Ta da!

Pattern: Hey, Teach from Knitty.com

Needle: US 9 / 5.5 mm

Yarn: Filtes King Kim

6 skeins = 648.0 yards (592.5m)

Mods: Added an inch to the length and omitted the ribbing below the lace portion.

This knit up in just under a week, started on Friday August 8th and finished Thursday August 14th.

I’ve also worked up two little scarflette/ascot thingies too in the last two days.

These are Tunisian crochet on a size N hook, the brown one is made from some Berroco and the pink one is Araucania Nature Cotton. Both have vintage buttons on them as well. They’re both for sale in my Etsy Shop (click here!)

I’m working on a pair of socks for Mike and a purse right now.

Yesterday I whacked my foot on the side of a hard plastic baby gate and bruised the top of my foot pretty bad, then last night I did it AGAIN to the lower part of the same foot so today I’m pretty much sticking to bed with it elevated.

I’ve got an idea kicking around in my head for a sweater design that I think I might start sketching out and swatching for. 

You were supposed to pick things that would be a challenge for you. Well this sweater has been a challenge.

First of all I’ve never done a sweater flat to be seamed, because I hate seaming. So I always do my sweaters top down raglan so there is nothing to seam.

Secondly I’ve never done a lace pattern that involves shaping as well. All the lace I’ve done has been a scarf or other flat pieces of fabric that doesn’t involve working shaping into the lace pattern. That has proven to be the most difficult part of this sweater, however I must say that I felt like the Best Knitter IN THE WORLD when I did get the arm shaping to work out without messing up the lace pattern.

I’m nearly finished with the back panel, as of bed time last night I had only four more inches to go on the back. I’ll finish that part today and hopefully get a fair amount done on the first front panel. If I continue in this manner, I’m hoping to have the knitting done by Thursday of this week, so that the seaming can begin over the weekend, for a finished product by this time next week.

If that happens, that will leave me another week worth of Ravelympic time to do the Toe Up Jaywalkers that I had slated to do during the Ravelympics as well. These would be for Mike.

I finished the Express Lane socks that I was working up in the Pagewood Farms Yukon sock yarn that I showed ya’ll in the last post. Since my readers failed me and only one of you suggested a sock pattern, I went ahead and did the Express Lane pattern with that sock yarn, which I ended up gifting to my friend Bethany anyway because she fell in love with the colors in the sock.

The beautiful Befany with her socks.

The yarn was quite divine to knit with, I will be purchasing more in various color ways. I wasn’t totally in love with these colors for myself, which is why I didn’t mind giving these up to Bethany.

Now I have this sock yarn that needs to be worked up. I’d like a nice fall/winter style sock to work this yarn in. It’s not too stripey, so this is good yarn for lace and cables. Any ideas, ya’ll?

Dream in Color Smooshy

I’m headed back to work on the Hey Teach sweater. Updates forthcoming!

Some of the recent cuteness has included Dixie lounging in the pool with her Uncle Josh (Who is also her God father. There’s paper work and everything, if Mike and I die, Dixie goes to live with Uncle Josh.)

She’s obviously quite pleased her herself.

Then the other night Mike and I went to get some late night frozen custard at Sheridan’s. Evidently they serve these itty bitty vanilla cones to dogs. So Dixie and Allie shared a cone.

Instead of biting it like I thought they would, they licked the whole thing down and then I had to break the cone part in half for them because they wouldn’t bite it from my  hand. What good girls they are.

To further prove my undying love and affection (and sometimes craziness) to my animals I knit Dixie a little sweater that matches the Classroom sweater I just knit up for myself. (As soon in the previous post to this one.)

Here you go, evidence of the devotion/creepiness that lives in my head.

Good times at Chez DaniDo. 

Laura models the finished sock. And gives it the thumbs up. Even though it’s 198 degrees outside right now I’ve still worn these four times since I finished them. I don’t even care how bad my feet sweat, they’re GORGEOUS! I love them.

Now, here comes the part where I need your help. I don’t have any socks on the needles currently. I need your suggestions. I always knit my socks toe up, but if you have a top down pattern that you love let me know and I will either convert it to toe up or maybe, just maybe, even attempt them top down. Here is the sock yarn I want to use up:

It’s Pagewood Farms Yukon sock yarn, which is a merino/bamboo/nylon blend and it’s SOOOO soft and smooshy and I just adore it. I’ve had it in my stash for six months and I’ve decided to use it up. So, give me your sock suggestions! Nothing is too much, if I don’t know how to do a technique I’ll learn it, I want awesome interesting new socks. And I’m going cross eyed from sifting through the patterns myself.

