The perfect handmade gift for a knitting friend...

If I could only find the free time to get a the machine to sew this up...

http://crazylanea.typepad.com/fiberarts/2007/12/sock-bag-tutori.html

Win something cool and pay it forward!

Check out this blog, where she's giving away something from her stash every day this month, in exchange for you doing something to pay the kindness forward.

http://theninjaknitter.blogspot.com/

Get rid of that paper clutter!

Go here and opt out of all those annoying catalogs you get. The ones that tempt you into a consumeristic "I want, I want, I want" lifestyle... The ones that take up trees to produce... The ones that take petroleum for fuel to transport around the country

http://www.catalogchoice.org/

Contest: To win yarn/needles

Go check out this contest that I heard about on Ravelry... http://www.sketchesandmore.blogspot.com/

FO: Snapdragon Soaker

Here is a size large soaker from my friend Heather's Snapdragon Soaker pattern done in Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Bulky bare, that I dyed with kool aid. This is for a swap on Diaper Sewing Divas (where I'm a moderator) with Jessica (jessh2021). I added short rows to this pattern as Jessica mentioned that they use prefolds, so I figured she would need a bit of extra room, even though the legs are slightly front-loading on this pattern. I finished the soaker out of just one hank, but had to dip into the second hank to make the drawstring. I am planning to do some legwarmers for E out of the remainder of the second hank.



And here's a picture of the yarn just after I dyed it (on the left, obviously):

FO: Clapotis in Andean Silk

This has been done for a while now, and I love it! I skipped 4 repeats in the straight section, and I'm glad that I did, because it is just the perfect size for a nice wrap/short scarf for my 5'2" height and my frame.

Done in the LEAF color of Knit Picks Andean Silk. I have a pair of Fetching that I did in this colorway a while ago, so I feel all matchy-matchy now.

FO: Longies for E

Dyed by Carrie (akiss4meg) from mr & miss lil pocket pants on aran BFL yarn from Jessica (J'La) from Baby Black Sheep. This is the size medium of the LTK Picky Pants pattern, with 1" added rise. The waistband ribbing is P2togs instead of K2togs and the cuffs are a 2x2 moss stitch.



This the yarn before knitting - Carrie also made me a Tshirt for E like the one in the picture, only longsleeved.

PATTERN: Baby Legwarmers

My first pattern!



Editing to add a link to download a PDF of this pattern from Ravelry. The PDF version is free also.
http://www.ravelry.com/dl/prajna-mama/4644?filename=Baby_Legwarmers.pdf

These were born out of an intense dislike for a certain torture device called "baby tights". Evil little things. Terrible to get on a squirming child, and off and on again for the endless diaper changes. These leg warmers make me think of my childhood in the 80s and the lavender striped pair that I owned. Oh yes... and the PASTEL PINK ones, too. Those of you who know me, don't fall over in shock that I actually wore something pink. Besides, they matched the paint on my bedroom walls.

Materials:
--Any worsted or aran weight yarn that will give you gauge. I used aran BFL from Black Sheep Baby.
--US 8 (5.0mm) DPNs, set of 5 - or needle size that will give you gauge
--US 5 (3.5mm) DPNs, set of 5 - or needle size that will give you gauge

Gauge: 20 sts and 27 rows to 4" (5spi).

These baby leg warmers are worked from the top down.

Please contact me regarding any errors and I will correct the pattern.

You are free to make and sell from this pattern or modifications of this pattern. I do ask that you indicate that you are not affiliated with me in any way, and please link back to me as the pattern source.

TIP: How to do the duplicate stitch

Thanks to the Lime & Violet Daily Chum for bringing this tutorial to my attention.

TIP: Weave in ends while knitting

I just heard about this on the Sweaters for Dragons podcast and thought it worth spreading the news about. For anyone else that ABHORS weaving in ends... THIS is for you!

Scrapdash: Weave in ends while knitting--Continental Style

Sock Pr0n: Weave in ends while knitting--English Style

FO: Longies for Bonnie

100_2577.JPG
Originally uploaded by amyjunkins

Done! They are just gorgeous - I am so very happy with them. I sent them off to Bonnie on Tuesday morning. So, now I am nervously awaiting their arrival at her house and HOPING that she really does like them.

WIP: Bonnie's Longies

1026071327
Originally uploaded by amyjunkins

Just finished the cuff on leg #1 - a moss/seed stitch that will cuff well and look exactly the same on the reverse side. The cuff is a tad larger around than the leg to facilitate cuffing without stretching the cuff out of shape.

WIP: Longies for Bonnie

Longies for Bonnie
Originally uploaded by amyjunkins

Coming right along! In aran BFL, dyed by Julie of Selah. I do not know what the colorway is called, however.

FO: Open Twisted Rib - Amari's Socks

Amari's Socks
Originally uploaded by amyjunkins

Yay!!!! Finished. And they fit. From Charlene Schurch's "More Sensational Knitted Socks" in Patons Kroy Socks - "krazy stripes" colorway.

WIP: Longies for Bonnie

Longies for Bonnie
Originally uploaded by amyjunkins

The custom-dyed yarn arrived from Julie of Selah and I cast on!

I saw a new way to do a double-tail cast on loosely... Say I'm knitting the waist ribbing on 6s... then hold two size 6 DPNs together and tightly cast on to them, then remove the extra one - VOILA - nice loose cast on.

