Things to remember

Spent some time in my old homestead yesterday. Last weekend while we were there, we heard machine running and running and couldn't quite figure out what that was all about.

Then, we remembered, my old elementary school had a fire the year or two before and had not been in use. The sounds and noises we heard were of our school being torn down.

I didn't have the heart to go then to say good bye, but this weekend, I thought I should.


Basically, there was nothing left but rubble and some machines loading more of the school into the trucks that were waiting.

This school was built in the 50's, after my parents built their house. They live about two blocks away, and at that time, there were no homes around the school. My parents could watch my brothers walk all the way to school and home from the kitchen window. By the time I came along, and was ready to attend 1st grade, many homes had been built and my mother walked me to and from school, every day.

I met and made some of my best, and life long friends at this school. Lisa Fernandez, whom I have lost touch with. Moody Malone, which we still have contact, Alissa Sherman, Stacey Beckner and lastly, Lori Stafford. We've all gone in our own directions in life, and gone in and out of each others' lives. But the friendships we had then, I think, are what shaped us to be who we are today.

There was a plaque on the wall inside the school, it was called Memorial school, because it was built as a memorial to all the "boys" from East Brunswick who died in the war. One of them was my Uncle Henry. His name was on that plaque and I can remember how proud I was as a kid that my family name was on a plaque in the school. Not really knowing what it was all about then, just glad that our name was up there.

I don't know what happened to the plaque, I can only hope that someone removed it and put it away somewhere safe. There were lots of "boys" names on that plaque.



I love trees. You don't see many REALLY, REALLY tall trees around anymore. Many have lost the great battle, either from mother nature, or from man. I decided it was time to record some of the trees that have been in my life forever.

These are just two of many in the cemetary where our family is. I don't know how tall they are, but they have been there forever, more than my 47 years. They are just magnificant to look at.

This is another picture I want to remember. This is my dad. He and I went to the cemetary to see my mother. I have been here hundreds of times, not just to see my mother, but many family members who have gone on. Dad has cared for all of them, in life, and now in death. Dad is going to be giving that job over to my brother and my cousin, so he doesn't go as often as he used to. It's something I was always remember about my father, his dedication to his family.

Here, to make this a knitting post, is my latest project (one of many), It's called the THINKING CAP. A very cute and well written pattern by one of the gals over on the Hats! Hats! Hats! list that I belong to.

Life without the internet

Just a short one today, since I haven't been on in a few days, and I was doing so well..

I came home last Thursday to find that we had no phone service. Our development was built 30 years ago, and apparently, the builder was not that great and didn't feel he needed to follow the guidelines. So while my neighbor was having their driveway replaced, the contractor pulled up/out the phone lines.

I am not happy with verizon at the moment. They told me Thursday, "well put you on the same ticket that is open for several of your neighbors and you'll be back up on Monday."

Being the gullible person I can be at times, I believed them! THEY LIED!!

So, now, hopefully, if this supervisor EILEEN, was telling me the truth, someone will be here today to make sure that I have a dial tone. I'm not holding my breath this time though.

The one thing I can say, is not having the internet adds SO MUCH more time to your life. Though I love the internet and all that I get from it, I am rethinking how important it is.

Look what I got!

This may just look like a bunch of yarn balls, but it's not! It's a gift I got from my friend Katie. She's a sock knitter too. She's a fast knitter. She knits in the movies!



I know I mentioned that I will be starting a sock yarn blankie. I'm planning to cast on August 1st. So I mentioned to Katie this, and asked her if she had any scraps she might like to contribute to my blankie, as she has used much different yarns than I have. She said, she'd be happy too!!

When she showed me the bag she brought, I told her I wished I had brought my scale and she asked why and I told her so I could weigh out five grams and she said oh no Catherine, these are all for you, I don't want them back.

I was floored and forever grateful. Thank you again Katie. I can't wait to see how these scraps will look in my blankie.

Now, keep in mind, when you knit, you usually have a pattern. This is my Mystery Hat. I do have a pattern, which I am following. My problem is, I am using the WRONG size needle!!! I am supposed to be using a 7 and I cast on and got most of the way through the hat when I realized I was using a size 5 needle. UGH!!

