Well look at that, some knitting on the knitting blog. It's the completed body of the Circumnavigated Cardigan to be exact, awaiting button band and sleeves. The crazy stripe/intarsia/stranding mish-mash wasn't really working, thus deciding to employ Occam's razor I went with simple duplicate stitch instead.
Some thoughts on the project of late...

Mental Notes Transcribed
- If you find yourself thinking "Stitch markers- we don't need no stinking stitch markers!", remember yes, you do- you really really do.
- A small idea swatch really is easier to work up in the long run than ripping out 300+ stitch rows after "just winging it".
- Do actually read what row you're to bind off on (re: ripping out 300+ st rows)
- Get second opinion on motifs

Which brings me to the colorwork (or blackwork in this case?)

Ok seriously- what does it look like to you? I always end up second guessing motifs I create as I know what it's suppose to be, but feel it will be sort of like trying to point out cloud figures. "No see, over here, and that spot right there- do you see it?" "Oooh, ok um- yeah I can kinda see that".

So honestly, tell me what you think. I'd rather know now than get a "Nice sweater- but what's that blob?"

Posted by Jen at 01:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (19)

An oldie but goodie



I love this cookie. Great combination of chocolate and peanut butter but I really recommend getting the chocolate stars instead of the more common Hershey’s Kisses. These are softer and smaller and much easier to get both chocolate and cookie in one bite. The kisses always seem so tall and hard and end up falling off when trying to eat them. This batch was packed up and shipped off to Iowa for my sister- hope you had a Happy B-day Jessica!

Peanut Butter Blossoms

• 1/2 cup shortening
• 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Granulated sugar
• 48 chocolate stars

Preheat oven to 375°F.
Beat shortening and peanut butter in large bowl until well blended. Add 1/3 cup granulated sugar and brown sugar; beat until fluffy. Add egg, milk and vanilla; beat well. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt; gradually beat into peanut butter mixture.
Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in granulated sugar; place on ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Immediately press a chocolate star into center of each cookie; cookie will crack around edges. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely. About 4 dozen cookies.

And a little recent thrifty find.



I've managed to amass a decent collection of embroidery thread and cross stitch supplies from thrift stores. It's more common around here than knitting supplies it seems. I had enough that I just spread out my large bag of thread for Mr. Pieknits to choose his color for the Knucks embroidery. This recent bundle just goes to show the never-ending ingenuity of crafters though. Hole punched plastic bags and cut out binder covers are held together with O-rings to make a great organized holder. I think I'll have to get some more of those little bobbins and wind up the rest of my thread stash to add to this. It's even already sorted by color- thank you clever crafter.
Next I am so making this Subversive cross stitch complete with (also thrifted) gaudy gold frame and plopping it down on the desk at work.

Posted by Jen at 01:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)

I seriously feel like the slowest knitter over here. Mr. Pieknits does finally have cozy fingers with his new Knucks though.

This is a clever pattern and an interesting knit, even with the thumb gusset trials. Although I do have to say that 10th finger was a test in perseverance, thankfully they do go quickly.

The pair was made using Elsbeth Lavold Silky Wool, always great to work with. I got gauge no problem with size 4's. Spring here in Texas did rather sneak up on me (more like suddenly jumped out from behind a hedge) so probably doesn't need these for gaming as much anymore but I figure they're always good for perpetually cold offices.

Aejaz (aka The Blur) decided he agreed with the embroidered tattoos whole-heartedly.

Posted by Jen at 10:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (14)

Knitting on the Knucks is done, they await their embroidered tats. I've also picked up the Circumnav cardi again and have been playing with charts and messing with a weird combo of colorwork stripes/intarsia/stranding. So far it appears to be working but no photos yet.

Instead, some b-day indulgence with gifts and a few other things I've recently picked up. (I'm a bit behind, my birthday was a couple weeks ago, heh.)

I picked out Teva Durham's Loop-d-loop as I really admire her unique construction. My sis sent me awesome scrabble stitch markers from Splityarn, I've coveted these for awhile! As for yarn, looks like I'm definitely gearing up for Spring/Summer- mostly cotton blends.

In the lower left hand corner is some great Cascade Yarns Pima Tencel in the exact colors for Knitty's Anouk. I love the colors so much, bright and saturated for a future little niece! The yarn was ordered from One Fine Yarn and holy crap do they have some awesome customer service. I think my ordered shipped within in 2 hours of placing it (with an email to let me know, always nice) and was in my mailbox in a day and a half. Fastest shipment I've ever received.

