New Yarn

and it is burning a hole in my pocket. It is still sitting on the couch in the bag. I haven't wound it yet, even though I want to wind it and starting knitting on it desparately.


I only ordered about a thousand yards, so it is limited as to what it can be.

I'm thinking about The Wrapper as a vest. I think I will have enough yardage for it.

But first, I have to finish Seedling.

On the Last Sleeve

Then the neck and facings. I am hoping by the end of this week that I can find some buttons for this and be finished.

I am itchin to start something new, BUT, I am not, I am going to keep knitting on Seedling until it is done. Seedling is actually supposed to be much shorter, but I decided to add length to it and make it hip length.

Christmas Presents

My lunchtime projects, these days, are Christmas presents. I am knitting new scarves for my co-workers. Years ago, I knit everyone a seamans scarf. At the time as I recall there were about 13 of them.

Thank goodness, since then I have condensed my list to just those around me that do things for me. I have whittled the list down to 6. One is down. Only 5 to go.

The funny thing about this one is that it originally was for someone else. But, while knitting on it at lunch, another recipient of a scarf to be done just love the color. Now, I have earmarked it for her.

It's nice when someone gets something they really want!

Done!


Even the kitchen is done tonight. Now, I'll stop talking about it and move on to knitting again.

The Trouble With Seed Stitch

is that when you are knitting it in a sweater, it goes on forever. This sleeve just will not end.

Last week at this time, I thought I would surely be done with at least the sleeves. And I am not even finished with the first one.

Doesn't it look fine on my new living room floor?

We Had Quite The Weekend

I spent yesterday at an Alzheimer's Event for most of the day. We didn't get a lot of traffic, but I managed to sell off a few of the lia sophia samples. I came home to Bob working on some new door jams. How nice was that!

Today he did a few more. While he worked on them, I worked on emptying a few boxes. We have decided after working through all of mom's stuff to start making it easier for our kids someday. Purging is the name of the game. And getting some things in order.

Now, it will not be happening overnight, cause we have a lot of purging to do, but at least we have a start.

The new living room and dining room floors are in. I love them! I am not covering them with area rugs at this time. We have to wait on the kitchen floor as the installer took Friday off and can't come back until next week. Which does not work for us?! I'm okay to wait, but unfortunately, I can't get off from work when he needs to come back. And the Tall Guy needs to check his schedule as well. One of us will have to take another couple of days off in the next couple of weeks to sit here when the guy can be rescheduled.

It seems like Sundays are going to be for work projects around the house for now.
Is the weekend over already?

By the way, Central Illinois is going to have 60 degree temps this week. Is Fall here? I don't think I am ready yet.

My New Bag

It seems that not only do I collect needles, that I collect bags. Well, that is no secret is it now! I've always been a collector of totes. At one time, I gave thought to putting nails all over the spare bedroom and displaying them. Then kids came along and now they are here and there.

After we started going through my mom's stuff, I made a vow that I would start cleaning our stuff up. Maybe, I'll get all of the tote bags together in one place. Well, it's a start.

Ir's True

My mother always said I didn't know when to keep my mouth shut. More than once, since I have gotten my Harmony needles, have I said that I didn't need another set of needles. I pooed the Addi Clicks as being too expensive and not enough cords available etc. I even looked very quickly at them a few weeks back and decided they were not for me.

Then, last week at the shop, I was reminded that almost a year ago, I told them to order me a set. Signt unseen. Before my Harmony needles. I was riding the wave and loved my regular Addis.

So since I had told them to order, I really had to buy them.
You know what? I like them. Since I put my Harmony needles in a small version of the worm bag, I pulled out my Harmony needle holder and am using it for my new Addi Clicks. These I carry in my knitting bag almost all the time. They are just right for carrying.

Yes, they were pricey. Yes, at this time there is not any extra cords or tips. And I like them and will use them. I like my Harmony needles more, but still am not sorry, well maybe my wallet is.

Progress Is Being Made

Perhaps by the weekend I will be able to clean the furniture and put everything back. It doesn't look like the kitchen will get done until next week depending on the installer's schedule. I'm okay with that.

I met with the real estate agent last night on mom's house. As of today, there is a sign in the yard and it is for sale! We are hoping for a quick sale. I am waiting for the auction house to pick up the garage full of stuff at the house. Once that is done, there is a little work to do on it and then we will sit and wait.

It's hard to believe that it has been five months. I still have moments when I think I'll go call and tell her about the floor and realize that she is gone.

Goodbye Old Floor




Where's the new Floor?





Is it done yet?

New Floors

The guy started laying my new floor this morning. I'll show pictures later this week as it progresses. He estimates that it will take him all week to do the living room, dining room and hallway. Then, will probably have to come back next week to do the kitchen.

