I can finally take a breath

It’s not as busy at work and I’m now down to working one day a week.  I am so happy and will enjoy more time to do what I want to do.

I have been really trying to limit my spending (especially with yarn) and I’m doing pretty well this month.  I got my Dancing Dog Dyeworks yarn for Monster Mania Club.  This is the last shipment and was a club that I joined last year.  The yarn is Waltz Worsted weight in the color Jenna.

This month, so far, I bought Fibernymph Dyeworks stripped yarn in her inversibles striping yarn.  The colors are hot cherry pink and silver grey.  Each sock is a reverse of the other.  I had to try this since it was so different.

Today, I purchased Plymouth Encore worsted in the color 449 to make the Sunny Baby Blanket for my next door neighbor who is having a baby girl in May.

I already started on the blanket today, so I am using the yarn.

I am just about finished with my Zombie.  The pattern is Voodo you Love me and I am using Gnome Acres worsted weight yarn (Squishy Gnome) in the color I dream of Zombie with a size 4 needle.  Everything is knitted.  I just have to sew the arms and legs on and then add embellishments.  I think she is turning out very cute.

I finished my Vanilla Bean socks using Lollipop yarn in the Downton Abbey color.  I used a size 1 needle and an afterthought heel for this sock.  I love the pattern and the color of the yarn.  Lollipop yarn is great to knit with.

Since I finished these socks, I started on another pair using Gnomeacres sparkle gnome in the color  I Lurve Ewe.  I wanted to start these before Valentine’s Day, but it took me longer to finish the Downton Abbey socks.  I am using a size 0 needle.   The pattern is called Simple Skyp socks. I love the gnomeacres yarn.

I haven’t done much knitting on the Cinnamon Toast shawl, but I need to get back to that.  Guess I will have enough time this week to do that.  How wonderful is that. 

What a week

It was a busy week at work this week.  I had to work 4 days and it was hectic.  I was dreading the week, but knew that it would eventually be over.  Now I am back to working 2 days a week for only 3 more weeks (I hope).

I didn’t go to my knitting group this week.  I was tired, we had snow and I had too many errands to run.  So, I got my errands finished, ran into work for a couple of hours and then came home right before it started to snow.  We had about 6 inches of snow and at least it wasn’t the amount that they got in New York, Connecticut, New Hampshire and Maine.

Finished some projects in the last two weeks.  I completed another Butterscotch the Dog cloth.  I just loved this pattern.  Yarn is Peaches and Crème in Army Tan with a size 5 needle.

I also finished the second Manly Man scarf that I had started.  The yarn is Taria Tweed by Plymouth yarns in color 2770 (green) with a size 10 needle.  It’s a great yarn and so soft

Started the second Vanilla Bean sock using Lollipop yarn in the Downton Abbey color with a size 1 needle.

I also started a shawl called Cinnamon Toast.  I am using Madelinetosh Pashmina in the Antique Lace color with a size 4 needle.  I am loving knitting this shawl and I love the pattern.

I thought that the Voodoo you love me zombie toy was so cute that my friend and I each started one.  I am using Gnome Acres worsted weight yarn in the I Dream of Zombie color with a size 4 needle.

I still want to cast on a pair of fingerless mitts an another sock, but I think I need to work some more on my current projects before doing that.

I hope this week is calmer and I get more knitting time in.

What a hectic week

Between working, fitting in doctor appointments, cleaning and errands, I have been running a race.  I’m glad the week is over and need to get ready for this coming week.  I escaped having to deal with snow and ice and I am very glad for that.

I did finish the first Vanilla Bean sock that I was working on.  The yarn is Lollipop Yarn in the Downton Abbey color using a size 1 needle.  I still have to do the afterthought heel on this sock, but will wait until I have the second sock finished before starting that. I love the color of this sock as well as the pattern.

I am also getting sucked into watching Downton Abbey.  I am still on Season 1 and I’m loving it.

I also finished a dishcloth called Butterscotch the Dog.  I used Peaches and Crème yarn in army tan with a size 5 needle.  I love this pattern and will be giving this to a good friend.  I will make another for myself.

