Batty for Yarn

The boys are getting better

2008-07-24T15:57:00.002-04:00

My husband is back on his feet and ready to roller blade and bicycle. Our big boy, Bailey we are keeping under ~~lock and key~~ tight surveillance for a while longer. We had to take him back to the vets last Thursday for a night at the vet's . He ended up spending the night and getting stronger meds. He has another week to be lo-key before his stitches come out. I think Bailey is ready to roll (in his head anyway!)

I have been knitting and sitting in wait. Several baby sweaters for donation later this summer.

Little Lamb in blue.

Pink Precious sweater. I have 7 sweaters in a bag ready to donate. I will see how many more I can work up before the end of summer. I figured the place would really appreciate them toward the fall.

I have also gotten one sweater done for Christmas.

It is from Yarn Girls Guide. It is the "like riding a bike" sweater. I just need to find large button to go on.

I also pulled out a project I was asked to help finish. Will post about that next time. It is huge!

Just got back from the Farmer's Market where we picked up some blueberries, corn and a tomato. I have lots of things growing well at home, but I am always ready to see what other people have growing. The coolest thing was these purple beans today! Only, when they are cooked, they turn a bright shade of green! Funny! I wonder if they are lightly steamed and then shocked in cool water if they would retain the purple. They would be fun in a cold salad! hmmm.

New stuff

2008-07-17T19:14:00.002-04:00

As you know I have a lovely garden that I work in quite regularly during the summer. One of my goals this year was to try to save more than just tomatoes and tomatillos if I could. I have been making jam from the berries, dill pickles to enjoy now, freezing some squash. I am constantly looking for new ways to store up for the winter months when I can't garden.

Yesterday I tried some Microwave Bread and butter pickles...
They turned out so well! I grabbed the recipe from AllRecipes.com so if you like bread and butter pickles, these take 8 minutes in the microwave. The recipe called for a cup of sugar, but I only added a 1/2 cup. I think they are perfect! We have been having them straight from the jar as well as on every sandwich and veggie burger over the last several meals!

Next up, was cilantro pesto. I made it with walnuts and it is now in the freezer.

I have been knitting away to stock pile a few things just like my canning effort...

A cute little wrist yarn ball holder. Made with stash sports weight. Pattern worked up easy and fast. I attached the handles to the ribbing, but the pattern showed cute d-rings. I didn't want to run out to finish the project, so I just attached as is... Darn cute too! I might have to make one of these for me too!

Also finished up a baby sweater..

This is the Dapper Pattern. I have always loved this sweater on the front cover, but never had the courage to knit it, so I figured why not! I was really easy with a slip stitch pattern to help make the texture. I have one more sweater done in this bright pink, but I still need to sew on the buttons.

On the heath front... husband went to the chiropractor today (finally!) I guess he didn't believe me that he would feel better after he went. A little tightness prevails, but better than no movement at all. As for our dog, Bailey was having some troubles, so we called the vet and took him in thinking he had just ripped a few stitches. The vet said the would was infected and wanted to replace the stitches. So our big, little guy is staying overnight at the vet's tonight. They said he can come home tomorrow morning with an E-collar. Keep your best thoughts on a speedy recovery for our big guy.

Going in spurts

2008-07-15T13:06:00.002-04:00

Summer has things goings in different spurts. Some days I would rather read by myself sitting in front of the fan... other days I want to watch movie after movie while working on a project or two... then there are days when I just think about the garden and what I am going to do with the produce that is growing. This summer has been good to me so far. We have black raspberry jam jarred, pickles that are curing in the frig, more cukes that are going to become bread and butter pickles later today. Squashes that will be frozen and other that will become ratatouille.

I don't know what I waited so long for... I had the book "The other Boleyn Girl" by Philippa Gregory on my stairs waiting for me to pick it up. I have read others by her and I guess I was holding out since I didn't want to be disappointed. I started yesterday and am about 200 pages in... why did I wait so long. Like her others, this is a great book. I can't wait to get further into the story and enjoy every minute of it!

Yes, I have been completing projects too.... I made some crocheted flowers from leftover sari silk for the black bag I had knit a while back. Thought it would spice up the bag quite nicely.

Plus I finished my MIL's birthday present which is in October.

Not sure I will use recycled sari silk again, but the colors are pretty. I realise that I should have used a different pattern to really show off the yarn, but this one is done and I know she will love it and wear it.

I should get going on another pair or two of socks, or presents for my nieces, but alas I have been knitting baby sweaters for charity. I have a bag ready to donate with four sweaters in it, so I thought I could work up a few more before I drop them off. I finished one and am half way through another. They just work up so fast, who wouldn't want to knit one?!?!

