Poop Bag Dispenser

We have two dogs with questionable lineage. Amos and Sadie are our constant source of entertainment and, sometimes, frustration. One day last week, I had a sweater on the blocking board safely (I thought) placed on the dining room table. My husband and I went to a baseball game. When we arrived home after the game and walked throught the back door into the dining room, the blocking board and towels were still there, but no sweater. We found my sweater balled up on the floor covered with dog hair. I know it is circumstantial evidence, but I figure Amos jumped up on the table and got the sweater down, then Sadie rolled in it. They both like wet towels and I guess they couldn't resist the dampness and the slight wet wool smell of the sweater. Lucky for Amos and Sadie, I was able to salvage the sweater.

Amos and Sadie also like to take walks. All we have to do is jangle the leashes and they start prancing and barking at the back door. We are responsible dog owners and always take a bag with us to pick up the messes they leave around the town.

One day my husband asked me if I could come up with something to store the plastic bags we collect from various stores. At that point, the bags were stuffed into another bag and hanging from a hook.

Voila! Poop Bag Dispenser! And a way to use up worsted weight yarn.

These are very easy to make. First work a round of single crochet around a pony tail holder, then continue around in your chosen pattern. End with a round of single crochet around another pony tail holder, adding a chain loop to the round. Finish as desired. Easy Peasy!

The Economy and Yarn

It's happening. Funds for yarn are becoming scarce. Last weekend I went to the Hoosier Hills Fiberarts Festival and could not get nearly as much as I wanted. What to do to keep the hands busy?

In my workroom are drawers, cabinets, and baskets full of leftover yarn from other projects. There isn't enough of one color to make anything substantial, but too much (or too expensive) to throw awway. So I put on my creative-thinking knit hat and came up with some ideas. The picture is of CD/DVD coasters. This project used up all my size 10 crochet thread.

First, glue felt to the printed side of the old CD. The next step is to crochet two small doilies. Finally, crochet the doiles together, slipping in the CD before closing. Easy Peasy!

Now I have fifty coasters to use around the house and give as gifts.

My next project is with the yarn I purchased at the fiberarts festival. This will give me time to think of something to do with the drawer full of partial balls of worsted weight yarn.

What I am reading:

The Scarlett Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, from the podcast, CraftLit.

Uncle Tom's Cabin, by Harriet Beecher Stowe, from the podcast, Forgotten Classics

David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens, from Librivox

The Little House Books, by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I have joined a group on Ravelry that is reading these books while doing related projects. There hasn't been time to do the projects, but reading these books are like visiting an old friend.

The Red Knitted Coat

Here is the story of the red knitted coat. The picture is not posted because I do not want to get in trouble with anyone. Instead, pictured is a pair of basic socks, wth 1x1 twisted rib, made with Plymouth's Happy Feet yarn.

All the pieces of the coat were knitted. The fronts seemed a little narrow, but I thought that could be taken care of with blocking. Nope...too narrow. What happened? The stitch guage is fine, the back and sleeves are the correct size. Did I cast on the correct number of stitches? Yep. What did I do?

I fretted over this for more than a week. The coat was beautiful, except for the narrow fronts. Too much work had been done to just put it away and forget about it. Then, late one night while in bed still wondering what happened, it hit me.

About a year ago, it came to my attention that a certain publisher does not use pattern testers. Instead, they use math to check things like shaping and number of stitches. In the case of the red knitted coat, the mathematicians failed to allow for the ribbing and cable patterns on the fronts. The number of stitches to cast on would have given the correct width, but ribbing and cables tend to shrink the width. Allowances must be made in order to get the required width.

Once the fronts were frogged (rrrrrripit!), I added 1-1/2 inches worth of stitches to the sides. Some adjustments were needed in the shaping so the shoulders would match for seaming. I now have my beautiful red knitted coat, folded and put away for next fall.

The moral of this story? Publishers are human and do make mistakes. If a pattern is not working, chances are the problem is in the directions. Many caft publications have websites where corrections can be found. Unfortunately, the red knitted coat was not listed for corrections.

There are no changes in what I am reading. I've been too busy with the red knitted coat.

I'ts So Pretty!

