tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49667480120666409382009-11-14T08:50:42.867-08:00Just another day knitting in the rainy Pacific NW.Tara Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16967156916689083568noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966748012066640938.post-57616516438951210252009-03-05T20:59:00.000-08:002009-03-05T21:09:30.221-08:00

One of those UFO that I'm picking up again. The Auburn Camp Shirt from IK - Spring 2008. I'm hoping to have this finished by the end of the month, but maybe that's hoping for too much.Size 3mm needles and lace-weight yarn are actually quite relaxing, especially if you are watching Thomas for the tenth time with two sick boys.

Tara Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16967156916689083568noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966748012066640938.post-67362335239068580372009-02-17T20:27:00.001-08:002009-02-17T20:33:26.892-08:00

Finally, something that's finished. I've been working on my rather large pile of unfinished projects and I've been getting frustrated. I've ended up frogging or tossing items because they were so totally messed up. (Lesson - One should not knit complicated projects when one is pregnant and hormonaly challenged.)So in search of some feel good knitting, I started a new project. Basic, easy socks.

Tara Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16967156916689083568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966748012066640938.post-924768679524286522008-10-06T21:24:00.000-07:002008-10-06T21:28:49.046-07:00

That’s how long it took me to finish the sweater vest. The seaming didn’t take any time, but then I realized that the vest was too small for TO (size 2T). I checked my measurements and then my gauge. The verdict – I knit tighter than my swatch. So instead of 5.5 x 7 stitches per inch, the vest’s gauge was 6x8. So I think this will fit DS#3 for Easter when he’s roughly a size 18mths. But I’m going

Tara Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16967156916689083568noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966748012066640938.post-81998041047690193052008-09-15T19:40:00.000-07:002008-09-15T19:47:13.329-07:00

Fall’s cool mornings have sparked that knitting bug in me again. A few weeks ago I began hording random balls of Cascade Superwash 220. The result – one sweater vest nearly finished and a cardigan sweater in the planning stages. The sweater vest is for TO (size 2T). All my boys are long and lean, so I come up with my own patterns for them. The front is made up of 3” stockinette stripes with basic

Tara Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16967156916689083568noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966748012066640938.post-57451246720797740672008-05-26T18:55:00.000-07:002008-05-26T19:41:54.244-07:00

Well, even though I dropped off the blogosphere with the arrival of baby #3, I am still alive, sneaking in some knitting time here and there. This lap blanket is proof of that.FO #1 - Lap Blanket I got a big jump on this project when I was in the hospital with DS#3's birth and extended stay. Then I tried to get at least a square done a day. Several weeks later - a blanket for Grandma C.The

Tara Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16967156916689083568noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966748012066640938.post-83093190184378524472008-03-09T20:37:00.000-07:002008-03-09T20:55:57.779-07:00

Last week or so, my mind turned to mush as I tried to tackle some unfinished projects. So I settled on some quick socks with leftover yarn. I finished this pair of toe-up socks (size 4-5T) in a couple of days, which tells you how much of the time I was sitting on my butt. I also started using my digital scale and found that I used about 17 grams for each sock. The yarn was some leftover

Tara Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16967156916689083568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966748012066640938.post-43741775826132440952008-02-27T20:02:00.000-08:002008-02-27T20:13:21.144-08:00

I thought I'd document some knitting progress from the last couple of weeks. I finished up one front side and the back of Debbie Bliss's Cable Collared Jacket (Ravelry Link) from Alpaca Silk Two.I've stalled on the project though. When I knit up the second side, I forgot to do the neck shaping. So that means I need to do some serious frogging and reknitting. Being 9 months pregnant, I just don't

Tara Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16967156916689083568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966748012066640938.post-10342635578478833512008-02-15T21:53:00.000-08:002008-02-15T22:27:51.202-08:00

After a hiatus from knitting, I think I've found my groove again. And maybe I can get back to blogging on a semi-regular basis. For several months there I lost all interest in knitting...something about morning sickness just does me in. And when I did start feeling the knitting itch again, I had no interest in my WIPs.That's not to say I didn't get some things done though.FO #1 - Bayerische

Tara Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16967156916689083568noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966748012066640938.post-42477493155390500312007-08-10T12:50:00.001-07:002007-08-10T12:53:41.113-07:00

