lucky dog knits

It's a Pincushion!!

2006-09-18T15:57:00.000-07:00

Isn't this the cutest thing you have seen? I spied this at a cute yarn/quilting shop in Rochester Mn. This summer while attending Gold Rush Days. our annual fleamarketing trip.

I thought it was a great representation of both sewing and knitting as it is rolled up felted roving really really cool!!

What is it?

2006-09-17T14:21:00.000-07:00

What is it?? anyone have a guess?
HUUUUUMMMMMMMMMMM?

Check out my LOOT I'm gonna be busy!!

2006-09-09T09:43:00.000-07:00

HI All Check out my Loot! My final package came from my Fabulous SP8 across the pond. Claire AKA www.purlpirate.blogspot.com Is my more than generous secret pal 8. Check it out! First is the adorable red polkadot organizer I have it hanging on the door to my office. inside is a treasure trove of goodies. 2 yummy bars of chocolate, some soothing tea and hand soak after a hard day in the garden. Next cubby down is some Scrumptous scarlet color Jager Mohair ART, 2 of the softest skeins of beautiful multicolor baby blue and shades of brown sockyarn. next cubby down are 3 skeins of gorgeous nubby recycled silk! next cubby down bath leaves and funky arrow shaped "you are here" book markers. next cubby down 2 skeins of Sirdar Dune in fun shades of white and lilac. Next cubby down (I know it keeps coming!) 6 skeins of Trends Van gogh om blues and silver metallic. Can you believe the haul! Claire you have been a great pal and more than generous. Hey everybody go check out Claire's Blog! Thanks.

Monkey's off my back

2006-09-04T18:04:00.000-07:00

Please don't get me wrong I don't mean this in a bad way whatsoever!! But I had 3 projects due at the same time. I finished Oliver's sweater for the shower and at the same time I was finishing up both my Secret Pal Gifts. I kind of cheated a little bit but I loved the way the first bag turned out for my One skein pal Marisol. www.marisollovesknitting.com so I made a second one for my secret pal 8. since I don't believe she has received her's yet I won't spoil it yet. let's just say she needs a little cheering up.
Anyway they were fun bags to make, time consuming and a little putsy but a lot of fun and great scrap reducer!! I used a variety of yarns mostly lambs pride worsted and cascade 220.
I hope they both enjoy them!!

Whew! just in time for Olivers Party

2006-08-29T19:27:00.000-07:00

Why do I do it? Everytime I find myself at the last minute trying to finish a project as a gift that involves a party!! so here it is Oliver's sweater for his Mom's baby shower Tomorrow Whew Pattern came from Rowan Classic Babies 4 . Yarn is Rowan Cashsoft and it is SOFT! I knit up really nice and I think it's cute. I wouldn't recommend the sleeves with such a drastic amount of shaping I think I would have made it more boxy but Oh well It's done and ready to go!

What Happened to the Cowboy?

2006-08-27T14:41:00.000-07:00

Well I frogged it. I frogged the whole damn thing! I just came to realize that not only do I hate intarsia but I am no good at it. After ripping and starting and ripping and starting I just realized that knitting should be enjoyable not painful and intarasia is painful to me so frog away. Here's the replacement and I'm much happier with it. I did notice when I laid it out to take the picture that the armholes are quite shaped. HUH? you don't normally see a baby sweater with such shaped armholes but there is no time to second guess because this sweater- weight on my shoulders- has to be done by Wednesday.

I'm hiding my head in the sand

2006-08-12T08:49:00.000-07:00

Do you ever feel like you're hiding your head in the sand? I do! I really should be working on my little cowboy sweater but I just can't bring myself to do it. I have tried and tried but I just HATE intarsia so much. I have had to rip back a couple of times and I really think that I am just not good at it. I was thinking well I'll just go ahead and knit something else, but I purchased the yarn specifically for this project and so I don't what else to knit I am just frozen over this!!
So I did what any other frustrated knitter would do....... Start another project. I started Lady Eleanor from Scarf Style by Pam Allen. I am using Noro Silk garden that I purchased for this project on E-Bay. I love the colors but I have to say I don't think I am a big lover of Noro yarn. Like I said I love the colors but the yarn itself is kind of scratchy and then there's the issue of the farm waste that seems to be spun right into the yarn. I dont know I'm sure it will be beautiful when it's done but I don't think that I will run out and buy a bunch of noro again.

