Jofrog is Knitfrog!
October 31 2005
You've all waited patiently for pumpkin pictures, and finally here they are! Be prepared to be scared! Believe it or not, all pumpkins were drawn freehand! The dark pumpkin in the middle was painted by Miranda, complete with their kitty Andy! As for pictures of me in my halloween costume, you won't see them here. I did wear it to the knitsmiths swap however, so you may see some pics of me here or here. Please, be kind!Happy Halloween!
Click for BIG!
Oooh, ahhh, awe!
October 30 2005
Use that extra hour that we just gained from daylight savings to make this headband. It's a great first FI project and knits up very quickly. Enjoy! This headband is knit in the round using either DK or Worsted Weight yarns. There is only one size, that will fit the average adult head. Follow first set of numbers for DK weight yarn, and the second set for Worsted. Materials: Gauge: Directions: Use That Extra Hour
2 colors of DK or Worsted weight wool. 1 50g ball of each will be plenty
MC=Background CC=Design Color
16” circular needle size 5 or 7 depending on yarn
DK = 6st/inch over two color pattern
Worsted = 5 st/inch over two color pattern.
CO 120 (100) st with MC. Join in round, being careful not to twist, and knit 5 rounds in K2, P2 ribbing.
Round 6: Knit in St st for one row with MC
Round 7: Starting with first stitch, of the bottom row, in bolded section, follow the 10 stitch FI chart around 12 (10) times.
Rounds 8-13: Continue to follow FI chart, always starting from the right and reading towards the left.
Round 14: Knit in st st for one row with MC only.
Rounds 15-19: Knit in K2, P2 ribbing using MC only.
Bind off all stitches loosely, using a larger needle if desired.
October 28 2005
Last night I taught the second in a two week Fair Isle knitting class. The first week was just knitting continental style, and last night we started on our projects. I wrote up a pattern for a winter headband. I figured it was just the right project to get you started, small and quick! I started mine just before class (so that I didn't have to cast on or count) and less than two hours later I had this headband! If anyone wants it I'll put up the pattern in a separate post and link to it from my sidebar. Ahhh, the beauty of a quick project!How'd That Happen?
October 27 2005
Why, oh why, do I keep looking at new patterns. "Oh, new book, let me just have a little flip through it. Oooh, I must make that! Book, come home with me!" Three more books came home with me yesterday, two were gifted, and one had this: This is "Fletta" from the newest Lopi book, (82325 for those who care). I LOVE IT! I've already started thinking through yarn choices. I've settled on Kid Classic at the moment, but this will not be knit for a very long time, so no need to settle on anything at the moment. As promissed, something for Cara. I saw this sweater in the same book and immediately thought of her. What do you think? No more pattern browsing for me. Back to the gift knitting and a little Huxley on the side. I've been working very hard on a gift project very close to my heart, details as soon as it's done and picture worthy... speaking of, I should go and knit on it while I have a moment. Not too much free time around here these days! No More Patterns! (and one for Cara)
October 25 2005
There was one thing at Rhinebeck that I REALLY WANTED and didn't get. Snow Star Farm, from Antrim, NH had two large sheep knit up in their booth with the kits for both. The sheep were only available in kit form, and I'm pretty sure that they were around $76. I loved "Sue the Ewe". I have yarn that would work perfectly for her. I asked if the pattern was avaialble separately, but they didn't have any on hand. I thought about Sue all day, but really couldn't justify spending so much of my budget (basically what I ended up spending on all of my yarn combined) on something so frivelous. I found her at Blackberry Ridge for significantly less money, (actually a third of the cost for the kit OR just the pattern separately), but still, can I justify such a silly use of my knitting time?A Silly Use Of My Knitting Time
October 24 2005
Saturday night we hosted our annual pumpkin carving get together. Homemade pizza, interesting soda, pumpkin muffins, and lots of pumpkin seeds! YUM! It was also a great opportunity to give my cousin her Christmas present. Yes, I'll be seeing her again before Christmas, not to mention Christmas day at her parents' house, but have you noticed how cold it's getting. Um, cold. Especially if you spend your days out on fishing boats. Luckilly Jen's had the last two weeks off, but she goes back this week, and she'll need her super warm, double knit hat! Stay tuned later in the week for pumpkin pictures!Merry Christmas Jen!
