Emptyknitster

Recently I attempted to make sense of my stash heap. It was a big pile of odds and ends. There in the midst of it I found a market bag I had started, but didn't quite finish. Rather than throw it out I began ripping and crocheting dishcloths. I did a full out sprint totaling 1,179 meters! Pattern: various stitch patterns crocheted in circles and squares Yarn: Peaches and cream Colorway: cream and blues Needle size: F hook On my recent trip to New Orleans I started a pair of socks using a yarn I thought looked like the Mardi Gras in action. After walking down Bourbon Street I realized NOTHING is that colorful! Pattern: Slip Stitch Socks Yarn: Patons Kroy Socks Colorway: Fern Rose Jacquard Needle Size: US Size 1

I love this colorway and I seem to be able to duplicate it fairly well! This time I used Wilton's food coloring. English podcaster, Tilly Trout, recommended the pattern which looks very nice in this colorway!  When I'm a bit worried if I have enough yarn I like to do the toes, heels, and ribbed tops in a contrasting color. Pattern: Slip Stitch Lines by La Maison de Saba, Fishlips Kiss Heel Yarn: Cascade Sock Yarns Heritage, Knit Picks Bare Stroll Fingering Sock Yarn Colorway: Turquoise and Poolside Bitch Needle Size: US Size 1

On Saturdays, when the gurls were young I'd often make waffles for breakfast and just for short time called them "Awful Waffles." Until middle daughter, who HAD loved them for breakfast, no longer would eat a single bite! Oh my, it was because I'd been calling them awful for several weeks, and years later she still claims not to like waffles.... I've improved my sock knitting technique in the last few years. When I began this sock knitting adventure they all went into my sock drawer but as I got better at knitting socks, they became gifts for friends and family. Now, as I look at the socks in my drawer, I long for the much improved versions! Kendy, from the WyomingCowboyFamily, has told me on several occasions that although she has been receiving her Birthday and Christmas socks she'd never turn down sock drawer hand-me-downs.  I'm pretty sure that she should be looking in the mail for a package soon! And then I'm adding these socks to my sock...

This past weekend Hubby asked if I'd like to head to Yellowstone Park and see how the critters had fared over the winter. We have been noticing a little spring popping up around home and so I was good to go. With very little planning, we pulled things together - Leftover pizza for lunch and corn beef and cabbage for dinner, some warm blankets and off we thought we'd go. Do you remember Denali is supposed to be a traveling cat?? She headed west for all the Grizzly Games last fall. However, this time she had other ideas for our spur of the moment trip. (I think Hubby was just a little to intimidating in his noisy nylon jacket and quick movements.) As he tried to put on her harness, off she ran hiding anywhere we couldn't get to her.  We hung around for an hour or so but I decided we needed to be off on our adventure and "Sorry little Denali, you'll feel very sad when you're left alone at home!" As we went out the door I'm pretty sure I heard a little...

Socks: 27 pairs Sweaters : 4 Boot Cuffs: 2 pair Stuffed Toy: 1 Hats: 6   Premi hats: 4 Baby Sweaters: 2 Scarves: 2 (Mitered Square Sock Blanket: 160 squares for 2014, total 346 Grand Total of knit Items for 2014: 46 plus 160 squares Favorite Item:   Favorite photo prop for knitted item:     Craziest thing knit this year: Favorite hand dyed item:    As the saying goes: Knitting is like sex: If I love you it's free, if not you can't pay me enough!"

Hoping to keep Sarah's noggin' warm this cold North Dakota winter. Pattern: Rolled Brim Cap by Sue W. Yarn: I Love This Yarn, Soft Secret Colorway: Peacock, Light Denim Needle Size: US Size 7 & 8 Pattern: Vanilla Fish Lips Kiss Heel by Sox Therapist Yarn: Colorway: Needle Size: US Size 1

Tossing aside tradition The Chick drove down on the 16th of December and the three of us were off to North Dakota for Christmas.  We were happy to see our grandkiddos and they happily made some delicious Christmas cookies. Our little Charlotte Ivy has grown into a beautiful kitty who has the good sense to stop and smell the roses!   We were able to attend Sadie Lou Who's Christmas concert. (a sad photo taken on my iphone The Tiger had been saying he was getting a computer for Christmas from Santa since Thanksgiving.  A little elf had told me a computer was not in the Tiger's future. So early one morning a few days before going to see Santa I asked him about the wish list he'd made for his visit to Santa. I was prepared to burst The Tiger's bubble and figured it was better six days before Christmas than on Christmas morning. A shocked look appeared on his face and The Tiger quickly told me the elves in the workshop where busy making computers at that v...

