pokingmyeyesout

Last November, J and I made a trip to Little Knits for one of their sales. I didn't (and do not) need yarn, but I had never been. Little Knits is a lovely store, a little far to run there for everyday, but worth the trip occasionally. I couldn't resist the sparkles and picked up a skein of Dream in Color, Starry. I had no particular pattern in mind, just that it is a perfect color for a friend of mine.

ravelry link

Damson is good match to this yarn - shows off the almost solid color, the sparkles are irresistible. It is just lovely. It is too bad the camera can not capture the true color of this yarn. (it has trouble with the red hue) I hope the recipient will like it ...

Posted by E at 1:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

ravelry link

I brought this clover scarf and mom's cardi with me on our Memorial Day trip to see Brothers in law and their families (and bonus Bobby Bear!). I didn't really get a chance to work on them much. Kooler had a lower urinary tract infection. (Bladder infection. We were up all night and the couple nights before. No sleep for the weary. I found a vet open on $unday and couple of trips later, she got some meds and we were on our way to be better.)

I laid out the post-wash clover scarf and spotted my mistakes - in the little squares and an extra clover at the end. DH gave it a courtesy glance and did not spot the mishaps. I always miss some when I inspect my work in progress. For example, I found a dropped stitch in Mom's cardi way back there after I bind off. This must say something about my brain-dead state of mind. Maybe next time, I will let the work in progress rest overnight and do the inspection in the morning, when my mind is fresh(er).

Posted by E at 10:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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The Citron in Baruffa Cashwool Bordeaux is done. That was a lot of stockinette. The finished shawlette is light, warm, and very soft. I got more than the mindless knitting break I was looking for. But it is all in the pass now. It is wrapped up, put away, waiting, to go to its recipient.

Posted by E at 12:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

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COMMENT IS STILL BROKEN. "IT guy is busy." :(

Last time I was in Calif, I stayed up late to lengthen Dad's sweater (flick pic). This time I stayed up late knitting a ribbed scarf for mom (to balance the karma or something). It is leftover Noro Chunky from her sweater (flick pic) Mom: "I can wear this with the sweater". Er no. no matchy match!

Anyhoo.. another mindless travel knit for another trip. I am fresh OUT of travel projects. argh.

Posted by E at 11:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

COMMENTS is BROKEN sorry ... no comments for me :(

I have been making short trips to Cali. (Translate: tiny projects for travel) but wait.... I have to tell a story.

Last night, I packed my notion bag, two circular knitting needles, crochet hooks, some yarn, books, glasses + clip ons, change purse, mouse ... in my suitcase, along with my clothes and shoes. This morning at airport security screening... I took off belt, shoes.. put them and laptop in a bin to run through x-ray, along with my carry-on. I've seen some puzzle TSA-xray-screener ... and I thought I read a screener's lips "circular needles" along with hand motions in previous trip. This time, TSA-person yelled at me.. "whose shoes are these? absolutely NOTHING on top of the laptop." WHOOPS. not paying attention, it is really early in the morning and I have not had coffee. "Nice pink laptop thought!" .. er.. "Thanks. Sorry.." Then they stopped my carry-on...

TSA-searcher: "do you have any sharp objects?"
... finds notion bag (and mouse and change purse ..) in carry on ...
me "no" (I reviewed the TSA list. I have ALL of my tools .. including my little scissors.)
"what is this?"
me: "a row counter, you click it to keep count of the rows?"
"you a knitter?" ... "how long have you been knitting?"
me: "a few years... I have to fix my dad's sweater when I get there."
"have you been to that ... Renaissance Yarn in Kent"
me: "yes! it is a very nice shop."
.... she digs up the glasses case and etc... "ah.. they should be pack flat, so we can see [through x-ray]" .. she takes everything and run through again. returns..
me: "thanks. sorry. You should go to Renaissance Yarn. It is very nice!"
"I don't know how to knit."
... the end...

Clearly, I should pay more attention when I am packing and putting my stuff through security. I know better. doh. anyways... back to some travel and knits ...

Continue reading "Small things ... " »

Posted by E at 1:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

ravelry link

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ravelry link

The last couple of months have seen a few crochet projects (eleven so far this year, many of them very small) - a couple on the recent car road trip. I am not so sure it is easier to crochet on road trips (vs knitting). True that there is one less needle to drop in those hard-to-reach car crevices. Then again, I did drop my hook and had to reach under the seat ... my fingers found the hook and some gooey brown substance (ew!).

I may be ready to get back on the knitting wagon. With this warm weather, perhaps a small colorwork project ...

