Muh-haha

I'm finally donedonedone the boring blanket. Only 1 week past due! shoot me if I ever agree to this color scheme again. It didn't help that I'm having all kinds of problems with my right heel and its very uncomfortable to stand for periods of time (oh yeah, spent lots of time at the foot dr. this summer getting multiple shots IN MY HEEL then going to physical therapy. fun times)Here it is still on the loom, but I had just spent 5+ hours just tying on the FRINGE.....ggaahhhh.and here it is off the loom... all 54" square of double weaving. Phew, done. Now to get it to Mom-mom to wrap and gift.

Meanwhile, I had the dogs chase the Frisbee for 20 minutes so they would sit for a photo:

They look innocent enough, especially the white one in the back... but if you follow my tweets, you know how much trouble he gets into!


Speaking of trouble...... check out these 22 seconds of cuteness:


The Mayor had belt graduation and everyone did a quick nun chuck demo to music.... sorry no sound, but you can see he is enjoying himself.

Wednesday catch up

I need to catch up on some FO's !
First up my Mara Shawl- done in Cascade 220 superwash. It blocked out to 68" x 28" which turns out to be a great cuddle size for meUnfortunately, while blocking I found a thread that had been split and was hanging by a hair. I fixed it but it seemed that no matter what I did, it looked botched in that spot. Oh well, I love it anyway and its for me so its ok.

Next I finally finished his Steelers Socks. These were a carry around project for a while that just kept getting set aside. I finished the up just in time for Father's Day.This is the Slipped Rib pattern that I've used before. The yarn is Lorna's Laces Sport I did another weaving project too! I went the next size up on the loom and used some Schaefer Miss Priss in Greenjeans colorway

The finished and lightly fulled shawl is 50" by 22". More like shawlette size. It will be good for under a coat in the winter. After I show it off, it will go in the gift tote.This took about a week to do, and that was with me only weaving a row or 2 here and there.Next time I'll leave extra yarn to finish off the edges more- maybe a crocheted border or fringe.

I started another pair of socks with my Impulse of Delight yarn (socks of fraternal happiness, rainbow!!!) and have already upsized the loom again and started weaving some Lamb's Pride worsted in the "aqua waves" color. Depending on how it looks, I make make another small blanket. hhm, maybe.

Has anyone started their Christmas knitting?

So, so, so behind

on everything. I have taken on too many jobs and the puppies have pushed me right over the edge... See??

Yes that's a big honkin HOLE in their crate that, by the way, is already clamped shut at the seam.Shea says "I was sleepin"Paladin says" um, Hi Mommy!"The terrible 2. That's what I'm calling them. Destroyed yarn, roving, and played in the plants so they were MUDDY! ack!

We now have a titanium metal crate for daytime use when I'm working out of the house. But aren't they cute? 12 weeks old and almost 30 pounds!

Mean while, I have completed a swing top, a pair of Silk Garden Wristers, a pair of Andean Silk wristers, the Forest Canopy Cowel and a half-pipe hat. I've updated my Ravelry with everything if you want to see. If not, lookit this:

much cuteness!!!! Noolie SPUN and KNIT this for The Mayor. He likes it very much and it will be super warm to wear in the snow that we finally got (today), which btw is The Mayor's birthday. 7 years old. yikes! I told him to stop now, he's reached maximum cuteness. He can stay 7 forever....... (if only he could)

You remember that Hemlock Ring blanket

I just finished? well.... I decided I wanted it bigger. Saturday night I picked out the crocheted chain edge and did another increase row. Just in case I wanna go crazy I got another skein of Eco Wool too.
So I'm not gonna bore you with pictures, but will give the finished measurements when (ever) its finished.

AND Bean Girl & I went on a field trip to visit Tola at her LYS Woolbearers. While there we may have fallen in love with the Swirl Shawl. How cool is that?? Pattern and yarn have been ordered and we will be KALing shortley. Anyone else interested? lol

FO's & more

I did a dog sweater. Seriously. Well, its not really a dog, its a chihuahua . Here is Peppy. He belongs to Cookie and her mom (I babysat Cookie lots in the spring)

Peppy is only a few months old and he needed a sweater that would fit. I used Howie's Knit to Fit Dog Sweater (Rav) (non rav) and some Encore Worsted with size 7 needles. Basically its OK.. the math formulas were off so I fudged it. I will do it again and will change it to knit in the round and fix the sleeves so they don't pull. But hey, its cute no matter!

I finished AND blocked my Hemlock Ring Blanket(Rav) (non Rav).62 inches across and 2 skeins of Cascade Eco Wool. Still a big hunk left too
This was such an awesome easy knit... and it would have been done is less than a week if I tried. As it was, it only took 2 weeks of very leisurely knitting.

