Episode 46: A little bit of Evil

Listen to Episode 46!

This episode is dedicated to my lovely friends C and J. NOW you can say I made you do it. ;)

On & Off the Needles
Iced – started as soon as the new Knitty came out!
Secret Knitting makes for boring podcasting, but it will be worth it when it’s done!
Knit a couple rows on Milkweed just to turn around and rip them right out.
Knit a few rows of ribbing on Hermione’s Everyday Socks.
Juliet – frogged so I could knit Iced.
FO: Skyp Jig

014.365: FO - Skyp Jig Socks

Dishcloths
Google “dishcloth patterns”, and you get 131,000 results! (Google them without the quotation marks, and you get 731,000 results! lol)

Grandma’s Favorite Dishcloth
Ballband Dishcloth – available on the ballbands for Peaches & Cream yarn, their website, or in the Mason-Dixon Knitting book by Kay Gardiner & Ann Shayne
Garterlac Dishcloth

Yarns mentioned:
Peaches & Cream
Lily Sugar & Cream

Knitting Pattern Central
Crochet Pattern Central
Free – Dishcloth Boutique (last updated August 2008)
Free/Mystery KAL – Monthly Dishcloth Group – twice monthly
Paid & Free – Knits By Rachel (check out her freebies! Rachel also hosts a Mystery Dishcloth KAL.
Paid & Free – Designs By Emily – just found this one in my dishcloth search. Check out the free (as of this posting) Snail dishcloth pattern! :) So cute!
Free, but also has a link to a shop – Knitting Knonsense
Paid booklets – Leisure Arts – available at your local craft store + online
Ravelry search – 118 pages of dishclothy goodness.

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Episode 45: Look at what I did!! :)

Check out Episode 45!

Sorry for the weird buzzing.

What’s on my needles?

1) Everyone Outta the Pool! (rav pattern page) (rav project page)
Turtlegirl76′s blog post about this pattern
– Yarn: Rare Gem Mill End LW – possibly Garden Daze?
– Check out the photo tutorial that’s linked on the Ravelry project page for SSP-Wrap!

2) Skyp Jig (Simple Skyp Socks) (rav project page)
– STR MW in My Wild IrishGirlie (March 2010 RSC shipment, available to non-RSC members March 2011)

3) Honeybee Cardigan
– not started, but the yarn’s been wound! I didn’t mention it, but it’s STR MW in Rose Quartz

4) Hermione’s Everyday Socks (rav project page)
– project stalking Carin at Round The Twist!
– STR LW in Sweet Pea (May 2010 RSC shipment, available to non-RSC members May 2011)

5) Moonfleet (rav project page)
– started knitting on this again! a little bit at a time. I’m on clue 2, and the final clue comes out Thursday
– Unique Sheep Eos in “Dusk on the Fjord” gradience
– 12344321 color sequence

6) Norwegian Rose (rav project page)
– Sock Knitters Anonymous Ravelry Group
– Shibui Knits Sock in Peacock & Blossom
– Toe Up Socks for Every Body by Wendy Johnson
– project stalking The Knit Girllls

Finished!

1) Eclipse Socks
– the Eclipsey bits (the ribbon) has been duplicate stitched on!

2) Knetted
– Not a fan of the Cedar sockitecture.

Awesome site that you should check out:
Goodreads
My Goodreads Profile
My favorite feature: bookswap

Want!
I really want a Nook or a Kindle. Which one do you like?

http://knitpsychos.hello-lovely.org
Knitting Psychos Rav Group
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/knitpsycho
Twitter: hellolovely

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FO’s!

I finished some stuff! Well, two things, really.

First up, my Skyp to My Lou, My Darling! Socks.

FO: Skyp to my Lou, my Darling

**Details**
Pattern: Simple Skyp Socks by Adrienne Ku
Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts STR Mediumweight
Colorway: Gertrude Skein
Needles: US 2
Mods: Knit over 56 stitches on 2′s instead of 64 stitches on 1.5′s; 20 pattern repeats on cuff instead of the 24 or whatever the pattern called for. LOVE them!

And, FO #2. This one has been a long time coming. I started it last September, and we just finished it yesterday!

I Made This! the Wine version

WINE! :D
It’s as good as it looks! Joe and I got our names on this year’s wine because we helped pick the grapes last year. Soo awesome! :D

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Episode 44 – Back in the land of podcasting!

Listen to Episode 44!

Moderne Baby Blanket from Mason-Dixon Knitting aka Blankie of Doom
Sweater Stone saves the day!
Knit Picks Comfy – Ivory, Peony, Pomegranate, Fedora
Mods: Made block 9 (and subsequently, block 10) smaller.

