Potential

Early last week I decided to "free" my yarn stash from the plastic tubs I store it in and display it on a shelf.  While sorting it all I realized (guiltily admitted) I had a lot of single skeins, as I suspect some of you have.  I began to play in my stash and look to match up skeins for multi-colored projects.

These are Hazel Knits and Leading Men Fiber Arts. This pair is destined to be a Mormorio.  I've wanted to knit this shawl for awhile and I had tried previously with other yarn and didn't like my choice.  I think the gauge of these yarns is perfect for that pattern.

These yarns I bought for 2 separate projects but then decided almost immediately that I didn't want to knit either.  These yarns are both light fingering weight and shiny and beautiful! The brown is Anzula Milky Way and the blue is Miss Babs Tarte. I love blue and brown together so I hope to eventually make a sweater with them but no idea which one yet.

The multicolored yarn from NeverEnoughThyme was a complete impulse buy on Etsy at a time when I was NOT buying variegated yarn.  I just had to have it and I still love it.  A friend recently showed me the Therapy Shawl and also gave me this solid purple yarn,  so I think I may make the shawl with these two but I don't know.  What do you think?

This set is Leading Men Fiber Arts that I received in my goody bag from Zombie Knitpocalypse this year and some Knit Picks I bought to dye.  I think they look great together as well and not sure what to make with it all.

Lots of potential in my stash.  Lots of future knitting to dream about.

Sewing Diversion

In the middle of 1x1 ribbing hell on a shawl collared sweater...I decided I needed a break...and then these happened.

I would like to say I completely enjoyed making these however, it became painstakenly clear that I can no longer thread the needle on the sewing machine without readers or (thank heaven) the needle threader on my machine.  So after 4 hours of sewing, I felt old and blind and went back to my size 7 needles and worsted weight yarn which was not as painful afterall.

2012...Thank goodness

Yes, it's that time of year again when you revisit last year (which kinda sucked) and set intentions for the new year. Note that I said intention not goal.  That is my way of not setting myself up for failure...not putting on pressure.  Who needs it?

2011 (the good and bad):

• Spent half of the year sick...much better now.
• After 7 months of yoga, 12 months of chiropractic care, and a cortisone injection, my back is feeling much better.
• Knit 7 miles of yarn.
• Bought a spinning wheel and still trying to decide if spinning is for me or not.  I have definitely improved but still learning.
• Adopted a new dog, Juno who we love dearly (photo below). Henry loves her too but not so sure about sharing a chair.
• Attended my first fiber fairs.  Loved SAFF!

So onto the knitting intentions: 

• Less random yarn buying...trying to use more of stash
• No deadline knitting...the only exception is for SSK knit retreat KAL
• Release sock pattern I have finished (not sure why I haven't done this yet)
• Less time on Ravelry....this is a hard one but I find that too much time results in joining too many KAL's and knitting too many things I don't need.
• Knit more sweaters

Non knitting intentions:

• Less frivolous spending. This is usually done when the teenagers are whining at me.  I will be stronger! 
• Exercise outside my comfort zone.  I love my yoga classes but I need to try some other types...will start out with Toning and before end of year hope to try Zumba.
• Read more.  Hubby bought me a Kindle for my birthday last week and I love it. It's loaded with books and knitting patterns already. Will read before knitting.
• Work on healthier family eating....especially during volleyball season when we normally eat out too often.
• Have more fun with my camera.  Take classes.  I got a Nikon D3000 last Christmas and while it's been used, I really haven't played with it like I intended to. 
• Blog more.

Tour de Fleece

It's my first Tour de Fleece and while I'm still a fledgling spinner I do have the goal of spinning up these.

- FLUFF Organic Merino Top

- Pigeonroof Studios Falkand

- Greenwood Fiberworks BFL

- Bee Mice Elf Merino/Tencel

The FLUFF is the only one I am spinning with a purpose.  I am hoping to spin it as a fingering weight single in order to make the Mezquita Shawl.

Too Funny

Today I was looking around on the internet for instructions on how to make your own lazy kate (a plying device for spinning).  When reviewing the results I came across a good number of them referring to Kate Gosselin.  I love Google!

Belle

I did it!  I found a lovely little wheel...an Ashford Traveller.  Her name is Belle and I hope we have a great time together.

BTW - our little bird friend is still visiting us every day and has also discovered (and covered) the car rear view mirrors. We have named him Tom...peeping Tom.  Every morning he's peeking in the window at us.

