Tag Archives: knitting

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Show & Tell 2-25-2011

Parliamentary elections are today in Ireland.  The biggest issue we heard people discussing was the EU/IMF loan.  It will be interesting to see how the results of this election affect the economy, especially regarding whether or not they will be able to restructure the loan.  Interesting stuff!

Anyway, what we are all waiting for:

I am knitting  baby blanket for a friend.  The baby’s name will be Zara, hence the Z monogram.  This is a project within a project as the monogram pattern and blanket pattern are separate, but since they both seemed similar in construction, I thought they would knit together easily.  That’s until I got halfway through the Z the first time and realized that the letter was backwards.  Oops!  So I had to rip out a few rows and re-graph the monogram.  But all’s well that ends well, right?

I was hoping to get this blanket done by today, but alas.  It was not to be.  I have a big car ride planned for this weekend (with my half marathon race on Sunday in Massachusetts), so it will definitely be finished by Monday.  When planning my time for this project, I didn’t take into consideration two factors: a) how much energy and effort it would take to get back into the swing of things after vacation and b) Monday was pretty much a total wash.  You live and learn right?

I am excited to get this done, because I have a whole stack of fabric to cut up and sew!  I am looking forward to completing a lot of wonderful projects in March.

Your turn!  What have you been creating?

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Ireland Yarn Haul

I did find a few Irish yarns, so I want to share them here, in case any other knitters are looking for Irish yarn.  I stopped at a handful of yarn shops and picked up these three yarns.

This beautiful Aran yarn, by Studio Donegal, was purchased in Galway at Hickeys Fabrics.  This was a big-box home store.  They had a small knitting section, but I was able to find these jewels.  I love the color.  I had a project in mind; unfortunately, I bought about 25% of the yarn to make it.  So I either need to buy more online or find another pattern.

I found this beautiful yarn at a sweet little shop called Pippablue in Galway.  I almost missed  this shop;  I bought this yarn literally an hour before we left town.  Pippablue was a beautiful mix of fabric, crafts, cards, yarn, Japanese import fabric & paper, and toys.  It’s a lovely shop to visit, if you ever get the chance. 

Anyway, this yarn is equally as lovely as the store.  It is made in Galway by a company called KnitSpinFelt.  The yarn is hand painted, I believe.  This color is called Papryka.  The picture certainly doesn’t do it justice.  I am so excited to knit this up, so look for a Show & Tell featuring this yarn soon.

Last but not least – more Studio Donegal Aran Tweed.  This light gray color is beautiful.  I found it at Deevy’s Yarn Shop in Kilkenny, which was the first shop I found that was mostly yarn-based.  It was a bit tricky to find, but that added to its charm.  If you are in Kilkenny, definitely stop in.  It’s a nice little shop.

Since I didn’t buy enough of the green, I didn’t want to make the same mistake with this gray color.  I bought all that they had.  I don’t really have a plan for this yarn, although I think it may become a hat.

That’s my yarn wrap-up.  I didn’t buy any “real” souvenirs, so I was willing to spend a little bit of euro on this.  I have a project on the needles now, but once that’s done, watch out.  I can’t wait to get these knitted!

Anyone else have a local yarn shop that they love?  Shout it out in the comments.

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Show & Tell 2-17-2011

Wow, did this one take some time!  I worked on this circular shrug for two weeks straight.  It’s a behemoth!

I haven’t worn it yet, but I’m sure that it’s going to be very warm.  I got the pattern off of Ravelry, and it’s really more of instructions how to make the pattern.  My finished shrug is pretty big.  I think it works fine, but it was a lot of knitting.

I will try to trick someone into taking a picture of me wearing this, because it looks completely different on my person than it does on the hanger.

I knitted the back in this King Charles Brocade.  That took a long time – lots of counting.  But it was worth it.

What have you guys  been creating?  Please share in the comments section!

 

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Spring Palette Challenge

Do you ever feel like the Universe it trying to tell you something?  That certain ideas are bombarding you in a short period of time?  That you need to do something or else the Universe just won’t leave you alone?

