For the Love of Stitches

I found the Pictures!

You think having a digital camera will make it easier to find pictures I took months ago of my projects, but noooo. I forget where I saved the pics and was searching my computer for a while trying to find them. Wouldn't you know I accidentally saved it in my school file under last semesters folder? You know my head was not in school.

Anyway, my friend had a baby shower sometime in December or was it early January? Can't remember. I feel like I've been living one long day. She was having a girl and I had some wonderful Rowan Cotton Glace yarn in my pitiful stash. I used them to make these two cute outfits for the newborn. She was very happy to receive them and her and her husband loved them. I made all the outfits to fit up to six months. I wanted them to last a while. I hope she gets to wear them.

The first one I made was a wrap sweater, in purple, that tied in a bow in the back. I used a size 2 US needle for the seed stitch borders and size 3 US needles for the rest of the sweater. Using these small needles for baby clothes weren't as bad as I thought it would be. After my experience with the size 0 for the socks I didn't want to touch another toothpick size needle again. Anyway, the sweater came out pretty nice. I really like it and thought I did a good job. Here's a pic:

The next item I made was a dress. Now, this was supposed to be a long sleeve dress, but I didn't have enough time to do the sleeves, so I turned it into a winter dress. I was so paranoid thinking that people would know and point it out, but we all know the truth. No one noticed and thought it was fabulous. Size 4 US needles were used for the seed stitch border and size 5 US was used for the rest of the dress. I single crocheted the armhole borders, and found these cute semi-clear white buttons for the front. There's a seed stitch border at the waist as well to add shaping to the dress. I thought it was absolutely adorable. Now, when I'm ready to have kids on my own, I know I can get them a complete wardrobe in 9 months! lol. I finished both projects in about 2 weeks, because I remember school was starting soon and I was going to be locked down. Here's a pic of the dress:

I didn't get a chance to make the matching booties or the coat, but I'll save it for another baby. Both patterns were found in the book Knits for Babies and Toddlers by Fiona McTaque. It has several cute patterns for kids in this book, and I recommend it for anyone looking to make something a precious baby. I also tagged them with these tags that I had from Stitch Divas Studios. It's amazing the things one finds in the bottom of their stash.

So, I never did get the chance to crochet the slippers. Shoo, I never even bought the materials for it. I'm going away for a mandatory (I so don't like that word) conference for school over the summer, so maybe I'll be able to make them while I'm away.

One last thing, I found old pictures of projects that I finished last year and don't think I ever posted on my blogs before, but now I'll post them. That way it can look like I'm knitting or crocheting and keeping up with all of you knitters and crocheters out there :-).

Happy Knitting!

P.S. Pray for me, I'm in the middle of midterms and already preparing for finals. Why didn't someone...anyone...talk me out of this school thing!

What I realized blogging

Okay, while I was catching up with the blogs of my fellow blogger friends, I realized that I missed so much while I was gone. First, I missed Valentine's Day. I know, it sounds weird, but when you're in a bubble you tend to miss what's obvious to everyone. Especially since I don't have time to watch TV anymore. So, Hubby and I didn't celebrate that day. We never really celebrate it to begin with, but considering that it was our first one as a married couple, I think it would've been nice to have celebrated it. I was working and he was too, and we went away on a family emergency, and before you know it, the day came and left. We both had a good laugh about it. Secondly, I realized that when I posted a message to one of my blog buddies who use blogger, the link to my blog wasn't coming up, but I fixed it. I don't know how, but I did. Third, I'm behind on my emails and need to respond to them, so please don't take offense if I haven't responded to you yet. Most importantly, I just came to the realization that I don't have spring break! While some will be getting a week off to relax, and maybe even enjoy the sun, I have 2 papers to write and no time for relaxation! How crazy is that? I've never not had spring break before.

Question: What is Quilt Batting and where can I get it online? (I don't have the luxury to go in stores anymore). I want to know because I have a pattern for these cute crochet slippers (I need some slippers). I think I need to get into making things that are small, easy, and fast (no socks). I think I crochet faster then I knit and they will be great to make during 10 minute or 30 minute breaks or while on the express bus on my way home (if I can stay awake). Anyway, these are the slippers on the bottom right.

