New Year!

Finished Knit Items from 2007! Click on it to be taken to the big version!

Do you make knitting (or other hobby) goals for the New Year? This year I think my goal is going to be mainly to work on sweaters or tops for myself. I know that I will have some non-sweater projects mixed in, but I’ve found that the sweaters are what I enjoy the most! I’m currently working on Cloud Bolero and Nicole. I’ve just recently started both of them, so there is not too much actual work to show. I usually do not plan my knitting projects out ahead of time. I just keep a long list of potential projects (now that list is on Ravelry in my queue), and when the needles are free I wander through my potential projects and find something to cast on. I usually only have one sweater/big project going at a time. However, I started Nicole first and it is complicated, so I needed an easier project going as well and that is how I came to be working on the Cloud Bolero as well.

Do you look at this time of year as an ending (of 2007) or as the beginning of something new (2008)?

In general, I think I am an optimistic person. I tend to want to think of this time of the year as a new beginning, as a fresh start with endless possibilities. 2007 was not one of my best years. There were many lows in the year, many points of the year that I would personally love to forget. Of course, there were also many incredible moments this year. The arrival of my niece was the most amazing event; I never could have predicted exactly how much I would love her. Another would be celebrating my 10^th anniversary with my boyfriend. With this past year, I’ve noticed that many of my “highlights” were actually based on happiness that came secondhand. I’ve been happy because of sharing the joy of others. Not that much in my actual life is happening that causes me happiness. Sometimes it gets hard when I really just want a little happiness of my own.

My goal for 2008 is just to bring more happiness to my life, to find out what brings me joy. Whether this is a little thing (like a new magazine), or a larger thing (like finishing a knitting project). I need to learn to make myself happier. I cannot depend on others always providing my happiness. As a part of this, I really need to know myself better. I need to stop putting myself in positions that lead to unhappiness. I need to put myself first more then I do now. I need to take the time to enjoy the little moments. I need to accept the things I cannot change and learn not to dwell on them. I need to learn to say “No” when I really mean it, and not worry about hurting other people’s feelings.

Enough rambling from me, Happy New Year!

A Christmas Rehash.

The holidays this year were overly hectic and overly stressful for a variety of reasons. The main one being that my mom (Santa), waited until 3 days before Christmas to do all the shopping, and to even begin doing any of the cleaning, which means I had to do a great majority of the cleaning and part of the Santa shopping and wrapping (on top of my own shopping and cleaning). My family’s main celebration is at my parent’s home on Christmas Eve, we have roughly 30-35 people attend. The resulting everything being done at the last minute meant I really did not get to enjoy the holiday season as much as I normally do. Next year, I resolve to do everything in my power to get my mom not to procrastinate. Christmas time is really my most favorite time of the year and I’m bummed that it was so stressful this year.

Although I was incredibly stressed (made worse by the fact that I once again have a cold—Thanks mom!), I still had a happy holiday. My niece was a joy as always. She really took the noise and strange people all in stride. She remained happy and laughing throughout the night (when she was not napping). I think she really went above and beyond a normal 2 month-old’s behavior. The other baby who was here (my cousin’s kid who is 4-5 months old), was a cranky pants as usual. Every time I see this kid, she is screaming and crying. It is just amazing to see how the baby’s personality is already developing.

This year I only handcrafted one Christmas present. It was my niece’s stocking. It took me more then a month of working on it; I started right after Thanksgiving and finished on December 20. It was a huge amount of work. I think part of the reason it was so much work was because I am not a sewer or embroiderer. I know it will be enjoyed for years and years, and even when I am gone, my niece will think of me on Christmas when she uses it. It truly was a labor of love.

On Christmas Eve, I wore my completed tree jacket. It fits amazingly well and really is just beautiful. It may be my favorite knit ever. I hope that I will find a good picture of myself in the sweater (edit: the above is the best photo I have at the moment. Black is so hard to photograph!). Most of the pictures I took were with my sister’s camera, so I will have to wait on her for the pictures. One of my brother’s replied, when he found out I made the sweater, why I have not at least made him a hat and gloves if I have the skills to make a sweater.

