Courtney's Crafting

Knitter Scavenger Hunt Questionaire

2008-01-08T01:10:00.000-05:00

This is for the new Knitter Scavenger Hunt. It can be found at: http://knittersscavengerhunt.blogspot.com/.
Check it out if you so fancy!

1) Do you knit, crochet or both? How long have you been doing it? I can crochet, but I would rather knit. I have been knitting for five years.

2) What is on your needles/hook right now? Just about one of everything. Working on SpringShawlSurprise, SOtS, prepping for SOtSii, knitting on MysticWatersKAL, socks, socks, and more socks, shawl for exchange, random dishcloths...

3) What is the most frequently used tool in your knitting bag? Measuring tape (I can't keep them in there, though, due to my son's love of measuring things! LOL)

4) What are your 3 favorite yarns (fiber type or brand)? What are your 3 least favorite? I love alpaca, cottons, and superwash wools. I do not like fun fur or scratchy acrylics.

5) What is your favorite color? I love blues, purples, pinks and greens...

6) If you had a 5 minute shopping spree in your LYS, how would you plan your attack? Grab a basket and start throwing all the yarn I can grab in, starting with the Ultra Alpaca by the door and moving to the sock and handspun yarns! Oh, that would be so much fun!

7) What is your favorite FO and why? (post a pic if you have it!) Socks. I love to wear the socks I have knit!

8) What are your favorite things to knit/crochet? Socks. I get a lot of wear out of them in Maine and get a lot of compliments.

9) Do you collect anything? Yarn.

10) What are your five favorite things (not necessarily knitting related)? Alpaca yarn, bright and fun colors, shopping, Addi Turbo and Lace needles (a new love), Yahoo Groups...

11) Are you on Ravelry? What is your ID? Yes/Knitaddicted

12) Do you drink tea/coffee/cocoa? I love coffee and drink a lot of it. I favor Gevalia, Dunkin Donuts, and flavored coffees.

13) Favorite Sweets? I am loving Dove Dark Chocolate (but I don't like any other brand of Dark Chocolate), Milk Chocolate (especially with almonds)

14) Any allergies? No15) Do you have pets? kids? 2 Dogs, 3 Cats, 2 Kids (Boy 21 months, Girl 9 months)

The New Year, Ambition, and Secret of the Stole 2

2008-01-01T23:39:00.000-05:00

I know I have not posted much since creating this blog, partly because I doubt many even read it, but for the New Year my only two resolutions will be to blog/share more and to knit ALONG with everyone else in my KALs! I tend to be a little slow, but I'll work on it.

I am excited to start the Secret of the Stole 2 on Jan 18. (I am hoping to finish SOtS 1 by then!) I would like to post the link here, in case anyone is reading this....:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/secretofthestole-ii/

Hope to see you there!

Majestic Amulet Pouch

2007-11-15T17:17:00.000-05:00

I had to make an amulet pouch for an exchange and I could not find a pattern I liked, so I made my own. I used Joann Sensations Majesty yarn for this, but you could use a small amount of any yarn you would like.

Co 16 sts

Work 3 rows in garter stitch

Next row *K2 tog, yo, repeat from * to last st, Knit 1

Continue in garter stitch until piece measures about five inches (or larger if you would like your pouch larger)

Next row *K2 tog, yo, repeat from * to last st, Knit 1

Knit 3 rows in garter stitch

BO, leaving a long enough tail to sew the sides and make a long enough strap

Fold in half and sew the sides (I worked the yarn through the sts along the bottom of the pouch in order to avoid cutting the yarn to sew the other side).

Use the yarn tail to either crochet a chain for the strap or just attach to the other side of the pouch as I did.

Crochet a chain tie, or you can chain 71 and slip stich back along the chain to make it stronger) and weave the chain in through the eyelet rows to form a drawstring.

Please let me know if you have any questions, I hope you enjoy this pattern!

Keyhole Scarf-Free Pattern!

2007-11-15T16:51:00.000-05:00

I haven't been posting a lot lately, or at all, but I wanted to share a few free patterns. I designed this Keyhole Scarf today, and it came out great!

Yarn- Bulky Weight (or worsted if you add more stitches and rows) (I used Lion Brand Jiffy)

Needles- Size 11 Circular (or smaller for thinner yarn)

Gauge is not important as long as the scarf is as large/small as YOU want it.

CO 100 sts.

Row 1- Knit

Row 2- Knit into front and back of first stitch, knit to last stitch, knit into front and back

Row 3- Knit

Repeat row 2 and 3 until the scarf is approximately half as wide as you would like it to be

Next row- Knit into the front and back of the first stitch, Knit 20 (or more or less depending on where you want your "keyhole" to be) BO 10 sts, Knit to last stitch, knit into the front and back

Next row- Knit to keyhole, CO 10 Stitches, knit to end

Next row- K 2 tog, Knit to last stitch, K 2 tog

Next row- Knit

Repeat these two rows until 100 sts remain (or back to however many sts you cast on)

Bind off.

Hope you like it, please let me know if you have any questions!

Recieved Exchange from Debbie Wilson

2007-09-12T11:02:00.000-04:00

Here is a pic of my package I got Monday that I got from my exchange partner, Debbie W on TeaTimeKnitters. I got:
Mug that says: Believe..... in yourself, in others, in justice, truth, and peace
Mug warmer (didn't have one yet, but wanted one. I just hate having to keep re-heating my coffee when I get distracted with the kids)
Photo Frame
Teapot dishcloth in a lovely green
Glow line tape (just read about marking your place in patterns and charts with this stuff, can't wait to try it...)
Four peaches and cream patterns
Knitted sweatshirt pannel
2.75 mm circular knitting needle
2 hanks of a lovely sock yarn (I have already cast on for the Dublin Bay socks http://www.nwkniterati.com/movabletype/archives/MossyCottage/DublinBay4.pdf)
1 Ball of Peaches and Cream in Purple (I know, it looks blue in the picture)
A beautiful stationary set
1 voltive candle (can't smell cause we are all sick here, so I don't know what scent it is yet! LOL)
1 "Friend" teapot bookmark
1 box camomile tea (my fav.)
1 tin French Vanilla Coffee mix (mmmmm...)
1 Box Splenda Flavor Blends in Mocha (haven't gotten to try these yet, but can't wait!)

