tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56864506689313782932011-11-21T21:07:25.755-06:00Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.comBlogger1591100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-90228862823344279012011-11-21T21:07:00.000-06:002011-11-21T21:07:25.762-06:00

If you haven't had a chance to check out the Winter 2011 Twist Collective yet, I have a pattern in it! And look! There are horses! Photo by Jane Heller, courtesy of Twist Collective I'll talk more about it in my next post (I am knitting a pair all for my very own), but right now I just want to jump and point and giggle with glee. I hope you like it!

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-12803648369534253312011-11-11T22:12:00.000-06:002011-11-11T22:12:24.839-06:00

Since I am feeling too blah to pose for pictures, here is my Z modeling my (finally!) completed Round the Corner Cardi. It's a modified version of Shiri Mor's Round the Corner Hoodie, and it is lovely and very cozy, and I will tell you all about it some other time. Really I just wanted to point out that green yarn Z is holding. She picked it up, wound it around herself several times, and

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-17281687465470988962011-10-11T14:17:00.000-05:002011-10-11T14:17:34.416-05:00

Guys, I've been in a knitting funk. The purple thing, which in my head was this awesome möbius-like vest for Z, turned into this: Or possibly this: Urgh. I don't know. It hasn't been frogged, because part of me (probably the same part that thought I could make a vest this way) thinks I can salvage it with a hood and some sleeves. Maybe this is my inexperience showing; no matter how I

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-20768119144593662932011-08-16T14:19:00.000-05:002011-08-16T14:19:57.919-05:00

I haven't been talking much about the whole quest-to-be-published lately. As I've said before, it is largely a matter of waiting. I'm not complaining, mind you: if I were the one putting together a magazine, I'd want as much lead time as possible to make the best magazine possible, too. (I've had one very nice rejection, from Interweave. I'm not really disappointed. I did my best, and it wasn't

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-40067705576422459422011-07-31T22:59:00.000-05:002011-07-31T22:59:58.271-05:00

Miss Manners defends knitting in public (mostly). A disgruntled reader wrote in to ask, "Is it acceptable to knit at a church, synagogue or other religious service? And what about a concert or recital?" Miss Manners replies, "Please do not -- repeat, not -- make a hostile approach to knitters. Have you not noticed that they are armed with long, pointy sticks? [Me: "Hee!"] "Of all the

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-5358937755792754502011-06-24T19:06:00.002-05:002011-06-24T19:06:59.117-05:00

Have any of you seen Last Knitter Standing at your LYS? Or played it, even? I've been known to knit while gaming, and I find the idea of a knitting trivia game intriguing (though not enough to buy it sight unseen). What kind of questions do you suppose it asks?

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-3984390377550456922011-05-30T22:02:00.000-05:002011-05-30T22:02:40.481-05:00

Just a quickie today--found this adorable stop-motion video. Nearly all of the objects in it have been hand-knit. I especially love the sampler-quilt hills and sky! Read more about it in this article from the BBC.

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-66773056026062853552011-05-24T22:46:00.002-05:002011-05-25T16:57:02.741-05:00

I just read an article from the Wall Street Journal about spinning and knitting with dog hair. It references Knitting With Dog Hair: Better A Sweater From A Dog You Know and Love Than From  A Sheep You'll Never Meet, by Kendall Crolius and Anne Montgomery, which puzzled me a little since the book is over a decade old, so it's not like they're doing a publicity stunt or anything. Overall I found

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-53216146431371531752011-05-11T01:21:00.001-05:002011-05-11T01:22:55.414-05:00

Getting a knitting pattern published is akin to getting a non-fiction book published. Rather than writing the whole thing beforehand, you put together a submission that gives the publisher a pretty good idea of what the finished product will look like, submit the thing to your first choice, wait what seems an inordinate amount of time to hear of your acceptance or (more probably) rejection, sigh

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-63349617610721905352011-04-30T21:48:00.000-05:002011-04-30T21:48:20.790-05:00

A pictorial review of the months since I last posted: climbing measuring catching bugs dancing at my brother's wedding feeding ducks And, lastly, because this is still a knitting blog, posing in the only garment I've finished in that time. Z got to wear it at the abovementioned wedding and also Easter. It looks a little funny here because the dress is poofing out underneath;

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-82861034284273967102011-02-21T09:31:00.000-06:002011-02-21T09:31:30.688-06:00

Most of you know that last year was the year of the Pattern a Week Project. Sometimes I hated it, sometimes I lost sleep and sanity over it, but one thing it did was always give me something new and interesting to blog about. Well, I set a slightly different goal this year, which is Someone Else Pays Me and Edits and Promotes (SEPMEP, or getting published by someone who is not me). So far it's

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-52222973254847244562011-02-11T14:19:00.000-06:002011-02-11T14:19:21.576-06:00

I haven't posted for a while and it has not been for lack of knitting. I have been indulging in all the long-term, boring-from-a-design-standpoint projects I didn't have time for last year, and while the results--socks for me, (Yarn: Jo-Ann Sensations Soles & More in 1138; Pattern: Basic toe-up socks from Wendy Johnson's Socks from the Toe Up,with an eye of partridge heel) socks for Mom, (

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-7295577455775238142011-01-21T10:21:00.000-06:002011-01-21T10:21:39.865-06:00

