No, This Isn't All Of It


I don't want to overload with too much, so I am posting just a bit of the weekend's new yarn/projects. Meg's is a different kind of experience of yarn, but one tht makes you still want to start something new. With 60 men and women in a group, there are all kinds of avenues to explore.

Yes, yarn for another jacket from Cheryl Oberle's book. Did I mention I am working my way through it?

No other book since the Shetland Books has enticed me to make more than one thing from a book like this one. Well, may EZ and Meg are the other ones.

Okay, so here is another one. But, in my defense, I bought the turq last year for a shawl and as it vegitated this year, it really decided it wanted to be this jacket from Cheryl's book.

I just bought the black Shetland Jumperweight to go with it this year.

This was the shawl the turq was going to be, but after seeing the real shawl in person and trying it on, I thought I would get a lot more mileage out of the grape.

Little did I know that I also had picked out a similar color in a little heavier weight for a group Radical knitting project!

And this really isn't new either, just needed to pick up a couple of extra skeins literally on my way out Sunday night.

I had bought one skein for the Sock Knit Along last winter, and never got to it, so I decided to put it towards yet another shawl that is popular at not only Meg's Camp but I actually took a class at Arnhild's last February as well.

Oh yes there is more, but I'll show those tomorrow. And Sandy, don't tell the tall guy, lets keep this between ourselves. :)

Where To Start?

There is so much to show and it is hard to decide where to start. So, we'll start with vendor day on Saturday. I did the least amount of damage there, but what I did get I thought was kind of spectacular.

The Bohus Hat kit from Kimmet Croft. This is just enough yarn to either wet my appetite for Bohus knitting or cure me from ever wanting to do it again, without the investment of a major sweater.

Kind of hard to see, but I bought new yarn from Cheryl for either a shawl or if I can talk Char out of her two skeins, a jacket from the Knitted Jackets book.

I might have to order it from Cheryl since at the moment I am really leaning towards the jacket.

New pottery from Jennie the Potter. This bowl is going to the yarn room if nothing else for decoration. I do like the concept though. What you can't see is that it has a sheep in the inside as well.


I have a mug that I ordered two years ago from Jennie, but I could resist another one this year.

This is a little different shape than what I had before.

Last but not least, and yes, I have plenty of sock yarn, but this one is special since it is by Jennie as well and of course my special color. Who could resist?

It's Almost Time

Today is going home day. We have had so much fun it's hard to describe. There are so many new things I want to try some with new yarn I bought, others with yarn I have at home.

The real pitts is that I have to go back to work tomorrow at noon and won't have time to play. Next week I'll bore you with lots of pictures and more knit camp talk.

Last night we had a great dinner with fellow knit campers Linda, Nancy, Rollie and their spouses at a Japanese steakhouse. What a great show and dinner to boot! Then back to the big room for knitting one last time.

This morning it is breakfast with group and settling up with the Schoolhouse Press staff. What a great job they have done!

Live It's Sunday Morning.


Sorry there are no pictures, you will just have to wait until next week, when I will bore you silly with them from the big camera.

I cannot believe it is almost over. I do want to get home and try some new things out, but will be really sorry that it is over. We are making some new friendships this year and learning new things about old friends. I cannot explain it fully, it is something you just have to experience.

Yesterday, we saw again some unbelievable show and tell. This weekend, the three of us have definitely discovered some new ways to use the Kauni yarn we all three bought two years ago. I think it is unanimous that we are ripping out the sweaters we already started and doing something else.

In new projects, the three of us have decided that we are going to do a group project and bring it back next year as our show and tell! The pattern is from a Spun Out and we are going to modify it into a cardigan so I can actually steek.

This year, my focus on my knitting has been from Cheryl Oberle's book Knitted Jackets and I got to show my four finished jackets to the group. Cheryl asked me to help moderate the group on Ravelry for Knitted Jackets and I was really felt honored that she would ask! Of course, I said yes.

Today is the raffle and I am shameously going advertise Knit 4 Together and have put my raffle into one of their large shopping bags. Also, today is Contest Day and I am pleased that I have mine to show.

Oy, there is so much to say but for now, gotta go get dressed!

