It's Amazing .....

.... what you can accomplish when you quit playing computer games! LOL

I was hoping to finish the Flower Child Tee before Paul and I spent that long weekend in a cabin (with no cell service so work couldn't reach us ... yay!!), but I decided to work on other things instead. True to my word to Amanda, I took it with me and finished it up during the vacation. I've worn it twice now and love it!



I also took the Cabled Top with me and did a lot of work on it. I pulled it back out yesterday during the True Blood season 2 marathon and put the finishing touches on it. Can't wait til the weather cools a bit so I can wear it.



Before we left, I finished up Jenn's Seashell Tote and promptly filled it up with all the stuff she keeps leaving in the bathrooms. Yes, I did mean that to be plural. The girl fills up both bathrooms with all her hair stuff.



So, what is it that I really don't need? New patterns you say? Well, yes. And, I did purchase several books and magazines in the past couple of weeks. More yarn? Ummmm, yeah, and you guessed it, I bought quite a bit during my LYS's recent sale. Another project on the needles? Yep, you guessed it! And since I didn't need another project on the needles, I cast on 2!!

A couple of knitting buds are doing the Yarn Forward Mystery Blanket, so I decided to knit it along with them. I started my first square this weekend when we met up for some knitting and socializing time. I finished this one tonight, and am ready to cast on another one. I'm a bit worried that I didn't buy enough yarn, but hopefully it's just that the first square I did takes more yarn than some of the others since it's cabled.



The other project I cast on is Valentina from "The Lenpur Linen Collection". Lenpur Linen was one of the yarns that was on sale, so I couldn't pass it up. I have to be careful because it can be a bit splitty, but I love the way it feels when knit up. This cardigan will be very drapey and soft.



I've also been working quite a bit on the scarf for my stepdad's birthday. Just under 1/2 done with it. Hopefully I can keep up doing a few repeats of the cable pattern each day and not lose interest in it.

Long Time No Post

Looks like I slacked off on posting again, oops!

It hasn't been for lack of progress, even though progress has been a bit slow these past couple of weeks. With Paul out of town, I got back into a computer game that he got bored with. It's been almost a year since I played Guild Wars and I missed my characters. I started a couple new ones too, but now I've got the itch to do some knitting again.

Flower Child is turning out to be a pretty quick knit .... when I actually knit on it that is. Three of the five front pieces is complete, and tonight I should finish the second of the five back pieces. Crazy to make a tshirt with 10 pieces eh? But I love the way it's turning out!



A fairly good closeup of what the center front will look like.



Not as much progress on Scheherazade, but there was a bit. Hopefully next time it's chosen by the spreadsheet I won't be distracted by a computer game!



I finally got around to taking a couple of photos of the buffet and china cabinet I brought back from my Gramma's house. It's a bit of a tight squeeze in the dining room now, but I really like them. We just need to get a new piece of glass for the china cabinet door. The tablecloth is one of the hand embroidered ones she made. Since I'm the only one with a big enough table to use them on, I brought them all back to my house and I love changing them each week. Woe to he who drips food on them and stains them, for he shall not live long!









I finished up my two felted projects during my blogging hiatus too. I think the Viktoria bag turned out really cute.



And, I'm loving my felted clog slippers. My daughter says they reminder her of Grinch shoes and they crack her up. I'm thinking that is a hint that she wants some. Maybe I'll get some neon green and orange and make her a pair for Christmas.



I didn't even let the spreadsheet choose a new project last week. Sad, since that should mean more progress on Scheherazade, but such is life. This week's project chosen is Mermaid 3. Let's hope I have more to show for this week's knitting than the past 2 weeks.

Another One Bites The Dust

More Spring Cleaning in the WIP list this week. The super duper spreadsheet picked out a sweater I haven't touched in a year, and I just wasn't feeling it. After taking a good look at the photo of the sweater, I decided that it wouldn't look right on me and frogged it. The yarn is destined to become something else, and my WIP list is a bit shorter now.

