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.

I can't believe

There has been no knitting. It has been so busy here. But there has been sewing and visiting and working on the house. All we have left to do now is baseboard and window trimming. It doesn't seem like much but it sure takes a long time.

Tonight I'm going to sit back with the spouse, watch a movie and make a red and white sleeve. The last time I worked on the sleeve I made a mistake and ended up taking back all I had done. I hope I don't make that mistake again! Or another one like it.

New socks

Here are the new socks I finished this tonight. What do you think?

I think I'll get back to my sweater now and finish the sleeves.

I also found the pattern for another pair of socks I need to finish. I will probably find some time to work on them this weekend.

I have a lot of sewing to finish in the next two weeks as well. I hope I can manage to get it all done.

More Socks

I have finished most of another pair of socks. I would have completed it today - but I discovered and error right after I finished the heel. Of course I had started to decrease the toe before I noticed it.

My cuticles are almost healed. This makes knitting much less painful.

I did some more rearranging in my work room. It's still an abominable mess. I threw away an enormous bag of garbage away. I also found and put in binders an amazing number of knitting patterns.

I have two shelves of space available for bins from the basement. If my back didn't spasm at the mere thought of moving heavy things I'd go and bring a few up. I hope that the muscles relax soon.

Wool Withdrawal

I have had no time to knit this week, so far.

I have finished a lot of sewing though and I only have 100 messages to get through and my email will be all caught up.

The weather here has been very nice and I do not want to sit in my office all day. I want to be out in the Spring enjoying the sunshine.

I have some really painful cracks in my skin of my fingers. It's mostly nerves. Up until last Friday I had most of them healed up but when I'm under stress I tend to worry my cuticles, usually without noticing, until they start to bleed. This makes everything from typing to knitting painful. As a nervous habit goes it's small but I'd really like to quit doing it.

Tonight I am staining the last of the trim work. (Hahahahaha) We have only trimwork left but there is quite a bit of it. We hope to be all done in a couple weeks. But then we've hoped that for a while now.

And we have cast off!

Here they are - my loud socks.

I love Koigu colors. They are some of the best. Some day I'd like to knit an entire sweater with Koigu. But for now I'll just settle for lovely socks, many pairs of lovely socks.

And now!

a whole sock! And part of a leg! The colors are much LOUDER in person. I absolutely love it!

I can't wait to finish the other one so I can wear them. I might even have to make another pair. In purple and lime!

You will see

There is sock (well, there is leg and heel of sock) and soon there will be picture.

It has been a very nice break from the cardigan.

I hope to finish the gusset and get to the toe tonight, after my time in remodeling purgatory.

Tomorrow we grout, some more.

Insanity IS my natural state of being

As if the sweater thing wasn't enough, along with the remodeling and the SCA thing, I've decided to join the Sock of the Month Knit Along 3. Mwwahahahahaha! I need more socks. I have the will and the yarn. Now I just need a 36 hour day!

Now where are my sock patterns? The sock yarn is all sorted in a box on the shelf and I have several socks started so I'll start there and do some finishing up. It will help me get my sewing room cleaned and organized though so that is a Good Thing.

Floor Galore

We have finished most of the flooring. Just some grout left. Yay!

I also finished the body of my cardigan - LOOK!

I'm so pleased with how it turned out. It is quite nice. I have started the sleeves. I'm doing them both at the same time on one circular. I like it as much as I like making socks that way. It will be nice to have them both done - but it is not a relaxing way for me to knit.

I ordered a new sock book "My Favorite Socks" and I'm still waiting for it. I'm not really sure I'd have time to actually knit any socks but I'd like to fondle the book.

I hope to find some time to start the socks for the Socks That Rock. I also have a skein of Sock That Rock yarn that I got from from a secret pal exchange. It came with a delightful pattern and I'm want to knit those up too. I have both my skein winder and my ball winder in the same place at the same time now so chances are pretty good I'll be able to get the yarn balled this time.

I am also thinking about posting a tutorial for left handed knitting. I can get my daughter to help take pictures. I'm just not sure I have the actual skill to produce a decent page that can be downloaded for use. I'll bet I have friends that will help me though.

Knitting Camp

My mother and I are signed up for knitting camp. I'm not really sure how they decide who gets in but I'm hoping!

I managed to get one whole row done on my cardigan since Sunday.

Passmentarie: I made a sample of a finger braid. According to the directions you can make longer ones if you have a second person help. I'm going to make Liz be my little assistant. That should go over well. As long as she is in a good mood it will be fine.

