kellystitches

What cold is.

2006-09-06T14:55:00.000-07:00

Hi all!

Sorry for the long-time-no-see.

I am back up North again and will probably need to knit some things to keep me warm.

kelly coast to coast

2005-03-29T05:57:00.000-08:00

In non-knitting news, last Friday I accepted a job in Tampa, FL, and need to start on April 11. Therefore, I may be incommunicado the next few weeks. I still need to figure out which corporate housing unit I'll be living in while my car and things are moved across country. Yes, it's making me very anxious that I need to book a one-way ticket for a flight next week and I don't even know where I'll be living yet.

pink flowers with earflaps

2005-03-12T07:15:00.000-08:00

FO this: Maggie's cap with earflaps.

Maggie's cap detail: five-scallop garter-stitch flower.

Maggie's cap with earflaps:
Yarn -- Knit Picks merino style in "Petal"
Gauge -- 5.5 stitches
Size -- about 19.5" circumference
Pattern --
hat: CO 108 stitches and knit in the round about 1.25", purl a round for visual interest, then continue knitting for about 3" more before beginning the decreases in multiples of 9. (I think I should have knitted a few more rounds before decreasing. We'll see if it fits my niece.) Decrease every other row until 9 stitches remain. Knit 3 stitches together 3 times until 3 stitches remain. Pull yarn through these stitches tightly and weave ends.
earflaps: CO 16 stitches, work 1" in garter stitch, before decreasing one stitch on each end every other row. Decrease to 4 stitches, knit 2 rows, then begin I-cord to desired length.
flower: from Nicky Epstein's Knitted Embellishments.

mystery knit

2005-03-07T07:05:00.000-08:00

Can you guess what this is?
No, it's not the makings of a Knitty womb!

knitters, cats & monkeys

2005-03-05T18:42:00.000-08:00

I've seen several knitting blogs by people who have cats. I'm not a cat person. So, I've got my monkey friend. So far, I've come across a few other monkey blogs, two of which are knitting-related.

Check out the links below. Have you seen others? How about traveling gnome blogs?
Let me know.

Zira
Monkey
Cheekee Monkee

van gogh a go-go

2005-02-27T09:54:00.000-08:00

Jumping on the Knit Picks bandwagon...

Bought these skeins of Knit Picks merino style. Beautiful, soft and knits up quickly -- qualities I look for in a yarn. The swatch, so far, is true to gauge at 5.5 stitches to an inch on U.S. #6. Not sure yet what the rows/inch will be.

Thinking about making "Peppermint Twist" from Stitch 'n Bitch. The gauge is off and will require a little math. With the colors I want to use, I guess I'll have to call it something like "Irises a la Peppermint Twist," don't you think?

in the bag

2005-02-20T06:42:00.000-08:00

Look what my Secret Pal sent me! Isn't it great? The knitting bag has several handy pockets and a nifty shoulder strap. Thanks, Secret Pal!

Not much news on the knitting front. The seed stitch scarf is still in progress. It's going painfully slowly, though. It's 15" so far and I'm still knitting with the first ball! I really must stick to larger needles and thicker yarn.

PS: Frogged the guacamole project... you don't want to know.

little seeds

2005-02-06T15:22:00.000-08:00

I bought three balls of this yarn in L.A. this weekend. It's Lane Borgosesia Oceano. I love the way variegated yarn looks before it's knitted, but I'm not a fan of it when it's knitted in stockinette stitch. Too stripy. Which leads me to this....

Seed stitch scarf on size 5 (!) needles.

Don't you like how the colors blend?

Stitches West 2005

2005-02-06T08:39:00.000-08:00

The feelers go out...

Is anyone going to this next weekend?

I haven't signed up for any of the classes. Was wondering if it's worth the trip to check out the market.

Hello Secret Pals!

2005-02-01T06:59:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to post a quick howdy to my secret pals! Hello!

This is my first time as a secret pal participant.

I've already sent a package to the name I was given. Unfortunately, $50 doesn't go a long way. To spread it out, I'm going to have to forget about cashmere... unless you know of a good place for relatively cheap cashmere. Let me know!

EDIT: Found out I was mistaken on the dollar amount. $50 is the minimum, not the maximum. Hello, LYS!

Guacamole project is progressing slowly. This knitting without training wheels, or hands, or a pattern is both exciting and scary. I guess I am looking at it as more of a process thing, or an exercise... hopefully not one in futility!

just the facts

2005-01-25T21:13:00.000-08:00

The guacamole project is in progress, but I will post about that later.

