A Decade Gone - Time Flies

I can't believe that we are going to be starting a new decade. Time sure flies as you get older. I can remember being a kid and time went so slow. Things looked bigger than too. It's amazing how your perspective changes as you age.

Well, I haven't been knitting much over the holidays and soon it will be tax season and I don't know how much knitting I will get to do then, but I'm sure going to try.

My plan is to finish up some works in progress and only start one new project and finish it before starting another new project, while I'm doing that. I also plan to knit from my stash. I will be in two sock yarn clubs and a cotton yarn club and except for getting the yarn prepacks from Peaches and Creme for my KAL group, I won't be buying any yarn. Oh, I almost forgot I have two gift certificates to use and I have some Sweet Georgia yarn on order. Let's see how well I do.

I did get some purchases in before the end of 2009 though. I bought more Madelinetosh worsted from the Loopy Ewe as well as a skein of Spirit Trail Fiberworks. From left to right: Spirit Trail Fiberworks Sunna in Tuscany color, Madelinetosh worsted in Cobalt blue, Silver Fox, Turquoise, and Sequoia.

From the Knitter's Edge I got some Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Chunky and Encore worsted. Both are in red for scarves or cowls or mittens (not sure what yet).

I also got the Claudia Handpainted French Scarf kit from The Knitter's Edge. It uses a Boucle yarn and a kid mohair yarn. The colorway is called Copper Pennies. I love the name since I lived near a restaurant called the Kopper Penny. It's no longer there anymore. It burned down, but if anyone gives directions in that area they refer to the Kopper Penny and amazingly enough people know what they are taking about. What's with that?

I got a cute yarn holder from the Knitter's Edge. It's made by Lantern Moon and it's called a knit out box. This should keep my skein of sock yarn from getting messed up as I knit a sock.

Last but not least, I have to end the year with a picture of Maggie in a new bed I bought her for Christmas. At first she only wanted to lay on top of it, but gradually she is getting use to going inside of it. In fact she is in it now. She likes to sleep under the covers at night, so I figured that she would like this too. Doesn't she look content? When she goes in it now, she is all the way in the bed so you can't see her. She doesn't want to admit it, but she likes it.

Maggie and I hope you have a Happy and Healthy New Year. 2009 sure was interesting. I hope 2010 gets better.

Merry Christmas

Not Much Knitting Going On

Not much knitting going on here. I still have to wrap some gifts and do some cleaning. Christmas is coming too fast. I did get to finish the Mid Month KAL for my dishcloth group. I don't know the name of the cloth, but Janet Nogle designed it. I used size 7 needles with Victorian Christmas from Peaches and Creme. I love how this turned out.

I have been buying up some yarn though. I got more Bugga from the Sanguine Gryphon. From left to right: Milkweed beetle, Daring Jumping spider, Dainty Sulphur, and Longhorned Beetle.

Then from Sundara yarn, I got Tree House and Sleep Walking the baby.

I bought some Encore yarn to make some kimono sweaters. I got Color 1204, which is a brown color and Encore Tweed in color 789, which is a gray color.

And finally, I got Handmaiden Lady Godvia in the Cedar colorway to make the Cedarleaf shawlette.

Off to do some more cleaning as I am running out of time.

Acapella Groups

I'm falling in love with acapella singing groups. First I found the Perpetuum Jazzile. They are on YouTube with their song Africa.

Then I found the group Straight No Chaser. They are know for their 12 Days of Christmas. Two of the members are from the Lehigh Valley area in PA.

Are you watching the Sing Off on NBC? I am in love with the Beelzebubs. I hope they win.

I have albums from the first two and plan on buying an album of the Beelzebubs. They are just great!

Christmas is Coming.....too fast

Geez, I can't believe that next Friday it will be Christmas. I think I have all the presents I need (although a few haven't arrived yet....yikes!). I just have to wrap and pickup the cookies I ordered. Much easier than baking.

I have been busy and not knitting enough, but I was able to finish the prayer shawl I started last year. It's the basic prayer shawl pattern (k3,p3) and I used Lion Brand Homespun in Candy Apple Red with size 11 needles. This was the first prayer shawl I made and there are a few minor things I would do differently next time.

I also finished the December KAL in my dishcloth group. It's a cute pattern called the Wrapper Cloth by Rhonda White. I used a size 7 needle with peaches and cream peppermint yarn. It's a good cloth to wrap a bar of soap in for a present.

I am currently working on finishing a scarf and the last dishcloth of the year.

I did buy some new yarn. I got Debbie Bliss Aran Cashmerino in a purple colorway to make a shawl.

And some Silky wool in a purple colorway to make a vest. Guess I like purple.

I also got some Pima Petite yarn from Unique Sheep's Rubber Ducky club. The yarn color is Toy Land and I also got a candle and some soap with it.

It finally started snowing here today. It's hard to say how much we will get, but it's nice to be home and not have to worry about going anywhere. Guess, It's a good day to do some knitting.

18 More to Go

Yeah! I finished the last sock that I am going to knit for 2009. I used a basic sock pattern with Punta Merisock in color HP68 with size 1.5 needles. This yarn is nice and soft.

