Yahoo!!!

Another WIP...off the list LOL! I just looked in my archives..and (insert blushing here) since March...eeek!

Only 1 pooling area around the ankle of the top sock-sock 2. The rest looks pretty good. The bottom sock-sock 1 done with ML on size 2 Inox Express-very nice pointed needle. Top sock done with new Brittany US2 5" dpns! It did go quicker with the dpns and I learned a lot. Especially on the ladder I got on the underside, due to how I did the first stitch on the next needle. I corrected that and the rest went well. I also realized after the heel on sock 2 I didn't do sock 1's heel the same way...See what happens when SSS sets in! LOL!

The yarn was fine to work with, the only problem was it kind of stuck to me...probably due to the weather!

One Skein Sockettes

Started March 2006

Finished July 2006

Less than 1 skein of Knitpicks Sockgarden in Pansy!

Ok, so we know it didn't take that long to make them. As some of you know..I, well, have knitting distraction disorder AKA KDD. Sounds so much better than ADD or ADHD, as I do not want to offend anyone. See I named a new knitting disease...you know like the dreaded SSS. Which this suffered a bit, then it suffered--other projects I wanna do syndrome LOL!

Now, just one pink hat to reknit and a scarf to finish, and hopefully my Brown Gable done by next weekend!!!! Pulease...so much more to do!!

Have a great week everyone!

M is for.......

My Magnolia Tree! I have always loved the scent of these trees and when I first moved to the South I always wanted one. However, I wanted a big one, beside a house with a huge covered porch, with a swing, with a........ Ok, real life now!

I planted this tree about 14 or so years ago. For years, it was nothing more than a stick with a couple of leaves, nothing else. In the last couple of years, it has grown a bit, but usually only 1 flower per year. Hubby wanted it cut down, I said no! I have no green thumb, usually everything I plant dies...but not this! So...um...no you can't cut it down. He doesn't like the leaves, I admit they are pretty big, but we have pine trees that shed more than this does!

The bottom leaves have been growing like crazy this year, kind of filling in I think. It started out as tall as I am..now about double my size!


This year, you can see about 5 blossoms in various stages of bloom! We've never had this many!

As close as I could get without a huge ladder that we don't have. I zoomed as much as I could. These pictures were taken last week, so the blooms you see are gone, however hubby and I just counted 6 more!!! Amazing...what happened, there is not another Magnolia tree on the street! ;)

On the knitting news, GG is going ok, on body island as it's called I guess. (Turtlegirl76, I am trying to finish!! :) Also trying to finish a sock for my sock-a-month-kal and a pink hat/scarf set too. I joined the Monthly Dishcloth KAL but have yet to complete the first one...oh well. At least I'll have the cool patterns.

My Summer Fling..........

Ha! Made you look!! So not what you are thinking... My Summer Fling Swap from the KnittyCoffeeshoptm package arrived today!

2 super smelling candles of cherry and cinnamon bun, huge bag of cinnamon candies (everyone will thank you for my nice smelling breath!), my favorite dark chocolate with nuts and berries (it survived the heat too!!) A cute card and a skein of gorgeous burgundy Fleece Artist that I've been wanting to try! Now to figure out who you are.....

I have an idea...the card was a clue...but if only I could see the participant list LOL! I can remember some of your posts...hmmmm

Thank you, I love it all! :)

Totally Unbelievable

*insert dancing, jumping up and down emoticon here!*



May I present about 1/3 of Brown Gable! It fits...it really fits...I cannot whatsover believe it!!! I may not sleep for the next few days as I so want to finish it! But knowing me, no sleep and marathon knitting..um..well, not good!

So stay tuned to see the finished top as soon as I can do it! Thanks to many of you and your encouraging words regarding this. This is my first top down sweater and I doubt my last! :)

L is for......

Ok, you are about to be amazed by my beauty...or lack there of!!! hehe!

Especially wearing this......

L is for Lead Apron...what I wear day in/day out at work! Don't love the color, as I really wanted RED, but when we got them made for us it was a really ugly plasticky red..... So good thing you can't throw me tomatoes or anything ;)

Geesh, me and my chipmunk cheeks!! I wanted to take a picture with my sock...but well you know...
So glamorous huh? Not very flattering either ;) It is supposedly the lightest weight of lead...yeah right, especially after today...Darn, should have posted my plastic fake Crocs, I have colors let me tell you 4 of them..all with sock yarns to match...now if them yarns could magically be socks overnight, I'd be all set! Oh, lookie on my feet! My lime green ones... Gee, I have a few yarns destined to be paired with these!

