Good Day Neckwarmer

Today was a good day because I finally finished Odette's scarf-neckwarmer. This was actually the first project I started when I joined the Knitting Club. The story is that Lorena had been telling me to come to the meetings for the longest time and I had not knitted for ages. I was kind of hesitant because I knew I would have to start researching on what to knit, I was not even sure if I was going to be able to get the knitting mojo back. Odette asked me if I could knit her a simple but really long scarf. This was the perfect project for knitting at the meetings because I would be able to talk and knit at the same time. The simple stockinette stitch went on forever though...actually about 2.5 meters. It got a little boring to knit this after a while, this is why I made so many other things in between.

I ended up joining the scarf at the ends so Odette can wrap it around her neck several times. I kinda think it looks like a neck brace but she loves it, and it actually looks really good on her.

Flower Headband

By request from some ladies from the knitting club I managed to find the pattern for this knitted headband. I could not wait to make it... so I did.

I was in front of my computer trying to follow the pattern, counting stitches and trying really hard to concentrate, but my mac's mail application kept jumping up and down(announcing that I had a new email e-v-e-r-y 2 minutes).

Meanwhile in NYC fireworks were seen near La Guardia airport! apparently the knitting girls were throwing a party for Ilana. And I? well, I was busting my butt trying to finish the headband to make sure it came out like the one Mery wanted (I think she needed a fancy accessory to dress up for the cousin).

I used less than one skein of Patons Classic Wool in Dark Grey for both the headband and the flower, and a pair of size 6 us (4 mm) needles. The pattern can be found at T. Mattews Fine Art blog.

For those of you that need help understanding the abbreviations and want to learn how to increase and decrease stitches, I strongly recommend you to visit Knitting Help. This is a wonderful site where you can find many tips, easy to understand instructional videos, a glossary of common knitting abreviations, patterns and tips on knitting. If you like learning things on your own, this is a site you must bookmark on your computer.

The flower on the headband is from Itty Bitty Hats by Susan B Anderson. The flower is made with 4 layers. Each layer is made separately, then stacked from largest to smallest and sewn together.

She has a video on youtube where she demonstrates how to make one of the layers. For the first layer (10 petals) cast on 112 stitches, for the second (8 petals): 90 stitches, for the third(6 petals): 68 stitches and for the fourth(4 petals): 46 stitches.

For my friends from the knitting club I must tell you, when you visit the site you will find, that the instructional videos are shown in two styles of knitting: Continental (pink button) and English (blue button). Pick the continental one. I also recommend you watch the video on Combined Knitting, which is the way I was taught to knit and I think many of you as well. It explains why we end up with twisted stitches on the hat project while using circular needles and also how to adjust our stitches when following western patterns.

I hope you all enjoyed yourselves last night, and I ask you nicely...next time, throw a party for me!!!

Worst Felting Project

Aaaaaaand the winner to our first knitting club award of 2010 is:

None other than Shayne .... She tried sooo hard to finish the slippers for her daughter, following the instructions so precisely, and yet the friggen slippers came out looking like something the grinch would wear. Dahlia tried her hardest not to make her mom feel bad and even said to her she would gladly wear the slippers, she only wanted them to be comfy. The truth is that Dahlia later confessed that they were not only huge and odd looking, but they were so uncomfortable she could not even wear them.

Hold on girls Shayne might try it again ... Third time's a charm (la tercera es la vencida)!

Andrea's Candy Hat

My daughter Andrea managed to finish her second project. This is no soldier hat, she made it for a cute little baby boy named Andres whom Andrea just adores! Good job knitting girl!

Aviva's Shawl

I think the story behind Aviva's Shawl is really moving.

Erika is an older lady, a holocaust survivor who had been sheltered by a family during the war. The lady that saved her also taught her how to knit and crochet.

Many years later, Aviva met Erika while working as a volunteer in Cafe Europa where she provided emotional support for survivors of the holocaust. Erika in return offered to teach Aviva how to crochet, this is the beautiful Shawl Aviva made!

