The knitting has not been going well lately. I seem to be making miscalculations or mistakes or some other problem and I feel like I will never ever finish anything again. Unless you count frogging everything finishing ...
Courtney's mitts are not going well and will not be done for another few weeks at least. I ripped the second one back to the cuff, added stitches for the circumference and did the thumb gusset differently. I plan to start the flap/ inside section seperation as soon as the thumb gusset is finished and make the whole mitten wider. When this one is done I will rip the first one back and re-work it. Sigh. I should have chosen a pattern instead of mixing 2 to get what I wanted.
Bob's Escalator socks get frogged also. I should say the second one was frogged. It kept coming out too wide despite needle size changes. It turns out that I neglected to record using fewer stitches in the leg. 56 stitches instead of 72 makes a huge difference. :-(. Another deep sigh. At least now it will go faster.
I have signed on for a new sock race/swap on Ravelry. No, I haven't finished my Tour de Sock socks yet. Why do you ask? I just couldn't help myself. The plan is that you have 4 team members. There will be at least 6 patterns to choose from. You are encouraged to discuss and select sock patterns/colors that your team mates like. You knit 1 sock, send it and the yarn to the next person in line. Then you knit 1 sock of the next pair (all different patterns) and send that sock and yarn to the next person. Same thing with a third sock. Then you go back to the first sock you were sent by a team mate and knit the match for it. The second follows, as does the third. There are prizes along the way and it sounds doable and fun. So I will be in sock knitting mode starting on January 1.
Later in January I will be resuming my KAL with Angela. We were going to knit Capall Dubh togehter and along with the Carol Feller group. School was too much for her this semester so we will do our own KAL in the new year. I am looking forward to that. The sweater is sooooo pretty!
I have a gazillion things on the needles and a gazillion things more that I want to knit. Every time I think I have a plan figured out for my knitting projects, I get side tracked and do something else! I'm not even going to throw a p,an out there at this point. It will just be blown away. I guess I'll just say that I hope to finish some things between now and the end of the year.
I placed an order with Knit Picks today. I have been trying to yarn diet and have been pretty successful. This yarn, though is for a Christmes gift, a sweater for Bob and, yes, a sweater for me. It's a good knit picks sale, though, so the prices were great and most of it is not for me. :-)
ETA On November 29. The Knit Picks order has arrived and I love everything! I also went to my LYS today to support small business. I picked up Cascade 220 superwash in navy and white to make a hat for my brother, 3 skeins of Mirasol Miski (shade 150, which is a teal color) to knit the Shawl collared Cowl and one ball of Lima to knit fingerless mitts. They had a sample of the mitts (Calypso Knits Easy Fingerless Mitts) on the table and they felt wonderful!!!
I started another pair of Mountain Man socks. This time they are for my brother. He has had a recurrence/metastasis of cancer and will be having to go to treatments in the winter this time. He is always cold anyway, so I am knitting the socks and plan the hat (listed above) for him. The hat will be knitted with Cascade superwash (since I know how he will wash it) in the closest thing I could get to NY giants colors - navy and white.
We had a good Thanksgiving though I missed visiting with younger son due to a trip to Target that lasted longer than I thought. We wanted to get an I pad Air for DH since that is the best way for him to read given his vision problems. We got a good deal but I still wish we had not been gone. We don't normally shop on Thanksgiving day and I don't plan to repeat that any time soon. :-(
Tomorrow we plan to buy our tree. I hope to get it set up in the house within a week. I baked cookies yesterday (they came out good for a change) and tonight we are having lobster! It was on sale at the store and we can't resist.
I hope you all enjoy your holiday weekend.
Saturday, November 29, 2014
Sunday, November 09, 2014
It's fall!
The weather out there has been rather chilly lately! Leaves are all over the ground, though in some areas, like our street, there are still leaves in beautiful fall colors clinging to the branches. I need a jacket or warm sweater to walk the half block from my new office to the hospital to see patients. I spent part of the afternoon yesterday pulling annuals and cutting back perennials for the year. That's always a sad time for me. I love fall but I hate to loose the pretty blooms and foliage
My castonitits seems to have eased a bit. I still want to cast on but not as urgently and I have been enjoying finishing things this week. Regarding those cast on items, I finished the socks I cast on for Bob. They are sleep socks, knitted with worsted weight wool, so it's not really miraculous that I finished them in less than a week. :-) I followed the mountainman sock pattern and it worked well.
I also started a pair of slippers, and I finished the first one and have started the second. I have made
progress on Courtney's convertible mitt (the second) and have completed the ribbing, established the cable pattern and started the thumb gusset. Those were things I concentrated on knitting this past week and I feel good about my progress.
I made a repair to a pair of my wool socks and put them back in action, repaired a hat belonging to eldest son and, the big accomplishment - I grafted the Lebowski socks back together!!!!!
I had knitted a pair of Lebowski socks for eldest son last year and discovered after I finished them that I left out a whole colorwork section and the corresponding stripes so that sock was about 1.5 inches shorter than the other. I wanted to fix that but did not want to reknit the sock. I consulted my knitting expert Karen and she advised me on how to do surgery on the sock. Actually, she visited here (she lives in California now) and made the actual snip that started the unraveling after I placed the needles in the stitches. It took me all this time to get up the nerve to try the re-attachment but I did it in 2 sittings and now they are a matched pair. :-))
This weeks plan for knitting is to continue to work on Courtney's mitt, finish the slipper I started, and work on another WIP - maybe socks, maybe the Coast Starlight shawl, maybe the Leaves hat. I'm not sure which. If I feel the need to cast on something, it will be either a hat to be knitted with my Cascade Lana Bambu or the Derica Kane sweater, to be knitted with silky wool from my stash (a previous sweater that didn't work out was frogged).
I spoke with Mom yesterday. She is feeling good, doing pretty well in her new apartment. I think she did very well adjusting to moving from her own, individual house to a downstairs apartment. I am not sure I would have done as well after more than 50 years in the same place.
I thought I would leave you with a few photos that I took while in Montauk. I had a great time taking photos and have a few taken in the same place but in different weather. I'll have those ready for the next time. Have a great week.
My castonitits seems to have eased a bit. I still want to cast on but not as urgently and I have been enjoying finishing things this week. Regarding those cast on items, I finished the socks I cast on for Bob. They are sleep socks, knitted with worsted weight wool, so it's not really miraculous that I finished them in less than a week. :-) I followed the mountainman sock pattern and it worked well.
I also started a pair of slippers, and I finished the first one and have started the second. I have made
progress on Courtney's convertible mitt (the second) and have completed the ribbing, established the cable pattern and started the thumb gusset. Those were things I concentrated on knitting this past week and I feel good about my progress.
I made a repair to a pair of my wool socks and put them back in action, repaired a hat belonging to eldest son and, the big accomplishment - I grafted the Lebowski socks back together!!!!!
I had knitted a pair of Lebowski socks for eldest son last year and discovered after I finished them that I left out a whole colorwork section and the corresponding stripes so that sock was about 1.5 inches shorter than the other. I wanted to fix that but did not want to reknit the sock. I consulted my knitting expert Karen and she advised me on how to do surgery on the sock. Actually, she visited here (she lives in California now) and made the actual snip that started the unraveling after I placed the needles in the stitches. It took me all this time to get up the nerve to try the re-attachment but I did it in 2 sittings and now they are a matched pair. :-))
This weeks plan for knitting is to continue to work on Courtney's mitt, finish the slipper I started, and work on another WIP - maybe socks, maybe the Coast Starlight shawl, maybe the Leaves hat. I'm not sure which. If I feel the need to cast on something, it will be either a hat to be knitted with my Cascade Lana Bambu or the Derica Kane sweater, to be knitted with silky wool from my stash (a previous sweater that didn't work out was frogged).
I spoke with Mom yesterday. She is feeling good, doing pretty well in her new apartment. I think she did very well adjusting to moving from her own, individual house to a downstairs apartment. I am not sure I would have done as well after more than 50 years in the same place.
I thought I would leave you with a few photos that I took while in Montauk. I had a great time taking photos and have a few taken in the same place but in different weather. I'll have those ready for the next time. Have a great week.
Monday, November 03, 2014
A disappointing football weekend
All of the teams I was cheering for lost yesterday! I am, of course, most disappointed in the Ravens very poor performance. I don't think that any of their players did a great job. In fact, I think they mostly played poorly. It's a good thing I had knitting to sooth my tattered spirits. ;-)
I have developed a permanent (it seems) case of castonitis. I resolve to finish this project or that before starting something new and in the new 24 hours I cast on at least one new project! What's up with that?!
I finished a knitted project! I finished Cinder, a lovely soft and cuddly scarf I knitted with Malabrigo Merino worsted in Paris Night. I don't have a finished photo yet but hope to get one, maybe later today.
It's blocked and ends are woven in, so it's ready to wear. :-)
I also finished the first of the convertible mitts I am knitting for Courtney (except for the thumb). I plan to wait on the thumb while I figure out if I want to do the flip top for the thumb too or just knit the thumb plain. I cast on the second mitt and hope to get the ribbing for the cuff finished over the next few days.
I blocked the O's scarf I knitted for eldest son. It feels nice and soft now. I have to embroider the year on it and sew the ends closed.
I am going to put my Capall Dubh sweater aside for now. I was doing this as a KAL on ravelry but also as a KAl with Angela. Angela is overwhelmed by school work and keeping up with family stuff right now, so we will do our own KAL in January. The yarn is Blue Moon Silky Victoria. My colorway is Tempest and I love it!
One of the projects I cast on over the weekend is the Tricky Dick slippers. I want to find some slipper patterns that I can make for the people I love to keep their feet warm. Everyone seems to be keeping the heat turned down to save money and I thought this might help make it more bearable. I am at the heel of the first slipper.
I also cast on sleep socks for DH with some worsted weight yarn. He is always warm but his feet are cold. They always have been and being a diabetic has made that worse. A nice pair of warm wool socks should help. The yarn is Elsebeth Lavold favorite wool in the Prussian blue color and I used the Mountain Man socks pattern to start. I switched to 2x2 ribbing after about 2 inches of 1x1 ribbing for the cuff just because I hate 1x1 ribbing.
I ripped out my Viajante because I didn't like the yarn I had selected and started again with a solid green yarn. Pictures when it's big enough to show something. This is a long term project, one I don't even count in my WIP list.
I have made no progress on the mohair loop with beads. I haven't quite finished ripping my Driftwood but most of the yarn is in little balls. That will be re-knit but not now. There are so many projects to knit on and not nearly enough time. (I know. It's everyone's complaint about their leisure activities).
I would like to say that I am going to finish 3 things before starting something new but that almost guarantees a new cast on project! LOL!
My new job is going well. I enjoy going to work (though I am home today with a cold. I have no voice and a very sore throat).