I call this pose, yeah I'm smiling, but you still can't come in!!!

WIP's

Still sewing and knitting away. No pics of the sewing as I can't show you before the recipients get their's now can I? hehe

Brown Gable is progressing nicely, not fast enough, but what can I say, it puts me to sleep LOL as does all stockinette, only 15 rows from sleeves off and trying on..keep your fingers crossed for me! As for the seam mistake, possibly a missed increase..was advised to drop the stitch, but that is way too many to take a chance, you know the story LOL...more on that later!

I finally restarted my Noni Bag and joined a KAL as I always need help/encouragement, although the WIP Roundup on Knittytm is helping a lot. This was on my list as I had cast on but frogged due to yarn. You know I love my Lambs pride, but it is not plied and the rest of the yarn for this bag is Cascade 220 which is plied...see the possible felting dilemma. So it is Patons in the hot pink, the rest is Cascade, and that should be interesting, but I am confident it will be fine! Ready for color change #1 out of..well many LOL...hoping to carry not cut though, we shall see!

I leave you with your daily dose of fiber hehe! My felted bowl in action with some lovely yarns!

Stay tuned tomorrow, an interesting "L" for the ABC-along! Nite! :)

CASP2

Yay! I got a box of goodies from my Cheap A$$ SP2 today! hehe!

She was asking about the type of books I like to read and had hit a great library sale and I sure benefited from it!! SALE a great 4-letter word ;)! Also included was a neat sock pattern called Bead Stitch Anklets from the Knitting pattern a day calendar the year I don't have yay! It is so perfect for NC weather as the top and leg part are in a lace pattern (Bead Stitch). I got a cute birthday card, some lotion samples and 2 skeins of Plymouth Fantasy Naturale, a really neat zipper bag. Oh and SP, that chocolate was perfect timing. As it arrived I was filling out my Xray License Renewal form where I have to list ALL my continuing ed. credits...talk about writers cramp!! I felt much better after eating the candy ;)!


This by far is the cutest thing ever!!! HA! A flipflop coaster for my wine tea glass. (only cause no good wine in the house LOL!) I've never seen anything like this before! Thank you SP for everything!!

BTW, I grew up calling these thongs....hmm...anyone else? HA!

Zee Sockfish!

Finally finished my own sockfish! I love it, it has the last of my Amy Butler Ginger Bliss scraps for the fins. I so wished this was not discontinued..meh!! It is so well liked, they could make more $$ from it...hmmm Anyways! Using some other fabric scraps and my denim (I got for a steal! and more on it's way even cheaper!) I love good sales. I didn't use buttons for eyes, as I could cut 2 of the flowers out of the scraps that were too small for the fins. I actually had to use a brown backing as that is literally all I had left. In its open-mouth yawning glory

Sideways-being pulled by fishing line pose!

Look at the mouth on that thing...about to eat A's sock in progress!!

Hehe! Well off to knit more on GG before bedtime! Tomorrow is another sewing day!! (eh today was clean A's room day...ick) It is done and tomorrow is mine!! well..sort of...hehe!

Name Meme

Hehe this is too cute!! I don't usually do "every" meme that is out there, only ones that either I can actually answer and not bore people and ones I think are fun! This is a fun one!

From String Bean who got it from Suse, who got it from Pavlov's Cat, who got it from Quirkie.


YOUR MOVIE STAR NAME
(grandfather/grandmother on your father's side, your favorite sweet/lolly):

Jelly Belly Dyer

YOUR FLY GIRL/GUY NAME
(first initial of first name followed by "izzle", first two or three letters of your last name followed by "dizzle"):

Zizzle Beldizzle

YOUR DETECTIVE NAME
(favourite color, favourite animal):

Red Koala
Undercover name: Crimson Bear

YOUR STAR WARS NAME
(first 3 letters of your name- last 3 letters of mother's maiden name, first 3 letters of your pet's name repeated twice):

Zonnes BelBel

YOUR SUPERHERO NAME
("The", your favourite color, the automobile you drive):

The Red Escape

If you read this and likey it consider yourself tagged; otherwise read and have fun!

