Knitting – Page 56 – Elliebelly Knit & Dye Works

My Meathead

Posted on August 8, 2007 by Joyce Makes Art

This is my Meathead.

Actually, this is my 16 year old, wearing his brother’s Meathead hat. Meathead is a very cool pattern, written by Larissa. She graciously sent me the pattern, because son #2 who is prepared to leave home for the frosty Northeast in a few weeks really needed a hat, and of the thousands and thousands in Ravelry, this is the only one he would say he liked.

I’m really grateful to Larissa. Not only did she send me the pattern, it was a great pattern to knit. I sat down and cast on when the Daily Show rerun from last night came on at 7:00 tonight. And, I finished it right as tonight’s Colbert Report finished at 11. In between, Ollie and I watched Spiderman 2, and I’ve got this cool hat to show for it! The pattern is easy to follow and knits up without any trouble, unless you count the fact that Harry & Hermione pulled it off the needles while I was up getting bowls of blueberries for small children and I lost about eight rows.

So, this is one of the many joys of Ravelry. You’ve got some yarn. In this case, I had Rowan’s RYC Soft Tweed. I looked around to see what hats other people had made with it, and came upon this pattern. Two days later I had the pattern in hand and knit the hat. Who knew it could all be so simple? For those of you still waiting to get into Ravelry, it’s definitely worth the wait!

Now, I’m just hoping that Teddy will like the hat knit up as much as he liked the photo. And I’m really hoping it will help him take a long just a little bit of his Mama’s love and protection when he goes off to school.

Squirt Is The Only One Who Gets It

Posted on July 31, 2007 by Joyce Makes Art

I think Squirt is the only one who gets it. He really gets yarn. He is ever grateful for the small private stash I keep in our bedroom, where he can cuddle in it. I think he secretly yearns for the joys of the wood-lined closet in my studio, where yarn for sale is kept, and where cats are strictly forbidden to trespass.

Squirt also gets Ravelry. I’m having a lot of fun checking it out and he likes sitting on my lap and purring — batting at the occasional strand of alpaca — while I get familiar with everything.

I don’t think the rest of my family gets it. They don’t seem to understand getting up at 4 a.m. to sign in, coming home from work and going straight to the computer (forgetting to cook dinner), and endlessly photographing stash.

I feel sad for them. Squirt and I are having lots of fun, looking at patterns and checking out yarn. Ravelry is Nirvana. If you’re a knitter and you haven’t signed up yet, trust me. You should.

In the meantime, there isn’t a lot going on here, other than the fact that I finished my work in Kathy McElroy’s incredibly beautiful Pock-et-ful round robin book, but I was so obsessed with going back to Ravelry that I neglected to photograph it before I packaged it up, and I’m hoping I can prevail upon Karen O to take pictures when it arrives in Atlanta.

I promise to surface by the end of the week, after I’ve thoroughly indulged myself by spending my non-working hours um, you know where. Please do stop by and take a look when I stock new yarn, including silk, cashmere, Blue Faced Leicester, and Bamboo sock yarn at Elliebelly on Hyena Cart, Thursday, at noon central time. Here are a couple of the new colorways, "Tonks" and "Cleo," that are joining some old favorites like "Treasure" and "Plum Pudding." The previews are up so you can see it all now. Please drop by for a look!

The countdown is ….. ON!

Posted on July 28, 2007 by Joyce Makes Art

I’m almost into Ravelry. I’m so excited!

In case you haven’t heard about it, Ravelry is only the coolest site ever for knitters with communities, features, patterns, stash counters and more and more. My friends who are there already rave about it. If you haven’t signed up yet, you need to! And great news, there will only be 13,900 people ahead of you in line waiting to get in.

When I checked my place in line this morning (I love that you can check, almost as much as I love the address for checking in — www.ravelry.com/antsy) it said:

Found you!

You signed up on June 5, 2007
You are #7130 on the list.
180 people are ahead of you in line.
13899 people are behind you in line.
33% of the list has been invited so far

I have good information that they’re letting in 150 people a day! I had originally thought I would get in on Sunday, but now it looks more like Monday.

I can’t wait to get into ~~the promised land~~ Ravelry. I’m so excited about using the tools I hear it has for keeping track of needles and for matching patterns to stash yarn.

