Welcome New Jersey Library

Hope u enjoy poking around...wish I had time to keep this site up...but I am an obsessed Knitter...always several new great things to try to knit and now a Grandson to boot.
Good Luck with your digital camera class.
I am sure Gail will do an excellent job.

Today I played Nanny to Brendan. Brendan's Mommy likes to dance and I think it is rubbing off on Brendan. Ron recived this card for his birthday ...it plays The Chicken Dance Polka.

Aura at Meg Swansen's Knitting Camp 09

I have got to get in here and post

It has been so long, it's a disgrace.
I am knitting and loving every min...much has happen in my life this year...most good, some strange...but it's like a river...you just keep going with the flow.
I have made great friends on Ravelry...it really does seem like a family...it is just sad we cant all meet.
I am kski on Ravelry and you can find me in A Knitter's Choice forum...
Well i have knitting to do tonight but will be here soon with some exciting pictures and youtube video...
I have been a grandmother to the 4 legged type for years....this year...I became a Nanny to the most adorable little boy...what a joy he is and I have to say, his parents are doing a fantast job rasing him. I will have pictures. I had always promised my self I would not be one of those "grandmothers"...hummm not sure that is going to stick.

Spanish Peacock Shawl arrives home

Several hours of not breathing waitng for the UPS guy to deliver it...the Peacock finally got to Judy's It didn't arrive until after 5PM...it was a long day of waiting, I was so worried it had gone to UPS Hell.

Judy liked it...and I have to say...it looks good in her house. So Judy..HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

Spanish Peacock Spreads it's wings

The Spanish Peacock from A Gathering of Lace by Meg Swansen, was freeded from it's needles this week and at once spread it's glorious wings to show it's beauty. And what a beauty it is at 7 feet across. Here are some satistics on the edge alone: The edge is from Barbara Abbey’s Knitting Lace (Schoolhouse Press) pg 68 #73 Valenciennes. …I did chart this out…even color coded it to make it easier to follow…it is a 12 row, 26-28 STITCH repeat.
The last row of the shawl has 48 repeats…those repeats have 20 stitches…48X20=960 stitches…each of those stitches get a double pass from a row of the edging (there and back of lace edging) 960x2=1,920 rows….x an average of 27 stitches(an edge row) = 51,840 stitches…that was the edge only.

The Peacock will now fly to TN to a new home where it will be well cared and loved.

Spanish Peacock Shawl update

Oh...she comes in at 7 ft across

Today the Spanish Peacock freed her self from her needles...she spread her wings to show her true beauty...and what a beauty she is!

(the colors are more of a dark wine red instead of the light red u see...I hope to take much better pictures once she is placed on a light color back ground.)

Whew...this is a handful. The Peacock wasn't bad but the finding an edge has been a nightmare. I have been looking for just the right one. I have been looking for it in all my books and on the net...finally found one I liked. I down loaded it and worked for 5 days trying to get the thing to knit up...but I kept getting the wrong number of stitches. I counted and counted and ripped and redid the thing for 5 days...I wanted to sit in the corner and cry...finally I said it has to be the pattern not me...you can not knit 25 stitches if there is only 24 stitches on the needle. I finally found the designer...and sent her an email. She assured me it was correct...I assureed her it wasn't...finally she wrote back and said...geee there seems to be a mistake...THANK YOU!

She said she would correct it and get back to me...4 days later I was looking for another edge. I found it in one of my books that Judy sent me...so now it was time to make a chart that I could follow...of course being in a hurry I made so many mistakes...3 days later I finally had all the right number of stitches but no clue how to do a YO at the end of a row. Good ol Ravelry and the knitters there, got me through it and we got the thing to work. I knit and I knit and I seem to get nowhere. I am really having a problem focusing on this....I think because I had a feeling I didn't have enough yarn....I DON'T. However...Tami and Schoolhouse Press found more of the same lot...Thank you Tami...you have saved me.

So, now I finish the skein I have and wait for the new yarn to come...

So here it is...not done yet and the chart I did. As you can see my charts are pretty colorful...but they help me keep focused on where I am and I dont have to count how many K's I need to do between sections....

Up to the Arm PITS

Knitting in the round....the only way to go.

Ok...so u knit the body up to the arm pits...then you knit up the sleeve to the length you want up to the arm pits. now laying them together and with X numbered of stitches put on scrap yarn...for under the arm pit...you now attach the sleeves...knit accross the front...then across the left arm and around, then across the back...and over to the right sleeve...knit around that sleeve to the front...and you go round and round....

