EMBellished Knits

I Love Spinning!

2011-02-26T21:35:00.000-08:00

Today I got to see my friend Donna again!
Here we all are at Luna Cafe!

The Knitting Gang: Donna (Brown in back), Tanya, Kara (Black in front on left), Viki (Green in front on right), Em (if you can't pick me out well...) and Zoe (in the back with the Green on) Brittany is not pictured because she went to work before we remembered to get a photo.

The new idea is for us to go from Coffee House to Coffee House discovering new places in good old Green Bay (and the surrounding areas) to knit. Love the idea. Need a good reason to get up on Saturday and go knitting.

So I have to thank Ms. Tracey S for getting me hooked on spinning!

Last year I got this beautiful spindle and soft alpaca(?) yarn. After Zoe, aka my friend who looks like me, but is so much more talented than me, showed me how to start, I've been spinning like crazy! My new love went underground during the Christmas Season and Winter Break but it now makes a return.

I got some roaving (YES IT IS INTERLACEMENTS) yarn to work on. Since Tracey is a spinner, I decided to take my spinning to work on while I was in California.

I did more spinning than actual knitting (probably because I didn't want to look at that beaded scarf after a day of demos...) I found myself having a hard time keeping the yarn on the hook unless I twisted the yarn around the hook a few times. I discovered that I twist my yarn quite a few times before I add it underneath.

I am pretty proud how I am able to connect two strands of Rovan together. I have no idea how I do it, but everytime I do it, it looks better. My first attempt there was an obvious clump. The photo above is my latest attempt (please note photos could be taken with higher quality if I wasn't so lazy). I'm loving how it is looking more and more natural as I spin with the yarn. My goal is to make the yarn consistent, regardless of the size.

Sadly, my spindle did not last for the entire trip. I make pretty bulky yarn. I don't like spinning really small yarns. Perhaps because I am impatient when it comes to drafting.

I have a few goals for myself for spinning this year:

Spin on a spinning machine. Not sure where to find one of those, but I'd like to give the spinning on a wheel a chance.
Purchase a new Spindle. No problems with that. I'm planning on getting one from this website: Dawning Dreams. I love the spindles and the owner seems extremely dedicated to making high quality spindles. (I need to get paid first though...)
Know how to do the next step in spinning. Zoe bought me a Knitty Knack Thingy for me at Stitches West. I haven't gotten it back yet, but when I do, I'd like to know what to do with it.
Actually make something with the yarn that I made. Maybe a pair of mittens? Ha.Ha. Probably not. Maybe a headband. Something small but something I will wear a lot!
Spin thinner yarn. I love the bulky, but spinning to make thinner yarn would be a new adventure I would love to test out.

Will I make my goals? Let us hope so!

E

Pictures of the New Shurg

2011-02-23T23:08:00.001-08:00

Here are some pics of my new shrug!!!!

Hope you enjoy!

Bulky Shurg: Made with Toasty Toes!

Buttons from Hobby Lobby!

Thanks for looking!
E

Stitches 2011!!!!

2011-02-21T14:54:00.001-08:00

So I finally got to go to California! Katy Perry's explanation of what California is like in the song "California Girls" is not accurate. Instead of sluty girls and melting popsicles in a world made of Candy, we got lots of rain and a nice breeze. During this time of the year it is very common for it to rain and be a little chilly. We were inside for most of the day, but since we are "stuck" here in California we will be getting some quality outside time.

Me with Flair!

I am so excited! It took a lot of work to get here (with the missing school and the affects that brought on me...) but I am so glad I am here!!!!

My weekend started with meeting team Ravelry!

We didn't spend a lot of time at the party because I just rolled into the airport moments before. Tanya and Zoe went with Tracey and I came by myself on Thursday afternoon. After a long night of delays and fog and screwed up Flight Attendants that were rude (at least on the first flight) I was ready to go to my hotel. Little did I know, our hotel, was, the evil, sadistic, Hilton.

Why didn't I like the Hilton? Well, I didn't MIND the Hilton but let me tell you about how to do quality service. First of all, if you have four people to a room and notice that they all shower, you leave enough towels and wash clothes for the people to shower. You don't leave just 2 of each when there are 4 people. Especially if you leave about 16 pillows in the room for these four people who apparently value the amount of pillows they use while sleeping over the importance and consideration of personal hygene. Secondly, when there is a line of 1,000 people at Star Bucks you have more than 1 person behind the counter. It's just common sense. Also, you don't serve people raw pancakes. It's bad for their digestive system, plus it break a lot of health codes. I know that all of these and beyond were bothering my friends; me well, I lived in a hostile for a week and peed in a bucket I had to drag up hill after paying a quarter, so honestly, I was glad I didn't have THAT problem again. HOWEVER, I'm glad we moved. Now I get Free WiFi we don't have to steal, a massage chair and 2 pillows and enough towels to bathe us.

Over the course of the weekend, I went from the quiet little working bee and became the demo-beaded-scarf girl. That's right, I taught people how to string their beads onto their Tiny Toes and New York 200. Sounds like a boring job, but it was a blast!! Zoe and Tanya were talking about how I have this energy that brings people to the booth or something. Honestly, I think they all like the yarn, not the sales rep trying to get them to spend money;) There were crowds and crowds of people watching me string beads to the yarn. WHOA!!!!

Interlacements Booth

It was cool to see people go from not interested in our booth to buying 2, 3 scarf kits. During the day, I used my teacher insight and realized that nobody was fully understanding the process. I was doing the best I could to explain the process, but nothing beats the opportunity to see something fully done. Since I couldn't do that because of lack of space/time, Tanya and I created a YouTube Tutorial on how to bead up the project. If you would like to see it please click here. We made it at about 1:30AM in the hotel lobby so please forgive me for all of my...well...Em'ness that comes with my personality.

Stitches was the first time I was able to feature my cropped sweater. It was made with the Interlacements' Toasty Toes Yarn. I kept on screwing it up at the PJ party because I was well...having a lot of fun there, and it is hard to focus when there are so many things going on.

Here is a pic of me in my sweater. It's a little hard to see. I'll post better pictures when I get home!

Us at the Party!

We had a PJ contest and a slipper contest. I didn't partake in any of them (my PJs were secretly the best and I didn't want to hoard ALL the yarn) but Zoe and Tanya did. Tanya got runner up on the slippers and Zoe didn't place when she should have.

And then the best news...I had the privilege to meet Mrs. Cascade aka Shannon at the PJ party. I explained to Shannon about the 60 Quick Knits Blog.

She fell in love with the blog and asked us to post it on the Cascade website!!! I sent a personal email to her to pass on to other cool companies such as Vogue Knitting:) Success! Yesterday our blog had over 180 hits!!! Brittany and I are estastic!

As I sit in the lounge at the Avatar hotel, I am ready to get my legs a moving and go on a nice quiet walk (or loud one if a friend joins me-either way no worries) Things are going well here! I'm sad to leave on Wednesday, thank goodness we had a few extra days here to enjoy the CA Sunshine!

Until next time!
E

The Art Of...

2011-02-15T08:12:00.000-08:00

WOW! Has it BEEN A WEEK or what?

Last weekend was quite an adventure. Our annual SNC Parish Dinner Dance was last weekend. My friend Brigid and I went hoping to have a blast like last year! It was a lot of fun, although not as many people as last year. Last year was the 40th year the Parish was open, so everybody went all out. There were priests dancing to the disco and the eldery doing the Cha Cha Slide.

Brigid and I at the dance

Francis and I at the dance. Don't I look like a million bucks??

In other news, nothing too much going on, except for that trip that I am taking!!! I am so excited! My friends, Zoe, Tanya and Tracy are boarding the airplane in only a few hours! (While I am stuck here trying to find references and finish up homework.) I packed my bags last night. Last night it seemed that my friends were having issues packing all of their things, but not me. I actually had room in my stuff last night to pack more...but I won't. And I am going to take out some more clothes. I don't need ALL that stuff, after all, I am going to be gone for only a few days.

