Misti Alpaca Socks

by Tracy, posted in knitting
Misti Alpaca Socks

The Sunday after Christmas, a few members of my family and I went into Manhattan to see a few sites and of course- to visit a knit shop!  After seeing Rockefeller Center and FAO Schwartz, we headed down to 79th Street to visit Knitty City.  The shop was cute.  It was a long narrow without a lot of space, as all places in Manhattan are short on space, but there were still comfortable niches to hang out in.  My mother bought me a skein of Misti Alpaca hand painted sock yarn.  I had plans of designing a shawl from it and it would be the best thing ever.  I started and frogged repeatedly until I finally relented and went to the website.  I knitted a pair of socks off their basic pattern, and they are the most comfortable socks I have ever worn.  The last few days have been so cold in the new office, I’ve now taken to wearing these.  They truly are better than slippers.

Valentine’s Day

by Tracy, posted in knitting, personal

Happy Valentine’s Day to everyone.  Valentine’s day is meant to celebrate the love.  If you didn’t receive flowers or chocolates or perfume this year, you are not alone.  When my husband and I first met, I discovered that his former girlfriend had not given him a card because it was a girl’s holiday and this upset him.  For our first Valentine’s Day together I gave him about 20 cards.  They were all less than $1, but the sentiment was there.  That day was a disaster.  I can’t think of a good V-day before or after meeting my sweet heart.  It seems we are always broke and unable to celebrate the materialistic side of the holiday.  I know it is a hallmark holiday.

Anyway, I hope I’m not bumming too many people out.  I’m in a bit of a funk lately and need to snap out of it.  I should have knit my honey a heart, but wasn’t really into it.  I am working on something now that I think will turn out fantastic with a new pattern to post, but I’d rather not jinx it too early.

I did also start posting to the stitch library.  Please visit my page https://knitwerks.com/ and click on stitch library at the top to see more.  So far I have stockinette, garter, seed, double seed, rib and double rib.  I can’t wait to add more.  I need a better way to take pictures so they show better. 

Happy Valentine’s Day to all today.  Show someone you love them anyway you can.

Knit Therapy

by Tracy, posted in knitting

There is a reason that I latched onto knitting so long ago.  Knitting and crocheting are great for stress relief and depression.  The repetitive motion is soothing.  It is like watching tv with white noise.  The mind blanks out.  The world, its stresses, the rambling unending thoughts dissipate.  It’s an escape- even if temporary.  It’s also great because you are creating something and can find fulfillment in that.  It is also cheaper than therapy, unless of course you love really expensive yarn.  Think productive meditation!

I also knit in the car to keep my eyes off the road while my hubby is driving.  I think it helps our marriage in many ways- especially to keep me from backseat driving.  Well, most of the time it does.  It’s a portable hobby and still becoming more trendy.  It is even easier to learn in the age of YouTube and the internet.  Anything you’ve ever wanted to know is at your fingertips.

Kindle

by Tracy, posted in books

I am having trouble with the kindle set up and am currently waiting on a response from Amazon.

I am so excited. I discovered that anyone can publish their blog to Kindle very easily. I probably shouldn’t advertise this fact now that I will have competition- but I’m too excited to care. I’m going through a rough patch now and any good news is great news for me. Deep down, I am an author at heart. I may not have a best-selling novel as I had planned since I was little, but my words are my soul. I can write a thousand times better than I speak.
Here I am, a blogger. Is a blogger a writer? Is a blogger an author? I don’t think that is for me to answer. I have won minor awards and even have been paid from contests, but does that make me an author. In a digital age, I believe the definition will ultimately change. According to Merriam-Webster online an author is one that originates or creates OR the writer of a literary work (as a book). Ok, I’m an author. A broke author. Thanks to my chef/husband I’m not starving.
I already subscribe to two blogs on my original kindle and am not sure if they will let me subscribe to my own free. I love regular old-fashioned paper books and my walk in closet is filled with books instead of clothing. What I love about the Kindle is that I can get things that I don’t want to wait for. With my piteous salary I cannot afford to spend $25 on a book. I can’t really afford $10. I use the library and farmer’s markets to keep me supplied. My mother gave me a gift card to Amazon.com for Christmas and I read all four twilight novels in under two weeks. I can read blogs, magazines, newspapers, and samples. Did I mention I love samples? What a fantastic idea? It’s like sitting in a book store flipping through the first chapter except I’m in the car, or on my lunch break and I get to read a few pages or even chapters for FREE. I love FREE.
In the meantime, I’m working on the novel my mother originally downloaded, Family Tree by Barbara Delinsky. I love that it incorporates knitting into it. I’m a few chapters in and I like it. It’s beginning to captivate me finally. I recommend to go beyond the sample for this book. The first few pages did not grab me but now I’m getting into it.
It’s time for bed. Happy writing, reading, knitting and imagining!

