Give Me Two Needles

Happy New Year!!!

2012-01-14T15:16:00.003-05:00

Boy am I behind on this blog! I wasn't able to do it in Virginia this summer and since I was there 4 months, I really got behind on everything. My internet is so limited there and I only do the necessary things...like play games. Well, that isn't all, I don't even get them done without help.

So, I am going to try to catch up with some pictures and statistics and start a new list of goals for this year. Even if don't get all of them done, I find I do better with a list than without one :>)

To tell the truth, I got a LOT of knitting done. I look back and can see that I more than met my goals and while I didn't get all the things on my list done, I did a lot of things, mostly charity, that were not on the list. I turned in 40+ items to my sister's knitting guild and emptied 2 1/2 storage bins of stash. If I have another year like the last, I will have made significant progress on making my sewing room more livable.

I should say that it is still a big task. I moved from a great big house to an nice converted garage and I have less than 1/5 of the space I started with and very little attic space. Of course, my daughter and family live in the original house that is only about 10 feet away, so I still have some things in the old attic, but my goal this year is to get all the yarn down and at least go through it and plan projects.

This is complicated by the fact that I am a quilter and my sewing room is full of fabric stash also, but that is also getting whittled away.

Knitting Rules!: The Yarn Harlot's Bag of Knitting Tricks

2011-04-01T17:44:00.000-04:00

Knitting Rules!: The Yarn Harlot's Bag of Knitting Tricks by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

While there are some patterns in this book...and patterns I have already used, the book is more about the social aspects of knitting. The book is hilarious. Anyone who has knitted any length of time knows of or has been in the situations Stephanie talks about in such an amusing way. I think even a non knitter might even enjoy her writing.

The book also serves a practical purpose. There are instructions for various stitches and projects as well as list of things to do or not do. All are informative and enjoyable.

View all my reviews

How am I doing?

2011-02-28T20:40:00.003-05:00

I have been knitting like crazy! I finished David's scarf in 2 days because they were leaving for New York and it was snowy there. I don’t think I have ever knitted anything that fast…even on Christmas Eve. Since we are in Florida, I thought I had a long time before he’d get into any cold weather.

I finally finished the bulky loopy yarn prayer shawls and the tam and scarf set. I did NOT like that yarn. It was a mill end and it kept getting tangled and the tiny individual threads snagged. Once knit, it looks pretty good, but it is not easy to work with. If I can find my camera, I will post pictures. I used it to take the picture of David’s scarf and since it was about 2:30 am when I took it, I can’t remember where I put the camera. I was more than a little sleepy by then.

I'm doing very well on my hats with several on the needles right now. Some are mindless and quick to take to my meetings and others have to be done when I am alone. The chemo hats are great to take along, so I am trying to keep one on the needles all the time. The only problem is that I want to knit everything with my size 6 Lantern Moon circular needles. I love them, but they are so expensive and I hate to get another pair of the same size.

I am also knitting squares for a charity blanket our group is giving away to the St. Gerard’s Campus in St. Augustine and blankets for another charity one of our group members is involved with. I’ll probably knit the squares all year long since they are so easy to carry and work up so fast. Then there is the sampler scarf and hat I am designing to teach my two friends how to knit. That will become either a gift or a charity project. I’m making it with Red Heart Fiesta and I really like it. I have a lot of inexpensive yarn left over from years of knitting kids sweaters, so I am trying to use it up.

That’s another thing I am doing pretty well with…using my stash. I have tons of yarn and now that my house is so much smaller, I have to do something to save space. I am trying to use the largest yarn first so I can reduce my stash quickest. Unfortunately, my cousin sent me some instructions for knitting Mary Hoyer doll clothes to sell on ebay, but they use very fine yarn. I love knitting things like that, but it isn’t helping make much space. About the only yarn I buy is what I need to go with something I already have and I am trying to keep that at a minimum.

So, how am I doing so far? I’d say pretty good. If I can keep this up all year, there should be a lot more space around here and a lot of warm bodies

2012 UFOs and projects

2011-01-19T20:03:00.015-05:00

Here's my list for 2011. I am not sure I can get it all done, but at least I have listed a group from which to select.

UFOs:
Blue baby afghan - Leisure Arts #3049, Our Best Knit Collection
Ann Norling Vest
Cranberry sweater
Green Doll outfit
Blue Doll coat
Crimson Cutie - 3
Green Fair Isle - I frogged this so it is technically not a UFO
Pastel Toddler Sweater
Eli's Aran
Alina's Aran - frog
Border Options Sweater
Red Ruffles Sweater

Projects:
Purple Boa - Addie - finished
Hat for Julie - finished
Boa for Trish - finished
David's Scarf - The Dudester Scarf - finished
Hats for T.E. and Evan
Fair Isle felted bowl
Prayer Shawls (2) - finished
Fair Isle for Addie, Victoria and Eli
Felted tote bag
Triple Moebius bowl
Moebius bowls
8 Stash Baskets - 1 finished
Crochet laundry basket - almost finished
Grand Plan Top-Down Capelets - Jan (not sure about this)
Star Wars hat and sweater for Charles
Aran Cardigan for me
Hooded Pullover - Leisure Arts #3049, Our Best Knit Collection
Qiviut cowl
6 headbands
Grey scarf
Grey hat
DNA hat and scarf - Lee
5 Aran hats
8 Fair Isle hats
6 Fun fur hats
30 Earflap hats
12 Cancer hats
Felted purses - moebius - Christmas gifts
iPod cozies
12 coffee cozies - 7 finished
6 felted bowls - 1 finished
3 Tea cozies - 1 for Jan
Scrap yarn shawl
Scarf and tam - finished
6 Charity afghans
Doll Clothes - 12 outfits

I did it!

2011-01-09T21:59:00.006-05:00

I set a goal of knitting 23 hats and finishing 23 UFOs for Christmas and I made it! I'll be grinning for a week over this! Of course, I have added more hats now. I had my granddaughter try on a hat for my grandniece and it looked so cute on her and she loved it, so she now has that one and I am making another for my other granddaughter and I still have the one for my grandniece to do. I should get them done by Tuesday. I am going to post a photo on Ravelry on as soon as I can download them. The hat looks like a Russian hat with some Plymouth Jelli Beenz yarn at the top and Flutter Fiber eyelash yarn for the main part of the hat. I did these in purple, but I am going to try some other colors. They are so cute!

I also knit another earflap hat and have a request for another. I might have to be a lot more careful in choosing the people I get to try on these hats...so many of them end up with my sample! Not really:) It's nice to know that they love the hats and want them for themselves. That's music to a knitter's ear. This Christmas I ended up making 3 more earflap hats and 3 more Russian hats along with another scarf as requests.

Now I am going to have to make up some more goals, but I think I am going to just let these counters stay for a while to remind me of how good it feels to achieve my goal:)

Time for New Year's Resolutions

2010-12-22T14:01:00.002-05:00

I know that a lot of people think these resolutions are a bit hokey, but I like them. It at least gives life (and knitting) a focus and even if I don't keep all of them, I at least get some done.

1. This year I will conquer two-handed stranded knitting. I have been working on it off and on and I really want to concentrate on it this year. I know how to knit from both hands and to strand on the knit side, but the purl side eludes me...well, I know how to let go of the needle and twist the threads, but I want a motion like on the knit side that will be smooth and a part of the rhythm of knitting. I also have to master the jog-less joining of my rounds. I just hate seeing the pattern spoiled at the end of each round.