Tomorrow we start putting down the floor! I'm so ready for this job to be done!

Very Productive!

The weekend was very productive. The railings on the second and to the second floor are installed. The main floor is all painted. We have started prepping the floor for the tile work. I also got the first coat on the last remaining wall in the second floor bath.

I have started the neck shaping on the cardigan. I was at 20.75 inches last night, with 2 inches to go for the back neck shaping! I had a lot of stop and go when the pattern changed from in the round to back and forth. If I get lucky I might get the body done and the sleeves started this week, in between time spent tiling the main floor.

I also got a picture of the sweater I made my mother. You can't see the lovely cables. She said that she had a better picture and will send it. If I get one the shows the cables well I'll post it.

Today my daughter wore the lovely red and white mittens I made her. I don't know why but it makes me happy when she wears/uses stuff I made her. Today has been a good day.

Post storm

We have FEET of snow. I got the car out of the driveway but I couldn't get it back in. I did get it in far enough that it isn't on the street, but only just.

We have almost completed the stair railing for the new story. We can't work on the old stairwell until the tile is down. By this time next week!

I have reached the all red portion of the cardigan. I'll try to post pictures soon.

My mother and I are talking about a Kilim sweater (from Philosopher's Wool) knit along. We both have the yarn and the pattern. It is on the list of things I should knit this year. The problem is getting her to be brave enough to try to post a picture. So I am cheering for her - RAH RAH RAH - she can do it! It will be great fun to work on this project together and watch each other's progress.

Still no knitting

I am so close to done with the cardigan. Really close. But I have been busy with the house. The staircase is enclosed now and we have started setting the railing around the stair opening.

I'm having wool withdrawal.

I took my daughter to the Dr. yesterday. For the last couple of weeks she has had a very swollen toe. They took xrays, it's not broken and there was no damage that would account for the swelling. They are doing some bloodwork. I hope they learn something. I don't think we need anymore unexplained medical mysteries around here.

I really need to get some more sewing done this week but I don't know when I'm going to get time. Unless I get up at 4am.

Someday this will all be done, right?

Crappy weather

The weather here is crappy. Cold, snowy, rain.

I'm sitting in my sewing room knitting and watching bad movies.

I really want to finish my red and white sweater but I have things to sew as well. Too many things to do, too little time.

I have a lot of socks to knit, too.

I will be a busy girl this year.

A great lack of knitting

There hasn't been much knitting this week.

Tuesday evening I picked up my friend and bought him to my house, since his car was here. I left after work and after all the visiting and dinner we didn't get home until late.

Last night I went to a meeting. It was actually better than I thought it would be. I am still at a loss about what is wrong with a nice, year-round, free meeting place with room for all of us and space for storage.

Tonight we will be working on the house and probably Friday as well. Saturday I'm gone with friends and Sunday, working on the house.

The upside is that I'm almost done with my cardigan body. The red/white patterning is about 30 rows from done and then just the red patterning is left, then on to the sleeves! It is hard to be so close and to not be able to work on it.

In two weeks I am laying the tile in my house. The Last Floor. I have to gather all the bank documents and send them over this week. It's all coming together (I hope!)

The Weekend

I spent Sunday at a KnitOut. It was great fun and I have no idea how many people I helped to knit. But there were many. We got a great coupon book from the MOA but we missed all the 'vendor' goodies, since we were busy teaching instead of shopping. I conned my friend Liz into coming along. It is amazing what the promise of a trip to IKEA will talk her into.

I spent today putting together the dressers I bought at IKEA, then filling them with clothing and other stuff. My bedroom is amazingly clean, but I didn't get much else done.

I should spend some time this evening hauling boxes upstairs. I have about 1/2 of my stuff from downstairs upstairs now.

My spouse finished putting together the stair case this weekend. It is very nice. It is closer and closer to done everyday.

Progress

Here is the progress on my cardigan.

It is going pretty well. I think I'm going to try knitting both sleeves on one circular. Seeing as how well I liked that with socks it should go well. It does work well to make sure that both sleeves are the same.

Saint Valentine's Day

So here I am at home with my daughter. My sweet little Valentine.

My spouse works late. But my daughter wanted pizza for her Valentine. So - no cooking!

I have succumbed to the draw of Elizabeth Zimmerman and I have started a little blanket. It will use some 'lovely' acrylic yarn that I picked up for 25 cents a skein/ball a few years ago. It will keep me warm on these cold nights while I knit all those sweaters I have to knit this year.

