half birthday

Green Meret

noreply@blogger.com (stoneamazon) — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 22:47:00 +0000

Green Meret
Originally uploaded by StoneAmazon.

The Point Sweater has become too large for subway knitting, so I've begun the Mystery Beret by Wooly Wormhead to knit on my commute.

Needles: 7 circular
Yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Forest Heathers
Pattern: Mystery Beret

I like this pattern, simple and quick, easy to pick up and put down, and figure out where I am.

The yarn is a bit scritchy, but maybe it'll soften up after washing.

HBC Swatch for Five Point Sweater

noreply@blogger.com (stoneamazon) — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 16:46:00 +0000

HBC Swatch for Five Point Sweater
Originally uploaded by StoneAmazon.

I have been incredibly busy this season knitting secret gifts, which I've forgotten to photograph. But now, Finally, I can get back to a project I started this fall. Here is the swatch I made for a sweater I'm designing.

It's a cardigan.

It's got a hood.

It will be snuggly and Canadian.

Craft Nook - The After

noreply@blogger.com (stoneamazon) — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 03:45:00 +0000

Craft Area - The After
Originally uploaded by StoneAmazon.

And here it is. I love it. I love having a space where the supplies belong, where I'm not moving aside something else to work. And when it is neat, the office looks like a place where things get done.

Detail shots below.

Craft Area - Butcher Block Sewing Table
Originally uploaded by StoneAmazon.

Craft Area - Under Butcher Block stowage
Originally uploaded by StoneAmazon.

Craft Area - DVD Storage Shelving
Originally uploaded by StoneAmazon.

Odd-shaped work table
Originally uploaded by StoneAmazon.

Carving out a corner of one's own.

noreply@blogger.com (stoneamazon) — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 19:35:00 +0000

Earlier this year, Jenny and I decided it was time to clean the house. Really clean it. And also do a little micro re-decorating. To have a nice summer house for drinking sangria and reading in the living room without being afraid of a growing stack of papers falling and spilling across the room, or the dog's fur attaining enough volume to become sentient.

In the midst of this we decided that the kitchen needed a new storage system, and that this meant we needed to find a place for the butcher block. I decided that this place would be a corner of the office heretofore devoted to camping equipment, props and costumes from various shows and milk crates full of scripts. I would use this butcher block for my sewing machine and create a (angelic chorus here) CRAFTING AREA.

Not a craft room. Just a nook. With supplies neatly boxed and inspiration visible.

Renovations were completed in the kitchen, the butcher block moved to near its new home, but it took a while longer to get to the actually carving and creating. In the meantime, I mentioned it to my college roommate, who said to please take pictures because she loves before and after.

That did the trick. I knocked off a few shots, and set to work. Here it is in all it's pre-craft area glory, the office corner full of stuff.

The corner of the office, before
Originally uploaded by StoneAmazon.

Feel free to be amazed about NYC apartments.

The corner of the office, before
Originally uploaded by StoneAmazon.

I'll answer any questions.

The view from the corner of the office, before
Originally uploaded by StoneAmazon.

Catch you on the flip-side.

It's a Skimmer Sock

noreply@blogger.com (stoneamazon) — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 18:38:00 +0000

Skimmer Sock, modelled
Originally uploaded by StoneAmazon.

I finished this a while back, but there is still only one skimmer sock, mostly because I couldn't find my other skimmer shoe. This is the difficulty of living in a NYC apartment where all your shoes get jumbled in three cubic feet of hall closet with two other people's shoes.

Back when I had the idea for these, the low cut skimmer sock didn't exist on the general market. However, once finished a plethora of cheap options are available at your local chain shoe store. So, I missed the boat a bit there.

I used size 0's, Regia Jacquard, pattern my own. If anyone's interested, I can write it up and publish it.

Skimmer Sock, modelled
Originally uploaded by StoneAmazon.

Working out a new pattern

noreply@blogger.com (stoneamazon) — Tue, 06 May 2008 21:56:00 +0000

Sock in Progress
Originally uploaded by StoneAmazon.

So I've had this idea for some time, see if you can guess what it is before I put up the finished photos.