Classic Lines Cardigan

designed by Alison Bockus exclusively for Knit Picks

Knit Picks Shadow Papaya for the main color and Shimmer Sherry for the contrast color.

This cardigan is the the result of the knit along I did with Knit Picks. I learned so much! The sweater started with a provisional cast on so that the hem could be knitted in. There's two new things. I've knitted in the round before - socks with double pointed needles - with this I learned how to use the magic loop method for the sleeves. That was so much easier than double pointed needels. I learned wrap and turn for the short rows at the neckline. The last thing I learned was steeking. Now that was scary! After knitting my beautiful sweater, I sewed two lines up the front, then cut (yes, with sharp scissors) between the lines. The sweater came out perfect and I can wear it now as it was knitted with two strands of lace weight yarn. I will defnitely make at least one, two, three...ten more! It was so easy and quick to make. However, the next time I will not add the stripes and perhaps make the neckband a little narrower.

The red knitted coat has been frogged and the fronts are re-knitted. My corrections seem to be working. I'll let you know if the corrections work when the coat is finished and wearable.

Still reading:

The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, from the podcast CraftLit.

Uncle Tom's Cabin, by Harriet Beecher Stowe, from the podcast Forgotten Classics.

Roots, by Alex Haley, from Audible.com.

David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens, from Librivox.

Plus:

A Deadly Yarn (A Knitting Mystery), by Maggie Sefton.

Baseball, Hot Dogs, and Knitting

If it weren't for allergies, this would be my favorite time of year.

Grandson #1 is almost halfway through Little League Baseball and this grandma goes to as many games as she can. So far, I have only missed one game due to cheerleader tryouts. His team is tied for first place. So what if there are only four team in his league! The boys play hard and with every game there is improvement. The last game they finally got the idea of "tag him".

Baseball is also on TV several evenings over the week. My husband and I are Cincinnati Reds fans so we watch them whenever they are on TV. There is also a minor league team here that we like to watch. We try to go to a game at least once a month. The stadium is great, ticket prices reasonable, no bad seats, delicious hot dogs, and we always have a good time.

So what does all this have to do with crochet/knitting? It's a funny thing. I can crochet or knit while watching baseball on TV, but I can't if I am watching live. The atmosphere at a home game, even if watching eight-year-olds, is fascinating. I am looking everywhere and noticing everything from the right fielder talking to his family in the stands and how the umpire calls strikes, to the children dancing to the music and the bald-headed man sitting in the stands behind the dugout whose head gets redder as the game progresses. Needless to say, I don't get a lot of needlework done.

On my needles now is the cardigan knit along I mentioned in the previous post. So far I have learned how to knit a sweater in the round, knitting sleeves using the magic loop, provisional cast-on so that the hem can be knitted in, and short rows using wrap and turn. I am now ready to steek.

By the way, the red knitted coat is on hiatus. The fronts did not come out right and it is definitely an error in the pattern. I needed to get away from it before I got angry enough to throw it away. After I finish the cardigan, I will be ready to frog the fronts, figure out what I need to do, and finish it.

What I am reading:
The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, from the podcast CraftLit
Uncle Tom's Cabin, by Harriet Beecher Stowe, from the podcast Forgotten Classics
Roots, by Alex Haley, from Audible.com
David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens, from Librivox
Death by Darjeeling (A Tea Shop Mystery), by Laura Childs

Progress Report

Last week I had the back of my red knitted coat completed. This week I have finished the left front and would have the right front done, BUT---at about the three-quarters done mark, I discovered that the very first button hole was in the wrong place. Last night I spent a little time frogging. Since the pattern has two different cables, I had to frog to the beginning of the pattern. I'm not good at figuring out where I am on a cable. Isn't it wonderful that, unlike life, in knitting when a mistake is made, you can go back and fix it?

There is a knit along and a crochet along I have joined for the month of April. KnitPicks has a cradigan knit along that involves steeking (cutting the work). This is really getting me out of my comfort zone. Not only is the cardigan knitted in the round, but I'm going to have to cut it for the front opening! Luckily there is an online support group for this project. The yarn is ordered and I'm just waiting for it to get here so I can start.

