knit 'n lit

Handmade Holiday Madness

2011-12-05T19:34:00.001-08:00

We're still alive - just buried under the millions of projects and gifts I'm trying to finish for Christmas. Most of which I can't share here until they are gifted! I've got a few household projects that I can share, I just need to take pictures of them. But for now, Ben's Christmas vest. It is adorable. I am convinced that there is nothing cuter than little boys in knitted vests. I'm very glad this pattern goes up to a size 6! :)

Also, in the spirit of handmade, a question. If you are making handmade gifts for your family and friends, do you also feel compelled to also buy them something? So often I am stuck thinking that what I made isn't 'enough.' Thoughts?

Shop Handmade for the Holidays

2011-11-25T05:47:00.000-08:00

This holiday season I encourage you to support small businesses and buy handmade whenever you can!

I am offering free shipping in my etsy store until Monday evening. Mommysew I love making custom orders, so please do not hesitate to contact me!

Some of my other favorite etsy sellers are:
Pegged (Seriously how cute are some of these dolls?)
Loopsies (I have dreams of a quilt or something with all of these embroideries)
Hip to Piece Squares
Wee Little Stitches
Sarah Jane Studios
YarnMiracle
Kaya's Kloset (I have several pairs of her shoes for my kiddos)
LucyJane Studios (I LOVE this bag!)

Happy Shopping!

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T05:38:00.000-08:00

From our three little turkeys!

Turkey shirt idea found via pinterest - original link is here.

A little cross-stitch

2011-11-23T08:20:00.000-08:00

Many many moons ago counted cross-stitch was my craft. I made many items for myself and my family. We have cross-stitched ornaments, framed pictures, bookmarks, etc. I love the preciseness of cross-stitch. The way each x has a certain color, a certain place. It it very meditative for me. And super easy, assuming you can count! I'll try to dig up some older things to photograph sometime, but today I have three mini stitches to share.

I used this awesome pattern to make a decoration for the babies' room. (I have a woodland animal theme - I'll share more pictures soon!). They were little, cute, quick and very satisfying. I actually made the owl twice - once for us and once for my niece's new room.

I'm very tempted to make her tesselations pattern for my math loving husband sometime, but I do have some cross-stitch birth announcements to finish for my kiddos first.

Farm animal puppets

2011-11-21T20:09:00.001-08:00

For Samantha's gift this year I wanted to make something that went along with the farm theme. I'm not sure how I found these through my googling, but they turned out to be exactly what I wanted!

I used a tutorial from here. It was great! A good bit of cutting and organizing all the pieces, but well worth it. I printed each page, and cut out all the pieces. Then I got 10 ziplocs, and divided the pieces for each animal into them. I also used one ziploc for pieces shared by more than one animal.

Then I gathered my felt, and got busy pinning and cutting. I put all the pieces back into their baggie as I cut them out. When I was ready to sew I gathered all the pieces that would need to be sewn with a particular color thread, and sewed them on. Then I went to the next color. This helped me to not have to change my thread and bobbin a million times.

They were really easy to assemble with my baggie method. And I think they turned out pretty cute. Samantha doesn't seem very into them right now, but she usually picks things up weeks later and they become her new favorite thing, so my fingers are crossed!

Samantha's Farm Party

2011-11-14T07:00:00.000-08:00

Way back in September Samantha turned three. Now, most of you who know me know I love a good theme. I decided that we would do a farm theme for her birthday this year. She LOVES animals, so i knew she would approve.

Birthday Girl

I started with her outfit. I had purchased some adorable fabric with cows, horses, sheep, etc. on it at JoAnn's. I made a simple skirt, and appliqued a barn shape onto her shirt. Her headband matches as well.

For the invitations I used a diecut shape of a barn I had purchased many many years ago to use in a scrapbook (oh yeah, I used to do that too). If you can't find a die cut you could print out a barn shape. I traced around it onto red cardstock and cut them out. I made doors that opened and glued the invitation details into the opening. I don't have a picture of this, but it's pretty self explanatory.

Several years ago I found some Martha Stewart Craft Kits at Big Lots for $2.99. I put them away for when Samantha was older. A few days before the party I remembered them, and thought some were for farm animals. Sure enough. These balloon animals were one of the kits. We had a good time putting them together and playing with them after the party.
We also played pin the tail on the cow (cow drawing by hubby), which some kids enjoyed and some did not (they didn't want to be blindfolded).

Hubby made a barn cake.

And farm animal cupcakes (cow, pig, sheep).

We served pigs in a blanket, 'hay' (potato sticks), watermelon, beans, and potato salad. The kids got to drink milk out of bottles.

(Idea and sticker image from here).

We made farm animal cookies for favors (why my husband took this picture when the cookies were already in the baggies is beyond me). We had cows, sheep, ducks, horses and pigs.

We gave the kids crayon rolls (more on them later) and farm animal coloring books I made by printing coloring pages of different farm animals and copying them and making them into little books.

For a craft, I printed a large barn image and cut it out of red cardstock. I found farm animal foam stickers at Michaels and the kids made their own barns to take home (alas, no picture of this either!). They were really cute.

And that's it! More on what I made Samantha for her birthday this year to come!

Now to start planning next year's party.....

Poor little blog

2011-11-11T12:12:00.001-08:00

I mean to spend more time with you. I really do. I want to have a conversation with the outside world that doesn't always consist of me describing the day's dirty diapers, or non-napping children, or the mud the dogs dragged in, or my perpetually full-of-dirty-dishes sink. Bless his heart, my husband doesn't so much care about how the knitting is going, or how the tension problems I have with my sewing machine make me want to chuck it across the room. (He is sympathetic to my problem of my missing quilt squares though. 30 of them! Where did they go? I know they were in the sewing room the last time I saw them. I have torn the room apart. I can't find them. I did, however, find hubby's anniversary socks - the two pathetic ones that got finished - which I had lost on our actual anniversary - another story I haven't told you.)
I'm having a difficult time with balance these days. I'm trying to do to much (as always). I want to make one million christmas gifts. I want to make things for my etsy store (but it would be nice if things would sell), I want to play with my kids. I want to have a clean house. I want an hour to go to the store by myself without feeling like I am neglecting my kids and not spending time with my husband. I want to sit down and read a book without feeling guilty for the things I am not doing. I have a hard time sitting still. But I have an even harder time 'doing it all.' I keep feeling like I should have all this extra time to do things since I am staying home from work this year, but somehow the days go even faster, and I get less done. How did I do it when I worked full time (I did have two less children then)?
Forgive my abandonment of the blogging month thing. I felt like I was just writing to do it, to check something off my list. And that's not how I want to approach the blog. I do have a huge list of things I want to talk about. But I really want the time to write an actual post, not just throw some pictures up and call it done.
OK. My children are napping at the same time (alert the media!) and this is sure to not last long. Perhaps I can go to the bathroom alone? What luxury.....

My go-to baby gift

2011-11-04T20:27:00.000-07:00

I never had any good burp cloths when Samantha was born. I used some of the Gerber birdseye cloths, but they were not very absorbent, and I never really liked them. Sometime after she was past the point of needing burp cloths, I saw something on the internet where someone had taken fabric and sewn it to a cloth diaper. Genius! I really enjoy making these for baby gifts -they are quick and super cute. I used a ton of burp cloths on a daily basis with the twins for all sorts of things, and it was nice to have plenty on hand. I'm sure there are tons of tutorials out there, but I'll quickly share how I made mine.

Materials: Gerber prefold cloth diapers
Fabric
Ribbons, if desired

Prewash diapers and fabric. The diapers shrink a bit with washing.

Cut as many strips of fabric as desired (one for each diaper/burp cloth). I cut mine to 5" x 18". Press and iron fabric over 1/4" on the long sides. Sew one long side of fabric just to the outside of the center panel of the diaper. Tuck the end of the fabric under and sew down. Repeat on the other two sides. If you would like to add ribbon, cut ribbon to the length of the long side of the diaper and sew down overlapping the edge of the fabric. Voila!

Embroider Me

2011-11-03T20:37:00.000-07:00

My hand is still really bothering me, and typing hurts, so a quickie tonight. Way back in 2009 I embroidered dish towels for my brother and sister-in-law. At the time she was a vegetarian and he wasn't. I thought I was so clever with my his and her dish cloths. But now they are both vegetarians, so who knows what happened to the meat towel? :)

(Patterns by Sublime Stitching)

Hat Design

2011-11-02T20:23:00.000-07:00

A few years ago my sister saw an old knitted Purdue hat on ebay. She asked if I could recreate it for her and her husband (both Purdue alumni). I figured it couldn't be too hard, so I 'created' a pattern based on the photo of the hat (and I deleted the email with the picture a long time ago - sorry).

I made a chart of the letters on graph paper, and got started knitting. Emily specifically requested huge pompons.

Then a little baby came along and needed his own Purdue hat. This one did not go as well. I had kept the chart, so that wasn't an issue. The problem was with my pregnancy brain (although I didn't know I was pregnant yet, just thought I had a big case of the stupids). I started out fine, and about half-way through the chart, realized that I was knitting the letters upside down (I had forgotten to flip the chart). So I ripped and restarted. But a few rows in I realized that instead of flipping the chart I had decided to knit it backward (What???). Ripped again. Third time was the charm.

His looks a bit different as I wasn't sure I had enough of the yellow to make the band yellow.

Without the pregnancy brain this was an easy project!

NaBloPoMo

2011-11-01T19:49:00.000-07:00

Yeah, so November is apparently a 'host' to lots of themed months. NaNoWriMo (write a novel in a month), NaKniSweMo (knit a sweater in a month), Movember (grow a 'stache to support prostate cancer awareness), and NaBloPoMo (post to your blog every day, all month). I'm not up for a novel, have too many sweaters to finish to start a new one, and don't think my hubby would like it if I grew a 'stache. So blog posting it is. I need to kick myself back into this, so I'm going to do my darndest to keep up! I have a ton of things to blog about. Now if my children will nap so I can write blog posts.... :)

Gearing up for KCWC

2011-10-07T12:58:00.000-07:00

This is my first year to participate in the Kid's Clothing Week Challenge. I am planning lots of pairs of pants for Ben using Anna Maria Horner's adorable Quick Change Trousers from her book Handmade Beginnings. (Cute examples are here, here, and here.) How many pants is too many? I may have fabric cut for 6 pairs. Which is 12 if I reverse them. Ahem.
I am planning several skirts for the girls using Dana's excellent and easy tutorial. I think some skirts with cute leggings will be their fall/winter wardrobe.
I haven't done a lot of clothing sewing. I have made myself some skirts in the past, and I make jammies for the kids every year for Christmas. I used various patterns for these. In 2008 Samantha's bottoms came from Amy Butler's Little Stitches for Little Ones, and ran small. (I could barely get them over her bottom, and they were too short.) Taylor's came from In Stitches and they ran ENORMOUS.

2008

In 2009 and 2010 both girls came from Weekend Sewing. They are still large, but not ridiculous. I'm pretty sure Samantha can still wear both pairs, though they might be a little short.

2009

2010

I've also made Samantha a birthday outfit for each year. In 2009 her dress came from a Simplicity pattern (that I don't know the number to). It was huge. And the diaper cover would almost fit an adult.

In 2010 I used another pattern from Weekend Sewing. I had originally tried to use this pattern in 2009, but I could not get the elastic thread to cooperate. I finally was victorious and the result was adorable.

I hope to use this pattern again. I know that an adult size version of this pattern is somewhere in my downloads folder, so maybe someday I'll have one too!

This year we went with a simple skirt and an appliqued shirt to match.

I also made her a special 'first day of school' skirt.

I'm looking forward to making more clothes for the kids. It's such a great feeling to know that you are keeping them warm! I recently purchased Growing Up Sew Liberated, which has some adorable clothes in it, and Little Things to Sew. I'd like to get Sewing for Boys too at some point.

I have some more fall/winter clothes planned, but pants and skirts first!

Pity Party, table of one?

2011-10-05T08:08:00.000-07:00

So all that dratted knitting only on socks seems to have flared some carpal tunnel symptoms in my wrist. No more knitting for a few days. It's hard enough to diaper children and make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. So I won't have any more socks done for Kent's gift. Oh, and I miscounted and I only have two finished socks. So he'll get two finished socks, two half finished socks and 3 balls of yarn. Great gift, eh?
I should probably not be posting either, as typing aggravates my wrist. Instead, go here and look at the pretty things I have for sale.

Baby Toys

2011-10-03T09:51:00.000-07:00

One of the things I've enjoyed most in the knitting community is the Knitted Toys groups I've had the pleasure of starting and moderating here on blogger, on flickr and on ravelry. The ravelry group has grown so large that after three kids I had to bring on additional moderators who can better keep an eye on it. I never thought that so many people would want to knit toys and talk about it!

I've knit a few toys in the past few years. One of my all time favorites was the knitted tools set, from Vicki Howell's book New Knits on the Block (which I initially found very cheesy and impractical. Until I had kids. Kudos to Vicki - I know I will be making many things out of this book over the next several years!) I made these tools for my 'nephew' (Kent's cousin's son), for his first birthday. Kent even got in on the action and added a handmade personalized toolbox to complete the set. I hope we make many more of these in the future for the boys in our families! The tools knit up quickly and turned out pretty cute.

Also back in 2009, I had a special friend's daughter turn two. This family likes much of the same things we do, and dad (my coworker and friend) is very big into music (his son's first name is our son's middle name - named after a Texas singer/songwriter - great minds and all, right?). So I knew I had to pull out the big guns for her gift. Enter knitted Joey Ramone. Now, this is not a gift all parents can love, but I knew this would be the family that did. He turned out pretty cute for a punk rocker.

Samantha's first birthday had a ladybug theme (love me a good theme), so I had to make her the adorable ladybug doll from Twist Collective. She didn't care for it much at first, but it is currently residing in my mending basket, because it is little too loved now (and has the missing wing to show for it!). I recall the pattern being a little fiddly, but well worth it!

Last year I finally knit one of the patterns that had been on my 'must-knit' list since I got pregnant - the Fiesta Tea Set. I love it, though it is not very sturdy. I did starch the pieces, and that helped some, but the cups don't sit up very well. Perhaps some more regular starching is in order. This is a great toy for kiddos who are too young to have 'real' dishes in their play kitchen.

For Christmas that year I knit the Hippo from Susan B. Anderson's Itty Bitty Toys book. Gah! The cute! I want to knit everything in this book! Hippo is also well loved, and has double ear replacement surgery and tail reconstruction. This is why we save leftover yarn people! He was super easy and quick to knit. A great use of sock yarn for those who don't knit socks.

Finally, I knit this tiny owl (also by Susan B. Anderson - from last winter's Knit Simple (I think) for my brother's new baby girl this spring. Super quick, and I hope to make one for Ellie sometime soon.

I have a few other toys in the works and a few more to show on the blog. More soon!

Long ago FOs

2011-10-01T09:33:00.000-07:00

I have quite a backlog of projects to blog about, what with the year and a half absence, plus the fact that I somehow didn’t post anything I’ve finished since, um, 2008. I won’t bore you with every. little. thing. - if you are really interested you can check things out on ravelry or flickr. But I’ll try to hit the highlights, starting with 2009.

For Easter that year I knit her a little yellow cardigan. It is the Eyelet Ribbed Baby Cardigan - a free pattern from Crystal Palace Yarns. I remember having a little confusion with the pattern - I thought it had the right side and wrong side reversed, but I couldn't tell from the photos. I also think either the fronts or the back was too short compared to the other side? I know I added length somewhere. I only had two balls of yarn, and even though I ordered a third, it didn't arrive in time. But it worked out great - it was a little cool that day, but not cold. And the sweet yellow echoed the yellow bits in her dress.

Way back in 2009 I knit the Tulips sweater for Samantha. I used up a bunch of Knitpicks Merino Style that I have no idea why I ordered. It took much longer than it should have, but I was probably working on 10 things at once. I modified the distance between color changes and the number, based on the amount of yarn I had. I also didn’t do the i-cord edging around the bottom, because I thought I would run out of yarn. It turned out really cute! She didn’t get to wear it much, because she outgrew it before it got too cold, but she did wear it around Portland when we went to Sock Summit. And hopefully, Ellie (one of our new sweeties) will wear it sometime.

