Works in progress
Duo long sleeve kid's sweater,
Spring 03 Knitty, Frosty blue Lion Brand Cotton-Ease - 60% done
V-Neck sweater, Yarn Girls (Wool-Ease Thick & Quick in Pewter) - 90% done
(need to rip out upper sleeve and reknit)
Spring green sweater tank (Katia Idea Jean, size 9 circular) - 80% done
Need to start
Something for my Secret Santee (due by Friday- eek!)
Hat for Harry
Finished projects Fall 2003
Green basket weave hat for me (Lion Brand Kool Wool in Grass, 3.25 sts=1", size 8 bamboo needle, cast on 64 sts)
Meghan's 12th Birthday hat(Lion Brand Wool-Ease in Rose Heather, double strand, 4 st=1", size 3 bamboo needle,
cast on 70 sts)
Rachel's 12th Birthday hat (Wool-Ease Chunky in Walnut, 3 sts=1", cast on 54 sts)
Jayla's blue hat - 8 months, head=18" (pre-felted yarn, blue-white varigated, 4.5 sts=1", size 3 needle, cast on 64 sts)
Kerin's Hannukah 2003 Hhat (Manos purple varigated, 3.5 sts=1", size 8 bamboo needle, cast on 66.5 stitches)
Baby hat w/ leftover Manos, head=13" (3.5 sts=1", size 8 bamboo needle, cast on 38 sts)
Baby hat w/ leftover felted yarn (4.5 sts=1", size 3 needle, cast on 50 sts)
Josh's Third Times' a Charm Hat (Noro silk/wool, double strand I think, 2.5-3 sts=1", cast on 46 sts)
Justin's Hannukah 03 Hat (Lamb's Pride Bulky in charcoal, 3-4 sts=1", cast on 57-76 sts, I forgot)
Julie's Christmas 03 Hat using FCEK Seed Stitch Cap (Cleckheaton Gusto 10 in black, cast on 44 st)
Sophie's blue striped hat (Debbie Bliss Cashmerino aran, held double, 3 sts=1", cast on 56 sts, 39 rows)
Matching American Girl Doll Hat, head=13" (Debbie Bliss Cashmerino aran, held double, 3 sts=1", cast on 32 sts, 22 rows)
Eric's Hannukah 03 Hat (Rowan Plaid in Storm, 3 sts=1", 4 rows, size 3 bamboo needle, cast on 60 sts)
Lisa's Hannukah 03 Ski Hat (Reynolds Lopi in baby blue, 4 sts=1", cats on 80 sts)
Lisa J.'s baby hat (Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece in Prosperous Plum, 3.5 sts=1", size 3 needle)
4 American Girl doll scarves for 4 cousins Spring 2003
White/baby blue/yellow/green cotton hat for Jayla
Pink/green hat for Jayla
Pink/green striped washcloth/burp cloth for Jayla
Baby blue and white Polarfleece hat for Rachel
"Skully" hat for Sandy
Hat for Lily (Plymouth Indecita Alpaca, size 8 bamboo circular needles, held double strand, cast on 60 sts)
Hat for Zach
Cel phone case
Birthday skully for Kerin
Pink merino hat for Skylar (Debbie Bliss merino dk, size 3 & 6 circular)
Hat for Tracy's baby (lavendar merino Zara, held double strand, size 10 circular)
Purple soft hat for me (GGH Aspen 50/50 Merino Wool/Acrylic, size 11 Addi Turbo, cast on 62 sts, 2.85 sts=1")
Green and blue tweed hat for Dad (Donegal Tweed, size 11 Addi Turbo, cast on 48 sts, 2.82 sts=1")
Yellow cotton washcloth
Red puffy hat for me (Puffy merino wool, size 15 cast on wood dps, cast on 39 sts, 2 sts=1")
2 American Girl Doll scarves (Red Heart variegated)
Green merino scarf (Rowan big wool 100% merino wool, size 19 Addi Turbo circular & 19 straights)
D Knitty
Danielle's Knitting Blog
Friday, February 28, 2003
This really made m crack up. I was reading a list of Knitting "Lessons from the School of Hard Knocks"
on Fiber Gypsy- http://www.fibergypsy.com/common/hardknock.shtml.I teach beginning knitting through the extended studies program at the local university, and at the first class I tell my knitters there are three things you will say, and when you've said them, you'll know you are a knitter: Anonymous
The house could be on fire, you could be late to the wedding of a child or close relative or dear friend, or in labor, and you will say "Wait till I get to the end of this row......."
