WWKIPD

Today didn't start out so well. A smoke detector started a low battery beep yesterday. I had a new battery so I wasn't worried. I put the new battery in but it still beeped. It was late so I just closed my door so I could ignore it and get some sleep - It'll still be there in the morning.

Around 3am the one in my bedroom began to beep then the one in my daughter's room began to beep. I messed around trying unsuccessfully to get them to stop until 6am. Then I called my spouse, who is on vacation and woke him up at an ungodly hour. We talked about it for some time, he told me to unplug them, I figured out how to unplug them (they are wired in but they have a little plug - who knew). I managed to get them unplugged and then waited until 9 when the store opened. New batteries fresh from the store did the trick.

After that morning fiasco I stomped around for a few hours, finished a shawl and baked some bars.

My friend and I headed out to World Wide Knit In Public Day (we do it all the time so it was hard to see it as special). She needed to replace a broken needle so she could finish her socks. We hit two stores before we managed to find them. Then we went to The Double Ewe. They were having quite the festivities. It was fun. I didn't win a door prize - but really - what do I need with more yarn.

I started working on my Box Sweet sweater. I have finished 7 squares and I hope to finish a couple more yet tonight.

After knitting we stopped at the liquor store and headed to my friend's house. Her husband was making us dinner. It was really tasty.

So in spite of everything I will count today as a win.

Should have brought a camera

I'm sitting in lovely Tucson. It's a work trip so I'm not getting much chance to enjoy it, but it is beautiful here. I think I could live here.

But tomorrow I return home. It's too bad that I didn't manage to find any souvenir yarn. I didn't even have time to look. (le sigh)

I'm suffering a little from the time change - that or sitting alone in a hotel room is boring enough to send me to bed early.

UFOs

I have been quite busy finishing stuff and starting socks. I started two new pair in the last week. I am also working on finishing a shawl I started last year. I'm just past the half way point.

I have also been working on my garden. The plants are growing and lovely. I have flowers and seedlings to brighten my day. Today we put down mulch to protect the new plants and keep the weeds down. I don't really care much for mulch but weed suppression is important. I don't have time to give an un-mulched garden the attention it deserves.

I also REALLY want to get started on the StrickWear cardigan I purchased. I keep trying to get my daughter to ball the yarn for me - but so far she keep resisting. I might lose this particular battle.

Today we had - Family law, more specifically - alimony (in all it's many forms), child support, visitation, and conflicts of law (or is the conflict of laws?). The lecturer should have used terms other than foreign and forum. They sound much too similar on tape and when strung together two or three in a row I had no idea which one he was using. I'll have to grab text for that in order to get it all figured out.

I also managed 2 of 3 on some crim law questions. Must remember assumption of risk.

Why did I think this was a good idea?

In knitting news I had to rip back the second sock of my third pair of Sock Wars socks. The prior assassin had finished the first one and used a stockingnet heel. I had already completed the s1k1 heel, turned the heel and almost finished the gusset before I noticed. Great attention to detail. I had checked her gauge but nothing else. Her gauge was perfect. The yarn is a lovely color of Tofutsie I will have to seek out.

Woohoo

The weather has finally gotten beautiful.

We have had quite the week. Last weekend the bathroom had issues. We had to pull out the toilet and do some clean up and then replace everything. That was mostly done Friday. Last night we came home and the closet rod had come loose from the wall. After we cleaned up that mess and replaced the brackets I put most of the stuff away again.

In the midst of this I finished my Lucy Bag. It's nice enough - but I'm not sure if I like it. It may become a raffle prize. We'll see.

This week my daughter comes home from her school trip. I'm going to start prepping to clean up the basement bedroom it will be a really mess. But it will also be nice to have that finished as well. We are also going to start finishing the basement bath. Yikes!

I have nearly finished the knitting part of the sheep for Shannon. I'm going to go ahead and knit up the rest of the yarn I have (I think I will get two sheep) before I do the felting.

