Which season do you belong in?

You Belong in Spring

Optimistic, lively, and almost always happy with the world... You can truly appreciate the blooming nature of spring. Whether you're planting flowers or dyeing Easter eggs, spring is definitely your season!

What Season Are You?

Non-traditional craft ideas

Whiplash challenge came and went and I didn't do anything this time either :-(

CHALLENGE ENTRIES

• Life\'s a beach::HildeC
• How to make a yo-yo friend::sunshine
• bracelet:design/tutorial::mereteveian
• Stocking Cap::hoyan
• Tokyo Graffiti Cross-Stitch!::metalmom
• woven doll::tiff
• sparkly bells::mo
• lace purse::fibrespace
• Felted Rocket::Susan C.
• FrankenPig..ByChelle::ByChelle
• Carry me home::skapande
• for your records... ::katrin
• gold crochet necklace::lorigami
• completely cactus cowneck ::completely cactus
• Longview Quilt::dorie
• mr. golden sun::QueenMum
• adventures in crochet::muppinstuff3
• self portrait::alittlebunny
• Alternating Pillow: Little Snoring::littlesnoring
• Tape Case::karrie
• Papa the Lion::Fromjoy
• Five hands::Camilla Taylor
• Garnet+Found Flower Tutorial::linquesdesign
• f*tta thong::lina
• Bottlecap Jewelry::redgedesigns

Stockings...

I was part of a Christmas Stocking swap, and this is my creation... I don't know much about my swap pal, but I hope she'll like this.

The yarn is Portuguese, from a private swap with Lucia :-)
I think there ALWAYS has to be a small soft toy in a sock ;-)

Knittig lace

I WAS planning on knitting one lace bookmark a day - at least - and this is my Lacevember catch... well... better than Socktober :->

The turquoise thingy is horrible. I made it just to practice lace knitting. The needles I have are too thick, I don't have 0, 00, 000 or 0000 - I'd like to, but lace knitting isn't popular in Scandinavia, so they don't offer needles in those sizes. Perhaps a swap pal will have mercy on me, and send me a pair of thin lace knitting needles ;-)

Knit lace bookmarks:
"Mary original pattern"
Ava Coleman's pattern
Sivia Harding's bookmarks:
diamond lace
Waves from the top
Parisian Arches
Knitting Fairy's 4 lace bookmarks
Sarah's Knitting.com's bookmarks
Links of Lace bookmark
Lace heart bookmark
Granny Garret's bookmarks Ida and Leandra
Free Pattern's "Elegant bookmark"
Eyelet charm bookmark
Tia Judy's bookmark Seashell (This is the turquoise monstruosity), Scalloped Edge and Stringed Heart
Lot's of lacy bookmarks
Yarn Over's bookmarks; Pinetrees and Tammy's

Peacocks...

This is the first sketch to my peacock crazy quilt. It's heavily inspired by Linda B. at Flickr... I think she has had some help from her friends, and wish I had friends like that :-D

Anyways, I'm going to go through the 100 details for 100 days, and use a lot of paisley and feathers. And peacocks ;-)
I'm also going to use a lot of maroon and dark, spicy burgundy flowers, because I love the dark, spicy burgundy maroon, and I think it goes lovely with these peacock colors.

And then some rosepink tiny roses :-) Those are so cute and will balance well all the darkness of the quilt.

There's going to be quite a lot of black lace as well and copper...

I really don't know what to do with this, but hey, a girl has to have at least one crazy quilt!

Dear Jane...

This is the Dear Jane quilt. Now I know what it is... and now I just have to do it. Join the Janiacs ;-)

It looks very nice in these old-fashioned, brownish colors, but it looks nice in other color combinations as well.

This is "Edith"s version. I was thinking of peacock colors... a little darker perhaps... no fiery or pale patches... hmm...

One could also try to make something interesting with it... This one would be perfect for Patriotic theme :-) Blue and white, like the Finnish flag, and with a twist :-)



The only problem is - of course - that I don't have time. :-(

Quilting meme

From Suze's blog,
who got it from Shelina's blog

Have You Ever?

