Working hard

I haven't blogged because I am working hard on knitting projects and I just spent 45 minutes getting the basics entered into Ravelry, without pictures, to atleast have a track of what it is I've been working on.

I finished my Polar bear stranded stocking, plus I completed another one (except for the heel) for DH. I have completed a Moose Stocking (Except for the heel) and have started the second one.

I have completed one plain rib sock for myself and started the next, doing it with magic loop and loving it.

Plus, I completed one Campfire sock - which is what I started in the hotel at Rhinebeck - and have started the second sock for that pair as well, doing the magic loop.

I started on Kelly's Penguins Scarf. Making it with superwash Lambs Pride. Never used it before and I am liking it very much.

Went to Cozy Cabin yesterday for a sit and knit. Had a very nice time. Wore my nubby, WITH the buttons, that I put on the day before, but I am still not liking the closing of the sweater. This one was a true learning experince. I have decided that I DON'T want to take out the button band and try again! So I will find snaps and put them in the two places where it is gapping. And Barb! I'm sorry, still no picture of me wearing it. I am so bad about getting pictures taken of myself for things. Keep watching though, I promise one soon!!

Rhinebeck!~

I just don't know where to start.

First, I have been so busy working on knitting that I haven't been blogging, and I haven't been visiting anyone's blog and I haven't been spending much time on Ravelry either.

SECOND, Rhinebeck was this weekend and it was just awesome! Carolyn, her mother and I left Friday night after work. Carolyn drove, thank you so much Carolyn!!! And we arrived at our hotel without any problems with traffic or directions.

We all talked and shared knitting stuff for a while before going to bed. After rising early and having a great breakfast, we stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Poughipsee, NY, which was very nice.

We got to the fair grounds about 8:50 with no lines for parking or entering and began our adventure. (I will not post pictures today ~ oh, and Barb I promise to have a picture of my nubby cardigan!)

We went through every barn, every stall, looked, touched, smelled, admired everything. The people watching was fun too. All the gorgeous things that people were wearing! Just wonderful.

Then, we ate lunch and began to walk around the "lettered" buildings and while in a stall getting ready to purchase some Lorna's laces and some Austermann step (like I need MORE sock yarn), I looked up and there was JEANINE!! My secret pal! We had hoped to meet, but both of us have been so busy working on projects we never finalized a place a time. I saw her right away and knew it was her, she is such a beautiful woman. Anyway, I said "Jeanine?" and she looked at me, and I said "catherine" then we both squeeled and hugged each other! It was so awesome! And I have to hang my head though, she finished her vest and I failed to comment on how lovely it is. Please take a visit over at her blog http://knittershaven.typepad.com/ and leave her a comment on how lovely her vest is. She looked so great in it! It was such a treat to actually meet her.

When we finally decided to leave, the three of us had felt we saw it all, we bought what we liked and wanted and we were ready to go home.

I had such a nice time, it was a lovely, fall day, cool but not cold. OH! And I wore my Nubby Cardigan, even though I didn't have buttons for it, I pinned it closed and even like that, I got several lovely comments from people.

Steam Blocking!

Who would have thought?

The nubby cardigan, and my unhappiness with the way the top of the sleeve was fitting, had me put it on the side to think about it for a while. Very sad. I have worked so hard on it. I could hardly bare to pick it up.

Then, last night at my knitting class, Carolyn, showed us how to steam block our stockings to help even out the stitches. I have never done steam blocking and I hadn't blocked my sweater yet, so I ask Carolyn about my sweater and she said if I worked at it gently, the stitches should relax some and it may work without having to take the sleeves apart and put in a gusset.

So, I came home and out came the iron!

IT WORKED! It was nearly 9:30, but I called Carolyn anyway to tell her that the sweater now fit the way I had hoped and that I was so happy!! Thank you again Carolyn!!

Catching up to do!! Picture intense post!

I got a package in the mail from my SP 12 pal! How cool is this? I was looking at this DB magazine when it first came out (Linda at sit and knit was going to look for one and brought me one to look at too!) Anyway, I decided against buying it then, but never mentioned it to my pal. She thought I would like it.


Plus she sent along three skeins of Rowan handknit DK cotton. I have never knit with any Rowan before and this has to be the softest cotton I have felt to date. I also love the color. I have been into greens and blues and teals and even rusts and oranges. I don't know where my color palette is going, but I'm liking color lately.

Anyway, I have had the most awesome "angel" pal. You see, my original upstream, fell off the face of the earth. It really hurts when that happens and you don't know why. I can only say, that I feel bad and hope they are okay.

But, it all turned out.

AND, even though I am not sure yet if Jeanine received my reveal package (I am her upstream) Jeanine is my "angel" pal! How cool is that? I don't know if they did it on purpose or not, but it worked out great and we are hoping to meet at Rhinebeck!

Jeanine, I enjoyed getting to know you and having you for my first SP pal. I hope you enjoyed the goodies I sent you. It was great fun.