DH is working on an extended ramp for our boat to sit on in the yard that will prevent it from having to sit in the mud on the trailer and yet allow us to use the parking pad for cars. I can tell when he's been working on that project when I get home. He aches all over and doesn't move as well as normal. ;-) Poor guy. He will hurt like that tomorrow. It's move the rock and tamp it down day and he has to do the work alone since the rest of us go off to work. It will be ibuprofen time at dinner tomorrow!
Mom seems to be doing well in her new apartment, though she is very unhappy with her upstairs neighbors. They do seem to be a bit heavy footed and apparently their grandchildren visit often and like to run around the apartment. Sigh. Nothing we can do about that. Mom is not able to handle stairs so moving her is not an option. She will be coming here for Christmas! I am looking forward to spending time with her for the holidays.
Have a good first week of November and I hope you don't have too hard a time adjusting to the new time.
I have developed a permanent (it seems) case of castonitis. I resolve to finish this project or that before starting something new and in the new 24 hours I cast on at least one new project! What's up with that?!
I finished a knitted project! I finished Cinder, a lovely soft and cuddly scarf I knitted with Malabrigo Merino worsted in Paris Night. I don't have a finished photo yet but hope to get one, maybe later today.
It's blocked and ends are woven in, so it's ready to wear. :-)
I also finished the first of the convertible mitts I am knitting for Courtney (except for the thumb). I plan to wait on the thumb while I figure out if I want to do the flip top for the thumb too or just knit the thumb plain. I cast on the second mitt and hope to get the ribbing for the cuff finished over the next few days.
I blocked the O's scarf I knitted for eldest son. It feels nice and soft now. I have to embroider the year on it and sew the ends closed.
I am going to put my Capall Dubh sweater aside for now. I was doing this as a KAL on ravelry but also as a KAl with Angela. Angela is overwhelmed by school work and keeping up with family stuff right now, so we will do our own KAL in January. The yarn is Blue Moon Silky Victoria. My colorway is Tempest and I love it!
One of the projects I cast on over the weekend is the Tricky Dick slippers. I want to find some slipper patterns that I can make for the people I love to keep their feet warm. Everyone seems to be keeping the heat turned down to save money and I thought this might help make it more bearable. I am at the heel of the first slipper.
I also cast on sleep socks for DH with some worsted weight yarn. He is always warm but his feet are cold. They always have been and being a diabetic has made that worse. A nice pair of warm wool socks should help. The yarn is Elsebeth Lavold favorite wool in the Prussian blue color and I used the Mountain Man socks pattern to start. I switched to 2x2 ribbing after about 2 inches of 1x1 ribbing for the cuff just because I hate 1x1 ribbing.
I ripped out my Viajante because I didn't like the yarn I had selected and started again with a solid green yarn. Pictures when it's big enough to show something. This is a long term project, one I don't even count in my WIP list.
I have made no progress on the mohair loop with beads. I haven't quite finished ripping my Driftwood but most of the yarn is in little balls. That will be re-knit but not now. There are so many projects to knit on and not nearly enough time. (I know. It's everyone's complaint about their leisure activities).
I would like to say that I am going to finish 3 things before starting something new but that almost guarantees a new cast on project! LOL!
My new job is going well. I enjoy going to work (though I am home today with a cold. I have no voice and a very sore throat).
DH is working on an extended ramp for our boat to sit on in the yard that will prevent it from having to sit in the mud on the trailer and yet allow us to use the parking pad for cars. I can tell when he's been working on that project when I get home. He aches all over and doesn't move as well as normal. ;-) Poor guy. He will hurt like that tomorrow. It's move the rock and tamp it down day and he has to do the work alone since the rest of us go off to work. It will be ibuprofen time at dinner tomorrow!
Mom seems to be doing well in her new apartment, though she is very unhappy with her upstairs neighbors. They do seem to be a bit heavy footed and apparently their grandchildren visit often and like to run around the apartment. Sigh. Nothing we can do about that. Mom is not able to handle stairs so moving her is not an option. She will be coming here for Christmas! I am looking forward to spending time with her for the holidays.
Have a good first week of November and I hope you don't have too hard a time adjusting to the new time.
Friday, October 24, 2014
Resolutions
I have decided that I am tired of being tired and not getting things done.
I have resolved to exercise or walk every day. I will write a blog post every week. I will keep up with chores and "things" better.
I can't really say what made me settle on those resolutions but I plan to work hard to stick to them. :-)
I finished 2 sweaters for myself recently! The On the Beach sweater is finished. Yippee! The Chic Knits Hoodie is also finished. It's way too warm to wear that one yet, but the cool evenings may let me wear On the Beach very soon. I also knitted Puerperium, a baby sweater that I am knitting for a friend at work. She is having twins, so I am knitting two of the same sweaters, in the same yarn but different colors. They are 2 shades of green and I have added strips to the first one, planning to reverse the colors in the second sweater. The first sweater is complete other than buying buttons. I plan to wait until she knows the gender of the babies before choosing buttons. The second sweater has been cast on.
Melanie and I are planning a small KAL starting 9/15 , knitting Faberge, which is a 2 color shawl. I am using a gray and a very deep purple and planning to find some pink beads. I plan to concentrate on Robs Zigzagular socks and the North Sea socks until the 15th (along with the baby sweater). The cooler weather is getting here and I want to finish some sock WIPs. I started to knit the mohair bias loop last week (adding beads, randomly placed) but that is a low priority. That and Viajante will be knit when I need a change of pace projects. :-)
Football season has arrived so I have to keep a few projects that are garter or stockinette at the ready for football knitting. The Os scarf is great for that right now but I need more than that. The handspun blanket and some of the socks will work for football knitting.
The windows are open and I love listening to the night creatures make noise. It's very relaxing to fall asleep listening to those noises.
I have news on the job front. I applied for and was offered a position in a new department! I will be working in radiation oncology research.
ETA
Well, I failed miserably in my attempts to post regularly but let's try that again. It is now October 24 and I started this post in September, I think the 19th or so. I have since started walking and then stopped (a combination of weather and starting a new job which cut down on my time in the evenings. I'm going to try again now that I am back from vacation. I'm still on vacation, just back from traveling.
I finished the second Puerperium, still have to buy the buttons. I love the sweaters! They are adorable.
I have resolved to exercise or walk every day. I will write a blog post every week. I will keep up with chores and "things" better.
I can't really say what made me settle on those resolutions but I plan to work hard to stick to them. :-)
I finished 2 sweaters for myself recently! The On the Beach sweater is finished. Yippee! The Chic Knits Hoodie is also finished. It's way too warm to wear that one yet, but the cool evenings may let me wear On the Beach very soon. I also knitted Puerperium, a baby sweater that I am knitting for a friend at work. She is having twins, so I am knitting two of the same sweaters, in the same yarn but different colors. They are 2 shades of green and I have added strips to the first one, planning to reverse the colors in the second sweater. The first sweater is complete other than buying buttons. I plan to wait until she knows the gender of the babies before choosing buttons. The second sweater has been cast on.
Melanie and I are planning a small KAL starting 9/15 , knitting Faberge, which is a 2 color shawl. I am using a gray and a very deep purple and planning to find some pink beads. I plan to concentrate on Robs Zigzagular socks and the North Sea socks until the 15th (along with the baby sweater). The cooler weather is getting here and I want to finish some sock WIPs. I started to knit the mohair bias loop last week (adding beads, randomly placed) but that is a low priority. That and Viajante will be knit when I need a change of pace projects. :-)
Football season has arrived so I have to keep a few projects that are garter or stockinette at the ready for football knitting. The Os scarf is great for that right now but I need more than that. The handspun blanket and some of the socks will work for football knitting.
The windows are open and I love listening to the night creatures make noise. It's very relaxing to fall asleep listening to those noises.
I have news on the job front. I applied for and was offered a position in a new department! I will be working in radiation oncology research.
ETA
Well, I failed miserably in my attempts to post regularly but let's try that again. It is now October 24 and I started this post in September, I think the 19th or so. I have since started walking and then stopped (a combination of weather and starting a new job which cut down on my time in the evenings. I'm going to try again now that I am back from vacation. I'm still on vacation, just back from traveling.
I finished the second Puerperium, still have to buy the buttons. I love the sweaters! They are adorable.
Sorry the picture is sideways.
Rob's Zigzagular socks were finished and on time for his birthday. He likes them and they fit well.
I stopped a KAL (Faberge, a shawl) and started another
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/capall-dubh, a sweater). Melanie didn't like her yarns together for the shawl KAL so I think we'll do that another time. Angela saw the sweater KAL and I was swayed ... It is a beautiful pattern and the yarn is wonderful. I love the color I chose, which is Tempest.
My current knitting projects include swatching for the new sweater, finishing the Cinder scarf I started in September, finishing the O's scarf (since they lost to the Royals so their season is finished) and Courtney's convertible mitts.
I frogged my Viajante because I didn't like the yarn in garter stitch and started it again in a solid color. I'll try to post pictures soon. It's not very big yet. ;-)
There is a whole lot more news to tell but I think I'll save that for a later date and get this posted. Have a great weekend all.
Sunday, August 24, 2014
Frog pond
My Euclid sock is no more. I completed the first tier and tried it on to admire my progress and I hated it! Not the pattern -it's a great pattern and I found it interesting to knit. The yarn and pattern combo, though, was terrible IMHO.
I fully intend to knit this pattern but I will find a yarn that is either a light solid or has long color sections. This yarn, which I like, will probably become a vanilla sock or maybe just a simple rib pattern. I did save the cuff.
I am about half way finished with the hood of the Chic Knits Hoodie and have completed another stripe on the On the Beach pullover. That's about waist length, maybe. I am on the 6th of 9 stripes. Then I have to re-knit the sleeves. Those do go fast, though. I have almost finished the gusset decreases on the Zigzagular sock and since I frogged the Euclid socks I can put one of the Tour de Sock UFOs back into rotation.
I did some spinning yesterday and hope to do more today. This Polwarth I am spinning is so soft! I love the fiber and the colors.
Once spun, this will be plied with the braid I spun previously and hopefully used to knit the Age of Brass and Steam scarf. This is the singles it will be plied with.
And this is the braid that I am spinning now.
Well, that's all for now. I am heading outside to spread straw on the grass seed we just put down and then plant the mums DH bought for me. Have a wonderful day.
Friday, August 22, 2014
Football!
I love my football! It's only pre season but I am enjoying having football back in my life. The Ravens played on Saturday night but we were out on the boat. I set the DVR to record the game because I am interested in seeing how the players, new and old, are performing this year. I have high hopes for a good season. I predict a 12/4 season this year. I sat and watched most of the game this afternoon while knitting away (and doing laundry). I knitted on the sleeve of my Chic Knits Hoodie and got as far as starting the ribbing. I knit on a sample (I won't keep this) of the Robin shawl for a friend who bought the pattern but was puzzled by the construction. I'll show her what I did and shell probably start hers up again. I also knit on the Euclid sock that I started last week. It took quite a while to get the construction but now that I have the first triangle started, I am good to go and think I will really enjoy this pattern. I'm not sure who the recipient is yet.
