Podcasts I Watch: Knitting

This is the final blog post on my favorite podcasts and I'm ending with knitting.  Unlike the other podcasts I enjoy, these are in video and are all found on You Tube.

Bookish Stitcher Podcast - This is what started knitting podcasts for me.  Jeannette discusses what she is knitting and what she is reading....my 2 favorite things!!

Yarn Hoarder Podcast - I've been watching this one from the beginning.  The hostess, Amber, is local to me and generously honest about her knitting.  I've learned so many tips and tricks from watching her and have become much more relaxed with my knitting.

Geeky Girls Knit Podcast - This is a mother-daughter duo.  I am a fan of their designs and love to hear about what they are reading, watching and listening to. 

Daizie Knits Podcast -  Another podcaster that is local to me, Jennifer is an inspiration, on screen and off. Her podcast is short and sweet and I love being able to sneak an episode into my busy day.

Grocery Girls Podcast - These ladies are crazy! Canadian sister-duo, these ladies are an absolute hoot!

Knitting ExPat Podcast - Mina and her family are an English family currently living in New York.  Mina is my favorite sock pattern designer and it is fun getting glimpses of their lives, travels and little daughter Layla. 

I think that covers the "regulars".  Every once in a while I watch something else, but these generally keep me busy. 

Enjoy! 

Knitting Projects - July 2015 Edition

I hope to make this a regular feature....maybe twice a month, to "show off" the things that I've been making.  I do sew and knit for customers, so I won't share anything that I don't have permission to share, but today it's all about me :)

First up we have:

This is called the Lace Stripe Shawl.  I started this in December, put it away in January, then drug it back out in May.  It's a triangle shawl, starting at the bottom and working up.  I want it big enough to wrap up in so I'm to the point now that each row takes 15 minutes.  Let's just say that progress has bogged down a bit.  LOL  Anyway, the yarn is called Sugar Soft 3, a 3 ply  sport weight yarn.....I got a huge bag of it given to me at some point.....the label appears to be from the 70's or early 80's.  Nonetheless, the color is beautiful....a reddish burgandy.  I love it a lot and hope to finish it before fall.

Next up we have:

The almost done ribbing of the Impossible Girl Socks.  I try to always have socks OTN (on the needles)....I enjoy wearing them in the winter and they are very portable.  The yarn is gorgeous....the picture doesn't do it justice....but I can't find the lable....I know it was from Knit Picks.  I love buying yarn from them....it is affordable and just wonderful!

Last but not least:

The Tilting Tardis Cowl.  If you haven't figured it out....I'm a Dr. Who addict.  I just finished watching Season 8 and am very sad that I have to wait like everyone else for season 9.  (The socks above are a nod to Clara in season 7/8 of Doctor Who).  Anyway, the yarn is from Nerd Girl Yarns.  I was part of the spring Doctor Who Yarn and Fiber Club.  It was wonderful!  This colorway is For the glory of the Sontaran Empire.....the yarn is Conspiracy fingering weight.  Again, absolutely wonderful.  It's yarn like this that makes me a yarn snob.

There is another shawl on needles somewhere around here....If I get the lace stripes done I'll get it out and see about finishing it up....BECAUSE I have yarn and patterns for at least 2 more shawls.  I might be an addict.  Also, all the patterns that you see here can be found at Ravelry unless otherwise specified...and most of the time they are free or inexpensive, because I'm cheap.  Unless it's yarn....then I break the bank.

Norman is working overtime on his day off so I'll knit after chores and supper, which is getting ready to happen as soon as I post this.  Then I'm going to knock out a few rows of the shawl and then work on the cowl......I'm pondering custom made buttons for the cowl.....it's very exciting.  I'll share again in a few weeks....hopefully I'll have some finished projects!

Questions - Answered

Victoria, if the wet jet takes the "throw away" swiffer cloths (and I think it does) then this will work on it.

Briana, it does stretch a lot.  I think that even if it shrinks a little, like the dishcloths always do, that it will still fit as knitted.  The stitching allows for a lot of stretch too.

Julie, this is the 1st thing I've made from this book.  The patterns are very well written and easy to understand.  I am just dying to make the little Edwardian dress and jacket for Miss Abby :)

Knitting Project - Reusable Swiffer Mop Cloth

That's a mouthful!  LOL  Anyway, I know many of you are waiting with baited breath for these photos, so I snapped them as soon as I got it finished.  I had to pry the mop out of Bear's hands....he was so eager to use it. 

