I Love to Read

Well, it’s my final list of books that I have read for 2011.  I love to read or listen to books.

Crown Jewel – Fern Michaels

Maine – J. Courney Sullivan

Distant Shores – Kristin Hannah

Viola – In Reel Life – Adriana Trigiani

Queen Takes King – Gigi Levangie Grazier

Boardwalk Empire – Nelson Johnson

There’s Something About Christmas – Debbie Macomber

Here Come Trouble – Debbie Macomber

Christmas Treasures – Debbie Macomber

The Next Always – Nora Roberts

Patterns in the Sand – Sally Goldbaum

Explosive Eighteen – Janet Evanovitch

The Christmas Pearl – Dorothea Benton Frank

A Turn in the Road – Debbie Macomber

That makes 72 books read for the year.  Well above my goal and the same amount I read last year.  On to 2012!

Finishing and Casting On

2011 is almost over and I am finishing up some projects and I started two new projects.  I also keep adding projects to my to do list.  That is bad.

I finished the December Mid Month KAL from my Dishcloth group.  The pattern is Shades of Christmas by Janet Nogle.  I used a size 7 needle with Peaches in Crème in Mistletoe and Red.  I believe we did this pattern earlier in the year under another name.  I liked it before, but really wasn’t too happy with the colors this time.  It’s too red.  But, it isn’t too bad.

I also finished the North Wind Hat  I used a size 8 needle with Madelinetosh Vintage in tart.  This pattern was really easy and I loved the yarn.  I am just a Madelinetosh fan.  I like this kind of hat because I can put all my hair into the hat and the band covers my ears.  It feels as if it will be really warm.  The only problem I had was that I ran out of yarn when I had 6 rows to go.  Lucky for me, my LYS had one skein left and it matched.  Since, I have most of the skein left, I plan on using the rest to kit up a pair of mittens.  I will probably casting on for the mittens shortly (Another project on the needles – just what I need).

I had planned to make some Christmas socks, but because of the Christmas knitting I had to finish, I didn’t cast on these sock until a few days before Christmas.  So, I won’t have them for this Christmas, but will have them for next Christmas. I am using String Theory Colorworks in Kinetic energy with a size one needle.  I love this yarn because of the striping.  I plan on doing an afterthought heel for these socks.

Lastly, I cast on for the Shaelyn shawl.  The Knitting Pipeline group had this pattern as a KAL.  It’s an easy pattern and I have been wanting to cast this on.  I am using a size 8 needle with Madelinetosh Pashmina in the color grasshopper.

I had a really nice week this week.  Getting ready for Christmas was so hectic and this week I really took the time to just relax and do what I wanted to do.  I really needed it too.  Next week, I start working.  It will only be until mid February and it will only be two days a week.  That isn’t too bad.  So, I am going to enjoy the rest of my time off to knit and read.

Ready for Christmas?

I’m about as ready as I can get.  I have a few things to do, but I have all the presents I need and only have to wrap one more box.  I finished my Christmas knitting today.  Carter’s sweater is finished.  I used the Button’s cardigan pattern with a size 5 needle and Dreambaby dk yarn in the color 0310.  It feels so good to have finished this.  The pattern was easy and it was great to knit this top down with no seaming.

My family will be here for Christmas Eve and I am looking forward to it.  Tomorrow, I am going to my LYS to knit for me!

Yikes! Christmas is a week away

I am into power knitting at this point.  I did complete the Snowman rolled brimmed at for my great nephew Carter.  Because the hat was small, I didn’t put in a mouth.  I used a size 11 needle with Holiday Lights and Dreamland Fancy yarn in a white color.  I think it got cute.  I hope it fits him.

I also completed a hat for my husband.  It’s called the Manly Man hat and I used a size 9 needle with Pur yarn in 1968ombre color way.  This knit up fast.

Now, I just have to finish up Carter’s sweater.  I did the sleeves and I’m finishing the body.  I have 41 more rows to knit.  I think I can make it until the end of the week.  I figure that I need to knit 10 rows every day and I will have no problem finishing it.

I did get my last shipment from the CookieA sock club for 2011.  The yarn is Bugga in the color Heuschrecke.  I really enjoyed this club and did sign up for 2012.  We also got a project bag with it.

Christmas is coming too fast

Why is that?  We run around like chickens with our heads cut off getting ready and it’s over in an instant.  It also doesn’t help when you start last minute projects to try and finish in time.

At least I finished the dog puppet for Carter that I was working on.  It came out really cute and I think he will love it.  It came in a kit with Cotonade yarn in nutmeg and small pieces of black and red yarn (for the tongue).  The pattern and yarn came in a kit. I used size 7 needles for this. 

