I MUST be CRAZY

I asked Rachel and Matthew if they would like me to make them something, not telling them what, with stripes or circles. Rachel picked circles. Then I asked the colors and they both said like a duck. Well, that wasn't much help, so we narrowed it down to a mallard duck.

These are the first four color combos. I have a total of 8 now, need to get the other four cards pictures to post.

Then, I spent time figuring out the four color combination possiblities. For the 8 cards of color.

The most dominent colors are green, brown and a varigated, but I needed to add a bit of color to make the HEXAGONS pop. So I did add in a Truffle and a Natural, as well as a lighter green.

Here are just a couple of the first Hexagons that I made so that you could see some of the colors together.

With the pattern, you can crochet them together as you go, here's the crazy part, but I have decided, like a few others, not to. WHY? Well, I tried and it is fiddly. Also, I wasn't sure of how my colors were going to go, and I wanted enough of a variety of hexagons that I didn't know how, exactly, I was going to do them when I started, so I am going to put them together LATER!!!

I am taking the advice of others and I am crocheting in most of the ends as I go, which will help alot!! in the long run. Each Hexagon is 4 inches in size, and my son is 6 feet 2 inches, so I am in for making ALOT of these things, to make a decent size afghan to cover him and have room for Rachel as well. I figure if I do atleast four, or one card a week, I should have them done by November?

sigh..... why do I do this to myself?

Doesn't Matt look happy? We just spent the last 9 hours doing yard work at dad's and now we're going to a SWEET 16 party!!!

We both did have a nice time though, I don't think he was thrilled to be going.

Until next time....

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.

Almost a year

It is one day short of a year since my last post. I wish to change that. I hope to be able to find the time to update this blog and that someone, anyone, will read it and leave me a message. Ravelry has taken over my life and so I spend too much time there, too much time dreaming of all the things I have yet to knit.

My morning knitting is a pair of children's socks. Believe it or not, my first pair of children's socks and yes, they are on double pointeds because that was what I could find, plus they are zephr super smooth anodized aluminum, still in the package, from my mother, and they are MADE IN U.S.A. and when they were purchased, they cost .60.

These socks will be donated to WOOL AID, for their many charity knitting donations.

Here is my trusty knitting companion, he sleeps all night and most of the day and I can usually find him right under my feet!

Here is what I am currently knitting from, a container of donated to me yarns. I need to get some of my stash out of here, so I found the donations from a RAK list friend and have been making hats and now socks for a WOOL AID campaign. I want to empty the full container, which I have already used up two full skeins and most of two more, but here is still yarn in there, sigh.

Until next time,

keep on knitting!!

I have been knitting you know!

HERE IS THE SWEATER! It is the third in a series of Three sweaters that I commited to knit for Warm Woolies. It has taken me the longest amount of time and effort. I don't know that I'll EVER do another STRIPPED sweater again! Please remind me if I ever mention the want to do one. It is really cute though and I can't wait for all my Cozy Cabin friends to see it.







I decided NOT to join the KAL for the Companion Bag, because I wanted to finish the sweater and then I had to wait for the yellow to arrive, so I got "The daybag" pattern and started that, but now I feel I will need more of the purple, so this one is on hold until Cozy Cabin opens again in August.





Here is the Lobster Basket Bag that I am making for Baby J. It just needs the bottom sewn up and to be felted. He hasn't arrived yet, so there is no hurry. I was planning this one more for Christmas anyway as I hope to make some toys to stuff it with.

Here is the ballband bag that I did. It needs to be felted also. I loved doing the pattern and will probably make another one.

This is a pair of socks I will be sending along to WW. They are made of the Lionbrand Fishermans wool that I had left over from the mystery sweater I did for them.

I am still working on my June Personal Sock Club socks. They got set to the side last month. They are the "kindness" pattern and it took some attention to it, which I didn't have much of in June, so that's why they didn't get done.

Also on the needles are a pair of WW socks for the 10 for 10 challenge, this is pair number 4. I should have the second one done tomorrow.

I have been browsing Ravelry again for ideas and patterns. I have been very good with my yarn diet, but it has been EXTREMELY difficult to NOT buy any new yarn.

Sorry, life happens!

