How do you Habu?

Remember these?

I will be knitting these up for the shop. The trunk show for AlterKnits is coming to Article Pract at the end of February. The trunk show will not include the lanterns, so I happily offered to knit them up for the shop. PLUS, Leigh Radford will coming in March to teach a couple of workshops at the shop. I am so excited!
This is my first time working with Habu. I have always longed to knit with the Shosenshi Paper (100% linen). But WHAT on earth would I ever make with paper?!! And then AlterKnits comes along & *BAM* there it is, Paper Lanterns Man oh man, that Leigh Radford is a genius.

I have been drooling over these for so long. I am making the version that uses both the Shosenshi Paper held together with the Paper Moire (50% linen, 50% nylon). These were not my ideal color choices, but I was anxious to get started & did not want to wait for a special order. I started them tonight. It couldn't be easier, they are knit in the round on dpn's, the "ladders" created by the joins at the corners are pinched to define the edges of the lanterns. The paper is, to my surprise, pretty easy to work with.

I finished one lantern is about an hour, maybe a little less. I was dying to see it lit up, cause it certainly didn't look like much on it's own. I was too lazy to go down into the freezing cold garage & pull out a strand of xmas lights. So I just shone a flashlight into it. It made the COOLEST light pattern on the wall! I am sooooo much more excited about these now than I was before, didn't think that would be possible. Truthfully I cannot wait to finish the shop set, order my first choice colors, & make my own set.

>>I suggest viewing these photos larger to see the textures of the papers. just click on them.<<

Just Checking in

Well I am still a touch sick. I swear that I have the plague. But enough of that boring old news!
I have finished a couple of things. YES, a couple, Multiple, as in, more than one!! Being sick is good for something.

• The Noro Iro sample for the store. One skein of this beauty knit in this super easy stitch will get you a shortish but substantial scarf. And these colors are just the absolute dreamiest! I wore it the entire day at work & nearly cried when I had to take it off & hang it up with the other samples. This stuff is pretty soft too, for Noro that is. I would just post the stitch pattern here, but I never know if I am crossing a line, & I really don't want to copyright screw anyone.



• Secret gift project that I really cannot show or even talk much about. You will have to trust me that I have indeed finished this one. I will post photos after the eagle has landed, should be no later than Monday. I will tell you that this was the one made with red Manos. Teaser.

I SHOULD be done with my felted slippers. I have neglected them for a week now. I only have to finish the outer sole of the second slipper & attach it.
I DID however start my second sock, the red,blue, brown striped ones. Even though I said that I wasn't going to touch the second sock til I finished the slippers. I lied, sue me.
I am gearing up for the next pair. I want to attempt two-at-a-time-toe-up socks. I have seen a few tutorials on toe-up, socks, & lots of info about socks on one or two circs, but I have only found ONE pattern for the two-at-a-time-toe-up variety, from KnitPick's. I would like to see a couple more to compare techniques, etc. If anyone knows of any online sources, or books that I can out & get, whatever please pass along your wisdom. I have only done socks on dpn's, so this is going to be a very lofty challenge for me, just the way I likes 'em.

Sick at The Carnival

I was honored to have been chosen, and quoted for the Sixth Carnival of Knitting. The topic was knitting & pets, and as you all know, I have plenty to share on that topic. Although the photo below is not related to the story submitted, it is from my very favorite series of Rosco & "The Knitting" photos.

Well, I really was feeling better on Tuesday afternoon. Or I thought that I was. I went to the focus group. It was fine. It was actually a lot of fun! God knows I love to give my opinion on things that I love. We rated tons of yarns in a "blind taste test", answered questions about ourselves, & evaluated pattern books. No one but our group showed up, so it was like having a tupperware party. As for the free yarn, we were given color cards for 5 or 6 different yarns to choose from. I chose this one, I don't remember which color, probably green or brown. The yarn will be mailed to us, & I THINK that we will be receiving an entire bag.
Towards the end of the meeting I started feeling horrible!! When I got home I was running a fever of 102, and couldn't stop shaking with the chills. I haven't even felt like knitting. YES! It's been THAT bad. Today, the fever has broken, I have slightly more energy, but I still feel like crap! Thanks to all who have sent well wishes! I have been sleeping, drinking a ton of fluids, & taking it easy. Today, I will knit!

