I shouldn't be allowed to surf knitting sites. I want three new sweaters. Like I need three more sweaters worth of yarn.

I got my SP9 package last night. I have pictures I'll have to post later (I'm posting from work). I got a ball of sock yarn (Trekking), a couple of knitting magazines (which are interesting - my SP9 pal is from England), and a couple of cute stuffed hearts with little spangles on them, and some chocolates and a scarf (which my daughter stole - the chocolates and the scarf). There was the niftiest little old knitting book. It has a couple of REALLY cool sock patterns that I might have to try. I think I will photocopy the whole thing so it won't get ruined with use.

My secret pal is the BEST!

The resolution conundrum

Every year about this time people start talking about making resolutions for the new year. This year is no different. As I browse around the blogs I read I see it on many of them.

As a general rule I don't make new years resolutions. For me they are self defeating. I need short term agreements with myself, with a short end in sight. I can go three months without buy yarn, or fabric or starting a new project. But if I have to go an entire year I won't do anything.

As I start putting stuff in my new room though I'm putting projects together. Kitting it all up together with notes and patterns. It probably won't help destash, but that isn't really the goal. The goal is organization. I will of course be overwhelmed by the amount of stuff I have. But getting it all together will make starting a new project easier. I hate it when I go to get the stuff and I can't find half of it. I also know that I have a couple of projects I started gathering stuff for where I am missing a skein of this or a yard of that. So I think my goal will be to get them all together, with all the necessary bits and make a couple piles. Stuff that is almost finished, stuff that needs to be finished for a child - who will out grow it soon and stuff for me that can wait. I have a good list here already of stuff that just needs to be finished or needs to get done for a gift/growth spurt. I'm about 1/2 way through my goal time and 1/2 way through my list. Not bad.

I am not going to finish Beadwork or Mary Tudor by the 15th of January. That was obviously wishful thinking on my part. But I am going to reassess my projects on the 15th and create a new list and a new set of goals to keep me interested and progressing forward.

This weeks short term goal - finish that baby sweater. Before the baby shows up!

Success

I have managed to survive the holiday.

I am feeling better. I get SAD every year but I spend all day today sitting in sun puddles (starting under my daylight lamp at 7am and then again all evening). I hope it lasts through the week. The remodel called for BIG windows in the whole house so if I can managed to stay home a couple days a week I should be good. We'll see.

I have reknit the sleeves for the baby sweater again. I'm happier with them now. Fussy fussy.

I have also managed to knit two rows on the back of my Beadwork. I knit the second row left handed. It is not a good knit on the wrong side. If I was willing to put in the work to rewrite it and start over I'd probably knit it in the round. Right at the moment I want to keep knitting it as is.

My work room is done and I'm going to start moving stuff into it. There will probably not be a lot of knitting going on this next few weeks.

What are you talking about?!

I can't believe it is only Wednesday. It FEELS like Friday. How can it not be Friday!?

I still haven't finished the second sleeve for the baby sweater. With any luck I'll get knitting time over the holiday weekend. At the very least there shall be pictures this weekend.

We hung the last door last night. It went about the same way as the first one we hung Sunday. I am quite surprised that we haven't killed each other yet.

If things go well tonight I plan to get the base coat on the bathroom wall and then go to meeting. Things NEVER go like I plan. But I could take the baby sweater with me and work on it! This would be a very good thing. We will see.

Grrr!

Sewing room - The floor is finished and the trim is stained but it is NOT installed. We put in doors instead. We only have one left. I wish he had put in the trim so I could start moving my stuff.

I have 1 sleeve for the baby sweater finished and one about 1/2 done. I should have it finished tonight and then I can re-cast on for the body. It's going quick which is good.

I bought some more yarn - Bad me. It is beautiful and I have the sweater all picked out. I'm going to start it on my birthday. It will replace one that got felted in the wash. Plus I had a $20 gift card for the yarn store. So I got the yarn for $40.

SCORE!

There goes the schedule

I realized last night, while working on my mother's cardigan, that I only have about 6 weeks to get that baby sweater done! YIKES! So I cast on the sleeve (there being certain problems with the body I had already cast on) and began to knit it. I will have to knit faster if I'm going to finish and it looks like I will be busy at work the next couple of weeks as well.

I love it when directions say "center pattern over center of sleeve" It took me more time to count and double count to center the pattern than the actual knitting.

So while I was making good progress on my list I'm now side tracked by more urgent matters. Once the sweater is done the tablet weaving will take precedence since the recipient is going to be in town on the 13th of January. So I think I'll probably not get Victoria's sweater done soon enough. Poor little girl.

Fala lala la la la

We still have no snow. In Minnesota, in December!

I have to get my second secret pal gift in the mail this week, so it arrives in time for the holidays.

I found a pattern for my husband's sweater. It isn't exactly what I wanted but it will work.

I finished Liz' mittens. They are nice. They need to be washed but I don't think I will be able to get them back from her until spring.

This leaves just two sweaters to sew together and then I have knitting knitting knitting left on my list.

Tomorrow is another day

No knitting has occurred chez moi.

The yarn for my mittens is dry. With any luck at all I can finish at least one pair of mittens this weekend. Of course that is what I said last week.

I have decided to attempt reeling silk. I have ordered cocoons and begun a list of necessary equipment. I have found a partner in crime. I am all set! Now we just have to get our supplies together and find a day we are both available.

I have learned through my research that reeling results in a certain amount of reeled silk and a roughly equivalent quantity of spinning silk. I think I will attempt to dye it, mix it with wool and spin it for either embroidery or knitting. In my copious free time.

And this is why I get so little done.

Not much happens here

I have 1 1/2 mittens done for my daughter. I don't think I'm going to get the done tonight. Especially since I'm sitting here on the computer reading knitting blogs.

It is cold in my living room and I can't decide if I want coffee or tea so I'm having nothing. How is that for indecisive?

I want to work on my Beadwork. We need mittens.

I best get knitting so I can do what I want.

Hmmm

Well, this weekend was not productive in the knitting arena. I finished the blue baby sweater and started my daughter's mittens. I have one about 3/4 done. It would be nice if I could finish them both tonight. She needs them. I would also like to finish mine. It was pretty cold walking into work this morning.

Unfortunately I spilled a cup of cocoa on the yarn for my mittens (and the floor) yesterday. I managed to get the yarn rinsed but it is pretty wet. The carpet is probably a total loss. It is so nasty anyway that I only made minimal efforts to clean it up.

I'm really tired this afternoon. It's probably because I didn't find anything decent to eat for lunch. I need to bring some snack crap into the office to leave in my desk for those days I can't decide to eat.

The house will never be finished.

December - remember?

I don't know what we should remember. I think I'll remember that I don't need to spend the national debt and buy presents for everyone. This year, I think, just the kids and parents.

I finished Dad's sweater. The buttonbands are wonky on the starting ends. It needs 7 buttons. If my father sent me some antler I could make him buttons. I'll have to call him and tell him.

I am about 1/2 finished with my list. But I did the easy parts first. I have my patterns for the weaving drafted and I can start weaving. I still haven't found a pattern for my husband. Grump!

I finished one mitten, in green and ecru, for me. The pattern is nice. I am going to make my daughter a pair, in red and ivory, this weekend and then finish the second one for my pair.

Busy weekend!

Where has November gone?!

It seems like just last week it was the beginning of November.

I started the button band on Dad's Cardigan last night. I am on my second attempt at the first band.

One would think that spending three days home with a sick child would lead to some serious knitting. It led to a lot of time sitting on the couch next to a fevered child. About the only thing I accomplished was cleaning out my e-mail boxes.

Today we are back on track. Her fever finally broke yesterday about 1pm. Tonight I have a meeting for an event my husband is helping with. I will not be allowed to bring knitting. Grrr.

I wonder what interesting things happened at work the last few days.

Creeping Crud

My daughter appears to have strep so I will be home to take her to the Dr. today.

Yesterday I got one sleeve sewn on my Rogue. I also spun 1.75 oz of wool/silk. Today I might spin the other 1.75 and ply them. The Woolee Winder works quite well. Since I have never timed my spinning I don't know if I'm really spinning more quickly and efficiently or not. But the bobbin is filled nicely and there appear to be fewer thin/thick spots. We'll see when I ply them. That usually makes the unevenness more apparent.

I also started warping my loom for that belt I have on my list of things to do. I need to find the container with the silk thread in it. I believe that I put the remainder of my tablets in it and I need a few more. But do you think I can find it? No. I had it on Sunday. But now it has gone for a walk.

Nearly the end of November?!

My birthday present arrived yesterday. I order a Woolee Winder a few months ago. It is finally here. I'm hoping it really will make my spinning faster. I am also hoping I like it as much as everyone else I've heard from does.

I worked on finishing projects last night. I got a few things done. Yay!

I have the cuff to one mitten started. Yay!

I have started another pair of socks. Yay!

I can't believe it is going to be in the 60s all week. Yay!

I am going to do some spinning tonight. I should finish some more stuff, we will see. Maybe I will manage to do some of both.

Mmmm - fibery goodness!

Wild Weekend

It was a wild and wonderful weekend. I had a great time. I took classes and visited with people.

