Hello? Anyone in there?

Okay, so it has been a couple of months since I posted. Not that there haven't been projects I have been working on, I have just been pre-occupied with Ravelry and trying to get my life back on track.

I finished my version of the Lelah top knit from Lion Brand Cotton Ease. The original is strapless but that is not an option for me. So I modified it by making it tank-top style. The stockinette rolls terribly so I gave the neck and armhole a k1 p1 rib for 3 rows. The addition of an I-cord from the same yarn and Viola! It actually fits and I plan to take it to Seattle for my vacation starting Sept. 12.

I always feel a little fidgety if I don't have a pair of socks on the needles so here is the beginning of a new pair. I don't know who the recipient is yet because I am waiting for inspiration for a pattern. Until then, I will just knit along, waiting for my sock muse. The yarn is 70% superwash wool and 30% nylon and you might not guess who the maker is. It is slightly scratchy but I think it will soften up with washing.

I have been doing a bit of sewing lately. I have a fairly large fabric stash that needs to be turned into wearables. These are my latest 2 dresses.
Basically the same pattern, but different fabrics and skirt styles.

Progress on ALL Projects

I have finished with the crochet part of my Vintage Inspired Sunburst Bag. The handles were a bit tricky but they are also finished. Now I need to find the perfect fabric for the lining and get a few findings in order to finish it.

The blue hand towel is coming along, albeit slowly. Pretty mindless knitting is just fine for in front of the T.V.

The best project making great progress in not my direct creation...My daughter Aubree is about 14 weeks along and all is going very well. This is my first grandchild and we are all very excited about it. I now have someone specific to knit baby clothes for! Woo hoo!!!

Knit and Crochet Therapy

Part of my healing has been to start a new knitting project, a new knitting project and a new crochet project.

When in Michael's in Tarzana a couple of months ago I found very large skeins of Sugar and Cream Confectionary yarn. By large I mean 710 yards! The colors were so appealing, muted and different than the usual Sugar and Cream that I was compelled to bring home 5 of them. They then ripened in the trunk of my car for a month or so while I tried to figure out where in the apartment they would be stored. When my oldest daughter came to L.A. last month to support me and spend a few days helping me, she saw the yarn in my trunk. I had decided to make a bathroom rug for her and she liked the idea. So I started it. 5 colors starting in the upper left hand corner and going down 3, I simply followed the same color sequence 3 times. A single crochet border of 1 row white and 2 rows blue finish it off.

Shiloh said she doesn't need washcloths but instead would like hand towels. Eventually I will make 5, 1 of each color. The border is a simple moss stitch and plain stockinette in the center.

I have been looking for a handbag for the Spring and Summer months. I either haven't liked them or they are too expensive. (spending over $200 for a straw bag just seems wrong to me) My friend Melinda has a commercial handbag (actually, she has a LOT of handbags!) crocheted in shell stitch that I covet. While wandering the aisles of Michael's, I came across J.P.Coats Royale crochet thread, size #3. The colors tan and natural work well together so this is my version of Melinda's bag. The Sunburst pattern comes from pages 93 & 94 in the book Crocheting School. The colors remind me of fine lingerie with ecru lace. Ellen says it has a vintage look to it. I gotta admit, she has something there! The plan is to crochet 9 sunburst rows of each color, then add handles and line it. I also want to crochet an opening on the outside to allow a small zippered pocket for whatevers. If there is enough thread leftover, I may make an eyeglass case, coin purse and small make-up bag. How utterly matchy-poo. I love crap that goes together.

Short Post

This is a short post to show my progress on the lace cardigan. I really like this pattern. The first 8 or so rows were a bit difficult as you have to follow the graph for both RS and WS rows. After that, the "V" pattern is simple to memorize and goes pretty fast. I love the way the knitted fabric feels and drapes. I am definitely going to use Cotton Fine again.

I'm In Love

On Thursday I picked up my long-awaited Cotton Fine from Yarns Unlimited in Santa Monica. I couldn't wait to swatch the lace pattern for this cardigan!

It is far more difficult to follow a graphed pattern when there are lots of interesting people to talk to than it is in the solitude of your own home. I'm just saying. However, I managed to get through about 8 rows of the pattern...enough for me to decide that I will block this to the correct size when it is done so LET'S CAST ON ALREADY!!!!!

33 rows into the back, I love it. I love the pattern and the way the knitted fabric feels and drapes. I love it so much that yesterday at the DSW I bought a pair of sandals to wear with it this summer. (Okay, I don't really need an excuse to buy shoes...)

While waiting for my above mentioned yarn, I made a quick striped top. This was inspired by a top in a Knit 'n Style magazine. I just figure out how many stitches to cast on and then went from there. Thanks to Annika for her expert fitting help on the back, as my arms aren't long enough to do it myself. I had never worked with Cotton Ease before but I certainly will again. Inexpensive, easy to knit and machine wash and dry. It's the trifecta of yarn.