This year I received a few knitting related items. From my aunt in the grab bag (my family does a $50 grab bag for the adults and then everyone usually buys the kids something), I received a subscription to Interweave Knits as part of my present. My boyfriend bought me the book Sensual Knits by Yahaira Ferreira. Santa brought me Classic Knits by Erika Knight, 101 Designer One-Skein Wonders by Judith Durant, and The Knitter’s Handy Book of Sweater Patterns by Ann Budd. In my head, I have already planned a few sweaters from Ann Budd’s book. The one thing I do not like is that none of the sweaters are top-down, even the raglan is made from the bottom up. I really prefer to work top down, but I think I will at least make one sweater from the book going bottom up. Actually, there is another thing from the book I do not like. In the book, my size is considered a “child size.” Really, I think that is rather insulting. I may be thin, but I am not a child…I also received about $70 worth of gift cards to Joann’s (that is sort of knitting related).

I am thankful for....

I am thankful for a happy and healthy baby niece.



Wearing handknits that are just a little too big still.



I am also thankful for plentiful yarn. And being ready to start the sleeves of my sweater. (I know it's hard to see, but photographing black yarn is a bitch!).



I send out my swap package on Monday, then I can post all the stuff I knit for that! What are you thankful for?

Best Dressed Baby-to-be...

I am already crazy about my sister's baby and it's not even done cooking yet. The baby shower was this past weekend on Sunday. In preparation I have been knitting until my fingers want to fall off. I had to do all those irritating things that I had put off. Like sewing in ends and putting on buttons. So naturally, there are some new FOs to report around here:

Pattern: Tulips, A Colorful Cardigan for Baby by Dream in Color.
Yarn: Cotton-Ease in white, purple, pink, and lime green.
Needles: US 7
Modifications: I used garter stitch instead of the seed stitch. I removed the i-cord edging. And I added a little collar on to it. I had my mom (thanks mom!) add on this snap tape as a closure. It worked out good.

Pattern: Flower baby hat.
Yarn: Cotton-Ease leftovers.
Needles: US 7
Modifications: This is a made up pattern. I based my numbers on the umbilical cord hat, then I added a flower and stem to the top of it. I was inspired by a hat in Itty-Bitty Hats but I didn't want to go and buy the book and the book was not available through my library. I think it's pretty cute.

Pattern: Baby Mitts
Yarn: Cotton-Ease
Needles: US 7 and US 4
Modifications: I knit these in the round to avoid a seam. I also grafted the tops in a totally clumsy way to avoid having to seam that as well. Still need to add a ribbon to them. On the pink ones I added an extra set of decreasesto the top and I also used a size bigger needles to make them a tad bigger.

Pattern: Ruffly Baby Hat
Yarn: Cotton-Ease
Needles: US 7
Modifications: I based the numbers on the umbilical cord hat (hey, it's easy...) and then I just multiplied that number by 2 and then that number by 2, then I did 2 rows of k2tog to bring the number down to the right size. Get it? And that caused the ruffle. Then I just added a little ruffly flower to it.


Pattern: Golden Yellow Brick Road Booties
Yarn: Cotton-Ease (those baby sweaters leave a lot of left-overs...)
Needles: US 7
Modifications: None. I think these ended up kinda square looking, but still cute. Hopefully they will fit baby feet.

Can I tell you a secret?

Sometimes I think that some male knit designer's patterns are only published because they are male. Not because they can design. Like there are so few males that knit and probably fewer males that design knits...so when a magazine wants to publish a male's designs they have very few to choose from.

I guess what I am really complaining about is that it seems that some places are more interested in getting a male designer's ideas out there, rather then getting a good pattern.

Not that I think all male designers make crappy knits. Just some of them. And no I'm not going to point out which I like and which I do not.

I know I'm a bitch.

you got a bandwagon?

