Showing posts with label knitting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label knitting. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Easy Scarf

I needed a break from socks and Christmas stockings, so I have started the super-easy "Cameo Faggot Stitch Scarf" on the Crystal Palace Yarns website. The pattern calls for an Aran-weight yarn and large needles. I am using Taos from Crystal Palace, a worsted-weight yarn and size 11 needles. I think it makes the stitch motif more obvious.
The pattern is a 3-stitch repeat, so you can easily make it as wide or as narrow as you want. You only need to adjust the amount of yarn required. It's a lot of fun and a very easy, very quick knit.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Mini Mochi



I'm playing with the new Mini Mochi from Crystal Palace. I really like it! It's so soft and makes up so cool. It's a single ply, self-striping yarn that comes in some vibrant colors! I'm so excited. When I get the socks done, I want to make a "hugger" (half choker/half collar), I think. And I'm using new bamboo circs from Crystal Palace instead of Clover. I like the CP ones better!!!

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving!


WOW! I can't believe I haven't posted anything since JUNE! You know what they say - time flies when you're having fun, and I've been having a blast! LOVE being retired. Just too busy, though!


I've been playing with the new Panda Superwash from Crystal Palace. Love that, too! The yarn is soft and easy to work with. I'm so excited they came out with a superwash sock yarn!! I started this sock with a lacy rib leg, but it was way too loose, so I frogged the leg (it's a toe-up pattern) and am trying a small cable. Here's what I have so far! (It's too soon to tell if the cabling will be tight enough.)

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Blizzard '08 - March 08, 2008



Well, we've been in blizzard conditions for about 18 hours now, with about another 8 projected before it switches to "winter storm" conditions. Snow depth in my community right now is about 10", but other parts of the county/state have more. There are over 300 closings around the central part of the state.

What a wonderful day to knit!!! We are fortunate that we still have power, meaning heat, TV/radio, etc., although I'm still in my "jammies." I'm being "bad" because I am working on my entrelac shawl design with the Crystal Palace Merino 5 rather than finishing up the kimono. I must, must, must make myself get it done! All I need to do is finish the band and sew it on! Why do I allow myself to get so side-tracked??? I am not going to allow myself to cut out my next "charity" quilt until I finish the kimono. I'm not, I'm not, I'm not!

Once upon a time - February 27, 2008

this is a short "story" written in the summer of 2003.

Once upon a time, there lived a lady who was not too old and not too young – she was just the right age. She belonged to several knitting lists – not too many, not too few, just the right number. Since she wanted to make the May sock from one of the knitting groups, she searched her stash for just the right yarn, not too thick, not too thin, but just right. She chose a shade that was not too dark and not too light, but just the right shade. She cast on the right number of stitches, not too many, not too few, just enough, for two socks on two circs.

The next day she had to go to the doctor’s office and took her knitting with her. Her wait in the office was not just right or too short – it was too long. But she did manage to knit the entire foot of her sock, not too long, not too short, but just the right length – 6.5” Then, OH NO, she hadn’t planned for a visit that was too long, and didn’t have her instructions with her! What to do?
Well, the doctor finally came and the visit was not too long and not too short, but just right to cover the situation. So she went on her merry way to have lunch with her son. Driving down the freeway, not too fast, not too slow, but just the right speed, she heard a POP! and then the van swerved. She pulled off to the side and discovered a flat tire. No one stopped to help – not too many, not the right number, but too few! No one. So she called her son for help and started changing the tire herself. As she was nearly finished, someone finally stopped and finished for her.

When her son arrived, she followed him to the local tire shop, which she discovered was the actual shop where her DH had bought the tire two weeks before. The shop said it would be about an hour before the tire could be replaced, which gave her enough time for lunch – not too long, not too short. However, when she got back, the van was not finished, it was not even inside the shop. And no instructions to work on her knitting. What to do? What to do?

She called her “bestest” friend!!! The friend signed onto the internet and pulled up the sock pattern. The friend read just enough instructions for her to do the heel – not too much, not too little, just the right amount of instructions. She happily knit one heel and then the van was finished! So she packed up her knitting and went quickly home.

She remembered she had a library book in the van that needed to be returned, so she stopped at the library. It didn’t take too long or too short a time to return the book, but just enough. When she went back to the van, she discovered she had locked her keys inside! Oh dear! What next? Then she remembered that the rear hatch didn’t lock properly. She lifted the hatch and all the alarms when off! She crawled through the van, got her keys, and unlocked the van and drove off. When she finally returned home, she wondered, “What next??”

Fun afternoon - December 28, 2007


My granddaughter is on the left and Sarah is on the right, learning to purl.