To a person to whom you would listen attentively under normal circumstances, you will say, "DON'T TALK TO ME, I'M COUNTING"
More often muttered than spoken clearly, but repeated throughout one's knitting life, regardless of years knitting or level of expertise, you will say " 112, 113, 114, 115, 11...... SSH***T! 1, 2, 3, 4, "
This is so me.
2/28/2003 10:54:00 PM
I'm working on my pattern binder. I bought sheet protectors and am putting my magazine, xeroxed, printed from the internet and purchased patterns in it, organizing by: hat, baby, scarves and accessories, sweaters, home decor, techniques, yarn shops.
Current project update:I finished the hat for baby Zach. I made it rather large because he is 1 years old but is about the size of an 18 month old and getting bigger everyday. I wish I could post a photo of him because he's the cutest little guy but my cousin wouldn't like that. Instead, here's a scan of the hat.
I've learned an interesting thing about hats- heads are big! The average man's head is 22" around, as is Josh's and my mother's. My head is 23". My brother's head is 23". A few of my friends' heads are 23" too. My stepfather Harry's head is 24". My brother's girlfriend and my 11 year old cousins' heads are 21 1/2". Baby Zach's head is 19". A newborn is 15". Isn't it crazy that my head is only a few inches wider than a baby?
Here's the hat for Nanaaba's baby, Skylar. I finished it last Saturday.
OK, I gotta go to the bathroom and get the hell out of here. It's 5:10- what am I still doing at work on a Friday night? I am not really looking forward to the subway because yesterday there were some problems and a normally 30 minute trip took almost an hour and I didn't get a seat until Roosevelt or Continental!
2/28/2003 05:11:00 PM
Tuesday, February 25, 2003
I found a great resource at elann.com. You select a yarn and they give you the gauge and let you search for other yarns that yield the same gauge. Click Yarn Info Finder under Info on the left side. I tried getting a direct link but they have their frames set up in a way that won't let you go right to the direct page.
Here is another yarn substitution resource. http://members.citynet.net/cloudninedesign/yarnsub/database.html
I definitely gotta start shopping this site because they have tons of closeouts and "oddballs." They have a Bargain Finder search feature too.
2/25/2003 03:14:00 PM
I placed my first Lion Brand order after carrying around the catalog for weeks.
I got:
2 skeins of Kool Wool in Grass
1 skein of Watercolors in Pink Pearls for Meghan's headband
1 skein of Polarspun in Delft for Rachel's hat
1 skein of Wool-Ease Chunky in Walnut for Sandy
1 pair Lion Brand double pointed needles, size 8
1 pair Addi Turbo 16" circulars, size 9
Sweater stone
2/25/2003 09:26:00 AM
I invested $80 in my newest project- a tank sweater for the summer. I bought 8 balls of Katia Idea Jeans ribbon/tape in lime green and Laura at The Yarn Co. wrote a pattern for me. It cost $9.95 a ball. Here's the yarn: http://www.theyarnco.com/brand_display/150
On Sunday and Monday, I knit up Josh's Noro hat. I forgot to do a gauge, as Nicky suggested after I had to switch to larger needles (because the store didn't have any more circular 8s), so it came out too big. Josh's head measured 22" around, so the hat should have been 20" but it turned out to be 23"! I was so mad at myself. I felt like such a fuckup. However, once I remembered that I had forgotten to do the gauge, I felt a little better. Dumb, and kicking myself, but better. Josh reasoned that it was only a hat and it only took me two days and not two months. I ended up taking the whole thing apart so I can reuse the yarn. I did some swatches on different size needles and then with two strands and I was pleased. Actually, Josh was pleased. He kept saying, I want it to be like the hat you made for your dad. Thicker!
