tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13956526386618015212011-04-21T19:10:14.176-05:00All about my knitting, crocheting and other projects.madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.comBlogger671100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-87632301948615103952008-11-24T09:11:00.004-06:002008-12-16T11:16:23.309-06:00

I'm moving this blog to http://stringingmealong.wordpress.com. I just feel like I have more options to design, correct and update posts that I've made.

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-5203911222755950262008-11-21T19:27:00.002-06:002008-11-21T19:35:31.819-06:00

1. Celtic Knot Stole 2. Restart the cover for the toilet lid 3. socks for soldiers pair of socks 4. Solo sweater tank 5. Doilies for my mom. She needs 10.

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-71245893749247156512008-11-11T09:45:00.003-06:002008-11-11T10:13:28.596-06:00

First of all, I have knit about 75 rows of the Celtic shawl. Further than I got before I frogged it the last time. Very happy about that.Second, I think I am learning my limits on the stash thing. I have enough yarn now that if I want to go knit something, I have plenty to do it with. Some of it is very pretty, and some of it is utilitarian, but it is there.There are several yarns I still want to

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-62451901116267243512008-11-09T15:28:00.008-06:002008-11-11T09:44:11.717-06:00

Playing Pirates of the Carribean Online It calls for a 3D graphics card, which I don't have much success with in Florida. The most gentle of lightning strikes kills them dead, so I quit buying the nice expensive ones after the 2nd one bit the dust. It'll be a while before I can get another one.Most of the time I can play the game without the upgrade, but no such luck yesterday or today. Who knows

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-44584073434902606772008-11-01T21:07:00.006-05:002008-11-09T15:45:27.968-06:00

...are the Celtic stole, which I keep having the same problem with, and spinning roving into yarn. Some nights the spinning goes well, other nights, it's bigger than I'd like, but I have come up with sort of a system to make almost uniform in size.With the stole, I get to the part where I start knitting the first knot, and when I get to the other side of the knot, I start having trouble...winding

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-26872742677076887492008-10-24T17:26:00.010-05:002008-10-24T18:14:30.739-05:00

The variegated yarns in this picture will be used to make throws. They were given to me by a friend who wanted them put to good use. The yarns on the right are being used to make a ribbons and bows bathroom set for my mom. I've got a ways to go on that one. I don't think I will need all the off-white yarn, so it will probably be used to make stripes for one of the variegated yarn throws. This

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-38746424392688436332008-10-10T21:16:00.015-05:002008-10-10T22:28:37.966-05:00

Edge pattern rows:Row 1: 1 sc, miss 2sts with 3 chn, 2 dc, 3 ch and 2 dc into foll st., miss 2sts, 3 chn rep from the beginning.Row 2: hdc into sc, 2 ch, between the dc of previous ro 5 times: 1 dc and 1 picot, then 1 dc, 2 ch.1. I chained 20 to represent your knitting. 2. work one sc over the first chain, then chain 3.Photo 1: making first single crochet in first stitch.3. skip the next two

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-85288156560538015892008-09-14T18:18:00.003-05:002008-09-14T18:21:52.425-05:00

Mama Llama laceweightThis, along with some Misti Alpaca black lace, if I can work it in, is going to be the Forest Path Stole, if I can find the yarn I want to accent it with. I may have to skip the accent altogether. I don't want to, but it's going to be very tricky to find a good match. I did write the company for their recommendations.gray NTS laceweightThis gray laceweight from No Two

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-29659284250587033482008-09-01T16:16:00.005-05:002008-09-01T16:31:54.979-05:00

I love this pattern. The socks have a sort of feathered look down the side. You really can't see it until the socks are on.

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-20750350901436173622008-08-23T00:36:00.005-05:002008-09-01T15:58:16.486-05:00

I'm typing this up as a reminder to myself for the next time I have to do a short row heel or toe. I kept having difficulty having more stitches than I was supposed to after the toe was I could live with. It wouldn't be 100% perfect, but after a certain point I didn't care. I finally figured out a way to do it that keeps me on track with the needles.First of all, if you decide to do this and you

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-83740529898933205642008-07-23T21:44:00.002-05:002008-07-23T21:47:01.955-05:00

Unbelievable hats at sockpr0n: Hats made from batting

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-11652716178951763732008-07-14T17:43:00.003-05:002008-09-14T16:50:55.879-05:00

These are the plans for the yarn in my stash this year.laceweight yarn from vieuxrouet on Etsy.com: I plan to make the Bosom Buddy shawl from Carry (web site link). Actually, make that the Short Row Shawlette, which won't take quite as long. I'm making it on really big needles, and it looks like it's going to be very pretty. It should go very well with the black clothes I'm almost always wearing.

