BOO!

I was quietly knitting away on my socks for a couple hours this morning, and when I looked up, I noticed THE SUN WAS SHINING! Oh my gosh, it's been well over a week of non-stop gloom mixed with pouring rain, and I was so excited to see SUN! I threw open my front door to enjoy the rays, and laughed when I saw this little guy on my neighbor's porch. Isn't he cute?

Speaking of socks...last night I turned the heel on both socks, one at a time, but both of them still on the same needle. Then, believe me when I tell you I have NO IDEA what I did next to get the gussets going and the socks back on the needle the way they were supposed to be. My plan was to take notes on how I did it, but I got so screwed up (and frustrated!) that I just did whatever it took to get myself untangled. I ended up having to enlist the help of 3 double point needles to rearrange the stitches back in the right order, but finally I did it, and around and around I started going again. I have just finished the gusset decreases and am back to my original number of stitches, so on to the toes I go.

Of course, after I went through all that, THEN I decided to go online and do a search in the magic loop yahoo group messages and found something that probably would have been very helpful to me if I had looked at it FIRST! I am going to print it out and hopefully my next pair will go a little easier. I gave serious thought to just finishing them up separately, but I like the idea of them both being done at the same time. I was hoping I could do these socks in a week, and I started them last Monday evening. It doesn't look like it's going to happen, but it's going to be close. MAYBE if I knit all day........

Sadly, I am having flashbacks to my first sock (my "unfinished throw it in a basket in frustration don't want to knit socks I hate socks socks are stupid give it to my sister maybe she'll knit me some socks" sock)....it seems like I am knitting and knitting and knitting and making so little progress. I need to get used to these tiny little stitches, especially after working on Kim's scarf yesterday on size 35 needles :-)
I also feel like, once again, these socks are going to be too big. I did a gauge swatch, I measured my foot carefully, I went down to size 2 after using size 3 the last time (using the same amount of stitches) but still they seem to be huge.
Jane told me that I can actually try to shrink them a bit even though they are superwash wool. I'm hoping that's true, because if they don't fit after all this knittin' I'm going to cry :-(

Sock Progress, Fall leaves

I just love how my socks are turning out. They really remind me of fall colors. I couldn't resist taking a picture of them hanging on the Burning Bush by our deck. Heel flaps are coming along. I took a break from socks to knit up a scarf that will be for Kim for Christmas or her birthday. I used yummy Classic Elite Bravo yarn, which is a silk/mohair/wool/rayon/nylon blend. It's a double strand. One is mohair-y looking and the other has a cotton-y look to it that is multi colored. I added a strand of satiny ribbon yarn and it turned out to be quite pretty. Picture to follow when I get the fringe added. (if you click the link, the one I got is #3736, the 4th one) I used a pink ribbon yarn to go with it and I love the combination of the textures.

So, my holiday knitting has begun! About time, I think!

More birthday knitting goodies!

Here are some more exciting things to take up my time! 3 knitting books and the Art of Knitting DVD. I can't wait to explore all of them. I briefly flipped through the books (they just arrived in the mail 20 minutes ago) and they are all excellent. The Scarf Style book has some REALLY COOL scarves in it! I see some Christmas projects coming from that book! I'm hoping to take Knit Wit to Threadbear in a few weeks when Amy Singer (creator of Knitty online magazine) will be there to sign copies. I've been itching to get to Threadbear since they arrived in Michigan a few months ago, but so far I haven't had the time. It's going to end up being a day trip, I'm afraid. It's at least an hour from my house, probably more, and I think it will take all day to browse the huge array of fibrous delights in the store.

The Domino Knitting book is one I've had my eye on for quite a while. It's a technique I want to learn and have several projects in mind putting the mitered squares to use. One will be a felted purse that I think will be quite cute.

I haven't had a chance to look at the DVD yet, but from what I understand, it has an incredible amount of high quality informational video. Not only knitting techniques demos, but includes sections on fiber animals, shearing, spinning and dyeing. That will be fun to watch, I'm sure. The DVD runs over 3-1/2 hours and I think it is something I will turn to often.

Sock Update: I have gotten to the point where I am going to start my heel flaps. I am hoping that I will be able to figure out how to do the heel shaping on both socks at once on the Magic Loop (without losing my mind LOL) I think I'm going to have to write notes to myself as I try it, and as I figure out what works, so I have the confidence to do it again, and again and again.
Yes, I'm thinking I DO like knitting socks.

You can knit them here or there.
You can knit them anywhere.
You can knit them on a plane,
at a football or basketball game.
You can knit them at the beach.
You can knit them if they're in reach.
You can knit them in the car.
You can knit them wherever you are.
I do so like being a sock knitter.
I feel bad for being a sock quitter.
Thank you Bev for the Magic Loop tip.
Having hand-knit socks will make me hip

2 on 1 Socks!