I am also still having trouble making my floats long enough. Even though I think I am spreading my knitting enough to get the correct tension, I still come up with places where the pattern is just a little tight.

To do this, I plan to make lots of charity hats with Fair Isle patterns in them. I am too much of a perfectionist to keep from frustrating myself on gifts for the special people on my list. I won't turn in hats with glaring errors in them, but I think a homeless person will get a hat with a Fair Isle pattern and think how nice it is that someone made them a hat with a pattern in it instead of just making plane old serviceable hats. I doubt they will notice that the design might be a little bit tight in places. Actually, I started on this learning project last year and have made quite a few, but this year I really want to concentrate on putting it all together.

2. I am going to do more designing from scratch. For years I have adjusted my patterns changing length, collars, trim, hems etc., but this year I want to design from scratch using a person's measurements. I already have two Aran sweaters on the needles and have knit the fronts up to the armholes. Over the Christmas holidays I hope to get at least one of them graphed out.

3. I am still working on my UFOs and plan to bring them to Virginia when I go up in the summer again. That worked so well this past year and I have really gotten a lot done. I actually ended up making some up for Christmas presents which cut down on the amount of Christmas knitting I had.

4. I am making some serious headway with my stash. I have found some great things to do with some of my yarn. One member of my knitting group members wants to make afghans to give to each of the special needs kids that come to camp in the summer. I found a whole bin of granny squares already made and a bunch of odds and ends collected to make more. That should get rid of 2 bins right there.

I sorted out some more yarn and linked them to some projects in Ravelry. As I do this, I am going to set aside yarn I think I'll never use and either sell it on eBay or take it to "From the Heart" in Richmond for them to use. Yesterday, my sister and mother and I took a whole bin worth of knitted items to them for donation. I'll try to make up a bin to take with me in the summer also. I have also joined some stash-busting groups on Ravelry to help spur me on.

5. I am going to try to make some more of my Christmas presents throughout the year using the techniques I'm working on. I did a number of projects this summer and it turns out that I really needed them when my dad went into the hospital in November. Ravelry is a super help for this because I can link the pattern and the yarn together when I enter my stash in their database. I've found that getting a stack of books and magazines and just going through them to pick out patterns for gifts is not very efficient. I get terribly distracted and end up frittering away my time on interesting projects of my own.

6. Last! As I reclaim my needles and stitch holders from my UFOs I plan to enter them in the Ravelry database also and evaluate my collection. Extra needles I'll give to the new knitters in my knitting group and take the rest to "From the Heart." As added incentive to give away my extra needles, I am going to gradually switch to some more of my favorite Lantern Moon needles. They have really spoiled me!

This is a pretty ambitious list, and I doubt I can do everything, but at least I have a plan!

Dad's passing

2010-12-02T01:07:00.010-05:00

Sadly, my dad passed away November 29th. He went in the hospital on the 22nd and I left from Florida to go to Virginia on the 25th. We brought him home on the 29th to hospice care and he died 4 hours later. He wanted so badly to go home and I am glad we were able to get him there.

He was a remarkable man; raised on a depression poor farm in Mississippi, he managed to go into the CCC's and the Army where he learned to operate the radio. That led him to Washington, DC where he got a job with the FBI. He did a
lot of work on himself to make that jump from farm to FBI including taking ballroom dance lessons. He lost the Mississippi drawl, but he never lost his love for his birthplace and his family. We moved many times with the FBI, but every summer we loaded up the car and went "home." Of course, we had to go "home" to Mom's family in Wisconsin, so we were usually gone the entire month of August.

While he was in the hospital, I stayed with him overnights. I knitted Christmas presents and talked to him, even sang some of the old songs we sang in the car and later with his guitar playing friends. There were so many wonderful memories. He could do anything he put his mind to and he always told us we could do the same. He'd say, "Of course you can do it; you're my child." He meant it too. We were not allowed to say, "I can't." After he retired from the FBI, he built a house in Callao, VA and a boathouse for his beloved "Wis-Mis." It is hard to imagine looking at a piece of land and deciding you were going to build a 2-story house all by yourself, with no training... and with only a little help from friends and family, but he did and he did an amazing job.

The grandkids all grew up there crabbing off the pier and playing in the sand. They often brought their friends with them to spend the weekend; it was that kind of home. There are just so many wonderful memories and I am so grateful to have such a remarkable, wise, loving and giving father. He lived to be 90 and he left an enormous footprint for all of us to follow.

Knitting hats and UFOs

2010-11-28T01:45:00.004-05:00

I have been knitting up a storm and really cranking out the hats. I've found an earflap hat that I love. I've made 7 of them from Wool-ease with several variations. I'll try to get some photos up soon. It seems like I can't get either of my counters to the end. I keep adding hats to my hat counter and finding new UFOs to add to that counter also. I found a ripple afghan in the attic that I am turning into a Christmas present. I always liked it, but I made it for a friend and before I could get it finished, they moved and had a completely different color scheme. The new recipient has just bought a new house with lots of space to fill up, so this is perfect...a gift I love for people I love.

The earflap hats are going well and they have a lot of space to do colorwork on them, so I just keep adding recipiants that I think will like them. I figure I have about 4 more of the earflap kind and a couple of Aran type that I have been wanting to make for ages. I'm making a hat and boa out of some eyelash yarn for my 4 year old grandneice, and I am hoping I get used to using that yarn. So far, it hasn't been all that great, but my sister assures me that it gets easier. For the little grandnephews, I want to make these balaclavas. Then I have a vest to make (It's half done), 3 crochet bags (1 finished today), some ipod carriers...one looks like a hoodie and is so cute! There's a Star Wars hat and sweater that isn't even started and 2 children's Arans and 1 Gansey half done. I think I am going to have to learn to knit while I sleep! Thank goodness some of these are UFOs and are already well on their way. Pictures will be posted and a new list made.

New Knitters

2010-11-10T00:15:00.010-05:00

Monday at Kofe Haus, I taught two young people how to knit. That makes 4 this month. These 2, one male one female, are recent college graduates who can't find jobs, so are going on to graduate school. Like many, they would like to earn a little money before starting grad school, but since they can't, they are trying to make good use of their time.

It is so rewarding to me to introduce people to this wonderful ancient craft. I can't help but think of all the rewards knitting holds for them. I picture them going into yarn stores and feeling the rich texture of the yarns, picking out projects, knitting for others and knitting for charity, which just happens to be why one of these young people wants to learn. I also think of the wonderful stress releaser knitting is and how it can see them through a world of troubles. Now there is a Harvard study that says what we knitters have always known.

Maybe this won't happen for them, but it's a start. Most of us who have knitted for any length of time bless the person, or people, who taught us to knit. We recognize the importance it has in our lives. We know of the enjoyment of knitting with friends and relatives, of knitting when our hearts are broken and knitting at night waiting for a loved one to come home. We enjoy the felowship we have with other knitters and love the variety of people we knit with. We love making something special for someone we love and making something special for a person we will never know. When we see trouble and tragedy in the world and want to help we know that there is some organization that will help us reach out to others with our knitting...or we can start one. I know that we could go to Walmart and buy hats, mittens or blankets for the homeless, but it says so much more when the gift is from the hands and heart of someone who cares and took the time to invest in a stranger. We could purchase soft hats for people in chemotherapy, but how much better it is to send a soft hat in beautiful yarn or an intricate pattern.

And if these kids get wrapped up in grad school and jobs and they put aside their knitting, they can be like so many who learned once and only need a few minutes lessons to pick it back up and let knitting work its magic in their lives.

Kofe Haus Meeting

2010-11-01T16:21:00.003-04:00

There were 3 of us at the Kofe Haus meet-up this morning and as different as we are, we found lots of things in common. We have a retired teacher and librarian, an archeaologist waiting to get into grad school and a writer and mother of two; two female, one male. I think that is what I like about knitting meetings. They bring together such a wide variety of people who start out only having a love of knitting in common, but we grow by interacting.

I also love the "knitting in public" movement. People stop by and chat about knitting and I am amazed at the people who say that they always wanted to learn. Some say they'll do it when they retire and others take up the hobby because they need an island of calm in the midst of a chaotic life. My mom says that she thinks better with her knitting needles and I find that to be true for myself also. Knitting calms me and grounds me. How often do you see and adult just sit down in a chair and think? We always need to be doing something and so often the thing that we are doing takes up too much of our attention to really think. Not so with knitting. I can sit in a chair and just knit and as I do, bits and pieces of my life seem to sort themselves out.

Christmas Knitting

2010-10-31T01:28:00.008-04:00

I can't believe it is almost November! I have hardly begun my Christmas knitting. Fortunately, there are a few things on my UFOs that are presents, so I am already halfway there for some gifts. I live in Florida and it is hard to think about Christmas when it is still near 90 degrees. There isn't that sense of urgency you get when you feel the frost in the morning and see the leaves turn beautiful colors. My poor air conditioner ran all week.

I tallied up my Christmas knitting and I have a lot to go. I'm making Aran and Fair Isle hats this year with scarves or mittens to go with them for my extended family. I have a number of Arans I want to do next year and I thought I would just make swatch hats using the various patterns. It's a lot of work for a hat, so this makes it do double duty.

I also got another "ticker" and updated my UFO ticker for the holidays. They seem to help motivate me. I found 2 more UFOs that are perfect for Christmas presents, so I changed my UFO ticker to 22.

I'd like to make some of those beautiful Scandinavian mittens this Christmas, but I should have started them this summer. Who could think of mittens when was almost 100 degrees and we hadn't rain in over a month? As usual, I will be still knitting Christmas Eve.

My additional UFOs are:

9. - Lovely red Aran size 4 - sew together
10 - White novelty yarn vest -finish fronts

More Organizing and Charity projects

2010-10-21T20:27:00.006-04:00

I am making some inroads into my stash. Here are some more charity projects that I finished this month. The burgundy and green chemo hats are so easy to make so I always have a hat on the needles. The green hat and scarf set was made from some yarn I never thought I would be able to use here in Florida, but I think some homeless person will like it. I made two of those hats in one evening.

Some things take on a life of their own. Now that I have started to organize my stash and projects, I find now that I need to set up a place to take photos AND I see that my camera is old and leaves a lot to be desired. I never realized how yellow the light is in my apartment until I started taking these photographs. I got out my Ott light, but then I didn't have a good place to lay out my stash and projects. Nothing is ever simple. I never thought about all that goes into getting organized.

One More Finished

2010-10-20T13:25:00.004-04:00

My nephew's caveing socks are finished. I think I have perfected this pattern. This hunting season will be the final test. When I went to do the kitchener stitch, I cut the yarn to short and had to go back 2 rows and add a new piece(: I added the piece in on the top of the foot and I hope he can't feel it. I could have kicked myself. I just wasn't paying attention.

Charity Knitting

2010-10-05T16:32:00.011-04:00

This is a little blanket I made for "From the Heart," a charity shop in Richmond, VA while I was up there for the summer. It's a wonderful place where you can go to get donated yarn, needles and patterns for your charity projects. They also have comfey chairs and sofas so you can sit and knit. The first time I was there, there were about 15 second grade students there, boys and girls, all knitting. They had already contributed squares for an afghan for the homeless and someone had put the squares together for them and brought the finished afghan for them to see. They were working on another one while we were there. The school bus picked them up after about an hour to take them back to school. What an inspiration!

They had a need for preemie blankets and I found the mock cable in and was trying to make a blanket 24" x 24," but the pattern is actually a ribbing and the cable draws the fabric in. I can't remember what I cast on, but I calculated it from the gauge.

I learned a few things from this project; cast on about 10% less stitches than you want so it won't ripple at the ends and use some short rows in the side borders about every 3 inches to keep it from drawing in. The cable is really easy to do and you don't need a cabling needle for it.

Pictures from Summer Knitting

2010-10-03T00:49:00.009-04:00

I taught Eli, age 8, to knit this summer and she finished a scarf for her mother, some coasters for her daddy and the red yarn is for a trivet. When we watched some movies, she went and got her knitting just like her grandmother, great grandmother and aunt:)

I've had these socks in my UFO box for a long time. The first one worked up quickly, but I made a mistake on the second one and couldn't remember where I put the pattern.

I finished the Crayon sweater for Charles and had enough yarn to make one for Addie also. They're bright and colorful and made a big hit, even though you couldn't tell it from Charles expression. I have two more of these sweaters left to make.

Here are some chemo caps I made. I have made about 12 of the ribbed ones, but only one of the 2 color which is what I really wanted to practice this summer(two-handed stranded knitting). Right now I am looking for a truly jogless seam. I do intend to keep working on the stranded hats this year until I am proficient.
Crayon Sweater

Organizing My Knitting

2010-09-27T18:31:00.007-04:00

For the last few days, I have been entering my knitting books and magazines in Ravelry and bringing some organization into my knitting world. Spurred on by my success with UFOs this summer, I have been eager to bring everything together in one place and evaluate what I have. For years I wasn't able to knit much, but still managed to accumulate stash, so now I have a gold mine to dive into.

For anyone who doesn't know, Ravelry is a great website for knitters. In fact, it probably is a little knitting corner of heaven:) On Ravelry, I can type in the name my books and magazines and most of the time up pops a picture of what I have. I can then click on the picture and most of the time I am taken to a page with photos of all sorts of projects that are featured in the publication. The next thing I do is look at all the many variations made by other knitters and read their comments. But that is only the beginning! From there I link to the project page by marking it as a "fave" and if I really like it, I put it in my queue which is on my "notebook page."

I've had my grandson bring down all sorts of yarn from the attic and I am working on adding photos of my stash and linking them to the projects I've picked out. I had some ancient Bucilla Glace that I was going to just take to From the Heart in Richmond. I clicked on the yarn and found a great idea for it. Knittindiva made a beautiful shawl using the Glace as one of the anchoring yarns and added bits and pieces of other scrap yarn.

This is part of my resolve to get order in my knitting life. Actually, my doctor recently put me on a stronger thyroid medicine and I am feeling so much better that tackling it seems much more doable now. I am trading back and forth between working on the computer and actually knitting the projects I am working on now. The success I had this summer has fed upon itself and I am ready to go.

Also, to keep up the energy, I have contacted two women who were also on Ravelry and live in Fernandina and we have already had one knitting session in our local Kafe Haus. It is so much more inspiring to have someone to look at what you have accomplished so far or to have a "show & tell" deadline than to just knit on your own...at least, it seems so for me. I got really spoiled in Virginia with all the great folks in my sister's group.

