Something's Fishy....

How to make your own knitting needles

There are many DIY instructions for knitted tools online, but here is a very basic Do-it-yourself instruction sheet for making your own knitting needles. With all the rage of wooden needles, this seems like a great way to express your creativity - and never get your needles mixed up with anyone else's

DIY KNITTING NEEDLES

101 uses for knitting needles

Did you know that even if you don't knit there are LOTS of reasons for having knitting needles around?

Here are a few (not quite 101) uses for knitting needles that are NOT KNITTING. As a quick disclaimer - I've not used my own needles for all of these things. Do you have anything to add to the list?? Let me know!

1. back scratcher
2. ear scratcher
3. shawl pins
4. book marks
5. hair pins
6. self defense
   
7. pointers
8. unjamming printers and shredders
9. shaking at husband or child to emphasize point in a discussion
10. scratching down a cast
11. plant stakes
12. unlock the bathroom door from the outside when someone locks themselves inside

13. unclogging the vacuum cleaner
14. reaching things on high shelves
15. poking holes in packages to make opening them easier
16. fairy wands for dress up
17. King and queen scepters
18. poking baked potatoes so they don’t explode
19. fishing out cat toys and other small objects from underneath bookshelves and couches
20. causing self-inflicted injury
21. unclog bathroom drains
22. open and close air vents on the ceiling
23. fix minor car annoyances
24. percussion performance (drum sticks)
25. prodding animals
26. pushing broken stove buttons
27. pushing little reset buttons
28. stretch piercing
29. scrolling on ipod
30. typing on touch screen devices (blackberry, GPS, etc)
31. curling gift ribbon
32. dress up sword
33. turners for sewers - turns handles inside out, gets corners nice and square
34. hold cucumber slices in an aquarium for fish
35. shish kabobs
36. clean out the valves in sippy cups
37. cake testers
38. mandrels for making jump rings
39. pulling up drain plugs
40. bent for making jewelry - like bracelets
41. playing fetch with an animal
42. cleaning lint out of washing machines and dryers
43. open stuck CD and DVD trays
44. cat toy
45. turn abelskiver (Scandinavian spherical pancakes, lately marketed as “pancake puffs”)

46. trussing a chicken
47. chopsticks
48. making chain-mail rings
49. making antennae on a stuffed animal
50. clean under nails
51. clean between keys on computer keyboard
52. measuring stick
53. poking cables through a wall
54. poking air holes in the tops of containers to house little bugs or small animals
55. poking holes in tops of water bottle lids to make “squirt” bottles
56. keeping drivers awake on long trips (poke, poke)
57. juggling
58. de-tartering cats teeth
59. craft flag poles
60. make seed holes in the garden
61. hold seed packets for marking plant rows
62. poke through polymer clay beads
63. decorative markings on clay creations
64. toothpick
65. Javelin

Prayer Shawls

I really love the idea of prayer shawls. As one creates the shawl or wrap, they are to pray for the person they are stitching it for. Each stitch or cluster represents one prayer. Use the knitting (or crocheting) to FOCUS on the person you are praying for - it can help you keep them in your mind while you paticiently work through the shawl. Who couldn't use that kind of "blanketing" in prayer?

Shawls can be used for: those undergoing medical procedures; as a comfort after a loss or in times of stress; during bereavement; commitment or marriage ceremonies; birthing, nursing a baby; bridal shower or wedding gift; during an illness and recovery; ministering to others; graduation, birthday, anniversary, ordination, holiday gifts, charity, or just socializing...there are endless possibilities! Anyone who could use your prayers can benefit from the love and care (and PRAYER) that goes into making a prayer shawl!


There are many, many free patterns available for prayer shawls - and they come in all different shapes and sizes!

Lion Brand has 6 pages of free shawl pattern ideas

Crochet Central offers many free links for crocheted shawls

For those on Ravelry.com there are hundreds of free links, both crochet and knit


Is there someone in your life that needs to know that you care about them and pray for them regularly? Consider making them a prayer shawl - a "hug of prayers" so they can feel your love and encouragement around them any time they need it.

