Where did May Go?

I can’t believe that tomorrow is June 1st.  May really flew by.  My days have been filled with cleaning out the house, reading and some knitting.

I finally finished the Kirby Wirby Rockin my Banana Clip to the NKOTB concert socks.  I used a size 1 needle with a basic sock pattern.  These are for my niece.  I love this color.  I may just have to knit another pair for myself.

I have also been working on the Willow cowl.  I really am enjoying this pattern, but I need to rip out rows as I will not have enough yarn to finish.  I would really need 2 skeins of yarn for this cowl, but since I bought this yarn quite awhile ago, I only have this one skein.  I am using Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock in the color Muddy Autumn Rainbow with a size 5 needle.

I bought two skeins of Plymouth Mushishi yarn in color 23.  It’s a blue green color.  I plan on knitting the "L’enveloppe pattern with this yarn.

House Cleaning

Well, I haven’t been knitting too much.  I have been busy cleaning out the house.  What a job it is.  You just don’t realize how much junk you have.  I have 3 floors (Basement, First Floor, Second Floor) pretty much under control.  I do have some odds and ends to do on each floor, but I feel real good about it and everything is pretty organized.  I am getting burned out though, so I am going to take a little break and will then tackle the attic.

What I really get a charge out of are the garbage pickers that stalk the alley’s.  Don’t get me wrong.  I am grateful that they are taking what I have out to take.  But, I can put something out and before you know it, it’s gone.

I have been working on several projects, but finally completed one sock of a pair for my niece.  The yarn is Kirby Wirby.  The color is Rockin my banana clip to the NKOTB concert.  I am using a basic sock pattern with a size 1 needle.  I love this color!

I have purchased more self striping sock yarn.  I just can’t resist it.  I got Vesper Sock yarn in the colors Love Story and April Showers bring May flowers.

KirbyWirby in the color Rainbow.

Fab Funky Fibers in the color Northern Lights.

So, I guess I better get knitting!

100 Pairs of Socks

Can you believe it?  Yes, I finished my 100th pair of socks.  I’m calling this one my Easter sock, although it got finished after Easter.  But, it looks so springy and Easterish.  The yarn is from Gales Art and the color is Hydrangea.  I used the no purl monkey sock pattern with a size 1.5 needle.

Next sock is a striped yarn for my niece.

I also got two skeins of sock yarn from Knittery Things.  It’s Vesper sock yarn in the colors Monet’s Garden and Springtime Happy Dance.

I’ve been doing quite a bit of cleaning out the house, so I haven’t been knitting too much.  Plus, I have also been reading.  I need to make my goal of 100 books this year.

Reading Like Crazy!

I have been reading a lot since the new year.  To date, I have read 28 books.  So, I am going to try to finish reading 100 books this year.  We will see if that happens.

So far to date, I have read the following books

Missing in Death – J.D. Robb

Fantasy in Death – J.D. Robb

Cure – Robin Cook

Songs of Christmas – Thomas Kinkade and Katherine Spencer

Candlelight Christmas – Susan Wiggs

Starry Night – Debbie Macomber

Indulgence in Death – J. D. Robb

Possession in Death – J.D. Robb

Takedown Twenty – Janet Evanovitch

Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder – Joanne Fluke

Candy for Christmas – Joanne Fluke

The Inn at Eagle Point – Sheryl Woods (I really enjoyed this book)

Treachery in Death – J. D. Robb

Strawberry Shortcake Murder – Joanne Fluke

Between Heaven and Texas – Marie Bostwick

A Single Thread – Marie Bostwick

Flowers on Main – Sheryl Woods

New York to Dallas – J.D. Robb

Harbor Lights – Sheryl Woods

Blueberry Muffin Murder – Joanne Fluke

A Chesapeake Shore Christmas – Sheryl Woods

Driftwood Cottage – Sheryl Woods

Chaos in Death – J.D. Robb

Moonlight Cove – Sheryl Woods

Lemon Meringue Pie Murder – Joanne Fluke

The Kitchen House – Kathleen Grissom

Beach Lane – Sheryl Woods

A Thread of Truth – Marie Bostwick

What a Beautiful Day!

