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
Tuesday, October 12, 2004 Back in the spring, I bought, "Knit a Square/Make a Toy" and set out to make at least one toy. Don't ask why I decided the camel was the toy to try. In retrospect, I realize I should have started with an animal that did not need to stand up.
I bought some camel-colored yarn and knit a dozen squares or so. Then I sewed most of the squares into tubes, stuffed them and sewed them together. This project took 10 months but most of that time, the squares sat lonely in my knitting closet, either waiting for me to buy the stuffing or do the stuffing. Finally, this weekend, I decided to put the thing together.
I was disappointed about how fat it turned out. I couldn't overstuff the tubes in order to make them firmer because they just stretched out more. The white stuffing sort of shows through but by not overstuffing, I avoided that. It didn't seem right that the legs and neck should be the same length. "Cammy," as I have dubbed him, is quite cute but so goofy looking. My husband was impressed because I have not completed any knit projects except for a ton of hats. And the recipient of Cammy will probably not notice that he doesn't stand up on his own. She's only a year and a half.
I think I may make one more toy from this book but opt for one that doesn't need to stand on its legs. It was extremely easy knitting up this project because it was literally all garter stitch squares (or rectangles)- the hard part (if you could even call it that) was sewing them all together. All of the toys require the same number of squares more or less so I will make the next toy smaller by making the squares smaller.
This is a great project book for children, but an adult will definitely have to sew the pieces together for them. Also, it's a good project for a number of children to work on together.
10/12/2004 07:27:00 AM
Wednesday, March 03, 2004
A side note:
I visited my gynecologist last Friday for my annual check-up. After the niceties, he asked, "Everything ok down there?"
3/03/2004 12:51:00 PM
Thursday, February 26, 2004 It's scarf time
I got the new spring Patternworks catalog and couldn't resist the S. Charles Collezione Rondo ribbon yarn in Carribbean. I was in the mood to make and knit a non-winter scarf for myself and lo and behold, Patternworks is offering this pattern with purchase of the yarn.
Then I decided to make a scarf for Kerin's birthday with the Berrocco Suede ribbon yarn with the Calamity Jane (purple) and Dale Evans (off-white) shades. I will probably work the two colors together because 4 stitches per inch is too small a gauge for me.
2/26/2004 09:56:00 PM
Hat stylesWith a turned up brimNo brimCables - next style to tackle 2/26/2004 09:49:00 PM
Wednesday, February 25, 2004 Humorous photo of the day
From my summer vacation in Hawaii. A coffee roasting/chocolate nut selling place.
2/25/2004 09:45:00 PM
Friday, February 20, 2004
My friend Fatty Davies made this AIM icon for me. You can use it too.
2/20/2004 10:37:00 PM
Tuesday, February 17, 2004 Top 10 Knitting Disses
10. You crochet? That's nice.
9. I've been knitting since I'm 6.
8. Oh- you're still using straights?
7. I lost count! You made me lose count!
6. I only knit for babies.
5. I only knit for people who've stopped growing.
4. I won't waste my time with acrylic yarn. Correlary: Yo mama knits with acrylic.
3. For me, it's bamboo/rosewood/Addi Turbos or it's nothing.
2. Shhh- I'm counting stitches!
1. Can we delay this conversation until I finish binding off?
2/17/2004 07:57:00 AM
Tuesday, February 10, 2004
Although I have not previously even mentioned that I was planning to start it, I have knit the front and back of the Jayla sweater which comes from Debbie Bliss' Quick Baby Knits. It's the roll-neck stocking stitch sweater on p.32-33. Since I am using size 2 needles and knitting 5 stitches per inch, it was really slow starting. At first, I was so frustrated with how long it was taking me, I swore never to knit at this gauge again. However, I learned that a Saturday spent on the couch watching TIVOed Law and Order: SVU episodes helps to add inches. Two weekends give me two sides of a 2T size sweater sweater. Otherwise, yes, 5 sts per inch is too slow for me.
The sweater is for my best friend's daughter Jayla who really is the most beautiful child. She's very bad about sleeping through the night, but she gets high marks in the cuteness department. So she deserves all this hard work.
