tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12906626076067752592024-02-19T12:23:52.920-04:00East Coast KnitsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1290662607606775259.post-43626383206898784012012-09-25T23:08:00.001-03:002012-09-25T23:15:04.515-03:00Frasier's Mousey ToysIt's been a few weeks since my last update about Frasier. He is doing well but is now on medication (half a pill a day). He is continuing to gain weight and his test results are mostly good, except his urea and creatinine levels are still very high. So I give him half a pill every day, and in a few weeks I have to add a powder to his food. He will go back to the vet in a couple of months to see how he is doing.<br />
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The vet bills are still coming in and I've been very thankful at all the help I've received so far. This week though I finally started selling the knitted cat toys that I've been making all month. I'm calling them Frasier's Mousey Toys. They are mouse-like toys knit with wool or other yarn that I have in my stash. I made 20 to start and today at work I sold 14! 14! Can you believe it? I know more people at work want to buy some and I have friends in Halifax and in other provinces/states that want some too.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfY_EIpGd6-r4IrsDtAEzuJUN_48Xvc4qmwqdM8OQbBAhZpHnPWaVqh6Y3nXqEB1p3vNrAJVInYOqI2vxDVnw6Qa75voMTfCPfVP2KtyT2ibVdMtiaWFICHBommDz6gUyKwcJ9WoHPSZw/s1600/8021862105_c18abf7a66_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfY_EIpGd6-r4IrsDtAEzuJUN_48Xvc4qmwqdM8OQbBAhZpHnPWaVqh6Y3nXqEB1p3vNrAJVInYOqI2vxDVnw6Qa75voMTfCPfVP2KtyT2ibVdMtiaWFICHBommDz6gUyKwcJ9WoHPSZw/s640/8021862105_c18abf7a66_c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first twenty toys</td></tr>
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I made some with catnip and some without catnip. I will make more this week to keep up with the orders, and if you would like some please get in touch with me at eastcoastknits @ gmail dot com. Each mouse is $5, plus shipping if you are not local (I can give you an estimate with your postal/zip code). I am trying to keep the cost of these low, so though I have an Etsy store (currently closed) I am just selling them via word of mouth and to friends. People can pay through PayPal or email money transfer (the better option if you're in Canada).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/aymlis/8025132959/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="For size reference by catseatsocks, on Flickr"><img alt="For size reference" height="640" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8180/8025132959_ac8c7f1c6d_z.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This gives a good idea of how large the toys are</td></tr>
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If you send me an email, just tell me how many you want and whether you want your toys with catnip or without catnip (also if you have an colour preferences).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKR4ixxsSWw4V1ScASkTGxZ3pGgeK5hPGLgYV5I53zv5eMLGJvBQf179revslvq38rjDuBTkFONp8hw9t4ypweE_0VBULBflKVzDGT6zISEjZyyB9CsjiJGO3ZLb_WWIjPd8NcBcliW-8/s1600/IMG_20120909_194911.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKR4ixxsSWw4V1ScASkTGxZ3pGgeK5hPGLgYV5I53zv5eMLGJvBQf179revslvq38rjDuBTkFONp8hw9t4ypweE_0VBULBflKVzDGT6zISEjZyyB9CsjiJGO3ZLb_WWIjPd8NcBcliW-8/s400/IMG_20120909_194911.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frasier cuddling with me a few weeks ago</td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1290662607606775259.post-50541622389052514902012-09-06T23:26:00.001-03:002012-09-06T23:26:40.705-03:00More About Frasier<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This past Tuesday I took Frasier to the vet for a follow-up appointment. I was going to take him in on Friday but they thought sooner would be best, since he had spent most of the weekend at the emergency vet. </div>
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He is doing a lot better and has even gained some weight back. We don't know what caused his illness, since the culture that was sent to the lab came back negative. He didn't have an infection. and it's hard to say what else could have caused it. We just have to manage his kidney disease with low protein food, lots of water, and maybe some other medication or supplement if he needs it. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lounging on the back of the couch. Very relaxed.</td></tr>
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I am trying to give him a lot of wet food each day. I tried three different brands of prescription kidney diet food that the emergency vet sent home with me. He didn't like the first two but seems to like the third one, so that is good. He also has the kidney diet dry food that he likes as well. It's been a bit stressful trying to make sure he gets the right food, and enough, while also making sure Louis is fed too (suddenly Louis doesn't want to eat his regular food). Thankfully I live close to the vet so I can get this special food easily. I think I'm going to need two new jobs just to pay for the food ;)<br />
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I have to take Frasier back to the vet in about two weeks to make sure his health is improving. I hope by then I will start to feel better about this. I'm worried that he is going to get sick again. For now I just have to do my best to take care of him, and look for any signs of strange behaviour.<br />
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I still have some fundraising to do to help pay for his vet bills. I have had a few donations from friends, which is awesome! I plan to put more yarn for sale up on my Ravelry <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/Melly/stash/trade">stash page</a>, and am knitting a lot of catnip toys to sell (so far I only have mice carcasses). <br />
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That is all for now. I probably won't have any more updates for a while. But really I should get back to updating about my knitting on this blog!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1290662607606775259.post-26447430599682330262012-09-03T00:00:00.000-03:002012-09-03T13:36:21.452-03:00Frasier is Home<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I was able to pick up Frasier from the emergency vet tonight, thanks to my friend Julie. The ER vet is in Dartmouth and it would have been an expensive cab ride there and back, so I was glad I found someone to help us out. I've had to rely on a lot of help from friends over the past week. I definitely want to do something special to thank them when things are back to normal. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frasier on the back of the couch.</td></tr>
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The ER vet send me home with a bag of renal diet food and a few cans of wet food. I'll have to feed the cats separately from now on, which is going to be a challenge. I've always just free fed them, and Louis tends to eat a lot. I live in a small apartment, but I guess I could feed one cat in the bathroom while feeding the other cat in the kitchen area. Please feel free to pass on any advice you have about this issue, if you have it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkwLbUA6MzkwWdn1H8AOnBl4_YIOD2d1O6g9hie1YOQ3qZB6GfhLnxgch77-bpWvqm-APf3oV4VVj9H21ezX6XdpI32fn0lNtVtW_4cJPSuElIC_2K46vnEE0E8sg12aiIBJNSo5KHHew/s1600/IMG_20120902_222854.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkwLbUA6MzkwWdn1H8AOnBl4_YIOD2d1O6g9hie1YOQ3qZB6GfhLnxgch77-bpWvqm-APf3oV4VVj9H21ezX6XdpI32fn0lNtVtW_4cJPSuElIC_2K46vnEE0E8sg12aiIBJNSo5KHHew/s400/IMG_20120902_222854.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I will still need to followup with Frasier's regular vet. I'm not sure how much of a recovery he's going to make. Obviously I hope he lives for many years in relatively good health. I'm sure this experience has aged him somewhat.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pay attention to me now.</td></tr>
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Since he's been home he's been a bit restless, but he seems to be settling down. He's laying beside me on the couch right now. He was making biscuits, purring, and being his usual cute self. I can tell he's started gaining weight back. He's been drinking a lot but hasn't shown any interest in food, but maybe he's not hungry. Hopefully he likes the food the vet gave me since I have a whole bag of it. I will try to feed him again in the morning.<br />
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In case you're wondering about my other cat, Louis, he seems fine. I'm not sure if he missed Frasier being around or not, since he didn't behave differently. He's napping on the bed right now. </div>
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*Pictures taken on my cellphone. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1290662607606775259.post-40287500952588431522012-09-01T13:42:00.000-03:002012-09-14T20:02:06.691-03:00Get Well FrasierMy cat Frasier is one very sick kitty. The orange tabby you see in banner on this blog, that is Frasier. On Tuesday night I noticed he was acting very strange, and he felt like he had lost weight. Picking him up was like nothing, I saw him straining to use the litter box, and he would not come out of the shower. All he would do is lay in the shower in the <a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/catloaf">cat loaf</a> position, not sleeping, not purring, not meowing. I knew something was really wrong when he didn't even mind Louis, my other cat, being near him. Normally Frasier would growl, swat, or move away if Louis got too close.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Frasier being a bit silly.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTTkJeiThe9TRpTjD_rAYXEBjuLUjy6cdKnQK-4MnqGY8PwWsds3lOpGhvEcaRgU2NrdII8NAxMrMvQE-6VvVY7BshkVH4iKy5pl-J-fnc9_xfeG6xaBpZsv4fSJbXo9Bkoez595Af_S0/s1600/IMG_8254.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTTkJeiThe9TRpTjD_rAYXEBjuLUjy6cdKnQK-4MnqGY8PwWsds3lOpGhvEcaRgU2NrdII8NAxMrMvQE-6VvVY7BshkVH4iKy5pl-J-fnc9_xfeG6xaBpZsv4fSJbXo9Bkoez595Af_S0/s400/IMG_8254.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Frasier being sweet.</span></td></tr>
