Because I have not lost my mind...yet?

Truly I have to wonder at my mental facilities at times. It was not that long ago and certainly not far away that I voiced my opinion of knitting with pins and thread. At the time, I was speaking of 2.5mm needles and fingering or lace weight yarns.

My opinion was due more towards my feelings towards DPN's. I just can't use those things. No matter where I put my fingers I get stabbed in the palm, and my tension goes to shite when moving from one needle to the other. Then, I discovered the art of knitting on 2 circulars and suddenly I am buying sock yarn at an alarming rate.

But today I have taken a HUMONGOUS step downwards...in size that is.

This is an actual pattern knit on 1mm needles using DMC cotton floss....yes FLOSS!

My new co-worker is a miniaturist, meaning that she is obsessed with all things tiny. 1:12 to be exact. She brought in some of her work and all these cool workshops she teaches and from the depths of her bag she emerges with a small box filled with tissue wrapped treasures. Inside were little knitted hats. She is nuts about them and of course I had to have a good look at them. Really, I was impressed that someone went to all that work.

I did some research on it and found all sorts of creations, knitted toys, lace bed covers, even bean bag chairs. So I asked her to pick me up a set of needles and pick a pattern and I would make it for her. I really just wanted to try it.

So far it has not been as painful as I expected. Yes, it's tedious and I have to be careful not to drop any stitches because it's not easy to pick them up, but I'm having fun. I even decided to run a cable up the front of the sweater for some added detail.

I reserve the right to need new glasses and a lobotomy by the time I'm done *BG*

~Daughter #1

Hedgehogs

Some hedgehogs are famous, like Mrs TiggywinkleSome are downright funnyThis feels like "hedgehog knitting"...

.... lots of pointy bits..get it?

O.K. I guess you had to be here.

~MuM

Perfect length.

I am very satisfied with the result!

Visited Corinne for the day and took my son in laws birthday present to him. Two... hear it ...Two trips to Spun Fibres in Burlington. I showed a great deal of restraint the first trip I picked up 2 balls of sock yarn. Corinne bought a lace pattern booklet, more on that at a later date.I drooled over this yarn from Peru made out of 100% sugar cane. I kid you not. Corinne bought a skein, "Just to have"

An hour later we were back and I bought the last two....sigh ....The first step is to admit you are powerless over "yarn."

I ask you how could I pass this up?.......22st= 10 cm, 241M per ball. what am I going to do with it now?? Something to think about.

Finito!

Well I did it. Knit, washed and blocked by 11:30 PM today. Tomorrow is the Vernal Equinox and as this was the "Vernal Equinox shawl" I had to be finished on time. I tweaked the pins more after I took the pictures. I have 4 ends to weave in. I only used 2 skeins and I bought 5 ...lolol I'll take the other three back for another colour.
Thank heavens I have this spare bed to block my knitting on.

3.5mm needle

2 skeins Misti Alpaca Lace (400M/50gm) 100% baby alpaca

Free pattern Vernal Equinox Shawl scan through the blog there are English instructions there also

One of my Favourite things...

My children will be the first tell you of my obsession with ziploc bags. Well, I have to share this bit of wonderful. Ziploc Produce bags have eeny teeny holes. So, you ask? I will enlighten thussly.
Natural fibres do not like plastic bags because they can not breathe. Ergo : produce bags
In the summer they won't sweat and the holes are teeny enough dirt doesn't get in. I wouldn't trust moths against anything except cedar and I am not strapping the cedar chest to my back. I have little cedar balls... :o) ...snicker
I keep my projects ready at hand each with all their "accouterments" at a moments notice I can grab a bag and go. The air whooshes out so I can stuff this into my knitting bag along with my lunch, books, mittens etc etc.
In the interest of bilingualism ( which sorely I am not) I am showing both sides of the box. This is Canada after all. Yes, Corinne that is the toe of your sock...post to follow on these puppies.
One more row!!! and cast off with the little hook at the side. Then I will block it tonight. I am woman hear me roar!

