Ouch.

After seeing 10 billion Color Affection shawls on Ravelry

(That’s not mine – I wish!)

and reading Yarn Harlot’s experience with hers, I decided to jump on the bandwagon. Though I love finding obscure new patterns, I admit I love knitting with the herd too.

I happened to have 3 gorgeous colors of sockweight yarn in my stash and proceeded to cast on and knit. And knit. And knit. And knit. I gleefully finished the first part (solid gray); then the second part (2-row stripes of gray and burnt orange); then started the third and final part – the good, wedgy, short row-y section with all 3 colors (gray, orange and navy)  The construction is fun, the yarn is beautiful…..and yet…….

I looked at it yesterday and thought, “I do not like these colors.” Uh oh.

Then I thought, “I do not like these colors at all. But that is a whole lot of knitting I’ve already done.”

Then I thought, “I do not like these colors at all. But that is a whole lot of knitting I’ve already done. But when it is finished, I think that I will never wear it.”

And then I thought, “I do not like these colors at all. But that is a whole lot of knitting I’ve already done. But when it is finished, I think that I will never wear it. And so I must frog it.”

Back to the drawing board.

Happy Leap Day! And A Giveaway!

I was watching “30 Rock” the other day; they had a show about Leap Day and how you should do something completely different every February 29. Though of course the show is a comedy, I thought that was a great idea.

I haven’t quite decided what I’m going to do differently today, but I thought for festivity’s sake, I’d do a GIVEAWAY! Here’s two pairs’ worth of yummy sock yarn and a free copy each of Easy Toe-Up Socks or Twisty Toe-Up Tube Socks.

Spirit Trail Fiberworks “Autumn Leaves” on left; Koigu KPPPM “P107B” on right; slightly disgruntled cat “Funny” in center (not included)

Leave a comment here or on Facebook about what your Leap Day activity might be today and also which yarn/pattern combo you’d like. I’ll have my impartial judge (who, being born on March 2, 2000, was almost a Leap Day baby!) pick two winners at random.

Happy Leap Day!

Cozy Wrap Poncho – New Pattern!

I love a nice poncho or wrap, but I haven’t wanted to look like Marcia Brady since 1971.  Enter the Cozy Wrap Poncho, the newest pattern from Momogus Knits! It’s one rectangle with one seam – easy-peasy! You can wear it with the point in front, a la Marcia, but I like to wear it with the point off to one side, oh so casually!

Adult Textured Rib in grey, Child’s Garter Stitch in red

The pattern is written for two weights of yarn, bulky and super-bulky, so it’s perfect outerwear on a late winter afternoon or an early spring morning. I have been known to wear the grey sample in the photo (knit in yummy superbulky Ushya yarn) all day long in my drafty old house.

Back View

There are two stitch pattern options – a simple textured rib and good old garter stitch, and there are two size options – Adult and Older Child. The shape of the poncho is so flexible it really fits a wide range of people shapes and sizes. And though I like the openness of the neck opening, I’ve included instructions on how to modify it to make it more close-fitting or higher or even into a turtle-neck.

Go here to purchase yours today. It’s a great-looking, easy knit perfect for this time of year!

Be My (Knitted) Valentine

I like Valentine’s Day. I don’t mind all the fuss that merchants make, though i don’t love chocolate…. I love yarn!

Here are a few ideas for quick little Valentine’s Day presents that a knitter could make.

You can personalize a Valentine’s Day card with a little flat garter stitch heart:

Wah – sweet! Instructions are here.
You could throw a few littled felted hearts in with a box of chocolates:
Tee hee – those little eyes kill me!! Instructions are here.
For the more practical-minded, you could get some nice nice soap and give it with a knitted heart washcloth:

Instructions here.

Enjoy! Give someone you love a hug.

Fun Gifts to Make – New Free Pattern – Sparkly Little Drawstring Bag!

Sometimes a particular yarn sings a siren song too strong for me to resist. Such was the case when I came across Katia’s Gatsby – I am a sucker for sparkle, and this yarn is sparkly and fun. I was seized with the idea of knitting a little drawstring bag from it (why? I do not know…) and poked around Ravelry and everywhere else looking for a pattern I liked. Alas, I couldn’t find exactly what I wanted, so I decided to make one up myself! Here’s what resulted:

Exactly what I wanted! Small, but not too small. A little bit of seed stitch at the top for interest, a row of eyelets for a drawstring I-cord. It’s worked in dk weight, but you don’t have to go for sparkle if you don’t want. It would be equally pretty in some soft baby alpaca or crisp merino. Done and done. Free pattern is here! This knits up quickly on double-points or Magic Loop, and makes a great gift for a teen or a teacher or a great container for a gift card or other present. Enjoy!

Fun Gifts for Knitters – #7 – Delicious Stitch Markers!

If you look on Etsy, there are 9,000 listings for stitch markers. You can find pretty much any theme of stitch marker for your favorite knitter (or yourself, of course) there. I just spent a longgggg time poking around looking at different markers and decided to feature some food-related ones:

Sushi stitch markers from Beadpassion for your favorite sushi lover!! Spookily realistic and delicious-looking! Buy them here!

Wa ha – these cracked me up!

Dinner-themed stitch markers from FantasticCrafts on Etsy.  Buy them here!

And let’s finish up with something sweet, like S’Mores!

Great stitch markers from CharlieCarter on Etsy. Go here to buy!

Fun Gifts for Knitters – #6

One of my favorite things to do on vacation in Vermont is to hunker down with a good jigsaw puzzle. I don’t do jigsaw puzzles any other time, but when I was little and we’d rent a house in the mountains, my mom always had a jigsaw puzzle going, so it just seems right.

Here are two Springbok puzzles for knitters – a nice basket full of yarn and needles and one of (ahem, unfinished – looks familiar) projects. Hey, and only 1500 pieces! That’s enough to keep your favorite knitter busy for a long time. Go here for more details.