I got a present

My husband gave me money for the holidays. I could purchase anything I wanted. I could buy yarn! or fabric or so many things! How would I ever choose?

I finally did - I bought a HP 4280 printer. I am very excited about it. Now I can scan pictures I make and make working copies of my patterns even print patterns that I got online!

It is absolutely fabulous!

Last night -

while playing Scrabble, this happened -


Can you believe it? I can hardly believe it myself. It makes me think even completely crazy things are possible. Maybe I should buy a lottery ticket!

Or maybe I should cast on another baby sweater? I mean there are a lot of people in my friends group having babies.

Mwahahahaha

Look at this - can you believe it? I'm not sure I can!

I have only a few stitches left on the pink cabled wonder.

I'm so pleased. I can't wait to wear this sweater - maybe tomorrow!

Since last we spoke

I have been fighting the nasty seasonal depression, knitting the sleeves on my kauni sweater (one down one to go) and sewing a pavilion.

Yesterday we made a batch of double chocolate porter. I really like making beer and wine. It's fun and really gives you something to look forward to, like next week we bottle and then in a month or so we get to taste it to see if it is any good. I can hardly wait!

The weather here has been complete crap and the shoppers more annoying then usual. Today I had to run out for a few groceries. There were two men and their dozen children standing at the ham cooler (it was surrounded) while they looked at nearly every ham in the cooler and discussed the virtues of this ham versus the spiral sliced ham and the honey baked ham blah blah blah. And there must have been about six other shoppers waiting for them to get out of the way so we could select a ham and be on our way. I wouldn't have found the waiting quite so annoying if we had been able to obtain a cart for our selections. As it was we were carrying them all in our arms and a basket. No one should carry a 20 lb bag of potatoes through the entire grocery store, and especially while listening to two men discuss their opinions on hams while effectively blockading access to all other shoppers.

Tomorrow the children and I are making bread, caramels and fudge. I'm going to more than my fair share of knitting.

The year of the sweater is quickly drawing to a close and I'm ready to knit SOCKS!

Kauni update

I finally decided that the sleeve can't stay the way it is. The ridge in the sleeve really bothered me. I ripped it back picked up stitches and in about 2 inches I'll be where I was when I ripped back.

I need some longer size 4 dpns. I suppose a trip to the yarn store could be in my future. Or maybe just JoAnns.

We shall see.

Look - A kitty pi

Here he is checking it out.

I think he likes it. He sits in it. But we can't catch him sleeping in it.

Wonderful

I tried to get a picture of the kitty in the kitty pi but every time I'd get the camera he would have to come and see what I was doing.

Cats.

Blue Monday

Monday are always so long. Tonight I went to my friend's house and did sewing instead of knitting.

Now I'm off to bed. Perhaps I will have a chance to take pictures of the kitty pi tomorrow!

Weekend Ends

It is Sunday night, how sad.

I'm developing a knitting callus. That is sad. I suppose I'll have to start wearing a cushion of some sort to cover the spot.

I finally felted the kitty pi I made months ago. I purchased one kitty bed and since they both use it I decided to go ahead and felt the kitty pi for them to use. I hope they use it - otherwise I'll be sad.

My sister-in-law is here for the week.

Off to bed. Work in the morning.

Last Weekend in November!

I joined the sleeves to the body on the pink cabled wonder.

Nothing else is really going on at my house. My husband's sisters are coming to visit this week. Two of them are arriving today and one is staying through the next week. We are taking the other to the airport tomorrow morning.

So I'm off to clean house before company arrives. I also have to take my baby to work and Mike is at the chiropractor again. I hope they get him fixed soon. I also need to put another couple of boxes of stuff away in my room. I am wondering where I'm going to stuff another couple of boxes of stuff but I'm going to give it a shot.

Happy Thanksgiving

I finished my bag this morning, after baking pie. I think it turned out pretty well. I have no idea what I'm going to do with it. But it is nice.

There will be baking

In the morning I will be making pie. I suppose I could go and make pie tonight but I think I'm going to sit here with my little girl and watch TV.

I got the spare yarn back from my mother so I can finish the Celtic tote. I'll be really annoyed if I still have to use the third skein. Especially since my mother had to mail the yarn (well actually - my father did it for her.)

Maybe I'll finish the bag and have something take pictures of this weekend. Here's hoping.

Turkey day cometh!

I'm looking forward to a day off in the middle of the week.

My eye is doing well. I'm hoping that I will start noticing better vision soon.

I've been working on the pink cabled wonder again. I've got about 8 inches done and another 8 to go before I can attach the sleeves. It seems like it will never be done. Not to mention that I knit for hours last night and it was the same size at the end of the night as it was when I started.

Plague, you say?

I spent the weekend shoving anti-histamines into my system. Mostly unsuccessfully.

I have had a sinus headache for three days and I'm really done with that.

Some knitting occurred. I wouldn't call it progress forward on any item though since the ripping more than made up for the knitting.

I hope to get some extra sleep this evening because the 14+ hours I had Saturday and Sunday appear to have been insufficient.

And my friend G makes the best chicken soup ever, ever, ever.

I feel like shit. That is all

A quiet evening

My husband is out bowling and my daughter is downstairs watching TV. I am sitting quietly watching the Dresden Files. And sneezing like there is no tomorrow. My nose is rubbed raw trying to keep mucus off my face. Stupid allergies.

I am still wearing my contact lens. At least until Monday. It is driving me wacko but there isn't anything to be done about it. Completely annoying. If it was my regular contact I would have removed it several times today.

I am going to finish as much of the Celtic tote as I have yarn for and then I'm going to wait for my Mom to mail what she took. It's too bad really but I don't want to open a new skein for the 1/3 I need. I'd really rather return the unused skein and have less stash-over.

What a bummer

I had my second post-op appointment today. I have to keep the bandage contact on for at least 3 more days. It is really starting to drive me bonkers, although today has been better than yesterday.

I have almost finished the Celtic tote.

I cast on the first glove for the Plimoth Plantation. It is knitting up quite nicely.

Pictures when there is enough completed to take a picture.

Eye See

Knitting continues but without pictures. And nothing has gotten finished yet either.

The itching - make it stop

I had eye surgery yesterday and my eye is itching like crazy. I spent the day sleeping and knitting.

I'm still working on the Celtic tote and today I received my materials for the Plimoth Plantation Colonial Wardrobe project. I offered to make a pair of gloves. I received yarn and a pattern but no information about what size to make. Since the yarn is a peachy pink I've decided to make the ladies' size.

Today I wore my Rogue. It still needs to be washed and blocked but I like it. Lovely color and warm.

Tomorrow it's back to work for me. After a 5 day weekend a three day week is going to be hard.

And can you believe that next week is Thanksgiving! 5 weeks until Christmas and 3 weeks until Hanukkah. This has been a fast year.

