Holiday Monday

This is Thanksgiving week meaning a short week at work for me. Additionally, we will be traveling this week to see my husband's grandmother who will celebrate her 100th birthday on Friday. We also have our 35th wedding anniversary which falls on Thanksgiving Day this year.

On to knitting....I finished the Hermoine's Everyday Socks by Erica Lueder in the Knit Picks Stroll Handpainted Lily Pad Multi colorway. I really like how they turned out. They still need to be washed and blocked.

I started on the SKA November sockdown Moody Stockings also by Erica Lueder, mystery sock which is a wonderful pattern. The yarn I was using was too busy of a colorway for the texture to really show through so I will start again with a more neutral yarn.

One new skill I am trying to learn that I heard about from The Knit Girllls podcast is the afterthought heel for socks. I understand that this is an Elizabeth Zimmerman method but its new to me. I got a stripping yarn from Knit Picks, Felici in the Minty colorway which is best shown off with an afterthought heel. I was having some issues with figuring out how to get the right measurement for the heel to the toe from where I put the waste yarn for the heel. So, I tried a toe up sock, which I don't do very well, so that I could figure out how the foot was constructed. First I put on too few stitches for the toe, I like it to be 12 across on each needle and then the increases weren't working right. But I think I have it ok now. Will put up a picture when I get a little father.

I received the fiber from Never Enough Thyme Yarn. Jayne Chouinard is the owner and she got my fiber in the mail immediately. Its a beautiful braid of superwash merino/bambo/nylon blend. I haven't had time to work with it but I can't wait.

I received the order I had placed with Knit Picks as well. I purchased 100gr balls of Blue Yonder Stroll and Kindling Stroll Tonal, and 2-50 gr balls of Frosting Stroll. The Blue Yonder is, of course, blue; Kindling is brown; and Frosting is a soft pink, brown and white. The Frosting will be a shawl for me, blue will be the Advent Scarf for a gift and the brown is great for socks.

That's the weekend update. During our travels, I will be taking some Bernat cotton to knit the washcloths I will be giving as gifts. I might take the top up/afterthought heel socks too.

Happy Knitting all!!

November 16, 2012

Not only is it Friday...it's good Friday. That means payday. Not that there's a lot of cash left over but I should stop for a moment and be thankful that I have a job, and that our family was able to weather the country's financial upheaval rather well.

Here's the picture I promised for the Turn the Square Hat

 They are knit in the Vanna's Choice acrylic yarn. This one in Barley,

And this one in Denim Mist. Its a very soft yarn and is pretty easy to work with.








The fiber I ordered from Dyeabolical came in the mail yesterday. It's Polworth in the Kara colorway. Really pretty and soft. If it spins well I might get some good yardage out of it. Would make a nice shawl.

I'm making good progress with the second SKA November sockdown sock. I'm making Hermione's Everyday Sock in the Knit Picks Stroll Handpainted Lily Pad Multi colorway. I should have it finished this weekend and maybe have the fiber spun too.
I have a "date" with Jayme to see a play at Willowbrook High School Saturday night which will be fun. And on Sunday we will celebrate my daughter's new boyfriend's birthday. So a fun, family/friend weekend ahead!

Happy Knitting!!

November 15, 2012

Happy Day!!! The lost skein of sock yarn has been found! I'm so glad because starting again and having the lone sock was just a sad prospect. {Doing the Happy Dance}!!!

While I was lamenting the lost yarn, I decided to start a hat for a Christmas gift and it turned out nice. The hat is called Turn a Square by Jared Flood. I used a worsted weight Vanna White yarn that is nice and squishy. The pattern calls for 2 colors of yarn which I didn't do, but that pattern makes the coolest square on the crown of the hat. I started another one but because these are going to wool uneducated people, I have to use machine washable yarn. I'll post a picture soon.

I am becoming a glutton for fiber. I have ordered 2 more braids of fiber from etsy shops even tho I have a lot of yarn and unspun wool at home. One is from Dyeabolical that I talked about the other day, the Polworth/silk in the Kara colorway. Still waiting for the shipment but its on the way.

The new fiber that I purchased is from https://www.etsy.com/shop//NeverEnoughThymeYarn. I got a merino/bamboo/nylon blend, 4 oz, in the Wild Blossom colorway. Jayne Chouinard is the owner, and she had this order in the mail today. That is customer service!! I'll post when the braid comes.

The good news is that it is Thursday and the Odeum Autumn Festival starts today. Rose and I will be going tonight to avoid the strollers and crowds. Looking forward to this evening.

Happy Knitting!!

November 14, 2012

Tragedy struck my craft room yesterday!! I finished the first sock for the SKA November Sock down the Hermione's Everyday Socks in Knit Picks Lily Pad Multi

I love the pattern and the finished sock was fantastic. Very excited about an FO (1/2 of one anyway) I went in search of the next skein to start the second sock and....it is nowhere to be found!!!
I'll take another look tonight but I'm afraid I may have to start all over again. So annoying!!
I did get a picture taken of the blanket I'm knitting out of the Sensations
Black Rainbow Boucle Multi,

but the picture doesn't do it justice. The colors just pop against the black background. I think I will need to concentrate on this afghan and the crocheted ripple afghan I am making for Christmas gifts. I also plan on knitting wash cloths for all the people who work in my building. Sounds like a lot but its just 28 to make and they are a quick knit. We will be traveling next week for a Thanksgiving weekend celebration of Grandma Forrester's 100th birthday!! Can you imagine? Anyway, its a 13 hour drive to Atlanta Georgia so lots of knitting time ahead.

That's about it for the day. Thanks for the compassion about the lost skein of sock yarn :)

Happy Knitting

November 13, 2012

Morning!!

It's Tuesday and I am enjoying my day off by knitting socks and catching up on The Knit Girllls podcast. I really enjoy their videos. I have learned a lot but mostly it helps me not feel so alone in this passion of knitting and fiber. This blog does that as well.

I wanted to do an update on the Sock Knitters Anonymous KAL for November. I had originally cast on the Amble by Alison Clayton. It was really a struggle to begin the pattern. I knit the cuff and lost my way so I tinked back to the ribbing, and tried again. No go, so I rip it back completely and redid the ribbing and still lost the count. So, because this is supposed to be a challenge and not frustration, I have exercised my option to change my pattern!! Yesterday I cast on Hermione's Everyday Socks by Erica Lueder instead. I absolutly love the way that the colors of the yarn are working with the texture of this pattern. All in all it turned out to be a good choice. Also, this is a pattern that I can finish this month without it interferring too much with my Christmas list.

I worked just about exclusively on the socks so didn't get very far with any of the other things that I have on the needle. One thing I'm working on is an afghan for a gift out of Sensations (Joanns) Black Rainbow Boucle Multi. I'm knitting it in just a garter stitch on size 9 needles. The boucle of the yarn would not allow for any kind of pattern but it will be a light cover for winter and the colors are awesome. It is mostly black with random pops of all kinds of colors. I'll post a picture soon.

I still have the hitchhiker on the needle. I needed the needles that I was using for the scarf so I put the end caps on the cable to use the needles. That is the wonder of the interchangeable needles from Knit Picks. I have the entire set of the nickel plated needles and I have the size 4 and 6 of the acrylic set and I have the size 7 on order. I really like the Zephry needles that just knit like the wind!!

I wanted to quickly make a correction from yesterday. I mentioned that Spin Monkeys had included some fiber samples with the fiber I had ordered. I said that one of them was Polworth when in fact it is Falkland which I learned this morning from The Knit Girlls is not a breed of sheep but is a combined fiber from sheep that are raised in the Falkland Islands.

This is a shorter blog today cause I'd really like to get back to knitting!!

Happy Knitting!

November 12, 2012

Happy Monday All!!

I'd like to start by thanking all military personnel, past and present, in honor of Veteran's Day. I am grateful for your sacrafices. My son John, is currently serving in the Navy, stationed on the aircraft carrier, U.S.S. Nimitz. Veteran's Day is a special day for us because this year it marks his 3rd year away from home. Of course we see him when he is on leave, but he is stationed in Washington state and we don't see him often.

I've had a very busy fiber weekend. First of all I finished the 2nd Chinook scarf, and washed and blocked it. It was knit on size 6 circular needles out of Knit Picks stroll Handpainted, in the Pony Ride colorway.

This is a very fast knit. I weighed the yarn before starting to knit, follow the pattern until half of the yarn is used then begin the decrease until the yarn is gone. It will make a great gift for Rachal.

I received the fiber that I ordered from Spin Monkeys, 100% merino wool in the Aquamarine colorway. I purchased it with the idea that I would spin it to use on the Advent Scarf KAL that I will be part of in December. Here's what the fiber looked like:

And when it was spun, it looked like this:

There is only 242 yards which is not enough for the scarf but the fiber spun so soft and squishy that it will be great for a hat or fingerless gloves. Along with the shipment Spin Monkeys sent me a couple samples of some of her other fiber which was very nice. There is a small lock of polworth fiber that has a really long staple. She also sent a nice little sample of a merino, silk, nylon blend.