  Well, if you have suggestions of other quick and easy things that can be done, let me know. Oh, and don't forget about the Quilt Batting. I need to know what it is.  Lastly, as a new semester (summer session) approaches, I'm realizing that I need to buy books, again! I need to make time (somehow) to craft for cash!                                                                                                                                         

I'm back...for now

I know, I have been gone for quite some time, one month to be exact. While I was buried under the books, family emergencies came up and I had more to put on my plate. Thankfully everything is getting a little better with my family member. Thanks for the prayers and good vibes.

School has definitely taken over my life. I have not picked up my knitting needles or crochet hook in 2 months! Can you believe it? I definitely can't! My needles are all dusty and I can't wait for this school semester to be over so that I can pick them back up again. I have picked up the latest issues of different knitting and crochet magazines, but I haven't really looked through them or read them yet.

I finally got a chance to upload the pictures of the different projects I finished in December 2006. I don't remember the specifics of some of them. So here they are:

I found this lovely wool yarn at Seaport Yarn called Aussie Wool. They come in beautiful vibrant colors and at $6.50 per skein I thought it was a steal. It has great yardage.

I bought it with Kellz in mind because she was my secret pumpkin or secret snowflake or whatever we renamed it.

I also got these cute little buttons.

I'm not so great at sewing, but I was ready to make it work for my girl Kellz. So, put them all together  and you get this cut little pillow that I found a pattern for it in the book Speed Knitting. It was a really easy project that I finished in a couple of hours using a size 11 needle. Over all, I think it came out well. I did my best with the buttons.

Well, I would love to finish posting the rest of my projects, but I have to go finish my school work. I'll post again tomorrow.

Happy Knitting!

well...Yarnplay!

School started and I was forced to take a hiatus from knitting *sigh*. I tried to fight it, but it seems that this semester is determined to take every bit of free time I have. For the record, I think it's crazy that I have a 35 + page syllabus for each of my classes. I stopped reading after page 35, so I don't know exactly how many pages are actually in the novel syllabus. I think my professors' get together to smoke those funny cigarettes while writing the syllabus. Something has to give.

During my break from school, which was only two weeks, I did get to complete some of the projects that I was working on and did manage to take some pictures. I don't have time right now to post all of the pictures that I have and fit all the information on one blog, but I will gradually. That will encourage me to post at least once a week. I also got a chance to finally read Yarnplay!! It's weird but I do actually read yarn books. Anyway, I think that Yarnplay is an awesome knitting book and I recommend everyone get a copy. You did a fabulous job, Lisa! I love the colors, the projects, the layout of the book, and love the fact that it doesn't have 35 pages of how to knit and crochet instructions! Some knitting books would fill their book up with the how to section and then provide us with only 10 projects. I might be exaggerating, but not really. DramaQueen, let the everything but the kitchen sink sweater in this book be your inspiration for your garbage scarf. I can't wait to see what's in Yarnplay at Home!

Happy New Year!!!

I hope everyone had a great holiday and was able to enjoy the days they had off, if nay, from work. DH and I are in the middle of moving things around and stuff for the house, so I have had no time to knit or crochet. I still have pics of my projects from last year, some I'm still working on, that I have to post. One of the things we've been moving is our home computer, which explains why I haven't been able to post for a while. Don't give up on me yet, I promise to be back with lots of good posts on my blog.

Yarn Sales, Blessings & a Sock

So my attempt to try and not be so MIA isn't working out too good. Okay, one more month and I will be back on the blog wagon like the regular blogger that I know I am.

This past week, there has been yarn sales all around me, and my hand was itching to go to one and buy something...anything! I'm a Yarn addict, just in case you didn't know that already, and I kept my habit in check. I didn't go to any of the sales. Yes, I know. I'm so proud of myself. Ok, the truth is that I had to pay tuition and was broke, 'cause if I had the money you know it was going to be on like popcorn. lol. That was so corny.  Anyway, in case you didn't know, P & S Fabrics is going out of business. "Everything Must Go!" is the sign posted on their store window. I heard it has been a mad house in there for the past week. The lines were so long, that people waited on line for 45 minutes to pay for their items! That's my entire lunch break! Also, Smiley's Yarns had their famous annual Manhattan Yarn sale that I know a lot of you New Yorkers went to. Well, how was it? What did you get? Let's see how much your stash has increased :-). I hear that was another yarn sale that drove people wild.

