tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50140202970960742522024-03-07T13:25:40.427-06:00So KnitPickyA particular obsession with yarnsoknitpickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168262237286825852noreply@blogger.comBlogger492125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014020297096074252.post-41464507119487175522013-01-19T10:34:00.001-06:002013-01-19T10:34:33.848-06:00Right NowOn the road: Me<br />
In the car door cup holder: Noro Silk Garden<br />
On the needles: comfort shawl <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfSQOE0B357E629Hy5B1N-EATEv_Z5BdJF-O-bs3Y4SH69A2bPc4Ssxz5GLS70odneGE_oMvoPbIpm8q_xOasj1UH16sDUizryMSSg87qsrPlBXeu2vIo9TuOiXY1oRUWEK-YH6YPjAwc/s640/blogger-image--1010639475.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfSQOE0B357E629Hy5B1N-EATEv_Z5BdJF-O-bs3Y4SH69A2bPc4Ssxz5GLS70odneGE_oMvoPbIpm8q_xOasj1UH16sDUizryMSSg87qsrPlBXeu2vIo9TuOiXY1oRUWEK-YH6YPjAwc/s640/blogger-image--1010639475.jpg" /></a></div>soknitpickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168262237286825852noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014020297096074252.post-48286438236735895002013-01-14T21:31:00.000-06:002013-01-14T21:31:08.496-06:00Hey GirlHey, girl. I do have knitting to show you, but the weather and other circumstances have not cooperated with helping me get good pics. That'll have to wait.<br />
<br />
I just wanted to quickly share something one of my friends posted on Facebook. Those of you who were fans of the <a href="http://handmaderyangosling.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Handmade Ryan Gosling</a> tumblr will be pleased to learn that Gosling likes knitting in real life! <a href="http://www.accesshollywood.com/ryan-gosling-reveals-his-perfect-day-activity-knitting_article_75067" target="_blank">Access Hollywood</a> has the scoop!soknitpickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168262237286825852noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014020297096074252.post-77968099826159122192013-01-07T11:03:00.000-06:002013-01-07T11:03:11.967-06:00Inspired ByInspired by Claire at <a href="http://sayyestohoboken.com/2012/11/diy-tassel-necklace.html">Say Yes to Hoboken</a> to make a tassel necklace:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDRxy-4pq0QQhOLnlIUsQ0KPsyFQafCpXB5cZ1hGb8y2Y5YGEsXxe4wHR76e8v_RA44hC1pF-FXTRqPHk7Wcs1WmY7CFdeH3VRhd9RLPqenSIxpssK1SUrPAONiYFPHpZxszrByoM_Pe8/s1600/IMG_3004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDRxy-4pq0QQhOLnlIUsQ0KPsyFQafCpXB5cZ1hGb8y2Y5YGEsXxe4wHR76e8v_RA44hC1pF-FXTRqPHk7Wcs1WmY7CFdeH3VRhd9RLPqenSIxpssK1SUrPAONiYFPHpZxszrByoM_Pe8/s320/IMG_3004.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
Most of the time, my Pinterest pins are for future inspiration, but every once in awhile, something comes along that says "make me now!" So I did.<br />
<br />
The directions were very clear, and I was easily able to get all of the supplies at Michael's. I used DMC floss E317, from the <a href="http://www.dmc-usa.com/Products/Needlework-Threads/Embroidery-Threads/Light-Effects.aspx" target="_blank">Precious Metal Effects</a> line. I do have a tip for you if you are having a hard time placing the knots just where you want.<br />
<br />
Tie a knot around a large needle.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIBIu-WWc7cGQ1aX7D_vBhpvbkv36wCKZ5fhu4vEzUYlgDtt2RancQXPc6Fvc72Dfy8NwNlkVHG_c0EhKNc51fe9A6M_9Jagmksjt_kV_5heJ0WRFUJIIIKg8ZSv4Zb4jgQn0BcwSlXto/s1600/IMG_2957.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIBIu-WWc7cGQ1aX7D_vBhpvbkv36wCKZ5fhu4vEzUYlgDtt2RancQXPc6Fvc72Dfy8NwNlkVHG_c0EhKNc51fe9A6M_9Jagmksjt_kV_5heJ0WRFUJIIIKg8ZSv4Zb4jgQn0BcwSlXto/s400/IMG_2957.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
You can then move the needle up and down the length of your string till you get it to the position you want. Then gently withdraw the needle as you tighten the knot.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBZGxflqr3yVsrULOqNC6fQcYhIBpCVkOUzcPcQPCXKrH6gRbgqnYUAnPUquTZqwmK2DCIuFTLpOwn8Mz4MWpNp0dnxGlMe3UA0jryVYMBQtBGz3e4EJU4FU6Qrev0TRjpsyebFjQHXXk/s1600/IMG_2958.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBZGxflqr3yVsrULOqNC6fQcYhIBpCVkOUzcPcQPCXKrH6gRbgqnYUAnPUquTZqwmK2DCIuFTLpOwn8Mz4MWpNp0dnxGlMe3UA0jryVYMBQtBGz3e4EJU4FU6Qrev0TRjpsyebFjQHXXk/s400/IMG_2958.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1mLCny65ycldXdAqpZQrEwq0JZ5toO5y-I4LlvOBhKxlazuaMUXxyYfYETp5MADzXYG_HYMC1BRC7RJYiz3VTrT61m1vvj8uOwfO0-Sd6BIFBooETRvRseTAH7N8CjZ9524FQga5sVZw/s1600/IMG_3005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1mLCny65ycldXdAqpZQrEwq0JZ5toO5y-I4LlvOBhKxlazuaMUXxyYfYETp5MADzXYG_HYMC1BRC7RJYiz3VTrT61m1vvj8uOwfO0-Sd6BIFBooETRvRseTAH7N8CjZ9524FQga5sVZw/s320/IMG_3005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
After putting on the beads on either side, I put both pieces of string through 2 final beads. The last bead stays in a fixed position, but the other one can side up and down to adjust the length of the necklace.</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />soknitpickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168262237286825852noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014020297096074252.post-36193060984881481722013-01-05T20:24:00.000-06:002013-01-05T20:45:12.486-06:00Inspired ByInspired by <a href="http://ftdofsmcp.blogspot.com/2011/12/pinterest-project-scarf-organization.html" target="_blank">Sarah</a> to make a scarf hanger:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtchFmcg26pcedogimkX8HIgHCl6qrv8edwLvUqyDnJoQGiYt7b6EwDQanp9sfy9BeTRUL764N3vpXwK1vghkCJ6Ao9OYIX7VoQVg9eeP5vfCGJPxpN-ZRpifnpjKT6X9UrYPSf0z4wB0/s1600/IMG_2949.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtchFmcg26pcedogimkX8HIgHCl6qrv8edwLvUqyDnJoQGiYt7b6EwDQanp9sfy9BeTRUL764N3vpXwK1vghkCJ6Ao9OYIX7VoQVg9eeP5vfCGJPxpN-ZRpifnpjKT6X9UrYPSf0z4wB0/s400/IMG_2949.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
You've probably already seen this idea all over Pinterest. It was appealing to me because it's so modular. I love to sort clothing and accessories by color so that they're easier to find, and I loved the fact that you could add a shower curtain ring anywhere on the hanger without having to shift other things around. As soon as I saw it about a year ago, I put my scarves onto shower curtain rings and put them on a hanger.<br />
<br />
