Just A Bit O Yarn

This is all that is left for my Hanten.  I still need to do something with the sleeves and side seams.  They are supposed to have the stitches picked up and then three needle bind off them together.  I know I don't have enough to do that, but I am going to give my friend Char an email and see if she has any left that she could spare.  Then there is always Cheryl.  Shey may have some laying about too.

I knitted my sleeves just a little longer and that is where the extra yarn is I am sure.  If I get desparate I could use something else or rip back the sleeves a bit. 

As it is they are not all the way to the wrist bone.  The closure on the front is a couple of ties that are held down by buttons and then you tie it up.  I am still noodlin on that to see if that is something I want to do.

I think the color is way off on this picture, the jacket is not near as bright as this.  It really is way more like the wee bit of yarn that is left, dark.

Yes I Did

I've wanted one for sometime.  So I bit the bullet and ordered a dress form in a size 14.  It is going to be kind of cool to put my sweaters on for pictures.  But, wait it is a two fer.

I am definitely a size 14 on top and probably around the waist, but definitely not on the hips.  My goal - to be a size 14 at the hip too.  Which means it's time to get moving, now that the weather looks like it might start cooling down this weekend..  Cooling down for us in the 70's. 

I am hoping it arrives before we head over to babysit Mona Lisa this weekend.  The next time I finish a sweater, I'll put it on my body, I can see the pictures now.

Enjoy the Holiday!

Let the Knitting Begin

Knitter's used to be my fave knitting magazine back in the day.  I went after back issues on Ebay and coveted each and every one.  Then there was a changing of the magazine, and I kept my subscription up, renewing it at Stitches Midwest basically because of the bag that was the incentive to renew.

The magazines went to the stack in the basement and barely was there anything in the magazine that I wanted to knit.  Enter this issue which immediately caught my eye.  Jackets!  And I am a jacket kind of gal for work in the Fall/Winter so I bought it for the tease alone.

Love this cover jacket and I could totally see me  knitting and wearing it.  Requires some further investigation, but at first glance I see it is based off of Custom Knit Jackets, a book that I bought a year ago, well you guessed it, for the name alone.

 This one is on the list too, but really just as a wish item.  It's linen stitch with Prism yarns.  And as I recall Prism is a little pricey and linen stitch, well you know how long that would take me.  Part of the article on this jacket is a hidden zipper technique which might be interesting to take another look at.  Love the jacket, but not happening this year, just way too much other knitting to concentrate on this Fall.

And this little number, just love the whole look.  And if I was a tad thinner, I might even have given the skirt a try.

There are some other interesting jackets in this issue, I'm glad I bought it, but I'll give Knitter's a couple of more issues before I go nuts and order a whole subscription.  Besides, gotta help my local economy, don't I?!

Knitting for me these days --- it is offical Fall Winter Knitting Season...let it begin!

Summertime Rap Up

Although, it is technically not Fall, and the temps are still very Summer like, it really is time to think about Fall/Winter knitting.  Especially if you want to be wearing them when the Fall temps are here, and you know they will, and you know then you will be saying, why didn't I start knitting for the season earlier?!

Ok, I do have to admit though, I have one sweater that I am going to keep knitting on, because it is going to be a good transition sweater but when it is done, that is definitely the end of the summer knitting for me.  The rest will have to be packed away.

It's a rainy weekend here in Central IL thanks to Isaac, so besides laundry, I am doing some knitting.  It started this morning with a trip out to Knit 4 Together, my regular Saturday knitting place.  We had a nice little crowd and it was a fun morning.  Sue wore another of her fantastic sweaters (on the down side, why didn't I think about taking her pic for the blog??).  The Lapke ladies brought birthday treats to celebrate Kendra's bday tomorrow (Happy Birthday Kendra, we celebrated for you).  There were some new things at the shop - some new small scissors in several different finishes, a wooden crochet or double point knitting holder, just $5 (I thought it was a salt or pepper shaker until I actually picked up and no, I didn't take any pics - you will just have to go out and see what I am talking about), there were a couple of new yarns and some new circular needle and crochet hook kits that are reasonably priced (but I don't need needles or crochet hooks).  And yes, despite, my declaration, only two nights ago, one of the brand new ones managed to follow me home.

