Knitting Needle Conversion Chart

I love patterns from everywhere, problem, the patterns are in metric version and not US style sizing.  Here is a chart I use and comes in handy many times over and over.  Enjoy!

Make a Hat for March January 21, 2017 in Washington DC

Get a Knitting! Womans Hat for March on January 21

You can also see another version on Ravelry, check it out!

Short Row Fear - No More

I have been pushing my knitting lately.   I avoided short rows.  I did not understand or get it.   Now, I found
https://www.purlsoho.com/create/2008/06/18/short-rows/
and it has made me love short rows.

I am working on a special project, will let you know what it is if I can create it.   OK

No more fear of short rows!

My Nasty Woman Santa Hat

Two Months till Christmas....and one Month to Thanksgiving...in the meantime we have a very important election date, November 8, 2016.

OK, the Political stuff is getting to me!   OK,  I know I am voting, Hillary!   I have had enough of this guy Trump.   I have now taken the TV off, the FaceBook Live Off and want nothing to do with the craziness.

I have been knitting alot to curb the craziness, I  designed this Santa Hat and love it!  Knitting brings joy in this hate filled world of Politics.

I started this on Friday and finished on Monday.   I truly had a happy dance on its outcome.

I made this for someone special and she is a very Special Talented Young Lady.   I sent it out yesterday to her out of town, maybe she will send me a picture of her wearing.

Knitting and Eye Issues

Knitting is a visual skill.   I pray next week I can keep knitting.  I have a eye appointment and my eyes have issues.   I have had it before, but I have kept knitting.  Knitting by the feel.  Yes, it is not easy but do you knit without looking at your work?  I can knit in the round without looking at knitting.  Yes, just plain knitting, no pattern work.  OK.  Boring.  Not really, it does calm oneself.  I have been working on many hats and patterns.  Yes, someday I will have them to offer.  Pattern writing takes time, takes lots of time.   Knitting today to enjoy life.   Knitting for others to give.   Have a great day!   Whats on your needles.

New Knittting to calm oneself

I have loved to knit since I was about 10...a long time.  It is my quiet place, my meditation, it calms me.  I heard today, so many people struggles with life, especially dealing with people, obligations and how hard it is to live these days and cope with it all.   How I do it....knitting.  Yep, it is calming, you are creating and relaxing.  I can not say enough, knitting owns me.   I love cables, bobbles and than fair-isle plus all the colors.   The  repeated stitches calms one inner self.  I can not watch tv unless I am knitting.  I go to a doctors office for myself or someone else, I need the knitting.

Are you knitting?

Are you knitting?  I am.  Not big projects, just hats and cowls with fingerless gloves.   Yes, knitting is the greatest relaxer.  Don't stop.  Enjoy what you are working on, don't let others comments ruin the fun.   I knit in lots of different places, I get lots of funny looks.  I hear often, oh, my Grandma use to do that.   Leave a message if you like.  Love to know what you are working on and are you making anything for the Holidays for gift giving.

Get a knitting.

Hugs. KaKnitter

Changes in Life

I dreamed I would do this and do it big.  Well, I fell flat on my face and still paying the price.  That was 11 years ago.  I am still picking up the pieces.  2005 also was the year my twin had a awful stroke after I closed the knit shop and embroidery shop.    She lived but life was changed.  Now, as I am a decade plus older, facing other crazy factors, I must change the way I live. My twin passed in 2014 from another stroke and picking up the pieces from that lost is so hard.  I still have passion for knitting and knit often.   My quilting is in the wings, debating of giving my fabric a new home plus my collection of machines.   I than have two monster Embroidery Machines, should I part ways with them?   Lots of decisions.    These are things, they are owning me, me not enjoying them.   I would never think I would be in this mode, but I must make decision.  Our house is tiny and no extra cash to build to make bigger, so things must go.  Little by little.

Knitting in Super Hot and Humid Weather

Yes, humidity is 70 percent...tropic..  This is Michigan.    

Hot, 80's and 90's.   Are you knitting? Quilting?

Yes and No.   I am working on patterns but the heat gets to me.  I have a window air conditioner, it helps but at times like these I organize.   I am working on cleaning and sorting.   No fun but has to be done.  What do you do in the Hot weather to keep cool.

Spring Cleaning

I admit, after 29 years in the same location things get collected.

I finally realized, I have a hard time getting things out of the house.  I lived through a house fire 40 years ago and lost all my material possessions.  Yep, every thing.  I thank God no life taken but that experience did something to me...I was 18.  OK  do the math...I am old.

Now I must deal with my collections.  I am giving, selling and cleaning out, I need to simplify.

I have so many lovely things, I will never use.  I purchased and now just taking up space in our small home.  My dear hubby is tired of it and has put up with it to long.  A major change must be done.

I am not getting any younger plus energy is running low.  It is a pain of getting old.  Yes, to super simplify. Truly focus on things that make you happy and things you enjoy.

Yes, spread joy, enjoy life.

Out of my Comfort Zone

I have been out of town helping a family member.  Totally out of my comfort zone.  I am making it through but not easy.   Please Hug the ones you love, give joy.  Time is so short for all and to be mean and toxic is not easy for anyone.  Please enjoy this day and spread joy in all you do.

Website is now working! wildwoodemb.com

Now we have a website!
  Wildwood Embroidery & Knit

FREE is Good

I found this website
http://tincanknits.com/patterns-free.html

http://tincanknits.com/patterns-free.html

Enjoy this Saturday, Knitting.  It is April but a snow storm is on our way...cuddle up and knit.

My Helper in Knitting

April 1st,,,No Joke casting on a Hat for Winter weather coming our way....
Grayson is my faithful friend and helper.   If you knit, you may have many 4 legged friends to help you.   Enjoy the day knitting!

Healthy again Hyperparathyroidism

When you have a health issue don't give up. I had primary hyperparathyroidism. Calcium taken from my bones into my blood because one or more of my 4 parathyroid glands went bad. Doctors here said nonthing to worry about with high calcium. Wrong. Does damage to heart, kidneys and brain. I sent tests to endocrinoligist surgeon at U of M, she told me you need surgery. I had surgery, a 4 gland hyperplasa, 3.5 gland parathyroidectomy, a bit of small tissue left behind to keep parathyroid functioning. I thank everyone for the prayers and thinking of me.  Now home, sore but healing with all your loving prayers.

Tuesday Delights in March Knitting Outside

Today it is suppose to get in the 60"s in temperature. Spring Summer can not get here soon enough!   Do you knit in Spring and Summer?  I do, I take walks at a local park, with lots of benches and look outs.  I sit and knit.  Enjoying the sounds of birds and watching wildlife.   It is so nice and calming.  I will venture out today if my hip, knee and back let me.  I hate living in pain and other health issues.  The simple joy of getting out and walking is a big thing to me.

Sample Hat Version One

I have been working on this Aran

Hat for several weeks.  I did it back and forth on needles.  I now am working on the pattern in the round on circular needles and double point needles.  I don't like the seam and usually the seam lands up in the front when people wear the hat, it looks awful.   So now this is version one, version two in the making.

I will be selling this pattern soon.  I will have major surgery in March, the bills are already coming in from tests that insurance and copays do not cover.  I am knitting to keep my fears away and not be so down.  I am a slow knitter, and I enjoy the process.

Yarn Cake Controversy

Controversy

noun, plural controversies.

1.

a prolonged public dispute, debate, or contention; disputation concerning a matter of opinion.

2.

contention, strife, or argument.

When I wind yarn cakes, I wind them slow and loose.  I do not wind cakes tight.  The yarn is beautiful and will knit beautiful.   Some say winding yarn and making a cake stretches the yarn.   I know first hand yarn cakes make knitting easy and fun when done slowly and loose.   I never wind tight, the cakes can sit for a long time, the winding does not hurt the yarn.

OK enough said.   Go out and Knit!!

Yarn Cakes are the best

I posted earlier today about yarn cakes, I can not say enough.  The yarn is so beautiful to work with.
I only work with Brown Sheep Yarn, made in the USA.  I love the idea that color here today will most likely be here tomorrow.  Many yarn companies buy their yarn overseas, when it gets here it takes months.   The colors come and go so fast....Brown Sheep Yarn changes it colors every season but leave the popular colors to know you can go back to again and again.  

I take the Brown Sheep Yarn and wind in Yarn Cakes by hand with a Jumbo Yarn Winder, I have had this for over 30 years....very reliable and does a great job.

So today I am working with White Frost, Color SWB11 in the Bulky Superwash.  I love the super wash for kids and adult items that I know will get hard wear.

Back to the needles.  Have a great Knit Day!

Yarn Cakes

Knitting, Crocheting, weaving and more.  Yarn cakes are my go to.

I will start selling yarn, only in cake form.  Why Yarn Cakes?  They save time, and you can create without having to work with tangle yarn.  The main love, they can be stacked and organize...yes organize.

They take time to make on yarn winder but worth the extra effort.  You can sit and knit without hassle plus be organized.

What Happen to You???

What Happened

OK OK, I have been a way to long.  Yes, I am knitting. Yes I am quilting.  Just some health issues have come up and totally has put me down.   I just started knitting Arans again and so happy to do so!

This is a pattern I am working on right now for a hat.   I am almost done, have redone several times to get the top right.  It is taking time but this morning I think I have it!!  How fitting, a snow storm is headed our way.

Yes, I have been put down to a crawl, it takes everything I can do to keep going and take care of just house.   I will have surgery March 18 and pray it helps.  I won't go into the boring details, just have not felt good for a long time and just thought it is old age, loosing my Twin, loosing my Mom and just happens.  NO.  I will go under the knife and recoup and back to Life!

Knitting is my Joy.  Knitting is something you can do anywhere.  Knitting helps at doctor appointments, Hospitals and any time you need to sit for a while and wait.

I have happy news.  I am working on patterns, to sell, need to pay the doctor and hospital bills.  I am dreaming of investing in a web cam so I can show you how I knit.  I have been knitting for over 50 years and find I get great results that many people ask me about all the time.

Have a great day!....back to knitting