Did I say Secret Pal??

2006-08-03T15:59:00.000-07:00

Look what a Lucky gal I am!! I just received a fabulous gift from my one skein secret pal. Cute card, sticky notes, Yummy taffy and Yummy Yummy Lornas Laces Yarn Yeah!! OHHH the planning, what to knit, HUMMMMMM?
Thanks secret pal I just loooove my yarn!
Now did I say Secret pal ? Here is the project I have been working on for the final knitted gift for my One skein secret pal I hope she hasn't found me out and is reading this!
Any way I knit a small bag and dozens of flowers and felted the whole lot I plan to attach the flowers to the edge of the bag and attach some cute handles and put in a cute lining. I hope that she likes it.

Great Sock Big mess!!

2006-08-02T15:15:00.000-07:00

So thanks to my One skein pal I started a sock useing the beautiful yarn she sent I am useing the Simple Sock pattern from www.helloyarn.com. The yarn is knitting up beautifully so far, I like the sock pattern with the simple but ingenious fold over picot edge with NO RIBBING I swear the ribbing gets so old after about 1/2" but I also like a taller ribbing so what do you do.
Look at this! I have a major knot. I'm not sure how this happened I wound the skein myself and was pulling from the center and it wouldn't come out so I pulled and pulled and finally ended up pulling 1/2 the skein out along with a big knot. I have worked and worked and still cannot untangle the knot.

Its all Gianormous!

2006-07-24T17:13:00.000-07:00

It's all about Gianormous! First I know i'ts been a while but I've been so busy with gardening and work and frankly I also didn't feel like I had anything to say. I also HATE this mac I can't figure out how to get rid of the underline and I normally post on the Pc but blahblah blah. Anywho I purchased this Gianormous Mirror on Friday. The store where I work was selling these HUGE mirrors 90% off I wasn't even sure that it would fit but I took a chance and boy for $38 It sure was worth the Chance I think it looks GREAT!!
Speaking of Gianormous Look at My cherry tomato plant. I bought a cherry tomato plant and planted it on the patio for Sherman (my boston bulldog) and it has absolutly taken off It has gotten to out of control that I had to tie it to the house!!
Sorry about the extra picture AHHHHHHH now I am writing with out the underline I HAAAAAATE THIS DAMN MAC!!! I have no idea what I am doing!
Carry on and go watch Project Runway

lookie Stitch markers!!

2006-07-10T18:28:00.000-07:00

LOOK! I made my stitch markers!
My SP8 sent me this neat kit to make stitch markers and I whipped them up while my husband made Taco's for dinner tonight. Thanks Honey!
Tony and his Fiance came up this weekend unexpectadly and we had a really nice time. I made a yummy Beer can chicken (useing Fresca) on the grill. They spent the night and on sunday we went shopping and celebrated My Dad's Birthday. What a nice relaxing time.
I also started a pair of socks useing the sock yarn my One Skein Pal sent and the sock pattern I received from www.helloyarn.com for their simple sock so far I really like the plain top with the picot edge.

I hate intarsia!! But love presents!!

2006-07-08T08:20:00.000-07:00

Have I told you before I absolutely HATE I repeat HATE intarsia! I just Hate it Ilove the graphic designs I love looking at the pattern books and thinking boy, I love the look of that design. but, damn! I hate doing it. I hate the tangled yarn, I can't quite get the rhythm of the twisting of the yarn so that you don't get holes. It seems I try hard to leave the right amount of slack but I still get buckling and pulling. The good thing is that it is a baby sweater so it's not that big and I should be done soon.

On a happier note I received another present from across the pond. My SP8 Pal has been spoiling me rotten!! I got some more yummy chocloate, and a magnet and a really cool kit to make some much needed stitch markers. Thanks again Sp8 Pal! YOU ROCK!!

