Look What I Got

I've been talkin about these for months. So, last week amongst all the pre- wedding stuff, I decided I deserved them.

Well, maybe I didn't deserve them, but it seemed like a good idea at the time.


Did I need them all, no, but I bought them anyway. I used them last night for a new project that I am doing my gauge swatch on. And I was pleased that I bought them for myself.

Now, I just have to decide if I want to order the binder to put them in or add them to my worm bag collection so they are all together. What is anyone else doing?

It Was Hormones


Because I work at a medical college, I have my unofficial MD (mother degree) and I have diagnosed the last few days as not a funk, but hormones.

These are pictures of what Baby Boy A left for us to contend with. All of this needs to be taken care of before his father-in-law arrives with the truck to move him next Tuesday! I must have went in there six or seven times and just could not figure out where to start. Thank goodness Baby Boy B is on it and will do some of it. He seems to know what some of it is. Some is going to go in a surprise box and Baby Boy A can figure out what to do with it when he gets it in Memphis!



His room in the future (notice I did not say near future) is going to be the Yarn Room. It is going to take alot of work on my part, but I am looking forward to having all my "stuff" in one place. I'll keep you posted.

Tomorrow, it is back to knitting!

I Was In A Funk

Operative word - WAS. It started yesterday, at brunch, when I felt alone. My oldest no longer looked to me to keep him in conversation, he now had a wife. It continued into last night, when we were finally home and there was only three of us to sit down to dinner. I really wasn't ready for that! The funk kept going into the night and this morning. Tomorrow, I will show you why the funk is gone!!! That and hormones.

But for this post, here is the rest of the pictures that I have on my camera that turned out fairly decent for posting.
The best man (Baby Boy B) who made a very funny but yet very emotional best man speech, except that he forgot to toast the couple...still it he did a good job.




The ring bearer, my great nephew who was so damn cute!







My dancin partners for the evening. My legs and feet still ache today, but it was all worth it!

I'm Back!!!

After a rocky start to Friday if my mom would even make it to the wedding (she did and it was better that she came down on Saturday with my cousin, bless him; the near by tornados during the rehearsal (that had the Father disappearing right after, he was back for the wedding) and the torrential rains we put up with on Friday night, the wedding day was beautiful if but a tad hot!



It was a happy day with a few tears, but finally we have a daughter in our family. Not only is she beautiful on the outside, but on the inside as well.
The next day or two, I'll have a few pictures to show, but not a whole lot since the light bulb did not go off until we are the reception that I should give my camera to someone else to take pictures.

And I did promise that we would be back to knitting content this week!

And You Thought I Was Gone!

Which means that the Blog would not have any more pre-wedding discussion. Well, that is partially true.

Yesterday was a busy day at work with the Retirement Party pre and post set up and clean up. But, I still managed to get over to Morton to pick up some yarn they had ordered for me. But, I'll blog about that next week. I promise, after the wrap up post on the wedding next week, it will be back to knitting content. I have alot of I am keeping for posts.

A co-worker who happens to be leaving today for other employment, wished me well yesterday and told me to go home last night and get all those little things done, like last minute laundry and packing and she said "no knitting". Huh, she just does not understand does she?

This morning I just have to finish packing which will include my knitting....after all it is about an hour and half away....The tall guy is making me breakfast AND I am still trying to figure what clothes to take for the rehearsal tonight (black pants with something- I have several options) and Sunday brunch at the Inn.

Have a good weekend all, I'll blog when we get back.

There Is No Time

This is the start of a busy day which will just keep on snowballing. Originally, I was going to take today off too. But, a good friend is retiring today and I am one of several doing a retirement party for her and one other at work. That and Baby Boy A has to be in Springfield for dance lessons at 11 am, so there is really no need for mom to stay home and help him pack.

Suffice it to say, he did not get all of his packing done here, so next week after we return will be a week of shuffling through all of the leftovers and getting it packed up.

So, until, we return from the wedding, there is just not time to blog, hardly enough time to knit, so I'll return next week with a wedding report for all.