Soon the year of the sweater will be replaced by the year of the sock. I'm pretty sure I've bitten off more than I can chew this time - but I'm looking forward to the challenge. I can hardly wait to get started.

Stupid Blogger - or stupid connection

I don't know what happened to the post I attempted yesterday. It was eaten by the ether.

Today was a busy day. I have new drugs I should stay away from. We should have guessed that since caffeine was a downer that the downer would be an upper. But we were quite entertained by the fact that no matter how hard I tried I couldn't manage to do more than lay down and close my eyes and then talk non-stop for three hours. It's a good thing my friends love me.

There has been not knitting today.

Yesterday I wrote about the Celtic tote from the new Interweave Knits. I finished the back yesterday and started the bottom. It isn't as big unfelted as I expected it to be after felting. Alas. I'm going to finish it anyway. It is nice. Just smaller than I thought from looking at the pictures.

Tomorrow - knitting and maybe pictures.

Feast day of St. Leo the Great

Once again I was taken against my will to the yarn store. I only bought 4 skeins!

I'm going to make the Celtic Tote in the lastest Interweave Knits. My mother bought yarn for 2 more sweaters. I think she bought yarn for 4 total this visit.

I also managed to find a nice pair of dress shoes. I should still attempt to find one more pair. (I have hard to fit feet and I hate spending hundreds of dollars on shoes. Especially when it is only for 1 pair)

And now - back to visiting with my mother. She leaves tomorrow. The weekend has gone by much too quickly.

Feast day of the Dedication of St. John Lateran

My mother arrived at 7 am this morning and I have been on the go every since. We went to The Good Earth for breakfast. It was great. Then we came home and had coffee, dropped off her suitcase and left for 3Kittens. Mother found her pattern and some yarn for Dream in Color's Tulip Baby sweater. We ran to Borealis Yarns and she bought yarn for a sweater and bought me some yarn for a pair of stockings.

We picked up my daughter, had lunch and ran the mall. I need a nap and she's taking one.

I can't sleep in the day time very often. Which really sucks. I could go and lay down - but there would, most likely, be no sleeping. So I'm not even going to bother trying.

Tomorrow we are going to check out the new Trader Joe's in Woodbury. I've never shopped at one but I've heard good things and since I'm making dinner tomorrow maybe I can find something interesting to add to dinner.

Feast day of Blessed John Duns Scotus

I am so excited - my mother is going to be here tomorrow! I hope we manage to have time to do all the things she has planned.

Today I saw friends in the skyway, but only after they drew my attention from my deep conversation with my coworker. I was really engrossed in our conversation, but still rather embarrassing.

It is really cloudy cold and nasty here. I miss summer already.

Feast day of Saint Didacus

Look what came in the mail! Lovely socks and stitchmarkers!Lovely Harmony needles, some nice cotton yarn, dishcloth patterns lotion and a chocolate frog that lasted only as long as it took to take the photo. And some Euclan Woolwash a nail file and a sock keychain (which is funny since I sent her one as well. They are just that cute!)
In knitting news I managed to get the facing started on my Kauni sleeve and knit - wait for it - three WHOLE rows. It took my two hours to get that done. I kept making so many mistakes and having to start all over.

Feast day of St. Nicholas Tavelic and Companions

My aunt received her sweater yesterday. She loves it and it isn't too big (just a little long). She isn't sure if she will wear it out on the boat. She probably should though. Or I could make her a nice tightly knit gansey. The kind that are completely bulletproof. Given how pleased she was with the first one I'm not sure she would be able to handle getting a second.

I have to redo the steeks for my Kauni sweater. I knit up one facing and when I went to use it I discovered that I had created uneven steeks; one was 3 columns of stitches and the other 6. (sad) I just have to take off the columns of stitches, but it means crocheting the stitches and cutting them up again. I decided to not do it last night and instead cast on the body of the Pink Cabled Wonder. I managed to get it cast on and joined without (I repeat - without) twisting it. I had enough weighted pins on it that there was simply no way it could twist without committing violations of the law gravity.

So what to do tonight - to steek or not to steek.

Feast day of the Venerable Solanus Casey

The body of the Kauni sweater is done. Now I'm going to knit the facings/sleeves. I'm going to use the directions that Holly shared on the Kauni KAL. I'm really excited to try it. The cardi to pulli worked out well. I'm pleased with the neckline. Even if this isn't my favorite colorway it may end up being my favorite sweater.

So tonight I'm going to knit the facings and if the time works out start the first sleeve.

If it looks like I won't have time or the attention to focus on learning the new technique I'll cast on the body for the pink cabled wonder (again) and hopefully I will manage to NOT twist the join this time.

I found some beautiful silver and gold beads at the store. I'm going to make a new knitting counter. I have to find my directions to determine what size I need and go back to buy them. There were a little too pricey to buy without knowing for sure what I need. But I'm really getting interested in beautiful knitting jewelry. I have more fun making stitch markers that I would have imagined (I now have about 100 stitch markers). I should really get and Etsy page and sell some of them. But which ones would I give up?

Feast day of Saint Charles Borromeo

Today we cleaned up the front flower bed and planted some bulbs. We still need to find some cover to help things winter over.

I'm about 1.5 inches from putting the neck in my kauni. How exciting.

I have finally decided on a pattern for my friend's husband's sweater. I need to knit a couple swatches and pattern samples. But with any luck the search will be over. I'm still waiting for some measurements though.

Now - back to laundry and knitting

Feast day of Saint Martin de Porres

Today we finished installing the last of the baseboards. Finally done. Now we just need to get a couple rooms cleaned and we can be done working on 'the house'. I don't think we will ever BE done, since we just keep coming up with other things that we should do.

And the time change is upon us. I hate the whole idea of it. If there is such a deep desire to have longer days in the summer fine (I don't know why people think that one hour makes such a fantastic benefit - but what ever) Then just do it and leave it. Why change it back and forth and back and forth?

I worked on the Kauni sweater again today. I have 1/2 of the armhole done. I'm starting to try to figure out the shaping for the neck. I think I should go and read a couple of other patterns to see how they were done and by then I should be up to that point.

Unfortunately I have no pictures, maybe tomorrow.

All Souls Day

Bowling tonight. Yay!?

I worked on the Kauni sweater last night. I'm up to the armholes. I really like this yarn. It is so fun to watch the pattern develop. I'd really like to try some of the other colors with some other patterns. I think it would be really great with Kaffe's lily/lotus pattern in pink/purple and blue/grey. Maybe after I finish some other things around here I'll give it a go.

I also watched Torchwood last night. It is one weird show and now they are doing stories with links to last season, which I missed. I feel like I'm at a disadvantage. Of course there is always the possibility that those who saw the last season don't know any more than I do.