So, on my last post, KnitterlyAnne (who is very well-informed) linked to this series by TechKnitter (who is very clever) on getting your knitting to lie flat. It's an excellent series and I learned some new things, which just goes to show that if I'm running my mouth off as though I'm clever and well-informed, I've probably missed something. There's always more to learn. Anyway, after reading

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-50249877098423940492011-01-15T23:06:00.001-06:002011-01-16T00:18:40.267-06:00

Reader Brook sent an e-mail to let me know she'd like to use the motif from Unstrung in a scarf, and wondering if I had any tips on how to do that. I very nearly replied instantly with a note of which stitches in the pattern are part of the motif, then realized it isn't nearly that simple. And by the time I had worked out exactly how to do it, I had enough material for a blog post, so here we go

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-48869935618808038022011-01-07T09:53:00.000-06:002011-01-07T09:53:28.750-06:00

Looking through the archives, it seems it was last January when I last had a go at spinning the octarine roving, and that was just a few yards on my drop spindle.I love my wheel.That is 137 yards of magic.I know it's not good yarn in any conventional sense of the word "good". It varies wildly in thickness (most of the individual skeins turned out around 20 yards, except for the freakish one that

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-53461254292288474112011-01-02T21:17:00.000-06:002011-01-02T21:17:41.067-06:00

The first thing I put on the needles after Christmas was a pair of socks for Fabulous Husband. There is nothing like plain stockinette to soothe the mind and the hands. And yet, despite the fact that these are knee-high dress socks and I have told myself I am On Vacation, the extra turn of speed I picked up over the past year just won't shut itself off. I can knit these as slowly as I like, but

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-9407491832658058532010-12-25T00:01:00.051-06:002010-12-25T00:01:01.160-06:00

And we are DONE DONE DONE DONE WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HALLELUJAH! Pardon my exuberance. The past couple of weeks have reminded me rather unpleasantly of trying to cram for finals and eke out multiple term papers all at once. Today is like the beginning of summer vacation, never mind what solstice it is. This is a good day. A happy day. A shiny day. A day when I feel like all the work was worth it. (

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-29583756111216863072010-12-22T20:08:00.001-06:002010-12-22T20:56:48.045-06:00

And now we are all caught up. Below you will find six patterns (Mary, Joseph, the manger, Baby Jesus, a donkey, and a dove) comprising a toy nativity set. They aren't meant to be fancy; these are for chubby fingers to squeeze and tiny mouths to drool on. This is a good project for using up odds and ends of yarn. There is a lot of knitting in the round involved, and also a fair amount of i-cord

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-4318819062400126742010-12-20T09:21:00.010-06:002010-12-21T14:17:48.729-06:00

Rather, Fabulous Husband had a cunning plan and I am implementing it. You may have noticed that, going into the last week of the project, I'm still six weeks behind. As I have no intention of still being stuck knitting like a crazy person on Christmas, I'm attempting to fix that problem today. I'll be editing and updating this post at intervals as I (hopefully) make progress. Wish me luck! 9:20

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-39026324938319773292010-12-18T12:07:00.000-06:002010-12-18T12:07:38.068-06:00

Original intended release date: November 6, 2010. See explanatory post. My darling Z, like all of us, often actively resists the things she really needs. Case in point: She loves the snow and hates being cold, but has ripped off every hat I've ever put on her head within two minutes. Solution: A balaclava! With the neck tucked into her coat and her hands tucked into mittens, there is no way

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-23830505820702621482010-12-15T13:45:00.000-06:002010-12-15T13:45:32.009-06:00

Original intended release date: October 30, 2010. See explanatory post. I'd intended this cardigan to have cables shaped like spruce trees. (Yes, their branches point up, not down.) But when Fabulous Husband saw it he immediately guessed, "Millipedes?" And I have to concede he has a point. So call them spruce trees or call them creepy-crawlies; I'm calling it Beastly. I do really like how the

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-54986668888188619322010-12-09T11:03:00.001-06:002010-12-11T16:09:58.888-06:00

Original intended release date: October 23, 2010. See explanatory post. Contest winner chee-uh suggested making a lace scarf with this yarn, and she was right. The thing about variegated, handpainted yarn is that it tends to get stripey and/or pool in funny ways. One way of combating this is to pair it with another yarn to break up the colors a little more. I didn't have any yarn on hand that

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-57960741049689308642010-12-08T10:57:00.000-06:002010-12-08T10:57:10.790-06:00

So, I just found out that some users can't comment with Blogger's embedded comment box and that this is a widespread problem. I had no idea, and I'm so sorry. So I've sped up the plans to try out Disqus and installed it literally minutes ago. Please, even if you've never left a comment here, give it a go so we can see if it's working. And if you find it's not working, please please please drop

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-83308215452106405802010-12-04T20:18:00.000-06:002010-12-04T20:18:49.007-06:00

Original intended release date: October 16, 2010. See explanatory post. A conversation: Me: Can you see the design? Fabulous Husband: What? Me: In the mittens. Can you tell what the design is supposed to be? FH: Um... Me: It's something our daughter loves. FH: ...Mayans? To be clear, it is DUCKS that our Z is currently in love with, specifically little squeaky yellow ones, and it is DUCKS

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-73949880311502066762010-12-03T14:30:00.000-06:002010-12-03T14:30:25.374-06:00

Original intended release date: October 9, 2010. See explanatory post. In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." -- Luke 1:26-28 (

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-16826122168477127902010-11-30T13:17:00.000-06:002010-11-30T13:17:26.457-06:00

I'm thinking of installing Disqus here so that we can actually reply to each other's comments. What do you think? Choose an answer in the poll in the sidebar, and/or leave a more detailed answer here.