I finished Kerin's birthday present. I still need to figure out what to make for Kerin's baby, but I have a few weeks. I think I'll send Kerin her present now because the baby is due on her birthday and I don't know if she'll have the opportunity to use my gift as much once the baby arrives. No, it's not a maternity sweater.
2/20/2003 07:53:00 AM
Saturday, February 15, 2003
I knit a hat for Tracy's baby/baby shower today in record time. I started around 10 am and finished by 2 pm but did other stuff in between (showered, ate, etc.). It was a little stressful because of the time issue and because I was worried I would run out of yarn. Also, I was having trouble decreasing. I'm so glad Beth lent me those size 5 dps otherwise I couldn't have finished.
Next to finish Nanaaba's hat and start Josh's Noro Kabuto hat. http://www.theyarnco.com/brand_display/122
I am also working on something for Kerin's birthday but I won't go into detail in case she reads my blog. I also have to decide what to make for Kerin's baby- hat or something else. Since I only know how to make hats and scarves and babies don't wear scarves, I guess I'm making a hat! I could also make a washcloth, but it's not as cool as a hat. I've already made her a blanket (sewn) but as her default "aunt," I feel the need to shower this child with handmade gifts.
Side bar: My next door neighbor just came home and I can hear her cooing to her cat. Now I can hear the cat meow. I have heard this for the last few nights. I've never seen this woman but I've heard her greet her cat.
I just got home myself from Tracy's baby shower. It started later than it was supposed to and then I went back with Nanaaba to her cousin's house and hung out for a few hours. I liked hanging out with them but it was getting late and I was nervous about driving back and also felt bad because Josh was expecting me. The drive back went pretty smoothly and I even managed to park the car myself.
Last night, after work, I went to the Yarn Co. to get yarn for Tracy's baby's hat and for Josh's hat. It was so packed. I told Nicky I wanted to get on her waiting list for help and she told me it would be at least 10 minutes. She helped me pick out the baby yarn (Zara merino wool in lavender) and wrote two patterns for me. There was this really annoying woman there who kept bugging everyone for help with a sweater collar. Maybe there was a mistake in the pattern or maybe she was just dense, but she couldn't get a satisfactory solution from anyone, not Nicky, Laura, this woman I'd never seen before, nor the co-owner Julie. At one point, she said to Laura, "If I can't do this at home, I'm coming back!" Laura said back, "Is that a threat?" When she recounted this story, Laura said, "I can't believe I said that!" I brought Laura an Avon brochure because I remembered that she told me last week that her father had been a District Sales Manager. She was excited to see the catalog. Maybe I'll make a sale! Then I could be like "I'll trade my employee discount for yours!" like I did with Paula and Tupperware. Actually, I'm only too glad to spend my money at the Yarn Co. I would rather give them my business than the bitchy women at the Yarn Garden in Plainview.
That store is terrible! The stock is fine but forget about getting assistance. Esther told me it was the closest yarn shop to David and Sharon's, but only later did she tell me that they're jerks. I had to ask them several times where the hat patterns were and then trying to get help figuring out which yarn and needles to get. And then when I picked out some nice Debbie Bliss Cashmerino fingerling, the one woman said, "Are you crazy? It'll take you forever!" I ended up using sport-weight but not because of what she said. Does she say that to everyone who wants to buy fingerling? What a jerk.
OK, I really need to write this letter for Stacey. I haven't had time all week and now I must do it.
2/15/2003 11:28:00 PM
Friday, February 14, 2003
Last weekend, I did this whole nerdy thing of making gauge swatches for this junky Red Heart acrylic yarn because I was curious. So I did stockinette swatches with size 7, 8 and 11 needles. Then I did a 2x2 rib but I forgot to note which size needle.