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-3954175516541667342008-06-18T21:40:00.007-05:002008-06-18T22:49:45.346-05:00

I was worried, really worried. The chicks looked like yellowish, lopsided blobs that were NOT going to work out to be chicks, so I'm really relieved at this point.Just for a refresher (and since it's going to be a while since I finish), here's a pic of what the dress will look like when done.My other project, the contour rug, has three rows of green left before I add on the lace border. Even

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-32494396277528930862008-06-04T20:47:00.006-05:002008-06-04T21:04:38.460-05:00

I didn't get very much accomplished for the May challenge. I actually went up in yardage instead of down, but I got some great yarn in the process (Sonny and Shear was having an economic stimulus sale).Here are my new favorites.This laceweight (Mama Llama Jaggerspun) is going to be for a shawl project. I'm afraid I'm going to need another 2 balls of it to make a Forest Path Stole. I may pick a

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-35752632097711036662008-05-17T23:14:00.002-05:002008-05-17T23:20:52.434-05:00

I was all lackadaisical about it the first few weeks, but when it came time to add up the total yardage of my stash, I freaked out because there was so much yarn in there. I'm a slow knitter, and I got scared that I would never use it all up. So scared that I'm determined to destash 2,000 yards instead. I may not make it, but at least I will make a dent.That said, the last two skeins of yarn I

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-46478808814145865152008-04-25T15:02:00.006-05:002008-04-28T15:14:11.324-05:00

I lost my ability to read pattern instructions when it came to doing the yarn over heel on the Twinkleberry sock pattern, so I had to search the internet for help.I sweated a couple of bullets looking at the instructions that popped up, but fortunately for me, I came across this link:The easiest way to do a short row heelThis woman has saved me untold hours of sock heel making misery. I have

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-55178252332250999232008-04-20T11:29:00.003-05:002008-04-20T11:32:50.709-05:00

It looks like the pieces of this heel are not going to meet up, and I'm going to have big holes where the ankles should be. I'm going to ravelry for help. If I'm not back by Wednesday, please donate my pitiful stash to some worthy institution...

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-40379869436984338322008-04-14T20:52:00.001-05:002008-04-14T20:54:34.332-05:00

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-264019256061128482008-04-13T15:22:00.003-05:002008-04-13T15:32:19.300-05:00

Knitting Group Meeting info: For anyone interested, here is the schedule for the Crestview group for the next little bit:April: 15th (this coming Tuesday), 29th May: 6th, 20th June: 3rd, 17thWe meet at 6:00 at Starbucks in Crestview every other Tuesday.

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-21718527964113589452008-04-12T16:17:00.005-05:002008-04-12T16:27:44.195-05:00

I'm going for it. I have no idea how I'm going to do it or what kind of yarn I'm going to use, but dudes, $6,000 is certainly worth an attempt.If you want to design a pair of socks for the contest, or more than a pair (up to 5 pairs allowed), go to http://ThinkOutsidetheSocks.comfor the details and do your thing!

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-54045891636929971652008-04-12T16:17:00.001-05:002008-04-12T16:19:21.134-05:00

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-88828247334857808102008-04-09T18:51:00.005-05:002008-04-09T19:00:04.408-05:00

I don't like the way the pictures are being lined up with the text, so I'm going to rearrange them again.I have had to frog the top of the second gimlet sock. I did something wrong somewhere, and I'm quite sure what it is, even after looking at it for two days. I don't mind redoing it...it's just making myself set aside the time that difficult.Test of the new layout of pics: Speaking of Juliet

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-69026579138996979862008-04-07T20:01:00.004-05:002008-04-07T20:14:35.357-05:00

Pre-Knitpicks socks on 4 DPNs:Post Knitpicks 40" cable needles...I am very happy with this set. I'm so happy with how well using 2 DPNs is working out. I love the flexible cables, and in an added bonus, they are actually my favorite color.The only way this could be better is if these socks knitted themselves. I love the Twinkleberry pattern, but I'm scared of the heel in the pattern. I'm just

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-66946739514597779022008-04-03T13:58:00.002-05:002008-04-07T20:01:01.139-05:00

Ok, here's the story. The Amethyst Cottage Knitting Group decided to start meeting twice a month, which is a fabulous idea. I love Knit Night; it's awesome!There are two problems with having it at starbucks:1) I am going to order something, even if I'm not hungry or thirsty. Even if I'm down to my last dime. Even if it kills me, because it would kill me even more not to order anything. lol2) I