Going to the party with Pat's Clapotis

2006-07-01T08:05:00.000-07:00

WHEWWWW!!
I finished Pat's Birthday Clapotis just in the nick of time! I finished up the knitting and washed and blocked it last night. It was certanly an easy enough project but I do have to say it felt like at the end it just kept going on and on.
While I was knitting it I wasn't entirely sure about it. I didn't love the yarn choice I thought it might be a little too thin, I also didn't love the pooling. I don't know, I just wasn't convinced that it would be all that great, but I didn't have a back up plan for Pat so I kept plugging along. Boy was I wrong! when I finished knitting and started unravelling WOW it was just so beautiful I thought, this was worth it! It just has such a fun drape and hangs so nicely. I would say this however I wasn't thrilled after washing and blocking. I feel like you loose some of that bouncy curling of the edges and I liked that . I will definitaly knit another clapotis for my self bit I think I won't wash and block this one I liked it just the wasy it is.
What's next...... well another gift of course.
I have 2 pregnant friends to knit baby items for OOOH have I told you how much I love knitting baby items!! Can't wait for Grand children!!

And Clapotis makes three!

2006-06-30T16:15:00.000-07:00

So I started working on this Clapotis for a friend of mine who is turning 60 this 4th of july a couple of weeks ago. My Sp8 wrote me about a week ago and mentioned that she is working on a Clapotis, then I was reading the blog of my One Skein Pal and She also is knitting a clapotis! What a coincidence!
I am on the decrease end and it seems as though I have been knitting and knitting and knitting on this thing forever but I am anxious to wash and block it and see how it turns out. I probably won't make one for myself for a while.

Just Gardening

2006-06-26T16:31:00.000-07:00

Been working alot in my garden this last week. I was on vacation from work and so I got alot of work done. Dirt, sweat, and many trips to the garden center were in abundance last week but it feels great to have the work done. Now I just have to keep up with the weeding!! I received a couple of new books today I don't remember ordering them and aparently I received the Shawls book free which is great because I wouldn't have bought it. The Stictionart 2 book is a great cable reference book.
And Then There's SHERMAN!!!!

Goodies from across the pond

2006-06-16T13:49:00.000-07:00

OOOH Look at the goodies I received from my SP8! All the way from London! I received a skein of Kidsilk haze in a beautiful cashmere color. I have never knit with this yarn before so it will be fun. I also received a skein of rusty colored rowanspun aran Fun!
Also included 2 bars of chocolate OOPs I ate 1 already and a neat pot of lip gloss.
Thanks SP8!!!!!!

I hate when that happens

2006-06-12T17:02:00.000-07:00

So I 'm working on the Noni bag and I hate when it doesn't turn out right. Before I started knitting the bag I checked out the finished measurements and decided that the bag would be too large around for me and I adjusted the amount of stitches to cast on.
I made sure that I sewed the bag shut before felting by using heavy cotton string before I felted it. I had to felt it 4 times in the washer. felt O.K. about the felted bag until I saw the ends YUCK!!!!!!! I HATE the ends I hate that they didn't stay round. O.K. So problem #1 now on to problem #2 ...remember when I said I adjusted the circumferance of the bag. check out the size ratio of the felted bag to the felted flower. OOPS flower is a little to big .. OOPS not to mention that when I felted the flower I don't know what I had in the washer at the same time but it is infested with dog hair!!!
AARGH!! I'm not sure what to do I love the flower I love the bag so long as I don't see the end . How much time and money do I waste.
I HATE WHEN THAT HAPPENS!!!!!!!!

Don't you love a good mail day?

2006-06-09T14:58:00.000-07:00

Don't you just love a good mail day? Today I received a fabulous goodie package from my One Skein pal. She sent me the most beautiful skein of merino yarn from Great Adirondack yarn co. as you can see I have already wound it into a ball in anticipation of knitting something I think either socks or maybe a piece of lace. Look at the other goodies she sent in my box. Some chocolate, cappuccino mix, note cards and sticky pads. Thanks One Skein Pal!!!
I also received a collar in the mail for Sherman. This is the cutest collar I have seen. It is reversable leather either Turquoise/chartreuse green. It has large grommet holes and then these buttons that resemble typewriter keys that you snap into the holes to spell out his name.

