Babydoll for my babydoll June 13, 2007

Babydoll for my babydoll, originally uploaded by RonikinsKnits.

So when uploading projects into Ravelry I got a *little* inspired to take photos of things I knit pre-blog. I say little, because I didn’t hunt down all previous gift-ees and demand photos of the knitted gifts, nor did I pull out My Babydoll’s baby box and gather up the many hats, mitts, socks, booties, or sweaters. It’s a funny thing about being pregnant while learning to knit/crochet, you knit ALOT of baby things! And I did also come across a few items that I took photos of before the blog just for my Momma’s sake. You can check them all out in my Flickr account.

But I did feel like talking about one past knit in particular….the babydoll for My Babydoll. This is definitely one of my most favorite knits. I had originally planned to knit up more of these for my nieces, but it turns out I’m not BIG enough for that yet. It’s weird, I feel kind of protective over this doll. I wanna make sure she’s handled and loved right. And I don’t think is exactly appropriate to give a gift with a list of do’s and don’ts to a 3 yo, you know? Honestly I barely let My Babydoll handle this one, and frankly for good reason. Right after I took this photo she ran away with it and dipped it in a puddle (from the sprinklers) and was mopping the cement with it. Luckily it wasn’t badly damaged and recovered. So even though My Babydoll is usually very loving and gentle with here babies, that is her normal behavior (I would label that abusive, no?) with this doll. Do ya think she might suspect (and disapprove) of my emotional attachment to a toy I knit for her? Ah well, maybe we can mature together. It is however unfortunate that the doll still sits around in its undies. One day my love for it will generate a need to clothe it. One day.

Oh and a little bit of details….
Pattern: Basic Doll and underwear from Toys to Knit
Yarn: Lion Brand Baby Soft (The little bit of nylon gives it some nice give, and very key: machine washable!)
Needles: US 3 Knitpicks Classic Circulars 32″ (I think this was the first project I used the KP needles on. I heart you KP!)
Mods: I knit everything in the round via Magic loop instead of flat. I used Judy’s Magic cast-on for the head, and possible the body…I don’t really remember. This was also the first time I used that method and liked it soo much that I decided to possibly convert to a toe-upper…and I did!

Shadow Shrug beginnings June 6, 2007

Shadow Shrug beginnings, originally uploaded by RonikinsKnits.

This is all that nap time allowed to get accomplished. At least it’s a beginning. The yarn is Caron Shadows, and the pattern is the free one from the yarn wrapper, The Simple Shrug. Shocking, huh. Hopefully you yarn snobs won’t shun me too bad. But really it’s not a bad yarn and I love the colors, and if this one works out hope to do another in the Opal Twist color way (the Dark Moss is pretty too, but three might be too much) So anyway, I bought this yarn early last fall and actually did cast on right away. But realized a few inches in that “No I did not want to knit this flat” as the pattern instructed. It’s knit sideways from cuff to cuff, and the sleeves are supposed to be sewn up. After I frogged it, I got distracted with another project and the yarn when back into the stash. I’ve really wanted to re-cast on for awhile and now I have. I’m knitting it in the round and it feels much better. I know it’s kinda of trend of mine to knit things in ways which do not require seams, but this is not to avoid seaming….cause I love me some seaming . It’s to avoid the actual seams, I think it’s one of the benefits of hand-knitting…no seams. That and I prefer knitting to purling.

Next time I’ll be digging up some knits from my past……

Oh…yeah I have a blog! June 5, 2007

Opal Regenbogen, originally uploaded by RonikinsKnits.

I can’t believe it’s been this long since I last blogged. I even had to look up my password. Well…oh well. I guess I’ve been busy, but the good kind of busy. You know…camping, beach days, park visits, yadda, yadda. Good times. I’ve also been planning a new crafty project. I’m very excited about it and will blog about very soon (just not ready yet), but it involves using the Hubbo’s artistic abilities. Yeah for a team project!

But I will give some knitting updates, just for fun you know….

Chevron Scarf. Still going almost done.

Rainbow socks. I’m doing 2 at once (on separate needles) and knitting on 0’s at 10 spi (I know, 10 spi! whattha!?!?!) so these are a little slower than my average socks. BUT…almost done.

Tiger socks. I’ve tried 0’s, 1’s, 1.5’s, 2’s,3’s…but it’s not working.(Which reminds me, have ya’ll heard that Knitpicks heard us and have made and already selling the elusive 2.25mm & 2.75mm sizes. Yaaa!!) I’m trying to do the impossible of controlling the pool and still have a nice tight sock fabric. Right now I’m sick of it, but when I’m ready to give it a go again, I think I’m gonna do Jaywalker’s. My first, oh my!

