Saturday - Sunday in Central IL

Saturday brought lots of rain!

Sunday brought snow

Today, the snow is melting away and maybe perhaps spring will stay. Is it time to put the sweaters away yet?

Thank Goodness for Ravelry

If it weren't for the search part of it I would be buying some cotton fleece to do this sweater and knitting it. Then, I would not have known that cotton is not a good choice for it. I would not have known that not everyone likes the way it fits them. I would not have known that I might need to knit it a size smaller due to the fit.

Just another reason why I like Ravelry.

I'm Still Here

Just spending alot of time at night working and knitting on this sweater. I am ready to be done with it.

It has been a bear. The directions are none to clear and between Christiane and I, we have been muddeling our way through. She,however is done with hers. I am not sure mine is not going to need alot of blocking before sewing it together.

I, probably won't get to wear it until Fall, but, I want to make sure that I don't need any extra yarn, so time is of the essence with this one.

It's the Final Day


I am heading down to the Civic Center for another day of Boys High School Basketball. Yesterday afternoon, two teams who fought back to win in the last minutes gave a great show. Even having no vested interest in either team, well maybe Champaign but that is a stretch, it had be to clappin the most that I have in a long time. It was a real treat.

And last night, our row was packed tight. You would really have to zoon in and use your imagination, but the directly behind the guy in the white beard is Michael Jordan. His son Marcus played in the final game last night.

Too bad I didn't come home and get the good camera! I will tonight if I hear that he is coming back.

Add Another To The List

I've been invited to a shower for another baby to be born this Spring. I picked up two balls of this yarn a couple of weeks ago thinking that it would turn into to a tank for me. But, when I calculated that the tank would be around $70 to knit, I decided not.

So, this is a perfect opportunity to try it out in a little baby sweater for the upcoming shower. Now, to pick out the pattern and cast on!

Pluggin Along

Who would have known when I started Wabi Sabi that the first knitting I would do on it would be to make four scarves! Basically, that is how it starts. 4 panels of 260 rows of knitting.

Kind of boring for now, but good t.v. watching knitting. Once I get the strips done, the real knitting will come.

I do like how I can see the zig zagging of the colors on the second panel. I did not see much of that in the first one.

It's Basketball This Weekend

The IHSA is in town starting this afternoon, so I am off to the Civic Center to watch boys basketball. Yes, I take a simple knitting project, but generally don't even get it out, cause no matter who is playing, I usually watchin.

The Top Three


I have decided to focus on three for the moment.


The Debbie Bliss Tweed will be done in quiet. Not that I couldn't do it in public, but at times I just need to watch what I am doing and follow the directions. It made the top three, because I need to know pretty soon if I bought enough yarn before it is all gone.

The Pea Jacket. With a couple of days of cold setting in, I might just have a chance to wear this later this Spring if I work on it a bit.

And last of the three, the Wabi Sabi. Yarn constraints again on this one...the stripe is from Iowa City and may be difficult to find more.

Oh there are two more, but they are strictly at lunch projects and lately....work is a little busy for knitting.

My New Laptop?

Dell kept backordering my laptop so I cancelled it.

Probably a good thing because the washer crapped out on Sunday and I had to buy a new one on Monday. So here is my new laptop, at least for now til Dell gets the green in!

Or maybe for now I'll keep my green.

Corralling the Knitting

It's that time again to corral the knitting. It was getting a little out of hand. Going off in many directions and nothing being finished. So, I made some lists. A Wish/Want To List. Since making the lists, some have left the list, some have changed position. Again, they are wish lists or rather directions to go.

Before Camp

Finish the Ravelympics Shawl - even though lace is not my most favorite thing to do right now.
Finish the Round the Bend Jacket - it has been in progress too long AND 1/2 was my show and share last year.
Finish Amy's Shawl (not essential, so this could make it to the bottom of the list)
The Aran Cardigan - this has been on the list for awhile, but I wasn't quite sure what I wanted to knit it out of. Now, with a little help from Linda, I think the Rose Grey (Brown) Alpaca would be great to do this from. Probably not a finished object for camp but definitely on the list.

Cheryl's Knitted Jackets
Cusco
The Wrapper ( my do anywhere knitting)
Wabi Sabi (Kind of important to work on this right now, in case I need to call Iowa City and have her send me more of the Manos Yarn)
Dakota on the Side (tentative as to the yarn this is going to be done from)


For Spring (which is just around the corner, so I had better get these going)
Pea Coat (if I want to wear this year, I had better put this to the top of the list)
Sideways Baby Sweater for Maria's granddaughter to be( April or May)
A Spring Cotton Sweater or two

EZ/Meg/Brooklyn Tweed Tomten - I just don't know what yarn to do this from. I know what I want, but can I find it? Do I have it in the Yarn Room?

It's quite a daunting knitting season coming up, isn't it? But, at least I have a focus now.

Seriously!

You know you have too many projects when you tell the LYS owner that you won't be back for a couple of weeks and she tells you that she thinks you have enough to tide you over!

It's a sign....I think.

Spent this evening cleaning and now I am set to sit down and start knitting.

The Newest Knitted Jacket


While on our way to Arnhild's we stopped at the Yarn Shoppe in Iowa City. We spent a couple of hours there, and the newest jacket began. Wabi Sabi from Cheryl Oberle's Knitted Jackets. The yarn is Manos Silk Blend and the contrast hopefully will be Rowan's Coccon, if it is not too heavy for the sleeve.

Don't you just love yarn souvenirs!

My First Faroese Shawl

And you know what that means? I'm thinking about a big one. Lord knows I have Unspun Icelandic that would be perfect for it.

As soon as I got home, I ordered a book (among other things) from Schoolhouse Press that Lisa at Arnhild's recommended. As soon as it arrives, I'll show it.

Back From Camp

I have no pictures to show, didn't even haul my camera out of my purse. Too busy knitting, shopping and eating.

Arnhild is a gem. The camp is laid back and I did alot of swatchin. We made two yarn shop stops on our way up on Thursday. One in Knoxville IL ( a yarn shop and a beauty shop all in one). I particularly liked her hours 8 - 4. The second in Iowa City, where we spent a good two hours....arriving at Knit Camp just in time to eat.

The weekend was full of knitting, but not so bad that I am pooped, just mildly tired.
Elsebeth Lavold is so nice and knowledgable and her class was good, but the best part is the no cable needle instruction. She was the keynote speaker for last night's Banquet with a great slide show. I won one of her designs all knitted up in Ireland and sent by Knitting Fever. It was toooooo small for me, so Sue and I traded (the sweater looked great on Sue), and I got a subscription to Knitters. Everyone wins a door prize!

I made a little Faroese shawl and now I am ready to haul out some of my yarn and try a big one.

Today, we knitted a while in Arnhild's Clinic and then took off for two more yarn shops in Iowa City. Arrived home tonight and tomorrow I am off and I am going to play around the house....plan some more projects, surf the net for things I heard about and enjoy a day home alone!