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Archive for the ‘Knitting’ Category

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Revisiting Knee Warmers

In Knee Warmers, Knitting on February 20, 2012 at 7:00 am

4 years ago, I knit Dan a pair of knee warmers.

After wearing them for a winter, he provided me the following feedback:

Pros
1. They were was warm.
2. They were super soft.

Cons
1. They wouldn’t stay up around his knees. He was constantly pulling them back up.
2. They were thick. He was unable to wear them discreetly at work because they could be seen beneath his pants.

Determined to figure out how to knit the perfect pair of knee warmers since it appears that Dan is not the only one who suffers from cold knees (the post where I show off Dan’s knee warmers remains one of my most popular), I have rooted through my sewing notions as well as my yarn stash.

I have chosen mohair.

It’s a bit of a risk due to its tendency to make people itch when used in next-to-skin projects, but it will dramatically reduce the weight of the warmers without compromising any warmth. Heck, it might even make them warmer.

From my sewing notions, I pulled out elastic thread. This I plan to knit into the upper cuffs of ribbing. It should more than double the elasticity of the ribbing and with any luck it will keep them from falling down.

To increase my chance of finishing this project by next winter (no way I finish it by Spring), the body of the warmers will be knit in stockingnette stitch.

Dan has promised to be the guinea pig and provide unbiased feedback. I’ll report his findings to you.

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A Scarf for Me

In Knitting on February 1, 2012 at 10:51 pm

I am allotted only 10 minutes or so a day to knit on the hexagon blanket. So, naturally I cast on a 2nd project because as Dan likes to say “Marie, you have a magical timepiece. You always think there is more time in a day than there really is.”

He’s a realist and terribly practical to boot. How is that any fun?

Want to see how far along I’ve come on my long scarf?


(Can you tell she’s my daughter? A little bit more dexterity in her hands and I’m going to have another knitter in the household).

Well, maybe there is some basis to Dan’s belief.

It is a short row scarf, titled Self-Twist Scarf. I received the pattern at the Pottstown Knit Out. Unfortunately, I have been unable to find the exact pattern on Ravelry to share with you. But, this one looks similar.

I am knitting it in Malabrigo’s Worsted Merino verde, a lovely dark green.

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My New Knitting Spot

In Knitting on January 29, 2012 at 7:00 am

Wouldn’t you like to be knitting here?
(Loved the series by Knitting Dragonflies)

Probably not.

Yet, I’m thrilled to have found a moment in each day where I can knit a few rows. Why I just might finish the hexagon blanket before Elly’s 5th birthday.  Don’t hold your breath though.

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Booty from Pottstown Knit Out

In Knitting, Phillies on January 23, 2012 at 2:03 pm

Saturday’s snow storm only managed to delay the start of the Pottstown Knit Out by 2 hours.

I arrived minutes before my class started, giving the organizers a bit of a scare. But, I couldn’t resist taking Elly out in the snow. Once outside, I noticed my 91-year-old neighbor’s walkway had not been shoveled. Refusing to let her do it herself, I took my helpers over to clear her sidewalk and driveway.


I will no longer roll my eyes when Dan informs me he really wants to buy a snow blower. Shoveling snow is hard work! I fully support his decision now.

Back to my story of the Knit Out …. My class went great. All attendees agreed that charts finally made sense. It gave me such a great feeling.

Knowing I barely have time to knit these days, I did not buy any of the gorgeous yarns seen. Instead I bought me a new knitting bag.

Isn’t it wonderful? It’s handmade by Ruth Raisner. Get your Phillies bag here.

Go Phillies!

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1 Down and 5 to Go

In Knitting on January 20, 2012 at 7:00 am

At the rate I’m going, it will take me 3 more years to finish the other 5 hexagons. It might even take me longer, since I’ve started suffering motion sickness while driving in the passenger seat and trying to work on needle crafts. The more curves in the road and the more fiddly the project, the more seasick I become. I never had this problem before. The lion’s share of my knitting has been accomplished on road trips. I feel so unproductive now.

To add insult to injury, it took me two tries to seam up the first hexagon yesterday only because I didn’t follow my own tip. I always recommend to other knitters that they use safety pins to hold the knit together while working a mattress stitch. I was in a hurry and just tried to wing it. It didn’t work. I had to rip the seam out and start all over again. The second time I used safety pins.


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Teaching at the Pottstown Knit Out

In Knitting on January 17, 2012 at 7:00 pm

While sitting in front of the roaring fire Dan made Sunday, I transcribed all my notes and tips about reading charts onto an easel. I’ll be teaching a class on reading charts at the Pottstown Knit Out this weekend.

If you’re a knitter in the Pottstown area, I highly recommend attending next year. Unfortunately, the event is sold out this year. You can learn more about the event on its website.

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Accepting My Limitations

In Knitting, My Knitting Designs on December 5, 2011 at 10:53 pm

When I first sarted publishing my knitting designs, I strived to do everything myself. I sketched my design, ran the numbers, knit the sample twice, wrote the pattern, edited the pattern, took pictures of the sample, wrote marketing material, and promoted my design. I learned a lot. Over the years in an effort to focus on what I do best, such as coming up with new designs and writing patterns, I have learned to parcel out the tasks that I do not have a calling for. I now have a wonderful tech editor that I trust to fine-tune my patterns and catch any gross errors. This year, I finally admitted to myself that I will never produce professional quality photos. Below are my attempts to take photos of the baseball blanket.


I am actually proud of this photo but it focuses on Elly more than the blanket.

Now compare my photos with the ones taken by Nihart Photography.


I love this one with Elly in it. I plan to enlarge it and hang it in our living room.

Yes, I think all my future designs will be photographed by Nihart.

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The Baseball Blanket Passed its Test

In My Knitting Designs on July 29, 2011 at 7:57 am

My test knitter finished the baseball blanket!

Now the pattern is on its way to a tech editor.

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Perfect Intermittent Knitting Project

In Knitting on July 14, 2011 at 8:00 am

The hexagon afghan is a perfect project to work on when occasions to knit are few and far between. With a quick row count, I know exactly where I am in the pattern. Should I forget what rows to count, I have the pattern written down in my pda (I have yet to embrace the smart phones or ipads. I’m also the same person who thought Dan was silly when he bought me a pda so many years ago. Some things never change).

It’s also the perfect project to knit when all such occasions to knit are in the car. Since the hexagons are being knit individually, the project always remains small and portable. No accessories are needed which means I have a better chance of packing everything necessary to knit with – just yarn and needles.

The best thing about this project is that it is fun to knit. The decreasing of stitches on almost every right side row, the swapping of yarn on every other row and the picking up stitches keeps me entertained.

Sore Hands

In Family, Knitting on July 13, 2011 at 8:00 am

On Saturday, I knit so much that my hands became sore. It was wonderful!

Lately, all my knitting is accomplished during car rides. On Saturday, not only did I get to knit during the drive to Granny’s house but I got to knit throughout the entire visit. Elly is quite independent now. Outside of the diaper changes and a New York minute  nursing session, she didn’t need me at all. She was happy to play with her cousins and to drag her doting Aunt all around.

I was so darn proud of her. I was also a bit sad. My little girl is growing up.

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