I'm so delighted that today is Friday. Next Friday my mother will be here to visit. I hope that everything at work goes properly so that I get the whole day to spend with her. Even if I don't it would only be a few hours that I'd have to work. But I'd just as soon that not happen.

All Saints Day

Well – after 5 failed attempts at making a nasty – ugly muppet sweater I have frogged it for the last time. I will have to find something else to do with the ‘yarn’ (and I use the term loosely). I actually think I have a use for the cream stuff and I will see what I think about for the blue stuff, but I’m sure I’ll come up with something.

I posted my Hogwarts Sock Swap package on Wednesday but I forgot to take pictures of it. It’s just as well. I was not happy with the yarn and then when I washed them the black bled into the yellow. It was much too late to start over, even if I had had other Hufflepuff yarn in my stash. There was some not small amount of swearing. The wash over isn’t bad but the yellow is not as clear and bright as it was. I will not be purchase that yarn again anytime soon and if I do I will have to remember to skein it, wash it and then set the color. Easier to just avoid it.

I also, finally, mailed my aunt her sweater. I just kept hoping to get caught up on laundry so I could wash and block it. I finally just worked over the vast piles of pre-existing laundry. I am NEVER going to get all the laundry done. I just have to come to terms with that fact.

Decisions

I have made several this week - and it's only Wednesday! Amazing.

I have decided that my Noro cardi needs grosgrain ribbon (or some such) on the edge/banding. It rolls no matter how I block it. It's all done in Garter stitch and in theory shouldn't roll - but it does - right where the stockinette starts. It has a natural fold line. I will likely apply that tonight while I avoid the tricker-treaters. This is the joy of having a 15 (almost 16) yo at the house.

I have decided that for next years challenge I'm going to knit socks. I want to see if I can knit 52 pairs next year, yes - a pair a week. (I never thought I could knit 7 sweaters in one year - and I have - with two months to go. Now I'm wondering if I can manage to get two more done.)

Given the ginormous amount of sock yarn in my stash I should have space to put stuff next year, accomplish my goal and not spend another nickel on sock yarn. I'm not promising to not buy sock yarn mind you, just saying I shouldn't have to. I might even knit socks for my mother. (shh - don't tell her - let it be a surprise!) I am so excited at the prospect that I have been fondling sock yarn and selecting patterns. We'll see how I feel when I get to the 26th pair!

I realize that months ago I said I'd finish stuff - but I know me better than that. I have actually been finishing stuff anyway and will continue to do so (cause wearing the cool stuff you made is just fun) but I need something creative, inspiring and new to do or I will do - NOTHING. And that will decrease neither my stash nor my UFO piles.

And if all else fails - I can decide that if I'm not knitting socks I have to be finishing stuff. Win-Win.

Wondering

Did Amy get her little knitting bag yet?

Did she like it?

wondering

There is knitting, but nothing I'm willing to admit to - yet.

I have decided to take the challenge and joined the NaBloPoMo. Somewhere I have the URL for that - but I've lost it since 6pm when I signed up.

This afternoon Terri came for coffee. It was good to see her.

Tonight Kate came for knitting. It was fun

Fall falls

I can't believe that Halloween is nearly here. I also can't believe it has been an entire week since I posted and I didn't even post much. I also haven't knit much. I have done some sewing and some quilting (I am appliqueing blocks with these adorable cats on them.)

I did start the back of my Hogwarts House sweater. I am not happy with the yarn colors. This is what happens when you buy yarn online. No matter how good the computer screen the colors are a 'best guess'.

I found some vitamins I'm taking them for a month to see how they work - so far I am not impressed. I might have to go back to buying the expensive online ones I was using two years ago. Thanks to everybody for the recommendations. I appreciate it.

Mischief Managed

I finally found three minutes to rub together and finished the little knitting back for Amy. It is PURPLE and a really nice purple orange, blue and pink flowers. I should have taken a picture but I forgot until I had it in the envelope. I also embroidered her name on it. It's a little hard to see because the print is a little loud but that makes it stealthy (or something)

I also sewed up a couple of other things I had laying around the house. Great fun. After I get done I'm going to do a little applique. I should be knitting and finishing a sweater. But I'm not sure which sweater to work on AND it will only take me a couple hours to do the applique.

I'm also starting a search for a good multi-vitamin. I'm taking all recommendations. So if you have one - share!

Some knitting

I finished my Hogwarts Sock Swap socks and the sleeves for the House Sweater. But little other knitting has occurred this week. There was a lot of napping but not a lot of knitting.

Sweaters!

I made the cutest little Tulip baby cardigan. I enjoyed knitting it and I will probably have to knit at least a couple more.


Everyone should buy a copy of The Knitting Answer Book by Margaret Radcliffe. I looked in several of my technique books for the sewn bind off - and this was the only one that had it, and the illustrations were great. It also had the I-cord bind of I used for the neck (although not the secret that Meg shared about how to avoid the contrast color showing through and I can't find in my notes how to do it. Alas.

Touch Me

I got up this morning and decided I should take knitting to my Dr. appointment this afternoon. In case there is waiting room time (there wasn't much on Tuesday). I finished the toe on my HP Sock swap sock last night so I decided to Kitchner it and then I can start the second one. I could not find my instructions so I - Just - Did - It!

How cool is that! The only mistake was from a twisted stitch, which was done while knitting the last row and thus not the fault of the Kitchnering! I un-kitchnered it, turned it and re-kitchnered it. I was so pleased! YEE HAW!

This is the fourth pattern I have done for the HP Sock Swap. It is fairly simple, as compared to many others but I like it. The very pretty one that was done in colored pattern work was puckery and had no stretch (always bad in a sock). This sock looks REALLY big, but measures right and fights my foot, if not snuggly at least not baggy. (in other words its the size it is suppose to be) I might be having trouble judging things to size this month. Re: my Aunt's Sweater - even if my friend did agree that it looks BIG.

Disaster?

So I was working, dutifully, on the pink cabled lopi wonder and talking to my mother when I decided that it was time to lay it out and get a good look at the cables on the 2 inches I had. Can you say mobius strip! Damn it. I haven't done that in several years. I ripped it out, balled the yarn and put it in a bag. It was such a pain to get the pattern rows for that sweater set up I just can't face starting it again right now.

I'm back to the Mary Tudor. I am about 20 rows from putting in the steeks for the sleeves.

Aunt Bernie's Sweater

It's done! Sleeves are sewn in, ends are darned, only washing and blocking remain.

Now I have to decide what's next!

Dear Friends

I am greatly a-feared that my beautiful red and white cardigan (the LaCrosse sweater) is too big. Not too big as in my gauge was off (because it is the size it's suppose to be - I checked just now to be certain), but too big as in I swim in it. This is very sad. I thought to wear it to work today but it looks like I'm 12 trying to wear my mother's clothes.