I mentioned in my last post that I was going out of town last week to help move my grandmother to Ohio to live with my mother. She's all moved in now and settling in well. Since my mother's house is fully furnished, and I wasn't about to let my grandmother's nice antiques go to auction and be sold for next to nothing, I brought a few of them back with me. Her buffet and china cabinet are now in my dining room, and one of the dressers is now being used by my stepson. Hopefully some photos of those later this week.

Since we were going to be working most of the day, and I didn't want to drag any big projects with me, I started a couple of small, quick to knit projects for the trip.

The first night we were there I finished up a scarf using Prism Wild Stuff.



And the night we got back, I finished up all but the felting on a pair of clog slippers. I had plenty of the mulberry color left, so I picked up another contrasting color and plan to make a pair for my Gramma.



I picked a bit at a Ruca Multy scarf, and will work on this during my lunch hours this week.



After I frogged the sweater last night, the spreadsheet picked out a crochet bag I had started last summer. This afternoon, while watching a movie, I finished all the pieces. Tomorrow night I will sew them together and felt it. Finished photos later this week.



Remember the cute as a button kittens we found in our garage? We thought mama cat had run off with them, but I think she just found a spot behind some things stored in the garage to hid them, because Paul spied them on Friday.

Any time I peek through the garage window they scurry behind boxes, but a couple of them are getting used to me.

I was able to snap a quick photo of a couple of them tonight. They are all fluffy as can be and I am dying to get my hands on them.






Of the 6 that were cuddled up on the chair cushion, I've spied 5 of them. The black one with the white belly hasn't been seen yet. Hopefully, as I do some decluttering of the garage I find him. All of them are scared of humans, drat it all. I was hoping to get them used to us when they were still young, so it wouldn't be so difficult to get them to a shelter. If I can't get them to tolerate me being around, a shelter won't take them, so I'll definitely be like my mom and have neutered wild cats wandering around my yard.

There should be a lot of knitting progress the next few weeks. Paul had to go on a 3 week business trip, so my evenings are free to knit to my heart's content.

Changing the plan of attack

Attack of the never ending (and ever growing) WIP list that is. While stuffing stash yarn into freezer bags for their "time out" in the freezer, I came across 2 more crochet projects that I forgot about and had to add them to the list. On top of that, I got a bit bored with Paul's sweater, and bought a kit from a friend who is doing some destashing, and cast that project on Saturday. Ugggggggg - at this rate, I'll never get to the bottom of that list!

At least I've discovered that whatever project the spreadsheet picks out for me keeps my attention for about a week before I get bored with it. And, sometimes bringing up a different project from the craftroom appeases my urge to start something new. (Quit laughing, I said sometimes.) For instance, Friday night I was really wanting to dig around in the stash for some yummy yarn and cast on something bright and shiny and new. Instead, I spied the Sipalu bag that I lost interest in last Fall, and decided to bring it up. Yesterday, when I put it away again, I had knit all but the top border and handles. Another weekend and the knitting will be done and it will be ready to block and line.

So, I've decided to change my plan of attack. Instead of making myself finish the project the spreadsheet picks out for me, I will let it pick 2 projects for me to work on for a week. Unless I am completely enchanted by a project, I won't work on the same thing 2 weeks in a row. I'm going to try very hard not to cast something new on until I've finished at least 2, but preferrably 3 projects from my current WIP list. Hopefully, this new tact will have me completing some projects and not casting on so many new ones.

I took a break from the knitting for awhile this weekend and finished up a dress I had cut out last weekend. I'm fairly pleased with it, and will make another. I will change the pattern some though. The photo did not in any way, shape, or form show the cartoon model's boobs sticking out. The neckline on this thing falls just below my nipples, so I had to wear a cami under it. Next time, I will raise the neckline and probably bring the shoulders in some so bra straps don't show.