9 Sweaters?! Great Ooggly Mooogly!

Next up

So the Poetry in Stitches Cardigan is next. Probably because it is only two colors and I don't have to follow the chart too closely.

Wednesday is the last day to put in a guess as to how many sweaters I'll knit this year.

Kate asks if sweaters started before 2007 count. The short answer is - Maybe. In order to count there must be a significant portion of the sweater not yet knitted. At this point the only incomplete sweaters in my house that don't count are Rogue (it just needs one sleeve sewn in) and my mother's cardigan (which just needs sleeves sewn in and a button band put on). Everything else is fair game.

Kate allowed us to borrow her router. My husband has finished cutting to size and routering 1/2 of the treads and all of the risers for out new stair case. He plans to have it done by the time I get back on Saturday. I think I will be taking days off next week to put down the tile. We'll see.

One down!

Here it is - Laela. All ends woven in and ready to wear.

I spent today hauling up more stuff from the basement. This makes the sewing room a nearly complete disaster area. I have been sorting sock kits, putting the yarn with the pattern. I've also spent some time unknitting things I didn't like once I'd gotten them started. I'll bag that yarn up and save it until I find another pattern I like.
Better than wasting both the time and the yarn.

I'm getting ready to finish up another sweater. Either AS Mary Tudor or the cardigan from Poetry in Stitches.

The BIG weekend

The weekend was a blast. I got all dressed up (I found shoes - Nordstroms carries some styles in wide AND the guy found me a regular pair from Enzo Asomethingini, that tend to run wide - they were perfect!), had dinner with my husband and friends. We danced and drank, but not too much. I have pictures. And perhaps I'll get brave and post some.

Progress continues on Laela. I'm working on the yoke.

Walker's sweater is ready to be blocked and sewn up.

For the record Laela counts, Walker's does not. :)

Gah!

My spouse is taking me to a fancy dress ball this weekend. I bought a new dress, had my nails done and spent days looking for shoes. At this pont ANY shoes. I have 6.5 W size feet. No one carries wide shoes. I usually settle for size 7. The trouble is all the ones I like are too tight in a 6.5 or I walk out of them in a size 7. I hate to spend good money on shoes that are not comfortable to wear. So I have no nice shoes.

Since I had to spend an awful amount of my time shoe shopping I haven't been able to do much knitting. And since I didn't even find shoes what was the point. All that time I could have spent finishing my first sweater of the year. So much for complete one each month.

Place your bets

Go ahead - place your bets. I'll take bets until February 14th.

I don't know what the prize will be. It will be a surprise. No, Mom, it will not be a sweater. But I do have 11 months to collect stuff to throw into the package.

I have until December 31st to finish, all the way, not just the knitting. They must also be sewn up and wearable.

To help you figure out your guess - I work 50 hour weeks, I have a very busy travel schedule for my SCA hobby this summer, I'm remodeling my house and I'm easily bored. The list of available options is listed here so you can leverage your guess based on the apparent difficulty of the patterns, if you choose to do so. I will not be buying anything new but I do have a large amount of undesignated yarn that could become something.

I have 2 inches done on the back of Beadwork. I have 1 inch on the body of St. Bridget. I have 8 inches on the body of Mary Tudor. I have about 3 inches on the body of the Poetry in stitches cardigan.

so - Are you feeling lucky?

There are no pictures because I have, of course, misplaced the camera.

I have completed the first sleeve for the Laela sweater. I have started the cuff of the second sleeve.

My plan, after finishing this sweater is to finish the Mary Tudor body. We'll see how I feel about the sleeves after I finish the body.

Terri thinks I can knit 5 sweaters in a year. Should we take bets? There could even be a prize for the person who comes closest to the actual number of sweaters knitted.

Sweaters that will count are those that I started this year or that weren't more than 3/4 completed December 31.

Shelves!

I have shelves. I hope that I will soon have organized shelves. But it is nice to have floor. I still need a chair of some type. The TV, cable and Tivo are up and running.

I started the first sleeve on the lopi sweater. I haven't quite got the body to the join point but it is about 2 inches away, about 1 hour of knitting. Tonight I'm going to work on finishing the baby sweater and Saturday will be dedicated to sewing.

There may be pictures this weekend. I'll cross my fingers!

I did it!