I cannot, absolutely cannot, wind or cast it on until I finish two sweaters this weekend.  My Summer Solstice and my Hanten.  The Summer Solstice has about 26 rows left to the front bands that needs to be finished.

 The Hanten needs the sleeves and sides picked up and three needle bound off.  It also needs the front ties and some buttons sewn down on it.

 I have to get in the mood to finish it though, so I am working on Summer Solstice tonight.  I am hoping with some good t.v. that it will be ready to be blocked tomorrow.

I finally finished reading The Hunger Games last night on the reading front, and will haul out the last of the Harry Potter books to finish this weekend as well.  The Hunger Games was the upstairs reading and the Harry Potter was the downstairs reading.

It's a weekend of cleaning up some things to make way for Fall, and I am definitely looking forward to that.

Hope you all are having a great weekend, I sure am despite the rain...it's the kind of weekend I just love - reading, knitting, coffee and chai tea and no where to go.  Ahhhh.

Happy Birthday Norma and Karen!

Interweave Knits

Normally, IK is my go to magazine as of late.  There have been some good articles and usually a couple of sweaters that I wouldn't mind knitting.    It's one that I just re-subscribed to.

This red coat like sweater has a really interesting back detail that might be worth using somewhere else.    

If I were to knit this one, I would definitely shorten the length a bit.

This Fall issue is going to the file.  For now, I am not casting on anything.  But, with Ravelry, one never knows when a sweater will be hurled into the queue, just because everyone else is knitting  it. 

Vogue - 30 Years

 What can I say?  I'm a sucker for fat magazines.  This is a pretty thick issue, but I really bought it for the articles and the ads.  There are more sweaters in the ads that I wouldn't mind knitting then the actual patterns in the magazine.  The 30 year issue has some great reading in and as always Meg Swansen's article.

 Just inside the front cover is this sweater from Mushishi.  I've knit with Mushishi before and I really like this colorway, I might see the yarn in my future!

 As always Bergere de France has a really striking sweater featured in an ad.  I just wish I could find a yarn shop within my area that carried the patterns or the yarn.  It looks like the draped sweater is going to be around for at least this winter's season.

 And Rowan...another yarn/pattern support I wish a local yarn shop carried.  This looks like a lot of work to me, but I sure do like the looks of this one.

And finally - the Poncho.  Seems like they are either making a come back or staying around for Fall.  I swatched and cast on last night for a poncho pattern that I had in the yarn room.  In the light of day, I've decided that I need to concentrate on the knitting I have right now, rather than cast on for a really limited time of wearing. 

Amazing what a night's sleep will reveal.

36 Years Together!

It's Fall!

Well, not literally Fall, but seriously, it is time to put the summer knitting away, even though there was a moment in time this weekend when I gave serious thought to casting on for a quick last ditch effort on a sweater out of my Ultra Pima that I bought earlier this Summer.  The notion quickly left.



 Little Mona Lisa is going to need a pumpkin hat, so I picked up these Comfort yarns up for her hat.  I'll start it later this week so I can have it done to take over to her in a couple of weeks.

While at the yarn shop, the new Fall knitting magazines caught my eye.  I gave up my subscriptions to all of these some time ago, deciding to check them out before buying.  My storage room for magazines is seriously full these days and at some point in time, I really am going to have to purge some.  As much as I like an actual magazine in my hands, I am giving thought to buying them electronically.  That would certainly take care of the storage problem.

In the next few days, I'll blog about my thoughts on what I like in the three new magazines.  On the front side, the pictures suck that I took, but you'll get the drift of what I am showing. 

