Take the Pledge!

I have pledged to make 20 scarves for the Special Olympics Scarf Project.  I'd like all the knitters and crochet people out there to join me!  You have until February of 2011 to make as many scarves as you can/want to!

You can check out the scarves that I and my husband, Dan have made so far here:

Special Olympic Scarf Set on Flickr

Here's a pic of one:

Free Pattern is here.

The official colors this year are Red Heart Super Saver Soilds in #886 (Blue) and #512 (Turqua).  I am gladly accepting donations of scarves and yarn!  Please contact me at knitcrotatter@gmail.com if you can donate either one, and thank you!

Awesome Comp!

I couldn't go to the New York Sheep & Wool Festival this year because my health is very bad.  I waited until two days before and reluctantly decided not to go.  

My straight mate Dan felt so bad for me, he told me I could spend what he had budgeted for NYSW on fiber related stuff.  So I ordered a pound of roving from KnitPicks, a Namaste Buddy Case and - get ready - a Golding Spindle! 

She's a 3" whorl, 2.2 oz., solid ebony beauty!  Here she is upon arrival yesterday:

And here she is unpacked (and a little fuzzy, sorry):

And here is a photo of her lovely whorl:

Piccies of the roving and Buddy Case when they arrive!

(Almost) Instant Gratification - Pink Mitts

I got the Nov/Dec issue of "Crochet Today" at about 5 pm yesterday.  By 10 o'clock last night, I had whipped these puppies up!  Pretty close to instant mitts, if you ask me!

The Details:

Pattern: Cabled Mitts by Brenda K.B. Anderson

Yarn:  Cascade 220 Wool, Pink

Hook: Size "G" (4 mm)

I think they came out great!  They certainly were very fast to make - I can see a few more of these getting made soon!

Kitties and a Shawl

Here are my three cats, Zowie (marmalade kitty) Izzy (black kitty) and Duke (Maine Coon) attempting to snooze their way up Mt Warm & Clean Laundry.

And here is Zowie test-napping a Snuggle I made her:

And here are Duke & Izzy inspecting my Faux Spanish Lace Shawl during blocking:

And here is the shawl being blocked sans les chats:

And finally, the blocked shawl:

The Details:
Pattern: Faux Spanish Lace by MMario
Yarn: Cascde 220 in Silver Gray (#8401)
Needles: Size 10.5, U.S. (6.5 mm)

New FO - Kevie's Wedding Afghan

This is a wedding present for Dan’s uncle Kevin, aka Kevie who is getting married next month. Dan picked the yarn to match Kevie’s living room (I hope!)

The Yarn is Red Heart acrylic, "Shaded Browns", approx. 5.5 skeins.  I used a U.S. size "K" hook (6.5 mm)and  my own original pattern, "Zowie's ZigZags Afghan" which is for sale in my Ravelry shop! 

Finished size is approx. 48 X 65".

And a close up of the pattern:

FO: Two quick kerchiefs

Kerchief on left in KnitPicks "Comfy" pima cotton sock yarn, color "Semolina.  On right, "Comfy" in "Hollyberry".  (They just Both happen to be Redskins team colors)  My original designs, both using a size "E" hook.  Made 16 August 2010.

  
Close up of tips:

 

Weekend Piccies

Here are two kitty pics and a brag shot of most of my spindles!  First up, HRH Isabella, Queen of Spain:

 

 Next, Izzy & HRH The Duke of York chillaxin':

 And finally, most of my spindles (minus a few toy wheel spindles and one walnut spindle I don't like!):

New FO - Punk rasta tam!

This was a quick, fun, two day knitting project.  I finished it this morning as SHARK WEEK BEGAN!!!  Please excuse the lousy lighting on the bottom view, the flash screwed up and I was too lazy to re-take it.  Here are the photos:

 
 

  

The details:

Yarn: Moda Dea, Washable Wool (Discontinued)

Needles: Sizes 5 & 8 (U.S.) 16" circulars

Pattern: Rasta Hat from the book, "Knitty Gritty Knits", pattern is also available for free on Ravelry.

