LAZY DAISY STITCHERY

Good morning all! Okay, for those of us who like to embellish our knitted pieces with embroidery, I found a neat little tutorial video on how to do a lazy daisy stitch. Now I know what you are probably thinking - I've made hundreds of those - but for those of us who are visually needy, I thought I'd post a link because after all, this person's site is really quite good and the video is really quite clear.
You will need to scroll down past the picture of the multiple strand daisies in action (which, incidentally, I think are a marvellous idea and look nifty).

Let me know what you think if you're inclined to visit!

Here's the link.

http://www.needlenthread.com/2006/11/daisy-stitch-video-tutorial.html

Joy in Knitting ... and stitchery!

SSK vs. K2tog tbl

The video below is shown on my blog courtesy of and with permission of Brittany Newberry, the owner of the video. Brittany has created many instructional videos for your viewing pleasure and knitting clarification. Her site is http://www.knitwitch.com/

Thanks, Brittany!

Joy in Knitting

GOOD GRAPE! IT'S ANOTHER BABY SWEATER!

And it's so PURPLE!!! These sweaters are SO quick and SO much fun, I'm thinking of making a gross of them...

Anyway, this one is a really rich shade of purple by Cabin Fever. Not sure the pic does it justice, but I think it looks really smart and some little tyke is going to be really swish-looking.

Joy in knitting!

NOW I KNOW MY ABC'S

Okay, I am definitely going to stop making these now (after I've done a PURPLE one!) The little ABC buttons on this one were one of my favourite features. They are just too cute.

I can't tell you how much fun these little sweater are to make, and so quick (as you can tell) because I've finished 3 complete sets in July as well as a turquoise jacket which is not pictured and is not lacy but plain.

I did go in a slightly different direction with the "skirt" of this sweater and adopted a double-eyelet pattern I got from Ann Norling. I think it worked very well but took a tiny bit more yarn than the original Cabin Fever pattern.


Joy in Knitting

AND HERE IT IS IN RED! (In Progress)

I thought I'd show you what this little Cabin Fever no-sew sweater project looks like on the needles. It looks all scary and stuff, right? Well despite the sleeve being on 3 dpn's (a practice which I heretofore eschewed) I have to say it still beats sewing up seams at the end of a project when all you want is to see it finished and gloat. So anyway, here's the red, which I think is turning out pretty nice even if I do say so myself. I should have this set done by the end of the week. Okay, maybe THEN I'll get back to the socks...

Joy in knitting and procrastinating...

AND HERE IT IS IN GOLD

I'M A LITTLE STAR!

I like to call this one "I'm a Little Star" because, obviously, of the little buttons. It is identical to the turquoise one shown below and was equally as much fun to make. Cabin Fever is my Friend!



Joy in No-Sew Knitting!

TOP DOWN CARDIGAN FOR NEWBORN

This little gem is a pattern by Cabin Fever whose specialty, as you may or may not know, is no-sew creations.

I am in love with this technique - seriously! No sewing. Gotta love it. This little creation was started on Sunday night - that's two nights ago. It's done and ready to wear. Knit in one piece. Love it. I got the pattern from The Purple Purl in Toronto, together with the Cabin Fever Tweed DK and cast on as soon as I got home.

I think this might must be my favourite pattern to make for newborns. Check out the little lady bug buttons.

Joy in knitting!

RELAY FOR LIFE 2008

Well, Relay is over for another year and it was a huge success, our team having raised almost $6,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society. We generated a lot of public interest this year as our tent was on the side of the park facing the street. We were "Knitting for a Cure". This is a program where we knit scarves and hats for people undergoing treatment for breast cancer. The yarn is donated and the scarves are given free of charge. Since the project's start, we have made and donated some 800 scarves and hats.

People came in droves, with children and dogs, we gave knitting and spinning lessons and a good time was had by all.

Visitors wanted to learn how, so we had a piece of "community knitting" that could be picked up by anyone and worked on for a row or two.

People gathered around the two spinning wheels onsite for a demonstration of how yarn is made. We were delighted that there was so much interest in the art.

