Copper Tornado Toggle Clasp

This is the second tornado toggle I have created. Since I have no immediate plans for this toggle clasp, I thought I would leave it simply copper-colored, with no contrasting crystals. The technique is pure fun.

Norwegian Teddy Bear Cardigan

Just in time for the cooler weather, Mr. Teddy models his smart cardigan.

Tornado Toggle Clasp

I took an online class from beaducation.com for this toggle clasp technique, and I'm very pleased with the course and the instructor. This is my first attempt and was a lot of fun to do.
I highly recommend this course!!! There are two pieces in the picture, in case you can't figure it out: the toggle and the ring. Since they aren't attached to anything yet, it may cause you some confusion!!

Colors of the Rainbow Bracelet

Sterling silver handforged links with gorgeous handmade (not by me!!) lampwork beads.

Teddy Bear Norwegian Cardigan

This is a steeked, stranded Norwegian cardigan for my granddaughter's stuffed animal. I'm using my own personal teddy bear as a model, but he doesn't look so happy. It must be because the sweater is not finished yet, don't you think?
I'm making this sweater up as I go, using traditional Norwegian techniques, and untraditional Lion Brand Vanna's Choice acrylic yarn leftover from alligator scarves. The neckband is the only remaining part to be finished now. I even found yellow buttons to match in my button stash.

Grape Cabled Cardigan

This is the cardigan I am knitting for the final project of The Knitting Guild of America's course Finishing Techniques. The yarn is Louet Gems Merino Sport weight in grape, and is wonderful yarn, but very springy so that the ribs really contract. It does stretch alright but I'm wondering about blocking it. Time will tell. The pattern has the cables on the center front and just ribbing everywhere else, and is a V neck. It calls for 6 buttons but I may put in more, simply because I don't want the closing to gap. The pattern is free from Garnstudio web site:
http://www.garnstudio.com/lang/en/visoppskrift.php?d_nr=66&d_id=6&lang=us

Black and White Bracelets

More of the twisted wire bracelets. These bracelets are better if worn in the summer, when there are no coats to cover them up and catch.

Pink Wuxi Scarf

This is the most amazing silk and merino yarn ! I bought it in Baltimore a couple of weeks ago during a boating trip, and have been anxiously awaiting inspiration. The scarf is from Victorian Lace Today, and was a very quick knit. Can't you just see how it glows from within??

Bronze Age Wire Bracelet

This was so much fun to make. I had a little box of mixed beads and found the perfect colored wire to go with it, and twisted away.

These are also the first pictures taken with my newly purchased light tent. I have a feeling a new camera is in store for me soon too, as my current little camera's battery is failing, and it's expensive to buy a new one. The camera is a SONY Cybershot, and is quite a few years old, but just keeps taking great pictures.

Wire Bracelet

This has a core of 10 mm periwinkle beads on a nylon C-lon base, with 2 crocheted wire and bead strands twisted on it, and then a final strand of strung beads on wire twisted around that.

Yet Another Alligator Scarf

Here it is, in the wild, eating a small pumpkin!!! Knit with Vanna's Choice in dusty purple, and acceptable for acrylic. This completes the fifth one.

Shawl Pins Created

My many lace shawls are not so easy to wear, so I was in need of some pins to keep them on. My knitting friend Shafer came to our knitting group earlier this week with a pin she has just made, which was keeping her sweater fastened, so I felt inspired to try my hand at it too.

The curlicue pin is my favorite, and includes my own polymer clay beads. They are incredibly fast to make and so much fun.

Completed Norwegian Rose Cardigan

Hot off the needles, here it is. I found the perfect buttons at Joann Fabrics and I'm so very pleased with this sweater. The button band fabric is so very firm and even, with the exception of my buttonholes, which are not perfect. Next time.....

Almost Completed

I'm on the home stretch now, with a little bit of duplicate stitching to be done, and buttonhole stitching around the button holes. The actual buttons are not procured yet.

It turned out quite well, I think, but I wish I had knit it a little firmer. The yarn is not heavily twisted and is very soft, but I like it with more twist.

Sleeve Lined Up

I am getting close to the end of the knitting of the sleeves. The second sleeve is a couple inches shy of being finished also, but now I am awaiting more yarn. I steamed the sleeve but not the body, and lined them up, just so, in order to get more of an idea of how they will go together. Soon, I shall have to do the machine stitching and cutting of the steeks. Naturally, I procrastinate on this step, even though I have done this before. I'm a procrastinator - what can I say?

I'm really liking this pattern and the use of the rose border is genius.