I truly believe that when you want something in life, you put out there in the Universe and speak to God, or the higher being in which you believe in (if any), and He provides a way to make your prayers come true. He has blessed me with Sahara, who's alter ego won at Smiley's yarn sale :-). She is such a wonderful person and has so much knowledge to share that it is unbelievable! It makes you not want to go home just so that you don't miss any of the wisdom that is being dropped. Thank you so much for taking me under your wings and teaching me things that I never even thought about. My fellow bloggers, there is so much that goes on into the making of a dress or any other garment that you probably never thought about. It goes way beyond measuring the bust. Of course the designers that read my blog probably knew that, but I sure didn't. I'm truly excited about this wonderful door God has opened for me and for sending Sahara to show me the way. It is just priceless.

Also, I want to thank all of my married fellow bloggers for all the words of encouragement while I try to feel my way in married life and discover a routine of sort. Things are going much better now 'cause I have some type of flow going and I don't feel like everything is as chaotic anymore. ((((HUGS))))

okay, the mushy-ness is over.

Once upon a time in October, everyone was going crazy making socks! Socktoberfest was in full gear and I had sock envy. So, I dusted up my teeny weeny sock needles (US # 1), and cast on socks. Now, there's a reason why I don't knit socks, and the teeny weeny needles reminded me. Don't get me wrong, socks are fun to make and possibly the easiest and fastest thing to make, but those needles are like toothpicks!! The first time I tried to make a pair of socks, I got so frustrated that I pulled it out and buried everything deep down in my stash, but you sock knitters drove me crazy during Socktoberfest and I wanted to be down with the crew that I started my socks. Now, I started and finished this sock the last week of October, which is really late for socktoberfest, but I did it anyway 'cause I was motivated. Well, it is now December, and I have no idea where the sock is, and haven't finished the second sock. I'm thinking that I buried it somewhere in this house while sleepwalking. Lucky, I took a picture of the sock while it was in progress, and when I find the finished sock I'll make sure to take a pic of it and post it. Maybe some time next year (October 2007) I'll actually have a pair that I can show. Anyhoo, here's the sock before completion.

The Seed Stitch Coat Process

First, let me say that if I never make another project entirely of seed stitch I will not lose any sleep over it. Oh my goodness! During the project, there came a point when I started to hate the coat. I know hate is a strong word, but when I tell you that I got so tired of looking at it, that I buried it. Yes, I buried it under my stash for a couple of days. Now, I'm not saying that it was a hard a project, because it wasn't. It was the easiest thing that one can make. In fact, it was so easy that I tricked suggested to the two ladies I was teaching to knit at work, who are beginners, that they should make it. I would usually take a whole weekend and knock a project like this out because I don't like to knit or crochet projects for too long or else they might be a victim to being buried alive. Since I told them that I would do the project with them, it took about three months to complete. Three months, because we only worked on it once a week. In the end, it came out great and I received lots of compliments on it and some people, who shall remain nameless, have started a waiting list of people who want me to make them the coat. I'm hoping that they forget about that coat, 'cause I'm not even looking at that list. I tried to steal the list and burn it, but I got caught and the list was captured. I'm not sure who has the list right now, but I will find it. I'm planning on taking a picture of the finished product, but can't seem to find the right lighting for it.

Anyway, here are some pics of the coat in progress. Yes, the pics are taken in the conference room in my office. Yes, this is what I do at work when I'm not working. lol. I can't help it.

This is Skyle, working on the first side of her coat. She is concentrating very hard, as you can see. She chose a beautiful charcoal grey color for her coat. I convinced her to use these amazing plastic circular needles, and she loved them. It made a big difference for her in her knitting this coat.

This is the finished back of Skyle's coat. This is Skyle's first knitting project ever! I think she did a great job! Her tension is consistent throughout the entire coat. She crochets, so I knew once I taught her continental knitting, it would be a breeze, and it was. I'm so proud of her.

This is Jackie, she forgot her coat and started making this leaf scarf pattern that was too small to read. I think it was a bit too difficult for her to tackle on her current knitting level, but I helped her try. In the end, she had to put it down and get back to her coat. I do love the ambition that new knitters bring to the table. You know, I think she might have been tired of the coat at that point as well.