While I'm not going to knit any more socks this year, that didn't stop me from getting more sock yarn. I have been dying to get more Sanguine Gryphon Bugga yarn and was able to snag 4 skeins. The colors from left to right are: Rough Fungus, Malachite Butterfly (picture is not good, but this is green), Nebraska conehead, and Ruddy Jaggerwing. I love this yarn because it has cashmere in it (20%!).

I also got the Color co-op yarn for December. The yarn is from Mama Llama and the color is Snowflake. The yarn is 80% merino, 10% cashmere, and 10% nylon.

I also got Unique Sheep's Verve Gradience yarn in the color Hurricane Meadow. The colors are coordinated and will knit up really nice.

I feel good that I have been finishing off old projects. I don't know how many I will get finished by the end of the year. I'm not going to rush, but I will be glad to put a good dent into these projects. I only have 18 more to go.

Checking projects off my list

Well, I am sticking to my guns and trying to finish off some projects. I haven't started on anything new (except for my dishcloth KAL's) and don't plan on doing that until after the first of the year.

I finished my Multiplicity Scarf. This was a fun knit. It knit up quickly using size 13 needles and the yarn did the work. I only had to use two skeins. It got quite long and I think I will give this to my husband as a Christmas present.

I also completed the November Mid-Month KAL. It's called Tina's knit Angel Dishcloth. This was also a quick knit. I used Peaches and Creme yarn in Cream with a size 7 needle. I would change how I attached the head to the body, but except for that I thought it was really nice.

Another quick project I completed was the Big Softie Cowl. I finished it and found a mistake so I threw it away since it was so hard to tear out after sewing the ends in. I discovered that I was using a size 13 needle and it was suppose to be a 15. So, there was a reason to start over. I finished this today. The yarn is very soft. I guess that is why it's called Big Softie yarn.

I am almost finished with the last pair of socks that I am knitting for the year. The yarn is Punta merisock in color HP68. I am using size 1.5 needles. I should be able to finish it off this week.

I'm still finding yarn to buy. From the Loopy Ewe I got the following:

From left to right: Madelinetosh - Tosh sock in the Cedar colorway, Mackintosh Iona fingering in the Taurus colorway, Sweet Georgia Tough Love sock in Lakeshore Drive and Rainforest.

Also, Monkeypal in the colorway Violets Revenge and Madelinetosh worsted yarn to make the Mara shawl in the Oxblood colorway.

Last but not least from the Loopy Ewe is Madelinetosh tosh sock in Lichen 2 colorway.

The Knitter's Edge had Sidar Big Softie on sale, so I got several skeins to make scarves, a hat and cowls in Black, Red, White, and Purple. This yarn knits up fast.

Well off to start finishing another project. I think I will try and finish off my prayer shawl this week in addition to my punta sock. I am on a roll and don't want to stop. Three projects finished and 19 more to go.

Ready for Christmas

I finished my Jingle Sock! One project down and 21 to go. I really liked this yarn and the colorway. Yarn is Zen String fingering weight and color is Jingle. I used size 1 needles. I am now ready for Christmas.

I did start the November mid-month KAL for my dishcloth group. I believe it's going to be a dress. I am using Peaches and Creme yarn in the cream colorway with a size 7 needle. I wanted to take a picture while still knitting it because I am breaking in my size 7 zephyr acrylic needles from knitpicks. There are many conflicting opinions on these needles. I have heard that they are sticky, but I'm not finding that to be the case. They feel great on the hand and I can knit pretty fast on them. So, I may just buy a complete set.

I also wanted to show a picture of the Multnomah shawl that I have started. I saw a mistake, so I ripped it out and I'm now back to where I was originally. I really like the pattern and love the yarn. I am using String Theory Caper Sock in the Oban colorway with size 3 needles. The yarn has some cashmere in it and it is so soft.

I had planned on ordering more of this yarn, but I was excited to find that my local yarn shop - The Knitter's Edge - is now carrying it. How ironic! The week before, I was just commenting to a woman who works in the shop that they need to get some sock yarn with cashmere in it. I even pulled out this shawl that I was working on and showed her how great it was. Coincidently, they had it on order. I landed out buying three skeins of it since I couldn't decide which color to buy. I got Peridot, Nerrivik and Black Cherry. Then I found out that Pagewood Farms Alyeska yarn, that also has cashmere in it, is on order too. I love the Knitter's Edge.

Well, off to work on my Multiplicity scarf. I hope to finish it this week.

Twenty-two Works in Progress????

I am shocked. I finally decided to make a list of projects that I have started and haven't finished. Can you believe that I have 22! I am beginning to think that I need some serious help, like a person from AA. I start projects but don't finish them. So, here they are in a list:

1. Big Softie Cowl

2. Jingle Sock

3. Multnomah Shawl

4. Multiplicity Scarf

5. Punta Sock

6. Girasole

7. Leaf lace scarf

8. Central Park Hoodie

9. Silky Tie Wrap

10. Orange Sweater

11. Shrug

12. Candle Flame Shawl

13. Habu scarf

14. Ripple Afghan

15. Black Fetching gloves

16. Prayer Shawl

17. Knit one below scarf

18. Thrumbed mitten

19. Mystery Stole 3

20. STR scarf

21. Square a long afghan

22. Berrocco snowflake

There, I have them all listed. So, what am I going to do about it? Well, except for starting 3 more dishcloths in my Monthly dishcloth group, I am NOT (I repeat - I am NOT) going to start any more projects through the end of 2009. I am going to try and finish off some of these projects before the end of the year. I know that I won't finish all of them, but at least I should shorten the list.