I know you will be glad to hear the end of it and onto Knit Camp.....40 some days away.

What Is Going On?

Should I get the sweaters back out? I actually had to turn the heat on last night, I just could not get warm....and here I was running around with my sandals on last night after my pedicure.

46.6 °F / 8.1 °C
Mostly Cloudy

It Was A Good Day of Knitting

I accomplished what I wanted to.
I wanted to get my Wool Peddler's Shawl to the lace portion of the pattern, which I did. Now, it is going back to time out, because it became evident to me that it is going to require my attention when knitting it. And there are other things that I want to do before camp gets here.
My other project for yesterday was to get my New Zealand Sweater past the garter hem and one skein of the black yarn used up.

This is going to be what I will take with to knit on next weekend in between the wedding activities.

Today, the NCIS Marathon is on so in between laundry, I'll sit and do a little knitting or rather tearing out of the Round the Bend Jacket.

It's Going To Be A Great Knitting Day

If the rain holds out for Indianapolis, I will sit in my favorite chair and knit while watching the race. I'm not really rooting for anyone specific this year, but I love to watch the race, and it is a good time to knit for me.


And then, mid afternoon, the Cardinals are playing and so I'll have another couple of good hours of t.v. and knitting time.

I have a movie for tonight to watch. So, I guess, basically, I am going to be nice and lazy today. The calm before a full week of pre-wedding/retirement party activities. Unfortunately, it is not me who is retiring!

This Is Funny!

And oh so typical....I am going 2 hours away for Baby Boy A's fiancee's medical school graduation. I don't have to drive. The tall guy is. And I have three projects in my knitting bag to work on! And of course, my socks that are always in the back seat.

Think I have enough for a four hour tour?

My Fairy Yarn Mother

I have my own personal shopper. Isn't that nice?! My friend and fellow radical knitter, Norma shops for me if I need it. See, she is retired and I still have to work. So, when I had an epiphany on Sunday (after I had been to the yarn shop on Saturday) that a set of Denise Needles would be a great gift for a medical student who is graduating on Saturday and who knits and who just happens to be almost my daughter-in-law. And after I realized that I have absolutely no time to go and get them, unless I didn't (not a chance) go to dinner before knitting on Thursday.

So, I emailed my FYM and she said she would shop for me. So, I thought yarn for a scarf would be nice to include in the bag. Only problem is.....I'm not sure I am giving both of them to her....I kind of like the one on the right, just don't don't know what for.

Thanks Norma!

You Can Run But You Can't Hide

Or otherwise, Linda, when you don't call your friends and tell them that you are going to the yarn shop, you will be discovered! You thought you would just slip in and out and no one would be the wiser, huh? Well, I caught ya or did you catch me?

What is worse, being discovered with an arm full of yarn or having a "friend" who has a blog that you just know is going to have to spill it for you? Sorry Linda, but I just had to.....I still smile and chuckle when I think about it.

Imagine my surprise when I looked up yesterday while I was over in Morton picking up a set of Denise needles for a gift and there was Linda heading right for me. What a hoot.
Lucky for me Ewe-nique Yarns only had the pattern and not the yarn for this cool vest. But, Debbie told me they had just ordered some and it should be in a week or so. Double lucky for me that I am pretty well tied up the next 3 - 4 weekends so I won't be able to go yarn shopping for it!

I was on a mission before I stumbled upon Linda, but, I couldn't miss checking out a little side to side baby sweater they had displayed out my favorite colors...so I had to pick it up the yarn and buttons, heh, it was only one skein!!!!

What a beautiful day yesterday was and today looks to be just as good! Without the yarn shopping excursion....

Good News

Baby Boy A found out yesterday that he will be transferred to Forest City Arkansas. It is about 45 minutes from Memphis where they will be living, BUT he will keep all of his benefits that he now has AND most of all will maybe only have to spend a week here tops working before he has to report.

Good news for them, good news for me and my yarn room!

Two weeks til Wedding!!!! Where did the time go?

