Imagine about a 50 skeins and balls of yarn, different color, different fiber, all poured into a big basket.

Just in case I will find a new life for them. I was thinking some amigurumi toys. Or crocheting them into my daughter’s rug. Chili, my chihuahua was thinking different. The basket, full of fluffy yarn, was her dream place to nap. And later, the yarn needed some rearrangement. Chili of course did her best to make it comfortable again. She was digging hard, and deeper and deeper, until the yarn was fluffy again.

And she made a thorough job.

Took me a whole day to save a few bigger balls, and the rest were put into a bag, and I think I will use them to stuff those amigurumi toys, if I ever make any.

Now I have my yarn sorted out by color, fiber, and some of them are already put in a project bag, for a future project. Am I organised or what?

Tags: amigurumi, tangled yarn

The spring cleaning bug hit me. Not that much that I have cleaned the windows, but enough to start to organise my projects.

I must confess, I’m not the tidy type. I only put things away when it is absolutely impossible to find anything. Now, that I reached that point again, I start from the top of the pile, sort projects out, and rewind tangled skeins.

God has sent us knitters the “Project Bags”. Think nothing fancy, it could be a Tesco bag. The trick is: you put one project - I repeat: ONE - in a bag, with every tool and aid you will need in that project: Knitting needles, cable needle, pattern, charts, buttons, crochet needle, stitch markers, stitch holders, etc.

With this method, whenever you put your project away, you will need not to worry to collect the whole shebang again.

Just remember to put everything back in the SAME project bag, after you finished.

And an advice from me: Do not forget to mark your pattern, where you finished. It could be mind boggling to find the way, if you touch your project - say: a month later again.

Ask me how I know.

Oh, yes, and if you need something fancy, go for it! I know from experience, that a nice project bag itself can pull the trigger, and make you organise things.

Take a look around Etsy or Ebay, and you will surely find some inspiration.

Like this: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=11466169

Tags: Organizing, project bag

Yes, I’m two balls sort with the Caftan pullover. Never mind. I knew this is going to be my most expensive project ever, so two or three more balls will not matter. I’ve been searching the net for an economic solution, and I think I have found the best source on Ebay. With 5,40 per ball, this is the best price.

I think I will order three, just to make sure I will have enough.

In the meantime I have started a cute crochet purse for my new purse frames:

The pattern is free from this website: http://calistayoo.blogspot.com/2007/08/tutorial-for-framed-crochet-purse.html

Now that I see it, mine is somehow fuller. Hmmm….. I might doing something wrong. I’m already using the second ball of cotton, and still in the middle of the purse. Hahh. Never mind. It will still look good.

Tags: Calista Yoo, coin purse, Ravelry

I had a wonderful business from meowcraft from Etsy. http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5608076

She offers free worldwide shipping, which is a bonus for me. And I have bought a nice lot of purse handles, and purse frames from her. Great stuff! And yes, I’m going to knit a few little purses, and probably a nice big handbag. I’m trying to try out colorwork on the smaller purses. It is like knitting a swatch with a purpose. I will practice, and yet I will be able to use these small pieces.

If I’m too tired of my Caftan pullover (currently my main project) - I will just pull out a little beauty, and knit a few rows. Well, at least this is the plan.

I will have to put aside the Caftan soon - I will run out of yarn. Hopefully by that time my yarn for the drop-stitch cardi will arrive, and I can start that project.

It is from the same issue of Interweave Knits as the Caftan. I have been looking for this yarn all over Ravelry, and finally found it. A nice lady agreed to sell it to me for a reasonable price, and it is on the way to me already. Same color as in the picture. I have only one concern: the zips. I have never sewed in zips into anything, and especially into knitted fabric. Eh, we learn something new every day. And I have my mother to help me

Tags: Caftan pullover, Drop stitch hoodie, Interweave Knits, WAMP

Oh, yes. After a week off because of Sára being ill, she went to kindergarten - for one day. The next day she had itching spots all over her body. Chicken-pox. I was waiting for this to happen, but still, it was kind of a shock. 

The good news are:

- Sára has taking it easily. Of course she’s itching, but no fever, and she is lively as a bird.

- Two weeks off work - again. I don’t mind it at all. My boss is in panic, but she is always, so I don’t really care. Life will go on without me for two weeks.

- I will have time to spring-clean the house, which needs a serious cleaning. I choose knitting instead of cleaning too many times.

- I will have time for knitting, and doing a few things for the next WAMP. I will skip the one in May, because it is going to be two days long, and I can’t afford the table fee at the moment. June will be the next, and this means enough time to prepare.

- I’m finishing the first sleeve of my Caftan pullover tomorrow, and the sad fact is: I will need more yarn to finish the second. At least three, but I will go for four, if I find any in Ravelry. I’m not picky on the dyelot, just hoping to find the correct color.

I was on sick leave with Sára for a week, and guess what? I could manage to actually knit - a lot!!!

I was so tired and exhausted though, that I was sleeping whenever I could manage - got up late in the morning (9-10 am), and took an afternoon nap with Sára, and usually went to bed around 10, which is very unusual for me. And I still feel I could sleep all day long. Is this the spring tiredness, or just lack of vitamines? I was too lazy to even switch on the computer for days.

Anyway, when I was not sleeping, I knitted. To make myself happy, I decided to knit on my caftan pullover, and I have finished the front!!! I don’t say it is perfect, but a good wash and blocking will give it a nice finish. I started one of the sleeves, and I hope I will be able to finish until the end of the week. If I don’t have to work on Saturday, because of the mixed up working days due to 1st of May.

 Ah, and I did quite a few rows on the co-workers vest. It is taking shape nicely.