I started a Snowman Rolled Brim Hat for Carter as well.  I finished the hat and did the eye (but have to attach them) and just need to knit the carrot nose.  The hat also has a mouth, but since this is a toddler hat, there isn’t any room to put on the mouth, so I’m eliminating it.  The yarn is Plymouth Dreamland Fancy in white and a half skein of Holiday Lights.  Plus you need some black and orange yarn for the eyes (mouth) and nose.  This was also in a kit. I used a size 11 needle for this hat.

I did finish the December Monthly Dishcloth KAL.  The pattern is Tree of Christmas by Janet Nogle.  I used Peaches and Crème in emerald green with a size 6 needle.  The pattern called for a size 7, but I used a size 6.

I also started the North Wind Hat using Madelinetosh Vintage in the tart color.  I love Madelinetosh.  I am using a size 8 needle.  This hat is for me and I’m not in a hurry to finish it by Christmas.

I do want to knit my husband a hat for Christmas, but he may have to wait until after Christmas to get it.  The yarn I want to use is Pur by Schoppel Wolle.  The color is 1968 ombre.  The pattern I will use is called the Manly Man hat.

I still have to finish a baby sweater for Carter.  I have one sleeve finished and will be starting on the second sleeve.  After that is complete, it shouldn’t take long to finish.

I also bought another skein of Lorna’s Laces solemate in the pine colorway.  Love this green and I love the yarn.  I finally wore the first pair that I knit from the Cookie A sock club and I love them.

I couldn’t resist more Lorna’s Laces.  I bought a skein of  Shepard Sock and Worsted in the color Christmas Holly.  This was a special color dyed for Serendipity Needle Works in Alabama.  I won’t get anything knit with this for Christmas.  But there is always next year.

Having a hard time getting in the Xmas mode

I think it’s because the weather is warmer than normal.  The high today was 62.  It’s November 29th!  It’s not suppose to be that warm!  At least I started Christmas shopping.  I bought one present and finished a knitted gift (see below).

I only bought two skeins of yarn since last time.  I got Crofter’s DK by Sirdar (a Fair Isle effect yarn) to make a cool pattern that could either be a cowl or a hat.  Now to just find the time to make it.

I did finish the Basic Sock using Gales Art yarn in Crayon box with a size 1 needle.  I really loved this yarn.  No pooling and I didn’t have to worry about trying to match both socks.

I also completed the November 2011 Mid Month KAL.  The pattern was the Starburst cloth by Dione Reed.  I used Peaches and Crème in Sunrise with a size 7 needle.  This cloth got quite big.  If I knit it again, I would knit it on a smaller needle, but the pattern was easy.

I completed a Christmas gift for my great nephew, Carter.  It is a Wooly Wormhead hat called Doodie.  I used Plymouth Dreambaby in a green color (0125) with a size 4 needle.  This was an easy knit.

Now, I need to get knitting on a sweater for Carter.  It’s started and I have about 1/3 rd of it completed.  I also have to knit him a dog puppet, but that shouldn’t take long to do.

Too Much Yarn and too many WIP’s

Yes, I keep buying yarn, but I keep finding projects that I want to make.

I was able to get two skeins of Numma Numma yarn in the last update even though I got there late.  I got Red clay Mocha in Doppio and Baba Ganoush in Toasty.  I couldn’t pass up the name Baba Ganoush, so I had to buy it.

Then I bought more Spud and Chloe Sweater from the Loopy Ewe to make animals by Susan B. Anderson.  I got a green (7502) and blue (7520).  I am going to start with the blue first and make a hippo.

From the Knitter’s Edge, I got Encore Chunky in green and gray to make a chula hat and Debbie Bliss Cashmerino in color 300014 (dark purple) to make a Slouchy hat called North Wind by Sweet Georgia Brown.

I did cast on two projects.  I am knitting a Wooly Wormhead hat called Doodie for my great nephew.  I am using Plymouth Dreambaby in color 0125 (green).  This should match the sweater I am making him.

Here is a picture of the Min Ulla Scarf that I started last week.  I am using Madelinetosh Pashmina in Moorland (green) and Antique Lace.  This is the first time I am knitting a project with two colors of yarn.  Wish me luck. I am using size 4 needles.

Now, I have 7 active projects on the needles and plan to cast on three more.  I was doing really good and got caught up on many old projects.  Here I go again, project barf.  I keep having to buy more needles to knit these projects! Hopefully, I will get get quite a few of them completed before the end of the year.  Wish me luck!

Christmas Songs on the Radio?

Can you believe it?  Yesterday, driving to my knitting group, I was listening to Christmas songs on the radio.  I was thinking, nooooooo, it’s too soon.  I haven’t wrapped my brain around Christmas yet.  But, it’s coming soon and I am not nearly ready.