Boo! I think she loves it!
It's reversible.
October 21 2005
I finally got it together and did the finishing on the Paw Print Sweater! The finishing takes so little time on something small like this, but so many of my projects are at the "I don't need much time, but you should just give me time to finish me" stage. I only have so much time projects! This little sweater, however, is being gifted Sunday or Monday, so it just needs a quick trip through the wash to even out some of those cotton stitches and then it's off! Okay, so what's next to clean up off of that list?Put Your Paws Together
The perfect sweater for cool mornings at the dog park.
He'll even look cute while he's running away from his parents at the playground!
Remember the cute doggie buttons?
I still love them!
October 20 2005
I don't know when it's taken me so long to get through something like a sleeve! I don't even want to go back to see when I cast on for this. My days and evenings are so busy, there has been very little knitting time. Finally though, I present you with sleeve one, (lengthened by two full inches... Kerrie isn't the only one with monkey arms!) I cast on for the back last night too, twice... This sweater may be a long haul!It's About Time!
October 19 2005
There was very litte knitting that occurred last weekend. Lisa knit a whole sock, and basically knit whenever there was a free moment. Most of my free moments were watching that Naomi wasn't terrorizing my dad's cats or eating their food! Saturday night, at the Marriot, there was quite a bit of knitting done, but since we hadn't stopped back at my dad's house, I only had the twin socks with me. So I knit on the twin socks. Lots and lots of progress in a few hours in the lobby of a hotel! I may actually not let all of you down that voted for me! I still don't know what you were thinking, but after seeing my progress, and Melanie's belly in the same room, I think I'm winning at the moment! The tricky part is that she's making daily progress and I set my socks aside for weeks at a time! In other knitting news, you may notice on my sidebar that Jenny's Christmas Present has moved from a WIP to a FO. No pictures yet though. I'm giving it to her Saturday, so I'm going to wait to take pictures of her wearing it rather than me or Mike. Remember how I said that there would possibly be two FOs last week... um, yeah, I've still gotta get going on that, the Paw Print Sweater has been finished for a VERY LONG TIME. It just needs an hour or so of seaming and a bit more time to weave in ends, and then it's being gifted on Monday! I was so ahead of the deadline on this one and then what happened? Oh we knitters can be a fickle bunch!Rhinebeck Knitting
October 18 2005
I went to Rhinebeck with a budget. Most people have a dollar amount they are not to go over, I need to allocate money to be spent or else everything is rationalized away and I go home empty handed. I did well though, I didn't go over my limit, but I also used enough to feel good and still had some left over to feel better. Ahh, and then I look at my yarn, and pet my yarn, and all is good! Enough yammering, here it is! My first purchase of the day was from "Times Remembered" from Slate Hill NY. I've been looking at some alpaca yarn for a while now at my LYS to make a simple, oh so soft, cardigan. This was very similar yarn, incredibly soft, and less expensive. Add to that the fact that it came in many more colors, somehow two hanks landed in a bag in exchange for some money and I walked away petting this yarn: Next was "Buckwheat Bridge Angoras". Oh did I enjoy them. They have angora goats and lots of fiber. In the back of their booth, though, was some wonderful yarn. We walked by them at first, but it caught my eye enough that we went back later. This skein will be paired with solid black to be a pair of Fair Isle Mittens. I thought I was going to use the Nordic Mittens pattern from last winter's IK, but after looking at it again, the solid color is the design, not the background, and I think I want these switched. Yes, I could switch them with that pattern, but I really like "Knitting Fair Isle Mittens and Gloves" by Carol Rasmussen Noble, and I can always use another book, right? My last purchase at the festival was from Shelridge Farm. Alison, Lisa, and I all loved this place. Really, it's worth planning a trip to Ontario good. It was amazing. This booth was the point in the day that I turned to Alison and said "I am having SO MUCH FUN!" Their yarns are amazing, their kits have beautiful patterns, they have so many other amazing patterns, made up in their yarn, all around. It was overwhelming, and remember, this is after a day of sensory overload, this is what pushed us over. I didn't want to leave their booth! I ended up with the most amazing green fingering weight yarn for socks: and the pattern for Lucy Neatby's Harlequin Socks. Be aware, if you go to see the pattern, the picture is horrible! I never would have bought the pattern if I hadn't seen this one there, made up in person and not all stretched out. Once again, my enablers showed me this and determined that I must buy the pattern. It's just my type of thing. What can I say, they know me well. As I'm sitting here typing, I'm wearing my pair of beaded socks. I got home and read through the pattern and I can't wait to start! I only wished I'd looked at the real things more closely. Here they are for your viewing pleasure. Don't think that the fun stopped at the fairgrounds though. We left there, took a right and started out for Morehouse Merino's retail store "Sheep's Clothing" to pick up yarn for Dani. Personal shopper, no problem! Five skeins of lace weight, lots of browsing later, this came home with me, and will be going home with Dani later today. What fun it is to spend other people's money on yarn, but it is also a huge responsibility... especially when they say, "something variegated and pretty, you know what I like"! And that brings us to the end of the shopping spree. I had so much fun, even if I'd come home empty handed it still would have been a wonderful weekend with wonderful ladies! Thanks to everyone!Booty Call
The ideas are already flowing.
