Magnifiknitz

O Christmas Tree

2010-12-07T10:47:00.003-05:00

How lovely are thy branches...this is my 1st Christmas Tree as a homeowner (and my 1st pre-lit tree, even though I did add some more lights). I might add that this color theme is quite out of the norm for me...I've never had blue ornaments on my tree before...but...I have to admit...I like it...a lot. It's very "clean" looking (my sons words). I must be growing up finally.

Random FO's

2010-12-07T10:17:00.009-05:00

Hi All! I'm back...finally. Just to prove that I have not been totally unproductive during my hiatus here are a few finished objects...

This is Daria. A very quick knit. Makes a nice gift...gave it to my Aunt last Christmas. Must make more...

This is my Effortless Cardigan. While it wan't quite "Effortless" is was fairly easy. I used almost 6 skeins of Madelinetosh DK in the Alabaster colorway. I love this sweater...it's like wearing a blanket.

Here's is my Wicked (that's the name of the pattern) sweater. I used just under four skeins of Dream In Color Classy in the Lipstick Lava colorway. Wicked had to take a long bath...she turned my fingers and bamboo needles red. All is well though and I'm wearing her today.

These are my 198 Yards of Heaven scarves. The red one took one skein of Araucania Aysen and the tan one took one skein of Malabrigo Worsted...Applewood colorway. These scarves are good for using just one skein and they make nice gifts...which is what these two will be.

And last, but not least...meet Sigmund the Sea Monster...I mean, Christmas Tree. He is just too cool. I made him last Christmas using a strand of Lionbrand Homespun and FunFir held together. Might I add it was hell on the hands. I gave him to my friend Jackie, who loves all things Christmas. I know he will be well loved.

I have a few more FO's to post...just need to gather them for a photo session. Christmas Cookie production will commence soon...stay tuned for updates.

Back in the swing

2009-04-29T07:12:00.003-04:00

I haven't been participating in any knit-a-long's or swaps since I moved but I have decided to do the Heartland Lace Shawl KAL with the Evelyn Clark KAL yahoo group. I think I'm going to use some Knitpicks Palette yarn that I bought to do a colorwork vest...until I read the directions and realized that it has steeks. Haven't mastered that yet. I don't know but there is something scary about cutting your knitting. I will post some progress pic's.

Still here

2009-04-24T10:29:00.002-04:00

I'm really, really, really going to try to keep this thing updated, at least on a weekly basis. Just for my own amusement if nothing else. So, what have I been up to lately, you ask? Not much. I've read a few books: Firefly Lane, For Those Who Save Us (again), Fatally Flaky, The Book of Love and I'm halfway through Just Before Sunset. It's a collection of short stories by Stephen King. I've been knitting too. Of course, I haven't finished much. Just can't seem to get my mind to settle down. I've planted lots of flowers. I'll take some pictures to put on here this weekend. Tomorrow night is card night with Patti and Richie at my house. I have lots of cleaning to do inside and out.
Hopefully I'll have some pic's to put up next week. Bye for now.

I'm still standing...

2009-01-13T10:24:00.002-05:00

Ok, so it's been since July that I lasted posted. My life has taken a couple of twists and turns since then. But, I'm still here. All in one piece. At least physically anyway. Mentally not so much. Sept, Oct & Nov oh and hell, even Dec are now a period of my life that I will refer to as the "dark days". I didn't do much knitting...couldn't make myself knit for about a month. I finally have a few FO's to show which I will post pic's of later. Granted they are small but small was all I could handle. I'm currently working on my 1st large project since July. It's the Boatneck Bluebell sweater from Fitted Knits. Only it's light pink, and it's for me. I have a few things lined up in my Ravelry queue: mostly sweaters. I haven't been able to read very much either. I finished one book since I read the Twilight Series (I have no interest in seeing the movie). I think it was called "Girls In Trucks". It was pretty good. I have a back log of books in the queue too: The Shack, Scarpetta, Just After Sunset and A Journal for Jordan. I actually went to the movies the other night. We saw Gran Torino. I highly recommend it. Gotta love Clint. I've been watching some old Audrey Hepburn DVD's. She was so cool. My favorite's are of course "Breakfast at Tiffany's" and "Wait Until Dark". I've been able to bake a lot more now that I have my own kitchen. So I haven't been entirely unproductive. Just trying to claw my way out of my "Dark Place". I really want to start updating this blog more often. Hopefully my day-to-day trials, worries and random musings will amuse someone. I used to have a little saying taped to my desk: "Blessed are those who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused". Can't remember who said it, but I must be amused all the time.

Wow! It has been while...

2008-07-11T10:06:00.008-04:00

But I have been busy...with knitting and other issues. For now I will stick to the knitting. Here are two of the four mini sock blocker socks I've made so far. I plan to make quite of few of these for gifts. I can start and finish one on my lunch break.

Here's my Dream in Color Shrug. I used 2 skeins of Dream In Color Classy in the Lunar Zazzle colorway. I really like this yarn. I'm planning on ripping the ribbing out and doing it again because I didn't pick up enough stitches and it's kinda tight. It's an easy fix though and I have plenty of yarn left to do it.

And last but not least...here' s my current obsession. It Mr. Greenjeans from Knitty.com. Only I'm calling her Ms. Punky Fushia Jeans. I love this pattern and I love this yarn! Except for it turning my fingers pink...no big deal. I'm going to have to soak her for a while when she's done.
Here's a close up of the cabling:

Here's the whole thing so far:

Yummy yarn: Dream In Color Classy, Punky Fushia colorway...

I've ordered more Dream In Color Classy from The Loopy Ewe for my Wicked Sweater. Lipstick Lava is the color. I don't have any red sweaters so this will be the one.

I'll try to be more productive with the blogging. Things have been kinda rough lately. Don't want to go into it now.

Memorial Day Socks & Diagonal Scarf

2008-05-30T07:07:00.004-04:00

Here is my Diagonal Scarf that I started last week. I'm using SWTC Karaoke. The color is called "Epihany". I wanted something to do when I was catching some rays that I didn't have to look at a pattern for.
Here are my May socks. For Memorial Day. I used Lion Brand Magic Stripes from my stash, #2 dpn's and a standard sock pattern. Started on May 3 and finished on May 16.

Meagan's Skull Scarf

2008-05-27T07:28:00.004-04:00

Here is the finished skull scarf that I made for Meagan's birthday. I gave it to her on Sunday. I hope she likes it. I reversed the colors on either side. It turned out pretty cool.

Goodies from Swap Pals

2008-05-27T07:18:00.005-04:00

I received my ISE6 package from the wonderful Ann in Bekeley CA! The scarf is wonderful and I love the colors!
I also got lots of goodies: chocolates, gummy bears, Misti Alpaca lace yarn in a beautiful green color, flower stitch markers, a Good Karma pocket stone, some seeds to grow Poppy flowers & ladybug magnets. Thanks Ann for being such a great pal!

And I received my Monkey Swap Four package from Chelle in Canada. Look at these beautiful socks...and they fit perfectly.

She also sent along 2 little bags with monkey's on them. These are great for my small knitting projects. I'm using one right now, some monkey stitch markers, some chocolates, some really cool sock yarn. The colorway is called "Monkey See, Monkey Do", a Cookie A pattern, a pattern for mini socks and a mini sock on a sock blocker key chain. Thanks Chelle, you're a great pal!

Here I Go Again...

2008-05-19T11:21:00.003-04:00

I can't believe that's it been almost a month since my last post...I have been quite busy...extra-curricular activities...enough said. But anyway, I have been knitting...some. I finished Meagan's Skull Scarf in time for her birthday coming up. I knitted my friend Jeanne 2 Chemo caps using Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran, one dusty pink and one teal. However, I neglected to take a picture of them before I gave them to her. I'm trying to decide what to knit on next. I may start on my Skull scarf. Pink and black, of course. Or the Medallion purse from Noni...pink and black. Do you see a color trend here? Or I may start the Karaoke cable scarf. Decisions, decisions. I've been having a grand ole' time with my new Ipod Shuffle. I never realized how diverse my music preferences are. I can tell you that I am all over the map. I've taken up walking again so my Ipod keeps me moving when I'm not walking with my walking partner. I'll post some progress pic's of whatever I end up working on...I pinky promise.