For now, Secret Pal, here are some answers...

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer high- and/natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you?
Yes, I'm a snob. I love soft stuff: cashmere, alpaca, merino wool and silk.

2. Do you spin? Crochet? No and no.

3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.)
Mohair, smoke, pets that shed, perfumes, etc.

4. How long have you been knitting? Since I was 13-ish.

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

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
Not huge on scents, but I like pumpkin, vanilla and cherry.

7. Do you have a sweet tooth? Yes, dark chocolate.

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?
I have trouble completing my WIPs, so, I try not to start other crafty hobbies.

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) I like an eclectic mix of all kinds of music.

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Colors with blue undertones.

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? No family. No pets.

12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know)
One is to be awarded a Caldecott.

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? See #1.

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
Mohair, 100% itchy-acrylic and chenille.

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s? None.

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Baby clothes and items in the round.

17. What are you knitting right now?
Too many WIPs to mention and the guacamole project.

18. What do you think about ponchos? I try not to.

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Circular, absolutely.

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? Addis all the way.

21. Are you a sock knitter? No.

22. How did you learn to knit?
Taught myself from a booklet with Red Heart.

23. How old is your oldest UFO?
Last month I frogged a project from 2001.

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird? The Simpsons.

25. What is your favorite holiday?
Thanksgiving: no expectations beyond good eats.

26. Is there anything that you collect?
Not really, I have too much stuff already.

new year's resolution: no more novelty yarn

2005-01-23T10:57:00.000-08:00

FO #1 for 2005--
a k2p2 scarf for a friend's birthday.

The yarn--
Bernat Galaxy in "Star"

what's old is new again

2005-01-23T07:30:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, Melissa and I met in Ventura to knit and search for recycled yarn at the local thrift shops. Here are a few photos...

Melissa, knitting a swatch with some awesome recycled red yarn.

Kelly, still working on a friend's scarf. (Did I mention how much I hate knitting novelty yarn?)

Recycled green sleeveless sweater yields five balls.

Purple sleeveless sweater, recycling in progress.

Green and purple recycled yarn yields... a little dress for my niece, perhaps?

monkey takes five...

2005-01-14T06:40:00.000-08:00

Monkey seeks the muse.

Due to major deficiencies in the motivation and inspiration categories, this little monkey is on a temporary hiatus... off on a long weekend roadtrip up north.

thank heaven for bloglines!

2005-01-08T08:09:00.000-08:00

And, thank you, Scottish Lamb, for turning me onto Bloglines! Now, hopefully, I will be a more efficient blog reader.

more whiney drivel

2005-01-05T06:07:00.000-08:00

OK, I'm not doing very well on the knitting front so far this year. I have to admit, though, it wasn't one of my usual resolutions I seem to roll over every year. I've been struggling a bit with conflicting priorities. There's just too little time in any given day to do everything I want to do. :-(

I think I need to start going to knitting group again... at least while I'm there I will knit.

While not knitting, I came across this fun site. Maybe I need a blog pet... like another knitting project to start!

another knit-along

2004-12-31T16:28:00.000-08:00

I know I'm going to regret this. It's not like I don't have enough WIPs already. Anyway, I've joined the Wavy KAL. It's only a scarf, so, it shouldn't be too bad, right?

lite knitting

2004-12-30T19:38:00.000-08:00

Unfortunately, I haven't been very active on the knitting front lately. I don't know if it's a motivation thing or a priorities thing.

Anyway, I received a couple skeins of yarn and a knitting stitch pattern book from a dear friend of mine back home. The two times I've been home since I left she's been in New Mexico with her dad who is undergoing chemotherapy treatments. So, her boyfriend gave me the gift when a few of us met for dinner. (See the photo of us on my personal blog.)

Back to the yarn... it's a blend of acrylic, polyester, mohair and alpaca. I have itchy issues with mohair, so, I thought I would knit a scarf for my friend's birthday at the end of January. Hopefully, I'll finish it in time. Ack!

The yarn and the scarf in progress.
The pattern is a simple k2 p2 rib.

cool to be square

2004-12-14T17:59:00.000-08:00

Blogger is frustrating me!

I am sick with a cold and don't want to deal with this... but here I go retyping this post.

Saw this cool link on the TCSnB bulletin board. My Bobbi Bear will need one of these.

