And now for something totally different

Last night I picked up stitches for the last sleeve on Steve's sweater. Since I have to make a sojourne to St. Paul I might as well finish the sleeve and deliver the sweater while I'm there.

I started a new sweater last Saturday. I'll put up pictures later. I have one sleeve done, ready to join and will start the second sleeve soon.

For commute knitting I've been making washclothes. I have finished one ginormous skein of cotton yarn and started another. This might be a nice holiday present sort of thing to have around. They are handy, quick and a painless knit. I bought the yarn (worsted weight cotton) on sale (clearance I believe) for $1 a skein (1 lb) so this is cheap and stash busting. I also have some left over from a rug I crocheted years ago that will also become washclothes.

Photos later - promise!

Some things done

I finished the SSSP.

Turned out very nicely if I do say so myself.

I think I will make a couple pair of socks this week - just like that. In truth - I have a couple pairs started that need finishing.

No pictures today - since the only finished thing is the SSSP and showing it off will ruin the secret.

Socks - two new pair

I finished two more pairs of socks. Both of which sat in the UFO pile for months and needed only the second sock to be finished. The pattern is just a basic sock, I used no real pattern.



The first pair was made using Opal in the Draco Malfoy colorway from the Harry Potter collection. My daughter bought the yarn herself and I made her the socks. She is very patient waiting for them to get finished.









The second pair is Kaffe Fasset collection in Mirage colorway. I meant to order Pool but somehow requested the wrong number. Still nice yarn though and a great pair of socks. I meant to use this yarn to learn a new heel but forgot to grab the directions on the day I reached the heel so I just used a standard heel and gusset. Since waiting to get home and find the pattern was out of the question.





I have also done a lot of work on my SSSP. I may even finish that this week. That will be so very very exciting for me.

Secret Pal 14 Questionaire

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

I prefer basic yarns; Cascade, J&S, Louet gems, natural fibers are the bomb unless we are talking about cotton.
I don't like acrylics and novelty yarns.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?

I have many different things, my Options are in the binder, but other needles are in fabric cases or totes

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?

I have been knitting since I was a child. My mother taught me when I was 4 or 5, but she says I wasn't serious about knitting until I was 7. There isn't a technique or pattern I haven't been able to manage or that I wasn't ready willing and able to take on.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

I do - Amazon is ndeplazes

5. What's your favorite scent?

amber and vanilla

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

Not really, but I like dark dark chocolate

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?

I haven't met a craft I didn't like. I have a wheel and many, many spindles.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

I like a lot of different music. I have an iPod where I keep my music.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?

I like purple best but all other colors are good too.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

Two kids (one 23 and one 17) and no pets.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?

Scarves, hats and mittens but no ponchos.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

Socks and sweaters

13. What are you knitting right now?

Socks and sweaters

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

yes

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

Circulars and dpns. I like all kinds of materials but I don't care for Pony plastic needles.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?

yes - both

17. How old is your oldest UFO?

years and years, let's not talk about it, shall we.

18. What is your favorite holiday? What winter holiday do you observe?

Swiss Independence. My family is Swiss.

At my house we refer to the winter holidays as the National Retailer's Cash Cow Holiday. The standard ones are really all too commercialized.

19. Is there anything that you collect?

Pocket Dragons

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

Not at this moment (there are a couple of Alice Starmore books I'd like to have - but I'm not willing to spend that kind of money on a book - ever!). Interweave Knits, Cast On and Verena Knits

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?

not at the moment

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?

I love knitting socks. My feet are square - 9 inches around and 9 inches long

23. When is your birthday?

January 7

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID?

I am knitknot

July - Already?

I can't believe that it is July already.

Nothing new on the knitting front. There is progress on many fronts but nothing is finished yet.

But after the weekend there should be socks and maybe, just maybe, a new sweater.

And another one done

Well it is finished, washed, blocked and drying.

After I took the pic I had to repin the points. I looked for buttons today but I couldn't find what I wanted. What a bummer.

Perhaps I'll try another store later this week.

This was a nice quick and fun knit!
Yarn is Jo Sharp Silkroad DK in Boheme on a size 3.25mm needle.

