Wednesday, September 26, 2007

WIP--it Wednesday

So, not much has changed in the WIP area. I don't think I have knit one row on the daughters afghan (I do hope I get it done before Christmas!). However, I did finish the September Sockamania Socks. So that is a good thing.

They turned out really nice. My son has already confiscated them and is running around the house in them. I think he just said something about wearing them to school tomorrow. I have plenty of yarn left over and have some sock ideas I am going to try out. If they turn out well, I will post the pattern in my etsy store and a picture here.

It has been a very long day so this is going to have to be short. More later.

ZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Monday, September 24, 2007

Now THAT'S Knitting!

As I was reading some of my favorite blogs this morning Hege had a picture of some mittens she had made a few years ago. Not just any mittens, but beautiful mittens. She is incredibly talented! She also had a link to some museum pages--all in Norwegian--but there were some pictures I HAVE to share. All hand knit and all amazing! Now THAT'S knitting!
Isn't this the most beautiful pair of knit mittens you have ever seen!? Don't you wish you had a pair!


My grandfather was Norwegian and Danish and I would love to have been able to sit and visit with his parents (my great grandparents) about Norway and Denmark. We probably wouldn't have been able to understand each other though--they didn't speak english and I don't speak Norwegian (unfortunately).


If you would like to see all of the displays on the museums site it is here.
KnitPicks is selling a book called "Selbuvotter". It is all about the history and tradition of these incredible mittens and gloves that are 150 years old. There are 30+ projects in the book. Yes, I ordered it. I am so weak!
Happy Knitting!

Friday, September 21, 2007

PIF Exchange and Free Pattern Friday!!!!


I am so excited to announce that I am going to be a part of the "Pay it Forward" exchange!!!! Anni had posted it on her blog yesterday and I was fortunate enough to be one of the first three people to post a comment, which means that I get to participate. It is wonderful!


So, here is how it works:


It’s the Pay It Forward Exchange. It’s based of the concept of the movie “Pay it Forward” where acts or deeds of kindness are done without expecting something in return, just passing it on, with hope that the recipients of the acts of kindness are passed on. You all know I’m already a PIF type of person. So here’s how it works. I will make and send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment to this post on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. I do not know what that gift will be yet, and it won’t be sent this month, probably not next month, but it will be sent (within 6 months) and that’s a promise! What YOU have to do in return, then, is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.


So the first three to comment on this post and who say they would like to take part will be my recipients. If I don't know you and have your e-mail address already, please include your e-mail address in your post so I can get hold of you. Once I've got my 3 recipients, I'll e-mail you to get your home address and just some idea of your favorite colours, yarn type, etc. I don't just knit--so I will need to know a little about you, what you like, and maybe what you like to decorate your house with.



Now, for the free pattern!

This is nothing really exciting, but it is a very useful item and very effective.

KNITTED SCRUBBER:

Materials: Approx. 8-10 yards of nylon netting that is in a 3-inch wide strip. Size 10 (US) knitting needles. Large tapestry needle.

Round Scrubber:

Cast on 8 sts.

Row 1: Knit

Row 2: k 2 tog, yo, k 4, turn

Row 3: K 6

Row 4: k 2 tog, yo, k 2, turn

Row 5: K 4

Row 6: K 2 tog, yo, k 6

Repeat these 6 rows 9 times more. Bind off. Use tapestry needle to sew circle together and work in ends.

Happy Knitting!

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Time for Some Changes

I thought I would give the blog an over-haul. I haven't made any changes in several months and with the change in seasons and my etsy store I thought I would spend the morning updating the blog. So, let me know what you think.

On a different note......Have you ever woke up in the morning and thought, "I think I will just sleep all day"? Your bed feels extra soft and comfy and you feel soooooo sleepy. You're not depressed or sad or anything like that you just don't want to get up. That is how I felt this morning. I did manage to pull myself out of bed in time to get the kids off to school, but I have accomplished little else. I told HoneyBunny, when I talked to him this morning, that all I want to do today is knit. I really can't think of ANYTHING I would rather do. He's so wonderful, you know what he said? "Go ahead, take a day off and just relax, rejuvinate, and take it easy." Ya, that's why I married him. He is one of the few men in this world that think that women work twice or three times (sometimes ten times) more than men because they have to take care of the house (a full time job), the kids (full time and sometime overtime job), take care of the husband (which can be a mostly full time job), and of course take care of themselves. He is constantly looking for ways to convince me to sit down and take a break--knitting and yarn activities are his best methods, "Tama why don't you come and sit here on the couch with me and knit while the news is on."