U got that Sandy???

SNOW

I know parts of the country have had their fill of snow...but being a Wisconsinite...I love snow. Living on the East coast...we didnt get any this year...but this morning ..there it was. And when I looked at it at 5AM falling so gently and glissening it gave me a feeling like I was going to see Bambi come out of the woods...

It's warming up now and I can see it melting...it will probably be gone by the weekend.

SOUTH MILWAUKEE DIVE TEAM 1969

My brother, Bob, second one from the right bottom row. He always said he was good at diving close to the board cuz he was so blind he couldn't see it so it didn't scared him to dive that close. I watched him...it scared the crap out of me to watch him!!

Polish Eagle for Knitting...Armenian Technique

(This chart is 8 spi x 6 spi, for a Jumper/DK weight yarn)

This chart is for Armenian knitting...a technique that uses 2 colors. Your main color is the background color and then the pattern is done in the carried color.
I added the crown in another color, because it is small enough that the crown and claws could be done in duplicate stitch.
If this chart is to be used as an afghan I would suggest you trap after 2 stitches...this will make the loops in back much smaller and I doubt you would have to then "cover" the back.
I suggest you use wool and you work in the round on circular needles. I beleive to steek you need to use wool and that is why I say this. If your blanket is to be 300 stitches wide...then knit 300 + 3....the 3 will be for steeking. Once cut you can then add an edge of choice.
My choice of colors would be Main color white and the Eagle done in red or black. The Chart is an outline so the Eagle will be white when done.
Now for the technique. I suggest you order the book from http://www.schoolhousepress.com/ The great thing is then Meg will sign it for you. OK, your in Poland and can't get the book...Schoolhouse Press does ship over seas.
You could also, go to Boarders for the afternoon and read the book and lean to do the trapping while there...but the book has some amazing patterns and constrution techniques well worth the price. You could try the local Library too...but since it is a new book...I wouldn't bet on it...u could ask them to order it or to interloan it.... The fastest is order from Schoolhouse Press...you would have it next week.
I will be posting a small video with the trapping technique in the future sometime...we are having capture card issues with my new computer...Well, it is capturing the video...just no sound!
If you click on the chart, a very large version for printing out will pop up.

Now with that said...Let's get Knittin

Somedays...Taking up Drinking might HELP

OMG...Murphy is here today....no matter what I try to do...it is a disaster.

Woke up, worked on my Armenian, Sailor, Flapper Sweater...say that 3 times! I had started this sweater last week and had gotten about 7inches done...in the round. Kept thinking it looked a little small. However, I knew it should fit...I had more stitches to the inch then I needed....WRONG. The more stitches per inch the smaller the gauge...if you don't knit...it's a long story...and those that knit are shaking their heads saying "What a dummy"!

Well, the sweater was too small...I wanted baggy and I was going to get normal. FROGED. Ripped out for the rest of the non knitters.

Ok, so I restarted it and caught up...but went too many rows...i should have started my pattern about 7 rows back...OH FuddleDud!

Ok...go redo the pattern...I have printed out so many versions because I keep missing little math/stitch calculations...I have to get this just right or my graphic on the sweater will be off. I think I have that now. Ignore any red or yellow lines...they are for my reference points. Well that is the sweater design. The sweater will have a ballet neck...lightly scooped...drop sleeves which will cuff so they will be "poofy" at the cuff. the top will also be banded and gather at the bottom, like the flapper blouses...

Well, Knitting wasn't going so good, so I decided to work on baby stuff. I am doing a blanket and I put one piece of the binding on and was going to put the second one on when I noticed that the colors didn't match...I checked...the color codes were the same, the name was the same...but the colors weren't...I am taking it all back to the store and having a hissy tomorrow!

Ok, cant work on baby things, will work on Sue's project...NOPE. Ron has built me a new computer up stairs for my sewing machine...I have one I can create embroidery on...My soft softwear needed to be reinstalled...so I started...but now it won't run... OMG...WHAT ELSE?

And I am driving poor Tami nuts at SHP, I want to do some baby knitting and I want the right yarn...so now I have her going crazy...I am going to have to invite her out for a drink, when I go to camp this year...That poor child had to start the week with me....sorry Tami.

Camp video from Wisconsin Public TV

http://www.wpt.org/npa/ram/inwisconsin/IW413_knitting.wvx

This link will open the video on your computer...I think you will need Windows Media Player for this to work.