Where, oh where has my little blog gone...

Well, blame it on Ravelry. That is where I have been spending my free cyber time lately. That, and a whole bunch of other crap that is best not mentioned.

I started the Rowena Cardigan from the Knit 2 together book in January. I am using KnitPicks Ambrosia in lavender. The yarn is so soft and knits easily. However, the entire sweater is stockinette so therefore can be boring after awhile.

It got boring.

So I went to my local JoAnn's and picked up some Sugar and Cream in the "New Larger Size" ball.
2 each of 5 colors for a knitted bathroom mat. Size 10 1/2 needles and 2 strands held together in roughly a Log Cabin pattern of my own making. Should be soft under the feet after the early morning shower.

Apparently I have lost the ability to construct a complete sentance.

No Clever Title

I finished the first scarf for Soldiers. It baffles me how you can take a photo of something and have it turn out to be a completely different color when it posts! This scarf is your basic Army green. Olive drab. Whatever. I have started another in basic black. Let's see what color it posts as...

With all of the knitting on black, brown, olive, etc, I was getting anxious for something a bit more girly cheery colorful. At our last SnB at the Coffee Bean on Canoga (1st & 3rd Sundays from 2-5pm), Cassandra brought her copy of Knit 2 Together. I had seen it in the bookstore and without picking it up, decided that it wasn't on my MUST-HAVE-NOW list. But since it was there and I could peruse it at my leasure, I gave it a spin.

We all know what happened next, don't we.

This brings me to my newest project, the Rowena Cardigan. A couple of years ago I bought about 22 balls of Knit Picks' Ambrosia in a soft lavender color. Ripening in my stash, it is now ready for the proper project. Rowena is the proper project. The yarn is so soft and knits up easily. I wil be able to wear it as a cardi or as a top by itself. Yes, it is all stockinette so it could get boring after awhile. But as of now, 4 rows into it, I love it.

Has it REALLY been 2 1/2 months????

Uh, yeah. It has. My bad.

Now that we are settled into our apartment in Sherman Oaks, life carries on. It is so nice and quiet here. I love it.

I continue to work on the Ripple Blanket. My oldest daughter came down from Seattle for Christmas and sort of claimed it as hers. It is still about 1/3 away from completion so there is a stitch marker holding the live loops.

I managed to nearly complete a few knitted items for Christmas presents this year. My daughter headed back to Seattle before I could snap some pix of the crocheted scarf I made for her. I also made a pair of socks for my friend Ray, but he scurried back to Lancaster with them on foot before a photo-op...However, I did manage to produce a hat for one of the guys in the shop where I work that I still have in my possession. I guess it would photograph better with a head in it, but no spares are available right at this moment. It is made from Vanna's Choice acrylic. As a former yarn snob, I think this yarn has a really nice feel to it. Not scratchy or crunchy like acrylics can be but nice and soft.

I am nearly finished with a scarf for Ray. I am determined to not take this project into the New Year! It may be hard to see but it is 3 stitches garter edge with K5, P5, etc. for 7 rows, then switch and K across the P5 and P across the K5 blah, blah, blah...Patons Merino Wool in dark brown. Note:this is the first project in a loooooooonnnnnnggg time that I have used straight needles. Now I remember why I love circulars.

Now that the holidays are almost over, I feel free to start another project! Woo hoo! Another pair of socks for friend Ray. This yarn is Knit Picks Essential in Terrain Twist. From far away it looks like a solid olive green. Up close, it is 2 plys of green and 2 plys of brown, twisted together. So far, I love this yarn. Soooooo soft and cheap at $3.29 a ball. I think this yarn is very easy to knit with.

While I don't support the war in Iraq, I do support the soldiers. This year I will do a lot more knitting for the soldiers, i.e. scarves, helmet liners, etc. Here is the beginning of a scarf in double crochet. Bernat Berella 4 using a size "H" hook.

My daughters are my 2 favorite people on the planet. For Christmas, my oldest gave to me a copy of the first Rachael Ray's 30 Minute Meals PLUS a gift card for another volume of my choice! When dinner only takes a half an hour to make, there is more time for knitting! I ran right out and got Rachel Ray's Just In Time
with recipes that take not only 30 minutes, but some in only 15 minutes! Also, there are a few that take 60 minutes for those times when you have more time, say on the weekends.

My youngest daughter gave me this fabulous knitting bag for Christmas. Also from Knit Picks, it holds a lot of projects at one time and has lots of pockets and places to hold scissors, patterns, measuring tape, etc. I love it!

Do I have the most wonderful and intelligent daughters or what???