We're Here!
Aren't you all wishing you were here? We are just sitting here relaxing. Linda and Char are knitting and I was doing a little work.

We had a great reuben at the Pioneer Restaurant in Westfield.

As Linda said we are getting pretty good at this stuff! More later.

Off to Camp?

Yes, tomorrow bright and early we will be making our way to Meg's Camp. I am planning on blogging from camp and posting pictures. My bags are not packed and I am still unsure as to what to take to knit on. You know I'll be gone a whole 5 days and there are tons of sweaters that I can knit on while I am away.

Last night the yarn was going in the spare suitcase and then this morning the yarn came out of the suitcase. What to do, what to do. As a fellow knitter and co-worker said to me today...take whatever you want to, you would just hate yourself if you left something at home and decided you want to use it while you are at Camp. So, back to the drawing board there.

Yes, I am off from work, but one of the deals of me being gone is that they have access to me if they need me. I hope they don't, although I have already been responding to a couple of emails. If nothing else to keep my mailbox from over flowing.

Today, I worked a bit at work and then took off for some errands, so now as it is after seven, I'd better get moving on the packing!

Happy Birthday Linda!

Gearing Up

Sorry about the lack of blogs, but I have been busy knitting on the Wrapper. It is finished and going to camp with me. I have not had a chance to take pics of it yet, and hope to get that done before I leave on Thursday and post.

Also, I am working on my contest entry. Not sure if it will make the contest but we'll see.

Lots to do in just two days both at work and at home. I've never been quite this disorganized for a trip. It will come together, I'm sure!

Happy Friday!

It's a holiday for me from work, but I have plenty to keep me busy. Taking care of some business, grocery shopping and then home to clean for the 4th of July Annual Lunch. Mom and my aunt have been coming down forever while the Tall Guy cooks.

This year, it will just be my Auntie who is 89 years young. I should be so lucky to have inherited her genes. You would never know she was 89. She is no longer driving do to macular degeneration, but other than that almost nothing gets her down.

She is going to help me tomorrow go through some great old pictures I found and let me know whe they are. Also, there were a couple of boxes of knick knacks that I need to know if they mean anything. The only thing I remember about some of them is that as a kid, I had to dust them, so I know they have been around since then!

After I get my chores done today, rather by tonight, it is time to enjoy the weekend! That and I brought work home, to see if I can get ahead of next weeks work before taking off for camp on Thursday!

The Wrapper

One sleeve to go. The collar is on too. Hoping tomorrow night at Knit Night, I can get a bit of it done and then finish up on Friday so I can see if the hips will block about a bit.

The couple I have seen on Ravelry and in the book don't come all the way closed either, so maybe it isn't me, but the way it was meant to be styled.

I am anxious to be onto another jacket to work on before camp next week.

Knitting Software

I bought some software and downloaded it this afternoon courtesy of yet another Raveler. KSKI talked about it and I downloaded the trial version and said what the heck. Downloaded it straight to my lappy so I can take it with me.

Oy, I am getting founder of this laptop everytime I turn around.

Now, if I could just find an extra battery that isn't so expensive, I'd be real happy!

Knit Networking

Every once in a while I become unfocused and start to go off in tangents. Part of it is because I go into the yarn room and see just how much I have and think I get to get a handle on this.

The other part is I knit at Knit Four Together in Dunlap IL almost every Saturday and then last Thursday night as well. We had at least 20 people there and Christiane had to borrow chairs from Joe's across the street.

The things everyone was working on just makes me want to knit more. Take for example Karol, Tosca and Christiane. They are all working on this tank.
Guess what? I started that same tank at least a year ago. It's not done, but just seeing them working on theirs makes me want me to hall mine out and work on it. So I did!

Mind you, I can't work on it to completion right now, because I am busily knitting on The Wrapper so I can take it to Knit Camp (among other things).

Then there is a tank that Sue W got me interested in. She is using a strand of Ironstone and a strand of cotton sock yarn. That one has had be lusting after it for several weeks. My other friend Sue happens to have some yellow Ironstone and she said on Thursday how good it would look with a sock yarn I have eyeball on. She is bringing it today for us to check it out.

