Knitting in Hawaii

Hello - I hope that you are doing well. I'm headed on vacation tomorrow evening. I'm so excited! Andy and I are going to Hawaii - away from the blizzards of Wisconsin to the tropics of Hawaii. What better way to get a reprieve from the Wisconsin winter ????

One of the most important parts of planning our trip this year was determining my vacation knitting project. Based upon the suggestion of the gals at the Knitting Tree, my vacation knitting project will be the Yoga Wrap from the Winter 2005/06 Vogue Knitting. Here is a picture of what I am knitting.

I am super excited about this project. I'm using my favorite yarn (malabrigo), favorite needles (dutch treats), a fun pattern, and finally knitting something for myself. Here are a couple of pictures of the yarn and the beginning of the project. Now that I know how to really purl I won't have any twisted stitches.

Also, over the weekend, I completed a "just because" gift to my neighbors Don and Mike - knitted dish towels and lavender mint dish soap.

Okay. That is all for now. I'll right again when I return to from vacation. Until then, happy knitting.

Confessions of a Twisted Stitcher

Today in my post I'm going to: (1) confess that I have been a twisted stitcher; (2) show you the completed sweater for my mom; and (3) show you a random knitting project that I started and completed over the weekend.

First things first. I am a twisted stitcher. I have been knitting for several years now and I just found out that I have been purling incorrectly. While at the The Knitting Tree this weekend asking questions about the sweater I've been working on, the owner, Jackie, ever so sweetly told me that my stitches were twisted. Of course I was totally confused and did not know what she was talking about. Then she showed me - on ever other row of the stockinette stitch the stitches were overlapping rather than laying flat. This in the entire sweater that I knit for my mother in Rowan Tapestry yarn! Take a look a the picture below ... you'll see what I mean. The stitches are totally overlapping - how irritating.

After discovering that my stitches were twisted Jackie taught me how to purl. A little embarrassing - but totally necessary. Apparently, this is a relatively common aliment among knitters. So, know I know how to purl - I love the folks at the Knitting Tree :)

Second, event though my stitches were totally twisted, I seamed up the sweater that I made for my mom (totally belated x-mas gift). I'm very happy with how it turned out.

Pattern: Lizzy

Source: Naturally Noro

Yarn: Rowan Tapestry (fantastic yarn)

Needles: Size 8, Dutch Treats, Handcrafted by Dutch Vanden Heuvel in Eau Claire, WI (by the way, I swear that these are some of the best circular needles EVER - so in Madison, exclusively at my favorite place - The Knitting Tree)

Here are some photos of the finished result:

I so happy that this project is completed. Over the weekend I decided that I wanted to make a felted purse - so I did just that. A quick, fun and super easy project. I very happy with the finished product. Now, I need to determine who will be the lucky recipient of the bag as a gift.

Pattern: Clutch You'll Never Give Up

Source: One Skein

Yarn: Aquarella Malabrigo (super chunky)

Needles: Size 15 Dutch Treats

Here are some photos of the finished project

That's all for now. Happy knitting!

Knitting Vocabulary & Ruffles Intermission

I've taken a break from ruffles to complete an unfinished object. Before I show you the pictures of the finished project I'm going to define some of the knitting acronyms that I use on makabaka.

Knitting Acronyms

FO - Finished Object

KAL - Knit-A-Long

KIP - Knitting In Public

LYS - Local Yarn Store

LYSO - Local Yarn Store Owner

SEX - Stash Enrichment eXpedition (aka going to the knitting store)

UFO - Unfinished Object

WIP - Work In Progress

I'm sure that knowing these acronyms will absolutely make you want to become a knitter, right? ;)

This past week I have been busy finishing a hat for a friends baby - the hat was supposed to be completed when the baby was born - 6 mos ago. But as you know, I'm always behind on my knitting. The pattern says that it can fit babies from 3 to 6 mos - so, maybe it will still fit.

Here is a pre-blocking picture.

Pattern: Simple Hat with Triangle Edging
Source: Debbie Bliss, Number One

Yarn: Baby Cashmerino, Debbie Bliss

Yarn Details: 55% merino wool; 33% microfiber; 12% cashmere

I'm very happy with how the project turned out. There are booties to match this hat - ones that I completed a long time ago - check out the knitting gallery. Also, in the knitting gallery you will see a similar project in light blue for the baby's twin brother - twin's names - lily and sam. How cute.

In addition to finishing this hat, I'm working on finishing my mom's Christmas gift - a sweater. All of the pieces are completed it just needs to be sewn up. This will be my first Adult sweater that I've ever completed. The pattern is a Naturally Noro pattern - instead of using Noro yarn I used Rowan Tapestry - which I love.

That is all for now - Happy Knitting!

Yellow Ruffles

I'm still working on the ruffles scarf for Kelly. It is such a fun scarf to knit! I'm knitting it Berroco Alpaca - it is so soft. Here are a couple of pictures of my progress on this scarf to date.

















Here is a bit of a closer view.

I love this scarf. I may end up making one for myself - well maybe not. I have this habit of not knitting for myself. I really like this scarf - I would just feel too guilty to make one for myself. Anyone else out there have trouble knitting for themselves?

That is all for now.

Later,

Angela

Hello

I'm so tired right now. I don't even know why I'm posting any thing. No new knitting news other than the scarf that I'm working on is continuing to grow. I'm working on the ruffles scarf from the Scarf Style book. It is a going away present for a friend who just moved to DC. In true Angela style the scarf, of course, was not completed before she left - so again I am behind.

Here is a picture of what the scarf will look like when completed.

I'll post a picture of my progress on the scarf soon. It is a great scarf to knit - super easy but not boring. I am using alpaca that is sooo soft.

Happy knitting!

Perfect Knitting Weather

Don't you think that this weather is just perfect for knitting??? It is so cold that I just want to cover myself in some merino wool. Then again, I think that most weather is fantastic knitting weather.


Have any of you been to blackberry woolen mill in mt horeb? They spin and dye their own wool. It is such a cool place. Here is a picture of me there in November 2006.

















Speaking of LYS I'm adding a list of my favorite LYSs to the blog. As many of you probably know, my personal fav is the knitting tree on monroe street.


Happy knitting!

New Blogger

Welcome to knitting for makabaka! This is my very first blog. I love knitting, looking at knitting blogs and shareing FOs with friends and family. So, I have finally decided to enter the blogging world myself. I hope that you enjoy the blog.

Okay, so here is my favorite FO from the holidays.















Pattern: Two Handle Project Bag
Author: Two Old Bags
Yarn: Manos Del Uruguay