Since I am working with Interlacements, I figured it would be best to knit with some Interlacement Yarn. I packed ALL my Interlacement Yarn (which isn't much right now) in my brown back pack. I still have some room, which is great because I want to have room for making purchases! I want to buy some yarn I used for my Mod-Cable Mittens (so I can make a mod cabled hat and scarf...although I probably won't get that done for a while because of my 60 Quick Knits Resolution)

I am currently working on a bulky shrug to wear at Stitches. I am almost done with it, except I need to get some 10 or 10.5DPNS to knit with for the sleeves and finish the top with some 2x2 ribbing.

As you can see it is a pretty quick knit. This is the Knitting Pure and Simple Bulky Shrug Pattern. I knitted this shrug with Interlacements (no surprise there) Toasty Toes Turkish Color. I love the feeling of Toasty Toes in my hands. It is very smooth but it is a great "meat and potatoes" type of yarn. All 475 yards of the stuff.

I actually knitted this project in about a week, but because of school and my New Years Resolution, I slowed down the speed I have been working on this project. It didn't hurt that I am too broke to buy my own DPNS. I doubled the Toasty Toe's yarn to make the colors in the pattern look retro. I love the colors although the shrug looks a little TOO purple for my taste (I like warm colors over cool colors.)

That's all for now!

My Ambtion to Knit A Lot of New Stuff

2011-02-09T20:23:00.000-08:00

This week, the only thing I have been doing is starting new projects!! Every day for the past few days, I have been starting new projects. All the projects are from the 60 Quick Knits Book. This is because I am trying to beat Brittany on how many of them I make (actually, that is not true, we are trying to knit the entire book together.) I am probably starting a bunch of knitting projects because I am so excited about how we are knitting the entire book.

Also, in a week, I will be going to California to Stitches West, where there will be tons of knitting opportunities to be seen soon! I'll be working at the Interlacements knitting booth with Zoe, Tanya and Tracy. Tracy and I meet in 2008 at Loops and Links. She was doing a sock demonstration for Shana. I loved the socks. Zoe and Tracy kept in contact over the years. In 2010, Zoe, Tanya and I went to Stitches Midwest. We meet up with Tracy and she invited us to help her with the booth at Stitches West in Santa Clara, California! We have been working hard on prepping for the show! I have done some organizing, modeling and making a sample for the show.

Interlacement Yarns...LOVE ALL OF IT!

Modeling for Tracy! Awesome huh?

I'm loving all of the projects that I have started over the week! Here are pictures of the projects that I have started this week:

#26 Basketweave Scarf

I'm making the Basketweave scarf out of Nashua Creative Focus Worsted Olive Green Yarn. I love the feeling of the yarn between my fingers. I don't like the basketweave stitch because it hurts my hands. I will be blocking this project after I'm done because it is too difficult to keep the stitches in a nice straight line.

#52 Cabled Hat

I'm making this out of Berant Alpaca Yarn. This hat is a work in progress, but it knitted up quickly! Cathie, my co-worker at SNC Parish, asked me to make her something to keep her face warm as well as her head. I love the graph and it is easy to follow! This was the project I was working on during the Superbowl (GO PACKERS!) I'm having such a hard time making the bobbles. I had my friend Zoe teach me how to make them. Thankfully, she's near by so she can help me out whenever I need it!

#59 XOXO Mittens (I'm restarting these!)

I started these in the summer, but quite frankly, I didn't make them correctly so I had to rip them out. Now I am working on the other mitten. I'm using Encore Chunky. Since the are XOXO mittens, they are being made in red, in honor of Valenine's Day.

#45 Bunny Mittens

I'm working on these because I have the urge to make mittens again. I'm using recycled yarn (Nashua Paradise Alpaca) from SPIN to make these puppies...I mean bunnies...

That is all for now!

Don't forget to go look at my other blog that I am making with Brittany. Our blog, Knitting 60 Projects from 60 Quick Knits is all about our adventures in making all 60 patterns from the book! Brittany and I are determined to make the dream come true, so feel free to take a look at it while we are on that journey!

E

Beaded Scarves

2011-01-25T07:53:00.000-08:00

I am currently on a quest to A/make more knitted objects from 60 Quick Knits than Brittany and B/to knit this beaded scarf.

I never knitted a beaded scarf...or a beaded anything before. Tracy of Interlacements asked me to make a sample of it for her. I'm crossing my fingers I can either wear it or have it displayed at Stitches West in February! If I can stop having way too much homework to finish it. I took my knitting to New Orleans hoping to get a little bit of it finished, instead, I built a library and taught kindergarten. (Not that I'm complaining...NOLA was AMAZING!)

This is a picture of the group outside of the school we taught at: Morris Jeff Community School in New Orleans, LA. After we took this picture, I learned the Super Dome is right down the street. My peers weren't surprised, they just smiled and acknowledged that it is true: I really don't always play with a full deck. Nevertheless, they accept me for the Church/Knitting/Missing Crayons in the Box type of person I am:) Plus they think I'm funny!!!

From Left to Right: Tim, Carrie, Andrea, eM, Rachel, Katie B, Brittany, Katie H, Dr. Meidl, Lauren and Noelle. We were outside of the main office at Morris Jeff School on our last day there:( We miss it!

Since we were pretty much full time teachers...the whole "knitting durning down time" turned into eating Binnets at the French Quarter and sleeping in a hostile with 45 other people. Sleep was a luxury and didn't happen for more than 5 hours at a time. Which explains why I didn't knit anything during that trip.

Like I said, great time, just not a lot of knitting time. Hence, I'm behind.

Currently, I'm about a 1/3 way done with it. My goal is to finish before Stitches 2011!!

Before you can start knitting, you have to get the beads onto the yarn. you tape down the beads and then string them on. You normally do this on a hard surface away from dogs. Unless your name is Zoe, then you try to do that on a soft couch. ;)

It takes a long time to work on because there are so many beads to move. As you can see from the picture above, you have your yarn on a big cardboard spool. You unravel the yarn, push the beads back and then wind it back up and knit again. You think you pushed it far enough back...and guess what... you did NOT! Good news though, the more you knit with it, the quicker the bead moving becomes. It becomes habit and you can estimate how many rows you are going to be going through before you need to wind up again. It just takes time to figure out. You become a pro at moving beads and since you use beads in every row, you have less beads to work with as you knit more of the scarf.

Knitting with beads is hard, at least at first. I felt very clumsy while trying to perfect the knitted ridges of the scarf. Now that I have past the decreases, it is a lot more flowing than before. We shall see when I cast on for the other side if I am as clumsy.

I will at least be able to be helpful by knowing how the kit works. I am pretty sure the kit is a popular item from Interlacements. And no offense to California people, but what do you wear in terms of knitting out there? You can't wear wool scarves, so pretty beaded scarves are a pretty safe bet.

Supposedly, solid colors are in fashion this year. At first I was a little discouraged about the colors. Black Tiny Toes Yarn and Black Metallic beads...it's like I'm knitting for my mom again:/ But, I was wrong and love the make up of the scarf. I think it looks classy and artistic at the same time. It's like my mom and my fashion sense combined into one!

This scarf is really pretty and feels great to knit up. You can check out kits to make this scarf at the Interlacements Yarn Website.

Em's Going to New Orleans!

2011-01-05T11:35:00.000-08:00

In about 3 days I will be packing my bags and heading down to New Orleans with 9 other Education Students and 1 Professor. We are pretty excited to go down there! During my stay, naturally, we will be focusing our time and energy on teaching at a Post-Katrina School. Tim, our trusted communications member will be our blogger during our time on the trip. Please feel free to read about our adventures for the week in our updated blog found at this link:

http://educnolatrip.blogspot.com/

Please read and enjoy!! We are so excited for our trip and are thankful to SNC Education/TRIPS for providing this rare and wonderful opportunity!! We hope to make an impact on the lives we meet, as we hope they make an impact on us!

E

Now That I Have a Break...

2010-12-30T13:08:00.000-08:00

Me and my family enjoying our Christmas!!

Now that I have time to actually enjoy my Christmas break (i.e. no needing to rush into any church or go to any school...) I have time to enjoy my knitting and blog about it once again. Yippie!

My most recent knitting adventure consists of the Mod Cable Mittens from Jeanne (Sourire11 on Ravelry).

