pudmuddles

Spinning and Stitches

2012-01-17T13:30:00.001-08:00

I hadn't spun in months when I sat down the other day to spin up some of my Lisa Souza merino in Fresh Avocado. This yarn is for a basic sweater with short row shaping in the bust. On the whole, I have been satisfied with my results. I am still relatively new to spinning on a wheel, and my yarn is a bit uneven at times because of it. I feel I need to make time to spin at least once a week so I can maintain the skills I have acquired and perhaps to move myself along towards mastery :)

Also, I have made the decision not to go to Stitches West this year. With the big move coming up, I just can't justify laying out all that money to travel up to Santa Clara and/or purchasing yarn or fiber. I love Stitches West and hope to attend next year...

That's it for now. It's not much, but I don't want to give in to procrastination!

I'm back! ...I think :)

2012-01-12T09:31:00.000-08:00

Hello world,

Happy 2012!

A great deal of stuff has happened since the last update, so let me sum things up: soon to be divorced, working full time, mothering three loving girls, packing for a downsize move to an apartment, lost weight, gained the weight back but trying to lose it again, knit some, crocheted some, and spun some... though not nearly enough to satisfy. TBR pile is again growing but I am making the shift to ebooks to save space.

I continue to be blessed by loving family and AMAZING friends!

I took advantage of the year-end sale at WEBS to score some pretty sock yarn. Not that I am in danger of running out of sock yarn, mind you, but I can't resist an affordable opportunity to sample new sock yarns!

I am saving up for a Kindle. For now, I use both Kindle and Nook apps on my ipod and PC. There are a lot of great free books available and I have to restrain myself so the digital TBR pile doesn't get out of control.

I also have purchased several ebooks recently:
*CHRISTMAS MOON by Elizabeth Lane
*DULCIE'S GIFT, THE COURTSHIP OF IZZY MCCREE, BLACKTHORNE and the HIGHLANDERS bundle by Ruth Langan

I recently finished WILD BOY: MY LIFE IN DURAN DURAN by Andy Taylor. Great read! As a longtime Duran Duran fan, I devoured this book and it really put certain events into context and showed the human side of these 80s icons. Now if only the other members of Duran Duran would write their memoirs, I would be all set :) My daughter expressed interest in reading this book, but I advised her that a great deal of the pop culture references would be completely lost on anyone who wasn't a part of that era. Plus, there are several F-bombs and she is only 11 :)

As for my crafts...
*Knitting on a pair of socks for my oldest daughter (her feet are bigger than mine) out of a self striping yarn made by Cascade.
*Crocheting a giant granny square lapghan out of a Pound of Love.
*Spinning up some merino from Lisa Souza in the fresh avocado colorway for the rest of a sweater I am working on for myself. (Time permitting I will edit this post to include more links.)

That's it for now! Love to everyone :)

It's never too late to make a resolution!

2010-02-24T11:47:00.000-08:00

I'm in mourning because I can't make it up to Stitches West this weekend so I have decided to distract myself buy reorganizing my bedroom closet and with it, the stash. What I didn't realize, or was in denial about, was the fact that I have close to 40 knitting and or crochet books, but have maybe knit or crocheted from a total of 6... ugh! My resolution therefore, is to use these books. I can't say I won't be getting more in the future (thank you paperbackswap.com) but I will make more of an effort to explore what I have and hopefully put it to use! That's my story and I am sticking to it!

WIP-Dancing project finished :)

2010-02-23T10:28:00.000-08:00

So I finished that old Hallowig, finally! This isn't such a complicated project and it went quickly once I sat down and knit so I really don't know what my problem was LOL!

Ravelympics!

2010-02-22T08:27:00.001-08:00

At the moment, I have completed the Aerial Unwind event. I have also entered two projects in the WIP-Dancing. I know without a doubt that I will finish at least one (the Hallowig). The other, however, is a pair of socks (Nanners) I had to rip back to the toe, so we'll see...

So something is up wth my computer...

2010-02-22T07:14:00.000-08:00

(Updated: Something is still funky with my computer but I managed to pull the picture directly from my phone.) Presenting my current project for Ravelympics - WIP Dancing! This Hallowig was started way back in September 2008 and I am just now getting around to finishing it LOL! I'm trying to figure out how to get this picture up on Ravelry without saving to my computer (problem solved for now -- but I need a new computer LOL).

Smell This!

2009-10-20T15:17:00.000-07:00

Ok, so the ability to transmit scent via the web is still a ways off... I just wanted to post a quick shout out to a super creative fun person who makes amazing soap! This is Dawn's site...

Herbal Soaps and More!" width="168" height="53" />
All of her scents are yummy including DIRT! Yup, you read correctly. Dawn has created a soap which invokes the smell of rich, clean earth. I really dig it!

Cruel, Cruel Summer

2009-08-31T11:39:00.000-07:00

I don't feel the need to elaborate on the title of this post. Life has been in a state of stress and upheaval. However, things are starting to settle down a bit. I am continuing to knit like mad, with a little crochet and spinning thrown in for good measure. Good thoughts are appreciated!

Shifting Gears...

2009-07-01T12:06:00.001-07:00

Like many others, I am becoming increasingly drawn to the "make do and mend" movement. In addition to my works in progress (knitting and crochet), I have an ever-growing pile of mending I need to get through. I am not an expert seamstress and however competent I become through practice of sewing, it won't be "my thing" like knitting and crochet. So to give myself the freedom to talk about mending/sewing and other crafts (in addition to crochet and knitting), I have decided to remove myself from all but one knitting blog rings. My blog, which I have become very lazy about updating, wasn't seeing a great deal of traffic anyway so quitting the blog rings doesn't feel like such a big deal.

Another issue I wanted to share is my need to make wearables for myself. However, I am also working within the confines of my stash, so I have come to the conclusion (AGAIN) that I really need to lose some weight! The smaller I get, the less yardage it will take to make a garment and the further my yarn will go. Sounds good, huh? Too bad I can't just wiggle my nose and blink my eyes to make it happen. *sigh* From time to time I may share my dieting progress but I reserve the right not to share my starting or goal weight :p

More soon...

Spinning? Me?

2009-03-19T08:47:00.000-07:00

It is true. I have joined the dark side and drank the kool-aid (goes great with cookies BTW). Several members of my local knit/cro/spin group have recently taken up spinning. While most are becoming quite adept with drop spindles, some have gone so far as to acquire wheels! Now, I don't see myself with a spinning wheel anytime soon but I am finding this new skill to be quite intriguing. Thanks goes to Bellatrix for the lessons, gifts and general enabling, and to Dr. Gemma and Stashymama for their generous contributions and more enabling :)

I won a prize :)

2009-03-17T09:48:00.000-07:00

From the Holiday KAL/CAL!!!

I am the proud and thankful recipient of THE SECRET LANGUAGE OF KNITTERS. This little gem of a book is just a hoot to read! Filled with entertaining and informative definitions, this book fits neatly into any knitting bag. I can't wait to share this with my knitting/crochet/spinning group! I also received my choice of three pattern downloads from Mary Beth's site. So many great patterns to choose from, you really should check it out! I can't wait to cast on for the 50/50 sock :) I do believe this will be one of the next two projects I cast on for... stay tuned!

Please spread the word!

2009-01-28T12:22:00.000-08:00

The freedom to buy and sell handmade items is under attack!

Off to a pretty good start I'd say!

2009-01-19T10:40:00.001-08:00

940 Meters... This reflects both of my most current finished objects. With KnitMeter you have the option of showing your progress by miles, meters and yards. For now, i will stick with meters...

