Beaded Cami Mods

A long, long time ago I promised to put up my mods to Black Dog Designs Beaded Cami.

Since Stitches West, a few people have inquired about my version,

which is heavily based on this version.

Here are my Beaded Cami Mods for use with Argosy Luxury Yarns, Bonsai Bamboo.

Please feel free to post a comment or contact me on Ravelry if you have any questions.

Happy Knitting!

"Oh. Hi, Lily Chin, can we help you with your box?"

Just another star sighting at Stitches West in front of the UPS store...


And HELLO HAUL!


This was in the clearance treasure chest of AllHemp.
AllHemp6 came to them as a 5-ply - now mine for the low, LOW price of $28 - Yeah me!!




Cherry Tree Hill - for my work knitting friend who wants to learn how to knit socks - hope she likes the colors!


Couldn't walk away from this Jitterbug yarn in Toscana.



I've never seen Araucania sock yarn - Ranco Multi.



The piece de resistance, my new Signature Art needles:
US 2 stilleto point with teardrop top and US 3 midi point with spiral top.


And a shameless plug and perk of working for the best boss EVAH!
Argosy Luxury Yarns, Hanna Sport, Latte & Roses.

Hello from Stitches West!

I'm here in lovely (rainy) Santa Clara for Stitches West!
I never realized how.many.knitters/crocheters.there.are.
and HOW MUCH YARN there is to buy!

This place is Krazy! People are wonderful.
Ravelers are fantastic!

And people knit incredible things and then wear them for other yarn addicts to admire - it's a knitting love-in!

I'm working in the Petting Zoo - and people love Melissa's yarn!

I met Jess and Casey from Ravlery!
And CookieA came into our booth - I almost fell over! I think I gasped and it scared everyone in the booth. I said, "We are in the presence of sock designing greatness!!"

We also got to see BogieBogie, who won our door prize at TKGA!

I tried out the Signature Art Needles - they are VERY NICE! VERY lightweight! Hold tight DPNers - new needles are on their way!

Thanks to Linda for her comment regarding the Cocoon Shrug.
Thanks for finding the error! - and yes, you are correct, the pattern SHOULD read:

Back Rectangle Piece Cable Pattern:
Rows 1, 3, 5, 7: P2, K3, P6, K3, P6, K3, P6, K3, P6, K3, P6, K3, P6, K3, P2.

and


Long Wraparound Piece Cable Pattern:
Rows 1, 3, 5, 7: P2, K3, P6, K3, P6, K3, P6.

When I get back, I will fix the pdf! Thanks again!

"I'm not a photographer."

Yes, we know already!

Montparnasse

Plymouth Silk Merino (11 skeins)

US 8

pattern modifications:

• No welted seams.
• 2 right fronts vs. the shorter left front
• arms - much longer - I like 'em like that!

So soft.

So cozy.

Now on to the next one!

Don't fall off your chair - I am using the yarn for which the pattern calls, Lion Brand, Cotton Ease, in Charcoal (like the picture).

the photographer was grumpy

This is the best picture I could get out of him (please excuse the plastic bag in the background!).

Drops Alpaca Cabled Cardigan

Elann Peruvian Quechua

US 4 and US 7

This yarn is really nice - very soft and the Tencel adds some shine.

The sleeves are a teensy bit too long, but I like them like that :-)

On the needles:

a sock

and Montparnasse

Crossing my fingers that I have enough yarn (a common theme with my knitting)...as my intention is to knit two Right Fronts and not do the shorter Left Front.

I'd also like to have enough yarn to make these sleeves longer, too.

The back is really cool - you can't see it in the pictures, but it's 'V' shaped (not straight) on the bottom. So the back is done, and the right front is done. I just started on the sleeves and will see how much yarn I have left - will need enough to do the collar.

what gauge are they?

good group idea! misguided group name...

is the skein half finished or half unfinished?

work.knit.work.knit.sleep.
knit sock.
knit starfish shawl.
knit past armholes.
worry that there isn't enough yarn.
frog starfish shawl back to armholes.
put starfish shawl on two 60" knitpicks cables.
realize that a month of knitting has taken more yarn than available and that there will definitely not be enough be enough of the special ordered hand-dyed yarn available because gauge is off by one stitch and one or two rows.
leave starfish shawl on cables and stuff into knitting bag with disgust.
rip out sleeves of drops alpaca cardigan down to cabling.
reknit sleeves in correct size.
fall asleep on the floor and then go to bed.
wake up and take What Kind of Yarn Are You Quiz.

What kind of yarn are you?

You are Shetland Wool. You are a traditional sort who can sometimes be a little on the harsh side. Though you look delicate you are tough as nails and prone to intricacies. Despite your acerbic ways you are widely respected and even revered. Take this quiz! Quizilla | Join | Make A Quiz | More Quizzes | Grab Code

I was packing up all my knitting goodies - preparing to start Lucetta on Christmas Eve...I double checked the pattern one last time to make sure that I'd be bringing everything I need.

