Knitting, Dogs and More

Saturday Sky

2008-03-08T20:53:00.000-08:00

Beautiful Day today! We've had such nice weather! Look at all the trees in bloom! Makes for a beautiful site but also a lot of sneezing ;-).
Seems a good year for Crows too.

Face mask and tamiflu required to read this entry!

2008-02-25T17:11:00.000-08:00

When you can't visit Brisbane. Do all you can to not have this "Brisbane" visit you....that advice would probably include avoiding our household for the next few days while we disinfect. Anyway, I spent part of Friday, all Saturday and part of Sunday in bed with a high fever. Unavoidable for a number of reasons. I volunteer at school and have a 5 year old so I have constantly been coughed and sneezed on for the past 2-3 weeks. UGH. Plus this year the flu vaccine may not have made much of a difference, so the fact that I've gotten pretty darn sick from those in the past doesn't matter.

Unfortunately that means not much knitting was done in the recent past and since my major project is still the push to finish the afghan, progress isn't always that noticeable in pictures. I hope to be back at it soon though and do have a project I'll share when I'm feeling better. Take care all!

Saturday Sky

2008-02-17T00:40:00.001-08:00

Yes We Can!

2008-02-14T08:55:00.000-08:00

I'm not going to say what my choice is but I will say, It really seems we have much better choices in leaders than we've had in a long time. Maybe it's just my weariness of things that makes me want to believe this, but I'm hoping our country and world has a brighter future to look forward too. We have many challenges to face and need great leaders.

In a bit I'm off to Michaels to replace circular needles I think fell out of the car on a recent trip :-(. I want them TODAY to finish a project so have few choices where to get them. I'm REALLY hoping Michaels has them in stock!

Saturday Sky (I wish!)

2008-02-02T18:56:00.000-08:00

This is actually from last night. Much nicer than today as it has been pretty windy and raining for most of the day. I also have the flu so didn't really feel like venturing or even looking out at the dark sky for a picture. Take care all!

Keep on knitting, knitting, knitting....

2008-01-31T13:47:00.000-08:00

In Finding Nemo, Dori sings "Keep on swimming, swimming, swimming" Anyway, I'm a little over half way through the afghan now. You can see the color differences I talked about. At first I thought it was my mistake but it's not. I'm hoping it will even out when I wash it and it isn't this noticeable in person. I may add some Rit color remover a second wash if it ends up worse.

It is raining here in California and I have the flu bug that is going around our community. Because of that and the fact that the LOST premiere is on tonight I started a Tomten jacket for Esther (Garter stitch) from the leftover wool used for various fuzzy feet and hats. That way if it's to hard to pay attention to the plot and remember what happened last season (ages ago) I'll have something simple to work on.

Saturday Sky....posted a bit late

2008-01-28T11:13:00.000-08:00

The weather was cloudy but much better than predicted this weekend (we thought there would be a lot of rain). I am at the 1/2 way point on the afghan I'm knitting. I'm still irked by the color difference but hopeful it will go away with a soak and washing when I'm done. I'll post pictures soon, maybe with Esther in it too, so you can see how big it is so far.

Do You remember this?

2008-01-21T11:32:00.000-08:00

Guansey Sweater I was knitting for my husband. I tried it on him yesterday by putting it on two really long circular needles. I had thought it wasn't going to fit so had stopped working on it because I was discouraged. It fits great so far! It's a little further along than this photo but I just need about 2-3" more of this pattern before starting on the arm and yoke shaping. It's been so long I don't even remember what that's all about! When I'm done with the afghan I'll have to jump on that. Ugh, I'm trying to finish the projects I've already started and use yarn I already have.

About Yarn I already have.....I've learned a couple of lessons. I thought I had mixed up some dye lots with the afghan I'm working on. I haven't. The yarn is not consistant in color from skein to skein. This is Brunswick Germantown that I purchased off of EBay. I bought it because I had heard so many great things about Germantown and I love it too (except for the color thing). I don't know if it's the yarn or how it was stored before I purchased it. The color difference can only be seen in certain light so I decided to finish it, try soaking it when I wash before blocking. I MAY try to add some peroxide to the soak then a vinegar rinse. Anyway, it may not end up at the fair but at least it will be done.

