Cleaning and Organizing my House

I have been very ambitious cleaning and organizing closets and cabinets.  I still have a long way to go, but I am chipping away at the job.  I am almost finished with the second floor and have started on the basement.  You should see the garbage I put out for the trash man.  I am not throwing everything out as I am also putting things away for a yard sale.  It feels good to get organized though.  Thank goodness for the Container store.

As a result, I haven’t gotten much knitting done.  I seem to have started more projects or want to start more projects rather than finishing things up.

I did complete the June Mid Month KAL.  The pattern is called Peacock in Color by Janet Nogle.  I used Peaches and Creme in white and delft blue with a size 7 needle.  I really liked this pattern and it was fun to knit up.

I started another pair of socks.  The pattern is called Summer Lovin socks by Dawn Matkovic.  I’m using size 1 needles with Sweet Georgia superwash sock in the orchid colorway.  I really like the pattern and the color.

I got a cute kit from The Knitter’s Edge.  It’s a flag hotpad using Fantasy Naturale yarn in red, white, and blue.  The kit will make 2 hotpads and it was only $5.00.

I also got the June shipment from the Rubber Ducky club.  The yarn is Pima Petite in the colorway lime in the coconut (it makes me want to sing).  We also got a bar of mimi’s soap in coconut lime verbena and a moisturing sugar scrub in mint lemonade.  I love the color of the yarn.

Well, off to knit.  I have a goal this week to try and finish off some projects so I can start some new ones.   

I have my knitting mojo back

I am so glad.  I was knitting, but really wasn’t finishing anything.  This past week I finished the toe up sock I was working on.  The yarn was Online Candy Color 1177.  I used size 2 needles.  I am so excited because I figured out Judy’s magic cast on and also did a stretchy bind off.  I really enjoyed knitting these socks and will definitely do another toe up sock.

I also completed the June Monthly Dishcloth KAL.  The pattern was Happy Father’s Day by Leah Porter.  I used size 7 needles with Peaches and Creme in an olive colorway.  This was a cute cloth to knit.

I started an afghan for Maggie.  I am using a Ripple afghan pattern by Plymouth yarns with Fantasy Naturale in color 9005 (purple) and size 8 needles.  I am really enjoying the pattern and also the yarn.  The pattern calls for two different colors, but I am only using one color.

Since, I am enjoying this so much, I bought another color (9703) to make another afghan in a different pattern.  The yarn is a multi color in pinks, orange, and yellow.

I also started a scarf using Araucania Ulmo Multy yarn in color 715 (purple and green) and size 7 needles.  The pattern is called Ulmo Multy Wave scarf.  I figured that this would knit up quickly.  It only calls for one ball of yarn.

Last, but not least, I started the Buttons Cardigan for my niece’s baby.  The yarn is Katia Tobago in color 93 and size 5 needles.  I don’t know the sex of the baby yet and yes, she wants to know so she can plan on what colors to buy.  I had to get some purple in the sweater (purple is her favorite color), so I went with this yarn.  I hope to finish this quickly, so I can give it to her right away.

I have finished the collar and started on the body of the sweater.  There is no seam sewing as this is a top down sweater and you can put buttons on either side of the sweater.  I hope she likes it.   

I love to Read

I have been reading quite a bit.  Summer is a great time for reading.  I am currently on track to reach my goal of 65 books.

I have read the following:

Blink by Malcolm Gladwell

Game Change by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin – very interesting book.

Miss Julia’s School of Beauty by Ann B. Ross

The Christmas Angel by Thomas Kinkade and Katherine Spencer

The Forgetful Bride by Debbie Macomber

When Christmas Comes by Debbie Macomber

Joy School by Elizabeth Berg

Poor Little Bitch Girl by Jackie Collins

A Christmas to Remember by Thomas Kinkade and Katherine Spencer

Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris

Lakeshore Christmas by Susan Wigg

Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah – I cried and cried at the end.

Durable Goods by Elizabeth Berg

Saver the Moment by Nora Roberts

I’m going to be a Great Aunt!

My niece is pregnant with her first child.  We don’t know if she is having a girl or boy yet, but we do know that her due date is November 12th.  I’m so excited for her.  The great thing about this is that I now get to knit baby items.

With that said, I bought Katia Tobago yarn in color 53 to make Cabin Fever’s Button’s Cardigan.  It’s a top down cardigan.  I started this today.  I want to give it to her as soon as she knows the sex of the baby.

Here is the yarn:

And, here is a picture (shown in another yarn) of how the sweater will look when I am finished.

Too Many Projects

Do you ever feel as if you have too many projects going on the needles?  I think I am overwhelmed and the problem is that I want to start more projects.  This wouldn’t be too bad if I was finishing anything, but it’s not working out that way.