It isn't the body of the sweater so much as the sleeves are just too long. In fact if I roll them up they are better. But the sleeves have a nice crochet edging and they are lovely. I suppose I could put small cuffs on it. But I'm not sure how to do that without losing the pretty edging. That would make me sad.

This is very depressing.

Maybe I'll sell it on Ebay.

In other news I have one sleeve sewn onto my aunt's sweater and I knit two rows on my Mary Tudor. So much for finishing the pink cabled lopi wonder.

Number 6 in sight!

Work on Aunt Bernie’s Sweater continues. I finished the back and did the I-cord bind off. I had use the three stitch I-cord the first time and didn’t like it so I removed it and used the two stitch. It is nice. I wimped out and used the natural colored yarn.

I crocheted the steeks on one sleeve and decided that I will still need to sew them. So I will try to do that tonight. Then I can sew in the sleeves, knit up the neckband and start weaving in yarn ends.

I made my spouse try it on and it isn’t so big on him. I’m going to quit worrying about it being too big. I’ll make him try it on again after I get the sleeves sewn in and make my final judgment call, drop it in the mail and hope for the best.

A second post in seconds!

Here is the update on Aunt Bernie's Sweater.

After I got home I discovered I had made a mistake on the second front. I ripped it back and reknit it. I have 6 rows left on the back and then I can join the shoulders. I'm going to use an I-cord bind off I learned at camp. I might be able to finish it tonight.

So Excited!

I'm really really concerned about the size. It seems HUGE. I know that I am not the best at judging the size of people so I don't know whether or not to do anything about it. This is why I shouldn't knit for people who live far away. If she lived anywhere near I'd have her try it on and then seam the sides if it needed to be smaller.

I will be depressed if it doesn't fit.

Pictures!

Images from camp! Some cool knitting

A sample sweater - child size. I love the design on this.

My favorite Meg quote of the weekend - "Baby Surprise jackets just drip off my needles."

She also said that she rips a lot. At least I'm not the only one.








A cute hat. The technique is called Armenian knitting. Meg and Joyce Williams have a new book coming out that shows this technique and contains patterns.

Here is a hat I made for Liz using the technique.












Here is the stranding on the inside. This technique strands the entire piece with the second color. You can pick up the color at any point and add a design. I used the unspun Iceland wool for this. It was hard to strand because the unspun came apart to easily.

But the hat is cute and Liz likes it. I hope it is warm. I would make matching mittens if the yarn wasn't so hard to knit. I could spin the remainder and then knit it up.



This was a cute little hat. I have left over yarn from the Red and White cardigan. I could make one like it. If you look close at the hat you can see the little I-cord loop on top. It is too sweet.

Home - finally

I'm finally home and errands are done. We got Liz her new phone. I ordered mine online (this was a really good idea and saved me about $200. Which is good, all things considered.)

I spent more money then I planned at the Schoolhouse. I got duplicate books, I already had two of the ones I bought and apparently I already bought Mom the one I bought for her. I'll give her the one I thought I had, but bought anyway, just in case. (now there is a run-on thought)

Camp was such great fun. I met LOTS a great people, saw lots of fantastic knitting and learned new things. I should have stayed up later knitting in the meeting room. I missed some terribly fun times. But I wouldn't have had two brain cells to use the next day if I had. That is the problem with being a morning person.

I'm so fired up! I have plans for several sweater designs floating around in my head. I bought some yarn to start knitting swatches. I'm going to order 1 skein of each color from J&S so I have design stash.

As if I have time to knit up the stuff I have and want AND to design and knit up all the ideas in my head. :)

I have a good start on Liz' new hat. It fits and she likes it. The yarn I choose it unspun Icelandic in fuchsia and black. It is pretty and I'm glad she likes it. Pictures when it's done.

I also have pictures from camp, but they will have to wait - I want to knit some more before bedtime.

Letters from Camp

In spite of a headache that I had nearly all day I had a good day.

We started with breakfast at the Kitchen Table, which is owned by one of Elizabeth Zimmerman's daughters. The food is home made, including the bread and the granola. I had granola and yogurt with fruit for breakfast. It was very good.

There is a group of men who are regulars there that refer to themselves as Romeos (Retired Old Men Eating Out). I think that every small town every where has a group of them.

The class was very good. We talked about many different kinds of cast ons, increases, decreases and 'hems' for sweaters. We also talked about shaping the body of sweaters in the round to drop the front by raising the back and lots of other stuff. Makes me want to go home and fix a few sweaters.

It is nice to see all the students sitting there knitting while the teacher teaches and knits. There are so many beautiful projects.

I didn't stay for evening knitting though. I wanted to talk to Liz and my mom - but neither one returned my calls. (sad) EDIT - Mom finally called me back!

Tomorrow we get to go to the Schoolhouse. I'm going to see about buying a couple skeins of J&S to fill in a couple of sweater kits I have been putting together. Maybe a gift or two. We will see what I can find.

Deep in the woods of Wisconsin

Well, here I am.

I spent an hour knitting and chatting with people I don't know.

I am suppose to have a roommate but I don't and since there is only one bed I'm going to assume I'm not getting one. That would be TOOOOO creeepy.

My new Knitpicks Harmony needles were in the mail today before I left. They are really pretty. I put my Hogwarts socks on them and I'm going to work with them for a while but for the time I have used them so far they seem really nice.

And while I was packing to leave I found the camera! I'm so happy about that (and relieved too).

Z-Day

I should be packing, but what should I pack? Uhm?! I just don't know what should go.

I still desperately wish my mother was coming along. How sad is that? It just seems wrong to take 'our' trip alone.

Still haven't found the f*ing camera.

I have the fronts of my aunt's sweater done. Just the back to knit up and then it's done except for the sewing. Seems silly to take that along. It's only two hours of knitting.

I suppose I'll take the pink cabled wonder and my HP swap socks. And my knitpicks needle set (the harmony ones are arriving today or tomorrow - I'm going to guess tomorrow, since then I won't get to see them until Sunday) and my little bag of tools.

And just like that - a packing list.

You all be good and don't do anything interesting while I'm gone!

Ta dah!

I finished the baby sweater for my friends. It's the EZ baby surprise. I found some stash that would work and finished it this afternoon while doing laundry.

I'm going to wait for buttons until we know if it's a girl or a boy.

Well then

I have been having a great time playing on Ravelry. But now it is time to get back to knitting.

I am back to my Aunt's sweater. I am finishing the middle pattern on the body. I think that makes it 75% complete! I hope to get it done by the end of next week. Then I am going to (Finally) get back to the pink Lopi sweater.

And I can't find the camera again! How do I lose it so often? I have two really cute pairs of baby socks.