2/14/2003 09:48:00 AM
Thursday, February 13, 2003 My kniting friends
I became friendly with this girl Andrea from my Purl class, after the class ended. We've been emailing back and forth, trying to work out some time to get together and knit. We keep meaning to check out the Stitch n Bitch at the Java and Jazz Cafe (Tuesday from 7-9 pm) but for the last two weeks something or another has come up for both of us.
There's an Avon Knitting Circle that meets every Wednesday in the Law Library. It's organized by this woman Beth who was described to me as a master knitter. I had seen her around tons of times but never knew who she was before. I've only been to one of the circles so far. Beth helped me fix some weird thing I did with Josh's alpaca scarf and she also helped me put the green/blue Dad hat back on the needles after I ripped out a couple of rows. (Tip Time: She suggested I use a smaller size to put them back on. She also suggested casting on with a larger needle.) She was very impressed with the work I did on the hat and said I'm a really good, consistent knitter. She says my stitches are really even. That makes me feel so good because I feel like I'm such a slob in most aspects of my life, even sewing.
This woman Rebecca Hartranft from Urban Knitter says I'm what her knitting partner calls a "freaky knitter" because I have become so utterly absorbed in knitting. I read knitting magazines, started buying books, checking out web sites, trolling message boards. I really hope this doesn't turn into another short-term hobby like the soap making.
Yarn Lemming, to borrow a term from Makeup Alley
-I told Josh I would make him a hat out of this cool black and grey Noro. Need to pick that up at Yarn Co.
-This Cotton Tape Yarn looks neat.
-Cotton to make some baby hats
-Rowan Biggie Print. Andrea used this to make a scarf. Only thing is it requires size 30 needles! I'll have to ask to borrow hers.
2/13/2003 04:37:00 PM
Side bar...
One of my cosmetics swapping friends, Michele, makes amazingly yummy votives and tarts. I asked her for her fragrance sources...
http://www.wixnwax.com
http://store.yahoo.com/scentsupply/
http://www.candlesupply.us
http://www.naturesgardencandles.com/
http://www.kycandlewaxsupply.com/
http://www.wholesalesuppliesplus.com/default.asp
2/12/2003 10:40:00 PM
I finished the purple hat while watching Angel. I decided not to rip out the rows and try to fix it because, knowing myself, I would set it aside for later. It's very important for me to be consistent in my projects and to be working on something that will eventually get finished. It's okay for me to have a bunch of works in progress. I just need to make sure I touch all of them at least once every other day.
It's a good 1 inch wider and 2 inches longer than the hat I made for my dad.
The pink baby hat is turning into a pain. I tried to decrease on the circulars but I made the stitches too tight and can't move them around. So I started undoing them but I got annoyed with myself and had to put it down. I'll bring it to work and maybe ask Beth for some help.
In other annoying news, the photos are not showing up in the blog. I don't know why. I don't feel like springing for Blog Spot Plus until I know I am regular about undating this thing. I can't really rationalize an additional $50 just for the blog. So I need to find some other free options besides Ofoto. Homestead, Yahoo, etc.?
2/12/2003 10:23:00 PM
This hat started out as a gift for Tracy's baby, who is due March 21. However, as I was knitting it, it became clear that it's going to be way too big for a newborn and a little too hot for the baby to wear this summer because it's merino wool. So I'm giving it to Nanaaba's baby, Skylar.
I based it on the pattern for the white hat in this pattern, except without the folded ribbed brim and no pompom. Also, I knit it in the round instead of on straights.
2/12/2003 08:09:00 AM
I just tried it on, and with about 5 rows left, the purple hat is too loose. I think I need to rip out the last 20 rows and start decreasing from there. Arg. I was hoping to finish it tonight.
Here's the brim. 2/12/2003 08:03:00 AM
Tuesday, February 11, 2003
When I was a kid, my Aunt Claire taught me how to knit. She gave me some variegated yarn, tiny needles and started me on a scarf for Barbie. One day, I put the knitting down and didn't pick it up for a long time. When I did, I couldn't remember what to do. I guess I wasn't that interested in re-learning because I never asked her to show me again.
