Can yarn be cursed?

I was at a conference this weekend so I used the opportunity to knit whilst listening to the keynote speakers. I had started the project in the hotel room with no problems. Somehow, I lost my count and the pattern wasn't turning out properly. I pulled the stitches out and began again. A few rows in, I noticed that I'd dropped a stitch (I never drop stitches!). Since I wasn't the far along, I pulled out the stitches. I'm almost afraid to try again. Can yarn be cursed?

Dishcloth #5

Project: Dishcloth
Pattern: LOVE free pattern

Needle: Size 7 Metal
Final Size: 9" x 9"
Yarn: Bernat Handicrafter Cotton Ultrasoft in Westport
Material: 100% Cotton
Wash Instructions: Machine washable and dryable.
Comments: Interesting. Not sure I love this one. I'd probably make some alterations to the pattern next time including a larger border, more similar to the other. All dishcloths went home with my mother. Free pattern is available at http://www.knittingknonsense.com/LOVEcloth.html.

Dishcloth #4

Project: Dishcloth
Pattern: Garden Dishcloths to Knit Birdhouse
Needle: Size 7 Metal
Final Size: 9" x 9"
Yarn: Bernat Handicrafter Cotton Twists in Denim Twists
Material: 100% Cotton
Wash Instructions: Machine washable and dryable.
Comments: Starting to like doing dishcloths as I can get them done in about 3 hours. Makes them a nice primetime television activity. All dishcloths went home with my mother.

Dishcloth #3

Project: Dishcloth
Pattern: Garden Dishcloths to Knit Beehive
Needle: Size 7 Bamboo
Final Size: 9" x 9"
Yarn: Bernat Handicrafter Cotton Ultrasoft in Lemonswirl
Material: 100% Cotton
Wash Instructions: Machine washable and dryable.
Comments: Technically the first one that I made. Completed on bamboo needles which I felt added too much resistance (which is usually the reason why I use bamboo needles). After this one, I switched to metal needles. All dishcloths went home with my mother.

Dishcloth #2

Project: Dishcloth

Pattern: Garden Dishcloths to Knit Sunflower

Needle: Size 7 Metal

Final Size: 9" x 9"

Yarn: Bernat Handicrafter Cotton Ultrasoft in Creamsicle

Material: 100% Cotton

Wash Instructions: Machine washable and dryable.

Comments: I'm not sure what happened with this one, it might have been the yarn, it might have been the pattern but you certainly couldn't see the image. All dishcloths went home with my mother.

Dishcloth Fever

My mom was in town and we decided to do quick projects that we could take travelling with us. We decided on dishclothes. We purchased a book called Garden Dishcloths to Knit which was incredibly simple to follow (good for doing a line or two at odd times).

Project: Dishcloth
Pattern: Garden Dishcloths to Knit Topiary
Needle: Size 7 Metal
Final Size: 9" x 9"
Yarn: Bernat Handicrafter Cotton Twists in Taupe Twists
Material: 100% Cotton
Wash Instructions: Machine washable and dryable.
Comments: Interesting for my first foray on metal needles. I never thought I'd have a use for the metals ones but they really do make the cotton easier to work with. All dishcloths went home with my mother.

Baby Blanket #3

This baby blanket was loooong overdue and was made for my niece. I made it in yellow to remind her of my grandmother (her great-grandmother) who we referred to as the yellow rose of texas. I was very happy because I got to finish it whilst my mom was in and she took it back with her. She'll be hand-delivering it.

Project: Baby Blanket

Pattern: Basket Stitch

Needle: Size 10.5 bamboo

Final Size: 42" x 42"

Yarn: Phentex Worsted in Yellow

Material: 100% AcrylicWeight/Length: 454g

Wash Instructions: Machine washable and dryable.

Comments: Acrylic because it's machine washable (I want these baby blankets used, people!). It felt like it took me forever to finish this one but I liked the size on this one better (20 sets across, 17 sets high).

Baby Blanket #2

Another baby blanket but this one was made for my new niece or nephew! It's amazing how different the SAME yarn can feel. I liked this one not only for the pattern (I'm nuts for this stitch for blankets!) but the colour came out much much better than the picture allows for. It's a golden champagne colour.

Project: Baby Blanket
Pattern: Basket Stitch
Needle: Size 10.5 bamboo
Final Size: 48" x 48"
Yarn: Phentex Worsted in Natural
Material: 100% Acrylic
Weight/Length: 454g
Wash Instructions: Machine washable and dryable.
Comments: Again, acrylic rules for being machine washable! The yarn seemed smoother than the Burgundy and much nicer to work with. Did I mention I loved the look of the finished product?

Baby Blankets Abound!

I think we're at the age where everyone we know is getting pregnant or adopting so I've moved into tons and tons of baby blankets. One of our co-workers adopted a baby girl from China. Although normally I'd do a baby blanket in white or cream, evidently, it's the colour of mourning in China. I decided to do the blanket in red, the colour of joy.

Project: Baby Blanket

Pattern: None, Border of moss stitch with an inset of stockinette stitch

Needle: Size 10.5 bamboo

Final Size: 36" x 48"

Yarn: Phentex Worsted in Burgundy

Material: 100% Acrylic

Weight/Length: 454g

Wash Instructions: Machine washable and dryable.

Comments: It's acrylic and while not great to knit with and it's not the softest feel but at least it's machine washable for the parents. The red dye did come off on the needles. I'd use the yarn again to make a blanket but probably not anything else.

Okay, I've been bad.....

I haven't been knitting. I've been prepping for American Thanksgiving. I spend about 6-7 hours in the kitchen and I just curl up on the couch afterwards to stare at my SAD machine. I'll start knitting again on Sunday with a fury one rarely channels into.....knitting.

Yarn Harlot

Tonight I dragged the darling husband to see the Yarn Harlot speak. I didn't take any knitting with me (why embarass myself in front of other, more experienced knitters...I can just imagine the conversation, "What are you knitting?" "Oh my eighteenth billion scarf. I'm almost done and then I'll move onto other, perhaps larger, geometrical knitted stuff"). Isn't being obsessed with geometrical shapes a sign of insanity. Okay, its triangles but its close (I'll let you know when I've managed to make a triangle). Sorry, tangent.

So one of the first questions that is asked is about the use of acrylic for baby blankets. Evidently its not recommended because it's quite flammable. Honestly, I've never considered using a baby blanket in the actual crib, usually I see them used in the baby carriage. I understand there there is a slight fire danger in a carriage but even in the big city, it's rare to see someone flick a lit cigarette into a baby carriage. I'll just add a quick note that the blanket shouldn't be used in the crib. I mean, most likely the baby blankets I knit will be used to line the bottom of the cat litter tray so I consider it a bit of a non-issue.

I did get a book signed and I bought a knitters without borders pin. I'll have to make a bigger donation early next year - maybe I can use whatever money I save on Christmas presents. I'll have to talk to the darling husband about that.

Picture taken on my camera phone, sorry for the poor quality.

Project #5

Knitting up a storm and my trip to Michael's was a chance to pick up some fun yarn. This was a scarf that I made for a friend who is relocating to Beijing for a few years. I wanted her to have a little something from home.

Project: Scarf
Pattern: None, Garter Stitch
Needle: Size 10 bamboo
Final Size: 3.5" x 79"
Yarn: Paton's Divine in Regal Red
Material: 76.5% Acrylic; 10.5% wool, 10.5% Mohair, 2.5% Polyester
Weight/Length: 3.5oz (100g) and 142 yards
Wash Instructions: Hand-wash only, do not dry.
Comments: A very unforgiving yarn, it has very little give. Not the nicest yarn to work with and it sheds quite a bit however the final product is rather lovely.

Looky what I got!

It's like Christmas in November! My mom sent me her alpaca yarn, needles and half-finished scarf! Say what you will but knitting with alpaca is truly a pleasure. Now I just have to finish up the scarf and do two more in a month! Wish me luck!