Lastly, I have been home caring for two ailing boys. My husband threw out his back Sat night. So he is in some pain and moving very slowing. He left the house today which is good for both of us since there really isn't anything I can do to help him feel better. Then on Friday our dog, Bailey had to go in for surgery. We found a lump when he was at the vet for a check up earlier last week and the vet thought it might be cancerous. So Friday he went in to have it removed. Poor guy had what I would describe as diaper rash and for a dog that isn't easy. I have never heard him whimper and whine and it was breaking my heart. He just isn't comfortable even though we are trying everything to help him. Today seems a bit better and hopefully the hair will grow back so he won't feel so disturbed.

So that's been my last few days. A bit of crazy which keeps us on our toes. Here's to a quieter week!

Why don't I make the bed?

2008-07-11T08:19:00.002-04:00

First off it is vacation... but that isn't the whole reason. I have trouble going back to made the bed once my husband is awake and downstairs... namely Chuck. He is the problem:

Chuck isn't a morning cat, or an evening cat. Actually he pretty much sleeps all day and mostly through the night. He has a 3:30 am feeding time, which he gets me up for most nights... but Chuck is a lay-about kind of cat. Notice the second grey lump in the picture too. Ella has taken to joining him on the bed. As much as I try and scoot them off, they make it back on before I can straighten up! It is summer after all!

I have been working on a number of small projects while on vacation. Small and quick seem to hold my attention better lately. Here is swiffer cotton pad:

Works pretty well too. My floor get so dirty with a big dog who rolls in the dirt!

Plus I finished my chevron lace socks too:

They came out great! I loved the quick working pattern with just a touch carried down the foot, not the whole lace pattern. The yarn is to die for! It is Fleece Artist but I am not sure of the colorway since it doesn't say on the label. I have yet to find it on the Internet, so I will keep looking. It is black with a blue, cranberry and green. Funny that even though this is from one skein, the beginning of the skein worked up completely different than the middle to end. That's how it works right?

I have a few other things I have been working on, just too lazy to take the pictures. I have been out in the garden tending my veggies. Lots of green tomatoes, small peppers too. I grilled a green and a yellow squash last night, plus made several jars of black raspberry jam and one jar of dill pickles. I have to harvest about a half down more cukes this morning and get those on some jars. I love to have my own harvest and eat on it all fall and into the winter. We talked about expanding the garden to twice its size for next year. We might need a bigger freezer!

Trying for days!

2008-07-07T15:39:00.003-04:00

Yes, I have been trying to get on the computer and blog for days now! No real excuse accept, well, we have been watching the Tour de France and that's all that really seems to take place once the race starts in July. I will try to be better about it! In fact I took pictures the other day and never got around to loading them into the account! Yikes! Plus Husband came home from up north and well, I never get done what i want to while he is in the house, so today he is off doing some errands and making contacts to work this week and next. I home he has a plan for the rest of the summer, we can't have that much together time without going crazy. Well I can't. I love summer and one of the reasons is because I get some alone time! Don't you love your alone time?

I have been working on this recycled sari yarn shawl for my MIL

Her birthday is in October and I felt the need to make something for her. I had a different pattern picked out, but I really wanted to use this colorful silk sari yarn for her project. SO far so good. It is a real simple thing. I put it aside to work on socks, but I will get back to it shortly.

Socks are moving right along. This was yesterday, so I am down past the gusset now. Hopefully I can finish these up in the next day or so. I should go pop in a movie and knit. When I need time off from knitting I have been working on my crazy recorder case project. My plan was to crochet 2 a day for the kids at school. I don't know if I have done that the last few days, but right now my total is 5 for June and 11 for July. We'll see what really gets done this summer.

When I don't want to craft, then I read or garden. Yesterday was a lot cooler, so I gardened and weeded the veggies. I still have peas and asparagus coming up with the beginnings of tomatoes, peppers and squashes. Haven't really read another too exciting. Bookclub was last Thursday. We read "Food of Love" by Anthony Capella. Read this one if you love authentic Italian food. Last night I flew through "Zen and the art of knitting" by Bernadette Murphy. Interesting and fast read. Things to think about as you read this one.

Back in town

2008-07-02T07:59:00.002-04:00

Had a lovely few days away up near Indian Lake. I was going to try to post right before i left, but as many of you know, time gets away from you. We forgot to pack several items which wasn't a big deal except upon coming home! I forgot my pillow and toothbrush! Yikes! Two very important things if you ask me! Didn't realize until the late afternoon that I had forgotten to grab them. More concerned about the crazy down pouring of rain on the highway that I couldn't exactly see clearly through as I drove. Just a bit nerve wracking! Husband is still up north finishing another day of his working vacation so he will bring home my things, but I broke in a new pillow and toothbrush last night!

Before we left I was able to get my retro socks finished...

They came out very nice! I really like the way they fit. Could have a few less stitches to make the pattern really stand out, but they are done now!

