Frog Is A Four Letter Word

Everyone needs a Knitter's Helper

2009-02-27T20:06:00.004-05:00

There are books out there full of tips and tricks for knitters. There are handy gadgets and charts that fit in your purse. But really what every knitter needs is 24/7 live tech support in your lap.

I just wanted to show you guys how I knit. It's pretty much like this ALL the time. Bitch has to be all up in my face or at least touching me at all times. It's overwhelming but endearing at the same time.

I also wanted to document this scene since this will be the last time I knit in that living room! Pics of Dobby and me knitting at the new place next week!

Improvement across the board

2009-02-19T20:49:00.003-05:00

Reason #5,978 why Chicago Public Library is awesome. When I walk into Eckhardt Park I'm greeted with phrases like, "Oh, here's our young lady who knits!" and "Did you knit that?" Today my favorite librarian, who to my knowledge doesn't knit, was looking for Folk Socks that I had on hold and she says, "I think the world would be so much better if more people knit instead of shot guns." I agree.

My most recent knit is self explanatory--the silk cowl. All the details are on Ravelry. I really like this pattern and yarn!

I have started some socks for myself and I'm almost done a baby sweater for my cousin's sprout. AND! I know I've already announced this once on the blog, but this time I really did find a cool apartment! (The other one fell through. Boo hiss.) I now have an entire ten days to pack everything! No sweat.

Yes. Yes it is.

2009-02-03T22:41:00.002-05:00

Cookie from Alliance Bakery, home of the Wicker Park S-n-B.

I've finished a few projects lately, but you can see all that on Ravelry. I started a baby sweater for my cousin's little girl due in April. Cotton. The sweater, not the baby.

AND! I found a sweet apartment. Didn't know I was looking for one, did ya? I know, things worked out and my needs were met. I need to stop being so negative and doubtful. So pics of that next month. Although I can't guarantee how many more toupee d cookies will be in store. Enjoy it while it lasts.

You kids stay away from Old Lady Murphy's place

2009-01-23T21:26:00.002-05:00

We joke that we can't wait to be crotchety old women. Well, friends, I've found a whole in the space time continuum and I am already old, though more crazy than crotchety. Before I show you the newspaper I brought back from the future, let me tell you a story.

My great grandmother (who's name I only learned to pronounce a couple years ago and which is all consonants save for a rogue "Y" acting as a vowel) was deep in Alzheimer's or dementia by the time I have memory of her. They just called her senile back then. But I thought she was great! Here was this woman who one day around age 90 stopped speaking English. Which was probably a relief for all parents of young children, because this was about the time she also started cussing and yelling profanities at children. My favorite thing as a three year old was when she would sit at the kitchen table and pretend to pick the flowers off my grandmother's vinyl tablecloth and hand the bouquet to me. I never knew her before she was ill, so I can't say if had eccentric tendencies, but I like to pretend she did.

I am clearly making the choice now to make sure my latter years will be deemed eccentric. It all starts innocently, with a dog sweater. And before you know it, you've bought hangers for the large wardrobe of dog sweaters and given them a space in your closet. Correction. The dog's closet.

Honestly, what is the next step? Buying her little booties to walk down the street or putting pet stairs in front of all my furniture so she can get on the sofa? Oh wait.

I see this as planned compensation for my genetic disposition to dementia, etc. No one will ever know when I become ill because the transition will appear to have happened in my early thirties. And everyone can conjecture about whether I forgot how to speak English or if I simply have had enough of society and refuse to be a part of it anymore. I like to keep my options open.

The library is good for business

2009-01-08T22:58:00.002-05:00

Jamie asked why I haven't posted lately. It's that old story of girl meets Ravelry, girl joins Ravelry and uploads all her pics and stash, girl feels redundant posting the same info on her blog. Tell me how it ends!!!

I don't have any new projects that I can show you so I'll try to tell you how awesome the Chicago Public Library is, though the internet may run out of room. All I can say is that if the CPL got so cool by way of machine politics, cronyism or bribes, I DON'T MIND. Though I doubt it, because then it wouldn't be free.

I thought when I first started checking out knitting books that I was being cheap and/or not supporting the knitting community. But you know what? If the book is that interesting, I'll go buy it anyway.

Such is the case with Everyday Crochet by Doris Chan. I cannot wait to buy this book! The dilemma is, I can't find a LYS that stocks it. I'd much rather buy it in town so I'll ask you guys...what's the crochet-friendliest store in the city? Uh, and don't tell me to go buy it on Amazon. You heathens. Or Amazons.

