The capelet has grown

I am so happy! This Thanksgiving weekend, I was able to knit a few more rows of the caplet. I even went to pick up two more skeins of yarn for it, just in case I needed them. I also learned a lesson..... buy extra skeins to finish a project. Even if you don't use them all, you have enough to "patch" in the future or even make a scarf.

Yes, I am a scarf knitter. My love of scarves stems from the fact that no gauge swatch is needed. lol. You can make the scarf as long or thin as you want and voila a masterpiece is created.

As for the cape, it is really pretty and the yarn is so forgiving that it is a pleasure to create. Since I felt that the cape would have been a bit shorter on me than on the model, I did add about 20 rows to it. It is my hope that it drapes nicely.

Blocking will be my next challenge. I have already read on blocking and have purchased a few pins to help me block the cape. I figure if the cape doesn't fit, I will have a very nice Christmas tree skirt.

On the cooking front, I have honestly made some of the best beef stew ever. My cooking ability gets better everytime I practice. It is heavy on the garlic, but oh sooooooo goood!

Today, I went blog reading.... everyone amazes me with all their creativity and gives me the incentive I need to push me to cross stitch bigger and better things. I am so in awe of the beautiful Mirabilia Round Robins I have seen on a few blogs and their preciseness. The hours and the love poured into the Round Robins can be seen. So from there I am sent in the direction of my Disney Neighborhood Round Robin. Here you find me hoping I can do it the justice it deserves.

Well, that is about it for today. It is my wish that all of those who celebrated Thanksgiving were truly blessed. May the upcoming holiday season bring out the best in all of us. May our joy spread thoughout our families and inspire others to see happiness everyday.

Thankful stitches.......

Pictures, Pictures and More Pictures

Sleeping on the job

There he is, sleeping on the job while "mommy" stitches away......bliss....I know, I know, he has such a hard life..... lol.......

Here are the pics that I have been promising for a while. I finally found my camera. From now on I will not let it out of my sight. Hope you enjoy them as much as I loved created them.

These are 4 of my crocheted scarves.

From bottom up:
Beige - variation of shell stitch
Ivory - variation of shell stitch
Black - crosshatch stitch
Turquoise - Sweet Pea Stitch

Dark Brown & Variegated Autumn colors -
created with rows of single,
double crochet & tassels.

CAPELET

close up of stitches and full view of knitted capelet

Those are all of the pictures for now. Once I finish posting them on this blog, I will go and start on my Holiday Exchange piece. Pictures of the holiday piece will be posted once receipient has it in her possession.

Happy stitching......

Knit, Purl & Yarn Over Too

Today I blog with great pride in my capelet. I am so thrilled with it that I plan to make it longer. Haven't been able to take pictures yet because I can't find my camera.

Other than that, I have gone through a bit of my yarn stash and noticed that I have a few skeins of yarn that I can use to make another capelet if I wish. I really think that I will do that if this project comes out well.

I have been reading lovely knitting blogs and cross stitch blogs. They inspire me to see what other crafters are creating. The enjoyment I receive from seeing new fabrics, threads, yarns and patterns is very empowering. Many of my ideas are a blend of lots of crafting tips found on blogs and my own thoughts.

A great big THANK YOU to all crafters who blog and welcome our peering eyes into their world.

Knitting stitches.......

I am not perfect

These days I am knitting a capelet. Part of my love for knitting is based on the fact that I need to be present to produce every stitch. It is not mindless for me as crochet sometimes is because I am a slow knitter. That means that I really have to focus on every stitch pattern.

It is my opinion that while I am knitting that it is the only time that I am really present in the now. Usually, I am planning this, that and the other thing which takes me to another time. Knitting keeps me focused and the patterns are so beautiful that they satisfy my need for creating sophisticated handmade accessories.

While knitting my capelet, I have really understood that I am not perfect. Sometimes I don't follow the pattern perfectly. I know that some of the lacy effects will be lost and I continue to knit and try to correct myself in the next row. Why? I think it is a metaphor for life itself. People make mistakes and try to either correct them or learn from them and not make them again.

There have been so many times that I just want to rip the work that I have done because I notice that parts of my knitting are not perfect, but I don't because if I rip it once, what will stop me from ripping it again? After all the ripping, what will I have? Experience in ripping and trying to correct my knitting for sure, but I want more. By continuing to knit the capelet I will at a certain point in time finish it. The stitches and the finished project will testify that I understand that I am not perfect. That in all my imperfections true beauty lies. It will mean to me that as the yarn forgives me I have forgiven myself for not being the perfect knitter. I am perfectly imperfect in the same way that the capelet will be beautifully perfect. We will be part of each other's beauty and accept each other as such.

I will remind myself of this during the challenging moments and the extremely happy moments.

Wishing you challenging stitches....

Went "shopping" in my crochet stash

Usually I am going through my cross stitch stash oohing and ahhing over all the designs that await my needle and thread. This time, while I went through another box of cross stitch magazines, I found a few crochet books that really caught my eye.

One thing about me that all my friends know is that I am very consistent. My tastes do not vary from year to year. So much so, that I still enjoy every cross stitch pattern, knitting pattern, quilting pattern and crochet pattern I have ever purchased. My tastes have not changed. My ambition has not changed. My love of needlecrafts has not changed.

You may be asking yourself, which books inspired this blog entry. Here they are in no particular order:

• Donna Kooler's Encyclopedia of Crochet, published by Leisure Arts, c. 2002.
  
  I really enjoyed the pictures of the 164 stitch patterns. They made me dream of all the scarves, shawls and sweaters that await my creativity. Both the word patterns and diagram patterns are easy to understand. Awesome book! I really enjoy all of Kooler Studio's books whether cross stitch or crochet. I understand that they have knitting books as well. (That is best left for another blog entry).

• Simple Crochet for Cherished Babies, c. 2003 Jane Davis.
  
  The patterns are sooooooo cute! Really inspiring book that makes you want to have many live "models". These are truly adorable items to crochet. My hope is that I will have at least one more opportunity to make these projects to envelop a baby of my own. Once I get started crocheting these, I don't think I will be able to stop...... may need twins or triplets.
  
  
• Crochet Today (magazine) Nov./Dec. 2008
  
  I liked the patterns in this month's magazine. My favorite was the Sparkly Scarf. What can I say, I enjoy making scarves. They are easy and fast. They are very portable and easy. I like the repetitive action, once the pattern is learned and being able to start crocheting at a moment's notice. The colorful blankets were nice too! Those take a bit longer, but are well worth it.

All of this reminds me that I don't think I have ever posted pictures of my scarves here. I will get a few of them together and post them next time.

As for my cross stitching...... I haven't done much these days. All I have done is to meet with the contractor and search for blueprints.

Wishing you a stitching week......