Places You Should Go

Besides my blog of course. But, below are some of my favorites for internet surfing for knitting. They always inspire me and I learn oh so much. And then there are times they just plain get me in trouble....

http://techknitting.blogspot.com/

http://theraineysisters.com/

http://fibernating.blogspot.com/

http://zimmermaniacs.blogspot.com/

http://knitaddict.pahdoco.com/

http://www.sailingknitter.blogspot.com/

http://www.stashandburn.com/

http://www.ravelry.com

#29

No, not #29 in the project list! It is pattern #29 in the booklet. This little tank will not be a quick knit that is for sure. It uses slip stitches every two rows and they are slipped either with the yarn in front or in back which is a little time consuming.

I probably should have used yellow as the blips because it would go with a jacket I have, but I just kind of thought the green was a nice accent.

Yarn and pattern is one of those that I bought last Saturday over at Ewe-nique Yarns in Morton. Wow, is all I can say about there new store. Loads of room to wander the yarn bins. Go stop by if you are in the vicinity and tell them that Penny sent you!

Sunrise

I thought I would start off the next few blog posts with my mounting number of WIPS. And what better to start off with then the Sunrise Circle Jacket. I like it! I just hope it fits. My gauge is on. The measurements are on. But, when laid out it sure looks narrow. But, again the pattern says fitted and that is what I am going for.

The jacket is being knitted out of Cascade 220 Handpaint. The perfect colors for denim. It seems I am going on that track lately....trying to find sweaters that go with Friday casual day and are comfy too.

Even though tomorrow's entry is not specifically geared for denim, it did catch my regular color combos....Caribe Blue and Lime.

And You Thought I Was Done

With the wedding shopping, huh? Got the dress, got the jewelry, picked the shoes?
So, now I'm wearing funky sox and trying to stretch the shoes out a bit.

Went on a purse shopping excursion and bought one in silver and one in gold.



Surprisingly enough the silver goes with the shoes. The two blend and it definitely goes with the jewelry. The gold I am keeping for fun!

Tomorrow - Friends don't let Friends shop in yarn stores together!

Happy Mother's Day

Realistcally, this will probably be the last Mother's Day for about three to five years that the boys will pose for a picture like this with me. It's kind of sad as I sit here tonight thinking how we have had 25 Mother's Days together. But enough of that! Look what they surprised me with. Who would a thunk it?


I love it. I have bitched and moaned enough about our old sweeper, that the boys bought me a new one for Mother's Day. And does this think pick up?! It just amazes me how much dust is in the carpet in so small of an area!

What a great day it was today! Even though it is cool and quite rainy at times, it has been a great Mother's Day.

Now, I am off to sit and do some knitting and watch a movie or two.

I Gotta New Book

I love it! I want to make almost everything in it! This is NOT good. Especially since I am off to Morton in about an hour. This could be serious.

I think I have an illness!

There is no hope. Aren't my LYSes glad?

Venting

They have lost three in a row. And to the Brewers who have lost 6 straight! Izzy has blown 5 straight saves. Come on guys, what are you trying to do to me?



The Cub fans at work and the Cardinal fans have a contest. Which ever team finishes the lowest in the standings at the end of the regular season has to wear the opposing teams shirts all day long!

I know it is early, but we gotta start winning some games! It plays havoc with my stitch tension when they lose a game!

Look What I Found

It amazes me to go through a tub and find a long lost WIP. I can hardly wait to move into the Yarn Room later this Summer. Just imagine the finds!

Probably during my first or second time at camp, I picked up this gray Alpaca from Joslyn's. I did not know what I was going to do with it, but LOVED the feel of it. I can remember one summer in route to St Louis for a CARDINAL game, knitting on it in the car.

From Folk Shawls, it is the Wool Peddler's Shawl. For now, it is a really idiot knitting piece, so I can take it with me to knit night and work on it. And if I get it done in time for Camp, it will add some warmth to a sometimes cool room.

Wonder what else is buried in a tub?