FO #2 for 2009: JoSpun Beanie

2009-01-19T10:11:00.001-08:00

beanie
Originally uploaded by pudmuddles.

This beanie was a very quick knit using some lovely hand spun yarn I was given as a gift from a dear friend. The pattern is a modified version of a hat recipe from The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns by Ann Budd. I knit it on size 8 (5.0 mm) because it was thick and thin in spots but I wanted to make as dense a fabric as possible.

I'm very pleased with the results!

First FO of 2009! A Baby Round Ripple

2009-01-19T09:56:00.001-08:00

IMG_0046
Originally uploaded by pudmuddles.

My husband's sister is expecting her first child in July. Since I have had this gender neutral Pound of Love sitting in my stash since 2002, I thought this was a great time to try my hook at a round ripple pattern. I started January 2nd using a G (4.00 mm) and completed it on the 11th. I could have finished it two days sooner but had to take the time off to complete a book review. In all, I used just over 8/10 of a skein or 826.2 yards. I enjoyed this pattern and look forward to making another one (though bigger) in the future.

The pattern I used can be found here.

2008: A quick look back...

2009-01-07T16:58:00.000-08:00

The theme for 2008 was apparently stash busting and felting. I predict that 2009 will be dominated by socks :)

In 2008, I finished a total of 18 projects -- this I find impressive since I believe I only finished 15 projects in 2007. There are still a few UFOs which are carrying over into the new year but I won't count those here.

As of this writing, I do not have any definite resolutions for 2009. However, I do want to be better about updating my blog. I would love to have an integrated blog which will cover all of my interests, instead of the handful I have spread out all over Blogger. Hopefully by the end of 2009 this little daydream can become reality. As always thanks for reading! Happy New Year!

FO: Bed Socks

2008-11-25T08:02:00.001-08:00

IMG_2161
Originally uploaded by pudmuddles.

I've been in a sock frenzy lately but I've decided to knit up my "worst" sock yarn first. These socks were made with Cascade Fixation, which is a neat yarn, looks beautiful in tops, etc. However, in my opinion (experience), it is just NOT COMFY to walk on!

NaNoWriMo was abandoned because of book reviews... Holiday knitting (crochet) plans are now in danger too. Today is a good day to give it some thought and try to come up with a list of quick/easy projects to complete in time for Christmas... wish me luck!

I've been sort of down lately...

2008-11-02T11:05:00.000-08:00

Looking at the date of my last post it shocks me to see how much time has passed! I haven't been knitting or crocheting (or reading or writing) much lately. My oldest daughter went through a health crisis beginning in early October and though she is walking again, we still do not have a diagnosis.

Of course, the economy has not helped and though I avoid the news to try and keep my anxiety level down, I still feel overwhelmed. My husband and I voted by absentee ballot. We are registered Libertarians and we both voted for our party's candidate. Speaking for myself, it really comes down to a protest vote because I don't have confidence in either the Republicans or Democrats.

I've signed up for NaNoWriMo but have gotten off to a really slow start. I'm trying not to dwell on my inevitable failure to write 50,000 words by the end of the month, focusing on the creative process instead. There was a time when I was in the habit of writing daily but it all seems a distant memory now. Can I hope to get that back?

I've volunteered to help a few hours twice a week in my oldest daughter's classroom. Her teacher is very nice but I worry because some of the students in the class can be quite rowdy.

I have a couple knitting projects in progress: Nanners socks (in hibernation until I can wrap and turn to my satisfaction), dark green Hallowig (changed my mind about finishing it for Halloween), and socks for myself in Cascade Fixation. I want to knit up all of the Fixation in my stash as I don't have enough to make a garment with it and I am not all that confident that the socks will be comfy. I know I could probably trade it but it seems like a hassle at the moment.

I'm hoping after the next follow-up with the pediatric rheumatologists my mood will improve. The time between Thanksgiving and New Year's is traditionally my favorite time of year and I really want to make it enjoyable for my whole family.

I'm contemplating seeing my doctor for some "happy" pills, if you know what I mean...

FOs: Shopping Bag & Cotton Candy Scarf

2008-08-31T20:48:00.000-07:00

This is the second time I have made a cotton shopping bag using a free pattern from the Lion Brand website. My intent was to improve the length of the strap by using fewer stitches. It turned out great, I just wish I could remember exactly how many stitches I used for the strap! I think it is time to move on to other shopping bag patterns in future, however...

The cotton candy scarf uses one skein of Lana Grossa Dasolo Print on US 13 (9.0 mm) needles. The pattern is as follows:

Cast On 10 stitches
K2, * yo, p2tog, K2; rep from *
Repeat this pattern for every row until you nearly run out of yarn but make sure you save enough for the bind off!

The scarf is the first of what I hope will be several items to donate to a local charity. My deadline is October 1st. I am hoping to make a variety of items, in both knit and crochet :)

WIP update

2008-08-31T19:17:00.000-07:00

Nanners socks - still love them, just haven't worked on them lately!

Nemisis (Clapotis) - nearly there, I am decreasing like crazy now and plan to finish no later than Labor Day :)

It's been awhile...

2008-07-28T18:57:00.000-07:00

...but I have been knitting! And reading... And Plurking... My Ravelry participation has decreased but I have managed to keep my projects updated there.

Let's see, what is off my needles?
1. Accordion Cowl Hood by Diane Serviss - using gray boucle from stash
2. The Socks of Extreme Angst - using Austermann Step and Ann Budd's basic formula for making socks
3. My Scrap Happy Shawl - using a variety of samples and leftovers from my stash, this project was inspired by Miss Violet's post here. I may have a better picture of this project for the blog at some point LOL!

On my needles:
1. Nanners Socks! I am really loving this pattern, I think WendyKnits is a fab designer and a great person in general!
2. Another cotton shopping bag - using the same pattern as before but shortening the strap considerably so it won't hang down to my ankles when filled. I also went down in needle size to see if that helps too...
3. Nemesis - this is a project which is rumored to be a Clapotis, that's all I will say for now...

What's coming next?
1. More blog posts, to this and my other blogs.
2. Something for myself from More Big Girl Knits.
3. A crochet project... lace or amigurumi...
4. Catching up with the Plurkette Hencircle
5. Working with my local knit group on our ongoing charity projects...

My update sans pictures

2008-06-16T17:53:00.000-07:00

Halfway into June and I am just now getting around to posting, bad blogger!

What's on my needles: I am working on my Socks of Extreme Angst, almost done with the cuff of sock #2. I am also about 50% in on an Accordion Cowl Hood by Diane Serviss. This is another "let's use up the boucle quick" project. This time, it is back to the grey Bernat Soft Boucle I used for The Neverending Poncho with a little Bernat Satin in black for contrast. So far, it is working up nicely though the accordion folds are not as clearly defined in the boucle than they would be if I had used a smooth yarn. Pictures will follow soon.

Next to cast-on: I would like to make another shopping bag to use up the last of my kitchen cotton. I will buy kitchen cotton in the future, but ONLY when I have a SPECIFIC project in mind. Also, I found a bunch of granny squares I made years ago and I think they would make some cute scarves for my daughters.

Finally, I didn't get to participate in WWKIP Day as I had family visiting. That's it for this update, more to follow soon. Peace to you and yours!

Finally! A project to use up that boucle stuff...

2008-05-27T18:13:00.001-07:00

IMG_1503
Originally uploaded by pudmuddles.

I can understand my temporary insanity with respect to the dozen or so balls of fun fur still lurking in my stash. I have a plan for eradication which includes amigurumi crochet creatures.

