A Good Bias Revisited

I suppose I am biased. But, I really did enjoy knitting this piece! And, I would like to brag that this is the first knit-a-long project that I have actually finished.

What did I like about this pattern?

First, it is a quick knit! I love quick knits. I love knitting up "instant gratification"!

Second, the lace pattern is just juicy enough to keep one interested, but easy enough so that someone who is trying to be mother, wife, maid, etc... can knit the pattern with some interruption.

The main reason why I like this pattern is that it actually FITS and looks cool on, especially from the back. Over the years, I have found that I am getting much better at choosing patterns which will fit me and are wearable. I have had really good luck with the patterns I choose out of Interweave Knits, and I suppose that is why I love this magazine so much.

Hints to those still knitting:

1. If you are a knitter that is forced to get up and down to tend to little (or big) children and/or pets, you MUST make a chart and you MUST remember to mark off each row you complete. This worked like a charm for me. I will admit that there was a time where I didn't mark my completed rows. When I returned to my knitting, I started at the last completed row marked, and before I knew it I had repeated rows 5 and 6 several times. The GOOD NEWS is that the lace pattern is forgiving, and the repeat is really un-noticeable to the untrained eye. The BAD NEW is that my eyes are trained to notice just such a mistake, and thus had to give in and frog.

2. Use markers to divide the 10 stitch lace repeats. This was a life saver for me - someone who gets destracted easily.


3. I would not advise knitting on this project when one is exremely tired, has extremely cranky children, or has had more than 2 glasses of wine. You will regret it the next day.

Thanks to Katy for suggesting this project. I wouldn't have been so inspired without your knit-a-long.

A Really Good Bias!

A Really Good Bias Finished.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Don't Pinch Me!

Here is my green shamrock yarn spun up from the roving below. It is leprechan approved!

Biasing Along

I have been knitting feverishly trying to finish my good bias. I got my hands on some of the Mission Falls 1824 cotton at the Yarn Garden in Annapolis. I was thinking about doing it in the pinky peach color but was convinced by the clerk that the blue, color #402 Sea, would be a perfect color for me.




Knitting the first sleeve, I was feeling a bit "lace challenged". I kept making little mistakes which meant a bit of frogging. However, after I came up with a chart to help me along, I got into the swing of things. I also used stitch markers to mark every 10 stitches in the pattern so as to catch little mistakes quickly. Now, I feel like a pro, and even ventured to knit it during my PTF meeting this week. I hope to be finished by the end of the next week!

We will be traveling to Ocean City next week during our kids' spring breakfrom Kent School. We have some business down on the lower shore, and can justify a week of fun if it is business related! We did the same thing last year and the boys had a grand time swimming in the hotel pool, eating out and just goofing off. My boys are very easy to please... I am so lucky! Unfortunately, there are not any yarn shops that I know of in the OC area, so I will have to stock up with a good project before I go!

New Knit-A-Long

I just couldn't resist A Good Bias

Technique Link

Just wanted to make note of a great link for future reference. Katie at Pink Tea recently attended a Deb Mez workshop, "drumcarding for multicolored yarns". She has some great tips and wonderful pictures. I just don't want to forget where this is. Enjoy!

ReCyling FUN!

Okay, I admit it....I am a thrift store junkie! My new mission in life is to find old sweaters to make into something new. I have always loved the thrill of the search, and the excitement when you find something really good and CHEAP! This passion was ignited several weeks ago, when I happened upon this post in the blog, Layers of Meaning. What a cool idea, making blankets out of recycled, felted sweaters.

Over the weekend, I purchased the spring issue of Interweave Knits. In the magazine, there is an article about recycling old sweaters by not only felting, but also by ripping and then re-knitting the yarn. I loved the purses that were featured, and decided to try my hand at a few.

At my last visit to the local thrift, I brought home an ancient Villager Cable Sweater and a newer GAP fisherman sweater. I felted both, and then started cutting. Here is what I made out of the sleeve of the Cable:



And, here is a cute backpack that was once the body of the Fisherman:



Except for the time spent waiting for felted sweaters to dry, this is immediate gratification!