The yarn I am using is from Stitches 2010. It is called Zitron Opus 1, 100% Merino and organic. I bought the yarn after falling in love with it and the knitting pattern at Stitches 2010. It was the first purchase I made on the Saturday and I did not regret purchasing it! I made the first mitten during the Jeopardy Freshman Day at SNC but because of my schedule and everybody's love for Waffle Mittens, I did not have time to make mitten 2. Now, that I am done with living in either the Mulva or Resurrection Catholic Parish/Old Saint Joes' Parish. I want to make something for myself for a change.

Other knitting adventures include the famous Sharon Socks.

A few years ago my mom was trying to find somebody who could restore a Christmas tape that she made the year her father died, back in 1974. She wanted it perserved on a CD. Sharon's son, Matt does that kind of work and was telling me she wished she knew somebody who could repair her socks she got from her grandmother. It was her last pair of socks and she was sad because they kept her so warm. I launched a plan, I would call Shana from Loops and Links (does anybody remember when we used to go there...ALL THE TIME because it was so COOL???) and took her sock making class. Three class times later, I walked out of Loops with a Sock Pattern, free Marble Worsted and sized 6 DPNS. Ever since that Christmas, I have knitted socks for Sharon. This year, Sharon got Interlacement Toasty Toe Socks, which was the first project I worked on with Interlacements. It was the first pair that got finished with more than 6 hours before I gave them to her.

Finally, I took one more break from 60 Quicks Knits and knitted Spruce Tree Mittens for a girlfriend in class. (I won't specifiy her name because I am not sure if she gave them to her sister yet.)

I loved the yarn. I have no idea what kind of yarn I used. She gave me a skein of yarn that wasn't marked. It was a beautiful Alpaca Pink yarn. I have not found this yarn anywhere, but perhaps I will one day. It beats the cotton yarn I am using to make the Very Cabled Mittens for Tammy. (I heart Tammy but I can't stand cotton!!!) I have to say, I was not happy with this pattern. The knitting pattern was difficult to follow and the thumb was the strangest design ever. I didn't get the right mitten correct and had to end up adding more stitches to make the cabled designed not looking like it got yanked over a few rows.

Finally Tim's siblings gave me plenty of yarn... Red Heart Green and Red, Vanna's Choice and JoAnn's Sensations: Kashmira Pattern.

I will be making an Xmas Stocking out of the Red Heart Yarn, but not for a while. I have idea what I will do with Vanna's Choice. I think I will be making interchangeable mittens with the Kashmira Pattern Yarn.

Other than that, I have been scrapbooking and cleaning the craft room!!! I hope you all had a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

E

The Flip Tops Are Done...The Waffles Return!!! Alpaca Dominates!

2010-11-24T20:02:00.000-08:00

I am so excited to be done with these mittens!!! They took a long time because I had so many issues getting the yarn. My client wanted alpaca mittens, but the problem is the brown did not match what she wanted. Therefore, I had to switch yarns. I got Persia Nashua yarn. Beautiful Alpaca wool that softens the more you knit it. It was truly the best yarn for this project. Thick enough to make the knitting go by fast, thin enough to be warm and stay within the correct gauge. Now all I have to do is add the buttons on them: which I will do over the weekend. Since the next shopping day is Black Friday (and I avoid that day like the plague) I have to wait until the people stop shopping like nutcases to run to JoAnns to go get wooden buttons.

In the meantime, I am currently working on Angie's Cable and Twist Mittens from 60 Quick Knits. Angie, like Kate, has great taste in yarn; she also wanted something soft and durable. The first word I thought of was well..Alpaca!! Angie's mittens are being made out of Misti Alpaca Worsted. I need two skiens, and they are pretty nice. I'm very excited to work on these. I knitted about three rows under the gusset! Today, being it Thanksgiving, I plan on finishing one of the mittens today.

I want to finish these mittens this weekend because I will be working on yet another pair of Waffle Mittens for another classmate of mine! The good thing about this pair of mittens, is I have to make them within a week of Christmas. Once again, Melissa choose an Alpaca Berant yarn. It is a beautiful deep pink. If I can start them on Monday, I can then finish up A/two pairs of mittens and B/Sharon's socks.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving! More to post soon!!!

No More Waffle Mittens...Until NEXT YEAR!!

2010-10-26T10:45:00.001-07:00

I am so excited today!

I finished Lauren's Waffle Mittens! Now I can start working on Tammy's Mock Cable Mittens...SWEET!!! I love how so many people love them, but I want to knit more than just Waffle Mittens. I mean there will forever be an indentation in my 60 Quick Knits book, but it is time for me to move on. I'm so sick of them. I did realize that I have been making the mittens wrong this entire time. Originally, the mittens are supposed to be K 2 rounds then k2, p2 for two rounds. Instead, I did k all for 2 rounds and then k1, p2. That's cool though; it's my own variation of the design. It makes my projects more unique.

More Waffles!

Lauren was very pleased with her mittens...and they fit her perfectly. Call me strange, but whenever I plan on making mittens for anybody, I always measure their hands. This way the mitten customized. I normally don't have any issues with the hand itself fitting; it is the thumb that I worry about. There have been a few times where the thumb did not fit correctly, resulting in the yarn either stretching or being too big for the person. When knitted objects aren't made to perfection, people don't wear them. That makes me sad. I would rather see people wear their knitted goods than paying for them. (Don't get me wrong, I do charge, but it's probably not as much as I should charge. It's more of an incentive to finish the knitted project.) When people are wearing EMBellished Mittens...more people want them! That means two things: more knitting and $$$!

So for these new mittens I am making... they are from my favorite book: 60 Quick Knits: 20 Hats, 20 Scarves 20 Mittens from Cascade 220.

My New Project! So Excited!!

They are the Cables & Striped Mittens created by SpillyJane. The only downside to making these mittens are that Tammy is requesting me to make the mittens cotton...and not just any cotton...Lion Bran Cotton Fleece...probably one of the hardest types of cotton for me to work with. I am going to keep an open mind though while I knit them: hopefully it won't be too hard on my hands.

Sugar'N'Cream...

In other news, I am almost done with my Bulky Flip Tops. I ran out of Nashua Persia Yarn and have to pick some more up on Sunday. For some reason, I used more brown than white. I think it has to do with the fact I used brown for both the thumb and for the cover of the flap. Now all I gotta do is finish the other mitten and attach the mittens and they will be done!

Bulky Flip Tops!

That is all for now! Keep looking back for another exciting entry of EMBellished Knits soon!

E

Yarn Purchasing, Forever Waffle Mittens

2010-10-18T19:58:00.001-07:00

Well I finally did it...the room is clean! All organized of yarn! It's pretty damn exciting. All of my yarn is now recorded in my Ravelry account. It took me over a week to really get the yarn all organized and what not. Now that I have purchased enough yarn for an entire state to knit for, I'm going to lay low on the purchasing yarn for a while.

However, sometimes it is required to purchase yarn. And I am okay with that.

I never really had any confidence in myself with knitting--actually scrapbooking is the only skill I have any true courage in. Somehow, in someway, people still want me to knit for them. This is always a very exciting adventure. Right now I have two clients, both girls I go to school with, that are paying me to make mittens for them!!!! One pair is the (dreaded only because this is pair 6 this year alone) Waffle Mittens from 60 Quick Knits...the other...the Bulky Flip Top Mittens!

Sixth time is the charm!!!! Casting on to make mitten 2!

Mitten 1 still needs a thumb!!!

The Waffle Mittens are being knitted on Nashua Creative Focus. She wanted a color that showed off the pattern but yet wasn't too light or dark. I had a hard time finding the perfect yarn for her. In the end, I made my boyfriend Tim stop at Iris Yarns in Appleton so I could purchase a skein for her. So far I am not disappointed in the yarn. It sometimes plies and has that mohair look towards it. Yet it is soft and warm. I'm shocked by the fact, despite my 2 month vacation from Waffle Mittens, I still have the pattern memorized. I'm really excited though for Lauren to get EMBellished Mittens. Everybody really needs mittens in their lives and I'm glad people turn to me for them!!

This was also the first time I tried Crystal Palace Double Points. I'm not a fan, they are small and for some reason feel like they take forever to knit. I am going to still use the Crystal Palace for the second mitten for Lauren, but the next pair of Waffles I make (I have another order!!!) I am going to use my Clovers again.

