On The Needles 12/27/2013

I have been so busy this month I haven't had a chance to post in awhile. Too bad I wasn't working on a lot of crafty stuff. Mainly working and shopping and who knows what else.

I started this on Dec 9 and was busting my bum to get finished before Christmas. I was actually able to get it done, but that was because I ran out of yarn. It came out a little smaller than I wanted but what can you do.

My first Hitchhiker. I love it. I used a Tosh DK in Jade or Emerald I think. I used US needles and 2 skeins. I wish I had a couple of more to use.

 

 

I also cast on my Challenge for the Loopy Ewe. I started with one pattern but changed to an easier one. Of course I have already had to rip it out and start over but I am making slow progress which is better than none.

 

For more Needles head on over to Judy's.


Michelle



On The Needles 12/6/2013

I can actually say off the needles this week. I finished the "correct" pair of mittens for my niece. I have one more to make, mitten that is, and I will be done. I actually cast on a mini scarf as well but I forgot to take a picture of that. I might finish it. I might not.

 

I didn't think I would ever get those lovely little mittens done. If you want to read about the complete fiasco on these little things you can go here.

 

 

I figure I will just blame Judy anyway. If she hadn't made these cute little mittens I would not have had the desire to try. But, I did it and I am not so intimidated now. Well, maybe a little gun shy still.

 

I am either off to make another mitten or to cast on something new. I mean I only have two things on the needles now, socks and moms cardigan, I think another will be perfect. I seem to work better in threes.

 

 

Michelle

 

For more needle goodies head on over to Judy's.

 



On The Needles 11/29/13

Just a little something I finished this week. Dad's birthday was Tuesday so I was on a mission to finish it before then and I did.

This is the 7-8-9 Hat from Ravelry. I used 7" needles. I also used a new to me super wash wool, Charley.

 

Not too bad for a quick finish and a quick start to boot.

 

I am off to buy more needles today. One of these days I will have all of the sizes I need. Well, I can hope anyway.

 

I also have these lovelies to work on. They are for my Time Travelers Scarf and Sock.

 

 

 

I have a couple of other projects I want to get done. So off I go to shop and sew and knit. At least I hope so. I gracefully or not so gracefully took a slide down a set of stairs at mom's house yesterday. Thank goodness it was only 5 stairs and I kind of slid bumped down them. Landed on my feet before I hit the tile below. Needless to say I woke up this morning not so gracefully. The posterior is killing me and the shoulders from trying to keep myself upright are sore as well. Guess a hot shower is in order first.

 

 

 

For more pretty ideas head on over to Judy's

 

Michelle

 

 

 



On The Needles 11/22/13

I actually have off the needles this week, for a change. I finished my niece's hat. Not I just have to make some mittens to go with it and I am good. I did stop to work on another project, no surprises there. I decided I didn't like it and I messed up somewhere so I ripped that out and started over. I just finished the ribbing so hopefully I can get that done by next week.

Great way to use up some more of my stash yarn for sure.

 

 

 

On a side note. Remember those mukluks I said I would never make again. Well, it looks like that is gonna change. She loves them so much Auntie is just gonna have to make her another pair for when the ones she has are worn out. Oh well....all for love right.

 

 

For more eye candy head on over to Judy's.

 

Michelle who is going to spend all day in the house because it is cold and snowy outside.



On The Needles 11/15/2013

On the needles Friday or in my case the story of the Mukluks.

Last Sunday I decided to start a new project, because I didn't have enough on the needles as it was. Of course I had no needles in the size I needed. How that happens I do not know.

1. Run to Joann's on Sunday afternoon to pick up a quick set of cheap needles. Do you know how many crazy people are in there in the afternoon? Of course they do not have the size I need.

2. Run to Michael's (it's on the way home). You know how many crazy people are there in the afternoon? Of course they don't have the needles I need either.

3. Get home and figure out to use a smaller needle on the top section and a larger needle on the bottom section. Of course that could be backwards because I don't remember exactly what I did.

4. Realize the yarn I bought for this project sucks is not to my liking. It was a lambs pride variegated pink and split to much for me and was not allowing for a smooth knit. Of course I didn't figure this out until the third time I cast on. I figured it was me the first couple of times and I was just not knitting loose enough to get the stinking stitches to work right. Doing 4 increases in 4 stitches has a way of making my stitches tighter than a buffalo's..well we won't go there.  And by the way why does it take 3 attempts before I figure out it ain't gonna work.