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-51352611295935115122010-11-27T20:13:00.000-06:002010-11-27T20:13:32.477-06:00

Original intended release date: October 2, 2010. See explanatory post. I grew so fond of the cable motif I used for the Numismatic Purse, I decided to work it into a pullover. Z did her best to model it, but the girl just never holds still. C'est le bébé. Download PDF Now Numisma is a loose-fitting raglan pullover worked in the round from the bottom up. A simple cable motif (which can be

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-40523337062500947542010-11-27T14:45:00.002-06:002011-05-24T21:26:59.966-05:00

Wow, everybody. We've had twenty-five lovely entries in the blogiversary contest, and if pattern design paid as well as software design, I'd declare every single one a winner. It is only the calming influence of my Fabulous Husband that keeps me from going mad and buying them all RIGHT NOW. So, keeping in mind that the other twenty-four entries are also for gorgeous yarns that you (and I) should

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-52354355857673886602010-11-21T21:20:00.000-06:002010-11-21T21:20:34.788-06:00

Original intended release date: September 25, 2010. See explanatory post. This cardigan is for a little girl who likes bright colors and lasers. I wish I could show it on a model, but she doesn't live nearby, so I am trusting to God and the Craft Yarn Council that it will fit her four-year-old self. (It should. I Did Math and measured the thing obsessively. But you never know.) (Confession: If

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-91475919583155192722010-11-19T16:30:00.000-06:002010-11-19T16:30:05.492-06:00

Original intended release date: September 18, 2010. See explanatory post. Well, that intarsia pattern is still kicking my butt, but here's something I've finished in the meantime. Z is fascinated by my wallet. I made this one for her, to keep old customer reward cards and things for her to play with. She likes it. Download PDF Now Numismatic is a coin purse or wallet worked in the round

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-73122728441608145282010-11-15T20:41:00.001-06:002010-11-15T20:43:10.268-06:00

Here's a peek at an upcoming pattern. I like it in itself, but I've had a dickens of a time trying to get it to you all. For one I haven't been able to get good pictures of it, since the light goes away so fast these days; for another, it's going to require the largest color chart I've ever put together, and computer time has been limited since the computer room and Z's room were one and the

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-43479195583149880202010-11-12T01:00:00.052-06:002011-05-24T21:27:37.073-05:00

The contest is now over. You can see the winner and a list of all the entries here, and my finished design here. Today is the third anniversary of my very first post on this blog (A Little Outing With Franz, also my very first knitting pattern). Huzzah! I have learned a lot about knitting and about pattern writing in those three years, and there are some things in my early work that make me

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-63064803377946955982010-11-06T18:18:00.000-05:002010-11-06T18:18:00.700-05:00

Original intended release date: September 11, 2010. See explanatory post. Ahh. I fixed the coneheaded monstrosity. After measuring my head and calculating the number of stitches I would have after the increases for the body of this tam, I had to choose whether to work 12 repeats of 11 stitches or 11 repeats of 12 stitches. The latter was more convenient, and so: Elevensies. It's quite roomy,

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-43867466049599023462010-11-03T19:25:00.000-05:002010-11-03T19:25:20.801-05:00

Because sometimes I finish a thing, look at it, realize I would have to be a cone-headed alien with bad taste to wear it, frog it and start over, losing three days of precious designing time. Sometimes I feel like having a good old pout.

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-18690517427205186912010-11-01T23:30:00.000-05:002010-11-01T23:30:59.566-05:00

...for a glimpse of Z in her Halloween costume. For the record, no, she didn't get to eat the Snickers. She was more interested in the felt pumpkin pail. And this is probably the last time she will let me dress her as a sheep, so I am going to cherish it.

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-54946944594830008732010-10-30T22:32:00.000-05:002010-10-30T22:32:24.766-05:00

Original intended release date: September 4, 2010. See explanatory post. No matter how much I work I always seem to stay eight weeks in the hole. How is that possible? Ernestine: Because Bernadine needed a jaunty companion. Download PDF Now Ernestine is a doll-sized cloche knit in the round from the bottom up. Bands are worked at the same time to secure a decorative ribbon accent. Price:

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-53460173932970451342010-10-25T23:36:00.000-05:002010-10-25T23:36:49.432-05:00

Original intended release date: August 28, 2010. See explanatory post. This is another entry into the ongoing "Someday I Will Master Colorwork" project. You only have to carry both colors on every third row, which is a plus in my book. I named it Bernadine because all the other old-timey, feminine but spunky names for cardigans were already taken. ;) Download PDF Now Bernadine is a simple

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-48305837713380576042010-10-23T22:54:00.001-05:002010-10-23T23:03:51.580-05:00

Original intended release date: August 21, 2010. See explanatory post. For this shawl I wound up using two different weights of yarn because I didn't have enough of either kind to knit the whole thing. I'm pleased with the results, though; the lighter yarn gives it a nice soft edge. You could, of course, knit the entire shawl in a single type of yarn, and many different weights would work.