The other novelty yarn (at least I consider it a novelty) is all the boucle I have laying around. There was the bit I bought to knit up the dreaded never-ending poncho of which I think I still have a full skein, if not more. Then there is a skein of BLACK boucle which is going to be a nightmare, no matter what I decide to do with it. I can't crochet with it, that much I know... Finally, there was a BIG skein of Joann's Rainbow Boucle in pink. This was an impulse buy. I think Joann's had it on sale for $3, marked down from $6. It was a thorn in my side as I had tried to make a hat for my daughter but I wasn't happy with my results so I left the yarn alone for about a year.

As part of my ongoing mission to knit 95% of the time from my stash exclusively, I decided it was time to figure out something to do with this. I tried to hold two strands together but couldn't see the stitches at all! I settled on pairing the pink boucle with a white wool-ease sportweight (oh how I wish this stuff wasn't discontinued).

I used Ann Budd's basic pattern for mittens and though it was difficult to obtain an accurate gauge AND the first mitten came out too large, I am very pleased with how these turned out :) Best of all, I have a plan to deal with the rest of boucle as I will be knitting up mittens for my daughters as well!

FO: ribbed arm warmers

2008-05-26T18:26:00.000-07:00

IMG_1504
Originally uploaded by pudmuddles.

I've named these Greensleeves for obvious reasons. Made from LB wool-ease, from my stash. This was a relative quick and mindless knit... at least this incarnation was easy! I originally set out to demo a friend's pattern but soon realized that "one size fits most" doesn't include my small-ish hands. So I tinkered and this is what I came up with :)

Of concern...

2008-05-21T11:29:00.000-07:00

I'm going to talk for a moment about knitting/crochet/crafting podcasts... Since I started listening to podcasts, I've noticed that some podcasts have been very consistent (Sticks & String for example). Others are either coming out less frequently or not at all.

However, what is most troubling to me is a review I recently posted to iTunes for the Lime & Violet podcast. First of all, I mean every word of the review. I love Lime & Violet, they are very entertaining, have provided me with a great deal more knowledge of yarn, books, etc. than I would have had if I hadn't been listening. Like others have said, its a virtual SNB in a podcast. Ok, so no problem, right? Wrong. I made a mistake in not posting the review SOONER... because of this my review doesn't have as much credibility since it was after Ms. V herself mentioned the slew of recent harsh reviews (some do contain valid criticisms) to the L&V Ravelry forum.

BAAAAAAA! I feel like such a sheep right now and it is really bothering me! Ok, that is all I have to say at the moment... Stay tuned for more FOs and WIPs and as always, I humbly thank you for reading :)

ETA: It's still bothering me, days later... I don't really give much credence to iTunes reviews which may seem odd considering that I review books for TRRC. Anyway, I should have stepped back and either waited to post a review or temper my words a bit than my emotional glowing praise as shown... I wanted to be nice and give back in my way. I value the work of podcasters because they are providing a service which is essentially free to be consumed regardless of the level of expense endured by the podcaster. I can't at the moment show my regard for them monetarily. I don't anticipate posting any other reviews on iTunes. I can't help but feel a little bit tainted by the whole thing.

Cheap Date

2008-05-10T21:54:00.001-07:00

lacesamplershrug
Originally uploaded by pudmuddles.

This project had been languishing in my WIP pile. I think I started and frogged about 3 times before I finally powered through. I purchased the yarn (Lion Brand Suede) about a year ago at the 99 cents only store and used just a bit over 2 skeins. Not accounting for my time and effort, the materials for this project was less than $3. Pretty cool, if you ask me!

The pattern is from an episode of Knitty Gritty (DKNG-510) and it is called the Lace Sampler Shrug.

Flawed but functional

2008-05-10T21:40:00.001-07:00

shoppingbag
Originally uploaded by pudmuddles.

I have a bit of cotton in my stash which was screaming to be something useful. I know that washcloths are really popular with a great many crafters but I am just not one. Anyway, I was looking around for patterns and came across this on the Lion Brand website. I liked the strap construction but found that it still stretched a bit more than I wanted and the sides did not match up perfectly when it was sewn together. I will be making this patten again but plan to go down a needle size and cast on 10-20 fewer stitches for the strap.

Bustin' stash and going green... How awesome is that?

Bye Bye Red Heart

2008-05-10T21:31:00.001-07:00

IMG_1493
Originally uploaded by pudmuddles.

I am happy to report that my stash has been purged of nearly all the Red Heart acyrlic. This blanket worked up quickly using two strands, rows of half double crochet on a 9.0 mm hook. I call it "(Red) Heart Burn". It's a nice blanket which will no doubt be durable enough to take abuse from my kids but so far, it hasn't come off my bed. I'm keeping this one to myself for now :)

Second Sock Indecision

2008-04-14T18:31:00.000-07:00

I call this project THE SOCK OF EXTREME ANGST. The yarn was a gift of friendship and I loved it so that I decided to make my first pair of "just-for-me" socks. My daughters each have at least one pair of hand knit socks and I thought it was my turn.

Though it seems like I have been working on these FOREVER, they were actually started just after the New Year. From the beginning, I had a series of mishaps. First I swatched and started knitting on size 1s but didn't like how it was turning out so I frogged it, and went down to size 0s. Ok, no problem... right? Wrong! I forgot to swatch again on the smaller needles so the sock was too small. Fortunately, I was only about an inch into the cuff when I figured this out. Rippit, rippit! Still ignoring the need to swatch again, I cast on more stitches and went for it... This time I was up to the gusset when I realized that the sock was way TOO BIG! Rippit, rippit!

Finally, I swatched and started yet again. The yarn was starting to look a little sad and abused but I charged through because by this point my frustration was at a critical level.

About this time, I had a major disagreement with the lady who runs a local knitting group, of which I had been a member for about a year. I refused to be bullied so I prepared to make my exit from that group. For the very first time in my life, a hobby was causing me a great deal of stress but I would not give up...

The sock you see here still seems a little large, especially in the heel. I have not Kitchener stiched it closed. My gauge is fine, I simply picked the wrong size. I think I may actually be in between sizes and if I sat down with all of the numbers could write up my own variation of the recipe.

Now comes the indecision... Do I knit the second sock to match the first? Do I knit a slightly smaller sock with a slightly shorter cuff in an attempt to get two more socks out of the yarn I have left? Do I put the whole thing away and look through my sock yarn stash for a change of scenery, maybe cast on a different pattern in a different yarn? For now, I think I will sleep on it...

BTW, I am now part of another local crafting group which has a completely different vibe to it, it is very refreshing (and inspirational)...

FO: Hand Warmers :)

2008-04-13T16:31:00.000-07:00

Wow, it seems like forever since I actually finished something! I call these "Warm Simplicity" as I made them up as I went along. The yarn was a gift from my secret pal :)

My crafting group is currently running a secret pal swap and I must say that I am quite enjoying it!

Ok, now back to this project... A bit of crochet, in a bulky weight acrylic/wool blend made in Turkey by Premier Picasso. I used a little less than 50 grams (60 yards) on a size K (6.5 mm) hook. They fit nicely and are WARM!

Balance? More or Less...

2008-04-10T17:16:00.000-07:00

I'm still streamlining my online endeavors so that I can properly ration my time while maximizing my creativity. My Ravelry groups are back down to 32 in number, which still sounds like a lot, doesn't it? As much as I adore knitting and crochet there are other facets of my creative life I need to spend more time working on, specifically, writing. Fortunately, there is an active writing group in my area which participates in the annual NaNoWriMo! I think I will be signing up soon :)

Balance!