I started a pair of socks for a friend. She is a wonderful person whom I adore who wanted to knit socks and was. She had a leg knitted. Every stitch was crossed and she had decided that she couldn't knit the heel and I must knit it for her. This is a problem. I am incapable of knitting every stitch crossed. I am also incapable of matching her gauge. So after a couple of rows and attempts at heel creation I took apart her sock and started it over. I finished the first heel this morning and started the second cuff. I will proceed with the second sock to the heel and then knit both feet. I feel slightly guilty about not letting her finish the sock. But I couldn't help her with it. She is also making a scarf and it is going much better. She has better tension and not all the stitches are twisted. I will buy her another ball of yarn and a pattern for the winter gift giving holiday and she can try again.

I am off to check laundry and get ready for another week of fabulous fun at work.

Lists

I have always been very fond of lists. Here is a list of things I'd like to have done by January 15th.

Mittens - 2 pair, I have the yarn
Sweaters - Dad's cardigan: just needs button bands
Mom's cardigan: needs assembly and button bands
Husband's cardigan: have yarn, need pattern
Rogue sweater: needs assembly
Green baby sweater: needs buttons
Blue baby sweater: needs assembly and buttons
Mary Tudor sweater: currently knitting, about 1/2 done with body
Weaving - Aaron's belt: have string and pattern, need to get 'on loom'

In addition to these little items I'd like to get my new sewing room done so I can clean out the old room, get stuff put away so I can actually find/use it and get the remainder of the flooring down. I wouldn't mind getting the shelving up in the library but that can wait a little longer, as long as the flooring gets done.

Part of the hold up with my parents' caridgans is getting near a sewing machine so I can finish the edges and lock down the cut steeks. Actually picking up the stitches and knitting up the bands will not take that long.

Finding a pattern for my husband's cardigan is turning out to be alot harder than I thought it would be. I really am down to using the woman's pattern I have and making adjustments for size. I can't believe that something as simple as a plain worsted weight men's cardigan pattern is so hard to find. I think I'll post this list on the sidebar and we'll see how I do.

Only the bones remain

Turkey day was good.

I finished the weaving.

I have done no knitting. I need to make mittens. It is getting cold outside.

Maybe this weekend.

Annual Feast Of Gluttony!

Don't get me wrong I love Thanksgiving. But it has become a day devoted to over-eating. I am as guilty as the next person in this.

I made pie last night. I'm trying to avoid having pie for breakfast. I am going to make a turkey with stuffing and gravy with potatoes, I don't know what type of vegetable yet but either corn or beans.

It will be just me and Mike and my friend today. A day that they suggest should be a family holiday isn't much of one if it lands in the middle of the week and they don't give you time to get to your family. In order for us to spend this day with family we have to leave on Wednesday and come back Friday.

Well off to cook.

Turkey Day Cometh

One more work day before the festival of gluttony.

Tonight I'm planning to make pumpkin pie. I love pumpkin pie.

I am about 1/3 done with the second item in my weaving project. If I work on while cooking tomorrow I should be able to get all the weaving done. I looked for buckles last night at JoAnns but I didn't find anything that would work. If I don't find the ones I already purchased by Friday I'll have to think of another way to fix them or maybe I will be able to find something this weekend.

We will see what tomorrow brings, but not until later.

Monday Morning?

Here is a picture of the first section of Beadwork:
I haven't managed a good picture of it at all. This one was the best. You can sort of see the pattern. a little bit. It looks really good in person. One day this week I will set the pattern rows and I can start on the back.

I have finished the first section of my weaving and I have started the last.

I really need to start on the mittens (it was cold walking from the parking ramp to the office this morning) and finish the neck on my modular sweater. I have had company all week and I am likely to have company most of the rest of this week. I need to finish the weaving before the weekend so I'm unlikely to get any of the other stuff completed or even started unless the weaving goes much faster. I spent nearly all Saturday sitting and weaving and visiting.

It was a nice weekend. Sunday I went shopping, first for fabric, the yardage calculation error was pretty bad but the good news is I have some nice fabric for shower curtain and window curtains in the upstair bathroom. The bad news is I also have fabric for two or maybe three more such bathrooms. For some barely known reason the feet in my head became yards and instead of 15 ft I asked for 15 yds.

Then I went for groceries. I managed to find a turkey for 37 cents per pound. Mike was cranky that I didn't just get a breast. I pointed out that I got a whole turkey for $4, which is nearly the price of 1 pound of breast. I'm not sure that the coup with the turkey makes up for the fubar with the fabric, but I'm thinking I could make a dress with the left over fabric and pull a Miss Scarlet. Which will amuse me, if nothing else.

And how was your weekend?

The missing post

Here are some pictures of my weaving:

Here is my loom. It is an inkle loom. I am doing tablet weaving on it.















Here is the front of the weaving. The pattern is one I drafted in alternate threaded double-face. This means that the threads twist both ways and that the front is the same as the back, but the colors are reversed.


















Here is a picture of the back.














I am using a tightly twisted silk thread. About the weight of #30 crochet cotton.

I spent all day yesterday (7am until 10pm) out with friends. This kept me from posting yesterday. But I had a great time and I really needed to get out.

Two Post Friday

There are likely to be two posts today.

I have appreciable progress on my little weaving project.

I have completed the first section (hem) of Beadwork.

I promised pictures of both and they would be here now - but I couldn't find the camera this morning. I saw it on my way out the door to work.

My daughter has been moved into her own room. It would be nice if we could be starting to put down floor in my sewing room. We can't do that until we get the nailer back. Probably next week. :(

All the doors are stained. They look very nice. I'm glad the weekend is here. I need the time to myself. Not that I'll actually get it, unless I lock myself in the bathroom and take a 4 hour bath.

Again with the postman

I found the address!

The yarn for my new lopi sweater came yesterday. I want bonus points for not killing the sister-in-law who said "more yarn?" in a snotty way when I came in with the box. UP YOUR NOSE! I spend less on yarn then she does on cigarettes and beer and when I wear what I have after I use it I don't smell like the floor in a bar. Besides which, it is none of her business what I do with my money or my time. Guess who's getting nothing for the holiday?

The floor in Liz' room is done. Tonight I'm going to put together her furniture and she can put her stuff away. Then, maybe they can put the floor down in the new sewing room and I can put my stuff away. Won't that be nice!?

They plan to paint the hallway today. And maybe finish staining the doors and windows. The stain we choose is really nice. We have decided to wax instead of applying poly. We may regret that. But we can always apply poly later. I hope.

Off to work.

Mid-week Mid-November

My loom is all warped up for my little project, pattern is all selected and I hope to get started with the weaving tonight.

I'll try to get some pictures tonight.

It is unlikely that I will get any knitting done this week. But I will be playing with string.

I can't find my SP9 pal's address. I was sure I wrote it down and saved and printed the email. But apparently I'm deluded, at least as far as saving the email. I'll have to contact my hostess and ask her to send it again. I have a package to mail!

I will be so glad when this remodeling is done and my house is less of a disaster area. Perhaps then I will be able to find stuff more often.

Hey a girl can dream!

Carptastic

Since I planned to try to write a post every day in November - here it is.

But I'm really angry at my husband and since I have nothing nice to say I'm not going to say it.

I hope you are all having a nice day.

Monday, Monday

Modular Sweater - I have both cuffs done. Tonight I will finish the neck and maybe sew in the sleeves. I am still enjoying finishing things and I don't have any deep desire to start anything new so I will probably manage to get it done.

I still have not found a cardigan pattern, that I like, for my husband's sweater. I have started several swatches - but so far, nothing that inspires. I will probably focus on Beadwork until I do.

I got a call from my mother about her new sweater. She likes it and it fits. She promises to send a picture. I'll post it when she does. She said that she could feel the warmth from all the love that was knit into every stitch. I told her it was still warm from it's visit to Hades. Although I do have to admit that knitting it was an act of love and devotion. I wouldn't have persevered with that pattern for myself. Only for Mom!

I nearly finished all the laundry. I didn't start doing it until Sunday afternoon. I did do two loads this morning. Getting up early really does help get some stuff done. I also bought shower curtains yesterday. They were too short. I'll have to make another foray this evening. I hope I will have more success. The rod for the shower curtain is what I wanted though. The boys put it up. They are very funny.

I should also start working on mittens for Liz. We got a light dusting of snow last night. She is off for her winter break now so I have some time to finish them up before she has to have them. I think I have found a pattern for them. I haven't knit the swatch yet. Maybe tonight, after I finish the Modular sweater.

I also need to ball some fiber and set up my loom for some weaving. They need to be done by Thanksgiving. So guess what I'm doing tonight? Setting up for a small weaving project! I think, if I'm diligent I can get them done in a week.

Pictures? Likely!

Alas!

No knitting today.

I helped finish the wardrobes in my bedroom (well - almost)

I did some sewing on a dress and ate an excellant dinner.

The weekend went by too fast.

Mail!

Here is one of the little mushroom stitch markers I made. I am very fond of them. They are so cute.












I got this in the mail yesterday

It is a lovely gifty from my SP9 pal.

My daughter and I had a great time opening all the little packages.







Here is what was in the packages.

The Cherry Tree Hill is lovely blue and purple. I will make myself some lovely socks with it!

There is also a nice ball of soft grey yarn that I might just keep for petting. It is so soft!

And Chocolate! We tried the pepper chocolate first thing. It was quite good.

There is also some nice little candles and an adorable little notebook.