A New Shawl Pattern! - December 28, 2007


I found another fun, easy shawl pattern! It's from Knitted Shawls, Stoles, & Scarves by Nancie M. Wiseman. I'm making the "Lavender Linen Lace Shawl" in pale yellow Egyptian cotton. The pattern calls for a size 4 needle, with the cotton works better with a size 5.
Today is my wedding anniversary! My hubby is helping a friend out, and when he gets home, we're going out to celebrate. Right now, for 14-yo granddaughter, Jennifer, and her friend, Sarah, are over her knitting. It's a lot of fun and very relaxing! I'll post a picture shortly.

Peggy Shawl - December 27, 2007







What a wonderful way to wrap up a year. Crystal Palace has posted pictures of the Peggy Shawl that I made with their Kid Merino (really luscious, luxurious yarn!!) You can see all 4 pics on the same page at http://www.straw.com/cpy/patterns/scarves/kidm-lace-peggy-shawl.html. Thanks, CP, for this opportunity!!!!



This is the shawl that I have made MANY times, designed by Jackie E-S of HeartStrings Fiber Arts. I have used various weights and types yarn, but the Kid Merino is the most spectacular! The Peggy Shawl is my first *real* experience with lace shawls. I was totally intimated until I found this pattern. Now it's like creating a monster. I have made other lace shawl patterns, but this remains my favorite. It is now like an old friend and when I need a "comfort knit", I pull out this pattern, whatever yarn "speaks" to me, and appropriate needles. then, VOILA! I'm one happy camper.

Progress Report! - November 25, 2007


This is a not-so-wonderful picture of a beautiful shawl. You may remember when I first started it. This is Peggy's Shawl by Jackie E-S of HeartStringsFiberArts made with Crystal Palace's Kid Merino in Strawberries and Limes. It is so light and airy, gossamer, if you will. It's nearly done and then I can block it. I'll post a pic of the finished shawl.

Tote (Diaper) Bag - November 24, 2007


My daughter, Tracie, and I belong to the yahoo group, KnitNPlay. It's a knitting exchange group that replaced the KnitExchange. Currently, it is a VERY small group, but ListMom is hoping it will grow. Our first swap is a bag swap. My partner likes relatively large bags, so when Tracie found a diaper bag pattern on the label of Caron Simply Soft, we both knew this was the pattern to make for our partners. It is roomy enough for a fairly large project, with pockets to hold accessories, needles, etc. For me, making it was rather slow, because it is made with double strands of yarn and the Twisted Stockinette Stitch, meaning that every knit stitch is worked in the back loop. I just couldn't get a rhythm going and it really aggravated my hand and wrist. But that twisted stitch gives it a body and sturdiness. I'm rather pleased with the completed project. But now I have to get it into the mail!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Update on Silken Ease - November 24, 2007



Here is a beautiful picture of the Silken Ease, taken by Crystal Palace Yarns. It shows the purl side of the work, which only proves that it's beautiful as a reversible scarf! (total modesty here, of course! )

Silken Ease - September 21, 2007


Last week I completed the scarf I designed with Crystal Palace's new Panda Silk. This is another luscious yarn they have created, this time with bamboo, superwash merino wool, and silk. It is lovely to work with, too! The pattern is an easy lace pattern that makes up quickly. Panda Silk is ideal for this scarf! I can see me making shawls out of this yarn, too. I know someone who is making a pair of socks from it - they must be fabalous on the feet! Soft, but sturdy. Yep! having lots of fun here!!!!!

Panda Silk! - August 31, 2007



Crystal Palace Yarns has done it again! A new "Panda" yarn has been hatched - Panda Silk. It has the durability of bamboo (52%), the stability of superwash Merino wool (43%), and the luxurious softness of silk (5%). A 50-gram ball has approximately 204 yards and can be machine washed (gentle) or handwashed. I'm playing with designing a pattern for a scarf out of this luscious featherweight yarn. If I had the time and the confidence, I'd design a lacy shawl. This yarn is LOVELY!

FO for me! - July 18, 2007


I rarely make anything for me. But July is going to be "my" month. My beautiful daughter, Tracie, had surgery on July 11. The hospital she chose for her surgery is about 2 hours away. I stayed with her, in her room, during her hospital stay, while her hubby, Don, stayed home to take care of all the dogs and to make sure my granddaughter, Jennifer, got to the orthodontist to get her braces on her teeth.


I have a friend, Karen, who is a reference librarian here in my community. Also a knitter and crocheter, she often brings me books she has checked out and lets me ooh and aah over them. One such book is Knitting Sweaters from the Top Down: Fabulous Seamless Patterns to Suit Your Style, by Cathy Carron. I rarely find more than one pattern in a book that catches my interest, but this book has several!


I had some bulky yarn that would be perfect for the sweater called Nest. Not quite enough, so DH and I went shopping for more yarn before I left for my daughter's hospital stay. I started the sweater on the way to the hospital, since Tracie drove down. All during her surgery and the hospital stay, I worked on that sweater. It is a really quick knit and turned out nicely. You can't see all the detail in this picture, so you really need to look at the book. BTW, I have since bought that book - it's definitely a keeper!