I also crocheted a little bag.

I wanted to make something for the grocery store for apples, oranges, etc. I only buy a couple at a time, so hopefully this will help in the plastic dependency.

Now onto vacation... We stayed at our aunt and uncle's cabin on Lake Snow:

It is very peaceful. We were up there last July while husband was working on this cabin for his aunt and uncle. Our dog loves being up there. He isn't a city dog, he loves nature trails much more than pavement.

Got to work on one pair of socks...

Yes they are there in the picture on the table. It is the Chevron Lace pattern from Ann Budd's sock book.

Lovely pattern to memorize and work on. I pulled out some Fleece Artist yarn I purchased in VT before the Naked Sheep store closed its doors. I just loved this colorway! While knitting I brought a long a book on cd to listen to since there is basically NPR or the ipod (which I love both), but really wanted to lose myself in a good story. Man was it a great story. I listened to Miss Spitfire. The story of Annie Sullivan right before and the early months of working with Helen Keller. It is written as a Young Adult fiction book, but it is basically her biography with lots of links and bibliographies listed. SO good!

Well I am off to do a little cleaning and laundry while I have the house to myself. Post more progress soon.

Heading out of tedious toward completion

2008-06-26T15:35:00.002-04:00

Yes, it is true. I was able to complete the first socks and seem to be flying right along on the second. The pattern sequence is now memorized and I just have to keep track of the rows and not what the stitch pattern is...

I love the color of this yarn and the pattern is now just ok. I really loved the look in the book, but in person maybe for my foot and leg there is too much sock and not enough stretch. If I had used a sz 1 dpn it might look more like the book picture. Oh well. I am heading toward ~~home~~ the toe and well on my way to completion!

I took these socks to Knit Night last night. It may be the last for a while. Our host is heading off to Ireland for a year. I know! Who wouldn't be jealous of that!?! She is off to study music in Dublin. And most likely find some wonderful yarns! I may have to ask her to send care packages to us instead of the other way around! So as usual I didn't get much knit, just the heel flap... we eat dinner first and get distracted by babies and other projects, and I never get done as much as I thought that I would or should. I always come home and knit a little more before bed and fill in the hubby on the latest from the ladies.

Well yesterday was the children's last day of school and I had meetings and clean up today, but now I am home and it is official! I am on SuMmEr VaCaTiOn!! Wahoo! Of course after last night, two people were working on Christmas gifts! Yikes! And I was puttering right along on socks for myself! Then I thought that maybe I should be casting on for my September & October birthdays... One niece will be four YO and my MIL is in Oct... I don't know what to make for Gracie (I was thinking a sweater for preschool) and I want to make clapotis for my MIL out of recycled sari silk... We are heading out for a few days up north starting Sunday, so I should decide what I am going to be working on over the next day or so! Otherwise it will be socks! But there's nothing wrong with that!

Tedious

2008-06-21T15:51:00.002-04:00

I started the Retro Rib sock, what seems like weeks ago (it might have been last week) and I haven't gotten very far at all! The rib going down the leg was soooo tedious! I love the look of the pattern, but I will not make these again! I don't know if I will make it through the second sock!

I chose Patons Kroy in Hickory since I had some in the stash and they used the same color for one other the socks in the pictures. I have made it to the end of the gusset, and luckily the pattern stitches are only on 2 out of 4 needles. I seriously contemplated not putting the pattern down the foot because it was slow going, but I thought it would look better if I did... so there we go.

When I need a break from the socks, which seems often, I work on preemie hats.

And I was finally able to finish up the black tote I had started. Over all I think it came out pretty neat!

School is almost out for the year. The kids have three more days and I have another half day on top of that. SO overall not too bad. I plan to do a lot and get a lot of things done this summer. We are also going to try to head back up north to stay at the cabin we were in up near Indian Lake, NY. Maybe for the second week in July. I should be able to get a book or two read, plus maybe a pair of socks or two that week. Right now I am a little behind at work getting my last minute things done: inventory of the books, orders ready for the summer, cleaning up the space report cards, etc... with only 3 and a half days left I hope I can manage most of it!

The past few months I have only gotten to post on the blog once a week, I would love to do more over the summer while I have some free time. Not sure what the plans is, but I do love getting here and posting, not to mention reading what everyone else is doing and making out there.

Weekend comith

2008-06-13T17:51:00.002-04:00

Thankfully the weekend is here. Fridays never looked so good. All my afternoon classes had substitutes so when they arrived at the library door, they were CRAZY! I know they are excite, so am I for that matter, but they were bouncing literally through the library! So I am happy to see Friday. Hubby is away in Boston this weekend. Just called from "Great woods" which I think is now the Tweeter Center? His b-day present from a college roommate to see REM and Modest Mouse. He was really looking forward to it. The trip out route 2 only took 4 hours. Yikes! Hope he has fun.

