Lost my Blogging Mojo

I'm still alive. I guess I just lost my mojo for blogging. It's been a very busy week, but I have been knitting and sewing. Actually I have done quite a bit, but not posted any progress or pictures as some of my current projects may be gifts intended for possible readers of this blog. I wouldn't want to spoil any secrets. But..... I will tease you all with a few peeks at my current sewing projects. You can guess what they are, but I will have to keep you all in suspense until the recipients have the gifts!


I have been knitting away at Roza's Socks. I am really enjoying the pattern ( Thanks Grumperina) now that I have the brioche stitch pattern down. I had to frog it three times before I got it right. The YO is kinda confusing, but once I got it I was hooked. I am halfway done, with one full sock completed. I'd better cast of for the second soon before SSS sets in!!! The yarn I'm using is Jojoland Melody, I don't recall the colorway (and I'm too lazy to go and look at the ball band), but I do know that it is a discontinued color. I wasn't really sure if I would like the feel of them as it is 100% wool, but they are quite nice feeling, and best of all the sock fits my foot really well. My last pair, the purple Jaywalkers are a little sloppy in the leg. I may actually put them in the dryer to see if that helps. These picture are not the best, as the light is bad today, but you get the idea. More pics when there are two socks to show.

Another Finished Project

Oh My, I must be on a roll. Two finished projects this week, and the week is not over yet. This was my first pair of Jaywalkers (I must be the only knit blogger that hasn't knit them yet!), and also my first time working with Sundara's Hand dyed yarn. Yum, and yum. I loved Grumperina's pattern, so easy to memorize, and double yum on the yarn. The colorway reminds me of grape jelly! I actually loved the pattern so much, that I cast on another of Grumperina's patterns right away! Roza's Socks, from the Spring 2007 IK. I had planned to start the Retrograde sweater today, but I realized I don't have the right needles, so I have to get some first, besides you should always have at least one pair of socks on the needles at a time, right?

Check it Out!

Yay!!!!! The Jane Pullover is done!!! Well, it's been done since Sunday, but I had to block and then actually look somewhat presentable for a picture. It was a very easy knit, the only tricky part was the joining and actually reading and understanding the instructions. I do really like it. It's so different. I do think it's shorter than I had anticipated, but I like it.... with spring, and then summer, I feel like I will wear it lots. It's kinda like a longer, more covering shrug. I haven't decided if I'm into the whole shrug thing or not. I've always thought you have to be stick thin to wear them. Love handles and shrugs are not really ideal in the same ensemble. I have recently lost some weight, including my love handles, so you never know I just might try a shrug. Maybe I'll try one on in a store, before I commit to knitting one. So, after I got all geared up in my new sweater I went out to do some shopping, and, well, it seems I had a bit of a spree. Heee Heee Heee! It was fun, and besides I haven't bought any clothes in ages, and it was much needed after my weight loss. Most of my pants are now 2 sizes too big, and the baggy, saggy bum look is out this season! Oh, and of course I got a new pair of shoes too! I had to get a nice brown pair to go with the two skirts I bought! So, after all that, I'm beat. V and I went for a walk with the doggie, and now I'm flaked out on the couch watching the tube and trying to get my Jaywalkers finished up. I'm so close. I have a long driving day in store for me tomorrow, so I'm even thinking about casting on the Retrograde Sweater tonight, to keep me busy for the drive tomorrow. We'll see.

Relaxing Weekend

The weekend was nice and relaxing, with some knitting, and lots of hanging out and movie watching. I even left most of my house cleaning until this morning. I am chugging right along on my Jaywalkers. I opted to shorten the length, which I am happy with. I also had/have yardage fears, so I haven't grafted the toes on sock #1 yet. I'm fairly confident I'll have enough yarn, but there is that little fear, that I'll have to frog. The Jane Pullover is complete! I finished it yesterday afternoon. The joining technique was interesting and not that hard, however I really did think that the pattern directions were not that great. I had no idea what to do with the 42 stitches that were the back of the neck, and the pattern just neglected to say.... so I just knit an extra row and bound them off. I think it worked out ok. There were what seemed like a thousand ends to weave in, and when it was done I was still skeptical, it's kinda small and I had a lot of yarn left (a third of what was in the kit!). So, right now the sweater is being wet blocked. It looks a little bigger now, that it is flattened out, so now I just have to wait for it to be dry, and then try it on. I think it will be nice. Hopefully there will be some pics in the next few days. Must get back to the Jaywalkers. Can't wait to wear them!

