Thorpe of Love

Why of Love??


Could it be that I love the yarn (Malabrigo Chunky) or the colorway name Amoroso? ;)
Thorpe by Kirsten Kapur
Yarn-(see above) and Malabrigo Merino Worsted in HollyHock doubled for the crochet edging and ties, and Vermillion to finish earflap.
US 9 and 10 circulars
Size: L
I used ML to start this hat, as it is knit top down. Easier I think than dpns. Great, easy pattern too! I plan on knitting a few, other, of her patterns as well.
Ravelry

This yarn is fantastic! It held up to 2 froggings and was still so soft and not pilly. It is soooo soft! Better than the plain single ply merino worsted, although that is still soft and I likey too!


Why 2 froggings...well par for the course for me LOL! First time I wanted to do the jogless garter stitch technique described here by Kathryn Ivy. I had only knit a few rounds so what the heck. So onto the 2nd frogging, that was because I finally tried it on, it as a bit too snug...so I frogged back to the increase section, and added another section. I also upsized from a US 9 to a 10. and finished the hat.


(hehe it does look like a helmut here huh!)

You can barely see the jogless garter stitch. It's on this side. By upsizing a needle, I also took a chance on yarn shortage. I ran out 4 rows from finishing this earflap. Luckily, I had already purchased the Vermillion as a plan to use for the edging and ties, but when I saw the HollyHock, I quickly changed my mind. It was a great match too, I just doubled the yarn and finished the earflap.

This also was my first project using a hd crochet stitch. Luckily, I have some knitting buddies that crochet to show me how.


Yeah, I like it! Now waiting for the cold mornings, when I usually get to wear my handknits...rumor has it there is a hint of snow coming this week...now to make some armwarmers out of the Vermillion and a cowl out of the HollyHock. You know, I'm all about being matchy matchy...

YPF-MCN Version

as in Merino/Cashmere/Nylon...it's sooo soft!! One could get addicted to it!


It's a teensy, weensy bit darker...but so nice!


I'm a lot into semisolids lately...


I also like knowing I can knit various projects with this yarn. I've seen cowls, socks, fingerless mitts...


Plucky Classics October Shipment
Riverview Drive
385 yds of MCN
Fingering Weight

Gah!!!!

Why Gah!!! Well, it's really more like grrr...and WTH....and...dammit and whose stealing my project yarns!

Case #1

Magic 28 socks knit in leftover LLaces Worsted from this hat. I was doing so good...until the 2nd toe. Yes...I had to find matching yarn for the toes! I'll frog back the other one and it'll be done with. Yes, those are dpns...Bryspuns I got with Cristi eons ago at an LYS that was going out of business..darnit, should have gotten more at 50% off!

Case #2

Thorpe hat...what you see on the left is the yarn to knit 4 more rows on the top earflap and bind off both earflaps...well, not happening. Good thing I had some worsted that you see on top I can double and finish the earflap. Normally, this hat is knit on US 9's, well after the increases I knit with 10's on purpose mind you. ;) Thought I'd have enough, but nope. Good thing I did plan on using a contrasting yarn for the ties.

Case #3

My soul sucking Leyburns...well they don't suck anymore...why...

They've been sent back to square 1

The toe had too much fabric, that's what I get from using 15 stitches to start with. Would not have fit in a shoe. Plus the leg was too big, I seem to have a problem with toe ups and my tiny ankles......and thirdly...the US 1.5's ..they were killing me! So, stay tuned, I'm going cuff down and on 2.75mm (US 2's..yeah, you know we have like 3 US 2 sizes LOL!)

YPF-Do ya wanna??

Araucania, do ya wanna?? Isn't it funny how you may pronounce some yarn brand names you know like Koigu (is it koi-gu or ko-gu or ??)...this name seems to be a song for me...for others, maybe not but I can't help thinking it's pronounced do ya wanna, Arcuana, ok, may NOT hehe..

Anyways, onto the pr0n!

Very colorful I'd say!


Kinda soft too! Looks like a good sturdy sock yarn!


