Squares, Squares and more Squares - Two more to Go

I have been busy knitting comfortghan squares for my dishcloth group. I need to get 12 done before the end of the year. I feel better because I only have two more to go.

I finished 2 in the Seven Inch Square using Red Heart Supersaver in Cornmeal with 7 inch needles.

I did 2 in the Seven Inch Square using Red Heart Supersaver in Woodsy with 7 inch needles.

I also completed 2 in the Basket Welt Square using Red Heart Supersaver in Woodsy with 8 inch needles.

So now I have to pick out another color yarn and a pattern (or maybe I will just use one of the two patterns above) and get them completed by the end of this week. I shouldn't have any problem doing that. At least I hope not. I still have to block the squares I have completed and will also work on that this week. Maybe early next week, I can mail them off. Keep your fingers crossed.

My Thanksgiving Day was very nice. We went to my brother's for dinner. My niece and her new fiance were there. Yes, she is planning a wedding for sometime next October or November. How exciting.

I picked up more yarn recently. I had to get Vesper Sock yarn in Christmas colors. So I got Candy Swirl and Merry Christmas. I may have to wait until after Christmas to knit these up.

I also got some Malbrigo worsted yarn in Stonechat to make a sweater. I love the new Malabrigo knitting book and saw the sweater there. I just had to make it.

I was also intrigued by Polar Knit yarn. Loopy Ewe is carrying it, so I got 2 skeins in Deep Red to make mittens.

Off to plan on the last two comfortghan squares so I can be finished with this project and goal.

Read, Read, Read to Make a Year End Goal

The end of the year is fast approaching and I am getting closer to my goal of reading 65 books before the year is finished. The most recent books I have read are:

Stand in Wife by Debbie Macomber

Chasing Harry Winston by Lauren Weisberger

8 Sandpiper Way by Debbie Macomber

Return to Summerhouse by Jude Deveraux

Summer at Willow Lake by Susan Wiggs

The Winter Lodge by Susan Wiggs

Why Women should rule the world by Dee Dee Myers

Dockside by Susan Wiggs (I love this series by Susan)

A Cedar Cove Christmas by Debbie Macomber

The Funny Thing Is by Ellen Degeneres

Foreign Body by Robin Cook

Fleece Navidad by Maggie Sefton

Love the One You're With by Emily Giffin

The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison

Return to Promise by Debbie Macomber

Mail Order Bride by Debbie Macomber

I love books and I love to read. I recently decided to purchase a Kindle (ebook reader) from Amazon.

I didn't know if I was going to like it because it's different from a book, but I love it. It's nice because you can increase the size of the text and you can store books on it (saves paper and space). I also think that I read faster using it (it may just be my perception, but I did talk to a few other people who have one and they feel the same way). You can bookmark pages and highlight passages. I have read two books on the Kindle. They are:

One Fifth Avenue by Candace Bushnell and Pieces of My Heart by Robert Wagner

This brings me to a total of 61 books for 2008. I only have 4 more to read to reach my goal and we aren't at the end of November yet. So, I think I have a good chance of making my goal (as long as I don't get too side tracked by knitting).

I did get some sock club yarn this month. Socks that Rock sent a medium weight skein of Muddy Autumn Rainbow. I love the colors!

I also got my first skein of yarn from the Color Coop by Unique Sheep. The yarn is fingering weight superwash merino by Tactile Fiber Arts. I like the color and the softness of the yarn.

And, this wasn't from a yarn club, but I got a washcloth kit from the Unique Sheep that includes a skein of their Pima Petite cotton yarn in the Brilliant Blue colorway. It also includes a bar of soap and a pattern for the Sheepy Washcloth and Soap Sack Set. Can't wait to knit up the pattern.

Well, off to knit or ........ maybe read!

Time Flies when you are having....fun?

I can't believe that it' over a week since I posted. The holidays are just sneaking up so fast. I got some decorating done for Christmas and I am ready for Thanksgiving. But, I have been knitting.

