Beginning of spring

Have finished a pair of socks. They sparkle. I am not sure I like the fit of the toe-up heel flap, maybe I need to make the foot section shorter?I did knit these on dpns since I don't like the magic loop or 2-circ methods, but I followed the pattern from 2-at-a-time-toe-up-socks.

I continue to work on Darin's sweater. I have both sleeves and the back done. I don't think he will get to wear it before next fall, but maybe the way Ohio weather is going, he might.

I have also been working on the In Dreams KAL. We have finished 4 clues and the 5th came out this past Friday. The beads are all on the wrong side, and it therefore takes about 30 minutes to purl the return, but I think it looks great.
Clue 3
Clue 4
I also saw some knitting bags while looking on Ravelry the other day. I loved the fabric, but since I can sew I thought I would make a lunch bag instead of buying a knitting project bag with the fabric. I found the hedgehog fabric at Fabric.com and ordered 3 coordinating fabrics. Using 2 of them I created a bag for my LaptopLunch box, but discovered a design flaw. I had just done a handled bag and my orange tried to roll away in the car. I re-designed the bag and made 2 more of the new design (one for my sister and one for me). This one uses drawstrings to make the handles and close the top. All 3 are reversible with hedgehogs on the outside and mushrooms on the inside.

I have decided not to go to Maryland Sheep and Wool this year, but I really wanted a spinning class, so I looked into classes at one of the local yarn shops. I am now signed up for a Spinning 101 class in 2 weeks! I also fell down a slippery slope and into a rabbit hole and ordered a fleece from Pitchfork Ranch. I will get photos when it arrives.

October 31st?

I have done a lot of knitting recently, but can't put all of it on here. The rest is on Ravelry. I have lost some knitting time and gained some knitting time this school year. N has started martial arts so I get to sit and watch class 3 times a week for 45 minutes each time. This has created some forced knitting time. I also started more dance classes, so I have lost time there. I think it is about an even trade. I don't have as much time for big projects, but will get lots of little things done. I started a pair of socks while on the family camping trip and was able to finish them at N's class.
Pattern: Ballet from Toe-Up 2-at-a-Time Socks
Yarn: Regia stretch

I then had to start another pair of socks. I decided doing 2 at a time was too hard to use as travel knitting, so I followed the same book, but I am doing only one at a time. This also allows me to use the dpns instead of magic loop.

I also decided that I was going to get too many socks done. I am not really much of a sock person, so I started a pair of mittens for the mitten tree at the church. I hope to get more than one pair done before Christmas, but that might be a stretch. I have lots of colors of KnitPicks Palette and since the pattern only uses 1 ball of each color, I should get quite a few from my stash.
This pattern is a free one from Spilly Jane Knits. I like the look of her patterns and thought I would try a free one before buying all of the other ones I want. She has some really cool mitten and sock patterns. So far it is well written and easy to follow, but a bit tight on my hand. Good thing I am knitting for someone else. I love color work with the KnitPicks yarns.

I am still here

I haven't fallen off a cliff. I just have been doing other things and not using the main computer or my camera. I have gotten a bit of spinning done. I tried to work on the Alpaca from a few years ago (from the alpaca named Sienna), but 2 of the 3 balls were very matted. I gave up and plied most of what I had, ending up with about 350 yds of a 2-ply and more still on one bobbin. I gave the rest of the fiber to a spinning co-worker to see if she could work with it or pass it on to friends who do needle felting. Since I gave up on that I started on some pencil roving in the Teddy Bear color. While spinning it looks like cake batter you are mixing melted chocolate into.
I have also been working on lots of baby shower presents. I love the little sock pattern I use as they knit up fast, but after a few pairs I am getting bored a bit. I need to get them all finished up so I can go back to the sweater I need to finish. I also have knit a cute, lovely sweater using Webs yarn. I forgot to take a picture of it, but it knit up quick and the yarn is nice a soft. I will definitely use it again.

A while back I went to Maryland Sheep and Wool festival. This year I took a class on a knitted Gansey sock. I used fingering weight yarn instead of the worsted, so the socks came out just the right size for Nathaniel. He loves them. I got the first sock done the first day and started the second sock in the second day of class. This was the second class I have ever taken on knitting and I learned just a few things, not as much as I really wanted, but I had fun with my sister. The rest of the festival was fun also, I didn't buy too much this year as I have tons of fiber I need to use up first.

End of Summer

Summer has ended and the school year started!!! We got back from a camping vacation where I finished 1 sock. I still have the second one to do, but I got one done in a week.

I have also been knitting on the Sarah cardigan kit I got at MS&W2009 from Selridge Farms. The color between balls 2 and 3 is not as noticeable in person, but you can still see it.
If you hold the balls of yarn next to each other it is not noticeable, but when knit up and photographed it is very distinct. I wonder if over-dying the whole sweater when done will fix that. Any one have an opinion on that?

I have also done some spinning and finished the 3 singles for the Socks-That-Rock Sheep-to-Shoe kit I got a few years ago. Maybe tomorrow I will ply them and see how many yards there are and if I actually want to make socks from it.

I am still here.

Here are some finished projects:
First the ski sweater I promised a photo of.
Now the Crew Crew socksI also finished the Aran Afghan. Actually it is more of a throw being only 3'x5'.Yarn: Lion Brand Fisherman's wool (I can't remember how many skeins
Pattern: based on a pattern from Knitty Gritty, but with other blocks. There are 12 different blocks. The corner blocks are the same (and my favorite one).
Time: Too long, over a year.

I have also done some spinning. A few years ago I got a Sheep-to-Shoe kit from Blue Moon Fiber Arts in the raven color series. I started spinning 2 weekends ago and I have gotten 2/3 done. Last Sunday I spun up 1/3 in about 9 hours. I can't do that much spinning in one day again without taking more breaks. Here is part of the first bobbin worth:


I still haven't photographed my purchases from MS&W2009, but I didn't get much. I got one sweater kit from Shelridge Farms, a sock kit, and 2 bits of wool to spin. I want to start something new, but I have a baby blanket I started that I must finish first.

Almost MS&W 2009

I am headed to MS&W again this year. Before I go I got several items finished.

First, Ski Sweater. No picture yet, it is on the other camera. The sweater is wind-proof and warm.

Second, Lyra:
Pattern: Lyra by Herbert Niebling
Source: Lacis
Yarn: JaggerSpun Zepher silk/wool in Mushroom
Needles: US size 3, KnitPicks
Finished weight: 143 g or 4 7/8 oz
Time: Too long, it sat in time-out for several months.

Third, tofutsies socks:
Pattern: from Sensational Knitted Socks
Yarn: Tofutsies, about 2/3 of a ball
Size: women's size 10
Time: again, too long.

I started a new pair of socks. These are Nathaniel's Crew crew socks.
We are fans of the Columbus Crew MLS team, so he needed socks to wear to the games.

Next time it will be pictures from the festival and pictures of the finished ski sweater.

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.

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.

SSS clue 1

I have finished SSS clue 1. I had a late start as my home internet connection and cable TV was out from about 4:45 Monday until Friday afternoon. I was able to get on briefly Tuesday morning to download the clues. I really like how it looks and it is just challenging enough to keep me interested. I have also been working on re-knitting the basic cardigan I thought I had finished last month. I decided it was too small and instead of trying to block larger, I took it apart and stared over in the next size up.

Here is the current SIP as well. I had some time to work on this during the drive time at Christmas.I have spent some time over at Ravelry. I don't use Fliker, so don't expect any photos there until I can do a link to the photos here on this blog. I hope to find some groups that I can participate in.

Second Sunday of Advent

I have no pictures of Christmas knitting, but I have a picture of what I bought with some Christmas money I received:


This is the Ashford Tensioned Lazy Kate. I got it at a cute little yarn and spinning shop in Nelsonville, OH called the Spinning Turtle. I have ordered the jumbo flyer and extra jumbo bobbins from her as well.

I finished the current SIP. These are for my son.

Yarn: Regia Nation Color
Needles: KnitPick dpn 2 mm
Pattern: Top down basic socks with a broken-rib type stitch.


I have been working away on my cardigan and I am now past where the sleeves join in. I haven't seamed the sleeves yet, but need to block them before doing that.
I have also been trying some of the many dish cloth patterns that exist in blog land. Here are 2,

Tis the first day of Advent...

and I have finished some Christmas knitting. I can show pictures of some since those people have already received the present or don't read the blog.These scarves are knit with Wool-Ease thick and quick on #13 needles. They are for 2 nephews.

This is a scarf and hat set for a big family christmas party. They are Wool-Ease and a basic pattern. I hope they are well liked.

Now for non-Christmas things. I have been working on a pair of socks for N using some Regia sock yarn I got on clearance. I think they will be a matching pair, but I am not certain yet.