I found my missing patterns. So now I just need to gather my yarn and cast on for the Dale of Norway Knit Along. Just as soon as I finish the baby sweater. :) I have to knit up the necksides/shoulders, sew it together and add the spots. I should have that done my Monday. So I'll only be a week behind the other knitters.

I'm taking this as a sign that I should focus on finishing up the stuff I have before procuring more. I'll take any sign, really.

I hope to add a list of "FINISHED" things soon.

Knit From Your Stash 07

I am a lemming. Well that and I think my stash is out of hand.

So I am officially not buying yarn from now until Knitting Camp (assuming I get in) and then from after Knitting Camp until the end of the year.

I have enough sock yarn, sweater kits and I haven't even allowed myself to contemplate the 'unassigned yarn' in my stash.

I got into the Socks that Rock sock club and that is enough new yarn!

I don't even need to buy yarn for new babies that are born in the coming year. Really.

Valkryie Knit This said I should just knit faster. I couldn't knit faster without mechanical implants. I could quit my job and stay home and knit - but that would inhibit my desire to have a place to store my yarn.

My beloved mother agrees with Valkryie - she just wants to live vicariously through my stash. And laugh because she isn't storing it. I love you too.

And if there is something that comes up in the next months I have a short reprieve in July.

And if I actually finish a bunch of the lovely things in my stash I will have a new wardrobe.

Oh the shame

So the excavations in my sewing room continue. At this point I believe that I could knit a sweater a month for a year and still not knit up all the sweater kits I have in my stash.

And that doesn't even include socks, shawls or other lace bits.

I think I might have to just stop buying yarn (gasp)

I joined the Dale of Norway KAL (I already had two of them and a baby sweater gather up) and I can't find the patterns. I have the yarn. But the pattern book has disappeared. Both patterns are in the same book, of course.

The reorganization continues this evening.

No string things

Today I worked until 8:30pm. This left little time for much other than email. Of course I find time to come here and leave a note.

I haven't managed to get much done in my room this week. I have carried a couple of things upstairs but that is all. I'm tired and I just want a nap. I think I need more sunshine. I definately would not make a good vampire.

Weaving nearly woven

Aaron's belt is almost done. I just have about 20 inches left and I have to decide how to finish it. I'll probably find a buckle, or more likely a D-ring.

I hope to get more time to re-evaluate the work list this weekend. I will finish the baby sweater first and then sew together my Rogue sweater. Then I'll split my time between Mary Tudor, Beadwork and a cabled Lopi sweater. And I have several hundred pairs of socks to finish/knit.

This should be REALLY frightening once I get a real look at the stash. Maybe I don't really want to do this?!

Oh - sure I do.

Shhh

Don't anyone tell G(Liz) that I have been sorting out stuff and organizing it on the new shelves in my sewing room. I hope to start my list of knitting projects which are kitted up and ready to go sometime Monday. I still need a couple of shelf units. I might take the shelves off the old sewing room walls and move them upstairs. We may start calling the sewing room the shelf room.

I had a great weekend.

Tomorrow is my daughter's birthday. The cake is in the oven. I hope it tastes good. The batter was delicious.

I found my weaving patterns and I've started weaving. It's much fun and the anvil turned out great. I need to make the rat's ear bigger. Fun for me.

Bombing around

I spent this evening driving around town. It wouldn't have been so bad if I hadn't forgotten half the stuff and then had to go back out. And it was cold.

I got a new knitting book called Traditional Aran Knitting by Shelagh Hollingworth. I am looking forward to getting a chance to read it. I also got another book from my mother for my birthday. It is called Shopping in the Renaissance. I need more time to read my new books!

I need to re-prioritize my to do list. I'll do that on Monday. I wish I had gotten more done. I probably would have except I have this house to finish. It is still not done. But it is getting closer.

I should also make a list of the sweaters I have kitted up and ready to knit too. Maybe it will keep me from buying more yarn, just from shame.

Long weekend, still haven't finished the baby sweater. I have to work on the belt for Aaron the rest of the week. The baby sweater will have to wait.

I hope to get a lot of the belt done tonight and Wednesday. It would be nice if I could get it done by Wednesday and finish the sweater by Friday. I'm very deluded.

My friend gave me some nice sock yarn from the Yarn Pirate for my birthday. Very pretty and will make me very nice socks!

Nonsense post

Your Birthdate: January 7

You are an island. You don't need anyone else to make you happy. And though you see yourself as a loner, people are drawn to you. Deep and sensitive, you tend to impress others with your insights. You also tend to be psychic - so listen to that inner voice! Your strength: Your self sufficiency Your weakness: You despise authority Your power color: Maroon Your power symbol: Hammer Your power month: July

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

Woohoo!

