OT: HAPPY HALLOWEEN to my Friends

Happy Halloween!!

You’ve been Mooned!!

Nanee - Nanee - Nanee!
(hehe)

We do not stop playing because we grow old;
we grow old because we stop playing.
Never Be The First To Get Old!!!!!

Update and Ravelry

The CB Sweater is almost done. I have just not felt like tucking in the tails yet.

I started keeping a travel project. I am working on a pair of toe-up socks.

I finally received my invite to Ravelry.com last night. I am signed in as DarkinnKnits.

I've been trying to practice with my drop spindle, just have been busy and have not worked on it a lot.

Spinning and CB

Last night I learned how to use a Drop Spindle. I will post pictures soon.

I received a homework assignment. I have a small bag of raw wool. When I say raw, it is shaved from the sheep, grass, straw and all. It have to be cleaned and washed before it gets to be prepped.

The CB sweater had problems. The sleeves were not turning out right. One was wider than the other, and they were both too wide. So they sleeves were frogged. Instead of picking up 126 stitches, I and only picking up 100. My Spinning teacher is a experienced knitter, and gave me a couple of suggestions. I get the best pictures outside, and it is dark out,

New Song

This is the way we tuck our tails,
tuck our tails,
tuck our tails.

This is the way we tuck our tails,
for each loose yarn!

Yes, I am getting around to tucking all the tails for my swatches and hat for Level 1.

Updates

The CB sweater now has neck and collar. I'm starting the left sleeve now. More pictures soon.

I visited my other LYS, Wooly Wonders. I now own a drop spindle and a bag of roving. What are these? These are the tools used by hand Spinners. Yes, I'm going to learn how to Spin too. I'm taking a private lesson later this month on hand Spinning. I'm looking forward to it.

CB Update

Here is some pictures of the CB Sweater (CB Vest).

The Neck/Collar and sleeves are next. All will be done with picked up stitches.

Yarn Update

Been a busy summer and I keep forgetting to post.

Yes it has been another Hot summer and I have not been knitting as much.

Knitting Masters. The 16th final sample is done, and the hat is now done. I still have to tuck tails and block. I plan to re-photograph all the samples, and the hat, using the original posts.

CB. It got frogged, and restarted, with more frogging. I'm thinking it is going to be tight, but maybe blocking will help. I'm almost to the arm holes, so it will go faster.

Started a small dragon for the release of Harry Potter and the Deadly Hallows. Lost a weekend while trying to read the book. Dragon did not turn out quite as expected, so he took a break.

Finally got to meet the East Side Knitters that are unable to make it to the West Side. Who? The Las Vegas Knitters. http://lasvegasknitters.blogspot.com/ We meet on each side of town once a week.

Added two new entries to Podcasts. Guido is a hoot. Has his blog says:

It’s a Purl, Man

A site about a guy in Boston with yarn issues

The "Good Grief" CB Vest

I had lots of progress a couple weeks ago on the CB vest. Then I realized a problem.

Great pattern that I made up, but there is very little stretch to the pattern, and the vest is too tight on the waist.

Frog! Frog! AAUGH!

TKGA Master Book

I finally have pictures so far.

Here is my notebook. The first pages are my assignments, questions and references, that I will remove before mailing.

These swatches are my practice swatches. The tails have not been hidden, and have not been blocked.

Swatch 01

This is a 2x2 (K2P2) rib,

increases on the last row of the ribs,

then 4 inches of garter stitch.

Swatch 02

This is a 1x1 (K1P1) rib,

increases on the last row of the ribs,

then 4 inches of stockinette stitch.

Swatch 03

This is a 4 inches of seed stitch.

Swatch 04

This is a 1 inch of stockinette stitch,

5 bar increases on each side, every other RS row,

1 inch of stockinette stitch

Swatch 05

This is a 1 inch of stockinette stitch,

5 M1 increases on each side, every other RS row,

1 inch of stockinette stitch

Swatch 07

This is a 1 inch of stockinette stitch,

5 SSK/K2Tog decreases on each side, every other RS row,

1 inch of stockinette stitch

Swatch 08

This is a 1 inch of stockinette stitch,

5 SKP/KSP decreases on each side, every other RS row,

1 inch of stockinette stitch

Swatch 09

This is a 1 inch of stockinette stitch,

5 K2Tog/SSK decreases on each side, every other RS row,

1 inch of stockinette stitch

Swatch 10

This is a 1 inch of stockinette stitch,

5 YO (Yarnover), every other RS row,

1 inch of stockinette stitch

Swatch 11

This is a 1 inch of stockinette stitch,

A pattern of YO (Yarnover), every RS row,

1 inch of stockinette stitch.

