Life Happens

Well, just because I haven't posted anything in two years does not meant that I haven't been around.  I have even come by my blog a couple of time to see what I last posted.  Unfortunately for the blog-a-sphere I waste all my time on Facebook these days.  I hate that I do it, but it's so addictive to see what everyone is up to.  Not that I'm nosy I just like to see what other people think, like, want, or do everyday....which makes me sound like I have no life LOL!

The past two years have been crazy, of course.  How could my life be anything else?  I got re-married--something that I think I forgot to mention back in 2012.  Insanely happy still.  I must admit being with someone you are insanely happy with makes all the crazy stuff in life much easier to handle.

We temporarily moved to another state for work.  Which took place right after my last blog entry. We spent a year working there and then suddenly out of the blue a job landed in my husbands lap at home and we were able to come back last January.  We have been so happy to be home.  I LOVED my job in the other state and wish I could do it here, but no luck.  I was working as a biology field technician for an environmental consulting firm--sounds pretty fancy huh!  What I really did was get paid to hike about 10 miles a day in the mountain desert and look for plants, cactus (the one I have the picture of above), and birds.  I had no idea you could paid to go hiking.  BEST JOB EVER!

So here we are back at home in Wyoming.  I managed to get a temporary job where my husband is working.  I'm doing graveyard security for their construction site....yep I'm bored and it's the middle of the night LOL.  I've always been a morning person so I thought I would never be able to do a job like this, but you know I've done fine switching my days and nights around.  It's just so weird to be up and going when everyone else is fast asleep.  The job will only last a few more weeks and then I will be back to trying to sell my hand crafts.  If I could make money at that THAT would be the best job ever!  But after having three different etsy stores over the past eight years, I've about decided my stuff SUCKS! I've seen people sell ten times more stuff than I do and they have essentially the same product.  They obviously know something I don't.

Anyway, I've been knitting, of course.  I'm getting ready to start another sweater for my husband.  He had seen this online and asked if I thought I could make it LOL.  After those Aran sweaters I can make any sweater.

It's a really easy style!  I am going to try to have it done for him for Christmas.  My son is terribly jealous!  He really wants a sweater also, but until he demonstrates a talent for taking care of his clothing there will be no handknit sweaters for him!  

I have three grandchildren now! Talk about crazy!  I'm quite certain I am not "grandmotherly".  Ok, ok so I knit, bake cookies like they are going out of style, and like the museum better than the mall, but still.....DO I LOOK LIKE A GRANDMA?

Ya, I don't think so!  However, they are the cutest babies on the planet!  And I must admit that grandchildren are WAY better than children :)

These two cuties are The Daughters.  Her little boy is going to be two pretty soon and the adorable little girl was born this past Spring.  Wish she was closer so I could kiss and squeeze them :)

Then there is my oldest son's little boy that was born last winter:

I get to see him quite often.  He is so precious and he just LOVES me!  I get the cutest smiles and he even talked to me on the phone today--while he was eating the phone of course.  It would be wonderful if they were all living here in the same town with us, but they don't so I just have to wait for visits.

The Son, the one that thinks he needs a hand knit sweater, is all grown up--sort of.  He is getting his apprenticeship as a plumber/pipe fitter.  He really likes it and has a good job.  He still lives here so I get to see him :)  Thank goodness he isn't joining the "make mom a grandma" mission his siblings are on.  We love having him around...well except that since we've been back every time I turn around something "plumbing" is going wrong with the house.  At least we have him to come fix it!

OK! That wraps it all up. Now you know what I've been up to. And I got to show off my cute little grandkids :)

PMS or Silly Knitter Syndrome

I don't know what is wrong with me the last couple of days, but I seem to be awfully "weepy".  I was reading Elizabeth Zimmermann's book "The Opinionated Knitter" and started crying because she passed away back in 1999.  I knew that already.  In fact I am plenty old enough to remember clearly when it was announced.  So what was I doing yesterday crying over it 11 years later?  She was THE most awesome Knitter ever!  She slapped a whole generation in the face and said, "Stop being a bunch of sheep and think for yourselves!"  There should be some kind of sculpture, statue, or monument built of her somewhere honoring what she did for knitters, maybe even just "plain people", everywhere--who knows how many non-knitters out there have her to thank for their marriages, lack of therapy bills for their spouse, lovely knitwear that keeps them warm and comfortable each winter, etc, etc.  What an amazing person!

