Christmas

The great rush to finish Christmas presents has begun. Why am I thinking about Christmas in July?. Well, I only have 158 days to finish all of my presents, and that isn't very much time when you factor in working full time. In case you didn't notice, I have put a countdown to Christmas over on the left. Eventually, I am going to put a list of all the people I am making presents for and scratch them off as they are completed.

The Fair Isle Bag is a gift for someone. I can't really disclose the name just in case they might read my blog. It's going to be hard to let go of it, but I know that it will be going to a good appreciative home. I'm having a hard time trying to decide what to make for people this year, and I'm debating on asking people what they want and forgoing the whole surprise thing. Losing the surprise is kind of a bummer, but I would hate to work really hard on something and it not be worn/used. It's so hard to guess what people want, and it's not like they can go to the store and make and exchange. Ya know what I mean?

My biggest concern is what to make for my sister. I would love to surprise her with something really cool that she will just love to pieces, but I can't really decide what that would be. That is why I'm thinking I should give her some options and let her decide what she wants. However, wouldn't that take all of the fun out of it? Any suggestions?

Another Bag Update

Here is another update on my bag. I realized that I have been showing it upside down in all of the other images. The bag is knit starting at the top of one side, across the bottom, and back up the other side so this is the way it should be shown.

The striped part up at the top will be folded over for the strap to be threaded through. As you can see the green is showing up against the blue background. I'm really glad about that because I didn't feel like buying anymore yarn for this project. Here is a close up shot of the green.

Well there it is :) What do you think? Do you think the green shows up well enough? I only have about 13 more rows left on this chart, and I will start on the bottom! I'm moving on along slowly but surely.

Lorraine's Question

Lorraine wrote:

WOW! If you're fairly new at Fair Isle knitting, you're doing a FABULOUS job. I'd love to make a bag like it. Can you tell me where you got the pattern?

Thanks Lorraine!! Actually this is my first attempt at Fair Isle, and I am loving it to peices!! The pattern that I am using is from the Summer 2004 Interweave Knits Magazine. If it is no longer available in stores you can go to the Interweave website and order it. This issue also features an excellent article on the different ways to hold strands of yarn while knitting with two colors. I found it very informative. If you are totally new to Fair Isle check out the Philosper's Wool video or the Knitting In Color blog. They are both wonderful resources and were very helpful for me. Nanette from Knitting in Color has a book for sale that teaches Fair Isle techniques and all the profits go to pet rabbit rescue. I hope this info is helpful. Thanks for stopping by and Happy Knitting :)

Fair Isle Bag

I have not foresaken the Fair Isle Bag. I'm still working on it. I had a problem with the color of green that I was using, but I think that I have it taken care of. At first I was using Forest Green Heather but as I said it nearly disappeared into the Blue Mist. I went with a lighter green, Loden. After I got that taken care of, I ended up ripping out about ten rows after deciding that the yellow was way too bright in one section of the bag. I wasn't being a crazy perfectionist this time. Rob totally agreed with me. It was like the yellow just screamed LOOK AT ME!! and that was not what I was going for. Soooo Instead of using the Pastel Yellow, I am going to use Camel.

I casted on my Keyhole Tank Friday during my knitting group. I learned something from that experience. Never cast on while in the presence of good friends :) I couldn't stop chatting long enough to count past fifty stitches. I love love love getting together with those ladies. They are my only friends here. I tell them that they get a week's worth of my gibber jabber in a couple of hours. I don't know what I would do without them!

I don't have enough progress on either project to show, but I do have something else to bring for show and tell....

It's Hawkeye knitting! I was so excited when I saw it that I grabbed my camara and snapped a picture. I thought maybe you would get as much of a kick out of it as I did :) I'm not sure what he is working on. All I could tell was that he was knitting right handed with  a peachish color yarn, and he has a basket with several balls of yarn in his lap. He was doing a pretty good job too. He wasn't just pretending. I wish that I could have gotten a better picture.

Update

Just a quick update to let you know that I have added a few more links to my list (the link is on the side). I have also gone through and added where the pattern came from and whether it is Knit (K) or Crocheted (C). I was recently directed to another free pattern site so I have a feeling that I'll be adding a TON more patterns. At present I have over fifty links!! I can't believe how many free patterns there are out there. It is absolutely amazing. But no matter how many free links there are on the web, I still love buying books, magazines, leaflets, etc.

Summer Tops

Ok I have put all of my links in alphabetical order and attempted to make the link page look halfway decent. I still need to indicate beside the linkswhether the pattern is knit or crocheted and where it came from. I haven't checked them to make sure that they all work or not yet. The page will be updated as I find new patterns on the internet so keep checking back.