Update 2

Swatch 5 done, along with my first YO! Ok, ok! My first YO done properly, in the pattern.

Should have pictures up soon.

Update

Each item in the list with (Practice) has been knitted for practice. 5 and 6 are not OTN (On the Needle) yet. I want to understand the increases better before trying to knit.

CB has the pattern finished. Just knitting to the sleeves next.

General

Lots of progress on the CB vest.

Got the 3rd swatch done, then went back and checked my directions. Garter? Garter? !? I thought it said use stockinette stitch. Ripped back to the rib, and started knitting again.

Okay.... things to do with cat hair?

Update

I'm in Reno this weekend for a Conference and the Nevada State Education Association, Annual Delegate Assembly. Lots of sitting and listening time, so lots of Knitting Time!

I am already on my third Master Practice Swatch. I'm knitting my practice on Patton Acrylic. I skipped lunch today and went yarn shopping. My final swatches will be on Summer Sky Cascade 220. No camera this weekend, but I should get shots next week. Why a practice and a final? I did not have the right kind of wool that would be best for light color, and wool blocks better than acrylic. Besides, practice does make perfect.

If your ever in Reno, near the Peppermill Hotel, just 3 blocks or so North, in the NE corner, there is a CVS, just to the left is a mall with a Ben Franklin. This Ben Franklin is worth visiting. I'm guessing 8 to 10 aisles of yarn. Great selection of yarns from companies that usually deal with the knit shops only (Noro, Cascade, Berroco, and others) along with the standard Red Heart. I did see colors from Lion Heart, I have not seen in shopping in Michael's/Joann's/Walmart.

The baby hats are for a friend, whose daughter is having twins. Grandma promises pictures after the babies are born.

What is a CB Vest? Same vest, but I am using two colors. If your not sure who CB is, just wait.

TKGA

After a discussion in Knitting Novices on Yahoo Groups, we started talking about the Master Knitting program. After talking about it, I looked into it.

I am now a member of The Knitting Guild Association.





I am also one of the newest participants of the Master Hand Knitting, Level 1 course. This is not a course in teaching me how to knit, but to test my skills and knowledge. From my Instructions (Copyright tkga, 04/07)
This level of the Master Hand Knitting Program tests your abilities to:

• Research different techniques
• Accurately follow directions and patterns
• Knit garter, rib, stockinette, seed, and reverse stockinette stitch patterns with even tension
• Space increases evenly
• Mirror increases
• Mirror decreases
• Make yarnovers
• Knit simple cables
• Change colors
• Weave in yarn tails properly
• Write simple patterns
• Knit a simple hat in the round
• Properly block swatches
• Discuss blocking techniques and care of knitted items

... and this is just Level 1 of 3. I have had a few requests to post my progress, I will be including pictures of my progress.

Currently, while doing other things as well, starting to practice swatch #1.

If the program interests you, a couple things I have learned:

• Read the "On Your Way to the Masters, Article Archive". There are great articles to help understand the program and techniques.
• Use the TKGA Message board. There are useful conversations there.
  

Felted Squirrel

I love sitting and watch the squirrels raiding the bird feeder. Living in the city, we do not have any squirrels. After seeing Fiber Trends pattern I tried it.

Here are Pictures my second try. He is still waiting to visit the washing Machine. Yes, he is a felting project.

































Okay. My first one has already been though the wash, stuffed and had the final additions.

















The Yarn is cascade 220, and the tail includes a random Eyelash.

My Applogies

Sorry All for the lack of posts. It was a busy summer, and then the school year started. In November my Mom passed away unexpectingly. I have a couple projects to post, and should get more posted soon.

First Completed vest.

Here is my first vest. The pattern is Peter Easy by Berroco. There are some design problems with the pattern, so it is wider than it should be.

Decrease after ribbing?

Second Vest

This is the same pattern, different color and I reduced the starting number of stitches I cast on.

No, I am not using Berroco yarn.





I also modified the pattern in the ribbing for the neck and shoulders. Instead of the standard K2P2 all rows,

1 - K2P2
2- K2B, P2 (Knit in the back loop)

Remember when you were told to not twist your stitches?