What projects are left?

2010-09-23T19:40:00.007-04:00

I'll get photos up as soon as I find that charger cord, but here's what is left:

1. Baby vest - started for Charles, got off count somewhere and couldn't fix it. Now I am making it for Jonathan.

2. Lavender fluffy sweater for Addie. This one is just lacking the sleeves. It just got put on a back burner for a while - no problems.

3. Knit red coat for 18" doll - sew together

4. Knit blue coat for 18" doll - sew together

5. Knit green sweater and skirt for 18" doll - sew together

6. Red ruffled baby sweater - sew together

7. White baby sweater - sew together

8. One green hunting sock

AM I SEEING A PATTERN HERE???

Charity Knitting - more projects done!

2010-09-20T21:07:00.005-04:00

I am on a roll. I got 2 more chemo caps done and finished an isolette blanket. I'll upload some photos when I find all the cords and things I need to download my photos. Nothing is going to happen if I can't get the camera charged up again and that cord seems to be elusive.

For the isolette blanket I used a tiny mock cable that I frequently used years ago. It is such a sweet pattern for baby things and it is so small that tiny fingers don't get caught up in it easily.

I met a knitter from Ravelry this morning at the Kafe Haus in Fernandina. We had no problem picking each other out of the crowd...who else is dragging bags with sticks sticking out and balls of color peeking over the edge. I hope we can get a few more knitters to meet with us. I did the finishing on the charity projects I had with me and then picked up a sweater for my granddaughter out of lavender Fluffy. That was in my UFO basket also, so I am looking forward to counting that in my list of finished projects.

I am making some progress on my project to inventory all my books and needles. I entered some more on Ravelry, but I find that I have to take photos of some of my books and, of course, I need the camera. I have also gathered a number of old projects and put the yarn and pattern in the bag so I am ready for the next one when I finish.

I am trying to do my UFOs in an 80/20 ratio. I work on UFOs 80%of the time and new projects 20% of the time. I am only doing this for one year and if I make it, I get to go with my sister on a Virginia Shop Hop next spring. Even my 20% should be from my stash unless I find a really good sale; We shall see.

How do things get to be UFOs?

2010-09-15T21:20:00.005-04:00

There is something that I wonder about in knitting. I see a pattern and grab some yarn and start to work on it with great enthusiasm. I like the way the yarn looks, every thing is going along nicely and suddenly, I loose interest. Sometimes it is because I have a problem with the pattern, but a lot of times there is no reason. I tuck in back in the closet where it reproaches me each time I see it. I try not to look too deeply into the closet while I do my best to keep thoughts of the cost of the yarn and the time invested. Yuk! I do not want to do this project.

AND then... one day, I look at my knitting and fall in love again. Now the color is lovely, the pattern is interesting and I am raring to go. Has the yarn changed? No. Has the pattern changed? No! Obviously, the knitter has changed, but how? I swear I am the same person who looked into the closet a month ago. Is it hormonal? Have my biorhythms changed, is Venus in a different house (whatever that means)?

Now, if I could find an answer to that question and turn it into a potion, I could get rich!!!! Just think...upon nearing the closet, you take a pill and slowly approach. Wow! You can't wait to get back to that pattern you started in the 70s! (Well, perhaps not the 70s. Some fashion eras do not bear repeating.) Now you love your project and can't wait to start knitting. Think how much money you would save!! Maybe you could even use the pills for other things that have been started and not completed. If only...

Back in town

2010-09-10T21:19:00.004-04:00

Yeah! I am back in town again in my own little house..which is now a mess because I am starting a project to gather all my needles and hooks and take an inventory. That means getting out more unfinished projects and evaluating them.

I GOT EVERY UNFINISHED PROJECT I BROUGHT WITH ME TO VIRGINIA FINISHED!!!!! What a high! I made 4 pair of hunting socks, 2 pair of regular socks for presents this Christmas, a vest for my granddaughter's friend, 3 mittens (one for spare), Charles' sweater, a novelty scarf, a baby sweater, and ??? I can't remember, but I photographed them and will upload soon. Every single project had something wrong with it, which is how it got to be an UFO in the first place.

I also made about 10 chemo caps for From the Heart, a sweater for Addie which I didn't bring quite enough yarn to finish the last sleeve, 2 more baby sweaters, designed and started an incubator blanket and an Aran sweater for Eli.

I can hardly stand myself I am so tickled! I accomplished this marvel because I had my mother and sister around me to talk to while figured out what was wrong, unknitted the mess, corrected the problem and finished the project. If I was at home, I would be mumbling about the yarn, the pattern developer (mainly me), the fickle knitting goddess etc. I also brought these projects in their own little bag and when I went somewhere, I only took that bag...no other choice:)

So now, I am going upstairs to sort out some more projects and see how well I can keep this up. I did bring back some beautiful fall colored sock yarn that I am going to make for myself and I am trying to decide if I start it before Addie's sweater or after. Since I live in Florida, I think I will finish the sweater first so Addie can wear it (if it ever gets below 80 degrees!)

Knitting UFO's

2010-07-14T23:09:00.002-04:00

I came up to Virginia for the summer to spend time with my folks, my sisters, my son and my grandkids. When I packed I got together a big bunch of UFO's and took them with me. So far, I have finished one scarf, a sweater for Charles, 1 pair of socks for a Christmas gift, 4 pair of hunter's socks, a shrug, 2 pairs of woman's socks (blue and carnival) and I am almost finished with a knit vest for my granddaughter's friend. (I also completed two cross stitch projects too, but that's for my other blog.)

As I struggled with each UFO, my sister commented that I was sure having a lot of trouble with my knitting. So why do you think they got to be UFO's in the first place? There was the sock that had the toe section perpendicular to the body of the sock, and the pair I was grafting and messed up and couldn't get the grafting unpicked. Then there was the pair of hunting socks that didn't match. One had a 2/2 rib cuff and the other a 1/1 rib. I added a matching sock to each and now have 2 pairs. There was the vest that started out a cardigan and then I added 3 cables up the front and skipped all that buttoning business. I was having problems figuring out the new neckline and then I hated the shoulder sewing. I ended up taking it out and making short rows for the shoulders and using a 3 needle bind off. It looked much better. The hunting socks I made changes to the basic pattern after my nephew gave me some suggestions. I ended up with a sock design that I am really pleased with. I'll be adding photos of all these very soon.

What I have left: another pair of blue socks and a pair of pink camo mittens. I can't believe I am almost through with my UFO's. Surely another will turn up somewhere. If not, I still have plenty at home. I also have another pair of hunting socks to do because I got my son to try the sock on for my nephew and they fit him so well, he wanted a pair. That's not exactly a UFO, but a cousin to one:)

Bringing them up here with me proved to be a great idea. Not only could I not just chuck the thing in the bag and start a new, non-problematic project, but I was also knitting and visiting with my relatives so all the picking out and problem solving didn't seem so tedious.

Packing for Virginia

2010-05-13T23:39:00.002-04:00

I'm getting ready to go to Virginia to house sit for my sister when she goes on vacation. Actually, she is going for 3 separate vacations and I am thinking about staying up there all summer. I'd like to spend more time with all my family up there and help out with the care of my folks and grandkids.

I'm getting out the worst of my UFO's and bringing them along. I know we be sitting around knitting and chatting and maybe the conversation will keep me from grousing about all the problems I am having with these UFO's.