She's A Growin

Miss Mona Lisa is now able to wear some of the outfits/sweaters from her grammie.  If you remember, this is the Knitting Pure and Simple Shrug I made two of for her especially for this little cutie outfit I bought while walking through Kohls before she was even born.

Dad titles this one Which way does the sun rise Mona Lisa?  In the East Daddy.

Just a couple of weeks and we will get to spend the weekend with her.  She's gonna need a new knitted something...can you say pumpkin hat?

Three Things That Go Together

Huh PJKnits?  What are you talking about?  These things don't go together.  Well, in the pretty Penny world they do, let me explain.



 Here is yet another book on my quest for perfectly fitting sweaters.  Yes, I bought it sight unseen.  Yes, I know better than to do that, but heck why stop now.  Are there sweaters in it that I will knit? Probably not, but it looks like there might be some really good information in on styles that go with certain body types and I am all about that as you well know. 

As I have said repeatedly, if you stay with a couple of projects and concentrate on them, you will eventually have a sweater to wear instead of lots of sweaters to knit on.  I pretty pleased with my Hanten back.  The colors are just gorgeous and the yarn - Cheryl Oberle's Dancing Colors you just cannot beat.

I'm doing my darndest to knit a lot on this sweater because later next week, I should have my new colorway from Cheryl to start my Swirl and I know I'll want to be knitting on it when I get it.

A new gadget.  I love gadgets, but I really like my new fitbit.  Not for the counting of food that I eat so much, because I pay WW for that, but more for counting the steps I take and the coolest of all features, is measuring the amount of sleep I get and they times that I sleep and when I wake.  It's kind of cool.

Now, how do these three things go together?  Well, its all about my continuing to focus on a few things in my life.  Looking good in the sweaters I knit, finishing sweaters that I can wear and love, and getting back on the straight and narrow for losing some of this weight AND excercising.  And if I am either concentrating on what I am knitting or exercising, then I won't be eating things that I shouldn't.  Come next Summer, I want to be at goal weight, look good and feel good all the time! 

Want to come along on the ride with me?

Is This Fun or What?

I am really likin the way the back looks in my Evening Shade of Cheryl's Dancing With Colors yarn.  I can hardly wait to see how this travels up the back.  It's a fair bit of garter to come, so stay tuned.

Hanten KAL

The first couple of pieces held my interest.  Now for the back which is straight garter for about 20 inches.

It's going to be some great knitting while watching the baseball tonight or sitting out on yet another lovely Central Illinois night!

On the plumbing note - we had to have the plumber come out for the upstairs bathroom.  The company who did the bathroom never called  back yesterday, so the Tall Guy called the plumbing company that is exactly two blocks away from us.  They are so close I sit in my back yard and can see their building... charged us a trip charge of $85.  Interesting.  But, good news, the upstairs bathroom is now fully functional.  Seems we have a lot of tree roots attacking both bathrooms these days.

For now, all is well!  We feel better.

UGH! Plumbing Problems!

First it was the upstairs.  So we called the people who remodeled the bathroom, no call back yet.  Now, I realize tonight, that it is not their responsibility, but how about a call back so we could ask who they would recommend.

Then, this morning, whilst I was taking a shower, the downstairs drain backed up.  Ok, still not panicking, but then the toilet wouldn't go down.  So, we call the sewer cleaner outer, he calls back and has it taken care of by noon.

Back upstairs tonight, definitely a problem with the toilet.  Sink and bathtub seems to be okay.  Still no call back.  So, tomorrow we will call a real plumber for it.  We hate plumbing problems.

When the kids were younger, I wished their dad was a pediatrician, now I wish he was a plumber.  He doesn't do well with  plumbing. 

Oh well, look on the bright side, the downstairs bathroom works!

I'm done for today.

A Little Housekeeping

Normally on Saturdays, I head out for a morning of knitting in Dunlap at Knit Four Together.  This morning I decided to stay home and get some things done.  I have not accomplished a whole lot after a minor water problem we had this morning, but I did managed to get a head of the Sunday Reflections.

