A year of Arianne.

Arianne is now 10, time flies by so quickly!

Log Cabins Squares on a loom

Traditional version:


I had a few people ask me about making a log cabin square, the one pictured below is crochet. I also know how to loom them, but I crochet much faster, which I need to do- 64 squares for the afghan exchange. While doing the squares on a loom is not hard, to me it is a little time consuming because you have to do a little extra. My version of a log cabin square, you work with balls of yarn and knit straight through. The traditional log cabin, you move the square around an knit as you go. I messed up with the colors on the traditional square- the colors and I forgot to bind off and had to go back do it. Please let me know if I need to change my wording, I hope it is not confusing.

My Version:

Baby Gift

I set out to make a baby present for a preemie. Once I finished a new born sweater, I thought this is way to big. Graciela pointed out she had a preemie pattern, so I made this. I messed up on the newborn size as I didn't understand where to put the ties. I also needle knitted and loomed a few hats in different sizes. I hope they like it.

Knitted Hearts

I made this back in January and part of another one. I am not sure if I should stuff them or make a little purse with the larger one, coin purse with the smaller. I need to finish them and do something with them! They were needle knitted from a pattern in Interweave Presses Holiday Issue. The pattern could easily be converted, but beings it is not my pattern- I can not post anything on it. Any advise on what I should make them into?

Current Sock

This is the current sock I am trying on the loom. It is from Sensational Socks- which is a needle knitting book that is great. I am sure these will take a while to do, as I have to many things going on.

Twinkle Toes

I have made and frogged these several times on needles- twinkle toes, don't you love them. I finally caught on that I *think* the pattern is wrong. The part that I think is wrong is at the end. There are 40 stitches and then you decrement 10 stitches, but are expected to have 24 left. I checked the other sizes and they all have the wrong amount left- based on my math. I am not sure what I am reading wrong. I figure I have to be wrong or someone would have caught it. The decrement is to K2tog or P2tog. Those decrease 1 stitch each time- thus worked . I am pretty sure that I can make them on the loom, not using this pattern, as I am pretty sure you can make them without incrementing and decrementing. But I need to try it out. So I think these are going into storage until- I have time to do them or figure out what I did wrong.

Chevron Sock Pattern

I love to do puzzles! I spent 2 months figuring this pattern out- later I saw directions for a Chevron pattern on a loom. But I did figure it out:) Anyways here is the pattern at long last. I love making them, but I really dislike writing. I wrote this many times and changed it. Today I realized my pattern was only for 64 pegs, so I rewrote it to include others. I really hope that you are able to understand my logic, please keep in mind this is my first pattern to write. Any tips and not to harsh criticism is appreciated. The pattern is in 2 parts. PartI is Toe Up Socks and Part II is Chevron Pattern. You can make this pattern leg down, you can make the pattern just on the leg part, and I am sure there are other ways that you can customize it. That is part of my reason for making it in 2 parts. The pattern is written for looms with 48, 56, 64, 68, 76, and 80 peg looms. If your loom has less or another number please let me know and I will try to help you. It is difficult to make the pattern on the upper foot part in looms with less than 44 pegs. This pattern could also be knitted as a flat panel. I tried this pattern on a bulky yarn with the KK and I did not care for it, but it might turn out better with another type of yarn. Let me know if you make anything with this- I would love to see pictures. I need to add to the pattern that the yarn I used is Cascade Fixation in the picture below, I am in the process of making one in Trekking Self Striping yarn.

Completed projects

I have actually completed a few things in all this time since my last post. I have been very busy. I made felted slippers- on needles. My first time felting. They had some lines on them when they were done, I am not sure what I did wrong.

Before: After:



I signed up for an Friendship Afghan Square Exchange with the KKEX
I have to make 64 afghan squares and I am going to make 1/2 of them like this, and I have not settled on what the other 1/2 will look like. I have 12 completed so I need to get going. Each person will recieve 2 squares and I am sure it will be a very cool afghan.

Then I signed up with TTT on Markman Looms yahoo group to make 100 preemie hats. Here are some that I have made. I am feeling a bit overwhelmed with 64 squares to make and 100 hats, but it will keep me out of trouble! I just have to remind DD who keeps piling onto her wish list.

To the dark side....

I am such a PC girl, but I am changing teams. I will be using both X and XP- I need to get used to this before I make the leap with Vista and X. I need to learn networking with Mac's better, I am so used to Microsoft. But it is a beauty isn't it? Beings most Mac's are white or silver, I am sure you can see why this is titled what it is- I can't have Apple fans thinking I am talking bad about my new baby:0)

I do have my sock pattern done, finally but it is not easy to get- the only reason I have the picture above, is I just imported it. I will post it as soon as I have finished switching over, as my old laptop has been backed up and is ready for its voyage with Vista, hey a girl has to play..... I have to learn this stuff as it is what enables me to keep buying yarn;0)

One pound apples

We went to this really cool asian grocery store yesterday. I bought the kids these cool lunch boxes where everything has a space in a container. They have really cool food jars where you can layer the food, but we went the lunch containers, will have to snap a picutre soon. What I did take a picture of was the huge apples I bought. I is 1lb and the other is a little over 1lb. Here are both the apples with a regular apple so you can the difference.