Yarn: Regia Jacquard
Needles: US 0

Clapotis Scarf - Magnolia Buds

noreply@blogger.com (stoneamazon) — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 21:41:00 +0000

Clapotis Scarf - Magnolia Buds
Originally uploaded by StoneAmazon.

So I went to the Conservatory Garden in Central Park today to knit at lunch, because I suspected things had begun to bloom. The pink on my needles was reminding me of pink tree blossoms. Was I right or what? The beginnings of the magnolia blooms were perfectly matched. There are cherry trees there as well, but those have not begun to bud yet. I'll keep my eyes open.

Fortunately it was still a bit chilly today so there were only a few hardy garden lovers who witnessed me awkwardly holding up a scarf against a tree to take photos.

Clapotis swatch - complete and frogged

noreply@blogger.com (stoneamazon) — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 04:55:00 +0000

Last Roll - 13.jpg
Originally uploaded by StoneAmazon.

Here's a long view of the swatch. Looking at it with the stitches dropped I think I like the pooled areas as well as or better than the stripes. The truth is I like the white flecked color better than the pink and if it isn't pooled it gets sort of lost between stripes of pink. Sigh. Well, then I'll just let it pool when it wills.

Also I just realized that the 43 stitch width would not be the width of the scarf and instead the width of the bias, making the scarf narrower than I was thinking 43 stitches would give me.

Since I like the pooled and the striped sections, I think I will be ok just increasing to the width I'd like and letting it pool and stripe where it will. So much for swatching to figure out the colorway.

I have frogged this quite substantial swatch now so that I can get as much length as possible for the scarf. Ready to cast on!

Clapotis Swatch - through the back loop

noreply@blogger.com (stoneamazon) — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 04:48:00 +0000

Last Roll - 07.jpg
Originally uploaded by StoneAmazon.

Here are the 3 ladders which carried through the whole swatch. For the outside two, I knit through the back loop and purled on the back side. For the middle ladder, I knit through the back loop on the front and purled through the back loop on the back. I think I will purl through the back loop for the framing stitches since it really does neaten up the ladder edges.

Clapotis Swatch - stitches dropped

noreply@blogger.com (stoneamazon) — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 04:45:00 +0000

Last Roll - 09.jpg
Originally uploaded by StoneAmazon.

So here's the 43 stitch bias swatch with stitches dropped. You can see that the 1 row striping effect continued nicely. Woohoo!

Clapotis Swatch

noreply@blogger.com (stoneamazon) — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 04:43:00 +0000

Clapotis Swatch
Originally uploaded by StoneAmazon.

Here are 2 sections of swatch. First there is a 49 stitch section, this was too wide for the color sections so I bound off 6 to 43 stitches and then started swatching on the bias. Two rows down from the needle here I adjusted the yarn to start the color at the beginning of the row. So far this is causing a 1 row striping effect, pink then white which travels nicely on the bias.

Clapotis Swatch

noreply@blogger.com (stoneamazon) — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 04:40:00 +0000

Clapotis Swatch
Originally uploaded by StoneAmazon.

This is the 43 stitch section and is the width I'm looking at because there are about 41-43 stitches per color. I just need to adjust the color to the beginning of the row. But I wonder about travelling on the bias if the stripes would travel too.

Clapotis Swatch

noreply@blogger.com (stoneamazon) — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 04:38:00 +0000

Clapotis Swatch
Originally uploaded by StoneAmazon.

I skipped the 31 stitch section in my photos, but here's the 37 stitch section. This still wasn't the striping I was looking for.

Clapotis Swatch

noreply@blogger.com (stoneamazon) — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 19:25:00 +0000

Clapotis Swatch
Originally uploaded by StoneAmazon.

At 25 Stitches, section 1 is about 4.5 inches wide with the stitches dropped (3 ladders). I like how each half of the colorway has two rows of stitches. This is my favorite effect of the swatch but I fear too narrow for my scarf. Next stop, 31 stitches.

Clapotis Swatch - First in Series

noreply@blogger.com (stoneamazon) — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 19:21:00 +0000

Clapotis Swatch - detail
Originally uploaded by StoneAmazon.

