Dragon's Orchid Garden

This bookmark pattern was the most challenging so far.  I've done 6 others.  One of the challenging parts was remembering that I'm knitting most of it in a reverse stockingnette stitch, so that purls are in the front and knit stitches are the wrong side.  This makes the rib stitches that make up the stem of the flower and the ribs in the leaves really stand out.  The back side looks nice, too.  Another challenging part of this pattern was learning the correct way to YO or yarn over between knit and purl stitches.  If you don't do it the correct way, your yarn holes will close up.  The finished pattern can be found on Ravelry for free. One more challenge was translating the chart from my pencil and graph paper to a table with knitting symbols in Pages.  By now, I'm getting almost as good at typing in knitting symbols as I am at typing letters!  I got lots of practice with this one. The pattern is adapted from one in the book, The Essentia...

I finally got down to typing up the chart I made for the new bookmark.  It has three lace flowers surrounded by eyelets around the edges.  The fun bead I picked for the tassel echoes the flower shape of the lace.  I found out that the Windows version of CET Knitting Symbols font works almost perfectly with Apple's Pages.  Almost.  I just could not get any of the alt-codes to work, so had to improvise a "t" for the more commonly used knitting symbol for a twisted stitch.  You can find the finished charted pattern here . I love the part where I get out the pencil and graph paper and draw the design. From knitting The finished bookmark looks great with this color-way of Mini Mochi yarn.  Blocking: From knitting Finished: From knitting Fueled by homemade turkey pot pie, I was able to get through the frustration of (still) learning Apple's Pages version of working with tables as opposed to Word.  The pot pie is to die for.  I'll shar...

My first design! With thanks to Barbara G. Walker for her fabulous books, especially Charted Knitting Designs : a third treasury of knitting patterns.  I'm working on another one with a peak and a tassel.  I've made a pattern for this batwing lace bookmark which you can find here .  I've become a bookmark knitting maniac.  Guess what ya'll are getting for Christmas this year, family.  That's right...books.  With a little something to mark your place. I've made 7 bookmarks so far out of one ball of Crystal Palace Yarns Mini Mochi, and still have enough left for at least 3 more.  This pattern is the first lace I've knit where patterned stitches are included on both sides (yarn overs, increases and decreases).  The goal is to become confident enough to knit the Pretty as a Peacock Shawl .

I am easing myself back into the habit of knitting every day.  I've had 5 unfinished projects sitting in their bags since February.  Is it a coincidence that I stopped knitting when I bought this imac?  I think not.  I've poked in those bags, and knitted a row or two here and there, but have become bored.  It took something fun and small to get the feeling of passion I have for the craft to resurface.  I'm crazy about knitting lace.  In the last week, I've knitted three bookmarks out of a ball of Mini Mochi sock yarn.  I think I can knit 10 bookmarks from one little ball. From knitting I bought the yarn last year at Fiber Art, Inc.   Knitting a bookmark is a great way to practice a lace pattern.  I can make one in just a couple of hours. I love the way the subtle color changes work into the patterns so that each bookmark is completely different. I have two books with fantastic charts and designs for lace patterns. One is Char...