Aunt Claire was a big time knitter, knitting sweaters for the adults in the family. The reason for this being she felt that it was a waste of time to knit for anyone who was still growing because it took such a long time to make a sweater. I never benefited from her talent because she had stopped knitting by the time I stopped growing. In hindsight, I'm glad I never received a sweater because the 1980's were a time of big puffy shoulders, mutton sleeves, high Victorian necks, tapered sleeves and a variety of other styles that, while quite popular at H&M, will never look good on me. If I had been gifted by Aunt Claire, I would be self-guilted into wearing the sweater evey few years.
I remember Kerin telling many several years ago that she would teach me how to crochet and how we should take a knitting class together. I can remember standing in her Park Slope apartment while she said this so it had to be at least 3 years ago.
In any case, I was always sort of interested but lazy and forgetful. It wasn't until I saw a writeup in Lucky (I think) about Purl that I was reminded of how I wanted to learn. I told myself that my Christmas present to myself would be to sign up for a class after the new year. And I did.
So I re-learned how to knit through a Beginner's Knitting class at Purl, a cute little yarn shop in Soho. My teacher was Diana Rupp, co-owner of her own knitting/sewing/crochet school called Make Workshop. Diana taught us to knit Continental, which I have since learned the following:
-not very common, as most people seem to knit american or english style
-more ergonomic (according to Diana)
-somewhat old school (according to ladies in my work knitting circle)
-very fast (for me)
-confusing to those who don't knit this way
It cost $125 which seemed kind of pricey at first, but too bad considering that I have a new passion.
This is my first knitting and its progression until I ripped it out to reuse the yarn. As you can see, it has at least 5 dropped stitches and mysterious increases. I learned that I was picking up extra stitches at the beginning of each row because I didn't know how to hold the yarn.
I picked up some cheap yarn at JoAnn's and commenced working on Hannukah presents for my 4 little cousins' American Girl Dolls. They are obsessed with these dolls and I am happy to oblige them, at least with handmade clothing for them as holiday gifts. I figured I had 11 months to make 4 scarves, which was plenty reasonable. Of course, now I am a "freaky knitter" (more on this later) and could probably whip out hats for them as well as an entire wardrobe of woolen wear.
Here is a close-up of scarf #1, which Chris and Angie called the Rasta Scarf.
Here's scarf #2.
I started practicing on some cheap white Lion Brand stuff. I tried different stitch patterns. I learned that I love the look of stockinette and ribs, but damn, I hate to purl and I am really bad about getting distracted and forgetting if I just knit or purl.
Before the class ended, I started working on a new "serious" project. A scarf for myself out of the softest sherbert lime Rowan merino wool. It's really really long. It was my first finished project. I used a size 19 Addi Turbo circular but it got really annoying, twisting it around after each row. I ended up buying some silly looking straights that are as big as baseball bats. That went sooo much faster. I was proud to swing it around my neck but quite dismayed to learn how horribly it sheds. It's like having a mint green cat! I am really disappointed because it's so soft and pretty and cool looking. I'm thinking I might try to felt it to cut down on the shedding.
My next project was to be a hat to go with my scarf. I walked into The Yarn Co. on the upper west side and asked for a hat pattern. I fully expected to be pointed to a book that I would have to purchase. Instead, the woman said, "Pick out the yarn you want and I'll write you a pattern." I was thrilled! I found some nice puffy red merino wool that didn't seem sheddy. Nicky helped me get started with some double pointed needles because I had decided to challenge myself and because I didn't want to buy two sets of needles for one project. I noticed that at some point, the hat was starting to get purled instead of knit. I decided to proceed and finished it reverse stockinette. I finished it in 2 or 3 nights. I was so damn proud of myself. I feel like it looks like the head of a penis, but oh well.
Hot on the heels of this project, I went back to The Yarn Co. and asked Nicky to write me another two patterns. She helped me pick out two colors of Donegal Tweed that I would knit together and I made this in 2 1/2 days. I would have finished it sooner but I did the reverse stockinette thing again, ripped it out, but couldn't get it back on the needles. I had to get Beth from the Avon Knitting Circle to help me. (I finished it that night.)
