Yarn for the Knitting Olympics

Yep you counted right, there are 14 colors there. I am using the New England Shetland. They will be knitted into the Fair Isle Hat Sampler from the Interweave winter 2004 issue.

I will be picking up the magazine and winding the yarn on Monday night at my LYS's knit night. Then I will have to start training. Swatch, swatch, swatch will be my training and goal until the cast on can begining. The CO will happen during the opening ceremony party at Lambikin's Hideaway. I can't wait, I am sure it is going to be great fun.

Check out what others are going to be doing at Lambikin's. It looks like there is a really good selection of projects for the Olympics.

If you haven't seen what that CRAZY Sara is doing for the Olympics you should stop Lambikin's and have them show you. I really think she has gone off the deep end. Not only is she moving to a new house, but she is planning on doing this awesome Fair Isle fitted jacket that also includes embroidery. How she will get it done in only 16 days is beyond me, but I can't wait to see it in the process and then finished. GO........... SARA!!!!!!


Yarn for Olympics

The Notorious Frisky Shrug

These are a few pictures of the notorious shrug that has been causing me all kinds of grief. It looks like it will be really cute when it is put all together, but I just seems like it is fighting me all the way.

I still have to finish the sleeves and to add the ribbon yarn border. The ribbon will go around the cuffs and all the outer edges of the shrug. I know that I have plenty of that.

One of these days this will be finished and I will be able to work on something else that will probably haunt me. I guess that I enjoy the hunt, challenge, aggravation and everything else that comes with knitting or I wouldn't be doing it, now would I? Of course my hair is a little thinner than it used to be. :)


Frisky Shrug Back


Frisky Shrug Front


Frisky Shrug Front & Back


Frisky Shrug Sleeves

James' Fair Isle Sweater

Here are a few shots of James' Fair Isle Sweater. It changed a bit from the last pictures I posted of it. Not only have I gotten a little farther on it, but we had to add another color to it.

Since I knit tight I had to make a size 6 sweater to get the size that I wanted and I had all the blue yarn that my LYS had. So Christina suggested to add another color to it to make up for the blue that I would need. I thought that the gray would look nice with it.

I really like the way that it is turning out. Now if I could just get the time to work on it and get it finished I would be happy. Maybe once I get the shrug and clogs finished for my niece then I will have more time for it. Hahaha I am just kidding myself, aren't I.?


James' Fair Isle


Closer Shot

Cargo Pant Picture

Well here is an updated picture of the Cargo pants that I have been knitting for James. I need to knit up another pocket (the first one is to the right of the pants), 2 pocket flaps, sew up the waist band and weave in all the ends. They are way to big for him at the moment, so he will have to grow into them. I have faith that he will be in them sooner than I expect. I think that they are turning out really cute. I just might have to make up another pair in another color. Hummmmm....


Cargo Pants

Few Pictures

I have finally found my card reader, so now I can add pictures. Yeah!!

These are the purple and pink chemo caps that went to a friend of mine at church. She said that she really likes them and she even wears them to bed. I am glad that they are comfortable for her and that she likes them.


Chemo Caps


This is a scarf that I made for a friend of mine. We did a secret Santa exchange and I thought that she might like it. Her two of her favorite colors are blue and green. She said that she loved it and got many complements on it. It made me feel good that other people liked it too.


Blue & Green Scarf

Knitting Olympics 2006

I succumbed to the peer pressure and have an entry for the Knitting Olympics that the Yarn Harlot is hosting. Not that I didn't have the idea of joining back in my head, but my LYS is giving a discount on all items needed for your Olympic project and they are having a kick off party that Friday night. Also at the end they will be giving away a Gold, Silver and Bronze Metal for the top 3 projects.

I can't wait for the party and to be able to cast on and get started. I will be making the Fair Isle Sampler Hat from the Interweave Knits Winter 2004. I have all my yarn, but I am waiting for the magazine to come in. Christina had to order it, since she didn't have anymore in the store. I do need to check and make sure that I have the needles in the right size as well.

This will be a 16 day project. We will cast on during the opening ceremonies and have to be finished by the time they snuff the flame at the end. It is going to be a crazy 16 days for quite a few people.

Wish me luck. I am going to need it.

I've Got It

I have the Frisky Yarn in my hot little mits! I picked it up Monday night at my LYS's Knit Night. Now all I need to do is to get my rear in gear and finish the Frisky Pink Shrug. I need to finish the sleeves and then find out how to block it.

