Yes, It's a Knitted FO

This is a knitting blog, and I have been a delinquent blogger. I don't know if it's because I've become too lazy to post or if it's because I feel like I'm cheating since I haven't been knitting. Oh, there's been crafting going on, just not knitting. Anyway, instead of bringing everybody down emotionally, I'll try to make this as snappy as possible.

I had a dog. A very wonderful dog. He died in January of 2006. All I could do was knit socks....so I "designed " these socks to commemorate his life. I call them "Butterflies Are Free". I used butterfly eyelet stitch from my trusty The New Knitting Dictionary and did a picot edge. They were done on size 1 circs in Bernat Nylospun. Dull color? Yeah...because I felt dull...it took me until this month to finish them. Ok, enough sadness....you didn't come to this blog for all that!



As I said earlier, my other crafts have keep me busy and have captivated my interest. I am currently enjoying crochet and sewing projects. I finished a summer top yesterday(sewing) but haven't photographed it yet. I finished the red lustersheen tank top and should have posted that as a FO, but again, haven't taken out the camera. Next time I will. I promise. Oh, and I've been back to the thrift store for more treasures! Here's a peek... A bag of patterns for $3.13! Many months ago, there used to be patterns in bags every weekend--it seemed. Then it dried up. I finally hit it, and almost all of them are my size! Can you believe it? Must have been sewing karma.

Summertime Heats Up The Crafting

Maybe because it's sooo hot outside, it "forces" me to enjoy all my crafts. I have finished a few things...and without further ado...

My yellow crochet top made from a free pattern from the Sugar and Cream website. For being a very elementary knit-cheter, I think it came out pretty good. I used an F hook and Aunt Lydia's Baby Denim Crochet. It took about 1 1/2 balls. I think it's a good first project for someone looking to make a garment. Oh, and it was such fun to sit and watch my sister crochet on this when she came to visit in May. Every time she comes to visit, she watches me work on an assortment of projects. She always asks if she can work on them...unfortunately, her leisure time is very limited because of her work and work schedule, so she can't get back into her crafting. But it works for me because I don't mind if she wants help! Gets the project done quicker...and oh, the memory!

I don't know about you, but I'm one of those people who when they see a neat idea, they immediately want to jump on the bandwagon. Yeah, that's how I started sewing again. About 2 weeks ago, I saw this dress, but didn't buy it--long story. I LOVE this print...anyhoo, I've also been reading the wardrobe refashion blog, and the idea hit me. I bought a woman's size 3X caftan and used the bodice part of a Simplicity pattern....and...Voila! I made up the rest of the dress by eye.

Caftan from thrift store-$3.50

Knit fabric for lining-$2.21 ffrom Hancock's

Simplicity pattern-$2.49

Yea for new dresses! It was a grind ripping out the original dress, but I'm totally pleased with how it turned out. I haven't sewn a garment in at least 12 years. I really wanted contrast ribbing like the green dress, but I wasn't able to find any. Neither of the 2 fabric stores had any. It bummed me out, but what can ya do? I might add some sort of belt with the pink fabric I have left. I forgot to add that this is jersey knit fabric which is so great cause there's no ironing.

I do have a knitted FO, but I think I'll blog about that next time. How about seeing what I'm into now? To the right are my camo socks in a simple k2, p2 rib. But oh no! What do we have here?? Why it's another crochet tank made from vintage Red Heart Lustersheen. If you don't have this magazine, I totally recommend it. There are at least 3 other projects in this issue that I'm going to try. The magazine is Crochet!.

BTW, the back is done.

The House Of Horror aka It's Not 6/6/06 Anymore

Things around here have been pretty funky lately...almost like there's a ghost or demon spirit hovering. First, I come home from work, and the house is HOT. The hubbo says, "I think the compressor is going out on the ac because I heard a bunch of grinding noises. I'm thinking...OH NO! A compressor is expensive to be replaced. He wanted me to hear the "grinding", so he turned it back on. The long and short of it? AC is working....and great, I might add.

I guess the refrigerator was jealous of all the attention, so it decided to act up. On my day off I returned home from running errands, to find a HUGE pool of water all over the kitchen floor.---easily cleaned up, but when you opened the fridge, it wasn't as cool as it should be. When hubbo returned home from work, he was furious! Who wouldn't be? Anyway, we decided to call an appliance repair guy the next day because luckily I was off the next day and could wait around for the repair guy. In the interim, I called my dad, and he and my mom came over to take a look see. The upshot here? The leaking stopped on it's own, and the fridge is ice cold again! And you people always wonder why I'm so frustrated.

Now, on with the knitting. Yes, it's a FO! These are mistake rib socks made from acrylic-yes, I said acrylic-yarn from Italy that I got in a bag of thrift store yarn about a year ago. The yarn was simply called...Filato Acrilico by filo d'oro. I used size 1 circs and they fit beautifully! I'll say it again...I love how the heel flap came out looking like fair isle! The irony of all this sock completion? Won't be able to wear them for maybe 6 months or so. The new job has bad ac and it's HOT in there! It's sandals all the time!


I don't think I've ever mentioned this one before. I've had this pattern book for awhile and had coveted this one--even setting aside some of my beloved Cotton Ease for this. When I started experiencing problems with my Rebecca powder jacket, I decided to cast on for this. In the pattern, it stated they wanted you to use "swiss darning"...ok, in English definition is duplicate stitch, and I knew for a fact that is not what needed to be done for the neckline. I took it to my once a month group, and it was decided that it should be tubular cast on....Huh?? Couldn't figure it out. Then, when I finally had a day off, I went to the Monday night group, and someone suggested it might be an I-cord bind off. Possibly. Finally, my "knitting guru", Kathleen showed up and well....see? It's a beautiful neckline! Grafted off! I never would have figured that out on my own! She told me that alot of the Katia books ask for this bind off...that was good to know since I have a few of those pattern books, and had never cracked them open to look. Anyway, a HUGE knitterly thanks and a shout out to Kathleen. If you didn't know-and ya probably don't-Kathleen talked me thru the techinique of socks on 2 circs over the phone after I first met her.

I have made little progress on the yellow crochet top, too...and well, I've been trying to complete sock #2 of my secret sock knitting. I already know what's next....my mom's socks. I keep promising her I'm going to finish them, and she keeps asking for them. It's actually become quite humorous. If you've been reading the blog, you know this has been going on for what? A year?
She has the patience of a saint!