new project and it's not socks!

Yes, it's a bag (back to those). I finally had a chance to read the Interweave Knits Felted special issue and I just MUST make this bag. It gives me a chance to try something new. And if I got tired of it, I can always fall back on a pair of socks (because you know, I will have a pair on the needles.




These are the colors I am going to use (because my LYS did not have the colors used in the magazine) The ones in the picture of the bag are more muted tones, I went with the brighter tones :)
And, can you believe, NOBODY on Ravelry has anything posted about this bag. I may be the first. Wish me luck.

Thank you Jane!

How cool is this?? :)
My downstream pal(from the monkey sock swap) Jane, sent me a thank you package today!!
I received some hand dyed alpaca yarn (from Peru) in a gorgeous green/brown shade :), cute frog markers, wood dpns, a needle and a gauge checker.
Thank you so much Jane.
Now, what to make with the yarn?? :)

Home with sick child

Well, he's not sick anymore. Yesterday got a phone call at preschool (2:30, class is over at 3) come and get son #1, he is in the clinic with temperature of 100.4...I tell the teacher (her 1st day back from vacation) son #1 in clinic, have to go, they won't keep him until the end of school. Run around like mad trying to clean up, explain to working parents all that needs to be done...run out the door.
Get to school, he looks awful, tummy hurts, head hurts etc. Pull son #2 out of class (why wait 20 more minutes and let him finish the day, I don't know, wasn't thinking clearly) get home.
Son #1 DOES NOT like to take medicine GGGRRRR. Finally he asks for some (oh my) 10 minutes later, throws up; sleeps for an hour. Tries to eat toast, 10 minutes later, throws up; sleeps for an hour (get the picture?) 7:00, he says, "I feel better", drinks some gatorade (you guessed it, 10 minutes later throws up etc etc) Finally put him to bed at 8:30 and he sleeps through the night UNTIL 5:30AM when he comes in and wakes us up to announce "I feel better today" great, go back to bed!
Now, this is the child that I must drag out of bed kicking and screaming every school day. Today, he is dressed, eats breakfast and is ready to go at 7:20! Oh no, the school has a policy, must be fever free for 24 hours, so we have spent the day at home. Me: knitting up a storm on mother's socks and doing laundry and baking (ok, break and bake cookies) Him: watching Scooby Doo and playing with his plastic guys.

So, here are mother's finished socks, done 3 days early thanks to sick child :)

Now I can work on my monkey's :)

UUGGHHH computers!

What does it mean when your 5 year old computer makes an annoying buzzing sound? It is making me nuts, so much so, that I don't want to be anywhere near it!
I have opened the case and cleaned out 5 years worth of dust! (Disgusting and thankfully everything still seems to work) But still the buzzing! Could it be the fan? I don't know, but I have to go now, I have a headache.

EDIT: I FIXED IT! It was the floppy drive (3 1/2) which I've been told are ancient and no computers have them anymore. I took it out, all is quiet. One problem, my christmas card list is on a 3 1/2 floppy, how do I get it out of there??

Socks and Socks

Here is my monkey sock and mother's sock. I turned the heel on both of them. The monkey sock with short heel (so it is ready for zooming down the foot) and mother's with heel flap and heel turn; I still need to do the gusset decrease, so mother's sock will get most, if not all, of the attention today and the rest of the week. My goal is to have her sock finished by next Saturday, I think it is do-able.

Busy day today; hockey, grocery shopping, pumpkin getting and mother visit!

EDIT: Well, since the socks are not for sister, I guess the color doesn't matter much, now does it?? :)

Why my hands hurt

Has nothing to do with knitting mother's socks and monkey socks, but those darned webkinz! Yes, I started playing with the pug again (about the same time as the turbo knitting) and it is the mouse action playing the games that make them hurt!

Other sad news, my original sp11 pal had to drop out due to personal reasons :( so sorry I never got to know her. But I've been given a new pal, and so far she sounds great! Howdy to you :)

Today I did not have to teach preschool, we had a fieldtrip, so I was just the mother hen at the back of the bus making sure we didn't lose anyone! The day started out gray and raining, but by the end of the hayride, the sun was out (and my pants were soaked from the wet hay) and the temperature was 60.
Here is our tour guide, Farmer Nate.












The pigs ate his shoelace.

eye-carumba!!

What a headache I had last night! I had to teach preschool yesterday, my teacher's husband retired at the beginning of the month, and they celebrated (rightly so) by going on a vacation. Usually I do not have to teach the class until later in the year (March) and the kids are used to the routine, etc etc. All in all, it went fine (that's what everyone told me) but by 7:00 last night, I had the WORST tension headache, the entire right side of my head. But today it is fine :)

Progress is being made on mother's socks AND my monkey socks. In order to rationalize making myself socks, but not at the expense of mother, I have to knit an equal amount on both socks. I did really well on Sun and Mon, but yesterday with the headache and my fingers hurting (from all that knitting) nother (what is nother??) nothing was done. I have 3 rounds of the monkey completed and 4 1/2 (of the 5 1/2) rounds of mother's sock completed!