I promise to put on pictures tomorrow.

 Until then:

This is my new avatar at Ravelry. I receive a lot of compliments on it. And not only from the LSG (Lazy, Stupid and Godless) Group.

Tags: Caftan pullover, Knitting, Raverly, Sára, vest

Sára is ill, and I’m exhausted. She had high fever for a few days, and poor thing was quite miserable. Now she is better, but still can’t breath properly because of her full nose. I feel sorry for her, and I can’t sleep either. Today I was home with her,  (my mother was looking after her this week) and the plan was that I will do some cleaning and knitting, and we go out for a stroll with the dog. Nothing of the above.  I was sleeping all day long. Good job she was fine watching cartoons. I ordered some lunch, and that was it.

We were going out for the playground around 4 pm. Despite all of these sleeping, I still don’t feel strong enough to do anything. I hope I will not catch Sára’s disease. Instead of knitting, I’m trying to sort out some tangled yarn in my basket. Not too much success on this…. I still have a great big knot of yarn. I think this will be good for stuffing some amigurumi dolls in the future.

Finally, I have started the co-workers vest. It is going to be fast and easy, I just skipped it because I was interested in so many other things in the last few weeks.

If I will have some time at the computer, I’m intended to search the history of knitting a little. I’d love to see old knitted fabrics, and old techniques. Amazing, how old this craft is!

No wonder we can create so beautiful, sophisticated, intrigued patterns.

Tags: history of knitting, vest, yarn

  How cute is this? I just bought the pattern at the Knitting Zone. If all goes well, the on the May market I will have my own flock. This is a bead-knitted pin. I can see a lot of ways to use this cutie.

 Now, this is the Origami sweater, shown by Kalani herserf. Gorgeous construction. I can’t wait to try this on.

And I have found a place where incredible jewelry gave me inspiration: http://www.witsproductions.com/Home.html 

I really should stop browsing the net, and get my hands working. I can’t stop collecting the ideas, and at the end I don’t have time to actually make them. Crazy.

Now, I’m off to some knitting. There is a looooot to do.

Tags: bead-knitting, jewelry, knitted sheep pin, Knitting, Origami sweater, Wits

I have finally found the Janet crossover sweater’s pattern. I’m still not that happy…. I have the feeling that this one would not fit no matter how I will assembly. Anyway. I will give it a try, and if it doesn’t fit, I will sell it on the next WAMP. The next WAMP is actually this Sunday, but my husband talked me off about it. So I cancelled my application. He said that it doesn’t worth to go, because I haven’t much of inventory to sell. I denied, and we had an argument about it. I’m still cross with him.

I will not start how I feel about him at the moment, let me just tell you that I’m close to the edge of the D word. And no, not because of this argument. This is only the top of the iceberg.

I have found a lot of cute - and not much of effort - knitted bag patterns since my Bags post, and I think it will be a good idea to go through my stash, and knit a few of them. I have ordered a few interesting and cheap handles from Etsy (yes, again…) which will go great with the knitted bags. Bag handles are impossible to find here. Remember, when I told you that I will search second hand shops for them? Well, I did, but I have found nothing. Thank God for Etsy. There is a lot of great destashing happening around there, and I love to browse amongst them.

And yes, I’m still making jewelry too. I will post pictures of the newest creations this weekend. I have a nice strand of faceted black czech cristal bead, two shades of turquoise, and that gorgeous red coral stick strand. I’m planning to compose something really breathtaking with them.

Tags: beads, Etsy, Janet crossover sweater, jewelry, knitted bags, WAMP

The word is that knitted skirts unflattering. I’m not sure. Probably because I have good experiences with knitted skirts. I had an A-line dark blue knitted skirt, made by my mom. It was a fine knitting, probably on 3,5-4mm needles, with a crocheted edging. It must have took her for ages to finish. I loved this skirt and I wore it until it had holes in it. Then I had a brown, machine knit pencil skirt, and I loved that one too.

Ever since I started to knit, I want to knit a skirt. Or two. Or maybe three. OK, since I live my life on Ravelry, I have found a lot of great skirt patterns, and I want them all.

Here they are:

The indigo ripples skirt from IK Spring 2007:  This reminds me of my Mom’s skirt, but this one is shorter. I’m on the quest to find the perfect yarn for this. I have a skirt worth of raw silk, but that might be too ‘tweedy’ for this skirt. I might make a swatch though.

Justina from Norah Gaughan Vol.1. I have received this booklet from my fantastic swap partner in the Books and more swap from Ravelry. This skirt look so cosy and yet stylish!

Again, the perfect yarn is to be find yet.

by Elissa Sugishita, from Knitscene, Fall 2007: This one is crochet, and it is frightens me. I guess it would make more time to crochet a skirt then knit one. But I like the pattern, the woven-looking material.

Belle Curve by Kira Dulaney, from Knitty, Winter 2007: I can imagine that this one could look actually flattering on me. Definitely will knit this one. As soon as I can afford this amount of yarn.  Remember, that I have to knit the XXL size.

Another Must Have: Shocking! by Veronik Avery from Interweave Knits, Winter 2004.

 I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this pattern, and now I can’t wait to start it. Until then I wil have a lot of fun, finding the best yarn for this project.

Another crochet one:  by Kathy Merrick from Interweave Crochet, Fall 2007 I just love this construction. And with a worsted weight yarn, this could be a fairly quick knit. I think I have something suitable for this in my stash.

I think I have enough projects for the lifetime. I really should stop looking for more patterns. (Sigh)

Tags: crochet skirts, Interweave Knits, Kathy Merrick, Kira Dulaney, knitted skirts, Knitty, Norah Gaughan, Ravelry, Veronik Avery