The problem, though, was that no matter how hard I tried to keep things evenly distributed, the rings would slip and slide all over, and all the weight would eventually shift to one side, causing the hanger to be lopsided. If you know me at all, you'd know this would irk me! It was actually a little <i>better</i> when there were more scarves on the hanger, but still...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpG2yCDLwsazWt0QMHM_TlkCKbI0NQdICbuDuRzvl-G4y-RqgTRUsWdbcDnYx874iPQHlcYokw1y4iSXdynwJPzpqy1vUJMVClDkmzbvwiVpek-gkMtJ7U9BE-wOLRmDvvYQWBAYeR_8k/s1600/IMG_2916.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpG2yCDLwsazWt0QMHM_TlkCKbI0NQdICbuDuRzvl-G4y-RqgTRUsWdbcDnYx874iPQHlcYokw1y4iSXdynwJPzpqy1vUJMVClDkmzbvwiVpek-gkMtJ7U9BE-wOLRmDvvYQWBAYeR_8k/s400/IMG_2916.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
In re-organizing my closet this week, I decided I'd search for other solutions. I love the idea of installing <a href="http://www.shelterness.com/50-scarves-storage-ideas/pictures/11987/" target="_blank">towel bars</a> to hang the scarves, but I didn't have a good space that would work. I looked at various scarf organizers online and then made a trip to the Container Store to evaluate all the ones they had. With some of the commercially available scarf organizers, it was hard to get out one scarf without disturbing the others, or else there was a lot of overlap and things got bulky. Plus, <i>none</i> of them were modular. So I had another look at the hanger + shower curtain ring idea. I tried a wooden hanger, and it was less slippery, but the rings would still slide around. Plus, it wouldn't match the rest of my plastic white hangers, LOL! I didn't want to glue the rings down or put them in fixed positions because then I'd lose some flexibility. So I cut up some foam shelf liner and hot glued it around my hanger. I had the shelf liner on hand already, but I'm sure that felt, fleece, or some other non-slippery fabric would work well.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRbXzmeuFBpY_UIfGqPMkvO59e_G4l1JJox-wDqd6DHn9porLNNB1trNTwQ1DZqo18gYlEe6LCNhgYJeIb0I9lROpKQO6n5hRQv4CPvAnvQhOaOjBnYJD12gnLwsXGuQJIc-wIQFibMeY/s1600/IMG_2945.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRbXzmeuFBpY_UIfGqPMkvO59e_G4l1JJox-wDqd6DHn9porLNNB1trNTwQ1DZqo18gYlEe6LCNhgYJeIb0I9lROpKQO6n5hRQv4CPvAnvQhOaOjBnYJD12gnLwsXGuQJIc-wIQFibMeY/s320/IMG_2945.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Now everything stays neat without slipping around, even when there are very few things on the hanger.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOBTUxkqerM-cEWmfeGAecSW6WcVWoHo1gKU6gM5b-ZJNWp_42LBiNRtlgFmOFPfIFz3SCt3DxnlCkJ5m1OLHG2njHPu-0y58RJMsHBoH_T1dgB5JIzFGUpPo-f4RsrV9ekW4PcqaSx-k/s1600/IMG_2950.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOBTUxkqerM-cEWmfeGAecSW6WcVWoHo1gKU6gM5b-ZJNWp_42LBiNRtlgFmOFPfIFz3SCt3DxnlCkJ5m1OLHG2njHPu-0y58RJMsHBoH_T1dgB5JIzFGUpPo-f4RsrV9ekW4PcqaSx-k/s320/IMG_2950.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5BlqT40mgfChsdqoiYERRpPwjmJhflTq6Vzd1KPcApftnGdroNVMoWloeJTz02GnHpwlWoZi-T_XHP6rGW4mtVujZfcjFevW2V19rUNEzt3PvswiJDeEqYQMiiM598qWhrWlzHId1zSI/s1600/IMG_2952.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5BlqT40mgfChsdqoiYERRpPwjmJhflTq6Vzd1KPcApftnGdroNVMoWloeJTz02GnHpwlWoZi-T_XHP6rGW4mtVujZfcjFevW2V19rUNEzt3PvswiJDeEqYQMiiM598qWhrWlzHId1zSI/s320/IMG_2952.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I like this so much that I'm hanging my belts this way too. I just orient the ring so that the prong points up and leave it open so that it's easier to get the belt on and off.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFD5ILMsFjRgN0Ifdt0ThHqrchTCfC8A8hnM1veHTOwNlITNnUQg7zVn217oq2JgMQ_uCbaXtp6nRDUtr3TSEhLTXJ5AC6sppQPkOQbZ593EEaTi_cCVMvGCBCYCuA7AMFmSK2UcfIyIc/s1600/IMG_2956.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFD5ILMsFjRgN0Ifdt0ThHqrchTCfC8A8hnM1veHTOwNlITNnUQg7zVn217oq2JgMQ_uCbaXtp6nRDUtr3TSEhLTXJ5AC6sppQPkOQbZ593EEaTi_cCVMvGCBCYCuA7AMFmSK2UcfIyIc/s320/IMG_2956.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a class="pin-it-button" count-layout="horizontal" href="http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoknitpicky.blogspot.com%2F2013%2F01%2Finspired-by.html&media=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-dBTfAamKBG8%2FUOjVGufvrxI%2FAAAAAAAAB1Y%2FoNEbeAhw8Fk%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2949.jpg&description=Scarf%20organizer.%20Add%20a%20shelf%20liner%20or%20non-slippery%20fabric%20to%20the%20hanger%20to%20keep%20the%20shower%20curtain%20rings%20from%20slipping%20around."><img border="0" src="//assets.pinterest.com/images/PinExt.png" title="Pin It" /></a></div><br />
<script src="//assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js" type="text/javascript"></script><br />
soknitpickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168262237286825852noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014020297096074252.post-14897967400223916172012-11-28T10:21:00.001-06:002012-12-03T21:40:10.971-06:00Right Now<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaAdT08lG-ySCVRZqnLjkRgrNWaxuMAtFKr3yI1O9muRE3Ws__AcnyLfZbWTEaHbO_Vk0lDT6IsVwx4RQUQo_WkdAOmcwUGcWscSrfowrJKy_QsUUnyHkJLLpTVwHCkm1SpJWTpzzmEd0/s640/blogger-image--991911125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaAdT08lG-ySCVRZqnLjkRgrNWaxuMAtFKr3yI1O9muRE3Ws__AcnyLfZbWTEaHbO_Vk0lDT6IsVwx4RQUQo_WkdAOmcwUGcWscSrfowrJKy_QsUUnyHkJLLpTVwHCkm1SpJWTpzzmEd0/s400/blogger-image--991911125.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
On the needles: <a href="http://madelinetosh.com/store/index.php/honey-cowl.html" target="_blank">Honey Cowl</a><br />
On me: <a href="http://soknitpicky.blogspot.com/2010/11/liner-notes.html" target="_blank">Lanesplitter skirt</a><br />
On the nails: <a href="http://www.rescuebeauty.com/nail-polish/santafe-na.html" target="_blank">Santa Fe</a> by <a href="http://www.rescuebeauty.com/" target="_blank">RBL</a>, and my first Konad stamp (M7) on the ring fingersoknitpickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168262237286825852noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014020297096074252.post-33552750813272094292012-11-09T16:05:00.001-06:002012-11-09T16:10:54.257-06:00Inspired By<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Inspired by <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Print-Workshop-Hand-Printing-Techniques-Original/dp/0307586545" target="_blank">Print Workshop</a> by <a href="http://www.yellowowlworkshop.com/" target="_blank">Christine Schmidt</a>, via <a href="http://pinterest.com/janetknitter/paperie/" target="_blank">Janet</a>, to do a little stamping:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizBe0mFo362mGL6_j3urVcsoHgwN3APDrqgEJXFoDVDZCazCPQ9rNFoV7zy_gzDqs1snsgYZDF6jE3Ws0lvX2Sy_nCW2NlToib-4fv-Qq3F1Z-KHCcKwMSwr3D97AXoHsG7lfmOHc11to/s640/blogger-image-649812.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizBe0mFo362mGL6_j3urVcsoHgwN3APDrqgEJXFoDVDZCazCPQ9rNFoV7zy_gzDqs1snsgYZDF6jE3Ws0lvX2Sy_nCW2NlToib-4fv-Qq3F1Z-KHCcKwMSwr3D97AXoHsG7lfmOHc11to/s640/blogger-image-649812.