2008-03-26T11:55:00.000-07:00

Finally, I feel like I am achieving balance again since Ravelry came into my life! There are so many wonderful people, projects and information on this site that it can be overwhelming and time consuming... not to mention the time it takes away from actually making something! I've got my groups back down to 40 and I may actually delete a few more as I know I don't have time to actually participate in all 40 groups. My plan is to use Ravelry once a day... we'll see how that goes LOL.

I'm caught up on my podcasts and may be in the "market" for a few new subscriptions. The wonderful thing about podcasts is that they can travel with you and don't demand your full attention while listening. So multi-tasking (which is a necessity in my life) is no problem.

As for the more mundane, my front-loading washer is acting up. Without an agitator it is difficult to balance a load and I think between all of the towels and jeans this family of 5 can dirty, that I've worn the poor thing out!

With the sun beating down...

2008-03-24T20:01:00.001-07:00

sunhat
Originally uploaded by pudmuddles.

...it was time to pull out the sun hats. Just one problem, I didn't have one that fit. Ok, so my head is a little large for a woman... Anyway, I decided that since it was very doubtful that I would take my cotton stash and make washcloths, I would crochet myself a sun hat! I think I did quite well, thank you very much! Actually, I had found an old pattern in one of those little special publication books put out by Better Homes & Gardens but as I worked it up discovered that it was just a bit bigger than I would like. I added a row of double crochet so that I could thread a ribbon through and cinch it in a bit to fit better. After that point, I switched back to single crochet and improvised the rest of the pattern based on how I wanted it to look and feel. I'm very happy with the results and wore it nearly all Easter weekend :)

Now, We're Talkin'!

2008-03-18T16:24:00.000-07:00

This is my second variation on the popular Booga Bag. I cast on more stitches (48) than the pattern called for, knit a larger bottom panel, and picked up more stitches in the round. I knit until I ran out of yarn and I am thrilled with the results! So these are fall colors? I don't mind!

About the yarn: Patons Classic Merino in Chestnut and a red-orange (I don't know what the color was called).

Where's My Rabbit?

2008-03-18T16:14:00.001-07:00

It's been awhile since I posted in part because I was sick with a nasty chest cold and bronchitis which lasted nearly two weeks. Due to extreme fatigue and general blahs, I stuck with less complicated projects such as this one: a felted crochet hat from the book FELTED CROCHET by Jane Davis. I am very happy with how it turned out though it is a bit tall to be practical but its very warm, slightly eccentric, and perfect to wear to my crafting group... I just haven't done it yet... I've become quite taken with felting knit or crochet projects but I must shift gears now and concentrate on crafting through other elements of my stash (such as the last of my squeaky acrylic). Going from knitting or crocheting with pure wool to crafting with acrylic is like dumping a bucket of ice water on my head!

On a happier note...

2008-02-26T19:42:00.000-08:00

Here is my latest finished object... my version of the Booga Bag.

This was made utilizing two different felt-able yarns in my stash: Patons Classic Merino in Chestnut and Bernat Lana in Smoke (I think). A quick easy knit, I think I will be making another soon to take my mind off of my recent WIP disasters. I will likely tweak this pattern a bit to make a larger finished bag.

Also, I am considering embellishing these bags with needle felting, a skill I hope to learn in the near future!

Update Overdue...

2008-02-26T19:28:00.000-08:00

As you will see in another post, I do have a finished object to share and I am definitely happy with it :)

However, it seems like everything else I have touched since then I have had to frog and forget or frog and restart. For example, my ribbed Austermann Step socks and my stash bustin' lace sampler shrug... I had thought that I had measured my gauge for the socks, but apparently not. After turning the heel and knitting the gusset, I eagerly tried on my creation only to discover it was about an inch too large. Rip-it, rip-it... to the frog pond. I have now come to terms with this situation and I am re-knitting it after casting on 8 fewer stitches. Hopefully, I will have no further issues with these socks.

The shrug, using LB suede, is progressing slowly and the different lace patterns are giving me ideas for designs I may want to create myself :) However, I will be sooooooo glad when my stash is void of this particular yarn. I just don't like working with it... it's becoming a chore but I will see it through to the end!

I've also had gauge issues with a crochet (to be felted) hat. I don't know why I didn't realize that you need to check your gauge even when felting but I didn't until I was over halfway trough the project only to discover that it was waaaaaaaay too big. So I've restarted this project too.

My mojo seems to be missing at the moment...

$3.96 ...seriously.

2008-02-13T16:23:00.000-08:00

$3.96 was my total out of pocket expense for this order from Alpaca Direct. I received 4 skeins of Cascade Sassy Stripes in the Fey colorway for a Clapotis project and 4 skeins of Lorna's Laces sock yarn in the colorways of Lakeview and Tickled Pink. Pretty cool, huh? I took advantage of the opportunity to buy yarn on Amazon.com using a $50 giftcode courtesy of MyPoints. This was such an easy transaction that I would buy from Amazon/Alpaca Direct again in a heartbeat -- I'm already planning my next purchase as they have a great selection of Cascade Fixation.

If you would like a referral link to MyPoints Send me an
email with "MyPoints" in the subject line :)

I've caught STARTITIS

2008-02-09T09:25:00.000-08:00

So far I have three WIPs: the Austermann Step socks, a LB Suede Shrug, and a Booga inspired felted bag utilizing some of my stash. You would think that this would be enough to keep me occupied but NO! I am itching to start a crochet project. I have a new Amigurumi book I haven't done anything with yet, plus I have a nice stash of crochet thread and I am just itching to make a table runner for my dining room table. Then there is this great big hook I've never used and I'm thinking it would be nice to bust out a little blanket or lapghan to use up some of my remaining RH. Plus, I have a shipment coming from Alpaca Direct (I'll post more about it when it arrives) and I've been debating between a Drop Scarf inspired by the Clapotis or an actual Clapotis for a KAL. Since I am not a stole or shawl person really, I think the Drop Scarf will ultimately win out, but we'll see...

Here's my theory, when my stress level (not from anything bad, just busy) goes up, my project ADD or STARTITIS increases... I wonder if this is true of other knitters too...

Finished!

2008-02-02T17:51:00.000-08:00

The second of the Christmas Sweaters finally has a brand new neck band. I had started last night while at a group knit meeting and realized too late that I had the stitches going the wrong direction. So I frogged it at home and started over... but now it is done and it fits my toddler just fine :)

(More pictures on Ravelry...)

Knowing when to say "ENOUGH"

2008-01-24T08:24:00.000-08:00

So I have this crochet blanket (not from a pattern, just alternating rows of single and double crochet) that was started sometime late 2002 using Lion Brand Pound of Love. I've used nearly 2 pounds and it is approximately wide enough for a twin bed and so twin bed size was my original target for length. However, I just don't think I want to crochet the last pound of yarn so I think I will stop it after the current skein runs out. My 5 year old daughter loves the blanket just as it is now and it is certainly big enough to snuggle with on the couch :)

Coming to this decision has lifted a big yarn monkey off my back! And so, I have great hopes for a productive 2008... Looking back on 2007, I am thankful for all of the KIP opportunities the local knitting group has provided -- without their encouragement I never would have started knitting socks!

Back to Business

2008-01-24T00:06:00.000-08:00

Ok, I've frogged it, cast on again, and I am now well on my way to my first sock for myself :) The yarn, a Christmas gift from my dear friend Jo, is Austermann Step in pretty pinks and purples.

A little whine...