I have worked on some knitting projects this past week.  I finished the November KAL for my dishcloth group.  The pattern is A Peacock for Tunie by Elaine Fitzpatrick.  Silly me thought it was a turkey.  I used Peaches and Crème in teal with a size 6 needle.

I also finished one sock using Gales Art in crayon box using a basic sock pattern with a size 1 needle.  I love how this sock knit up.

Then, I worked on a sweater for my great nephew, Carter.  I am using the Buttons Cardigan pattern #606 with Dreambaby yarn in color 0310 (a tweed color in green) with a size 5 needle.

I also started on a colorwork pattern.  It’s my first one!  Pictures and information coming next week, I hope.

Yarn, Yarn and More Yarn

I have been poking around Ravelry.  While I love Ravelry  but, poking around Ravelry isn’t a good thing because I have been finding more and more projects to knit and more yarn to buy for these projects.

I wanted to get a couple of more skeins of Hazel Knits Artisan Sock yarn, so I broke down and purchased 3 more skeins in the colors: Beachglass, Bronzeage, and Loosey Juicy. I will use these for socks or shawls.

Then I purchased some yarn from the Loopy Ewe.

From top to bottom, I got Alisha Goes Around Tracks of Bison in wine and Panoply of Peacocks in Estuary.  Then I got two skeins of Madelinetosh Pashmina in Grasshopper (the color did not photograph well, it’s more green than yellow).  I plan on using  the Pashmina for the Shaelyn shawl. On the sides, you will see Spud and Chole in gray and white to make some animals designed by Susan B. Anderson.  I signed up for the Wee One’s online class on the Craftsy web site.

Today, when I went to knitting at the Knitter’s Edge, I picked up more yarn.  I got Fantasy Naturale in Color 2550 (marine blue) and 5228 (green) to make some bibs by Laura Treadway.

And, I bought some DK weight baby yarn in Plymouth Dreambaby (color 0125 –green) and Sirdar Crofters (color 0152 – blue) to make a couple of the Doodie hats by Woolly Wormhead.

Now, I just have to get moving and start to knit.

We have snow…a Northeaster in October?

Yes, it did snow today.  Don’t know how much we got so far, but it didn’t accumulate much on the roads yet.  I don’t know what will happen over night.  We might have freezing that could make the roads really bad.  But I don’t have to go anywhere, so it’s okay.

I have been buying yarn for projects that I want to make:

Fantasy Naturale in color 2674 (blue).  I used this to make a bib and I want to make a washcloth too.

I also got it in color 8414 (grey) to make the washcloth called the Nineteen Hundred House.

I got my shipment of Hazelknits Artisan sock yarn.  I love this yarn and I do want to get more colors.  From top to bottom, Shady Verdant, Violeta, and Blueberry.

I bought Plymouth yarn’s Dreambaby in the color 0310.  It’s a Green Tweedish yarn that I want to use to make a sweater for my Great Nephew for Christmas.

I also got a skein of the Sanguine Gryphon’s Bugga in Pink Katydid.  I had this color from their Valentine kit and made a sock out of it.  I really loved it and one of my knitting friends had an extra skein that I bought from her. 

Sanguine Gryphon is disbanding and forming two new companies.  I have mixed feelings about this and will be interested in how this plays out.  So sad.  But, I have more than enough of their yarn.

Snow? In October?

Yes, we will possibly have snow this weekend.  Four to six inches.  I am NOT ready for snow.  It’s still too early.

The best thing about snow is that I may knit more.  I have been knitting many small projects.  Like…….

The October Mid Month KAL from my Yahoo group.  The pattern is the Twisted Rib cable pattern from Knitwits Alley.  I used Peaches and Creame in shrimp with a size 6 needle.  I liked this pattern.

Then I finished the Lizard Ridge Dishcloth.  I’ve seen this pattern before, but finally tried to knit it.  It was worth it to learn Wrap and Turn.  It took me awhile and a lot of frogging, but I finally got the hang of it.  I used Sugar and Cream in Beach Ball with a size 6 needle.  I would like to knit another of these and then maybe do an afghan using Noro Kureyon.

 

I also knit a bib for my great nephew Carter.  He likes trucks and his first birthday is coming up soon.  I enjoyed knitting this pattern.  It’s called Trucking along by Elaine Fitzpatrick.  I used Fantasy Naturale in a blue colorway.  I liked the Fantasy Naturale for this knit because I felt that the pattern really popped with this yarn.

I completed my Witches socks.  Just in time for Halloween.  I used String Theory Colorworks in the electron colorway with a size 1 needle.  I used the afterthought heel for this sock.