This is linked to a video that Public Tv made of Meg Swansen's knitting camp...enjoy then go join up...lol

Rapid Death of Brain Cells

I was just wondering how many brain cells does one have to lose to make them think they can catch a falling egg with their hip...against the cabinet. A RAW EGG...OMG...I am going to need a full time nurse at this rate!!!

Spanish Peacock Progress

I mentioned I abandoned the trial Peacock since it was going so well and have now started the red one. I just started it and I am amazed how much easier it is to knit it up in wool rather than crochet thread...

Here she is in all her glory.

Armenian Knitting and out right babbling

Now this has got my attention...I love it. If you don't know about it...get the book from Schoolhouse Press and check it out. Using this technique opens all sorts of creative doors for knitters. The technique is so easy to learn...it also improved my 2 color knitting.
I used this technique in my knitted banner above. I have have so many ideas for designs...I will be knitting with this technique a lot this year.
On Ravelry we are doing the black and white flapper sweater of Elsa Schiaparelli, she designed this black and white sweater using this technique back in 1920...something (it is 6 AM I can't remember right now the correct date). I am doing my own version of this...and I will be doing mine in blue and white...
Back to the book...it will have you ooooing and ahhhhing. The colors and charts are amazing...some of the sweat constructions are over my head yet...but I will work on that esp since I want to do sevral of the designs in there. For now it is my flapper sweater...I should get my yarn next week. I am so glad I decided to do the Christmas stocking with Meg Swansen because I then had my swatch and am ready to go when the yarn gets here.
Well, those that know me, know I babbly...always have...so let me tell you what else I am knitting.
Before my "must use wool" days, I purchased some Red Heart for a bunch of vests I wanted to make. Then I found out you can't or shouldn't do steeks with arcylic....Since then I started to make the Rib Warmer...now this is not a pattern I was drawn to...matter of fact I doubted I would ever make one. When I went to camp and saw it on Meg, I thought hmmm looks really nice....this might be a possibility. So as the weather got cool and I wanted to try to knit with the unspun...the Rib Warmer became the best solution...quick and not much wool involved. Not only is the Rib Warmer a quick knit it has some cool techniques for shaping and you really get to practice your wrap and turn. Once blocked I wore it EVERYDAY...EVEN ON CHRISTMAS. Ok back to the Red Heart....so now I am knitting up all my Red Heart into Rib Warmers...
OK...break time and I need more espresso!

Time to Post...

INKY checking out the printer....his latest trick is to turn off the kitchen light when I am in there...he knows now when he does this to me I will chase him...wasn't very smart of me to start that...now it is a game.

I love my Rib Warmer...now everyone is getting one for Christmas next year...Tami wants a pink one with silver...OK TAMI...right...lol

I was having problems with my Sheepsdown getting all twisted after I balled it...so Meg said she knit it off the swift...so with my stepstool I now can knit in the den...however, this also intrigued the kitten.
Last year for the Sept Mini camp one of the assignments was a Meg's Spiral Neck Sweater...I made mine adult size however, I tried to fudge with the gauge and wound up with a rather large sweater. When I got home I frogged it...now I am redoing it with the correct gauge and I have added subtle corragated ribbing. I am using Regal, Grape... Plum for accent (www.schoolhousepress.com). I havent decided what I am going to try with the spiral neck...use the lt color for the sprial, or do purls or knit the spirals and do the light inside the spirals...so many choices.
As of tonight I have already inserted the short rows for the back and am just short of the arm pits.

Watch cap This week I worked on my Aran and it was going very good...until I found out the dye lot I have is gone and now I have to redo what I have done...I'm not too bothered by this...I took the yarn I had and knit up a watch cap for one of my sons...he wore it the next day...it was 8 degrees, so I know the hat came to good use. With the other skein I have, I will chart out some of my cables from my coat for a hat to go with my coat...even if the dye lot doesn't match no one will be able to tell. The watch cap is P1, k1b ribbing...I love that k1b...I have it all over my Aran coat.

The Birth of an Aran Coat

No turning back now..I have ordered the rest of the yarn I will need.
I charted this coat using Knit Visualizer...my chart is on this blog somewhere and if it isn't I will get it on here...but I have already changed it since last posted. Here are some of the pictures...the cable on the back I have ripped out and will redesign...just didnt like it the way I had charted it. The front at the moment looks like the back except the front has my 5 steek stitches where I will "GULP" CUT TO OPEN FOR THE COAT FRONT!