The lessons I've learned?
1. Not buying yarn off of EBay anymore.
2. If the project allows (this would be hard to do) I'll alternate rows of old and new yarn at skein changes to avoid any unwanted lines in the finished garment.

Take care all!

Saturday Sky

2008-01-19T11:06:00.001-08:00

It's a beautiful day!

More Distractions

2008-01-18T10:28:00.000-08:00

I have the book "Patterns for Guernseys, Jerseys and Arans" by Gladys Thompson. I've admired the pattern "Seahouse Patter I Mrs. Laidlaw's Pattern" which is on page 68 and 69 of the book. This would be a bear to try and follow knitting wise so I charted it using AranPaint Plus:

AranPaint Plus is pretty cool, I've had it for a few years now and it's great because you see this on the screen, and it will print out charts and written directions. This was helpful so I could check with the written instructions in the book. Also figured out right away that the pattern in the book is written for working in the round. I'm SO glad I did this because it doesn't seem her written directions end up at a repeat. It's almost as if "You get the idea" was left out at the end of her written instructions/notes. Anyway, it's a large pattern, 49 stitches wide and the rows of written instructions were 49. It's also slightly different than the picture in the book so I may have made a mistake or its actually for one of the variations on the following pages? Fun to experiment with and hope to knit this up in a sweater one day.

If anyone has used this pattern, let me know, I'd love to hear how it turned out. Well, I'm off to visit play, rest with Esther. She's had a nasty virus this week. She seemed on the mend Tuesday and Wednesday and got a fever again yesterday afternoon. Take care all! Tori

Small Changes, Cleaning....

2008-01-16T10:50:00.000-08:00

I tidied up the top part of the left sidebar a bit. It more realisitically shows what I'm actually working on but still has a list of things that are wonderful distractions. I'm also playing with colors and toying with the idea of changing the look of the blog.

I'd show you progress of the Aran Afghan but I actually took a few steps back. I started this a few years ago, my tension is a little different. I also made a mistake and started using yarn that is the same brand but a slightly different color. So slight that I didn't notice until the sun came out a few days ago, ARGH. I thought the yarn might be dirty so I tried rinsing it. Then I remembered the other yarn and after drying I realized the gauge grew. So, I took the opportunity to restart and make sure I had the correct yarn all in one spot! I also made the sides a little narrower and switched the rope directions. The original pattern has them all turning to the right. I decided to make them turn so they kind of match the middle pattern. I'm already pretty far on it, so it was a good restart, even if I never really like to do that!

Anyway, Hope everyone is having a Happy New Year! Glad to be back in the swing of things and I plan to post atleast twice a week!

Happy New Year!

2008-01-08T12:46:00.000-08:00

One of my resolutions is to blog more! :-). I realized many of the things I knitted as gifts for Christmas got out the door without a picture for documentation. Anyway, many were fuzzy feet (a standby gift for me) a few toasty toppers (also from knitty) and various other assorted crafts.

I LOVE felting (or fulling which I think is the more correct term) These mittens are nice and toasty for Esther. I enjoyed them before they hit the wash!

They sure are a lot of fun!

Another New Years Resolution is to enter something in the local fair. I've decided it should be this:

I've had this pattern for quite awhile. I had started it in an acrylic yarn and hated it. The pattern is from an old Bernat yarn label. I seem to like the vintage and hard to find patterns!

Anyway, It's good to be back. I'm looking forward to this New Year and want to do a lot to improve my health and life. I'll bore you with the gory details as time goes on..... ;-)

Finished!