I should also add, falling in love and wanting to spend money was not the case with Lace Style. And I shall quote my favorite line from Naked Gun, "Nothing to see here. Please disperse."

So what's your favorite line from Naked Gun and/or crochet-friendliest LYS? Double points if they are they same.

Happy Holidays

2008-12-28T15:51:00.003-05:00

So I meant to post this several days ago. Happy Holidays to everyone and a happy safe New Year! I took these pics at my family's farm on Thanksgiving and I was just lucky enough that we had snow then. Believe me, there were a LOT more outtakes than just these few. I sent out the first one with my xmas cards and everyone commented on how pissed Dobby looks. Haha!

I like this last one the best, but at the very last second before the camera went off, she decided to look away. Such a bitch. But I think everyone who tries to get an animal in their photos goes through at least ten or more shots to get an acceptable one. I finished up the sweater she's wearing a little while later and she wore it all last week.

Do you do holiday family/pet pics?

Snug in their beds

2008-12-24T20:13:00.003-05:00

Hey! How are you? I just finished a quiet dinner and I am warm, stuffed and grateful. One of the things I'm grateful for is that as of 3:00 this afternoon, I am done listening to "A Jazzy Christmas" for nine hours a day. :P

I handcrafted my fair share of holiday gifts this year, most of which were posted on Rav. But here's one that I didn't post there because even though it's knit, I didn't knit it. It's a sweater blanket.

It's for my grandparents and I hope they love it. Honestly, what else do you get someone who is 97 years old? You know, besides something they already have in their house wrapped up because they won't remember anyway? (OH! I shall immediately be struck down by lightning!)

Well, elderly folk are always cold and my grandparents will just love this thrifty notion of recycling moth-eaten sweaters. I always laughed because they hoarded food and scrimped on things as if they had never left the depression. Who's laughing now?

I made one of these blankets last year and they are incredibly easy if you have access to a serger. If you don't have a serger all you really need to do is felt the sweaters first. This whole blanket took about five thrifted sweaters (stained, ripped or moth-eaten) and two hours to make. Each sweater cost me a dollar and I paid about four bucks on sale for the matching serger thread. I know!

Check out this sweater blanket masterpiece by Katrinkles. What's your favorite thing to make from thrifted sweaters?

This reminds me I need to wax my brows

2008-12-05T21:58:00.003-05:00

I know it's crazy that I'm posting twice in one day, but goddamn do I have a treat for you. (No, not really.)

I was washing the dishes and listening to Sound Opinions on public radio tonight and they were talking about the new Guns-n-Roses album. Then they said something to floored me. It has been 17 years since the last album.

Surely they had their math wrong. Because I am not that old. But then I thought about it and was all, "Well, Laura, you are listening to public radio and washing your dishes on a Friday night. It's possible that you're now old."

People who haven't known me my whole life may not realize I am a HUGE!! G-n-R fan. Uh huh. And this is where the treat comes in. The year--1992. The place--dorm room in a suburban Philly college. The walls--plastered in G-n-R posters. The hair color--totally fake.

You're welcome.

Flames keep you warm

2008-12-05T10:50:00.003-05:00

Peeps, I am really digging colorwork! Small projects, like hats and maybe some mitts. I do not have the fortitude to start a colorwork sweater just yet. But here is a fun hat I whipped up for my stepson's birthday.

It was tough deciding whether I could knit something for a 13 year old, you know? They want Wii's and cell phones, not snuggly warm hats. Hence the flames. I know it's cold and snowy where he is so hopefully it will get lots of wear and keep him warm.

Other gift knitting is moving right along. I will definitely be ready for a big, long term project after the holidays, though. I have some lace and a shawl pattern already picked out!

Barter

2008-11-18T22:43:00.003-05:00

I love to barter! (and haggle, and deal, and trade) Tonight I found something that combines three awesome things: bartering; knitting; and writing. I was surfing through Ravelry when I found a stunning lace shawl pattern. More surfing brought me to The Family Trunk Project which is too amazing for my own words. Go check it out. You can write about your family in exchange for a great knitting pattern. I'm all over that!

In much less exciting and definitely dumber news, I had to redo the second glove I'm making for my dad. I had ripped out the first one at least three times and I finally thought it was suitable. So I was very careful to model the second one after it, making sure I had the same number of stitches, rows, etc. I was so intent on making them identical...that I did! I made two left hands!

Had I not taken someone's advice and moved the thumb toward the palm by a few stitches, this would have been a non-issue. Fortunately, I just had to rip out the two fingers you see above. I am already past the point on a correct, right hand. I hope to finish them tonight!