Although I have been casting on new projects regularly, I have been finishing some of them. This one was knit up in record time. 6 days from cast on to worn to work. I also wore it when I met my friend at our LYS to buy that kit from her, and while there wound up selling the last pattern book for this top to one customer, and the yarn to knit it to another. I absolutely adore this top. It's not too casual to wear to work, but casual enough to be paired with jeans and tennies for the weekend.






That kit I purchased? If you read Vogue Knitting, you may remember the Koigu jacket from the anniversary issue. 'A' bought it, then let it sit for over a year. Her hubby really wanted her to sell it and pay off some of the credit card lol. I started it while sitting at the LYS with her for some knitting and socializing time. Worked on it a bit Saturday night, but it is somewhat fiddly with all those little triangles. Not bored with the project by any stretch, but 37 skeins of Koigu in my bedroom along with the other 6 or 7 projects I had once again dragged upstairs was a bit much. The spreadsheet did not pick this project for me to work on this week, so I put it away to await its turn.



Friday night I finished up the felted pond turtle I started in September or October. Another project off the WIP list! She turned out rather cute once I needlefelted some outlining on her shell.



A photo of side 2 of the Sipalu bag. Already picked up all the stitches for the top border band, so when the spreadsheet picks this out, it will be all ready for some fair isle goodness.



No photos of this week's projects yet, but in a few days I will post some. The spreadsheet picked out the Silky Wool Vest and Ravenna Satchel 1.

Wish me luck!!

Awwwwwww

Look what Paul found in our garage yesterday. Aren't they cute?



He was rummaging around trying to get the lawnmower out, when he heard a commotion. He saw a cat scurry across the garage and hide behind some boxes stored in there. Then he saw the kittens and called me out to see them. Their eyes are still closed so they aren't very old. So adorable. Mama is a feral cat living in our neighborhood. When I came out to the garage to see, she took off across the street and I was hoping she'd come back if we stayed away. We got her some food and left it out in the garage then left them all alone. We didn't see her all day yesterday, but this morning Paul saw her. She's been in the garage all day today with her little ones. As long as all we do is peer at them through the window and not make any quick moves, she tolerates us. Once the kittens are old enough, we'll take them to a local shelter that won't put them down, and see if we can't trap Mama and have her neutered. There are several feral cats in our neighborhood. Looks like I'm going to be a crazy cat lady like my mom lol.



This afternoon I finished up sackboy. I think I'm going to knit him a hat too, but that will have to wait for another day. Now I only have 2 of the newly cast on projects left on the needles.



Last night I pulled out the Silky Wool Vest and finished the first of three balls of yarn. This shouldn't take too much longer to finish since it's a cropped vest. Hopefully by the end of the month.



I'm only a couple rows shy of finishing the bodice of the Yesterday Once More top. Tomorrow night at my crochet group I'll begin the pleated bottom border.



This afternoon while Paul and I watched a couple of movies I worked on the felted Pond Turtle I started for myself last summer. Ran out of yarn .... ugggggg. Since It's felted I'm not too worried about the dye lots matching perfectly, so a trip to JoAnn's to get another ball of Bernat felting wool is in order sometime this week.

Squee!!!

I have a lot to squee about today. Everyone "squee!" with me!

Squee!!!!

Look what I got in the mail. My SP pal, Knitting Ladybug (the one I was spoiling), sent me such a sweet and thoughtful gift. She knit me socks! Soft, beautiful, stripy, merino and bamboo socks! And, she sent me the Knit Kit. It has 7 different tools that knitter's need (and usually run off without when they need them most lol). This went straight into the bag that goes with me to my weekly group right after the photo was taken. The socks will be worn tomorrow! Thanks Debbie! I love them :o)



Also squee! worthy is the fact I finished 2 more of my BOS projects this weekend. The Moorish Stripe Socks are now tucked into a padded envelope and will be off in the post to their recipient tomorrow. I hope he likes them!



And, I also finished the Roped Shell. Wove in the last of the ends last night after my weekly crochet group meeting. I changed the pattern a bit to raise the neckline and add more fabric on the shoulder to hide bra straps. I am really happy with how this turned out. I made it using GGH 100% silk and it is so soft and luxurious. Can't wait to wear it!