While we are in Tahoe this weekend, I plan to knit the sleeves. I would start now but I am waiting for the straight needles I ordered to arrive. One of the frustrating things about knitting this sweater is the 29" circular needles that are too long and curly and drove me crazy throughout the knitting of the first piece. By the second piece, it sort of straightened itself out and I guess I got used to it. But for the sleeves, I should make my life easier.
2/10/2004 08:31:00 PM
Friday, January 16, 2004
I found out that my cousin Lynne was throwing her husband Dave a surprise 40th birthday party and, having decided that I would REALLY try to make all of my gifts from now on, I endeavored to knit his gift. I thought, "what can I knit the man who has everything? What does my cousin like?" I've known Dave my whole life but I really don't know that much about him. "OK," I thought. "Dave is management at a roofing company, likes to do his own home enhancements (he built his deck, I think), refuses to eat leftovers, and golfs so much he got carpal tunnel from it." Well, I wasn't going to knit him a hat so I found a pattern for one of those golf club sock covers that I've mocked in the past.
It was quite easy- knit flat, you rib for a while, then you increase, work even, then decrease until you bind off. Stitch up the edges and voila. The two patterns I found included vague instructions for knitting some duplicate stitch numbers. I had no idea what those numbers stood for so I asked my golf-loving boss who told me but then I totally forgot what he said. I called Lynne and asked her to sneak a look at his golf bag to see if he had any covers with numbers. As he didn't, and as I had never done a duplicate stitch before, I chose the numero uno.
I used a skein of black Lopi yarn which I had originally bought to make a hat for my sister-in-law but it was too damn scratchy to be next to naked skin. In the future, I won't bother using 100% wool for something that doesn't need to be kept warm. A skein of $2 acrylic will do just fine. For a few rows, I added some leftover grey worsted weight yarn to the Lopi (rather than do a true stripe because it was too skinny compared to the Lopi).
Here is the pattern I used and here is another pattern that I didn't. Neither had photos but at least the former was easier to understand. The latter was written out too confusingly. You'll see when you read the pattern.
Dave really liked it.
1/16/2004 10:23:00 PM
I am taking a break from knitting clothes and other wearables to knit a camel. Actually, a toy camel. I saw this book on Amazon called Knit a Square/Make a Toy. There are patterns for a cat, penguin, monkey, rabbit, duck, polar bear, kangaroo, several dogs, snake, mermaid, and some other things.
I decided to make the camel because I found a really nice tan worsted yarn at Michael's. Normally, I stay away from acrylic yarns but for a toy, I figured it was fine. I'm really impressed with this yarn- Caron Simply Soft. It really is very soft and un-acrylic-feeling.
I'm not making this camel for any particular baby. Perhaps Jayla will end up with it. I know I certainly don't need any stuffed animals but I could always save it for when we have a baby.
The patterns are fairly straight-forward- you literally knit a bunch of garter stitch squares and sometimes rectangles, then sew them together and stuff it. The camel pattern calls for 8 squares and a few rectangles. It's a little boring just doing garter stitch but it's quick. So far, I've done 3 1/2 squares.
I saw this in an Amazon review and I have to agree.
...in "translation" from the Australian version, some terms become unclear. The patterns refer to "8-ply" yarn, which I know is DK weight (intermediate between worsted and sport). But the needle size suggested is "5" - that can mean different things to knitters in Europe, the US, and the UK. Beginner knitters might be a bit frustrated by this.
Well, I didn't know that 8-ply is DK but I figured I would be safe using worsted. Also, no gauge guide so I was pretty clueless. Fortunately, as long as you knit the squares with the same type of yarn and same needle size, the toy will be in proportion. Of course, if you use extra chunky yarn like Takhi Baby, you're going to end up with one of those ridiculous "Look what my boyfriend won for me in the Midway!"-size stuffed animals. I just hope my gauge is tight enough that the stuffing doesn't pop out. I'm using a size 6 Addi Turbo needle which seems to be fine but perhaps next time I'll use smaller needles, like I do when I make hats. I could also try stockinette and other stitch patterns, just to mix it up a bit.
All in all, I think this is a great project book for the beginner or young knitter.
