SynKnits

Love This Warm Little Number!

2011-03-25T22:26:00.003-05:00

Thank you to my model, Jennie

Yarn: Sport Weight, 535-700 yards (I used locally dyed yarn, 100% Superwash Merino, 535 yards)
Needles: US size 7
Gauge: Not Specified
Other Materials: Tapestry needle
Price: US $5.00

Color Me Lucky

2011-03-17T07:43:00.000-05:00

Photo Courtesy of StarstruckCat

Size: S, M, L

Yarn: Any sport weight 355-385 yards. I used a local woman's hand dyed, 100% superwash merino, 355 yards

Needles: US Size 0-3, size to get gauge

Gauge: 7 sts/inch in stockinette stitch

Other Materials: Tapestry needle

Price: US $4,00

Lovin' the Lucky Socks

2011-03-04T22:47:00.000-05:00

I absolutely love knitting socks. Sometimes I forget how much I love knitting them. Before last month, I hadn't knit a sock in over two years. I picked up one or two that I've had on the needles for a while, but just didn't feel the love.

Part of me feels like it's the yarn. And let me tell you--I absolutely love this yarn. Unfortunately it is only available locally (although I'm trying to get her on etsy). Part of it is the pattern. I have always written my own patterns. Sometimes they work out....sometimes they don't. That's the thing I love about socks. It's kind of hard to mess them up. You could hate a pattern; but the socks are still wearable. If the socks are not wearable for you, they may fit someone else. And if you don't even like to wear hand knit socks, there is nothing more satisfying than finishing beautiful socks.

These aren't finished yet...but they will be soon. I started them this evening and I don't think I'll be able to put them down until they are on my feet.

Pattern will be available soon!

Color Me Lucky

2011-03-02T15:52:00.000-05:00

Here is a peek at the sock blanks for March's Sock Saturday at Starstruck Cat. I'm pretty excited about it! Maryann and I spent the day dying these blanks. And we'll be showing them off at Mallow Run tonight.

Sneek Peek

2011-02-28T09:42:00.000-05:00

Slippery Slopes

2011-02-26T08:30:00.001-05:00

Size: One size fits most (fits my small head, and if made a little longer, fits my man's much larger head).

Yarn: Any worsted weight. I used a local woman's hand dyed worsted weight (100% superwash merino, 220 yards)

Needles: US size 7-16" circular and US size 7 DPNs

Other Materials: Stitch markers, tapestry needle
Price: $5.00 US

Adventures of the Mini Sock: Molly Weasley Edition

2011-02-12T22:13:00.000-05:00

Lego Molly Weasley in the Mini Sock

New Tools

2011-02-11T11:24:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago, Jill at Starstruck Cat Studio showed me some cute little tools she was looking at bringing into the shop. After seeing them, I just had to have some for myself. KaratStix makes these awesome tools out of bamboo that are hand colored and so beautiful.

One side of the sock needle gauge has metric needle sizes

The other side has US sizes.

WIP tool with cutsie sheep.

The sock is about 2" in length, which makes it small and portable-much more portable than my old metal 4x6" gauge. I LOVE them. There are other goodies too. Check out her etsy page or come to Starstruck Cat Design.

My Kittehs

2011-02-10T16:39:00.001-05:00

I remember when I got Hazel. She was so cute and so sweet and all she wanted to do was snuggle on my chest and chew on my hair. I miss my kitteh.

Hazi @ 7ish weeks

Hazi is now my big sweet mature cat. She enjoys laying on the clean towels while I shower and get ready in the morning and all day while no one is home. She has changed a lot over the last year and a half....but I wouldn't trade her for anything (sorry mom!).

Hazi - full grown

Then, late this summer, we got another kitteh. Her name is Indi. She is cute and sweet too....but really playful. She wears me out and keeps me on my toes.

Indi @ 10 weeks

As much as I miss the kitten Hazi was...I cannot wait until Indi is full grown and a bit more mature...

Sock Saturday Project

2011-02-08T09:11:00.007-05:00

Last week, I got together with my friend Maryann. She's a local woman and fantastic dyer of yarns. She dyed the yarn for my cowl pattern (rav link). We are collaborating for the first Sock Saturday at Starstruck Cat Studio on a special yarn and I designed the sock pattern.

Maryann knit the single-stranded blanks on her flat bed knitting machine with sport weight yarn. She then dyed all 14 of them a light shade of pink, tonal.

We took six+ shades of red and maroon and painted them. Flowers, hearts, stars, swirls, zigzags, dots, and love bugs adorn the blank.

Here is all 14 of them drying. They share the same large designs, but they are all unique.

