String Theory Fiber Arts

New blog

2004-09-08T18:08:00.000-07:00

http://stringtheoryfiberarts.typepad.com/

Please visit me at my new blog.

Blogger issues

2004-09-08T05:54:00.000-07:00

I can't get template updates to publish in my blog. I'm getting very frustrated. So this is a first warning to let all of you know that I will be posting my new typepad address soon so you can change where you find me.

2004-09-07T19:34:00.000-07:00

Last week was my little Cami's birthday. This week is my big girl, Sierra. She turned 5 today and it was amazing to me. We took her to school to meet her kindergarten teacher this morning and she will go off to school for the first time on Friday. She's such a smart and beautiful little girl who is very sweet and wonderful. I'm a lucky Mommy. Happy Birthday Angel Baby.

SP

2004-09-03T13:45:00.000-07:00

Yay! I got my first email from my Secret Pal. I'm so excited. I had planned on answering the standard questions but she/he beat me to the punch and asked me to, so here we go.

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer high-end/natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you? I'm an equal opportunity yarn collector. I do prefer the higher end stuff because it feels so much yummier but I really pretty much like to have just about anything that comes in a wonderful color. I haven't used any Red Heart yet but that doesn't mean I never will. I've used Lion Brand for a project or two, cotton ease or the occasional thing like that. I just really love yarn.

2. Do you spin? Crochet? I have recently taught myself to spin and am enjoying it immenselly. I also taught myself to crochet for the purpose of making flowers to attach to things, that is the full extent of my crocheting abilities though. I love to dye because I am such a huge fan of vibrant colors.

3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.) The only thing I know of that I am allergic to is Reglan. Somehow I doubt anyone is going to want to send me any reglan in the mail so I'm not too worried.

4. How long have you been knitting? I knit my first sweater for my first daughter starting just after she was born 5 years ago. I didn't finish it until it was time for my second daughter to wear it two years ago. It has only been in the last 6 months that I have really starting getting interested in all the things I can do with this skill.

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/189043ME06TMN/102-1229384-4565715 I haven't updated it in a while but there it is

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.) I like citrusy smells. I use Coconut Lime Verbena lotion and I love anything that smells like lime or grapefruit, things like that.

7. Do you have a sweet tooth? Oh yeah. I am a candy addict. I love to bake too.

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? I'm a quilter and I like to make things with polymer clay. I make my own knitting needles and drop spindles and have sold a few along with stitch markers and needles cases and bags.

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? I like just about any kind of music. I don't listen to much country though I do have one or two cds. I play the sax so I'm very fond of jazz.

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Orange is my favorite color but when it comes to knitting I love anything. For the most part the brighter the better.

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? I'm married and have two kids. We don't have any pets at the moment though we would like to. We do have the more often than we would like uninvited mouse.

12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know) I'm hoping to go back to school once both of my kids are in school in order to make it all the way to my PhD in psychology. I'll have to take that one day to day.

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? For the most part I prefer to knit with smooth yarns. The Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran I am knitting with right now is amazing and I am also really enjoying the Cascade Fixation. As soon as my LYS gets some Koigu Kersti I am hoping to try my hand at that too.

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? I'm not a huge fan of 100% acrylic but every yarn has it's place.

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s? That changes from day to day. I like making bags and things that are useful on a regular basis. Clothes for my kids. Anything I like the looks of.

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? Same as above

17. What are you knitting right now? I'm half way through a throw for my mother's couch. I'm making a little bag for each of my girls to carry their ballet shoes in. I'm making myself a sweater. I should be starting the DNA scarf any day now.

18. What do you think about ponchos? (this is really a curiousity question for us) I had a poncho I loved as a kid. It was two shades of pink (my kids would say they are hot pink and cold pink) and so fun to wear. I've got some for my kids that I didn't make and one I made for myself. I do have several more on the horizon.

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? I prefer circulars. They are more flexible since I can knit both straight and in the round with them.

20. How did you learn to knit? Books. I checked out every book in the library, looked at every website on the net, and tried and tried till I got it right (or at least what looks right to me.)