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-31119361792364718432008-03-30T21:06:00.005-05:002008-03-30T21:31:25.128-05:00

This sock is taking me way longer than I expected. I don't know if it's the size 2 needles or just a serious lack of focus, but I at the very least expected to be starting the heel by now. Maybe I am being too optimistic. I'm sure it didn't help that I started rereading the Harry Potter series. Or that I surfed the Internet. Or that I had my hair done. Or that I wigged out and watched Guy's Big

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-71728085284283892032008-03-29T14:48:00.003-05:002008-03-29T14:51:43.210-05:00

I love the Twinkleberry pattern...it's working out great, too. This is what I have done so far:I had to frog it, but I don't mind doing it over again. Next payday, I'm going to get 2 circulars so I can do two socks at one time...I don't like having to finish a whole sock and then do another one separately.

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-15699900397968657602008-03-21T11:31:00.004-05:002008-03-30T21:06:19.738-05:00

Even though Melissa's business was shut down (my bad, not shut down, just moving due to zoning issues --see blog comment below), I have to say meeting at Starbucks was cool. My biggest problem there will be staying away from the food counter. I had a marshmallow treat and a mocha frappuccino...I'm not even going to wonder how many calories that is. Let's just go with a lot!I have four rows left

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-84741964273145168472008-03-18T11:42:00.005-05:002008-03-18T22:51:51.979-05:00

I got a swatch done on the yarntini, but no washing or blocking of the swatch because I had swift loop-to-ball issues. Unfortunately for me, I dropped the loop of chocolate cream yarn on the floor and it turned into a huge mess. And it took what seemed like 12 hours to sort out. You think I learned anything with the first ball? Well, I didn't. It happened again on the gimlet. So right now, the

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-2349509724991161952008-03-07T20:11:00.006-06:002008-03-11T14:34:47.740-05:00

I got my yarntini in from Sonny and Shear...it is beautiful stuff.The gimlet's so bright, and the chocolate cream is light brown without being boring. It's so nice that it all meets or surpasses my expectations. I don't even think I'm going to knit with the gimlet. It's inspiration stash right now. It's so pretty I want to write the lady who made it and offer my services, even though I've never

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-49221463175685938132008-03-06T18:48:00.004-06:002008-03-06T22:42:53.341-06:00

After I double the sewing thread and knot it, I go through the button 3 or four times.The pictures below show how I finish it off.In the first picture, I take one short stitch.In the third picture, I wrap the thread around the needle 3 or 4 times.Then I do the short stitch again 2 times to finish it off.If I still don't feel secure about it, I wrap thread around the needle again and do the short

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-78891716606835490542008-03-04T19:49:00.003-06:002008-03-04T19:52:03.351-06:00

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-33561890920847828102008-03-02T20:27:00.012-06:002008-03-02T20:58:52.077-06:00

with the desert poncho. Yay for me. It's soooo pretty.Almost as pretty as this:I have this much binding off left to do: Then I can add the fringe and add a few strips around the neckline.

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-57886703262996775902008-02-23T15:46:00.004-06:002008-02-23T15:50:58.762-06:00

I am taking this up again today, and I'm going to get some good circles on that first part of the design if it kills me (and it just might).I'm also moving up to a bigger size needle. I think it will give me a lacier effect and not shrink in size, because my knitting gets tighter the further I get into clue one.

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-12652381080448018102008-02-22T18:36:00.004-06:002008-02-22T18:45:07.076-06:00

Now that I've relaxed a little, I'm starting to enjoy knitting more and recognizing that there really are benefits. 1. It gets my mind off things that are bugging me. 2. It apparently keeps me from strangling people. 3. I never run out of things I would like to knit. 4. I've met some pretty nice people in the process. 5. I don't have anybody breathing down my neck and telling

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-16095116347430777792008-02-15T22:51:00.006-06:002008-02-15T23:34:55.339-06:00

I made the larger size and it is fitting better and looking better, too.Here's what it looks like so far. I think I'm going to have to buy another 2 bundles of yarn, one light brown and one ecru. It has been smooth sailing on getting a large part of the knitting done in the evenings. I watched Pride and Prejudice about 6 times in the past two weeks to give me good stuff to knit by. Since the

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-7814357310350346582008-01-15T17:39:00.001-06:002008-01-15T18:19:27.736-06:00

It looks like it's about 1 1/2 inches bigger than the old poncho. Knock on wood that it fits better. It still feels good.I watched "Talk to Me" last night, a movie with Don Cheadle playing an ex-con named Petey Greene. It was based on a true story. This guy was the voice of black Washington D.C. in the 60's and 70's, and he used the radio to voice his frustrations with the lack of civil rights

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-26774004929485117612008-01-11T15:06:00.000-06:002008-01-11T15:08:15.652-06:00

on the poncho. It's giving me a hard time. It's still too small. I think I'm knitting too tightly and it's throwing things off, then I knit too loosely, which throws it off even more.I think it will just work out better all the way around instead of doing it piecemeal here and piecemeal there.

