the knitting green

Ravelympics

2008-08-07T09:29:00.002-04:00

Well, I've taken the plunge, with one day to go. Those of you in-the-know know that Ravelympics starts tomorrow! I've committed to do some WIP Wrestling, and picked two projects: my Peacock Feathers shawl and my BYOB. An old project and a fairly new one. I'm afraid I have other projects which are calling to me, but I'm going to try to focus on these. The Peacock Feathers has been waiting a while because I have to rip back a number of rows (eight? ten? I haven't looked at it in a while) to fix a mistake. It has been easier to put it aside than to fix it, so that what I have done. Tomorrow, though, it all changes. WIP Wrestling, here I come!
The BYOB has been cast on and the bottom finished, but I keep working on other current projects--I can see this languishing by my bed for a long time.

I have been working on a baby afghan for a mystery baby (gender, that is) that has been fun. It is called Animal Antics, and I've done the five animals in different colors, with the background in brown. I'm afraid it doesn't scream (or even feebly whisper) "girl" to me, though, and that is what I've just found out this baby is. She's not due until October, so I've got a little time left. The afghan I've done needs an edging, but I haven't decided how to do that just yet. I thought about making a pink-y or flower-y afghan for Ravelympics, but I think I should finish off some of the things I've started first. What to do?

DH and I think we should write down some of the things our boys say. So--drumroll--the funniest word ever said in a movie is--Underpants. That's right, underpants. The boys and I have been going to see the free movies at the theaters all summer, and we accidentally saw one called "Everyone's Hero" or "Everybody's Hero" or some such thing. (It really stuck with me, huh?) I was not enthralled, but the boys laughed through the whole thing. There was a talking ball! And a talking bat! And they said "underpants" twice! Wow--tears rolling down my face. I was sitting there quite bored, and both boys would laugh and repeat the funny bits. That would make me laugh. Then we got to listen to semi-quotes for two weeks. It probably still isn't over. "Big Bob toys. Big Bob newspapers. Big Bob UNDERPANTS!" Actually, it isn't Big Bob at all--it was Babe Ruth. Details, though, aren't really important to a 4 yo.

More later--really!

rag

Stuff

2008-04-26T12:33:00.002-04:00

Well. We have had a birthday party for a REAL LIVE person! DS#1 turned seven, and he requested a Lego-themed party. He wanted to invite everyone in his class (12 kids) but only three RSVP'd. Why? I'm not sure. Then, only two of those came. Very disappointing. We had fun with the two who came, though! We had all sorts of Lego games--guess-the-amount-in-the-jar, speed-building, height-building, chopsticks-moving, relay racing with spoons, aiming into buckets, scavenger-hunting/clue-following. There may have been other games, but it is kind of a blur! We had Lego pizza (thanks Saporito's! They made rectangular pizza with the cuts and the pepperonis just so) and Lego cake. All in all, it was a good time for my boy.

Two more Letter Boys have also had birthdays. We have celebrated H Boy and I Boy days. H Boy saw everyone wearing Hats in his honor, and Hot dogs eaten. Everything was pronounced Hilarious. A couple days ago we celebrated for I Boy. He got Italian food and homemade Ice cream. There were many sprinkles involved--I think the kids liked it. J Boy will probably see Jello eaten, but I'm not sure what else...

Knitting! I've been enjoying myself. I've finished the knitting on the Mrs. Weasley's bag. (Have I said this already?) The bag needs to be lined and have handles attached. That may take me a while, but there's no real rush. I also got on a string bag kick--I think I made four out of cotton. Different patterns, different results. I also made two out of plastic bag strips. One is extremely colorful, and I really like it.

When that little burst was through, I made a hand towel with linen I bought at Knitch the first time Stephanie Pearl-McPhee was in town. I didn't think I would like knitting it at all, but I did! I have used linen before, but didn't enjoy it. That time the yarn was held doubled; this time it was a single strand. Maybe that made the difference? Maybe it was the stitches? In any case, I'm glad I made the towel. I would be glad to make more if I could find an excuse!

Now I am knitting some yarn that my sister gave me three years ago for Christmas (or five?). She used to travel extensively with her job, and had an opportunity to go to Hong Kong. I asked for cashmere yarn (I was going to pay for it!), because I thought it would be cheaper/easier to find there. (Four years makes a difference in yarn shops and what they carry.) At the time, she did not knit--what a brave girl she is to have done this for me! She actually found a yarn shop, managed to communicate what I wanted, and got beautiful yarn. The yarn wasn't from or made in China or Hong Kong, but it is beautiful. I got 5 skeins of On Line Linie 38 Kaschmerino, which knits up at 9 1/2 stitches and 5 3/4 rows per inch. She also gave me a pattern for a beautiful cabled scarf which is NOT written in English. Thank goodness for charts! This project has, for some reason, been languishing for a few years. As this is The Year I Will Finish UFOs, I have brought it out. In the past couple days, I have knit about 1 1/2 skeins worth of the scarf. Why, oh why has it taken me this long to finish it? It really is beautiful yarn and a beautiful scarf. I have decided that I will use some of the yarn to make fingerless mitts to match the scarf, so when I have finished skein #3, I will pause what I am doing to make those. Then I can finish the scarf with whatever yarn remains. I will be oh-so-stylish next winter!

