Cross Words on the Road

So, today we went to visit College Girl and bring her some stuff she wanted/needed. That's what we do. . .and we had a good time. And the Hubster and I had a long time together in the car. And there were cross words involved. . .specifically, the LA Times Crossword puzzle, which we printed out to do together during the drive. What did you think I meant by "Cross Words"? Haha!

So, I knit in the car a little, and we worked a puzzle on the way down. On the way back, I made substantial progress on one Wallaby sleeve. I will reward myself later in front of the TV by working on MY SWEATER for a bit! ;-) But, I am mostly eager to get the Wallabies done before it really gets cold! (Sorry no current pics.)

As for the rest of the last few days, yesterday we visited the Puddle Jumpers, and we had a great time with them! This photo was taken a few months ago, but it is so stinkin' cute that I will share it here!


They also have a little sister, who was too small at the time to jump in the puddles. . .so she took a nap on this particular excursion.

A few updates to the shop this week, and it was a good weekend. I hope yours was, too! I am going to go knit something!

Knit in good health!

Duplicity???

Main Entry: du·plic·i·ty
Pronunciation: \du-ˈpli-sə-tē \
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural du·plic·i·ties
Etymology: Middle English
duplicite, from Middle French, from Late Latin duplicitat-, duplicitas, from Latin duplex
1 : contradictory doubleness of thought, speech, or action; especially : the belying of one's true intentions by deceptive words or action
2 : the quality or state of being double or twofold
3 : the technically incorrect use of two or more distinct items (as claims, charges, or defenses) in a single legal action

Maybe it's too many spelling bees, maybe it's the movie "Coming to DVD!" yesterday, maybe it's just me being double-minded. . .but as I was thinking about today's post earlier, duplicity is the first word that came to mind. When I looked up the definition online, I was taken aback for a moment by all of the information available in that single entry, and I thought once again about the English major I would have loved to have been. ;-)

Yeah, that sounded good. What was really happening when I thought of the word duplicity was a series of unforeseen events in my day off. Like going to the Post Office in my home town at 8:15 this morning with a package for Army Boy, only to find the place doesn't open until 8:30. (The PO in the city where I work opens at 8.) And planning a whole day of jewelry making, after the requisite weekly cleaning, only to be called into work after the cleaning part. (I didn't have to go in for long, but it is a 25 minute drive each way.) And sitting down to work on some new counters for an order I received, only to find that my supplies are terribly depleted. (I have more on order, but I don't know when they will arrive. . .so frustrating.) So I feel like many of the things I have done today, I have done (or tried to do, or will try to do) twice. One could argue that that's not duplicity at all, but it did make me think of the word. And, I bet I could apply the second definition with a pretty good argument.

So, what have I been up to today? Talking to College Girl, mostly through texts. Mailing a package to Army Boy. Cleaning the bathroom and vacuuming. A load of laundry, towels. Making some jewelry. And blogging. It's a rare post without pictures for me. . .but today, it is what it is. I hope that your today is colorful and touched by love. I am going to go make dinner, then knit. Or, maybe I will do both at once. Duplicity? You decide.

Knit in good health!

Do I smell BACON?!?

So, that's how the day started for Mom and Dad and College Girl. . .with bacon. Not a bad way to start a day, overall. Not a bad way to usher a childhood into the realm of college life. . .what did you have for breakfast? Well, my mom made bacon. Pretty fair icebreaker for the getting-to-know-you activities I am sure she will endure today.

And after the bacon, was the packing and the driving and the moving in and the unpacking and the running around campus for a room key, bathroom code, books, parking permit, and other necessities. Here's a snapshot of the day for you. . .
I will spare you, and the College Girl, a re-telling of all the day's activities, but suffice it to say that it was a day full of emotion and excitement! I am confident that she will do well, and her father and I will become accustomed to our now-empty nest (today was pants optional at our house - oh, was that too much information. . .sorry - lol!), but this will all take some getting used to.


And you all know how I cope, right? Yes!!! Knitting!!!!! So, here are a few snapshots of my "coping" in progress. . .


First, another finished hat for my neighbor, this one in Cottontots cotton yarn:

And here is the progress on the back of my Cardigan. . .

And I have started the first of two Wonderful Wallaby sweaters in Caron's Simply Soft yarn for a darling boy and girl I know! This one has a complete pouch, and I am ready to continue the size 8 (child) sweater now! Yay!

So that's what's going on here. I hope that all is well in your neck of the woods!

Knit in good health!

She's Never Not Knitting. . .