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-53434414584524067792008-01-08T17:59:00.000-06:002008-01-08T18:15:20.574-06:00

with the majority of my knitting ego intact. I learned a few things about myself. Thing 1: I can do a big project if I set my mind to it. The rest of life may go to hell in a handbasket in the meantime, housework doesn't get done and worthier things (a job, a life) may fall by the wayside, but I can do it.Thing 2: Whatever it is, it will get done, and it will get done well, even if it takes me

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-19656602191148108592007-12-31T19:08:00.000-06:002008-01-08T18:17:49.802-06:00

This is the Cherry Tree Hill yarn I was discussing earlier. It's a beautiful yarn. Well worth the money, too, I think. I'll be knitting with it soon. Pictured below it is the Regia 4-ply sock yarn, which has a nice little stretchiness to it. I'm looking forward to working with it, too.

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-16017733855889862462007-12-24T21:50:00.001-06:002007-12-25T20:55:29.887-06:00

Merry Christmas to me, Merry Christmas to me...I ordered some yarn and some books I've been putting off for the past 3 months, and let me tell ya, it was hard making myself wait. I suck at waiting, especially when it comes to buying stuff. I have no patience.Man, I don't think I'm going to be a Blogger blog owner much longer. I don't know what's going on. God forbid that my posts aren't perfect

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-60208443273404011982007-12-20T17:09:00.001-06:002007-12-20T17:23:51.256-06:00

What is up with all these stars trying to sell perfume? First I saw about it, I think, was when Paula Abdul was on her show picking out a scent at the perfume factory. Then, I saw the commercial for Mariah Carey's new fragrance.Then Antonio Banderas (which was a shocker for me). And now Charlize Theron's doing a plug for Armani or Givenchy or one of those big name designers. What gives? Also,

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-40143105071628692662007-12-19T16:01:00.001-06:002007-12-19T19:40:35.992-06:00

Even though Christmas is just around the corner, and I knew it was coming, I am still amazed at how much I overestimated I would have done by now.For instance, I thought I would be done with the poncho, and almost completely done with the bathroom rug set. As a matter of fact, I was so sure I'd be done, I signed up for a shawl knitalong (KAL) beginning January 1.Wrong on all counts. It's moving

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-50515585070567070202007-12-16T12:32:00.001-06:002007-12-16T14:27:43.496-06:00

About 25-28 hours left on the poncho. Spent 1/2 a day decorating for Christmas yesterday, because I have no Christmas spirit right now. Nine days left, and Christmas love is at zero. I hope it's not one of those things where it doesn't wake up until New Year's, when it's already too late. That has happende before.Working Girl with Melanie Griffith is on now. It's one of my all-time favorites. I

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-16364505915265046552007-12-06T09:58:00.001-06:002007-12-06T09:59:24.927-06:00

and about to break 100. Yay! I need to get on the ball and finish the bottom part though, so I can finish the top. I don't know how this is going to work out with the Santa letter schedule going on next week.

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-58470650734449791492007-12-01T16:33:00.000-06:002007-12-23T14:44:54.077-06:00

A test recipe for rice cheesecakecrust1 cup all-purpose flour1/2 cup confectioner's sugar1/2 cup unsalted melted butterpinch of saltcheesecake8 oz. Philadelphia cream cheese2 eggs1 1/2 cups cooked rice3/4 cup sugar1 teaspoon flour1 teaspoon vanillaMix crust ingredients together and press into a small square pan. Bake for 15 minutes or until crust is golden brown. Remove from oven.Beat cream

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-47120956009962210152007-11-27T10:12:00.000-06:002007-11-27T10:24:18.975-06:00

I'll just talk about Ravelry. They have awesome ads on there that you can click to add to your favorites. And they number individual posts in the forums. And they have that cute picture of Bob the dog thinking about a ravelry green bone. I joined a few groups on there and posted a few things. There was this awesome post about an e-bay sale gone wrong. This lady had ordered what she thought was a