Who's Knocking?

I was finally cleaning up the home office today and kept hearing something banging on the window.  I looked outside and saw this little bird flapping up against the window.  As I got closer he flew off.  A few minutes later he was back.  Then he'd fly off.  And a few minutes more....he was back.  A few hours later....he was still at it! 

I looked around the bushes out front to see if he/she had a nest going out there but I didn't find anything.  I'm not sure what was up with the poor guy.  He didn't mind me snapping pictures of him at all. And I didn't mind the break from cleaning.

A Bout of Finishitis

Bless his heart!  Isn't he just the cutest?  His name is Jerry and he was made for DD#2.  He was a very quick knit I have orders already from other family members to make more just like him.

These are my Mardi Gras socks.  Bright yellow, bright green and purple (I know it looks blue).  Sometimes its fun to knit with really loud yarn.  I'm trying to give away most socks I make this year, but no one has claimed these thus far. :)

This is my Haruni and it's mine, mine, all mine!  It's Wollmeise and it's lovely.  I'm showing it off everywhere I go.

And finally to round off my finishitis...EZ's miter mitts knit with Noro Silk Garden.  It took some work to get the colors to match up but I did it...not sure about the thumbs but whatever.

It's Coming

The end is near.  I'm getting weaker.  Last night I even had a dream about it. 

Spinnning.

No. Not spinning on a spindle. On a wheel....a nice wheel...One of these.

Help!  I feel resistance is futile.

3rd Times a Charm

I am a knitting bag whore.  I love them.  I would love to have a bunch of them.  However, I am in the simplify your life mode right now and I have been trying to keep the knitting stuff in control.  So I've sold off or given away a few bags including recently selling my Namaste Zuma.  I loved the amount of stuff I could put in it but I couldn't put a pattern or book in it without ruining/wrinkling it.  I also carry a smaller sized wallet and I would lose it in there.  Not enough sectioning. Before that bag I had a Namaste Newport which I wasn't in love with either. 

Then a couple of weeks ago, a friend of mine (the enabler) sent me a link to Little Knits.  They were having a 50% off sale on Namaste bags.  So I decided to try a 3rd Namaste bag.  I ordered the Monroe and I love it!  It's perfect.  Three sections...one for my purse stuff, one for the knitting and one for books and patterns.   No, you could not fit a large sweater or afghan project in it but, currently I have 3 smaller projects in there and there is still plenty of room.  I think I will be hanging on to this one for a while.

On the Other Side

Happy New Year!  Yeah, a little late but the last couple of months have been no fun.  I had illness on top of illness.  One illness aggravated another which was not helpful.  I was actually so down and out that for a few weeks I didn't want to knit.  I laid in front of the television and watched sitcom reruns.  Which I did enjoy doing. I'm a sitcom junkie. We also managed a trip to Disney World over Christmas break.  I was lucky to be having a good week that week.  Now, 2 months later, I am finally on the other side and feeling back to myself. 

Feeling better brought back my knitting mojo and off I went.  I knit a lovely pair of socks from yarn and a pattern that I won on turtlegirl76's blog. The yarn is Artsygal in colorway Froglegs and the pattern is Everyone Outta the Pool.

 

I love these socks but I really have too many and I've decided to give away most socks I knit this year.   I reserve the right to keep a few :)  These are going to a friend that told me about her chiropractor.  He is the best and the back pain I've been struggling with for the last 5 years is almost gone!  She deserves more than socks.

I've also started more socks (self striping from Twisted Limone), and a shawl (with my Wollmeise) but I don't have pictures of those yet.  And lastly, I've been working hard to finish up the sweater I was knitting for my husband.  I finished it yesterday and it fit great, except it is 2-3 inches too short!  So much for careful measuring.  So later today I will be using this method to fix it.  Pictures to follow when I can get him to pose...with the new length.

Disney in Lights

Cozy at Home

A very rare thing happened this weekend.  I have my own house to myself.  No kids and husband.  Just me and the dog.  It's lovely and I know I should be going out and having fun but instead I just felt like staying home, knitting, listening to podcasts and making my favorite soup.  Split Pea and Ham from The New Basics Cookbook
. 


This is the only recipe I really cook from this book as you can see by the split binding.



It takes a good couple of hours to make but it's the best. Carrots, leeks, onion, celery, spinach are all part of this soup.  It just has to be good for you.

