What a taxing week!

Whew, am I glad that this past week is over. What a busy week at work. I am not looking forward to this week either. At least by the end of this week we should be slowing down. I was exhausted on Friday.

What really made me happy was that I was able to get more Madelinetosh tosh sock from the Loopy Ewe. There went my plan about buying more yarn, but I couldn't resist it. I really love that yarn and I am a sockoholic too. From left to right: Tart, Peony, Bungalow, and Plum tree. Next sock I make will be from this yarn.

I also got two skeins of Online Supersocke 100 Savanne in colors 1033 and 1032. I saw 1032 (bottom color) being knit up by one of my knitting friends and loved it. I found it at Little Knits for half price and couldn't resist that bargain.

I did finish one sock using Mackintosh Iona fingering weight yarn in Misty Highlands. I love this yarn. It is nice and soft and I like how it striped. I plan to cast on for the second sock today.

When I'm done with the second sock, I plan on casting on for another cowl and then after that a sock using the Madelinetosh sock. Maybe I'll do a patterned sock in the tart for Valentines day. It will be late, but I will be ready for next year.

Work is Getting in the Way of Knitting

I am knitting, but not much because of working and it's only going to get worse the next three weeks. I can't wait until we reach the end of February and then work should settle down. Plus, I will only have two more months to go. Work just gets in the way of knitting.

Cowls are the big thing right now. They are small enough projects that use up yarn and don't take much time to knit. I finished the Noble Cowl using Madelinetosh worsted weight yarn in Cobalt with a size 6 needle. I really liked this pattern and the Madelinetosh yarn is really very nice.

I enjoyed this pattern so much that I searched for another cowl pattern to knit after I finish another project. I found the pattern Spiral Cowl by Knitty Gritty Thoughts. I want to use Madelinetosh worsted again. This pattern called for DK weight yarn. So, I did some calculations to determine how many stitches I would have to cast on since the Madelinetosh is worsted yarn. Guess what, Madelinetosh worsted is now a DK weight yarn. It really never was a worsted yarn so she changed the name to Madelinetosh DK. Guess, I don't have to make any adjustments when I finally do cast on.

I also finished the Janaury Mid Month dishcloth KAL. I used Peaches and Creme in light grape with size 7 needles. It's a nice pattern. It's called Frame my heart with lace cloth II.

After finishing the Noble cowl, I decided to cast on a sock using the basic sock pattern with Mackintosh Iona yarn (it's a blend of 80% merino, 10% nylon, 10% cashmere) in the Misty Highlands colorway. I am using a size 1 needle. It feels as if it's been so long since I had a sock on the needles.

I am still sticking to starting only one new project at a time. I haven't worked on any older projects, but I do want to finish the scarf I was working on prior to the New Year. I am close to finishing that and then I can start on another UFO.

I did get to my knitting class on Friday. This was the first Friday that I have been there since the New Year. It was really nice to see all my knititng friends. The Knitter's Edge got in the new Namaste Monroe bag. I really liked it (it's like a purse), so I bought one in the eggplant color. It fits all of my requirements for a handbag (an outside pocket, separate compartments, and lots of pockets).

Back to knitting my sock. Once I finish that I can start on the next cowl.

Reading is a great escape

It was so hectic in December that I forgot to list some of the books I read at the end of 2009.

I finished the following books in 2009:

Home to Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani

I love this series and any book by Adriana

Official Book Club Selection by Kathy Griffin

A great read. It makes me like her more

Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris

Another Sookie Stackhouse book and it was very entertaining

Firefly Cloak by Sheri Reynolds

This was a haunting and sad book

Dirty Little Angels by Chris Tusa

Good Read

Home Safe by Elizabeth Berg

I loved this and it made me order more books by this author.

In 2010, I have only read one book so far:

Miss Julia Meets Her Match by Ann B. Ross

Great read - Another series of books that I enjoy.

I love to read. It's a great escape.

Carpal Tunnel

Yes, I have carpal tunnel syndrome in my left hand. I have been trying to baby it and it has been getting better. My Doctor told me to take motrin and I am using a wrist and hand support by Everlast that I received today. It really supports and wrist and hand. Keeping my fingers crossed. I also had it in my right hand, but that is much better and doesn't hurt anymore.

