Many projects on the needles

Everywhere I look, I have knitting bags with projects inside.  What was I thinking?  To top it off, I could start more projects.  I think I need to finish some before starting something else.

What do I have on the needles that I am actively knitting (note that I said actively – I have other projects on the needles that are in time out)?

1. The chenille diagonal cowl

2. Hitchhiker

3. Yowza weigh it shawl

4. Cameo Shawl

5. Hedera sock

6. Gale sweater

7. Baby blanket shown below

8. St. Patrick’s day sock shown below

Too many projects and not enough time……..

I did start a baby blanket to donate to a hospital.  I am using the Vertical Lines Baby Blanket pattern with a size 9 needle.  I am using Plymouth Yarns Encore Colorspun in the color 7650.

I just started this on Friday and this is how far I have knitted.  It is interesting how the colors are knitting up.  I am using the Addi Turbo needles with this project and I just love these needles.

I also got past the heel on my St. Patrick’s day sock.  I figured that I needed to do an afterthought heel for this sock.  I am using Fab Funky Fibers yarn in the Shades of Green color with a size 1 needle.  I am only using a basic sock pattern for this sock.

I had put in a request many months ago for Dream in Color Classy in the color Mountain Wildflowers at the Loopy Ewe.  The yarn finally came in and now I have two skeins.  I think this will be a hat and cowl.

Back to knitting and listening to podcasts.

Snow is an incentive to knit

We have had some snow recently and it got me knitting.  We didn’t have as much as they had in Northern New England, but there is something about snow and being in the house that gets me in the mood to knit.

I finished my Christmas socks, which turned into my Valentine Socks.  I used yarn from the Lemonade Shop.  The color Peppermint ice cream.  I used a size one needle.

I cast on for the Blue Heron Bulky chenille cowl using the color blue violet.  I cast on 44 stitches and I really like how this is knitting up.  I used a provisional cast on and will join both sides once I finish it.  I am knitting with a size 6 needle.

I also cast on for another hitchhiker using Wollmeise pure in Amazonas with a size 3.0mm needle.

Since I finished one pair of socks, I cast on another using Fab Funky Fibers yarn in the color shades of green.  There are 7 shades of green with navy blue between the shades. I am using a basic sock pattern with a size 1 needle.

I did get two new skeins of yarn.  I got Plymouth Kudo yarn in the color 41 to make the Birthday cake cowl.

I had ordered yarn from Desert Vista Dyeworks to use for next Christmas.  It’s in her Viso base in the color Holiday Stripe Thick.

Well, we are supposed to get more snow tomorrow, so I guess I will be knitting up a storm.  I have a lot of things on my needles to keep me busy.

Yarn, Yarn and more Yarn

I’ve been on a yarn buying spree.  I just couldn’t resist.

From the Loopy Ewe, I got Tumbleweed Yarns Aurora in Sidewalk Sandwich and Sugar Shell.  These are both self striping yarns.  I also got Western Sky knits Aspen in Rustic Rainbow to make the sockhead hat.  I couldn’t help but pick up a bar of Loopy Ewe soap.

Then, the Loopy Ewe put up Wollmeise Yarn.  Even though I came to the party late, I was able to get two skeins of Pure.  The colors are Amazonas and Happy Birthday Kristina.  I plan on casting on Hitchhikers with these skeins.

When I was at my local yarn shop, I saw a really neat cowl made out of Blue Heron Bulky Rayon Chenille in the color blue violet.  Well, next thing I knew I had to buy the yarn.

So, I need to wind a skein of Wollmeise and cast on for the hitchhiker and then cast on for the cowl.  I also have my sights on another skein of yarn for another cowl.  I think I am going to have a lot of things on the needles soon.  As if I don’t already.

I did finish one of my Christmas socks in Peppermint Ice Cream that I bought from the Lemonade Shop on Etsy.  One down and one to go.

It’s time to knit!

Happy New Year 2015

Goals for 2014

1. Read 65 Books – I think that is a good number and don’t want to set a goal too large. – I redid my goal to 100, but only ready 91 books

2. Knit 12 pairs of socks – didn’t make this goal either.  I knit 9 pairs of socks, but have knit over 100 pairs of socks

3. Finish the Central Park Hoodie – One of these years I will do this. – didn’t make this goal either.  I didn’t even touch this knit.

4. Stash Bust – Get rid of at least one storage tote of yarn either by using it or passing yarn along or selling it. – I did stash bust.  It probably amounted to one tote of yarn, but probably filled it with new yarn

5. Clean house – it’s time to go through the house again and reorganize and get rid of stuff I don’t need. – I did a good job of this.  I went through 3 floors and got rid of a lot of stuff.  Only have to clean out the attic.

Goals for 2015

1. Read at least 90 books

2. Knit 12 pairs of socks

3. Finish a sweater.  I have the Central Park Hoodie, the Olivia sweater, and the Gale sweater.  So, hopefully I will finish one of them because I would like to knit Lori Versaci’s Pour Moi cardigan.