Ok, so that's not all.  I found myself in tears again as I gazed at the most beautiful sweater I've ever seen.  The Yarn Harlot (Stephanie Pearle McFee) made a sweater from a Dale of Norway Pattern called Whistler.  I honestly think I have never seen a more breath-taking sweater.  It is absolutely gorgeous.  Go see it!!  She posted about it on March 3rd.  I must have one!  In fact, as a result of seeing it on her blog the other day, I went and bought some yarn to make me something similar.  I haven't made too many sweaters in my knitting career so I won't start with something that detailed, but I plan to make something very Scandivian!  (Unfortunately some other projects will become UFO's because I feel very obsessed with knitting this sweater right now.)

Speaking of obsessed, I am in the process of making my third, yes I said THIRD, Trinity shawl.  I just can't get enough!  They are so much fun to make.  This one will be for my grandma's birthday.  I will get some pictures taken and post them later.  I wonder how many of them I am going to make before I burn out on them?  I don't usually make the same pattern over and over just to see what it looks like in different colors.  I think I've even thought up a way to make it into a circular shawl.  We'll see if I remain obsessed enough with it to try that out.

Happy knitting!

Random Thoughts

I spent a fun filled weekend (no really, it was fun!) dying yarn, knitting, watching movies, and making Valentine cards.  I am not usually a home-body, but when I am in the mood to play with my yarn I am all about hanging around the house.  Here's the results:

I got The Daughter's hat finished--oops!  I knew there was something I forgot to take pictures of.  It turned out so cute!!  It was a special request, and when she puts one in I try to fulfill it cuz she is tough to make stuff for.  I swear she doesn't like anything!  I will find 40 things I love and she MIGHT find one.

I love starting projects!  But I love finishing them even more!!  Since I was on a roll I finished the first sock of a new pair for HB, also a special request.  Nothing worth taking a picture of though.  He wants several pairs of plain black crew length socks.  No cables, no designs, nothing fun.  Just boring black.  At least I will get caught up on my books I want to read LOL!!

I almost finished the sweater I started in Florida.  WAIT TIL YOU SEE IT!!!  I made it with some of the Svale (from Dale of Norway) yarn that I sell in my Etsy store.  It is the Jade colored Svale.  Svale is a blend of cotton, silk, and viscose.  It has a very soft hand and the fabric drapes beautifully!  It is a spring/summer sweater pattern that I bought several years ago, but just haven't got around to making it until now.  The color and style will go wonderfully with black, off white, white, or jeans.  Everything from dressy to casual.  I can't wait to finish it!  All that's left are the sleeves and then I have to sew it together. 

Ya, I know.  Another "sewing" project.  I guess it's going to be the year I make projects that need sewn up.  It all started with that afghan.  Now I've made socks (My Victorian Valentine) and a sweater all requiring sewing.  I've got to get it stopped before it gets out of control! (Socks that require some sewing!?  Come on!) 

I have the "Sneek Peek" for Sockamania done so I thought I would put it on here also.  It's the March sock pattern, "Wearin' O the Green".  I got the yarn as a "test yarn" sample from Yarn Addict Anni.  She has a new item she is thinking about putting in her store and asked if I would try it out for her.  Of course, I was happy to help!!  The knitted square didn't look to exciting as it was, but it created some REALLY cute socks!!  I love the color!  (The pattern's not half bad either!)

The afghan is coming along, right on schedule.  I have four squares all done and started a fifth square Saturday.  I would like to have all 24 squares done by the end of October so that I can spend November blocking the squares and sewing them up.  I may even start blocking them now.  If I wanted to I could sew up each block of 4 squares as I finish them.  Which I may do.  One way or the other, I want the afghan done by December 1st so I don't have to rush around at the last minute trying to get the thing together in time to mail it out for Christmas.  It really makes a Knitter feel good to have a Christmas project so well planned out AND be on target for completion in the right amount of time.  Let's see if I can keep it going!