No, I have not and will not rip it out, it will just be smaller and warmer for some child's head.

Remember the picture from my purse the other day? Here is the completed sock as well as the beginning of the second one. Finished it up last night and began the second one. I love "plain vanilla" socks. Where Katie loves "cookie A" socks. You can find any comfort zone with knitting, it's great.

And lastly, this is FIZZI, it is our new Wednesday night knit a long. I'm using a Zauberball as the other girls are. I can't wait to see how it finishes. I have not knit anything with one yet, though I have ..... a few... And this pattern has an extensive chart, so it will be a challenge and I certainly won't be knitting that part at knit nights on Wednesdays.

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!!

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!!

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.

Projects I've worked on this week!

Boy, the week sure went by quickly, now that I am working. Can't say it makes me happy, as my knitting time is cut WAY back by it.

I made this tote bag last weekend. It it made out of a men's sweater that I felted and then cut and sewed, BY HAND. Not my favorite activity, but it came out nicely and I've been carrying Mr GreenJeans in it all week to work.

I get about 15 minutes at lunch time where I can knit, the other 15 is for eating. sigh...



Here is the child's sweater that I knit for Julie this week. I spent each morning, during my quiet time working on it. I will send it off to her tomorrow.

I can say that I learned alot from this little vest. It was a test knit and I had to "rewrite" some of the directions along the way, as the designer took alot for granted from the knitter and they were very vague. I need to make sense of my chicken scratch and send that along to Julie as well.

I had to rework the button band three times to get it to look nice. There was alot left to be desired with the instructions, and with no skematics or pictures to go by, I still think that the one button hole is TOO high up, but I will let Julie decide when she gets it.

I grafted the shoulders, which I really like how they came out, I"ll have to remember doing that, as I graft alot of toes and can do that well, only with shoulders, you don't want to pull a tightly as you do with socks.

I continue to work on Mr GreenJeans and I am determined to finish him this month. (Thumbs pressed). I have two more rows on the right sleeve to do, the whole left sleeve and the button band. I think I can get it done.

At the moment, I have two more sweaters felting to make tote bags out of. These will be much larger, as they were XL men's sweaters. One I will make for R as she found it and liked it.

Work this week was good. It is just going to take me time to realize that my time is no longer my own, it is ruled by someone else and that I actually have to ASK for permission to take vacation! BUT, I am happy, I get 4 1/2 days of vacation this year, so I can't complain. But having to plan and ask for it is hard.

This week, I plan to finish Mr GreenJeans and decide on what will be my next project. I am trying VERY HARD, not to buy some yarn. I have quite a bit in my stash and I don't really NEED anymore yarn, but......

It's a surprise!

Well, here it is! I am finished and it took about 10 days. It's the first time I've done a child's garment and it is just so darn cute!

This picture is before blocking and the yarn was wonderful then, NOW, OMG it is just gorgeous and so soft it's incredible.

One thing I had forgotten though. This garment reminded me why I usually make top down in the round sweaters. THE FINISHING! I haven't done one in a while, so I admit, I was rusty. But all of the seams came out undetectable. The one arm though...... sigh...... One arm, which was actually the second one, went on perfect, looked great. The first arm. LOL. I ended up doing that one THREE times, because I just wasn't happy with it. I figured if it were for me, that would be different. But I was making this one for someone else, and they would be showing it to I don't know how many people, I wanted it to be PERFECT! Believe me, both arms are perfect!

I now understand why so many people have UFO laying around, or hiding places so their spouses and family don't see them. M knew I was making this one for someone else, and that I would get yarn out of it . I was truly so surprised the interest he showed while I was knitting it and all the under-my-breathe talking that I did while seaming, he even asked how things were going?! I could get used to having him around so much.

On a side note, I don't talk much about myself, only my knitting, but with sadness and I guess I should be happy. I got a job. It's full time, the pay is decent, it's right here in town, it's a job I've done before and liked (years ago), and ....... I really don't want to go. I have liked being home these past two years and with the nicer weather coming, there is so much yard work to do yet. I like making dinner every night and not feeling rushed. I like having a neat, orderly and clean home. sigh.... So wish me luck, I start Monday.

