tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-99034802012-01-08T00:26:45.444-05:00Life is not about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself. (quote source: coffee mug)Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.comBlogger1191100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-34973498754550692011-01-31T15:13:00.002-05:002011-01-31T15:16:41.136-05:00

Due to an unexpected family death early in January, nothing crafty has been happening. The art-doll swap is still on, and I'm starting to work on those so they get sent out on time. Everything else is on hold for now.

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-54435075911022290102011-01-01T15:18:00.000-05:002011-01-01T15:18:00.623-05:00

I don't have a lot planned for 2011, but I'm sure I'll manage to find things to do even without plans..Anika Shrug from Cascade220. I really don't need a worsted weight sweater unless I'm skiing, and I don't see that happening this winter. I can use a warm shrug/shawl thing though. (the Ravelry pic is better)Finish a pair of socks for my mom's birthday. It's a pink bamboo/silk/wool blend yarn. I

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-88018633850132345172010-12-31T10:26:00.003-05:002012-01-08T00:26:45.453-05:00

2010 was not a good year. Crafting-wise it was a little 'light' but ok. DH's health was not good at all, which made 2010 a really tough year. I made a Baby Surprise Jacket using a lot of different techniques talked about in the BSJ group on Ravelry. It's one of my few projects there. I don't think I'd do it seamless again though, yeah, it's nice to have it finished as you go but the ends were

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-34656529541096934832009-11-03T20:34:00.004-05:002009-11-03T20:42:26.705-05:00

I got Intentional Spinner book from the library, but didn't get a chance to really go through it entirely before I had to return it. But it looked interesting. There's a few chapters about fibers and how to spin (all pics are on the wheel, no spindle pics) and about plying. There was a good description of worsted vs woolen and the variation in between. The part I didn't get a chance to look at

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-84047867319840740352009-11-01T10:34:00.005-05:002009-11-01T11:57:40.019-05:00

I went to my first Stitches last weekend. I didn't do any classes because it was a last-minute day-trip, I didn't have time to do the pre-work, and since I was only there for the day, spending 3+ hours in a class that didn't really excite me wasn't something I wanted to do.Plus, I'd missed most of the sheep & wool shows this year, I wanted the shopping time! The two hour drive wasn't bad, I think

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-83851636641161692332009-10-10T20:12:00.004-04:002009-10-10T20:57:53.358-04:00

and I'm (sort of) surprised it's been so long I've posted. On one hand, I think of things that I want to keep track of - the kind of thing that's perfect for a blog, but then I don't. Maybe it's just proof that blogging, and any other kind of craft-journaling isn't 'me.' On the other hand, it's still a good place to keep track of things when I do use it.I did the Serafina shawl this summer for a

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-77851502984788123672009-07-22T21:23:00.002-04:002009-07-22T21:43:51.471-04:00

Not finished ones though. Yet. Socks first. Nine Tailors Socks After a fairly lengthy discussion over at Ravelry, especially message 28, with TsockTsarina about doing these toe-up, I'm doing them cuff-down as written. Mostly. I'm doing them cuff-down starting just after the ribbing, (provisional cast-on) and then doing the ribbing upwards which will give some leeway to adjust for fit. Most of

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-81938209660809988022009-07-11T22:27:00.004-04:002009-07-11T22:40:44.405-04:00

I started working on the Nine Tailors Socks. I did a short-row toe and started the mini-cable panel on the foot. There's a little more than 4" done, it's not as complicated as it looks, although the leg has two mini-cable panels and two colorwork panels. I think I'm going to be ripping most of it out though - I didn't short-row enough so the end of the toe is a little too wide. And re-doing it

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-50563669322023154692009-06-26T22:58:00.004-04:002009-07-11T22:41:20.518-04:00

Not sure what happened to May, but June just disappeared. A few days prepping for vacation. Almost 2 weeks on vacation. Three days for a family reunion-y weekend get-together. Four days of either me being sick or hubby in the hospital. I'd like to re-do this last week without being sick or seeing the inside of a hospital.Anyway... project 'stuff'The next-in-line stuff (first because it's more

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-39025712857636939682009-05-02T13:04:00.004-04:002009-05-08T00:04:32.282-04:00

Regia Cotton Socks - I just these a few days ago. I think they're a regia yarn, but without a label, I'm just guessing based on the self-striping pattern. I suppose they could be Meilenweit or Fortissima too. I started with toe-up using the wide-toe cast on from Priscilla Gibson Robert's book Ethnic Socks and Stockings book. The foot will be (probably) be stockinette, haven't decided on the heel

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-85608593922362840512009-04-27T21:12:00.002-04:002009-04-27T21:33:42.355-04:00

I knit up a few more robots for a Craftster swap recently - pic here - using this pattern. I made a few tiny changes- maybe not even big enough to be called 'changes' but since it's not the way the pattern was written, I'll go with changes. For the hat (called Front & Back in the Body section of the pattern), I did one robot the way the pattern said (knit the body in the round, knit the front &

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-21913769122883996642008-12-20T12:38:00.005-05:002008-12-20T13:08:41.039-05:00

I posted this over in Ravelry's Top Down Sweater Group thread not too long ago. It's a mini sweater (that is not intended to fit anything) of Barbara Walker's Simultaneous Set-In Sleeve from her Knitting From The Top book.(um, I haven't actually knit this yet, though, but it should work because other people have knit it and say it works)*NOTE - Barbara Walker's book has three methods for top down

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-45009214361546473542008-10-28T20:56:00.003-04:002008-10-28T21:12:46.221-04:00

1. I finally finished the Lang Jawoll Socks and I ended up making them crew length (midcalf?) I like the purl side of the stockinette better, the self-striping design is more interesting. I'll try to get pics up. Except for the ribbing, it's all plain stockinette. The ribbing I did in a k2p2 alternating with p2k2. I used the fibonacci series to decide when to switch - 13 rows, 8 rows, 5 rows, 3