4. Stash Bust

5. Clean out the attic and books

6. Finish some UFO’s

7. Finish more knitted projects

8. Counted Cross Stitch

 

FINISHED PROJECTS FOR 2014

I finished 16 projects this year.  In 2013, I finished 29 projects.  It keeps getting less and less.  What’s with that?

1. 9 Pairs of socks

2. 2 shawls

3. 1 Baby Blanket

4. 1 Cowl

5. 1 hat

6. 1 prayer cloth

7. One washcloth

UFO’s

10 UFO’s in 2014.  Last year I had 8.  The list keeps growing

2 Pairs of socks

Strandwanderer

Advent Calendar Scarf

3 Sweaters

1 Afghan

2 shawl’s

That is 10 too many, especially when there are other projects that I want to cast on the needles.

Reading makes the world grow

Well, 2014 is over and I did not make my goal of 100 books.  I did read 91 books.  This is what I have read since I last reported.

Matters of the Heart by Danielle Steel

Concealed in Death – J D Robb

Gods in Alabama – Joshilyn Jackson

Key Lime Pie Murder – Joanne Fluke

Stealing Home – Sherryl Woods

Waiting for the Moon – Kristin Hannah

The Light Between Oceans – M.L. Stedman

Top Secret Twenty – One – Janet Evanovich

Love Letters – Debbie Macomber

Pretty Woman – Fern Michaels

A Slice of Heaven – Sherryl Woods

The Fixer Upper – Mary Kay Andrews

Feels Like Family – Sherryl Woods

Guidebook to Murder – Lynn Cahoon

Mission to Murder – Lynn Cahoon

Language of Flowers – Vanessa Diffenbaugh

A Seaside Christmas – Sherryl Woods

Santa Baby – Sherryl Woods

The Christmas Bouquet – Sherryl Woods

All is Bright – Katherine Spencer

Can This be Christmas – Debbie Macomber

Shirley, Goodness, and Mercy – Debbie Macomber

All Fall Down – Jennifer Weiner

The Island – Elin Hilderbrand

Savannah Blues – Mary Kay Andrews

Mr. Miracle – Debbie Macomber

Guess, I better start reading.  Maybe I will be able to read 100 books in 2015?

A Belated Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukah

It’s over.  All the time and preparation and before you know it Christmas is over.  Why do we do this to ourselves?  At any rate, I hope for those who celebrate, you had a Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukah.

Finally, things have calmed down and I can knit again.  I probably didn’t do any knitting for about 2 weeks.

I finished my Thanksgiving socks using Dancing Dog Dyeworks Grade School Turkey color using a size 1 needle with a basic sock pattern.

I immediately cast on for a Christmas sock, which won’t be finished until next Christmas.  I am also using a basic sock pattern with a size 1 needle.  The yarn is from The Lemonade Shop in the color Peppermint Ice Cream.

I did get some more yarn.  I had ordered more yarn from Knit Circus awhile ago and it finally arrived.  The yarn is The Greatest of Ease in the Color Brew Crew.  I love the blue color.

Katia Jumbo yarn in the color 100 to make a cowl.  This yarn is very soft and should knit up fast.

Last, but not least, I bought Madelinetosh Twist Light in the color Doctor’s without Borders.

Back to knitting!

Better Knitting Week

This has been a better knitting week.  I am turning the heel on my Grade School Turkey sock using a size 1 needle and a basic sock pattern.  The yarn is from Desert Vista Dyeworks.  I really love her yarn and colorways.

I also started on another shawl.  It’s the Yowza weigh it shawl by Susan B. Anderson.  I am using Miss Babs Yowza in the color Prince.  The pattern calls for a size 9 needle, but I am using a size 7.

I also got two skeins of yarn this week.  From the Lemonade Shop, I got her fingering weight yarn in Peppermint Ice Cream.

From Lollipop Yarn, I got a skein of What a Maroon.  I love the colors in this ball.

Happy Thanksgiving

It was a nice week.  I only had to work in the office one day.  I was able to get a lot of cleaning finished this week and was even able to get most of the Christmas decorations up.  I only have to put up my small tree and I will do that later today.

I got the Bella Shawl blocked and here is the finished product.

I really like this shawl.

I also finished one of the Grade School Turkey socks.  The yarn is by Desert Vista Dyeworks and I am using a basic sock pattern with a size 1 needle.

I started on the second sock.  Looks like I won’t have this finished for Thanksgiving.  Oh well.  I am enjoying knitting this sock.

I also received a skein of yarn from the Lemonade Shop.  It’s fingering weight yarn and the color is Holiday 2014.

I still have one more day of peace and quiet before I am back at work again.  December is going to be a hectic month.  I have to get my Christmas shopping finished.  Enjoy the holidays!

I finally finished something

It’s been awhile, but I finally finished the Bella Shawl.  This was made with Miss Babs Yowza in the color Zombie Prom using a size 6 and size 4 needle.  I am happy how it turned out.  Here is the shawl blocking.

The Miss Babs skeins are Babettes, which mean that no two skeins are the same.  Two friends of mine also made this shawl using the same color.  See how they differ. I think mine is on the top.  We each like the color we got.

I have also been working on my Thanksgiving sock using the color Grade School Turkey.  I have turned the heel on the first sock.  This is Dancing Dog Dyeworks yarn using a basic sock pattern with a size 1 needle.