Ok, so everyone, and I really mean everyone, has knit this fabulous pattern from knitty.com. I've just been waiting til the time is right.

I did research about yarn and modifications and decided to marry 2 goals and use my Violet's Pink Ribbon Yarn to make a Clapotis narrow scarf.

I bought this sport weight yarn from Lisa Souza to assist the hilarious Miss V in times of trouble, but didn't have any plans for it. When I began to think about maybe making some plans, I checked out photos of what other people were making. And... I wasn't crazy about it. Narrower items just looked pink and splotchy to me and wider items had odd pooling. Most people had ordered it in a sock weight and there were many socks. I ordered it in sport because I knew I was not going to be making socks. There were a variety of non-sock projects as well, but I just couldn't imagine making anything I would actually wear, since I am mostly not a pink-wearer. So I left it in the stash.

Then along comes ravelry.

I looked and looked at the yarn in its permutations and decided that it might work as a nice springy holey scarf. But serious swatching would be necessary to decide how the colorway would work best. So I found the tips on Needles & Hooks blog and began with a 25 stitch swatch. The following posts will follow my various experiments in the swatch.

So far, I really like the colorway. It is so pretty to knit with, I just want to find the perfect match for it to look as pretty in a knitted fabric. It is like knitting with easter bunny yarn. Perfect for right now.

My first Magic Loop Sock

noreply@blogger.com (stoneamazon) — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 17:53:00 +0000

My first Magic Loop Sock
Originally uploaded by StoneAmazon.

Pattern: Made it up based on countless tutorials on magic loop knitting and then cables based on whimsy. Increases for abandoned calf shaping the same.
Yarn: Lisa Souza Merino Sport in Delft.
Needles: 1 long circular, size 4

I wanted to learn the magic loop technique so I cast these on last spring. Since I just finished them, you can imagine there was a gap in there. I love doing 2 at once, because I can imagine never finishing the second. I appreciate the elegance of the technique as well, but I just don't think I'm a sock knitter. I like the socks, but I like faster knits. Since I'm limited to knitting on the subway, which is a time as well as project size limitation, I think I enjoy quick accessory type knits most, since I like to spend no more than 2 weeks on a project. I do spend longer but I get bored after about 2 weeks of the same.

I was originally going to knit until the yarn ran out but decided I'd had enough even though I'd started the calf shaping to make a knee sock. I think I would have made it too with 875 yards of sport weight. I think I will use the remainder to design a socklet pattern.

I like the pretty blue flecky color of these but I think they are too thick to wear with shoes, so they will be house socks. Thus, they will be seen more often.

Verdict: Magic loop is neat, socks are nowhere to be found in my alley.

Mayela's Log Cabin - The catch up blogging begins

noreply@blogger.com (stoneamazon) — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 17:37:00 +0000

DSCN6115.jpg
Originally uploaded by StoneAmazon.

Pattern: How to Log Cabin
Yarn: Knit Picks Shine Worsted
Needles: 9

Knit this for the new niece, to match her pretty new room. It took a long amount of subway knitting, almost 2 months. The yarn is wicked soft, a little splitty and yes, shiny. I worry about the woven in ends working themselves out since the cotton/modal is so slippy. Overall I'm pleased with how it came out.

Greek Deli Cup Coffee Cozy Pattern and Kit

noreply@blogger.com (stoneamazon) — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 19:57:00 +0000

Greek Deli Cup Cozy Kit
Originally uploaded by StoneAmazon.

It's finally done! Kits and patterns to make your own Greek Deli Cup Coffee Cozy are now available in my etsy store, halfbirthday.etsy.com.

The pattern is available in pdf format. The kit includes: 100% wool in blue and white, embroidery floss, pre-printed interfacing embroidery pattern, 2 page full color pattern in plastic sleeve.

Kit does not include knitting or embroidery needles. Or coffee.

If you buy one and make one, please send me photos!

Granny Square Tote Bag

noreply@blogger.com (stoneamazon) — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 20:20:00 +0000

Granny Square Tote Bag
Originally uploaded by StoneAmazon.

