Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Wrap finished

I finished my Estonian Garden Wrap.  It's blocked and I love it.

I can see myself doing lace projects again.  I don't know what is next on the burner.  I'm playing with a pair of socks, mostly because my hands needed something to do.  If it's not the knitting, it might well be moving chocolate from table to my mouth so knitting it is.

Apart from my knitting and getting ready for Christmas I am looking forward to the new year and trying to lose about 20 to 25 pounds.  I have no illusions that it will be easy.  I have to get some more exercise and cut back on how much I eat.  Big surprise right?  We'll see how it goes.  I will try to update regularly.


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Monday, November 12, 2007

I got Pictures

This one is oldest granddaughter's. I did pockets and ties on hood.

This is baby's. No pockets and no ties for hood.

This is the two together.  I got a picture of them wearing them (sort of) but decided since baby was wearing a diaper and half wearing sweater that I'd leave that one off.

Sunday, November 11, 2007

Oops, I did it again

Well, the subject line says it all.  I gave my littlest granddaughter her new sweater without getting a picture.  Imagine that, me forgetting to get a picture.  How did that happen?  Oh well, maybe tonight since I get the pleasure of watching the two girls while Mom and Dad are at a concert.

On a positive note, I got my invite to Ravelry.  I'm Momof4 if anyone's looking for me.  I couldn't think of a better handle to go by than that one.  Guess I could have been Elmer's Lady, but hey, who said I'm a lady.  LOL  Woman yes, lady.... jury's out on that one.

I will try to get the picture.  More later.


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Sunday, November 4, 2007

Project complete

Ahhh, how long has it been since I wrote on the blog?  Too long I think.  I'm so jealous.  So many people going to Rhinebeck and other festivals and here there is nothing of the sort that I can find.  The joys of living in the southern US.  I suppose the good news is that I'm not freezing.

I finished another project recently.  A zipped hoodie for one of my granddaughters.  I've started on one for her little sister. I forgot to take the picture of the one for the oldest child, but hopefully I can get them both together when finished and get a picture of the two together.

I'm still working on the Estonian Garden Wrap.  I think it will be done for Christmas, but I'm not going to hold my breath.  I'd probably be done except for the fact that I had to rip back on at least four different occasions.  This is really my first "lace" project and so there has been a learning curve to getting it right and I don't know how to make the repairs if I mess it up so that explains the ripping.  I finally learned to put a "lifeline" in so that I wouldn't have to start over completely.

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Puddle Jumper Sweater complete

Yea me, I finally finished dgd's sweater and found buttons for it and now she has it.  The buttons aren't exactly what I was looking for but they work.  There just wasn't a good selection near me.  I guess that's what I get for having something specific other than color in mind when I went looking for buttons.  I still need to do the socks to match the hat and sweater, but I'll get to them.

I've been working on my Estonian Wrap and it's coming right along.  I have about a half dozen projects in my head and need to get them on needles or on the machines soon.

The weather is beautiful here. We're watching the system in the Gulf to see if it will affect us, but mostly we're enjoying the beautiful mornings.  The air hasn't been coming on until the mid afternoon and that's a good thing.  The power bill was high enough last month to make me wince.

I plan to start a sideways sweater for my oldest granddaughter today on my LK150.  I hope she likes it when it's done.  Off to the machine now.  More later.

Thursday, August 30, 2007

Ramble, progress on sweater

Wow, time flies.  I should be doing about a dozen things right now other than updating the blog.  I'm almost finished painting the trim in the spare room. I might actually finish today.  Wouldn't that be nice. 

I have to finish sewing granddaughter's puddle jumpers sweater and find the perfect buttons to go on the front of it.  Picture soon I hope.  I'll be doing some visiting this weekend so I probably won't get too much done on it except in truck while DH is driving.  And even then I might opt for starting on the shawl that's patiently waiting for me to begin.

I still need to rework my craft room so that I have everything in a spot where I can find it easily and actually get to it when I know where it is.

Maybe it's time to give up the beading.  I suppose I'm my own worst critic and as much as I'd like to do it I just don't seem to have the ambition to sit and work at it.  Not like I'll sit with my knitting or work on the scrapbooking.  So maybe that's not the hobby for me.  It would free up a little room, but not much.  I didn't collect much stuff for it.

Of course, if I knit up enough charity hats I will clear out some room too.  There is an abundance of yarn in the craft room that is in colors that I'm not that fond of. (It was given to me and I'm not complaining)  I did sixty hats last year and hope to do more this year.  As soon as I finish the redecorating of the guest room I will make time to work on those and maybe some mittens to take to granddaughter's school for the kids in need there.  Hard to think of mittens when it's so hot here now, but I know that the time will come and how fast can I work them up really.