The Bulkly Flip Tops...well...finding THAT yarn was also an adventure! I needed something that would benefit Client #2. She requested for Alpaca, but I knew if I got 100% she'd be paying me about 40 bucks for a pair of flip tops. I couldn't afford to float out the money anymore than she could probably pay for it. However, at the very last possible yarn we could find in Spin, I did find a wonderfully soft Baby Alpaca, Wool Blend from Nashua. It was a divine miracle we could find it! It is really perfect! Reasonable, but soft and washable. I am using 2 skiens of Nashua Paradise for her mittens. I'm most excited to make the Bulky only because it is a new pattern to work on. I haven't used too many patterns outside of the 60 quick knits book in a while. Also--I used this lady's pattern's before and loves the way she writes them!!! I urge you to pick up your own copy of any of Jeanne's work (Sourire11 on Ravelry) Jeanne also wrote the pattern for Mod-Cabled Mittens, which I bought yarn for in particular in Chicago for Stitches Mid-West.

As for the rest of my life...well schoolwork is still dominating it. I pulled an all night adventure at the Mulva Library on Tuesday Night/Morning because of my Resource Binder. I turned that in on Thursday and was on a party-scene binge for two days. Now I am back on track... to find out we have another big project due in that class!!! When will the work ever end?

I was able to sneak out to knit at the library this weekend, but it wasn't the same as my Wednesday night knitting group...sometime about the smell of coffee is just missing there. That and comfortable chairs. Thankfully Zoe helped me feed that addiction in Door County the next day. We saw Kasey Jean Hembel's Route 66 Art Show. I got two photographs, both beautiful and has that KJH mark on it! Zoe and I are going to come back up on Halloween for another DC adventure (maybe we can get the third Mousekateer to come along;))

FOREVER WAFFLES!!!!

Until we meet again!
E

A Week Looking Up (in Terms for Yarn)

2010-09-07T08:28:00.000-07:00

So I had the best Sunday ever!

I went up with Tanya and Zoe to do some work for Tracy. While Tanya and Zoe had the pleasure sorting through knitted garments adding buttons and price tags to them, I decided to take up the master task of organizing Tracy's dye collection. This was not an easy task. Tracy was explaining how she always wanted her back shed organized. Zoe and Tanya looked a little concerned, but I smiled with delight. Hey, I am going to be a kindergarten teacher one day, I HAVE to be organized otherwise I'll never make it as a teacher...you know? So I yanked out the label maker and got to work. I learned a lot about color as well as how dying actually works.

I got to see all the undeyed wool and learned about which undyed wool with what colors becomes what yarn for Interlacements. Many of Tracy's yarn are named after states such as Kansas, Hawaii, Alaksa, Colorado etc. (Sadly there is no Wisconsin...WTF!?!?!) This truly inspired me to consider dying my own yarn one day after I fulfill the dream of graduating from a school with a degree...which I hope to do in May 2012!!! But a girl can dream right? Dream big is how things happen! And who knows-- maybe I will get to choose the colorway and dye with it for the yarn Wisconsin--ha.ha! I learned that it takes different dye to dye different types of yarn. I worked on fixing up the Wool dye, but next time, I'll be hammering away at fixing up the Cotton dye. I cannot wait. We are going again in a few weeks.

Believe it or not, I'm more excited about fixing up the back of Tracey's garage than pricing garments. Pricing things is not my tea, however, I did have the chance to price some things. I felt that they were pretty decent prices; we shall see how much they sell at the Sheep and Wool Festival next Sunday. I wish I could go--but naturally, I, being a Church Musician, have to work.

By the end of the day, I was stating to tell my friends which dye was made for which yarn. I got to take home 2 skeins of Kansass, a skien of New York and some random yarn that Tracy claims was poorly dyed (I've yet to see how it was poorly dyed--it is so beautiful). I showed my boss which dyes were used to make which yarns and she thought I was nuts...but that's normal for her to think;) I have been holding it in my hands while watching Family Guy for the past two days. I wanted to call my girlfriend Brittany up before I would wind up the yarn (she likes to watch me wind yarn) but I couldn't wait for her to become free so I wound it last night. My parents have been concerned about how much I am obsessed with this yarn. My mother thinks I need a new hobby, but when I mentioned to her I all ready scrapbook, knit, blog, do photoshoots, work 4 jobs and attend school full time, that I do need my downtime even if it consists of holding balls of yarn and watching Family Guy.

My knitting friends had a chuckle about it too... but I had the biggest chuckle of all--on the way home I blew my nose and Emerald Green came out---two days later, I still got Emerald Green coming out of my nose. I laugh. I hope next time I get some shade of blue!

E

This Isn't Exactly About Knitting...But It is About Something Else I Love

2010-08-31T20:13:00.000-07:00

I love music. With my whole head, heart and soul. Music has a deep meaning for me. When I was a kid, I had a very hard time expressing myself. Music can express how I'm feeling, many times better than I personally can. I've played piano all my life. I started flute in 5th grade, but kind of fell out of it in college. I started organ at the age of 14 and have been in love since.

I try very hard to not let idiots get to me, especially when they are ripping on my music. It is sad that I work for TWO parishes, and I hear so many negative things about how I play. Sometimes, yes I truly deserve to get picked on (like the time I was chewing gum...that was just dumb on E's part.) However, I have been picked on for tempos, my experience for playing and very recently, for being "too close" to the cantor. Sadly this is a realization of church life that musicians must get past.

I may not be the absolute best piano player out there, but I try very hard to do what I do well. I can only hope that the people I work for appreciate the hard work I put into all forms of my music.

It is a shame that not all my friends have always taken an interest in my music. At UWGB, many of my friends never heard my music. It wasn't until my friends Nina and Mark got married did some of my close friends from UWGB even hear my organ talents, however they seemed very impressed, so the wait was surly worth it. And who knows, a few of them aren't married yet;) And it wasn't until I dragged my poor knitting friends to the worst venue to play at (known as the Village Grill) did that group of friends get to see another side of me as well.

I love my grand pianos...

So I decided to post a little of my music up on my blog here so all my good friends can listen to my music. My good friend Joe Stawicki and I have an obsession for Christmas Music. I know that sounds strange, but we like to go into the practice rooms and do some Christmas duets. One of us will make up parts while the other will keep the melody going. We take turns so we both have the opportunity to do both parts.

Probably the Best Slideshow Ever...

My other friend, Brigid, agreed to help me record some Church music for my mom for her birthday. We recorded 10 songs in 2 hours...we were both very pleased with our music too. To see that slideshow/music please go to this link:

Blest Are They

Finally, I recorded some of Nina and Marks' wedding music with Maggie Walsingham on vocals. (Let's face it--no matter what Jennifer McAllister says, I do not, will not, and can ever not be an amazing singer. I have other gifts God has given me, but singing is NOT one of those...) This is the link to the slideshow to the Wedding with music!

McCormick Wedding: The Prayer

Anyways, I hope you enjoy my music!

E

Best Idea Ever!

2010-08-28T16:28:00.000-07:00

So sometimes I don't always think things through when it comes to knitting...

This used to be a disaster...

Some of the most simple problems that I come across are solved by my friends. I tend to panic and refuse to experiment with my knitting. This is because I'd like to do the project one time and one time only. I hate making knitting mistakes because that will result in me traveling over to the Yarn Whispers' House anyways...so I might as well do it right away. However, I will say to my defense is I am TRYING to experiment first and then ask for help later, you aren't going to become any better at knitting if you don't try new things first!

Anyways, one of my biggest downfalls is the fact my yarn tangles up all the time! A few weeks ago, I casted on with some beautiful lace merino wool from JJ Wool. I was quite content making my lace scarf, however, the more I knitted with my JJ Wool, the more I realized how similar it was to my James C. Bertt Marble Chunky in the fact that the yarn tends to felt on itself leaving me (and when I mean me, I mean go over to Zoe's house) to untangle the mess.

It wasn't till I went to Stitches Midwest where I met my dream come true.

The Fibersphere!!!!!!!!!

It really is "The Ultimate in Fiber Protection"

I really wanted one...but the problem was, my money was budged out to other expenses, therefore I could not purchase my own Fibersphere. Naturally, my other friend purchased her own. I decided I would eventually purchase something like the Fibersphere to help prevent me from getting all tangled up in yarn. Especially with this JJ Wool. I would knit a row and then what do you know...it would get all tangled up...AGAIN and AGAIN and AGAIN!!!