2008-01-22T17:05:00.000-08:00

I'm feeling overwhelmed and uninspired. I'm currently in the middle of a stressful week with doctor appointments, meetings at school regarding our soon-to-be kindergarten student, a spelling bee for my second grader (who refuses to study because its "easy" stuff), and another book review deadline. So long story short, I've had little knitting time. Add to that, I had to frog the sock I was working on at our last knit group meeting and go down a needle size. Plus, I just experienced my first Ravelry snub... Ok, I'm done.

What progress?

2008-01-14T10:09:00.000-08:00

Admittedly I haven't been knitting as much as I usually do and as you can see, I haven't even posted my 2007 year in review yet. Well, a huge stack of review books and sick children have kept me pretty busy... but I have been catching up on podcasts and after several attempts, have finally given up on the idea of making my mom a hat from LB Suede to match the scarf I gave her for Christmas. While I may attempt a sampler shrug in the LB Suede, it is more likely that my stash will be transformed into scarves and given as teacher gifts for Christmas 2008. I hope to start a pair of socks soon just to save my sanity!

Christmas Sweater Mission - 50% Complete!

2007-12-29T15:52:00.000-08:00

My 5 year old loves her sweater now that she can get it over her head!

First, I unraveled the neck band. Next, I picked up as many stitches as I could, 78 in all and knit a K1P1 rib. Once it was as long as I wanted, I bound off with the aid of my trusty crochet hook :)

In all, I believe the project took me around 5 hours as I was often interrupted but didn't worry about losing my place... Now it is on to the green sweater for my 2 1/2 year old, who is not convinced though she sees her sisters wearing theirs. I am afraid I traumatized her a bit Christmas morning trying to get the sweater over her head!

The Christmas Sweaters

2007-12-26T14:58:00.000-08:00

My mother, bless her, knit a sweater for each of my three daughters and was late coming over to our house yesterday because she was finishing them up. The sweaters are lovely with cables but sadly only my oldest could get hers over her head. My mother was mortified and I was dismayed, though my daughters quickly got over it. So, I rec'd the leftover yarn and discussion between myself, mom and my grandmother yielded a plan which would involve me steeking a small opening in the back and the installation of a button. However, upon further inspection of the sweaters it seems to me that it would be far less risky to just unravel the neck band and re-do it with more stretch. It won't be exactly like the original band but it will be close enough and more importantly, my daughters will be able to wear the sweaters my mom worked so hard on!
So now all I need to do is find out what size needle my mom used. I will be documenting my progress step by step and include pictures, of course! I am a knitter on a mission baby!

Success! Stocking #5 is done :)

2007-12-21T13:14:00.000-08:00

I'm so happy with how the stockings turned out! Now there is only one item I need to finish for Christmas and then I can start on something just for me :)

We interrupt this knitting blog...

2007-12-20T13:01:00.000-08:00

...to bring you a cookie recipe!

Sometimes, simplicity really is best. Here is my current favorite butter cookie recipe which I found on the side of a bottle of McCormick Pure Vanilla Extract:

Cream together 1 cup of butter and 1 cup of sugar until fluffy
Add 1 egg and beat well
Add 1 TB Vanilla and blend

In a separate bowl combine...
2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
Add to the creamed mixture

Spoon dough onto cookie sheets (I line mine with parchment) and bake for approx. 10-12 minutes in a 350 F degree oven. Makes around 3 dozen depending on the size of the scoop/spoon :)

I'm a little stressed!

2007-12-20T12:00:00.000-08:00

So we are getting down to the wire... I still don't know for sure if my Mom (plus her husband) and grandmother are coming to my house for Christmas. I finished something for my mom (can't say what in case she sees the blog before the 25th) and I wanted to make something else to go with it but I am afraid I don't have enough time! Plus, I am ridiculously close to finishing my Christmas stocking but a cookie baking marathon (for teacher gifts) is keeping me from my knitting!

FO: Christmas is coming and Stocking #4 is DONE!

2007-12-10T19:03:00.001-08:00

stocking4
Originally uploaded by pudmuddles.

This was a really quick knit and I love how it has turned out! This stocking is probably for my 2 year old so that means there is only one stocking left to make (mine). I hope to cast on tonight... but we'll see...

FO: Christmas Stocking #3 (2 more to go)

2007-12-03T10:25:00.001-08:00

stocking3
Originally uploaded by pudmuddles.

This one is done in blues and pink. My daughter requested purple but I don't currently have any purple so this is the best I could come up with. I told her if she didn't like it, I could give it to her little sister and knit her a different one. She of course said, "No, I like it." High praise indeed! LOL!

Jo is my hero!

2007-11-29T21:55:00.000-08:00

It's been a bit of a rough week. I'm sick with some sort of chest cold which has me feeling completely rundown. Tonight, my youngest daughter got sick (the messy kind) and now I'm worried that I missed my opportunity to get flu vaccines, plus, we are supposed to meet up with the RV club this weekend but it doesn't look good at the moment. So anyway, Jo came by to borrow a table for a craft fair (which I just know will be a blast) and she had a surprise for me: Starbucks :) Thanks again sweetie!

*Update: Not the flu, just that hard and fast stomach bug which swept through the whole house. No, we didn't go RV'ing this weekend.*

FO: Socks!

2007-11-18T08:09:00.001-08:00

socks4a
Originally uploaded by pudmuddles.

This is the fourth pair of socks completed though I had started them before the pink fixation pair. I think I am ready for something more challenging than the ribbed socks but I have just loved making these and I wish I knew what the yarn was... oh well! ...and now... back to Christmas stockings :)

Christmas stocking #2 (3 more to go!)

2007-11-16T09:26:00.001-08:00

stocking2
Originally uploaded by pudmuddles.

It's finished! This is Christmas stocking number two, made for my husband. He chose the UCLA inspired colors from my stash. We are both very happy with it (though for me it was a bit more complicated that stocking #1). I need to get busy since I still have so much RH left! My amigurumi book came and though RH is not the optimal yarn to use for these types of projects, I will be making up some stocking stuffers for my daughters (if I have enough time).

Better luck next year...

2007-11-05T09:18:00.000-08:00

I can't get the correct gauge with my Red Heart stash for knitting squares to benefit Warm Up America. I don't know what the problem is, I tried knitting, I tried crocheting and it just isn't working. Perhaps the RH I have is kind of thick for 4-ply/worsted? Gauge is not something I have issues with usually so I am stumped... I'll bet if I were to use Caron Simply Soft or something similar, I would have no problems but I am not buying any yarn right now, no matter the worthiness of the cause. So, I will go back to making Christmas stockings with the RH and try the charity square thing next year!

FO: Sherri by Berroco

2007-11-01T17:48:00.001-07:00

IMG_0158
Originally uploaded by pudmuddles.

I'm glad its finished! I wish I had more of this yarn. Despite it being rather splitty, it drapes nicely and I love the sheen. I would have like to make the length longer and the neck smaller. This was my first experience making something that wasn't a scarf, hat, or sock (ponchos don't count). I have recently ordered a top-down sweater book and I have a feeling that method will satisfy my urges nicely :)

The pattern can be found here.

Happy Hallowig!

2007-11-01T09:12:00.001-07:00

IMG_0151
Originally uploaded by pudmuddles.

Hallowig #2 resized for my 2 year old. I used up some leftover baby yarn (acrylic) from a baby blanket project going all the way back to 2002! I used size 4 needles and I am quite pleased with the results :) Now on to the Christmas projects!!!

Acrylic de-stash possibilities...