I have lots of pictures today. I finished my Thuja Socks from Knitty...

Koigu is beautiful yarn. This is the first tie I used it. I should have done toe up socks so that I could use up every bit of this goodness, but I did pretty well with the planning and only have a little bit left from each skein. Don't you just love the colors?

I have been fascinated with market bags lately and will probably try out 20 patterns over the summer, but I crochet a very quick one the other day..

I used up some blue and cream cotton and the bag is pretty sturdy. Used it at the farmer's market on Thursday.

During the month of May I participated in a Market bag swap over on Ravelry. I rec'd this fun package from the great state of Vermont!

Lovely patterns and yarns were including along with a fun other goodies: candle, bee balm and soap! Thanks!

Now you know I have been trying to use up the stash I have in the house. I wanted to work it all down to a manageable room/closet and not more than that. Well, I just got back from a friends house, her mom past away about 9 months ago and this is garage sale weekend here in town. She asked me to stop over and see what I wanted of her mom's craft stash.

Crazy isn't it! And I left stuff there! I have restocked my yarn for blankets and odd projects, but look at it all. There are three bins of acrylic, novelty, cotton, thread, sock yarn and more! It is crazy! I even got some needles and small crochet hooks, plus a few quilt supplies! I really haven't even looked through it all I am only telling you what is on top that I can see! They also asked if I could finish one of the projects her mom started for her sister to keep. So that is the crochet quilt afghan in the corner. All the yarn is there, so I will take it out and put the pieces together for the family. It was fun to go through the stuff after the crazy day! It feels like Christmas with all these goodies!! Can you imagine what I left there!! She loved to shop and make things for everyone! I didn't take any of the cross stitch or needlepoint projects half of which weren't even opened! Latch hook, bedspread projects and more! I think I will go open the crates and see what surprises are in there for me to enjoy!

meme via karen

2008-06-09T17:01:00.008-04:00

Saw Karen do this and thought it was so beautiful!

1. Maureen Lines, 2. Chinese Food Box, 3. Saratoga Springs State Park, 4. Zen like a rolling stone, 5. But their beauty and their style Went kind of smooth after a while, 6. make lemonade.., 7. McNaughts Comet Eyre Peninsula South Australia, 8. choco-vanilla swirl, 9. ms. independent, 10. in the forest, ^o^ looking for Treebeard...♫ sacred monkey forest sanctuary in ubud ♫, 11. Homebodies' Yaupon, 12. Azalea Malabrigo Blue Jeans Lace Leaf Shawl - Tip Detail

a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
b. Using only the first page, pick an image.
c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd’s mosaic maker.

The Questions:

1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you go to?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One word to describe you.
12. Your flickr name.

Have you seen this?!?!?

2008-06-07T12:25:00.002-04:00

That is so cool! A very interesting way to make it easier for people like me! I may have to try it. We'll see what summer looks like later on for time. A really great idea though!

Weekend is here again. We are going through a heatwave starting today and into next week. I got some garden done earlier and the laundry is out on the line, now I am in the cooler than outside house and may have to stay here for a few days! I get heat headaches if I go from one extreme to the other... not sure I am going to fair at school on Monday. It will be miserable in the building! Yikes!

Wish I have a few pictures to show you, but I am being lazy and there wasn't much knitting done this past week. I really had to push myself to finish the bookclub book (The summer I dared by Barbara Delinsky). Overall not terrible, fluffy and predictable, not quite a book that really has a descussion for the group. Happily I finished it and so did everyone else! Of course it sparked a lot of family discussions instead of book related topics!

I think I outdid myself last week with the blankets and hats, that must be why I wasn't productive at all this week! I just finished one thuja sock this morning! They are worked on size 5 needles so they should have gone much faster than my regular socks! Hopefully second sock goes faster than the first. I am using Koigu (kersti merino crepe - K801) from my stash gifted from a secreat pal several rounds ago. I guess I was really ready to use it now! So lovely this yarn. I have never used it before.

Wacky weekend!

2008-06-01T17:30:00.002-04:00

I still have one more dinner to do before the craziness is over. Hubby needs to decide whether he wants take out or me to cook. Funny that he has no cravings n his birthday! I already know what I want for mine! :)

With all the birthday celebrations starting on Friday with pizza with his family, then my sister on Sat, and then I forgot it was my college reunion weekend! 15 years! I never go, but got a surprise phone calls from friends who decided to pop into town at the last minute! We decided to meet from breakfast this morning. It was so much fun to see them. I haven't seen them in person since their wedding 10 years ago! Hubby was fine with breakfast out for his b-day even if he had never meet my old college friends before! After breakfast he and I took the dog for a long hike. We ended up seeing at least a dozen pink lady slipper orchids. It is amazing those things can pop up in the middle of the forest!

