oops
For the first time ever (in over 8 years!) I've exceeded the monthly traffic limit on my free webspace at Earthlink! Hooray! This means that some images and links here will be broken until tomorrow (the start of a new month). I've taken steps to manage this problem so it'll be less likely to happen in the future, and for anyone who absolutely can't wait until tomorrow to download a free pattern, e-mail me and I'll send it to you. Thanks everyone!

scarier than monsters
I just read a shocking thread about a famous knitwear designer ripping off a wonderfully original design from Knitty magazine and am horrified. Plus I got the recent e-mail from Knitty's editor about how some yarn shop(s) are selling knitty patterns--this is terrible! I can't think of anything worse than working on a pattern for weeks, and then seeing it copied or sold later. IMHO this is the bane of the creative professional. Having entered the work force originally as a graphic designer, you'd think I'd have developed a tougher skin about such things, but you bet I'll be hoppin' mad if I ever see any of my designs circulated with somebody else's name on 'em! :::breathe in, breathe out::: I guess I shouldn't worry about something that hasn't happened yet, right? And you guys will help me assure that something like that won't happen, right? Happy Halloween, everyone! xoxo

elle-along with me!
Finally, she's here! Click the elle-along button on the sidebar and git yer own!

As I mentioned before, I need your help. Because this was a stash management project, I don't know exactly how much of the store-bought yarns to use. So, to give you incentive to be brave and try it, I'm offering the first person to knit elle in either Classic Elite's Inca Alpaca or RowanSpun DK (and tell me how much yarn you needed) their choice of the following:

The next person who knits it using the other yarn gets the other book! Sound like a deal? Both books are in like-new condition, I haven't used either one to knit anything. And there's nothing wrong with either book--I just know myself and know that I probably won't knit anything from either book (before I turn 90, anyway).

I'm going to start working on belle, elle's little sister. She'll be striped instead of fair-isle, with no zipper. You'll be able to knit either one as part of the elle-along! Fun, fun, fun!

re-felt
Didn't like the final shape of elle, after careful consideration. So I decided to give her another chance in the washer, and I knew I wanted another way to block her but couldn't figure out how. Then it hit me--steal the teenager's wastebasket! A perfect fit!

So of course he was amused to find out what crazy crafty Mom did with his trash can, and then he says: "can I wear it on my head?" Who am I to argue with such an innocent, yet goofy request:

Have a great weekend everyone! My mom is going to help me sew in elle's zipper and then I'll be done! Pictures and pattern next. xoxo

cute!
Look what I made while waiting for the Kool-Aid dyed yarn to dry out! I used Regia's Ringel in farbe 5048, and I'm still working on its mate. I got the pattern from my LYS free with purchase of the yarn, but it doesn't have the name of the designer, much less any copyright information. It is, however, very similar to this pattern. I'll finish the other one while I'm waiting on elle to dry! And I'll probably give 'em to my cousin--she's preggers with her third bambino, due in Nov. And who knows--I should have enough yarn to make another pair for ours too.

finally!
No, I'm not quite finished, but I'm still going to present to you elle! The top photo shows her pre-felting, and in this bottom one she's felted and on the blocking board (upside down), drying out:

Once she's dried, I plan to set in a zipper, sew on the handles and she'll be all done! I hope to have the pattern posted for you all by Saturday night.

prize for you
Because I've been using old stash yarn for elle, I need to know how she will knit up using Classic Elite's Inca Alpaca and RowanSpun DK. Therefore, the first person to knit it in either of these two yarns will get their choice (from a select group of 2) of a kewl prize from my pile of knitting stuph. Then the next person to knit it up in the other yarn gets the other prize! I predict you will need 3 skeins/hanks of each of the two main colors, but unfortunately don't know for sure.

Excited yet? Opinions, please!

er, oops!
I was literally on the next-to-last row on the secret project and realized that I had run out of yarn! Years ago I bought a bunch of handspun Cotswald and it's been (mostly) collecting dust until a couple of months ago, when I had a Kool-Aid dyeing fest and dyed most of it in various fruity colors. My favorite color was the gorgeous deep red of Black Cherry, and that's what I've been using for this project. So, since I ran out, I asked hub to run to the store for more Black Cherry (and Pink Lemonade, just 'cause me and lyn like pink). This is what it looks like hanging out to dry--I'm hoping it'll be dry enough to finish up tonight or tomorrow. You guys are so patient (or maybe just quiet, hee-hee)!

