Late Nights and Knitting

I don't know if it shows, but I did a little changing of colors on this the second time or is it the third time around. The last two nights have been late ones for me. I just could not put it down. You know what it is like when you keep knitting to see what it will look like! Even the tall guy wondered how I could stay up so late knitting!

I have had this off of the needles more times than I can count. Once finally last night when I got to this same point, and realized that the stitch count was a touch off. The pattern specifically states that the count must be right. No fudging. When I had it off the needles to correct the problem, I had it laid out like it will be worn. It looked good. I like it!

It's Good To Knit With Friends

Karen and I are both knitting on the Adult Babies and Bears Sweater. We both bought the yarn last Thursday when the Radicals did a road trip to Dunlap. We both bought, in different colors, Ironstone's Color Changes. We both casted on when we got to our respective homes last week. This is one skein.


Since Karen and I are both knitting on the same sweater pattern, it is nice to have someone to talk over the colors and how/where we are knitting them in the jacket. I was not a hundred percent sold on what I was doing, and was almost sure that Karen being the smart woman she is, had written how many rows of colors that the shop used for their sample. I was not disappointed. This is something I normally would have done, but do not know why I did not this time.

I was afraid that if I continued as I was knitting with the colors, that the sweater would look more preppy than I really wanted it to. I just envisioned it turning out to look like a college letter sweater.

So, I ripped back to the beginning of the purl rows and am taking Karen's list and with just a couple of modifications, I am using the main color every so often in between. I think I am going to like it.

I'll let you know for sure later. I really like knitting on this jacket. I am seriously thinking on making another using my Russian Prime yarn. Wouldn't this be cool in my black and powder blue yarns?

Good Bag Buy


Years ago I bought this bag from QVC. For the longest time I could not figure out why, but several times I have been quite pleased. Its a great bag to take when you want to toss it on the floor of a stadium or take out on a boat. And you can stuff alot of stuff in it.




Yesterday, my son and I went down to St Louis for a game. Of course, I had the car packed with knitting for this little jaunt. (One never wants to go unprepared) Hearing that our seats were under cover, I of course had to pack a special project in case it rained. And it did. So, while everyone else sat around doing nothing, I hauled out my knitting and knit through the rain delay and into the 7th inning. I was quite pleased with myself for being so prepared AND for once again buying this bag.

While in the car to and from St Louis, I finished the Spiral Rebula from Alpaca with a Twist. When I laid it out at home, I just stared at it. How could I not have noticed that it look so funky while knitting? Then, I got the pattern out. That is how it is supposed to look. Thank God! It is not as long as I was anticpating due to my row gauge, but otherwise I think it will be okay.


Now, with some blocking, it will be ready to wear come next Fall. Another finished project -- and it is for me, as it should be!

Tomorrow, Babies and Bears Update. I am lovin the colors!

Decisions Made

I was going to write today about the Adult Babies and Bears Sweater, but I am going to save that for tomorrow. I feel the need to vent.

I made the decision today that I am done knitting for other babies except for ones that may be my own children's children. Well, yes, I will do the one for my boss' other son when they have their baby and I will do for my other friend at work when her daughter gives birth, but otherwise - other family and friends will just get something bought. I am certainly not knitting for children that are not my direct decendants and I mean my future grandchildren.

Why? I just don't think they are appreciated. And it is difficult to knit for someone who is not right here with you to try it on and make sure it fits. And when you get a dry reception for something you have labored over and truly believe is cute and worthy of at least a little bit of excitement and you get none, it just isn't worth it.

I am going to concentrate on knitting for myself and for my friends who truly appreciate it. It gives me time to knit what I want and saves me from alot of "I wonder why they were not as excited as I was" thoughts.

Back to knitting for myself.

The WIPS Are At 32

Or is it 33? With the completion of the Tomten, they were at 32. But then I cast on the Baby's Surprise Jacket and they were at 33. But, I had taken the Cutaway Jacket off of the needles, that made them at 32. But the Cutaway Jacket is not complete ( I have to RIP back a bit.) So, I guess it makes the WIPS upstairs at 33, but on the needles at 32.

This is for my great nephew in Chicago. I am hoping he will be able to wear it this year a couple of times yet, and then still be able to wear it in the Fall. It is sitting out in the sun drying today.

It is such a gorgeous day, that I have a couple of felting projects that are going to see some sun time too, it I get them felted.

I Too Feel The Need

I want to A - buy yarn and B - start something new!

Blame the Radicals....we are going to knit next Thursday at Knit 4 Together. That will mean shopping and I have not been out there since cold weather.....what to buy?

In the meantime, there is only TWO, I said 2 months til Knit Camp....I want to start something new from one of either Meg's books, EZ books or the Spun Outs. And I must use stash for it.

This morning I think I'll take my books, my spun outs and my memory of the stash I have and see what I can come up with...I've only got two months!!

Yippee Skippee!

New Socks For Lunchtime Knitting

Well, actually not new, I have had these on the needles for probably two years. But have been working on others. So, now these are back and they are for me. It was so nice to have at least one rib done. Maybe a pair won't seem so long to knit!

Yarn is Lornas Laces and I bought at Needleworks in Champaign the last time Norma and I were there. This summer, we need to make some road trips and buy some souvenirs!

I'm An Indy Race Fan

So, how do I pick who I cheer on. Well, first, it has to be an American. Second, (it used to be the age of the driver, that was when I was much much younger!), but now, but of course it is the color of their car.




And the winner this year, is Jeff Simmons, solely based on the colors on his car. Not his sponsor or his age, but simply, the colors in his car --Caribe Blue and Lime with a little black thrown in.

Love it!

Happy Mother's Day!

We spent some time with my mom, the tall guy's mom and the boys. Now, we are home and I'm going spend the rest of the day, knitting, watching baseball, Indy time trials and generally doing nothing.

My kind of Mother's Day!

Finished

The girls I eat lunch with actually clapped for me yesterday, when I announced that these socks were done. You see, they have watched me knit on these since last December and wondered if I would ever finish them. Of course, in between, I did knit on a few other things. They know how fickle I can be when it comes to my knitting!

To Nancy- you betcha my Linda bag (that is what I am calling it), is filled with knitting! But, I am sure you knew that! When a person has 34 projects in progress and on needles, one always will fill a new bag! It's the deciding which project bag to carry that stumps me most! Some day, I'm going to get all of my knitting bags together and take a group shot. Next year, when the oldest is married, and I have his room converted to the Knitting Room seems like a good time!

Never Enough

Knitting bags are like t-shirts.

One can never have enough! Isn't this neat? My knitting friend, Linda made it for me. I love it.

Now This Is Interesting

Or rather timely. Just as I was contemplating the WIPS that were surrounding my chair. And while I decided to knit on a summer cardigan that I started last year to go with a tank that I completed two years ago. (And may I add -that I have been knitting like crazy on this past weekend)

Just five minutes ago, I opened the Windy City Knitting Guild Newsletter and read our President's message. Talk about seeing the light. Evidently, last month Nina attended an event where the presenter discussed UFOs. It is a fantastic message that Nina wrote, but basically said....knit what you want to not what you think you should. Knit with the best you can afford not with that free stuff or nearly free stuff someone gave just because it was.

Life is short....knit and be happy. Hmmm, food for thought. And as Nancy commented, Knit Camp is not all that far away.

How To Work The WIPS

How does one decide on how to work a WIP when you have at least 35 on the needles? Do I start start with number one on the long list in my knitting journal? Do I scan the list and see if any are needed for gifts? Do I start with the ones that are out of cotton so I can still wear them this Summer? Do I start with the ones for Meg's Camp? Do I pull a sack down from the dry sink and start with what is on top?

Or, do I pull out one that I said has to be finished before I go back to Knit 4 Together? Of course, I go for the one that has to be done before going back to the yarn shop. Oh, all right, I do have a couple of others that need to be finished before I can go back. There is the sock yarn and another shawl! So, I guess it will be a few more weeks before I can go back. I did make a promise with myself.

I guess that is how I will work my WIPS for the meantime.