2007-10-29T18:26:00.000-07:00

I stopped in a Michael's today to pick up some bamboo needles for my daughter's school project. (I should get these back, but just in case I don't... I'm sure you can understand why I didn't loan out any from my current collection. Anyway...) I didn't even look at the yarn as I am still on that diet. What I did see at check-out was a poster announcing a local Warm Up America event. Donations of 7" x 9" squares are assembled into afghans for the needy. It struck me that this is really doable for me (even though I have quite a number of WIPs at the moment) as this project specifically calls for acrylic and would help me get rid of more of my stash! The two dates are November 11th and November 17th. I'll be heading out of town on the 17th so I am going to try and make some up for the 11th (or maybe I can have someone from my knitting group run these over for me on the 17th). I thinking it will probably be faster to crochet these but we'll see...

Christmas is coming!!!

2007-10-29T09:36:00.000-07:00

I saw the first Christmas commercial of the season (for Ross) and it has reminded me, again, of how much time I have or not to finish the Christmas stocking for family... EEEK! I really am trying to stay calm but I'm getting excited too because I love this time of year :)

A simple pleasure...

2007-10-21T17:52:00.000-07:00

After working with RH and Fixation recently, I nearly forgot the simple pleasure of knitting with pure wool! Ah the softness :) No more second sock syndrome for me, my dd #2's sock is going to be a breeze to finish :)

...but alas, I will have to follow this project with a UFO (a 2T top in Berroco Cotton Twist) and Christmas Stockings using more from my RH stash.

Woooooooo! Cascade Fixation socks are done!

2007-10-19T16:58:00.001-07:00

IMG_0142
Originally uploaded by pudmuddles.

I am really thrilled to have finished these. They fit my (4 ft 4 inch) 7 year old daughter really well and there is enough stretch to accommodate her growing feet :) And I think I now love Cascade Fixation though I intend to try Elann Esprit as soon as I get off this Yarn Fast/Yarn Diet!

My first Hallowig...

2007-10-19T14:20:00.001-07:00

hallowig1
Originally uploaded by pudmuddles.

It's finished and I'm happy about that. I made some mistakes and so I will be making this again probably in green and using size 7 needles instead of 8s.

The pattern can be found here.

I don't get it...

2007-10-18T14:01:00.000-07:00

I going to rant a bit about knitlist on yahoogroups. I appreciate that there are well over 10,000 members on that group and that a team of moderators work to make sure the group rules are followed. I replied to a post regarding the TV show Pushing Daisies and my post was rejected for being a one-liner. Okay... I wasn't going to make a big deal about it and if I had added a short blurb about what was on my needles then it wouldn't have been an issue, right?

So today, I open up my knitlist digest and I read a post from a woman looking for quick knit Halloween costume ideas for babies. This post was followed (on the digest) by another person who had changed the subject line of the original post and added a snarky one line response questioning the value of putting babies in costumes and remarking on the lengths some people will go for free candy. To which I say, WTF!?!

So my innocuous one-liner was rejected and the snarky one-liner was sent through... NICE...

Cascade Fixation Socks... nearly there!

2007-10-03T19:04:00.000-07:00

I'm hoping to get these finished by Friday so I can take a different project with me while we are RV'ing this weekend. On the whole, I am fairly pleased with how these are turning out. I got the first sock to the start of the toe decreases then cast on the 2nd. I did this to combat second sock syndrome and to get both socks kitchenered at the same time. I've heard that kitchener is a bit tricky with Cascade Fixation and I only want to do each sock once! Wish me luck!

Went a little nuts on RAVELRY!

2007-09-23T20:15:00.000-07:00

I got my invitation today and set up the bare bones to start. Then I noticed that my knitter friend Jo had a bunch of group badges on her profile and so I started to browse and... I joined 23 groups!!! What am I thinking? I am not going to have time to participate in that many groups...and I thought I was being conservative with my choices. There are so many other groups I could have joined, just lots of great groups and a few scary ones too. I'm going to go through the list again and see if I can make any sacrifices... and I was only able to quit one group so now I am still in 22 groups and I think I may have posted to two of them. Not sure if I'll use the forums much, seems like a little bit of duplication, at least in my newbie eyes...

Today's KIP

2007-09-13T18:48:00.000-07:00

I had to take my SUV to the dealership this morning and in anticipation of waiting around for a couple of hours, I brought a cascade fixation sock to work on :) I'll post pictures when it is complete... shouldn't be more than a couple of days from now.

In other news, I lost 4.4 lbs. and my dog is still pretty ill, he is going back to the doctor tomorrow afternoon.

What to do, what to do?

2007-09-08T19:11:00.000-07:00

I'm finally all caught up with the Lime & Violet podcast and I think I am going through withdrawal! I'm also up to date with Yarn Thing and Stash and Burn. I think for now I will go through the Socks in the City episodes as the number of hours of Cast On waiting for me is a little intimidating LOL!

FO: Christmas Stocking, 1 down... 4? to go!

2007-09-03T16:28:00.000-07:00

Started: 8/29/07
Completed: 9/2/07

Pattern was from KNITTING YEAR-ROUND by Better Homes and Gardens (ISBN 069621655-8), pages 96-98.

Yarn: Red Heart, I didn't have the specific colors called for in the pattern so I made it up from what I have in my stash...and I used almost an entire skein of red... I love it :)

So I don't burn out on these, I plan to finish up the socks I have OTN and work on the crochet blanket. (Plus, I have a bunch of reading to do but I won't talk about that here LOL.)

Yarn Diet/Yarn Fast

2007-08-31T08:32:00.000-07:00

I am now knitting exclusively from my stash. The only exceptions to the "fast" are needles and other notions necessary to continue to knit up what I already have.

...and I have quite a few skeins of Red Heart. Yes, I admit it... My current project for this is to make Christmas stockings. I need at least 5 stockings completed by the holidays and I am well on my way to finishing the first. It should be done by the end of the weekend. Yay :)

Also OTN: pink sock for DD#1 out of Cascade Fixation, 2nd sock (unknown wool yarn) for DD#2, and the Sherri by Berrocco (in Cotton Twist) for DD#3.

OTH: unnamed blanket started in the fall of 2002, I'm nearly 2 pounds in out of 3 using the Pound of Love yarn by Lion Brand.

FO: Presenting... The Never-Ending Poncho!

2007-08-28T19:41:00.000-07:00

Start Date: Mid-September 2006
Finished: August 27, 2007

Pattern: Bernat Soft Boucle Poncho
Yarn: Bernat Soft Boucle in (26928) Grey Shades
Needles: size US 10

Comments: Why on Earth would it take so long to finish? It was an easy pattern, knitted flat, in two pieces which are seamed together and based nearly entirely on stockinette stitch. In short, BORING!

I bought the yarn after seeing a crocheted poncho in one of the magazines but due to the nature of the yarn, I found it nearly impossible to crochet with. So I decided to knit something similar and this is what I came up with. Despite the simplicity of the pattern, I soon found my attention wavering and I set it aside more than once to knit a variety of hats, etc. Then my knitting group got me hooked on socks! So after almost a year, here it is, my poncho... one less little fuzzy monkey on my back :)

Joann.com Final Result

2007-08-28T18:27:00.000-07:00

Ok, my box arrived today, everything was included and all was in good shape. I am extremely relieved!

Here are my final thoughts about Joann.com:
1. I will never again use a Joann gift card to buy online from Joann.com (easier to just use credit cards).
2. I will continue to shop my local Jo-ann's on occasion but not for the majority of my yarn purchases (we have a real LYS opening in town on 9/1).
3. I will avoid holiday shopping on Joann.com at all costs!

