Monica Knits

This 18 color Ukrainian madonna and child image from the Museum Collection of the Ukrainian Women's Association of Canada was cross stitched by my mother-in-law, Margaret, from a pattern drawn by Nell Burianyk. The colors are more vibrant than shown, but I had to photograph it in the shade because it is framed with highly reflective glass. This gives creates a blue cast to the image. Click on the thumbnail to view a larger image.

Pattern source: "Ukrainian Embroidery Designs and Stitches," Ukrainian Women's Association of Canada, 1956.

The lily of the valley pattern is a little trickier to knit with lace weight yarn than fingering weight because it is easy to miss picking up one of the 5 loops or to accidentally pick up an extra loop. The middle of the 5 stitches in the nupp is sometimes tight or hidden behind the other loops. The other potential error is to accidentally pick up 6 sts, since for many of the nupps, the next stitch is a yarn over, which is easy to unwittingly pickup with a 3.25 mm needle. The use of a small diameter, contrast colored is used to ensure that 5 and only 5 loops are picked up. Read more ... for additional photos and discussion.

Pompoms can be used to decorate clothing, accessories and home decor items. They can be made in custom sizes and in single or multiple colors. Although you can purchase pompom makers, it is easy enough to make your own. Read more .... for instructions

These cuff-down, knitted ribbed tube socks, evocative of refreshing rocket popsicles, incorporate, a round toe and melon colors. Shown in size 6-12 months. The pattern provides instructions for sizes 0-6 months and 12-24 months as well and includes an optional waste yarn (peasant) heel and Kitchener toe. If you've never knitted socks before, tube socks are the quickest to knit and baby socks less intimidating than adult socks.

Pattern Information: Two Toes Tubes Baby Socks
Knit Picks http://www.knitpicks.com/patterns/Two_Toes_Tubes_Baby_Socks__D10417220.html This pattern lets you choose from 2 toes, 2 heels, 3 patterns and 3 sizes using Comfy Fingering^TM cotton or or Palette^TM Peruvian Highland wool yarns--over 12 sock combinations.

Recently I wrote about using stitch markers for the Lily of the Valley Socks. They are even more useful for the "Queen Silvia Shawl", which has even more lily repeat patterns. The pattern, found in Nancy Bush's book "Knitted Lace of Estonia," recommends 2 stitch markers for separating the garter stitch borders from the central lily lace pattern. I found it helpful to use additional stitch markers for separating the lily repeat patterns as well as the initial cast on. So far I have knitted 56 rows: the garter stitch border and 3 pattern repeats. I made two changes to the pattern instructions. Read more ....

Even though I haven't posted many knitting articles recently, I have completed 8 pairs of socks over the past 3 weeks, including another pair of lily of the valley socks as a gift. I'm adding additional tips to my knitting notes, because a friend has asked me to order the pattern and some wool for her, so I wanted to make sure there weren't any surprises in the pattern. I didn't follow it exactly the first time; this time I decided I had better do so, or I wouldn't be able to answer questions on the instructions. The first tip concerns the use of stitch markers for parsing lace repeat patterns. Read more ....

Yesterday evening the tornado siren sounded, so we powered everything down (no blogging) and hunkered down in the basement, while the thunderstorm passed through. We have a small portable TV down there and tuned into the local weather station to keep up with the storm's progress and severity. In our county 100,000 people were without power today, but we were fortunate and did not lose power.

We are definitely in the dog days of summer (a few days early), fortunately moderated by wind. Shaq enjoyed the breeze, which was at times gentle and at times strong enough to cause his ears to flap as if he were in a car travelling with its windows down. The breeze also made it easy for him to catch scents, just by pointing his nose in the direction of the wind. He even opened his mouth to catch more air, as if sipping a fine wine. In this photo he is taking a break in the prairie among the daisies.

Many of you read the Gold Flame Spirea article: Not Your Usual Spring Colors - Gold Flame Spirea. In spring (right), it is the equivalent of the burning bush with its vibrant reddish leaves. In summer (left) the leaves are green and the tiny flower clusters dark pink. Click here to read the article: Not Your Usual Spring Colors - Gold Flame Spirea.

For the past week or so I have been experimenting with knitted embellishments for 3 purses I am making. One of my ideas was a four leaf clover, a symbol of good fortune, but I hadn't seen one in over a decade, until today. And it was Shaq, our GSP, who pointed it out, literally, during a pause in our jog. Lucky for me, and likely as well for the clover which Shaq watered and fertilized. This is providence; one purse was destined to have a shamrock design element.