Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Episode 31

Episode 31 Shownotes

Stock Socks with afterthought heel.
SpinningFates Etsy Shop
Knitpurlhunter Afterthought Heel Tutorial 

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

What can I say? She is thorough.




Jason’s Tweed Hat
Broken Rib Cowl
Men’s Socks for Giving Away
600 Monsters Strong For Connecticut - Playyard Yarnoverss
600 Monsters Strong For Connecticut - Knitabulls


*****1 Eleven Craftalong*****


1 Designer - Hannah Fettig/Knitbot

Eleven Months - (12/18/2012 - 12/15/2013) to any knit any item designed by Hanna Fettig/Knitbot.

Prize:   KnittingsMyBag 2012 Cardinal B.A.M. Kit

bv83-1kpqy7.jpeg
(pattern is included but not shown in pic)

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Favorite Things September 2012 Part 1

 
Shownotes:

KnittingsMyBag

 Halloween B.A.M. Kits
Thursday, September 27, 2012
6 a.m. PST / 9 a.m. EST

Included: Halloween Themed knitting bag, a skein of custom yarn dyed by SpinningFates, an exclusive shawl pattern designed by Wendy of the Knitonehearttoo Podcast, stitch markers and More!

Price(s):
 Superwash Merino Kit: $60.00 (including US shipping)
 Merino/Cashmere/Nylon Kit: $64.00 (including US shipping)
(International shipments will be indicated in the listing)
There will only be 24 kits in the Superwash Merino and 12 in the Merino/Cashmere/Nylon base

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Episode 23

Shownotes:

Daybreak by Stephen West
Yarn:  SpinningFates "Totally My Colors" in the Toula Base and Shibui Staccatto color #1900

Piper's Journey by Paula E.
Yarn: Madeline Tosh DK Fig and Madeline Tosh DK Saffron

Also Shown:

Cakewalk Yarns "Sprout" in the Footsie base
Knittingsmybags Bags

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Episode 19


In My Hands:
Mallory Hat - Quince and Co. Chickadee - Storm, Twig. and Chantrelle
Day Break - Spinning Fates -Totally My Colors  and Shibui - 1900

Under My Needles:
Makeup Brush Roll (I am linking a better tutorial than the one I used)
Rosy Wedge Bags
Pillows

Aspiration:
Penelope the Monster
Dinner in the Eiffel Tower shawl
Rebecca Danger Sewn Monster
5 Fat Quarter apron

Wow:
Pioneer Woman's latest cookbook

On My Tablet:
Craftlit Podcast
6 Week Mindfullness audio tutorial
All the new (and not so new) knitting podcasts can be found here


Nick's News:
Amineko Crocheted Cat

Knitting Circle:
Support and Respect

Podcasts:
Sittin' and Knittin'
Joanie Knits
Single Handed Knits
Multicraftual

Friday, July 27, 2012

SEW not Knitting ...

About a month ago, I got a brand new sewing machine. My machine is a Singer Curvy. I went for a week without touching her. Now, I can't keep my hands off of her. I can't say that I love sewing more than knitting or crochet. I can't say that sewing come easy to me. I can't even say that I can sew a straight line. I can say that sewing has presented a whole new, addictive challenge for me and I am excited by it. Sorry knitting, you just have to share these hands.

I quickly grew tired of making pillows. So, I made a box bag. This bag is the product of at least 5 blogs and 1 YouTube tutorial. Zipper $0.25, Fabric - Less than $2.00, my first zippered project = Priceless!



This precious showed up in the mail a couple of days ago. It will be the prize for the Sacred Skein Craftalong! Isn't she pretty?  Cakewalk Yarns Sprout colorway.


What to sew next? Well, more zippered bags. This bag is a modified version of this free pattern.  I made the bag longer and used fat quarters on the inside. I am not completely satisfied with these babies but they will do. I will get better with practice,practice, practice.

Sew now what? I have patterns for an apron and an Ipad holder (that will fit my tablet). Fun times!

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Episode 16

Patterns:
Wendy Johnson Summer Solstice Mystery Shawl
Sedna
Piper’s Journey

Yarn:
Madeline Tosh DK
Catnip Yarns Kona Bare
Garnstudio Drops Alpaca

Podcasts:
Joanie Knits
Let’s Talk Knitting Podcasts
Single Handed Knits

Monday, July 9, 2012

Episode 15





Congratulations to all of the winners of the A OK Craftalong!!