I knew it!

2007-08-27T08:37:00.000-07:00

I did in fact receive both my yummy Lisa Souza yarn AND my KnitPicks order before the Joann order (which is now somewhere between IL and CA). I absolutely adore the Hula Dancing yarn from KnitPicks, it is much prettier in person than on the website and it is still on sale, so check it out :) However, I am not thrilled about the feel of the Palette yarn but I am hoping it will be softer after it is knitted up and washed. My husband is happy with the colors (UCLA colors) and he only wants a simple ribbed sock so... Actually, now that I am pondering this, I wonder if he would like a tube sock as I haven't made those yet... either way, I'm sure it will all work out fine :)

Oh Happy Day!!!

2007-08-25T09:36:00.000-07:00

The Lisa Souza sock yarn arrived!!! I loooooooooooove it!!! I can't wait to work with it but alas I must as I have promised my oldest I would finish her pink socks. Oh well, I can cuddle the skein for now :) This is the Lime N Violet colorway, isn't it purty?

Not Surprised... (Joann.com "update")

2007-08-21T16:20:00.000-07:00

Good News: KnitPicks has shipped!
Bad News: No tracking number provided. ***Thanks to Carol (Needles), I figured out where I needed to go to find the info... my stuff is in Ohio at the moment***

No new information about my Joann.com order. (It's too bad I can't cancel this out and have my gift card refunded/reloaded.) Plus, I just read a bunch of reviews on BizRate and while in general, Joann.com has a good reputation, other customers have recently experienced difficulties which sound exactly like what I am currently dealing with.

Let's face it, Joann's doesn't have much in the way of competition when it comes to buying craft items online. Sure, there are lots of sites which sell yarn while others specialize in scrapbook items and still others who offer up fabric, etc. However, for the "big box" craft buying experience (i.e. a little of everything all at once), its Joann.com. If it wasn't for the gift card I wouldn't have even bothered, why? Because there are so much more higher quality products to be found if one doesn't mind spending a little extra time seeking them out. I truly regret not taking the $50 gift card to my local store and buying whatever I could see and touch. I tried to take the easy (child-free) way out and it is really biting me on the bootay.

There seems to be a blatant disconnect between the order process on Joann.com and order fulfillment. I understand that stuff happens: a ball of yarn might get stepped on or soiled in the warehouse, or a lamp might get dropped, etc. What I can't understand, and can't excuse, is the lack of informed communication AND the lack of flexibility. I was told, on the phone, that I couldn't substitute items and I couldn't cancel... I suspect that the use of the gift card has thrown my order into limbo. If I had simply paid by credit card, they would have likely canceled that portion of the order which couldn't be fulfilled, shipped what they could and charged me for whatever I rec'd. The term BACKORDER has yet to be used either by email or during that one phone call to customer service.

So... I've sent another email to customer service, for all the good it will do...

On a happier note, I am very patiently (no, really) awaiting my order from Lisa Souza, as I already have a list of colorways I want for my next order!

On Hold with Joann.com

2007-08-20T09:54:00.000-07:00

I'm really not happy. I have been on hold now for who knows how long, trying to find some additional information about the order I placed (8/13/07). I'm going to tell all of my family/friends what a huge hassle this has been so that I don't get anymore Joann's gift cards! At this point, I would rather have the credit put back on the gift card and cancel out the order but guess what? That would involve actually talking to someone!

Ok. I got through. The customer service person (who seemed nice enough) says that the order is shipped but there is no tracking number and she didn't see two items in the box... Ok, does that mean those items are coming separately? Or will I be getting a partial credit back on my gift card? It was too late to substitute yarns or anything else... So I have a feeling that this ordeal is far from over...

In other news, there will soon be a real LYS opening in town. I am looking forward to it with just a touch of trepidation... more on that later.

Joann.com, why I may never buy online from them again...

2007-08-17T18:45:00.000-07:00

My brother gave me a $50 gift card for a belated birthday present to Joann's. Since they are usually pretty picked over and slow to restock at my local store, I thought I would buy online from Joann.com (8/13/07). The last time I purchased from them (September 2006) I had a pretty good experience. This time, however, I have yet to receive a confirmation email (as of 8/17/07) and my inquiry to customer service gave me a vague response. Who knows when I will get this stuff? (And do I really need to shop there anymore?) But I better darn well get my $50 gift card credited back if the whole thing falls through! Plus, I think I am turning into a little bit of a yarn snob though I still like working with Lion Brand Wool-ease.

Anyway, tonight I got the green light to purchase a dpn set from KnitPicks.com (yay!) and a special skein of sock yarn from Lisa Souza (yay! yay! yay!), somehow I have a feeling I'll get both of these before the Joann's order...

Sock Yarn Family Portrait & Podcasts

2007-08-16T11:14:00.000-07:00

The picture is long overdue, I know! My newest babies, the Panda twins are up front :)

I haven't been knitting much lately as I haven't had time to myself. Despite the cold and lonely state of my needles and yarn, knitting is never far from my mind as I am completely enamored by knitting podcasts! In addition to being a great source of information about yarn, patterns, needles, gadgets and designers, it is just nice to listen to the chatty podcasters and feel just a little less lonely for my knitting friends :)

I am caught up with 'Yarn Thing' and 'Stash and Burn'. I am about 11 months behind on 'Lime and Violet' but catching up quickly :) Once that is done, I will absorb myself in the wit and wisdom that is 'Cast On'... plus there are so many other great podcasts out there, I don't know how I will ever be able to listen to all of them! When I can, I download an episode or two of other podcasts to try them out :)

Well that's it for now... I'll post a WIP update soon and hopefully by the end of the month I will have some FOs to share :)

Greetings from the San Diego KOA :)

2007-08-06T09:21:00.000-07:00

While on our RV vacation with my family, I was able to visit a cute little yarn shop in Bonita, CA. Since I had my three "assistants" with me (ages 2 years, 4 years and 6 years), I only stayed long enough to buy a little sock yarn. I was suprised to find Magic Stripes by Lion Brand but thought "Why not?" I've never tried it and one skein is enough to make a pair of socks :) I also purchased two little balls of Panda Cotton (yay!), in a gorgeous blue colorway. I was tempted by the light pink but since I am still working with light pink Cascade Fixation, I wanted something different (for myself)! Sadly, since I forgot my camera, I'll update with pictures when I get home.

My lament...

2007-07-27T16:01:00.000-07:00

I hadn't been knitting much lately but... Last night I had a revitalizing knit nite with one of my favorite knitting buddies :) So I'm back on track, I've turned the heel on a plain vanilla Cascade Fixation sock and will post pictures soon!

Let's go shopping!

2007-07-19T07:37:00.001-07:00

SNBLA has come out with an updated list of yarn shops in Southern California! Check it out :)

Try, try again!

2007-07-18T18:54:00.000-07:00

So I had started a sock in Cascade Fixation for my 6 year old. I took the time to swatch and I could have sworn I measured correctly but when I went to try the cuff on my daughter, it was obviously way too big! Instead of frogging right then and there, I pulled out my other set of size 1 DPNs and cast on again minus 8 stitches. My fear (of frogging?) is that it will be too small this time! Oh well, I'll get it right eventually and this is my first time working with Fixation so it can't be that bad, right?

