The Holiday Weekend Is Over

Baby Boy A, wife and grand dog are on their way home.  The house is quiet.  We had 17 in the house to eat last night.  We were filled to the gills, but still it was a nice evening.

I've ate my way through the weekend and my body is feeling it.  It is time to start back on the program, some exercise and decent sleep patterns.

All of the twopers are done unless, tomorrow we get a lot more reservations at work.  If that happens then there will be a mad dash to knit more in a week and a half.  I am pretty confident we are okay with what we have.

Time to knit for me. Ahhhh.  What to knit first?

It's Small Business Shopping Saturday~

It's going to be a busy day.  Going out to Dunlap to Knit Four Together to shop my fave local small business yarn shop!  They are having a sale today so of course I have to go.

Then, home to set up our liv room dining room for 17 people and a dog.  Baby Boy A said there is now way we can get that many people in here.  Well, we are going to give it the college try.    We are going to be up close and personal, but we are going to have some chili and fun!

The holiday weekend continues~

                                                I am thankful  for all of you my knitting friends.

Have a great Thanksgiving!

Just A Little Catchup

My Duffers don't fit me.  I'm not as crazy about them as I was last weekend.  I think I might like them better unfelted.  I'll revisit that later.

Saturday, I will be shopping at my local small business.  Knit Four Together, of course, and they are having a sale.  Lots happening on Saturday - we are having everyone here for a second Thanksgiving celebration for Baby Boy A and his wife and my neice and her family.

I just have two more scarves to knit for the Girls Holiday Bash.  The total is going to be around 47 which will be more than I think we are going to need, so there will be extras for the giving tree at work.  The one on the right is the Eco Duo that I love and it may stay in my bag for me.  I have a brown jacket that it will go with.  But, what I really looking for is a brown wool coat.  Do you know how hard that is to find?!

I cast on a child's neckdown this morning before work.  There is another in the bag that I would like to cast on and get knitted far enough down to let my neice, her mom and friend knit on a bit after I teach them how to knit on Thanksgiving.  At least that is the plan.  Neither of these are Christmas presents.  The nice part is that we can try them on as we knit on them to make sure they fit.  In the past when I have tried to stealth knit sweaters for presents, it doesn't always work out quite to my expectations.

I need to finalize plans for Beginning Knitting on Thursday.  I bought both of the young gals this book on the suggestion of a fellow knitting teacher.  This is going to be an interesting experience.  I don't think I ever taught anyone from the start.  Always in the past, they have a little basic knitting knowledge.

Last Sunday, I cast on for the Cranberry Capelet out of Berroco Flicker.  This is going to be so cool and I am anxious to knit more on it.  But for now, it will have to wait until Saturday.

Lots of knitting on this front.  Once the twopers are done, it is going to be back to knitting as usual.

Five Hour Tour

It took me about that long to knit these cuties.  They are the Duffer pattern that Linda just had to show us on Thursday night.  I have had my eyes on them for awhile.  Until now, I really have not succombed to the felted slipper thingy.  But, this one I could not resist.

Of course, since I didn't know what I was doing really (a sign that I should not start a new project at 10pm).  I used two strands where I wanted to use three strands and vice versa.

 I used the yarn I wanted for the sole for the top and vice versa.  But, after I came to that realization, I had already completed one and I said what the heck, I'll just do the other one that way too.

This morning I felted it and couldn't resist trying it on.  I knitted the 7 1/2" at the required gauge.  It was a little snug.  I'll try it on again when it isn't so wet.  Worse comes to worse I'll find someone who has a little smaller foot than mine.

I'm not casting on another pair for right now even though I have plenty of Cascade 220 contenders.  But, I will try again.

I Take A Lot of Flack

for my propensity to buy yarn in the Caribe Blue family.  When in reality, when I go looking in the yarn room, I'm not finding a lot of said color in there!  I do, however, have a few accessories that match Wednesday's nail polish post.

My on again off again, purse.  Funny thing, three of my friends have this same purse, not in the same color, but the exact same purse, a hot pink one, a purple one and a gun metal one.  How fun is that!?