I have completely ripped out my Rogue. There is more than one way to take care of a UFO! I love the pattern, but really DON'T love the yarn (for this sweater). The pattern will have to wait until I can afford nicer yarn than what I was using. The yarn, though, will make wonderful felted bags. I have a couple patterns that I've wanted to make but couldn't justify right now, so those now have a chance to get knitted. I want to say "Stay Tuned" (like this is heart-stopping drama), but I have a couple baby blankets to plan and knit, so those will probably make the queue first.

ttfn--rag

And tomorrow is for G Boy

2008-04-02T00:24:00.002-04:00

Wow. I haven't told you about the fun we've had celebrating birthdays for D Boy, E Boy, or F Boy! Where does the time go? Here's a teensy summary: D Boy got a Dozen Decorated Doughnuts from Dunkin' Donuts. E Boy got a bit more...Es and many E words and pictures on the driveway until it rained, Eggo waffles, Edamame, burned-to-a-crisp Empanadas (put out in the rain to stop the smell), and Egg decorating, as it was the week before Easter (fortunate!). F Boy got Formal Fancy-Font invitations to his Fete, Fiesta, Festival... There were Fragrant Flowers, Fajitas, Flour tortillas, Fanta, and fun. It was Fabulous! It was also on Friday (natch!), as it is every year (according to DS).

G Boy's birthday is tomorrow. The menu hasn't been completely nailed down, but I have a few options: there could be Grilled cheese, Grapes, Granola bars, Ginger Ale, Grape juice, Gatorade, Ground beef sandwiches (sloppy joes), Garden Salad, Guacamole, &/or Garbanzo bean salad. DS and I were at a store yesterday and saw a huge display of G things for the University of Georgia. He was terribly excited by all of the Gs, but I didn't think we needed to buy balloons or cups or stickers or anything else UGA related for the birthday. Now, if they'd had napkins, I probably would have buckled. G napkins would have been really cool.

What's funny about these "parties" is that the older kids (one in 1st grade and one in Kindergarten) seem to feel that they are missing out on something neat. If only they knew.

Knitting is happening. It's weird--I haven't been doing any "have to do" knitting at all. I've been on a string bag/farmer's market bag kick lately, and it is fun! I have a bit (ahem) of a cotton stash, and I've been trying to make a dent in it. So far I've finished four string bags from four patterns. One was crocheted, three were knit. I've been testing their sturdiness today--boy, are they strong. Also, the one which was my least favorite to make has been GREAT (G word!) to use. I may have to make another one. That is, after I've tested the other eight or so string bag patterns I have printed off...

Today we Celebrated...

2008-03-06T22:17:00.004-05:00

Today we celebrated C Boy's birthday. What? You didn't? C Boy's birthday was today, B Boy's birthday was last week, and D Boy's birthday is next week. This is according to my youngest, who tells us all about the letter boys. They are Super Heros, and they each have different talents and abilities. There are also Evil Letter Boys (to oppose the Super Heros) and smaller, usually lower-case Letter Girls. Lost yet?

So today we had a little party for C Boy. We had Mexican Chicken tortilla soup, Cornbread, Carrots, Cheese sandwiches, Chips, Cran-Grape juice, double Chocolate Chunk Cookies. The kids made Crowns. We Created (ok--we knit). My sister sent an unexpected birthday card to C Boy that arrived TODAY! (She's good.) The card had glitter and kid art. It was fabulous! My nephew didn't "get it" but he wished C Boy a happy birthday anyway.

C Boy, for those who are interested, wears a Cape, Chases Cats, and rides in a Car.

D Boy is up next week. What to do... Donuts? Drums?

Well, I've (nearly) finished my Lizard Ridge. I love it! It is fully knit, blocked, and sewn together. It needs an edging, but that shouldn't take too long. I finished the Santa Scarf--it turned out pretty cute! Now I'm working on a Mrs. Weasley's Bag from Charmed Knits. Fun project.

ttyl...

Knitters are great!

2008-02-03T13:37:00.000-05:00

I love knitters! I've been to two great things lately that have just made me happy. Yesterday I took a road trip with two friends and a Very Little Boy to Greenville, SC. The Greenville Knitting Guild had a Knit Inn. Registration was (get this) FIVE DOLLARS. I could actually afford it. Had I registered in time, I might have been able to take one of many classes they had going on, again for only FIVE DOLLARS. Since I didn't decide to go until Monday, I didn't get into any classes. I still had a fabulous time. We drove for 2 1/2 hours or so and then basically parked ourselves in the Drury Inn dining area along with a bunch of other knitters. There was a room with cookies and pop, a few vendors, a silent auction, and door prizes. People shifted in and out, but mostly we just WERE. We knit. (knitted?)