I did finish a dishcloth.  Wow!  It was my Monthly dishcloth groups mid-month KAL.  The pattern was Sea Waves by Andi Worthy.  I used size 7 needles with Peaches and Creme in Sea Mist. I love knitting dishcloths because I at least finish them!

I am close to finishing my toe up sock.  Hopefully, I will be able to do that this weekend.

Maybe my problem is that I find too much yarn that I like, which makes me want to knit it into something really cool.

Yes, I bought another skein of Bugga.  I just had to have it.  It was a color that was not in my stash (well at least a color that I didn’t have in Bugga).  The color is Dragon Millipede. Isn’t it pretty?

I also couldn’t resist stalking the Numma Numma shop for some of her yarn.  I love it when I stalk and I’m able to snag some skeins of yarn.  I got the Usual in Pie Please, No Substitutions and Extra Olives.  I just had to have this yarn since I am knitting the Angee sock pattern in Toasty and love the yarn.

Then I had to shop at Webs to get some yarn for a future project that I will blog about at a later date.  The yarn is Baby Ull in a natural colorway.  While shopping for this yarn, I also picked up a skein of Crazy Zauberball in color 1511 ombre.  This really knits up nicely for a shawl or sock.

I guess I have to stop finding more projects to knit and finish projects that I have started. 

Loopy Ewe Sock Club

I’m so excited that I got my next shipment of the Loopy Ewe sock club.  I love this club.  The Loopy Ewe does such a great job, but in a way I am sad.  See after this year, I have to go back into the lottery to see if I get in the club again.  While I know it’s great to give other’s a turn at getting in the club, I will miss the great shipments if I don’t get in.

This month, we got a skein of Fleece Artist yarn.  I believe the color is Daffodil.  It’s 80% superwash and 20% nylon.  There were two patterns included:  A sock pattern and a lightweight shawlette and we got a set of the Namaste Oh Snap bags in red.  I really like these bags.

 

I am so loving the Sanguine Gryphon’s Bugga and Skinny Bugga yarn.  I have been so successful at getting her yarn from her website.  This last time, I got Skinny Bugga in Blue Metalmark and Tomato Frog and I got 4 skeins of Bugga in Rainbow Scarab.  I have been dying to get Rainbow Scarab since I saw it knitted up in the Multnomah shawl pattern.  Fortunately, this color was available in unlimited skeins for a short time in her shop.  I just love the Sanguine Gryphon.

 

I also got 9 skeins of Fantasy Naturalle in 9005, a purple colorway, from the Knitter’s Edge to make a blanket for Maggie.  She loves to be covered and I think she will like the color since it’s one of my favorites.  They had a great buy on this yarn ($3.00 per skein).  I couldn’t resist.

I am in a cleaning and organizing mood this spring.  So, I reorganized my yarn stash.  I tried putting all the sock yarn in one place and all the same brands together.  I found out one thing.  I am a yarnoholic and I need to stop buying yarn.  Help!

Knitting Socks

I have really been knitting socks right now.  I am still working on my toe up sock.  I’m really enjoying this, who would have thought it.  I finished one sock and figured out how to do Judy’s Magic Cast on to start the second sock.  I love the yarn.  It’s Online yarn in the Candy Color 1177.  It’s so colorful and it only cost $10 for a skein.

I also started another sock using Numma Numma toasty in the colorway Grape Jam.  This yarn is really nice to work with.  Now I know why everyone buys it up so quickly when the Loopy Ewe has it in her store.  I am using a size 1 1/2 needle and I’m knitting the Angee pattern by Cookie A.

 

Here is a closeup of the pattern:

 

I finished the May KAL for my Dishcloth Group.  The pattern was the Mother’s Day Rose by RaAnn Clegg   I used Peaches and Creme yarn in the baby pink color with size 5 needles.

I better get back to knitting my socks.

New Computer

I got a new Dell computer.  It was time to upgrade and since it appeared that Windows 7 worked better than Vista, I decided that now was the time.  I was really impressed with Dell, as they originally gave a ship date at the end of April, but it shipped sooner and I had it about 2 weeks earlier than they originally said I would.

Windows 7 is sure different than Windows XP, but I am getting use to it.  I also got Office 2007 and can upgrade to Office 2010 when it comes out for free.

One new feature I discovered was Windows Live Writer.  It’s a great program to use to write my blog.  I can do all sorts neat editing without using HTML.  I am using it now to write this post.

So I can check out adding photos, I am attaching a picture of the Wool Girl Sock club April Shipment.  This is so cool.  I got a large tote bag with an additional medium and smaller bag, A skein of Pippi sock yarn from Chameleon Colorworks in the Lily of the Valley color way, three patterns (sock, headband, and scarf), Lily of the Valley scented goat milk soap, a fabric covered tape measure, a beaded stitch marker, and a pen.  It’s a great package.

Don’t you just love the rounded corners on the picture?  I was able to do that with Windows Livewriter.  I love this program!

I'm Knitting a Toe Up Sock!

Can you believe it. I said that I would never knit a toe up sock. I had no interest, yet here I am knitting a toe up sock and I am loving it. Go figure. A whole new world has opened up for me with socks. Wendy Johnson here I come!

I am using a basic toe up sock pattern with size 2 needles and Online Supersocke 100 in the Candy color 1177. I really like how this sock is striping. My knitting instructor cast on the toe for me, but I really need to learn how to do that. I guess I will be watching You Tube videos for awhile until I get the hang of it. I am knitting the sock with a heel flap rather than a short row heel.

I also completed the April Mid-Month KAL. The pattern is Growing up cloth by Janet Nogle. I used size 7 needles with Peaches and Creme in the dalmation colorway. I wish it would have striped differently, but I did like the color. The striping makes the cloth look like it has an X doesn't it?

I am enjoying the Online sock yarn so much, I bought another skein in color 1180. Online is one of my favorite sock yarns.

I'm also in love with Sundara Sock yarn and Sanguine Gryphon Bugga. I got more Sundara Sock yarn in the colors Step by Step, Ember over Flame and Sunburst Sojurn.

I got Bugga in the colors Twice Stabbed Lady Beetle and Cuban Cockroach.

I am in heaven!

Where Have I Been?

It's been awhile since I have blogged. Well, at least three weeks. I can't believe it's been that long. I will have to put up a couple of posts to get caught up.

Tax Season ended with a bang! It was busy and after April 15th, I was busy wearing the other hat of my job. Our fiscal year ends today and I was busy getting projects completed so the year could be closed out.

I have been doing some knitting. I finished the chemo hat I was making. The pattern was the Easy Ribbed Jeanne Worsted Chemo Hat. I used Jeanne yarn in a denim blue with size 5 needles. I was just about done with the hat and realized that I used size 5 needles instead of size 6, but I think it came out okay. The Jeanne yarn is very soft and it was a fun knit. I will knit more chemo hats with this yarn, but I need to get back to finishing off some other projects and knitting some socks.

Then, I finally finished the Dancing Bamboo socks. I used Madelinetosh tosh sock yarn in ginger with size 1.5 needles. I really liked this pattern and it was easy to remember the repeat rows. The yarn was nice to work with.

Two of my other knitting friends also knitted this pattern and we posed for a picture. We all used the Madelinetosh tosh sock yarn, but used different colorways in the same color family. Don't our feet look great?

Tax season hasn't prevented me from buying sock yarn. I purchased two skeins of Hazel Knits Artisan Sock yarn in Chuckanut and Purple Hazel.

I couldn't resist buying more Bugga yarn by the Sanguine Gryphon. This yarn is so soft. I got Cotton Stainer and Northern Purple Gold Beetle.

Then I bought three different colorways of yarn from Birds n Yarn of Lorna Laces Shephard Sock in Parakeet, Jungle Stripe, and Tickled Pink.

Aren't all of these colors great? Can't wait to really start knitting up socks this year.

I also got my next shipment from the Rubber Ducky Club. The yarn this month was in the colorway Spring Break. I also got Mimi's soap in the honeysuckle rose scent and a moisturizing bath bomb in cherry limeade and peach.

Now I'm off to wind some yarn to make socks.

Relaxing by Reading

While I haven't been knitting that much during tax season, I have been reading. I think it's an escape from the taxing world.

Here is my list:

Twenties Girl - by Sophie Kinsella

Promise Texas - by Debbie Macomber - I loved this series of books

Cindy and the Prince - by Debbie Macomber

Some Kind of Wonderful - by Debbie Macomber

Betty in the Skiy with a Suitcase - by Betty Thesky - funny stories about flying

The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell

Home Song - by Elizabeth Berg - great author - I love her books

A Gathering Place - by Thomas Kinkade and Katherine Spencer

The Pull of the Moon - by Elizabeth Berg

A New Leaf - by Thomas Kinkade and Katherine Spencer

The Christmas Basket - by Debbie Macomber

The Snow Bride - by Debbie Macomber

The Art of Mending - by Elizabeth Berg

A Christmas Promise - by Thomas Kinkade and Katherine Spencer

Bed of Roses - by Nora Roberts

Dead as a Doornail - by Charlaine Harris - A Sookie Stackhouse book that I really enjoyed

A Year of Pleasures - by Elizabeth Berg

I'm currently reading Game Change about the last Presidential election. What an interesting book! So far I am pretty close to target on my goal of reading 65 books this year. After April 15th, I will probably be reading and knitting like crazy since I will have more free time.