I seem to have a lot of socks in various stages. There are several toes that need to be grafted and some that have to be unpicked and grafted correctly. I am definitely going to make the next socks the toe-up variety. I haven't so far because I decided I was going to make socks until I was comfortable with grafting...or at least could do it tolerably well.

I'm sure I can find a lot more projects to keep me busy and I am going not going to work on anything new until I have these done;)

Eli's sweater - finally done

2010-01-08T23:38:00.007-05:00

The sweater is finally done and I managed to find some "spider" buttons for this little nature girl. Amazingly, her class is presently studying spiders. I would not use this yarn for a cardigan again. It is lovely yarn and very soft, but it was hard to put in the button band. I finally made it doubled and lined up the button holes. I am not sure how well it will wear, but it is exactly what Eli wanted and she is pleased with the results, so that makes me happy. It really did turn out cute.

Knitting trip

2009-12-30T23:30:00.003-05:00

Today Mother and I drove down to Irvington, VA to look at a new yarn shop...or at least new to us. We had such a great time and got a lot of inspiration. We didn't buy much which made us feel very virtuous, but I did get something I really needed. Years ago I gave Mother a hanging organizer for circular needles and I have meant to get one for myself sometime. This is the first time I saw one in a store. Usually you have to order them. This should help me with my organizing project. I promised myself, as a New Year's resolution, to sort through all my knitting needles and project bags and organize ALL MY STUFF!!! As soon as I get home, I am going right to it and I am actually getting psyched up about it. We shall see!

Finishing Eli's Sweater

2009-12-29T20:05:00.000-05:00

I can't believe it has taken me almost a year to get this one sweater done. I've made some socks and other thing in between, but this was the project that I wanted to get done most. Since I am about 650 miles away from Eli, and I had to have her try it on periodically, it has been slow going. It's a good thing I made it big. All I have to do now is make the garter stitch button band and sew on the buttons.

I did have one great success...the yellow buttons. I found a great place to order buttons...buttondrawer.com. One set of buttons had a black widow spider on it and that was what she picked. Eli is our nature child and she loves all sorts of things that creep and crawl. I ordered several sets, but I had a feeling that was what she would choose. Hopefully the buttons will arrive soon and the sweater will be on her by the weekend.

I know I knit something!

2009-12-10T23:21:00.003-05:00

Where has this year gone? I know I have been knitting all year, but I seem to have so little to show for it. I have knitted sox and I have to remind myself that the guage is very fine and that means that, although they are small, there are a lot of stitches on the needles.

I've also been trying to rescue some old projects or reclaiming the yarn when that is not possible. I have been meaning to do this for a long time. I have a nice bit of yarn that once was a sweater for my son when he was little. It is in watch plaid colors and I have tried to reclaim it and knit something for his son. That hasn't been going well. I've tried several things and it just doesn't seem to work right. I hate to admit it, but the yarn may just be worn out. I don't mean it has breaks in it or anything like that, but it just doesn't seem to have any life to it. I think I am going to try one more time and after that, it goes in the trash if I can't work it out.

Knitting Eli's sweater

2009-11-30T19:19:00.001-05:00

I feel like I have knitted this sweater at least 3 times. The yarn is soft and lovely to work with, but counting rows and measuring has been a real challenge. I finally ended up sewing the sweater back and fronts up to get the bind off for the armholes.

That worked and then I started looking for yellow buttons. That was a joke! I finally began looking online and met with some success. It was certainly cheaper than driving all over the state.

Time to catch up

2009-08-10T13:03:00.006-04:00

I can't believe it has been so long since I have written in this journal. I've been doing more on my Twaddle journal, and have been neglecting all my others. I decided to keep track of all the books I have read this year. I did that about 20 years ago and it was a real revelation.

So, where am I on my knitting? I still haven't bought any yarn and I have been trying to complete some old projects. I did get the yarn for Eli's sweater, but that was a special request, so it doesn't count. I have finished the body and one sleeve, but waited until I was in Virginia where she could try it on, before I finished. The sweater fits perfectly, so I'll be working on it again.

I've also got several pairs of socks on the needles and will get to work on them also. I see that there are only 137 days left until Christmas, so I'd better get some of them finished.

I am in Virginia housesitting again and my sister has me going to all of her knitting groups. That should put some spark in my knitting life. I am looking forward to going to the River City Knitters group in Richmond. I hope that someone there can show me how to strand yarn when using the English/American system of knitting. I do the Continental style knitting, but I a knitting a pattern with two colors and I am doing the main color with the Continental style and the accent color with the other. I have it all worked out except the purl in the English.

I love knitting this way when I am using two colors. It is so much more efficient that carrying and twisting the yarn. I'm thinking about making it my project of the year next year. Two years ago, I challenged myself to make socks until I could knit them without a pattern and it really worked. I might even combine it with socks for some really nice Christmas presents.

The lavender sweater

2009-05-16T17:30:00.001-04:00

I have got to get back to this lavender sweater. It is a fluffy yarn and will be good for either of my granddaughters, but I am having a lot of trouble getting back to it. I don't know why I have gone off of it; I liked it perfectly well before I started Eli's sweater, but now I can't bring myself to start working on it again.

I think this is one that is going to end up being taken to Virginia. I'll be up there two months and am bringing all my FUO's. I am going to force myself to work on them. I don't understand why I have this reluctance, but I know I am not alone. It seems to me that I would look at the project and say, "Wow, I only have one sleeve and this is done." It's like being given a project with most of the work already done and you only have about 10 more hours to work on it and then you have a nice completed project. It doesn't work that way though. Once something gets shifted back to the UFO pile, it becomes harder and harder to work on it. Oh, well. I guess that is just the way it goes.

Eli's sweater

2009-03-01T15:25:00.000-05:00

I am still working on Eli's sweater. I broke my rule and have ripped this sweater out twice. Since Eli picked out the yarn herself, I can't just keep on knitting it for whomever it will fit. I seem to be having trouble getting things to fit. I work a stitch gauge every time I start, but I must be changing my tension a lot when I actually work on the sweater. Things keep getting either too big or too little.

I decided to knit the sleeves in the round on double pointed needles. I hate to sew things together and hopefully I can figure out a way to do this all the time. This worked perfectly, but the sleeves seem to be pretty big. I think I might have to set this aside and wait until she can try it on.

Sweater for Eli

2009-02-10T13:18:00.000-05:00

I'm starting a new sweater for my granddaughter, Eli. We went to a knitting store in Williamsburg and she picked out a bright yellow yarn for the body of the sweater and kelly green for the trim. It's a darling pattern and should go very well.

It was fun watching her in the store. I think she is going to be a knitter. She looked at the yarn "respectively...with the kind of look that knitters get. She was compelled to reach out and touch the yarn and when she made her choice, she really looked all the possibilities. I'm going to be going to Virginia in the summer for two months and I am going to try to teach her to knit then.

Socks for Addie

2009-02-07T19:56:00.007-05:00

Around Christmas I saw some stretch sock yarn on sale and thought I would give it a try. I didn't have a pattern, so decided to use the tube sock found in Knitting Vintage Socks by Nancy Bush. It said cast on 48 sts., so I did and it is turning out so small. I didn't have anyone in mind when I started, but I think they are going to be for my 6 year old granddaughter. That is one of the things I love about knitting socks. I don't worry too much if my gauge isn't exactly right because I decide who to give them to when the socks are done. I used #1 needles and am very pleased with the way the yarn is knitting up. The colors are pink and green and there is a nice blend.