I also made Samantha a cotton sundress that spring/summer. I used a pattern by Zoe Mellor and some leftover Rowan Cotton Glace that I had left after I made my striped vest. I did end up having to buy another ball of brown, but it was worth it. It turned out pretty short for Samantha, but it’s a baby dress, so length is not super important. I also made the mistake of not going down a needle size for the seed stitch edgings around the armholes, and that is not a mistake I will make again! But again, baby dress. Most folks won’t notice. One additional issue I had with the pattern, (besides the length) was the length of the straps at the shoulders. They should be lengthened - the dress would fit better and for longer. I worry that it rides up along the back neck because they are so short. But Ellie is wearing it now, so win!

That winter I knit her a pink cardigan out of a Nashua pattern book (Bloom) with some Cascade 220. It turned out pretty cute and I added adorable silver elephant buttons! I knit the whole sweater while we were on vacation - it was super quick and the yoke pattern was very easy to memorize. She wore this one a lot - it’s not quite the same shade of pink anymore, but very well-loved.

For Halloween that year she was a cow. I used a pattern out of Wacky Baby Knits for her costume. This was a great project because I had the yarn in stash and it turned out really cute! I had made a cow hat for her when I was pregnant, and it still fit. One major modification I made was to eliminate the button band along the inner thigh. She was only going to wear it for a few hours, so it was easier to take it off to change her diaper. And even then, it wasn’t a big deal. Buttonbands can be such a pain that I am sure it was not worth it in this case! This was one of the few intarsia projects I’ve done, and by far the largest, and I was surprised at how easy it was! Don’t get me wrong, I won’t start churning out intarsia-ed everything, but it was much less stressful than I thought it would be.

And, in keeping with tradition, I knit her Christmas dress. I used the Little Sister’s Dress pattern and some stashed solid red Lorna’s Laces. I added sweet little Mary Englebreit buttons on the yoke. It was adorable, and I cannot wait until Ellie is big enough to wear it! The only mod I made was to use two buttons instead of three, and to use a piece of yarn for the button loop, when I think it called for a crochet chain (but it has been 1.5 years since I knit it, and I have been pregnant and given birth, two things that screw with my memory).

Naptime is over, and someone is calling me. More soon!

This post has no coherency, and I can't think of a good title.

2011-09-30T09:25:00.000-07:00

I'm starting to think that the universe is conspiring against me posting regularly. It seems that as soon as I sit down to write, my kids need something/wake up from their nap. And when I do actually write a post, blogger won't upload the pictures for it! Gah! So here goes nothing - I'll write this and we'll see if the pictures will load. If not, it will join the recent pictureless posts, and feel right at home! :)
I am trying to post some of the fairly large backlog of finished items and general excitement, but since those posts are saved in draft without pictures, let's talk about the kids, eh?

Samantha just turned three, which seems impossible. She started school for the first time this year and loves it, though cried when I left her today, for the first time. Three has been a slightly less than delightful age so far - some attitude and general grunting and sighing when she doesn't get her way. And then there's the crybaby days, when she cries if I can't get something for her the second she asks, or the puzzle piece doesn't fit the first way she tries it. I'm hoping this is a quick phase!

The babies were five months old yesterday. I cannot believe how fast it is going. The speed seems multiplied because there are two of them, and because I have older siblings to deal with. It's hard when I feel like I barely get to spend any time with both of them, and they almost never get mom to themselves, unless they are nursing. But they are big, and adorable and giggle and roll over, and try to get toys, and are so much fun at this age. I would like them to stay about this age for a while as I am not looking forward to getting even less done as they become mobile and must be contained/chased all over the house.

B&E at three months old.

I doesn't seem like fall will ever come here in Texas. I'm longing to wear jeans every day, and sleep with the windows open, and play outside without sweating. But, even thought it was 100 yesterday, I am planning some fall wardrobe items for the kiddos. Skirts for the girls, and pants for Ben. I'm also planning to embroider some onesies/shirts for everyone too.

I'm also crazily knitting socks for my husband. Our 7th anniversary is rapidly approaching (in 10 days), and since the traditional 7th anniversary gift is wool, well, you can see where the socks come in. I planned 7 pairs of socks, and I didn't let myself start until after our 6th anniversary (for some reason that felt like cheating). And then about 3 weeks later we found out we were having twins, and my knitting output sharply declined. Add in all the Christmas/birthday/baby gifts for others in our family, and then all the baby knitting and sewing/quilting for our babies, and then the actual arrival and care of our babies, and, well, I'm not going to make it. I still hope to have one of each pair of socks done, but that means that I have to knit two whole and two half socks to make the deadline. Ha.

One thing this sock project has done was to remind me of how much I enjoy knitting simple socks. Round and round, no thought until you need to measure every so often. They are perfect for knitting while playing games with toddlers, sitting outside after school while the children burn off energy, watching playoff baseball, even in the movies, when you get to have that one date with your honey (thanks mom!). I think I'll be able to complete his pairs throughout the winter as we slow down and spend more time relaxing as a family.

Three cute kiddos

I also have several baby sweaters that are in various stages of completion, and if it ever cools off, my children will need them, as we don't have much use for heavy winter coats down here, but a wool sweater is mighty handy. I've barely started Samantha's and since it's the biggest, I best get moving. I've also got sweaters on the needles for my niece and nephew, and since they live in Colorado where it will be cold soon, I need to get those finished. But nothing gets worked on until I get as much done on those socks as I can by next Sunday. Speaking of those socks, I should go work on them for a few minutes until it is school pickup time, since the littles are napping.

So...

2011-09-15T16:48:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile. I have tons of excuses for not blogging, but it really comes down my lack of motivation. With ravelry and flickr, I found myself just posting there, so I still had my visual record of finished items. However, I was bad about remembering when I had started, if I had frogged/swatched, etc. That was the upside to the blog.

And I started sewing again, and felt unsure as to whether or not that had a place on my 'knitting' blog.

And work was crazy.

And I had a toddler.

And, and, and....

And then I got pregnant again. And, surprise, surprise, it was a little more than we had bargained for.....two babies!!! And I was exhausted. And then I was making millions of tiny things for my babies and the babies of my friends and family. And then the babies came. And I was exhausted.

But I'm staying home from school this year to be with the kiddos. And some days, I get tired of talking to myself. So I'm going to talk to whomever is still out there. And some days it will be about knitting. And some days it will be about sewing. And some days it will be about my kids. And who knows what else.

Is there anybody out there?

Knitting Olympics

2010-01-18T12:32:00.000-08:00

I'll have more to say about goals for this year in a few days. For now, the important decision looms - what to knit for the Knitting Olympics?

This year's contenders:

Must-Have Cardigan: Pros: Yarn in stash (yay!), Has been in queue FOREVER. Cons: That's a LOT of cables.

Fair Isle Cardigan: (I know there's no picture - apparently no one has ever made this!) Pros: No one has made this yet!, I like the side-to-side construction, it is fair isle. Cons: No one has made this (yikes!), I'd have to order yarn, I'd like to lengthen it.

Abstract Leaves Vest: Pros: So pretty. Fair Isle. Cons: Have to order yarn. Steek!

Rowan Fair Isle Cardigan: Pros: Very cute. Have 1/2 the yarn. Cons: Need 1/2 the yarn, would like to convert it to be knit in the round which equals steek. Yikes.

Thoughts? I cannot decide. I really want to use up stash, but I know cables take me longer than fair isle. What to do?

Returning?

2010-01-01T12:51:00.000-08:00

Hello and happy new year to any readers I still have left! :) I, like many of you, am making my "resolutions" and plans for the new year (and the new decade!)

The "00s" were big years for me - I'm going to take a minute to document them for my own memory.

2000- graduated from college in December, got my first "real" job as a manager at a local bookstore.

2001 - Started dating Kent, got a different job at the bookstore. Adopted Rocky

2002 - started graduate school, quit my job, got engaged, started teaching ballet,

2003 - bought a house! Decided to go to a different graduate school and a different program, quit another job, started 2 more jobs. Adopted Cocoa

2004 - My brother got married. I got married! Went to Tahiti on our honeymoon.

2005 - Student teaching, graduated with my M.Ed. Knit a lot. Adopted Miles.

2006 - Got my first teaching job, had to move schools and grade levels. My sister got married. Knit some more.

2007 - Knit a lot. Started teaching another new grade. Adopted Otis. Remodeled Kitchen. Started working at yarn store.

2008- Found out we were pregnant, installed new windows. Had Samantha in September.

2009 - Changed grade levels again! Started more graduate classes. Went on lots of trips. Went to Sock Summit. Started quilting.

Whew! I am looking forward to what these next ten years will bring!

In knitting terms, I knit 35 items (way down from my usual production levels), and started to sew a lot. I sewed 20 items, and made 5 quilts.

In stash numbers, in January of 2007 I had 604 balls of yarn. In January 2008 I had 821 balls and 166,195 yards. In January 2009 I had 900 balls of yarn and 193, 453 yards. I used 97 balls and 17, 004 yards. This year I have 966 balls/skeins of yarn and 206,156 yards. I used approximately 10,800 yards.

I didn't finish nearly as many things as I wanted/planned. But I'm OK with that. I wanted to finish more things at the last minute, but I just didn't make it. Maybe this year!

I'm starting out with a few plans - I've tagged a bunch of things in my ravelry queue for 2010, we'll see if I can get them finished! And I really want to finish up a bunch of WIPs. Maybe I'll write more about them tomorrow!

Blah

2009-08-23T12:24:00.001-07:00

So, we survived Sock Summit, and had a good time in Portland. I wish I had signed up for more classes, and taken several shorter classes instead of 2 long ones. Next time....I did buy some yarn, but was overall pretty good (the yarn purchases were my birthday present from hubby, so yay!). I would promise pictures, but we all know how that would turn out! :)

I did finish some socks for hubby's birthday, and I've seamed up several sweaters lately - pretty exciting huh? Not much knitting going on in the past few days, as we're getting ready for school to start tomorrow. I've been under a great deal of stress lately, since I got assigned a new classroom on Thursday night and had to set it all up by Friday at 7 for Meet the Teacher. Yikes. Still not all done. I also didn't find out what grade I was teaching until 5:30 Friday night. I'm a wee bit stressed. I'm not able to perform my usual stress relief (casting on 5 million projects) as I have no time for knitting (or blogging, but here we are).

I've been feeling a bit cranky lately about my knitting - lacking inspiration I think. I was fired up about Sock Summit, but then sad when I realized that I had no one to talk to who I thought would really "get" it. I love my knitting group, but that kind of experience doesn't translate well. I also have been really missing have a local yarn shop. I am still buying yarn here and there (mostly on trips this summer), but nothing compares to walking in and seeing what's new, what someone's just finished, etc. And I really really miss the people. I miss seeing folks I only knew through the store, or people I only saw every once in a while. I miss the vast variety of projects and colors and yarn choices. Ravelry is great, but it's not the same as seeing some things in person.

OK, that's enough crankiness for now - must go clean while the bambino is sleeping so we can play for a bit before bedtime - and then, more schoolwork!

Sock Summit

2009-08-03T18:19:00.000-07:00

Clearly, I don't have the blogging mojo lately. I think it's because I haven't been taking many pictures, and I think a blog without pictures is boring. We've been up to lots, and I've actually finished some things, which I hope to show you soon, but I have a more pressing matter!

We leave for Sock Summit first thing Wednesday morning. I am so excited! I'm taking classes with Nancy Bush and Anne Hanson!

All this is to say - if you're reading this and you'll be there, leave me a comment (or email me at knitnlit AT gmail DOT com. I'd love to meet you!

Who knows, maybe this will rekindle the blog mojo? One can hope.

Five on Friday

2009-06-12T04:37:00.000-07:00

Knock knock? Anybody still out there?

Just a wee bit of a filler post while I get some pictures together.

1. School's out for summer. Unfortunately, I agreed to tutor during summer school, so I'm not out yet.

2. While I don't have to teach, I am taking two graduate classes this summer. Will I never learn?

3. The Bug will be 9 months old in a week. Where has the time gone? She is adorable (of course), and really interested in toys - she likes to take things out of and put back into her basket. She likes to spin wheels on toys, she loves to talk to her toys. She loves being outside, especially in the swing. Her hair has taken on a tendency to stand straight up (a la faux hawk). She loves to eat (maybe not vegetables so much).

4. I've been working on quilting The Girl's birthday quilt (birthday was in March. Shutup). It may kill me. Remind me not to take on huge projects when it's only my second quilt, ok?

5. I'm trying to finish up a bunch of lingering projects this month, with the intent to start working on Christmas gifts next month. Yikes, that seems early, but I know that with school, two grad classes and a one-year old, my time will be precious.

Hopefully I can be around here more this summer! Hope to "see" you soon!

Two posts in one month!

2009-04-26T23:53:00.000-07:00

Who could believe it! Well, when you're up at 1 am due to nursing/storm, it works. I keep joking about how much more I could get done if I didn't need to sleep - here's my chance!

Things here are good - The Bug was 7 months old last Sunday - where does the time go? She can sit up unsupported, though she likes to throw herself backwards, so we have to be near (wood floors are killer for your wee little head - ask me how I know). She likes most foods - yogurt, applesauce and bananas are favorites. This week we're trying peas and mango. She sleeps pretty well - most nights only up once to nurse, but when things don't go well she's up twice (like tonight - she was up past her bedroom due to The Girl's spring church musical). She has favorite toys now, and loves to play. We hung a swing outside for her and she loves it.

I've been bitten hard by the sewing bug - I have made several things in the past, but I want to sew all.the.time. now. Which has led to some fabric purchases. Ahem. Let's just say that perhaps I'm running into the arms of my LQS (local quilt shop) now that my LYS is (almost) gone. Last day for LYS is Thursday. Sob. Sewing heals all wounds, right?

I'm actually knitting again - wanting to rush home and knit, working on several different things. It feels good.

My spring classes are over, and I have a month off until summer classes start - two days before I'm out of school. Of course. But I'll take it where I can get it.

I have jury duty next week, and I'm actually looking forward to it, for the break from school it provides, since I have no sick/personal days to take. OH, and knitting time!

I'm starting to feel sleepy again, and the wind has died down, so I'm going to see if I can get back to sleep. More here soon, including pictures!

I'm back (hopefully)

2009-04-01T20:16:00.000-07:00

OK - making an effort here to really recommit to the blog, not just talk about it. We'll see how long it lasts. :)

What The Bug has been up to:

*Eating solid food - sweet potatoes and rice cereal are favorites. Makes me a little sad that she is so grown up now!

*We can roll over, but we're not sure about sitting up - we like to throw ourselves backwards.

*She babbles and giggles all the time now - it is so cute!

What we've been up to:

*We spent our spring break sprucing up the house (as has become tradition). We painted the living room, put together some new furniture, and hubby resodded the front yard. Busy, busy, busy.

What I've been up to:

*Teaching my brains out.

*Trying not to be too frustrated with the master's classes I'm taking and their dumb assignments.

*Knitting - only a little - lately a cardigan for The Bug for Easter - back is done.

*Trying to get back into pre-baby shape

*Sewing - piecing quilt tops, cutting fabric for skirts (for me), trying to resist buying all the fabric I love

Hopefully I'll get my act together and post some pictures. No promises! And maybe I'll have more exciting things to say. Maybe.

Still breathing

2009-03-13T03:51:00.001-07:00

But barely sometimes. We're still alive. Just incredibly busy. Barely knitting. Barely making through the day due to work stress. And this week our house decided to start falling down around us. Fantastic.

But next week is Spring Break (or, as one of my coworkers pointed out, spring break starts today at 3:10), and we have big home projects planned (as is traditional around here), and one of mine is to sew/knit/photo/blog. Hopefully my plan will work. Stay tuned for more, including 6 month pictures of The Bug (next Thursday - where has the time gone?).

Out of touch

2009-01-30T16:10:00.000-08:00

I'm feeling out of touch with the blog. Ever since I found out I was pregnant (just over a year ago), the blog has been low on my list of priorities (rightly so, I think). But I miss the blog. I miss the conversations. I miss sharing what's going on in my life, beyond the knitting.

So I'm taking back the blog.

What's new?

The Bug turned four months old last week (where has the time gone!?). She loves to laugh and giggle, she tries to put her whole hand in her mouth, she loves to nudge her socks off. She is really looking at and manipulating her toys now. She loves to "talk" to you and will roll from her back to her side over and over again. She holds herself up well on her tummy, but hates being there for more than a few minutes. She's still not sleeping "well" according to almost everyone, but we're getting there. Mommy going back to work and colds haven't helped.