There really isn't any other finished object news this week. But I am mostly between projects. So there is a significant likelihood that something new and interesting will make an appearance on the needles. Stay tuned for more exciting adventures of yarn girl!

Weekend of Knitting

This was a weekend of finishing knitting.

Here are some lovely green socks.They are a sock of the month kit from The Knitter.com. I have no idea which month (or March 2008 which is what it says on the pattern). I'm so far behind that I will never catch up. The pattern is Down the Garden Path by Judy Alexander. The yarn is Trekking XXL, which I liked well enough to seek and buy. I knit them with 2.25mm Options dpns.

I also finished my second pair of Sock Wars Socks and the secret project. The only socks I currently have on the needles is a pair of Schaefer socks. I love the sock (I finished one) and the yarn, but the pattern is really tough. I'm sure I have frogged three socks worth of knitting just on the first sock.

I am busy with my purple felted bag. I have finished the body of the bag and 1/2 of one strap. I hope to have the knitting done this week and maybe even the felting! I am also going to (finally) start the socks I am making for my mother. It would be nice to have them done when my daughter goes to visit, so I can send them with her. We'll see. The pattern doesn't seem that hard, but you never know.

And sheep - I am ready to knit sheep!
Summer is here. Tomorrow - garden pics.

Oh my aching muscles!

This weekend was spent putting in a new garden. I convinced my spouse to allow me to put a ‘wild’ flower bed in the front yard. I explained many times that this garden won’t be ‘done’ for years. My friend S came over to help and we worked our collective butts into the ground. I spent a crazy amount of money on plants and planted a space larger that I anticipated and it is more full than I expected but still pretty barren. We will need to put down some mulch – but not until the seeds come up. We may get mulch and mulch everywhere except where the seeds are. I hate mulch.

There was some knitting. I finished a sock and my friend G came over and turned some skeins into nice balls for me (she wanted to use my equipment and in payment she took care of some random projects that needed to be helped along). I planted the veggie garden and then G and I went to have a coffee break and I helped her vet a portion of her new pattern.

G is writing a pattern for a pair of socks from the 16th century, based on pictures. I started this several years ago and then never finished. She is more dedicated and will be finished. She already knows what needs doing – but she uses me to talk through things. I’m going to use the knitfont I have to do the chart for her in knit speak, knit a sample to proof the chart. I think I will just make the socks and that way I will have a pair when the pattern is complete. It’s fun to talk knitting with her. We noticed yesterday that one of the pictures we have has the one sock right side out and one sock inside out. We don’t agree on which side is the right side. This was a very cool discovery. Neither of us had noticed before in spite of pouring over the pictures for hours and hours.

In return she has agreed to help proof my new sock pattern when I get it finished.

There were many interesting happenings over at Sock Wars this weekend, including the untimely demise of my assassin. The socks she was knitting for me are now on their way to Ontario. I am still waiting for the SIP (socks-in-progress) from my victim to arrive. My nerves are starting to fray a little from the stress of waiting. That or I’m just really anxious to get back in the game.

Although some of the fun of the game has gone out of it for me. Since part of the game is waiting for the SIP to arrive I am unhappy that someone who has admitted to not waiting for two SIPs hasn't been disqualified. I have spent the last week waiting for socks. In that week I could have knit 2 more pairs of socks. That isn't the way the rules were set up and we should all have to abide by the same rules.

It’s been pretty quiet. There has been knitting - Some hush hush secret knitting. I have to get busy this weekend and ball some yarn so that I can make sheep. I’d also like to start some pre-cleaning in the downstairs craft room. This room is going to become the defacto library. Since the library has become the guest room because we couldn’t get the piano in the library and had to put it in the guest room which meant there was no room for guests. It is a vicious cycle.

The spouse goes to visit his mother in couple weeks and I will be free to fill the family room with junk while I clean out the room and put stuff away. Once this is done things will be much better (for some definitions of better). Of course your mileage will vary.