Up date on WIP"S

The trial run of the Spanish Peacock Shawl, below was going along so well I have abandoned it and started the Red one in Icelandic Lace Wt

These are just pictures of projects I am working on and how far they are as of today...the Revised Rib Warmer is farther along, I have now started the second half.
I am quite proud of the no hole wrap on the rib warmer....

Another Sweater to Drool over

My Charted version...I tried to keep it as original as possible...but I wonder if the design was charted to produce a drap or if the fabric produces the drap???
I charted for Jumper Weight...8wX11h spi. So the chart looks off, but should be ok once knitted up at that SPI. Of course if you are knitting for a larger size I think adding rows and column to teh various stripes, might be a good idea to give the design more weight in a larger area.

The Beginning of an Aran Coat...gulp

And this is it...my chart for my Aran Coat...102 stitches + 5 for steeks. The outlined cable is the sides and the one line down the back is the center.
I am using Sheepsdown from Schoolhouse Press www.schoolhousepress.com
My gauge is 2.5 SPI on a 10 Needle. The coat should be around a size 36-38. Meg did hers at 106 + 4 for steeks and when I tired it on...it was a little loose so I am hoping this will make it just a bit smaller.
I do have some changes I will be making to the pattern...u will have to keep tuning in to see what I do with it.

Another Quest...Schiaparelli's Bowknot Sweater Chart

Well, Ravelry Pals have me looking into yet another pattern. I am interested mostly because the pattern of interest is in The Armenian Knitting book by Schoolhouse Press. It is Schiaparelli's Bowknot sweater.

I played with charting it, didn't spend much time at it yet, but will look into doing a better job and finishing off the back and the sleeves. I think there is a KAL in the air...so many things to knit so little time.

My Next Lace Project... The Spanish Peacock Shawl

This is my next lace Project...it is the Spanish Peacock from Meg Swansen's A Gathering of Lace. I will be doing it in Icelandic lace weight...Dark Red! (This picture was copied out of A Gathering of Lace written by Meg Swansen. You may purchase this book at www.Schoolhousepress.com)

Elizabeth Zimmerman and Meg Swansen Pattern Locations

http://docs.google.com/View?docid=dd4kq44g_2q3qgpbgx
I hope to figure out how to load the Google document I have, to post all the locations for SHP patterns and their locations.
Well. I can't figure out how to get
the mountain (data base...)to come here so you will have to go to the mountain instead.

HOW FAST CAN U KNIT A CHRISTMAS STOCKING

Ok here it is in all it's glory. I have to close up the heel and toe and I am thnking of doing an I-cord around the top, between the white cuff and the red and white corragated ribbing above the ornaments. I wasn't able to do the instructions Meg gave due to the difference in size. I did the best I could with the gauge I was working with.

Sue will be coming to our house for Christmas, so decided to make her a Stocking...I designed it and started knitting yesterady Dec. 9th. I didn't swatch just guessed...I GUESSED WRONG. The sock is just a wee bit big...a cat could crawl in there...I was more concerened with getting patterns to fit in an area...I used 80 stitches. The top is done in double moss stitch and looks fluffly like fur and I did a Yo across the top and turned the hem so now it has those nice peaks. I will work the rest of the sock down and do it in red and green with a red and white striped heel and toe. The red and white above and below the name is done in 2 color corrigated ribbing...was a nice touch of texture...along with the top being done in double moss.
I think I want to play more with texture and color.

I also think I may have discovered a different way to do 3 needle bind off...so much easier, although I always loved 3 needle bind off...gives a nce finish and no sewing involved! A knitters delight. The name is done in Armenina knitting since there were such long carries. My color knittng is getting so much better...no more puckering.
The colors are more Victorian...dark forest geen, christmas red and then cream...wish I had a more darker red...

Christmas Stocking Design for Meg's KAL and WIP's

YOU CAN CLICK ON THE PICTURE AND IT WILL COME IN LARGE SO U CAN SEE THE DETAIL BETTER.

The charted trees, hearts, snow flakes and deer are from books,

the patterns are my design...made up to fit the area.

This is the chart I made for my Christmas stocking for the Knit A Long with Meg Swansen...I am very happy with it. The white line above my name is for an after thought pocket...gulp...never did one before.

Cropped sweater I made for my sister while we were in Brazil for 3 weeks in Jan of 2007. She has the same colors socks and I felted her some clogs. You ca't see it but this has a low scoop neck. The Socks...I bought this yarn summer of 2007 to make socks for Sue for her birthday in Nov...it is now Dec and I am knitting like crazy to get them done for her for Christmas...