I told my principal today that I want to move back down to a lower grade and she took the news well. Hopefully there is a place for me still at my school - I would hate to leave. I also (because I'm nuts) started some graduate classes in reading this past week. I'm just getting a certificate, but it's 27 hours of graduate work. Two classes to start, and while I'm a little nervous about getting all the work done, I'm unreasonably excited to read my textbooks! Dork!

I haven't been knitting much this month, but I've had a terrible cold with lots of sinus pressure and ear pain that I can't shake (no medicine since I'm nursing). I am feeling better, so hopefully next month will be better for the knitting progress.

I did decide that my LYS closing could be good for the stash - I'm much less likely to order yarn than to pick it up in a shop, so hopefully I can knit down the stash a bit this year. The only problem with that plan is that I want to make baby things and they don't use up much yarn!

I did spend an hour or two in front of the sewing machine a few weeks ago trying to piece the quilt pieces I cut before The Bug was born. I'm just doing nine patch blocks, but I'm loving it. Hopefully I can successfully turn my pile of pieces into a quilt, as I may have already bought fabric for another.

I made Christmas pjs for my girls this year and they were super cute, which has led me to want to sew more. I've got a pile of fabric for skirts for me, dresses for The Bug and more flannel for pjs.

One thing I want to accomplish this year is to embroider and cross stitch more - I still need to post pictures of my cute kitchen curtains.

And finally, I put my first pattern in my ravelry store this week. It is the Loopy Laces pattern that was my first design for the Ewenique Feet sock club last year. It's $5.00 and available through ravelry here:

Have a great weekend! Thanks for the daring egg suggestions - I hope to get one soon!

Darn it!

2009-01-27T18:31:00.000-08:00

So, a pictureless post, again.

Last week was a bad week for socks - my embossed leaves socks, worn for the first time, blew out the toe (I knew I should have kitchenered it!). Grrr.

And then hubby announced that he had holes in the bottoms of not one but two socks (separate pairs)!!!

I find myself in need of a darning egg - any resources? I found a grand total of one on etsy and my googlefu must not be good today, as I can't find any.

Tech Socks

2009-01-24T16:29:00.001-08:00

These have been finished (and worn) for several days/weeks now. Apologies for the dirty sock picture, but let's face it, it was this or nothing.

Pattern: Basic sock pattern

Yarn: Lorna's Laces Sport in Team Spirit Colorway from the Loopy Ewe

Needles: Chiagoo 2.75mm

Dates: December 2008-January 2 2009

Mods: none

Thoughts: Knit up very quickly. Feels a little too skinny to be "sport" weight. Hubby loves them - has declared all future socks must be knit with Lorna's Laces 'cause they are so soft. :)

Hope

2009-01-20T17:50:00.000-08:00

It was such an amazing experience to watch the inauguration today with my students. I don't remember watching any other inauguration, other than the oath of office on the news.

It was going to be special to me no matter what, but to see it through the eyes of a 9 year old...they clapped each time the people on TV clapped, they chanted "Obama" along with the crowd, they cheered each time they saw Obama's beautiful daughters. What a neat day for them - a day I hope they will remember when they are my age.

I teared up a bit, but managed to keep it in control. What a powerful day for our country. Good things to come, I'm sure.

Obama...Obama....Obama.

President Obama. Pinch me.

Bad week

2009-01-19T13:08:00.001-08:00

I really had good intentions about blogging more. I was waylaid by lack of pictures (darn that winter early darkness!) last week, and by sickness of The Bug and myself. (Luckily, she's getting better, while I'm getting worse - lovely).

But the real blow to the week was the news late Saturday night that my second home and part of my heart, my LYS was closing.

Hubby walked in after putting The Bug down for the night to find me crying. When I told him the news he said "I thought someone had died." And I do feel like something has died. The shop was a refuge for me, a place where I have made some amazing friendships. A place where I learned more about knitting, taking risks, being confident, than I had before it existed. Where I learned that my heart really lies in teaching - teaching knitting. I have missed working so dearly while on maternity leave these past few months. And now I won't work there again. It is heartbreaking. And while my close friendships will remain, and there will still be a knitting group somewhere else, all the people I knew as casual friends, and folks I saw every once in a while, will probably be gone. And that crushes me. I'm sure many of you can relate - the shop was a home for me. I was always comfortable there, from the first day I went in. I felt loved, welcomed, accepted. The Bug was showered with love, and gifts from these wonderful people. And to think that she won't grow up in that store breaks my heart.

Tears are falling as I write this. And I know EZ said to knit on, through all crises. But what if the crisis is that I may run out of yarn to knit with?

January Goals

2009-01-12T20:11:00.000-08:00

January Goals:

Finish Tech socks

Finish Ribbed socks

Finish small project

Finish plain jane socks

Finish shawl collar sweater

Work on Smoke Socks

Start Stocking for The Bug

Start sweater for The Bug

Start slippers for me

Finish Isotope

Finish Clappy Scarf

Finish Anemoi mittens

As always, very ambitious.

Looking forward and looking back

2009-01-04T07:38:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year again - looking at where I've been and where I'm going. First, a look back at 2008:

I knit the following things:

5 sweaters

10 pairs of socks

7 scarves

3 blankets

2 toys

2 adult hats

3 pairs of slippers

2 ornaments

1 shawl

2 dish/wash cloths

1 pair fingerless gloves

1 shrug

and 34! baby items!

It's easy to see where my priorities where in my knitting last year!

I wanted to knit from these books:

Kid's Knits -Heads Hands and Toes - done - Teddy Bear Hood, Inca Hat, Duck Hat, Ladybug Hat

Jo Sharp Knit Issue 1 - started - shawl collar sweater

Ella Rae Book 7 - not done

Handknit Holidays - done - Snowy Triangle Scarf

Greetings from the Knit Cafe - not done

Knit 2 Together - done - slippers

Folk Mittens - not done

Vintage Knits - done - Salina

Favorite Socks - done - Embossed Leaves

Knitting Vintage socks - done - Child's First Sock

Opinionated Knitter - done - Baby Surprise Jacket

Knitter's Almanac - done - February Baby Sweater

Pretty good!

In keeping with this theme, I've found these books I'd like to knit from this year:

Treasury of Rowan Knits - Carpenter

Vintage Knits (Sarah Dallas) - short sleeved striped sweater

Adorable Knits for Tots - hearts and stars blanket

Special Knits - ribbed baby jacket

Celtic Knits - lace alpaca scarf

Simply Baby - pompom beret

Knitted Toys (McTague) - cheeky monkey

Itty Bitty Nursery - Flower Cardigan

Mason Dixon Outside the Lines - felted trees

Irresistible Gifts to Knit - Gnome

Street Smart (Patons) - cabled hoodie

I did not make my goal of reading my knitting books - maybe I'll try that some this year.

Let's look at the numbers - in January of 2007 I had 604 balls of yarn. In January 2008 I had 821 balls and 166,195 yards. This January I have 900 balls of yarn and 193, 453 yards. I used 97 balls and 17, 004 yards. To be fair to myself (and my efforts to knit up the stash) I did really go through and analyze and add a lot of partial balls to the stash. I also "inherited" some yarn - leftovers from The Bug's feet blanket and some leftovers from mom. Even so, I knit 11% of my stash. I knit almost 10 miles of yarn! That's pretty impressive, for feeling like I wasn't getting any knitting accomplished for much of the year.

Obviously, I want to knit more from the stash this year. To accomplish that, I've set up some little "plans" for myself.

I haven't officially joined NaKniSweMoDo (or whatever it's called), but I would like to knit 12 sweaters this year (same goal as last year). I've got several started (almost enough to count for all 12!), and I have a few gift sweaters to work on.

I have also bagged up a few small projects (yarn and patterns) and plan to pick one each month to knit up, to get some odd balls out of my stash.

And I have 12 "plain" socks worth of yarn bagged up, some stuff I've been holding onto for a while that I want to be socks already!

And I have my 12 "fancy" socks picked out. I'll be (hopefully) knitting these, in no particular order:

Cider Moon - Bellatrix

Vesper - Groovy Socks

Jitterbug - Vinnland

Firebird (STR) - Firestarter

Chewy Spaghetti - Aquaphobia

Fleece Artist - Flicker

Malabrigo - Knitty Twist

Wollmeise - Brigit

Shibu - Conwy

Madelinetosh - Little Child's Sock

Zen Yarn Garden - Charade

Hazelknits - Hourglass

And then there's the laundry list of other things I want to knit, gifts and such, including stockings for the girls and sweaters for next winter for The Bug.

One big thing I want to do is clear out the WIP pile. Some of these knits have been hanging around for over a year now, and they need to be finished! I ripped two sweaters (Ariann and Buttony) and both will be reborn, possibly this year. To work on other things, I've made a plan: I assigned a number to each project, and each night I'll draw a number and work on that project for at least 30 minutes. I can work on any of them at any time, but this way they should all get worked on at least once a month. I've got 34 active WIPs (and a few that will stay hibernating for the near future), and I'd like to end the year with no more than 5 still on the needles (my sock yarn blanket is one that won't be finished this year for sure).

As usual, I'm being way over ambitious about the number of things I can get done. But that's OK - shoot for the moon and all that.

I'm off to get started! Wish me luck!

2008 Wrap Up

2009-01-03T09:43:00.001-08:00

I'm a little late finishing up my 2008 FO posts, but I had to wait for hubby's sweater to finish drying to take his pictures. Anyway, here are my last 4 FOs for the year.

Pattern: Salina by Kim Hargraves, from Rowan Vintage Knits

Yarn: Rowan Felted Tweed - 7 balls

Needles: 5 US

Dates: Feb 2007-December 2008

Mods: My gauge was off, so I knit the largest size to get a 36"

Thoughts: Needs to be blocked. Could be a smidge longer. The yarn was crap to seam with. Didn't really take a year and a half to knit - back was finished in Jan or Feb of '08, other pieces knit this summer, waited until Dec (post xmas knitting) to seam. I think after blocking it will be the sweater I wear the most, after my Central Park Hoodie. Will be knitting it again, as my sister wants one too!

Pattern: Cambridge Jacket by Ann Budd, from Interweave Knits

Yarn: Knitpicks Wool of the Andes in Evergreen - 10 balls

Needles: US 7 Clover bamboo

Dates: um, 2006 sometime? to December 2008. Sat unworked on for most of that time.

Mods: Knit a tighter gauge to get a smaller size for skinny minny hubby. Didn't do the crocheted edging.

Thoughts: Fits him really well after blocking - an amazing difference. He asked for no edging, and it's not flipping up too much. Zipper is put in much better than the zipper I used for my Ribby Cardi (which I need to redo).

Pattern: Superlong Wrap by Kris Percival from Knitting to go box

Yarn: Baby Alpaca (no brand)

Needles: 10.5 US Clover bamboo

Dates: Sept 2008-Dec 2008

Mods: smaller gauge to make scarf instead of wrap.

Thoughts: can't decide if I should block it or not - I kind of like the curling quality of it unblocked.

Pattern: Korknisse

Yarn: scraps

Needle: US 6 or 7

Dates: Dec 2007-Dec 2008

Mods: none

Thoughts: knit all of the pieces last December. Got forgotten in a purse pocket. Found and bells attached for the girls' xmas ornaments this year. Will make more - they are so cute!

There were also 2 pairs of longies and a soaker knit for The Bug, but they are not super exciting blog fodder - they are in my flickr and ravelry, if you really want to see them.

Now that my 2008 slate is clear, I can tell you about my 2009 plans. Tomorrow.

Favorite FO of 2008

2008-12-31T14:21:00.001-08:00

Aren't you surprise that The Bug was my favorite thing about this year? It's been quite a year for us - we found out in mid-January that we were pregnant, and now we have this beautiful 3 1/2 month old angel. She is the sweetest thing I've ever seen, and I can't believe how big she is already. I'm sure she'll keep us on our toes in 2009!

More gifts

2008-12-29T19:40:00.001-08:00

A few more gifts for your viewing pleasure.

Pattern: Generic - 20 stitches (i think)

Yarn: Plymouth Baby Alpaca Grande - 1 skein

Needles: Sz 15 Clover bamboo

Dates: ?

Mods: n/a

Thoughts: soft and squishy. A gift for Hubby's best friend's wife - her first knitted gift!

Pattern: Teddy Bear Hood from Kid's Knits for Heads Hands and Toes by Debbie Bliss

Yarn: Sirdar Snuggly DK - almost 1 skein

Needles: Sz 4 and 6

Dates: December

Mods: no inner lining for ears.

Thoughts: cute!

Pattern: Football Hat from Itty Bitty Hats by Susan B. Anderson

Yarn: Berroco Comfort and Sirdar Snuggly (football)

Needles: Sz 7 Clover bamboo

Dates: December

Mods: color change

Thoughts: Looks super cute on - will have to make this again.

These two hats were made for our neighbor's boys and she told me today that the football hat has gotten several compliments - yay!

I also made three pairs of slippers (from Knit 2 together), but I don't have pictures of them - hopefully soon!

I finished seaming hubby's sweater last night - it needs a good blocking and a zipper. I'm off to seam Salina for me - the knitting has been finished since August - I had no motivation to seam it while I was still pregnant and no time after The Bug was born. It is sweater weather now, so I want to finish it!

Christmas Knits

2008-12-28T10:04:00.000-08:00

Well, I didn't make it, of course. I did wrap up hubby's sweater (I had all the pieces done) and told him that some assembly was required for it. I'm almost done seaming it now - hopefully will finish tonight. I also wrapped his two single socks that were finished and I'm hoping to finish the second socks this week.

I did finish The Bug's outfit - weeks before Christmas, thankfully.

Pattern: #32 from Katia Bebe No 10

Yarn: Lion Brand Wool

Needles: Sz 8 Clover Bamboo

Dates: ?

Mods: Added buttonhole on straps, eliminated bias tape at bottom and fake pockets

Thoughts: Very cute!

Pattern: #31 from Katia Bebe No 10

Yarn: Filtes King Colors Baby 2 skeins

Needles: 3 mm Addi Turbos

Dates: ?

Mods: none

Thoughts: Looks teeny, but fit her fine. Very soft yarn, quick and easy knit

Pattern: Reindeer Booties from Family Circle Easy Knitting Holiday 2004

Yarn: Sirdar Snuggly - .25 skeins

Needles: US 4 Susan Bates

Mods: no nostrils

Thoughts: Cute! Though I forgot to put them on her Christmas day. Gah.

Pattern: Snowman Hat from Itty Bitty Hats by Susan B. Anderson

Yarn: Berroco Comfort DK (white and orange), Lion Brand Microspun (black and red)

Needles: US 7 Clover Bamboo

Dates: ?

Mods: Duplicate stitched on the eyes

Thoughts: Cute! Little tight around the noggin due to the hem.

There are more gift knits to share coming up soon!

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-25T20:05:00.000-08:00

I'm not going to make it

2008-12-22T20:33:00.000-08:00

I knew it was a little crazy to think I could get everything done. But I've done it in the past. I knew I had a baby - that's why I had a short list this year. But still, not going to happen. I have finished all of the gifts for anyone who is not my husband though, so that has to count for something. And he doesn't mind getting things on the 27th, or the 27th of December 2009. I might squeeze out the sweater and maybe the 1/2 sock left of one of the pairs. And one of the other socks is done, so I'll wrap it up and finish the pair this weekend. Again, my xmas sweater is not finished (the same one I had hoped to finish for last year). Perhaps it will be a priority in January. And it looks like The Bug will not have a stocking this year, much to my dismay. Ah well, she's too little to know, and I have nothing for her stocking anyway.

A sleeve cap, seaming, a zipper (agh!) and half a sock. I can do it. Right?

Winner! And Christmas Knitting!

2008-12-12T18:57:00.000-08:00

Congrats to cthulhulovesme - winner of the sock contest. Email me your snail mail address and I'll get your goodies in the mail!

I still have finished knits to blog about, but I'm taking a break to talk about my Christmas knitting, 'cause let's face it, if I don't do it now, it'll be January that I'm showing you this stuff. Actually, I can't even show it to you today, since I haven't taken any pictures yet.....anyway...

I've got several things finished that I can't show you (nosy blog readers, ya know!), but there are a few we can talk about.