Off to work on painting.  Maybe I'll do before and after shots when I finish the room.

Saturday, August 25, 2007

Picture finally

Ok, I got the card out and here's the picture of the Grandma and Me socks made with Sassy Stripes by Cascade.  Now to get to work on other stuff and remember to take pictures.  That's the hard part for me.

Projects in progress, etc.

I have, in the last 10 days, gotten about 2/3 of the way through the puddle jumpers sweater that I'm working on for my youngest granddaughter.  I also got pictures of the socks that I made for the other granddaughter and I which I will post over the next few days.

I'm ready to start the shawl that I bought yarn for back in June at the IWannaKnit Retreat.  I just need to wind my Fino into a ball so it doesn't get tangled in the bag. I have to graft my sideways socks, but other than that they are complete.  I know, I know, you can't wear them until they are grafted so they aren't really complete.  Hey, the knitting is done.

I heard recently that one of my favorite haunts in the city of Mobile is closing.  The Yarnhaus is shutting down next month.  My darling DH said first thing that we need to head over there.  I don't have room to store any more supplies so that's out of the question.  Rats.

I'm still working on the room that my youngest daughter vacated.  I have the walls painted and most of the carpet has been pulled up.  I still have to paint the doors and the trim and then get the flooring in and put baseboards in.  Then it's on to window treatments and bedding for the bed in the room.  And a toy box for the grandbabies toys.  There is a huge difference already though.  No more Winnie the Pooh (what daughter themed the room when pregnant) and a much more gender and age neutral palette.

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Completed projects


Well, I am so bad about remembering to post or even to take pictures of my finished projects.  I have recently finished a pair of socks for myself with matching ones for my granddaughter and forgot to get a picture before I gave her her pair.  I have also finished a shopping bag that I had been working on off and on ( mostly off) for six months and a baby gift set for my daughter's sister in law.  I forgot to take a picture of that too.  oops.  I'm working on another shopping bag right now and also the sideways socks on my LK150 for the knitalong at the Knitting Today forums.  I have a Puddle Jumpers sweater sitting in a bag waiting for me to begin and also a shawl patiently waiting for me to start on it too.  Can I get some more hands here? Please.  Between the knitting and scrapbooking and the fact that I'm also redecorating a bedroom (paint, floors, roman shades etc) I could use some more.  Maybe a clone???  Only if she could take over the actual housekeeping chores and free up my time for the fun stuff.  Hopefully, I can get a pic of the Grandma and Me socks tomorrow when I see my grandbaby. 

Friday, June 29, 2007

Well, my projects are rolling along.  I restarted Lauren's socks and the baby blanket for my daughter's sil is coming right along.  I have not had to rip that back. I have a couple of hats ready for seaming already and I'm working on a couple more.  I really need more hands or I need to be able to prioritize my list of things to do.  I still haven't finished my Aran Square Afghan that I started about three years ago.  I need to take time to work on that.  maybe after my darling daughter and grandson move into their own place so that I can count and follow the charts in peace.  I won't say it's more fun, but it's a "not going to last very long" kind of fun to sit and play blocks or read to him. He'll be a big boy soon and I won't be at the top of his list so sometimes the knitting just needs to wait. 

 I had the fun time of running into a rattlesnake in my backyard the other day.  Luckily I was on the stairs and he was on the ground and I startled him enough that he rattled and well... I ran back up the stairs.  Flip flops, shorts and snakes are just not a good combination.  My dear son in law came and shot the snake for me and got rid of it. 

I'll post pics of my socks and Lauren's just as soon as I finish hers.

Sunday, June 24, 2007

projects galore - where's the time

I've been home from Retreat for a little over a week now and I have several projects lined up.  I'm working on socks by hand for my granddaughter, a blanket, booties, sweater, and hat for my daughter's sil who is expecting a new baby girl in a few months; also by hand.  I'm going to do three sideways Hoodies for my three grandchildren from a Mary-Anne Oger pattern ( a class I took at retreat) and a blues scrap afghan for Project Linus. I also have a lace stole in waiting and yarn for a couple more sweaters for the grandbabies.  I'm also planning to start early on hats for Caps for Kids which will be turned in (in person I hope) at the next Iwannaknit Retreat next June.  I had 60 this year and I plan to have more for next year.  At least twice as many I think.  Now where to find the time for all this knitting when I also have to keep up the house and the yard and I have other commitments as well.  Oh and my scrapbooking that I need to get a handle on.