But, I also have a notion that I need something to go under one of three jackets that I have for work and I might want to pick something out for one of them. Since I like to wear them but each of them uses a white top from my closet. And I start to look like I don't own anything else but white tops. So, I am taking them with me today to pick something else out to make one to go under one of them.

And finally, Karol has been working on a sweater for awhile and I think I need to make it. I think White is what I am looking at. I don't have a white over sweater and I think that might be useful for several other possibilities.


Can you see how this Knit Networking can be tough? On the knitting list and on the pocketbook.

Bummer!

A friend of mine lost her job today. It was unexpected and doesn't make a whole lot of sense. This is the third friend in less than six months. The other two had an inkling that they might not have jobs, but the one today just came out of the blue.

And we wonder why we are stressed and having health problems?

Rippin Out

It just wasn't working for me so I ripped it out. Now, I just need to decide what to do with it. I wound the two yarns together, so they need to stay together. I just need to come up with an alternative plan for it, and fairly quick.

Right now it is sitting on the floor of the yarn room mocking me.

The Birth of A Sweater or The Gestation of A Sweater

This Ravelry thing is amazing. Take the thought of a new sweater. I know the yardage and weight of the yarn that I need/want to knit something out of. Make a list of potential patterns the yarn may want to be. Put next to them the yardage that it would take to knit each of them.

Go on Ravelry. Research on the board topics to see if the sweaters are listed. Click on ones that might pertain and read the posts. This may take you on a whole different tangent.

Search on the pattern. Search the list and see what other yarns are being used for each of the patterns...this could take you off on another tangent.

Go back and look at those who have made a pattern you might be interested in. Look at the details of their projects. Definitely, look at their pictures of the sweater. Hopefully, there is one that is wearing it. How does it look on them? Is this the look you are going for? Can some alterations help? Or should you just give it up?

And finally, post on a group and see what comes back.

I must have been a researcher in another life.

Sweater Thinking

I am addicted. To yarns. To sweaters. To planning.

A few weeks back I bought some Venezia from Knit 4 Together. The plan was to do a sweater from the latest Knitter's magazine. I still may do it, but I got to rethinking it. A mistake of mine I often make. Thinking too much!

I did a swatch and was pretty sure that I wanted to make said sweater. After taking Judy Chan's Knit to Fit Class I thought maybe I should make a swatch in the round to make sure of my gauge. Thats when I started looking at the pattern again and wondering if the motifs on it were really a good look for me. I figured I could move them up a little and it might be a bit more flattering.

In the meantime, I have let the idea veg for awhile. On Saturday, I started searching the yarn on Ravelry and seeing what others have done with it. I came up with a couple of possibilities for the Venezia - the February Lady Sweater, Clapotis and the Minimalist Sweater. All of these are ones that I have looked at before. Most of the three would not use up the yarn that I bought and wound for the Knitter's sweater. Which would leave me with leftovers - something I don't need more of.

The thought from there takes a life of it's own - what if I did the Clapotis and used the rest for a tank that I have been looking at. If I needed more yarn, I could get some more. STOP! WAIT! I am trying to use up yarn NOT buy more.

So I sleep on it! Wake up on Sunday and starting looking at more possibilities - the Chic Knits Hoodie, CeCe, Sandrine. I even go so far as to post a note to Bonne the designer of Sandrine to see what she thinks. Swatch she responds, the fabric may be too dense for Sandrine. Shoot!

What have I decided? Keep knitting on the Wrapper for camp. Let the Venezia veg for a little while longer and keep getting ready for camp!

Happy Fathers Day!

What A Find!

Last Sunday, while making room for some things I brought home from Mom's I had a find. A sweater/coat that I knitted I don't know how many years. Some of the Radicals will remember it because I bought the yarn from Joy at the end. The pattern was from the Shetland books that we all bought and the yarn is the actual yarn that the pattern called for.

It is mostly done except for the sleeves. Now, finding it did not make it to the top of the list, but it might surface closer later this summer.

The cool thing was there in the plastic envelope is the pattern, the needles and the swatch for it. I know exactly what I was doing and where I left off. When I do decide to finish (maybe in time for this Fall) I can pick it up and go right back at it.