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-54391604424812288382008-10-28T20:00:00.002-04:002008-12-13T14:38:57.611-05:00

Finished Projects with blog posts (I finished more than this, honest.)I'm removing the lists form the side bar and just needed a place to keep the links together. This list will be updated whenever I finish something that's been blogged.Babies & Bear SweaterLang Jawoll SocksOpal Purple MittensFishtrap HatSpinning dyed BFL and Wensleydale LaceweightToe Up Gated Vine SocksGarter and Honeycomb Baby

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-3762473851895746192008-09-28T12:39:00.006-04:002008-09-28T12:56:48.622-04:00

(copied from Claudia's blog )When did you first learn to knit socks? - About 5 years ago, I think. I was one of those “Hand-knit socks? Why????” knitters. Then I was at Michael's and saw some yarn that was “oooh, that would be PERFECT for socks” I figured out later that Woolease worsted weight isn't the best yarn for socks. Especially at a loose gauge. What's the first sock you ever knit? The

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-4247617468684214462008-09-06T22:37:00.006-04:002008-09-07T00:29:36.669-04:00

instead of knitting - which explains no blogging recently. I had signed up to do my sort-of-Thora sweater for the UFOlympics but only did one buttonband. True, that's one buttonband more than I had before the Olymics started, so some progress was made.My biggest downfall, knitting-wise, this last month or so? I found books online. Don't get me wrong, I knew books were online before last month. I

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-2673527868826187192008-08-02T15:02:00.004-04:002008-12-10T20:35:44.486-05:00

One finished sweater - Cottage Creation's Babies & Bear SweaterAbou 18-19" around, so a newborn-3months size I guess. Double stranded, it took 8oz of TLC baby yarn on size 6/4mm needles. The cuff to center body pieces were done on dpns. The hood was done on 9" straights. The buttonband on a long circ (the dpns would have worked, but I didn't really like the points on the dpns I was using and

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-10984009468629900992008-07-27T10:44:00.004-04:002008-12-10T20:35:44.654-05:00

About 70 yds, 2 ply, 13 wpi. It's going to be used to add to the 'square' in the picture (actually a really short fingerless mitt). And the other mitt, I really do have two.

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-6265648189287028612008-07-26T15:37:00.004-04:002008-12-10T20:35:45.365-05:00

Really.I've got half a baby sweater:(white with green/yellow/blue) The ruffled edge is the center back. It'll get kitchenered to the other side. It's the Cottage Creations Babies&Bear sweater - two pieces knit cuff to center and grafted together.And I finished spinning the singles for the Tour De Fleece 2008 . That's half done, since it still needs to be plyed tonight.And, not half done, even

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-74641982073614556622008-07-20T13:15:00.000-04:002008-07-20T13:15:56.976-04:00

well, it was morning when I started...No new pictures for the spinning, looks just like the last picture (although with more done). I've started, many times, the Babies&Bear sweater, I messed up the sleeve increases and ripped back, the gauge was off so I ripped back, I messed up the sleeve increases AGAIN and ripped back. This really isn't a hard sweater, I don't know why this time it's just not

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-19835345209773403182008-07-13T15:20:00.004-04:002008-12-10T20:35:45.726-05:00

I finished spinning and plying the merino! It started very bright, but toned down to this -about 300 yds, 2oz, 17 wpi, - a nice soft laceweight.I made these 3 preemie hats (about 8" circ) from the same babyweight yarn, size 4 (3.5mm) dpns, and about the same stitch count. Very different patterning. The top left is a sideways garter stitch hat (similar to this one, but without the cable) done on

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-2056184813501997062008-07-12T12:41:00.005-04:002008-12-10T20:35:45.888-05:00

I added pictures to the last 2 posts. I started spinning for the Tour de Fleece and I've got this much done -I'm spinning on a 2oz Kingwood low whorl Nina spindle from Grafton Fibers that I bought a few years ago. I'm not sure how much I'll spin, mainly because I have no idea how much I actually need! When I finish spinning the fiber in the picture, I may ply it and knit or crochet (haven't

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-66183556783206317362008-07-05T11:38:00.004-04:002008-12-10T20:35:47.231-05:00

So I find the too-short fingerless mitts. I found the 2oz I bought because I thought it would coordinate. I put them next to each other. Um. No. The fiber is much bluer that the mitts (note to self - when buying fiber/yarn/fabric/whatever to coordinate with something, have that something handy when buying.)(Pictures added July 12)Two possibilities came to mind - (1) spin up the 2oz anyway for the

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-43605029422535051202008-07-02T22:42:00.004-04:002008-12-10T20:35:47.330-05:00

I've been spinning. Some. Ok, plying, but that's part of spinning. I spun 4 oz of merino and it's slowly turning into 2ply laceweight/fingering weight.I signed up for the 2008 Tour De Fleece again. A few years ago I spun some angora/cormo blend into worsted-weight-ish yarn and knit up some fingerless mitts. They're very nice and warm and all that, but they barely reach from the knuckles to the

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-80804199685586263952008-06-28T15:39:00.002-04:002008-06-28T15:54:57.063-04:00

I decided to make a Babies and Bear Sweater for a friend who's due this fall. I've made the sweater twice, I think, a few years ago. I do like the finished sweater, I don't like how many ends it has. I don't have any strong aversion to weaving in ends, but for a baby sweater, I'm in the "the fewer ends, the better" camp. As written, the pattern leaves you with yarn ends in a lot of places - each

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-48659222420798669682008-06-07T12:21:00.001-04:002008-06-07T12:35:04.738-04:00

You Belong in 1989Wild, over the top, and just a little bit cheesy. You're colorful at night - and successful during the day.www.blogthings.com - What Year Do You Belong In?Wierdly enough, that's when I graduated college.