Already, I'm tired of being displaced. If you could see Baby Boy B's room, the yarn room and the living room! At the moment, sitting space with a t.v is at a premium. Which means I can be comfy and knit or I can be uncomfy and watch Dancing with the Stars. I hope he makes more progress for tomorrow night. Either that or I need to get control of my little t.v. back for the yarn room.

By the way, the he is not the Tall Guy but rather the flooring company. I thought there would be two of them. Instead there is just one and the Tall Guy is having to help him move furniture. No wonder it is going to take more than a week!

Tomorrow night, I am meeting with a real estate agent to see about getting Mom's house on the market soon. The auction house wasn't able to pick up the stuff from her garage this morning. She is going to try for Thursday or the following Thursday. I'll be glad when that piece is done as well!

Sometimes It Helps

to talk to a fellow knitter.

They can help you focus, and make you realize that the reason you are not finishing anything is that you are flittin from one project to another rather than concentrating on one. When I concentrate on just one project, I actually finish things.

Linda reminded me of that on Saturday when we talked. She, innocently or maybe not innocently, told me how I was producing a lot of jackets last Spring and early Summer. Since camp, I have been casting on here and there and completing not much of anything.

As much as I want to be working on some new sweaters that I bought yarn for at Stitches and before Stitches, I really need to finish Seedling from Knitted Jackets.
I got to knit (when not sleeping) all the way up to Aurora and back today. Seed stitch takes a lot of knitting! What I did notice, today in the car before it started to rain is this jacket in Ironstone Color Changes is going to be great with blue jeans as well as other pants. Love it!

The View From Work

Sometimes at work, we get the neatest things to look at our back window. This pair give us a little fun at work. We watch for them and when they don't show we wonder where they are off to.

We're Back!

Fellow Knitters, Sue, Debbie and I just got back from Stitches Midwest and the Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival.

We had a blast. We went up Thursday morning and took classes on Thursday afternoon. Debbie and I did Japanese Short Rows (I'll show you that stuff in the next couple of days). The class was great and I will try the technique out in the very near future. Thursday night, we went to the market and WOW. More on that later too. We ate at Weber Grill with Pam and Jan, also fellow knitters from the area. After, Debbie, Sue and I went back to our suite and I taught them some Ravelry basics and then we stayed up til 3 am knitting and talking!

Jan was in our class and when she told where she was from, Debbie and I were both surprised that she was from our area. New knitting friends have been made.

Friday, Sue had two classes and Debbie and I shopped the market all day long. We met up with Pat, Jean, Norma, Barb, Val and Marilyn for lunch. Then when some went off to class, the rest of us migrated too and from the table while others shopped. What a great afternoon! Another group, Carol, Barb and another Sue migrated to our table as well as Pam and Jan.

Friday night, Sue, Debbie and I went to Wildfire to eat and then back to our suite for knitting. We didn't stay up as late last night (just midnight ish)and slept in a bit this morning.

This morning, we leisurely made our way over to the market for some last minute shopping and then took off for the Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival. There was a lot of things for the spinner there in two barns and some nice yarns. While shopping in one of the barns, I turned around and there was three ladies from Meg's camp from 2 years ago! It was so cool to see them again.

After an afternoon there, we decided that we didn't need to stay overnight and go back tomorrow, so we headed home tonight instead.

I've got my clothes unpacked and am thinking now about unloading all my purchases. Maybe for now I'll just lay them out on the bed and deal with them tomorrow. Of course, I'll blog about them as well too!

What a great time we had and I think we will do at least Stitches Midwest again.

Saturday Shoppin

Sue and I went over to Bloomington/Normal on Saturday for a little yarn shoppin. Normally, we would go to our favorite local haunt in Dunlap but they were closed for the holiday weekend.

We hit several shops, Ewe Knit in Normal, Mary Lynn's and Village Stitches in Bloomington. I did pretty good until Village Stitches. I met Jennifer, the owner through Ravelry. I knew going over there that I wanted to get the yarns for the Tulip Baby Sweater which I'll show you sometime later when I get more of it it knit.

I, also, picked up a light denim Cascade 220 for another of the Pure and Simple Sweaters. Originally, it was going to be a hoodie, but I realized after I got home that I already have a hoodie of sort out of a light denim. One of the neat things about Jennifer is how she took a couple of the Knitting Pure and Simple patterns and created several different looking sweaters from them.

Another something that caught both Sue and my eye was a Christmas Stocking done from an unusal color. Sue got it for the purple, I got the yarn for my DIL who is into purple as well. Since, I had to make due with a little baggie for her stocking last year, I decided to get a jump on one for her this year.