This is my coat. The lighting in the conference room makes the color a little brighter then it really is. It's a deep red. I love the color! It added some zing to my earth tone, blue jeans, colored closet. As you can see, I'm a little ahead of everyone. I think this is the point when I buried it. I just had one more sleeve left.

Since the coat is an open coat, with no buttons or zipper, I made a belt to go along with it. It came out pretty well. You will be happy to know that I took my sweet time in sewing it up. Yes, I did. The Backstitch is my best friend. I use it to sew up practically everything. I don't think I can go wrong with that stitch *knocking on wood*. Surprisingly, this  coat is very heavy and warm. I wore it twice so far and now the knitting group in the office has tripled in size. All the first time knitters are making a scarf. How awesome is that!!

Okay, here's something to think about: I've been hearing a lot of things lately about patterns that are copyrighted and how some knitters are knitting or crocheting these patterns and selling the finished product to people who are interested in purchasing these items. Now, I don't know why, but I get a feeling that it's wrong. These people don't claim to be the originators of the pattern and they are not re-selling the pattern itself, but are selling the knitted or crochet item they made from the pattern. The original creator of that pattern is not getting any of the profits. I had this big debate with this other knitter about this, because she was or maybe still doing what I said above. She sees nothing wrong with it. Her philosophy is that she's not claiming that it's her original pattern and she's charging for her labor and the materials to make the item and that the people have the option to ask the creator of the pattern to make it for them. They think that she's giving them a better deal in terms of price and want her to do it, so there's nothing wrong with that. I told her that I think she can be sued for this. I don't know what the terms of the lawsuit would be, but I'm sure they can find something. It just seems wrong. What are your thoughts on this?

Life Update

I know I've been missing for a month or two, but I'm back and promise to be more consistent with my posting from now on. It seemed like one thing has been happening after the next and it all started with the wedding. I'm grateful for all the wonderful blessings, but I feel like I have no social life. I think school has a major part to do with it. As you know by now my blog is now on typepad. It's a small fee to pay for peace of mind. I was going crazy with blogger beta! It seems that things just got worst after I switched over. It seems that Blogger Beta is still in a developmental stage, which means that the options they offer are very limited, and I didn't have the patience to wait or figure it out. I've notices that my patience level is going down, or maybe I should say that my patience level with BS is very low. Maybe it's because I don't have the amount of time I used to before. That might all change after this week, because my friend is getting married this Saturday. YAY!! She has stressed herself out so much that she is physically ill. I'm helping her out this week with whatever needs to be done for the wedding, because she fired her lazy wedding coordinator.

Being a wife and a student is hard work. I feel like all I do is clean, cook, wash dishes (wish I really don't like), study, research and write papers. I'm willing wishing that I didn't have a full time job. Why didn't you married ladies warn me? :-) . It's a lot to do. Somehow, I always find time for my knitting and crochet, which might be what's keeping me up late at night *blush* 

Anyway, remember the Joie De Viv dress? I finished it. All I need to do is to sew it up. I've included a pic of it, but the colors I've chosen are similar to my ottoman so they kind of blend in making it hard for you to see the pattern.  

Well, that's it for now. Please bare with me while I get the hang of typepad and do some house cleaning on this blog. I'm open to suggestions and help from other typepad users. I will upload pics on my album soon enough. I might even do an entire America's Next Top Model event for ya'll. Stay tuned! Next Post: The Seed Stitch Coat 

Your Vote Counts

Did you vote today? If not, make sure you go out and vote. This election day is just as important as the presidential election. I could go on and share with you my political views on our current government, but I think I'll keep it to myself for now. Make sure you  go out and vote because your vote counts!

My Knit-aversary & Crochet anniversary!!

I can't believe that I've been knitting and crocheting (is that a word?) for 10 years! Time really flew by, and if someone didn't ask me how long I've been knitting, I would've completely forgotten my anniversary. By the way, thanks ADD Knitter for the anniversary wishes, and I am so jealous that you are going to Stitches East. I so want to go, am I too late? I have to check it out. If I don't get to go, you have to take pictures and tell me everything you've learned. Everything! I'm so excited for you!