I began knitting the sock, unraveling as I went. I made the leg longer than I normally would have, but I just loved how the colors are knitting up and there is plenty of yarn to make two long and/or big socks.

I finished the first sock before I was half way through the blank, which is fine. I don't want my socks to be the same or opposites of each other. Fraternal socks are awesome socks!

One of my non-knitter guy friends called them "bacon socks." Men, always thinking about food.

I love ten row lace patterns. I think they make the time and the rows fly by. I absolutely adore the lacy hearts on this sock. I couldn't find a stitch pattern that I liked, so I had to improvise my own. It took me a few tries to get the hearts to look the way I wanted. I LOVE the way this sock turned out.

I'm so excited to release the pattern on Saturday. It will be available on Ravelry on Saturday evening as well.

Friday!

2011-01-21T10:52:00.009-05:00

Last Saturday I taught my first spindle spinning class at Starstruck Cat. I was nervous but my students were awesome. They were all spinning by the time they left class. The second of the series of classes is tomorrow. My original plan was for them to be practicing and trouble shooting for this class but I think I'll have to come up with something different since they are all doing so well.

I released my first pattern this week (ravelry link). It is an entrelac cowl. I love it and it was fun and quick to knit. Perfect for gifting. Calls for any fingering or sport weight yarn. Fingering weight creates a fabric with nice drape. Sport weight creates a squishy, slightly firmer fabric. It is knit flat and it buttons up so us ladies don't mess up our hair.

The photo above is knit with fingering weight yarn from See Jayne Knit (rav link). The photo to the right is A Good Yarn in sport weight. I wish you could feel these cowls...they are soft and feel so wonderful on your neck!

A Good Yarn is not yet listed on Ravelry but I'm working on her to get it on there. She does beautiful dye work and her base yarn is very nice!

I picked up two gorgeous bumps of fiber this week as well. I'll let the pictures do the talking here. Four Rivers Yarn & Fiber in River Stones and Romero.

Storage

2010-12-12T22:26:00.003-05:00

Storage is always a good thing. Oh yeah, and organization. Not that I wasn't organized before ;)....it's just that now my organization is prettier. Handcrafted by me ;)

Thanks to those who still read my blog....

2010-12-01T10:08:00.005-05:00

I've been a really bad blogger....and now I have more time than ever to blog. The company I was working for closed our branch and I've been without employment since mid-September. I've been trying to make ends meet with my fibery skills.

I have been knitting some the last year, but more so in the last few months. Here is some of what I've been doing since I've been absent:

I finished this Clapotis scarf (rav link) last year:

We bought a boat earlier in the year and spent all summer boating:

This is only the sleeve, but I'm nearly finished with this sweater; yarn is Madelinetosh:

I finished this scarf last month; yarn from twisted:

I've been sewing a bunch; this is a king size quilt I am working on. The top is about half finished.

The new kitten puts a twist in things; she needs to be sleeping for me to knit or spin:

Ah, spinning...I've missed you!

My handspun yarns are for sale at Starstruck Cat Design in Greenwood, IN:

So, that's pretty much what I've been doing recently....I've also been making knitting needle and crochet hook rolls and stitch markers, and of course Christmas knitting!

It's been a while....

2010-11-29T19:45:00.003-05:00

I've been spinning and knitting and sewing....even with the "help" of this little girl.

I Love Knitting Sweaters...

2009-11-23T13:20:00.002-05:00

I'm so close to being done with my sweater for NaKniSweMo. Just a few more rows at the top and the button band. I just went shopping for my buttons at lunch today and I'm so happy with what I found. I wanted to make the button band a little bigger than the last of these sweaters and if I want it much bigger the new buttons probably won't work. We'll just have to see. I am very pleased with this sweater though..... I miss knitting sweaters and I'm going to have to get back in the groove.

My honey wants a sweater vest, so that may be my next project....

NaKniSweMo Progress

2009-11-16T10:07:00.002-05:00

Both sleeves are done, have more than 10" of the body done. It's going good. Now if only I didn't have to work and I could just knit all day....

Oh well...there is always my lunch hour.

I heart Colorwork

2009-11-10T10:41:00.003-05:00

Okay, so it's a little blurry, but it was taken from my phone....

Back at the end of August, my honey took me on vacation to Florida. While in Florida I couldn't help but to visit a few yarn shops. I bought some really nice yarn. My honey also bought some really nice yarn...but not FOR me. For me to knit something for HIM. I don't have the label from the yarn with me, so I cannot tell you that much about it, except that it has camel, silk, cashmere, among other very nice fibers in it. While it is a lovely yarn, the color work was a little slow going even though it only took me a couple hours here and there to finish.

