Baby, it's cold outside...

I haven't left the house in 3 days. This is doable since I freelance and can work from home if I want to. It's freezing here in Boulder. After a quick Googling - it's 3 degrees right now. BRRRRRRRRR

Sure, it looks all warm and sunny out. Colorado is weird like that...it always looks beautiful until you step outside. Then you'll never know what you'll find. This is the view out our back sun room this morning. You can see from the chair on the porch that we got a tad bit of snow. Over a foot to be exact.

I actually love snow. I'm from Maine originally. We actually don't get enough here in CO for me. I love those long winters where you get snow upon snow upon snow from December through March. And it stays through the winter - not a blade of brown grass to be seen! Here in Boulder you'll get a large snow storm like this one and then it'll be gone by the next day. Then it'll be warm and sunny and like 70 degrees for a few weeks. Yep, Boulder weather isn't my cup of tea...

So, besides freezing my behind off, I've been knitting - of course! I've made spectacular progress on those socks I showed last time. 1 sock down and less then 1 to go. WooHoo!

Unfortunately I think I'll be making a pair for my Dad, too. That means I have one more pair to make this year. His will be thicker, though. I don't think I have the patience to knit another pair in fingering weight yarn. The thought makes me want to poke my eyes out with those tiny little needles I've been using. *shudder


I've also been working on the looms. I had a customer ask me about a pattern for a pair of Mary Jane's using the blue Knifty Knitter loom. Well I didn't know of one and even searched to see if one existed. I couldn't find one...So, as I usually do I set out to make my own pattern. I really like how they came out. I think I may have supplanted the Scuffies as my favorite. What do you think?

The pattern is almost ready and will be posted to LoomKnittingDesigns this Friday. So stay tuned!

Yet another sock

I've cast on yet another sock for Christmas presents. These are for my Mom. Her last pair I made her have completely worn out. The heel "blew a hole" as she put it. She loves my handmade socks, so unlike my Dad she wears them and wears them and wears them...

The yarn for this pair is a little thicker then my brother's, so the progress is a bit faster. After only a couple nights of knitting on the first sock I'm a little over half done. Socks truly get monotonous after a while.

Here's some pics for you - pretty, huh?

A knitting chuckle

Ever feel all thumbs when trying to knit with needles? This should make you feel better! :D Just a little Monday morning humor.

Another Christmas FO!

After what feels like forever knitting these, they are FINALLY finito! As much as I love knitting with teeny tiny fingering weight sock yarn, when you have a to-do Christmas knitting pile a 1/2 mile high - well, it's just not fun!

All stress aside, I really do love the way they turned out. Very tiny little stitches and the yarn is going to be warm and easy to care for. I do hope he likes loves them!

With this pair complete it's only 1 more pair to go. That is if I don't decide to make my Dad a pair too. The last pair I made him for Father's day a couple years ago he keeps for "best". I can't seem to get him to wear them more. Telling him how many hours they take to make only enforces his rule...Ah well, at least he likes and wears them.

The stats on these puppies:
Yarn used: Scheepjes Invicta Extra - 75% wool 25% nylon
Gauge: 40 stitches by 28 rows = 4"
Amount: about 1 and 1/3 balls at ~230 yards a piece
Needles: #2 DPs
Pattern: "Classic Socks for the Family" by Yankee Knitter Designs

A little closeup shot for yah...

New little freebie pattern

While playing around with my new small gauge loom that my Dad made me, I created this Little Stocking Holiday Ornament pattern. It's posted in the free patterns section on loomknittingdesigns.

A little more about the pattern:

Skill Level: Beginner/Intermediate
Loom: Small Gauge with at least 10 pegs
Yarn: worsted weight scraps in two colors
Techniques covered: E-wrap, purl, turning a heel in a flat panel of knitting, gathered bind off, and sewing seems.

I provide step by step instructions for turning the heel, since it's a bit different then a regular heel done in the round. It's an interesting technique that I'm hoping to work into other patterns.

Enjoy everyone and happy holidays!

