Happy Birthday Norma and Karen!

It's Much Better Today

It's funny how when wound in a ball, how much I like my yarn! Next step is to knit a swatch and see what it looks like knitted up. I think it wants to be a shawl. The base yarn is Happy Feet.

Yesterday when I was looking at the finished product, I was a little dissappointed. I was hoping more of a variegated yarn and wondering how dyers get the look...I think I understand now. Once wound it gives the look of being variegated.

This is what my second yarn started out looking like. We used the Immersion method of dyeing using sangria and turquoise. Unfortunately, the pictures just don't do the color justice, so no post of the final product. But it is a deep deep reddish purple. The yarn really softened up after dyeing and the rinse with suave hair conditioner.

Prior to dyeing it was really hard to knit with, now it feels pretty darn good. I'm sorry I didn't have the rest of it in hanks to dye. My deduction is that I can take some of the same type yarn. boil it and rinse with hair conditioner and then use the two together in a Adult Baby Surprise or Tomten.

Food for thought.

My First Dye Job

Debbie and I went to Niles today and spent the day learning how to dye yarn. This is my first attempt. I have been back and forth as to whether I really was happy with it. It's growing more on me. I can't wait to wind it and then do a little knitting with it. Hopefully tomorrow.

This one was done in the microwave. We learned how to dye using immersion. It's out in the garage drying right now. I'll blog about it tomorrow.

It was a hot day, but Judy Chan, our gracious hostess made it a great day and taught us so much. I think both Debbie and I have been bit by the bug. I see a class coming this Fall.

Now to find some more yarn for future dyeing!

Celebrating Our 34th!

On our way out to my favorite...beer and pizza!

It's Coming

Hard to believe but September is next week....and with that the new updated Knitter's Almanac will probably be in my hot hands. Meg teased us today over on Facebook that they were in and going into the mail.

Here's the original. I had every intention of knitting my way through it in 2010 kind a like Julie and Julia. Yea right....there is always 2011. Or maybe I could do every other month and take two years to knit them all.

If nothing else, I do like reading her preamble to each month. What a treasure!

The new version is supposed to have some color pictures and the same sweaters reknitted...I am looking forward to it AND the new Knit One Knit All book that will be out in January....

The list of knitting grows...

As If

I didn't already have enough on the needles.
I don't have a butt load of things that I want to knit.

Along comes two KALs that I would like to do...


One has already started over on the Spud & Chloe blog.
http://www.spudandchloe.com/blog/

The recipe that they are using is for a top down raglan sweater is from Wendy Bernard's book - which I have. I don't have any of the Spud & Chloe Sweater yarn. I was this close to ordering some, but found some Cascade Paints yarn that has been in the stash for a year or two. I've tried several times to use it in a sweater, but each time it just wasn't quite what I wanted. So....it's going to be for this KAL.

Then, I am going to give toe up socks with one circular needle a try. This KAL is through Ravelry over on the Applachian Yarns group. The start date is in September. What drew me to this was the You Tube video that Lynne put up with the cast on....it looks like something I might be able to do.

Now, with that said, I am okay with double point sock knitting, so we'll see how that one goes.

Of course, I have four projects on a separate list that are timeline knitting projects that need to be completed between now and the first of October. Then, comes my Christmas knitting projects for the ladies I work with....oy where did Summer go?

Committed

I've went and done it. If I am in town the Saturday after Thanksgiving, I have committed myself to a 4 mile race in East Peoria with my niece....said niece is about 20 years younger than me...and has been much better with the training than her Auntie Pen has been. Worse yet if the kids are in town, she wants them to run with us....okay the DIL has done something like a marathon....

I need to be committed!

And speaking of DIL - Happy Birthday Susie!

This Is How Close

So close to our window at work that with the little zoom, we can see his spots and the drool on his mouth....and this is in town. We are not sure where Mom is, we haven't seen her in a couple of weeks...

I'm Done Blocking


There is nothing left on my stack that is in need of blocking. My second Carol's Clever Shawl from Cheryl Oberle's website.


My very first Carol's Clever Shawl with variations has been done for over two years and sat patiently waiting to be blocked. Poor thing.


And I could have been wearing it now for two years if I had only took the time to block it.

After blocking three shawls in the last few weeks, I think I want some blocking wires. Forgot to go back to the booth that had them at Stitches Midwest. But thats okay, I'll just order them in the next few days with some other things I think I might have to have.

Stitches Midwest

We had a good day at Stitches. Walked our feet off, saw bunches of people from Knit Camp, touched bases with Jan and Pam, met Paula just as we were leaving, had milkshakes at the end of our day...used Greta to get to and from and decided that a day was just enough for both of us. Most of all did not go too over the top with buying, not that I didn't try, but having someone to talk me through some of it really helped. Thanks Linda!


From Great Yarns, a really cool vest that will be great for casual day.



From Miss Babs, a dyed 2 ply that is going to be one of those shoulder shawls for going over the turtlenecks I love wearing in the winter...and she gave me a stitch marker.



