Thursday, May 25, 2006

Do you feel lucky? Do ya?

I'm currently involved in a staring contest with my projects. I stare at them and will them to be farther along than they are... and they stare back at me and occasionally roll their eyes.

The thing about working solely on two large projects is that it feels like it takes forever to make any progress on them. It also doesn't help when you have a very large clock ticking in the back of your mind constantly reminding you exactly how long you have until these projects need to be finished. Thankfully, only one of those projects has a real deadline so the pressure hasn't started effecting me yet. *twitch*

Heather's second pillowcase is at the halfway point and I'm confident that if I really put my mind to it I'll have it finished on Saturday and can spend the rest of my holiday weekend working on the In Full Bloom sweater. I know that the sweater won't be done in time to go to California with me and realistically, wearing it in the 85 degrees with 65% humidity weater that we have here in SW Missouri just isn't realistic so it's not going to happen until about October. But still. I want this sweater done! I at least want the option of wearing it!

Bryan and Owen's Mother's Day gift to me was a hardbound copy of Big Girl Knits, which I absolutely love! I've already tagged a few projects I'd like to do and I'm trying to figure out if I have any stash yarn that will work with them. Bryan has even pointed out a few that he wouldn't mind me making. So kind of him!



I realized that I just missed my 1 Year Bloggiversary! I'm currently thinking up a few fun things that involve prizes, so keep your eyes open for some announcements about that once we're back home after June 6th.

Saturday, May 20, 2006

Picture heavy post, ahead!

As soon as Owen wakes up from his nap we'll be going to Nixa's Sucker Days fair. Apparently this is a big deal here and we're missing out on the town's one big event if we don't go.

In the meantime, an update!!!

Pillowcase number 2 is underway and though not finished yet as planned, it will be done by the time we leave for California on the 30th.

This is the first one. Obviously it'll need a washing and ironing session before being gifted, but I'm really loving these. I have a few dishcloths that I'll be giving them as well. One is already done and another one is halfway finished. These dishcloths have been great projects to have at my desk at work.

Mom's socks are officially a finished project and they will be part of her birthday presents.

Yarn: Sockotta Needles: Addi Turbo 40" circ #1US Pattern: One I have memorized Stats: Started April 13 and finished May 10

My In Full Bloom sweater is on a roll! I bound off for the back and am working on the left front. It's going by really quickly since the bottom half was done in one piece, so the left front is already more than halfway done! I'm really enjoying working on this sweater. The pattern is easy to follow and the yarn (Cotton Fleece) has been surprisingly nice to work with! I'll certainly be making other garments from this yarn if it wears as nicely as it knits.

Mom may be stealing this pattern from me to make one for herself. Every time I see her she must see the sweater to see how it is making up. She's made two sweaters for herself and I think that she's ready for something done on smaller needles.

I made a little promise to myself that I wouldn't start anything new until Heather's pillowcases were done, but I totally broke that quite unreasonable promise. This is the yarn that Lana is using to make her Clapotis and when I saw it on her blog I fell in love with it! It is Sinfonia yarn and is 100% cotton. I'm making some 3x1 rib socks on size 3 birch needles and oh my gosh, I love it.

These socks were started on Thursday night and look at how far I am on them. The gusset decreases are done. I love how quickly these socks are working up! And the yarn has been great to work with. The yarn doesn't split at all and these will be some sturdy socks. Oh, and I love how the colors change! They're so bright and cheerful!!!

One last thing in this picture-laden post! Sarah and I met up on Thursday after work at Panera for a little knitting and chatting. Bryan was kind enough to pick up Owen and take care of their dinners so that I could do that. (Yay, Bryan!!!)

We had a great time and Sarah brought her latest treasure, a signed copy of the Mason-Dixon book. She even let me look through it! There are some great projects in there and I may have to put that one on a wishlist. Sarah finished the Ball Band dishcloth and is now working on the Baby Kimono. Isn't that a great color?

I'm hoping that after we get back from California I'll be able to get back to her Sunday afternoon knitting group. One cannot underestimate the value of being with other women who won't look at you crazy if you ask if anyone has a tape measure handy!

Monday, May 15, 2006

An inquiry

I've been looking for charities to knit for and have found a few that I like. I sent out an email to a few of them and have received very warm welcomes.

Warm the World has emailed me back saying that they're always looking for people to help, but since I'm out of their area I'll need to have 2 more people near me who want to join me so that they can ship out the yarn to us.

Springfield, MO knitters... who would like to joing me in knitting for Warm the World? I can have the yarn shipped to me and take care of distributing it and sending back the finished items.

Friday, May 12, 2006

Rare sighting: The Little Man Vest in action!


It was a sunny day, the first we had seen in almost a week here in the land of flash-flood and tornado warnings. I had just stepped outside to admire the warm sun and say "hello, I missed you!" when out of the corner of my eye I saw it.

I didn't move a muscle for fear of scaring it away. Sudden moves are the enemy of stealth observation. When I felt that it was comfortable with my close proximity I slowly turned my head in order to get a better look.

Oh, it was beautiful.

I calmy brought my camera up to my eye and snapped a picture before the moment was over. As soon as the digital camera did it's fake shutter-click sound the object of my admiration ran away. At least I have proof that it wasn't just a figment of my imagination.

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

Yaaaaarn

I bought this yarn over the summer with good intentions of making something really fabulous with it. It moved halfway across the country with me and during a recent stash perusal I found it again. Loyal yarn that hasn't gotten upset with me for not using it. Smart yarn that didn't get lost during the long voyage from Southern California to Southern Missouri. Brave yarn that has sat in the dark closet for months without complaining.

Here's the problem, I don't know that I really want to make anything with this yarn.

Here's my solution, I'd be interested in making a trade or a sale. This yarn lists at $7.25/skein and I'd be willing to part with it at $5/skein. Or, perhaps you love this yarn and have some yarn in your own stash that has also been loyal and brave but needs a new home. Tell me about it and we might just have a deal!

Monday, May 08, 2006

A very BIG thank you!

I received a package in the mail on Friday from the wonderful Beverly, of the recently renamed PoMo Golightly, who hails from Albuquerque, New Mexico. We met during SP7 when she was matched to me as the lucky person I had the opportunity to spoil. In actuality, I believe that I was the lucky one because Bev is not only incredibly easy to spoil and kind beyond imagine, but she also has the unique ability to make everyone she comes in contact with feel like you are the most interesting person she's met recently.

So back to the package that was sitting in my mailbox on Friday afternoon, I saw her name and address and must admit that I was more than a little excited. However, I did refrain from tearing open the padded envelope until after I had given my child a snack and settled him down with an Elmo's World video. (Let me tell you, that took some self-control!)
Once the package was open I was greeted with a sweet card and some yarn that instantly put a smile on my face. Can you blame me? This is the PoMo colorway of
Mama-e's C*EYE*BER Fiber and I'm absolutely thrilled with it!!! How much do I love the fact that now I'll have some socks to remind me of Bev? A lot. And these socks are soooo going to be made for me.

Now that I've mentioned socks, thank you to those nice comments about Mom's socks! For those curious ones of you out there, the yarn is Sockotta and it is colorway #26. Today at work I finished the heel flap of the second sock and tomorrow I shall be turning the heel!

I've really enjoyed using the Magic Loop method on the last 2 pairs of socks, but I'm ready for some DPNs again. There's inner turmoil about this. See, I really like working with DPNs but I also like the slick metal of the Addi Turbos I've been using and all of my DPNs are bamboo. If I could find some metal size 1 or 2 DPNs I'd be in heaven.

Works In Progress status:

Heather & Spencer's embroidered pillowcases: Finally brought those back out tonight! Tomorrow night I'll have the first pillowcase completed and I'd like to have these done by the end of next week. I'm so pleased with how they're looking. Perhaps I'll post a picture tomorrow after I've finished the first one.

In Full Bloom Sweater: I'm still working on this! In fact, I've divided for the front and back and am working up the back while doing armhole shaping. I was working on it at my LYS on Saturday and got a TON of compliments on it! The compliments were encouraging and make me want to finish this even more. This is one project that will definitely be coming with me to CA in a couple of weeks.

Crocheted Baby Blanket: I actually finished this last night. It's not something that I've ever blogged about, but one of those projects that you work on for thirty minutes and then don't pick up again for another two weeks. Last night I finished up the body of it and then did all the edging. I'll tuck this one away for a gift.

Cozy: It's currently feeling cozy in the craft closet since I won't have time to work on it for a while. I have other projects that need my attention and it'll have to wait at least until the pillowcases are done.

Friday, May 05, 2006

What I see...


I've just created a project that photographically records what I see on my way to and from work. There are certain things that make me say, "I love it that I get to see this every day!" Old barns and two-laned tree-lined roads are high up on that list.

If you'd like to see my project, I have it on my Live Journal. Follow the link, or I have a button on my sidebar.



I think that I may have been incredibly delusional to think that I'd actually be able to get the Cozy shawl done in time for my sister's June 3rd wedding. Why do I think this? Because I still have her embroidered pillowcases to finish and I'm only halfway through one. And I also want to throw in some cute knitted dishtowels. Plus, I also have socks to finish in time for Mother's Day and Mom's June 5th birthday.

So as much as I adore the thought of being able to wear a handknit shawl at my sister's wedding, I just don't think it's going to happen. After all, it's her big day and I want to actually give her their gifts on that day and not ship them back three weeks after the bouquets have withered.



Speaking of socks..

Up top is the sock that I'll be giving to Mom for her birthday. I've finished the first one (see in the picture) and have started on the second sock. No second sock syndrome for me!

Monday, May 01, 2006

The perfect pair

Dad's 50th birthday is tomorrow, but we did some early celebrating on Saturday since he'll be out of town. We had a great time seeing the new developments at the land (paved roads, signs out front and uplighting on some HUGE trees in the entrance), having bbq for lunch and seeing an afternoon show in Branson. The evening was relaxing and refreshing with soft music in the background and a yummy birthday dinner at home. Dad and Bryan read books while Mom and I knit on some projects.

Mom is working on a couple of felted bags to give as Christmas gifts and I brought out Cozy to plug away on. (I'd really love to have it finished in time for my sister's June wedding. The bridesmaids dresses are all strapless and well... Brianne needs a shawl for the reception!) We were talking about projects we're loving and projects we're not so in love in when we made a very startling discovery.

Mom does not like making socks but loves making felted bags. I don't really like making felted bags but I love making socks.

This was when we realized just how perfect we are for eachother. But the wonderfulness doesn't end there.

The sock that I'm currently working on are actually for Mom, so while I was there I had her try it on to gauge the fit. That was when we discovered that our feet are EXACTLY the same size. Length and width.

So I'll be handing Mom some yarn to make me a bag and Mom has already handed me a skein of Trekking (my favorite!) that she had started some socks with that I'll be redoing for her. I do believe that we are the perfect knitting pair.