What a find!

Helmet Liners

If you are so inclined, how about knitting helmet liners? It just takes a skein of yarn in black, brown or drab green and a little time.

A friend of mine is the local collector for liners so I said what the heck, I can knit one.

The pattern is a free one, just search on the internet under helmet liners. There are collectors all over the US, there may be one near you.

Finished!


The Wabi Sabi from Cheryl Oberle's Knitted Jackets book is done. AND I love it. It feels good on, it looks good on and I can hardly wait to wear it.

Just not outside on a warm June day.


I spent a little time on the Wabi Sabi this week. Knitted the facings, pulling yarn off of the too long sleeves to do the facing. On Friday night I stayed up really late, sewing half of the facing down. When I went to bed early Saturday morning, I just was not crazy about the bulk that it gave it AND, I still did like the way I sew those live stitches down.

But, instead of ripping it out, I slept on it, went knitting on Saturday and late last night, I unstitched the facing, pulled out the yarn and just bound off. I really like it just like that.

And dispite what the hand may look what it is doing in this picture it stays together just fine.

Now, that the pictures are done, I notice something I never noticed in all the knitting of this one... there is a little diamond shape on one of the back panels. It is more pronounced on one panel than it is in any of the others.

The back of the sleeve appears to be sagging as well, but once I get more clothing under it, it will fit just fine!

But, I love it anyway! And loving it is all the matters. And it is finished....now back to the Wrapper.

When In Need

Two problems came up with the Wabi Sabi. Fortunately, I didn't bury the ends on the sleeves when I was knitting them. I thought they might be a little long but I wanted to wait to be sure when I finished putting the bands on.

I thought sure that I had an extra skein of the Alpaca laying around to finish out the facing on the band. Looks like if I play my cards right, I won't need an extra skein.

Rockers I Got

I love rockers. It must have started as a child when I got a rocker that had a little music box attached to the back. When you rocked it jingled. I still have it and it is in the yarn room holding a couple of bears. The bears might have to be removed though. Since I got my mom's doll. My aunt told me the story about the doll on Sunday. But, I'll leave that for another day.

Back to the Rockers. When the tall guys parents scaled down to an apartment we became the recepient of two of their rockers. A few years back when they got new chairs, I got one of their rocker recliners. It is in the basement where I can sit in between stuff.

The latest rocker acquisition is this one. It was at my mom's. It has some memories too. It was painted cream years ago. Then my parents found someone who strips paint and so the rocker was reborn. I remember rockin and a rockin in it. So now it makes it's way to the yarn room.

I did a little rockin in it the other day. It still scoots on you if you rock too much and funny, it's smaller than I remember or maybe I just got bigger. Either way, rockers I got!

The Wabi Sabi Update

Even while knitting the last of the repeats of the variegated I was worried that I would not have enough left to complete it. So, last night right after I did the last of the repeats, what do you think I found in the bottom of the yarn basket?

Now, that I am working on the band (23 rows of stockinette on size 4 needle), I am really starting to wonder if I will have enough of the solid to complete it. I think Knit 4 Together may have it, I'll have to check on the shelf and see.

Otherwise the band is going to have some variegated in it. This band is not a quick knit! I am anxious to have it done and move back to the Wrapper.

Knit To Fit

Yesterday was a class by Judy Chan from Chicago. Judy is an old friend of mine and taught me years ago to make my sweaters knit a little better. Meg and EZ added to this. Then yesterday, Judy taught me even more things.

Problem with learning new things for me is my brain won't stay quiet and demands me to explore ways of using what I learned. So spread out on the yarn room floor is just a couple of things I am giving thought to.

Even though, I promised myself to finish a couple of things first, a new project is calling me. None of these are the one I intended to do following the class. Oy, if I just knitted as fast as my brain thinks!

Focus Penny Focus!

Happy Birthday Jo!

This Was A Good Day

The sun was shining and the sky was blue and it was just gorgeous out.

I worked a half a day. Went to lunch and met with our friend from Texas.

Went to Knit 4 Together and knitted the afternoon away. Judy Chan came in today for tomorrow's Knit to Fit class. Went to dinner and here I am.

Sometimes, you just need a half a day off for your self.