We got to meet a wonderful knitter from (who currently lives in) Greenville. (Hi, Heather!) We walked over to Whole Foods for lunch and we found beer samples--I even liked a couple of them. After a cruise through AC Moore, we had dinner at a cool coffee shop called Underground Coffee. We were definitely old fogies, though--everyone else there was 25 or younger, and Cool. We were Uncool, but that's one of the benefits of being old(er). We didn't care, and we had a great time anyway! What a great, great day.

Last weekend I was invited to another knitter's house for a Pride and Prejudice marathon knit-in. From 2:30 to 9:30 we watched all five hours of the BBC version of PaP, drank tea, and knit. There was talking, sharing, crying--I'm sorry I had to leave. I had left DH home with one sick boy and one bouncing-off-the-wall-recently-healthy boy (101.5 to 103.3 fever for a week, but finally over it), and I thought I should see how they all were. I hope the girls decide to gather again.

I love knitters!

The !@##@ Vest is Done

2008-01-16T22:07:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I finished the vest I started knitting for my dad several years ago. It has been three or four years--I'm not sure. I think I've blocked it out. There is nothing wrong with the pattern (from Knitter's, years ago), the yarn was wonderful. If this were a computer I would say it is a PEBCAK issue. You know...the Problem Exists Between the Chair and the Keyboard. In this case, I guess it was PEBNAY. Between the Needles and the Yarn. Me. Me. Me. The problem was all me. Luckily, I seem to have put all of my knitting issues in this one project. May they all stay there.

Just after Christmas one year, my parents were visiting. I purposely didn't give my dad a present, but gave him a Future Vest. I showed him a pattern I had picked out and asked his opinion. He didn't care for it, but did pick another pattern from the same issue. So far so good. I ordered the yarn. Still, so far, so good. Slowly but surely I knitted one side. That was with the correct needles, size 9. Later (why rush) I knitted the other side. With size 6 needles. Go, me. As it is a mistake rib pattern and I was knitting to measurements and couldn't tell the difference, I soldiered on. Finally (it must have been 1 1/2 years by now) I finished it up and sent it off to Iowa. Turns out the vest was about three inches too short for my father. Yea.

Again, go me. I said "no problem--send it back." I thought I'd be able to take off the ribbing, knit up or down--whatever--make it longer and send it back. Don't get too cocky with knitting. It will get you back. I could NOT figure out how to attach knitting to this funky mistake rib pattern without having it show, so after Much Procrastination, I finally decided I'd have to reknit it. Several times over, I hated this vest. It doesn't even have sleeves. There is no reason for this thing to take years to knit.

I reknit it. A front, a back. After I added three inches, though, I ran out of yarn. There was not enough left to do the neck and arm bands. So close and yet so far. Guess what--the yarn was discontinued. (Note to self--Knit Your Projects in a Reasonable Amount of Time!) I finally found a wonderful person on Ravelry who pointed me to another wonderful person who was willing to sell to me her one skein of Artful Yarns Jazz in colorway Dizzy. Whew and wow. Project underway again.

Around New Year's 2007, I sewed the shoulder seams and did the neckband THREE times, for various reasons. (Sewed back on backwards, sewed inside out...for the record, it was really hard to tell inside from outside when I wasn't looking carefully). Third time was charm enough--I don't love the result, but it will pass. Then when I was sewing up the SECOND side seam I noticed that the ribbing on the front is half an inch shorter than the ribbing on the back. How on Earth did I do that??? And why didn't I see it until sewing up the SECOND seam??? That mistake stays as is.

Now the ends are woven in. It is DONE. AGAIN. I hope it will be long enough for my dear old dad. I also hope that I haven't breathed too many bad thoughts into that stupid vest.

So I don 't leave you with all negative thoughts, think on this...Lizard Ridge. Again! For Christmas 2006 I made one for my sister and BIL. I LOVED the pattern, the project, the yarn, the end result. I had to give it away. It's a good thing they like it! (As a matter of fact, my knitting is famous now! They sent it out on their New Years cards this year! OK--the picture is of the dog, but he is ON my Lizard Ridge, which is draped over my BIL. Nice!) So I am now nine squares into a 30 square afghan. I am loving it again. Theirs had more brights and more contrast--mine is not turning out that way, but I've got a ways to go. It is fascinating to watch it grow.

I think my next big UFO to tackle will be my Rogue. I don't remember when I started that either, but I don't hate it yet. I just got sidetracked. I may get sidetracked again, though, because I've got two pregnant friends...

Love--Becky

Happy New Year!

2008-01-01T22:47:00.000-05:00

2008. Wow. I'm short on time right now, but I do want to officially state that I will finish four UFOs this year. My dad's vest and three others--doesn't matter which ones, but I'm going to get the lead out and finish some things. I'm going to eat right and exercise--really! I'm going to get a job.

Happy New Year!