Hi there

sorry for the absence. I can hardly believe nearly three months of my life has gone by and I didn't blog anything.

But, then again, I didn't knit very much either.

Life is becoming more back on track so I can feel good and safe again, so I have begun to knit more again.

I will post some pictures of the things I have completed over the months, once I figure out exactly what they are.

My current projects are June PSC socks out of Knitpicks yarn, "DayBag" out of Nature Spun and Cascade, a pair of Warm Woolies socks with yarn donated by Cascade to the Cozy Cabin, and MY NEVERENDING warm woolies top down ragaln with stripes that has been taking me FOREVER to finish! Thanks to Toni at Cozy Cabin, the yellow has been found and is on it's way to me, so now I am SURE to finish!!!!

I promise to not be gone so long.

OH, and a friend at work talked me into a facebook account, so if you know me, friend me!

Boy, it's been a while!

SO MUCH TO TELL YOU!
I have been very busy, I just haven't had the time to post. Plus the batteries were dead in my camera. I can hardly believe it's been this long.

First, these are the socks that my awesome swap partner, Gladcat, did for me. They are made of Rowan Denim and they fit me perfectly.


Also included in her package to me was a homemade card. Cadbury hot chocholate AND eggs! Some Araucania Copihue, which she had made herself a cowl with, and then sent me the rest AND the pattern, so I could make one for myself.

Some great buttons and stitch markers. A coaster from Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. AND some Mohair yarn in great colors that I love, I just don't know what I will make with it yet, as I've never used Mohair before.

Well, we officially know that Baby J is going to be a boy, so here is the first, official BOY thing I've knit for him. A hat out of Cottontots. It is New born size, but seems large, so it should fit for quite a while.

Lots of sock knitting going on. I did complete my February socks for the Personal sock club, no pictures though, yet. I made them out of Knitpicks Palette in Brindle Heather. I have been wearing them, and enjoying them.

Below is a picture of the extra February socks that I am making. I'm still working on these, but I have one sock finished and I am on to the foot.

Here are my Personal Sock Club socks. They are in Knit Picks essential Tweed, in Shiraz. I am almost done with these. I will most likely finish them today.

As I said, Baby J is a boy, and will be using Cloth diapers, at least part of the time. So I found a nice pattern for Soakers. So, as you can see I have made three pairs. I plan to pair them with a top so if they aren't used as soakers, they can still be worn as an outfit.

Warm Woolies. A continual passion. Here are two pairs of socks for the 10 for 10 challenge. Cascade, the yarn company, has donated yarn to Cozy Cabin and our group is using it to make items for the 10 for 10 challenge.

This is the Warm Woolies Mystery Sweater. Lots of firsts in this for me. One of our group members made this pattern for all of us to make a larger size sweater, also for the 10 for 10 challenge. I used Lionbrand Fisherman wool, which knit up into a nice fabric, however, I was VERY DISAPPOINTED in it, because I didn't realize til after I had purchased it, that it is made in China now, not the USA.

The firsts in this sweater for me are, bottom up, three needle bind off, and picking up stitches to do the sleeves. I really enjoyed the pattern and the constrution of this sweater and I know some child will be warm next winter while wearing it.


Below, is a picture of the top down ragaln sleeve sweater, also for WARM WOOLIES. It is made from Patons Classic wool. (Which by the way is not merino anymore, but still a nice yarn to use)

I have signed up for a TOP DOWN sock class at Cozy Cabin during the month of April, which I purchased some Trekking 6 ply to use for these socks. I can't wait. It is something I've been wanting to learn for some time now.

My father gifted to me the purchase of TWO awesome books! One of which I got yesterday in the mail. "Fishermen's Sweaters" by Alice Starmore! I can't wait. I have been drooling over this one trying to figure out which sweater to make. And what yarn to use for it. Watching Carolyn make her sweater from this book has been so fascinating that I just have to try one for myself.

I hope not to be away for so long next time. That's all for now.

Week 4

Finished objects for week four.

First, the pair of green socks in the photo below are last weeks Warm Woolies Socks. They were done in green patons classic merino. Done with 36 stitches, 10 rows of 1x1 ribbing and 15 rows of stockinette, 18 rows of heel flap stitches, 11 gusset stitches each side, back to 18 stitches for bottom, then 20 foot rows before decreases. I think this makes a nice sock and started the second pair, which I finished this week.



