Christmas Week

Well I have no pictures of knitting today, but I have been doing a lot of work on the Lyra lace. It just looks like a wad of string. I got quite a bit of knitting time this week by being a klutz. I twisted my ankle in Ballet class monday night. After a trip to the urgent care on tuesday I had an air cast and crutches. I have spent much of the rest of the time on the couch with my foot up. I hoped to be done with the crutches by today, but I still can't put all of my weight on that foot. Fortunately it is my left foot so I can still drive, but work is a lot harder since I don't normally sit at my desk all day. I called in lame on wednesday and friday and left early tuesday and thursday. I do have to work tomorrow and them I am off for the rest of the week. We are headed to the grandparents for christmas unless the weather really puts up a fight.

2 full weeks before Christmas!

I had a wonderful day baking yesterday and plan to do more today. Here are yesterday's goodies:

Dresden Stollen, Basler Lecherli, and English toffee.

I have also finished some Christmas knitting:
These are scarves for the women I do Irish dance with. I used 2.5 skeins each of Araucania Nature wool in green and Cascade 220 in a tan color. I wanted similar scarves, but not identical, so they all stripe, but in different directions.

I also got the green romney wool spun for my sister and have continued the knitting on both the entrelac scarf and the ski sweater. Both of these knits had to sit in time-out while I did the scarves, but I will get back to them later today or tomorrow.

Lots of knitting going on here

This would be further along if my guage swatch hadn't lied to me. It is the Telemark Ski Sweater from KnitPicks. I was about 6 rows more than what you see here when I discovered it was about 4 inches too big. The guage swatch said 6.75 sts/inch, but I was actually getting 6.25 sts/inch. Out it came and I have re-started.
I would have gotten further, but I had to go to a lace knitting class. I had a class with Anne Hanson of Knitspot. We worked on a little "sampler" for the advanced lace knitting part of the class and then got to see a trunk show of her designs. I got the sampler mostly done in class, I just have to graft part and then block.

I also got some new yarn. I got the chullo hat kit and the palette warm sampler from KnitPicks. I think they sold out again.


I also finished the legwarmers


Pattern: Traveling stitch legwarmers, Interweave Knits, Spring 2008
Yarn: Debbie Bliss, Rialto 4ply superwash, 3 balls
Needles: US 4, 3.5mm
Modifications: added 10 rows of rib at bottom to make the stirrup part
Time needed: 2 weeks!!!

These were a fun knit. I was afraid they would not fit my 16" calves, but they did just fine. I have worn them for a ballet class and I think I will need to run a piece of elastic through the top to keep them up.

Here is my basic knitting project. I loved the Jojoland yarn, but it wouldn't work for the legwarmers, so I had to find a new project for it. I think the entrelac shows off the color changes quite nicely. I have 3 balls, so we will see how long it takes to make this scarf.

Finished sweaters

Here is a picture of the linen sweater I finished a while ago, but didn't get a good picture of until last weekend. This is what I have called the Kohlrabi linen sweater.
I also finished the brown V-neck.
Pattern: The Knitter's Handy Book of Sweater Patterns by Ann Budd
Yarn: My homespun from Coopworth and a mix
Needles: US 9 circ and dpn

I also finished a second mouse from the Simply Knitting pattern by Alan Dart.

Wool Festivals

Two weeks ago we had a huge wind storm (thanks Ike) and lost power at my house for just over 1 day. We were better off than most of central Ohio and definitely better than Texas. I didn't have much of a problem as spinning and knitting don't use electricity, but the hot water heater did need power. This also closed school for 3 days, but not my work.

Last weekend was A Wool Gathering at Young's dairy. I went and got not as much as I really wanted, but had tons of fun and then ate some great gelato. I got KnitSpot's pattern for Lacewing and some of the KnittingNotions lace yarn in a berry color, the current issue of Spin-Off and about 4 oz of alpaca fiber.

Yesterday was National Alpaca Farm Days. I went to Windy Lane Alpaca's farm here in central Ohio. I got to pet them, watch them, take their pictures, and buy some fiber. I got roving from Sienna.

This little guy, IncaGold was so cute.

As to knitting, I am working away on a basic v-neck pullover with my handspun coopworth 3-ply. I am following a pattern from The Knitter's Book of Sweater Patterns. I am still amazed by how even my handspun is. I can't wait to finish the sweater so I can wear it. I am also making a second ballet mouse for a little girl's birthday present.

Summer almost gone.

At work we are mostly done moving 3 labs. It was a lot of extra work and eliminated the need for a gym membership for a bit. I have gotten some knitting done. I can't show one item as it is a stealth project. I really liked working with the KnitPicks Swish yarn. I can't remember if it was the DK or worsted, but it was really nice to knit with. I hope it washes well.

I also finished block 5 of the Aran Afghan. I really liked this block. The 24 row repeat made the pattern fly. The other blocks have had either 4 or 8 row repeats and I was getting bored and didn't want to finish them. I think most of the rest of the blocks will be a larger pattern.

Last night I decided to start a new project. I found out that Lacis was selling the Lyra pattern by Niebling, so I ordered that and 2 other lace knitting books. I started Lyra last night with the mushroom Zephyr I had purchased a few years ago and knit 2 mystery stoles with.

I also got a book of Amigurumi, mostly for the duck pattern, but there are lots of others I want to try. I am still learning how to do crochet well. This duck was worked on while watching the opening ceremonies of the Olympics and in the car. He/she/it looks funny, but cute.

I also signed up for the Mystery Stole 4 (by PinkLemon's mother). I will probably not knit this as the mystery unfolds as the last 2 mysteries I did were not much to my liking at the end. I am a process knitter, but I am running out of people to gift lace knitting to.

Time flies when you are having "fun".

I have been working on spinning more of the brown coopworth, but I don't have any pictures to show. The only knitting I have gotten done is on a secret project that I can't show.

The next few weeks will hold less knitting and spinning time. I will be working more hours at my paying job. We have to move 3 labs to another part of the complex and move some offices as well. At first I thought this would be easy, until I realized that we were not moving into an empty room, but instead moving 2 labs worth of stuff into a room that was currently being used as a lab as well. This means that we have to take the "empty" space and try to get our stuff to fit. I also have to move my office. I have been in the same "office" space for about 9 years now and I really like it. To get this all accomplished while still doing extractions and analysis it going to take extra hours and lots of patience.

Now for better news, N decided to "get" swimming. One day he had issues putting his head under the water and the next he was actually moving across the pool with a swimming motion. He is also enjoying the gymnastics class he asked to take.

I am back.

I have done some spinning. Here is about 775 yds of a 3-ply made from 2 ply of coopworth and 1 ply of a mohair/llama/merino blend. Unfortunately I think I am allergic to the blend part. My eyes started itching every time I worked with it. I still have more of the coopworth that I can spin to a 3-ply to add yardage to this.



I also finished one mouse from the Alan Dart Circus mouse pattern in Simply knitting. I decided to make a ballet mouse instead of a juggler. I still need to figure out how to put ballet shoes on her feet. She is about 7 inches tall including ears.

This past week we spent in Holly River West Virginia camping. Here is the campsite after the rain finally stopped. Note that the big white shelter is tilted. The rain the first night overloaded the tarp part and bent 2 leg parts and the ridge pole.


While camping I worked on Egeblad. I decided to follow BrooklynTweeds' idea of using thicker yarn and a doily pattern to make a throw size. I was using Lion Brand's Fishermans wool and 5.5mm needles. It finished up to be about 36" diameter. A little to small, but still looks good.

Where does time go?

Since I posted last, I have competed in another Feis (got 4 medals, danced 5 times), had a ballet dress rehearsal for the recital, mostly finished a sweater and got frustrated trying to design a lace shawl. The sweater is the Inverted V kit I bought at MS&W this year. I just have the crochet edging and blocking left to do.
This was a fun easy knit with shaping only at the shoulders and armpits. Now to stop the curling at the bottom.