Then I started another basic sock using Gales Art yarn in crayon box.  I am also using a size 1 needle for this sock.

Well, the temperature has been dropping.  I guess I need to get my snow shovel out.  Drat!

Slow knitting week

Not much knitting going on here this week.  I’m still working on the second witch’s sock.  I am at the foot of the second sock.  I hope to finish it next week.  I am close to finishing the hood on my central park hoodie.  Next will be the band on the sweater.  I will be happy when this is complete.

I did get some yarn this week.  I got Madelinetosh Pashmina in Antique Lace and Moorland to make the Min Ulla scarf.  This will be a challenge as this will be the first time I will be using two different colors of yarn to make a pattern.  Wish me luck!

The Loopy Ewe had a Wollmeise update and I was lucky to get three skeins.  I got the following colors from top to bottom: Im dunklen Wald, Chim chim chimney, and Lila Ludmilla.  This is the 100% merino, which I like the best.

Well, off to knit a few rows on my sweater.  I want to finish the hood before tomorrow, so I can get help with the next phase at my knitting group.

Yarn and Books

I got my Cookie A sock club yarn for October.  It’s Fleece Artist Silky wool in pewter.  It’s a nice grey.  I’m not sure if I will knit the patterns offered with this yarn.  The nice thing about this club is that I am getting yarns I don’t have or haven’t tried.  Even though grey is not a color I might have picked, I think I am going to like this yarn.  One more shipment to go for the year and I will definitely sign up for another year.

I also bought Sirdar’s Smiley Stripe yarn in color SH261 to make a premie hat.

I have 6 more books to read until the end of the year to meet my goal of 65 and 13 more books to read until I reach the number that I read last year (72).  I think I can make it.

The most recent one’s I have read are:

Crash Course by Kathy Hogan Trocheck

South of Broad by Pat Conroy – I really enjoyed this book.

What we Keep by Elizabeth Berg

Same Sweet Girls by Cassandra King – This was also a good one.

The Summer Hideaway by Susan Wiggs

Open House by Elizabeth Berg

Between Sisters by Kristen Hannah

Folly Beach by Dorothea Benton Frank – another of my favorite authors.

The Twenty-First Wish by Debbie Macomber

Coming Unraveled by Susan Mallery

Return to Summer Island by Christina Skye

Marrying Daisy Bellamy by Susan Wiggs

Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris

How to Knit a Heart back Home by Rachael Herron

Final Jeopardy by Linda Fairstein

1105 Yakima St by Debbie Macomber

We are All Welcome Here by Elizabeth Berg

Goddess of Vengeance by Jackie Collins

Magic Hour by Kristin Hannah – really enjoyed this

Groom Wanted by Debbie Macomber

Bride Wanted by Debbie Macomber

I really did well on my goals this year.  Hope I can keep it up until the end of the year.

It’s October?

Where does the time go?  Before you know it, we will be getting ready for Christmas.  I can’t believe it!

I haven’t been knitting much in the last two weeks, but I have made some progress on projects.  I did complete the October KAL for my Monthly Dishcloth group.  The pattern is Skies of New York by Janet Nogle.  I used a size 6 needle with Peaches and Crème in light blue.  This is a nice pattern.

I finished one sock (except for the afterthought heel) of my Halloween socks that I am calling Witch’s socks.  The yarn is String Theory Continuum in the electron colorway with a size 1 needle.  I love this yarn.

I finally got the sleeves finished for my Central Park Hoodie.  All pieces are now knitted.

I do have to knit the hood, which I am working on now and then it’s the bands and putting the sweater together.  This will be my first sweater that is completed.  I will be so happy when it’s finished.  I am using size 8 needles with Tatamy Tweed worsted yarn in purple.  I like the yarn, but it is a little splitty.

I seem to working on these two projects the most when I am knitting.  I hope to have both completed by the end of October.

Another sock bites the dust

I finished the Abstract Fiber sock in the koi pond colorway using a size 1 needle.  I really like this sock yarn.  I love the colors.

Since Halloween is coming, I had to knit a Halloween sock.  I am using String Theory colorworks in the electron colorway.  I am just using a basic sock pattern for this sock with a size 1 needle.  I plan on knitting an afterthought heel.  I love the colors.  I am calling this my witch sock.

I also finished the September Mid Month KAL for my Monthly dishcloth group.  The pattern is Dishcloth Panel Dishcloth by Emily Jagos.  I did not use a knitted or crocheted border on this.  I did use a size 6 needle with Peaches and Crème in yellow.

I am knitting away on my Central Park Hoodie.  I really need to get this finished.  I am almost finished with the first sleeve and hope to start the second sleeve tomorrow.  It would be nice to wear it this fall and winter.