Sad Weekend

My kitty J.J. (see April 01 entry) passed away this weekend after 24yrs of being. I was fortunate to have her home when she died. The house seems emptier even though the past year she had primarily slept around the clock, taking the occasional tour around the first floor for exercise. Funny how you get into routines. Even going to the grocery store has changed because there's an aisle I no longer need to go to for food.
I may add a new member to the family but not until after the holidays. Time to heal.

Election Day and Knitting

I arrived at work at 7:45 am and the parking lot (quite sizeable) was full. Voters everywhere! I've lived thru 2 elections since I started this job and this is really amazing. My office is just inside the front door of the Town Hall--voting central, so I have listened to all the commentary and opinions, laughed (to myself) at some, rolled my eyes at others. Everyone has an opinion. As they should. As long as they don't attempt to cram it down someone elses throat.
How does this relate to knitting? Off the top of my head it doesn't other than I'd rather be knitting, I have a sock in process under my desk. There'd be hell to pay if I took that puppy out and ripped off a couple rounds--the tax payers of this town are not paying me to knit. They really should considering the *crap* I put up with some of them. Not all, just some. We've got one gentlemen worried about trees on another resident's property that aren't bothering the owner and are not a threat to another living sole in town. I've heard this gentlemen's story every day for a week. He needs to be told to mind his own business but I've never seen this covered in Secretarial training. I'm sure he'll be in today. Can't wait!
Another resident didn't like how a litigation turned out (not her way of course) so she will be in to tell those who'll listen how stupid we are. Think it would be okay to say "I'm rubber and your glue..."? Rats, didn't think so. And let's not get into the sewer bills that were just issued....
No, I'd MUCH rather be knitting. On the needles? Regia socks, swatching for Warm the Children and winding Jazz for a top down cardigan. Yeah, I still haven't got to that-Hey I've been busy! I will say that I do like my Trekking XXL socks (finished yesterday) and would purchase the wool again.

The Leaves Are Falling

Fall in New England. 'Nuff said.
One hat is done for the Warm the Children project and I'm attempting a top down mitten to go with it but have developed a brain cramp at the thumb opening. I need to read my regular cuff up pattern to get around this. It's all good.
What's all this to-do about Rhinebeck? Sounds like fun and will have to see what the weather is going to do before I decide to make the trek. If memory serves me right there is a Fibertwist happening in Deerfield next weekend.
Busloads of leaf peepers have passed my office window the past couple weeks but by this weekend it will come to an end. This year they should have scheduled Deer-peeper buses--they're everywhere! My new found scouting techniques have saved me more than a few car wrecks I'll tell you. Deer don't use crosswalks and don't look both ways before crossing the road.
One of my dearest friends from High School called me last night, and guess what? She lives near Cherry Tree Hill . Heh, heh.

And Now For Something Completely Different...

(Kudos to Monty Python) Anyway, I have taken the leftover yarn from my last pair of socks and tried an experiment. I magic cast on 4 sts, increased in each one the second round, put a marker in between and continued to increase on each side of the marker and each end every other row and see what I got? I'm thinking it's the top of a hat. Maybe. The possibilities are endless. I'll let you know when I finish-then we'll all know.


Next up is Jazz, 50 alpaca 50 wool by Artful Yarns. Soft Soft Soft. The pic stinks so I'll tell you what the colors are: royal blue, muted teal green, gray and charcoal.

I'm thinking a top down cardi with an interesting border from Nicky Epstein's Knitting on the Edge.
I will do the double button hole bands with removable button strip as I did with the Kiwi-fewer buttons this time though. But that's down the road awhile. I have to figure out what the circle of the former picture is going to become. Open to suggestions.

Frogged

Remember way back when I was whining about the Shapely Top? It has been frogged. Reduced to a pile of balls, resting. Stay tuned for further updates.
So what have I been knitting? Socks baby, nothing but socks. This will end now that the cooler weather has invaded western Mass. The needles will spit out hats & mittens for the Warm the Children project. I also hit Webs and came home with woolly yarn that I'm thinking will turn into another top down cardigan because I do love my Kiwi.
Time for another cup of tea.

Are you still there?