Holy Crap! Where'd that Bag-O-Yarn come from

2006-06-06T14:11:00.000-07:00

O.K. so I know we all have yarn stash, but this takes the word "Stash" to a new level.
I was looking in the garage for a lawn sprinkler when I ran across a shopping bag that was stapled closed at the top. The bag was from the Department store where I work so at first I thought -- what was I hiding from my husband? --but I don't do that, so what was in the bag??....... yarn!! 22 skeins of Peer Gynt yarn! O.K. so when did I buy the yarn? what was I going to make with 22 skeins of yarn? and why was the yarn in a Department store shopping bag in the garage?
After about 2 hours of thought I came up with the answer. I bought the yarn about 2 years ago on E-Bay I was intending to make a Norweigan sweater for my youngest son Tony and I put it in the garage in the dead of winter to freeze off any moths. OOPS Kinda forgot about the yarn, so if you're out there Tony and you want an Orange Norweigan sweater Just let me know.
Love Ya!!

Funeral for a Friend.......My Poor Tree!!!

2006-06-04T12:28:00.000-07:00

I had great aspirations for my friend the tree. I had hopes and dreams similar to those of a child. I hoped she would grow tall and straight! and live a long happy life. She was going to shade me in the summer as I lounged on the deck, reading or knitting. She would offer a great home to birds nesting or eating. she would offer some much needed privacy in this barron neighborhood! But sadly today she had to be cut down. she was half dead the result of being planted too deep and the roots wrapped around the trunk strangling her to death. I am sick about it. 6 years down the drain I can hardly stand to go out and look as My husband and my son CHOP her down WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!

On a lighter note I finished the noni baguette bag and I just have to weave in the ends and felt it I hope it turns out. I am preparing my first package to send to my One Skein Pal I hope she likes it! I have received word that I will receive my secret pal package in the mail this week and I am very excited to see what it is. Is any one else having a bit of trouble keeping everyone straight?

Finished BettyAnn's Shedir!!!

2006-06-03T07:30:00.000-07:00

WHEWWWWW!! I finally finished BettyAnn's Shedier Chemo cap! I don't know what it was but I had a devil of a time with this cap. It really shouldn't have been that hard, just basic cables but it was the repeats I kept messing up, and ripping cables is absolutly NO FUN.
Anyway I think It turned out great, the pattern is so clever turning into a star at the top. Thanks to WWW.girlfromauntie.com for providing the pattern free on www.knitty.com I hope that BettyAnn likes it.

Look at the cute card I received in the mail from my secret pal 8 All the way from London! Thanks SP8!!

Just a little stash enhancement

2006-05-31T17:40:00.000-07:00

I just added a couple of items to my sock stash. the first is Artful yarns in beautiful shades of purple and gold.
The second I just couldn't resist from www.helloyarn.com is a beautiful ball of merino sock yarn in autumnal colors I think I will knit a pair of socks with a pattern I found on www.menknit.net/mag/MK2.pdf The pattern has Maple Leaves in the stitches check it out!
The third is a couple of skeins I ordered from blur moon fiber arts. Sadly I missed the socks that rock sock club so I thought I would give the yarn a try for next year. I am really excited to start knitting some socks this summer because they are the perfect take along project.

Damn It! Damn It! Damn It!

2006-05-27T13:07:00.000-07:00

Damn It!!!!!!! so didn't I say a while ago that I was done knitting felted bags? That I had enough felted bags for a lifetime? Well Damn It I was at the yarn store getting something for my One skein Pal and I spied this pattern on the counter. Well I thought it was the cutest Damn thing I had seen, So Damn It I bought the Damn pattern. I bought the Damn yarn and I bought the Damn bamboo handle. I got home and put BettyAnn's shedir hat aside and started knitting... Easy enough knit in the round for 8 rows then back and forth changing colors for the striping blah blah blah. THEN THINGS GET PISSY!!!!
I start reading ahead and discover Damn It She' s selling the pattern for the flower that's attached to the bag in the picture.... SEPERATLY!!!!!!! $8.00 FOR THE BAG PATTERN AND $6.00 FOR THE FLOWER PATTERN!!!! Now I know no one held me hostage and made me go buy the Damn flower pattern but I was half way thru the Damn bag, I didn't feel like trying to figure it out my self, and well O.K. that would mean another trip to the yarn store!
But Damn It I just think it's kind of stinky to photograph the bag with the flower attached and then sell the flower pattern seperatly!!! Damn It!!!!!