Christmas knitting

A little bit of progress on the Christmas knitting since my last post. The other sock for my brother is coming along nicely - slow, but nicely. I turned the heel last night while watching my favorite show House on Fox. Last nights episode wasn't all that great - but the beauty of knitting while watching TV is its never a wasted hour!

I'll be working on these this morning since I have the day off from work. I'm trying not to think about the fact that there is 33 days left til Christmas. 33 days left to finish all my Christmas knitting. Ugh!

Ruffled Scarflet and Mitts set

After a long wait on my FO's pile, this little set is finally making it into a finished pattern. I actually designed and finished the sample last spring but decided to wait for cooler weather before writing up the directions. It's an adorable set and the sample will be going to someone on my Christmas list. I hope you like it as much as I do!

A little more about this set:

Yarn used: Jo-Ann Sensations Angel Hair Yarn
Yardage: ~100 yards (approx. 1 skein for the set) double that if you choose to use two strands held together.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Loom used: I used the blue loom for the sample, but any loom with at least 23 pegs will work.
Finished scarflett dimensions: about 31 inches long by 3 and 3/4 inches wide
Techniques used: E-wrap, purl, moving stitches around the pegs, flat panel bind off, mattress stitch seaming.
Pattern link:http://www.loomknittingdesigns.com

A few more pics for yah:

Inspiring knitting finds and an FO

I was poking around the web tonight and found some inspiring knitting and craft related finds. One of which is on my new favorite blog: Craftzine. I just picked up the new Craft magazine at the book store last weekend. The magazine has some great stuff in it. But the blog that goes along with the new mag has a lot of inspiring crafty posts. While browsing it tonight (they post a lot!), I found a link about the upcoming knit holiday stamps from the USPS. Now this, to me, is very exciting. Too bad they don't come out 'til 2007 :(

This post reminded me of Zia Sara over at American in Italy. I thought it was hers until I clicked on it. I love all of those cute hats. Sara's stuff can be found on loomknit.com here.

The last of my inspiring finds: a free PDF of knitted scarves from knitpicks.com. I was thumbing through my copy of this months Vogue Knitting magazine and saw an ad for them. To download this simple collection (most of which can be converted for loom knitting), go to http://www.knitpicks.com/245. My favorite of the collections is the Waves Scarf (on the left) - it has this subtle cabling all over. Beautiful!

Ohhh, I almost forgot. I finished this sock this week for my brother's Christmas gift. This sock is made from such fine yarn I thought I'd never finish. Of course the foot of the intended wearer is a size 11, so that doesn't help! I like the color a lot. Tweedy Blue! (Which you can't see in this crumby pic, sorry! I'll post more tomorrow when the sun is up!) I think he'll like them too. Since a pair of knit socks is all he asked for from me, they better be good! Only one more pair of socks (at least) to go for Christmas gifts. Then its on to other items. I like to finish the socks first. That helps stave off the 2nd sock grumbles...you know. Where you knit one sock and then start grumbling and never start the second.

Anyway...sorry for the crumby picture. Maybe I should wait til the sun is UP before snapping pictures of FO's.

Cozy Mocs pattern - new!

In my quest to make some more male-loomer-friendly patterns I designed these Cozy Mocs. Not only are they more male loomer friendly, they also feature a toe up knitting design that lessens the bulk at the toe. I've gotten several requests from loomers that are trying to make a gift for someone with sensitive feet. Hopefully, these will fit the bill!

The stats on these slippers:
Loom used: Blue Knifty Knitter loom
Yarn: 1 ball of Lion Brand Thick and Quick in color "Charcoal"
Yarn weight: Super Chunky
Yardage: 108 yards per ball
Skill Level: Intermediate/Advanced
Techniques used: E-wrap, purl, increasing, flat panel bind off, turning the heel, and sewing seams.

Link to purchase: http://www.loomknittingdesigns.com/patterns_cozymocs.html

-Some other pictures-

A close up of the toe. Less bulk and great shaping!


A more straight on view. You can really see the fitting in this one.