Otherwise nothing is new here. It's been a lovely Monday, if Mondays can actually be lovely.

WOW - a double header!

This morning I put my knitting aside, got in my car and drove north a LONG way. My father's family (his mother's family) was having a reunion. So I figured - heck why not - I've never met any of them before, but it could be fun.

The drive was beautiful. Alas I couldn't find the farm. I saw two farms that looked promising - one had 6 cars in the yard (it seemed odd - I thought the family was larger - but okay) however there were only two people in the yard standing about talking. Hmm - I didn't see the promised sign, in fact the only sign was a No Trespassing sign on the gate. Best drive on! The next farm look more likely - there were about 60 people in the yard, children ran about everywhere. Only one problem. They were all Amish. I believe my mother would have mentioned when she suggested I attend the reunion.

I drove up and down the stretch mentioned in the directions for about 45 minutes and then gave up the ghost and headed for home. I tried to salvage the trip with a stop at yarn store on the way home. This was not to be. Apparently all the yarn stores in Indiana are closed on Sunday.

Oh well - At least it was a lovely day for a lovely drive.

Maybe I'll have better luck next time!

Two forward, one back

The Honeycomb vest is no more. I wasn't going to have enough yarn and I wasn't happy with it anyway. If I have to buy more yarn I'm going to try to find what I wanted in the first place. So instead I ripped back and started Pudorosa. So far a very calming knit. I have the first one almost done. The FIRST ONE you many very well ask. Why yes.

Everyone, being all interested in what I was knitting, asked; I sent the link. They liked. They said they wanted one too - please!? Now they are all knitters and COULD make their own. But, I have 4 balls of this yarn.

If I had my library from home I could make these but I don't (and I could buy the pattern, but I already have it - in MN). So why not. It's a pleasant knit, I have the yarn and the time. (lots of time) And they are all knitters and will appreciate the gift. Two birds, one stone. (Well three but who, besides me, is counting.)

And for our next adventure!

I have cast on for the Honeycomb Vest not that I have finished anything to justify starting something new. I have about 1/2 the back completed. So far it is an interesting knit. I'm looking forward to wearing it.

I am also nearly finished with a pair of socks. I have only half the foot of a second sock to finish. This is a pair that had been suffering from second sock syndrome since last fall. The 52 Pair Plunge and commute knitting have really been useful for getting projects off the UFO pile.

After I finish the vest I will have to get back to the Anniversary Mystery Shawl. I think two more weeks of steady work would finish that.

And then the second sleeve on Steve's sweater. Can sweaters suffer from second sleeve syndrome? I believe mine do.

Looks like an agenda to me!

Another week bites the dust

Sunday was a mixed blessing. Saturday we got new internet, which was win, but that meant that Saturday's agenda got pushed back to Sunday and Sunday's agenda got round filed.

There was knitting, where I discovered that I must have snagged the needles from a sock UFO for something else and put a different set in to hold the stitches. Of course I didn't notice this for 5 inches of sock leg. (rip rip rip)

Drove to West Chester (OH) to the IKEA, bought a bed and mattress. Yay for bed! Four hours driving and two hours shopping. Had fun, and saved about $800 over anything I saw in Indy (and that was just the mattress!). I think that covers gas.

So now we start a new week.

Lace, Socks and Sweaters, Oh My!

The internet has been out - but there has been knitting!

Finally finished Clue 3:




I think it's turning out pretty well. The pattern requires attention but is not to difficult. A really lovely knit.


And two pairs of socks for the 52 Pair Plunge:


What I've been calling my Raspberry Swirl sock are finally finished. I started these a LONG time ago and then more than once.






Baby socks knit in sets of three. Why? Who knows but mother's who have them like it.







And there is progress on Steve's sweater - One sleeve down and one to go!

WOOHOO!

Internet access should reappear on Saturday! I just scheduled a new provider to come and do the install.

And boy to I have some knitting to show you! I have socks and lace and sweaters (oh my!)

I hope you all are as excited as I am (both of you!)

Still no internet at the house. Really annoying. And makes it very hard to do my paying job. VERY HARD, like as in nearly impossible.