The temperature was close to 70 degrees today.  The sun is shining and tax season is almost over.  I have 2 more days to work.  I am so glad that it is coming to a close.

I have been knitting somewhat.  I finished one sock of the No purl monkey socks using Gales Art sock yarn in the color Hydrangea.  I am using a 1.5 needle.  I love how this sock is turning out.

I also started a cowl called the Willow Cowl.  I am using a size 5 needle with Blue Mountain Fiber Arts Socks that Rock in the lightweight color of Muddy Autumn Rainbow.

I also purchased two skeins of yarn from Kirby Wirby.  The yarn is Soft and squishy and the colors are Bonkers and Rockin my Banana Clip to the NKOTB concert.  Love these colors!  They are both self striping yarns for socks.

Finally, it’s April

I am so glad that April has finally arrived.  Some days it has been so beautiful.  Today, the sun finally came out, but it is windy making it a little cooler.  At least we aren’t having snow.  Tomorrow is supposed to be a wonderful day.

April also means that tax season is ending soon.  I am counting the days.  It’s so funny that I can’t wait for it to end, but after a few months off, I will be ready to start again.  Tax season has been keeping me busy and it’s taking my mind off of things.  But, now I am looking forward to spring and sitting outside on my back porch.

Knitting is going slow, but I have been knitting.  I finished my Zombody Go Bragh socks.  The yarn is from Desert Vista Dyeworks and is her Visio sock yarn.  I used a size 1 needle with a basic sock pattern.

I also finished the leg on the first Monkey Sock using Gale’s Art in the Hydrangea color with a size 1.5 needle.  I love the color of these socks and I’m calling them my Easter socks.  I probably won’t get them finished by Easter, but that’s okay.

I want to cast on for a cowl using sock yarn, so maybe I will do that tonight.

It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood

And, the snow is melting!  Yahoo!  Although we may have a little snow this week.  I certainly hope not.

I haven’t done too much knitting, but I did do some.  I finished one sock of the Desert Vista Dyeworks Zombody go Bragh sock.  I am using a size 1 needle.  I love this colorway. This is for St. Patrick’s Day; however, I do not have it finished for that day.  Ah, maybe next year!

I did start another sock using Gale’s Art sock yarn in the color Hydrangea.  I figured that this was a great spring color.  I am making the no purl monkey socks with this yarn using a size 1.5 needle.

I did work a little on the Gale Sweater. I got a couple more repeats knitted on the front. I am using Plymouth Homestead yarn in taupe heather (it kinda looks like grey) with a size 11 needle.

I forgot to mention last time that I finished the Flutterby baby blanket using Flutterby yarn in the pink/purple color with a size 10.5 needle.  This was for my new great niece Chloe.

I couldn’t resist getting more striping sock yarn.  From Must Stash yarn and fiber, I got Fae Queen and Candy Crush (I had to get this because of the name)  in her Perfect sock base.

And, I also got Chocolate Bunny Cake in the same base.  This yarn is Must Stash yarn too, but I got it from Little Skein on Etsy.

Spring is around the corner?

At least I hope so.  The sun is shining today and it’s 43 degrees out.  Melt snow Melt!

I have been knitting.  I am still working on the Flutterby baby blanket and started the second ball.  I should finish this soon.  Maybe this week.

I also worked on the Zombody go Bragh sock by DVD using a size 1 needle.  This makes me think of spring.

I also started the Gale sweater.  I am using Plymouth Homestead yarn in a gray color with size 10.5 and 11.0 needles.

Forgot to mention last time that I also got Malabrigo Rasta yarn in the color Violeta Africana.  This was a back order from Webs.  I want to use this yarn to make mittens.  I know, it will have to be mittens for next year.  I love the color.

All my chores are finished for the day, so I guess I will do some knitting and reading.  Sounds good to me.

Here we go again–More snow!

Another snow storm is on it’s way.  It could be 6 – 12 inches starting Sunday into Monday.  I am so glad it’s finally March, but I was hoping that we wouldn’t be getting much snow anymore.  Plus, I would really like the snow on the ground to be melted before getting any more.