Thank you to My pal.

Yesterday I started the cuffs on my modular sweater. I am, again, in the position of trying to guess what the pattern is suppose to be. Thank goodness there are pictures and that I am an brave knitter. Otherwise I'd be really stuck. Actually I would never have gotten this far without my 30+ years of experience and a lot of fearlessness.


To my mother who taught me to knit and be brave - THANK YOU!

Yarn!

The Malabrigo came yesterday. I balled it and I have started to finish the second sleeve. The color isn't an exact match but with the varigation it might me okay. Well, it will have to be okay, I don't have any other option.

I have today off! I am going to cook and knit and visit with my son. He is home from college for the three day weekend.

We got a light dusting of snow last night. Very soon I will need new sweaters.

I better start knitting!

Another Sunny Day!

The sun is out. It is cold but we have sunshine.

I worked on my AS Beadwork yesterday. I am almost finished with the 'hem' chart. I have about 4 rows left and then I do a border and set the pattern for the back.

I found a potential pattern for Mike's sweater. I knit the wrist and then waited for him to show up. It won't go over his hand. He also asked what I'd done to the color. Wasn't it blue? Uhm - it is the same color it was when I asked if he liked it after it arrived. GAH!

I also unknit the Lopi sweater. There isn't enough tonal difference between the colors and the pattern washes out. So I'll have to find a different pattern or buy different yarn. Later. I'm going to finish stuff I already have started first. I even contemplated casting on a pair of socks and didn't have a real desire to do it, I wanted to work on stuff I had started already. This is why my Beadwork went to the meeting last night. Yes, I took a chart heavy requires paying attention sweater to a social setting; and worked on it. Completely nuts!

I love the little mushroom stitch markers I made. I'm going to buy some more of the pieces and make another batch. They don't have any small pointy parts to catch stitches. I might put a couple more rings on just to make them a little longer but that would be the only change I'd make at this point.

I have a holiday tomorrow. I don't know what I'll do with the time.

Post Election Day

Mike's yarn came yesterday. It is an interesting blue. He likes is though so that is what matters.

Now I just have to figure out the pattern.

I am looking forward to having Friday off. It is one of the only bright spots of my job. Those random holidays.

Cookies - I really want cookies or brownies today. I think I might go bake something tastey. Not that I really need the calories. :) But there is solace and comfort and those things are important too. And of course all these things involve chocolate and we all know that chocolate is vitally important to good health.

Oh - I know - chocolate lava cake with chocolate cream cheese frosting! Yummy!

I'll talk to you all later - I'm off to the kitchen!

Election Day

Vote early.

It certainly makes the day better. I heard some gentleman complaining about how no one had shown up to vote this morning while I was filling out my ticket. And other precincts had 40 minute waits. I was quick in quick out.

I managed to get most of the blogger stuff fixed. I want to get some other adjustments made but that will wait.

I hope that the yarn shows up today. I still don't have a pattern. My aunt told my mother she'd send me a couple that she had.

I hope I have enough yarn. I hate running out.

I made some really cute little stitch markers last night. I'm going to make some more this week. Probably on Friday. It is much fun. I will not likely run out of stitch markers ever again. I should have ordered some more split rings when I ordered the beads from Fire Mountain. I thought I had all I could ever use and then some. But I was wrong. Probably in the same way I'll be wrong about never running out of stitch markers.

Blogger bites

Long ago I updated to the beta blogger. There were a couple of things that didn't go so well, but have been overcome.

This morning I attempted to use a new template/layout. That did NOT go so well. I tinkered until I HAD to get ready and leave for work. I can get ready and out the door in 10 minutes.

More tinkering will have to occur this evening. I hope I can get all my ring-links back up. If not I saved the entire template on my home computer and I'll reload it from there.

I am not a programmer, I know nothing about programming, telling me that the tag has to have a terminating tag, without offering a link to actual information about what the H you are talking about is not helpful. Not to mention that I cut them straight out of the old template and pasted them in, so how come they worked fine before and won't work at all now? It isn't as though I actually typed stuff in or changed it in anyway.

I have complete faith that I will figure it out eventually, I always do. But initially it is very frustrating. And since it is foremost in my mind I'm being distracted from my real job by trying to figure out how to fix it.

Just a little obsessive.

Oh darn

Well - my fears were realized. I have 1/2 a sleeve left and I'm nearly completely out of yarn. I managed to find a place that had the right color but not the lot and after 6 mos I'm pretty sure no one does have the right lot, I know that the store where I bought the yarn doesn't have anymore. I bought a skein anyway and I'm going to hope for the best. There really isn't any other choice. If I'm creative and careful only the back of one sleeve will be out of the odd lot.

With any luck at all the lots won't be too different and they will only butt up against each other on one sleeve seam.

This is the second time I have followed the yardage recommendations on the pattern, bought extra and still run out. And it isn't just a little bit off, it's over 100 yards off, a whole 1/2 a sleeve off. I might have enough of the CC to finish the neck band, maybe, but even that might be wishful thinking. It is very frustrating. Although considering the amount of knitting I do only 2 isn't so bad.

I'm still so disappointed.

The yarn for my husband's sweater should be here today.

Hey Look - Pictures!

Here is the modular sweater body and sleeve.



And here are the baskets I bought at Menards. They are spiff.


Here is the wool I've been spinning for the shawl (maybe) It is less blue and more grey than the picture indicates.

Saturday - IKEA

IKEA has great breakfast. And for the price it can't be beat.

We had fun. We also had a cart and three trolleys. We stood in line for 45 minutes waiting to pay for our stuff. We got two side tables, the bed and one dresser put together after we got home. We will be sleeping in our new bed this evening. We chose the Hopen collection. Well - my husband chose it.

The flooring is all done up to the doorway. Liz' room won the vote and her floor is next.

I started the last sleeve of my modular sweater. I might get the sleeve done tomorrow morning before my family gets up. But if not I'll be busy putting more furniture together. Well, once they get up I'll be putting more furniture together rather or not I get a chance to knit in the morning.

I am going to try to make some new stitch markers on Monday. I want to try to make some like the cute little sheep ones that I've seen on the 'net. I have some nice shiney black beads for eyes. I also have a bunch of cute little mushrooms that I want to turn into markers. That will be an enjoyable way to spend a couple hours.

Don't you think so too?

And now for something you'll really like . . .

The body of the sweater is finished! I have to do the second sleeve and cuffs and neck. I might even be able to wear it next week! Still not sure about the yarn issue - but I will be by next week.

I hope to spend a good portion of Sunday working on project sorting. I know that I have about 8 pairs of socks in various states of completion that I'd really like to gather together and finish. I don't know how successful I'll be since we also need to continue putting flooring down. I also will be able to get our clothes and stuff put away in our new closets. That will really clean up the mess in a couple of the other rooms. Which would also be a very good thing. This is very exciting!

The thing I really need to start knitting is mittens. I need a new pair, my daughter needs a new pair and my mother needs a new pair. My poor mother has been looking for a pattern that she used during my childhood for the last several years. I don't know if that pattern can really be as fantastic as she remembers it being or not. But I hope she finds it, soon.

I also have only 6 more (self-imposed) weeks to finish a baby sweater and 4 weeks to finish a baby surprise jacket for my friends in NC.

So much for socks.

Doors!

Today the contractor is coming to install the doors! I am SO pleased. We don't have all the floors down and he'd rather we did but he is going to come anyway.

So rather than doing fibery things last night we cleaned up our tools and other stuff that has been sitting around so the contractor will have clear doorways.

I did, of course, get some knitting done. I started the last strip on the body of the sweater. I am going to check the 'net for errata and if there isn't any out there I should write up the errors I found and post them here. If I didn't have a bazillion hours of knitting experience I would have been stuck more than once.

This has been discussed on a number of knitting e-mail lists I am on, but I still don't understand why designers, writers and editors can't do a better job of editing the patterns. Don't they have knitter friends who would be willing to read the patterns? This pattern in particular had errors like putting one side of the arm stitches on a holder and binding off the other side. I know enough to choose to put the stitches on the holder and three needle bind off the sleeve. I have the knowledge and skill to set in this sleeve - not everyone does.

And before the fury starts - I am not talking about ever single designer who has ever made a pattern anywhere on the planet. Please don't send me scathing comments or emails about how hard they work etc. I know all of that. I know that some designers are very conscientious and do their best to proof their work. I also understand about pressing deadlines, long hours ready the press copies.

That is NOT what I'm talking about. There are some errors in some patterns by some designers that are so obvious that I am at a lost to understand how anyone who knits could have read through the pattern and not noticed. I do realize that sometimes when you proof your own things you read what you intended to write and not what is there, that is why publishers hire editors. Of course not all editors knit, so they may not understand that the directions make no sense. But someone, somewhere knit the samples for these sweaters, unless they were working from directions NOT in the book they must have noticed this small problem. Like casting off the armhole on the wrong end of the body - assuming you followed the directions as written.

That's what I'm talking about!

Yarn - Stalked

So I bought Wool of the Andes from Knitpicks in Sapphire Heather for my husband's cardigan-to-be. I knit Rogue with this last winter and it seemed like a nice enough yarn. I hope the blue isn't to bright. If it is I'll have to skein and over-dye the yarn first. Which is really no big deal. Now I have to find a pattern.