To keep myself from bubbling over, I started Lizard Ridge (see previous post). This is my first block, after finishing the first repeat.

I don’t think I quite have the hang of knitting the wrapped stitches, so I may have to rip this one, but i wanted to check out the pattern and get gauge, and this pattern is seriously FUN. I took sock pron’s

advice and decided to knit garter ridges instead of stockinette for more texture and to make finishing easier. I really like it, although I may try a panel in stockinette next and decide which I prefer before going on.

While I was in my LYS buying needles (because size 8 single points were apparently the ONLY size needle I don’t own and the one thing I really needed for this pattern) I stumbled upon this wonderful yarn from RYC. It’s called soft tweed and is 56% wool, 20% viscose, 14% polyamide, 10% silk. The label says it gives 12 stitches, 16
rows per 10cm (4inch) square on US 11needles. I’m planning on making a simple hat for boychild #2 to take off to school in Connecticut. If he doesn’t behave, it’s going to stay here and be mine (I have to say that, because he reads my blog). It’s very subtle and pretty.

I’ll pull out Ann Budd’s basics book and start this one up for some easy meeting knitting for the next few weeks.

Does anyone else go in cycles? I seem to stack up several projects so they are almost finished, then put them aside, case on a few new ones, knit a bit, and then go back and finish up the others in a huge flourish of knitting. I’ve never done it intentionally, but I notice that I’ve done this several times. Is it a character flaw?

Now I’ve got to go and look at spider eggs with Miss Ellie. She is graciously helping me stay occupied until Ravelry breaks down and lets me in.

The Nice Package In My Mailbox Today (Or, I’m Getting Ready To Start Lizard Ridge)

Posted on July 26, 2007 by Joyce Makes Art

I’ve been wanting to knit Lizard Ridge ever since it first went up on Knitty. It’s a wonderful, seductive pattern, don’t you think? This is the picture that accompanies the pattern.

I really hesitate to buy that much expensive yarn for something that’s just for me, but I really wanted to make it in brightly colored Noro, just like in the picture.

My very sweet Brother & Sister in Law (the parents of the very beautiful Miss Harper, my favorite niece) sent me a gift certificate to a yarn store for my birthday. Not only did this place them in the category of most favored relatives, it gave me the perfect opportunity to finally start in on Lizard Ridge.

One of the cool things about the pattern is that you can buy the skeins as you go. So I got the first six skeins. Aren’t they wonderful?

I’ve got to hunt around for needles — the size 8’s called for are, predictably, one of the few sizes I don’t think I have, although I’ve learned it’s always best to sort around through my various needle cases before being too sure about that. As soon as I get the needles straightened out, I’m going to get started on this.

I’ve also decided, at long last, and with the help of some really nice posters on the Knitty Forums, to make a custom fit raglan sweater for Teddy before he goes off to school in New England this fall. The yarn is a yummy bulky merino that I dyed earlier this summer. It has been waiting around for just the right pattern — something simple to show off the soft color transitions. I think this one will be just perfect.

I’ve also had a completely irresistible request for knitting. Miss Ellie eased on over while I was petting my new skeins of Noro. "Mama" she asked in a sweet voice that would melt butter, "Mama, could you knit my clothes for this fall? Can you make me more socks and some sweater and makes some pants to match?" She’s impossible to resist. She knows my weaknesses. She even, if one believes an eight year old capable of such guile, was wearing the Oh Jan dress when she made her request. School starts in four weeks. I had better get busy!

Successes Midway Through The Ten Week Plan

Posted on July 25, 2007 by Joyce Makes Art

I’m in the middle of week five of the ten week plan. The ten week plan involved my realization that the Colinette Ophelia Tank I was knitting from Giotto in the Paintbox colorway wasn’t going to fit me. It wasn’t even going to be close. Somehow, in under six months I had managed to gain a whole bunch of weight, about 25 pounds, which is a whole bunch when you’re only 5′ 1".

My plan was to finish the tank in ten weeks and lose enough weight to fit into it by the time it was done.

So, here’s the tank.

I’ve got about 10" done and I need to get to around 11" and then do the shaping at the top. Although I’m a bit ahead of schedule, I think finishing it will take me a bit of extra time, so I’m pretty much on target.