Ravelry has an online Crochet Guild chapter. They are starting a toe up crochet socks as a crochet along. I've knitted socks from the top down, but never crocheted a pair. I have plenty of sock yarn in my stash, so I am ready.

The picture above is of our daffodiles on the side of the house. I took the picture to remember these gorgeous flowers we planted when we were first married. Every year they get more beautiful and bloom just about the time I can't take any more winter. The weather people are predicting snow for tonight and tomorrow. I do hope some of them survive.

What I am reading:

The English Breakfast Murder (A Tea Shop Mystery), by Laura Childs. Love those fun mysteries.

The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, from the podcast CraftLit.

Uncle Tom's Cabin, by Harriet Beecher Stowe, from the podcast Forgotten Classics.

North & South, by Elizabeth Gaskell, from Audible.com.

The Scarecrow of Oz, by L. Frank Baum, from Librivox

Have a good week!

Shamrocks

The original pattern for this is "Shamrock Bookmark" designed by Michelle Ryan and is available on Ravelry. This obviously is not a bookmark. I used a size 7 steel hook and size 10 thread. The result--a wall hanging. The thread came from my stash and there wasn't enough to do an edging. My husband and I had a good time last night cutting the backing and mat, mounting the fabric, and placing everything in the frame. I am pleased with the end product. It is now hanging on a dining room wall with an Irish Welcome Prayer and the family history.

On my needles now is a knited cabled coat in red. If I'm lucky, I'll finished it in time to wear at least once before warm weather settles in.

What I am reading:

Shades of Earl Grey (A Tea Shop Mysery), by Laura Childs

The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, from the podcast CraftLit.

Uncle Tom's Cabin, by Harriet Beecher Stowe, from the podcast Forgotten Classics

North & South, by Elizabeth Gaskell, from Audible.com.

The Scarecrow of Oz, by L. Frank Baum, from Librivox.

Baby Socks

My how time flies! I have been crocheting and knitting a lot; reading and listening a lot; and walking a lot. That does not leave much time for writing. Therefore, I have added writing more to my list of “Things I Need to Do More”.

Pictured is a pair of baby socks made from KnitPicks’ Risata yarn in Sable, using size 0 double pointed needles. The pattern is adapted from Ann Budds’ “Better Than Booties Baby Socks” pattern. The pattern can be found on the Knitting Daily website. I used a 1x1 ribbing for the leg, knitted the pattern’s heel and toe shaping, and finished with a three needle bind off. These socks are quick and easy. I know of two baby girls who will be wearing these socks; one of them a granddaughter due in July.

New to my blog – Books I Am Reading/Listening. I have several books going. The only reason I can think of for reading more than one at a time must be from my undergrad days as an English Literature major. Many times I had more than one literature class a semester, and each class averaged six to seven books along with short stories and poetry. I had to quickly get in the habit of reading several things at once and this is a habit I never broke.

Without further delay – Books I Am Reading/Listening:
Gunpowder Green (A Tea Shop Mystery), by Laura Childs, an old fashioned hold in your hand book.
Uncle Tom’s Cabin, by Harriet Beecher Stowe, from the podcast Forgotten Classics
North & South, by Elizabeth Gaskell, from Audible.com
The Scarecrow of Oz, by L. Frank Baum, from Librivox

Happy Spring!

Happy New Year!

‘Tis the time for New Year’s resolutions. Mine are: exercise more; read more; and crochet/knit more. I have the same resolutions every year and do well except to exercise more. There is only so much time in a day. How can I exercise, read, and crochet at the same time? Solution – put yarn in an apron pocket, plug in my new purple iPod nano fully loaded with audiobooks, and get on a treadmill. Problem – I have enough trouble walking and talking at the same time. And now I’m adding listening AND crocheting to the mix! Beware pedestrians.

I’m on a baby blanket kick right now, but babies can’t have too many hand-made-with-love blankets. Sometimes the blankets don’t come out as well as I would like. For instance, this ripple blanket is a little small. It’s my own pattern (ripples are easy) made from stashed yarn. Next time I will add a few more ripples and another pattern repeat. The blanket can still be used as a throw for a newborn baby.

Have a great 2009!