I've been reading all of Elizabeth Zimmermann's books, since I'm making boring socks.  WOW!  She was such an amazing person!  I've mentioned before that I am very fond of history, especially knitting history.  Her life, stories, and patterns are SO wonderful and amazing!  Most of her knitting projects are very provencial, but reading about them and how to put them together makes me want to rush right out and start another afghan--Mystery Blanket from Knitter's Almanac--or the Pi are Squared shawl from Knitting Around.  Heck!  While I'm at it I'll start a couple of pairs of mittens and a Bog Jacket also!!  WooooHOoo!  (I am outta control.  I don't know what knitting bug bit me, but I got it BAD.)  Anyway, I just keep asking myself why I have resisted becoming one of her fans for so long.  I can be so rebellious some times.  (Ok, ok, most of the time.)  I guess it's because EVERYBODY who knits talks E.Z., knits E.Z., and reveres E.Z..  I have never been much on following the crowd, but I should know that knitter's always know a good thing when they see it!  She truly contributed to what knitting is today for all of us!  If you are like I was and have been resisting the E.Z. pull, resist no longer and buy the books!  Buy the workshop CD's!  For crying out loud, I've watched the entire series twice and can't wait to watch it again!

Well, I better quit.  I am sure you all think I am a lunatic by now and there is no sense in making it worse.  I still need to post those Florida pictures....maybe tomorrow.

Catchin Up!

I keep waiting to post until I can post pictures.  Well if I don't post anyway there is going to be so much to post about it will take forever.  So, when I get around to uploading pictures to my computer there will be a "picture catchin up" post.

The trip to Florida was WONDERFUL!!!  I can't think of a better place to go to get rid of 6 years of pain and suffering (oh ya for HB also LOL!).  HB is almost as good as new.  He went from "no hope" to "a world of opportunities", from "you will just have to live with the pain" to "pain-free".  It is truly a miracle!!!  After all of the heart-breaking news we have received about his condition over the past two years his condition now, after a one and a half hour surgery, is nothing short of a miracle.  Words cannot express the gratitude I feel.  If I had just won an academy award I would be saying, "I'd like to thank God, the internet, all of the wonderful staff at Laser Spine Institute, Bernard (one of the shuttle drivers) at the Westin Inn, the staff of the Westin Inn, the helpful and kind flight attendants, the Florida TSA security people, HB's ex-worker's comp insurance company for being so terrible and forcing us to settle (if we hadn't he wouldn't have been eligible for the surgery at LSI), and my boss for hiring me for a job with a business that just happened to have the insurance carrier that LSI accepted."  Without all of these people HB would not be where he is today.

Ok, I gotta stop before I get my keyboard all wet and soggy.  I will post pictures of one of the most beautiful places on earth--Tampa Florida--and THE most beautiful, comfortable, relaxing, amazing hotel's I've ever stayed in when I get the pictures uploaded from the camera.  We will be going back there someday--soon!--for a vacation with the kids.  Everyone should visit Florida at least once in their lives.

On with the knitting update:  I have gone and started what I said I would never make another one of.  Yep!  you guessed it!  I got a wild hare and started an afghan for my in-laws for Christmas. 

I know what you are saying, "Don't you remember that gigantic pink thing for The Daughter and how you swore it was the biggest black hole you've ever worked on?  What about all that ranting and raving you did because it just WOULDN'T GET FINISHED?  Are you CRAZY!?" 

Me:  But, you see, this afghan is different!  There are only 24 squares to knit then you just sew them together and TADA! instant afghan. 

You:  "What?  What did you say?  Did you say you had to sew?  Don't you HATE sewing stuff up?"

Me:  Ummmm, yaaaaaa........but it's only 24 squares......it will be really easy right?  I just knit at least two squares a month, three for a couple of the months, then in November sew all the squares.  It should be ok.  I have all year to get it done.

(Check back with me in June to see how I'm doing or if I've buried it deep in some closet somewhere.)

I don't know what was wrong with me this weekend, but I couldn't start enough new projects.  Apparently it isn't enough to have 6 other UFO's or WIP's laying around.  I started the March AND April Sockamania designs, another tie for PB, two new sweaters, and the hat I was supposed to make for The Daughter for Christmas but didn't quite get to it--good thing the temperatures are still in the single digits or low double digits here!  I was like a kid in a candy factory where I could run from place to place sampling everything.  As I looked over the disaster area this morning I marved that I didn't have a hangover from all the "new yarn fumes"!  It was all terribly fun!!!  Now I have to dig deep inside myself, find my self control, and commit to finishing everything before starting anything new!!!  Except maybe for those off-white lace gloves out of that luscious alpaca silk from Misti Alpaca's I bought a little while back--that yarn is so delicious I want to fill the bathtub with it, dive in, and roll around in it naked!!!  (HB is rolling on the floor laughing at that!) 