Araucania Ranco Multy
Colorway 310
75% wool, 25% nylon

A gift from hubby's cousin, I had no idea she knit...socks even! I knew she was a weaver, but when I saw her knitting stuff around her apartment this summer when we dropped our son off to school, I was thrilled. You see, I'll have a knitting buddy already when we move back home.

yeah, one day......do ya wanna??

Hubby has a knack....

For finding the right comic that says it all....He prides himself on it...



This so could be a conversation between my daughter and myself! She's just that sharp and witty!

Random fact....I may have crocheted a bit around the age of 12-14 (made humpty dumpty banks out of kool-aid canisters) but I didn't touch a sewing machine, didn't like it, and I would have had the best teacher in the world....so I guess...

Like mother, like daughter ;)

Wednesday WIP's--why version

hrmpf....that's all I can say. One would think with an afternoon off one would have more progress on said items below. Well if one would keep her eyes open, one might have. ;) Oh and if tinking wasn't being done on a regular basis...they would progress more as well!

Thorpe hat...

I was down to the earflaps. It was snug and I wanted it looser, so frogged bag to the increase section and added another one. Plus I went up a needle size. Going better I think..

Socks shouldn't be soul sucking should they? They should be enjoyable shouldn't they?

Sometimes they are, sometimes not...US 1's why do I even try! This is the Leyburn pattern you've seen on other's blogs, yeah, my speedy friends :)

Well, it's a really easy pattern repeat, why do I end up tinking more? Could it be that I'm wishing the US 2's worked? Or is it that pesky extra K row that seems to get in there ;) Why is it my STR socks seem to just go on forever, I mean, I knit, it seems to go no where! I have 2 others in progress as well. Not looking forward to finishing them, that's why they sit there. Love the colorways, but the yarn to me seems to knit slow, I feel like I can't make progress. It's me, that I know, cause other's seem to fly off the needles. Don't mind me, I'll perservere, I'm not letting pesky socks get the better of me!

Could this be.....

Long resurrected Mr. Lipstickjeans! Finally out of the project bag. Thankfully, this project hasn't been getting tinked this week. I didn't think it would ever get long enough. Still a bit worried but I measured it with other sweaters and it seems about right, plus this yarn is known to block big. I still have at least a 2" button band to add as well. I like the idea of knitting 1 sleeve earlier, doesn't seem so daunting right now to finish the other one. I do want to finish this month, as I have another sweater OTN raring to go.

Off I go to brave the black ice! Yeah, back to work today :(

A four letter word that begins with S

hehe and ends in NOW! Woot! I got my wish, snow for at least 1 day in NC. The only bad part is...sniff...I must go to work! Not sure if patients will show up, but one must be there just in case ;) Now, my normal 25 minute commute, might be longer, but I have stocked up on the essentials. Food and knitting, you know just in case I can't leave tonite ;)



Scene from the front porch about 6 am! Just found out school is cancelled. I have one happy girl here. Guess no finals for her today! She's off to the grandparents and I told her to pack clothes for a day or so..in case it gets worse and we can't get her. You know..no snowplows, not much salt or sand here...so one must be prepared.


see, you can see it won't stick to the concrete...yet...


tv station just said 1/2"...um..er..I beg to differ


As for me, I got my beaner stormchasers, wool socks, and handknits, and will begin the trek to work momentarily...let's hope I'm not stuck there all day and night!

Sigh..why couldn't this have happened this weekend...I had 4 days off :(

ETA: At work and it's coming down worse..eek, hope I don't have to sleep here LOL. Good thing for tempurpedic mattresses. Now I'm no stranger to snow, but here, you know...it's close down, if I was home in Maine...it would be another day! Poor hubby, he's stuck home with daughter ;)

ETA 2: 11 am

me thinks this is more than 1"

Home now and hanging out!

YPF-Another Friends Edition

I have tried so many times to capture this skein of yarn. It's gorgeous and was a gift from Shannon when we met up for SAFF.

Love all the colors! It's a 3 ply and I still don't know what it wants to become...maybe a cowl, but not socks. I just can't do that! So here it sits, taunting me.