Wow. I am a bad blogger. My apologies to those of you that used to visit and if you haven't given up I am going to try to get back on track. I've had a "distraction" over the summer. This "distraction" took away alot of knitting time, and was worth it but now hunting season is coming and I don't hunt...so it will be back to knitting. I' m seeing a hunter-my friends' who know me better than my family-their teeth just fell out. I have been tubing down the Deerfield (I've always wanted to and it was a blast) I have been through the woods on an ATV-again, lots of fun and a bit of four wheeling, nothing major but it's amazing how tight a space in the woods a Ford F350 will fit. Simply amazing. I have seen beautiful deer in their natural state and will probably see them on a dinner plate. And yes, I like venison. For those of you who are reading and saying "yeh, so?" I'm not a rough and tumble kind of girl. I don't own a pair of sneakers(they kill my feet) it's heels and silk blouses and such. I went shopping today and bought: Teva sandals-very comfy, not as sexy as a pair of liz claiborne pumps but walking the river bed with my "distraction" is much easier; comfortable hiking boots, not that we've gone hiking but I want to be ahead of the game and they'll be great this winter; and another pair of water resistant shoes that aren't too hideous. Unbelievably practical footwear--it's just so not me.
Back to what we're here for--the knitting!


My progress is cotton socks but with the hurricane rain and the cooler temps the wool yarn will be put back on the needles. These are Sockattas I believe-who knows, the ball bands escaped a long time ago.
Regia's are on the needles now--just started.
So there you are. No I haven't changed my whole life for the "distraction" just opened a new door. I still have my heels!

Where Have I Been?

Okay, call me a fair weather knitter. It got sooo stinking hot I was barely knitting a round or two on socks--and I did switch to cotton. I'm almost done with the lime/turquoise stripey Sockattas and they're coming out great. We have had two absolutely gorgeous days and I haven't wasted a minute of them trying to catch up on stuff I have avoided and ignored during that nasty heatwave. I'll be lining up the next cotton sock yarn, probably tomorrow. I can't get over the energy increase with the cooler weather. I don't know how y'all in the south do it. Kudos to you.

We're Havin' a Heat Wave...

I'm a happy person, sometimes annoyingly happy. But this weather is getting to me. I'm looking forward to going to work tomorrow where I can sit smack in front of the air-conditioner and absorb all that freon into my bloodstream so that when I get home tomorrow night the nasty humid night air won't keep me awake for hours. Yes, a week's worth of not sleeping is making me cranky. On top of that--the Red Sox are, never mind, I'll cut the whining now.
This is mom's birthday weekend. It started Friday. My younger sister and her daughter (the ONLY grandchild mom's gonna get, and she's okay with that) came up from New Jersey. They left today and tomorrow we have dinner with the older sister. Her actual birthday is Tuesday. She's 70 this year, though you'd never know it. Spunky she is!
The only progress I've made knitting is socks and even that came to a screeching halt today. Fans couldn't circulate the air fast enough to stop my hands from sweating. I did go to Webs Thursday night and pick up some cotton sock yarn. Hopefully that will slip a bit easier. Whew, I'm going back to the fan ya'll!

I've Got A Feelin'

A feeling deep inside, oh yeah. (Beatles, you know what I'm talking about.) This Shapely Top is just not going as expected. It still looks gigantic and I have the sneaking suspicion that I'm not going to have enough string to finish even though I've calculated and recalculated and it comes out that I have more than enough. My sock never fails me though.

As I was watching my Red Sox "bleach" the White Sox last night I knit the left armhole longer than the right. It was a late game, what can I say. There's just evilness surrounding this project I tell you. I can feel it!

And here's the "Boy Colors" socks. MMMmmm, there was a bit of chill in the air this morning so I had to put them on.

In the background is part of my backyard. The plants surrounding the maple tree (which also serves as my clothesline pole) are Christmas cacti. Most of them are in bloom. They love it outdoors all summer. I'm in hopes to turn some of that green turf into a crushed stone patio(mowing-not my thing). I like the sound the stones make when walked on. Reminds me of the driveway at my Grandparents camp which was made of crushed clamshells. So many projects. Cuts into my knitting time.

I was interviewed at my new job by the town newsletter. I was asked what I like to do and I lit up and said, "I knit!". And what else do you do? "Um, hmmm" Well you must do something else! "No, not really". It was rather a dull story but okay by me. It's a small town and I don't need everyone knowing my business. They've got enough on their minds knowing everyone elses business.

Bang Bang Bang

Bang!
For two entire days that's what we've listened to. Yes, it's July 4th weekend. I love fireworks but I've had my fill of my neighbors' incessant obsession. I'm also worried that he's going to hurt himself or set someone's house on fire. Not mine, I live far enough down the street.
I have no knitting pics to show you, not for lack of knitting, there is a sock done and another almost halfway, no, I haven't taken any pictures--plain and simple. For the first time in weeks it has not rained a single drop. I have enjoyed the outdoors and the breezes for hours on end. I have a great backyard with trees and gardens and a swing with a canopy--spa-ness. (note: as an esthetician I know spa!) The solar powered fountain gurgles and plops and the hummingbirds zingzing from feeder to flowers. They take a rest on my clothes line then zingzing away. I had plenty of yard work to do but I completely ignored it to enjoy the day, so there.
I checked in on Yarn Harlot and learned some interesting things about Canada--check it out. There's a nice pic of Lucy on Wendyknits and the Mason Dixon site has baby bluebirds. So, from all of our blogs there seems to be more to life than knitting....how can that be?