My dishrag tag team came in 3rd place!

Actually it was a tie, but placement depends on what order the mailman puts the packages in the mailbox. I had such a great team. Everyone was on board and posted lots of encouragement on the DRT forum. Lots of fun and I'll prolly do it again next year.

Last up today is Flat Stanley.Currently he has reservations to go to Long Island NY and see M4 & the cats. Is anyone else interested in hosting Flat Stanley? Basically I ship him off to you, you take some photos of Stanley doing activities in your area (museums, historical landmarks, anything interesting) and you ship him back. As an added incentive (and good manners) he comes with a hostess gift!! lol The Mayor and his first grade class will be thrilled. Any takers?

whoops, missed a week

Sorry about that... its been the usual crazy with lots of heat and aweful humidity thrown in to boot! We have a dog with one ball (do you really want to know?) and a sick 13 yr old cat (either a tooth abcess or a tumor. neither is good) Toss in swim lessons, karate and some babysitting and there ya go.

But the knitting goes on! I've finished the Shifting Hues Scarf...

I wish I could get better pictures- these do not show the awesomeness of the yarn or pattern. More pics on my ravelry page (I'll update today)
I finished the Trekking Pro Natura socks...
This is the yarn M4 gifted me for the b-day- so nice and soft. I just love the colors! Plus since I like short socks and have a small foot, there is enough for a 2nd pair- combined with a solid for heels and toes. Whoot!
And I finished up another hat for the 300 hat project- same yarn as before (I have 3 or 4 skeins) and a basic hat recipe
Whew! That's not even counting the spinning. I have to get that act together and document better.
Now I have another hat, Rivendell socks, an insane silk sweater (as in What was I thinking) and a few other odds and ends to keep me outa trouble (mostly at swim and karate)

That's my summer. How is your summer going??

Neck Cozy

Wow this was a quick project! I started it Sunday and finished Tuesdy.
Neck Cozy- Ravelry link This is Koigu that Sandra gave me a while ago... the colors are great- green, blue and a splash of purple here and there.
There is still a bit left over, not enough for another cozy, but it gave me an idea... I may have enough of the Fleece Artist Monkey socks left over to do one! (the benifit of having small feet- lots of leftover sock yarn)

Next up:
I got a skein of Spunky Electic Tough Sock yarn in "Time of the Month- Rage, Tears & Chocolate" colorway

sorry for the bad pic- but you get the idea. I wish my skein had more chocolate and less tears- (that would be me) I've started the Mock Wave Cable Socks in Favorite Socks. I wanted a wavy flowy pattern to give motion to the socks- we will see how it works with the colors... but I do love the base yarn, nice and squichy.

meanwhile... I'm weak weak weak. I ordered a McGregor's Garden sock kit from The Woolen Rabbit. I love the colors and the whole idea of bunny ears peaking up from the cabbage patch. I can't wait to cast on- its my version of Spring Fever!

Finished Monkeys

Finally! The rotten sick week was good for something- May I present......
a pair of Monkey socks
TA-Da!

I used Fleece Artist Basic Merino in color "Marine" that Trish had gifted me a long time ago (or at least it feels like) I love this yarn! It feels so nice and squichy. I can't wait to wear them to school tomorrow.

**Tola had mentioned in her comment the Bugs Bunny/Daffy Duck "Shoot Me Now" skit- which was so funny since its pretty much how I kept sane last week(much Bugs Bunny references...). M4 had a rough time with Little Cat D as well, and the phone calls would start off with "Shoot Me Now!" rather than "Hello". Gotta love the BFF that shares your sense of humor!

Everyone is back to work this week and I'm keeping my fingers crossed I'll get the Etsy shop updated with a boatload of yarn.

Here is a pic from this weekend.... you never sleep alone in this house. At least it was Maeve (10 lbs) and not Gunnar (80 lbs) this time

Next up: Koigu Neck Cozy (yes, I hate my wattle to be cold)

**Tola! I can't get into your blog anymore! lost password! Help!

Resurfacing

The last 2 weeks have been crazy! Lots of subbing for teacher conferences, babysitting and another (paying deadline) job... and no blogging. I didn't even read any email or blogs for 3 or 4 days last week, (practically unheard of for me)

Anyhoo.. here are a few things I've finished:
a sweater for Lexi (he named the sheep)
I used the pattern from Last Minute Gifts -the sweater ornament and some Magic Stripes Yand- done in an hour! I'm doing story/snack at kindergarten and reading Farmer Brown Shears His Sheep, and wanted to have a few props on hand. I'll have fleece, combs and a spindle to show the kids too...
I love story/snack! I'm making Haystacks for the snack part. Hope the kids like them.