An FO and a question????????

Hello there!! Let me tell you I have never been able to knit for more than bits/pieces at home as you all know, always something to do or someone (human or pet) that needs something from you. Sitting in the car for 5+ hours allows you to:

Make progress on your Brown Gable (more on that below!)

Start a to be felted project on the way home, finish it that evening (had to drive for a few hours or it would have been done!), and felt in the morning and you get...a felted bowl from One-Skein made of Lambs Pride Bulky in Pine Tree! (hehe bulky/pine tree I'm a poet...) Ahem...Ok I badly needed a quick FO and this was it. Also, what do you do when you can't find US 15 DPN's?? You get a dowel, cut into 5 pieces, and grind them to points....now all they need is a little sanding and some waxed paper, of which I have none, but they worked fine for the few rows I needed...ever try to do ML on Denises??? Impossible on this cord...oh well!

Prefelted

Postfelted bowl inside to shape it!

US 15 DPNS




Ok, on the brown gable, see that raglan sleeve to the left...straight line huh! (sorry if you click on the pic, it is blurry!) See the seam to the right...by my finger a little jog, not sure if it is an extra stitch, twisted stitch, or what...waaaa! However, not sure if it is enough to frog...yet as I posted prior, I thought the lace part was a little confused (well I was) but it looks better now, however the sizing is the big issue...well hope not. Still don't want to frog now as I do have about 20 or more rows until sleeves are off (thought it was less but not...) so I can really check for the chest sizing...I can wing the body shaping by increases, decreases, but not the bust. It'll be interesting to see if I should have made the 38 not the 40. Stay tuned, hopefully by this weekend we'll know the answer... Or do you have the answer already...should I frog it now or wait..............???

The 1Black/1Red stripe sock is also coming along, will have to do some decrease rows above the ankle, not many, but I think it needs to tighten up a bit, not enough to frog though!! I am keep ing notes so the other one will be the same.

My hybrid Escape actually did quite well! I got about 33 mpg on the way up, less on the way back??? why??. Doesn't sound as good as the Prius or others....but hubby keeps reminding me...it is a mini SUV, not a tiny car. So on that point, not bad. For you that live near the DC area (or any big city!) and have to make a commute everyday in tons of traffic...bless you...I could not do it!!!

Off I go...more to do and see this week!!

Still knitting...progress being made

and knitting some more..... the 1 Black stripe and 1 Red stripe sock is going well. I think I needed to use the US 1's but I like the fabric the 2's are making. Not too tight, which is good for DD. She tried on the cuff, and I think it is a little loose, but she loves it..hopefully elastic won't be needed. I think since I have the other ball ready, I may cast on with 1's and see... (sniff, I really don't want to frog the other though!)

Green Brown Gable is going pretty good. I was looking at the lace part and I think it is a little wonky..I mean, I think I did a row of A's when it should have been B's so it could be off. But stitch count wise I am fine.....well for now. I have about 15 more rows to go before I can get ready to separate for the sleeves and try it on. I could frog now due to the lace, but I really should wait as I think (ha! I mean don't I wish) that the XL will be too big. See my dilemma, I don't want to frog twice!! (as it has been frogged 3 times already due to lace..ugh!) The pattern isn't really hard..yet, I mean it was operator error! ;0! Sooo long story short, if it fits, I am NOT frogging. The lace pattern would be a little crooked, but I don't think too bad..(please..no...!) Time will tell...stay tuned!

Sockette, still just casted on..Will work on it in the car

A certain felted project for an SP...to be worked on in the car...

I am on vacation! No worky until 17 July!! 10 days......so much to do...going out of town on Sunday, so lots of knitting time in the car as DS is driving....eeek, only in NC though as his permit allows. This will be our first trip in our hybrid, should be interesting as it is really a gas saver for in town driving....A quick trip to MD (sniff, sorry, can't even have a meet up with anyone as it is only overnight...), daughters room to be destroyed oops I mean cleaned, organized, time to get rid of kiddy stuff (you know 11 y/o's! with posters covering most of their walls.) Think of me about Wednesday when I'll be crying here!

Sewing..lots to do also..darn, can't take it in the car with me!!

