This Site has MOVED!!

This site is now LIVE at www.theknittingsherpa.com . :) Come and visit me and read about my projects (and see the pictures) there--you can even sign up for an RSS feed or add my blog to your blogreader and keep up on all of my adventures in knitting. :)

Click here to hike to the new site--you'll not see any new posts here in the future. ;)

[exiting to the sounds of Eric Morillo's "I Like to Move It" from Madagascar....]

More Cardigans...and an Apology

I realized recently as I was directing someone else to my knitting blog that I have neglected to post photos of Mark's *finished* cardigan on the site. So when I return home, I will do just that. :)

In the meantime, I've been knitting (and am almost done) with Wendy's cardigan. It's a maternity pattern and I'm using Boa yarn for the embellishment and Microspun yarn for the body. It's *bright* (lime green) and the boa yarn is multi-coloured (lime, aqua, royal blue, and purple). It really looks sharp together. :) I'll take pictures and post them when I get home--it will probably be pieces, depending on how much I get done between now and Monday morning. ;)

Anyhow, I'm outta here--time for lunch and some more knitting. When I'm done with this sweater, it's on to baby blankets, as there seems to be a private little baby boom in our corner of the world right now. ;)

Happy knitting! :)

"Big Girl Knits"

I'm not normally one to go ga-ga over a book of knitting patterns, or a book, for that matter. I love to read, but I leave the reviewing for other Amazon Junkie(s). ;) How's that for a shameless plug? ;)


But this book, Big Girl Knits: 25 Big, Bold Projects Shaped for Real Women with Real Curves deserves all of the praise, plugging, and urging you to BUY THIS BOOK I can give it. And no, I do not know the authors and I get no monetary (or other) benefits from recommending it to you.

If you are a Real Woman (defined by Lane Bryant as wearing a size 12/14 or larger) and love to knit, this book is for YOU.

I bought it with a friend who also loves to knit and we're trading it back and forth as we work on different projects, but even if I bought it solo, it would be completely worth the $19 Amazon wants for it. It's *that good.*

Like most plus-sized women, I have knitted for everyone except me. Well, except for a scarf, that is. I've looked longingly at patterns, only to find that they go no larger than a size 12, and my skills just aren't up there enough to adjust a pattern to fit my bod. This book gave me ideas, tips, and best of all....PATTERNS! to knit that will look *great* on me!

The humour in it is wonderful, and the tips are right on the money. But the best part (for me) is understanding that there are certain patterns which will not look good on me at all--and it's no reflection on my knitting ability, the yarn I choose, or anything else. It's based on how I'm shaped. And the sooner I start knitting for myself in something that compliments my shape, the better off I'm going to be. :) There are three classifications of women in the book--the 3Bs, as the authors so named it--Boobs, Belly, or Butt. Most of us have one of these three that is the most prominent, and this book gives us patterns that will drape well and show off our best assets. And let's face it--if we're going to put this much time, effort, and money in to creating something for ourselves, shouldn't it look FABULOUS on us?

This book is filled with colour pictures, step-by-step instructions, and other marvelous things that help everyone from the novice to the advanced. It's well worth the money, the time, and the read.

Happy knitting!

The Anatomy of a Cardigan

Okay, before I get started, I just *have* to gloat. ;) One of my sisters (who shall remain nameless) was making fun of me when I told her I was starting to knit. I believe her exact words were, "Ohmygawsh...you're such a GRANNY!" And she dissed the knitting. Grrr....

