Shawls, shawls and more shawls!

Well last time I was here I told you about all the KALs I had joined. Here's a progress report:

Mystery Shawl #5: Clues 1-3: done. Clues 4-5: still to go.

Halloween Mystery Shawl: I have the first 3 rows done. I have the entire shawl to do.

Secret of the Stole: Clue 1: done. Clues 2-3: still to go. Clue 4 comes out on Friday.

I am still loving this, and am trying to figure out how to get more knitting time into my day. I finally finished one of the knit Christmas presents I have been working on. I need to get working on some more. I think that this weekend will be a good time to do this.


The kids have this entire week off from school. I guess that they think that kids in elementary school need to have a week off. Considering that they have only gone to school for 9 weeks, and about half of those weeks aren't even all 5 days long.

Maybe I'll have to re-think this weekend's knitting... I keep forgetting that my DD has a 5K to run on Sunday? She is in the "Girls on the Run" afterschool program. She's been sick for the last 3 weeks (same as me), and will hopefully be feeling well enough to do this. It should be quite interesting, she is such a couch potato. I can't wait for her to do this though. I am very proud of her.

My DS is kinda mad about it though. He wants to do something too, but there aren't any programs similar that I know of. He feels left out and crummy.

Back to work!

shawl's comin' outta my nose

Well, I am completely engulfed in shawls/stole KAL's. I am working on the Mystery Shawl #5, the Halloween Mystery Shawl and the Secret of the Stole. I also have the "Creatures of the Reef" pattern that I need to do too.

FYI: Secret of the Stole's joining deadline is Oct. 4, 2007!

Here is the yarn that I am going to use for the Secret of the Stole project. It is from Lime N Violet and is their Sidhe Silk Lace. The colorway is Matzu. I think I will use some irridescent or pearl beads. That way it's very subtle.

I am completely engrossed, and can't wait to get home to knit on these.

I also am thinking about making a Hemlock Ring blanket.

On the homefront:

I had Parent-Teacher Conferences last night. Oh my. We talked about how my kid needs to get more "organized". Gee, that sounds familiar. I think that also applies to me! And my dd needs to get more confidence to do her work. That and learn her addition/subtraction. My dd has always done horrible on this timed test. Every year she struggles with it. And so what do they do? They do it all over every year. She knows the answers, just much slower that her peers.

I hate to tell the school, but I still count/add/subtract on my fingers. Can I do them without? yes. Do I trust my brain 100%? NO!

I will try to post the buttons for these shawl KAL's on here later. I just have to remember how to do that again.

Mystery Lace Knitting Galore!

I have leapt into the wide world of the Mystery Shawl KAL's. I started the Mystery Shawl #5 (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mysteryshawlgroup/) the Monday after the first clue was posted.

All I can say is that this is so much fun! I am enjoying this so much. I can't wait to see what it will look like when it's all done. I think it's the mystery part of this that I like the best.

Now, if only there were a LYS that actually carried lace weight yarn in large enough quantities to make these larger shawls.

I also have joined the Halloween Mystery Shawl (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/halloweenmysteryshawl/) and the Secret of the Stole (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/secretofthestole/) KALs.

OK, can you say "obsessed"? I am also working on a sock, and a few other items.

I am in the Holiday knitting mode right now. Since Saturday, I have knit a hat (folliage from the latest Knitty.com), finished and felted a bum cover, turned a heel, and done 1 1/2 clues to the first Mystery shawl.

I did a short-row heel on the socks, and I got this huge hole. It's right where you start to knit in the round again. I will go back and stitch it closed once I have the sock done.

On a non-knitting venue, my dd will be turning 8 the second week of Oct. I have no clue what I am going to do for her. I just don't know if I should try to plan a party for her, or send her away for Halloween camp overnight, or what. I'm leaning toward sending her to camp. She loved it last year.

I am on the downhill slide for the year. We start back to school, have 2 birthday's in Oct, 2 birthdays in Nov., Thanksgiving, Halloween, then Christmas and new year's. Add to that the fall football, and you have absolutely no time for anything!

this also leaves you with NO MONEY!

