Friday, March 23, 2007

These are two muffs I made for a dear friend's granddaughters. They were lots of fun to make!!!
Easy peasy.
I'll give the pattern for the pink one and you can make modifications?
Supplies: Fun Fur Worsted Weight Yarn 4 size 6 DPN needles (or what ever you feel comfortable knitting with, the six's were tight, but doable)
using knit CO , cast on 36 stitches 2 yarns together (or any amount divisble by 6).
Knit until "muff length" or you get tired of the fun fur.
Break Fun Fur, leave worsted weight yarn
Row 1: p Row 2: *k3,p3* Row 3:*k1,p1*
Repeat Rows 2 & 3 until when lining is folded over it is about 1 inch less than the muff length. This part is tricky. You want to now insert the lining into the muff, and you might have to actually take off the needles to do this, but take it slow and be patient. BUT, I just realized that if you turned the muff inside out BEFORE you started the lining, it would be MUCH easier to do....just play with it. The end result is the lining inside the muff, and live stitches are next to the CO stitches.
Now, one by one, pick up one of the CO stitches, and K the first stitch on the needle together with the CO stitch. I use the K2tog bind off method for nearly all my bind offs as it is VERY stretchy and loose.
In a rhythm it goes like this:
1. Pick up 1 cast on stitch and put on left needle
2. Knit CO stitch together with first stitch on left needle
3. Repeat 1 & 2
4. 2 stitches on right needle
5. K 2 sts on right needle tog by placing left needle in front of both stitches and knit.
6. Repeat 1-5 until all the way around. 7. Break yarn, pull through loop, and tuck the tails into the muff and you are done.
Not terribly sure how "kosher" this is, but it worked for me and it was SECURE.

Monday, March 12, 2007

Bleah...lol...I keep letting my batteries die before I take pictures....

But the two muffs for the little girls are done. I finished them last night.

I co 36 sts for the smaller one and I think 42 for the larger one.
I k in a circle till they were "muff length".
And then dropped the fuzzy yarn.
I then did a p row with just the foundation yarn
then I did the "sock of doom" pattern. As much of a bad taste I have with Yarn-monkey's efficiency in running a contest. That sock of doom rib is really good. Stretchy, warm, and squishy!!! :) You need to make sure that your CO stitches are divisible by 6. And then round one is k3 p3, round 2 is k1p1 and thats it!!!

I then slip the ribbing into the exterior, and this is the fun part.
I put one of the co stitches onto the needle, and k that with the stitch I'm going to bind off, then I k 2tog. The one I am lifting is on the fuzzy part of muff. Once I get batteries AGAIN...i'll post how I do it!!!

Monday, March 05, 2007

Hey all....I was barely in the "knit off"...before I got so frustrated with how poorly it was run. (VERY poor communication).

So, I thought...shoot, I'd like to have a competiton, to either put my money where my mouth is and really SEE how difficult it is.....and then I'll be forever quiet, or do it, and learn and have fun with it...lol....

So....for the KnittingHelp.com Stashies I created a spreadsheet, but ANYBODY can participate. Discussion Forum

It's basically your name (nothing identifying) and then you update the spreadsheet with your completed projects for the month. I'm toying with prizes (fun ones).....

email me (mine is on the spreadsheet) with YOUR email and I can send you an invite to the spreadsheet. It is a google spreadsheet, and I'm a google member so if you need an invite to gmail or google, let me know...(try and sign up without it first, but if you need one I've got pleanty.)

This is for all completed projects, big or small, stash yarn or purchased yarn. Equal opportunity. Very Happy lol....

you can click on the link below to take a look see of the format and to get my email addy to join.

We will be having prizes, but for right now.....I have NO idea as to the prizes. Might be computer buttons if I'm poor for that month, might be pretty stitch markers that I've wanted to get my hand in trying...the looser might buy the winner something, or the winner might buy the looser something....lol..each month will be something different, and we'll switch it all up!!! :)

Answers to Questions:
1. The spreadsheet starts in January, but for prizes and such we'll "officially start" in March.
2. You MUST email me or PM me WITH your email so I can send you the link. I need to put you in as a "collaborator"

Completed Project List

Sunday, February 11, 2007

I got this from Sock Monkey's website. She's in a secret pal dealie. I'm not but the questions were fun anyway!!

