NPRINS

Dear readers, I've been done with the Funky Grandpa Sweater Pattern for about a month BUT I was afraid of the afterthought buttonholes.  More on that (a bit later on my project review on My Ravelry Project Page ).  Let me just say cutting your knitting is scary.  Now, shiny things:  I'm so thrilled I got this sweater completed.   I love it!!  I took a class -- which took about 8 weeks to complete.   My instructor is a sweetie -- the wonderful Anne from Anacapa Fine Yarns-- her blog is Moonlight Stitches and her revelry page is Moonlight Stitches on Ravelry.   I will post a pattern review on Ravelry with some suggested changes I made.  I made the pattern much longer so I can rock that librarian look at work (my favorite!)  So, I'm thrilled with the result.  Here are some of the photos from the dress form (I could have gone smaller - I made a M).  I've lost some weight in the last two months...

Dear readers, I apologize for not posting more frequently.  You've probably been wondering what I've been up to.  Well, life, really.  Extensive traveling for work (DC, Alaska, Monterey, Seattle and San Diego), and battling a really bad sinus/chest infection that just wouldn't go away.  So, I'm back - taking some time off this Fall, and hopefully -- BLOG ON! Below -- six months of working with Acrylic yarn from Hobby Lobby (not fun!) but a good rendition of the Dr. Who Scarf (free pattern from  Dr. Who Scarf website .  Just in time for Halloween this fall!  Obviously, J. is not that excited to pose (although he does love the scarf). Did I mention we've been having a heat wave in California -- average temps 85 degrees or so -- our hottest summer in Ventura since 1931 (and we don't have air).  So on each of these trips I was expecting cooler temps (and failed!  It was an exceedingly hot and beautiful summer everywhere). I've got ...

Dear readers, Does absence make the heart grow fonder, or, does it grow more distant?  I hope the former.  I apologize for the long absence.  My partner, J. passed away unexpectedly over the Holidays on the East Coast during a visit.  That, with a medical problem he struggled with all last year, left no time or energy for blogging. Zombies Anyone? But, now, after an extended absence I am back with a series of posts to show you what I've been up to.  I also have converted a Singer 201K to a treadle, later post on that to follow.  I also bought a spinning wheel from a friend, but have yet to quite spin anything.   In the photo below, I've displayed all the projects I've completed (in two cases the projects are in progress), appropriately staged on J.'s piano, as usual: Let me go over the knitted hats, woven scarfs, and cowls, first, with more posts to follow. First, the Zombie BBQ Felicity Hat -- yarn appropriately named from Lorna's ...

Dear readers, While I procrastinated on the buttons to my Funky Grandpa sweater,  I started an easy but gorgeous fingerless mitts patterns.  Why fingerless mitts?  Well,  I've given all my mitts as gifts - with the exception of one snug pair. I finished the pair above on the flight to and from DC from LAX (holding a Kalapawai Market Coffee Cup, Kailua, HI).  Here are the mitts above (with the cowl behind them).  The pattern is  Fetching. Here was my initial cowl -- which I still love and have not blocked.  I have worn it a dozen times at least. The yarn I used was Fyberspates Scrumptious Aran in Moss.  It is a silky alpaca, wonderful and I love it.  One pattern note is that I recommend binding off with a smaller ribbing on the needle.  My are a bit loose at the fingers (and I took out the design originally with the pattern as far as the little ribs on the bind off). I'm meeting with some of the LA Sewing Bloggers for a meet up next ...

Dear readers! Happy Holidays!  I've been knitting up a storm -- I learned (finally) how to knit caps.  It was an epiphany! My hats are left to right, brown for Jonathan, green/yellow/blue for me (slightly large), and another rust/green for me.    The pattern is Ann Norling's Head Huggers No. 51.  My main problem is that my ribbing stitch is so much larger than my stockinette -- I really had to frog more than a few hats on the first try.  On the lighter colored hat -- I am going to put in a band to snug it up -- I found a great tutorial and will post when finished. Please forgive the overexposure present in these pictures -- I was having lighting issues.  . .among other matters. I had some leftover yarn from the cowl -- and yes, enough to make a cap.  A tip I got from my class is to weigh the finished project.  You can use that measurement (in grams) to compare to with any remaining yarns in your stash to see if there is enough yarn (in grams)...

Dear readers, Another project I completed before my dress was finally Susie's Fingerless Mitts, a free pattern from Ravelry found HERE. Easy but delicate pattern.  I would sew these again in DK or a thinner yarn.  The pattern calls for Size 5 needles in DK.  The yarn is Lorna's Superwash Wool in Worsted.  I used Size 4 and cast on a bit two small (24 c/o)  - next time I will use 30 stitches c/o.  I tried the 42 the pattern called for and 36 but both ran too large, even with the reduced needle size - I am a loose loose knitter and this yarn was larger than the pattern called for.  Some of the pattern was a bit tricky - the turn round after the lace stitch took me some time to figure out, as did the thumb.  I also used a crochet c/o - I probably will never use another cast off again - I loved this stretchy c/o.  Thank goodness for YouTube tutorials.   My ravelry review is  HERE. Fun pattern.  Highly recommended!

Dear readers, Sorry about the long absence.  I've been traveling for work - which makes sewing very difficult - not to mention blogging.  I did complete, however, some yoga socks.  And, I've tried them out in Pilates on the Tower/Cadillac - and I can report they are effective! Yes, I was photobombed as normal.  I used sock yarn - and it took quite some time to finish!  I used tiny needles size 1 - 2.25. The pattern was free - here is the link for Patron Yoga Sock #153 - but you will have to join the Patron Site to view the pattern, I believe. And, my link to my ravelry site and project information:   PammieandthePs Ravelry Page . Again, more posts are forthcoming - I'm home for awhile!  Hurray.  I've been doing mending since arriving home on Friday, and loving it.   Note, I bought the new Threads while delayed at the SFO airport on Thursday (amazing they carried it at Hudson News), and really soaked every word up. XOXO, P.

Dear readers,         I finally finished this cowl in Hawaii - it took me quite a bit of time to finish and isn't my best work - but I'm glad it's finally done!  I wore it out last night and am wearing it today (while making my Corned Beef and Cabbage). . . .  A close up - not completely perfect:  By the way, a year has gone by and I haven't made this coat dress yet, below.  It's on my wishlist. Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, below, still looks fab in the dress with the alternations for her condition.  I love how the English royalty tend to keep their best pieces and merely alter the garments.  It is quite noticeable in some pictures. I am however, still working on my day dress.  This weekend,  I made a toile and it needed some minor alternations.   So, hopefully today I plan to cut out the fashion fabric to finish before Thursday - for another St. Paddy's Day celebration (and I'm making more corned beef and ca...