1 Taken a quilting class
2 Paper pieced
3 Hand quilted
4 Hand pieced
5 Created your own pattern
6 Published a pattern in a magazine or book
7 Gone on a quilting retreat
8 Gone to a quilting convention
9 Met someone who wrote a quilting book
10 Combined your quilting with some other craft
11 Done any three dimensional quilting - like fabric origami
12 Made something using Thimbleberries fabric
13 Made something using batiks
14 Dyed your own fabric
15 Made a landscape hanging
16 Made a New York Beauty quilt
17 Made a baby quilt
18 Made a wall hanging
19 Made a journal quilt
20 Submitted your journal quilt for viewing
21 Made a fabric postcard
22 Made a artist trading card (ATC)
23 Exchanged artist trading cards
24 Mailed your own postcard
25 Made a lap quilt
26 Made a twin size quilt
27 Made a full size quilt
28 Made a queen size quilt
29 Made a king size quilt
30 Donated a quilt to charity
31 Sent a quilt out to a quilter
32 Thrown away a UFO
33 Given away a UFO
34 Cut up a UFO and made something else with it
35 Ripped fabric instead of cutting it
36 Made a quilt exactly like the pattern, with no changes whatsoever
37 Done any Sashiko
38 Quilted your own quilt
39 Did free motion quilting
40 Put any embroidery or beads on your quilt
41 Given away your quilt to a stranger
42 Swapped fabric
43 swapped blocks
44 participated in a round robin
45 participated in an ostrich round robin
46 kept a journal about your quilting
47 written a letter to someone who made an antique quilt
48 kept a blog about your quilting
49 participated in a gift exchange
50 sent a quilting random act of kindness
51 joined a newsgroup about quilting
52 made a quilt using a pattern from quilterscache
53 joined an online block of the month
54 made a block of the month quilt
55 subscribed to a fabric of the month club
56 bought fabric at an online store
57 bought fabric from ebay
58 own more than one sewing machine
59 have a room dedicated solely to sewing
60 hide a fabric purchase
61 finished making a holiday gift before July
62 spent more than $200 in one quilt shopping trip
63 made a quilt using a book from the library
64 worked with someone else to make a quilt
65. joined a quilt guild
66 become president of a quilt guild
67 taught a quilting class
68 helped someone else get the quilting bug
69 taught a child to sew
70 made a Dear Jane block
71 Made a miniature quilt
72 watch QNN - quilters news network
73 subscribe to a quilting magazine from your own country
74 subscribe to a quilting magazine from another country
75 buy fabric from another country
76 swapped completed quilts with someone else
77 asked for quilting help online
78 gone to a quilt shop to ask for quilting help
79 bought fabric at a local quilt shop
80 traveled more than 100 miles to go to a quilt shop
81 used nontraditional fabric for a quilt - something other than cotton or flannel
82 made a quilt using instructions given to you on a blog
83 make comments on someone's quilting blog
84 meet a quilter in person after only having talked online
85 had a quilting retreat in your home
86 own quilting software
87 made a quilt you designed on your quilting software
88 done any quilt research - history, interviewing quilters, etc.
89 had any quilt related subject published anywhere
90 donated a quilt to a museum
91 bought a quilt from a thrift store
92 made a quilt using fabric from a thrift store
93 made a quilt using photos
94 made a pastel quilt
95 made a quilt using brights
96 made a quilt using ethnic fabric from another country - African, Asian, etc.
97 made a quilt using leftover blocks from other quilts
98 had your quilt in a magazine, newspaper, newsletter, TV, etc.
99. submitted your quilt to a quilt show 100. won any ribbons with your quilts
101 had more finished quilts than UFOs
102 made a quilt using reproduction fabrics
103 took a break from quilting that was longer than a year
104 made money with your quilting
105 had a job in the fabric / quilting industry

But this list isn't quite fitted to the Scandinavian circumstances...

Crazy Quilting

Image: Mardi Gras by Vickie Tobin

I stumbled over the CrazyQuilting group at Flickr, and there "100 details in 100 days" blog diary...

I love crazyquilting. I adore it. I'm passionate about it. I'm obsessed with it. And now my mind is exploding...

I haven't actually ever thought of using lace or ribbons in crazyquilt... NOW I'm thinking of knitting, crocheting, colors, dyeing, pearls, applications...

I really wish my hands could make real the images that are rushing through my head right now...

Look at Lilla Le Vine's creations to get an idea ;-)

Contemporary Crazy Quilts & Bags
Crazy Seoul Sister
Kitty and Me Designs
Debra's Design Studio: Crazy Quilt; 100 details in 100 days
Hobbies and the Military
Hideko Ishida and Wind from the East
Marty's 100 details... This is the first entry, just continue forward to see the rest :-)
Iris Cabin
Creative Ribbons

Stitch Index at Embroiderers' Guild

Crazy Quilt Patchwork Block - Online Class

Links

More lace...

Image information: Nancie M. Wiseman's knitted lace edging. Photograph by Joe Coca.

Sarah Bradberry, another Aries, a year younger than I am ;-), has some pretty nice patterns on her website.

Here's some lace.
http://www.knitting-and.com/knitting/patterns-counterpanes.htm

Like this one: http://www.knitting-and.com/homework/leaf-bedspread.htm
Simple, but beautiful.
Or this one: http://www.knitting-and.com/homework/23-quilt.htm

Doilies, tablecloths and other round laces
http://www.knitting-and.com/knitting/patterns-doilies.htm

Lace edgings and insertions
http://www.knitting-and.com/knitting/patterns-lace.htm

Tia Judy's absolutely lovely site about lace knitting

You know... I posted something in Lacevember's blog, and it was deleted. I suppose my mistake was to name it wrong... I don't know. I was never contacted, the entry was just deleted. I posted a link to a nice lace pattern, or lace pattern links - I don't remember anymore... it's deleted, all gone, so I can't even go back and see... I feel like something has been stolen from me, because I can't remember what it was. I think it was something worth having, because I don't post things if I don't think they are of value at least to someone...
I really wish I was told before someone deleted the message. Or that someone had sent the entry back to my mailbox. I feel ignored, offended, hurt, upset and disillusioned, and I think who ever deleted the entry is an inconsiderate ***.

I'm pretty sure it was Yarn Over.

But go to Lace Knitting Ring and go through the sites. Very interesting, inspiring and most of them also have free patterns ;-)

Lacevember and Sock Madness

Lacevember: 2nd contest - which I missed

THE KNITTING QUESTIONS, or THE USUAL SUSPECTS
How long have you been knitting?
I learned to knit when I was about 10, but I have been "seriously" knitting since May this year.

How did you learn to knit?
In school. Sort of.

Favorite thing about knitting?
It's meditative, repetitive, and functional. Creating, stress reducing, and just as demanding or easy as I want.

How long have you been knitting lace?
Don't know... since June, maybe?

THE YARN QUESTIONS, or FLASH YOUR STASH
Favorite lace yarn?
N/A

Variegated or solids for shawls?
Yes

Favorite lace color?
Cream, but I get always attracted to purply-blue laces... and I hate purply-blue.

TECHNIQUE, or SHOW US YOUR SKILLZ
Circs or straights?
Yes

Favorite lace knitting trick?
Huh?

Lifelines?
No.

If so with what?

Fancy blocking wires, or just sewing pins stuck in your carpet?
Sewing pins stuck in my bed


Pattern, or can you follow directions?
Yes

Shawls or lacey items?
Yes

Triangle, rectangle, or circular shawls?
Yes

Charts or printed instructions?
Charts, but printed are ok.