I sent off my other package of socks to Warm Woolies this week. I will probably make two or three more pairs before I send these off.

Here is my first waffle rib scarf for the Seaman. Sorry the picture is so dark. It is a lovely color burgundy, doesn't do it justice, the picture. I finished this at the beginning of this week. (I think)

Here are the beginnings of the baby gifts for Baby J. I have decided on Bibs and cloths to match as well as burp clothes. Finished these two, plus another two this week. Michaels had a great sale, $1.00 a skein, so I stocked up and will make as many as I can.

Also in the works is this Blankie of Baby J. It is made of Bernat Cottontots. The yarn is very soft. I am using size 13 needles and double stranding. It doesn't show it very well in the picture, but the colors are Sunshine, Lemon Berry, Sweet Green and Pastel Dreams in ombre.

I do not know the sex of the baby, or what colors they've chosen yet, but I know J's favorite color is yellow and yellow and green are good baby colors.

I have worked a little on the top down ragalan for Warm Woolies. I took that with me to knit night this week. We had a lot of people there this week and it was so nice seeing everyone again. I really have missed going.

It's been a long hard week and the winter is not doing much good with my depression, this week has been bad and I imagine it is going to get worse again before it gets better. I keep trying, but I am just not snapping out of it all.

Week 3

Here are my completed Hedgerow socks! I am so pleased with how they turned out. Done on magic loop, size 1, with Knit Picks Essentials Kettle Dyed in Wine. I can't wait to wear them.



I finished the socks in 14 days so now I have the rest of the month to work on a Sweater for the Warm Woolies 10 for 10. (I think that's what it's called). Anyway, after a great deal of searching my Leisure Arts Pattern book for the Top down ragalan, I found it! and I began early on the KAL. There are some of us over at Warm Woolies on Ravelry who are doing sweaters for the challenge.

And here is a SURPRISE!!!!!!!!!!!

I finally got to go to see my knitting friends. It's been so cold and the weather has been too dreadful most Thursday nights for me to venture out. Anyway, Cozy Cabin had a cabin fever event yesterday (and today, I believe), prizes, sale, food.... and sit and knit.

Anyway, I got to see my friend Carolyn and she had a birthday gift for me.

Look at it!!!

A skein of the Socks that Rock yarn! I have only seen it and touched it at Rhinebeck. (didn't buy it because the line was HUGE to say the least) Anyway, I don't know where she got it from, but it is called "rare gems" and it is just marvelous. I truly think that other knitters are the only ones who "get it" when it comes to giving a skein of yarn to a fellow knitter as a gift.

I would love to make a pair of socks, but I just can't see hiding something so pretty on my feet! So I think I have decided on a scarf pattern. This way I can enjoy it and show it off to others while I wear it, then, maybe if there is some left over, maybe I can squeeze a pair of shorties out of it too. We will see!

Thank you Carolyn.

Now, I know I've mentioned I am in a Stash Knit Down group on Ravelry. Well, I ENHANCED my stash yesterday! I had christmas money that I was saving just for this event and I was able to get - MORE SOCK YARN!! Like I need more!? But I did. A skein of Opal in Blues and a skein of Trekking XXL in Neopalitan colors, and some others, but I can't mention everything because I am in the Oddball stashbusters swap and I don't know if my downline will read my blog at all and I don't want to spoil her surprise.

I was also bad and I did order from Knit picks the beginning of the month. That order came in and soon I hope to be showing you some Selbuvotter knitted mittens.

OH! I almost forgot, but I don't have a picture. For my 52 in 52 this week, I did finish a pair of single strand worsted weight socks for Warm Woolies.

Week 2

Week 2 - the post is a day early! How about that?

Here is a picture of lasts weeks socks for m. They both fit. Which I am pleased about. He has a size 13 foot.

I did find out from Warm Woolies though that for the larger size socks for kids they can be just single stranded, so my wrists and hands are SO HAPPY! These really were tough on them.

Here are my Peekaboo mittens for week 2 of the 52 in 52. They are made with Cascade 220 in a lovely blue colorway. (They were part of my snowman from the Magic Ball Swap. Thank you Toni!!)