5. Find a skein of chunky down in my inexpensive yarn tote. I ended up with a Deborah Norville chunky variegated yarn that feels a lot better. Again cast on 2 times and get to row 6 (each and every time including the lambs pride yarn) and still have my stitches tighter than tight. I finally cast on a third time and am a little looser, now mind you that is a play on words and I am glad I ended up using some inexpensive needles because I swear the tips of each needle have left and impression in the other needle the size of the Grand Canyon.

6. Realize that I am just gonna have to fight with the tightness of this yarn because that is just the way the pattern is and I am not going to cave in at this point. Finally finished the foot part of the Mukluk on Sunday night. I ended up having to fight and stretch and squeeze and scream (well not out loud anyway) and fuss and pretty much send my whole family out of the room but I got it done. I have also increased the muscle mass on my arms ten-fold with the fighting increase but that is ok. I don't have anymore increases and the legs of these puppies are going to be a piece of cake. Ok...a really hard, left out for weeks piece of cake, but a piece of cake none the less. Oh snap! I still have another stinking one to do, unless I want my poor little niece to only keep one foot warm at a time.

7. By Tuesday night they are both done and whip stitched close. Oh yeah I would rather knit in the round the whip stitch anything closed again. Yep, that is why right now I am working on a hat for the same precious little niece that is also knit on straights and whip stitched close. What was I thinking?

So I now have a beautiful pair of mukluks that are a little snug at the top because I apparently can't not knit loose enough with this stinking yarn and this stinking pattern so I obviously can not bind off loosely either. Yeah, didn't dawn on me until I was done with the second one to actually switch to a pair of needles that were maybe three times larger to get a loose bind off. If they at least last her through this winter I will be happy.

I can say that I will not be Mukluking again anytime soon.

Until I took this picture I didn't even realize that toes looked so different on each foot.

They don't look like they are the same size but they are exactly.

I love the colors. It is actually a blue/aqua/yellow/lime green. I need to get better at pictures for sure.

 

 

For more On The Needles head on over to Judy's and see what other projects to start.

 

 

Michelle

On The Needles - Nov 1, 2013

Let me just say that when you give up on procrastination you actually get something done. I have been working on 4 projects every night. I may only do a little bit of each one but I do something. Normally it is hand sewing, then knitting, then hand sewing, then knitting. This way I rest my hands and I actually am making a lot more progress than I figured I would.

This is a block of the month I started awhile ago. I am no hurry to finish the complete afghan anytime soon but I wanted this block done. I only worked a repeat a day and it only took a little while but it is done. The second picture shows the true color a little bit better.

 

I like the idea behind this BOM because it has things I have never done in various blocks, bobbles, cables, chart reading to just name a few. But, I did tell myself that before I did another block I need to finish the back of the cardigan for my mother. So that will now become my 15 minutes of knitting, the rest of the knitting time is on my socks. I am just finishing up the heel now.

 

 

For more needle candy head on over to Judy's.

 

 

Have a blessed day,

Michelle

On the Needles 10/4/2013

I really haven't done a bunch of knitting or anything else for that matter this last week. It was another hectic week around the household and then the government had to do its thing so now my DH is home with me for awhile. Guess we might start painting next week. So much for my plans.

Anyway, I have been working on this Kimono Cardigan for my mom for a long, long, long time. Well not all of the time there may have been months and months in between picking up the needles on this but that is besides the point right.

I'm hoping in the next century to at least get the back done so I can do the other pieces. I just knit slow so it seems to take twice as long.

I need to get to 27 inches to complete this portion.

 

See the stitch marker. See the needles. I timed myself to see how much I could get done in an hour. That was it. I didn't get up. I didn't stop. I had pedal to the metal. I hope with time I get faster because at times it is so frustrating. I normally don't mind the speed but when I want to get this cardigan done it is a drivin' me nuts.

 

 

For more lovelies head on over to Judy's

 

 

Michelle

On The Needles 9/20/13

Not a lot of knitting going on. Well to be honest not a lot of anything going on with being in high school again. Who would have thought I would be taking Algebra, German, Science and World History again this late in life. First child didn't need much help, 3rd child is still doing ok, it is that loving middle child that is taking all of my evening time. You know, the time I usually sit and do handwork or knit. Hopefully it will get easier. I mean we have only been in school for a month and I am already losing my mind.

Any who, while I had company here I decided to do some simple knitting. So I found some yarn and made a dish cloth. Nothing fancy but it was only the second time I actually made one. I hope to get many more done. I think they will make neat gifts.