The Cat Days of Summer

Why should dogs get all the credit?
The weather has been so unbearable with the humidity. The thunderstorms are nice but they are not relieving the heavy air. I don’t have air conditioning so knitting has been sparse. So far Shapely top looks gigantic to me but gauge is dead on. I expected the front edge to be more curved too. Hey, if I don't like it, it can be ripped out and tried again. I’ve also started another Regia sock. Boy colors I call them, gray & tan stripes. It’s an all rain weekend so I should get some good progress on both in the next few days.
On the job front I have to say I really like it. It’s not a drudge to go in everyday like the last evil place was. Government work is completely new to me. I can understand now why laws and such take soooo long to pass. Nothing like business where you have a meeting and decisions get made and the project is filed. In government, you have an agenda, then a meeting, then approval of the meeting, then the approved approval has to be signed, (on archival paper of course!)then everyone gets a copy of the approved approval, THEN it gets filed. This can take up to two weeks. Amazing.
Ooo, thunder, here we go again! No Red Sox tonight! :' (

The Birthday Box

It's a sister's birthday coming up and I'm creating a Birthday Box. Not a box with just one present but a birthday "stocking" if you will. A collection of goodies. Socks are one of the goodies. And I'm having to knit like the wind to get them to her on time. I suppose if I made the socks big enough I could have stuffed them for an actual stocking. Maybe next year. Regia is the yarn and I'm getting 9.5 sts to the inch.


Anyway, that's all that's on the needles this week. I've also taken advantage of the Non Rain situation here in New England and done more outside home owner stuff, trimming hedges, rhododendrons which of course means I have to make a trip to the (dump) transfer station. Blech. I did that last week and ended up with a knob on my forehead from the trunk lid clopping me. I'm fine, it's turned a lovely shade of chartreuse. The last place I want to be knocked out cold is the compost dump.
Shapely Top remains in a raw state ready to go.
Until next blog--Take care!

Ta-Da! Alert the Media-Kiwi Is Done!

Has it been a week already?! My how time flies. Let's get an update, shall we?


Yes, it's true. Kiwi is finished and ALL 19 buttons have been attached to a perfectly matched grosgrain ribbon. I'm very pleased and hope the weather stays cool a bit longer so I can wear it. We're back to rain rain rain here in New England. So much so I wanted to dry the house out a bit yesterday when I got home from work and went to the thermostat to run the furnace for a cycle and got nothing, zip, completely ignored by my command. I checked the oil, yup, still have plenty; the fuse, fine; the Emergency switch, no change. Call the furnace tech. Oh dear, it IS the Emergency switch--no juice. I can't wait to get that bill. That'll cut into the knitting budget.

The new job is going swell, at least I made it through week 2 without losing my composure. In fact I was quite pleased with my accomplishments. I'm not as brain dead as I thought.
Tonight is the Relay for Life in which I will do some strolling for the cause. I have the 11pm shift and I do hope to stay dry, this is New England though. I have a nice warm Aran to wear, no this is not a job for Kiwi. I think Kiwi will go to the office for her debut. See how the buttons are removable? Button holes on both sides. So let's review:
Cascade Yarn The Heathers-Kiwi
Size 6 needles
Gauge, gauge, what was the bloody gauge! Gone, and no I didn't write it down
Top down raglan
Finished size 38
Ribbing pattern borrowed from Wendy
Seed Stitch bands
Pearl buttons (with different button bands to follow, and no I haven't forgot about making the Fimo kiwi slices. I saw some leather buttons that would look nice too.)

Didn't take a pic but still working on the Mega Boot Stretch 2x2 rib socks. Next up on the needles: Shapely Top using Classic Elite Premiere in Tea Rose(though it looks more watermelon to me!)
'Til next time....

It's Too Hot!

June 1st and the temp is up in the 90's for day 3, what is this, Georgia? Oh no, it's New England where as the saying goes, wait 15 minutes the weather will change...well come on baby your 15 minutes has come and gone. Enough whining, on for our regularly scheduled program.
















It's Kiwi in progress with the second sleeve slooooowly getting longer. Are you asking about buttons? Here's my idea: Buttons made from Fimo clay that look like slices of kiwi! Don't forget, I will be doing button hole bands on BOTH sides so I can have interchangeable button strips to attach and match my mood. Have I ever worked with Fimo clay? Noooo, but that's never stopped me. Maybe a strip of pearl buttons and something plain, you know, for Those Days.