Here's the Friday's Feast from last week:

Appetizer
What is the nearest big city to your home? Washington DC
Soup
On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how well do you keep secrets? 10
Salad
Describe your hair (color, texture, length). Color is brown; texture is fine; Length is shoulder.
Main Course
What kind of driver are you? Courteous? Aggressive? Slow? Curteous most of the time. Fast all of the time. Curse like a drunken sailor most of the time.
Dessert
When was the last time you had a really bad week? I can't remember the last really bad week. I tend to remember them as days and they all seem to run together. But things have gotten better lately.

FO's & Big Bag Swap goodies

2008-04-28T07:09:00.004-04:00

The knitting of the Kiss Purse has been completed. Now I have to felt it. I really like this purse. I have another Fair Isle purse in the que.
Here are my finished Monkey socks for my Swap pal. This yarn is soft and squishy. Mr Monkey likes them. He will be keeping the socks company on their trip to their new home.

And last, but not least...I received my package from my Big Bag Swal pal! Anita O. did an outstanding job on my bag. I really love the colors! And all the goodies that she sent along. There's sock yarn, Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool yarn, some tea, gummy bears and a Sudoku book and pen. Anita O., you are a great pal!

I'm finishing up my Math Geek Scarf. 2 triangles left and it's done, and I'm working on Meagan's skull scarf. 2.5 skulls left and its done. This will take care of everything that is "in progress" in Ravelry. But have no fear...there are plenty of projects in the que...just have to figure out which one I want to start. That's the hard part.

I'm still here...

2008-04-21T07:03:00.006-04:00

and I have been working on a couple things:
Here is my Kiss Purse from Sally Melville's Book 3: Color. I wanted to try Fair Isle knitting and this seemed pretty easy. Hence the name...Kiss. As in Keep it Simple. I have about 20 more rounds to do. I should be finished with this by mid week. Then it needs to be felted.
I managed to finish one Monkey Sock for the Swap. I will crank the other out after my purse is done.

My bag for the Big Bag KAL & Swap has been felted. Now I need to find some goodies to put in it.

I have many other projects in the que. Just not enough time to knit them all. I'll try to post more pic's later in the week.

It's been a while...

2008-04-07T07:13:00.006-04:00

but I have been working on a few things...
Here is the first half of Meagan's Skull Scarf. Illusion knitting is just too cool...I can't wait to start mine. I'll be using Hot Pink and Black for me.
Here is my finished and blocked scarf for my ISE6 Pal. I has originally started this a while back and decided to finish it for my pal. She likes purple. I hope she likes this scarf.

Here is Clapotis progress. I have 3 skeins of Lion and Lamb so I only did 5 rep's of the increase section vs 6. I think it will be plenty big enough for me.

And, last but not least, the yarn for my Monkey Sock Swap 4 pal arrived on Sat and knitting began on Sunday. This yarn is really soft. I hope to have the socks finished this week.

I will be felting the bag (shown below in an earlier post) this weekend. I'll post pic's next week.

Making progress

2008-03-25T06:56:00.002-04:00

Well, I've had a pretty productive weekend. Here is the progress on Danica. This is for ISE6. I'm at the halfway point. She's looking good so far. And...
I finished knitting the bag for the Big Bag KAL & Swap. All that's left to do now is the felting.

March socks are done!!!!

2008-03-22T19:25:00.002-04:00

Finally!!! My March socks are done! These took me longer than usual because I was working on other projects. But they are done, just in time for Easter. Which was why I picked this color for March anyway. Here's the stats:
Yarn: Claudia's Handpainted; Color: Jill's Pink; Pattern: a modified version of the Groovy pattern from Sock Pixie; #2 dpn's.
These colors remind me of Peeps. Now I'm off to finished my Big Bag Swap project, then I'll work on my ISE6 pal's scarf. I'm half way done with both. Stay tuned for pic's. Happy Easter everyone!

Monkey Sock Four Questionnaire

2008-03-21T09:01:00.002-04:00

Monkey Sock Swap Questionnaire
The Measurements
Shoe size: 7.5
Foot length in inches: 9 inches from back of heel to tip of big toe
Circumference: 8 inches

Yarn Preferences
What are your favorite colors? I like pinks, purples, blues, greens
What color clashes with your wardrobe? Orange, bright yellow
Do you prefer solids or variegated yarns? I like varigated, but am up for anything.
What are your favorite brand sock yarns? Yarn Love, Claudia Hand Painted, Dream in Color Smooshy, Lorna's Laces...I like them all really except for the Noro Sock yarn.
Is there a new sock yarn you really would like to try? Duet Sock Yarn

Cookie A. Patterns
List the patterns you do not have but would like to receive: Mona

Allergies
Do you have any allergies that your pal needs to know about? (animals, fiber, sensitivity to smoke etc.) None that I know of
Will you knitting be exposed to animals? 1 cat
Will you knitting be exposed to cigarette smoke? No

Shipping
What country do you live in? USA
Are you willing to ship outside your country? Sure

Much Ado About Knitting

2008-03-18T06:13:00.008-04:00

I've been a very busy girl...here is the start of my ISE6 pal's scarf. It's the Danica Scarf from knitty.com Winter 05 issue. I'm using Noro Silk Garden. So far, so good.

Here is my Math Geek Scarf from the Destination Alchemy book. I started this at my LYS, Crazy for Ewe, on Saturday. I'm using 2 skeins of Alchemy Silk Purse for this one. The color is called Sugar Mountain. This is some really nice yarn. It better be for the price.

I finished my One Skein Wonder. It turned out to be a 2.5 skein wonder. But that's ok because I really like the yarn and it fits great. I used Artyarns Supermerino for this one.

Getting caught up on Friday's Feast

2008-03-14T07:19:00.002-04:00

Feast One Hundred and Eighty-Three
March 14, 2008
Appetizer:
On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 as highest), how much do you like your own handwriting? 5
Soup:
Do you prefer baths or showers? Showers
Salad:
What was the last bad movie you watched? Scream (not sure which one)
Main Course:
Name something you are addicted to and describe how it affects your life. Knitting. It calms me down.
Dessert:
Which instrument is your favorite to listen to? guitar or violin
- - -
Feast One Hundred and Eighty Two
March 7th, 2008
Appetizer:
If you could be any current celebrity for one whole week, who would you want to be? Britney Spears (just kidding)
Soup:
On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being highest), how much do you enjoy talking on the phone? 5
Salad:
Name a charitable organization to which you have donated (or would like to). I have made and donated handmade blankets to Project Linus
Main Course:
What is a food you like so much you could eat it every single day for a month? Scrambled eggs
Dessert:
Have you or anyone in your family had the flu this year? No, not yet
- - -
Feast One Hundred & Eighty One
February 29th, 2008
Appetizer:
Who was the last person you hugged? My son
Soup:
Share a beauty or grooming trick or tip with us. I don't know any beauty tricks...trust me
Salad:
What does the color yellow make you think of? Sunshine
Main Course:
If you were to make your living as a photographer, what subject would your pictures revolve around? Yarn and nature
Dessert:
What was the longest book you ever read? The Gunslinger series by Stephen King
- - -

One Skein Wonder

2008-03-14T07:09:00.004-04:00

Here's my One Skein Wonder in progress. This will be a Two Skein Wonder when all is said and done. I'm using Artyarns Supermerino. I bought 3 skeins of this from Crazy for Ewe on Wed. It was on sale. I'm making a few modifications...using #9 needles vs #8. I don't want this to be to snug so I'm making it a little larger. I may make the sleeves a little longer too.
Here's a close up...I love this yarn and the colors are perfect. I'll post more pic's as progress is made.

Montego Bay Scarf...done!

2008-03-09T14:54:00.002-04:00

Hi All! Here are a couple of pic's of my finished Montego Bay Scarf. This was a really quick knit and I will be making more. Here's the stats: Pattern is from the Summer 2007 issue of Interweave Knits. Yarn is Handmaiden Sea Silk; colorway is Lily Pond; #8 needle; started 4 Mar; finished 9 Mar. Now I must go work on my March socks....I want to have them completed this week. Bye for now!

Sittin' by the dock of the bay...

2008-03-07T07:03:00.004-05:00

Montego Bay Scarf, that is...I decided to retreive this from the frog pond after a rather long hibernation. I wanted something that was mindless, but not too boring. And since this yarn was on the rather expensive side I thought I should at least finish it. Handmaiden Sea Silk...yummy. It will come in handy this summer when my office is 50 degrees and it's 100 degrees outside. I plan on making a couple more of these for presents using other yarns in my stash. Sock yarn...so I guess these would count as sock stash elimination...
A close up...