Here's what it looked like:

It's so helpful because it gives me an idea about new fibers that I haven't tried before.

So I need to find a different yarn/fiber for the scarf. I ordered some fiber from dyeabolical.etsy.com , Polworth Silk blend in the Kara colorway. It is a very beautiful teals and gray combination. It totals 4 oz which isn't enough for the scarf either. I bought from this shop because The Knit Girllls raved about her colors on their podcast.

Well, that will do it for today.

Happy Knitting!!

November 9, 2012

Happy Friday!!

This is my 2nd most favorite day of the work week. I say the second because, believe it or not, Tuesday is usually the best day for me. The reason is that I have Wednesdays off work so Tuesday is my "1st Friday" of the week and somehow it comes sooner (at least in my mind) and I enjoy it so much better than the last Friday of the week. Just a glimpse into how my mind works!!

Last night was very quiet in my knitting world. I worked exclusively on the Chinook Scarf for my daughter for Christmas. It is knit in the Pony Ride handpainted colorway from Knit Picks stroll. Its a very easy knit and I have begun the decrease part of the scarf. I am using the Knit Picks Zephyr needles size 6 to knit this scarf and I love them. I am so surprised at how smooth they are and how smoothly the fabric glides on them. I had gotten an interchangable set of the nickel needles for Christmas a couple years ago so occasionally I buy a set of needles (cause the others just might be buried in a WIP that is forgotten!!) and this is the first time I've used the acrylic needles. I really appreciate these needles and how smooth the join is with the cables.

In the midwest we are in the midst of the holiday craft show season. This weekend is a new one to me, small but should be fun. There is a building, called the Wilder Mansion, that is a historic building which once housed the library but is now being used for weddings and other meetings. It's located here in Elmhurst Illinois (western Chicago suburb) which has always been an upper class community. I wanted to go to this show really just to see the house! I image some knitting will be accomplished around this event tho.

Next weekend is the Autumn Festival Arts and Craft Show at the Odeum Center in Villa Park (Nov 15-18). This is a really big one which I attend every year. I try to find Christmas gifts and sometimes I do, but its more an opportunity for my friend and I to spend some time together. Here's a link for a $1 off coupon to this event if you will be attending.
The weekend of Nov 30-Dec 2 is the Lamb's Farm Holiday Lights Gift and Craft Fair at the Arlington Park Racecourse and this one is hugh!!! They have 500 vendors slated for this show. It is an all day experience. I love it! If you are in this area, you should really try to attend.

Have a great Weekend all!!

Happy Knitting

November 8, 2012

Happy Thursday!!
I didn't do any spinning last night as I anticipated. I started thinking about how soon Christmas is and decided I would concentrate my efforts on gifts for now. I have wanted to knit another 

Chinook Scarf by Ali Green for my oldest daughter. I was showing her some yarn I had purchased and she liked the Knit Pick Stroll Pony Ride handpainted colorway in fingering weight. Its a superwash merino and nylon blend in a really beautiful combination of brown, tan, gray and black. This is what it looks like so far.

I really like this pattern because its a very easy knit. I just weigh my yarn before I cast on and knit until I've used half of it then begin the decrease so that I don't run out of yarn. The last one I knit took just about 8-10 hours so its a lovely, and quick gift.

 

I had ordered the roving from SpinMonkeys and I got an email last night that it had already been shipped. The policy on the website said it would take 3 days so it's a nice surprise to find it coming so soon. It is being shipped USPS and snailmail can be very unpredictable. That fiber will be spun for the Advent Scarf I'll be making for my mother for her Christmas-birthday. I'll be sure to share what I think about the fiber when I've had a chance to work with it.

 

Here's a little personal information about me. I am employed as a staff member of a small private college and one of the benefits of employement is that myself, my spouse and my dependents are given an opportunity to take classes for just the cost of fees which currently is $100 per semester plus books. I have taken classes for 3 years now and completed an adult accelerated business management program to get the bulk of my credits. I have just 7 credits to complete to earn my bachelors degree in business.  It has been a time of personal, not to mention mental, growth for me to relearn how to write papers, do research and most of all remember information in order to do well on tests. Currently I have a GPA of 3.863 and if I'm able to keep a high grade point, I might graduate with honors. My plan is to be done by May 2014. I have registered for 2 classes in the Spring term so knitting usually takes 2nd place when homework and studying needs to be done. It will be great to be finished with school but this is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream so I want to make the best of it.

 

That's enough for today.

 

Happy Knitting!!