2007-10-16T17:54:00.001-07:00

I finished this sweater for Esther, we picked out buttons today and I will put them on tonight. Its done just in time for the cooler weather. I like the lacey pattern and it blocked well with the moss stitch (or is it seed stitch....) Anyway, I had stopped working on it during the summer but finished it up recently. I'm now working on a coat with some yarn I got free from Red Heart after a no dyelot but not matching yarn incident. I had returned the yarn and wrote to them, they were very nice and sent 6 skeins even though I had already taken the yarn back for a refund. See This entry 2 plus years ago for the story. Well, I'm hoping to get back into blogging, we shall see! Take care all!

Paul sings Nessun Dorma high quality video/sound

2007-06-29T23:52:00.001-07:00

A friend sent this to me. It's a wonderful story!

Favorite Princess

2007-05-14T00:01:00.000-07:00

Esther's favorite princess is Belle. This happened after we saw Belle at Disneyland last Fall at a little bookstore where she told her story with the help of Brandon a woodsman. It was SO cute and Belle was so sweet to Esther and all the children there! I imagine she became the favorite of most of the people there that day.

I've been working on projects and play clothes for Esther's preschool and I think she felt a little neglected so I made this for her last weekend. Fortunately I got a hoop skirt at Walmart on clearance after Halloween for 50 cents which really makes the skirt stand out. Sure beats trying to make one for that amount of money let alone time.

I've been hanging in there as my thyroid medicine had to be increased but then seemed to high. From tired to wired and now hopefully a happy medium! Take care all!

2007-03-28T22:21:00.000-07:00

The question today (sorry no contest unless you want a random pile of papers on my desk :-). How Many Yahoo Groups do you belong too? Yahoo groups is having problems with duplication of messages. I belong to about 30. The ones that I do receive direct mail from are set up with filters to go to specific folders in my mailbox. Glad I did this as today would have been insane!

The latest group I joined is for Denim Quilts (jeans-qulits). I posted pictures of a quilt I'm working on to get advice from the group but I haven't posted the question yet. I'll wait 'til Yahoo Groups settle down so they don't think I'm a really pest new person asking the same question 10 times! I'll post the pics here too so you can see what I'm up to. The sample block is out of all denim but I'm thinking of making one side flannel. It's a rag quilt so the edges show. The pieces are triangles so the edges are turned to different sides. One side will look like blocks and the other diamonds.

Take care all!

Finally! Pictures of Knitting

2007-03-25T16:32:00.000-07:00

What seems like decades ago I promised pictures of Esther's sweater I'm working on. The Body is done and now I'm working on the sleeves. I'm knitting both sleeves at the same time. This is so they will be exactly the same since my increasing doesn't always follow the pattern and I don't expect to remember what I did on the previous sleeve unless it is simple. I'm using Plymouth Encore and a free pattern from Berroco called Bethany

So some lovely Spring knitting and Spring cleaning. Hope this is a good season for all!

Update

2007-03-11T16:09:00.000-07:00

AND THE WINNER IS....

Michele at Knitting and Losing gets the 365 stitches a year book! Fortunately for Michele this is a perpetual calendar as the rate I'm going, you never know when I'll mail it out.

Sew, What's up with the Sewing Machines?

Why, Thank you for asking! The Kennie shown in the entry below is gone through freecycle. The Singer at the bottom is going to a friend in Texas who can do better by it than I've done. I'm working on the little Singer in the middle now. I also have another Kenmore I may keep as a backup machine or give back through Freecycle.

Little Esther was very sick this past week. She had the stomach flu and basicly didn't eat from Sunday night through most of Tuesday. She's still recovering and getting her strength back. Seems so hard on a little body!

I subscribed to You Tube because I wanted to share a commercial I think is so funny. Unfortunately when I post the video to my blog it covers all three columns so I'll just provide you with the link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9XKoapOH5Y

I'm going to try and post again today to show you pictures of our flowering plums and the promised pics of Esther's sweater in progress.

There's a Group for That.....

2007-02-16T00:08:00.000-08:00

A Yahoo Group That is!
After this post it will be apparent that I need a self help group!
It all started out so innocently. I wanted an older sewing machine that I could fix up, keep maintained that would be reliable. My newer machine had problems and most I've been able to fix but meanwhile.....You Remember Farrah Marigold?

