Happy Valentine's Day

To my 3 boys: Bill Alex Kevin :) Love you xoxo

Snow day today, so we'll be making cookies for the 4th grade trade fair, also doing laundry, reading "Northern Lights", and knitting; socks and entrelac scarf KAL.

Entrelac scarf

Here is my scarf. This is almost one skein of the Noro, 2 more to go. Not sure I like those 2 little spots of brown, but nothing I can do now. I finally broke down and bought (another) pair of Addi Turbos, I just couldn't knit another stitch with my other circulars, it was no fun. So that brings my total to 4 Addi Turbos (big bucks I tell ya). But I love them and use them lots, so it is worth it.

What else, I am almost finished with my ITE III tote, I should be able to send late this week or early next. It isn't due until mid-March, but might as well get it finished and out the door.

I won a contest at Whoduknit yesterday, I guessed the closest to the number of knitting needles in the pot :), some bamboo dpn's are on the way to me (my favorite for making socks and mittens).
Heard back from sp10, I'm in!! Yea.
Finally, my preschool teacher is ill (I'm the assistant) and I will be teaching class tomorrow (and maybe Thursday). Pray for me, and for her to be back on her feet soon.

Thank you

After a very awful day at preschool, I came home to this package from my dishcloth exchange parter; Margaret Mary. A chocolate bar :), a tissue holder, a towel with my name on it and a very very pretty yellow dishcloth (it is much to pretty to use). Thanks for helping make my day a little better.

No word from my knit scarf kit partner; my partner received her package, she is very happy. My sp10 registration must have gotten lost in cyberspace, I haven't received a confirmation email from them.

ITEIII tote is 1/5 finished, entrelac scarf is on hold and the 1st sock is 3/4 finished. Now I must fight with son #1 as he does not want to go the rink for practice. oh happy day

WIP update

Dishcloth exchange - sent, not received by partner as of today, mine is on the way to me :)

Scark kit swap - sent yesterday to my downstream partner, no contact by my pal :(

ITE III - tote started, coming along nicely. In contact with both upstream and downstream partners.

Entralac KAL - coming along very nicely, it is very addicting, I purposely did pick it up today, I would get nothing else done.

Signed up for SP10, waiting on confirmation email, then I will post the questionaire.

Signed up for sassy sock yarn exchange on swap-bot, that is later this month.

Kids have been off school for 2 days due to bitter cold weather, wonder if they'll be back tomorrow? Means I have not been to work either, working for the school district does have perks, but I also won't get paid.

Most importantly, most knit socks, going through sock withdrawl, I will cast on as soon as I sign off computer :) Received Patterworks catalog yesterday, must stay far away from computer so I do not order any sock yarn :)

Entrelac KAL

Here is my scarf . I have finished Tier 1, now off to Tier 2.

Many thanks to Deb, who is running this KAL, I've had many many questions and she has been so helpful.

Isn't is so cool how each section is turning out to be a different color?

Brrrrrr

Forgot: Project Spectrum started yesterday, I actually have some "blue" WIP. This type, for instance, is blue :), my screensaver on my computer is blue, and the book for Whoduknit? has a blue cover.

It has been super cold here for the past week, we did finally get some snow, so it at least looks like winter. The kids are anxiously awaiting the results of the groundhog...but I haven't seen anything yet.
Mailing my dishcloth today.

Purchased my yarn for ITEIII, but have yet to cast on.

Have 2 days of directions for the entralac KAL...have yet to do. Update: I have started on the scarf (which is blue)

Have partner ideas for the Scarf Kit, so I'll be back to the LYS this weekend, they are having a Super Bowl sale, 25% off everything But, most importantly........

I FINISHED MY FIRST PAIR OF SOCKS!!!! YEA!!!

Now I can focus on the other projects, but then, back to socks. I love them. Turning the heel is just so exciting! To see the knitting go from one direction to the other, you just can't explain it, you know the feeling :)

Swappin update

I have finished my dishcloth for the exchange, I love the colors; black/white/green. My partners kitchen is done in a cow theme with accents of green. I think it will look great. I used the same pattern as I used for Project Compassion, garter slip stitch. I'll ship that out on Friday.

I've been contacted by my ITE III partner and I've contacted mine, I am so excited to get started. I know which bag I'm going to do, I'm just waiting on colors. I can't get to the store until at least Friday (or Saturday).

