Stolen moments

OK.. not really a moment, but I've seen this on many blogs and decided it would be a good way for me to keep track of my knitting progress (so to speak)

The bold face is what I've done, the italics is what I plan on in the future and the rest is probably never going to happen:
Afghan
I-cord
Garter stitch
Knitting with metal wire
Shawl
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down
Socks: toe-up
Knitting with camel yarn
Mittens: Cuff-up
Mittens: Tip-down
Hat
Knitting with silk
Moebius band knitting
Participating in a KAL
Sweater
Drop stitch patterns
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
Slip stitch patterns
Knitting with banana fiber yarn
Domino knitting (=modular knitting)
Twisted stitch patterns
Knitting with bamboo yarn
Two end knitting
Charity knitting
Knitting with soy yarn
Cardigan
Toy/doll clothing
Knitting with circular needles
Baby items
Knitting with your own hand-spun yarn (in line waiting to be done)
Slippers
Graffiti knitting
Continental knitting - although not an entire project, yet!
Designing knitted garments
Cable stitch patterns (incl. Aran)
Lace patterns
Publishing a knitting book
Participate in an exchange
Scarf
Teaching a child to knit
American/English knitting
Knitting to make money
Buttonholes
Knitting with alpaca
Fair Isle knitting
Norwegian knitting
Dying with plant colors
Knitting items for a wedding
Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cosies…)
Knitting socks (or other small tubular items) on one or two circulars
Knitting with someone else’s hand-spun yarn
Knitting with dpns
Holiday related knitting
Teaching a male how to knit
Bobbles
Knitting for a living
Knitting with cotton
Knitting smocking
Dying yarn
Steeks
Knitting art - isn't all knitting art??
Knitting two socks on two circulars simultaneously
Fulling/felting
Knitting with wool
Textured knitting
Kitchener stitch
Knitted flowers
Purses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching
Long Tail CO
Entrelac
Knitting and purling backwards
Machine knitting
Knitting with self patterning/self striping/variegated yarn
Stuffed toys
Knitting with cashmere
Darning
Jewelry
Knitting with synthetic yarn
Writing a pattern
Gloves
Intarsia
Knitting with linen
Knitting for preemies - although you never know ;-)
Tubular CO
Free-form knitting
Short rows
Cuffs/fingerless mits/arm-warmers
Pillows
Knitting a pattern from an on-line knitting magazine
Rug
Knitting on a loom
Thrummed knitting
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets
shrug/bolero/poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair
Hair accessories
Knitting in public

so there you have it! Hopefully by the end of the summer, I can edit some of this list!

happy Memorial Day... please remember all who fought to give us our freedoms, but get us the hell out of the Middle East ASAP

and now the rest of the story

here are the other 2 cloths... of the three... well the third I decided I didn't want to finish and ripped it out. This is the second KAL that I've done that to in the past month. Once I saw the finished picture (yes i was behind in knitting) I though, I don't want to spend anymore time on that cloth and into the frog pond it went.


This one will go to my friend with the black and orange kitchen!

Pattern: Dragonfly and his Meal - Dishcloth Fun May KAL
Yarn: Lily's Sugar and Cream
Color: Hot Orange
Needle: Size 7 bamboo dpns


This is for a colleague who is having some worries right now. His son is marrying a wonderful woman in PEI next month and they plan on coming to the states for 6 months but then don't know where they'll be led. Unfortunately, there may be some issues to get her into the country to stay legally and honestly. Since they're both Bible college grads the honesty is the issue. They could easily lie to get her in, but that could also come back to bite them in the behind later so prayers go out to them for a solution to keep the newlyweds together!


Pattern: Prayer Hands by alli barrett
Yarn: LIly's Sugar and Cream
Color: Jute
Needle: Size 6 KP Options




We were at a wonderful birthday party yesterday for our 'cousin' as my kids refer to him, even though they aren't related at all. We just love this family to bits and couldn't be closer if we were blood related. The kids had a great time as usual!

Finally a picture of the beautimous flowers DH gave me for our anniversary. He knows I LOVE carnations and the colors are so pretty.. thanks honey a bunch in case you ever read this blog HAHAHA

Off to a wedding today. It's our day out since we couldn't get a sitter for the anniversary date (or Friday night for that matter) My sitters' have more social lives than we do... oh wait, we don't have a social life LOL!

Cloths, cloths, cloths

Pattern: Stepping Stones by Sue Schaeffer
Yarn: Lily's Sugar and Cream
Color: Need to check the ball band
Needle: Size 6 KP Options

I'm working on two other KALs right now and want to start a cloth for a friend whose birthday was today. (I fell asleep to early last night)

Our wedding anniversary was Tuesday and DH gave me a beautiful bouquet of carnations (they are my favorite) I'll post a picture later... Many different colors. DD helped him choose.