Recent Discovery

Yesterday after some work on the Jane Pullover, I decided that I was bored of that, and needed some new knitting stimulation. So I decided that it was time to pull out my skein of Sundara yarn, wind it up, and start my Jaywalker socks. So, of course first step in the process was to wind. Well, I am not so lucky to have a winder. So as I have been doing, I set up on two of my kitchen chairs, and my method of choice is to stand on one of the chairs and wind the yarn into a nice tight neat ball. OH MY GOD, this was the straw that broke the camels back. I AM GETTING A WINDER. Winding one measly 100g skein of sock yarn took me about an hour. It got tangled up, and being so in love with this yarn I was determined to untangle it and not lose 1 inch of the much coveted, and might I add beautiful silky yarn. I was successful, but most definitely frustrated when the winding was complete. I never really thought I needed a winder, as most of the yarn I do use comes in conveniently pre-wound balls, and up to this point have convinced myself that the round ball doesn't really bother me all to much. NOT ANYMORE. I will be searching out one, and hopefully aquiring one in the near future. I am debating now, do I also need a swift??? I'm not sure. I guess I'll check around and see what is recommended. I don't want to have to buy both at once. That will really cut into my yarn and craft money. Maybe that's not a bad thing! So, after I admired the yarn for a while, I cast on for my Jaywalkers. So far I am loving the colorway and how it is knitting up, right now my only concern is yardage, and I really want to sure I'll have enough. I may make them a little shorter, as insurance and piece of mind. I actually prefer a shorter sock anyways. I always find the longer ones fall down (not that I have skinny legs or anything).

Last night was my normal scrappin' group. I went, really not knowing at all what I wanted to do, and actually feeling quite uninspired. I guess the whole winding incident really deflated my creativity. Anyways, after a little looking and flipping through some mags, I decided on a Get Well card for my sisters DB, who had a surgery this week. There it is on the left. It's hard to make manly cards, when you have a real obsession with all the lovely pinks, and girly papers. I am pleased with the result and think it looks good. I'm sure he'll be appreciative of the efforts. I have to get that out in the mail today. Also I made a thank you card. Not sure of the recipient, but you can never have too many cards ready to go. I really have to get some pictures lined up and printed, so that I can do some actual scrapbooking. I'd really like to have an album, just for my coffee table. You know, kinda like a little brag book.

So my mandate for today.... work on Jawwalker sock, maybe a little work on Jane, she's actually very close to being ready for "the special joining technique", which actually scares me a little. Maybe that explains me casting on another project....? It is nice and sunny here, so a few doggie walks are in order, and if I get really ambitious I may wash some sheets and hang them out to dry (we'll see about that!). I'm also seeing a movie in my future tonight as V will be out with his Firefighting cronies. That's all for now, Happy Friday to all!

Yarn Filled Wednesday

Today was a good yarn day! That means I had two packages come to me. My Knit Picks order arrived, which consisted of yarn for two sweaters, Wool of the Andes for the Retrograde sweater for V, and Shine Worsted in Cream, for a summer cardi for me. I had totally intended on another Ariann, but I have come across another pattern that I like. It's called Lucy in the Sky, and it's really nice. Also some more sock yarn that I got for a steal on the Destash site. Nice colorways, one is green and blue, and the other is pink with orange. They will get knit up some day, but for now they will go in the stash bin, which is starting to bulge. I got a little knitting done today. I've been working on the Jane Pullover. Both sleeves are done now, and seamed. I am working the fronts, and then I just have to figure out how to put it all together. I am going to put the push on this one now, and hopefully get it done by the end of the weekend. I am really wanting to cast on more socks, but I need to finish up Jane first. I have decided to do Jaywalkers with my Sundara Yarn, as I was contemplating yesterday. I also got signed up for Sockapalooza. Yay! I was so excited to get all my info in, and now I just have to wait to see who is going to be my sock pal. Must go and get knitting!