Mother's socks

Here is the first of mother's socks, it was completed yesterday. The mate has been cast on. Now, today it is going to be 85 (again! is this not October?) The a/c is cranking and I'm going to cast on my monkey's.
I am having so much fun checking out everything on Ravelry! Have you signed up yet? I think there is still room.


As I was coming downstairs to download pictures, who did I see?? None other than Darth Vader (son #2) playing goalie! cute.

so much fun

Here is the monkey box I sent out to Jane, she loved them and they fit! It was very nerve-racking making socks for someone else! But I did it and I learned how to make a short-row heel.

And what can I say about Ravelry! I have ignored my blog, and I apologize. There is just so much interesting stuff to do! I have upload all the stash and the 2 (yes, only 2) WIP's that I have going. Then you have to do all that surfing to find friends and projects and yarn stash to acquire :)

Well, I am just about done with sock #1 for mother. She was here today and I have the correct lenght, so I will begin the toe decrease. Then quick cast on the mate, then I can get to making me some socks!

I cannot wait to cast on the yarn sent by BetteM to make my own pair of Monkey's! My pal says she is working on mine and they should be coming soon.

I've not heard a peep from my upstream sp11 pal, I hope you are ok...please let me know, I've been very worried about you!

Well, off to the hockeyrink, thank goodness, as it is 88 degrees! Yes, it is October, what is going on with the weather. And, of course, next week, fieldtrip to the farm with preschool, 60's and rain.

Updates!

OH BOY OH BOY OH BOY!!
The Ravelry invite came at 9:19am!! I had to work all day, so I did not get it until 4:13pm :)
My user name is LeslieJ (go figure). I'll be playing around on the site for a while! It looks like so much fun!

Here is some GORGEOUS yarn that my friend BetteM sent me last week. I think I will make some Monkey socks!

Ravelry - could be today? or tomorrow??

Found you!
You signed up on July 28, 2007
You are #21351 on the list.
827 people are ahead of you in line.
16402 people are behind you in line.
54% of the list has been invited so far

update 3:51pm : I have moved up to 497
update 7:00pm : now at 335

YIKES!! I cannot stand the wait any longer.

Monkey pal in receipt of package

My downstream Monkey pal Jane received her package today!
I am so glad that they fit her.
Hey Monkey Pal! How are mine coming along???

No knitting, just book reading

I did not make any progress on mother's socks, I read
this book yesterday!

I started it during the 15 minutes I had to wait for the preschool building to open. Then I came home from school and read from 4-6 (took a break for dinner) and then finished it up from 7-9. It was AWESOME!!! I loved the first book in the series, and now I have to wait FOR-EVER for the last one.

WIP's

I finished the Monkey socks (no photo in case my pal happens along) and started the socks for mother.





I also got a new hair cut this week; in the few hours between dropping them off at school and going back to work at lunchtime (you know, pushing all those buttons) This prompted ANOTHER great conversation with my kids:
son #1: why did you get your head shaved?

(It used to be all one length, remember the stitch and pitch photo? It is now a stacked bob, short in the back, angled to the front with a few bangs)

son #2: you look like the old you, I like the new you better
me: are you saying I look OLD? or I look YOUNG?
son #2: you look young, but the old you had short hair, the new you had long hair, I like the new you with long hair better.

hubby: who are you and what happened to my wife?

Brother, it is just hair, as my MIL used to say, "It'll grow back"
I happen to like it; very sassy and all the kids at preschool still knew I was their teacher, not some imposter.

SP11 & Monkey Pal's

Hello to you! I would like to change the email address you have for me. I am getting to much nasty spam at the address you have. Could you please change it to the following:
the first part is the same (that long confusing stuff) just change the last part to @hotmail dot com.
thanks so much. I don't want to miss your emails, but I will not be checking that other one!
Now, how do I contact the people at ravelry to change the address for my invite?? hhmmmm.
Not much knitting, I cut my thumb pretty bad at preschool yesterday, so it makes it hard with a band-aid on. I am on the toe decrease for the monkey's, then I can start on some socks for mother.

Entry #2 - KIDS!!!