I was able to complete two dishcloths. One was from my Monthly Dishcloth KAL group. It's called Happy 2010 by Alli. I used Robin's egg blue from Sugar and Cream with a size 6 needle.

The other was a KAL by the Love2Knit Dishcloth Group in Yahoo. It's called Snowbaby Washcloth by Elaine Fitzpatrick. I used Peaches and Creme in white with a size 6 needle.

I'm still sticking to not buying any yarn for awhile in 2010, but I did get some prior to the new year. I got a kit from Simply Socks that included Tilli Tomas Milan yarn in the Joyeux Noel colorway. I also got a sock bag and some stitch markers. I had ordered this in November and it came right before Christmas.

My darling husband got me a Gift Certificate for Christmas to my favorite yarn shop (The Knitter's Edge), so I bought Bijou Basin Ranch Tibetan Dream in the natural colorway. I may make socks with this yarn or a shawlette. It's 85% yak and 15% nylon. I also bought two skeins of Araucania Toronao in color 403 (a pink/blue combination) and color 407 (a green/orange combination) to make some cowls.

From Intentions Yarn club I got a variety of small skeins of different colors to make a pair of socks. I love the colors.

I can't believe that it's mid January already. I'm glad it's going quickly. Spring can't get here fast enough for me. I'm looking forward to being back out on the porch reading and knitting. Maggie will like it too.

Resolutions

Once again I need to revisit what my goals were for 2009 and decide what new resolutions to make for 2010.

Goals for 2009

1. Organize closets and cabinets - have another yard sale to purge items - I did clean out one closet, but didn't have a yard sale.

2. Update blog at least once a week - I may have not posted every week, but I did have 57 blog posts in 2009.

3. Definately do some stashbusting and buy less (much less) new - Didn't happen

4. Knit 12 pairs of socks - I knit 14 pairs of socks

5. Knit a Christmas stocking - Didn't do this either, but haven't found the pattern that makes me want to knit one.

6. Finish some UFO's - Did start to do this at the end of the year.

7. Knit a Clapotis - Didn't happen

8. Knit a Central Park Hoodie - Started this and have the front, back and part of a sleeve completed. It's a UFO.

9. Finish updating Shelfari with the books I have read and the books on my bookshelf that have not been read. - I did complete this and feel so organized now.

10. Lose weight and exercise - I did lose a couple pounds, but did not exercise.

11. Read 65 books - I read 72 books

12. Do some charity knitting - Didn't happen

Goals for 2010

1. Organize closets and cabinets - Definately start to purge items by having a yard sale. Purge is the word and living with less stuff.

2. Update my blog once a week.

3. I will not buy any new yarn from January through April and buy sparingly the rest of the year. I need to knit from my stash. I will be in at least 3 yarn clubs, so that should help keep me happy.

4. Knit 12 pairs of socks.

5. Finish some UFO's - At least 9 items

6. Knit a clapotis

7. Lose weight and exercise

8. Read 65 books

9. Clean off old computers and recycle them as well as some old printers.

This list is a little smaller than last year. Maybe I will be more successful.

What I knit in 2009

28 Dishcloths

2 Scarves

14 pairs of Socks

1 Cowl

1 Prayer Shawl

This really doesn't look like much compared to last year.

UFO's

Multnomah Shawl

Girasole

Leaf Lace Scarf

Central Park Hoodie

Silky tie Wrap

Orange Sweater

Shrug

Candle Flame Shawl

Habu Scarf

Ripple Afghan

Black Fetching Gloves

Knit One Below Scarf

Thrumbed Mitten

Mystery Stole 3

Chevron Scarf

Square a Long Afghan

Snowflake Cloth

Tax Season has started and that may slow me down, but I want to make more time for reading and knitting, so I relax. Only 104 more days until April 17th, but who is counting?

A Decade Gone - Time Flies

I can't believe that we are going to be starting a new decade. Time sure flies as you get older. I can remember being a kid and time went so slow. Things looked bigger than too. It's amazing how your perspective changes as you age.