Eclipse Socks

Spinning at the Winery – Retzlaff Winery, Livermore, CA

Simple Skyp Socks aka Skyp to My Lou My Darling
BMFA STR Mediumweight – Gertrude Skein
Rockin’ Sock Club from 2009 – came w/ Rogue Roses pattern

Brandywine Shawl in Sundara Sock yarn or Madeline Tosh tosh sock in “Tart”

Magic Shawl in Brooks Farm Acero

Mondo Cable Cardi

SUMMER KNITTING PROJECTS
- Smaller projects
- Socks
- Dishcloths
- Lace
- Kid Stuff – baby/kids cloths, toys, etc.
- Get a head start on your holiday knitting!

My favorite NON-KNITTING podcasts:
- Coverville hosted by Brian Ibbott
- Lyrics Undercover
- Podictionary hosted by Charles Hodgson
- Grammar Girl
- QN (formerly known as Quirky Nomads) hosted by Sage
- Crafted by Us hosted by Michelle Johnson
- Freezerburns hosted by Greg, the Frozen Food Master!
- Stuff You Should Know hosted by Josh & Chuck
- Stuff You Missed in History Class hosted by Katie & Sarah
- Stuff Mom Never Told You hosted by Molly & Cristen
- This American Life hosted by Ira Glass
- Wait, Wait! Don’t Tell Me! hosted by Peter Sagal & Carl Kassell
- iTunes Celebrity Playlist Podcast

A new website is coming!
http://knitpsychos.hello-lovely.org
Ravelry: knitpsycho
Email me: helloDOTlovelyATgmailDOTcom
Twitter: hellolovely
Check out the Ravelry Board!

Shout out to Sarah! Thanks for the comment. :) Sorry for the abrupt ending… my phone stopped recording, just like I was afraid it would!

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Episode 43: Quickie!

Listen to Episode 43!

Quickie episode! I’ll update with shownotes soon.
Thanks for listening!

NOW WITH MORE SHOWNOTES! :D

Round the Twist with Carin

WIP: Moderne Baby Blanket

Moderne Baby Blanket [ravlink]
Source: Mason-Dixon Knitting
Yarn: Knit Picks Comfy Worsted
Colors: Ivory, Peony, Pomegranate, Fedora

Moonfleet Shawl [ravlink]
Mystery KAL hosted by Unique Sheep
Yarn: Unique Sheep Eos
Colorway: Dusk on the Fjord gradience

Eclipse Socks [ravlink]
Yes… THAT Eclipse! ;)
Source: Shiny Knits Ravelry Downloads
Yarn: Knit Picks Gloss
Colors: Burgundy & Black

Unique Sheep Color Co-Op

Possible Travel Projects:
Magic Shawl by the Knitting Fairy [Rav Pattern Page]
Yarn: Brooks Farm Acero
Color: ?? Purples

Chevron Scarf from Last-Minute Knitted Gifts
Yarn: STR Lightweight

Colors: Farmhouse & Watermelon Tourmaline

Monkey by Cookie A
Yarn: Who knows?!

Destashing!

http://knitpsychos.hello-lovely.org
Ravelry: knitpsycho
Knitting Psychos Podcast Group

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I really need to be better about this blogging thing…

I have some things to show you! Some finished things! But first – some info about an awesome wonderful contest.

My friend Tasha is having a contest. Knit and send in childrens’ sized chemo caps in honor of her cousin’s daughter, Adrianna (have some tissues handy), and be entered to win some yarn! If you can’t or don’t want to donate a hat or two or twelve, there is also a way to make a donation (read the FAQ!) and still be entered to win a prize. There are some lovely prizes, and I think I’m going to stash dive and donate some prizes of my own.

In other knitting news, I finished some stuff!

I finished this about a week and a half ago, but I couldn’t show it because it was for my friend’s baby shower.

Big Bad Baby Blanket

It’s the Big Bad Baby Blanket from Stitch & Bitch, and I knit it out of Crystal Palace Merino 5. If you remember, about 6 months ago, I posted about awesome customer service from Bobbins Nest. They have a sample of the blanket knit out of this yarn, and I just couldn’t get it out of my head when I found out my friend was pregnant! I didn’t know what she was having, so I figured the Jungle colorway would work out great for a boy OR a girl… it’s pretty, but not girlie, and the different shades of green are neutral, but not … pastel. It turned out great, if I do say so myself. :D

I also finished a pair of socks. Just some simple stockinette socks, knit out of Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock Lightweight in the Pepe Le Plume colorway. This was a Rockin’ Sock Club shipment from 2009 – March or May, I can’t remember which. It was so pretty, though, and such a “Manda” color. The yarn seemed too busy for the Fraggle Squiggle pattern that came with it, so I opted for some simple stockinette socks. I made them a bit longer in the cuff than I normally do, and it turns out they’re even probably a round or two too big in the foot, but I’m hoping if I machine wash and dry them, that will sinch them up a little bit, and they won’t be as… floppy. Love ‘em though. Absolutely love ‘em. :D

FO: Pepe Le Plume Socks

AFter looking at the picture, I can see that they are almost exactly alike… just a few small differences, but for the most part, they stripe or spiral exactly alike – even the pooling in the gusset! That’s amazing for handpainted/hand dyed variegated sock yarn!!