I finished this, this past week. I wanted to learn how to crochet to improve my knit skills, and since my mom is a crocheter, the last time I saw her in April, I asked her to show me how. She made the center square to demonstrate a granny square. I continued making squares until I ran out of yarn and then decided to see how I could piece them together to make something. One ball got me 9 squares so I decided on one side of a tote. I needed it a bit bigger, so I after I pieced it together using slipstitch through the back loop, I added 2 more rounds of the granny square pattern. I sewed the tote out of double layers of muslin, and used a tutorial about squaring pockets that I found via the CRAFT blog. It has pockets for phone, wallet, and pen. I want to do something fun on the back side as well, possibly trying to embroider with my sewing machine, and I'd also like to add another pocket for my ipod. But I couldn't wait to finish and use it. I've been using it for 2 days. Thanks, Mom!

Greek Coffee Cup Cozy - Pattern on WoYNW

noreply@blogger.com (stoneamazon) — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 17:06:00 +0000

Greek Coffee Cup Cozy - Pattern designing
Originally uploaded by StoneAmazon.

I'm a little starstruck. Violet of the Lime & Violet podcast just gave me a shoutout for the WoYNW (What's on Your Needles Wednesday) flash this week. I look forward to their podcast all week, so I'm feeling a little caffeinated at the moment despite no coffee today. I'm just gonna bask. Thanks.

Fetching Necessity

noreply@blogger.com (stoneamazon) — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 19:45:00 +0000

Fetching Necessity
Originally uploaded by StoneAmazon.

A convertible mitten hybrid of knitty.com's Fetching and subway knitter's Urban Necessity from Magknits.

Knit from stash on US 6's; cream Lamb's Pride worsted and Nashua Woolly Stripes Yarn in Ocean (leftover from Mom's felted slipper socks). I love the Woolly Stripes yarn for sheen and color change (I also have 2 skeins in Key West waiting for a project)

I knit and love a pair of Fetching mitts, but I needed something warmer for this past winter, so I melded the two patterns, choosing the Fetching cable detailing and single opening for the fingers, and the Urban Necessity's flip top construction.

Check out my flickr page for more detailed photos.

iPod cozy pattern

noreply@blogger.com (stoneamazon) — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 21:11:00 +0000

iPod cozy - pattern/progress
Originally uploaded by StoneAmazon.

Some people have asked for the pattern for this, so here it is! I only have a pattern for the cassette cross stitch, which was made using knitpro and photoshop. Feel free to use the pattern any way you like, except for commercial purposes.

More cross stitch iPod cozy

noreply@blogger.com (stoneamazon) — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 17:17:00 +0000

iPod cozy - Front
Originally uploaded by StoneAmazon.

Here's the front side. I used optical tape to protect the screen. I chose a dark fabric so it wouldn't show dirt from being handled.

Cross Stitch iPod cozy

noreply@blogger.com (stoneamazon) — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 17:10:00 +0000

iPod cozy - Back
Originally uploaded by StoneAmazon.

I began this back in May, intending to enter it in whipup's cozy contest, but didn't finish on time. I designed the cross stitch patterns for front and back. I wanted to juxtapose the mix tape (DIY music) with something traditional, so I went with a check pattern and twining flowers. I had intended to thread a ribbon through the cozy along one side to mimic the magnetic tape/openings on the side of a cassette, but had difficulty matching the edges of the cross stitched images and the edges of the iPod and openings. I think this was because I wasn't able to calculate finished dimensions properly, because I used quilt batting to give the cozy some cushioning protection for the iPod. The resulting seams were difficult to sew and came out a little wonkier than I would like. On the whole though, I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out.

Irish Hiking Scarf

noreply@blogger.com (stoneamazon) — Mon, 21 May 2007 16:42:00 +0000

Irish Hiking Scarf
Originally uploaded by StoneAmazon.

I knit this for my dad's birthday/Father's day gift. I also did a Irish Hiking Hat to match (no pic)

It took longer than expected. The hat and scarf together took 4 balls of Patons Shetland Chunky Tweeds in Dark Forest.
Pattern: Irish Hiking Scarf from Hello Yarn
Needles : 9 Addi Turbos

Very soft and a nice manly knit.