I am just to the point where I am inserting the first short rows.

WIP: Andean Silk Clapotis

I picked up my clapotis last night for the first time in a week or so, maybe longer. I was/am enjoying the pattern and the knitting progress, but have been dealing with sequential illnesses, first the 4 month old with a cold, then the 3 year old with a viral throat infection, then the husband with a nasty cold, then the now-5 month old with a combo of the viral throat thing and the cold, and last night - the 3 year old starts sniffling. Sigh. It's not even winter yet.

Anyway, because of all of this drama, I have no progress pictures, but here is a picture of the colorway I am using in Andean Silk.

FO: Lattice Stitch Socks for J

100_2557.JPG
Originally uploaded by amyjunkins

Finished - the lattice stitch socks (More Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch) for DH J. In the oatmeal colorway of Wool Ease. Nice and warm for winter and he is surprised at how comfortable and cushy they are - this is the first pair of socks I've knit him. YAY!! Score 1 for knitting.

Sock On!

1001070840
Originally uploaded by amyjunkins

Some sock progress on the sock for A that I'm knitting. It's going very nice and quickly and the Patons Kroy Socks is nice and sturdy. I can't say that I like the way the pattern is striping on the front, but the striping is striking on the back.

Clapotis progress

I am two rows into the first repeat on the straight rows. I really do like how the andean silk is working up. Such a nice drape and so soft! I am excited to get to the first place I get to drop a stitch. Almost like a present waiting for me, egging me on to keep going in the pattern.

I checked my guage and I'm getting 4.5 spi on size US 8s, so I am just going to stick with that since the pattern calls for 4.75 spi, I figure that's close enough for this item for me. In a diagonal row with 106 sts, it means I'll get 23.5" rather than 22.3" - that's close enough for me.

OTN: did I mention SCATTERED?

I feel like I have a million things on the needles (OTN) right now, but even more in my ravelry queue just egging me on. I NEED to make myself stop casting things on, because I get interested in them and leave the old projects as UFOs - and then decide I don't like the UFOs enough to finish, so I frog them. That's ALOT of wasted knitting time.

1. Lattice Stitch Socks for DH based on Charlene Schurch's More Sensational Knitted Socks book - WW oatmeal wool ease - just finished the gusset on sock#2. And now the picture:

2. Clapotis - Andean Silk in a yummy dark green - just finished the setup rows.

3. Sweetheart dress for A - WW acrylic - has been hibernating FOREVER

4. Little Turtle Knits (LTK) Picky Pants longies for E - aran BFL from Jessica at Baby Black Sheep custom dyed for me by Carrie at mr & ms lil pocket pants to match a custom embroidered longsleeved tshirt from Carrie. Here's a pick of the T and colorway:

5. Fibertrends Kids Felted Clogs for A. Also hibernating FOREVER. Picture:

6. And last, but certainly not least... Breeze Socks for ME!

Back to knitting!!

PSA: cloth pads

I have heard LOADS of good things about this free pattern, so I thought I'd pass on the news. I just printed out the pantyliner instructions and pattern PDF to try. Not that I need them right now - haven't seen PPAF yet, thank goodness - but it will be good to have them ready ahead of time as backup for my diva cup, which has to be the best invention EVER.

Get sewing!

And oh yeah... benefits of cloth pads.

On the BlogWagon

Yep, on the BlogWagon. I never thought myself the type to start a blog, but I stumbled across this signup and ended up with a blog before I really new what had overcome me.

I am AmyJ on Ravelry. If you haven't yet heard of Ravelry, you must be hiding in the dark ages. Get thyself over there and SIGN UP. You'll simultaneously thank me and curse me once you get in and see what all the fuss is about. Really.

I am early-30s, married to J, mama of two little girls - A who is 3 years old and is the perfect little angelic demon and E who is 4.5 months old and just rolled over for the first time last night and appears to have a tooth that will be making it's hideous presence soon known.

I am a cloth diapering, sewing, cloth diaper sewing, knitting, crocheting, breastfeeding, pumping, attachment parenting, semi-cosleeping, recycling, WOHM. How's that for enough labels? Have I painted myself into a corner now? I'm sure you have me all figured out by now.

Hi, my name is Amy, I'm a Gemini. My favorite flower is the Jacqueminot Rose. I enjoy long walks on the beach and romantic poetry read by the fire.

Enough about me, on with the knitting.

I have a million and one things on the needles - and am going to add one more thing... a Clapotis in a lace-weight. Conjoined Creations Pastimes in the Winds of Change colorway, to be specific. 100% soysilk yumminess. 800 yards of pure heaven. And it's not pink. Not even close. Not one iota. I picked up this yarn very recently at A Wool Gathering outside of Yellow Springs, Ohio. A friend and I and assorted small creatures drove down and spent the day rolling in the goodness that is yarn and fiber. Well, not really rolling, although I am completely convinced that they would have understood (being fiber junkies themselves), and actually envied our fearlessness, but probably thrown us out. The icing on the cake that was this day - CINNAMON ice cream at Young's Jersey Dairy.

To keep me on track with this project, I am joining the Second Wave Clapotis KAL. They have some hard work ahead of them keeping me on track and honest.