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I took him to the vet Wednesday morning, and he is still at the vet today (well the emergency vet actually, so they can treat him all weekend). A lot has happened and I've wanted to keep people up to date so I've been posting updates to Twitter and Facebook. I am going to use this blog to post updates now so that I can just post to one place, making it easier. For now, here is what has transpired, via my posts to Facebook. <br />
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<b>Wednesday, August 29, 9:51am:</b> </div>
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<i>So there's definitely something wrong with Frasier, keeping him at vet for tests and observation. It's going to cost like $400, which I don't have, plus whatever treatment. I am going back to work but I am barely keeping it together. I'm going to be unemployed in a month and I'm hungry and I missed my bus. :(</i> <br />
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<b>Wednesday, August 29, 7:13pm:</b> </div>
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<i>Frasier kitty is convalescing in his usual spot on the back of the couch. He does look a bit better. I will drop him off again tomorrow so they can continue giving him IV fluids, and more antibiotics. Plus when the test results come back from the lab they can act on it right away. He might have a parasite from the fleas they had earlier in the year (and were treated for). </i></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Frasier resting after a visit to the vet on Wednesday.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Frasier resting on my scraggly bedspread on Wednesday night.</span></td></tr>
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<b>Thursday, August 30, 6:35pm:</b><br />
<i>I'd like to provide an update on Frasier but it's hard because there is so much information. He does have a lot of kidney damage but it's hard to say what's caused it. I can't really think of any toxin that he could have ingested. For now his symptoms are being treated, and once he starts feeling better the Dr will know more about his future health. Frasier is only 5 and I'm not ready to give up hope. He is my person and I love him so much.</i></div>
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<b>Friday, August 31, 2:19pm:</b></div>
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<i>Update: Frasier is doing better, kidney values down, appetite back, mood improved. He's not out of the woods but this is good news. Not sure when I get to take him home but he'll probably spend a few more days at the ER vet this weekend.</i><br />
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<b>Friday, August 31, 5:42pm:</b><br />
<i>Update: Just got back from the vet and had a better conversation with the vet. Things are looking really good and the vet was really pleased with Frasier's progress. We still won't know how much of a recovery he'll make, but I am thrilled so far! I feel so much better and I bet Frasier does too. I didn't ask to see him; not sure if that's a normal thing that they allow. I do miss him but I think it's less stressful if I don't see him in that state.</i> <br />
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So that is where we stand today, Saturday. He is still at the vet and I am trying to come up with ways to pay for these vet bills. At this point I don't know what the total cost will be. It's more than the original $400 I thought it would be on Wednesday. A friend has loan me some money and I am trying to sell some things that I don't really need (yarn for one thing), but it's going to be tough to pay this off. If anyone wanted to make a contribution, even just a small amount, it would be greatly appreciated. I know there are a lot of pet lovers out there who understand what this is like. It's not like I spend my money on big screen TVs, fancy vacations, clothes. I really just hang out at home with my cats, see my friends here in Halifax, go to work, knit. I live a pretty simple life but my cats mean a lot to me.</div>
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You can contact me at <a href="mailto:eastcoastknits@gmail.com">eastcoastknits@gmail.com</a> about donating through PayPal or email money transfer. </div>
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I am going to make some catnip toys this weekend to sell to friends, and there has been talk of having a bake sale too, though I don't know how to organize that. </div>
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I will keep you posted on everything from here on out.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1290662607606775259.post-12006380426929579732012-07-29T18:05:00.000-03:002012-07-29T18:05:07.450-03:00Ravellenic Games 2012I have not updated this blog in more than a year. Sorry about that! I was looking at my Twitter profile, wondering if I should still have my blog listed there if I don't update it. So I decided to update it.<br />
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The Ravellenic Games 2012 are happening right now, in conjunction with the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. I have never participated before, but I decided to this time around. I have a lot of WIPs but I'm actually working on a fresh project.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/aymlis/7659900730/" title="Olympic Socks #1 by catseatsocks, on Flickr"><img alt="Olympic Socks #1" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8283/7659900730_27b1c869a5.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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Just a basic pair of socks, toe up with a gusset heel. This yarn is Lion Brand Sock-Ease, which I chose because it just happened to be close at hand (my stash is a bit disorganized right now). This project is entered into the Sock Put competition. The above photo shows where I was when I went to bed Friday night. I would have been further along but I got distracted by the opening ceremonies.<br />
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Saturday afternoon this happened.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/aymlis/7663714150/" title="First casualty of the games by catseatsocks, on Flickr"><img alt="First casualty of the games" height="322" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7264/7663714150_20d7f525fc.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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My Knitpicks circular needle broke, and when I went to dig out my other pair, they were broken in the same way. I managed to find another pair of circular needles in the 2.25mm size so I didn't have to switch to DPNs (I tend to break wooden ones).<br />
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Today I have started the gusset for the sock and hope to get the heel turned before I go to bed. I'm not sure how much knitting I'll get in during the week since I have to work all day, but I will at least get some time in during the evening.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1290662607606775259.post-31387570041719989612011-06-19T19:36:00.000-03:002011-06-19T19:36:04.110-03:00Twitter KAL: 198 Yards of HeavenWe have chosen our project, <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/198-yds-of-heaven">198 Yards of Heaven</a> by Christy Verity. I can't decide which yarn to use though. It calls for either worsted or aran and I do have lots of that in my stash, but I need something that will look good with lace. Something in a solid or semi-solid would be best. I was going to use the Berroco Lustra I bought recently but I planned to use the grey and blue together for something stripy and I don't think 198 Yards of Heaven is it.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/aymlis/5701230199/" title="Berroco Lustra in "Louvre" by catseatsocks, on Flickr"><img alt="Berroco Lustra in "Louvre"" height="180" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5141/5701230199_70f3fa8871_m.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/aymlis/5701237891/" title="Berroco Lustra in "Montmartre" by catseatsocks, on Flickr"><img alt="Berroco Lustra in "Montmartre"" height="180" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2294/5701237891_200f7e700f_m.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Berroco Lustra.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">I could use this Patons Classic Wool but I think all the different colours would obscure the lace, plus it has pink in it. I don't really wear pink and I'm too selfish to knit this shawl for someone else.<br />
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</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/aymlis/3893624359/" title="Patons Classic Wool Merino by catseatsocks, on Flickr"><img alt="Patons Classic Wool Merino" height="375" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2494/3893624359_234a0d33e8.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
Patons Classic Wool<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">I do have other yarns but I have things ear marked and don't want to use them for this project. Oh and no, I can't buy any more yarn so it has to be from the stash. That's just the way it is. Maybe this dark green single ply. It's aran weight and I have 218 yards. </div></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/aymlis/3854188858/" title="Ístex Létt-Lopi by catseatsocks, on Flickr"><img alt="Ístex Létt-Lopi" height="500" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2612/3854188858_4f7eb4812f.jpg" width="375" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Ístex Létt-Lopi<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">I guess this is why it's bad to buy so many single skeins, because they are often not enough for a project, or too much for a project. I have a lot of sock yarn though.</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1290662607606775259.post-85971151985835024272011-06-18T03:17:00.004-03:002011-06-18T19:38:42.069-03:00Twitter Knit AlongI wanted to do a knit along with some friends but we are not sure what we want to make. My idea was a summery scarf/shawl type thing. So here are some patterns we like and photos that I found (I used Flickr's share feature, so if your picture is here but you don't want it to be, I'll take it down. Also you might want to disable the sharing feature on Flickr if you don't want your photos to be shareable.)<br />
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Yes that is my Clapotis. I do want to make another one some day but planning to use alpaca.<br />
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<table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="page-break-before: always; width: 676px;"><colgroup><col width="143"></col> <col width="515"></col> </colgroup><tbody>
<tr valign="TOP"> <td width="143">1. <a href="http://knitty.com/ISSUEspring06/PATTconvertible.html">Convertible</a></td><td width="515"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: navy;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/msjones166/225351408/"><span style="color: navy;"><img align="BOTTOM" border="2" height="375" name="graphics1" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/63/225351408_f1197db66d.jpg" width="500" /></span></a></span></td> </tr>
<tr valign="TOP"> <td width="143">2. <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/springtime-bandit">Spring</a><br />
<div class="western"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/springtime-bandit"> Time Bandit</a></div></td> <td width="515"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: navy;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/44250962@N03/5776002696/"><span style="color: navy;"><img align="BOTTOM" border="2" height="332" name="graphics2" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2015/5776002696_655bfe7e59.jpg" width="500" /></span></a></span></td> </tr>
<tr valign="TOP"> <td width="143">3. <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/leda">Leda</a></td> <td width="515"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: navy;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sparklesunited/4591080931/"><span style="color: navy;"><img align="BOTTOM" border="2" height="500" name="graphics3" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3328/4591080931_e9bd19e73f.jpg" width="375" /></span></a></span></td></tr>
<tr valign="TOP"><td width="143">4. <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/annis">Annis</a></td> <td width="515"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: navy;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/bookgrump/5791752103/"><span style="color: navy;"><img align="BOTTOM" border="2" height="332" name="graphics4" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5265/5791752103_882825d914.jpg" width="500" /></span></a></span></td> </tr>
<tr valign="TOP"> <td width="143">5. <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/198-yds-of-heaven">198</a><br />
<div class="western"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/198-yds-of-heaven"> Yards of Heaven</a></div></td> <td width="515"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: navy;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54308618@N07/5751298816/"><span style="color: navy;"><img align="BOTTOM" border="2" height="375" name="graphics5" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2010/5751298816_638fb16e87.jpg" width="500" /></span></a></span></td> </tr>
<tr valign="TOP"> <td width="143">6. <a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEfall04/PATTclapotis.html">Clapotis</a></td> <td width="515"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: navy;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/aymlis/136582284/"><span style="color: navy;"><img align="BOTTOM" border="2" height="414" name="graphics6" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/51/136582284_1cafe63b6c.jpg" width="500" /></span></a></span></td> </tr>
<tr valign="TOP"> <td width="143">7. <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/slipped-rib-scarf">Slipped Rib Scarf</a></td> <td width="515"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: navy;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22523442@N07/3529291186/"><span style="color: navy;"><img align="BOTTOM" border="2" height="375" name="graphics7" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3606/3529291186_c35442f57e.jpg" width="500" /></span></a></span></td> </tr>
<tr valign="TOP"> <td width="143">8. <a href="http://throughtheloops.typepad.com/designs/2009/06/la.html">Lavalette</a></td> <td width="515"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: navy;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46112170@N08/5816015792/"><span style="color: navy;"><img align="BOTTOM" border="2" height="500" name="graphics8" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2341/5816015792_cb40ed0bed.jpg" width="375" /></span></a></span></td> </tr>
<tr valign="TOP"> <td width="143">9. <a href="http://yummyyarn.indus3ous.com/archives/knit/shawls/simple_yarn_over/">Simple</a><br />
<div class="western"><a href="http://yummyyarn.indus3ous.com/archives/knit/shawls/simple_yarn_over/"> Yarn-Over Shawl</a></div></td> <td width="515"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: navy;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/23303174@N06/3673901353/"><span style="color: navy;"><img align="BOTTOM" border="2" height="375" name="graphics9" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2617/3673901353_efdc32c7fa.jpg" width="500" /></span></a></span></td> </tr>
<tr valign="TOP"> <td width="143">10. <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/mizzle">Mizzle</a></td> <td width="515"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: navy;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9122508@N06/5747234759/"><span style="color: navy;"><img align="BOTTOM" border="2" height="315" name="graphics10" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2618/5747234759_f81cc35283.jpg" width="500" /></span></a></span></td> </tr>
<tr valign="TOP"> <td width="143">11. <a href="http://www.straw.com/cpy/patterns2/accessories/MMochi-Shawlette.html">Mini</a><br />
<div class="western"><a href="http://www.straw.com/cpy/patterns2/accessories/MMochi-Shawlette.html"> Mochi Shawl</a></div></td> <td width="515"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: navy;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28657554@N05/4122059737/"><span style="color: navy;"><img align="BOTTOM" border="2" height="375" name="graphics11" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2788/4122059737_bc4e2222bd.jpg" width="500" /></span></a></span></td> </tr>
<tr valign="TOP"> <td width="143">13. <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dora-2">Dora</a></td> <td width="515">I couldn't find an easily shareable pic of this one but you can see it if you click on the link. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1290662607606775259.post-63896226573125537272011-06-05T22:36:00.004-03:002011-06-14T17:14:49.775-03:00Live in Halifax and want to learn how to knit?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKPZW_wsUD0c5pbU7BzQ7zpNwL2BBC9RURuMuCw-tkub3BH2Q6BsNDx308SZzzdIUnvDkVxgqWKJFfrrnLTOVraiKcnXLtBfzB6cEheK312e2A8XCKX6dglq5JvWCYtHs8M9MyewGtdGc/s1600/fbandetsyICONeastcoastknits.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" id=":current_picnik_image" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKPZW_wsUD0c5pbU7BzQ7zpNwL2BBC9RURuMuCw-tkub3BH2Q6BsNDx308SZzzdIUnvDkVxgqWKJFfrrnLTOVraiKcnXLtBfzB6cEheK312e2A8XCKX6dglq5JvWCYtHs8M9MyewGtdGc/s200/fbandetsyICONeastcoastknits.png" width="200" /></a>Take my survey and you could win free yarn!<br />
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Please take the survey titled "Survey to Assist in Development of a Beginning Knitter Workshop". Your feedback is important!<br />
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<strike>Click here to take survey</strike> Survey now closed.<br />
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I will keep you all updated on the knitting lessons once I am ready to start teaching, which will be soon.<br />
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Thank you very much!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1290662607606775259.post-38570475798294831162011-04-18T17:21:00.001-03:002011-04-18T21:10:19.279-03:00I have some free timeHappy Monday! <br />
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I have some free time coming up this weekend as it's Easter and I am going to New Brunswick to see my family. I take the bus up and it's a 7 hour ride. It kind of sucks but I'm used to it since I've lived in Nova Scotia for almost 10 years. The plan is to go up on Thursday and come back on Monday. I am really looking forward to getting out of the city and seeing my family and friends back home.<br />
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A few years ago I knit a pair of socks over the long weekend. I cast on when my friend picked me up in her car and finished on the bus ride coming back on Easter Monday. I'm thinking about doing that again, but not sure I want to make another pair of socks. Don't get me wrong, I love knitting socks but have other things I'd like to knit. Plus my sock drawer is overflowing ;)<br />
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Here are my choices:<br />
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<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/aquaphobia-socks">Aquaphobia Socks</a> using Knit Picks Stroll Hand-Painted.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcfEOFo6Nk6Fw3eVQTFQjRKV8Eh_UUoT-ZMCTMgAhgNB42H3O1cRbkI-Dn1L4T6iuslbwSAfRqNXlSTbc-e4TufXkQx_C71M9KUjgAIGGR2nVFQ-03v5cVZ-GbXZITwPBpNMxil0w-dRc/s1600/IMG_7352b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcfEOFo6Nk6Fw3eVQTFQjRKV8Eh_UUoT-ZMCTMgAhgNB42H3O1cRbkI-Dn1L4T6iuslbwSAfRqNXlSTbc-e4TufXkQx_C71M9KUjgAIGGR2nVFQ-03v5cVZ-GbXZITwPBpNMxil0w-dRc/s320/IMG_7352b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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A mini shawl that would be a combo of either <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/la-las-simple-shawl-english">La La's Simple Shawl</a> or <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/gaia-shoulder-hug-axelvarmare">Gaia Shoulder Hug</a>. I have some Lovit Bison and some handspun merino that I plan to combine to make something nice. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPN34V8l4Qx4OauFu10EvU9wCqK_oZFMg2OvbjYBWqzKL7A_M8Vu-1tq6NCUs_knEsGcADPzVPqrMmSb-yUkFParFF5qDZKkQNSe73MT9vChho4f9EgH1sQrl_4OvWG_x2QdIpbVsXMWY/s1600/IMG_2982-2b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPN34V8l4Qx4OauFu10EvU9wCqK_oZFMg2OvbjYBWqzKL7A_M8Vu-1tq6NCUs_knEsGcADPzVPqrMmSb-yUkFParFF5qDZKkQNSe73MT9vChho4f9EgH1sQrl_4OvWG_x2QdIpbVsXMWY/s320/IMG_2982-2b.jpg" width="240" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNSyUG9uM64k8Nl4uGd6bFNbOBm0bIe9h96YkczswTdznDvdGytT7LQj6hwyrloB-vX52RJIQ-hL1a6vupjedRhyN42-pOQyk0FIvKOZHVy4A_YQlQFVb7P5QK6Hhz26kLTG__MZY-AB8/s1600/IMG_0519b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNSyUG9uM64k8Nl4uGd6bFNbOBm0bIe9h96YkczswTdznDvdGytT7LQj6hwyrloB-vX52RJIQ-hL1a6vupjedRhyN42-pOQyk0FIvKOZHVy4A_YQlQFVb7P5QK6Hhz26kLTG__MZY-AB8/s320/IMG_0519b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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I also have 3 scarves and a pair of mittens hibernating, though the mittens don't really interest me much. So I could work on one of those scarves instead of the above projects.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1290662607606775259.post-75040754615188857332011-04-03T22:36:00.000-03:002011-04-03T22:36:40.775-03:00Day #7: Your knitting and crochet time.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://eskimimiknits.com/knitting-and-crochet-blog-week-2011/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicR-1frtC6qj-VhvKd9AHTRI0aqEqx7bLFf7R58_XlenLB4HrdjMcjMIhjbOquyEeZb61KBRoEoZKQQ_92Jd1wV1KJwslJOZAPGY0RNgxessKXO3i65-uvyHAucMbU9i11lJ8ggDlEazE/s1600/5564091325_6482a01988_o.gif" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I mostly craft at home, sitting in the same spot on my couch. There is often a tv on as well as my Macbook on my lap :P Plus a kitty or two nearby (or sometimes directly on the yarn *cough* Louis *cough*). Sometimes I don't feel like knitting though, so my knitting might sit there for days. I can lose my mojo once in a while. I don't normally have snacks while I'm knitting, because then my fingers get dirty and that's a problem. Though I do often drink coffee while I knit, or some other beverage if I am thirsty.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/aymlis/5242752865/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Sock Snuggler by catseatsocks, on Flickr"><img alt="Sock Snuggler" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5002/5242752865_6b8ea61f11.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Louis</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When I'm really tired or just not feeling well I tend not to knit much. I also can't knit while watching a movie with subtitles. I pay fairly close attention to my needles and it's too hard to knit and read the subtitles at the same time. Usually I am just watching whatever happens to be on the 3 channels I get. Occasionally I'll listen to an audio book while knitting.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/aymlis/3952559021/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Frasier cozy-ups to my mittens. by catseatsocks, on Flickr"><img alt="Frasier cozy-ups to my mittens." height="375" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2669/3952559021_f377835acb.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frasier</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I do try to always have a plain sock on the go so I can shove that in my purse and always have knitting with me when I am out. I find even if I do have some free time, like when on the bus, I still don't get out my sock though. Sometimes I'm just not in the mood to knit, or my hands aren't free because I'm carrying home my groceries on the bus. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One thing I've found is that if I'm hanging out with some friends to knit, I never get much knitting done. This could be for different reasons. Sometimes I'm just so chatty that I can't talk and pay attention to my knitting at the same time. I also tend to talk with my hands. Other times I've just had a beer or two and realize I should probably quit while I'm ahead before I totally ruin my knitting.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">--</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And with that, Knitting and Crochet Blog Week comes to a close. It's been fun! I still have a lot of blog posts from everyone else that I want to read. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1290662607606775259.post-75243811067717733992011-04-02T22:03:00.000-03:002011-04-02T22:03:36.864-03:00Day #6: Something to aspire to.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://eskimimiknits.com/knitting-and-crochet-blog-week-2011/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicR-1frtC6qj-VhvKd9AHTRI0aqEqx7bLFf7R58_XlenLB4HrdjMcjMIhjbOquyEeZb61KBRoEoZKQQ_92Jd1wV1KJwslJOZAPGY0RNgxessKXO3i65-uvyHAucMbU9i11lJ8ggDlEazE/s1600/5564091325_6482a01988_o.gif" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In 2008 I went to Norway and saw a lot of really pretty stranded colourwork sweaters. I didn't buy one though because they were quite expensive, plus I figured I could try to knit my own some day. I haven't done any intricate colourwork yet and would love to knit a pretty sweater of my own some day, or maybe something else like a hat or a pair of socks.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/aymlis/5583750246/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="My creation by catseatsocks, on Flickr"><img alt="My creation" height="251" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5054/5583750246_4342020263.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norwegian Knits</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I also want to make a super cozy Aran sweater, which shouldn't be too hard since I really like knitting cables. And of course lace! I don't have any specific project in mind, but I want to knit myself a nice lace shawl someday. I might start with some of the more simple patterns and work my way up. That seems to be how I like to learn new skills.<br />
<br />
I've had a super long weekend already from being in my continuing education course last night and all day today. I am tired! I might even go to bed before midnight.<br />
<br />
If you haven't had a chance to check out my <a href="http://eastcoastknits.blogspot.com/2011/04/day-5-and-now-for-something-completely.html">last post</a>, please do. I ask readers about their experience taking knitting or crochet classes.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1290662607606775259.post-62003952632359871082011-04-01T16:55:00.002-03:002011-04-01T17:16:52.301-03:00Day #5: And now for something completely different.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://eskimimiknits.com/knitting-and-crochet-blog-week-2011/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicR-1frtC6qj-VhvKd9AHTRI0aqEqx7bLFf7R58_XlenLB4HrdjMcjMIhjbOquyEeZb61KBRoEoZKQQ_92Jd1wV1KJwslJOZAPGY0RNgxessKXO3i65-uvyHAucMbU9i11lJ8ggDlEazE/s1600/5564091325_6482a01988_o.gif" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/aymlis/5579890259/" title="Nor'easter by catseatsocks, on Flickr"><img alt="Nor'easter" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5301/5579890259_9c05409295.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><br />
Today is a rotten day weather wise. I have to go out in it tonight because I am taking a continuing education course which only takes place one weekend a month. So I've been busy today doing my readings and getting prepared for tonight's class. Not much time to do much else, plus it has been so cold in my apartment I've spent most of the day buried under blankets and kitties.<br />
<br />
I've written about my course before. I am doing my final project on knitting because I didn't really have anything else to do it on. Not like I'm complaining. I'm not the only person in the course whose topic is on their extra-curricular activities. I'm self-taught knitter but I know some people have taken knitting or crochet courses at their local yarn store, community group, college or craft school. So I thought I might try a little discussion about one-on-one or group knitting and crochet instruction.<br />
<br />
Question: If you've taken a knitting or crochet class in the past, what worked and what didn't work about the class?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1290662607606775259.post-61499222034717684862011-03-31T20:31:00.001-03:002011-03-31T21:38:59.368-03:00Day #4: Where are they now?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://eskimimiknits.com/knitting-and-crochet-blog-week-2011/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicR-1frtC6qj-VhvKd9AHTRI0aqEqx7bLFf7R58_XlenLB4HrdjMcjMIhjbOquyEeZb61KBRoEoZKQQ_92Jd1wV1KJwslJOZAPGY0RNgxessKXO3i65-uvyHAucMbU9i11lJ8ggDlEazE/s1600/5564091325_6482a01988_o.gif" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Today we are looking back on projects from the past to see how they've held up over the years. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've been thinking about this topic all day and having a hard time coming up with something to write about. I've knitted a lot of things over the years but couldn't really think of anything in particular I wanted to write about. I looked back to the knitting I did when I first started out, which was late in 2004.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When my sister was pregnant with her first in 2005 I decided to knit her a baby blanket. I went to Wal-Mart (I know right?) and picked out some Bernat Harmony in a sage green colour. I didn't know much about yarn then but figured I needed something washable. Harmony isn't listed on Bernat's website anymore, but there are some pictures of other people's stashes on <a href="http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=bernat+harmony">Flickr</a>. As you can see from those photos it is a somewhat textured yarn. I worked on the baby blanket on the bus and while at work (I worked in a call centre at the time and we could knit between calls). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When the blanket was finished I thought it was really ugly and felt embarrassed to give it to my sister. So off I went to Lewiscraft, a now defunct craft store, and bought 4 balls of a Bernat worsted weight acrylic in pale yellow. I had probably less than a week at this point to start and finish another blanket before the baby shower on Easter Sunday. I worked, worked, worked on that blanket right up until the last minute. I thought I was going to run out of yarn but I just made it. I gave it to my sister at the baby shower and she seemed really happy about it. I ended up giving her the other blanket too, even though I thought it was ugly. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/aymlis/2673103614/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Gracie's Baby Blanket #1 by catseatsocks, on Flickr"><img alt="Gracie's Baby Blanket #1" height="361" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3222/2673103614_5d48834c9c.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The second baby blanket I knit that year</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
My sister gave birth to a baby girl in April of that year and over the years I wondered if she had used the blankets. I never saw them around when my niece was just a baby. Well a few years ago I was staying at my sister's house for a few days over the summer and we were sitting outside. My niece was 4 years old and out she comes from the house with the ugly green blanket! I couldn't believe it but apparently that was her favourite "blankie" and she did lug it around the house all the time. In that moment I felt really proud that my niece chose the ugly blanket to be her favourite. My sister tells me both blankets are still around. My niece uses them with her dolls or my sister covers up my nephew when he's cold.<br />
<br />
I know now that there are other options for knitting baby blankets aside from just acrylic. I'm not going to knock others for using it, as it is very washable. However there are also lots of good cottons and superwash wools to chose from, as well as some really nice blend yarns.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1290662607606775259.post-24740496277142859272011-03-30T19:32:00.000-03:002011-03-30T19:32:28.986-03:00Day #3: Tidy mind, tidy stitches.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://eskimimiknits.com/knitting-and-crochet-blog-week-2011/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicR-1frtC6qj-VhvKd9AHTRI0aqEqx7bLFf7R58_XlenLB4HrdjMcjMIhjbOquyEeZb61KBRoEoZKQQ_92Jd1wV1KJwslJOZAPGY0RNgxessKXO3i65-uvyHAucMbU9i11lJ8ggDlEazE/s1600/5564091325_6482a01988_o.gif" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Today's topic is on how we keep our yarn and associated items organized.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/aymlis/5575401704/" title="For Knitting and Crochet Blog Week Day 3 by catseatsocks, on Flickr"><img alt="For Knitting and Crochet Blog Week Day 3" height="357" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5141/5575401704_248c98f0a9.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My yarn, tools, and patterns are organized fairly simply. I long for the day when I have an actual craft room or even a spare bedroom so I can keep everything in a place that is not my own bedroom.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">All of my yarn is in 3 plastic storage bins. Two of those are under the bed bins, but they don't actually fit under my bed (they did in my last apartment). See I have carpeting and the bed frame sinks into the carpet, making it a tight squeeze to get the bins under. I can do it but it takes a lot of shoving and pushing, and then they are really hard to get out again. So for now they are just on the floor, up against a wall in my bedroom. The other bin can fit up in my closet but it just sits on top of the other bins for easier access. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/aymlis/5575485818/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="For Knitting and Crochet Blog Week Day 3 by catseatsocks, on Flickr"><img alt="For Knitting and Crochet Blog Week Day 3" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5095/5575485818_b1a91cc161.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yarn in my messy bedroom.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The yarn is sort of organized by weight, but I had so many skeins around everywhere that I had to shove the yarn in whatever bin it would fit. One bin has mostly lighter weight yarns, the other has the heavier yarns, and the other bin has the overflow and all the yarn leftovers. The tote bags have some more yarn, spinning fibre, and finished items that need to be blocked. Basically those bags hold stuff that doesn't fit anywhere else.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Anything I'm currently working on sits in a tote bag from the liquor store, and it's beside the couch. There's also a magazine basket bin thing that I put projects in, and that also holds tools that are too big for my "toolbox" (things like sock blockers, ball winder). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/aymlis/5575474868/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="For Knitting and Crochet Blog Week Day 3 by catseatsocks, on Flickr"><img alt="For Knitting and Crochet Blog Week Day 3" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5179/5575474868_e245f1d647.jpg" width="375" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Liquor store tote bag with a broken handle.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My "toolbox" is a sewing box I got for Christmas one year (thanks mom!). I have a sewing machine, but I don't use it, so I started using the box for all my knitting tools. It also sits by the couch in the living room and it's great. I like that it has a magnetic clasp so the cats stay out out if. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/aymlis/5575479742/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="For Knitting and Crochet Blog Week Day 3 by catseatsocks, on Flickr"><img alt="For Knitting and Crochet Blog Week Day 3" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5261/5575479742_5cb5a2eb49.jpg" width="375" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Knitting toolbox.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I don't have a lot of pattern books or magazines, but they are on a tall bookshelf in the living room also. The knitting books don't even take up a whole shelf. Any patterns I print off are in a big zippered 5-Star binder I've had since high school, organized by category. That binder is getting full so one day I will have to expand. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/aymlis/5574897303/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="For Knitting and Crochet Blog Week Day 3 by catseatsocks, on Flickr"><img alt="For Knitting and Crochet Blog Week Day 3" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5063/5574897303_84bc060493.jpg" width="375" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small collection of craft books.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Of course like many others I use Ravelry to it's fullest to help me organize everything a little better. It's the best thing ever! As well as Flickr to store my photos and a folder system on my Macbook for each year which contains a folder named Knitting for that year's projects. </div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/aymlis/5574856673/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="For Knitting and Crochet Blog Week Day 3 by catseatsocks, on Flickr"><img alt="For Knitting and Crochet Blog Week Day 3" height="275" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5023/5574856673_b7c655acc8.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My ravelry profile page. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1290662607606775259.post-5385086290433014622011-03-29T23:47:00.002-03:002011-03-30T00:54:06.405-03:00Day #2: Skill + 1UP.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://eskimimiknits.com/knitting-and-crochet-blog-week-2011/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicR-1frtC6qj-VhvKd9AHTRI0aqEqx7bLFf7R58_XlenLB4HrdjMcjMIhjbOquyEeZb61KBRoEoZKQQ_92Jd1wV1KJwslJOZAPGY0RNgxessKXO3i65-uvyHAucMbU9i11lJ8ggDlEazE/s1600/5564091325_6482a01988_o.gif" /></a></div><br />
Today I'm going to look back on my last year of projects and see how much my skill level has changed. Honestly? I don't think I've improved a whole lot over the past year. I like to knit a variety of projects but I feel like a intermediate knitter still. Sure some day I'd like to knit more sweaters, intricate lace shawls, or some really pretty colourwork, but in the meantime I'm fine with knitting cables and lots of socks ;)<br />
<br />
Speaking of socks, I love knitting them! One thing I've noticed is my sock knitting has changed as I learn new techniques and what I like best. You wouldn't think there are so many different ways to knit socks, but there are. I started out knitting socks from the cuff down on DPNs but now I usually knit them now toe-up up with magic loop.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/aymlis/5572485549/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="My creation by catseatsocks, on Flickr"><img alt="My creation" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5025/5572485549_e0a2092163.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two pairs of socks </td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><br />
The purple socks on the left are knit toe-up on magic loop with <a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEspring06/FEATmagiccaston.html">Judy's Magic Cast-on</a> and a short-row heel. I used to knit a short-row toe as well, using the crochet cast-on, but I changed that in 2010. The orange socks on the right are my first pair of finished socks in 2011 and I think slightly improved over the ones on the left. I used to really like doing a short row toe and heel but I decided to give Judy's Magic Cast-on a second try. The gusset and slip-stitch heel does take longer but I got find this new way of doing socks fits my feet better. Plus a slip-stitch heel is thicker and more durable.<br />
<br />
So I guess my sock knitting has improved slightly. I pride myself in being able to knit a pair of socks that fit my feet and other people's feet as well! I would like to start doing some sock knitting that features colourwork that is more complicated than stripes. I certainly have lots of sock yarn in the stash so maybe that's something I will try soon. By the way, I have knit myself 22 pairs of socks, though one of those pairs have been frogged and half-way reknit (my current wip, <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Melly/universal-toe-up-sock-formula-7">Bad Day Socks</a> on Ravelry).<br />
<br />
One new thing I tried toward the end of last year was knitting a hat with colourwork. The hat was part of a two part gift for a <a href="http://www.lauramadethis.com/index.html">friend</a> that designed the logo for my Etsy shop and Facebook fan page. Actually the gift wasn't so much of a gift as a trade for her services ;) Her son loves Mario Brothers so I tried to knit a hat featuring the mushroom from the popular video game series. It was somewhat of a fail. Actually a big fail as far as I was concerned. I didn't know how to properly carry the yarn and it was a big tight mess. I decided to put it away and work on it again after Christmas, but didn't pick it up until the new year.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/aymlis/5573138092/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="My creation by catseatsocks, on Flickr"><img alt="My creation" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5268/5573138092_4f81a4840b.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A hat gone terribly wrong</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/aymlis/5521249707/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Power Up! by catseatsocks, on Flickr"><img alt="Power Up!" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5297/5521249707_f0a1192212.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Much better</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The final hat was much nicer and enjoyed by both my friend and her son. I looked at a lot of tutorials on Youtube on how to carry floats until I found one that made sense to me. I also decided to knit with only 2 accent colours instead of 3, and I put the mushrooms closer together so there would be less blue space in between each. My gauge was much better this time too. I would like to make some more fun projects like this, and I think it's a good way to use up all that leftover yarn. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">As far as the rest of 2011 goes, most of what's on my needles right now are fairly basic projects. I'm not really into challenging myself a lot when it comes to knitting. If I like something, I will make it. Sometimes I have to do some research to learn a new technique which is a lot easier to do today with so many tutorials on Youtube. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">One thing I am excited about these days is spinning. I have a drop spindle and have spun 4 items so far. I have a very small fibre stash and plan to work on that skill this year. Even one of my friends has asked me to spin up a batt for her, once I feel more confident about it.</div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/aymlis/4246750750/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="My first handspun by catseatsocks, on Flickr"><img alt="My first handspun" height="375" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4039/4246750750_42db2fb9fc.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first handspun</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh21ZWxZ-a2AE3WMVhZs13PeXRFxCRP0tKBrATwHPdG7KOyYy1UOd1IjwY4cGKwqQ6J4YNZN1kCTDNGr7g2EbB0Y6TfJoIfNmiWHOdLKxLT4pAwtyCFKlg6x5tX5NMOwkeQWLtv8jt5DeU/s1600/IMG_2982-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh21ZWxZ-a2AE3WMVhZs13PeXRFxCRP0tKBrATwHPdG7KOyYy1UOd1IjwY4cGKwqQ6J4YNZN1kCTDNGr7g2EbB0Y6TfJoIfNmiWHOdLKxLT4pAwtyCFKlg6x5tX5NMOwkeQWLtv8jt5DeU/s1600/IMG_2982-2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Most recent handspun, nicer than it looks</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1290662607606775259.post-62009598274861376652011-03-28T19:14:00.013-03:002011-03-30T00:55:50.320-03:00Day #1: A Tale of Two Yarns.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://eskimimiknits.com/knitting-and-crochet-blog-week-2011/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_cNPvtF2rufpcveFwBDg-A3bLZgjwjIYW0x69GYYet_QwywrZXI2uI6lISGfCFeFRX-wgzjJRkX3nQ_Rlr_wBC0R-YCeNMQdmB-WE8BuX0MASjs78wWSdbpwducilR3E8LeOHmCZZkDA/s1600/5564091325_6482a01988_o.gif" /></a></div><br />
Did you know that this week is the second annual <a href="http://eskimimiknits.com/knitting-and-crochet-blog-week-2011/">Knitting and Crochet Blog Week</a>? I didn't! I only found out about it at around 3am this morning (I'm a night owl). Every day this week knitting and crochet bloggers will be writing blog entries on the same topics. You can see the above link for more info if you want to join along. I missed day 1 but apparently that is ok. The topic for day 1 is A Tale of Two Yarns.<br />
<br />
One of my favourite yarns is very near and dear to my heart. <a href="http://www.briggsandlittle.com/wool/">Briggs and Little</a> is a yarn company from Harvey, New Brunswick, about 50 minutes east of Fredericton, NB (my home town). This company has been around for over 150 years and has always been in the same spot, even though the mill has burned down 4 times. Both my grandmother and mother knitted with Briggs and Little yarns and now I do too.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/aymlis/2644359858/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Briggs & Little by catseatsocks, on Flickr"><img alt="Briggs & Little" height="375" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3031/2644359858_7e5798770d.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Briggs & Little Woolen Mills</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div>They make a variety of yarns in different weights and in a lot of colours. You can buy the yarn in many local yarn stores in Canada and the US. I have been lucky enough to go to the outlet store a few times, where all the yarn is sold at a discount. Unfortunately I've never had a tour of the mill as I've only visited in the summer and the mill is closed then.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/aymlis/5572886188/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="My creation by catseatsocks, on Flickr"><img alt="My creation" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5028/5572886188_dc7bf3ce0a.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Briggs & Little Yarn</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I love this yarn because it reminds me of home and my history. It's very durable, rustic and great for so many projects. I've made heavy socks, thrummed mittens, felted bowls, and a laptop bag. I have plans to make many other things with Briggs and Little yarn. It can be a bit rough on the hands and sometimes contains a bit of vegetable matter, but that really doesn't bother me. This yarn softens up a lot after washing as well.<br />
<br />
One yarn that I want to love but more just like is <a href="http://blueskyalpacas.com/yarns/worsted-cotton/">Blue Sky Alpacas Dyed Cotton.</a> I first bought this yarn when searching for something to make a hat for a vegan friend. I loved the feel and colours of this yarn, but it was a bit of a pain to knit with. It sheds, breaks easily and doesn't stand up to frogging or tinking if you make a mistake or need to rework something.<br />
<br />
I did finish the hat for my friend but I don't know how it's held up over the years. I made a baby sweater for my nephew with the yarn leftover from that hat and another skein I picked up on clearance at a LYS.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0mPh0b1PssbnQeWiZ0GjRwbJ2SMi_JkMD_x56RoSY-qUg1IFkRvflsIh0BU9MmkDr7xekN2BioLNCrijvDBMnLu2kHtk2vHCosVWpdV9WviqKhZ1iZ4VvQTRJYwVHm1-rTFKXJfupjg/s1600/IMG_6417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0mPh0b1PssbnQeWiZ0GjRwbJ2SMi_JkMD_x56RoSY-qUg1IFkRvflsIh0BU9MmkDr7xekN2BioLNCrijvDBMnLu2kHtk2vHCosVWpdV9WviqKhZ1iZ4VvQTRJYwVHm1-rTFKXJfupjg/s400/IMG_6417.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweater for my nephew</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
I liked the sweater but I don't imagine it fit my nephew for very long as he was a big baby! Anyway, the yarn is nice but not nice enough that it has become a favourite of mine.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1290662607606775259.post-88414508259607461342011-03-09T22:33:00.000-04:002011-03-09T22:33:30.814-04:00I can make you socksMy <a href="http://eastcoastknits.etsy.com/">Etsy</a> shop has been up and running since late last year. I did have some sales in the fall for Christmas presents and since then I've been working on improving the shop overall. Marketing is not easy but I realize this blog is a good way to get the word out about what I'm up to.<br />
<br />