Our lovely new neighbors moved down from Chicago last winter, and have two boys - I'm knitting the football hat from Itty Bitty Hats and the Teddy Bear Hood from Kid's Knits for Heads Hands and Toes - they'll both have bears hats! :)

And I've got this nutzo idea that I can finish two pairs of socks and a sweater for hubby in less than two weeks. One pair of socks has 1 1/2 socks complete and one only has 1/2 sock done. The sweater has the back, two fronts and 1/2 a sleeve done - I think it's doable!

And then there's my Bristow sweater that I would love to have done to wear on Christmas - we'll see.....

And they're not gifts, but I'm finishing up the Snowman hat from Itty Bitty hats for The Bug (bambino) and some Reindeer booties. I have her Christmas dress and sweater done, I'll show those next time.

And I've matched socks to patterns, and I'll talk more about them soon (hopefully). Off to knit!

Project Ideas and a contest!

2008-12-02T19:39:00.000-08:00

I've got more FOs to post, but tonight I need your thoughts. I really, really, really want to do the whole knit a sweater a month for a year, but that's probably just a smidge unrealistic since I have a baby who might demand some attention. I may however, still try, 'cause I'm nothing if not a follower and I have the yarn for at least 40 sweaters in my stash. Yikes.

But, to "console" myself, I'm going to take on two other projects. For the first project I'll be pulling single balls (or two) of yarn out of the stash, matching it with projects, and bagging up 12 projects, (one for each month) to open the first of the month and knit up. I have the yarns and projects chosen for this venture.

The second ~~nutzo~~ project will be 12 months of socks. I'm narrowing down my list of sock yarn, but I have too many projects in my ravelry queue to choose. So I need your input. The yarns I'm considering are listed below. Choose one yarn and pick a sock pattern to go with it. Leave your suggestions in the comments and I'll randomly choose a winner. And no plain old socks - I knit plenty of those. I want patterns, people! Contest closes at midnight CST Friday night. Thanks for your help!

Yarns:

Socks that Rock Lightweight - varigated

Chewy Spaghetti - varigated

Cider Moon Icicle - varigated

Colinette Jitterbug - solid

Fleece Artist - varigated

Hazel Knits - solid

Knitterly Things Vesper - striping

Koigu - varigated

Madelinetosh - solid

Malabrigo sock - solid

ShibuiKnits - solid

Wollmeise - varigated

Yartini - varigated/striping

Zen Yarn Garden - varigated

Lots 'o knits

2008-12-01T20:15:00.000-08:00

I'm sick of feeling like I have 10 tons of unblogged FOs to show you, and I miss blogging in "real time" so I'm going to play super catch up. Hold on....

Leftovers Hat

Pattern: Simple Baby Cap #2 from Itty Bitty Hats

Yarn: Sublime Organic Cotton

Needles US 7

Mods: Made it shorter (5") before crown decreases as all of bambino's hats are too tall and fall down in her eyes, which makes her scream.

Thoughts: Love it. Super soft, fits great, cute!
Pattern: Upside Down Daisy Hat from Itty Bitty Hats

Yarn: Rowan Handknit Cotton

Needles US 7

Mods: none

Thoughts: This is the largest size (for a shop sample) and I think the petals would look better if they were bigger.

Pattern: Bessie from Pick Up Sticks

Yarn: Lamb's Pride (white), Paton's Classic Merino (black)

Needles: US 10.5

Mods: none

Thoughts: This is super cute, and knit up super fast, even with the intarsia and the seaming. I knit it in two nights watching the Olympics back in August. Love it.

Pattern: Jive Turkey Baby Hat

Yarn: Sirdar Snuggly DK (brown), Berroco Comfort DK (white)

Needles: US 7

Mods: Knit with dk weight to size it down for bambino

Thoughts: Very Cute! Everyone loved it, so it was worth the knitting for something she barely wore.

Pattern: Baby Kimono from Summer 2005 Interweave (the very first knitting magazine I ever bought!)

Yarn: Mirasol Yarns Samp'a 3.1 skeins

Needles: US 5

Mods: none

Thoughts: Love this. This is the knit bambino is wearing most these days. Goes with everything, fits great, love the sheepy ribbon. Apologies for the tiny picture again. Will be knitting this again for future babies. Garter stitch, yum.....

There are a few more FOs to catch up on, and then actual knitting content, that I'm knitting right now! Shocking!

Turkey Lurkey Dee

2008-11-27T14:12:00.001-08:00

Things I'm thankful for this year:

1. Cute babies

2, Silly hats

3. Cute babies in silly hats

4. Knitting silly hats

5. Having a husband who sees a silly hat on ravelry, and says "You have to make that!"

Happy Thanksgiving from a bunch of turkeys!

Stopping by the Woods

2008-11-25T07:21:00.001-08:00

My last pattern for the Yarns Ewenique Sock Club, Ewenique Feet, comes out today.

Pattern: Stopping by the Woods

Yarn: Mountain Colors Bearfoot

Needles: 2.75mm

Dates: Last winter-November 22, 2008

The design features a row of candy canes at the top, then snow falling on pine trees. The foot is plain.

The sock also features a picot edge and an eye of partridge heel flap.

I really like this pattern, though the red yarn was a PITA to photograph. It will be available here and in my Ravelry store next year.

Second Sock Syndrome Slayed (for now)

2008-11-17T12:02:00.000-08:00

Apologies first of all, for the tiny pictures. I tried to steal them from my flickr account, and they turned out tiny. I buckled down before bambino arrived and finished up two long-suffering pairs of socks.

Pattern: Embossed Leaves by Mona Schmidt (who is my baby twin, almost!) from Interweave Winter 2005 and Favorite Socks

Yarn: Sweet Georgia in Life Aquatic (I hoarded this yarn for a long time)

Needles: 2.75mm Chiagoo DPNs

Dates: September 2007 (cast on itis land)-August 2008. But each sock was knit super fast when I worked on them

Mods: Regular ribbing at the top, slip stitch heel

Thoughts: Love them. Can't wait to wear them! The yarn is fab - very soft and so pretty. The pattern is great - just enough to keep you interested without having to consult the chart every row. Love it!
Pattern: Child's First Sock by Nancy Bush from Knitting Vintage Socks

Yarn: Rio de la Plata Merino Sock

Needles: 2.25mm Chiagoo DPNs

Dates: June 2007-August 2008

Mods: I added a repeat to make them larger around, and eliminated the pattern on the foot due to my inability to figure out how to make it work with that extra pattern repeat.

Thoughts: Love them too! The yarn is so nice - unbelievably soft and so nice to knit with. The pattern again here was great - just enough to keep my interest without being too complicated.

Would you believe that I have 3 socks sitting in the heel flap and 2 nearly there? I've got to get those heels turned and end the year finishing up some socks! In my baby knitting frenzy this summer I forgot how nice plain vanilla socks are - I'm trying to remedy that now!

Knitted Gifties

2008-11-15T12:44:00.000-08:00

Finally! A post showing (most of) the cute handmade gifts bambino received from my sweet friends.

My mom knit her first socks! Yippee for her! They will look very cute with bambino's xmas dress!
Blanket from my LYS lovelies - the color is way off, but lord knows how long it would take me to post this if I wait to take another picture. :) Each square has tiny footprints on it, and the colors are the same as the nursery colors - we love it!
Cutest crocheted dress I've ever seen! From my sweet friend Debora. Can't wait until spring when she can wear this! (Color is off here too a bit.)
Adorable sweater from my friend Angel - her first knitted garment! This is hubby's favorite gift, which I find amusing, since he hates froo-froo stuff. There is a cute hood back there too.
And a sweet, sweet dress, knitted by the Longhorn Diva herself! Adorable dress, booties and hairband. Can't wait to dress her up in this this winter!

I'm totally spoiled, as there are more blankets (knitted and crocheted), bibs, a cute clock, a quilt..... I love how I've discovered all these talented people just by having a baby! Many of my friends and co-workers have gifted us handcrafted things, and I just treasure them. Knowing how special these things are to me, makes it worth all the effort I put into gifts.

More knitting from my needles soon!

Happy Halloween!

2008-11-01T13:46:00.001-07:00

Here's my little duckie! Quack quack!

5 weeks

2008-10-27T13:49:00.000-07:00

Bambino is 5 weeks old - how did this happen already? She already seems so much bigger/older than she did when we brought her home. She holds her head up really well and likes to look at everything. She moves her arms and legs constantly when she's lying down. She still wants to be held all.the.time when she's sleeping, but we have gotten her to sleep with us at night.

I'm still knitting, as much as possible, usually balancing her on my chest. Her duck booties are done, and I'll share her costume on Friday or Saturday. I've started some new projects and I'll share those soon. I've also finally taken new pictures of the knitted gifts she's received, so I'll get those up too. But for now, baby love!

Baby, oh baby!

2008-10-04T19:44:00.000-07:00

I actually have a free minute, and two free hands to type this - a miracle!

Bambino (who needs a good internet nickname) was born Friday, September 19th, at 10:20 pm. She was 9 lbs, 1 oz and 21.5 inches long.

Quick birth story - on Tuesday the 16th, I was sent for a sono by my doctor. Sono showed baby weighed around 9 lbs. I was a bit nervous, since they had earlier said that she'd be 7.5 lbs. Big difference.

Dr. visit on Wednesday - doctor walked into the exam room and said "How about tonight?" Yikes. So not prepared for that. We opted to wait until Friday morning (when I said "How much bigger could she get in two days? Haha" doctor didn't reply. Gulp).

Spent most of (OK, all of) Wednesday night and Thursday freaking out. Put hubby in charge of telling/talking to everyone so I could freak out.

Friday, 3 am - called hospital to see if a bed was free. No room in the inn. Back to bed.

Friday, 6:30 am - called again. C'mon down!

Friday 7:30 am - arrive hospital. Sign forms, get IV.

Friday 9 am - Pitocin started. 1 cm dilated, 75% effaced. Can see contractions on the monitor, but wouldn't know I was having them if I wasn't watching the screen. They just feel like baby trying to force her way out butt first through my belly button.

Friday 2 pm - Dr. comes in - still at 1 cm - and breaks water (bizarre feeling!) to "get things moving." Now I can feel contractions and they don't feel nice

Friday 4:30ish - ask for pain relief (to my dismay). We decide to do epidural as dr is going into a c-section and won't be able to do it later soon. Hurts like heck. Epidural does not stop pain. Dr. returns to up dosage. About 30 minutes later pain relief kicks in. I'm at 2 cm.

Friday 5:30ish - my doctor leaves, I meet on-call doctor. I'm at nearly 3 cm. I get told to take a nap. Haha.

Friday 8 ish - They put in an internal monitor to see if the pitocin is making me contract "effectively." Still at 3cm.

Friday 9:30 - I'm contracting "right", but my body does not want baby coming out the "right" way. Doctor says I can stay on the pitocin and keep waiting, but I've been on the drugs for 12 hours, and I've only advanced 2 cm. We discuss c-section and decide that it is what is best for baby, to reduce the chance of an emergency c-section later. I cry a lot. I'm scared and upset that this hasn't gone the way I planned.

Friday 10 pm - I'm whisked off to the OR. It is VERY cold in the OR. Hubby arrives about 10:15.

Friday 10:20 - She's out! 10 fingers and toes. Beautiful.

In the end, we had a healthy baby, regardless of how I wanted things to go. The doctors and nurses were great, very sweet and patient with me. When the doctor opened me up she said "She is a big one!" We're pretty sure she was the biggest baby in the nursery. Everyone who came into our room said "So you're the one who had the 9 pounder!" It was a bit like being a celebrity, in a bizarre way.

We stayed in the hospital until Sunday night. I was very sore and very frustrated that I needed so much help when we got home. Nursing was tough for several days, but we seem to have it down now. She's not sleeping unless she's being held, hence the lack of blog post. But we took her to bed with us, and we all slept last night, even if it wasn't through the night. Praise the lord.

More pictures will trickle in, I'm sure, and I still have several unblogged FOs, and more projects started. No knitting for now though, until she'll let me put her down.

Oh, and my momma won the contest, so mom, you need to think about what you want your prize to be. Thanks to all who entered. Must go relieve dad of holding duty and get ready for bed. Thank you for all your good wishes and thoughts. I'll try not to be a stranger around here!

Where's the baby?

2008-09-02T17:58:00.001-07:00

I've got lots to share, but I wanted to get the baby contest posted, before she arrives! Leave a comment with your guess of date, weight, and length and the winner will receive a prize (knitters and non-knitters are free to enter - I can come up with separate prizes!). Just to be fair - my due date is September 20, and I am not dilated yet.
So - enter away! More to come this week - so long as baby holds off!

Random Wednesday

2008-08-20T18:08:00.000-07:00

1. Computer is still broken. Pictures are still inside it. I do have some that I already uploaded to flickr (finished knits), so I will have some photo content at some point. Soon I hope.

2. Teachers reported back on Monday. Boo Hiss, summer is over.

3. My classroom, which I spent hours setting up in June, as I knew I wouldn't be able to move furniture in August, had EVERYTHING removed and then dumped back into the room. And two tables, my rocking chair and a bookcase are missing. Another bookcase is broken. Grrr.

4. It is taking me FOREVER to set up my room, due to #3, my hugeness/slowness, and the fact that hubbo now works on the other side of town and can't just run over after school to help.

5. My principal is making me team teach and I don't want to. :(

6. Baby is head-down! And there was much rejoicing!

7. Baby's room is nearly ready - all we really need is a mattress for the crib, and some pictures hung on the wall. Two showers this weekend should take care of the little odds and ends we're still missing.

8. Saved 30 cents/gallon today thanks to my MILs Tom Thumb card. Yippee!

9. Knit my dishrag, mailed it off the next day for dishrag tag. Haven't knit a stitch since, and won't probably until knitting tomorrow night.

10. Have a baby sweater and a sweater for me waiting for finishing. Don't want to seam.

11. Have fabric washed and ready to sew a baby dress and cloth wipes. No time to sew.

I'm sure there is more I wanted to share, but I'm exhausted. So glad there is no more gymnastics or swimming - I can go to bed early tonight!

Grrr

2008-08-13T21:12:00.000-07:00

My f***** computer is on the fritz again - and it wouldn't be such a big deal if the pictures from the shower and the sock pattern that is due tomorrow weren't locked inside it. And this is after we paid over $1000 to have it fixed two separate times last year. Cross your fingers - we can't afford a new computer right now, and I'm not paying to have it fixed again.

Sweet Baby Sweaters

2008-08-05T19:34:00.000-07:00

The finishing roll continues around here with two new sweaters for the bean.

Pattern: February Baby Sweater from EZ's Knitter's Almanac
Yarn: Mirasol Contani - just over 3 skeins
Needles: Sz 8 Clover bamboo circulars and dpns
Dates: Um, May-July 2008
Mods: I put the stitches for the sleeves on waste yarn, finished knitting the body and went back and knit the sleeves in the round - much better!
Thoughts: This seemed to drag for a while, but it went very fast when I actually worked on it. It is very cute and has adorable sheepy buttons too!

Pattern: Provence Baby Cardigan from Classic Elite
Yarn: Classic Elite Provence
Needles: Sz 6 Clover bamboo circulars
Dates: May or June-July 2008
Mods: none
Thoughts: I did pick up too many stitches for the button bands, so they flare a bit, but I can live with it. This is very cute, and will hopefully fit the babe around Easter time.

I've nearly finished another sweater (needs ribbon) and one that just needs a sleeve, so more are on their way! I've also got two pairs of socks almost done and a pair of slippers. And an adult sweater that just needs one sleeve and finishing.

I debated joining the Ravelypics (or however they are spelling it), in WIP wrestling, but I don't want to commit, 'cause then I won't get anything done! I don't think I can get the WIPs down to 10 before the babe's arrival, but it will be close.

I've got very cute baby gifts to post pictures of - the sweeties at my LYS threw me a shower on Sunday, and I was spoiled. I hopefully will get pictures of them tomorrow, if it doesn't rain. (But I am hoping for rain, so fingers crossed!)

