Eyelet Twist Gloves

Amazingly I have found my way back here.  It has been so long it’s embarrassing.  I have been busy with life:  working at a new job; working on my health; and working on some knitting projects.  Not quite as a prolific with my knitting as I used to be but two years later (ouch), I finally managed to put a pattern together for some Eyelet Twist (finger-less) Gloves.  They are not free but to celebrate my recent birthday they are free for the rest of the month (2/28/2018).  The code to use at checkout is bday28.

Meanwhile, keep the faith; be happy; and knit well.

Love, Nettie

Catching up

Hi world,

Have been doing a lot of knitting since I was last able to post something.  The most recent finished object is a pair of gloves for someone I know with Reynauds.  She is using some “seen better days” gloves that are probably acrylic.  As a knitter, I just can’t leave the issue unaddressed.  This turned out to be a real labor of love since it turns out that knitting 8 fingers and 2 thumbs is not as much fun as you might imagine.  I chose a greyish yarn since I didn’t think my usual bright color choices would be suitable for a manager.  A picture is below and you can link to the pattern from my project page on Ravelry if you want to make a pair of your own.

Got to go now.  Hubby is back with some groceries and if I want to be able to find anything….

Pinterest

Hi,

I just got invited to Pinterest.com.  It is by invitation only right now.  If you ask for an invite it will only take a few days.

It’s a very interesting site and so far I have learned a few interesting things (how to bake cakes in eggs); seen some interesting products; checked out some of the knitters; and seen some great photos.

You will be able to look me up here.

 

Kennebunkport Arm Warmers–new pattern available

I bought the yarn for this pattern while on vacation in Kennebunkport, ME. The colors reminded me of the ocean on a sunny day, thus the name. They can be worn under your sweater sleeves for a little added warmth without a lot of added bulk.

I actually came up with the pattern a couple of years ago and I have been using the arm warmers ever since.  This morning as I put them on again, it occurred to me that others may be interested in them as well.  People keep telling me I could sell them, but as knitters you know how selling what you make isn’t always practical.

 

 

You can view the Ravelry listing here and if you wish to buy the pattern for a mere  $1.99 you can buy it there or by clicking here.

 

Happy Holidays!

Nettie

Refugee from Facebook

Hi and Happy October,

I know I have mentioned getting away from Facebook and Facebook games before but this time I think I may have done it.  I took a break a couple of months ago and after I got over the guilt of letting my crops wilt and leaving my dragon undefended, I began to feel strangely liberated.  I felt free and realized that I had turned a game into a second job.  After all, I was darn good at it and was as expanded as much as you could be.  On both farm levels.  Could have been worse.  One of the people I played with had three identities.  Now that commitment.

I’m starting to believe that there is a time and a place to be uncommitted.

Now I am looking to be recommitted to designing and writing again and will get my spark back – once I get the joint pain under control.

It’s been said before and will remain to be true, “It sucks to get old!”  But you don’t have to let it get you down.

TTFN

Nettie

Dear Mom

Dear Mom,

Mother’s Day to me used to be bringing you a carefully selected rose bush for your rose garden.  Every year color and variety selected for meaning; sitting in the sun on your porch; enjoying the view; and just being together.

I miss those times which seemed they could go on forever.  We never knew the last time was the last time.  Perhaps it was best we didn’t.

I know in heaven you and Dad are sitting in a rose garden and every year my heart is sending you another rose bush.  Miss you Mom and Happy Mother’s day.

Love,

Nette

A Perfect Yellow Rose by Thomas Kinkade

Felting Fest

Yesterday morning I am peacefully reading and contemplating, in the back of my mind, what I want to spend my weekend knitting efforts on when felting popped into my head.  Now this is an idea long overdue since I have projects from 2007 waiting to be felted.  Of course, felting for me is a serious undertaking since it involves going down cellar.

Going down cellar is something I generally avoid for multiple reasons that include:  phobia of falling (not unrealistic because I did it once); less than optimal banister (aggravates fear of falling);  bad knees; and that’s where the treadmill is (refer to bad knees and guilt).

But for some reason I was compelled to overcome the above issues, and gather up my snoozing felting projects and make the trek.  I did, I confess, briefly contemplate the tread mill, but opted instead to stand at the washer and stop it every few minutes to check felting progress.

My process for felting is this:  Wash dishes in the kitchen until our tank-less water heater causes the furnace to run (thus insuring the hottest water to the washing machine); start filling the washer and once the incoming water begins to turn hot, drain and start again;  add items to felt, a pair of jeans, detergent, and baking soda; agitate on regular setting; and check progress often.  I use the washer for rinsing the felted items but never allow it to spin in order to avoid artificial creases.  They never go away.  Roll projects in towels to remove excess water and air dry projects.

So finally, here’s what I felted yesterday in order of birth.

I knit the Nantasket Basket by Susan Lawrence in 2007 from yarn obtained from Knit Picks.  I recommend getting an extra ball of the handle color if you use their Wool of the Andes.  I had to improvise a bit because I didn’t have enough the handle colorway.  You can also link to Susan’s Blog entry to buy the pattern here.

I liked it so much, I made another with some stash wool.  This one didn’t get a handle at all since the stash ran out.

Next I decided to felt my Kindle Sleeve.  While I liked the sleeve a lot, I found the fabric a bit stretchy for the weight of the kindle.  This was the project that required the most monitoring because there wasn’t too much leeway to go too far and no longer have it fit a kindle.  I put a book of Kindle dimensions in a bag and partially dried it with the book in place in case it wanted to shrink while drying.