I have just a small list going of "current" knitting projects.  One of the things that was once again driven home to me during my Olympic Knitting Project is that if you stick to something you eventually will finish it.

I'm not done yet, but it is nearing the end.  I am hoping that I can finish it this weekend to block it.  Then I can take it off of my list.  Here is what is on the list right now:

The Radical Knitters (Thursday Night) projects and also the at home projects - because they require some paying attention to the pattern and what you are knitting:
Above:  Summer Solstice from Briar Rose Wistful
Below:  Hanten

This is a KAL over on the Knitaway Group on Ravelry.  It is a pattern of Cheryl Oberle and the yarn is her Dancing Colors.  It was one of those yarns that came from Knit Camp a year ago and has been waiting patiently in the Yarn Room to grow into something.  I love patterns like Hanten.  You just follow the instructions and watch it grow into a sweater.  Summer Solstice is one of those patterns but there is a little more to it.

Next on the list is two projects for my Saturday yarn shop knitting.  When I am at the shop, I like to be knitting on yarns from their shop, I'm just funny that way.  As I have said before, I have a lot of yarn from them so that should not be a problem.

This is the top down summer sweater from Knitting Pure and Simple.  You know how I love these patterns!  The yarn is Berroco Linsey that was actually purchased for Twisted, but on the great advice of my camping partner Linda, it was mutually agreed that it was not a good look for me.

My gauge nor does my needle match the pattern's so I am making some alterations on this.  I am crossing my fingers that all fits well in the end.  I am loving the way this is striping.  With a little luck I hoping to wear this yet this year for a bit.

My other project for the shop is a shawl I started earlier this Summer.  Jaala Spiro designed it and I liked the look of it.  I am using Liberty Wool that I bought on a whim (cause I liked the colors).  I have to admit I really liked the citrussy colors that others have used on Ravelry, but I think this will go great this Winter over a couple of turtle necks I have.

And finally, my new tote project from Cascade Sport.  This can also double as my project to work on at Fiber Universe downtown, since it came from their shop.  Two birds with one stone.  I am working a bit of this at work at lunch too.  It is slow going because I don't get to work on it too much, but a little at a time.    It's another one for later this year.

The pattern is from a Rowan magazine.  I am really falling in love with these Rowan patterns.  They have some nice classic styles that I think are great for the wardrobe. 

Looks like I am going to have some nice little sweaters for this Fall if I just stick to the program. My goal is to finish a couple before my new Dancing Colors gets here for my Swirl jacket.  Then there is that little Mona Lisa who is going to need a pumpkin hat soon, but thats a post for later.

It's beautiful here in Central IL this weekend, take your knitting outside and enjoy the day.  I think maybe I'll leave the housekeeping for tonight when the squitos come out.  Have a great day Knitters!!

I Got One

Or rather my good friend Norma did.

The perfect tote/bag...I cannot tell you how much I love it!  Can you tell?  It does just what I want it to do! 

All my stuff (especially my knitting) has a place and I can go down the road and pull a hair band out of it without looking.  I will always be prepared with knitting now.

Color  me satisfied!!!  Thank you Norma.

The Quest

I am so tired of trying to find the right bag.  I love my Vera Bowlers (yes, I have several).  It's just right when going down the road, I can easily find just what I want by feel.  The only downer on it these days, as it won't hold the knitting I want it to, unless it is a small knit project, and I don't have a lot of those right now.

I've been trying to use my Jordanna Paige this week, but there is just something about it that is not conducive to everyday toting around.  For one thing, I cannot find just what I want as I am driving down the road and I tend to overload it, which is not a good thing.  I definitely like it more for other times, just not every day.

So, the quest continues.  A bag that will do dual duty and look kind of professional like for work as well.  Or also known as something that looks like I am working but really is holding a nice little knitting project. 

The search continues.  Guess I'll go back to my Vera for now.

