Wearable Row Counter

What do you use for a row counter?

For a long time, I resisted the trend of convenient as-you-go click counters, and used a pen and paper. And then I was gifted the Clover click counter by my wonderful husband, and realized the error of my ways, and the convenience of a row counter such as this one. Although, I find that I forget this row counter at home way too often, leaving me knit-disabled when I'm out and about.

I just purchased the beauty via etsy:

(You can purchase your own Here at Pancake and Lulu's shop)

Hopefully having something pretty and wearable will mean it's right next to me just when I need it. 

I'm very excited to get it in the mail! 

Guilt Free Cupcakes

The last few weeks I've spent patiently knitting, sewing, and crocheting away at baby items for my sister's first baby. I even ordered rattle inserts so I could make some non-plastic, easily washable rattles for her. At the moment I'm playing Dr. Frankenstein with a several cupcake patterns to yield my perfect cupcake rattle.

Attempt number one!

I needed a new pincushion - so it served a good purpose.

I must say, though I knit more projects than I crochet, I enjoy how fast a crochet project seems to fly by. I finished this little beaut' in about an hour last night.

I found the pattern here at Bitter Sweet. I changed just a few things, adding a round of SC here and there, nothing prolific.

I also finished the Diamond Baby Mittens to match the Diamond Baby Socks. Again, changed it just a tad, by only doing 3 diamond motif repeats, instead of 4, but that was probably just because my guage was a little big. (Shame on me for not swatching!)

I will continue to experiment with these cupcakes, and hopefully end up putting my own pattern out there. 

Until then - Allonsy! 

A New Crafting Adventure

Since discovering my crafty side about 7 years ago, when I picked up my first pair of knitting needles, I've slowly added certain crafts to my repertoire. First I added some simple hand stitching (this mostly being out of necessity as a broke college student), then some crochet, an upgrade to a sewing machine, and now - hand embroidery.

I've been interested in embroidery for as long as I can remember, my grandma has all the little scraps of fabric she gave me covered with the chicken scratch stitches of 8 year old me. Unfortunately, no one in my family does hand embroidery, my grandmother had just let me cut up old clothing and had purchased me embroidery floss and needles to nurture my creativity.

Now I'm back! With the knowledge and faith that I can teach myself, especially if I've successfully taught myself knitting, crochet and sewing.

I've already gone and picked myself up needles, embroidery floss, hoops, and some onesies to learn on (for my niece of course, oh and there's that - my sister is having a girl!).

This is my first finished project:

I freehanded the bird with a template pencil, and went over in running and stem stitch. :) The eye is a French knot, and the beak satin stitch. It was a good learn-to template.

Next:

Embossed tie applique onesie, cupcake toys and rattles, the baby blanket (which is more than half done), and I'm sure an assortment of other projects I'll add to my roster.

Allonsy!

New Yarn!

What girl doesn't love new yarn (and some new circs)?

Just wanted to share!

Weekend Knitting

My weekend is going by in a sunny, fiber infused blur. I just wanted to share some WIP pics.

I hope everyone else's weekend is well!

Allonsy!

Review: Sockupied Spring 2013

Year after year I've seen the newest issues of Sockupied come out, available by direct download. And year after year I held off from making the purchase. For one, I wasn't a big sock knitter at the time, and I figured with enough research I could just learn the techniques on my own. This year I broke down (especially after seeing Alice Yu's "Deuce" socks!), and decided to make the purchase.

First I'll go over everything that comes with this $7.99 purchase.

• 5 beautiful sock patterns 
• 3 heel techniques, taught in writing, diagram and video
• Clear, helpful instruction for subbing in a heel technique you like for one you might not favor
• Tips and techniques to custom fit your socks to you (or your loved ones) special feet 

Now, for my review: 

I am 100% satisfied with my purchase. The things I've found in this ebook have helped boost my confidence for future pattern modifications, and imbued me with the knowledge of 3 more heel techniques. No longer am I stuck in my comfort zone of the YO heel. Alice Yu's shadow wrapping heel is now my new favorite, and can be used both for a wedge heel and an hourglass heel. Having options in your knitting is a wonderful feeling.