Yarn made it’s way into the house again.  I bought more Lollipop Yarn.  I just love the striping.  I got Cold Snap (with heel and toe) and Lust for Valentines Day.

I also bought more GnomeAcres yarn, but this time I got worsted weight yarn to make a Zombie using the pattern Voodoo you love me and for a future toy.  My friend and I will start these next week.  The colors are Bertie Botts and I Dream of Zombie.

I am still working on my scarf and started a shawl called Cinnamon Toast.  Pictures coming next week.

Not much knitting this week

I’ve been trying to do things around the house to get caught up before I get busy at work.  I think I have another week before it gets really crazy with tax returns.

I am still knitting on my Vanilla Bean sock and Manly Man scarf, but I frogged the min ulla scarf.  I just was not happy with the jogging.  Maybe, I’m not cut out doing two color stranded knitting. I may try again another time.

I am planning on starting a new shawl called Cinnamon Toast (using stash yarn) and still have to cast on for a pair of fingerless mitts.  I keep changing my mind on which pattern I plan to use.

On the dishcloth front, I still plan on staying in the Monthly Dishcloth group and see how it goes, but I did order some new dishcloth patterns and I’m planning on casting on this week for one of the new patterns.

I have been bad and ordered more yarn.  I got Madelinetosh in dk and pashmina from Happy Knits.  They have their own color that Madelinetosh makes for them called Happiness.  I want to use the dk for toys.

I also got some GnomeAcres sparkle sock in the color I Dream of Zombie and a regular fingering weight sock in Bertie Botts.

Working on finishing projects

I am working on several projects.  I am knitting a pair of self striping socks using Lollipop yarns in the Downton Abbey color with a size 1 needle.  I am using the Vanilla Bean pattern rather than knitting a plain stockinette sock with an afterthought heel.  I love the colors of this yarn and the pattern is so easy to do.

I also started another Manly Man scarf using Plymouth Yarns Taria Tweed yarn in the color 2770 (green).  I really like this yarn.  It’s so soft and warm.  I am using a size 10 needle.

I did complete the January 2013 Dishcloth KAL.  The pattern is called Lacy Scallops by Janet Nogle.  I used Peaches and Crème yarn in baby blue with a size 7 needle.

This pattern is from the Monthly Dishcloth group on Yahoo.  I need to vent a little about this group.  I have belonged to this group since it was founded in 2005 (that’s almost 8 years).  I have always enjoyed it except for the last couple of years.  The person who founded the group, turned it over to Janet.  I’m not sure if this was permanent or temporary.  There are over 8000 members and I realize that it is a large number of people to manage.  As a result, there are a lot of rules, which I have no problem with.  I know that this is a free group and takes a lot of work. 

My issue is that Janet publishes a dishcloth calendar, which I bought for 4 years.  The last couple of years, many of the patterns published in the group came from the calendar.  I am not happy with this because I paid for it.  So, this past year, I did not buy the calendar. My second issue is that the patterns are starting to repeat from years past.  There are so many free patterns out there that I don’t see the need for that. My third issue is that the above pattern was published with several errors.  Several people did question it and Janet, who designed the pattern, did not respond to the group with any corrections.  She did post the completed pattern in the group when the KAL was over and that is where I found the corrections.  I did post the corrections and someone else posted the pattern in the group with the corrections.  I am not happy.  I am deciding whether I want to stay in this group.  For now, I will, but will not be posting in the group.  End of vent.

I have finally pulled out the Min Ulla scarf that I started and ripped back.  This is a fair isle scarf and I have since taken a class to learn how to knit fair isle.  I also got out the Central Park Hoodie and plan to finish that project this year as well.  I want to finish this sweater because I would like to try a top down sweater. Wish me luck.

Getting some last minute yarn purchases in

I am trying not to buy much yarn this year so that I can stash bust, but I had to purchase the skeins below.

My local yarn shop got Madelinetosh in vintage and I had to purchase this yarn in grey garden and fig.  I want to use it to make mitts, hat and a cowl.