Since I was ordering yarn I also bought a few skeins for socks. Some solid colors for the cabley patterns that came out this fall. Knitty had one, Knitting Universe had one and I found one on Eunny's blog. I bought yarn for the pair in Knitting Universe (I'm not really sure that is the right title.)

I have 1 1/2 panels left on the modular sweater body. I will be cutting the yarn yardage VERY close. I'm obsessed about this at the moment.

The Menard's baskets are great. I'm going to go and buy some more. Maybe tonight. The middle sized one holds a sweater. I have been grabbing this and knitting in the car while I wait for my daughter's bus to pick her up. I am going to grab a couple of the little ones. I think they will hold pairs of socks. Maybe I can convince myself that I can't cast on anything new until I open up a basket? The best part though is that I can leave the ball in the basket and it doesn't go rolling across the floor like it does if it is on my lap; and the bag top doesn't fall over the yarn and keep it from unrolling freely. The yarn also doesn't get tangled around the bag handle. The little annoyances.

All Hallow's Eve

I did not get yarn stalking done last night. I had a 'date' to meet a friend from out of town for an afternoon of yarn stalking but her appointment ran late and she had to cancel. (sadness) We'll try again next time she is in town.

I finished the sleeve on the modular sweater and another section of the front. If I remember correctly I have three body panels and one sleeve to finish. Then neckband and cuffs. I rechecked the yardage requirements against what I bought and I should have about 30 yards of each color left over. 30 yards really isn't much. I seem to have quite a lot of the main color remaining and not much of the contrast color. (and the yarn is Malabrigo - not whatever name I made up yesterday) I will be cutting it really close.

My mother got her package and liked the sweater. It's a good thing. She has declared that the sweater has never been to Hades. She makes me smile. She also thinks it will fit. I hope so.

We have almost finished laying the floor in the master bedroom. Next weekend we are getting the new furniture for it. I believe that after we finish the master bedroom we are starting my daughter's room. She will be pleased.

I still don't know which yarn I should get for my husband's sweater, other than blue dk wool. I also done have a pattern so that doesn't help much. I should make him come along and choose his own yarn but I'm pretty sure the cost of the yarn would give him a heart attack. He wants something to wear around the house. I'm thinking a nice heathery shetland, but I'm not sure that will not be too scratchy. It doesn't bother me anymore but when I first started wearing it I thought it was pretty scratchy. I'm not sure he'd suck it up long enough to adjust.

Suggestions?

The weekend

I am getting nervous about having enough yarn to complete my modular sweater. I bought some lovely hand-dyed Magellans (I think) and there is no way I would be able to ever get more. I decided to knit the sleeves and then finish the body. If I do run out it will be very close. I may have to find an alternative neck treatment. I've decided to finish one sleeve, use the remainder of that ball for body then knit the second sleeve and finish the sweater. I'm not sure what that will really accomplish yarn wise but it's my plan.

I am going out yarn stalking on the way home from work. Blue worsted and a cardigan pattern for my spouse.

Tonight - casting on or finish the sleeve - perhaps both - or - neither.

What?!

My spouse has decided that he needs a sweater, a cardigan to be exact. A blue one. The design doesn't matter.

He has never wanted anything I have made ever. I'm perplexed.

I suppose I will find some yarn and a nice pattern and make him a sweater. He will never wear it.

That Sweater!

It is done, in the box and as soon as I get my mother's address it will be in the mail.

Carrie K asked why I was sending it to my mother. Well - firstly it is her sweater, secondly the reason I made her the sweater is because she sews the pieces together for me sometimes. I hate the actual act of finishing a sweater. It isn't that it's difficult or that I don't know how; it is that I don't like it. Waste of good knitting time. Although I almost un-bound the shoulders so I could knit them together and put the neck in before I sent it.

Liz - you are quite capable of knitting your own mittens. But we'll talk - later.

So what neglected project did I pick up next. A pair of socks. They needed the toes done so I did them. They also go to my mother. They are a gift for her friend Lana. I hope they fit.

Next was - tada - the modular knits sweater that I have about 1/3 done. It is really turning out nicely and would have been done sooner but I couldn't find the book for a couple months. I located said book while looking for other stuff that had nothing whatsoever to do with knitting, isn't that always the way.

Again there are no pictures because I'm still not that together. Someday soon, I hope.

The end is near

I completed one front last night. I will complete the other tonight and box it up!

It will be winding it's way to my mother tomorrow!

Next on the agenda - lopi roses.

Or maybe a Starmore.

Or perhaps mittens!

Stay tuned!

What to say?

I don't have anything to add here but I feel the need to add something to this space. As opposed to letting it sit idle, like so many other things seem to be doing.

I am up to the neck on The Sweater From Hades. If I can actually find some knitting time it will be in the mail by the weekend! Won't that be nice.

Then I need to get busy on Beadwork, St. Bridget and Mary Tudor. That's a whole lotta Starmore. Not to mention that last year my spouse bought me Zauberflote for my birthday and I haven't even balled the yarn yet.

I think I will concentrate on finishing sweaters rather than starting new sweaters though. I have a lovely lopi that I'd like to finish up this winter. I like lopi sweaters. I can normally knit one up in a couple weeks. I also have a couple of lovely Philosopher's wool kits to knit up. They are also fairly quick knits, once I decide on my color pattern. I have one that I've knitted nearly the entire sweater - but I've only done the first 5 inches of the sleeve, since I keep ripping it back and changing the colors. As soon as I get the sleeve done in a way that is pleasing I'll be able to have the rest done in no time.

We went to Menards (again) instead of IKEA. They had some nice woven baskets. I bought a bunch. They stack nice and one basket will hold at least an entire sweater, and then some. I plan to sort my projects out and put current work in the baskets. They won't be so messy sitting around the family room. I will take pictures of them as I go along and post a list here. Do you suppose that will keep my motivated and focused? We can only hope.

The other problem keeping me from getting much done is that my work room is such a mess, due to remodeling, that just going into it is discouraging. I hope that we can get moving forward again soon. Once we start getting floors down in the second story we can start putting stuff away. This will certainly make life better as we start to settle back into our house rather than living out of boxes as we are now.

Weekends are really focusing on getting the house finished though. We dont' have all that much to do, but we are running out of steam for working on it.

Knitting news

I have started the armhole shaping on Mom's sweater! How exciting. My friend Giovanna came to visit, and brought yummy veggies, we sat and knit for about an hour on Tuesday night.

I stayed home with my sinus headache on Wednesday and vaccumed my basement. The carpet is so dirty I don't think it will ever be clean. Or course I always feel that way about carpet.

The house is getting settled painfully slowly. I am going to IKEA Sunday to get some stuff to organize the bathrooms and laundry room. I should also look at getting some stuff to make the kitchen cupboards more user friendly. Perhaps I can get some things to organize my knitting and sewing stuff.

Most of my difficulty is because until the rooms are done there isn't anywhere to really put a lot of stuff. Which means it is all stacked everywhere and never 'put away'. As soon as we can start getting flooring down in the upstairs things will get markedly better very quickly. Once we get moved up stairs we can set aside a weekend to put the tile down on the main floor. We are just at a stall point.

Sort of like that sweater.

And again - no knitting

I have a clean counter and four clean chairs in my downstairs kitchen!

I have a tub full of knitting stuff and the couches appear to exist, sort of. Some of what is there needs to be thrown away and some just put away. Tonight there will be a clean coffee table and two clean sitting areas! I also need to clean the cupboard countertop portion of the kitchen and wash the top of the stove and the floors could use a good scrub. That might happen on Wednesday. There is progress though and that is nice.

There may even be some knitting on Wednesday! You just never can tell.

Progress? Not in the knitting department

I started cleaning the living room last night. I moved the desk and the computer back into place and moved the boxes off the coffee table. I have to find some place to store my knitting which is currently covering the loveseat and put the basket of vaccum stuff back under the end table. I also have a microwave oven that has no place to be anymore that I need to move and several boxes of stuff that need to go to the sewing room and some boxes of bathroom and kitchen stuff that need to make their way to the proper rooms.

I have mounds of laundry to do but the bed has clean sheet. Yes that's right, I could only find the bottom sheet. I know that I had both of them when I took them to the laundry room but I can now find only one. I decided it doesn't matter.

I need to sweep floors again. I think I'll give that job to Liz this evening. She likes to sweep. I'm not sure why, but I'll make use of it while I can.

Perhaps knitting can occur tomorrow. Stay tuned.

Friday the 13 - my lucky day

I got all the stuff done that I needed to last night. I have a couple of things to finish in the car on the way. I managed to pack this morning and thanks to listmania I don't think I forgot anything important. I also managed to find almost everything I wanted/needed. I'm amazed. Now I just hope it all fits in the car.

I don't know what knitting project to take with me. Probably socks.

We will be home early on Sunday. I will attempt some serious house arrangement on Sunday.

I will have to spend a lot of time at work next week. It will really cut into my knitting time. I also have to get a couple more rooms painted. No knitting will occur - hahahahahaha. Let's be realistic. Some painting and some overtime will occur, so will some knitting.

I have started shopping for my SP9 - FUN!

Pique?

I am feeling overwhelmed with the stuff I want to do and the stuff I should do first. I have so much. And I will be gone all weekend. I should just take the day off and go home and do stuff. Except work must get done as well.