I was walking around the market on Saturday and the owner of The Fibersphere asked me if I was ready to purchase one yet. I didn't have the money to pay for one. The kind man agreed to a haggle and I purchased the Fibersphere for 10.00 instead of the usual 20.00...if I agreed to blog about my fibersphere experiences.

Well here I am putting up my end of the bargin. Let me tell you, since I have started using this Fibersphere on my JJ Wool Lace Scarf, I have had NO PROBLEMS with it! I repeat NO PROBLEMS! The yarn stays in its little ball and it can hop into my purse or bag ready for knitting at anytime. I can actually spend time knitting on my scarf instead of untangling yarn (or getting my friends to do it for me.) The best part of this tool is you can take your project out of it anytime...without cutting the yarn!

Why didn't anybody think of this before?

Truly the most magical knitting tool in existence! I am excited that I can complete this scarf in a timely manner because I won't be spending all day untangling yarn that decides to felt up whenever it damn well pleases!

BUY ME AT YOUR NEXT STITCHES TRIP!!!!

Please purchase one if you have the chance!
E

Stitches 2010

2010-08-22T12:32:00.000-07:00

I finally went to a Stitches Convention!

I've never ever been!

It was the best weekend ever...I won about 4 balls of yarns, 60 Quick Knits Book, a tote, some pins and a few new friends! I got mega-inspired in a few new techniques; needle felting and bead knitting. Of coarse I bought some yarn as well, my mother was not too thrilled about the amount of yarn that I brought home. Little does she know that I did not bring all of my yarn home yet. My two friends Zoe and Tanya brought some of my luggage home because we couldn't carry it on the commuter train.

If you have the chance to check out a Stitches Festival (or any other festival) you should!!! (Although I'm quite sure that most of the people that read blogs know this all ready;0)

My favorite part of the trip was the PJ Party. The party took place on Friday night. Zoe, Tanya and I did our best to dress up in a creative style so we had a chance at winning some awesome door prizes! Turns out that Tanya ended up winning first place in the crazy PJ contest with her sweet Monkey PJs! I got runner up with another gal. I was wearing an "I <3 style="text-align: center;">Zoe, Me and Tanya, sitting in the lobby wearing our cool PJs!

We got to meet two nice ladies: Sue and her daughter(?). We knitted with them for a while before they returned to bed. Then we got to meet Kimberly, who was hosting the knitting party! She showed us how to spin yarn spindle. I was quite impressed. But nobody was as impressed as my friend Zoe, who was very intrigued. Turns out the next day, we were at a booth and the owner sold Zoe her last spindle with some free Rovaine on it. Very cool!

See, it kinda looks like a rock???

As for me, I decided to try some needle felting. I went to Esther's Place and did a demo project. I made a rockin' (no pun intended since it does look like a rock) I "felt" finally my art skills were coming to use in my knitting. I purchased a flower felting kit later that day for only 15.00. I needlefelted in the lobby about an hour after the purchase...I just couldn't help it!

In conclusion, if you can, go to Stitches! And who knows...maybe something good will come out of it!!

SWEATER=DONE!

2010-01-10T21:17:00.000-08:00

ALL DONE! I am so excited!!!! Isn't it absolutely positively gorgeous!?! I am so proud of myself I am going to give myself a pat on the back!

Isn't it beautiful? I think so! It's the perfect length! What makes it even cooler is...it is beginning to be too big on me! So I can smuggle into it even if I have multiple layers on beneath me:)

It took a long ass time! According to Ravelry, I casted on to make this beautiful sweater almost an entire year ago. The actual date is Jan. 16th, 2009 and I finished the beautiful monster today, January 10th, 2010. :)

I remember working on this thing thinking, "I'm never going to get this little _)#@($#@)$# done!" I remember Shana holding my last ball of yarn after finding this marble chunky out of pure luck. I remember Donna helping me make the hoodie part of the sweater while Zoe helped me fix my magick loop needle problem on the sleeves. This is the one project I feel really REALLY good about! Everybody and their mother says it's a beautiful masterpiece. I hear Nancy going "mmmmmhmmmm yummy" about this sweater.

It wasn't that I was lazy, I remember dragging this thing all over town, to all the UWGB Basketball games, the car trips I would take, in between masses, Loop Group, FNKC, etc, etc, etc. But after awhile, st st gets a little tiring. The project gets to be a little heavy to carry around...and well...all those other pretty yarns just look too tempting to start working with. Oh and that craft fair that I did this year! ...all too busy to really work on anything else! So the sweater had to be resurrected after I finished all those Xmas Gifts and other stuff! After all, it is national knit for ME month!! :)

Now that it is done, what will I do now?

...cast on another!?!? Muhahaha...not for a while at least:) I have no money so I need to save up and buy another big batch of yarn to make this hot sweater again!

Here are the buttons I am planning on sewing onto it!
Toggles? Good idea huh? This photo is not from my personal collection but it will do the trick just the same!!! I am going to need Nancy to help me sew these things on! I always sew on really shitty-like buttons. And quite frankly, I've worked hard on my knitted sweater! So therefore I am NOT going to mess it up by having shitty sewn on buttons!!!

That's all for now...back to knitting!

E

The Devil of a Scarf Known as Noro/FakeNoro=Done

2010-01-06T23:14:00.000-08:00

Look how LONG this thing is! Ahh! It took me three times to get a semi-decent photo of me with this long, long, scarf! It is about seven feet long!!!!!!
A close up of the awesomeness of this scarf. Did a little editing to make it look cool.
These two photos show the colors and intensity of this very long scarf. This scarf is great to keyhole because it still has length plus the width makes this scarf a very warm and happy scarf!

Finally, after MONTHS of knitting, knitting, knitting (in garter stitch no less) and striping, striping, striping, the wait is finally over! YES!!!! My scarf, the famous Noro/Fake Noro Scarf, which is over 7 feet, is done!!! It took long enough. About three months in the making, however, I can finally wear it proudly in public. (Instead of knitting it in public.)

I really enjoyed making this scarf. It was great to do something completely mindless. It was a great project to take on the road because I never had to think about this project. That is, until I made a mistake. I knitted four rows of one of the colors. I was upset because I didn't notice this error until about six or seven inches past. I didn't want to tear it out so I kept going. Only problem is, everybody kept making comments about it. (That and the fact that "The one at the Yarn Shop has RIBBING. Oh excuse me, I don't do everything the yarn shop knitters do. I am an individual at times!) Thankfully, Barbara gave me an answer. She told me to keep on doing that every so often. So I did that. It was a blessing in disguise. I now had something to look forward too.

The only thing other "difficult" thing I had to do was switch yarn back and forth. Sometimes that got frustrating because the yarn would get all tangled up. I struggled many times with trying to make sure the yarn didn't get all caught up I hated the damn thing in my bag because the yarn would take up all my knitting bag's space.

However, as of 1AM today, the thing is done. I can now wear it tomorrow when I go buy a pair of Kakhi's with Niki Sinkula.

Sundae Hat

2009-12-27T21:30:00.000-08:00

...it has been quite a while and I apologize. Instead of having the opportunity to write about my knitting experiences I have been knitting like crazy. This is my most recent knitting experience. It is a Lisa and Kate Beret Hat. The yarn used is Sundae Yarn From Berroco. It contains a bran new knitting stitch known as the modified Linen Stitch. At first the stitch looked like crap, and I was quite worried it would end up as a disaster, but after doing a few rounds (stuck in a car in Packer traffic) I was able to finally see my pattern working!!!! I decided to not cut the strings in the yarn and just tie them behind each other instead. The inside of the hat won't ever be seen by the outside world (it's not a reversable hat!) therefore, it won't be a big deal there is a wounded up strings of yarn inside my hat. My one worry about this hat is that the brim won't hold up. I am thinking of getting some ribbon to help tie the hat onto my head...or something. I won't know until I have finished the hat.

That's all for now.
Peace out.
E

Cash Register!

2009-01-14T21:34:00.000-08:00

After some minor training I was able to learn the cash register at Loops & Links!!!

Doesn't this look [semi] natural? [Nobody will ever replace Shana but hey, I look pretty awesome behind this thing!]

New Blog Look---Purse Exchange!