NaKniSweMo

2009-11-04T08:41:00.003-05:00

I've joined the NaKniSweMo KAL on Ravelry along with my good friend Jennie. I haven't been knitting a lot lately..not very much at all actually. I moved in with my boyfriend at the end of October and I'm still transitioning. My knitting stuff is everywhere because I didn't prepare very well for the move and my knitting stuff was all over my apartment. It's all between about ten different boxes and bins and finding enough needles to actually start my sweater for the NaKniSweMo KAL was tough enough. Thankfully the yarn I chose for the sweater was already residing at my boyfriend's house... As for the pattern, well, I couldn't find my notes on the sweater anywhere. I've decided to reknit my Wine Sweater...So I took out the original sweater, sat down, and recreated it on paper. I did a pretty good job-jotting down the pattern in about an hour. Now to test out my ability to analyze my sweater and knit another from my improvised pattern. Once I've knit the sweater, I will sit down and write it up with different sizes and all and after a test knit, make it available on Ravelry.

So, back to the KAL info. I'm knitting the sweater, once again, with Cascade 220. This time I am using the Heathers in the color Dune. I cast on Monday night and knit about 5" of the first sleeve. I'm proud to say that I finished the first sleeve last night and will be (hopefully) casting on for the second sleeve tonight. If that goes just as fast as the first, then I could have this sweater done in little more time than the first time (granted it was in college, but I knit the sweater in less than a week)...it's a really easy knit. I'm so glad to have my sweater mojo back. I miss knitting sweaters. I love knitting sweaters. I think if I do finish this one pretty quick, I will probably knit another one.

Fun in the Morning

2009-11-02T10:57:00.003-05:00

So I was getting ready this morning and my kitten, Hazi was in the bathroom with me. There had been a plastic grocery bag at my feet from the new curling iron I bought. Hazi was playing with it, making all sorts of noise. Then I noticed the noise stopped. So I started looking around for Hazi and couldn't find her anywhere. I was starting to worry since I had the bedroom door closed and there would have been no way for her to get out of the room. I'm looking and looking and decided that maybe she was just under the bed. I continued getting ready. She's usually at my feet so I kept wondering where she'd gone. It didn't dawn on me to actually look INSIDE the plastic bag. Yep, she curled up inside the bag...I couldn't even tell she was in it. I was laughing and trying to get to a camera...by the time I grabbed my phone to snap a pic, she'd come out of the bag to see what I was doing. I wish I'd have gotten the pic while she was still completely in the bag; it was the cutest thing. I know cats do this all the time and there is no reason to get all "awwwwwwh" on you guys....but it was cute....and she is MY cat ;)

Have a great day!

Thank You

2009-08-24T13:39:00.002-05:00

Thanks to Jennie and Lucas who have graciously offered to take care of Hazel when I go on my trip to Florida. These are good friends! Jennie is closing on her house on Friday of next week and I sure hope all goes well.

The boat thing flopped and we didn't get the boat....maybe more about that later, right now it kind of still makes me angry.

Another bad thing has happened. I don't want to talk about it. I do want to vent a little in anonymity though: You expect so much from people, or at least one person. And when you are totally let down for the tenth time you begin to wonder what is wrong with you. I know there is nothing wrong with me, except I am completely insane.

The definition of insanity:

Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.

Guess what everyone?

I'M INSANE!!!!

Yep, that's right.

Tomorrow is the BIG DAY

2009-08-20T12:19:00.003-05:00

Tomorrow my mom is getting married!!

TR and I are heading up (2-1/2 hour drive up north) tomorrow morning to have lunch with the *new* whole family. Afterwards my mom and I are getting our hair done (updos). Then pictures outside, then pictures inside....then WEDDING!!

I can't wait. I am so happy for her and wish her happiness through the rest of her life. And think this guy is going to give it to her. At least he'd better *wink* or he'll have to answer to me.

Did I ever talk about my new kitten on here? Well, if I haven't, let me introduce my sweetie:

This is Hazel. She is the cutest, feistiest kitten ever! Here she is in the sink. We've only had her for a month and she's my tiny new friend! I'm kind of hoping she's a small cat. She's a torti....so beautiful!

Bad thing about kitty #1:

Hazel likes to attack feet, legs, knees, thighs, whatever is available, whatever she sees. Hazel is too small to be declawed (well, she might be big enough now, but wasn't before and you'll see the reason in bad thing about kitty #2 as to why we are waiting). Wedding tomorrow. Feisty kitten who attacks legs. I really didn't want to look like trailer trash in a really nice dress with scratches and bruises all over my legs. And I was doing really well at avoiding it...until the last two days. Hazel has gotten me a number of times (maybe ten) on my feet and legs. Now my legs are totally going to look horrible. Not happy.