And finally..... Winter Scarf Knit Kit partners go out tomorrow!!! YEA.

Finished !

Here is my first sock :) I am so proud.

The mate will have to wait, I'm going to start on my dishcloth for the exchange.

5:15pm - I have finished the dishcloth, it is not supposed to be mailed until after Feb 2, I have everything I need, so I'll just have to sit on the package until later this week. I guess I will cast on the mate for the sock. Still haven't received partner's name for the ITE III.

Swaps, swaps, and more swaps

Hooray!!

One down, two to go.

Received my partner for the Dishcloth Exchange. I'm hoping to start on that tonight (socks go back on hold) so I can send it off. Fun Fun Fun.

TEIII sent an email saying I could receive my partner anytime between today and Feb 5....I'm hoping for soon so I can start on that also.

How many days until baseball starts??

Sock Update NO JOY IN SOCKVILLE

Here is the sock (2:00PM) I turned the heel last night. Hopefully I can finish it today and start on its mate. It is so much fun!!!

I had joined a Toe Up KAL (see sidebar) but my LYS has not come through yet on my 40" Addis....they were ordered a month ago. I have the Magic Loop booklet and sock pattern ready and waiting....so that may never come to fruition. I have learned the dpn way and I will stick with it...for now.

HERE IS THE SOCK (2:45PM).

I AM NOT HAPPY. BUT, OH JOY, I HAD SO MUCH FUN TURNING THE HEEL ETC...I GET TO DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN TONIGHT.

9:45 PM - SOCK IS BACK TO WHERE I WAS AT 2PM.

How long to make a sock??

Yeah!!! This is how much of the 1st sock I completed yesterday, and I mean, this was all day; with a break for lunch, making dinner and putting kids to bed. I hope I have enough yarn....small needles (4) and thin yarn. But I love the way it is working up, it is very addicting.

Thanks Laurie!! Laurie was my pal in the Winterwonderland Swap, and she knew that I wanted to make socks! She sent me this yarn and a calendar with sock patterns.

Oh my, hockey playoff schedule and scrimmages received this morning...Along with our regular practice schedule of Mon/Thurs/Sat, we now have games Jan 28, Feb 1, Feb 12, March 3 (2 games, home/home against Jackson), March 5, March 6, March 10, March 11...phew, and that is only Son #1, add in Son #2's schedule, plus tennis and floor hockey...I don't even want to think about it :). Some of those games are our scheduled ice time, so no practice, just game. Such is the life of a hockey mom.

UPDATE

Here is another knitting project, courtesy of the Yarn Harlot

hats and mittens and socks and scarves OH MY

New look

I have been in the basement for almost 2 hours messing with the new blogger. It all looks fine, except for the orange at the top, but I can live with that.

Update: I have finished square #2 for Project Compassion. I don't think there is enough yarn left for another, so I'll put it in the stash and use it to make some "caps for the capitol".

So this means....I can start on some socks. I am so excited to get started. Using my new handy-dandy book, Sensational Knitted Socks, I have measured the various parts of my foot and knit the swatch to get my gauge, so this means I can start. Only snag...I really need to figure out the long-tail cast on. I tried with the Class sock, and I just couldn't get it, and it took a long time :) ha.

Also, trying to finish up "Wild Fire" by Nelson DeMille; so I knit during the day and early evening, and read before going to bed.

Finally, Friday; day off for the kids (end of semester), but, how ironic, the preschool had a fieldtrip (so I had to work) to (you'll never guess) THE HOCKEY RINK (like I don't spend enough time there already). But I actually put on skates, first time in over 11 years (hockey skates). Here is a picture of me with my 2 boys.

So much to do

So, I had nothing to knit a few days ago, and now I have so much to do...

I wrote about Project Compassion, I have started on my 8 x 8 squares. I found a listing of different stitch patterns, so I won't be doing the boring ole garter stitch again and again. The first square (oh yes, I plan on doing more than 1 square) is garter slip stich. Very easy and quick to knit up, I finished 1/2 of the square yesterday, started it at the hockeyrink before the game and then knit a bunch last night.

I have signed up for the following swaps/exchanges:

Winter scarf knit kit swap - sign up until January 31, send by Feb 20 *don't have to knit, just send all the materials necessary and also some goodies, need favorite colors

International Tote Exchange III - sign up until January 24, send by March 19 *have to make and send goodies

Monthly discloth exchange - sign up until January 31, send by Feb 20 *have to knit and send goodies...need favorite colors

So, do you see the problem I have??? I cannot start to put together any of the packages until at least early February...and then they all need to go out at the same time....oh well, that is the fun of the swaps. I have a few ideas for the scarf swap, just need to wait on favorite colors.