Well, I'm off work tomorrow, and plan to have a nice day at the library maybe, or maybe at Barnes & Noble. Who knows. That's tomorrow, and I still have the rest of today to get through.

TTFN

School's Back in Session

OK, the kids are back in school! (YEAH!) This is a good thing. They both love their new teachers. This is a great thing. I think the student-teacher relationship is half the battle to get kids to learn and behave well in class.

One of these mornings my DD is going to learn the hard way, that I leave at 7:30 a.m. No delays. And she is going to learn that it's not so much fun to go to school in her p.j.'s.

Getting used to the new schedule is still hard. There seems to be so much less time for everything. Monday is PTA (once a month), Tuesdays is counseling, Wednesdays is knitting group, Thursday is open (until Survivor, CSI and ER start back up), Friday I would like to take the kids skating, and then Saturday and Sunday are for laundry, homework, fun, cleaning and cooking, shopping and all the rest of the wonderful things that don't get done during the week. Throw in some swimming lessons, and you've got one heck of a busy time.

Knitting is going well. I am on Ravelry and can't believe the expansiveness of it all. I am knitting 3 projects right now. 2 socks for Socks for Soldiers and one top. I need to focus on the socks, then kick the top out. It shouldn't take too long for the top, the back is done and the front is about 1/3 done. no sleeves, and a quick crochet border along the edges. Way simple!

Well, I'll try to get another post sooner than the last one. (We'll see how well I do. LOL)

Bad Blogger, No Cookie!

Well, I told you I was new to this. Hence the lack of content.

Oh, well. Things will get more routine, I hope.

I received my invite to Ravelry.com, and quickly joined in the fun. (Clearbrook)

I don't have much posted as yet, but will keep adding more as I go.

Wilderness Perk

So, this Saturday (june 2) I went to Wilderness Perk (local coffee shop) and met with the Lincoln Knitters. Everyone was SO nice, and made me feel welcome.

They are going to have a Knit-in-Public at the Haymarket next Saturday. I may try to go down there, but it might be hard with my 2 kids (who can't sit still for any amount of time, or get along for more than 5 minutes).

Well, I finished the lacy vine baby hat that I started on Friday. Finished it up shortly after Lincoln Knitters. It is made with some yarn that my kids dyed with kool-aid. I also am almost done with my second Pomotamus sock. I just have a couple of inches of foot and then the toe left. I hope to be done with it by the end of the week.

After that? I think I will start on a christmas present so that I don't have to rush in Oct./Nov./Dec.

Hurrah! There are only 2 more days of school for my kids! Their last day is june 6. I can't wait. Either can they. We are VERY ready for summer break.

Have a great knitting day!

Bad blogger!

Sorry, I am a REALLY bad blogger!

I have just not really thought about updating this thing for quite awhile. I have been knitting up a storm though.

I made a sunny yellow baby cardigan, a pair of baby socks, 1 1/2 Pomotamus socks. I finished the Inside Out socks too. I know there is a few more things that I have done, but I can't think of them.

I am working on a shrug for my daughter. I frogged her old shrug and am redoing it in a larger size and a different pattern. She loved the old one, and was mad because she couldn't fit into it anymore. So I spent an entire evening undoing the old one. Let me tell you that it is hard to undo a garment that has been washed a few times, is overused by a girl who loves to crawl and lay around on the floor, and is made out of a VERY fuzzy yarn. Thank the Gods that it was something that doesn't felt.

I am using a knit stitch called waterfall. It's really easy and only has 6 rows and 9 stitches. I couldn't bring myself to do a plain stitch. I mean, really, I am already making a plain rectangle. I don't think I could pay myself enough to have it that boring.

I went completely insane buying sock yarns. I bought a bunch from Lime 'n Violet (4 skeins), 9 skeins from Astrid's Dutch Obsession, and 10 skeins from Blue Moon Fiber Arts. This is on top of the 2 sock clubs I am in (Blue Moon Fiber Arts and Mama Llama's Sock Clubs).

