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

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

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)

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

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!

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

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!