Yesterday I had an MRI, went bead shopping with Melanie and then we went out on the boat. It was a gorgeous day! I didn't have my camera with me but the sunset was just as pretty as last week. I didn't do any fishing this time, though. I just sat and enjoyed the day. I had minor surgery for an ingrown toe mail and needed to keep the foot clean and dry and not stepped on. :-). I knitted on Viajante before we got on the boat (on the drive to the marina) and on the Os scarf and the hoodie while on the boat.
ETA It's now Friday night and I have just started another weekend. No boating planned this week. :-(
We'll stay around the house and do yard work and house work. It has to be done some time and the weather isn't supposed to be all that great so I suppose it's OK.
The Euclid sock has a cuff and 3 triangles. I hope to get the 4th triangle done tomorrow and be ready to start the second tier. The Chic Knits Hoodie has the start of a hood. I picked up the stitches and knitted about an inch last night. This baby will be finished soon. :-) The On the Beach pullover gets some attention (like tonight) but not as much as the hoodie. That's because the hoodie is closer to being finished and I really need the satisfaction of finishing something. The Zigzagular socks have also had some attention.
One of eldest son's cats died a few days ago. She was an older cat that he adopted from the humane society and had been battling an infection for quite a while. I am happy that we gave her a happy home for the time we had her, though it wasn't long enough. We'll miss her.
I hope to fit in some spinning this weekend, and I'd love to finish the hood of the hoodie. All that would be left would be button bands at that point. I'll try to rotate in some of my other UFOs as I finish things, but nothing else is really close to being finished right now. Knit, knit, knit.
Have a good weekend and Go Ravens!!!!!
Yesterday I had an MRI, went bead shopping with Melanie and then we went out on the boat. It was a gorgeous day! I didn't have my camera with me but the sunset was just as pretty as last week. I didn't do any fishing this time, though. I just sat and enjoyed the day. I had minor surgery for an ingrown toe mail and needed to keep the foot clean and dry and not stepped on. :-). I knitted on Viajante before we got on the boat (on the drive to the marina) and on the Os scarf and the hoodie while on the boat.
ETA It's now Friday night and I have just started another weekend. No boating planned this week. :-(
We'll stay around the house and do yard work and house work. It has to be done some time and the weather isn't supposed to be all that great so I suppose it's OK.
The Euclid sock has a cuff and 3 triangles. I hope to get the 4th triangle done tomorrow and be ready to start the second tier. The Chic Knits Hoodie has the start of a hood. I picked up the stitches and knitted about an inch last night. This baby will be finished soon. :-) The On the Beach pullover gets some attention (like tonight) but not as much as the hoodie. That's because the hoodie is closer to being finished and I really need the satisfaction of finishing something. The Zigzagular socks have also had some attention.
One of eldest son's cats died a few days ago. She was an older cat that he adopted from the humane society and had been battling an infection for quite a while. I am happy that we gave her a happy home for the time we had her, though it wasn't long enough. We'll miss her.
I hope to fit in some spinning this weekend, and I'd love to finish the hood of the hoodie. All that would be left would be button bands at that point. I'll try to rotate in some of my other UFOs as I finish things, but nothing else is really close to being finished right now. Knit, knit, knit.
Have a good weekend and Go Ravens!!!!!
Sunday, August 10, 2014
Nautical fun
We had a wonderful day on the water yesterday. I didn't feel well all morning but not sick enough to stay home, so we went. After a while on the water I put on my suit, jumped into the Chesapeake Bay and cooled off nicely. Thank goodness! After that I felt a lot better and enjoyed the rest of the day.
As you can see, Bob enjoyed a dip to cool off also.
As you can see, Bob enjoyed a dip to cool off also.
We shared the water with many other personal fishing boats, charter boats and a few of these large ships.
The wake that one left behind was quite amazing. I think the waves from the wake were 4 feet high!
Crab pot buoys dot the bay and can be a menace to those of us out there to enjoy a ride, but they are pretty, actually, and I enjoy looking at the various colors.
We stayed out on a very calm bay until about 7-7:30, then returned to the dock just in time for sunset.
I did very little knitting, much more fishing, and some sitting and relaxing, just enjoying the day.
I hope you had a good day.
Thursday, August 07, 2014
Miscellaneous
BbBBob's I'll start out with knitting content. I recently did a test knit for melanie for her new color work socks called Heddwyn. I loved knitting them, though I did have problems getting the floats loose enough. Once I switched to knitting the sock inside out, the tension was fine. The second sock will be knit entirely inside out. the first sock is a bit snug going over the heel. Check out the pattern on Ravelery. The second sock will be cast on very soon.
The next item is yarn. I was packing to go to NY to help my mother move out of her house of 56 years into a 2 bedroom apartment. Bob and I were going to help move, along with eldest son and his girlfirend, and then Bob and I planned to stay for a week to help her get unpacked and find things in her new neighborhood. I thought I would get some knitting n and wanted simple knitting so I could chat. As it turned out, we were pretty much too tired to do any chatting or knitting in the evening, so I didn't need this extra project. I cast on before we left and only knitted a few rows, so i am actually not counting it as a WIP. I plan to knit Viajante with it. Since I didn't get far, I will put it away and work on my "real" WIPs. ;-)
Next up is the Zigzagular sock I am kitting for eldest son. None of the patterns from the tour de sock were good options to knit for him and I love the feel of this yarn. It feels strong and cushiony and the colors are conservative enough for him. I saw this pattern and decided it was just right. It is ready for the heel flap now.
While we were in NY, we took a day off and went out to our favorite place - Montauk - for just a day. We went to the lighthouse, were drove on the beach, we waded in the ocean (I forgot to bring shorts or a swim suit, so that's all we did in the water) and bob went surf fishing. He caught a very nice bluefish, which we brought home and ate a few days later. Yum!!!
The beach
Our shadow while swinging on a swing at the light house.
Montauk Lighthouse.
The Altantic ocean from the lighthouse parking lot.
I totally failed at the tour de sock. I didn't finish 1 pair on time. I loved several of the patterns and plan to finish the socks I started over the next few months. I failed at the tour de Fleece, too. Work and life got in the way. I plan to get back to regular spinning now, though. I will finish spinning the first braid of fiber I plan to use for my Age of Brass and Steam scarf (seen below) and start the second one.
I finally found out how to get pictures from the I phone onto the computer so Blogger will find and accept them.
This is Whippoorwill, a pattern given to me by Melanie. I added beads and love the shawl. It took way longer than it should have to finish and then it took me forever to block it but here it is!
I hope to blog more often now that the picture problem is solved. Have a great day, all, and savor the summer. It ffeels like it has flown by. I am not ready for fall this year and it's not far away.
Tuesday, June 03, 2014
Tour de Sock 2014
Yes, I am alive and knitting. ;-)
Since MDSW I have been knitting away on WIPs, trying to clear some of them out of the fiber closet and into the clothes closet. The Whipporwill Shawl is finished but not yet blocked. The ends are woven in but it needs a good soak and pinning out. Maybe this weekend.
Other things finished - The Little Deschutes second sock is complete! The Maze socks are also complete! That finishes all of the 2013 Tour de Sock UFOs that were hanging around. The Escalator sock I was working on is also finished, though that is only the first of the pair. The cardigan is still on the needles and has been getting some attention off and on.
Tour de Sock 2014 has started and I cast on these wonderful cabled socks on Sunday. I am using Cascade Heritage Paints in a beautiful blue/purple colorway and loving it.
I hope to get this pair finished by June 10, which is when the next pattern is released. I chose to work this pair at the same time on separate needles. We'll see how that goes. I find it harder to estimate my progress that way but it does avoid second sock syndrome. :-)
I have to plan out what I want to do over each weekend, and set priorities. I have lots of ideas but I am not yet where I need to be with my stamina to do everything I want to do. I found out about a month ago that my thyroid gland was damaged by the radiation treatments, so I have to take supplements. That alone is not that big a deal - it's 1 little pill once per day. The emotional blow was a bit tougher. I just didn't want to hear that I had another thing wrong with me. Sigh. I am used to the idea now and really do seem to be getting stronger on the medication.
I have started walking again. This time I hope it stick. I started walking a few weeks ago but didn't get far ....
I think I will do better since I am expecting to continue to get stronger with activity rather than weaker due to the thyroid supplement. We walked 1 mile the first night, 1.5 miles the next 2 nights. Then it was the weekend and nothing happened. I did as much as I could around the house and had no energy left for walking in the evening. This week so far we have walked a little over 2 miles/night and that feels good. I think I would like to stick with that distance for this week so that I don't over-do. The doctor says a little pushing is OK but not too much.
That's all for now. Have a great week.
Since MDSW I have been knitting away on WIPs, trying to clear some of them out of the fiber closet and into the clothes closet. The Whipporwill Shawl is finished but not yet blocked. The ends are woven in but it needs a good soak and pinning out. Maybe this weekend.
Other things finished - The Little Deschutes second sock is complete! The Maze socks are also complete! That finishes all of the 2013 Tour de Sock UFOs that were hanging around. The Escalator sock I was working on is also finished, though that is only the first of the pair. The cardigan is still on the needles and has been getting some attention off and on.
Tour de Sock 2014 has started and I cast on these wonderful cabled socks on Sunday. I am using Cascade Heritage Paints in a beautiful blue/purple colorway and loving it.
I hope to get this pair finished by June 10, which is when the next pattern is released. I chose to work this pair at the same time on separate needles. We'll see how that goes. I find it harder to estimate my progress that way but it does avoid second sock syndrome. :-)
I have to plan out what I want to do over each weekend, and set priorities. I have lots of ideas but I am not yet where I need to be with my stamina to do everything I want to do. I found out about a month ago that my thyroid gland was damaged by the radiation treatments, so I have to take supplements. That alone is not that big a deal - it's 1 little pill once per day. The emotional blow was a bit tougher. I just didn't want to hear that I had another thing wrong with me. Sigh. I am used to the idea now and really do seem to be getting stronger on the medication.
I have started walking again. This time I hope it stick. I started walking a few weeks ago but didn't get far ....
I think I will do better since I am expecting to continue to get stronger with activity rather than weaker due to the thyroid supplement. We walked 1 mile the first night, 1.5 miles the next 2 nights. Then it was the weekend and nothing happened. I did as much as I could around the house and had no energy left for walking in the evening. This week so far we have walked a little over 2 miles/night and that feels good. I think I would like to stick with that distance for this week so that I don't over-do. The doctor says a little pushing is OK but not too much.
