up
Mittens: Tip-down
Hat
Knitting with silk
Moebius band knitting
Participating in a KAL
Sweater
Drop stitch patterns
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
Slip stitch patterns
Knitting with banana fiber yarn
Domino knitting (=modular knitting)
Twisted stitch patterns
Knitting with bamboo yarn
Two end knitting
Charity knitting
Knitting with soy yarn
Cardigan (still on needles)
Toy/doll clothing
Knitting with circular needles
Baby items
Knitting with your own hand-spun yarn
Slippers
Graffiti knitting
Continental knitting
Designing knitted garments
Cable stitch patterns (incl. Aran)
Lace patterns
Publishing a knitting book (why not?)
Participate in an exchange
Scarf
Teaching a child to knit
American/English knitting (as opposed to continental)
Knitting to make money
Buttonholes
Knitting with alpaca
Fair Isle knitting
Norwegian knitting
Dying with plant colors
Knitting items for a wedding
Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cosies…)
Knitting socks (or other small tubular items) on one or two circulars
Knitting with someone else’s hand-spun yarn
Knitting with dpns
Holiday related knitting
Teaching a male how to knit
Bobbles
Knitting for a living
Knitting with cotton
Knitting smocking
Dying yarn
Steeks
Knitting art
Knitting two socks on two circulars simultaneously
Fulling/felting
Knitting with wool
Textured knitting
Kitchener stitch
Knitted flowers
Purses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching (yes, I know I should....)
Long Tail CO
Entrelac
Knitting and purling backwards
Machine knitting
Knitting with self patterning/self striping/variegated yarn
Stuffed toys
Baby items
Knitting with cashmere
Darning
Jewelry
Knitting with synthetic yarn
Writing a pattern
Gloves
Intarsia
Knitting with linen
Knitting for preemies
Tubular CO
Free-form knitting
Short rows
Cuffs/fingerless mitts/arm-warmers
Pillows
Knitting a pattern from an on-line knitting magazine
Rug
Knitting on a loom
Thrummed knitting
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets
Shrug/bolero/poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair
Hair accessories
Knitting in public ALL the time!

What have you learned to do that has marked a definite change in your knitting life?
I have learned the hard way that sometimes swatching is not a bad thing! I still don't do it though. :)

HOW ABOUT YOU?!!

Crafty Stuff.

I have been so busy posting stuff for all the swaps that I have joined, that I haven't posted anything about what I am doing right now.
1. One-ball half moon shawl from lion brand. This is in a pretty mohairish purple variegated mystery yarn. This was a ball that I got from a yarn swap at my KIP group. I am almost done with the patter and will probably have to knock off a couple of rows for lack of yardage.
2. Office-to-Casual Cardi from Creative Knitting Magazine. This pattern uses red heart soft yarn! Yea!!! I am using up some of my stash of this in a great plummy color. They named it grape, but it is much prettier.
3. I sewed my first piece of clothing! Last year I bought a bunch of material but could do nothing with it since the sewing machine was dead. I finally pulled it out and wrestled with a new pattern. And voila! I now have a faux-wrap front top in a cute cotton print. The seams are a little wavy, but who cares! It fits and I love it.
I promise to take lots of pics when the knit and crochet are done and the top is out of the wash!

Dishcloth swap contest

If you were going to be whisked from your home and taken to a desert island to live out a year of your life....


What one CD of music would you take? I wouldn't take a cd of music, I would take my ipod shuffle! I am really bad when it comes to music...I will buy a cd for one song only! But, if you all really want to limit me to one cd, I would take my Seven nations cd. They are a great group! Modernized tradaitional celtic music...
What one book? Hmmmm....I usually have a romance novel stuck in a nook or cranny of the living room or bedroom at any given time for good fluff reading, but I burn through those so quickly that I don't think I would want that for my only reading amterial. i would probably like to have either the Lord of the Rings or the Mists of Avalon or something along those lines.
What one hobby-related item? Either knitting or crochet and lots and lots and lots of yarn. This could be exchanged with spinning equipment, but there would have to be an instruction manual!
What one person? I would take my hubby. Conversation and,well, ahem, you know!
What one food? (no, you couldn't survive on a single food, I'm just SAYING) Pomegranates or oranges. I really am on a citrus-y kick right now. Happens every year when everything starts coming into season!

Contest 2 - Question 2

What always signifies the beginning of spring to me is that I can put away my winter clothes. Once the winter hits late January, I am pining away for my summer clothes and the weather to be able to wear them! Winter weather is just not condusive to floppy straw hats!

Funny.