Ok, so my kids have no clue as to what I do all day long. Here is the conversation we had today after I picked them up from school:

son #1: I am so tired.
me: I am tired too.
son #2: Why are you so tired? All you do is sit and push buttons in the lunchroom!
me: WHAT!? Do you know what I did today?
son #2: What? You just sat and pushed buttons.
me: I stripped 3 beds, put 1 load in washer, drove you to school (early as he is a safety), went to the gym (walked 2.5 miles), came home, put load in dryer, took shower, took load out of dryer, put sheets on bed, went to work (2.5 hours where I pushed all those buttons), came home, put another load in the washer, went to dentist, ran errands, came home, dropped of the purchases, put load in dryer, drove back to school to pick you up. Then when we get home: finish putting sheets on beds, get dinner ready, fight with you and your brother to do homework, make dinner, clean up dinner, drop you off at Papa's, go back to school for 2 hours for curriculum night, pick you up, have you take showers (tomorrow is picture day) put you to bed, get ready for tomorrow (make sure everything is packed) and then I'll be ready for bed.
son #2: well, I know how you can make it easier;
DON'T MAKE US TAKE SHOWERS.
UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH :)

An entire week??

Yes, I am bad, I have NEVER gone an entire week without a posting! (except while on vacation) and believe me, I was not on vacation last week.

The time just slipped away. It was the first full week of school and work, hockey started and I had some sinus issue going on, so I was exhausted by the end of the day, I didn't even do any knitting!! What is going on?? I finally picked up the monkey socks yesterday and turned the heel, so those are just about complete and ready to send off to my pal.

Stitch N Pitch at Comerica Park

Yesterday was Stitch N Pitch at Comerica Park. The Tigers lost, but everyone had a GREAT TIME! That is me on the right, my SIL is on the left. Please note color of official t-shirt. :)




I worked on my monkey sock and was able to finish 2 rounds of the pattern. When I knit at home, I just listen to the game, so I had a hard time following the game at the stadium. I would have to take a break every once and while to watch the game. As the Tigers started losing, I spent most of the time knitting and got the play-by-play from SIL. We received a great bag FILLED with all types of knitting goodies, can't wait to sit down and go through everything. We did get a shout-out on the local FSN station, but I don't know if anyone saw me. There was a gentleman taking pictures (he took 3 of me knitting my sock), I hope he was "official".

Oregon Downs Michigan 39-7

For all the details, go here !
Oh, and MSU won again :)

Well, she told me

This post is for sister :) enjoy the snacks while I type away.

There is not much to report; school (work) started on Tuesday. I have been so tired, I have not been able to knit (until today). I finished 1 Monkey sock, and cast on for its mate a few hours ago.

The boys seem happy to be back in school, I, on the other hand, could do with a few more weeks of vacation :) The weather has been very nice, so it makes it hard to go to work. I worked the first lunch of the year, processed $4000.00 (lunch money) and had the meet & greet at preschool, then had to babysit for the board meeting. PHEW. Any wonder why I had no energy to knit?? This week should be better.
And the best news??? U of M LOST AGAIN!!! oh yea, and MSU won.

THIS IS THE BEST!!!!

NO BLOGGING REQUIRED :)

Oh My

Well, the house is quiet, I have had my coffee and I have 3 hours of peace and quiet, why is this? Oh yes, school started today and the boys are gone! and I don't have to start back to work until tomorrow. The sun has set on a wonderful summer vacation, how many days until the next one?

We had a nice weekend, what with the MSU home opener on Saturday (we were there) and that other blow out down in Ann Arbor YES. It was great, plus, we can watch it again tonight on FSN! But it will be on too late for me.

SP is going great, I've sent my first package to my pal, but I've not heard much from my upstream, just a comment on my blog, hope she is out there lurking!

Monkey sock is moving along quickly, I should be able to finish the first sock this week.

I ALMOST FORGOT THE MOST IMPORTANT NEWS TODAY !!! CLICK HERE to wish a very special someone a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! I won't say which birthday, but it does start with 4 and end with a 0. xoxo

Thanks to Sharon

Many thanks to Sharon, my pal in the International Notions Bag Exchange. I received this cool felted bag, an I love NY magnet and an extra goodie - an apron made from a dish towel; it matches my kitchen!!Thank you again!

all work

Well, it has been all work and no knitting this week. Back to preschool to get it ready for the first day (next week) I've had to take the boys with me so it has hard getting work done there also! But we did manage to get the room all put together for the first orientation, tonight is the last one.
I have yet to start on my monkey socks, waiting for that bad karma to pass (it struck again, this time on a scarf I'm working on, thanks to BetteM!) I'll need to get the yarn balled up at the LYS, hopefully today, and then decide on which needles to use. The pattern is written for dpn's, but I so love the 2 circ's method; which, by the way, there seems to be a shortage of lately!
I've been in contact with me pal, she is very sweet, and I've heard from my pal, she is secretive.
I'll leave you with this lovely picture from vacation; Lac La Belle.