The SB knitters created this beautiful charity blanket. Unless someone else knitted the same square, my contribution is the stockinette one with the seedstitched border.

grumpy L.A. post

2004-12-13T05:53:00.000-08:00

A scene from the Bazaar Bizarre in L.A.

The Bazaar Bizarre was packed to the point where it wasn't much fun looking at people's crafty things from over and around the heads of dozens of other people. Bummer. I wonder if the fire marshal showed up.

Also, yesterday while in L.A., I tried desperately to find a parking spot near The Knitter's Studio on West 3rd Street with no luck. I was able to find a spot in front of Knit Cafe on Melrose. Small place, doesn't seem like they'd have enough of a dyelot for a sweater.

bazaar bizzare

2004-12-11T07:11:00.000-08:00

I'm planning to go to this on Sunday. Any takers? Let me know!

little to none

2004-12-09T07:02:00.000-08:00

Not much new on the knitting front.

I dropped off the lone 8-inch square I knitted (for the charity project the SB knitters are making) at Melissa's last night. Each of us are to knit three squares that will be stitched together to make blankets. Man, what has happened to me lately that I can't manage three measly squares? D'oh!

Made small progress on the Hourglass sweater. Just past the mid-section, starting on the increases. Not worth posting a photo at this point.

Checked out the latest at Knitty and I agree, who wants to knit a womb? I might make the wavy scarf just to see how it's constructed.

blog obsession and mother bear

2004-12-05T08:30:00.000-08:00

It's true; I'm obsessed. I'm amazed at how many awesome blogs are out in the web universe. I need to stop reading and start knitting. Shame on me!

Did find a good cause while surfing blogs, however. Check out the Mother Bear Project.

Make me and put a smile on a little one's face.

the hardest button to button

2004-12-03T22:15:00.000-08:00

OK, here it is... the first "kellystitches" button. (See sidebar.)

Special thanks to the designers of the Calvin & Hobbes font and the monkey from Jellycat.

You all rock, so, please accept this as credit for your awesome creations. :-)

knit-alongs in 2005

2004-12-03T05:55:00.000-08:00

While searching for the Hourglass Sweater knit-along, I found this cool site. Looks like there will be a home for 2005 knit-alongs, too!

No progress on anything to report. :-(

I guess Christmas presents will NOT be "made with love" this year.

Which reminds me...

You know those tags you can have made to put on your FOs? Remember all those projects that have totally p*ssed you off? They weren't made with love; they were made with hate! Am I right? :-)

Imagine receiving a handmade sweater with the tag...

flying with needles & the hourglass

2004-12-01T06:07:00.000-08:00

For those worried about having your sticks confiscated at the security checkpoint at LAX, have no fear. (Check this link for documentation from the TSA.) A guy on my return flight commented on my needles and how he had been taken aside because the rivets in his jeans had set off the sensors.

I can understand why knitting needles and crochet hooks shouldn't be allowed on planes. They could, after all, be potential weapons. But then, so could a million other things.

Thank goodness I was able to bring my circulars aboard. Although a very slow knitter, I did make progress on the hourglass sweater. (See the link button on the sidebar for more info on the knit-a-long.)

After losing an eBay auction for 10 skeins of turquoise Cascade Sierra, I looked at my stash and found some yarn with the required gauge I have had since the '90s. I knew I'd eventually find a use for this stuff... although, I'm not crazy about the color. Against my better judgment, I might consider dyeing it after it's knitted. gasp!

The yarn for the hourglass sweater.

Progress to date on the hourglass sweater.

time to wait

2004-11-23T06:56:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow I'll be spending about 2 hours on a shuttle bus, another 4 hours (give or take) waiting in line (and waiting for my plane) at LAX, then another 3.5 on the plane to Minneapolis. Oh, and then, another 2 hours the next day in my brother's car for the drive down to my family's for the big feast.

Bottom line: I have enough time to complete several projects, don't you think?

My dilemma, like always, is that I don't know what to knit. Sure I have plenty of WIPs, but nothing is inspiring me right now.

Suggestions?

do what you like

2004-11-21T09:18:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I met up with a friend in Northridge. On my way, I stopped by a couple yarn shops in the area: Bishop's Yarn and Happy Hookers, both in Chatsworth, CA.

The presentation at both stores was pretty horrible. However, I have to give Bishop's credit for having their yarn in bags to cut down on dust. The store also has a large bargain bin area, however, most of that yarn is cotton. If you're in the area, it's worth stopping by.