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-89827893366126310672007-11-25T11:53:00.000-06:002007-11-27T10:12:03.059-06:00

The top of the poncho is too small. Apparently, I knit the top way too tightly...but I'm going to blame it on the small circular needle because I hate those things. On my next project, I'm going to listen to myself first and the pattern second. I was ready to burn those 16 inch circulars, first because they're a lot shorter than I thought they'd be, and second because I had to fight them to get

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-52876537922101189022007-11-23T22:48:00.000-06:002007-11-25T11:53:43.072-06:00

Yesterday (Thanksgiving evening), my cousin Fred was looking at the poncho I'm knitting. He actually felt the yarn, examined it between his fingers, flattened the fabric with his hands. He took his time and looked at it like it was important. Then he said, "You know, you're a talented girl. This is really good work." I'm in shock. When I knit my first pair of socks, one of my other cousins looked

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-3407054095833723192007-11-19T07:10:00.000-06:002007-11-19T07:15:48.851-06:00

on the poncho. I don't know what happened, but my version and the Lion brand project pic are different. Their row 80 has more skinny stripes after the first row of fringe. The pattern doesn't read like that, unless I skipped some steps.The only difference that should be there is the second row of two-color blocks I added instead of fringe.I'm on row 84.Actually, I just looked at the pattern again

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-77242593719020661532007-11-10T17:48:00.000-06:002007-11-10T17:51:12.477-06:00

I have been working on the poncho some more yesterday and today. I am going to change the pattern a little and add another row of checks where the first row of fringe should be.Looking forward to getting there. I'm on row 56 of 156.

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-50665447352125869132007-10-29T17:37:00.000-05:002007-11-16T14:49:50.777-06:00

I was working on the desert poncho all day yesterday. I wound up frogging several rows because holes were too big, or things just didn't look right. Now I'm not sure how it's going to turn out. After what seems like 12 hours of knitting, I only have fabric at the top of the shoulders, shown by the first circle in this picture. I'd hoped to be a faster knitter than that, and be at least as far

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-64875721823216401182007-10-23T19:15:00.000-05:002007-10-23T21:01:05.484-05:00

Lion Brand Suede. Soft, pretty, touch-it, feel-it yarn, until I started trying to get gauge. Then I started to hate it.Swatch #1 looked great. It felt great. It was 4 inches like it was supposed to be horizontially. Vertically, it was 5" instead of 4".I decided to block it and see if it got better (and shrunk a little). It stayed 4 inches across horizontally, but that didn't quite work out. Now

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-69754704394484165002007-10-19T23:51:00.000-05:002007-10-20T00:00:51.683-05:00

I checked my e-mail and there it was -- a just-in-time-for Christmas sale at http://www.sonnyandshear.com.This text is from the e-mail they sent to their customers:"Use coupon code KNITMORE and take 20% off all your yarn purchases between now andOctober 31st. You can use the coupon once, twice, as often as you like. You can pass the codeoff to your friends, family....and you ShearLinks folks....

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-5454773461220796422007-10-19T11:57:00.000-05:002007-10-29T20:15:43.821-05:00

A slightly better picture of my swatch for the Juliet sweater.Rhetorical question for myself: If it takes me two months to knit the swatch, how many years is it going to take for me to finish that sweater? I'm not telling anybody in my family that I'm going to make it, because they're already on my case about other UFOs.Good thing I really, REALLY love it!I have to find a nice rectangular lace

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-57398344570919926982007-10-17T12:17:00.000-05:002007-10-29T20:17:32.147-05:00

I have already had to frog the bits of the scarf I dropped Monday night and restart it. The Knit Picks lady says you don't have to frog rows and rows of stitches, but I disagree with this pattern since it's not plain stockinette. There were so many knit togethers and SSKs and yarn overs that there's no way I could just tink one stitch five rows down to the error and still have it look like it was

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-76637009204997133102007-10-16T12:36:00.001-05:002007-10-23T21:48:34.307-05:00

I finally ordered some laceweight yarn to see how it stacks up to my regular Wal-Mart specials. GREAT prices available from some sources I'm going to list here.FABULOUS KNIT BOOKS FOR LESS!Bless you, www.bargainyarns.com. I LOVE your book prices--you are a book lover's best friend! Especially a book lover on a budget. I don't care if they're used, folded, spindled, or otherwise mutilated, but I

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-68100341880051668662007-09-30T16:35:00.001-05:002007-10-14T16:31:18.127-05:00

How to bead your knitting and reviews of great books:   http://www.geocities.com/karenramel/beadhowto.htm   The part circled in yellow is how horribly I'd be doing beaded knitting if I hadn't found karen ramel's instructions.Knitted marzipan by Vegan YumYum, along with some goodlooking recipes:   http://veganyumyum.com/   knitting help Web site:   www.knittinghelp.com

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-9248530193178632042007-09-23T23:48:00.000-05:002007-09-23T23:52:28.453-05:00

This is a test of the Blogger posting through email program.   The photo is of some Cotton Ease yarn in violet that I bought. I plan to make some socks out of it.

