the PUDDIN'!!

I call her Puddin’ b/c this is my year of ‘fearless knitting’. I decided that proof was in the puddin’!!

Just like my Lizzie I didn't think I could make something so beautiful. I am glad I proved myself wrong again!

There are also 4,821 different pattern and chart versions for this project. And it was very confusing and overwhelming trying to figure out WHICH ONE IS THE RIGHT PATTERN?!?

I stopped on Row 87 :o)I truly only wanted a lap afghan, as I already have a nice big puuurty afghan!

So I did not extend my Hemlock, and after having almost 400 stitches on the needles I had no desire in making it bigger, but getting it OFF! HaHa!

I believe I achieved the "lapghan" size :o)I must confess it was on my lap before I even had the chance to block it!

Time: As I have mentioned already I coveted this project from the very beginning when it debuted on Brooklyn Tweeds blog along with everyone else! But really didn't get serious about it until about Feb/Mar of this year. Then I took two months in dragging my heels on gathering my patterns and yarn for this project.

And the final push to CO was in May. I was rarely faithful to this project and barely kept my mojo. Not because it wasn't interesting, but I was slowly slipping into my "knitting blahs".

This blankie actually moves along pretty nicely. Especially when you decide to focus on it! Haha!

My favorite part is the flower!I luv luv luv doing the petals!

Once you get past the 'heart' of it (the flower) then it is all downhill from there with one pattern row and then four mindless stockinette rows. Great Netflixing, TV series marathon knit!

I would guesstimate about a week and a half total knit time if you are consistent. Which I believe that is how long it took Jared to do it too.

Needles: Well I did have a false start with this project in that my stitches originally appeared too tight on the US10 needles. So I ripped back...tried it on the US 10.5

Mmmh those were too loose. Shucks!

So I tried it again on the US10s and it worked out just fine! ;o)

I also used 32" and 40" cords .

Yarn: I used the recommended Cascade Ecological Wool.

I realized while knitting with this yarn that I really don't care for it. As it seemed splitty and loose with its 2 ply.

However, it does look good to me all knitted up. I just wouldn't be running to knit with it again.

I used 1.25 skeins on this project, as I only needed that other part of the second ball for the bind off.

If you want to do this with just 1 skein I recommend ending at row 82 so you will have enough left for the BO.

I have a ton left over and already scoped out projects for the remainder of it!

Cost: Only $13 bucks as I bought the yarn for 20% at my fav LYS during their anniversary sale.

What I learned: Patience & Perseverance. No seriously LOL

Once you get past 200 sts in pure stockinette it can get old real fast! Haha! And then knowing you will be increasing more with each row can try your patience! ;op NOT even mentioning that tedious bind off!!

Okay so more on the technical side. I do wish there were videos on the infamous Row 14 (where you make the holes for the petals) and the BO row.

Those were the two spots where everyone has questions about (the whole K1, P1 in the same stitch 4 times Haha!) or at the very least pause for a moment and think...."what?" Haha!

You know sometimes you just have to "see" it!

Lets talks about the BO row for a minute...shall we?

This is actually where I started "wiggin' out" for no good reason at all!

It appeared too sloppy and loose to me. I really was concerned how it looked in comparison to others, but truly was doing it correctly.

I quickly discovered yarn substitutions made the BO row appearance look different or to my eyes more "neat".

I also was not considering how the BO edge would look like after blocking.

I will echo everyone else in saying that binding off on this project is a beast!! Unnecessarily long and truly should be a crocheted bind off!

It takes roughly about four hours to complete, and I didn't even extend mine! Doing that particular knitted BO with even more stitches would not be what I would sign up for at all; definitely consider an alternative BO.

But the most important thing I learned was to BE FEARLESS!! Ironically, while I was knitting this and devouring my Dove chocolates this message popped up when I needed it the most while freakin' out on that BO at the very end! Haha! Pure irony!!

So glad I went for it and became fearless!

Also, in blocking my Puddin' one of my knitting pals, Janet, who adores lace knitting gave some great advice in saying that "lace loves tough love"I took that to heart and stretched that baby out! :oDIt came out nice, smooth and flat!

Apparently, some have seen ripples where their fan and feather sections are even after blocking but I didn't have that problem. I am thinking the bigger you extend your ring the more likely there will be a ripple effect.

Modifications: I did not make any changes, but really have 'tips' more than anything in this section and truly only directed to the BO row.

TIPS:

~ Recommend putting a lifeline in before the BO row.

~ After working the 5 stitches within one then P1, Sl 1 you will not have any stitches left on your left needle. Turn (right needle doesn't have any stitches - that is right!) still knit as normal in the 1st slip stitch continuing to BO the 7 stitches.