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizBe0mFo362mGL6_j3urVcsoHgwN3APDrqgEJXFoDVDZCazCPQ9rNFoV7zy_gzDqs1snsgYZDF6jE3Ws0lvX2Sy_nCW2NlToib-4fv-Qq3F1Z-KHCcKwMSwr3D97AXoHsG7lfmOHc11to/s640/blogger-image-649812.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizBe0mFo362mGL6_j3urVcsoHgwN3APDrqgEJXFoDVDZCazCPQ9rNFoV7zy_gzDqs1snsgYZDF6jE3Ws0lvX2Sy_nCW2NlToib-4fv-Qq3F1Z-KHCcKwMSwr3D97AXoHsG7lfmOHc11to/s400/blogger-image-649812.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I took an existing stamp and covered up the wood mounting block with tape to protect it. Then, I just wrapped some leftover cotton yarn (you know I've got plenty of that on hand!) around the block. This is stamped using a regular ink pad onto some paper that's going into my <a href="http://soknitpicky.blogspot.com/2012/03/inspired-by.html" target="_blank">journal</a>.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2eQu9NMfaG9uaEs9QA3DRWiwYnQER1Atzl0n3vkxbRwv_9MB3c7pxsnUHh2ND9YpyuJfYeb5RTokRp-Kr8SxfSYqYtQglP1skgonCX3Q3MEUcfFvIfBDm6sgMhSEqXVO0iuSegBmNGdk/s640/blogger-image--49102294.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2eQu9NMfaG9uaEs9QA3DRWiwYnQER1Atzl0n3vkxbRwv_9MB3c7pxsnUHh2ND9YpyuJfYeb5RTokRp-Kr8SxfSYqYtQglP1skgonCX3Q3MEUcfFvIfBDm6sgMhSEqXVO0iuSegBmNGdk/s400/blogger-image--49102294.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I love this book! There are so many projects in it that I want to make. (The project in this video is not in the book, and the template is not on the website anymore. However, it's good to watch her technique. You'll be able to preview some of the other projects in the book at the end of the video.)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/23663371?badge=0" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="500"></iframe> <a href="http://vimeo.com/23663371">PRINT WORKSHOP by Christine Schmidt</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user7069261">Yellow Owl Workshop</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</div>
soknitpickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168262237286825852noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014020297096074252.post-31195993277449974152012-10-28T10:30:00.000-06:002012-10-28T10:30:09.759-06:00Inspired By<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Inspired by <a href="http://www.butterwithasideofbread.com/2012/09/easy-pumpkin-pretzels.html" target="_blank">Butter with a Side of Bread </a>to make pumpkin pretzels:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhHizYSJHX4ICvULqXu777GgeToRy8csqqwO9ZDPGaNxYtC5SZFyzwgX27ur_l5ivi1QAY5kso0GuHtPCth5g_jlGu5PHCh9imr2wSLOpETps8l7iy3jXu6dYHGH-NgFwObqJz_W5-iqw/s640/blogger-image--976111473.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhHizYSJHX4ICvULqXu777GgeToRy8csqqwO9ZDPGaNxYtC5SZFyzwgX27ur_l5ivi1QAY5kso0GuHtPCth5g_jlGu5PHCh9imr2wSLOpETps8l7iy3jXu6dYHGH-NgFwObqJz_W5-iqw/s400/blogger-image--976111473.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I love chocolate-covered pretzels (salty + sweet), and these were so cute! I used green Mike & Ikes instead of the original M&Ms.</div>
soknitpickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168262237286825852noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014020297096074252.post-72752841050187637122012-10-26T19:10:00.000-06:002012-10-26T19:46:43.116-06:00Right Now<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg6hJ9U5VxTA4GwpNrt2zgx33HCkSddkzxky8EbfaHFDzpWhONH-74Tq7-4AsLTxuGcYW4MjiAPouvA85lDJZU4w0Z45Hf2JpFRcLwNQDght7AkOc5Ou2Uqg9mCyA4N3w9p2ooJLan17Y/s640/blogger-image-359463565.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg6hJ9U5VxTA4GwpNrt2zgx33HCkSddkzxky8EbfaHFDzpWhONH-74Tq7-4AsLTxuGcYW4MjiAPouvA85lDJZU4w0Z45Hf2JpFRcLwNQDght7AkOc5Ou2Uqg9mCyA4N3w9p2ooJLan17Y/s640/blogger-image-359463565.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
On the iPhone: <a href="http://www.stylebookapp.com/" target="_blank">Stylebook App</a>. I was inspired by a friend to catalog my closet, and this app is a great way to do it. I love playing paper dolls with my own wardrobe!<br />
<br />
On me: <a href="http://soknitpicky.blogspot.com/2008/10/purple-rain.html">Button Cowl Neck Pullover</a><br />
<br />
On the playlist: <a href="http://www.myspace.com/landonpiggmusic/music/songs/falling-in-love-at-a-coffee-shop-28230852" target="_blank">Falling in Love at a Coffee Shop</a>soknitpickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168262237286825852noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014020297096074252.post-2768714957626585472012-10-21T14:43:00.001-06:002012-10-26T19:48:22.442-06:00Inspired By<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Inspired by <a href="http://poppytalk.blogspot.com/2011/11/guest-tutorial-by-ruth-bleakley-this.html" target="_blank">Ruth Bleakley on Poppytalk</a> to make some relief prints from styrofoam:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<center>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1atd-_T9WiAMmftFf6jEIeHQ3BRlKKEJHLr3dDc4nNiv7b8fsIWHz43L8CLdEwXaaO4eXcUf5d9WaLqhWJb56EMYdnLhcje5gRMjYWpC73t-D9w4J3fb9BYndbsUm5W1IAy-368gYvw8/s640/blogger-image-1522349066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1atd-_T9WiAMmftFf6jEIeHQ3BRlKKEJHLr3dDc4nNiv7b8fsIWHz43L8CLdEwXaaO4eXcUf5d9WaLqhWJb56EMYdnLhcje5gRMjYWpC73t-D9w4J3fb9BYndbsUm5W1IAy-368gYvw8/s400/blogger-image-1522349066.jpg" width="400" /></a></center>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This was a fun and easy craft project, and it helped the kids to better appreciate the Japanese woodblock prints we have.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Even though we're doing our best to avoid styrofoam, some of it still makes its way into our house. We clean it and save it in a bin to be taken to the recycling center when it's full enough. For this project, we raided the "stash." We used acrylic paint and a sponge brush since we don't have a brayer.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr1uaSgCcZYhANc_V7FosocxdwFtnoNd-JjVYQfv1dwzyb4TNkM8eDkH-jLZn1jblNwbHqhf8RIWEprAHRtGHdc7CVJkH5B_lqyxKzBr0yMPKc-c0ACVvwnUrOiNuKYvVuXf96EbndZds/s640/blogger-image--1412744342.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr1uaSgCcZYhANc_V7FosocxdwFtnoNd-JjVYQfv1dwzyb4TNkM8eDkH-jLZn1jblNwbHqhf8RIWEprAHRtGHdc7CVJkH5B_lqyxKzBr0yMPKc-c0ACVvwnUrOiNuKYvVuXf96EbndZds/s400/blogger-image--1412744342.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
soknitpickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168262237286825852noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014020297096074252.post-60084016906344260892012-10-09T06:00:00.000-06:002012-10-21T14:23:20.937-06:00Tuesday Tube: My Boyfriend's BackI'm not ready to make Tuesday Tube a regular feature again, but I came across this and it was too good not to share! Check out <a href="http://www.noortjedekeijzer.nl/work/my-knitted-boyfriend-2/" target="_blank">Noortje de Keiger</a>'s knitted boyfriend. The perfect man!<br />
<br />
<center>
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="300" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/39497405?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="400"></iframe></center>
soknitpickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168262237286825852noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014020297096074252.post-10629625011259768672012-09-11T21:27:00.002-06:002012-09-11T21:27:50.305-06:00The Long and Short of It<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I was <i>this </i>close to finishing the <a href="http://www.interweavestore.com/Knitting/Patterns/Swirl-Skirt.html" target="_blank">Swirl Skirt</a> for my 6-year-old daughter, but I had to rip it all the way back. When I knit for myself, I'm constantly trying things on as I go along so that I can make adjustments if necessary. I was <b>not</b> conscientious about having my little girl try on this skirt--partly because I usually knit after the kids have gone to bed--and it ended up being way too short. Since it's knit side to side, there was no way to add enough extra length to it, so I started over.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The good news is that it gave me a chance to try a new technique. The skirt requires short rows, and the first time around, I used the <a href="http://soknitpicky.blogspot.com/2011/04/in-stitches-part-2.html">Japanese short row technique</a>. This time, I remembered that I had <a href="http://pinterest.com/soknitpicky/what-to-knit/" target="_blank">Pinned</a> something about <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/twir/86/ask-a-knitter-26" target="_blank">German short rows</a> (via <a href="http://www.knittedbliss.com/" target="_blank">Julie</a>). This is supposed to give the same result as Japanese short rows, but it is much easier to execute because you don't have to mark any stitches. I love it! Now, I have to say I don't achieve <i>quite</i> as nice of a look as the Japanese version, but the ease of this technique makes up for it.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy2f6ZTZsCYXrX4xvViV3KLG2lkjvZmBUxuboo3Hmh5bHWtRaJr8-ROUG4fxodrJFLVjk5gAYl6xDZGdIkas78OTBnw-D2_uyou99bY8QXY_osMEsuMbxSQXqYuoN6GnaAuvlob8f3Xwo/s640/blogger-image--528229407.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy2f6ZTZsCYXrX4xvViV3KLG2lkjvZmBUxuboo3Hmh5bHWtRaJr8-ROUG4fxodrJFLVjk5gAYl6xDZGdIkas78OTBnw-D2_uyou99bY8QXY_osMEsuMbxSQXqYuoN6GnaAuvlob8f3Xwo/s400/blogger-image--528229407.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
In case you haven't seen German short rows yet, here are some videos from the always-helpful <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/Rox" target="_blank">Roxanne</a>.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/P6n561SMZXQ?rel=0" width="480"></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/KooKdm0YBbw?rel=0" width="480"></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Has anyone else tried this? What do you think?</div>
soknitpickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168262237286825852noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014020297096074252.post-3507574497976544092012-09-09T14:34:00.000-06:002012-09-09T14:34:48.777-06:00Right Now<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxej0YZajhZbxCDjI5BnY_4lkaUg4leR5iQkKfbqfFtZHc8QadIID5x2XFcnltCfECLcYokOhoOxObfvVl80nN5i2iakZcLZTE7_S9fs2cGMwYs1oB8OjIEAENZofdWaG4YJ9U1hc823o/s640/blogger-image--60926359.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxej0YZajhZbxCDjI5BnY_4lkaUg4leR5iQkKfbqfFtZHc8QadIID5x2XFcnltCfECLcYokOhoOxObfvVl80nN5i2iakZcLZTE7_S9fs2cGMwYs1oB8OjIEAENZofdWaG4YJ9U1hc823o/s400/blogger-image--60926359.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
On the Needles: <a href="http://www.interweavestore.com/Knitting/Patterns/Swirl-Skirt.html" target="_blank">Swirl Skirt</a><br />
<br />
On the Nails: OPI Schnapps Out of It<br />
<br />
On the DVD: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1454029/" target="_blank">The Help</a>soknitpickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168262237286825852noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014020297096074252.post-49165198227514225412012-09-03T20:53:00.001-06:002012-09-03T20:53:32.745-06:00Right Now<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8pKcm6x2BL1ktM-O7P0HyuXLJsv6HIf28i67NxnHD7n0fpouBzZzws5bKLhzeyBHrEeOt8K4OmJxaBV5AJNXfD2ij-yGLBetapIEZq13fOxKPUu0a6ONSCb2Elg0iLw52LmtHrK10O40/s640/blogger-image--1631207497.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8pKcm6x2BL1ktM-O7P0HyuXLJsv6HIf28i67NxnHD7n0fpouBzZzws5bKLhzeyBHrEeOt8K4OmJxaBV5AJNXfD2ij-yGLBetapIEZq13fOxKPUu0a6ONSCb2Elg0iLw52LmtHrK10O40/s400/blogger-image--1631207497.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
In the sink: <a href="http://blueskyalpacas.com/patterns/mitini-mitts-new/" target="_blank">Mitini Mitts</a>, soaking in<a href="http://www.soakwash.com/soak-lacey-14oz.html" target="_blank"> Lacey</a> from my <a href="http://soknitpicky.blogspot.com/2012/08/these-are-few-of-my-favorite-things.html" target="">Soakbox kit</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
On the nails: Rescue Beauty Lounge <a href="http://www.rescuebeauty.com/nail-polish/poppy-na.html" target="_blank">Poppy</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
In the queue: <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/swirl-skirt-2" target="_blank">Swirl Skirt</a></div>
soknitpickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168262237286825852noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014020297096074252.post-64387662401263913812012-09-02T17:43:00.001-06:002012-09-03T20:56:44.193-06:00It's the Little ThingsI'm a fan of cupcakes, tapas, dollhouse furniture, and hotel bottles of shampoo. Making something smaller makes it a bigger draw for me. You'll understand, then, that I could not resist these little bundles of joy!<br />
<br />
<span style="text-align: left;">Isn't it adorable? This is the Denise2Go set (which, strangely, <strike>I couldn't find on the </strike></span><strike style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.knitdenise.com/" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">Denise website</a></strike><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;">is almost hidden on the <a href="http://www.knitdenise.com/pages/denise2go" target="_blank">website</a>).