I'm still working on That Sweater. I am about 1.5 inches from the armhole shaping. I knit and knit and knit on it and even though I know I complete rows I am not sure that I'm getting anywhere. It is so close to being done and yet it is taking so long to finish.

I talked to Mom and she said she'd put the neck on, rather than sending it back. Uh - no - Gauge! Remember? Teeheehehe. She sent me a pair of socks she started, that she doesn't like but thought Liz might, so I could finish them. There is no way I'm going to get the right gauge on that, ever! So my options are 1) send them back to her to knit or 2) frog and start over.

It is snowing. Our coats are lost in the garage. I have no idea where the box of hats and mittens is.

I took Liz' mitten apart because the yarn requires a larger needle.

I still can't find my needle case.

I have things to hem and fix and I need them done tonight. There is no time! I spent last night trying to get ahold of my son, baking pumpkins and buying and mail a coat for aforementioned son.

Tonight I need to package the baked pumpkin, hem some stuff, sew some stuff, pack and get a call through to aforementioned son. GAH!

I'm busy developing a stress headache.

It must be magic!

I was just over reading a post at Franklin's blog. He stated that if you knit long enough a copy of EZ's Knitter's Almanac will likely materialize on your shelves.

I think he might be on to something. This weekend while looking for something completely unrelated I found one in a pile of books in my temporary sewing/knitting room. It appears to be brand new and I don't remember buying it. I had it on my list of things I should buy - but I don't recall actually paying for it. I don't believe I have developed kleptomania in my impending dotage.

The other thing I found is a second copy of Folk Mittens. I know it is a second copy because the first one is currently residing in my knitting bag with some lovely angora/merino that will be mittens for my daughter. The second copy was sitting coyly on the sewing machine table, under my dombek.

I wish the knitting book fairies would kindly provide me with a copy of AS' Aran Knitting.

Tuesday Morning

The joy of the three day weekend!

This weekend I finally got my Beadwork gauge almost correct. The gauge should be 31 stitches to 10cm, with 2mms I finally managed to get 30. I declared it close enough and cast on. I have four rows done.

I also cast on for St. Bridget. I managed to get this guage almost immediately. That was a little unnerving. I saved the swatch. I usually just frog them and use the yarn in the sweater. But I've been working on the class idea and I'll need some samples for it.

I worked on The Sweater From Hades for at least one hour before I did either one of these things. I am about 3 inches from the armhole shaping. I would guess about halfway to a finished front. I can hope that I will be putting it in a box to mail to her by this weekend.

I asked my son if he would wear a button up cardigan (no reason to knit it if he won't wear it). He said "sure". So I have yet another old project to break out and finish. This UFO is 15 years old. Well aged. It isn't be a hard knit and I can certainly take it to karate class and work on it while I wait for my daughter.

He was concerned about taking care of it - I told him I'd show him when he came to visit. I have a few dirty sweaters waiting to be washed. He also requested socks. Which of my precious yarn should I place in his care? I'll have to measure his feet when he comes home. He wants to come home for Halloween.

I really need to focus on getting the house in shape. Except there isn't anywhere to put stuff until the floors are down and so crap is scattered EVERYWHERE.

Some things just never change.

Arrr, Mateys

Yesterday my daughter and I went on the 7 Jewels Treasure Hunt. We had a great time. In addition to the door prize entries each shop had clues you had to solve in order to get a little charm.

We started at The Yarnery. We got there at 9:30 and there was on parking place within blocks of the store. We went and had pastry and coffee while we waited for the store to open. We bought two skeins of yarn.

Next on the list was The 3 Kittens yarn shop. We had several discoveries there. They have new owners. Yikes! they also had the best clue of all the shops. They had several cards that had questions about different yarns. We each got our own clues and went off in search of the answers which took us to different parts of the shop. A lot of work on their part and great fun for us.

We then headed of south to Zandy's Yarn and stuff. She had a Russian Punch work designer there showing off her designs and how to do the work. Her stuff was beautiful.

Fourth on our list was Needlework Unlimited. The place was packed with shoppers and my anxiety kept me from shopping much. My daughter was also hungry and we went off in search of lunch.

Fifth was the Coldwater Collaborative. Liz found the clue in this one first and she was soo excited she screeched. One of the clerks giggled about it. This place was also packed with people and cool yarn. I'd like to go back sometime and look so more. I also got to see Deb who we met at the Yarn Harlot book signing in Eau Claire. We bought little tool kits and a cat toy kit.

We went across the street to the Mill Cafe for lunch. It was a great lunch and I wanted more of the great Key Lime pie at afternoon coffee time.

We then headed north to Amazing Threads. I really like this store and I wish it was closer. The staff is always very friendly and helpful. It is a little hard to find and I missed the corner again. Once we got their we found the clue and hit the sales attic where my good intentions of not spending a lot of money went right out the door. I bought yarn to knit Eris and some Silky Wool and Book One of the Viking Knits Collection. But it was CHEAP.

Last on our list is the shop closest to home - the Sheepy Yarn shop. I always have a good experience at this shop. It is one of the first I ever found when we moved here. The staff and Marge have always been so nice to me. I broke down and bought a Strickwear shawl pattern. I wanted the gold one but Liz like the purple/pink one. If the pattern is nice to knit I might make two.

Here we learned that the treasure hunt was a great success. All but two of the shops ran out of charms by 1 (including the Sheepy Shop - but they are going to mail us charms). Their distributors were so excited about the idea that the Grand Prize value increased and some other prizes were added.

They might do it again. I hope so, with some new shops. It was fun to go to stores I like but don't get to very often and some new ones that I have never been to.

We left at 9:20 and got home at 4. It was a very long day.

Socktoberfest Questions

When did you start making socks?

I made my first pair of socks while I was traveling in Europe 16 years ago. It was the most fantastic experience. They sell Jawoll yarn in the department stores there! So I bought scads of yarn and a really nice Jawoll knitting mag that had an entire section on knitting socks - to fit your foot, your yarn and gauge.

Did you teach yourself or were you taught by a friend or relative? or in a class?

I basically taught myself - but my cousin in Switzerland showed me how to do an hourglass (short row) heel. I just couldn't figure out the instructions but once she showed me it all made perfect sense.

What was your first pair? How have they "held up" over time?

My first pair were made with Jawoll yarn on size 1 needles with three color patterning. I made them for my husband while waiting for trains and planes. They have felted a little (it took him a while to learn to NOT wash the knitwear. I'm surprised he didn't ruined more things) He still wears them on winter Sundays. He thinks they are too warm to wear otherwise.

What would you have done differently?

Nothing.

What yarns have you particularly enjoyed?

I love Koigu and nearly anything from Regia.

Do you like to crochet your socks? or knit them on DPNs, 2 circulars, or using the Magic Loop method?

I have never crocheted socks. I knit on DPNs. I have tried 2 circulars, this was a complete disaster for the most part. I kept knitting onto the wrong needle and getting a lovely mobius strip type thing happening. I also tried the magic loop method. This wasn't nearly as disasterous but since the whole draw for me was the ability to knit both socks at the same time and I haven't found a circular in the size I want with a long enough cable I won't be doing this again either. I kept losing my loop and having to re-divided that last sock.

Which kind of heel do you prefer? (flap? or short-row?)

I prefer the short-row hourglass heel - both for wearing and knitting. I dislike picking up stitches and with the hourglass heel I don't have to do that. I find it is a less bulky heal to wear.


How many pairs have you made?

I have never counted my socks, nor have I kept track of the ones I have made for other people. But I usually save up my socks until I have 5 or 6 pairs before I kitchner the toes and I usually do that three or 4 times a year. Someone else do the math - because something tells me I don't really want to know the answer.

The Sweater from Hades

(My mother gave me the what for about my language here)

I have once again stopped twitching when I think about working on this item. I thought I was about 1/2 way done with the sleeves so I went to pull it out and finish it - because I'm sure my mother would like to have it eventually. I'm about 1/3 done with the front and the sleeves are finished! YeeeeHaw! I managed about 8 rows before bed last night. It would be nice if I could get it done next week. Then I can mail it for sewing up. It better fit or we will both cry. I think it has taken me at least 4 years to knit this sweater!

I am still looking for my Options needle case. I can't imagine where it could be. I found the second card of buttons for the little green sweater - but now I can't find the first card. I know it's the second card because they are all still on it and I took off one from the first card and put it in my purse so I could buy more. So I have 4 buttons and I need 5.

I have quite a little pile of stuff that needs a little bit of finishing. (seams and buttons and ends) I think I'll spend the evening doing that, maybe tonight.

One Year ago today

Where did the time go? Amazing!

So I dug my pattern out of the pile and it calls for 3.5oz of cobweb weight wool. I have 4.4 oz of silk/merino. I'm spinning it at roughly 40 wpi which is cobweb weight. I think I should be covered. Now the question is do I want to make my wedding ring shawl out of this lovely blue/green silk/wool. Or should I just bite the bullet and spin the baby camel/silk? Or BOTH!

Crazy is as crazy does after all.

I also have a bag full of bison to clean and spin. I really need my basement kitchen clean up first. I think that will be my first woolee winder project. I'm very excited about that purchase. I'm not sure why. I will have to practice spinning slightly heavier for that. I think about 20 wpi from the sample I looked at at the Yarnery on Wednesday.

