Happy Birthday Norma!!

She's the one in the Pink!

Just A Small Problem?

Well, maybe not so small, but when you have tri-focals it's damn hard to get a clear view when your glasses want to hang slightly off kilter on your face. It kind of screws up what you are trying to look at.

And I don't think this is the type of frame that you just take and get repaired. The good thing is I can get in to see the eye doctor on Friday. I'm just about year past due for the check. Hopefully, I can get some new ones in a couple of weeks. Until then, I'm going to have to grow longer arms or sit further back from the computer screen.

I Got Something Cool In The Mail Today

But, I can't show it to you. Why? Because I bought three of them and two of them are for Birthday and Holiday Gifts this year and I don't want the recepients to see them on the blog and think they might want to order them for themselves. So, suffice it to say, there kind of pretty, they support a worthy cause and they are knitting related.

Tomorrow, I get to spend the day with my mom. I'm taking some knitting cause in between laundry and going over some papers I am going to knit on something. It's helpful to keep the hands busy when you have to hear the same thing a couple of times.

Hope the sun shines too, cause that always helps the cause.

Did You Get Yours?

I got mine. What a surprise to an otherwise long day. I skimmed through the mail like I always do when I get home. And there was an envelope from Schoolhouse Press with my Wool Gathering! Now, I've got an order ready to go to feed my book stash!

It's the little things that make me happy!

Finished Ahead Of Deadline

I finished one of my projects three days before my self imposed deadline. Now, onto the next one that is due shortly!

I'm Checking It Off

I have this list going on my current project with a deadline. Each day I have specific points on it that I have to complete. Kind of like so many rows a day, but in this case, parts of it that have to be finished each day, in order for it to be complete by the due date. So far it is going well, and I am a day ahead of schedule.

Wouldn't it be nice if it was done early and I could work on the Round the Bend Jacket for a day before the next project with a deadline? In the mean time, it keeps me from going to Dunlap....which is now slated for a month from today! I can do it! I know I can!

I Took 3 Projects

To knit on while my mom had surgery. Do you think I went overboard a little? Of course. But, I did make progress on the sock I am knitting on. Half way through the surgery, I went out and unloaded two of them and paired the bag down to one.

Surgery went well. I stayed late last night, because it seems the hospital is a little short on staff and I became the gopher and gentle reminder to the staff that she needed her medications.

She should be in about three days and after that, we will have to just punt!

Half of Round the Bend Jacket is waiting to be finished next to my chair. I had to put it down until I get the baby ensemble that has to be done and sent in less than eight weeks! I am at the last turn(after ripping it out). I'll get back to it when time allows or when I get tired of knitting on these little needles.

More to follow.

Catchin Up

No pics today again, but tomorrow! This weekend has got to be a weekend for me to catch up. I have lia sophia business I have to attend to. Laundry to get caught up.
Exchanges to make and lists to start.

And tomorrow, I am officially back on Weight Watchers. I have a group of us at work who are participating in a Losers are Winners Contest at Methodist and we want to show up our fellow co-workers who are also competing. Not to mention, I have booked my trip to Mexico for February and I AM going to be thin and toned for it. So, today and tomorrow I have to get a plan for meals. The last time I did a plan as to what I was going to eat rather than after I ate it, it seemed to work out well and I had a decent weight loss.

My chair that I knit in needs to be cleaned up too. It looks like a yarn explosion hit it and I need to get a plan for it. I have been knitting almost solidly on the Round the Bend Jacket and have yet to finish the first half. After a twist and turn in the almost final join, I finally had it back on track. But, when I got ready to do the final join, discovered that I had way too many stitches to do it. I need to rip it back just a bit and do more decreases than Meg did, since I think I must have added some length stitches in the front. I am going to have to dig the notes out on it and see where the problem is.

I have decided to give Round the Bend one more weekend (this one) and then I need to put it aside! I have two projects that HAVE to be done before October 12th (when the new baby is due to arrive) and I need to work on them. Since my mom is having surgery this Thursday, both of them will be nice to take a long and good to work on after she recovers when I will no doubt (even though I am going to try and not be up there all of the time) need something to keep me sane! I need to get that bag ready (knitting not my mom).

And I NEED to finish a project that I had bought the yarn for out at Dunlap. I am on a Yarn Shop Diet (Dunlap) until I finsh at least one project that I bought yarn for from them. I'd like to get that finished in the next couple of weeks

Good news, I bought my first Christmas presents today online!