I'm Torn


While searching for an old WIP, I found this yarn. Ah ha, I said, it would be perfect for a Baby Surprise Jacket.

Then, I found this in progress. I vaguely remember it, but who I was I knitting it for? It doesn't really matter because whomever it was for is probably at least in high school by now.
For a moment, I gave thought to continuing to knit on it and give it to my friend at work who researched my mythical beast for me. She has granddaughters that could probably wear it. And Gail is the recepient of several old sweaters that I have knit and cast off to her. She wears them so proudly and it makes me feel good.

But, then, wouldn't this be so cute in a Baby Surprise? I have never actually knit a whole one and this would be a good start. I see another project started in my future, but....I would also elimnating a WIP so it really is just an exchange. Right!?

This Is All You Get

I bought the yarn for my Mythical Beast Contest entry. With a little help from my lunch buddies, I think I have an idea. Now, all I have to do is put it to needles. That could be the hardest part.

Stay tuned!

Kiri

I knew when I saw the yarn that I wanted to do something form it. I knew that I had a pattern that called for it at home. So, I bought one ball (I'm doing alot of this right now). I brought it home and searched Ravelry. Sure enough, I had the pattern and this is the yarn it is done in down to the color I believe.

I'm having fun with it. Even though it is suppose to be a eacy lace pattern, it requires me to shut the t.v. off and kind of concentrate on it. The yarn is Rowan Kid Silk Haze and I love it. Did I say that already?

Yarn Shopping

It's time again! To go out and do a little yarn shopping. It's going to rain today, and what better way to spend a few hours. Well, yes, I could stay in and knit, but there have been a couple of things on my mind that I want to check out. And I have discovered that if I do not act on them, I won't be with a darn in my knitting.

First, I am heading out to Knit 4 Together to check out some patterns for a first sweater. Not necesssarily for me, but there has been that thought percolating for sometime that I want to see about.

Then, over to Ewe-nique Yarn, because my lunch buddies turned me onto a possibility for the Mythical Beast Contest and I want to see if the yarn that I am thinking of can be found there. Gail, one of the library research staff, searched for some details for me and the rest of the table helped me come up with some possibilities to add to it. And then the tall guy gave me yet another idea on how to incorporate it. I nixed his idea, but came up with an alternative.

Then, I came home and googled it. Low and behold someone has sort of came up with the idea in the form of a pattern several years ago. Who would have thunk that was possible? But, that is not making me stop.....I think I might give it a whirl, if not just for fun!

Rrrrrrrrrrt!

That is the sound of Cinnamon Bark coming to a screeching halt last night!

I was so pleased to get the sleeves done and the back started. I could hardly wait til I got to the actually patterning of it. Then, maybe because I was really tired but I got to row 3 and had to stop. The brain shut down and now it will require me taking a look at it again and really understanding what I am suppose to be knitting right after the first marker.

Norma in Oregon - do you have pictures of yours somewhere? Did you have problems on the back at all or is it just me?

Count Em - Four!


Yes, I am the shoe queen, but not all of these am I keeping. And these are not all of the ones I have had shipped in from shoebuy.com, shoetrader.com and zappo.com


Four others have come and gone.....

A friend from work is lending me these. They are in contention.

These are going back, they are way too gold.

These are my favorites and are in the running, I am keeping them no matter what!

And you know these are staying! They are my party shoes for the wedding!

Sundays Are For Charity Knitting

A friend of mine has been approached for laprobes, 100 of them by Christmas, for a local hospice organization. If you are looking for a community project, would you consider making one? Laprobe requirements are.....no more than 30" wide by 25" long using a machine washable and dryable yarn. Pattern and color is your choice. (Good time to use those leftovers and try out a couple of new pattern stitches)

She is also looking for baby things for a community baby shower in West Virginia. These items will be distributed by a mission organization called Passionate Volunteers to new and expectant mothers in a coal mining county in West Virginia. Machine wash and dryability is important for this project as well. Items will be distributed in July. (Baby yarn, I got Baby yarn)

If you have some leftover yarns and want to whip any of these up and just happen to be in the Central IL area, please contact SpinWool7@aol.com

Tossing It Around

Saturdays and Sundays when there is nothing really planned other than the normal laundry, start me to thinkin, which is always a scary thought. Because the mind starts to wander about ways to incorporate my love of knitting AND making some extra money for yarn purchases (the tall guy says as if you need more yarn(who asked him?).

With two yarn shops in my driving vicinity, it is highly unlikely that I will ever have a yarn shop of my own (that and that whole winning the lottery thing). So, once again my thoughts travel to teaching knitting. I don't really want to teach beginners knitting, but would rather help someone venture past scarves into knitting their first sweater.

That is where my mind is wandering today. It is not something I can do right now (with the wedding just 5 weeks from today), but rather as a thought for after camp in July and a lead in to the late summer/early fall. And one must make samples - which leads to yet another sweater cast on, Norma! I always have liked the planning of a new garment, whether it was sewing or knitting, the imagining of what it will be like.

And so today, that is where Ravelry is taking me today. It's kind of fun having a weekend free of obligations, well not really free, there are some wedding things to work out, but relatively free. And it is chilly today, I see a sweater that needs worn.

Finally!

I'm at the second sleeve shaping on Cinnamon Bark. I am so ready to be starting the back of the sweater, but there is still a little work on the second sleeve to be knit. I hope to get started on the back tomorrow!

Have I told you all how I love working with this Alpaca with a Twist? So much that I bought some in Rose for a Moebius for next winter!

This and That

No pics, just this and that today.

I was off today. I took the lia sophia jewelry to the Tri-County Chapter IAAP breakfast today. It was a good morning. I have a couple of contacts and made a couple of sales. It was over before I thought it was supposed to be, but that was a good thing. I got to run some errands in Peoria (the next quest is for some new pants for work).

While out and about and conserving gas (by planning the places I needed to go) I ended up over at Ewe-nique Yarns new place in Morton. The yarn is out, but they are still working on getting the books out, and word has it that the new yarn they have will be out later, after they get some more racks. It is going to be a nice place when they get done.

While at the breakfast this morning, I sat and knitted on my Christiane sweater. It is some mindless knitting. And it just felt so good to sit there and listen to the speaker and knit!

I got home around 12:30 today, and finally got the jewelry all sorted out and decided to check some sights and listen to the latest podcast from Stash and Burn. They turned me on to the top 5 patterns that are a free download from Knitting Daily. I am actually now searching through Ravelry to see what others are making Swallowtail out of.

It's been a good day. The sun is shining and I am alone for the next couple of hours, I think I'll go make a pot of coffee, put my feet up and knit a bit! I like these vacations in the middle of the week.

Happy Birthday Roger and Willie!



Today is their 25th birthday, and this will probably be the last one that they are together for awhile. Where did the time go? They may be 25, but as you can tell somedays they are still 5 in puppy years.

We love em though!

This May Be Sacreligious!

But, I only have two issues left on my Knitters magazine subscription and I am thinking of giving it up. My issue showed up yesterday, after I saw it in the Yarn Shop over a week ago. And it took me less than an hour to see that there wasn't much in this issue for me.

I figure I can check new issues out and my local yarn shop or Barnes and Noble and then buy the issue IF I just have to have it. Right now, the issues are cluttering up my bookcase and about one issue in 5 actually have something I might knit!

Thoughts?

What A Change

Last Saturday, when I could take these pictures outside, it was sunny, warm and Spring. Today, its cloudy, cold and Winter is Back. But, not for long, Spring will be back in a couple of days. In the meantime, I am trying to figure out what I am going to do with these two yarns.

Originally, this wonderful Encore was going to be the Mitered Square Cardigan. I even started a test square. But, now that I see what it looks like being knitted, I am giving serious thought to the Tomten out of it.

