And now for some Fun....

Fur that is! (yeah I know I now call it the devil, and really hate to knit with it except under certain circumstances)

While cleaning out the 2 rooms, I found my very first knitting project that started the ball rolling in 2005. I guess my son was holding it hostage or something! FF scarves were all the rage, or at least the beginning of the rage (not sure the rage has ended either) so I cast on 22 stitches (yeah, it is emblazoned in my mind LOL!)

See red, my favorite color!

So here I go, check out knitting help to refresh my memory and off I go!


Hmmm..so where did I go wrong? The left side has 22 stitches...the right..probably about 40 or more. It took a while to figure out what I was doing wrong. Someone finally helped me! See I learned to M1 all on my own, didn't even plan it!

I kept thinking I was dropping a stitch when in fact I was knitting a M1. Heh..see I had to get all advanced on myself! So I finished this anyways and even wore it! I folded it down and it worked. Although, it could work as a hat, a teddy, a tube top...the possibilities are endless.

Work on the room for my daughter is finished, for me, I had to get a new tv as the ancient one was just not going to work with the new digital stuff coming up and hey, I need one in there! As for my room..um..gonna take today and tomorrow to organize....whew! I may show you sneak pictures tomorrow, but I want to change the wolf theme in there, so that'll be a while.

Thank you all for your kind words on my last post. It really helped a lot. I know I'm not alone, but I guess at the time I posted, I just felt that way. So onward to funny and neat things and hey, show me your first knitted object if you still have it, or at least tell me about it.

Stay tuned tomorrow for my 2nd knitted project..after that..um..it's all a blur!

IF.....

You're looking for a YPF post, sorry, not here today or probably anytime soon again. I'm thinking maybe everyone's sick of it from me by now anyways and frankly...I'm just don't feel like it.

I think everything for me has come to a full boil/finally hit me....whatever right now. My head is all over the place!! I'm frustrated, scared, pissed off, jealous, and a bit happy and thankful right now.

Yes, thankful that my cancer isn't worse or life threatening like so many of my family and friends and their family are currently going through. My thoughts are with you all. I am a very lucky person in that aspect and if you know me at all by now, I do try to always look on the bright side of stuff.

Frustrated as I have no one really to talk to about my feelings. I don't want to burden my daughter, cripes, she's only 14, starting high school is enough on her plate and she misses her brother--but I doubt very highly she'd ever admit it. Hubby...well...he really tries, but it brings up his own cancer issues and with school (Master's degree) and that place of hell he works at, he's just fried. My inlaws..just not happening. I tend to keep things inside which probably isn't a good idea. I have a great knitting friend here locally too, but she needs a break sometimes.

So sorry friends, read on if you want, if not don't blame you.










Pissed off as I had to pre-pay for this surgery, haven't I paid them enough already! I only gave them 1/2 of what they wanted, (which they were fine with) they can get the rest from damn monthly payments. PO'd as this would have been done last month if that hadn't lost that damn blood vial. Also PO'd as this is considered elective, elective my ass! Like I want to play russian roulette with my life and not try to prevent it from recurring.

I have really good health insurance but you'd never know that right now. Plus more bills/tests to follow.

Jealous, yeah, I wish I was rich and could afford new ones and not worry about the cost of the surgery or leave from work. Then at least cancer wouldn't happen in that area again and I could get a tummy tuck at the same time! But then again, it may never come back either if they stay...hmmm

Scared, cause, well there is no guarantee the treatment I'm a great candidate for will even happen. After surgery next week, there is a special catheter in place that will deliver the radiation treatment. However, I have to have a CT scan to ensure its position is in the most correct spot. If not and it can't be readjusted..well then I'm looking at 6-8 weeks of more intensive treatment. I'm trying to be positive, I really am. I guess the closer to the DOS the more I worry. I may work in the medical field all around this stuff everyday, (which mostly is ok, but sometimes it's really hard) but I'm still a weeny too! I only have to be brave for my patients...when I'm the patient, I'm a very good patient, but still scared.

Happy, cause, well I won't be able to do much for the next week anyway, so I can knit and read =) Woot! Got some longsuffering WIP's that need my personal attention. Happy cause I'll be working on Zee room! What's Zee room...well Z's room to veg, knit, craft, sew, etc. I've given myself until the 2nd to have it finished. Boy, living here 18 yrs has given us a lot of crap to go through... Pics when I finish!

Well, if you read this far, thanks for that, this was very cathartic for me. My head hurts and I'm going to take a nap.

ETA: Whew, that nap helped a lot. Still a bit bleh, but I know better things are ahead! Thanks everyone for your caring and support. It is so just what I needed but was ....well...hated to ask for again.

Now there's 4 and no more....