Sadly, my pictures aren't the best, but you get the idea.

I remember when she was just using a spindle. I've always admired her lovely spinning and when she gave me this I almost had a heart attack (but I hid it well LOL!)

It's still green round here, partially, but cold, and I love it.

Superwash Merino
Pigeonroof Studios
Poison Colorway
4.2 ounces & 250 yards
Info gathered and way better pictures from here

An interview with....

Hi there, my name is Sonic, and in case you didn't notice I'm a hedgehog.


Here I am in my new digs, trying to get used to all this stuff, let alone a pesky girl human!


So let me tell you how I arrived at my new digs.

*avert your eyes, she's showing me undone, and no those aren't boobs either!!* Yes, that woman that created me, she always has to show her friends how she does it. Heh, arent' some things supposed to be left to the imagination???


I feel like I'm in a mug shot...I have absolutely no clue why. My measurements are 11 1/2" tall by 9 1/2" wide in a prefelted state. *what the heck is prefelted..I'm getting a little nervous at this point*

So...here I was minding my own business, when that woman, she thought I must have been dirty because she gave me a bath...a very HOT bath! Oh, and 1 time wasn't enough, she did it 3 times!! She was grumbling something about a front loader, but hey, I was just trying to keep from becoming smaller and smaller.

Well I guess she was a bit satisfied that I was clean, and a bit shorter and skinner.

Although I do feel like I need some kind of hair restorer... she was grumbling enough when she was adding my hair, something about it being the devil.. and not going where she wanted it to.


There she goes again with that darned mug shot pose!!

She said something about new measurements that had to be taken. Something about becoming 8" by 8" and very dense...hey, I take offense to that, I'm not dense...

I'm fluffy! Since I didn't have anymore hot baths, I guess I was done. As you can see, wondering if I'll like my new home...look at all the books, am I in a library?

Chillin with my new peeps. Yo' Pasha and friends!


My new Mom, she luffs me! She was feeling sick today, so I guess I cheered her up!

And despite my hairplug look, my new Mom doesn't care!


Yeah, I'm cool and I know it! ;)

Details: (that woman made me put them here, says something like her friends will appreciate it. She has friends...geesh I hope she doesn't put them in hot baths like she did me...)

Fiber Trends Huggable Hedgehogs
Lamb's Pride Worsted in Aran and Coffee
Sirdar Funky Fur in Inky Blue
US 10.5 and 11 circulars

No mods, but if I knit this again..which I may cause despite his fiestiness, he's pretty darn cute!
1. I would double the fur. I tried for a little while to pull the fur up from the inside with not much luck, thus the plugged hair look. Also, maybe a longer type of eyelash yarn too.

2. I would knit the back with a color that closely matches the eyelash yarn in an attempt to further hide the plugged hair look.

It's a cute pattern and pretty easy, but some areas I had to read a few times to get the gist of it. Especially the arms and legs. Tons of short rows, but don't let that scare you. I used some plastic eyes from the fabric store, also for the nose.

Well hello there!

Lots of knitting going on, but nothing quite done yet, close but no cigar.

I just wanted to say hi how are ya?

A sneak peek of something you'll see by the weekend I hope..


Son is back to school! There was some flight rearranging and he left a day earlier so I'm a bit out of sorts...it could be that I stayed up until 3am Sunday morning rearranging my craft room....it could be the after holiday blahs have hit...anyhow stay tuned...more stuff later!

YPF-The Berry Edition

Berries...love almost any kind there is. But I don't think I've had this one before ;)


Pigeonroof Studios
Loganberry Colorway
100% Superwash Merino-fingering weight

I love the levels of the burgundy colors in this. Pretty soft too.

I love to swap. Something I may not like for a new brand for me to try! :) That's how I was lucky to get this yarn as she sells out very fast.

I wonder...

if they took the squeak out? You know out of acrylic? You see, 3 years ago when I started knitting seriously my first few projects were with Red Heart yarns. I was using metal straight needles, and the squeaking gave me the heebie jeebies! So glad I had discovered wool and other blends, and more needle material choices! Now, I have knit with other acrylic brands with no problems, but it was always the RH that squeaked to me!