Like any dedicated knitter I was careful to pack plenty of yarn for our time in North Dakota. In truth, most knitters pack more than enough.  we don't ever, ever want to be without a project. Disaster struck on Friday I was sitting next to the Christmas tree happily knitting on a sock when the unexpected happened - I broke my Size 1 Addie circular needle. The wire just broke off an the end of the metal needle! I quickly went into solution mode. "Where," I asked frantically, "Can I find knitting needles?" Remember I'm in Jamestown, North Dakota, and the answer to this question is: NO WHERE!!! In desperation I went to Walmart but I knew in my heart that I wasn't going to find anything but a stiff, plasticy, Boyce size 8 needles. So what to do for the next three days until we went to the thriving metropolis of Fargo? Crochet a baby blanket! It's not done and I think I'll just keep it in the car should another emergency arise.

Each year the adults in our family draw names for gift giving but no matter who's name I draw I like to do a little knitting for everyone. Socks have been the go to gift lately.... The California Dreamin’ Gurl has a very specific order for her Christmas Socks: 1)Yoga Socks 2)Black 3)Tight I’m not fond of knitting black yarn but decided with no toes or heels I could put up with a little bit of knitting in the black. Even knitting only in daylight these were a very fast knit.To achieve the third request I found this pattern and knit these socks in a twisted cable. I think I'll use this little twist in many other toed socks. Pattern: Women's Yoga Socks by Rebecca Bathje Yarn: Cascade Sock Yarn Colorway: Black Needle Size: US Size 1 ...but the California Dreamin' Gurl was also the family member name I drew and so when she sent me her list of possible gifts and I saw DRYER BALLS I was delighted!! I got on YouTube, found a tutorial, and was quickly I was makin...

This year has been the year to knit socks. I've enjoyed every sock knit. Being able to put the project in my purse and take it anywhere has been the best. I feel like I can be adventurous in colors and patterns knowing the recipients will still wear the finished product - after all, they only have to slip on a pair of boots if they really find them offensive! I've always tried to have my Christmas presents bought, or completed by Thanksgiving so imagine my surprise when I went to wrap the NorDak family gifts and realized that I didn't have the Big Boy's socks completed! Quickly I got the THREE skeins of sock yarn, picked out a favorite pattern, and began knitting! Pattern: Vanilla Latte Socks by Virginia Rose-Jeanes Yarn: Patons North America Kroy Socks FX Colorway: Cadet Colours Needle Size: US 2.5 All wrapped and ready for Christmas!

I happily knit a pair of socks for one of my biggest sock fans! Pattern: Pin Striped Socks by Julia Gabriel              Fish Lip Kiss Heel Yarn: Patons North America Kroy Socks Ragg Shades Colorway: Brown Striped Ragg Amount: 2 skeins Needle Size:  US 1 needles

While visiting the California Dreamin' Family, Chloe-A-Little-Bit asked me for a new hat and glove set. I sat down and knit several hats this weekend - never quite finding the perfect pattern but loving the knit anyway! Enjoy the hat fashion show..... Pattern: Izmir Hat by Shana Schasteen Yarn: Patons North America Kroy Socks Stripes Colorway: 243455 Sweet Stripes Amount: 1 Skein Needle Size:US Size 6  Pattern: Hat No. 5 by Kara McKinley Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Encore Worsted Solids & Heathers Colorway: Ecru Amount: Less than 1 skein Needle Size: US 8 Pattern: E-ola (Reversible Hat) by Muriela Yarn: Cascade Yarns Pacific Colorway: French Blue Amount: Less than one skien Needle Size: US Size 7 ( calls for a size 8) Pattern: Women's Peaked Hat by Patons Yarn: Cascade Yarn Pacific Colorway: Navy Amount: Less than one skein Needle Size: Crochet Hook J (two sizes larger than called for)

I love one piece sweaters and this is just a little different from the usual. I enjoyed knitting this sweater after so many pairs of socks. There were a few changes from the printed pattern, I knit the yoke longer, didn't decrease before the waist and increased two extra times from the waist to the hips. The tunic was knit much longer than the suggested length in the pattern.  To quote a blogger, "If you are over 18 and you don’t live in the Playboy Mansion, you must wear your leggings with a top or tee that's long enough to cover your hoo-ha and your booty. No exceptions, ladies." For this sweater I used an unusual choice of yarn. I didn't want it to be to warm, and knowing I would be wearing something under this short sleeve sweater I used an 60% acrylic/40% wool yarn. After wearing the sweater to work I'm happy with the choice but the sweater did receive a couple of snags throughout the day. It's not easy to take a selfie in this house! ...