I also would really like to get my ‘stuff’ sorted so that I have tools together where I can find them. That will take more time than I have, the room cleaning is more necessary, and the sorting can take place without destroying the family living area. So time management will prevail. I may do some staging of both projects over the next few weeks.

In other news I have decided to sit the bar exam (again). This means that solitary time is the call of the day and I will not be attending my knitting groups from now until the end of July. This will allow me to listen to scintillating lectures on various legal topics. Yay? I hope things work out the way I want with that. The application was interesting. Who can remember stuff that happened 12+ years ago? I’m sure I’ve forgotten something and will be refused admission to the bar.

And that, folks, is the sum total of my summer. Because, really that will be all there is time for.

Mwaahahahaha!

Some people!

Since I washed out of Sock Madness (so close!) I had a little time on my hands (or something) So I've decided to try my hand at Sock Wars. I have purchased some Tofutsies for my 'weapon'. I love the socks I made with it from the Sock of the Month kit. So I figured why not.



I chose two colors and I don't know which one I will make the Sock War socks from but they are both nice. I will start my gauge swatch as soon as I finish my little girl's prom dress. I have everything done except hemming and I have to put the boning in by hand, since I don't want any sewing to show. I'm just a little compulsive. And I have to hurry and finish that dress because Sock War starts the 9th, which coincidentally is the same day as prom. Imagine that - sounds like fate to me!

Adagio!

Here is a picture of my Adagio shawl. All done! It took at least two hours to bind of the edge stitches. Or at least it seemed like it. The photo is washed out a little. I will have to make a dress to match it so I can wear it. As long as I don't have to put a zipper in the dress.


I suppose I could have put some clothes on the dressmaker's dummy.

Finally A Peapod Picture!

Here is the Peapod baby sweater I made for my friend Kelly's baby to be. It's knit from Knitpicks WOA in Blue Saphire (or Saphire Heather - I never can find the labels after I finish.)

Still in the Finishing Mood

I am just finishing projects. I have little urge to start something new but I keep digging out the UFOs for some special attention. I have nearly completed the Adagio shawl. It would have been done tonight if I hadn't found - The Mistake. I ripped it back and I almost back were I was when I sat down this evening. I hope to finish the shawl this week. (hahahahahaha!)

Then I have a couple of sweaters that are almost done. I think I'll pull out Beadwork and see if I can get that knit up.

And those second socks I have sitting here taunting me. Those I should finish as well.

Not mad any more

Well - I finished the socks but not in time. Alas. Must have missed by mere minutes. The second sock knit much faster than the first one. I think I'm knitting them bigger than I need to, because this pair is a size 10. These ones will be sent to Kelly - just as soon as I get the picture of the Peapod baby sweater (I am not above bribery!)
Knit with Scouts Swag in Orchid on size 2.25mm. Lovely stuff, frustrating pattern, beautiful sock.

Sockmadness update

I managed to sneak in under the wire on Tuesday. I like the sock and the yarn - but I have to admit that you can't see the pattern that well. I also wish I had some rust colored sock yarn with which to do the afterthought heel. A not very good picture can be found here.

The next release is Sunday morning. I doubt if I will make that run, they are only taking the top three and I don't dare take Monday off. My mother will be here to visit this weekend and although she would happily let me knit all day (being all supportive and stuff) I don't imagine I really will knit all day. Of course you never can tell. I have my yarn selected and I'll ball it up tonight so it is all ready to go.

I have nearly completed the Strickwear shawl. The rows just keep getting longer and longer. I might be able to finish it up be Sunday. Then I think I will finish the linen one that I started last summer. I found it, the started bits, the yarn and the pattern. I think I'll take that as a sign.

I'm still plugging away on the AS Mary Tudor. I still haven't managed to get to the neck shaping.