Speaking of one of those days, I mentioned I started a new job. Well, on day three I had a total meltdown, WHAT-HAVE-I-DONE-GET-ME-OUTTA-HERE meltdown. Ya had to be there. Of course I feel like a bloomin' idiot now but they tell me I'll be fine, and I will. I'm just one of those people that thinks I have to know everything about the job in one day. I have to get over that. This job is going to take months to comprehend. Let's work on my patience, shall we?

A Short Note

Helloooooo! Sorry about the lack of posts but I started a new job, yada, yada, blah, blah, blah.
I FINALLY got the body of Kiwi finished and one sleeve. Pic coming of that soon. The lacy socks are done and hopefully my feet won't gain any weight cuz there's not alot of stretch. Sock of the day is another Lana Grossa Mega Boot with 2x2 rib starting from the toe.
The weather has been horribly hot--August weather. Way too soon for my taste.
For the Memorial Day weekend my family and I went to the Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory. Wow, the website doesn't do it justice. A must do if in Western Mass.
Will attempt to post pic progress soon. Bear with me folks...

They're Not Just My Imagination

I continue to knit on Kiwi, actually, I'm not quite sure it's knitting because you see, I knit 4 rows and tink 3 rows to correct a flaw. I at least have a pic of the lace rib (can you say blurry?)that I borrowed from Wendy. (See her entry on May 16) Eventually this will grow to about 5". If the Gods be willing.















My F&F sock #2 is coming along ...














I'm using size 0 needle a 9sts per inch, you'll have to search for the Red Sox socks to find out what the yarn is as the ball bands are long gone. I've had several Dr's appointments and these have travelled beautifully. No misbehaving what-so-ever.














The same cannot be said about Kiwi. I'm bitter. But determined. String will NOTget the best of me!

So there you have it. It continues to rain and I thank my lucky stars that A) I live on a hill and B)my cellar has stayed dry.
Web's tent sale this weekend, whoo hoo! Back to scrounge for more Regia sock yarn and whatever else the budget will allow.

Something Wicked This Way Comes.....

I'm having bad knitting karma. Kiwi, my top down raglan, is starting to give me fits. I got past the initial problems from the top with the double increases and have been diligently trying to make a simple lacy pattern on the bottom 5" using k2 tog yo across. One, it was killing my hands but looked nice so I persevered. I finally got to the bottom and decided a try on was in order. And there it was, looking back at me from the mirror. I squinted and rubbed the stitching, it couldn't be! A glaring boo-boo half way thru the pattern. And I could hear it laughing, softly at first until it was full out snorting "Bwahahahahahahahah" No ignoring it, no easy way to fix it, and frogging back to pick up the stitches would be miraculous to say the least. Well, I couldn't wrap my brain around how I was going to pick them up successfully. Upon further observation I had gained stitches on one side to the point that it was becoming a one sided double-breasted front. It has been frogged--I am NOT going to do the same lace pattern. Back to the drawing board.
Needless to say I still don't have any worthy pics to upload. It's rained in New England for a week. Everything's nice and green and yes the sun will continue to rise and set regardless what happens with Kiwi. Until next time....knit.

Take Two and This Time Without the Whining

Here's what I was whining about in the previous post.


The Inca's with picot edge.










The Cotton Sockatta's with picot edge. Harlot, if your here you're also on the coffee table, see?











Detail of the poncho, wait for it.....











with a picot edge on the bottom and around the neckline.









The pic does not do it justice, the varigated section is very bright and it's an Irish border design but looks more Aztec, but it's not. And last but not least....











My RED SOX !!! These were a hit at the office. They're also great for swinging and whooping in the living room when big Papi is slammin' it over the wall. Kinda like twirling a towel at the Patriot's game. I should merchandise these....hmmmm.
So there you have it. Progress is being made on Kiwi--the top down raglan and I'll get a pic of that as soon as there is something to look at and the Feather & Fan sock didn't get much attention today. Tomorrow is another day...

What the Heck?!?....

