Posts Tagged ‘Knitting’
Knitting Catch-Up
Posted on: August 5, 2009
Whew. It’s been a long time since I can actually say that I’ve had this much time on my hands. So, what better way to fill some of it than catch up on some much (sadly) neglected knitting projects!!!
As I was updating my ravelry projects, I realized that I had never posted a number of prior knitting projects on here on my blog …. so without further ado, here they are!
Here’s a hoodie scarf (aka Grown Up Bonnet from Knit 2 Together) that I made & gifted to my mom (*gasp*) for Christmas 2007!!! Geez. Guess knitting took a back burner once I started working in the agency world. The hoodie scarf was made out of Berroco Ultra Alpaca in a lush black color.
Here’s my mom in the purple Solaris sweater that I made for her for the very same 2007 Christmas, posing with her mom. This was officially her birthday present, since her birthday is on Christmas Day! The hoodie scarf was a part of her Christmas present. The sweater was knit in Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino instead of the suede called for in the pattern.
Here’s another view of mom in the sweater flanked by her god-daughter (my cousin) Kim & her older sister Candy.
Yup, that’s me modelling the grey Pimlico shrug from Knit 2 Together that I loving re-named the grey “Jersey” shrug after our beautiful Jersey who passed as I was halfway through this project. It took a long time for me to pick it up after she passed, but finishing it was very theraputic. I made a few modifications to the pattern, none of which I quite remember now – but overall, I “shrank” the pattern a bit in order for it to be a little more snug, since I recalled reading that many people who had made this pattern before complained that it turned out rather large. I used Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran in a very light “Jersey” grey to knit this up.
Here’s a few more shots:
Lovely Leaf Lace Scarf in Progress
Posted on: August 5, 2009
Here’s a quick shot of my latest knitting project that has been keeping me sane while I wait for my architect to get me the latest set of drawings for the bakery build out (more on that to come soon).
So far, I’m a little over 1/2 way through and have completed the first half of this beautiful leaf lace scarf from purlbee.com. Figures, that I would find a free pattern from a shop that was around the corner from my first NYC job at Scholastic. I think I’ll have to pay them a visit next time I’m in the city. I so love Ravelry for making it so easy to find such awesome free patterns without having to spend 5 gajillion hours online scouring sites through google!
Brea Bag in Progress
Posted on: July 1, 2009
I’ve been working on a small hobo bag for a long time (on very tiny needles with single strand worsted weight yarn), but I felt the need to swap projects and make something quick and easy. The need to have a FO is just too strong these days! After some hunting around online to see what the perfect project would be that used some stash yarn, I decided on the Brea Bag using a black ultra alpaca yarn that I love. Here’s the back piece I finished last night. (Please forgive the photography – it’s just a quick shot from my phone!)
Every time I make a piece I learn something new – and with this I *finally* learned the difference between K2tog & SSK. I know it’s just a small thing, but it definitely makes a difference!
I can’t wait to finish this up this weekend …
LYS Closing! :(
Posted on: October 12, 2007
My favorite LYS, Yarnware, is closing it’s doors this month … 
I got a letter in the mail yesterday announcing a special sale to the inner circle of customers and friends, so I did what any respectable knitter would do … immediately headed over!
The store was already picked over, but here’s a few photos of the stash I grabbed:
A slew of Debbie Bliss cashmerino aran in silver gray and navy, enough Berocco Ultra Alpaca in red to make a sweater for me, a few more skeins of Berocco Ultra Alpaca in Black and white (to make a secret new awesome project), a few skeins of Berocco Hip Hop, a few worsted weight wool in brown (to make some christmas monkeys), and some cotton skeins in brown, blue and creme.
A close-up of my splurge on the Berocco Hip-Hop (I fell in love with the color) and the last skein of Jasper (How could I resist a yarn named after and in the same colors as my favorite cat?!)
My knitting companions checking out my new stash. Jersey is a definite lover of all things yarn, as you can see here 
Breast Cancer Awareness
Posted on: October 1, 2007
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and in order to do my small part, I’ve made a pink keyhole scarf that I’ll donate to Lisa Spodak for raffle at her fundraiser event later in the month. The pattern is based on the Windy City Scarf designed by Jennifer Mindel that appeared in Debbie Stoller’s Stitch ‘N Bitch book, slightly modified as I used a cashmerino yarn in one color and created a slightly wider scarf (the photo has the scarf folded in half lengthwise to look more like the breast cancer awareness pink ribbon).
Breast cancer has affected many women close to my heart – brave women who shouldn’t have to go through this battle – but will until there is a cure. I’ll continue to donate to foundations like Susan Komen and the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer and hope you will find it in your heart to donate what you can too.