The weird thing is while I was knitting away on this one, talking to my friend watching baseball I noticed something odd. After a time my brand new wood needles were tinted blue and then I realized so were my fingers and my nails. It dawned on me it was from the yarn. I figured that meant when I went to wash the thing my water would be really blue. Nope, I soaked my rag and not a bit of dye ran. I guess it came all off on my fingers before hand. Who would have thunk it?

I love the way it looks especially how different from front to back.

 

Off to do some me things before the pasta party tonight. What was I thinking? I will have 30 some high school boys in my house for pasta. Oh I hope it is nice outside so I can herd them out the door.

 

For more OTN head on over to Judy's.

 

Michelle





On the Needles 8/30/13

Can believe August is almost over? I can't. 

I finally finished my Camp Loopy 3 project yesterday, talk about cutting it close. I chose a very easy (and boring) project because I really didn't think I would be able to get it done. We had to use 800 yards, I used 894. I still have to wash and block it but right now I am considering it done.

I found the pattern for this on Purlbee.  I think I will be working on dish cloths for the next little bit.  Although, I have a friend visiting and she showed me this really neat sampler afghan made with 12" squares, that might be a project that jumps up in the line.

For more eye candy head on over to Judy's.

Have a great and safe weekend everyone.

Michelle

On the Needles 7/12/2013

With Camp Loopy in full swing I actually have and on and an off the needles. A rare occurrence since I am a slow knitter.

I finished Camp Loopy 1 which was a scarf. I was really excited because I actually finished a week early.

This is the mediation infinity scarf off of Ravelry. I really enjoyed making this and of course I learned a couple new stitches.

 

I am using this yarn.

This is my Camp Loopy 2 project. I have to use at least 500 yarns and a pattern that had over 100 projects found on Ravelry. So of course I still need simple so here you go. I chose to do Gathered Scarf it does have some new to me stitches as well. For some reason  I don't find this one as enjoyable as the last one. I think it is because I have to pay more attention since it is a 13 row repeat that I can't seem to memorize. The infinity scarf was a 2 row repeat and I got that one done pretty quick. I also have to use 2 needle sizes on this one and it is a small pain going from a size 4 back up to a 7 with a kfb but I will get r done. I just hope I can have a week break with this one as well. Especially since my quilting/sewing time seems to suffer a bit when I am knitting so much.

 

On a lovely side note. I was knitting the other night while the Colorado Rockies were playing and my husband looked over at me and said "It just occurred to me that you have become my knittress."  I just smiled and kept on knitting..gotta love that man.

 

 

For more needle ideas head on over to Judy's.

 

 

Have a blessed week everyone.

 

Michelle

 

On The Needles 6/28/13

I have been busy knitting for a change. As a matter of fact that is all I have wanted to do which is no good for my Dear Jane or any other sewing for that matter.

I finished my Camp Loopy project 1...

I then finished my first Antartic sock, it is just a plain sock. This was my one attempt at the pooling challenge, which didn't work. Ironically this sock is supposed to pool. Not.

I will spend this weekend working on Dear Jane and then my mom's Kimono cardigan. I told her she may get it by Christmas 2017 at the rate I knit, but it's the thought that counts right.

For more knitty goodies head on over to Judy's.

Michelle

On The Needles 6/7/13

I am attempting Camp Loopy. I am a slow newbie knitter. What was I thinking?

I had my plan. I needed to knit a measly 3.5 inches a day to be done on time. I was on a roll. Then I messed up somewhere and I couldn't figure out how to fix it. I ripped it out. I started over. I am now behind.

I will keep going and maybe somehow with cosmic help from the knitting fairies I will get this puppy done. Of course right now I do know that I can get about an 1/2 inch done in 15-20 minutes.  I only have 93 inches to go......

Since I am really bad at unknitting I decided to add my own little life lines in there.  This way if I really mess up I can go to a co-worker and scream loudly for help.

It is amazing how crappy these photos look and how crooked the thing looks but really it is prettier in person and hopefully will be much better when done and blocked.

I do know I have to finish a couple of days early so I can have some time to work on that provisional cast on I did to finish it up.

For more great ideas head on over to Judy's.

Michelle

On The Needles 5/24/13

I am a slow knitter, very slow, and I don't knit all of the time. So, my projects are on the needles for a mighty long time.

I have been working on and off on this sock since Judy posted the pooling challenge. As you may be able to tell my sock didn't pool and I won't be done in time. It's all good though. I hope to finish this one sock before June 1st.

I did sign up for the Loopy Ewe's Camp Loopy. I just hope that I can make it through the first month then I can go from there.

I call this my Antarctic Sock. Love the colors and when I finally get the pair done I will love to wear them come winter.