Last year I was winning drawing after drawing at ravelry. An item I won was a skein of Madelinetosh tosh merino DK in Winter Wheat on the Traveling Sock Knitter podcast. I've heard about Mad Tosh yarns but had never knit on any.  It was a delightful knit and I think the finished project is beautiful! Pattern: Bertie by Kate Blackburn Yarn: Madelinetosh tosh merino DK Colorway: Winter Wheat Needles: US Size 6

I finished another pair of socks and I'm very grateful that my brothers don't seem to mind my crazy socks at all! In fact, they claim to love them. I have bought the Schoppel-Wolle Crazy Zauberball several times and the yarn looks so fun in the ball but then I'm a little scared as I knit the pair of socks because there is never a repeat in colors, they just seem to flow from one tone to another. If you're a free spirit they are lovely! Pattern: Vanilla Socks with Fish Lips Kiss Heels Yarn: Schoppel-Wolle Crazy Zauberball Colorway: Schokolandenseite 2092 US Needle Size: One

I've been such a lazy blogger lately. Knitting but not posting! Three pairs of socks have been knit and are ready to put into the gift basket! Pair #1 Pattern Name: Simple Skyp Socks with a Fish Lips Kiss Heel Yarn: Patons North American Kroy Socks 4 Ply Colorway: Winter Eclipse Amount: 3 skeins Needle Size: US Size 1 Pair #2 Pattern Name: Socks for Euni with a  Fish Lips Kiss Heel Yarn: Rowen Sock - Wool and cashmere Colorway: Denim Amount: 1 skein Needle Size: US Size1 Pair #3 Pattern Name: Pin Striped Socks with a Fish Lips Kiss Heel Yarn: Patons North American Kroy Socks Stripe Colorway: Sweet Stripes Amount: 2 skeins Needle Size: US Size 1

About a month ago a friend had a preemie granddaughter born. I've never knit preemie hats before, I wasn't sure if babies in our local hospital were allowed to used them, but when this little 2 pound 3 ounce darling was born I quickly knit up three little hats. I thought that even if the hats weren't used they would be great to look at years from now surely with the comment "You were so little that these hats were to big!" I started the first hat with a published pattern but thought that they would be to big and so went down to a size 1US needle and sock yarn instead of a 5 needle and sport weight yarn. As you can see, the hat is still a bit big but happily it is being grown into!  Hat for a Two Pound Preemie Cast on 80  stitches Knit 25 rounds in ribbing Knit 25 rounds in stockinette Decrease evenly around every other row until 8 stitches remain. Run yarn through the 8 stitches and sew shut. One hat has a ribbed brim, one a rolled brim, another h...

It appears I'm not the only person with a dying problem! I found this solution on a podcaster's blog and want to remember it for future use! (Family, In the future I'll do this on all socks you get before they are sent to you!) http://www.betterthanyarn.com/2014/10/problems-and-solutions.html

Recently I got the idea to dye some Christmas sock yarn. I decided to dye the yarn in the sun using food coloring: The yarn was approximately divided into thirds and placed in Christmas red and green water laced with citric acid. In hindsight I did not allow the sun "do it's thing". Which is why I'm now writing this post! When the water became clear I quickly rinsed the yarn and hung it to dry. When I began knitting them they became a perfect pair of Christmas Ribbon Candy Socks! There was some leftover yarn so I knit a pair for one of the boys: Then giving the socks the finishing touch, I began blocking them........Oh, no! My ribbon candy socks began melting all over! What had been a beautiful pair of Christmas socks became a pink mess: I put them away not really knowing how I was going to remedy this tragic disaster.  Then one day not long ago, I was listening to a podcast when light bulb went on! I hadn't had enough heat on the origina...

A friend at work is about to have a new baby granddaughter. I will take any opportunity to knit for a baby! A little bit of yarn, a little bit of time and voila! Pattern: Linnie by Justyna Lorkowska Yarn: Cascade Yarn Pacific Colorway: Celedon and Baby Pink Needle Size: US Size 7