. . .or so goes the song by wonderful Alana Dakos of NeverNotKnitting fame! Alana has a podcast and a blog, and she designs and sells knitting patterns for children's clothes and more! Recently, my Etsy shop was featured on NeverNotKnitting, and I want to take a moment to say thanks to Alana (great podcast and blog post, Yay!) and her listeners, many of whom have visited my shop in the past few days! Again, Yay! Don't forget. . .Free Shipping for anyone who leaves a message mentioning "Never Not Knitting" during the checkout process!

In conjunction with the mention, I have designed a line of knitting row counters with three of Alana's designs in mind. . .Spring Garden Tee (pink), Watermelon, and Playful Stripes! Here is Alana's picture of the sweaters with their matching counters.

If you knit, please take a moment to visit Alana's blog, or check her out on Ravelry! She even has a Never Not Knitting group on the forums! I am there from time to time, and I would love to "meet" you there sometime!

And I promised you all more knitting content this time around, so here it is! Below is a photo of my finished Adorable Baby Cables sweater, finished just a few days ago for a baby who has yet to make his or her appearance! Note the neutral cream color, and the softer-than-soft Cottontots yarn used in the knitting! Yummy! It will also get a button, I am waiting to see if I will know the gender before the gifting! (Note: this worsted, cotton yarn knits up at slightly fewer sts/in than it;s counterpart in wool, acrylic or blends with the same size needle. . .for me anyway!)

And here is a picture of the very start of a cardigan for me in fingering weight wool. It is the versatile Simple Set-in Sleeve Cardigan found at http://www.knittingfool.com/, and I have used this pattern for sweaters in all sizes! I love the versatility, and the fact that the website does all the math for me - yippee! The yarn is Knit Picks Palette in gray (maybe heather?) and the carry along lace-weight is Knit Picks Shimmer in the discontinued colorway Happy Dance!

Everything about this sweater makes me happy enough to dance. . .except that my cat loves the Shimmer yarn! This is the lace-weight yarn I knit, single-stranded on size 2 needles, into the doomed Clapotis. After finishing the shawl, I laid it out on the pool table to block the thing, and the cat chewed a giant hole in the cast-on corner!?! I was twitched, to say the least! And it has taken me almost a year to rip out the clap and wind the yarn, and pick a new project for it. . .sigh! Stupid cat!

I have also started another hat project for a friend recently diagnosed with cancer. . .this is the first of at least two hats, knit from the Race For Life 2009 pattern. This one is in Wool-Ease (gray heather) and the one I have not taken a pic of is the same Cottontots (with fewer stitches around) as the baby sweater above. I hope they feel nice and soft and comfy.

And finally, while this next item may not look knitted, it is. I have had a picture in my head for some time now of an angel pin knit in wire with glass beads. . .and here is my first one! This one is a gift, and the recipient may read my blog, though it won't arrive at her home for a few days. . .so I will not give away who's house she is merrily traveling to!

There! Honest-to-goodness knitting content. A little late (sigh), written with a slight case of insomnia (I love the middle of life!), but knitting content, nonetheless. Saturday's post may also be a tad late, as we are taking the Skinny Girl to her college dorm that day. My heart is with all of the other parents out there watching their darlin' babies take flight from the nest for the first time. . .it should be such a natural thing. . .or so I have heard. . .

Knit in good health, everybody!

Ship-Shape Sheep-Shop?

Disclaimer:
This is all about the shop (PrettyKnittyJewelry)! I sell knitting row counters, stitch markers and I am branching out with some bracelets as well. I know, I know. . .it's not a sheep shop, but I really need the sheep for some of my knitting (where else would I get wool?), so I like to include them wherever I can. . . Stop into the shop on Etsy, and pick up a gift for a knitting friend, OR for your-knitting-self!

Not much knitting going on here, but I made several row counters this weekend, and they really wanted to show off! Like this little SHEEP. . .isn't he just the cutest thing? I know, and he was really hamming it up during the photo shoot! How DO you get a sheep to shape up? LoL!
Here he is joined by what I think is a spindle and a ball of orange-y yarn! I got these beads through a mail-order catalog, and you are never really 100% sure what will come in the package, but overall, I like these!

The next counter to show off has a holiday theme. Slow down, there, Chief. . .I am not rushing into Christmas on you. . .I PROMISE! But, I also got some Halloween beads in a recent shipment! I don't know who had more fun with the pix. . .me, the sheep, or this little Jack-O'lantern!

Can you believe that summer is coming to an end? Me either! But, school starts around here(college and otherwise) on Monday, so it was just about time to start with the fall holiday themes.