Knitting on the Cheap

by Tracy, posted in knitting

Many of us are feeling pinched in this long economic downturn, some more than others.  Whether we are experiencing job losses, pay cuts, furlough days or simply the endless stretching of a dollar, we’ve all had to cut costs in some way or another.  As many of us yarn lovers realize, knitting can be extremely expensive.  Go to your local knitting shop and walk around.  Look at the price tags and take a deep breath.  I recently visited a place who didn’t even bother pricing their ware.  It’s not a place I will be going to again!

There are many different levels of tackling the economics of knitting.  However, before I delve into these ideas, I do want to announce that I fully support LYS!  Local Yarn Shops are centers of creativity, socialization, and entrepeneuralism at it’s best.  I deeply wish my pockets were bigger so that I could support them more.  More and more shops are feeling the pinch and as with many businesses now adays are sadly closing down.  My dream is to open a knitting/book/coffee/tea shop which is not likely to ever come to fruition.

  1. Make friends with your local yarn shop.  Join clubs, discount programs, and search that clearance bin.  Let them know that you aren’t financially able to buy that handpainted silk.  Most will gladly work with you and point you in the less expensive direction.  Look for sales.  Remember, the owners are people just like you.
  2. Get the Sunday paper.  Cut out coupons for Michaels, Jo-Ann’s, A.C. Moore (if you still have them, I don’t).  Check the clearance bin.  Did I mention that I have a bins stuffed with .50/1.00 yarns for scarves that I’ve sold/donated.
  3. Go on e-bay, ravelry, and other online sites.  Bid or join groups that trade their stash.  I have a set of cheap circulars from Ebay that cost $10.00 for size 0-15.  They break easily, but they do the job.  Sigh. 
  4. For the truly desperate who need to knit to stay sane.  Unravel!  Yes, unravel old sweaters, go to thrift stores and pull out that knit sweater.  Remember, you can knit anything- even plastic bags.  For how-to go to http://www.cocoknits.com/info/tutorials/plasticbagknit.html
  5. Visit your library for patterns.  Many have a huge supply of knitting and crocheting books.  Also, search online and of course- join ravelry.  It’s a great source ideas, patterns, and community.  Think facebook for knitters/crocheting.

Remember, you are not alone.  We love what we do and that fantastic alpaca blend will be there when things turn around.  The most important advice is to make friends with fellow yarnies and always be creative.

Julie and Julia

by Tracy, posted in knitting, movie

     I am completely in love!  I am in head over heals, heart pounding, lightbulb flashing in love with the movie Julie and Julia.  I cannot wait to download the book to my kindle and to eat that word by word.  Amy Adams in great but Meryl Streep is simply extraordinary.  My husband was less than excited when I said I had rented the movie Julie and Julia from the $1 blockbuster machine at Publix.  I put it in the DVD player as soon as we got in and luckily did not fast forward past the previews.  Jeff went to the computer, plugged in the title, and saw the words Julia and Child, and rushed out to watch. 

For me, Julia Child is a name, like James Dean or Doris Day.  I recognize her name and know why she is famous, but have no real connection to her.  But he grew up watching her, idealizing her, with the foundation of his every night masterpiece dinners from her lessons.  Of course, with that thought, I am truly grateful to her.  I loved watching Meryl Streep’s enthusiasm and learning about what it took for Julia Child to become who we know her as today.

I had to blog about this because I too am a non-writer who is working for a government agency feeling like life has not panned out.  I too have a hobby/passion for something that is less than understood.  I love to knit and began my website to share my ideas and to tackle designing.  I’m not a professional, but I enjoy what I do.  I only hope that I can be as dedicated as Julia Child or Julie Powell.