CPH is done. Mostly. Kinda. It had been lying there for weeks just needing some sleeve shaping, button band, and the sleeves to be sewn on. So on Sunday I buckled down and got 2 out of 3 done. I was really gonna sew on those sleeves right away…but I got my invite to Raverly….so

Raverly. There is just not a better way of saying it than -IT ROCKS. For those of you who haven’t heard (cause your living under a rock…or the piles of work on your desk…cough*Nana*cough) go check out the sneek peek Frecklegirl put up and SIGN UP. It is still in Beta (aka testing) so you have to get an invite code to get it. It’s done on first come first serve basis, and the wait list is in the thousands, but it sounds like they are letting in about 100 or so a day. In the mean time while you are waiting patiently:

1. If you don’t have a Flickr account, get one.
2. Then take glamour shots of all your stash and upload them to said Flickr account.
3. Make a list of all your knit books.
4. Make a list of projects your interested in.
5. Make a list of all your needles and hooks.

#4 is related to probably one of the best things about Ravelry there is. When I’m starting or even just thinking of a future knit. First I Google it and try to see what other people have done, what yarn, etc. Sometimes wading through pages & pages of Google results. Sometimes I get lucky and there is a knit-a-long. But then still lots of digging through posts and people’s blogs. On Ravelry it’s just one click to see all the people who have knit or are currently knitting it. Also with some uniformity in details (yarn & needles used). LOVE. Sweeet love!

So enough of that, but do feel free to email or comment with any questions re: Ravelry.

I also am about to cast on something new (naptime knitting woohoo!) but will save that for next time!

****BTW: Yarn pictured it just one of my glamour shots from the stash for Ravelry.

Some stuff May 4, 2007

Hey friends! I have some things to share, and I’m going with the most effective list format….

• I’ve been oohing and ahhing over the Chevron Scarf Flickr group, and then while fondling my sock yarn I came up with a color combo that does it for me and I got started. I did have a hard time though deciding between the Chevron Scarf or Domesticat’s version, but last night at knitting group the votes were quite clear for the Chevron scarf.

  

• Rainbow Brite socks. Another love yarn, just look at it all wound up.

But I was having some concern about the starting color being green. I really didn’t want green toes. In an ideal world my toes would be red, because the rainbow starts on red and that seems to make sense to me. But red couldn’t happen with out some serious surgery to the yarn. But the teal and lt blue seemed better to me then green for some reason, so I did some manual striping, but now I’m not sure because the strips are much narrower (I split the colors in half to have equal amounts for each sock). So I need to make a decision: A)have green toes B) leave as is with narrower beginning strips of teal and lt. blue C)Scrap the teal toe and just go with one narrow strip of lt. blue OR D) perform massive reconstruction of the yarn ball and have red toes. So what do you think????

• Tiger Socks . Gauge gone wild here. The label suggests 6.5sts/in on size US 2 (3mm), but the fabric feels to loose for me even thought I was getting about 6.5 sts/in. So I went down to US 1 (2.25mm) and was getting about 9.5sts/in. So here’s were that pesky Knitpicks sizing thing gets into play (quite similar to Ashley’s). So I’ve ordered some of the new lace Addi’s in US (2.5mm) hoping for that middle ground. And this does not change my love of my Knitpick needles. I think it’s kinda great that the sizes of Knitpicks is different than the Addis, because it will just take a few purchases now to have all US & MM sizes covered! Also a side note: Please! Please! Please! Let mine knit up like these (the link will also take you to a sale of 50% off making it $3.50 a ball.)Oh and p.s.s. I love this yarn. It’s soo soft and the elastic makes nice and stretchy, but not too stretchy.

• So while I was knitting up Trekking 100 swatchies, I decided that I will at least need 2 balls and I only had one. And while I was looking for more I found this. Colorway 100 in DK weight! Woo-hoo! So I’ve ordered enough of it to make a Clapotis.
• And while browsing at Astrid’s I found this. OH MY! I’ve been drooling over the sweater at Purlwise with this mysterious Kauni yarn. And since my love of the Entrelac scarf had not faded, I decided this would be perfect! I am beyond excitement about this!
• So I’m usually a 1-2 project at a time kinda gal, and I normally hate leaving something un-finished. But I’m not even feeling guilty about abandoning the CPH and starting 3 new things and planning immediate action another 2. I’ve come up with some excuses reasons for this. It’s better to love what your knitting (and I am loving every single one of these to pieces!) and I’m gonna wait for Becky to finish her CPH (and start, heehee) so she can be a part of our Knitter’s in the Hood photo.
• Oh and I almost forgot, I’m very excited about this too!