From Mass Ave, Mushishi, it's going to be some sort of top down sweater yet to be named. Can't wait to swatch this one and figure it out.


A small CEY book that had a nifty scarf in it, from Yarns by Design. The yarn to be knitted from is yet to be named....something from my stash.



And after a year of looking at the book and seeing a couple of them at Knit Camp knitted by Linda, I finally added the book to my collection.

Today, I am going to spend the day playing around with my new purchases, then tomorrow it is back to knitting on a couple of things that are on the deadline knitting list.

Thanks Linda for a great day, we missed the other Radicals, maybe next year!

Going To Stitches Midwest For The Day

Will post what goodies I find....and you never know who we might meet up with while we are there.

See ya tomorrow.

I'm Really Into This Blocking Thing

One of the Carol's Clever Shawls that I finished like a year ago is now blocked and ready for fall wearing. This one is out of purple Alpaca With A Twist.

The Kauni Wool Peddler Shawl with the ruffle is currently sitting on the table drying and should come off tonight.

Then...one more Carol's Clever Shawls from two years ago will take it's place on the blocking table....feels good.

Okay, Okay

I know you might think you have seen enough, but this will be the last post on the Coral Reef project (at least until I get a picture of the Smithsonian Exhibit itself)

Peoria's is such a small a mount of what was sent to Jo's friend. Here are all of them that they have collected so far! Super Fantastic.

The Ruffled Wool Peddler Is Done

It just needs some blocking which I'll do this weekend. Two balls of Kauni and a year later! Ahhh.

Winging Their Way

Our corals are making their way to the Smithsonian. How cool is that?

Today is also a great day for where I work. We had a Groundbreaking Ceremony for a new Cancer Research Facility that is being built on our property. And I am going to get to watch it grow and will have a part in it towards the end of the project when we start buying things to outfit. Another how cool is that?

You Got It!

Sundays are for as Linda put it in the comments "Whats Next?" She knows me way too well...I've been noodlin on that since Friday night. Well, first of all, I'm going to finish the Kauni Ruffled Wool Peddler Shawl from Cheryl Oberle....only 16 rows to go...but there has to be about 300 stitches on this now. I need to count those.


And then two are on my list to swatch and begin. After I get the shawl done, I'll need an idiot knitting project to do at the shop on Saturdays and at Radicals on Thursdays. Yes, I have two other Spring/Summer yarns that are this same color of seafoam, but you know those are for warmer weather. And it is my knitting, so I can knit with what I want. Thank you EZ.

Anyway, these two are going to be a EPS sweater with the seafoam being in the round yoke. No, I am not knitting it in fair isle, but rather using as inspiration the colors from a recent ad.
It's going to be pure EZ/Meg with the exception that I am going to decrease to the waist and then increase for the bust, much like I did with yesterday's Chickami.

I'm not sure what will be in the yoke yet, but I have a ways to go before I get there.

The other thing is I need to use some Venezia up (I am really trying to use up some stash) that I bought last year. It is going to be one of these two, but I just need to decide which one.
Someone on Ravelry gave me the idea to do the sweater on the right. It is Sally Melville's Gray Sweater and if I do it, I definitely will need to lengthen the rib a bit. At this time, I am not sure that is a good look for me.

The one on the right has been on my brain for sometime as well. Plus a couple of other possibilities....for some reason this Venezia has been really tough to nail down as to what it wants to be!

Finished!

Apple Green Sweater from Fons and Porter The Love of Knitting Magazine. Mine is more of a sage with a strand of taupe in it. I lengethened the sleeves until I ran out of yarn.

And from SWTC's Terra yarn, the Chikami. Can I say I love this pattern? I made some modifications to it because the yarn I chose was not exactly the same weight as used in the pattern. I love how it fits. And trust me when I say I will make this one again.

As I knit it, I was not sure that it would turn out and that I would be able to wear it. In the past on tanks that I have knitted, the necks just did not fit right. They were always too ig and gapped open. So, when I finished this one and put it on, I was more than pleased that it fit do well.

A couple of wardrobe builders!

What A Great Day

I worked. I knitted. Norma made us a great dinner. I knitted.

When I got home, in the mail from Al at Knit Camp were the picture DVDs....I'm saving them for this weekend, when I can sit and watch them and knit some more.

What a great day indeed! Thank you Norma and Al.

Knitting Packs

As evident of Sue and Jan's tops, we tend to travel in packs as knitters don't you think? My problem is there are so many cool things out there that I want to knit that others are knitting. And certainly not enough hours in the day to knit everything I want to.

Ravelry has fueled alot of patterns out there. With just a click of the mouse I can see a pattern that someone else has knitted, get ideas of yarn possibilities, see how it looks a someone close to my body type...

I need more time.

8-9-10

If Elizabeth had lived, she would be 100 today. Wow!

We're Going To Be In The Smithsonian

These pictures are courtesy of Jo's friend. After seeing some of these I must crochet something bigger than the one I gave Jo.


These aren't ours, but three of us in the Radical Knitters are going to be in the Smithsonian as part of the Coral Reef Project. Isn't that like way cool.





For info on this display that will ultimately go to the Smithsonian, please check out this website:

http://m.carrollcountytimes.com/mobile/article_da41ca7e-9ab0-11df-8c49-001cc4c002e0.html

Now, you know where I got my idea for my 2nd place entry at Knit Camp. Actually, the only part of my entry that I came up with is the hyperbolics themselves. Putting them in the dish with the fabric on the back and the stickee fish on it was a collaborative effort of the Radicals and the Tall Guy. The sand came from Norma. And my little crab that I love was a gift from Martha at Camp.

There's Something About

Finishing a project. Now that the Chickami is finished, I have started a new project. Quel surprise! When I finish a project, I always start thinking about whats next. It's like carte blanche to begin anew. I'm on a roll, and when I go to Knit Four Together in Dunlap on Saturdays I like to knit on something mindless and something I have bought there.

But, I have also made a committment to myself to knit something I want to be knitting on and knitting on what yarns I already have. I really want to start another Chickami since the other one is fresh in my mind and in a yarn that is a little bit more substantial than my previous yarn.

Oh the dilemmas of a knitter! Then, I do have to keep in mind that the next project should be the last one I knit for summer, since for me it really is time to start knitting for fall and winter!

There is something about finishing that creates all kinds of problems!

Just Some Friday Ramblings

Yesterday, while at home being a tad under the weather or as I call it a flare up of the IBS, I knittedon and finished my Chickami with wide straps (my pics sometime later). You can buy the pattern from Bonne Marie over at www.chicknits.com The yarn I used is Terra and not exactly what the pattern called for and is a little flimsy. While knitting it, there were times that I wondered if when finished if it would truly fit.


Funny, I still doubt myself at times, even though I KNOW that if I take the gauge I am getting and the measurements that I want it to be that it will fit. So, I was pretty darn pleased last night when I tried it on and it fit. Now, it just needs to be blocked.

It goes with my Fantasy Linen Sweater that I finished a couple of weeks ago. I do want to knit the Chickami again only in a little more substantial yarn.

Anyway....while knitting yesterday, I started over listening to a local podcaster, Paula over at Knitting Pipeline. I made it through show 4 and it was a real treat. If you are into podcasts I encourage you to check hers out. I am sure you will enjoy it as much as I did.

I like having something in the background when I am knitting. Sometimes it is the t.v., sometimes a movie or as was the case yesterday a podcast. Try it, go ahead try it!

I Should Have Known Something Was Up

I was in bed at 10:15 last night. I wanted to keep sleeping this morning at 6:15. I had breakfast. Got all ready for work except the hair and getting dressed. I started to feeling a little punk about 45 minutes later. Thought back over what I ate yesterday and last night. I have been eating surprisingly healthy for three days, so I can't blame it on any one food. Maybe, its just a summer bug!

I called work said that if I started feeling better I'd come in later....that was kind of stupid, wasn't it?

Sometimes, its just best to stay home for the day. I think I'll do that. I'll sit in my chair, do a little knitting and keep tabs on work from my computer.

Don't you love technology?

I'm Tryin

To stay on task. I am currently knitting on Chic Knits Chickami. I am staying focused on it for the most part. I find that if I concentrate on one thing, I tend to finish it.

Hmmmm? Aren't I so smart..

The Latest Edition

This is my most favoritest pattern from Vera Bradley. Long since discontinued, a friend's sister picked this up last spring and decided to trade me for it....it's Bermuda Blue. And I kill for more pieces in it...I have 4 pieces but I'd take more if I could get them.

Going to have to investigate next Spring going to the outlet sale in Fort Wayne IN.

It's Sunday, the First of August

And Sundays are for starting over and what better way than to start a new month and a new frame of mind. If I were a teacher or a student, I would realize that August means school is about to start in just a few weeks. But as a knitter, I realize that August means there is just a few short months to go and it will be my favorite time of the year....sweater wearing season.

I love Fall and early Winter, because not only can I start wearing my sweaters that I have knitted but for work the jackets can finally come out and I can cover up some of those pounds! But, with any luck, come next Spring I will be at my goal weight and can feel comfortable wearing shorts and capris again!

But before that time, I gotta do the work. So, tomorrow, it is back to Weight Watchers faithfully no matter what the scale or the jeans say. And for knitting -- time to start thinking about new fall knitting. Which means I have to finish the current tank and give some serious thought to Fall knitting....

On a closing note, today would have been my Dad's 79th birthday. He has been gone 26 years. Which means that he was the same age I am going to be when he passed away. That is always in mind as I think about eating more healthier and getting more exercise.

Where did that time go? He would have been so proud of his twin grandsons and I am sorry for them that they missed out on a great man.



Sundays and a new month for reflection and action!