Anyway, with all of that out of my system....you should be up to date.  Pictures will follow, not of me rolling in the yarn (LOL!), but of Florida and all my new projects.

Happy Knitting!!  And if any of you have been told there is no hope out there JUST KEEP LOOKING!!  Somewhere is the answer! and people waiting to help you.

The Newest Sweater and Some Musings

As promised here is my latest sweater. It is from the same book as the other two--Best of Lopi. I used "Ecology" wool from Cascade for the main color and then left-over's for the accent colors. I thought it was kind of ugly as I was knitting it. After all the main color is quite drab. But when I finished it and put it on I was pleasantly surprised at how great it looked! I am loving these sweaters!! I have come up with a reason that I like them--NO SEWING is involved! I have avoided making many things because sewing was required. Not that I can't sew; I've quilted and sewn many items over the years. I just hate sewing up sweaters!!! I swear it takes as long to sew the darn thing up as it took to knit all of the pieces. These Icelandic sweaters have just a few stitches under the arm that you graft together and that is it! The entire sweater is knit in the round from the bottom to the collar. As I mentioned in the last post, I have yarn to make two more sweaters. Both of them will be out of Lopi yarn. I am so anxious to make them I about can't sleep at night! I've never made anything with Lopi brand yarn and I have seen advertisements that it is the warmest wool out there. I can't wait to compare it with the Australian brand yarn that I made the first two sweaters with. I will let you know if it truly is the warmest--I have tried just about every brand of wool yarn on the planet.

Now for the "Musings". Every winter I find myself doing this--in fact I may have posted about it before--I begin to look around at what people are wearing to keep themselves warm. I see small children in nasty acrylic knitwear that I know is not keeping them warm. There are teenagers on the ski slopes wearing very trendy hats, ear warmers, maybe even sweaters made in various third world countries out of the cheapest, scratchiest, worst wool on the planet (that's right, there is such thing as "yucky" wool). I walk through the malls and shopping centers and see racks and racks of trendy/holiday/fashionable sweaters, socks, mittens, gloves, hats, etc. all mass produced and just like the ones in the store next door and none of which will keep you very warm or comfortable.

During all of this I am wondering, "What are people thinking?" Do they think that ALL knitted items are the same? Is that hat the reason you think all wool is scratchy? Is your childs hat the reason you think that knit items don't really keep you warm? Do you go by that polar fleece junk because you think it will keep you warm in sub-zero weather? Did you spend all that money at that fancy sporting goods store for those socks because the tag says they are the warmest? HB even get's caught up in the notion that "commercially" produced fabrics and knitwear can rival hand-knit items even though he KNOWS it doesn't.

When I go to make an article of clothing or an accessory I ask myself, "Who is going to be wearing this? Where do they live? What temperatures could they encounter? Will it be wet and rainy, windy, snowing, below zero?" All of those play an important part in not only the style of the item, but most importantly WHAT fiber the article will be made from. For example: HB has an earflap hat I made for him a couple of years ago when he was spending almost his entire work day outside in various Colorado locations--some as high as 8,000-9,000 feet elevation. This hat is made from a black yarn--a blend of cashmere, merino wool, and silk. I knit it with needles that would be considered much to small for the bulky weight yarn I used. Why this particular style, fiber content, and needle variation? Because:

1. Black colored clothing will soak up any sunshine and help keep you toasty warm no matter what the temperature drops to.

2. Cashmere, merino, and silk are all very fine, very dense fibers. These fibers are known to keep you as much as 8 times warmer than regular wool (WAY warmer than the acrylic junk!! or polar fleece).

3. Smaller needles than what you would normally use to get gauge with a particular yarn will produce a firmer, more dense fabric. This makes the hat water and wind resistant. HB has actually worn his hat out riding our ATV in the snow and wind up in the mountains and his ears never got cold.

You see, hand knit items, especially when the knitter knows the purposes and uses for the item, are FAR superior to anything you can buy in any store anywhere.

I also spin yarn. Which means that I can get REALLY carried away with the details that go into making an item. I can make the yarn with any blend of any fibers I want. If I need extra strength--hemp, extra warmth--angora or cashmere or silk or all three. I can hand pick the wool. Just because something says it's made from wool DOES NOT mean it is going to be just like the other wool sweater or socks you have. Even wool from the same sheep can vary from year to year depending on it's diet, the climate, the weather, etc. Hand picking the wool ensures that you are getting all of the qualities you want to incorporate into the hand-knit item.