For a few days anyways ;)

Another Cowl for you!

And a great use of sock/sportweight yarns too. (I know you'll all thank me for this...I mean think of the easy gift knitting ;) You know knitting from the stash and all that! But you could use worsted or even chunky! It's a pretty versitile pattern.


Gloria Cowl
STR Mediumweight Bella Coola Colorway from 2007 Rockin' Sock Club
US 8 circulars-Magic Looped
Mods-crab stitch on the bottom border to help prevent rolling. 7 rows of seed stitch on the top portion before final knit row and bind off. Oh and doubled the yarn again.
Measures 10" x 10"


Yikes...my eyes...almost covers them! Well you can see it's protecting my nose! Heh...shoulda had that the other nite huh ;)

This is my most favorite colorway in 2 years of the STR club. It could not become socks! I was also hoping to knit a beret out of the leftovers, but um..only a ball about the size of a quarter. (anyone wanna destash/trade one to me?)


Ahh...I really love it....

So that wraps up my Ravelympics! I knit 4 out of 8 I had queued up to do. I'm very happy with that. This kept my mind off other things and helped keep my sanity these last few weeks for that I'm happy.

FO threeeee

Hey, remember that commercial "How many licks til you get to the middle of a tootsie pop?" You know the owl that said one, two, threeee

Well, here it is. Number threeeee

Unoriginal Hat Part Deux - why Part Deux you ask...see below!
BMFA Leticia in the Lagoon Colorway (Yarn from my trip to Seattle last year)(from that store that organizes yarns by color not fiber...)
US 10.5 dpns...heh very bluey grey dpns right now!! Any cleaning hints??

It's a bit snug, but think a good baaath and it'll be poifect!


It's a bit of a thick/thin yarn, not like Manos or Magellenes, but pretty easy to knit with. Felt like I was knitting with pencil roving, although I have no idea what knitting with pencil roving is like it just looks like it...oh wait...I knit with Burly spun, do'uh it's thinner than that LOL.

Oh the Part Deux...well you guys know me, I hardly evah knit anything once!! Last year I knit this using US 11's and ran outta yarn. So I frogged it, I didn't know Burly spun then, coulda maybe used it to finish. So, I saw it sitting there in the stash and since I was going to be on Team Blue Moon, I figured what the hay, a quick project and use the stash... Besides, I really didn't want to just do a ribbed hat, this one was way more exciting...well to me ;)

The 10.5's were perfect, I even had a tiny ball leftover...so tell me friends...how the hell does .5 of a needle size make such a difference, inquiring, nosy (he gotta tell you a nose story...see below) mindless peeps wanna know!

Ok, so here we are last week, at a cook out and it's nice, cool, only light outside is the bonfire. Off I go to inside the house for a potty break. Boing, I can't walk in the door...I try again, and ouch!! Methinks I re-deviated my septum...gosh I'm a klutz! *note to self, you are not a ghost you cannot walk through a screen door!*

2nd Ravelympics FO

So here we go, the 2nd Ravelympics project completed!

Chickadee Cowl (see pattern pdf on her right sidebar) Ravelry link
STR Mediumweight in Watermelon Tourmaline (hey did you know the Tourmaline is Maine's State Mineral hehe..hey you could win a trivia game ya know!)
US 9 Circular-Magic Looped (heh..what else ;)
Started August 12-Finished August 20th while we were about to drop the college guy off that very morning. I was in a fit of nerves and didn't want to show him/them so I bound off this and started another project which you'll see another day.

Mods-Well since I didn't use chunky yarn, (doubled mediumweight STR, you could double sportweight if you wanted to also) I went down to a US 9 and thought I'd have to go to an 8, but nope, it looked fine. I also cast on 99 stitches as you need an odd number for the linen stitch pattern and I knew from seeing others I needed more stitches for the smaller yarn. After a few rows I tried it on and it was fine! I knit it to 6" as it was plenty for me, but you could knit more or less.


Hey..how did that yellowish color get there?? *snicker* I cannot escape it can I?

This really is a fast and mindless knit. I started it when I needed a break from the Koolhaas hat, probably a day or less for some ;)

Everyone should knit a cowl! It can hide a few things and is easier than a scarf.....however, ask me again in a few months!


Yarn courtesy again of my BMFA shopper !! I've loved this colorway for a long while, just never got it until now.

Remember I said you'd see Koolhaas again.....

It goes together.....well kinda! ;) (although my shirt matches my cowl pretty well!)

First Trip/Ravelympics FO

Let me tell you, it was a looong one too! Yeah, the pattern is easy and best to not use a cable needle, but to me it just took forever to knit it. Or maybe it was because I was otherwise occupied...hmmm...anyways!