OH MY GOODNESS

Knitting Camp is next week ALREADY. I'm not ready. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ravelry - Stash Recognition tool

I have been spending too much time playing on Ravelry. This is not conducive to actually finishing my aunt's sweater. On the other hand it has given impetus to the reorganization of stash. I planned to do it as part of the sorting out the room situtation that has been occuring this week, but doing it on Ravelry has been interesting. I can put in the yarn I don't have a project for and then look and see what other people are doing with their yarn that is the same. This has been very enlightening.

I have fewer sock yarn/pattern sets than I thought I did. I do have lots of sock yarn, but I don't have as much that is designated for a design as I thought. Play Time!

I have more lace yarn kitted up than I thought but nothing I don't have a pattern for. I'm not sure if this is good or bad. Although it does show more restraint that I had imagined I possessed.

I have enough sweaters kitted up to knit FOREVER. Okay, so not forever - but for the remainder of this decade. The good news is I still like all the patterns, colors and yarns.

I don't have any large amounts of yarn that isn't set aside for an intended project. This is a complete contrast to my fabric stash which is many 5 yard chunks of fabric I liked.

I have lots of odds and ends left over from other projects. I think I should spend a month making baby socks. Maybe I should designate November as Baby Sock Month - anyone want to join me?

New eater of time

Playing on Ravelry is addictive. But I don't have my pictures on Flicker (they are on Photobucket) I don't want to open a new account so I'm going to have to wait until they add Photobucket or do without pictures. Which is sad as I have many nice ones I could add.

Fun fun.

Labor Day Weekend Show

Monday we are dyeing wool. I am really looking forward to that.

I created a little spreadsheet to estimate how much wool I need to dye to make the Tulip sweater. I tested the first measurement and it came out about 4 yards long. This is good! I will probably end up knitting the entire sweater once to verify the amounts but then I’ll know for future reference that the estimator works and I can use it for other (simple) items. I’m using the same yarn I plan to dye, but in leftovers from other projects. I’m not sure how the colors will work out together though. It could be quite ugly.

My plan for Sunday and Monday morning is to get stuff moved out of the work room. I have started some of that but there is a lot. I hope to have it mostly done by the middle of next week. Making a list of UFOs will be part of the process. Since the only real votes were for making next year a UFO year I might as well get the pre-work on that started. I also need to get a good look at what I have that I can complete for this year’s challenge.

Pictures shall be forthcoming!

drat

Well my worst fears were realized last night and I ran out of yarn to finish the baby sweater. I am about 1 inch from complete. The pattern called for 3 oz and I had just under 4 oz. It should have been enough, especially when I had gauge and everything. Alas, this is why yardage is a more useful measure than weight. I looked for a complementary yarn to do the remainder but I don't have anything. I suppose I can just frog it and put the yarn aside for another R&S baby present. I'm very bummed.

Any Ideas?

I am quite pleased with how my sweater challenge has gone this year. After all - I have finished 4 sweaters so far this year and I still have 4 months to go. I think I'd like to try it again next year - with another challenge.

So here are my choices -
1) Socks (I have several!!! patterns and balls of yarn set aside)
2) Starmore sweaters - still sweaters - but topical. I believe I have 6 of these kitted up
3) Lace work - I only have 3 or 4 of these kitted up but given the degree of difficulty finishing one a year could be a challenge
4) Finish all the things I have on the needles - an end to UFOs - this one will be a challenge - I have 3 Starmores on the needles right now, a shawl and several pairs of socks.

I'll take votes and advice in the comments.

I started EZ's baby surprise jacket for my friends R&S. I really enjoy this pattern. I'm almost to the halfway point. I started it yesterday morning, before I left to pick up my daughter in Fargo. I only got to knit on it about 1 hour on the road. My son didn't help with the driving very much. It's too bad. I could have had several good knitting hours if he had shared.

YARN CALLS!

So I want to make a HP sweater (specifically the House Sweater on page 86 of Charmed Knits). I can get the yarn from Knitpicks for $28. It's nice, classic and I would wear it. (always important sweater elements). I have to finish things in my stash before I add more. And really - I don't need to add anything for several years.

In other news my daughter got accepted into the high school she wants to attend. Now I have to figure out how to get her home early (from Grandma's) so she can attend orientation and figure out how to get her to school. This school doesn't provide bus service so we will have to find a carpool or metro service. Her father wants to know how she is getting there NOW, I've only known we needed to find out for 5 minutes. It's all very exciting. She is thrilled.

Back to the Aunt sweater. The rows on the body take much longer than the sleeves. It's exhausting!

Auntie Bernie's Sweater

I have finished the second sleeve! I have finished the ribbing on the body and I am ready to start the first pattern row! YEE HAW!

Stop me before I cast on again!

I have a bad case of startitis. I am trying hard to focus on finishing my Aunt's sweater (second sleeve half done) but I want to start something new. So badly that I cast on the body of the sweater just to trick myself. It didn't work of course. I just spent my morning looking for a pattern for a iPod cosy. A good use for left over yarn!

I have tooooo many things on needles already!

Fixing the sleeve

Picking up the stitches. This is the easy part.




















Cutting off the bottom. This is the scary part.

















Then start knitting. The pattern is knit from the top down rather than the bottom up















The stitches do sit upside down.















The completed pattern row and the nearly completed cuff. I think it looks just a little odd.















But the pattern certainly looks more delicate. The black is less heavy using the proper 2ply yarn.

Home and rested

I had a very nice vacation. In spite of the rain and all the mud and all the drama. But any time you get that many people together in one place there will be drama. My friend Terri has decided we should name the drama. I don't think so - if you name it you own it.

I have about 10 inches on the body of the Kauni sweater that I managed to get done while traveling and camping. It is BEAUTIFUL.

I have, from the vantage of 16 hours of driving distance, made a decision about my Aunt's sweater (as seen here). I'm going to run a thread through the sleeve just above the first band, cut that part off and reknit it down to the cuff. That way I can fix the mistakes without redoing the entire sleeve. I will attempt to remember to take process pictures and post them.

Wish me luck.

Home

I'm sunburned and tired but home. More later.

Vacation

I'm leaving on vacation in about 1 hour. I'll be back in 10 days (assuming things go as they are planned)

For those who are concerned

I am fine and so is all of my family. Although I work in downtown Minneapolis I get onto and off of 35W north of that bridge. I also had to leave work promptly tonight so I could get my daughter to her end of school year concert. I was quite nearly home when the bridge collapsed and no where near downtown.

Another One Bites the Dust

Tada - The spouse's cardigan is complete (except for buttons). I have to find some buttons. I think white pearl, or maybe pewter.

I'm going to finish the pink cable sweater, the sweater for my aunt and then Mary Tudor. Of course I need to get the Kauni done as well. I really want to start the Kauni and I'm using it as a carrot to get other things done.