Okay, I'm fairly patient when it comes to computer problems because having been in those techie shoes, I know the drill. But after finally getting online Saturday from home, and loading all my pics of finished projects that you've missed, adding in my thoughts and comments, and going to the SAVE button because I figured I was pushing the envelope--THE STUPID CONNECTION FAILED! Could I get back on? NO! I'm posting this from another location. No pics and it's not half as interesting without seeing: the Inca's-finished, the Cotton Sockatta's with picot edge-finished, the Poncho-finished and the Boston Red Sox socks-finished.
I have started a pair of Feather & Fan with the leftover white from the Sox socks, starting the design on the instep. I didn't think walking on the lacy part would be too comfy. I also started a top down raglan. As I am an Anti-Seamer I have always gone bottom up via Elizabeth Zimmerman. Time to give Barbara Walker a shot. So far I've ripped that puppy out 3 times. Material is light worsted, Cascade Peruvian Merino in a heathered lime green. Oh, did I not mentioned that I tootled around Web's Saturday morning after I got off the phone with the Techie at my local ISP? Regia sock yarn for $6 a 100 gram skein people! I hoarded as much as the budget allowed and found the Cascade at an amazing $4.69 per hank. I was absolutely giddy.
Yeah, then I went back home and tried to blog--total disaster. To perk up my mood I went back to knitting and my Red Sox, they won thank you for asking. Played Baltimore this weekend and it was good to see Kevin Millar again--I still miss him.

Stand By for Station Identification...

Oh we're having technical difficulties again. Big giant Web/Telephone concern is in a nasty snit with tiny ISP dial up company and the result is I can't dial up from home which results in me not being able to upload pics. Urrrggg! If you could see the poncho now. But you can't. And all the sock progress I've made. Since the last blog, I've finished the Inca's and I'm on the second Sockatta (cotton) with Picot edge. Red Soxsocks will be next. No word on when the dial up snafu will be fixed. So I knit...

The Harlot Has Landed

What a weekend! Saturday morning bright and early I had a doo appointment in Brattleboro, VT where the lovely Deena at Whitman's blonded my dark roots, trimmed me and sent me on my way. From there I headed to Northampton to Web's for the arrival of the Yarn Harlot. I got there early(so I thought) but had a heck of a time finding a parking space. When I found the conference room (yes, location was changed to accomodate the knitters of Western Mass, Vermont, New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut...these are just the license plates I drove by looking for a space) the room was almost full. I sat next to a lovely woman who had brought her 6m old daughter--what a doll she was! Not a peep out of her the whole time. The Harlot came in and had to fix the PA system herself! She had us in stitches (no pun intended but, there you go). Her blog is amusing on it's own but in person you get the total essence. And the great thing about it is that if you don't knit YOU WOULDN'T GET IT. Like a secret society. I did learn that knitting is a sport by the very definition of the word sport. Go ahead, look it up.
Everyone brought their knitting but I never took mine out of the bag, I would have missed the visual antics she goes through! We went back to Web's for the signing part of the party but, did I want to stand in line for 2 hours?--no. 20 years from now I'll kick myself when a signed copy of Knitting Rules goes for 2million on ebay. What can I say. Like she and I were going to become best friends just as she and Martha Stewart are? Oh well. Anyway, I did buy red and white sock yarn to make---Red Sox socks! You know, white toe and heel--look at their logo. It'll be 97 degrees before I get to them but I've had this idea bouncing around my head ever since spring training.
And the poncho--it's getting there. Slowly. One, two, three, four, five, (flip).....

Just Cranking Them out Here

Feet in the air shot! Ansel Adams eat your heart out.

How interesting that the Sockotta socks changed pattern direction and went all zig-zaggy on the 2nd sock. How does it do that?! And some people find this a problem, not me.
Now, next up is Lana Grossa Meilenweit Inca which is a wool/poly blend on size 0 with a 9sts per inch gauge-nice and smooth! I haven't broken any of my bamboos but I just know it's going to happen before I get to the end. Not being negative, I'm positive I'll break at least one. And see, both socks at once to avoid SSS (second sock syndrome). The (vroom-vroom) Addi Turbo Magic Loop is keeping up nicely.

The poncho is on the bottom with the 2 color pattern at the halfway point. This has beentoo slow a process for me. Well, my own fault, I hate having to keep track of counts and this hasn't the short repeating pattern that a fair isle does. No, I had to design the bloody thing to go 24 st stretches so that I have to stop, swing the 2nd color over to carry every 5 sts, bleh, bleh, bleh. So far the results are great but I'll pitch the pattern when done. I have this insane notion that I have to get a project done in a week or less. Need for speed I guess.

I've been reading my Yarn Harlot Knitting Rules! and snickering to myself(non-knitters find this odd-go figure) to find out there are others like me doing things I figured were too bent to be done by "normal" people. I've enjoyed the reading and am looking forward to seeing Stephanie in person this weekend. I've never been to a book signing...