Okay Okay I'm Going To Bed

I was just going to browse Ravelry a bit and then go to bed. Several hours later, here I am and I have accomplished nothing tonight. Oh, I did get my little nap in while the Cardinals were losing!!

I did get to look at my new Knitters magazine and I think I might like to do a swatch for this sweater for Judy Chan Knit to Fit class on Saturday. I think some cotton yarn I have in lettuce green would be perfect for this if I have enough.

Originally, the yarn was meant for Sally's Summer Sweater but the more I look at it the less I think it is something I should wear. BUT--I could bring both patterns on Saturday and get Judy's advice on it.

Hey, thats a swell idea!

Why Do I Wait?

Until it is time for bed, to get serious about something. I took a little nap tonight in the middle of the Cardinal Game. Woke up in time to watch Rescue Me and flip back to see the Cards win.

So, to get a little knitting in, I tried to watch Conan, but I am sorry I just can't do it! So, I put the Knitting Glossary in and start to watch. All of sudden, I can't make it past the first few topics. I am now thinking about the Aran I want to do and the Three and One Sweater that has been on my mind for sometime.

I am sitting here, the eyes are getting tired, and I am trying to figure out what to make the Three and One out of. Then, I start thinking about camp and my camp contest project. What is it going to be? Maybe, it's the Campitis starting up, but now all of a sudden, it is really time to go to bed and my brain is starting to engage.

Why do I wait? Don't have a clue but perhaps this is how I became a night owl? That and the little nap I take mid evening might have been it. Okay, enough, bedtime, we will see what the dreams bring!

Twice In Two Weeks

The power has went out. The first time, it just went out. Tonight, a storm came through and is still rumbling.

Both times we have been without power for a couple of hours. Before the next time, I am going to get me a lantern. Now, I have practiced knitting in the dark and if I do say so myself, I am pretty good at it. But, tonight, I wanted to knit on the Wabi Sabi and it is at the point that I really need to see what I am doing.

So I rigged up this with my light over my chair. Just as I was settling in, the power came back on. I'm not complaining, just hoping it stays on at least until my bed time. The tall guy has already went.

Pushing The Envelope


I know better than to knit under pressure and timelines. When you do or at least when I do, I am not at my best. Thats the case of this latest BSJ.

There are several things I don't like about it, but I am not changing it, the shower is about an hour away and quite frankly, I'm ready to get back to knitting for me.

Whats wrong? To start the button is too big and heavy (you can't tell from the picture, but it is a baseball). The collar is too small....I took the short way out and used the collar instead of ICord which might have looked better. And it is not exactly the Braves jacket I was going for. However, on Rav, I did see a Cardinals one I want to duplicate for later this year for a baby.



I'm going to use the same yarn for the Cardinals one, but I have never seen such a yarn that had so much static. That was unbelieveable and annoying.

Back to regular scheduled knitting.

Note To Self

Never knit on the BSJ when tired. I am merrily knitting along this morning and came to the end of the 10 ridges and am ready to add the 10 stitches and then knit 34. Huh, there are no 34stitches on one side.

Yep, you got it. Last night during the Tonight Show, I knit right across where I was suppose to have ended. Picked it up this morning and kept right on knitting.

Nope, this is not my first one that I have knitted! And I still want to knit a TSJ and an ASJ for me.

RIP

Not A Sailor Collar

It is yet another BSJ. These things are addictive. This one is for a shower for this Sunday, so I am frantically knitting on it to get it finished. The new baby to be's father is an Atlanta Braves fan so I am doing it in their colors.

I have ideas for another one after this maybe in a toddler size. Then, I want to do one for me.

These things are addictive!

The New Knitters

Although, I don't have mine yet, there is a preview over on the Knitters Magazine Website of the upcoming issue. There actually looks like there might be some things I wouldn't mind knitting on.

Here are today's pics. All three of these are Kathy Zimmerman knits.
Just enough interest to keep me focused.

Do You Tube?

I didn't until the Boyle one. Then, my DIL sent me a link to a little video she did of the Grand Dog. And then, over on Ravelry, I found someone talking about a Vogue Knitting Video.