I also received the yarn for my Clapotis yesterday. I'll post more about that later. I joined the Big Bag KAL & Swap. Pal info goes out on Monday. I can't wait to get started. And the ISE6 info doesn't go out until Mar 17th. So, I'm patiently waiting on that too. Not like I don't have anything else to work on, though. I've kinda set the Market Square bag aside for now...and Lady E. is still waiting in the wings. I'm not sure if I want to frog her and start over on the right size needle...that's what I get for not ready the directions. Oh well....and I need to get into the groove on my Groovy socks for March. More later!

Package from my SITM Twice Pal!

2008-03-07T06:56:00.004-05:00

Hey everyone! Lookie what I received from my SITM Twice Pal! Lots of wonderful goodies and beautiful socks that fit perfectly! I even got Knitpicks Harmony #2 dpn's...I can't wait to cast on with these...thanks Jess! You're a great pal!
A close-up of my lovely pink and brown socks...

In other Knitting Knews: I sent my SITM package off last Friday and it has been delivered. I haven't heard anything from my pal yet.

The Big Bag KAL & Swap Questionaire

2008-03-05T07:49:00.002-05:00

Do you knit, crochet, or do both? For how long? Both...crochet for about 10 years & knit for about 7 years.
What other crafts do you do, if any? Cross-stitch, scrapbooking.
What are your favorite colors? Colors you loathe? Favorites are shades of pink, green, purple. I don't like really bright colors like neon orange or yellow.
Favorite yarn brands? Fiber types? Yarn you can't stand? I don't really have a favorite. I like Noro for felting and most socks yarns. I don't like yarn that sheds too much or is too "fluffy".
What is your favorite type of item to knit/crochet? I like to knit socks, scarves and bags
What kind of needles do you like? (i.e. circular, straight, metal, bamboo, etc.) bamboo dpns for socks, circular's for most everything else...bamboo or metal. I like the Knitpicks interchangeable's.
Any knitting tools you lack but crave? I can't think of anything right now.
Patterns you've been dying to get but haven't yet? I'd like to try some of the Noni bag patterns.
Do you drink coffee, tea, cocoa? Flavors you love/hate? I drink tea. I like mostly all flavors except Earl Grey.
Favorite sweets & snacks? Favorite sweets would be gummy bears. Favorite salty snack would be Cheddar Cheese Combos.
Any pets, kids, spouses? Spouses that act like pets or kids? (j/k) 1 cat, 1 son & a spouse. And yes, he does act like a kid.
Favorite things to knit/crochet for the above, if applicable? I have knit my son a couple of "skull caps".
What kinds of books do you like to read? Favorite authors or genres? I like mystery's and humor. Don't really have a favorite author.
Do you collect anything? (besides yarn! LOL!) I collect Cherished Teddies and other bears in general and magnets.
What, if any, are your non-craft related hobbies? Sudoku. And I like to bake occasionally.
Scents you adore? Scents that make you gag? I like lavender, lilac, and Christmas pine scent. I don't like any smell with vanilla in it.
What is your idea of a relaxing time? Knitting with my stitching friends, listening to music and a good cup of tea.
Oh yeah, are you on Ravelry and if so, care to share your Ravelry ID? My Ravelry ID is magnifiknitz.

March socks & Market Squares

2008-02-29T06:48:00.004-05:00

I decided that I liked Entrelac so much that I wanted to make myself a bag to carry my knitting around in...so I'm knitting a knitting bag. It's the Market Square bag from "Bags - a Knitter's dozen". I'm using 5 colors of Cascade 220 and it will be felted. I'll post more progress pics later.
And since March starts tomorrow here is the inspiration for my March socks...Peeps. Pink & yellow Peeps to go with my pink & yellow sock yarn for Easter. It's Claudia's Handpainted & the color is called "Jill's Pink". I'm going to use the "Groovy" sock pattern from Sockpixie...with a couple of modifications. I'll post more about that later.

In other Knitting Knews...I signed up for the ISE6. I already know what pattern I want to do...just waiting to get my pal's preferences to see what colors she likes/dislikes. Matchups don't don't go out until Mar 17, so I have a couple of weeks to finish the socks and work on the Market Squares bag...and I haven't forgot Lady E. I'll try to post some progress pics this weekend!

Happy Knitting!

Finished Booga Bag & Lady E progess

2008-02-26T07:19:00.004-05:00

Here is my finished Booga Bag! Felted, grommets added and poof! It's done and in use. I love this pattern!
There has been progress on Lady E. I worked on her this weekend. So far I have used 2 complete skeins on Kureyon...8 more to go.

In other Knitting Knews...I'm working on something that's been bouncing around in my head since I started Lady E. I'll post some pic's later if all turns out as expected. Stay tuned!

Lady E: The Beginning

2008-02-22T15:07:00.003-05:00

Here is the beginning of my Lady Eleanor. So far I've done 8 tiers. I think she looks pretty cool. I'm going to go knit now.

Booga bag #7

2008-02-21T08:21:00.002-05:00

Here is my Booga Bag #7. This one is for me! All that's left to do is the felting and the grommets. Yarn: Noro Kureyon #95. Started 15 Feb 08. Finished 18 Feb 08.
In other Knitting Knews: I just started my 1st full size Lady Eleanor Stole using Noro Silk Garden. I had previously played around with a scarf size Lady E., but I didn't like that yarn I was using for it. I'll post some progress pics and more details later. The Retro Redux Shrug is waiting patiently...I'm well over the half-way point on it.

My Booga Bag!

2008-02-16T16:14:00.002-05:00

I decided to make my Booga Bag this weekend so I can felt it when I go to my Mom's next weekend. Her washing machine felts really quick. I made six of these for gifts this past Christmas (see earlier posts) and held off on making mine. The retro redux shrug is coming along...I'll post some progress pic's later. I should have it completed by next weekend.

February Valentine Socks!

2008-02-13T07:09:00.006-05:00

Here they are! My Valentine Monkey's for February. Here's the stats:
Yarn: Yarn Love Elizabeth Bennett (from my stash); Color: Flirt
Started: Feb 1; Finished: Feb 12
Pattern: Monkey Socks by Cookie A. from knitty.com

These took me a little longer than normal because I started another project over the weekend...a Retro Redux Shrug from the Lace Style book. I'll post some progress pic's later.

Friday's Feast

2008-02-01T07:30:00.000-05:00

Appetizer:
What is your favorite kind of cereal? Capt Crunch w/crunch berries or Applejacks
Soup:
When was the last time you purchased something for your home, what was it, and in which room did it go? Curtains. My bedroom.
Salad:
What is the funniest commercial you’ve ever seen? can't think of any right now but the Chip's Ahoy cookie commercials
Main Course:
Make up a name for a company by using a spice and an animal (example: Cinnamon Monkey). Ginger Tiger
Dessert:
Fill in the blank: I haven’t __rollerskated____ since __1984____.

Friday's Feast

2008-01-25T10:08:00.000-05:00

Appetizer:
How many times per day do you usually laugh? Not nearly enough!
Soup:
What do your sunglasses look like? I don't normally wear sunglasses because my regular glasses get darker in the sun. I do wear a cheap pair of JLo looking sunglasses when I wear my contacts. However, I mostly wear the contacts on the rare occasion that I go out at night. So no need for sunglasses.
Salad:
You win a free trip to anywhere on your continent, but you have to travel by train. Where do you go? Oregon or Maine
Main Course:
Name one thing you consider a great quality about living in your town/city. It's small, for the time being.
Dessert:
If the sky could be another color, what color do you think would look best? I like the sky at sunrise and sunset when it's shades of pink & purple.

Pair #4 for January!

2008-01-24T07:06:00.000-05:00

Ta-da! Here they are! Pair #4 for January...the Jaywalkers are officially off the needles and on my feet. I started these on 18 Jan and finished on 23 Jan. I was planning on taking a break from sock knitting for the rest of January but I decided to try and crank out another pair before month end. I'm using Louet Gems in a solid color that I had in my stash and a pattern from More Sensational Knitted Socks. It's the first time I have done a pattern from this book. I'll post some progress pic's later! If I finish these before the end of January that will make 5 pairs in one month! All from my stash! woo-hoo

I've changed my mind...

2008-01-18T14:48:00.001-05:00

at least what little bit of it that I haven't lost. Anyway...the Sock It To Me! Colori yarn was not working with the Jaywalker pattern. And I really want to do the Jaywalkers...so I put it back in the que and picked this. Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in the Knit Happens colorway. I bought this yarn a couple of years ago. It was dyed for my LYS Knit Happens in Alexandria VA. If you're ever in the DC area stop by their shop in Old Town. Lots of cool stuff. I think this yarn is working much better.

