Knitting Passion

you’re the one . . .

So, thanks to the Kenai Lions Club and their Rubber Ducky Race last Saturday, I will be able to go along with my granddaughter to Washington, D.C. over spring break. TOGETHER!! Hubby and I had just talked over breakfast Saturday morning about how we would be able to make sure that SHE was able to go - even if I could not join her and her eighth grade classmates.

Instead, we were blessed with a phone call Saturday afternoon that our ducky had crossed the finish line first - there would now be enough money (after I tithe and after Uncle Sam takes his portion) for BOTH of us to go on the trip.

As a tribute, I am going to make this Knitted Ducky Dish Cloth. It really is too bad that I don’t have any purple cotton on hand, because their colors, of course, are gold and purple. But I think I have enough yellow-y gold to do one up tonight.

But not if I don’t get off here to do it.

So - have a great evening, everyone.

knitting, dish cloth, rubber ducky, Kenai Lions Club

Yes, even with all of the crocheted grannies, I still knit!!! Here are a couple of mini-bags that I will be felting up soon. The one on the left is not quite finished yet. I think I’ll probably knit up several of these before felting. You might recognize them as the “Special Companion” bags from KnitKit.

I’m curious about the yarn on the right - the solid color is what I used to knit my sweater last winter. I want to see how it felts up before I make a decision about making the larger bag from the same yarn.

My sister “knit-wits” and I are meeting at the end of this month for coffee. We hope to choose a bag pattern at that time. I have ordered several patterns from KnitKIt and should have them by then so we can all pick and choose.

Have a great day today. I am off to the pool for an early morning workout. (Why, yes, it is early in Alaska - it’s still 0darkthirty as Lessa would say.)

free pattern, knitting, mini-bags, felting, felted bags

A few days ago I posted a link for a knitted dishcloth done with a buggy pattern.

I started working on it last night and a bit more tonight.

All together now . . . BEEEEEEEP! Slug bug yellow - NO slug backs!

I had originally thought I might make it in yarn and into an afghan for the little slugger herself - it makes a HUGE square when using 4 ply - so I might try to find some really bright colors to make it in sport weight yarn.

And, for now, I am having fun making dishcloths.

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm - Ladybug wanted one - maybe these will be Christmas gifts this year.

slug bug, luv bug, dish cloth, knitting, fun

While looking for a new bag to knit, I found several that I either like for myself - or for others - you see if you can figure out which is which. (hahaha)

The person who was knitting the bag at the conference Tuesday - said something about wishing she could find one with a skull and crossbones - but lamented that her son would not want a handbag. So, maybe a book bag could be done with the following graphic???

Here’s a skull and crossbones bag Not in pink for a guy, probably. You know, I really like the shape of this bag - and the handles. I might just make it WITHOUT the graphic!

Here’s another she might like to work with - fair isle skulls.

Awhile back an online friend mentioned that she was working on a booga bag - don’t know if this was the pattern or not - but, here you go.

These next few - well, I just thought they were cute, you know? And, who doesn’t need a (quick, felted) clutch purse, after all?

or a round bag

Now, this one is just CUTE. I love the accent!

And - in the “ain’t easy being green” category . . . here’s a way to use up all of those plastic grocery bags you have littering up your house: recycled grocery bag purse

bags, felted purse, recycled plastic bags, knitting, boiled wool, felting, fun

We’ve all played the game in the car . . . “slug bug yellow, no slug back!” . . . my granddaughter (the Pup) is a great one for this game. A nearby dealership has had a bright yellow bug on its lot for months - we pass it on the way to church each Sunday. A little finger sneaks its way from the back seat through the space between the front seats and - poke, poke, poke . . . “slug bug . . .” chortle, giggle, tee-hee.

So, in looking for some new dish cloth patterns tonight I was tickled to find:
the Love Bug cloth. Oh, my goodness! She will love the idea of it - if not the dish cloth itself. lol

And, here’s a pattern for the upcoming Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October)
You could change to Purple and make it for Domestic Violence Awareness Month (also October)

And, of course, my favorite - the Moose cloth.

If someone you love is moving - send them with a piece of your heart.

or a cuppa

not enough? Try this page of dish cloth patterns

And, as always - have fun with it.

btw - I’ve heard from two people interested in the Christmas mini-sock exchange. If you are interested, email me at: prplmoose AT kenaiwriter DOT net.

It’s all about fun!!!

knitting, dish cloths, patterns, mini socks, Christmas exchange, fun

Sometimes the question is not so much what CAN I knit - but what SHOULD I knit?

There are so many patterns, so many different sorts of yarns, and really and truly - so little time. (note to all - I can find as much time as the next person to do what I want - yeah? You, too? Thought so)

Here’s a link to an online version of a print knitting magazine, INKnitters with lots of informative articles and links to patterns and such . . .