Favorite lace you've knit?
Cascading leaves afghan LOL Very easy, quick and lovely :-)

Favorite lace you want to knit?
Peacock feathers

JUST FUN, YUP THAT'S RIGHT, JUST FOR FUN
Favorite jelly belly flavor?
I like most of them. I like the "recipes" :-D

Tell me everything you know about Eric the Red.....
Leif Eriksson's daddy, who "found" Greenland because he was kicked out of Norway because he had some weird habits. It's more like a Sicilian vendetta story a là "your daddy's second cousin's neighbor killed my nephew's wife's namesake's pig".

Coke, classic or with lime?
Pepsi

Holiday carols, sing along, or wish they would be banned from all public airwaves?
Sing along. Of course. Even though I'm Pagan.

What is the definition of irony?
Savonian way of communicating. Speaking backwards, as a five-year's-old I know says.

How many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie roll pop?
What is a tootsie roll pop?

Why is my cat always puking in front of my son's bedroom door?
Because she can't get in to puke on his pillow.

What is your superhero power?
Flying. And what Phoenix in x-men does.

If the laundry is 9 foot by 11 foot (just dreaming, that's a big laundry room), and the walls are 8 feet tall, and you are going to tile the entire room in tiles that are 3 inches by 5 inches, what color should those tiles be?
White and blue. That's fresh.

What's for dinner tonight?
Chili.

What is clogging my children's bathtub drain?
Hair and the miniature submarine.

Lacevember: 3rd contest

What are your ideal lace making conditions?
Sitting in bed, with a cup of hot tea, good radio channel on and dog sleeping by me. And a helpful husband feeling good enough to serve me what ever I happen to need/want ;-)


Now, go and get interested of Sock madness

Crochet

I found out to my great enthusiasm that there's a lot of different crochet techniques I have never even heard of. :-D At Annie's Attic there's a crochet poll: "Of the crochet techniques you have already mastered, which is your favorite?" The alternatives given are these:

Aran Crochet
Broomstick Lace
Celtic Crochet
Crochenit
Crochet ‘N’ Weave
Crochet on the Double
Cro-Tat
Easy Tunisian
Filet Crochet
Hairpin Lace
Irish Crochet
Join-As-You-Go
Magic Square
Tunisian

Now, I know what broomstick lace, hairpin lace, filet crochet, Irish crochet and Tunisian or Afghan crochet is, and I suppose "join as you go" crochet is what the name says... but what is "crochet 'n' weave"?

So I started finding out what is Aran crochet. Sounds pretty straight forward, a crochet version of Aran knitting, and that is what it also is.
But I found this list: "Crochet with Dee; Types and Techniques"

106 different types and techniques THIS FAR...

Oh my... Can you see my eyes are shining? So much to learn!!!

I bumbed into a term "camel crochet". Sounds interesting... what's that then?
Obviously someone has trademarked a stitch or technique... I'm 100% sure of that they haven't invented the stitch, as people have been crocheting for hundreds of years, and they pretty much have experimented with everything already - they had a lot of time during the Victorian times, and women were exactly as industrious, initiative, creative and imaginative as they are today. Also, at that time they weren't "allowed" to do much more than pour all that power into fiber crafts. So - I'm going to ignore "camel stitch" or "camel crochet" from now on.

Annie's Attic's free pattern for today was Celtic crochet bookmark. Very pretty thing. And I love the idea of crocheting the Celtic knotwork :-) I love Celtic knotwork :-)
Here's Yarn Crazy Girl's first attempt at this technique :-)

Then there's "easy" tunisian crochet, which seems to be tunisian crochet with really big needle. Now it seems to be a business idea of Christmas family, and that I can respect and support, because they aren't being secretive and stingy about it. Who ever could have come up with the same idea - no-one else did. So all honor to Carolyn Christmas :-)
Reminds me of Purl's "Knit & Plenty". Simple business idea but no-one else did it before she did. So go there and support her business. She's worth it.
(Edited 2010 - both companies seem to have been shut down, for some reason. I don't know what has happened. But google with "knit & plenty" and you'll probably find what I'm talking about. I suppose Ravelry made her business unnecessary, even though I think she had a very good idea and people were loving it.)

Crochenit seems to be sort of Tunisian crochet, but it's done with double-hooked needle, and that gives it a whole new dimension. Also, it uses freely all kinds of stitches to create different patterns and fabriques. It's basically the same as "Cro-on-the-Double".

Annie's Attic has very nice instructions and how-to's by which to learn and practice most of the different crochet techniques.

Crochet-n-weave is also not strange - you create a net and then you insert crocheted "weave". I saw a very pretty bathroom mat made with this method. I'm a weaver and know a lot of different... er... I don't know what they are called. Bindings, perhaps. This reminds me a little of the paper strip weaving I loved when I was a kid.

Then there's another "let's blend two different fiber craft techniques" crochet called cro-tat ro crochet tatting. Making tatting patterns with crochet hook and techniques.

Magic Squares: Basically, double potholder, like this one: 4th of July Potholder (Just change the blue to green, and voilà, you have a pretty Christmas Potholder...)

Yeah... People keep renaming old things, and disappointing me. 106? Nah... not even half of that. But - well... one shouldn't be expecting too much. I did find out about techniques I didn't know about. I haven't done Celtic crochet before, and it will be fun to learn. Also interlacing filet crochet sounds great. Every new thing to learn is a gift and precious, and should be appreciated. But it's like hearing that I won in a lottery to find out that I won 10 dollars. *sigh*

Never mind... I'll get over it ;-)

Mystery stitch

The Italian "two-colored honeycomb", which I thought might not even be named "honeycomb" in English, IS named "honeycomb" in English... It's "honeycomb brioche". The very same stitch the "Uniscarfity" was stitched with... Guess who feels pretty stupid right now. And p'd off. And a couple of other things. The Italian version is SO MUCH EASIER way to do it. No slip stitches and weird instructions - which I suspect are not quite correct either, as I couldn't get it right even after several tries.