I am so sick

I have been super icky sicky all weekend. It started off on Friday with an itchy scratchy throat. By Saturday I was feeling like my bones were made of lead. Sunday was that deceptive, "Oooh, I am feeling slightly better, so I am going to go ahead & run errands & go to work". UGH! Monday my cold was back, & it was pissed off that I had dismissed it the day before! My skin hurt, my teeth hurt, my hair even hurt. Today.... I think I actually do feel a little bit better. Though I could be deceiving myself again, I want to feel better so badly because there is a focus group being held by Classic Elite Yarns. It's a 2 hour Q & A session, & for participating we get free yarn. So I am trying to will myself healthier! Keep your fingers crossed that I am able to hold myself up for two hours & get some free yarn. If it's ugly yarn.... I will be so ticked off.

JOHNNY DEPP

It's FINALLY going to happen!!! I am going to have breakfast in bed with Johnny Depp!!! I was shopping for Grape Nuts, honest, & as I was strolling down the cereal aisle I saw the very the last thing that I ever expected to see in a cereal aisle; Johnny freaking Depp!!!! Of course I had to buy it! The description reads, "chocolate pearl shaped puffs with pirate shaped marshmallows". WTF?! is a pirate shape? There is one that is a yellow blob, a gold medallion perhaps? & one that KINDA looks like a sword. It's a far cry from clovers, moons, & diamonds. I don't plan on eating this stuff! Unless I find out that Johnny himself eats it! ; )

And in knitting news that is slightly less exciting than Johnny Depp cereal...
a top secret project in gorgeous manos #69, trimmed in a pretty blue manos... Sorry but I just don't remember the #, I got a small scrap ball of it from a pal. Some of you can probably guess what it is going to be. I don't think the recipient reads my blog, but just in case, I will save details til after the gift has been given. I really wanted to use malabrigo, but that big ole' shipment that we got in 2 weeks ago... 100% SOLD OUT!! We cannot keep the stuff in stock.

My felted slippers are moving along slowly, I am 75% done with the first one. I completely neglected them when I was working on that stripey sock. They knit up pretty quick when I stick to it, easily finished in 3 or 4 days. I promised myself to finish the slippers before I start the other sock. We'll just see how that plays out. I may wind up starting a whole new project

I will be working on Noro Iro for a shop sample, details to follow. & here is a photo of some Wool of the Andes in colors that just happen to look good in my living room, no further plans for them yet.

Velveteen Rabbit & Sock #1

Sunday one of my oldest & bestest friends got married. I have known her for 14 years, & introduced her to the groom 7 or 8 years ago. She asked me to do a reading at the wedding, & I was thrilled to do so. Public speaking is my thing, after all I was a theater arts goober for a zillion years. When she FINALLY gave me the passage I was to read, 2 days before the event, I was a little nervous. It was from the Velveteen Rabbit by, Margery Williams, the one & only children's book that I had never read. How could I possibly give this reading the powerful & emotional meaning it surely deserved without knowing the motivation of the characters? Told you I was a drama goober. I immediately fell in love with the passage, and now I want to read the whole book, and become a toy that longs to be Real.

Finished sock #1 of the first socks knit in actual sock weight yarn. Easy Peasy. Don't know what I was waiting for. I cannot wait to get the second one done & wear a pair of my very own handmade socks with shoes! woo hoo! But first I want to finish my felted slippers because it's been damned cold in these parts & we are saving money by not running the heater 24/7! My toes are frozen, just like the ice cream treat.
I am taking part in my first official secret pal exchange. I am very excited. I have been sending my pal e-cards to wish her a "great weekend" & a "happy Monday, have a good week". I have already sent a snail mail card, & have packed up her first package of goodies. I just love this kind of stuff.