What's better than learning the Magic Loop technique for knitting socks? I'll tell you what....figuring out how to use the Magic Loop technique, AND how to do both socks at the same time! Thanks to some instructions and photos at the yahoo group for Magic Loop, I got it! Now I feel I can really get excited about socks. No more pokey double points in my hands. No Second Sock Syndrome....I'm on my way to being a sockknitter!

Having some wonderful yarn to knit with doesn't hurt either. These socks are going to be so pretty! Here's hoping they actually fit when I get them done.

:-)

I have to give some huge kudos to Brown Sheep Company for having both ends of the skein wrapped around the outside under the label. With their yarn you don't have to fish around inside the skein to attempt to find the end, only to end up pulling out a huge wad. Little things mean a lot, ya know?

Update

I had several people come to my blog and say they would participate in Mother Bear Project. I have decided to send all of them stitch markers in appreciation. Thanks to Chey, Jenny and Jane. You're all winners!

Birthday Goodies!

Look at the goodies I've received for my birthday! Yesterday Kim presented me with the Magic Loop instruction booklet, and my very first 2 sets of Addi Turbos in sizes 2 and 3 (40" long so I can "Loop" with ease) My sister Diane sent me the Needle Trax program which I have had my eye on for a while, and can't wait to check out. If anyone uses Needle Trax, let me know what you think of it, any helpful hints, tips, etc.

I decided last night to try the sock pattern that is in the Magic Loop booklet, even though it calls for worsted weight yarn. This is just going to be an experiment, so I can see how the ML loop works, and the method for the heel on the ML before I do a "real" pair of socks. I don't know how comfy socks will be made from worsted...maybe inside boots on the coldest day of the year, or maybe to slip on and wear around the house on my hardwood floors. I'm using the same Lamb's Pride that I used for my Hallowig. I may just make one sock for now to try out the ML, but I'm REALLY anxious to start knitting with the Wildfoote handpainted sock yarn (Brown Sugar color). It's so gorgeous, and reminds me of fall leaves.

I must admit I am surprised by my excitement about socks. Almost a year ago I started knitting a sock. On 5 dpns. I got about 3/4 of the way through one sock and threw it in a basket in dismay. I felt like I was fighting a porcupine the whole time I was knitting, and also felt like I would knit and knit and knit and get nowhere at all. But now that I have decided to learn the ML method of socks, I am opening my thoughts to the fact that someday I may say I am a sockknitter, and actually enjoy knitting them.

Well, I am going to go back to my sock. Plans for my birthday include NO laundry, NO cleaning, nothing but sitting and knitting all day long.

If you haven't already signed up for the Mother Bear Project, scroll down a few posts and leave a comment. The drawing for a gift of handmade beaded stitch markers ends tonight!

Hallowig

Here's my green Hallowig. Mike says he wants one too, but not green. I wonder what color he'll pick. Won't we be so cute on Halloween, trick-or-treating in style? I'm not making his out of wool though...I'm going to hit Walmart for some cheap acrylic.

Jake says Hallowig is scary. Be not afraid, Jake. It can't hurt you.

Join the Mother Bear Project!

My sister just sent me the link to the Mother Bear Project website. We are going to order the pattern and do our part. After reading this how can you not be inspired to send a little love to these children so in need of something soft to hug? Check out the website, read all the stories under the "news" link and see if you get the inspiration to join in.

Leave a message in my comments if you plan on joining the project! I will be sending a set of my beaded stitch markers to one person who lets me know that they are joining in on this wonderful cause. I will chose my winner on Monday, Oct. 18 (which just so happens to be my birthday) .
Thanks!

Hump Day

I can't believe it's Wednesday already! I must've slept through the beginning of this week because, really, it was JUST the weekend!

And a nice weekend it was! Saturday was a surprise 40th birthday party for Mike's brother, Pat. He was actually surprised, and thrilled, which are 2 things that surprise party recipients often are NOT. We had a great time. It was a beautiful fall day, so we were outside most of the time. Food was good, and a game of Texas Hold 'Em broke out at the end of the evening and guess who was the winner! Yep, ME! Yeah! $100 in my pocket for stash enhancement!

Sunday morning we woke up early and went in to wake up the kids with the announcement of "Road Trip! Wake up!Surprise! Road Trip!" We drove 3 hours to Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky, OH. During October they have Haunted Halloweekends, where the park all decked out in spooky decorations and exhibits, set up some of the buildings or rides as haunted houses, fun houses, etc. We went last year and it was great fun, so we decided to go back again this year. Another beautiful fall day. We were there about 11 hours, so with the 6 hours of road time, it was a LONG day. The kids slept all the way home, so they got their normal amount of sleep before having to get up and go to school Monday morning. Mike and I were dragging though...I still haven't recovered :-)

On the way down to Cedar Point, I was knitting along on my Hallowig and made some progress. When we got into the park, we went and had Jake measured to get his 48" wrist band. When we were at Cedar Point in June, he was about 1/8" too short, and had finally grown enough to be able to get on the rides that require 48" height. We headed right for the Blue Streak, which is a ride I'm not overly fond of. So I decided to sit this one out. As I was looking for somewhere to sit and wait, I was thinking to myself that I should have stuck my knitting in my zipper pouch pocket on my jacket. Just as this thought is going through my mind, I see that I am heading towards a bench next to a lady that is....