That’s probably a bit dramatic, but honestly, this is out of control.  I won’t bore you with every conversation I’ve had and blog post that I’ve read, but here’s the short version.

Last fall, I began participating in Project 333 (33 items of clothing for 3 months).  I’m currently involved in its second iteration.  Then I joined the Compact in December, which encourages group members to avoid buying anything new - outside of food, medicine, etc.  More recently, I have talked with people who have made their own clothes and read some articles online about the horrible conditions that clothing factory workers suffer to make cheap clothing. 

The culmination of these experiences is that I want to sew my own clothes.

The final straw was when I found this challenge at the Colette Patterns blog: The Spring Palette Challenge.  Brilliant!

Luckily, I have enough clothes right now that I don’t need anything urgently.  This is more an experience to “level up” my sewing skills and fill in some gaps in my wardrobe.

Right now, I am planning the following items:

1) a skirt

2) a dress

3) a tunic top

4) a tank top

5) a knitted shrug

Here is the color palette that I have chosen:

I am planning a big shopping trip on Sunday to buy fabric, and hopefully I’ll have something done before I leave for Ireland.  I am so excited!  This makes me very happy.  I will be updating my progress as I work on this project.  The deadline is March 31.  I can’t wait to see how much I get done.

Are you participating in any challenges?  How are you leveling up your mad skilz?

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Show & Tell 1-27-2011

I enjoyed making these two gifts for a friend’s baby shower in February.  They are having a girl, and the nursery is a fun mix of blue, turquoise, and spring green colors and an owl motif.

I knew when I saw this blog post about an owl hat that I would have to make it for this baby.  How cute is that!  I already had this lovely yellow cotton yarn (easy care for parents), so I knit this little hat right quick.  I had to buy buttons for the eyes, but they were completely worth it.  (See how the buttons compliment the color of the blanket?  I’m so clever.)

Oh, this blanket.  It is so lovely.  It measures about 30″ square, so it will be perfect for covering up in a stroller or playing on the floor.  Really, one can never have too many blankets.  Especially for a baby.  I used the Lion Brand Vanna White acrylic yarn (again – easy care), and I just love the drape.  The pattern was easy to remember and worked up quickly. 

Hooray for accomplishments!  What have you finished up this week?  Please share in the comments.

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Show & Tell 1-13-2011

I am out of control.  I love this Milo sweater pattern.  I have knitted all three of these since the beginning of the year.  Out of control.

The smallest one is the Newborn size.  I used the Horseshoe cable option.  The middle one is the 12-months size, knitted with the Giant Cable option.  The largest one (which is really grey – the color looks weird in this picture) is the 18-months size with the Aran Cable option.  They are all so pretty.  The green one just got an owner about three days ago, and the larger two will be gifts for my niece on her birthday.

This pattern is so fun (read: easy) to knit.  I kept messing up the yoke part, but once that part was done, the rest knitted up quickly.  I need to make at least one more in the next two weeks or so, and I can’t wait to get started.  The pattern is awesome; the sizes go from Newborn to 6 years.  It is knit in the round from the top down, so there are no seams to deal with at the end.  You could knit up a few of these to have on hand for any new babes in your life.  This has been a great stash-buster for me.

What have you all been making?  Leave your links in the comments below.  :)

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What to Pack: Ireland-bound

That’s right: February 11 -20, I will be frolicking with the sprites and leprechauns.  I am so excited!

In general when I travel, I only take a carry-on and my purse.  I want to whittle that down quite a bit, so that eventually I can use a 17″ carry-on.  But I am taking it step by step, trying new things on each trip, and constantly re-evaluating my travel necessities.

Right now, I am working toward packing a minimal amount of clothes.  Inspired by Rick Steves, Francine Jay, and Karol Gadja, I am already planning my packing list for our trip.  Having done a basic amount of research on weather conditions while we will be there in February, I anticipate a damp, chilly, and possibly rainy vacation.  Initially I was thinking about bring some cute dresses, tights, and cute flats for walking.  Hmmm….  That probably wouldn’t go well with chilly damp weather.

After consulting a few people who have been there, I have decided to amp up my rain wardrobe.  I will definitely bring two pairs of jeans, which will be warmer than tights.  I may bring long underwear (long johns?  what do normal people call them?) for underneath as an added bonus layer.  I was also able to score a rain parka on eBay for a good price.  It hasn’t arrived yet, so I’m nervous that it will fit weird.  But the price was right, and I took the risk.  The last “essential” rain item as a decent pair of shoes that would keep the water out.  My cute flats and open-toed heels weren’t making the cut.  My boots don’t go with my jeans.  So what’s a girl to do?  I had some store credit at L.L. Bean, and I picked up these waterproof walking shoes.  I plan to wear these items every day on our trip.

I don’t mean for this to read like a Haul Video, but I am feel like I am being realistic about the weather and conditions for our trip, trying to find products that will meet my needs and last a long time, and looking for items that I will use long after this trip is done.

The only thing left to figure out is shirts/tops/sweaters.  I am feeling ambitious and may try to knit this sweet little shrug before we leave.  Maybe in green?

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Links I Love 1-3-2011 Happy New Year Edition!

1)  I am in love with Minimalist Cooking.  Why?  Less dishes & less time in the kitchen.  :)  I have been cooking from this cookbook for the past week or so, and it has changed my life.  You’re welcome.

2)  I am going on a trip soon to Ireland (which I am sure I will post about before and after!), and I am getting pretty jazzed about minimalist packing.  I usually only travel with a carry on, but I would still like to minimize the amount of Stuff I bring.  I look forward to planning a functional, minimalist wardrobe that will help me survive Ireland in February.

3)  I have been knitting this sweet Milo sweater for my niece for her birthday in a couple of weeks.  Adorable.  And super easy.  I am already planning on making 2-3 more.  The yoke was a bit tricky to figure out, but after that, it’s smooth sailing.  I hope to have one completed for Show & Tell on Thursday.

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Holiday Cheer

The holidays are coming.  (Technically, Hanukkah ended yesterday!)  

Are you ready??

This year I was planning ahead.  I actually started knitting presents in July.  I made menus, grocery lists, present lists, budgets, etc.  Now that Christmas is two weeks away (Yikes!!), I generally feel prepared [although I haven't really started decorating yet]. 

I am using the plan from the FlyLady.  She pretends that she is going on vacation – a cruise – and needs to have everything ready for the holidays by December 1st.  And she helps her readers “cruise” right along with her.

Because of her system, I have put together a decorating station (so all of my wrapping paper, bows, ribbon, cards, etc. are in one place), I have made lists of presents to buy and make, I have reviewed my notes and recipes from our Christmas Eve party from last year in preparation for this year’s festivities, and I have bought all of the non-perishable food that I need for cooking and baking.  She has a small task for every day, and they definitely add up over time – kind of like a cleaning & organizing advent calendar.  I highly recommend her website to anyone who is scatter-brained, cluttered, and unorganized like me.  Although I didn’t finish EVERYTHING by December 1, I am already having a much calmer, less stressful holiday season because of her plan. 

One of her major themes is to give clutter-free gifts (she has lists of them on her website), because so many of us already own too much Stuff.  Since I planned ahead, I was able to make many of the gifts on my list.  For example, I am knitting a scarf for my father-in-law for when he has to shovel the driveway.  I built my mother-in-law a bird house because she loves birds and gardening and will hopefully enjoy it all summer long while she’s working in her garden.  My budget was $10 per person, and I was able to come in under budget on many of the gifts by making things using supplies I already had on hand, such as a scrappy, quilted stocking for my niece. 

This holiday organization plan was especially helpful since we visited my family in Wisconsin over Thanksgiving.  I finished their gifts and brought them with us so I didn’t have to ship them.  Plus bringing things in my suitcases to leave in Wisconsin made room to bring back some of my Stuff from my parents’ basement.  Which is perhaps the best (clutter-free!) gift of all, as far as they are concerned.

So, to anyone who may be reading this, what are you doing to get ready for the holidays?

P.S.  I also love this article by Leo Babauta about what’s important at Christmas time(ie spending time with people you love) and what’s not important (ie shopping).