There's a Ninja in my Sweater!

Okay, so I know that bulky yarn on a bulky gal such as myself isn't too flattering. However, I live in Montana. I need snuggly sweaters. I freeze at least eight months out of the year. The handspun single was lumpy and bumpy and I loved working with it. I tried to knit purled gussets on the sides to minimize the tummy, but it didn't work. This sweater will be wonderful for hot tea on Saturday mornings.

The helmet liner is going to Korea with David. I used sock yarn doubled to get gauge. He'll be able to machine wash it. Plus it's so much softer than regular wool. The color is "Sarge" and my Sergeant loves it. (Try on a helmet if you ever get the chance. They are hideously uncomfortable.)

I Apologize to the Crochet Intolerant

Yes, it's crochet! Yes, that's fringe! Yes, it's fabulous!

(Ignore the junk in the front yard. David was having a Tag Sale. I got rid of my Fun Fur and Red Heart yarns. Woo hoo.)

I used Prairie Silk in Capital Green from our trip to Brown Sheep Co. and a size J hook. I completed the first half while attending an outdoor concert. It was really easy and fast. Here is the pattern.



I really love to crochet. Sometimes my right elbow is so worn out from knitting and embroidering, that crochet is the only thing I can do without pain and fatigue. Thankfully, the new yarns and patterns are far more elegant than the crochet of yesterday.

Smells Like Moth Balls and Victory

I made an awesome score at the thrift store yesterday. I found a huge bag (trash bag size) of tapestry yarn. It's all 100% wool and the perfect weight for colorwork. I have many mittens in mind.

I'll also be writing up the pattern for my Lizard Ridge Socks. I got permission from the designer of the original afghan, so instructions will be available soon!

More Award Winning Photography by David

You don't model your 1/3 completed Arctic Turtlenecks in your wading pool? Weird.

This is an easy peasy top-down raglan I'm knitting with thick and thin singles. I want a flared "skirt" after this empire waistline.

I think I've discovered that the secret to brilliant knitwear is not using a pattern. I'm too oppositional and defiant to follow someone else's directions.

N is for Niddy Noddy

My husband made this niddy noddy for me this winter. What a sweet guy.
He used scraps of PVC pipe and really stinky glue. The one I had before was heavy and I ended up bruising myself when I used it. (I'm a bit of a klutz.)

I started spinning the tweedy roving I bought in Nebraska. I have enough for a sweater, mittens, and hat and I still have three and a half 20 gallon buckets full of roving. I need to get busy.

My best friend from Missouri is coming for a visit next week. I'm really excited! There will be a lot of fiber mayhem to be sure.

My Trampoline Sweater

It's done! I have decided that I love elbow length sleeves. I spend most of my days washing and cleaning. Shorter sleeves means no more soggy cuffs! I can't wear mohair next to my skin, but a loose fitting cardigan is perfect. I love the shiny halo of the mohair, though.

I ended up using almost exactly 6 skeins of Lamb's Pride Bulky. The dye job ended up flashing rather than striping because I knit the sweater in the round. Still, I love how it turned out. Every green patch is balanced with aqua.

I decided to group the buttons in twos. I also went with mismatched buttons, but I'm not sure how much I like it. I wanted a vintage "Grandma's button box" kind of look, but some of the smaller/smoother buttons don't stay shut. I'll have to crochet or stitch around the holes to tighten them up a bit.

Overall, I adore this sweater.

Hammer Time

Did you know Home Depot has free Kids Workshops? Isabel loves them! The materials are free and the kids get to pound away with hammers and make cool stuff. Maybe the crafty gene has passed to the next generation after all.

David doesn't like being recorded any more than he likes being photographed. If you watch the video, it's pretty loud. I'm just trying to capture as much Daddy stuff as possible before he posts out.

M is for Mittens

I knit these mittens with Lion Brand Magic Stripes in Lumberjack, overdyed purple.

When they were finished, I felt that the wrists were too short, so I improvised a crochet edging. I'm pretty pleased with them now.




I had my ultra-winterproof skiing mittens and fingerless gloves, but nothing in between.





My fingers really are that freakishly long. I should really learn to play the
guitar.

L is for Lemon Swirl

I knit this beret while camping. It looks great on my daughter, but she can't have it. I didn't think I'd like lemon yellow, but the color doesn't look too bad.

I knit a circle from the center out and slapped on some ribbing. It's not a slouchy as Le Slouch (pdf), but it's loose and comfortable. The yarn is Louet Gems Sport. The circle pattern I used was from the free Pinwheel sweater pattern at Elann.com.

K is for Korea

Here is my latest embroidery piece. The orange blob is South Korea.

Embroidery mimics the life of military wife. Embroidery is patient. We plod along with the little details, keeping the big picture in mind.

Tidbit: when I talk to anyone wearing camouflage, I space out and see pictures in the patches of green and black, much like staring at clouds. I see a tucan and a bunny in this camo I traced off David's BDU.