It's alpaca, so nothing too fancy, but some interest for sure.
Stay tuned.
I hope I did a good job!
October 17 2005
We got back from Rhinebeck last night. I was expecting to have a good time, but this really exceeded expectations! The company could not have been better. As it was pointed out during the day, it is so important to have good travel buddies! Here are a few of the froggy highlights throughout the day, the purchaces will have to wait until tomorrow. I wish I'd taken a picture of Kay's frog backpack. It was great too! Thanks to Cara we met up with fifty or so bloggers on Saturday, many Boston area knitters I knew, one I'd read for a while, but never met in person, and many I never knew I was missing out on. That meet up, combined with a marathon lobby knitting session at the Marriot Saturday night, introduced me to so many amazing women. Watch out Bloglines, there will be a lot of new feeds coming your way soon! Stay tuned tomorrow for YARN!So. Much. Fun.
Stuffed Knitted Frogs
Frog Hats
How many bloggers can you recognize?
October 14 2005
I'm leaving this afternoon to travel towards sheepy goodness (AKA NY Sheep & Wool Festival)! First off though, lets all wish Mike a happy birthday. I know I've been told that Rhinebeck is "so not a fashion show", but still I'm not sure what to wear. If you are looking for me the top contenders at the moment are: or Probably the easiest way to find me is to look for my face: or look for me at Cara's planned meet up at 1PM on Saturday outside of Building E! Off to make sure that there is enough knitting packed to get me through the weekend.I'm Off
The poor guy has been looking at this pile for a day already and has one more to wait before opening them.
His birthday isn't until tomorrow!
My leaf cardigan is the right season and very recognizable, but I sometimes feel like it's a bit gaudy.
Honestly, I love it, but some times I'm just not sure.
The owner of my LYS knit this one as a sample for the store and when it was retired I scooped it up.
Manos lovelyness, so warm and cozy, this may be the winner, except for the fact that I didn't knit it!
October 13 2005
I decided a long time ago that I don't like lace knitting because I hated maneuvering K3togs with itty bitty needles and itty bitty yarn. (I've since realized that many lace patterns don't have k3togs and I can deal with it if they do, but usually I just scan a pattern quickly to be sure that I can avoid it most times.) Last night I decided that there is something equally heinous... k4tog on super bulky weight yarn with mondo mega thick needles... k4tog, you have got to be kidding! Despite this, when I was ready to go to bed last night, rather than curling up under my warm covers, I cast on for the Heart scarf and did one heart. K4tog!!! You Have Got To Be Kidding
All together now "AWE".
October 12 2005
Must get back to it, no time to chat! I am going to LOVE THIS CARDIGAN!Huxley:A Brief Timeline
Arrive home from dinner at Porcini's last night.
Knit. Knit. Knit. Yawn. Smile. Sleep.