Things here are good beyond that - the nursery is nearly done (pics when it is), we bought a new car - pictures soon. I have my 33.5 week check-up tomorrow - everything has been fine so far - she's not headdown yet, so I'm nervous about getting her turned around so I don't have to have a c-section. I know I have a few weeks yet, but I'll be talking to the doctor about when she needs to be ready to go before we have to make that decision. I'm trying not to melt (It has been 100-107 here the last 17 days or something crazy like that), and I'm trying to get all my ducks in a row for the first few weeks of school, and then having stuff ready for the sub. Crazy!

OK, this has turned into a novel - oh, but for those who have been asking - she is due September 20. More knitting soon!

Scarves and booties

2008-07-31T05:30:00.000-07:00

More FOs on parade today!

Pattern: Isobel (can't remember the link)
Yarn: 1 skein Claudia Hand Painted Sport
Needles: sz US 8 DPNs
Dates: sometime last fall-July 2008
Mods: no fringe
Thoughts: edges curl under even with severe blocking. Oh well - it is still pretty. The repeat was easy to memorize and went quickly when I worked on it!

Pattern: Branching Out from Knitty
Yarn: 1 skein Claudia Hand Painted Sport
Needles: sz US 8 DPNs
Dates: sometime last fall-July 2008
Mods: none
Thoughts: very pretty - even hubby commented on it. Also went quickly when worked on.

Pattern: Magic Slippers
Yarn: Hill Country Yarns Sweet Feet
Needles: Sz US 3 DPNs
Dates: July 2008
Mods: um, none that I remember
Thoughts: They seem really small. And this picture of them sucks - they are cuter in real life.

Pattern: Saartje's Bootees
Yarn: leftover Mirasol Hacho
Needles: I think size 3.....
Dates: June 2008 - buttons sewn on in July
Mods: none
Thoughts: not sure I like the white buttons - I may switch them for some yellow ones. And this picture is the worst of the bunch, but I know if I wait to retake it, I'll never get this posted.

The finishing continues, though I sorely want to cast on for a February Lady Sweater - I think it would be great for the fall when I'm nursing. However, I am showing great restraint, since I'm excited about the numbers of things getting done around here. Maybe I'll start it when school starts, and try to finish it up before the bean gets here. At any rate, I'm off to try to finish a sleeve today, and maybe a baby sweater!

Again with the friggin sideways pictures! I don't think it's a blogger issue, I think it has to do with my iphoto program and my camera, but I don't know how to fix it, and I don't know they are going to be sideways until I upload them, and frankly, once they're uploaded, I'm out of blogging time, so I don't want to mess with them. My apologies - they were crappy pictures anyway.

Socks!

2008-07-25T04:57:00.000-07:00

It is summer, and that means socks. To help me finish up some pairs, I ripped out 3 pairs that weren't working - my Solstice Slip socks - couldn't get into the pattern, my Diagonal Rib socks - again, couldn't get into the pattern, and a pair for hubbo that were turning out too big.

This week I finished one pair, and I can show you a pair I finished a few weeks ago.

Pattern: Reversai from Sock Madness
Yarn: BMFA Lightweight in Watermelon Tourmaline (my first skein of STR ever!)
Needles: 2.25 Chiagoo DPNs
Dates: March-July 2008
Mods: longer cuff (not really a mod, but most folks seemed to make the shorter one.)
Thoughts: I enjoyed the stitch pattern and the overall construction of the sock - I was just too lazy to finish it!

Pattern: Up the Down Staircase (MY pattern! for the Yarns Ewenique Sock Club)
Yarn: Claudia Hand Painted Fingering
Needles: 2.5 Chaigoo DPNs
Dates: sometime last year (to get gauge and figure out the stitch pattern) to July 2008
Mods: n/a
Thoughts: I love them, of course!

I've also managed to finish up the first sock for hubbo (2x2 ribbing may kill me), and the first sock of a plain set for me. I've got the second sock of my Child's First Sock pair through the heel, so that should be done soon, and I want to finish the second Embossed Leaves sock.

The finishing train continues to hang out here - I have a crazy goal of having 10 active WIPs by the time the baby is born (it's around 26 now) - we'll see if I can make it - I have 8 weeks!

The Trouble with Finishing

2008-07-22T19:58:00.000-07:00

I sat and had a finishing marathon this weekend - and it was worth it, as you'll see, but it also has a downside - stay tuned.

Pattern: Pinwheel Baby Blanket
Yarn: Cotton Ease - old colors
Needles: Sz 8 Clover bamboo DPNs and Circulars
Dates: Late June-July 18
Mods: none
Thoughts: I really hate this pattern at the beginning (it's so fiddly having those few stitches on the big DPNs), but I really enjoy it by the end. I wish I had made this a bit bigger, but I needed to finish it, as it is a gift. I predict there will be more of these in the future.

Pattern: Duck Hood from Debbie Bliss' Kid's Knits for Heads, Hands and Toes
Yarn: Berocco Comfort DK
Needles: Sz 7 and 3
Dates: um, June something to July 20
Mods: no foam in the beak
Thoughts: So cute! This is part of the bean's Halloween costume, per her dad's request. I'm working on the booties to go with (the ones from 50 Baby Bootees to Knit), and then we have to find her a yellow "outfit" to wear with.

Pattern: Ladybird Hat from the same book as the duck hat
Yarn: Wool Gotto
Needles: Sz 7 and 3
Dates: June something to July 20
Mods: none
Thoughts: Much cuter on a baby than shown here - the antennae don't stand up as well as I would like, but they are still cute. I may tack down the tops of them to keep them standing up.

Pattern: Olive You hat from Itty-Bitty Hats
Yarn: Sublime Merino, Tahki Cotton Classic and scraps of Rowan Cotton Glace
Needles: Sz 7 Addi's
Dates: June/May to July 20
Mods: I duplicate stitched on the pimentos, and didn't add them to the back.
Thoughts: Very cute! This is a gift (to go with the blanket), and I think the mom will love it. I love it!

There are several other finished knits, but I need to stretch the blog fodder for as long as possible!

The bad thing about all this finishing? Everything else that needs to be finished isn't so close to being finished as to finish in a day or so. So it may be a while before I have any more finished knits. However, if I stretch out the ones that are already finished, y'all may never notice! :)

I don't understand why my computer insists on turning some of the pictures. When I try to manually turn them back, it turns them again, and when I undo my manual turning, it has them turned. Argh! And it seems to pick and choose the ones it wants to turn, as all of these were taken "right side up." Grrr.

Odds and Ends

2008-07-17T05:14:00.000-07:00

I'm really tired of apologizing for not blogging more. There are two ways to solve this problem - blog more, or stop apologizing. We'll see which one happens.

We've been busy bees around here - we visited my parents for a week up in Indiana, and since we've been back we've been doing house projects to get ready for the little one. Nothing really spectacular (and thus not really blog worthy), but we've cleaned out the room that will be hers (and this really was blog worthy, but I didn't take a before picture) - this involved the sewing table, three bookcases and hubby's desk moving into our (small) bedroom. I got a new desk (secretary) which will stay in her room for the time being, as we have nowhere else to put it. At least it closes up so we can't see my mess. The yarn still lives in her closet, but there is nowhere else for that to go either, and really, her clothes don't take up too much space right now! Hubby built her a lovely Ikea wardrobe for her hanging things, built a dresser for the others, hung shelves for goodies, replaced the ceiling fan, and I hung curtains. Now we just need a crib, something that keeps going in and out of stock at Target. Grrr. Pictures when her room is complete.

I've also kept hubby busy replacing the bathtub doors with a shower curtain in the hall bath, hanging shelves in our room, finally putting the "cover" pieces on two of the kitchen cabinets and putting in a filler piece around the turntable cabinet, putting a weather strip on the bottom of the front door, powerwashing the old paint off the trim, building a bench/kitty litter box for the kitchen, and stripping and sanding and painting new doors for all the rooms in the house (4). Whew! His only remaining big projects are to finish the doors, stain the bench, paint the window trim (inside and out) and clean/reorganize the garage. Oh, and build a crib when we get one. And he goes to four days of training next week, then back to work August 4th. It will be a miracle if it all gets done before the bean gets here.

I've been busy with a list of my own, mostly involving Christmas gifts that I can't show here and that aren't knitted (gasp!). I've got six gifts done, and our "family" gift that everyone gets - which is usually an ornament, but not this year! It needs just a few more things, and it's done. I'm also nearly done with the advent calendar I started last year right before Christmas, and I've finished embroidering the valances for the kitchen (pictures after hubby hangs the new curtain rods). I've been writing lesson plans and unit plans for novels for my sub, which isn't too much fun, but necessary if I want things to be done. Just a few more things to do, and I'll be mostly ready for her to take the class.

I have been knitting a bit, but these other things have taken a priority. I didn't knit much on the drive to Indiana, as it was a bit too warm with the sun shining in (and I'm warm all the time now). I did manage to finish up a scarf when we got home that needs to be blocked, and I'm close to being done with a baby blanket for a friend, but all the other knits are in pretty much the same state they have been. My list for today includes finishing up things that are nearly finished so I'll have blog fodder!

I do have some fodder for you. The lovely Theresa sent this cute washcloth for the bean - too cute! Thanks Theresa! The bean also received two handknit bibs from mom (not yet photographed), and a cute hat from a knitting/crochet buddy.

(I don't know why the picture is sideways, but I don't have the energy to deal with it. My apologies)

I've got some new yarn to show off, yarn store reviews, book reviews, and hopefully finished objects to share. I really do want to get back into the "groove" of blogging. I've been reading everyone else's blog, so I'm not sure what my excuse is, beyond lack of pictures.

Sorry for the novel post here - but thanks for reading this far! Oh, and I'm going to have a contest when we get closer to delivery, so stay tuned for that! Have a great Thursday!

Baby sweaters

2008-06-25T14:17:00.000-07:00

Last of the FOs for a bit here - but more are en route - just as soon as I get some of that nasty finishing done. I sat and forced myself to "finish" for a few days last week - allowing all of these FOs. Perhaps this weekend will bring another batch.

Pattern: Baby Bolero from One Skein by Leigh Radford
Yarn: Manos Cotton Stira - leftover from mom's sweater last year.
Needles: Sz 8 Clover Bamboo circular
Dates: May-June 2008
Mods: I tried to knit it a bit bigger, since the pattern is sized for a newborn and it will probably still be hot here when she is born.
Thoughts: Would have been done much sooner if I wasn't such a loser when it comes to sitting down and finishing things!

Pattern: Baby Surprise Jacket from EZ's The Opinionated Knitter
Yarn: Mirasol Hacho - 2.5 skeins
Needles: Sz 6 Clover bamboo circular
Dates: April-May 2008 (buttons sewn on in June)
Mods: none!
Thoughts: My gauge is spot on, but this looks big. It's a little frustrating to not know what size it is, especially since we get so few months that are cold enough for a sweater. That being said, there's no guarantee she'll fit into anything when the pattern says she will!

Pattern: Encore Worsted Colorspun Worsted Toddler Cardigan
Yarn: Encore Worsted (only 1 skein- pattern called for 2) and Ella Rae Amity (for trim)
Needles: Sz 5 and 7 Addi Turbo circulars
Dates: April-June 2008
Mods: using the contrast color for the buttonband and collar
Thoughts: My gauge was a little small, but this is a shop sample, so we don't have to worry about it fitting a "real" baby. This is for our sweater construction class that is coming up at the end of July - I hope we'll have some takers as this will be one of the last classes I get to teach for a while!

I started my summer of socks project - but I'll save that excitement for next time!

Baby hats on Parade!

2008-06-23T04:46:00.000-07:00

Baby hats are really almost like the dessert of knitting. They are quick, easy, cute, use little yarn, and provide instant gratification. No wonder I've got four down, one that needs finishing and another on the needles.

Pattern: Sweet Baby Cap
Yarn: Hill Country Yarns Sweet Feet
Needles: Sz US 3 Clover bamboo DPNs
Mods: I think I did more repeats of the chevron pattern than the pattern called for - it was hard to tell if they meant 8 more rows or 8 more repeats.
Thoughts: Very cute and easy, once I got into the rhythm of the chevron pattern. I also like how the striping changed as the hat got smaller.

Pattern: Bunny Tails from Itty Bitty Hats
Yarn: Sublime Cashmerino (I think that's what it's called)
Needles: Sz US 7 Clover Bamboo circulars and DPNs
Mods: I didn't gather the bottom of the ear as the pattern calls for - I like it this way.
Thoughts: Thanks to a very lovely raveler, I was able to finish these. I was trying to eek this hat out with the leftovers from another hat that needs finishing, but I was short just below the ears. She graciously sent me almost 1/2 ball of her leftovers, so the ears were saved. :)

Pattern: Cherry-O! from Itty Bitty Hats
Yarn: Leftovers Knitpicks Merino Style in Petal and something else
Needles: sz US 7 Clover Bamboo Circulars and DPNs
Mods: No cherries - I like just the stripes, so I'm leaving it this way for now.
Thoughts: Cute!

Pattern: Inca Baby Hat from Kid's Knits for Heads, Hands, and Toes by Debbie Bliss (now out of print)
Yarn: Berroco Comfort DK in 7 colors (leftovers from the petal hat and two more colors)
Needles: sz US 6 Addi Turbo circulars and Clover bamboo DPNs
Mods: My row gauge was off, so I added some stripes after the people and before the top shaping. I also changed up a few of the colors to use what I already had.
Thoughts: I wish the bottom didn't still flip up (even after a crochet edging), but perhaps steam will help.

Next up - baby sweaters!

Alive and well

2008-06-20T04:49:00.001-07:00

I'm here! I'm not sure what happened to cause the delay in posting (well, I do know that I had dead camera batteries for part of the time), but I'll chalk it up to laziness. Why is it so hard to post these days? The baby's not even here yet! I'm going to be awful after that. I'm going to try really hard to do at least a post a week this summer to get myself into a routine, and maybe that will help.

I do have lots of finished things to show you, but I'll spread them out for the sake of blog fodder.

These two have been finished the longest, so they get to go first. In fact, they've been sitting around since the end of May, pictures taken and all, waiting to be shown off.

Pattern: Ribbons Baby Blanket by Fiber Trends
Yarn: Sublime Organic Cotton DK (LOVE!)
Needles: Sz US 8 DPNs, 16" circular and 29" circular bamboo
Dates: March-May 2008
Mods: Um, I know I did something different at the end, but I don't remember what and I don't have the pattern in front of me to check, and if I wait to post this because of that, it will be another two weeks before y'all hear from me. So just ignore this part.
Thoughts: I love this. It was a quick knit, once I actually spent time with it, though the eight rounds of purling when I got to the long rows nearly killed me. Totally worth it for the look though. I love that it is reversible, and I love the colors. I cannot say enough good things about this yarn. It is wonderfully soft, not too splitty, and did I mention the softness? Go get you some.

Pattern: generic top down sock over 72 stitches with heel flap.
Yarn: Sunshine Yarns in Peppermint (I think, I've lost the ball band)
Needles: Sz 1 Chiagoo bamboo DPNs
Mods: picot top
Thoughts: Glad these are done - not sure what took me so long, other than a lack of knitting during the first trimester, and putting them aside to work on Christmas knitting. The yarn was very nice to work with, and I love the colors. This are all ready for Christmas!

In other excitement, I've decided not to set any knitting goals for the time being - too much stress. I do want to finish up some long lingering knits though, and try to pull myself off the baby hat train (there are only so many days in a week, she doesn't really need a hat for every day, does she?). And, since the Summer of Socks starts today, and I didn't sign up, as I am a KAL failure, I do have my own personal goal - finish up some of these socks! Some may get frogged, and that's OK. But I've got two pairs with 1 1/2 socks done, two with 1 sock done, and way too many with one sock started. I need to get them cleared out. I'd also like to finish up some sweaters that are relatively close to being done, and we have a big car trip to visit my parents coming up, so I'm looking forward to some car knitting time. Must get some of this done before the baby gets here! Oh, and I'd like to finish some Christmas gifts too.

Wait, are those goals? Did I just set goals after I said I wouldn't? Oh well.

Thwarted by weather

2008-05-29T18:17:00.000-07:00

I was all ready to come home and post Tuesday - and we had no power all night. Thanks to the measly rain that fell earlier that day. I was a wee bit pissed. And last night we had to go out to dinner on Hubby's demand, so I was exhausted when we got home - no post.

Finally - a FO I'm really really proud of, and that took way too long to finish.