Its That Day Again

It's Sunday.  So it means Penny is assessing a lot of things today.  The week past, the week to come, things to come and where the knitting is going.

For the last couple of weeks, I have almost only been knitting on my Olympic knitting projcet - Summer Solstice Cardigan out of Briar Rose Fibers, Wistful yarn.  I should finish the body this afternoon and then hopefully, during the closing ceremonies tonight be able to add the collar and the front bands along with deciding where to end the sleeves.

Its been nice knitting on one solid project for a period of time.  It gives one quite the sense of completing something that I have been noodlin on for sometime.

Now that the Olympics are over, I am anxious to start something else, but yes, there are still a couple of things that need a little attention.

This next week, over on Ravelry the Little Edo and the Hanten KALs are starting on the Knitaway Board, and yes, I have both of them as WIPs.  It sure would be nice to get both of them off of the needles for Fall wearing. 

In the meantime, I need to make a decision on what classes I want to take at Vogue Knitting Live in Chicago in late October.  The Early Bird registration ends in the next day or two so that makes a good reason to get that registration. in.  I'm on the wait list for one of the Ysolda classes which I really want to take, but was too cheap to sign up for the packages so I missed out on it.  I don't really have much hope that I will get in to Ysolda's class so I am trying to decide what to take.

Part of the problem is that almost everything else I want to take is on Friday which includes some lectures that I also want to listen too.  Dang it!  The other problem is that I always seem to take a class and then wish I had signed up for what someone else had taken after hearing about their classes.  And then there is that decision as to whether to take a class on Sunday.  By Sundays, sometimes at these things you just want to be home.  The good side - I think I have decided to take Monday off so that really is such a big deal.

I took a little break from the decision process and took a nice shower to noodle on what I should do.  I gave my self a stern talk to while showering which entailed, take what you think you will get the most out of.

For sometime now, readers have heard me talk about my thoughts about what is flattering to wear.  I still think I tend to knit the trend and not what would look good on me.  Sure, you want to knit what is in, but seriously sometimes you need to knit what looks good on you.  And really if I am honest, I still want someone to say to me when I am wearing my knits, wow, that looks good on you, I want to knit it too!  And I need to be able to make those decisions myself and not be dependant on my fellow knitting friend and camp roomate, Linda to tell me not to knit that!

The other area that I need to buff up (and I have taken several classes in but not applied them) is finishing.  Sure, I know how to finish and sew seams, but do I incorporate all that info into my sweaters that I am knitting now?  Not so much.  Do I need to take more classes in that or do I need to just haul my notes out and use what I have spent money to learn already?  That may be a no brainer, huh.

So, now armed with a couple of decisions made, I am ready to go register.  Gosh I feel better about that now.

Then finally, the other thing that keeps my mind a whirling - the perfect purse ( one that is big enough, but classy to hold a knitting project). If my readers have stayed me thus far, let me know if you have an idea for the perfect purse/bag?  -- Well, I'll leave that for tomorrow's blog.

Now That Is Over

Finally, decided on a yarn for my Swirl Jacket.  Ordered it today.  Cheryl will dye it for me and then I'll get it in a few weeks.

That will give me some time to finish up a couple of things and do a gauge swatch with some bits and pieces of Dancing Colors that I already have.  And maybe knit a little something for Mona Lisa.

Here We Go Again

This book has been on my mind again!  I seem to be spending a lot of time trying to figure out how I can use yarn that is in the Yarn Room for one of these sweaters.

There are a couple of problems.  Will I have enough of anything?  The yarns that I might use would not be easy to come by extra of.  And I sure would hate to get to the very end of knitting and not have enough.  That just would not be good. 

The second problem is will the yarn I choose be right for the sweater I am knitting.  There are two that I really want to start with.  The first one of course is the same one fellow knit camper, Linda let me try on.  Damn her!  It's all her fault.  I fell in love with her Tangerine Rose and the yarn she knit it out of.