2009-01-13T07:38:00.000-08:00

I finally was able to change the way my blog looked! I will not touch my other blog (Teaching Em) b/c that one took forever to get it the way I wanted to. So I will leave that one the way it is forever and ever:)

I also wanted to talk more about knitting for others... but in a good sense this time. Below are pics from our First Annual Purse Exchange from Xmas 2008!!! From left to right: Julia, Jean-Marie, Myself and Vanessa at Barns and Noble the Wednesday before Xmas:) HO! HO! HO!

Our purse exchange required thought into creating and knitting/crocheting our purses. This means that we made purses for our buddy based on their personality. We had to spend between $20-25 (for a decent purse that's about how much you have to spend anyways) and we had to purchase the yarn at Loops and Links (our favorite LYS!) It was a great success.... at first I had no idea what to make for my person. I got my friend, Jean-Marie, however Jean is picky... I always kept thinking of that lime green and black scarf that she kept wearing so I eventually decided to make her a green and black felted purse. Although the purse ended up very cool looking I had to give it to her quite wet because I felted it earlier that day [and forgot to blow dry it!] Ooops! Julia's purse was a jean purse to fit her "comfort" personality, mine was a school teacher purse to fit my "childlike" personality [the girls insisted that it was the "Em[ma] acts like a big kid instead of the negative side of things, aka being immature] Jean-Marie got an alien bag to fufill her "science fiction" and Vanessa got a bag based on her favorite colors. All and all I think that this party was a huge success and I believe we will be doing this in the near future, hopefully with more people involved [anybody wanna knit a purse for next Xmas??]

Here is what each of our purses look like up close and personal

Julia's Purse [from Vanessa]

My Purse [from Julia] [note the hat I am wearing, I made it myself!]

Jean-Maire's purse [from me]

Vanessa's purse [from Jean-Marie] [Jean-Marie also made that green sweater Vanessa is wearing last summer while she was Europe!]

Aren't they amazing???

Next year we are going to do this again---it was a quick and cheap way to give our friends a gift without worrying too much about what to do.

Updates!!!

2009-01-12T22:27:00.000-08:00

Check out my videos in my blog Teaching Em!

Don't Wait... Finish Those $&#*@)&$# Sweaters! [No Matter What!]

2009-01-12T20:15:00.000-08:00

The guinea pigs are squeaking again... they are singing to each other this time, I am so happy about that. Somedays those two don't get along. When Pickles and Peanut finally get along, I smile. ANYWAYS----->Today's knitting adventures were small for me. I finally resurrected the "Somewhat Cowl" (see left) sweater from over a year ago. Funny story with that sweater, I was knitting it when I met my {ex} boyfriend A.J. I wanted to finish it and wear it on our one year... well we didn't even make it to six months. It was really cool that we did hook up on leap day... but that's all. below is a photograph of the sweater length when I met him. I worked very hard on it and then after he dumped me I putted it away in my yarn collection...never to be made again. Then I found how I had a full "looper" card (20 bucks of yarn at the cost of $0!!) and I realized I wanted to spend money on yarn and get something useful out of it. So I picked up the rest of the yarn that I needed and went home to work on the sweater. It was hard to find out where I was but after some fixing I got myself to the boring part. Boy I found how important it is to take notes on your projects and finish them in decent time frame. This is because you will forget what you did! I know I did. I am looking at this bolero, (see below, I'm sure you all remember that pic, it was featured in a few blogs ago:)) it is a beautiful bolero, made with Freedom Wool Yarn (same brand as the Somewhat Cowl's Sweater but in brown) but I don't remember what I did to the sleeve, it looks different from what it should be, so now i have to figure it out. Geeze I might have to rip it out and do it again.... not fun. Thankfully this green sweater that I am working on is simple, it is a top down sweater so I just need to knit, knit, knit until I am to my waist. Knitting on a size 7 in the round for many more inches will take sometime, so thankfully I don't have to worry about alternating the pattern until I am at that point;) Moral of the story: take notes on your knitting and follow the instructions to the T as much as possible! They are there for a reason;) It makes sense, yet I fail. That' me you know, I try to do something different b/c I am convinced it will be eaisier and then things are actually harder. Why do I do that to myself? I also hope I don't come across as "preachy" b/c I am trying not to be. I like to rant to something, and what better way to rant or reflect or whatever but on a blog!!!!

Knitting for Other People [Who May Not Like/Appreciate Knitting]

2009-01-11T10:42:00.000-08:00

Knitting for others... what a pain in the butt! I love to give other people gifts (even though most of the time I am not receiving any gifts from my friends, I feel bad for not showing how much their friendship means to me in physical form)! The downside is knitting for people who are demanding me to give them a knitter object. That is the most frustrating part. For example, my mother. She takes out the ruler and gives me the dimensions for a SCARF. A scarf shouldn't have excat dimensions---after all it is going to go around your neck and sit there. Who cares what it looks like? Well she does---and since I live with my mother I get to hear the classic---SOOOO Emily... how is my *insert project here* going? Between school and all of the other things I do, it is really hard to do anything in a quick fashion. Thank goodness knitting for friends is usually more forgiving. For example, my friend Nikki wanted not one but TWO scarfs, however since she gave me the yarn she hasn't asked about them, most likely because she trusts that I am getting the scarfs made. My other buddy Corey, was a little less forgiving than Nikki, I kept hearing about how he wanted his sweater made ASAP---making a really long sweater is hard, but making it custom fit is even harder---but now that I have done it I will most likely do it again... but not for Corey;) I had another friend, Nina who got my first felted pot. Oh it was so awesome! I loved it a lot but I had nothing to give to her for her bday so I gave her my cherished treasure, when I was in her room a year later (for Frightfest) I found the pot in the trash in the corner of her room! I pointed it out she looked really embarassed and she stashed it the corner again! :( I was very sad. Stupid ass me made another pair of mittens for her and another friend, Kasey... I never saw them wear them. That broke my heart, especially since I was really working hard on all of the projects above. I decided only people who really appreciate knitting are going to receive my hand-made treasures. For example, the hat to the left was a gift for my brother girlfriend's children, Daisy and Ella. When I gave her the hat she was so appreciated. She gave me a thank you card and said the girls wore their hats quite often. How sweet! I know I'm not the best knitter in the world but people who don't wear my knitted objects are in an akward position: they don't like the knitted object and don't want to hurt my feelings, or the color doesn't work etc. I know that it is hard to be nice to a friend that appreciates something that you don't...still I feel you should pretend sometimes and wear it... but that's me. Oh well. Thankfully there are friends that DO appreciate my knitting. Above is a pic of me with two red mittens, I made them for my friend Julie (Corey's girlfriend and boy are they cute together!) the look on her face when she saw those mittens were made for her, it made my day! In a way that was my gift from her! Even my other friends were envious of those beautiful mittens. They were a quick project but yet they were long enough to put some thought into them. They were to her liking and I know she will be wearing them frequently. It not only has to do with the color I choose but it also has to do with the fact she crocheted a blanket... probably one of the biggest blankets I have ever seen. So I know she appreciates the mittens... and that makes me happy. The moral of the story is: some friends are good people, but don't appreciate knitting. Knit for those who appreciate hand-knitted gifts, and for those who you aren't sure, just knit a hat or a really quick scarf (like the Yo! Drop it! From the Stitch'N'Nation book) because it really does hurt when they make that face at you and then your gift gets tossed in the corner of the room!

Visiting Jenni+Bringing a Pattern on a Greyhound

2008-12-30T16:19:00.000-08:00

Off to MN...

I am going to MN to visit my best friend for New Years! This means that I have to take something to knit on the way up...I am working on some socks. After all they are the easiest to knit on a trip, especially when all you do is just simple rounds for hours and hours in a car. That way you don't have to struggle with reading patterns or following a chart...gr. Last time I took the DJ bag up with MN and worked on it for an extensive time, it wasn't too hard to work on because there was plenty of room, but since I am going in a car I wanted to have something smaller and less difficult and more familiar to work on...but don't fret...I am working on a chart for the ride home, when I am on the greyhound for 8 hours...gr.

Happy New Years!

Making Things Look Like Becky's Work [aka AWESOME!]

2008-12-26T14:04:00.000-08:00

Finishing...