Major rip-out-itis

I seem to have a case of bad-knitting-karma. I just frogged the most recent pair of socks I was making out of Panda Cotton. I had tried to make a different sock from this same yarn earlier this summer, and had to frog it, so I don't think it was meant for me to make socks from this particular yarn. This sock was not going well either and in a fit, I tossed the entire sock in the garbage, put the other skein in the stash, and never looked back. So sad, as they were soft and they were going to be for my mom. She did buy some LL on our Chicago trip, I have a pattern picked out, and hopefully all will go well!
Hoping to receive my Monkey sock swap pal soon, as it is back to work and school next week BUMMER so knitting time will be greatly reduced.

These socks were finished 2 weeks ago, pattern: Crusoe (Knitty) yarn: Koigu - before the bad karma kicked in.

Monkey Sock Swap q&a

The basics:
Do you consider yourself a beginning sock knitter, an intermediate, or have you been doing this so long you could probably knit a pair in your sleep?
Intermediate; I just started making them in January.

The measurements:
Shoe Size: 9 1/2 (depends on the brand)
Foot circumference: at the ball of the foot it’s 9 /12 inches
Foot length: almost 10 inches

Yarn Preferences:
What colors do you love? green, but lately all the socks I've been making have a lot of hot pink in them. I work at a preschool, so I wear jeans, anything goes colorwise.

Do you prefer solids or variegated? I like them both, it all depends on the pattern I am making.

Do you prefer wool, cotton or acrylic yarn? wool blends

What colors would you never wear? not solid orange.

What are your favorite brands of yarn? Lorna's Laces! Koigu
Are there any new brands you would like to try? There are so many out there that I haven't even had a chance to look at them all.

Cookie A. Patterns:
Which of her patterns have you already knit? None.
Which pattern(s) would you like to knit and don’t already own? Flicker, Mona or Gothic Spire

Other pertinent information:

Would you be willing to have an international Monkey Pal or do you prefer one in the US? Either is fine.

Do you have any allergies? Cats and ragweed.

Will your knitting be exposed to smoke or animals? No.

Are you on Ravelry yet? If you don’t mind having new friends, what is your Ravelry name? no, still waiting

Another sock swap

Many thanks to my friend MidwestKnitGirl(saw this on her blog), I've gone and joined a sock swap! My first one actually. Usually I join swaps where you send yarn and patterns, in this swap you have to MAKE the socks and then send them! Along with various other goodies! I was going to make these socks anyway, so this will make it that much more fun! Check it out Monkey Socks.

Back to bloggin'

I'm back (did you even miss me??) Took a quick trip to Chicago to visit Sister. Quite fun, but exhausting.
Did a little knitting on the Panda Cotton sock, but it is slow going.
Was able to purchase some Lorna's Laces in a quaint little town (but more expensive than buying online and shipping it from here.
I won the first sp11 contest that my hostess Shelby was running.
And never did get any of the anniversary yarn (though I did look AGAIN for 3 days).

I am so bummed

I have been stalking this website for TWO days trying to get some of the anniversary yarn, today's blog entry says it all sold out in 1 day (which day? I never saw it...) BARNACLES. It says maybe more in 1 or 2 days. Not that I need more sock yarn (but it is so pretty).

Contest #1 for SP11

My hostess Shelby, is having a contest for her group. Here are my answers:

1. What is the one knitting accessory you could not live without? My ruler for measuring the ribbing (1 1/2" tops!) and how much knitting left to do on the foot until I can decrease for the toe on my socks!
2. If you're heading on vacation, do you take knitting with you? Yes If so, how much and what type of project? summer vacation I took 3 pairs of socks (finished 2 of them)
3. Where have you travelled to that you'd consider your favorite spot? Cozumel, Mexico
4. What is your favorite knitting book at the moment? any sock book Do you own it? yes, Interweave Favorite Socks and Knitting Vintage Socks
5. Do you listen to podcasts? yes Which is your favorite(s)? Socks In The City & Stash and Burn

sock progress

I have totally forgotten to post pictures of finished socks! These are the Jigsaw socks for the sock-along. I was the first one finished! I love this pattern. I think I will make more socks like this!




This WAS (very important) the waving lace sock. I was not happy with it, knit on size 1 dpn's, very loose, I tried making sock #2 on 2 circs, very tight, then I pulled out the needles (by accident) in the car on the way home from vacation. Frogged the 2nd and never felt like re-making it. So this, sock #1, was totally frogged (never done that before, froggen an entire completed sock!) I will put it back in the stash and probably make more Jigsaw socks!

How nice, a question:

Sister said...
1. How do you keep your socks from falling to your ankles?
They have ribbing at the top that keeps them up

2. Aren't your feet hot in August?
I don't wear them now, they are for when I go back to work.

And the countdown begins....