 Then there is my Vera.  The one on the left is my fave from old.  It was probably the first collection I started with the Vera bags.  I started with a couple of other ones many years ago, but that is before I got my first look of the Gulf of Mexico and the vibrant colors of the water.  I was hooked on the color ever since.

That is also about the time when I decided that if I ever had money to retire somewhere that it would be where I could see the colors of the sea every day.  Before that I thought the ideal place to retire to would be Northern Minnesota. 

 Speaking of the Gulf of Mexico, this appropriately named yarn from Three Irish Girls awaits in the yarn room. 

 Also in the Yarn Room is Cheryl Oberle's yarn.  This is a WIP but has some great Caribe Blue colors in it.

 And a wayward skein of a sock yarn in caribe and brown.  Originally, when I bought this one, it was going to be a hem in EZ's Saddle Shoulder Pullover.  I changed my mind on it and just did a garter bottom on it.  I really ought to pull this one out and knit me some winter socks with it or maybe mittens.

 Here's another of the Vera bags that matches the nails pretty darn well.  I love the bowler bag, just wish it had a little longer handles.  I have an eye glass case to match and a wallet out of the same pattern when my current one (which has caribe and brown it it) wears out.

Why you would ask do I have a wallet waiting in the wings just like the one I am carrying?  Because I like the taxi wallet that Vera was making with a magnetic closure in it.  The only thing it doesn't do is keep a thief out of it, but I'll blog about that another day.

 There are a couple of Shetland Jumper weight yarns in the yarn room in Caribe.  The one on the left is really named aqua and the other is a really bright Caribe Blue.  The first is thinking it wants to be a shawl, although, it was originally destined for a sweater from Knit One Knit All.  It's on hold to veg a little.  The second one is definitely destined for a jacket from Cheryl Oberle's Knitted Jackets, but that cannot commence until Bloomsbury is done.

 In the Knit 4 Together yarn bin amongst another Vera Bradley ditty bag ( in caribe and brown) is the Pastaza that I bought last Summer.  Originally intended for a jacket from Cheryl's book as well, until Cheryl turned me onto her Just Beautiful Alpaca, it now awaits for a sweater as yet to be named.

 Okay, so maybe there are a few yarns in the Yarn Room that have some Caribe in them.  This Encore Colorspun has been around for quite some time!  Purchased from Ewe-nique Yarns when they were in their first location.  It was going to be a mitered square jacket, and now, poor thing just sits and wait.

And finally, sitting next to the Three Irish Girls Yarn (which I have to say really is my fave Caribe Blue), is some Malabrigo that I bought at Stitches Midwest several years ago, after Knit Addict brought a sweater all the way from Oklahoma for me to feel.  I fell in love with the feel and had to have some.

Obviously from the fact that it is still sitting in a bin, I must be a fickle lover.  Well, heck, I guess it is obvious from my collection that I am fickle! But, ya know, I'm okay with it!

My New Fave Polish

Okay, so it is getting mixed reviews.  I guess you might need to have the right outfit to go with it.  I think I have one or two.  I know I have a couple of purses that will go with it at least. 

It's kind of fun, don't cha think.

Just Playin Around

I'm messin around with an idea.  Unfortunately, this picture does not show the true colors of the subjects that were photographed.  Maybe, I need to start taking a little more time with the blog pictures and the better camera.  Heck, maybe I need to haul my photographt class notes out and start using them.

The knitting is really darker than shown here, the bottom sweater is more of a teal and the purple turtleneck is not near as bright as this shows.  Come to think of it, I wish the colors of the turtlenecks were closer to this picture, wouldn't that be cool?

Every once in a while, I'll happen onto a design in a child size that I think would really look cool all grown up.  That happened again recently with a design I found in a book.  It looks like something that could be adapted so I am taking my Cheryl Oberle yarn and giving it a whirl.  We'll see how it fairs.

What I am finding is that I love the yarn and if it doesn't work out for this redesign, it is definitely going to be a sweater very soon.  It has some great colors in it.  I particularly like the green in this yarn and think it has some great possibilities.

Stay tuned.

Happy Birthday to Me

It's not all about yarn, but almost!

I've Had A Busy Day

Today is Veteran's Day.  We don't get it off even though we are a state institution, we still gotta work.  But I took the day off as one of my floating holidays.  I've been movin all day and now it is time to kick back and drink some coffee and knit and spend the night chillin.

The Tall Guy (who also took the day off to rake leaves) went this afternoon to do the grocery shopping that we normally do on Friday nights.  It was nice to get it done before dark and before the crazies come out on Friday night to also do their grocery shopping.  I treated myself to another creamer, Pumpkin Spice while we were shopping so that is today's flavor of the day for my coffee. 

I didn't have much a yearning for coffee this morning, but now that I have had a full day, a pot sounds good and so it begins.

First thing up this morning I finished another scarf for the Girls Holiday Bash.  This would make #45.  I'm planning now on 50 and then I am stopping.  This one is from the new Debbie Bliss magazine but I used some Encore from the stash for it.

 Next stop after running into work today to get my flu shop was down on the Riverfront to attend the grand opening of a new yarn shop in Peoria.  The Fiber Universe.  What a great crowd they had.  I would have had pictures to show you, but some dummy left the SD card in her computer at home and well, you know the story.  I saw quite a few people that I knew from long ago.  Sue and Karyl and I had a nice visit while sitting around the shop waiting for the crowd to thin down.

Anyway, at one time there were so many knitters, that no one could see the yarn for the people.  But we managed to do just fine and people just let you in to fondle and put some into the bags they provided for us.  It's a cute little shop and I will be going back.  They have great hours for us working people, two Knit nights and 4 pm Saturday closings.  I can see myself making a stop there after my regular scheduled Saturday knitting.

Did I mention that they are only about 5 minutes from my work???  You know where I will be taking lunch somedays. 

First thing in the store (Sue and I were shoppers #2 and #3), was this local Llama.  First felt and I knew it was coming home with me.  Even though, I have not had my spindle in my hand since July.  But, it is my understanding that one of the owners is a spinner and will be doing some classes so I think I might see the spindle coming back out for some work.

 I've been searching all over for this yarn in just this color for a cupcake hat that I would like to knit.  No current receipient on hand at the moment, but I was pleased as punch that I could find it.  My other sources had it but it was much too pale of a pink and what I really wanted was just a slightly darker shade of pink and they had it!

Next I was off to Morton to pick up some more Madlinetosh Pashmina for the Cassis I am knitting.  I'll show you more on that later next week as the sweater progresses.

I'm pretty certain I am going to have more than enough of it, but I am making long sleeves on mine and just a little wider through the hips than the original design is.  If I have extra, I'll just make some mittens out of.  It feels so lush.

After Ewe-nique Yarns, I had lunch with Char and Linda who coincidentally were at  Morton too.  We had a nice time talking knitting and catching up a bit.  As I said earlier, the Tall Guy and I got groceries and ---

The rest of the evening is mine to relax, drink coffee, get caught up on some t.v and knit.  Life is good and I am enjoying it.

Hug a Vet today if you can, and I don't mean the one you take your animals to.

I've Had A Great Day

Maybe it is because I am off tomorrow, maybe it's because I have heard from loads of friends on Facebook, maybe because I have really great friends who wished me happy birthday via cards, phone calls and dropins.  I've just had a great 54th birthday!

Tomorrow, there is a new yarn shop opening up on the waterfront in Peoria.  I am anxious to see what they have to offer.  It's close enough that I could go there over lunch when working, their hours are good too for people who work and there is both a coffee shop and a restaurant right in the vicinity.  Perfect for a yarn shop....why didn't we think of that Sue???

All I need to do tomorrow morning is run into work and get my flu shot and then off to the new yarn shop - The Fiber Universe.  I'll report later this weekend on the new shop.

Until then, I am going to enjoy the rest of my birthday with some knitting!