In the meantime, please bear with me.  I will be posting and knitting away.  At this time, I am attending classes at FGCU for my second bachelor’s degree in Accounting while working -, attempting to care of a house, a husband, and four cats, and juggling as much as possible.  I will be knitting as stress relief of course.  I am working on my second sock with Misti Alpaca using their pattern as my guide.  I hope to design a shawl when I’m finished with my gorgeous sock!

www.julieandjulia.com

Easy Ribbed Kindle Case

by Tracy, posted in knitting, pattern

Last year, my mother used her Amazon credits to buy the original Kindle.  I went to visit her in June and she gave it to me.  She had trouble figuring it out and decided she’d rather read her traditional books.  Lucky me, I get to play with it now.  I’ve pretty much fallen in love with it, and take care not to damage it.  I’ve been using the black leather case, but I’d rather have something less bulky.

I decided to knit a case!  Surprise!  I pulled out some colorful old yarn, Caron Simply Soft Embroidery Print.  This yarn is slightly thicker than the regular Caron Simply Soft Yarn.  I love the bright colors and have made some eye catching cat toys out of it.

The pattern below is for the original Kindle.  The Kindle dx is slightly smaller and the nine inch version is larger.  Please adjust per size of device.

Gauge 7 stitches = 1 inch /5 rows = 1 inch on size seven needles.

Hold aside about 3 feet of yarn for button hole.  Button used is slightly over 1 inch in diameter. 

Cast on 24 stitches (or in multiples of 4)

Row 1: K2P2, continue to end.

Row 2: K2P2, continue to end

Do this for 20 inches.

Creating the Button Hole:

K2P2 for 12 stitches (1/2 the width of case).  Continue rib for 12 stitches with 3 feet of yarn placed aside earlier.  Turn work and rib for 12 stitches with short yarn.  Continue with row using the orginal yarn. Do this until hole is about 1 inch in size.  The hole should not be larger than the button used.  Once the hole is the appropriate size, continue rib pattern for full row using original length of yarn. 

Continue rib pattern for an additional 2 inches.  Bind off.

Fold 8 inches of the material in on itself and sew the seams together.  You should have approximately 6 inches to ‘fold over’ the case with the button hole in place.  Flip the case inside out so that the seam binding is on the inside.  Sew the button onto the front panel about 3 1/2 inches from the top.  Check your button hole location before adding button. 

Insert Kindle and have fun!!!

Merry Christmas

by Tracy, posted in knitting

To all who knit, crochet, or simply peruse, Merry Christmas. May your stockings be filled with needles and knickknacks and your yarn plush. May projects be plentiful and the ideas unending. May your family be warm with fuzzy, soft, colorful accessories. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good knit!

Triple Cabled Scarf

by Tracy, posted in knitting, pattern


Sorry I haven’t been around lately.  After the wedding, the visitors, the honeymoon and the job stress, I wound up taking a small hiatus from knitting.  I made some Christmas ornaments for family members.  Now, I’m preparing to go back to NY for Christmas and while they enjoy their snowstorm, I know I am going to freeze.  Living in Southwest Florida has been a blessing for me, but has spoiled me to cold weather.  I used a pattern from ravelry to make a floppy beret to keep my head warm and wanted to make a scarf that would go.

This is my Triple Cabled Scarf made with Plymouth Alpaca Prima yarn double strandled with size 10 straight needles.  I am in love with this scarf!  The yarn had been in my collection for well over a year, waiting for the perfect project.  Thank you Gabriella’s Yarn Shop  for this!  She no longer has this in stock, but she has many many great yarns.

Cabled Gauge 18 stitches x 4 in  /      4 rows x 1 in

C4F = hold 2 stitches to front with cable needle.  Knit 2 from left needle, then knit 2 from cable needle to create left twisting 4 stitch cable.

Cast on 24 stitches on size 10 needles

Knit first 4 rows in seed stitch (k1p1k1 to end)

Row 5 – k1 p1 k1 p2 k4 p1 k4 p1 k4 p2 k1 p1 k1

Row 6 – k1 p1 k1 k2 p4 k1 p4 k1 p4 k2 k1 p1 k1

Row 7 – k1 p1 k1 p2 c4f p1 c4f p1 c4f p1 k1 p1 k1

Row 8 – repeat row 6

Repeat rows 5-8 until you’ve reached desired length,

End with 4 rows of seed stitch, k1

Getting Ready for the Wedding

by Tracy, posted in wedding

It’s two weeks before “I do” day and we are busy preparing for the wedding. So far we are guessing there will be twelve guests. I say guessing because everyone still has not rsvped and my aunt is planning on trying to get my 80 year old grandmother on a plane without picture id. This is not going to turn out well. We got a few extra supplies, stopped by a few places to price platters, and picked the car up from the mechanic.

