I'M A KNITTER - THERE ARE ALWAYS STRINGS ATTACHED
Cultured Purls - (Judith S.)

I was walking around the office t'other day and one of my co-workers says to me, "You have knitting needles around your neck!" I said, "Yes, That's my new jewellery. I prefer it to cultured purls" .

So, yes, I walk around daily with my favourite circs around my neck just in case I spy a piece of yarn or string that's calling out for help. It ensures that unsavory types stay away from me on the commute in and back. I'm thinking of starting my own line of jewellery.

On the needles currently, I have the wretched baby blanket (not on the needles around my neck). Yes, this is the same blanket which I professed last week or the week before to liking the way it was working up. Now, however, I cannot stand the sight of it. Well, that is not exactly true. It's just that I get bored working on a straight piece of knitting. Give me texture and shape anytime. I need a challenge.

Enter: "The Vest".

I spent my Sunday Googling "Top-Down-In-The-Round-Buttonless-Zippered-Easy-Quick-Masculine-Child-Vest" for a project I've been asked to make. Oh, and he likes Spongebob Squarepants - could I perhaps work that in somehow - oh, and could you make it masculine? And does it come with fries and a shake?

Who said knitting wasn't an adventure? Anyone have a pattern for algae?

WINTER WARMERS

Here is a lovely little Keep-Me-Toasty idea. I designed this neck warmer because a co-worker wanted a scarf that would not blow off for her young daughter. This piece could be worn over the head and shoulders like a poncho, but just cover the neck and shoulders like a turtleneck sweater, inside a winter coat. Needless to say, it was very well received.

Here's the pattern for anyone who wants to make one of these little treasures:

Materials
Chunky weight yarn
Circular needle (size 5.5 or 6.0 depending on how chunky the yarn is) but it should be only 16” long.
Coloured stitch markers.

Directions
Cast on 82 stitches and join, being careful not to twist the stitches. Place marker.
Work about 4” in K1P1 rib
Eyelet Row: This is so that you can flip the collar over easily and if you want, thread a cord through the eyelets.
K1, *Yarn forward, K2 tog, K1. Repeat from * to end of round.
Work another 4” in K1P1 rib

Begin st st for the bodice:
Row 1: Knit 21, pm, K20, pm, K20, pm K21, pm
**Next row: K1, increase one stitch in next stitch, knit to 2 stitches before first marker, increase one stitch in next stitch, K1; move marker, K1, increase one stitch in next stitch. Continue around, increasing one stitch before and after each marker until you complete the round. I used a different colour marker to mark the beginning of the round.
Knit the next round even.**
Repeat between ** until desired length of shoulder is completed and cast off knitwise.
I crocheted an edge around the bottom in double crochet.

The cord: Cast on 150 stitches and cast them off. Do not knit them; just cast them off. If you cast on with your thumb and one needle, this will make a nice flat cord to thread through the eyelets.

Copyright 2006 by Judith Somersett. Pattern is for personal use and not for resale.

DECISIONS, DECISIONS

Okay, so here's the thing. The blanket's kind of big and cumbersome for taking on the train to work. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. So yesterday, when I was not going to work, but practicing to see if my "new project" was small enough to actually GO to work (Be Prepared - I used to be a Guide), I cast on a hat. Turns out the hat WAS small enough after all; however, I finished it yesterday.

Anyway, a bit of fancy footwork and fingerwork, and before you know it, I had cast on a bootee. Now this is okay because it's something I've not done before so it counts as an Educational Project. AND a bootee would certainly be small enough to take on the train, right? However, I finished it last night, so this morning I was in a bit of a quandary. Here I was ready to go out the door with my compact little purse and nothing to cram into it but a whopping great blanket. Um, no I don't THINK so.

Anyway, I went scrambling around for another small ball of yarn and my small circs and in the car on the WAY to the train, I cast on another bootee - in a different colour than the first one. Who said knitting had to make sense???

So for those of us who are keeping count (Sissy!) I currently have a lighthouse sweater, a baby blanket, and a bootee. The first bootee does not count as a wip because I might decide to mismatch them when the new bootee's done.

Joy in knitting, folks...

SPEECHLESS, ME?

Well, okay, so I'm new at this and to my horror, I find that I am trying to think of things to say. Me. Speechless. There's a switch.

On the knitting front, I now have two projects on the go. Never one to finish one project before picking up another - that makes way too much sense - I have put my lighthouse sweater down because I don't like the way the wool feels and am contemplating doing it with another, less itchy yarn.

Actually, that's an excuse. The yarn's not that itchy. I just wanted to work with baby weight for awhile so I started a blanket for a little bundle of joy that's due in January. Not MY little bundle I am quick to add. Been there. Done that. Got the stretch marks to prove it. One of the ladies at work is expecting and this blanket has actually been commissioned by one of her friends. Yippee - a paid project. Almost the best kind, second only to pro bono for someone in need.

I have to say, I love the way this blanket is working up. I'm doing Ann Norling's "Infant Set II". All of it. Sweater, hat, bootees (might need help with those - never done them before) and the blanket - in white with flecks of light blue and yellow - very pretty. I actually have most of the sweater done. Oops, just admitted to haveing 3 projects on needles...

WELCOME TO MY BLOG!

Howdy! I can't believe I'm blogging! I have started a website called KnitFixation.com and I'm hoping it takes off!

I invite anyone who is interested in knitting (the craft, the supplies - anything to do with it) to join in and submit comments.

Here's a little poem which I wrote for your viewing pleasure - (Copyright 2004 - All rights reserved)

KNITTING BEA
When Beatrice Jones first learned how to knit,
She was only seven years old … and a bit
Her grandma said, "Bea, you can wear handmade clothes,
from the top of your head to the tip of your toes!"
So Bea took up needles and crafted a toque
which she presented with pride to her big brother, Luke
And this was the start of a wonderful thing
There was no stopping Bea as her needles took wing
She made cotton hotpads and dishcloths and cosies
and even some headbands with tulips and posies
She made the most wonderful, fabulous togs
For all of her friends … and all of their dogs!
She knit cables and fair isle and eyelets galore
Nothing hand-knitted was too great a chore
No one was surprised if Bea was seen sitting
In front of the TV or in the bath – knitting!
And as she would sit there and weave in her ends,
She dreamed of new projects to knit for her friends
The town folk were well dressed it was plain to see
For their clothes were all crafted by Knitting Bea
And each night before Bea climbed into bed,
it was always the following prayer that she said:
"If I begin knitting while I am asleep,
I pray that the Lord, my stitches will keep
and I in return for these generous things,
Will knit all His angels some new fair isle wings."

Copyright ©2004 Judith B. Somersett