The Week That Was

A dull entry as I haven't got the patience to wait for pics to upload to the server tonight. But let's see, what have I accomplished....
Sockotta socks are done-wow, they seem to take longer to dry.
Started another pair of wild self striping socks in Lana Grossa, one on size 0 dpns (those babies are gonna snap, I've got toothpicks that are sturdier) and the other on a Turbo a la Magic Loop.
I've frogged the poncho once using a nifty technique I learned on the Virginia Purl. Huge time saver.
I popped over to Web's Saturday to pick up my Yarn Harlot Knitting Rules for next Saturday's signing. Another skein of sock yarn followed me home. Harlot's got over 100 of us awaiting her arrival so they had to move the event to the Clarion. Web's is large but that would have been a bit too cozy. I asked the clerk about lace weight yarn and she scrunched her face and admitted that they didn't really carry alot of it, Lorna Laces but, oops, none in stock. Oh, did I mention that since I got the sock thing down I am now so Invincible that Lace is my next project? After the poncho of course.
Well, off to fix my turbo'd sock as I noticed on my way to Ludlow, VT for Easter dinner that I have dropped a stitch. Can't blame the car ride as I appear to have dropped it before I got in the car. And no I was not driving and knitting at the same time. Traffic was too heavy. ;)
And how about those Red Sox.....

The Red Sox & Knitting, It Doesn't Get Any Better!

The day started out grey and damp and got damper and cold so it was the perfect knitting weather. Red Sox game was delayed—more knitting time! And the results?









A bit blurry!

Finished the Mega Boot Stretch socks and had to put them on right away. Swatched the microfiber I’m using for mom’s poncho with the variegated I chose for the design-- that works. (the design on the swatch is not what will be on the poncho) Just haven’t figured how I’m going to work the increases down the front and back and keep the design from looking odd. I see frogging in my future. On the up side--the Red Sox beat the Orioles. (I miss Kevin Millar! ;( )

It’s the cotton blend sock next, no give to these babies. I’m trying the Magic Loop method. Actually, this is the second time I’ve tried this. I bought a lovely 29” bamboo set and started the Mega Boots doing the Magic Loop but when I pulled the tip of the needle forward it came off in my hand. Adding insult to injury the cable end slipped off leaving the stitches behind. Fortunately I had gotten past the short rowing and was plain knitting when my gear malfunctioned. Those will be going back from whence they came. I have to say, that would never happen with dpns. I have acquired another 29” set of circs and as you can see, so far, so good.
They're predicting sunny weather here in Massachusetts tomorrow, darn, that means no excuses not to do yardwork until the Sox come on at 2:30p!

It's Been One of Those Weeks...

Lately I get up in the morning, sometimes earlier than I need to just so I can knit a few rounds before I go to that place. You know, that place, that sucks the life out of you but provides the money to make your mortgage payment and buy more yarn and knitting toys. I can't wait to get home so I can pick up the needles again, zone out, and only communicate with the yarn, needles, row counter etc., and the greatest thing about the yarn, needles and row counter is that they seem to be capable of taking care of themselves, they don't ask the same idiotic questions over and over or flame off at you because they're having a bad day. These things don't treat you inhumanely or expect praise because they provide health benefits. No, they don't. They are always there, except when Bailey had hidden them in the couch cushions or moved them because they look better over there. Can you tell? It's been a bad week. And the worse it gets the more I want to pull out my traveling sock project from under my desk and knit it all away.

On to more positive thoughts
The poncho is coming along. I'm a little nervous of the neckline. You see, I was a good little knitter and made a swatch, washed and dried it and it lost quite a bit of length and width so I cast on according to the swatch. Hmmm, the neckline seems a bit wide but, I must trust my swatch. Trust the Swatch, Trust the Swatch...
Mega Boot sock #2 is being cuffed. And I have been investigating knitting LACE! I am so not a lace girl but since mastering the whole sock thing I am absolutely fearless. Bring it on!

The Mega Boot Stretch & The Wildfoote

First of All.....

Happy 24th Birthday to JayJay!
Here she's getting her tanning in and even though I'm an esthetician and vehemently opposed to tanning, she's allowed because 1.) She's 168 cat years 2.) She has always done what she wanted and 3.) It's the only physical activity she does these days. You go kitty!


Meanwhile...
In my new sock quest I have been experimenting with a few different materials in sock yarn. My latest is the Lana Grossa Mega Boot Stretch that to date is my favorite sock. The yarn is "sproingy", ultra comfy and the sock hugs my foot and leg. I went with a 2x2 rib and a sewn cast off. I like it so much I went back to Web's and bought another color. This one is 710.















My Wildfoote with the Feather & Fan came out beautiful--so nice my mother took them practically before they were off the needles! This material was finer and will look great with a pair of flats. I over exposed the shot so the design was more visible. They are much darker than this.
















