Category Archives: knitting

Elizabeth Zimmerman – motorcycle mama

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I understand that Elizabeth Zimmerman, knitter extraordinaire, was able to knit while riding on the back of her husband’s motorcycle.  Mr. Aitch and I will be riding to New Hampshire soon and as much as I’d like to be able to devote 11 hours to my knitting, I just don’t think I can knit on the back of the Harley.  He wouldn’t like it if I accidentally stabbed him in the back with a pointy stick.

This picture is from our trip to Newfoundland.  I like how I got the reflection of my hand in the mirror.

I like need to see where I’m going.  Plus I’ll be the navigator with a paper copy of our directions and a GPS app for my iPhone.

We’re taking the scenic route to avoid Interstate 95, the huge trucks and the 85 mph speedsters.  A good portion of the trip will not be on major highways.

Since I do the actual packing, I can sneak some knitting into our limited luggage space so I’ll have something to work on in the evenings.  Just have to figure out what that will be.

Turning another leaf

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I found another leaf washcloth pattern and finished it up this morning.  This one is knit from the tip to the stem.  I like how the ribs are raised and give it dimension.

I now have three leafy washcloth patterns I can knit.  I’d like to make my own pattern using elements of all three.

Yarn is Sugar & Cream color Sage.

Needles: Size 7 US though the pattern called for 4 or 5.  I just used what I had right in front of me.

This pattern had a few “Huh?” moments so I don’t think it is truly a beginner pattern.

It says to cast on two stitches after a few rows are knitted but no cast on method was suggested.  I used the cable cast on and it seemed to work out fine.  The directions also said to k2tog then bind off one stitch which sounded strange to me but I did just that and it turned out fine.

I’m really pleased with the end result.

Do you ever get hooked on a shape, color, technique, or designer?  I’m hooked on leaves right now.  And washcloths.

Misunderstanding and travel case

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I think I led a few people to think I altered the actual needle roll my sister made for me.  Not so.  I looked at her handiwork then made a case to hold our chargers for traveling.

Using the back panel of a perfectly-good-but too-small men’s dress shirt, a recycled bias strip from some pillows I got, and new fusible fleece, I made this travel case for electronic chargers for next to nothing.

This has four pockets in two different sizes, 4.5 x 4.5 and 3 x 4.5.  I wanted a contrast strip down the center but didn’t have enough fabric without piecing it.  I wish I would have figured out another method as I don’t like the imperfect seam across the panel.  Piecing striped fabric is too fiddly.

I know it’s just a utilitarian object but it can still look nice.

Finished size is 8.25 x 11.25 inches.

This was fun though I had to think about how to assemble this since I was making it up as I went along.

I also want to label the pockets so we can grab the right charger without taking them all out.

I’ll post a tutorial for this in case anyone else wants to make one.

FO Friday

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I have a couple of finished objects (FO) but no pictures to share.  They are still on my camera.

  1. Sewing Project #1:  My wonderful sister made a needle roll for me (see below) so I adapted her handiwork for a travel pouch for our phone charger, helmet chargers**, camera charger, and whatever other charger we need while traveling.  I will post pictures ASAP. 
  2. Sewing Project #2:  Using some leftover fabric, fusible fleece, and teflon fabric, I made a travel cover for my flat-iron/curling iron.  Fixing my hair is usually the last thing I do when getting ready to go someplace and I needed a way to pack the still warm appliance without burning myself or damaging anything around it.  I’ll most likely use this only when traveling but could be used all the time if you like to put yours away.  I will post pictures ASAP.
  3. Knitting Project:  I am this >< close to finishing the Fetching Mitts.  I will have enough yarn to bind off and make the thumb on the second mitt.  If you recall, I did not have enough yarn the first time around so I frogged (ripped) them out and reknit them.  I will be very happy to wear these…unless I decide to gift them.  Shown below are the original pair.  I will post pictures ASAP.

    Before

I do have a few more things I’ve been working on but they are secrets for now.

Sorry for the recycled pictures.  Posts without something to look at are boring.

And the mitts pictures above really are from the same ball of yarn and are the same color.  Must be the lightning as the one on the left doesn’t look as bright as the one on the right.  Hmm.

** Our motorcycle helmets are equipped with Bluetooth (coolest thing ever) so Mr. Aitch and I can talk to each other when riding separately or together.  We don’t talk a lot but it’s really important for him to be able to hear me when I’m on the back of the Harley and play the role as navigator.  I can share a little bit about our process next week…if you’re interested.