I bought some King Tut cotton yarn at ACMoore while I was there for something else. It was $5/skein and I got 10% off that too... so not bad $4.50 when it retails for $10.00/skein. The green will be for a möbius scarf for SIL (she loves apple green) the orange for placemats when our DR gets painted and the light blue, I don't know...only 200g so we'll see!

pictures to be added to this post later :-)

I'm too smart for my own good LOL

It was Diane... and I have to show you what I got:

The cloth is a pattern by Rachel called Lacy Butterfly and one that I had not yet made! DD loves it as I knew she would. The little gingerbread boy is made from beeswax... LOVE it and a Kashi bar.... mmmmm mmmmm It hasn't hit the stomach yet though. I'm saving it.

The really cool thing is Diane told me this was the first thing that she has knit completely continental.. YO k2tog and all.... I'm so lucky... Thanks a bunch!


Well I was spinning on Patti's Ashford Drop Spindle today (as well as Saturday) and now I need to empty it. I'm thinking of using this wool for either 1. Wool Jacket for DS2 (if there's enough) 2. Small Rug or 3. Felting it into either a purse or a bowl. I'm spinning it on the chunky side of thick and thin. The wool definitely isn't soft... not for wearing next to the skin at least. It's Lincoln Longwool... But the colors are so pretty! I guess it all depends on how much yardage I wind up with.

So tell me what do you think it should become???

Will I be surprised?

I have a sneaking suspicion that I know who my puffy exchange person is.... and I think that I'll see her this afternoon.
If it's not you Diane, I'll be very surprised!

Lotsa stuff

First, Absorba the Great is complete! A tad late for the April Showers Get Stitchy KAL. Here he is:


Pattern: Absorba the Great from the Mason Dixon book
Yarn: Peaches and Cream double worsted triple stranded
Colors: White, Ecru and Varigated Green
Needle: Size 15 Knit Picks Options set

As you can see the greens bring out my turquoise bathroom fixtures.... Gotta love the 50s!

Next up is what I sent my pal from the Monthly DIshcloth Spring Exchange. I've been waiting to post until I know it was received and I got a mail yesterday that she loved it. So without further ado:


Cloth Pattern: Ladybug from
Yarn Used: Lily's Sugar and Cream
Color: Red
Needle: Size 7 Bamboo

Wooden Ladybug magnet - made from wood cut out at Michael's
Stitch Markers: Made by me :-)

Fortunately, I knew that red was Barbara's favorite color. Little did I know that she collected ladybugs..so I really lucked out on that one. I'm glad you like it Barbara.

I can't wait to see what my pal sends me! It isn't an exchange in that you send to the same person who sends to you. You send to someone and they send to someone else... so that someone different mails to you. You get to meet 2 people in this exchange!

And finally the last post about the Warm Up America blanket. I wanted to post a picture with all the kids that partook in knitting part or all of a square.
Sorry that it's a tad dark, but it's the picture that will be in the yearbook. I needed my wide angle lens to get everyone in and the hallway that it was displayed in was pretty thin, which added to the difficulty in taking the picture.

And the last one is of the actual display at the art show. My friend, the art teacher, amazingly cuts out letters for bulletin boards free hand... She is an incredible art teacher. I wish I could show all the art work that was beautifully displayed throughout the entire building. It really is a sight to behold!

Happy Crafting!

In the news again!

We're in the paper again. This time the very local paper. With a great article and picture of the kids that would fit as well as the teachers (I'm the one in the back) Here's the link

The concert is done.... I'm so relieved and exhausted. It was SRO and both big parking lots were filled with people that were parked on the grass. It was at the district's high school so the auditorium sits about 800. Of course that's the barometer of a good program to many people in the area... not me, but... and there won't be another one like it. It's crazy, insane amount of headache for one person to deal with. The kids had a great time though and that made it worthwhile.

Well Absorba the great is almost finished. Hopefully by the weekend. Wish I had more time for spinning on my lovely new spindles.... summer is coming though :-)

Happy crafting

Drop spinning, anyone?

Happy Mother's Day to all of the mothers that might be reading this. Mother's Day brought me the motherlode of drop spindling! DH and DC gifted me with not one but 2 lovely drop spindles.



















The first is the Hound spindle from Greensleeves spindles in purpleheart whorl with a kingwood shaft. It's a real beauty. The picture above is the model only, not my spindle. Mine is in different woods. I'll post pictures of the spindles at a later date.



The second is from Tom Golding and is the Tree of Life whorl. Again this isn't a picture of my exact spindle but one just like it.


They both spin like a dream. Although I had very little time to play with them. My school concert is, well, tonight actually.
I am still finishing up some last minute touches, doing some laundry and getting stuff together for the AM. I'll go to school sans children tomorrow. DH is finished at the colleges, so he'll have kid duty. It'll make my day run much easier I believe. So if you're thinking of nothing at 6:30 - 8:00 PM, think of me... I'll be working my tail feathers off. I hope enough parents come out to help me push and pull the kids off the stage. Hope we have a decent audience as well.