Sackboy is almost done. Tomorrow night I will knit the head, then Thursday will start the seaming and finishing.



The handy dandy spreadsheet chose the Islander Pullover for me to work on next. This poor sweater was started a year ago for Paul, then after only 4 rows of the ribbing were completed it was shoved in the bottom of a knitting bag and has just now seen the light of day again. The sad thing is I don't think I bought enough yarn for this, so I will need to order more and do the knit 2 rows with each dye lot thing ..... ugggggg.

WIP Status

Friday night I finished up the Flying Carpet Socks. Now I don't feel so guilty about casting on that Silky Wool Vest. Of course, as you'll see later in this post, I still have plenty to feel guilty about lol.



The current state of my WIP list looks like this. I've finished 5 of the projects that were OTN at the beginning of the year, and have 2 more that should be finished in the next couple of days.

Basket O' Shame Projects Flying Carpet Socks Mermaid Jacket Merging Colors Bolero Felted Pond Turtle Sipalu Bag Moorish Stripe Socks Roped Shell Mary Tudor Cardigan Lace Knee Highs Asymetrical Jacket Ravenna Satchel 1 Ravenna Satchel 2 Islander Pullover Zarah Pullover Bamboo Socks Scheherazade Shawl

Non Basket O' Shame Projects Yesterday Once More Filet Dragon Throw Emily's Gloves Jenn's Gloves Rose Wrap Shell Sweetie Pie Cami Santa Fe Shawl Bellydance Halter Solo Sackboy Salvia Silky Wool Vest

According to my self imposed rules, I should only have 2 newly cast on projects (one of which is now complete). But, I was a bad bad knitter and cast on 2 additional projects *sigh*. Kris plays Little Big Planet and I couldn't resist casting on Sackboy. Luckily it is a smallish project and should be finished in record time. I didn't feel too bad about casting that on, even though I haven't finished the Silky Wool Vest, since I was almost finished with another WIP. I do feel a twinge of guilt about casting on Salvia though. Rowan yarn is an evil temptress indeed. I am limiting my time working on this project until I get a couple more of the BOS projects finished.

I am currently finishing up the toe on the Moorish Stripe Socks. Then they will be shipped off to my stepdad.



The Roped Shell is also almost complete. Last night when I took photos she looked like this.



This morning she is complete with the exception of the I-cord bind off on the arm openings and the cabled neckband.

The beaded purse is getting some attention too. Progress seems awfully slow compared to the knitting, but I've increased my speed to about 3 rows per 30 minutes. The problem is I can only work on this about 30 minutes at a time. It's just too hard on the eyes!



I mentioned Salvia earlier in the post. It is a shortsleeved cotton cardigan with intarsia flowers on it from the latest Rowan magazine. I took Friday off work as comp time last week and made a trip to my LYS to look at shawl pins for the Merging Colors Bolero. While there, I spied yarn in the perfect colors for Salvia, a soft grey and beautiful blue. I have absolutely no willpower whatsoever, so you know I bought it and cast on as soon as I got home. I only allowed myself to complete several rows of the colorwork pattern before setting it aside and pulling out the projects I was supposed to be working on.



I think I'm going to sift through the list of WIPs and find one fairly close to being complete to work on next. Salvia shouldn't have been cast on until I had 8 finished, and when the socks and shell are done that will make 7. Why do I do this to myself? My WIP list never seems to have fewer than 20 projects on it!

Bugs!

Aaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh I have a bug infestation! Carpet beetles!! Ewwwwwwwwww

I discovered the problem yesterday when I pulled out one of my Basket 'O Shame projects to work on. I noticed a small hole in it when I began knitting. It looked like the yarn had been snipped and one of the stitches had unraveled. Repairing it was a pretty simple matter. Then I noticed another hole, and a couple of spots that looked like the yarn had been snagged. Upon closer inspection, I found a couple of the telltale shed skins of the larvae.