Now it is almost dinner time, so I thought I would post a few pictures of my finished stashbusting projects!

I cast on for the Lindsey tote. Ran out of black, so I will have to come up with something to finish this one. So far I really like it!

Last of the homespun Lionbrand yarn. Made one last granny square afghan to donate. I actually really like the colors together.

There was a ton of thin baby yarn just sitting here, so I doubled it (one strand white) and crocheted a shell stitch blanket to donate. This s one of my favorite blanket patterns. It is an oldie from the Jamie label. It turns out pretty no matter what the yarn!

And lastly, with some odds and ends made 10 preemie hats from a friend to bring to work at the NICU. Hopefully I'll see her Thursday. Maybe I can get a couple more in the bag to her.

That's a lot I think to be finished with in the last week or so. I am so happy to do some stashbusting and using more of what is in the house. More on the way but first a stop in socks. I cast on for Thuja from Knitty... of course I always want to say Thula.. not sure why. I only have a row or two done since I started these this morning. Hubby is working away this week, so I will have lots of alone time for knitting and reading!

Busy weekend ahead

2008-05-30T16:53:00.002-04:00

Isn't summer supposed to slow things down? Not really I guess. Tonight we are going out for my husband's birthday with his mother and stepfather. Not sure what we'll be eating, I hope someone picks a good restaurant! Tomorrow is my sister's birthday, so her husband is hosting a light grill affair! My husband's actual birthday is Sunday... so we'll do something. He is turning the big 4-0. Of course he feels and acts like 28! So it isn't a big deal in his head. He doesn't want to do anything special. We'll probably get food (last year he wanted to order pizza) and relax I guess. It'll be busy that's for sure!

I have been busy working on projects (and not taking pictures!). I got another homespun leftovers blanket done in a large granny square. And I just finished this morning a crocheted shell stitch blanket made with leftover baby yarns (I doubled it to make it go faster and use more yarn!) I want to start another tote, several pairs of socks, and who knows what else before the weeknd is over. I probably will change my mind over and over again!

Several people commented on the fact that I rarely mention the books that I read. So when I do mention my reading I will try to remember to write the title. That last book finished was "T is for Trespass" by Sue Grafton. A friend lent me the book several months ago and I know I will see her next week, so I wanted to get it back to her. If you like the Grafton ABC novels, or if you started them and got frustrated by them (I know I have)... you should read this one. It is one of her better atempts! Bookclub is on Thursday coming up so I will be reading over the weekend between all the food! I am not really happen about the choice, but it will be a fast read... It is "The Summer I dared" by Barbara Delinsky. Not exciting in my eyes, but my bookclub chose it.

Will put out some pictures next time I post.

Stay-cation

2008-05-26T14:20:00.002-04:00

I had a little mini vacation away from work for 4 days. Many people go out of town for the long holiday weekend, but not me. I love a good stay-cation! I got a lot done around the house.

My vegetable garden is planted with tomatoes, squashes, cucumbers, peppers, lettuce and peas. There may be more we'll have to wait and see. Since gas here is over $4.00 a gallon, a stay-cation sounded great to me! I got errands done Friday and Sunday, but otherwise I was here at the house. Three books got finished a long with a pair of socks...

These lovely are Tidal Wave. I love, love love the pattern. The repeat was easy to pick up and even memorize! They were fast too! The colors in the photos don't seem quite right though... They are more of a burgundy and dark fuchsia colorway. I love the fit and the subtle striping of this yarn! It is Socka by Stahl sche Wolle #9127. I have a grey version of the same yarn and I loved that too! I will have to continue to look for this yarn! I do love the surprise colors!

I was able to take to dog for a little hike around the nearby park. I love going there. It is usually quite with little foot travel and lots of flora and fauna! I was finally able to find a pink lady slipper. They are hard to find in the woods, but I finally caught one in bloom.

I was also able to find some wild lupine and other small wildflowers. Plus a beaver, woodpecker and many songbirds were heard too!

Tomorrow I head back to work. A short week ad that will lead us to June. So it looks like about 4 weeks until summer vacation. Today is in the 80's so I hope it cools down a bit. School is not a fun place with high temps. Especially with a month to go. Hope everyone had a lovely Memorial Day Weekend! I trust you are all out next to the barb-b-cue... I will be shortly!

Almost a long weekend

2008-05-20T17:00:00.003-04:00

This is a tough week at school. The weather is cooler, but the kids and many adults seem to be on summer break mentally already. We still have several weeks, but not much seems to get done. I am being pulled in many different directions, so I am really looking forward to having Friday and Monday off this weekend! I plan to get my plants for the garden and get those in. I have been enjoying asparagus over the past two weeks or so. They like the colloer weather, so I shhould be harvesting for another little bit or so. My husband doesn't like it, so it is all for me! Last weeknd I got in the dahlias and some herbs, so I am in a good place in the garden.