Posted by E at 9:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

jan 17
GD and I had brunch early in January when she gave me her not-good news. I wanted to make her something that will remind her of sunshine and happiness. I found a few good choices and consulted J in a very long pattern and yarn search. She found Shetland Lace shawl in GD's (L) list on Ravelry. And I remember J has a very purty orange Malabrigo lace yarn. She agreed the Malabrigo Sock yarn in Terracotta meets the criteria. I got the book from library this week and sock yarn last night. Malabrigo yarn is so soft and the color is gorgeous. I casted on right away and asked the DH not to talk about this project. My knitting has not been a topic for his conversation, but I wanted to be safe.

fast forward a few weeks. I decided to save the shawl for GD's birthday... by then she will feel better. Happy Birthday GD!

(Ravelry link)

Here is a little Sunshine. We can all use a little bit of it, figuratively! :)

Posted by E at 8:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

On the brighter side of unemployment, there is time for road trip and knitting. In mid-April, I went to Vancouver BC (Vancouver set on flickr) with my Mom and Aunt. I worked on Inspired by Ruffles ( Ravelry link ).

In beg-May, I went to Kalispell (Kalispell set on flickr) with DH, in-laws, to visit his brother & family. On the drive, I finished a pair of booties (pic on flickr), soap cozy for G (pic on flickr) . The next morning I started a string bag (pic on flickr) (Ravelry link) with yarn from GD ... The chair where I spent most of the week is very comfortable and has a gorgeous view to The Swan. At that pace, I would run out of projects. So, I dragged everyone to Camas Creek Yarn - I selected a simple Araucania Ranco Solid for the Lace Ribbon Yarn. I managed to finish it before we were on the road again. On the drive back, I finished the string bag and took a nap... a. lot. of. knitting. time.

Posted by E at 8:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Very soft alpaca and silk Flower Scarf ( Ravely link ) with destash yarn and borrowed needles from J. I started it at J&N's when I ran out of habitat and fetching project on the trip. The fisherman's rib is very fluffy, I like it a lot. The flower was a p-i-t-a. I did it twice. The first one had giant gaping holes in between the dpns and the opening was too small for the ball I knitted. I mod'ed the flower pattern, co more and then a more gentle inc in the first round. I had to dig through all my needles to have enough to do the flower. The yarn is a little prickly but may be ok. I may even wear it ;-)

And another quick prez. Fetching from Knitty Summer 2006. This one has to make it in the mail soon. I think I am going to stop on the prez for this year. I made a few little things. Perhaps next year I will get more organize and do more than little thingies.

The last few days I took a break from knitting in the last few days. I browsed through a few Nicky Epsteins books from the library and do a little catch up on my magazines. Last night I made the sub-recipes for Triple Chocolate Trifle. The 'Handmade Candy Canes" I got had a chocolate colored centered, so they are duds. Sigh. I need to find new candy canes or skip the peppermint all together. Bleah.

Posted by E at 9:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Yay! Seafoam scarf is home with J :)

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Oct 12th - It is done :). It grew from ~ 47' to ~ 72" woot! It was 2+ balls of Noro Silk Garden. Purty ..

Oct 10th - The knitting is done. I asked the DH whether it is long enough. He held it and I stretched it to simulate the blocking .. "yeah. it is long enough if it doesn't shrink". Going to wash and block this weekend.

Oct 5th - I am writing a secret post that will be posted after J gets the scarf :) I had to put Mom's chunky sweater on hold while waiting on the button. So it was perfect timing ...

I found "Seafoam" in J's queue on Ravelry to make a scarf with yarn, Noro Silk Garden, she gifted me a long time ago. The colorway works really well with Seafoam pattern! I started the scarf on October 4 ...

Posted by E at 9:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Let me say how unbelievable that phase is ... I don't think I have ever heard that phase spoken. Ever. NOTHING is 'exactly what I want" ... or what the other person want .. or what you think they want ... so ..

Continue reading "".... it is exactly what I want"" »

Posted by E at 9:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Both of the Equinox scarves are finished! While I was at it, I also put the label on WC :)

Posted by E at 12:28 AM | Permalink

Since Charlie is a gift, I didnt want to subject it to more fur than it already has. So here is Charlie with one of the Siberians in the house... one of the non-sheddy ones.

Posted by E at 10:44 PM | Permalink

Finished the ends .. all set! Now it just needs a label, ribbon, a box .. Platnium millennium Gund Bear included for size ;-)

Posted by E at 8:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The super fast super easy 2x2 rib scarf is off the needle. 3 (*66yds) balls of Bouton d'Or Cordelia.

Posted by E at 11:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Noro kureyon yarn knitted into a double basketweave for mom :)

Posted by E at 9:07 PM | Permalink

in a basket weave.

Posted by E at 6:56 PM | Permalink

Almost the first knit project I finished. This is a black and white Berroco Hip Hop line in plain knit stitch. The yarn is thick and thin.

Posted by E at 5:40 PM | Permalink