Going back to the beginning

I finally finished the Yarn Pirate Spooky socks. They turned out okay and do fit, although I have to pull them over my heel a little. I like them, but I don't like them. I think it was working on the size 1 needles. Somewhere I saw that if socks start to pool to cast on less stitches. The person who suggested this, cast on two less stitches and her yarn stripped well. That wouldn't work for me. I would have to cast on four less stitches to make the stitches divide well. But, I found another alternative. HiYa HiYa makes size 1.5 bamboo needles. Maybe that would work instead and the needles wouldn't be as thin. I'll have to buy some and try it next time this happens to me.

I also finished one sock using Plucky Knitter's yarn in Palatial. I really love this yarn and love the colorway. The only negative was that I had to go down to size 1 needles to get it to stripe. They striped better than the Yarn Pirate socks above. I really love this sock. Now on to finish the second sock. I don't plan on starting a new sock until I finish this pair.

I did start knitting on my sweater that I started in 2004. This was my first knitting project that I started when I began knitting. It's the Olivia pattern from Berroco booklet 219. I am using Araucania Nature Wool Chunky yarn in color 108. I like the yarn a lot. I have the back completed and I'm almost finished with the front. The sleeves shouldn't take long. I won't be at my knitting class for a couple of weeks, so I am hoping to get close to finishing the front by the time I am able to go again. Then maybe I can start on the sleeves. The sweater appears to be really big for me, but I don't care. I just want to finish it and I can wear it around the house as a big comfy sweater. Maybe I will knit another in a smaller size later. I found that I have learned a lot about knitting since I started this sweater. Sock knitting has helped me.

Got my STR club yarn for January. I love the color. It's called Dragon Dance in lightweight yarn. This will probably be my last year for this club. It's getting too expensive and I have a big stash of sock yarn.

I did order some knitting books from Knitpicks. I love them all. I think the toilet roll covers are cute and I love the scarves in the Ocean Breezes book.

Well, this week will be tough for knitting. I am working every day this week plus Saturday. This past Saturday was slow, so I got to go home early, but I don't think that will be the case this week. There are times I wonder why I am doing this because I love to be home, but it's only until April 15th (79 more days and counting).

Dishcloth, Headband, Socks and Cupcakes

Well, my time off is coming to an end. We are starting to gear up for tax season, so I will be working more. I'm kinda sad because I really, really liked being home. But, the good news is that it is only until April 15th. That will bring sunlight lasting longer, warmer weather, and time off.

I have been knitting a lot. I finished up the Mid-Month KAL from the Monthly Dishcloth group. It's a Diamond Lace pattern and I like how it turned out. I used Peaches and Cream Peppermint Ombre yarn that I got from Elmore Pisgah. It was an easy pattern to do.

I also finished a third Calorimetry headband using Berroco Jasper Yarn in black.

I am at the heel with the Yarn Pirate spooky yarn. This sock has been on the needles for awhile, so I will be glad to finish it up. My plan is to do the heel tonight, so I just have to knit to the toe and finish it up

I also got to the heel with the Plucky Knitter yarn in Palatial. I really, really love this yarn and the colorway. I like it so much that I might get another skein of this colorway.

For both of these yarns, I had to go down to size 1 needles to get the yarn to stripe the way I liked it. I saw something on someone else's blog, where she cast on two less stitches to get the yarn she was working on to stripe correctly. I may try this, but instead of two less stitches, I will try four less stitches and of course use size 2 needles. Size 2 is easier to handle than size 1.

I snagged some yarn from the last Loopy Ewe sneak up. I was even able to get a skein of Wollmeise yarn (Iris Sibirica). Apparently, they had server problems because so many people wanted the Wollmeise yarn. Everything was running slow, so I was glad to be able to get some of it. I also got two skeins of Collinette Jitterbug (Coulis and Castagna), and one skein of Rio de la Platta (Wood Thrush). I just love the Loopy Ewe!

I found two skeins of Knitpicks Essential yarn that I had in my yarn tote. I forgot that I bought this. It is the Meadow Multi colorway which should make a pretty pair of socks.

I'll finish off with a cupcake that I bought from the Betz White store. What a neat knitted cupcake. I recommend it highly. It makes me hungry for cupcakes. I know that there are now cupcake bakeries, but alas there are none in my area.

Happiness Is Knitting All Day

Last week was a great week for finishing projects. I completed my Jitterbug socks in the Gaughin colorway. I had no problem with running out of yarn. In fact, I had quite a bit leftover.

I also completed another headband (Calorimetry) in the brown colorway. This was made with Berroco Jasper yarn.

And, I finished up another comfortghan square in the Little Checks Square pattern by Mary Dixon.

This week I have been working on my Yarn Pirate Sock in the Spooky colorway. I am using size one needles for this sock because it wasn't striping using the size 2's. I was concerned that they would be too tight, but they fit okay. Whew!

I started on another sock using the Plucky Knitter yarn in the Palatial colorway. I had to use size 1 needles for this sock as well because of the striping. This yarn is really soft and stretchy, so it should be okay. I am annoyed when a sock doesn't stripe well.

I started another headband (calorimetry) in black. I told you I really liked this pattern as well as the yarn.

I finished my third comfortghan square this year. Pattern is Double Broken Rib Square by Mary Dixon. Only 21 more to go for the year to reach my goal.

I have off from work three days this week and I spent all day knitting today. It was wonderful to be able to do that and I was able to accomplish alot. So, it's back to the knitting the headband. I would like to finish that up this week as well as the second Yarn Pirate sock and maybe pull out the sweater that I started back in 2004 to finish that up in the next couple of weeks. Wish me luck.

Time to Knit

2008 keeps ticking away. I found that by making a list of things I want to accomplish for the week really helps to keep me focused. Hopefully, this will continue for the rest of the year.

I am working on my Jitterbug socks. I really like the color of these. The yarn is like Socks that Rock (I wonder if they will fade?) and I think I will end up with enough yarn for the two socks. There has been a bit of controversy on the Internet that one skein will not yield two socks over size 8. I am a size 9 and believe that I will have enough yarn to finish. I did buy a half skein from the Loopy Ewe just in case, but can use it for a smaller pair of socks later.

I have completed one comfortghan square and started on another. The pattern is Little Checks Square by Mary Dixon. I am using a Light Celery Green in TLC Essentials for this pattern. I am currently working on a second one in this pattern.

I also completed the first KAL in the Yahoo Monthly Dishcloth Group. It was a football pattern. I used Lion Brand Kitchen Cotton in Natural with a size 7 needle. I joined this group in August of 2005 when Andi first started it and now we are up to 5000 members. Wow, that's alot of members. It's a great group because we have two KAL's a month and you really learn new things by participating in them. I like the KAL's too because you get 10 rows a day. This is much better than just participating in a KAL and knitting at your own pace. 10 rows a day is doable and if you can't knit one day, it's easy to catch up on another day.

I started a second Calorimetry headband in Jasper using a brownish color yarn. I am about half way done with this one.

This pattern is so great. It is fast to knit and I love the yarn. I know I will be making more of these.

I started my yarn diet, but I did receive two types of yarns that I ordered in 2007. Lisa Souza in Little Devil and in Denim colorways. I have wanted to order from her for quite awhile so I bit the bullet and did it before my yarn diet started.

I also ordered from the Plucky Knitter. What great yarns she has. I got three skeins in colorways: Palatial, Verdant Valley, and Dapper. I discovered her on a Ravelry ad that Jess recommended and I am not disappointed. When I finish my Jitterbug sock, I WILL be casting on with one of these colorways (I think the Dapper will be my first choice). I also saw that the Loopy Ewe will be carrying her yarn too.

Time to stop chatting, I am off to do some knitting!

Looking Back and Looking Forward

Today is a day to reflect on what I accomplished in 2007 and what I want to achieve in 2008.

I completed the following projects in 2007:

18 Dishcloths

12 Comfortghan Squares

6 Pairs of socks - I'm really proud of finally feeling comfortable with knitting socks.

2 scarves

1 pair of fingerless gloves

1 baby blanket

1 headband

In addition, I read 62 books this year. Posted on my blog 39 times in 2007.

UFO's:

Mystery Stole

Berroco snowflake

Two pairs of socks

Socks that Rock scarf

Silky Tie Wrap

Shrug

Sweater

Candle flame shawl

pair of fetching gloves

Beach tote

Ripple afghan

Thrummed Mittens

Other things that happened in 2007: We lost our wonderful, wonderful cocker (Sadie), we acquired a precious cocker named Maggie, who is now a year old. I lost my job and I got a new part time job. I became a member of Ravelry and I'm starting to keep track of projects and stash.

Goals I hope to achieve in 2008:

1. Complete installing files and programs on my computer (hard drive crashed)

2. Organize closets and cabinets and purge items (or maybe a yard sale in spring).

3. Organize my yarn stash better and continue to update Ravelry.

4. Update my blog at least once a week.

5. Do some stashbusting - I really need to stop buying and use up my stash. But, I know I will be tempted and will allow it occasionally.

6. Knit 24 comfortghan squares for my Yahoo Dishcloth group.

7. Knit 12 socks (one for each month) if not more.

8. Knit a patterned sock

9. Knit a Christmas stocking or two

10. Knit the Ice Queen pattern on knitty.com

11. Attempt two color mittens (Icelandic type) and a fingerless glove with cover.

12. Finish some UFO's

13. Read 65 books

It will be interesting to come back at the end of 2008 to see how well I did.

Happy New Year

Well, I am finishing out the year with a bang. I completed Calorimetry in Berroco's Jasper yarn today. I started out using the plastic Bryspun needles, but ran out of yarn. I frogged it all and started over with the Knitpicks metal needles and had a little to spare. I really liked how it turned out and will be knitting more.

I even went back to Knitwitz and bought more of the Jasper yarn. I added colorway 3815 to my stash. It's a brown, black, grey combo.

While I was there, I also bought another skein of Iceland in grey. I plan on making two hats with this yarn. One with this grey and one with another color that I bought before.

This month also brought my sock club yarns from Yarn Pirate in Icicle and Socks that Rock in Coola. They are both blue colorways. I love them both. I didn't sign up for the Yarn Pirate booty club again, but decided to try STR one more year. I am thinking of trying to get into the Loopy Ewe club. We shall see what happens.

I received my Rowan Kid Silk Haze yarn for the Ice Queen KAL in Janaury. I also got my beads from Artbeads. Colors are Pearl and Smoke. I am looking forward to starting this since I will be using beads for the first time.

I was excited to get these stitch markers from the Lima Pop Shop. What a bargain! $10 each for 6 markers and they are beautiful! Her pictures and mine do not do them justice.

I was able to end the year with reading 62 books. This definately was my all time high. I have recently read: Where Angels Go by Debbie Macomber, Warning Signs by Stephen White, Two Little Girls in Blue by Mary Higgins Clark, and I reread Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.

Now, I will have to increase my goal for 2008 to exceed 62 books.

More tomorrow on my goals for 2008

Ready for Christmas

Whew! My Christmas cards have been sent, my house is decorated, all shopping is complete, and all presents are wrapped. I just have a bit of cleaning to do and have to do food shopping. All of this time spent and it will be gone in a flash. Why do we do this? Christmas has definately gotten too commercial and we need to remember why we celebrate Christmas and get rid of all of the other stuff. But, we still wouldn't be happy would we?

I did finish the Noro scarf for my husband today and I got it wrapped. Hope he likes it.

I enjoyed knitting this even though it was pretty much mindless knitting. To top it off, I hate doing K1, P1, but it didn't bother me with this scarf.

I also started Calorimetry by Kathryn Schoendorf found on the Knitty web site. I am using Berroco Jasper yarn in color 3831. I really love this yarn. It is sooooo soft. This is also a quick knitting project. I may even have it completed by tomorrow.

I have another skein of this and will use it to knit another one. I am definately buying more of the Jasper yarn.

Meeting Goals

I have met two goals so far before the end of the year. One was to read more than 57 books. 57 was the largest amount of books that I had read in one year. I did that in 1988. I have read 58 books so far this year and maybe will be able to read one more. I have recently read E is for Evidence and F is for Fugitive by Sue Grafton. I really like this series of books and have ordered 4 more from Barnes and Noble.

A second goal that I have met was to knit 12 comfortghan squares for my one Yahoo group called Dishclothsrus. One of the members joins the squares into a comfortghan and each member gets one. I got mine and wanted to help make some squares too.

I made The Basket Weave Square by Mary Dixon:

The Seeded Rib Check by Mary Dixon:

The Vertical Basketweave:

The Seven Inch Square by Suzanne Dye:

The Matchstick Square by Karin Glenn-Miller:

Dorothy's Dynamic Dishcloth by Dorothy Neely:

And, another Basket Welt Square by Mary Dixon:

My last goal is to finish the Noro scarf by Christmas for my husband. I have a goal to knit 30 rows each day until the end of the week. So far I am on track and I think I will make that goal too. It feels really great to meet goals that you set for yourself.

I am pretty much ready for Christmas. My Christmas cards are finished, my decorating is done, and I have all the presents I need. I just need to wrap some presents. I'm trying to do a little each day. I really don't want to have to do much on Christmas Eve day. I want to enjoy two days with little stress.

I did get my Wollmeise order. I really like the colors of the yarn.

From left to right, colors are: Zenzi, Lowenzahn, Poison No. 5, Krauterbeet, and Pfauenauge. I got these 5 for less than I spent on the last 4 I ordered direct. Go figure.

I visited a yarn store in the area called Knitwitz and Sew much more and couldn't resist buying some yarn there.

I got Berrocco Jasper in Red and Black. I plan to make Calorimetry with the Jasper. I also bought Crystal Palace Iceland to make the Earflap hat from the Knitting Daily web site of free patterns.

I was excited to receive the Noro Sock yarn from Webs. I got two skeins to try. Colors are S40 (a blue colorway) and color S164 (greens, brown and gold). I am anxious to try this yarn, but it will have to wait until 2008.

Merry Christmas!

Knitting Away on Projects

Christmas is getting closer and I am not near done getting ready. I still have to decorate. Hopefully, I will be able to do that today.

I have been knitting. Fortunately, nothing is for Christmas presents. I finished my Trekking sock. I really enjoyed knitting this sock and I'm happy with how it came out. The striping effect is cool.

Still working on the Yarn Pirate Sock in Spooky. I am ready to start on the heel.

I have started on the Collinette Jitterbug sock in Gaughin. I love the color of this one. It's funny how the burgundy color in the picture looks like brown to me in real life. I will have to take this into natural light to really see which color is correct.

I have completed one thrummed mitten. I like this mitten and will probably do another after I finish the set.

Still knitting the Noro scarf. I'm concerned that it won't be the size everyone else seems to be getting with this pattern. I usually knit to gauge, but my scarf seems to be wider.

I did get more yarn from the Loopy Ewe. Two more sock yarns (one was free because I became a Loopy Groupie). The one skein is Cherry Three Hill in Caribou Creek and the other is Seacoast Handpaint in Iris Garden. The lace yarn is Wollmeise in Veilchen. I also got one of their darning eggs.

This week I am going to a knitting class at another yarn shop. Can't wait to go to see what yarn they carry. Hope I can resist spending any more money on yarn.