It is so hard to finish any of my work! I get really frustrated that I take a lot of time purchasing, planning and knitting beautiful patterns but when it comes to finishing anything, geeze do I stink! A few months ago I made a beautiful bolero to wear at my cousin's wedding. However, the DAY of the wedding...IT FELL APART!:( I wish I had a few tips from experts on creating clean edges to give hand-made garments a nice finished look.

The image abore are fingerless mittens that I am making for my friend Julie. According to her boyfriend, she loves red b/c it is the "colar of passion," It took me some time to make these beautiful mittens, but finishing them is a nightmare. Little pieces of yarn stick out of the edges of the top of the mitens and the top of the thumbs. I also get a big bump at these locations too.

Last but not least, to the right is a baby hat I made for a co-worker. I still can't get

that finished look, but to be honest, it looks cleaner than the mittens that are photographed above. This time around I used a crochet hook instead of a needle. I used longer strand of yarn at the end and weaved it in quite detailed into several parts of the hat. I also used a crocheted edge around the brim of the hat.

I once met a lady who owned Bella Lana Yarns that when you sew up edges you need a loose edge, such as a slipped stitch edge. When I make my next sweater I am going to slip a stitch before I knit (or purl) the row...and slip one at the end of the row before I turn around and start over again. I am hoping that this new technique will make my edges look smoother. :)

Happy Knitting!:)

Sweaters Take Forever to Make!

2008-02-26T20:48:00.001-08:00

My latest knitting sprees have consisted of 1/2 sweaters and 1/2 a pair of socks or mittens. They are quite exciting. I have neglected the knitter blog and I apolgize!!! It has been...wow...a year??? The current sweater I am working on is from the Freedom Spirit Wool Catolge. I am quite impressed with the book. It is one of my favorites, the only downside is it takes FOREVER to make anything!! Although I have been getting a lot better and sitting and working at something. My knitting has gotten a lot better, and more even. My first sweater took some literties, after all it was my first sweater. I broke some needles and cried a lot...but now it looks wondeful!! I can't wait to wear it again! (I need a new blouse because is wayyyyyy to short...I don't want people to see my fat crawling out of me;))

I still go to Loops and Links quite often. After all, they have THE BEST yarn, but tomorrow I am going to adventure to Patti's Yarn Shop. I never went there and I always wanted to try it out. Just to see what the place is like. Hopefully she has Freedom Spirit Yarn:)

That is all for now.

Nina+Mark's Gifts [and Sharons too!]

2006-12-22T22:13:00.000-08:00

to my right: Nina's Glove...pattern from Stich'n'Bitch Nation! I didn't use the cabeling pattern due to shortage of time. Galway Wool from Loops and Links was used to make this glove.

Above: Mark's glove for Xmas, from Broccos', wonderful pattern! The easiest pattern for gloves I have come across, no I-cord and no I-glove...both which are very evil and hard to do if you are just starting out on dpns and venturing into gloves. Yarn presented is Benard's Cami yarn.

The one to the right: my very own glove pattern, made for one of my co-workers at Resurrection

Mittens!!!!

Fun stuff to do!!

Many people shy away from mittens/gloves because of the big scarey thumb! I say the hell with that!! it's so soo col see a thumb just pop out of nowhere!! But don't get me wrong, they can be tricky animals at times though becuase every hand is different. I recemmend tracing the owner of the mitten's hand on a piece of paper. This way you always have their measurments without a bunch of random numbers floating around. I made a few mittens. I have been making them for xmas gifts.

Knitting on straight needles may cause one to have a seam, but they aren't as bad as one may think. A little tip I learned, knit 3, add marker, k1 m1, k1, add marker and knit the rest of the row. on the other side, knit all the stiches except for the last five, add marker, k1, m1, k1 and knit the last three. The seam ends up on the side by the thumb...and it's easier to sew up because all of your sewing is in one area. Most of my mittens take only about an hour to make. And they look cool on both straight and double pointed needles.

Double pointed needles are fun to use too. I would recemmend using bamboo or wooden dpns, becuase they hold the yarn better!! No seams at all. If you have the knowledage/skill to use them I would! I hate sewing seams up. If you don't sew them up right you get a big buldge and it sucks majorally! I always get my friend Jean-Maire to sew them up becuase she is the whiz at sewing seams.

My new pattern! Pattern number two!!

Emmy's Mittens:

100% wool Galamore Yarn 210 yards
1 skien, unless doubled

co 25 stiches
k in garter stich for three inches
next row: k 3 add marker k1, m1, k1, add marker
k in st st m1 after knitting first stich after marker, increase on right side only
contuine for two inches.
Place stiches on a holder, k for 2-3 inches, depending on the lengh of your pinky
k2, k2tog, k rest of row
p every other side
k next side
next row: k2tog
contuine in this pattern from * to * under mitten is as long as your hand.
cut at 12 inch tail
k stiches on to a 'dead' piece of yarn, pull stiches tight and tie off, sew up

Thumb:
k 3 rows in st st
k2tog k rest
p wrong side
repeat until length desired,
cut 6" of yarn k stiches in them and pull tight
sew up

for the other side: k 20, pm, k1, m1, k1, pm, k3 and contuine as written

Celebrate you are done!!!

Purses as Gifts!

2006-08-13T19:40:00.000-07:00

Purses as Gifts!

The girls! From left to right, Angie, Myself, Niki and Michelle. Angie and I visited Niki and Michelle. Up here I got to see the purse complety done (I was unable to sew up the seams so I gave it to her to do)

Purses as gifts is one of the greatest ideas around. Today pureses are so...well...they change quicker than the colors of a camalion. We all have our own perferences for purses, and we don't always have that option to purchase that perfect purse...so in my mind...make one. That way you can have excatly what you want for a purse.

A good friend of mine is in LOVE with Fall Out Boy, just adores the music, especially Pete Wenzel, the bassist. So, my best friend Jennifer and I decided to make a purse with Pete on it for her for her b-day. Using inspiration from Debbie Stollers' Pattern "Poster Boy" we were able to complete a very beautiful purse. In order to avoid sevearl problems that were comming up in our orgional purse we recemmend the following for any purse making experience that includes using pics on front!

The Pete Purse!

How to make a great purse! TIPS!

1/wrap your yarn every few stiches if you use intarisa! Otherwise it will be too tight!
2/use singlar needles instead of double pointed...at first that seems crazy but then u are only dealing with one side.
3/FELT this! Sew it all together and then put it in the washing machine. Becuase u are using felting, use a size biggar needle to get a bigger purse...:)
4/make the straps thicker than you would origionaly think. These straps were only 13 stiches long...make them like 20. That way they are extra strong.
5/use the photoshop recemendations, but if you can't get a hold of them, use graph paper to do the dirty work

I am looking for photos of William Beckett to put on my purse:) I am hoping to make it large enough so I can felt it and create a beautiful creation...again! In the meantime I am working on several other projects, including a cami for myself! I wish everybody the best of luck on their projects! Please let me know if you come up with anymore purse suggestions.

Emmy

Charity & Group Knitting [Both Very Fun Yet Can Make You Sleepy]

2006-08-09T22:11:00.000-07:00

Charity & Group Knitting

From Left to Right: Vanessa, Julia and I in December. We are missing four members Alyssa, Jean-Marie Tanya and Jennifer Together the seven of us make up the Stich'n'Bitch Green Bay Chapter

My prayer shawl! I was told that I
made it too small when I showed the group my final piece. I told them that my shawel was intended for a young person who has a form of cancer.

Groups are fun! We have a local chapter of our Stich'n'bitch. We hold it at Barnes and Noble every Tuesday. Here we not only learn about each other's lives but we also learn about new techniques and we are there to help each other out...even if one of us decides to go crochet on us! We welcome them with open arms!

I think the kindest thing to do is to do some charity. Everybody needs charity in their life...otherwise the world would indeed be very greedy. All across our Nation there are Paryer Shawel Miniseteries. These types of groups work for those who are sick. There are also Chemo Caps for those who have Cancer and etc. I think that these are great programs!

Well being the advicate knitter I am, I went to our chruch's prayer shawel ministery (I also work here as an organist) I was inspired to try a knack at knitting...I was pretty excited to do it! Well...I got there and there were two crocheters--they were not found that I, Emmy, queen of knitting (they knew I adore knitting) was crocheting! God forbid! They had the nerve to tell me that a knitter should not corchet and therefore my prayer shawel would never be helpful for anybody!