Bad thing about kitty #2:

TR and I are going on vacation (finally!!!) to Florida in a week. From Friday until the following Monday. More than ten days. I don't know who to trust with the care of my kitten. There aren't a lot of options either. One of TR's kids could do it. But they'd need to come every single day to feed her and keep her company for a little bit and for younger kids, that can be a lot to take on. I really don't want to take her anywhere, as several have suggested, because I will not trust the care of my kitten to someone who has no connection with her.

Yep, that's it.

Oh, and we bought a boat. Nothing fancy, nothing new. It's almost 20 years old, good condition....and will be a lot of fun. Can't wait to get out on the water!

Knitting and Friends

2009-08-06T07:07:00.004-05:00

I met a good friend from my old job the other day for knitting and chatting. I taught her to knit last year and she's been doing great. She is knitting her first sweater and was having a little bit of trouble with knitting on cap sleeves. Let's just say I think she's conquered the wrap-and-turn concept. The sweater looks wonderful. She, of course, notices all her mistakes (we all do, don't we?) but it's still fantastic! I worked a little on my Clappy scarf from forever ago, maybe I will actually finish it before the fall. I am nearly complete with it; I've been knitting it for so long maybe I just don't WANT to finish it...? I cast on in the new yarn for the sweater I am designing. I'm so disappointed that I didn't have enough of the Interlacements yarn I was designing the sweater for. I bought that yarn years ago...and there is no way I could ever find anything to match it. The sweater would be beautiful in Dream in Color also, but I just don't have the funds to get any right now. Maybe I can convince the boyfriend to buy me some....after making saddles maybe he will oblige. We shall see.

I have jury duty this next week. I am not excited about it. I am going to try and take in some needles and yarn, but I'm not sure how well that will go over. Need to go to the bookstore just in case....

So, I'm not sure if I told you that my mom is getting married....two weeks from tomorrow. I am so happy for her! She deserves happiness and a man that loves her and worships her. I found the perfect dress for her wedding. Tonight, I am taking Olivia (my boyfriend's daughter) with me shoe shopping. This girl seriously loves shoes and I'm more than happy to have a shopping partner.

I was supposed to get my hair done last night as well. I didn't because my stylist's son got sick and she had to go. I haven't gotten my hair cut or colored in four months. I didn't want to spend the money while I didn't have a job. Now I just have to, especially for the wedding.

So, that's all I got. Not very exciting.

Update

2009-08-03T09:24:00.003-05:00

Hello all. I am still alive. I got layed off in May and started a new job in July. I haven't really been knitting. I have been poorly tending my garden. My tomatoes are suffering from something, don't know what. My entire garden is suffering from rabbits, even though I have a rabbit fence reinforced with chicken wire. And moles. The trouble is never ending. I have been helping my boyfriend work on his house including putting up lots of new siding and soffit. I'm hoping for a vacation very soon. I am worn out from working all weekend making saddles. No, not horse saddles...

Oh, did I mention I'm sick. Tonight is knit night....can't decide to go or stay home...

Special Day

2009-06-21T07:40:00.002-05:00

Happy Father's Day to all you great dads out there, and especially to my honey. He's a great father to his kids.

And a very, very special Happy Father's Day to my mother, who's always deserved praise on this day but has never gotten it. Thanks for always being there for me, mom....

Morning Snack

2009-06-15T10:33:00.001-05:00

This is what it's about:

All fresh from the garden. Purple, red, and white radishes, green onions, and hot peppers....a wonderful little snack!

Bad Blogger

2009-06-09T12:44:00.003-05:00

There has been so much that has happened in the last month that I care not to even go into it. Just know that I am alive, I'm not knitting much, and something is eating my garden and I feel helpless to stop it. And when I am not feeling lazy and I upload some pictures of my garden, then you'll get to see it. Until then, enjoy your life....it's shorter than you think.

Julia's Cardi

2009-05-12T06:52:00.005-05:00

I have an FO....I know, it's unbelievable. I can't remember the last time I showed an FO.

The pattern is Rocketry (rav link). It was a kit I bought at the Fiber Event in April. I hated the order of colors so I changed it up and I am soooo happy with it. I hope it's recipient is as happy with it as I am. The recipient, Mignon, just had a baby (whom I've yet to meet!!). I figured very little knitting is/has gotten done, if any, so I decided to make little Julia a sweater. I have never knit baby things before...but I'll tell you what....I wish I had a ton of babies to knit things for!!