I am enjoying getting things finished.

I am going on vacation next week. I got some of my packing done last night and I hope to get the rest of it done tomorrow. I still have a few things I need to wash. I never seem to get the laundry done.

Newsbreak

I finished the first sleeve and fixed the button band.

I might have gotten well into the second sleeve if I hadn't spent so much time trying to fix the cable in my room. My spouse decided that he needed to fix this cable because he can't get CNN to come in. I think it's better if you don't get CNN in, and my cable worked fine, including CNN. After he got done messing around with his signal booster and stuff I didn't have any cable. I, of course, have really gotten used to having the Tivo record everything for me and I didn't notice the cable was out until 45 minutes into the show I wanted to watch. We ended up putting everything back the way it was when he started messing around. But it took hours.

I haven't gotten any socks done this month. I started a couple pair that I took out and I have the Fawkes socks almost done - but I want to finish the sweater first. Then I have to decide what I'm going to work on next. I'd like to start the Kauni but I should also finish the pink cables or any of the other things I have on the needles.

Today the spouse and I went to buy more trim boards. While we were there we found an patio swing on sale cheap. I spent the afternoon putting that together and then L&M came over and we packed for our vacation and went to dinner. I can't believe where the time has gone. I leave on vacation in just four days!

It's been quite a Friday

After I finished the neckband on Mike's sweater I realized that I had forgotten the last two buttonholes. Gah! I'll have to pull it out and reknit it, but I hope I can just do it on the buttonband and not have to remove the entire last 5 inches on the sweater. Wish me luck.

I hope to get it done over the weekend. I only have the sleeves left (well that that mistake - but we aren't focusing on that right now).

I went to the Dr. today and they have decided that I probably have asthma. The panicy feeling is probably my body's reaction to not having enough air. We'll give it three weeks and then go back and see. If it works then we have an answer, if it sort of works we have an answer and if it doesn't we have an answer (although not the final solution). The lung xray was clear so at least I don't have to worry about having consumption.

An Evening with Yarn

I have finally started the ribbed band on my husband's cardigan. I don't know if it is just the stockinette or what - but it seemed to take forever to get that far, it seemed like I had 3 more rows for 30 rows, before I reached the 24.5 inches of length. Soon - sleeves!

I would have gotten to the ribbing soon but the husband came home with sod for the yard and we all went out and helped with that. He's getting scrap from the landscaper he knows. Our patch job looks pretty bad - but as long as it all looks good next year I don't care.

I started ordering stuff for my Hogwarts Sock Swap partner. I have to do some snooping about for additional bits for the stitch markers but I have chosen the sock pattern and I have potential for the yarn (I have what I think I'm going to use - but I want to have a quick look at the yarn shop before I start, just in case).

Much Fun!

Another day

Tonight at Eastside Fiber Enablers I knit another skein onto the husband's cardigan. The body is about 8 inches short at this point. We had a nice chat about The Deathly Hallows. We sat outside on the patio until the bugs drove me inside. It was a nice summer evening.

I did some cleaning in my sewing room this morning. It is still a big mess.

I'm dead tired tonight and I've already crawled into bed. I should consider a trip to see the quack. The 'panic' attacks are getting worse. I'm not really sure that is what it is best to call them or not. But my heart races and I can't breathe. It is getting harder to stop or control. The skin tingling has also continued unabated for 3 years now (or maybe 4). So far we only know what it isn't and I'm not really into just treating symptoms.

I suppose I'll call about an appointment tomorrow and see what they think this time. I suppose I could talk to my friend the doctor - but that seems a bit of an imposition. Maybe if I don't get acceptable information from the doc at the clinic I'll call for some second opinion type of advice.

Time spent reading

Time spent reading is time spent not knitting. The last Harry Potter book was very enjoyable. There were very few surprises (some but nothing I hadn't thought of, just ones I had dismissed) but then ending was how I thought it should come out.

Today I baked bread with flour I ground myself. It's a little heavy. I didn't adjust the recipe properly. I need to buy a shifter. The taste was quite good though. I used 1 cup of rye, two cups of hard red wheat and the remainder was soft wheat. I used yeast (of course), honey, salt, 1 egg and some oil.

Now I'm going to spend an hour or so knitting and then off to bed. Perhaps some finished objects will appear this week! I hope so.

A long evening

Last night I took my daughter to the local Harry Potter release party. WOW! I'm glad that B&N has a coffee shop inside. I sat and drank coffee and knitted. My daughter and her friend ran around, participating in the scavenger hunt and other activities. She had a great time. We got home around 11:30. We didn't have to stay to buy the book since I already ordered our copy. I figure it will be here Tuesday or Wednesday. Since I don't cruise the fan sites I should manage to avoid any spoilers until I finish reading the book.

I haven't finished any sewing or knitting this week. I'm such a slacker.

So the new Socks That Rock yarn came and it was lovely named - Pheonix. I couldn't wait to knit it. I spent a lot of time working on the toe part of the toe up pattern. I worked on both socks on two circs (even though I don't like that method very much).

And then the reason became clear.

Socktopia sent a new pattern named - Fawkes. Perfect! So I ripped the socks, reballed the yarn and now I give you Fawkes in Pheonix! (I don't know why the camera wanted to focus on the sleeve but it probably has to do with the fact that I'm not making it's mate and I should be)

Isn't it pretty! Hogwarts Socks!

Grr!

Blogger ate my post - and there were pictures.

I'll attempt to repost later - but SOCKS! I have Fawkes socks in Phoenix. They are super nifty.

Photos at 11

Hogwarts Sock Swap Questionaire

1. What Hogwarts house have you been sorted into? Ravenclaw
   

2. Shoe size? 6 wide
   

3. Foot Length? 9 inches
   

4. Foot Circumference? 9 inches - yes - really
   

5. List your three favorite double-point needle brands, including size and length. 2.25mm or 2.75mm
   

a. Brittany 5"

b. Crystal Palace Bamboo 6"

c. Plymouth Bamboo 6"

6. Would you like to try a new brand needle? If so, which brand? Size? Length?
   I'd really like to try the new Knitpicks Double points. I do most of my double point knitting on 2.25mm (US1) or 2.75mm (US2). I prefer short needles (7inches or less)
   

7. If you are a RAVENCLAW, do you prefer the colors in the film or the book? Do you have a strong preference? I prefer the book colors but I'm not opposed to the film colors.
   

8. Allergies? Do you have any? Will your knitting be exposed to smoke or animals? I have trouble with some perfumes and other fragrances. I have no trouble with animals. I own two cats and no matter how careful I am their hair gets into everything.
   

9. Are you an international participant (outside US)? Are you willing to have an international Hogwarts Sock Pal? I am not an international participant. I am willing to have an international pal.