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-14647038664457615792008-05-31T11:16:00.002-04:002008-05-31T11:46:44.109-04:00

Just thinking out loud -I finished spinning the clown face merino and I think (now, subject to change) that I w ill ply it. It'll blend the colors a bit more into a tweedy-no-dominant-color yarn. After that, I'm not sure. Probably a shawl. But that's a later decision.I started the 2nd Lang Jawoll sock. I stopped the first one at anklet height because I didn't want to do anymore on it. The second

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-70688492289958455842008-05-26T10:49:00.004-04:002008-12-10T20:35:47.489-05:00

A while ago I got some merino from Ewe Give Me The Knits in a Spindlers swap in the clown face colorway -- .I've tried spinning merino and like I've said before, I didn't really like it. This merino, is luscious. I've been spinning the 100gm I have for months (?) on my wheel, the single is about laceweight, probably a fingering weight as a 2-ply. The bright colors in the roving isn't 'me' but

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-80782331605549859942008-05-11T12:13:00.005-04:002008-05-11T13:27:52.992-04:00

I drove up to the NH Sheep & Wool Festival (aka NH sheep show) yesterday, it was a gorgeous day, warm & sunny. Some notes so I don't forget -I tried 5 spinning wheels (babe, Victoria, schact, ladybug, and another one...) I like my Fricke better.I saw a lot of shawls in use - I could've used one myself, it was just cool enough when I got there that a jacket was too much, but a long-sleeve T wasn't

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-280917361132124152008-05-04T21:58:00.002-04:002008-12-10T20:35:48.308-05:00

I'm about 2" past the heel on my Lang Jawoll sock, and I'm not sure I like it -I like the colors, so that's not the problem. (The colors in the next picture are closer to real life) The stripes on the foot are narrow because I did 'helix knitting' where I did one row from each end of the yarn ball. You can see the difference on the foot and after the heel -I did the heel with just one strand of

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-74357919165786115582008-04-26T12:40:00.005-04:002008-04-26T13:01:42.117-04:00

I haven't done in a while, so why not today?Knitting Sweaters From the Top Down by Cathy Carron Since the title is so similar to Barbara Walker's classic Knitting From The Top book, I was curious to see if the Carron's book was an updated version or what. If all you're interested in is making raglan sweaters, Carron's book has you covered. She has a lot of good info about calculating size,

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-522197824311475562008-04-20T11:59:00.004-04:002008-12-10T20:35:49.040-05:00

If you're my swap partner received handspun yarn in the next week from me, stop reading please. If you're not, then please keep reading.I started with this -from Indigo Moon Farm that I got at a sheep show a while ago. It's 3 colors from a 5-color batt. I pulled off some of each color and divided into thirds. One third of each color is the rolag in the picture (it's purple, light blue, lilac,

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-42178443024488372202008-04-05T13:59:00.003-04:002009-04-27T21:34:24.990-04:00

I recently picked somebody on one of Craftster's swaps (yeah, I like these swaps)for a surprise item. One thing on her list was a Jess Hutchinson knitted robot The pattern's no longer for sale, but the pictures looked clear, and it seemed like an interesting challenging. And they're cute!So, after looking (many times) at the pictures, I made this These are my notes on how I knit the robot - I

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-82726630113013621492008-03-22T11:46:00.002-04:002008-03-22T11:57:25.205-04:00

that there's a universal consciousness or something. For the socks I started last week, the ones I mentioned in my last post that I needed to find a simple pattern for? I decide to try a helix-spiral using both ends of the yarn. I like it. It changes the regular-ness of the self-striping yarn and it's basically plain stockinette so definitely simple. The universal consciousness thing? These 2

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-57779493760907939172008-03-16T13:01:00.003-04:002008-03-16T13:19:10.220-04:00

yeah, I know it's usually Random Wednesday, but I missed it on Wednesday :) (I got to find little smiley icons)My PC crashed a week or so ago. We managed to get an old PC (running win 95) hooked up, but wow is this thing slow. And no USB connection, so no pics. And slow. Did I mention that? DH is going nuts with it too so I think a new PC is VERY close. I'm making a bunch of tawashi (Japanese

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-78793134766407296452008-03-05T21:55:00.003-05:002008-12-10T20:35:49.244-05:00

I really didn't mean to go the whole month without saying anything. I am doing things. Mostly swaps at Craftster. And I just learned about tawashi - they're little (or not) Japanese scrubbies but they're made from acrylic, not cotton. And you know, they work better that way! I made this oneout of Red Heart Soft (the white's not so soft, but the multi-blue is) and it works better than my

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-26471603591094348572008-01-29T19:02:00.000-05:002008-01-29T19:06:33.704-05:00

I've been busy - sort of. I've also been sick, so not as productive as usual. I'm in a bunch of swaps over at Craftster and most of them aren't knitting projects. The two biggies I'm doing right now are sewing projects. I can sew, I prefer to handsew, I never quite got comfortable with the sewing machine - it moves faster than I do. I have my spinning wheel tucked in the corner, but haven't done

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-12069052360740869222008-01-15T22:27:00.000-05:002008-01-15T23:01:16.594-05:00

Wow, I didn't realize how long it's been. - My purple sweater - no real progress, I finished most of the body though, just have the front buttonbands to do. The buttonbands & body have different row gauges so I'm trying to work out the best looking way to attach them (preferably while I knit the bands, if not, I'll just sew them together)- I have a couple of preemie hat patterns I want to post,

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-71245886714413555792007-12-25T18:23:00.000-05:002008-12-10T20:35:49.728-05:00

