I Did really knit in June, didn't I?

I feel like the month has flown by and I haven't knit a thing.

I did one thing for my SP. That went out last week with some goodies in it for her. I hope that she liked it.

I have the one sock in progress, I am on the foot part.

I worked on the June bag, but I am mixed about the results with the yarn I used. I like the pattern well enough though. I love cables.

I am still working on my "Lace Ribbon Scarf" from the Spring 2008 Knitty. It's my second one and I keep going back to it.

I have been wanting to get to the Cozy Cabin. It is a quilt/yarn shop that has opened in a local ladies home, however, weekends are hard for me, and she is only open Thurs and Fri evening and on the weekends. I hope to make it there this week, I want to see some of the yarn and sign up for one of the classes. At least I am thinking about it.

July is nearly here. I am so excited to be having a few days away with my Aunt, that the whole month will fly by, and I fear it will be winter soon.

Isn't it terrible how we wish our lives away?

What would you consider to be the perfect amount of stash?

Yarn stash that is.

I never really thought about this, as I do have a yarn stash, not in my notebook though. I have 4 dresser drawers full, plus two drawers of one night stand, plus two underbed storage containers, plus two smaller shelf containers, plus a LARGE ziplock with my reclaimed yarn and yarn yet to be claimed. Plus there is the "sock" bag, with an additional three skeins, and a J.Knits back with about 8 skeins, plus a shopping bag with some kitchen cotton.

And I still feel the NEED for more!

Terrible as it is. I am on a yarn diet, and I have been VERY good. I have only purchased a few skeins that I needed to make a project or two since February. Otherwise I have been using what I have in my stash, and this is helping to keep me happy, and not broke!

My perfect size stash is whatever I need at the moment to get me through the moment I am in, so I guess, for right now, I have the perfect sized stash.

Question #2 and other updates...

Question 2 for the SP what did I look forward to most on summer break.

Our bungalow at the Jersey shore and reading. We had no tv, no telephone, we didn't even have a shower, you bathed in the kitchen sink. For a kid, that was heaven! Those are the memories that will always be burned into my head and my heart.

This weekend was a waste! I got absolutely no knitting done. I hate weekends like that.

We got TONS of yard work done though, which, I really shouldn't complain about. It needed to be done, damn weeds! I hate to use chemicals on them, and when I was home, I could keep after them, everyday for a few minutes, but now! FORGET IT! I had to put down some Preen after I weeded. I am going to have to put several applications down and then in the fall use something a bit stronger. I can't be spending hours weeding, and weed wacking.

Saturday night, I was so exhausted, I couldn't even enjoy the deck with DH. I ended up falling asleep around 7:30! That is a bit early, man am I getting old.

Since I last wrote, I have finished the cuff of one sock, and I have gotten 9 inches done on the June bag. It is working up a bit small, but I am hoping that it will soften up once I wash it. The cabling is just awesome on it.

Well, I haven't heard from my SP last week, I hope that she is doing well.

Socks on the needles.....again!

Well, last night, I decided, it was time.

I went to my sock cabinet and looked for THUJA, a pattern from knitty that I have done before, and LOVE. AND, it wasn't there.... hhhhmmmm....

I have several "bags" for my yarn things, so near the sofa was my sock bag, and inside was my pattern. Thank goodness.

I decided on a pair of Opal cotton socks this time. I wish I knew german, so I could tell you the colorway, it is #1339. Beautiful pink, cream and a light chocolate color.

So far I am liking it alot.

I didn't make a pair of socks last month, and I feel bad about that. I love making socks. Really, I haven't made a pair since the beginning of April, and I don't know if you could REALLY count those as April socks, because I started them in March and finished them inside the first few days of April.

Well, anyway. These will be my June socks and I'll be happy.

I haven't made a cotton pair for myself yet. But I am liking them so far.

Summer Drink?

Well, this is the question for the week for the Secret Pal swap.

I drink coffee. Summer, spring, winter, fall.

It's a terrible habit, and I really need to drink more water. At one time, I had gotten very good about my water versus coffee intake. I have to get better at that.

So I guess I am going to say. My drink for summer is water.

(Even though my coffee in the morning keeps me going!)

I have finished my charity scarf.

I have made one gift, a small one for my Secret Pal. I hope that she will like it.

Every girl should have one, not that most NEED more. But I thought she might like a little something made just for her. I have to figure out though how to wrap it. I am a horrible wrapper. In fact, I HATE to wrap anything.