Close knit family!

Fun with Felting!

I love the science behind FELTING. A loosely knitted project becomes a well-woven dense fabric.

I took some lovely Patons SWS (soy wool stipes) and used two free patterns, the booga bag and fuzzy feet to create a unique gift for my mom - a pair of slippers and a matching bag to carry them in! I love how they turned out!

Ravelry links:
Booga Bag
Fuzzy Feet

Dying for an Experiment!

I've heard and read so much about dying one's on sock yarn, that my son and I decided to give it a try!

We started with a skein of undyed sock yarn

We rolled it into a center-pull ball

And knit from both ends (so the yarn was doubled) to make a flat rectangle (a "sock blank").

Using three colours of vibrant kool-aid

and three squirt bottles

my son drew a picture onto the sock blank - he decided to create a dinosaur, even though he knew full well that the original picture would not appear in the finished creation.

I think it looks pretty good!

We wrapped and microwaved the finished blank

then undid the sock blank and rolled the yarn into two identical balls - one for each sock.

I knit the socks, my son got excited

He was THRILLED with the results!

He calls them his "secret dinosaur socks" - no one knows why, unless he explains it.

All in all, I think they turned out very well, and what a fun experiment! My daughter is bugging to do a pair now - she wants pink, purple and yellow. I look forward to seeing what she comes up with!

Ravelry link HERE

Channel that knitting urge...

FO - Swing Top

Swing Top, take #2!
After a frustrating start to my swing top, featured in the Mother Daughter Knits book, it has turned out surprisingly well! I used the discontinued Katrina yarn (which is very elastic-stretchy) which I was concerned would stretch out terribly, but it hasn't at all!

I did make a few alterations, including changing the top pattern, since it disappeared into the ribs of the yarn.


Ravelry link HERE

seacell wool

Do you know what seacell is?

Seacell is made from seaweed fibers, and is thought to have antibacterial properties.
Seacell wool is made of seaweed fibers spun together with 100% merino wool for a lovely yarn!

I've taken a plunge into the exciting world of seacell fibers, beginning a a one-row long scarf with this delicious ball of "first flight" coloured yarn.

FO - Nova Scotia Scarf

I'm proud to show my finished Nova Scotia Scarf, using the Razor Shell Lace Scarf pattern from the One Skein Wonders book. I am so pleased - with the pattern, the feel of the yarn, everything - it's turned out beautifully!

I've never used angora before - and probably wouldn't have purchased it, but my wonderful husband took a trip up to Nova Scotia without me and he brought me home a treasure. He used knitmap.com to find a local yarn store, and he went up to pick out a special yarn for me.

This beautiful angora yarn is called "Peter Rabbit", by Fleece Artist. It's colour is "Marble Mountain" - perfect combination of pinks, purples and deep purple.

Now that I've used it once, I'd certainly be tempted to buy it again!

Ravelry link HERE

Some Assembly Required

SKIP and Stitch?

My son accompanied us to "Stitch and Pitch" a week or so ago, and is still talking about it! We were visiting my parents for dinner, and following the meal the parents sat around the table, playing a game of SKIP-BO, and I knit while waiting for my turn to come around. (hubby won, by the way) My son came up with the camera, and said "WOW, It's SKIP and Stitch!" He was quite impressed!

The Best Way to Travel!

The children have taken a keen interest in Mommy's main travelling past time - knitting!

They've each adopted their own version, suitable for their age, to make a fiber creation.


Sir J is using two short needles and yarn to make a scarf for one of his stuffed animals.



Lady R is using a french knitter (also known as a loom knitter or a knobby knitter) to make herself a necklace!


Sir C is using his hands to make... well, mostly just a mess! But he's having fun doing it, so we'll keep working at it!

It sure is a great way to travel - it is very quiet in the back seat as each concentrates on their own project!

Would you like to win??

Would you like to win some yarn and a pattern for the beautiful scarf, hat and mitts pictured? Just click HERE to enter to win - and a chance to look at some of the creators other beautiful patterns!

