Sunday, February 22, 2009

Cold Dreary Sunday

What a yucky Sunday it is. We had a little bit of snow, but it's a dreary cold day outside. I'm beginning to dislike Sunday's because I don't like going to work on Monday's. I'd rather have the week start on a Tuesday. I guess it's because I would be home on a Monday when everyone else would be going to work. Well, only 8 more Monday's to go and I will have off on a Monday.

This week did fly by. I finished the Mid Month KAL for my dishcloth group. The pattern is called Circle cloth by Hakucho. I really liked this pattern. It is so different. You can knit it in one color or in two colors. I used Fiesta in Peaches n Creme with size 6 needles. The color reminds me of warmer weather.

Feb Mid Month KAL - Circles
I worked on the Vintage scarf this week and the Central Park hoodie sweater.
I found out this week that a new yarn shop is opening up in Bethlehem called The Knitters Edge. Our knitting teacher is moving over to that shop, so this Friday will be my last at Kraemers and after that I will be going to the new shop in Bethlehem. I will miss Kraemer's but I am really looking forward to the new shop. Kraemer's hardly has a good selection of different yarns anymore and the new shop will probably carry alot of Plymouth yarns as well as other brands. The shop won't be open for business until the middle of March, but we will be able to have class there and scope out the different yarns (hopefully) until it opens.
I did purchase two more skeins of Twist sock yarn from Sunshine yarns. The colorways caught my eye. The top one is called Nagini and the bottom one is called Tonics.
Sunshine Twist - Nagini -Tonics

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Snow and Rubber Ducks

Well, the day started out nice and then the snow started to fall. It was a little tricky driving home, but I made it without any trouble. The snow started to turn to freezing rain. I'm glad to be home, but I hate this icky weather. We didn't get much snow, but I will be glad tomorrow when it gets above freezing and melts what stuck to the ground.

Knitting is going slowly, but I knitting. I'm enjoying working on my Vintage Scarf for the Child Advocacy Center. I need to start on another dishcloth for my dishcloth group KAL. Maybe I will cast on tonight since the KAL started on Monday. I am a little behind.

I have been reading. Not as much I would like, but these are the books I have read so far for 2009:

Snowfall at Willow Lake by Susan Wiggs
An American Wife by Curtis Sittenfield - I enjoyed this book and read it on the Kindle
Here's the Story by Maureen McCormick - this was a surprise. I really liked this book. Maybe cause I liked the Brady bunch.
Love Rosie by Cecelia Ahern - I have to get more of her books, this one was great.
Remember Me by Sophie Kinsella - I couldn't put this one down.
The Beach Street Knitting Society and Yarn Club by Gil McNeil
This book was a preview copy and it was slow reading at the beginning. I believe it was because the author was British and I had to get use to the language. I am glad I stuck with it because it was a good story. It's about a woman whose husband tells her he wants a divorce and drives away to get into a car accident and dies. She takes her 2 sons and moves from London to a small seaside hometown, where she takes over her Grandmother's knitting shop. The author is writing a sequel to the story and I am looking forward to reading it.
I have been pretty good with holding back on any yarn purchases. I almost was tempted to join the Socks that Rock sock club after seeing the first package that went out, but I resisted temptation and figured that I could always buy it after they put it for sale on their website. Maybe by then I will have knitting through some of my stash.
I did get the next shipment of the Unique Sheep Rubber Ducky Club. The yarn is Pima Petite in the Berry Truffle colorway with soap to match and a cute rubber duck stitch marker.
Unique Sheep - Pima Petite
I love Rubber Ducks! They make me think of warmer weather.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

19 Unfinished Projects - Yikes!

I can't believe it's almost two weeks since I have posted. I am just not use to working anymore and it's cutting into my knitting time. I am not knitting as much as I would like to. I sat down the other day and made of list of all the things I was knitting and had not finished. I came up with 18 projects and just added another one! I have to get knitting!

I did finish the February KAL for my dishcloth group. It was a cute cloth to knit. It's called Kiss Me by Lisa Millan. I used Peaches and Creme in rose pink with size 6 needles.

Feb KAL - Kiss Me
I am working on a scarf for an auction for the benefit of the Child Advocacy Center. I need to get this completed before the end of March. I am using a pattern from the book Scarf style called Vintage Velvet by Lisa Daniels. The yarn is Muench Touch Me in Navy Blue and I am using size 8 needles. The yarn is really great to feel. Once I finish it, I have to felt it. It gets even nicer then. I used this yarn once before and made a small scarf. It's amazing how it comes out. Once I finish this scarf, I am definately making another for myself in this same pattern. Fortunately, I already have some yarn and won't have to buy more.

Vintage Velvet - Lisa Daniels

I am also working on my Central Park Hoodie. No new pictures of that yet.

I have purchased some yarn. I got some more Flat Fleet yarn. It's from their sock club. The color is great for Valentine's Day.

Flat Feet - sock club yarn - valentine

And, I got more sock yarn from the Loopy Ewe. Colinette Jitterbug in Bright Charcoal and Sereknity in Cowgirl. Maybe this will get me back to knitting socks. I still have two different pair to finish.
Loopy Ewe - Feb 09

Well, I better get back to my 19 projects. Maybe I can finish one up in the next week. Uh, Oh - I have another KAL coming up in my dishcloth group this week. That will make it 20 projects. I better get knitting. Is there anyone else who has a bunch of projects in the works like me?

Sunday, February 01, 2009

Dreaming of Spring

I'm so glad January is over. It's one month closer to spring and I can't wait. It means warmer weather (I am so sick of snow and ice) and it means I have more free time because I won't be working.

I have been knitting. I finished the January Mid Month KAL cloth called Cheyenna. I used size 5 needles with Peaches and Creme in the color winterberry. It was a cute cloth to knit.

Jan 09 - Mid Month - Cheyenna
I also started on the Central Park Hoodie using Kraemer yarn's Tatamy Tweed in worsted weight. The color is purple and I am in love with the yarn! It feels great knitting and I like how it's coming out. I am getting close to the armholes on the back side.
Central Park Hoodie
I bought more of this yarn in the Merlot colorway to make the Chic Knits Twist sweater and I plan on getting more yarn in the Cherry colorway. I may just pick up some baby colors for baby sweaters.
Tatamy Tweed Worsted - Merlot
I loved the accessories that I got from Karatstix, so I ordered more things. I got a 2 inch guage measurer, a needle sizer, and some stitch markers. Do not hesitate to order from her and she will do custom orders, which is what she did for me.
Karatstix order
I succombed to ordering from the Loopy Ewe because she got in the Crystal Palace Mini Mochi yarn. Everyone seems to be talking about this as it stripes like Noro but is softer than Noro yarn. You can make socks or scarves with it. I got Sereknity in Violas, Tuscan Grove in Black Cherry, Mini mochi in Voilas and Rainbow.
Loopy Ewe order Jan 09
I haven't done much reading this month, but I am working on it. We are getting busier at work and it looks as if I may be putting more hours in doing other things temporarily. I just keep dreaming about Spring and freedom.
Go Steeler's!