Pattern: Icarus from Interweave Knits and Best of Interweave by Miriam Felton
Yarn: Knitpicks Alpaca Cloud in Sky Blue (I think)- 2 skeins
Needles: Sz 3 Clover circulars and Addi Lace
Dates: December 2006-May 2008
Mods: none
Thoughts: The needles made all the difference on this knit. I started it on the Clovers, as that's what I had, and the tiny yarn caught every time on the join. I probably spent more time moving stitches than knitting. But the purchase of the Addi Lace needles last summer considerably sped up the knitting process, and I would have been finished much sooner if not for other obligations (Christmas knitting, I'm looking at you) and the somewhat monotony of the first chart (Gah - I was sick of it by the last repeat!). But the edging is beautiful and I really enjoyed the last bit. At least I learned my lesson - I need more pattern in a shawl to keep my interest.

I did get to use my blocking wires (that I received Christmas 2006) for the first time, and I'm not sure I used them correctly, but they worked great for the top edge, and I pinned out each point individually. This ended up so bit it almost didn't fit on my blocking surface (The Girl's bed).

Overall, I"m really really pleased with it. It is lovely and soft and now, if I only had a place to wear it (or anything that fit to wear it with!)

I've got tons of other UFOs, but I've been bitten by the baby knits bug bad, and they will most likely remain UFOs for the forseeable future. More FOs soon!

I can still finish things!

2008-05-22T14:47:00.000-07:00

Proof that I don't only start projects, and that I am still knitting, contrary to what the contents of the recent blog entries would have you believe - finished knits!!

Some of these have been finished for a bit, but they were gifts, so they had to wait to have their turn in the spotlight.

Pattern: Reverse-Bloom Washcloth from Weekend Knitting
Yarn: Baby Bee Pitter Patter (Hobby Lobby brand) - barely a skotch of it
Needles: Sz 6 Circular and DPNs
Dates: Um, early May until early May?
For: Mom
Mods: none
Thoughts - goes surprisingly quickly, especially after you get into the rhythm of the petals. That said, I chose not to make another for my MIL for her gift. But I do need to use up the TONS of this yarn I have (OK, I think I only have five skeins, but since this project didn't even put a dent in one skein, I'll be knitting lots of washcloths).

Pattern: Feather and Fan Bonnet from Larissa at stitch marker
Yarn: Cantina cotton, 1/2 ball
Needles: Sz 6 Circular
Dates: sometime in April -May
For: two summer babies
Mods: none
Thoughts: I like this so much I made it twice! We have two friends having baby girls this summer, and I didn't want to suffocate them with wool gifts. I remembered I had this odd-ball of yarn in the stash (purchased a few years ago to get me up to Little Knits $25 minimum purchase). Cotton is good for those summer babies, and I thought the colors would look summery as well. Delightfully, I had enough yarn to make 2 bonnets, and bust a ball of the stash! Woo Hoo!

Pattern: Cherry-O! from Itty Bitty Hats
Yarn: Rowan Handknit Cotton
Needles: Sz 7 Addi Turbo
Dates: April-May
For: Shop sample
Mods: none
Thoughts: When I make this again (and I probably will, as the baby will need one), I'll go down a needle size for the cheeries, as you can see the stuffing coming through. I also really didn't like the cotton/addi combination - it hurt my hands and this took longer than it should have as a result.

I've got ~~one~~ TWO! more FO(s) up my sleeve, but they deserve their own posts. I'm hoping to get a lot of knitting done on our extra day off Monday. 10 more days of school! Now if my principal would just make up her mind about whether I'm teaching summer school or not (kind of crunch time here!) and what grade I'm teaching next year, that'd be great.

Baby knits

2008-05-17T17:30:00.000-07:00

My sister asked the other day if I had started knitting for the baby - I have, even though you haven't seen them yet. Here goes:

Sweet Baby Cap in HIll Country Yarns Sweet Feet

Baby Bolero from One Skein in Manos Cotton Stira

Ribbons Baby Blanket in Sublime Organic Coton

Baby Surprise Jacket in Mirasol Hacho

February Baby Sweater in Mirasol Sulka (I think)

I'm starting to think that she's going to be naked if I don't get moving. Luckily, only 3 more weeks of school left, so hopefully I can get some more stuff knit up.

Again, apologies for my bloggy absence - it's been tough as I seem to be thwarted by the camera - it is either dead or only takes blurry pictures, but I do have some FOs to share - hopefully soon!

Thanks for hanging in there!

Sex?

2008-05-05T19:48:00.001-07:00

Break out the pink yarn - she's a girl!

Everything Grows

2008-04-22T20:09:00.000-07:00

Ok, not everything - hubby finally got the tree chopped up and it is killing our grass, waiting for the city to pick it up sometime next week.

But the garden is growing (corn),

as is my tummy. Finally showing a little this week, which should shut up everyone who keeps saying "Are you still wearing your normal clothes?" and "Why aren't you showing yet?" (But I am still wearing most of my clothes.)

We find out the sex next week - exciting!

And the knitting has been growing as well, but with the crazy last 10 days we've had I've got no pictures. Tomorrow looks slower though, so fingers crossed.

FO Retrospective

2008-04-13T09:35:00.000-07:00

OK, I suppose only one of these is really a retrospective, since I finished the other two this week, but at any rate, there is proof that I've been finishing things - and best of all, these were all gifts!

Pattern: Shrug This from One Skein Wonders
Yarn: Elann Highland Wool Chunky - about 3 skeins
Needles: Sz US 10 Clover Bamboo Circular
Dates: February 2008-March 1, 2008
Mods: Did more increases than the pattern called for, thus adding width and length. From Ravelry I learned that it ran quite a bit small, so I measured as I went and tried to make it fit my SIL's approximate measurements.
Thoughts: Quick, easy, but frustrating that the pattern really doesn't turn out a wearable size unless you modify it. I hope it fit my SIL - it was her birthday gift, but I haven't heard yet if it was a success.

Pattern: Simple Baby Cap #2 from Itty Bitty Hats
Yarn: Berroco Comfort DK (yellow) and worsted (purple)
Needles: Sz 7 Addi Turbo 16" Circular and Clover bamboo DPNs
Dates: Monday April 7-Thursday April 10.
Mods: I added the yellow brim as this is a gift for an LSU lovin' family.
Thoughts: Simple, easy baby hat. Made a lot of progress at knitting Thursday night. Maybe I should knit a baby hat every Thursday night!

Pattern: Flore from Knitwhits
Yarn: Berroco Comfort DK in green, lt. blue, lt. purple, pink and yellow - tiny bits of each
Needles: Sz 6 Addi Turbos and Sz 6 Boye 16" Circulars (clover bamboo DPNs for the top)
Dates: March 2008-April 6, 2008
Mods: none, other than changing the colors from the pattern suggestions
Thoughts: I was really nervous that this would be so fiddly that I wouldn't want to work on it. However, it went fairly quickly, and even the tacking down of each individual petal didn't take too long. It is super cute, and I would make it again.

I have been working on some other projects and maybe starting some new ones. More on them later this week (I hope). Oh, and the tree? Still hanging on the power line. C'mon power company!

Rotten Eye Candy

2008-04-11T15:55:00.000-07:00

What we're dealing with this week. Two days, and no sign of the power company who are supposed to come get the tree off the power line. Thank you Texas storms. (And of course, it wasn't the two dead branches on the other tree, nor any of the branches that just needed to be pruned. Of course not.)

Single Sock Syndrome Strikes Again!

2008-04-06T06:11:00.000-07:00

Sorry 'bout that break in posting - first I didn't have pictures, then I didn't have a cord to connect camera to computer, then Sock Madness round 2 started and I didn't have time to blog. I did finish my first sock on Friday (after working all week and being struck down with allergies), but sadly, I am out as of last night. :( On the upside, I am half a sock away from having a pair, and I love the pattern and yarn, so I'm happy with my new pair-to-be of socks. And, if I like the upcoming patterns, I'll probably keep knitting along. We'll see though, since I have some April goals to meet.

I did better than I hoped on my March goals, even though I totally sucked at them. Too much Sock Madness and housework over Spring Break really interfered with the knitting time.

March Goals:
Finish Log Cabin Blanket - DONE
Finish Embossed Leaves socks - one done
Finish Child's First socks - one done
Finish the peppermint socks - one done
Finish Devon - DONE
Work on Icarus (get through the repeats of chart 1) - DONE
Work on Rogue (up to the armholes?) - nope
Finish one front of Bristow - nope
Finish one front of Cambridge Jacket - nope
Finish front of Salina - nope
Work on Buttony - nope
Work on Isobel - a few rows
Finish half of mystery knit - 1/4 done
Finish one Solstice Slip sock - not touched

April Goals -

Finish Flore
Finish Embossed Leaves
Finish Child's First Socks
Finish peppermint socks
Finish Icarus
Sock Madness - I'm out already!
Shop model
LSU baby hat
Work on baby blanket
Start something for the baby
Work on Salina
Blog at least 2x week

I'd really like to work more Project Spectrum into my knits, but I'm trying (for the most part) to finish, and not start things. So we'll see. My April Goals are much more manageable than my March (and February), so I hope I can finish some things.

I'm looking forward to finishing Icarus so I can start some new lace projects. I have all the repeats of Chart 1 done, so it's just 3 small charts and I'm done! I think these charts will go much more quickly, not just because they are "shorter" but because they are more interesting than chart 1.

It also appears that I've joined the single sock movement again, since I have four lonely single socks right now.

Embossed Leaves and Reversai

Child's First Sock and Peppermint sock

However, all but Embossed Leaves have a mate started, so there is hope for them (and me) yet. I've really been enjoying the patterned sock lately, so I'm hoping to see more of those in the near future. We'll see though, with all these baby knits coming up!

OK - I've got to complete goal #1 today, as it is for a birthday present that I have to deliver this afternoon. I'll try to keep up with that last goal - with the nice weather and sunshine, picture taking is much easier, so hopefully that will help. Have a great Sunday!

Spring Break Knits

2008-03-24T19:05:00.000-07:00

First, thank you for all the well-wishes - we are very excited here.

We did manage to finish quite a few projects over spring break, and I'll lead with what you really care about - the knitwear.

Pattern: Zombie Socks from Sock Madness
Yarn: Socks that Rock Lightweight in Lenore
Needles: Chiagoo DPNs 2.75mm
Dates: Thursday March 13-Thursday March 20
Mods: none
Thoughts: very stretchy sock. Even though my gauge was perfect, these are a little big. But they turned out fine besides that, and I'll still wear them. The yarn bled all over my needles and my fingers, so I'll be careful washing them.

Pattern: Log Cabin Blanket
Yarn: Caron Simply Soft in 5 colors
Needles: Sz 8 Susan Bates Circulars
Dates: Um, August 2006-March 2008. Yikes
Mods: none
Thoughts: This didn't turn out as big as I had originally envisioned, but I just needed it to be done. It was gifted to The Girl for her 10th birthday on Friday, and she seems to really like it, so that's good.

Pattern: Devon from Magknits
Yarn: Rowan Cotton Glace - 1.5 balls in white, purple and green and just over 2.5 balls in brown
Needles: Sz 3 Susan Bates Circulars
Dates: September? 2007-March 2008
Thoughts: This has been mostly done since the end of January - I ran out of brown and kept forgetting to buy another ball, and then I had to spend 3 hours weaving in ends. Ugh. But it fits great, and I really like the colors, so overall a winner.

I did get a bit of other knitting progress made, but I'll save that fodder for another day!

Eye Candy Friday

2008-03-21T18:31:00.000-07:00

Hopefully this will fully explain the lack of knitting and blogging around here! This little knitter is due in September, and you can expect some baby knits to show up soon!

2 more days

2008-03-13T04:17:00.000-07:00

Until Spring Break. I think I can, I think I can.

Nothing like waiting until almost the ides to post the goals for the month, eh?

February pretty much sucked for the knitting - let's take a look.
February Goals:
Knit at least 8 panels of Log Cabin Blanket (take on retreat) - NOT DONE
Finish fingerless gloves for hubbo DONE
Finish hat for hubbo DONE
Finish Zuluknitty socks DONE
Finish Embossed Leaves socks NOT DONE
Finish Child's First socks ONE DONE
Finish at least one peppermint sock ONE 3/4 DONE
Finish Devon NOT DONE
Work on Icarus (get through the repeats of chart 1) ONE MORE REPEAT TO GO
Work on Rogue (up to the armholes?) NOT TOUCHED
Finish one front of Bristow HAHA
Finish one front of Cambridge Jacket NOPE
Finish front of Salina NOT EVEN CLOSE
Work on Buttony NOT TOUCHED
Finish Noro Scarf - DONE
Work on Isobel NOT TOUCHED
Finish half of mystery knit NOPE
Finish one Solstice Slip sock HAHAHA - ONE REPEAT DONE

It's pretty sad really. So the March goals become easy.

March Goals
February Goals:
Finish Log Cabin Blanket
Finish Embossed Leaves socks
Finish Child's First socks
Finish the peppermint socks
Finish Devon
Work on Icarus (get through the repeats of chart 1)
Work on Rogue (up to the armholes?)
Finish one front of Bristow
Finish one front of Cambridge Jacket
Finish front of Salina
Work on Buttony
Work on Isobel
Finish half of mystery knit
Finish one Solstice Slip sock

I'm hopeful that with 10 days of Spring Break coming up I can get most of this done. Don't laugh too hard.

I've also got my yarn wound and I need to grab some needles to get ready for SOCK MADNESS!! The only hope I have is to make it through round one, since it will be spring break. Fingers crossed.

With all this upcoming time off I hope to take some pictures of WIPs for you, and do an update of where things are. Right after I spring clean the house, put in a garden, do something about the muddy patches in the back yard, plant flowers in the front of the house, purge the closets, purge the bookshelves, clean out the garage, reorganize the study, learn to quilt and clean up the knitting corner. Just a few things on my to-do list.

In like a Lion

2008-03-03T19:19:00.000-08:00

March is here, and with it, my first spring cold. With left me with little energy to knit all weekend. I did finish one project, but you will have to wait for pictures until it has been blocked. But, I did count up the number of projects I took and we have a winner!

I took 18 projects, so with a guess of 17 Chris is the winner!

I hope to be back soon with March goals and whatnot, but I've got to take my congested self off to bed now.

Ketchup

2008-02-27T16:44:00.000-08:00

I really have been knitting! Need proof?

Pattern: My generic 72 st sock with heel flap and gusset.
Needles: Chiagoo sz 2.25 mm DPNs
Yarn: Scout's Swag in Zuluknitty.
Dates: Um, September 2007-February 1, 2008.
Mods: none
Thoughts: I love these socks. I love the colors. I love how they sort-of stripe. I LOVE the base yarn. I've worn them twice and it'd be more if I did more laundry. Love. Go get some yarn people. Run! Now I really want to knit up my other two skeins of Scouty-goodness. Yum.

Pattern: Improvised hat - basic hat pattern with garter border.
Yarn: Mission Falls 1824 Superwash wool in the new tricolor.
Needles: Sz 7 or 8 Clover bamboo DPNs
Dates: January 2008-February 1, 2008.
Mods: Hubby really wanted an earflap hat, so that was the original intent. However, after I'd finished the hat part, and was going to go back and add the flaps, he decided he liked it the way it was. Voila!
Thoughts: Love this yarn too - so squishy!

Pattern: Fingerless gloves from Weekend Knitting - Ann Budd
Yarn: Knitpicks Wool of the Andes in Mist - about 1.5 skeins
Needles: Sz 7 or 8 Clover bamboo circulars
Dates: January 2008-February 1, 2008
Mods: None!
Thoughts: He seems to really like them and has worn them on the few cold days we've had.

Pattern: 1x1 ribbed scarf, inspired by all the other ones in the world.
Yarn: Noro Silk Garden, and I can't remember the two colors.
Needles: Sz 8 Clover Bamboo
Dates: October 2007-February 25, 2008
Mods: None
Thoughts: Don't know why it took me so long to finish, but I love it. My only complaint was with one ball of Silk Garden that kept pulling apart, leaving me with way too many extra ends. Wore it today and got tons of compliments. It really is pretty.

OK! Now that I'm all caught up with FOs, I wanted to share some fun with you. My LYS is having a retreat this weekend. All knitting, all the time. I'm really hoping to come home with some more finished objects. But a little wager has arisen. Apparently there is a pool to see how many projects I will bring. Funny, right?