And finally............drum roll please.........I have made my first sock YEA!!! it was not scary at all, it was quite fun. Granted it was just the class sock (Sensational Knitted Socks), but I am ready to move forward (okay, after I do the squares).

I've been tagged!

You've been tagged!
The Page 123 Meme
1. Grab the book closest to you.
2. Open to page 123, look down to the 5th sentence.
3. Post the text of the next 3 sentences on your blog.
4. Include the title and the author's name.
5. Tag 3 People.

Solid rectangle to draw a filled rectangle that obscures anthing under it. Attached note to create a text box in which to enter a comment.Use the annotation selection tool to select, move, or resize an annotation.

Microsoft Windows XP plain & simple

Calling all knitters...

Ok, I was sent an email from one of the swaps I have signed up for. Please check it out and see if you can help by knitting an 8 x 8 square .

Joined another swap :)

International Tote Exchange III

So how does it work? You will make a tote/purse/handbag for your Secret Pal and a different Secret Pal will make a tote for you. The "totes" can be big or small, knit or crochet, felted or not - whatever you want to make. If you are interested please read the sign-up process, rules and schedule here .

Hurry, this swap closes on January 24th.

Also, finished the Ballband bag, I'll post pictures when it is done felting.
And, purchased "Sensational Knitted Socks" last night, used a gift certificate one of my preschool students gave me for Christmas. I think I'm going to forge ahead with dpn; for practice, then go full steam ahead when the addis arrive.



Here is the "before" picture. I'll try to get a better "post". It was a very fun and easy purse to make. Here is the finished picture. It is quite small, my wallet barely fits, I think I will use it as the "goody bag" in one of my swaps.

New Year....new stuff

I have decided this is going to be the year of the sock :). I am STILL waiting on the addis....so I'm making a purse while I wait.

I am also going to try and get involved in more swaps...they are SO much fun. I have signed up for this swap, I'm hoping to make it into the SP10, sign ups are soon. I'm signed up for Project Spectrum and I've signed up for some special sock yarn here, so I'll be making at least 4 pairs of socks, and they follow the colors for Project Spectrum. I'll add the buttons later.

I am so happy, I finally figured out the HTML-thingy to link the websites :).

That's all for now, off to the hockeyrink

Finally

It is finally snowing in Michigan. Don't know how long it will last though.

Maybe I tempted the snow gods; all day yesterday I worked on the January Dishcloth KAL.....which is......A SNOWFLAKE

Here is my first FO for this year: January KAL Dishcloth

New Year

Why is it that the kids will run around like crazy in the living room, yet when I send them to the basement, where they can run and scream all they like....they sit in front of the tv and are quiet??? MAKES ME NUTS.

Anyway.....this year I have decided to keep track of all the knitting projects I start (and finish) and also the books that I've read. So far, one book; NO KNITTING HAS BEEN STARTED (SO ALSO NOT FINISHED). I've read "The Collectors". Whoduknit January book will be picked up from the library on Monday.

No knitting has been started; I am still waiting for my special order Addis for the socks. I ordered yarn, Cascade 200, to make a new purse, the Ballband purse, my partner Karen sent it to me in my Whoduknit? Holiday swap, also yarn for KAL entralac scarf, blue Noro Kyueron.

Here is the purse I made over break. I'm not too happy with it. I forgot that lighter yarn does not felt the same as darker, hence the inside is all scrunchy. I'm looking for a home for it, so if you'd like it, let me know. It is a dark purply eggplant color.

Back to the old grind

Well, back to school for the kids (NONE to happy) and back to work (tomorrow) for me.

We actually went out for NYE...and got home at 12:30, took all day yesterday to recover. Here we are, a little before midnight. Went out to dinner with friends and then to the Red Wings game.

My resolutions (for knitting) are to make socks (waiting on special order Addi Turbos) and make myself a sweater (need to buy more Addi Turbos, so not in such a big hurry).

The Whoduknit group is going to do an entralac KAL, so I'll participate in that also.

Made a different style purse, not happy with the way the felting came out, the lighter yarn did not shrink as much as the darker, but it is usable. Also made some small felted bowls with stock yarn.