Baby Booties

I made these baby booties with needles for my niece’s new baby. I have never used this technique before, but it was very cool. It was double knit, so when I opened it, there was a pocket. I got the pattern out of Last Minute Knitted Gifts. I so impressed with them, that I only took a picture of then in the stage and gave them to my niece without taking a picture. I have some samples that I can take a picture of, but the have a few errors on them! The one picture is the flat piece that is knitted and the other one is a peek into the pocket.

My once a month post

I have been busy like everyone else. Arianne had her Davies performace last night it was a sing along. She worked very hard, all the girls in the SFGC did.

This was Arianne's first performance. I am so proud of her. She is doing well in school, taking music lessons- claranet, attending the chorus school, and playing basket ball. I just hope that I can keep up with her:0) She has a ride to chorus for the time being, but driving her and her brother around is getting to be quite a task. But just as long as they are doing well.

Logan had his winter performace this morning. He did quite well with his dance.

My attempt at making fingerless gloves

While I am in a posting mood:0) I figured I would try a pair of fingerless gloves, I was asked to make the kids principal's costume. He was a monkey and I thought that fingerless gloves would be great. I ended up not having time to make these, as I learned a few things in trying. The reason I did not use anyones pattern- is I wanted to have the thumb a be more than just an opening. I am close, and the next time I should have it. We will see when I get the chance as I need to get a few other things done.

My recycled sweater project

I have washed this sweater 3 times to felt. It was an XL J. Crew sweater. It had a ribbed pattern that still shows some. I need to buy matching tread before I cut it up to make the backpack- I have been so excited about doing this, but I have not had the time. It is a deep rich color that is a little washed out here. Do you think I should do the lining in black, which I have or find a old shirt at the Salvation Army-where I bough the sweater for the lining?

A few finished projects

And a few that I am working on. I have a picture if my completed sock that took me forever to work out the stitches, I will type up the pattern this week and post it. I still might undo the ribbing and make it k1 p1, instead of k2 p2. But I do like them, and Arianne has already claimed them:0)




Here is a slipper sock I made for Arianne, I made one to small so I have to redo it. She can't wait for me to finish it, I should as it is a quick project.


Here is the sweater I am working on for Logan. I have made these on the KKII's, I really like the double knit fabric that this makes. I have to do the sleeves, seam it together and add a zipper. I was suprised in how quick this was, I did up to this point in a few movie viewings over a weekend.

PDF Downloads

With the help of Kansas I am know able to post info for downloads. I have only listed directions to make a single rake so far, but I have been emailed by people asking for a few different things so I will add on as I go along.

Exchange.....

I partciapted in my first exchange with KKnex

The kids where so excited when they saw the box, but it was for me:0)


Arianne was so excited to open everything with me, and it was such fun. Just look at the goodies I received!







Arianne was so hoping that the pictures in the bag where from the wonderful person that sent me the exchange, here is a picture of all the loot unwraped.






I received a lovely scarf with the left over yarn and enough yarn to make something else that matches it, a beautiful wash cloth in purple, soap- 2 different kinds, candles, nice picture bag, dark chocolate herseys kisses, loom pick, and a package of N post its. My favorite is either the scarf or the wash cloth- until now I do not own 1 hand/loom knitted item. I have always made for other people. Thank you Laurel- I really love everything!

New toys....

I ordered myself a few new toys and the waiting for them to get here was something else. I got a 30" FG ADR from Markman Farms and a 12" AJAL FG and an oval 8" EFG sock loom from Decor Accents. I have yet to use the Markman Farms loom, it was what I wanted the most, but I have not had time:( Lynn includes a book, in plastic covered pages for you with patterns. I just think that is the coolest thing. I am going to be making a felted backpack or a an bag on it. I have worked on fingerless gloves on the 12" AJAL - I want a thumb on it. I almost have them how I want them, but not yet. Don't you just love them?

Regrets.....

Lovely Thunder, who looked part bear.


I am sorry for so many things. I am sorry for not spending more time with you. I am sorry that I did not pet you more often. I am thankful that you were such a loving pet and you always forgave me. I just hope that you forgive me for this one last time, but I just could not stand to see you suffer any more. These are from the last few precious minutes that I had with you. You will always be in my heart.

Baby wash cloth

Some time back someone was trying to figure out the Grandma's dishcloth pattern. I made a baby one and it was pretty easy. But I only went up to 20 stitches and it came out as a tiny baby wash cloth. I will more than likely frog it, but with the lack of time I have had lately- I feel like I have to look at what I have gotten done:0)