We are just 3 short weeks from the start of school and HOCKEY! Well, son #2 started hockey first of August (missed 2 practices as we were on vacation). I can't believe how fast this summer as gone! All I've done is sit and knit :) and read and do laundry...how great is that?
The knitting will be greatly scaled back come September, I do have those 2 jobs to do remember? Lunch lady and pre-school asst? Yes, back to work (and back to $$$)
Here's a picture from our U.P. vacation, the mini "Big Mac" made from an erector set, very cool.
Well, SP11 is up and running, I've been in contact with both pals, so this is going to be fun.
On the sock front, I have SSS - scattered sock syndrome! I have 3 socks finished, 1 of a pair of 3 different patterns; waving lace, Lion self-striping, and Koigo Crusoe. I'm debating frogging the entire waving lace sock, as I've just learned to do socks on 2 circ's and I really like it! What do you think?
P.S. You all better sit for this: I am going to scrapbook now, I know, it's been forever...but I have 4 maybe 5 pages to do.@(*^$%^%#@&$#*&($#&**( Stand up again, as I have not scrapbooked in a while, I failed to realize that a) I have no sticky tabs to mount the photos and b) son #2 is in need of a new book. Barnacles, guess I'll have to go shopping.

SP11 Questionnarie

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? Lorna's Laces Shepard Sock, Cascade 220, Koigu
What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? Angora, anything fuzzy, they make my nose itch
2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? My addis are in their bags from the store, all straight needles in a case, everything in a dresser drawer in the living room
3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Since June 2006 like a mad-woman :), I saw a woman knitting a scarf at the hockey rink in November of 2004, watched her for a little bit, didn't look at that difficult, so I made a bunch of scarves that winter. Put the needles away, then started up last June making purses. Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? intermediate
4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? YES
5. What is your favorite scent? Christmas scents - Evergreen and Cinnamon
6. Do you have a sweet tooth? YES Favorite candy? Hershey's Kisses with Caramel, Take 5, Good & Plenty
7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Scrapbook Do you spin? NO
8. What kind of music do you like? Big Tracks (XM Radio) 80's and 90's Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) yes, also have ipod nano
9. What's your favorite color(s)? GREEN, lately a lot of my sock yarn has had tints of HOT PINK Any colors you just can't stand? used to be orange, but now I think orange is ok in small batches
10. What is your family situation? Married with 2 boys, 8 and 10 Do you have any pets? NO
11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? Mittens all the time (I do live in Michigan), no hats, don't like static hat hair, I have a poncho that I made, but have only worn it 3 times.
12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? At the moment Socks, but also purses
13. What are you knitting right now? Socks; 3 different pairs
14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? YES
15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Circular -Addi Turbos are the way to go. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? For socks, I used to like Plymouth Bamboo, but now Knit Picks circulars
16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? NO
17. How old is your oldest UFO? 2 weeks
18. What is your favorite holiday? Thanksgiving
19. Is there anything that you collect? NO, unless yarn counts
20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? Sock patterns, What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? Interweave Knits
21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? I conquered cables and socks on 2 circs, so maybe 2 socks on 2 circs, Magic Loop (I have the book and needle) and Toe-Up?
22. Are you a sock knitter? YES What are your foot measurements? Foot measures 10", I wear size 9 shoe
23. When is your birthday April 23
24. I AM NOT ON RAVELRY, I AM NUMBER 21,351 (maybe by Christmas?)

Candy Cravings

So, I've been knitting this sock since Sunday and I keep getting these candy cravings and can't figure out why.....it's a Lion Brand self-striping yarn, black/white & orange/pink/green.



I finally had to run out to the store tonight, I couldn't take it anymore :)
Good & Plenty YUM!!!

I'm back

With 7 or maybe 8 loads of laundry to do!
Still have to go grocery shopping.
But I did accomplish the following:
read 4 books and 1 magazine
finished the CF anklets and my Jigsaw-along socks.

I had to frog the Waving Laces.
But I did start some Lion Brand self-striping socks (it was the very first skein of sock yarn I received, way back when; maybe December?)

Headed to the U.P.

We are headed off on a family vacation. I have not done laundry, so no packing has been attempted. I will do laundry today and tomorrow, then pack tomorrow evening.

I do have the following ready in my handy dandy felted tote from BetteM:

newly cast on CF sock
newly cast on Waving Lace sock
newly newly (yes twice, due to mutliple froggings) cast on Jigsaw Lace sock
ipod loaded with podcasts
2 magazines
2 word search books
Hopefully enough to last 1 week of vacation.
Should I take more? Maybe just the panda cotton in case I finish everything?

Update: son #1 did not need surgery, cast for 3 weeks, follow up, x-ray, maybe cast again for 3 weeks; cutting it very close to the start of hockey season. The cast is waterproof (bonus) so he can have some fun on vacation, and we can go back to the pool!

Waving Lace & Bootie

Here is one finished Waving Lace sock from Favorite Socks. I cast off last night (but not before casting on for the Jigsaw sock). The mate is on hold, I like the way the 2 circ's is going for the Jigsaw.



