Like Edison...................

"Ben Gates: [paraphrasing Thomas Edison, about invention of light bulb] I didn't fail, I found 2,000 ways how not to make a light bulb; I only need to find one way to make it work." -   --  National Treasure 

I feel the same way about some knitting directions.   Another pair of socks imagine that............. These have narrow rows of color changes so I thought I would try a wave pattern which is
Row 1: k1, p1, yo, k4, cdd, k4, yo, p1, k1 repeat. Row 2: k1, p1, ktbl, k9, ktbl,  p1, k1 repeat.
The cdd is a central double decrease which is also written either Sl 1- k2tog- psso or sk2p. What the knitter is doing is slipping one stitch-knitting the next 2 together-then passing the slipped stitch over the  knit together.  It can also be Sl2-k1-psso or s2kp.  The knitter is slipping 2 stitches-knitting the next one- then slipping the two stitches over the knit stitch. But no where in the directions does it say whether to slip the stitch purl wise, point to point as if to purl or knit wise as if knitting the stitch one at a time or two at a time. These little details make a difference in the way the finished stitch looks. The cdd can either lean left or right or have a nice knit stitch up the center. This stitch pattern said Sl2-k1-psso. My first row of the pattern I slipped the 2 stitches purl wise, it looks like there is a wrap around the center stitch. The next time I tried slipping the stitches as if to knit one at a time, that row looks like it has 2 wraps around the knit stitch. Then I referred to my knitting books. In the back of 400 knitting stitches Potter Craft it said to slip 2 together as if to knit. The third time that is what I did and yippee skippy that is what I needed to do to get the nice knit stitch in the center of the decrease.  And it didn't take 2000 tries to get it right. Happily knitting now--Ann--

By the way ktbl is knitting through the back loop of the yarn over. If you knit the yarn over with a regular knit stitch you get a hole, great for lacy patterns, knitting through the back loop twists the yarn over closing the hole.

Design Wall Monday

Last week I posted a teaser of cutting parts, I'm still cutting parts but had to sew some together to see what the blocks look like. I'm half done with these parts then I need to choose fabric for the triangles that will square up the block. The pattern is Metro Rings by Sew Kind of Wonderful, her quick curve ruler makes it so easy to sew curves. I'm using leftover fabrics from click, click, click and there will still be fabric left for another quilt of this combination. Check out the quilts at Judy's DWM. Its a great day to sew here summer might be gone with yesterdays wind.--Ann--

On and off the needles

 These heels always look like a funny face so just for fun I thought I would put on some googly eyes  but then I couldn't find them so I used buttons I didn't really want to spend half a day looking for a little jar of googly eyes that may or may not even exist in my sewing room, who doesn't have googly eyes?!??  then the other half of the day putting my sewing room back in order.

 and more socks in progress. Still enjoying summer like weather here and sometimes sitting on the patio with coffee and knitting in the afternoon. It is good to be prepared for winter with hand knits linking to the always prepared Judy at PatchworkTimes OTN. --Ann--

cutting parts.....

All these parts and lots more to cut.............maybe Monday there will be something on the design wall........--Ann--

On and off the needles

More socks on the needles and more socks off the needles. My stack grows for Christmas gifts. Still enjoying almost summer like weather here so the scarf and stocking hat are slow going but the reading/texting if I knew how to text/knitting mitts are done! Savoring these warm days until hand knits are a necessity and linking to Judy's OTN. --Ann--

Design Wall

 Oh the possibilities......set the blocks straight without sashing, with sashing, border  fabrics......in the end I sashed it with as much of the background fabric as I has then found a short fat quarter very close to the same tan and value. I sashed the outside blocks with a dark brown and more cornerstones. Another flimsy ready to be layered and quilted. linking to Judy's DWM.--Ann--

Another Snail Trail

This has been done and hanging on my stair rail for a couple weeks.I free motion quilted it much more densely than I usually machine quilt but I do like the way the feathers fit in  each snail.--Ann--

Design Wall Monday

 I love it when quilt parts fall out of the closet so I don't have to decide what to work on next. Leftovers from click.  I had enough 30 degree triangles of pinks and reds for 12 blocks so I cut a few more of the greens leftover from click which by the way still isn't finished because I'm hand quilting. My first thought was to set the blocks on point but for the number of blocks I have I would have a long skinny quilt, this  4 x 5 blocks arrangement works better I can still add sashing and cornerstones if I want to make it a little bigger, it could be a doll quilt or a baby quilt. check out Design Wall Monday at Judy's. Happy stitching --Ann--

On and off the needles

Another pair of Christmas socks are complete! I started the scarf for my boiled wool jacket. It is a super easy stitch pattern and is going to knit really fast, I'm also going to knit reading mitts and am patiently waiting for a 40 inch 3.25mm cable needle to arrive in a box of more fun yarns then I can knit both mitts at once and hope to have the color changes match then use the rest of the yarn in the scarf and maybe make a headband. Then hang it all in the closet and hope it doesn't get cold enough to wear them until December. Check out the knits at Judy's OTN. Happy knitting--Ann--

Snail Trail

 A sunny calm day and a good day for photos. This has been complete for a couple weeks.--Ann--