My Camp Loopy loot. I will be using the pink (which is brighter than it appears in person) to make a summer scarf/wrap. My pattern is Meditation Infinity Scarf. I had to find something simple since I am still a novice at this knitting. I do have to learn a provisional cast on but it looks simple enough.

 

Now I am off to do some cleaning (maybe) and some sewing. I have a long weekend so maybe, just maybe I can get some things done.

 

For more on the needles head on over to Judy's.

 

Michelle



On The Needles 1/4/12

I finally have an on the needles post. Of course it looks like I was able to get a lot done but that is because my last post was probably a month ago.

I did finish my purple socks finally, they have even been washed and dried.

I also finished my red scarf.  I had originally bought this yarn to make some of the thicker beginner socks that I had been taught with. After, oh about 5 minutes of debating I realized I did like the sock weight or even sport weight better than the worsted weight so I had to decide on something else to do with this yarn. I used one skein to make the scarf and then since I bought two skeins, of course I figured a hat would be good out of the second skein. I am using the 7,8,9 pattern from Ravelry. I decided to do it with size 8 needles since that was the size I used for the scarf.  Let me tell you, after working with the smaller size 2.5 needles these feel like water hoses.

I also am, still, working on a sock. I was taught how to knit with the 4 dpns, but this pattern called for 5 and since I am still a novice and it was an easy, peasy sock I am following the instructions to the letter.  I have found that, so far, I do like using the extra needles. I don't get such a big gap when switching from one needle to another, which I get the other way no matter how tight I pull the first couple of stitches. I am sure I will get better as I go along. I sure hope I get brave enough to try some other patterns soon as well. At times it gets really boring using the same pattern over and over again.

I also bought a pattern to make a Kimono cardigan but that will have to wait awhile. I am really going to have to set some of this knitting aside to get some of these Dear Jane blocks appliqued but it is really hard to do....I also wish I was a speedy knitter but that isn't so.

I also received a lovely gift card from my Dear Jane students for Christmas.  So of course I went and bought some yarn, figured it would be easier to move than fabric.

I also finished a scarf for my mother, in that lovely ribbon twirly stuff but forgot to get a picture. Maybe I can make that my next weeks post.

I probably won't be able to post another needles Friday for awhile, well I could but it would probably be the exact same thing in the exact same spot, but I will be back.  I just have to move houses and get settled in first. Yarn is great...goes in buckets and is pretty light to move.  Fabric...well we won't go there.

For more on the needles head on over to Judy's. I so love going out and about on the various blogs to see what others are up to.  Although, it does add to my "want to do list".

Have a great day,

Michelle

On the Needles 11/9/2012

I really have been busy and numerous things. I just haven't taken the time to blog about it.  I will a few things to show in the next week or so.

Anyway, I made some progress on my slouch sock so I am now about 3/4 done.  Maybe by next needle post I will have the first sock done.

I also decided to start a project that I could learn a new stitch and it was simple for travel.  I found this simple scarf on Yarn Harlot via Ravelry.  I don't remember the name but it is a simple 4 stitch repeat and I was able to use some yarn I had bought to make some more thick socks that I decided not to do.

It really doesn't look this pink in real life.  It is just a basic red. But something will be made and I will have reduced a smidgen of my yarn stash.

I am off to check out the other projects over at Judy's On the Needles.

Have a wonderful day everyone.

Michelle

On the Needles 10/26/2012

I haven't done a lot of knitting lately. I have either been appliqueing or reading...alot or reading. I started this sock over a month ago but finally decided to do a little bit here and there so I am making progress..just a little on the slow side. These are slouch socks and aren't as long as I thought but I added a couple of extra rows and figure they will work out for someone.  But, I am trying something new so that is what counts right?

I can say that my sock yarn stash has grown but my productivity has not.  We rearranged the family room for winter, I know weird huh, but we had to move the furniture around so that the fire place will spread its warmth more evenly. After doing that my recliner ended up kind of in the middle of nowhere and I had very little light. I ended up buying a new lamp so I hope that helps. Trying to do all of my stuff on the couch is not conducive to my well being. I don't sit on the couch properly so every part of my body will hurt after an extended period of time. Now, with the light I am back in business and I will be the warmest come winter because I am closest to the fire place. 

For more needle projects head on over to Judy's.

I am off to sew and maybe some more knitting tonight..it is a cold one here today..so not looking forward to winter..a lovely 25 outside right now.

Michelle

On the Needles Friday 8/23/2012

It has been a couple of weeks since I posted but I have been a little worker bee and actually finished a few things.