Koolhaas Hat
STR Heavyweight Rare Gems Colorway which as I knit it, I am thinking it used to be Little Bunnyfoo foo (pink and brown) in it's former life. I used this doubled to acheive a worsted weight. Yarn courtesy of my BMFA shopper thank you!
US 5 & 7 Circular, Magic Looped- heh, tried this on a 16" and no way I could even knit anything other than rib with this short of a cord. So ML it was.
Cast on: August 8, frogged and re-cast on August 9
Finished: August 18

The first time I knit it using recommended US 6 then 8, was way too big. Swatch a hat, no way, it was easier to frog and start again!


Close up of the yarn. See the pinks and browns peeking out...love it!

Not too bad of a back headshot! Good thing DD showed up, um as I had already taken like 10 shots trying to achieve this!

It is a great pattern, I love the decreases too. It can get confusing on 2 rows of the repeats where you move the marker, but I read up on it before I started. Not sure if I'll ever knit another one anytime soon though. Each row seemed to go on and on...Oh and the yarn doubled, worked great, but this hat sure is heavy and I bet will be warm! You'll see it again soon ;)

Well...

I survived! I was brave and didn't shed a tear until after he walked away. His sister, however was a mess. I'm sure once I get home it'll be a different story. But, I'll be fine, like I've been reminded by my friends and daughter...think of the craft room.


By the Kennebec River a few days ago.


The ship he'll get to know quite well!

Deep in thought, about 1 hr before we were to leave and his new life to start. We had lunch with him after this picture then he was off to a physical fitness test and haircut, and his new life. I was up late the nite before, helping him get all the different things packed where they needed to go and another quick hand-sewing lesson. He was ready to go.

I have 2 FO's so far to show, hoping for a few more by the end of the trip. So glad I knit to help keep my mind busy!! Sorry no good light here right now, I tried. Later friends!

YPF-The Crushed Version

The name of this colorway definately expresses my mood this week! (you all are saying what's with her and the YPF moody versions by now huh????)


Crushed Velvet!!! Gorgeous greens, reds, pinks, blacks...



Crushed 'cause as as I enter the phase of one leaving the nest. You all are sick to death of hearing about it. So supportive, Thank you for that! :)

Velvet as in the song "Black Velvet and that little boy smile!" Which was his favorite song when he was a baby. He'd get fussy and I'd dance around holding him and sing with the radio to that song. He'd calm down and smile at me and all was well! It'll always be our little song.

Oh gosh, no wonder he never joined chorus after hearing me sing! Poor guy!

Yarn detail-
Sophie's Toes
100% superwash merino wool,
100 grams--350 yards,
fingering weight

yeah, it's Wednesday

for about 10 more minutes give or take ;)

Progress on the Chickadee Cowl..hey did you know the Chickadee is Maine's state bird? See read my blog, get a bit of trivia, who knows you could win a game/contest knowing that information huh!


I'm loving the Watermelon Tourmaline (mediumweight, doubled on size 9 circular).


You can see the striping, but not in a neat orderly way, kinda just flowing. Perfect for the car, quick, mindless knitting stuff! Not much hat progress as I was finishing a needlecase order and taking DS shopping...again ;)

On another note, I blogged about some cool knitting gadgets I received from Karastix a while back. Since then, some of my friends had one of these that she wasn't making at the time. So yeah, I got one!


This is so perfect for my little notions bag! After those peeps above posted theirs, she had a run on custom orders, but luckily all I wanted was socks on mine and this set was ready for purchase. I gave her the liberty of decorating the socks however she wanted..heh..has she been reading my blog? So glad it arrived before my trip. Gosh, the stuff she thinks of is awesome!

Hats for Alex another one! This time the Sunday Dulaan Cupcake Recipe

My mods were size 8 circular and Lorna's Laces Shepard worsted in Child's Play, single stranded. Too cute! I don't have leetle ones or dolls to pose on, so this cup will have to do. I have plenty of this yarn leftover for at least one more hat, in another pattern though.

A view from the top!


Well folks, not sure if I'll post again before Saturday. Much packing and last minute shopping to do! I'll be posting from the road, so bye until next time!

YO's...they try me sometimes....

Somedays they do try me! I mean they are easy to do, but if they aren't in the right order of the pattern..well you know..

This was my first attempt at a Barn Raising Quilt square. I was nearly done, then was off the stitch count and found the culprit...a messed up YO. If this didn't have to be square it would have been ok...but you know..after fixing the mistake, I found another one..on row 1.
So heh, it's being saved in case of emergency when I knit the leftovers into socks!


Here's the real deal! Apple Laine Apple Pie in the McIntosh Colorway (my favorite apple of all!) using US 2 dpns..yeah, easier for me on dpns.