I was looking through all my knitting catalogs and I just had to wonder at all the choices we have in yarn. I am amazed at the richness and variety. I remember the lean years when you could only get Red Heart and a few other brands without traveling to the city to find the one and only yarn shop. It wasn't like that when I was in college in the 60's. Back then Department stores were actually department stores, not just glorified clothing stores. There was a housewares section, yarn and needlework, and fabric section. I could lose myself for hours. Then came the Hippie years and we had quilt fabric, macrame and all sorts of fun things. I cringe at some of the things I made, but still I was able to find materials for my hobbies.

But then something happened. I think it was a huge shift in retail. Corporate executives wanted to only look at the bottom line. Whatever sold the best is what we got and that was clothes...clothes, and more clothes. Store owners were no longer able to order what the people in the area actually wanted, but were forced to accept the dictates of Corporate policies whose leaders only worried about the bottom line. If you don't believe it's true, then follow the history of Walmart. It's a far cry from what made the store so successful in the beginning. OK, off my soap box. I'd better go look for that camera.

New Year's Resolutions

2009-01-12T15:22:00.005-05:00

Well, last year's resolutions didn't turn out badly, so I am encouraged to make more this year. I got in the habit of thinking of my stash first before I bought yarn, so I think I am going to do that again this year. Same rules, but I will allow myself 2 get out of jail cards this year. This being the second year of "Lent" I'm allowing for a little more weakening.

This next resolution I am actually excited about; I guess because it is creative. I am just going to start with one bin and start making things...whatever the yarn tells me it wants to be. If my project ends up being too small, I am not taking it out once it is past 4". I'll just finish it and give it to charity or save it for my great grandchildren.

This resolution has left me feeling so much better. I'm sure my "knitter's imaging" will come back soon enough that way and I will enjoy my knitting so much more.

I am resolving to do one more thing which I hope to have done this month. I am dragging out all my knitting needles and other supplies and putting them in one place! After having a big house with 2 sewing rooms, I have things stored in all sorts of places. Now that I am living in 1/3 the space, I don't have enough room to keep everything. I also have lot of projects I lost interest in. I am going to finish whatever I can and gather the needles and yarn holders. I bet I have 100 stitch holders at the very least. I need to inventory them and get rid of the surplus that I will never use.

Now, if I can do as well as I did last year, I will really feel like I have accomplished something,

Recap of the year

2008-12-12T15:10:00.003-05:00

Well, I made it! I got through the year using only my stash. Actually, I did fall of the wagon one time which is allowed. I went on a genealogy trip with my sister to Pennsylvania and I bought some sock yarn and some very fine yarn to make a shawl with. I got the shawl yarn because my family went together and got me some quivit yarn made from muskox. It is incredibly expensive and I thought I would do better if I practiced some first.

Mother, Mary Beth and I all have our quivit, but only Mother has finished hers. She is a lot braver than Mary Beth and I, and also a better knitter. I have a wonderful book for using the super-fine yarn and I have seen numerous designs that I like, but haven't settled on one yet.

I also did some charity work. I made 6 white and blue scarfs for the Special Olympics. They are giving them to all their participants. I think it is such a great idea and hope they continue it the next Winter Olympics. I also got a wonderful books about charity knitting and some 16" round needles to knit oodles of little hat for the Santa Train to distribute. I think I will also use up some of my baby yarn for preemie caps.

Getting My Skills Back

2008-10-10T15:39:00.002-04:00

Finally, I am beginning to get some of my knitting imaging back. I should have mentioned that I knit very little for about 10 years because I had bursitis in my shoulder and carpel tunnel syndrome. The only way to cure it was to give it rest. For a while, I thought I would never knit again:( Fortunately, it didn't turn about that way. About 4 years ago, I began knitting again, but I was surprised to find that I had lost a lot of my "knitter's soft skills." I knew how to do most any knit stitch, but I was having trouble judging how something would look, or the size, or any of those things that come from experience. I never thought about how much those things add do our knitting. I am happy to say that new see a light in the tunnel, or I should say "an error in the directions."

I'm Having a Bad Knitting Month! or Knitter's Imaging

2008-07-23T19:56:00.003-04:00

I don't know if it happens to anyone else, but for the past month, all my attempts at knitting have been less than satisfactory, to say the least. I am trying to only use yarn from my stash and it seems like every combination of yarn and pattern I touch is wrong in some way. I'm just not getting the results I want.

This is the first time I've ever had this happen. Usually, I can pick up some yarn and start right in, but not so now. I wonder if the Knitting Genie feels like she's been getting no credit from me and she's now going to tell me what my knitting life is like without her. Please, please come back!

I did a swatch for an Aran for one of of my granddaughters. The stitch gauge was 25 sts = 4" and yet it called for a worsted weight yarn. The gauge was in pattern, and I wish they wouldn't do that. I'd much rather they give the gauge on ss. I figure if I am knitting the same on ss as the pattern maker then I'll get the same gauge on the pattern. I know that isn't always true, but the other way is just as problematic. For example, it says "over pat." Well, which part of the pattern? the center, the cables, the moss st.? You would actually have to do all the patterns and then measure, but then you are halfway done with the sweater, for a child at least. Another problem is that I knit differently on a pattern once I have learned the it. That means that my swatch is going to be wrong. I'd have to knit the swatch 2-3 times before I was consistent. The variation doesn't matter much when you are actually knitting the sweater because the pattern repeats several times across the sweater and you usually have a ribbing at the bottom to adjust any change of gauge at the beginning.

Grrr. The first yarn I used was too dense. The second was too fine. I could get the gauge, but I didn't like the way it felt. I tried a different pattern and didn't like the results there either. So I tried another yarn with a different pattern. It was a cotton with a lot of multicolor bits mixed in and I bought it thinking it would be great for one of the granddaughters. Well, I didn't like it. The yarn is a little too fragile for 6 year olds. The little "tufts" will soon be picked off and the sweater will droop.

Somehow, I seem to have lost that well developed sense long-time knitters have that show us in our minds what a certain yarn will look like when worked up. Is it "knitter's imaging?" You don't know the value of something until it is gone. I hope this is just a temporary thing like writer's block...or maybe it is the Knitting Genie. Please, please come back!

The Camos are done

2008-04-18T01:08:00.002-04:00

Well, all the camos are done. That means 4 of them...a green one for Jacob for his first hunting trip, a desert one for Charles...he's 3 and his dad and brother are in the National Guard and wear the tan camo, and 2 pink ones for Addie and Eli. All the kids look so cute in them. If I can get my camera working, I'll take some photos.

Now I am trying to figure out what to knit them for Christmas. I have been thinking about Arans for Eli and Charles. It seems a lot of work for a little one, especially Charles as he is the youngest and nothing gets passed down from him, but I love making them. It's wonderful to see the pattern to develop under your hands and there is enough going on in the pattern to keep you interested...or rather, it keeps me interested. There are times when I just want to knit something mindless, but most of the time, I want a little challenge.

Pink Camo Sweaters

2008-03-08T01:03:00.003-05:00

Well, I finished one and it has been worn and worn but on the second one I did something I can never remember doing on something knitted. I CUT A HOLE IN THE SWEATER while trying to cut off a joining yarn. It was right down in the front about 1-1/2" above the ribbing. I couldn't believe it. How could I be so careless? Arrrg!