This is Matty. Matty was taking her owner for a walk in the park and decided to stop by for a visit. She dressed in yellow, initially. Isn't she beautiful? Is there such a thing as a Wheaten Terrier Sweater? Hey, don't get any big ideas about shearing ME...

Upon detecting the "pink" theme, Matty insisted on being taken home for a bath and change of clothes. After a nice bath Matty was back, proudly sporting pink for the occasion. She was ever-such-a-lady.

This is Matty after she had learned everything there was to know about spinning, knitting and fiber arts and wanted to "move on" to the cheesy treats.

There is DEFINTELY joy in knitting!

MIDNIGHT MAGIC STARFISH

Awhile back, there was a great big fuss on the dishcloth list I belong to about Bernat Handicrafter Midnight Magic 100% cotton. Nay, not a fuss - more like a frenzy. As with such things, there was a flurry of activity involving said cotton - needles and knitters were coming out of the woodwork to knit with this glorious colourway. As is almost always the case when a colour becomes wildly popular, the lovely people who manufacture it promptly discontinue it. They did not disappoint this time.

Anyway, I had some set aside for just such an occasion as this - Sew-Funky's starfish pattern (pink one photographed below in earlier post) and I said to myself, "Myself," I said, "I bet Midnight Magic would be an ideal colour for the wee starfishie." Here it is. Let me know what you think?

I'm likin' it!

Joy in Knitting!

STAR GAZING

Well thanks again to Sew-Funky for another fabulous design. Check out this gorgeous starfish cloth and get the free pattern at Sew-Funky's site. I am in love with this design. It was so easy and addictive, I may have to have one in every hue. The one pictured here is in a wonderful pink variegated by Honeysuckle Yarns. Gotta go fishing...
Joy in Knitting!

"THE" SOCK (THAT'S SOCK, SINGULAR)

Well, folks, earlier in the year - like, January - I resolved to make another sock. It hasn't happened yet. I was hoping that Almighty God would take a row of the first sock's ribbing and make it a mate but apparently, this was a one-hit-wonder with the Almighty. Evidently, the Almighty doesn't do socks.

I COULD have just photographed the one sock twice and SAY I had made the mate but then you might as well put me in an overnight pouch and FedEx me straight to Hell, without passing GO and definitely without collecting $200 worth of sock yarn. So here is the one picture of the one sock. It has been so long since I made it that I lost the pattern. I tried using that as an excuse. You know, "But God, I lost the pattern - couldn't you just perform one more little miracle..." but He shook His head and wagged His admonishing digit in my face and said, "Pick up thy knitting needles and knit." He had an accomplice. Linda (of Linda's Craftique) was "kind enough" to provide me with another copy of the pattern. Gee, thanks. I even offered her some Heart Attack Pie (scroll down for the recipe) NOT to give me the pattern, but she and the Almighty are in cahoots - nay, thick as thieves.

So, I'm picking up my needles and the other half of the delish aloe and jojoba yarn and I'm off to the Sock Races...

Um, Joy in Knitting?

WINDMILL DISHCLOTH!

Thanks to blogger: http://sew-funky.blogspot.com/2008/05/windmill-dishcloth.html I have completed a Windmill Dishcloth. I love it! Thanks to Sew-Funky for creating this cloth. My version is pictured below. I used Sugar 'n Cream Floral Prints on 4.5 mm needles. This makes quite a large cloth and I think I will try size 4.0 mm for my next one (and there WILL be a next one!) Thanks Sew-Funky!

It's so delightfully Don Quixotic!

Joy in Knitting!

LUXURY TWEED DISHCLOTH

This is a picture of the stitch pattern.
Here's my latest cloth design and free pattern for y'all.

LUXURY TWEED CLOTH
(copyright 2008 by Judith Somersett)

Materials:

Your favourite dishcloth cotton in your favourite colour
Size 7 (4.5mm needles)

Special Stitches:

K1B (Knit one below): Insert right-hand needle into the next stitch one row below and knit, removing that stitch and the one above at the same time. A video demonstration of this stitch can be seen below this post.