Would you like to win??

click HERE to submit an entry for a very cute knitting (or any kind of crafting, really) prize from a generous blogger! We can always use a freebie, can't we?? I don't know about you, but I love receiving special little trinkets in the mail!

Stitch and Pitch!

We took a trip to the BIG TO today! My hubby and I took our eldest son to his first Major League Baseball game! The blue Jays didn't fare very well, despite being at home - and being cheered on by a very energetic crowd. Sir J dutifully took his baseball glove in hopes of catching a home run ball.

The theme of the game was "Stitch and Pitch" - so attenders were encouraged to bring their knitting, crocheting, needle point, or any other such portable craft and work on it during the game. To my sons delight, although he did not catch a ball, his glove did come in handy! He caught a few of the free balls of yarn that were being thrown to the crowd! He is very excited to knit them up!

There were goodie bags handed out again this year - a bag that bragged "Stitch and Pitch" on the front containing 4 balls of yarn (up from the 1 ball received last year), patterns, a "soak" sample (hand knit wash), and and coupons for several of the local yarn stores, and a fiber festival that is coming up in October in the city! Last year I went alone with my hubby but this year I was better prepared - I brought along 5 other non-knitters to keep me company, and get bags themselves! We had a great time!

An especially big thank you goes to the ladies of Knit-o-matic who sat behind us and helped make it a memorable event for my son!

WHERE do you KNIT?

I've heard so often from people, as they watch me knit that they "just don't have the time". This always amuses me! We probably all have more time then we realize! How often do we make use of those little moments that come our way - bits of time that are spent waiting for things, or visiting when we could also be using our hands?

So, WHERE DO YOU KNIT??

I knit everywhere - seriously! I knit at home, I knit if there is a movie on, or the news showing. I knit while I call out spelling words for my son (he's homeschooled). I knit while I'm riding in the car or bus, waiting at the doctor's office, and while watching my children's soccer games. I knit at the park while my children play. I knit a few stitches while I'm making supper, waiting for a pot to boil. I knit while I visit with friends, or talk on the phone. I knit at meetings, I knit during my lunch hour, I knit while I memorize, I even knit at the shopping mall if I'm sitting for some reason. I knit everywhere I find a few moments of "wasted" time.

Does that mean I'm knitting constantly? No, of course it doesn't - there are plenty of times when I don't have any moments to fill, but it does mean that I try to be aware of the time that I do have, and use it accordingly.

So, before you tell me you don't have time, consider your days and the time that gets wasted while you wait for things, or commute, or watch tv, or talk on the phone - chances are that you DO have the time - you just need to make it work for you!

"Mother Daughter Knits" Book Review

It is not very often lately that I find a knitting book worth buying. There are SOOO many free patterns available on-line that purchasing knitting books and patterns has become quite unnecessary for many knitters! I also find that in so many pattern books I like one, two, or even three of the patterns, but it just doesn't justify the cost of the book for purchase.

When I picked up "Mother Daughter Knits" by Sally and Caddy Melville (Sally is the Mother, and Caddy the daughter), from the library, I expected to find a couple of patterns that I liked, but my expectations about ended there. To my complete surprise, however, I love just about every pattern in this book! To add to the uniqueness of this book, there are questions throughout that are answered by both Sally (the Mother) and Caddy (the Daughter), describing their own knitting styles, how they learned to knit, and where the pattern ideas came from. It was fun just to sit down and READ the book! I must say, I highly recommend it! I was pleasantly surprised by "Mother-Daughter Knits", and will be making at least three of the patterns from it - and probably more then that! The first (The swing top mentioned below) has already been cast on the needles. Another pattern has been requested for a Christmas gift, and still another looks like a promising style. The patterns are designed around shapes that flatter a woman's body, and they do a successful job of carrying out that goal.

If you aren't sure about buying it yet - look for it at your local library! It's worth the effort!