I was able to finish two pairs of socks this week.  I completed the Angry Birds sock.  The yarn is Lollipop yarn in the color Angry Birds.  I used a basic sock pattern with a size 1 needle.  I loved the colors on this sock.

I also completed the Drift socks.  I used the Sanguine Gryphon’s Bugga yarn in Tropical Shield Bug with a size 1.5 needle.  The pattern was very easy to knit.

So now that two pairs of socks are off the needles, I cast on for another basic sock pattern using Desert Vista Dyeworks Viso yarn in the color Zombody go Bragh with a size 1 needle.  Great colors for St. Patrick’s Day.

I also got some more skeins of yarn.  From Gales Art I got her Wonder Sock in the colors Hydrangea and Graffiti and Asphalt.

Also, I plan on knitting the pattern Gale by Alicia Plummer.  It’s a sweater pattern.  I bought Homestead yarn by Plymouth in the color 2 – Taupe Heather (looks more like grey) to use for this project.

Well, one more week and it’s Daylight Savings Time.  I am looking forward to that because I am hoping that we will be getting some warmer weather to melt this snow.

50 Degrees

We actually hit 50 degrees today.  It was wonderful.  The sun was shining and the snow is melting.  We will have one more day of this kind of weather and then it’s back to the cold. But, at least we got some of this snow melted.  I even went to knitting yesterday and today and got to be with my friends.  Pure Bliss!

I got two new skeins of yarn today from Desert Vista Dyeworks.  The colors are Zombody Go Bragh and Zombody Throw me some beads.  I couldn’t resist them.  But, the post office really messed up with delivery on these skeins.  I was suppose to receive them last Saturday, but the tracking still had them leaving Arizona.  They finally hit Philadelphia two days ago and sat there until this morning when they finally moved and got to my post office.  I almost thought that they got lost.  I am so glad to have received them.  I know it probably had to do with the snow last Thursday and then President’s Day on Monday.  But, Geez!  That long to get here???

I have been working mostly on the two pairs of socks I am knitting.  I am knitting on the second sock for both. I finally turned the heel on both of them. 

The one pair is Lollipop yarns Angry Birds using a basic sock pattern with a size 1 needle.

The other pair of socks is the Drift sock using Bugga in the color Tropical Shield with a size 1.5 needle. 

I should finish up both of these socks next week.  I think I will cast on another basic sock using Zombody Go Bragh for Saint Patricks Day.  I probably won’t finish it by then, but at least I will have a green pair for next year.

I am so sick of snow

We had two days this week where it snowed.  Wednesday, we had ice on top of the snow.  So, for two days, I stayed home from work.  It was not worth driving in this weather.  I am counting the days until February is over.  Maybe March will be warmer.  Darn Groundhog!

Haven’t done too much knitting, but I did finish one of the Drift socks.  I am using The Sanguine Gryphon’s Bugga in Tropical Shield Bug with a size 1.5 needle.  I am enjoying knitting this sock.

I am almost finished with the first Angry Birds socks.  This is Lollipop yarns in the Angry Birds color with a size one needle.  I am using a basic sock pattern.  I love the stripes in these socks.

Haven’t knitting much on the Flutterby blanket and I want to cast on a Ricci hat, but I have been busy trying to get caught up on house work.  I think I am almost there with that project.  Hopefully, I will get more knitting completed during this upcoming week.

I saw the sun today

It was out for a brief period of time, but at least it was out.  Now it is cloudy and cold.  I really need to get my car washed, but I guess that will have to wait until it warms up.

I did get some new yarn recently.  I had preordered a nyan cat set from Fibernymph Dyeworks.  I probably had to wait a year and a half to get it because she took so many preorders, but it was a surprise to finally be able to get it.  It’s in her bedazzled base.  It came with a navy skein of yarn for heels and toes.

I also ordered some yarn from Webs.  I love the Flutterby yarn that I am using to make a baby blanket.  Webs had it in a pink color that I just love, so I ordered 4 skeins.