Breaking the silence April 27, 2007

I am still here, and with no other reason for my absence than not having much to say. I haven’t been knitting much, which pretty much makes me feel not like me. And the short version is CPH has robbed me of my knitting mojo. The love of knitting CPH is gone and has been for awhile. But I made this ridiculous pact with myself to not cast on anything new until it was done. But here’s where I do something, that as you get to know me, you will find I do quite often. I draw this self imposed line in the sand, and then I CROSS it.

This could be the beginning of a Clapotis or I may end up being a copycat and do this. But this is less about the project and more about the yarn. Trekking XXL, colorway 100 (click for photo goodness!) Oh colorway 100 how I love thee! I’ve got quite a love story between me and this yarn. It was the first sock yarn I ever bought. And that purchase did in-fact change the way I viewed this little hobby of mine.

So let’s go back in time just a little bit….(about a year and half ago)

I was extremely pregnant and the Christmas was fast approaching. I was a brand spanking new knitter, and I had yet to come to terms with the cost of knitting. It still just blew my mind that the cost to knit a baby sweater could buy you a couple of outfits at Target. And oh how I laughed at you sock knitters. $20+ to knit a pair of socks!!! You’ve got to be kidding me. And so I do what I do, I drew that line and declared “I will never do that!” Then it happened. I don’t remember where or how but I came across a finished pair of socks in Trekking colorway 100. The colors made me dizzy with lust. Must. Have. Now. And I did. I Googled and made a purchase before I could blink. Then I thought: (that could be another reoccurring theme of mine – do first, think later.) “What did I just do? I bought sock yarn. I don’t knit socks. I don’t even know how to knit socks.” And then I spent a lot more time in my head explaining and justifying, and also practicing my explanation to the Hubbo. I really thought he’d think I’d gone and completely (cause I have made previous incomplete attempts) flipped my lid by spending $20 to knit ONE pair of socks. But being the kind, thoughtful, loving and caring Hubbo that he is (really HE IS!) he saw it completely different. He saw his wife happy and excited about some something beautiful and thought that was quite worth the $20. It took me awhile but then I saw it his way too. (he may regret opening my eyes to that now when he sees my stash. Opps, hehehe) So I bought Charlene Schurch’s Sensational Knitted Socks and learned me to knit some socks, and I became sock knitter. The Trekking yarn was still to beautiful to just dive right in, but served great purpose being eye candy to me for the last year+. And I always felt that there might be a better project for it than socks. Luckily Sandy (blogless?) at knit nite was a step a head of me and is knitting the Entreleac stole form Scarf Style with my love yarn. It is gorgeous! (the link above is another local knitter who is knitting it too) But I’ve also been looking around from some Clapotis yarn. So it’s still in swatchin’ stages here, and I’m undecided as to what scarf it will be…but I’m feeling like me again already. Knitting with passion.

Mwwwaaahhhh!* April 13, 2007

Last night, at knit night, I was the reciepent of a wonderful gift. Becky was sweet enough to think of us when she was at a local library opening and picked this up for The Dudes.

(click to see more info over at Amazon)

The author was there and she got it signed for us!

It is a big hit with the boys!

I’ve already read it multiple times to them, and they keep wanting more! The illustrations (why do I wanna keep saying graphics!?) are amazing! Babydoll really liked it to, when she eventually got her turn.

And there is even fiber content!

(The princess spinnning hay into gold thread)
There could not be more a perfect book for this family! I highly recommend this book to Dudes and Dudettes of all ages!

Thanks again Becky, you really made me feel loved! Aren’t knitters the best!!

Much of the same April 12, 2007

(the pics are comletely unrelated, just wanted to share the kiddos new shoes. Thanks Nana!)

Still trudging through the boredom. It’s funny how I have been hankering to knit this sweater for months, but now I can’t wait for to be done. But enough of the irony, please!

 I just remembered that I promised details on where I bought the yarn. But I will go one step further and just fill you in on all the places that I frequently hunt.

There is the obvious:

Webs

Elann

Knit Picks

And between these 3, you could actually stop and be quite happy. But I never leave well enough alone. And I’m sure you probably know about most of these too, but I’ll do it anyway.

*Yarn4socks (umm, sock yarn! I made out at a Christmas sale they had last year)

*Little Knits (they carry a variety and often have great deals, just a matter of checking)

CucumberpatchUK (deals on Rowan, Debbie Bliss, Jaeger and the like)

**Janette’s Rare Yarns (this is where I bought the Rowan Yorkshire Tweed) KnittingWarehouse (mostly Cotton Ease)

DiscountYarn (this is another Cotton Ease source, but they do carry lots of other goodies)

**Smiley’s (you never now what they are gonna have, but I’ve been known to get Cotton Ease there)

**TheSheepShedStudio (Brown Sheep yarn)

Kaleidoscope Yarns (they have Koigu on sale right now)

Emtnestr (I mostly stalk the Cherry Tree Hill mill ends)

Royal Yarns (a variety)

ColourMartUK (coned cashmere, silk, and other luxuries)

Knitty Coffeeshop has a “Yarn Sale Spotters” category filled with tips too.