</span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkaiNm-Po6ZE8BlGgnCn7UNuKa-bLTSaIbkjtbYaeoQOlxfh4bVUMUgQy5yAclznUwHS5O1I7wjy3gRa0Pqr0pdvOtGZg4lcZauYYGDvTxMd5R5a-RiaBmw5Kj0aIzYa-L3mA-EjCWCew/s640/blogger-image-1934367600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkaiNm-Po6ZE8BlGgnCn7UNuKa-bLTSaIbkjtbYaeoQOlxfh4bVUMUgQy5yAclznUwHS5O1I7wjy3gRa0Pqr0pdvOtGZg4lcZauYYGDvTxMd5R5a-RiaBmw5Kj0aIzYa-L3mA-EjCWCew/s400/blogger-image-1934367600.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Inside are 6 sets of needle tips, size 5-10, as well as a crochet hook tip. Genius! Tucked in the back are 2 end buttons, 1 extender, and 3 cords: 14", 16", and 19". Anytime I'm using a needle that's a size 5 or larger, I knit exclusively with my Denise set. This portable version is absolutely perfect for me. I travel a fair bit, and I often bring a new project to work on during the trip. It's just lighter and more convenient than bringing a big heavy project that's nearly done. Because I don't usually swatch, I often change needle sizes as I go along if the size isn't working out. This way, I can conveniently carry all the needles I'm likely to use. Love it!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC7lOavsezlWwGuouUZlRvgTlwbjBS1ezztij7iglkecR13l7XZ3N-bpN9hwwO_82IbNCb6uXBPjgraQ34zhuzHd0BT4YHzSoeXjHJTNySSbjascJoMzvLnF2z-VYv_Iw01_YqHxsNkNw/s640/blogger-image--725274747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC7lOavsezlWwGuouUZlRvgTlwbjBS1ezztij7iglkecR13l7XZ3N-bpN9hwwO_82IbNCb6uXBPjgraQ34zhuzHd0BT4YHzSoeXjHJTNySSbjascJoMzvLnF2z-VYv_Iw01_YqHxsNkNw/s640/blogger-image--725274747.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My second find is a pattern for dainty little fingerless mitts.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif3LOPrrgdflhmqcUW19XF8JEkU_QXLSS7vjy0tmMpJOMom-EM5sv0Ddr10JdOpug_3I__CubsZGVsH8EnpzLWDJmLH6VW2JI2J5uogO28poG8Dv1549_iCQF2GZF7k4DhEFGaQF_meZg/s640/blogger-image--472411002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif3LOPrrgdflhmqcUW19XF8JEkU_QXLSS7vjy0tmMpJOMom-EM5sv0Ddr10JdOpug_3I__CubsZGVsH8EnpzLWDJmLH6VW2JI2J5uogO28poG8Dv1549_iCQF2GZF7k4DhEFGaQF_meZg/s400/blogger-image--472411002.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It's part of the new <a href="http://blueskyalpacas.com/patterns/yarn/royal-petites/" target="_blank">collection of patterns</a> from Blue Sky Alpacas for their Royal Petites yarn. <i>Sigh</i>. They had me at "Petites." The yarn is dreamy, and just look at the cute retro styling of the pattern! There's a little folder that holds a picture of adorable alpacas on one side and the pattern on the other side. The mitts go quickly, and I'll have some FOs to share with you soon.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTIvEYuB9lYLe2mazuuuNwspwv9G6JK2eny4LKU0q-jD7ABvHqUewCsLgIo3MAWl9nCN7t02hpiZGkIkJO-L4tx5t3Z_TUjwt8_nGmrCTLL1f5iDfXtXn2pWczdL35OqqhyphenhyphenCixiYVMpCI/s640/blogger-image-815157555.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTIvEYuB9lYLe2mazuuuNwspwv9G6JK2eny4LKU0q-jD7ABvHqUewCsLgIo3MAWl9nCN7t02hpiZGkIkJO-L4tx5t3Z_TUjwt8_nGmrCTLL1f5iDfXtXn2pWczdL35OqqhyphenhyphenCixiYVMpCI/s400/blogger-image-815157555.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
soknitpickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168262237286825852noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014020297096074252.post-12701833337158413862012-09-01T19:45:00.000-06:002012-09-01T19:46:08.642-06:00Use It Or Lose It: StashI've been <a href="http://soknitpicky.blogspot.com/2012/06/use-it-or-lose-it-update.html">keeping track</a> of which of my clothes get worn and which don't. It felt so good to let go of unused clothing that I've decided to apply those same ideas to my <i>stash</i>. That's right. I'm going to clear out most of my yarn! As you can imagine, this was not an easy decision. I love all that yarn...or at least I did when I bought it. When I first plunged into all things knitting, I was a capricious shopper and quickly amassed an assortment of yarns. In time, I became more selective and only bought yarn for specific projects. The problem remained, though, that I could shop more quickly than I could knit. Even though I've used, sold, and given away a lot of it, I still have well over 16 miles of yarn left!<br />
<br />
I find that I now mostly knit projects for which I've just bought yarn. That sequence of getting excited about a project, having the thrill of finding just the right yarn, and then quickly casting on--that's what is most likely going to result in a finished product that I like. I'm also more likely to enjoy the process itself because it's what I'm in the mood to knit, whether it's stockinette in the round or complex lace and cables. I've begun to see my stash as more a source of guilt than of inspiration, and that is not how it should be. Therefore, I'm giving myself one year to use it or lose it. This is not a moratorium on purchasing. But if I haven't cared enough about a yarn in my stash to cast on something with it by 8/31/13, I need to find it a better home.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN3JPZQiLIvQkJhHF-hRml53_diXk4BCllLJauIL71J-2S1a0wcfItbv9kJnQUumgb-3HKRSZUybGS3wJmvHruxUufs0V_CzwrZApbPxQi2mSZnHb746CjEN6Pat0Uv3GgHTXC42xx5vM/s640/blogger-image-450597848.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN3JPZQiLIvQkJhHF-hRml53_diXk4BCllLJauIL71J-2S1a0wcfItbv9kJnQUumgb-3HKRSZUybGS3wJmvHruxUufs0V_CzwrZApbPxQi2mSZnHb746CjEN6Pat0Uv3GgHTXC42xx5vM/s400/blogger-image-450597848.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
To start things off, I returned 3 balls of Cascade Kid Seta Noir to my LYS today. This is gorgeous yarn! I picked these up with the intention of making a Color Affection, and I still think they'd be great. But the reality is that I've already made <a href="http://soknitpicky.blogspot.com/2012/04/bitten-by-bug.html">one Color Affection</a> and stalled out on a <a href="http://soknitpicky.blogspot.com/2012/05/right-now.html">second</a>. The likelihood that I'll start--let alone finish--a third in a year is slim when I've got lots of other ideas swirling around.<br />
<br />
Wish me luck, folks!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
soknitpickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168262237286825852noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014020297096074252.post-18601686602180014042012-08-26T16:06:00.000-06:002012-08-26T16:06:02.928-06:00Right Now<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzMaf1GuIWzisYbsx1FmPlMGmSWT7o7XG_hwa0LwKFElsLdTgZ_TrdJcWA8lbt5GPZ5lLeD4dM4s7orkptKmFzPjsaJePjFm4aVo-X3MteTYjwELnxXIN5k3VMG-HOuAI5_ajF2KlN0vc/s1600/IMG_1027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzMaf1GuIWzisYbsx1FmPlMGmSWT7o7XG_hwa0LwKFElsLdTgZ_TrdJcWA8lbt5GPZ5lLeD4dM4s7orkptKmFzPjsaJePjFm4aVo-X3MteTYjwELnxXIN5k3VMG-HOuAI5_ajF2KlN0vc/s400/IMG_1027.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
On the Needles: <a href="http://blueskyalpacas.com/patterns/mitini-mitts-new/" target="_blank">Mitini Mitts</a> in <a href="http://blueskyalpacas.com/yarns/royal-petites/" target="_blank">Royal Petites</a><br />
<br />