Here is the vintage baby bootie (knit while waiting for Harry Potter book delivery). It is HUGE! What size baby would wear a bootie that is 6" long! I think the yarn sister sent is not the correct one for this pattern (leftovers from a hat). We need to seriously consider making this mate :)

Waiting for Harry

Today's the day!!! I am staying home all day waiting for my book to be delivered.

8:00 am - up and waiting for amazon.com delivery.....
9:00 am - reread last 4 chapters of Half Blood prince....
9:45 - where is that delivery???

11:00 - no book, cast on Vintage Baby Booties for sister's friend

2:00 - BOOK RECEIVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Booties 3/4 finished, oh well, set them off to the side,
also received circular needles for the jigsaw sock KAL,
oh well, set them off to the side too!

TTFN

12:14 A.M. - FINISHED. WOW.

(P.S. Hubby wants book to see if what he read online is true, no way! He'll have to pry it out of my hands, or wait until I'm sleeping)

Oh My! Gorgeous Gorgeous

I received 2, yes 2, very awesome packages today!!!
The first being from Elizabeth, my upstream partner in the ITE IV. She made a very cute tote in grey and pink; she said she was going to use the Ohio State colors, but changed her mind! She sent me sock yarn, enough for 2 pairs (yea, as I recall I swore off buying any myself as the stash is growing, but gifts don't count), lots of DPN's in a felted case (in sizes I don't have and then an extra pair of 1'), candy (which the boys took), 2 cute patterns (1 for socks, 1 for a tea cozy), a kit to make earrings (I may transform these into stitch markers) and some tea! Phew! Thank you so much for everything!


The second package was from BetteM!
OH MY GOLLY THE THINGS SHE CRAMMED INTO THE BOX AND BAG!
All items for me to take on vacation!
Word searches and candy and cookies and coffee and peanuts and smelly stuff and sock patterns and yarn to dye with kool aid so we can do a scarf KAL and pretty stuff for my hands and feet and a fan (because there is NO a/c in the U.P.) and hockey stickers (for that scrapbooking I never seem to do), and a picture holder. All wrapped up in a GORGEOUS felted tote she made! (I think that is everything)
Thank you so much Bette, you spoil me!

Sock Knitting Detour

Well, we had a detour of sorts yesterday, so knitting was not a priortiy. Son #1 fell off a friend's bike and broke his wrist/hand. This happened Tuesday night after the clinic was closed and I did not want to go to the ER. So yesterday was spent at the Dr's office, then the ER for x-rays and a splint. We have an appt. on Monday with the HAND SURGEON-type person. It seems he broke a small, but very important bone (lateral scaphoid) so we have to see what is going on. Hopefully no surgery will be involved, because you know, hockey starts in 7 weeks (tonight for son #2).

Now for sock news:
BetteM and I are doing our own KAL with the new Favorite Socks book. I am using Lorna's Laces, Color: watercolors; we are making the "Waving Laces" sock. Here is my sock as of last night, I was able to knit a few rows before bed. Then we will both head over to the Jigsaw sockalong and cast on for that!

It's all about the socks!

Totes are finished and mailed, so I can concentrate on SOCKS again :)
Here is the first repeat of the Waving Lace sock pattern from Favorite Socks. I'm going to join the KAL, I love all the socks in that book! Plus, I learned/figured out how to read a chart! I know, it doesn't seem that hard, but this was the first time I tried.

Secondly, Carrie B (aka socks in the city) is hosting a KAL for the Jigsaw socks. I have the yarn all picked out (from the stash), just waiting on the needles. This pattern uses 2 circ's, so I get to learn a new way to make socks!

FINISHED

Here is the finished replacement ITE IV tote!! I cast off the I-cord handles at about 1:30. It is drying. My camera is being super funky and will only take blurry pictures! (as is shown here)Ugghh
I will still be able to ship it out on time! YEA

Now, back to the socks!

oh BARNACLES

Look, see what I received in the mail today :)
My Lorna's Laces, color: pine
from The Loopy Ewe
aren't they pretty? and I already have the sock pattern all picked out; something from Nancy Bush's Vintage Socks.

Now for the BARNACLES part:
I finished my tote for the ITE IV a while ago, followed the directions to a tee (even though I had some reservations about them); enlisted the help of a friend to help put the pieces together, and it looks like *&^%&*).

I am frantically trying to knit another tote so that I can mail it out by the deadline next week

Oh boy, Oh boy, Oh boy

It's that time of year again, sign ups for SP 11 have started!!!
Go and sign up, it's great fun.

Enablers

Such is the life in the knitting blog world! You find something you can't live without, so you pass it on to all your friends! HA.
No wonder my stash keeps growing and growing!
BetteM has pointed me in the direction of more sock yarn here.
I've been to The Loopy Ewe for a GORGEOUS shade of green Lorna's Laces.
And I ordered the book Favorite Socks .