The Joy of Knitting... Socks

One day about seven months ago I decided to teach myself to knit socks. I went out & bought this ball of Lion Brand Magic Stripes sock yarn & some frighteningly skinny # 2's. I was already totally comfortable using double points, that wasn't the issue. The needles were so teeny tiny thin, the yarn was so skinny... I didn't get 3 rounds into the ribbing before I put it all away and worked on something else. A couple of weeks later I took a sock class, using worsted weight yarn, & as I have said before, it was disappointingly easy, turning the heel and all of that, a sleep walk. So anyway...
Seven months later, which is now, I decided to pull out that ball of sock yarn & knit some socks that I could actually wear with shoes. EASY PEASY! I am using size 2 needles and loving it. Go figure. I have already bought another ball of sock yarn (pictured below). I think that I just might become one of THOSE people, yes you know who I am talking about, THEM... "Sock knitters".

My new ball of sock yarn, Lana Grossa Multiringel, in the most delectable colors (#5122). I have a second ball of this on hold at the shop, I want to knit knee highs with this yarn, am I crazy? Is that a reasonable dream? I know that the 100gram ball is supposed to make one pair of socks, but how tall, just how much sock can I expect to get out of one ball? I know that a pair of knee highs will certainly need more than one. Any ideas from you "sock knitters" out there?
The other two heart breakers in the photo are Rowanspun Aran in # 972 Hardy. It is discontinued, it's beautiful, & it's mine all mine! Don't know what I am going to do with it, I would love to find more. In the meantime, I will just gaze upon it!

3...2...1...FELT!!!!!!

These were easy peasy to knit up, & FUN too. I am entertaining ideas of how to address the problem of them being break neck slippery on hardwood floors. I don't want to cover up too much of the bottom, i.e.. no suede bottom. Maybe suede heel & toe patches? The puffy paint idea super does NOT appeal to me.... Ugly, IMO. I am debating sewing something onto the bottom. I dunno.... Any suggestions guys? In the meantime, I have started mine. Will post some photos once I am a bit further along.
Chrissy's Felted Slipper Clogs
Yarn: Double Stranded Knit Picks WOA in mist, stream, & coal
Pattern: Fiber Trends Felted clog slippers #ac-33x
Needle: US 13
length of time to complete: 4 days (not including the 2 weeks it took to get more yarn when I ran out before they were done, duh!)

SP7 questionnaire

**This questionnaire is intended for my secret pal. So if you are not my secret pal, just look at the pretty picture of yarn & move along, no need to concern yourself with all of this info about lil ole me. Unless of course you want to.** p.s. yarn is lamb's pride worsted in spruce & bronze patina, sexy huh?


