Lace, it’s addictive

So, I wasn’t going to blog about this project because it is a Christmas gift.  I’m not sure if I just don’t care anymore or if I’m just wanting to share the pictures.  Either way, I finished binding off and blocking the Traveling Woman shawl yesterday.  I did a full wet block on this shawl/scarf because I really wanted the Malabrigo to bloom.

I used Malabrigo Lace weight in the Velvet Grapes colorway.

Modifications:
Increased to 187 stitches.
Repeated Chart A 4 times.

Blocked to 56” wingspan and 19” deep.

I’m very happy with the finished product.  Plus, it is one more item crossed off the Christmas knitting list.

nothing exciting

So, I’m in the midst of a lot of Christmas knitting, which doesn’t exactly make for good blog fodder.  I’m never sure who reads this, and I am trying hard not to give anything away.  If you are curious, check out my Ravelry project page.  I don’t know why I bother though, since I’ve already blogged about some of the Christmas presents.  I guess I’m just an enigma.  :-)

In totally blogable projects, I’m making H a new pair of longies.  I miss the days of little H soakers that would only take a night to knit.  Toddler longies just take awhile to knit.

I’d like to try and embroider a train on these, since trains are all the rage here at the moment.  I have never attempted to embroider something so detailed though, and I don’t want to get overly frustrated with the project.  Thoughts?  Suggestions on embroidering knits?

For reference, I mean embroidery like this:

Those are from the amazing Storm in the Attic.

Knitting Questionnaire me-me thing

Bold for stuff you’ve done, italics for stuff you plan to do one day, and normal for stuff you’re not planning on doing.

Afghan
I-cord
Garter stitch
Knitting with metal wire
Shawl
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down
Socks: toe-up
Knitting with camel yarn
Mittens: Cuff-up
Mittens: Tip-down
Hat
Knitting with silk
Moebius band knitting
Participating in a KAL
Sweater
Drop stitch patterns
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
Slip stitch patterns
Knitting with bananafiber yarn
Domino knitting (=modular knitting)
Twisted stitch patterns
Knitting with bamboo yarn
Two end knitting
Charity knitting
Knitting with soy yarn
Cardigan
Toy/doll clothing
Knitting with circular needles
Baby items
Knitting with your own handspun yarn
Slippers
Graffitti knitting: knitting items on, or to be left on the street
Continental knitting - I’m very bad at this.
Designing knitted garments
Cable stitch patterns
Lace patterns
Publishing a knitting book – I can dream, right?
Scarf
Teaching a child to knit – Again, I can dream, right?
Knitting to make money – More dreams.
Button holes
Knitting with alpaca
Fair Isle knitting
Norwegian knitting
knitting socks- or other small tubular items- on two circulars
Dying with plant colours
Knitting items for a wedding
Olympic knitting
Knitting with someone else’s handspun yarn
Knitting with dpns
Holiday related knitting
Teaching a male how to knit
Bobbles
Knitting for a living
Knitting with cotton
Knitting smocking
Dying yarn
Steeks
Knitting art
Fulling/felting
Knitting with wool
Textured knitting
Kitchener BO
Purses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching
Long Tail CO
Entrelac Knitting and purling backwards
Machine knitting
Knitting with selfpatterning/selfstriping/variegating yarn
Stuffed toys
Knitting with cashmere -not pure cashmere, that is not in the budget.
Darning
Jewelry
Knitting with synthetic yarn
Writing a pattern
Gloves
Intarsia
Knitting with linen
Knitting for preemies -unintentionally
Tubular CO
Freeform knitting
Short rows
Cuffs/fingerless mitts/armwarmers
Pillows
Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine
Rug -Well, a bath mat that is in progress.
Knitting on a loom
Thrummed knitting
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets
Shrug/bolero/poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair (not on purpose!)
Hair accessories
Knitting in public

Nom nom nom

Homemade Play-Doh

Or- Why Didn’t I Do This Before

So, my MIL sent me some really fun cookie cutters from Williams-Sonoma.  In the comments, there were several suggestions to use them with play-doh.  And recently one of my twitter peeps was extolling the virtues of play-doh with toddlers.  This morning I decided I was just going to go for it, and whipped up a batch of homemade play-doh.  I could not be more happy with the results (both for the play-doh and the toddler).

Completed play-doh all vibrant and happy.

Henry had lots of fun stamping with the cookie cutters.

Note the concentration and the play-doh in his hair.

Seriously, why have I never made homemade play-doh before?  It’s cheap, fun, and easy to clean up.  I probably had as much fun as Henry.

Here’s the recipe I used in case anyone is interested.

2 cups flour

1/2 cup salt

1 tablespoon cream of tartar

1 teaspoon cooking oil

2 cups water

(opt) food coloring (15-20 drops depending on how vibrant you want the colors)

Directions

1. Place in saucepan.

2. Cook over moderate heat for 5 minutes.

3. Mix in food coloring once play-doh has cooled a bit.  Play.  Store in plastic bag in fridge.

Hello

Hi to anyone who found their way over here from JayKayKnits.  I had a terrific time answering all of Jennifer’s questions.  I find it much easier to talk about myself when I have a set of specific questions to answer.

And, if you aren’t a knitter, or just don’t have the time to knit for yourself/others, be sure to check out Jennifer’s Etsy shop!

The shawl, she is finished

I finished knitting and blocking the Garden of Alla shawl on Wednesday.

I’m very pleased with how it turned out.

Pictures don’t do the yarn justice.  It has flecks of silver that just shine in the light.

The only thing I modified was to knit the center stitch through the back loop.  I also did the alternate edging, because the original didn’t make sense to my brain.

All in all, not bad for a month’s worth of knitting.

Yum

Because I have been hiding under a rock (or something), I didn’t find out about Pioneer Woman until recently.

She posted a recipe last week for Sesame Noodles, and that was it.  I had to have them for dinner that night.  A quick trip to the store later and voila!

I thought they were delicious:

So did H:

Shawl is blocking.  Pics soon.

A Sweater. For me!

So, earlier this year I decided I was going to knit a sweater for myself.  I had just gotten done with my brother and sister’s sweaters, and I really wanted to knit something nice for myself.  Not too nice, mind you, since 1- I had never knit anything this big for myself, and 2- I have a toddler.  I decided to knit the ubiquitous February Lady Sweater from Flint Knits.  I chose Berroco Comfort as it is cheap, pretty soft, and washable.

I am incredibly happy with the way it turned out.  It fits great and looks cute!  I really couldn’t have asked for more in my first large knitting project for me.

I meant to post this last week

Time, where does it go?

I had a pretty crafty Labor Day weekend.  A friend came over and we did some sewing. I made a new needle case for my DPNs out of the cute owl fabric.  It is much better than my previous attempt and I even put some felt stabilizer in between the layers so the case wouldn’t flop around so much.

I’m almost finished with the shawl, just 15 or so more rows to go!  I’m trying really hard not to cast on anything else until I get some of these projects off the needles.  Also, it would be nice to have a non-secret project to show on the blog.

In other crafty news, I got a Spin-It kit from the Yarn Pirate.  I’m very pleased with the way the yarn is coming out.  I’ve only ever done super small (like quarter of an ounce) quantities on my spindle, so this is all new and different for me.  It’s also quite different than the spinning I’ve done on a wheel, but I like it.  However, if anyone knows of an easy way to ply on a drop spindle, I’d be grateful, since right now I’m making two center pull balls and ‘holding’ them with my feet while I try to ply successfully.  Steve just laughs when he sees me, and I can’t blame him.