Knitting; Re-Update on the Leg Warmers

So I made my sister a pair of mock Betsey Johnson leg warmers last winter. She finally wore them again so here is a better picture sans jeans underneath.

So that's three, yes three posts dedicated all to my sister's leg warmers.

Original post.

Second post.

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Knitting; Hand Warmers

I finished the hand warmers. It took me a while b/c it was quite the indecisive project. After pulling one off of my circular needles, I thought I would knit fingers. Upon completion of one warmer, I didn't like the look. So I unraveled & just made them open; with much contemplation of course because they almost became mittens.

Both warmers on one set of circulars.

Making progress

After pulling one off on to a set of DPNs; thumb gusset.

Completed. [Yes, those are zebra nails.]

Started another hat. Same pattern as the one I made for G.Mei. He still has not pictured me. *ahem-ahem* After this hat I may make another Baroness Beret. We shall see!

Found this. It's not so nice, but I thought it was funny.

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Knitting; Michael Kors Hand Warmers

So for a while I was in the works of a gray [grey; do not know the difference] hat for a friend of mine. [plug] Gary Mei. He's an amazing guy who makes films. He's done a various range of short films & is currently working on bigger & greater things, all while attending pharmacy school![/plug] Will update w/ a picture when the hat is delivered to it's new owner.

Oh, so I started continental knitting method as opposed to the english method. [Continental: yarn help in left hand & English: yard held in right hand.] I would make my own videos, but there are already so many great recourses for you out there. I said I would never switch over b/c I had gotten so used to the English method, but it really is a much fast way to knit, granted I was just doing basic knits, purls, & k tbl [knit through back loop].

In the works: I'm going to make myself fingerless gloves so I can knit on my commute in the wintertime. I have made arm warmers that are rolling around the house somewhere, but they are long & super tight. Found these shorter MK arm warmers on Bluefly. Sorry, not going to pay $23 for arm warmers. I'm gonna make them! It's a really simple pattern. Looks like just 2x2, k1,p1,k1,p1,k1,p5, repeat, & 2x2 at the end. Just need to put in a "button hole" big enough to fit my thumb & voila... I will have me a pair of warmers.

[this picture does not belong to me.]

I am going to be using the magic loop method & attempting to knit both arm warmers at once! COOL!!! I'm so excited for that. I just need to find a way to have them not get tangled in my purse! So many things in there to keep track of.

I really love knitting. I mean certain patterns can get monotonous, but that's life. At the cusp of a new project, the research you do for one piece or work can be pretty extensive. You need to ask yourself; What do I want to make? What materials do I need? Where can I find a pattern? Just so many. I'm not one to pay for a pattern b/c there's no guarantee that I'm gonna understand how to execute it.

I try not to be so personal in my blog b/c who wants to hear about someone's life when they come to a knitting blog [yes I've given up on the wine, haha], but sometimes I guess it makes sense to include it for my own sake. kthxbye.

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Knitting; Petal Dish Cloth

So I lied, but I'm working longer than planned. Thus, not as much time to stop & take pictures. I haven't been able to knit that much either & I feel like knitting isn't a big summer hobby. It's more so for the chillier months & trust me, these particular summer months have been extremely hot, hot, hot!

The other day I went to a bar & while shuffling through my purse pulled a string of yarn out. I was trying to put it back in, but it was unraveling from the ball so I pulled it out & rolled it back up. I thought I was being sneaky & quick, but some of the guys saw & the comments ensued. I hastily stuff my work back in my purse & blushed a bit. HAHA! I am NOT a closet knitter.

So although I haven't been knitting so much, I have been slowly progressing on my knitting glossary. Trying to figure out what to put in it aside from the typical k - knit, p - purl, & etc. Will put it in it's own separate post... later.

So here's what I've been working on; Petal Dishcloth w/ Sugar'n Creme in Barnboard Twists & size 5 needles. I initially used size 8, but I wanted a dishcloth, not a potholder so I downsized b/c I never gauge. (bad girl!) Like I said, just boring little dishcloths that are quick & simple. However, I don't like when I'm seaming up the end & it gets lumpy. I'm wondering if you can make it so that there's no discrepancy as to where the beginning & end is b/c it is a round dishcloth.

Sorry, the best I could do was a shoddy camera phone picture.

So of course I had to add my twosense to the pattern b/c I have the tendency to stop in the middle, lose count, & get frustrated & unravel a ton of work! So here I go...

So when you are about to turn your work to knit back on the WS, you will always have multiples of two.

NOTE: Rows 1-6 start on the RS then turn work to WS, but row 7 is just the WS. Additional note are in (parentheses) & italicized!

Instructions: Cast on 16 stitches

(16 st) Row 1: Slip 1 stitch, K 3, yarn over (YO), K 10 (2 st left), turn and Knit back (15 st).

(17 st) Row 2: Slip 1 stitch, K 3, YO, K 9 (4 st left), turn and Knit back (14 st).

(18 st) Row 3: Slip 1 stitch, K 3, YO, K 8 (6 st left), turn and Knit back (13 st).

(19 st) Row 4: Slip 1 stitch, K 3, YO, K 7 (8 st left), turn and Knit back (12 st).

(20 st) Row 5: Slip 1 stitch, K 3, YO, K 6 (10 st left), turn and Knit back (11 st).

(21 st) Row 6: Bind off 5 stitches, Knit (15 st) to end of row (16 st).

(16 st) Row 7: Knit across row.

Repeat these 7 rows until there are 12 points.

Bind off next row, leaving 12 inch end. Stitch around center, pull together and join 2 sides.

Also, you can make the "petals" in different colors by changing yarns every 7 rows.

I use "so" a lot. :|

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Working

So I've been working. I guess a real job. I am still commuting via train, but my train ride is too short to pull out my knitting & go at it. especially b/c I get nervous about missing my stop. The SEPTA is too confusing for me & then they up & go change the schedule on me & my 15 min direct train ride turns into a 25-40 mins one-transfer train ride.

I've been knitting dish rags/clothes. They're quick & easy. You can use them at dish washing clothes or as pot holders (the larger ones).

Promise I will update before the end of August w/ a good post... w/ pictures!

Knitting; Cowl Scarf

I want to make a cowl scarf.

I feel like i need something tangible before I just go & start casting on stitches. But alas... the season for scarves is over & I haven't finished a scarf I started in February. I mean the garter stitch guys... booooooring! It proves to be a nice scarf tho. I have one of my own, the cream colored one that I knotted at both ends.

OH... tip of the day. When I start some projects and I want a nice tight looking yet stretchy start ("cast on") to my work, I cast on double the number of original stitches & then K2tog for the first row & then proceed w/ the pattern. I do this b/c i tend to cast on WAY too tightly & I almost always use the long tail cast on.

I think I'm going to create a glossary of terms. Why not, right... yeah. Eventually I will.

Knitting; Button Up Leg Warmers

Leg warmers [original post] for my sister are done! Oh, buttons are expensive, more so that I thought. 18 plain black buttons + shipping = $15.50. They had ones that I wanted at Jo-Ann Fabrics, but when I asked for 18 they said that their stock of buttons were limited (only 8 available in the whole store!) & suggested I look online for the brand. Anyways they're done; here are the pictures.

I have to say they look much better sans jeans, but what can ya do... we were short on time.