On the Nails: gradient mani using <a href="http://www.butterlondon.com/lacquers/grid" target="_blank">Butter London Arful Dodger</a> and <a href="http://www.rescuebeauty.com/nail-polish/83824700160.html" target="_blank">RBL Bikini Bottom</a>, topped with <a href="http://www.a-england.co.uk/the-mythicals/15-morgan-le-fay.html" target="_blank">a-england Morgan le Fay</a><br />
<br />
On the iPod: <a href="http://www.maroon5.com/overexposed/album_track/pay_phone/" target="_blank">Payphone</a> by Maroon 5. I find it funny that my kids sing along even though they don't really know what a payphone is.soknitpickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168262237286825852noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014020297096074252.post-62183262636859540762012-08-25T13:19:00.001-06:002012-08-25T13:30:55.726-06:00Lost in SpaceI've been feeling so spacey this past week. Maybe it's all the antihistamines I'm taking to control my allergies. I went to my knitting group a few days ago but didn't bring my project! I grabbed my newly purchased drink and drove back home to retrieve the yarn, but then I forgot my drink in the car when I came back!<br />
<br />
Yesterday, my husband saw me working on my daughter's fingerless mitts. Knowing I had already finished one, he asked, "Are you working on the left one now?" Oops! I had completely forgotten that I was, in fact, supposed to be working on the left one, and I had started the thumb gusset in the wrong place. Luckily, I was only 2 rows into it, so it was an easy fix. I'm glad he caught my mistake in time! Two rights don't make it right!<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi2ksIusN7RuOZBQBpeEar-dzgMRWEjNnGXoPOuDLwMZ2OgUPdEMh_CiLQDAiHyjGV3bmcRQxEzFEN21lnNYyW6b99OpU7uNcHXZHXFPdyRTkc3FQgGQtNaBH9fNUmVzwNRb6shRgnA8Q/s640/blogger-image-923162707.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi2ksIusN7RuOZBQBpeEar-dzgMRWEjNnGXoPOuDLwMZ2OgUPdEMh_CiLQDAiHyjGV3bmcRQxEzFEN21lnNYyW6b99OpU7uNcHXZHXFPdyRTkc3FQgGQtNaBH9fNUmVzwNRb6shRgnA8Q/s640/blogger-image-923162707.jpg" /></a></div>soknitpickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168262237286825852noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014020297096074252.post-30184966935998638632012-08-21T06:00:00.000-06:002012-08-26T16:15:41.814-06:00These Are a Few of My Favorite Things<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Yarn <i>and</i> nail polish? </span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Together</span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">?!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcvY6kiWdrmurPZFzzJZJAGen7c3ZEdgPYUyHv3IWRYUl2WJ4k0Hll8SekbVTdo-4qOIwaNwgibVO5LNu__iOxZYqNan_2cItEgKw_q7GxP8b9WecrHB7UqvClVwomGumEjm-dj_0HMh8/s1600/soak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcvY6kiWdrmurPZFzzJZJAGen7c3ZEdgPYUyHv3IWRYUl2WJ4k0Hll8SekbVTdo-4qOIwaNwgibVO5LNu__iOxZYqNan_2cItEgKw_q7GxP8b9WecrHB7UqvClVwomGumEjm-dj_0HMh8/s320/soak.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Well, of course I got <a href="http://www.soakwash.com/soakboxes.html" target="_blank">one</a>. Now if only they had packaged it with some chocolate too!soknitpickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168262237286825852noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014020297096074252.post-55264791066665657042012-08-19T21:38:00.001-06:002012-08-26T16:06:54.344-06:00Happy Accidents<span style="font-family: inherit;">I finished the Exposed Seam Pullover and am ready to share it with you!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv8TecYkqSJ0ANi6cTzDakQV91s9KZjc4WmXUL3HQ0hVyrwWrBtxkgD4WvPrkHoUqGNyb_1E-vSQfw8sW1szRv8np9KarjgaxJ8uYxja8b80hMBpKs7_ZzkEEmyNmi2A-c2dTvpA0kZoI/s1600/Exposed+Seam+Pullover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv8TecYkqSJ0ANi6cTzDakQV91s9KZjc4WmXUL3HQ0hVyrwWrBtxkgD4WvPrkHoUqGNyb_1E-vSQfw8sW1szRv8np9KarjgaxJ8uYxja8b80hMBpKs7_ZzkEEmyNmi2A-c2dTvpA0kZoI/s400/Exposed+Seam+Pullover.jpg" width="265" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It feels so good to have an FO! Even though I made some mistakes along the way, they worked out in the end.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">After making the body, you make the left sleeve. After you divide the sleeve stitches, you're supposed to join them to the front of the body on RS rows and to the back on WS rows. </span><span style="background-color: white;">I accidentally put the sleeve on the <i>right</i> side of the body instead of the left, which meant that my joins were reversed. </span><span style="background-color: white;">This actually worked out much better, though, because the joins created on the WS rows turned out much neater, and those were the ones that ended up in the front. See the difference?</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2v0jJKrbkCSy2azA7Uhs35eVtMv8a1w6YkaRw2p6rPWIsD7VSbFPWupduwAHL5mOLx5R7jxH3Z9acvPtxGryYut886JhOlV6aeFLhcVKTF1K_XztPXymb_TjjQIHskGoBCU220bKpA1I/s1600/IMG_0984.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2v0jJKrbkCSy2azA7Uhs35eVtMv8a1w6YkaRw2p6rPWIsD7VSbFPWupduwAHL5mOLx5R7jxH3Z9acvPtxGryYut886JhOlV6aeFLhcVKTF1K_XztPXymb_TjjQIHskGoBCU220bKpA1I/s200/IMG_0984.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">front</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikfBMtVa8jyEz6hyphenhyphen6cB2wiQezwgm7Xmt9qH8iv7r-0jc5toNLlkNe_sBZkP_8taBGEx3Tno_v2FLRvCARaJoX-5ud07PGs4gKG6eFWu8s_Lxxkw59QdZPJsp1cGVvoQOv9oGuufk6EsRo/s1600/IMG_0985.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikfBMtVa8jyEz6hyphenhyphen6cB2wiQezwgm7Xmt9qH8iv7r-0jc5toNLlkNe_sBZkP_8taBGEx3Tno_v2FLRvCARaJoX-5ud07PGs4gKG6eFWu8s_Lxxkw59QdZPJsp1cGVvoQOv9oGuufk6EsRo/s200/IMG_0985.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">back</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I had to jiggle the excess yarn out of the stitches in the back before blocking to get a decent result.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4mf-WpIZTwpHDze51-s7Z8boaEgLbkMhiaTqlKE2v2-V2UR17TB4AMiFRaq66FMb1acRS_vNpg5wLgnhY4Z6YyFSxUzNNreApLUveMYXyZXiQJ24pQXpIp9mlY-fci5TWtvfLVlFMKxk/s1600/Exposed+Seam+Pullover+back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4mf-WpIZTwpHDze51-s7Z8boaEgLbkMhiaTqlKE2v2-V2UR17TB4AMiFRaq66FMb1acRS_vNpg5wLgnhY4Z6YyFSxUzNNreApLUveMYXyZXiQJ24pQXpIp9mlY-fci5TWtvfLVlFMKxk/s320/Exposed+Seam+Pullover+back.jpg" width="212" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
The other thing that happened to me was that I used up every last bit of 8 balls of yarn but hadn't quite finished. I only had 10 sleeve rows left to knit, but I would have had to break into an extra ball. I'm glad I decided to block first. After I did, the shorter sleeve turned out to be the perfect length, so I bound it off and went back to shorten the other sleeve. If I had forged on, they would have both been too long!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiegEGP7slp7DUxHHwS3aHNLZJe0E0lMCdE13cYTGNqyL3XsA8lytRkOVhDwyBVN9h5_ZOToJzpeewrq6BtEHKhDxl4eq_NnEXOFwNFLWqRERBPxY3wwiiWU6qoiZ8kR00DbwxzIMVOfRs/s1600/IMG_0988.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiegEGP7slp7DUxHHwS3aHNLZJe0E0lMCdE13cYTGNqyL3XsA8lytRkOVhDwyBVN9h5_ZOToJzpeewrq6BtEHKhDxl4eq_NnEXOFwNFLWqRERBPxY3wwiiWU6qoiZ8kR00DbwxzIMVOfRs/s200/IMG_0988.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">put in a lifeline</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLWooRpvJO1slkYFxmy0fZrs9jQxcsEoQAs6QpD4kDeEeCDtmCUxBpFe71n1_F2GxmkDSoUFimNu9ALdV24qY3eoWSJdUFGCyoXh8LbX9SttVlFgtiUVTIW8vlFkWk8j0LbTPOxez2NTw/s1600/IMG_0990.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLWooRpvJO1slkYFxmy0fZrs9jQxcsEoQAs6QpD4kDeEeCDtmCUxBpFe71n1_F2GxmkDSoUFimNu9ALdV24qY3eoWSJdUFGCyoXh8LbX9SttVlFgtiUVTIW8vlFkWk8j0LbTPOxez2NTw/s200/IMG_0990.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cut off the cast-on edge and frogged</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpNTWbHfAPb7p174NW6ObQHX4VUMX3NSfkgTqMaTTWoliuTOCk0TKrCKCvbUgrOBtmvGN66rER28-jFpXixmAW5OmBNpW-WxR0pWSfnfpanXKECMhHe4xvMQ4Yuj-CQbuQaF_AMsVlcZI/s1600/Exposed+Seam+Pullover+sleeve.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpNTWbHfAPb7p174NW6ObQHX4VUMX3NSfkgTqMaTTWoliuTOCk0TKrCKCvbUgrOBtmvGN66rER28-jFpXixmAW5OmBNpW-WxR0pWSfnfpanXKECMhHe4xvMQ4Yuj-CQbuQaF_AMsVlcZI/s320/Exposed+Seam+Pullover+sleeve.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