I did have everything, but the tension gauge indicated that the yarn should be doubled.

I was doubtful that if I didn't have enough for Glad that I would have enough for Lucetta.

So, I left it all at home and went on my way with my two almost finished projects.

On the drive, I finished Wright. I couldn't wait to try it on, so I switched tops in the car. It's so cute!

And this past week as I was finishing up the Drops Cabled Cardigan, I got nervous that I wouldn't have enough yarn to finish the piece, so I bought the LAST skein from Elann. It's on it's way with the knit.1 with the boatneck sweater that I've been coveting.

The body of the cardigan looks good, but the sleeves look horrible. I'm going to rip them out to the where the cable pattern stops and re-knit them. I knit them a size too big, plus I may improvise and make use less increases.

I started Dave's UCLA scarf:

And I started the Starfish Shawl! CO 730 stitches - join in the round - being careful not to twist the stitches - and cross your fingers and hope for the best - because it was a crap shoot with all of those stitches squished on to a 24" cable. Yikes!!

getting it wright

My Glad wrap has been set aside, alas I will not have enough yarn. *sigh*


I'm going to rip it out and try Lucetta, from Rowan Studio 4.

Mind of Winter posted on Ravelry that she used only less than 800 yards to complete hers!
I'll be printing out and using her pattern corrections faithfully! >>thank you!!<<

I'll be doing that as soon as I get done with Wright.


Which I have had to rip and now re-rip
to-get-the-decreasing-"every other RS row"-but-not-really-because-I'm-knitting-it-in-the-round
twice.

Wet, Garden State

I thought maybe it was just the standard answer for knitters who wanted to knit on planes, but apparently it's the standard answer for astonished travelers who sit next to knitters on planes.

A gentleman with a thick New Jersey accent said, "They let you bring those one the plane?!"
I said, "Yes, you're the third person to ask me that."
He said, "They don't let you bring a FRIGGIN bottle of water on the plane, but you can bring those."

And even though I was using two sticks, I overheard a man behind me telling his friend that I was "crocheting." He then nudged me and said, "They let you bring those on the plane?!"

I was making great progress on my projects until I realized that I failed to bring the additional circulars with me that I needed to continue....

home sweet home

life is busy
I don't blog much because I don't knit that much
but this should get you up to speed

we went to LA yesterday for a baby shower
I made booties, but forgot to take a picture, anyway, the important thing here is that after the party, I went to Wildfiber!

When I saw that picture on their website yesterday, I said outloud, "Holy crap."

That place is amazing. Natasha came up to me and commented on my Chevron Scarf.


I originally bought Koigu to go with with it, but found some Nature's Palette that worked better.
So I brought my Koigu


with me in hopes that I could find it a friend.
We did!



I want to make some socks and want to strategically incorporate this bit of color somewhere....I'm thinking maybe the top part of the foot. TBD... And note to self...want to try Magic Loop Cast On and garter stitch toes and heels!!

I also found a great Rowan Studio Issue 4 pattern book.
I particularly like Iras and Portia!

I also got birthday presents for my sister-in-law, but I can't say what they are because she reads this blog! :-)

They had some Socks That Rock there, and I deliberated over it, but wasn't in love with the colors that they had, so I stepped a w a y from the STR.

It felt so good to be back in LA. I remember the first time that my uncle drove me there. The minute we got in to Santa Monica, I felt instantly at ease, like it was where I had always belonged. The minute my feet touch the ground there, all is right in the world.

As I left Wildfiber, I saw a guy was riding his bike down the street. He seemed to have all of his worldly posessions attached to this bike. I noticed him right away because he had a Home Depot plastic gallon container turned upside and attached to the front of his handlebars. As he was riding along, he was playing his "drum."

I got sidetracked in Santa Monica by a pair of shoes. [They didn't have my size :-( ]

And finally made it to A Mano Yarn Center.

It was much smaller than I had imagined - they had a lot of great yarns. They had the laceweight Malabrigo which was so incredibly soft I thought I was going to faint.

I found a better yellow for Dave's UCLA golf club covers.



The new Cascade is a little more yellow than the Elann yarn that we bought, which is more gold.

And as I was getting ready to check out, I noticed that they had some Lorna's Laces. And I almost plotzed when I saw that they had the Tuscany color way. Did I ever mention that I met Lorna.

In Oakland she came up to the Argosy booth and said, "Hi I'm Lorna Miser, I just wanted to introduce myself." We were replied, "Hi. Nice to meet you."

We had no idea who she was, just thought she was being nice.

Then she says, "I'm Lorna Miser. From Lorna's Laces."

And we like, "HI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh My G-d! HI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Bowing ensued and we were completely star struck. :-)

She complimented Melissa on her yarn and Melissa was over the moon. It was pretty fantastic!