Now I can't find the cord for the camera so I can upload the pictures I took of my birthday presents.

So here is the list:

SP9 - Some REALLY nice purple silk/wool. It is a GREAT purple. Some really nice hand dyed yarn, new knitting needles and some great chocolate cookies - they were so good I only got two of them. I don't know where my pal finds the great cards. They are so pretty. And two little books. I started reading one of them last night.

My friend Liz gave me a knitting calendar.

My mother bought me a book.

My brother and his wife sent me a bag.

And my birthday isn't even until Sunday!

Soon - Friday!

I'm still working on the baby sweater.

Last night I helped my friend steek the sweater she made. It is beautiful. We then sat up late working on our sweaters. It was hard to get up this morning. It sure was nice to sit and visit though. I need to get back to knit nights.

My SP9 sent another package. This one arrived promptly before my birthday. :) I have pictures and I'll post them later. I got some really lovely yarn and fingerless mitts. They will be really nice to wear while typing. I've always wanted a pair like that. I just never got around to making them for myself.

Such nice stuff!

Finally Photos!

Here is the package from my Secret Pal 9! All wrapped so nice!


Here is what was in all the lovely packages!


Here is what my kitten thinks about all the excitment.

Here are the sleeves for the baby sweater. The baby was born on Saturday. I'm knitting like crazy to finish the body so I can sew it up!


Here is a very bad picture of the body. I'm now on the second row of lady bugs. There are three rows of lady bugs before I get to the neck. Perhaps by the end of the week.

Who am I kidding!?

Happy New Year!

I welcomed the new year, sitting in my living room with some great people. We just say around watching TV and visiting. It was very nice. All things considered, while it was really nice to go to S&M house for chili we could have stayed at K&L's place and saved ourselves all the driving.

We got snow last night.

I hope the new year brings as much fun as the last one did.

I painted the library/den this weekend. We should be able to start putting the floor down soon. Yay! Soon the piano will be moved and I can start working on the dining room!

I had pictures of the baby sweater to post today but the battery on the camera needs to be recharged first. It lost charge completely just as I got the camera plugged into the computer.

I found my needle case Saturday. I was very pleased. Now I just need to find the new pages I bought for it. I'm also thinking about getting some new options needles. I relly like them. I want to get some of the smaller sizes. They aren't the nice interchangable ones but they have nice joins. Very smooth.

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

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

My secret pal is the BEST!

The resolution conundrum

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

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

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

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

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

Success

I have managed to survive the holiday.

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

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

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

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

What are you talking about?!

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

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

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

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

Grrr!

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

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

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

SCORE!

There goes the schedule

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

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

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

Fala lala la la la

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

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

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

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

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

Tomorrow is another day

No knitting has occurred chez moi.

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

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

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

And this is why I get so little done.

Not much happens here

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

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

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

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

Hmmm

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

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

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

The house will never be finished.

December - remember?

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

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

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

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

Busy weekend!

Where has November gone?!

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

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

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

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

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

Creeping Crud

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

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

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

Nearly the end of November?!

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

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

I have the cuff to one mitten started. Yay!

I have started another pair of socks. Yay!

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

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

Mmmm - fibery goodness!

Wild Weekend

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

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

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

Lists

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

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

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

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

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

Only the bones remain

Turkey day was good.

I finished the weaving.

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

Maybe this weekend.

Annual Feast Of Gluttony!

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

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

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

Well off to cook.

Turkey Day Cometh

One more work day before the festival of gluttony.

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

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

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

Monday Morning?

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

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

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

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

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

And how was your weekend?

The missing post

Here are some pictures of my weaving:

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















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


















Here is a picture of the back.














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

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

Two Post Friday

There are likely to be two posts today.

I have appreciable progress on my little weaving project.

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

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

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

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

Again with the postman

I found the address!

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

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

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

Off to work.

Mid-week Mid-November

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

I'll try to get some pictures tonight.

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

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

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

Hey a girl can dream!

Carptastic

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

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

I hope you are all having a nice day.

Monday, Monday

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pictures? Likely!

Alas!

No knitting today.

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

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

The weekend went by too fast.

Mail!

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












I got this in the mail yesterday

It is a lovely gifty from my SP9 pal.

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







Here is what was in the packages.

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

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

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

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


Thank you to My pal.

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


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