Blueberry Cake

2007-11-27T11:41:00.000-05:00

Well, it turns out that I DO know how to make Blueberry Cake, after all. I think the two main characteristics I had to include were Blue and Blueberry. So, I started with a two-layer round white cake, turned blue with food coloring. (You know, I usually do fancy shapes and piping, and lots of work, but...this was the request of Birthday Boy. Even so, I almost felt like I was letting him down. I've got to get over that.) The frosting was from the back of the box, sort of. I made standard frosting--1 box+ powdered sugar, 1 stick margarine, 1 t vanilla, a couple T milk. Then I added 1 tub lite Cool Whip and 1 t dried lemon peel and a copious amount of blue food coloring. Frosted bottom layer, added layer of blueberries. Then added second layer, frosted again. Spelled MATT with blueberries, added a few around the bottom for good measure. I thought it was done, but it turned out that what it really needed was ABC sprinkles to make it perfect. The boys both ate every bite, which doesn't usually happen. I guess it was a success!

The SotS is finished and blocked, and turned out pretty well. I'm pleased.

My dad's vest is on hold once again. I have finished both the front and the back, but... I've run out of yarn. And it is discontinued. (Note to self: Finish projects in a timely manner!) I think I've got a way to buy one more skein, but I'll be holding my breath until it gets here. It obviously won't be from the same dye lot, but it will be the same yarn, same colorway. All I have to do is the neck band and the arm bands. At least those will all be from the same dye lot. I just hope it is going to be close. I really want to get this thing off my plate.

It's getting colder here in Georgia...time to break out the scarves!

Another Birthday!

2007-11-21T10:38:00.000-05:00

We have a FOUR year old! DS2 turned four today. He is, of course, very excited about his birthday, and has declared that we get to go to the Alligator Park this afternoon. (There is a slide that looks like an alligator. Nobody else in East Cobb would know what you were talking about if you referred to the Alligator Park, though, so don't try it.) Tonight we dine on pizza AT the restaurant, and we will come home to Blueberry Cake and presents. (I think I've figured out how I'm going to comply with the cake request, but the proof will be in the pudding...)

Knitting...
I last wrote in early October. My, that is a lot of time. I have been making slow progress on the vest, and hope to have it done by the end of November. The Swiss-cheese scarf is done. I have also been keeping up with the SOS, or the Secret of the Stole, so that should be done next week. It is black with black beads, like my MS3, because that is what I had handy. I think it will be for my sister--she actually gets to go out now and again. Maybe I will keep the next one for myself. I've signed up for a couple more lace knit-alongs which start sometime next year, so maybe I will do one of those. Although I love the enforced pacing of the KALs, and the result is beautiful, I'm itching to knit another Lizard Ridge (and about a hundred other things). I need science to extend life expectency about 150 years, because I think I've got about that many projects lined up.

I got to do something fun a couple weeks ago... I loaded up a bunch of knitting, yarn, needles, and kids books (with knitting references/themes, of course) and read to DS1s 1st grade class. The kids seemed entertained--I hope they were. I got to show the scarf that DS and I designed when he was a little 3 year old, the Goodnight Moon afghan I designed, lace-edged pillowcases that my great-great-grandmother made, a knitted lace bonnet that my mom found at an auction or estate sale, and other things I packed in the bin. I read Derek the Knitting Dinosaur, The Long Red Scarf, Mrs. McDockerty's Knitting, and The Red Wolf. The Red Wolf is a bit weird (the princess turns her father the king into a mouse with knitted pajamas), but it was the kids' favorite. You never can tell, I guess. I don't think I was too obsessed-sounding, and the kids got to be exposed to knitting as a neat topic. It was a good day.

Well, Birthday Boy is telling me that it is time to go to the park. Ta ta!

Happy Birthday, Hubby!

2007-10-05T21:44:00.000-04:00

DH had a big birthday today. I wish I could have done something fabulous for him. He has been a wonderful support for me, and I'm lucky to be married to him. Almost ten years--can you believe it?

Pics...

2007-09-30T16:24:00.000-04:00

I'm trying to take pictures and get them here and in Ravelry. I'm failing. I got some really poor pictures taken--I don't think this camera is working too well. I found the plug and attached it to both camera and computer. Go, me! I walked through the guide-thing and I created a Flickr account. Easy-peasy. Then I tried to find the pictures, and it all went south. I can't find them. I feel like a dunce. Where did they go? I looked and looked. The file name listed in the picture software doesn't seem to exist. Ughhh. DH took the boys out for some fun, I have all this time to get pictures on Ravelry (finally) and I can't find them. You know if I ask him for help he'll find them in about two seconds. I want to find them first!