HOPEFULLY THIS YEAR!

Didn't get much knitting done today...matter of fact didn't do any but I did work on my design for the Christmas stocking...I am quite happy with it...I'll be even happier if it knits out ok.
Here are SOME of my WIP's

and going to be WIP"S.

I also have the yarn for my Spanish Peacock shawl in RED. This is the shawl Meg Swansen made for her daughter for her wedding The Gathering of Lace...it is beautiful.
I have gotten the yarn for swatching my Aran coat and for my KNIT, PURL Armenian sweater...the one Joyce made in the book Armenian Knitting.

I AM USING THE SAME COLORS...Joyce used...

how could I not...

Blue is my birthstone color.

I tend to lean towards the saphires and reds.
http://www.schoolhousepress.com/
Oh yeah... I also have the yarn to start my revised...longer Rib warmer...in white. However, I think I am addicted to this pattern and with the new colors Schoolhouse Press has added...WELL NEED I SAY MORE!
My leggings are coming alone nicely...I love the yarn Saqulli or something like that..DK in dark blue...it is so soft. I will be making Ron a swearter in this...so nice and cuddly... Of course SHP yarn again.
Well, I spent all day yesterday on the computer so today I have to knit. I came on at about 6 AM and was on it when DH came home early at 3 PM...caught...dang!!! Can u say..
HOW FAST CAN U PICK UP THE HOUSE!!!

RAVELRY
Seems to have me hooked...if nothing else just looking at what others are doing.
OMG

OT this is so funny I had to add it.

Test post for my first video...Wrapping

So, this is my first attempt at showcasing my homemade knitting demos...I wanted to do a video of how you do a "wrap" in knitting for a fellow knitter.
This is my very first Web Cam video performance and I will need to tweak it for better quality, both in visibility and understanding. However, I wanted to see how it would show up on my Blog, but will work on doing much better quality demos after the holidays when more time will permit...as Christmas knitting "marathoning" is well underway right now. I hope to add videos on:
A) 2 circs with both 1 item (sock, sleeve) and 2 items (2socks, 2 sleeves) I also want to do the B) Magic Loop method and their cast-ons.
C) Crocheted Provisional Cast-On (I have fallen in love with this method and will show how I do it.)

Gee..I get to combine 3 of my loves: teaching, knitting and computers...how cool is that!!!

Kniting like crazy

Some of the projects I have started to work on....in my head...is the Shawl, Meg made her daughter for her wedding, the Spanish Peacock in The Gathering of Lace in the Gallery...However, mine will be in a deep red...icelandic lace
I also ordered the yarn to do a swatch for the Knit-Purl sweater in the new Armenian Knitting book by Meg and Joyce.
Me in THE ARAN COAT I have watched the DVD at least 5 times and last week I ordered some of the sheepsdown to do my swatch...I will work on finishing touches to the design of my pattern this week.

Me in the sweater that EZ made and showcased in Meg's book The Gathering of Lace! Ok, so I look a bit weird...my sweater is all bunched up under the sweater

Well, as usual I have decided at the last min. I do want to knit for some of my friends for Christmas presents. So this weekend I KNIT and then I KNIT SOME MORE!

A few months back I purchased some cotton Peaches and Cream and made a dish cloth...well I love it but it seemed small so I made another one but bigger...NOT better...I threw out the big one and made my self some more small ones. These little things are mighty big on cleaning up...bigger just gets in the way.

So, now everyone I know is getting a set of dish cloths and a bottle of matching dish soap...the color matches the dishcloth...can you say Anal!! I like things that match...there are days my underwear matches my blouse/Sweater!!!...I am color coordiated!! Ok maybe not color
coordinated just anal.

RAVELRY

Ok, finally got my invite...didn't think I would be impressed or care but figured I better go see what all the chatter was about....OMG...each time I go in there I find more things to do and get excited about...it is like going to KNITTING CAMP! And the great part is all the campers are there already. I am still setting up my pages...was excited that some people picked my ASJ and Aspen sweater as their favorites... I love the book part...putting in all my books and seeing them so neat on the shelves and the fact that all I had to do was type in a title and click on a picture and all the information is then loaded onto my page and I can download into a database and now I have a great database of all my books, which I can put on my PDA and keep with me...so I don't buy anymore seconds!

Speaking of databases I will post the database I did with all of EZ's and Meg's books with pattern locations. I am waiting for Michelle to check it out and make sure I have it all right.