The Italian pattern goes a bit like this:

Cast on even amount of stitches
row 1: knit with color 1
row 2: knit with color 1
row 3: change color *knit the stitch from the previous row, knit one*
When you knit the stitch from the previous row, you automatically get "yarn over" in the right place.
row4: knit with color 2
row 5: change color *knit one, knit the stitch from the previous row*
row 6: knit with color 1
Then you just repeat rows 3-6 as long as you want.

Here's another pattern of honeycomb brioche - with "correct" knitting language. It looks the same to me.

abbreviations... K 1 B= k into stitch below next stitch to be knitted.

Cast on multiple of 2 stitches
Row 1: K
Row 2: k
Row 3: (right side of work): * k1, k1B to end
Row 4: * with the right-hand needle k the slip thread of previous row with the stitch above it, k1*
Row 5: k1B, k1*
Row 6: * k1, k the next stitch with thread as row 4.
Repeat rows 3 to 6 inclusive

This stitch pattern is from "Dancin' Needles"

Here's the Uniscarfity honeycomb brioche - with the moss stitch edging removed

Set-up row 1 (WS): (k1, yo, sl 1)
Set-up row 2 (RS): (sl the yo from prev row, k2) , sl the yo from prev row, k1
Row 3: (yo, sl 1, k2tog [the yo from prev row and the next st])
Row 4: (k2, sl the yo from prev row)
Row 5: change to CC, (k2tog, yo, sl 1)
Row 6: change to CC, k1, (sl the yo from prev row, k2), sl the yo from prev row, k1,
Rep rows 3-6

It is unnecessary complicated, I think.



P.S. Here's all four :-)

New week in November

I have been knitting washcloths, dishcloths, facecloths, dishrags, what ever you wish to call them.
Rättejä, liinoja, pyyheitä ja lappuja. (Rags, cloths, towels and patches)

I had three themes. One was "fall leaves" , the other "black cats" (you'd see the black crocheted cat, amineko, which I also made, but I have put my camera somewhere and cannot locate it now...) and the third theme was "black and orange".

I made one black and orange with 3-in-1 slip stitch pattern from Monthly Dishcloths, one mitered discloth and am currently knitting one with Corn on the Cob stitch. (You have color 1 in rows 2 and 5, and color 2 in rows 2 and 4, to get it striped as in the picture)
It gives a very nice, dense fabric, with some texture on the surface, so I think it will be a perfect dishcloth.

Then I'm going to do one with an Italian pattern; "Nido d'Api Bicolori". That's two-colored honeycomb stitch.
It sounds a bit like this "Heatherbee's Honeycomb Stitch", but is not the same. I suppose it's not called "honeycomb stitch" in English. Perhaps linen stitch?Anyway, that's what I'll try.

And this is the fifth two-colored stitch I'm going to try :-)
I should find one more, but... *sigh* I'll tell you when I do. Perhaps I'll just knit a pumpkin ;-)

BTW, that "Cascading Leaves" is lace ;-)

Lacevember

I love lace. Especially big, airy shawls. Like those by Dorothy Siemens... *sigh* (The picture is Peacock Feathers by Dorothy)

To that category belongs Heere be Dragone by Sharon Winsauer from Aurora Alpacas

Fibertrends have also very pretty things, like Pacific North West

I also love White Lies' lovely, feminine designs.

The "problem" for me with all this is that I don't have any chances of getting these patterns. I live in Sweden and even though these are available on the internet, very few companies accept non-credit card buyers - even if one would use paypal or something like that, the credit card information is used as validation. :->

So... I have to either design my own lace or use the free patterns on-line.
Faery Crafty's lace links
About.com's lace links
Wendyknits' lace patterns
Knitpicks have a couple free and interesting lace patterns
Anne has a lot of interesting celtic knots made into lace charts
Judy Gibson has some lace
Lynda has two very beautiful, large, airy lace shawls :-)
Here's some vintage patterns, with some lace included
Magknits have three easy lace shawl patterns
Knitty has a couple of lace patterns. like branching out and lacecap
Knitting Pattern Central has lace and lacy items, lace, miscellaneous and lace; women's clothing

Training Wheels by Jane Bynum
and Rabbit Tracks by Alison Hyde


But begin with "See Eunny Knit; Majoring in Lace"
Spindlitis has also an interesting page about lace knitting.
Here's Marilyn Robert's tips for lace knitters
Margaret Stove's Lace Knitting FAQ

To get some inspiration, surf this "Lace Knitting Ring" and look at the pictures at Flickr Lace Knitting group :-)

Interweave Knits: Blocking Lace (pdf)
Choosing fine yarns for lace knitting

Here's more interesting things :-)
Print O' The Wave Stole
Something that looks very much like the above stole - dyed after knitting...

And "hello, yarn"s "figuring out how to make skull lace"
Skull and crossbones lace

Ok... and what am I trying to say with all this? That I don't have a clue of what I'm going to knit this Lacevember! ;-)

Knit lace leaf ornament
Knit lace balls - very interesting trying to figure out what this is when the pictures aren't there... ;-)

November 1st - Lacevember 1st

I'll start with a knit-a-long - for warm hands.
http://www.sandysknitting.com/warmhands/

It looks like a lovely, warm and welcoming place, and it is inspiring too :-) There really aren't enough cloves, mittens, wrist warmers and other such things either in the world.
I'm sure if you don't have family enough, there's plenty of people with cold hands who'll be happy if you knit them some mittens.