I finished a mermaid today -Pattern from "Knit a Square, Make a Toy" by Cole's Home Library CraftbooksYarn - various baby weight yarns (white/multi for the body/tail, blue for the body, blue&green for the hair, necklace is beaded macrame with white beads and yellow/pink variegated yarn)Needles - 2.75mm (I think) Takumi Bamboo 9" straightsA couple of close-ups:

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-5660956739121773572007-12-22T12:58:00.000-05:002007-12-22T13:17:36.704-05:00

1 I made a preemie hat using the honeycomb pattern from the baby sweater I finished a few weeks ago. The variegated yarn I'm using looked horrible in plain garter, stockinette, rib, reverse stockinettee. It looks WONDERFUL in this honeycomb pattern.2 I finish the star baby blanket a few weeks ago and baby was born a few days ago. She's a few weeks early, but all is well and baby & mom are doing

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-79261300985781769052007-12-16T20:04:00.000-05:002008-12-10T20:35:49.965-05:00

There was a cute crocheted diagonal shell pattern posted on Craftster's crochet board not too long ago. I don't have too many crochet patterns for preemie hats (most of the ones I've seen aren't as stretchy as knit, and I like making preemie hats with a good amount of stretch). This one has a diagonal spiral to it, plus some 'empty' space between shells, so maybe it has some stretch.I tried it

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-49824289694447538422007-12-08T10:49:00.000-05:002007-12-08T10:57:38.443-05:00

NaKniSweMo - NAtional KNIt a SWEater in the MOnth of November - I hadn't read about this before, and I doubt I would've joined if I had because I don't think of sweaters as being a "one-month & done" project.On the other hand...I did finish a baby sweater in November, but I don't think that's the size NaKniSweMo had in mind.I took my (adult size) sweater with me on a long weekend away, and in

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-69776162560658699512007-12-02T19:30:00.001-05:002007-12-02T19:44:40.868-05:00

Sweater 1 is the baby sweater I finished a couple of weeks ago. The shower was today, and while the baby sweater set (sweater, booties, mittens, and hat) wasn't the fanciest gift and certainly not the priciest, I think it was #1 based on the number of "OOOHHHH!!!!!"s it got when opened. Sweater 2 is the semi-Thora, semi-gansey, semi-I-don't-know-what sweater that's been on the needles since

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-14022629738278815802007-11-25T14:34:00.000-05:002007-11-25T16:20:31.362-05:00

Now that the baby stuff knitting is almost done - just one pair of booties (about 2hrs) and maybe one more mitten (for a "pair & a spare" if I have enough yarn left), I can think about other projects.Already in progress -A long, long, long, in progress sweater for me. It's probably 3 years in the making. I like the color (Cascade 220 Quatro color #9437 purple) and the design so far looks ok. The

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-41883339071170263862007-11-23T14:10:00.000-05:002008-12-10T20:35:50.459-05:00

Knitting a baby set is the main fibery project around here right now -Sweater -I finished the Garter & Honeycomb Stitch sweater from the Greeting From the Knit Cafe book. Easy enough to knit, I did 2 things differently from the pattern was to use waste yarn for the armhole openings (instead of casting off then on the armhole stitches) and I did both straps together at the end.Using the waste yarn

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-50502197889240865742007-11-19T18:54:00.000-05:002008-12-10T20:35:52.596-05:00

A little late, but here's some pictures of my new wheel. It's a Fricke S160 folding single treadle. (The pictures aren't great, for some reason, my camera only takes pictures if it's connected to a PC in "snap single frame" of video mode. I'll figure it out sooner or later.)The top half (oops) of the wheel, folded up -The cut out design of the wheel -The wheel, unfolded -Proof that it's been used

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-23941093659205474582007-11-12T20:10:00.000-05:002007-11-12T20:17:04.225-05:00

My spinning wheel arrived! I'd take a picture, but a cardboard shipping box isn't much to look at. Project inventory -I'm almost done with the Garter/Honeycomb Stitch baby sweater from the Greeting from the Knit Cafe book. It's easy enough to make, I'm not sure it's going to be one of my favorites, but that's ok. It's cute and that's pretty much all that matters for a baby sweater!I finished one

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-39498325792726479572007-11-10T15:22:00.000-05:002007-11-10T16:26:02.527-05:00

There was a discussion thread over at Craftster a week or so ago about buying vs. making gifts. I've been thinking about it, because some things I just don't buy since I can make it myself, even though by the time I get around to making it, it might be days, months, years later. (Obviously, if it takes that long, then the question is "do/did I really need that?" but that's a different question.)

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-33687174687086318902007-11-04T19:47:00.001-05:002007-11-04T20:05:54.564-05:00

I finished plying the BFL and Wensleydale a while ago, and it's been sitting on the spindle since. I have a small niddy-noddy, it's only a yard or so. I got it as a gift a few years ago when I first started spinning, and since most of my skeins end up fairly small, I didn't get a bigger one. I just didn't need to. But now I have a few hundred yards of laceweight yarn sitting on a spindle, and

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-49085181236346245582007-10-31T21:42:00.000-04:002007-11-10T16:26:10.836-05:00

There's a scene in The Rabbi and Hit Man book where a rabbi (not the one from the title) and a police detective are both looking at the same Torah scroll. The detective, never having seen one before, sees the holiness of the scroll. The rabbi, being familiar with the scroll, just sees the problems with the scroll, that it's corrupted (definitely the wrong word, but I can't think of the right one,

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-32600771227431553882007-10-28T15:50:00.000-04:002008-12-10T20:35:52.824-05:00

It's been a week since Rhinebeck? Wow. Doesn't seem that long ago.What I saw/bought/did -Tried a S160 Fricke folding single treadle spinning wheel (purchase pending)Bought Amethyst Socks That Rock yarn from The FoldBought rose hand-dyed wool/bamboo/nylon sock yarn from Maple Creek Farm (funny, it looked darker in the booth. Instead of socks, I may make a scarf, this is wonderfully soft yarn)