So, dear readers, BRING ON THE SOCKS!

I also knit up a sweater in the last few weeks as well. I’m calling it the Classroom Sweater because I knit it to be worn when I’m (hopefully, fingers crossed) substitute teaching here in the fall. I wanted a nice dress sweater to wear that would be fitted and stylish but still warm. I don’t like long sleeves, but I needed something that was long enough to cover the tattoo on my left fore arm. So, tada! We have the classroom sweater:

It has a slight v-neck, 3/4 sleeves and waist shaping that falls at my natural waist and then flares a bit and falls mid hip. The yoke is knit with Berroco Jasper (100% merino variegated) and the body and sleeves are knit with Ultra Alpaca. It’s super soft and VERY warm. I probably won’t be able to wear it here in Las Vegas until late September at the earliest, but I’m positive I’ll get lots of wear out of it over the winter here and it will be perfect when I go home to Alaska in the spring for my other brothers graduation.

I just need buttons and to block it now. I’m writing a pattern for it as well, that my friend Laura will be test knitting for me. I’m very excited as this will be my first fitted garment pattern I’ve written. I’m very pleased with how it turned out.

Also,  in the "non-knitting but still awesome" category I have these little gems:

These are Smitten Kitchens - Homemade Oreos and they are DELICIOUS. They’re also gone. They went quick. I have plans to make more, and to alter the recipe just a little bit. When I do, if it works out, I’ll post my version of the recipe here as well. I highly recommend this recipe as is though, they were delicious and very very quick and easy to do. I did take the authors recommendation to use half a cup less sugar though for a more Oreo-like cookie. The result was wonderful and I think the perfect balance.

In other news, I will have a few new knit bags up in my Etsy Shop soon. They are knit up, but still need to be lined. They’re all clutch style bags and I think they’re very cute. I’m excited about them. I’ll post pictures here when they’re lined and ready to be posted in the shop.

Now, send in those sock pattern suggestions. I’m itchin’ to get started!

So if you are the kind of knitter who likes yarn, I encourage you to take a peek and help out a struggling college student.

DaniDo Crafty at Etsy.com

Thanks!

The four of you that currently read this; what do you think? And what should I give away? I’m broke but I have a pretty expansive stash, I suppose there’s yarn in there that other people might want/covet. If I were to give yarn away what kinds of yarn are good for giving? Perhaps some sock yarn? I have A LOT of sock yarn. Or some sturdy feltable worsted weight wool? I have a lot of that as well.

Now on to the real stuff! Knitting has been happening. I swear it has.

Baby Tank. A DaniDo Design that really should be a pattern soon.

I knit this well over a month ago now, I was working on it while my Mom was in town at the end of May. I don’t know why I hadn’t bothered to get a picture of it up here.

This is a bit of a departure for me for a couple of reasons, mainly as you can see it’s bright colors and STRIPES. Lots of stripes. Some of you may  know that I am a pretty ‘as easy as humanly possible’ knitter generally speaking and stripes are work. And all those ends to weave in! Oi!

And then there are the bright colors. I’m usually a fan of neutrals and earth tones. But these colors just screamed to be put together and the effect is so…cheery!

I’ve also been working on these:

Key chains!

Key chains of adorable miniature versions of some of my favorite things. Like mittens.

And…

Socks! Wee bitty socks! I made a little hat too, but I gave it to my dear friend Christina and I forgot to get a picture. It’s adorable I assure you though.

And then I tossed these damn things back onto the needles to try to finish up. I’m two repeats up the leg so far and I’m already sick of them again. I love them, don’t get me wrong and the pattern is a dream, but I’m just tired of them and I want them to be OVER already! I had originally had ambitions for these to be knee highs to wear with my little gray wool skirt in the fall, but…I just don’t see that happening.

I am looking for a good knee high pattern (toe up of course as it’s my preferred method for knitting socks.) so if anyone has any suggestions send them on over! (Ravelry links especially welcome!)