I have bought more yarn.  I had to get more Miss Babs Yowza for another shawl (plus a spare).  The colors are Bat S**t Crazy and Prince.

Also, I got Noro Kureyon to make some mittens from a pattern that Susan B. Anderson did.  The pattern is called Waiting for Winter.  The color is 344.  Plus, I also got some Lang Jawoll sock yarn that has the reinforcing thread.  The color is a green.

From the Lemonade Shop on Etsy, I got Lavender Speckles in a fingering weight.

From Knit Circus, I got one of her gradient sock yarns (Greatest of Ease) in the color Tropical Sunset.

It’s getting cold outside. Time to get knitting!

Started a New Sock

Finally, I have started a new sock.  Maybe this will get me knitting more.  I am using a basic sock pattern with Desert Vista Dyeworks Viso yarn in the color Grade School Turkey.  I figure that this will be great for Thanksgiving.  I am using a size 1 needle.

I guess I better start a new sock since I got more sock yarn this week.  From Simply socks, I got Opal Hunterwasser Sock in the color 3206.  I also got Poste self striping yarn in the color Camp Crystal Lake. I better get knitting!

I am still working on the Bella shawl.  I have one more repeat and then I am nearing the end.  I love knitting the shawl, but I am ready to move on to another project (or should I say finish another project).

More yarn–little knitting

Got more yarn in this week.  Maybe this will get me to knit more?  I really need to get back in the groove.  I need to knit more socks since it’s sock weather now.

From Simply Socks, I got Poste self striping yarn in the color Elm Street.

I also bought Sknitches Syncopation self striping in the color Militia.

From Desert Vista Dyeworks, I got Viso self striping in the color Zombody’s Bobbin for Apples.

From Must Stash yarn, I got her perfect sock self striping in the color Dark Side of the Moon.

Finally, I also bought Juniper Moon Tenzing in the color sand to make a cardigan.  But, first I have to finish the Gale Sweater.

Now, it’s time to knit

Fall is Definitely Here

You can tell that Fall is here.  It’s getting darker earlier, the leaves are falling off of the trees, and it’s getting colder.

Today was a dreary day.  It  rained in the morning and stayed dreary until late this afternoon.  I hate that it gets darker earlier and soon daylight savings time will go away.  Contrary to many people, I love daylight savings time.  I love when it stays lighter longer in the evening.

I really haven’t done much knitting. I am still working on the Bella shawl and that seems to be taking forever.  In the meantime I want to cast on more projects.

I have bought yarn.  From the Lemonade Shop on Etsy, I got her Rainbow Striped Yarn.

From Little Skein, I bought the Leading Men Fiber Arts Show Stealer yarn in the color Anne’s Story.

From Fab Funky Fibres, I bought her self striping sock yarn in the color New Grave Disorder:

And New Double Bubble Toil and Trouble:

Now, I better get knitting socks.  I have a pair on the needles, but haven’t touched them in ages.  I need to make more time to knit.

I have got to get knitting

Where did the time go?  I can’t believe that it’s been over a month since I posted anything on this blog.  First, I started back at work part time and as a result I haven’t been knitting much.  That certainly hasn’t stopped me from starting something new though.

I did buy some yarn.  I got a skein of self striping yarn from Quaere Fibre Arts.  The color is called Zombified and it comes with a solid color green for heels and toes.

I also bought two skeins of Malabrigo worsted yarn in Apple Green.

I bought the Malabrigo because I bought a zoom loom by Schadt.  I have been wanting to try this for awhile and finally took the step.

I used the Malabrigo yarn on the loom to make a square.

This works up fast.  It took maybe 20 – 30 minutes for my first try.  Now I know what I am doing it should go faster. You can sew the squares together to make all kinds of things.  There is even a book you can buy called Pin Loom weaving my Margaret Stump for project ideas.  I got all of this from the Woolery.

I have a couple of other looms like this but never used them because the instructions weren’t clear.  It was ideal that I didn’t have this size and the instructions were great.  I will have to try using those looms too.

Because I haven’t been knitting much, I haven’t been knitting on any socks although I do have a sock on the needles and I really need to finish those.  It’s starting to get to be sock weather and I have started to wear socks again and I keep buying self striping sock yarn.

I have been knitting shawls.  I finally got to the second color on the Cameo shawl.  I am using a size 5 needle with Madelinetosh sock in tart and farmhouse white (although the white looks like a really light grey in person).  This shawl keeps getting bigger and takes longer to finish a row.  Yikes!

I also started the Bella Shawl using Miss Babs Yowza in the color Zombie Prom using a size 4 and size 6 needle.  There are three of us knitting this shawl using the same yarn in the same color and they are all different.  One is more green, one is more pink and mine is more purplish.  This is knit sideways.  I do love the Yowza yarn.

One other thing that I did finish was the Almost Lost Washcloth pattern.  I used Sugar and Cream yarn in the color Over the Rainbow with a size 7 needle.  The pattern called for 14 points, but I did 15.

There are so many other projects that I want to start, so I guess I have got to get knitting!