I hate when the paragraphs run together, I'm sorry, it's not the way I typed it, just the way it is coming out! UGH!!

No pictures today.

Sorry about that. But I wanted to get an update on here and I just don't have the time to do it all!

The excitement knitting is coming along nicely. I just have to seam it, do the collar and block it and it is on its way! I can't wait as that means, I'll have some new yarn!

My thrift shopping was so good last week, but wrought with frustration! I got the gray/black sweater apart easily, but that nice, pink smooshy lambswool one, just wouldn't come apart without breaking! I was about ready to scream! So I have been working on felting it and I am going to make it into knitting totes.

Then, one of the one's I didn't photo, was this really nice tweed orange one, made in Italy. The construction left alot to be desired. Was a BEAR to get apart and THEN when I finally got to the point of unraveling it, every other row is another strand. Meaning, there are two strands to make the garment! So I have to slowly, tediously pull one strand and wind it, then pull the next strand and wind it. SLOW! Pretty yarn though and I want it! AND the best part is? I noticed I have a second one made by the same manufacturer!!

After these two sweater frustrations, I decided to go on to an easy LL Bean sweater. A great Men's size Large, made of Lambswool and nylon and a nice color of blue grey. Guess what? In my bleery eyed monster stage at the thrift store, I guess I didn't look well enough and it is SERGED at the seams! I tell you! So, what to do? What to do? What to do?

I felted it, twice in the wash and now it is THE PERFECT size for me to wear. A nice thick fabric, with lots of stitch definition yet, and it was very warm when we went out on the 4 wheelers yesterday. So, it worked out in the end.

R and I went and bought some ornamental grasses for the yard last week. Got tons of compost and peat moss and planted them. The other plants we are going to wait until the end of this week to do. We have had very cold, freezing night temperatures the last few nights, which meant covering the grasses, but I am so glad to have them done, as I have wanted them for two years now.

We also were able to put in two of my mother's hydrangeas. I don't think they will flower this year, but I am glad to be getting the side yard worked on as well.

It's about reading directions!

Like I said the other day, it's about reading the directions.

Here is the apple pie that I made, before baking and after. I love before and after pictures, don't you?


I can't take credit for the crust. I have tried, believe me. I am not a crust maker by any means, I use Pillsbury.

Now, it's been a number of years since I've made bread, and before we moved, we HAD a bread maker, but someone felt we wouldn't use it when we moved, so it didn't move with us, instead it went to Goodwill with TONS of other things.

Anyway, I kept my very good bread book with tons of recipes in it and I chose to make some buttermilk bread.

In a rush on Sunday morning, (need I say more) , I put the dry ingredients into the kitchenaid and put the liquids in the pot on the stove, got that to 120 degrees, added it to the dry, added more flour, and boy, it sure didn't look right, but I thought perhaps it was just me, miss rush. So I put it into the oven, a nice warm spot to rise, and it didn't rise. It was a cannon ball!

So, with the help of the bread book, I found out why it was a cannon ball, not enough liquid,,,, hmmmm

Go back to the page of the recipe and it was 1 cup of water, 3 Tbs of buttermilk powderAND another cup of water!!!

It was a slow process, but I was able to put the water into the mix and get it to the correct texture. I split it in two and was able to make two acceptable loaves of bread. Not quite as high and fluffy as it could have been, but it's been good just the same.

Here is my Squidge dishcloth that I am doing for the dishcloth weekly KAL on ravelry. It is actually last weeks pattern, and I am STILL working on it. But I am also working on my
Mr GreenJeans as well as my "exciting" project. I'll share a picture of the yarn cake I made tomorrow.

Life has kept me busy

I have taken some wonderful pictures to share and haven't had them time to down load them.

We were so busy all weekend and even today that I took some great pictures that I will just have to share on Wednesday when I have some free time, unless I can squeeze it in tomorrow morning.

I received my package of yarn and pattern in the mail on Saturday. I didn't think it would arrive so quickly, so I didn't check the mail until nearly 7 pm and it had been there ALL afternoon!! sigh.....