~ (I got this one from Heather) on the very last eyelet do the following: K2tog, yo, then pick up 1 stitch at the very first k2tog that you did at the beginning of the round. Turn, then BO as normal to form the last eyelet.

Hoping those tips help others, and are good reference notes for me whenever I plan to do this project again ;op

Verdict: Perfect project to challenge you and to make you feel like a 'knitterly superwoman'! ;o)

I think this would make a very nice and impressive baby blanket gift as it is not monotonous like a typically garter/stockinette one and it progresses along nicely.

The BO row however is a serious commitment that will make you re-think it, unless you know how to crochet one instead.

I love the fact that my Puddin' is not too long or too short, but juuuuuuuuuuust right!

Yep trying to hurry and squeeze out those last bit of warm knits!!

Still have a few chances to pull out this crimson beauty a couple of times to keep the early morning and evening nip off of me!

~ Project Details ~

I decided to have my little friend help me to model it ;o)

This one is finally all for Me! Moi! Yo!

Pattern: Tudora

I originally planned to do this as my 1st Malabrigo March project, but the Better Bucket Hat kidnapped me!

This project was part of my Git Yer Neckwear Awn! KAL :o) Luv it! Haha!

Size: One size. So it will fit errybody! ;op

Time: So fast I really didn't have time to take a bunch of WIP pics. Just this one

You can do this in a matter of a few hours. I did it in two evenings after work (started Tuesday finished Wednesday).

I don't know what took me so long to CO for this project (actually I do...the "just right" yarn), because I zipped thru it. And will dare to even say it probably is faster than making my other fav neckwarmers!! *gasp!*

Needles: Harmony US 5

Yarn: It is March.....so Malabrigo of course! :oD

In the color: Burgundy

Hence why I decided to call her "Kirby" ;o) And I happily realized on yesterday how it compliments my favorite crimson trench coat perfectly!

Cost: < $11, since I used less than a hank of the yummy malabrigo worsted merino yarn.

$2 for notion - I really like this button. I actually thought I picked up a black one, and was pleasantly surprised, once I popped it out of the package, that it was a very dark brown.

What I learned: Cabling without a needle! YAH!

This video helped me do the C4B without any assistance from that little stick of mine. Doing this method is best for 2 or 1 stitches, any more than that I would rather just use a needle.

So when I started out actually using a needle, twice I made little cable fudges (go figure) ....can you see them??

Compare the far right one (defect) with the left one. I didn't feel like ripping back so I claimed them as my 'designer touches' ;o)

Once I watched that video I did just fine without any cable mistakes or dropped stitches w/o a cable needle! *blows on fingernails* Haha!

Modifications: I went down a needle size, only knitted 3" of the body (really my neck is not that long!), hence only needing to pick up 12 stitches for the button band. Having to adjust my button hole stitches accordingly (no biggie).

I continued to slip the first stitch on each row of my button band so it would mirror the BO edge of the neckwarmer.

Verdict: I found another new pattern I can crank out as great gifts! ;op YAH! Probably won't make myself another one, but it will come back up again! Haha!

I really wasn't in a pic mood but thought I would try and squeeze in a side view for y'all. I just love the Elizabethan look!

I luuuurves it! :o)

Have an awesome weekend!!

I cooked up a little something over the weekend

Used the 24" cord for the actual knitting needle (not sure what was my spare size - I just grabbed a cord) and that was really tight on the 96 sts but was fine once I increased, but then when I had to decrease down it was wonky again and not enough for MLing, but I worked with it anyway because I didn't want to fiddle with transferring stitches to a longer cord.

Yarn: Malabrigo of course!!! As mentioned above this was for my Malabrigo March KAL project.

The main color is in Sealing Wax. Which is normally a deep red color, but there is no way that this is that color!

It reminds me of the Vermillon (lots of pink tones) I did on one of my neckwarmers not too long ago. I think this was either mislabeled or a very bad dye batch. More than likely the latter.

My contrasting color I used is in Velvet GrapeI debated and debated about what color to use for under the brim, and now regret that I didn't use Rich Chocolate or Vaa (that green would have been great as I may give this hat to a girlfriend who is in a sorority with pink & green...oh well!)

I must say U.Tube saved the 'cranky tired late evening' for me ;op

There was a FABULOUS Cat Bordhi Video for Magic CO that made it so easy for me to get! (a little cookey but worth sitting thru!!)