The most popular item in my shop has been hand knit socks. These socks are custom orders where the customer gives me the shoe size and I knit a pair of socks to that size. Socks that will fit your feet! Isn't that neat?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXW2dCB8Pz_1PR-0jBZHIo3y4R58yIzTAHCB7ZhyPKiwbiKK9j6bTuT0aV3hRGMUSWlq81bzg25OyrFHneJVZucuzRzz9jYA4137yAVjAkA4c_3jswDj_Psezcnij2Y_B7qb5RmB-rybw/s1600/socks4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXW2dCB8Pz_1PR-0jBZHIo3y4R58yIzTAHCB7ZhyPKiwbiKK9j6bTuT0aV3hRGMUSWlq81bzg25OyrFHneJVZucuzRzz9jYA4137yAVjAkA4c_3jswDj_Psezcnij2Y_B7qb5RmB-rybw/s1600/socks4.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These socks were sold in 2010 but you get to see what my finished socks look like. I currently have 11 listings for custom hand knit socks in my Etsy shop. For more details on these socks such as pricing and shipping, surf on over - <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/EastCoastKnits?section_id=7862724">East Coast Knits Custom Socks</a>. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1290662607606775259.post-84038836624899049662011-03-01T22:08:00.000-04:002011-03-01T22:08:20.891-04:00Holey!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Oh noes! On Sunday I found the first hole in a pair of my own hand knit socks. I had noticed a lot of pilling on the inside of the socks the last few times I wore them. The heel on one sock is almost totally worn through, and the other is not far behind. I have never darned a sock, though it is a good skill to learn if you are a knitter. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5214/5483070328_00762ac64f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5214/5483070328_00762ac64f.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The yarn used to knit these socks is from Yarnpirate. It's a merino/tencel blend which I'm now thinking was not a good choice for socks. I have read that merino isn't the best choice for socks anyway as it's very soft, and also there was is no nylon in this blend. I have loved the socks on my feet though. The yarn feels great on and was cool to knit with. I have wondered if maybe I should start knitting my socks at a tighter gauge (I normally knit on 2.25mm) because I've read that a tighter gauge prevents wear for longer. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, how to proceed? I could teach myself how to darn socks and I can even use the original yarn for that since I have some left. I have noticed some thinning in the toes and other heel too so I will either have to reinforce those too or just darn them eventually. A second option would be to unravel both socks, cut out the weakened yarn and reknit them at a tighter gauge using up the leftover yarn. A third option is to reknit the socks at a tighter gauge but use a different yarn, a wool/nylon blend, for the toes and heels. I think I like that idea best because it might lengthen the overall life of the socks. I'm not really sure since I haven't had this issue pop up yet with any of my other socks. Thoughts?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now I guess I should look at the other socks in my drawer and maybe learn how to knit after-thought heels too. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1290662607606775259.post-72233150307646750772011-02-08T01:15:00.000-04:002014-09-09T09:39:03.534-03:002010 Christmas KnittingI meant to type this up shortly after Christmas, but it's been sitting in my drafts for a long time. Better late than never I guess. I do mean to blog more, I just have to find topics to write about and not much has been going on around here.<br />
<br />
I did knit a few things for Christmas 2010, mostly using stash yarn. My mother does not wear anything wool and I've always known there is not much I could knit for her, unless she specifically asked for it. If I'm going to knit for someone I want to be mostly sure they will like it and get some use out of it.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/aymlis/5279434656" title="Mom's Church Scarf by Melissa, on Flickr"><img alt="Mom's Church Scarf" height="640" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5007/5279434656_2ff569073c_b.jpg" width="480" /></a>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Mom's Church Scarf</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Pattern: Luscious Lace Scarf by Knitting Pixie</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Yarn: Elann Lustrado</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Needles: US 5/3.75mm</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Size: 7" x 57"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Started: Dec 15, 2010</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Finished: Dec 20, 2010</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/aymlis/4954937424/" title="Man Socks by catseatsocks, on Flickr"><img alt="Man Socks" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4083/4954937424_3c9bd359c0.jpg" height="500" width="375" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Brother in Law Ryan's Socks</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Pattern: Toe-up with gusset and slip-stitch heel</div>
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Yarn: Sock it to Me! Collection Essential 4-Ply</div>
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Needles: US 0 - 2.0 mm</div>
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Started: July 4, 2010</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Finished: August 11, 2010</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5060/5426754407_447afc226e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5060/5426754407_447afc226e.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Hat and mittens for my niece</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Hat Pattern: Kim's Hats by Kim Hamlin from Last Minute Knitted Gifts</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Yarn: Yarn Pirate Organic Merino (pink) and Elann Superwash Worsted (purple)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Needles: US8/5.0mm</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Size: Child</div>
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Started: Dec 16, 2010</div>
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Finished: Dec 21, 2010</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Mitten Pattern: Classic Mittens by Bernhard Ulmann</div>
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Yarn: Yarn Pirate Organic Merino (pink) and Elann Superwash Worsted (purple)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Needles: US4/3.5mm</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Size: Medium</div>
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Started: Dec 24, 2010</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Finished: Dec 25, 2010</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5178/5426757397_7e4275a24a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5178/5426757397_7e4275a24a.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Hat and mittens for my nephew</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Pattern: Kim's Hats by Kim Hamlin from Last Minute Knitted Gifts</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Yarn: Elann Superwash Worsted</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Needles: US8/5.0mm</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Size: Toddler</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Started: Dec 14, 2010</div>
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Finished: Dec 22, 2010</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Pattern: Stay-Put Baby Mitts by Jillian Neary</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Yarn: Elann Superwash Worsted</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Needles: US4/3.5mm</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Started: Dec 22, 2010</div>
<br />
I haven't completed a single thing since Christmas, despite having many projects on the needles. I just don't feel like knitting I guess. I try to get some done though. I am almost finished a sock, but then I will have to knit the second sock too.<br />
Finished: Dec 25, 2010Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1290662607606775259.post-5734556947313428012011-01-05T17:14:00.002-04:002011-01-05T22:35:39.891-04:00Help a gal out?Some of you know I'm taking a continuing education course at a local university. The course is Certificate in Adult Education and I have 4 assignments to complete over the duration of the 10 modules. The first assignment involves writing a proposal for a course or training session I want to develop and deliver, along with a needs assessment for that course or training session (course, workshop, training session, etc.) The project can be a real life situation involving my workplace, volunteer group, church group, or even hypothetical. I've chosen a hypothetic topic for my project. The important thing is to show what we learn!<br />
<br />
My assignment is on knitting, of course! The hypothetical situation is that I want to develop a 10 week knitting workshop for the beginner knitter. It's the type of workshop you might take at your local <a href="http://www.halifax.ca/rec/">recreation department</a>. The needs assessment is a short questionnaire I would have filled out by local residents interested in learning how to knit. The information collected with the needs assessment would help me to better design a program that will suit the needs of the audience or students.<br />
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Here is where you come in. I have to test the questionnaire before it's given out to the "audience". I need at least 3 people, preferably local residents, to fill out my questionnaire and give feedback on the design, clarity and questions. If you would like to help me out, please email <a href="mailto:eastcoastknits@gmail.com">eastcoastknits@gmail.com</a> and I will send you the draft questionnaire. Please let me know which format you prefer when you email me (.rtf, .pdf). The only thing as this is a time sensitive thing and I will need the completed questionnaires back by 12pm this Friday (January 7th).<br />
<br />
At this point all the work I'm doing on these projects is to pass this course. Depending on how things go and where I am later this year, I might actually try to have this course offered through the recreation department or may teach it on my own. That is a maybe though ;)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1290662607606775259.post-62214063685303151532011-01-04T23:55:00.000-04:002011-01-04T23:55:49.393-04:00New Year's Eve MealNew Year's Eve isn't a big deal to me. I don't do the party thing anymore, but pretty much everyone I know has plans on NYE. For the past few years I've stayed home and had a little special meal to myself. <br />