Shayne's Potter Scarf

ABY POTTER :

Shayne,Shayne, Shayne ... Great Knitting!

ABY BACK IN THE DAY:

Tamal Casserole Recipe ( courtesy of Mrs.Potter):

Ingredients:

1 tube store bought Polenta cut into 1cm squares
1 1/2 cup frozen corn kernels
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
3/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 jar Herdez green salsa
oil for pyrex

Pre-heat oven to 375F.

In large bowl, mix all ingredients.

Oil liberally a medium rectangular pyrex and place in oven until oil is very hot, but not smoking.

While hot, take out of oven and carefully pour the polenta mixture and spread evenly.

Bake for approximately 1 hour or until lightly browned on top and bottom.

Shayne's First Felting Project

Shane Knit this cute stripped hooded cardigan for Aidan. He picked up the colors he wanted and they actually made a pretty cool combination. Little did she know that this was going to be her first ever felting project.

Dang! the cardigan ended up being the stuffed bears first hand me down from little Eitan after Shayne decided to make it her first felting project!

Refran: Uno nunca sabe para quien trabaja

Moraleja: Never ever ever wash your sweaters with hot water, and never ever ever put them in the dryer.

Happy Hats

Here are some of the israeli soldier hats ready to be worn. They are actually really cool and comfy, so that some of our kids have been requesting for us to make them one. the pattern is really quite easy to knit,once you get a hang of working with circular needles.

Jaco, Miriam's son is actually the first israeli soldier to be wearing one of the knitting club's hats, this one was knitted by aunt Edith. I guess he could not wait and he had to come here and get it!

I would specially like to congratulate Ilana and all those ladies that worked so hard on learning how to knit. This one is actually Ilana's first ever knitting project. I think it is of good karma she is donating it to a good cause... Give and ye shall receive!

Chocolate Cake Box For My Sweethearts

When I first saw this chocolate box at Bakerella, I thought it was absolutely beautiful. It surprised me even more when I realized it was made out of cake. Yes, the whole thing is made out of cake!!

I showed it to my daughter Odette and she asked me if I could make it for her on Valentines Day.

Yikes, by the time Valentines day would come I would forget about it, I thought. I went and bought myself the cake mold at Michael's, and all ingredients I would be needing just in case my urge to make it would fade out by February. Baking it in November would not make much sense anyway. I had no idea If I would be able to pull it off due to my lack of experience in cake decorating.

So there, yesterday I called my mom, the family's "cake boss", and told her I needed her help. She came along with her famous chocolate nut cake recipe, and lots and lots of patience.

The little chocolates are actually made out of cake which we shaped and then dipped in candy melts.

This afternoon Odette discovered the cake which I had not yet finished, she had forgotten all about it!

I kicked her out of the living room where I had hid it and presented it to the kids later at supper time when it was all filled with the little chocolate treats.

The truth is that we never ever celebrate Valentines Day, but what an excuse this was to make this lovely cake for my Sweethearts!

For you with love and warmth

Channah Koppel, the mother of an israeli soldier, organized a small group of women that called themselves 'Chicks with Sticks'. The idea was to get together in their local yarn shop to knit winter hats for IDF soldiers. This way, Channah thought, she would be doing something she loved as well as contributing to her community. What started as a small project has has reached hundreds of knitters all over the world. Once the hats arrive in Israel, each hat receives a sewn-in label reading "for you with love and warmth".

The Soldier Hat Project has also reached our Knitting Club, inspiring even those that usually prefer to crochet.

No doubt about it, our Thursday Nights have become not only a time for us to share a lovely meal,laughs and yes...sometimes knit, but also a time to work together for a good cause.

Many of us have finished our black ribbed hats, but unfortunately for some, this blog works as a first come, first serve basis.

Mery sent me her finished project pic, and I think she deserves to be announced as the first to have finished her 'Hats for Israeli Soldiers' project.

