Ok Mom! I'm doing my homework.....

Thats what I hear often from my 11 and 16 yr old! In irritated voices!

But this time it's mine! :)


I have 1 1/2" to go on this cuff and I have to at least start the other cuff to make sure I remembered what to do..says the teacher ;) I probably shouldn't have used the navy as it is hard to see, oh well! So far I am loving the 2 circ method. Now if I could learn 2 at one time with 2 circs, how cool would that be!

I am a joiner....

Yep, I joined ScoutJ's dyeorama. I was on the fence, but my good friend Heather encouraged me to try something new. So I did get a bunch of easter egg dye kits for 33 cents each, and will get some koolaid also. I am in the WTF am I doing category, so I feel relieved that I wouldn't be ending up with a swap partner like Heather or anyone else who is a much more experienced dye'r. So I do have a skein of sock yarn that will be the first victim. I don't want my swap partner to get the first skein...sometimes I do things for the first time and they turn out golden..sometimes not LOL! Stay tuned, this could be a fun adventure for me.

I took a sock class on 2 circs. I have 2 more to go and I think this is the best thing I have done for myself and my knitting. Not only did I learn the start of a new sock knitting technique, but she answered by swatching questions and I hope a lot more. Most of my crafts I have learned by the seat of my pants, books, online list groups, etc. So I gotta go do some homework now... :)

G is for......

Gosh...griping...geek...golly... I tell you, well I can't tell you how many pictures I have taken of grapes...None were good, with flash/w/o flash..ugh..then I was waiting for my gardenias to bloom...nope not happening yet (with my luck next week! grr)...green yarn..well could do, only have a tiny little bit..then tonite on the way to pick up my son from school on my last official day of vacation...it finally dawned on me...Like DUH!!

GROUT!!

Watching him put this on last nite, my mouth was watering, drooling looking at all that chocolately goodness I couldn't even touch! The whole floor looked like one big candy bar. Today it has dried a lighter shade which we love, last nite it was darker and oh so yummy looking (well it still is LOL!) (sorry for the blurry pic on the right..)

Oh yeah, you guys wanted to see the floor...sorry!

BEFORE!

Empty kitchen=animals take control! You see our lazy dog and the cat about to pounce on her!

AFTER!

Darned cat, always gotta be in the pics lately! I love it, the colors work so well with the woodwork, which after 16 yrs here, needs a little TLC too...all in good time. (hehe I do miss my squeaky floor..well kind of :)

So next weekend will be the sealing of the grout and we can move heavy items back in. This was a good time to clean out the pantry and now I have no excuse to re-organize as I have next week to do so..well gotta go back to work..sniff..but like I said before, I'll probably accomplish more anyways. :)

My plans.....

Were to do a lot of sewing and knitting this week ahem, well...er..I admit I've been sleeping in on the days I can...and doing the normal house chores. But I swear I get more stuff done when I am home from working 8 hrs a day...Why is that!?!!!
Well, I did get the baby bolero done and DD's quilt..so..yeah, I have been accomplishing things..just not as many as I thought I could!

I will post the before and after pics of my new kitchen floor tomorrow! It really looks great. The tileman lives in our neighborhood and is so busy (cause he's really good!) and I've had to be a little flexible this week when he could be here. I mean the man worked all by himself Saturday and Sunday just prepping the floor! I was expecting him this afternoon, but he called and couldn't make it so, no problem started dinner in the oven. 2 hrs later....he called, I've got to come grout it tonite...ok...upped the temp in the oven to finish dinner which was done, just as he was about to start grouting in front of the oven. It looks awesome!....hehehe but you have to wait until Friday as I need to have the mouldings back on...

I've been working on this sockette, I have an area where I somehow missed a stitch on the other side..stitch count is good, not sure what happened..but guess what, I'm going to tie it off and no one will know...ooops..now you all do! I'm using Pansy in KP's sock garden. The yarn is ok not really soft. I do like the colors. These probably will turn out to be my May Socks for the KAL as I do have a bunch of other things to do...as usual!



Below is my needle roll production line. If anyone has seen the prototype I made for Heather that's what I am making. You are looking at only 2 cut out..yikes...I gotta get crackin'! I always think things will go faster than they really do..I guess I need to get back to work to get anything done LOL!


Well I am off to get some rest and see what I can accomplish tomorrow :)

SP 6

Wow! I am like so amazed, happy, giddy, and believe it or not sad. Sad because it is over. I have made a good friend, one I hope to be in touch with for a long time. Especially when I need a good laugh, advice on felting, questions on the Clapotis (which one day I'll finish!)!