I need to call my aunt and find out how much she wants and my mom to see if she can get some more fiber. I'm not sure I have enough down for a sweater. Even at that weight.

And that is the story of my life - lots of projects all due next week.

Grumpy - for no good reason

I'm just crabby. I'm not sure why. I'm staying in my cube and avoiding interacting with anyone who should be allowed to keep their head.

I am running out to a yarn store a little later. I'm grabbing a skein of yarn for a friend and, in all likelihood a couple skeins of koigu for the KOTR socks. There is yarn in my stash but I do not want to try to find it. I had enough trauma trying to find my keys this morning.

Last night I spun another 2 foot piece of the lovely silk/merino roving I bought last spring. I have 4.4 oz of it that was on sale - the last of the dye lot - cheap. I should have enough to make socks but I'm spinning it fine enough to knit a shawl should I decide to use it for that. It is a lovely color and I will take pictures just as soon as I have enough on the bobbin.

I have to figure out how much yardage of it I'll have. Then I can decide what I'm going to do with it. I also have a lovely "garnet" roving to spin which is suppose to be enough to make a sweater. I need to find a pattern so that I know what guage to spin it at. I hope that the Woolee Winder gets here soon. I've heard many good things about it and I can't wait to try it out.

Busy is as busy does

Last night I finished the EZ Surprise Baby Sweater. It is very nice. I had to alter the button bands because I was running out of yarn. I have about 5 yards left. Maybe.

I pulled out things I need to finish; the green baby sweater that needs buttons, two pairs of socks that need kitchnering and the EZ that needs buttons and two seams sewn. I resisted the urge to start anything new by counting the things I need to finish. With any type of luck and perseverance I'll finish them all before the house is done enough that I have time to catalog them all.

I should have painted but some other things went cross ways and that didn't happen. Hopefully tonight.

Other (forgotten) Sunday Acquisitions

We also drove through Chippewa Falls on Sunday. Since it was fall we thought the Leinie's Apple Spice was available and went looking for a liquor store. Instead I introduced Terri to G's childhood ice cream parlor. We went in and had ice cream to go and I purchased some cinnamon ice cream. Tonight there should be apple something hot from the oven with cinnamon ice cream!

Yummy

Holy Crap!

Friday is my Blogiversary!

September is almost gone. Leinie's Apple Spice Ale doesn't come out until November. So I'm torn. Between not believing it is almost October and wishing it was November.

I finished knitting my spouse's slippers, now they need felting. I have almost finished EZ' Surprise Baby sweater, size 12mo. I would have finished it if I hadn't made so many mistakes yesterday.

Friday I ordered a woolee winder with bobbins and two cones of 5-ply guernsey weight wool. I also ordered some lacing rings and some brass pins. The rings and pins were here when I got home Sunday evening. The brass pins bend like they are made of tin foil. But only the first two items are knitting related in any way.

I also stopped at All About yarn over my lunch hour on Friday and bought some sock yarn with the aloe/jojoba oil in it. I needed it for the KOTR KAL. It is a lovely color and will either become Friday Harbor or Canal de Midi socks. I also bought some lovely Cascade 220 for a baby sweater - but I think I'm going back and get enough to make the wrap around sweater pattern from Yellow Dog Knits; either that or the Cromarty from AS. Because really - I don't know that many babies.

Saturday I went to Hobby Lobby with my friend and bought some books I didn't need and a split ring tool. This should make stitch marker making much easier. I will have to make some more stitch markers. I also have to find some friends to gift them to, because who needs 11ty dozen stitch markers. Well okay - people who have 11ty dozen projects going - but I intend to stop that, really - I do. Step one - recognize you have a problem, Step two - stop contributing to the problem. I'm trying really. I'm finishing stuff and not starting new stuff - more or less. :)

Sunday we went to Ben Franklin and I bought some reed for costuming. It's a good thing we didn't go to the bead store, because while I wanted some beads - really! what do I need with more stuff. But next year I am going to the Bead and Button Show! Ha!

I petted some fabric this weekend as well - but I managed to leave it in the store. I attempted to find some worsted weight cotton so I could make a baby sweater for a friend but failed to find anything appropriate.

And thus - once again we are thwarted in our attempts to curb the acquisition of yarn and other sundries.

I'm Cursed!

Okay so I found the sweater pattern and the yarn for the baby sweater. But the only needle the right size that I can find is 32" circ. It's a little hard to knit a 20" baby sweater on that. I found 3 double points that were the right size and long enough but three isn't really enough needles. I could manage with 4 but three - no. I did cast on and I am about 10 rows in but my joints all ready are aching. I have approx. 17 weeks to finish it, so I think I'm good.

My poor spouse says - so are you starting my slippers? No - I can't find the needles. I can't imagine where they are, how often do you use size 13 (9.5 mm) double points? I bought them for some bulky weight mittens that I had to have a couple years ago. I can't find either one of my needle cases at the moment, which is where the needles are, I'm pretty sure. It's very annoying. I'm going to stop at JoAnns and grab a set (assuming they have them) and work on the slippers this weekend.

I think I should be able to get them done over the weekend. I hope that I can get them to a agitating washing machine for the felting. My gentle front loading machine doesn't felt. Which is great when you don't want to and sucks when you do. Maybe I should see about buying a little apartment size one for felting?

Another one Bites the Dust

Aberlady is no more. I was wrong about over coming the yarn not being right. There are too many other things I want to knit to spend my time on this. The yarn is ready to be skeined and washed and I'm ready to move on to other things.

I have no lack of items to work on. I think I'll start the baby sweater for Shannon. I hope I can find the pattern!

Progress

The lights are all hung at my house. Yay!

I knit another inch on the back of Aberlady yesterday. Only 4 more to go and then I can start the front! And then - the sleeves. Two weeks to knit a sweater on size 1 needles. Who exactly was I trying to kid? It is taking at least 1 day to knit one inch. I have 9 inches on the back and 20 something on the sleeves. That is a month of knitting, at least.

I still can't decide on a color for Beadwork. I really need to order the yarn last week. At this point it is either grey or cream. I should just flip a coin. Or maybe go with the cream. I wear a lot of cream anyway. I'd like more color in my wardrobe - but I'm drawn to purple and I have a lot of purple. To have less purple I've been going with blues. I have several blue sweaters now. I think I'll head into green next. I have several kitted up in burgundy (which is as close to red as I'm likely to get)

I have decided to design my own version of St. Brigid (another AS design) I simply will not pay $250 or more for a book. I have several Aran design books and some pattern discussions to go by. I have some lovely gold aran weight yarn that I bought for a pattern that is nice but not as much me in person as I thought it would be online. So I have the yarn and the knowledge - we'll see if I can manage the ability. That will keep me busy thinking all winter and I'll start knitting in the Spring. (ha! I know me better than that!)

Knitting - Again

So the urge to finish things has caused me to climb over piles of stuff and rescue from oblivian my Aberlady sweater. It is another (yes another) AS that I started mummblety years ago. It is knit in the round to the sleeves then back and forth for the back/front. I'm about 1/3 the way up the back. Once I got set in the pattern knitting went well and I managed to get about 2 inches done. I'm concerned that, given the length of time since I started this piece and the way I have adjusted my tension, that I will have a harder time getting gauge, but I'm watching carefully and we'll hope for the best.

The yarn has been in storage so long that it has a little smell (it reeks of neglect). I dumped a bunch of lavender in the bag when I got home and we'll hope that makes it better. It is amazing the amount I have learned about yarn substitution since I started that. The weight of the yarn gets gauge, it doesn't give the right pop to the stitch definition though. It will still be nice to wear and I am still going to finish it, but if I was starting it today I'd find something else that would show to better effect.

I've been meaning to get back to it but other things always demand my attention. I'm going to attempt to finish it by October 1st. (yikes - a deadline) This is the date the KAL for Beadwork begins. It would be nice to start that on an up note.

Like I said before - I really need a 12 step program.

I took Aberlady to Eastside Fiber Enablers. It was really nice to get out. We are hoping to move it back to my house after Halloween, hopefully most of the debris will be out of the house by then and there will be places to sit.

Book Signing!

I went with a group of friends to see the Yarn Harlot speak and sign books. She was very entertaining and quite nice.

I got a book signed for Mom for her birthday. I hope she likes it. She had no idea who the Yarn Harlot is which was funny since she has shown me the books a couple times in the book store.

I didn't wear a single thing that I had knit to the event. Rather silly of me really. But there you have it. I've caught the 'finish it' bug again. I've brought forward several old things and I'm going to start working on them again.

I have to get back to cleaning and re-arranging the house so that we can actually live here. It will be nice. I hope.

Knitting?!

Yes another knitting post - I'm starting to think this is a knitting blog!

Here is the baby sweater, sans buttons. Cute, I think. This was a nice easy knit. I might have to make more like this.



Here are my Unst socks from Knitting on the Road.


Today I'm going with friends to see the Yarn Harlot. We should have a great day. I'm taking my camera and I hope I remember to take pictures. I doubt it - but you never know.

Finally - Pictures!

Finally have the desktop computer up and running. We'll have the wireless up soon (I hope).

Here are my SP8 gifties. They are so nice! First the lace shawl pattern and yarn. There was also candy (but I ate it) and a book light (it's in the car). I will have to wait (impatiently) to start until the house is more settled. Right now my knitting has to be the not mentally challenging variety. But the end of the remodel is in sight!