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-23302628299353666342010-10-19T17:04:00.000-05:002010-10-19T17:04:09.203-05:00

Also, addendum to the last post: How many of you had or have an American Girl doll? Your daughters? Granddaughters? I got mine for Christmas when I was eight; a Samantha, one of the earlier ones before they Victorianized her hair and skin. She's currently wearing an outfit (one of many) that my mom sewed for her. I used to pore over those catalogs. Pretty much everything in them was too

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-88759465867587698672010-10-19T10:13:00.002-05:002010-10-24T00:04:55.148-05:00

Original intended release date: August 14, 2010. See explanatory post. We visited my folks last weekend, and Mom dug something out of storage... ...my secret weapon. Guys, she is getting a trousseau by the time I'm done here. For starters: Samantha Doll Mitts These fingerless mitts are worked in the round from the bottom up with a gusset thumb. A tiny bit of lace adds interest to the

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-80036737424620679132010-10-11T23:30:00.000-05:002010-10-11T23:30:21.967-05:00

I'm a Project Runway junkie. Even though I roll my eyes at the drama, hate most of the clothes, and disagree with most of the judging, I can't help watching it. It's fun. The past couple of seasons they've included a challenge where the contestants get to design their own fabric, and this is presented as a rare, precious opportunity. "Most designers can only dream of creating their own fabric,"

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-40009248474003885642010-10-10T00:09:00.000-05:002010-10-10T00:09:58.181-05:00

Original intended release date: August 7, 2010. See explanatory post. This tam was inspired by a button from my button box, which I was rifling through after last week's futile search. This may be the first thing I've made that is neither baby- nor adult-sized; I had to borrow an obliging neighbor to pose for photos. The mohair is optional; I wanted a halo, and Debbie Bliss Cathay, while very

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-37651927245489365682010-10-01T23:10:00.001-05:002010-10-01T23:11:29.680-05:00

Original intended release date: July 31, 2010. See explanatory post. I recently saw a sketch of a Turkish costume with this nifty cross-in-an-oval motif going down the pleated front, and long bell sleeves nipped in by cuffs. This is how those two things translated to a toddler cardigan for my little turkey. Download PDF Now Little Turkey is a simple cardigan worked flat from the bottom

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-43688249249815259262010-09-30T23:59:00.000-05:002010-09-30T23:59:05.006-05:00

I see you. As promised in yesterday's poll results post, here's a peek at the next pattern. It needs buttons yet. I decided five sapphire-blue 3/4-inch buttons would be just the thing, and of course I don't have anything answering that description in my button box. (I sold about 2/3 of the contents of my button box at a garage sale three years ago when I was moving to Iowa and trying to scrape

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-20497292479118891222010-09-29T22:39:00.000-05:002010-09-29T22:39:15.101-05:00

The poll results are in, and I've removed it from the front page. For future reference, here are the results: Which small projects would you most like to see patterns for? Gloves and Mittens - 14 votes Baby Clothes - 12 votes Toys - 12 votes Scarves - 8 votes Hats - 7 votes Household items (washcloths, etc.) - 6 votes Other (detail in comments) - 1 vote Whoever chose "Other" never did detail

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-8172564616387275312010-09-22T18:59:00.001-05:002010-09-22T19:00:40.380-05:00

Original intended release date: July 24, 2010. See explanatory post. I know, I just published a freebie yesterday, but the testing is finally done on this shawl and I was too excited to wait. My mother-in-law is from New Jersey, and loves the ocean. The closest she can get to it most of the time is her semiannual trip to Mackinac Island in Michigan. (Being from the Upper Midwest myself, I've

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-54732098173693700942010-09-21T19:35:00.001-05:002010-09-21T19:37:20.071-05:00

Original intended release date: July 17, 2010. See explanatory post. I have been trying to figure out this skein of gorgeous blue-and-green silk for going on two years now. Some yarns are prettier in the skein, I think. First I made a scarf out of it, and then a shawl, and both were subsequently frogged. They just didn't look right. But then, thanks to the poll (still a few days left to vote!),

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-91063716011339748042010-09-15T22:29:00.001-05:002010-09-20T13:31:57.304-05:00

Original intended release date: July 10, 2010. See explanatory post. I have recovered sufficiently to pick up my knitting again, though Fabulous Hubby and Z are still a bit under the weather, poor dears. Thanks to those of you who have voted on the poll in the sidebar (and it's not too late to vote if you haven't already!) Looks like baby clothes are all right (and I've got a few things on the

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-5158076742956018522010-09-11T20:42:00.000-05:002010-09-11T20:42:50.941-05:00

I was hoping to post another pattern in the race to catch up today, but we are all sick at the House of Running Jack. Fabulous Husband got the worst of it and reflected, as he lay chugging Gatorade, that it would be nice if there were a restaurant that offered toast and broth on its drive-thru menu. I can't say I disagree. Anyway, I hope to get the pattern up tomorrow instead. It's for baby

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-72697830041898782942010-09-08T22:24:00.001-05:002010-09-14T10:16:04.023-05:00

Original intended release date: July 3, 2010. See explanatory post. This week's pattern, much like Basic Baby Mitts from Week Six, is not fancy. My Z is a little walker now, and requires shoes when we're out of doors. She had exactly one pair that fit her--a darling little pair of soft-soled slip-ons--and I broke the elastic on one of them and now it won't stay on her foot. So, rather than