Today is going to be a great day! Happy Knitting!

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Wednesday's WIP's

I have been surfing around the web looking at other knitting blogs and have really enjoyed seeing what other knitters are working on right now so I thought I would show off what I currently have on my needles (at least the ones that are sitting here on my desk in the way).

This is the pair of socks that I am making for the Sockamania KAL for September. I am afraid that the daughter thinks these are going to end up hers, but she is in for a surprise because I really like how they are turning out--plus I wear more brown than she does. These will also appear on the SAMKAL 4 blog site for September.

This is the blanket that I mentioned was for my daughters birthday. It is really pretty and EXTREMELY soft. I am combining KnitPicks Crayon and Suri for the main part and then the eyelash is KnitPicks Butterfly Kisses. It will be wonderful and warm when it's done--hopefully before Christmas.

So, that's what I am working on right now. There are more, but these two are the most pressing projects, as far as what needs to be done ASAP!

Happy Knitting!




Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Recovery Tuesday

Usually Monday's are my weekend recovery days. However, it poured rain Sunday and most of Monday which means that HoneyBunny couldn't work and would be home all day. Then the daughter had a doctor's appointment and somehow managed to convince us that she should get the whole day off from school. So Monday was more like Saturday.


I really could have used a Monday recovery this week. Last week was the daughter's birthday. Isn't interesting how children manage to make the most of this once a year event? We had to have a slumber party Friday, a regular party Saturday for all of her friends, a fun family outing Saturday night, and then a family party on Sunday. I don't remember seeing in the "child raising handbook" where children should have three birthday parties and an event of some sort each year in order for them to actually get a year older. I am still exhausted from just the slumber party! Now you see why I didn't manage to get another post in last week.


(this is a picture of the sockies I made for her)

So, now that HoneyBunny is back to work today, the daughter and son are at school, and all the parties are over I can take a deep breath and "enjoy the silence". Maybe I'll waste away the day knitting! Hey that's sounds like a really good idea. My new book showed up last week and I am so excited to make some of the socks I can barely sleep at night. (Please tell me I am not the only one that gets that excited about a knitting project).

It has been quite a few years since I purchased a sock book. Most of them are so boring--no offense--they are mostly for beginning sock knitters and contain patterns that I could knit in my sleep with both hands tied behind my back. Now don't get me wrong here, I love a good mindless sock once in a while, but I am at a point in my sock knitting career (?) that I want some excitement, something spicy and challenging, something that makes my pulse race, and keeps me awake thinking about it half of the night. This book has many patterns that fit this need. I can't put it down. Here I am trying to exercise a little self control by finishing one project at a time and I keep finding myself shopping for yarn to start my new projects or avoiding all of my knitting because what I have been working on is now boring. In fact--I am going to make a confession--I didn't finish my daughters blanket that she is dieing for me to finish for her (it was supposed to be for her birthday) because it has fallen into that "boring" catagory and, if I am not mistaken, I may have another black hole on my hands. Maybe she will get it for Christmas. When my yarn order gets here I don't know if I will be able to keep myself from starting some of those new socks or not. I am weak in the face of a new knitting book, but when faced with new yarn....

Happy Knitting!

Monday, September 10, 2007

Je suis fini!

You know, there is something to be said for "stick-to-it-iveness". I told myself a couple of months ago that these projects that have been haunting my desk for the last year HAD to go. Now, I wasn't real hip on just ripping them out and moving on since the projects were so close to being done. After finishing the "Black Hole" capelet I mentioned a few posts ago I figured I was invincible. No black hole was going to suck anymore stitches or rows out of my hard work. And LOOK!!!!!!! I finished the "Black Hole" summer tee! I realize that summer is pretty much over, but see, I had started this LAST summer hoping that I could wear it THIS summer. If I hadn't given in to the black hole I would have worn it this summer. Oh, well. It's still hot here so I will get to wear it a few times before it gets too cold.