I still don't know if I can talk about it or not, but I will share the "yarn" cakes I made up with them from the hanks. Atleast then you could see the colorway, which is absolutely GORGEOUS!

I am working away at Mr GreenJeans, though I haven't done much with such a busy weekend. And I also started another dishcloth, as I needed something small and quick to do, but haven't finished that either!

I will say that DH has managed to get the bathroom portion of the utility room done, now just one wall, the shower and the ceiling and that room will be complete! Yeah!!!

OH, and the most important thing I learned this weekend, which I will explain more when the pictures are up, BE SURE TO READ, and READ the directions!

No Knitting

Well, my allergies have reared their ugly head.

I guess I can knit with wool, but I can't rip back sweaters in the house, or without a mask for that matter. My nose ran all day yesterday, to the point where I couldn't do a thing without having a tissue near my face. I didn't sleep the night before, so I dragged my butt all day long. Finally took a two hour nap around 6 and then got up and went to bed! I did manage to sleep, and I did have the thought about an allergy pill in the afternoon and so far this morning, that seems to be working, but I look like death!

I go somethings done around the house yesterday, but today I will have to do my Friday running around to get ready for the holiday weekend.

SO there probably won't be any knitting today either.

I have decided to ONLY go to the Salvation Army to look for sweaters on Wednesdays, as that I have come to find out, is family day and they usually offer discounts on three to four different color tags..... I wish I had known that Tuesday. I went and picked out a few really nice ones, but I can't do anything with them for a few days and these allergies calm down.

OH! I ask my brother to make a swift for me. I found directions on the net and they use scrape wood. Well he called me yesterday to say he did it on his lunch break! I am so excited. He will send it with dad, so I will have it later today.

Before and After

Here are just a few of the sweaters that I purchased at the SA that I have begun to reclaim the yarn on. This first one is the "Northern Isles" 70% Shetland new wool, 30 Acrylic in a fingering weight, two strands held together. When I took it apart, I lost the V neck area of the front, but as you can see in a later photo, I have more than enough yarn from this one. It was a men's XL.

This is the one "Made in the Republic of Ireland" of Pure New Wool. And believe me, it looked like it was taken out of the gift box, put into a drawer and NEVER worn! I am not sure of the size of this one, I would say it was a Ladies Medium. A truly odd shape as the arms were way long. I didn't try it on, and at may have fit me as it was, but I want to make something more to my liking with it.

I was so hesitant to put this into HOT tap water, as the instructions said in the article on reclaiming yarn. So instead, I did tepid water, with a little liquid Ivory soap and it came out nearly free of any waviness. It just came out so yummy it makes me want to find MORE of it.

This is that Shetland Wool Sweater that I talked about yesterday. It is 100% Shetland Pure Wool in a Men's Large. I was able to reclaim ALL of the yarn from this. It is a fingering weight or perhaps even lace weight yarn, two strands held together and it was so soft and squooshy knit up. It was the first sweater I took apart and so far the easiest. I have saved the label, from this and all the others, simple because I believe this is probably a vintage sweater, that once again was probably given as a gift and never worn.

The back pile of skeins, in the next picture, is of the Woolrich, Men's XL sweater. This is also vintage, because when was the last time you saw a tag that said "Made in British Hong Kong"? It is 85% wool and 15% nylon. I will probably use this for hats, scarves and mittens that match for all of us, with enough left over to make something else.....

The skeins in the front of the picture are of the "J. Crew" Mens Large sweater in 100% wool. This is the one that I just loved how smooshy it was knit up. I am hoping that it will be as nice when I do it. This one must have sat in a very dusty corner, because as I was taking it apart, I decided to do it outside, you could just see all the dust flying out of it as I went along.

NOW, here are the pictures of the wool from Ireland and the wool/acrylic blend sweaters while drying in my bathroom. Perhaps you can see how nicely the Ireland wool has straightened. the other still has a bit of kink in it, but much less than it did have.

One of the nice things about doing this with yarn, is that you get very LONG skeins. Most of the fronts and backs are continuous pieces of yarn. HOWEVER, I have learned, rather well, how to felt two pieces of yarn together. It really isn't that hard, just takes some practice and is well worth learning how to do.