I’ve also started a simple top down raglan sweater out of some ridiculously soft merino that I had that is variegated, and then I’ll be doing the body of the sweater in an alpaca that I had laying around in the stash as well. I think it’ll be quite pleasing to look at but it’s slow going at the moment because it’s been 110+ degrees here in Las Vegas for the last few weeks and so anything made from wool that is bigger than socks has been put on hold for the time being.

I’d like to knit my brothers some things for Christmas as well, and I know it’s only July but I need good boy patterns too. NO sweaters or socks for them though, they’re both large boys over 6 feet tall and pushing 200 lbs. both of them. They can have hats, scarves and mittens.

So dear readers! Spread the good word! Lend me your wisdom and send me links and pattern suggestions! I’m not above buying a book for a single pattern, so if it’s in a book let me know the name of the book and I’ll look into it.

The main thing I’ve been working on is a little lace shrug:

I loved the lace repeat, it was super simple to remember after awhile and you could see what you should be doing next. It’s finished in single crochet around the body opening. It’s currently up for sale in my Etsy Shop.

I’m hoping to have a pattern for it available shortly as well. I really like it, though it doesn’t suit my personal style. I’m just not much of a shrug girl. Though I really love knitting them!

Right now I’m still working on a pair of socks for my Mom, a pair of socks for Mike, and a baby dress for Madison Bailey.

I’m trying to figure out my next major project. I’m thinking a real sweater is in order. One that isn’t made from cheap Lion Brand cotton (*coughblackcardicough*).

Anyone have a sweater pattern that they just love to death? Remember, I’m a sturdy girl so I need patterns that go above a 32" bust. (HA! I don’t even remember the last time I had a 32" bust)

I’m dog sitting my friend Christa’s dog Wendy, who is an adorable Mini Schnauzer. Though not as adorable as my Schnauzies, obviously. Just in case anyone has forgotten how awesome my dogs are, we’ll do a little sharing here:

How can you NOT love that face!

This is Allie Mae by the way.

Miss Dixie Lee sittin’ pretty.

And now for good measure, the adorable fluffy Wendy!

Alright, I guess she’s as cute as my girls.

This kid, I swear to you, is one of the smartest, most handsome, funny, weirdest dudes on the face of the planet. I am honored to be related to him. I love him so much sometimes it makes my head spin. I am so proud I can’t even accurately describe. He has two full ride scholarships (both academic) and is going to college for computer engineering.

Pictures!

There is my handsome, smart, witty brother Jimmy. Sticking his tongue out in the only photo I have of him in his graduation gear. Goof ball.

Notice the sweater I’m wearing? Why, yes that is the Something Red by Knit and Tonic pattern I was knitting up just for this occasion. I finished it just in time. Graduation was on Monday, I finished it Sunday afternoon in time to block and wear it damp to the ceremony.

This is me with both of my brothers. Jonny, the ridiculously good looking red head on my right is due to graduate next year and follow in his brothers foot steps to Ft. Valley State to be an engineer as well. Not computers, something else. I think mechanical? Something about building cars and space ships or something. They’re both so smart it’s scary.

This is Mom #2 and Dad with Jimmy. (Mom #2 sounds better than step-Mom, I think. Because Cheryl is very much a Mom, and not a step.)

The rest of my trip was fairly uneventful. I did see a moose:

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Eating grass on the side of the road.

It’s what they do best.

I got some decent pictures of some of my friends and family. We’ll just run through them real quick here, even though none of this has anything to do with knitting:

My sister Katrina and I. Kat took me out to the best gay bar (maybe only gay bar?) in Anchorage, Mad Myrnas to see the drag show on Friday night. She even had her friend Stacey (who performs as a drag king) sing us our favorite song; "Wonderwall" by Oasis. This is a snap shot of us singing along. It was a wonderful night.

It also involved three of my favorite ladies; (from left:) Heather, Lydia and Jenn. Heather is what I considered an adopted little sister, I met her when she was a wee thing of 15 (and I was 19), Lydia and I have known each other since…um, forever and she used to lend me her old ID to get into bars when I was underage and Jenn is my old roommate and the only woman I would ever live with again.

Oh! Here’s a knitting related picture. I knit this cute little hat (and mittens that match) up several months ago for my sister Kat, and they finally made it to her. I kept meaning to put them in a box and ship them, but I just took them up with me instead. So now it’s May and she won’t be able to use them for another six months, but at least she has them WAY in advance for the coming winter.