They have some of the current knits on models that move so you can see it on someone. It gave me a new appreciation for some of the knits.

Check it out:

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=&search_query=Vogue+Knitting+Spring%2FSummer&aq=f

Happy Memorial Day

and the official start of Summer. It's rainy like and cool this morning in Central IL. My brother and I are spending the day at Mom's house getting a plan as to all there is to do.

Tomorrow, it is back to work for me. I'm ready for a little normalcy.

This One Is For Norma

Today is Indy Race day. Something that began when I was in 8th grade, when I got to go to my first race in Indy. Then, we would go to Indy, see the race and drive four hours back to watch it again on the t.v.

We did that for many years. Now, every race day, I can be found in front of the t.v. watching and knitting. My brother and I have arranged working over at Mom's house around the race. If it gets rained out today, we are going to the house to work. If it runs we stay home. All revolves around a time honored tradition for us.

Last year there was a pretty little caribe blue and lime car that I particularly liked. This year I am not finding any cars that I really like the colors of. You see I have two criterias for the car/drivers I cheer on....American and the color of the car.

So, this year I don't really have a pick of a car, just American, but Norma I think you might like this one.

1/2

Does 1/2 of a Wabi Sabi make it a Wabi? I love this jacket even though it is only 1/2 done. The yarn - Manos
Silk Tweed and Alpaca With a Twist is so soft! It is going to feel so lush to wear.

I am furiously knitting on the second half, which will take a while. I can't wait to see what awaits me when I get to join it together.

Oh, I have a deadline on another BSJ that I need to get back to for next weekend, but this one keeps pulling me back. I want to at least get to the sleeve section by Sunday.

Why Sunday? I am not sure that just popped into my mind. Race day is a good day to knit on the sleeve which seems to go on forever. I still have not made a decision on what the bottom of the sleeve is going to look like.

Wabi Sabi

Thats kind of how I feel today. I am home alone...I usually like that but today not so much! Anyway, enough of that.

Isn't this cool?! It's the sleeve decreasing of my Wabi Sabi sleeve. I just finished the last of the decreases and am almost home free on the first side.

Now, I just need to decide how to finish the sleeve. Cheryl calls for it to roll up, but I am not sure I like that finish for me. I may just put some garter ridges on the sleeve to tie in with the other garter in the sweater.

Seems like I do alot of that kind of finish on alot of my sweaters lately.

Thank You All!

What a great group of friends and family we have. I could not have gotten through it without the support! I am so ready to get back to work, knitting, blogging and life.

It's quiet around here and there is so much yet to be done. Tomorrow, I have a couple things on my plate. Then on Monday, we are going to see what lies ahead over at the house and where we go from here.

After tomorrow, we are going to take a couple of days and chill and then start the task. Chill for me means, knitting. Hopefully, there will be some good t.v. to watch and I am going to sit in my comfy chair and knit the weekend.

EZ said it best "Knit on with confidence and hope through all crises".

It's Been A Rough Weekend

I'll not be bloggin this week, but hope to be back next week after things have calmed down.

Mom passed away this morning. It is best because she would not have wanted to live the way she was. She was trying at times as was I, but she was still my mom. I feel a little as she said I would. Damn she was right again.

My thanks to all of my knitting pals for their kind words, thoughts and prayers.

Time Out

I'm taking a few days off from bloggin. We had an emergency come up with my mom today and at the moment all my energy is focused on her right now.

Be back soon, hopefully.

Finished!

I've finished my first ever Babies Surprise. It was so much fun knitting it. There is no baby that it is intended for at this time, but I wanted to do one for myself and Meg suggested knitting a baby one first.

I have tried to knit it several times before, but just could not stay on track with it. This time armed with the video and the line by line instructions I did it. Using the instructions to periodically make sure I was on track really helped. That and with the video leading me through made a lot of sense.

I have yarn left so I think I am going to give the heart hat a try to go with it when I find a baby for it.

Happy Mothers Day~

Places You Have To Go

The Internet. Where would we be without it?

Last night when I was contemplating what to watch on t.v. while doing a little knitting, I discovered that there wasn't anything worth listening to. So, I with my handy laptop (that I have now made a place next to me) watched Grey's Anatomy from Thursday night. I popped into abc.com and found the episode and watched from my chair on my lap top.