That's all for now. Have a great week.
Wednesday, May 07, 2014
MDSW 2014
It was a great weekend. The weather was great - no rain, enough sun to warm and dry things (from the rain earlier in the week) but not so much that you couldn't stand being in the barns and buildings. It was very crowded on Saturday - there was traffic and a wait to get in at 8:30 in the morning - but there were lots of goodies left on Sunday.
On Saturday Angela and I drove together. She wanted a Jenny the Potter mug so we went to the main building first and waited on that line. Success! We each bought a Spanish Peacock spindle. Mine is a low whorl, hers is a support spindle and we are both trying to learn to use them properly this week.
I bought some sock knitting circulars (Chiaogoo red cable size 1.5) and a skein of Marigold Jen BFL sock weight yarn in a beautiful brick red color. I can't wear that color near my face but for socks, why not! We made it a short day because Angela had homework to do and I have not yet built my stamina to the point of being able to go thee for 2 full days. We headed home by 2:30.
On Sunday I went back with Angela, Melanie and her 4 year old daughter. We met up with several friends through out the day (both days, in fact) and had a great time shopping and being entertained by Melanie's daughter. ;-)
I came home with a skein of Miss Babbs in the Fearsome colorway, a skein of Wollmeise! in Campari piccolo (a beautiful deep orange), a wood darning egg (yes, I have been darning my hand knit socks) and 2 skeins of STR. One is Woobu. 60% merino/40% bamboo in Manly, Yes, but I Like it Too and 1 skein of BFL sport in Smoke on the Water. There are over 600 yards in each of these STR skeins. I purchased them originally to knit the Axis shawl with Melanie. I have had second thoughts, though about knitting another shawl. I really don't need another shawl and love knitting sweaters. I went searching and found that I could knit the On the Beach sweater with the yarn. That might be a better use for me. We'll see. I plan to wind them up and swatch to see which pattern I like more with the yarn.
Nancy gave me a mug for my birthday that she purchased at the festival. It is made with beautiful blues and grays and have a picture with two sheep knitting with opposite ends of the same ball of yarn. Said ball of yarn has 2 eyes peeking out from the middle. It's very cute and I can't wait to sip some hot chocolate or soup from it.
I wanted to avoid buying fiber and I was successful. I wanted to get sock yarn in solids and/or tonals for the Tour de Sock competition and I was successful. I wanted needles for sock knitting - partially successful. I was hoping to find hiya hiya steel needles but didn't see any in the sizes I was looking for. I did get the Chiaogoo circs. Over all it was a great weekend.
On Saturday Angela and I drove together. She wanted a Jenny the Potter mug so we went to the main building first and waited on that line. Success! We each bought a Spanish Peacock spindle. Mine is a low whorl, hers is a support spindle and we are both trying to learn to use them properly this week.
I bought some sock knitting circulars (Chiaogoo red cable size 1.5) and a skein of Marigold Jen BFL sock weight yarn in a beautiful brick red color. I can't wear that color near my face but for socks, why not! We made it a short day because Angela had homework to do and I have not yet built my stamina to the point of being able to go thee for 2 full days. We headed home by 2:30.
On Sunday I went back with Angela, Melanie and her 4 year old daughter. We met up with several friends through out the day (both days, in fact) and had a great time shopping and being entertained by Melanie's daughter. ;-)
I came home with a skein of Miss Babbs in the Fearsome colorway, a skein of Wollmeise! in Campari piccolo (a beautiful deep orange), a wood darning egg (yes, I have been darning my hand knit socks) and 2 skeins of STR. One is Woobu. 60% merino/40% bamboo in Manly, Yes, but I Like it Too and 1 skein of BFL sport in Smoke on the Water. There are over 600 yards in each of these STR skeins. I purchased them originally to knit the Axis shawl with Melanie. I have had second thoughts, though about knitting another shawl. I really don't need another shawl and love knitting sweaters. I went searching and found that I could knit the On the Beach sweater with the yarn. That might be a better use for me. We'll see. I plan to wind them up and swatch to see which pattern I like more with the yarn.
Nancy gave me a mug for my birthday that she purchased at the festival. It is made with beautiful blues and grays and have a picture with two sheep knitting with opposite ends of the same ball of yarn. Said ball of yarn has 2 eyes peeking out from the middle. It's very cute and I can't wait to sip some hot chocolate or soup from it.
I wanted to avoid buying fiber and I was successful. I wanted to get sock yarn in solids and/or tonals for the Tour de Sock competition and I was successful. I wanted needles for sock knitting - partially successful. I was hoping to find hiya hiya steel needles but didn't see any in the sizes I was looking for. I did get the Chiaogoo circs. Over all it was a great weekend.
Friday, April 25, 2014
I think I have a plan
A Tour de Fleece plan, that is. The Age of Brass and Steam shawl has interested me for quite a while. I am not sure what it is exactly that makes me want to knit it, but I do. I am going to spin an as yet unknown fiber and make that shawl for my TdF project. It will be a challenge to spin intentionally, I might include dyeing in the project, and i will have a use for the yarn right away, possibly eliminating both yarn and fiber from stash in the process of making a pretty shawl. Even with work I think it's a doable goal for me. Yippee!! I have a plan!
It's Friday and I am so glad!. I am very tired after being sick on Monday and then having a busy week at work after a stressful week previously. I need some family time and some down time. DH and I are going our for dinner tomorrow to celebrate our 37th wedding anniversary! We will do chores around and in the house on Saturday and I plan to take it easy on Sunday. Spinning and knitting is all that is in the plans for that day. :-)
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.
It's Friday and I am so glad!. I am very tired after being sick on Monday and then having a busy week at work after a stressful week previously. I need some family time and some down time. DH and I are going our for dinner tomorrow to celebrate our 37th wedding anniversary! We will do chores around and in the house on Saturday and I plan to take it easy on Sunday. Spinning and knitting is all that is in the plans for that day. :-)
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Spring things
Knitting, knitting, knitting. That's all I want to do! I have so many projects going and I want to knit on all of them. There just aren't enough hours in the day! I know. We all feel that way, at least sometimes. I am feeling it very strongly right now.
My Chic Knits hoodie has a completed body and part of one sleeve. I am taking it to knit night with me, so I hope to get more sleeve knitted tonight. I *really* want to finish socks, though, so I might be adjusting my priority list so that socks are highest on the list. Last night I knit on Bob's Escalator sock. I have only about an inch and a toe to go - so close to being finished that I can't resist pushing on to finish that 1 sock. I picked up the gusset stitches on the Maze sock and have started those decreases. It will be tight to finish that before the end of the month but I am trying so hard .....
Sunday is my 60th birthday. I thought I would be more stressed about it than I feel. Maybe it's because I battled cancer last year and so everything is more valuable to me now. Maybe I have changed my outlook on things in general and numbers don't really mean much in the big picture. I like birthdays in general. I love a cake and cards and gifts. I don't feel that this birthday, significant number though it might be, is any more special or any worse than any other, so we aren't doing anything special. I have surprised everyone by asking for a strawberry shortcake rather than my usual chocolate but other than that I just want sunny weather and some time to knit and spin. (I hope to get pretty far down the foot of that Maze sock on Sunday). I hope to get some shetland flicked and maybe spin a basket of it, too. I enjoy doing it, plus I want to empty those bobbins in preparation for the Tour de Fleece.
I have yarn coming. I know that I said that I wasn't casting on for anything new but ..... The crackerjack scarf/cowl idea caught my interest. The idea is that you choose 4 colors for your baseball team. Each color represents home wins, home losses, away wins and away losses. You knit a row (or 2) of the appropriate color after each game, illustrating your teams win/loss record for the season in color. I have to say that I don't really care that much for baseball but my son and several of my friends do, so I have gotten caught up in cheering for the Baltimore Orioles. The scarf, however, will be for my son. The yarn is on the way. :-)
Each night I will knit 2 rows of the appropriate color on the scarf depending on the previous days game results and then move on to sock knitting.
DH is adjusting the size of the veggie garden down. Not only is the blue spruce tree growing into the garden space but the garden is also large and an odd shape. It will be smaller and rectangular, with an actual gate to open instead of having to step over the fence (which is just a bit too high for me to do comfortably). We have to change some of what we usually grow for this year - we had problems with lots of beetles on the green beans last year and some sort of mildew on the cucumbers. It might have just been the weather last year but the master gardeners told us to change the location of what we plant and to avoid some things some years. So the plan is to grow corn, tomatoes, green peppers for sure and possibly green beans, cukes and lettuce in another location this year. I hope it's dry enough to till the garden soon so I can get seeds started. Last year, despite my warning that I would not be able to keep up with the gardening, DH planted a full load. Sure enough, I couldn't keep up and he finally gave in and did the weeding. ;-) This year will be different.
Maryland Sheep and Wool festival is coming up shortly! I can't wait to spend a weekend immersed in fiber! I have no great plans to purchase anything major, though I have no intentions of saying that I won't buy anything. Maybe a skein or two of sock yarn for the Tour de Sock ..... I want to look at samples, feel yarn and be inspired by other people's knits. I want to see sheep and other fiber animals and just experience.
Well, that's all for now. Have a wonderful day.
My Chic Knits hoodie has a completed body and part of one sleeve. I am taking it to knit night with me, so I hope to get more sleeve knitted tonight. I *really* want to finish socks, though, so I might be adjusting my priority list so that socks are highest on the list. Last night I knit on Bob's Escalator sock. I have only about an inch and a toe to go - so close to being finished that I can't resist pushing on to finish that 1 sock. I picked up the gusset stitches on the Maze sock and have started those decreases. It will be tight to finish that before the end of the month but I am trying so hard .....
Sunday is my 60th birthday. I thought I would be more stressed about it than I feel. Maybe it's because I battled cancer last year and so everything is more valuable to me now. Maybe I have changed my outlook on things in general and numbers don't really mean much in the big picture. I like birthdays in general. I love a cake and cards and gifts. I don't feel that this birthday, significant number though it might be, is any more special or any worse than any other, so we aren't doing anything special. I have surprised everyone by asking for a strawberry shortcake rather than my usual chocolate but other than that I just want sunny weather and some time to knit and spin. (I hope to get pretty far down the foot of that Maze sock on Sunday). I hope to get some shetland flicked and maybe spin a basket of it, too. I enjoy doing it, plus I want to empty those bobbins in preparation for the Tour de Fleece.