These lovely, beautiful, amazing gloves are by Carol Wassell.
Yes, there's the pattern for these gloves. Go and knit them.
Yes, you can use the pattern for socks too. Or fingerless mitts, or scarf or sweater or what ever. Just credit Carol Wassell for it.

Mittens and gloves
http://www.knitlist.com/mittens.htm

Knitting pattern central – mittens and gloves
http://www.knittingpatterncentral.com/directory/mittens_gloves.php

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Coloriffic swap-o-rama will have "pale, buttery (banana) yellow, and rich, dark chocolate" :-). Banana chocolate! Yum!

Feline Flip-Flop will have dotted and spotted for November :-)

This beautiful spotted cat is Rocky from Heartfelt Bengals

Whiplash theme this month is Alt.Craft
Here's some inspiration ;-)

Tie One On has a lovely theme: "Apron and a recipe" :-) You take a picture of an apron - made, readymade, what ever, and attach your favorite holiday recipe to it, and send it to Amy, who will post both in December gallery :-D

The Pincushion Challenge is still working on the swap.

A Month of Softies' theme this month is "My Favorite Odd November Holiday Is...

Here is a list of "bizarre and unique" holidays celebrated in the month of November: http://www.holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/november.htm.

Run through the list, choose your favorite day and create a softie based on that holiday."

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Knit-A-Long hasn't yet decided the project for November/December, but the theme will be "Christmas"

Christmas patterns...

Stockings are kind of obvious... nothing wrong with obvious, but I'm in Sweden, and we don't use Christmas stockings.

Here's Father Christmas
http://www.interweave.com/needle/projects/Father_Christmas.asp
He's kind of scrawny and has really short arms, but I like him :-D

Here's kind of cute knitted angel :-)
http://www.knittingonthenet.com/patterns/holangel2.htm

About.com has Christmas knitting
http://knitting.about.com/library/blxmaspatindex.htm

Teeny tiny sweaters
http://mindofwinter.prettyposies.com/archives/000126.html#more

Tiny santa
http://www.frugalhaus.com/scripts/SantaToy.asp

tiny snowman
http://www.frugalhaus.com/scripts/bbsnow.asp

tiny mitten
http://www.frugalhaus.com/scripts/mitornament.asp

tiny sock
http://www.frugalhaus.com/scripts/ssock.asp

tiny trees
http://www.frugalhaus.com/scripts/treeorns.asp

tiny wreath
http://www.frugalhaus.com/scripts/wreath.asp

Another tiny wreath
http://www.maggiesrags.com/freewreath.htm

There's also a lot of different Christmas kitchen sets one could knit.
If one scrolls down on this "ultimate kitchen gift basket" crafting idea page, one gets to "Christmas"
http://www.geocities.com/ctpatterns/kitchenbasket.html

I like Melissa's dishcloths, especially the reindeer is great LOL
http://home.earthlink.net/~oscarsdotter/id2.html

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If you are interested in knitalongs, swaps or projects, Natalie's 2006 Knit-Alongs is a great place :-)

Swaps :-)

I noticed that I never blogged about the swaps! OUCH!

First I received the "Warm Hands, Warm Hearts" package. It was lovely! I love the Mrs. Beetons :-)
They are so... LOVELY!!!
The rest of the pretty, tiny package was very nice too :-)
My heart is warm, and so are my hands :-)

Thank you, Beverly :-)

The next one was a BIG package, filled with goodies... I have blogged about that in Knitters' Tea Swap...

Thank you Nathania!

BTW, I couldn't avoid noticing how beautiful these two women are :-) They both have open, friendly, light, soft and beautiful faces :-)
I feel very happy being in the receiving end :-)

More dishcloths

These are unknit, so I don't know what they will be. I haven't either doublechecked the transcription, so there can be errors.
I'd like to see what you create with these charts :-)


Shih Tzu

Line 30 corrected 13th November, thanks to the kind anonymous :-)

cast on 39 stitches

1. K
2. K
3. K
4. K
5. K
6. K
7. K3 P33 K3
8. K
9. K3 P33 K3
10. K19 P1 K19
11. K3 P15 K3 P15 K3
12. K16 P7 K16
13. K3 P11 K11 P11 K3
14. K13 P13 K13
15. K3 P9 K15 P9 K3
16. K11 P17 K11
17. K3 P7 K6 P1 K5 P1 K6 P7 K3
18. K10 P5 K2 P5 K2 P5 K10
19. K3 P6 K6 P3 K3 P3 K6 P6 K3
20. K8 P7 K3 P3 K3 P7 K8
21. K3 P5 K7 P3 K3 P3 K7 P5 K3
22. K7 P8 K4 P1 K4 P8 K7
23. K3 P4 K7 P5 K1 P5 K7 P4 K3
24. K7 P7 K5 P1 K5 P7 K7
25. K3 P4 K7 P5 K1 P5 K7 P4 K3
26. K7 P6 K6 P1 K6 P6 K7
27. K3 P4 K6 P6 K1 P6 K6 P4 K3
28. K7 P6 K6 P1 K6 P6 K7
29. K3 P4 K5 P1 K1 P4 K3 P4 K1 P1 K5 P4 K3
30. K6 P6 K2 P1 K3 P3 K3 P1 K2 P6 K6
31. K3 P3 K6 P2 K1 P3 K1 P1 K1 P3 K1 P2 K6 P3 K3
32. K6 P6 K3 P1 K2 P1 K1 P1 K2 P1 K3 P6 K6
33. K3 P2 K1 P1 K5 P3 K1 P7 K1 P3 K5 P1 K1 P2 K3
34. K5 P1 K1 P5 K4 P1 K5 P1 K4 P5 K1 P1 K5
35. K3 P2 K1 P1 K5 P5 K5 P5 K5 P1 K1 P2 K3
36. K5 P1 K1 P6 K4 P1 K1 P1 K1 P1 K4 P6 K1 P1 K5
37. K3 P2 K1 P1 K6 P5 K3 P5 K6 P1 K1 P2 K3
38. K5 P1 K2 P6 K4 P3 K4 P6 K2 P1 K5
39. K3 P2 K1 P2 K7 P9 K7 P2 K1 P2 K3
40. K5 P1 K3 P8 K5 P8 K3 P1 K5
41. K3 P2 K1 P3 K9 P3 K9 P3 K1 P2 K3
42. K5 P1 K4 P6 K7 P6 K4 P1 K5
43. K3 P3 K1 P3 K6 P7 K6 P3 K1 P3 K3
44. K6 P1 K4 P5 K7 P5 K4 P1 K6
45. K3 P3 K1 P4 K6 P5 K6 P4 K1 P3 K3
46. K7 P2 K3 P6 K3 P6 K3 P2 K7
47. K3 P5 K1 P3 K15 P3 K1 P5 K3
48. K9 P1 K3 P13 K3P1 K9
49. K3 P6 K1 P5 K2 P5 K2 P5 K1 P6 K3
50. K10 P6 K7 P6 K10
51. K3 P33 K3
52. K
53. K3 P33 K3
54. K
55. K
56. K
57. K
58. K
59. K