Directions:

Cast on 35 stitches
Row 1 (WS) Knit

Commence 4-row repeat as follows:

Row 1 K1, *K1B, K1. Repeat from * to end of row
Row 2 Knit
Row 3 K2, *K1B, K1. Repeat from * to last stitch, K1
Row 4 Knit

Repeat these four rows until desired length, ending with either Row 2 or Row 4. Cast off and enjoy your very luxurious, cushy cloth!

Joy in Knitting!

Here's the video!
Knitting into the Row Below (K1B)

HEART ATTACK PIE

Some of the wonderful "sistas" on an e-mail list I belong to got to discussing what they would eat if it were the end of the world and they could have ANYTHING. I would opt for Heart Attack Pie.

Well, yes. That's what we had for dinner tonight. We have come to call it this because it's filled with extra-old white cheddar cheese and onion - that's with a top AND bottom crust. That's bad enough, but we have a side of sausages - fried to be sure - with the pie. All in all, it's a plate full of cardiovascular distress. Nay, it is a myocardial infarction wrapped in pastry.

Anyone want the recipe?

3 cups of shredded extra old white cheddar cheese
1 cup of chopped onion
pastry crusts (I buy the Tenderflake ready-made deep-dish pie crusts)

Boil the onion in a pan until transparent (don't fry them - that just seals the heart attack deal!)
Combine the cheese and onion in the pastry shell and put the lid on it. Vent the top crust and brush with egg.

Bake in pre-heated 350 degree oven for 1 hour and serve with your favourite side dish - ours is sausage.

What's that sound? Oh, it's my left ventricle slamming shut...

I invite comments. If you had one meal left and you could have ANYTHING - what would it be?

DEAD MAN WALKING WANTS TRIPE!

Dad (that's him with Q-tip down there - scroll down), when asked if he were on death row, what would his last meal be, sez:

"Fresh Tripe".

He sez this because we live in Canada and fresh tripe cannot be acquired here - well the Canucks SAY they have it but it's completely 'uneatable' (Dad's word - not mine - Dad's so cute) and I say, "Well, it can be done - it's only a 6-hour flight from England - prison warden gets on the horn and sez 'Dead man walking wants tripe' and in 6 hours, it's right in front of you." So to this, Dad says, "Well I'd wait until the tripe was in the air and then say 'I forgot to mention the trotters' - that would give me at least another 6 hours." I sez, "They HAVE trotters in Canada".

So come on folks. what would be your choice?

Joy in knitting (and eating...)

RELAY FOR LIFE 2008

Well, despite the outrageous cold last June (9 degrees C!) we are doing it again this year on June 20! We are packing the woolies just in case and thermoses of coffee / hot choc etc. because HECK it was cold last year! Funds collected for this fun event (all-night knitting and strolling around a track) go to the Canadian Cancer Society. Here is a link to my page if anyone cares to make a donation! Tax receipts are provided for donations of $25 or more (I believe).

Thanks in advance!


https://secureccs.ca/?inv=ef5256b0-ce90-4321-9c5d-1aa833875c0b <https://secureccs.ca/?inv=ef5256b0-ce90-4321-9c5d-1aa833875c0b>

I'll be sure to post pictures after the fact! Check out the ones below from last year's event (if you can find any of us among all the blankets!)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Well, it has been - lemmesee - too long since my last confession - er, post.

I have decided that on top of my list of resolutions is to knit a sock. I say "a sock" because I knit my first one approximately, um, over a year ago and since then it has been sitting in my sock drawer, alone, praying that Almighty God would take a row of its ribbing and make it a mate.

This is a lovely sock. It is made from fine yarn which is infused with aloe and jojoba. Delish. I threw a street party when I turned my first heel, but then I fell off the sock wagon as it were and started other projects, vowing to return and make the other sock. Didn't happen. I have to be good this year though, SO...

I visited my favourite knitting bookseller (Hi, Marsha!) and ordered a new book that will teach me (it says) to knit two socks at once on one circular needle???!!! Said book is by Melissa Morgan Oakes, called "2-At-A-Time-Socks". I remain reticent. I'll let you know how it works for me!

Happy Sock Knitting!