I have yarn coming. I know that I said that I wasn't casting on for anything new but ..... The crackerjack scarf/cowl idea caught my interest. The idea is that you choose 4 colors for your baseball team. Each color represents home wins, home losses, away wins and away losses. You knit a row (or 2) of the appropriate color after each game, illustrating your teams win/loss record for the season in color. I have to say that I don't really care that much for baseball but my son and several of my friends do, so I have gotten caught up in cheering for the Baltimore Orioles. The scarf, however, will be for my son. The yarn is on the way. :-)
Each night I will knit 2 rows of the appropriate color on the scarf depending on the previous days game results and then move on to sock knitting.
DH is adjusting the size of the veggie garden down. Not only is the blue spruce tree growing into the garden space but the garden is also large and an odd shape. It will be smaller and rectangular, with an actual gate to open instead of having to step over the fence (which is just a bit too high for me to do comfortably). We have to change some of what we usually grow for this year - we had problems with lots of beetles on the green beans last year and some sort of mildew on the cucumbers. It might have just been the weather last year but the master gardeners told us to change the location of what we plant and to avoid some things some years. So the plan is to grow corn, tomatoes, green peppers for sure and possibly green beans, cukes and lettuce in another location this year. I hope it's dry enough to till the garden soon so I can get seeds started. Last year, despite my warning that I would not be able to keep up with the gardening, DH planted a full load. Sure enough, I couldn't keep up and he finally gave in and did the weeding. ;-) This year will be different.
Maryland Sheep and Wool festival is coming up shortly! I can't wait to spend a weekend immersed in fiber! I have no great plans to purchase anything major, though I have no intentions of saying that I won't buy anything. Maybe a skein or two of sock yarn for the Tour de Sock ..... I want to look at samples, feel yarn and be inspired by other people's knits. I want to see sheep and other fiber animals and just experience.
Well, that's all for now. Have a wonderful day.
Wednesday, April 09, 2014
It's Friday!!!!
It's Friday and I am looking forward to the weekend so much!
Spring weather has finally arrived (for the most part, anyway). We are no longer bundling up in many layers just to run to the store. The crocus and daffodils are poking their heads further out of the ground. The fish in the pond are coming up to beg food more often and the birds are singing and chirping like crazy! I love it!
Karen and Nancy came to visit on Wednesday as planned. I really did learn how to use my cards properly and to make rolags. ;-) Now I have a way to prep fiber that is not appropriate for flicking or combing or just because I want to. The Lebowski socks have been dissected and repairs will commence shortly. We chatted and I showed off several of my knitting projects and got some advice on what to do with my Cattails sweater to fix the collar. We were entertained by the cat and Nancy, who had endless patience for playing with him. None of us got a whole lot of knitting done but that's OK. It was more of a visit than a knitting event.
So, my excitement for fibery things is increasing. I find that I need a plan in order to get any significant progress done on anything. If I don't, I get sidetracked too much. I still get sidetracked sometimes, but not as much. ;-)
Projects on the needles are many. I want to finish, finish, finish. No new casting on for me for a while. I am trying to set reasonable goals, by month at this point, to get things finished. It's the right season to wear Cattails, so that front edging re-knit is high on the list. I'd like to have most of the body, at least, of the hoodie finished before the summer. I really want to have both leftover socks from last years Tour de Sock finished. I will finish the beaded Maze socks in April and the Chicane sock in May, ready for a fresh start on the TdS on June 1. I think those projects are enough to keep me busy but I want to start spinning again.
The Tour de Fleece is always a good jump starter for my spinning. There are so many options for TdF spinning that I can't settle on a plan. I could continue to spin my Shetland fleece. I probably should, but I am craving color spinning. I could, then, clear bobbins and plan on spinning as much color (braids, bumps, batts and dyed locks) as I can manage. I am afraid that I won't put as much thought into a use for them that way, though, and I don't want to spin without at least a general plan for the fiber. I need to spend a day with my fiber stash, looking for good combinations and potential projects or at least uses for the fiber (such as mittens or hat or part of a sweater) before I spin it. That leads me to thinking that my best plan might be to finish up the Shetland bobbin I am spinning now, wind it and the other full bobbin into a plying ball and then play with color for a little while as "training" for TdF. I could then concentrate on Shetland spinning during the tour and/ or spin another bobbin of a very nice wool blend in a soft green color that I started ages ago and ply those, clearing off another bobbin. Sigh. So much fiber, so little time. :-)
I didn't get this post finished on Friday as planned so it's Saturday now and I will be helping Bob to replace a thermostat on the Expedition today. It's windy but sunny outside so it should actually be nice to be outside. I will also be hanging clean clothes on the line to dry. I love the scent of line dried clothing. Knitting and/or spinning will be reserved for tonight. Oh, and I am due for a 2 mile walk today. It feels good to be back to walking.
Have a great weekend, all.
ETA I finally clicked on submit on Wednesay of the following week. The htermostat is in and we had a reat day on Sunday doing some spring cleaning in the garden.
Spring weather has finally arrived (for the most part, anyway). We are no longer bundling up in many layers just to run to the store. The crocus and daffodils are poking their heads further out of the ground. The fish in the pond are coming up to beg food more often and the birds are singing and chirping like crazy! I love it!
Karen and Nancy came to visit on Wednesday as planned. I really did learn how to use my cards properly and to make rolags. ;-) Now I have a way to prep fiber that is not appropriate for flicking or combing or just because I want to. The Lebowski socks have been dissected and repairs will commence shortly. We chatted and I showed off several of my knitting projects and got some advice on what to do with my Cattails sweater to fix the collar. We were entertained by the cat and Nancy, who had endless patience for playing with him. None of us got a whole lot of knitting done but that's OK. It was more of a visit than a knitting event.
So, my excitement for fibery things is increasing. I find that I need a plan in order to get any significant progress done on anything. If I don't, I get sidetracked too much. I still get sidetracked sometimes, but not as much. ;-)
Projects on the needles are many. I want to finish, finish, finish. No new casting on for me for a while. I am trying to set reasonable goals, by month at this point, to get things finished. It's the right season to wear Cattails, so that front edging re-knit is high on the list. I'd like to have most of the body, at least, of the hoodie finished before the summer. I really want to have both leftover socks from last years Tour de Sock finished. I will finish the beaded Maze socks in April and the Chicane sock in May, ready for a fresh start on the TdS on June 1. I think those projects are enough to keep me busy but I want to start spinning again.
The Tour de Fleece is always a good jump starter for my spinning. There are so many options for TdF spinning that I can't settle on a plan. I could continue to spin my Shetland fleece. I probably should, but I am craving color spinning. I could, then, clear bobbins and plan on spinning as much color (braids, bumps, batts and dyed locks) as I can manage. I am afraid that I won't put as much thought into a use for them that way, though, and I don't want to spin without at least a general plan for the fiber. I need to spend a day with my fiber stash, looking for good combinations and potential projects or at least uses for the fiber (such as mittens or hat or part of a sweater) before I spin it. That leads me to thinking that my best plan might be to finish up the Shetland bobbin I am spinning now, wind it and the other full bobbin into a plying ball and then play with color for a little while as "training" for TdF. I could then concentrate on Shetland spinning during the tour and/ or spin another bobbin of a very nice wool blend in a soft green color that I started ages ago and ply those, clearing off another bobbin. Sigh. So much fiber, so little time. :-)
I didn't get this post finished on Friday as planned so it's Saturday now and I will be helping Bob to replace a thermostat on the Expedition today. It's windy but sunny outside so it should actually be nice to be outside. I will also be hanging clean clothes on the line to dry. I love the scent of line dried clothing. Knitting and/or spinning will be reserved for tonight. Oh, and I am due for a 2 mile walk today. It feels good to be back to walking.
Have a great weekend, all.
ETA I finally clicked on submit on Wednesay of the following week. The htermostat is in and we had a reat day on Sunday doing some spring cleaning in the garden.
Sunday, March 30, 2014
The holiday stuff is away
Finally, the last of the Christmas stuff (dishes, decorations, etc.) is gone from the guest room. It's almost Easter! Mom is coming for a visit soon and we needed the room. The work that had to be done in the storage area is complete so the storage bins are gone. yippee!
Terraform is now my travel project. I decided to get back to working on WIPs, so the convertible mitts, the hoodie, a sock and a shawl will all be in the rotation. Once two of those are completed, I will add another WIP to finish. I would really like to finish the socks from last years Tour de Sock before this years episode starts. That means that the Maze socks will be first up, and hopefully finished by the end of April. The Chicane socks will be finished by the end of May. I never did start the last sock of that season so I feel no need to start and finish it before the tour starts again. I bought yarn for it, but no rush.
The hoodie is going well. I have knitted about 2-3 inches of body below the arm scye and it seems to fit well. I would knit on just that if I could. I like knitting with the cascade Pastazza.
It's raining. It is supposed to rain all weekend. Ugh. At least the temps are higher. It's actually good knitting weather. Unfortunately, there are other things to do. My spinning stuff - fiber, tools, etc - was all pushed into the guest room for the holiday. Now that Mom is coming for a visit, I have to decide what to do with it. I really don't want to just push it all out to the living room in messy piles like it was before. I have to think of a storage solution.
I have a mid week weekend coming up this week. I am taking Wednesday off to spent time with friends. Karen used to live here and we spent quite a bit of time together knitting and also walked 4 miles together 4 days/ week or so. She moved to California several years ago and I haven't seen her since. She is coming for a visit, staying with Nancy and they are both coming to spend the day on Wednesday! We have plans to knit and/or spin, I am going to try to learn to make rolags and I will also attempt surgery on Rob's Lebowski sock with Karens support. (I left out several rows of the pattern on the leg so one leg is shorter than the other). It will be great spending time together.
Have a great Sunday.
Terraform is now my travel project. I decided to get back to working on WIPs, so the convertible mitts, the hoodie, a sock and a shawl will all be in the rotation. Once two of those are completed, I will add another WIP to finish. I would really like to finish the socks from last years Tour de Sock before this years episode starts. That means that the Maze socks will be first up, and hopefully finished by the end of April. The Chicane socks will be finished by the end of May. I never did start the last sock of that season so I feel no need to start and finish it before the tour starts again. I bought yarn for it, but no rush.
The hoodie is going well. I have knitted about 2-3 inches of body below the arm scye and it seems to fit well. I would knit on just that if I could. I like knitting with the cascade Pastazza.
It's raining. It is supposed to rain all weekend. Ugh. At least the temps are higher. It's actually good knitting weather. Unfortunately, there are other things to do. My spinning stuff - fiber, tools, etc - was all pushed into the guest room for the holiday. Now that Mom is coming for a visit, I have to decide what to do with it. I really don't want to just push it all out to the living room in messy piles like it was before. I have to think of a storage solution.
I have a mid week weekend coming up this week. I am taking Wednesday off to spent time with friends. Karen used to live here and we spent quite a bit of time together knitting and also walked 4 miles together 4 days/ week or so. She moved to California several years ago and I haven't seen her since. She is coming for a visit, staying with Nancy and they are both coming to spend the day on Wednesday! We have plans to knit and/or spin, I am going to try to learn to make rolags and I will also attempt surgery on Rob's Lebowski sock with Karens support. (I left out several rows of the pattern on the leg so one leg is shorter than the other). It will be great spending time together.