October 11 2005
I love knitting for people that I know will really appreciate the gift. I often babysit for a nine year old girl who happens to love knitting! She's always thrilled to knit with me or show me what she just started. She's still at a very early stage, but she enjoys doing it. Ages ago I was working on a sock at her house and she mentioned how she'd LOVE a pair of socks if I made them. I put it in the back of my mind for some day. More recently I was at her house and she mentioned how she's "obsessed with watermellon colors", oh yeah, and she really likes socks! I thought a bit and remembered the left over yarn from my Tiptoe socks. Perfect. This is the project I cast on for the night I finished the T-shirt sweater, (thanks for all of the sweet comments), and here is the first sock. I think she'll love it, and it's as cute as I could have hoped! And the holiday knitting continues! ...that is until my Aurora 8 gets here, darn distributer problems. Harumph!Appreciative Recipiants
October 10 2005
I came home yesterday with yet another project. While I'm waiting for my Aurora 8 to come in to do the Huxley sweater I'm getting some holiday knitting done. What am I thinking, size 15 needles??? I guess I was thinking that this yarn: and this pattern: would make a nice present for my little sister Alice. It will certainly knit up quicker than the other things I'm knitting on at the moment! Have you started your holiday knitting yet? Just over two months to go until Chanukkah and Christmas!Crazy Big Needles
I use the Boye Needlemaster set for almost all of my knitting.
"Heart" from Knitty's special Breast Cancer Edition,
October 7 2005
The T-shirt Sweater is finally done! After a few false starts, and running out of yarn, this sweater is finally finished! Although it's not for me, I think I've put enough into it to wear it today! It's definitely short and 3/4 length sleeves, neither of which is ideal for my long body, but it's cute just the same. Phew, well, now that this sweater is done, of course, in true fashion, I started a new project last night, just a little one, and it's a Christmas present. Look forward to that, and maybe another finished sweater or two, next week. One Week Late And One Quarter of a Sleeve Short
I did alternate skeins for the whole sweater... every two rows were knit with separate balls, but still the one "greener" skein really showed through. The front is very green, where the rest is much more blue. I consulted with at least 15 knitters on this, and everyone said to leave it, so it was left, but it's not ideal. This yarn is great to knit with, I highly recommend it, but do a visual check of the skeins before you start knitting, and definitely alternate skeins.
October 5 2005
As soon as one project starts to wind down another one is immediately on the needles. Those of you that saw me at the Knit Out on Sunday, or on the Subway on the way there or home, or at Knitsmiths afterwards, saw the beginnings of a new project for my cold cousin! You may remember that my cousin Jenny is currenly living in Gloucester and working on the fishing boats. It's getting chilly on the main land, I'm sure it's getting chilly on those boats. I've already told her that she'll be getting her Christmas present early this year, but still no peaking Jen! My goal is to finish this by next Thursday and hand deliver it to her then, (and maybe eat another lobster for dinner that night too! Mmmmm). Sorry twin socks, into the depths of the knitting bag you go!It's Always Something
More details to come in a later post
October 4 2005
Okay, so Melanie and my "Amazing Race" may not be as exciting as The Amazing Race, but there are kids involved in both this year and both matter to me! I was amazed at how many people voted for me and my socks over Melanie and her babies! Socks are almost exclusively a side project for me, they get worked on when there isn't time to work on something else, or there are no high priority projects. Granted, these are two at a time, and there is a little extra pressure, but still... all I'm saying is I voted for Melanie! Here are some progress pics from both of us: So, still think I'll win?Our Amazing Race
Melanie's Belly Friday Night
Go see her blog to see another belly pic that makes her look farther along.
My Socks This Morning
The last time I picked these up was last Tuesday.
It's a good thing I have until March to work on them!
October 3 2005
I got an anonymous comment yesterday asking for info on the Bouton d'Or baby sweater that I'm currently working on. Since I can't write back directly I thought I'd fill you in on my progress. Little things go so quickly, even on US 4s! I'm really enjoying this sweater, almost as much as the fishy sweater. These Bouton d'Or things are just too cute. I don't want to give them away! For those of you who'd like the details... it's Pattern number 22 from Bouton d'Or Layette #12. I'm pretty sure that this one is out of print now, but I'm sure that if you look hard enough you could find one, maybe even one with an English translation! Good luck and hello to the unnamed visitor! Next time tell me who you are. Happy knitting.Baby Bouton