What is your most awesome crafting blunder?

Oh Joyous Day

2008-11-12T20:17:00.004-05:00

Friends, Candy Cane Joe Joe's are back. If you've never tried them, I want you to stop reading now and go to Trader Joe's. I shall not even compare them to the "O" cookie, because that other cookie doesn't deserve it. I bought a box today and tonight I'm making Joe Joe Truffles. Mine will be covered in dark chocolate, not white "chocolate" which is the wax of the devil.

Last week I remembered it was my youngest niece's birthday so I found the sparkliest yarn I had and whipped up a little lacy shrug. It's fun, purple and stretchy so even though I haven't seen her in months and don't know what size she wears, I'm confident it will work. It's hard to see the sparkle in these pics, but I carried along a metallic yarn with the plain purple you see on the ruffle. All the details on Ravelry.

What is your favorite last minute knit?

Keep one meaningful thing

2008-11-01T21:08:00.002-05:00

Here we are again, celebrating our Dead. I didn't even really plan on it, but I wound up spending my evening with my great aunts' favorite possessions and mine--their crafting supplies.

I had many great aunts in Ireland and some who moved here. The one or two who are still alive are in nursing homes now, so the family has slowly been taking care of their homes and things. I inherited all the crafting supplies. And I mean all. As proper ladies of that time and place, they were into every civil and dainty form of handiwork and now the boxes of their supplies are taking over my apartment.

I am sharing most of the goodies with anyone who cares to partake in my etsy shop, but there is one thing I have set aside that has fascinated me since I unpacked it.

They are 12" long, made of flexible plastic and approximately a US 2, or 2.75mm. I don't know why, but I friggin' LOVE the measurements and writing on these needles. I'm sure they were printed this way for totally utilitarian reasons, but they are such a curiosity now!

They are bent like any serious knitter's plastic needles should be. They obviously used them, but to make what? I have pictures of me and my brother wearing tiny wool aran fisherman's sweaters as babies. Did those intricate works of art come from these exact needles?

At first I felt a little bad for listing all these vintage notions for sale, but now that I've decided to keep these needles, I know I will have something by which to remember them.

East Village Sheep and Wool Festival

2008-10-22T20:52:00.004-05:00

Hi everyone! It's me, the ONLY PERSON on the planet who didn't go to Rhinebeck. I know--you thought there was someone missing, right? Well, the weather in Chicago was just as chilly and sunny (sometimes) this week and my little apartment was just as wooly.

Behold. I have finished two projects this week. Dobby is very grateful that I finished up her autumn sweater. She's already worn it about five times. It's an upsized Astro sweater from Corinne's Doggie Knits.

Speaking of Corinne's book, the Chicago Public Library now has a copy! How cool are they? Very. This next project just kind of knit itself over one slow weekend at work. It's a tweedy hat using leftovers from M's slugs and a couple balls of Jo Sharp.

It will go in the holiday knits pile and will most likely be for a brother-in-law, my oldest nephew or the downstairs neighbor. I've made quite a dent in the holiday knitting so far. I think if I don't bother to replace my tv I may get everything done!

Are you doing holiday knitting? And what are you thoughts on it?

Squirmy McSquirmersons

2008-10-05T09:12:00.005-05:00

Hey gang! I totally missed YarnCon again this year because of work. 'Sokay because I really didn't have the funds to be surrounded by that much awesome yardage. I hope everyone had a great time, though.

It has been all about the gift knitting here lately, which I love! Small, manageable projects mind you. But between birthdays, babies and upcoming holidays I have my list made of fun knitting projects through the end of the year. Here are two things I finished up recently.

The first is for Nibling #7 who just turned 8. He is all things Spiderman and superhero. So when I saw the chart for this pattern (rav link) I thought I'd try my hand at fair isle again.

Stepping into the time machine, my last try at fair isle was for his younger sister, Nibling #6, four years ago. (The time line and numbering of my niblings is off, due to all the adoptions. So I just give them a Nibling # based on when they joined our lives.)

Speaking of niblings!!! I guess I left you all hanging on my last post, right? Well, the little squirmin' dude arrived in the middle of the night after my post. All is well and the blanket is still not done. Haha.

And speaking of squirming, the second gift I just finished up were these awesome Banana and Leopard slugs for M. She grew up playing with Banana slugs and the Leopard slug is an homage to my old place back east, much loved and inhabited by the largest (non-tropical) slugs we'd ever seen.

