Friday, October 19, 2007

apparently I'm mohair


I took an online "what yarn are you" quiz and here were the results.

You are Mohair.
You are a warm and fuzzy type who works well with others, doing your share without being too weighty. You can be stubborn and absolutely refuse to change your position once it is set, but that's okay since you are good at covering up your mistakes.

Pretty fun. You can take the quiz here

Sunday, October 14, 2007

fitted cardi finally finished!


fitted cardi finally finished!
Originally uploaded by elletrain
Yay! Finished my first shop model for the store. I really like how the cardigan turned out. Only thing I'd have done differently is to go down a needle size for the body. I usually do that after I get my gauge out of yarn, but I forgot this time. It still fits pretty well though and I can wear a button down underneath or something. I'm into the tailored preppy thing right now for some reason :)

Thursday, September 27, 2007

jo sharp cardi and ravelry!


jo sharp cardi
Originally uploaded by elletrain
So, finally got my invitation to ravelry.com. Very exciting. It's taking a while to get things entered, but I can see that it will be a GREAT community for knitters. I love looking through other people's projects, especially ones that I'd like to add to my to do list.

This is a WIP pic of my cardi from Jo Sharp Knit Issue 3. I'm on the second sleeve right now. Then, sewing in the sleeves and picking up the button band and the neck and I'm done! I think it's something I'll get a lot of wear out of. It's my first shop model for Angel Hair.

Wednesday, August 1, 2007

Steph and Laura


Steph and Laura
Originally uploaded by Shosha
My knitting friend and guru...she lives in London now, but was my knitting inspiration...and now, I'm going to work at my LYS!!! I'm so very excited. But, please, send money.

Love you Steffers...

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

a knitter's list

This is apparently THE knitting list of accomplishments: (items in blue I've already done)

  • Afghan/Blanket (baby)
  • I-cord
  • Garter stitch
  • Knitting with metal wire
  • Shawl
  • Stockinette stitch
  • Socks: top-down
  • Socks: toe-up
  • Knitting with camel yarn
  • Mittens: Cuff-up
  • Mittens: Tip-down
  • Hat
  • Knitting with silk
  • Moebius band knitting
  • Participating in a KAL (knit a long, this where a group of people knit the smae thing and talk about it)
  • Sweater
  • Drop stitch patterns
  • Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
  • Slip stitch patterns
  • Knitting with banana fiber yarn
  • Domino knitting (modular knitting)
  • Twisted stitch patterns
  • Knitting with bamboo yarn
  • Two end knitting
  • Charity knitting
  • Knitting with soy yarn
  • Cardigan
  • Toy/doll clothing
  • Knitting with circular needles
  • Knitting with your own handspun yarn
  • Slippers
  • Graffiti knitting (knitting items on, or to be left on the street)
  • Continental Knitting
  • Designing knitted garments
  • Cable stitch patterns (incl. Aran)
  • Lace patterns
  • Publishing a knitting book (I WANT to do this!)
  • Scarf
  • American/English knitting (as opposed to continental)
  • Knitting to make money
  • Button holes
  • Knitting with alpaca
  • Fair Isle knitting
  • Norwegian knitting (?)
  • Dying with plant colors
  • Knitting items for a wedding
  • Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cozies…)
  • Knitting socks (or other small tubular items) on two circulars
  • Olympic knitting (?)
  • Knitting with someone else’s handspun yarn
  • Knitting with DPNs
  • Holiday related knitting
  • Teaching a male how to knit
  • Bobbles
  • Knitting for a living
  • Knitting with cotton
  • Knitting smocking
  • Dying yarn
  • Steeks
  • Knitting art
  • Fulling/felting
  • Knitting with wool
  • Textured knitting
  • Kitchener BO
  • Purses/bags
  • Knitting with beads
  • Swatching
  • Long Tail CO
  • Entrelac
  • Knitting and purling backwards (is this thru the back loop?)
  • Machine knitting
  • Knitting with self-patterning/self-striping/variegating yarn
  • Stuffed toys
  • Baby items
  • Knitting with cashmere (blend)
  • Darning
  • Jewelry
  • Knitting with synthetic yarn (but now I'm a yarn snob!)
  • Writing a pattern (sort-of)
  • Gloves
  • Intarsia
  • Knitting with linen
  • Knitting for preemies
  • Tubular CO
  • Freeform knitting
  • Short rows Cuffs/fingerless mitts/arm warmers
  • Pillows
  • Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine
  • Rug Knitting on a loom
  • Thrummed knitting (?)
  • Knitting a gift
  • Knitting for pets
  • Shrug/bolero/poncho
  • Knitting with dog/cat hair (bleck! ew!)
  • Hair accessories (ear warmer/headband)
  • Knitting in public

Sunday, July 15, 2007

simple knitted bodice w/changes

This is a Stefanie Japel pattern from Stitch Diva. I used only one type of yarn and made it just capped sleeves instead of 3/4 or long-sleeved like the pattern called for. I used GGH Safari yarn, which knits more like a cord than most yarns I've used before. I added slits at each side on the bottom and made it a bit longer than the pattern suggested.

