PRGE CONTEST

Okay, my pal gave me rockin' songs for the PRGE contest, so it required some thought to pair them with the right patterns...

I wanna be your boyfriend by the Ramones

http://www.flickr.com/photos/95001526@N00/463052987

I picked the classic Seamless Hybrid Sweater - a classic pattern to go with a classic song (this one is from tigerlillith on Ravelry.

Radio, Radio by Elvis Costello




I saw this in Craft Magazine a few months back. Of course I would change the plush animal to this one (and I can't get the picture over - so here's the link)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ysoldateague/337599856/

Its not quite a radiohttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif - but it has the right feel for the words, I think...

Finally, there is Welcome to Paradise by GreenDay

This song reminds me of work - people struggling to make ends meet - so the two things that the women ask to be taught to knit most often are bags and hats -
There are both pdf patterns and I couldn't lift the photos so follow the links (sorry!!)...


http://dorkybestfriend.typepad.com/blog/2007/03/the_string_bag.html
http://www.flickr.com/photos/26915247@N00/2069729096

Thanks for playing

Seven Deadly Spins

I just had to show this off - I joined the Seven Deadly Spins club with WoolGirl. Could this be any cuter!! Its gluttony - complete with four different sock yarns, and one mini sock blocker keychain kit, jelly bellies and sock point covers for needles - I Love It! Now to go cast on...
Thanks so much - Jenny and WoolGirl!!

prge questionnaire

1. Why did you join PRGE?
I love this swap - everyone is so good to their pals!!

2. What are your five favorite things? (these don't have to be knit related)
creating, a good bottle of wine, wearing an outfit that feels great, having someone understand a concept that I have been trying to teach, being with my husband

3. What are your three favorite things that you have made with knitting/crochet?
My christmas stocking series, my new black and gray handwarmers, a simple black cashmere hat.

4. What five things would you love to see in a swap box someday?
yarn with a corresponding pattern, chocolate, knitpicks harmony needles, thought by my pal, anything with skulls

5. What are your three favorite yarns? What are your three least favorite yarns?
favorites - sock yarn - especially dark solid colors, any natural fibers (or organics) from lace weight to worsted...
not favorites - acryllic, recycled silk, fuzzy, itchy, bulky

6. What are your five favorite delicacies?
cashmere, handmade, pectin jelly beans, artisan cheese, home made cinnamon rolls

7. What are your three favorite guilty pleasures?
chocolate, steak, bad 80's tv

8. What are the five things you look forward to every week?
My Name is Earl, friday knitting class, making Sunday dinner, completing one craft project, Sunday's phone calls

9. What do you collect?
I am trying to get rid of some of my collections, though, yarn, wine, art and skulls don't seem to be leaving

10. When is your birthday?
July 31st
11. Do you have any wishlists?
there are a couple on the sidebar of my blog - I will make sure they are updated this week..

12. Do you have any allergies or health related conditions that your pal should know about?
I am allergic to wheat, but its really not a big deal - with moderation its always fine...

13. What do you do for work and what do you do for fun?
I am the Director of Programs at a shelter for homeless and low income women and children - I coordinate art, health and education programs and seminars for those trying to rebuild their lives.
For fun, I cook, knit, garden, ride my bike occasionally, and hang out with my husband.

14. What would you like your pal to know that is not covered here?
Thank you for joining this swap! I am not hard to please, and really appreciate all your efforts!!

More tiny hats

I finished this hat forever ago, finally blocked it and mailed them yesterday.

Just thought I would share quickly!
Happy Knitting!

My time away...

So while I was away with my grandmother there were two overriding themes. Mittens and socks. Today, I am showing off my mittens.

The top two are my favorites. Both took a while, but I am so happy with how they came out! The first was an adaption of a sweater from The Art of Fair Isle Knitting. I really loved Eunny Jang's end paper mitts, but didn't care for the pattern (and couldn't get the charts to print), so I adapted the pattern with my Favorite Mittens book for hints.
Those turned out so well, I took some drops alpaca and adapted a chart from Latvian mittens into mitts. They feel like cashmere, and what doesn't go with black. These used a lot less yarn then I thought, so these colors will pop up again!

I was having so much fun talking to my grandma and knitting, that she decided she wanted some mittens. I let her pick the colors and pattern and we came up with a really traditional mitten shape with an EZ snowflake design and the backs were improvised. She looks so cute wearing them!

Then I was on a roll, and at the old job, I wore mitts constantly - so I made a handspun pair, a cabled pair for my mom, and the WCTP mittens just cuz I have wanted them for a long time. Now that I am back to working, the knitting has slowed down. But I love my job, and once I am settled, I know the time will come back!

Oh, and let me mention, as soon as I got on the good mitten roll - it warmed up in Colfax and there was no snow to shovel and really very little need for mitts or mittens. Now that I am home, its been the same. Although, I think the weatherman is going to cool it down for me a bit this week!

Okay, back to housework...
Happy Knitting!!

Its been a small project week...

While getting acclimated at the new job, I have been working on small projects. Lots of baby hats! And it seems that I have lots of demand for them in my life right now. Most of them are fair isle made from the graphs in Latvian Mittens by Lisbeth Upitis and Lorna's Laces Shepard Worsted yarn and a size 5 needle. With just a couple hours work in each, they are so enjoyable!!

I started with two baby hats to finish up some yarn scraps while at my grandma's house. Now I am just enjoying the practice.

I am loving my new job! Learning a ton! The people that I work with (clients and co-workers) have been very welcoming! I still have a long way to go, but I really think it was a good move.

I just opened sign ups for PRGE! Its so enjoyable to think that I will have the time to do this - and knit - and craft - because I will only be working 40 hours a week. I am off to look at your blogs - my bloglines has over a thousand entries waiting - YIKES! I will probably just lurk, for now....

Happy Knitting!!

I'm Back!!

I'm Back!! Its so good to be home, but it was a great trip! A little like going to knitting camp, since I can talk and knit. Mubs is doing so much better!! I am unpacking and its my first week of work - so this is short! But I leave you with a photo of the completed projects for the first week of my hiatus (on grandma's patterned carpet). There will be more about theses knit projects and those of the second week soon!

Oh, and PRGE sign ups open on Saturday, February 23rd, for anyone who is interested....

Happy Knitting!