Yarn Buying

Don't you just love finding a color yarn you like and feel that you just have to buy it? Maybe it's the color, maybe it's the price, maybe it's a particular project you can see yourself knitting, maybe it's just the yarn, or maybe you just have to have it.

Well, that happened to me this week. First I decided to buy some yarn from the Loopy Ewe. I love Madelinetosh dk and Sweet Georgia superwash sock yarn, so I found myself ordering Victorian Gothic, Copper Penny and Grove in Madelinetosh dk and Orchid in Sweet Georgia.

I just had to order the Copper Penny. See, when I was a teenager, we didn't have many fast food restaurants, but we did have the Kopper Penny. Everyone knew where the Kopper Penny was, even if you didn't live in the area. It became a landmark, even after it burned down and they built a gas station/convenience store there. So, whenever someone gives directions in that area, they refer to the Kopper Penny and everyone knows where it is and how to get where they want to go. So, this skein of yarn will be a rememberance for me.

When Blue Mountain Fiber Arts initially came out with a sock club, I joined. I joined for three years. Then last year, I decided not to. Well, the first shipment was a beautiful skein of blue yarn with a pattern for a sock with beads called the Queen of Beads. I just had to have this yarn and the pattern. I waited patiently and they finally offered it outside of the sock club. I finally got around to ordering it and also had to order two other skeins of yarns. So I got Froggin and Valentina in the medium weight and My Blue Heaven in the lightweight.

Then, I go to my favorite yarn shop (The Knitter's Edge) and she has Online sock yarn for $10 a skein. I love Online sock yarn and the colors were great. I got color 1177, 1121, and 1176.

Now, I have to get knitting and it's perfect timing since tax season is almost over.

I did finish one project. It is the April KAL for my Monthly Dishcloth Group. The pattern is Teddy Bear by Sue Mrenna. I have to say that I thought it was a rabbit until I found out the name of the pattern and realized that I was looking at it upside down. I used size 6 needles with Peaches and Creme yarn in the camel colorway.

Happy Easter

What a beautiful day it was today. A great day to enjoy with family and friends. It has been so nice this weekend that we got out our porch furniture and were able to sit out and enjoy the weather. Tax season is winding down and I have visions of sitting out on my back porch reading and knitting. What a joy!

I forgot to post a picture of my finished Spiral Cowl. I really enjoyed knitting this one. I used Madelinetosh (formerly dk) yarn in the sequoia colorway with size 6 needles.

I got the final two shipments from the Intentions yarn club. Friendship yarn, which is 50% alpaca, 30% merino and 20% silk yarn in a grey colorway.

Then the other shipment was roving. I was disappointed in this because I didn't think that this was a fiber club, but at least I received all shipments. It sure took long enough and I don't think that this club was what it was supposted to be. Lesson learned: Be careful of the yarn clubs that you join.

I had a gift certificate from the Knitter's Edge and spent it well. I got the new Cherry Tree Fingerpaints yarn in the Cider House colorway.

Then, I also got the same yarn in the Morning Glory colorway, Zauberball in a pink, white and green colorway and Jeannee dk yarn in a green and fushia colorway to make more chemo caps.

I'm ready for tax season to end so I can knit and read on my back porch. Can't wait.

March is almost over

I can't believe how fast March has flown by and it's been two weeks since I have blogged. Where did the time go? I'm certainly not upset about it as I will be glad when April 15th arrives and my life gets back to normal.

I have been knitting, but not that much. I finished the March Mid Month dishcloth KAL. The pattern is Fruited Plains by Andi Worthy. I used a size 7 needle with Peaches and Creme Shades of Spring yarn. I really enjoyed this pattern.

Then I couldn't resist knitting the March KAL from Rachel's knitting group. I liked the pattern with cables. I used a size 7 needle with Peaches and Creme yarn in burgundy.

The Knitter's Edge is encouraging it's knitters to make chemo hats for our local hospitals. They put Jeanne worsted yarn on sale and I bought a gray color.

And a blue (denim) color

I started with a pattern, but had so much trouble with it that I switched to an easier one called Easy Ribbed Jeannee Worsted Chemo Hat. It's working up really nicely and I'm enjoying it. I'm using a size 6 needle with the Jeannee in the blue colorway.

I'm still have my Dancing Bamboo socks to finish and my scarf. Maybe this week I will work on both of them.....maybe.