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-10446143702959722142010-09-04T22:12:00.000-05:002010-09-04T22:12:18.568-05:00

Original intended release date: June 26, 2010. See explanatory post. Halfway there! Granted, two months later than I thought, but still. A milestone. I have twenty-six more patterns to my name than I did this time last year. How crazy is that? I love the nifty things you can do with double knitting--using two (or more) strands of yarn to create a double thickness of fabric--and this pattern is

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-56648812738247223552010-09-01T14:38:00.001-05:002010-09-01T15:37:22.911-05:00

Original intended release date: June 19, 2010. See explanatory post. This started out as a pair of dragon-shaped baby mittens, but then I had the notion that if I left the mouth open, her little fingers could wiggle out like "fire". (Of course, getting pictures of the thing in action is next to impossible with a toddler. You'll have to take my word for it.) Download PDF Now Hatchling

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-69718653389729345642010-08-23T14:14:00.001-05:002010-09-23T09:04:35.250-05:00

September 22: The pattern is now available. If you are behind on your big project, (really, really, really behind), for goodness' sake don't decide to do a shawl, even if it did turn out kinda pretty. (Typing it up now; then sending to testers; then sticking to a STRICT DIET of small projects until we're all caught up. Really. I mean it this time.)

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-43459055978016620022010-08-05T13:26:00.000-05:002010-08-05T13:26:51.179-05:00

I was On Vacation, a nice lovely long one, over the weekend, and so the new pattern is not quite finished, but here's a peek: Also, Hestia is now on sale. Now's as good a time as any to get some Christmas knitting done, right?

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-66233750106717594232010-07-27T22:05:00.000-05:002010-07-27T22:05:37.854-05:00

Original intended release date: June 12, 2010. See explanatory post. This is setting me back even a little farther behind than I was already, but I had to keep it under wraps as long as I could because someone is getting it as a gift this weekend. I love this cow. I don't love everything I knit; I don't even love every pattern I've published as part of this project. But I LOVE this cow. I love

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-4911860862069890332010-07-17T13:11:00.001-05:002010-07-17T13:13:18.654-05:00

Original intended release date: June 5, 2010. See explanatory post. Fab Hubby said I should call this one "Tuna Net" because it looks like a fish net floating on the water. (He also liked the unblocked version better. Something about the bumps being "grippy". You be the judge.) Download PDF Now Floating Triangles is a square dishcloth knitted flat in two colors. It uses slipped stitches and

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-8132584522959436162010-07-10T09:23:00.000-05:002010-07-10T09:23:59.032-05:00

Original intended release date: May 29, 2010. See explanatory post. My husband recently showed me the movie Braveheartfor the first time. He saw it quite young, as there's a Wallace somewhere way back on his mother's side and the film was deemed "family history". (You can imagine my amusement when my husband had to amend this while we were watching it with, "Hang on, the historically accurate

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-65341830920933213472010-07-07T08:52:00.000-05:002010-07-07T08:52:11.787-05:00

FH and Z, being encouraging. So, shortly after my last post, I missed posting that Saturday's pattern. It wasn't for lack of trying; the photographic evidence has been purged, but I'd gone through three disastrous attempts at finished objects by the time the deadline passed. After that I went into a bit of a funk and declared I'd been an idiot to think I could finish any sort of creative

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-68887377313500468462010-05-24T14:25:00.000-05:002010-05-24T14:25:56.502-05:00

As Susan so kindly pointed out, Unstrung was recently chosen as the Free Knitting Pattern of the Day at Daily Knitter. (Some of you may have gotten here from there; Welcome! I hope you like the patterns!) While I'm flattered by the unexpected attention (I have no idea who brought Unstrung to the Daily Knitter's attention--it wasn't me), it does put me in a bit of a pickle. Those of you who've

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-20044079946171114702010-05-22T15:26:00.000-05:002010-05-22T15:26:45.910-05:00

Fabulous Husband mentioned in passing last week that an eyepatch that curved outward might come in handy. I don't think this is quite what he had in mind, but he seemed amused. My Eye! Patch is knit in the round using scrap yarn. It fastens around the head with crocheted chains. Infinite variations are possible--anything from a plain black patch to buggy alien eyes. Yarn: You will need

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-55625250136478340002010-05-15T21:09:00.003-05:002010-08-05T13:58:54.887-05:00

After last week, I got a bit jealous of Z and decided I wanted a pair of slippers, too. Normally I am a long sock sort of girl, but some chilly mornings (even in May), I don't really feel like wrestling with the thigh-highs. I just want a cosy pair of slippers. And now I have them, and so can you. Hurrah! Hestia is a pattern for cabled house slippers worked in the round. Price: $4.50 (USD)

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-56311537716925413082010-05-08T22:55:00.001-05:002010-07-10T09:49:54.615-05:00

By the time I post this, it will be Mother's Day in some parts of the States. This being my first proper Mother's Day, Fabulous Husband decided to make a run up to it by giving me a package of exotic chocolates every day this week (my favorite was the chocolate-covered bacon), and top it off with yarn (angora! it is in the mail and I am so excited! I love getting yarn in the mail!), and THEN when

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-82323520094637537712010-05-01T22:34:00.000-05:002010-05-01T22:34:27.987-05:00