Well, I haven't been knitting much over the holidays and soon it will be tax season and I don't know how much knitting I will get to do then, but I'm sure going to try.

My plan is to finish up some works in progress and only start one new project and finish it before starting another new project, while I'm doing that. I also plan to knit from my stash. I will be in two sock yarn clubs and a cotton yarn club and except for getting the yarn prepacks from Peaches and Creme for my KAL group, I won't be buying any yarn. Oh, I almost forgot I have two gift certificates to use and I have some Sweet Georgia yarn on order. Let's see how well I do.

I did get some purchases in before the end of 2009 though. I bought more Madelinetosh worsted from the Loopy Ewe as well as a skein of Spirit Trail Fiberworks. From left to right: Spirit Trail Fiberworks Sunna in Tuscany color, Madelinetosh worsted in Cobalt blue, Silver Fox, Turquoise, and Sequoia.

From the Knitter's Edge I got some Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Chunky and Encore worsted. Both are in red for scarves or cowls or mittens (not sure what yet).

I also got the Claudia Handpainted French Scarf kit from The Knitter's Edge. It uses a Boucle yarn and a kid mohair yarn. The colorway is called Copper Pennies. I love the name since I lived near a restaurant called the Kopper Penny. It's no longer there anymore. It burned down, but if anyone gives directions in that area they refer to the Kopper Penny and amazingly enough people know what they are taking about. What's with that?

I got a cute yarn holder from the Knitter's Edge. It's made by Lantern Moon and it's called a knit out box. This should keep my skein of sock yarn from getting messed up as I knit a sock.

Last but not least, I have to end the year with a picture of Maggie in a new bed I bought her for Christmas. At first she only wanted to lay on top of it, but gradually she is getting use to going inside of it. In fact she is in it now. She likes to sleep under the covers at night, so I figured that she would like this too. Doesn't she look content? When she goes in it now, she is all the way in the bed so you can't see her. She doesn't want to admit it, but she likes it.

Maggie and I hope you have a Happy and Healthy New Year. 2009 sure was interesting. I hope 2010 gets better.

Merry Christmas

Not Much Knitting Going On

Not much knitting going on here. I still have to wrap some gifts and do some cleaning. Christmas is coming too fast. I did get to finish the Mid Month KAL for my dishcloth group. I don't know the name of the cloth, but Janet Nogle designed it. I used size 7 needles with Victorian Christmas from Peaches and Creme. I love how this turned out.

I have been buying up some yarn though. I got more Bugga from the Sanguine Gryphon. From left to right: Milkweed beetle, Daring Jumping spider, Dainty Sulphur, and Longhorned Beetle.

Then from Sundara yarn, I got Tree House and Sleep Walking the baby.

I bought some Encore yarn to make some kimono sweaters. I got Color 1204, which is a brown color and Encore Tweed in color 789, which is a gray color.

And finally, I got Handmaiden Lady Godvia in the Cedar colorway to make the Cedarleaf shawlette.

Off to do some more cleaning as I am running out of time.

Acapella Groups

I'm falling in love with acapella singing groups. First I found the Perpetuum Jazzile. They are on YouTube with their song Africa.

Then I found the group Straight No Chaser. They are know for their 12 Days of Christmas. Two of the members are from the Lehigh Valley area in PA.

Are you watching the Sing Off on NBC? I am in love with the Beelzebubs. I hope they win.

I have albums from the first two and plan on buying an album of the Beelzebubs. They are just great!

Christmas is Coming.....too fast

Geez, I can't believe that next Friday it will be Christmas. I think I have all the presents I need (although a few haven't arrived yet....yikes!). I just have to wrap and pickup the cookies I ordered. Much easier than baking.

I have been busy and not knitting enough, but I was able to finish the prayer shawl I started last year. It's the basic prayer shawl pattern (k3,p3) and I used Lion Brand Homespun in Candy Apple Red with size 11 needles. This was the first prayer shawl I made and there are a few minor things I would do differently next time.

I also finished the December KAL in my dishcloth group. It's a cute pattern called the Wrapper Cloth by Rhonda White. I used a size 7 needle with peaches and cream peppermint yarn. It's a good cloth to wrap a bar of soap in for a present.

I am currently working on finishing a scarf and the last dishcloth of the year.

I did buy some new yarn. I got Debbie Bliss Aran Cashmerino in a purple colorway to make a shawl.

And some Silky wool in a purple colorway to make a vest. Guess I like purple.

I also got some Pima Petite yarn from Unique Sheep's Rubber Ducky club. The yarn color is Toy Land and I also got a candle and some soap with it.

It finally started snowing here today. It's hard to say how much we will get, but it's nice to be home and not have to worry about going anywhere. Guess, It's a good day to do some knitting.

18 More to Go

Yeah! I finished the last sock that I am going to knit for 2009. I used a basic sock pattern with Punta Merisock in color HP68 with size 1.5 needles. This yarn is nice and soft.

While I'm not going to knit any more socks this year, that didn't stop me from getting more sock yarn. I have been dying to get more Sanguine Gryphon Bugga yarn and was able to snag 4 skeins. The colors from left to right are: Rough Fungus, Malachite Butterfly (picture is not good, but this is green), Nebraska conehead, and Ruddy Jaggerwing. I love this yarn because it has cashmere in it (20%!).

I also got the Color co-op yarn for December. The yarn is from Mama Llama and the color is Snowflake. The yarn is 80% merino, 10% cashmere, and 10% nylon.

I also got Unique Sheep's Verve Gradience yarn in the color Hurricane Meadow. The colors are coordinated and will knit up really nice.

I feel good that I have been finishing off old projects. I don't know how many I will get finished by the end of the year. I'm not going to rush, but I will be glad to put a good dent into these projects. I only have 18 more to go.

Checking projects off my list

Well, I am sticking to my guns and trying to finish off some projects. I haven't started on anything new (except for my dishcloth KAL's) and don't plan on doing that until after the first of the year.

I finished my Multiplicity Scarf. This was a fun knit. It knit up quickly using size 13 needles and the yarn did the work. I only had to use two skeins. It got quite long and I think I will give this to my husband as a Christmas present.

I also completed the November Mid-Month KAL. It's called Tina's knit Angel Dishcloth. This was also a quick knit. I used Peaches and Creme yarn in Cream with a size 7 needle. I would change how I attached the head to the body, but except for that I thought it was really nice.

Another quick project I completed was the Big Softie Cowl. I finished it and found a mistake so I threw it away since it was so hard to tear out after sewing the ends in. I discovered that I was using a size 13 needle and it was suppose to be a 15. So, there was a reason to start over. I finished this today. The yarn is very soft. I guess that is why it's called Big Softie yarn.

I am almost finished with the last pair of socks that I am knitting for the year. The yarn is Punta merisock in color HP68. I am using size 1.5 needles. I should be able to finish it off this week.

I'm still finding yarn to buy. From the Loopy Ewe I got the following:

From left to right: Madelinetosh - Tosh sock in the Cedar colorway, Mackintosh Iona fingering in the Taurus colorway, Sweet Georgia Tough Love sock in Lakeshore Drive and Rainforest.

Also, Monkeypal in the colorway Violets Revenge and Madelinetosh worsted yarn to make the Mara shawl in the Oxblood colorway.

Last but not least from the Loopy Ewe is Madelinetosh tosh sock in Lichen 2 colorway.

The Knitter's Edge had Sidar Big Softie on sale, so I got several skeins to make scarves, a hat and cowls in Black, Red, White, and Purple. This yarn knits up fast.

Well off to start finishing another project. I think I will try and finish off my prayer shawl this week in addition to my punta sock. I am on a roll and don't want to stop. Three projects finished and 19 more to go.

Ready for Christmas

I finished my Jingle Sock! One project down and 21 to go. I really liked this yarn and the colorway. Yarn is Zen String fingering weight and color is Jingle. I used size 1 needles. I am now ready for Christmas.

I did start the November mid-month KAL for my dishcloth group. I believe it's going to be a dress. I am using Peaches and Creme yarn in the cream colorway with a size 7 needle. I wanted to take a picture while still knitting it because I am breaking in my size 7 zephyr acrylic needles from knitpicks. There are many conflicting opinions on these needles. I have heard that they are sticky, but I'm not finding that to be the case. They feel great on the hand and I can knit pretty fast on them. So, I may just buy a complete set.

I also wanted to show a picture of the Multnomah shawl that I have started. I saw a mistake, so I ripped it out and I'm now back to where I was originally. I really like the pattern and love the yarn. I am using String Theory Caper Sock in the Oban colorway with size 3 needles. The yarn has some cashmere in it and it is so soft.

I had planned on ordering more of this yarn, but I was excited to find that my local yarn shop - The Knitter's Edge - is now carrying it. How ironic! The week before, I was just commenting to a woman who works in the shop that they need to get some sock yarn with cashmere in it. I even pulled out this shawl that I was working on and showed her how great it was. Coincidently, they had it on order. I landed out buying three skeins of it since I couldn't decide which color to buy. I got Peridot, Nerrivik and Black Cherry. Then I found out that Pagewood Farms Alyeska yarn, that also has cashmere in it, is on order too. I love the Knitter's Edge.

Well, off to work on my Multiplicity scarf. I hope to finish it this week.

Twenty-two Works in Progress????

I am shocked. I finally decided to make a list of projects that I have started and haven't finished. Can you believe that I have 22! I am beginning to think that I need some serious help, like a person from AA. I start projects but don't finish them. So, here they are in a list:

1. Big Softie Cowl

2. Jingle Sock

3. Multnomah Shawl

4. Multiplicity Scarf

5. Punta Sock

6. Girasole

7. Leaf lace scarf

8. Central Park Hoodie

9. Silky Tie Wrap

10. Orange Sweater

11. Shrug

12. Candle Flame Shawl

13. Habu scarf

14. Ripple Afghan

15. Black Fetching gloves

16. Prayer Shawl

17. Knit one below scarf

18. Thrumbed mitten

19. Mystery Stole 3

20. STR scarf

21. Square a long afghan

22. Berrocco snowflake

There, I have them all listed. So, what am I going to do about it? Well, except for starting 3 more dishcloths in my Monthly dishcloth group, I am NOT (I repeat - I am NOT) going to start any more projects through the end of 2009. I am going to try and finish off some of these projects before the end of the year. I know that I won't finish all of them, but at least I should shorten the list.

This week, my goal is the Jingle sock and the Multiplicity scarf. Let's see how well I do. Every week until the end of the year, I am going to attempt to finish off or restart to finish something on this list.

Do you have a lot of works in process?

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells

Yes, I know, it's still too early for Christmas. But, I found some cool sock yarn that is great for Christmas so I just have to sing when I talk about it. I got the sock yarn from Zen String. The top picture is Bambewe in a peppermint colorway. It's suppose to stripe like a candy cane. The bottom picture is Lotus Toes in the jingle colorway (now you understand why I was singing).

I also got a sport weight yarn called Verde in the Jingle colorway.

So, I'm getting in the Christmas spirit and already started on one sock using the Lotus Toes with a size 1 needle and a basic sock pattern. I have already finished one sock.

While I am still working on several projects, I did get the November dishcloth KAL finished. It's called Tree. I used Peaches and Creme in Hunter with a size 7 needle.

Now can you see why I am singing Jingle Bells? Between the sock and the dishcloth I am getting in the Christmas spirit.

But, Halloween isn't that far gone, so I was lucky to get a skein of Goth Socks in the colorway Fright Night from Rainy Days and Wooly Dogs. It's 100% superwash yarn and should stripe really nicely. This is tough yarn to get. You have to be real quick.

I also got some yarn club shipments. From the Unique Sheep's Rubber Ducky Club, I got Pima Petite in Pumpkin Patch. It also came with a cool sheep soap and a pumpkin pie stitch marker.

From the Loopy Ewe, I got my last sock club shipment for the year. The yarn is Numma Numma in The Usual. The colorway is Red Bartlett Pear. It's 100% superwash yarn. I also got a yarn bobbin and kitchener tag from Karatstix as well as a sock pattern. I love her things and have also purchased some of it. She will make it to order, but you may have to wait awhile. It's worth it though.

Well, off to knit the second Jingle sock. "Jingle all the wayyyyyyy"......