It's my birthday today...I'm...um...29..yeah that's it...29....! hehe if you believe that, I got some swamp land for ya! ;) I received lovely Godiva Chocolates and a knitting book and cute cards from the family (dd informed me that "she" helped pick out the book! She was very proud) Hubby informed me, he loves B/Noble...one stop shopping, chocolate, book, cards..what more could a man that hates to shop want???? After taking son for last minute, clothes/supplies for trip, take out and surprise ice cream cake. Yummmy, still full!

I also got a really nice thank you gift of yarn today with the cutest sheep stitchmarkers a very nice surprise! Pics'll have to wait until later with WIP update pics...sorry!!

Sometimes its the yarn, sometimes the needles, sometimes the technique

Do they tell you what to do? I am a very new sock knitter and trying to learn new techniques on how to make them. I am not one to know how to do things "one" way if possible. (ask hubby about the many ways I can get from here to there LOL! He hates my shortcuts through town!)

So far I've made socks on dpns, magic loop, and 2 circulars. So on this particular generic, plain sock I've cast on 2 circs (twice! no dice!) Attempted 2 socks at one time on magic loop...let's say..um...they were not working out. I couldn't keep the sides together no matter what I did, and the other darned sock when not being knit on..well UGH! I was going to switch to 2 socks on 2 circs, but I had to hurriedly finish a sockette to get the other needle. (which I did) And then discovered the difference between a 2.25 needle and a 2.75 needle. Both say US 2, but there is a difference, and myself being the um "type A" person, couldn't do it.

So for the 4th and FINAL cast on, I present DD's 1 Black Stripe, 1 Red Stripe Sock's debut, on magic loop. I am cranking on this sock. It wanted to be done with magic loop and wasn't going to stand for any other technique. ;)



Custom dyed superwash sock yarn by All Things Heather as requested by my darling daughter.

Conversation with daughter:
DD: Mom can you make me striped socks? (she loved the colors of my first pair).
Me: Sure, what kind do you want?
DD: 1 Black stripe, 1 Red stripe
Me: Ok, got that, but what kind of sock do you want?
DD: 1 Black stripe, 1 Red stripe
Me: (grrrr) No I mean, what style..short, long, patterned..
DD: just 1 Black stripe, 1 Red stripe
ME: A LITTLE PERTURBED HERE! Ok chickie, besides the 1 Black stripe, 1 Red stripe what else do you want.
DD: A plain sock with.....1 Black stripe, 1 Red stripe
ME: So I show her a plain 1" ribbed cuff with stockinette all around. "Like this??"
DD: Yes perfect!
ME: Phew, I need a tylenol!!! 11 year olds ;)

Getting organized......

Well I figured it was about time I got myself a little more organized on the sewing and knitting fronts! I hate having to "hunt" for every little thing...I've had these cut out for...well..a while LOL!

The mess of dpn's, crochet hooks, and cable needles

Ahhh! Can you say..neat and in order ;)

Vase 0' Straights

Straights in order...and not many huh? Well, can you tell #1, I got them too long 14" except for a couple pairs. #2 I love circulars for just about everything! ;)

Left is for straights and right is my dpn's, etc. I even have enough of the fabric to make one for my circulars.....someday, one can only handle so much organization for one day ;)

On the fabric front, I now have a huge clear ziploc bag to hold all my fabric scraps smaller than 1/4 yard. Now I can organize my other fabrics and see what I have. As for the scraps, I can see them too, but they are all in 1 place now...Off to knit and sew some more!!

K is for....

Kudzu- According to my Webster's New World Dictionary- it is a fast-growing perennial vine with large, 3-part leaves. It originates from Japan. When I first moved here 16 yrs ago from Maine, I saw this and thought...how cool ivy, and it covers the trees... I was quickly informed by MIL, that it is the bane of the South's existence as it is almost impossible to get rid of. You can dig it up all you want and it will return. Often chemicals are used and it stunts the growth a bit, but has to be repeated, cause it returns!

See, it looks so harmless

Covering a few bushes

Covering, quite a few trees

K took a while to figure out, almost did ketchup LOL! Then I finally browsed through my dictionary, and found it, and thought DUH!!! You see that every day going in and out of the parking lot at work!! It really is beautiful to look at...just not something you want in or around your yard!

On the knitting front, finished a washcloth, so that is 3 FO's this week! Yay! Off the next 3 days so a lot of sewing and knitting going on here! Along with some good food, fireworks, and just laziness around the house! :)