HP5

I took my daughter to see this movie on Sunday. I thought it was pretty well done. As always there were parts from the book that I had really wanted to see on screen and things I feel they got 'wrong'. But for the most part it was a good movie and I will be buying the DVD when it comes out.

I can hardly wait for the HP7 to arrive. I refused to pay the additional shipping to get it here more quickly though. But I'm very interested to find out if any of my feelings about what will happen next will come to fruition.

I think I'd really like to read stories about HP's life as an Aurer. I don't really think that we should expect JKRowling to spend the rest of her life with these characters but I still think these would be a nice series of stories.

Think Pink

Here are the sleeves for the Lopi cable sweater I am working on. The pattern is in Lopi No. 23. the yarn is Lopi Lite in Rose Heather.















I have one sleeve done to the body. The cables are all 2 over two and I am doing them without a cable needle. I have enjoyed the process quite a lot. I haven't lost my cable needle even one time while working on this project.














See the lovely KnitPicks Options needle cable? Nice stitch holder! The best part was just removing the needle ends and putting the stops on. Fabulous!

I have almost finished the second. When I finish the second sleeve I'm going to knit the second sleeve on Aunt Bernie's sweater.

See the cute little Fimo stitch markers? I love making stitch markers. Talk about fun and useful!

Now I'm off to finish the sleeve(s)

Another FO

Here it is - the long awaited Shapely Tank.

When last we saw this lovely sweater all I had left was the side seams and armhole finishing. I finished hemming and marking buttonholes for a dress last night and then seamed up the tank, knit an armhole and went to bed. This morning I finished the other armhole knitting. Two hours work took me 2 months to get around to doing. This is why my UFO pile is so scary.

It looks good on. The shaping makes it look odd flat.

It is also really purple!

Swatched

Here is the Kauni Swatch. Pretty, I think. And the best part! I got gauge!














Here is the sweater I'm making for my spouse. I have almost completed half the body.

Kauni Yarn Arrives

I'm very excited - except it isn't the yarn I ordered. I ordered ET - a purple that runs to black. I recieved EQ - the lovely rainbow that people are trying so hard to find. I'm going to use it anyway. It will still be beautiful and I don't want to wait to start the sweater.

I've decided to make a sweater rather than a cardigan. I prefer to wear sweaters.

Tonight I'll have to ball it up and do a couple gauge swatches.

I'm going to have to get a serious rotation going. I've got too many irons in the fire again (some more)

The weekend was fantastic! I had the best time.

There was car knitting:

Look - two posts in two days

Here is the sleeve I knit for my Philosophers' Wool sweater.

This weekend Socktopia is having a sock knit off. I really wanted to participate but I'm going camping this weekend.

On the bright side my new sock yarn from Socks that Rock came yesterday. It is BEAUTIFUL. I'm really in love with these yarns. I balled mine up right away and started knitting socks. I'm making them toe up.

Look - knitting!

Introducing Aunt Bernie's Sweater! (or at least the sleeve) Of course I'm not sure I like it and I might take it back out (again). What do you all think?















And for relief knitting; a Tofutsie sock. The yarn is nice to knit with. If I see more I might buy more. The pattern however, may yet be the death of me. I have restarted the foot three times now. I keep messing up the lace panel down the top of the foot and the decreases. Can you believe that? I can't manage to work the gusset decreases without screwing them up.















And that is it. Other then everytime I have plans I get blindsided by life. Last night I was on my way to sew with my friends and my son called because his car was broken down on the side of the road. By the time that was fixed it was bedtime.

At this to the fact that the estimator for the rain gutters failed to show AGAIN! After I changed all my plans so I could be home when they came.

Finally - rain

After a week of 90 degree heat we have rain. It is nice and cool and wet.

My new Knitpicks needles are still not here. They were about 2 miles away on Wednesday and they still aren't here. Grrr. I could have finished the second sleeve by now!

I want to dye yarn on Monday. The yarn is with the needles. The new Spin Off had some directions I wanted to try. Patience might be a virtue but I want my stuff.

Reorganization

More reorganizing of the stash has happened. I have more IKEA boxes. It would go faster if I took it all out and put it all back but I don't have time to do that. I also have about 1/2 the room still downstairs.

Knitting has also happened, but no finishing. I had to order some new needles so I can finish my sweater - I need size 8 tips for my Options. I know I had them but I don't know what project they are in. They must be in a box somewhere though and I haven't managed to discover the whereabouts of that project yet. The tips are only $5 though. So getting new ones was no big deal. Waiting for them is hard though.

The yarn for my Aunt's sweater came today but it is stuck in the post office and I can't get it until tomorrow. :( Which is okay because I need the new needles to finish that as well. What a vicious cycle. :)

It's a life!

Last night I got lots done. I put my table together and put it up in my room. It's nice! I started making the little storage boxes I bought but I couldn't get the nails to go in without bending. I quit trying and I'll get my nail gun back from Kate and put them together with that. It might be overkill but it's better than bending 400 little nails.

I then knit on a sweater and watched TV for a couple hours. Tonight I'm going to put more stuff away and I think I'll put the quilting frame together. I still need to get some help putting up the wall brackets and shelving. My son is going to help me but our plans always change and we don't manage to get it done. Perhaps this weekend.

Gotta love the IKEA

I went to IKEA on Sunday. I went to the 'as-is' area and found some great things. I got some storage bins (I need several tens more) for a decent price. I also found a table top for a new sewing table. The feet cost more than the top. I attempted to get the new table set up last night, I opened boxes, read instructions and looked for tools.

My Aunt B asked me to make her a sweater. I ordered the kit on Saturday morning. It shipped yesterday. Just what I needed MORE YARN. I'm actually very excited about this project. I'll have to start balling yarn as soon as it arrives.

I finished a sleeve for another Philosophers' Wool sweater. I bought the Kilim jacket kit several years ago and just couldn't seem to get it started. I started about 8 times but the colors were never right. So I sat down with their book, and found another pattern that will work with the yarn I have.

I still like the Kilim jacket a lot. I think I might sit down and choose some yarn and put together my own kit for it. Something more in touch with my personal asethetic. I think that using their book and kits is a really good way to play with color for the most part. It has certainly made me more adventurous with changing patterns.

Pictures!

Look - A red and white cardigan! It's blocked, but has no buttons.

I don't know what kind of buttons I'm going to put on it. There are so many options.

I have the whole summer to decide (and longer since I'll wear it without until I find the perfect buttons.




Here is a hat! It's green and silver, for my friend Sam.

I'm making a scarf as well. I'll have to start that soon. It will be a nice portable project.

The yarn is Brown Sheep worsted. Pine and Grey Heather. The pattern is from Charmed Knits.





Here is the beginning of a blue cardigan for my spouse. He best like it.

The yarn is from KnitPicks Wool of the Andes in Sapphire Heather.








