Playing Catchup!

So, I went through my spare room to take stock of all my UFOs and well, I have a few! Not suprising. I took updated pictures of the ones I really would like to complete before starting a new project *LAUGH* Oh I cracked myself up on that one! Anyhoo, here's the current listing of projects that I am hoping to complete by the end of June? Maybe? Hopefully? OK, so that's at least that's the game plan!

Then again, I did just find out that my cousin's wife is pregnant and her family is having a baby shower for them on June 12, while they are in town visiting, so right there I will be casting on for either a blanket or baby sweater. Considering that they currently live in Colorado, a sweater will be well used I am sure. I just have no heard if they know the sex of the baby yet. There are also three co-workers who are pregnant. One of these women worked with me a lot and wrote me a great recomendadtion letter for a summer position, so I would definately want to knit her a baby sweater and she knows she's having a boy so that makes it easy! And there's project no. 2 that will need to be casted on :) *as they say, "the road to hell is paved with good intentions"*

OK, not on to the UFOs. First up Juliet (Rav link). This is my second attempt at Juliet. The first was almost finished when I tried it on and it was swimmingly big!! And before you even ask, yes I did swatch and yes I did get gauge. After looking around on Ravelry and reading others people's project pages, I understood that the pattern ran big and attempt no. 1 went to the frog pond and the yarn was put on the Naughty Step, or rather the Naughty Bag *ok, so I've watch the Super Nanny a few times* So, after being in the Naughty Bag for almost a year. I brought it back out and cast on two sizes smaller. It's turning out much better, so far. Sorry the pictures a little dark. I did not cast off the sleeve stitches as I'd like to add a little more to the length of the sleeve. The garter portion is almost under my bust line and just about an inch away from starting the lace pattern. I'm sort of going back and forth between increasing just enough stitches to complete the repeats or making the numberous increases the pattern calls for and having the extra bulk. Oh decisions, decisions!



Next, I found my cashmere cowl. Just a simple 2x2 ribbing. Not suprised that this project got lost in the stash mound. Ribbing is so boring to knit, but with the colorway, I didn't want to knit something to elaborate and have the pattern get lost in the colorway. Even thought this one is boring to knit, it would be a perfect TV watching project, expecially since all my shows have ended for the season and all that's on now are reruns! It's nice that the yarn is super soft too!



Here's are the Horcrux Socks Take Two. The first time I started these I was a relatively new sock knitting and didn't cast on enough stitches. So, these too went off to the frog pond and were recast-on with more stitches. I think these have lapsed to the bottom of the pile because there were suppose to be my Halloween socks and then Halloween came and went and the socks were put on hold.



Here's yet a third "Take Two" project. Only the first were actually completed. The socks were just a tad too small to get on my feet, so I gave them away and started another pair for myself and went up two needle sizes. I think these will work out much better for me :) The STR yarn is medium weight, so it makes for a nice thick sock. The pattern is a lot of fun to make and it makes a stunning sock in the end. Well worth the effort of a "take two"



Oh my, look, another "Take Two" *anyone see a theme building in my UFOS?* I have actually completed a pair of these socks earlier in the year. I was test knitting a pattern for my friend Sheila's sock club and I knit straight according to the pattern without making changes as that was the assignment - test knit the pattern to make sure there were no errors. So, again the first pair were too small for my feet and are on the "Gift" pile for my sister. They'll either be her birthday gift or her Christmas gift. Since the first ones didn't fit, I went ahead and cast on for another pair for myself and added a few stitches to the cast-on. These should fit nicely when I finish.



Finally, a first draft! *laugh* I took a yarn dyeing class about a year ago at Lovelyarns in Hampden, MD. I was aiming for a purple and brown colorway, I had not realize the range of colors that came out until I wound up this skein and started knitting with it. I just LOVE how the colors are coming along on these socks!! Makes me wish I could somehow reproduce this colorway and make a shawl with it!! Because the yarn is so thin, I went ahead and cast these socks on size 0 needles. I must be crazy, but I really like the tightness in the stitch and the feel of the yarh is FAB!! Of course, knitting on such small needles, these are taking me longer than normal, but I think they will be well worth it in the end!



Something other than socks!! Here's the Tiger's Eye Scarf. I wasn't thinking at the time that I cast this on, but this scarf is make in two halves and then grafted together in the middle so that the "eyes" are all facing in the right direction on both halves of the scarf. So today, I went ahead and cast on the other half and I'm knitting that half until I'm up to the same repeat as the first and then I can knit them at the same time. I really like this colorway with this pattern.