The only thing I have cast on, other than sock madness socks, is a tea cosy which would have taken me a couple hours if I hadn't screwed up two hours worth of knitting, twice. Obviously I can't knit from worded directions while talking. Part of the problem is that the directions say Repeat row 4, repeat row 3 etc and I kept losing track of which time I was repeating row 3. I should just rewrite the directions for the following impaired. That and a pencil and post-it note should help me actually finish the silly thing, maybe next week. After I wash out of sock madness (sigh).

Dooby Dooby Dooby

Yarnover was a lot of fun. I met up with Kelly and Jen early (they were early, I was late) I admired several sweater kits I didn’t need and they managed to sell the ones I was interested in before I managed to decide to buy them. I was also considering the purchase of enough yarn for a nice Aran (I only have enough yarn for two or three of these already 1 for Steve, 1 St. Bridget and one I don’t know yet) It was lovely natural colored wool. I fondled scads of alpaca and silk.

Kimmet Croft, who once put together Bohus kits was there – I talked to her about getting one – alas I was once again denied. It seems she can’t get a mill to spin her angora properly, alas (sigh). Liz informed me that she deeply desires an angora bunny. I encouraged Kelly to buy yarn.

We went up to see Franklin so Kelly and Jen could get their pictures taken and Liz had hers taken as well. By this time it was nearly noon. Kelly and Jen wanted lunch – so we checked to see how close Kate and her mother were. They were minutes away so Kelly and Jen went for lunch and I stayed to wait.

Kate and Pat arrived. I admired Niamh. Baby Cuteness! We wondered back through the trail of temptation. This time I bought stuff (gasp). I had been doing so well. I bought a pattern and yarn for two tea cosies (one for me, one for Kate, perhaps more) and I broke down and bought a kit from StrickWear. I love her stuff. The graduated colors are fantastic and I already have a shawl kit I bought at Sheepy last year so I know the yarn is lovely. Candace told me I had better finish that shawl before the sweater was shipped – or else. I’m not sure or else what.

We wondered about a bit more and decided to go for lunch. We went to The Good Earth off 36 and Fairview. I think it is my current favorite. Carrot Ginger soup! Kate thinks Lars would like to eat there. Pat read the breakfast menu – she is searching for a brunch place. I think their breakfast stuff is good.

I then headed home, did some cleaning and some more knitting on my Sock Madness Socks. They were still not done at bedtime.

Sunday after finishing a bodice for a friend, starting a prom dress for my daughter cleaning up the room a bit (required to reach the sewing machine), and finishing the taxes I found the shawl kit, figured out where I was in the process, and knit a few inches. All in all Sunday was a roaring success.

Mad - I say!

Finished my socks this morning. I knit until midnight and was half through the second foot. I was up at the usual time (I don't sleep in) and finished about 9:30am.

Here they are:
The yarn is Soy Silk from Conjoined Creations on 3mm needles. The colors are very nice. And in spite of my concerns you really can see the stripes.

I will have to rip them back a few inches and reknit the toes so they fit my feet better. I really like them.

My mom is waiting to see them so I'll write about Yarnover later, but I had a great time.

Sock Madness 2 Pattern three

So here is the yarn I chose:I thought it would be a good contrast. A nice peachy pink and cocoa brown with some coordinating greens thrown in.

This is how the sock is turning out:
You can barely see the stripes. I love the colors. The pattern is great fun. The yarn is very nice - but no stripes!

Alas

A little intense

Finally finished! I cast on my Sock Madness socks on Monday afternoon and finished them tonight about 8pm. Work is severally cutting into my knitting time.


Setembrina was the recipient of these socks. She likes them. I think the color is nice. The yarn is Cherry Tree Hill Supersock in Water colorway. I knit them on size 2.25mm needles. I think they are a little short for Setembrina's feet, she thinks they are perfect. They are her socks and she can wear them however she likes.

Lovely Lace

And without further ado here are the first few inches of my personal version of the Veil of Isis. I am making it with the silk I bought at the Yellow Dog yarn store in Eau Claire. Yes, what you see there are 4 cable needles. I didn't have 5 size 3mm needles that were long enough that stitches didn't fall off them and it isn't yet big enough that they all fit on one.