Sorry, I do get very carried away when it comes to the society we live in being slaves to whatever is for sale in the store. There are so many people out there that think they have to endure cold feet, hands, ears, etc. because they have given up finding something warm to wear. Me, I look forward to winter! But then........I knit!

What!?

Did someone say that it's only 25 days until Christmas!? Where have I been? What have I been doing?

Oh.....ya....I've been knitting sweaters for ME instead of knitting Christmas gifts. In fact I just finished #3 yesterday. I don't have pictures yet because it is still drying. I will try to post some later this week. I love it!! I got the yarn to make two more sweaters, for me, last week. Unfortunately, I probably better put the breaks on this "sweater making" spree and get busy making gifts.

These silly sweaters are just so much fun.............and they're for me............and I need some warm sweaters because it's December and it's cold...............I wonder if anyone will notice that I didn't knit anyone Christmas gifts this year?

Ooooo's and Ahhhhh's

I realize what a "Knit" wit this makes me look like, but in the middle of designing last months sock pattern for Sockamania and spinning up the yarn for, and knitting two pairs of hunting socks for a customer I made this sweater:

Isn't it great! I love it. It turned out really good. The yarn is some I bought with my birthday money back in August. It isn't Lopi, but it makes a good substitute. It is the same yarn I used for the last sweater I made (Mauch) in different colors. The pattern is from "The Best of Lopi" also and the pattern name is "Brigitte".

And look at the cute buttons I found to put on it! I found the buttons at Blazing Needles in Salt Lake City. I love pewter buttons!

Anyway, the socks for my customer don't look too exciting, but they are made from my handspun angora/wool blend yarn. They are sooooo soft! and the minute you put them on your feet warm up. I am going to have to make some for my family for this winter. I made a nice fingering weight yarn and knit them up on US size 2 needles. Very plain, but very warm!

I love knitting!

My New Sweater

Here are the promised pictures of my new sweater.

The pattern is from "The Best of Lopi" book and the name of the pattern is "Gislina". I wasn't able to find a LYS that carried Lopi brand yarn to I substituted a yarn called Mauch Chunky by Kraemer Yarns. I found it to be very similar to Lopi in every way except that it isn't quite as thick. I had to follow the directions for two sizes bigger in order to make the sweater the right size for me. I also wanted to make a more fitted sweater--similar to the "original" icelandic sweater that the Lopi pattern was based on. I think it turned out WONDERFUL!

Now it just needs to hurry up and get cold enough all day so that I can wear it!!

I can't wait to get my cardigan finished. I need to get the sleeves done and then finish the yoke and then I will post pictures of it!! I am still obsessesd with sweaters! When that one is done I am making plans to knit one for my son for a Christmas gift. I can't wait to get started on it--I did order Lopi from Patternworks for it though so I have to wait for the yarn to get here. In the mean time, I have a sweater from "French Girl Knits" that I am going to start. Hopefully my ability to complete the projects continues. Heaven knows I have enough UFO's hanging around already because of this Sweater Thing I have going on right now.

Fun Stuff!

I didn't think it would ever happen, but just as you cannot stop the sun from rising--I "turned" 40 years old. ( I am using the phrasing from George Carlin who goes through the various significant birthdays and labels them. "Turned" was like something going bad or rotten.) I am still not sure how I feel about it. HB says, "You don't LOOK 40 so who cares." He is so sweet. I don't FEEL 40.

I had a great birthday though. It lasted the entire weekend. Saturday we went shopping all day. HB took me to the yarn store and said to buy whatever I want--my favorite present!!! I bought yarn to make the Icelandic sweater I have been drooling over for months (it's 1/3 of the way done already!) Then we went to lunch at one of my most favorite restaurants. For desert I had this AMAZING chocolate cake. It is flourless, super chocolatey, with almond and chocolate crunchies for a crust---oh man! Definately my favorite desert!!! It's like chocolate mousse but better--if you can imagine that. The kids spent Sunday cooking for me, giving me a manicure, entertaining me, etc, etc. It was so much fun! I have the best kids ever, make no mistake.