I started to weave in a repair but it turns out that I cut thread in 2 different rows. I had a hole in it like you would in the heel of a sock. It was easier to take the sweater down and do it over again than to fix the hole. I can practically knit in my sleep, but I can't repair a hole, so I decided to just knit it over.

I'm finished now and I'll put it together tomorrow or Sunday, but my poor little granddaughter in Virginia won't have much time to wear it unless Virginia has a really late, late spring! Fortunately, I made the two sweaters very big, so they could wear them next year too. This year the sweaters were like a tunic. I'll try to post some photos in the next few days. They sure turned out cute!

I also knitted hats and 3 mittens. I do mean three! I would have knitted 2 pair, but there wasn't enough yarn. Three means that you still have a pair when one is lost. Once I started that when my kids were half grown, they never seemed to loose mittens any more. Go figure!

BTW, I am now in month 3 and still have not bought 1 skein of yarn:>) It is actually kind of fun. We'll see how it goes.

Camouflage Yarn

2008-01-11T23:35:00.000-05:00

I can't wait until I can get back to New Pathways for Sock Knitters: Book One by Cat Bordhi. I made the little Blue Sky sock and it was so much fun, but right now I am knitting little camouflage sweaters, mittens and caps as fast as I can.

I finished Jacob's sweater so he could wear it on his first hunting trip. (He's 11 and headed for Virginia and the "Swamp Hilton" as the hunting cabin is known.) After that, I got requests for some of the new pink camouflage yarn, so I started a bulky sweater for my granddaughter, Eli. The one I made was too small, but we couldn't get it off her, so I went back to Florida to make her another one and send it back as soon as possible. I knit a desert camo sweater for her 3 year old brother, Charles, and he put the little cap on and wouldn't take it off. I hope to get some of the photos soon. I put a little "Alfalfa" tail on the top and he looked like a little elf in it.

Back here in Florida, I got out more pink camouflage yarn to quickly make a sweater for my other granddaughter, Addie. Winter is VERY short here in North Florida and if I don't get it done soon, it will be shorts weather again. In fact, I saw a girl in shorts out today. The high was in the 70's. I'm not complaining about the temp, but it is a little limiting for a knitter. Fortunately, there are all those wonderful things you can knit and felt!

I am using Bernat's new "Softee" yarn and it is really soft. The kids love it. I don't know how it will wear, but the kids grow so fast, they wouldn't be able to wear it more than 2 seasons, so that isn't much of a factor. I haven't washed it yet, but so far it is a real pleasure to knit with.

I managed to knit 6 pairs of socks in December also and they made great presents. For the hunters and one spelunker, I used Lion Brand Wool-ease and it kept the guys warm, but they could also just throw the sock in the wash. My nephew has had his for 2 years and said they held up just fine, so I guess that will be my yarn of choice for the guys.

The other socks I made from a variety of self-striping yarn and they were such fun to knit. It is magical watching the color develop as you knit. I'm totally addicted. Fortunately they make great Christmas presents, so I can knit to my heart's content.

New Year's Resolutions - oh well!

2008-01-09T23:16:00.001-05:00

It doesn't seem like I should make more resolutions if I couldn't manage to keep the ones I made last year, but I am ever the optimist. This year I have done a lot of thinking about the state of the world. It started when I drove past the huge pet supermarket they are building out on A1A. Suddenly, it seemed obscene when people are starving all over the world. Our pets live better than most of the world.

Don't get me wrong; we have a dog and we love him dearly. He is very well-fed and living the life the people in Darfur can't even imagine. So, what has this to do with my New Year's resolutions? I got to thinking about how much yarn, quilting and needlework stash I have and realized that just because it's warm and fuzzy, doesn't mean that I am not still using more of the world's resources than is right, especially when I am not using it and am buying more (and more...)

I thought about spending a year working from my stash and it suddenly seemed not only a good idea, but a necessary one. I'd like to use same rules another group used with a few modifications:

1. I will not buy any yarn during 2008, with the following exceptions:

a. Sock yarn does not count. What? You think I am made of stone?

b. If someone asks for a specific knitted gift that I really and truly do not have the yarn for, I may buy yarn to knit that gift.

c. If I am knitting something and run out of yarn, I may purchase enough to complete the project.

d. I get one "Get Out of Jail Free" card -- I am allowed to fall off the wagon one time.

2. I am allowed to receive gifts of yarn.

3. Trading stash is allowed.

I really liked those ideas except that I believe I have enough sock yarn to keep me going for several months, so I'll nix that one, at least for a while.

Resolution two: to do some knitting for charity this year. I don't suppose it will help anyone in Darfur, but I can use some of the yarn to knit for various charities, especially the Santa train in Appalachia. I have a lot of scraps that could be knit into hats and mittens. I used to do it all the time, but I haven't for ages.

Resolution three: to learn a new technique. Recently, I decided that I was going to master grafting stitches and to become so familiar with knitting socks that I could almost knit them in my sleep. That has gone really well and I like making socks so well, I plan to always have a pair on the needles. They are perfect to knit while I am working on the computer. I'm even going to make a knitted tree garland that has miniature socks, sweaters and mittens on it. I saw it in one of my books and I just loved it.

That worked so well, I thought I would chose another knitting skill. I haven't figured out just what I want to do, but I have some ideas. I got some qiviut yarn for Christmas and I plan to knit it into a shawl, so I think I might practice lace shawl knitting. I'd also like to do more felting so that I can feel more comfortable predicting the end product.

We'll see how it goes

Stash breaker

2007-11-12T13:57:00.001-05:00

Oh boy! It has been ages since I have blogged about knitting. I knitted myself into some serious shoulder problems last year making afghans. Too much of a good thing!

Recently I came across a knitting group who decided to knit from their stash for the first nine months of 2007. Coming on the heels of a trip to the attic to search for yarn I knew was there, this seemed to me to be a great idea. I cannot believe how much yarn I have. The group came up with some sensible rules and I think I will give it a try.

Here's the url if anyone is interested http://wendyknits.net/stash2007.htm

People like me should never get all their stash into one place at one time. It is much better viewed in a multitude of locations so that we don't have to see just how much is really there! When I combine it with fabric for quilting and books for all needle arts, it becomes overwhelming.

So....

I am going to follow this group's good example and pledge to knit from my stash in 2008. I'm still not brave enough to list all the yarn I have, but I can take down one bin at a time and knit from that until it is finished.

I've been knitting socks like the world is sockless and just found a charity knitting group that knits socks from a great little pattern called "Magic 28."

the http://nownormaknits2.typepad.com/magic_28/

It shouldn't be hard to use just about any weight of yarn to knit up some socks that would keep someone warm this winter, especially since energy prices are going through the roof.

First, I have to finish knitting socks for the hunters and hikers in the family. I'm using wool-ease with size 3 needles to make the socks as dense as possible. I'm making a few pairs for the non-hunters also. They aren't as fun as the self-striping yarns, but my feet will thank me when I go up to Virginia.

I've also just finished a camouflage sweater for my grandson who is on his first hunting trip. The male members of my family have built a hunting cabin on some property on the Eastern Shore of VA and it is affectionately know as the "Swamp Hilton," (named after the piece of property called the "swamp field.") They do this male bonding thing at least twice a year. In the summer they gather to work on the cabin and in winter, they hunt. This is my grandson's first trip and he was so excited.