Secret Pal 8 questionaire

2006-05-24T16:28:00.000-07:00

So Sorry to my Secret Pal 8 for taking so long to post my Questionaire!!!
1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I really don't have a favorite yarn, I do prefer natural fibers. I would like to be more adventurous with luxury and exotic fibers. I don't really enjoy cotton and like most knitters I don't enjoy Acrylic yarns.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I made my self a Long cotton holder for my circulars, it has 16 horizontal sleeves that the needle slides into and then the needle hangs down to the sides so that they don't get curly. I screwed it right to the back of my sewing room door. I also have the same kind of holder with vertical pockets for single points. also screwed to the back of the door. Straight I store in a vintage McCoy vase

3. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I used to think that I was an advanced knitter, Ten I started reading blogs and boy o boy was I brought down a couple pegs. so probably intermediate.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
No.

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
I love Lilac, lily of the valley and I'm in heaven right now as my peonies are in full bloom! Anthropologie has great candles in blue glass containers that are not too strong.
6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
Chocolate,Who doesn't LOVE chocolate!

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I don't spin and I'm not sure tha I have a desire to? I also like to sew and do lot's of crafty things I also like to do decorating projects.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I am a total ipod whore I love knitting podcasts but I guess music wise I would put myself in the adult Contemporary catagory

9. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?
I love greens, Charteuse (not lime or neon) is my favorite. I also like purples and pinke and blues. I really don't dislike any colors maybe just not super bright or neon colors.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I have been married 27 years and have 2 adult sons. I have 2 dogs Daphne the Beagle and Sherman the Boston Bulldog

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
I live in MINNESOTA!
12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Everything!!
13. What are you knitting right now?
The Eris Cardi from www.girlfromauntie.com, Shedir cap, vintage cardi from Vogue knitting always socks.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Who doesnt?

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I prefer circulars to straight. I love addi turbos for somethings and bamboo for others.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
Yes, both

17. How did you learn to knit?
I took a class froma waman who was very exacting, she made us rip out every mistake!

18. How old is your oldest UFO?
6 years. It is a cabled pullover, I ran out of yarn on the first sleeve. I still search e-bay for that Peer gynt purple speckled yearn.

19. What is your favorite holiday?
No contest Halloween!! there's no expectations and it's all about FUN!!

20. Is there anything that you collect?
Vintage pottery,vintage wall clocks, buttons, yarn.

21. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
I would love to find any Alice Starmore books. I subscribe to Vogue knitting, Interweave knits, Rowan and I'm not sure why, still Knitters.

22. Are there any new techniques you'd liketo learn?
Probably how to better adjust the pattern to my measurements and how to deal with fitting problems.

23. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
I love to knit socks my foot measures 9"

24. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)
11/30

Need more knitting? Hurt yourself at work!

2006-05-22T13:15:00.000-07:00

Well I really didn't want to drop a bed on my foot today, but that's exactly what I did.
Since I was at work I ended up at urgent care having x-rays. No broken foot THANK GOD!! But I was sent home early and what do knitters do when they have 5 free hours and have to sit with their foot proped up???? KNIT!!!
I'm working on BettyAnn's Shedir cap and hopefully I can finish it soon because I was at the yarn shop this weekend picking up a Gift Certificate for a knitting pal and I had to look around,Right? Well I picked up a skein of stretch sock yarn to make a pair of halfie Thong sandal socks.

A prayer for BettyAnn

2006-05-19T12:21:00.000-07:00

My Dear Friend/Neighbor has just found out that her 77 year old Mother has terminal brain cancer. BettyAnn is such a young, active, vibrant 77 year old Gal So I pray that she will be comfortable and have peace.
So what do you do when someone is facing chemo and radiation? Knit them a cap! I am knitting the Shedir hat from Knitty.com I love the Rowan Calmer yarn that was suggested in the pattern it is so soft and has a nice amount of stretch I hope that she will be comfortable wearing it.

The book made me do it

2006-05-14T08:28:00.000-07:00

O.K. so I was perfectly content on knitting on my Eros sweater. I went to the book store the other day to buy my husband a book for his birthday. On my way to the "Manly" books I came across Norah Gaughan's newest book Knitting Nature.
I had! to knit the circle mittens. So I bought the book and dug into my stash of lambs pride worsted. I am knitting the largest size for a child on 1 size larger needle hopefully they will fit me otherwise I will nake some adjustments to make them a bit larger.