The yarn is Dream in Color Classy (love this yarn). I changed the pattern up a little bit, not too much. It probably needs to be blocked, or at least that is what I have been told...but I don't block. Hopefully I can get this sent out soon, before the weekend would be nice.

Contest Winner and Gardening

2009-05-08T14:11:00.006-05:00

I planted my garden two weeks ago, before the last two weeks of rain (boy did I get lucky). From seed I planted:

radishes (a "gourmet" mix of seeds)
carrots
peas
green beans

The only thing that hasn't come up yet are the carrots....and I just can't tell if the little grass-like growth is my carrots or just weeds...

I planted 200+ onion sets:

Row 1 (at the very top of picture) are yellow onions. Row 2 are white. Row three: 3/4 of the row are green onions and the other 1/4 are red onions. My chives came back, I was really surprised to see them thriving more than a month ago.

All the onions are doing well. The red onions only started to sprout these last few days.

Everything else I planted:

Cubanelle (sweet) peppers
Hungarian Wax (hot) peppers
Jalapenos
Brussel Sprouts (1 out of six died so far..)
8 tomato plants of five different varieties (cherry, lemon boy and 3 others)
Red, green, and yellow bell peppers
Squash
Zucchini
It's not a very good picture, the sun was going down and I just wanted to get a picture....

The boyfriend and I are thinking about making another area for corn. We are also going to turn our pumpkin patch (very small) from last year into a watermelon patch. AND we are going to (if we can find the "seeds") plant potatoes. We'll see.

I want to thank the three participants of my very weak and uncreative contest for participating however, there will only be one winner....

Lizz who's guess was Frances McTwitchyeye

Loved your answer Lizz. The actual answer was Galileo. Lizz, pm me on Ravelry and give me your address and I'll send you out something special ;-)

Jay Day

2009-05-02T21:29:00.003-05:00

The reason May 1st will now be "Jay Day" is....

My mom got engaged yesterday!!

Since her name is "Jay" I decided that May Day become Jay Day.

(sorry to disappoint your husband, M)

May Day

2009-05-01T13:37:00.002-05:00

From now on, this day will be known as Jay Day....

...more info to come....

AND

Last chance to anyone who wants to participate in my blogoversary contest from a few posts ago. I will anounce a winner of my choosing (probably) on Monday.

Have a great weekend!!

Rocking It

2009-04-29T07:31:00.004-05:00

Since I haven't taken pictures of my progress on the Rocketry sweater, I will show you pics from the very beginning of the sweater:

Isn't it gorgeous? I just love the colors...I put them in a different order than the pattern called for and I changed a couple other things in the pattern. I was surprised that I was even able to somewhat follow the pattern. It is extremely cute and I get compliments from everyone that sees it. And check out my new(ish) harmony interchangeable needles. They are NICE.

Fiber Event Goodies

2009-04-28T07:25:00.002-05:00

This is my small but wonderful take-homesies from the Fiber Event a few weeks ago. Clockwise from top left:

Brian Rose 1500 yards wool (not sure what kind, don't have it with me) in a lovely red/little bits of pink/maroon. Sweater yarn, of course.

The two braids are yellow/orange/red and are merino...there is no "brand" if you will...just gorgeous colors that I could not pass up. Total of 8 ounces.

One pound plain white merino for dying, whenever I get around to it...squee!!

Two four ounce balls of 70merino/30alpaca roving that are heathery and wonderfully soft in a burnt orange and dark maroon. The plan is to spin these separately and ply them together. That's the plan when I bought them....who knows what the end result might be....

Below that is the Rocketry baby sweater kit. A friend of mine had a little girl and figured she probably isn't getting much, if any, knitting done and wanted to make this for her. The sweater is coming alone fine (of course fast, it IS a baby sweater). I will have finished photos soon. I need to go buy buttons for it.

And last but not least is the bag of blue/orange roving. I believe it is merino, not sure. Purchased from the Trading Post for Fiber Arts in Pendleton, IN. It was a steal, as it was priced wrong.

As you can see, most of what I purchased was "warm" except for the one "cool" bag of roving. This was unlike me and I was thrilled to have come home with colors that I don't normally gravitate towards. I love warm colors but always find myself buying cool colors. I have not done anything with any of it besides the baby sweater. I'm nearly finished with the sweater, I have one and a half sleeves to go plus buttons.

I missed my Birthday

2009-04-23T14:20:00.003-05:00

My blog turned 2 on Sunday....I knew it was in April sometime but didn't bother to check. I've never had a contest of any sort so maybe it's about time....

So, leave a comment and a way for me to get a hold of you (ravelry user name would be great)...I'll pick a "winner" and send you something nice ;-) Wish I could think of something cool....like....hmmm....something for a contest....yeah, I suck...ok.

Name this person:

OR give it your best shot.

Have a great day!

Please

2009-04-20T13:46:00.001-05:00

Please go read these two posts in their entirety.

Kate

Pam

Weekend Accomplishments

2009-04-06T06:33:00.004-05:00

While I did not accomplish everything I wanted to this weekend; I did clean out my closet like I said I was going to. It's hard putting all those nice clothes into the donation pile when you know you've only worn them a couple times, but I did it and have a nice pile of stuff for goodwill.

I was doing good on Friday night, cleaning and such, until I turned on the tv...then it all went downhill. I was tired and the couch was calling my name and I gave in and layed down and man, it was nice.

Saturday morning I woke early went and had breakfast alone (that can be very nice at 7 am) and then to the store to look at nice green plants for my apartment. I've killed every plant I've had. I don't know why. So, I bought two very healthy looking plants and big pots and good potting soil and hope that I can make them thrive instead of die...

I also did a little experimental dying on Saturday. I dyed three skeins of sock yarn that will be up in my etsy shop as soon as there is good light to take pictures. It's been raining like crazy here the last two days. It's miserable and this morning there was snow mixed in. The average temp for this time of year is 59 and it's only 39!! BS I tell you!

Yesterday, my yarny friend Jennie came over to hang out. While she was there very little knitting got done. I dove into my fiber stash, not looking for anything, just to see what all I had and I found a bunch of rovings and fibers that I forgot I had. Baby camel, cashmere, cotton, tons of wools and wool blends, soy silk, ingeo, silk hankies....there was tons of interesting stuff. Tons of stuff I bought just to try and then it all got stashed away. I did do a tiny bit of spinning on a roving I already had started and that was the Picaso colorway of Louet Northern Lights. Mindless spinning is good and Northern Lights is perfect for that. Jennie did start a hat though, and it's beautiful.

A couple weeks ago when Jennie was over, I busted out my hand spindles and gave her one and some roving and told her to try some spinning. I think she liked it. I sent her home with the spindle and a bad of wool. When she came over Sunday, she brought more than a pound of hand dyed rovings that she had gotten. I think she hopes to pick herself up a spindle at the Fiber Event this weekend.

Well, that's all I got. Not exciting, no pictures....it doesn't help that my up close and personal yarny photos all suck. I'll get pics soon!

Stuck

2009-04-03T09:52:00.004-05:00

There is much going on in my head and not much going on with the needles.

The sweater in which I am designing is still ongoing....while I know the direction I am going in, the motivation to knit the sleeves has waned to the point of no knitting...or knitting two rows and stopping. There is a reason I like to knit the sleeves first and this is why...no knitting gets done when they are done last. This one included, my last sweater progressed the same way. The body went reasonably quick, even designing as I went...the sleeves took 7 months (most of that time the project slept in a basket, forgotten or purposely forgotten).

I have been contemplating spinning, a lot. Along with the purchase of several braids of roving recently there is a fiber fest next weekend. Although I can swear that I won't buy a lot of fiber...I know the chances of me buying more fiber than I need are really high (cause I don't really need any). I just finished spinning a yarn in which, while intended to put a lot of twist in, too much twist was put on the yarn. Not even a good soaking will relax it and I don't know what to do at this point. The color is lovely and right now it just seems a waste to let it sit there, all twisted up. Help?

Along with my thoughts of spinning....a whole lot of llama fiber is on my mind. While in college, a friend of mine who wanted to borrow a very expensive book and knew of my fiberish creations mentioned that his grandpa owned llamas....and that when they were sheared the fiber was bagged and.......thrown...in...the...barn. WHAT?!? Um, give me some, PLEASE!! So, he brought me three garbage bags full-one brown/black, one white, and one mixed in exchange for said expensive book. I held on to the bags for about two years (not knowing how long it had been in the barn and fearing for infestation). When I determined that there was no infestation I took the bags with me to the Fiber Event one year and dropped them off with Wooly Knob to be processed. It took over 15 months to get it back, but I finally did get it back last summer. Since then, the gorgeous wonderfully soft llama has been sitting in a box in my closet. The three distinct colors are so gorgeously natural and would be perfect alone or used for colorwork. The only problem? I must actually spin it first.

Humpff....the only problem with wanting to spin the llama is the Fiber Event next weekend. I want so badly to spin so many rovings and fibers that I currently have and I also want so badly to purchase more... The obsession with finishing things unfinished and spinning current fiber stash has put such a halt on my motivation to do anything at all. Sad, I know.