Here is where I am on the Cherry Blossom shawl. I haven't work on it in a LONG time. I find it boring, but I do want to finish it as I haven't done a circular shawl yet.
I started on a basic cardigan after trying to follow a pattern that called for a Swiss Check pattern. With the color choice I had made (un-dyed for the main color, taupe and sky for the other colors), the sweater started to look like blue and tan stars. I ripped it out and started creating a pattern using the Handy Book of Sweaters as a guide. This is the KnitPicks Wool of the Andes bulky weight yarn.
I also found time to knit the first swatch on the Spring Shawl Suprice project. I am using KnitPicks bare laceweight and size 3.0mm needles.

October already?

Since I posted last, the fat cat lost about 5 pounds and we found out she is diabetic and has kidney and liver problems. This will slowly get solved by her eating. Unfortunately she has discovered moist and canned cat food and will NOT eat the dry anymore. The wet stuff stinks.
My son is now a Tiger Cub Scout and we are "enjoying" the added meetings and activities. He is loving it.
I have done some knitting and spinning. I finished the Shapely Tee in blue, the ballet shrug I was working on and decided to frog the bag. I also spun more of the rust colored wool and plied the 2 bobbins of the Stary Night. I ended up with 205 yds/ 120 g of a nice 2 ply yarn. I will have some pictures next time I post.

Finished Objects

This past week I have finished 2 items and finally photographed the socks I finished before.

Pattern: Monet Sweater from Creative Knitting May 2007
Yarn: Duet in color SE D21 from Brooks Farm (55/45 Kid Mohair/wool)
Needles: size 5 and 6 KnitPicks options
Time spent: about 3 months

I also finished the Mystery Stole 3. I admit that this is not really my style, but it was a fun knit. I do like the beads and might use them on something else in the future, but I am a very symmetrical person. I still have to weave in the ends and decide what to do with it, but here is the blocking photo.

Pattern: Mystery Stole 3 by Pink Lemon Twist
Yarn: Jagerspun Zephir in Mushroom
Needles: Inox Express 3.25mm
Beads: Silver lined clear (#110) from the Beadwrangler
Finished size: about 72" long and 22" wide

Here are the most recent finished socks.

Pattern: Pennant Stitch from More Sensational Knitted Socks
Yarn: Panda wool in color Basil Curry
Needles: Inox 2.25mm dpns

My next project is the Shapely Tee by White Lies Designs in a light blue cotton blend. I have knit this in the past out of bamboo and like how it fits, so now to make another one.

Mid August already?

I can't believe it is already the middle of August. Since I posted last there was the Dublin Irish Festival with the Columbus Feis, my parents visiting, some knitting, and our second mini-vacation. The Columbus Feis was fun and very hot. We didn't place in the competition as we usually do, but no one got hurt and we had a laugh. My parents got to see me dance and were here that whole weekend (including a trip to the Zoo that turned into a downpour). After that we found out that my husband needs to have knee surgery (scheduled for this coming Friday) and gets/has to go to Milan Italy for work. Unfortunately I will not be able to go along, but since I have traveled out of the US as a child I am not missing a chance to visit Europe. This will be his first time out of North America.

On the knitting front, I have done the front, back and one sleeve of the Monet sweater and have started the second sleeve. While on our mini-vacation (camping in WV), I finished the second sock of a pair I started on our first mini-vacation. (Yarn is the Panda Wool, using a pennant pattern and my normal needles). I immediately cast on for another pair using dpns from KnitPicks. I haven't used those needles yet, since I normally use the longer Inox needles I got in Germany about 10 years ago, but I do like the points and I can get used to the length. My husband thinks I am obsessive since I need to have something to knit on.

Mystery Stole 3 has continued to progress. I have almost finished clue 5 and have printed clue 6. I hope to get started on that tonight, but I have laundry to do. I am knitting it as published, but I will probably not knit a second following it completely (I do like the pointy ends and the middle, but not so for the wing portion). I admire anyone who can design anything. I am a very crafty person, but I must have a "recipe" to follow for cooking, sewing, quilting, knitting, or anything.

