Thursday, June 28, 2007

Holidaze!

The family is off to Winnipeg for a few days!

Kniterary will be closed until July 4th. It will reopen for the 5th, 6th and 7th and then I am off to knitting school for a week!

Have a good Canada Day weekend every one!

Thursday, June 21, 2007

Tie a Rose On

I finally finished my sock yarn tie. I used a Knitty pattern and then adapted it to make a point at either end. It is a very easy knit but I stuggled to get through it because the tie needs to be 56" long.



Why did I do this? I was trying to find another use for sock yarn.
Would I do it again? Not a project for me.
Would I encourage others to do it? At least once.
Did I like how it turned out? Yes, but only for a winter tie. It would keep the neck a little toasty.


I did iron on some fusible knit interfacing on the wrong side of the points to stop them from curling. It seems to work.

Once the long and boring knit was over I did a quick mini sock. It is fun, quick and cute. Unless you have house elves completely useless. Of course if you leave some lying around in piles maybe it would attract house elves. Here's hoping!



I was in the backyard with Kessie this morning and couldn't resist taking a shot of my roses to share with you.
Today is the longest day of the year! Happy Summer!


At Kniterary, I have brought in Stork Yarn for summer baby knitting. 100% cotton and so soft. I have four colours so far and a few more on their way soon.



Well, I am off to the doctor's to have my yearly physical. Other than my weight issue I am assuming I am healthy. Fingers crossed.

Saturday, June 16, 2007

A meme from Purl this!

What have you knit?

Bold for stuff you’ve done/are doing, Italics for stuff you intend to do one day, Normal for stuff you’re not planning on doing.

Afghan/Blanket (baby)
I-cord/I-cord edging
Garter stitch

Knitting with metal wire
Shawl
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down
Socks: toe-up
Knitting with yarn made of camel, yak, alpaca, synthetic, sheep's wool, recycled, vintage, silk, soy, bamboo, banana, plastic bags, cut up fabric, cashmere, hemp, linen, wire, cotton
Mittens cuff up
Mittens fingers down
Hat
Moebius band knitting
Participating in a KAL
Sweater
Drop stitch patterns
Slip stitch patterns
Domino knitting (modular knitting)
Twisted stitch patterns
Two end knitting
Charity knitting
Cardigan
Toy/doll clothing

Knitting with circular needles
Knitting with your own handspun yarn
Slippers
Graffiti knitting (knitting items on, or to be left on the street)
Continental Knitting
Designing knitted garments
Cable stitch patterns (incl. Aran)
Lace patterns
Publishing a knitting book
Scarf
American/English knitting (vs. continental)
Knitting to make money

Knitting for a living
Button holes
Fair Isle knitting
Norwegian knitting
Dying with plant colors
Knitting items for a wedding
Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cozies…)
Knitting socks (or other small tubular items) on two circulars
Olympic knitting
Knitting with someone else’s handspun yarn
Knitting with DPNs
Holiday related knitting

Teaching a male how to knit
Bobbles
Knitting smocking
Dying yarn
Steeks
Knitting art
Fulling/felting
Textured knitting

Kitchener BO
Purses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching
Long Tail CO
Entrelac
Knitting and purling backwards
Machine knitting
Knitting with self-patterning/self-striping/variegating yarn
Stuffed toys
Baby items
Darning
Writing a pattern
Gloves

Intarsia
Knitting for preemies
Tubular CO
Freeform knitting
Short rows
Cuffs/fingerless mitts/arm warmers
Pillows
Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine

Rugs
Knitting on a loom
Thrummed knitting
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets
Shrug/bolero/poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair
Hair accessories
Knitting in public
Knit a vintage pattern (over 40 yrs old)
Crochet
Cross stitch/Embroidery/Needlepoint

Sew-like on a machine

Friday, June 15, 2007

My backyard


Hostas et al.



Explorer Roses


I do love my back yard! Especially at this time of year.

Kniterary New Look

I have made a few changes in decor at the store.

I noticed that a good percentage of people would come in what should be my main entrance (there are 2 entrances) and be confused. Were they walking into a store or a kitchen? So I put some yarn by that door, hid my office behind the shelves, created a real entrance and a more private office.





Yard Saling last weekend netted a great Loveseat for $15. It was a little worn around the edges but in good shape otherwise. Yesterday I got a slip cover and now it fits in perfectly in my newely created Sit N' Knit area.


Having the couch near the books is encouraging people to sit and browse through the patterns and books in comfort. I love that!

And Now For Some Knitting!

It may not be much but at least it is something!



Mille Coloure Sample.



Betty. This is taking so long! I had to rip out and start almost from the beginning again. Ugh.



Tofutsies is coming along s-l-o-w-l-y. They are sitting by the cash register and I only get to them when people are browsing.



I actually finished the Boho Bag and I am actually thinking it is not bad!


And now I seem to have developed an antenna group on my head!



It is always good to observe the whole composition before taking the picture.!

Sunday, June 10, 2007

Reconfession Time

The horrible truth is that I am not good at keeping things neat or even dusted and vacuumed. Some of you may remember a post I did back in April 2006 when I confessed my propensity for piling.

Well, things haven't changed much.


I just spent 2 hours cleaning my 1/2 of the bedroom. The dust was (I kid you not) 3" thick on the top of the cupboard beside the bed. I had Dust Elephants!! Great herds of them! I cleaned up bits of paper that had been sitting on the top of my dresser since a year ago Christmas! I found the cheque books! I found earrings! I found crap from when I still worked at the daycare! (those I let go of oh so willingly...why was I hanging onto those reminders I'll never know)


I dusted and purged. I vacuumed (actually I do vacuum fairly regularily). Wait! I am going to take a picture of the bedroom!


I'm back. Pictures are being worked on. Caught a good one of Rhea too.



Number 1. My clean dresser. The walls look blue! They are actually a deep green.


The steps help me get way up into the bed now that we have a boxspring as well as a mattress. I thought I was putting them there for Kessie but she manages just fine without them.


See?

I rearranged at Kniterary this week. My friend Kim had a great smaller desk for me to use and I found a filing cabinet and a Loveseat while visiting yard sales yesterday. Pictures soon.

It is amazing that I actually manage to keep Kniterary clean. But then that is work which for some reason is different.



Rhea! What did you do to your hair?

Monday, June 04, 2007

Time Flies

Oh Boy!
Another week has gone by!
Time does fly when it does!
This week I got in all the Lucy Neatby Patterns, books and DVD's! One Cool Socks Warm Feet is already gone! My favorite pattern that came in is the Faroese Flower Shawl (the top pattern on the right). It looks like bird's wings. I can't wait to knit it!
The DVD's are really good instructional DVD's for those wanting to improve their basic skills or learn to knit socks.



Finished projects include this little bag from Knitted Gifts done in Svale. Wouldn't it be sweet as a bridal gift bag for a bridesmaid present or even as a holder for a small bunch of flowers.



WIPs now includes this bag in Berroco Boho. I have this colour and 3 others in the shop right now. I have misplaced my nice big eyed tapestry needle so I have been delayed in finishing it. The yarn is in various thicknesses and is a tube knit yarn so I really need it!

As of June 1st Jim and I have been married 22 years. Like I said before time flies when it does. It had been a fun and interesting 22 years and I am looking forward to the next 22! Our big present to each other this year was a long, long overdue new mattress. I forgot how comfy a good mattress can be!