Post Easter Update

Well, I'm back from my long Easter weekend, and have lots to report. There was some knitting, lots of eating, some yarn buying.... yes I bought yarn. I am supposed to be on a major yarn diet, but the more I try not to buy any, the more I buy. How can this happen? Anyways, it does and I can't stop it. There must be a cure for this disease. If anyone knows just let me know!!! In any case the weekend was great. I spent some time with my Mom, we ate tons of mini eggs (see specimen A on the left). I LOVE mini eggs, it's usually the only thing I want for Easter. I guess I love them so much that I took a picture of them, maybe so that in a month or two, or even six months from now, when I may be longing for that sweet, chocolaty goodness I could go back in my blog archives and look at my yummy mini eggs. And guess what! Just looking at them won't put any excess weight on my butt either. So feel free to save this picture, so you too can have your own calorie free version. I must be crazy! As I mentioned I bought yarn. I bought some nice brown sock yarn, for the Clessidra socks from Knitty. That is not a pressing project, but some time in the next year or so. I also bought yarn to make the Dots and Stripes baby blanket from Adorable knits for Tiny Tots. I didn't get the exact yarn, as my LYS doesn't carry Rowan yarns, but I did find a nice cotton blend DK weight, in some very pretty colors. The intended recipient is still in the womb, but due to arrive late in July, so I have time. However, that is if I decide to actually go ahead with this project. I don't know if there's anyone out there that has actually knit this blanket, I am really starting to doubt it. It's crazy( see picture to the left for proof). You need to have like a million little balls of the yarn for the intarsia charts, and it just gets messy. I mean really tangly. So, being me and with my obsession with all things organizational, such as Ziploc bags, I decided to try to get it in order. I did. Then I looked at it for a while thinking about if I really want to proceed with this madness. I decided I would try it with the little balls all in the little baggies. I knit about 3 more rows and the #$%^&$#$ thing was so tangled I just threw the whole works of it inside my ottoman/coffee table where I couldn't see it. I have thought about it many times today, but did not feel compelled to even take it out and look at it. Actually it totally turned me from knitting. I did not knit even one single stitch today. This project may not materialize. On a positive note I did finish the Rib and Cable socks for V. He loves them and says he wants more. They were fun to knit, but the dark gray is hard on the eyes, especially at night knitting sessions, but the results were so worth it. He even got complimented on them today from his Chiropractor. The picture doesn't really do them justice, as again the dark gray was really hard to photograph. Here they are anyways. I am planning to work on the Jane pullover tonight, not much progress on her over the weekend. Hoping to get that one finished up soon. I am really wanting to knit some more socks, some really nice socks, just for ME. I have been coveting a skein of Sundara hand dyed yarn in a gorgeous amethyst color. I am trying to decide what pattern to do. I think they will be Jaywalkers, as I haven't tried that pattern yet, but really like it. The Pomatomus socks are also a possibility but, not sure I want to read charts.... I'll sleep on it. Oh!!! and on the subject of socks. Sign-ups for Sockapalooza 4 are supposed to be sometime today. I have been checking The Blue Blog like a crazy lunatic all day, just so I can assure I get signed up. Hopefully soon.... otherwise I'll be dreaming about it all night. Oh my, this is such a disease. Is it normal to have yarn dreams? Maybe I should mention this to a professional?

Happy Easter, Happy Spring, Happy Happy Everything

EAT TONS OF CHOCOLATE AND TURKEY!

Completion!!!!

It's not perfect, but it's done. I am relatively happy with it. It is my first actual quilt, so I definitely learned a lot during the process of making it. It was a fun project - not entirely my style (I did it with a group), but a nice starter quilt. I know things that I did that I could have done better, but at least I know what not to do next time. The good news is that because I have already completed one and have another quilt in the process of this one, I have already seen improvements in my technique. I'm not going to pick it apart anymore.... If you'd like to see a closeup of each individual month GO HERE.

I've inspired - now I need to get motivated!

So, I don't know if you've read other postings on the blog, or follow, but a while back I had posted some FO's, one being my Tiddly Winks Quilt that I had made for my sister (who loved it by the way, and sister #2 is now requesting a quilt for her Birthday in June). Well, my lovely mother wrote a very nice comment about how I was a chip off the old block and how I had inspired her to get her machine out and get sewing and make a quilt for her little God daughter. Well, it turns out she's gone right to town on the quilting, and went home and whipped up this cute flowery quilt. I just love it, and I know it's perfect for little Isabelle. Good work Mom! I love it, and now you are motivating me to get out my unfinished quilts and finish them up. So with that being said today I bring you some in progress pictured of my, up to now, mysterious Paisley Craze Quilt. It's not done yet, I still have a million hours of hand sewing (why oh why do I punish myself??????), but this is just an idea of what it looks like. I am about three quarters of the way through piecing the border, then it's finish up the #$%*! hand stitching and then it's just assembling, quilting and binding. You know it's really the little things in quilting that take the most time.

Now, this picture is kind of crappy because I had to put it on the bed to photograph it, as the border is almost the exact shade as the hardwood floor, so that will explain the bumpy, lumpy look, but at least you get the idea of the design. The next shot is a closeup of one of the 9 paisley's in which I have completed the hand stitching. As you can see, I chose gold, as there are streaks of gold in the pinky, purply, orangy inside border and dots. It brings the gold out in those. Overall I am pleased with the look so far, and I can't wait to get it done. Soon.....

In other crafty news, and still with no picture my Calender quilt is like 99.9% done. I am almost done hand sewing the binding on the wrong side. As I mentioned before it's the little jobs in quilting that are the most time consuming, boring and tedious, but as they say if you crave the result enough you will get through it. So I just keep looking at the pattern picture and trying to motivate myself.

In Knitterly news, not too much exciting happening. Sock #2 has still not been cast on yet, it appears that I may be suffering a wee bit of the second sock syndrome but I intend to put a stop to that either today or definitely tomorrow as we have a three hour car trip ahead of us. The Jane Pullover has almost another full sleeve, but I am confident she will have two sleeves before the end of the day. I'll find little intervals of time between my house work and dinner preparations to get some knitting done. Yes, dinner preparations, DB came home yesterday and told me his boss will be coming over for dinner tonight. Nothing too fancy, after all, it is a week night and short notice. So we are having spinach salad with peppered goat cheese and balsamic vinaigrette, Penne pasta with a spicy Italian sausage and cherry tomato sauce, and last but certainly not least poppy seed angel food cakes with a berry coulis. Not bad for last minute Eh??? Hopefully this will score some good points with DB, and bring on the ring!!! Oh, I am a dreamer. Well, enough dreaming I gots lots to do. Catch ya later.

Is This an April Fools Joke?

Does this not look like January or February weather? That's not what I would have expected for April. Oh well, hopefully spring flowers will come along soon. For now we'll just have fun, and make the best of it. One nice thing about the snow still being here, is that walking the dog is not followed by a messy cleanup of a muddy, wet dog. Yuk. This has been a very relaxing weekend for me. Lots of movies, knitting and just plain ol' relaxin. I didn't meet all my goals but feel as though I did accomplish lots. Cable and Rib Sock 1 is done and awaits a mate, and Jane got a sleeve now too. My house was cleaned from top to bottom this afternoon, and three million loads of laundry were done, so I should have lots of good crafty time in the next few days.


Since this is a knitting blog I guess I should occasionally include some knitting content! So here's a peek at the Jane Crossover Pullover in the works, it is HandMaiden Ottawa in the Rose colorway. It is a nice yarn to knit with, and I think it will create a nice sweater. The construction of the sweater is like I've never seen. The whole sweater is knit in one piece, but not how you would ever expect, and then it is folded like origami and joined using a special joining technique. More on that when I get there.