Lucky me. My lovely husband came home last week with a new camera for me! It isn't my birthday -- Yet! I figured he'd get one then, but he just showed up with a cute one! So I have been taking pictures, but haven't had a minute to hook the camera up to the computer to get them off...

Our lilacs are lovely this year, better than they have been in a few years, so I have several pictures with them. The whole backyard smells lovely!

I quickly pulled out all of my lionbrand homespun yarn and made two blankets to take with me to a blanket meeting on SUnday..

I still have enough skeins to make one more blanket. The picture doesn't do them justice but I was in a hurry to pack them.

You'll be so proud of me. I ripped out a project! The big basin socks were frogged! I really liked the yarn and the pattern was nice, but I couldn't follow it very well, so I pulled it all out and cast on for the Tidalwave socks from tofutsie. It is a lovely pattern! I am almost done with one cuff/leg. Much faster than the BB toe up sock. Will post pics soon. Now that I have a new easy camea I am golden!

My sweater still sits...

2008-05-13T17:48:00.002-04:00

I am still undecided what to do. And lazy too I guess. I want to remember to bring it up stairs and measure it again a sewater I like and see how much bigger it is and that will be the deciding factor. In the mean time I have made another pairs of socks

I doubled up the last of the terrible trekking and whipped up these tiny socks to go to cic. I also finished up my airy fairy doll which I have now decided to mail away as well.

It came out really cute with the tulle skirt.... It will make some little girl very happy.

Then my clerk came in with all of her plastic bags! Not sure what to do I started cutting them up the make plarn and decided on this pattern.

I ended up making two of them. The first one is a nice size, then I made a slighter smaller version. I like the pattern and colors better on the second one. There are still a ton of bags left, but I don't want to work on them now. It is noisey! Maybe this summer I'll try another one for me.... You do use up a great deal of bags though...

Not much else happening this past week. We went to watch the State FInal in Crew Racing which was held near our house. OUr oldest niece who is a senior in HS was rowing so we went to support her and her team. They came in second, but they get a slot at Nationals. Good luck to Fairport! She is off to college in the fall and ready to row for them!

Say my mom ever so breifly on Mother's Day. Just tosay hello and hand out a present. Normally we have brunch or somethin but this year everyone was all over the place.

Stay tuned... I realized that I have four projects that I don't know what to do with...
* Big basin socks in yarn that I love, but I don't feel like finishing,
* Cardigan sweate that was way too big to start with,
* Secret of the stole ii... got sidetracked on the pattern and don't feel like finishing,
* Blue cotton short sleeve t-shirt sweater that is on its way to being too long.

Some I think I have decided what to do with these, others I am being to lazy to do what should be done with them and one I would really like to finish!

Distraught!

2008-05-05T17:40:00.002-04:00

I can't really believe I did it again. I made this tshirt sweater TOO BIG! Again!

Right now it is almost 17 inches long and I am just starting the increases for the chest... there are many more rows before I make the shoulders. ARG! This is why I don't make sweaters for myself. Now I am wondering do I rip out (again!) and leave off 10-12 of the 24 st st rows before increasing? Or do I completely rip out the whole thing and go down a size or even a needle size? Again I state: This is why I do not make myself sweaters. I have socks down, but bigger things frustrate me! The pattern seems easy enough and I love the color, but I had to set this project down for the weekend to make a few decisions.

In the mean time I made two small pairs of socks to put in my cic box. II figured making a little something for someone else might clear my head and an epiphany might happen. Ya think?

Where does the time go?

2008-05-02T17:22:00.002-04:00

Getting through this week at school went very slow, but on the computer and blogland, I lost track of time! Again!

We have nothing on tap for this weekend. I want to do laundry and try out my new clothesline... exciting huh? I also need to finish my current book and read my book for bookclub this Thursday. So knitting might be slower than usual over the next few days.

I did finish the crazy socks I had casted on..

IThey came out ok in the end, but there is a lot of pink and baby blue in these. I will put these in the pile for CIC. I have a box going with a few other pairs too. I would like to cast on for some smaller socks to go in the box too.

I did however go out and purchase some cotton yarn to make myself a sweater. I don't like to make bigger things, but this is short sleeve and size 8 needles so I thought I would give it a whirl.

It is a little more violet in person, but not much. I am making the "nothing but a t shirt" from magknits which I had to dig for the pattern since the site is gone forever. I was working happily away and last night I realized I skipped a step which was to work straight for 24 rows!~ Arg! I ripped out and now am working steady once again. Maybe I'll get the back done this weeknd. Keep your fingers crossed for me that I can fit it all in!