Nearly two months since posting - that's craziness. Actually, it's a sign of how hectic things have been around here. Lots of family stuff going on, which really cut into my knitting time. But I do have a few FO to show. I'll post details when I get the pictures up.Oh yeah, I found out I'm pregnant again. Me with a 3 year old and a 7 month old. Surprise, surprise. Obviously, this changed my plans

Tara Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16967156916689083568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966748012066640938.post-68843888661257614202007-06-13T19:33:00.000-07:002007-06-13T19:59:29.371-07:00

Addi lace needles arrived yesterday from Colorsong Yarn. I started using my Bates with the Serrano. But those joins are like my hips - a little lumpy. So I thought I'd give the Addi's a try, especially since so many raved about the smooth joins. All I got to say is - I'm in love. That join is just perfect. My DH would roll his eyes to hear me talk about needle joins like this. But you understand,

Tara Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16967156916689083568noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966748012066640938.post-22893266480148095692007-06-11T20:13:00.000-07:002007-06-11T20:33:34.017-07:00

My Serrano may not be a spicy red, but I'm lovin' this black blob. The lace pattern is easy to memorize, the directions are straightforward enough to follow, and the yarn is heaven.Knitting this in the round does make progress feel so slow though. I keep reminding myself that once blocked, this thing will grow like Jack's magic beanstalk.One thing - I wish I'd used Eunny's trick of adding a purl

Tara Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16967156916689083568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966748012066640938.post-72104784533910038242007-06-07T20:39:00.001-07:002007-06-07T21:09:36.639-07:00

So I'm slowly getting back to my blogging routine. Looking around the knitting blog-o-sphere, it looks like a lot of people are taking a bit of a vacation from knitting...or at least blogging.Embossed Leaves seems to be having a resurgence in popularity again. Northern Line Knitter finished a pair, and I've seen several bloggers starting the pattern.Snowflake socks are also popular. Purly Brites

Tara Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16967156916689083568noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966748012066640938.post-22748895027931865192007-06-04T12:43:00.000-07:002007-06-06T20:41:14.129-07:00

Library Girl tagged me for a meme. This is my first, so here it goes.4 Jobs I have had in my life:- Preschool Teacher for 3 years. I think this job permentatelly deadened my nerves so kid noise rarely bothers me.- Nursing Assistant for 2 months. At one time I thought I'd be a nurse. That idea didn't last long. Funny thing is it wasn't the work or patients that bothered me, it was management and

Tara Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16967156916689083568noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966748012066640938.post-41232849564689154572007-06-04T12:10:00.000-07:002007-06-04T21:42:10.127-07:00

Well, I'd like to say I got a lot of knitting done on vacation. But I'd be lying. It was one of those vacations where you try to see everyone and get completely worn out at the end - and then the little ones got sick.I did get a chance to read one of my SIL's books, Sink Reflectionsby the FlyLady. It gave me some ideas on how to streamline housework and find more time to knit (that's always a

Tara Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16967156916689083568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966748012066640938.post-43724573572172616952007-05-22T19:59:00.000-07:002007-05-22T20:05:00.020-07:00

Just letting you know that I'll be gone on vacation for a week in Iowa to see family. I had the best of intentions of getting some knitting content up, but it'll have to wait until I get back.And now I need to finish backing since we leave in 2 hours. A red-eye flight with a 2 year old and a 4 month - don't you just envy me? ;-)

Tara Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16967156916689083568noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966748012066640938.post-32867824932983170242007-05-17T12:11:00.000-07:002007-05-17T13:56:08.775-07:00

Thank you for the compliments on the socks. Mom did love the colors. And I'm almost done with the second. (insert happy dance)Finished Socks Around The BlogsSeems like there were fewer finished socks this week. A lot of people were casting on for their Sockapalozza socks or just feeling the summer heat.Those Monkey socks seem all the rage now. I love the color of Elin's Monkey socks. Then there's

Tara Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16967156916689083568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966748012066640938.post-64573662645366397072007-05-16T12:34:00.000-07:002007-05-16T13:04:11.879-07:00

I've gotten a couple of comments/emails asking how I find so many different sock knitting blogs. So I thought I'd share my search technique.If I'm looking for a particular pattern, yarn, or specific blogger, I use Google or Live search. Google ranks older, heavily linked sites first. Live seems to rank newer posts first. But both stink at finding today's blog entries.Enter Technorati.com. It's