I used an organic wool and when I wanted to stuff them, I was happy to find an organic bamboo filling. This is just the bottom half of Hansi's Garden Snail (rav) pattern, which I think I'll make again but not anytime soon.

There are more babies and birthdays coming up before the holidays, so I'm sure I'll have more cute quick projects to share with you soon. What are you fall knitting ideas?

Hold on, the blanket's not done!

2008-09-30T15:55:00.005-05:00

I was on the bus this morning knitting the snuggly Swaddling Blanket when I got a text. My sister-in-law was in labor and the blanket recipient was on his way! I started knitting faster.

I've been getting text updates throughout the day from hundred of miles away and I wonder if it's as chilly there as it is in Chicago today. I wore a sweater jacket this morning and may even close the last of the open windows tonight.

I'll keep you posted!

Soak it in

2008-09-25T20:22:00.003-05:00

I'm at that stage in my knitting projects where I have, like, a hundred things that are all "just about" done. Doesn't make for exciting blogging, but it does make for exciting knitting--if you're into seaming and weaving in ends. Ohmigod, me too!

I have been a button making maniac this week. Some of them are so gorgeous it may come to fisticuffs when I sell them. Like these beauties. Soak it in.

And something new I'm trying are lace buttons. So fun! And most of the embroidered linens I use have hand tatted or crocheted edgings which are perfect. I see a lot of these charmers in my future.

In case you can't live another minute without some vintage embroidered buttons, go here! I'll have some finished birthday knitting to show you next week. And maybe even something for myself.

And Socktoberfest 2008 starts next week. Are you celebrating?

Two of each yarn

2008-09-14T21:36:00.003-05:00

Last night I was contemplating what yarn I would pack in an ark, if necessary. Well, I didn't suffer any losses, so I guess I shouldn't complain about the rain and flooding. But I felt really bad for the vendors at Renegade this weekend. I went this afternoon and spent what I could (not much) to support the indie business people. And I grabbed several business cards, so when I do have a little more in the budget, I'll be hopping on Etsy to share the love.

Last weekend was gorgeous, though, and I went to Knitting Workshop for a fun Doggie Knits event. Corinne was signing books and also giving tips for measuring your dog, so dogs were welcome. In a yarn shop, can ya believe it?

I jumped at the chance to take Dobby out for some fun. We arrived late and Dobs was the only dog there at the time, so she got to be fawned over by everyone. And she tried on a couple of the items from the book! There are some adorable pics over at the Knitting Workshop blog.

Did you notice that first pic where she is wearing the beginnings of a new sweater? Yeah, it's almost done now! It's a lightweight sweater of awesome, awesome Sock Hop that Karen shared with me. Here is an updated pic from Friday.

I just need to do the little cuffs on the leg holes. And wait for cold weather!

What crafty events have you enjoyed lately?

Fruity support

2008-09-06T19:31:00.004-05:00

Last weekend I biked up to the Chicago Botanic Garden to walk around and take pics. It was good for not just exercise but color and crafty inspiration.

Check out these melon hammocks! (GIGGLE! I can't say "melon hammocks" without cracking up. And wondering if my blog traffic will mysteriously spike this week.) The week before when I had been to the gardens (without my camera) there was a gardener patiently knotting these little jute fruit savers.

I've been knitting quite a bit this week. The silk cowl is moving slowly. I'm very motivated to wear it, but I seem more motivated to knit on other things. Like a sweater for Dobby. Because it's so cold out right now (?). I'll show you some progress pics soon of both pieces being modeled.

Have you knit/crocheted/knotted any household or garden helpers?

Summer colors

2008-08-29T18:43:00.002-05:00

It's all about orange and yellow for me right now, I'll be honest. My knitting projects don't reflect that, but hey. It just gives me more motivation to finish what I'm working on so I can cast on some warm color goodness!

This little swaddling blanket got so many ooh's and aah's at knitting this week. (Well, not my exact blanket. The picture of the completed one on the pattern!) It's Dawn Adcock's Sweet and Simple Swaddling Blanket and I hope to make several of these cuties.

What's your latest color craving?

Welcome back, forgotten project

2008-08-15T20:00:00.004-05:00

Tomorrow I'm flying to Baltimore and back for a party. Some party, you say! Yeah, my smartypants nephew is turning five and he's worth traveling 1200 miles.

Of course... flight=plane knitting. I don't want to work on my Silk Cowl because it's not at the mindless stage right now. So I wanted to start this really cute little baby blanket I just downloaded and I knew I had some baby yarn that would be perfect.