1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand?
**Yes I am a yarn snob. I definitely gravitate towards natural fibers. There are some wool/manmade blends that are pretty cool too. But absolutely no 100% acrylic.
2. Do you spin? Crochet?
**I do not spin. I wouldn't mind learning someday. But I cannot afford (time or money) to pick up a new obsession. I had a crochet lesson a few months back. Honestly, I just didn't enjoy it very much. Although I ALWAYS have a hook at my side while knitting, they are invaluable for fixing wonky stitches. I would like to give it go again... Someday...Maybe. Eh.
3. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
**I keep my straight bamboos (& a few bryspuns) in a "roll your own" needle case that I made. My gorgeous & colorful vintage aluminum & casein needles are in a vase in the living room. My circulars are in the pockets of my sexy vintage folding knitting basket (as opposed to my handsome but not sexy vintage folding knitting basket. I have issues with most of the circular needle cases out there. I detest the hang-y ones, how messy to have all those cords & needles dangling everywhere!! Obviously I haven't been too upset, or else I would have made one myself.
4. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
**I signed up for a beginning knitting class last April. A week before the class I bought the first Stitch n' Bitch book & taught myself. When I got to the class I already knew how to cast on, knit, purl, & bind off. The instructor didn't spend much time with me. I took a 3 part sock class last summer; the first session we cast on, & worked on the cuff/leg. We were supposed to come to the second session ready to turn the heel. I went home after the first session & turned the heel by myself, I was HUGELY disappointed by all of the fuss about turning the heel! I was expecting something more challenging. I would stick myself in the intermediate category.
5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
**yes. Amazon. It is under punkrawkpurl. There are separate lists for knitting books, other books, & movies.
6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
vanilla!!!!! Also coconut or cinammonny spice type smells!!! Sometimes cucumber, sandalwood, & almond.
7. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
**CHOCOLATE! I love John & Kira chocolates, which are pricey. Non break the bank but specialty/hard to find chocolates that I covet are Violet Crumble, Salty donkey balls (from Hawai'i), anything chocolate coconut. And thanks to Laverne & Shirley watching, I have been on a life long quest to get my grubby little paws on a box of real life scooter pies!!! Milk & Pepsi just isn't the same without one!
8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?
**Sew, collage (but NO scrapbooking), decorating (houses, stores, & cats!), painting, cutting with x-acto knives... I am generally open to crafty stuff.
9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
**I have an iPod & very diverse tastes musically. Fave bands/musicians: The Pixies, The Breeders, Tom Waits, PJ Harvey, T. Rex, The Ramones... I also love The Rolling Stones, Cat Stevens, lounge music, & almost all 80's music, old school twangy country, a little rap & hip hop, punk, etc.
10. What's your favorite color? Or—do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?
** This area is where I am most picky, Chris is actually scared to buy clothes for me because of this. I pretty much dig every color, it's the combination of certain shades of certain colors that make my eyes burn. I don't really like pastels, unless they are mixed with stronger colors. Currently my fave palette is robin's egg & peacock blues, chocolate brown, citron/olive/yellow-greens, pumpkin, & ochre. I also love pink (lamb's pride rosado rose is the perfect pink). & red (deep blue reds, not orangey reds) paired with chocolate brown. My flickr sets, "my place" & "knit on sister" have lots & lots of photos that accurately reflect my color choices.
11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
**I live with my boyfriend Chris & our 2 cats, Otis & Rosco.
12. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
**yes, yes, yes, & not so much.
13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?
**Some of my fave yarns are Malabrigo (yumm-meee), Rowan (love the tweeds, as well as everything else from them, except the new rowan spray-eww), Brown Sheep (anything from BS) , Cascade (220 or Pastaza), Manos wool (their colors are divine!), and, ooooh there are so many! Malabrigo is on the top of the obsession list right now!
I do use Lion Brand Wool-ease for what I refer to as "scratch paper yarn", when I am trying to figure out a new stitch pattern, technique, or anything wonky, I use the cheapo stuff (but I have more than enough of this kind of stuff). OTHERWISE... I DO NOT like the yarns that come from mega-gigantic-chain craft stores. I do use Knit-Picks Wool of the Andes for felting, I find it too coarse for sweaters, mittens, or any non-felted project.
14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
**I do NOT like 100% acrylic, & I develop a very nasty rash when I get too close to eyelash yarns. I used to say that I hated all novelty yarns, but was brought to my senses after working in a yarn shop & being exposed to some cool & non fugly novelty yarns, although I never use any such yarns. Did I mention that eyelash yarn gives me hives?
15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?
**I haven't done a sweater since my first one, that I frogged because I over-estimated my size, or under-estimated the stretching power of 2x2 rib. I had only been knitting for one month when I dug into that one. So anyway, I feel like it's time to give it another go. I am waiting for a shipment of Malabrigo in Frank Ochre to come in so that I can start the lace leaf swetaer from Loop-d-Loop.
16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
**anything that challenges me to try something new. I don't know why, but I am putting off fair isle. It's been the one & only thing that I have not just jumped into.
17. What are you knitting right now?
**2 pairs of felted slipper clogs, 1 pair of socks (using actual sock weight yarn for the first time), a Jess Hutch toy, some shop samples, a felted purse, and a couple of secret gifty things
18. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
**of course!!!
19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
** It totally depends! I do HATE long straights, they make my elbows hurt. I will use a circ to accommodate a larger piece. I do seem to be knitting in the round a lot these day. And I have to mention that I LOVE love love short double points!!!
20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
** Again, it depends. I am very partial to my vintage needles, the colorful aluminum & casein needles. I do like my bamboos, & the sweet plastic daisy's. I am obsessed with addis turbos.
21. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
**yes & yes!
22. How did you learn to knit?
**With a book (stitch n' bitch) & the knittinghelp.com videos.
23. How old is your oldest UFO?
**This is SO embarrassing. A ladder stitch scarf that I started back in April, I think it was my second scarf. Once I learned the stitch I just got bored. It looks good in a glass bowl in my entryway.
24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?
**I will have to get back to you on this one. Although I am a fan of Disney & cartoons, etc., I don't really collect or buy things with characters on them. rarely.
25. What is your favorite holiday?
**Xmas. And the birthdays of all my friends!
26. Is there anything that you collect?
**That's a loaded question! Vintage knitting needles & notions, vintage roosters, vintage trivets (a new obsession), vintage disneyLAND (not world) memorabilia, vintage.... Stuff
27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
**I have a subscription to interweave knits.
28. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on?
**Books will be on my amazon wishlist. Swallow casein needles, tortoise shell!!!!!! The lace leaf/bobble leaf scarf pattern from loop-d-loop.com (or the 2002/03 winter issue if interweave knits).
29. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
**I suppose that would have to be fair isle. I don't know why, because I don't think I would use it very often. I feel obligated to learn it.
30. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
**I have knit socks, I am knitting some right now, but I don't knit socks very often. I am a woman's size 8.5. I have been wanting some knee high socks, not necessarily hand made.
31. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)
**September 13th
32. Allergies?
**Besides penicillin, it would most certainly be cigarette smoke! I am very very sensitive to cigarette smoke & things that come from the home of a smoker.