Now, here is my stranded stocking! Tonight is the last class, and I've been bad! I got the heel done but I haven't kirchnered it yet. (I don't think I spelled that right) Anyway, class has been an absolute BLAST and I have enjoyed every week and will miss going. I learned how to do an "afterthought" heel, and while I don't think I would ever do that for a sock, I will definitely do it for more of these stranded stockings. I also learned how the knit with two hands and two colors. OH! And I learned how to "pick" too. I am a thrower. Carolyn has done a great job as a teacher, always willing to jump right in with each one of us, no matter where we are at in our knitting and help us get over the "hump".

I am now planning on doing a few more stockings as christmas gifts.

Here is the dish cloth (the yellow one) I received from my friend Barb (Hi Barb!) I loved the pattern so much that I want to make more myself. BOY! Am I a tight knitter or what? I started out with a #5, got that far and decided it was too small, so went up to a size #7 and believe it or not, it came out smaller! So I ripped it back and I am going to try again!

Here is just the beginning of a completed project. I had bought this "honking" skein of kitchen cotton when it was on clearance, with the idea of market bags as gifts. like the one I eventually ended up with. Forgot to photograph it though. Anyway, I will probably make more, but do a different pattern.

Okay, I didn't tell you anything about the Fiber Festival Carolyn and I went to. This is just a small amount I am showing you. This is the sock yarn that I purchased from an Indie dyer. She names her yarns after movies! isn't that neat!? I fell in love with several, just for the names they were named after! Silly, I know.

We had an awesome time at the festival. It wasn't too large or overwhelming for me. Carolyn did the driving, and it was a rainy day, but we got there and I think we both enjoyed it very much. It was so nice to see the different animals and to pick up some new fibers to use. (I promise to post more of that on another day)

Alpaca! I am a touchy feely type of person. Alpaca! I could have stood there, eye's closed, arms out, and feeling Alpaca yarn ALL DAY! I bought enough of it to keep my happy for a while! OH! And Alpaca roving!! While I haven't bought any, if you ever, EVER have the chance to feel it! FEEL IT! It's like what you would imagine a cloud to feel like.

I still have not dealt with my nubby cardigan. I just haven't had the time. I talked with Carolyn about the slight tightness in the upper arms and I am going to gently block it first and then see if it loosens just a bit. If not, I am going to knit two gussets to put in just under the arm. I think it was the stitch pattern that makes it feel "tight". But, I think I will have time this weekend and hope to get to that project then.

I have not done much at all on my socks for september. Sad, but true. I did get them onto my new knitpicks needles and I am doing them magic loop. Which is fun so far.

Well, that is my update for this week and for the end of September.

Knitting is done!

Well, the knitting on my Nubby is done! I have LOTS, and LOTS of ends to weave in. I also have buttons to buy. I am going to put a loop up a bit to be able to button the top of the sweater. I still have to block it, and I am hoping that it will "soften" up some when I do that. I am planning to wear it to RHINEBECK!!

Carolyn and I have made our reservations and we are making plans for that weekend! I can't wait. I am so grateful that Carolyn will drive. I know I could never have done it alone, let alone done it by myself. I would just be too wiped out. We were very lucky to get a room. I think this also prepares us for next year! BOOK earlier!

I have more things to tell, but I'm too tired.

The END is near!

No posts from me, as I have been using EVERY SPARE moment to get this collar on my nubby cardigan done! I am near the end and I can't be happier! About three more rows and I can bind off!! Yeah!!!!

I have had so much going on that I have neglected my blog, my SP, and my writing of anyone.

I promise, more to follow before the weekend and hopefully pictures of my finished cardigan!

My Secret Pal is Happy!

I got an awesome package in the mail. Quite a surprise. It is from my "angel" secret pal "happy" (That's what I call her anyway). You see, in the world of secret pal, you have someone who is your "upline" who spoils you. And you have someone who is your "downline" whom you spoil. Anyway, my upline, for some unknown to me reason, dropped off the face of the earth with just a post card and a few emails. Quite disappointing, considering that I had waited to join and was so hopeful after reading other peoples blogs.

ANYWAY, my angel Happy emails me alot and we are getting to know each other, which is just great.

She sent me this package that I received in the mail today. It is sockpixie yarn and it is Bambino, which is part bamboo and part supermerino in the colorway "LeCollier" Apparenly, sockpixie only makes so many colorways, names them, and once they are gone that's it! How cool is that? I have never heard of it before and I just think it's great that my angel thought to send me such great sock yarn in such a great colorway! I just love it and now I need to figure out what it will become.


Thank you Happy for making my day with such an awesome package!!

I am in the final stretch with my Nubby cardigan! YEAH! I have both sleeves done, finished the second one this morning and I seamed together the pieces today. I can't believe that all the modifications I made WORKED! And the seams look AWESOME! Now I am working on the button band and then the other side band and then on to the collar. So I figure MAYBE another two weeks and this one will be done! I can't wait. I have loved working on this project so much.

I also can't wait. I ordered some more knitpicks needles, circulars and I am going to go Magic Loop for socks now. I have a pair I cast on, on the 1st, on to the dreaded double pointed needles and I haven't picked them up since.!~

Well, gotta run! Thanks again Happy!