I have really been wanting to make a sweater fo the last few months. This is not a usual craving for me. I couldn't wait to get started on the Icelandic sweater! I spent most of Sunday knitting on it. The yarn isn't Lopi, but similar. I couldn't find any Lopi anywhere except online so I bought this Mauch brand. The fiber looks a lot like the Icelandic sheep fiber. Most people use Brown Sheep Co.'s Lambs Pride as a substitute, but I HATE mohair! Yes, yes I realize that it is a little odd for a fiberaholic like me to hate any fiber, but I can't stand mohair. Baby, ultra fine mohair is OK, but the mohair used in Lambs Pride is icky! I only use it for felt projects that I want to make appear furry. Anyway, this yarn is a little thinner than Lopi so if you use it as a substitute be sure to check your guage. My row count is right on but the stitch count is really short! As a result I went up a size on the sweater pattern, perhaps could have went up two sizes but I wanted a snug fit to the sweater rather than a "roomy" fit. I always have to make the sleeves 4 to 6 inches longer so I hope I have enough yarn. I bought extra just in case. I figure if I don't need it for the sweater I can make a GREAT hat with the leftovers.

Sorry I don't have any pictures. I took them last night and haven't had a chance to get them onto the computer. I will post pictures of the sweater and the socks I finished earlier this week hopefully tomorrow.

OK! Now for the really big news! WE ARE MOVING BACK TO COLORADO! Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I decided to go ahead and finish my degree. So I will be going back to school this Fall (like in a week). Between the ridiculous doctor situation that HB has had to deal with since moving, the lies that the motel owner told us to get us to take the job managing his motel, the AWFUL schools in this town, (Need I go on? If you want to know how awful it has been read the posts for the last year!) etc, etc, etc, we have simply HAD IT! We are going to go find a house next week. Then we will pack up and be out of here! I really am excited and can't wait.

The only one not happy is The Daughter. She has a point. She does have the best boyfriend on the planet. He is a member of our church, he has a good job working for the county, he is polite, respectful, a perfect gentleman, he works out and exercises really hard, he is drop dead gorgeous! and he has his future all planned out--College, religion, everything. Too bad they are both still teenagers or we would be making wedding plans! You just don't find a guy like him everyday. He is a one in a million--no more fish in the sea like that one! I hope they can keep it together even though we don't live here anymore. She deserves someone as wonderful as she is.

Anyway, so I don't know how often I will be posting in the next few weeks. I will try to post at least one more time before things get to chaotic so that you can see my sweater!

Yeah for Colorado! I am going home!

FO's--FINALLY!

This is my "Hey Teach" sweater all done!! I mentioned that I was extremely obsessed with it a couple of months ago. I actually finished it before we started packing up to move, but since all of life has been consumed with the art of loading and unloading boxes for the last month and a half, I am just now getting the time to take pictures and write about this adorable little number.

And as if the sweater itself wasn't cute enough, check out the buttons that I found!!!!!! FOSSILS! I had to sit down and take a few deep breaths when I saw these. I have never seen buttons like this! I couldn't have special ordered a set of buttons that would have made me happier. (Yes I know, I am a little odd.) Who needs (blank) when you can knit a sweater from a pattern that is this easy, this cute, this well written, and then find buttons like these to put on the finished product? (Feel free to put your own words into the "blank").

I just finished these last night. They are the October Sockamania pattern. I knit them with some yarn I won from one of the KAL's I participate in. It's a bamboo/silk blend. I loved knitting with it!! It is reminds me of really good mercerized egyptian cotton, but with a softer hand and the drape of silk. A certain person from the "Christmas List" is going to really like these!

Speaking of "The Christmas List", how many of you are already making plans to knit all of your Christmas gifts this year? Ya, me too. I am falling into that same rut I find myself in about this time of year every year. (Ooo, I should make that lace shawl for... and those turkish socks for...and an afghan for... Ooo, and that sweater for...etc. etc. etc). It will be November in two days which means that I have less than two months to make all of these lovely projects for everyone on my list. Will I make it this year????? Nope! I never do. But who can resist all of that delicious yarn, the challenge of being "under the gun" at the last minute, and all of those great patterns? I've decided that planning knitting projects is a good chunk of the excitement and fun. After all, I like to think and talk about yarn and knitting almost as much as I like buy yarn and knit it.

So.............Happy Knitting!

The Lazy Days of Summer....HA!

I feel really bad about not blogging very often lately, but I have been so busy I feel like I've been in a tornado.