Crochet
Gulliver the Gullible Woozle Wuzzit
Window Pane Square

Knitting
Piper’s Journey
Summer Solstice mystery shawl

Podcasts
Craftstash
Joanie Knits
The Playyard Yarnoverss
Let’s Talk Knitting Podcasts
Sittin and Knittin
Yodafatkitty
Knit Spin Farm


* Knittingsmybag Where In the World Contest
* Joanie Knits Rebecca Danger Monster Swap Round 2 Sign ups

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Episode 5

Patterns:

Pom Pom Peds
Bev's Newborn Roundie hat
Socks with Pints
Christmas Stocking Pattern by Cascade
Spectra

Podcasts:
Craftstash
The Playyard
Fiber Dreams
Joanie Knits
 



Sunday, April 22, 2012

Episode 4

 

A  O.K. Craftalong!! 
Start Date: April 22    End Date: June 30
Rules:
1. Must be a member of the Positively Knitting Podcast group on Ravelry
2. All items must be knitted with Acrylic or a yarn withAcrylic content.
3. Enter as many items as you like in the pic-only thread for the Craftalong.. Please post a separate pic for each item if you wish.
4. Items can be started prior to April 22 but must be completed between MAY 1 - JUNE 30.


Patterns:

Chadwick
Pom Pom Peds
Bev's Newborn Roundie

Charity:
Hats of Hope

Podcasts:
Moonie Knits


Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Show AND Tell



 Show AND Tell is where I talk about yarn. My recent trip up to Northern Califorina, and down south to Claremont with Lois (Knittingsmybag) are featured. I couldn't label everything the way that I wanted. My computer refused to cooperate. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me!

Saturday, March 31, 2012

Episode 1 - Feels Like the First Time



Patterns
Chelsea the Chatterbox Monster
Contrast and Complement Shawl
Spectra
Crocus Sweater
Chadwick

Podcasts:
Wolfe Farms (episodes 2-32 are my favorite)
Knit Psycho
Retro Lemon
Knitabulls
Sock Bunny Knit and Fit
Just One More Row
Knitting Brooklyn - Remembering Remy

Tools:
Needle Felting Tool
Knittingsmybag Bags

Thursday, March 29, 2012

On the Road With LoLo!!!

In mid-March, I went on a road trip/ yarn crawl with my girl Lois, a.k.a. Knittingsmybag, a.k.a. LoLo. If you haven't had the opportunity to shop for yarn (and fabric) with a good friend then, may I suggest, you plan to do so AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. Our mission: Hit as many yarn stores as possible in 2 days between Santa Clarita and Solvang, California.

First Stop. My LYS, Creative U Studios located in Santa Clarita, California. Is it bad that they know me by name? You are right. It's a good thing. Lois was so organized. She printed and brought the patterns that she need yarn for. I, however, just flew by the seat of my skinny jeans. Lois left with a bag of happiness that included, a skein of Cascade Heritage Sock yarn AND skeins of Berrocco Vintage. I left with 1 skein of Aslan Trends Tango. Amanda, the owner, recommended that we go to Roxanne's in Carpenteria, California. Since it was on the way to Santa Barbara, where Lois had procured a very nice hotel room, then we just had to visit. Lois was happy because this was a store that I hadn't been to.


Roxanne's was as charming on the inside as it is on the outside. I think Lois and I may have touched EVERYTHING. Lois ended up with a couple of notions pouches, yarn, and retractable tape measures. I may have taken home a tape measure or 2 and fabric. Yes, fabric. I have a problem. I think now would be a great time to tell you that Lois is the ANTI-ENABLER. She kept telling me, "Is there something in here that you absolutely CAN NOT live without? If so get it. If not, put it down." I on the other hand just told her to GET IT ALL!

The Loop & Leaf  located in Santa Barbara, California was next on the GPS. It's just so quaint.



I left with 2 skeins of Shibui Sock. Lois left with Loft by Jared Flood in the most calming of colors. Our finds are destined to be Daybreaks. We both gifted ours to people and want Daybreaks for keeps. Lois liked making the pattern. It wasn't my favorite to knit but I did love the end result.

That's all for now. I am planning a new kind of journey for myself and I need to work on that today. I PINKY SWEAR to post the rest of our adventure tomorrow.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Bah Hum-bug

I can't stand Valentine's Day. Never liked it, never will. However, HalfBakedKnitWit's sent me the BEST Valentine's Day Card on Ravelry. The cool thing is that this card could be used for any occasion. Just cross out the (hated) Valentine and insert Anniversary, Baptism, Birthday, Christmas, Divorce, Retirement .. etc. 


Happy Tuesday!  I hope you find happiness, joy, and love in EVERY DAY!

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

there IS a season


I am a lace-less shawl lover. They make me happy. You can take your fancy “yarn-over twice” and your fussy “purl 3 together through the back loop” and your stupefying “knit through the last two stitches on the 5th row below your work on your left side” and stick them, ugh, somewhere. Give me garter stitch! I want to “make one left” or “make one right” before or after the stitch markers – and that’s all I have to do on that row! If I want complicated, I will just work on a shawl where I carry up a color or two!