More pictures and details are on <a href="http://ravel.me/soknitpicky/esp" target="_blank">Ravelry</a>.</div>
soknitpickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168262237286825852noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014020297096074252.post-19797503707642568072012-08-19T07:17:00.000-06:002012-08-26T16:07:05.352-06:00X Factor<span style="font-family: inherit;">I've been working on Eunny Jang's <a href="http://www.knittingdaily.com/media/p/70879.aspx" target="_blank">Exposed Seam Pullover</a> from the first issue of knit.wear. This pattern was one of the reasons I bought the issue, and I'm so surprised that there haven't been any other projects on<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/exposed-seam-pullover" target="_blank"> Ravelry</a> yet!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The body is knit in the round from the bottom up, with slipped stitches forming faux seams. You then cast on at the cuff of one sleeve, and when the sleeve is finished being knit in the round, you separate it out and start knitting in rows. This then becomes the yoke, which is attached to the body as you go along. It's great, except that when you do this, you end up with an even larger-than-average hole at the armhole.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinyfZ8Bj1qUa9F4uJYq1x6JbQMSXFtjJJUGeK5DDCOdXQhyY6nWWdJ9ycAoC9CeKmovZpdehBrOy3VsZGLxQoiM2tbvGo6trQQY62d6NGBmXgcmOYsn5FFROR3qy4prSkZK_PpG3poDe0/s1600/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinyfZ8Bj1qUa9F4uJYq1x6JbQMSXFtjJJUGeK5DDCOdXQhyY6nWWdJ9ycAoC9CeKmovZpdehBrOy3VsZGLxQoiM2tbvGo6trQQY62d6NGBmXgcmOYsn5FFROR3qy4prSkZK_PpG3poDe0/s400/photo.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Yuck! Luckily, I remembered TechKnitter's simple solution for this: crossing stitches. The X that's formed helps to take the strain better and maintain stability.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyP_LEvETxmHhJv-5PyF5hHGGA3vCSrczMC2E9TvPZxXElrFUsPlXNjvLyWvJNkQtiRVksCVGMnLg9W_AzVe4JnOggqU3HBadoUjxJhbpbtpxoXskz5POvam1BfCwg-AQ8jQ-jJETO3-s/s1600/IMG_0982.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyP_LEvETxmHhJv-5PyF5hHGGA3vCSrczMC2E9TvPZxXElrFUsPlXNjvLyWvJNkQtiRVksCVGMnLg9W_AzVe4JnOggqU3HBadoUjxJhbpbtpxoXskz5POvam1BfCwg-AQ8jQ-jJETO3-s/s400/IMG_0982.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This simple maneuver makes a huge difference! I also used this trick where the yoke stitches were separated to create the neckhole.</span></span>soknitpickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168262237286825852noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014020297096074252.post-41058231677283227812012-08-17T19:12:00.002-06:002012-09-01T19:46:43.208-06:00Bag ItIt's been so long since I've posted that I bet you thought I'd bagged this blog. Thanks for sticking around!<br />
<br />
I was in a knitting slump for awhile, mainly because I was busy doing other things, but I've been picking it up again. We spent a lot of time traveling this summer, and the canvas tote that I'd been using as my knitting bag for the past 6 years was looking pretty rough since it got dragged everywhere. My day-to-day purse was not in great shape, either. After looking at a lot of options, I found something that I can carry every day but that can also serve as a knitting bag.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUvFFqfP7HHayA3kXtEa5E-be9MaXyvZXUaNQo4PG5buhoWxwnbnZJ_lhodxxerKf1vRle4nEN4Bkif1I2ads_8trIqPOiuvrCcgl8iA3IOHH0XX_k08J7ewzuRM0_JqVuS43ldX-1BEY/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUvFFqfP7HHayA3kXtEa5E-be9MaXyvZXUaNQo4PG5buhoWxwnbnZJ_lhodxxerKf1vRle4nEN4Bkif1I2ads_8trIqPOiuvrCcgl8iA3IOHH0XX_k08J7ewzuRM0_JqVuS43ldX-1BEY/s320/photo+1.JPG" width="240" /></a>This is the <a href="http://www.namasteinc.com/products/handbags/handbags_all.php" target="_blank">Monroe bag</a> from Namaste, which I got on sale from <a href="http://www.knitpicks.com/accessories/Namaste_Monroe_Bags__DNamasteMonroeBags.html" target="_blank">KnitPicks</a>. I've had it for a couple of weeks now, and I really like it. There are 3 compartments with magnetic snap closures, plus a pocket in the back. There are little feet on the bottom, which I think will keep it from getting grungy too quickly. Even though it's much bigger than the purse I used to carry, it's still light and doesn't get in the way.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0LSpE_xxOaIcGgCGVl7ggzsgrN6r1C-4cEUUFqs3N-7qvV9Pk6f3o0xwy1rFoC1GelPeylMAJmcYB25M1GLwELRXWNPfE0NRtfWz7jZOEkXu9KfiOVRgzYZgbompHnYJhfZSPVjyGkkI/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0LSpE_xxOaIcGgCGVl7ggzsgrN6r1C-4cEUUFqs3N-7qvV9Pk6f3o0xwy1rFoC1GelPeylMAJmcYB25M1GLwELRXWNPfE0NRtfWz7jZOEkXu9KfiOVRgzYZgbompHnYJhfZSPVjyGkkI/s320/photo+3.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
Here's how my bag looked when fully packed for my most recent flight. I used the front compartment for "purse" things--wallet, phone, pen, notepad, cosmetics--and fit an iPad in the back compartment. Combined, there are 4 open pockets and 2 zippered pockets within the front and back sections, and I used one of those zippered pockets to store some knitting notions. The middle compartment has a zipper and a snap. That's where I put my knitting. You can see that the sweater I'm working on does fit in there along with the <a href="http://soknitpicky.blogspot.com/2012/03/right-now.html" target="_blank">felt yarn holder</a> I use, but the compartment didn't zip up comfortably with that much in there. It didn't really bother me, though, because I could still wear the bag comfortably.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiam2bO7Mo6sB-GNzauQ8ea8yT7oh7pJyNTpHiFj_EPJ5zRuuj0S5qJLFMv25eFc8XKtUs98YDOFyUb81OOfN8nD8QuJ0FPp0fRrs6yz7AwpddT77cVJm8G6jhygvyngni3t6XGcHAXtws/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiam2bO7Mo6sB-GNzauQ8ea8yT7oh7pJyNTpHiFj_EPJ5zRuuj0S5qJLFMv25eFc8XKtUs98YDOFyUb81OOfN8nD8QuJ0FPp0fRrs6yz7AwpddT77cVJm8G6jhygvyngni3t6XGcHAXtws/s320/photo+2.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
I stored a copy of my pattern in the back pocket, and it stays very neat. In my other bag, it would roll down to the bottom and get crumpled.<br />
<br />
There's a tab that can be snapped closed to keep the two handles together, which is great for traveling since I didn't have to worry about one of the straps slipping off my shoulder. It would have been even better if the tab was attached to one of the handles; it's a separate little piece and I'm worried I'll end up losing it some day.<br />