As I said, I went back to Web's and picked up a few more sock yarns including a cotton/wool/nylon mix just to see how that works up. As I was wandering in fiber nirvana I noticed a sign that said that the Yarn Harlot would be there on April 22 to promote her new book. Count me in! I enjoy her blog and her insight.

Off to get started on mom's poncho, the swatch has been washed and dried, let the games begin!

Here's The Proof

Now that my pics will upload I have proof of my progress. Here we have one Stripey sock from my first complete pair. I've worn them to bed almost every night since! The other is my Wildfoote with a Feather & Fan cuff. Hard to see the design.
I also managed to knit off a swatch for mom's poncho and catch cold this weekend. I could have done without the cold. It cut in on my knitting time.
My roadtrip to Web's resulted in a Lana Grossa sock yarn called Meilenwiet/Mega Boots Stretch. Quite a bit heavier than the Wildfoote. That store can be so overwhelming, so many choices. Their anniversary sale is coming up in April and their maniac tent sale at the end of May. Must wear protective gear for that one, it gets wild!

Pay Attention When Short Rowing...

I ended up starting my Wildfoote sock twice because I became too engrossed with what Rachel Ray was cooking. It's all her fault! ; P But I'm back on track and with this yarn being smoother than the last yarn I used I find that it splits easier so I'll have to mind what I'm doing. I'm curious to search out different materials now. I'll have to hit Woolies and Webs this weekend. I also need to start mom's poncho...that kinda got pushed aside when sockmania struck me. So many projects, so little time.

More Socks!

The stripey socks are done! If only I could upload the picture. Apparently blogspot is having an issue with a server and those of us that were on the now smashed server are having trouble with the picture upload part of our blogs SO WE JUST HAVE TO SIT TIGHT! I'll just knit more socks. The next pair will be Wildfoote by Brown Sheep Company in Rhapsody. Dutifully knitting my gauge swatch.

One Down, One to Go

Finished one striped/pattern sock and it snowed so I can't knit the second one fast enough. I find I've made them a touch too long so the next set will be tweaked. I like making socks, even if I don't like wearing them past March 20.
I still can't get my photos to load, the upload function says it working but no picture appears. And I used to be a WebMaster! It's not rocket science! uurrrgggg!

My New Adventure in Socks

You know what's ironic, I hate wearing socks. As soon as March rolls around I try to leave them behind but inevitably in New England it snows a couple times forcing me to don a pair just to keep my feet out of the snow. But here I am, knitting my second pair of socks in less than a week. I'm trying to upload a picture but my ancient hand crank computer is having a tough time of it.
I found an easy way to divide a ball of yarn to make 2 evenly. Some knitters use scales to weigh the original ball, wind a new one and weigh it periodically to see if it's the same weight. In my effort to always shorten the process, I just left the original ball on the scale, set up my ball winder next to it and wound off until the original ball weighed half what it did. I have a pic of that too, honest.
The clerk at Northern Woolies and I bonded in our conversation of the dpns and circ methods. (She brought it up, I didn't.)That was comforting. Apparently I was just unaware that there was an established class system in the knitting universe. Well, too bad, knit with what you want I say.

Congratulations! It's a sock!

I did it! I made my first sock. I've been knitting for over 30 years (hey, Grandma got ahold of me early folks) and if I could get my pics to load I could have visual record of it for this here blog. I used the Generic Toe Up pattern from Wendy Knits! and I'm quite pleased with myself. I have some minor tweaking to do when I get to sock 2. I managed to get a tiny hole on the heel/instep join but I just need to pick up a stitch or two extra to rectify that. My kitty Jay was not impressed but a cat at 24 years old doesn't impress easily. Yup, on April 1 she will be 24 years old. After hooting that I had turned the heel and lived thru it she merely lifted her head, yawned, and tucked her nose under her chin. Reality check mom. It's a sock.

Uncle! Uncle!

I made my apologies for causing such pain and anguish in the war between the circular and dpn factions. (See "How to Start a Knitting War")I'm not sure why I'm apologizing and I didn't say anything bad about dpns, I know I'll still use them, but pity the people that use circs and didn't dare comment lest they be beaten with them. Oh well, life goes on.
Finished the toddler size pullover I was making so that leaves 2 pair of mittens, Fair Isle baby hat and sweater to block tonight. Well, maybe not tonight, I received the Harry Potter Goblet of Fire dvd in the mail yesterday and it needs to be watched.

How to Start a Knitting War!