I told Lorna that I had really wanted to buy her Tuscany colorway for my trip to Italy this past year. She told me that she made the colorway for a friend, who was going, or had been... I can't remember which...

In any case, I couldn't leave the store without it.



I'm thinking maybe I'll make another Clapotis out of it, *crossing fingers,* and hopefully this one won't felt.


You like the shawl closure*? I designed it and my dad handcrafts them! They're made out of different woods, lots of different colors. And they're for sale! If you're interested let me know, I can post more pictures. Or wait to see and touch at Stitches - we'll be there!

* This shawl closure is a one of a kind - he got his hands on some ebony and only made two. The other one was a special order.

When I was checking out, Shannita commented on my Chevron Scarf. She said, "You got that here, right?" And I said, "No, actually, I've never been here before. I'm from Orange County, and wanted to come here because I met Jerry/Twisted Knitster when he came in to La Petite, when I was working there, and I read his blog and he always mentions your store."

We had a brief conversation about a few yarn stores that are closing, she mentioned that someone had come in to the store and bought the same color combination for the Chevron Scarf,about more men knitting, her store being filmed, and the upcoming Knitty Gritty shows on men knitting. You GO BOYS!!

And last but no least, I am busy working FT...but, I do knit, really, I do.

I finished my self-striping socks. And I am working on the two most tedious projects EVA.

Glad - I'll let you know if I'm glad I started this project or not. Subtituting Argosy Haiku 2-ply (cashmere/silk) in Pale Wedgeood for the KidSilk Haze.



And a Drops Cardigan in Alpaca.

what she does in her free time

About two years ago I knit what at the time appeared to be a very wide and extremely long scarf for my co-worker.

I sewed part of it together and added fringe and Voila!

Now my supervisor, she just sent this to me this week!

I'm somewhat certain that this is the pattern: Fringed Shrug.

by popular demand

Hi Wendy!!!

The toggles didn't have a shank attachment, so I had to macgyver them.

And thanks for all the kind comments during our somewhat state of emergency.

Here was the view of fire/smoke from our bedroom window.

All is well now.

Although, it's been very foggy in the mornings and on the way to work, the toll road smells like a wet barbecue...

We now interrupt this knitting blog, with an important message...

Knitting, yarn fondling, pattern gazing, and *gasp* Ravelrying all came to a standstill this week along with less important things like work, sleep, and eating as fires raced through the foothills of my community's backyard.

On my way to work on Monday, the fire was burning on both sides of the toll road, so the toll road was closed and traffic was forced forced onto surface streets.

My office building was then evacuated two hours later because the smoke was coming directly into the building.

There is nothing comforting about leaving work to go home and begin driving directly toward where fire raging and smoke is billowing.

I spent two days in total anxiety because my friend lives off of Santiago Canyon and she was incommunicado.

I drove to work on the toll road Wednesday devastated by the black, burned, ashen, lifeless landscape around me.

I talked to someone on Thursday who spent the night at the QualComm stadium in San Diego.

My heart and prayers are with everyone who has been affected by this tragic experience.

Coco Wood Toggles

Dave changed his mind about the buttons for the Saturday Morning Hoodie.

He was afraid that the zipper might pull the sweater down too much.

We went to JoAnn yesterday, but they had a whole lot of nothing.

I did some research on Ravelry last night to see where the button group gets their buttons from. One suggestion I saw was mjtrim.com.

So we bought these toggles last night.

They're made from Coco wood. They are a little over 1.25" long.

I'm hoping that there is a shank back attachment...the description didn't include one.

one sock photos

Here is the Spiral Boot Sock from Interweave SU07:

And here is the sock I finished Friday night, it's my first toe-up sock:

look ma, I'm knitting pockets

The beautiful yarn, Araucania Nature Wool Chunky, 115, for the Lion Brand Saturday Morning Hoodie arrived:



The back knit up in about four hours:



I've never knit pockets before! It's EASY!

Classic Socks

Check out these FREE patterns from XRX: Sock and hat pattern
The socks are super easy for for sizes ranging from Child (S) to Adult (L).

how to attract men in bars

Friday night at a hotel bar, I'm at sitting having a glass of wine by myself and knitting until my friends show up.

My friend arrives and sits next to me.
Soon, a drunk man sits down next to her.

As I'm talking to someone else, the man says to her, "Is she crocheting?"
My friend says, "No she's knitting."
The man slurs, "That'ssss ssssso cool that she's crocheting. Crocheting is hotttttt."

By this time I realize that they are talking about me, so I look at the guy at say, "Yeah, I'm a knitting exhibitionist," and I turn away to continue my other conversation.

The drunk man says, "I bet you're REALLY good at it."

yarn for the hoodie

I'm happy to report that downloading the Saturday Morning Hoodie from LBonline was very easy!

And after much online searching, and double checking color accuracy on Ravelry, we picked out Araucania Nature Wool Chunky:





It's a beautiful brownish/olive-ish color that will look fantastic with Dave's eyes!
:-)