Party, Party, Party

2006-05-12T18:03:00.000-07:00

I'm too busy to update my blog because I'm too busy going to parties. My husbands birthday was on Wednesday.....Party. My Neice Rachel's 7th birthday was Thursday......Party.
My Neighbors are moving this weekend...... Party! Sunday is Mothers Day......again, Party.
I've got to squeeze in some knitting time......definitly

Did I make the wrong yarn choice?

2006-05-08T15:53:00.000-07:00

Here is my current project. I am knitting the Eris Cardigan from girlfromauntie.com This is one of the most challenging projects I have worked on. I have done cables before but they have been straight cables. These, if you are familiar with the pattern use short row shaping to make the collar curve. Quite ingenious. The pattern is 40 pages long which I do have to say is quite detailed and complete but it's just alot of paper to keep straight I had to put mine in a 3 ring binder. So I'm conflicted about my yarn choice, I wanted to make this sweater to wear around the house and at work so I needed something that would wear well. I didn't want to spend alot. I thought about using Lambs pride worsted but I sometimes think it's too heavy so I chose Bemidji woolen mills worsted I had some on hand and I know that it will wear well, But the longer I knit on this sweater it just doesn't feel great I don't know, when you spend that much time on a project shouldn't you just LOVE the yarn? My cables look a bit wonky and I wonder if it's the yarn. I wonder about the yarn choice because I am starting to lose interest. I don't know, I suppose I will keep plugging along

Birds, Birds, Birds!

2006-05-03T15:12:00.000-07:00

I'm off to the bird store tonight because the birds are eating me out of house and home. I absolutly LOVE it I have a Seedless Cottonwood tree right outside my family room window I can sit in my knitting chair and watch the birds at the bird feeders I have hanging from the tree. There is usually no less than a dozen birds at a time feeding. I have the Thistle bag, a standard round tube feeder and one of those logs with holes for the stick food. I really can't tell you how much I enjoy watching them, so tonight I think I will get a variety of food and maybe another type of feeder. I have also just put my hummingbird feeder up so I will be ready for their arrival. Oh yeah and on the way to the bird store I just so happen to HAVE to drive by the yarn store Too Bad!!

O.K. Enough felted bags already!!

2006-04-30T10:36:00.000-07:00

So Havn't we all gone through a knitting phase? socks, scarves, or FELTED BAGS! I have gone through a felted bag phase and I'm done! I don't think that I can knit another felted bag EVER! O.K. maybe a while or when I see that next really cute pattern. Sorry about the sideways pics.

I started out my phase with the Rose trellis bag in vogue knitting magazine. It wasn't that hard to knit, but the thing I don't like about it is the sides. It is knit in the round, and because the bag increases at each side going up, the trellis pattern does'nt line up visually at the sides. After knitting the bag you need to make 12 roses and 36 leaves. O.K. that was enough but then after felting, sewing all those roses and leaves on was a pain, I must admit that I did not do such a great job of sewing the leaves and roses on invisably because I was going to buy some Kaffe Fassett rose fabric and make a lining and hide all the mess. Well don't we all know how that goes I think I used the bag 1 time and didn't buy the fabric and now it just sits.

Next bag was the Scraptapulous bag, a pattern written by an employee at a local yarn store in my area Yarn Cafe. The next time I knit a pattern written by a novice I think I would ask how many times the project was knit using the printed pattern. There were several mistakes, typos and confusing directions. Anyway it was kinda fun to use up a lot of scrap yarns that everyone has in the scrap pile. it seemed like it took forever to knit though and I'm not entirely happy with how it turned out and again I don't think I have ever used it.
The Picture of bag #1 is actually the bag that started the entrelac phase. I purchased the kit for this bag on e-bay. I had never knit Entrelac before and guessing from the swatch that the woman left in the kit she hadn't either aparently we were having the same problem I just couldn't get it I tried and tried and looked up entrelac in my books and just couldn't get it, so I put it away probably for about 6 months. BINGO my local yarn store Amazing threads was teaching a class on a felted Entrelac market bag using the knitters book BAGS. I learned the trick I had been missing in class and knit the brighter colored bag first. My teacher had embellished her bag with embroidery but I decided to use the Shisha mirrors I got when I was knitting the mittens from Mag Kandis' Smitten Mittens book.
While I was knitting the first bag for the class I took out the E-bay kit and started on that. No wonder I was having such a hard time the directions were so bad. Any way I finished the grey/red backpack bag and was so inspired I started a 3rd bag using scraps of lambs pride worsted in kind of a gradeated/ rainbow effect. I do actually use those 3 entrelac bags.