21. How old is your oldest UFO? The Lime sweater I am working on for myself was started several months ago and I have just finished the back of it.

Limey

2004-09-02T20:16:00.000-07:00

I finally got the back of Lime done. I've been working on it forever but that is because this is the first time I have created a pattern for a garment from scratch. I'm pleased with it so far, though it is kind of hard to tell since it hasn't been blocked yet and is only half of a sweater. I say half because this is a sleeveless. (I was thinking ahead and knew I didn't want to tackle sleeves on my first make it up as I go along project)

I got my yarn for the DNA along. I am going to make the DNA scarf for my husband, J, so I let him pick the yarn. It's 100% alpaca from Blue Sky Alpacas. In olive I believe (if it isn't called olive it could be.)

My stepmother got her first look at my knitting tonight and she loved my bag. She asked me to make her one. I can't think of a better compliment than that really.

I don't think I'll be getting too much knitting done in the next few days, sadly. Tonight I am baking a "pretty pony" cake that I will be decorating tomorrow for the big "Pretty Pony Party" on Saturday. I also have to wrap presents, buy groceries, make a birthday cd, and a million other things. Along with all of the afore mentioned I have my Dad and Stepmother in town and will have my michael in town starting tomorrow. It will be a good, busy, weekend. I'm thinking by the time it is all over I will be well ready for a little knitting though.

Oh and for anyone who might really be following me along, my new nephew Daylon is the strongest 7 week old ever and J's Mamaw's arm surgery went well.

Tea from Adagio Teas

2004-08-30T13:48:00.000-07:00

Last week when I got the wonderful gift certificate fromAdagio Teas I didn't say anything about it because I didn't have the chance to go take a look. Now I want to take the opportunity to thank Knit Steph for the wonderful RAOK which I was able to pass on. I want to the Adagio page and instantly fell in love with the minuet tea service and knew that my mother had to have it. She really really loves her Earl Grey tea. So I used the gift cert to get her some tea and something she could prepare and drink it in at work and gave it to her as a surprise and random gift. She was so very happy. So thanks Steph for helping me show an act of kindness to someone else.

Thank you to all the other wonderful people who have been sending me e-cards and greetings to brighten my days.

The Birthday Girl

2004-08-30T08:53:00.000-07:00

Camden collage

Today is my Camden's third birthday and I can hardly believe the time has passed. She's such a big girl, my baby. To commemorate the day I made a collage of her first three years. Look if you want.

String Theory Fiber Arts

2004-08-27T08:35:00.000-07:00

As you can see, my blog is under construction. I promise it will be newer, better, and easier to read soon.

2004-08-26T13:30:00.000-07:00

I finished Camden's cotton-ease sweater. I've decided to call it Catalina because it looks to me like she should be on a yacht in her soft little boat neck sweater.

Here's a close up of Catalina. It's a pretty simple disign I made up on the fly. Just st st with a slipped stitch edge so that it would be a bit easier to seam up for me. The bottom detail is Jiffy in "sunshine".

I wanted to get a pic of the cabled looking edgeing but Cam wouldn't stand still. So is the life of an almost 3 year old. She likes wearing her "arn" though so I'm pleased.

2004-08-25T19:39:00.000-07:00

Today was the big day! First ballet class. Doesn't Sierra look beautiful?

She was nervous when she woke up, thinking about this new thing. She even said to Camden at one point during the day, "Cam, you have to be nice to me, today I have to go to ballet." Like it was some tragedy she needed gentle care over. In the end things weren't so bad though. She loved it. Bunches. The only issue we had was how very bad Camden wanted to be in ballet too. So we've decided that she will have her own ballet class too. Can you believe it, that'll mean that if Sierra is in the morning class in school I will have one hour per week totally and completely to myself. Just imagine all the knitting and coffee drinking I could get done!

This is Camden sitting as close as she can to the room in which Sierra is having ballet.

This is Camden telling her Mommy that she will not be quiet and move away from the ballet door. I think she may even be giving me the finger, but I'm hoping that was a coincidence.

