Jan 24, 2011

Well my idea of knitting two strands of 2/20 yarn to make shorts isn't going to work. The material is too thick and stiff. I also think they would be too hot for our summers, and a little too tight for me. I'll have to make them in 4 pieces and 1 strand after all! Oh well chalk it up to a 'learning' experience!

Jan 23,2011

Finished my knit shorts today. Spent the whole morning on the couch listening to The Car Guys, and Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me on NPR stitching them up. Then I got lazy and laid down on the couch just vegging out. Got woke up when our neighbor brought over some macaroni and cheese they made on their smoker. Damn was it good! The recipe came with the smoker. It had 5 cheeses in it yum yum! Then I made two gauge swatches for some shorts. I did 2 strands of 2/20 acrylic on one, and 1 strand of 10/2 cotton and 1 strand of 10/2 cotton slub. I'm trying to get a gauge close to the pattern Pat gave me when I bought my machine from her. I'm really close so when I put it in Knitware I should be able to make the shorts in 2 pieces instead of 4. Will steam and measure it later tonight and maybe start on another pair tomorrow.

Jan 21,2011

Another nice day here! Finished my yard work, at least the weeding, still too cold at night to mess with the plants much. Finished my mom's b'day present and got it in an envelope to be mailed off. Read some mail and caught up on my newsletters.
I wasn't planning on posting to this blog but so far I find I kinda like doing this. I can go over my day and see what I've actually accomplished! Still early in the day too to get some more stuff done! I've got to start on my shorts again. Had to cut the pattern into 4ths as I didn't have enough NDLs on the machine to knit such fine yarn in 2 pieces. Had to stop and do some crocheting so have to get back in gear again. Got a little tired after doing all that yard work. Lots of hoeing and pulling weeds. Have a good strong cup of tea and starting to feel better.

Jan 20, 2011

Got a lot done today! Worked out in the yard again. Wasn't as warm as a few days ago but still the sun was shining with no wind! I weeded another bed, cut back the asters, and columbines, which are already starting to come up! My Dragon Lily is starting to come up too! Hope it doesn't get too cold or the tender tips will get burned. I really need to move one of them as it really doesn't get enough sun. Haven't checked the other lily. It was absolutely beautiful last year! Got to 5 ' tall and only the second year. Was loaded with blooms in a pretty coppery orange.
Made my mom a pair of earrings for her birthday next month. I found a cute pattern a while back that I had in mind for her. It called for size 10 thread but I used size 8 pearl cotton tatting thread in terracotta. Very nice to work with. Hope she likes them!

Jan 17, 2011

Had another beautiful day today so I got out my gardening tools and cleaned up the asparagus bed, watered it a little bit and started cleaning up the front yard. Was nice to be outside!
Worked on my next knitting project. Got the gauge swatch measured and input data into Knitware. Just decided that since it is a punch tuck rib and I'm not familiar with inc/dec with the ribber yet I'm just going to make it a sleeveless boatneck top. Real easy! I'm going to wear this for pajamas and it's really just a learning thing. Will have to make another gauge swatch in stockinette for the shorts. I've been looking at some of my clothes that are store bought knits and most don't have a ribbing for a hem, just the pattern all the way down and then a folded hem. I really don't like hand sewing a hem but may have to. On this pattern I'm doing now I'm going to do a double knit hem since I'll have the ribber up anyway. I did a practice piece and it looks ok. They are just PJ's anyway!

forgot something

I've decided to add altered 'frog' closures to my black vest. I didn't put in button holes so I had to come up with something!

Jan 16, 2011

Well today was a beautiful day! It got to 70 degrees and I had to get outside and do something! I hooked up the hose and watered the front yard and washed a couple windows down. I even dug out my flip flops! It was so nice. My little bulbs are starting to come up too! Sure hope the weather keeps up like this. Last spring was so cold and wet until June it would be nice to have a good spring. Maybe I'll even do some yard work tomorrow if it's nice again!
Now for my machine knitting project. I washed the gauge swatch and it's ready to measure. It's some 2/20 yarn I got at a thrift store. It's a bright green and not something I would wear but I'm going to make some pajamas! I had to throw out a pair the other day because the pants had gotten a tear in them and you could tell the material was just so worn out. I liked those too! Anyway I did the swatch in a pin tuck rib that looks like a lace pattern I've seen. Haven't decided on what kind of top. I've never done inc/dec/shortrowing with a pattern so I'm thinking a boatneck. Nice and simple! I was going to make it long sleeved with pants but since it's a double knit fabric I may do short sleeves with shorts. I am going to get knitware to spit out a decent shorts pattern!!! I've tried several times in the past and the crotch always come out too long. I think I got it figure out last year but will have to look. Really want to make me some shorts for this summer. I have lots of coned cotton. Was thinking of making a pair to go with a top and jacket I made last year. We'll see.

My new blog

I made this to follow other people's stuff. I don't intend to post to it much.