<br />
All in all, I've been really pleased. I like there are are so many different sections and pockets, which keeps me organized. The size is both manageable and versatile, and I love the look and feel.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Over the next couple of days, I'll be sharing more about that sweater project you see inside the bag.soknitpickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168262237286825852noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014020297096074252.post-5824633044461393842012-06-24T15:01:00.000-06:002012-09-01T19:46:08.644-06:00Use It or Lose It: Update<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
As you may (or may not) remember, I <a href="http://soknitpicky.blogspot.com/2012/01/use-it-or-lose-it.html" target="_blank">turned all my hangers around</a> at the beginning of the year. The idea was that I'd have an easy way to mark which clothes were being used and which ones weren't. This has turned out to be very satisfying project. Even though I purge things regularly and had really assumed that I used almost everything in my closet within a reasonable length of time, it turned out that I didn't.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The beginning of this month marked the half-way point of my little project. I've gradually started to address the clothes that had not yet been worn. One by one, I tried them on. Turns out, a lot of the clothes that had not yet gotten picked simply didn't fit--sometimes not at all, and sometimes just not very well. I've gained a lot of weight since having kids, and while I'm working on toning up some things, I really have no aspiration of losing <i>all</i> of that weight again (I was underweight before). So it was time to let go of all those clothes. I also gave away a few things that I just don't like anymore, but the main issue was fit.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
In case you're curious, my single largest category of clothes is tops (and I only counted the ones that live on hangers, not the ones that get folded). I eliminated 20% of my tops. Most were given away, but a few of the T-shirts were "demoted" to casual use (what I wear to do yardwork or sleep). The next largest category is the skirts. I gave away 20 of the original 61. That's 33%! I also gave away almost 25% of my dresses.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-SLXYL-tJq7_N7iD3O88Pr2Fa_s2baAM8-QEz_jkcTF4FdyIP2b687n725vI0HccsnRZSAZh88sym287VWCOHe-L0gdgJBmYm_QN0S26mcztTpHAnvRawi6b3foUTf5dIFD2XEZOvh4o/s640/blogger-image--687547866.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-SLXYL-tJq7_N7iD3O88Pr2Fa_s2baAM8-QEz_jkcTF4FdyIP2b687n725vI0HccsnRZSAZh88sym287VWCOHe-L0gdgJBmYm_QN0S26mcztTpHAnvRawi6b3foUTf5dIFD2XEZOvh4o/s400/blogger-image--687547866.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Through this process, I learned that even though I have a lot of jackets/blazers (we're talking work clothes, not outerwear), I hardly wear any. I've given away 1/6 of them, but I should probably do more. I'm going to wait till we get some cooler weather in the fall and winter before making a final decision. I also realized that I hardly ever wear pants, except for a couple pairs of jeans, so by the end of the year, I'll probably get rid of a lot of those, too.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
At this point, I've worn most of the things that are still left in my closet. The only things that remain unworn are special-occasional items and cool-weather clothes. I plan to do another purge at the end of the year.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Besides creating more space in my closet, doing this project has helped me make broader use of my wardrobe. Especially at the beginning, I found myself purposefully reaching only for clothes with backwards hangers because I wanted to "save" them by putting them into rotation. I ended up with some new outfit combinations I probably would not have tried otherwise, and it was really fun!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I've also become more selective about my new purchases (yes, I'm gotten a lot of new things, but only a fraction of what I eliminated), going after things that I really *love*. Is anyone else trying this?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
soknitpickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168262237286825852noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014020297096074252.post-86965068088357365242012-06-19T06:00:00.000-06:002012-06-19T06:00:09.780-06:00Tuesday Tube: What a MonsterThis is the cutest yarn winder I've ever seen!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="225" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/18395292" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="400"></iframe></div>soknitpickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168262237286825852noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014020297096074252.post-58351121025236873342012-06-12T06:00:00.000-06:002012-06-12T06:00:11.857-06:00Tuesday Tube: Living SocialCheck out this promo video for <a href="http://www.craftandthecity.com/p/not-just-for-spaniards.html" target="_blank">Craft in City</a>, an event hosted by a Spanish crafting social club called <a href="http://www.elclubhandmade.es/" target="_blank">El Club Handmade</a>. I remember enough high school Spanish to know that I want to be one of the "chicas creativas y muy divertidas!"<br />
<br />
If you happen to be in Bilbao this weekend...lucky you! Doesn't this look like the perfect day?!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="225" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/36277579?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&color=ffffff" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="400"></iframe></div>soknitpickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168262237286825852noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5014020297096074252.post-55925099121433292372012-06-10T08:43:00.001-06:002012-08-26T16:19:55.551-06:00Right NowOn the Needles: a swatch (yes, a swatch!) using <a href="http://www.skifo.com/www.skifo.com/faQ.html" target="_blank">Skif cotton tape</a> and <a href="http://www.claudiaco.com/ProductDetails.aspx?YarnType=10&YarnCode=8142.32" target="_blank">Claudia Hand Painted Yarns Linen Lace</a><br />
<br />
In the Works: <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/june--september--february" target="_blank">Skif June</a> (Ravelry link)<br />
<br />
On the Nails: Catherine Arley 668<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm_sT6hGLZIgMetOLSfIgZH4f99YnM-z6mrwyfMCYrCJN8qh_ewCG9pG0RxCZHK5Hd-SwKLhxzVHuUh7_sJITZ9tSKC8SgHvfdmVQRgecmVDGAZapOgv2SJO6xgkHU4Z1l16r0p2pO9uE/s640/blogger-image--1591767475.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm_sT6hGLZIgMetOLSfIgZH4f99YnM-z6mrwyfMCYrCJN8qh_ewCG9pG0RxCZHK5Hd-SwKLhxzVHuUh7_sJITZ9tSKC8SgHvfdmVQRgecmVDGAZapOgv2SJO6xgkHU4Z1l16r0p2pO9uE/s640/blogger-image--1591767475.jpg" /></a></div>soknitpickyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168262237286825852noreply@blogger.com2