My order from Handpainted Yarn.com came in today:


Handpaintedyarn.com is the maker/supplier of Malabrigo yarns.

These are what's inside:
(pardon the airbrushing attempt)

The fuschia skein is 100% alpaca. The orangey skein is Merino bulky (somewhat similar to Malabrigo worsted).

The blue skein is 2-ply wool, sport weight. The orange skein is bulky Merino.



The chocolate/cherry roving on the left is super soft Merino while the multi colored green/yellow yarn is Ejido, 100% Peruvian wool that only costs $5.10 per skein (160 yards). Amazing!

I wanted to try their yarns for future designs. We'll see.

You have to check out this blog

CakeWrecks

Hilarious!

Vicki's Pics

All about cell phones

I was driving down Elk Grove Blvd two mornings ago and I see this Elk Grove police car driven by a cop talking on her cell phone. Not one of those Blue Tooth thingies that you plug in your ear but an actual cell phone held by her left hand while the right hand single-handedly maneuvers the steering wheel . I clocked her at around 40 miles per hour (he, he). The cop looks like she's 19 going to 20, with a smooth blond pony tail. Believe me, she's a cop in uniform.

What irritates me is who gives her a ticket? Or do they get away with it because they're cops?

I don't use cell phones. Well actually, I have one of those pay-as-you-go plans, where I get to spend $15 a month to add minutes. I don't even use up all the minutes (talk about rollovers). I use it to keep tabs on my 19 yo daughter or to call home in an emergency (like I'm stuck at Joann's Fabrics and might be a few minutes late). I'm just learning to text. It takes me 15 minutes to finish one sentence. Maybe because I spell out every word.

I don't need to be on a cellphone when I'm doing grocery. I don't need to talk to anybody when I'm in church. I don't need to drive and talk-- or walk and talk. I will call you when I get home. I actually responded to a woman because I thought she was talking to herself. I didn't notice the blue slug permanently attached to her ear.

Isn't it amazing how anyone can get a hold of you 24-7? How urgent is it that it can't wait a few more minutes?

By the way, my old pay-as-you-go cellphone weighed about 8 oz and can do a lot of damage when thrown at somebody. Just this Christmas, I bought myself a small flip version for $19.95. They probably don't sell/make flip phones anymore.

Mine can now take pictures. Wooo hoooo!

Bottom Seam Baby Bootie - Free pattern

(Sorry for the blurry image. I'm not good at taking pics.)

I'm sure someone can figure out how to make this a no seam baby bootie (what with those provisional cast on thingies) but I found it easier to just seam the bottom of the foot, after you finish knitting the bootie. I love hand sewing anyway.

Depending on the weight of your yarn, your needles will vary. And you will be using dpns and knitting this in the round.

US size 5 dpns (3.75mm)
Baby yarn

Abbreviations:
m1 - make one stitch This website has good instructions
K2T - Knit 2 together
ssk - slip, slip, knit This website has pictures

Instructions:

Cast on 35 stitches. Join in the round making sure the stitches are not twisted.

1. PURL
2. K1, M1, K16, M1, K1, M1, K16, M1, K1
3. PURL
4. K2, M1, K16, M1, K3, M1, K16, M1, K2
5. PURL
6. K3, M1, K16, M1, K5, M1, K16, M1, K3
7. PURL
8. K4, M1, K16, M1, K7, M1, K16, M1, K4 (51 STITCHES)
9. PURL
10. Knit 4 rounds
11. K21, K2T, K5, SSK, K21
12. K20, K2T, K5, SSK, K20
13. K19, K2T, K5, SSK, K19

By this time, you can see that the stitches are deceasing by one before the K2T and after the SSK. So, continue in this manner (rounds 14-21) until you reach...

22. K10, K2T, K5, SSK, K10 (27 stitches)
23. K12, K2T, K13 (26 stitches. Yes, we want an even number of stitches at this point)
24. K1 P1 rib for about 1 inch, or 6 rounds. If you want to fold down your cuff, you can make this longer.
25. Bind off in rib. Weave in ends and don't forget to seam the bottom of the bootie.

Enjoy! Post a comment if you have any questions, corrections, etc etc.

I want to thank Thata Pang and her blog for the inspiration in knitting the bottom of the bootie. She has a different style bootie pattern on her blog, if you guys want to try it.

Here's a wallhanging from an Eleanor Burns pattern that I finished last year, around summertime (just to prove that I haven't given up on quilting).

You can see the progression here:













Tapos! (that's finished in Tagalog, my native Filipino language)

Here's a slouchier version of the Cluster Stitch newsboy cap, with a different colored brim. The pattern is from That Crochet Guy.



Here's the status on my crocheted squares project. I really am using up a good amount of my stash. If I just stick to making one square (or two) a day, I'll be right on track.

Coming up: I'm writing up 2 patterns for knitted cowls, which will be offered for free on this blog. If you want to know what a cowl looks like, here's one. Some people prefer them over scarves because they go over your head and you don't have to fuss over the tails/ends.

The first half of 2008 was spent quilting.

The latter half was mostly knitting and crochet. Here are some photos:
Knitted Noro hat

knitted beret using Marble yarn

knitted beret using my handpainted Camo yarn

Crocheted Christmas beret given to my friend, Jane Deamer

another crocheted beret, my own design, using Yolo Wool mill yarn

crocheted purple beret using Red Heart yarn

2 more hats using Debbie Mumm's Traditions yarn

I see more knitting this coming year, more quilting, and I will be handpainting wool yarns and rovings again.