I also ordered Malabrigo Rasta yarn in the color porriniho  It is a chunky weight.  I want to make a pair of mittens out of it.  I also ordered a purple color, but it is on backorder.

That is all for now.  I am really trying to knit from stash and so far I am doing okay except for the above purchases.  But, I am allowed to indulge myself every once and awhile, aren’t I?

Cold and snow today

I’m really sick of winter.  We have had a very cold winter here.  Today it is 21 degrees and it’s snowing.  We are suppose to get 3 to 5 inches.  I can’t wait for spring.

It’s a great day to knit today and I have been doing that.  I am currently working on the Drift sock using Sanguine Gryphon’s Tropical Shield Bug.  This color was from her Bon Bon kit several years ago.  I am using a size 1.5 needle.  The pattern is very easy to do and I love the color.  Great for Valentines Day.

I also had to cast on for a sock with stripes.  I chose the Angry Bird color by Lollipop yarn.  It’s very bright.  Great color to cheer me up on this ugly winter day. I am using a size 1 needle with a basic sock pattern.

I also started on a baby blanket for my great niece to be.  My niece is pregnant and due in March.  So, I hope I get it finished by then.  I am using Fluttery chunky yarn by James Brett.  It’s a soft chenille yarn and the colors are white, pink and purple with a size 10.5 needle.

I finally finished the Christmas sock I was working on.  I used Lollipop yarn in the Christmas Carol color with a size 1.0 needle.

I also finished my hitchhiker using Miss Babs Yowza yarn in the night lights color with a size 6 needle.  I love this yarn and hope to make more projects with it.  I got about 39 points and didn’t have much yarn left.

Back to knitting for me today.

We are having a heatwave

Not really, but when the temperatures go from a minus to 55, it does feel like a heatwave.  The snow is melting and we have had quite a bit of rain today, so that has helped getting rid of the snow.  I am really sick of this winter already.

Not much happening with my knitting.  I am still working on the hitchhiker and I started the second Christmas Carol sock made out of Lollipop Yarn.  I’m starting to think of other projects to cast on the needles.

I did buy some Flutterby Chunky yarn to make a baby blanket for my niece.  This yarn is so soft.  The color is a pink and purple confetti.

That is all I have for this week.  I have been working part-time.  Between that and doing errands it has been a busy but productive week.

2014–Hopefully a better year than 2013

A fresh start and a new beginning for me.  I lost my best friend – my husband.  It was sudden and I am still in shock.  So, it’s a new beginning for me.  I will miss him and so will our Maggie.

I haven’t been knitting much the last month, but I did finally complete the Glynis Sock by Cookie A.  I used Shibui sock yarn in color 1675 (Pagoda).  I used a size 1.5 needle.  I enjoyed the pattern.  The only negative was having to move stitches in the leg.

I also completed one sock using Lollipop Yarns Christmas Carol.  I enjoyed knitting this because of the striping.  Too bad I didn’t have it finished for Christmas.  So, maybe next year.  I used a basic sock pattern with a size 1 needle.  I need to cast on sock 2.

I only bought one skein of yarn.  I guess I was too busy to shop for yarn.  I couldn’t resist Gynx self striping BFL sock yarn in the color Velveteen.  Susan B. Anderson designed a rabbit using this yarn.  I don’t know if I will make the rabbit, but maybe I need to get another skein of this to make it as well as a sock.

Well, I need to get working on the Hitchhiker.  So, I am off to get some knitting finished.

Happy New Year

I am so glad for it to be 2014.  2013 ended on a real bad note, so I hope 2014 will be better.

It’s time to look back at my goals for 2013 and see what I accomplished.

GOALS FOR 2013

1. Read 65 Books – I read 76 books

2. Knit 12 pairs of socks – I knit 15 pair

3. Finish the Central Park Hoodie and knit another sweater – didn’t happen

4. Stash bust – at least get rid of one storage tote of yarn either by using it or passing yarn along or selling it. – I got rid of 3 totes

5. Finish the min ulla scarf (two color project) – Frogged this one.

6. Look into weaving (a way of stash busting?) – I still struggle with this.  I feel if I buy a loom, it will just sit there.