I just got my last parcel from my SP6 Deb the Yarner! She is an amazing person and kept me in stitches all the time! Kept me guessing with the help of her sidekicks too..you know who you are...not sure if I am supposed to out you two though! One minute I would think..it could be her...the next...not...Whomever gets to be spoiled by her next round is one lucky person! She's awesome!



I think she had a spy satellite looking at my new kitchen floor, cause the potholders and towels are perfect for chef boy ar Z's kitchen. Jalapeno jelly, made from her hot little hands along with a really nice scarf and extra for do-it-yourself fringe ;)! Yarn Harlots 1st book, and a Died in the wool mystery..cool! Laurel and Hardy DVD...which should have clued me in...I tell ya I can be dense. The next to the last card said she was someone else...then the very last card told me it was really her......Deb the Yarner.

It has been fun! I've enjoyed all my emails and trickery from her...I heart her! She made this a truly fun time! Thanks again Deb! :)

Gone a flip-floppin!

We interrupt your usual knitting update with a little.......

Flip Flop'n Summer Quilt

Started April 2005-Finished April 2006

Sold here or your local quilt store.

Yes a non-knitting WIP..hehe got a few of those! This poor quilt has had it's binding needing to have the final stitching done...for..ahem..er..a few months...This is what happens when a newer craft/hobby takes over and since I couldn't clean out DD's room due to it being full of kitchen furniture...this was done instead. My daughter is oh so patient...HA! She picked out the fabrics for the flip flops and had to ok the buttons and ribbons placed also. I tried to get her interested in sewing it..but no luck then. Since her room is full of posters & etc. no room for this...she cleverly asked me to remove my son's quilt hanging on the wall between their rooms. Mom...you know...this has been here for a long time. It's my turn. How could I say no to that! :)

My mailbox

Runneth over today for sure! Wow, I thought that they had missed me on Saturday! I finally got my swap needle..thanks Pam! 3 other sets of circs for various projects finally appeared...along with this...


7 skeins of Cotton Fleece in Truffle, 5 for Green Gable and 2 for the sleeves of my Ribbi Cardi!



Gryffindor Sock yarn from Sunshine Yarns. Which sells out extremely fast...I cannot believe I hit the refresh button in time! Her yarn sells out in literally minutes. This yarn is awesome and I can't wait to make DD's socks. Although they'll be knitted in secret for as long as I can. (Card didn't come out, when I used no flash...yarn didn't...so...oh well!)

Poor mailperson..so much stuffed in there, it popped out the back door...I walked up and picked the rest up...he felt bad, but it was ok! I got yarn and needles...no reason to be sad! :)

Baby Bolero

Baby Bolero from One Skein

LB Cotton Ease in Candy Blue

First time using provisional cast on

This is so tiny and hopefully it will fit its recipient for a few weeks. After that, it'll look great on a teddy bear! I barely used 2/3rds of the skein of 207 yrds. A pretty fast knit, I just had to put it down to um...er..move out of my kitchen so it took a little longer. I loved using my Denise needles on this project! It was so easy when switching from the ribbing to stockinette to just change the needle tips...plus the CE slid so nicely along.

Currently 1/2 done the swatch for Cutaway sweater! Got to work on starting that, my Noni Bag, Felted Striped tote from OneSkein, and yes Sandra there will be work on Kyoto! Plus more needle holders.....

It has been in the 90's this past weekend, and our A/C acted up. Call this am to our handyperson who fills 'er up each spring/fall, and ahhhh! Coolness again! I gotta run, thunder is a coming!!! WE NEED RAIN! CPurl17 where is your rain you were supposed to send my way! LOL!

Waiting on yarn and needles in the mail....taps foot. And my SP said to watch out too!

More later, thunder is close!

Hiya!

I am on vacation!! Not going anywhere, just staying home knitting, sewing, and a home improvement project(which I'll post about later!...Don't want to out myself to my SP...which I think I have already..DUH!! But I like to think she still doesn't know ;)

Currently knitting a baby bolero from One Skein, and about to start the sleeves tonite, I hope to finish by tomorrow to gift it. Then it's onto the voodoo wrist warmers...(to finish another WIP!) and not sure what's next...

HAHA! Who am I kidding...I've got some KP shine in sky for swatching for this, a going away gift for a Doctor I work with...I've been showing her my stash pics and every time she sees this color..."I love that color!" I also hope to make her a one skein wonder out of ice blue cottonease! She's done by mid June....gotta get them needles clacking!

I joined another KAL! I love this top and I hope it fits well. I am using yarn stash!! Woot for me...and my pocketbook LOL! Cotton Fleece in jungle green. It was for a ribbi cardi, but I can get more as that won't be knit for a while anyways! You can get the pattern here if you're interested! Well I did have to order new needles. I needed 20" 4's and 6's, so I found those interchangeables you can buy separately at Hobby Lobby's 1/2 off sale, got the 12" cord and the tips. Then I ordered 2 addi natura's to try out,1 needed for this top and 1 for my next Odessa...