Happy Wednesday!
     Well, unfortunately I have to work today. I usually work a 4 day week and with Wednesdays off. It's nice to have that break in the middle of the week. The benefit of working 5 days (trying to look on the bright side!) is that each work day is shorter so there is more time to knit.

     Last night I finished plying the peach colored wool that I had spun. I think it might be a merino blend but I can't be sure. I got about 475 yds so far of a two ply, probably about a fingering weight. I will post a picture of that soon. I thought about making something for my mother from it because its her favorite color but I'm not sure. Maybe a small shawl. It still needs a bath and there is some on the bobbin that I still need to wind off.

   For the Advent Scarf : http://www.ravelry.com/projects/nomofomo/lila-and-claudines-2012-advent-scarf  I ordered a braid of 100% merino from http://www.etsy.com/shop/SpinMonkeys in the Aquamarine colorway.

The advent scarf KAL runs Dec 1-19 with a daily email for each part of the pattern. I want to make this for my mother because her birthday is Christmas day and Aquamarine in the December birthstone. The designers will also send a daily devotion with the pattern so I will bind those together and give them with the scarf. I can't wait for Dec 1 to get here!!

     I went through some of my fiber stash this morning and found that I don't really have much in the way of dyed fiber that is skin friendly which is why I bought fiber for the scarf. I did pick out some alpaca fiber from the stash that is a chocolate brown, just beautiful, and a braid of blues that is really pretty too. I can't remember the content of that one. Maybe I'll start spinning one of those tonight while I'm waiting for the spinmonkeys braid.

Well, happy knitting all!!

November 6

I was on Ravelry yesterday, on the Knit for Kids World Vision group, and the moderator was a little frustrated because there hadn't been much activity, so I decided to start a sweater earlier than I had planned to help her out some. So here is my progress so far on a size 2 child's sweater.

I found a skein of acrylic (recommended) in my stash and used size 5 (for the ribbing) and size 7 (for the body) circular needles. The size 7 are wooden (probably bamboo) with a tube-like circular part (?) and they are a little difficult to move the yarn back and forth. I probably have better needles buried in an unfinished project somewhere!!  Anyone interested in being part of this group can look into the http://www.ravelry.com/groups/knit-for-kids World Vision group to help out. It is a good cause.

I am still struggling on the KAL for Sock Knitters Anonymous. I have ripped it back to the ribbing 2 times but I'm not giving it up yet!!

I have to say that between Ravelry and this blog I am able to not only keep my sanity, but they make me accountable for my time and efforts and keep me focused on my goals. That is a very positive improvement in my life.

...Happy Knitting!!

Happy Monday!!
What a whirlwind weekend it was!! Those two days go by so quickly!! Saturday was a trip to a church holiday bazaar. It was nice and very big but because I went mid-morning on Saturday, it was packed with kids and noise. I did see a craft I would like to try sometime. It was wreaths made out of small (maybe 2.5"X 2") pillows of specified fabric like patriotic, holiday, apple, halloween, etc that were arranged in a ring form with ribbon and other items added like pine bough, plastic apples, or flags and some had raffia. They were cute and probably very easy to make.

I had placed an order with Knit Pick on Thursday for some fingering weight to make some shawl/scarfs and socks for Christmas gifts. It came on Saturday so I got busy with a scarf. I ordered the Hitchhiker scarf by Martina Behm from Ravelry and I'm knitting it in Knit Picks Stroll Fingering handpainted-Juice Box.

I finished the other project Chinook Scarf by Ali Green in the Hearthside Fiber Superwash/Bamboo/Nylon Blend in Annie's Snowflake colorway. Here's the finished project on my dress form.

The sock challenge has really been a challenge. I don't know why I'm having such a hard time on the Amble sock pattern but I am. I get a few rows in and completely lose track of the pattern and the stitch count. But its supposed to be a challenge so I'll keep trying.

That's all for today.  Happy Knitting!!

I began the November sockdown project of a textured stitch sock. I am knitting the Amble pattern on Ravelry by Allison Clayton with KnitPicks Stroll in the Lily Pad Multi colorway. Here's the CO picture:

I have already encountered a problem with the pattern so I will frog it to the ribbing and start again. Too often when I start a more detailed pattern someone will decide they need to talk to me and get me off track. Plus, honestly, I was watching "Raising Hope" on Netflix---HILARIOUS!!! So that was distracting some too.  I finished the scarf I made (don't remember the name) out of a superwash merino, bamboo, and nylon blend that I got at the Fiber in the Park show this summer. Here's a picture of it blocked and drying:

This will be a Christmas gift.
I will take a more attractive picture of it to post now that it is dry.

So that will do it for today. Happy Knitting!