1/2 of SSSP is complete. Rather nicely too, if you ask me.

Also finished a pair of baby socks. Cute with a capital Q.

Must make phone calls to internet providers today. TDS is full of fail. They will call us in 24 - 48 hours if they fix it, and we should be home during those times in case they stop by and need to come in, cause we don't work - right? Apparently this means they will call Saturday afternoon on the house phone, to ask us to do more 'troubleshooting' even though they were given cell numbers since we wouldn't be home. UHM WTF!? More trouble shooting? We have been doing that for weeks. This does not give me warm fuzzies.

Perhaps a little demented?!

Is it a little off center that I am thinking I should learn to knit in German? Maybe, but I think I have to have this book so I can make these socks. Or even these.

I learned to knit in French so I could use patterns from Phildar, because not so long ago (okay 15 years ago) you couldn't get all the cool patterns in English.

This is one of those days when I really question my sanity.

SSSP* - update!

The SSSP has moved along quite fabulously. I am now at the interesting part. WOOT!

I have let it take knitting time away from the Anniversary Mystery Shawl. This will put me even further behind, but I'm too excited to care.

There is also future project planning - I gave my Rogue sweater to my daughter so I think I will make another one for me.

I also really like the Honeycomb Vest from Spring 2008 Knitty.

First I have Steve's sweater and the SSSP to finish though.

* sooper sekret skirrel projekt

And - Pictures!

I finally finished Clue 2 of the Anniversary Mystery Shawl.
The side panel:

The center panel:I planned to have this much done yesterday - but the fridge was out in the morning which resulted in trips for ice, packing of coolers, waiting for the service guy, getting the new (used) fridge and emergency cooking. Still have to make jelly with the strawberries that were in the freezer.

I stayed up until after midnight trying to finish up but went to bed with two rows left. I thought that it would be better to call it a night rather than having to frog back mistakes in the morning.
After a bit of breakfast today I will start clue three. Maybe I will finish clue three before clue 5 is released.

I also need to knit a couple pair of socks this week.

Still knitting lace

I still have rows and rows to go before I finish the second clue.

It is turning out very well - but I am not dedicated enough to catch up.

I have too many things I NEED to work on and too little time.

Tomorrow I hope there will be pictures here. I can't guarantee knitting pictures - but some pictures.

Dinner with friends

Is fun.

I am very lucky - my coworker with whom I car pool doesn't mind driving so I get to knit on the way to and from work. I get quite a bit of boring knitting done. All this leads to -

Today on the way home I reached a happy place in my sooper sekret skirrel projekt (SSSP). I'm very pleased with it. Soon I will be at the interesting part of this project.

There will be no pictures of the SSSP here though - since that sort of defeats the purpose. I am taking pictures and I will put them up just as soon as the secret is broken. Something to look forward to, and perhaps to keep you coming back?!

Once I get the SSSP to the not boring part I will start knitting socks on my commute. Socks for the 52 Pair Plunge. There shall be much knitting.

More Lace - well - not so much

Knitting should be happening right now - instead I give you - PIE!


It was a decent trade off for knitting - the smell is lovely and I'm sure it will taste delish!

I'm still waiting to hear if I get to be one of the 100 official 52 Pair Plunge participants. I am not patient, but heaven knows I'm trying.

So now - the pie is nearly done, the kitchen is clean and I am going to try to get a few rows done on my shawl. The only way I'm going to finish the second clue before the fourth clue is released is to stay up all night Friday night and anyone who knows me knows that is not going to happen.

Getting back in the groove

Starting to get back into the groove. Woohoo.

I need to get busy and finish some knitting. I am focusing on the Anniversary Shawl for now at least until I catch up. Then I have to pick up and knit the last sleeve on Steve's sweater. And socks - if I'm going to do the 52 Pair Plunge I'm going to have to get busy and finish some socks. I have many pair in progress. Hopefully I'll manage to focus and get some of these things done.

If I work really steadily tonight I could finish clue 2 of the shawl, maybe. And maybe I'm just delusional.

We shall see - Stay tuned for the next exciting episode of Adventures in Knitting!