Yesterday I took the boys out while DH went golfing. It was Free Museum Day, sponsored by Smithsonian Magazine. One of the museums in our area that was free was the Michael Carlos Museum over at Emory. They were having an Egyptian/mummy exhibit that I thought would interest the boys. DS1 has a Jack & Annie book (Magic Tree House) about Egypt, pyramids, mummies, hieroglyphics and all, and we've read it many times. He has seen a Trading Spaces in which they decorated a boys room in an "Egyptian" style. For months he told me that his "next room" was going to be decorated like that one. (Also, I was to have a flower/garden-y design for mine. So Not My Style.) So all this bodes well for the museum, right? Wrong. We went through that place faster than I've ever gone through a museum before. Oh, well. I'm trying, and it was free! I'm not happy about how it went, but I'd be even less happy if I'd spent $15 a ticket. I will keep trying to educate and infuse an appreciation for art and aged things.

Do look for Free Museum Day next year! They seem to have it the last Saturday of September. Last year I made them go to the High Museum here in Atlanta, because I hadn't been able to go. I enjoyed that one--it is a fancy art museum. The boys, not so much. (I didn't expect it last year, though.)

As soon as I FIND the pictures, I will post them... Yesterday I finished two things, both crochet. (WHAT is up with the crochet? It's starting to get annoying.) There is a necklace/scarfy thing from Berroco called Coral made of Boho. It is really a string of little attached circles. It is fun, and different. Mine is greens, and I like it.

I also finished the body of Kluster, another Berroco free pattern. It is a crocheted crochet hook holder. I'm in the midst of felting it now, so I can add the center strip later this week. My excuse for this is that even knitters use crochet hooks. There is the occasional chain needed, or single crochet edge (makes for easy pick-up of stitches), or threading beads onto fabulous lace knitting. Previously I denied crocheting a place in my knitter-existance, but I still need a place to keep the hooks. Might as well be crocheted.

My dad's vest is coming along. I believe I am four rows away from finishing the back. Now I am really scared that I am going to run out of yarn. Since this is such an old project, I doubt that I will be able to find any more. WHY did I procrastinate? Well, keep knitting and find out the horrible truth. That's my plan.

Now, since I am boy-free for the afternoon, I think I'll knit!

"Tomorrow"

2007-09-23T21:35:00.000-04:00

I guess "tomorrow" is a relative term here. I meant to write, but...

Anyway, Wednesday was great. I did go by myself, but I got a great seat because of it. The talk was in a theater in/past/through an ice cream place. Funny that it could be there, but it was. They put me on the raised section in the second row. Still technically in the back, but raised so I had a pretty good view. When Stephanie came out to sign the group A books (for those people from far away), she was sitting right next to me. (Or I was sitting right next to her. Whatever.) I sat next to a nice lady from Peachtree City, and we gabbed. I also saw several people I knew from Guild and elsewhere, and I got to gab with them. Stephanie talked to the approx. 700 of us for about 1 1/2 hours. Boy, is she funny, thought-provoking, entertaining... Well worth the scary driving-to -VH-by-myself that I had to do. Since I was in the group B (for those of us "close by") signing group, I had a lot of free time after the talk. I hung out at the shop, gabbed some more, got dinner (hummus and grilled bread--yummy) across the street, and hung out at the shop some more. I met some great people from Athens, GA behind me in line, and got some knitting done on my current project. I finally got to have my book signed (I was one of the last), and was tongue-tied. Idiot. Stephanie was really nice, though, and I'm so glad that I went. It was a fun night.

I have finished a few more things. Last week I made myself finish at least one thing/day. I finished a crocheted baby blanket for DH's niece's new baby girl. (That makes me a great-aunt four times over--weird.) I wove ends in on a head scarf thing from Knitty. Can't remember the name of it, but it'll come to me. I wove in the ends of the Touch Me scarf and felted it. Wow, is that thing great. I used every bit of six skeins, though, and came up five inches shorter than they supposedly did with five skeins. How did they do that?? I wove in the ends on Aunt BJ's bag. (Now MAIL it, darnit!) There were a couple other things, but I can't remember them now. It was probably just weaving ends in--I'm bad about not doing that until I simply must mail something.

I'm chugging away on my dad's vest. (Really.) Five more inches, and I'll be done with the back.

I am also making a scarf with some alpaca that sister AJ gave me from Peru. She used to travel there quite a bit, and I benefited in the way of great yarn! This yarn is a gorgeous red color, and knits at 5 1/2 stitches to the inch. The scarf is my copy of the Swiss Cheese scarf from Morehouse Merino. I'm too cheap to buy the pattern, because it is only sold in a kit, so I'm having to make it up by myself. So far, so good. For some reason it makes me think of Ralph Macchio. (It's backward, though--cast off, cast on.) Let's see--did I go to high school in the 80s?

In my head I'm also designing copies of two other scarves I've seen online. These will be for my boys, and are Santa and a Snowman. The long scarfy bits are hats that end in the appropriate face at one end and a pompom at the other. What I can't decide is stockinette, 1 x 1 rib, garter, or tube. Santa would be easy, but I don't like what I've got available for his face. Snowman has way too many yarn options for the hat part. What to do, what to do? Oh--I also want to have one of them finished by the October 4th Guild meeting. Knit fast, Becky!

More "tomorrow."

Harlot!