Last up is actually a FO! A bread basket liner. I followed the pattern, but I think the basket would have to be pretty small for this liner to work. I have more of this yarn in this colorway and other and intend to make more of these bread liners as Christams gifts, but I think I will knit the center square larger before I start the edging pattern.



I think I'm all caught up with projects now. Would I swear to that, well no. There could still be a project or five lurking around my home!

Rainy Sunday Morning

Here's to a lazy Sunday morning. *holds up her latte in a morning toast* I'm sitting out on my covered front porch just listening to rain pitter-patter down, drinking my latte, watching cars drive by, chit-chatting with friends online and bloggin'. I love to sit out here and listen to the rain (when it's fairly warm out, that is).

I'm happy to say I got most of what I planned to do yesterday done! I called my gf KozyKitty to see if she wanted to come with my to the LYS, and I ended up meeting her at Lowes and going plant shopping at Behnke's *laugh* I bought 4 nice size Fuchsia hanging plants for my front porch. I get very little direct sun around my house because of so many trees, so Fuchsia plants are perfect. Now I just need to remember to water them daily or the heat of summer will kill them anyway *write a big note and hanging it on her coffee machine - since I use it every morning - WATER FLOWERS OUTSIDE!!* I also need to figure out what I am going to plant in the little flower bed that is in front of my porch - again minimal direct sun.

After getting back from Behnke's, I dropped off my hanging baskets and headed out to my LYS to purchase some yarn for that ITE bag I need to make. I'll have to post pics later as I don't have them on my laptop. I got out of there with minimal damage to my wallet *laugh* which is good.

I did manage to gather up all my UFOs around the house *faints* more than I remember starting! So here's my list:

1. Lapghan - Crochet - 50%
2. Arm Cozies - Knit - 50%
3. Scarf for sister - knit - 35%
4. Mimosa Blossom Afghan for parents - crochet - 1 pattern repeat
5. My So Called Scarf - knit - 50%
6. Braided Cable Scarf - knit - 2%
7. Baby blanket - Tunisian crochet - 75%
8. Larger Than Life bag - crochet - 75%
9. Stained Glass Afghan - crochet - 7 squares completed, 350 more to go!
10. Monica tank (2nd one) for other niece - knit - cast on
11. Simple Socks (1st attempt) - knit - heel flap completed on 1st one FROGGED

I think that covered everything. The lapghan is in colors that no longer match the decor of my house. I'm thinking of two option here a. bind off and donate to an animal shelter b. finish and give away as a gift. The arm cozies I knit both at once on a pair of circulars, so those are almost both done! Now if I can just learn to knit a pair of socks at once *I should probably finish my first sock before becoming so ambitious*laugh* I think I need to threat some waste yarn through the loops of my sock and try it on! I keep stretching it and wondering if it will even fit my foot as is! *runs off to do just that*
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hmmm.... not sure. I can get it on, but it's snug. I wonder if I should frog it and maybe and a few more to the cast on. Then won't I have to re figure the stitches for the heel flap?? ACK! Help! I don't know what to do. Most patterns are not written for shovel feet like mine! (size 10). I don't know why socks intimidate me so much! Well, before I do any froggin' I think I will take my lowly sock with me to the S'nB session on Monday and ask one of those crazy gals for help. I think there are more sock knitters in that group then the group I meet with on Wednesday nights. If one of you Monday night gal is reading this, can you help me with my socks!! *begs and pleads*

Went to JoAnn's yesterday to take a look at their purse handles. Nothing really grabbed me, so I grabbed another row counter and headed home to hang my flower baskets.

Didn't go to Don Pablo's last night, but my neighbor grilled out and made a plate for me. I have such great neighbors! A grilled hot dog, baked beans *yummy*, a fresh turkey burger that was full of flavor *need to find out what she put in it so that I can make them for my next cookout* and a great macaroni salad that had tuna fish and shrimp.

I never did get around to going through my stash. I will have to get to that today. Right now, my latte is done and it's time for a shower and then stash diving *laugh* Hopefully I will post an update later tonight.

Finally a free weekend!

Thank you everyone for your well wishes and comments over Mr. X. Somewhere inside of me *probably in my feet since the thought seems to get squashed whenever I'm walking around* I know that eventually it will get better and hurt less, but right now all those feeling are so close to the surface that it just doesn't seem possible. Anyhoo, enough about him, I want to enjoy my free weekend and not think about him again all weekend *fat chance, but I can try*

Wow, it's been so long since I have had a completely free weekend that I just don't know what to do! For so many months my weekends have been consumed with working on my National Board certification. I had spend months working on the four entries that were required for the portfolio portion and then spent the last two months studying for the assessment test. Almost every Saturday for the last two months I met with the other four media specialists that were also working on the boards to study for the test. This is the first Saturday I was able to actually sleep in till 10AM! That was N-I-C-E!

Now, I am just chillin' on my back deck with a latte, my laptop, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's new book Casts Off (I finished reading her other book, Knitting Rules, a last weekend) and contemplating what I should do today. I received an email from my LYS yesterday that included a discount coupon (I think it was for 25% off, but can't remember right now) so I might go and drool over some yarn a little later. I do need to go and get some Cascade 220 for a felted bag that I need to make for my ITE IV pal. I'm thinking of knitting her a nice size tote to carry around her knitting. *well, what else would a knitter carry around* She pretty much likes the same colors I do, so it might be a little hard to part with the finished piece *laugh* I think I'll call my gf KozyKitty and see if she wants to join me!

I might also make a stop over at JoAnn's Fabric. I saw in this weeks circular that their purse handles are on sale. *I can't resist a sale, then again what woman can* Then later this afternoon I really need to take stock of all the UFOs I have around my house! Last weekend while I was trying to straighten up before my sister and her family came over for dinner, I noticed I had bags of UFOs all over my house! *as any addictive knitter/crocheter would* Some of those projects I hadn't touched in months *some, I'm ashamed to say may even have been years* Once I have all my UFOs gathered together I will need to decide which ones I really think I will finish and which ones I will probably never touch again *if that's even possible*

Afterwards, I need to go through and take stock of my stash, for several reasons.

1. New colors for Project Spectrum started June 1st. I need to see what red,black and metallic yarns I have in my stash and figure out what I'm going to make with them. Off hand, I do know that I purchased a handpainted wool/silk yarn from Mystical Creations a while back in a colorway of red and black. I want to make a shawl with it. So I have one spectrum project on the ever growing "To Knit" list.

2. I want to start thinking about Christmas gifts for family and friends. *I know, I know - June just started and I'm already thinking of December* I just know me, if I don't get started now I'll be in some department store or mall on Christmas Eve looking for something to buy the person who's gift I never got around to. *I detest shopping malls and department stores between Thanksgiving and Christmas. I try my hardest NOT to have to go unless absolutely necessary - like for toilet paper*

I might be going out to dinner at Don Pablo's with my gf Tracey tonight. She's working till 4:30PM and said she'd call me afterwards. I haven't been to Don Pablo's in quite a while *my mouth is already salivating over the cheese quesadilla and a beer. Have to have a beer. It would be unthinkable not to have a beer, or two, or three with Mexican food*

Then, of course, there are the normal weekend ho-hum things that need to be done around the house - the laundry, the grocery shopping and the vacuuming *Domestic Goddess I am not*

My coffee swap partner got her package yesterday. I had so much fun shopping for her. You can see all the goodies on her blog. I seemed to have turned into a swap ho, but it's so much fun finding goodies and treats for people who have the same love of yarn and crafting as I do.

Well, for someone who didn't know what to do with her free Saturday, I sure as shit filled it up pretty quickly! Well, time to head off the to the LYS and squeeze some yarn! I might have more to say later :)

Project Updates

WARNING: Lots of pictures in this one.

Well, now that I have completed my National Boards portfolio, I thought it was time to catch up on some projects. I decided to take stock after reading PhD Knitting's post on her UFO addiction to see what I had started around my house. First up are the Arm Cozies from Lion Brand that I started a few months back. I used Wool-Ease instead of their cashmere blend yarn simply because I had it in my stash. They are about 50% done. Of course now that warmer weather is coming (if Mother Nature can make up her mind that is) I have no real draw to them except for the fact that I think they will look really neat when finished. After working the pattern for this long though, I am contemplating on frogging them and re-doing them on circulars so that I don't have to deal with the seam. At the same time, I like making them both at the same time this way I know that my decreases are on the same rows and they will be the exact same length and tension. So I'm really undecided as to what to do with them. Any thoughts from you all?