Well, I hate to tell you this but she's gone, sniff! A nice young man from Berkeley came and got her so he and his girlfriend can use her. He makes wall hangings and she designs clothes. I found a Kenmore late 70's era in wonderful condition with 32 different ways to make buttonholes a bunch of cams.....That is going to be a machine I keep. Notice I said...Machine. Well... in the meantime I had placed ads on Freecycle for a sewing machine from the 70s or older. Yahoo was having trouble delivering messages in the groups so I got offers After my problems had been solved. But could I say No? I did say No probably 3 times but Here are examples of when I said Yes.

Here we have Kennie (Knemore) 148.1240 from the mid 70s. He's almost ready to go. I had to fix the handwheel as it wasn't together right and the bobbin winding wasn't working. I also had to tighten the Tension assembly and adjust the tension. He's almost ready to go! (I'm going to sell one to recoup costs of supplies and the rest I'll offer back on Freecycle) This is not the one I'm keeping, I didn't take a pic of that one yet.

Here's a fun Singer (237) So far it looks like I'll just need to clean her up and she's good to go, haven't done much to her yet.

Now, the last one which is (I think) the best looking. My parents had a '56 Desoto when we were growing up and this reminds me of it for some reason. She is the most challenging. It's not completely running yet and I've cleaned it with all kinds of scary things including kerosene. Now it's getting oil treatments every morning afternoon and night. It still is stiff to crank as the take up lever reaches the top of the rotation but it's getting better. How did I learn to do all this? Know what to do? Or even get the courage to do it? Why, a Yahoo Group Full of nice helpful people of course! (Wefixit). This project has not been without frustration. Between my husband and I we: 1. stripped a screwhole in a gear. Steven got the screw back in by putting it inside and screwing it out, Smart and hard to do. 2. chipped a part, still operational, but still, YIKES! 3. A Part fell off while I was able to figure out the part number from a list and diagram, I have no idea where it goes! Hee Hee.

CONTEST TIME! Tell me the most interesting Yahoo or email group you've belonged too! Leave your answers here in the comments and I'll draw a lucky winner who will receive "365 Stitches a Year Perpetual Calendar" (this is gently used, I've had it on my desk for 1.5 years and am finding I'm not looking at it anymore) End Date: Tuesday 2/20, right before Ash Wednesday!

Note: Kristen and Cindy, It took me awhile (sorry) but I mailed your stitch markers yesterday.

Promise: Knitting photos soon of a cardigan I'm making for Esther.

And The Winners and Prizes!

2007-02-04T09:07:00.000-08:00

The contest is over and the little Singer has 2 names! One from Kristen at Audioknits - "Marigold" and the other from Cindy at 2pAW - "I have no name for you, but very golden haired TV star of the 70s!!!" I think the last one translates into Farrah :-).

So Don, Tell us what they've won!

Lovely Golden Stitch Markers! One has green accents to honor Cindy's love of the color (green).

Well Ladies, I (me, Tori, not Don Pardo) will send you an email but if you get a chance before I do, send me your mailing addresses and these well be on there way to you!

Today is the Superbowl and I'm one of those people who doesn't even know what teams are playing. It's a wonderful excuse to sit, eat munchies and knit. Others are amazed at how I can knit and pay attention to the game at the same time, Hee Hee, I let them think I have wonderful powers of concentration, not that I'm not really interested in the game! A well timed "Oh Wow!" and "Did you see that?" seem to keep my cover.

Knitting! Your Kidding!

2007-01-30T22:57:00.000-08:00

These were for a shower over the past weekend for a friend who is expecting twins. I used to dislike garter stitch but thought it looks good in this sweater pattern. The pattern is from LionBrand and calls for organic cotton. Unfortunately it wasn't released in time but I was able to find a lovely (HA) acrylic blend. I know the Mom and other daughter are allergic to dogs so I thought it best to avoid wool.