Bind off.


Chanukkiah - Menorah

1. K
2. K
3. K
4. K
5. K
6. K
7. K3 P33 K3
8. K
9. K3 P33 K3
10. K
11. K3 P33 K3
12. K17 P5 K17
13. K3 P10 K13 P10 K3
14. K14 P11 K14
15. K3 P12 K9 P12 K3
16. K16 P7 K16
17. K3 P14 K5 P14 K3
18. K17 P5 K17
19. K3 P15 K3 P15 K3
20. K18 P3 K18
21. K3 P12 K9 P12 K3
22. K13 P13 K13
23. K3 P8 K17 P8 K3
24. K10 P4 K1 P2 K1 P3 K1 P2 K1 P4 K10
25. K3 P6 K5 P1 K2 P1 K3 P1 K2 P1 K5 P6 K3
26. K8 P3 K1 P2 K1 P2 K1 P3 K1 P2 K1 P2 K1 P3 K8
27. K3 P5 K3 P1 K2 P1 K2 P1 K3 P1 K2 P1 K2 P1 K3 P5 K3
28. K7 P4 K1 P2 K1 P2 K1 P3 K1 P2 K1 P2 K1 P4 K7
29. K3 P4 K4 P1 K2 P1 K2 P1 K3 P1 K2 P1 K2 P1 K4 P4 K3
30. K6 P2 K1 P2 K1 P2 K1 P2 K1 P3 K1 P2 K1 P2 K1 P2 K1 P2 K6
31. K3 P3 K2 P1 K2 P1 K2 P1 K2 P1 K3 P1 K2 P1 K2 P1 K2 P1 K2 P3 K3
32. K6 P2 K1 P2 K1 P2 K1 P2 K1 P3 K1 P2 K1 P2 K1 P2 K1 P2 K6
33. K3 P3 K2 P1 K2 P1 K2 P1 K2 P1 K3 P1 K2 P1 K2 P1 K2 P1 K2 P3 K3
34. K6 P2 K1 P2 K1 P2 K1 P2 K1 P3 K1 P2 K1 P2 K1 P2 K1 P2 K6
35. K3 P3 K2 P1 K2 P1 K2 P1 K2 P1 K3 P1 K2 P1 K2 P1 K2 P1 K2 P3 K3
36. K7 P1 K2 P1 K2 P1 K2 P1 K2 P1 K2 P1 K2 P1 K2 P1 K2 P1 K7
37. K3 P4 K1 P2 K1 P2 K1 P2 K1 P2 K1 P2 K1 P2 K1 P2 K1 P2 K1 P4 K3
38. K7 P1 K2 P1 K2 P1 K2 P1 K2 P1 K2 P1 K2 P1 K2 P1 K2 P1 K7
39. K3 P4 K1 P2 K1 P2 K1 P2 K1 P2 K1 P2 K1 P2 K1 P2 K1 P2 K1 P4 K3
40. K7 P1 K2 P1 K2 P1 K2 P1 K2 P1 K2 P1 K2 P1 K2 P1 K2 P1 K7
41. K3 P4 K1 P2 K1 P2 K1 P2 K1 P2 K1 P2 K1 P2 K1 P2 K1 P2 K1 P4 K3
42. K7 P1 K2 P1 K2 P1 K2 P1 K2 P1 K2 P1 K2 P1 K2 P1 K2 P1 K7
43. K3 P16 K1 P16 K3
44. K7 P1 K2 P1 K2 P1 K2 P1 K5 P1 K2 P1 K2 P1 K2 P1 K7
45. K3 P4 K1 P2 K1 P2 K1 P2 K1 P2 K1 P2 K1 P2 K1 P2 K1 P2 K1 P4 K3
46. K19 P1 K19
47. K3 P33 K3
48. K
49. K3 P33 K3
50. K
51. K3 P33 K3
52. K
53. K3 P33 K3
54. K
55. K
56. K
57. K
58. K
59. K

Bind off.