Swap Stuff

Contest 2 - Question 1:
I became interested in felting because of the physics and mechanics of the felting process. How neat to make a solid fabric from one with many little holes in it! Originally the fascination lent itself to hats (I'm a bit of a hat nut!) but I have seen some gorgeous bag patterns, too!

Sock Talk:
Seriously psyched to knit socks! Like anyone should need an excuse! :) I am thinking of something in shades of green...I really want to play with something handpainted. My partner is so nice, she really has no preferencs. It does sound like all she has so far is boot socks, so I want to make her something pretty! I like the Boudoir socks from Interweave or maybe a pair of the lacy ones from the last few issues of Knitty.

Dishcloth contest

Aside from all the little and trivial day to day niceties that we are afforded every summer, I will truely be thankfull if me and my family have a healthy and accident free summer. That is all I could ask for. Last summer, shortly after he turned two, my eldest son was diagnosed with a childhood form of hemolytic anemia. Thankfully it was treated and cured and there have been (and should not be any more) no relapses. Scared the life out of me. It of course happened on a weekend and we took him to the local emergency room. Not fun. Apparently, when a child has cause-unknown anemia, the first thing that comes out of a doctor's mouth is leukemia. I am truely amazed that I am not as starkly grey-haired as I feel I should be. But, thankfully, after the blood work they did they found what was wrong and were able to do what they needed to do. A year later now, and I am hopefully looking forward to a happy and peaceful summer. (If only broken by the occasional Band-Aid!)

"Spring into Summer" Dishcloth Swap Questionnaire

When did you learn to knit? Who taught you?
My great-grandmother taught me a million years ago, but I didn't stick to it for very long. i recently retaught my self and have been knitting for a little over a year.
What was your very first completed object? Your most recent?
My very first completed project was Bubby from Knitty. Most recent was a few fuzzy scarves for family members. (See further down on blog.)
What was the very first thing you sent to the frog pond? (pulled out and started over) Your most recent?
About 85% of my projects started get frogged. (Either partially or totally.)
What is currently on the needles for you?
I am working on a fuzzy scarf for my mother-in-law, a pair of cabled knee-highs in wool-ease, the cover cardi from Creative Knitting, and I have to finish sewing up a pair of booties for my cousin's new baby.
What types of needles do you enjoy working with? What have you tried and hated?
I really like circular needles. I have a tendancy to misplace one needle out of a pair. The only circs that i really did not like were the Boye needles. The cable would never unwind and the join was funky.
Have you knit dishcloths before?
Yes. I have knit the ballband dishcloth and the star shaped washcloth from Mason-Dixon Knitting.
What was your favorite one?
The ballband.
Least favorite?
The star shaped. The bobbles on each tip ended up odd...
Do you use homemade dishcloths or face cloths yourself, or give them as gifts, or both?
Only for myself, so far!
What are your favorite and least favorite scents? (For your body, such as soap/lotion/etc)
Please nothing frou-frou!
What are your favorite colors?
Right now I am into melon, apple green, robin-egg blue, etc...I found a great dish towel with the colors on it. I will post a pic soon! Any happy colors will work!
What colors (if any) are your bathroom and kitchen decorated in?
Kitchen still has 70's decor (rental), bathroom is white and apple green.
What other hobbies and crafts do you enjoy?
Chocolate: Dark? White? Milk? Ew?
Any chocolate is fabulous! Not a huge fan of white.
Do you like salty treats? What kinds?
Hmmm...popcorn, chips, snack mix, trail mix, etc.
If you could go anywhere in the world for one day and spend the day any way you wanted, where would you go and what would you do?
I would adore going to Scotland. I am part scottish and have never been! As for what I would do? Anything!
Do you have any allergies? (Yarns, foods, etc. that might impact what your pal can send)
No allergies!

Goodies!

My fabulous knitted purse from Lia! She made it out of Royal Bamboo. It is so soft. I may have to buy some for myself to make a summer top out of.







Here is a jumble of all the nifty little things Lia packed with my purse. I love the stich markers! The stitch markers were tied to the card with a length of cord. at the end of the cord was a little charm in the shape of a sun, on the back of the sun was "Made with a smile"!




















And my candy! A whole box of violet crumbles!!!! I am giddy! lol Thanks Lia!!!!

More Markers!

The note cards and fimo markers from Dana.













The jewel toned markers from Elizabeth.















I am so tickled with participating in the swap! I am so going to have to do the summer round also!

As for knitting, here are the fuzzy scarves I have finished! Thankfully, I only have one more to do!

Stitch Markers!

Thanks again Sulah and Caroline!