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This year I was going to make my own Pad Thai totally from scratch, but decided to get take-out instead. Easy! I got a recommendation for wine and bought a bottle of Lingenfelder, a riesling from Germany. For dessert I made mangoes and sticky rice, which was a first for me. It's a really simple recipe and delicious too! I had leftovers from both dishes which I ate later that night ;)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/aymlis/5310644873/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="New Year's Eve Pad Thai by catseatsocks, on Flickr"><img alt="New Year's Eve Pad Thai" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5163/5310644873_5993f80d08.jpg" width="375" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chicken Pad Thai with a veggie spring roll from <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Just+Spring+Roll,+5657+Spring+Garden+Rd,+Halifax,+NS+B3J+3R4,+Canada&sll=44.649143,-63.604489&sspn=0.008518,0.01929&ie=UTF8&hq=Just+Spring+Roll,+5657+Spring+Garden+Rd,&hnear=Halifax,+Nova+Scotia+B3J+3R4,+Canada&z=16">Just Spring Roll</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/aymlis/5310650433/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Mangoes and Sticky Rice by catseatsocks, on Flickr"><img alt="Mangoes and Sticky Rice" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5127/5310650433_d88c8931c7.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.realthairecipes.com/recipes/mango-with-sticky-rice/">Mangoes with sticky rice</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1290662607606775259.post-63826065490562414192010-12-31T17:11:00.000-04:002010-12-31T17:11:02.070-04:00Three Six Five<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Happy New Year!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;">You've probably heard of people taking one photo a day for a whole year. It's been a popular thing on the internet for a few years now. I did I did a year in pictures from 2008 to 2009 starting with my 29th birthday. It was a combination of self-portraits and pictures just representing my day. Sometimes I forgot to take a picture and other times I just got really bored, but I still stuck with it.<br />
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There's been some talk on Twitter about doing 365 again. My idea for this year is to take one self-portrait a year, post it to <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/aymlis/">Flickr</a>, and write about what I did that day. It would be a good way to get back into journaling, plus I could look back on the year and actually have a record! I feel like this might make it easier to do because even if I feel like the photo is boring, at least I will have something to say about my day.<br />
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I've shared my idea with a few other people on Twitter. What I think we should do is join one or more of the 365 groups on Flickr that suit your interests and commitment level. There are many groups on Flickr for 365 projects, here are just a few:<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/365days/">365 Days</a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/project_365/">Project 365</a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/999496@N22/">2011 in Photos - A 365 day Project</a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/rav365/">Ravelry's Project 365</a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/knitterly365days/">365 days, the knitterly and crafty types</a><br />
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There are more groups which you can search for if you have a particular interest. Just remember to check the rules of the group before you join. For instance some Flickr 365 groups are only for self portraits while others allow a combination of self portraits and other photos. You may not even post your photos to Flickr, but that's what I'll be doing :)<br />
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So get your cameras ready! Who's with me?</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1290662607606775259.post-1972924653888506652010-10-24T18:34:00.001-03:002010-10-24T18:38:43.111-03:00Recipe Roundup - Halloween EditionThis week's Recipe Roundup is brought to you by Halloween! I know I featured a few Halloween recipes last week, but since Halloween is only one week away, I decided to only post Halloween recipes this week.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2010/10/how-to_tentacle_pot_pie.html">Tentacle Pot Pie</a><br />
<a href="http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2010/10/how-to_candy_corn_jell-o_bites.html">Candy Corn Jell-O Bites</a><br />
<a href="http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2010/10/how-to_mummy_meatloaf.html">Mummy Meatloaf</a><br />
<a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/guest-post/halloween-cocktail-halloween-for-grownups-130277">The Jacko-O-Lantern Cocktail</a><br />
<a href="http://gingerbreadcake.wordpress.com/2010/10/19/halloween-candy-bark/">Halloween Candy Bark</a><br />
<a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/holidays-halloween/diy-ghost-fruit-for-halloween-034917">Ghost Fruit for Halloween</a><br />
<a href="http://www.notmartha.org/archives/2009/10/27/meat-hand/">Meat Hand</a><br />
<a href="http://www.canadianliving.com/food/shrunken_head_punch.php">Shrunken Head Punch</a><br />
<a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/portal/site/mslo/menuitem.fc77a0dbc44dd1611e3bf410b5900aa0/?vgnextoid=2eb6d3deb6a0f010VgnVCM1000003d370a0aRCRD&vgnextfmt=default">Chocolate Marshmallow-Ghost Cake and Mini Cupcakes</a><br />
<a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/guacamoldy-with-creature-chips?&backto=true&backtourl=/photogallery/eerie-edibles?#slide_19">Guacamoldy with Creature Chips</a><br />
<a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/swamp-sangria?&backto=true&backtourl=/photogallery/halloween-cocktails?#slide_2">Swamp Sangria</a><br />
<a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/breakfast/halloween-recipe--099861">Thomas Keller Oreo Bat Cookies</a><br />
<a href="http://www.instructables.com/id/Halloween-Melon-Brain/">Melon Brains</a><br />
<a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2008/10/cake-balls-halloween-style/">Eye Ball Cake Balls</a><br />
<a href="http://mattmandymitch.blogspot.com/2010/09/fossil-cookies.html">Fossil Cookies</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/dessert/cake-pops-by-bakerella-yummy-mummies-cake-pops-cookbook-recipe-review-129992">Yummy Mummies Cake Pops</a></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;">There are so many cool things you can do with food for Halloween. These are just some of the ones I found this past week. </span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;">Also I found out about this cool cook book, all about creepy cupcakes! </span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><a href="http://img.amazon.ca/images/I/51vRHy+G-uL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://img.amazon.ca/images/I/51vRHy+G-uL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" /></a></span></div><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Zombie-Ate-My-Cupcake/dp/1907030514/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1287953219&sr=8-1">A Zombie Ate My Cupcake</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1290662607606775259.post-72675220570586561302010-10-17T01:28:00.002-03:002010-10-17T01:29:42.159-03:00Recipe RoundupI read a lot of blog posts every day, and by read I really mean "skim". I do try to read all my blogs every day and save any recipes that look tasty. I might never get around to trying some of them but that doesn't mean I can't share them with you! Every week I will try and post a roundup of the interesting and yummy looking recipes that I found while reading my favourite blogs.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/YumSugars-Must-Try-Mac-Cheese-Recipes-5993436">YumSugar's Must-Try Mac and Cheese Recipes</a><br />
<a href="http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2010/05/sopa-de-ajo-garlic-soup-recipe.html">Sopa De Ajo (Garlic Soup)</a> - Just in time for cold and flu season.<br />
<a href="http://curbly.com/diy-maven/posts/9209-a-new-way-to-roast-a-potato">A new way to roast a potato.</a><br />
<a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/chicken-divan-casserole-from-scratch-129235">Chicken Divan Casserole, from Scratch</a><br />
<a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/recipe-roundup/potato-chips-to-bacon-bites-14-potato-recipes-for-fall-recipe-roundup-129309">Potato Chips to Bacon Bites: 15 Potato Recipes for Fall </a><br />
<a href="http://bakedbree.com/mixed-greens-with-pomegranate-lemon-dressing">Mixed Greens with Pomegranate Lemon Dressing</a><br />
<a href="http://bakedbree.com/baked-potato-soup">Baked Potato Soup</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2010/10/halloween_chocolate_pretzels.html">Halloween Chocolate Pretzels</a><br />
<a href="http://bakedbree.com/candy-corn-parfait">Candy Corn Parfait</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/sweets/recipe-peanut-butter-fudge-oatmeal-cookies-129377">Peanut Butter & Fudge Oatmeal Cookies</a> - These look delicious!<br />
<a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/breakfast/fall-recipe-noknead-pumpkin-rolls-with-brown-sugar-glaze-129477">No-Knead Pumpkin Rolls with Brown Sugar Glaze</a><br />
<a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/breakfast/fall-recipe-noknead-pumpkin-rolls-with-brown-sugar-glaze-129477"></a><a href="http://budgetbytes.blogspot.com/2010/10/pumkin-cream-cheese-spread-127-recipe.html">Pumpkin Cream Cheese Spread</a><br />
<div><a href="http://edibleperspective.com/2010/10/better-than-biscotti/">Better Than Biscotti</a> - Recipe for Mandel Bread<br />
<a href="http://bakedbree.com/slow-cooker-pumpkin-butter">Slow Cooker Pumpkin Butter</a></div><a href="http://bakedbree.com/hot-chocolate-cookies-ii-week-2-of-12-weeks-of-cookies">Hot Chocolate Cookies</a><br />
<div><a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/real-irish-scones-128074">Real Irish Scones</a></div><a href="http://www.tallgrasskitchen.com/old-fashioned-sugar-cookies">Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1290662607606775259.post-41428694839510542562010-10-14T06:44:00.001-03:002010-10-28T03:40:40.023-03:00New blog name!Knitting and Cats is now East Coast Knits! I guess I should update my blog banner too ;) I'm quite partial to the cats though.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0