I'm also knitting patches for our fuzzy feet. I'm basically going to felt large swatches of leftover yarn and then cut new soles and attach them to our existing fuzzy feet. Not as exciting as the sweaters but sorry no pictures.

I've only had one entry in my contest THANKS Kristen. I have a feeling she's going to be the lucky winner for naming the little Singer Golden Touch. I've decided what the prize will be but it's going to be a Surprise so I won't reveal it until the winner receives it. This little machine made me realize how many sewing machines I've worked on in my life. We had similar singers in Home Ec class and I remembered the sound they made, it really took me back to Mrs. Osbornes class in the mid 70s!

"It's all just A Little Bit of History Repeating"

2007-01-24T19:19:00.000-08:00

I like the song History Repeating as it's done by the Propellerheads and Shirley Bassey. Isn't she also the singer who sang "Goldfinger"? (my lame attempt at foreshadowing)

Very appropriate for today's post. Yesterday I started out the day by traveling about an hour, thinking I would get a sewing machine that looked like this:

Ah Yes, those Germans. Doesn't it just scream practicality, with a little bit of strictness thrown in? I have a feeling it would sew over your fingers if you forgot to press open a seam or didn't follow the manual to the letter.

Well, a bit of a sad story, the machine was in very good working order and I wanted it but the lady who owned it didn't want to sell it even after agreeing too. She has MS and can't do a lot of the things she used to. She's emotionally attached to this machine, how hard it must be to let go of something that reminds you of what you used to love doing but can't. Her husband was very apologetic that I had traveled some distance to see it. I just felt bad for both of them. Not the place you want two such seemingly nice people.

So meanwhile back at the ranch, not only did my serger need to be replaced but my sewing machine now needs repair. The part (plastic I'm sure) that holds the feed dogs in place is broken. I know it will be at least $80 to start this repair. ARGH! Meanwhile I need a machine that sews to complete some obligations. I called the local Thrift Shops and Struck GOLD. You think I'm joking, just LOOK:

LOL, the lady at the Thrift shop said it was new and when she told me it was a Singer Golden Touch, I had a feeling it wasn't New but maybe more what I'm looking for. I looked at Patternreview.com and there is a funny review of the machine. People really seem to like it, so at $35 I figured the least it would do is get me by. It has even been checked over by the local sewing shop. Not sure if this is something that is always done, or if it was a donated trade in, but it will get me by for awhile. It also cracks me up the difference in these two machines that are both from the early 70s. TOO funny!

Sew (hee hee) I think A contest is in order to name my new machine. It's Gold, from the early 70s. And bellow is the Instruction book cover. Should be a lot of inspiration. I'll think of a prize but leave your suggestions in the comments. I'll do two prizes. One for the person who suggests the name I chose and one drawn at random. Let's give it a week and make the entries due Feb 1st!

Forget a New Serger I want this!

2007-01-21T20:33:00.000-08:00

I saw an ad on Craigslist for a sewing machine like the one shown HERE. Make sure to scroll to the very end. Is that COOL or what! Okay, I may have lost it but you can't be the judge 'til you go to the link.

I know I keep promising but soon I'll have pics of the baby jackets I'm working on. I've been too busy looking at sewing machines online ;-).

Take care all!

BRRR!

2007-01-15T01:11:00.000-08:00

Just in case you can't make it out, it is 28 deg here this evening. It's VERY late, I can't sleep so I'm surfing the Internet and working on my lesson plan for next week. I'm also looking for a new serger so the search web box says Juki Janome. I like the Juki's and Janome's. Models 644D and 634D respectively. They both cost about the same as the estimated repair on the old Elna. The Elna is on craigslist in case someone wants it for parts or to try and trade in on a higher end model..