I've never been very careful with my stash or the projects I am working on. The stash is stored in plastic drawer containers, but not put in ziploc bags first. The projects I've started are kept in the various knitting bags I've collected over the years. I've learned my lesson! Multitudes of freezer bags were purchased today and a good portion of the stash now resides in them.

So far I haven't found any further signs of infestation in the craftroom, but I found a couple of the adult little buggers wandering elsewhere in the house. I can't tell you how creeped out I am right now.

The infested project is in the freezer right now, along with as much of the stash as I could fit in there with it. It is going to take me for freaking ever to freeze it all just to be on the safe side. I use that freezer for um foodstuffs. Never again will I let yarn sit in my craftroom until it has been properly frozen in its freezer bag.

At least there's some good news on the knitting front. I finished the Merging Colors Bolero Friday night. I just need to find something nice to use as a closure and it's ready to wear. I love how this turned out and can't wait to wear it to work.



I worked some this week on the beaded purse. I wish this photographed better. Maybe when I have nice sunlight outside and don't have to use the flash I can get better pictures. My speed has gotten better, but even at one row every 20 minutes or so, this is going to take a long long time to complete.



Since the Asymetrical Jacket has a bug problem at the moment, I let the spreadsheet pick out a new main project. I had forgotten how much I liked knitting the Roped Shell. Not sure why this wound up sitting in the bottom of a knitting bag, but it's got center stage again, and should be finished up fairly quickly. No sleeves and minimal shaping make for a fast project.



Wish me luck in my quest to rid my house of the disgusting carpet beetles!

Basket O Shame

I found a group on Ravelry that is right up my alley! The Basket O Shame KAL. Details, rules, etc. can be found Here.



My long shameful list:

Flying Carpet Socks
Mermaid Jacket
Merging Colors Bolero
Felted Pond Turtle
Sipalu Bag
Moorish Stripe Socks
Roped Shell
Mary Tudor Cardigan
Lace Knee Highs
Asymetrical Jacket
Ravenna Satchel 1
Ravenna Satchel 2 (yes, before I had finished the first I actually cast on for a second sigh)
Islander Pullover
Zarah Pullover
Bamboo Socks
Scheherazade Shawl

Some of these have been languishing for more than 2 years. Yikes!! This list does not contain any of the crochet projects I have sitting around either, as they do not count in this Along. Quite sad, and I'm suitably ashamed of myself.

I did some sewing this weekend. Finished up this wrap top, and started the pants that will go with it. I love how the top turned out, but if I never sew with sheer chiffon again, it will be too soon! A bit too fiddly for my tastes.



The pants aren't far enough along to show yet, but here's a photo of the pattern envelope. I chose a brown for the main color, and blue for the contrast.



Another finished project this weekend too! I finally did the finishing on the bellydance halter. Instead of the beads I was planning, I decided to go with the tassels that the pattern called for. This will be fun to wear to class.



My new main project (chosen with the cool spreadsheet yet again) is the Merging Colors Bolero I started in summer 2007. I got quite a bit knit on it today. A shame I put it away when I did. It's a really quick knit, and I could have been wearing it for 2 years!



Mermaid has gotten some attention too. Even though I am allowed to change my "secondary" projects when I get a new main one, I chose to continue working on the 2 I chose last time.






I really shouldn't have, since I haven't finished the Flying Carpet Socks I was allowed to cast on for finishing 2 projects in my WIP list, but I allowed myself to cast on a new project for finishing my 4th WIP. I purchased this yarn last weekend at Knitters' Mercantile's sale. It looks more blue in this picture to me than the beautiful purple it is. This will be the Silky Wool Vest from Boutique Knits. I fell in love with the pattern when I first saw it, and have been itching to make it ever since.



I think I'm going to need to add a new rule to my plan for this year. Until I finish the last newly cast on project, I won't be allowed to cast on another, even if I've finished enough WIPs. If I don't at least try to stick to this rule, I'll wind up with another long list of WIPs at the end of this year, even if it is half as long as last year's .