Here's the yarn.
Here's the hat.
2/11/2003 06:11:00 PM
I'm starting this knitting blog because Kerin said I should document my knitting. I thought knitting blogs were kind of silly, at first, but now I really understand the need to keep track of my knitting progress. So mad props to Kerin.
The name D Knitty comes from my husband's new moniker for me, taking off on P Diddy, the artist formerly known as Puff Daddy aka Sean Combs. You have to sing it like that P Diddy song. 2/11/2003 11:33:00 AM
I've learned an interesting thing about hats- heads are big! The average man's head is 22" around, as is Josh's and my mother's. My head is 23". My brother's head is 23". A few of my friends' heads are 23" too. My stepfather Harry's head is 24". My brother's girlfriend and my 11 year old cousins' heads are 21 1/2". Baby Zach's head is 19". A newborn is 15". Isn't it crazy that my head is only a few inches wider than a baby?
Here's the hat for Nanaaba's baby, Skylar. I finished it last Saturday.
OK, I gotta go to the bathroom and get the hell out of here. It's 5:10- what am I still doing at work on a Friday night? I am not really looking forward to the subway because yesterday there were some problems and a normally 30 minute trip took almost an hour and I didn't get a seat until Roosevelt or Continental!
1 skein of Watercolors in Pink Pearls for Meghan's headband 
1 skein of Polarspun in Delft for Rachel's hat 
1 skein of Wool-Ease Chunky in Walnut for Sandy 
1 pair Lion Brand double pointed needles, size 8
1 pair Addi Turbo 16" circulars, size 9
Sweater stone
The pink baby hat is turning into a pain. I tried to decrease on the circulars but I made the stitches too tight and can't move them around. So I started undoing them but I got annoyed with myself and had to put it down. I'll bring it to work and maybe ask Beth for some help.
In other annoying news, the photos are not showing up in the blog. I don't know why. I don't feel like springing for Blog Spot Plus until I know I am regular about undating this thing. I can't really rationalize an additional $50 just for the blog. So I need to find some other free options besides Ofoto. Homestead, Yahoo, etc.?
I picked up some cheap yarn at JoAnn's and commenced working on Hannukah presents for my 4 little cousins' American Girl Dolls. They are obsessed with these dolls and I am happy to oblige them, at least with handmade clothing for them as holiday gifts. I figured I had 11 months to make 4 scarves, which was plenty reasonable. Of course, now I am a "freaky knitter" (more on this later) and could probably whip out hats for them as well as an entire wardrobe of woolen wear.
Here is a close-up of scarf #1, which Chris and Angie called the Rasta Scarf.
Here's scarf #2.
I started practicing on some cheap white Lion Brand stuff. I tried different stitch patterns. I learned that I love the look of stockinette and ribs, but damn, I hate to purl and I am really bad about getting distracted and forgetting if I just knit or purl.
Before the class ended, I started working on a new "serious" project. A scarf for myself out of the softest 
My next project was to be a hat to go with my scarf. I walked into The Yarn Co. on the upper west side and asked for a hat pattern. I fully expected to be pointed to a book that I would have to purchase. Instead, the woman said, "Pick out the yarn you want and I'll write you a pattern." I was thrilled! I found some nice puffy red merino wool that didn't seem sheddy. Nicky helped me get started with some double pointed needles because I had decided to challenge myself and because I didn't want to buy two sets of needles for one project. I noticed that at some point, the hat was starting to get purled instead of knit. I decided to proceed and finished it reverse stockinette. I finished it in 2 or 3 nights. I was so damn proud of myself. I feel like it looks like the head of a penis, but oh well.
Hot on the heels of this project, I went back to The Yarn Co. and asked Nicky to write me another two patterns. She helped me pick out two colors of Donegal Tweed that I would knit together and I made this in 2 1/2 days. I would have finished it sooner but I did the reverse stockinette thing again, ripped it out, but couldn't get it back on the needles. I had to get Beth from the Avon Knitting Circle to help me. (I finished it that night.)
Here's the yarn.
Here's the hat.