Friday's Feast

2008-01-18T10:16:00.000-05:00

Appetizer:
What is your favorite beverage? Diet Pepsi with Lime. Although it's getting increasingly hard to find around here.
Soup:
Name 3 things that are on your computer desk at home or work. A small lamp, an air freshner, a couple of books.
Salad:
On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being highest), how honest do you think you are? 8
Main Course:
If you could change the name of one city in the world, what would you rename it and why? I have no clue.
Dessert:
What stresses you out? What calms you down? Work & worrying about my son stresses me out. Knitting calms me down.

I am on a roll!

2008-01-18T10:06:00.000-05:00

Here is my 3rd pair of socks for January! Yes, you read correctly, 3rd. These are Not So Plain Jane socks from STWC. I used Tofutsies #725 that was in my stash and #1 dpn's. I started these on 12 Jan and finished this morning. And...drumroll please...here is the next stash yarn to be picked. It's Sock It To Me! Collection Colori. I bought this a few years ago from Ebay. These 2 skeins are destined to be Jaywalkers & my 4th pair of socks for the month.

Package from my SITM Twice Pal

2008-01-15T06:56:00.000-05:00

Look what I received from my SITM Twice Pal! There's a knitting journal, a pair of Valentine socks, some jellybeans, lots of chocolate and 2 skeins of yarn. Pink sock yarn and light purple lace weight yarn. I've already got the wheels turning on a shawl. Thanks again sock pal!

2nd pair done!

2008-01-12T10:59:00.001-05:00

Here's my 2nd pair of socks for the year! They are for my SITM Twice pal. I used 2 skeins of Koigu #P837D that was in my stash and the Broadripple pattern from Knitty.com. I started these on 6 Jan and finished on 11 Jan.
And here is the lucky skein from my stash to be used next...#23. It's Tofutsies. I think I'm going to use the Not So Plain Jane free pattern from SWTC. I'll post progress pics later.

Friday's Feast

2008-01-11T06:41:00.000-05:00

Appetizer:
What is your middle name? Would you change any of your names if you could? If so, what would you like to be called? My middle name is Anne. I used to want to change my name, when I was younger. Although I don't remember what I wanted to be called.
Soup:
If you were a fashion designer, which fabrics, colors, and styles would you probably use the most? Cotton or something else that's easy to take care of. Dark colors. Not sure about the style.
Salad:
What is your least favorite chore, and why? Cleaning the toilet....need I say why?
Main Course:
What is something that really frightens you, and can you trace it back to an event in your life? Something happening to my son. See last Friday's post.
Dessert:
Where are you sitting right now? Name 3 things you can see at this moment. My desk. 1. My computer, 2. my teddy bear stuff on the wall of my partition, 3. my pink Starbucks coffee mug.

In Memory of Joe

2008-01-10T07:15:00.000-05:00

Today's post is in memory of my nephew, Joe. We miss you!

Joe Oliver

October 6, 1983 - January 10, 2007

THE BROKEN CHAIN
We little knew that morning that God was going to all your name,
In life we loved you dearly, in death we do the same.
It broke our hearts to lose you, you did not go alone,
For part of us went with you, the day God called you home.
You left us peaceful memories, your love is still our guide,
And though we cannot see you, you are always at our side.
Our family chain is broken, and nothing seems the same,
But as God calls us one by one, the chain will link again.
--Author Unknown

SITM Twice Contest

2008-01-07T06:34:00.001-05:00

Five things I would like to accomplish in 2008:
1. I would like to be less of a worrier.
2. I want to do more charity knitting.
3. I want to learn how to knit socks from the toe up.
4. I want to learn intarsia knitting.
5. I want to use as much of my stash yarn as possible.

There, that wasn't so bad. Hopefully I will be able to stick with it. So far the only one that I have accomplished is #5. But it is only 7 days into the year.

January socks off the needles & SITM Twice Yarn

2008-01-04T20:05:00.000-05:00

Here are my January Winter Sky Footies. I used Lorna's Lace's Shepherd Sock in the Jeans colorway, #2 dpn's and my own pattern. I started these on Jan 1 and finished on Jan 4.
Here is the yarn I picked out for my SITM Twice pals socks. I'll be using Koigu KPPM and the Broadripple pattern. The yarn is from my stash so technically these can be included in the Socks from Stash KAL.

1st Fridays Feast of 2008

2008-01-04T07:38:00.000-05:00

Here's the questions from fridaysfeast.com. Check the website out. It's pretty cool. I'm really going to try to post these every Friday. It's interesting to look back at your answers later.
Appetizer:
When was the last time you received a surprise in the mail, and what was it? My last surprise was a package from my Xmas Around the World Swap Pal. (see earlier post)
Soup:
If you could have a summer and/or winter home, where would you want it to be? I used to want a home near the beach...but in the last few years I've been leaning toward the mountains. Shenandoah to be exact.
Salad:
Pick one: pineapple, orange, banana, apple, cherry. Cherry
Main Course:
Describe the nicest piece of clothing that you own. I couple of dresses that I wore in weddings.
Dessert:
If you could forget one whole day from your life, which day would you choose to wipe from your memory? Not sure about this one. Probably the day my son was hit by a car. He was 5 then. Luckily the only injury was a broken leg. But it was right in front of my house and even though I didn't see it happen I can still hear him scream...15 years later it still wakes me up sometimes. I think I have post traumatic stress disorder. Self diagnosed, of course.

Almost time for socks!

2007-12-31T11:12:00.000-05:00

It's almost time to start the sock knitting again. Here's the yarn for my January socks. Lorna's Laces in the Jeans colorway. I only have one skein so they will be footies. I picked this for January because the colors remind me of the winter sky. I'll start these tomorrow. These will be for the SAM5 kal.
I went through my sock yarn stash this morning. I have enough stash to make 30 pairs of socks. I ramdomly assigned each skein (or pair of skeins) a number. I put the numbers in a bag and will ask someone to pull a number out. This will be the yarn that I use for the Socks from Stash kal. I'll keep going until I use up all the yarn. This is the plan. Now for the fine print. Subject to change without notification. And anything else I want to throw in.

I wish everyone a Happy New Year. I will most likely sleep the New Year in, unless I stay up and knit. That seems like a wonderful way to start the New Year. At least to me!

Sh*tty Kitty says "I was just waiting for the paper to be thrown all over the floor, the heck with the presents!"

Round n' round

2007-12-30T17:39:00.001-05:00

Here's my progress on the Pinwheel. It's finally off the needles. I picked up the stitches for one of the sleeves. I'm hoping they go fast. I'm not planning on going anywhere for New Years so I should be able to get this close to finished. I'll be starting my January socks and my Socks from Stash club socks after that. I have to start my SITM Twice pals socks too. I'll post a pic of my January sock yarn tomorrow and another progress shot of Pinwheel.

Christmas Eve Knews

2007-12-24T10:08:00.000-05:00

Hi All! Here is a pic of Sh*tty Kitty's Christmas present. It has a ball that spins around the circle and some catnip in the center. I think this is the most exercise she's had in a while.
As promised, here are some progress pic's of the Pinwheel...

I must say that I had some trouble understanding the sleeve instructions. Thank goodness for Google. Apparently others have had the same issue. I found an easier way to do the armhole on 'knittingnoob's blog. Thank you knittingnoob!!!!! I was about ready to have a meltdown. Below is a pic of the "afterthought heel" type of armhole. You use waste yarn, knit the proper # of stitches, in this case 30, and the yo, then turn and knit back. Then you just start knitting again with your working yarn. Ingenious! When you're ready to do the sleeves you just pick up the stitches on each side with a dpn and pull the waster yarn out. I haven't gotten that far yet, but I doesn't sound to earth shattering. I'll post more pics as I go along. The light pink yarn is the waste yarn.

Anyway, on to other things...here is a pic of the stocking I cross stitched for my son, many years ago. He's going to be 20 in 2 days...it makes me really sad. I cry a lot. At very inappropriate times. Anything can set me off...the radio, the tv etc. Every little blond hair boy I see. I'm not sad that he has grown into a decent, respectable young man, but I miss my little boy. Who wanted to be with me. Now I'm lucky if I see him once a week. Used to be that when people said that time goes by fast I didn't get it. Well...it does...so don't blink (as Kenny Chesney so appropriately sings). Sorry...didn't mean to go down that road.

