Below are the 12 most recent journal entries recorded in alison_bigbee's LiveJournal:

Monday, August 21st, 2006
11:10 am	Catching up on knitting and blogging...clogs, clogs,...and Lace Well, I have proven to myself that I am not a very good blogger....maybe with the kids back in school, I can try a little harder...hehehe I have made knitting progress this summer...I got sidetracked from my lace projects when the FiberTrends clog pattern arrived! I ran out and bought Patons Classic Wool Merino and made a pair for my stepmom's birthday (the grey and red clogs below.) I took a picture before felting...notice that someone in the family wanted their foot included in the pic...hehehe I also found Nashua Wooly Stripes on sale at Jessica Knits (my LYS) and made a pair for my Mom's birthday out of the Faded Blues color. Pictures are before and after felting....I love this pattern and plan to make more for Christmas gifts! I have made progress on the Streakers Shrug (almost done, more soon...see lace pattern of the sleeves below) The Huck Lace Shawl...slow going...I think I got distracted and put the shawl down. I do like the Huck Lace Shawl pattern, it is a very simple lace pattern that involves no YO's at all. You can't really see the color of this sport weight yarn in this picture but I had to put the shawl up against the light to see the pattern....I am using Blue Skies Alpaca Alpaca and Silk...a very lovely yarn to work with. I may put this away for now until it starts to call for me again.... I have been inspired by all the wonderful lace knitting on the Amazing Lace this summer and want to dip my "toes" even deeper into Lace. I ordered the books, "Folk Shawls" by Cheryl Oberle and "A Gathering of Lace" edited by Meg Swansen to find a pattern to try. The Feather and Fan Shawl looked intriguing amd I have been following blogs of fellow knitters who have done the Feather and Fan Shawl. I ordered Knitpicks Alpaca Cloud (color Autumn) fulling intending on starting the Feather and Fan but then ran across the Icarus Shawl KAL....AND THAT DID IT! Even though I had received the Interweave Knits Summer 2006 issue, for some reason I didn't even take a second glance at the Icarus Shawl (probably because I thought it was way to hard for my level of skill!) Now, I am going to attempt the Icarus Shawl using the Knitpicks Alpaca Cloud (and joining the Icarus KAL...there seems to be several "first time" lace knitters that are comparing notes on that KAL...) Thanks to Theresa and Rachel for hosting the Amazing Lace...it has been a real joy to have been a team member. Although I haven't kept my blog updated, I have visited a lot of fellow teammates and their blogs almost daily and have followed along in their adventure over the summer! It has been a lot of fun, has made lace knitting seem less intimidating and has inspired me to try more lace projects!! (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Friday, June 23rd, 2006
12:22 pm	Amazing Lace Challenge 3: Poetry Well, Challenge #3: One poem, written by, for or about your Lace teammate...well, here goes (haven't composed poetry in years, so bear with me:) In the Summer of 2006 Teams formed and picked up a pair of "sticks" The challenge and the race Named the "Amazing Lace" Would fill me with anticipation (I would also take some licks:) Karabella and I took on the Streakers Shrug And I can say, "So Far, So Good!" As for Alpaca and Silk and the Huck Lace Shawl, There have been yields, detours and a frogging free for all! For now, I can say the way is clear, The knitting fine and the summer dear! The heat of the sun is not a deterrant, The yarn glides through the needles like a smooth river's current! A Newbie to Lace Knitting; I have now lost my fear! (Comment on this)
Monday, June 19th, 2006
3:09 pm	Extreme Knitting in Arizona during Summer Break! Well, I missed the deadline for the Extreme Knitting challenge on the Amazing Lace KAL but still wanted to post my experience knitting during the summer in Arizona while the kids are on Summer Vacation....temps here have been running about 110 through 112 degrees for the past week so we try to do outdoor things in the morning. The kids love to swim and I use this time to knit... the Huck Lace Shawl is a lot cooler to knit outdoors than the Streakers Shrug:) Below is my entry for my extreme knitting...I usually have a big drink and shades in hand...and usually end up in the pool with the kids! For those of you who don't know what the Extreme Knitting Challenge is: we are supposed to post a picture of knitting under extreme conditions (and they don't have to be physical...mine just happens to be:) The Amazing Lace competitors posted some awesome entries in this category...I have enjoyed visiting everyone's blogs to see what they are up to! I will try hard to keep my blog up to date from now on:) (Comment on this)
3:02 pm	Huck Lace Shawl...There was a Detour but we are back on track! My other teammate for the Amazing Lace is the Huck Lace Shawl from Morehouse Farm Merino Knits. The pattern calls for Lace or Fingering Weight yarn on needle size 5 or 6....I chose to knit it in Blue Sky Alpacas Alpaca Silk...this yarn is labelled as a sport weight. I did a swatch of garter stitch (what the pattern called for) on size 6 needles and got gauge....then proceeded to knit 50 rows...DETOUR! I didn't like how tight the stitches were....I wanted the shawl to be looser/more open, so I ripped back and restarted on size 8 needles. I think this will work out much nicer (hopefully, we shall see:) (Comment on this)
2:58 pm	Streakers Shrug update Progress has been made on the Streakers Shrug that I am knitting and have entered into the Amazing Lace KAL....haven't made it to the lace sleeves yet! I am really enjoying working with this yarn and enjoying this project...although it is hot to work on this time of year! It will be ready for me in the fall, however:) (Comment on this)
