The beginning...

    Today I decided was a good day to start the booties from yesterdays post. They are from Bonita Designs, by the way. I found some suitable yarn in my stash, and dug out my size D, 3.25 mm crochet hook.


    At that point I had my first doubts. This hook is so very tiny. I might need a microscope just to see what I'm doing with it. At the very least, a magnifying glass. Here is a photo I took, with the hook next to a dime:

    Do you feel my pain? Now here is a photo of that same dime, next to the size hook I prefer, and usually use:

     So far, I have struggled through 8 rows of the sole of one bootie. It is less than one inch long. Why is it that the tiny things get me every time? I may have to wait until this kid is a teenager with size 13 feet before I make him any booties.


    I am getting discouraged, but will persevere. At least for now. I just want to know if I can do it. It could be the yarn I chose isn't the best for the job. I found some Patons Stretch Sock, in the colorway Mineral. It's mostly blue. I thought it might be a good idea to make stretchy booties. It turns out that stretchy yarn is a bit difficult to work with. Who knew?

exciting knitting news!

    I'm so excited! Last night, the practice sweater body came off the needles! Unbelievable! It was very satisfying. The next step is to find the smaller needles, and pick up the stitches around the neckline, to start the collar.

    Of course, the first thing I did, after it came off, was to try it on, It fit me! It was snugger than I like, but I was thrilled I could get it on at all. After the collar, then I can tackle the sleeves. I will need to buy more of the blue yarn for that, I'm almost out already! I thought I had more, but I couldn't find it in my stash.

Tah Dah! One Down, One to Go!

    And here it is, the promised photo of the first finished pot holder!

    I altered the pattern slightly, as it was too short, more a rectangle than a square. I added rows at the bottom and top,  as well as one in the jaw part, and one between the top of the nose and the start of the eyes.


    I am pleased with how it came out, and have already started the second one. Yesterday, when we were out, I had Hubs stop at A.C. Moore and I ran in and got a different color for the second one. I am keeping the bright pink for myself.


    I worked on the second one last night, when I couldn't sleep. I went in to bed, tossed and turned for an hour, then came back out and took a med. I sat here, watching TV and crocheting until I finally felt sleepy. I think I went back in about 2:30.


    If I didn't mention it before, this project comes from The Happy Hooker, Stitch 'n Bitch Crochet, by Debbie Stoller. The actual potholders were designed by Kacy Fallon.


    I decided not to post photos of the second pot holder, to keep the color combo a secret, as my beloved daughter reads my blog...

Change of Plans Due to Epic Fail

    Well, I tried. I really did. I cast on all those 301 stitches, really loosely so it wouldn't be too tight when it was done. I was about halfway through the second row when I realized I was beyond my skill level. So right in the middle of the row,  > gasp < , I put it down.


    You see, it's kind of dark in my house. I figure if only I could knit outside, where it's nice and bright, I might be able to do this project as planned. The dark makes it very hard to see the black yarn stitches, and the fact that the stitches are so small doesn't help matters.


    After thinking about it the rest of the evening, and then again this morning, I have decided on an alternate plan. First, I will wind up the (possibly) Tip it Ewe Lush, and try that for the cob web border. It might be easier to see, and the black can still be used for the body, as it's all stockinette with decreases.
   
    If that doesn't pan out, I do have a plan C. I will forget about the black all together, and use some beautiful natural that I have somewhere, in one of my stashes. I am pretty sure I have more than 1000 yards of it, so it will do.


    A wiser knitter than myself pointed out to me that it was brave to try and use black for this project, it turns out I wasn't brave, but foolish. I remember when I bought it, I was planning on making black socks. I doubt that will ever get done either. I will probably crochet something with it, if this plan B doesn't work out.


   The stitches are still sitting there, glaring at me on the needles. I can't bring myself to frog them yet.

  

In Which I Go Stash Diving!

    Yup. Today I went stash diving. I was looking for something specific, a pair of crocheted pot holders that I had made for my MIL and that we got back when she passed away. I wanted to show them to Kim, my knitting buddy. I couldn't find them. I've looked all over this house and still can't find the stupid things.


    However, while stash diving, I did make a very interesting find! I pulled out a skein of  > gasp <  black Malabrigo sock yarn! Then a second. Then a third! And OMG there was a fourth! I was in sock yarn heaven! Much to my surprise, I also pulled out a skein of AtKnitsEndYarns sock yarn too! I'm not sure which colorway it is, but as it's dark red and black/brown, I think it might be Tip It Ewe Lush. It's probably a skein she rejected as not "perfect", I am the luckiest minion on the planet, to know a dyer who gives you her "failures"!!

    This discovery got me thinking, I could make another Arachno Shawl, by Jennifer Dassau!! A black one! I think I could also work in the Ewe Lush, between the cobweb edging, at the beginning of the main body.


    So I got out my swift and ball winder, and started winding. I did two of the Malabrigos for now. If I can get the edging going without any mistakes, I will wind up the Tip It Ewe Lush. So there I was, casting on 301 stitches of sock yarn on a size 7 circular needle. I put stitch markers every fifty stitches, because hanging around with someone who can't count seems to have rubbed off.

    As you can see in the above photo, one of the little buggers gave me a harn time while I was winding him. That's why the left one is so small, and why I'm using it first.


   I have completed the first row of the cobweb edging. It's a bit difficult working with the black sock yarn, as it's hard to see the stitches because they're so small. This may take a while.

    I love going diving in my stash, I never know what goodies I will find! Somewhere in there are the two big hanks of Lace weight, one natural one back, that I bought at Rhinebeck last fall. And who knows what other goodies I've bought and forgotten about!! It really is like Festivus in July! So watch this space for photos of my progress, if I dont' have to frog and start over....

Arachno Shawl is Done!!

Last night:

  Tah-dah!! The Arachno Shawl is finally done. I just bound it off a little while ago. It was a fun knit, I have to say. Now I just have to block it, and hope it can stretch out to a decent size. You see, it seems it's a bit on the small side. I personally prefer large shawls, hence my favorite motto, Go Big or Go Home!

I will post pics of shawl post blocking.

In which I find a new project to do!

    After much soul and stash searching, I have finally found a new project. A certain very cute Puerto Rican man has a young son. Once upon a time he asked me to make a blanket for this youngster. At the time, I refused. I was working on lots of different things, and didn't have the inclination to start an afghan.


    Well, ladies and gentlemen, that worm has turned. I was searching for something to make, and this request came to mind. So I went and visited with the daddy in question today. It turns out that his son would love a blanket in the very color that I have in abundance! As soon as I got home, I began to crochet.


    On the way home, I was momentarily distracted by a sign on a local nail salon here in town. It stated - "Come in for a Spa Pdeicure". Now, this sign so distracted me, that as I was sitting at a red light, I very nearly forgot to go when the light turned green again! I got involved considering the possibilities. Store keeper can't read? Store employee doesn't care? Store personnel can't read English? And no one has informed anyone in this establishment of the error on their signage? It boggles the mind.


    I am, without a doubt, absolutely bonkers when it comes to spelling and things. It could come from both my parents being teachers. Or it could come from a lifetime of reading. But either way, I go totally nuts when I see spelling mistakes, especially when the people who wrote it are supposedly college educated.  Like engineers!


    I worked for many years in the semiconductor industry, with all these supposedly smart engineers who couldn't spell to save their lives. They would make up these forms we were supposed to fill out, and misspell words! On official company documents! Makes me mad, I tell you, mad!!  >>breathe in, breathe out<<  OK, I'm calmer now.