Winner!

Thanks for the sweet comments :) I am happy to announce the winner is.....
comment number 2.... Carter!

Thanks for playing everyone! Carter, you can expect a little surprise the next time I see you. I already know what it will be, but I'm not telling :)

Wishing you all a very wonderful Sunday!

Knits and Knots Anniversary

Well, I missed it by almost 3 months! Knits and Knots was one year old on Dec 1st. I can hardly believe that I've been blogging that long, or that there are actually people stopping by regularly to read what I have to say about the fibery world :) I have had a ton of fun with this blog and mostly have all of you to thank for it! Without your kind words, encouragement and visits, I probably would have given this up quite a while ago. So, as a fun way to say thanks, I am going to hold a little anniversary contest. I haven't quite decided what the prize will be, but if you leave me a comment on this post before the end of the day tomorrow (12 am EST on Feb 21), your name will be entered into a drawing for the unnamed prize - I promise it will be good. In your comment, tell me your favorite accomplishment from the past year. Good luck!

Law Relief

It seems as though our voices were heard! The government put a one year stay on the CPSIA law that was going to have such a devastating impact on small businesses making children's items. This does not mean that we're in the clear, but it gives us more time to make an impact for the long-term. The Buy Handmade Blog has some great info on what the law is allowing for now, and how to continue to work towards a law that will be the best fit both for small business, and the saftey of our children!

Monster Cup

Ok, I've been dreading this post because I will finally have to admit how geeky I am. I have had a fear all my life of being "the geek". Here are some examples of what I'm fighting against: I was never good at sports and mostly liked to sit around reading fangasy novels (geeky). I wear glasses (geeky). I push them up with my index finger when they slip down my nose (geeky). My undergrad is in chemistry (geeky). I asked for a palm pilot for my one year dating anniversary (geeky). I married a computer programmer (geeky). I spend most of my free time playing with yarn, the sewing machine, or other various crafts (geeky). If I'm not crafting I'm playing board games. Well, that's not so geeky, or at least it wasn't...

My husband recently introduced me to a new game, Arkham Horror. I initially refused to play it because it is a role playing game (or RPG for you gamers out there), and I just plain refused to add the final straw to the camel's back and forever plunge myself into geekdom. However, one night, to humor my husband, I played a round with him. It was fun. I didn't admit it. But the next time he suggested the game, I didn't say no. Then it was fun and I admitted it. The next time, I suggested playing the game. Finally this weekend we played with a friend. The next night we played again, and my husband pointed out "we're officially geeks". Say it aint so! I say all this tongue in cheek, as I still don't consider myself a geek. What qualifies as geeky behavior changes as you age. I consider myself trendy and in touch with my artsy side ;)

Now, to relate this all back to fiber arts: I made this bag to hold some pieces of the game (monsters). Aparently people use a cup to draw the pieces from in a typical game so its called a "monster cup". Mine's just a drawstring bag.







I used a silk/wool blend (Tahki Yarns Chelsea Silk, shade 180) that was given to me by another blogger friend. I did a sc spiral for the bottom and knit in the round for the body. The top has a k1, p1 rib to bring the bag in and a few holes worked in to accomodate a crochet chain drawstring. I was really satisfied with the way it turned out. It works great and was a fun little project to use up some yarn I just didn't know what to do with, but just had to use! The yarn is really beautiful and I would most defnitely consider using it again in the future for a larger project, but it apparently is no longer made. Bummer!

Flop

Well, after making some fun Christmas gifts this year, I thought I just might make something for me. I wanted to use my leftover Cascade 220 superwash from the Fiddlehead mittens and Bird and Vine mittens. Combined I had enough for 2 mittens and 2 linings. Since I didn't have enough of any one color to do the stranding required for either of these patterns, I just thought I'd do some stripes and it would save on yarn. I used the shape of the fiddlehead mittens, but soon realized that it was going to be too big. So I reduced the starting count 10 stitches and started again. By the time I was done with the body I realized it was kind of large still. Once I added on the thumb it was quite apparent that these were NOT going to work. I'm kinda bummed and have zero desire to make the other mitten or try to fix this one. Now I'm trying to decide if I should just use this one as an oven mitt and be done with it, or save it for the day I'm dying for a challenge and fix it then. Somehow I kind of doubt that day will ever come! Either way, the colors are pretty. So at least I got that part right ;)

Gifts

Well I got some great Christmas gifts this year. I'm not sure I could pick a favorite! Funny enough, most of my gifts were fiber-related! The most useful are probably the new digital camera I purchased with gift money from my husband's family, the set of interchangeable needles my husband bought for me, a new purse (that I quickly determined was going to be my amazingly fashionable project tote), and a sweater that I can be seen wearing around the house many days of the week - the last two both from my mom.

This was the first time Matt has ever bought me something that I had to ask for in a specific way. I didn't want just any needle set. I wanted the Knit Picks Options. And since you can't buy those in stores, I basically sent him the link and he purchased them. I felt kind of bad doing that, but it was truly what I wanted. I had set aside money to buy them months ago and ended up getting something practical instead. But now I can make anything that takes between a size 11 and size 4 needle!

You can see I've stuffed it with all my other circulars as well - my much preferred knitting utensil

I spent a long time researching and pricing out digital cameras. I feel like I got a good deal on a really nice camera. Its about one step down from a Digital SLR, which is what professionals use, but it still has options to change the shutter speed, aperture and exposure (a "superzoom"). I hope to one day master all of the settings and use it to its full potential. For now it takes great shots in its auto mode and has an awesome macro setting that allows me to take photos of small objects (like my handmade items) with amazing detail! It also takes up to 8 min of digital video which was a huge draw for me!

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28K

The tote is from Khol's. The color here is a bit off, but give me some grace, I'm just getting used to my camera settings! Its got a huge inner pocket with a small zipper compartment, plus two side zipper compartments on the outside. These are brilliant, as they allow you to compartmentalize things without adding bulk to the bag. I use them for storing my notions or cases, or just for extra yarn so that its not getting confused or tangled up with the skein I'm working from. You get a little sneak-peak on the second photo of the baby bluebird I'm making as a part of a baby bird pattern set (goes with my baby owl). You can see that yarn is a skein of Super Saver, which only takes up a small portion of the bag. This tote can haul!



And lastly, but very beloved, is my sweater from my mom. I wish I could say that I or someone I know knit this lovely piece, but alas, its not true! I LOVE this sweater. I wish I had one in multiple colors, honestly! I included a couple up-close shots to show off the macro setting on my camera.

GLW is Done!

I sewed the zipper in my son's Grow Like a Weed Jacket yesterday and I just had to post a few pics because... well, I love how it turned out! This pattern is a keeper :)