It's cloudy out today so maybe we will get some more rain.  We need it.  It's hot and humid here and will be until at least October.  At least the garden is producing. Time to go out and pick some fresh veggies.

Sunday, June 17, 2007

home from retreat

Well, I've been home from Retreat and vacation long enough to get laundry done and start contemplating my next knitting project.  I also have some roman shades on tap for my bedroom and painting and flooring to do in my daughter's room when she moves.  Looks to be a busy summer.  I also want to change my tables in my knitting room.  I'd like to have room to have all my machines set up or at least have room to set up my sewing machine in the quiet room.

Retreat was everything I expected it to be.  There was knitting by hand and machine (of course), good food, shopping, and lots of laughter and hugs going around.  Two of my daughters called me during Retreat and both would have sworn I wasn't at a knitting retreat.  I just laughed and told them that knitters get rowdy when together.  It's especially true when we don't see each other on a regular basis.  I'm so far away from everyone else that it's the only time I get to see them.  I'm going to try to add pictures of some of us at retreat.  I couldn't get them to go through to the forum so I'll post them here instead and just link.  I had so much fun.  The only down side was when the truck broke down, but it's in the shop and being fixed so life goes on.

Monday, May 14, 2007

Life and knitting

It's quiet here today, so far at least.  It's my anniversary and I will spend it alone since DH has to work and is working out of town.  We're counting down the days til vacation though.  Two weeks together with no kids and hopefully no worries.  Of course since we live in hurricane alley as we affectionately call it, we will be watching the weather.  Kids (who aren't really kids anymore) will be watching over the house and the plants.

I have completed almost 60 hats for my Caps for Kids project.  I'm working on socks by hand and they are coming right along.  I have several dishcloths complete and I'm thinking about what to do with the Eros Extreme that I bought because I was seduced.  It's a wide ribbon yarn that will make a gorgeous scarf or maybe a lacy vest to wear over something.  We'll see what finally comes of it.

Mostly right now I'm thinking about what I'm going to do with my redecorating/remodeling project.  I have to replace my carpet and I'm leaning toward laminate flooring because I like the look.  Youngest daughter is looking for a place so I may start in that room and see how it goes.  New paint throughout and maybe new cabinets and appliances  in the kitchen.  We'll see how that goes.


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Monday, May 7, 2007

hat pattern

I got permission from Susan to post the pattern that she designed that I use for making hats for Caps for Kids. So here it is.  Thanks Susan.  Please everyone note that the copyright is Susans.  Please do not post etc. without permission.

This is the hat pattern that was developed several years ago and posted to the Bond List several years ago by Susan Sarwinski.  She said that she made hundreds of hats for charity with it and used it to teach a lot of beginners as a first project.

Susan’s Hat

This hat will fit a child to an adult.  I added 4 more stitches when making a hat for my husband because he has a slightly larger hat size.

This is also a good pattern for charity as there are four layers of knit over the ears.

ISM/USM knitting machine

Keyplate 3

~4ozs. Worsted weight yarn (MC)

Optional: several ounces of one or more contrast colors (CC) of worsted weight yarn

Gauge 4 sts/inch

With waste yarn open cast on 80 stitches and knit 6 rows.

Row 1 – 60 Knit with main color (MC) yarn.

Make the hats hem by bringing the open cast row up and placing these stitches on the needles so there are now 2 stitches on each needle.

Knit this row carefully (Row 61)

Rows 62 – 98 Knit.

Move every other stitch to the stitch next to it so you have 2 stitches on each needle with an empty needle between each working needle. Move the empty needles to NWP.

Row 99 – 100 Knit.

Leaving a long yarn tail, cut the yarn. Thread a yarn needle and run this through the open stitches.  Remove from the knitting machine and tightly gather the top of the hat.  Use the rest of the yarn tail to sew the side seam.

You can add stripes, cables, intarsia and fairisle to your hat.

My favorite variation is:

MC=main color

<PCLASS=MSONORMAL style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt">CC= contrast color

Row 16 MC

        17 MC

Row 18 CC

        19 CC

         20 CC

         21 CC

Row 22 MC

         23 MC

Row 24 CC

         25 CC

         26 CC

         27 CC

Row 28 MC

        29 MC

I also like to add stripes to rows 70 through 85. Have fun with this.

 

Sunday, May 6, 2007

current project

Wow, didn't realize how long it had been since I posted.  I'm still working on my caps for kids project.  I think I'm at about 50.  Other than that I have started a pair of socks on one circular using the Magic Loop method.  Not really far enough along for pictures.  