This square will be sent to Stacey, who's Dad is undergoing prostate cancer treatment. I perservered on this square as I really wanted to donate to her quilt for her Dad. For lots of reasons which you all know ;) and I hate to quit knitting. But for me, would I ever knit this entire quilt?? Um..nope sewing is much faster.

So as you can see, my Ravelympics progress have been a bit lacking..

but hey, lots of winners come outta behind the pack! Event 1, Koolhaas hat, 2nd cast on and success...row 1 of pattern completed...darned f & b cabling..gah!! hehe..I do love cabling. Had to go to US 5's for the ribbing and now using 7's for the main part and going much better and it fits me so far!

Event 2 Chickadee Cowl
So, one always needs some mindless knitting right...


Here it is ....k1, slip 1...etc...ahhhhh loving how the Watermelon Tourmaline is looking.

More progress....stay tuned ;)

YPF-The Challenge

Ok, lots of you have heard by now about the Ravelympics. Some of you may be sick of hearing about it already, sorry, you're about to see 2 weeks worth of FO's. The idea is to try knitting something in 17 days that challenges you. Well most of you know all the stuff going on in my house, so hey, finishing anything lately can be a challenge in itself.

So with lots of car knitting coming up during the 2nd week, I figured some easy projects and some using of the *cough* sock yarn stash, doubled...yeah all the yarns will be doubled. Just finished a mess'o'knots from winding the yarn doubled too...

My goal is 4 hats and 4 cowls...we'll see how I do.

My first 2 projects are for the Cowl Jump and Hat Dash
Chickadee Cowl (on the right sidebar under free patterns) using

STR Watermelon Tourmaline, medium weight.

Koolhaas Hat using STR Heavyweight in the Rare Gems colorway.

Here it looks like Mochaberry, hmmm. Both courtesy of my personal BMFA shopper ;)


Um..could you tell what team I'm on?? Blue Moon! I think they both go together well. Although I see more browns on the bottom cake than I do IRL hmmmm...stay tuned!

This is perfect timing for me, really, gives me something else to concentrate on other than the fact in 8 days...yes, 8 days we leave to take my college man to Maine... **must concentrate on the lobster...yeah the lobster**

Wordless Wednesday!

Listening to your customers...

They have great ideas! Here are a few custom orders I've finished. I'm not doing any shop updates, just a few orders here and there before I have to take another break.

Circular

DPN (front) Interchangeable (back)

My customer wanted a plain outside with this for the inside of her dpn case. I've had a few other customer requests to do so.

Then she came up with a wonderful idea. She told me since my shop labels are printed on iron on fabric, couldn't I do that with needle sizes?? Duh..like why didn't I think of that before!!

So, here you see, most of the sizes I thought were useful printed on iron on fabric.



See, they work, (warning: when you cut them these are tiny, don't burn yerself ironing them on!)

**I'm offering a set of free numbers to all my previous customers that would like them. If you have more than one needlecase, yes, I'll include whatever extra numbers you need. If you only need certain numbers, that's ok too. Just drop me an email.


***Needlecase for sale*** SOLD**(if you'd like a custom order in this print, email me )
1 interchangeable needle case for $25 plus shipping (your choice priority or first class)

This case was returned to me, as I didn't have enough pockets on the inside for the customer. So I took the inside that didn't work for her and made this case. It was never used as she returned it to me right away. So my mistake can be yours at a discount. Sorry no inside pictures, (camera is charging) but you can check here if you need to see the examples of what the interchangeable case looks like. email me if you are interested.

Greeny Dwarfs!

Well I knew I wouldn't get my Pink Forwards done in time for my July socks for SAM6, and decided I also needed a fingering weight sock knitting break as well.

Presenting.... Greeny Dwarfs!

Red Dwarf Socks from Cristi or here
Wick Yarn in Avocado
US 4 circular, ML

My first pair were in a variegated yarn and just didn't do the pattern justice! I've been wanting to knit them again with a solid, and the timing was perfect. (hehe..um..well had the yarn since the first pair were done)

Please ignore my pasty white legs...not much sun for me lately! But hey...you're supposed to be looking at the finely detailed Fish tail lace pattern here!!

Greeny is attracted to the plants...see, still alive and thriving. You should see the buds on this plant (more on that tomorrow!)

See, Greeny just loves hanging with Pinky!

This time I used a regular short row heel, picking up the wraps on the knit (public) side for all rows. Soooo much easier than a YO srh!

This is the only evening picture left, I kinda liked. The day I went to photo shoot these, there was a thunderstorm going on while it was light and my indoor shoot..well, told you that already!

It's a great pattern, which should tell you since I knit it more than once! Also much quicker this time round too!
Aside from about a yard that didn't make it into the picture, this is all that is left. Just enough for repairs.