Dreidel

Corrected on 10.11.2006
Thanks to Kathie Zobell, who noticed that line 26 was wrong!

cast on 39

1. K
2. K
3. K
4. K
5. K
6. K
7. K3 P33 K3
8. K19 P1 K19
9. K3 P14 K4 P15 K3
10. K17 P4 K1 P1 K16
11. K3 P12 K1 P1 K6 P13 K3
12. K15 P7 K2 P1 K14
13. K3 P10 K1 P3 K8 P11 K3
14. K13 P10 K3 P1 K12
15. K3 P8 K1 P4 K11 P9 K3
16. K11 P13 K4 P1 K10
17. K3 P6 K1 P5 K14 P7 K3
18. K9 P16 K4 P2 K8
19. K3 P4 K1 P2 K2 P2 K17 P5 K3
20. K8 P19 K4 P1 K7
21. K3 P4 K1 P6 K7 P5 K5 P5 K3
22. K8 P5 K6 P6 K1 P3 K2 P1 K7
23. K3 P4 K1 P1 K4 P1 K5 P7 K5 P5 K3
24. K8 P4 K8 P5 K1 P4 K1 P1 K7
25. K3 P4 K1 P1 K2 P3 K5 P2 K2 P1 K1 P2 K4 P5 K3
26. K8 P4 K2 P1 K1 P3 K1 P5 K3 P2 K1 P1 K7
27. K3 P4 K1 P1 K2 P3 K4 P2 K2 P2 K2 P1 K4 P5 K3
28. K8 P4 K1 P2 K2 P2 K2 P4 K3 P2 K1 P1 K7
29. K3 P4 K1 P1 K2 P3 K4 P1 K3 P1 K3 P1 K4 P5 K3
30. K8 P4 K2 P2 K1 P3 K1 P4 K3 P2 K1 P1 K7
31. K3 P4 K1 P1 K4 P1 K3 P3 K1 P3 K1 P2 K4 P5 K3
32. K8 P3 K3 P1 K3 P1 K3 P3 K1 P4 K1 P1 K7
33. K3 P4 K1 P3 K2 P1 K4 P2 K1 P3 K1 P3 K3 P5 K3
34. K8 P4 K2 P1 K2 P2 K2 P4 K6 P1 K7
35. K3 P5 K2 P4 K17 P5 K3
36. K8 P17 K2 P2 K10
37. K3 P9 K19 P5 K3
38. K17 P2 K3 P1 K16
39. K3 P13 K1 P3 K2 P14 K3
40. K17 P2 K3 P1 K16
41. K3 P13 K1 P3 K2 P14 K3
42. K17 P2 K3 P1 K16
43. K3 P13 K1 P3 K2 P14 K3
44. K17 P2 K3 P1 K16
45. K3 P13 K1 P3 K2 P14 K3
46. K17 P2 K3 P1 K16
47. K3 P13 K1 P3 K2 P14 K3
48. K17 P2 K3 P1 K16
49. K3 P13 K1 P3 K2 P14 K3
50. K17 P2 K3 P1 K16
51. K3 P13 K1 P3 K2 P14 K3
52. K17 P6 K16
53. K3 P33 K3
54. K
55. K
56. K
57. K
58. K
59. K

Bind off.

The corrected version

Note 24.11.2006
As Rachel points out, the letters are not quite correct. The Nun should be on the left side of Shin, not the right side...
Shin stands for "sham" - "there", in Israel the letter is Pe standing for "po" - "here".
It's actually better with "nun - gimel" because those letters stand for "great miracle - nes gadol", and that's what Chanukkah stands for too :-D

cast on 39

1. K
2. K
3. K
4. K
5. K
6. K
7. K3 P33 K3
8. K19 P1 K19
9. K3 P14 K4 P15 K3
10. K17 P4 K1 P1 K16
11. K3 P12 K1 P1 K6 P13 K3
12. K15 P7 K2 P1 K14
13. K3 P10 K1 P3 K8 P11 K3
14. K13 P10 K3 P1 K12
15. K3 P8 K1 P4 K11 P9 K3
16. K11 P13 K4 P1 K10
17. K3 P6 K1 P5 K14 P7 K3
18. K9 P16 K4 P2 K8
19. K3 P4 K1 P2 K2 P2 K17 P5 K3
20. K8 P19 K4 P1 K7
21. K3 P4 K1 P6 K17 P5 K3
22. K8 P17 K1 P3 K2 P1 K7
23. K3 P4 K1 P1 K4 P1 K5 P2 K2 P3 K5 P5 K3
24. K8 P5 K4 P1 K2 P5 K1 P4 K1 P1 K7
25. K3 P4 K1 P1 K2 P3 K6 P1 K1 P2 K7 P5 K3
26. K8 P8 K3 P6 K3 P2 K1 P1 K7
27. K3 P4 K1 P1 K2 P3 K6 P2 K9 P5 K3
28. K8 P9 K2 P6 K3 P2 K1 P1 K7
29. K3 P4 K1 P1 K2 P3 K6 P2 K9 P5 K3
30. K8 P9 K2 P6 K3 P2 K1 P1 K7
31. K3 P4 K1 P1 K4 P1 K6 P4 K7 P5 K3
32. K8 P7 K3 P7 K1 P4 K1 P1 K7
33. K3 P4 K1 P3 K2 P1 K9 P1 K7 P5 K3
34. K8 P9 K2 P6 K6 P1 K7
35. K3 P5 K2 P4 K17 P5 K3
36. K8 P17 K2 P2 K10
37. K3 P9 K19 P5 K3
38. K17 P2 K3 P1 K16
39. K3 P13 K1 P3 K2 P14 K3
40. K17 P2 K3 P1 K16
41. K3 P13 K1 P3 K2 P14 K3
42. K17 P2 K3 P1 K16
43. K3 P13 K1 P3 K2 P14 K3
44. K17 P2 K3 P1 K16
45. K3 P13 K1 P3 K2 P14 K3
46. K17 P2 K3 P1 K16
47. K3 P13 K1 P3 K2 P14 K3
48. K17 P2 K3 P1 K16
49. K3 P13 K1 P3 K2 P14 K3
50. K17 P2 K3 P1 K16
51. K3 P13 K1 P3 K2 P14 K3
52. K17 P6 K16
53. K3 P33 K3
54. K
55. K
56. K
57. K
58. K
59. K

Bind off.