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-26700571011186981582007-10-11T23:02:00.000-04:002008-12-10T20:35:53.146-05:00

Let's see if the picture works -yippee!!That's a (not great) picture of the Rainbow Socks done in Regia Linien 5279. It's about 4" so far, so just around 1/2 way up the foot. I'm (mostly) following the pattern - except that I started with a 4-way Swirl Toe from the Ethnic Socks and Stockings book by Priscilla Gibson-Roberts. The short-row sections I'm following the pattern. Haven't decided yet

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-73182663253694193442007-10-08T01:29:00.000-04:002008-12-10T20:35:53.311-05:00

I like the garter short row hat and I've made it a few times with and without the cable. I cast-on yesterday, or the day before, to make one of these, cable-less. First I cast-on too many stitches. Then I thought that making each short-row 'wedge' in a different stitch pattern would look good. Nope. Ripped that. Then I thought that a seed-stitch would work. It did.Simple enough - I cast on 32 (I

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-5773425422112546042007-10-06T01:45:00.000-04:002008-12-10T20:35:53.413-05:00

Is finally over. It was hectic at work, probably still will be next week. DH was obsessing over stupid details for the Bat Mitzvah tonight. And thebig moment - my "bat mitzvah" is over. It actually went well, I think. I read the prayers, I didn't make too many mistakes (that I noticed). DH's obsessions are done. I had so many people congratulating me afterwards. DH gave a (almost) tearjerker of a

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-13893343866138969592007-10-02T21:38:00.000-04:002007-10-02T22:03:09.399-04:00

Both my sister-in-law and dh's cousin's daughter are due in January. I'm thinking of crocheting baby blankets (for me, it's faster than knitting them) I want to make blankets that are different. I'm thinking of a round ripple afghan like this or another one I saw that, of course now I can't find, but was just 5 points and used yellow yarn to make a center star with variegated colors for the rest.

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-84453139309204007642007-09-26T21:50:00.000-04:002007-09-26T23:53:29.627-04:00

"They" say that talking about your fears and worries make them smaller. Don't know if that's true or not, but certainly can't hurt. (nothing knitted or otherwise fibery today)I'm leading Friday night services for the first time at our temple next week. First time anywhere for that matter. I've been practicing for weeks. It's not long, just about an hour, but about 1/2 of that is in Hebrew. Which

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-85825367096107822492007-09-23T12:15:00.001-04:002008-12-10T20:35:53.640-05:00

So, there's this Tangled Yoke sweaterfrom the Interweave Knits Fall 2007 issue, the Tangled Yoke Sweater KAL and the Knitting From the Top KAL on the Craftster Forums and they all started to merge in my head.In general, it's a basic sweater - ribbed at the bottom & wrists, stockinette stitch the rest of the body/sleeves, a little waist shaping, and finish with a round-yoke. And don't forget to

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-43272605180544827282007-09-13T15:24:00.000-04:002008-12-10T20:35:53.690-05:00

1. The Sweater - I *really* want to get this finished. I finished the sleeves and they're too tight AGAIN. Instead of ripping & reknitting (yet) I'm going to finish the body, and then come back to the sleeves. But I've been thinking about why they're tight. The measurements at the top of the sleeve and the bottom are good - a little less ease than I originally planned for, but um, that's the

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-64080816836006859892007-09-07T22:22:00.000-04:002008-12-10T20:35:53.700-05:00

Okay, so the other day, a friend was commenting on my monthly reading list and asked when I found the time to read. In the ensuing discussion, she described herself as a “goldilocks” when it comes to reading–she needs to have everything juuuuuust right to be able to focus. This caught my attention because, first, I thought that was a charming way of describing the condition, but, two, while we’ve

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-72484884698673918222007-09-04T18:12:00.000-04:002007-09-04T18:13:41.898-04:00

I just finished reading Finishing Techniques by Sharon Brant. It's laid out nicely - hard cover, lots of color pictures. It has a lot of information about planning the project so the finishing goes well - like not slipping the first (or last) stitch if you're going to using those edges for seams or picking up stitches.There's a chapter on knitting techniques, including short-rows, and converting

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-89167081722614468812007-09-02T13:31:00.000-04:002007-09-02T14:02:09.985-04:00

I don't remember how I got from here to here but that's the mystery of clinking links I guess. Anyway, I started thinking about whether I'd say I follow patterns or not, and why. I think I do. Mostly. Sometimes. Maybe before I can answer that, I need to ask first, how much can you tweak a pattern before you're not following it any more? Does using a different stitch pattern, say a 2stitch baby

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-2763133112391370872007-09-01T14:26:00.000-04:002007-09-01T14:36:20.400-04:00

In other words, procrastinating.There's so much that needs to be done - laundry, bat mitzvah practice (just how did hubby talk me into this...) knit my sweater, housecleaning,a figure out why the internet connection on the pc sometimes gets lost, and other misc tasks of life.What would I *like* to do? figure out to get some files from the pc to my pda, work on my sweater, knit or crochet a few

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-30470276252932512282007-08-31T22:42:00.000-04:002008-12-10T20:35:53.754-05:00

(yes I know it's Friday...)There was a widely bruited-about statistic reported last week, stating that 1 in 4 Americans did not read a single book last year. Clearly, we don’t fall into that category, but . . . how many of our friends do? Do you have friends/family who read as much as you do? Or are you the only person you know who has a serious reading habit?I've been reading Booking Through

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-78873899141380911072007-08-29T21:58:00.000-04:002007-09-02T18:42:13.800-04:00

It's wierd, the last week or so, have been sweaters all over the place. Knitting Daily and Grumperina and Craftster's Knitting forums have been talking about knitting, or not, sweaters. Knitting Daily especially - how a sweater fits on different people, sizing, adjustments, etc. So many of the comments are variations of "but it doesn't fit me" A designer isn't psychic, she (or he) can't write one

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-26688556642875065102007-08-25T19:08:00.002-04:002009-12-05T13:56:00.694-05:00

(This is actually 4 reviews, I can't think of one without comparing them to the others)(SD) Sweater Design in Plain English by Maggie Righetti(SW) Sweater Workshop by Jackie Fee (revised edition)(WAY) Knitting in the Old Way by Priscilla Gibson Roberts (revised edition)(KFT) Knitting from the Top by Barbara Walker (reprinted edition)If you're into knitting sweaters (or vests, blouses, coats, ....