I have never blocked anything before. Not like I have really made anything before that was important enough to have to block it. I want this to turn out nice for her. I am really working hard on it and hope that it turns out well.

I need to get this finished before the 10th of February so that I can concentrate on my entry for the Knitting Olympics. I can't wait to start it, but that is another post.

Stay tuned for more updates on the saga with the Frisky Pink Shrug.

I Think I will Stay with This Name

Ok so my randomness of changing my blog name needs to stop. I believe that Knits Galore is a pretty good name unless I get some other suggestions that I just LOVE better. The other one was pretty much a joke between Kevin and I and it just didn't work well for the blog. I think that the new name sums it up well. I am still open to any suggestions that you might have. I hope that everyone had a great day.

So I ask you to take of the "Y" off the end of "Knitsy" if you have changed my name before. Thanks for your patients in this matter. :)

Vote for New Name

Ok so I was thinking about the name change last night. I am just not sure about it. I don't want this blog to be a big joke, but the old name was wearing on my last nerve. I just didn't like it and wanted to come up with something new.

Here are some names that I have thought of....

*Knitsy Galore
*Knits Galore
*1,oo1 Stitches
*101 Stitches
*Knitting from Love
*Knitting from the Heart

Please help me on this. Cast your vote for any of the above names or recommend your own. I appreciate any help that you can give me on this.

Thanks and I look forward to your comments. :)

New Name and a Few Other Changes

No you haven't gone to the wrong place. I have decided to change my name. The other one was boring and cheesy, not to mention I didn't realize that there was a show on DIY that was called something similar. So Mrs. Knitter's Knitty Gritty is now ..... Knitsy Galore. It made me laugh when I was joking around to Kevin about it and I thought what the heck. There are a few other minor changes like titles in the side bar and such, but nothing to worry about.

So what do you think of my new name?? :)

If you have me linked, please just change the name that it is under. The web address is the same.

I hope everyone had a great weekend.

Found: 3 Balls

Yep, my LYS has found 3 balls of the Frisky yarn that I need to finish my Niece's shrug!!! Whoooo Hoooooooo!!!! I am so glad that I don't have to start over.

My thanks go to Christina for sending out the emails and seeing if some other store might just happen to have it.

So once I get the call that it is in I am sure that I will have to make a trip over to pick it up. I really want to get it finished so that my Niece can wear it. Guess I need to find a blocking board soon since I don't own one yet and I really can't just let it lay on the floor to dry with 2 Labrador, a cat, 1 year old baby and a husband running through the house all day. It is much better to have it pinned to a board in a safe location. At least that way I can put it on top of a shelf or something out of the way.

On the up side I am making good progress on James' cargo pants. Just a few more inches before I am finished with the pants/construction then I go onto making the pockets and all the finish work that goes along with it. Maybe some day soon I will get a picture of James wearing them. I really like them and I just might have to get some more yarn to make more of them. They are turning out really cute. :)

Cargo Pants Update

The wee little cargo pants are coming along. I have finished both legs and have them joined and am working on the hips area now. So I am so close getting them done. Maybe I will get them finished before James grows out of them. I have made the legs longer in hopes that by the time I got them finished he would fit in them. LOL So hopefully in the next few days I will be able to get them or most of them finished. I am so close I can taste it. I want them done so I can see what they look like on him. I am so excited!!

I am going to go now so I can work more on them. :)

Needing to Get a Little Frisky!

Did I get your attention with that title? I hope so. As I feared I have ran out of the Reynolds Frisky that I was making my Niece's shrug out of. I am working on the sleeves and have gotten about 3 inches out of 17 1/2 inches of the 2 sleeves done.

Would anyone out there in blog land have any or know where I can get any?? It is the pink Color 02 Lot 30. I have emailed a few on line companies, but so far no luck. I might be scraping and starting over with an entire new lot of yarn. I really don't want to have to do that. It would be such a waste of my time and it was supposed to be a Christmas gift for her so I don't want her to have to wait any longer than she has to.

This thing seems like it has been doomed from the get go. *Sigh*

Thanks for any and all help.

Ester Williams Hat

Well it is finished. It has been finished for quite some time now. I need to find my card reader for the computer so that I can get it posted. I have other things that I would like to post as well, but without the reader it makes it a bit difficult. So until then I will knit on other things so that I can take more pictures that I can't post. What a vicious cycle.

Well I need to feed the outside cats, get the mail and forage for something to eat for lunch, so I will be going now, my stomach is paging me. :)

SP7 Q&A

Here are my answers to the SP7 questions. If there is anything that I have missed that you want to know, just leave a comment or send me an email and I will do my best to answer it and give you the info that you want.

I am so excited! This is my first SP and I can't wait to get my match so I can get my first package together.



1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand?

I prefer natural fibers like wool, cotton, I really LOVE alpaca, but I am not opposed to the others.

2. Do you spin? Crochet?

I have spun before. I need to get back on it. I have drop spindles and such. I am not the most skilled in it. Have tried crochet and it just didn't toot my horn.

3. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?

I have some of my straight and circular needles in holders from Lantern Moon, but nothing for my DP's. I keep any thing not in the cases in their original packaging.

4. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?

I have been seriously knitting just over a year. I started about 3 years ago and taught myself by doing a pair of socks, after that I put it up and didn't get it back out until I found out I was pregnant. I was told about a LYS that I never knew existed just down the road from me and I haven't turned back since. My LYS has me addicted. :) I guess I would say that I am intermediate. I can do some Fair Isle, Socks, Cables and other general knitting skills, but there is so much more out there to learn.

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

Yes Amazon. Also anything from my LYS, she will even do gift cards just give her a call.

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)

Vanilla, linen fresh, clean scents, cinnamon. Please no floral scents they drive my allergies crazy.

7. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

Yes, chocolate - dark (semi-sweet) chocolate is my favorite, or white chocolate macadamia nut cookies.... Yummm

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?

Scrap booking and many more, but I am trying to stay with the knitting/spinning again and scrapbooking for the time being.

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

Country, Pop (not the boy band type stuff), classical, pretty much anything. As far as I know my computer will play MP3s.

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?

I like red, blue, earth tones. Not really into pastels or pink or purple. But I am making my Mom a purple sweater :)

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

Married with a baby boy who just turned 1 on 1-1-06. We have 2 labs (1 white and 1 black), black cat, love bird and fish.

12. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?

I make more than I wear. It has to be pretty darn cold for me to dress in a lot of clothing like that. Normally a coat is just fine for me. Please no ponchos.... I just don't get the poncho craze.

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?

Alpaca, Malabrigo, Reynolds Frisky, Lorna's Laces, Stork and Cascade 220 and many more. Haven't found anything that I really don't like.

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

Anything that is rough whether it be a natural or man made fiber.

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?

Fair Isle, Magic Loop Socks, baby/toddler - sniff, sniff :'( clothes.

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

Socks, Fair Isle - 2 handed and clothing for my Son.

17. What are you knitting right now?

Quite a bit see left side of blog for the list. What I currently have in my hands is my Niece's pink shrug.

18. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

Yes of course!

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?

Depends on the needle and the project. If I do use straight I LOVE the Lantern Moon Needles, if I use circular I use the Addi Turbo.

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

Wood then bamboo then aluminum.

21. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?

No but they are on my list :). Doesn't have to be the exact ones on the list.

22. How did you learn to knit?

Taught myself with a book then decided I wanted to learn more and took classes.

23. How old is your oldest UFO?

Oh gee, I haven't a clue, but I know it is OLD. At least 3 years.

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?

Animated character is Mickey Mouse.

25. What is your favorite holiday?

My Son's Birthday, Christmas and Halloween

26. Is there anything that you collect?

Of course yarn. Anything that I can add to my stash and books. I love books on knitting.

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

None, but would like one to Interweave Knits, Simply Knitting or anything my SP thinks is good.

28. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on?

Books are on my Amazon list, other than that I can't really think of anything. A yarn I would like to try would be the Mango Moon Recycled Silk. I would like the patter for the Panta that I have seen on a few knitting blogs. It looks really neat! I would like to try and make one.

29. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?

Moebius and Brioche or any thing else that I haven't mentioned here.

30. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?

Yes. I wear an 8 1/2 wide. If you need specifics just let me know.

31. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)

February 1

Chemo Hat Pattern

I was asked the other day by Taylor what pattern I used for the ESPRIT yarn. I used one of the free patterns I found searching the internet. This is the pattern that I used. It is the "No Hair Day Chemo Cap" pattern. I added a 1x1 rib as well for about an inch or so just to give it a little more stretch around the forehead.

Taylor - I hope that this answers your question. Happy knitting.