Next I got some Knitpicks yarn that now doesn't appear to be on their site anymore? It's called Cotlin- a cotton/linen blend. I know, how surprising. I have plans for this in a new design that I hope to start on soon (and perhaps finish in season for a change).
Along with that order, I had to try out some of the Essential sock yarn- hey it's a great green so you know I'm sold.

Last is some TLC Cotton Plus, man this is some nice yarn for dirt cheap. When I saw this pattern from Adorn I knew I had to make it.

More random links

The Walker Treasury Project - If you have not seen this go bookmark it now. A truey great idea, this blog is working to collect clear color photo samples of the different stitches in Barbara Walker's great treasuries.

nonaSwatches - More great swatching. Nona of nonaKnits is doing swatch a day, yes Every day. Great inspiration.

TECHknitting I cannot adequately say how awesome this technical blog is; be still my technique junky heart! Fantastic info, really wonderfully executed illustrations and clearly organized - I wish I found a few of these tips earlier!

DFW FiberFest 2007 - This is coming up! Classes are still open and I've received a notice that anyone who belongs to a local guild or group with proof of membership can still register for the Early Bird discounted price. Even if you don't sign up for the classes, you can check out the vendor area and/or Friday night fashion show (last year had awesome treats and prizes) and then go over here-

DFWFF Road Trip Wiki and add yourself to the Wiki so we can organize a meet up of locals and visitors!

Posted by Jen at 05:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)

Hence the utter crap lighting (and stylish PJs), but couldn't resist.

Why sit on a chair when you can make such a good doggie bed?

Aejaz, our "sheltie mix" use to always curl up in my lap as a puppy. He still is fond of trying to do this at every opportunity despite the fact he's now a surprising 54 lbs. Anytime I'm on the floor and still for longer than 30 sec he comes and lays at least partly on me in some fashion. This gets rather amusing when we're actually trying to do something like assemble furniture.

My "point of view" shot with the Knucks. Such a cuddle bunny he apparently doesn't mind the occasional poke of a dpn.

These Knucks though, I'm about to start jabbing myself with the needles. Knitter upon knitter have just sailed through these but no such luck for me it seems. The first glove upon completion ended up having the thumb side ride up much shorter than the rest of the glove. Huh, that's funny - I figured I must have just knit it too tightly and my row gauge was off. So I ripped back the ribbing, added a few short rows and called it good.
On to the second glove, working along (with the pattern in reference view this time) I notice this thumb gusset is much longer. Oooh, I had worked the decreases too often on the first one. This one however, was too long. After ripping back again and having a very Goldilocks moment, I've worked out a decrease rate that's "juuust right".
Now I suppose the other glove will need to match won't it?

Posted by Jen at 01:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (14)

A FO actually, and a kinda sorta pattern.

Scallop Choker Necklace

This little one-nighter was inspired by Judy Gibson's clever top down scalloped edging. I still have quite a bit of a ball of Classic Elite Provence left over from Scarlet that's been inspiring me to invent ways to use up, so this piece came about. Essentially I added a garter eyelet row and worked some beads and charms in the bind off then wove some ribbon through the eyelets to make a choker.
Here's the simple little pattern.

Materials
Gauge: 21 sts and 26 rows = 4" in St st.
Needle size: US size 7/4.5 mm
Yarn: Classic Elite Provence (100% Mercerized Egyptian Cotton; 205yds/186m per 100g skein) Color: #2627 French Red
Other: 8 black 6/0 seed beads, 3 small charms of choice, 1/4 inch black ribbon

Directions
Pre-string beads- my order was 2 seed beads, 1 charm, 2 sb, 1 Charm, 2 sb, 1 Charm, 2 sb.

CO 54 sts.
Row 1: Knit
Row 2: K1, *k2tog, yo, k1; repeat from * ending k2
Row 3: Knit

Start chart or written directions via Judy Gibson's site. Note: I changed the double decrease in row 7 to a centered decrease in my version, which is reflected in the chart.

Bind off all stitches (I bound off in Purl), working the beads in at desired locations. On the two outer scallops I did just one black seed bead centered. For the center 3 scallops I did 1 black, 1 charm, then 1 black centered in each.
Weave in ends and block. You'll notice on Judy's site she blocked the piece straight, but I kept it in its natural curved state. Thread ribbon through eyelet row with enough extra length to tie in back.

That's it! I also got to use my new favorite "blocking boards" - puzzle piece cork board tiles. They work great!

I picked up this set of 6 or so on clearence for $5 at Hobby Lobby. The piece's all interlock together so you can make your blocking surface as small or large as you need it and it breaks apart for compact storage. Yeay!

Posted by Jen at 06:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (18)