What's a girl to do? Housework. I really need to do some housework. When I get home from work this evening, I won't turn on the television, I won't bother opening the laptop. I am heading straight for my closet and sorting out clothes...starting a donation pile (which will be huge, FYI). I entertain the idea that I will wear this or that at some point and I know deep down that I never will...and well, it's time to just let go. My hobbies and thus hobby supplies are more important than that Bob Marley tee mom bought me on vacation which the image came off in the first washing (sorry mom!) and countless other articles of clothing that I will NEVER WEAR AGAIN.

Just talking about it makes me feel like I've accomplished something. When the house is in order, I may even knit or spin something.

-OH! Did I mention that I found a box of blank yarn for dying too? It's amazing the things you let slip your mind...ah, dying, I've missed you.

Performing Surgery

2009-03-04T07:33:00.003-05:00

I love to design sweaters. There is absolutely nothing that gives that feeling of accomplishment like working on and finishing a sweater that you've designed yourself. The only problem with me is....I can't work from patterns. I never follow them. I have issues when it comes to reading directions and sometimes I feel a lot like Stephanie; like I want to shoot my foot off rather than keep making the mistakes I am making.

Okay, here is the deal. Normally, when I design a sweater, I pick up needles and yarn, and just knit. I knit what my heart desires. Sure, there MAY be a sketch but there usually isn't a write up. I have gotten a lot of requests for certain patterns of mine and since I find it so difficult to write up a pattern after I've knit a piece I decided to write up the pattern (charts, etc.) before hand. The only problem with this is I CANNOT FOLLOW A PATTERN. Even though it is MY pattern, I cannot seem to follow it. I tend to do my own thing, and the only problem with that is figuring out what the hell I did after I've done it. So, instead of trying to figure out what I've done, I've been doing a bit of surgery. First I wanted to change a design element, without ripping-accomplished! Then, last night I realized that I crossed a cable the wrong way (on all three cables) so I wanted to fix it without ripping (and this was like 8 rows down with other crossovers in the mix)-accomplished! Finally, after fixing the cables, I realized that I screwed up something else in the cables (I should have learned to read the pattern I wrote by now) so I fixed two of the six mistakes this morning and hope to finish the other four at lunch and finally be able to make some more progress.....AND learn to read the charts I've made.

Did I mention that I love designing sweaters?

Things

2009-03-03T07:42:00.005-05:00

I have been sick for well over a week. Not sick, sick. Just sick. Sick of things for one, yes, just things. One thing I AM happy about, though, is that I got the yarn I ordered last week:

The color isn't really actual in either of these. I did the best I could. It's Madelinetosh Worsted in Olivia. I love it. Unfortunately, I cannot start knitting with it yet. I have yet to make much progress on my in-design-AND-knitting-phase sweater...having had to change some of the design elements without ripping. I did a reasonable job doing so, it just took me a week to actually want to do it. So, now I am back to the point where I can knit away. And at some point I am actually going to do that.

I missed knit night last night. I'm not too happy about it, but sometimes you just have to take care of things. Things for me would be my personal life that is hanging on by a very thin and breakable thread. I'm doing what I can.

There will also be a mystery project I am going to start working on either tonight or tomorrow. I'm excited and yet scared of starting this mystery project. It means knitting when it might all be pointless. Taking time, money, and effort when it could all be for not. But, I am going to do it, if for nothing else than, to save my sanity. It will be worked on in tough times. It will be worked on instead of having nights like last night. And I'm hoping it doesn't get knit as fast as it seems it would for all the reasons I have to actually knit it. I will hopefully be able to post some progress on it, and maybe a small picture or two.

Workin' it Out

2009-02-25T12:29:00.006-05:00

I was sick all weekend. Not sick in the way most people would think this time of year when they hear the word "sick." Many times over the last five days I have wished that I had just gotten the flu. I think I would have rather been bed ridden, vomiting, and unable to eat than what I had. I had a sore throat. I had a throat that was so sore it was bleeding. I couldn't stand the thought of swallowing. And, NO, I did not have strep throat. It started on Friday night with that feeling in your throat when you KNOW something is coming your way. By late morning Saturday, I knew I was going to be laying on my couch in sweats for the rest of the weekend. It was terrible. I'm still not at 100%, but I'm getting close.