Imagine the scene, then, when I open the bag containing the baby yarn and find an almost complete baby sweater! Right there, still on the needle, with ball of yarn attached and row counter ready to continue counting.

I do remember this project, vaguely. It was just something I made up to try different cables. My favorite part is that the cuffs are little cables. I did some ugly grafting on the back...

So now I can knit up that cute little blanket and finish the sweater. Complete little baby gift--done and done! *smacks hands* Have you ever come across a forgotten project?

Don't mind me

2008-08-10T21:39:00.004-05:00

This silk cowl I'm working on is going well. I tried it on tonight, though, and it seems a bit big. I'll continue for a few inches to where the whole body joins and then we'll see.

I ran out to Mosaic today to pick up several more skeins of the yarn, Ella Rae Silkience (rav link). There were only a few people in the shop, one of whom was Sally Melville! Knitting celeb spotting and it's still weeks before Stitches.

What do you usually consider your point of no return or ripping on a project?

Pop

2008-07-30T19:39:00.003-05:00

Today at work my boss and I had chocolate pop rocks. It was hilarious, we were laughing the whole time we were eating them. I picked them up this weekend at The Goddess and Grocer.

I also shipped off these adorable booties and hat to my future nephew-in-law. The shower is this weekend and I may have gone slightly insane at Babies-r-Us last week. Babies may be stinky and noisy, but shopping for them is so fun!

Details on Ravelry. Please excuse the color in that second pic, it really is the same yarn. You may recognize the yarn from such 70's classics as Dobby's Rockin' sweater and more! I have a lot more leftovers that may become booties and hats before that kid pops out in October.

Mmmm, wool in July

2008-07-10T22:29:00.004-05:00

Hey gang! Where has the summer gone? I'm already thinking about which wool sweaters to knit for Chicago Winter '08/'09!

But we did have a great 4th of July. We went camping at Devil's Lake in Wisconsin. I didn't think I'd ever set foot in the state of Wisconsin, but then I remembered on a trip to Duluth we crossed some bridge into Superior, WI. Anyway, it was a gorgeous place and the weather was perfect.

And I had coffee and yarn, which means there was definitely no reason to complain. I even got to visit an adorable yarn shop in the town of Baraboo called Ms. Vicky's.

I took with me a knitting project that would require no pattern or chart, could be done by feel or by campfire light and could be washed after it came home smelling like smoke and Deep Woods Off. I chose Maryse's Gathered Scarf (Ravelry link!) using some handspun handdyed wool I received as a gift years ago.

I'm almost done and then it will go in the holiday gift pile. DUDE, I know. Let's not even think about the fact that there are already gifts in that pile. So, I have another small FO to show you soon.

What did you do for your long weekend?

Blooper!

2008-06-14T15:30:00.003-05:00

My Sarcelle shawl is coming along nicely. I love working with this vibrant blue wool. I was knitting in front of the computer the other day and decided to look at other people's Sarcelles on Ravelry.

Ooh, pretty... Nice, nice. Like their choice of yarn... Hey! My lace doesn't look like anyone else's. How did everyone else get those nice lines of yarnovers?

DUDES.

I was totally reading the odd rows of the chart backwards. As in, this has patterning on both sides of the work but I was reading every row from right to left. I KNOW. What, did I just learn to knit last week? Is this my first lace shawl?

But y'all know I didn't even consider redoing anything. I laughed at myself and then calmly continued knitting in the correct way. It will be, like, a story to tell every time I wear this shawl. Well, only a story other knitters would find amusing. Here is my Sarcelle pre-blooper discovery. I'll make sure to take a pic that shows the Point of Knowledge once I make enough progress.

What's your most painful and/or entertaining knit blooper?

Small, satisfying

2008-05-31T18:22:00.003-05:00

I hope to wrap up a couple knit projects this weekend--a wool scarf that will promptly be packed away until fall and my cotton tee which has become a cardigan. This will leave me with no bus/movie knitting and that is bad. The good news is people continue to procreate like idiots so I have baby knitting to do!

My brother- and sister-in-law are expecting a boy in October and my friend E is expecting something (an alien) in January. I really appreciate them having cold-weather babies so I can reduce my stash. Haha!

I have started to queue some of my fave baby patterns in Ravelry and I suspect I will use some of the oldies but goodies from Debbie Bliss' Baby Knits for Beginners. I've made pretty much every item from that book and not only do they turn out so cute, but they are easy enough for taking on the bus.

For lack of anything else to show, here's a quick trip down memory lane of my favorite projects from BKfB.

What are some of your favorite baby knits patterns or books?