Posted in Baby Knitting, FOs, Rockin' Sock Club!, Socks | 1 Comment

Episode 42: Stitches West 2010 Recap!

LISTEN TO EPISODE 42 – STITCHES WEST 2010 RECAP!

Stitches Haul

Socks that Rock
Creatively Dyed Steele – Acacia
Slinky Ribs
Custom Knits: Unleash Your Inner Designer with Top-Down and Improvisational Techniques
Teosinte Socks
Over the Rainbow Socks (fingering)

RAVELYMPICS UPDATE
Did not medal in Sweaterboard Cross. :(
Did medal in Sock Hockey with the Teosinte Socks and Aerial Unwind after frogging my Water Cube socks & Vine Yoke Cardigan
Ysolda’s blog post regarding sizing (scroll down)
Manic Purl – Episode 58: Unique Sweater Construction
Go TEAM MANIC PURL!

STITCHES WEST 2010!
My class: Breathtaking Buttonbands and Buttonholes by Maureen Mason-Jamieson
–tangent: yarn diet!–
WEBS
Madelinetosh tosh sock in TART!
Signature Needles
Knitmore Girls
Brooks Farm
KNITTING FAIRY! :)
Brooks Farm Acero
Magic Shawl
Glass Needles – http://www.glasspens.com

Dr Gemma – CogKNITive
Ravelry WILL let you search by needle size!
- Patterns
- Advanced Search
- Needles/Gauge tab
- Pick your needle size & find a project!
Abstract Fibers
Blue Moon Fiber Arts – STR Lightweight “Valenscummy
Creatively Dyed
Purlescence Yarns

Donate to Doctors Without Borders to help with the Chile Earthquake recovery effort!
Knitters’ Spring 2010
Bobbins Nest Studio
Hazel Knits
Three Irish Girls Adorn Sock
Interweave Knits Spring 2010

Housekeeping: Podcast may be moving, unless I decide at the last minute to renew the current one. Stay tuned on the Ravelry Group for possible moving updates.

I’m on Ravelry as knitpsycho.
Email me! hello.lovely@Tgmail.com (remove the T)
Tweet me! hellolovely

Thanks for listening!

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Status Update

I have 6 pairs of socks on the needles. Four of these pairs of socks are 50% complete or more, meaning at least one of the socks of the pair is finished. The other two pairs of socks have the first sock at the heel, if not further.

One of these days, I’m going to go on a major finishing rush and have almost a week’s worth of new socks. :D

The lastest sock finished is my Holidazed sock:

WIP: Holidazed

I haven’t started the second sock yet because my hands were kind of hurting when I finished. I was in major “KNITKNITKNIT” mode to get the first one done, so I decided to give my hands a bit of a break. I picked up my Lenore sock today while I was at work, after I crocheted a scrappy dishcloth. I like shorter cuffs, and I was kind of tired of knitting the pattern on the cuff of these socks, especially considering I’m going to have to knit it all down the foot, so I started the heel flap at 4″. I think they’ll be nice cute socks, but I haven’t taken a picture yet. One of these days, I’ll actually finish a whole pair. :)

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Episode 41: Happy 2010!

Listen to Episode 41!

On/Off the Needles
1) I’m knitting the Scrumptious Neck Warmer (I keep calling it the Scrumptious Cowl!) by Kristin Goedert, out of the yarn called for in the pattern, Stonehedge Fiber Mill Shepherd’s Wool. Great value (250 yards of nice, soft wool for $10 at Green Planet Yarn!).
2) I’m also knitting the Sock Yarn Blankie, and I rant about spending money on awesome yarn just to cut it up and how I need to STOP. I also need to figure out how to store these things!

Christmas Knitting/Dallas Recap
1) Mom’s Christmas socks were well-received, even if she wasn’t as outwardly excited about the cashmere as I was! The only problem? She needs 4-5 more pairs!
2) My sister liked her socks, has decided she wants sweaters and a Koolhaas hat, so I’ll knit her a hat. lol Sent her off to EatSleepKnit to pick some colors/yarn.
3) Finished knitting the felted clogs at the future in-laws, my mom felted them the day after Christmas, and my stepdad hardly waited for them to dry before he was wearing them. Next pair? Suede bottoms.