Here is an update on my January Personal Sock club socks. This is the wine colorway in the Knitpicks Kettle Dyed Essential. I like the yarn just fine so far. It gives a nice stitch pattern, though the picture is showing rather pink, they are more of a burgundy.

I was able to start the second sock on Friday and I hope to be done with that one by next Friday and then I will have one sock club completed!!

I am still trying to decide on my 52 in 52 project for this coming week. I plan to cast on tomorrow. We are currently having a snow storm, so tomorrow will be a pajama day!! and lots of knitting will be going on.

The NEW YEAR!

These are the first installment that will go to Warm Woolies this week. I used up some of the yarn from hats that I made for the holidays. Two strands held together is a bit tough on my wrists so I have to slow down a bit. I did these four pairs in about 5 days. They are a "quick fix" project.



Here is the sock I have made Warm Woolies style that will fit m. I had him try it on while I knit it to make sure that it fit well enough.



Here is the box that holds my Personal sock club bags and my other project bags. I waited until about 7:30 this morning and chose a bag.

My Personal Sock Club will be "Hedgerow" in Knit Picks Essential Kettled dyed in Wine. The color is very subtle, not quite what I was expecting. But I like it.

Gifts to make or complete

Well I have put up my list of gifts to make or complete by Christmas. I don't have much to do on the stockings. I just have to get them done. I will work on them next week.

I have to ball up the yarn for the hats and then I can begin on them.

OH! I forgot, peds for R. That is one things she asked for.

As for myself, I am STILL working on my socks from Rhinebeck...... sigh....

This is the kind of snow man I like!

Isn't this guy just adorable?! I can't bear to take him apart. He is my magic ball swap item from Toni!

When we exchanged I found out that she loves snowmen and look what she made just for me? Isn't he great!

The package to the left of him is Toni's magic ball from me. I bought some real yummy alpaca at the PA Fiber Festival in Sept for her and I just couldn't bear to wrap it all around everything, so I wrapped it up inside of the other presents and used white kitchen cotton to ball it all up. She even liked that because she said she could make a new snow man out of it!

My Snow man has some of my favorite yarn, Bartlett for the bottom in Dark Lovat, (And of course I didn't have any of this color yet and had to buy a hank before I left) and some blue Cascade 220 in the middle and some Brown Sheep Prairie Silk for his head and she even hand made a hat for him. The spooky part, are his eyes. They are from some of her taxidermy supplies!! yikes!! His arms are dpn in bamboo, plus a cable needle for his mouth and stitch markers for earrings and more stitch markers on the front button. PLUS she said there are goodies inside and I just can't bear to take him apart yet!!! I just love it. What a cool idea.

I have been very good. I am nearly done with my last stocking, then I can do the heels and make the linings. I finished a waffle scarf for R and am in the process of another one for Jill. I am making slow progress on the socks I have going STILL from Rhinebeck! Can hardly believe it's nearly a month ago already!

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!

Sigh!

I have managed to finish one sleeve and have begun the next one. I can't wait to see this all put together as I have not done a "piece" sweater like this before. The sleeves have "caps" on them and I hope this all works out. If worse comes to worse, I know they will be under the wonderful, large collar and any thing wonky won't show.

I am still in love this yarn and keep dreaming about things to make with it.

I was given a demonstration on how to do magic loop and I have taken the plunge and ordered a set of longer cable needles from Knitpicks. I had started a pair of socks on Sept 1 to keep going with my one pair of socks a month, but I only have dpn in a size 1, and I have decided "NO MORE DOUBLE POINTED NEEDLES!" I just feel like I am using two left feet to knit with them.

Then, I am starting the stocking class up at Cozy Cabin tonight and my brain fog is not helping. I can't find my size 6 needles, so since I knit tight anyway, I am bringing along my size 9 and 7 needles to use instead.

Yesterday, at work, was just a horrible day and I am hoping there is no repeat today. Somedays I truly think my brain has left me and I end up looking like a total ass. I don't know how long I can make such mistakes and still have a job.

Projects!