1/16/2004 10:04:00 PM
Sunday, January 11, 2004
My boss Sheril was jealous that my other boss was featured in my blog, if only as the butt of a joke. I tried to explain that my blog is primarily a knitting site but she still wanted in. After deciding that I wanted to try to make the Cowl half of the "Cowl and Howl Sweater" from the Stitch 'N Bitch book, I showed Sheril the picture and realized that I could make the Howl part for her beloved Shih Tzu Chloe. She requested hot pink yarn.
I used 2 balls of Rowan Polar and knit it up over Christmas. I enjoyed this yarn but the mohair in it shed all over so maybe it will not be a great choice for the human sweater. I will not divulge the pattern here out of respect for copyrights, but I will say that the pattern is quite easy. You measure the dog, knit two rectangles, sew em together and them pick up stitches to create the cowl neck.
Chloe loved the sweater and didn't want to take it off. Now, you may say to yourself, how does a dog let you know this. I guess it's because she didn't fight it when they put it on her and didn't try to chew it off when it was on her. Sheril did have to remove it so I could make some alterations. I didn't leave enough distance for the front leg holes so the cowl neck does not sit high enough around her neck.
1/11/2004 09:58:00 AM
Back in the spring, I bought, "
I got the new spring 
Then I decided to make a scarf for Kerin's birthday with the 
No brim
Cables - next style to tackle
It was quite easy- knit flat, you rib for a while, then you increase, work even, then decrease until you bind off. Stitch up the edges and voila. The two patterns I found included vague instructions for knitting some duplicate stitch numbers. I had no idea what those numbers stood for so I asked my golf-loving boss who told me but then I totally forgot what he said. I called Lynne and asked her to sneak a look at his golf bag to see if he had any covers with numbers. As he didn't, and as I had never done a duplicate stitch before, I chose the numero uno.
I used a skein of black Lopi yarn which I had originally bought to make a hat for my sister-in-law but it was too damn scratchy to be next to naked skin. In the future, I won't bother using 100% wool for something that doesn't need to be kept warm. A skein of $2 acrylic will do just fine. For a few rows, I added some leftover grey worsted weight yarn to the Lopi (rather than do a true stripe because it was too skinny compared to the Lopi).
I'm not making this camel for any particular baby. Perhaps Jayla will end up with it. I know I certainly don't need any stuffed animals but I could always save it for when we have a baby.
The patterns are fairly straight-forward- you literally knit a bunch of garter stitch squares and sometimes rectangles, then sew them together and stuff it. The camel pattern calls for 8 squares and a few rectangles. It's a little boring just doing garter stitch but it's quick. So far, I've done 3 1/2 squares.
I saw this in an Amazon review and I have to agree.
...in "translation" from the Australian version, some terms become unclear. The patterns refer to "8-ply" yarn, which I know is DK weight (intermediate between worsted and sport). But the needle size suggested is "5" - that can mean different things to knitters in Europe, the US, and the UK. Beginner knitters might be a bit frustrated by this.
Well, I didn't know that 8-ply is DK but I figured I would be safe using worsted. Also, no gauge guide so I was pretty clueless. Fortunately, as long as you knit the squares with the same type of yarn and same needle size, the toy will be in proportion. Of course, if you use extra chunky yarn like Takhi Baby, you're going to end up with one of those ridiculous "Look what my boyfriend won for me in the Midway!"-size stuffed animals. I just hope my gauge is tight enough that the stuffing doesn't pop out. I'm using a size 6 Addi Turbo needle which seems to be fine but perhaps next time I'll use smaller needles, like I do when I make hats. I could also try stockinette and other stitch patterns, just to mix it up a bit.
All in all, I think this is a great project book for the beginner or young knitter.
I used 2 balls of Rowan Polar and knit it up over Christmas. I enjoyed this yarn but the mohair in it shed all over so maybe it will not be a great choice for the human sweater. I will not divulge the pattern here out of respect for copyrights, but I will say that the pattern is quite easy. You measure the dog, knit two rectangles, sew em together and them pick up stitches to create the cowl neck.
Chloe loved the sweater and didn't want to take it off. Now, you may say to yourself, how does a dog let you know this. I guess it's because she didn't fight it when they put it on her and didn't try to chew it off when it was on her. Sheril did have to remove it so I could make some alterations. I didn't leave enough distance for the front leg holes so the cowl neck does not sit high enough around her neck.