School starts next Monday for the kids so all of the usual preparations have been going on, you know clothes shopping, supply shopping, grocery and snack shopping, shopping shopping, and more shopping. I used to love shopping. It just isn't that much fun anymore. I think it's because I don't like to spend my money on anything that doesn't have something to do with knitting. Yes, that is very selfish of me, but knitting is an awfully high priority.

In addition to the school whirlwind, my birthday was a couple of weeks ago. We spent the end of the week and the weekend running around the countryside fishing and hiking. It was a lot of fun! but left me with four days of housework and projects to get caught up on....I'm still not caught up!

Besides all of the shopping fun I've been having, I have a lap top case that was really supposed to be done last week, but still isn't! It's actually my fault for not doing a test felt sample. I just HATE making samples. It is such a waste of time and yarn! However, now I have to figure out how to take this "bag" that measures 18 inches long (from opening to bottom) and only 10 inches wide and make it stretch or something so that it is 16 inches wide. It shrunk WAY too much in width and about right in length. I am so mad at the whole project that I would just cut it to pieces if it was something for me, but it is for a customer so I better not loose my cool yet. So I have to figure out what I am going to do to fix the (blank) thing and still have it look good AND have it done by this weekend. I HATE cursed projects. I will post a picture of the whole mess soon so you can weep, wail, and gnash your teeth with me. (I am at work right now so no pictures. Sorry). I think this is why I stay away from felted projects. To many variables and you never know whether all of that work is going to turn out right or not until after all of the PERMANENT changes are accomplished (ie. it comes out of the washing machine).

I am very happy to report that the LOVELY little jacket I mentioned in my last post is almost done!! I have the little sleeves to make and then sew it together. I hate the sewing part, but I really want the little jacket! If you haven't started yours yet NOW is the time! A more perfect late summer, early fall sweater does not exist. See the last posts for links to the pattern.

As soon as school starts I anticipate having a little more time. Hopefully my blog posts will be more frequent.

Happy knitting!

The Newest FO's and Prizes!

And you thought I was busy at work or on vacation or something! No, I have been knitting instead of blogging the last two weeks.

I became completely obsessed with this pair of socks. After making three pairs of boring socks for HoneyBunny I found myself knitting these without even realizing that there was nothing boring about them. I had originally started them to become another boring pair of summer socks for him, using left-overs again.

However, after working the double braided rib I suddenly found myself making these cute little "picket fence/window pane" designs. I then thought an inserted heel with a little "picket fence" detail around the edges of it would be really fun. I was running out of the white and still had tons of the "Desert Sunflower" yarn so I figured that I would do one more "picket fence" and end the sock with the multi-colored yarn.

Needless to say, they are not for HoneyBunny. They are for ME! I really love them! He just thinks they are "cute".

This is the pair that I made for the Sockamania Club this month. I have missed making a sock for it for the last two months. I just didn't have time for some reason. Both pairs are UFO's at this point.

Anyway, I used ToFutsies from Southwest Trading Co. and increased the cuff at the top by 30 rows. I like a nice 8 to 9 inch leg on my socks. In fact, if the deadline hadn't been Thursday I would have made them even longer. I absolutely love the color! and the heel design was very clever!

This is the prize I won for making a pair of socks each month of the SAMKAL over the past six months. Two skeins of beautiful sock yarn, stitch markers, a sock pattern by "Cookie", and this gorgeous knitting bag that was hand made using fabric I got to pick out. I was very excited!

I love getting presents! I am looking forward to knitting up the sock pattern. I really like all of Cookies patterns. She is an amazing sock designer!

I am almost finished with my Turkish socks!!! I am so excited!! And I found the most adorable cotton, summer cardigan/jacket/top thing. It is an additional pattern for the Summer Knitty.com online magazine. I am completely obsessed!! (I am also half done with the back already! and I only started it yesterday.) It is so cute that I am planning to make several for myself in various colors and then one for every female family member, and my dearest friends!! It is so cute, I think that every woman on the planet should have one. (Yes, you can see the obsession clearly at this point). I will post pictures of mine when it is finished, in the mean time click on the link above so you can see how cute the original one is and get the pattern for yourself!

That wraps it up! Happy Knitting!

My New Most Favorite Sweater!