Finally, please send some positive healing energy to my friend Ray who starts chemotherapy on January 7. Thanks.

I Need An Apartment/Condo/Guesthouse

Okay, it's been a long time since I posted anything. I have been stressing out about finding a place to live so there hasn't been much time for knitting or crocheting. Time to get serious and find a place to live so I can get back to the fun things in life.

I am looking for a 2 bedroom apt. in West L.A. Westwood, Palms, Santa Monica, Mar Vista, WeHo, etc. You get the picture. Here is the hard part. I have one cat and the rent has to be $1400 or less a month. Now, the only change to that would be a 1 bedroom apt., with a cat for $1000 or less. I like older buildings and don't want a gym or pool or sauna or any of that sort of stuff. Please e-mail me at mutterofpurl AT hotmail DOT com if you have knowledge of anything like this. I do not want to have to sign up for ANOTHER rental company (i.e Westside Rentals, CaRent, etc.) that take your money and leave you stranded with nothing.

Here is a photo of what I have been knitting. Swiffer covers. We all hate to throw out the disposable ones so I found this pattern on-line and have been making these small and quick projects, mostly to save what sanity I have left at the moment. The ends get tucked under and sewn down so you just slip the cover on your Swiffer and dust away. I bet they could even be used to damp-mop a floor. The yarn is Sugar 'n Cream and a Bernat Big Cotton something or other (I threw out the label).

Tip-toe Through the FruitStripes

I have made some progress on the socks I started under the influence of a margarita. I left the toes as they were and forged ahead. Actually, I couldn't wait to get the toes done so I could end the torture abandon the use of the Addi Turbo needles. I know that there are scores, nay, thousands of you knitters out there who have sworn your allegiance to Addis. I am not one of them. In fact, I hate them. The cable is very stiff so knitting 2 socks at a time, toe-up is constantly wrestling with the outer loops. And another thing. The metal needles smell bad, somewhat like a metal grocery cart. As soon as I had the toes done, I unloaded gave away those circular Addis and all of the other Addis I had. All 4 sets. I feel much better using my bamboo and ebony needles.

Back to the socks.

The pattern is a simple feather and fan that I think shows off the self-striping yarn very well. I have decided to call these socks the "Fruit Stripe" socks after FruitStripe gum we used to buy when I was a kid. I can still hear the little T.V. jingle in my head ("Yikes! Stripes!......) As you have no doubt noticed, the feather and fan pattern is also a ripple pattern. I guess my obsession with rippling continues, albeit subconsciously.

Back in the Saddle

Well, not really the saddle. Just back to knitting socks. Sunday afternoon I met some of the girlies at Abuelita's in the Topanga Canyon for late lunch and knitting. Our usual SnB meets every 1st, 3rd and if there is one, 5th Sunday of the month at the Coffee Bean on Canoga in the Warner Center. Since this was the 5th Sunday, we made a special afternoon of it. I find it is always good to cast on for a pair of socks while downing a Margarita, don't you? Looking at it now I think I may have something there. The toes look very nice. The yarn is Regia Cotton Surf in color #5412. As this is a self-striping yarn, I think that the Feather and Fan pattern will be fun to knit. If and when I get then far enough to see the pattern, I will also post at the No-End-In-Sight-Ripple-Along.

I am using an Addi Turbo #1 32" circular needle. Not so much impressed so far. The cable is stiff and I really do not like metal needles. But just you try to find a size 1 in a bamboo circular! Go ahead. Try. I'll wait....

Yes, Shiloh. These are for you. I hope to be able to finish them before/when we are at the ocean in a couple of weeks.

Woo hoo! Part Deux

Is there nothing more exciting than receiving a box in the mail? Absolutely not unless it is finding out you won the Lotto worth $572M in which case you don't need this friggin' box, my friends. And why is said box such a delight to yours truly?

Because it has all the rest of your needles, hooks, gauges, scissors, woolly nylon (used for sock toe and heel reinforcement), pom-pon maker, Dictaphone and my dongle.

Yer whut?

D-O-N-G-L-E.

In the days of yesteryear when Bernina first came out with a computerized sewing machine, the dongle was the part that allowed you to network your computer to your Bernina. Without it you are just another fancy monogramer with limited embroidery patterns. Oh, not that I have ever used it or ever will, but since I can't get one any more and if I could, it would cost way too much $$$$$, I am glad to have it back.

So a great big "THANKEE" to Jen. Now you join Kathy in the YOU ROCK club for sending to me my much dreamed of knitting/crocheting gizmos.

Diversions

To take a break from my crochet projects, I made this dish cloth last night while watching T.V. I am glad I am not the only one who feels the need for a small project as a diversion from a larger one. Since the ripple afghan is on hiatus, the only projects I have to work on are large and sometimes tedious ones.