Saturday, June 16, 2007

knitted top


knitted top
Originally uploaded by elletrain
mine fit better with the long ribbing at the top. i still may add some straps, but i wear it over another tank anyways. I used the Pima Cotton/Tencel yarn the pattern called for. It's from Stefanie Japel's "Fitted Knits"...one of the best knitting books ever! (i think it's a little crooked in the pic...oops!)

Thursday, May 17, 2007

yourface_birdie


yourface_birdie
Originally uploaded by elletrain.
another drawing for your enjoyment.

Friday, April 20, 2007

new shrug


shrug_back.JPG
Originally uploaded by elletrain.
a short sleeved shrug from the new book "Lace Style"...I used Oasis bamboo yarn, 2 skeins. I always go down a needle size for all my projects. It always fits better! this one was nice b/c to decrease you just change needle sizes. Here's another pic of the shrug. Photos courtesy of Alex McCollough.

Thursday, April 5, 2007

pandas make everything better


pandas make everything better
Originally uploaded by elletrain.
pandas help with stress. I truly believe it. I have the Panda Cam widget on my dashboard. They weren't around today though so I had to draw my own.

Wednesday, March 7, 2007

collar


collar
Originally uploaded by elletrain.
Here's the collar to the bolero. I'm ALMOST done. I'm hoping to finish in the next couple of days and then do the long-awaited search for the NEXT PATTERN!

I am teaching my second knitting class this weekend. The first one went really well...5 ladies who were awesomely nice and caught on really quickly. I think at least a couple of them are in the purl class this Saturday. One just emailed and said she's already addicted! That's what I love...created more knitting addicts :)

Happy Knitting!

Friday, February 9, 2007

bolero progress


bolero progress
Originally uploaded by elletrain.
This was at the end of the vacation. I finished 5 of the 11 pentagons that make up the bolero. This is actually turning out to be a pretty quick project.

the cardigan loves the beach


the cardigan loves the beach
Originally uploaded by elletrain.
Finished the cardigan while on vacation. Wish I could finish every project while enjoying the Caribbean ocean. I love the beach!

Monday, January 29, 2007

next project


I am about to finish a cardigan this week from Jo Sharp. I'll upload pics soon. But, here's a pic of what I'm making next...this is the vacation project. Headed to Mexico on Wednesday. I plan to do three things 1. sit on the beach, 2. knit, 3. drink margaritas. I can't wait. I need recharging.

Anyhoo, so this is the project I plan on working on. First time to do modular knitting and I'm very excited to see how it turns out. I got a nice mustard yellow/gold yarn to knit it out of, from http://www.knitpicks.com because it saved me $40 :) I'll post pics soon!

Friday, January 26, 2007

warm hat


warm hat
Originally uploaded by elletrain.
this has become my favorite hat ever. I knitted it on a snowy Saturday last winter. it's nice and warm! Rowan Big wool was the yarn and the patter is from, you guessed it, Vogue Knitting.

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

knitted shrug


knitted shrug
Originally uploaded by elletrain.
this was one of my favorites to knit. It's also from Vogue Knitting. one of my friends calls it my "knitted muscles" :)

Thursday, January 18, 2007

4 way sweater: cowl shrug open front

From Vogue Knitting. You can wear it upside down and backwards...the options are endless.

clapotis


clapotis
Originally uploaded by elletrain.
Yay! The clapotis. Everyone's favorite. The pattern can be found at http://www.knitty.com/

Monday, January 15, 2007

more hugs in '07

That's my motto for the year and David so graciously sent me this amazing "Free Hugs Campaign" video. Check it out. It's really great.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vr3x_RRJdd4

more hugs,
elletrain

Friday, January 12, 2007

Hey Mattie...it's your birthday!


Mattie's favorite new spot
Originally uploaded by elletrain.
Happy Birthday to Mattie...she is 5 years old today. We celebrated this morning with peanut butter toast and Petsmart sent us a coupon for a free birthday toy! Pretty nifty. She's pretty much the coolest dog EVER...so here's to you Mattie-girl! Party like it's your birthday :)

Tuesday, January 9, 2007

espresso art

SO amazing. Watch the video that's about half way down the page.

http://www.pantherhouse.com/newshelton/espresso-art/

Tuesday, January 2, 2007

a happy new year


pretty pretties
Originally uploaded by priszilla.
Steph came to town and surprised us for New Year's Eve. It was great!!! We all wore fake eyelashes that night too. Definitely a good call on our part. LOVE those things now.

I want to tell you 2 more things:
1. check out elletrain.com. It's newly updated.

2. My motto for this year: "More hugs in '07." You can't go wrong with that.

Happy New Year!