THANKS Mom!

We had a family meeting today... my siblings and parents and I. While I was there, I knew that I was coming home with Dad's rock collection for DD to 'borrow' (She's really into rocks right now!) Mom had mentioned that she found some things for me to take along home.Talk about needles, stitch and cable holders!! I think my auntie Ree tried to teach me on the wooden ones when I was about DD's age. Her patience was much greater than mine and alas I didn't learn. She was a tight knitter and the cast on wouldn't move easily enough for my little hands so I gave up. If she could only see me now! She knit all my Barbie cloths (among sweaters, socks mittens, hats, blankets, ponchos etc) for us. Wish I still had them.... But that's a story for another time. At any rate, I ordered the Knits for Barbie book by Nicky Epstein to make some for DD. She's really excited about that!



There there were these. They're filled with sewing notions: buttons, bias tape, tape measure, pins, needles... you name it. Aren't they pretty little tins? I remember them from when I was a kid myself (and that's a L O O N G time ago).

I went upstairs to get the rock collection and found these in the closet.

I yelled down the steps to ask what it was for and she answered, "oh you can have that. I don't know what I bought it for" OK... thanks mom... this rocks. 24 oz of Flock's Faultless Yarns: Best in the World Knitting Worsted made of 100% all Virgin Wool. It sayw Flock's Faultless Yarns are made from the best of wools, evenly spun and perfect in twist. These yarns are unequalled for their softness, durability and richness of color. THey are made to stand the severest tests and most exacting criticism. IN purchasing yarn, always insist upon haveing FLOCK'S FAULTLESS YARNS. This label is a symbol of manufacturing perfection and painstaking care, your guarantee of absolute satisfaction. (thought pretty highly of themselves, no?)
At any rate 2 4oz skeins of each color: dusty rose, medium burgundy and dark burgundy. I think it will go in the freezer for a few days just to insure there are no buggies layin in it! It's pretty soft, not merino but not scratchy like shetland eiither. I wonder how old it is and from whence it came.

At the bottom of the bag were these three lonely skeins. I'll take them to school for our PSSA knitting project. They'll be great for squares for the blanket (or whatever we decide to knit for)

She also sent me home with little robes for the boys that were brought back from Japan for my 2 older brothers when they were little. Satiny purses for Mica and some stickers for the kids. How am I so lucky?

And the rock collection... well it ROCKS! and it came with a microscope science set that was my pops when he was a kid too.

I need sleep... After being up all night fixing the 750 grades and comments to be saved to where they should be rather than where I put them, I still drove about 90 minutes to my folks house and back. On the way back (in the dark) I discovered that both low beam headlights were not functioning... that was fun!

Stash acquisiton and gathering

Well.... today was a banner day. At least for me. First I found out that Little Knits was having a sale on much of their Noro... I went a bit overboard on the Kureyon (think Knitty.com's Lizard Ridge) Then after reading loads in the wee hours of the morning about our 'cat' I decided he needed a proper home that the boys could see but wouldn't destroy once he's in his cocoon. I called my favorite local toy store Toy Magic to see if they had a butterfly garden and indeed they did. So off I went to make a trip. DD didn't want to come, so I took DS2 with the promise he'd be sleeping upon return. DS1 stayed home with a fever (poor guy). I really didn't want to take DS2 into the toy store awake because I feared we would never leave and I had something else up my sleeve.....

My LYS Tangled Yarns is right down the street and I had a gift certificate in my wallet that had it's tastes on some Lantern Moon needles and maybe some Noro. Armed with the colors I had just purchased and the 5 already in my stash, we went in... DS2 wasn't too happy, in fact, he kept trying to escape. I didn't know which size to buy 7's or 8's so the woman suggested I knit a test swatch... I grabbed a skein in a color I would have bought anyway (and did) and tried them both out... I decided on the 8's. They feel better and I liked the swatch density better. While I was doing all that DS2 nursed himself to sleep. I bought my needles and yarn and we both left content!

So the 'cat' has a condo. And with it came certificates to send for Painted Lady caterpillars and food which we'll do in the spring. It started to hail and thunder while we were in the toy store so of course we got soaked and DS2 woke up. I drove around trying to put him to sleep, but all I gained was a stick for the condo. After the rain, DS2 and I went gathering more flowers for the caterpillar to eat. DD has already lost interest in the 'work' part of this. Just more fortification why we don't have a real pet!


This is what our temporary guest looks at while he's lounging in his new digs. Who wouldn't love it?

Needle Stash :-0

Someone over at the sewing and knitting diaper forum on Diaper Pin put a post asking to list your needle stash. I thought that was a good idea to inventory since I really don't know and this is what I came up with.


CIRCULARS:
2 sets of KP OPTIONS with added 13, 15, & 17 tips and 40", 42" & 60" cables

ADDI TURBOS:
12" -#8
16" - #5, #6, #7, #8
24" #6, #8, #10.5
32" #3
40" #13, #15

unbranded (I don't know the brands cuz they were hand me downs)
16" #8, #11
26" #5
29" #3, #4, #5, (3) #6, #8, #9
30" #10
32" #5
36" #11

STRAIGHTS:
METAL:
9" -
Boye #1, #2(only 1 needle), #3,
Susan Bates #4 (3 needles) #6, #9

Noname -#3

14"
AERO: #10.5, #15
BOYE: #2(2 needles), #3, #5, #7, #9 - 2 pr, #10, #13,
CHESTER: #5
HERO: #2, #6, #10 (1 needle)
SUSAN BATES: #4- 2 pr, #6, #35
No Name: #2, #5, #8, #9, #10, #10.5

WOODEN PEACE FLEECE: #8, #10

PLASTIC JUNK from 5&10
#3 (1 needle), #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #10.5, #11

DPNs:
BAMBOO: (sets of 5 except the 10" #7 cuz I sat on one)
7" sizes 0 - 10.5 from ebay seller
10" sizes 0-11 from ebay seller
5" sizes 1-11 Stanwood Crafting

METAL:
7"
#0 - 3
#1 - 6
#3- 8
3.25 mm - 3
#4 - 10
#11 - 5

PLASTIC:
#3 Boye 7 inch - 2
#11 Noname 10" - 4


I'm a good portion through the second basket and have 3 cloths OTN.... I better go knit!

Happy Crafting

the picture is revealed

Well the KAL ended today so I can post a picture
Pattern: Bunny by Judith
Yarn: Lily's Sugar and Cream
Color: Cream
Needle Size: 7

Visit Judith's blog. She has a lot of beautiful free patterns. She also runs the Fun Knitting Dishcloth KAL group which now has their own yahoo group in addition to the blog.

I finally CO mom's slippers the other night. I want to finish them as soon as I can. This is the yarn that I'm using. I joined the stitch for chicks KAL at stitchy. I was originally thinking of making the entire slipper blue and using the hot pink as the i cord edging. But I'm afraid there isn't enough blue. The yarn is Peace Fleece Bagdhad blue and Volgisippi Pink. I love the intensity of the colors.

The big project starts on Monday. Two groups of 24 students will be spending 80 minutes for 4 afternoons with me learning to knit (or knitting if they already can) I have to finish rewinding the yarn - 11+ pounds (another teacher is helping) and wax the chopsticks. We'll donate the squares or blanket to Warm Up America. I thought about giving them to firefly for her gracious parcels project, but the requirements for her squares may be more than these newly learning knitters can accomplish. I'll be posting daily regarding their project. Some of the kids are very excited. I know I am!

Last night I carded and spun a BUNCH of wool/yarn. I was going to go to bed early cuz I was falling asleep putting DD to bed but when I laid down I couldn't sleep. So I got up and carded, then found out we had a late start today because of the cold. So of course I stayed up way too late... oops!

Happy crafting