Easy Lacy Socks

The name I gave to my new sock pattern (the stitch pattern is an easy knit) doesn't reflect what occurred before the pattern was complete. When I started knitting the sock pattern, I loved the look of the pattern but it just had no stretch to it, so the sock didn't fit! Grrrr! I frogged it, added stitches, frogged it yet again, modified the pattern some more and finally got it to fit. Yea! During all of this knitting and frogging I had been working from a handwritten pattern and hand written chart.

Then I typed the pattern and after downloading some knitting fonts, attempted a chart. Whew! I ended up with problem after problem trying to get the chart to behave the way I wanted it. I can't begin to describe my frustration. My knitting skills FAR surpass my computer skills.

Finally, thanks to my new BFF Jennifer :), who kindly suggested she'd help me learn how to do a chart in a document if I'd bring my laptop to our weekly knitting group. So there we sat in Barnes & Noble last week with my laptop in front of us, and Jen showed me that, yes, it IS possible to put that #%$* chart where I wanted it to go. LOL The end result is a new sock pattern for sale in my pattern store on ravelry.com. Here's a picture.

My Not Christmas Socks

I finally finished knitting the socks I started last April. I had put them aside when I was having difficulty seeing the tiny stitches on the size 1US needles, but I finally picked them up again and finished them this past week. The colorway on the yarn ball band says "Christmas" but I think they're just very colorful. I love bright colors & I'll wear them anytime, not just for Christmas. :)

My Backpack

Two years ago I knit a backpack for my daughter and ever since then, I've wanted one for myself. Finally, I knit one for me! The 1st pic is mine. The 2nd pic is Colleen's.

Koi Baby Sweater

I finally finished writing out the pattern for a baby sweater I designed months ago and today finished knitting the last of the sizes for it. Because the colors remind me of the fish in a Koi pond I've named it Koi Baby Sweater. It's knit from the top down with no seams. The stripes of yellow in the yoke are knit in a fairly easy pattern stitch to add texture. The yarn is worsted weight knit with size 8 needles so the sweater should be nice and warm for a winter baby. The pattern can be purchased here: http://www.ravelry.com/stores/nancy-pietraszek-designs

Knitting Bag

Every time I go to my weekly knitting group, I feel like a pack animal. I take a good sized shoulder bag (stuffed too full) and a large tote bag (also stuffed too full) that has the pockets I like. I made the tote bag a few years ago to carry my knitting and knitting accessories. I've been telling myself for 2 years "self, you need a rolling knitting bag so you won't look and feel like a pack animal". I've looked for a rolling knitting bag, but all the ones I've found that had the multiple pockets I NEED are more money than I'm willing to spend.

Finally, I decided to check out rolling backpacks, not that I'd ever use one as a backpack. That would really make me feel like a pack animal. Anyway, after an extensive search on the web sites of all our local stores and the internet in general, I couldn't find precisely the bag I wanted. They either were too big, didn't have the pockets I NEED, or they were more money than I'm willing to spend.

So...today I had the bright idea to go to the local Swap Meet (known by some as a flea market). It's only up the street, a hop, skip and a jump away as my Mom used to say. They had JUST what I wanted and the price was right. It's not too big and has all the pockets I NEED. Pockets are important. :)

Bob says the handle to pull it is too short. He keeps forgetting that I'm short too!!! The height of the handle is JUST RIGHT for me. Check it out...

Sunshine

I finally finished knitting all four sizes of my latest pattern and called it Sunshine because the yellow yarn of one of the sizes reminds me of bright sunshine. I love the elephant and giraffe buttons on the red one though. They are just too cute. The pattern is for sale here: http://www.ravelry.com/stores/nancy-pietraszek-designs

Hot, hot, hot!

Summer has arrived here in the desert along with triple digit temps. Bob as well as the "girls" in our 55+ community pool keep telling me I need to wear a hat so I won't get heat stroke. I know I have extremely short hair, but it's thick so wearing a hat makes my head HOT! I like hats, really I do. Hats in the winter are fine. I want to wear one then, but in the summer, not so much. Well, today I broke down and bought a hat to wear in the pool (other than being in the pool, I'm not out in the sun - too hot). I bought a straw cowboy (girl?) hat. We'll see how it works out. We're going to the pool this afternoon. :)