But looking at the bright sunshine in my next counter (will list in the shop soon), you would not know that it is nearly time to Knit Sweaters! It was so bright, and so hot (90-ish and humid) that I was simply melting in the sun while staging these photos. I love this counter. . .a red sweater with two balls of yarn! Every knitter's dream. . .

And finally, this one. . .a Celebration waiting to happen (will list in the shop soon)! Who doesn't love a well-placed cupcake? So here are three for the knitter who wants to keep track of rows instead of calories. By the way, I have heard that knitting reduces night-time and TV snacking. . .works for me!

So, celebrate summer, and sun, and even a new school year! And Knit in Good Health!

Here's the Story. . .

Here's the story
Of a bag with cables,
That was knitted for a very Skinny Girl

It was knit of wool, in cream,
And then I dyed it -
And took it for a whirl! After spinning in the washer, it got pinned out -
To block the cables flat as flat could be. . . Then I lined it with some very stripey fabric And added pockets here, you see:
Then I hung it on the door to take some pictures
And the Skinny Girl came 'round to take a look,
And we knew, at once, it might get lonely. . .
Can I make a cabled bag for her books?A Cabled Bag,
A Cabled Bag -
Can I make a Cabled Bag for her books. . .?
Well, says Pretty Knitty, this is the third bag I have knitted from this pattern. Don't get me wrong, I love the pattern, but I have grown a little weary of it for now. . .perhaps I have another bag you can take for your books? You like the everlasting bagstopper?. . .I like the everlasting bagstopper!. . .Oh, well! I can always make another one! lol
In other Knitting Knews this week, I have done another bracelet. . .this one in silver, with multicolor beads. I am going to add these to the shop at some point. . .still researching price, etc. What do you think? On the fashion side of things, I have also finished another pair of socks. (You are probably cheering now. . .it means you won't hear about these again in the next blog. . .I have been going on and on for some time about loving this Knitty pattern and the Destination Yarn!)
With all of that said, I now return you to the regularly scheduled baby knitting, hat knitting, scarf knitting, sweater knitting and holiday knitting that is appropriate for the end of summer! I hope you all are having a good one!
Knit in good health!

Daisy, Daisy! Give me your answer, do!

I have been busy in the etsy shop lately! Ever since I was an Etsy Shop of the Day feature in the Daily Chum, I have gotten a lot more traffic! Sales have picked up, too, including some custom orders. I'm selling the knitting row counters and the Crochet row counters. . .
So, I say it again. . .

Daisy, Daisy! Give me your answer do! I'm half crazy, because. . .

Aren't these the cutest Row Counters you have ever seen?

Daisies:
Playful Stripes: Watermelon:

Spring Garden Tee:
I know! I know! They are so cute! (Ahem, if I do say so, myself. . .) The daisies are a copy of a custom order I made. . .it was so cute that I had to list another as well! And the sweaters? Well, these are the first in my new "NeverNotKnitting Collection" at PrettyKnittyJewelry! I am excited to be working with Alana, and I encourage you to visit her blog and check out her very cool patterns AND her podcast! Knitting and broadcasting genius is she!

In other news, the Hubster and I have had a pretty great weekend so far. . .we babysat two darling girls on Friday night:

And on Saturday, we went to see the new movie Julie and Julia! Let me just tell you that it is a pretty great movie. I laughed, I cried. . .well, you get the picture! And it was kinda fun to watch the Julie character as she started her blog, and it started to gain popularity. . .I could identify with, "I have a comment!" lol Very cool stuff!

Along with the babysitting and the movie, I did a little knitting, and here it is. . .one College Cabled Purse, in cream colored Lion Brand Fisherman Wool for the College Girl to take to school. Haha!. . .wool for school!. . .haha! I just crack me up!

And then, if you scroll down just a bit, you will see what will be step 2 of this bag. . .you see, the college girl wants a gray bag, but her mom could not find yarn in the right shade of gray, sooooo

Acid Dyes to the rescue! Thanks to Michelle, for the loan of the Jet Black dye. . .I am sure it will only take a little bit to get the right shade. . .I can barely wait to finish up knitting the handle. . .if all goes according to plan, I will add color to this piece

Tomorrow! Tomorrow!

I'll dye ya tomorrow!

It's only a day away!

Well, as Bugs Bunny (or was it Elmer Fudd?) always said,

"Abedee, abedde, abedee! That's all folks!"

Knit in good health!

New Adventures!

Remember when you were a kid? How an adventure sounded so. . .well. . .adventurous? Well, now that I am in my . . .well, never-you-mind how old I am now. . .but I am noticing that my adventures are a little more tame. And really, now that I think about it, I am not sure that is absolutely true.