And the final package which is most excellant:
There are RED HOTS! hiding in there! I can't wait to start reading the book and knitting the fair isle socks (you can't really see the pattern very well). They will be so beautiful. Or I think I might use the lovely blue and purple yarn to make the Friday Harbor socks from Knitting on the Road.

I haven't managed to find time to do more than fondle the other yarn - but I think there should be mittens or a hat or a scarf from the other yarn. Winter is coming. They are predicting warmer weather with freezing rain - I'll need nice mittens for scraping ice off the car windows. I'd rather have feet of snow!

What next?

We have fleas, and because we have fleas, you know they are in my stash. Stupid cats.

I called the vet and she said to get some Frontline. We don't have to worry about bombing the house (which isn't terribly effective anyway) because the cats will take it anywhere they've been and it will kill the fleas there, then. When we take the cats to the vet on Monday we will get some Revolution - which is better but also a controlled substance, to use next. 4 months of this should kill all the fleas. I'll let you know.

My Filter Queen and I will be very busy the next week or so. I'll be putting my yarn in a laundry bag, in a garbage bag and sucking all the air out of it. Just what I wanted to do. On the other hand I will also acquire a vast number of new bins to place said yarn in and move it up to the new work room, after it has been processed. Two birds with one stone, and hopefully we'll manage to suck up most of the flea eggs in the process. This was not on the previous agenda.

This will mean that the cats, in order to spread their flea killer, will have total access to my stash. Stupid cats. Not that my house has ever been free of cat hair, but I've at least made some unreasonable attempts to keep them out of my yarn and fabric.

I have always had pretty good luck getting rid of fleas. The last two times we've had them I had the erradicated in a month. So while I'm all grossed out and unhappy about it, I'm also hopeful that it will be short lived.

Hopefully we won't have to deal with fleas as long as we've had to deal with stupid plumbers.

I'm depressed

We have two more draws to make on our house. The final contractor draws and the flooring/doors draw. The contractor draw will make us go over our target and we haven't even gotten quotes for the flooring and doors yet. YIKES!

I finished my Unst socks last night, except for weaving the ends in. I started another new pair. Some lacey cable socks from a sock of the month club I get.

Liz needs to get back to karate but I want to move furniture. Mike wants to get the flooring and doors quotes but I want to move furniture.

I suppose that duty will win over desire and I will spend another night in the RV.

Impossibility

It is impossible to post pictures if you leave the camera and SD card at home.

September - remember

School started today! Which means that unless my daughter finally agrees that she can be responsible for getting herself on the bus my work schedule sucks!

I got my Secret Pal 8 box on Friday! It was super. I have pictures that I will post ASAP. Meaning - this afternoon if I can manage a break at the coffee bar that has free wi-fi. However did she know that I adore sock patterns. I forgot to grab the card so I can go to her blog and say thank you.

I finished my Unst socks last night and they are too small - out come the toes and add an inch. I wish I had thought to check them before I broke the yarn off the first one. Oh well.

I finished the green baby sweater and realized that I lost one of the cards of buttons in the store. I didn't pay for them but I still have to go back and buy another card of them.

I am going to order the 5ply gansey yarn for Beadwork KAL tomorrow. I'm having such a hard time chooseing a color. It is a good thing I'm not also choosing a yarn I'd never manage. KAL starts Oct. 1st.

I painted the first coat of the guest room. After work tonight I'm doing the second coat, creating a path to get the bed out and setting it up in the room. We will be living in the guest room until our room is done. The bathrooms are done except for storage spaces. Closets need to be built for upstairs and a cabinet bought for downstairs.

The house is a mess on a grand scale. I'm not sure it will ever be clean again.

We Have Water!

That is all for now! - Moving stuff! Yay!

More new knitting

I cast on and knitted about 1 inch on the LaCrosse sweater. I did most of it while doing laundry at a friend's house. It's a good thing I have friends.

My current projects include but are not limited to:

kotr - KAL: Unst Socks about 5 inches of leg/cuff
Mary Tudor: about 10 inches (1 full pattern repeat and about 24 rows)
Green Baby sweater: button band and finishing are all that remain
Lana socks: ready for toe kitchnering
White Baby Ull sweater: the back and 1/2 of the right front are complete.
White Baby Ull booties: sewing up is all that remains
Rogue: sewin up is all that remains
Grey Lopi sweater: about 6 inches until sleeves join
Mom's Philospher's sweater: cutting and buttonbands are all that remain (need sewing maching for this)
Dad's Lopi Sweater: tacking and button bands are all that remain
AS sweater from the Celtic Collection that hasn't seen the light of day in 10 years.
Mother's sweater from Lavold: back is finished and sleeves are about 1/3 done.

Perhaps when we are moved in and settled a little (and the wireless is installed) I'll manage to get pictures and a proper 'In Progress' list up.

Stuff I have kitted up and waiting

Elizabeth 1
Katherine of Aragon
Poetry in Stitches sweater
Silk sweater
Dale Baby Sweater
Sweaters from Camp - I need to reorder that out of stock yarn for this - but there are only two colors missing - Does that count as kitted or just random stash?

I also joined the Beadwork KAL and need to order some 5-ply gansey yarn for it.

There are also various sweaters I have 'kitted' started and then decided I don't like. That yarn has gone into stash for future use. I'm willing to be I have enough yarn for 7 sweaters in stash but uncommitted. There is also untold amounts of yarn for socks and mittens.

I think I need a 12 step program.

Paint and yarn

I painted the second coat in the bathroom and my bedroom last night. Bathroom looks good - bedroom looks like something from a victorian brothel.

I finished the buttonhole band on the baby sweater and found needles to start the LaCrosse sweater. I need to hunt up stitch markers for the cast-on counting.

I joined the Beadwork KAL on Knitting Beyond the Hebrides. I have to (gasp) buy some gansey yarn. I'm still waivering about the color.

Tonight I hope to complete the second band on the sweater, finish up the bathroom (install vanity etc) so the plumber can come (hopefully this week) and second coat my bedroom.

Things are moving nicely along!

Secret Pal programs

I was just cruising around at the Secret Pal 8 blog. It seems there was quite a rumble going on with people complaining about the program and how they didn't get what they expected. After pondering this for a time I'm left still bemused.

Did these people contact their hostesses? Why not?

Sometimes you don't have a great experience. But it isn't the hostesses' fault. If you failed to contact them how can they fix it? And that doesn't even get close to the issue of some people never being happy. The hostesses do the best they can.

I had fun and I would like to try it again - without the incredible remodeling project sucking the life out of me. Those people who agreed to herd the participants are fantastic and should be appreciated.

So to my hostess with the mostess - THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

Again - the house

Painting has commenced. I danced when we put the vanity in the main floor bath. My husband laughed. There is still no water - but it feels so much closer now. Painting without trimwork or floors is so much more relaxing! We hope to have water by Friday! With our plumber I'm thinking we'll be lucky if it is a week from Friday!

While at the conference I found that the local yarn shop was only two blocks from my hotel - so guess where I was Thursday afternoon? I bought this sweater. It will be my 'CPE 2006' sweater. I have already balled the yarn. I'm completely and totally nuts! I also bought a nice little baby sock pattern.

I have nearly completed a sweater for my cousin's new baby. I have one sleeve and a button bands left to knit. I'm going to have to go and buy some buttons. I also have to complete the sweater for my friends baby. It's due any day and I have to start the sweater for my other friends' baby. Due sometime the end of the year. It's a mini baby boom!

I can't believe the summer is gone already. Where ever did it go. It seems like it was July just a few weeks ago.

I need a vacation from my vacation!

It was a very long hot dirty week. I loved every minute of it and I'm so tired.

Once again I completely failed to take any pictures. I needed a new SDcard for the camera and didn't manage to find one.

I'm currently out of town for an education retreat. YUCK! I was home for three days. It was a good thing - I managed to get some laundry done. I also helped grout the tile in the upstairs bath. It turned out quite nicely. I returned a bunch of broken lights (broke in the box) and picked out paint for most of the rooms. I managed to find a mistinted gallon of the venetian plaster we want to use. This will give me a chance to try before I buy.

My daughter found the paint she wanted for her room. It is a nice girly type and will be fine. Much better than the black she had been asking for.

I'm looking forward to fall, returning to the world of acedamia (for an advanced degree) and the quiet that will result. I'm dead sick of living NOT in my house. I can hardly wait to be back in.

Knitting talk will resume tomorrow, promise!

AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH

Okay - it isn't really that bad. But I'm trying to lay tile and pack for a week long camping trip in the wilds of Pennsylvania. Since our house is still under destruction I don't know how I'm going to be able to get my stuff out of the garage. It is buried under house hold goods. We are loading Thursday night.

I hope to manage pictures and such for you enjoyment when I return.

I also hope that I can manage to find time to knit up my one skein item for my One Skein Secret pal, to whom I also owe a skein of yarn.

I'm a little disappointed that my one skein pal has never managed to send me a single skein of yarn. She has contacted me - but never managed to actually send the yarn.

I have not been a good Secret 8 pal. :( I failed to send communicate frequently enough. But I do have a nice package to mail tomorrow.

I never did find the gauge/ruler/needle sizer I was looking for to include in the package. DOH!