Hi. My name is Nicole. I am a wife. I am a mother. I home-school. I don’t have a maid, chef, butler, or scrubber of laundry. I do my own stunts. My day and the greater part of my brain power is dedicated to the domestics. Whatever is left over is used for knitting. I don't want to be challenged by whatever I am knitting (too much) nor do I want to be bored by it. Enter STIPE STUDY SHAWL. It is purrrrfect for my needs for this time of year. 



The other day; as I was trying to juggle helping the son with fractions, switching loads of laundry, throwing some genius concoction in the crock-pot, and mopping the cold tile floor; thoughts of summer flooded my mind. Ah summer. No kid (he goes and spends lots of time with his dad). No school work. Less Laundry. Less Housework.  Ah summer. Once my husband leaves for work, I am left in my own company. Evenings upon evenings spent in lovely alone-ness. What should I knit? I could totally knit another hemlock. That’s when I realized:

The season for knitting lace is summer.

I wonder what’s the season for enterlac?

Friday, January 20, 2012

Consider Youself Reminded

This is a reminder to not to buy into what the "nobodies" say, do, blog, write. Place no value on meaningless definers of greatness or lack thereof. Especially Itunes reviews, blogger reviews, podcast reviews, Ravelry dislikes, Ravelry negative remarks (nothing worse than an angry, mean, knitter), lists, and plurk karma.

Lessons learned as children hold true as adults. Sticks and Stones. Words are just words. I give no weight to the harsh words of virtual nobodies. For all I know, they could be some kind of unhappy, schizophrenic, dead beat parent, animal beating, psychopathic, child hating, fun killing, drug addict, alcoholic, homicidal, (insert the worse kind of person here). Seriously. Think about it.

Here's another remider:

I laugh every day. Every single day of my life there is something to laugh about. My son, my husband (funny), my friends, my animals, my mistakes, my tears, my yarn, my knitting, my crocheting all make me laugh.  I am happy (or crazy.. you don't do know you.. LOL).  My happiness is mine. NOONE can take it from me. I own it.


This made me laugh yesterday. I laugh every time I see it. Both the Daybreak and the boy in this pic make me proud too!

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

2 Knits

I am making the Half Log Cabin Ombre Blanket by Purl Soho. I love it. I am using Cascade Eco Duo despite the well received advice of Amanda, owner of Creative U. I am making this for me and I deserve to be wrapped softness. My husband thinks he is going to get his grubby self in this one. I don’t think so (insert eye rolling and head bob). I am on the second panel. There are 9 total and each uses just one skein of yarn. Ah, garter stitch.I honestly love it. I could go on about it. I have, to people who look at me as if  I have truly lost it - for real.  





You wanna know what band wagon I jumped on? The SSL band wagon. That stands for Stripey-Sock-Lover. SOME knitters jump from lover, to fanatic, to stalker. I am working on Stock Socks out of Desert Vista Dyeworks in the Grade School Turkey colorway. 


                                                                    My colors.


I am going to do a garter stitch after thought heel. Yeah.
 

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

ProcrastiKNITor


That’s ME! Why finish it today what you can knit on tomorrow? Never mind that there are plenty of other items that are longing to see the light of day. Like…. My Two Sister’s reversible dolls that need only to have arms knit, faces embroidered and hair attached. How about the Lime-Me-A-Scarf that only needs to have maybe 5 more limes crocheted before assembly. A Daybreak Shawl that I started because I saw one knitted in a yarn store that looks so good that I had to purchase the same brand but different color yarn and start it right away. I don’t even want to talk about the Matryoshka for my MIL that I can’t seem to get the faces on quite right. Do you know that it just occurred to me that I should embroider the faces directly onto the dolls instead of making little-tiny circles and then trying to keep those flat while I embroider faces onto them? Duh!!!! Have a picked up that project post epiphany? You bet not!

My latest procrastinknit project was the Boneyard Shawl. I loved working on this so much that I may start another one in my Wolle’s  Yarn that I got for Christmas. My Boneyard shawl was knitted out of handspun Red Fish Dyeworks yarn given to me as a Christmas present by my partner in crime, Knittinwolf. I carried it around in a Knittingsmybag bag made for me by Knittingsmybag herself as a Christmas present. See, I had a theme going on. This was some happy knitting. I honestly could’ve powered through and finished this shawl 3 days ago. Ok, real talk, 2 days ago for sure. I, with my constantly distracted self, just finished that shawl last night. Finished = bound off. I am really going to soak and block it today. Really. Hopefully.

What’s next? My Laceless Shawl. She has been waiting patiently for me and I can’t ignore her anymore. I am sure that I will procastinknit the heck out of her too. She always seems to take the back seat to some prettier, easier, less involved knit – that won’t get finished quickly either.

Have I told you about the latest band-wagon that I have hopped on? I will have to tell you about that later. What kind of procrastinator would I be if I told you about it now…