I started another sock using Yarn Chef's Bouillabaisse yarn in the Moldy Jack-O-Lanterns colorway. I really love the yarn. It is very soft and I like how it's striping. I am back to using double points for this sock with a basic sock pattern and size 1-1/2 needles. I was lazy and wanted something easy.

I also knit up two 10 by 10 squares for a surprise afghan for a member in one of my Yahoo groups. I used the Belt Welt Square pattern by Mary Dixon and adjusted it for a larger size. I used size 8 needles in Red Heart Supersaver yarn with the Cornmeal colorway and knit another in the Woodsy colorway.

I liked this pattern so much that I did two 7 by 7 inch comfortghan squares for another Yahoo group. I am committed to 24 squares by the end of the year and I have not knit 16. Eight more to go. Will I make it? I knit two in the Cornmeal colorway and will do two in Woodsy.

I finished the November Mid Month KAL in my Dishcloth group. The pattern is the Candy Cane Illusion Cloth. I used size 6 needles with Peaches and Creme in Red and White. This was a fun knit.

I was listening to the Webs podcast and they are starting a KAL for a scarf. I checked out the pattern and liked it so I checked my stash and found Noro Silk Garden in the colorways 201 and 205. With a size 10 needle I cast on for the Inside Outside Scarf. The pattern is from the book Knit One Below by Elise Duvekot. The scarf stripes vertically instead of horizontally because you knit in the stitch below. The pattern is free at this site. I am enjoying knitting this scarf.

Time is flying by too quickly. Soon it will be Christmas. Yikes, I better get moving!

My Pocketbook is Hurting!

I have been knitting, but mostly dishcloth or squares for afghans.  I have to get 12 squares finished for one Yahoo group I belong to before the end of the year.  I am currently working on my third square, so I have to get knitting.  For another group, I have two squares to make.  They are finished and I blocked them.  I just have to take pictures and mail them off to the person who is putting the squares together.

I did finish the November Dishcloth KAL.  It is called Native American by Lisa Millan.  I used Peaches and Creme in Army Tan with a Size 6 needle.  I think it came out pretty well.

I have been buying yarn.  From the Loopy Ewe I got sock yarn from Zen String.  It's Lotus Toes and Loopy Legends.  I just love this yarn and I'm glad I got some.  From left to right:  Lotus toes in Bart & Louise in the Garden, Stephen, Loopy Legends in Lauries Carolina Morning, Michelles Pretty Pink Cactus, and Ronnis Jewel Box.  Aren't they great colors?

From the Loopy Ewe, I also got The Sanguine Gryphon Bugga in the colorway Periodical Cicada, Eidos sock in Cleitophen, Claudia Handpaints in Antique Jeans and Eat Your Veggies.

Of course I had to get the Malabrigo Sock yarn from the Loopy Ewe.  I got Malabrigo Lace in Natural and Malabrigo Sock in Tiziano Red and Cote D'Azure.

The Loopy Ewe is hurting my pocketbook!

Vote Today!

Thank God it's Election Day. I will be so glad it is over. I am so sick of the phone calls, the junk mail, and the TV commentators. It's as if they know who the winner is so why should we vote? I know there is free speech in this country, but they over analyze everything and I believe that they make things worse.

Back to knitting....... I finished the Sereknity socks I was working on. They were a fun knit. I used size 2 needles with a basic sock pattern. The colorway is Vineyard. I finished them just in the nick of time for the end of Socktoberfest 2008.

I also completed a dishcloth called Spooky Pumpkin Face by Rachel van Schie. I saw this on another blog and knew I had to have the pattern to knit it. I really am not fond of the seed or moss stitch, but it was too cute to pass up.

I'm currently working on afghan squares for some knitting groups I belong to and I am trying to finish up some projects that I started awhile ago. Next up is the sweater I started a number of years ago. I am determined to finish this so I can start a new sweater.

I still have my cold, but I found the perfect solution. I used the neti pot. I saw this on Oprah awhile ago when Doctor Oz was on the show and bought it, but was chicken to use it. I finally couldn't stand it and got it out a couple of days ago. What a great invention. It wasn't bad to use at all. You can find more information on it at this web site.

It's been awhile since I posted a picture of Maggie. She loves playing with a ball, so I had to buy her a football. She just loves it can't you tell?

Trick or Treat

Still have a cold (yes, I have decided that this is a cold and not allergies), but I have been feeling good enough to knit.

I completed my Halloween socks using Vesper Sock Yarn in the Trick or Treat colorway. I used size 1 1/2 needles. This is the second pair of socks I have knit using 2 socks on 2 needles and I am really starting to like this method. It seems to take longer, but once you are finished, both pairs are complete. I really like the Vesper Sock Yarn by Knitterly Things. Her colorways are terrific and the striping is certainly wonderful.

I also turned the heel on the Sereknity socks in the Vineyard colorway. I may even be able to finish these socks by the end of the week. I like this yarn and the colorway. I am using size 2 needles.

I may have been sick, but it didn't stop me from buying yarn. Kraemer's got more Indie Dyer in stock and I couldn't resist these colorways. I don't have color numbers or names but the yarn base is Louet and it is wonderful.

I was finally able to snag some sock yarn from Sweet Georgia. This is a superwash sock in the colorway Sunsets and Car Crashes. Can't wait to knit this up.

Then, I couldn't resist Yarn Chef's sock yarn. I got three skeins. From left to right: Trees in Spring (Bouillabaise, which is 100% superwash), On a Cruise (Minestrone, which is 75% superwash, 25% nylon), and Moldy Jack O Lantern (Bouillabaise). I love the colors and the names.

Finally, from the Loopy Ewe, I got 10 skeins of Dream in Color Classy in the Don't be blue colorway, which is exclusive to them. I am going to knit a sweater with this yarn. Can you believe it, I am going to knit a sweater? I am going to use the Twist pattern from Chic Knits. I plan to finish the sweater I started in 2004 first and then I will move on to this pattern. Wish me luck!

Well, off to knit. After all, I have much to do.

Is it a Cold or is it an Allergy

This was a rough week. It started on Monday, when I began to feel lousy. I had a slight sore throat and then I had to keep blowing my nose. Thank goodness it started in the middle of the afternoon. By the time I got home, I was down for the count and didn't resurface until Thursday. I did nothing but sleep and blow my nose. I was so glad when it stopped. I feel better but still am not sure if it is an allergy or a cold. I'm leaning towards a cold.

Thursday, I started knitting like crazy and I was sure ready for it since I have so many projects in the works.

I finished up socks using Creatively Dyed yarn in Watermelon Juice. I love this yarn. It is so soft and amazingly warm on the feet. I used size 2 double pointed needles with this basic sock pattern. I'm glad that I have more in my stash. It does have 10% cashmere in the mix and maybe that is having an effect on why I love the socks.

I started on the Vesper Sock yarn Trick or Treat socks last week. I got the yarn from Knitterly Things. I love how this yarn stripes. I really need to hurry up and finish them for Halloween. This is the second pair of socks that I am knitting on two circular needles (size 1-1/2) with a basic sock pattern and I am really starting to get the hang of it and enjoy the two needles.

I finished up the October Mid Month Dishcloth KAL. The pattern is called Autumn's Country Quilt by Sue Schaefer of Harvest Moon Designs. I used size 6 needles with Peaches and Creme cotton yarn in Yellow. I enjoyed this pattern.

It's so hard to believe that it is the end of October already and Christmas is around the corner. That also means tax season is near and I will be back to work again. Yikes, I got to get knitting!

I need more time to knit!

I have been getting quite a bit of knitting completed. I finished the starfish washcloth. This was really a fun cloth to knit and I highly recommend you all to try it. I used Pinky Stripes in Sugar and Cream with a size 7 needle.

I also finished the first sock of a basic sock pattern using Creatively Dyed yarn in the watermelon juice colorway. This sock is so soft. I have to cast on for the second sock. See, I should be doing these on two circular needles. But, I still love the double pointed needles.

I'm still working on the prayer shawl and the Serenknity socks. I was lucky to purchase some Halloween colored Vesper sock yarn from Knitterly Things. I was stalking the site the day she said she was going to put it up and boy did it go fast.

From left to right: Trick or Treat, Witchy Woman, Spooky, and a wee skein sock kit called the Great Googlie Mooglie. I think I will work on winding the Trick or Treat yarn into skeins and cast on today for that sock. After all, it is October and Halloween will be here before you know it.

I also got the next colorway in the Plucky Knitter sock club. It's called Lisa Carol Fremont. I love the light green colorway.

I also got some Rowan demin yarn for subscribing to their magazine. I love the denim color (I think that is my new favorite colorway). I got 6 skeins. Now I just have to decide what to knit with this yarn.

I am a bag freak and I was so excited to be able to buy a bag from Green Mountain Bags. She puts the bags up on a Thursday night and they go quickly. This is the medium carpet bag. The workmanship is wonderful. I would really like to get a bigger bag from her as well. I will just have to keep stalking her web site.

The end of the year is coming up so fast and there are so many projects I need to finish and want to start. I definately want to complete the sweater I started in 2004, a beach tote that is almost finished and a shrug that is close to completion. I just need more time to knit!

Two Socks on Two Circular Needles

I finally finished the River Rapids Sock. I was so excited because this was the first time using two cable needles. I am a die hard double point needle person, but I really liked this method. I had a bit of a problem picking up stitches at the heel, but did overcome it and the socks came out fine. It does take longer to knit, but then you are knitting two socks at a time and when you are finished, both socks are done. The trick is to use two different kinds of circular needles so you don't get mixed up. Another tip is to put the two balls of yarn in a plastic bag while you knit. It helps to control the yarn. I used size 2 needles (Knitpicks) and Indie Dyer yarn for this sock.

I love the heel on this sock. It looks like a star pattern.

So, I jumped on the bandwagen and started another pair of socks on two needles. This time I am knitting a basic stockinette sock using Sereknity yarn in the color vineyard. It's a light sportweight yarn and I love the feel of it. I am using size 2 needles. I ran into a problem casting this sock on the needles. I was getting a gap at the one side of the join. After casting on three times and ripping out the stitches, I cast onto double points, knit two rows and transferred the stitches to the circulars. How is that for determination?

I also worked on dishcloths last week. I finished the October KAL for my dishcloth group. The pattern is Frankenstein's Monster Cloth by brileyknits. I used size 7 needles with Peaches and Creme yarn in olive green. I enjoyed knitting this cloth and the size was smaller than other cloths that I have made before.

I also completed the dishcloth from Rachel's Knitting Group. The pattern is called Zig with a bit of Zag by Noreen Hunter Talbot. I used size 6 needles with Sugar and Cream yarn in cornflower blue. This pattern was really fun to knit. The size was much larger than any other that I have knit before.

My knitting class started another dishcloth for the month of October. It's the Starfish washcloth pattern. I am using size 7 needles with Sugar and Cream pinky stripes. I am enjoying the short rows on this dishcloth.

Last, but not least, I started on a prayer shawl. I'm not sure who I am going to give this to, but I have wanted to knit one for awhile. It's the standard pattern for a prayer shawl from the Prayer Shawl Ministry (knit 3, purl 3). I am using Lion Brand Homespun yarn in candy apple red with size 11 needles.

Off to knit some more!

Sock Yarn Clubs

Do you belong to any sock yarn clubs? I currently belong to the STR group and Plucky Knitter. In the recent past, I belonged to Yarn Pirate. I'm not sure how I really feel about sock clubs, but I do know that it's nice to receive a package in the mail with sock yarn that other knitters won't be able to buy for awhile.

I have belonged to the STR group since almost the beginning. I missed out on the first shipment. I love their yarn and most of the patterns are nice, but I currently have so much of it and the club is getting pretty expensive. I'm not sure if I will rejoin for next year. I recently got the September shipment. The colorway is wonderful and I like that it is the lightweight yarn.

I do like the itty bitty hanks of yarn and the little gifts we also get with the shipment.

I joined the Plucky Knitter yarn club when she started it. Her yarn is very nice, but again, I have so much of it that I canceled after this last three months is over. I also recently got a shipment from her and I really like the colorway (Cat) and the yarn.

I recently signed up for the Unique Sheep's Color Co op that starts in November. I'm looking forward to this club because I didn't know about her last one and there is one pattern for a sheep washcloth that I am anxiously awaiting to purchase. It won't be available until November. Her yarns look really nice.

I also signed up for the Intentions Yarn club that starts in February. Violet of Lime and Violet fame is behind this yarn club and the yarn looks wonderful. She apparently had some at the Loopy Ewe and it sold out very quickly.

Last but not least, I joined the Sundara Yarn Sock collection. I love her yarn, but it is often hard to get because it goes quickly. By joining her sock yarn club, I am guaranteed getting the yarn. I picked the warm collection. We will see how it goes.

I really wanted to get in the Loopy Ewe sock club and the Wollmeise Sock club, but I missed out on both of those. I was really disappointed. But, maybe things worked out for the best.

So, what yarn clubs do you belong to? Let me know how you like them.

Knit, Knit, Knit to My Hearts Content

This week is wonderful. I don't have to work, I don't have to go anywhere except where I want to go, I can get caught up on cleaning, and I can knit, knit, knit to my hearts content. I really need to knit since I have been buying yarn like crazy.

I couldn't resist ordering from the Loopy Ewe, so I got three skeins of Sereknity Sock Options perfect and a skein of Indigo Moon yarns.

From left to right: Indigo Moon: Wine Country, Sereknity: Vineyard, Violas, and Tree Frog. I can't wait to try out these yarns. Both are 100% Superwash merino. The Sereknity is a light sport weight yarn.

I also got my yarn order from Hangefaerbt. This is another yarn from Germany and the colorways looked really nice, so I ordered 5 skeins. It took awhile because she dyes it after you order the yarn.

It's 100% merino extra fine yarn. It appears to be superwash and you get 150 grams in each skein, so I may be able to get two pairs of socks out of each skein. From left to right, colors are: Fairy Garden, Atlantis, Green Elve, Army of Orcs, and Magic Rose.

My order of Fannies Fingering Weight yarn finally came in at Kraemer's Yarn Shop. I just love the colors called Kaleidoscope and Storm. This yarn is so soft.

I have been knitting a bit. I finished the September Mid Month KAL dishcloth called Woven Cable by Jamie Monaghan. This was a great way to practice cables and it came out really nice. I used size 7 needles and Peaches and Creme yarn in the Dessert Gold colorway.

The Saturday knitting class at Kraemer's is doing a dishcloth a month to practice different stitches. The cloth for September was the Nubbins cloth. I used size 7 needles with Sugar and Cream yarn in the Key Lime Pie colorway. This cloth was fun and I can see making this pattern as a placemat.

My River Rapid Socks on two circular needles are coming along. I hope to really work on these a lot this week. It's really not bad knitting two socks on two circular needles. There are some challenges, but there would be on anything you learn for the first time. I love the yarn (Indie Dyer using Louet Gems base) and the colorway.

Well, I'm off to knit! I cast on for another dishcloth and want to cast on for a Prayer Shawl plus work on my socks.