Now, not only can knitting projects get sucked into black holes, but I have discovered that spinning projects can get sucked in as well. I have had this fiber (and eight other bags of it) for about two years. If I would just sit down and spin the yarn would get produced a lot faster, but knitting and housework have a way of interferring something terrible. However, after much persevering, the final bag is spun!!!!!! Yeah! I am ever so happy to finally be done with this stuff. Don't get me wrong, the money was good, but the fiber was awful!!!!! I have officially sworn off scratchy wool. (For those of you that aren't in the know--not all wool is scratchy--there is wool out there that I could easily pass off to you as cotton or silk or alpaca or leave you wondering what magical creature grows that soft, luxurious fiber that your socks or sweater is made out of).
So, now I can start a few new projects! Yeah! I love new projects. That means new YARN! and I really love new yarn. Oh! and new knitting books!! I love new knitting books! In fact, in anticipation of finishing all of this I ordered a bunch of NEW stuff. I will "show and tell" when it gets here.


Happy Knitting!!

Friday, September 07, 2007

Dog to the Vet


I have to take our dog to the vet today. No big deal right? It's not like what you have to go through to take the cat to the vet--all the craziness that proceeds even getting the cat in the car. However, though the dog is easily entreated to get in the car, she becomes a complete idiot as soon as we get out to go into the building. Actually, getting her into the C-A-R is interesting as well. She is about 100 pounds of nervous dogginess and I have a compact car. She litterally fills the back seat. Anyway, so we get out at the office and she imediately forgets that she is on a leash. Which dislocates my shoulder and tears all the muscles in my arm and shoulder area. Then we see another dog and the race is on. Now, normally Sierra (my dog) is well behaved--she doesn't bark unneccessarily or run away or do anything naughty (well REALLY naughty anyway, she got into my yarn one time and ate a bunch of it--I don't like to talk about what happened so let's just say that I threw yarn at her, screamed at her until I was hoarse, and then she spent the night outside in the dark by herself), but being in the presence of so many people and other dogs she loses all control and discipline. She is what I call a "High Need" animal. Which means that she wants to be petted by everyone that is within her sight and have all of the attention of all of the other animals that are around. This makes for an extremely irritating wait in the waiting room--not just for me, but for everyone. She pants and whines and lunges at people and whines and pants some more. By the time we are put into a room and they take her temperature she appears to be sick because she is running a temperature. She goes from wanting everyone to touch her to trying to hide in my lap at the sight of the vet. Which for a dog her size is not possible.


By the time I get home I am covered in dog hair and slobber and stink like a sweaty dog.


Well, we have to leave at 11:00 so I guess I better gear up. Here we go.........

Saturday, September 01, 2007

My Favorite Time of the Year Starts Today!

I am so happy that it is finally September! I love autumn! There is just something about the leaves turning all shades of yellow, orange, and red, the weather cooling off, the feel of the air that I look forward to every year. I was out shopping the other day and all of the craft stores have the Halloween decorations out. For those of you that don't know this--I LOOOOOVVVVVEEEEE Halloween!!!!!!!!!! It is my favorite holiday. What's not to love? You get to dress up in fun costumes, eat lots of chocolate, and decorate your house with all sorts of fun spooky decorations. (As soon as mine is decorated I will post pictures!)

Of course, the best part of autumn--aside from Halloween--is with cooler weather comes a need for all of those divine, lucious, hand-knit sweaters, socks, mitten, hats, scarves, etc. YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and you all know how I feel about that! I can't wait!

Unfortunately, it is still getting up to the 90's (F) during the day--no sweaters yet! The other day we had a simply beautiful late summer "gully washer" (that's where it pours rain for about 30 minutes and washes all of the gutters and gullies out!). As you can see from the picture it not only washed out my gutters but it flowed up into my yard to wash out my rock "gully". There is a nice sidewalk in front of the wood pieces under all of that water.
My Son decided he wanted to go play in the water. By this time the rain had stopped, but the "gully washer" was still flowing really nicely!--into my yard.

It didn't take long for it to go back down. Now all that's left is a nice layer of silt in my rock yard.


I thought I would put a couple of pictures of the yarn that is appearing in my etsy store over the next few days. The first picture if of some superwash wool sock yarn in "Rocket Red". This is great sock yarn! I love how the colors turned out!
This is superwash wool sock yarn as well and it is in the color "Summer Daze". It reminds me of sitting a the pool under the shade trees in the grass watching my kids swim. It knits up into nice little two row stripes with little white spots here and there that look like clouds.
I have more, but I still need to get pictures of them. Check out my etsy store--the link is in the side bar under "My favorite places" and click on the "Find my patterns...etc".
Happy knitting! Happy Fall!