I'm getting ready for my classes at the Iwannaknit Retreat. I'm really looking forward to it.  I wasn't able to go last year because I had a new grand baby due at the same time. Some things are more important.

Our local yarn store will re-open this next week.  They have been down since Katrina.  They did re-open in a temporary place with the needlework supplies, but now they will be back with the knitting and crochet supplies too.  I've missed them being open.  I'd just found them not long before the storm hit.

I bought some Eros Extreme to make a top from.  Now, will I actually be able to wear said top.... who knows.  It may end up being an expensive swimsuit cover-up.  We'll see.


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Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Caps for kids update

I was asked if there was a pattern online for the hats I've been making and I just don't know anymore.  It's a pattern that one of the ladies on the Bond list shared several years ago and I don't know if it's online any more or not since the list has gone through several incarnations since then.  I will ask her if i can share when I talk to her.  I need to check in with her soon anyway.

I'm up to 39 complete hats now and I'm going to work on some more.  I work them up on the machine and then do the seaming when I'm sitting watching my favorite shows two or three nights a week.  I can seam two or three even if I get caught up in what's on the screen

Monday, April 16, 2007

Caps for Kids, stash storage

Ahhh, Caps continued.  I did rip out the spiral one to the beginning of the decreases and go on from there.  It's finished.  Yeah. I have 19 completed, 7 ready for seaming and one on the Bond machine right now.  I'm getting ready for pics of the hats and of my yarn stash.  If I could get my table cleaned up it would help a lot.  I did rearrange some of my storage and I think it makes the room look better.  Someone else will have to be the judge of that though.  It's still a work in progress.

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Saturday, April 14, 2007

Caps for Kids

I'm currently working on a project for my upcoming knitting retreat. Each year that we head for retreat we make caps for kids and carry them with us.  I'm way behind this year.  I shouldn't be. I left my job at the end of the year so you'd think I'd be ahead of the game.  Not so.  I've spent time cleaning the house and purging stuff that I have no use for.  I've played with the grandbabies and made a sweater.  I've worked in my garden and sat on my back porch swing and listened to the birds sing and the squirrels chatter.  I do have 11 hats complete, 5 or 6 ready for seaming and 1 on the machine right now. Oh, and a variegated one on a circular needle to be worked on while waiting in line at places. That one was making a really interesting spiral pattern until I started decreasing.  I think I'm going to rip back and keep it the same size around until an inch or so before ending so I can keep the pattern.  I've never had a yarn do this before.  I know it's a matter of length of repeat on the colors and the number of stitches I'm using, but still it's a first for me.  Pictures later. (If I can remember to take them before turning them in at retreat)


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Friday, April 13, 2007

Sweater finished

I finally finished the Bardot sweater.  I love this sweater.  It's cotton, three quarter sleeves, and has a bit of shaping at the waist.  That baffled me at first.  Not that it had shaping , but that shaping actually made me look a little smaller than the straight down look.  Wow.  A friend told me I looked like I lost weight.  Not a pound (darn it), but glad to look like I did.

I'm considering the South Beach diet.  I just don't know if I have what it takes to go there.  When I say I'm carb friendly I mean that I'm friendly with them as regularly as I can be.  Actually, it sounds doable if I can make it past the first two weeks.


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Wednesday, April 4, 2007

Sweater almost done

Well, I'm down to binding off the collar of the sweater and then it's time to sew the rest of the seams and see how it looks all together.  I should finish off the binding off process today. i have to spend some time sitting in the doctors office waiting for my stepsister.  Then seaming tonight during Lost if I don't get to it today.

I heard today that Dr Grey has made his predictions for the upcoming hurricane season.  17 storms, 9 hurricanes and 5 major storms.  Yeah, like we need that here on the Gulf Coast.  Where I am we're still trying to recover from Katrina; western LA is trying to recover from Rita and Florida is still getting over Ivan.

More later

Monday, April 2, 2007

My first entry

Well, this is my first entry on my first blog ever so forgive me if I'm not very good at it.  I have several projects on knitting needles right now.  I'm reworking my Debbie Bliss "Bardot Sweater". I have a shopping bag on needles and on another set I'm working on dish or wash cloths.  They go quickly and don't require a lot of serious contemplation.  No pictures yet, but we'll see when they're done.  I don't have anything on my knitting machines right now.  I have too many thoughts and no one has jumped out and said "Me, now!" yet.

I'm getting ready for a trip to Indiana for the Iwannaknit Retreat. I can't wait.  I love to go and see all the other knitters.  I'm taking a class on Orenburg Lace this year.  It should be fun and educational.  I'm also taking a class from Mary Anne Oger.  This may be my only chance to take a class from her.