Kat in the Hat!

And finally, I couldn’t resister a sock in progress shot with the beautiful mountains that surround Anchorage as a back drop. Very Yarn Harlot I know, but imitation is the highest form of flattery right?

I have been knitting as well, I have a pair of Toe Up Monkey’s (Los Monos Locos) on the needles right now. I’ve just finished turning the heel and only have about eight more pattern repeats and some ribbing to go. If I just sat down and worked on them I would probably have them finished in a few hours. My patience with these socks is wearing thin however and I find myself staring at them and hating them with every ounce of my being.

There they are. The evil things.

Just taunting me now. So close to the finish.

Los Monos Diablo is more like it!

I’ve also knit a whole bunch of this ridiculousness:

Binky  holders. They attach the pacifier to a clip so that babies can’t throw their pacifiers all over the place. It’s kind of a good idea, if I wasn’t completely morally opposed to the very idea of a pacifier.

But they make great gifts. So there you have it. I knit them. I personally like the flower one best.

I’ve got a bikini on the needles right now as well, but I accidentally threw a 24 oz. cup of hot chai all over it yesterday so it’s currently on hold while it dries after the little bath I gave it.

That should be done this week though, so pictures are forth coming.

Now, what have all of YOU been up to?

Pattern is available in the sidebar under the ‘Patterns’ heading or here.

A real post is coming soon! I have pictures to share of projects I’ve completed and projects I’m working on but I also have pictures and video from my trip to Alaska last week to see my brother graduate from high school.

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In between all of that I have had some time for some knitting and picture taking. First we’ll start with some over due photos:

My birthday party was Saturday April 19th. It was a small get together at my house, and some how we managed not to have a whole lot of pictures to show for it. I can give you these little gems though:

These were all taken immediately before cake and Trivial Pursuit time. (Which, again, Mike and I stomped every one else. We rule at trivia.)

Here’s Laura looking terrified and I’m looking a little tipsy, though I promise you I was not in fact drunk.

Laura and Kaitlen. I have no idea what was happening here.

And my personal favorite:

What am I even doing here? Who knows.

On to the race today!

The reason I was there. "I race in celebration of: Dee Dee Kircher Jones". I race in memory of her long blond hair.

I love this picture. I actually look like I might be somewhat athletic. Though we all know that the only exercise I get is getting up out of the chair to find my darning needle or chase down a rogue ball of yarn.

Here is Las Vegas Mayer, Oscar Goodman, doing what he can for the community. Notice he’s wearing a nice suit and tie, and not a tee shirt and running shoes. Hmm.

This, however, was by far the highlight of the morning:

Storm troopers. They walked the whole thing in those suits. Masks on and everything. They stopped every few feet to let people take pictures of them or with them. They are the most patient and tolerant men on the planet. We walked right next to them for a good chunk of the walk. Very cool dudes.

And now, real quick before I go soak in the hot tub for a few minutes, I’ll give everyone a peak at some things I’ve been working on recently.

A small cabled bag.

I knit this up last weekend. I’m writing a pattern and I’ll be using it for the upcoming cables class I’m teaching this month. It’s real simple, knit flat and seamed with an i-cord strap and a simple button flap closure. It’s small, but I think it’s about as simple as you can get for a beginning cable pattern.

Mr. Elephunk.

Proto type of a ‘binky’ holder I’m knitting up. There is a frog and sock monkey one coming up soon too.

This is the first frog one I did. But he’s a bit wild eyed and crazy looking. We call him ‘Smirky’ the frog because I embroidered his face on crooked and it looks like he’s smirking.

I’m currently working on a pair of toe up socks in the modified Monkey pattern - Los Monos Loco. The original version of these socks are knit top down and are awesome, but I prefer toe up. (Original pattern here by Cookie A.) The only mods I’m planning on this version are a short row heel instead of the gusset. Not a fan of gussets.

I’m leaving for Alaska on Thursday, and I’m hoping I can finish my black cotton sweater before then so I can wear it to my brothers graduation. I’m feeling pretty confident I’m going to end up making a mad dash to Sears when I get to town to find something else to wear. Such is life. Maybe I’ll have the socks done at least and I can wear those. Pray happy sock thoughts for me, ya’ll.

Now, I’m going to go soak in the hot tub for a bit and try to get to bed early.