This is my one hundredth post on this blog. Meep! I wish I had something more exciting than a cupholder to share with you. If only last week's pattern had been the hundredth post--it's gone over really well, and is already my third-most favorited on Ravelry. I used up the ends of the Mauch Chunky I had from making the Wishbone Hat and Bottle Rocket for this. I do love the colors available for

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-67701934488968121302010-04-24T17:34:00.003-05:002010-07-13T14:36:40.039-05:00

I have a bit of a fascination with dropped stitches as a design feature, but most of the patterns I've seen that incorporate them use stitches that drop all the way from the top down to the bottom. What if you contained the dropped stitches so you could make whatever sort of pictures you wanted? I wondered. Download PDF Now Note: If you downloaded this pattern on or before July 13, 2010,

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-18644276258226965372010-04-17T12:34:00.001-05:002010-07-10T09:50:54.939-05:00

You may have noticed that the blog has been sparse except for the pattern-a-week posts lately. I wish I could tell you that this is because I am extra busy making super awesome stuff behind the scenes, but the truth is that Fab Hubby bought me Sims 2. There. Now you know. This week's pattern was knitted with what I had left over from a skein of Dream in Color Classy after I knitted an entire

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-39795301143569054842010-04-10T14:17:00.001-05:002010-07-10T09:51:17.024-05:00

When I was about halfway through this I asked my husband if he could guess what it was. "A bottle cozy?" he hazarded, proving that, Fabulous as he is, he sometimes lacks imagination. Fortunately I didn't knit this for him. Download PDF Now Bottle Rocket is a simple shaker toy for your little astronaut-to-be. It is knit around a 12-oz plastic soft drink bottle. Price: This pattern is

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-62561991313166266522010-04-03T20:57:00.000-05:002010-04-03T20:57:43.595-05:00

So there I was, chugging along on Take Two of the sweet little baby cardigan for my Z, and I finally finished the ribbing and was ready to take it off the circular and add sleeves. Exciting! But as I bound off the stitches, I began to realize the horrible truth: I had knit a hat. (Fabulous Hubby snuck into the photo while the cardihat was creeping over my eyes. You may notice my wild mountain

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-59341357235021155032010-03-27T23:35:00.051-05:002010-03-28T00:20:28.594-05:00

I was working on a baby cardigan this week that's turning out to be trickier than anticipated (short story: short rows). I had to rip back and restart it. By the time I realized I wasn't going to finish the pattern in time for this week, it was Friday. As it happened, I recently spring-cleaned my computer, and found a bunch of old text files hiding in a partitioned drive, one of which was a

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-8126389148063686932010-03-20T23:11:00.000-05:002010-03-20T23:11:07.233-05:00

This week's pattern was born because sometimes I just get tired of using my junk mail as bookmarks. I decided to make something that would be just as handy, only prettier. The yarn is left over from a pair of gloves I made for my mom when I was just learning how to knit. I should make her new ones. Hmm. This is worked in 2x1 broken rib, which is my new favorite all-purpose stitch pattern: it's

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-46079542051548080112010-03-20T22:51:00.001-05:002010-03-20T23:00:44.094-05:00

This week's pattern will be up on its own page in a minute. I just wanted to keep the babbling separate from the pattern. This week has kicked my butt. For the first half, Z was beset with both a nasty cold and the appearance of her first tooth. (Which, yay, but poor kid can't seem to catch a break.) For the last couple of days, while she's made nearly a full recovery, I've gotten whatever cold

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-5873789235342082622010-03-14T12:21:00.006-05:002010-07-10T09:51:55.806-05:00

For those of you keeping score at home, I did get this pattern up on Rav late last night, but was unable to make a blog post because Z woke up with a fever, and, well, baby trumps blog. I have this problem with hats for children: I can never get them to come out the right size. Two years ago, I attempted to make my then-2-year-old niece a hat for her birthday. I would sneak the finished objects

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-32641239354651790542010-03-13T13:50:00.000-06:002010-03-13T13:50:14.111-06:00

The squid pattern is seriously messing with me, you guys. I think I'm going to have to chart the whole thing. I've got about 17 rows done, and that's only after hours of messing about with paper and pencil and deciding where it makes the most sense to start the rows because of the overlapping tentacles and swapping back and forth between two similar but nonidentical knitting fonts to get all the

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-18269585040930149482010-03-11T10:36:00.000-06:002010-03-11T10:36:38.377-06:00

Poll up in the sidebar: Which shoulder do you use when you're carrying a baby? Inquiring minds want to know. (I'll let you know why later.)

