Forced To Change

About 3 weeks or so ago I started getting messages and emails from people who were visiting my patterns blog complaining that the links to the pdf files weren't working. They were getting a "Not found" message. I checked it out and I sometimes got the message, but most of the time I had no problems.

I figured out that if I was logged into Box.net, the web site where I store my patterns for sharing, it worked. If I logged out, the downloads didn't work. Box has made some changes, and even though the links are supposed to be open to the public without registration, it doesn't seem to be working that way and I couldn't figure out how to fix it. I had to find an alternative solution.

I decided to open a store on Ravelry and upload the knitting patterns there.

They allow you to have a store with all free patterns in it. So many times I've been asked by someone to do that. Well, now it seems a good idea. I uploaded them all and I've updated the links on the patterns blog. You do not have to have a Ravelry account to access them. I think this will work out pretty good.

Check out my new Ravelry Shop

There are two patterns that I could not put on Ravelry, the beaded Christmas ornament cover pattern, and the Aran Baby Set that I have linked to here on this blog. I don't know what I'm going to do about that yet.

But, at least you can access the rest of them.

Live long and prosper. \\//

How Could I Forget?

It has just dawned on me that I never posted on here that my Sweet Niggles sock pattern has been published. I did so the last week of June. Oops!

It's in PDF format. You can find it on my pattern page here:  Sweet Niggles

Live long and prosper. \\//

WIP Wednesday 3/7/2012

It's WIP Wednesday. I took these pictures outside on the deck table. All that snow (2 feet worth) we got last week is almost gone. I got up this morning and it was sunny and clear. 11F degrees, but sunny. However, it's warming fast. By Friday it's supposed to be in the 50's. I call that deck knitting weather! I am so looking forward to it. Anyway, here's what I've been working on this week.

The yoke is almost done on the February Lady sweater. I've got about half an inch to go.

I have been rather perplexed by this project. I got gauge on the swatch, but I'm not getting it in the garment. I am, in fact, 2 sts per 4 inches too small. I did some calculations and it looks like it will fit despite that fact. I think I'm just going to continue on. I figure if it's off too much I will be able to block it out since there's the baby killing acrylic in it.

I wish the pattern had measurements in it instead of statements like "...knit garter stitch until, when you try on the sweater, the sleeves stitches almost meet under your arms." I hate that kind of thing. I'm not making this for me. The person I'm making it for lives 1000's of miles away from me. Just give us the ball park measurements for the sizes, please?! I'm gonna take a guess and hope I'm right.

As I mentioned yesterday, my friend, Ray, sent me a skein of yarn so I could develop another pattern for him. It's a skein of his sock yarn in the Lake Berry colorway. I'm going to do a fingerless mitt pattern. Here's what I've got so far. I've gone with a twisted slip stitch pattern because I think it will show up best on this highly contrasting yarn.

Back of hand

I've got what I'm calling Stacked Olives for the center of the "back of the hand" side, and a slip rib for the rest of the mitt. I do like the way the colors are striping.

Front of hand

Here's a picture I want to share that I took this morning in the back yard.

Spring is coming. I can even smell it in the air. It smells very good.

I can haz cookee, pweez?

One more thing. There was something white hanging on Cables back side. I grabbed it and it was a clump of her undercoat. She is starting to shed her winter coat. It's been a long time since I've had a dog that shed like this. Oh, the fur is soooo soft. I think I'll bag it after each brushing for future spinning.

If you're interested in participating in WIP Wednesday, please join us.


Live long and prosper. \\//

Cenotes Socks are Done

Cenotes Socks

Pattern: Cenotes Socks by me.
Yarn: Summit Sock by Impulse of Delight
Color: Blueberry Skies
Content: 80% Merino wool/20% Nylon
Needles: Addi Turbo Circular size 2.
Size: Ladies Medium (size 8.5 shoe)
Cast on: October 16, 2010
Bound off: February 10, 2011

Comments:  I absolutely love these socks.

I love the color. It soothes my winter weary eyes.

I love the yarn. It's from Impulse of Delight. It is wonderful to work with.

I love the stitch pattern. I found it in a very old sweater pattern.

But I'm just a bit biased because I designed them. You too can have socks just like this. Just click on over to my Beadknitter Patterns blog to get the pattern.

Live long and prosper. \\//

New Sock Pattern for You

I have posted the pattern for Franks Little Cable socks on my pattern blog. Just thought you'd like to know that.

Franks Little Cable Socks

Besides the pattern, I've also been working on my cross stitch snowman.

I'm down to stitching the sparkly white and then it's outline time! I love doing the outlines. That is when the picture comes to life.

The weather has been winterish the last couple days. Periods of clear skies followed by short periods of snow-most of it kind of slushy. Last night we got some freezing rain. Everything was glazed when I got up. Now the sun is shining, it's above freezing, and the ice is falling out of the trees and hitting the house. It's kind of a scary sound so I'll be glad when it's all melted off.