I have been trying to design my own triangle lace shawl. I found a pattern I thought would work for the last part before the edge and then tried to find patterns to go in the big open space before that one. I charted several things in Excel and they tried to knit them. The first one I tried was just too much solid knitting, not enough lace. The second one I tried, I had the increases for the triangle wrong. I give up. It is way too hard for me. I just don't have the patience to see this through. I will just continue knitting other people's patterns. I didn't even take pictures of my trials, they were that unsuccessful.

I got the newest available Simply Knitting and just love these mice. I need to make them all, but I have to get the next issue to get the rest of the patterns.
I haven't figured out how tall each is, but I need to make them.

It's been a while

I have had way too much going on to get over here and post. Since I last wrote, I finished the CotLin sweater. I don't have a picture yet, other than a VERY blurry one of me in a mirror. The yarn is lovely. I will post all of the details when I get a proper picture.

I also went to Maryland Sheep and Wool. I didn't spend as much this year as last (this is a good thing). I mostly got fiber to spin. I did buy one knitting project, a kit from Sheldridge Farms. My sister and I got the same pattern and different color yarns. I love the yarn, it is nice and smooshy. My sister also got me some fiber to spin for her so I need to finish the current spinning project soon.

In non-knitting activities, yesterday was the first Feis of my competition Irish dance season. I came home with one first place, one second place, two third places, and one dance had no medal. It was a pretty good day. The weather was the type where I should have been outside instead of in a convention center. Today (Mother's Day) we had rain all day and then tornado warnings in the early afternoon. Not a good day to let the boy play outside, but he is doing a good job of letting me spin a lot today and relax.

I finished some things!!!

This past 2 weeks I have finished several things. First we had to fix an outside faucet that broke and was leaking water into the walls. Then the hot water heater broke and we had to have that replaced. Next I put a finish on my spinning wheel with danish oil and I plied the first skein of 3-ply brown wool. Today finished knitting something out of a handspun yarn and finally seamed the Baby surprise jacket and put the buttons on.

So along with finishing things I started something new. I got the new KnitPicks catalogue and ordered CotLin in Kohlrabi and the pattern/yarn for the Telmark Ski Sweater. I have knit up the front and back of a sweater out of the CotLin. I just love the drape of this yarn.
Now I just have to start the sleeves and figure out how the lace pattern will work with the increases. I plan on knitting both sleeves at the same time to make sure I get them identical.

Time Flies

I am back after spring break. We went to Florida for 4 days. It was lovely, but I didn't find a single yarn store on the beach. I did a lot of work on the Aran afghan I am working on. After getting home, I got SSS finished. The yarn I used (KnitPicks dye your own lace weight) had a color difference between the 2 balls. I guess you should buy the balls within less than 1 year from each other. To try and hid this color change, I dyed the shawl with black tea (recipe at KnitPicks website). I like the final color, but I am still not really happy with the finished pattern. I really like symmetrical things and this just isn't quite right. So here is a picture of the finished stole.

Pattern: Spring Shawl Surprice, Mother Earth
Yarn: KnitPicks dye your own laceweight, 1 1/2 hanks
Needles: 3.25mm
Finished size: 25" x 77"

The other projects I have been working on are the Amigurumi animals. They are very cute and addictive to make. I had 2 sets to make for some babies that are coming or have already arrived.
For Baby Sanford:
For Baby Amanda:
I also just finished a pair of socks, but the picture is on the other camera that I can't operate.

St. Patty's Day

Happy St. Patty's day to all. I did lots of spinning yesterday and today. Here is what I have:
I will wind it off the bobbins later to find the yardage. I had 5 bobbins that I plied on my jumbo flyer/bobbins. It was so much easier than before with both the lazy kate and the jumbo flier.

I haven't finished the current clue in the SSS since I am not really liking the pattern. I do plan on finishing it, but I am not frantically working on it. I took some time to make these amigurami animals for a baby that will arrive next month. I hope to make an octopus to go with them.

The flu strikes again

I got hit by the flu again this past Thursday. I was so sick I didn't knit a single stitch on Saturday. I did how ever manage to finish the Baby Surprise jacket since last week. (except for the shoulder seams and finding some buttons)
Pattern: EZ's Baby Surprise Jacket
Yarn: Lite Lopi, about 1.5 balls each color
Needles: Inox Express, US 7, 4.5mm
Time: about 1 week
Size: 4 sts/inch, cuff to cuff is 21", chest about 21" around

I have no clue who this is for, I just wanted to try the pattern.

I have also finished clue 10 of the Spring Shawl Surprise. I can now tell that I don't really like the final pattern. I am a very symmetrical person and while this is symmetrical within each row, I don't like how the pattern is very different on one end.
I think it is a mother earth theme with a "woman" standing above "earth".

This Thursday we will have the Cub scouts over for the den meeting and we have planned a presentation about recycling and then I will help the boys make some paper. It should be fun, but possibly messy. I will hope for the best.

March already?

Time flies when you are having fun or being very busy. I got the pattern for the Baby Surprise Jacket by EZ around Christmas time, but haven't tried it yet. I just can't grasp the pattern without actually doing it. I went through my stash and remembered about a bunch of Lite Lopi that I had. My sister suggested using it to make the Baby surprise, so I started. I am changing colors every 10 rows to try and help understand what is going on.

I also found the patterns for the amigurami animals at the Lion Brand Yarn website. I had to remember how to crochet, but it took only about 2 hours to remember and make this little elephant. He is about 4 inches tall and I was using some yarn I had sitting around. I am going to try the octopus, turtle and penguin as well.

I have also finished clue 9 of the Spring Shawl Suprice. I still can't figure out the clue. My husband came up with some ideas, but I don't think they are worth sharing (words not for the general population).

SSS Clue 8

I finished clue 8:
I am really enjoying this. I still have no idea about the theme.

In other knitting, I am working on a pair of socks with Koigu KPPPM. The first sock has a spiraling stripe and the second has one color on one side and another color on the other. What happened to the striping? I am totally baffled. I will post pictures when I get done with the second sock. I just turned the heel and I hope the stripes come back on the foot section.

I hate the flu!

Last Sunday the little guy came down with the flu. He was home from school until Thursday. This meant that I work a half day Monday, nothing on Tuesday and a half day on Wednesday. The husband then started coming down with it sometime during the week. I got hit Friday night by the fever and chills. I now have the chest part of this evil.

This means that I have not finished the current SSS clue, but I did finish the Cherry Blossom Shawl. Here it is before blocking (about 43 " diameter):

Here it is during blocking:

Pattern: Cherry Blossom Shawl, Interweave Knits Spring 2002
Yarn: KnitPicks Alpaca cloud, 2.5 balls
Needles: Inox Express, 4mm/ US size 6, 29"
Time: about 6 months.
Finished size: Block to 52" diameter, shrank a bit on unpinning.

I have also finished the first sock in a pair and started the next one. I don't have the ability to knit a complicated chart right now, so I might not finish SSS clue 7 before the next one comes out. Hopefully I get over this evil flu soon.

Spring Shawl Suprice clue 6

I have finished clue 6 of SSS and I still like the pattern. I can't wait to see what is next.

I have also been working on the Cherry Blossom shawl and finally got to the edging. Now I just have small rows to do, but about 700 rows.

I also started a new project. I decided I want to try many cable patterns, so I am going to make an afghan with lots of 12 inch blocks each with a different cable pattern. I am using Lion Brand Fisherman's wool. Here is the first block:

SSS continues again

Here is the finished mitts. They are well liked and used at work.
Since I didn't post last week here is a picture of the end of clue 4 on SSS
And here is after clue 5

This week is N's birthday, so I see a yummy cake in my future.