I finished my first pair of socks and I even had enough left over to make a small pair...thought they would fit my niece but they are too small...oh well....

 

 

I also finished my sunshine scarf, it still needs blocking but of course I haven't been able to get to that yet....

 

I then started another pair of socks...same basic pattern but I thought I would make them a lot shorter.

After taking this picture I ended up ripping them out and starting over.  I think they were too loose so I am going to use a smaller size needle and see if that works.  It is a DK weight and I was using the size 5 the directions called for but for some reason they seem really holey...I will try a size 4 I guess and see how that works.

I'm really loving the knitting and I have to force myself to work on my applique for Dear Jane first but bribing myself seems to work wonders.

For more needles head on over to Judy's.....have a wonderful weekend everyone.

Michelle



On The Needles Friday 7/27/12

It has been a very busy week here and not a bunch of stuff done. It will be another busy week as well, we have company coming in tonight for a week so life as I know it will be crazy.

I finished my first sock at class on Monday...it really wasn't that difficult..of course I had to do the kitchener stitch threee times on my sock before I figured out what I was doing. Oh well, it was a learning experience.

I did cast on the second sock and as of last night I am ready to start the heel flap..hope I can remember what I did on the first sock so that I can finish the second one.

I also worked on a dishrag this week.  You really cant tell from the picture but there is a butterfly in the pattern.  I don't know if I life working with the cotton yarn.  It has absolutely no give in it and by the time I was done with a couple of rows my hands were killing me.  I even used metal needles. Don't know if I will be making many more of these even though they are easy and should be quick.

I still have my scarf to do as well. I haven't worked on that since starting the socks. I'm getting almost as bad with my knitting ufo's as I am with my quilting ones, and I haven't even been doing it very long. I am not even going to mention the 3 crocheted ones I have..nope not at all.

On a side note I spent an hour trying to teach my mom to cast on and to knit...lets just say I have not laughed so hard in a long time.  It was fun though....well I am off to work then home to finish cleaning house before company arrives late tonight.

For more needlin Friday head on over to Judy's

On The Needles Friday 7/20/2012

Well I made some progress on my first ever sock. It took me awhile but I was able to keep up with the homework for both weeks and am now done with this weeks. My final class is on Monday.

I decided turning the heel is easy it is that stinking going up the side gusset thing that had me confused, but I did get it. Of course we were in class so I had help...just hope I can do the second one with out mishap.

I was working on the decreases the other day just cruising along decreasing, and decreasing, and decreasing..then realized if I keep decreasing I won't have a leg opening...duh...light bulb moment.  Well for a newbie it is really hard to unknit...I can unknit the purls and the knits but those stinking knit 2 together and those SSK are just a pain...I only had to rounds I had to undo..thank goodness for the light bulb moment (so I didn't have to do like 10 rounds).  I don't think I did it completely right but I can only see one small mistake and I am content with it.  I don't have any holes and it looks good for my first pair.

I then was knitting away thinking I had to get to 9 inches for the instep..decided to try the sock on and really I could have stopped about 1/2 inch back but I am good.  I only ended up needing 6 inches so that was good. I have a hole in my finger from the needles.  I'm gonna have to pull out the finger protectors for sure.

Hope to get the second sock started tonight.

For more needle Friday head on over to Judy's.


Have a great weekend everyone....I am off to work  then the doctors.  Tomorrow is school shopping, this is the year both boys decided to outgrow everything...ugh..

Michelle

On the Needles Friday 7/13/12

I actually have something new on the needles this week. For my birthday I treated my self to a sock knitting on DPN class. Of course I did forget that there would probably be homework so I have been working like mad to get what I need done by Monday.  It is times like these I wish I was a speed knitter because doing the homework has me slacking on my Dear Jane blocks..oh well....

The class has us making these with a worsted weight yarn for ease of learning and speed.  I can say thank goodness because I don't know if I would be able to get the cuff (which I did at 1 inch) and the leg done before class if I used sock yarn.  I have a little over 7 inches done and I have to get to 9 inchs and then do the heel flap. I was hoping to get the other one  started so that I could work on them as a "complete each section together" type thing but my time is short so maybe if I can get this one done to the stop point I can start the other one. Wish me luck.

By the way does it get any "easier" working with these needles.  I am getting into a routine so to speak but sometimes I still feel like there is a octopus in my hands.  And let me tell you these needles are a little bit sharper than my Addy's cuz my fingers are tender.  I sure have been trying not to use my fingertips for sure.

For more Needle news head on over to Judy's.

Michelle