Winter's First Snow...

Lookie what I woke up to this morning :)

WIP Wednesday

Yay!  My first WIP post! For those who don't know, WIP is an anagram for "Work In Progress".  Seeing as thought I knit to suit my mood, I have several projects going at one time.  I try to keep the projects varied to appeal to the different moods I may be in,  but that's not to say that I don't knit things simply because I want them!  So, here we go...

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I am embarrassed to say that I finished knitting and felting these slippers on October 15th! In defense of me, it did take a little time to dry them.  The pattern calls for the worsted wool held double, so the slippers felted so nice and thick...but then along with that comes long drying time!  I made these because I am sick of darning my hand knit wool socks, which is pretty much all I wear.  I know, spoiled feet! It was decided as seeing as though I wear my socks bare all day long, perhaps if I slipped my feet in slippers, my socks would not wear out quite so fast.  I really need to get these done....I am hoping to finish these by Friday!

Here is the original pattern:

{click for pattern}

Next up is a sweet little Christmas garland I have been working on.  It is a great small-time buster.  What's that?  Well, when you got half an hour before you leave and need something to do to burn the time...when you got forty-five minutes before bed and your fingers are aching for the needles...you get the point. 

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You are supposed to use specific, bright yarns for this garland, but I am trying to use up scraps, so my mittens certainly will not match!  You knit up twenty-five tiny mittens to use as an advent calendar.  So cute, huh?  Well, with six done and one on the needles, I guess I better get busy!

Here is the original project with pattern info:

{click for pattern}

Next up is a shawl with bulky, soft acrylic boucle.  The whole motivator for the shawl is a combination of the impending cold and the desire to use up this yarn once and for all!



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It's knitting up pretty quick and follows an easy to remember lace pattern.  I have been knitting one lace repeat a day.  At this rate, it should be done my next week.  Here is the original pattern:

{click for pattern info}

Finally, the Jane Austen Knits bag:

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I know, I only got a little more than the handle tube done.  Don't be judgin'!

Hopefully, I will be able to post at least one of these on FO Friday!





Miss Bennet's Beaded Bag - Jane Austen Knits

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I have been hoarding these magazines long enough...now it's time to start making the stuff!  I am starting with Miss Bennet's Beaded Bag (from Jane Austen Knits, 2011) simply because I thought it would be the perfect project bag for my Jane Austen Knits projects.

Years ago, I found this awesome sewing cabinet at a garage sale for $5.  It was pretty beat up, but with some tender, loving care, I brought it back to life as a sweet KNITTING cabinet! (sorry for the crappy pictures...iPhones really should take better ones)

There's place for my needles and larger tools, places for my little knitting essentials and a nice big door to tuck away my project bags.  Yes, I do need to have more than one project going on at the same time.  I'm the same with books....don't judge. :)

Well, I don't have a free project bag for my Jane Austen Knits projects, so I figured why not make one from the magazines!  And here we are.  I am using Knit Picks Stroll Glimmer Fingering yarn:

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in Frost:

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with some sweet sparkly blue beads using Size 1 and 2 dpns.  I have the bands completed for the top and have just started the body of the bag.  Stay tuned, or better yet, get that pattern out with some yarn and needles and start it too!





Lace 1 Knitted!

Well, it took a few days (sinus infection), but I got it knitted!  I love it!  This sample is, of course, unblocked, but it was super easy to knit.  I used Size 1 needles and #10 cotton thread.  This actually did not take very long at all, however, I did find a typo in the original pattern.  I have made the correction on the pattern post.

Now to find the next one!

Antique Knitted Trim

Looking through some old NeedleCraft Magazines, I came across a few sweet knitted trims!  The patterns come from Needlecraft Vol.VII, No. 2, October 1915.  I think I'm going to start a pattern journal of knitting trims!  Pattern is shared in the original text.  The pattern was designed to be knitted by children as a lesson for "Grandma or mamma or auntie" to help explain.  Needle sizes and thread was not discussed, I suppose anything will do!  Of course, the bigger the needle and thread, the larger the trim.

Cast on 7 stitches; knit across once plain.
1. Knit 2 over, narrow, knit 1, over twice, knit 2.
2. Knit 3, purl 1, knit 2, over, narrow, knit 1.
3. Knit 2, over, narrow, knit 5.
4. Knit 6, over, narrow, knit 1.
5. Knit 2, over, narrow, knit 1, over twice, narrow, over twice, knit 2.
6. Knit 3 (purl 1, knit 2) three times, over, narrow, knit 1.
7. Knit 2, over, narrow, knit 8.
8. Bind off 5, knit 3, over, narrow, knit 1.
Repeat from 1st row.

Have fun!

Why Smitten with Knitting?

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I know what you are saying..."So, she's smitten with knitting.  Who isn't these days?"

Well, I agree, but my smittenness goes much farther than that.

You see, I am a retired (well before my years) jewelry designer and small business owner.  I loved toiling over my work all day long while being able to be available for family emergencies without having to deal with a less-than-forgiving boss.  I also forced myself to get dressed for the job every day instead of working in my pajama pants like many of my prior counterparts.  I even had hours posted on my studio door for the benefit of those who mistakenly believed that I was being lazy or playing around all day instead of running a business.  The line had to be drawn between work and non-emergency tasks being requested on a regular basis that would have been impossible to do with any job outside of the house.  Aside from my business, I sewed my own clothes, quilted, embroidered, crocheted, knitted and painted for many, many years.  In fact, there was not much I couldn't do!  Making stuff is embedded in my very core and I still to this day have a hard time sitting around with idle hands.

So, what happened?  Dystonia.  The little demon that stole my happiness.  I recently developed genetic focal dystonia in my hands, arms and legs which causes painful, uncontrollable spasms in my muscles in the affected limbs based on certain functions that I do.  This painful spasming makes movement very difficult and painful.  In fact, I have had to sell my business and give away or sell all my remaining crafting supplies.  Well, everything except my yarn, knitting needles and painting stuff.  I was fortunately able to retrain myself how to knit (if you saw me knitting, you would wonder where I learned to knit like that!) and I just can't bring myself to get rid of my painting stuff.  I will finally attempt to use it, but as it stands, I have given up so much as it is that I just don't have the heart to explore that avenue just yet.

So, you see, knitting has become a big part of my life everyday.  I will be sharing my knitting with this blog, my journey with Dystonia and other tidbits I hope you find informative or amusing.  So until next time :)