I laugh at these people!

Then there was this lady at the LYS (local yarn store) who's granddaughter was only 1 years old and had cancer! How horrible!!! Here was this girl who was only a year old living with cancer while two ladies over at my church told me that my prayer shawel isn't "holy"!

So, when you are at those knitting groups here are some tips to keep in mind:

1/If anybody be littles you for your expertise (or lack of b/c u are just a beginner) gently remind them that they were once new themselves.
2/If anybody says "knitters can't corchet and crocheters can't knit" ask them how do they know!?! (and if they ever met Debbie Stroller, who has done both?)
3/If you are ridiculed for having cheap aryclic yarn, tell them that it isn't the dollar amount it is the time and effort put into the piece.
4/If somebody who has more expertise points out a mistake tell them this: "It's not a mistkate it,s the character of the shawel! My Shawel/chemocap (etc) has attitude just like you!"
5/You can always change groups...there are a lot of groups out there!
6/Start your own! Get your friends into knitting! College Campus have knitting clubs everywhere! Look at the LYS, even if it s a Hobby Lobby
7/If anybody calls you "unholy" or "unworthy" for talking back/defending yourself at one of these Shawl Places, tell them that only God can make that call.
8/Even if it isnt your best work, the Church will not make fun of the shawl, they will appreciate your help. The sick person will appreciate the shawl (and if you are really self-consious you can either frog it or give 2 a blind person)
9/Only help when you are asked at these places...unless you see somebody heading down the path to hell! (this is true in your LYS, chances are if you look like a knitter they will ask you for help anyways. And then u feel good!:))

NOBODY deserves to live with the snobbery of the knitting world. I can't tell you how many times I have been to Hobby Lobby (not to pick on Hobby Lobby, it's a great place) and somebody will smerk and go "oh look college kid trying knitting" when I have been knitting for three years (and probably am just as good as them!) I have had a lady apprach me telling me I shouldn't be purchasing a bunch of needles and random balls of yarn...that's just wasting money...esp since I was a beginner and I was a college student. Truth was, I was actually teaching a knitting class that night (and I got reinversted too so I wasn't wasting my money HA!)

Truth is, it doesn't matter what level you are at...the most important part of knitting is the spirit of it! Keep it alive! Don't let others bring you down, those haters are everywhere, from the asiles of Hobby Lobby to the local Prayer Shawel Group.

Emmy

2006-07-29T11:03:00.000-07:00

This is part two of the double feature blog today, please refer to the previous blog before you read this one:

The pic to my right is one of my favorite pics with the hat!

The far pic to my right was the one I used for when I was auditiong for the fourth Home Alone (JK-but they should have stopped after the second one. The third was would have been considered cute IF the first two were not created. But I am serious here, there are four HomeAlone Movies out) I was having a hard time incoporating the entire winter set into one pic but this is my most creative way of including all three for now.

NOTE: At the time I took the photos in the pink I did not have the materials to add the pom-pom. That is why I retook photos in the yellow shirt. (the shit that says Panic! At the Disco...great band!)

See how the hat doesn't cover all of my ear? This is even after I did add rows before I competly shaped the top. But as I said before, add about two-three more rows of cabeling (so the hat is about 7 inches) before you shape the top. The hat will fit so much better.

Even though I had several issues with the Jellybean hat it was worth the time! I recemmend using the pattern becuase it was very creativialy made, the only down fall is and will always be the failure for the creater to make the hat long enough to accomdate everybody's needs.

As for the mitten set...do NOT use The Knit this Pattern and Insturctions Everything You Need to Knit book. Then again I have had several issues with this series of knitting materials.

The hat scarf and mitten set is a go!

~~~Emmy~~~

2006-07-29T10:07:00.001-07:00

I am very sorry it took me a while toanother blog! It has been crazy at my house. My mom and dad drive me MAD! They think that knit way too much! Haha, truth is, I probably do.

I am having the hardest time post more pics than one so I will post more in a following blog. For now this is a pic of me with the hat.

I made the hat from Debbie Stroller's StichnBitch Nation (the pattern is called Jellybean Hat) The hat is very cute and very popular with whoever saw the hat. And while I am I true devoted fan of Debbie Stroller, I do have several problems with the pattern that I used. First of all the knitter did not make her hat long enough. The Jellybean hat does not cover your ears if you follow the pattern excatly! I had to extend the length of my hat after I decreaed several times (and since there is cabeling in it, it would have been maddening to frog part of it) Before you decrease I recemmened repeating the cable pattern until the hat is about seven inches long! It will save you some grief. Notice how the hat doesn't compelty cover my ears! If you want it to cover your ears make sure you have abot seven inches before you start to shape the top of the hat. And I also rememmend adding the cute pom-pom on the top; it really add spaz to the hat.

I used Knit This Patterns & Instructions pattern to make the mittens. The problem with this pattern is that the seam is on your palm, which isn't very comfortable. My first attempt with this pattern I somehow made the seam on my left side but I don't remember how I did it! Currently I am working on a pattern for mittens on straight needles (for those who want to make something new without learning how to work on double pointed needles) with the seam on the side of the mitten. In the meantime, I highly recemmed using a different pattern than the one I used for the mittens.

The scarf pattern I created myself. This scarf is HUGE but it is a very cozy scarf. It also doesn't take that long after you learn the pattern. It took me about four hours (with a lot of stopping)

Big Loop Scarf:
Total Length: 70 inches (without tassels)
about 100 inches (with tassels)

Yarn Used: Jo-Ann Exclusive Sensations Life 45% Wool 42% Nylon and 13% acrylic approx 44 yards

Size 15 or 17 size needles
1 Crochet hook size K or up

CO 10 stiches
*k2, yo 2 times* rep from * to end

Follow Knitting pattern:
Row 1: **k2, drop yo stiches** rep from ** to end
Row 2: *k2, yo 2 times* rept from * to end, strech out yarn

Repeat row 1 and 2 remembereing to strech out yarn after row 2 until piece is 60 inches CO.

Tassels:
Cut 40 strips of yarn that are approx 20 inches long. Fold two pieces over and attach with a crochet hook.

Enjoy:)

2006-06-23T15:58:00.000-07:00

More Tips For Double Pointed Needles:

For those who are still confused here are some things I found out after posting the first blog. These are things I've never seen written down in a book, so be prepared for some awkard twists!

When you are casting on cast on one more stich than necessary, then when you knit for the first time, slip off that stich to your right needle (saying you are right handed) and then knit your first stich and then drag your first stich over and drop it inbetween the two needles, as if you were casting off

Whenever you are knitting the first stich make sure you end with a purl on each needle. If you purl your first stich on your new needle you will add a stich. If you get to the end of one of your needles and you have to purl next, simply slip another loop onto that needle and purl it. Then switch needles. YOU ONLY HAVE TO DO THIS FOR THE FIRST ROUND

When ribbing your own pattern, try to stick with k1, p1, trust me it is a lot easier than k2, p2. Especially if you have uneven stiches going on.

Attempt not to panic when working for the first time with the needles...pratice pratice PRATICE is the virtual key!

I'll be posting pics sooon about each of these techniques. Give me about a week!

~~Emmy~~

2006-06-19T17:16:00.000-07:00

Hello everybody! My goal here at Emmy's Knits is to post new things about how to knit, you know the cool tips that the books do NOT teach you about. Today's topic is about double pointed needles...the most misunderstood kind of needles in the market!
Here is my first set of double pointed needles! They are Bolye size 9. After sevearl hours of attempting to make something I finally did! I am very proud of this! It isn't very hard, just try to remember to keep your needles from twisting. When you cast on, cast on all stiches on one needle and then divide them up by adding the loops onto a different needle by slipping purl wise onto all of the other needles.
Also make sure you try not to keep the dpn in that perfect triangle becuase you will never get around the first time. What you see in the textbooks is just tyring to show you how the yarn looks on the dpn. I thought that what you excatly see in the text books is how you should hold the needles. Best idea is to hold two of the needles as if you were knitting with straights and sticking the other two/three needles inbetween your fingers on your left hand (if you are a right-handed knitter). This is a little aquard at first but the more rounds that you do on your neeldes the more weight will keep those other needles in shape and far away from you.

Best of luck!

~~~Emmy~~~