In the beginning I had some yarn

I cast it on and did a little k2p2 rib.

Then I knit and knit and knit. Around, around I went.



Then I decided to change the colors a bit.



Then I decreased, doing some K2tog magic, in a spiral to finish it off.


So now I have a hat. You like?


Specs:
Elizebeth Zimmerman Inspired Hat from Knitting Workshop info and others.
Paton's SWS - raisin, berry, and geranium
#9 needles knit picks options needles doing a modified magic loop
k2tog decrease to make a right slanting spiral

A Bracelet

I've been messing around with some bracelet designs but not have much luck with my ideas until now.



Specs:
#10 Opera Thread
#6 steel hook
a button for the closure

Blog Contest

I was refereed by Mrs Fife about a contest on This Kitten Knits

Go ahead and head over and post comment. It could be fun.

Knitting with Wire - Really

Ever since I saw the Nancie Weissman , on Knitty Gritty, knitting with wire. I've wanted to give this a try.

So this weekend, I pulled out my wire, beading supplies and some needles that I didn't care if they got scratched up and made this lovely bracelet.





Here's the scoop if you would want to give this a try yourself. These are pretty basic as these we my first wire bracelets so keep that in mind as you follow them.

Materials Used:
#4 needles
a crochet hook of the right size
#26 gauge wire (I'm not sure how much I used, it was a left over spool from a wire kit I got)
some beads
basic clasp

General Notes:
Materials are up to you. The higher gauge wire the easier it is to work with. Often patterns suggest a smaller needle size than I used.

I did a backwards loop cast on and cast on 5 sts. You can see a great tutorial here on Stitch Diva and more info on knitting with wire here. Leave a good 6-8in tail so you have it ready to attach the clasp closure later.

I knit about 5 rows in garter stitch.

Then I began adding beads. The beads are added to the back of the work but really are the front of the bracelet makes sense? I hope so!

So it works like this:

R1: K2, (bring up bead, push it gently close to the previous stitch and K1), K2
R2: K across
R3: K3, (bring up bead, push it gently close to the previous stitch and K1), K1
R4: K across

Repeat R1-R4 to length desired. Do take into account some length for the clasp and decreasing. I did mine for 8.5 repeats.

Decreasing:
R1: K1, K2tog, K2
R2: K1, K2tog, K1

Now trim off the wire leaving enough to make the loop that is part of the closure. Leave a good 8in but maybe less.

Now with 3 loops still on the needle remove the needle and bring the wire around to close up the loops and pull fairly snuggly. Now you want to use a knitting needle again. I used the #4 needles I made the bracelet with.

Wrap the wire around the needle and through the 3 loops 3 times to make a loop which will be part of the closure. Then wrap the wire at the bottom of the loop under the needle, removed the needle and then weave in the wire tail where it makes sense to you. Snip off as close as you can. Hopefully the photo above will help make this more clear.

Now with a crochet hook pull up 3 loops across the beginning cast on. I just fudged this make it look good.

Then pull the wire through the loops and thread the clasp onto the wire.

Do make sure you have the clasp on in a direction that works. Don't fret if you mess up, wire is fairly forgiving and you can twist it so it works.

Keep threading it through the three loops and through the clasp a few times, then weave in the tail and snipped it off.

If you have any questions about the pattern don't hesitate to ask. Please be sure to leave a way for me to contact you.

Now put on your lovely bracelet and enjoy!

Here's another one I made on Saturday.

The Specs:
#28 or smaller gauge wire (I'm not sure what size it was as it no longer labeled in my stash)
lots and lots of seed beads
#1 needles
a clasp and jump ring



All I did for this one is cast on 7 sts and knit back and forth pushing up a bead every time.



I'm not very happy with the closure on this bracelet but I ran out of wire at the end. Because the wire is so thin I worry over time this will break. I would much rather this be closer to the knitted part of the bracelet I think it would be stronger.

Over all I am not much of a jewelry person. So I wasn't sure if I liked the looks of these bracelets but they are growing on me. I do think these might make a great gift for my teenage nieces. I just might make a few more a few for myself to get in touch with my inner diva.

Quinn Cable Bag - Progress

shows one pattern repeat

I finished one pattern repeat a few days ago and another last night. I'm using Vanna's new yarn because I really liked the color, the price was right, and I wanted to see how it would work up. It's working fine but wonder if I should have used wool so it could be blocked.

So I can keep track of my place in the pattern, I color coded the odd rows orange and the even rows green. I cut and taped the chart symbols to just below the pattern so I could refer to them. I placed the pattern in a plastic sleeve so I can use my orange and green! dry erase markers to mark of each row as I knit them.

So far so good. Oh yeah, you can find the pattern right here.

Moaning Meme

I did my best not be to be influenced by others moaning lists although I agreed with many! The only one I read was Tracy's


4 things that should go into room 101 and be removed from the face of the earth.

• racism
• rape
• chiggers - mosquitoes can stay for now
  
• Gift Giving - As much as I love receiving things and let's be honest I like getting things I like but that happens so rarely. So do we need all the things we get or give?
  

3 things people do that make you want to shake them violently.

• When people ask for links to information that is already clearly posted on the blog or forum or they ask for info w/o ever trying to google it for themselves
  
• Fear mentality
  
• Over protective parents
  

2 things you find yourself moaning about.

• That there is never enough money or if only we made ______ (insert amount needed at the time) at the time more a year.
• housework - especially the dishes
  

1 thing the above answers tell you about yourself.

• With the exception of racism and rape which ridding the planet of it would be a very good thing. After reviewing the rest of my answers I probably should get over my dang self and go do the dishes that are stacked up in the kitchen.
  

RULES

• Link to the original meme at freelancecynic.com so people know what it's all about!
  
• Be as honest as possible, This is about letting people get to know the real you!
  
• Try not to insult anyone - unless they really deserve it or are very, very ugly!
  
• Post these rules at the end of every meme!

Consider yourself tagged if you want to moan and let me know and I can commiserate with you.

New stuff and not so new stuff

Last week I spoiled myself with lots of knitting tools and accessories.



I don't know when I will get to the lovely cables sweaters in this book but some day. This book was worth it on eye candy alone. I picked it up at Half Price books for a pretty good deal. The designs are outstanding but the sizes in the books are outdated. So to make a sweater that will fit me and not look like a tent I will make the smalls! I bought the doily booklet with a %40 off coupon at Hobby Lobby.

I tried casting on for the doily but kept losing the needles form the work and the wrap kept disappearing so I plan to use the magic loop method for this and see how it goes.

Along with the doily book I got all of the goodies below, they were all on sale %50 off. I love getting a deal. Now, I have enough double pointed needles to make anything I want. I also purchased: needle point protectors that's those little things that look like socks. The little things that look like sweaters hold your needles together when you aren't working on a project. I also picked up a row counter and cable needles.



I knit this book mark a while back ago using #2 needles and #10 thread. I found the pattern for it here. I think it's pattern #2.



The last few days I have not picked up my needles or my hooks. Yesterday, I gave finger knitting a try. Check out this you tube video here of a little girl finger knitting it's a great tutorial for the process. I didn't take pictures yet but I made a few boas using some left over fun fur type yarn I had around. They could be a great way to get in touch with you inner diva.

Then after reading yet another post about Hairpin Lace I finally picked up my hairpin lace tool and loaded up this video tutorial here and started. It took a few false starts but I got the knack of it and like how it looks. I really want to make the Seafoam Skirt here. You will need to scroll down to see it.




I plan to make a scarf with this. As long as I have enough left over I will also make a hat to go with it that will have a band or two of hairpin lace.

Bags!

Finally, some finished objects to share.



This is the Exchange Bag from Happy Hooker.
F hook
Omega Nylon N018 thread. I have some left over and think I will make a coin purse to match.

To be honest it's not officially done, done because I still need to add a snap for a closure. It's pretty enough to take a picture to share right? My daughter has adopted for herself.