Saturday morning I went to a "craft day" hosted by a woman who works in my office. She, as well as most of her friends, are quilters. Last craft day (over the summer) hanging out with the quilters and being the only knitter, I bought a quilt kit and started sewing my first quilt. Shortly after piecing my quilt, my machine died. Having not bought a new machine or getting the old one fixed, I brought my quilt along to use someone's machine. I got all the quilting done, all I have left to do now is the binding. But that won't get sewn on until I find someone's machine to borrow. But currently the quilt looks like this:

My friend Jennie (knitter, pictured right) came with me on Saturday and worked on her Malabrigo sweater. Since it's been a while since I have designed and knit a sweater I told her I was going to do so. And I actually did it. Because I was couch ridden (hehe) I spent the whole afternoon Sunday working out a design and casting on for a new sweater. I'm pretty excited about this one. When I am finished writing up the pattern Jennie is going to test knit it for me.

That's What I'm Talking About...

2009-02-19T10:11:00.002-05:00

Oh yeah, you can't beat that.

ARRRRRRGH!!

2009-02-10T07:37:00.003-05:00

Cameras. They are useful. They take nice pictures of yarn and fiber and projects and friends and good times. Oh, wouldn't it be nice to be able to take all of those nice pictures? I think it would. But cameras need charged batteries. Without a charged battery a camera is about as useful as a lead paperweight. To have a charged battery, one must have a battery charger. What does one do when they lose said battery charger? Besides freak out, people....there's a lot one can do. One can, like me, run to every electronics store within a ten miles radius (for me, that's a whole hell of a lot of electronics stores) and search high and low for the very mysterious camera battery charger. All these stores carry tons of cameras, why do they not carry the "matching" battery chargers? Sure they have generic chargers for each brand; Nikon, Sony, Olympus, etc. So I bought one, the one supposedly made for my camera. And it didn't work. Nope, let that thing charge for two hours (was only supposed to take one)....and nothing. It did nothing. First of all, I bought the thing for $45. It should work for that amount of money. So, I had to take it back. Reluctantly I just went to Olympus' website and bought one on there. I was trying to avoid this because I'm leaving for a cruise to the Bahamas on Friday morning and NEED the charger asap so I can take pretty pictures of gorgeous water, fruity drinks, etc. I ended up paying more than $60 for this charger. I had to have express shipping of course, which upped the price an ungodly amount. Can you believe that? They should offer at least one free replacement of the charger....that's just my opinion, I'm sure Olympus disagrees as they do not actually do that. If that charger doesn't come in the mail by Wednesday, Olympus will have a MAJOR problem on their hands....ME.

Pics of recent fiber related projects to come soon.....or else!

Wednesday

2009-02-04T07:48:00.001-05:00

It's not about Wednesday...it's about it being February 4th.

What happened to January?

Monday, Monday

2009-02-02T15:28:00.002-05:00

It was a tough weekend for me. I managed to get some knitting down on Clappy, but I have no pictures for you. I am convinced some one who shall not be named stole the part of my camera battery charger that the battery slides into. But no matter what, he that shall not be named will not admit to it.

I spun this weekend. I am exciting about this. I had started to spin this roving from Hello Yarn back in the summer (I think) but never got very far. I picked it up yesterday and spun the rest of it. I am thinking I am going to ply it with this fiber from Poppy Flower Fibers. I am going to spend the evening getting started on the second roving. I predrafted it last night. I think it will work out great. Whether or not I will actually ply it together will depend on the feeling I get when they are both spun up and sitting next to each other.

Knit night is tonight and I'm thinking about taking my wheel, as long as it's not precipitating. So, I should make some progress.

Making Progress

2009-01-30T08:19:00.004-05:00

It sure is nice to have a company phone. I lost my phone Wednesday. By Thursday morning I had a new one. The only thing missing is my personal phone numbers, but I'm working on that.

Jennie came over last night to hang out and knit. I got several more repeats done on Clappy. She's coming along nice and while I'm happy with it, I do wish I would have made it wider. I should have plenty of yarn left over to make a nice hat and possibly some mitts, though, so I can't complain ;-)

I went stash diving last night and found some good stuff. While I am finishing up my scarf I am seriously pondering my next project. It's not that I don't already have other projects on the needles (like an old sweater, a million socks....) but I need something new, something fresh. Shuffling through skeins of sock yarn, sweaters-worth of worsted yarns, even a long jacket's worth of some fingering yarn. I just don't know what direction to turn; I want to knit something I haven't before. Something complicated and easy. I don't want to knit a shawl (although looking at the Kauni I have in the stash makes me want to make a lacy wrap, but not right now. I'm just at a loss. I love knitting the basics: hats, scarves, mitts, sweaters, socks....but I want something different.

Perhaps I will do some spinning...

What are you knitting that's different?

I am Lost Without You

2009-01-29T08:22:00.003-05:00

O Phone, Phone! wherefore art thou Phone?

I lost my cell phone. Lost. Gone. Never to be seen again. