January is almost over

It’s so hard to believe that we are at the end of January.  The good news is that the weather hasn’t been too bad except for rain and a few days of colder weather.  I hope the weather stays decent for the next two weeks.

I finished the Nubby Noro Mittens and I am very happy with the results.  I didn’t use Noro.  Instead,  I used Madelinetosh Vintage in tart and I love this yarn.  I am using a size 5 needle.

Here is the front of the Mittens:

Here is the back of the Mittens with the thumb:

I loved the vintage so much that I bought two more colors for projects that I have in mind.  I got Betty Draper Blues for a shrug and Tern for a scarf.  I have other projects in mind, so I will be buying more of this yarn.  Thank goodness my LYS is getting more of this yarn.

Since, I finished several projects in the past two weeks, I cast on the Hitchhiker using Wollmeise in Am Kalten Polar.  I am using a size 3.0 mm needle, which is normally a size 2.5, but I didn’t have that size.  I did have an Addi Turbo Lace in that size and it’s a size 2.0 for that brand.  I am enjoying this knit.  It’s just an 8 row repeat, but it will get longer as I go along.

I also started another sock.  I am using a pattern from the December CookieA shipment.  It’s called Rambutan.  I am using a size 1.5 needle with the Bugga yarn I got from CookieA in the color way called Heuschrecke.  The pattern of the sock in only on the leg.  I love Bugga and this is probably one of the last skeins of yarn that the Sanguine Gryphon made (so sad that they split, but I have much Bugga and Skinny Bugga to keep me busy).  Can’t wait to see what we get in February.

My local yarn shop is having a class on Fair Isle Knitting in February and I signed up since I am making the Min Ulla scarf and want to learn the right way of using 2 handed stranding.  There is homework, so I had to buy two different colors of a worsted yarn.  I got Encore Worsted in a gray color and Encore Colorspun Worsted in a multi pink color.  I am looking forward to this class.

Well, this will be a busy week since I have to work 4 days.  I’m not use to that.  I am going to relax the rest of today and tomorrow.  So that includes knitting and reading.

First Snow for 2012

We have been lucky so far, but today we had snow.  It looks as if it was at least 6 inches.  I’m kind of glad that it was on the weekend.  At least I didn’t have to worry about driving in it.  There is something about when it snows outside.  It makes you want to snuggle up in the house and hibernate.  It was a good day for knitting.

I completed the Mid Month Dishcloth KAL for January.  The pattern is called Moss and Leaf Cloth by Andi Worthy.  I used a size 6 needle with Peaches and Crème in Verde Green.

I also finished the Christmas Socks I was working on.  I used a basic sock pattern with a size 1 needle and I used String Theory Colorworks yarn in Kinetic Energy with an afterthought heel.  So I’m all set for next Christmas.

I think the next sock I knit will be one from the December shipment of the Cookie A sock club.  The yarn is Bugga in the Heuschrecke colorway.  This is one of the last skeins of yarn from the Sanguine Gryphon since they have split up.  Tomorrow, I will wind the yarn.

I am close to finishing the Nubby Noro Mittens.  I am using Madelinetosh Vintage yarn in the tart color way with size 5 needles.  I finished one mitten except for the thumb and the second mitten is almost finished too.  I used the kitchener stitch for the top of the mitten and changed the instructions for the thumb on the left mitten to make it easier.  I can’t wait to use these mittens. 

I’m still working on the Shaelyn shawl.  I have finished the fourth repeat.  I believe that I will do an extra 2 repeats before doing the edging.

I did get some new yarn.  This was yarn I ordered before the end of last year.  It’s from Fibernymph Dye Works.  She does wonderful striping yarn.  I got Peanut Butter and Jelly, Popeye’s Revenge, and Fruit Loops in her Bounce base (80% superwash merino, 20% nylon).

I really love the Fruit Loop color!

New Yarn Makes me Happy and Warm

Well, I’m trying not to buy any new yarn, but the Loopy Ewe got in a new yarn from Skein and I had to bite.  It’s a Merino Cashmere Fingering yarn.  I got it in two colors Fig and Organic.  I plan to use the Organic to make the Thin Ice Shawl by Laura Linneman.  But, I need to finish my Shaelyn Shawl first.  Not sure about the Fig colorway…. could be a sock?

I’m really loving the Noro Nubby Mitten pattern using Madelinetosh in tart.  I’m getting close to the decreases on the first mitten.  I am using size 5 needles and decided to use circular needles instead of double points.  It’s just easier.  Problem was that I only had two 16 inch cable circular needles in a size 5.  I used them until I got to my LYS and bought another size 5 in a 24 inch cable (I already had one size 5 in that cable size).  I like the 24 inch cable much better.

Today was the first day it really felt like winter here.  The temperature really dropped and it was very windy.  We even had snow flurries.  Guess winter has finally arrived.

First Finished Project for 2012

Well, don’t get too excited.  I only finished a dishcloth.  The pattern is called Side by Side and it’s by Janet Nogle from my Monthly Dishcloth KAL group on Yahoo.  I used Sugar and Cream in cornflower blue with a size 7 needle.

I did finish one Christmas sock except for the heel.  I am doing an afterthought heel for this sock and will do that once I finish the second sock.  I am using String Theory Colorworks yarn in Kinetic Energy with a size 1 needle.

I am moving along with my Shaelyn Shawl.  I am on the third repeat.  I am using Madelinetosh Pashmina in the grasshopper colorway with a size 8 needle.  This is an easy knit and I am loving the pattern.

I cast on for the Nubby Noro Mittens, but I am using my left over skein of Madelinetosh Vintage in tart with size 5 needles.  As you can see I haven’t gotten too far with this project.

I did get some new yarn:  Madelinetosh Vintage for a Saroyan Shawl.  The color way is Cosmos.

I also got some yarn from Desert Vista Colorworks.  I got a gradient colorway in Grape Jelly to make the Savina Shawl and a fingering weight yarn in a striping yarn.  The color is called You’re a Mean One.  She really has some nice colorways in her shop.

Podcasts I love

Do you listen to podcasts?  I love them.  I love to listen or watch them (there are now video casts) while I’m knitting.  When I’m watching a video cast, I feel as if I am knitting along with them.

Here are some that I like:

PODCASTS:

Knitting Pipeline:  Paula has such a soothing voice, it relaxes me.  She talks about nature and of course knitting.  Occasionally,  she is joined by her friends (Bronwyn, Chaar, or Sarah) and that makes it fun too.

Betty in the Sky:  Betty is a flight attendant and talks about her experiences in flight and her travels.

Just One More Row:  Dana and Brittany, who live in Tennessee talk about knitting and spinning.

Knit Knit Café:  A Mother and Son (Abby and Ben).  Abby lives in New York and Ben is out west in Oregon (I think).  They talk about knitting and spinning.

Knitmore Girls:  A Mother (Gigi) and Daughter (Jasmin) who live in California.  They talk about knitting and spinning and sometimes sewing.  Jasmin is pregnant with her first child and is due in January.  They have gone on hiatus until the baby is born.

She Knits:  A wonderful podcast from Sharon who is the mother to 7 children and lives in Illinois.  Sharon designs felted bags and shawls.

Stash & Burn:  Two friends, Nicole and Jenny, who live in California and talk about knitting and some spinning.

2 Knit Lit Chicks:  Another Mother (Barb) and Daughter (Tracie) podcast.  They talk about knitting and what books they read.

Never Not Knitting: A podcast by Alana Dakos, one of the authors of Coastal Knits.  Alana has a wonderful podcast, but she is on hiatus since she just had a baby.

VIDEO CAST:

Knit 1 Heart too:  Two friends from the Boston area (Wendy and Sheila ) who talk about knitting and spinning.

Knitabulls:  Diane from Colorado who has a great video cast about knitting and some spinning.

Stockinette Zombies:  Two friends, Megan and Amy, who live in Minnesota.  A fun video cast about knitting.

Round the Twist:  One of the first video casts.  Carin did help out on the Lime and Violet podcast, when Lime was busy.  Carin talks about knitting and spinning.

The Knit Girllls:  Two southern girls (Laura and Leslie), who are great fun.  They talk about knitting and spinning and do quite a few reviews of books and magazines.

90% Knitting:  Lisa from the Pittsburgh, PA area who also is a dyer and owns Fibernymph Dyeworks.  She talks about knitting and spinning and what yarns she is putting up in her shop for the week.

All of these podcasters and videocasters have groups on Ravelry (except for Betty in the Sky), where you can learn more and participate in KALs.

Since the podcasts are audio, they are easier to take with you and listen in the car, while the video casts are nicer because you can see what yarns and projects they are talking about.  I listen to these through itunes, but I have linked to their websites, so you can listen to them online too.  I do listen to other podcasts, but the above are my favorites.  Enjoy!

Happy New Year

Well, it’s time to look back at my goals from 2011 and what goals I want to accomplish in 2012.

GOALS for 2011

1. Finish organizing closets and cabinets and purge items – I accomplished this goal.  I donated quite a few things and had a yard sale.  I am pretty cleaned out, but could go back through the house again to get rid some more things.

2. Update blog at least once a week – Accomplished, I had 59 blog posts.  I didn’t always blog once a week but made up for it in other weeks when I did more than one blog.

3. Knit 12 pairs of socks – Accomplished, I knit 14 pairs of socks.

4. Finish some UFO’s – Accomplished.  At the beginning of 2011, I had 24 UFO’s.  I frogged 8 projects and finished everything else, except 3 projects.  At the beginning of 2012, I have 8 UFO’s (including the 3 left over from 2011).

5. Join Weight Watchers – Well, I did kind of accomplish this goal.  I did join WW, lost some weight, and then quit and gained it back.

6. Read 65 books – Accomplished, I read 72 books.

7. Stash bust – I did some stash busting, but probably brought in more yarn than I used from my stash.

8. Recycle old electronics – Accomplished, I got rid of all old electronics when they had a recycling event in my county.

GOALS for 2012

1. Read 65 books

2. Definitely Stash Bust

3. Knit 12 pairs of socks

4. Lose Weight

5. Knit at least one toy

6. Finish knitting a two color project (this is already on the needles and I want to finish it)

7. Finish my Central Park Hoodie

That is all the goals I am going to set for 2012.

WHAT I KNIT IN 2011

I completed 71 projects in 2011, which was great.  I only finished 47 projects in 2010.

5 Hats

28 Dishcloths

1 Toddler Sweater

2 Puppets

14 Pairs of socks

1 Bib

5 Shawl

1 Stole

6 Scarves

1 Pair of Mittens

2 Cowls

1 Shrug

1 Baby Blanket

1 Blanket

1 Afghan

1 Kitchen Towel

 

UFO’s

Min Ulla Scarf

Copykat Shawl

Olivia Sweater

Cat Bordhi Sock

Central Park Hoodie

Soft Waves Afghan

Christmas Sock

Shaelyn Shawl

 

So, let’s see what 2012 brings.  Hopefully, I will do as well in 2012.

Have a Happy and Healthy New Year!