My first knitted bag. I used Fortissima Cotton Sock Yarn, that's discontinued, double stranded and 4mm needles (I think). If I were to do it again I would have used slight larger needles. I combined two patterns to make it. A bag pattern on Knit Picks for the eyelet stitch of the bag and a spiral dishcloth pattern that's knit from the center out for the bottom. I liked the looks of the knit Picks bag but it called for knitting a bottom then picking up stitches and I wanted to avoid it. Then I finished up the top of the bag with garter stitch then worked the straps in garter as well.





My apologies for the blurriness. I'll try again later for something better. It does give a fairly good idea of the shape of the bag.

Reduce, Reuse, Recylce and ....

......organize my knitting and crocheting tools.

I made these two carry with you knit/crochet tool rolls from placemats I picked up at the thrift store. This one I kept for myself and did use a brand new button. The crocheted closure I used frogged yarn given to me by my Dad, so another reuse.



As you can see there is room for a gauge check tool (a small ruler), scissors, stitch markers attached with a large coilless safety pin, crochet hooks for hookin' or picking up dropped stitches, a pencil for making notes, sticky notes, and I think small calculator could fit in here as well.




The on below I made for a Knit and Crochet Goodie Bag on Craftster.



This can store all the same things but I also included a small mini m&m tube with needles for weaving in ends. I'd like to come up with some other additions to this design to create a pocket for needles. I used a crochet closure as well. The "button" is a glass bead I crocheted around with #10 thread and a #6 hook.



These are really easy to make.

Just go find the things you know you will put in your on the go project bag and fold over and pin together. I try to place things in such a way that it works easily to have it fold up like trifold book, which is why the larger pocket seem to work better on the outside and the smaller pockets on the inside

If you plan to add a pocket to hold needles take that into account when you layout how you want your tools to fit then sew that on first.

Then with a some kind of washable marking pin or even tape mark where you want the sewing lines to go.

I picked up the larger coilless safety pins at Michael's, I am sure you can find them elsewhere, to store stitch markers.

I crocheted the closure by making a chain then skipping several chains to make a loop. I just put it up against the button I planned use to make sure it was large enough. I used #5 crochet thread and fairly small hook maybe a D or an E. Then I crochet back down the opposite side and into the loop then slipped stitched to join.

You cab buy buttons for your closure but you can also crochet a cover of anything just the right size. It could be a great way to cover up a not so pretty button you have around. I use #10 thread and a #6 hook for that.

If you don't crochet I am sure you could find a way to use velcro, some kind of clasp closure or ribbons to tie.

I think more than one of these could be useful and a great gift for your fiber geek friends.

A Book Review: The Gaurdians

I'm finding it hard to do book reviews lately. Some people don't want a story line summary because those are all over on the web but some people do want that. Some don't want spoilers but sometimes it's helpful to share a bit of the story. So what's a gal to do? I think I will ignore it all and do my own thing except I will do my best not to give any spoilers but no guarantees, 'kay?

The Guardians by Ana Castillo describes the hard times of Mexican migrant workers and the Mexican American's living in a border town in New Mexico. The book starts our very slow to me. This might not be a fair assessment considering I read this after reading The Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling. Surprise, surprise there was a Harry Potter reference in the book and a reference to Garcia Marquez which doesn't seem as surprising.

Despite the fact that it started out slow after I got to know the characters of the book I enjoyed the story. There is a deep sadness that runs through the book. Underneath it is a sense of hope and love as well. The story touches on race, love, religion, politics, the history of Mexico, and life in general in a very real way. I recommend it.

Oh yeah, This was another free early review book I got from the Early Reviewer program on Library Thing. Maybe I have a chance at winning the lottery? I could use a few $100,000 but I wouldn't refuse a good mil' either.

Writing, reading, and gadgets

If you noticed my last post it's missing words, oh the shame. Well, maybe I should read more books so I can write better or edit better, but I don't think I will. If I'm ever famous I'm hiring and an editor.

I could also blame my key board. The space bar has been sticking and some of the keys as well. Now, I have a brand new keyboard and brand new color printer too, oh the fun but no more excuses, drats.

*this post has been edited*