Knitting related goodies!

Here are the knitting related goodies I got for Christmas! A pair of sheep pens and ink refills from WH Smith, Yarn and Creative Knitting magazines from Australia, a snoring sheep from Australia, a chenille scarf and gloves set in cabled pattern from Marks and Spencer, Cleckheaton yarn from Australia and a multi colored merino wool scarf from Australia via Italy! *woo hoo*

Gentleman's Fancy Sock

Here are the socks I gave Rich for Christmas. They're the Gentleman's Fancy Socks from Knitting Vintage Socks by Nancy Bush made with Opal Uni color no. 22 (one skein) and size 1 needles instead of 0 as called for in the pattern. They were very labor intensive but the result was worth it!

Knitting makes it big!

Google Holiday Logo 2006

Adelaide Airport

Oh I wish I got to go to Australia too! Looks like I'd have loved it...even just in the airport! A merino wool store?! I want one of those...and one of those...and one of those...;-D

OK I know this isn't knitting related...

...but I just had to show you the cupcakes I made for my son's birthday! They're Morello Cherry Chocolate Cupcakes from Nigella Lawson's "How to be a Domestic Goddess" *cough* With cute lickle sugar animals from Sainsbury's on top instead of glace cherries. They're like brownies with frosting on top. VERY BAD FOR YOU! (Just don't tell anyone they're for a 13 yo boy.)

OK so I lied. Here's a knitting picture. It's my sister making an obscene gesture while showing off my latest creation. It's "Secret Pocket Hats" by Gayle Roehm from the Winter 2003 issue from the back issues box of some magazine at my local library. Creative Knitting? Knitting? I dunno I forgot...but I did write down that it was page 91 because that's really useful. Yarn is Lion Brand Wool Ease Chunky left over from World Cup Sweater and neat Patons Rumors I recently discovered at Michaels! Is lovely alpaca blend and only $5 !

What time is it?

Hat for my sister!...and mittens!

Here's a hat for my sister. Made with Lion Brand Wool Ease Color 139 Dark Rose Heather, a handspun pumpkin colored wool I got at "The Big-E" and Classic Elite Inca Alpaca Color 1120 Kentucky Teal (which my sister picked out for herself since it matches her eyes and is super soft!) The alpaca is amazing. I love it. I think if the hat were all alpaca it would be too drapey tho. I think I'll make matching mittens now!

Matching mittens now! Made by transferring hat pattern to "Smitten With Mittens" basic mitten pattern by Charlotte Parry, Family Circle Easy Knitting Magazine, Fall 2005.

Blasphemous Hat

This is a prototype hat for one I want to make for my sister. Blasphemous for a yarn snob since is a mixture of a very luxurious alpaca yarn with *cringe* lots of acrylic. Is made from the slightest bit of Classic Elite Inca Marl Color 1195. Is gorgeous yarn. Will have to increase it's ratio on hat for my sister. It is with Lion Brand Wool Ease Color 139 Dark Rose Heather (not so bad...is 20% wool afterall), TLC Heathers Color 2455 Purple Haze (getting worse...but still lovely color) and *gasp* a cream colored nasty acrylic that is so old I can't remember where I got it. Pattern is "Kate's Cap Design No. 27 by Louise."

Matching mittens now! My mother has made a claim on the set.

I Lurv Coldplay Socks

Look at the stars
Look how they shine for you
And all the things you do
Yeah they were all purple

I came along
I wrote a song for you
And everything you do
And it was called purple

So then I took my turn
Oh what a thing to have done
And it was all purple

Your skin
Oh yeah your skin and bones
Turn into something beautiful
D'you know you know I love you so
You know I love you so

I swam across
I jumped across for you
Oh what a thing to do
Cause you were all purple

I drew a line
I drew a line for you
Oh what a thing to do my love
And it was all purple yeah yeah yeah

Your skin
Oh yeah your skin and bones
Turn into something beautiful
D'you know for you I'd bleed myself dry
For you I'd bleed myself dry

It's true! look how they shine for you
look how they shine for you
look how they shine for you
look how they shine for you
look how they shine for you
look how they shine
look at the stars look how they shine for you
and all the things that you do

Socks are made from Froehlich Wolle Blauband Maxi Ringel Farbe 7740 PURPLE!!! Have never used this wool before but I couldn't resist because the colors are so great and the packaging is cute with extra reinforcing wool included (which I did actually use on heel and most of toe). Feels good too...hope it washes well. Pattern is basic 60 stitch sock on size 2 needles with Welsh Heel and Star Toe of Three Points a la Lichen Ribbed Sock from Nancy Bush's Knitting Vintage Socks. Yarn is from Village Needleworks in Avon, CT. Claustrophobic store with lovely owner. Went back for 4 more skeins once I started working with this great yarn!

Adelaide and Delia

Meet Adelaide and Delia! Transplanted from Australia via USA ;-D Ready to make their new home in England and cheer on Stoke City Football Club! Pattern is kangaroo and baby roo from Toys to Knit by Tracey Chapman. Made from stash of mostly Sidar wool-rich 4-ply, Jaeger Matchmaker Merino 4-ply and Regia sock yarn. Knit on size 2 needles which is different than pattern. And yes, baby Delia does come out (no.1 question I'm asked...well besides "You knit that?" which is more an expression of shock than a question anyway).

Here they are with the other members of the family. That's Viola on the left and Dewey, known to the locals as Doogie, The Air Canada Bear, not to be confused with Paddington Bear, on the right. Geeze what a sentence!

Clog Wild

Here are the new clogs I got for work. Remember....think "elementary school teacher"!!! They are perfect for my homemade socks and are so comfortable when standing for most of the day! I got them from Clog Wild.

UK Knitting part 2

Lacy Hair Tamer from IK online patterns made with Sidar Wool Rich 4-ply and smaller needles than I should have used. Also pictured are needles purchased at charity shop in Llandudno, Wales. Rich calls them "old dead lady needles" I prefer to call them "vintage" ;-D Had no idea what to buy since the sizes are different than US but I just picked out ones that appeared to be similar to what I normally use! Blue ones are funky tho and make no sense as far as the number printed on them and how they fit in my needle sizer...must be the oldest pair from some other measuring unit in time.

UK Knitting part 1

Here's a pair of socks I knitted for my sister for her birthday while in the UK. They're Opal Elemente in a color she chose for herself at LYS in Woodbridge, CT. Also pictured is "Minty" my lamb purse I got in Betws-y-Coed, Wales (yes I know I'm 12 yo) and the latest edition of Simply Knitting Magazine.

Fancy Silk Sock

This is the Fancy Silk Sock from Knitting Vintage Socks by Nancy Bush. Made with Lanett Superwash Color 5213 Lilac. This stuff makes great socks. The pattern is really pretty. Part of it looks like tulips. Yarn from Wonderful Things in Great Barrington, MA.

Schmorgaschock

This is Schmorgaschock! A smorgasbord of left over sock yarn. My own "design" ;-D



Cuff, heel, toe, gray XO and lavender wave patterns made from Jaeger Matchmaker Merino 4-ply. Charcoal background made from Baby Ull Farge 0083. All other colors from Regia Nation Fun Color Farbe 5399.

iPod nano cozy necklace pattern directions

iPod nano cozy necklace http://beatrixknits.blogspot.com/

This is a pattern for an iPod nano cozy necklace (medium size iPod) but can be altered for the small iPod shuffle or the large iPod. Basically what I did was measure the iPod's circumference and compare it to the gauge I got from the original pair of socks I made with the yarn. For me, Opal Lollipop sock yarn is 8 stitches to an inch on size 1 DPNs. I started from the top and cast on 32 stitches since I thought that would fit the iPod like a sock.

Continue with a k2 p2 rib for about 12 rows. Then make a row of eyelets for the drawstring *k2 yo k2tog *repeat around. Knit next row and all following rows in the round as if making a sock until it is long enough to fit the iPod inside. Arrange the stitches to have half the stitches on each of two DPNs and do a 3 needle bind off. Without cutting the yarn, cast on 2 stitches and do an attached 3 stitch I cord up the right side of the cozy. Continue with a basic 3 stitch I cord around for the necklace part. When you have the desired necklace length, center the piece and connect to the left side of the cozy making sure you have equal stitches between the I cord trim on each side on the front and back of the cozy. Work an attached 3 stitch I cord down to the bottom of the cozy. Crochet a picot edge across the bottom of the bound off edge. *ch 3, sc last st of chain with sc below to form picot, sc in next 3 sts *repeat to end, join, fasten off and weave in end. Make a twisted cord, add a some beads, tie knots and splay the ends. Feed twisted cord through eyelets and tie loosely.

iPod nano cozy necklace

The case that comes with the iPod nano was lacking in style and function for me so I knitted up my own version...purple and wearable. Made with leftover Opal Lollipop sock yarn from these socks and some Czech glass beads. v.stylish ;-D

World Cup Sweater

Il est fini! Ich habe etwas gestrict! He tejido algo! E terminado! E rifinito! etc. etc. The last time I knit a pullover was during the 2002 World Cup. So here we are again with the latest jumper. The "Cables With Heart" sweater from The Best of Knitter's Arans and Celtics book in Lion Brand Wool Ease Chunky Deep Rose 140. Next time I will knit a sweater? 2010 South Africa. *phew*

Soho Koigu KPPM Socks

Koigu KPPM Socks. Turkish cast on 28 sts. Found lots of tutorials on the web regarding Turkish cast on. Is neat...seamless. Toe is "Wide Toe" from book Knitting Vintage Socks by Nancy Bush. Nice and roomy! Koigu KPPPM Color #P210. Size 1 DPNs 64 sts in round. Short row heel. So soft, squishy and bouncy not to mention the beautiful multicolored effect! Roll top toe up sock to use every last inch of it!

Nanny McPhee Knitting

Just finished watching Nanny McPhee. I love this sweater jumper pullover whatever you want to call it! I wish I could find the patter and yarn used to make it. It's Simon's. Looks like a Gansey. Not enough experience on my own to make it without a pattern tho!

Pair of Child's Wool Stockings, circa 1820-1850

"Collection of Old Sturbridge Village. Considered unsuitable for adults, red stockings were a favorite for children. The density of the tightly knit wool helped to form the stocking so that it would not stretch out of shape, while also keeping warmth next to the skin." The kids couldn't wait to get to the gift shop for the rock candy...but I had fun in the gift shop too! I got a drop spindle kit to teach myself how to spin yarn.

Striped socks from Sturbridge Village, Massachusetts

Call me crazy but on my one personal day from work I chaperoned my son's field trip! Here are some surprisingly striped socks from the collection at Old Sturbridge Village. I couldn't find a card describing the socks but Sturbridge Village recreates life in New England from the early 1800s so I imagine these socks are from sometime then. They remind me of Opal sock yarn!

Work In Progress--Blues and purples scarf

Blues and purples scarf for me 10% Complete.

Central Park Sheep Meadow

Rich and I wandered around a very small part of Central Park and found the Sheep Meadow. This is a view looking north-westish. It's funny to think that at one time sheep really did graze here and that the fancy Tavern on the Green restaurant was once home to sheep and shepherd!

Shopping at Purl in Soho, Manhattan

Cute store on Sullivan Street in Soho, New York City. Lots of lovely colorful wool. Photo by very patient personal photographer who gave up trip to Apple Store in Soho for my yarn adventure.

Yet more baby booties

This time in Lion Brand Magic Stripes Stonewashed Blue Pattern 208. They are so darn cute! Am giving them to coworker whose wife is having a baby. Basically Stay-On Baby Bootie pattern with slight modifications. Yarn from Hancock Fabrics, Manchester, CT. Note: baby was born in June, grew out of them and was wearing them as mittens by winter.

More Baby Booties...this time in yellow

am obsessed. Am giving to a pregnant coworker (if I can part with them). Yarn is baby weight from stash. Have made slight changes to original pattern (Stay-On Baby Booties) on instep (slipping and wrapping extra stitch at the end of each row to make a neater edge). Note: baby was born in June and wore them for announcement photo.

Quaker Ribbed Bottom Hat

Quaker Ribbed Bottom Hat in TLC Yarn Heathers (2455 Purple Haze). Bought the yarn ages ago because the color is so great but couldn't think of what to do with it until now! Exactly according to pattern...apart from I-cord loop. Stolen off my coat rack by my mother...so I guess it's good.

Child's French Sock

Jaeger Baby Merino (094 Red Cheek) Child's French Sock from book Knitting Vintage Socks by Nancy Bush. Yarn from John Lewis, Cheadle, Cheshire. Exactly according to pattern.

Rich's scarf

Made with Plymouth Yarn Suri Merino (791 Blue Green Heather) in Mistake Stitch Rib pattern. Yarn from Creative Fibers, Windsor, CT.

Stay-On Baby Booties

From Knitting for Baby by Melanie Falick made in left-over Lion Brand Magic Stripes Jellybean sock yarn.

No-sweat pants from Interweave Knits Magazine

No-sweat pants aka hideous Muppet pants from Interweave Knits Magazine in HOMESPUN Colors Baroque and Quartz. Have made New Year's Resolution to never knit with this stuff again. Colors are great and soft but it's a nightmare to knit.

Knitty.com Kureyon Tea Kozy

Knitty.com Kureyon Tea Kozy color 139.

Robby's Cat Pillow made with Patons Classic Merino in Blue Storm and Black adapted from Fall 2005 issue of Family Circle Knitting Magazine.

Heirloom Aran Baby Sweater from Interweave Knits Magazine Spring 2004 design by Lisa Lloyd. Made with Lion Brand Baby Soft yarn and size 2 needles.

Chicago Socks aka Waving Lace Socks from Spring 2004 Interweave Knits Magazine made with handspun fiber of unknown but very soft origin.