Back to the yarn... Our electric company has a contract for power that is about to run out and our bills are going to go up 30-50%. The thermostat is going to stay chillingly low this winter in an attempt to keep the bills to a manageable level. That means sweater, shawls, afghans and socks for all of us and that is music to this knitter's ears. We've been living in North Florida for about 20 years, so I haven't had the opportunity to try out a number of great looking sweaters I have patterns for. There is always a silver lining to every cloud. Now if I can just be disciplined enough to not get back into carpal tunnel territory. I figure that I can alternate with my quilting so as to not stress the same muscles. We'll see. I am going to dig out my camera and take photos of the things I make.

No Olympics for me!

2006-03-03T00:17:00.000-05:00

Well, my body made the decision for me. I got the flu and couldn't go into Jacksonville to get some more lessons, so I couldn't start the bowl. I couldn't start anything...this was a killer flu.

I'm working on my French Market tote for a KAL with me Felting group. It's been fun. I'm just about finished. It's been a long time since I have just knit with no pattern to worry about. I'm enjoying it. I always tend to challenge myself by either designing the project or picking a complicated one. It's been nice to just sit back and knit.

I'm preparing for my switch to my new and much smaller house sometime this year. I don't need this big house and I am looking forward to a place designed for easy living. Of course, it is the 2-story garage from my house, so a lot of things will stay the same. I've been living with my daughter and family for about 14 months and during this time I'm making some felted bowls to display and contain my projects. I'm also making bags to put on poles like coat racks. I guess I am trying to make my stash a decoration. Sounds like a good plan to me!

Olympic Knitting

2006-02-08T14:17:00.000-05:00

Do I commit to an Olympic stint of knitting? The object is to start knitting Feb. 10 with the opening ceremonies and finish by the Feb 26 closing ceremonies. You are supposed to choose something that is challenging for you and a real exercise of determination. The details are found here.

I'd like to do the "Trifold Knitter's bowl in The Second Treasury of Magical Knitting by Cat Bordhi. It looks complicated and I am 55 miles from anyone who can help me. I've never done any moebius knitting and the cast-on looks difficult. Why am I such a sissie about this? Years ago I would have taken it on without a second thought. When did I start avoiding challenges? On the other hand, I might be just more sensible about what I can accomplish nowadays.

It makes sense to start with one of the smaller, less complicated bowls, but would that be a challenge? Hmmm, what should I do? I think I will call my LNS and see if I can come down for some lessons and see how complicated the method is. I really want to make this bowl and this is a great opportunity. I can watch the olympics (especially when I should be cleaning or something else I don't want to do)and set aside time for knitting with a clear conscience.

What shall I do?

What Kind of Knitter Are You?

2006-01-21T21:45:00.000-05:00

Well, I've taken another quiz. I'm not too sure about this one. I agree with all of it except that I've "passed the growing pains and are feeling more adventurous." I passed my growing pains about 30 years ago! I design my own patterns a lot, especially Arans and have done for years. Hmmm...So I went back and looked at the questions. Well, when you only have 4-5 questions, how detailed can you get? I'll never be one of those people who put strange, funky yarns and styles together and try to pretend that it is creative just because it is bizarre. Now days I guess that makes me too conventional. So maybe I am, but then, who cares but me?

You appear to be a Knitting Adventurer.

You are through those knitting growing pains and feeling more adventurous. You can follow a standard pattern if it's not too complicated and know where to go to get help. Maybe you've started to experiment with different fibers and you might be eyeing a book with a cool technique you've never tried. Perhaps you prefer to stick to other people's patterns but you are trying to challenge yourself more. Regardless of your preference, you are continually trying to grow as a knitter, and as well you should since your non-knitting friends are probably dropping some serious hints, these days.

What Kind of Knitter Are You?
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So what kind of knitter do I really think I am? I'd say confident, I may not like to do every kind of knitting stitch, but I'm sure I could manage somehow. Next, I'd say sensual. I like the feel, mood, and color of yarn. I have to touch it. This is one time when "look with your eyes" just won't do. I have to rub yarn on my cheek, smell it and relate to it. I like the natural fibers best, especially wool. No matter what we do to it, there is still a bit of wildness in it. It has bounce and "hand" and life. It tells me if it wants to come home with me and a lot of the time, it tells me what to make it into. Sometimes I argue with it, but the yarn ALWAYS wins.

I'm a competitve knitter. I like a challenge even if it is only with myself...sometimes especially when it is with myself! I want to make my knitting match what is in my head. Sometimes I have to wrestle with it and it lets me win when I finally understand it.

I'm definitely a "process" knitter and not a "product" knitter. Projects can languish for ages before being finished. Once I have gained the experience and seen how the sweater will turn out, it's hard to keep motivated. I'm ready to go on to the next challenge. That isn't always a bad thing. When I need a gift for someone, I can take one of my projects and finish it in a few days. Of course, children grow older and my languishing project may not fit anymore, but then there are more children being born who are the right size and the child who has grown out of one project may soon be growing into another.

I am a social knitter. I like knitting groups and they are good for me. I am more apt to finish something on time when I have been sharing it with others. I guess I want to show it off. No matter, if it gets it done. The downside is that I get intrigued with what someone else is doing and I'm off and running.

Whatever kind of knitter I am, I am sure of one thing. I love knitting! If I am in a good mood, I like to knit for the sheer enjoyment of it. I think better with my needles. Whether I am getting ready for a trip or being evacuated for a hurricane, I have to stop periodically and knit. It's not wasted time. It is how I collect myself and think about what is really important. It's like dropping back to punt. I get ahead better if I stop to think, but I just can't sit on a chair and do nothing. I have to do something to semi-occupy myself. I'm like Pavlov's dogs. Give me knitting and I relax and my mind spins free...better to think of important things I might have missed.

When I am making something for someone, I knit myself into whatever I am making. I see them receiving it, wearing it, enjoying it. I think about our history together and the future. I say some prayers for the wearer and sometimes for myself too.

I love knitting so much, I feel sorry for the people who can't knit. I try to teach as many people as I can. I want to share this gift that has been given to me. I guess you could call me a "Passionate Knitter." That about says it all.

What kind of Sock Type are you?

2006-01-20T22:02:00.000-05:00

You quite like socks, but your not overly-obsessed with them. You would have been a pair of knee-length socks in any color, and probably stripy or something to make you that little bit more interesting.

What type of sock are you?
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I found this cute quiz to take to determine what kind of "socks person" I am. It was very clever and I expect that it describes me very well...at least as regards to socks. I love to knit them. There is something about watching the self-striping patterns develop that is so compelling and yet so relaxing. And I love wearing them too. My friends don't understand, but there is something so satisfying about taking a string and two sticks and making an everyday, but necessary bit of clothing and stamping it with my own personal style.

The sox tie me to my Wisconsin grandmother whose chores included knitting the clothes she would wear every day. She'd be rolling in her grave however; to hear me speak lofty words about something she HAD to do daily. In fact, I once asked her why she liked to crochet so much better than to knit. She said that they all had to knit every day, but when they had finished, they could use left over yarn to crochet pretty trims to go on their clothing. She always associated crochet with creativity and individual style...sort of what I was saying about my sox...Hmmm.