Celebration!

2008-04-25T18:21:00.002-04:00

Thankfully we finished housesitting as of this morning! Yeah! Very exciting that we can sleep in our own bed tonight and for the next few months! Another cause for celebration is that it is Friday, I made it through the week back at school after vacation! Very excited to be in my own house read and stay in my pjs for a while!

I did get a few little things done while going back and forth and back to work too!

A cute little crocheted market bag. The pattern is an old one from a binder of patterns. I did it in smaller yarn than called for since I am trying to make some fruit and veggie bags that I can take to the market instead of using the plastic ones on the roll. This is a start. I have a few other patterns I am going to try out. This one might be good for apples or taking with me to the farmers market when it opens. I do like the drawstring! Brilliant!

Notice too that there are 2 new skiens of cotton yarn in bag. I bought some to make a cotton t-shirt/sweater for myself. I wanted to do the magknits t-shirt pattern , but the site is GONE! Luckily I could find the pattern in the "wayback machine" and was able to print it off. So I do want to start that this weekend too!

I also finished one of these trekking socks and cast on for the second. If we take a drive this weekend I will bring it and work on it. Wish I had a meeting or two to attend so I could do some mindless knitting on these to get them done.

Well that's all from my crazy week here and there... I will be getting to blog reading tomorrow and for tonight the pizza is almost here and I am ready to curl up on the couch and knit! Have a good one!

Back to Work Monday

2008-04-21T17:21:00.002-04:00

What a lovelt weather week to have a vacation and stay home! It feels like it should be summer vacation instead of just spring! We are having a little heat wave this week too. This is not my favorite time to be at school, mostly because I don't know what to wear. That sounds really bad, but it can be hot and cold within minutes it seems. Do I wear short sleeves and bring a sweater... or wear a sweater and hope for the best. It drives me crazy because whatever I choose I always make the wrong choice... I will be too cold or too hot. Oh well. It means summer can't be too far away now. Someone mentioned 9 weeks. It doesn't seem like much, but I know it is sometime away still.

Vacation was nice. I spent a lot of time reading in our new cabana we bought for the deck. It zippers so it keeps the bugs out and the breeze can still find you. It was very nice! I got out into the gardens too. Raked and tended. I even put in some peas and lettece. I have sprouts so far... I should go water tonight!

Yes I did some knitting too. I finished sewing together the airy fairy, but I haven't found toule yet for the skirt. I think my mom might have a bit to give me... so pictures there soon. I cast on for a socks:

You can't tell from the picture but there is a huge amount of pink and baby blue in this yarn. I am not a fan. I didn't really see it on the skein, but as soon as you start knitting the pink is right in your face. I will finish these socks, but I will put them away for CIC I think. Of course I was hoing they might be for my husabnd, but the pink! Then I am not really a fan of red or pink, so I will donate them and someone will love them!

We are also house sitting for my FIL and the 2 dogs. So I wanted something easy and mindless to travel with me for a few days. I cast on and completed the "My so called Scarf". It is a lovely stitch pattern. I had some Manos de U. left over from another project so I thought I might as well use it and it is lovely yarn and works well for this pattern!

I will work on the socks, but I also started a crocheted market bag. I am doing it smaller than recommended, but I want it for fruits and veggies at the market without using the plastic bags. We shall see if it works well and turns out well.

I never remember to say this.. but I truly enjoy all the comments people leave on my blog. I love getting them and thinking about what people leave... whether it is pattern suggestions or books suggestions or just a nice little "what a lovely job" or "beuatiful project". A huge thanks to all who stop in to read whether you leave a comment or not. Know that it is appreciated! Hope you all have a wonderful week!

Yesterday was for me!

2008-04-16T14:50:00.002-04:00

I had a truly lovely day yesterday! It was all aout me! I ran into Saratoga Springs for a hair cut! Love it BTW- it was getting heavy since I hadn't even had a trim in five months! I walked all over downtown Saratoga..

We have a cute little downtown with lots of stores and restaurants. Ater my haircut I went to the LYS on broadway and picked up just a few odds and ends...

Each of these single skeins was 50 percent off. They are each only 50 grams, but I can mix and match or work into a pattern or something good.. These were less than $21!! Not bad really.

After the yarn stoe I walked to the public library where I browsed through the "Book Bag" shop which is all used books. I came away with a couple of coxy mysteries. I could have bought so much more! I sat down to read for a bit and then motored to Border's to meet a friend for lunch. I found a CD that my husband wanted so I bought it for his upcoming birthday. From there we walked to Brugger's Bagels and had a sandwich. We visited several other stores mostly window shopping until around 3pm. By then I was exhausted! My day started when I left the house around 9:30 am. Walking around the city drained me, but boy was it fun!