I also took pictures of the Shapely Tank, but the color is all wrong. It looked quite blue but it is really purple. I'll try again in the daylight and see if I can get a more accurate color.

A long drive results in knitting

I drove to South Dakota for some weekend camping. The mountains were beautiful, the weather sublime, the drive boring. It was a great time. I really enjoyed spending time with my friends, meeting new people and just hanging out.

I finished a hat for a friend and started a scarf. I started a cardigan for my spouse. I knit the cardigan until I ran out of yarn. I hadn't expected to get so much done.

Last night I went to a friend's house and sewed canvas for a while. I got home at midnight and now I'm tired. I should go back and work on it some more, but I also need to do some work around the house. There are never enough hours in my day.

My sinus is still so congested. My entire face hurts. I need to find a new doctor. But I'm just not ready to spend all the time it takes to find one. It's too bad that my friend Dr. Pete doesn't live close by.

Last week I finally had enough money to buy the new iPod. On the way to South Dakota it became necessary to buy a car charger for it as well. I hope to get my music on it soon. But right now I have 200 hours of knitting Podcasts that I haven't listened to yet.

I found the camera so I hope to get some pictures this evening.

No knitting

I haven't managed to knit for more that 15 minutes all week. In fact nothing really occured here at all this week. We have all been very lazy. Maybe some knitting will occur this weekend.

I did acquire yarn for two presents. Socks for my friend Chris and a scarf for my friend Sam.

Just what I needed - two more projects!

Another Friday!

The red and white cardigan (this would be the La Crosse sweater for those who were here for those entries) is washed and blocked. I still have a few tails to weave in. And I planned to take pictures last night but, big surprise, I can’t find the camera. My camera needs a locator beacon, maybe a GPS chip.

I have completed the front of the Shapely Tank and about 3 inches of the back.

Last night I went on a very nice long walk with Kate. It was fun. I’m sure we were pretty slow for her but I really enjoyed the visiting and getting out of the house.

I’ve decided to buy little nosegays for Saturday. The roses are pink instead of the ‘usual’ white and yellow, but they are SO cute. At least I thought so.

I’m currently obsessed with green tea lattes from Starbucks. This morning I went to get one and they were out of Matcha. Can you believe it! I didn’t get one yesterday because the gal screwed up the order and I didn’t feel like correcting her. On the upside they didn’t charge me for the white chocolate mocha with a shot of peppermint that I settled for so I’m good. Sugared and caffeinated.

We close our mortgage on Tuesday. That chapter of my life will be behind me! The arduous task of paying for the monstrosity will begin. Frightening!

The red and white cardigan.

It's done! Pictures after washing and blocking. Still haven't found the right buttons. But except for the buttons, the knitting and sewing is done.

The yarn that was to be Picovoli is going to be the Shapely Tank. I am going to cast it on next. It will be lovely.

I spent Saturday sewing canvas and Sunday unsewing canvas. It isn't as bad as it sounds and I did get one top done except for the last seam. With any luck I can get Mary's top redone tomorrow night.

The kids are gone. Liz is at Grandma's house and Josh is back at college. It will be nice and quiet around here for a week. The quiet will do me a world of good, but I doubt I will get anything much done.

Maybe another sweater!

Once again - insane

My mother bought me some beautiful purple Microspun. I decided to make a Picovoli sweater out of it. I might be just a little short on the yarn. But I'm going to try it anyway. Wish me luck!

Just as soon as I finish this red and white cardigan. I've finished the left band and I'm almost half done with the right button band. I need to sew the bands down, crochet the edging and then knit up the neck. Done in no time!

Pictures you were promised

The new sock. I love the colors of this yarn. I would like to make a sweater out of it.


Here is the red and white sweater - I just started the button bands. I'm about 1/4 done with the left one.


And here are the lovely socks my fiber group made me. They are sooooo nice.

Progress

My mother's cardigan has a nearly complete button band (one row and a cast off) and one sleeve. It will be done when she gets here! Yay! Now if I can just find the buttons!

My father's cardigan has been done, except for buttons, for months.

She will be taking them home when she leaves my house this weekend. One more thing out of my sewing room. She said not to worry about it, since they don't count for the knit-off but I want them out the door.

Then I think I'll get the red and white one done. And since I appear to be in a finishing mood I'll sew the sleeve back in my Rogue. Then I can sew up the hem and it, too, is out of the rotation.

I'm not going to get my SAM entry done this month (it's still missing in action). Too bad, since it's the last month and I missed the first month.

Again - no pictures, bad blogger.

Sweater progress

Yesterday I got the sleeves sewn in the sweater. With any luck at all I'll get the button bands picked up today.

I also started another sock. The color is lovely.

I can't find my blue sock. Yikes. Shame to loose it. I hope it turns up soon. I can't wait to finish them. They are made with a stunning Shaffer yarn.


Today we'll be doing more finishing on the house and I'll have to do laundry and some cleaning.

Ah - HA

I finished the second sleeve for the red and white sweater last night. I was going to sew up the steeks and put the sleeves in and start the button bands but I couldn't find any needles for the sewing machine. Looks like a trip to the sewing store is in order. And speaking of sewing ...

I have 113 yards of canvas in my dining room. Monday we will be having a cutting day instead of a sewing day. We have a tentative plan to have a sewing day on May 3.

I need to make another pair of socks. Maybe on Saturday.

Running out of original titles

There are only so many things you can call a post.

It's knit night and the Eastside Fiber Enablers are here. It's nice to have them here again. I've been doing hand sewing on a dress. But now I'm cheating and writing a short blog note.

I'm many sweaters behind on my challenge. I am going to have to get busy if I'm going to manage to get more than one done!

And of course here I sit - not knitting.

At last!

I completed the first sleeve last night. I wonder how long it will take to finish the second!

It was nice to do some knitting.

My spouse got picked for jury duty yesterday and the judge sequestored the jury today. We have plans for the weekend. If the trial isn't done and the jury isn't in by Friday night, he'll miss my big day on Saturday. I will be sad. I hope the trial is at least interesting.

Back to knitting!

Weekly confession

Again no knitting.

I did how ever get the BEST gift from my fiber arts group, The Eastside Fiber Enablers. I got a beautiful pair of wool socks. I should post a picture. I'll get one when I wear them on Saturday.

They've been working on them since Novemberish. They are very good at keeping secrets. They had a group project making socks for a bunch of ladies and I was frequently bemoaning the fact that they didn't ask me to help. I was a little busy with other things, but I was still sad that I didn't get asked to help.

I have finished almost everything that I needed to do for Saturday. I have a little sewing left to do on one shoe and then I'm all done. I'm going to pack up stuff tomorrow. I hope I don't forget anything. I think that I'll go and knit for an hour or so, maybe finish that sweater.