Happy Hookers, on the other hand, is too much of a mishmash to recommend. OK, well, it is just down the street a few blocks from Bishop's, so, if you're in the area... I did see (and touch!) an awesome yarn there, however. Lana Borgesesia, mmmm.

These are, of course, MY personal opinions like everything else on this blog. Do what you like, but you have been warned. :-)

hop-a-long the knit-a-long

2004-11-18T21:31:00.000-08:00

In a couple posts back I mentioned how I really want to knit the Hourglass sweater from Last Minute Knitted Gifts.

Well, I've been discussing the idea of starting an Hourglass sweater knit-a-long with a few people. I still need to figure out how these things are created and if rules need to be made, etc.

Bottom line, are you interested in participating? Let me know. (Yes, we can start it AFTER you've completed all your holiday gifts!)

And if you've organized a knit-a-long before, all forms of advice are welcome.

Oh, one more thing... I was searching for an existing Hourglass knit-a-long on the web. Couldn't find one, but I did find this blog. (Try to look away when you see my babbling comments.) Illanna has made the sweater and has informed me that there are NUMEROUS mistakes beyond the corrections listed at purlsoho.com. She ended up calling Purl in NYC more than once for assistance with the pattern. Knitterly friends, this pattern definitely seems like a good one for a knit-a-long.

down in the valley

2004-11-18T21:18:00.000-08:00

Arg! The San Fernando Knitting Meetup was a bust last night. What a bummer. It took me over an hour to drive there in rush hour traffic; the drive home took less than (or fewer than?) 25 minutes.

But the drive wasn't the part that bummed me out the most (close second, though). Here's the deal. L.A. is huge. So is "The Valley." So, I want to know why (why!) there were ONLY six people (including me) in attendance at this thing?!! One lady had commented something like, "Look at this crowd tonight! This is great!" For the SB knitting group, six people would be considered a poor turnout.

While there, I did teach someone how to knit, which was kind of cool... until someone else showed up and taught her continental. D'oh! So much for helping out. I wonder if I'll ever learn continental knitting... C'est la vie!

six degress of separation

2004-11-16T18:29:00.000-08:00

Just how small has your world become now that you're a knitting/blogging machine?

Find out! I found this link on another knitting blog. You type your blog address to find out where it's been linked to.

I suppose I'll jump on the bandwagon with my own button soon. I played around with one a few weeks ago, but it's not worth stealing.

Tomorrow night I'm checking out the San Fernando Valley Knitting Meetup in West Hills. I'm not exactly sure where West Hills is. Somewhere near Calabasas, I believe, in the illusive "Valley" which seems to mean something different to every person I meet.

tangled up in blue

2004-11-15T21:50:00.000-08:00

Unproductive night at the SB knitting group...

I spent most of my time watching Laura (bless her) detangle my eyelash yarn from yet another mess it's gotten itself into. I HATE this yarn! I am such a fool for buying it.

Summers brought a new book -- Last-Minute Knitted Gifts. I photocopied a raglan-sleeved sweater pattern from it, and want to stop all WIPs to make it. I really want to use that soft merino yarn from handpaintedyarn.com. Chauntel said the row gauge would require some serious math if I used that yarn. Details schmetails! I think I'll go for it.

The knitting group is now meeting at a coffee shop. Since I've been here in California, I've grown pleasantly accustomed to a smoke-free environment at eating establishments. So, I was a bit annoyed when some outside cigarette smoke found its way into my noise while I sipped my Chai Latte. I've become such a clean-air snob!

a model baby

2004-11-07T10:22:00.000-08:00

Maggie in Anouk.

Here she is!
Yes, it's a little big for her now, but she keeps growing!
The pockets are a bit larger than what the pattern called for. I like them better this way than the suggested mini pockets at the bottom of the dress. Looks like a second set of side tabs will be in order... Note to self: Bring purple yarn home for TGD.

i've got something to say to you

2004-11-04T18:30:00.000-08:00

My niece, Maggie, received her Anouk pinafore in the mail today. (Yes, I couldn't wait to give it to her.) She's sleeping now, but I want her parents to wake her up and put on the dress so I can see what she looks like in it. Of course, I will post photos for you once I get some.

Wake up, Maggie!

I found an Anouk knit-a-long on another blog last night. See the button on the sidebar.