Have a great Sunday.
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Starting and Finishing
Cattails is finished! I hope to get photos once it is finished drying after a blocking that I hope will relax the front edging enough that it lays flat on my neck. Fingers crossed. I don't really want to rip out the front edge and have to knit it differently.
I did start the Chic Knits Hoodie, lace version. I just divided for the body last night. The pattern requires some adjustment for fit due to my yarn not being the same weight as the pattern calls for. So far, so good. I will have fewer stitches in each row now that the sleeve stitches are on holders so the body should grow fast and I like the lace panel. I'll try to get some photos tonight and post them.
I went to the Savage Mill yarn party on Sunday with Angela. I had never been before. They squeeze a lot of vendors into a small space which makes shopping a little difficult, but most people seemed to be considerate. I bought a snap bag for notions (I fell in love with the fabric and the opening) and a set of 4 buttons made with zebrawood. I have no idea where I will use them but they were too pretty to leave behind. My 1 yarn purchase was a skein of Dragonfly Fibers Djinni sock yarn. My colorway was Eastern Bluebird. I love it! Even though I kept picking up skeins of tonal or solid colors, trying to convince myself to stick with the plan, I couldn't put this one down and came home with it. Angela bought the same colorway but in a different yarn. :-)
I worried the whole way home that I wouldn't find anything to make with it due to the color variation and it would be forever just a skein of yarn. We made a pact to find a project and cast on that night so it wouldn't just be pretty yarn and would actually be kit into something. We both succeeded. I am knitting Terraform and Angela is knitting futur simple.
The convertible mitts for eldest son's girlfriend have gone by the wayside for a while. I just can't keep my hands off the new stuff! I will finish them, but apparently not soon. :-(
It's snowing right now. It looks like a blizzard out there until you get close enough to look down on the ground and realize that it is not (thank goodness!) sticking. Everything is getting wet but that's all. Big smile! Enjoy your day.
PS I have found the crocus and tulips. Yippee!!
I did start the Chic Knits Hoodie, lace version. I just divided for the body last night. The pattern requires some adjustment for fit due to my yarn not being the same weight as the pattern calls for. So far, so good. I will have fewer stitches in each row now that the sleeve stitches are on holders so the body should grow fast and I like the lace panel. I'll try to get some photos tonight and post them.
I went to the Savage Mill yarn party on Sunday with Angela. I had never been before. They squeeze a lot of vendors into a small space which makes shopping a little difficult, but most people seemed to be considerate. I bought a snap bag for notions (I fell in love with the fabric and the opening) and a set of 4 buttons made with zebrawood. I have no idea where I will use them but they were too pretty to leave behind. My 1 yarn purchase was a skein of Dragonfly Fibers Djinni sock yarn. My colorway was Eastern Bluebird. I love it! Even though I kept picking up skeins of tonal or solid colors, trying to convince myself to stick with the plan, I couldn't put this one down and came home with it. Angela bought the same colorway but in a different yarn. :-)
I worried the whole way home that I wouldn't find anything to make with it due to the color variation and it would be forever just a skein of yarn. We made a pact to find a project and cast on that night so it wouldn't just be pretty yarn and would actually be kit into something. We both succeeded. I am knitting Terraform and Angela is knitting futur simple.
The convertible mitts for eldest son's girlfriend have gone by the wayside for a while. I just can't keep my hands off the new stuff! I will finish them, but apparently not soon. :-(
It's snowing right now. It looks like a blizzard out there until you get close enough to look down on the ground and realize that it is not (thank goodness!) sticking. Everything is getting wet but that's all. Big smile! Enjoy your day.
PS I have found the crocus and tulips. Yippee!!
Friday, March 07, 2014
It feels like it might be spring soon ....
The temps are finally rising out of the 20's and into the 30's. That's degrees F, not C. ;-) I hope to find some crocus poking their leaves out of the ground this weekend. Fingers crossed. It's the weekend of the home and Garden show at the fairgrounds and we can usually find some crocus poling up by now. OTOH, it has been really cold - I wouldn't blame the poor little things for hiding a bit longer.
The Cattails sleeves are finished! The next thing to do is pick up stitches around the neck and fronts for the edging. More seed stitch. UGH. It's a shame that I like the look of it so much.
I am still working on the swatch for Flaming June. It looks like I will be using a size 2 needle. Gulp. That sweater will take a long time to knit. As soon as I get the edging of Cattails finished I plan to cast on with Cascade Pastazza for the Basic Chic Hoodie (with the lace insert). That one should go fast! I plan to knit the lace insert version.
I am making a big push to finish the convertible mitts I am knitting for eldest son's girlfriend. Not only do I want her to have them soon, but I am also anxious to get back to my maze socks that became a UFO after the Tour de Sock ended. They are beaded socks, very pretty, in shades of browns and tans. I want to wear them and I want to not have any TdS UFOs by the time this years TdS comes around. The convertible mitts won't be finished this weekend but I can set Cattails aside for the weekend and concentrate on the mitts to get some visible progress going. I am ahead of my fellow KALers anyway. I'll give them a chance to catch up. ;-)
I did some Shetland fleece spinning last week as I mentioned but haven't done any more. I have had problems with migraines this week and I've just been too tired. I want to settle in bed with knitting in the evening, not sit up at the wheel. Maybe this weekend will see some progress there.
I am going to find the local Y this weekend and see if I can join and sign up for a water aerobics class. I need the workout very badly (physically and mentally) and I am afraid to hurt my foot so I'll give water exercise a try.
Have a great weekend everyone.
The Cattails sleeves are finished! The next thing to do is pick up stitches around the neck and fronts for the edging. More seed stitch. UGH. It's a shame that I like the look of it so much.
I am still working on the swatch for Flaming June. It looks like I will be using a size 2 needle. Gulp. That sweater will take a long time to knit. As soon as I get the edging of Cattails finished I plan to cast on with Cascade Pastazza for the Basic Chic Hoodie (with the lace insert). That one should go fast! I plan to knit the lace insert version.
I am making a big push to finish the convertible mitts I am knitting for eldest son's girlfriend. Not only do I want her to have them soon, but I am also anxious to get back to my maze socks that became a UFO after the Tour de Sock ended. They are beaded socks, very pretty, in shades of browns and tans. I want to wear them and I want to not have any TdS UFOs by the time this years TdS comes around. The convertible mitts won't be finished this weekend but I can set Cattails aside for the weekend and concentrate on the mitts to get some visible progress going. I am ahead of my fellow KALers anyway. I'll give them a chance to catch up. ;-)
I did some Shetland fleece spinning last week as I mentioned but haven't done any more. I have had problems with migraines this week and I've just been too tired. I want to settle in bed with knitting in the evening, not sit up at the wheel. Maybe this weekend will see some progress there.
I am going to find the local Y this weekend and see if I can join and sign up for a water aerobics class. I need the workout very badly (physically and mentally) and I am afraid to hurt my foot so I'll give water exercise a try.
Have a great weekend everyone.
Tuesday, March 04, 2014
We dodged that bullet!
We had snow, don't get me wrong, but only about 4-5 inches and that is so much better than what they were initially predicting!
I did get my snow day and spent it doing some cleaning and re-organizing, spinning on the wheel!!!!!, and knitting. I started the seed stitch edging on the second sleeve last night and expect to finish it tonight, rip out the other sleeve edging and re-knit that. Next up is the front edging! Woohoo!.
I did some swatching over the weekend. I like knitting with Cascade Pastazza. I am going to make the basic hoodie from Chic Knits, the lace version. It's just a bit of a lace panel right near the front bands so it will still be a simple knit. I am not sure that I will have enough yarn for the hood but I am OK with having to knit a collar if that happens.
I also swatched with louet linen yarn that has been in my stash for quite a while. I tried size 4 needles first and that didn't look right so I am swatching again on size 3. We'll see. For now I am content to swatch. I really liked that Pastazza and am tempted to buy more from people's stash. I can see a very nice felted bag with some of those colors ..... Oh, but I am on a yarn diet, so No. I will not do that. sigh.
I had a great time spinning! I stopped after about 15 minutes so that I wouldn't over-do and that worked well. I spun just a little of a pretty, fun batt and then went back to my shetland spinning, which I have missed. It took a little while for the spinning from the fold to come back but it did and was so relaxing. I get home late tonight and tomorrow but I hope to fit in a few minutes each night so I get back in the groove. ;-)
While cleaning and re-organizing, i reviewed my WIPs and in house yarn stash. Last year I missed both my spring and fall review of yarn stash, and I haven't gone though any of the yarn that lives in the shed but it felt good to go through what was in the house and what I re-claimed from the frogging of projects during the Ravellenics. Once the shed is more accessible i will go through all of that yarn, possibly de-stash/give some and then try to find projects for the yarn I have instead of finding projects and having to buy yarn to match. I also plan to look the stash over with an eye to finding projects for the odd balls or small yardage items rather than hoarding them forever. When I need an instant gratification project, that's where I will go.
Spring frequently makes me feel this way and I am glad to see that even though there is (more) snow on the ground, Things in my life are returning to normal from the previous get though cancer treatment stage. :-)
I did get my snow day and spent it doing some cleaning and re-organizing, spinning on the wheel!!!!!, and knitting. I started the seed stitch edging on the second sleeve last night and expect to finish it tonight, rip out the other sleeve edging and re-knit that. Next up is the front edging! Woohoo!.
I did some swatching over the weekend. I like knitting with Cascade Pastazza. I am going to make the basic hoodie from Chic Knits, the lace version. It's just a bit of a lace panel right near the front bands so it will still be a simple knit. I am not sure that I will have enough yarn for the hood but I am OK with having to knit a collar if that happens.
I also swatched with louet linen yarn that has been in my stash for quite a while. I tried size 4 needles first and that didn't look right so I am swatching again on size 3. We'll see. For now I am content to swatch. I really liked that Pastazza and am tempted to buy more from people's stash. I can see a very nice felted bag with some of those colors ..... Oh, but I am on a yarn diet, so No. I will not do that. sigh.
I had a great time spinning! I stopped after about 15 minutes so that I wouldn't over-do and that worked well. I spun just a little of a pretty, fun batt and then went back to my shetland spinning, which I have missed. It took a little while for the spinning from the fold to come back but it did and was so relaxing. I get home late tonight and tomorrow but I hope to fit in a few minutes each night so I get back in the groove. ;-)
While cleaning and re-organizing, i reviewed my WIPs and in house yarn stash. Last year I missed both my spring and fall review of yarn stash, and I haven't gone though any of the yarn that lives in the shed but it felt good to go through what was in the house and what I re-claimed from the frogging of projects during the Ravellenics. Once the shed is more accessible i will go through all of that yarn, possibly de-stash/give some and then try to find projects for the yarn I have instead of finding projects and having to buy yarn to match. I also plan to look the stash over with an eye to finding projects for the odd balls or small yardage items rather than hoarding them forever. When I need an instant gratification project, that's where I will go.