Unconventional colors yes, but I think she'll like it. I do!

Not Sure

I ordered a couple of the new acrylic Knit Picks needles. I am not all that crazy about them. I still like my harmony needles the best.

It may have been the yarn I tried them out on. But it seems like they drag a little.

I had a chance to check the Addi Clicks out yesterday as well. Definitely, not on my list!

Three Yarns

Three different sweaters. Yes, they are very close, but I love each of them.

Left - Malabrigo for Little Edo
Center - Brown Sheep for Cusco
Right - Colorchanges for Seedling

All from Cheryl Oberle's book, Knitted Jackets

Have you bought the book yet?

I'm Not Whining

But this is our second dumpster to fill in this week. I think we are done for now.
I'm pooped. The only knitting I have done in the last few days is this morning when I was waiting for the dumpster to be dropped off. I hope to change that tomorrow.

I have a couple of appointments for tomorrow and knitting tomorrow night. Finally, some knitting time.

I do have to say, I could not have picked a better week. The sun has been shining all week, it around 70 out with a cool breeze blowing.

Finished!

And just in time I'd say. This morning, I need a sweater and some sox. It is darn chilly in Central Illinois this morning.

We made alot of progress yesterday, filled a dumpster in less than two hours. There is still alot to be done, sometimes unreal. We are all ready to be done, much like I was with this sweater.

Happy Birthdays Norma and Karen!

I'm On Vacation

But not one where you go somewhere special or even a knitting camp.

This one is going to spent for the most part at my mom's house cleaning it out. My brother, sister-in-law and I are hopeful that by the end of the week to have it mostly cleaned out and the masses of stuff picked up by an auctioneer. They and my Aunt have been over then sorting since the end of May.

Hopefully, then over the Labor Day weekend, we hope to get my son moved into the house until we sell it. Although, it is tough to do this next part, we are all ready to get it sold and start new chapters.

Oh, I still will be bloggin this week, at least it is suppose to be sunny and nice the first part of the week...that at least will make the week not seem so gloomy.

Used To Be

it would take KnitPicks about two weeks to get an order to me. The last couple of times I have ordered on a Sunday and have had my order on Saturday. This week it came in less than a week. Good going.

This week I got some of the new flexible needles to try. I'm not buying the whole set because I already have the whole set in harmony and metal. I just got a couple of sizes that I always seem to be short on.

I also bought a couple of 16" circulars in harmony fixed that I use all the time. I guess I did not realize that the needle part was so short on these. We'll see.

These Are Some Small Needles


Last Fall I bought one pair of these 11" circulars to try. At the time, I bought size 10s. Don't know why, because I rarely use size 10s. So they have just sat around until now.

I wouldn't want to knit very much with them, but in a pinch they are okay.


The needle itself is very short. I am not so sure that they are any faster than using double points, but at least the purchase was not wasted.

Stitches Midwest

For those who want a market preview, check to show book out below. I've already started making notes.

http://www.knittinguniverse.com/STITCHES_ShowBook/

Unexpected Trip

After noodling over the sweater I want to make into an adult, I headed out to Knit 4 Together to gander at a yarn for it. What I did not expect is the group that was there knitting on a Tuesday.

What Fun! Had lunch with them, but unfortunately, had to go back to work.

Oh yes, I think I found some yarn for the sweater, but am still noodling on it. One of the colors I really like and am trying not to go another direction with it. And I might want to try doing it out of Unspun Icelandic instead.

Easily Led Astray

Those who know me, know that I can easily be led astray by my knitting. That would be obvious by all of the needles and yarn I have collected. So, on Saturday, I am minding my own business knitting on a mindless project out at Knit 4 Tgether when I get this idea to look at the Children's Knitting Patterns. I had in my mind that I might knit a sweater for my great niece and nephew sweaters for their birthday celebrations next month.


While looking for them, I ran across this pattern. Quite often I will see something for little girls that I think would look great as an Adult sweater and there is not one to be found. I figure I could enlarge this into an Adult?

This is one of those patterns. I don't want to do it in a bulky, but rather a worsted weight. I originally thought the old stand by Cascade 220 or maybe Brown Sheep worsted (which is what I did a gauge swatch on), but when I went to the yarn room, there was not three colors that there would be enough to do it out of. But, I do have enough Unspun Icelandic in several colors that might just work.

Now, I was content to work this later, but after talking to my cohort in crime, Karen earlier today, I might have to rethink it and maybe cast on for it soon!

Yes, regular readers that does mean that last weeks gotta cast on has been temporaily aside for now.