It seems I have all this yarn, yet no patterns in which to make socks...so I've been cruising the net trying to find the perfect pattern for the yarn.

Oh yes, I have lots of books, courtesy of all my pals, and certian ones are marked for some of the yarn, but alas, I have enought yarn for 19 pairs of socks!! And I cannot make the same pair of socks each time. So, a different pattern must be found for each yarn.

And the new Harry Potter book comes next week, what shall I do?? Knit or read?

Harry Potter Madness!!

Check this out for your new name

I have succesfully transfigurated myself into:
Petunia Vector

ok, I also did my maiden name:
Gabrielle Bulstrode

teehee - here is sister in Chicago: Thunderlara Dolohov
and sister in MI: Padma Grubbly-Plank


Oh boy, what a waste of fun time on the computer! Check it out.

So hot!!

Well, the 4th turned out to be gorgeous, weather wise, so not much sock knitting was accomplished. I did finish these socks earlier in the week, CF received in a swap. The Panda Cotton socks were frogged, AFTER I had knit 6" of the leg and had finished the heel flap, they were going to be WAY BIG!! I found a new pattern and will take them to the U.P. later this month.
Oh and I almost forgot!! I had sent Kristy all of my Sugar N Cream (de-stashing and all) and she mentions me on her latest pod cast! Thanks Kristy!!

Happy 4th of July

Have a safe and happy 4th of July!

The weather is rainy and humid, so you know I'll be staying inside knitting.....knitting SOCKS!! I'm currently using Bamboo Cotton Yarn, sent by MY sp10 pal.

April 23rd is special because.....

Here is something cool, I was tagged by MidwestKnitGirl.

The rules: Go to Wikipedia and type in your birth month and date (mine is April 23), then post 3 events, 2 births and a holiday. Then tag 5 others, I only did 2, sorry. I tag LaurieC, BetteM,. I actually thought this was an interesting one to do.

Events: 1597 - Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor is first performed, with Queen Elizabeth I of England in attendance.
1867 - William Lincoln patents the zoetrope, a machine which shows animated pictures by mounting a strip of drawings in a wheel.
1988 - Pink Floyd's album Dark Side of the Moon, after spending the record total of 741 consecutive weeks (over 14 years) on the Billboard 200, left the charts for its first time ever


Births: 1564 - William Shakespeare, English poet and playwright
1928 - Shirley Temple, American actress and politician

Holiday: National Beer Day in Germany (THE BEST!! I AM GERMAN)

No pool = lots of knitting

Not a lot of pool time this week, so I did a lot of knitting! I did a test bag and it worked out fine, so I made the real bag yesterday/today for the Notions Bag Swap, isn't it the cutest thing? Now I need to find a magnet to include in the package.
I finished all the pieces for the ITE IV tote, just waiting for it to dry so I can put it together.
I even cast on for a pair of CF socks for me! I was going to use Trek Casts On Pilchard socks, but they were TOO BIG. I frogged them and I'll just use my handy dandy anklet pattern, but make them taller.
I've been scouring for patterns for the rest of my sock yarn, I think I will try the Monkey and Jaywalker Socks that are all over the knitting blog world.
Big weather changes today, finally some rain (big thunderstorms) but it has been a month since we've had any rain.

Is this a problem?

I was going through the stash the other day, and this is how much sock yarn I have! If you count, I think there are 19 pairs!! Oh my, earlier this year I was on a yarn diet (I don't think it worked, even though I pledged to not buy myself any yarn, I was in 4 swaps, so my stash grew!). This time I'm serious, no more sock yarn (see how I get around that) though, technically I am only making socks, and I buy the other yarn as needed per project.
My ITE IV tote is drying, I think I need to re-make the pocket, I didn't follow the directions and it is too large (it did shrink during felting, but it is still larger than the bag) I'll give that a few days. I've finally found the bag I'm going to make for the Notion Bag Swap here.
I'm going to test it out today. And my friend LaurieC is back from vacation today! Yipee. I really missed her!

Etsy yarn

Here is the yarn I ordered from Etsy; ZenGarden. I LOVE the colorway!! and the cute little sock travel bag and stitch marker!
I don't think I'm going to make socks from this yarn, I'm just going to keep it on the mantle and look at it all the time :) HA

Off to the LYS this morning, the contrasting yarn I bought for my ITE IV tote is not going to work; I think the yarns will felt differently and the tote will get messed up. Oh well, more stash for socks!

News Flash

The LL socks are FINISHED!!! YIPEE. But look and see how much yarn is left...what to do with it? Maybe little girl socks? Don't know. I do know that I can now cast on for the 1st of 3 pairs of CF anklets for my friend!
Oh Boy, I looked in the stash, I have so much sock yarn!
I feel like I'm living in the SocksInTheCity podcast with Carrie!!
The 2nd sock went much faster than the 1st.
Started June 4, Finished June 16, 12:55pm (just as the baseball game was ending)

Big News! Big News!