Current WIP

2007-07-13T14:32:00.000-07:00

I've finished another sock for my 4 year old (it is the same yarn as pair #2 but with a shorter cuff). I've also cast on with Cascade Fixation to make a pair for my oldest (in light pink of course). I'm using size 1 needles as that is the size I have on hand. I'm not sure if I like this yarn yet. This is only the second time I've worked with cotton and while this one does have elastic, it just doesn't seem to be knitting up as quickly as wool (or even acrylic). Since we do live in such a hot climate, I really do want cotton to work out for me as I would like to make more wearables :) Also, sometime this weekend I plan to cast on a top for my 2 year old using Berroco Cotton Twist.

Knitting and Camping

2007-07-10T11:54:00.000-07:00

This past weekend found our family camping with an RV club. It was fun and I brought a sock to work on in the hopes of meeting a kindred spirit or two. So far, no such luck... I also missed another knitting group meeting on Sunday, but I'm trying to not despair about this as it is Summer and this sort of thing is to be expected I suppose...

Having a rough week...

2007-06-27T20:07:00.001-07:00

...but one of the highlights was a couple of knit-nite hours where I actually worked on my latest sock. It really won't take me long to finish... and I don't seem to have an issue with Second Sock Syndrome. I just have family coming in town for the weekend and so much stuff to do...

:::sigh:::

2007-06-24T15:34:00.000-07:00

I missed my knitting group today. I look forward to knitting with my peeps and it just wasn't in the cards for me, I guess. My husband was called away for work and he still isn't home... I'm going to try a KIP later this week at Denny's after the kids go to bed (Jo? Are you out there?)... I hope to have a FO to share again soon. That's all for now...

My Sock Yarn Stash :)

2007-06-20T14:03:00.000-07:00

Awwwww, isn't it precious? Since I outgrew my sock yarn bag, I felt it was time to refer to my sock yarn as a stash though I know it is still quite small. I wasn't able to get my hands on Panda Cotton during my last trip to Santa Cruz, but I did come away with a few nice selections, including some much needed pink Fixation for my oldest daughter. I'm on a sock fast at the moment while I get my review reading caught up...

Quick update: KIP, FO, UFO and sock yarn...

2007-06-13T08:57:00.000-07:00

Yes, I was able to knit in public on the 9th. I spent a few fun hours with members from my knitting group at Denny's. It wasn't my first or even my second choice of locations but it was 9pm before things really got going and the other two venues were already closed :(

I am working on a hat for my dad for father's day. It's not all that difficult, I just wish my dpns were longer!!!! I've been slipping stitches and diving after them with my trusty crochet hook LOL!

I finished one washcloth in a double moss pattern but I also still need to crochet (possibly knit if I can find a FAST pattern) up a couple more washcloths for a gift basket. Meanwhile, I look longingly at my small sock yarn bag (too small to call it a stash LOL) because what I really want to be doing is working on socks :)

Potty training your Cabbage Patch Doll...

2007-06-07T17:04:00.001-07:00

Apparently my four year old has successfully potty trained her CPK because she has just put in a request for mommy to knit some underwear! I will probably crochet them instead, unless I find a free online knit pattern... Hmmmm... I just love her enthusiasm, its as contagious as her smile!

Pair #2, woo hoo!

2007-06-03T19:20:00.000-07:00

I am now officially hooked on socks :) These are for my 2 year old. She loves them!

Ok, don't laugh...

2007-06-03T19:16:00.000-07:00

Yes, it's made with fun fur. I had originally intended to make this for St. Patrick's Day but I missed my self-imposed deadline plus it was quite warm here that day so I guess I will save it for next year.

Knitting in Public...

2007-06-02T21:46:00.000-07:00

In preparation (training?) for June 9th (I'm such a dork I thought WWKIP was today) I brought my current project along as my family and I were out and about. Sadly, I don't have a picture to offer but I worked on my youngest's 2nd sock (aka sock #4) while waiting for my oldest's gymanistics show to start :) I know the people around me noticed but nobody said anything... that is until my youngest started crawling up on strangers' laps! Egads, she is a friendly little thing!

And here's sock #3

2007-05-31T09:26:00.000-07:00

I really love the yarn, I have no clue as to what it is exactly as it was a gift :) These are for my youngest and I should have enough yarn left to make another pair or maybe two though I will likely make the cuffs shorter!

My first pair of SOCKS!

2007-05-31T09:24:00.001-07:00

I'm pretty impressed with myself and grateful to Darcy and Mindy for getting me started... Here's the proof :)

Look at me!

2007-05-05T10:59:00.003-07:00

What Kind of Knitter Are You?

You appear to be a Knitting Adventurer. You are through those knitting growing pains and feeling more adventurous. You can follow a standard pattern if it's not too complicated and know where to go to get help. Maybe you've started to experiment with different fibers and you might be eyeing a book with a cool technique you've never tried. Perhaps you prefer to stick to other people's patterns but you are trying to challenge yourself more. Regardless of your preference, you are continually trying to grow as a knitter, and as well you should since your non-knitting friends are probably dropping some serious hints, these days.http://marniemaclean.com
Take this quiz!

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Of WIPs...

2007-04-29T11:07:00.000-07:00

There is a war going on within my head regarding my lovely WIPs (in no paticular order)...

1. The never-ending poncho... its about 80% complete and I just want to finish it up but at this point, its admittedly BORING!

2. A mate to my FIRST SOCK (picture to follow soon)***Done! Please scroll up to see a picture :) ***

3. A crochet blanket in alternating rows of single and double crochet made out of Pound of Love (about 2 pounds so far). This one was started in November 2002.

4. Promised crocheted bookmarks for a fellow book reviewer. (3 done, ? to go -- I'm going to take a picture before I mail them) ***DONE! But I forgot to take a picture, I was just too much in a hurry to get them finished... I'm going to make some for myself and I'll take pictures of those...I hope!***

5. Plastic bag crochet test project - It will either be under my feet in front of the kitchen sink or I will put it in the dog house for the dogs... Cutting the bags into strips is rather tedious. This project is on HOLD indefinitely!

Plus, I have a whole list of projects I want to dive into, mostly socks :)

I love the .99 Cents Only store!

2007-04-24T09:29:00.000-07:00

I heard there was more Lion Brand Yarn at .99 Cents Only stores and so I just had to run out to the Lancaster store to check it out! I bought some of the Boucle and a little Fun Fur Stripes. However, I need to be careful as my stash is starting to get bigger than I had planned LOL!

Happy Hat: another project from January

2007-04-18T12:34:00.000-07:00

Made with Red Heart "Tropical Fruits" I had purchased years ago and modeled by my daughter :)

What I am working on...

2007-04-17T13:32:00.000-07:00

MY FIRST PAIR OF SOCKS (for my daughter)!!!

Thanks to my knitting buddies Darcy (for some wonderful yarn and dpns) and Mindy (for more yarn plus a demo to get me started), I am on the road to what is sure to be a lifelong love of socks. Now, if I only had a picture to post...

Crochet Bunny: A Little Project From January...

2007-04-13T21:24:00.001-07:00

IMG_2487
Originally uploaded by Melissa F in CA.

This is the very first toy I've ever made and I'm sooooo excited! My daughters appreciated my handiwork but like so many toys, it has been left somewhere, most likely in their black hole of a room... I do plan to make more, probably as gifts...

Inspiration From My Backseat Driver!

2006-11-18T20:50:00.000-08:00

This evening, as I was taking my middle daughter to a classmate's birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese, I heard the most brilliant phrase pour from my little one's mouth: "Don't drive in the pud muddles, Mommy!"

She had no idea that she said it incorrectly and just resumed singing along with the radio. But I thought, That's It! Pudmuddles is the perfect name for my crafting blog!

So.... Here it is!