KnittinG Club Awards

I am happy to announce our very first two Knitting Club Awards... TA-TA-TA-TAAAAAAA

YOUNGEST MEMBER TO HAVE FINISHED A PROJECT:

This Award is proudly presented to Andrea. She finished her first knitted hat, pom-pons and all.Congratulations Baby Girl!

HIGHEST NUMBER OF UNFINISHED PROJECTS:

This award is presented to Edith. Although Edith is a highly accomplished crochetier, and the official crochet teacher of the Knitting Club, she ended up winning this award for the most number of unfinished projects of us all.

She brought in her infamous project cooler in which she lovingly preserves her numerous unfinished projects. Congratulations Edith!

More Finished Projects

Thursday night at Shaynes was a great success. Armed with my camera I managed to take some pictures of the most recent finished projects of the Knitting Club.

Mery brought her freshly finished knitted hat and matching scarf:

Edith brought tons of amazing crochet jewelry necklaces:

Patty's Slippers

I have been wanting to make these for the longest time. I first saw these slippers on etsy from French Press Knits and thought they would be just perfect for my friend Patty. I then realized that Melynda from French Press Knits was also selling the pattern, so I purchased it immediately and one day later, the slippers were ready to wear. They are soft and really comfortable. They look great in every color (check them out here) . I Used less than 3 balls of Pattons Classic Wool in dark grey. The pattern calls for Size 10 mm needles and 3 strands of yarn which made it really fast and easy to knit. I think I spent more time on trying to decide what buttons to buy than actually knitting the slippers. Happy birthday Patita!

A sweater T.

I asked my mom to knit me a cute sweater and after several hours of flipping through knitting magazines and books at Passion Knit looking for a style that I would like, I finally found the perfect fit! I loved this design found in Tweedie Chunky- Sirdar Book #340. Six yarn balls of Tweedy-Chunky #280- 'Buckwheat' PLUS several hours of hard work, ADD talent and dedication, ADD a few drops of love = The 'Cabled Tank With Polo Neck'. This is the perfect piece for fall, winter and even spring. Cozy and comfortable, it can be worn on its own during the warmer days of spring or layered over a long sleeve blouse during the cool days of fall. Match it with a cute knit barrett, a pair of dark jeans and trendy leather boots and voilá! You got your self a head turning outfit for the season. I can't wait to wear my new sweater to dinner tonight! Thanks mama and congratulations on another finished project of the knitting club.

Toodles

-Odette (la fille de knitting bird)

Mini Gift Box

This cute little bird box is made out of cardboard. I designed the layout in photoshop and then printed it in my computer. It is only 1 3/4" wide. Perfect for a pair of earrings, a charm or a small chocolate.

The one with the owl is a little envelope I used to put a vintage necklace I bought for Odette's B-Day.

She loves owls...and siete, is the magical number seven.

My First Official Project Finished

Thank you Edith so so much for helping me sort out the slipper pattern. As it turned out I finished one slipper. Odette tried it on and half of her big toe was sticking out of the crochet pattern. I then decided not to crochet the other foot and opted to give it a better use. As of now it is hanging on Odette's post it wall with a cute little babushka in it. She re-named it "the "hanukah stocking" and has gotten her hopes up to find something in it for hanukahs eve.

Since I did not finish the other slipper, this one cannot be considered a finished project. How-e-ver it did serve me as an experience for learning how to read crochet patterns. So the infamous white bobble purse will be considered my first official finished project for The Knitting Club.

I want me a hanukkah stocking

I took the liberty to post the first blog. My mom made a cute little crochet stocking which to be perfectly honest is kind of impractical since your toes stick out of the holes. But who said that these are meant to be worn? We thought the best use for these would be to transform them into fun "hannukkah stockings". But what are these so called hannukka stockings? you might ask your self. Well. Ever heard of Christmas Stockings? Lets just say these are revolutionary stockings. All you have to do is hang them on your wall, put some goodies in them, and voilá!