The patterns included in the ebook are clearly written, and easily knit on DPN's, two circs, or in magic loop. All of the patterns, in my opinion, are beautiful and I can't wait to add them to my humble sock drawer when my recent sock yarn order arrives. I would recommend this download to both new and experience sock knitters, because I feel there's something all experience levels could take from this book. 

You can see I've already put the skills learned to use in my version of Weeping Angel socks, where instead of the bulkier heel in the pattern, I've used the shadow wrap heel. 

You can purchase this Sockupied here. 

And before you start thinking that I'm getting paid for this review - I'm not. I bought the ebook with my own funds, and wrote this review from my own desire to do so. I wanted all of my fellow knitters to know how I enjoyed this purchase before jumping in and making it for themselves. 

Allonsy! 

Duplicate Stitch How-To

I'm back! And this time I'm getting back into the swing of this whole tutorial thing.

I frequently use duplicate stitch in my knitting. I use it to reinforce any seaming I do, and to reinforce thumbs on gloves and mittens, it's also a good alternative for new knitters who are still scared to attempt other colorwork methods, like Fair Isle or intarsia, to put a design on a piece of knitting after it's completed. Duplicate stitch isn't difficult, all you'll need is your project, a tapestry needle, and a similar weight of contrasting yarn. Duplicate stitch, in my experience, only works on stockinette pieces of knitting. When you're looking at stockinette stitch, you'll see that the individual stitches look like little tiny "v's."

You'll need a contrasting yarn, or the same color of yarn if you're reinforcing a seam or area of your knitting. It's important that the two yarns are the same weight, otherwise the constrasting yarn will bulge, or it won't cover the underlying stitches completely. If you don't have two yarns of the same brand or weight, you can substitute certain yarns. For example, if you're working with worsted weight yarn, you can use a double strand of DK yarn to duplicate stitch.

1. Thread a tapestry needle with contrasting yarn. (Don't thread too much onto the needle, it's better to have a few more tails to weave in when finished than pulling feet and feet of yarn through your work, and having a tangled mess on the wrong side of the fabric.) Insert the needle into the base of a stitch, right where the two legs meet at the bottom of the "v." Pull the yarn through, leaving a 6 inch or so long tail. 

2. Now insert your tapestry needle into both legs of the stitch above the stitch you originally pulled your constrasting yarn through. Pull the yarn through the two legs, but not too tightly. Just as with knitting, you'll find a tension that works for you with practice of this technique, like Ma' always said "Practice makes perfect." And something about patience, what was that again?

3. Re-insert your needle right back into the base of the stitch that you originally started in, and now you'll see how the contrasting yarn rests right over the two legs of the stitch, effectively masking the original color. I like to think of it like I'm drawing an upside down triangle over the stitch, using the legs of the stitch about it. 

In the end, you should have something that looks like the picture above, neat little duplicate stitches square over your original work. Experiment with this technique to create beautiful motifs, or finished objects that will withstand the forces of nature. 

As always, if you have any questions, would like a PDF version of this tutorial, or have any requests you can contact me at Ashley.Mishmoshcrafting@gmail.com 

Allonsy! 

My Experiences with Knit Picks

I just wanted to take a moment to talk about the special love I have for Knit Picks. You always hear that when someone has a problem with a company - they'll tell everyone. When they get great service - they'll tell one person. Well, I'm here to tell everyone that I love Knit Picks, and not just for beautiful needles, affordable quality yarns, or that fancy catalogue they send me that makes my wallet cry.

What I love most about Knit Picks is their customer service. I've never bought from a company with such prompt, polite and understanding individuals on the other end of my customer service calls. In the past I've purchased many cables, needles, yarns and accessories from Knit Picks (and will continue to do so), although I have only ever had an issue three times - it was always handled without question. And without me having to send back an item, fill out some form, or sacrifice my first born.