I love how the grey garden knits up, so I had to buy it in the dk weight too.

And of course in a fingering weight yarn.  So, I got the tosh sock in the same color.

Green is one of my favorite colors.

I had some Cakewalk Footsie yarn on order prior to Christmas and it came.  I got the colors edisto and chalkboard.

Then, I couldn’t resist some Numma Numma the usual in the House Red and Gumbo n Greens.

I can’t say that I won’t buy any yarn in 2013, but I will try to limit my purchases and shop from my stash.

Happy New Year

I can’t believe it’s 2013!  Wonder what this year will bring.  It’s time to look back at my Goals for 2012 and see what I accomplished.

 

GOALS FOR 2012

1. Read 65 Books – I read 72

2. Definitely Stash Bust – well, that didn’t really happen

3. Knit 12 pairs of socks – I knit 15 pairs

4. Lose Weight – I did lose a little weight, but could lose more.

5. Knit at least one toy – I knit 9 toys

6. Finish knitting a two color project (this is on the needles) – I didn’t finish this one, but I did start two hats and finished those after taking a class.

7. Finish my Central Park Hoodie – didn’t happen

GOALS FOR 2013

1. Read 65 books

2. Knit 12 pairs of socks

3. Finish the Central Park Hoodie and knit another sweater.

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

5. Finish the min ulla scarf (two color project)

6.  Look into weaving (a way of stash busting?)

FINISHED PROJECTS FOR 2012

I Finished 55 projects this year.  In 2011 I did 71 and  in 2010 I did 47.

22 Dishcloths

15 Socks

1 Mitten set

5 Shawls

2 Fair Isle Hats

9 Toys

2 Scarves

1 Blanket

1 Coaster

1 small sock

UFO’s

I only had 4 UFO’s at the end of 2012.  Last year I had 8.

Central Park Hoodie

Olivia Sweater

Min Ulla Scarf

Soft Waves Afghan

 

Books I have read

Well, these are the remaining books I have read to complete my goal of reading 65 books in 2012.  I actually read 72 books, so I am ahead of the game.

 

Loyalty in Death – J.D. Robb

Witness in Death – J. D. Robb (I have this series in Audible books and love them.)

The Shoemaker’s Wife – Adriana Trigiani

A Cat was Involved – Spencer Quinn

Viola in the Spotlight – Adriana Trigiani

Once Upon a Time There was You – Elizabeth Berg

Paterno – Joe Posnanski – interesting read

Porch Lights – Dorthea Benton Frank – I love her books.

Angels at the Table – Debbie Macomber

Notorious Nineteen – Janet Evanovich

Wishin and Hopin – Wally Lamb

A Season of Angels – Thomas Kinkade and Katherine Spencer

Then Again – Diane Keaton

Finishing

Whew!  I finished the scarf (Manly Man Scarf) that I was knitting for my husband for Christmas on Christmas Eve.  So, I made it.  I used Plymouth Yarns Taria Tweed in color 5302 (grey) with a size 10 needle.  I have this yarn in a green color and may just knit a scarf for me.

I also completed the Faux Fair Isle hat I started back in June.  I used a size 7 and 8 needle with Madelinetosh Vintage in scarlet and tern. 

Now that I finished this stranded knitted project, I need to get restarted on the Min ulla scarf.

I did get some yarn this week.  From Lollipop Yarns (I can’t resist), I got her sock yarn in the color Downton Abbey.  This is going to be my next sock.

I also got my preorder of Squeal Like a Pig from Dancing Dog Dyeworks.  It is in her Waltz Worsted base.  The colors area Raspberry Fields and the solid color is Raspberry.

So, now that I finished the projects I wanted to get completed before the end of the year I need to figure out what to knit next.  Definitely a sock and I think I will knit some fingerless mitts and a cowl for me.

The World Didn’t Come to an End

Thank Goodness, I have too much living to do and too big of a stash to knit up.

It has been a busy week.  I worked about 40 hours this week.  At least this job is just about over and I get a break.  I only have to work a couple of hours next week and then a few hours the next week.  Then I can concentrate on doing tax returns.