Max's Booties

I made these yesterday for a friend's new grandson. This was the first time I used this pattern and it's really cute. The booties used up 1/2 oz of fine fingering yarn and were knit on #0 dpns. To make the I-cord strings, I used my handy-dandy mechanical spool knitter, which churns out the I-cord with the simple turn of a handle.

Alligators Stalking

Here is a pair of garter stitch alligator scarves. See my previous post for more details about the pattern. These are knit with Lion Brands Vanna's Choice acrylic. While I am not happy knitting acrylic, my grandchildren will not wear wool, and this will be easy care. There has been no pilling so the yarn may work out well. I am in LOVE with this pattern and have two more colors which are waiting for more alligators.

Rose Border Duplicate Stitch

I couldn't live with the original rose border which I totally knit so it went to the frog pond.

Here are the closeups of the duplicate stitch I am doing. You can see the progression that occurs: I knit in just the green areas, and then did the duplicate stitch to make the completed band. It takes some time to get used to it, but I sort of like doing the embroidery on the sweater. It sure does look a whole lot better.

I am starting to think about the front bands, and what I should do with them. Maybe the duplicate stitch, but then again, maybe just gray with the row of red on the edge, as the neckband shows in the original design.

Body Complete

This is the completed body of the Drops Design 27-2 Norwegian cardigan. The pattern is free if you click the link. The yarn used is Karisma, 100% superwash wool, and is the yarn for which the pattern was designed. It's very nice yarn.

Here are pics of the sweater thus far. I will now machine-stitch the steeks for the sleeves and cut them open, and then knit the shoulders together with a three-needle bindoff.

I have had quite a few problems along the way. My major, major problem has always been my tension. I had to frog part of M3 chart (rows 29-38), because of my tension, since I could not live with the results. I am still trying out new techniques for stranding and weaving, and knitting with both strands in my left hand and sometimes one strand in each hand, attempting to see what works for me. I ultilmately replaced the original rows with another chart which had shorter floats, and it was much better for me. I also had to skip a few rows of M3 in order to get the length required for the diagram of the sweater. My row gauge was not totally consistent either.

THEN, the really hard part: M4. Talk about wonky tension!!!! I carried multiple colors in my left hand, and the gray background in my right. I sort of picked out the color in my left as needed. I am not really happy with my work in this area, as the the floats were really too loose on the back. (I sort of used the Philosopher's Wool method every other stitch, but I was so concerned about the floats being too tight, that I overcompensated. I have pulled up some of the longer floats on the back to diminish the size of the stitch to make it more even.) It became better as I worked. However, I can't stand to think about ripping it out and starting again. I'm thinking that duplicate stitching may be the way to go, but I was simply determined to get better at my knitting technique, and it IS better, although not up to my standards. :-) I am going to let this sit overnight again, and maybe 'think' about redoing M4.

At this point, I can't even consider doing M4 for the button bands!!!!! Stay tuned.

Embossed Leaves Socks

These are really gorgeous in person and the details the designer included are wonderful. They are the Embossed Leaves socks from Interweave Press Favorite Socks, knit on #1 needles from handpainted Wildfoote Sock yarn in the color Sonantina. I changed only a couple of things, one of which was the breaking of the yarn at the heel and reconnecting. Just seemed unnecessary to me. The toe has an echo of the leaf design done by judicious use of purls and decreases. Lovely design.

Animal Print Bangle

Handmade lampwork animal print beads I purchased on etsy. I have had these quite a while, and kept thinking as to how they would look best and came up with this! I made some wire bead coils from black wire and added a few odd black beads to make the glass ones pop.

Planalto Cardigan Finished

This was quite outside my comfort level as far as yarn choices. It was cotton and viscose (translated: shiny rayon) Mariposa by Louisa Harding, and the pattern was also Louisa Harding, from the Hummingbirds pattern book. It was a very easy and fast knit, but the yarn caught on everything - even my rough hands. I continually was putting on hand lotion. But in the end, I was extremely happy with the outcome, and the fit, and the drape. The pattern called for more buttons but I liked a single one.

Mystery Stole #3 - Swan Lake - Finished

Welp, she's all done. Those blocking wires I purchased have once again done a great job and saved me lots of time during the blocking of MS3. I adore the swan's wing, even if it is asymmetrical! The photos do not show the beads, but under the right lighting, they just sparkle. Great knit, and thanks to the designer, Melanie Gibbons.

Details: white Zephyr yarn, 50% silk, 50% merino wool, knit on 3.75mm/5 US. Final measurement: 20" x 74".

