Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Possums, thrums and a tattoo, oh my.



Thanks, Cat for the clarification about possums.

The hat I knit was using the Vintage Wool. I'm done with the 2 skeins that I bought. I got 5 hats out of those two skeins, 2 baby hats and 3 adult hats. Not bad at all for the cool price of $12 + tax. Do you care enough for me to write up the pattern?

Thrums. Thrums, thrums, thrums. bleech. I'll get back to them but I need to not look at them for awhile. (Thanks, Littlewit for showing me Hello Yarn's blog post about making thrums. You're right. They are easy and I was overthinking them.) That's why I'm taking the Elbac out of time out. Raverly details. It's from the Knitty, Winter 2006 and by Laura (Yarn Thrower). Don't you love her smile? I'm doing version one. I'll let you know how it goes.

The picture of Anneh's tattoo on Ravelry. I just got to her blog and must go back and read more. She's really into sock knitting. The tattoo might have been the tip-off but the FO socks are, like, wow!

Emerald Stitch N' Knits has a blog here. I think I'll track her down and chat with her about her yarn. Would that be fun for you?

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Recap: May 2009

I finally got this video put together after 11 attempts. It's an update on how I spent May 2009. Enjoy.



oh, erica drops and F* bomb. sorry about that.

Saturday, July 25, 2009

4 hats and a Shawl

I've been busy knitting hats out of the Berroco Vintage Wool. I finished two other hats in the last few days. One additional hat is a going away gift for Bill S who leaves for his Masters work in theater. I promised to knit him a hat as a going away gift. I also knit a baby hat for Baby McC. The expectant mom reads the blog, so I'll post pictures after she receives the gift.

My brother has been working on his TV room and recently added a HD Epson projector that is a 5' X 10' screen. I've been trying to knit while watching some videos in his new space. Let me tell you, the great screen distracts me from my knitting.



The Fleece Artist Thrum Mitten kit details are here. LittleWit on plurk gave me the suggestion to make all the thrums first. I've done this and hope it will make it easy to knit.

My vacation with my brothers has been great. We've got this down to a science. We can each do what we want to do without worrying about the others. The typical teasing and arguing got heated up on Saturday morning to no harm to anyone. I like my brothers. How often can people say that about family?

The video that's paused is Erasure "Sometimes." I couldn't find this version on YouTube. I remember dancing to this song out at the bars when I was in college. A great song and great memories. I think I dance like Andy Bell. LOL

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Vintage Wool (baby) Hats

I'm really enjoying the Annual Boy's Fishing trip for 2009. I've been knitting up a storm. I finished the test knit socks and will post about those soon. I got permission from Laura to share information about the "beta sock knitting" that I was doing.

These two hats were knit using Berroco's Vintage Wool. I was really pleased with the way the yarn knitted up. I avoid knitting with any yarn that has too much acrylic in it and this yarn has 50% acrylic, 40% wool and 10% nylon. The yarn felt very sock and wholesome in the hank. It is a four ply yarn and I didn't have any trouble with splitting. The price point on this is really, really good at $6 a skein from the Knitters Mercantile booth at Knitters Connection 2009. The yardage is 217 yards. I've still got lots of yarn left over! Vintage Wool will win over Encore.

I got two skeins that were "expectant mother approved," Color 5185 (Tide Pool) and 5175 (Fennel). Tide Pool is a much darker, jewel-toned teal than I see on Berroco's website. I rather like the two colors together.



Now, this other expectant mother that I know with the initials MM....I'm pointing at you Michelle! Do you think these colors would be a cute hat for Mr. Baby? And do you like this hat style?

Sunday, July 19, 2009

2009 Boys Fishing Trip

I'm on vacation with my brothers on the Annual Boys Fishing Trip. (remember, every time you read "fishing" associated with me, replace it with "knitting"). I'm currently working on a test knit for a yarn company's sock pattern. I've enjoyed the knitting of the pattern, even after the operator error. The pattern will be available at Sock Summit. The test knit will be shipped off on Monday! I hope they are pleased with the test knit enough to let me continue my membership in the Ram Club.