In keeping with all fairness, I think y'all should get a shot at a prize too. So, you are invited to take your own guess, and the winner will receive a little goodie from the stash. To keep it fair, let me tell you that I currently have 40 WIPs. I hope to finish up two of those before we leave, but no promises. However, there is always the possibility that I will start new projects (at least I can admit this, right?).

TO PLAY:
EMAIL your guess to knitnlit AT gmail DOT com, with the subject line CONTEST. I will not open those emails until I get home on Sunday night. The contest will close at 4 pm CDT Sunday afternoon. Please do not leave guesses in the comments - I will see those, and I don't want to be swayed! :) And, if you know me IRL, you are welcome to play along too.

I think this post is long enough, perhaps I'll be back tomorrow to show you some of the new projects I've started recently, but it'll more likely be next week. Until then, happy guessing!

Time Machine Tuesday

2008-02-19T17:58:00.000-08:00

Look! It's a real, live Jenn! With an actual post! With pictures! I'll allow you a moment to recover.

Apologies for my absence - a number of factors have been contributing to my absence, not the least of which is my computer's need to tell me that my hard drive is full (even though I've deleted a number of things), and, as a result, it won't let me upload pictures. However, lucky for you, I found these lurking in my iphoto, just waiting for their moment of glory.

Project: Feather and Fan socks in Yarn Pirate Merino/Tencel. Completed in June of last year, they haven't seen too much wear (what with it being summer and all). However, I did wear them a handful of times this winter, and while the yarn is holding up well, the color is not.

Then

Now

They bled like the dickens in the water (and I handwash all of my socks in cold water with Euculan.) And they keep bleeding (I know I should put some vinegar in the water, but I just keep forgetting).

The worst part? I can't get them on my foot. The tencel has ZERO "give" and unless I stretch them on my sock blockers, I can't get them over my heel (and even after the sock blockers it's a struggle. I have to sit down and pull really hard). They also leave a lovely little pattern on my instep, since they fit so tightly.

Lesson learned? Go up a needle size the next time I knit tencel socks. But in all honesty, I probably won't use a yarn like this again. It is lovely, and shiny, but I'm not thinking it's best for socks. I think it would make a lovely shawl.

I try to keep religion and politics off of the blog. But I have to share this story. We're big Obama supporters. And since the campaign is finally here, hubby went down to our local office today and picked up some yard signs and signed up to help out. He's making phone calls to people in our precinct. The list of callers is very specialized through some system I'm sure I don't understand (since we don't register as "democrats" or "republicans" here in Texas). It is comprised of people who are likely Obama supporters.

The second person on his list of 292 registered voters? Me. The fourth? Him. We're just waiting for his mom and brother to show up (they also live in our precinct.) Too funny.

I do have some FOs to share, as soon as I can convince my computer to let me upload pictures. I'll try not to be gone two weeks again!

February goals

2008-02-02T05:25:00.001-08:00

Well, I didn't manage to finish any more projects in January. We had quite a week with some state field testing, very strong winds (which blew the satellite dish out of whack twice - thank goodness hubby could fix it or we would still be without TV and be paying $80 to have it fixed), fires nearby, and cold. But I did make some good progress, so I'll have some FOs soon.

Let's recap January goals:
January Goals:
Finish Wicked (already done!) DONE
Seam Bow-knot cardigan DONE
Finish Hedgehog DONE
Finish Snowy Triangle Scarf DONE
Finish Noro Scarf NOT done
Finish Monkey Socks DONE
Finish Zuluknitty socks almost - need to knit the toe.
Knit 8 panels of Log Cabin Blanket 1 PANEL DONE
Finish back of Bristow, start fronts. BACK DONE, FRONT STARTED
Finish back of Cambridge jacket, start fronts. BACK DONE, FRONT STARTED
Finish back of Salina, start front or sleeve. BACK DONE Front Started
Finish 2 mystery knits. ONE DONE
Knit hat for hubbo almost done
Knit hat for hubbo's friend DONE
Knit fingerless gloves for hubbo need to be seamed
Start Rogue STARTED
Finish one Embossed Leaves sock 3/4 DONE
Finish one Child's First sock nearly done
Finish one of hubbo's ribbed socks 3/4 DONE

I managed to complete 10 goals, which isn't too shabby. I also knit one thing (the ladybug) that wasn't on the list, and worked on another project that is nearly finished that wasn't on the list. I'm pretty proud of myself, and glad I went back to the goal list. It helped keep me focused, without feeling pressured. And I did work on some other things, and I didn't finish everything, and that's OK. So, what's on deck?

February Goals:
Knit at least 8 panels of Log Cabin Blanket (take on retreat)
Finish fingerless gloves for hubbo
Finish hat for hubbo
Finish Zuluknitty socks
Finish Embossed Leaves socks
Finish Child's First socks
Finish at least one peppermint sock
Finish Devon
Work on Icarus (get through the repeats of chart 1)
Work on Rogue (up to the armholes?)
Finish one front of Bristow
Finish one front of Cambridge Jacket
Finish front of Salina
Work on Buttony
Finish Noro Scarf
Work on Isobel
Finish half of mystery knit
Finish one Solstice Slip sock

Hopefully I can get a lot of this done, especially as the LYS is hosting a retreat at the end of the month (a weekend of knitting! Woo Hoo!).

I also want to do something for Project Spectrum, so I'm going to try to finish my Solstice Slip socks in February and March for the "Fire" months.

I didn't finish up my first book yet (The Knitter's Book of Yarn), but I'm close. More on that when I'm done.

If I'm going to get all this done, I'd better get moving! Pictures soon!

So, about that more blogging thing

2008-01-26T18:01:00.000-08:00

Kinda fell off the horse on that one. But I do have two FOs for you today!

Pattern: Monkey by Cookie A.
Yarn: BMFA Socks that Rock Silkie - Sock Club yarn
Needles: Chiagoo DPNS 2.75mm
Dates: um, summer/fallish to January 22, 2008
Mods: none
Thoughts: Love the yarn. Love the colors. Love the pattern. I can see why this has been so popular! I did have some gauge issues, and then some pooling issues with other yarn, but this has been a winner. Glad to have new socks this week, since it's been cold.

And now, I can finally reveal one of the secret projects I've been working on. My LYS, Yarns Ewenique, is having a sock club, and I was flattered to be chosen as one of the pattern designers. It has been an interesting experience for me (and it's not over yet!) The first pattern was "released" on Friday, so now I can show it to you!

Pattern: Loopy Laces by me!
Yarn: Louet Gems fingering weight yarn
Needles: Chiagoo DPNs 2.75mm
Mods: I knit the sample socks with the fine/sport weight yarn, so mine feel a bit different from the others, but the gauge worked out the same for me, so it's all good.
The pattern is exclusive to the club for one year, but after that it will be available here for you! (It will be available next year through the shop and here as a downloadable pdf.)

I really do hope to make some progress on a few other things this last week of January, so stay tuned!

Whoops!

2008-01-21T18:31:00.000-08:00

I didn't mean to fall off the blog for a week there, but life had other plans. Anyway, there has been knitting - not much, but a little progress. One of the projects I've been working on I can't show you quite yet, but I was finishing it up on Sunday, and ran out of yarn. Oops.

I weighed the first sock - 53g. The second sock - 46g. That is a BIG difference. Luckily, my LYS had another skein in the same dyelot, so it is finished now, and you'll see it soon.

I hope to have some more things to show you soon, and to get back on the blogging horse this week. I'm off to enjoy the last few hours of my holiday and get to bed early - more soon!

Sometime this has to stop, right?

2008-01-14T19:14:00.001-08:00

I managed to finish up another project this weekend! Put some butter on me baby, 'cause I'm on a ROLL!

Pattern: Seaman's Cap from Brenda Zuk at Needle Beetle
Yarn: Knitpicks Wool of the Andes in Mist - about 1.75 skeins
Needles: Sz 7 Addi Turbos and Clover bamboo DPNs
Dates: Tuesday January 8 - Sunday January 13
Mods: I added length before beginning the crown shaping
Thoughts: Great length, according to hubby. Very soft and warm. Love this pattern.

I promise this won't turn into a FO blog, but I can't stop the train!

Stripey and Pink. What more could I ask for?

2008-01-12T06:46:00.000-08:00

Pattern: Snowy Triangle Scarf by Iris Schreier from Handknit Holidays
Yarn: Paton's Soy Wool Stripes in Natural Geranium - a smidge under 3 balls.
Needles: Sz 10.5 Clover Bamboo Circulars
Mods: longer
Dates: July 2007-January 2008
Thoughts: Love this. Love the triangles, love the stripes. It was relatively easy, though I did make a bit of a mistake early on.

Hint to those of you think of making this - when you've repeated row 3 until you have *31 (if you have the pattern, this makes sense), DO NOT turn and knit back. Ask me how I know. You immediately start over with row 1.

The pattern was deliciously simple and went surprisingly fast. I knit 11 middle triangles, and I might have been able to get 12, but I didn't want to run out of yarn.

I find the yarn a bit scratchy on my neck, but not enough to not wear this loveliness. I haven't made a scarf for me in forever, so this is a welcome addition to my small collection. And just in time for the "winter weather" we're supposed to get next week.

A Couple of Critters

2008-01-09T19:58:00.000-08:00

Pattern: Huggable Hedgehog from Fiber Trends
Yarn: Lamb's Pride Worsted, Berroco Disco and some scraps of Flash FX from Trendsetter and Wool of the Andes (paws)
Needles: Sz 11 Clover bamboo circulars and Addi Turbos
Dates: summer 2007 - January 6, 2008
Mods: None

Thoughts: I ran out of the Disco before the second and third sets of short rows. I dug around in the stash and found the Flash, which is a sorry substitute, but it works for a hedgehog butt. The Disco was nasty. It stuck like the devil to the bamboo needles, but switching to the Addis made it much more enjoyable. I'm so glad this is done.

Pattern: Ladybug from Buggin' Out Vol 1 by Crafty Alien
Yarn: Lion Wool and Paton's Classic Merino
Needles: Sz 10.5 Clover bamboo circulars
Dates: Sunday January 6, 2008
Mods: none
Thoughts: Excellently written pattern. Very cute! And my first hand-felting experience. I am excited to try out more of her patterns.

These FOs just keep coming! There is a finished scarf waiting here for photos, and a nearly finished vest, and I hope to crank out a finished sock or two sometime soon. I'm enjoying this, as much as I know it's the result of having too many projects on the needles!

Lazy

2008-01-07T20:02:00.000-08:00

This pretty much sums up our weekend. Hubby received The West Wing series collection for Christmas, so we've been slowly working our way through the first season. On Friday we stayed in our pjs until we had to leave for family dinner. Saturday we did leave the house for a bit (knitting!) and Sunday we drug ourselves to the grocery store, but otherwise, it was much laziness.

I did make some progress on a few things, but nothing too exciting right now. I also ripped a few projects - 2 pairs of socks that were barely started, and my Alpaca Wrap (Otis attacked the center-pull ball a few weeks ago, and I had wasn't looking forward to ripping it all out to rewind, but I did Saturday night).

I started Rogue, but it's only 6 rows, so it's a boring thing to see right now. I'm also trying to decide if my first book will be Knitting Without Tears or The Knitter's Book of Yarn. Hmmmmm.

Back with more excitement later this week!

And another!

2008-01-06T18:56:00.000-08:00

It's all FOs all the time!

Pattern: Bowknot Cardigan from Classic Elite City Park booklet
Yarn: Classic Elite Flash - 7 skeins
Needles: Sz 7 Clover bamboo circulars
Dates: July 2007-January 2008 (though the knitting has been finished since November, it's just been sitting, waiting to be seamed.)

Mods: I lengthened the body about an inch
Thoughts: Fairly simple, straightforward pattern. No excellently written, but I could figure it out since I've knit other sweaters.
Best thing about this project? It's done too! Even though I can't wear it for a few months.

Sure would be nice to keep up this pace of finished sweaters, but alas, these have been close to done for a bit now. I'll keep plugging away at the others on the needles, and see if I can finish more sweaters this year than last year.

Goals for Janauary and the first FO!

2008-01-04T19:32:00.000-08:00

FO before business:

Pattern: Wicked by the gals at Zephyr Style
Yarn: Malabrigo Merino Worsted - just a smidge over 4 skeins
Needles: Sz 9 Clover Bamboo circular and Chiagoo DPNs
Dates: October 2007-January 1, 2008
Mods: I improvised 3/4 sleeves after seeing other cute ones on Ravelry.
Thoughts: Cute! The yarn is wonderful - super soft and squishy. I love the simplicity of the pattern - it really works in a shaded yarn like this.
Best thing about this project? I love it and it is super wearable.

I had tried to finish this up New Year's Eve, but I was too tired to finish. So it was the first FO of 2008. I have another sweater that only lacks seaming, and a felted object that is drying, so a few more FOs will be coming soon.

Down to business:

January Goals:
Finish Wicked (already done!)
Seam Bow-knot cardigan
Finish Hedgehog
Finish Snowy Triangle Scarf
Finish Noro Scarf
Finish Monkey Socks
Finish Zuluknitty socks
Knit 8 panels of Log Cabin Blanket
Finish back of Bristow, start fronts.
Finish back of Cambridge jacket, start fronts.
Finish back of Salina, start front or sleeve.
Finish 2 mystery knits.
Knit hat for hubbo
Knit hat for hubbo's friend
Knit fingerless gloves for hubbo
Start Rogue
Finish one Embossed Leaves sock
Finish one Child's First sock
Finish one of hubbo's ribbed socks

That seems like a lot, but I'm a good portion of the way done with a few of these (the benefit to publish the list 4 days after I've written it), and some are not as much work as they might appear. I also need to put away the Christmas decorations, but I'll get that done sometime. OK - off to get some of this done! Have a great weekend - I may pop in with a FO or two - we'll see how it goes!

Where I'm going

2008-01-03T20:01:00.000-08:00

OK - I'm back and I have a more fleshed-out idea of what I want to do this year.

I've chosen 12 months of reading, in my effort to be a more "literate knitter." In no particular order, the books I'll be reading are:

Sweater Design in Plain English
Knitting in Plain English
Opinionated Knitter
Knitting Workshop
Knitter's Almanac
Knitter's Book of Yarn
Knitting Around
Knitting Without Tears
Folk Socks/Knitting Vintage Socks
Victorian Lace Today/Gathering of Lace
Folk Mittens/Folk Shawls
Knitter's Handbook/Finishing Techniques

And the books I'll be knitting from are*:

Kid's Knits - Heads Hands and Toes
Jo Sharp Knit Issue 1
Ella Rae Book 7
Handknit Holidays
Greetings From the Knit Cafe
Knit 2 Together
Folk Mittens
Vintage Knits
Favorite Socks
Knitting Vintage Socks
Opinionated Knitter
Knitter's Almanac

*Special thanks to Theresa for her inspiration for this.

Disclaimer: Some of these books I have already started projects from. However, they are still in their infancy, for the most part, so, rather than cast on more projects (in an effort to keep with that other resolution to not start so many projects), I decided to work with what I have. I also have a ton of magazines with some great patterns, and I expect some of those to pop up as well.

I'll also join Theresa in Time Machine Tuesdays - I wanted to share how some knits are holding up, and this is the perfect place for it.

In other excitement, I did spend several hours this morning working on reorganizing the stash, putting patterns away in their binders, and sorting out the books. I feel much better about the current state of the stash and the crafting area. I cleaned up this area in an effort to allow myself to pursue other crafts. I said last year that I wanted to branch out into other crafting, and I did do some sewing (that I didn't show you - but I will), and I'd like to do more and continue to work on my embroidery and spend more time with cross-stitch. I purchased Bend the Rules sewing with a Christmas gift card, and I have Amy Butler's In Stitches, and I hope those two resources will allow me to become more adept at sewing.

In my personal life, I have a few goals to share - much of the same as many of you, I hope to spend more time at the gym (4 days a week), and eat better. I also want to read more books and enjoy more podcasts v. TV.

We're also trying, as a family, to be greener. My wonderful hubby built an "encasement" for our compost pile yesterday and we'll be getting ready for our garden as soon as it warms up some. We're planning on installing new windows and reinsulating our attic to help out with energy at home. And we'll offset our carbon this year too. But we're looking for other things to do. We already do basic things like recycling all we can, using canvas bags, having wind-powered energy, drying our clothes on the line, and driving one car. If you have other suggestions for us, please leave them in the comments.