I'm Workin On The Shoulder Join

And have not a clue as to what Meg is tellin me. I look at the video. I pause. I look at it again. I read the instructions. I set it down and let it veg overnight, hoping the knitting fairy came along and finished it for me. She didn't.

I work at it again. I am going on blind faith at the moment. I sit it down just as I am knitting it, not to be disturbed. I took a shower. Now, I am going to let it sit til I come home tonight. Then, I'll pick it up and continue. And see if what is suppose to happen is. If not, I'll rip it out.

It will not be pretty if I have to! No pics today, it just isn't worth it. I think this is what she means about driving you around the bend. I 'm close, very close!

With A Little Stitch Here And There

I've made the join. This was a tad tricky, and I'm not sure I like the look 100%, but I am going to leave it. After all, this is learning lesson too.

The beige join may have needed to be one row before, but I am leaving this one as is


A full view of the 3rd turn and the join (after I re-did the the 3rd join). I like the look of the third join now

Presently, I am knitting on the 4th turn. It takes a little while to get it done, but I hope with a little knitting to have the 1st 1/2 done in a couple of days. Then, I think I'll take a small break and work on something else for awhile.

I was thinking of how this is really prime sweater knitting time. It is mid August and there are tons of sweaters I want to do for this Winter's wearing! And I have the yarn already to do them!!!!

My Weekend Is Full

I walking in a parade this morning, campaigning for Ernie Russell for Senate.

Then a Pedicure at noon. Hopefully, there will be time for shopping in between and after. I'm on the hunt for the elusive perfect brown sandals to wear the rest of the summer. And a birthday present for a friend. She has the cutest patio with a Tiki Bar they have set up and I want to get her something in the theme for her birthday. I hope all the cool stuff is still out there!

Then home, for cleaning and laundry and stuff.

Willie has a Job! Not necessarily the one he has longed for, but one that brings benefits and some experience with Security. Now, of course he starts on Monday at 7 am and there are shirts to be washed and pants to be hemmed. But first he has to get his work boots. And of course, he is off at a wedding in Chicago and won't be back until Sunday!

In the meantime, I have to dust off the sewing machine and serger and shove the stuff off around it so I can be ready to the hemming.

Tomorrow, more progress on the Round the Bend Jacket. I am definitely ready for a break from this.

What I Didn't Like

There seem to be holes and bumps that I did not like in this 3rd turn. I have since tore it out and am knitting away again. What I actually think is going on, is a continuing problem I am having with my short rows. I am getting more of a hole then I would like. I thought I had the problem licked after camp.


I thought this other side looked better when I compare them.

I had sort of a moment last night, when I realized yet again, that I am going to have to knit a whole other side to this. I think it may be time to take a break from it when I finish this first half.

I Have A Vent....And A Problem













The problem is the turn going back up. I'm going to think on it.

The Postman Delivers

What a surpise awaited me when I got home Friday night. My friend Julie sent me the cool stitch markers. One can never have enough stitch markers!

I Have A Round Corner

Did I tell you how much fun this jacket is? It just sort of evolves. I knit a section and just marvel at what I've just done. And then onto the next stage, knitting away cause I can't wait to see what it looks like next.

I tell myself, that once I get to a certain point, I'll stop and knit on something else, but I don't. I just knit to the next stage. I'm off to knit some more!

Around The 2nd Corner

Meg is right when she says this sweater will drive you around the bend. Each time I come to a corner I have to put it down and think about what she is telling me to do. The video helps alot. Last night I had to hold mine up just like she was and visually get the idea. Isn't modern technology wonderful?

Hey, doesn't my sweater match my website!!!

Back To Round The Bend

I wasn't real sure at this point when working the top of the sleeve, but all of a sudden there was an ah ha moment and I could see the sleeve tapering. I think this jacket has a lot of those moments. I have the pattern in Handknitting with Meg Swansen and from the tape. When in doubt, I consult all three of the references I have. I guess I'm not quite ready to read my knitting. I'm still dependent.
Love this join on the underarm. This is done by "sewing as you go" wrapping the stitches. I can't believe how it looks and I don't have to sew it when the knitting was done. I'm likin this.

I can't wait to see how this technique adapts itself to stockinette. But, not now, I got too much to do, rather too much I want to do!