The pattern, found in Mason-Dixon Knitting: Outside the Lines by Kay Gardiner and Ann Shayne, recommends using up little bits of leftover cotton yarn from dishcloth knitting.  I had a whole bag.  LOL  That is why it looks so.....eclectic.  I tried to tie the colors together with white but I don't think that it worked very well.

On the Swiffer.  Spray it with pledge to dry mop, get it wet to wet mop.  Fantastic!  I wet mopped my kitchen/dining room today and used 3 wet swiffer cloths.  I can't afford that.  This I can afford.  Mop and wash.  My kind of cleaning.

Bear wanted to model with the new mop.  He just about had to lay on the floor so I could get him and the mop cloth in the picture.

A happy little mopper. 

I still have the yarn out and the pattern is ready to go.  I think I need 3 more.  White probably isn't the best choice of colors but I have a lot of it.  Mason-Dixon Knitting: The Curious Knitter's Guide by the same authors has a matching dishcloth pattern in it.  Instructions are also given to make a dog sweater.    So Sadie could match my dishcloths and mop covers.  Fantastic, huh?  I will absolutely be using this pattern again.

Abby's Legwarmers

I got them finished up while we were watching movies this afternoon.....I've already got plans for another pair :)  Anyway, here are the pictures:

Isn't she adorable???  She is rocking that cloth diaper and Thirsties cover too :)  They are almost too tight, that's all the higher they will pull up.

With her best buddy, Bear.  In case you were wondering, none of the males in this family ever wear shirts in the house....although it does look like Dad has one on in the picture below.  LOL  Today Lee wore his coat while outside, but no shirt.....Greg put on a shirt but no coat......I have no control.

All smiles.  Isn't she the sweetest thing you've ever seen?  We think so :)

Crawling on Bear is a good way to pass the time.  Normally he yells, "Don't eat me Abby, I'm not food!" but today he was being generous and didn't.  LOL

Ok, she's done.....crawling away.....till next time!

Knitted Cell Phone Case and Other Pictures

I knitted a cell phone case!  I had to rework the pattern a little because I couldn't find the purse frame the pattern called for (very frustrating by the way).  I ended up putting an I-cord in the casing, leaving it open at one edge so that I could be hooked to a bag clip or over the wrist.  It also works as a drawstring so the phone doesn't fall out. 

I needed something to put next to it to show size so I grabbed my sunglasses, which by the way fit in it perfectly!

Since I am uploading pictures anyway, here are some new family shots:

My family :)

Helmet Liners for the Troops

If you would be interested in knitting helmet liners, scarves or neck gators for our troops please go HERE. I think that this is a worthwhile use of our knitting time, girls (and guys!), and I know that our troops will appreciate it!

You Knit What??

Socks

Yes, I knit socks. My goal is to have all of my personal socks handknit by the end of 2008. Cool huh? I thought so too.

Now, I am not writing this blog post just so that you can think that I am cool. In fact I am writing this to encourage you, my reader, to embrace some kind of hand-craft. Choose something that is both practical and pretty, something that you can poor your creativity into, something that will be YOU. I love cutsie socks. I knit myself cutsie socks. Some people (dh) think that cutsie socks are......weird. Most people think that cutise socks are at least cool for me, even if they wouldn't wear them themselves. Cutsie socks in interesting styles and color are ME. And I love to knit them.

There is something very calming about creating something for yourself with your own two hands. It is almost like a link to the past. I can almost imagine my great-great-grandmothers sitting next to the fire knitting socks for their families. How much closer to your heritage can you get?

So, my challenge for you today is to play around with different things that interest you. Find your creative outlet. Let that creativity flow!
(And when you do, please comment and let me know what is inspiring you!)

Knitting Again

I have been waiting to say this for quite a while..............I am knitting again!

Somewhere along the line this summer I lost all desire to create. I guess that creating a new little life inside of me was enough! So I have been anxiously waiting for the desire to knit or sew to return and it has. With a vengence! I just finished the cutest little knitted hat for a friend of dh's whose wife is having a baby girl. I made it white with a baby pink drawstring tie along the top. It turned out so sweet!

On the sewing front.....I have a million ideas in my head that want to come OUT! I have some cordouroy for a jumper that I think I will try to get made up within the next week or so. I have made the pattern before, but I am wanting to play with it a little bit.

I wish that I could post pictures. Dh is thinking of getting us wireless internet. That would be such a blessing! Then I could post some pictures!

Creative blessings to you!