I am about 95% ready for Christmas.  I have some cleaning to do tomorrow and a little grocery shopping to finish.  All presents are wrapped.  I will only have a few odds and ends to do to be completely ready.  Now, we are suppose to get 1 to 3 inches of snow on Christmas Eve and that could wreck the whole thing since I celebrate Christmas with my family on Christmas Eve.  Hopefully, the weatherman is wrong again and we only get a dusting.

I haven’t gotten much knitting done this past week.  I did block the Color Affection Shawl (finally) that I finished in November.  I used Shalimar Breathless yarn in Limerick, Loden and Byzantine.  I used a size 6 needle.  This time I used YO’s at the beginning of the row and end of the row and dropped them on the purl side.  It still puckered a bit as I knit, but once I blocked the shawl there was no puckering.  I used a size 6 needle.

I am working on a scarf for a Christmas present and I’m not sure that I will finish it.  I may be knitting it on Christmas.  I am using Plymouth yarn Taria Tweed in color 5302 (a grey tweed) with a size 10 needle.  It takes 2 skeins of yarn and I am on the second skein.  Let’s see what happens.

It has been a relaxing day today, so I guess I will go knit on the scarf.

December 15th–Yikes!

I can’t believe we are 10 days away from Christmas.  December has gone so fast.  It didn’t help that I have been working quite a bit.  It’s part time, but I still have put in over  30 hours per week the last couple of weeks.  At least I only have one more week of this.  Between shopping, appointments and working, I have to keep my head straight where I’m suppose to be.

The good news is that I only need about 2 more Christmas gifts to get.  I know what I want.  I just have to buy them.  And, I finished the sock I was knitting as a Christmas gift.  I used the Katniss sock pattern with Stricken Smitten yarn in Plink with a size 1 needle.  Glad these are finished.

I also completed my Christmas sock for 2012.  The yarn is Lollipop yarn in the Wee Elves color.  I used a size 1 needle.  This pair was fun to knit.  This makes 15 pairs of socks for 2012.

Since I enjoyed knitting this so much, I had to buy another Christmas yarn from Lollipop Yarns.  The color is Fa La La La La.

I also got my November shipment from the Dancing Dog Dyeworks Monster Mania club.  This is the Waltz Worsted base and the color is HRH Henry.  It’s a pretty purple yarn.

I still need to block my color affection shawl.  Maybe I will get to it this week and I need to complete the Taria Tweed scarf I am knitting for my husband for Christmas.  Since this is the only project I am working on, I should get it finished for Christmas.  I hope.  Off to knit on the scarf.

December is going too fast

I’m working a lot this month and that doesn’t help.  Fortunately, I am almost finished with my Christmas Shopping.  I have a few more gifts to get.  Thank Goodness for online shopping.  I still need to do some decorating and get my Christmas Cards out.

I have been knitting as much as I can.  I did finish the November 2012 Mid Month Dishcloth KAL.  The pattern is Turkey Thanks by Alli Barrett.  I used a size 6 needle with Peaches and Crème yarn in army tan.

I am almost finished with my Christmas 2012 sock using Lollipop Yarns  in Wee Elves with a size 1 needle.

I started another sock for a Christmas present.  I need to move on this one as I need to give it to the recipient prior to Christmas.  The pattern is Katniss Sock by Rose Hiver.  I am using a size 1 needle with Stricken Smitten Sinful Sock yarn in the color Plink.

Ironically, I got my last shipment for the CookieA sock club and the yarn is Stricken Smitten in Sinful Sock yarn in the color  Scheherazade’s Sky.  The picture color is lighter than it really is.  It almost looks Navy.  The yarn is nice. 

I decided that I wasn’t going to join the club for 2013.  I need to stop buying yarn and start using up my stash.  I enjoyed the club more in the first year than I did this year.

Last project on the needles is the Manly Man scarf using Taria Tweed in color 5302 (grey). I am using a size 10 needle.  This is suppose to be a Christmas present too.  I’m not sure that I can get this finished.

Better get knitting!