Here it is! I LOVE my new sweater. It may be plain, but it fits perfect, it's not uncomfortable, it's warm, and the hood doesn't drive me nuts.
The yarn is Bulky weight single ply from Brown Sheep Co. (that I recycled from another sweater I made a few years ago) and the pattern is from a Leisure Arts booklet called "Carefree Sweaters". There were supposed to be three buttons up the front opening, but I knew that I would never wear it buttoned up so I eliminated that. And there was supposed to be a little front pocket pouch (like on most hoodies) but my husband said that he really likes it without it. So I didnt put that on the sweater either.
Now I have to make three more! Everyone else in the house wants one of their own.

Today

Well, I guess I am never getting well. I went to the doctor on Thursday and they loaded me up with antibiotics for my ears, lungs, and everything else, but here it is Monday and I am still not well. I can't hear out of my left ear at all and it is killing me, can barely hear out of my right, coughing my head off, etc. I missed church on Sunday--which anyone who knows me knows that I would have to REALLY be sick in order to not go. (Church is like MY time to relax and fill up MY buckets--kind of like knitting time except there are no interuptions).

I have been knitting though! I just can't go that long without some yarn and knitting needles in my hands.

I am well on my way to having my hooded sweater finished!!! If you look back to my UFO and WIP post you will see that I have done A LOT of knitting on it since last week. I have started the sleeves--I work both at the same time--so when they are done I will sew it up and get to wear it. I can't wait!!! It is going to be so nice and warm for all of this super cold weather we are having (it hasn't been above freezing for three weeks!!!). Plus, I haven't made anything for myself for awhile.This is my second sock for the January Sockamania project. I am all the way to the heel now. I knit on them while I watched a movie Saturday night. I anticipate having them finished this week if all goes the way I want it to. Then I can get HoneyBunny's socks finished, which are now more than half way done as well.

I even spent some time spinning!! I finally found some wool that matched this beautiful, natural burgandy, alpaca I bought myself for my birthday a few years ago. There wasn't enough to make anything by itself so when I found this wool that was the same color I bought just enough to make it a 50/50 blend. I hope I have enough to make a sweater, but if not I will turn it all into hats, socks, and gloves. I just love the color! Of course the picture doesn't really capture the "burgandy" spectrum that well, but you get the idea. I can't wait to get it all spun up!!

My knitting friend came over Saturday to buy some of my hand spun angora/wool yarn that she has been making socks out of and we got to visit a while. I love to talk about yarn and knitting almost as much as I like to knit and touch the yarn. She wants me to dye some worsted weight yarn for a contrast yarn in a baby jacket she is making for her first grand baby that is on the way. The jacket is adorable and she has picked some really great colors for it.

Well, I am off to go take some more medicine and knit. Hope you are doing well--stay away from anyone with this bug!!!

Happy Knitting!

Could I Have Any More UFO's or WIP's?

Of, course! There is always room for more UFO's and WIP's in a knitters life! Unfortunately, they are really getting in the way if I want to do anything on my computer. More than half of my desk in covered in yarn, WIP's, and UFO's a good eighteen inches deep (that's about 46 cm for those outside the US). I don't remember EVER having this many projects going on at once! It really is completely out of control!First, there is the hooded sweater that I started the day after Christmas. I am using recycled yarn from a sweater that I had made for HoneyBunny two Christmas' ago that just never fit him right. I re-did the neck at least four times but it still was messed up. I finally gave up and just ripped the whole 10 skein sweater apart and started this instead--so far so good.Next is my Sockamania project for January--New Years Socks. I have the first one done and the second one started. It is a super easy pattern! I have neglected to mention where all of these Sockamania patterns can be found. So here is a link. Anni sells some great yarn as well!!! Which reminds me.................
This was in my mailbox Saturday. I ordered the Sea Scape 100% lace weight cashmere from Anni's etsy store. The blue, bamboo/wool sock weight skein was my prize yarn for the Sockamania December drawing--also found in Anni's store. I can't wait to get a project started with them!!!!!The next UFO sitting here is the beginnings of a pair of Mad Color Weave socks. (I can't find the link--it was on one of the SAMKAL Blogs). I love this pattern! Even in plain yarn it is gorgeous!

This is the other pair of socks that I am working on right now. The yarn is some that I swapped for with Hege. I love the color! I am a sucker for olive greens and tans. These are going to be for HoneyBunny's birthday. I have them about half done.

Not pictured are the Turkish Socks--that are definately in the UFO status, the lace shawl--UFO, the silk/wool lace socks--WIP, and the green pants for the daughter--UFO.

I can't believe I am looking for a pattern that I can use for my new yarn! Where is my self control?

Happy Knitting!