I am a dirty whore....

I was just reading Knit Crazed & he was explaining that he recently discovered that he is a monogamous knitter (only straying once or twice, oddly enough for the sake of children). A monogamous knitter is always dedicated to one project at a time. I had never thought about it in those terms. But now I have to face the facts, that I am a dirty knitting whore! I am constantly juggling multiple knitting projects. I am shameless about it too... Right now I am getting down & dirty, doing the yarn nasty with 3 different projects on the couch. I don't even TRY to hide them from each other!!! Does that make my finished projects illegitimate bastards?

A Family that Knits Together....

Two nights ago Chris announced that he was ready to learn how to knit. So after doing a series of backflips & cartwheels I dug up some Lion Brand wool-ease (the practice/scratch paper yarn) & taught him to cast on. Within 10 minutes he was one casting-on mother trucker. Next I showed him how to make the knit stitch. He was naturally a little fumbly at first. Remember when you were first learning & you just couldn't figure how in the hell to get the yarn wrapped around your fingers so that it flowed while you spastically stabbed into the cast on stitches??!! You probably looked like a deaf crack addict trying to sign (i.e. sign language) the Declaration of Independence. He fumbled & grumbled a bit, BUT he kept on truckin... He got a little frustrated & tensed up from time to time, but he was getting it, and more importantly, he was hooked! HA HA He spent about an hour knitting, ripping out, casting on, knitting, ripping out....

While I slept in til 11 the next morning (a major rarity for me), Chris was knitting his cute little butt off. He proudly held up a garter stitch swatch about 6" wide by 4" long. He had started over a whole new swatch that morning & just knit, knit, knit!! I nearly wept with pride! Sure there were a couple of holes, unintentional yo's, a dropped stitch or two, but my guy is a natch. Maybe he got it from me. Maybe he got it from his Ma. But wow, he really "gets it"! He worked on that swatch all day. Later that day he announced, "Okay, I'm ready to purl now!!". And purled we did. An hour later he was working in stockinette stitch.

Today we went down to the shop and he picked out some yarn to make his Ma a scarf. He went back & forth between Noro Silver Thaw in a really gorgeous purpley/greeney/fuschia-y colorway & Malabrigo in Hollyhock, another really gorgeous yarn. He went with the Malabrigo, like myself, he is unable to resist that buttery soft goodness. I offered to treat him to lunch, he said that he really wanted to get home & start knitting. Now I know for sure that he REALLY "gets it"!!

