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I leave for a trip to Europe in a couple of weeks. I have my super-fuzzy hat, but I thought it might be a good idea for me to have a second hat, seeing how I often get cold. I LOVED the look of the Gretel Hat that I made as part of the hat series. The way the cables wound together was just lovely. So I decided that I'd make one of those for myself. I picked up a skein of Malabrigo Yarn Merino Worsted on one of my many trips to ImagiKnits. It was rather difficult to pick which color... there are so many lovely shades of pink and red. I ended up choosing a lovely hot pink with just enough red to go with my new red jacket.

This pattern isn't particularly difficult. It does have a unique cast-on and uses some more advanced stitches (like the purl in the front and back). But I made this once before, and I didn't have the problems then that I'm having now. Maybe I was just more careful the first time?

The cast on method involves using some waste yarn. So what do I do? Stitch 4 rows in the waste yarn when I was only suppose to use it for casting on. Frogging #1. I announce this and E looks at me with a quizzical look on his face. "Frogging?" I smile and say "Yup... rip-it, rip-it, rip-it." He laughs.

I complete the 2x2 ribbing and get to the point where you start adding stitches. The pattern just says M1. But how should I make one? I can't remember how I did it the last time, so I decide that I'm going to make one purlwise. I even look up online to see how to do so. I go all the way around, making one purlwise the whole time. On the next row, I have to M1 again. But this time it says K2, M1, K1, P1. Huh. I have 2 knits now 3 purls on my needles. Guess I wasn't suppose to make one purlwise after all. So, I frog the whole row out. Frogging #2.

I decided that I will just use the reverse of my handy-dandy making one purlwise stitch to make one knitwise. Why not? I go most of the way around the row and realize that oops! This method, while invisible purlwise, it leaves a nice hole knitwise. So, I frog the row again. Frogging #3.

I reknit the row, using my standard method of knitting into the front and back to add the stitches I need over the next two rows. It looks lovely. Must remember to make a note on the pattern so I don't have to go through this again.

I continue stitching, including getting through the first cable with out a single croak. I'm suppose to knit a basic row around (one of the "setting rows" as I like to think of them), but move the start of the row forward 3 stitches before starting the row of twists. Of course, we are knee deep in the episode of BSG that we are watching when I get to this row. I knit the whole thing and then move right into the twists. Without moving the start of the row. Get within 6 stitches of the end of the row, go to move the start and realize that I'm a row off. I have twisted right on top of the cables, rather than having them offset by 3 so the twists appear between the cables. *sigh* I call it a night.

The next morning I wake up and frog the whole twisted row. This wasn't as hard as I was afraid it would be. And luckily there are only 144 or so stitches at this point. But it's still rather tedious and time consuming. I back up enough to move over the row start and then twist the next row. Looks much better. Frogging #4 complete.

The purl into front and back (pfd) comes back to me much faster than I thought it would. I didn't even have to look it up again. This yarn doesn't do the "pop" that the silk blend did, but it's still kind of fun. So far I've managed to stick to the pattern and not have to frog anything else.

It's slow going though... all those cables. I looked up the trick on how to knit cables without using a cable needle. Basically you just move them to the other needle and then move them back. I'm a bit afraid that I'll drop the live stitches as I'm moving them. But it's suppose to be faster, so maybe I'll try it. I have a little less than 2 weeks to finish this after all.

Gretel Hat:
Started: September 13, 2008
Finished:

When I found out that my brother and sister-in-law were pregnant with my nephew, Nicholas, I stitched a birth announcement for him, the Beatrix Potter Storybook Sampler. I had it finished, framed and delivered to them within a few months of the birth. That was back in 1998 and I sadly don't have any photos of it.

When I found out that they were pregnant again, I found a similar pattern to the announcement I had made for Nick, the Beatrix Potter Storybook Sampler II. Gracie will be six years old in February and this poor thing is still less than half finished. I'm sorry Gracie! I swear I will finish it before you graduate college!

I just love the Green Apple cross-stitch patterns. They have such detail. It's a pain to stitch because you are constantly changing colors. But the result in the end is so very lovely. This is I think 16-count Aida. It's a bit bigger than the Colors project, so it's easier on the eyes. But it's still small enough that the stitches feel very delicate and intricate.

Do you notice how the Aida cloth is rolled around the edges. That's because it's been sitting in the stitching frame for the past 5 years. This is why you should always take your needlework out of the hoop/frame when you are not working on it kids. Hopefully steaming it when it's done will flatten it out.

Oh, and they had a third child two years ago, Tony. Unfortunately they don't make a Storybook Sampler III. I may combine images from the first two to make Tony's.

Storybook Sampler II:
Started: Fall 2001
Finished:

This is another cross stitch project that I started years ago and has gone fallow. It's called Beatrix Potter Colors, and it shows various characters hanging their laundry on the line, and has the words for the colors with each item. It would look just lovely in a baby's room. Or my craft room. :)

I probably got this pattern on eBay. But I just discovered that you can also get it on Amazon. What can't you get on Amazon these days?

Beatrix Potter Colors:
Started: ~2001

This is an amazing counted cross-stitch pattern that I picked up years ago. I purchased it from the now closed Dutch Treat shop in Livermore, CA. It's a map of the United States, complete with major cities, rivers, vegetation, and landmarks.

I decided to make my version of the map truly my own. Rather than put in the names of the cities as suggested on the pattern, I decided to include the names of cities that I have lived in. So rather than Detroit, mine says Ann Arbor. It will say Evergreen instead of Denver.

Rather than the typical aida cloth that you often seen cross-stitch stitched on (there's a mouthful), this is done on evenweave linen. I'm guessing that it's 32-count, but I honestly can't remember. It's tiny though, which is adding to how long it is taking to make. But it will be lovely when I'm done.

Map of the United States
Started: ~2002

I love making things for people I love. I realized back in March that I had yet to make anything for my darling E. I made encouraged him to look through some of my knitting books to see if there was a scarf pattern he liked.

He chose the Rustic Celtic Cable Scarf from Knit Ponchos, Wraps & Scarves by Jane Davis. It's the third cabled scarf in the book, the most complex. Did I mention that I have never knitted cables before?

The next time we were at Michael's Crafts, E picked out some Lion Brand Wool-Ease yarn, in a lovely dark green heathered color. (Pay no attention to the color in the photos. My camera phone apparently doesn't like to capture dark green.) I also got a pack of cable hooks. I tried knitting this with two strands of the Wool-Ease on size 15 needles (which is what I thought the patterns said). It was WAY too big. So I switched to a single strand and size 8 needles. It's coming out much more reasonable in size.

This is the first time I have ever done cables. The first row was a bit challenging (read: I kept ending up with a twisted mess). Then I realized I was suppose to use 2 cable needles. Heh. Much, much easier now. The scarf is coming out at 7 inches wide, while the pattern said 10. I may end up making it longer so it can wrap more times, since it's estimated to be about 18 inches shorter than the original at this gauge.

I knitted on this a lot when I was at my grandmother's in April. But it does take some focus so I haven't worked it in awhile. It is lots of fun though. I see why so many people enjoy knitting cables.

Rustic Celtic Cable Scarf:
Started March 30, 2008