Then, I found out that my aunt is no longer living in Michigan, so... the sweater I started for her won't work anymore. There is no need for a heavy wool sweater in Florida. I guess I will frog that, and figure out what to do with the yarn later. I was making this for her for Christmas. Now I have to start all over. I will still maker her a sweater, but this one will be done in CottonEase, and will not be so heavy.

I am going to start on my holiday knitting as soon as my last order of Socks That Rock (STR) comes in. I just HAD TO HAVE more of the Silkie Socks that Rock.

I will have to empty my camera's memory card so that I can take more pictures of all these things. Right now it's full, and I need to save those photos. What I really need to do is buy a larger memory card. I still only have a 16MB card.

Well, school is almost out. Their last day is June 6.

Rockin' Sock Club

I am waiting. Patiently waiting...

OK, I am NOT patiently waiting. I am on the edge of my seat (which happens to be a ball), bouncing up and down, waiting for my first Blue Mountain Rockin' Sock Club package to arrive.

I am literally BOUNCING in anticipation!

Oh, but I did finally get my spindle kit this week! WooHoo!!! This is just soooo kewl! I tried it out today at work, and found that I can now SPIN my own (horribly uneven) yarn! YEAH!

I don't think this will be a workable yarn anytime soon. But, I am going to give it a try. The first few feet were very lumpy and way thick. I really thinned my roving down and have a yarn about the thickness of sock yarn.

My question is this: Can I unwind my "yarn" and re-spin it to make more even and neat? I don't see why not, as long as I haven't set the twist.

Well, I will have to give it a try when I get a small pile spun up.

I finished my son's green and white slipper socks, and have one of the Springtime in Paris socks done. I cast on the second sock too! I have the second pillow case nearly completed, just need to bind off one end, and seam it up.

And alas ... the weather is turning bad again. They are saying 2-5 inches overnight and through the morning tomorrow. Yuck! This is following rain and freezing rain. Double Yuck!

Spring had better be around the corner, cuz I can't wait for it to stop being so dreary and dead looking everywhere.

Beautiful Weather!

Well, it's been a while since I added anything here. It's been too dang cold (-20 below windchill, and highs only in the single digits. YUCK!)

Today? Well it's 39, sunny and no coat! It should be around 50 for the next couple of days. I couldn't ask for anything better for Feb. in Nebraska.

Well, I finished a pair of Lacy Trellis socks in Mama Llama yarn (forest green). I can't wait to wear them. I love this pattern, it's so easy to do, and really quick.

I am going to start on the Springtime in Paris sock soon. I have some peach yarn that's kind of shiny.

I also am hoping to start on a pair of Nordic Lights socks. These will be most likely be done in dark blues and white yarn. (I have got to get my camera up and working.)

Waiting ever so patiently for my Socks that Rock club package to arrive. It should be sent out really soon. This is my first time with them, and I can't wait! I have heard raves about their yarn.

I signed up with Mama Llama to receive their quarterly sock club. I absolutely love their yarn. It is so much softer than anything I can get locally.

This weekend I also made a pillowcase for my aunt's dog. Yes, she pampers them like the big babies they are. I am working on a second one for her other dog too.

I should also make my daughter some socks with Bonbon print from Red Heart yarns. It's this bright pink, purple and blue acrylic yarn. I can't bring myself to spend any money on sock yarn for a child that has feet that outgrow her shoes every couple of months. I bought her a pair of shoes in Oct. and had to get her new ones last week. She went up nearly 2 whole sizes. Here you can see what the yarn looks like:

Well, enough for now!

Dang, it's cold here today. Just makes me want to stay home in bed and read a book or knit.

Well, I found this on another blog, and had to try it:

You Belong in 1970

If you scored... 1950 - 1959: You're fun loving, romantic, and more than a little innocent. See you at the drive in! 1960 - 1969: You are a free spirit with a huge heart. Love, peace, and happiness rule - oh, and drugs too. 1970 - 1979: Bold and brash, you take life by the horns. Whether you're partying or protesting, you give it your all! 1980 - 1989: Wild, over the top, and just a little bit cheesy. You're colorful at night - and successful during the day. 1990 - 1999: With you anything goes! You're grunge one day, ghetto fabulous the next. It's all good!

What Year Do You Belong In?

Not much is going on right now. I am finishing the second Lacy Trellis sock in Forest from Mama Llama Yarns. I can't wait to be able to wear these!

The next sock I am going to do, will be to finish the second sock for my son. I started these, but they are so plain, that I couldn't face the second one right away. (SSS hit me! LOL)

I am waiting for my tax refund so that I can go out and buy the yarn I need for a sweater for my aunt. This will be her Christmas gift this year. I have the pattern, but just need to get the yarn, and can't afford it right now. The pattern is from the UK magazine Simply Knitting. (I think, that or from the other UK mag Knit Today) I can't remember now. But, either way, it is a very simplistic cable pattern. I figured that I wanted to do something BIG, but not too complex.

I also want to get one of those Ultimate Sweater Machines, so that I can really do some intense Stash depletion this year. I want to be able to whip out some really simple panels to make pillows/pillow covers. I might even try to make a cover for our ugly, worn out sofa cushions.

This week Hobby Lobby has them on sale for $133.00, and I am dying to get over there and buy one. I can buy the rest of the accessories later.

Can you tell that I am into instant knit gratification right now? LOL

On a non-knitting note: my kids are infatuated with the idea of having a dog. They have been pleading almost constantly to get one. Every time you turn around they are dropping comments/hints/blatant demands about needing a dog. My son got a prize for having 100% on his spelling test, and what did he pick? A stuffed dog. What else?

I suppose that maybe come spring, we'll go to our local humane society and pick out a dog. But, I definitely want to wait until spring, when it isn't so bad to go outside with the dog while it learns not to go potty inside.

Chain Links are done!

Wow! I finished my first knit-along last night. I finally got done with my Chain Link socks from the Six Sox Knitalong group. I will have to get my pictures taken this weekend and then post them here.

These people are great. You get stuck? Ask. Someone will answer you, and probably give you several new things to try.

I can't believe how fast some of these people knit. I can only dream!

I am going to cast on another sock sometime today. I think it may be the mystery pattern from one of my other sock groups. I started it once, but frogged it, but now wish I hadn't.

I thought my yarn was too dark to show off the pattern, but now... I think that I will start it over.

I bought some yarn from Mama Llamas yarn in the colorways "Forest" and "Night". They are Fabulous. They smell wonderful also (a nice hint of lavendar).

I think that I will do the mystery pattern in the forest colorway and maybe the next knitalong in the night colorway.

On a new topic, this blog thing is cool, but I can not figure out how to put the knitalong button as a link to the group on the side of my blog. I just can't wrap my brain around this concept. Do I put it up as an HTML feature/add-on, or as a photo?

I will have to keep trying. I can put up the button itself as a photo, but beyond that? I have no clue.

Well, thanks for reading my ramblings!

Welcome to the World

Well, here goes.

I am joining the real world, and not just hanging around wishing I was.

I know for a fact that this won't be updated daily, but maybe I can shoot for at least weekly?

OK, I am a yarn-aholic. I love it! I can't get enough of it! and I seriously need to work on getting my stash deminished. (that way I can buy some new yarn)

Yarn gives me that warm, fuzzy feeling inside (and out).

I am also a knit-aholic. I spend as much waking time as I can devoted to making things with a pair or more of needles and a ball of some sort of fluff.

OK, enough about my addictions.

I work full time, have 2 kids (that drive me absolutely crazy most of the time), and try to do something with my spare time to keep as sane as possible. (this would be where the knitting comes in)

Well, that's a start! I will come back and let you in on more of my crazy world, as I get more time.