Ok...now to the Booga Bag brigade...here is 5 of the 6 that I made for Christmas gifts. I still have to make one for myself. I have the yarn, just have to do it.

I will try to post another progress pic of the Pinwheel later today or tomorrow. I'll be up late tonight for Midnight Mass, so hopefully I will get a lot of knitting done. Merry Christmas to All! Stay safe!

Xmas Swap Package & other Knews

2007-12-22T09:49:00.000-05:00

Look what I received from my Xmas Around the World Swap Pal! I love everything, especially the scarf! The colors are perfect!

I must say the Linda did a beautiful job on this Chevron. Thanks Linda!

My BFF Knitting Pal Anna made this for me for Xmas...she did a most excellent job. I made her Booga Bag. I'll post some pic's later.

Here's my progress on the Pinwheel jacket from Elann.com. I'll post more pic's as the colors are added. I haven't gotten to the part where you split for the sleeves yet. I'm a little nervous. We'll see how that goes.

My baking is done and candy is made and packaged. Most of the presents are wrapped, just a few odds and ends left. I still have to do the grommets on the 5 remaining Booga Bags. I'll post a completed picture later. Merry Christmas to All!

Charlotte's Web Shawl

2007-12-14T06:37:00.001-05:00

Ta-da!!! Charlotte is done! I must say that this took not just a vigorous blocking, but a strenuous one. I may make another one in the future, using darker colors. Too many other projects rolling around in my head right now, though. I'm trying to figure out a good way to use up my small mountain of sock yarn leftovers. I think I may make a scarf with mitered squares. That way I could just add on more squares as I use up my stash. Maybe. I'm working on the Somona Shawl now. I'll post a progress pic later today or tomorrow. Got some baking to do tomorrow as well.

Happy Knitting!

Last pair for the year

2007-12-12T06:07:00.000-05:00

Here is my last pair of socks for 2007. Another pair of footies using one skein of Lorna's Laces Envy. That brings my total since May to 13. I have a couple of things I want to work on, the Cropped Raglan Sweater from Lionbrand and the Sonoma Shawl from Oat Couture. Plus I have numerous other projects in mind...just not enough time to do them all. I will resume sock knitting in January with my Sock of the Month socks (see earlier posts) and the Knit Socks from your Stash knit along that I joined. This should knock the mountain down a bit. I have also joined the Sock It To Me Twice Swap, so I'll be knitting for that too. I'll be posting pic's of my progress on the sweater and shawl, and whatever else I start.
Happy Knitting to All!

December Footies

2007-12-10T06:22:00.000-05:00

Here is my latest pair of socks: Footies in a pattern that I made from a couple of different patterns in Lorna's Laces Tickled Pink.

Knitting Knews & a Surreal Experience

2007-12-10T06:05:00.001-05:00

Hi All!!! How's it going? I've been busy this Holiday season...got a lot accomplished so far.

Here is my sock yarn for my "A Year In Socks" thing. Starting at the bottom right we have:
Jan. Lorna's Laces Shep Sock in Jeans; Feb. red Koigu (don't know the #); Mar. Stonebarn Fibers in Wintermint; Apr. Claudia's HP in Jill's Pink; May is Great Adirondacks Soxie in Seamist; June is Trekking XXL #126; Jul is Fortissima Colori #1776; Aug is Tofutsies #728; Sep is Knitpicks Sock Garden in Pansy; Oct is Sock Pixie's Halloween Night; Nov is Araucania Ranco Multy #306 and last but not least for Dec is Socks That Rock Lghtwght in Jingle Bell Rock. I will explain during each month why I picked each yarn...some are self explanatory, others are not. However, in my twisted mind it makes perfect sense. There is a method to my maddness...most of the time.

Here is a picture of the Leaf Lace shawl that I made for my Grandmother. I'll be shipping it off along with Pap's socks (see earlier post) sometime this week.

Here is a pic of Surreal, only the best band around. Saw them Sat night and as always they put on a hell of a show. And they're nice guys too!

Pap's Socks & other Knews

2007-12-01T18:25:00.000-05:00

Here are the socks for my Grandpa. I call him Pap. I wasn't trying to make the stipes match but somehow they did...cool. This is the Men's sock pattern from Lionbrand. I used Moda Dea Sassy Stripe yarn. I blocked the shawl I made for my Grandma today. I'll post a pic tomorrow. I still have to block Charlotte. She's for my Mom. I started on my December socks. And put some decorations outside, haven't powered them up yet. Got the tree out of the attic and will put it up tomorrow. I'm tired now. Think I'll got work on my socks.

Stayed tuned.......

10 things that I'm grateful for:

2007-11-26T07:08:00.000-05:00

Here are the 10 things that I am grateful for from the SITM Twice Swap. I know that I'm late. This was due up by Nov 24th, but I'll post anyway.
1. My son
2. My family
3. My friends
4. My faith
5. My cat
6. Good health
7. My job
8. Every new day
9. My ability to be crafty
10. Yarn

ISE5 Scarf!

2007-11-26T07:03:00.000-05:00

I received my ISE5 scarf from Amy "sock dork"! It is beautiful! The picture is not good so you will have to trust me. I love it and all the goodies that came with it. Thanks Amy!

In other Knitting Knews: I have finished 6 Booga Bags. All that's left to do it put the grommets in. I still have to block Charlotte and the Leaf Lace Shawl. I made a pair for wristwarmers for a co-worker and started on a pair of socks for my Grandpa. I have finished the socks for my Grandma. I'm going to make a hat for a friend and that will be it for presents. I still need to start my December socks.

Sock It To Me Twice Questions

2007-11-18T07:02:00.000-05:00

The Questions
1. How long have you been knitting? Do you consider yourself beginner, intermediate, advanced? I've been knitting for about 10 years. I would consider myself intermediate.
2. How long have you been knitting socks? About 3 years
3. What are your favorite fibers to work with? Wool & wool blends
4. What is your favorite color? I like all colors...except for neon colors. I would say that my favorite's are in the pink/purple/blue range, put I'm up for anything.
5. What are your current WIPs (works in progress)? I'm currently working on Booga Bag's for Christmas gifts.
6. Name your favorite yarns, (brand, fibers, colors, etc.). Socks That Rock lightweight, Claudia Handpainted, Cider Moon. I have a list of colors on my sidebar.
7. What are some yarns/fibers that you stay away from. Acrylic, unless I'm making blankets for charity. That way they can be washed without worry.
8. What is your family situation? (Married, kids, pets?) Married 22 years, one 20 year old son & 1 cat, who is the ruler of the house.
9. Name some of your hobbies. Besides knitting I like to crochet, read mystery/thriller books (Stephen King, Patricia Cornwell), and I like to bake.
10. Name some of your favorite movies? Nightmare Before Christmas, The Green Mile, The Sound of Music
11. Do you like to read? Yep see above...not much on romance novels though
12. Do you collect anything? I collect Teddy Bears and magnets. I have about 300 Cherished Teddies in my collection
13. Do you own an iPod or mp3 player? mp3 player
14. What are your favorite type of knitting needles? Bamboo dpn's for sock knitting.
15. What knitting notion could you not live without? I can't live without anything that has to do with knitting, or I guess I should say that I wouldn't want too.
16. Who are some of your favorite designers? I don't really pick patterns by the designer. If I like it I try it.
17. Do you subscribe to any magazines? (Knitting or otherwise.) No
18. When is your birthday? August 29
19. Do you have a "wishlist", (on Ravelry, Froogle, or Amazon)? I have a wishlist on my blog sidebar
20. Do you have a Ravelry ID? No
21. If you had a sheep, what would you name it? Sox

I got my Monkey's!

2007-11-10T11:47:00.001-05:00

Here are my Monkey Socks that my swap pal Heather sent to me. They came all the way across the U.S. from California. I love them. And she sent me a CD with 3 Cookie A. patterns. I love my package! Thanks Heather!

Friday's Feast

2007-11-09T06:56:00.000-05:00

I haven't done this in a while...but here goes anyway:

Appetizer:
Which snack do you like to get when you go to the movies? Popcorn
Soup:
What year did you start using the internet? Can't remember
Salad:
What is your first name in Pig Latin? argieay (?)
Main Course:
Name something you are picky about. Yarn
Dessert:
Fill in the blanks: I knit socks yesterday and I knit socks today.