Count your blessings

If I didn't have a friend with worse trouble then I have I'd be ready to give up my sinus. I have had a lovely sinus headache for two days. I hope that is goes away soon. It's making my eyes hurt.

I did manage to finish the socks for my spouse's birthday.

Plain vanilla sock pattern, Scouts Swag in MN Vikings colorway, on 2.25 mm needles. Sorry about the photo, the colors aren't so great and he kept wiggling his toes. Silly.

Baby sweaters

Since the shower is today it shouldn't spoil the surprise.

Sweater for my friend Kate's baby-to-be. It is Sue from Elsebeth Lavold Book 6. The yarn is Silky Wool. I really like working with it. I think we can say that I do not possess the baby sweater curse. I finished the sweater last week and so far no baby. But she is due any day. I hope she gets to stay for the shower.

I have finished one sock for my husband's birthday. His birthday is tomorrow. I hope I manage to find time to finish the second sock. The yarn is from Scout's Swag in a special color she dyed for my friend's store, called MN Vikings. The yardage is short for such big feet (and he doesn't really have big feet). so they are ankle length. I bought a sock pattern program and decided to play with it and compare the stitch count from it with what the Twisted Sisters Sock book and the Sensational Knitted Socks book said I would need. The program also gives a yarn yardage. If I had made the leg the usual length I would have run out 100 yards short. Assuming the pattern maker is correct I should have 10 yards left. Stay tuned.

Craptacular

Most of today went pretty well. My wiper arm didn't work this morning, but I was pretty sure I knew what was wrong and how to fix it. So no worries.

I came home and couldn't manage it, called the spouse yadda yadda.

I packed up my stuff and headed off to my meeting. F*ing hood won't stay latched. I pulled off the highway at the first exit, and spent 15 minutes trying to get the hood to stay shut - no success. Headed down the back roads home. Found a cute little yarn/bead store. Setembrina swore me to secrecy (I was pretty mad, because when I called the spouse, rather upset about the hood thing, he hung up! so I called for sympathy)

I wondered by way home, slowly. Came in and started getting ready for work in the morning, no work vehicle keys in sight. I looked everywhere. Emptied purses, briefcases, pockets, etc. No success. Start to panic, decide to call spouse to see if he has them since he put washer fluid in it last night.

Call store, phone is busy. Call spouse cell, phone is busy. Call mom, phone is busy. Call my cell, phone is busy. WTF! Gather all phones, put them on jacks. Call spouse cell, with cell, have him call house, phone is busy. Great.

Lock doors, go to room, sit in chair, wait for chair to collapse. At least the internet works. I'm not certain I could have taken it if that had been out as well.

Saturday

Yesterday, after staying up until the wee hours knitting and then getting up in the early hours before dawn so that I could finish my Sock Madness socks. I was tired, and wired. We had a big day planned! So I quickly posted my socks, took a shower and finished altering the Sheepy Sweater. Setembrina arrived in the midst of this insanity, Giovanna arrived about 10 minutes later. We jumped into my little blue car and away we went. I drove the morning shift while I was still wide awake on adrenaline, Giovanna added some finishing touches, weaved in a few remaining ends and trimmed a few others. Between the two of us the Sheepy sweater ended up looking like this
We arrived at The Yellow Dog yarn store after a quick detour for coffee. We let them know we were there, filled out some forms and petted a lot of yarn. We brow-beat Setembrina into getting her photo taken as well. It's probably okay that I knit more than a couple rows, since Setembrina didn't. I apparently can't hold needles without knitting.

Franklin was very nice. He enjoyed our impromptu homage to Dolores. (I have to admit that while I was entertained by the idea when I brought it up at knit night but without the prompting of Giovanna I would never have gone through with it). He let us get a picture taken with him (which you can see at Giovanna's Blog) Why I never think to take my camera places I will never understand.