Well, it's a new month. I have to begin a new pair of socks and I'd like to try them on a size one needle, only I don't have any circulars in that size, so I will have to use DPN by default. I didn't have a chance to pick a pair up. I am going to use the wildfoote yarn I bought and see how I like it.

I am feverishly working on my nubby cardigan. A little behind where I'd like to be, but I have already done the armhole shaping on the right arm and only have about 22 more rows to complete it and begin a sleeve. I think this may be why I like top down sweaters so much. You don't have all these pieves to be worrying about. But, I am loving the sweater and I am planning to have it done for Rhinebeck to wear there. I still have to look for buttons.

I need to start another project, I am not sure what yet though. I bought some LOVELY bartletyarn in the colorway Medium Green Heather, from Cozy Cabin this week. What a GORGEOUS color green. I don't know why I am liking greens so much lately, but this color is to die for. Perhaps I'll have to buy more and make Lady February out of it...... Otherwise, I was thinking of making another clapotis out of this. Love the pattern. Love the yarn.

Well, today is a holiday and I've dubbed it "pajama day" so I will stay in them as long as I want to today and knit as long as I feel like it!

Socks!

I have been looking at all the sock patterns there are out there and wondering, will I ever get to knit them? Will I ever get to try new sock yarns? Because, you know, sock yarn doesn't count as stash. At least that is what someone once said.

It is hard to imagine that there is all this yarnie goodness out there and I haven't experienced nearly any of it. I have knit mostly with Opal, which I love. I have also done some Regia, and some onLine. I don't nearly have enough. Only two solid colors, which are in browns, and no handpainted or hand dyed.

Colors. There are so many colors to choose from. How do you choose? Do you go by what you want to knit? I mean, some people choose by the color. I look at a pattern and see whether I like it or not.

I was thinking of maybe trying to do some colors that are out of the ordinary for me. I have done lots of blue, mostly self striping Opal colors. I would like to do some semi solids. I like a little color in there, just not plain, but I would like to get away from self striping for a while. I would like to be able to do some that I could get away with wearing to work, so nothing too loud. It'd have to be business like, but fun at the same time.

No, I don't feel I have nearly enough colors, pattern's or time when it comes to socks. I love doing them.

The Nubby Cardigan

I started this on Saturday. With a few trials. I think I've already blogged them. I finally have the hang of it and I'm LOVIN' IT!



The pattern is not really hard to remember, just keeping track of what row you are on is the key.



I heard from my pal, she received her package. I can breathe again.

News! Pictures! Packages!

Okay, first things first. I came home today to not one but TWO packages. Both are from the dishcloth swap that I was in. The first package is a great cloth by beginknitter. Also included was a neat bracelet with the word "hope" on it. We all need that, don't we.

Next, a package all the way from Stafforshire England! The package says "royal mail" on it! I love it. Ceri included a cloth that is so squishy and not one but TWO skeins of kitchen cotton in perfect colors for my kitchen!


If either of you take a look at my blog, thank you so much. I enjoyed the swap alot and I hope that you did too.

Here is the beginnings of my CLAPOTIS. I am using Elsabeth Lavolds silky wool. I absolutely love it. You can see some of the stitch marker that I got from Glitterbear, from the odd ball swap. They came is SO handy and made me smile while knitting.



I finished the clap today, scarf size and I still have some stitches to drop, and to weave in the ends, but I just love the weight of it and the look. It is a definite gift possiblities to it.

This next photo is of the new Bartlett yarn I purchased at the Cozy Cabin (HI Toni) last night before going to sit and knit. Anyway, the colorway is "terra cotta" it is the 2 ply and I am planning to make the Obverse Jacket, by lisa shroyer from the fall 2008 Knitscene magazine that I bought last week.

There are so many FABULOUS patterns in this magazine. I really, REALLY want to make the nubby cardiagn by deborah newton, but I am afraid I am just not experienced enough for it. I am going to make it though. Because I just love the classic look of it.

I would also LOVE the big ivy scarf by christine lorin made of Aslan Trends Artesanal. It just looks so soft and cuddly.

Those are my favorites. but I like a LOT more of them!!! smile

I sent off my package to my downline SP and the tracking says it has arrived. I got an email from her this evening, but she didn't mention the package. GEE I hope no one stole it!! I'll be on pins and needles until I hear from her.