A little later, the kids in Memphis called me and told me they had made a You Tube (www.youtube.com) video of the grand dog. So, I accessed it and watched it a couple of times. I have only been on You Tube a couple of times from links that people have sent me, but this morning after watching the dog video one more time, I decided to search on it for knitting. Suffice it to say, it is yet another time sucker to watch all of the knitting videos, but if you want to learn how to knit frontwards, backwards, socks, continental, fix your mistakes, knit in the round or just plain anything knitting there is a video for it. Check it out.

And yes, I am still staying home to start the mass cleaning, I am just taking it slow and want to enjoy the experience! After all it is Mother's Day weekend....yes, I am claiming the weekend for us mothers!

Don't Anyone Faint!

I am staying home tomorrow. I have got to clean my house for the kids arrival on Tuesday. First stop is the yarn room so that have a place to sleep.

Then I have go to tackle the front room and living room. I have stuff and knitting and patterns all over the place. Bills to pay. Lia Sophia jewelry to return. Knitting patterns to file away. Books to enter into my database so they can go into the bookshelf. Magazines to be gone through.

Then it is the kitchen and bathroom. Oy.

I really need to do this. I don't think I have done more than dust and vacuum and a little cleaning on the kitchen and bathroom since Christmas!

Lets call tomorrow Spring cleaning...hope I can get it done in a day!

Wasn't That Nice?

A former co-worker sent these to me as a thank you. How thoughtful was that? And just when I needed a pick me up!

New Book

I happened upon Sally Melville's new book at Barnes and Noble on Saturday. There are a couple of sweaters in it that I might want to knit down the road, but first I have others to finish.

I especially like the first part of her book on knitting sweaters to fit and flatter. I know some of it and will take a refresher from Judy Chan next month, but in the mean time, I felt like buying a new book for myself to add to the collection.

One Tank Finished

This still needs to be blocked but it is done. I wouldn't say I love it, but sometimes after blocking, a garment will grow on me and I will wear it to death.

I do have to admit that I prefer winter sweaters more than spring and summer sweaters.

Back On Track

I had planned a whole different yarn for today's blog, but just a few moments ago, while watching the weather channel, I decided on a different thought.

Finally, it looks from the weather channel, that the temperatures this week are going to be at least 70 all week long. Sure, the wake-up temperature is going to be upper 40's and 50's but at least finally, it looks like spring is here to stay.

Lately, I have been telling myself that I'll get back to my exercise and eating routine later. I'll start doing a few things around the house and not just vegging and knitting all Sunday long. It's hard to do those things on Sunday, when it is cold and dreary outside and it seems like Winter will never go away.

Now, all of a sudden, Spring is here and Summer is not very far away and my body is no where near what I want it to feel like.

My knitting has been like that as well....finishing nothing - starting every thing and no focus. So, last night I made a list. What needs to be done and where I should be focusing my knitting. In my head I have made a list of must do work items as well.

I am a new woman today! On track, hopefully! Well, at least in my mind I am!

Judging Can Be Hard

Sure, I said when asked if I would judge the knitting at Peoria Area Stitchers Guild. Little did I know how hard it would be. I hated to grade down on some pieces because I know how much work goes into it. But, there were some truly beautiful and intricate pieces. I wish you all could have seen them!

The lace knocked my socks off. The Vegan Fox Scarf was a hoot. I had seen it in another life, but it was still neat to see one up close and person.

Tonight, I am kicking back and planning my knitting...camp is on my mine today.

Yarn Souvenirs

As a child whenever we went on vacation to Minnesota, there always was some kind of souvenir to bring home. New mocassins, a tshirt, and once I remember bringing home a green blob scented like pine for my drawer.

Now that I am all grown up, the idea of souvenir has not changed. Only this time, I can justify a yarn purchase as a souvenir. This yarn is not going to be for me but rather a baby shower gift for a friend. Her son-in-law is a Braves fan, so I am going to knit it into a little baseball jacket for the baby to be.

I'd rather he would be a Cardinal fan, but I will make an exception for this one baby this one time.