Uli's Creative Corner

Here's what I got out of the library the other day:

Knit One, Kill Two

I wouldn't usually go to the "Mystery" section in the library but I came across it when I did a catalogue on-line search for knitting books at our library so I signed it out the other day.  It's a fun read.  I'm about halfway through and the murder mystery is spun (pun intended) around a group of knitters always coming together at their favourite yarn store.  There's talk of knitting, spinning, sheep, alpaccas etc.  It's an easy read.  No major brain muscles required.  Just right for nursing time. 

I also put the same author's (Maggie Sefton) next book "Needled to Death" on my request list as well, I will probably be first in line to sign out "A Deadly Yarn" due to come out this August.

And apparently, Debbie Maccomber will also write another book in her series of knitting related books due out next year.

I wanted to write about my own knitting but not a chance.  I haven't hardly touched the needles this weekend.

Wow........ I have multiple needles of almost all sizes.  I would say 4 mm needles are most popular around this house and I have varying lengths (and multiples of the same lengths).  All of a sudden, I have 2 projects tugging at my attention.  I'd like to start the Diamond Fantasy Shawl or Scarf (haven't decided which yarn to try it with first - I have enough of one kind of yarn for the scarf and enough of another yarn for the shawl).  The pattern calls for a 3.75 mm but with it being lace I might be able to get away with a 4 mm needle.  I also pulled out the pattern for the Heartstrings Eyelet Ribbed Top for which I bought yarn for last summer.  Again, suggested needles are 3.75 mm - I haven't swatched yet but I usually am dead on for gauge with most yarns at the suggested needle size -  not all the time but many times.  I only have one lonely 3.75 mm needle and I don't want to spend money on another needle right now.  So I'm waffling about which I should start.  Mind you, I'm still trying to finish up other stuff so I'm not totally in "start mood" anyways.  But I'm thinking and thinking often leads to casting on.

Not much is getting done around here these days.  I don't have any new pictures.  I don't have any exciting knitting to report on.  Maybe I'll get some stuff done today.  I do want to do a bit of sewing if I'm given the chance and I have a ton of ironing to do.

Yawn....... need to go and brew a cup of coffee.

Check out Julie's pincushion challenge.  It has inspired me to branch out a bit more into some of my other favourite crafts again. 

The challenge for the month of May is a fruit themed pin cushion.... the options are endless.  I'll be cross stitching this one as I recently came across a pin cushion in one of my cross stitch magazines that I wanted to make so this is the perfect opportunity.

Great fun!!!

In knitting news.......... not much has happened this weekend.  We were busy with company and other fun stuff including gardening yesterday.  All I really managed to get done is a square on the little mitered square cardigan for the little Miss.  That's not much.  JBird and I are having a nice quiet day today.  It's a great weather day so we'll be going for a long walk.  I also want to plant a couple more plants we bought yesterday and Erika's quilt is screaming (not just calling but screaming) my name.

Inspired by Kat, here is a list of 5 places where I've knit - certainly not all the places but these are the first five that came to mind:

1. In the hospital, in labour, waiting for my daughter to be born
2. In the special care nursery, in hospital, watching my little son sleep and waiting for him to wake up for his next feeding
3. On Long Beach in Tofino, BC, Canada (west coast of Vancouver Island)
4. At church choir practices
5. Of course, in the car when I'm a passenger and in movie theatres

In honour of Project Spectrum's April colours, I collected some of the things yellow and orange around our home and my knitting over this past Easter weekend.  Take a picture tour:

Girl in a comfy yellow sleeper hunting for Easter eggs

Same girl in yellow sitting with her Mommy and brother

Girl in orange shirt colouring Easter eggs

Same girl in orange shirt decorating big sugar cookies with yellow icing (and you must note the plant cover on the lovely Mum that my dear husband brought home for me for Easter - perfect oranges and yellows)

Big orange/yellow duck flower that husband got sucked into buying girl in yet another bright orange shirt

Beginnings of a little mitered squares cardigan for the girl that already seems to have lots of yellows and oranges in her wardrobe (and I always thought all she had was pink and purple) - I guess we're branching out.

Today I've been catching up and getting comfy and cozy again with Eris.  I'm working on the hem.  I have major startitis in my head but so far I'm managing to stay away from starting anything new.  Lots of things I'd like to start though.  I'm going to try and at least finish Eris before I put anything new on the needles.