works in progress
How many WIPs do each of you keep going on at any given time? The reason I ask is: I'm considering shelving Haiku until Christmas is over and I've cranked out a few more projects, namely socks. Also, as I near completion of the secret knit-along project, I realize that it will use some intermediate to advanced knitting skills and I'm already considering doing up a second version, using stripes and omitting the zipper (oops, have I said too much? LOL) to make it easier for those who are beginners to intermediates (or for those who want a slightly quicker knit, prefer stripes to fair-isle, or no zippers). So, I'd like to get that done first also.
Word on the street is that some of the famously creative knitters have 50, 75, 100 or more works in progress, but even my massive stash couldn't support that, much less my sanity and marriage. Therefore something deep in my subconscious says "three WIPS, no more."
Also, it looks like our adoption won't be completed until sometime next year (instead of before Xmas as we'd hoped), so I still have some time on the toddler/baby knits. PLUS, I still need to complete the leaf blanket! :::sigh:::

need your advice
Here's my new swatch for Haiku. Still not sure if I've hit upon the right combination of stash yarns for this project. This swatch was done up using baseball bats, er, I mean my size 10s, at 3.5 sts to the inch. Is this too bulky for a toddler sweater named after a poem? What do you guys think? Kristi, if you're out there, please advise.

secret knit-along
Still going along swimmingly on the soon-to-be knit-along project--now I'm more than halfway done. As you can tell I like visuals, so I'll go ahead and share a picture of my progress:

Hee-hee, can you tell I'm in a sassy mood?

XOXO

yippee!
yay, see what came in the mail for me the other day?! I joined Crafter's Choice (again), as a way to keep my tagboard ad-free. I especially like the VK Quick Reference book--I have an earlier edition of the larger book and have often wished it was easier to carry around.

crochet?
As you can see in the above foto, I got a crochet book also. I'm only a beginning crocheter, having just done a few swatches and granny squares. Do any of the rest of you crochet, and if so, what do you think are the advantages/disadvantages vs. knitting? I like the speed of it, but usually prefer the look and elasticity of knitted fabric. Certain items are best for crochet, but I always come back to knitting.

more mags
Bought the latest Vogue Knitting the other day--and I've learned that at a cover price of $5.99, if there's one project worth knitting inside, than it's worth buying. IMHO, that would be the design in one of the advertisements, above (on page 19).

secret knit-along
I shouldn't talk any more about this, because I don't want to create too much unnecessary buildup (just in case you guys hate it) but: it's going SO WELL I can't help myself! Usually designing involves frogging and more frogging, but no frogs yet for this baby (knock on wood). I like the shape so far--I just wish I could knit faster (I'm about 1/3 of the way done). I hope I'll have the pattern ready for you guys by this time next week. Whee!

got stash?
Here's my stash, in all its glory. It used to be a bunch of yarn in plastic bags from the grocery store, but my DH protested a few years ago and I cleaned up my act. There are advantages to being a bit more organized, however--most importantly I can cram more skeins and needles into a smaller space, but it doesn't appear as though I have so much to the casual observer (i.e. DH, heehee).

secret knit-along
Work is progressing on the secret project. Since this is a stash management project for me, I'm trying to use up some handspun Cotswald wool from years ago, but for those of you who want to think ahead, I found two equivalent store-bought brands that would also work: Inca Alpaca by Classic Elite or RowanSpun DK, both gorgeous and feltable. My gauge swatch came to 5 sts to the inch over fair-isle stockinette. Still curious? Stay tuned!!

mystery knit-along
Here are the swatches for the featured knit-along here at bruxknits. The swatch in the background is fair-isle, knitted on size 6 needles with some yarn from my kool-aid dyeing fest, and the other swatch is the same, after felting! I already have a general idea of what it'll be, but: if someone was doing a custom design for you (they are!) and this was the first swatch, what would it turn out to be?

haiku wannabe
I grabbed some old yarn out 'o my stash and gave it a spin for the knitty haiku pattern. I love the colors and softness but don't think it'll work for haiku on its own because:

1. I don't like the finished fabric--it's flimsy and has no bounciness whatsoever
2. it knits up on size 5s and would therefore take too long
3. the novelty (thick/thin) ply of this yarn has an annoying habit of bunching up while the other ply stays the course

I may not completely eliminate the possibility of using it however--I might try a combo with some regular 'ol mercerized cotton for stability. Stay tuned. And where did I get this yarn? My mom presented it to me in a cardboard box one holiday with a note that said "this should keep you out of trouble." haha, didn't work!

fair-isle in the round
I noticed a few years ago when I taught myself fair-isle that I was able to get the correct tension when knitting flat on straight needles, but (after a failed attempt at a pair of socks) that I hadn't yet mastered doing same in the round on dpns. So I told myself "do this flat from now on" and really haven't done much fair isle, even though I like the technique. Fast-forward to this week, in which I started swatching for an upcoming design in fair-isle, and I'm hoping to use circular needles--and it's working! Hmmm---maybe I can blame my teeny-tiny DPNs for my ineptitude with fair-isle in the round. More experimentation is needed. What's been your experience?