2007-09-20T01:56:00.000-04:00

Tonight (well, the 19th) the Harlot was in town. Wow, is she funny. Several hundred knitters and I got to laugh and appreciate ourselves as knitters. What fun. I was one of the very last to get my book signed at Knitch, but I didn't mind the wait. Knitters are great company. There were many that I know, and more that I didn't know. More on the story tomorrow, though. I'm beat--I got home at 11:30, and it's 2:00 now. Good night, all.

New week

2007-08-27T12:06:00.000-04:00

Hiya--

I did finish my MS3 last week, and blocked in on Sunday. I unpinned it on Monday, and I do have to say, I am quite pleased with it. I plan to give it to my sister in law (in place of the Peacock Feathers shawl--now I can keep that one!), so I do hope she won't be thrown off by the asymmetricality of it. I think it is great, but you never know. I really will post pictures as soon as I find the camera cable.

I got in to Ravelry, so I really do need to find that cable. I'm itching to take pictures of my stash, my projects, everything. I love Ravelry! I've found new projects that I want to make, but I think mostly that is a good thing. I'm trying to concentrate on yarn that I already have, so maybe I will get inspired that way.

Today I will be finishing up Aunt Betty Jane's bag. I did it on an F hook, though, and I think it is a bit tight. Maybe it will stretch out a bit with use. I use mine to haul everything we get from the library, so it definitely gets used/abused. Still going strong.

LB gave me the Touch Me--I'm almost finished with four balls. I still haven't decided what to do about mittens/no mittens, but I'll decide that at the end of ball #5. Gimme a couple more days. She also gave me the Alchemy silk. That scarf is done and awaiting blocking. It is so beautiful! I was using some REALLY pointy needles at the beginning, and I kept splitting the yarn. When I switched to duller, slicker needles, it really started to be a faster, more pleasurable knit. I can't wait to wear it.

Job hunt is still on. Bleah.

So current knit-list: BJs bag, Touch Me scarf, Buttonhole Bag (Mason-Dixon pattern) out of SWS, Daddy's vest (really, I should do this one)

Monthly Update?

2007-08-17T22:21:00.000-04:00

Well, I'm still here. That is, I'm back. I took DS1 and DS2 to Iowa through Oklahoma on a two week last-of-the-summer car trip. I had a great time--I hope they did.

Have I been knitting? Of course. I have been working diligently on MS3--I have 34 rows left. I think it is looking pretty good. It should be finished and blocked any day now. (Really!)

I have also been working on a Vintage Velvet scarf out of Touch Me. Wow, is that stuff wonderful. I can't wait for winter! My wonderful friend LB gave me 6 skeins of Touch Me for my birthday. (Thank you!) I have wanted to make this scarf for years, but it is out of my justifiable budget for yarn. The pattern calls for 5 skeins, and she thought I might want it a bit long. I think, though, that I may stop with 5 and use the extra skein for mittens. I may have to buy a skein by myself, but wouldn't TM mittens be fabulous?

She also gave me a skein of luscious Alchemy Yarns silk in blues/greens/turquoise. It, too, is wonderful. It is beautiful, but I thought it wasn't a color I would have chosen, so was glad to be going outside my norm. LB told me I have a bunch of yarn in these colors, but I didn't think so. Lo and behold, this yarn matches at least 5 different yarns in my stash and two shirts in my closet. I guess I should pay more attention to myself! I'm knitting this skein in an Alchemy Yarns scarf pattern, and it will be beautiful. This one I will be able to wear in a month or two when it gets just a bit cooler here in Georgia.

Oddly enough, I have also been crocheting. My mother's aunt thought of me when needing to find a home for some little balls of cotton. There were a LOT of them, and I didn't have any of those colorways! (How is that possible?) I made a bag (called Inga's Bag? pattern is on the 'net somewhere) with fairly solid Granny Squares in 16 different colors set on the diagonal, and edged them with navy. Pretty cute, actually. So I took the bag to show Aunt BJ in Iowa. She liked it so much she asked me to make one for her and gave me another 24 or so FULL skeins of cotton. Fair trade, in my book! Hers will be edged in black, and I should be finished with that one early next week. Mailing things, though, is not a strong point of mine. I really need to make an effort this time. When LB saw the bag she said, "But--that's crocheted...will you make one for me?" Of course. Don't worry--I don't think crocheting is truly a new hobby for me--I think it is a temporary diversion.

After I finish these projects, I really do intend to get back to the old UFOs. My dad's vest will be first. Then I have a baby blanket to finish that didn't make the list(again crocheted. what is up with this?). Third, I think, will be my Peacock Feathers shawl. MS3 has made me want to do more lace...

DS1 has already finished one week of first grade. Where does the time go?

SLACKER!

2007-07-08T15:37:00.000-04:00

Wow, what a blogging slacker I am. In my defense, a lot has been going on/changing around here. Highlights: parents came to visit, turned 40, lost job. Here's the knitting stuff...