As far as knitting goes, I've knitted a few more rows of the scarf I'm making with that eyelash yarn. I have too many things on needles, not enough completed projects. Do I really expect to knit all my Xmas presents this year? Ha! Not bloodly likely.

how fuzzy was he?

2004-10-31T16:48:00.000-08:00

ggh Apart on US size 13 Clover circular needles.

Let me start by saying I've never really cared for novelty yarns.

Yet, when I saw the yarn shown in the photo above, it screamed "Buy me, you fool!" And, so, I became its fool. This was the most I've ever spent on a hank of yarn EVER.

I started out on US size 35 needles borrowed from Summers.

novelty yarn + US size 35 needles = a maddening experience

I cast on 33 stitches for a scarf/shawl and later, somehow, ended up with 37 stitches. Knitted for about a foot before I gave up and switched to much smaller needles and knitting in the round. I probably won't have enough yarn to make a decent-sized scarf (Christmas present for one of my Berthas), but I'm giving it a shot. Heaven forbid I'd actually complete one of my other projects before starting this.

regrets, i've had a few...

2004-10-29T20:23:00.000-07:00

You ever rummage through the bargain bins at your LYS and buy stuff you don't need because it's such a good bargain? You spend forever trying to find a pattern that will work with the yarn so you can finally make something out of your foolish purchase but with no success.

Here's some of that yarn. Silk/cotton Noro variegated what-will-I-ever-make-with-this-yarn and silky viscose very-cool-pink-but-oh-so-slippery-if-this-tangles-up-again-I'll-kill-myself-yarn.

on with its head

2004-10-27T19:45:00.000-07:00

Tell me if you've ever done this.

I finished Bobbi Bear's head last night and, instead of moving onto its arms, I started on another bear.

Tonight, I frogged the back of a super bulky sweater I had begun knitting back in 2001. Yes, three years ago. With the expensive and beautiful, black Burly Spun yarn, I thought I would knit a cardigan for my sister, or my mother, or gasp! myself, heaven forbid! I'm thinking all my Christmas presents this year should be knitted.

I broke down and bought a mailing box for Maggie's pinafore (and turtleneck and tights I bought to go with the pinafore). So, it's a month-and-a-half early for her birthday. What's so wrong with that?

Bobbi has a head.

bear necessities

2004-10-26T07:28:00.000-07:00

Summers (above), Chauntel and Tracy pose for my knitting blog.

I made it to knitting at Andersen's in Santa Barbara last night, where the photos above had been taken. Summers' "alien illusion scarf" is looking very cool. She did a great job explaining the technique to me.

Summers had asked me how my "Bobbi Bear" was coming along. I had brought that project the week before. Unfortunately, I haven't made any progress on it since last week. I need to get moving on it, though. I want to give it as a gift when I fly home for Thanksgiving. Tick tick tick!

Progress so far on "Bobbi Bear."

On the "project progress bar," I'd say I'm almost 2/3 done. Unlike what the pattern calls for, I am knitting this scaled down with a worsted weight yarn on US #3 needles. You can already see some unintended weirdness where the legs meet the body. I think I will hide this with a little bear pullover. Does anyone have a pattern I could use?

anticipation

2004-10-24T20:50:00.000-07:00

A pinafore for little Maggie.

I'm visiting my family in Minnesota for Thanksgiving. My niece, Maggie, has her first birthday in December. I can't wait for her birthday to give her this adorable pinafore. I'm not sure I can wait till Thanksgiving, either!

The pattern is called "Anouk" and it is from knitty. I used Lana Grossa Bingo, Numero Uno and Merino Big.

Don't you think Maggie will look even cuter than usual in this?

Maggie in yellow.

a couple lids

2004-10-24T20:41:00.000-07:00

I-cord hats in blue and green.

This past summer I was hooked on making hats, including the ones above. I don't remember the name of the book this pattern came from. The yarn is Tahki Cotton Classic.

a skein apart

2004-10-24T17:03:00.000-07:00

Hello. Welcome to my knitting blog.

I started this blog because my other blog is basically my XXX blog. I didn't want to dilute its raison d'être with knitting posts. Knitting requires a whole blog, anyway.

I was going to call this blog, "kellyknits," but someone else swiped it already. Grrrr!

This will be my "secret" blog where I will post photos of projects I'm working on... like Christmas presents I can't wait to share that I don't want my Berthas and Bubbas out there to see. Therefore, for right now, I'll link to the VFM blog, but not from it.