My Dad Knits

Bert — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 18:29:39 +0000

I am now located at mydadknits.com

please visit me…..

Famous Movie Quotes and Knitting

Bert — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 17:52:27 +0000

Now, to the knitting

I made a Lortop bag for the secretary at work Mrs. Bogues. She has been very supportive throughout my years at school. So, I knitted her a purse using Noro. I used buttons to fasten the strap on. I think it gave it a better finishing touch.

I found this great material at Walmart for the lining.

I am currently working on another bag for Ms. Burrows my assistant. She wanted one also but smaller. So, I went down to needle size 6.

I also finished a pair of fingerless gloves from the book Mens knits by Knitters Magazine. I made them for our good friend Dave.

I also have almost finished a Noni messenger bag, but I did not buy enough yarn to finish the project. So, I have to wait two weeks before I can get more of the yarn. I have traveled and called several yarn stores to get this color of cascade 220. But, knitting is about patience. I have taken the pattern and incorporated a wolf’s head into the flap of the bag using intarsia.

Spring means baby chicks and we currently have 20 baby chicks in the barn.

While in Paris for Spring Break, and what I really mean is Paris Island, I saw this knitted chicken in the window in Beaufort, South Carolina. If anyone knows of the pattern, please tell me where I can find it.

School is almost over and then I get to have even more time to knit.

See ya next time!

JUST A KNITTIN

Bert — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 19:48:33 +0000

I am ready for some warm weather and so is Mikael

My first project that I had finished was a scarf for Dee. This was her birthday gift. My inspiration was a scarf that Alisha was wearing that she bought at Old Navy. Dee’s request was for a purple scarf which was knitted with a chunky yarn from Michael’s. It was three strips knitted 2K 2P 2K 2P 2K then braided. It’s very soft and warm. Afte, I knitted it, Nell from Knitch said the pattern was in Vogue’s Knitting magazine’s Fall/Christmas edition.

When I was at the mountain retreat, I started on a baby blanket for Mrs. McGuire, who is celebrating the arrival of her first baby girl. this is her fourth child and first baby girl. The baby blanket was quick and easy

I also finished the alligator scarf for Kendra from Merino Farms but knitted it with Rowan Wool which created a larger and softer alligator.

Bret also inspired me to knit another hat. I like knitting hats because they’re quick and you can be creative.

Hank, Lulu and Kendra came up last weekend and with much excitement a hail storm and threats of Tornadoes tried to dampen our fun. But it didn’t stop them from finding some fun.

See ya next post. maybe I’ll have some Timber hair spun with all the shedding that is going on.

Mountain Retreats, Sweater Vests, and Alligators

Bert — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 17:15:43 +0000

Believe it or not, I have been knitting!I have been working on some projects and finished some.

I started a sweater vest from Knitters Magazine Knitters Universe.

I have finished the back and now all I have left is the front. I bought the kit from Knitting Universe, which was pretty costly, but it is a nice pattern.

It is a fair isle pattern and is easy once you get started with the pattern

I have also been working on an Alligator Scarf for Kendra, it’s about half way completed. I bought the kit from Morehouse Farms, but I didn’t care for the yarn that was with the kit. So, I decided to use Rowan Pure Wool Aran and increased my needle size to 10 1/2 which has made the Alligator a little bit bigger and much softer.

I also completed a hat for Josef. He asked for a hat for Valentines Day and while we were visiting Main Street Yarns in Watkinsville, GA. I was inspired to knit this hat

I have decided to go to a knitting retreat next weekend. I will be traveling to Dilliard, Georgia to the Mountains. I will be with Atlanta Knitting Guild. So, my next blog will about my travels to the Mountain.

Spring is Coming!

Christmas and Hanukkah

Bert — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 19:34:28 +0000

It sure has been awhile since my last post. But I have been just a busy knittin.

I made two purses for Mikael's teachers Mrs. Hall and Ms. Price.

Mrs. Hall's purse was a pink cable purse with a green frog lining. Ms. Price's purse was a conservative tan with beautiful rowan handles.

I was happy with the way both finished. My secret santa recipient received a beautiful hooded sleeveless hoodie. It was a sweater that should have taken a weekend to knit.

It was done on size 14 needles with chunky yarn--this was also big hit!

We also celebrate Hanukkah in our home. I bought this cozy dog sweater from target. it's a Mizrahi original. Next year I am hoping to knit a Hanukkah sweater for Timber

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Big Wheels are Turning

Bert — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 19:21:12 +0000

Howwwwlll

Well, I finally got my very own spinning wheel. Mikael and I took the drive up to Asheville on Friday to the South Eastern Animal fiber Fair and brought back a Lendrum Spinning Wheel. I tried to play around with it today. But it looks like I am going to have to take a class to really know what I am doing.

We stayed over night at the Renaissance Marriot in festive downtown Asheville. Anyplace with an indoor pool is a winner with Mikael. At the fair we saw llamas and sheep. I also bought some fiber to spin and some fabulous purple yarn for Dee's scarf.

