Showing posts with label Patterns. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Patterns. Show all posts

Monday, December 12, 2011

Hello again blogging world

Wow what a busy couple of weeks.  I have been absent for I think three weeks now.  I would blame it on a lot of things but what it boils down to is that I have not been very creative lately and really feel that I have nothing to share.  But I am back at it now and hope that I have not let you all down in my absence.

The week of Thanksgiving we went to Iowa to visit Aaron's family.  We had a really good time, but the trip started off with a few bangs.  A few days before we were supposed to leave on the Amtrak train we got a phone call that said that our train had been cancelled.  Apparently there was a fire out to the west of us (we are in Colorado) and they had to shut down the entire line from San Francisco all the way to Chicago.  It was a crazy closure and I am not even sure when they finally reopened it.  So we had to skip to plan B.  We drove.  On the way out there we had a hitch haul on the back of the jeep with our clothes and some presents and stuff on it.  We were a few short miles from our Iowa destination when Aaron noticed that the exhaust had burnt a hole in the bottom of the bag with our clothes in it.  This was just great!!!!  Four of Aaron's shirts were completely ruined (I think that I am going to make pot holders or something out of them...stay tuned) and had holes burned completely through them.  But the luckiest thing is that we are safe, the dogs are safe, and let's face it, it is a darn good thing that it all didn't catch fire.

The very next week I spent playing catch up. The exciting thing that happened that week was that I had my hearing for my unemployment dispute and guess what I WON!!!!!!  They really had no grounds to fire me and there should have been no dispute all along.  But I guess that is what you get when you have a guy on a power trip that is trying to hold onto his own job.  He will get what is coming to him someday.  Karma is a funny thing.

Last week however was really really exciting.  I had a job interview on Tuesday that had been scheduled for over a month.  It is for a sales job, which is something that I have never REALLY done before but I am really excited for this prospect.  The guy who interviewed me was super nice and I think that we really might have hit it off.  The only mistake that I made was not outright asking him for the job.  In a previous interview he said that "This is sales, at the end of every conversation you have to ask for the sale".  In this case I was supposed to be selling myself.  But the good news out of my self-proclaimed blunder is that I got to the next step of the interview.  I get to go on a ride along with one of the local sales guys tomorrow.  I am super nervous and excited all at the same time.  I am not sure what to wear so I am going to go raid my next door neighbors closet when she gets home tonight.  I have never really had to dress up to a job before so I really don't have the right kind of clothes for this stuff.  I only own 3 pairs of dress pants, one suit-ish (it's still pretty casual) and about a thousand skirts.   But I can't really wear the skirts right now; number one because of the weather and number two because this is the construction industry.  You can only wear skirts after you get the job and you know where you will be going from day to day.  A skirt is not on the OSHA approved list of job site wear.  LOL  Can you imagine a skirt, high heels, and a hard hat working with a large power tool?  That is a really funny sight and would certainly get a lot of strange looks.

So the other exciting thing that happened last week was that I got a call from another engineering office and they are looking for some temporary help at the beginning of the year, so who knows if this other thing does not work out maybe something else will fall into it's place.


So now that I am done playing catch up with my life it is on to today's fun and exciting new craft.  I like to call this "One skein warmth".



I bought a skein of Impeccable yarn from Loop's and Thread's (I think) at Micheal's.  They have such a great variety of colors.  I personally love the variegated ones.  For both the wrist warmers and neck warmer you will need just one skein of yarn, size 10 knitting needles, size G crochet hook, and 4 buttons that will fit through the holes but not slip out.  For the neck warmer you need cast on 70 stitches and for the wrist warmers cast on about 22 to 24 stitches.  Use a rib stitch pattern (either K1, P1 OR K2, P2) until they are each about as long as you want them.  Finish off the edges with a scalloped edge using your crochet hook.  These are super easy and super cute.  I hope that you enjoy this simple (not complete pattern). 

If you can't make them yourself but still would like a pair, check out my etsy shop for great deals.  Don't forget to enter the "Friend" coupon code at checkout for free shipping.

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

How to: Wristers

Winter and fall are the time of year that you want to bundle up.  It is getting colder in Denver so it is that time of year to start thinking about bundling up.  In today's tutorial we will be learning a pattern for wristers.  These cute little guys have a simple cable and a rib stitch at the top and bottom.  Wristers are great because they keep you warm but still allow you to use your fingers for doing things.  They are like a jacket when a sweater is just to much.  I hope that you enjoy this pattern as much as I did making it up.  To learn the basics of knitting that you will need for this pattern visit this link.  Also I would be happy to help if you have any questions.

 Supplies:
#8 straight or circular needles, or needle size to obtain gauge
(2) cable hooks
yarn needle
One ball, approximately 4.5 oz
Worsted Weight Medium Thickness Yarn (Some brands of yarn call this a #4 thickness)
I used a wool and acrylic blend.  The blend allows the yarn to be washed without shrinking or felting.

Gauge:
20 stitches and 22 rows = 4" in stockinet stitch

CO35
Row1: K1, *P1, K1*, Repeat until end, turn
Row2: P1, *K1, P1*, Repeat until end, turn
Row 3 and 4: Repeat Row 1 and 2
Row5: P13 (place marker) K9 (place marker) P13, turn
Row6: K13, P9, K13, turn

Left hand Row 7: P7, Bind off three stitches, P3, K9, P13
Left hand Row 8: K13, P9, K2, Increase K2 in next stitch, YO, Increase K2 in next stitch, K6

Right hand Row 7: P13, K9, P3, Bind off three stitches, P7
Right hand Row 8: K6, Increase K2 in next stitch, YO, Increase K2 in next stitch, K2, P9, K13

Cable:
RowC1: P13, slip next 3 stitches on to cable hook and hold in back, slip next 3 stitches on to second cable hook and hold in front.  K last 3 stitches, K stitches off of second cable hook, K stitches off of first cable
RowC2: K13, P9, K13, turn
RowC3: P13, K9, P13, turn
RowC4 to C13: Repeat Rows C2 and C3
RowC14: K13, P9, K13, turn

Repeat Cable one more time.  You can another full cable depending on the length that you want up the arm. 

Row 37: Repeat Row C1
Row 38 to 45: Repeat Rows C2 and C3
Row 46: K1, *P1, K1*, Repeat until end, turn
Row 47: P1, *K1, P1*, Repeat until end, turn
Row 48 and 49: Repeat Row 46 and 47
Row 50: K1, *P1, K1*, Repeat until end, turn
Bind off in Rib stitch

Cut off tail, leaving long string.  Thread onto yarn needle and sew up seam.  Tie off and weave in ends.