Tracie says I won't wear this sweater, that it's too bulky for me. When the weather here turns cold, we'll see if she's right!

Tuesday, March 25, 2008



Peggy Shawl - July 18, 2007

Some of you know that I started the Peggy Shawl during the Columbus TNNA (end of May, beginning of June). I was using Nature Spun by Brown Sheep, but didn't really like the fabric it was creating. So off to the frog pond! I started it over with Kolibri, an Egyptian cotton by Dale of Norway. Love the fabric!!!


I'm not usually a lace shawl knitter. But as the designer, Jackie E-S of HeartStrings Fiber Arts states on the pattern, the Peggy Shawl is easier than it looks! And it truly is!!!! This shawl has been a definite success story for me; fun to make and a relatively quick knit. I had to order blocking wires from KnitPicks.com so that I could successfully block it. Now it's done. I like it so much I have started another with a thin boucle. The detail/lace won't be as prominent, but it is making up nicely, too.


What is interesting to me is that I rarely make the same pattern twice. Don't know if it's ADD or what. But this is the second of Jackie's patterns that I like enough to repeat. I love her 3-to-2 sweater. I've made two from it and have a third on the needles. And I'm thinking of making a 4th one in ribbon. The premise of this pattern is that you increase 3 sts over 2 rows. It's a bias knit sweater that always gets lots of compliments. Check out Jackie's patterns at your LYS! I think you'll like them as much as I do!

Does anyone recognize this? - July 14, 2007


This shawl pattern was a freebie on the internet several years ago. After a couple computer crashes, I lost the directions. I've tried "googling" but I'm not getting anywhere. I would love to complete this shawl if I can just find the directions. It's done in a sport or DK weight yarn and it uses an 18-row pattern repeat. Please email me if you think you can help me. THANKS!

Finally Finished! - July 05, 2007


One of the groups I belong to, AtMyHouse, has UFO Monday. Every Monday, you are encouraged to pull one of your probably many UFOs out and work on it. My dear daughter, Tracie, tries really hard to get me to work on at least one UFO before starting a new project (nice idea, but . . . . ) Any way, Monday (7/2/07) I did just that! I had come across a pair of socks (2 socks/2 circs) that I had started over a year ago (two years ago?????) I had gotten to the point where one heel had been turned but not the other. Took me a few minutes of looking very closely to figure out which heel pattern I was using, and then I got down to business. Worked on it some more Tuesday and also Tuesday evening when 5 of us got together at a local Bob Evans for an informal Knit Nite. Took it with me yesterday when we went to some friends at Indian Lake. Spent the day there and knit most of the day. Finished the socks last night right after we got home. YIPPEE!!!!!! Now to decide if I want to start designing a bag somone asked me about or pull out a shawl that's been driving me nuts (I want it DONE, but I don't want to work on it) LOL, or start a new shawl. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

FORGOT! my Maizy socks - July 01, 2007


My goodness, I finished the model for my Walking in the Corn shorties that I made with Crystal Palace's Maizy back in MAY!. I love that stuff! It has a luscious feel to it and is quite comfortable. Easy to work with, washes beautifully!!!!! It can have a tendency to split if you use needles with too-sharp points, but I'm finding that most yarns do!!! The socks have a ribbed arch for a more comfortable fit. Contact me at KyleAnn@KyleAnnsKreations.com for pattern information.

Washcloths! - June 14, 2007


Bobbie; my daughter, Tracie; and I are all members of the KnitExchange, a yahoo group. This month's swap is for face/dish cloths. We've been quite busy, as you can see. It's been good therapy for me as I recover from my knee surgery (had a HUGE benign tumor removed from above my knee cap). Can't to see what the 3 of us will receive from our partners.

Yarn from Bamboo, Corn - what's next? May 05, 2007

Well, as you know, I comleted my Circus Chevron socks, made with Crystal Palace's Panda Wool - a lovely bamboo/wool/nylon blend. The pattern will be available to the yahoo group, Whenever (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/whenever/) in JUNE!! (oh my goodness, where has time gone????). It will then be available to others after August 1.

I recently acquired some Panda Cotton and Crystal Palace's new Maizy. Cool stuff!! The Maizy is 62% Corn Fiber, 18% elastic Nylon AND each ball has 204 yards. I'm playing with it now. I have only 1 ball of white and 1 ball of black, so I am thinking of making a "shorty" or "cropped" sock with stripes, and solid heel and toe. I'm going to cast on as soon as I get off here. I can picture the socks in my mind, but can't find a good name. Maybe I need to come up with a few ideas and do a poll! Yes! That's what I should do!!!!!

I'll keep posting my progress - check back soon to see how they are coming. I'll try to post progress pictures, too, but will definitely post the finished socks.