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.