What Size Needles?

I learned a useful tip last week from watching Knitty Gritty that I thought I would share. If you have yarn but aren't sure what size needles to knit your project up on, use a needle gauge. What you do is take 2 strands of the yarn you want to use and pull them through the holes of the needle gauge. Whichever hole both strands pull through the easiest is the size of needle you want to use. I tried this on the Chihuahua sweater and the results were fantastic!

Sweater Finished

I finally finished the Chihuahua Sweater. Doesn't McKenzie look cute? It actually fits him pretty well. Now that I know the pattern fits him, I can knit others in more creative designs. He was very excited to receive his new gift. He thinks he is pretty special, which he is.

McKenzie in his new sweater

Scarves

My friend Arlene and I met tonight for our usual Friday night get together at Barnes and Noble. They have a Starbucks in the store which is a great place to knit. She is working on some beautiful scarves. The top scarf she has knit for herself. It is a wonderful textured yarn knit in garter stitch. The bottom scarf is a grey wool also knit in garter stitch. She has knit that scarf for our friend Aaron. I think he is really going to like it.

Arlene's Scarf 

Aaron's Scarf 

Brae Cardigan

I am making a little progress on the Brae Cardigan. It is a fun sweater to knit up. I like watching the designs grow as I knit each row. This pattern can be found in Ann Feitelson's book The Art of Fair Isle Knitting. It is a good book to own if you like that type of knitting. She discusses the history behind Fair Isle, the color schemes, and it has a lot of wonderful patterns. The patterns she uses in her book are traditional ones. Well worth the money I spent.

Brae Cardigan

Making Progress

Well I am making good progress on the Chihuahua Sweater. Won't McKenzie be happy! It has been very simple so far, garter stitch most of the way. This would be good for someone who is new to knitting. I am knitting it simple as I want to check the pattern for size. Once I have the size down, I will knit a few more in various styles. I can't wait to see him in it!
Chihuahua Sweater


I went to the S and B group last night, what fun! Everyone has such interesting projects. It gives me lots of ideas. I need to finish the several projects I am working on first. I would like to actually post a finished piece soon.

Chihuahua Sweater

I wanted to knit my dog a cute little sweater, and I found a pattern on line by Staceyjoy Elkin @ http://www.redlipstick.net/knit/chihswe.html for Chihuahuas. My dog is just about the same size as a Chihuahua, only he has a lot more fur. I am making mine a little bit bigger than her pattern using some left over yarn I found. The design is pretty basic, but would be easy to modify with your own preferences.

Sweater Design

Does anyone know of a good book on designing your own sweaters or other knitting projects? I have always wanted to knit up designs of my own, but have been too scared to try. I found a good article on Knitty.com on using percentages to design a sweater, which sounds interesting. Has anyone tried this? I don't know why I have a fear of knitting something up that I designed myself, maybe I'm afraid of failing. I guess I can always rip rows out if they don't work. Thoughts?

Armagh Sweater

I am working on Alice Starmore's Armagh sweater. I would hate to admit how long I have been working on this. This is my first Fair Isle sweater and it has been through a lot. My cats actually chewed a hole in it, so I had to have it professionally repaired. Also, I am new at cutting steeks, so I needed help with that as well. My goal is to learn to sew the steeks myself, which would make my projects a lot less expensive! I need to finish this one, and I hope to do so this year. It has sentimental value to me as I worked on it in Latvia when I was in the Peace Corps. It brings back happy memories!

Alice Starmore's Armagh 

Knitting Kitty

I found a new web ring called Knitting Kitty that has links to blogs owned by knitters with cats. It seems for some strange reason most knitters do have cats. I have 2 - Lucy and Little Buddy. They always seem to find my knitting projects I am working on, even if they are in a bag. I have to think of creative ways of keeping them away from my yarn. They like to play with yarn as much as I do.

Fun With Socks

I learned how to knit socks two years ago and have always had a pair in the works since. This is some fun yarn I found at Hilltop Yarn that looks like Fair Isle, but it is just the design in the yarn that changes. I have been working on this pair for quite some time since they are knit on a size 1 needle. I wish I had more patience!

Fair Isle socks 

Stitch N Bitch Seattle

I went to the Stitch N Bitch gathering in Seattle this evening and it was well worth my time. It was fun to see all of the different projects people were working on. It is a great place to get ideas for new projects. We met at the Essential Baking Company in Fremont which has great coffee as well as baked goods and other mouth watering food. I recommend attending this gathering if you live in the Seattle area.

Slow but sure

My progress this week is a little slow as I have had a lot to do. I am hoping to attend a Stitch n Bitch group tomorrow in Seattle. I hope to meet knitters who have more experience than I do that can give me some pointers.

Progress as of 1/18/05 

So much to do so little time

Well I've started another project for one of my fellow Husky fans. I'm not quite sure about the colors, but I chose the ones I felt were closest to the school colors. I am going to knit two of these. They are real simple with knit one, purl one ribbing. They will be ready for next years football season. I'm starting early as my side projects usually take a lot of time.

U of W scarf 

Progress as of 1/13/05 

S and B knitting groups

I have learned that there are S and B knitting groups in the Seattle/Lynnwood area. I am going to make a point of checking them out in the next few weeks. I think it will be a great way to meet new friends as well as picking up new ideas and advice.

Progress as of 1/7/05