My Malabrigo color of choice is currently Frank Ochre. Though I do LOVE the Hollyhock cozied up to good ole Frank, they are not destined to be together at this time. I have decided that I want to make the leaf lace sweater from loop-de-loop in Frank Ochre. I only have 2 skeins now, so I will have to wait until we get more in at the shop. Tempting to start it now.... But I will wait.

Final news... I am still waiting for my delivery, so that I can finish Chris's slippers. In the meantime... I am starting mine. Lamb's Pride in colors; Seafoam, Spruce, Bronze Patina, & Rosado Rose.

I am still alive, & knitting too!

What have I been up to some of you may ask. I have received several very sweet emails questioning my existence for the past few weeks. Chris & I have been the laziest bastards! This is the first year in 13 years that I have not sent out holiday cards. I was feeling a bit guilty at first, "gosh I hope that all of my friends know that I am thinking about them!" & "Man, none of my new friends will know how super obsessive I am about sending out cards & baking for them!" That guilt passed around the 40th episode of Law & Order, "There is always next year". We wrapped up school, slept, did the Xmas thing, slept, spent some time catching up with a few pals, slept, did the new years thing, and slept. I LOVE decorating for Xmas !! I love wrapping gifts as much I love opening them. I got a super late start putting up the tree & getting into to whole spirit of things, but once I did it was like a fricking Winter Wonderland in here! Chris' Ma came over on Xmas day & we ate, opened pressies, & sat around & knit all day. Chris even announced that he was finally interested in learning to knit... >angels sing<... it was a Xmas miracle! We co-hosted a small & cozy New Years Eve party with our lovely friends Brian & Heidi. There were 10 or 12 folks, lots of them were new faces for us. We ate & talked. Talked & ate. Then I THINK we ate some more!
This version of the fingerless lace up gauntlet glove/mitten from AlterKnits was the secret shop project that I was working on. We all did mitten/glove/hand-ee things. Mine is made from Malabrigo in Frank Ochre & Rio De La Plata in # T192, the GORGEOUS dupioni silk ribbon is sold at Article Pract . Malabrigo is the perfect yarn for hand warmers! It is the worlds softest, squishiest, dreamiest yarn ever that I just want to heavy pet all the live long day.
Although the colorway of the Ozarks Handspun yarn is a great compliment to the gauntlets, it has nothing whatsoever to do with them. I splurged part of my xmas bonus on this funky yarn that I didn't even like at first. It took me awhile to warm to up to it. It was a little too Berkeley hippie for me at first. But the colorways got to me! This stuff is exotic & gorgeous, & downright fun!!! And since I do have some of the gauntlet yarns left over from the secret project... I can make something to match whatever it is that I eventually make with the Ozarks.
Let's see, what's next... Oh yes, a secret gift project. A pair of felted xmas clogs for Chris. They are pretty much complete. I ran out of yarn halfway through the outer sole of the 2nd slipper, yet another reason to NOT buy yarn online! They are so HUGE pre felt... It's hysterical. Post felting I will share all of the technical details, & complete photos.


Secret gift project #2, or as I now officially refer to it, the "big chomping pain in my ass", was the Steve Zissou hat that Chris wanted more than anything else!!! A 1x1 rib hat. Sounds good right! I was motoring along, I finished the first 8 inches of the flippin hat in a couple of days. THEN it hit me.... Decreasing 1x1 rib! What a flippin idiot!! I figured out the decrease method needed to maintain the rib pattern, but it still looked like crap! With guidance from a couple of knitters way more experienced than I... It is now done! It could be better, but it could have been much much worse. I will allow you to be the judge... Compare it the original in the movie poster. Yarn: Lamb's Pride in Red Barron * Needles: #7 & #8 * Pattern(s): I used this one for the cast on # * Length of time to knit: an eternity!
This little cutie is a shop sample. It is Nashua's wooly Stripes in Spice Market. The colors are gorgeous, & it was nice to work with. I used a stitch pattern (#61 small mock brocade pleats) from my xmas gift, Vogue Knitting's Stitchionary.