My secret pal is (was) Patty!!! aka MidwestKnitGirl.
She was the best pal ever! She was so good at keeping her identy secret. Though, I did read her blog at the end, she had emailed me about joining her "friends" swap, and I did, how funny. Very cool, check out her blog. See all the great stuff she sent in her reveal package:
Cherry Hill sock yarn and pattern, homemade candles, candy bars (yum, now she likes these!) t-shirt and pencils for the Mall of America (she lives 5 miles from there, no yarn stores though). I had such great fun in the SP10! Can't wait for the next one.
And, the 2nd best news!!! I am currently working the toe decrease on the 2nd LL sock! YES, I will be finished with it today!!! happy happy joy joy. Then I can concentrate on the ITE IV tote and all those CF Anklets for my friend.

Double the fun!

Here are 2 packages I received yesterday.
First is my Stitch marker swap pal, Nicola, from England. She personally dyed this yarn for me :) see the beautiful green color! It also has yellow and white. It is Blue Faced Leicester laceweight, I'm looking for a pattern for a shawl or stole, any ideas out there? Also received some adorable stitch markers, all shoe related (in green) and some English chocolate that was total liquid upon delivery. It is in the fridge trying to regain its shape!
The second package is from my Swap-bot small knit kit pal Terry-Jo. I received 2 skeins of CF Mardi Gras, sock patter, needles, stitch holder and my favorite gum. Plus a cute little bag to hold the socks while they are being made up!
Thanks to both of you! Off I go to finish my current projects, LL sock #2 and the ITE IV tote.

Updates

My 10 year old took this picture in art class! I love it so much I had shutterfly make notecards.

Well, today is the last full day of school, i.e. the last full day of MY vacation before the boys are home! Yikes, where did the year go? It went by sooooo fast. I am so looking forward to not having to drive them back and forth every day. They don't go to our neighborhood school, I chose to put them in the school where I work, so that means no bus service, no pushing them out the front door while standing in my robe, holding my coffee. I must physically get dressed (well, pj's covered up by sweatpants)and take them myself. It was not that bad, only seemed to be a pain since I finished up preschool.

Knitting is being accomplished. I just keeping going round and round on my ITE IV tote, a few more inches, then I start the decrease and then the pocket and the trim. Should (should) be done soon. I don't think I'll have much goodies to put inside, because I don't know what she likes.

SP10 pal says a box is coming my way soon and I will be very surprised! Maybe she is coming in the box?

News and Views

Not really, it just sounded nice :)

I am going to turn the heel on the second LL sock tonight! I don't care that it's not going to match the first one, I think I'll send them to sister who doesn't mind when things don't match! (not really) I'll keep them, I love the yarn.

Then I need to make 3 pairs of CF anklets for my friend and finish up my ITE IV tote. I did a lot of work on it this weekend, even worked on it Saturday (Knit in Public Day). I was the only one knitting at the baseball game. 12" of round and round, I think I'm at 8 or 9".

I've joined another swap, the Notions Bag Swap, my SP10 pal told me about it, her friend is running it, so I joined. Got my pal's name tonight.

Still waiting on 2 packages, one is coming from England, hopefully this week, the other, I don't really know, I lost my upstream's name, and I haven't heard anything since the "hello I am your pal" email. Maybe this week.

Really loving the podcasts! But that Socksinthecity is DANGEROUS!! I finally broke down and went to Etsy; and bought some pretty pretty yarn, hopefully that will come this week and I'll post pictures.

Off to get the boys in bed; this is THE LAST WEEK OF MY VACATION, school is out on Friday. We did join the pool today, so I know where I'll be spending lots of time :)

Stripey VS. Blotchy

OK, I don't know what to do. The first LL sock came out all nice and stripey-like. The second sock is coming out more blotches of colors, and the colors are not exactly the same. The red is more vibrant in the 1st, and there seems to be more brown in the 2nd. I have no idea if they are the same dye-lot, can't find the other tag, but this is the yarn my hubby bought for me in CA, and I'm hoping the ladies at the yarn store would have checked to make sure the two skeins matched. So when I'm finished, I will have a pair of socks that are basically the same color but they will not "MATCH" each other. I am big on matching, things must match, they must look the same (very Type A, that is me :)
UUUGGGGHHHHH all the time put into these socks.

WHAT AM I GOING TO DO??? and do not even think for one second that I am going to frog this 2nd sock. I want to be done and move on...I treated myself yesterday to some Koigu.

I think I should just stay away from any type of patterning sock yarn, I can never ever get them to match, even when I find the pattern and try to match. Solid colors only for me.