Knitted Bead Earrings

I knit these tiny (quarter size) amulet bags several months ago, but was waiting for the hardware which never came. So I used my Wig Jig tool and fooled around with 18 gauge wire until I was happy.

Scary Alligator Scarf

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this scarf, which came from Morehouse Farm.
I plan on knitting quite a few more, as they were so much fun to knit, and they look fantastic!!

2/10/2008 In response to some comments I have received about the pattern, please visit the Morehouse Farm web site, as the pattern belongs to them. I purchased an entire kit, so I could have the pattern, but it's possible that they may sell the pattern without the yarn. Have fun.

Mom's Treasure Woven Bracelet

My mom showed me a really cute vintage bead bracelet which needed repair, so I did what I do best: remade the stretched out bracelet into a treasure woven bracelet.

Treasure Woven Blackberry Circle

I bought these freshwater pearl beaded beads at a bead show I attended a couple of months ago, not knowing what I would do with them, but knew I had to buy them. I found the perfect button in my stash of buttons and put in a couple of green leaves to make it pop. I used my new color wheel to come up with a color scheme too, and am very pleased at the finished bracelet.

How I Made the Polymer Clay Buttons for Kauni

Many people asked for instructions to make the polymer clay buttons I made for my Kauni, so here goes. Just so you know, I am also a newbie at polymer clay so if I can do it, so can you!

I used Fimo Soft and Sculpy brand in the colors red, blue, transparent yellow, white, black, and olive. (I used what I had.)
I cut out a cardboard template with two holes poked through to check for size, putting it through every sweater buttonhole I had made, just to be sure. After I did that, I started the color blending process. Since I did not have the exact colors I needed I started out making purple by blending small amounts of red and blue and adding more until I had a purple I liked. Then I started on the green, with yellow, olive, and a VERY small amount of black. I do not have recipes for the color blending. When the colors were blended to my satisfaction, I took most of the purple, and formed it into a square log by rolling each side with a small rolling pin. I compared the log to the cardboard template to ensure that the log was smaller. Then I rolled out all the green and cut it to fit around the square purple log, being careful to seal the seam. Again, I used the rolling pin to square up. Finally the remaining purple clay was rolled out thinly and wrapped around the entire log. After it was squared up, I chilled it for a bit so it would cut cleanly without deforming. After cutting the slices, I gently pushed in the corners of the button, so it wouldn't be so sharp, and then I poked holes into the button, using the template I had previously made. Then they were baked according to the directions on the package of clay. (Mine were baked at 235 F for 30 minutes.) The green clay turned quite a lot darker after baking in my buttons. After cooling, I had to poke the holes again and then I rubbed them briskly on an old washcloth to make them softly glow.

Kauni Buttons Finished and Sewn On

Got up early this morning, determined to at least start the color blending for the polymer clay buttons, and before I knew it, it was finished. The green in the button darkened during baking but I still like it a lot, and think that they are just about perfect for the Kauni sweater. Simple buffing with a towel gave the buttons a slight sheen.

Details for the buttons for those who are curious! Formed a square log of purple polymer clay and wrapped it in a green layer, then wrapped it in purple. I chilled the sqaure log and cut it up into slices, then rounded the corners a slight bit. I made a template for the button holes, so there would be some attempt at making them similar, but didn't really try to make each button identical to the others. (Good thing too, since I'm not sure I could even do that.) After baking, I buffed them as I mentioned above, briefly.

The Kauni is finished, and she is fine.

Replies to Comments

Wow, I'm amazed anew at the power of the internet!! After the Yarn Harlot mentioned that I had finished the Kauni cardigan, I had an unusually high number of visitors to my blog!!! I wanted to thank everyone for their comments and answer a few questions.

One commenter asked about how the yarn made the pattern. It is actually knit with two strands of the yarn, in a stranded yarn method. The background was one color and the foreground was another color from a different ball. It is actually quite ingenous how complicated the pattern looks, simply due to the variegated yarn.

Sheila asked about the square motifs, and if they were difficult to knit in? Sheila, the squares were so easy to knit. In fact, this pattern is a very easy way to get started with stranded knitting, as there are only four rows of two color knitting and six of single color knitting. It just flies off the needles.

And Mary, I knit at Panera's in Fairfax every couple of weeks with some wonderful and inspiring women. If you are interested in attending, let me know, and I'll give you details.

And finally, the BUTTONS!! I got up early this morning, and blended the polymer clay to match the button bands, and made the buttons. They are baking as I write this. You will have to wait until they are done, to see them!!!