We all purchased a little something, I grabbed up a beautiful skein of copper colored silk for something a little lacy (I have all the skill honing to do). It was the last one and very funny, the shop owner and one of the employees had been talking about snatching it up and a couple of the other customers asked if there was more.

We met Giovanna's parents for lunch (it was quite tasty). We went and had great home made ice cream and headed home. And by this time I had begun to go downhill. Setembrina drove and I slept.

It was a great day, immense fun was had by all.

Sock Madness 2 - Round 1

I have survived. And I don't have to try to find free wireless in Eau Claire!

The flash certainly washed out the socks! The color is much closer to a nasty bruise that it appears in this picture.

The pattern is called Zombie Socks. The yarn it Trekking (XXL), knitted on size 2.25mm Options double points. They are a size 7 and will be sent to my mother. I hope she likes them. There is a certain pink in them that reminds me of the color her healing bruises turn. Mom and I both bruise pretty easy: hers turn a lovely shade of fuchsia, mine turn a nasty shade of yellow green.

And with that tidbit of useless and obscure information (not to mention bizarre) I'm going to go and get ready for the trip to the yarn store and photo op.

Sock Madness is coming

I can hardly contain my excitement. I keep thinking through my stash making choices for the yarn, all the techniques I know for making socks and which needles I want to use.

I think today I will select yarn - but what if I change my mind?! Then I can wind them and get ready.

I am sure I will decide to use my knitpicks options needles. I really like them. I could use my harmony dpns but some of them are split a little and catch the yarn. I suppose I could attempt to file them down and fix them, but I've been thinking about doing that for months and still haven't done it. I could also contact knitpicks about it but I haven't done that either. Brittany dpns are still my favorite but I bend them until they form c shapes.

I have been busy working on Mary Tudor. I have about 25 rows until I start the neck shaping. I hope to start the sleeves next week, although Sock Madness will have to take precedence. I don't know how I'm going to manage to wait until next week. AAHHHH!!! (hehehe)

Complete!

My yarn arrived yesterday and last night I finished it! Yay - new sweater!

I think it is terribly cute. I have to wash and block it.

Starmore and Lavold

I have gotten back to my Mary Tudor (finally) I have the body completed past adding the armhole steeks and made decisions about the placement of the neck shaping. I need to sit and write up the directions I intend to use and then I don't have to remember it later.

I have also started this sweater for my friend's soon to arrive daughter. I choose a lovely emerald green silky wool.

My daughter has started a blanket for her as well. She is knitting along quite well. She has already completed 5 rows. It's a garter stitch blanket from a Debbie Bliss book. I think it was a very wise pattern selection for someone with my daughter's skill and confidence level. She also took it so she could work on it while riding the bus when she went to work yesterday. It is very pleasing when our children make good choices.

Fawkes!

I finished my fawkes socks tonight:

Yarn is Socks That Rock in colorway Firebird (yarn club 2007) - or maybe it was called phoenix. I wonder where I put that label? The pattern is Fawkes by Gigi Silva. If I remember correctly it was part of the Socktopia KAL.

It was a fun knit. And now - what next?

Darn it!

And I checked TWICE. I'm running out of the light gray yarn. I'm going to have to buy some more and I will have to hope the color is okay. And I can't finish this sweater this week. Gah!

Two more pair - done

This weekend resulted in to new pairs of socks. Aren't they cute! Baby Socks! The pattern is P-S757 D Fortissima Fairisle Baby Sock from Skacel. The yarn is leftovers from other socks.

I am also working on this sweater. The yarn is Wool of the Andes from Knit Picks. I have started the pattern work on the yoke. I hope to have it done this week. And in spite of the fact that my friends say they would never wear it, I think it is really cute.

I'm so excited

My sister-in-law just got back from visiting her family in Belarus and she brought me a present! She always brings us beautiful things. She has brought the most beautiful linen - table linens, towels and fabric. I'm still looking for just the right patterns for the blue and cream linen she brought the first time, every time I think I've decided on just the thing I have another idea. And the nesting dolls (those are still at my mother's house, I'm sure eventually I'll talk her into letting me bring them home. I have a place to keep them now that the house is done.) And some lovely crystal and she often brings little bottles of cordials from her home.

When she was last here to visit us (they live in California) she asked my mother and I what kind of yarn we would like. I said that if I could have anything I would like some of the yarn they use to make the gossamer shawls. She didn't know what that was, and I told her it didn't matter I didn't know if she could even find it or how close it was to her home and she shouldn't have to go searching for it; any nice wool yarn would be fine. But she talked to her aunt who thought she knew what I was talking about and so they found some and she brought it home. (actually they traveled to get it but I have no idea how far, in any case it was above and beyond).

Some real honest to goodness goat down lace yarn. As of yet I have not seen it but visions of lovely lacy goodness fill my mind.

I will have to admire it for a very long time and practice knitting those patterns and design the perfect thing. Something to go with the blue and cream linen!

The weekend just past

Over the weekend my spouse and I attending a doings for his hobby group. He is a freemason and a shriner. Ever year about this time they have a fancy dress weekend. It was fun and not fun, just like every year.

Last night I finished knitting one pair of the plimoth museum gloves. I ran out of yarn two fingers short of the second. I should contact them and see if I can get a little more yarn. I will probably wash and block the completed pair so that I can get that pair mailed back.

I am also going to finish my Fawkes socks this week. I only have one foot left.

Two more pair - done

I finished another pair of socks this morning and washed the pair I finished and wore before I got a picture. Here they are: I will have to find the pattern and yarn information for these - since I'm not sure where I put them. I believe the yarn was Panda.


These are Shaeffer Anne on 2.25mm needles The pattern is #225 Anne Subtle Stripe Socks.

And dig the groovy sock blockers! They were a birthday present from my mother. Vera nice.

*POUT*

Sign ups for Knitting Camp end tomorrow and I'm not signing up and I'm not going. :(

My mom was suppose to go with me last year, but we didn't get our names pulled for that. I did get my name pulled for the mini retreat, and so did Mom - but she couldn't go. I went without her and it was a great time and I want to go again.

We were going to try to go this year - but the weekend of the session (Camp 1) she wants to go to is the same as my cousin's wedding. For some reason my mother has decided that her niece's wedding is more important than Knitting camp! Can you believe it!

I could go to one of the other ones but I want to go with someone I know this time (sharing a room is important). So I'm not going to go. I'm sad. Maybe next year, which is of course what I said last year. Sigh.

Sewing

I spent all of last week sewing and most of today as well.

I am going to do some knitting this week. I'd like to finish the gloves for the living history museum. I have a few pairs of socks to finish up and I'd like to do a little more sewing.

I finished another pair of socks last week but I forgot to take pictures. I'll have to do that next week. They are pretty nice. I wore them immediately after they came off the needles.

Still nothing

I haven't had anything to say this week. My little girl's birthday was Tuesday. A bunch of us pooled our money and bought her a new camera. She was so very excited. It was a good present.

She applied for her first job on Tuesday. I hope she gets one and that she really enjoys it.

I have a pair of socks almost completed. I am teaching a class on making buttons on Saturday. I'm very nervous. I have sat around teaching stuff often and that doesn't bother me, but standing up in front of people makes me queasy. I'm going to make sure there is a table and I'll just sit down with people and talk. :)

Quiet Blog Week

After all the action last week it has been pretty quiet here this week. I have knit most of a sock, nice pattern, nice yarn. I will probably finishing them this weekend. I have to spend next week sewing some garb and doing a little artsy painting. Nothing big.

Today I'm going shopping to get my daughter's birthday present. I hope she likes it. It's a big present for a big birthday.