I've Been Waiting

And now it is out. Chic Knits has released the PDF version of the Mondo Cable Pulli today. I have bought it and really want to start it.

I have the perfect yarn that has been vegging waiting for a sweater to call it's own.

Feelin Good!

I'm heading out to K4 Together today to knit. I'm bound to buy something and start something new.

I've made a list of several potential things to knit at the shop while I'm there or start new if the whim hits me.

This is a possible list of Knit 4 Together projects:

Knitting Pure and Simple Pullover - there is a great Brown Tweed Cascade 220 that would be perfect for this, but it would be a new purchase.

My DIL Christmas Stocking in Purple

Brown Alpaca - this would be great in the KPS Pullover, a sweater from the Ann Budd book or Meg has a great weekend sweater from the Wool Gatherer that would work --all of these would need to be swatched

Rework that Basis Shell and this time follow their instructions!

Haul out the Debbie Bliss Green Tweed and finish - except this may take some quiet knitting on it before it goes to the shop

My Judy Chan Workshop sweater

And finally the cover sweater from Knitters last year, Sue bought the yarn for it and didn't like it, so I bought it off of her---this needs a few rows done before it makes the trip to group knitting as well

I think there is plenty to choose from this list, don't you all?! Come on out if you can today and join us!

Found!

I found the cards I was looking for. They were in the very first place I looked. Guess it was not meant to be.

Even though it is going to be 95 tomorrow, I'm ready for Fall knitting. I figure if I work on my Fall stuff now, it will be ready when I am to wear it.

Now, I just have to decide what IT is going to be.

Frustrated

Thats what I am! I have spent the last three nights doing two things and succeeding at neither.

I am looking for a set of notecards that has my sock pattern on them for a certain someone! The last time I had them was in December. Where did I put them? Does anybody know? Earlier this Summer, I did a little cleaning around my knitting chair. I think at the time, I decided to put them somewhere where I could find them. Why didn't I just leave them where they were at on my table? At least then I could have found them and be knitting on them instead of searching againt tonight.

The second frustrating item is my tank top. I finished it on Monday night. Went in and tried it on. Before, I say how it fit, let me just say this. I was rewriting a pattern and adding decreases and then increases to make it fit at the hips, waist and bust. This is also known as knitting by the seat and thinking I knew what I was doing. So, much for the thought of designing!

The hip fits really good. The waist even better. The bust, not so much. Way too big. The front neck also way to big. This is not the first time this has happened when I have tried to knit a tank. The other tank is sitting in the yarn room waiting to be ripped out the rest of the way and becoming something else. The current tank is sitting waiting form me to start back at the waist and keep working up.

My heart isn't in it, so it is going to time out, probably until next spring. I have had it with right now. Back to looking for that damn sock pattern. When I find it, I am going to scan it and save it so I have another copy.

The Schoolhouse Press Staff

They are the greatest! I can hardly wait until next year.

Just A Few Last Photos

These are courtesy of Al's DVD. There are so many more I could share.
But, really, tomorrow will be the last post for this year's camp.


The Kauni Scarf

M'Lou's Tam

M'Lou's Christmas Triangles

Al's Scarf with those cool ends

We interrupt the previous post for a newsflash! Two DVDs came in the mail today from Al. Camp pictures! It's raining here in Central IL so you know what I am going to do!!! Coffee and watch them!

KaunI KaunU KaunWE?


When last we saw my Kauni, it was going to be a sweater. I made it through the rib.


Then worked a bit on the sweater and just wasn't having any fun, so I put it away.

Then we went to camp and the variations came out. All three of us knew that the once Kauni sweaters were history and something else must be done with it.




Mike had a great scarf that I did not get a picture of, but I knew right away that I was going to make one! So, this little gem is a slow project because it is in the car for emergency knitting, stop lights and construction slow ups. I think I will use almost two of the five skeins I have for it on Mike's advice.

Then the other three are going into the Wool Peddlar's Shawl. Char, Linda and I are all three doing it, but starting at different spots in the skein. All three will be quite unique.

And a great threesome show and tell for next year's camp.

Contest!


This year's contest theme was Recycled Knits. What fun it is to see what everyone comes up with. Though, I can't remember who all created them all, here is just a smattering of the 30 entries.

Cheryl Oberle




Greg's entry. I remember making the paper version of these when I was in grade school. Is that dating me?





Rhoda's 10 year project


Nancy's recycled garden flag




Jane's recycled toaster parts hat



Jaya's recycled sox that have stretched out or lost partners now turned into servicable cozies of all sorts


And Drum Roll......#30 out of 30, my baja bag. Last year the yarn started as a giant squid....this year a bag for me.
And courtesy of Greg, I won some cool books! I couldn't have been happier.