And finally my favorite item is the result of an inspiration to create a Fibonacci striped lunch bag.  It was born out of my admiration of the insulating properties of felt and wanting to use the same Fibonacci sequence I used for some laptop sleeves years earlier.

The closure was contrived using a bit of I-cord from the handle and a Blue Moon Beads glass leaf that I picked up several years ago.  Definitely speaks to the advisability of picking up items like these, even if you don’t have a purpose yet.

To my eyes, it’s almost too pretty to use for a lunch bag.  I have the notes on how to make this but have apparently put them in a “safe” place and can’t find them.  When they turn up, I will put the pattern up on Ravelry.

Back to finishing a pair of socks.  Have a great week everyone and thanks for stopping by.

Nettie

Silky Merino scarf

I begin the process of moving away from my regrettable addiction to computer games (available on a popular social networking site) by starting and finishing a project.  I have had the yarn for a while but time was short due to having to spend most of my spare time; harvesting crops; planting crops; adopting cows, chickens, ugly ducklings, turtles, and stray cats; hatching fish eggs; cleaning tanks; selling fish; battling vampires; attending magic school; making honey, cheese, wine, wool, and angora from rabbits; and running a sucessful cafe. All while making sure everything is arranged and timed for optimum efficiency.  I must say I am quite good at taking meager virtual resources and building my equally virtual empires.

This list becomes mind numbing when you look at it in black and white.  The sad part is, this is the tip of the iceberg.  There is so much out there that I haven’t even tried and when reading the above list, keep in mind I was practicing some self control by dumping the zoo and amusement park while avoiding bingo, poker, gangster wars, scavenger hunts, virtual pets, and fairy kingdoms.

The point of this rant is that overindulging in this activity is the death of creativity.  I got involved as a distraction from being in a knitting slump.  The problem was, I was so busy distracting myself that I didn’t notice when the slump ended.  The time I used to use for thinking and evolving ideas and designs was wholly involved in considering how I would rearrange my cafe or farm.  The time I would spend talking with my husband was subverted into making sure nothing went bad on the stove in my super duper cafe or rotted in the fields of my virtual farm.  Think about this as you let your kids play these games for hours.  They are powerfully addicting and will stunt a person’s ability to be creative in valuable, tangible ways.

So I give you my latest real, tangible project.  Something that I have to show for my time.  Below is a picture of my Streaming Leaves Lace Scarf made with Malabrigo Silky Marino in Stone Chat.  The pattern is available through Ravelry from Fiber Trends or your local yarn shop.

and

By the way.  Last week I finished the Modern Log Cabin style lap blanket for my sweetie.  A little late for Christmas but close….  I skipped the edging because he didn’t want it.  May sneak one on this spring but it’s okay without it anyway.

Have a great week and thanks for listening.

Nettie

Since we last spoke

Since we last spoke, the truck has been repaired.  We managed to squeak in a camping trip.  The weather was lovely but pretty cold at night. In October I, not to sound negative, got tendinitis and a cold with a pneumonia chaser.   The antibiotics didn’t agree with me but I am trying to move on.

I also got some hearing aids.  When I first ordered them, I felt quite guilty for spending the money.  They are not cheap at all.  However, as soon as I started wearing them I started noticing all sorts of things I wasn’t hearing.  To name a few:  birds outside, conversations inside, and the squeaks in the floor.  I have pretty much gotten past hearing my own voice and am very happy I took this step.  I think I’ll keep them.

Kindle Sleeve in two sizes

This Kindle Sleeve pattern was written to utilize the k1b stitch in a manner that will create a thick protective Kindle Sleeve. Changes are given for Kindle II, (Kindle DX).

Materials

Worsted Weight yarn in two contrasting colors – 150 yards.

Size 6 – 32” circular needle (for magic loop circular knitting). You may also use two circular needles. I have never tried this technique with double pointed needles but it should work for this design.

Gauge – Approximately 3.5 sts per in in K1b pattern.

K1b = Instead of knitting into the loop on the left needle you work in the stitch directly beneath it. Both strands are dropped just like a regular knit stitch. Also described as: Insert the right hand needle into the next stitch but in the row below the stitch on the left hand needle. Then knit the stitch as normal.

1.Cast on 42 (58) stitches with main color and work in k1, p1 ribbing for 1” or desired length of cuff.

2.With CC k2tog, k19 (27), k2tog, k19 (27) – 40 (56) total stitches should remain.

3.Round 3: With MC *k1, k1b; repeat from * around

4.Round 4: With CC *k1b, k1; repeat from * around

5.Repeat rounds 3 and 4 until entire piece measures about 9 (11.5) inches or desired length. Knit one round in MC.

6.Once the desired length is reached, the open end needs to be securely closed. I used the kitchener stitch to graft mine closed. You can also just sew it shut or flip it inside out and do a three needle bind off. If you choose the last method, you may want to do a couple more rows first, since the bind off may take up some interior space.

7.Weave in ends and gently block if you wish.

8.Additional optional steps. As you can see from the photo, I elected to construct a braided cord and attach it around the outside of the sleeve. You could also use an i-cord for this purpose. The first thing to consider, is that this is a knitted sleeve that will naturally stretch from the weight of the Kindle, so you cannot just attach a handle at the opening. Running your cord around the outside of the Kindle Sleeve will transfer most of the weight from the fabric to your cord.

9.Notes on sizing. The Kindle II measures about 11.3” around and this sleeve is not a snug fit. I could not find dimensions for the Kindle I, so you will have to measure yours and adjust in even numbers.

If you wish a PDF copy of this pattern you can get one here.

Enjoy.