However, sometimes it is necessary to knit with it, and my first 2 FO's of 2009 are your classic Red Heart Supersaver.

First up is a scarf

For the Special Olympics Scarf Project . I finished! Woot, it was close there...

You see..

I was really trying to do crochet. Well, other than edging, my crochet skillz are severely lacking in the gauge department. So rather than rip out and start over, and since time was of the essence...I cast on for my standby scarf project.

After 2 side/by/side scarves...I wanted my no brainer, easy-peasy scarf pattern.

Cast on about 180 stitches on a US 15, 60" circular and knit away....

Ahhhh, gartah!

Knit with the required Delft blue and white yarns...

Onto the other acrylic project. I knit this hat for my wool allergic SIL. She's not a girly girl, so my stash of non-wool yarns wouldn't suit her. So for her cold, Arizona mornings, I knit her these. Just got them mailed to her today.


Those Mitts by A Friend to Knit With (if not on Ravelry, look on her sidebar for the pdf file! :)
Red Heart Supersaver in Gray
US 6 dpns and ML (hehe..had to ML it when I temporarily lost my dpns..um..er..under the front seat of the car--passenger side)

This pattern is by the same designer that you may have seen

Toasty and Toast knit up all around.

I really enjoyed knitting these as I love the thumb gusset construction. Cannot wait to knit these up in wool! For me! I have none...sad huh!

I have to say, despite the acrylic, both yarns did not squeak and bug me. I admit my wrists were a bit tired than when I knit with wool, but hey for what they were needed for, worth my little bit of achyness.

WIP Wednesday

Hey there! Well, as I kinda hinted to the other day, I do have a ton of Wip's and this year is the year for finish or frog. Doubt I'm going to do the latter, but I'm doing my best to finish.

Of course, I'm not going to show you any old Wip's this week,

Nope, here's my newest SIP-
Leyburn STR KAL

Monsoon Mediumweight from the 2nd year of the STR sock club, yeah about time huh!
psst. pattern here if you want it. I like the pattern, so far so good, although I am fudging a bit as I'm using mediumweight, and 10 less stitches. It's not too snug and hoping it'll be fine when I get to the heel...what heel to use..hmmm not sure yet, I know I have at least 7 total inches to knit before I need to worry anyways.

These pretty's, well I've been swatching for a coat and finally got close to gauge.

It's Cascade 109 in Wine (hehe..need some cheese?) It's for the Sweet Pea Coat. Although I am about a stitch and a few rows off in gauge, think I'll be using the US 13's. However, no casting on until I at least start the 2nd sleeve of a hibernating project. Although..this will knit fast, I just can't do it...yet ;)

A Recipe

Ok, here it is :)



Scone Bread

Recipe makes 2 - 8" cake pans, feel free to 1/2 it if need be. Also, remember, it is not a sweet bread either. The dried fruit gives is flavor, but if you are wanting something really sweet, this isn't it.

Bowl 1 mix together:

5 cups all purpose flour
1 cup sugar
4 tea. baking powder
1 tea. baking soda
3 tbl. butter/marg

Mix first 4 ingredients together then cut in the butter, set aside.

Bowl 2 mix together:

3 cups buttermilk
2 eggs

Pour wet mixture into dry mixture and beat for 5 minutes. Batter should not be lumpy and consistency will change.

Add 1 tbls. flour to at least 1 cup of dried fruit (raisins, craisins, blueberries...etc) and add to bread mixture. Feel free to use more dried fruit, whatever amount is fine. In the one above I used about 1 1/2 cups total.

Pour into 1 large (thinking bundt or tube or heck 13 x 9 pan or 2 small 8" cake pans)

Bake 350 degrees for 20 mins, then bake 325 for 1 hour. I usually go a bit less than an hour due to my oven. I like the outside crusty, but not burnt. It'll be clean with a toothpick and hard on the outside.

LMK if you have any questions! :) I have no idea where the recipe came from either so I can't give credit...