. . . like this one on Short Row stitches (Learn to Love Open Loops) instead of binding off.

So, you’re just like the rest of us - dyed in the wool (heh, punny!) knitters, right? You have boxes or bags or rooms full of leftover yarn and you’re wondering just what to do with all of it. Have you asked yourself if you should/could knit a floor covering?

Well, if so - here’s your chance. Pretty cool ideas, I’m thinking.

And - don’t forget the charity knitting sites I’ve mentioned in the past - granny squares for kids with cancer - mini socks for kids who have profound hearing loss - chemo caps and the like - they are out there if you want to take some time to help out a cause that is (or becomes) near and dear to your heart.

Let me know what you’re doing.

knitting, knitting projects, charity, granny squares, chemo caps, mini socks

So, Robin wrote and asked about the mini socks I’ve been knitting. My original post about the mini socks is here. I learned about the project from Sock Pixie here. There is even a simple sock pattern there in that post. I am using a different pattern, but similar in size.

There are now 25 little socks

so I am going to crochet up the strings (you might see them in the picture) and get them mailed off today or tomorrow.

Aren’t they just the cutest little things?

I like these so much I am going to do some up in Christmasy colors for my co-workers for Christmas. I always like to leave a little something in everyone’s mail slot for the holidays.

Next project? I am thinking about socks made out of the tofutsies yarn I purchased at the Knitting Grounds last month. My youngest daughter is horrified at the cost of the yarn - while it makes me gulp, too, I am getting used to the price of the nicer yarns. And, doggone it, my feet deserve a nice, warm and toasty, new pair of socks - right? right!

Yesterday I mentioned Shelly at This Eclectic Life’s goal of having enough crocheted granny squares to make an afghan for every camper at Camp Sanguinity next year.

She gives a pattern for a simple granny square on her site, but any square can be used - as long as it is a 6 inch square. So, choose your yarn and your crochet hook wisely and work on it until you get it the right size.

There is also a link to Thorne’s World - an entry giving links to and showing pictures of thirteen different squares - easy to harder. I rather like the heart one myself.

Shelly would also like you to tie a card to each square with your name and location so that when the afghans are assembled and received by the children they will know how many hands cared enough to swaddle them with love.

Send envelopes with squares to:

If you have a boxful, contact Shelly from her website for another, alternate, address.

So - what do you think I might be doing this weekend?

How about you?

Allrighty then!

crochet, 6 inch squares, afghans, granny squares, eclectic life, thorne’s world, big hearts

That, of course, is the sound I made as I completed the reading of the latest Harry Potter book, Deathly Hallows today. I didn’t stand in line all night Friday to get my copy just past midnight. Instead my hubby and I did the movie theatre thing (unusual for us except for certain movies - HP, Star Trek, James Bond, to name a few) and took in the late showing. By the time we got out it would have been waaaaaaaaaaaaay too late to drive to the next town over to get my book.

So - we went home - slept in on Saturday - another rare treat for us - and then after breakfast we stopped to pick up my book. Hubby went off to do his thing (I have no clue) while I set in for a read-a-thon.

Slunk off to bed near midnight - and began reading again after church the next morning. Had to do the go to bed early thing Sunday because of the need to be at work Monday. But, after work I finished the last 100 or so pages. Ahhhhhhhhh - a big thumb’s up from this Gramma.

So - what has all that to do with knitting? You might well ask - and I will answer. A quick search of the internet found some neat things for all of you knitters out there to take on:

How about some House socks?
$4 for the pattern - pay via paypal and then download the pdf.

That wasn’t a free pattern - buuuuuuuuuuuuuuutttttttttt - the site DID have a free house scarves pattern with color suggestions for your favorite Hogwarts House.

I have a question for you - what about knitting a Weasley sweater???

or, a Lupin scarf?

Now - if you should live in an area that you deem much too warm for a scarf of such sort - here’s a cute idea for you . . . how about a bookscarf to use to mark your place in the latest book?

Not so much into making your own - but have a costuming need for your next HP function? Try Alivan’s - makers of fine handcrafted magic wands where you’ll find everything from house scarves, sweaters, ties, etc.

The main thing, my friends - is to have fun with it. Enjoy yourself. Remember - it IS only a book.

harry potter, knitting, hogwarts, house scarf, weasley sweater, bookscarf, fun

A few days ago I wrote about Karin Slaughter’s latest contest - and just wanted to update Lessa - who wrote (as I knew she would) that she wanted one of these . . .

I have the black, the blue, and one of the reds now. Just have to find a darker red and the two grays and I am set to start knitting. Oh, and I may have to find another set of size 13 needles, too, but that’s okay.