I haven't finished my dad's vest, but I am making steady progress on it. I am one inch from the armhole shaping on the back. When I get there, the back will go faster. The front should be a piece of cake, because I'm going to start that piece from the armhole. Much less to knit that way. (Detatch extra bits, knit three additional required inches, start armhole/neck shaping.)

I did make a pirate washcloth for DS#1, and I made a plastic bag out of plastic bags. I think I got the pattern from Magknits, and it was fun to do. My folks brought a LOT of bags when they visited at the beginning of June. I've cut those up (got three blisters in the process), so I'm ready to make some more soon.

Also finished were a little tank top and shrug for my niece. I'm not sure they went over too well, but maybe it is just the season. Oh, well.

I also finished a horrible shiny green scarf that was already on the needles. It didn't make my WIP list, but it has been around for a while. So, Success, even if I'm not crazy about it! A UFO!

That's all I can remember finishing, but that is about it, I'm sure. I have started the Mystery Stole 3, and I've even finished Clue 2. I did have to go buy beads, but they were only $3. Go, me. DS #2 even helped me pick them out. The yarn is from stash, is black and probably wool, but I'm afraid that's all I know about it. I think it will look great blocked. Five more clues to go!

I've also cast on a short-sleeved sweater for myself. Amazing. Since I HAVE to do the Dad-Vest, I knit a row of that, then a row of my sweater. Progress on both.

I have also been going to a knit-in every Monday night at a coffee shop here in Marietta. It's fun, and I'm recognizing faces. It's the best parts of knitting--talking, knitting, coffee, repeat. Fun.

Next week is Stitch -n- Pitch here in Atlanta. I can't wait! I've got tickets for all my boys, and we'll be in the shade!

Pics of what I can soon!

Bad Saturday

2007-04-23T21:03:00.000-04:00

Saturday was horrible, knitting-wise. I was happily washing a newly finished train blanket, and making progress on my fancy gloves. Both went bust on Saturday.

I have used Lion Brand Cotton for years, and happily. It has been my favorite thing to make baby blankets with because you can use it, abuse it, wash it, dry it...it just comes out softer each time. Drew has one that is six plus years old, and it is still in beautiful shape. (And not because it has been wrapped in tissue in the linen closet.) I've put multiple colors together--never had a problem. This time, though, the red bled. I spent most of Saturday in a funk. I spent a good long time knitting this, and now it is pink. Yuck. I've written to Lion--maybe they will write back with some miracle cure for bleeding colors. Anybody out there know what to do? I can't give it away like this.

If I ignore the pink, I do like the blanket. The side edges ruffled a bit with the washing, but I don't care too much about that. This is to be (if I can fix it) a gift for my old college roommate's (Loretta's) nephew. When her neice was born, we collaborated on a blanket that was very-multi-colored flowers in a checkerboard of very-multi-colors. (Turned out great and DIDN'T BLEED ALL OVER THE PLACE.) I live in Georgia, she lived in Texas--still we did fine working together. For this one, though, things went awry long before the pink issue. I did three strips, she did two strips. She mailed hers to me for finishing, and...hers were 1 1/2 FEET longer than mine. That didn't work. I don't know if she knows yet what is happening with the other two strips, but I decided to make a go of my part of the afghan. Please ignore the game pieces and boys--here's what I have:

It was adapted from a Knit It pattern. They did it as a 3 x 4 square afghan out of homespun or something like that. This one is 5 x 7 squares with the train extended by two, and flipped over on the other end of the blanket. See? No top or bottom! I also edged it in RED. My mistake.

Saturday was also bad because I came to the realization that I have to rip out the glove that I'm making. Maybe no one else would see my mistake (on row THREE), but I will. (The picture actually shows a fold--not the mistake) I even kept knitting for another inch and a half after I saw it, trying to convince myself that I should keep going. I can't do it. (I also did up through the first snowflake pattern on 0s, but the next pattern in 1s. I like the 1s better.) I will redo it without the mistake, and on 1s.

The boys:

Pumpkins, a Bag, Argosy, and a Birthday

2007-04-16T16:24:00.000-04:00

I've finished a few more projects. The first to show is a pumpkin costume for an American Girl doll. There are the main pumpkin, green pants, a hat, and a pumpkin bag. I ran out of green, so the neckline of the costume is not really "right" but it'll do, just the same. The pattern is a freebie from Berroco, and the yarn is Vibe. I'll send it off to my Mum for Mother's Day in a couple weeks. I hope she'll send me a proper picture of it being modeled.

My second project to show is a purple linen bag. I'm afraid I didn't like this project at all. It just wasn't fun to knit. It is kind of a farmer's market bag, you know, that stretches to fit whatever you are buying fruit/vegetable/bread-wise. The bag has a weird twist to it which can be pulled out only briefly--then it twists right back up. Oh, well. It is done. I wish that I did like it, because I got the yarn when we went to North Carolina for DH's niece's (Nicole's) wedding. Nicole and her husband Lance are wonderful people, and it was a wonderful weekend. We visted Asheville and the Earthguild (I think), and I spotted the linen that I had always wanted to try. I'll knit with linen again someday, but I think I'll leave this pattern to others to try. I believe this pattern is from Folk Bags, and is called the Farmers Market Bag. It took two skeins of Euroflax.