November Sockamania Socks started

2007-11-06T07:09:00.000-05:00

Here is the start of my November socks for Sockamania. It's a ripple pattern. I really like ripple patterns. I'm using Koigu KPPPM #326. More pic's as progess continues.

My 1st Booga Bag!

2007-11-06T06:29:00.001-05:00

In the Knews: Here is a picture of my 1st Booga Bag. It turned out beautifully! Done in Noro Kureyon #170. I used 2 full skeins and a little of the 3rd. This is the 1st thing that I have ever felted. I was a little scared. One trip through the wash on the hot/cold cycle is all it took. My DH helped me with the grommets. I may try to find something to put in the bottom, just to make it a little more stable. I started this on Thursday evening and finished it on Friday evening. It's a quick knit. This one is a Christmas gift for my SIL. I have 4 more planned for Christmas, including 1 for me.

In other Knitting Knews...I have started my Sockamania November socks....more later.

November socks & Sunday picture

2007-11-04T14:25:00.000-05:00

Here are my November socks...I call them my "Autumnal Equinox Socks" Finished in time for Daylight Savings. The yarn is from Sock Pixie. It didn't have a name. It's just a regular k2,p2 rib sock.

Here is my picture from Mt. Aventine. Not too much change going on. We had a couple of hard frosts so maybe the next picture will show more color change.

Knitting Knews: I finished and felted a Booga Bag while I was at my Mom's this weekend. I'll be posting a picture soon. Must make more...these will be Xmas gifts.

Sunday picture

2007-10-21T15:04:00.000-04:00

Here is a picture I took at Mount Aventine. It overlooks the Potomac River. I am going to take a picture from the same spot every Sunday to show the progression of the leaves changing. It doesn't look like they are changing too much yet.
In the Knitting Knews: I finished my ISE5 scarf, started crocheting my Xmas pal's scarf. Yes, I said crocheting. I wanted to mix things up a bit. I'm still working on my November socks and plotting my next pair. Well, I'm off to do some more knitting. :-)

I have a plan...really I do...

2007-10-18T06:47:00.000-04:00

Ok...so here's the plan. I'm going to knit a pair of "theme" socks every month for the next 12 months (or longer). Starting with my Halloween socks for Oct. I'm working on Novembers, something Autumnal, then Dec (Xmas), Jan (wintery), Feb (Valentines) and so on. I have all the yarn for each month in my stash except for Jan (I have something, but I'm not sure if this is what I want for Jan), Sept and next Dec. I will pick a pattern randomly, whatever the yarn and I feel like at the time. This is not to say that I will only be knitting one pair of socks per month. I will still knit other socks besides the "theme of the month" socks. As well as whatever else strikes my fancy. This is the plan....and I'm sticking to it. Ok, now here's the real kicker...are you ready? I will purchase the yarn for the months that I don't have before Dec 31 2007. I will not purchase any more yarn after that, unless it's for a swap and I don't have any yarn that my swapee would like. Trust me...I have enough sock yarn in my stash to keep me busy for the next century. This is going to be hard, I know. But the sense of accomplishment from knocking my stash down will keep me going. I hope. We'll see.
On to other Knitting Knews...I'm working on my ISE5 pal's scarf. A scarf for my BF's Birthday in Nov. It's the Soho Scarf from Exquisite Little Knits. I have the yarn poised and ready for my Xmas Around the World pal and I'm going to make the Red Rock Bag from Berroco using some Noro Silk Garden from my stash. And my November socks are on the needles. And I signed up the the Sock It To Me Twice swap.
I'm going to try to post some pic's of my theme of the month yarns and I will keep the blog updated as to me progress. Happy knitting to all!

SITM Package Arrived!

2007-10-12T19:07:00.000-04:00

Look what I received from my Sock It To Me pal today! Beautiful Hedera socks made with Fleece Artist Sea Wool. They fit like a glove and I love the color. I also received a skein of Zen String, a chocolate bar, a Halloween spider with a truffle, a go knit pouch and some chocolate lip balm. Thanks Christina...you are wonderful!!

In other Knitting Knews...the ISE5 scarf is halfway done.I frogged my Sockamania socks. I'm going to restart with some autumn colored sock yarn. I'll post some pics later! Happy Knitting To All!

October Socks and other Knews

2007-10-07T17:14:00.000-04:00

Here are my latest socks...done for Halloween. I used Claudia's Handpainted in Sherbet and Ink. The pattern is Broadripple. I started these on Sep 28th and finished on Oct 3rd. Now I'm off to find something for my Thanksgiving socks.
In other Knitting Knews...I've started on my ISE5 pals scarf...it's coming along nicely, and I've got the yarn for my Xmas Swap pal's scarf, which I will start as soon as I finished my ISE5 pals scarf. I've sent off my Sock It To Me pals package and I will be sending my Monkey Pals package this week. Busy, busy, busy....

Mossy Hollow Monkeys

2007-09-23T12:36:00.000-04:00

Here is my latest pair of socks...Monkeys done with Misty Mountain Farm's Jubliee. The color is Mossy Hollow...hence, the Mossy Hollow Monkeys. On to the next pair. Hint: it's something for Halloween...

Broadripples

2007-09-19T06:30:00.000-04:00

Here is my latest pair of socks. They are Broadripples from Knitty.com. I used Claudia's Handpainted in Freesia. Started on 9 Sep and finished on 14 Sep in the car on the way to Ohio. This pattern fly's off the needles. I finished sock #1 in a day, which is fast for me. As for current issues: I've finished one Monkey sock for the swap which has to be mailed by the end of Oct and have been gathering Monkey stuff to send along. I'm almost ready to send my Sock It To Me pals package which has to be mailed by the end of Sep. I'm almost done with my cross stitch pic for a baby shower that has to be framed & mailed by the end of Sep. I joined the ISE5. And last but not least, I'm waiting patiently for my Sock Pixie order so I can start my Oct socks (Halloween socks).

Wednesday ramblings

2007-09-05T06:32:00.000-04:00

Hi All! I've been a busy little girl this past weekend! I finished my nephews cross stitch picture and bought the mat and frame for it, started and have gotten pretty far along on another cross stitch for a gift for a baby shower next month and I am almost finished with one Monkey sock...whew! And I finished Diane Mott Davidson's new book and started a book that I checked out from the Library which I am almost finished with too. I will post some pics tomorrow... hopefully. Bye for now!

Christmas Around the Word Knitter's Swap Questions

2007-09-02T12:22:00.000-04:00

Here is my questionarre for the Christmas Around the World Swap...I can't wait to get my partner!
1. Are you religious? Yes, I'm Catholic
2. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider yourself a Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced? I've been knitting for around 10 years. I would consider myself Intermediate
3. Do you have any other hobbies besides knitting? I like to cross stitch and read
4. Favorite color(s)? pinks, purples, blues & greens
5. Do you collect anything? I collect Cherished Teddies and magnets
6. Are you allergic to any fibers or animals? Nope
7. Do you have any pets? I have one cat, or should I say she has me?
8. Coffee, Tea, or Hot Chocolate? Tea 1st, then Hot Chocolate
9. Cookies or Sweets? Like them both
10. Do you knit socks? Yes, all the time
11. If not socks then what? (tell us about your favorite knits) If I'm not working on a sock, it would be a scarf
12. Do you put up a Christmas tree? If not then what do you do? Yes. I put up a little (4 ft) tree. 13.Favorite holiday treats? Homemade Spice cookies
14.Favorite holiday smells? I like the Christmas tree smell
15. Do you celebrate Christmas in a traditional or unconventional way? Please elaborate. I guess it would be traditional. Go to Midnight mass, get up in the morning & open gifts, ham & turkey for dinner, go visit family and friends
16. What are your favorite holiday traditions? Putting up the Christmas tree, baking cookies
17. Finish the sentence: “For me Christmas is all about....” Family and friends
18. If you were a Christmas ornament you would be…….? a Teddy Bear or a snowflake
19. What was your favorite gift you've ever received? Or given? My favorite gifts that I have received are anything that has to do with knitting, since I do this all the time. And I guess my favorite things to give are the gifts that I've made
20. When do you start your Christmas? I decorate the 1st weekend in December
21. Do you send Christmas cards? Do you make them or buy them? Yes, I send cards. I wish I had time to make them, but I buy them
22. What is your favorite Christmas dish? Corn pudding & my Mom's mashed potatoes
23. Carolers are at your door. What do you do? Give them some cookies that I made
24. When do you open presents? Christmas eve or Christmas morning? Christmas day 25. Do you celebrate with family or friends or both? Both

Still here...