 

Never mind the fat from the ham hocks...



Or the dash of Sherry at the end.  Soups on!

Mystery Socks

For the 3rd year in a row, I have participated in Through the Loops Mystery Socks.  Every October Kirsten sends out a clue a week and at months end you have a pair of socks.  I've never had a problem keeping up and every year I am more than happy with the result.  I thought I would show you all three pairs I have done, so to convince you to participate next year.  You can also go get any of these patterns now, for free!

First is this years sock.  I made it using Dream in Color Smooshy in colorway Bermuda teal.



This is last years using Dream in Color Smooshy (again!) in colorway Cinnamon Girl.



And the first years sock was made with Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock Lightweight in a club colorway called Incredible Shrinking Violet.

Another Gift Done

 The Dane Shawl (really a shawlette) is finished and it's just lovely.  The Smitten Boo is so soft.  The color way is Tulip Blaze and is a great color for this time of year...a pinky orange.  However, this is a Xmas gift and has to be put away for now.

I only used 254 yards on this little shawl and  have around 190 yards left. I think I will definitely use this yarn again in another project.  Maybe make a pair of coordinating fingerless mitts/wrist warmers.

 

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful that this was me last weekend....

Looking out at this...

Perfect Knitting Day

Today is the perfect day for knitting.  It's steadily raining.  I have the windows open so I can listen to the rain.

It's cool enough that a hot cup of coffee is needed.  The Oreos are not needed but taste delicious.

And I have two new projects on the needles.  EZ's Raglan Sweater for my hubby.  We've been together 19 years and this is the first sweater I will knit him.  I'm using Tahki New Tweed and it's working up great.

The other project I started is the Dane Shawl.  This is being made with Stricken Smitten's Smitten Boo (merino/bamboo).  I am in love with her yarn...all of them!  This is a Xmas gift for someone (shhh...secret).  I started this the same time as the sweater to offset the boring stockinette.  The sweater is great mindless TV knitting but when I have quiet time during the day I want a mindful project...and more Oreos.... :)

FO's

Wow, it's been awhile since there was any knitting on this blog. Well, there has been a lot of knitting, not a lot of show and tell. So here we go.

Pattern: Mondo Cable Pulli

Yarn: Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran

Needles: US 7 and 8

Mods:  I did k4p2 for the ribbing and I made 3/4 length sleeves

Pattern: Let it Be Socks

Yarn: Lornas Laces Shepherd Sock Stripe colorway Panther Pride

Needle: US 1.5

Mods: I opted for a standard 2x2 rib for cuff

 

Pattern: Acorn Fall Mitts

Yarn: Stricken Smitten Sport colorway Redwood

Needle: US 3

Mods: I did not twist any stitches

 There has also been a few preemie pumpkin hats for charity but I forgot to take a picture before I sent them off.  I'm participating in Single Skein September (started by the podcast Stash and Burn).  So the hats and mitts are part of that and I have an adult hat and scarf on the needles also.  Great way to make you use up those single skeins you didn't have a plan for. 

Recovery

My last post said you would have to wait to hear what I was thankful for. Well I was supposed to be thankful for my girl's weekend in Vermont. I headed up to Vermont to visit friends. Some knew I was coming and some were surprised. I was attending a bag party Friday night and then we spent the next night at a friends house on the lake where we suprised her with an "adult" party for her birthday. These were all good things and I am thankful to have spent time with everyone, however it was soured by bad news from my house.

The Friday that I arrived in Vermont, one of our dogs Lily took a fall down the stairs. It was a bad fall that resulted in her being paralyzed. A few years ago we had surgery done on her bladder to move it into proper positioning and it was stapled to her abdomen walls. The fall caused the bladder to rip away and caused a lot of internal damage. We had to put her to sleep. She was only 3.

Lily (Dec06-Sept10)

Within one weeks time we had one of our birds die, Lily die, and then the fish died. How the kids survived all this I do not know. DH was amazing, handling everything while I was in Vermont. All attention is now focused on our dog Henry. He is a little lost right now without Lily but we are spoiling him rotten.

Henry

To recover, we all went camping this weekend. Surprising cool mornings sitting around a fire, warm afternoons playing in the lake, and family time teaching the kids to play Euchre. Just what the doctor ordered.

Thankful Thursday

is postponed. You'll have to wait to find out what I'm thankful for on Monday...