Finished!
I got the order screwed up in the podcast, but that’s okay. LOL
- Cotton Candy Socks in Lion Brand Sock Ease (Cotton Candy colorway) (last FO of 2009!)
- Stripey Circle Socks in Vesper Superwash/Nylon Yarn (Venus in Furs colorway) for Sock Knitters Anonymous (first FO of 2010!)
- So far I’ve finished one Sunshine (from Sock Innovation) sock and one Over the Rainbow (from the Oz Club by Woolgirl) sock, but I’ve been distracted by the cowl and secret knitting.

Knitting Resolutions
I have 25 WIPs! Check out the list here. 2010 is the year of less knitting rules! And the Rockin’ Sock Club. And Rare Gems from the sale, plus a skein each of Lightweight STR in Farmhouse and Watermelon Tourmaline. Now I can have a Chevron Scarf just like everyone else!

Harry Potter Knitting & Crochet House Cup!
I’m knitting Ariadne mitts for my friend’s birthday out of Wool Candy Fondant in “Pie!” for one class.
Going for an Arithmancy O.W.L. by knitting up some of my previous RSC kits: Lenore, In Season, Knetted, Holidazed, plus the Gertrude Skein skein in the Skyp pattern, thanks to Chrissy at Manic Purl, and my Pepe Le Plume in just a plain vanilla socks.

Find me on Ravelry as knitpsycho.
I’m on Twitter and Plurk as hellolovely.
Email me at hello[d.t]lovely@gmail .com

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2009 Recap & 2010 Knitting Goals

If you take a minute to look at my 2009 knitting goals last year, you’ll notice I didn’t really complete ANY of them!

I only managed 6 sweaters for NaKniSweMoDo. I’m not disappointed in that, though. I think it’s more sweaters than I knit any other year. I did, however, majorly increase the sweater stash in all my planning, so I have plenty of sweater plans for the next year or ten.

I didn’t even come close to knitting a true lace shawl, though I did knit my share of shawlettes, with plans for many more.

I did knit a lot of socks, but I didn’t really knit any of my club socks. Maybe one or two. I was going to swear off clubs completely in 2010, but I’m in a few of the themed Woolgirl clubs (a kit here, a kit there), and I think I’m signing up for the Rockin’ Sock Club again this year. It’s not frilly – just yarn and a pattern with an extra goodie or two thrown in here and there, but it works. Some of the other clubs, while they’re packaged wonderfully with lots of little extras, I just don’t USE the little extras, and they end up just taking up space.

I hardly even TOUCHED my dishcloth cotton stash. I did knit from the stash, but I acquired a lot, too. I took pics of the stash for Ravelry, but didn’t document it here. I didn’t really get over the stash gluttony, either. I did not finish my Lizard Ridge, though I did knit a square or two on it. I also did not find a good way to store my circs, so they are still in their ratty plastic bag. hehe I didn’t knit a ton of baby knits, though both my friends’ babies DID get baby blankets for their littlest ones. :)

My last FO of the year was a pair of socks. I bought the yarn when I visited Dallas for my birthday in 2008, and I finally managed to get a pair of socks out of it.

FO: Candy Cane Socks

- – -
2010 will hopefully bring less knitting “rules”. I plan to knit what I want when I want to knit it. I will continue to knit socks, and I will knit some of that new Sweater Stash yarn.

I would like to try to knit 12 miles of yarn. A mile a month.

I would also like to finish or frog all current WIPs/UFOs. In no particular order:

  • Circle Socks
  • Lizard Ridge
  • Mitered Square Blanket
  • Sock Yarn Blankie (ongoing, no finish date at the current time)
  • Water Cube Socks
  • Sunshine Socks
  • Over the Rainbow Socks
  • Juliet
  • Vine Yoke Cardigan
  • Swing Coat
  • Mallow Socks
  • High Line Shawl
  • Super Secret Project
  • TTL Mystery Socks 2009
  • Pie! Mitts
  • Crooked Brook Socks – FROG
  • Shawl that Jazz
  • Lizzy’s Big Girl Bag
  • Gabby’s Big Girl Bag
  • Simple Yet Effective Shawl
  • Nottingham – FROG
  • Eastlake – FROG & START OVER
  • Eclipse Socks
  • Ripple Afghan – FROG?
  • Hanami Stole – FROG & start over?

Let’s see how far I can get. :)

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