Goals for 2014

1. Read 65 Books – I think that is a good number and don’t want to set a goal too large.

2. Knit 12 pairs of socks

3. Finish the Central Park Hoodie – One of these years I will do this.

4. Stash Bust – Get rid of at least one storage tote of yarn either by using it or passing yarn along or selling it.

5. Clean house – it’s time to go through the house again and reorganize and get rid of stuff I don’t need.

FINISHED PROJECTS FOR 2013

I Finished 29 projects this year.  In 2012, I finished 55 projects and in 2011, I finished 71.  So I definitely did less this year.

3 Dishcloths

3 Scarves

15 pair of socks

1 baby blanket

4 shawls

1 Zombie doll

2 Cowls

UFO’s

8 UFO’s in 2013.  Last year I had 4.

2 Pair of socks

Hitchhiker

Strandwanderer

Advent Calendar Scarf

2 Sweaters

1 Afghan

That is 8 too many

Finishing up Books Read in 2013

Intervention – Robin Cook

Creation in Death – JD Robb

Ava Gardner: Love is Nothing – Lee Server

Where we Belong – Emily Giffen

Rose Harbor in Bloom – Debbie Macomber

To Whisper her Name – Tamara Alexander

Miss Julia To the Rescue – Ann B. Ross

Strangers in Death – JD Robb

Critical – Robin Cook

Salvation in Death – JD Robb

Ritual in Death – JD Robb

Book of the Dead – Patricia Cornwell

Almost Home – Barbara Freetity

Return to Willow Lake – Susan Wiggs

Promises in Death – JD Robb

10th Anniversary – James Patterson

Kindred in Death – JD Robb

W is for Wasted – Sue Grafton

Passing Through Paradise – Susan Wiggs

The Best Man – Kristan Higgans

 

Total Read for 2013 was 76 Books

Where did a month go?

It’s been awhile since I have blogged and I can’t believe it’s almost a month!  I have been working  part time so I didn’t have much time to knit.  At least things are easing up and I have my knitting mojo back.  Problem is I have projects to finish and want to cast on for more.  I am NOT knitting any Christmas presents thank God.

I’m working on the Glynis sock by Cookie A.  This is a really nice pattern.  I am using Shibui sock yarn in the color 1675 also called Pagoda.  This has been in my stash for quite awhile, so I am glad I went deep stash diving.  I am using a size 1.5 needle.

Here is the first sock completed:

I am half way finished with the second sock.  I am just going to start turning the heel.

As much as I wasn’t going to buy anymore Lollipop yarn, I couldn’t resist the color Christmas Carol.  So, I bought it.

Then, I cast on a for a basic sock pattern using a size 1 needle.

The striping is uneven, which I am liking very much!

I am still working on the Hitchhiker using Miss Babs Yowza yarn in Night Lights.  I love how this is knitting up.  I am using a size 6 needle.

I love the Yowza yarn by Miss Babs and wanted to try more yarn by her, so I made another purchase.  I got Heartland worsted yarn in Tulipa, Cosmic sock in Vineyard, Heartland worsted in Raisinette (I really wanted 2 skeins of this color, but she only had one, so I bought 2 skeins of the Tulipa and still bought this skein) and Yowza in the color Perfectly Wreckless (I love this color and just had to have it).

My local yarn shop was selling washcloth kits using Applachian Organic Cotton.  I wanted to try it out, so I bought a kit.  The kit had 2 washcloth patterns, the yarn, and soap.  Here is the yarn.

I want to make a Rikke hat out of some Madelinetosh dk that I have and maybe I will knit a cowl using the Miss Babs Heartland in Raisinette.  I also want to cast on for a pair of socks for my niece.  She has a size 7 1/2 foot, so those socks should knit up faster than the one’s I knit for me.  The socks for her WILL NOT be for Christmas. Plus, I have to get back to a cross stitch pattern I was working on.

Well, hopefully, I will start blogging each week now.  Off to knit!