Today I hung mostly at home and did lots of yard work, put in some new strawberry plants, and cleanaed very little inside the house! So much for my room a day theory I was hoping to test out this week! I have been working on Airy Fairy from the Zoe Mueller book Knitted Toys. I used waht is in my stash for my niece. Not sure when it wil be for, but I wanted to try the pattern.

So far pretty cute and very easy! I want to try a few more stuffed animal projects and see what I can do. I am not really a small piece, sew together kind of crafter, but these may change my mind if they come out well.

PS. Thanks for the comment Nancy on my last post. Oh yes, I have read Maggie Sefton's books. I read just about any cozy mystery and especially ones with a little knitting or crafting thrown in for good measure!

Lovely!

2008-04-14T15:08:00.002-04:00

Thanks for all the wonderful wishes for a truly happy anniversary! We did have a very nice day! He worked for a few hours in the morning and I as you know cleaned a few parts or really corners of the house (randomly of course)! We got Indian take out for a wonderful dinner and got to hike with the dog for a bit too in the afternoon... Nothing really exciting, but we don't mind! A very lovely day!

Ok... here they are pictures:

It is from the lionbrand site. It is the super easy hooded cardigan sweater. I didn't have enough yarn to make a hood, so I picked up stitches and made a small collar to brng the whole thing together.

Here it is flat. You make the back, two fronts, sew the shoulder and pick up sleeves. It was super easy and pretty fast. I might consider making it again for a few charities. It comes in different sizes so I could make it in wool for CIC. The yarn was from the local dollar store. I picked up random colors and grabbed a few others today to make a "somewhat" matching blanket. These two pieces along with three other sweaters and four blankets will be dropped off this week at a clinic for new mothers in our town.

Just finished the second Mary Kruger book - she writes knitting mysteries. I liked the first (Died in the Wool) better than this one (Knit One Die Fast). She hinted at more coming out, so we'll see. SInce I am on vacation this week, I do plan to get a lot done. I wanted to pick a room and cleaned or reorganize, but I seem to pick a corner at a time. Things still are getting done though! I also want to get outside and clean the flower beds and rake the front yard. Not to mention the pile of books I would love to read and knitting projects to get to... plus we are house-sitting for the FIL and his wife for the new two weeks, so I will be back and forth. Works well with my knitting and reading plans!

Happy Us Day!

2008-04-12T17:24:00.002-04:00

That's what my husband said to me this morning and I thought it was so cute! We eloped 6 years ago today! Still happy as clams!

I know I promised pictures, but I just haven't gotten to it yet today! I was actually cleaning! I know! What has gotten into me!

Taking a break

2008-04-10T17:05:00.002-04:00

no not from blogging... just my big basin socks. I am a little frustrated with them and need to set them down for a bit. I have no idea if I am doing the right thing or not. I have the designer willing to help, so I am going to sit down over the weeknd and do some measurements so she can help me out. I love the yarn and the design, but maybe the actually pattern or sock construction isn't my thing. Actually I haven't really liked the patterns that have been out for the kal. The latest is another toe up and well... I am not a huge fan. The butterfly pattern is ok, but I don't see myself in the cuff that is written for the sock. I really should just pulled out some yarn and cast on for one that I really want to make for myself!

I pulled out some chunky yarn from the stash and cst on for a small child's hooded cardigan from the lionbrand site. It is cute and I had yarn to use. The back is done and I cast on for the two front pieces this morning. Should be a quick one in chunky yarn.

Thanks for the wonderful and ever so kind comments on my newly finished crocheted rose afghan. It is a work of art or at least from its picture it looks that way.

Tonight I am off to bookclub and will post again soon when I take a picture of my kid cardigan.

A beautiful day

2008-04-06T15:53:00.002-04:00

The sun has been shining for two days and almost all the snow is off the lawn... except for the corners and the shadows. I mailed off the taxes and have gotten a lot done around the house. Some cooking including making some ice cream!! Yum! I finished my bokclub book early this time which is great! We read "Shoot the Moon" by Billie Letts (you might have read "Where the Heart Is"). If you like Jodie Picoult, then you will like this book too.

I even got out to take some pictures of my finished afghan while the sun is out.

It is so large! It would definatey cover a queen size bed. It is heavy too if the whole this is in your lap too! I am glad it is done though. I think my crochet craving is over for a bit though. This was a big project to get in.

I volunteered to work on a shawl for a retiring co-worker. I wanted to get my half done so I can hand it off on Wed at our meeting afterschool...

It may not look like much as this ball of knitwear, but it is coming along nicely. I had some homespun in the stash and with size 13 needles, this project has been moving right along especially in all knit stitches.

My socks have kind of been on hold for a while..

but as you can see thy have gotten a little longer. I have done one set of increases. I should pick them up again now that the shawl and afghan are FOs.