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.

SSS continues with clue 3

I am totally loving SSS. I did have to re-knit part of a row 3 times before realizing that I had omitted a yarn over the previous row. Here it is after clue 3:
This week I also finished the re-knit of the basic cardigan. Here it is (doesn't look different that the last time, but it is bigger.)
I also decided to knit some of the "Dashing" mitts (from knitty.com) for a co-worker who is always freezing at work. She is a runner and can't get enough food or keep warm enough. I am using a yarn from my stash and size 4 needles.
My "fat" cat has lost tons of weight and now is only about 12 pounds. She decided to pose for a picture this evening.

SSS continues

Here is Clue 2 of SSS.
I think the middle looks like a Claddagh.

I am really enjoying this and can't wait for the next clue. In other knitting news, we went to visit the in-laws this weekend. I wanted to make a pair of Fetching for my mother-in-law, but she requested full mittens. I started friday evening following the Fetching pattern, but didn't do the second set of cables and finished up like a pair of basic mittens before dinner on saturday. I don't have a picture because we didn't have a camera with us. (First time that has happened). I used the KnitPicks Andean Silk so they are nice and soft and warm.

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.

Post-Christmas tasks

Christmas was enjoyed by all at our house. We did the drive to Illinois Friday evening, then to Wisconsin Saturday morning, returning to Illinois on Monday, and then returning to Ohio on Wednesday. I got only a few knitting/spinning related gifts. My sister got me a "Sheep to Shoe" kit in the Valkerie colorway from Blue Moon and my mother got me a different lazy kate. I got to spend lots of time knitting on the Cherry Blossom Shawl, but I seem to be in the never-ending chart C. I got my Ravelry invite yesterday and have spent a little time on there, but will get more done later. First on the list is the kitchen floor. We moved out all of the appliances and will start the floor tile shortly, but first we need to play a little of the boy's PS2. (it was his big surprise present).

Snow finally

It finally decided to snow. This started as big snow flakes and then turned into rain. We still have some snow cover, but not enough for me.
I thought I would share what our Christmas tree looks like:
I spent most of this weekend inside knitting, spinning and making Christmas goodies. My family has a Swiss heritage, so we make lots of Swiss goodies. This weekend it was Bratzlies, English Toffee, St. Lucia bread, and some fruit cake. I hope to make some other goodies this week. Around all of this baking I finished my cardigan. It fits a little more snug that I hoped, but I think I can block it to be slightly bigger.
I also did lots of spinning. Here is one of the 2 bobbins of this pink mixed fiber I got at MS&W. I have no clue what I will knit out of it, but I am thinking something ballet related as the pink reminds me of that. I think there is some mohair or angora in this mix since it has a halo.
I may not post again before Christmas, so have a great holiday and I will return with pictures of the knitted presents that I can't share yet.

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.

Faina is finished

I have finished the Faina's Scarf out of my home spun. Here it is:

Pattern: Faina's Scarf from Fiber Trends
Wool: Rust color from MS&W, <8 oz, 2 ply
Needles: KnitPick Options, size 4
Size: 12"x61"

Since I finished something I decided to start something new. This is a Christmas present for a family party. I am using Wool Ease since it will then be machine washable. The hat is from a free KnitPicks pattern and the scarf is the Tiny Bamboo pattern from the Vogue Stitchinary vol 1.


I have also joined the Spring Shawl Surprice (a yahoo group). The pattern will be over 8 clues and complicated. The designer is using the KnitPicks bare in laceweight. I had 1 skein, but to make sure I had enough I needed to order a second, so I was able to buy yarn for a sweater as well. I am not going to pay shipping on something that actually comes from across town. I wish local pick-up was a delivery choice.

Spinning Away

This past week I didn't really feel like knitting, so I was spinning. I finished the Starry Night from Tintangle Farms that I got at MS&W. I ended up with 455.8 yds of 2 ply for a total of 8 oz.

I have gotten back to knitting on the Faina's scarf and I have done one point and almost all of 1 repeat of the pattern. There are 4 repeats between points. It is an easy pattern to knit, but I do have to refer to the chart a few times a row.