Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Working with knitting charts

For the One Cup Cozy a Day project I have been knitting with different stitch pattern books. Most books have written instructions and/or charts but one book in particular only uses charts to show how the pattern is knit. 

To be able to follow I started using a sticky note and sticking it just below the row I am working on. I also wrote the explanation for one of the symbols since the glossary is at the front of the book and I wasn't in the mood to look back every time.

You can see on the picture I also write down the row I have just knitted. That's because a certain cat loves to plop down on my book, moving the sticky note from its row placement. Lola, you know who I'm talking about.



I usually prefer to work with chart patterns when I have the choice. Do you prefer working with written instructions or charts? Do you have a different way of keeping track of your rows? 

Friday, November 4, 2011

Some Good Men Are Out There

The first man I want to talk to you about is my boyfriend.  Although he isn't vegan he has changed his cooking methods so I can eat supper without having to start from scratch when I get there. It would mean eating around 19:30 since I finish late.  So, I love getting to his place after work and having supper ready hot on the table.  He was a heavy user of margarine and now uses olive oil instead.  If I happen to mention some food is vegan, the next thing I know he's bought some when he went grocery shopping. 

This week we've had to make due with prepared food since he recently hurt his middle finger making it hard for him to write and horror of all horrors chop vegetables! 

Here is where the other good man comes into the picture. He's the owner of the neighborhood Asian market and my boyfriend went shopping for some vegetables the other night.  He was talking with him about his predicament and the owner actually chopped his vegetables for him. He chopped the bell peppers, the mushrooms, the carrots and the onion so we could eat a nice home cooked meal.  I was pleasantly surprised and will be sure to thank him the next time I see him.

Supper was delicious that night, a Chinese noodle dish with lots of vegetables and soy sauce; just the way I love it.

Have you ever benefited from someone's kindness or have you been the giver of such kindness? 

Sunday, October 16, 2011

My love for a pom-pom maker

I finally received my Clover pom-pom maker and I am in love!  Pom-poms are so easy to make with this.  Of course when I told my mother she said something along the line, "In my days we just used cardboard to make our pom-poms."  I tried cardboard; the yarn just kept falling out of the hole and I just wanted to hurl the whole thing across the room.  I want to make a good amount of pom-poms and I want it to be easy.

You can see below the Clover pom-pom maker (makes 3 3/8 inch pom-pom) and beside it is another device I found but the pom-poms were too small around 3 inches only.  It also came with a 2 1/2 inches maker and I even bought the 4 1/2 inches one as well.  I couldn't find these in any store around town and am glad I found them at Herrschners.  Of course, I bought some yarn at the same time.



This is what a pom-pom looks like with the Clover maker and they also look great on my Cables and Seed Stitch Hat with Pom Pom.

Friday, September 30, 2011

Some loving for the knitting

I just realized this morning  I will actually be knitting 366 cup cozies for the One Cup Cozy a Day project.  The year 2012 happens to be a leap year.  The joke's on me.


The daily paper KnitPurlGurl Daily has the One Cup Cozy a Day project as one of their top stories : http://paper.li/knitpurlgurl/1300323010#.  It's a great easy way to stay up to date with what's happening in the knitting world. Thank you.


Lidia from Vegan Bloggers Unite has written a wonderful review about Knits By Nat : http://veganbloggersunite.wordpress.com/2011/09/28/blog-review-knits-by-nat/. Thank you so much Lidia. 

Thursday, September 29, 2011

National Coffee Day

My crazy knitting project has launched.  It's all about coffee cup cozies coming to you daily for the next 365 days!

One Cup Cozy a Day

How do you drink your coffee?  I like mine black, no sugar.

Monday, September 26, 2011

Lots of new projects

I have been working on lots of new projects that should finally see the light of day soon.


One such project will be emerging this Thursday on National Coffee day!  It will mean a lot of daily knitting but I am so looking forward to it.  Stay tuned, it's only a couple of days away.  And yes, you may call me crazy when you see what it's all about.

Some colours for the Cable and Seed Stitch Hat with Pom Pom have been knit but the making of the Pom Poms has me going a little crazy.  How I managed to make the black one is beyond me because now the method isn't working.  I am waiting for my Clover Pom Pom maker to arrive in the mail, hopefully very soon.  


I have been working on a matching hat and fingerless mitts which need some buttons for the final touch.  Saturday will be shopping day for those.  I can't wait to spend time looking through the wonderful buttons at  Rubans Boutons

Monday, September 12, 2011

Giveaway Contest on All Women Stalk

The blog All Women Stalk is doing a Giveaway Contest and the prize is my Purple Cable and Lace Slim Scarf.  Just go on their blog and follow how to enter :   http://fashion.allwomenstalk.com/giveaway-contest-handmade-cable-knit-scarf-from-knits-by-nat/


GOOD LUCK TO ALL PARTICIPANTS!