Spring frequently makes me feel this way and I am glad to see that even though there is (more) snow on the ground, Things in my life are returning to normal from the previous get though cancer treatment stage. :-)
Friday, February 28, 2014
It looks like March will roar in
Right now the prediction is for 4-8 inches of snow on Monday. I could use an extra day off but .....
I knitted 2 stripes on the second sleeve of Cattails yesterday between appointments and knit night at the LYS. Not as much as expected but I read part of a book and visited quite a bit at knit night. It felt good.
I spent more than I ever have on a pair of sneakers yesterday. $115.00!!!! But The foot doctor said it would be good for me to have a good pair and I have been hard on my feet lately so I decided to go for it. I hope the secure, stable foot ware helps avoid accidents. My husband's comment, other than taking a deep breath, was that they are unprofessional looking. I don't care. ;-)
They feel good. I am out of the boot but still have tendinitis so have to be careful and can't yet start on my walking for exercise. I crave it. I need to get moving. Sigh. I suppose I can be a bit more patient.
I am now vacillating between Flaming June and Sarah for my next sweater possibilities, both out of stash yarn. Summer or winter - I haven't yet decided.
It's Friday and I am very thankful. I hope you have a good weekend.
I knitted 2 stripes on the second sleeve of Cattails yesterday between appointments and knit night at the LYS. Not as much as expected but I read part of a book and visited quite a bit at knit night. It felt good.
I spent more than I ever have on a pair of sneakers yesterday. $115.00!!!! But The foot doctor said it would be good for me to have a good pair and I have been hard on my feet lately so I decided to go for it. I hope the secure, stable foot ware helps avoid accidents. My husband's comment, other than taking a deep breath, was that they are unprofessional looking. I don't care. ;-)
They feel good. I am out of the boot but still have tendinitis so have to be careful and can't yet start on my walking for exercise. I crave it. I need to get moving. Sigh. I suppose I can be a bit more patient.
I am now vacillating between Flaming June and Sarah for my next sweater possibilities, both out of stash yarn. Summer or winter - I haven't yet decided.
It's Friday and I am very thankful. I hope you have a good weekend.
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
One Sleeve Finished
Cattails is moving along nicely again after taking a back seat to Ravellenics projects. I finished the first sleeve last night and hope to pick up the stitches for the second sleeve tonight. It makes great TV knitting. I rented Season One of Chicago Fire from the library. I watched 2 episodes last night. I hope to catch up on the earlier history that I missed. I can also knit on the North Sea socks while watching TV, and I plan to take Whippoorwill out of the closet and try to figure out where I am. I might be able to work on that one while watching, too.
I have other socks to knit but those require attention to the chart and watching my knitting instead of TV so that knitting will happen at another time. I can listen to audiobooks and podcasts while knitting cabled or beaded socks, so I am saving those projects for when I don't want the TV on. I don't usually watch much TV when it's not football season, so that time could be soon.
Eldest son loves his new hat. The Highland Duo Drekkar hat worked well. It's a bit bigger and I like that. I had planned to add some ribbing to the original test knit hat but I think I will rip it out and re-knit it. I don't think I want the ribbing right near the face to be off set halfway up. It won't take long to re-knit and I will feel better. Mom loves her sweater vest and that makes me feel good, too. As I near the end of cattails I plan to swatch for my next sweater. I am determined to knit a sweater from stash yarn and I think Sarah might just be the one. I have had this yarn for a loooong time. It's time for it to come out of the storage in and into the daylight. It's a pretty, bright blue and I think it will make a good winter sweater. I have to verify yardage and swatch to be sure I can do this, or select and non-cabled sweater instead. Fingers crossed because I want those cables. ;-)
We had snow this morning! It snowed for about 2 hours and there was about 1/2 inch on the deck. I was sort of excited because I like snow but also feeling rather let down. I am ready for spring, and my search for crocus and/or daffodils was fruitless. Sigh. I keep reminidng myself that it is really only the end of February and I need to be patient .......
Have a good day, all.
PS I am not really being lazy about posting pictures. I just can't get them to load without a battle, so linking is the next best thing.
I have other socks to knit but those require attention to the chart and watching my knitting instead of TV so that knitting will happen at another time. I can listen to audiobooks and podcasts while knitting cabled or beaded socks, so I am saving those projects for when I don't want the TV on. I don't usually watch much TV when it's not football season, so that time could be soon.
Eldest son loves his new hat. The Highland Duo Drekkar hat worked well. It's a bit bigger and I like that. I had planned to add some ribbing to the original test knit hat but I think I will rip it out and re-knit it. I don't think I want the ribbing right near the face to be off set halfway up. It won't take long to re-knit and I will feel better. Mom loves her sweater vest and that makes me feel good, too. As I near the end of cattails I plan to swatch for my next sweater. I am determined to knit a sweater from stash yarn and I think Sarah might just be the one. I have had this yarn for a loooong time. It's time for it to come out of the storage in and into the daylight. It's a pretty, bright blue and I think it will make a good winter sweater. I have to verify yardage and swatch to be sure I can do this, or select and non-cabled sweater instead. Fingers crossed because I want those cables. ;-)
We had snow this morning! It snowed for about 2 hours and there was about 1/2 inch on the deck. I was sort of excited because I like snow but also feeling rather let down. I am ready for spring, and my search for crocus and/or daffodils was fruitless. Sigh. I keep reminidng myself that it is really only the end of February and I need to be patient .......
Have a good day, all.
PS I am not really being lazy about posting pictures. I just can't get them to load without a battle, so linking is the next best thing.
Sunday, February 23, 2014
Silver or gold - you decide.
I finished Mom's vest version of the Bernhardt sweater. I am happy with it and, more importantly, so is Mom. I finished it early enough to get it blocked and ready to go when younger son headed up to visit NY for the weekend. She tried it on and likes the look and fit of it. So, silver medal for sure. I have not and will not get the North Sea Socks finished before the end of the Olympics but I did finish another WIP. The baby blanket I was working on before the Olympics has been completed. The baby was born early so I had extra impetus to finish it fast. I had no listed the blanket as one of my planned Ravelllenics projects but I did finish a WIP. So, you decide. Silver or gold medal for me?
In other knitting, I started another Drekkar hat with a different yarn and have completed about half of it. I love it. Once I finished Mom's vest and the blanket I picked up Cattails and went back to work on the sleeve. I think the 3 of us that are knitting Cattails are at about the same spot which is nice. We can encourage each other to knit on the sleeves - compare notes on how many stripes we have knitted. I hope to finish it within a month so I can wear it when/if spring weather comes. ;-)
My next WIP that I plan to pick up again is Whippoorwill. I had reached the part where I added the second color, so it should be enjoyable knitting. I have some repairs to make on other knitting and I have them sitting in a basket near my knitting spot in the living room. I have made progress on repairs, and that makes me feel good and will encourage me to make the other repairs. Some are socks, one is a hat. It's nice to be able to put things back into circulation that have been out for a year or more. :-)
My broken foot is healing slowly, the ligaments, too. It still aches, some days more than others. The boot itself hurts and that makes it hard to be good about wearing it. When I am home and not going to be too busy I wear an ace wrap and slippers to give the heel/foot a break. I am supposed to see the doctor on Thursday about the foot. I also get a dexa scan to see how bad my osteoporosis is. Fun times. :-)
We are, as are many others on the East coast, craving no snow and spring weather. I am going out in a little while to look for crocus and daffodils. Have a food day.
In other knitting, I started another Drekkar hat with a different yarn and have completed about half of it. I love it. Once I finished Mom's vest and the blanket I picked up Cattails and went back to work on the sleeve. I think the 3 of us that are knitting Cattails are at about the same spot which is nice. We can encourage each other to knit on the sleeves - compare notes on how many stripes we have knitted. I hope to finish it within a month so I can wear it when/if spring weather comes. ;-)
My next WIP that I plan to pick up again is Whippoorwill. I had reached the part where I added the second color, so it should be enjoyable knitting. I have some repairs to make on other knitting and I have them sitting in a basket near my knitting spot in the living room. I have made progress on repairs, and that makes me feel good and will encourage me to make the other repairs. Some are socks, one is a hat. It's nice to be able to put things back into circulation that have been out for a year or more. :-)
My broken foot is healing slowly, the ligaments, too. It still aches, some days more than others. The boot itself hurts and that makes it hard to be good about wearing it. When I am home and not going to be too busy I wear an ace wrap and slippers to give the heel/foot a break. I am supposed to see the doctor on Thursday about the foot. I also get a dexa scan to see how bad my osteoporosis is. Fun times. :-)
We are, as are many others on the East coast, craving no snow and spring weather. I am going out in a little while to look for crocus and daffodils. Have a food day.
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Ravellenics
I am doing the Ravellenics and I already have a bronze medal!
My final goals, decided on the day of the opening ceremony, were to knit the test knit hat (Drekkar - I will link to it when it has been released), knit the North Sea Socks and finish my selected WIP (The vest version of the Bernhardt sweater). I decided that one completion would get a bronze, another item completed would be silver and I would get gold if I finished a third piece (this could be one sock of the 2). With the hat completed, I have a bonze and I fully expect to finish my WIP and get silver by the end of the Olympics. I doubt I will make it to the gold but I'll try. I am knitting both socks at the same time on a different set of DPNs.
We are expecting a huge snow storm tonight/tomorrow. I am expecting to be at home and able to knit at least part of the day. ;-) With my foot broken I have an excuse to not shovel but I enjoy shoveling so I may try to do some of it. If it's too slippery, though, I won't risk another broken bone.
We are borrowing a generator in case we loose power. Lights I can do without. Heat is vital.
Stay safe and warm, all.
My final goals, decided on the day of the opening ceremony, were to knit the test knit hat (Drekkar - I will link to it when it has been released), knit the North Sea Socks and finish my selected WIP (The vest version of the Bernhardt sweater). I decided that one completion would get a bronze, another item completed would be silver and I would get gold if I finished a third piece (this could be one sock of the 2). With the hat completed, I have a bonze and I fully expect to finish my WIP and get silver by the end of the Olympics. I doubt I will make it to the gold but I'll try. I am knitting both socks at the same time on a different set of DPNs.
We are expecting a huge snow storm tonight/tomorrow. I am expecting to be at home and able to knit at least part of the day. ;-) With my foot broken I have an excuse to not shovel but I enjoy shoveling so I may try to do some of it. If it's too slippery, though, I won't risk another broken bone.