My favors consist of two different items. I took sea shells that we have around the house and wrapped them in two layers of 10 inch tulle, tied with a ribbon and tagged with a wilton printable tag, finished off with tying a bow with the ribbon. I think these came out simply perfect.

Simply Perfect for a Beach Wedding
Simply Perfect for a Beach Wedding

I also have these wax lips and vampire teeth for myself, the groom, and all the guests. We are afterall getting married on halloween. We ought to celebrate in that spirit. We’re planning a goofy picture or two.

Wax Lips & Vampire Teeth
Wax Lips & Vampire Teeth

Finally, we have plastic champagne glasses for all the guests, but I wanted two glasses for us. I went to World Market and picked up these two for $1.99 each and I plan on decorating them each with a tag and a small piece of ribbon near the rim. The picture is just the test product as I still have to clean both.

Wedding Champagne Glass
Wedding Champagne Glass

Organization, Projects, and More

by Tracy, posted in knitting
Trying to organize. This is what taking up knitting really means!
Trying to organize. This is what taking up knitting really means!

I was wandering through ravelry and the many groups that I have joined there when I stumbled upon Gabriella’s post. She wants to donate at least 50 scarves to the Abused Women’s Shelter here in Naples by Christmas. My mind immediately started rumbling through ideas. I have a stash of many scarves that I’ve finished with fun fur and similar materials that I’ve tried to sell before. I made some mad money last year with these fuzzy scarves but I have plenty of extras. I also have a tremendous stash that has overtaken my bedroom. I have yarn in tubs, under the bed, in dresser drawers and even in the walk in closet. If you think that’s bad- half my closet is books instead of clothes.
I pulled everything into the livingroom so I would have no choice but to go through everything and organize it. I put my needles away and even found a helpful tip online to organize circular needles. I put them in clear binder slots that would normally hold my patterns and other important papers. I have them in order from size 0-15. I went through yarn, winding and untangling. I now am the proud owner of an organized mess. I have to destash and what better way then by helping others.
I also love that I can make scarves because I can create new designs. I am brainstorming on what might work and still look good. I just wish that I was giving these to people who’d appreciate the warmth of a good scarf. We live in Southwest Florida and a scarf is rarely needed here.
I haven’t spoken to Gabriella yet but I do know that she is setting up kits for the project. She is merely looking for people to volunteer their time and energy. If you are interested in helping, Gabriella’s contact information can be found on her website http://ready2knit.com. I will try to keep everyone updated in the meantime.

Wedding Garter

by Tracy, posted in knitting, pattern, wedding

Wedding Garter

I wanted a couple of special knit accents to my wedding ensemble, seeing as I am a bit of a knitting nut!  If I had more time, I am sure Iwould have knit my own wedding dress, but with less than three months for an engagement, I just was not prepared to rush a design and dress out- especially for a beach wedding.  Instead, I’ve made a beaded scarf and now I have finished the garter.  It is a bit different from the traditional garters that I have seen, but I think that it will be treasured. 

I used Aslan Trends Class Yarn, which is a sport weight yarn as the main part of the garter.  For the blue edge, I used a lace weight yarn that I had bought years ago and never found a use for.  Any lace, light sport weight yarn should do.  The ribbon is 1/8 inch wide.  I knit the ribbed section with white elastic held together with the aslan yarn.  Also,I recommend using a stitch marker to keep track of where the row begins.

The gauge is 14 stitches = 4 inches wide, 8 rows = 1 inch for the ribbing with size four circular needle 16 inches long.

Cast on 70 stitches. 

Row 1: Join without twisting stitches, K5,P2, Continue to end.

Row 2: K5, P2 holding yarn and elastic together.

Continue for 6 more rows, end using elastic in row 8.

Row 9: K1, Yarn Over, continue to end (140 stitches)

Row 10: K2, Yarn Over, continue to end (210 stitches)

Row 11: Knit

Row 12: K2together 3 times, K1 Yarn over 6 times, repeat to end.

Row 13: Knit

Row 14: Knit

Row 15: Bind off using blue or other colored lace/light sport weight yarn.

Lace ribbon into the wholes that were created in Row 9.  Tie the ribbon to hold the garter up on the leg.

wedding garter

garter