Quick Post Before Bed

Tonight I have been working on a links page for all of the free Summer top patterns that I have found on the internet over the years. There are quite a few links so this is taking some time. I hope to have the link page up and running by tomorrow night. Once I'm done with Summer tops, I am going to start on bikinis. That list will be considerably smaller. This will save you from having to do all the online searching that I have done for patterns. I'll keep updating the lists as I find new patterns. I've stared at this computer screen long enough. I'm going to bed. Good night :)

Adrienne Vittadini 2004 Spring Patterns

Click On Image To Enlarge

This is what I am currently drooling over. Aren't they gorgeous! I especially love the black and white tank top. It is too sexy! There is no way in Haites that I could ever afford the yarn the patterns call for, but I bet I can find a substitute!

Progress

 

Here is my progress pictures. You can click on the images to enlarge them. I am very unhappy with the green yarn that I am using. I don't think that it stands out enough against the blue. Unfortunately I couldn't find a lighter green at the store, so I'll probably have to order some online.

July 4

Happy 4th of July!!!

Cartoon Me

I saw the link to make a cartoon portrait of yourself on Wendy's blog, and  I thought it would be fun to try it. I showed mine to my husband, and he said, "Hey it's Anime You!" Actually, it does kinda look like me, freckles and all. If you click on the picture, it will take you to the site where you can make your own.

Great Link

The other day when I was getting ready to graft my shoulders on my tank, I did a google search for the kitchener stitch. I always forget how to do that darn thing. Anyways, I stumbled across a wonderful website called Knitting at Knoon Designs. This website has 21 videos for different knitting techniques, and they are all free. It also has some free patterns, and patterns for sale. Just thought I would share it with you. Enjoy!

Next Tank Top

Equals my next tank top project! Isn't it cute!? The pattern is from the April 2004 Knit N Style magazine and the yarn is Schachenmayr Micro.  The pattern calls for size 5 needles, but I like the fabric better on a size four. After doing the math it will work out perfectly with the size 4 needles using the instructions for the medium size. Janette told me how to use math to alter the pattern, and I'm really excited to see how it will turn out. I'm not going to do the little stringy things because I really think it looks a lot better without them. I am in love with this yarn. It is soooooooooo soft, and I wish that I had bought more of it. It reminds me of Lionbrand Microspun, but I think that it is a bit softer. I know I'm going to have to be careful with it as I knit because it splits easily. I should be getting my circular in the mail soon along with another yummy yarn purchase. Oh yeah I forgot to mention it is knit in the round up to the armholes. Woohoo less finishing!

Image Hosting

I don't know when my image hosting will be back up so I'm uploading as many pictures as I can to a different host.

Image Hosting Down Again

I was planning on posting pictures of the next tank I am making but as you can see my image hosting is down. I'll try again later when I get home from work.

Monday

It is Monday and I wish I had some progress to report on my Fair Isle Bag but I don't. My poor kitty Zoe had a seizure at a 3:50 am yesterday morning. It was so strange. I was asleep in my bed upstairs, and she was downstairs when she had it. I actually heard her seizing all the way downstairs. I shot up out of the bed and flew down the stairs in the dark. I guess I have developed "momma ears". This was her mildest seizure ever, but it still meant the end of sleep for me. I got her calmed down, cleaned her up, and then had to go to work. Needless to say I was not up for knitting when I got home. The vet says that as long as she doesn't have more than one in 30 days or developes a pattern she won't have to go on medication. We have run tons of tests and she is perfectly healthy except for this problem. I got good sleep last night so after some errands I'm gonna get back to my bag.

Thanks

I just wanted to say thank you for all the sweet compliments on my tank top. I love hearing from you, so feel free to post comments or ask questions any time.

I met with my knitting group today. I have such a wonderful time chatting and knitting with my new friends. I have never had friends that knit before, so I get excited about every single get together. Today I think I did more talking than knitting, but I did pick my Fair Isle Bag back up. I hope to have enough progress after this evening that merits taking a picture :)

Tadah!

Beginning to Finish

I started sewing up my side seams tonight. I will now fess up to never using the mattress stich until now. Prior to this project, I have always whipstitched my seams together. Now I feel like I am at the point where I should be putting more effort in my knitting projects. I have taken on more difficult patterns, and I honestly feel I have matured as a knitter. The mattress stitch was a lot easier than I thought it would be. My friend Janette sent me a link to Lucy Neatby's explanation of it, and it really helped me a lot.  I really can't get over how good this works! The seam really is invisible! Yay!

Scary Movie!

I didn't get any knitting done tonight. My husband and I rented Texas Chainsaw Massacre! I couldn't concentrate on knitting while watching that! Holy Patooties it was scary and goooorrrrrrrrryyyy! I don't know if you like watching scary movies or not. But if you do, you need to see this one! I never saw the original one, but now I think that I am going to go and rent it. I love scary movies especially the ones that make you jump and squeal! Maybe it's the adrenaline rush??!!