Yes, I know how to wrap, I just hate, dread doing it. But I want her to feel special so I am going to have to figure this out over the weekend and send it off next week.

Here's a little tip. I used a vintage button on it.

FO and frustrations

Here is a picture of my completed, modified Arnold bag. I didn't have the chunky weight yarn that was called for in the pattern, but I had some Patons classic merino in my stash that I wanted to us up. So here is the completed bag. I love it! It is the perfect size for carring my mindless, work, knitting, and my lunch and snacks in.


Next, we have the mindless, work, knitting. This is a scarf, made of Gleam, that will be sent to a charity group that will in turn send it along to a chemo patient. At work, I can fit in knitting here and there, but I can't bring anything that takes real thought. So I figured this time can be used well to knit for charity.

I don't remember if I showed this one well enough. This is the scarf I made from some of my reclaimed yarn. I love this pattern and how this one came out.

That I immediately cast on this one when I was done with the above one. It is also of reclaimed yarn, of a light weight, lambswool. It is a gray/purple shade with flecks of colors in it. I think the tag in the sweater said "woodland". I like the weight of this one. It will make a nice indoor scarf to help dress up some of my conservative bank outfits.

I feel bad about this next picture. The color is just not what it really is. I will have to take another one when I am done. In the picture, it looks gold, but really it is this wonderful shade of green. It is some of the J. Knits yarn in Montana colorway.

This pattern is "Falling Water Lace Scarf" by Bonnie Sennott. It is a great pattern and I have gotten through the repeat 15 times. I will probably do 25 repeats to make it nice and long. It is a fingerweight yarn.

I found out who my secret pal is and I am so excited to start this new adventure. I do not have a clue what it is all about, but I'll learn.

My spoiler has contacted me today as well. It is so exciting!

Part of my frustration is my work. Last week, I made a mistake, one that perhaps could have been avoided if I weren't new, if I could "hear" better, and if an additional hold had been placed on a check. I can't really say much more, but let's just say, the bank is out several thousand dollars because of a bad check and me paying part of it out. sigh.... The others have told me, they would have done the same, the hold was off of the check, the money was available. They would have given out the cash as well. BUT, they didn't, I was the one who did, and while it's not like I'll lose my job or anything, it is now up to my boss to track the person down, and to try to get the money back OR to go through all the paperwork to take this person to court. I feel and felt horrible.

I know I need to move on about it. Things like this happen. I try to believe that people are good, but you know what? People who are bad, shit on people who are good. And that's just the way things are and I should get used to it, I know.

But, I still feel bad, like it was my fault, like I should have known better.

I am now more careful about everyone, and every check. I check every account, and if I'm not sure, I call one of the others who are more familiar with the families and the customers.

well, that's enough bellyaching.

Saturday update

I don't have any pictures today. I am hoping to get some on here tomorrow.

The week has been another busy one. Getting used to working and now DH has started his new job. It makes life interesting, but it doesn't help me on the knittnig front.

I have found a way to get some plain, garter stitch knitting done at work during the down times, so I will be working on some charity scarves out of stuff in my stash to help me pass the time along.

I am so excited about the SP12 swap. I just can't wait for it to start already!

A Day without Knitting! Oh MY!

On Friday, I did not one stitch of knitting!

Working a job, and keeping a house and all that goes with it, then comes the monthly! Well, by the time 7pm rolled around, I was too exhausted to even pick up my needles. I just sat on the couch like a vegetable and fell asleep watching tv by about 8pm! I haven't done that in a few years and I don't like it!!

I determined that yesterday, I was going to do some form of knitting. I have some projects in mind and I have ton's of yarn, I just have to get on the ball, so to speak.

So I got out my swift and and balled up the J.Knits Montana sock yarn, which I am now through two repeats of the "Falling Water Lace Scarf" and I'm loving it. I also balled up the J.Knits Felters Dream Bulky that I have. I am thinking I want to make a bag out of this. At first I was thinking Cowls, because I know they will make a great accessory for work, but I am still searching for the perfect handbag.... And I think these three colors will look great together in a felted handbag. I am thinking "Seashells and Sand" hand bag by Anita Moore. It is a free pattern on Elann.com . I like the shape, and will probably felt the whole thing.

I love all the free patterns that you can find on the internet. I appreciate all the designers who offer their patterns free. I don't think enough people tell them that.

No pictures today, sorry about that. It's early and I am trying to "squeeze" in some blog time and some knitting before I begin doing more "chores"!!