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-85666891647917213622007-08-24T18:52:00.001-04:002007-08-24T23:58:38.493-04:00

There's a sweater pattern over at Knitting Daily and a discussion about adjusting the sweater to fit. Hypothetically this is how I'd adjust the Corset Sweater if I was going to knit it for myself.(I haven't tried any of these adjustments, so I don't how well they'd really work for real live knitting. I have no idea when, or if, I'll actually knit the sweater, so, like I said, it's all

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-27244249137988837962007-08-18T14:14:00.000-04:002007-08-18T15:08:06.902-04:00

I got a few kntting books from the library this week and instead of replying late to Booking Through Thursday I'll just write about these. Cool Socks Warm Feet by Lucy Neatby - This is 6 socks pattern and variations (The variation chapter has 7 toes, 3 heels, 7 cuffs, and 3 cast-on's for cuff-down socks, plus the ones used in the 6 sock patterns) There's a how-to-knit-socks section and technique

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-59262468825687574182007-08-18T13:31:00.003-04:002008-12-20T13:08:09.530-05:00

(This list will be updated whenever I post patterns or variations of patterns. I just wanted to have a place that lists them all)My Free PatternsKnitA mini top-down sweater sampler using Barbara Walker's Simultaneous Set-in Sleeve December 2008Stacie's Baby Sweater (seamless, bulky yarn) June 2007Ribbon Bow Hat (written preemie sized) April 2007Toddler size mitten pattern (fingering weight yarn)

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-34302398093963845842007-08-18T13:01:00.003-04:002009-12-05T13:57:24.291-05:00

(This will be updated whenever I do a book review. I just wanted to have a place that listed all of them)Knitting:Changing Patterns, Discovering the fabric of creativity October 2006Cool Socks, Warm Feet August 2007Custom Knits September 2008DomiKNITrix August 2007Finishing Techniques September 2007Fitted Knits April 2007Knit So Fine September 2008Knitting For Anarchists October 2006Knitting For

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-36897117994709775692007-08-12T14:13:00.000-04:002007-08-12T14:20:26.236-04:00

I'm still on the sleeves for the Thora sweater. The second sleeve is looking much better than the first. The first sleeve is definitely getting ripped back when the 2nd one is done. I didn't want to rip back the first sleeve until the 2nd is done because the length is good on the first one, so it's a good measuring point.I don't have much else on the needles now, I think there's a beaded purse

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-61849674333770570362007-08-09T18:27:00.001-04:002007-08-09T18:43:10.338-04:00

So, just when I finish my Gated Vine Socks and I start wondering (not much) what I'll do with the left over yarn - besides tossing them in the stash pile with the other left over sock yarn balls, one knitting group I'm in starts talking about ankle warmers. And I find this ear flap hat hat. A small ball of sock yarn, like say what's left over after a knitting a sock is enough I'm sure to make a 6

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-56498282825863676792007-08-07T18:15:00.000-04:002007-08-08T13:27:07.425-04:00

In Arctic Lace there's a pattern for wrist warmers - actually, if you scroll down a bit on the link above, you'll see a picture of them. Bottom left of the sample projects pictures. I was looking for a new pattern for a preemie hat, and the wrist warmers looked about the right size. Soo...with just a few adjustments to the wrist warmer pattern, I have a baby hat (which doesn't photograph well at

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-64989181192436630452007-08-06T12:59:00.000-04:002007-08-06T17:58:50.959-04:00

It’s been 2-3 months since I worked on my version of the Swedish Thora sweater from XRX's Best of Arans & Celtics. I finished a few other things that I had on the needles and now this is the #1 on the guilt-list of unfinished projects. Maybe guilt isn’t the right word, but whatever. So under the idea that not wanting to knit on this sweater just might be a sign that something is wrong with the

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-20956190076416654222007-07-23T18:33:00.001-04:002007-07-23T18:43:33.626-04:00

4 Generation Shawl from Spring 2007 SpinOff MagazineThis is my version of the 4 Generation Shawl from Spin Off Magazine (in case you couldn't guess that from the picture's title :) I used a commercial yarn - Encore Worsted in the Caribbean color, this is 4 skeins worth. It's a slightly thinner yarn than the handspun one in the magazine. It comes to just below elbow length. I may get one more

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-39424028326991120502007-06-25T17:54:00.001-04:002007-07-23T18:22:16.231-04:00

A friend of mine - Stacie - is expecting a baby (awwww....) in a few months. So, of course, I had to make something! I had a green chunky yarn that I thought would make a nice sweatshirt-y baby sweater. I couldn't find a pattern, so, I winged it and came up with this - Stacie's Baby SweaterI got some zebra buttons that I need to sew on, and finish off the yarn ends but other than that, it's

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-48770681617131685132007-06-08T12:44:00.001-04:002008-07-13T18:03:38.750-04:00