The other one is Going Green.  Well of course, it jumped out at me because it is out of another of my fave colors a limey green.  I saw it in an advertising in Interweave Knits and really liked it.  Oh the decisions.  I really have not had too much time to check it out on Ravelry and see what yarns they are using for it.

There is still the Olympic sweater to finish and I am going to finish it before I start anything else.  I think.

I am really trying hard not to buy yarn right now and use stash yarn and do some finishing.  This being virtuous is tough, you know?!

Back to the Olympics and knitting...only 3 days left.  Must knit faster, must stay off the computer less.

It's Good To Be Home

We had a great weekend with Mona Lisa.  Mom had her gall bladder removed on Friday morning.  So the Tall Guy and I really were on tap for duty starting around 5:30 a.m.  She was a joy to feed and clothe and watch sleep.

I'm sure she and the parents are glad to have their lives back tonight.  It was a tiring weekend for all.  But, I wouldn't trade it for nuttin!

I got a chance to take the last of the knitted items with me and clicked a picture of her on the Tweed Baby Blanket with her on it.  I thought I was done knitting for her for awhile, but while there I stumbled on the cutest booties that I think she has to have.  When I nail them down, I'll post pics.

It's back to work tomorrow.  I've got a full week to be sure after only working two days last week when the UTI hit me.  We sure had a great few days, but I have to admit, it's nice to be home in my own chair tonight with my knitting by my side.

Back to regular scheduled knitting!!!  And why yes, we are already planning our next trip over with great-grandma in tow. But not for a few weeks.  This grandma needs a bit of a rest.

Much Better

Feeling much better today with the help of antibiotics and lots of water and cranberry juice (which have other side effects, but I'll deal with that).

And now back to the regularly scheduled Olympic Knitting.

 I started my second ball of Wistful on Sunday, I think.  I have one other and I am confident that I will have enough of it to complete my Summer Solstice Cardigan.

Last night, I finally started on the body.  This pattern has some unusual construction, but it is such fun to watch it evolve.  You start with the back yoke ( which I am not sure if you can tell, but it is knit vertically.)  Then you add a sleeve and then the other sleeve.

I had a moment last night where I knitted way long on the second sleeve and had to rip back...blame it on the Olympics.

Last night, I picked up the stitches for the back and am anxious to knit a bit on it and see what happens.

We are off to babysit Mona Lisa this weekend as her mom is having surgery (something I hear happens a bit these days).  I am taking my knitting of course, but normally the Tall Guy makes me drive so I am not real sure if I can whine a bit and have him drive over or not.

Will keep you posted!  Thanks for listening.

Warning - Whining Ahead

Turn away if you don't want to hear a bunch of whining.  Really, I mean it.

So, the plan was to go to see Mona Lisa this Friday.  Baby Boy A called yesterday, DIL had to go to the hospital the night before via ambulance.  Long story short and on a good note, it wasn't what they thought, actuall her gall bladder.  DIL will be having it removed on Friday.  Not sure when I'll be going over now.  Waiting for Baby Boy A to let me know if they need my help or not.

Yesterday, amongst the  phone call, a recurring problem for me came up.  It wasn't pretty, but by the end of the day, it was better.  Good enough for me to enjoy another Olympic Party at friends' house.  Before this recurring problem, I felt like that I might be getting a UTI.  It went away yesterday so I really was not all that concerned.  Note to self - be proactive when you "think" this is happening. 

Fast forward to 12:30 am, 2:30 am, 4:30am this morning.  From my un-medical background diagnosis, it is official I have some sort of infection.  One of my first clues should have been my eyes.  How does that go together you ask?  Well, the last couple of days, even with lots of sleep, my eyes have been have been all matted up AND tired and glassy looking (at least to me)  A drs call is in order this morning to see what to do.

I do feel like this morning that the stars are not aligned for me lately.  Okay, now I am into full fledged whining mode.  I don't have time for this stuff!