Recognize These?

They're back!

My friend's niece liked her scarf so much that I have been asked to make another by the 12th of next month. Normally, I would have said no, but my friend has been off work since June due to an accident, and I just couldn't say no.

So, I am taking a little time off from the other knitting projects to do this scarf.

I hope to have it pretty well finished by the weekend and be back to regular scheduled knitting!

Okay, Christmas Is Officially Over


I got some Christmas presents yesterday, from the gal I work with. Problems and vacations got in the way, but look what I got yesterday. A new reading book that I had never heard of. And don't ya just love the sweatshirt?

The weather may indicate that Christmas like feel, but the season is over, so come on mother nature get with it! Bring spring on!

And A Side Note

Or more like a back note from yesterday....not only do the arms need some work, but someone needs to stand up straighter and the whole from behind view is in need of some help. So, tomorrow, it is up when the alarm clock goes off and onto the treadmill. There is just a little more than four months til the wedding and I have a whole lot of work to do!

The Obvious

I really like my new vest....but I really need to start using some weights for those arms! I've only been saying that for about 25 years now.


This is going to be a great casual day vest to wear to work. The yarn was just a dream to work with. I have used other Alpaca With A Twist yarn and loved it too.

I have about a half of a ball yet and trying to decide what I can do with it?



Yesterday, I sat at my dining room (yes after I dusted and vacuumed both the living room and dining room) and sewed my Plymouth Yarn Vest pattern together. I have added an additional 2 inches to the lower back and I am pleased with how far it comes down. I knitted it from Alpaca With A Twist - Big Baby.
I wasn't sure initally how this was going to all come together when I laid it out on the couch since I had added two extra inches. So, I just sat down, followed the instructions and sewed on blind faith.

I wasn't disappointed! I just love it! Even if in my mind I am a size 10 and have skinny arms! It is all about how you feel!

I've Really Got To Clean Today

The dust is piling up, the paperwork from the lia sophia business is piling up, the laundry is spilling out of the baskets....but

I have things I want to work on and/or rather start~~

I am dying to pull this kit out and start it.

My Ribbi Cardi has problems and needs to be picked back up
I want to start some mittens, I am so tired of my fingers being cold in gloves
I want to start my moebius from my unspun icelandic, I am so tired of the wind whipping my hair around and freezing the ears off (god, am I getting old?)
I need to update my projects in Ravelry
I need to sew up my vest from Alpaca Big Baby
I want to start the new vest with sleeves that Christiane gave me the directions for
I need to be working on my gansey
I need to be working on two other sweaters just in case more yarn is needed before I can't get any more of the dye lot from Knit 4 Together.

Where to start? Man I need major help! How does the rest of the world tame their knit projects?

This Is Gonna Be A Vest?


I have great confidence that it will. The Alpaca Twist that it is knit out of just feels so good. I could revert back to a toddler and just sit with my blankey of alpaca, it's that soft.

Christiane from out at Knit 4 Together in Dunlap, created a pattern from Encore with sleeves. I can't wait to try it out next. I might have some in the yarn room that might be okay for it. Too bad I have to work today!

We're Bravin the Cold

And knitting at Knit 4 Together, come join us. This Char and Linda (sorry ladies, I needed a picture) at Knit Camp last year....I'm behind the camera. But, the three of us are gearing up to put our apps in next week for July's Camp. Believe it or not, it will be here before we know it!

And aren't we glad!!?

Round And Round She Goes

If I can't go to the Ocean next month at least I am going to be knitting on Ocean Waves yarn! I am not sure exactly what this will be, I have about 12 inches to go until I have to make a decision. The thought is either a steeked cardigan or pullover. At the moment, I am leaning toward EZ's Hybrid, Saddle or Raglan sleeve. I deal with all those issues later!

Had a great day off today, got together with some friends I used to work with for lunch and then went deep into the country to see one their new houses. Oh how envious of it I am. Except for the time it takes to get to and fro, but what a lovely house she has!

We celebrated Christmas there today too so now I think the house is now officially over!

Whats Up?

The back halves of the Taos jacket have been sewn together. I am not liking this look. Sure, I can't see it when I wear it, but everyone else will as I walk away. I know that it is the nature of the yarn, so the pattern says, but I just don't like it. At first I thought it was because I started the second half knitting from the outside of the ball instead of the inside.

But, then I started a new half to see if by knitting from the outside made any difference. I thought I had it all figured out, until I realized that being the case, these two sides should be different not the same since I started with the other half first!
So, I went out to Knit 4 Together and looked at their sample and discussed with Claudia. The shop sample is not as noticeable as mine, but still evident.

So, I am knitting a new half. I'll see how it progresses, but at the moment, it is time out....there are others calling me!

It's 1 Degree

And I am staying in. I need one more skein of the Alpaca, but I'm going to call Knit 4 Together and have them put a skein back for me to pick up on Thursday night when we go out there.

In the mean time, I have a new idea for some Brown Sheep that I bought last week out there too. I'll show you the results tomorrow.


There is not much to watch on t.v.(until the U of I game at 1:00) while I knit today, and I could dust and clean, but heh, I got two other days this long weekend in which to do that. So, for t.v. entertainment, I am watching some knitting DVDs and thinking about making a Moebius scarf out of my Unspun Icelandic. And of course working on a new cardigan thought out of the Brown Sheep.

There is a companion book that I just love looking at while watching the DVD. Available from Meg at www.schoolhousepress.com

Today is a day to have the coffee pot on, a warm sweater on my back, a pot of chili cooking and thankin my lucky stars that years ago I did not pass the Civil Service Exam for mail carriers!

High of 7 Low of 3

That is tomorrow's forecast. Now, the only thing that will get me out tomorrow is if I see that I need to go to the yarn shop tomorrow! That would be it.

If not, I will be knitting and doing laundry this weekend until I have to meet friends from work on Monday at noon for our Christmas Get Together!

Some people I know will be by then floating on a nice cruise ship! But, they won't have their knitting with them! Huh?

With the cold weather upon us and Radical Knitting last night, I have a couple of ideas that I think I "need" to do. Some nice mittens and a moebius out of alpaca...and today's blog over at Brooklyn Tweed has me thinkin a Pi Shawl would be nice too, one without lace pattern.

I could use my leftover Unspuns from the Pelerine for a Pi Shawl. Just a few thoughts for today from the deep freeze.

Feel-i-tor


Emeril always wants us to have smellavision. I want to have a Feelitor, that's a monitor that you can reach out and feel.


After problems with the Taos Jacket (more later), I needed something to distract myself. So, I bought this Alpaca With A Twist Big Baby on Saturday at Knit 4 Together in Dunlap. The vest like pattern was there for me to try on and it just wraps you in a big hug.

I find myself just scrunching the fabric up in my hands in between rows. It just feels sooooooo good. And I needed something to boost my knitting moral up. It was kind of like getting away from cabin fever on Saturday. The sun was shining, I sat in a yarn shop and looked at patterns and bought yarn.

I think I might have to do that more often!

Technical Difficulties

Blogger is having a problem uploading photos for today, so I'll try again tomorrow for pics of something I picked up at Knit 4 Together on Saturday. I'm having fun with it and can't wait to show you more.

In the mean time, knit something today, I am!

I'm Going Shoppin

The sun is somewhat shining. I have had with what I am knitting. I need to go out and fondle some yarn. I have a list! I have my Xmas money.

I am out of here! And I think I am going two places today! How's that for a fix!

I'm Off!

So I'm Getting Ready For Bed

I am tired and falling asleep in the chair with my knitting in my hand.
But, it is kind of early, so I go to the computer to check a few websites, just a few. Right. Right. And I stumble across a Snoopy wash cloth. It calls me.....I must have the pattern. So, I join the yahoo group. At the moment, I am just waiting for my membership approval email so I can check the pattern out.

I am definitely making me some of these. And the gal I work with for her birthday next fall. And maybe for some of those ladies at work, just because, I must spread the wealth.

Aren't they the cutest? Makes me want to cast at least one on! But, first I gotta get the pattern. Can't wait to see what other patterns they have. I'm fully awake now. Damn that internet.

February Vacations

About now, every year for about 8 years, I have been getting in gear for my February vacation to warm and sunny Mexico with my friend with our local radio station. This year, she is under the weather and we felt it was best if we stayed in the country.

It is kind of funny to not have the pressure of being thinner and getting tan in time to go. With the wedding coming in less than 5 months though, there still is a little pressure, it is just a little further off.

Yesterday was the first weigh in at WW that I had since before we took our break. The consensus was that most of us gained a bit. That going into it, I did not feel so bad with my 4 pound weight gain. But, now, it is back to business.

Oh, and vacation in February? I am still taking a small one with my friend Julie. We will meet up with her sister in Ames Iowa for Arnhild's Knit Camp. Last year, we got stuck for an extra day due to a snow and ice storm!
What a hardship! An extra night of knitting and pizza.

Oy, I should be so unlucky this year.

Sleep On It

When I went to bed on Friday night, I had it in my mind to get up and cast on for EZ's Hybrid Cardigan incorporating some of Brooklyn Tweeds rib at the sides. But, as yesterday's readers could tell, when I woke up I had yarn shopping on my mind.

After showering, I sat down in my chair and took a little nap. I woke up around 11:00, had lunch and then another thought went into my mind.

This green and lonely skein of Encore have been on my mind for quite some time. I wanted to use it up and had been kicking several ideas around. This hit me when I woke up from my little morning nap.
Why not do Bonne Marie's pattern (one of two that are on my mind yet to do this winter)? The pattern has you doing it in pieces and those who know me, know that I have a adversion to sewing up. I hate doing it! And my sewing up look sometimes reflect that.

It took me a few tries to get this right, but I am finally happy with the end results. There will be just a trace of the blue in the body, I'm on the fly with where at this time.

Sometimes, it helps to sleep on it.

$50 In My Pocket


I don't NEED to, but I am itchin to go to the yarn shop. And you know what makes it even worse, I am itchin to go to two!

Maybe that is why I can't make any decisions when it comes to knitting right now. I know I should be finishing the Taos jacket, but I want to be knitting on so many other things too. But, the three yarns that I have on tap are just NOT what I want!

I have $50 in Christmas that just seems like it wants to be used. I'm just like I was when I was kid. It's burnin a hole in my pocket and screamin to be spent on yarn!

I'm a case aren't I? Let's see what the day brings!

It May Be New Year

But, I am still celebrating and the gifts are still coming! This was the year for exchanging some really cool knitting gadgets! I love them. A case to hold them from Linda and from Jo oh so many goodies to add to the case.

Aren't my knitting friends the greatest!

I'm Already Thinkin About Next Year

Yep, I am alredy thinking about what I can do for those gals at work. Felting! Some are going to get felted clogs (thanks Char for putting that idea in my mind) and the others are going to get maybe something from one of these two books. There is a small purse for those young, tiny things and some mittens or hot pad gloves for others.

It will be different and give me a chance to use up those leftover all wool yarns that I have ones and twos of!

The Party Is Over

It's back to work. Where did 9 days go? I did not accomplish much off of my list. I didn't get the fabric checked, the basement cleaned or any of the many sweaters I wanted to finish done either. But it was a great vacation. I spent alot of time around my chair, read a couple of books and yesterday spent a great afternoon knitting with friends.


I've got quite the mess to sort through around my chair, but I think I'll save it for tonight.


Now, today, it is 1 degrees outside and it is back to work! (What sweater to wear today?) My email is probably going to take me most of the morning to wade through. Of course, there will be a lot of junk to toss. Because, I like what I do at work, it is not so bad having to go back to work, it's just the having to get dressed before noon that bothers me!

And a side note --you know you have watched too much t.v. while off, when you are sick of seeing the Weight Watcher commercials. Seems like they were sponsoring everything the past couple of days. Talk about media blitz!

Happy New Year!





The wind is blowin as I sit here posting the first blog of the new year. Baby, it's cold outside, we are at our high of 18 an hour ago! But, by Sunday, it is suppose to be 60 degrees. Whats happening with that? The best part of all of our snow and ice lately is that it comes and then we get this totally warm stuff that melts it away.

Later this morning, I am off to spend a few hours at Norma's for her New Year Open House. I look forward to spending time this afternoon with friends knitting and eating a bit (but not too much, cause yesterday was a new day for WW)Then later it will be home to prepare for going back to work tomorrow! No, NO, NO, I don't want to go!

I spent last night, listening to Stash and Burn's Podcast, checking out a new KAL on Ravelry for the Tilted Duster that has been callin me since the issue came out last Fall. And that purple Encore would look pretty neat in it. I think I am going to do it! Isn't it a rule that when something occupies your mind so much that it is best to do it?

Again, have a Happy New Year and Go ILLINI!!!!