Wow! I asked a question on another knitting blog site (forgive me, I'm new at this blog thing)about using 2 circular needles vs. double pointed and things got downright hostile! Won't do that again. Feel like I've been flogged...Hey, I'm happy with the 2 circ method and it's MY knitting. That's what makes the world spin--boring if everyone did everything the same. I did learn about something called the Magic Loop. Interesting and I'll give it a try. That got blasted as well--people, take a deep breath and knit! It was just a question! Geesh!

I'm finishing up projects out of my yarn stash which is so dismally low it nearly brings a tear to my eye. Plenty of hats and mittens for Warm the Children project and such and I'll keep adding to it. Luckily WEB's yarn shop will be having their anniversary sale soon, next month I believe, and I'll join the melee to enhance my supply.

I found a design pattern for the poncho I mentioned earlier, now I need to chart it out.

And the Saga Continues...

I'm about shrugged out. I've torn apart and re-knitted shrugs all I'm going to. Time to move on. I'm getting the itch to Fair Isle/Norwegian. I've also had a request to create a poncho with an Aztec print band around the center so I'll have to do some homework creating a pattern from pics. Love the web for that! Good knitting weather here as it has snowed today and is to be followed up with an arctic blow, thank you Canada!
To conclude the shrug madness, I tore apart the wrap shrugs and created more classic designs using chunky yarns with large needles and small needles to fill requests for fashion and function. I do enjoy wearing them, sometimes you just don't need a whole sweater.

On The Other Hand...

My premier shrug came out beautifully, loads of compliments. Decided a slim I-cord finish aroung the edge would work fine.
On the other hand, my attempt at a criss cross shrug, very popular, even my hair stylist heard about it, a non-knitter but I love her anyway, failed and I'm trying to figure where I went wrong. Gauge was perfect but the math did not work. 75" x 12", 18.5" seamed for each arm end, that's 37" used up leaving 38" for the center. Unless you're the size of a 5 year old this does not fit. I queried the pattern originator and received a lovely response that if I look at the picture it's stretched a bit to fit. HuH! I pity the model after that shoot. I went on my own and ended up with a center section 60"! Almost twice the pattern! And you know, the bloody thing doesn't stay put. Annoying to wear. Not one to give up, I tried again using 1 strand instead of two thinking maybe the tension was too tight? Nah, still ended up with 60" in the center. I like the lighter weight but it creeps up and shifts like it's trying to get away. Stretched a bit my eye. I would have been better off just looking at the picture and winging it like I usually do and then wouldn't have gotten myself in such a fuss over the instructions.

Oh Shrug!

Is it me or has the shrug become a really popular piece of apparel? I noticed Alyssa Milano on Charmed donning one and have noticed stores are carrying them as the latest trend. The only thing is they don't look good with any old top. Traditionally ballet/dance personnel wear them and they look great with a form fitting under garment, leotard, something spandexy. But I'm seeing them worn with looser blouses and T-shirts and it loses it's elegance, unless the shrug itself is very loose and to me it then becomes a shawl with sleeves. Maybe that's what shrug means, I don't know. Anyway, I decided to give it a shot. I had some mohair, a popular material shrug of choice I noticed surfing around the web, and discovered that a shrug is a "shaped rectangle" as one sight put it. Okay, now, I don't like to sew pieces together so I, of course went circular. Mohair can be itchy at times so I didn't want fitted sleeves and wanted my shrug a bit drapier than a dancer's traditional shrug. I decided that the back should be 20" from neck to mid back and I like my cuff to be 10" around. Did my gauge, cast on for the cuff which was just to hold the 3/4 sleeve in place so I only made it 1/2"using a very small needle. I switched to my gauge needle and increase 1 in every stitch so now it equals 20" around. 19" was long enough for the sleeve. I just started knitting back and forth to create the back and at 17" I rejoined the ends and am 1/3 of the way on the opposite sleeve. I did a trial fitting and impressed myself. Shocking! It's coming out exactly as envisioned in my head. Now my brain is just spinning thinking of variations with style and material...but how many shrugs does one need? And what kind of finished edge if any at all. It rolls across the back top and bottom, but I'm not convinced it's a bad thing. We'll see.

Long Weekend Accomplishments

During the New Year's weekend I managed to get 4 fun fur scarves done, (with size 11 needles it's not that hard) so my 4 year old niece will have "boas" for dress up. I also found a mitten from my toddler years that I was able to recreate and improve upon. It had been ages since I had done Shaker stitch and this little mitten worked out very well. I also managed to get the remaining Christmas decorations down and the place cleaned, rang in the New Year and attended a lovely brunch that lasted until 4 in the afternoon.--a very successful weekend. I will try to get a pic of the mittens and include a before and after for comparison. I have no idea if the original was store bought or handmade, I want to say handmade as there were no tags or remanents of one being cut out. Checked with Mom and she says store bought. She should know.