2:51 pm	Some Catching Up to Do:) Well, as you can tell, I am not a very good blogger....I go off and do other things (knitting) and forget to post on my blog:) I have been busy....as you can see from my posts from today:) The Wobbly Circles Tote side one is DONE....my first attempt at intarsia and it is slow going! I found a good place to knit intarsia (it isn't something that I can tote around very easily...no pun intended:) The Dining Room table works really well...lets hope that the project is done by the time the holidays roll around (just kidding...or not:) I am going to add sides and handles to the tote instead of following the pattern exactly.... (Comment on this)
Tuesday, May 16th, 2006
2:22 pm	The Amazing Lace: Challenge # 1 Our turn for Introductions? Well, this team is up for the challenge of the Amazing Lace! We are ready for traveling lots of miles together, little to no sleep and the relationship that will be strengthened/tested during the challenge! The team consists of Alison, a relatively new knitter who started knitting about a year ago and is now ready for trying lace projects, and the teammate, Karabella Aurora Bulky in Color 31 (which would best be described as a beautiful, shimmering silvery gray…..kind of the color of the poodle, Calli, that Karabella is modeling with: This team first met when I (Alison) saw the Streakers Shrug in the Interweave Knits Spring 2006 issue and just fell in love with its design (how the lace sleeves interact with the rest of the shrug!) I was also ready to knit something for myself…. finally, although I do have lots of intentions for Christmas presents on the planning/doing board. Living in Arizona, I realized that the shrug would see me through the not-so-cold Arizona winters. I had seen Karabella at my yarn store, Jessica Knits, in north Scottsdale, and due to Karabella’s personality, realized that we would be a perfect team for the Streakers Shrug! I have made a swatch and Karabella and I seem to be a strong team….who knows what the challenge will bring? Hoots of Joy, Frustrating Frogging, Tears of Despair? This team thinks in the end of the Amazing Lace, there will be a deep sense of pleasure in each other’s company and a feeling of pride in the accomplishment that the team will have made during the summer of 2006! Another teammate that Alison has that is on the bench (ready to take over for Karabella and the Streakers Shrug) is the Wavy Razor Shell Scarf knit in Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino. This team has been together a little longer than The Streakers Shrug team…..Alison had intentions to give her mother-in-law this scarf for Christmas (then I put it down), Valentine’s day (then I put it down), Birthday (then I put it down), and Mother’s Day (then I put it down.) Because of the Amazing Lace, this team will not be benched again….and my mother-in-law will finally get her scarf!! (4 Comments |Comment on this)
Thursday, May 11th, 2006
10:09 am	Amazing Lace KAL Ok, I just joined the Amazing Lace KAL and I am really excited about finding this KAL! I have about 2 to 3 lace projects (or projects with a little lace on them:) planned this summer and this will give me a kick in the butt to get started/finished! I am very new at lace knitting and have been working on the Wavy Razor Shell Scarf (see below) for a present for my mother-in-law that I found at the following: http://gonnapurl.blogspot.com/2006/01/scarf-patterns.html I also plan to knit the Streakers Shrug in Interweave Spring 2006...I am using Karabella Aurora Bulky in dark gray)...if I make progress on that, I am planning on starting the Simply Lovely Lace Socks for my sister. I also just found the Flower Petal Shawl by Elann that I may try for my mom for Christmas. Pretty AMBITIOUS plans but if I can make it through, I'll be well on my way for Christmas presents:):) (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Sunday, April 30th, 2006
4:14 pm	Non scruffy poodles (Comment on this)
4:05 pm	First Sweater project from Fall 2005 Ok, now that I figured out how to upload a picture, I have to post this one:) Now I just have to figure out how to turn a picture so it is not posted on it's side:) This was a sweater project for my Nephew's 2nd birthday and I loved this project and yarn! This was Knitting Pure and Simple pattern #9730 using Lorna's Shepard Worsted Aran wt... color: Jeans. The yarn is Machine Washable...perfect for a 2 year old! It was knitted in the round and I learned a lot on this sweater! Lots of ripping back but for some reason, it wasn't frustrating...amazing considering I don't have alot of patience:) (Comment on this)
3:50 pm	Picture of Wobbly Circles Tote side 1 Well, here is the progress on the Wobbly Circles tote so far...slow going but my stitches are not as loose...I am getting into a groove:) My first picture posted on my first blog...YEAH! (Comment on this)
Saturday, April 29th, 2006
8:35 pm	brand new blog Just figuring out this blogging thing…I have never done this before so bear with me. I just joined the Wobbly Circles Tote KAL…have never done a Knit A Long before either….I am looking forward to being part of a group that is knitting the same thing as I am. I have been working on the Wobbly Circles tote for about 3 weeks now and am almost done with the first side. I have to figure out how to get a picture pasted here and then I will share how it looks. I like the colors I chose….but the intarsia thing is taking a little getting used to. I am following the instructions in Interweave about how to knit intarsia and the detangling is getting easier (I can arrange my bobbles ahead of time so they won’t be so twisted when I turn to knit/purl the next row. There are some loose stitches, so I am glad that I am felting the toteJ Picture will be up tomorrow! (Comment on this)