Sunday, October 23, 2011

Not sure knooking is for me

 ....but it might be for some of you crocheters out there! What is "knooking" you ask?  It's knitting with a crochet hook. Actually it's a new technique (at least it's new to me) that incorporates a long crochet hook with a hole at the non hook end and a cord. You pull the cord through the hole and just let it hang there while you mimic the knit stitch, all the while the cord keeps you from dropping your stitches. I find the whole process very interesting and clever. While I would be interested in trying out the technique, I doubt it would make me not want to knit the old-fashioned way.  I LOVE knitting, LOVE my knitting needles, LOVE the feel of the yarn sliding on my needles. Love the control. I do know how to crochet, but I do not LOVE crochet the way I LOVE knitting. I know there are many crocheters out there that either don't know how to knit or feel the same way about crocheting as I do about knitting, so if you LOVE to crochet and want to end up with a  real looking, not an imposter knit fabric - not at all like the afghan stitch or tunisian crochet - try knooking!! Let me know if you do....I'm very curious as to how easy that would be? Check out the The Knook Kit, the new book (pamphlet) from Leisure Arts on knooking  which comes with every thing you need to start knooking. When they come up a way to knit a crochet like fabric...then I'd really be excited. I wonder what they would call it..."critting"? LOL ;)

happy knooking :)


Copyright ©2006-2011 hakucho, All Rights Reserved.

Friday, October 21, 2011

My one and only

At the moment I have only one project on my needles. I'm diligently working on my Circle Squares (that sounds like an oxymoron, doesn't it?) for the blanket I will donate to the Pine Street Inn Knit-a-thon this year.

IMG_1376
My progress is so very slow. As hard as I have tried to date I have only cranked out 16 squares. I need 35 to make a blanket.
IMG_1375

I'm anxious to start joining the squares, but I must restrain myself. I need to finish all the squares first so I can decide on their placement. Can't wait. The knit-a-thon takes place on Sunday, November 6th. It's not in the cards for me to attend this year's event, so I guess the pressure is off. I will send the completed blanket in once it's finished, when ever that may be, hopefully before the end of the year.

Are you thinking about adding some new yarn to your stash? If you think you do need more yarn, be sure and check out the auction going on to benefit the Pine Street Inn and to help end homelessness. There are lots of great yarns up on the auction block.  Thanks for looking :)

Last, but not least a special note to let everyone know that my Circle Baby Blanket Pattern is now available in Spanish with charts on Ravelry. Special thanks to Carmela Salcedo, my knitting friend from Spain for translating the pattern. To download the Spanish Translation just click on the Ravelry download link.

I think that's it for now. Once I finish my blanket I hope to have more to show you. Have a great weekend with lots of happy knitting :)

Copyright ©2006-2011 hakucho, All Rights Reserved.

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Trying to turn over a new leaf

I've really been trying to be a better blogger, reading and posting, but it isn't working out. I guess I'm just not motivated enough. My only excuse is that I've been distracted by other things. I have way too much on my to-do-list that I get paralyzed ;)

Since this is a knitting blog,  I'll show you some of my finished items, so you can see I am accomplishing a few things. First a baby blanket for my husband's niece whose baby is due in November:IMG_1366
I love this pattern, for it looks great on either side. IMG_1369
It's a pattern from Debbie Macomber. In fact this particular blanket was mentioned originally in one her (Hannah's List (Blossom Street) books that I read  this summer and  I found the pattern in  Knit Along With Debbie Macomber: Hannah's List. This Leisure Arts book has other interesting patterns as well. In the future I'll definitely be making this one again. IMG_1368It's easy, plus the pattern keeps you interested and it doesn't get boring.

My sister, who visited me this summer, had a birthday in the beginning of October, so I sent her a little package. IMG_1363
I made her a couple of my favorite dishcloths (ballband and DW), a toilet paper cover and a set of crocheted  potholders. I included some notecards and chocolate. She seemed pleased.

I also made a set of  potholders for a friend. I used the same crocheted pattern. IMG_1356
They make nice hot pads. Decorative and useful...a very good thing.

I'm still reading listening to my audio books. I've really been enjoying Debbie Macomber's books. I've just finished the Blossom Street series and will start the Cedar Cove series soon. I've taken a little break from Debbie Macomber and I'm presently reading Room: A Novel. Initially I almost gave up on this book until I realized what it was about and then I had a hard time putting it down. Won't spoil it for you should you want to read it, but I recommend especially the audio version. If you are interested I've been keeping track of my books with Goodreads. Its ravelry for reading. Be sure and check it out as it is very clever!

Miss Pink is no longer blooming. She made me quite happy for over 6 months and is now working on a new leaf. IMG_1373
Hopefully she'll be nice to me and make me some more flowers. I've been feeding her, but not sure what else to do to get her to blossom again. I'll have to get her a new pot soon, too.

I was not very happy to find that my poor Christmas cactus had been attacked.IMG_1374 I think the culprits may be either our resident chipmunks or the squirrels that live in our back yard. I've caught a squirrel digging up my daffodil bulbs. Not sure what happened, but I'm not happy. I potted some of the broken off pieces in hopes of salvaging the plant. Luckily it is all budded up, so I think the main plant should survive. Big difference from last year 2010 Christmas Cactus
though...how sad.

One of my main distractions lately is my interest in my family's history. Encouraged by my sister, who is an expert in her own right, I've been bitten by the search bug and at some point couldn't help myself. I've found out some interesting things I didn't know. It's so much fun. It's like solving a  big puzzle. Now I have to put it all together with the photos and documents I do have. Once again I wish I had more time to do it all justice.

Not willing to make a promise I may not keep so I wont tell you I will post more often, but I will tell you I'll try not to wait so long in between posts. Guess I'm in a rut. Maybe my knitting is just not as exciting as it was before. I'm still working on the circle squares (my only project on the needles right now) for my Pine Street Inn blanket. I'm not going to be able to attend the knit-a-thon this year and I'm not sure if I'll be able to finish all the squares in time to assemble the blanket in time for the knit-a-thon. I'm determined to keep all the squares together, so I can donate a finished blanket. Last year I almost had enough squares, but decided to donate just the squares i did get done. It was hard to see them split up. I had envisioned a blanket with just my squares. Do you remember the ones from last year? Hopefully I'll get it done in time to send in, if not it will be a little late. Better late than never, right?

That's pretty much it for now. Bye for now.....Happy Knitting :)




Copyright ©2006-2011 hakucho, All Rights Reserved.