I have joined another knitting swap. I talked my friend Terri into joining too. We are having a lot of fun planning all the stuff together and that is making the shopping extra fun. I think our packages will end up being a lot similar, but there are really only so many ways you can put them together anyway.

Off to start my day. Everyone have a fantastic weekend.

Today - this happened

And while my friend was busy baking and filling my house with lovely smells I did this:


They are knit with Reynolds Soft Sea Wool, on size 2 (2.5mm). The Pattern is A Little Twisted Socks by Debbie O'Neill.

Two pairs in one week. I'm not sure the challenge is much of a challenge. The only thing that would be a challenge is if I could keep up the momentum.

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I have been getting an annoying number of spam comments on my posts. I have been going through and deleting them but if they continue to suck up my time I'm going to start moderating comments. This is not a pretty option but better than no comments at all.

1 down 51 to go!

Here they are the first completed pair of socks 2008.


They are my own pattern, knit on 3.25mm needles with Patons Kroy Sock, Men's size 10. They are suppose to be knee-high-ish but the leg they are suppose to fit wasn't here so I could check.

My son finds the entire occasion terribly exciting

Whatever shall I cast on next?

First socks 2008

Here are the new socks. I'm almost to the heel!

Happy New Year

May 2008 send you great happiness and joy.

I have cast on my first pair of socks for this year. Pictures when I get to the heel!

I got a present

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

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

It is absolutely fabulous!

Last night -

while playing Scrabble, this happened -


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

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

Mwahahahaha

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

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

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

Since last we spoke

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

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

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

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

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

Kauni update

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

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

We shall see.

Look - A kitty pi

Here he is checking it out.

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

Wonderful

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

Cats.

Blue Monday

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

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

Weekend Ends

It is Sunday night, how sad.

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

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

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

Off to bed. Work in the morning.

Last Weekend in November!

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

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

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

Happy Thanksgiving

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

There will be baking

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

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

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

Turkey day cometh!

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

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

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

Plague, you say?

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

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

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

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

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

I feel like shit. That is all

A quiet evening

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

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

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

What a bummer

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

I have almost finished the Celtic tote.

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

Pictures when there is enough completed to take a picture.

Eye See

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

The itching - make it stop

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

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

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

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

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

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

Stupid Blogger - or stupid connection

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

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

There has been not knitting today.

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

Tomorrow - knitting and maybe pictures.

Feast day of St. Leo the Great

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

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

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

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

Feast day of the Dedication of St. John Lateran

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

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

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

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

Feast day of Blessed John Duns Scotus

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

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

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

Feast day of Saint Didacus

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

Feast day of St. Nicholas Tavelic and Companions

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

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

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

Feast day of the Venerable Solanus Casey

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

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

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

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

Feast day of Saint Charles Borromeo

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

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

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

Now - back to laundry and knitting

Feast day of Saint Martin de Porres

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

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

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

Unfortunately I have no pictures, maybe tomorrow.

All Souls Day

Bowling tonight. Yay!?

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

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

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

All Saints Day

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

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

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

Decisions

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wondering

Did Amy get her little knitting bag yet?

Did she like it?

wondering

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

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

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

Tonight Kate came for knitting. It was fun

Fall falls

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

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

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

Mischief Managed

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

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

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

Some knitting

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

Sweaters!

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


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

Touch Me

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

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

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

Disaster?

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

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

Aunt Bernie's Sweater

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

Now I have to decide what's next!

Dear Friends

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

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

This is very depressing.

Maybe I'll sell it on Ebay.

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

Number 6 in sight!

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

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

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

A second post in seconds!

Here is the update on Aunt Bernie's Sweater.

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

So Excited!

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

I will be depressed if it doesn't fit.

Pictures!

Images from camp! Some cool knitting

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

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

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








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

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












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

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



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

Home - finally

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Letters from Camp

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Deep in the woods of Wisconsin

Well, here I am.

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

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

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

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

Z-Day

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

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

Still haven't found the f*ing camera.

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

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

And just like that - a packing list.

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