Thursday, September 27, 2007

Welcome!!

Welcome to my blog!!

I have been considering starting a blog for quite awhile and I've finally decided to just jump in. I am a quilt/fiber artist, wife, mother to 4-year-old boy-girl twins and a university chemistry professor (part time). So, since I don't keep very busy, I decided I needed another activity! Hopefully this blog will help to keep me motivated and organized.

Here is a picture of my little angels with their favorite friend.


My quilting/fiber art has taken a definite back seat in my life over the past four years but I think the kids are finally getting old enough for me to get back into it. Here are some examples of my art quilts:

Beginnings
18" x 18"



Unexpected Results
15" x 20"



Flora
19" x 18.5"


For the moment I have been satisfying my creative urges through knitting. I taught myself to knit a little over a year ago and I can't seem to stop! Some of the projects I have completed in the last year include two pairs of toddler socks for the Children in Common project.


Pattern: Toddler Chain Link Socks pattern from the Six Sox KAL (designed by Deby Lake)
Needles: Size 2 bamboo dpns
Yarn (blue socks): Patons Classic Wool in Denim Marl for main color and Patons Classic Wool in Winter White for contrast
Yarn (pink/purple socks): Lion Brand Wool in Flower Garden for main color and Sensatons Bellezza Collection Tesoro in Lavender for contrast

I made myself some basic socks (my first pair of socks) using Kim Goddard's Basic Sock pattern.

Pattern: Basic Sock Pattern
Yarn: GGH Marathon (I don't know the color but I love it)

I also made a pair of Chain Link socks for myself.

Pattern: Chain Link Socks pattern from the Six Sox KAL (designed by Deby Lake)
Needles: Size 1(US) dpn
Yarn: Cherry Tree Hill Supersock "Water" for main color and Fortissima Socka "Black" for contrast

Ian (my son) got a pair of socks:

Pattern: Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns by Ann Budd
Size: 4- 8 years (6.5" finished foot circumference)
Needles: US2 bamboo dpns for cuff and US1 bamboo dpns for remainder
Yarn: GGH Marathon, color #723 (bright turquoise tweed)
52 stitch cast on

I made myself a tank top using a pattern from Sirdar.

Pattern: Sirdar Duet Pullover
Size: 10
Needles: US4 and US6
Yarn: Elsebeth Lavold Cotton Patine (100% cotton), color #18 (sage green)
Modifications: Increased the length by 3 inches.

Here is the Katia Fanny Cardigan by Katia of Spain:

Pattern: Katia Fanny Cardigan (free pattern from Elann)
Size: 33.5" bust
Needles: US 5 Bryspun circulars
Yarn: Katia Fanny (50% silk/50% rayon), color #7 (cream)

The Eyelet Cardigan from Blue Sky Alpacas:

Pattern: Eyelet Cardigan from Blue Sky Alpacas
Size: Small
Needles: US 7 Bryspun circulars
Yarn: Blue Sky Dyed Cotton (100% cotton) in color #618 (orchid)

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi! I have recently started working on the Katia Fanny Cardigan myself. I am rather confused by the "chain 1" instructions. Would you be able to explain to me what you did? I know how to crochet, so I don't need help with that part, but I assume the chain 1 somehow stops the dropped stitch from unravelling into the ribbing, correct? So how do I do it; chain 1 from the stitch previously, then pick up and knit the stitch over the k3tog? knit into the stitch over the k3tog and then chain 1, then carry on knitting the rest? pick up a completely different yarn and use it to chain one on top of that stitch? When doing my swatch I knit into the k3tog stich, then chained one, then carried on knitting as per pattern. When I unraveled the line of stitches, it did indeed seem to stop the unravel, but I was left with a stitch hanging out that looked both unattractive and dangerous (if someone or thing were to give it a good tug it would likely come undone too).
If you have any idea what I'm talking about (:-P) please let me know how you handled the situtaion.
Thanks so much! And I love your quilts, they're SOO beautiful! THOSE are quilts I would actually love to have in my house.

Natasha

Gypsegrl said...

oh, my email is gypsegrl@gmail.com.
Thanks again!
N.

Dr. aWoW said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Dr. aWoW said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Dr. aWoW said...

I love your Katia Fanny Cardigan. It’s exactly the pattern I have been looking for. However, I can’t find it on Elann.com or anywhere. I guess the yarn got discontinued. Do you still have the pattern or know where I can get it from. My email is ejhooker@gmail.com.