SOCKS

Diehard sock knitters will tell you that there's nothing like pulling a pair of handknit socks onto your feet. As a knitter who loves to knit socks and wears handknit socks as much as possible, I can testify to that. Just think--a pair of socks made specifically for your feet. Not your general foot size, made to stretch if needed, but made to your exact measurements.

I didn’t understand the “Joy of socks”. I had all sorts of excuses (I can buy them cheaper, they won’t last, etc), but then my sister-in-law asked me to make her a pair of sock-style slippers. She loved them, wore them out and asked for more, which I made again. Curious about her enjoyment of them (and not one to wear slippers myself, generally), I decided to make a pair my own size and try them for myself. I LOVED them! (and began to wear “slippers”!) Thus began my foray into sock knitting....

Now, more then 30 pairs later, I still continue to knit socks - in fact, I almost always have a pair on my needles as a portable project. 

WHY do I knit socks?? Let me tell you!

1. The array of sock yarns available today is dizzying. Sock yarns are made in just about any color you can imagine and in thousands of combinations and variations. If you want plain, one-color yarn, you got it. You want self-striping, to look more complex without being so? You got that, too. If you want sock yarn that mimics Fair Isle designs, guess what? It's there. The choices are practically endless.

2. Besides having your pick of color, there are tons of patterns made for socks. You don’t need to knit socks in a simple stockinette--although there is a beauty in simplicity. You can knit lacy socks, cabled socks, ribbed socks, and any combination you desire. What a fantastic way to learn a new stitch pattern - with a small sock!



3. There are so many fibers available for knit socks. Besides wool, you can knit socks in cotton or wool/cotton blends, wool/silk blends or even cashmere! There is even a sock yarn available that contains aloe so it softens your feet as you wear the socks (and it really does work!) Many sock yarns contain polyamide or nylon to make the socks more durable, an important consideration when you think about the fact that this product is designed to be walked on. My oldest hand knit socks are about 5 years old, and they are still holding up just fine - they don’t even show wear on the bottoms. So they do last!

4. Socks are a perfectly portable project. If you're a knitter who commutes to work or school on the bus or train, instead of dragging along a big sweater or afghan, you can bring your socks to work on. Socks-in-progress don't necessarily require their own bag, either--if your purse is roomy enough, you can stow the socks in there.

5. There are so many variations to making socks that you may find you have a preference for one. You can knit socks cuff down or toe up, you can use double-pointed needles (DPNs) or circular needles, one at a time or two at a time (or some people have tried 14 at a time - one pair for every day of the week!). Socks are so customizable - legs, cuffs, toes, heals, everything can be changed and sized specifically for someone's foot.




6. Socks are a relitively quick knit project (compared to the time it would take me to create an afghan), and I find great satisfaction in completing projects. And I like being able to tell people who ask “Where did you get those cute socks?” that I made them myself!

7. Socks still fit you after you lose or gain weight. Not so true about a sweater!

8. But, really, the main reason I knit socks is for the feel of them on my feet - so delicious, so warm, so perfect! I love hand knit socks! I wear them exclusively in the fall and winter except for when I’m working out - then it’s cotton store bought socks because I don’t feel so bad when I put a hole through them from the hard use!


If you've never knit socks before, now is a great time to learn. It's not as complex as you might think and like many sock knitters who've come before you, you may well find yourself addicted to making them.

Here are some pictures of socks that I've made... it's not all of them, but it's a good selection.

Enjoy!

A knitter's worst fear?

Well, I have the back, bottom of my swing top completed, and I started in on the top of the back - but horrors! My gauge has changed from the beginning to the end, and the beginning is a full 3 inches longer! (no added stitches, really!)

I guess I'll have to frog it :( (ripp-it, ripp-it, ripp-it). I guess it's better to notice it now then when the top is completed!

What makes you HAPPY?

Behold, the HAPPY SOCKS!

These socks have been so named by Lady R, who announced, after seeing them "Oh, Mommy, those are Happy socks! They make me happy just to look at them!"

(do you think she's hoping for a pair of her own?)

A collection of Finished Objects (FO'S)