My first experience with their customer service was 2 years ago - a giddy me had purchased the Harmony Interchangeable needle set. I got my set, was in love, and didn't pay attention to the cap on one of the cables, and it stripped the connection on my size 5 tips. I was sad. Very sad. My husband said "Well, try calling them." So, on a whim, I did. The kind woman who picked up said "Okay, well I'll get a new 32" cable and set of size 5 needles right out to you!" Since my first issue I've only had to call customer service twice more, but both times they handled my issues quickly and kindly, with no hassle on my end. It was this interaction, and confidence in who I was buying from, that has brought me back time and time again.

I've gone into yarn shops after buying a product the day before (realizing I grabbed what I thought were yarns from the same dye lot but were not, circulars with faulty connections, etc), and they wouldn't take returns. Or they told me to contact the manufacturer, who told me to contact the store, and it was a big run around.  I'm still going to go to my LYS for yarns that I need right now, or that Knit Picks doesn't carry, but for the things I can wait a few days for - I'm a KP customer all the way.

Note: I am in no way affiliated with Knit Picks, other than being a pleased customer. This post isn't an advertising ploy, and it's not lining my knitting basket with yarn.

Finished Object: Diamond Baby Socks

I finished the diamond baby socks for my sister last night! It was a great victory, for, as I mentioned, I found the pattern to be a little "figure it out yourself!" And found myself frogging back a lot because my diamond pattern just wasn't lining up. Now they're done, and perfect! I knit them out of Knit Picks Stroll sock yarn, and I'm going to be casting on some matching mittens soon, and I can't wait to see the set on my little niece (or nephew, but I'm hoping for a niece. But of course, I'm happy no matter what - just want a healthy baby for my little sister.)

Now I just have to finish the hooded froggie baby towel for her, and then start another 20 projects. I have lots of hats I want to make, but I'm trying to stay away from anything gender specific until she knows what she will be expecting.

Until next time!

Allonsy

On The Needles

Wow! It has been awhile since I've mosied over to my very own blog. I'm sorry guys... if any of you followers are left!

Life has been absolutely crazy for me lately. My husband and I have been handling his outprocessing, and getting me moved back home to Michigan while he's abroad. On top of that, we've been trying to get information on how to handle our move to Italy once his service overseas will be done. It's been a mess. But we did our best to enjoy this last years festivities together, as we won't be able to be together next Christmas.I also had a bad bought with the flu, and then a back injury during the holiday season, so I'm finally bouncing back from that.

And then (yes, there's more) my sister announced that she's 3 months pregnant with her first child. Being a dutiful sister and soon-to-be-Aunt, I, of course, have launched head first into tons and tons of baby knitting. The silver lining of all this baby knitting is that it's pushed me out of my "comfort zone" with my knitting. I seemed to have fallen into a hat, cowl and mitten slump and now I'm having to get back into doing all of that small circumference in-the-round work.

So, now that I'm done making excuses for my abcense, it's time to get back to the blogging! It will be nice for me to have something to be a bit of a distraction when the hubs does leave.

I have several WIP's going on right now (If you're new to knitting or crochet - a WIP is a "work in progress"), it's an illness really - I can't stop myself from casting on every pretty, or cute item that catches my eye or tickles my fancy.

The Inga Hat (Found here on Ravelry!), this hat has been an experience for me. Being that it's the first time I've done a pretty heavy piece of color work, and haven't had to frog back rows and rows of my work at a time (touch wood!), and I'm nearly finished. 

Fair warning, though, this sock pattern has been very frustrating for me. The directions have been rather vague and hard to follow, and I've found myself having to figure a lot of it out by trial and error (and way too much frogging for what should be a quick knit). Although it's entirely possible that this is a personal problem, and I'm a little more dense than I'd like to admit. For the brave, or the more talented, the sock pattern can be found here.

These gloves are being completely patterened by myself. I couldn't find a pattern on Ravelry that really fit my needs, or that my husband liked. So I decided to give it a go myself and see what I could come up with. When I finish, I'll most likely post the pattern here.

The last of the current WIPS, it's a baby towl for my sister, which will have a hood and be a frog when it's all wrapped up. 

And that's all she wrote, folks! I'll definitely be back with more tutorials soon! What are all of you working on?!

Allonsy