COTW Extra: Table Be Round

Medieval humor.  Heh.

COTW - More Groucho

And here's this week's dose of Groucho:

Bagged!

Finished a little dice bag today.  It's worked in tapestry crochet, with a size "G" (4.0 mm) hook.  The yarn is cotton worsted weight.  The cthulhu chart is from somewhere...I can't remember.  The bad pattern itself is my own.

 

COTW - You can learn a lot from Lydia!

Groucho at his very best:

Finished!

The Kaffe Fassett socks are all done!  Here's a pic:

  

 The blockers were made from 3mm thick craft foam sheets and work very well!

1st Sock Done

This is GORGEOUS Regia sock yarn designed by my favorite knitting/color work designer, Kaffe Fassett, and given to me by my wonderfully enabling daughter.  I am using a plain vanilla pattern as the yarn is the star here.  Sock #1 is all done as of yesterday!  Happy Dance!  Here are a couple of piccies:

 

The details:

Pattern is #104 "Jacquard & Stripes Socks" by Patons.  Yarn is Regia's Kaffe Fassett Sock Yarn.  Needles are #2 (2.75 mm) bamboo double points.

Beanies abound

It was an all head-gear sort of weekend. First up, the crochet. Beanie on left is "Lace Cap" by Kim Werker, beanie on right is "Solid DC Skully" by Sarah A. Both done in Lily Sugar 'n Cream yarn, with a size "H"(5mm) hook. Modeled by the always suave and debonair Duke of York, 5/16/10.




Now, on to the knitting. All three beanies are "Beanie & Cecil" by me, available in the right sidebar. Size 7 U.S. needles, Lily Sugar 'n Cream yarn. 5/14-15/10

COTW - Which Weighs More?

For Emma, as (almost) always:

Mock Croc Sox!

Finished the first of my Mock Croc Socks. Pattern by Susan Lawrence, free at KnitPicks. The yarn is KnitPick's Gloss in "Winter Night". Done with the "Magic Loop" method on size 2 (2.75mm) needles.






And I received some gorgeous flowers from my daughter and son in law yesterday for Mother's Day. Thanks, you guys!

Mother's Day Loot & FO

Well, I scored some wonderful yarn from Dan for Mother's Day! Webs was having a sale on Noro Cash Iroha and I got 4 skeins of a beautiful grey:

I also finished the 8 Pointed Baby Blanket:

The center:

All in all, a pretty good week for fiber.

Noro Shawl blocked!

FINALLY got the shawl washed, rinsed in good smelling stuff, and blocked! Here are some piccies:

The final measurements: 80" wide x 36" long.

FO, & A short visit...

I finally finished the Noro Kuryeon Shawl! Took me just under a month and ended up using all 6 skeins. Weaving in all the ends was a real PITA. Here it is, as yet unblocked:

I also took a short trip to my home town of B--- and visited my grandparent's grave for the first time in years. I had a horrific childhood, and my grandparents, particularly my grandmother, were the only people in my life who truly cared about me. Here is a pic of their grave, with the flowers I left from myself and my daughter in the middle:

A big thank you to my Nouna Joanie for offering to come with me, and putting up with my brief (I hope!) walk down memory lane.

Time to Tat!

Today is International Tatting Day! So grab some chocolate and a glass of your favorite libation and hit that needle/shuttle! Don't know how to tat? GASP!!!! Oh my, you just gave me an attack of the vapors! never mind - you can learn how here:

This 'n' Tat - Shuttle Tatting Lessons

If you are a more visual learner, try this video:

Tatting From Start to Finishing (Shuttle tatting)

And finally, Needle Tatting instructions: Video - Needle Tatting, Double Stitch Illustrated - First Steps in Needle Tatting

Which way do I tat? Well, mostly needle, as shuttle tatting tends to make my hands hurt - and I've never been very good at it!

Why should I tat, I hear you ask. Well, because it's a beautiful art form, there is pride in making things with your own two hands, and it helps you to slow down, relax and enjoy being in the moment - all good things!

And just to whet your appetite, here's some tatted eye candy: