Licensed2Knit

I love Missoni fashion…apparently I am not alone.  Let’s not talk about the sadness I still feel over the whole Target Missoni fiasco.  So in the past two days…Missoni fashion and Missoni style items have been showing up in flyers and knitting magazines.    Take a look at the JoAnn flyer from todays paper.

Missoni crochet?

So while waiting for the train on Friday I snagged a copy of Knit Simple…look and see what I saw!

Pretty blue authentic Missoni.

Apparently Vogue feels that Missoni makes a beautiful backdrop for their knitting patterns.

Such a pretty backdrop for the Noro yarn.

And another…

Lovely Missoni sweater hiding underneath.

So what are knitwear designers doing?   They are busy coming up with clone wear…I actually really like this skirt, I would make this. This one is from the Vogue Winter 2011/2012.  I might not pair it with a plaid flannel shirt though.

A really nice Missoni "knock-off" design.

I’ve seen a nice Missoni style knitting pattern for mittens, I knit a Missoni style eternity scarf as a Christmas gift and I have spent the evening with Missoni for Target scarf and plan a clone of my own with all the zig-zag goodness I can muster.

Now that the hand knit Christmas gifts have all been gifted and opened I will post some pictures of the projects that have graced my needles these past few months…but that is a post for another day.

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

Sock one of my Winter Socks is complete so I think I can accurately rate my experiences.    I love the convenience of the Hiya Hiya 9-inch circular but I think that knitters with smaller hands than mine would have a much better experience and be happier than knitters with larger hands.   Admittedly, I have “man hands”  meaning I can wear a man’s medium glove…or a ladies XL glove.   My hands aren’t fat…they are just large….nuf said.    So the knit was slower as I got used to the smaller work space.  I am sure I would  have cruised though this sock if I had stuck with DPN.  I did have to use DPN for the flap, heel turn, gusset, and toe…but the rest of the time I used the 9-inch circular.  Regardless the results are beautiful.

Summer Socks by Cookie A

I took a trip to Knitche yesterday and ended up with more yarn and one book more than the single skein I was planning to purchase.  The book, 60 More Quick Knits by Cascade 220,  I picked up I grabbed as an impulse buy…but I totally love this book.  You need to add this book to your library.  First off I had no idea that Cascade 220 came in anything other than the original worsted weight yarn and a chunky weight version.  I learned from a WEBS email that a fingering weight was available.  When I got to Knitche I saw the sport weight…on which this book is based.  I love this book even more now that I have taken time to peruse it thoroughly.   The more I page through the longer my queue becomes.   The Basket Weave Pocket Scarf would make a great gift!  The Garter Hood with Lace Edging would be a lovely addition to anyone’s winter wardrobe.

I am nuts over the Embroidered Mushroom Cap!   I also love every pair of fingerless mitts.   Get thee to a LYS and check out this book…it’s a must have for any serious knitter.

On my recent excursion to Wisconsin, I purchased two sets of Hiya Hiya circulars in the 9-inch length to test drive.  I love the convenience.  I love the lack of ladder issues, although as an experienced sock knitter…ladders are not usually an issue for me…like ever.  But I wish my hands were not “man” hands…smaller petite hands would really have a much easier go of it than mine.  I refuse to stop using them because I love the convenience way too much.  Toting my knitting will be much more joyous with these.  I am always afraid that during transport  either my Brittany’s or bamboo DPN will break.

Winter Sox

I am using Emily’s awesome Sophie’s Toes Sock Yarn in Walnut and since the recipient really loved her Monkey’s from last year’s Christmas gift I decided to go with another Cookie A pattern…Summer Sox…but since this is a Christmas gift I am dubbing them Winter Sox.  It’s a great little pattern and the knit is going so well.  I am hoping sock number one will be close to completion by the end of October.  I would love to have my Christmas knitting all wrapped up by Thanksgiving!!!

I finished the Northumbria cowl for my MIL.   I really wanted the cast off to be scalloped like the cast on.  So after a bit of research I found out that the only way it’s possible to achieve that is to add more stitches on the cast off.   So I used a YO between each stitch on the cast off and instead of passing one stitch over the end I passed two..one at a time.  My edge is loose and a bit scalloped so I am pleased with the result.  I used some Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino in a lime green as my MIL had requested.  If time allows she may also get the purple cowl she wanted for Christmas as well.

Northumbria Cowl

Today I need to cut out and sew my black taffeta web skirt for Halloween.  It’s going to look very couture…I am so excited!  I even bought some black shooties and fishnet thigh highs to go with it.  I’ll post a pic if all turns out well.

One of the items that I picked up in Wisconsin was a little booklet called Fickle Knitter Design Volume 1 Leaves; Eight knitting projects using 395 yards of yarn or less.   I only briefly leafed (no pun intended) through the booklet quickly before adding it to my pile to purchase.   Now that I have had plenty of time to pour over the pages… do I realize… that I want to knit pretty much everything in this booklet.

• There is a cowl that uses 150 yards of aran weight yarn that features a lovely cable bobble pattern and is knit flat then seamed.
• Golden Leaf Shawl, a triangle shawl using 395 yards of a laceweight merino/cashmere/silk blend.
• Wave Shawl with a lovely lace knit-on edging and interesting holes spaced throughout the main body.
• Ballet slipper flats
• Triangle shawl with floral motif out of Socks that Rock lightweight.
• Beret
• Leafy patterned “shopping bag”
• Another leaf and floral triangle shawl out of dk weight glittery cashmere!

All are very lovely designs and very wearable.  I am pretty sure that the designer, Michelle Miller,  is a genius of sorts and a big bonus is that I even have yarn for all of the designs…no big surprise there.  But I am going to have to wait until my Christmas gift knitting is completed before I indulge myself.  Today I added two more recipients to my list that I had neglected to scribble down two months ago when I began my plotting and planning for the holidays.   I kind of thought I was getting off easy this year.   I do so want to knit for myself though….and sometimes I think I shouldn’t feel guilty about knitting for me but I do and I am not either Jewish or Catholic.  What’s up with that?

It’s cold today…I may have to wear shoes and socks before the weekend is over.  I have been wearing my U of M hoodie all day.

Lastly, in honor of the Hallmark holiday…Sweetest Day tomorrow I will share a story about my sweetheart.   Today I rolled out of bed with just enough time to slip on way too baggy jeans and a slightly wrinkled t-shirt that I wore two days ago before getting the dogs up, fed, medicated and over to the groomers.   I also packed a lunch for Ty to take to work like I always do.  My husband warmed up the truck and after we dropped the dogs off he asks me if he can take me out to breakfast.  I look at him and say, “I have no make-up on.”  He looks at me in the same way that he has for nearly 29 years and says, “You do not need make-up, you have natural beauty.”  I sighed contently and smiled back at him as we headed off to Egg Harbor.    Happy Sweetest Day!

Rainbows End at Knitting Camp!

I followed this rainbow all the way to Meg Swansen’s Knitting Workshop in Marshfield, WI.     I had the most wonderful weekend with gal pal Jodee and new friend Laura.  I also got to meet up with many other knitter pals made from previous years at Meg’s camp…like Desiree, Amy, Mindy, Emily, & Lindsey.   So much fun was had!   This year’s workshop was all about cables and twisted stitches.   Here’s a picture of my hat in progress…BTW unlike a couple previous camp projects…I am totally finishing this one.

From the Schoolhouse Press Pattern leaflet #11

It took me a day and night to wrap my head around the way to work the charts but in a moment of clarity…spawned by an alcoholic beverage (my first in like two decades)…I got it and I am loving the construction of this hat so much.  It’s all about reading the charts.  I plan to make wristers to match with the second skein of yarn I have.  I also bought some of the Guernsey in blue to make another hat.  The Québécoise yarn I am using is sort of splitty and has some halo so I just want to make a crisper looking hat next time.

Jodee was an excellent navigator and directed us to two yarn pit stops along the route on the way up.  We visited Lakeside Fibers and Stitcher’s Crossing…both in Madison.  I only enhanced a little bit….We stopped at the Sow’s Ear in Verona on the way home and I enhanced a bit there too….and a touch at Schoolhouse Press.  Well look…here is a bit of what followed me home.  I grabbed two sets of 9″ HiYa HiYa needles in US 1 and US 1 1/2 to see if I like knitting socks with them.  I am considering this because I like to tote my projects everywhere with me and I have always been concerned about breaking my Brittany DPN while in transit.  I grabbed two skeins of Manos Silk Blend, only because I found it and rescued it from the clearance basket.  I also snagged a skein of Dream in Colors Club yarn for Sept 2011 that I will use to make fingerless mitts.

Just a few things...and only a touch of fiber.

You can see a pictorial of my weekend right here.  So much fun!!!!   I really want to go back to Southern WI and explore the yarn shoppertunities a bit more especially The Sow’s Ear.  I want to eat lunch there too.  Any takers?

In other news I have a FO that is earmarked as a Christmas gift…if I can hold on to it long enough.  Sometimes I get so excited about my knitted gifts that I release them early.  I am sure the recipient will not mind this of course!   I love love love Cat Bordhi’s magical cast on for knitting mobius scarves and such.  I really should buy a copy of the book to keep for myself instead of checking it out each time I need it.  The library is now down to only one copy of her book!  Not good!

Missoni Style Mobius using Cat Bordhi's CO

And speaking of Missoni…the Marshfield Target came through for me with the elbow length knitted gloves in exactly the color I wanted!  And today the Bolingbrook Target had the square silk scarf!!!!   You see, the gluttonous behavior of some ruined the shopping experience for the rest of us and now they are choking on it and returning the unsold Ebay items to the stores.   You simply need to be in the right place at the right time now…it’s a bit like winning the lottery.

So my Christmas knitting has now begun in earnest.  Next up a pair of socks, two pair fingerless mitts, two cowls, a scarf, and a hat.   I had better get cracking!  See you.

Blessings to all!

Well, I finished my Modified Maracajau this afternoon.  Immediately I snap pictures and go to Ravelry to log in to post another project completed when I see the date I began said scarf …June 23rd…seriously?!?!   Something this simple shouldn’t have taken me so long…like an eternity!   I blame Facebook, working, nice weather,  and exercising…among other things LOL!   At this rate I will be so behind on Christmas gift knitting that I will need to take vacation or sick (shhhhh on that one) to stay on top of things.  Regardless the scarf is a keeper.   Here take a peek!

Maracajau by Berroco Design Team

I loved the yarn…a gift for my 50th birthday from co-worker friend Liz.  It’s called Origami and it’s so lovely.  I can see me wearing this T-shirts and such.

Now on to other things like getting ready for KNITTING CAMP!!!!!   I have a bit of homework to complete and I’d like to start my camp project early.  I also would like to knit a Snail Hat before I go so I have something nifty for show & tell.   I give away so much of what I knit that I rarely have show & tell items…which I suppose is cool.  I do have my Rock Island though…that would be okay for sharing time.   I just want to go right now. Ohhhh!!!!   I do not think I have enough time to knit up those Secret Stockings but that would be spectacular to share…maybe next time!  Or maybe no on everything else….hmmmmmm…I shall ponder that one round a bit today.   Better get back to the Bears!!!

I went, I saw, I purchased!   I really love what I came home with too…well except I probably should not have bought that expensive row counter…a bit extravagant really so I better use it.

Okay…where to start?  Let’s just start the pictorial shall we?  First up is some really cute sheep shaped soap for gifting.  Too cute to pass up.

Next up is the too expensive row counter with a Swarovski crystal…yeah…I should have, could have lived without this little beauty.

Last year I lost my sweet little leather leaf pin that I had bought in Montana many years ago.  So I bought something to replace it with for this fall.

This is an ornament I purchased as a gift, it’s knit from Koigu.   The proceeds all go to the Mother Bear Project.   The purchase of this ornament pays the postage for 6 bears.

Mother Bear Project ornament...this is a gift.

I bought this cute little ornament kit from Emily.  I plan to knit it up and gift this holiday season.

Sophie's Toes Sweater Ornament kit...another gift

I’ve been cold lately and I wanted to have a shawl knit in a neutral shade to leave at work for those times when the chill really strikes.  Besides it’s extra pretty.

Camomille Shawl kit...for me

I needed to have some of Lorna’s Laces Solemate…nuf said.

Lorna's Laces Solemate in The Outer Drive colorway for me

I have a person on my gift list that likes browns and neutrals so this will be made into socks for Christmas gifting.

Sophie's Toes in Walnut for gift knitting

I just needed this when I saw the samples.  The kits were all gone but I have emailed the vendor and hopefully he’ll send the instructions like he said he would.  You make this up by weaving, sewing  and fusible web that washes away…they were very pretty and impressive.

Leilani Arts Sari Silk for sewn scarf project.

Mountain Colors yarn for holiday gift knitting.  I am thinking this will be knit into some type of neck wear.

Mountain Colors 4/8's wool for gift knitting.

Green Bay Packers socks or maybe arm warmers…I have this thing about hand washing socks so arm warmers may be the way to go.

Ultra Merino 4 from Artyarns in the Green Bay Packers special dye job.

Special yarn for future gift knitting…a special pair of socks for a special someone’s birthday next year.

Gypsy Girl Creations Transitions Summer Solstice colorway for gift knitting.

I loved the socks I bought last year and just had to have more…although I ” plan to” give two to three pairs of these away as gifts…key words are “plan to”  we’ll see.

Opal Machine knit socks for holiday gifting and for me. I loved them so much last year I had to have more.

Cute Born shoes I bought at Nordstrom Rack today.  I returned some classic penny loafers because I already have a pair that I have not yet worn and then I picked up these as well as some black loafers.  They’ll look great with hand knit socks don’t you think?

Okay not from Midwest Stitches..these are from Nordstrom Rack and were too cute for words and will look great with handknit socks. I got these for under $30.00!!!!

Okay so I will be avoiding the mail lady when my VISA bill arrives…too bad I can’t also avoid my husband’s displeasure at seeing the balance on said VISA bill.  But hey… I figure I am worth every penny of it!

Sadly, like most “middle aged” women…that is according to my son…I have been wasting way too much time on Facebook.  It’s been nice visiting with friends past and present but seriously it has really zapped much of my blogging, knitting, and girl time ingeneral.   Fall is coming and I need to start my holiday gift knitting so I will have to say goodbye to Facebook if I plan to have a calm and peaceful fall.  So goodbye Facebook!

So I actually have been knitting.   I am working on a eternity scarf out of Berroco’s Origami…which I love.  The scarf takes 5 skeins and I am on skein 3.   I finished a little preemie hat for a charity knitting program that NPL Adult Services is having this fall called Pay It Forward.  If you are a patron of NPL then please come knit with me on these special Thursday nights.

Preemie Hat

I’ll have to miss that first session because I am once again going to Meg Swansen’s knitting camp!!!!   So excited about that!  I need to start my homework soon for that too.

On Thursday, Midwest Stitches rolls into town.  I really want to go on Friday but I have to keep a doctor’s appointment…UGH!  I am really not enjoying being a premenopausal woman.  Most of my July was essentially a huge bummer…nuf said, it’s way TMI for a public forum.   I will scoot out to Schaumburg right after said necessary appointment to try and grab some quality fiber fun!  Which reminds me that I have to check out the vendor list.  I really do not need more yarn so I’ll try and refrain but I did use up some of what I bought last year and I always love getting new ideas while “window shopping.”  Those ladybug slippers I knit my mom were a huge hit with her and I do so love WEBS.  So yes, I’ll go and I will enjoy the afternoon there…I just hope I will find parking by showing up later than I’d like.   I can’t go on the weekend so this will be my only opportunity.

I checked out a new Southern Living cupcake cookbook.  I loved it so much I bought it and made the most delicious strawberry cupcakes!  I can’t wait to bake other tasty treats as well.

Yummy Strawberry Cupcakes

Lastly I have a pre-ironing shot of my silk scarves.  They changed colors as soon as they hit the bath!   Slightly disappointed but I will attempt this again.  I have already ordered more scarf blanks and they are on their way so that will be a post to look forward to!

Silk scarves dyed with flora and tea.

I’ll type to you again soon…I promise!

On the 3rd of July…my best baking buddy…my oven faltered and fizzled.   The repair costs would equal the price of a replacement so the mister said…”Let’s go shopping.”   After a little online research and a conversation with the repairman, we headed to Sears.   I have never bought an appliance from Sears before but they had a big selection just not in the biscuit color I required.  We were circling the floor and my husband happened upon a box with a panel cut open….amazingly it was biscuit!    As soon as I determined that the oven did indeed have a hip height broiler I said yes.   The entire selection process took less than 10 minutes!   I probably should have spent a bit more time and consideration before making a decision but I am really not one to fool around.  Happily the unit was on sale….a sale that ended that day.

Meet Biscuit!

New Biscuit has more burners than my old Biscuit!

The best thing about new Biscuit is that it meant I never had to clean my old biscuit…which was one of those chores that I had been putting off until fall when the air was cool and could open the windows.    I’ll be sure to christen my oven by baking something this weekend to bring into work.

Now on to crafty news…

I have also been occupied with other pursuits.  I took a scarf dyeing workshop at a local historical society, Naper Settlement.  The instructor was Shelley Ryan of Wisconsin Public Television fame.   She is their local garden expert.    Here is a pictorial of what went on.  The great reveal won’t be for a few more days as the scarves as still “cooking”….so enjoy the preview!

Scarf dyed with peonys

Scarf dyed with blueberries

Scarf dyed with black walnut shells

After going back and actually reading the directions…I have found out why my red cabbage scarf is going to actually be blue instead of rose colored…I’m a bit disappointed in myself  LOL