The one thing, or rather two things I am going to need are a swift and a ball winder though. Currently, I am making due with what I have, and that is, an embroidery stretcher that I am putting the yarn onto to skein it. I usually ball wind by hand and with this much yarn, my wrists and fingers will never make it. I will have to keep it in skeins until I can get one.

On a sad note, my coffee maker died this morning. It's a good thing it was after it perked the pot of coffee. I truly enjoy my coffee in the mornings.... so I will be having to buy one today.

Seam Rippers

If you ever decide to undertake learning how to reclaim yarn, be sure you have a SEAM RIPPER HANDY!

I do not know where my sewing basket is. Haven't seen it since we moved. I see it in my minds eye, but it is not anywhere in this house.

So I went and got one and life became much, much easier.

In my last post, I went on about my yarn diet. You know, it's like any diet, makes you feel like you're missing something. Like you've given something up....sigh....

I have seen several times mentioned on Ravelry about reclaiming the yarn in thrift store sweaters. I thought those people were crazy.

Well, welcome a new crazy person to the world!! ME! I went to the Salvation Army on Saturday and walked out with 7 sweaters to reclaim AND a Vintage Dale of Norway cardigan. I was going to put that one back, figuring that I couldn't take it apart because of the steeking of the sleeves, then I thought I could manage to copy the stitch pattern and learn from the steeking by taking it apart. I also thought I could salvage the body and arms of the yarn, but the front is probably steeked as well. It is too large for me, and it has a rip in the ribbing, BUT it has great puter closing that I could reuse some day which would cost me more than 4.00 to purchase new. So I bought it.

I got one black 100% Shetland wool sweater, upon taking it apart, it is either fingering weight or lace weight, two strands held together. It was a great first sweater to take apart. No real construction issues.

Next, was a natural, undyed 100% wool sweater from Ireland. There was some pattern work in it, so upon ripping it apart, it yielded alot of yarn. It looked as if the sweater was never worn at all. What a shame.

Then, another Shetland wool, fingering weight, 2 strands together, men's sweater. So I have TONS of that yarn, but did lose some, as I didn't think about the V neck portion. So I just cut across the chest. There was cabling in this sweater.

Then there was another men's sweater from Woolrich. It is a Wool/Nylon blend. An Extra Large, so tons more yarn. I figure this is what I will probably use for hat, scarf and mitten sets.

I found a nice brown, smooshy sweater, that I really liked, but was way too large for me. It is also a wool/nylon blend, worsted weight. Taking it apart I thought I was going to have trouble, as the inside seams, seemed to be felted, but they really weren't. It came apart easily, but was very dusty. Good thing I did that one outside.

I am currently working on an Acrylic/Wool blend. I know, why waste time on an acrylic, but it is a women's size 18/20 and it is a beautiful blue, and nice and soft. I am thinking the perfect yarn for a Mr. Greenjeans, plus probably a Clapotis.

This is the one thing about the yarn. I have no idea of how much there is. I just know, since I bought larger than my size sweaters, that I will have enough to complete projects my size.

I still have to wash the yarn. I have got it in hanks and I will wash and dry it, and then I'm thinking it will be put away in hanks and balled once I am ready to use it. My arms are killing me. I am going to have to find a swift and a ball winder now for sure if I really wish to continue on this journey.

My family must think I'm nuts, but they know how much I love to knit and make things. This is perfect for me as I love the hunt and the bargain. It is quite a bit of work though. But with a SEAM RIPPER the work is much, much easier.

I will try to post some pictures tomorrow.

Finished Objects and those in Process

Here are the socks that I have chosen to knit instead of the Friday Harbor socks that just weren't working for me. The top picture is of the finished sock, except that I finished while I was away from home and I STILL can't kirtchner stitch without the directions. So I had to place the stitches on a cable needle and a DPN to hold them.




I have decided that while the pattern is Twin Rib from Sensational Socks, in Opal Owl 6 ply, that the colors look just like dad's dog Dingo, so these will be my Dingo socks!