Oh well. I hope she enjoys the package when she gets it. I'll have to wait until I get back from my vacation to find out.

A short week

I'm on vacation starting Thursday! This is a good thing. I'm ready.

I got camera software on the new laptop. I'm going to attempt photos tonight. Updates on: socks, Mary Tudor and the house. It might take some time to load those up.

I tired to get my daughter to ball some yarn for my Poetry in Stitches kit. No go.

Otherwise I'm okay. I beat myself black and blue trying to mix mortar for the tiling I did Sunday. I won't be attempting that again anytime soon. Someone else is mixing the mortar, especially if he loves me.

Sweet Blessed Friday

First - my current obsession - the House
Taping isn't done. Humidity is keeping the mud from drying properly. They got that crap all over my cupboards. Oh well. They said they'd be back Monday for texturing.

Lights go up Thursday. This actually makes me very happy. Yeeee HAW!

The plumber is still an ass.

I leave for vacation Friday the 11th. Before I go I am suppose to get all the tile put down in the laundry/baths. That way the plumber can put in stuff. Guess what I'm doing this weekend - Finally! After we go to IKEA on Saturday.

Last night the entire family stayed in the camper. Four people in a 8x14 space. Right! My son left to get food, telling his father that I was tooooo grumpy. The constant contrary-ness that is both of my children wore much quicker yesterday and I admit I snapped. But for the love of peat, enough of the harping at each other and me. It's no wonder their father was outside.

Bedtime was a real treat. Spouse wanted the children to sleep together. That makes a lot of sense - they can't sit on the same side of the dinner table without fighting. The ended up the way I suggested in the first place boys in one, girls in the other. Except that the boys got the upper and the girls got the couch. But at least there was sleep.

Second - my most enduring obsession - Knitting
I have completed one complete chart on the current AS. I have two rows of the second repeat. I have to complete 4. I really need to start thinking about the neck. Since I decided that I don't want a cardigan I am going to be altering the pattern. This should be great fun.

I finished the socks on two circs. They went fine on the patterned part but when I got to the toes I couldn't keep the needles straight so I knitted them onto double points and finished them that way. All in all not a bad experience but I think I'll just stick to double points. The upside is keeping them on the needles and finishing both socks at the same time. The trouble with keeping the needles straight is not worth the hassle. I'm sure I would have more luck with two socks on one circ. but I really don't want to buy another needle to try. Although at this point whats one more needle. I have a bazillion. On the other hand I could knit them on two to the toes and just changed them then.

The other thing I considered is knitting them on two circs with three sets. Then I wouldn't knit front A onto the needle for the backs and get that tangled mess. You would think it would be easy to avoid. I even used two different needles so I would tell them apart by color. No - I still ended up with a mobius creation.

Liz started the arms for her hedgehog. I think she might actually get the silly thing completed this time. I asked her if she'd help me make one. That created quite a giggle fest.

August - come she must

So here we are August - I have been a REALLY bad secret pal. I bought some nice gifties but I haven't mailed them yet. I simply must do that TODAY!!!!!

This remodeling is going to be the death of me.

The rain is nice - really - if it didn't keep my daughter up all night. I'm dead tired. I might have to take my sorry ass home.

I took my daughter to Borealis last night. They worked on the hedgehog pattern. Abby was very nice, Liz was unhappy. I haven't gotten her to tell me what the problem was yet. They seemed to be getting along fine. They got to the end of the second leg and Liz turned to me with the most sad, desolate expression I have ever seen and asked to go home. So we went. She is really painfully shy and had to interact with someone she didn't know - but I've never seen her respond that way before. I'm hoping that this isn't a portent of things to come. If she becomes anymore afraid of people she will be in need of clinical intervention.

I got several nice comments on my AS Mary Tudor. (insert preening here) I had a hard time getting started on the pattern. I kept miscounting.

Abby has the most beautiful purple and burgundy sweater in her store. I decided that I should get the pattern so I can make it someday, I don't need it now since I don't have time to make it anyway. I have several already kitted up. Turns out I already have it, but I didn't recognize it in the colorway.

I bought Knitting on the Road. I joined the KAL some time ago and they are starting Unst so I decided it was time to really join in. I bought some lovely offwhite wool with which to make them. It was 10% off for A Night Out, too bad I didn't have a lot I needed to buy. Maybe next year.

Still remodeling

It seems that the weeks are getting sucked up and little is getting done. The drywall will be inspected today and then the taping will begin. This means I did not get to do any tilework this weekend. How am I suppose to get things done if I'm still waiting for the workers to finish up?

I finished knitting the Rogue this weekend. I reknit the hood three times, I'm still not happy with it. I am on the foot of the 2 socks on 2 circs. It actually seems to be going well. I managed the heels but I'm not sure they were done right (or the most efficient way) but they appear to have turned properly, which is more imporant. I hope to have them finished this week. I am going to start working seriously on my AS Mary Tudor again. I think that it is the closest to being done, except for the cardigans that I have cut and waiting for bands. They will not get done until I have my sewing machine back up since I need to v the neck on one of them. (sorry, Mom)

Of course since the knitting of the Rogue is done it went into the house. One less thing in the RV.

Tomorrow I'm taking Liz to Borealis for some help with a pattern. I will take the AS to work on. Perhaps this will keep me from purchaseing any additional yarn. (hahahahahaha)

Time - where did it go?

Boy when I said July would fly I wasn't kidding - was I?!

I can't believe it's almost over. I have so much stuff I need to finish yet. It will be a busy weekend.

It is really hard to finish all this stuff when I don't have my house. A great deal of my 'free' time has been spent hanging insulation, cleaning up the mess and shopping for stuff for the house. I have never spent so many two hour blocks making a quick 20 minute stop at Menards.

The 2 socks on one Circ project has not gone well. 32" is not enough 60" is WAY too much. I'm not really sure I want to waste more knitting money on needles in order to try out 38" or 45". I might just stick with two socks on two circs. I have about three inches of sock done. Between all the starting over and dropped stitches.

Then I saw where someone who was at Knitting Camp was knitting four socks at a time. YIKES!

I have packages that I simply must get in the mail Monday!

All else is going along at a screaming pace. I think I will be exhausted by December. If I don't crash before that.

Light at the end of the tunnel

Dry wall goes up this week, starting tomorrow! The final window and front door go in tomorrow. The electrician is wiring the new circuit box today. I will start putting down the floor as soon as the drywallers are done!

I have completely reknit my rogue sweater - I found a mistake in it and took it all apart and started over. I have the body, the sleeves and half the hood done. I think I'm going to keep working on it and finish the knitting.

Otherwise life is good.

I purchased a set of the new Knit Picks options needles. My initial impression is good.

I knitted the rogue sleeves on them. The tip unscrewed while I was casting on but once I tighted it with the little 'key' thing I had no further trouble at all. The joins seem quite smooth and didn't catch this yarn - but it is a good smooth spun yarn.

I will have to see how the set works out with my knitting style but I like the idea that I can purchase just the tips or cables I 'need'. This was a major drawback to the other sets I've seen. What if you lose a tip or need to replace a cable? Since Knit Picks has fixed that particular issue for me I took the leap and I think I'm going to like it.

I want to buy a couple more of the pockets - more for my personal organizational style than anything else. I plan to put all my cable needles in the 'book'.

I do have to admit that being able to purchase the cable and tips for $8 rather than $15 is also a BIG plus. I always seem to need another size x. I would think by this time I'd have enough but I needed another size 6 just the other day. It isn't as though I will have trouble getting the free shipping if I need to buy some. I have no trouble spending $40 at the yarn store any other time.

I do wish that the smaller sizes (1-3), which are only available in the 'classic' style, came with longer cables. It is too hard to knit two socks on one cable with only a 32" cable.

I need a break

I am getting rather burned out by life. I could really use a nice vacation. I'll be getting one in three weeks. I hope that things start going properly so that I 1) don't feel guilty about going 2) can go and 3) enjoy myself.

More remodeling problems. The heating guy is all straight but the plumber is STILL looking for an attitude adjustment. At least I'm living in the lap of luxury in my friends' RV. The commute is better; the living quarters, while not palatial are quite nice and I'm spending driving time knitting or working on the house.

I have written outlines and such for my first class. I'm calling it The Art & Science of Gauge Swatching. I save a lot of my swatches (there was a time when I wanted to make project books and the swatches would fit nicely in them. ) I can still go ahead and make the swatch books and use them for the class. I need to make a few of swatches with the same yarns and different needles and stitches too. I wonder if anyone would think it was a good class idea and take it.

Good Grief

I spent two hours getting a flat tire fixed yesterday. Blah.

I spent the prior hour at the yarn store picking up a couple things. I decided to try two socks on one circular. The one I bought isn't long enough and I don't have another one the same size so I can't do two socks on two circs either. I will probably stop by some yarn store and pick up another pair (or two) on the way home tonight.

Borealis Yarns in St. Paul is my new favorite store. Abby, the owner, helped me change my tire. They also wound three 100 gram balls of yarn into two 50ish grams of yarn for the two socks experiment. Talk about above and beyond!

I bought some new stuff to send to my secret pal. I hope she likes it.

I am probably going to get the box together tonight. There are still a couple of things I am looking for but I'm not going to look too much longer - I have another month to send a package and perhaps I can find them by then.