I've rambled long enough for tonight, so I'll be back tomorrow with my January goals and a closer look at that WIP list (which I miscounted, and only stands at 46 - so much better, huh?).

A look ahead

2008-01-02T18:13:00.000-08:00

2007 was an interesting year for me in many knitting related ways. I started working at the yarn store (yay!), I knit more sweaters, I joined a sock club, and I had cast-on-itis with the kitchen stress. This is especially reflected in my current WIP list.

2008 will be different. I did not rejoin the sock club (since I've only just cast on one of the pairs, and don't have plans to knit all of the patterns), and I will not have cast-on-itis this year (hear me now, believe me later). I do want to get the WIPs down to a more manageable number, and try not to cast on for any more socks until I get the current ones pared down.

Okay, enough rambling, time for some lists.

Goals for 2008:
Knit more.
Make my knits count - less whimsy stuff, and more things people want (including me).
Knit more gifts and more sweaters.
Try out different sock constructions. Including toe-up socks.
Knit more lace.
Become a more literate knitter. I have lots of books that I haven't read - books about sweater and sock construction, about fixing mistakes, different techniques for casting on and finishing details. I'm going to look more into them tomorrow, but I'd like to assign a book to myself for each month and share some tidbits with you all.

Speaking of those tons of books, I've got lots that I haven't knit from. While I don't have a defined plan, I am kicking around the idea of one project from a previously unused book each month. I'll have to spend a little more time with my Ravelry queue to suss that out.

I'd also like to try to use up some stash. Thanks to the greatness that is Ravelry, I exported my stash (after updating it this morning with stuff that hadn't made it in), I learned that I have a lot of yarn. Last January I had 604 balls of yarn. Right now I have 821 balls and 166,195 yards. I did toss or trade 140 balls. So really, that's only a net gain of 80 balls or so. That's much better, right? I do really want to use up some stash that has been hanging around for a while.

In 2007 I also stayed away from KALs and swaps, and stopped making monthly goals. I feel that the absence of both affected my productivity this year. Swaps I didn't really miss too much (and did a few), and while I didn't ever keep up well with KALs, they did provide inspiration and direction. My monthly goal lists also helped provide direction, and keep me accountable for finishing things. While I won't go over the top joining KALs, I will lurk around a few for inspiration. And I will resume my goal lists.

Whew, that's a lot! I do have more to say about what I want to do, but it is still a little jumbled in my mind, so I'll sort it out as I clean up the knitting corner/stash/pattern binders tomorrow.

Year in Review

2008-01-01T18:53:00.000-08:00

In keeping with the trends, I thought I'd do a year-end wrap up.

Finished in 2007:

7 sweaters
14 pairs of socks
3 adult hats
4 Calorimetrys
10 baby/toddler/kid hats
4 baby items
5 bags
2 handwarmers
3 stuffed toys
2 pair felted clogs
3 scarves
2 dishcloths
2 beer coozies
1 felted bowl
1 belt

for a year end total of 62 items. Whew!

It sure didn't seem like that many throughout the year though. I didn't meet my goals of 2 pairs of socks and 1 sweater per month, but I did start plenty of projects!

I currently have 49 WIPs. Yikes. That's a big, scary number.
Of those, 4 will be hibernating until spring.
At least two will be finished by the end of the week. Hopefully more.
4 are secret projects you haven't seen yet.
And there are a lot of socks on that list. Lots.

My favorite FO of the year was the Central Park Hoodie. I wear it almost every day I can. I love it. My favorite gift to knit was Jarrett (though I thought that all that stockinette might kill me).

My knitting followed much the same trend as last year, with the exception of more sweaters. I really enjoy wearing my sweaters, so I'm going to keep on knitting them! I have several currently on the needles, and plans for more!

I will have lots more to say about my upcoming knitting goals, personal goals, stash enhancement, and more in the coming days. But in the meantime, I'm really enjoying seeing everyone's goals and year end wrap-ups, so keep 'em coming!

2007 was a big year for us, with the kitchen remodel, a new kitten and new grade levels, and I'm sure 2008 will bring more excitement! Happy New Year to you and your families! Thanks for reading!

Final FOs of the year?

2007-12-31T16:31:00.000-08:00

Pattern: Jarrett from Rowan Vintage Knits
Yarn: Ella Rae Classic, color 103, 6.5 skeins
Needles: Sz 5 and 7 Clover Bamboo circulars
Dates: mid September-Monday December 24.
Mods: Tons. I knit an XXXS size using Flintknits Pam'smods she was so gracious to share with me (thanks to the magic of Ravelry, I saw that she had knit a smaller size for her Jarrett, so emailed her and she shared her mods. Love Ravelry!). I also knit the sleeves smaller and not from the top down as she had done. Hubbo decided on a short collar (and he likes the standing-up of it), and no elbow or shoulder patches (for now).
Thoughts: he loves it. I love that it is done, and he can stop saying I've never knit him a sweater. He picked out the buttons, and it needs a good blocking so the button band will lie flat. He did say "Don't loose this pattern, 'cause I'm sure I'll wear this out in a few years and I'll need another." I think that's the mark of a successful knit!

I also knit up a quickie project for me. I started these a few weeks ago when it was starting to get chilly in the mornings, but put them aside to finish my holiday knitting. I threw them in my bag when we were leaving on Friday morning, and had them finished about an hour into our flight. And I enjoyed wearing them when it was chilly in the evenings in D.C. The color doesn't really go with any of my coats, but I don't really care!

Pattern: Fingerless Mitts from Weekend Knitting.
Yarn: Lana Grossa Cool Wool Big - less than 1 ball.
Needles: Sz 8 Clover circulars.
Dates: early December - Friday December 28.
Mods: none.
Thoughts: Great pattern. Easy, quick, useful. I see more of these in my future - in fact, hubbo has already requested his - in grey, of course!

I have more to say about our trip, and my year in review, and my future knitting "goals", but that will have to wait, as I'm trying to finish up one more FO for the year! Fingers crossed!

Holiday wrap-up

2007-12-27T19:14:00.000-08:00

Happy Thursday! Hopefully by now, you have all recovered from your turkey/pie/gift/mess comas. I was lucky enough to finish all of my holiday knitting in time! Very quickly, I have some less-than-stellar photos to share with you.

Pattern: Generic sock over 72 stitches.
Yarn: Lana Grossa Bosco, not sure of the color number.
Needles: Size 2.25mm ChiaGoo DPNs
Mods: none
Dates: late November to Monday December 24.
Thoughts: I did not really enjoy the yarn. But the socks fit great!

Pattern: Seaman's Cap by Brenda Zuk at Needle Beetle.
Yarn: Mission Falls 1824 Wool - 1.5 balls
Needles: Sz US 7 Circular and DPNs
Mods: only 2" of ribbing, brim does not fold up.
Dates: mid December to Sunday December 23.
Thoughts: love the yarn. Glad this one fits.

Hubbo's sweater is also done - buttons and collar and all. Hopefully we'll get a FO shot for you this weekend in Washington, D.C.! We're off in the morning for a quick trip with lots of dorky museum and National Archives, and Library of Congress visiting. I'll have more on that and a bit of year-end wrap up coming soon!

Stick a fork in me

2007-12-24T08:28:00.000-08:00

It's done. Up at 5:30 - all seamed up, and wrapped. I left the needle in the collar, since I don't know how long he'd like it, and it doesn't have buttons, since I thought he could pick those out. But it's done, for all Christmas purposes. I never thought I'd make it. Now I just need to finish my MIL sock. Wow. Done. Nice.

Pictures after he opens it. Have a great Christmas Eve. And, if your gifts aren't done, there are always gift cards, right?

No time

2007-12-23T21:07:00.000-08:00

Collar? Done.
Buttonbands? Seamed.
Sleeves? One set in.
Sock? Heel turned, through the gusset.
Hat? Done.

It will be a Christmas miracle if this gets done. Must go to bed so I can get up at the crack of dawn.

Knit yourself an ornament if you need a last-minute gift. You know how to find the patterns on ravelry, right?

Close

2007-12-22T20:34:00.000-08:00

I've gotten to the heel of the second MIL sock. Whew. Might be done. The shoulders are joined and the collar is started on hubbo's sweater. Must find some secret knitting time. There is more to talk about, but I'm beat.

If you find yourself with free time this weekend, why not knit your gift wrap? Try the drawstring bag, the the tree and rose bags and the wine bags are all super cute, and two gifts in one!

Off to sleep - we're lighting the advent candles at church tomorrow! Must get up early. Hopefully I'll have some seaming time!

Clogs times 2

2007-12-21T20:10:00.000-08:00

Second verse, close to the first.

Pattern: Felted Clogs by Fiber Trends
Yarn: Ella Rae Classic (1 ball black) and Knitpicks Wool of the Andes (2 balls Mist, 3ish balls Coal)
Needles: Clover Sz 13 circulars
Dates: mid December - Wednesday December 19
Mods: none
Thoughts: they look too big, but I can always refelt them if needed.

I am very close to finishing hubbo's sweater - I have a few inches left on the second buttonband, then seaming and the collar. I really think it will be done. I also need to finish a hat and my MIL socks. But the house is clean, and I've been to the store, and my presents are all purchased, and the wrapping is done. I'll make more cookies this weekend for gifts, and work tomorrow, then relax. Relax. Ah.

A few more knits for you last-minuters. Dishcloths make a great gift - and they quick and easy! The ballband dishcloth is a big favorite, while the round dishcloth is one of my favorites, and the corner to corner is nice and easy.

Sweater update tomorrow!

One more day

2007-12-20T20:27:00.001-08:00

of school. I can survive. Movie, caroling, party, clean. 8 more hours.

I did finish some clogs - picture tomorrow when they're dry. But if you are still whittling down the list, add some "home" knits as gifts. Hand towels are perfectly lovely, as are Felted Bowls. All of you environmental types can also knit your own lunch bag! (I totally want one of these!)

OK - really more exciting content this weekend. Really. Must go clean and sleep.

Ditto

2007-12-19T18:34:00.000-08:00

Second verse, same as the first. No time to say much, no time to knit. Gah! But if you have time, and need a quick gift, why not a hat? Odessa is cute with or without beads. Fake Isle is one I've admired for a while, while Zee Bee appeals to my garter stitch side, and Calorimetry is quick and easy.

Ok. Off to knit.

Nothing

2007-12-18T16:11:00.000-08:00

I got nothing. No pictures of knits in progress or finished. Nothing to say about my knits unless I say that I haven't gotten anything done since last night. I do have the second clog knit, now to knit two soles. Too bad we have another (unexpected) event tonight. Argh.

But for those of you who will be home, enjoy The Christmas Wish, A Christmas Carol, The Nutcracker, Grandma Got Run over by a Reindeer, Rudolph's Shiny New Year, and Snowglobe (which kind of sucks, FYI).

While you're watching, if you need more knit ideas, whip up a pair of fingerless gloves. Try Fetching or Dashing. I also like the Endpaper Mitts and the Fingerless Mitts from Weekend Knitting. (I may have a pair of these hiding on the needles for me. For after Christmas, of course.)

Must think good, positive thoughts. Like how I'm going to stop sleeping and going to the gym in order to get some more knitting time.

Cute Baby Hats

2007-12-17T19:12:00.000-08:00

Pattern: Inca Snowflake Hat from Itty Bitty Hats
Yarn: Um, not sure. The white is Debbie Bliss Wool Cotton
Needles: Sz 7 Clover circulars and DPNs
Mods: yarn sub, not as many snowflakes
Thoughts: very cute - a bit fiddly with the finishing, but cute.

So, late posting tonight due to all the busyness. So no movies, but a few patterns. Tonight it's all about the toys. Kate is awfully cute, Hedgehogs are a great use for fun fur, and dinosaurs are sure to please many kiddos.

No noticable sleeve difference tonight - trying not to panic.

14 inches

2007-12-16T16:29:00.000-08:00

Of sleeve. That's what I got done today (and I finished the sleeve cap on the other sleeve). I think I can, I think I can. Hopefully I can finish up some little things tonight to get them out of the way.

I spent a lovely afternoon knitting sleeve and watching bad holiday movies. Really bad holiday movies. Let me just say that Holiday in Handcuffs was the highlight, which, if you've seen it, explains a lot.

But if you're not me, and you're up for more holiday movies, there are still some to choose from! Christmas at Water's Edge, A Diva's Christmas, The Road to Christmas, Meet me in St. Louis, The Nutcracker, Casper's Haunted Christmas, All I Want for Christmas and A Season for Miracles, plus your usual weekend movies.

Still need project ideas? It's go time, folks! How about a bag? Sophie is quick and easy, while Booga Bag is a bit roomier. And, for those of you who like complicated bags, try the Brea Bag (which I can't wait to make for me!).

Most of our holiday busyness is over - hubbo's Christmas program is tomorrow, and then we should have a quiet week until my family arrives on Saturday. Plenty of time to finish all the projects, do Christmas cards, make cookies and ornaments, wrap presents, finish decorating the house and cleaning.....send the elves. At least all the shopping is done! Woo Hoo!

Ok, can't spend any more time on the blog - must finish slippers!

Um, so not a gift

2007-12-15T15:44:00.000-08:00

In lieu of any exciting progress pictures ('cause there isn't much progress to see), allow me to present a long hidden WIP - a sock for me!

I started these this fall, in an effort to get them finished for xmas. Ain't gonna happen though. But they're pretty, and they'll be finished maybe for Valentines Day!

Mittens not your thing? Need some scarf ideas? Why not try My So-Called scarf, a Noro scarf, or the One Row Scarf. Lovely, easy options. And someday I'll knit them all!

To aid your knitting tonight, there are quite a few options, Snowglobe, A Hobo's Christmas, A Dad for Christmas, Christmas in Paradise, and the Saturday Night Live Christmas. Plus a lot of other movies. Pretty exciting, eh? I *might* have tivoed Holiday in Handcuffs earlier today, so I'll report on that tomorrow. If I tivoed it.

I won't be knitting again tonight, since I have my xmas party to attend. But I'm almost done with the first sleeve, so hopefully I can finish it tomorrow and start the second. Send good thoughts!

Two does not a pair make

2007-12-14T15:32:00.000-08:00

I have another clog done. Unfortunately, two done things (especially when one's a sock and one's a clog) do not make a FO. Damn.

Hopefully at least this one will have a mate this weekend.

It's cold here. And wet. And I know most of you are getting snow. So it's time for mittens! Anemoi is my current favorite (although those Bird in the Hand mittens are stunning. May have to have those soon.) For a little less work there is Corazon, and for even less there are Basic Mittens. Something for everyone.
Tonight it's the big one - It's a Wonderful Life is on! Crazy for Christmas, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and Silver Bells are also in the lineup, as are lots of other non-holiday movies. if you're burned out.

I have a wild weekend of sleeve knitting, clog and sock knitting and (hopeful) hat finishing.

One down

2007-12-13T18:29:00.000-08:00

One more to go.

Just a quickie again tonight, since I forgot we had the holiday program at school and I (again) wouldn't be home until late. But let's not forget the babies on our list! Try the Baby Surprise Jacket, Saartjes Bootees, a bib, or a cap. All super cute!

And now that I missed my knitting group tonight, I'm three more hours behind on my sleeve. Double crap.

Crap. Crap. Crap.

2007-12-12T15:50:00.000-08:00

Um, ya'll know there's only two more weekends until Christmas? And I really only have one, since the fam will get here the Saturday before Christmas. Crap. When will I finish hubbo's sweater? Crap. Must knit faster.

One more gift done!

Pattern: Garter stitch over 15 stitches.
Needles: Sz 15 clover bamboo circs
Yarn: Plymouth Baby Alpaca Grande - 1 skein
Dates: Friday December 7 - Tuesday December 11
Mods: n/a
Thoughts: Love the garter stitch in the lovely yarn. Oh so pretty, simple and warm. A sure winner!

Time to crank the gifts. Time for some speedy gifts. Speedy socks are my favorite kind, and these should zip right along. Monkey, Thuja and Log Cabin Socks should fly off your needles.

The TV pickings are slim again - I may retreat to the bedroom for some hubbo sweater knittin'. Wish me luck. And enjoy The Santa Claus (again), Grandma got run over by a Reindeer, The Ultimate Christmas Present, The Polar Express (again) and All I Want for Christmas.