If I get a chance tomorrow, I'm going to check out Big Girl Knits at the book store tomorrow.  I still have a little bit of money on a gift card......

This week will be a picture heavy week.... I've got lots of them.  But today I'm letting out some of my frustrations I knew I would be bound to experience as a mother of a very independent little girl.  You know that I love knitting for her.  She says she wants me to knit for her but I guess I put too much stock in the comments of a 4-year old.  As I was working on finishing Hearts and Lace, my little Miss was quite excited about it and at the prospect of wearing it, she also got quite excited.  When it came to wearing it, we had a bit more of a battle and I barely managed 3 pictures before it was ripped off again.  Now, Daddy ended up making her wear it at least on the way to Nana's house for Easter dinner but that defeats the purpose.  I know I shouldn't let myself be bothered by it but I had my feelings trampled on in a major big way.  So I'm really sitting here evaluating whether I should dive right into another project for her (well, I already have but after that......)?  It's really a waste if these lovely pieces just lie around in a drawer, isn't it?  And it will only get worse as she gets older.  She won't want Mommy's "dumb knitting".

But she looks happy in the pictures.......... take a look...... isn't it one cute little sweater?

Look at that lovely picot edging....

Details:

Pattern: Sandnes Garn Mandarin Petit 0405

Yarn: Sandnes Garn Mandarin Petit (4 balls)

Needles: 3 mm circular, 2.5 mm crochet hook

I'm glad another UFO bites the dust...... and another one is ready to bite the dust except for a little seaming.

And look at the little guy on his 3 month birthday wearing one of the cardigans I made for him some months back.

Hope you had a great weekend.  Weekend pictures in the spirit of Project Spectrum coming in the next post.

Have a wonderful Easter Weekend!!!!

Easter eggs and tales of easter bunnies (along with the stories of the real meaning of Easter) abound at our house.

Be back to real blogging soon with lots of updates!!!

Did you see the new Knitty?  There are some potential patterns in there...........  the ones that made it on my list are:

Reid: perfect for a cute little girl I know and I have a bunch of Patons Grace in shades of purple stashed away and was just wondering what I should/could make with it to use it up.  This will use at least half of the yarn I have stashed away and I think it will be cute.

Double Sccop - just too cute for a little guy I know.  The colours are cheery and bright.  Don't have any stash yarn for this so it will have to wait until next spring maybe.

Hedera - a definite possiblitiy for my solid coloured Lorna's in a very grape kind of a colourway waiting to be made into a pretty patterned pair of socks.

I also don't mind UnGranny Smith but I have absolutely nothing in the stash for that so it's a "keep in mind" for down the road one day.

Do you have any favourties?

My poor little eggs........ they are coming out beautifully and are evolving but they are cracking.... might have something to do with the fact that I've been named klutz of our household, especially after I sent a full can of pop flying off the counter yesterday and it went everywhere........... walls, pantry door, floor, etc.  Maybe my virtual eggs can sense that.  Doesn't bode well for our egg colouring day on Friday or Saturday!!!

Not much knitting going on here.  I haven't had the time.  But in a last ditched effort of the Lent-Along KAL, I have plans on finishing Hearts and Lace (only 4 more sleeve increases and I'm done the 2nd sleeve) and all I have to do is the finishing work on Jonathan's little Sirdar ribbed sweater.  Should be able to get these in under the wire.

I'm asking my readers' tips and suggestions with this post.

My MIL's birthday is coming up soon.  She's been asking me about knitting socks and how she'd like to learn.  She knows how to knit.  My own comfort level is with 5 DPNs, starting from the leg and having talked to her, she isn't too keen on figuring out 2 circulars or magic loop.  Because I don't know those other 2 methods well, I also wouldn't be able to give her the expert help that I can provide with the basic DPN pattern.  Now, of course, I don't even look at a pattern for my basic pair of socks but I need something to get her going.

So here's my birthday present idea: some pretty sock yarn, a new set of DPNs and a book that will help her get through her first sock and maybe some other variations of the basic sock.  Do you have any suggestions?  I'm maybe thinking about Cool Socks, Warm Feet by Lucy Neatby.  Or maybe there's one single great basic sock pattern out there, instead of a book, that you really like that will help her get started.

What do you think?  Any suggestions for any other books or links to your favourite basic patterns?  And, is it a nice gift for someone who has shown interest?