*Purchases made here and was very satisfied **Repeat customer, repeated smiles

I feel like I’ve forgotten a few, but it’s like I tell the Hubbo, there will always be a car sales man out there who wants to make a deal with you. Except this is yarn.

Sidenote: And do also wanna bring up the LYS. Sometimes the few bucks you save aren’t worth it. For one it’s hard to do business online sometimes with the fact that colors vary from monitor to monitor and shipping times stop the instant gratification . But I think more importantly, is the personal connection you can get at a LYS. People are important!

Sometimes I find it hard to keep it all in prospective. Finding the balance between passion and obsession. It is fun buying yarn, and I do equally enjoy finding deals. But it’s a fleeting fulfillment, you know? I’m glad I have my faith and my family to keep me grounded. What keeps you grounded?

Isn’t it Ironic, dontcha think? April 10, 2007

And yeah I really do think.*

So first, let me say thank you for your well wishes and sympathy! I luckily did not have to go that long with out picking up the sticks. Just about 2 ½ days of non-knitting. I’d like to be able to report that I was quite mature about it, kept my chin up, and instead of knitting did lots of other useful things. The key word there is like. Yeah, I pretty much just whined and sulked about. And you guessed it Beatriz, I fondled my stash. I did some winding of yarn, organization of yarn and yarn spreadsheet, flipped through my knit books and mags, and then I did some catching up on bloglines. Then it became too painful, not physically for the finger, but for my knittin’ heart! It seemed like I may never knit again, on Thursday my finger was still twice its normal size. But I noticed when I took a shower and took off the splint that the swelling went down quite a bit. Leaving the splint off did make it vulnerable, but keeping the splint on seemed to stop blood flow. So I decided to leave it off, and by that afternoon I was knitting again. Not completely pain free, but very manageable. I picked up my Central Park Hoodie and was off again. But by the next day I began remembering all that yarn I had played with, an all the other projects I have planned, and all the wonderful things you guys are making. I began to feel really quick sick of looking at this mostly black yarn. You know what I’m talking about. BOREDOM. But I know that if I cast on anything else CPH would have little chance of ever seeing the light of day. It’s not that I am in a hurry to complete this 100% wool sweater in time for this glorious spring weather we are having.

It’s just that I know myself all too well. Putting it down and casting on something else at that point would have meant death. So over the weekend I barely knit. I was quite busy with the family and the holiday and all, so it was easy to do. But mostly the non-knitting this time was voluntary. But yesterday I realized I had made it to the point of armhole shaping, and it became interesting enough to pick up again. So I’m back at it! I’m hoping to get it done soon, but only time will tell!

So, just in case you missed all the irony, I will break it down for ya:

• The most obvious is the knitting of a 100% wool sweater in the spring. And I live in Southern California, where my winters barely qualify for a wool sweater.
• Next, the fact that a knitter causes HERSELF a hand injury.
• And then when that said knitter is once again able to knit, doesn’t. Voluntarily.

*guess the artist?

“You did it again Mama?” April 3, 2007

That is what Dude #1 said when he saw this:

Yes, this is the second time I’ve smashed one of my own fingers in my mini-van’s sliding door! Owwwwwccchhhhhhh!

We did take a trip to the ER, but ended up leaving before x-rays.  (Thanks soo much Nana & Poppy for taking me! And thank you Hubbo for staying home with the kiddos!) We waited for 2 ½ hours, with probably at least another 2 hour wait to even get x-rays. I’m a very impatient waiter with out my knitting! And the sad truth is: I can’t knit. At least not today, or probably tomorrow. I tried, just to see, but it’s a no go. I’m a continental knitter, and I hold my index finger up kinda high, and it strains my “tall man” (proper preschool name of the middle finger) too much. This is my 3rd hand injury in the last 6 months that has ceased knitting. And that is where the real pain comes in!

The good news…..I still had my finger splint. :-(::::::::::::::::

p.s. if Nana ran this blog, there would be a picture of me holding the frozen (but melting) bag of corn I used as an ice bag while sitting in the ER waiting room. Oh AND with Flat Stanley (my niece’s form Virginia)

You ain’t no fool! April 1, 2007

p.s. Happy Birthday to you too Kaity!