You are one step closer to becoming the owner of a ghoulish bookbag, my girl. heh

[tags]felted bookbag, karin slaughter, knitting, felting, wool yarn, Lessa, watching survivor, watching rachael ray]/tags]

and win prizes while you’re at it.

Thanks to Crazy Aunt Purl for the link to Karin Slaughter’s knitting contest.

Make one or both of the chosen projects, complete and submit photos by the deadline (August 20) and be entered to win PRIZES.

Hey, we’re all about the prizes, right? Right.

I think I know a couple of people who might enjoy the Jeffrey Dahmer book bag - it is just plan creepy. Shiver! (of COURSE, I downloaded the pattern - heh)

crazy aunt pearl, karin slaughter, dahmer book bag, bundy knit hat, shiver, knitting, felted bag

the following article is written by BARBARA WATERS - not the person to whom it will be attributed over at technorati - she (K A) is the FORMER writer of this blog - not the current writer (moi) - thanks, any who might have gotten here through the tags. I appreciate your support and understanding.

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3 Hours . . .

That’s how long our power was out last night/this morning. And, I was in a writing frenzy, too! Ah, well . . . the power seems to be all on and everystuff now, so, I will give you the latest in linky-love.

I’ve mentioned here before that daughter Lessa writes Watching Rachel Ray here at 451 Press. She also has several readers and catches items of interest for herself and for me. I bow to her excellence in this matter.

She recently led me to Everyday with Rachel Ray because one particular item caught her eye on my behalf: you, too, could knit a scarf pattern from RR’s Everyday site!

It’s a simple seed stitch pattern - knit one/purl one on an uneven number of stitches - which is easy enough for even a beginner. But, the result is lovely. So, grab those needles and some fine alpaca - or quiviut - yarn and knit on, friends.

Monday? How to save your girls . . . stay tuned.

knitting, rachael ray, lessa, knitted scarf pattern, Rachael Ray Everyday

Took a look at the summer issue of knitty and found this on the front page: a ripple skirt done in hemp.

I felt quivery and shivery and sorta like (the Irish in me would say) someone had walked across my grave. You see . . . my mother crocheted an afghan (wool) in almost the exact same colorway. dee-dee-dee-dee . . .

The concept of this skirt is neat, though . . . it is done in the round so you can slip the stitches off onto waste yarn in order to try it on to make sure the fit - the length - is okay. Ahhhhh - just right!

I still have Mom’s afghan around here somewhere. It was made in the early 60’s so you can imagine the shape it’s in.

more from knitty . . .

do you have trouble making buttonholes? Here’s a tutorial from Techniques with Theresa.

and - last, but not least - here is a GREAT article on knitting socks for diabetics. Must sit and read that whole article as hubby has diabetes and has much trouble with his feet staying warm - even in the summer. (of course . . . we DO live in Alaska).

Allrightythen . . . my little linkylovefest is over for the evening. We are having a gorgeous summer evening - the fire in the Caribou Hills south of us seems to be under control - or at least we are not getting any smoke from it. All’s right in our little corner of heaven. Trust it is for you as well.

knitty, knitting, ripples, ripple skirt, ripple afghan, diabetic socks

Believe it or not - isn’t there a song that starts that way? - we are just a few short days away from the 4th of July - Independence Day.

I was dinking around the net looking for something to knit to show patriotism and lookee what I found!!!
here’s a red, white, blue pin

here’s a slightly different version:

if you’re a really quick knitter - or for next year - how about these patriotic socks?

yummy!

there are also several patterns for sale - a hat and a couple of sweaters.

ooh - hey, check out these socks! I love the button treatment.
(no pattern included for those.)

erm . . . here’s an interesting bag

. . . and - here’s a trio of patriotic hats with a bonus: information on the SHIPS PROJECT for our service people.

Be sure to read the projects needed and the colors approved - a special need now that the heat is rising . . .cool ties. There is a pattern for those (these are sewn) and a link for the pellets to insert.

Have a wonderful week, everyone.

. . . for knitters to show that they have hearts bigger than the biggest . . .

Now that the Hokie Healing blankets are being assembled and all of the squares they could ever want have been delivered . . .

. . . it’s time to look for a new way to express ourknittingselves to the world - to show that we care.

You can Make a Difference in the lives of children who are deaf/hard of hearing. Go to Sock Pixie and read the whole story, then get out your leftover sock yarn and let your needles sing. It’s a mini sock convention, friends!

When you have your minis (mated or not) completed, send them on:

KWC c/o Sonia
9760 Brooks Road S.
Windsor CA 95492

or to:

Sock Project c/o Caroline
70 Wyman Street
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
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Come on, you KNOW you wanna . . .
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And, while you are visiting the Sock Pixie, be sure to check out the other free patterns. Not all socks, mind you. There are several baby items in the mix. Enjoy!

mini socks, knitting, knitting for charity, charity, deaf children, sock project