The llamas were a big hit with Mikael

and the sheep

At the fair, I met with some of the members of my Friday night knitting group. I actually was able to finish the Power Ranger Cape. It turned out marvelous.

Purse update: The purse felted more than it should have and will become a make-up bag for someone this Christmas. But I haven't given up on felting just yet. Nell said she is teaching a class on felting at Knitch. So I am going to take her up on her class.

Happy Halloween Everyone!

On Top of Wolf Mountain

Bert — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 20:01:00 +0000

My wonderful Josef took me for a romantic getaway to Dahlonega, Georgia, for my birthday. Up on top of the mountain there just happened to be a winery called Wolf Mountain. They also had a cafe where we had a light lunch. The weekend was filled with nature walks, massages, facials, and great food. A birthday I will never forget.

On the Sticks

I got lots of knitting done in the car on the drive up. In the car, I finished the second purse that was in progress. The first one didn't meet my expectations after I felted it. I thought using Rowan yarn and a Rowan pattern with the suggested needles I wouldn't have such a discrepency, but there was. So, I did what I was supposed to do. I created a swatch and adjusted the pattern.

First Purse

Second Purse Before Felting

I'll post pictures of the finished purse after it's felted. Wish me luck!

I have also started a super hero cape for my son Mikael. Here is a picture from the book "New Knits on the Block" by Vickie Howell

Hopefully, I will get it finished by Halloween. It's going pretty fast.

Here's Mikael being a super hero without the cape.

I am always on the lookout for vintage knitting items, needles, patterns, notions, and whatever I can find. I found this gem during the summer on our way to Florida for Lulu's Birthday. It was $24.99 and in great condition.
NRFB

Write and share some of your great vintage knitting finds.

Dee was gracious enough to watch Mikael for weekend so Papa and Daddy could get away. After awhile I was knitting on the deck, Josef was reading this great book about Julia Child in France, and Dee, a straight girl from the Tobacco Fields of South Carolina, was doing auto body work on her truck. Indeed this is the Glamorous Life

Next Posting will be about Mikael's and my trip to the SAFF fair in Asheville, NC. Checkout the website at saffsite.org I am all about a place that has free childcare while daddy gets to knit.

Happy Halloween!

Power Rangers, Clowns, and Felting

Bert — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 21:36:23 +0000

Last Friday, Instead of meeting with my pals at Knitch. I took Mikael to see The Power Rangers at The Mall of Georgia. He loved it! This was a free show, so Papa and Daddy loved it as well. He took three of his friends Jason, Myles, and Price with him and they had a ball.

My Friend Dee gave me a special gift this week a clown snow globe. It plays “Send in the Clowns.”

I will cherrish every moment with this globe.

This is my first experience felting and I am not sure if I like it. The texture is ok, but I am not sure on the dimensions. The pics didn’t come out very good with the digital camera. I bought the handles and need to buy some lining fabric to finish it. But the width of the bag is longer than I expected.

I am still working on the never ending blanket.

Book Review

This is a great purse book reference. It has some really great purse ideas with explicit instructions. Great book to have if you need to make a gift in a short amount of time.

The Eyes of My Sanity

Bert — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 23:54:09 +0000

These are the eyes that hold my sanity. It has been a hectic couple of weeks, but things are beginning to slow down between work and school. My kindergarten class is awesome and very smart. Mikael is enjoying school very much and doing very well. He loves his kindergarten teacher and his class very much.

I’ve still been meeting with my knitting group on Fridays at Knitch which has expanded their shop. This is the nicest knitting store in Atlanta. The group is always fun, interesting and resourceful. I am still shopping for a spinning wheel. Today, I went to Scott’s Antique Show and went browsing to see if there were any old ones, but didn’t have any luck.

Progress

I am still working on the never ending blanket. This is a good project to do while I am watching television, but it sure is getting heavy.

The raglan sweater is coming along I finished the back and a sleeve.

I’ve also started a purse from the Rowan Autumn/Winter 2006/2007

I am not putting all the dingleberries on it though. If any one has completed this project I sure would like your comments, or if you have a cool purse story. I am trying to get ahead on Hannukah/Christmas gifts.

I am off to get my haircut on Wednesday to celebrate the New Year.

Happy Rosh,

Bert

Hank, Helmet Liners, and Hotlanta

Bert — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 01:13:25 +0000

Wow, it sure is hot down here in Atlanta. We have had record breaking temperatures reaching over 100 degrees. We have all been trying to keep cool and the poor dogs have been in hiding all week.

Kendra and Hank stopped by this week and hung out with the family as they travelled to Tennessee. Here’s Hank helping out with a summer project. Mikael really enjoys having guests come and stay.

I’ve started on a helmet liner for our soldiers. You can view the pattern at www.geocities.com/helmetliner