This week, my goal is the Jingle sock and the Multiplicity scarf. Let's see how well I do. Every week until the end of the year, I am going to attempt to finish off or restart to finish something on this list.

Do you have a lot of works in process?

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells

Yes, I know, it's still too early for Christmas. But, I found some cool sock yarn that is great for Christmas so I just have to sing when I talk about it. I got the sock yarn from Zen String. The top picture is Bambewe in a peppermint colorway. It's suppose to stripe like a candy cane. The bottom picture is Lotus Toes in the jingle colorway (now you understand why I was singing).

I also got a sport weight yarn called Verde in the Jingle colorway.

So, I'm getting in the Christmas spirit and already started on one sock using the Lotus Toes with a size 1 needle and a basic sock pattern. I have already finished one sock.

While I am still working on several projects, I did get the November dishcloth KAL finished. It's called Tree. I used Peaches and Creme in Hunter with a size 7 needle.

Now can you see why I am singing Jingle Bells? Between the sock and the dishcloth I am getting in the Christmas spirit.

But, Halloween isn't that far gone, so I was lucky to get a skein of Goth Socks in the colorway Fright Night from Rainy Days and Wooly Dogs. It's 100% superwash yarn and should stripe really nicely. This is tough yarn to get. You have to be real quick.

I also got some yarn club shipments. From the Unique Sheep's Rubber Ducky Club, I got Pima Petite in Pumpkin Patch. It also came with a cool sheep soap and a pumpkin pie stitch marker.

From the Loopy Ewe, I got my last sock club shipment for the year. The yarn is Numma Numma in The Usual. The colorway is Red Bartlett Pear. It's 100% superwash yarn. I also got a yarn bobbin and kitchener tag from Karatstix as well as a sock pattern. I love her things and have also purchased some of it. She will make it to order, but you may have to wait awhile. It's worth it though.

Well, off to knit the second Jingle sock. "Jingle all the wayyyyyyy"......

Fall Back

Don't you just love when you finish a project that has taken awhile to complete? I finally finished the Croc Socks by Monica and I am so happy how they came out. I used a size 1 needle with Sundara Sock yarn in basil over buttercup. I just love the pattern and I'm so proud that I completed this pair.

A close up of the pattern:

I changed the pattern from a short row heel to a heel flap:

This pair completed my goal of 12 socks in a year. Considering that I finished my first pair in July, I am so excited. To reward myself, I started on my Multnomah shawl. Pictures will come on the next blog post.

I also had to reward myself with more yarn:

From Sunshine Yarns, I got her Classic Sock yarn in New Moon Alice and Bitterroot:

I must really like the Bitterroot because after I got the yarn, I realized I already had a skein. Don't you just hate that?

I also ordered more yarn from the Loopy Ewe. I couldn't resist buying Dragonfly Fibers Djinni yarn. This is the same yarn base that the Sanguine Gryphon uses for her Bugga yarn. From left to right, the colors are: Blackberry Bramble, Dragonfly, Texas Bluebonnet, and Riptide.

I also got Fleece Artist Nyoni yarn in Amethyst (this has silk in it) and Madelinetosh Tosh sock in Terrarium.

Tomorrow morning we can sleep late. Daylight savings time ends here. Don't forget to turn your clocks back an hour. I hate when it gets dark early. Can't wait for March when the clock spring forward.

Trick or Treat?

Well, only two more crazy weeks to go and then it should calm down except for the holidays coming up. At least I'm not planning on knitting anything for gifts so that should make my knitting less stressful. It's hard to believe that Christmas is 2 months away.

I have been trying to finish up some socks. I did complete the Artisan Acres Lambkin socks in Turquoise Mine. I used a basic sock pattern with size 2 needles. I really love this yarn and I'm glad that I have more of it.

I finished one croc sock and started on the second one. I would really like to finish it this week, but I'm not sure that I will be able to make it. But, I will be happy if I get close. I do feel as if I really accomplished something with this sock. The pattern looks really hard, but it's really not hard to do.

I also finished the October Mid-Month KAL for my dishcloth group. It was a house or log cabin. It's cute. I used size 7 needles with chocolate Peaches and Creme yarn.

I got a couple of shipments from the Loopy Ewe. One was the Dream in Color Knitosophy yarn in Butterfly and Fiberfile Squooshy Sock in Inlet. Both are 100% superwash yarn.

Then I purchased FiberOptic yarn in Bordeaux batik, Autumn leaves, and Sapphire batik. This is 80% superwash and 20% nylon.

This week is Trick or Treat week. Wonder what Tricks or Treats I will get?