Tom Teddy
Posted on: September 28, 2007
Pattern: Best Friend Bears, by Joan Haigh & Patricia Wulff
Source: Interweave Knits Gifts, Holiday 2006, p. 68-71
Materials: 2 skeins of Debbie Bliss cashmerino aran in color 300101 (90m/50g), size 5 straight metal needles, size 11 straight metal needles, embroidery needle, scrap black worsted weight yarn for nose, teddy “snap” eyes, polyfill for stuffing and scrap worsted weight green yarn for scarf
Size: Small bear-sized … ~1′ 2″ tall
Timeline: 9/16-9/28
I’ve been wanting to make this bear since last Christmas, and I finally got around to it and was pleased to discover that the pattern was not all that difficult. I did make a few changes to the pattern: I used a soft cashmerino wool that I had in my stash (which I picked up for 1/2 price this summer!), I knit the bear on size 5 needles, I knit a nose directly on the bear instead of knitting a separate piece for the nose to stitch on, I used teddy eyes instead of knitted eyes, and I didn’t “shape” the ears since I like my teddy bears’ ears puffy. I also opted to make my own scarf with some leftover yarn – just a simple 10 stitch garter stitch scarf made on size 11 needles – instead of making a sweater. I may attempt to make the roll neck sweater given in the original pattern at some point, but at the moment I like Tom as is 
Disappearing Act
Posted on: September 25, 2007
I know that I don’t have many loyal blog readers, and at this point, being that I have not had any substantial posts in over a month, I can understand why.
Exactly a month ago, I was shocked to discover that my husband just quit his job on the spot. No two week notice, no notice period, nada. At the time, I was very much in shock, as I am sure he was as well. He had talked about doing it, but since he had talked about leaving his previous job where he stayed on for seven years, I never really thought he would actually do it. Surprise! Yup. Surprise.
Being the good wife that I am, I was wholly supportive of him leaving a soul-draining job working for a bi-polar bitch, but hell … I had put up with months of that myself before I found the job that I’m happily in now. As miserable as I’ve been in some of my other positions, the option of leaving before I found something else was fairly non-existant. I think I instantly went on freak out mode money-wise, since quitting right before August was probably one of the worst times he could have picked. All our most expensive bills were due – taxes, car insurance, post-bday-party amex, ugh. We managed to get everything paid on time, but are no longer on the path that I had planned. No extra mortgage payments … no extra savings for my future bakery … no more shopping trips … no more trips to the organic grocery store – we were on super frugal mode. Buy what was neccessary and nothing else.
I honestly never thought that at 30 I would be put in the position that my mother has always been in as the sole money-maker in the household. Growing up, my mother was always the stable one, while my father had more jobs that I can count. For the past seven years, I don’t think my father’s had a job longer than 3 months anywhere. For the most part, my parents just skate by on my mom’s salary. She, like me, makes enough to live on, but really not enough to justify her spouse sitting home not bringing in another income. Savings for retirement – HA!
So needless to say, things were pretty tense.
Luckily, (yes, there is good news!), I was so busy with SweetElement orders, that I didn’t have time to dwell on our financial situation all too much. The extra cash was a nice boost too. But as you can imagine … between commuting, work and baking every night … I was pretty much running myself into the ground. Throughout August I created some great portfolio building pieces and also had some excellent exposure in my friend Derek’s show in the Fringe Festival. It’s almost as if the pastry gnomes were taking care of me – “As long as she’s got her hands in the flour, sugar and chocolate … she’ll hang on.”
I’ve was also extremely fortunate to be insanely busy at my day job and surrounded by some truly awesome friends there too. It was difficult though when I caught a free moment and started to think about eveyrthing on the home front. I felt at times like I was teetering on the edge. It was stay strong or completely melt down. There were no tears at work – although it was close. I couldn’t bear to actually put down my feelings into words because I knew that would just put me over the edge … thus, my disappearing act.
And now?
I am happy to report that Jay is employed again as an IT consultant at NYU, we received our fairly hefty Homestead rebate check, and our finances are slowly getting back in order. I am still working through SweetElement orders as they come in, but nowhere near the level on insanity I was working through in August making petit fours. I had a brief stint last week where I thought I might have actually found my commercial bakery space … but that didn’t pan out – the timing just wasn’t right … so I am still at my day job and banking all that I can so when the time is right I can make the switch – all on my own dollars and cents.
In the meantime, I’ve been knitting up a storm – lots of FO to post soon … and experimenting with recipes both savory and sweet with mixed success. I won’t even go into the family drama that has been brewing in the CT horizon, but let’s just say that it ain’t pretty and it’s a big ol’ storm.
I’m hoping that now that things are back to “normal” – whatever the hell that is – I’ll be able to be back to my own swing o’ things and will be able to post again often on all the various aspects of the life that makes me, Me.
I shall leave you with the following image o’ the day …
Jasper Q., the stripey who always knows how to make me smile,
on what was supposed to be my first striped felted BAG,
but has ended up being my first felted cat lounging pad