2007-08-28T06:34:00.000-04:00

Hi all! I'm still here...and I have been busy. I finished my Sock It To Me Pal socks, started on my Monkey Sock pal socks, almost finished a pair of ankle socks for me and started working on an old cross-stitch project from a year or so ago. I'm not posting a pic of the Sock It To Me socks or the Monkey's in progress because I don't want my pals to see. I'm not that clever at being anonymous. I'm waiting on my pal info for the Christmas Around the World Swap and I joined the Sockamania KAL. I'm also anxiously awaiting for the International Scarf Exchange 5 to start. I have joined so many KAL's and swaps this summer...this is what happens when your kid grows up and you now have, in the words of Styx, "to much time on my hands". However, I don't have enough time to do what I want...which is either 1. knit, 2. read, 3. cross stitch. The latter of which I used to do all the time...until I got bit by the knitting bug. Oh, and I guess I have to work too...since that is what pays for all 3 of the above. And do housework. And sleep. And eat. As you can see, at least I have my priorities straight.
I will however post some pic's of my ankle socks and the cross stitch...stayed tuned.

1st pair of Monkey Socks!

2007-08-19T14:29:00.000-04:00

Here is my 1st pair of completed Monkey's! I started these on Jul 27 & finished on 17 Aug. I used Tofutsies and #2 dpn's. This is such a neat pattern! I have already started on my 2nd pair for the Monkey sock swap.

A surprise from my SITM Pal!

2007-08-19T14:23:00.000-04:00

Look what I got from my Sock It To Me Pal! Some really neat stitch markers and a button...way cool. Thanks SITM Pal!

Making Progress

2007-08-17T07:46:00.000-04:00

Well, I finished the socks for my Sock it to me Pal. I'm not sure if I should post a picture or not. It's supposed to be a secret. I did the Monkey socks. They turned out really cool. I started the next pair of Monkey's for my Monkey swap pal this morning. My Sock it to me Pal sent me some really cool stitch markers. I haven't had a chance to post a picture yet, but I will this weekend. Thank you to my Sock Pal! I really like them! I'm off to do some "monkey-ing around".

Friday's Feast #156

2007-08-17T07:41:00.000-04:00

Appetizer:
Describe your laundry routine. Do you have a certain day when you do it all, or do you just wash whatever you need for the next day? I do laundry on Tuesday's and Saturdays
Soup:
In your opinion, what age will you be when you’ll consider yourself to truly be old? Mentally old: 70 ish, physically old: now
Salad:
What is one of your goals? Is it short-term, long-term, or both? I would like to own a yarn store so I guess it would be both long and short-term
Main Course:
Name something unbelievable you’ve seen or read lately. Can't think of anything in particular
Dessert:
On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how happy are you today? 5

Fridays Feast...a little late

2007-08-14T06:36:00.000-04:00

Appetizer:
What is your favorite kind of pie? Lemon meringue or cherry
Soup:
Name something that made you smile this week. Brandon, the psychotic intern
Salad:
What do you do to cool off when the weather is hot and humid? Stay in the air conditioning and knit
Main Course:
You receive $1,000 in the mail with a letter that says you can only use the money to redecorate one room in your home. Which room do you pick, and what do you buy to spruce it up? My bedroom. Buy new curtains, sheets and comforter and a four-post bed
Dessert:
Fill in the blank: My _boss_says _to work_, but I __want to knit_.

Monkey Sock Swap Three Questionnaire

2007-08-07T13:57:00.000-04:00

I've joined yet another sock swap...the Monkey Sock Swap! The swap website is http://monkey-sock-swap.blogspot.com. You can sign up until 31 Aug. and the swap will be between 1 Sep and 15 Oct. Here's the questionnaire:

Monkey Sock Swap THREE Questionnaire

The basics:Do you consider yourself a beginning sock knitter, an intermediate, or have you been doing this so long you could probably knit a pair in your sleep? Intermediate

The measurements:
Shoe Size: 7 to 7.5
Foot circumference: 8.5 in around ball of foot
Foot length: 8.5 in from big toe to heel

Yarn Preferences:
What colors do you love? I like pinks, purples and blues in any shade
Do you prefer solids or variegated? verigated
Do you prefer wool, cotton or acrylic yarn? wool
What colors would you never wear? bright orange (unless it's black & orange for Halloween)

What are your favorite brands of yarn? Lorna's Laces, Socks That Rock Lightweight...who am I kidding? I like ALL sock yarn!

Are there any new brands you would like to try? Cider Mill Glacier, Crown Mountain Farms Sock Hop

Cookie A. Patterns:
Which of her patterns have you already knit? The Monkey

Which pattern(s) would you like to knit and don’t already own? Flicker, Pomatomus

Other pertinent information:
Would you be willing to have an international Monkey Pal or do you prefer one in the US? International would be ok

Do you have any allergies? No

Will your knitting be exposed to smoke or animals? just a cat

Are you on Ravelry yet? If you don’t mind having new friends, what is your Ravelry name? I am not on Ravelry

Friday's Feast #154

2007-08-03T12:12:00.000-04:00

Appetizer:
On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being highest, how polite are you? 8
Soup:
What was the last thing that made you laugh out loud? Last nights rerun of AFV
Salad:
Who is your favorite cartoon character? Wil E. Coyote
Main Course:
Tell about the funniest teacher you ever had. Can't think of one.
Dessert:
Complete this sentence: I strongly believe that what goes around comes around.

One down, one to go!

2007-07-27T10:28:00.000-04:00

I know I haven't posted any FO's lately, but that doesn't mean that I haven't been working. I finished the first Baby Shrug and Socks last week. I still have one more set to make. Both babies are girls and will be here in November. I think I'll make a hat to go with each if I have enough yarn left over. These patterns are in the "Simply Baby" book by Debbie Bliss. I used the yarn specified in the instructions, but I added the stripes in the ribbing on the shrug to match the socks. I think they turned out really cute. Now off to work on the other one!

Friday's Feast #153

2007-07-27T10:13:00.000-04:00

Appetizer:
Describe a toy you remember from your childhood. My Barbie's and all the junk that Barbie just had to have.
Soup:
On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being highest) how observant are you? 8
Salad:
Where would you rather be at this very moment? Anywhere that it is raining.
Main Course:
When was the last time you learned something new? Yesterday
Dessert:
Fill in the blank: I have no clue but I haven’t figured out what to put here.

Friday's Feast #152

2007-07-20T07:15:00.000-04:00

Appetizer:
On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being highest) how much do enjoy watching sports on television? The only sport I enjoy watching on TV is Figure Skating.
Soup:
If you could completely memorize any one work of fiction, which one would you pick? Not sure.
Salad:
What is your favorite breakfast food? Scrambled eggs and bacon.
Main Course:
Name something fun you can do for less than $10.00. Eat at McDonalds (barely). If you can consider that fun.
Dessert:
How long does it usually take you to fall asleep? usually about 30 minutes.

Friday's Feast

2007-07-13T11:02:00.000-04:00

Appetizer:
What is your favorite fruit? bananas
Soup:
Who is someone you consider as a great role model? Mother Theresa
Salad:
If you were to spend one night anywhere within an hour of your home, where would you choose? The White House
Main Course:
Name something you do too often. Knit
Dessert:
Fill in the blank: I really like to knit because it keeps me from hurting people.

Friday's Feast Ponderings

2007-07-09T10:52:00.000-04:00

I found these questions on fridaysfeast.com. I thought it would be fun to post them. I've got two weeks worth...I'm going to try to post these every Friday. It's funny, some of them you know the answer right off the bat and other's you really have to ponder.

Appetizer:
How many pieces of jewelry do you wear most days? 2, an Alexandrite/blue topaz ring and a necklace with a hummingbird charm
Soup:
What is your favorite instrumental song? I have 3...Pachelbel's Canon and Christmas Eve Sarajevo by TSO and The Cliffs of Dover by Eric Johnson
Salad:
Who has a last name that you like? Jon Bon Jovi
Main Course:
Name a popular movie you’ve never seen. Die Hard (all of them)
Dessert:
Fill in the blank: Nothing makes me _drool_like _a yarn store.

Appetizer:
Name a funny habit you have. I really have too many "funny" habits to list. I'm a little superstitious so I guess picking up my feet when I cross railroad tracks.
Soup:
If you could instantly know how to play a musical instrument, which one would you pick? The Violin
Salad:
How long is your hair? Below my shoulders
Main Course:
When was the last time you forgave someone, and who was it? I really don't hang on to things, so I guess the last time someone hurt me bad enough that I felt I needed to forgive was 3 years ago and I probably forgave about 2 years ago. The initials are A.B.
Dessert:
What is your favorite kitchen appliance? I mostly bake so I would have to say my Bread Maker or my mixer.