Hello, is that a bandwagon? Well let me jump right on it! I am apparently such a huge freaking follower... I have jumped on several bandwagons started by famous knitbloggers recently. I have recently knit a couple of baby items that I only found because of my obsessive reading of knitblogs. These items are for a baby shower that is in October for a child of unknown sex of a friend of mine. (the pics are showing up kinda weird, click on them to see the whole picture. ok?)

First up, a mostly finished Ribbons Baby Blanket from Fibertrends. I found this from reading Grumperina's blog.



Pattern: Ribbons Baby Blanket
Yarn: Cotton-Ease by Lionbrand. About 1.5 balls of each color (white, popsical blue and candy blue).
Needles: US 7
Modifications: I didn't do the suggested method of joining in the new colors, therefore, I have a billion ends to weave in. This was a surprisingly fast knit. All together it was very easy as well. I would definitely make this again.



Here's my other follower of a knit. This one is a WIP, but is going so incredibly quickly! I got this one from reading the Yarn Harlot's Blog. It is obviously for the same baby as the blanket.



Pattern: Tulips, A Colorful Cardigan for Baby by Dream in Color.
Yarn: Cotton-Ease by Lionbrand. Leftovers from the above blanket. (white, popsical blue and candy blue).
Needles: US 7
Modifications: No modifications besides the yarn substitution. Another knit that is just flying by. I am making the second size which is for 12-18 month olds. I think this pattern is another keeper that will be made time and time again!



One last picture of another work in progress. I'll give the details later! It fits the theme though, I apparently do not have an original thought in my knitting mind..

100th post give away!

This is my 100th post! Only took me 1 year and 11 months to do it!

So this is the way this give away will work, if you would like some free yarn (of my choice), then please send me an email at rebeldaisy AT aol DOT com (substituting the appropriate symbols) put YARN in the subject title of the email. If I should only get a few replies, then everyone will get some yarn. If I get a lot of responses then I will choose randomly in some sort of way. This is open until the 28th of Feb.

I'll have a real post sometime soon!

I finished some things in February!

So I did finish one of the sweaters I was writing about in my last entry. Of course all it needed was a bare minimum to be finished, darning the underarms and sewing in ends. Really I do not know why I procrastinated so incredibly long! I don't have pictures of it on, but here are some of it laid out.

Pattern: Minisweater, by Glampyre.
Yarn: Cotton-ease
Needles: US 8?
Modification: I joined the body and made it a full length sweater, and I added full length arms on to it. I haven't worked too much on the other sweater that has been languishing on the sidelines for a long while. I started a sleeve, and I've done maybe 2 inches. I did start one item that I had not planned on. One of my cousins has just announced that she is pregnant, so I started a baby blanket. I have a while to work on it (baby is due in September), but I thought I might as well start it now. I am doing a "dishcloth" blanket. Like this pattern, with yarn that was on sale at Hobby Lobby last weekend. It is going super fast so far!

Another thing I've been working on is putting a few items on Etsy. I put up some jewelry and little things that I've made. I already sold one beaded knit bracelet that I made! I have a couple more that I've finished that I think I will be adding either today or tomorrow as well. I completed the earrings below yesterday. They are made with Czech Glass Beads. I think they are simple and elegant! Click on the picture to see some other items I have made.


I am feeling so tired! It was a trying morning (already). I had to take the dog to the vet for an ultrasound, which will hopefully figure out some problems he has been having. He hates hates HATES to ride in the car, so it was fun in morning traffic to be driving a big crying baby dog. And he hates that I had to leave him there alone to have the tests! Hopefully they will figure things out and it won't be anything serious.

I am working on figuring out how to do things a little better with this blog. For example, I now made it so clicking on the pictures of the sweater will take you to my Flickr page, and clicking on the picture of the earrings will take you to my etsy shop. Really, I know it is such a little thing, but I feel all kinds of proud of myself!

Finishing Items in February.

So I hear there is some kind of knitalong about finishing things in February? I cannot find the link now, but I know I've seen it around. So that's what my plan is. No more starting new items until I actually get some of the WIPs done! I swear I am gonna keep with this. So here are the items that I have finished this year!

