Saturday, August 20, 2011

Knotty Mittens

I finished my Knotty Mittens this weekend. This is my first pair of mittens and I found making all the fingers to be meditative.

From Close Knit

Pattern: Knotty by Julia Mueller
Yarn: Tosh Sock in the Happiness colorway from Happy Knits
Needle Size 1.5 (2.50 mm)
Mods: I worked two short rows before splitting for the fingers to lower the pinky for a better fit. Decreased two stitches on the fingers after each knuckle joint to taper the fingers.

From Close Knit

From Close Knit

From Close Knit

I don't know what to make next. I'm not inspired to make anything in particular. It's a weird feeling. I usually know exactly what I'm going to make next and can't wait to cast on. I think it's the weather. I'm eager to feel fall in the air.

Monday, August 15, 2011

Hats in Bamboo

I completed a couple of caps I was working on for a friend who was recently diagnosed with cancer.

From Close Knit

I can't really express my feelings about cancer in the way I would like because this is a family blog. Needless to say, knitting in the face of news of a new diagnosis seems wholly inadequate yet sometimes it's the only thing you can do.

From Close Knit

Pattern: Lace-Edged Women's Hat by Julie Hentz
Yarn: Flirt by Sirdar, 1 skein
Needles: Size 5 circulars

From Close Knit

Pattern: Race for Life 2009 Chemo Cap by Erica Downs
Yarn Snuggly Baby Bamboo DK by Sirdar, 1 skein
Needles: size 5 circulars

I'm worried about the fit on the tan one; it's awfully square. Now to get them in the mail.

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Couponing w/o 8/13/2011

In an effort to same some money this year, and inspired by the TV show extreme couponing, I have been doing some not-extreme couponing. I try to spend no more than $25 per week out of pocket. Let's see how I did this week.

From Close Knit

Walgreens - 1st visit

Walgreen's was offering Lysol products for sale and a $5.00 register reward for spending $15 or more on the sale items. Lysol wipes are usually on the supplies list for back to school so I purchased four bottles of Lysol wipes at 2/5.00. I also had a coupon for $1.00 off two bottles. Additionally, I bought two bottles of Lysol all purpose cleaner for 2/$6.00 plus I had a coupon for $1.00 off.

My total was $15.12 after tax and I had a $5.00 register reward from my last purchase so I paid $10.15 in cash and received $5.00 in register rewards.

Walgreen's 2nd visit

Keri lotion (not pictured) was on sale for $5.99 with a $5.00 register reward to use on my next purchase. I had a coupon for $2.00 off. I paid $4.41 after tax and received $5.00 back.


Rite Aid


Rite Aid had Lady Speedstick deodorants on sale for 2/$4.00 plus a $2.00 Up+ reward to use next time. I had a coupon for $1.00 off two. The net price was $3.00 for two with $2.00 back to spend on my next purchase.

Oxyclean was on sale for 2/$7.00 and I purchase four different items. I had coupons worth $4.00 off and Rite Aid was offering $5.00 in Up+ rewards on the items I purchased.

Bic pens were BOGO so I bought two packs for $2.39.

My total was $15.77. I had $15 in Up+ rewards from prior purchases so I paid $.77 out of pocket and received $7.00 to spend on future purchases.

CVS

Garnier Nutrisse hair products were on sale 3/$9.00 with $3.00 Extra Care Bucks (ECBs) back on the purchase. I bought two conditioners and one hair gel. I had $1.00 off coupons on each of the conditioners so I spent $7.00.

Softsoap body wash was on sale 3/$9.00 with $3.00 ECBs back on purchase. I bought three and I had two $1.00 off coupons so I spent $7.00.

The balance was $16.34 including tax and I had ECBs from prior purchases totaling $9.99 so I paid $6.35 out of pocket and received $6.00 in ECBs to use on future purchases.

In total, I spent $21.68 out of pocket and received $23.00 to use on my next purchase.

Couponing FAQ #1

Where do you get coupons?

I buy one Sunday paper which has coupon inserts. I also watch for the coupons inserts that come in the mail in my area. Additionally, my mother gets the Sunday paper and puts aside all the coupons she gets from the paper and the mail for me.

There are also lots of coupons available online at coupons.com, redplum.com and smartsource.com. Additionally, I follow two blogs that point to deals and other online coupons - The Krazy Coupon Lady and Wicked Cool Deals. Both track sales at sstores near me.

Next week's FAQ, what's are EBCs, Up+ and Register Rewards?

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

WIP parade

I've got a bunch of projects in process currently.

From Close Knit

Starting from the top left corner and going clockwise.

1. Swatches for a couple of chemo caps I'm working on for the a friend. The red is Sirdar Baby Bamboo and the tan is Sirdar Flirt. The red project on the needles right below it is the start of the red hat.

2. The next project is Knotty Gloves by Julia Mueller made with Tosh DK in the Happiness colorway. I got this yarn from the Happy Knits folks at Squam and I love the color, love the way it knits up and love the gloves. I have three fingers and the thumb left to complete on the second glove.

3. Baby Surprise Jacket using Woolen Rabbit's Pandora in the Flower Power colorway from the June 2011 club. I just have to seam it and sew the buttons on.

Monday, August 8, 2011

Update

I've been neglecting the blog but I have a bunch of stuff coming up that I'll be posting about soon including, hopefully, my first patterns.

Here's a sneak preview of the first prototype:

Sunday, May 8, 2011

We Dyed Yarn

Julia and I dyed yarn with Wilton's food coloring this weekend.


From Close Knit

Supplies: Wilton's food coloring, vinegar and gloves.


From Close Knit

I dissolved about 1/4 teaspoon of the food coloring in 1 cup boiling water.  I added an additional cup of hot water to some of the jars.  Colors used: Leaf Green, Kelly Green, Teal, Violet, Lemon Yellow, Sky Blue

I failed to take pictures of the most important part, which was use pouring the dye over the yarn, but I was pretty busy.  Julia used Leaf Green, Kelly Green, Teal, Violet and Sky Blue on a worsted weight Peruvian Highland wool from Knitpicks.  I used Leaf Green, Teal, Violet and Lemon Yellow on a sock yarn from Knitpicks.


From Close Knit

Each skein wrapped in plastic wrap and in the steamer insert in my pasta pot.  I steamed them for 35 minutes.


From Close Knit

Dyed yarn cooling off - my skein


From Close Knit

Dyed yarn cooling off - Julia's skein


From Close Knit

My skein drying in the backyard.


From Close Knit

Julia's skein drying in the backyard


From Close Knit

My skein reskeined.

I was hoping for the look of spring flowers in the grass but the green came out too bright so I think it looks more like a parrot.

Julia's cake:

From Close Knit