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-55477319690611295032007-09-23T23:12:00.000-05:002007-09-23T23:43:16.817-05:00

Now I just need to make the tying strips for the bows, sew down the ends of the long ribbon that's woven through the lace part and sew the bows on.I'm kind of concerned though, because the ribbon seems a little too long for the rug, but I don't want to have to block the rug to make sure it fits. I think I'll just wash it first, dry it, and then put the ribbon in.

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-10457899970423826662007-09-11T16:56:00.000-05:002007-09-11T16:58:39.897-05:00

I had to remove the off white rounds...they were making my rug into a bowl shape, which is not good. Luckily, I have other blogs to go by, which said use a bigger needle. It worked!In other news, since I had to frog the border, I have decided not to wait until the rug is totally finished to start a sock knitting project. I wnat to get on that as soon as I get home.

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-19854826502775311332007-09-09T11:22:00.001-05:002008-07-22T11:39:46.249-05:00

After I'm done with the rug behemoth (I really love the back of it), I'm going to make another pair of socks for my mom, and I'm going to get some yarn and make myself a Juliet sweater.Those ovals remind me of the braided rugs I used to see all the time. I guess they've gone out of fashion, but I love them. I once saw one with burgundy worked in, one of my favorite colors. PROJECT CRUSH #1The

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-12446047069056754372007-09-09T10:34:00.001-05:002008-07-22T11:37:29.637-05:00

Saturday...You know those days when you congratulate yourself for finishing that previous row because you were bored stiff before you even got halfway? You do the crazy grin of joy and your heart leaps because that's one more row you no longer have to worry about, and that's one row closer to the end?Pattern reads, "...single crochet in next two single crochets, chain 3, single crochet in next

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-44810100266693137622007-09-05T19:11:00.002-05:002008-07-22T11:36:34.562-05:00

Good day today! Happy to tell you I finally got done with the green center of the rug. Now I just need to crochet the lace edge and the ribbon parts.Also, I finally got my friend's computer going. It had slowed down to a crawl and couldn't connect to the Internet.Here's a project that I have finished--a needlepoint picture. Now I just have to get a frame and an oval mat.

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-8442921824043724692007-08-31T20:38:00.001-05:002008-07-22T11:35:57.722-05:00

This is what I made with my own two hands. I like 'em even though one is longer than the other. Ask me if I care. "Do you care?" Nope.

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-14361517409100955642007-08-30T20:38:00.001-05:002008-07-22T11:35:20.363-05:00

My absolute favorite right now (and probably forever) is the Yarn Harlot's Web site at www.yarnharlot.ca. Stephanie's full of charm and news and helpful tips, and those pictures of her spinning and knitting make me ache to hold a project in my hands. I don't think I would have given my crochet rug UFO as much as a guilty glance if I hadn't read some of her posts. I'm becoming such a huge fan of

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-10237930870085943322007-08-27T22:35:00.002-05:002008-07-22T11:33:46.256-05:00

A UFO in a crafter's terms means an unfinished object. Inspired by a famous knitter's blog [Stephanie McPhee's www.yarnharlot.ca], I have decided to finish my unfinished objects by working on them a little at a time until they are done. In case you need a little inspiration to help you finish yours, here's a link to the post that got me going: Side Effects.UFO #1 - the first I want to get done -

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395652638661801521.post-54476874549233251152007-08-27T22:28:00.001-05:002008-07-22T11:32:40.917-05:00

(copied from a previous blog)I got hooked into sock knitting almost two months ago, when I read the books, "A Good Yarn" and "The Shop on Blossom Street" by Debbie Macomber. In "A Good Yarn," she brought up how socks were a quick, rewarding project for new knitters, so I thought I'd try it.The pattern is Basic Socks from "Learn to Knit Socks," by Edie Eckman.]I can't say I haven't had difficulty.

madonnaearthnoreply@blogger.com0