Happy Thanksgiving

I had a great Thanksgiving.  We had a lovely dinner at my brother’s home with his family and then came home to relax.

Today, I went knitting at my local yarn shop and got to spend time with my friends.  So far it’s been a lovely long weekend.

I am working on several projects, but will post pictures in my next blog post.  This post will be dedicated to yarn.

I got several skeins of striped sock yarn.  I am addicted to it.  From Desert Vista Dyeworks, I got three skeins in the colors Dia De Los Muertos, Grade School Turkey, and Jacarandas Down Under.  These are in her Visio base yarn.

The Loopy Ewe got in striped yarn from Fibernymph Dyeworks in her Bounce base.  I got The Elves were in the Eggnog and Tartan.

From Gynx Yarns, I got Epyon in 100% merino yarn.

Now on to other yarns that are not self striping.  I got Taria Tweed by Plymouth Yarn in grey and green to make scarves.  I have wanted to make something out of this yarn for awhile and my LYS had it on sale today.  It is so soft.

I also got Footlights by Blue Ridge Yarns in the pansie colorway.  I plan to make some fingerless mitts with this yarn.  Instead of one skein, you get four mini skeins.

Last, but not least, I couldn’t resist getting the Chickadee bag by Knittings My Bag.  It came with Spinning Fates yarn in the color Let Heaven and Nature Sing.  This is a DK weight yarn.

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving.  Now, it’s the countdown to Christmas.

Trying to finish the Color Affection Shawl

Doesn’t seem as if I have done much knitting this week, but I did work on the Color Affection Shawl.  I have 8 more rows and then I can bind off.  Hopefully, I will get this finished this week and can post pictures next week.

I did finish the November 2012 Dishcloth KAL.  The pattern is Native American Cloth by Lisa Millan.  I used  Peaches and Crème in baby blue with a size 7 needle.  This is a repeat cloth that we did in a previous year.

I did start a Christmas sock.  I am using a basic sock pattern with Lollipop yarns in the color Wee Elves.  The striping on this sock is narrower than previous yarn I used by Lollipop yarns and I love it.  It’s very Christmasy.  I am using a size 1 needle.

I couldn’t resist buying another skein of yarn from Lollipop yarns.  This color is Yabba Dabba.  There are many color changes in this ball.  So colorful!

Off to knit on my color affections shawl!

Things are beginning to get back to normal

Now that the tree has been removed, things are getting back to normal.  Many people are getting their power back; although there are still too many who don’t have it.  I think that’s the worse thing, waiting for power.  In a way, I guess we are lucky.  The temperatures are in the high 40’s here, if it was below freezing it wouldn’t feel too good.

The worse thing in this area is the long lines for gas.  Because places don’t have power, there are not many gas stations open.  Plus, people are not only getting gas for their cars, but for their generators.  Lines are long.

My heart goes out to the people in New Jersey and New York, where they seem to have it really bad.

Knitting has been helping me get over the stress of this storm.  I did finish my Sock the Vote socks.  I used Yarn vs. Zombies in the damsel base and the spiffy iffy color with a size 0 needle.  The pattern was Dancing Bamboo socks.

I also finished Terence the tap dancing Trex by Recbeca Danger.  I used Dancing Dog Dyeworks in Tropical Blue and Owlies with a size 5 needle.  This is ready for my great nephews Birthday party on Saturday.

 

I did get some yarn this week.  From Gnome Acres, I got 2 skeins of fingering weight yarn.  One skein is the fancy gnome base (80%merino, 10% cashmere, 10% nylon) in the To be jolly color. The second skein is in the Maleficent color and it is 75% SW merino and 25% nylon.  I also got a WPI gauge key chain.

From Dancing Dog Dyeworks, I got my Monster Mania club yarn in Waltz Worsted.  The color is Big is Boo-tiful blues.  I love this color. I’m waiting for the pattern that goes with this yarn.

Since, I got my socks and dinosaur finished, I am working on the Color Affection shawl.  I hope to have this finished by the end of next week.  I need to start on two pairs of socks (one is a Christmas gift and the other is a Christmas sock for me) and another shawl.