I've moved my blog on over to Daisy Crafts a Lot of Crap. I'm going to leave this site here, but no longer post here. So move your links and visit me at my new home (I'm assuming someone might still see this...).

Plait Cable Purse

Pattern: Plait Cable Purse

Source: Inspired by http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=32972.0 this is my own pattern (listed below if you want to make one too).

Yarn: Lamb’s Pride Bulky in White Frost, slightly less then one skein.

Needles: US 10

Pattern:

Cast on 51.

Row 1: P3, K1, P2, K9, P2, K2, P2, K9, P2, K2, P2, K9, P2, K1, P3

Row 2: and all wrong side rows: knit the knits and purl the purls

Row 3: P3, K1, P2, Sl 3 to CN front, K3, K3 CN, K3, P2, K2, P2, sl 3 to CN back, K3, K3 CN, K3, P2, K2, P2, Sl 3 to CN front, K3, K3 CN, K3, P2, K1, P3

Row 5: Repeat Row 1

Row7: P3, K1, P2, K3, Sl 3 to CN back, K3, K3 CN, P2, K2, P2, K3, sl 3 to CN front, K3, K3 CN, P2, K2, P2, K3, Sl 3 to CN back, K3, K3 CN, P2, K1, P3

Row 8: Repeat Row 2

Repeat rows 1-8 to length you want.

Fold in half and sew up the sides and attach handles!

Reading List for January

I always tell myself to keep track of the books I’ve been reading. It would be nice to be able to look back at what I’ve gone through in a year, to find that book that I loved so much ten months ago, but cannot remember the title of. I just always plain forget to do this. Therefore, it has gone on the improvements for 2008 list!

The list only includes books I have finished in the month, not books that I have started and not finished. This month I got a whole bunch of books out of the library, so most of the knitting books are not ones I own, but ones I borrowed. I feel slightly guilty over including the knitting books in the list, but the purpose of this is so that I can find them again should I need to.

Book List for January 2008

1. Rhett Butler's Peopleby Donald McCaig: a type of companion book to Gone with the Wind (one of my all time favorite books). This book follows more of Rhett’s life as a child and before meeting Scarlet, and continues beyond the scope of Gone With the Wind. I think it skipped over some of the issues/conflicts of GWTW, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I will have to read this again and also reread GWTW and Scarlet. (498 pages).

2. Stone Cold by David Baldacci: This is a continuation of the Camel Club series. If you liked the series and Oliver Stone, then I recommend this book. It’s a bad guys after the good guys kinda book, and old wrongs are finally righted. It really needs to be read after reading the first books though. (388 pages).

3. Top Down Sweaters: Knit to Fit From Top to Bottom by Doreen L. Marquart: This pattern book really depends on how you want your sweaters to fit, if you like them boxy and big, then this book is for you. I don’t, so it’s not for me. The look of the sweaters in this book age the book and make the book seem much older then it is. (79 pages).

4. No-Pattern Knits: Simple Modular Techniques for Making Wonderful Garments and Accessories by Pat Ashforth and Steve Plummer: I like the idea of the book, but none of the patterns were for me. I'm not sure I have the patience for the knitting of little squares and then sewing them together. (128 pages).

5. Big Girl Knitsby Jillian Moreno and Amy R. Singer: I got this book specifically for the very informative section on selecting garments and customizing the fit. The book has great info on measuring and on adapting to show of a waist, chest, or bust. This book is a great read for anyone or any size! (160 pages).

6. dead until dark by Charlaine Harris:

7. Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Harris:

8. Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris:

9. Club Dead by Charlaine Harris:

10. dead to the world by Charlaine Harris:

11. Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris:

12: I cannot wait for this book: From Dead to Worse (I messed up my numbering so needed to include something here...)

13. All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris: The “Southern Vampire Novels” are my favorite series of books ever. I have read and reread every single one. I am eagerly anticipating the next book (out in May!) and I’ve even read all the short stories based on the same characters. These books follow the life of Sookie Stackhouse, a telepathic barmaid from Northern Louisiana, as she is introduced to supernatural characters and drawn into their world. If you like vampires, werewolves, shapeshifters and other magical characters, then I suggest you read these books! I would say these books fall more into the romantic science fiction category (lots of love triangles and a bit of sex), then into the gruesome blood and gore section. Then you have to decide whether you fall into the Bill, Eric, Quinne, Alcide or Sam fan club...

14. Designer Knitting with Kitty Bartholomew by Kitty Bartholomew & Kathy Price-Robinson: An ok book, not anything I would make out of it though. (144 pages). Sometimes I am really glad that I have the option of checking out all these great books from the library as I get to read books that I would not normally have considered, like this book!

15. Rhett Butler's People by Donald McCaig: yup I decided to read it again! I still like it a lot!

16. Designing Knitwear by Deborah Newton: A really detailed book about the process of designing clothing and knitwear. I think this book may have been a bit over my head. The book focuses a little too much on the design aspects (different sleeve types and different silhouettes), and not enough on the actual knit portion. I think it's a book that I may go back to should I decide to seriously consider designing a sweater. I was looking more for ideas on adapting a pattern to different sizes, and I guess I would say more practical ideas that are not so abstract.

17. A treasury of Knitting Patterns by Barbara G. Walker: a great book of knitting stitch patterns. My library had this original version of the book. I really enjoyed looking through the different patterns and reading the little blurbs about the different stitches. From having read this book, I would consider buying the new version of A Treasure of Knitting Patterns.

FO Tree Jacket

I never got around to posting a proper FO post for this sweater, so here it goes. The photos are not so good since I did not have anyone to take the photos of me wearing it, plus crappy winter light, plus in the pictures I had already worn the sweater once before so it's stretched out and wrinkled, and oh yeah because of the flash you can see the shirt I have on underneath. I've got a lot of compliments on this sweater every time I wear it! This is one of my favorite knits ever!



Pattern: Tree Jacket
Yarn: Valley Yarns Longmeadow

Needles: Denises, US Size 6
Ravelry Link
Time Frame: Started October 2007 finished December 2007.
Modifications: Custom size based on my different gauge. I extended the garter stitch section to completely cover my bra, so I could possibly wear it without a shirt underneath.

FO Clapotis

Pattern: Clapotis
Yarn: Blue Heron Egyptian Mercerized Cotton in the colorway Summer Meadow (less then a whole hank, maybe used about 2/3 or so...)
Needles: Knitpicks Options in Size US5

Ravelry Link
Time Frame: Started this August 2007 finished January 2008 (This was the project that I picked up in between other projects).
Modifications: Knit on smaller needles to fit the smaller yarn. I added in a couple of extra repeats of the straight sections. I think I should have added 2 or 3 more as it's a bit short for me. This yarn is probably (ok definitely!) the nicest yarn I have ever used! The colors in it are just amazing. They are deep greens and vibrant greens mixed with royal purples and bits of ocean blue (best represented in the first photograph). The yarn is very soft and has a lovely shimmer. The colors on this are going to go amazingly with my nice "dress up" purple coat. I even have a green dress that this clapotis might match with if I use it as a wrap.