Magen David - Star of David

1. K
2. K
3. K
4. K
5. K
6. K
7. K3 P33 K3
8. K
9. K3 P33 K3
10. K
11. K3 P33 K3
12. K
13. K3 P16 K1 P16 K3
14. K19 P1 K19
15. K3 P15 K3 P15 K3
16. K18 P3 K18
17. K3 P14 K5 P14 K3
18. K17 P2 K1 P2 K17
19. K3 P13 K2 P3 K2 P13 K3
20. K16 P2 K3 P2 K16
21. K3 P12 K3 P3 K3 P12 K3
22. K6 P27 K6
23. K3 P3 K27 P3 K3
24. K7 P2 K4 P2 K9 P2 K4 P2 K7
25. K3 P4 K3 P3 K2 P9 K2 P3 K3 P4 K3
26. K8 P2 K2 P2 K11 P2 K2 P2 K8
27. K3 P6 K1 P2 K2 P11 K2 P2 K1 P6 K3
28. K9 P4 K13 P4 K9
29. K3 P7 K3 P13 K3 P7 K3
30. K10 P2 K15 P2 K10
31. K3 P7 K3 P13 K3 P7 K3
32. K9 P4 K13 P4 K9
33. K3 P6 K1 P2 K2 P11 K2 P2 K1 P6 K3
34. K8 P2 K2 P2 K11 P2 K2 P2 K8
35. K3 P4 K3 P3 K2 P9 K2 P3 K3 P4 K3
36. K7 P2 K4 P2 K9 P2 K4 P2 K7
37. K3 P3 K27 P3 K3
38. K6 P27 K6
39. K3 P12 K3 P3 K3 P12 K3
40. K16 P2 K3 P2 K16
41. K3 P13 K2 P3 K2 P13 K3
42. K17 P2 K1 P2 K17
43. K3 P14 K5 P14 K3
44. K18 P3 K18
45. K3 P15 K3 P15 K3
46. K19 P1 K19
47. K3 P16 K1 P16 K3
48. K
49. K3 P33 K3
50. K
51. K3 P33 K3
52. K
53. K3 P33 K3
54. K
55. K
56. K
57. K
58. K
59. K

Bind off.

Ok... time to write something here...

Er... hmm... uh... What to write in a block?

It's the last of Socktober, and I managed to knit one pair of socks. One pair. Me - one (1) pair. I, who can knit a pair of socks in 12 hours. I'm a little disappointed, but... There will be more Socktobers :-)

Tomorrow will start Lacevember. Let's see if I can produce something then. Hopefully.

I have been thinking about wash- and dishcloths. I have drawn a couple of charts, and should knit them to see if they work and what they will look like.

I have been making my Samhain / Halloween swaps... Here's a "bat kids in bed". It looked so hilarious I just had to take a picture :-D The black thingy in the background is Nekoyama's Amineko cat being made. Legs, tail, ears, muzzle and face are missing, but he has already a silk ribbon LOL

I have also made a double-knit "mössa" (beanie) to my hubby.

Dishcloths...

It's easy to do, quick, nice size to learn a new technique, cheap, useful and most often even pretty. No wonder knitters and crocheters get crazy about dishcloths.

There's an ocean of free dishcloth patterns, several groups in all kinds of internet forums and dozens of blogs dedicated to the art and joy of knitting dishcloths. And I am grateful ;-)

Dishcloth Boutique
Knitting Knonsense
Dishcloth Pattern Corner
Dishcloth index
Knitlist gifts
Bev's Country Cottage
Calming Seas
Chained Links - kitchen stuff
Crochet Kim Tunisian Patterns
Crochet Pattern Central - dishcloths
Janelle S.'s Site
Knitting Pattern Central - dishcloths
LJC crochet designs - patterns
Marlo's Corner
Melissa's Knit Dishcloths
Purple Duckie
Rainy Kimbrough's dishcloth patterns
Vickie Designs-Intarsia Charts
Wool Works' facecloths and dishcloths
Danielle Cote's Knit Dishcloth Corner
Knitwits' heaven free knitting patterns
Critter's designs
Belle City Soapworks free patterns
Garterlac dishcloth
Mason-Dixon knitting
Mason Dixon washcloths PDF file
Knitty's washcloths

Dishcloth fun KAL blog
Dishcloth Knit-A-Long

Dishcloths galore blog
Marilyn's Knitting Heaven on Earth
The Dishcloth Queen - The Daily Dishcloth
Dish and washcloth mania

Handmade Dishcloths group at Flickr

Monthly Dishcloths group at Yahoo!
Monthly Dishcloths group at Flickr
Monthly Dishcloths blog

Love2knit Dishcloths at Yahoo!
Love2Knit_Dishcloths

Carol's dishcloths - knitted kitty dishcloths at Yahoo!
and knitted kitty blog

Susan's knit patterns Yahoo! group
and knit-a-little

Needlework

I love needlework. It's so easy and pretty :-) It speaks to the homewify girly romantic Victorian part of my soul :-)

Look at these things:
The Needles With Eyes

And minimysteries, embroidered by Karen Rachael Buttler... Exquisite!!!
Ellynderia's minimysteries
Solslett's minimysteries
Annette's minimysteries
Anna's mini mystery J

I love the Chatelaine designs... So inspiring, addictive and beautiful :-)

The thing is that I am embroidering an Imbolc throw or afghan of what to call it. But I keep pushing it out of my mind all the time, and making all kinds of other things before it. And this irritates me... the thing is worth getting done and I'd love to use it and be proud of my work, but... it's not "important". I think I need to make it important...
Ok, I'll do that the first thing next year, before I do anything else.

About Nan Halberg
Sounds like an interesting woman. :-)

BTW, I love temari balls...
Here's some more instructions ;-)
And here's a little more...
and then some ;-)
And just a little bit more :-D