Christmas in July Socks

2007-07-06T05:57:00.000-04:00

Here they are....my "Christmas in July" socks! I used a basic sock pattern, Knitpicks Sock Garden in Hollyberry and #2 dpn's. I started these on June 30 and finished them on July 5.

Questions for Sock Swap KAL

2007-07-05T13:35:00.000-04:00

Here are my responses to the questionaire for the Sock Swap...

What are your foot measurements? My shoe size is 7.5, length from heel to top of big toe is 8.5" and circumference is 8.5".
How long have you been knitting? I've been knitting for about 6 years. How would you rate your experience? Intermediate
What is your favorite color? My favorite color would be anything in the pink or purple color range. Your least favorite color? Bright oranges and yellows.
Do you have a favorite fiber? Wool What type? Merino
Do you have any allergies to certain fibers? No allergies
Do you have an Amazon, or other type of, wishlist? I don't have a wishlist
What techniques, if any, would you like to learn? I'm going to try making socks using something other than a basic pattern, like Jaywalkers or Monkeys.
Do you have a sweet tooth? Yes, I like Raisinetts, chocolate covered gummy bears & juicy pear and very cherry Jelly Belly Jelly Beans. What are your favorite snacks? See above
What is your family situation? I'm married and have a 19 year old son and 1 cat (pic's of her are on my blog)
Do you prefer straight or circular needles? I prefer dpn's for socks, and circ's for most everything else. Metal, plastic or wood? Wood
Besides socks, what are your favorite items to knit? Scarves, lace...things that do not require too much finishing.
Is there a pattern, (sock or otherwise), that you are dying to try? Jaywalkers
Do you like to read? Yes, I read a lot. What are you reading currently? Right now I'm reading the "Diana Cronicles".
Do you collect music? No...I mostly listen to the radio or my CD Player
What kind of music do you listen to? I like 80's rock, like Def Leppard, Journey, Guns n Roses...that kind of stuff.
Is there anything you collect? Teddy Bears and magnets
What are your hobbies, aside from knitting? Gardening, scrapbooking (a little), baking
Are you participating in any other swaps or knit alongs? Yes, the Chevron scarf KAL, ISE4, and a few others.
Do you have a favorite scent? Lilac and pine (like the Christmas tree smell)
When is your birthday? My birthday is August 29th...1967

More socks!

2007-07-02T06:42:00.000-04:00

Here is the latest addition to the sock family. This is some yarn I got from Ebay.
Started June 24
Finished June 30

Another pair of socks...

2007-06-25T07:03:00.000-04:00

Here is the latest installment to my 2007 sock knitting quest. This is a basic pattern, again...
I used Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock and #2 dpns. The color is Childsplay (I think).

The start of a Chevron

2007-06-21T07:06:00.000-04:00

Here she is....the start of a Chevron Scarf. I joined the Chevron Scarf KAL. The yarn is Fleece Artist Merino Sock yarn, colors are Origin and Rainforest. I really like this pattern. It's easy to memorize and you don't need to look at the pattern after the 1st couple of rows. It's good for watching CSI re-runs.

ISE4 Scarf has arrived!

2007-06-16T17:39:00.000-04:00

The mail lady brought my ISE4 Scarf today! It came all the way from Canada. I love it! My Pals name is Pat and she has done a wonderful job! She also sent me 2 skeins of Manos del Uruguay yarn, color 108. It's shades of brown and black. I will be making a scarf with this yarn for sure! I also got some other goodies, chocolate, a magnet and some pins. I can't wait for ISE5!

Completed Socks!

2007-06-15T07:10:00.000-04:00

Here is a pic of the socks that I'm sending to my Mom for her birthday. I used some KnitPicks Simple Stripes that I had in my stash. I think the color is called Vineyard. Pattern is a Basic top down sock.

Here is a pic of the socks that I just finished...

I used some more KnitPicks Simple Stripes that I had in my stash and a Basic top down sock pattern...these are for me. I think the color is called Sweet Tarts....

See I have been busy...

I'm still here...

2007-06-14T07:36:00.001-04:00

I can't believe that's it's been over a month since I have posted anything! I haven't been slacking off though! I have finished 2 pairs of socks and started on another pair this morning. I'll post some pics tonight or tomorrow....stayed tuned.

"Mini" Lady Eleanor

2007-05-02T07:17:00.000-04:00

Here's some pictures of my "Mini" Lady Eleanor Stole from Scarf Style. I don't have enough of this yarn (Patons SWS) in my stash to make the full size version...so I'm making it scarf size. It's good practice since I do want to make the full size stole with Noro Silk Garden...got to save up some $$$ first.

More progress on Charlotte & another butterfly

2007-04-24T19:03:00.000-04:00

Here is the latest update on Charlotte #1. I'm halfway through color #4. Color #5 is at the top.

And here's yet another Butterfly picture. I guess you can tell that I like butterflies. I have two of them on my back...tattoo's that is...and a dragonfly.

Nature shots

2007-04-21T19:17:00.000-04:00

Here's my Lilac bush. I was taking a picture of the flowers and this butterfly must have wanted his picture taken too. Turned out kinda pretty.

This is Moby. He's one of about 15 fish in our pond. I inherited him from my Mom when she moved a few years ago. You really can't tell from the picture but Moby is about 12 inches long.

Charlotte #2

2007-04-21T19:14:00.000-04:00

Here is the Koigu that I picked for Charlotte #2. I'm not sure which direction I want to go with the colors yet. I'm leaning toward the purple on the bottom and red at the neck edge.

Charlotte's Web #1

2007-04-21T19:09:00.000-04:00

Here is the Koigu I picked for my 1st Charlotte's Web Shawl. I started with the color that's furthest away in the picture.

And here she is in progress. I just started color #4.

Animal House

2007-04-02T07:21:00.000-04:00

We had a visitor this weekend...his name is Oliver. He's 9 weeks old and weighs 2 lbs...

Sh*tty Kitty was not impressed....

Update on ISE Pal's scarf

2007-03-31T13:43:00.000-04:00

I made it to the halfway point on my ISE pal's lace scarf. You can't really see the colors to well in this photo.

I took this photo outside in the sun so you could see the purple shades better. I really like this yarn. I shall have to buy more....

Now I'm off to start on the other half...Knit on folks!

A Couple of scarves

2007-03-29T18:28:00.000-04:00

This is my first "ruffle" scarf (please excuse the crappy picture). It was really fun to knit. I believe that pattern came from a Creative Knitting magazine, though I'm not sure which one. I bought 2 skeins of this yarn when I went on a Knitting Retreat last Nov. It's Malabrigo Worsted, the color is Lettuce. This scarf didn't even use 1 full skein. When I saw the pattern I thought it looked like lettuce leaves, then I remembered I had yarn that was called Lettuce....and so it was meant to be.

I love this scarf! I used Misti Alpaca Chunky and #13 needles. The pattern is free on their website. You only need one skein, unless you want to make it really long. This yarn is so soft. I have another skein in fushia. I just may have to make one more.

Brea Bag

2007-03-29T18:18:00.000-04:00

Sh*tty Kitty sez "enough already, would ya please just leave me alone?"

This is the Brea Bag I made from a free pattern at Berroco.com. I used 2 strands of Patons Classic Merino Wool. The cables were a little tricky on this one.

Leaf Lace in progress

2007-03-29T18:14:00.000-04:00

Here's the progress on my Leaf Lace Shawl...it will be a Christmas gift for my Grandmother. Her favorite color is green.

2007-03-28T19:05:00.000-04:00

This is a picture of my owner. Her name is Precious, but I usually call her Sh*tty Kitty. You'll be seeing a lot of her...

Stash Enhancement

2007-03-28T17:07:00.000-04:00

Yesterday when I got home from work this was waiting for me.......
I ordered these from Ebay. Mountain Colors Bearfoot, Rosehip on the right and Northern Lights on the left. These are destined to become Tiger Eye Lace Scarves.

I got these little beauties from my LYS, Knit Happens. The red is Kaalund Expressions, the color is called Poinsettia. This will be a shawl for my Aunt. The blue is more Schaefer Yarn Anne. Not sure what this will be yet. Probably a shawl. There's 560yds in this skein!