It has been so long

I can't believe it has been so long since I last wrote something here. I guess I just haven't felt much like posting anything. But, that is the good thing about blogs no set rules. Now on to my recent knitting adventures.

I am so happy with myself that I am getting Christmas knitting started; it was one thing I wanted to accomplish this year and it is going great. Currently I'm working on the hemlock ring blanket. http://brooklyntweed.blogspot.com/2007/08/hemlock-ring-blanket.html I was so scared about this pattern; the whole idea of knitting a blanket in a circular shape; but it is coming along wonderful. I know that this will be well received. I have already completed one; and have almost completed a third that just needs some major finishing still. I would love to share the projects of the completed one and the major finishing one; but, since they are for a blog reader it can't be done. My final Christmas project is the cleo clutch http://wists.com/lespaulguitargurl/444975210091e0803071bbf3e813a673 this just needs the lining sewn in.

My other knitting adventure that I had recently was Kool-aid dyeing I found two great tutorials to help me on this they are: http://www.knitpicks.com/kpimages/pdf/DyeingTutorial.pdf, &
http://knitty.com/ISSUEfall02/FEATdyedwool.htmlty.com/ISSUEfall02/FEATdyedwool.htmlty.com/ISSUEfall02/FEATdyedwool.html. I can't believe how fun it actually was to do this little project.



Here the yarn is being skeined. I decided to just try a little bit for my first dyeing experience. Sorry can't really see the yarn so well.


Washing the yarn.










Color choice, who doesn't love purple.





After first trip through microwave.








After 2nd trip through microwave.






Final rinse.




Hanging to dry.






Finished ball. It even smelled grapey.




Now just decide what to make with my little ball of yarn... I think it might become a book mark. Will I dye with kool-aid again; most definitely.

Swap Time Again

Well it is time for me to participate in another swap. I am so happy that I am a participant in Ravelry. Through ravelry I am able to communicate with a great bunch of people I met in myspace in another knitting group. Unfortunatly, that group got attacked by a numerous amount of offensive spamming. Luckily, one of the members started the group in ravelry and this group is now participating in another swap.
I will be participating in the "hat swap" of this one. I now know who I'll be knitting for; I have decided on the pattern, so now I just need to make a trip to pick up some great yarn.

On another note I happily completed the argosy scarf and had it under the tree for Christmas morning.

My knitting projects for this year are growing by the day 'thanks again to ravelry'. I have decided I am going to work on Christmas presents throughout the year so I will be able to give everyone something knitted. I placed my first order with knit picks and am anxiously awaiting my delivery of some laceweight yarn and some DPNs. I'm a little worried about having to wrap the yarn since I don't own a swift or ball winder.... but hopefully it won't be to difficult. I think I'll definitly order from knit picks again. They contacted me when my shipment was processed and on its way and make it very easy to track your shipment.

Christmas I can't believe it is almost here

I can't believe how fast this year has gone and that Christmas is less then one week away. I have stuff that still needs to get accomplished and I don't know if it will.




Luckily all my cookie baking and candy making is done.... okay almost done. This year I've made once again probably too many cookies and I even tried my hand at candy making.








The candy making was an adventure: I made toffee which came out really well and was super easy to make. I loved checking the candy in the water and seeing it get to the harder stages it was so fun to break that thread of sugar.


Besides the toffee I also took a stab at making caramels. Once again it was easier then I thought the only bad thing about the caramels was when it came to wrapping all those individual pieces.









One other thing I made this year will probably weird many people out but oh well. It was a little something featured in the holiday edition of Kraft Food Family; they called them "Mint Thins" it is basically chocolate covered Ritz crackers with peppermint. I know it may sound weird or gross but they really weren't that bad.

As for the cookies I made quite a few:

1. Chocolate chips
2. Ginger Krinkles
3. Chocolate Pistachio Twists
4. Latte shortbread sticks
5. Snickerdoodle crescents
6. Mint stripes
7. Frosty chews
8. Sugar cookie cutouts
9. Bocca di Nonnas
10. Mocha Hazelnut Biscotti (they still need to be glazed)

Well I'm off to finish a gift I need to finish knitting by tomorrow so I have time to block it. I'm making the Argosy for my mom's Christmas present. http://knitty.com/ISSUEwinter06/PATTargosy.html I have about 10 more pattern repeats to go and then I need to do section 3. If all goes well hopefully I'll have it done sometime tonight or early tomorrow.

Tempting Sweater Revisited

I am so happy that my sweater is finished. Tempting was a great pattern. Though if I see a pattern that is all ribbing it will be awhile till I attempt that one. If I wouldn't have mastered the 'continental purl technique' I would be working on this sweater for ever. I'm happy with how it came out and even happier that it fits. With the knitting of this sweater I think I found a favorite wool yarn; Cascade 220 http://www.cascadeyarns.com/cascade-220.asp. Knitting a sweater in wool that will felt is something I highly recomend; especially if you despise weaving in the ends like I do. Wool that will felt allows one to do a join of the yarn ends with a mini felting process and that makes finshing that much easier. The only ends I had to weave in was where I started, finished, the sleeves, and the sleeve joins which wasn't so bad. I'm definitely looking forward to making something else with wool that will felt.

One thing I realized since I have made both of the Tempting sweaters offered on http://www.knitty.com/. I've come to realize that the pictures that they show with the pattern seem to be messed up. With the Tempting sweater (the sleeves are off the shoulder); while with Tempting 2 (the sweater appears to have a normal neckline). But when you reach the finished product the reverse seems to be true. Alas that just must be one of those things.

Now that I've finished this sweater for myself... I guess it will be time to make something for someone else... I've got a couple Christmas presents I need to make and then I'll just have to decide what my next project will have to be.

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving

Tempting Sweater

My current knitting project is going great; I can't believe I'm as far as I am. I just have to say I think I am able to handle all the k2, p2 ribbing because of knitting 'continental style'. This project has taught me the proper way to purl continental and I couldn't be happier. This new sweater will definitely be added to my wardrobe in the very near future. I still have to decide how long to make the sleeves. I'm not sure if I really want the 4" sleeves called for in the pattern. I'll probably measure a sleeves on some other sweaters and go from there. I have decided though I am going to attempt both sleeves at the same time. "Magic loop" hopefully it will work to my advantage.

Once this is finished it will officially be time to knit some Xmas presents. I still don't know what I'll knit my Dad. What to knit for someone who doesn't wear hats, scarves, gloves... and no way would I attempt a sweater for a guy. Oh well I'll think of something.... I hope.

Ravelry

I'm singing praises to the land of Ravelry. I got my invite on Friday and have since fallen in love with this site. It is a great place to show off what you have made and come up with more ideas of what to make next. The number of groups that are available is just amazing.

Ravelry is one thing that all knitters, crocheters should be apart of; for anyone waiting for their invite to come, or those unsure about signing up? It is well worth the wait.