The brim was definitely the most challenging part for me in knitting this project, and of course that is the 1st thing you have to do! :oD

Having that spare needle dangling is something else (I had to put my buttons on it), but really luv the fact you will eventually just knit straight from the spare needle without having to pick stitches back up. That made it all worth it!! Y'all already know how I feel about picking up stitches! LOL

TIP: You must CO with the CC color FIRST and then on round 5 right before the purl hem row, you can switch to the MC. I actually did it on round 4 but recommend doing it on the 5th one instead. Or if you want your CC color to show on the brim you can begin with the MC after the hemline row.

Once you successfully get over the brim it is all downhill from there!

I wish I could also say I learned how to double knit...but not yet! It "appears" to be double knitting but it really isn't. Double knitting is when you work both sides at the same time creating the reversible look.

This was basically doing a hem line edge

Gotta know where the back is on my buckethead! :o)

Modifications: Not much, but the obvious in that I used a contrasting yarn. Other than that I followed the pattern.

Verdict: I would like to do this in the color I originally envisioned it in.

I really wanted the hat in a deep red and purple.

I even bought the identical button from the pattern to go with it!

I must say I've been dreaming of what color I want to knit up Silver Belle (SB). Of course I was thinking RED....but I really can't knit up everything in red! LOL

What is that peeking out at you?

Come on! You know that ball band anywhere!

Is that some scrumptious Debbie Bliss? :o)

I must admit I have yet to knit with her yarn *gasp* But it has been sitting over here patiently waiting on me! LOL

These two balls (or maybe just one of them) of DB Cashmerino Aran will birth into the beautiful fingerless gloves that everyone has knitted up called the Fetching.

This will be done with the Charlotte Purls Fingerless Glove KAL we are doing!

There is also a blog - Fingerless Glove KAL that you could be involved in as well. These cute items are a hit in the fashonible knitting world!

And trouble is not trouble unless it has a twin!

Yep some very nice DB Cashmerino Superchunky that will eventually be a cute cable caplet.

Speaking of cables, last week was the 1st time I picked up a cable needle! How in the world am I hosting a KAL that has some serious cables in it?! LOL :op

Be sure you check out the Silver Belle KAL it has been hopping and popping over there with lots of beautiful finished Belles!

Also, since I am new to cabling (which so far really isn't that bad) I joined the Fall Cable KAL 2007 as well. :oD

Y'all should know by now I join KALs to keep me motivated, on track, and for that extra boost of courage in trying something new! :o)

My 1st project so far is a cable hat! More to come about that in the future.

Since everyone is rushing fall and it really is just around the corner (even though it won't get cold here until November!) I guess I need to crank out these last few summer items pretty quickly! Huh? Haha!

Keep on Knitting!

Last month I previewed some knit books and patterns. One of them was Vogue's free pattern Silver BelleWell guess who is co-hosting a KAL!! :oD Yep!! Me! LOL

FluffyKnitter (Liz) and I just set-up the Silver Belle KAL and we are excited about people already wanting to join!

If you are interested be sure to visit by clicking on the link above and sign up!

And of course you can knit-a-long with us anytime! :o)

I swear Robin must have finally rubbed off on me in hosting a KAL! :op

One thing you may not know about me is that I love watching Grey's Anatomy!!

I have been one of those faithful watchers that started with eppy #1 when it first came on before it started sizzlin' HOT!

It is a tragedy that none of my friends watch this TV show, and absolutely no one at my job watches it either (freakin Lost & AI watchers!).
So to find someone or several people talking about Grey's always has me singing with glee! :o)

Therefore, I HAD to join the G.A. KAL since I rarely have anyone to hash out all the gooey details of the episodes!

Even though I am a huge fan I have never gone onto their website (http://abc.go.com/primetime/greysanatomy/) until I joined the "Grey's Anatomy KAL".

Since I browse the KAL frequently there was this neat quiz to see which G.A. character you are most like and this is what it computed for me:

Mmmmh I guess that is close.....but no cigar. I personally would have said Miranda! The Nazi - with a smile of course and a big heart!

One of the main reasons why I just love this show is because of Meredith's (the main character) narration/voice over. She expresses alot of thoughts and feelings about life that many of us experience.

Of course my weekly 'Friday Eve' treat is to sit down and watch Grey's Anatomy while knitting! That is two of my favorite things at once!! YAH!!
Everyone knows "Do Not Call Stacey During the Hours of 9-10PM EST......Thankyouverymuch!" :op

This week, I of course knitted on my Lizard Ridge! :o) That has been my steady knit project during G.A. And I have the pattern memorized now - so I can watch T.V. and talk on the phone, unlike when I first started with the afghan I needed 100% focus! :op I am now on panel #2 square #3 and counting on the Lizard Ridge!

Next week I will get 2 FULL hours of Grey's!!! WHOA!!!

Believe! I will be posted up in front of the TV with my needles & NORO! :oD