Pattern: Colorful Waves Throw
Source: Knitpicks free pattern online.
Yarn: Variety of knitpicks yarns (most as suggested in the pattern) plus a few extras from my stash.
Needles: US 10 1/2
Modifications: Just the addition/substitutions of yarns. I have to say that I would never choose to knit with Suri Dream again! Seriously I hate hate hate the stuff. Which is unfortunate because I've still got some left. This is about the size of a twin bed. I didn't actually measure it or anything. Should probably be washed.

Pattern: Chemo Hat (cannot find the pattern at the moment, but it's a basic hat pattern) These are for the Childrens' hospital of Boston.
Source: Minestrone Soup
Yarn: All Fun Fur except the "bronze" which is Disco!
Needles: US 9?
Modifications: None, I just made a couple of varied sizes.

I know that picture is scary!

Other items that need to be finished include two sweaters, both black. One needs sleeves, and some kinda buttonband/closure system. The other one just needs the underarms seamed and ends woven in. It also might need the sleeves lengthened. And yeah it's been like that for approximately the last 5-7 months!

I've also been working on my Flickr account and some other little things around the site. I need to figure out how to make a picture into the blog header thing and do pictures in the background. But I really have no idea how to do that!

Creativity has left the building...

I’ve been thinking of a new post for awhile now. That was the title I was going to use, “Creativity has left the building.” Then I realized it was not exactly true. The truth was I’ve been doing a lot of creative things, just not writing about them. So really the desire to write about and document my creative outlet has left the building. Sometimes I just think, what’s the point? Who really cares? I’ve finally gotten over that little bump in the road and I’m ready to share some of my recent projects.

Pattern: Fern Lace Wrap
Source: The Little Box of Scarves by Melissa Matthay and Sheryl Thies
Yarn: Caron Simply Soft (less than one skein)
Needles: US 8
Modifications: I increased the needle size to go with the substituted yarn I used. Increased the pattern repeats to make this more of a lap blanket size. This was for my sister and she wanted a little blanket to bring to her constantly freezing office. She specified a size (something that could be tucked under her legs on the sides, covered her knees, but didn’t hang down the legs). This was my first time blocking acrylic. I know, people say it cannot be done. But they are WRONG! I used the whole kill it with steam approach and it worked pretty darn well. The final dimensions on this were about a 26” square.

Pattern: No real pattern just a 1 X 1 ribbing for the scarf.
Source: none
Yarn: Super Bulky yarn from Handpaintedyarn.com, the color is apple cinnamon. About 2 skeins
Needles: US 11
Modifications: None since I made this up as I went.

Current Work in Progress:

Pattern: Colorful Waves Throw
Source: Knitpicks
Yarn: A variety of yarns from Knitpicks, following the recommended yarns, plus some extras from the stash that I threw in there. If anyone actually cares about colors and such I can list them.
Needles: US 10 1/2
Modifications: Just the addition of the extra yarns and my own color choices. I originally thought that maybe I would give this to one of my brothers as a present, but I think the Suri Dream in it is too delicate. The yarn is so thin, and the fabric of the blanket is really thin where this yarn is used. I would be worried that they would tear it, so I guess I’ll keep it for me. By the way, working with the Suri dream is HELL! I wish I would have made this blanket wider.

Here are some additional pictures of more bracelets that I made (look for the details a couple of posts back). Just varied the colors and such from the previous ones.

I also have some non-knitting objects to show:

Pattern: Crystal Snowflake
Source: www.Interweave.com
Modifications: For the red and the gold ones I used the beads and wire I had on hand which was much larger than recommended. The smaller silver and blue one uses the recommended wire and bead sizes. I found these to be a little fiddly, but I haven’t done any work like this in the past. Each one took me about an hour to do. I like them enough that I’m sure to make more, in both the little and big size.

I’ve also joined my first swap in Craftster! I really hope the person I sent to likes what I chose for her. It should be there in a few days!