We are borrowing a generator in case we loose power. Lights I can do without. Heat is vital.
Stay safe and warm, all.
Tuesday, February 04, 2014
Sleeves! I am knitting sleeves!
Well, actually just one at a time, but still - I finished the dreaded seed stitch edging on the body of the Cattails sweater and have knit a round or two on the first sleeve. That's progress.
I added another project to my knitting list. I have agreed to do a test knit for Melanie. It's a cabled hat (I love to knit cables) and it's for eldest son. When I showed him the pattern he was very excited about it. The only bad thing is that he wants it in black. UGH. We'll see. Maybe I can find another dark color that he likes that isn't as dark as black. ;-) The pattern is called Drekkar and you will be hearing and seeing more about it shortly. I have to go to the LYS on Thursday to get some alpaca yarn.
Meanwhile, I continue to plug away at the projects on the needles - the mitered baby blanket, Mom's vest version of Bernhardt and Cattails. I knit some on the vanilla sock that is just a carry along project (it doesn't count in the WIP section of my brain) while at the meeting I went to over the weekend and last night (because I was too tired to knit anything else).
I know I should not have taken on the new hat project but I feel as though all of my projects have been around for a while and will be for several more weeks. I need a quick finish project, some instant gratification and this will do nicely. Even my WIPs from last year will take some time to finish. None will be quick, not even the cowl, because it is light weight yarn and beading. I need something quick. Besides, Rob needs a warm hat more than I need a beaded cowl. ;-)
We are expecting more mixed precip and some ice tomorrow. UGH. If the ice is significant, I will not be driving to work, but I would rather come in and save my time off for more fun things. Fingers crossed that it's not as bad as they are predicting.
Have a warm and safe day.
I added another project to my knitting list. I have agreed to do a test knit for Melanie. It's a cabled hat (I love to knit cables) and it's for eldest son. When I showed him the pattern he was very excited about it. The only bad thing is that he wants it in black. UGH. We'll see. Maybe I can find another dark color that he likes that isn't as dark as black. ;-) The pattern is called Drekkar and you will be hearing and seeing more about it shortly. I have to go to the LYS on Thursday to get some alpaca yarn.
Meanwhile, I continue to plug away at the projects on the needles - the mitered baby blanket, Mom's vest version of Bernhardt and Cattails. I knit some on the vanilla sock that is just a carry along project (it doesn't count in the WIP section of my brain) while at the meeting I went to over the weekend and last night (because I was too tired to knit anything else).
I know I should not have taken on the new hat project but I feel as though all of my projects have been around for a while and will be for several more weeks. I need a quick finish project, some instant gratification and this will do nicely. Even my WIPs from last year will take some time to finish. None will be quick, not even the cowl, because it is light weight yarn and beading. I need something quick. Besides, Rob needs a warm hat more than I need a beaded cowl. ;-)
We are expecting more mixed precip and some ice tomorrow. UGH. If the ice is significant, I will not be driving to work, but I would rather come in and save my time off for more fun things. Fingers crossed that it's not as bad as they are predicting.
Have a warm and safe day.
Monday, February 03, 2014
Snow. again.
I thought we might escape. They said the snow would start in the early morning and when I got up at 8:00 it was still raining. It switched to a nasty mix of rain and sleet a short time later and now (9:30) it's snowing heavily. Ugh.
I plan to pack away the Christmas stuff today - dishes, lights, linens, etc. We always keep that stuff out until at least mid January to make the switch worth the work. Its time now for it to go away.
I also plan some spinning, though spinning on the wheel is very tricky with "the boot" on my foot. It's harder than I thought, actually, so I might have to switch to spindles for my sampling. I would like to finish knitting the seed stitch edging on Cattails, too, so I can start a sleeve.
Have a good day and stay safe and warm.
I plan to pack away the Christmas stuff today - dishes, lights, linens, etc. We always keep that stuff out until at least mid January to make the switch worth the work. Its time now for it to go away.
I also plan some spinning, though spinning on the wheel is very tricky with "the boot" on my foot. It's harder than I thought, actually, so I might have to switch to spindles for my sampling. I would like to finish knitting the seed stitch edging on Cattails, too, so I can start a sleeve.
Have a good day and stay safe and warm.
Sunday, February 02, 2014
Bronco Bummer
I am back from Dallas. I was all excited to get back and watch the Superbowl, and now I am disappointed. I am happy to be home but the game was a total bust. The Broncos didn't even put up a good fight. :-(
I had quite a bit of knitting time while I was away. Cattails is long enough and so I started on the bottom edge. I was considering using garter stitch for the edging rather than seed stitch but when I looked at the photos of the other projects I liked the seed stitch more. I hate to knit seed stitch. Sigh.
I picked up a cowl that has been on the needles for 2 years and knitted several inches on that on the plane. I finished the toe on a vanilla toe up sock while in the meeting. Now it is a good, mindless project for waiting.
I spent some time today when I got home neatening up and putting things away. We moved the Christmas tree out of the house and onto the deck. We were going to get rid of it but with snow coming tomorrow we decided to leave it on the deck (with the lights on) and light it during the snow storm tomorrow (if it materializes). I am off tomorrow to make up for having to work this weekend. Sometimes things work out well. :-)
Knitting, spinning and putting holiday stuff away is on the schedule for tomorrow. Take care.
I had quite a bit of knitting time while I was away. Cattails is long enough and so I started on the bottom edge. I was considering using garter stitch for the edging rather than seed stitch but when I looked at the photos of the other projects I liked the seed stitch more. I hate to knit seed stitch. Sigh.
I picked up a cowl that has been on the needles for 2 years and knitted several inches on that on the plane. I finished the toe on a vanilla toe up sock while in the meeting. Now it is a good, mindless project for waiting.
I spent some time today when I got home neatening up and putting things away. We moved the Christmas tree out of the house and onto the deck. We were going to get rid of it but with snow coming tomorrow we decided to leave it on the deck (with the lights on) and light it during the snow storm tomorrow (if it materializes). I am off tomorrow to make up for having to work this weekend. Sometimes things work out well. :-)
Knitting, spinning and putting holiday stuff away is on the schedule for tomorrow. Take care.
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Alive and Kicking
But not with my left foot, which has a fracture and at least 1 torn ligament. UGH! I stepped off the curb (yes, I was watching where I was stepping but there was snow on the street) and onto a rock or chunk of ice, turned my ankle and landed hard on the outside of the foot. I went into work, iced and elevated the foot for 4 hours, then gave up and went home due to the pain. I iced and rested all weekend and saw the doctor Monday morning. I have a chip fracture and at least 1 ligament torn. I am back in the boot (which I shed just about 3 weeks ago) for at least 4 weeks.
On a more positive note, I have been knitting a lot. I started and finished the Tilted Shadows wrap in yummy Cascade Highland Duo. It's a free pattern from Cascade and it is wonderful yarn to knit with and wear.
I am currently knitting on Cattails, a striped cardigan, being knitted with Silky Wool in a wheat color and plum. I think it will be a very useful sweater. I am knitting a vest version of the Bernhardt sweater for my mother. It starts with the bottom lace ribbing and I have about 6 inches of the stockinette that comes after that finished. I had to calculate a smaller size than what is included in the pattern. I had DH check my math. I hope it works out. It seems to be right so far.
I am knitted the mitered baby blanket for a coworker. The colors are navy, cherry, sunshine and silver gray. It's a boy. :-). The yarn is cascade Sierra. The blanket is knit from the outside towards the center and I am already feeling the rounds go faster. This will be finished well before the due date of April 3.
I am knitting some convertible mitts for eldest son's girlfriend. She appreciates handmade. I am combining 2 pattern to get the cabling I want and the instructions for the convertible part. So far, so good. Her hands are about the same size as mine and the mitt fits me pretty well. Pictures soon.
I have a quandary. My plans for the Ravellenics (the knitter/crocheter/spinners version of the Olympics) had been to knit the North Sea Socks and choose a WIP to finish. Melanie and I bought the yarn and were given the pattern at Rhinebeck. I still like that plan. The sock pattern should be easy to memorize, making it a good TV watching project. I have enough WIPs to choose from in various weights of yarn. I would just choose one of those and have 2 projects to work on while watching the Olympics. I have been going through project bags and bins and wondering, though, if I should finish one (or both) of the mates to the Tour de Socks socks that I didn't finish at that time. I have the Maze socks and the Little Deschutes socks to choose from. I love them both and would love to wear a matching pair. The drawback to that plan is that neither one is conducive to knitting while watching TV. They are both chart watcher patterns. What to do .....?
I leave tomorrow morning on a business trip to Dallas, TX (over the weekend!) I will be back in time to watch the Superbowl. Go Broncos!!!!!!
On a more positive note, I have been knitting a lot. I started and finished the Tilted Shadows wrap in yummy Cascade Highland Duo. It's a free pattern from Cascade and it is wonderful yarn to knit with and wear.
I am currently knitting on Cattails, a striped cardigan, being knitted with Silky Wool in a wheat color and plum. I think it will be a very useful sweater. I am knitting a vest version of the Bernhardt sweater for my mother. It starts with the bottom lace ribbing and I have about 6 inches of the stockinette that comes after that finished. I had to calculate a smaller size than what is included in the pattern. I had DH check my math. I hope it works out. It seems to be right so far.
I am knitted the mitered baby blanket for a coworker. The colors are navy, cherry, sunshine and silver gray. It's a boy. :-). The yarn is cascade Sierra. The blanket is knit from the outside towards the center and I am already feeling the rounds go faster. This will be finished well before the due date of April 3.
I am knitting some convertible mitts for eldest son's girlfriend. She appreciates handmade. I am combining 2 pattern to get the cabling I want and the instructions for the convertible part. So far, so good. Her hands are about the same size as mine and the mitt fits me pretty well. Pictures soon.
I have a quandary. My plans for the Ravellenics (the knitter/crocheter/spinners version of the Olympics) had been to knit the North Sea Socks and choose a WIP to finish. Melanie and I bought the yarn and were given the pattern at Rhinebeck. I still like that plan. The sock pattern should be easy to memorize, making it a good TV watching project. I have enough WIPs to choose from in various weights of yarn. I would just choose one of those and have 2 projects to work on while watching the Olympics. I have been going through project bags and bins and wondering, though, if I should finish one (or both) of the mates to the Tour de Socks socks that I didn't finish at that time. I have the Maze socks and the Little Deschutes socks to choose from. I love them both and would love to wear a matching pair. The drawback to that plan is that neither one is conducive to knitting while watching TV. They are both chart watcher patterns. What to do .....?
I leave tomorrow morning on a business trip to Dallas, TX (over the weekend!) I will be back in time to watch the Superbowl. Go Broncos!!!!!!
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