Lace Knitting and Harry Potter

This past weekend my "boys" went on a backpacking adventure and left me alone from Friday evening until Sunday dinnertime. I decided to go out Friday night and sit at Borders and wait for the new Harry Potter book. I got tons of sock knitting done while waiting. I had wristband #484 and I got there at 10 pm!! After buying my book at about 1 am, I headed home, glanced at the last chapter and then went to bed. I spent the rest of the weekend alternating reading and knitting on Mystery Stole 3 while watching movies. I have almost finished clue 4 and totally finished Harry Potter 7. I won't spoil the book for anyone except to say I didn't like the last chapter. Now I have 2 weeks until the next Stole clue comes out and I already finished both tasks. I guess I will have to work on other knitting projects. When the "boys" came home they brought about 600 mL of wild blueberries (they had them in a Nalgene bottle) and now they want me to make a blueberry tart. I will have to add some store-bought blueberries to the mix to have enough, but it should be good. I have no pictures to share today as they also took the camera I use.

Has it been 2 weeks already?

In the last 2 weeks I have gone camping, finished a pair of socks, signed up for the Mystery Stole 3 by PinkLemon, worked on the Rosebud shawl and competed in an Irish dance competition.

First the camping: We went to Seneca Rocks West Virginia and set up the tent. One day we went on a coal fired train ride at Cass, WV. That was so much fun and I got tons of sock knitting done during the 4.5 hr trip. Lots of people asked me about the sock and how I did it since I was standing up most of the time knitting. Here are the socks I finished.
Pattern: basic toe up with 2 x2 rib for leg part
Yarn: Koigu KPPPM color P-116

Second the Mystery Stole 3: PinkLemon is hosting this KAL. There are already over 2500 people from all over signed up for this. The first clue comes out Friday. It is interesting this year as there are people who don't speak English in the group. I have been able to work on my German (I do have a degree in German, but haven't used it since college other than little chats with my sister). Incidentally I re-learned how to knit while visiting my sister when she spent the year in Freiburg. The booklet (Stricken Lernen leicht & schnell by Burda) I learned from is getting worn, but I still use it as my first reference. Here is my swatch for the stole. I used Zephyr in Mushroom and have 3 different choices for beads- clear (didn't show up), silver lined (most people who have seen this like these) and a dark grey rainbow (they really stand out).
Third Rosebud: I have started the knitted on edging and I am half done with one side (the picture was taken earlier in the weekend). I hope to get at least 1 side done before Friday and the mystery stole clue.
Last: The Irish dancing. It was the Cincinnati Feis. We came home with 14 dance medals/trophies. We didn't place below 2nd on any dance. Here we are with most of the awards and our "coach".

June already?

I did some spinning this past week. This is the last of the purple tencel that had to be spun. I just have to ply this and then send it to my sister.

Here is my current sock. I got one done and have started the toe on another. This is one of the Koigu sets from MS&W. It is lovely to knit with.
I have added more rows to the rosebud shawl, but you can't really tell there are 4 sides that have 178 stitches each.
This has been a busy weekend. I had my dance dress rehearsal (without costume, ours are not here yet) on saturday morning and then stopped by a yarn store on the way home. I got some of the Panda Wool and then some of the Tofutsies for more socks. After a brief nap we went on a brief bike ride to the elementary school to play on the playground. Then this morning we went on a shopping trip to check out some new bikes. We found some really nice ones at a new bike store and so had to come home and get the bike rack for the car before returning to the store to buy them. This was followed by another bike ride to the playground. It was much nicer than yesterday (I could shift gears and my bum didn't hurt as much). Then after an early dinner we went to the pool to try and teach my son to swim. He isn't learning very quickly. The only reason he went totally under water was because he slipped. Swim lessons start June 11.

This week will just be busier with Kindergarten graduation overlapping my last ballet class before the recital and my husband going out of town for work (and that is just wednesday). Then this coming saturday is the dance recital (hopefully with costumes).

Memorial Day Weekend

Since my last post I have done some knitting, some spinning, some dancing, and went to my 10 year college reunion. I am still amazed that I have been out of college for 10 years now. Almost no one was at the reunion events I attended.

For knitting I have been working on my SIP and I am almost done with the first of the pair. I have also worked more on the Rosebud shawl. It takes about 1.5 hours to do 2 rows now. Here is the current picture (it looks like a larger mass of pink string)
I have also been working my Monet sweater as well. The color of this picture is better than last post's picture.
Here is the spinning I was working on as well. This is the wool/tencel blend for my sister.
Here is the result of my dancing this weekend. I got a 4th and three 1st place medals at the Cleveland 2007 Feis.So it has been a great week and weekend for all of my hobbies. Next weekend is the dress rehearsal for my Ballet class and we don't have our costumes yet. I have been assured that we will not be naked, but until I actually have the costume I am still a little doubtful.