Thank you so much Debbie for the lovely package! I couldn't believe how much was in it, and literally SQUEALLED when I saw the sock yarn because we don't have any LYS's around here, and when I get to go to "the big city" I usually don't get to the LYS there because they are closed when I get there! I was going to have to order some cause I got bit by that SOCK BUG thats going around! LOL

I hope to get your package out tomorrow, btw, so I will send confirmation #s when I do. Thanks again!

Sunshine Bath Poof (Crocheted)

2007-09-06T21:51:00.000-04:00

This is what happens when you stay up until 2:30 in the morning crocheting. I have had this idea in my head for weeks (someone on a yahoo group I participate in asked for a pattern for a bath poof) and I sat down yesterday to design this:

Sunshine Bath Poof

With crochet hook (I used an "I") and crochet cotton (I used Peaches 'N' Cream in Daisy Ombre)

For the first portion, you will be working in the back loops to give you the front loops to work into later.

Ch4
Join with slip stitch in first ch to form a ring
8 sc in ring, do not join
Row 1: 2 sc in back loop of each st (16 sc)
Row 2: *2 sc in back loop of first st, 1 sc in back loop of second st* repeat from * to * to end (24 sc)
Row 3: 2 sc in back loop of each st (48 sc)

Do not fasten off

Next round: 2 dc in back loop of all sts around.

Next: sl st down to front loops, 2 dc in all front loops (you will work in a spiral to the center of the piece

When you get to the center:

Ch 3, turn

1 dc in same st, then 2 dc in each st to outside ring. When you are on the outside ring, randomly slip stitch to the opposite side in order for the ruffles to form a secure ball.

When you reach the last st, slip st at the base of the first row of dc's.

Do not fasten off.

For ring to hang poof:

Ch 30, Slip stitch to the base of the first dc row, ch1, turn and slip stitch in each of the 30 chains.

Fasten off and tie in ends.

Please email me at j_c_d_wright@yahoo.com if you have any problems or questions with this pattern.

Enjoy! Would make a great gift!

BTW: My "model" is my daughter Samantha (6 months). She is so beautiful, but I'm biased! LOL *I think this poof is hers, as she loves to play with it already!*

New Yahoo Group

2007-08-15T17:26:00.000-04:00

Hey all, just created a new yahoo group. Please come and visit (naturally you don't have to be from Maine, I just would like to have some people from Maine to organize a group to meet locally). Thanks for looking! Hope to see you there!
Courtney

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mainefiberarts/

Adding to my stash and WIP

2007-07-29T23:05:00.001-04:00

So, my husband and I went shopping today...the first stop was the Goodwill store to check for some work pants for my husband's cousin...and I found this...

The tag on the bag holding this was marked $4.99, but the cashier thought that was steep! She gave it to me for $1.99! Four skeins of Lion Brand homespun, three of Fun Fur (gave one away to my mother-in-law already, a ball of baby yarn, a ball of cream-colored worsted weight, and a skein of a black chenille with bits of other colors (it is missing its label)! I would say I got a deal!

Then we headed over to Jo-Ann fabrics (I needed two skeins of purple microspun) and found that they are renovating the place, and there was a rack of yarn on clearance when I walked in. I grabbed a bunch marked $.97, and when I got up to the register, I found out that all the clearance items were 50% off. I went back and got more! $.48 cents each! Here's what I got:

9 Skeins of Lion Brand Landscapes in Spring Desert

1 Skein of Moda Dea Ticker Tape in neutral colors

1 Skein of Lion Boucle in Espresso

1 Skein of Caron Simply Soft Boucle in Berry Blue

and 2 Skeins of Lion Brand Microspun in Purple

All for $12.96!!!!!!!!!!!!

My husband saw me coming out of the store with a big bag of yarn and started driving off without me! (He hates the stash!) He thought I had paid full price for it all, and we definately could not afford that! Now I have to figure out what I want to do with it all...

Now for my current wips!

Tank top in Purple microspun...

It needs some work, but I am working on the design, so its a bit slow-going right now.

Here is the top I am designing out of some varigated worsted weight that I got at AC Moore for $5.99 for a pound (I got five pounds, all different colors). It will either be a tube top, tank top, or sleeveless top, I don't know which way I am going yet....

Well, thats all for now...sorry for such a long post, but today was the day for yarn deals!

Courtney

Cables and Lace Kimono Wrap Cardigan Knit-A-Long

2007-07-24T15:37:00.000-04:00

So this is my first post because I can't find the cable for my camera in order to upload pictures of the tank that I started yesterday. When I find it, I will upload them...But anyway, I found this Knit-A-Long on the internet and joined it. I have been knitting for about six years now, but I have not done much with cables or lace, though I have learned how to...so I am jumping in head first since my therapist wants me to knit AT LEAST an hour a day without interruption (I'm not complaining!) because of the calming effect it gives me....I am just anticipating all that I can get done! Haven't really knit a lot since Devyn was born, and he's sixteen months now, with Samantha being four months now. I now get to knit with their father COMPLETELY responsible for them during that hour (or more). SO ANYWAY...I am posing it here....join it! Don't be afraid! Here is the link to find this KAL: http://knitsabeautifullife.com/kal/Have an awesome day! :D Courtney