Tara Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16967156916689083568noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966748012066640938.post-7754880307828036062007-05-15T22:37:00.000-07:002007-05-15T23:10:25.187-07:00

Modified Openwork LeafThe original Openwork Leaf is based off of the Openwork Diamond. Walker uses a double decrease to soften the edge. I use a center decrease to make the "stem" stand out more.I used this pattern in the round to make my Mom a pair of socks. But you can knit it flat as well.Modified Openwork Leaf Direction* This stitch pattern is worked in multiples of 8, plus 1 stitch to

Tara Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16967156916689083568noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966748012066640938.post-73131791306295923132007-05-15T20:15:00.000-07:002007-05-15T20:33:29.051-07:00

Drum roll please...here is one of my secret projects. Mother Day socks for my Mom, who never knits herself anything. I fell in love with the yarn when I saw it at The Loopy Ewe - Lorna's Laces Gold Hill. My Mom loves fall colors.She also likes leaves. So I thought I'd come up with a special pattern for her. But this project had a steep learning curve. I modified the Openwork Leaf Pattern in

Tara Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16967156916689083568noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966748012066640938.post-45596577461621262642007-05-11T19:29:00.000-07:002007-05-11T19:56:47.209-07:00

Sweater Pics FirstI'm so looking forward to next week. I want to get back to knitting for me. But in the mean time I thought I'd show you my latest sweater purchase. I found this brown, 3/4's sleeve sweater at Christopher & Banks. The tag said "Hand Crocheted" but it's definetly knitted.It's the stitch patterns that really caught my eye.Makes me itch to start up the Serrano sweater.Yarn PicsMy

Tara Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16967156916689083568noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966748012066640938.post-14751626732082844672007-05-10T12:23:00.000-07:002007-05-10T12:55:20.729-07:00

This Week's Finished SocksBarb Cooper finished some socks for her daughter. Her post and some of the comments made me a little melancholic to think of my boys growing up.I thought Jennie made up some pretty green socks. I really like the details with this free sock pattern from Through The Loops (see sidebar).Hedra Socks finished at This warm and sunny spot.Beautiful Baudelair socks finished by

Tara Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16967156916689083568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966748012066640938.post-56005841627470324892007-05-08T18:22:00.000-07:002007-05-08T18:24:36.482-07:00

I'm going to have to skip Tuesday Stitch this week. I've got work deadlines to meet. Hopefully tomorrow I'll be able to post some knitting content.

Tara Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16967156916689083568noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966748012066640938.post-83984814667763054032007-05-07T14:01:00.000-07:002007-05-07T14:13:55.953-07:00

So this was Friday's sock. Notice the extra inch of fabric hanging over the toes. Yeah, I thought it was a littel too obvious an error. Just a little miscalculation on my gauge.No problem. I'm very good at frogging my socks.Sunday's sock looks much better. And the heel fits just fine with 80 stitches at 10 stitch gauge.I've concluded that my heels have widen a smidgen after DS2. So I'll just have

Tara Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16967156916689083568noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966748012066640938.post-83795647174243205592007-05-03T12:19:00.000-07:002007-05-03T13:00:23.215-07:00

This Week's Sock SamplingHave you seen Sockergirl's blog? This girl seriously has a sock addiction, just check out her sock wheel in the sidebar. Her latest additions include chocolate cherry socks and one of the Sock Madness patterns.Little Bunny Foo Foo takes on a different look with Baby Fern socks at Down With the Knitty Gritty. The pattern is from More Sensational Knitted Socks.Knitting

Tara Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16967156916689083568noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4966748012066640938.post-67456889868056970482007-05-02T20:19:00.000-07:002007-05-02T20:55:37.950-07:00

A little sock progress to show today. It's just a basic toe-up, stockinette stitch sock - 10 stitches per inch. It's my test sock - to see if my feet have really changed that much.There's something about stockinette stitch that calms me right down. Knit, knit, knit. No thinking required.I had to scrape the bottom of my yarn stash for sock yarn. It's Regia 4ply (Dark Grey #44) with a slight

Tara Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16967156916689083568noreply@blogger.com0