So I showed her! Part of my niece's birthday gift was the two knitted scarves (see post below)--the Fur Sure in lime and watermelon colours. My SISTER LOVES THEM!! :D She called me early this morning saying that she couldn't stop touching them and could I puhleeeeezzzz make her a sweater and a baby blanket...and oh, could I do a hat for the baby??? HA! I made completely clear that she had dissed my knitting and shown disrespect for the art, so she backtracked --and quickly! ;) So, that said, when this cardigan is through, I'll start one for her that will last her through her current pregnancy. :) See what a NICE sister I am?? ;)

~~~

Anyhow, these are pictures of the current cardigan for Mark. It's still in pieces, as I'm working on the last sleeve. Other than that, it needs to be stitched and have the finishing bits put on it (mostly ribbing and the collar). I hope to be done inside of 7 days--much of this will depend on how quickly this finishing stuff goes. ;)


To the left, you're seeing the back of the cardigan. It's all being stitched in Bernat's Denim Style worsted weight yarn; colour is denim, and it's being worked mostly in stockinette on size 10 needles. The ribbing is done on size 9 needles. Relatively simple, except for keeping 100+ stitches on a straight needle. ;0


And finally (at least, when I snapped these pictures), you're seeing the two front pieces of the cardigan. On the stitch holders are the pockets that are knitted in but still need a ribbing finish. You can't see the tapered neckline for the collar in these pictures, but that will all be apparent when Mark models this work of art. I just have to finish it first. ;) I am enjoying the project, but I have to be honest--I'm getting a little tired of blue mottled yarn. ;0

The "In Between Projects"

Okay, nearly a month is far too long to go between knitting posts! :0 Ridiculous! I have actually been quite proficient in the past 3 weeks, just negligent about getting the pictures posted on the blog.


First, a better image of my Basket Weave Dishcloth; the exact same thing as the variegated one, only in a solid cotton worsted weight yarn. Sugar N Cream, on size 7 needles. Easy as pie. :)

I'm actually considering expanding this pattern to a baby-blanket; we're "in the hole" about 10 blankets for friends who are all expecting at the same time. Mark can't keep up with the crocheting, so after this current project, I'll probably pick up some baby work and help with the deficit. ;)







The little scarf to the right was done on a whim--for a sweet girl who will turn 2 tomorrow. It matches a little sleeveless dress I bought for her and was done in Moda Dea's Fur Sure. Normally, I don't mind fun furs, but this one was a pain in the rear! :0 Seriously--it slipped off the needles more than any other yarn I've used and was nearly impossible to pick up (or even find!) the loop I had been in. Grrr.... Knitted in garter stitch on size 10.5 needles. Alas, it was on clearance at Meijer, and my cost-saving instincts took over....(see the next picture).

And as much as I complained about the Fur Sure yarn, I went back and bought a second skein of it. :0 Mostly because I had some of the lime green leftover and the dress I made it for had hot pink combined with it. ;) This was 2 strands of Moda Dea's Fur Sure knitted together in a garter stitch on 10.5 size needles. It was slightly easier to keep track of with the two divergent colours of yarn, but still not as easy as most other fun-fur/eyelash yarns.

The next post will have the Anatomy of a Cardigan, but as I'm sick this weekend, I can only handle a few minutes at the computer at one time. Until tomorrow....happy knitting!

Basket Weave Dishcloth
© Suzanne Talbert, 2006

Materials needed:
1- 2.5 oz or 2.0 oz skein of worsted-weight cotton yarn
Size 6 or 7 (US) knitting needles

Cast on 44 sts
K 4 rows (garter st)

Row 1: k4, *p6, k6; rep from * k4
Continue for 8 rows (total)

Row 9: k4, *k6, p6; rep from * k4
Continue for 8 rows (total)

Repeat all 16 rows 4 times

End by knitting 4 rows (garter st)
Cast off knit

Please see previous post for image of dishcloth or email me for a PDF of the pattern.

Basket Weave Dishcloth

Well, I have to say, I'm pretty proud of this little piece. :) It's my first "I designed it" piece--as I was doing the "Twirling Triangles Dishcloth," I realized that I could easily modify the pattern to make it more intuitive, but also to give it a basket-weave look. :)

So.... I did. At first, I worked via instinct. I knew what I was after and I experimented until I got it right. And then I wrote down what I thought I'd done...only to find (as I started a 2nd one), that I had too many steps written down. ;)

Details: this was knitted on size 7 (US) needles, with one 2.0 oz. skein of worsted-weight cotton yarn (Sugar & Cream), in this wonderful variegated pattern. I have about .25 oz of yarn leftover from this, so if you used a 2.5 oz skein of non-variegated, you'd either be able to make it larger than I did or have more leftover for another project. ;) Your choice. :)

I'm putting the directions for this dishcloth up; use it, make it, send it to your knitting buds. Just please keep the directions and copyright information intact. :) Ya know, it's that "courtesy-thing" in the world of the 'net. ;)

See the next post for directions. :) Happy knitting! :D

A Worthwhile Cause

So I'm taking a break from my writing "work" today and thinking about knitting.

Okay, I admit--I do that a lot. I have a list of projects in my head and I keep adding to it; maybe if I didn't need to sleep and/or had three sets of hands to knit while I clean, write, etc., I could get it all done. ;)

I wanted to take a picture of what I've been working on, but it's not done yet. And then I realized...what I've done most recently that I'm the most proud of has no way to be photographed.

Several years ago, Mark and I came across a local story on the news in which a private citizen was teaching inmates in the federal penitentiary around us how to knit and crochet. "Whoa," you might say. "What are prison inmates doing with needles and hooks? Isn't that dangerous?" This particular program is used as an incentive/reward system for women who are low-risk and who have proved themselves as model prisoners. It's not for everyone in the general prison population.

These inmates are taught the basics of the crafts and then create blankets, hats, booties, etc. for babies born in local hospitals who are either preemies or who are born with problems such as drug addiction, from addicted moms who gave birth to them. They work with what they have, and they are not only learning a skill, but learning to think of the needs of others (specifically, the smallest and most vulnerable among us). The altruism they learn and the ability to put other's needs and concerns in front of their own is remarkable--and to my mind, the entire point of trying to rehabilitate prisoners. These are women who have made poor choices in their lives and are now paying for them--but they are learning another way.

So Mark and I went through our home and gathered up "yarn extras." You know, when a pattern calls for an odd-number of ounces for a project and you have the majority (or even a fraction) of a skein leftover? It wouldn't be a big deal if it were a no-dye-lot yarn, but nearly no yarn these days is a no-dye-lot product.

The first time we donated yarn to this person, we gathered up 2 kitchen garbage bags full. This was even before I started knitting and it was just Mark's crochet-stuff! This time, we collected one garbage bag full, but I also put the APB out on my local FreeCycle list for leftovers. I went and got them from people, but felt so good about doing it that I didn't mind the extra time or gas spent.

I can't think of a better way to declutter extra yarn from projects (and our houses at the same time)--or a better cause. If you have yarn you think these prisoners might be able to use, please email me. I'll give you a place to send the yarn and get it to the person who's running this program/ministry. They always need yarn, and are so grateful for whatever they can get their hands on. :)

'Til next time...and another finished project! :)