Next up I did a Knitted Kitty (ravelry link)

I really have issues with embroidering faces. Really.

This one went to the little girl I baby sit- the head is already wobbly. whoops. I'll fix it up later

Last FO for today, socks for Carol.
Sorry for the bad pic, but I totally forgot to take one while they were blocking. I used the toe up, mock cable pattern I tested for Kristy (btw, anyone heard from her? I've emailed and called- no response) My standard 1's on 60 stitches. She likes them - the yarn is possibly Socketta, but since she gave it to me without wrapper, we can't be sure.

That's it for bloggable knitting! Easter was great! The bunny hid The Mayor's basket, but left pieces of a map in the eggs. He had to find the eggs, tape the map together, then find the basket. It actually took up a good chunck of time and was lots of fun.

So, how's you's doin'?

Noro Socks

I traded Nicole for this yarn and I’m pretty glad I didn’t spend $19.95. While I really love the colors, the knitting experience did not compensate. I guess I've come to expect certain things of my sock yarn. Not that I'm a yarn snob- heck I've crocheted baskets out of twine and nylon cord, but not on tiny needles. I guess that's the big difference -( needle) size maters.

I used my standard 60 stitch cuff down sock, with slip stitch heel.

The yarn is super thread thin in spots (N. had breakage issues, I did not) and slubby in other spots to the point of making the stitches themselves hard to see. (especially on the purl row of the slip stitch heel)

Can you see the slubs in this last picture? It does give the plain sock some texture to go with the color...

Noro is a single strand with a lot of twist which meant that the yarn did not pull smoothly from the skein- it kept getting tangled and knotting on itself- very annoying.
Also, the socks are finished and still pretty rough- I have not washed them yet but when I tried them on I really noticed a lack of elasticity in the yarn (the cuff is already saggy).

I wore them to school today (kids loved the non matchyness and color) and they are comfortable, but a bit more saggy/inelastic than I like. Perhaps if there is a next time, I'll switch to 0's? (but there is the size issue again...)

specs: Noro Socks

Pattern: standard 60 stitch cuff down sock with slip stitch heel

Yarn: Noro Kureyon Sock color S182

Needles: 1's- 2 circs

I don't know... I've read so many rave reviews on this yarn I wonder what's my problem? I really do love the colors and how they transition- I might try to do that with some spinning. But the crazy inconsistency of the yarn and its harshness plus small needles = no future purchases by me.
What do you think?

Lots of FO's...

Warning: very picture heavy post!

First up: 2 mock-mocks or Dickies as they are commonly called (tee-hehe I am ten yrs old). I hate for my neck to be cold and made one last year for myself- then lost recently.They are my own "makey up" pattern , Adrienne Vittadini Trina yarn, 7 16" circs, raglan increases. I did them a little different this time with ,raglan increases and it works well. Last time I did a flap in the front and back which is good for V neck shirts. I love them because it looks like you are layered, have the neck area covered and can easily take them off when you warm up.

Next is Sitcom Chic.
I used Caron Simply Soft Shadows and don't like it. I like it well enough in the skein and knitting, but just didn't like anything once I actually put it on. I think its just heaver than I imagined or whatever.... I sewed ribbon on the inside of the edge and put the clasp on. Its going to be gifted to someone at Christmas now. Oh well, try again!

The Mayor and I made some gnomes (there were more, but they went to live elsewhere) courtesy of Kristy's blog surfing...Fun project to do yourself or with a kid. The Mayor had a really good time.

Next: Clover Leaf Socks in Lorna's Laces Shepherd worsted. The pattern is Lorna's Laces, it and the yarn were purchased at Loop when I went for the dyeing class.Lookit that heel! Finally a short row heel I like and looks good. These are comfy and were a quick knit.... to be gifted to someone special (and if they don't fit they are MINE!)Last up my Killer Mantis socks! LOVELOVELOVE 'em
The pattern is from Lorna's Laces, called "Slipped Rib Socks". The yarn is my Yarn Pirate October club yarn, "Killer Bees" colorway.
I started these Saturday and finished Wednesday night. A great combination of easy pattern and super yarn made this a quick knit. The pattern is great for showing off handpainted yarns and easy to memorize- only 4 rows (& 3 are the same). Mr Wonderful commented that they didn't look like bees at all- more like Mantis hence the name change.

I love these socks so much, they make me smile every time I get a glimpse of the green. I even washed last night so I could wear them again today!

Ok, I think I'm all caught up now... whew!

Next up- finishing Spa Sets for Christmas and a pair for Gentleman socks for Mr Wonderful.

Done, Done and Done

1Mitered Square Rug - done 1 Cotton Teething Bunny for Little Cat C - Done
1 pair of Watermelon Booties- done !
I'll fill in specs later....