That's what I've needed - mindless stuff. Between dh's health and some work issues, complicated projects just don't appeal right now. Complicated meaning anything that needs a pattern - so the Gated Vines socks, with an 8-stitch, 12-rwo repeat, is on hold. The Thora sweater with an 8 row cable, purl columns, and moss-stitch background, is on hold. Preemie hats are a possibility, but since I've

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-83255947294575147592007-05-19T13:25:00.000-04:002007-05-19T13:34:06.634-04:00

From Smariek's blog/Bold for things you’ve done, italics for things you plan to do one day, and normal for things you’re not planning on doing.American/English knitting (as opposed to continental)BobblesButton holesCable stitch patterns (incl. Aran)Continental knitting (occasionally, need more practice!)Domino knitting (modular knitting)Drop stitch patternsEntrelacFair Isle knittingFreeform

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-63077797444862900312007-05-03T18:02:00.001-04:002008-07-13T18:02:39.036-04:00

So I finished one sleeve on the sweater last week and all I've done since then is pick up the stitches for the other sleeve and do maybe 4 rows. At that rate, it'll take oh, I don't know, maybe 5 months for sleeve 2? To be fair though, I think there's two 'problems' with the sweater:1- what my notes say about how many stitches to pick up, and how many stitches I count on the sleeve 1 don't match.

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-4960016965065393872007-04-23T12:14:00.000-04:002007-08-06T17:59:29.982-04:00

Knit flat and sew? Knit in the round seamless? Knit flat on straights or circs? Knit in the round on dpns or 1 circ or 2 circ? Knit both at once, flat on the needles? Knit both at once on circs? Knit both with steeks between them, cut the steeks and sew the seam?Seems so simple doesn't it? Two tubes, wider at the top, sewn or otherwise attached to the sweater body, and that's basically it for

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-19886616065019883202007-04-17T12:16:00.000-04:002007-04-17T12:26:30.184-04:00

This past weekend my to-do list was a mile long with things like grocery shopping, paying bills, misc. errands, nagging - um, encouraging - dh to finish the taxes, cleaning house, laundry, you know, all those kind of 'grown up' things.So, what do I do? Do I take care of all these annoying, but necessary, to-do's that keep life on an even keel? Do I plan the most effecient driving route for the

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-79125559734515705862007-04-11T17:49:00.000-04:002007-07-23T18:04:45.188-04:00

(5/3/2007 NOTE - There was a typo in round 1,3,5. The Sb was typed as Sf. It is now corrected, and marked in bold. Apologies for the typo!)This hat uses the Ribbon Bow stitch pattern from Barbara Walker's 2nd Treasury. I modified it to knit it in the round. I'll get a picture up as soon as I can. Ribbon Bow HatBaby weight (fingering weight) yarn in 2 colors3.5mm (size 4 US) double pointed needles

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-8591111122925961522007-04-09T18:06:00.000-04:002007-04-09T18:24:10.358-04:00

Let's see -There's my toe-up version of Gated Vines Socks - one sock finished last night, sock #2 has the toe finished. I'm finally knitting on them even without being in the dr's office/waiting room.There's the Thora sweater - top down, finished to just below the armholes. One sleeve almost done, there's about 30-40 rows left. It got put aside when dh got sick weeks ago. Now it's starting to get

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-72250273951365405172007-04-06T15:42:00.000-04:002007-04-06T16:05:26.053-04:00

Book first - Fitted Knits by Stefanie Japel - Top down, raglan sleeve sweaters/shrugs/blouses.The instructions for calculating top-down sweaters is just about 2 pages long, if that's enough for you, great, if you want more details and more styles, go for Barbara Walker's Knitting from the Top at Schoolhouse Press or for Jacqueline Fee's Sweater Workshop (this book is mainly raglan sleeve style

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-79935504490928169702007-03-23T13:52:00.000-04:002007-03-23T13:52:18.935-04:00

Last year I received a knitted lap-blanket as a gift. . It's a modified rib pattern - 12 rows of K6P6 then 12 rows of P6K6 so there's alternating rectangles of purl and knit. It's knitted in 3 panels and sewn together. Somehow one of the seams came lose and there's a 3-4" gap in the seam and slowly getting bigger. The seam yarn isn't long enough to re-seam and weave in the tail (at least not for

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-74830904588062938832007-03-22T18:40:00.000-04:002007-03-22T18:40:29.886-04:00

No, not me. I mean, yeah I was knitting in the hospital but I wasn't the patient. Before the hospital business started, I had started a sock with a regia tweed yarn, greyish blue denin with a few other colors thrown in for the tweed look. Usually I do socks toe up, leave the foot plain stockinette (I do rib the sole of the sock though) and after the heel, decide on a stitch pattern for the

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-84753790464291852242007-03-17T15:25:00.000-04:002007-03-17T16:23:36.438-04:00

Since a family medical emergency over the last few weeks has made things rather hectic, I'm punting and going with this list from smariek's blog. I added a few books to make it an even 75.This is only a partial list of the thousands of knitting books, how-to's and fiction available. Copy the list to your blog, italics the ones you’ve read, bold the ones you own., * the ones on your Wish List,

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-41702605984082484562007-03-01T18:43:00.000-05:002007-03-01T19:02:59.807-05:00

I tried two wheel at NETA Spa a few weeks ago. (seems longer!) I tried the Hitchhiker and the Ashford Kiwi wheels. Between the two, if I really had to choose, I'd go with the Kiwi - it was easier for me to treadle. And even though it was a double-treadle, I could use it as a single treadle. The Hithhiker is a single treadle, but if I didn't have it just right, the flyer bangs into my leg (ouch)

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-8613423174570878432007-02-24T13:52:00.000-05:002007-02-24T14:11:09.221-05:00

So, last Saturday I went to Portland Maine for the NETA Spa Weekend. I met up with friends, bought some fiber, tried a few wheels, and did NOT get lost in the drive there or back (although I think I went a longer router home, but whatever, I got back and somehow bypassed the toll bridge on the way.) I got an inch or so knit on my sweater. I missed the Spa fashion show and the mystery speaker. I

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-48572071833536257002007-02-16T17:17:00.000-05:002007-02-16T17:26:09.176-05:00

I'm driving to Portland Maine for the NETA Spa Weekend. I'm just going up for the day, not the whole weekend. At least not this year. It'll be my first Spa weekend and I'm looking forward to it. Although, by the same token, I'm not exactly sure what to expect. Sit&spin or sit&knit time? yup. Shopping time? yup. I'm planning to try a few more wheels, and maybe get one. Maybe. Talk with friends?