Last is my version of Knitty's Argosy. I love this scarf! I used two skeins of Noro Silk Garden, and learned fairly quickly how to count to seven! (Over and over and over.) Argosy is being modeled by the boys' trusty rocking elephant. I guess these pictures show that I am not a photographer...

I have also finished the knitting on the train blanket. Once I sew down the last edge, it will be done, done, done!

Last but not least, we celebrated a birthday on Saturday. My eldest is now six. I can't believe it. I got weirdly teary when I delivered the cupcakes to school on Friday. How can he be six??? Drew requested super heroes as his cake/cupcake theme. I delivered two dozen Superman & Spiderman cupcakes to school. I think they went over ok. At home we had a Spiderman cake. The new six year old said "It's ok, but I thought it would be ALL of Spiderman." Gotta feel the love. I used a mold which only showed Spidey's face and arms doing the web-thing. Silly me. He also requested Chuck E. Cheese, so we obliged. We have only been there once before, for a friend's birthday, and he has been wanting to go ever since. After that he went to a friend's birthday party--it was a long day. We all ended the day still smiling, though, so I think it went well. Happy Birthday, baby.

The cake:

The boy, with candles stuck in the eyes as requested. Candles were Matt's (DS #2) job.

The boy with paper-airplane book:

DS #2, Matt:

Drew & Jim (DH):

Good times.

Finally! Pics!

2007-04-03T20:55:00.000-04:00

So much for promises. Tonight, though, I believe I've learned how to load pictures to the computer from the camera. Here, then, are pictures of the doll dress. It is from a book by Furze Hewitt called High Fashion Knitting for Dolls. I checked this book out Many Times from the Guild (Atlanta Knitting Guild) library. I did finish the knitting before my mother's birthday, but not the finishing. I couldn't find buttons I liked. Now the dress does have buttons, but they are a scootchie (?) bit too big. This dress is supposed to fit a 16" doll, but I don't know that it will. It is made with 30 gauge cotton on size 0 needles.

Next I have to show pictures of the pumpkin costume...

Tonight I'm knitting on the linen bag. Once I figured out that I had stolen the correct needles from the project (11s) and stored it on 8s a couple years ago, I had to rip back about 6 inches. Now I've reknit that, so this ought to zip right along. Yea!

Two FOs, but two UFOs found...

2007-03-28T00:18:00.000-04:00

Saturday I sewed on the buttons and blocked the lace dress for my Mum's doll. I don't really know which doll--she'll have to figure that out. I sure do like how it turned out, though. There are a couple mistakes in the knitting, but I hope they won't be too easily spotted. I did learn a lesson: one should not eat fudgcicles while knitting with white cotton. (Or perhaps while knitting anything.) Tomorrow I really will post pictures, as I MUST get it in the mail.

Today I finished the doll-sized pumpkin costume. It is cute! I'm really not into making clothes for dolls all the time--these are just the projects-of-the-moment. Pics of this to come tomorrow, too.

Sadly, I did find two more UFOs. I KNEW nine was a skimpy number. I found a scarf that I'm not crazy about in green shiny yarn (ugh) and a pair of blue/grey stranded mittens. These would be such simple things to finish up--why don't I? Well, this is the year to get everything off the needles. My next task is to finish edging the train blanket. The two long sides are done, so I'm on my way. Choo choo.

UFOs

2007-03-18T21:25:00.000-04:00

Well, I've been thinking about what to write. I want 2007 to be about finishing up old projects and knitting from stash, so I decided to start a UFO list. I say start, because I know there are several projects that I have forgotten about. When I find them, I will add them to my list! I don't know of any projects that I don't want to finish--just MANY that I haven't finished. So here goes:

1. lace wedding dress for a 16" doll. destined for my mother. (finished March 24, 2007)

2. train blanket for Jackson. I'm on the edging! (finished April 16, 2007)

3. vest for my dad. (WAS completely finished and delivered. It turns out that it needs an additional 3" in length, so must be reknitted.)

4. pumpkin costume with hat and bag for an 18" doll, again for my mother (finished March 27, 2007)

5. linen farmers' market bag, with yarn purchased while in NC (finished April 8, 2007)

6. Rogue for me

7. Crayon box jacket for me

8. cashmere(!) scarf for me. yarn from sister AJ, while she was in Hong Kong

9. Peacock feather shawl for sister-in-law

Gee, nine doesn't seem like that many. Why haven't I finished them??? Maybe it is because life gets in the way, and other knitting creeps in somehow. Oh, well. I love it all. Tonight I need to finish working--then I can get back to my knitting!

Finally did it...

2007-03-08T09:07:00.000-05:00

Hello, world. I finally started a knitting blog. This week I will figure out how to add pictures so I can track my projects, and maybe you will keep me on track. Wish me luck!

Becky