So off I go into swatch land! Well after I finish a few things... ;) See ya!

Ice Creamy Goodness!

Ha! Got you! Sorry no ice cream here! But peruse below and see the finished Neopolitan Socks!
Looking at them makes me want a bowl right now!

Modeled by my darling 11 y/o daughter who sadly wears the same size...she's eyeing them! (only sad cause man she's 11...I'm...hehe older!) I can see a sock thief in the making! Little does she know of the suprise socks I'll have for her!

Road Trip Socks

Yarn by Heather

size US 2 addi's

Time...hehe way too long! (about a month!)

I loved knitting with this yarn, very soft and as you can see, the striping turned out great for a newbie like me..This is my 3rd pair of socks ever! If you look close up, you'll see a ecru thread along the heel(forgot the other one!) & toes, that is wooly nylon for reinforcement. I have a good color selection of this thread and will use it when needed.

Check off another WIP! Now onto my sockettes in KP's sock garden pansy! Then finally a pair of

Thuja's in Regia Silk for my hubby, who is so patiently waiting for them!

Odessa......An Odyssey......

ETA: I just found out I won a gift certificate to KPixie from the KAL, what a luck of the draw on that!

This was an odyssey of knitting adventure..read on ;)
Cast on: I love the long-tail cast on...I usually can measure and estimate amount needed, being short a few stitches is easily remedied by knitting a couple on, 1st time...needed to knit on like 20...frog...2nd time...way too much tail left and I was afraid I would run out of yarn...frog...3rd time..a little too much left, but not so bad...so knit on...

Knitting: The beginning ribbing part went fine after 1 false start, completed 1" as pattern states..Then discover to my dismay...no #6 x 16" needle needed to start pattern..really thought I had one, so order one (a little yarn fell in cart too ;) as no one locally has the size. After a failed UPS delivery attempt (why...they were in my neighborhood...I saw the truck??), needle received. I attempted to use Denise set...yarn went wonderfully off the needles, but being 17" instead of 16", hard to move the stitches...let alone the bamboo needle I waited 1 extra day for...hmm don't like the join...had to keep stitches a little looser to get around.

Starting the pattern was fine, it truly is an easy pattern to follow, basically K's, SSK's, YO's etc. However I do not suggest trying to count, pay attention to a pattern while chatting with fellow Knitters at knit nite... :(! Frog 1...totally.
Attempt 2, knitting along, get past 2nd beaded row...pattern off..Frog 2.. a few rows, start again..Get past 2nd beaded row again pattern off by more stitches...tried to frog to ribbing only, no luck...frogged entire thing and...had to cast on again (4th time, yarn is getting a little tired of this) So knit on, small problem, only off by one stitch, SO THIS TIME I KNOW IT IS A YO...CAREFULLY remove 3 rows to fix...2hrs later... :) . Knitting right along, KNOT in my yarn...normally not a problem, but when you have X amount of beads still to use...Waaa! restring beads and knit on..Near the end of decrease round, join of needle...unable to get yarn across..the last set I have to do even! Said needle is on probation! ...So if you have made it this far reading...you deserve a prize...Late last nite, in barely enough time, finished work is below!

Pattern by Grumperina,
here Rowancashsoft in Sage- 1 skein, pearl colored beads

It truly is an easy pattern, but one must pay attention to detail, as the swirling effect is made by the specific YO's and SSK's...my poor needles wanted to purl so badly. I love it, and have another beaded skein waiting....however, a tiny bit short so DD is loving it, while I will make my next one with 2" of ribbing instead...oh yeah, and pay more attention to detail!!!! This was an exercise in patience to say the least...I could have stopped, but thought, if I stop now, an easy pattern, what am I going to do in the future....It tells me I need to pay attention more, stay focused on what I am doing, and not fall asleep while knitting ;)

Thanks for reading :)

Flash Your Stash 2006!

Flash Your Stash 2006!
Originally uploaded by zknitter.

Today! Hundreds of fellow knitters have decided to "FLASH THEIR STASHES" in an effort to make us aware of just how much yarn do we really have...Closets were cleaned, missing yarn found, weeding out of yarns...more like "why did I buy that???" As you can plainly see...15 photos and no I wasn't going to upload them...I would go crazy.

Enjoy the yarnography! Almost 90% of it is destined for a certain project...when said project will be done...only the shadow knows ;)

My Photostream with yarn identification here Page 1 If you are interested!
Page 2