Someday I'd Like To

wear a skirt like this.  The thing is it might not be until my next lifetime.  After a little time of missing my weekly Weight Watchers meetings, I went back today.  Gained 4 pounds.  Ugh.  So, be a good little weight watcher, I started tracking everything I eat, starting today.  Sure, I could have waited until after the birthday is over, but if I did that, then I'd be telling myself to wait until after Thanksgiving then after the holidays and pretty soon it would be January!  Just think of the pounds that could be lost between now and then.

Mix this all with some exercise, maybe knitted skirts will still be around next year when I make goal.

Okay, we can always hope.

It's Okay

I wouldn't say there are a super lot of patterns for me to knit in it, but there are some good articles worth reading.  But at 14.99 a copy, if I were you, I see if you could borrow a friend's copy.  I got to start looking at the cost before I just add it to my pile when checking out.

Really, I Am Not Sick

I have not knit since Friday.  That is unbelievable for me.  But, those who know me, know that I have been thinking about knitting though.  You see on Friday, I heard that Ewe-Nique Yarns over in Morton, got their Madelinetosh in.  They were putting it out for Saturday morning to be sold starting at 10 am.  I have seen and fondled the yarn in Memphis just never actually bought any. 

I don't know what happened, two of them just jumped in my hands and came home with me.

 Lapis Pashmina was the second one that caught my eye only because of the weight.  I am tossing around knitting Cheryl Oberle's Faroese Shawl out of this.

 The shawl has been on my radar for sometime, I've just trying to find just the right yarn for it.  I did not really want a variegated yarn for it, but rather something that was dyed.  This yarn has a great feel to it. 

The Tosh Sock in Cousteau (love that name and the color) was the first one that I eyed after I saw the display.  I really would have loved this in the worsted version so I could do a little sweater that I have wanted to knit.  But the shop only got 4 of each of the worsted in colors which for me was just not enough for what I wanted to do. 

I'm torn on which one of my ideas that I want to knit this with.  

Vitamin D has been in my queue for sometime as well.  Just not sure.



My other choice so far is the Landscape Shawl.  I'm jut not sure that the stitches will show up as nicely with the dark colors.  So many things to think about. 

I guess it may be time to do a little swatching and figure out what I want these to be.  I'm anxious to get my fingers on them.

It's been a great weekend.  The kids from Iowa were here and my niece and her family from Aurora.  We celebrated my birthday last night with them.  It's hard to believe but we talked about the holidays and when we would be celebrating them. 

It's a little chilly day here in Central IL.  The wind is blowing and it is gloomy outside.  The plus is that Hallmark has started running their holiday movies.  I love this time of year.  Those movies make for some great knitting background noise.  Even if it does seem a little early for it all.

I'll keep the blog posted as to what the Madelinetosh decide to grow into.  Feel free to leave me ideas.

I have 1080 yards of the Pashmina and 1580 of the Tosh sock.  Let me know what you think.  Really!

Cardinal Day

Yesterday was Cardinal Day for those losing Cubbie fans.  They had to wear Cardinal Tops for most of the days.  They also had to buy our lunch.  It was a great day. 

But first, here's what anyone who was coming to see me in my office were met with.  I had my jersey hanging up since before the Cardinals won.  Some thought it was a bit premature, me I just thought it was bashert.

Can hardly wait for next season to come!

This Would Be A Good Day

To stay home and drink~~

 And knit~~

But unfortunately I have to venture out to work!  The upside?  It's Thursday, only two days left to the week.  There is knitting tonight and then tomorrow is Friday. Ahhh, I'm ready for the weekend.

Just Say Wow!

The squares are all knitted by Peoria Area Stitcher's Guild knitters.  We knitted squares and then Marilyn, an unbelievable finisher, put them all together.  Not something I would have volunteered to do. 

All of the items are part of the Guild's Silent Auction at their Fall Luncheon.  I am sorry I won't be able to attend and see what prices they bring.

This is some cool stuff!



For Jordan Bastean, a 19 year old Pekin son, who lost his life serving his country.  I cannot imagine anything tougher for a mother.   She has had a rough week and a rougher one to come.  The streets to Pekin were lined with flags yesterday for his coming home.  Makes me proud of our little city.