While at the ballet school J got a call from his brother, another J, and we got some good news. J and his wife A (I know, strange, another J and A) got a call from The Gladny Center today and they are getting a baby. They had been feeling like the baby they had their hopes up about wouldn't end up coming to them but as of tomorrow they get to go pick up their 7 week old son who they will be naming Daylon after A's father. This is so exciting to me. I'm going to be Aunt A!!! Won't it be so fun having a tiny little baby to knit for? I even cast on for some Debbie Bliss baby booties this evening to celebrate the event.

2004-08-23T14:34:00.000-07:00

This is the Nemo birthday cake I made for my girls. Their birthdays are 1 week apart so we are having two parties but they are both for both of them. Cami chose the "meemo party" theme for the first party and Sierra chose "pretty pony party" for the second party.

RAOK

2004-08-23T14:28:00.000-07:00

I've been getting wonderful ecards from the lovely knitters on the Random Acts Of Kindness ring. It has been a wonderful nice thing after the in-law infested weekend I had. Don't get me wrong, I like my in-laws, but they throw things way out of whack when they are here. The children's routine goes right out the window and everyone ends up tired, cranky, and twisted around. Today we are all still cranky and working to recover.

I got to knit VERY LITTLE over the weekend other than the drive to the man's cousin's wedding on which I worked on my mykul scarf. Last night I did get a few rows on my often neglected lime sweater. I am hoping to finish it sometime before I have put on 100 lbs and can no longer fit it around me.

I'm thinking in my next post I will show off my Nemo birthday cake.

2004-08-19T14:02:00.000-07:00

I gave the other bag away to my Mom so I have made another for myself. I was noticing that every bag I saw was striped horizontally (of course) so I had to be different and make mine verticle.

This is the back. I know it's weird that it is so different from the front, but it suits me, I'm weird too.

With this one I made sure to make plenty of cord for the strap so I could hang it from my shoulder. That will be much better since I need both my hands to deal with my little howler monkeys.

Needles For Sale

2004-08-18T07:46:00.000-07:00

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=8125744483&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT

I made these and though I would see if anyone was interested in buying them so I put them on ebay. No bids so far but we'll see how it goes.

loose ends

2004-08-16T13:40:00.000-07:00

I have just started to wind a ball of Patons Classic Wool Merino. I reached into the center of the ball to see if I could easily find a center pull end and much to my surprise I did. Yay! I started to pull and out pops a little tangle. This isn't so unusual for getting a ball of yarn going, I think to myself. The strange thing, the little tangle is not attached to anything inside the ball. I have a long strand of yarn that had just come from the center of the ball but is not attached. I grab in again and find another end and start to pull. Not two feet later another end pops out, another loose scrap of yarn in the middle of my Patons ball. Do I keep pulling to see how many pieces this yarn is in? Can I write to Patons and figure out if this is some sort of fluke. What do you guys think?

2004-08-13T11:50:00.000-07:00

Sierra in her finally finished halter type top.

Here it is close up. It is made from Lion Brand cotton-ease in orange and wool-ease in hot pink.

Here's the back. I knitted tubes of the wool-ease (which was a huge pain for me to work with) and then made a crochet chain on the body and strung the straps through. I think it turned out pretty well. She likes it, which is all that really matters.

Now that I am done with it I think I am going to make a little pull over sweater for Camden out of the same orange yarn but embellish it with little flowers of wool-ease but in yellow. That way they will sorta match but fit their own styles.

More La Nova

2004-08-12T14:26:00.000-07:00

Monday I went to a LYS that I had only been to once before and had not purchased anything. I went in search of Addi turbos, which I got, but while there I noticed a clearance table. They had some Debbie Bliss cotton wool for 50% off and also a yarn I had never seen before. It's Schachenmayr La Nova and that is the color I ended up getting. It was half off so I paid $9 for two balls. As soon as I got home I started working on a simple garter stitch scarf with it. It's actually the first scarf I have ever knit, which I think is probably pretty strange. The yarn is so cool in it's varying colors and also carying fibers. Most people have probably already seen it but I never had. It alternates between a cotton ribbon and a viscose ribbon as it changes shades of blue. I am just about to the end of my first ball and I am obviously going to need more. The LYS had a ton of it so I'm not too worried about it all being gone when I get there. I won't get there until tomorrow at the earliest though. Tonight we have to go buy Doodle Bug some ballet slippers.

While at Target yesterday I noticed that they had the 66 gallon plastic containers on sale for $6 so I bought one. The small container I have been using for my yarn had twice as much outside as it did inside it. I'm expecting a pretty big amount of Noro Kureyon before too long from the wonderfully destashing Jaimi and now I have a place to put it. Oh, and I haven't even put the shipment of Cascade Fixation I got this week into the box. Aren't I such a lucky girl!

Last but not least, I signed up for the Secret Pals 3 group. I'm really excited about this. I love buying things for other people when I can, even more than for myself.

2004-08-07T20:27:00.000-07:00

My booga bag is now blocking. I don't think I am going to have enough I-cord for the handle. I'm not sure what to do about that.

2004-08-06T08:56:00.000-07:00

Isn't my Camden... something.

2004-08-06T08:55:00.000-07:00

Isn't my Sierra lovely?

2004-08-03T11:23:00.000-07:00

These are the first two sets of straight knitting needles I have completed.

This is the oak set. They are US 10 (6.5mm) that are 12 inches long.

This set is birch. They are US 3 (3.25mm) and are 10 inches long.

This is a top view of the ends of the size 3 needles. They are handmade natasha beads.

I'm planning on trying to sell them on ebay to see how they do. I'll let you know how it turns out.

La Ti Da

2004-08-03T11:10:00.000-07:00

My Buster bought these for me at a LYS in Denver called LaTiDa. I love that he went to a yarn store for me while he was out of town. He said it was pretty cool. He bought gifts for our girlies while there too.

The left is a dark green Filati Bertagna called Mongolia. It is 92% merino wool and 8% nylon. The right is novelty yarn from Plymouth called Galaxia. It is 100% nylon. It's basically a tiny thin string with brightly colored evenly spaced and sized slub type things. I just have the one ball of each so any suggestions are welcome.

2004-08-02T21:40:00.000-07:00

Here is the yarn michael helped me dye last week with kool-aid. The colors are cherry, orange, lemonade (which took twice as many packets), lemonlime, blue raspberry lemonade and then berry blue to make it darker, and grape.

I dyed Patons Classic Wool Merino. I used two skeins which I broke up into easier to use lengths before dying. The microwave makes koolaid dying so easy.

2004-08-02T21:21:00.000-07:00

The band for Coronet done in Lamb's Pride Bulky that I dyed with koolaid in Cherry, Strawberry kiwi, and orange. This is my first attempt at a cable and it's going pretty well I think.

This is a close up of knitty's coronet. The color didn't come out all that well but I think you can see the detail of the cable, I hope.

2004-07-28T12:36:00.000-07:00

I have started making myself a sleeveless sweater. It uses Patons Katrina in Limon and I am making the pattern up as I go along. It's pretty straight foward stockinette but I am throwing in a RS purl row here and there for interest and to create a no roll hem. I'm actually further along than this, I just haven't taken new pics yet.

2004-07-28T11:20:00.000-07:00

I knit this "boa-esque" shawl for myself out of a rather flamboyant eyelash yarn whose brand I cannot recall. The color is Mango.

2004-07-28T11:16:00.000-07:00

I made this little purse for my daughter Sierra. She is a girly girl already even though she is not yet 5. Her nickname is Bug so I call this the "BugBag".

2004-07-28T11:05:00.000-07:00

I knit this little pouch purse for my 11 year old friend Brittany. It has a bone button to keep it closed and a strap long enough that she can wear it across her body.

Just another blog?

2004-07-27T20:08:00.000-07:00

So this will be my third blog. Why, you ask? As far as I can tell the "thing to do" in knitting is to have a blog such as this. Who would I be if I weren't doing the thing? Yes yes, I know, I never do the thing, but I have chosen to this time.

This is a totally different format from my LJ realm. It will be fun to do something new. Let's hope I can keep it up.