Next up was a recent trip to Cloverhill Yarns were I picked up several skeins of Brown Sheep's Cotton Fleece to make the Monica for my nieces. Their birthdays are in May - 10 days apart! For the younger one, I'm using Raging Purple for the body and Wisteria for the top ruffle. For the older one (my sister doesn't think she will like the ruffle) I'm just making the tank in Prairie Lupine minus the ruffle. I pulled out all my size 6 needles that I had to get started. I'm going home this weekend for Easter, all these pieces will be in my knitting bag to take along and work on. The girls will be there too, so it may be a little tricky with them around, but at the same time I might get a better idea as to whether or not the older one likes the ruffle or not. Who knows.

Below is my first sock! I'm using Lana Grossa's Meilenweit Cotton. It's a very simple sock pattern. Of course that won't last long as I already have patterns for socks with pretty patterns. The tricky part for me will be when I get to the foot portion as I am a size 10 and most patterns I have come across are made for a "medium" size foot. I purchased 2 skeins of this yarn on the shop owns recommendation, but I am really hoping that I don't use that second skein. I do like the color variation though.

As you can see, I am building my sock yarn stash. The two skeins of the Louet Gems were purchased to make a Lilac Sock pattern from a sock KAL that I joined. Guess I should probably finish the basic pattern I started above before I start on a more intricate pattern. Maybe? Maybe not? I guess I'll see where the wind takes me :) The other two skeins, well, I liked the colors and I'm sure I can find a pattern for them. I think I might use the On-Line yarn for the Monkey socks from Knitty, but I have to check the pattern to see if it's enough.
I am about 45% complete with My So Called Scarf from Sheep in the City. I made some minor edge adjustments so the edges are a bit smoother. I HEART this Malabrigo yarn!! Of course after working for a few nights on size 2.5 for socks and size 6 for the tank these size 11s feel HUGE in my hands. Takes some getting use to. This picture makes the yarn look really blue, but it's a gorgeous purple color. Those needle point protectors are teddy bears! I just couldn't resist buying them when I found them online. Yes, I have a thing for teddy bears as well as fairies.

OK, next is the Braided Cable Scarf from MimKnits. I purchased two skeins of Brown Sheep's Lamb's Pride. I wanted to test out this yarn for possibly using it for the Saffron Cables blanket. I chose the pattern to also see how cables would look in this yarn. I really love the color. Unfortunately this photo doesn't really show off the cable work in this scarf.

Next is a scarf I started for my younger sister. She saw this ticker tape yarn and just fell in love with the colors and bought a few skeins and asked me to make her a scarf out of it. I didn't know what to do with a tape style yarn, so I make a simple stockinette stitch with a garter stitch border. The colors are really nice, but I am bored with the pattern! Not to mention it is not very easy to keep this tape yarn flat while knitting. I have seen swatches of this stuff knitted up in the stores were the yarn is nice and flat and it looks great. I just can't seem to get the yarn to do the same thing when it's in my hands!

Up next are some dish clothes (or bath clothes) that I made. My first FO in a while! *laugh* The pink one is made from a pattern of Smariek Knits blog. The pattern is called Intertwined Dishcloth. I really liked the cable pattern. The green is a simple basket weave.

I have also joined a Monthly Dishcloth KAL and have been following the pattern portioned that are emailed out daily. Can you see the pattern coming along? I'm using Lion Brand Cotton-Ease that I had from my stash. It's the original color of Cotton Ease that came out a couple of years ago, not the more subdued colors they have on their site now.

My last WIP is a crochet blanket that I am making for my parents. They have recently redecorated their family room and mom mentioned that she wanted to make a blanket for the room. That was my mother's subtle way of asking my to make her one, since she hasn't touched a crochet hook since the mid 70's! So, I found the perfect shade of cranberry that matches her curtains! I was so excited. Of course the pattern that I'm trying to follow is incorrect, so I have to work out the kink and then get back to it! It's going to be their Christmas gift this year. Yeah. I'm getting a jump start on gifts :)


Of course this post wouldn't be complete without Frisco. The last two days here we've had temperatures in the high 70's. I had turned off the heat and opened all the windows upstairs as I get a nice cross breeze when the front and back windows are open. Frisco can never resist an open window with sunlight. So there he is soaking up the rays.

And he wasn't moving from there either!