I mean, I never was the type to go out on a limb to try a new physical challenge like going out on a limb!. . .or rock-climbing, or white-water rafting, or even kickball usually. I was a reader growing up, and all the grown-ups were terribly impressed that I could read so well. But let me tell you that kids my age were not! Still, for me the adventures came in the pages of a book, and I imagined how I might react in situations like those I was reading. . .but I never looked for a way to go there. Boring, but safe. No broken bones as a child, just a paper cut or two.

Reading that, I guess it's fitting that my latest adventure involves books! Well, book covers at least. I was on Ravelry, in an Etsy Shops Forum, reading an ISO (In Search Of) thread. There I saw the request of a teacher who was looking for a Lesson-Plan Book that was a little off the beaten path. It seems this teacher is tired of the apples, school buses, and pencil motifs you find on all teacher/school-related materials out there. I suggested a fabric book cover for her run-of-the-mill book, and she took me up on it! Here are the results!
(Note: This item sold by PrettyKnittyJewelry on Aug 4, 2009. If you are interested in a similar item, please contact me!)

And on the inside flap is a pencil pocket. The cover is shown with a regular spiral-bound notebook, because I did not have a lesson-plan book to go from. Based on the measurements she gave me, it should fit hers pretty well!

I actually made two covers, but the first (the Treasure Island Map fabric in the background) came out a little smaller than I think she needs. . .I may send it to her anyway. . .it is pretty cool fabric, and it might fit another book. . .and it is adventurous!

Then, after the sewing, I picked up the Sunday Swing socks again. Loving them in my Destination Yarn! Working on the heel on sock #2 now! Yay!

And then I decided to try something new that I have never done before. . .I wanted to knit with wire! After all, my blog and Etsy shop are called Pretty Knitty Jewelry, and I know it's been done, but I want to try it. So, I did! I don't know if I will ever make any to sell in the shop. . .there are sellers who specialize in this already. . .but it was fun for a first try. So here are some pics of the two bracelets I made this morning, with 24-gauge, gold-tone wire and glass beads.

No too bad. . .one is a little longer than the other, and I am not sure I love how the clasps work, but they are workable. Perhaps I will play with it a bit more to see where this new adventure takes me! But, until then, I will knit with yarn a bit more. . .it is way less stressful on the fingers!

I hope that your life is filled with great adventures! And knitting!

Knit in good health!

It's in the Bag!

So you know that I made a laptop bag for my daughter to take to college. And you know that I was working on a second bag for her little friend. But you are just finding out that I just finished the second bag today! Yay! I still don't have a button, and the college girl #2 is in charge of picking that out, but the knitting and the sewing are all done. . .again, YAY!!! Here are a couple pics:


And the inside (I used a matching stripe for the pockets that does not have the floral "overlay" print to give a little contrast):


Man, this is a fun bag to knit! And the sewing was fun, too! It has been a while since I have sewn, and I had nearly forgotten how much fun it is to pick fabric and create something with it. . .and my college girl liked her bag so much that she has even asked me to make a "matching" purse for her. . .just that center cable sequence, so a little smaller and more square-ish, and a different color. Will be starting on that this week, I suppose. Again, yay!

As I was finishing the bags, I got to thinking about what the girls might stuff in their pockets. ID for meal plans and entrance to dorms, a key, a couple bucks, phone, iPod. . .you know, just the basics. So I decided to make little ID holder bags with wrist straps that can be stuffed in a bigger bag, or slipped over the wrist to carry just the barest of essentials. It was about this same time that my Dear Daughter came into the room and asked where she could get a little wallet or pouch that she could use to just hold her ID while on campus. I am really gonna miss this kid when she leaves for school! We are so on the same wavelength! I told her my idea, and she ate it up. . .and she loves the finished product!

One to go with each bag. . .each ID Holder has three credt-card-sized pockets (for college ID, Driver's License, and perhaps a credit/ATM card) on the front and a larger pocket that loosely closes with hook and loop tape (will fit a phone or a couple bucks and a chap stick), and a bonus pocket to slip the wrist strap into (when not needed) or put extra slips of paper and/or receipts into.

And a close up (. . .it's almost a shame that the fabric blends together so well. . .it's hard to see the detail clearly. . .lol)

So, it was a good weekend. Sorry for the "late" blog post - I tried for Saturday, but there was a wedding and the laundry, and a wedding. . .then today was church and sewing and knitting and chatting with friends. A good weekend indeed. Now, to get a good night's sleep, then on to another week of the same old grind that I love! I hope you all had a great weekend as well!

Knit in good health!