Then, the Taos jacket is in semi permanent time out. Even though, I only have a sleeve, back and collar left to do, I think the consensus is that I am just not going to be happy with it. I am giving thought to making it into an Adult's Baby Surprise Jacket.




In the mean time, I have finished a sleeve on Cinnamon Bark Cardigan and started the second. I am lovin knitting on it!

Changing Horses In the Middle of A Stream

From a Dan Folgelberg song-
It became apparent a couple of weeks ago, while out at Knit 4 Together, that the brown sweater designed by Christiane was just not going to make it. You see I was trying to use from my stash some brown leftover Encore. It was kind of a quiet color and not much to work on. Then, when held against the sample sweater it was evident that I was using too small of a needle.

The intent was to rip it out and start with the brown again. I bought this new Encore for a shawl that Karen had made. It takes four skeins. Somehow, not thinking I bought 5 skeins. And since I made that discovery, it just seemed like the new Encore was calling to be knit into Christiane's sweater.

Here it is. Don't you just love the way the colors are coming out? It's me!

By the way, we are knitting at Knit 4 Together tonight at 6:00 if you want to join us. But, first I have to buy a shower gift for Saturday's shower.

Only 3 months before we will be winging our way to Knit Camp 2.75!

Blocked and Folded

And no roll at the bottom hem. I just soaked the hem on the Brooks Pullover, pounded it out and let it dry on the table. Looks good to me.

Now, that I have finished blocking it, it is time to block the Cobblestone sweater. I just need a few more of these 60 degree days so I can sit them out in the sun to finish drying!

Sundays Are For Laundry

And for sittin around in my jammies watchin baseball until I absolutely have to get out of them. But last night I got a fair portion of the laundry done, so today I am plannin. Future projects of course, or plans for yarn that I have bought.

Maybe because it was so gorgeous yesterday and again today, but I got the urge to put out the Brooks Pullover to dry. I started blocking it on the dining room table last night and had to light a candle to take the smell of wet wool out of the house. When the knitting room is mine, I have a large fold out cutting table that will be moved into the room and I will have a place to block my sweaters. Years ago, I bought a kit from Threadbear Fiberarts to put on top of the table. It waits in the basement. But for now, the dining room table and my beach towels will have to do.

It appears from when I had the Brooks sweater on the table that the flip up of the hem is blocking out! Yippee Skippee!

The Mermaid Beginnith

Yes, I have started Hanne Falkenberg's Mermaid Jacket. It starts with a length of Icord for the front. Don't expect too much too soon as I have several start up projects going on as we speak.

And they are all projects that I want to do, not what my conscience is telling me I should do out of yarn already on hand. It is quite liberating.

No April Foolin Here!

I have a dress.

It fits. I won't have to hem it. It won't have to be taken in.

Now the quest for shoes. The ones I have are a way different color of green. The jewelry I originally was going to wear won't go with it, but hey, I sell lia sophia jewelry, I'll just go to another piece in the case. Well, and then there is a purse, I can deal with that too.

I gotta dress! It's over, aren't you glad?

That Gauge Thing


Those who know me well, know I am fanatical about getting gauge. For alot of years, I ignored it, and always thought that I was a bad knitter, when my sweaters didn't fit right. Until, I discovered through the help of Judy Chan that if you do a gauge swatch and measure your body and then knit the sweater to fit these measurements, you are almost sure to get a sweater that fit.

So, it should be no surprise that, I spent several hours Saturday night and a couple on Sunday, working gauge swatches for the Cinnamon Bark sweater. Problem is when I finally got gauge (al the way down to a size 1), I did not like the hand of the knit that I was getting.

Back to the hand I liked and a larger needle. Now, with the help of what I learned from Judy many years ago, I will rework the pattern to fit my gauge.

I have been wanting to do this sweater for a few months but could never really find the yarn I wanted to use. Then, a wild thought came to me. I remembered seeing this Baby Twist from Alpaca With A Twist over at Morton a few weeks ago.



Normally, I am not a cinnamon kind of girl, but the color in Knitter's has been haunting me. What was even better, it was on sale!