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-71473382133830120042010-03-08T14:53:00.000-06:002010-03-08T14:53:37.725-06:00

We're having a bit of both here and I am no end of pleased. For one thing, a week's worth of 40-degree weather means that the sidewalks are navigable again, and taking a daily walk with Z has done wonders for my sanity. This month's Project Yarnway challenge is to make something out of materials that were not originally intended for knitting or crocheting. I knew an "unconventional materials"

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-26746897563550685732010-03-06T15:30:00.000-06:002010-03-06T15:30:17.554-06:00

When I cast on for this it was still FREEZING outside, and a cozy hat seemed like a good idea. Today? Today it is 40 degrees and raining. Go figure. At least I got to see some of my birthday yarn--Kraemer Yarns Mauch Chunky--in action. It's a lovely deep blue-purple, with strands of red and yellow and green mixed in. The yarn is sturdy and not particularly soft (so I wouldn't make a scarf out of

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-33893482795437549252010-03-04T14:21:00.000-06:002010-03-04T14:21:39.678-06:00

Good grief, it is Thursday. As you can see, this week's pattern is still on the needles. At the beginning of the week it was still freezing here in Iowa, so I cast on for a hat with some of the chunky yarn I got for my birthday last year. I managed to ram what there is of it so far onto my head for a photo. And there you can see that the Big Idea part of the hat has already been finished,

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-17957257074655028152010-03-01T13:11:00.000-06:002010-03-01T13:11:24.275-06:00

Both the amateur and professional runways of Project Yarnway are open for voting now on Ravelry. Lots of pretties on both, and you can vote for more than one design. (If you're not on Ravelry, you should be.) (Hint hint nudge nudge: My entry has sixteen arms and four tentacles. If tentacles are not your thing, I totally understand.)

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-6285229038455858452010-02-28T16:14:00.000-06:002010-02-28T16:14:25.964-06:00

I got my squid mitts in for Project Yarnway just under the wire. (Was very nearly sunk last night by not being able to find a needle to sew the eyes on, but eventually dug one out of my box of beading supplies.) This is going to be a beast of a pattern to write up, not to mention get test knit. Even with extensive notes and charts already written down, I'm not looking forward to turning it

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-31520734801563610342010-02-27T15:19:00.001-06:002010-11-24T12:03:29.112-06:00

That's kind of a fun word, googie. Hee. Not as fun as squeegee or defenestrate, but up there. I tried one more tweak to this after yesterday's post, and although the finished washcloth still had a few lumps, a wash and a good blocking fixed them. Callooh callay! So if you were thinking of making these as a gift, I'd recommend blocking them first. If they're for personal use, I wouldn't bother.

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-83972647317788984692010-02-26T13:46:00.005-06:002010-02-26T14:09:59.917-06:00

The Thing from the previous post is what you see on the left in the top picture. The goal of this exercise is in the bottom right.My Fabulous Husband really, really digs Googie architecture. (See also: Mid-century modern, retro-futurism, Paleo-Future, The Incredibles, the Jetsons.)I thought it would be neat to knit something with that vibe. But the problem with that is that there is precious

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-50264439810061171972010-02-22T10:32:00.004-06:002010-02-22T11:00:26.047-06:00

Z was amused for about two seconds by my first attempt at next Saturday's pattern. It didn't turn out anything like what I was picturing. I'm on take two now. To be honest, I'd expected to have more artifacts of my inability to visualize my knitting by this point. Any guesses?

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-25923017780512153272010-02-20T20:19:00.002-06:002010-02-20T20:30:34.515-06:00

My mom gave me a skein of stripey wool for Christmas. A couple of weeks ago I picked it up and started knitting. Immediately I loved the colors of the stripes. They reminded me of a bouncy ball. And so the Bouncy Dress was born.Price: $6.00 (USD)Bouncy Dress is a simple baby dress designed to show off self-patterning or variegated yarn. It is worked in a combination of flat and circular knitting.

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-25426113577424536352010-02-18T20:53:00.004-06:002010-02-18T21:12:59.743-06:00

I'm much better today, but my Z still has a cold and Fab Hubby has succumbed to whatever bug it was I had. Ah, marriage. This marks the first time that everyone in my family has been sick but me. (I'm not counting the times before Z was born and FH was sick.) I hate that they're sick, but I love that I'm here to take care of them. People always tell you "Take care of yourself!" when you're not

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-24156108798369012862010-02-17T13:29:00.002-06:002010-02-17T13:45:04.123-06:00

We are a couple of sickies today, my Z and I, she enduring a nasty cold and I recovering from an unknown variety of stomach bug. It is not our best day ever. But I did take the promised better pictures of Avant-Ski, which can be seen in the previous post.Fun fact: Doing an eye-of-partridge heel in two colors, alternating colors every two rows, will give you a vertically striped heel. This is one

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-61639019058265934602010-02-13T20:11:00.005-06:002010-07-10T09:52:36.469-05:00

This week has been a bit of a blur, honestly, and I know I'm coming in a bit later than usual in the day with this week's pattern. So the photos aren't the best, but I'll take better ones tomorrow when the light is good (Ed: Better photos now appearing below), and the pattern is FINISHED and that's what counts in this project. (It took several tries, too. Z's feet have grown much bigger than I

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-83481915177589342472010-02-10T10:35:00.002-06:002010-02-10T10:50:21.090-06:00

Briefly: This week's pattern is probably going to be baby socks, next week's pattern will be the striped baby dress if the testers finish on time, and Z is *thisclose* to crawling. Oh boy.The first challenge for Project Yarnway is to knit (or crochet) something that "expresses who we are as a designer" (a familiar phrase, if you watch PR at all) using only yarn and needles that we already own. I

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-947562630120690932010-02-06T21:06:00.003-06:002010-03-14T11:55:42.250-05:00

Scroll to the bottom if you're just here for the pattern. This week I am re-setting the bar about as low as it can go. I didn't realize, when I started this thing, that I'd feel so much pressure to always come up with something original and innovative, and to top whatever else I'd done to that point. (Obviously I haven't always topped myself, but I still feel the need to try.) And any rational