One the way down to meet up with two brothers for the 6.5 hour drive up, I stopped at fiberworks. Arlene is a very nice lady that I've had the pleasure to see at lots of fiber fests over my knitting years. In fact, I first met her when I was in high school back in the 80's and she had a booth up at the Dayton Art Institute festival/craft event. I was so inspired by the hanks of handspun that I took one of her cards. I still have the card.

The yarn I bought was Crystal Palace Mochi Plus, intended to use for the evil sock genius sock Arch-Villain KAL. I will be using the magic loop. Just sayin'.

The weather is beautiful here.

BTW: I'm working on a few changed to the blog this week. Fingers crossed it works out well.

Friday, July 17, 2009

vacation

I'm on vacation in the form of the Annual Boys Fishing Trip. I've got knitting and reading with me. I'm going to enjoy this vacation!

I am working on using my own domain for the blog. I'm working out some of the technical details and will let you know how it goes.

Get ready for more vlogs and posts.

Sunday, June 28, 2009

St Marker Necklace


St Marker Necklace
Originally uploaded by knittingbrow
I had a great day with Trixbear, Songferret and knitSB on Saturday. I wanted to get together so I could make a necklace from some stitch markers that I bought from Jennie the Potter when I was at Knitters Connection. I think the necklace turned out perfect for me.

Monday, June 22, 2009

Urgent Request for Help!

Hi,
I need your help. The proposed budget for 2009-2011 for the state of Ohio would reduce library funding significantly.
Please consider taking time to voice your opinion on the proposed budget and the impact it has to libraries.
There are only a few days available to let your voice be heard.

If you need to know your representative, you can do a zip code search on this website.
http://www.house.state.oh.us/

On a personal level, I am proud that the Columbus Library has been helping people find jobs, giving kids help after school so they can graduate, and helping parents and kids become readers! ANY budget reduction will cause libraries to close, programs to stop and jobs to be lost. Ohioans need their award winning libraries more than ever!


You may find additional information about the impact by going to these links.
http://www.olc.org/news_story062009.asp
http://www.librarybytes.com/index.html
http://saveohiolibraries.com/

Thanks for considering this request for help. Your voice needs to be heard!

I have copied the following names from the Save Ohio Libraries website. These are Conference Committee contacts. people you need to reach!
Below are the e-mail addresses for the Conference Committee. They will be the ones determining the final budget. They need to hear from everyone state-wide!
House
Vernon Sykes
Phone: 614- 466-3100
Fax: 614-719-6944
district44@ohr.state.oh.us
Jay Goyal
Phone: 614-466-5802
Fax: 614-719-3973
district73@ohr.state.oh.us
Ron Amstutz
Phone: 614-466-1474
Fax: 614-719-0003
district03@ohr.state.oh.us
Senate
Dale Miller
Phone: 614-466-5123
SD23@maild.sen.state.oh.us
John Carey
Phone: 614-466-8156
SD17@senate.state.oh.us
Mark Wagoner
Phone: 614-466-8060
SD02@senate.state.oh.us

Monday, June 15, 2009

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Knitting with Cat

knitSB and I had a pleasant time knitting with Cat this evening. She completed a Baby Bolero from One Skein that is rather cute. It is a project that KnitMary has knit but I've just not gotten around to doing it myself.

I continue to knit on the lining for the Medusa Hat. I'm almost finished knitting the sides and I'll be doing the top with three points of decreases. This will mirror the top of the hat.

This was the first time I ha picked up the needles in two weeks and it was wonderful to be around great people knitting.

It is almost spring and I am looking forward to getting out into the yard and clear away the fallen twigs and make it easier for things to start growing.

How about you? Are you looking forward to spring?