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

I love working with wool....but I like the uber soft baby acrylics, and the cottons for socks..I guess scratchy acrylic isn't for me.


2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?

I have 2 things. One is a pitcher from when I was with At Home America. That is for the straights, and the other is a little "One stroke painting" box that I made a while back that has my DPN's and circs in it.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?

I started knitting when I was a kid. Didn't do much more than cast on, and knit a few rows before my lack of attention got the best of me. But about oh, 3 years ago, I got the bug. :) Haven't really stopped since. You can check out my latest and "greatest" at www.catonsvilleknits.com Fun things there. :) I really consider myself an intermediate, but there isn't anything that I've NOT been able to do. There is lots that I've just not tried yet, lace knitting, 1 sock on 2 circulars, STEEKING.....just that word scares me!!! lol....

5. What's your favorite scent?

Chocolate, baby's heads, pine trees

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

Oh yeah, chocolate chocolate chocolate
7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?

I quilt and scrapbook. I get enjoyment out of both, but nothing's "touched" me like knitting has.


9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand? Yellows, greens, pinks, and I do NOT like Orange!!!

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
TOO MANY PETS!!! 2 cats, 1 dog, 2 lizards, and dad's cat



11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?

You bet!!


12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I really like quick projects, ones that take me only a day or two to knit.


13. What are you knitting right now?
I've got TOO many things OTN right now

Gramma's muffler
Gene's pot holders
Roy's Hat
Cheri's baby's sweater (I hope to finish that tonight, however I did just find some softer yarn that I might make instead since it's so quick)

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
If they are made in love!!
15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
My absolute favorite needles are the circular I think they are nylon? I LOVE LOVE LOVE those. I just got a 10.5 the other day...they are so slick to work with, but they are vintage, and I've not seen any in the stores.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?

Nope, just the hands and the back of a chair..
17. How old is your oldest UFO?
Oh my....I've got a couple blankets that just aren't doing anything for me anymore.

18. What is your favorite holiday?
4th of July!!

19. Is there anything that you collect?
Umm..needles????

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

No subscriptions anymore, but I'd like an Elizabeth Zimmerman book someday.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?

Socks on 2 circs, and maybe the magic loop, but I'm not as enthralled with that or some reason.


22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?\

Yep, size 6 shoe

23. When is your birthday?

July 6
Ok!!! Done :)

Wednesday, February 07, 2007

Yesterday's and today's knitting was FUN.

Cas wanted a "green patrick's day hat" from the stash yarn that Connie and I got. So I made him a stocking hat!!! it was WAY fun to make. :) I forgot to get a picture of it before I sent it down, but it is SOOOO cute...I asked Connie to forgive me for "dressing him funny", but I just couldn't help myself. Mike wants a red one!!!!!!!!!!

I've joined the KH "year of the stash", and since joining, I've added to my stash about 3 fold, but, according to the "rules", I'm OK, as I didn't actually PURCHASE the yarn, it was given to me. But that seems really like breaking the rules....but I did only pick colors that I know that I'd like for sure, and colors that I think that would really do well in baby items. :)

Saturday, February 03, 2007

New Website

I've got my new website up and running.

It's the same address www.catonsvilleknits.com but it is more of a real site, rather than just a blog. The old one was VERY difficult to navigate, so this hopefully will be good!!!

I've got OTN, Gramma's muff, Doris's blankie/wrap, Don's Wrap oh and Gene's hot mits.

Those hot mits just have the thumb and the joining to do..you'd think I'd just get it DONE..but I've misplaced the pattern, and you know how that goes!!!

I've also joined the KH 2007 stash busters. :) I'm tickled because this will give me purpose in getting rid of my sash. :)

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

I can't believe I've been letting my knitting slip out of my hands without getting pictures of them!!! UGG..I had some really cool and fun things that I did for people this winter season.

Well, no more!!! :) I'll be sure to get some good pictures up soon of my new creations.