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-50020062225995060452010-02-02T14:03:00.002-06:002010-02-02T16:13:26.540-06:00

I have no in-progress knitting pictures to show you today because I SUCK. Instead, enjoy this picture of me and my adorable daughter.Here my darling Z is modeling a little outfit that was originally sewn by her great-grandma for her grandma (my mother). It's in pristine condition. How's that for workmanship?My problem is that I totally dropped the ball and did not get the pattern for the baby

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-3678692448433293352010-01-30T09:02:00.002-06:002010-07-10T09:53:00.000-05:00

This will not go down in my personal history as my most exciting or innovative design. But it might be my daughter's new favorite toy. Good enough for me. Download PDF Now The Wrist Rattle is a simple toy for a baby. The bells are stitched between two layers of knitted fabric, so there is no choking hazard. The pattern uses a provisional cast on and kitchener stitch (instructions for both are

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-34424433401903516612010-01-29T13:17:00.002-06:002010-01-29T13:25:25.573-06:00

Project Yarnway.* To repeat what I already said over there:OH I AM SO IN.(If, at any point during this competition, you hear me say that I am not here to make friends, and/or that I really need to step up my game and prove to the judges that I deserve to be here** please a) smack me, and b) take a drink, because that’s how we play it at my house.)*(Ravelry link; if you're not on Rav, you should

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-34936867693137149642010-01-28T12:43:00.002-06:002010-01-28T12:43:41.878-06:00

I think I've solved the Week Five problem. See you Saturday.

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-41416413597529503552010-01-26T13:18:00.002-06:002010-01-26T13:33:21.205-06:00

No matter how I style it, I hate that scarf. There is no way I can let that scarf be the pattern for Week Five.Want to know the worst part? (Well, the worst part may be the smell, and I grant you this is not making me view any other part of the thing charitably. Want to know the second-worst part?) It's nothing special. It is a skinny scarf with a lace bit on the border. There is nothing about

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-17094274399111235582010-01-24T13:15:00.000-06:002010-01-24T13:16:16.015-06:00

That's all I have to say about that.

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-30208033949626914532010-01-23T00:21:00.004-06:002010-01-30T09:20:35.158-06:00

Visions of Susan Sto Helit danced in my head as I was designing these mitts. The result may not exactly suit everyone's favorite neo-Goth Mary Poppins, but I like them anyway.These are really very simple to knit. It's the little details that make them worthwhile--the lacy cast-on, the ruffled bind-off, the splash of color in the flower petals. I hope you enjoy them.Lady Susan is a simple pair of

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-76077470450198181432010-01-22T00:26:00.003-06:002010-01-22T02:56:52.458-06:00

1. Purchase yarn from thrift store. Muse that no matter which way one looks at it, five cents for 50g of alpaca seems like a good deal. 2. Knit scarf from thrift store alpaca. Note that in unblocked form it resembles sheep guts. Consider calling it "Haggis". Chuckle at own wit. Ha ha.3. Prepare to block scarf at 11:55 p.m. when household and all reasonable persons are asleep. Get scarf wet.4.

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-3739261171538755412010-01-20T23:39:00.002-06:002010-01-20T23:42:46.254-06:00

1. Today, WIP stands for Wendy Is Panicking.2. I scrapped the project with the purple yarn completely.3. I started another project, a baby dress, which is charming and adorable but is taking me a decent amount of time to finish, which means it will take test knitters a decent amount of time to finish, which means it is the pattern for Week Six at the earliest, not Week Five.4. I started a third

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-20655908581550871982010-01-18T12:35:00.001-06:002010-01-18T12:38:35.173-06:00

Happy birthday, Grandpa!Well, the design for Week Four is safely off to the test knitters, and I was noodling around with some sock yarn and beads, trying to come up with a stitch pattern for a lightweight scarf for Week Five.A few inches into it I finally got into a groove, and found something I liked. You can see it in the top few rows, a kind of lace oval pattern."Hey, this is pretty easy!" I

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-46683092426022233592010-01-16T13:53:00.004-06:002010-01-24T07:11:56.961-06:00

The name "Firstfall" popped into my head while I was working on these. It's the title of a story that compares the first fall of snow to the first time you fall in love. In my case it also refers to the first yarn I fell in love with. (Go ahead and make fun.) But I like that all those things are wrapped up in these mitts--snow, yarn, and even my Fabulous Husband who nudged me into doing this

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-68880503360873744482010-01-16T10:46:00.003-06:002010-01-16T11:11:52.407-06:00

Don't worry, the new pattern will be up later today. This is mostly housekeeping.First of all, thank you to all the people who took the time to vote in the poll, to leave a comment, and/or to contact me privately. I appreciate your wisdom. (Also, commenters: I can appreciate it if you want to remain anonymous, but if you have a Blogger account, consider making your profile public. When I click on

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686450668931378293.post-21530835433221883762010-01-12T10:26:00.002-06:002010-01-12T13:42:12.908-06:00

Here's my conundrum.The Pattern a Week project has been going, in some respects, remarkably well. I've completed three designs in three weeks (which is more than I completed in the three years prior to this) and am feeling good about what's coming up. The two I've released so far have had lots of Rav downloads (numbering in the hundreds) and nice comments.On the other hand, I didn't just start

Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09856201399342470090noreply@blogger.com3