We had a visitor this morning. Ebony had a coniption fit.. hissy and spitty and yeowling. Poor little boy just wanted to say hello. He looked very healthy and was wearing a collar.
~MuM

No time for pictures

I knit like a fiend yesterday and I am up to row 200 of 220 on my Vernal Equinox. I do not feel like work today..the headache is better but lingers.
~MuM

Wrap and turn

Who says you can't learn something new. I don't know where my head has been all these years. I got the wrap and turn part but on the way back I would pick up the wrap and either knit or purl it with the stitch and then slip the first stitch of the next row. Well, hello I aways complained about that the little hole.
Sigh......
Today I looked at a tutorial and low and behold she said to wrap the next stitch after the pick up stitch. Which means you have 2 wraps when you come back. The tricky part is picking up both the wraps on a purl row. I pick up the wraps first then purl the stitch that way I don't have a "bar" showing. Which means practically standing on my head to get that needle under those wraps.
Is this totally confusing or was I the only person who did this wrong?
~Mum

Moving right along....

The Vernal Equinox: clue 4 finished...and...I am still on the first ball. I bought 5 skeins. Me thinks I will have to take some back...lol... I will just exchange it for another colour.

Sooo I gave myself permission to start my tablecloth. Marianne Kinzel's Daffodil....so Welsh. I have loads of cotton..I hope

I should have emailed Julia and asked how much yardage she used. I am doing this with a 2.75mm

~this would be the MuM

My contribution to the Roulette

Mum and I used the same pattern for our socks. Mine were made out of TOFUtsies. I really like the feel of this yarn and am going to have to make a pair for myself.

This one is on it's way to Karen in Massachusetts. I tucked a few pineapple and pomegranate tea lights in there as well. I'm a complete candle addict and love the way these ones smell.

I've had a wee case of startitus lately and have been knitting my fingers to the bone. At the very least I should have a bit more to contribute around here. It seems as though my hat addiction has passed for the moment. The weather took a bit of an upwards swing and the rain has melted most of the snow away. My focus has switched to sweaters again LOL. Must be because this damp cold is making me feel chilled. Got a lovely gift card to my LYS for my birthday and I treated myself to my favouite yarn. More on that later, I'm over half way done something very interesting. ;o)

~Daughter #1

Sock Roulette fini

Off in the mail tomorrow after work!.....the colour is off and I took this with natural light. Purple is very hard to capture.

~Mum

The wool was dyed by the girls at Mums. I just added the little wool button just for fun. The cap is an old pattern and was sold for 25cents. Very easy and fun to make using only one skein of wool. I will take another picture that shows the colour

better, it's lovely. Thankyou M & T

~Daughter #2

More Completed

The green of the purse is sort of lizard, with dragons flying around the inside lining. This little hand bag will keep its contents well protected.

Liam's outfit is finished with this adorable little hat. There is enough yarn leftover for a couple more accessories.

~Daughter #2

A Yarn Harlot moment

It happens to all of us at one time or another. After laughing myself silly whilst reading the Yarn Harlot ( Feb 26, 2009) I went back to my sock. The knitting curse transferred itself to me. I saw Corinne's sock on Sat and realized mine was not up to snuf. Short row heels are not on my list of favourites but as I had ribbed the back portion of the pattern per the designers wishes I felt I was stuck following the pattern. I much prefer a gussett. Anyway, I could see spaces and that was not going to be good enough. So...last night I ripped it out and started the decreasing again. I kept loosing the wrap on the purl row and frogged a couple of times. At last I had 10 "shorts" on each side of the needle and began knitting them up. I was about halfway done when I realized my needle was on a distinct slope. Damn I had knit up 7 on one side and 5 on the other. Don't ask me! Crap crap. I ripped back to the top and started again. Counting across pick up wrap and stitch, knit, turn, slip, knit purl count across to the next stitch. I got to 2 stitches left on one side and I had 4 on the other. Damn bugger blast. I ripped the whole thing back to the beginning. This heel is going to be in stocking stitch!! It will match the toe. Thank god I have loads of wool.

`MuM