Sitting and Knitting, at Cedar Point!

I sat down next to her and told her how funny it was that just before I saw her, I was thinking I wish I had brought my knitting with me. She was working on a sweater for her daughter in green stripes. Out of all the thousands of people that were there, I didn't see anyone else knitting all day long, so I thought it was kind of cool that I found someone else with that thought, first thing in the morning.

Yesterday morning I finished my Hallowig, and took it with me last night to my last class. Students and Vicky (shop owner) all thought it was a hoot. I left it there on "the head" but forgot to take a picture of it before leaving it. So I'll head back up there today and get a shot so I can post it here. Jake thought it was "scary". Kaitlyn thought it was weird. When Mike came home from work, I put it on his head, and he said he wanted one, but "not this green". Who knew he would want a Hallowig? I guess I'll be making another one for him. It's a quick knit...maybe 5 hours total. It calls for 5 oz. of yarn but I got by with using one 4-oz. skein of Lamb's Pride with a little bit left over.

Joining the Hallowig-along

If you're wondering what a Hallowig is.... click the Knit along button on my sidebar for some examples of this fun "wig" for Halloween....or just a whimsical winter hat, if you're brave enough to wear it.

Hallowig so far 

Jake's Crazy Caterpillar

Knitterpillar

Jake's class is studying the development of caterpillars into butterflies in school. They have lots of them in several stages of development and have really gotten into this hands-on experience. He came home a couple weeks ago with an assignment to make a "Crazy Caterpillar" with the help of his family.

I recently got a Barbie Knit Hits knitting machine on ebay, with the hopes of using it to knit purse handles for the felted purses and tote bags I am making. But Jake and I came up with the idea of using it to knit his crazy caterpillar. He loved cranking it out. He picked out the colors, and did all the "knitting". It was a hit with his classmates (many of whom used egg cartons since it was one of the suggested ideas) No one else had a knitted one!

My new favorite blog

Wanna laugh?

Check out this blog:
Stitchy McYarnpants

I can't wait for more posts....Stitchy leaves me in stitches

:-)

Happenings

Let's see, where to begin.....

The weekend before last was the Fall Sheep and Wool Fest at Mt. Bruce Station near my home. I was helping Vicky out with her booth, and in return, she let me bring some of my "wares" to sell. I sold some felted purses, some beaded stitch markers, beaded earrings and bookmarks. The weather was great, I met a lot of 'fiber people'. There were lots of spinners, rug hookers, and people who raise sheep, llamas and alpacas. In fact we had a visit to our booth Sunday morning by the most beautiful chocolate brown alpaca. I immediately fell in love with his adorable face and oh-so-soft coat. I want one! Here he is....

My new friend

The farm was decorated for fall with pumpkins and sunflowers everywhere. Our booth was right behind the folk singer so we had wonderful entertainment all weekend. The grill was upwind and so the lamb kabobs, lamb sausage, grilled veggies, etc. had us drooling constantly. Yummy!

When I left the Sheep Fest on Sunday afternoon, I met up with Kim and we went shopping for a wedding dress for her. It was the first time we had done this, and the very first dress she tried on is still my favorite. She was so beautiful in it, and I'm hoping it's the one she decides to get. She is still looking, just in case she finds one she likes better, but I'm not sure it's possible!

Speaking of weddings, Kelly and Brian's wedding was Friday night. It was a lot of fun, and Kelly was stunningly beautiful. We had a great time at the reception. I had whipped together a shawl Wednesday night to go over my black dress and it was quite a hit. I used 3 balls of Adriafil Stars in black, with one ball of gold Plymouth Glitterlash knit along with it. I used my honkin' size 35 needles and in a mere 3 or 4 hours I had an 80" long wrap (with fringe) that looks like a million bucks. It is 28 stitches wide, in case you need to know. When hanging in its normal state it's about 24" wide, but because it's so loosely knit, it can actually stretch to over 3 feet wide. Soooo soft and cuddly!

Glitter Wrap for wedding

We had a hard time recovering from the wedding Friday night. Saturday Mike and I ended up sleeping until after 11 am (ahhhh....heavenly) before we dragged our hungover selves out of bed and had to go pick up the kids as well as Kim's Jeep which was left at the bride's house.

Sunday we had a Cub Scout outing to go to with Jake. Here's my little scout.

Scout

Isn't he handsome in his uniform? We had a beautiful day for a hike in the woods, cider and donuts afterwards.

Last night was my 3rd knitting class that I taught and all is going well. I am really enjoying my new role, and am happy to report that I will be doing more classes this month, as well as a class for the felted clogs starting in November. I meant to take my camera with me last night to get some pix of my students knitting away, but I forgot. Maybe next week.....