More later on the spinning... I'm grinning really big here :-)

We made the news

well the local news at least. The Morning Call did a story on the blanket... that is on display as a part of the school's art show today. The article in the real paper was a bit more in depth both about the project and the art show, but this link gives you an idea.

It should be in the other local paper either Saturday or Monday as well.. then it gets shipped off to help keep someone warm. Although, with the weather we've been having of late, I can't even imagine needing a blanket. Last night I was so hot all night... and it's humid too blech!


I also finished up some goodies to include with my puffy for the monthly dishcloth KAL exchange. DD helped me with one item. I'll post the picture after I'm sure my partner has received her package.

OK... tons of school work to do. Wish sleep was on the menu for tonight

It's FINISHED!!!!!!!!!

Hot off the needle. The last stitches are sewn and the ends woven on the blanket for Warm Up America :-D Celebrate with me that this project is complete.


Yarn: Mostly Caron Simply Soft
Pattern: Generally Garter Stitch
Needle: Approximately size 8, generated from chopsticks
Knitters: 46 S. S. Palmer Elementary School students, a 4th grade teacher and myself

I can't wait for them to see it! It will be on display for the building's art show on Thursday late afternoon. The kids are already so excited just from seeing the 'squares' and then the strips that were finished. Wait till they see the whole thing.

THE squares

All 49 of them. I have the horizontal strips sewn. Which means that throughout the rest of the weekend, those rows need to be sewn together... I know I can do it, but I rather be knitting and my thumb is getting sore WAH, WAH.....

But the kiddos at school are so excited to see how it's coming together. It will be on display for about a week at the school, then we'll pack it up and send it to Warm Up America Hopefully next year, the kids will take a bit more ownership and I'll have less to do knitting wise. But it's a great project of love and it does my heart good :-)

happy crafting

is it lace weight?

This is what I've been slowly working on... not too successfully either I might add. It's a real change for me to spin this thin... add to that the fact that the staple on this Targhee is much shorter than the Romney that I've been used to of late... Note that the width of the yarn is about the same as one of the columns on the picture of the Lincoln Memorial on the back of the penny. So what weight is that?


Other than that, 5 of the 7 strips are sewn together. The blanket WILL be finished by the weekend. I'll post pictures of it when it's all said and done (and hanging on the wall at the art show at my school)

This crafter is hanging up the hat soon. Absorba the great pattern had to be tweaked a bit, but I'll add those details when I post the finished product.

DD got a great mid trimeseter report today. I'm so proud of her... I'm thinking she loves that school, cuz she's really blossoming this year.

eye candy from Uruguay

Just wanted to post a couple of pictures of my latest acquisition. 100purewool. Purewool isn't known for it's exactness in dye. The pictures on the website frequently are not what you receive. Nevertheless, the stuff is so soft I want to roll in it! After each I'll post the picture that they have on their website for you to compare yourself.


2 skeins of single ply worsted weight black 218 yards each







2 skeins of single ply worsted weight in the candy colorway 218 yards each. This is the yarn that DD chose from a picture but when it arrived, doesn't have enough pink to suit her.














3 skeins single ply worsted weight in the giotto colorway 218 yards each








My first lace weight - single ply 950 yards each. On the left is the choir colorway and on the right lace violet.












And last but not least 10 luscious skeins of worsted 3 ply 218 yards undyed. It should pill much less than the single ply. :-)


So there you have it. Decide for yourself how accurate the pictures are to the stuff IRL....

happy crafting

Yesterday was opening day

And I did open my puffy and intended to post last night, but plans were changed for me. Anyway here is the picture of my puffy package from my great partner, Ruth in Ohio. A birdhouse, and the pattern is from the book, Melissa's Garden. I really love the cloth. It's also knitted so beautifully! Along with the cloth was included a magnet with a bird and birdhouse (too perfect for that cloth) and a calendar that I can carry along in my bag. Brought me a bit more of spring :-) Thanks again Ruth... I love my goodies


This is the cloth I sent her. I included a little notepad as well but didn't take a picture of that. The pattern is Lacy Waves by Alli Barrett and I found it as part of the dishcloth calendar addendum. It's a blue and white ombre that I forget the name of. Knit on #7 needles



I started putting the blanket together today. I have one strip done.. I brought 2 home to work on (in the slight case I could find ANY free time) I still have 2 bathmats to finish... and of course the tie and poncho and a dishcloth from Rachel's KAL.
I was spinnning for about 20 minutes yesterday. It seems as though if I keep my hands really close together and peddle faster but let it in slower, there is less breaking. If I only had a decent chunk of time to work on that.

OK.. there's far too much work for me to do at home. I'll be lucky to knit or sew 1 stitch tonight!