Have a great day.

In Transparent Pink

Okay, has anyone seen my glass of ice tea? I set it down somewhere in the house and can't remember where.

Oh, never mind. Found it.

I have finished another beading project. I started it last September when I did the cabochon. Yesterday I finished the necklace part. It's just simple 3-bead netting with a peyote toggle.


Here's a close up of the necklace part. I used seed beads in Czech size 11 pink transparent and Japanese size 15 pink with a red lining. I wore it yesterday and got lots of compliments. That helped to blow up my ego. Heh heh. By the way, that adorable little jewelry box in the above picture is a birthday gift from my friend Sally.



I also neglected to mention last week that I have posted a new bead knitting pattern on my Beadknitter Patterns site. It's called the Dragon Banner Necklace. Here's a pic.---->

It's a pretty simple pattern that I came up with cos it was easier than doing the same in peyote-at least, at the time. I could do it in peyote now with my hands tied behind my back-figuratively speaking. You'll have to visit the site to see what I'm talking about.

I am a bit lonely. Sweet Hubby left for Orlando, Florida yesterday on a business trip. He's gone to a kitchen show I think. Or is it a building show? I don't know-some kind of trade show architects are likely to be skulking around so they can try and sell their software to them. He took Frank with him (daughters boyfriend-that-I-want-for-a-son-in-law). His brother, Dan, is with them too. I don't know about the wisdom of sending those 3 to Orlando together. I hope there's a chaperon.

Sarah (daughter I want to marry Frank) left on a business trip to the University of Idaho/Washington State University the same day. She's attending their various job fairs being held this week to recruit possible new summer interns and employees.

So I'm eating dinner alone the rest of the week. Sigh. I miss them.

Have a good day.

Pattern Updated

I spent the morning fixing some of the problems brought to my attention in the free pattern. It should be easier to understand now. Let me know what you think.

Embellish Me

Last night we went to see the new Pirates of the Carribean-at Worlds End movie. I enjoyed it very much, though there was one thing I didn't like about it. They spent the whole movie building up to the release of the goddess Calypso from her human form, and then when she was released it was so anticlimatic and flat I almost cried with disappointment. Here I thought there'd be a great revenge scene and ......nothing. She grows giant, and disappears. Whoop-dee-doo. It sucked. The rest of the movie was good though. Especially the fight scenes, and the special effects.

This afternoon my daughter Ruth and I went for a stroll in the back yard. The cats went with us, though Chenille chickened out about a quarter of the way, meowed at us loudly, and went home. The grass and whatnot is getting pretty tall on the trails now. I suppose it can be difficult to wade through when you're only eight inches tall.

We spooked a mama grouse and her nest of little babies. She kept flying ahead of us and pretending the lame wing routine to get us away from them. We weren't interested. Well, Silver was I suppose, but we didn't let him explore the possibilities for a snack. The babies were so cute! We left them alone and went on our merry way (Silver pouted).

I checked to see if the Lady Slipper was in bloom (down the hill from our house). It wasn't even there. Didn't sprout this time. I was afraid that would happen. They prefer protected shady spots and the trees that were around it to give it that environment are gone now (stupid storm!), so it's too sunny in that spot. Rats! I did everything I could to save it because it's on the endangered species list, but I guess things were just too different for it. I wonder if the Phantom Orchid will sprout this year? Another rare one growin' in my back yard. I'll have to go check on it in a few days or so.

Have a great day.

Pattern Is Up

I've posted the first free pattern on BeadKnitter Patterns. Please check it out and leave a comment about what you think. Ways to improve? Let me know. Thanks.

Embellish Me

New Site

Today I'm working on a site/blog for patterns designed and written by me called BeadKnitter Patterns. I plan to put free and purchasable patterns on it. I've got a lot of work to do. I need to figure out how to do a shopping cart. A difficult task for me, seeing as I have no idea how to do it at the present time.

Morgan is doing fine. His drain is draining. Yech, what a mess. Slimy red stuff all over his neck. I wonder if he's getting tired of having his neck washed?

Yesterday Ruth and I went and saw Shrek 3. I'd heard two things about it. 1) It was better than the previous two. 2) It wasn't as good as the previous two. They're both wrong. It's AS GOOD as the previous two. I loved the plot and the funnies were hilarious. The graphics are amazing! In one scene there's a close up of Fiona's head. The hair was so life like. It gleamed just like real hair would gleam, and you could see each individual strand gleaming differently depending on where it was in relation to the light source. Won't be too much longer and you won't be able to tell animated from real photos.

Later this afternoon we're gonna go see the new Pirates movie.

Well, I'm off to do some research on shopping carts.

Have a good day!