And the weight loss? Thanks to the miracle of low carb dieting, which lets me eat lots of cheese and fruit and drink an occasional glass of wine, I’m down about 12 pounds. I’m excited about all the money I won’t have to spend on new suits and that I can now devote to ~~crack~~ new yarn. Eight or ten more pounds in the next 5 weeks and I’ll hopefully both fit into the finished tank and feel a whole bunch better. It’s amazing what knitting can do for you.

Tomorrow is Thursday, which means I’ll have some new yarn stocking at Elliebelly. Please drop by and take a look! There is Treasure on Blue Faced Leicester,

Moonflower on Blue Faced Leicester,

Marseilles,

and lots more, including sock yarn on BFL Ultra in the Expelliarmus colorway.

Drop by Thursday at noon (central) when all the yarn will be available for you to purchase. I’m hoping I have enough in stock this week that it won’t all sell out in the first few minutes and you’ll be able to look around and buy yarn for the next few days. Make sure you sign up for the free lavender sachet lottery while you’re there too!

Knitty SP9

Posted on July 14, 2007 by Joyce Makes Art

The swap gods must be smiling upon me. On the heels of the fabulously successful Harry Potter Swap on Knitty, I signed up for SP9. I received a box in the mail from my swap partner on Thursday. I can’t even begin to describe how wonderful it is, so let me just show you.

Isn’t that incredible? I don’t know how she knew I spoke German (the Rebecca magazine) or that my second child’s favorite candy is airheads (I broke down and served it as his "side dish" with hamburgers for dinner that night). Everything is perfect! The note card with the sheep is gorgeous — I think I’m going to frame it. The YO-YO is the perfect stress reliever at work. The big bag of chocolate is was yummy.

Here are my two favorites.

Vesper Sock Yarn. How did she know I have been DYING to get my hands of some of this yarn forever? And the green color suits me perfectly. I am so excited to have this yarn! Right now it has trophy yarn status and I just keep it by me and fondle it, but soon I will be thinking about a pattern.

And this,

This is a sheep figurine that comes with six outfits. Ellie, whose love of kitsch is at least as strong as my own, immediately seized on her and we had to spend the next hour trying on all of her outfits. She is currently on the mantle piece, in a lovely purple hat with rhinestone stars. Ellie has decided we will make a diorama for each outfit and make a scrapbook with photos. It’s always the simple pleasures….

Thanks Swap Partner, whoever you are. I have no clues (heck, I’m still trying to figure out who my HP buddy was) and the Judge threw away the box it came in before I can check it out for postmark type clues. But I am so excited about my box, and hoping my buddy enjoys the box I’ve sent her as much as I am enjoying mine!

Oh Ravelry, Where Art Thou?

Posted on July 11, 2007 by Joyce Makes Art

I am waiting patiently to receive my invitation to Ravelry. I have been waiting patiently for what seems like forever now.

Recently, I tried bribing Jess into letting me jump in line. I offered her hand-dyed yarn. She graciously declined my offer, leading me to believe that she has both integrity and a sense of humor.

She also explained:

We are just as eager to get everyone in! Looks like you have about

2700 people ahead of you- which sounds worse than it is. We have

about 4000 people in the site and over 10,000 on the waiting list and

are inviting about 150 per day. We’ll be upping that rate throughout

July.

*Sigh*

Such a long time to wait!

I did follow her advice and start uploading photos into Flickr. So far, I’ve loaded most of my stash and some of my works in progress and finished items. My Flickr ID is rorysgirl1 in case anyone wants to check the pictures out.

For today, I’m going to leave you with this thought — Blue Faced Leicester and Alpaca blended together in a lightweight yarn suitable for either lace (think shawls) or socks. It’s soft and cuddly like Alpaca and has the incredible silky shimmer that BFL always has. I’m in love! If this yarn was a man, you would marry it!

Here are a couple of my first colorways in this yarn. They will both be available, in very limited quantities, at my new Elliebelly at Hyena Cart shop on Thursday at noon. I adore this yarn, and it’s going to be a mainstay around here, if I can just keep myself from hoarding it all for me!

This is Lullaby.

And this is Sacajawea, with a swatch below.