With this pair of socks, I am trying something different. I am doing the ribbing and leg in size 3 needles, then for the heel and the bottom of the foot I switched to a size 2 for that part and kept the size 3 on top. I wanted to see if I could make a tighter heel.

Here are a couple of pictures of Rachel wearing her sweater. I am still not that great with getting good pictures of my knitting with the camera, so I can't figure out why the top of the sweater looks wavy, but it's not really.

We had to pin down the color sides.

Here is the Tychus hat that I made for George. This was a fun knit and I will probably be making more in wool though not acrylic. Great pattern for stash busting and it will fit many sizes.

Here are pictures of my Cozy, from the KAL I am doing. Boy! What a bear! I had to rip back a number of rows in the beginning. So once I finish one complete repeat I put in the life line. This is the first time I am doing something even close to lace and it's not easy. I love the yarn though. This is the Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool. I know I will use it again, but I'm not sure on what.

Also I know I will knit this again, with a thicker weight yarn. The pattern actually calls for Aran I believe, but I think I will use Worsted.

I learned iTunes and Podcasts

It may seem silly, in this day and age to not know about such things. But as I said, I like to learn and while it can seem intimidating at times, the only way to over come it is to seek it out.

I have been hearing alot about these podcasts, and really didn't know what they were all about. So I talked with Matthew about iTunes and what that was all about. I also talked to him about iPods, because I just knew they were a small thing, like a Walkman (now is that dating myself or what?) Anyway, I don't have the money to invest in an iPod, so if I can do the same thing on my computer. That's great!

I am a very visual learner and so I figured that with the podcasts there would be video also, so this morning I have been watching "lets Knit2gether". I still have to check her website out, I've been too busy watching video and knitting.

I am so excited to learn this and to have something to listen to while I knit instead of the silence.

I don't have any pictures today, but I can say I have gone quite far on my "noro vest" and I am very pleased with the look of the Patons SWS so far.

I received my second order from yarncountry on Friday and I just love the colors of Cascade 220 that I picked out. I have to look at them again and decide what colors to use for some of the projects I have been thinking about. I know I said that I wasn't going to buy any yarn, but use what I have, but.......

Aches and Pains

Here is a snapshot of the top down raglan I am working on. Yesterday I did about 10 rows of ribbing before having Rachel try it on, and it was a bit short. So this morning I ripped back all the ribbing and have decided to do 12 more rows before beginning the ribbing.

My arms always give me trouble, so I tend to ignore them when it comes to my knitting. But as of recent is a pain in my neck that makes it nearly impossible to knit. I have been trying, over the past few days, not to put so much concentrated time into knitting and to move around more, in the hopes that this pain will go away. I don't know what I will do if it decides to stick around.

I have been holding off starting another project. I like to accomplish what I am doing. I have been looking at how many projects people have going at one time on Ravelry and I just can't understand how they get anything done. Well, really, it doesn't seem for some that they do get anything done, but for others, they have tons of stuff on their page.

I also realized this morning that it's been a year since I started to knit socks and to really take up knitting to keep myself busy in my free time. I look back and only wish that I had done it sooner in my life. But I did alot of crochet for so many years. Mostly just lap blankets and baby blankets. I enjoyed that. But now, I get to enjoy what I have made and to wear it myself every day. I just love opening my sock drawer and seeing all the lovely socks I've made this past year.

Finished Objects

Now I have my own bag! This one is made out of the Araucania Nature Wool chunky, just like I made for Rose. I modified the pattern somewhat to make the bottom larger and the height a bit taller. I plan to use it as my travel bag.

In this picture you can see how nice the colors are done and that it looks almost like I used three different shades of blue, but I didn't. It was the same blue, number 103, but it seems this yarn does not have actual dye lots. I guess thats what causes the variations in color. I like it.
Here are my Cape May, Plain Vanilla Socks! I haven't worked on them since before thanksgiving, I think. I had one sock done up to the heel flap. I completed that sock on Saturday and began sock two on Sunday and completed it Sunday night. My shoulders are killing me for it, but i just wanted to get them done! I certainly learned something with these socks though. Take better notes. I put these down and somehow either I lost my pattern notes to myself or I didn't write any.... and I think that the heels on them are just a touch different inn the amount of stitches used. But, thats okay. I consider it something learned and they are socks for me.
This is how far I am on my Top Down Raglan out of Moda Dea Visions in Forest colorway. The picture does not due the color justice, I took it in the light of the room, no sunshine yet this morning.

You can see the neckline that I chose to try with this one. A smaller height in collar but a longer depth in the V neck. I really like this yarn, but I haven't washed it yet to see what the after sweater will look like. No, I don't plan to felt it, just want to see how it looks after washing.

On Ravelry, I finally joined a list! I joined "Mission Possible 2008" You had to list 12 things that you needed/would get done in 2008 and if you don't get them done you either have to donate them, or burn them and make a video of it for YouTube. You are supposed to do UFO's that you have, or only use yarn that is in your stash. I thought this would be a great list for me to keep me accountable for some of the things I want to get done this year. I can already check one off, my Cape May socks!

I try not to have too many things going at once as I like the sense of accomplishment of finishing. It helps to keep me going. Though I LOVE to look at all the patterns and yarns and dream!

December arrives!

Well, it has been some time since I put anything on this blog. I have to get better at it, but with ravelry I am spending too much time there and not enough here or knitting! Idea's , Idea's.

I have to take some pictures to post of some of the items I have completed for gifts. I made hats. I started out making one for Edward and it was too small for a man's head, so Rachel got that one. The second one I made was much larger, and when Matthew tried it on, he got that one. I made a third one, and finally, that one will be Edwards. So I got his socks and his hat done for his gift.

I have also made a "reversible caplet" for Rachel, though I like it better on the knit side versus the pearl side. I made it out of Lion Brand Suede and I am not sure if I should block it before wrapping it for her. So, now I am in the process of making one for myself and I will experiment on that one.

Poor Rachel, I thought I had told her about her birthday socks and how to wash them....... She got them mixed up with the first pair I made her and so they felted and shrunk! Lion Brand Wool sure does felt nice! But the odd thing was, both were made from the same die lot, but different skeins, and they both felted and faded at different degrees. Learning all the time.

Oh, and that is another thing. ALWAYS check the dye lots. I thought I had when I picked up the yarn for Edwards socks, and sad to say, they are definitely fraternal twins. Didn't even notice til I was done with the second one. They are house socks so it really doesn't matter and such things are done with love, right?

Well, I promise to post photos this week. I got a new memory card for my camera and that is going to help alot.

Before AND After

Here is my completed Top Down Raglan Sleeve Sweater made of Berroco Ultra Alpaca in a yummy chocolate color~!

This is BEFORE~!

This is AFTER~!

I ended up frogging it. I had not calculated the gauge correctly and didn't realize it until I got to the sleeves and ran out of yarn by then end of the first sleeve. Frogged that and tried twice to redo the sleeves. Ended up with about an elbow length and just was not happy with it.

So here is what I have learned from this project.

Check your gauge more than once near the beginning of your project. Doing a swatch is great, but also checking before you are too far along is important too. PLUS, always buy one extra skein of yarn, JUST IN CASE!

Now I have to figure out if I want to try to reknit this using the same needle size and doing the size smaller sweater, (this one was a tad bit bigger than I would have enjoyed) or do I try using a needle that will get the proper gauge and just modifying the sweater to be a short sleeve one. Decisions ... decisions.

This is the scarf/ascot length, that I have made to compliment Jill's socks for christmas. The pattern is Enjoyable-Rib Scarf and I found the pattern on Ravelry.

I am working on my Friday Harbor socks for the Knitting on the Road KAL. I have decided to make them for Rachel as a stocking stuffer.

I will now start the socks for Rose's kids that I want to make them as gifts for Christmas. My main problem is, I'm spending TOO MUCH time on Ravelry looking and searching for great new things I want to knit!

Today is a rainy day here and I had hoped to spend the whole day knitting, after I got the stew in the crockpot. However, I have ended up updating my projects file on Ravelry and then I wanted to update this blog. But, I did frog and wind the yarn from the sweater, so I guess that counts to some degree as knitting, doesn't it?!