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-17547004319370558742007-02-15T18:40:00.000-05:002007-02-15T18:45:00.292-05:00

So this is a quick post & run. I finished hubby's snowflake socks (he's worn them, he likes them, success!) and my Hawaii socks (the picot hem is very nice but fiddly) and a crocheted bead rope bracelet (except for the join, but that'll be done tonight).I'm going to focus on my sweater, I want to get it done so I can use it - this winter would be nice, but I'm not that picky. I got a pair of flex

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-69620425069660082902007-02-07T18:40:00.000-05:002007-02-07T18:55:52.976-05:00

Well, actually it's just 'Socks, Socks' but whatever...The snowflake socks are coming along nicely for dh - One is done (did I say that before?) and the other is done to the heel. I would've finished it last week but dh and I had a fight and the sock sat in the corner as punishment. DH apologized (I'm not entirely sure the fight was his fault, but he has to apologize anyway :) and I think the

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-58121750814951258062007-01-27T13:27:00.000-05:002007-01-27T13:37:26.922-05:00

This is the spinning I'm doing for the Twisted Knitters spin-a-long. The green ball - which is actually a light grey) is 2oz of Wensleydale already spun and waiting. The light ball next to it is maybe 1/2 oz of the pastel BFL that's been spun. The big pile of colored fluff? About 1 1/2oz of BFL that still needs to BE spun. The colors are brighter in the picture than real-life. The spindle is a

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-1103808615071926012007-01-22T18:30:00.000-05:002007-01-22T18:41:05.647-05:00

I finished one of hubby's snowflakes socks this weekend. The fit around the ankle could be improved a bit I think, but he's ok with it, so I'm not going to play around with it on the second sock. The only problem I may have with sock #2 is that I can't find my notes on how I did the heel/gusset! Oh well, at least I have sock #1 to copy from!I looked at where I was on the Swedish Thora sweater - I

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-16416896352872102772007-01-17T18:41:00.000-05:002007-01-17T18:57:30.471-05:00

Knitting Socks -Here's two socks in progress - The one on top (which is really a bright royal blue, not navy) is my hubby's Snowflake sock, done toe-up, and finished a little less than halfway up the foot. The bottom one is my Hawaii Socks. It's done toe-up and is just past the heel, and is almost ready for the razor shell pattern. I don't see any problem with the socks, but Hubby does.The

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-23404119605390686352007-01-13T16:55:00.000-05:002007-01-17T18:40:56.674-05:00

Finally! I think I got it. Here's the 6 mittens I made from my purple mitten pattern And the 3 scarves I made for the the Red Scarf Project 2007 And my variation of Eunny Jang's Endpaper Mitts -

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-13965046419183053342007-01-10T18:44:00.000-05:002007-11-10T16:26:45.393-05:00

I do my fiberwork by hand - knitting, crochet, spinning, cross-stitch, embroidery, and some others. I do have a sewing machine, but it's not used often. Mainly sewing the hems on blue jeans (until I found a tailor nearby who does it quickly and well). It's not that I hate machines - I spend the day on the computer, and I have a microwave and a PDA and other electronic toys and gizmos.But for

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-81227729338317101182007-01-02T18:38:00.000-05:002007-01-05T11:45:09.010-05:00

This is the pattern I created for my nephew. It's about as simple a mitten pattern can be. It's sized to fit a 3yr old.Opal fingering weight, 2 strands. A 100gm ball makes 6 mittens. (1/5/07 - NOTE one ball just barely makes 6 mittens. I ran out with about 6 rows to go on the thumb of the 6th mitten. If I'd used shorter yarn ends on the other 5 mittens I probably would've been ok. )Double

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-29694209806476421422006-12-30T14:38:00.000-05:002007-01-02T18:38:28.081-05:00

My stash fits, more or less neatly, in 2 13-gallon plastic bags tucked in the corner space between my chair and the wall (well, what else would you put in that empty space?) And a dozen or so skeins in a basket next to the chair. And 3 or 4 shelves full of spinning fiber. And a large box full of cross-stitch supplies and patterns. We won't mention the books. Or the tools like knitting needles,

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-43906006922011808062006-12-20T18:26:00.000-05:002006-12-20T18:50:30.936-05:00

The bookThe Romance Reader by Pearl Abraham - no, it's not knitting (or even craft related). Part of the plot description is "The Romance Reader invites us to enter the Hasidic world as few have ever seen it - through the eyes of a young woman on the brink of adulthood." and that's certainly a true statement of the book. You (ok, I) could also say that it's not a "Jewish" story as much as the

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9903480.post-56985776589358679862006-12-12T18:27:00.000-05:002007-08-18T13:07:32.661-04:00

Stitch ‘N’ Bitch by Debbie StollerYeah, it's an "old" book - 3 years old. I didn't love it, but I don't hate it either. It's definitely written for somebody with a younger attitude that I've got (I'm 39)The beginning has the how-to knit section. It shows holding the yarn in either hand, knit/purl, caston, castoff, increases/decrease. Looks like a good review of the basics. Like Maggie Righetti's

Lillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12918023877777057045noreply@blogger.com0