dear cjane: Mix This!

LOOK at this... I'm entering a contest to win ... A Kenmore Elite 5-Quart Stand Mixer courtesy of dear cjane: Mix This!

Sweepstakes began on 11/18/2010 and the Sweepstakes ends on 12/15/2010.

oh I so hope my entry is chosen as winner! I want to give this to my daughter. She has a pre-schooler and a kindergartener. And she just got a job as a cook in a daycare this year, which I find totally amazing as cooking is new to her and she has found that she is enjoying all the new stuff she is learning about cooking! And since her two little ones are such finicky picky eaters I think a mixer like this would be just the best way for her conjour up some incredible meals that kids will start liking to eat. Heaven knows I don't have a clue how they manage to grow as it is quite a chore to get them eat and try new foods! Hope I win. Hope I win. Hope I win.....

My Knitting Wish List that will definitely be future projects !! {Updated}

I have now settled upon three four goals for new coming year of 2011.  


hahahha, the new year isn't even here yet and I've already got my list way ahead of myself... not to mention my skill ability .  Well that's what motivation is for isn't it?  To keep us going. To challenge ourselves. 

1. Though I've never done double-knitting before and I probably should begin on something like a winter hat .... but I just ADORE this scarf....and so covet the pattern. I want this to be my first double-knitting project.
Bubbles Scarf Pattern by Lucy Neatby (#492) A simple, yet visually gorgeous double-layer reversible scarf; the puffy bubbles are brilliant. A straightforward design, precisely written, to help seduce you into the delights of double-layer knitting.  Pictured in kauni Effektgarn EQ and EN.
Size: 6 inches (15 cm) wide, length adjustable.
Yarn: 75g each Kauni Effectgarn.
Techniques: Two-colour double-layer knitting, with the option to use a Tubular Cast-On and Tubular Bind-Off, and knit-quilting.
Skill Level: Intermediate / Advanced  Pattern price: $6.00

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2013 update: I have finally saved enough and got my NORO SILK GARDEN YARN for this shawl and in the exact same colorway !!!  now to just get brave enough to knit it the way Ruth did, in the round & steeked. I can knit in the round, it's actually my preference; but I have never steeked anything before. So nervous just thinking about doing that. 

2.  OH MY GOSH! you must click on this picture and so enjoy the beauty of this shawl made by Ruth !!!   

I've also never made a shawl before.... (hush, don't tell anyone!) so yup you guessed it, this too will be on my needles in 2011!  On Ruth's blog she tells that she used Nine skeins of Noro Silk Garden Sock Yarn. 4 skeins  S-084 and 5 skeins S 252.  Absolutely stunning I think!  This magnificent shawl is ' Daisy ' Shawl pattern also on my coveted list! It is designed by Ruth Sørensen done in circular knitting and steeked. 
  

The price of the pattern is 40,- DK kr (Danish Krone) which is roughly abt. $10.66 American. I've never order out of the country before so I hope paypal does the currency conversion for me.  She instructs people to Order the pattern by sending a mail on: ruth@mail.tele.dk  Please write "Daisy" in the subject line.

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2013 update: yup got this book now :)

3. Herbert Niebling Lace Designs are the breathtakingly most heavenly magical lace designs that will make one gasp and are too DIE for! His name is legendary among lace-knitters. This book has over 2 dozen patterns that have been translated from German into English in the past year for the first time ever. I think only one or two websites carry this book. Schoolhousepress.com/lace.htm is the main carrier of this book I believe at a cost of $28. 


Here are three  examples of famous Herbert Niebling designs... I found these images on "lacefreak" blog ... beautiful work lacefreak!

Lyra

Roswitha

Frosted Ferns - This one is my favorite!

Goldregen by lacereak

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4.  The Juneberry Triangle - It is an exquisite shawl design that I found on brooklyntweed's blog post dated 4.23.2010.  OMGosh!! I am in love with this shawl!!  Just look at these photos. His pattern I found is available on Ravelry for $6.50 {no affliation yadda yadda, just showing ya where I'm going to buy it from in case you want to also}.  As I read thru Jared's blog I see he has a new home address.  I must remember to bookmark it. I certainly give Kudo's to Jared Flood's design skills as I am just gobsmacked!

165 yd skein gives me how long of a sock ????

 Hi ya’ll !    Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving Day! ~ twas not a good day to be my pants lol!

ok, here goes… I'm having a math meltdown!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! due to a fair amount of cognitive brain fog going on at the moment LOL… that said, I’m trying to do up a quick pair of socks and…

 I’m knitting socks 2 @ a time on my two circs… anywho, I’ve got one -165yd skein for EACH sock. needless to say I can tell right away that I’m not gong to be able to make knee-highs with out running short.

My CO was 64 sts. My gauge is 7 spi. I measure a rows’ length of yarn. It = 1 row of instep & sole @ 40 inches in yarn length = 3.3 feet.

So I’m assuming that 165yds /3.3feet per row = 50 inches in sock length ??

Next…. My foot length is 9” @ 10 rows per inch = 90 rows
Ankle/Heel area = 4 inches in length = 40 rows
Cuff … that leaves only 35 rows of yarn for the cuff without running out ??? w o w. That’s only a three and half inch cuff. ack!

For some reason my brain is taking the 50” length and minus 9; minus 4; leaving 37 row allowance for the cuff.

Am I figuring this right ??? or is my brain too tired.


OH WAIT, how cool is this link !!!!  http://www.thedietdiary.com/knittingfiend/tools/EstimatingYardageSock.html

It is an online calculator that provides a rought est. of  yarn yardage for stockinette/broken rib socks when you plug in your numbers !!!!  This is totally awesome!

so if i reduce my CO down to 56 stitches which will give 20% ease for 10 " circumferance I will be able to knit a cuff length of about 8".  This will be a grand total of abt. 174 rows and give me a length of 17.5 " from the cuff down to the toe.  The calculator est. a total 322 yds of yarn is needed which should work as both my skeins together equal 330 yds.  Talk about cutting it close ;)

Two pair baby newborn socks freshly handknit! 
Wish I could remember name of this sock yarn as I adore it!

Both pairs cast-on 22 stitches and both were knit the same amount of rows.

Left pair on size 2 needles/ Right pair on size 4 needles.  Circulars of course!!!!

Can't visually tell much difference between the two pair... but is it just me or does the left pair seem to have a fuller instep? which doesn't make sense to me as would thought the size 4 needle would have the fuller instep... but it just looks a tad leaner and longer.

Left pair is very snug on just one finger inserted into cuff. Much more wiggle room for growing on right pair.

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Make your own fitted Bedsheets ! ;)

In my house I always have more flat sheets than fitted bottom sheets. Using a print and a solid you can put together some great sets and its an easy project.   

Note: Not all sheets are created equally! Read more about bed sheets at Before You Buy Bed Sheets.  Also Mattress sizes can vary! Always check the mattress measurements before cutting your fabrics or flat sheets.

Step 1 - Measuring the Mattress.  First measure sides & width. Than the ends & lenght of the bed.

Add 4" to 6" to each measurement to allow for tuck under the mattress. 

I like a-lot of tuck under, but if your fabric isn't wide enough that's ok, you can go with a scant amount to tuck under, but keep it even on all edges.

If you are using 45" wide fabric, you will need to join the lengths of fabric to have fabric wide enough to use.  Do the join seams to each side of the fabric to avoid someone having to sleep on the seams.

STEP 2 - FITTING THE CORNERS

Remove any hems from an existing flat sheet if necessary.  Lay the sheet evenly ontop the mattress, right sides down.  Pin a dart in place at each corner to bring the sheet into fit. 

 (If the bed is not available start at the center of each side and mark the ends of each side. Bring the marks together at each corner and pin a dart in place. This is the depth of the mattress and the amount you allow for tucking under the mattress.) 

STEP 3- SEW THE CORNER

Sew the dart in place by running a straight seam all way down along the pins. Cut off excess leaving 1/2" seam and than zigzag the raw edges. Than hem along the side edges with a 1/4" hem.

STEP 4 - ATTACH ELASTIC
Cut 4 - 10" lenghts pieces of 1/4" wide elastic or wider.

Center each piece of elastic along the bottom of each dart on the WRONG side of the sheet.

Use a zigzag stitch to sew elastic down and remember to STRETCH elastic as far as it will go while you sew.
Repeat all four corners.


WHALLAH!!  YOUR DONE!!  GOOD JOB!

(adapted from courtesy of Debbie Colgrove, Licensed to About.com)