One Skein projects

2006-04-28T12:51:00.000-07:00

I fell in love with Leigh Radford's book One Skein She has a variety of great projects I was interrested in and since I have a couple of expectant mom's in my life I thought I would pick it up get a jump start on the gift knitting. I love the book because who doesn't have single skeins of yarn on hand from finished projects. Also when you see that great skein of yarn at the store and you think what would I do with this or if it's a little expensive this book is great with lot's of ideas and quick projects.
These bibs were fun and quick to knit, basically a night in front of the t.v. I did however buy new yarn for these bibs Debbie Bliss and Rowan Handknit Cotton. I did wash and dry the orange bib because I wanted to make sure that it would wash up o.k. since most new mom's will throw these in the washer and dryer. It washed and dried up just fine I did have to press it though.
Oh one sugestion on the book. Take it to office max or kinko's and have it spiral bound. They do it in 5 minutes for 2.49 it's great for a book that you want to lay open and work from while you are knitting I had to put something heavy to weigh it open and it was kind of a pain. So of course After I finished the bib's I remembered the spiral bound thing.

O.K. So I do need Matt

2006-04-18T13:23:00.000-07:00

O.K. I am such a looser I really did need My son Matt to help me with this I just couldn't figure out how to put the pictures up so I waited until he came over for Easter and we figured it out I am going to try and put up some pics of completed and ongoing projects soon.

Daphne and Sherman

2006-04-06T18:16:00.000-07:00

Daphne and Sherman are the reason for Lucky Dog knits.

Daphne is my 2 1/2 year old Beagle we also nick name her CROTCH. God love her she is the sweetest dog but she is a royal pain in the ass, she is the neediest dog on the planet, she needs love, she needs attention, she needs her ball, she needs to sleep in our bed at night, she cries the most annoying high pitched cry when she doesn't get her way. You couldn't come to my door right now with out her having a caniption fit. But we love her and have fun with her.

Sherman is my 2 year old Boston English Bulldog. we nick name him pussy boy he is the biggest fraidey cat on the planet. He is afraid of paper, any loud noise, any quick movement, and his own shadow. This might be because he was a rescue dog. When his puppy mill owners got wind of the humane society coming to investigate they loaded all the moms and pups into a truck and dumped them on the side of the highway. He is the sweetest dog, calm, patient and loving. He also has the most hilarious disposition

Together they make a good pair, a handful, but fun. So any way when we first got them I made them each sweaters. I made the felted pattern from the Jill Eaton book Simple Chic. They were fun to knit and they looked adorable in them but of course they wouldn't wear them. So after some experimenting I came up with felted neck warmers. They are fun, quick to knit and best yet use up small amounts of leftover yarn. They love wearing them and if I don't say so myself they are damn cute. Lucky Dog knits came about because I said to them one day "look at how cute you are, You must be the Luckiest Dogs in the world to have some one knit such nice things for you"

I really enjoy using Lambs pride worsted or cascade 220. I enjoy making different combos of stripes and colors. I have even attached knitted flowers and decorative buttons to them. They are fum quick rewarding projects. I have sold some to friends and tried to sell them on E-Bay but I had a problem with people not finding them I mean how many people are going to look up Dog Neck warmers so I usually didn't have more than 5-10 people view them. So there you go that is Lucky dog knits.

See Matt, I can do some things on my own

2006-04-05T18:51:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone My name is Kim This is my first attempt to do anything techie other than E-Bay or my on-line banking. I have 2 sons in their mid 20's when they lived at home a couple of years ago I would just holler "Matt" "Tony" "can you help me, or can you do..." but they're gone now and I have to learn this stuff on my own. I have been toying with the idea of doing my own blog for a while now but I think the clincher was the Knitting Olympics. I participated like everyone else but I was unable to get the button because I didn't have my own blog. I would tell people about participating in the Knitting Olympics and they would say "what do you get? and I would say with hesitation " well... the self satisfaction of completing a challenging project" But it would have felt maybe a little better to say "a button on my blog AND the satisfaction of completing a challenging project" So any way Here We Go!!