More weather photos and a story:

This is our little barrel pond where two fishes live. They were here at the house when I moved here in 2002. They were living in a different pond on the side of the house, the previous owners left them but took the pump from the pond. They weren't even an inch long. I rescued them and kept them inside in a bowl for a few years. Then our good friends took them, spoiled them and gave them an aquarium. When they moved to Ohio they gave the fishes back and had named them Finnegan and Beau. We kept them inside for awhile but they kept growing and growing. We had the aquarium right by the TV and it was just too noisy and apparent they were outgrowing their home. I found this pond at Home Depot on clearance and thought they might like to move back outdoors. I'd guess they're now between 4 and 5 inches long. They've enjoyed their new home since late summer. Well, I moved all our citrus trees in pots to the garage where our non existant Winter Car should be. I thought our fishes would be okay because I read they can survive freezing weather. The last few mornings the pond has looked like these photos. There's a piece of screen over it and when I pulled it back Saturday morning I thought a leaf in the top part of the pond was a fishy :-(.
Today we realized it was a leaf! The fish were taking it easy hanging out at the bottom, just as I had read they would do in cold (even freezing) weather. Still, we propped plastic over it and have a few incandescent spotlights near it to keep it a bit warmer (the lights can't fall in the water). They've made it half way through the predicted freakishly cold (For California) so I hope they can last a few more days. I debated on taking them out at night and putting them in a bucket. My hubby thinks that might be harder on them.

I am actually knitting in case anyone is wondering if I ever do that anymore. A friend is having twins (one boy, one girl) so I'm making two little jackets. I'll show you my progress soon! I've also knitted Barbie a pair of pants and a skirt. Before the serger died I was sewing for Esther's preschool and made Barbie a Cinderella dress. .

Yikes! Now Weather.com says it's 27 degrees but feels like 21 degrees! What does that mean anyway! Quite a few of our neighbors are using their fireplaces, so it kind of smells like camping around here. Just as our hot spell last summer this is a minor inconvenience for us, it means a conversation starter amoung friends, pushing potted trees back and forth, covering a fishpond, an uncomfortably high but manageable heating bill due next month. I know there are citrus growers in the Central Valley that are really losing a lot! Fortunatley our bird freinds seem to be weathering the cold. The hummingbirds that visit our feeder and the finches that visit the bird bag I recently hung from our cherry tree have been out every day this week.

Take care all!

I'll Trade ya!

2007-01-12T09:22:00.000-08:00

I really want this! http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductDetail.aspx?categorycode=3358&mfrcode=HOP&mfrpartnumber=13013 You would think I could go to Walmart or Target to get such an item. Right? Guess not in California! Crazy! Our temperatures were well below freezing last night and are predicted to be the same through the weekend. Our garage is full of an unfinished woodworking project (my husbands). The plants have their lights and covering but on the advice of local nurseries I think they will be wheeled into the garage in the evenings. BRRRR. So what am I trading you for? Hmm, what do I have worthy of such a trade....I KNOW how about this! Yes it will be this (Elna 644) Well, one like it...sorta

For This

Before you get too excited, you should wait for the picture of my actual machine. The needle assembly broke off the needle rod. Repair requires a trip to Elna and with measly $350 Estimate, my response was PHPPPH! Much better response than the hopefully unintelligible cuss words I yelled when it happened. So I'm sorta in the market for a new or used serger. I've toyed with the idea of getting an inexpensive one and save my money for one with more options. Any ideas on what I should do? Anybody have a machine they love that I should look for new or used. There are SO many options! I figure I'll just wait and see what looks best. Truth be told I could do most of the sewing I do on my regular sewing machine. The speed and secured seams on the serger is fun along with some of the other features you get.

Later I may post a picture of the broken parts of my machine and I will definitely post a picture of the "gown" I made before it died. I don't need it for more of these but I'll still show you what I've been up to.

Lastly, I have to tell you how nice my husband is. We really shouldn't buy a serger right now. Even waiting a few months would be better. He said, "But you use it quite a bit don't you?" Also, he never complains about the things I buy or crafts I get into. One day he jokingly told me I couldn't get another Hobby because I only have 24 hours in a day. And you know, his attitude is so nice it makes it easy to wait for things.