So, for my Knit-aversary and Crochet-aversary, I've decided to treat myself to a wonderful gift that will support my craft. If you have any ideas, please let me know. I was thinking of getting a cute bag or purse that I can carry my projects in and Sistah Craft had a really nice one that I'm still dreaming about. Well, let me know what you think might be a great gift that I can get myself.

As this is the year that I celebrate my K & C anniversary, I think it is only fair to share with you how I learned how to knit and crochet.

A long time ago, in a far away land called NYC in the streets of Manhattan, I was blessed to find a job as an HR associate for this school for autistic children. It was only a summer job and part of the job was to attend the camp with the kids and camp counselors that I hired at the end of the summer for two weeks. So, we drive up to a wooded area far up north in the middle of nowhere where the "city" life, which consisted of a bar and a mom & pop grocery store, was about 45 minutes away. It was a combination of 8 counselors and staff to a room and we each took turns going to the city at night, because we couldn't leave the kids alone. Our second night there, while I was sound asleep on the top bunk, I felt a gush of air pass by my face. As I am a light sleeper, I open my eyes and saw nothing. A few seconds later, I heard a loud scream from my fellow roommate. We all woke up, turn the lights on, and found bats (yes, you read right) flying around the room. The entire room, filled with women, started hollering and running out the door with their PJ's on to the men's cabin. In the middle of running and flipping out, I lost a slipper and got elbowed, some women lost balance and fell, hair was flying everywhere...in other words, it was a total disaster. The men came and checked out the territory and found that we had a bat cave (yes, you read it right) in our room. There was no way I or any of the ladies were going back in that cabin. We took refuge in another cabin for the night. The people who owned the property told us that it was ok and that the bats were harmless as long as the lights were on. Excuse me? What happens if the lights go off? We didn't want to know. We were forced to go back and our nerves were a mess. I didn't sleep at night for the rest of those took weeks. I took short naps in the designated office during lunch and break time and that was it. We all took turns taking naps and was up all night.

One night, Monica, one of our roommates, had a plan to keep us busy at night. We took a bunch of left over craft materials that the kids weren't going to use and created crafty little things. Monica found a stash of yarn and said "I wish I could show you guys how t knit." I responded "you knit? That is so cool!" She proceeded to tell me that she only knew the basic stitch (garter) and that we would need some knitting needles in order for her to show me. Another girl, whose name escapes me, suggested that we use some sticks. So, we went and found some sticks. Don't ask me where we got it. We just had sticks that we can use as knitting needles. We watch her try to remember how to cast on. Monica hadn't knitted in a very long time and didn't have the passion for it for she thought it was too slow, but it was perfect for this particular occasion. So, she remembered and passed the knowledge on to us. I remember thinking that this was the most difficult thing I've ever done, but was anxious to see the final product. By the end of that camp, we all had made a square, some were rectangular, others were of a different shape, but in all it was supposed to be a washcloth or dishcloth or something. I wish I knew how to contact Monica to let her know the wonderful gift she had given me during that time.

After camp, relieved to be back home in my bed with no bats, I slept for an entire day. The next day, I managed to get up out of bed and head to a craft shop, Sav-A-Thon, and found this "Taught Myself to Knit" book and a "Taught Myself to Knit Crochet" book. I think those are the names of the books. I read the directions with the pictures and actually taught myself to do both. I found crochet to be faster and easier and put the knitting down for a month, until I met another lady at a previous job (can't remember her name either), who taught be the continental way of knitting. It was fast, just like crochet, because it was as if I was picking up the yarn with the needle like I would do with crochet. I can't really quite explain it. I found myself going back and forth with knitting and crochet. It was like one month was for knitting, the other month is crochet, and I collected all these books about both and just read and read and read some more. Ten years later, I have yet to take a class, and haven't put down the needles or hooks.

Well, that's how I learned my craft. How did you learn yours? I think there should be a story day where we all can share how we learned our craft.

I have decided to take a design workshop, so that I can learn how to make my own garments. I don't know when I will have the time to take the class, but I'm determined to do it. Also, I'm interested in becoming a sample knitter. At least that's what I think it's called. Can anyone share some light on this for me? Is a sample knitter like the entry-level position of a job? Any info will be greatly appreciated.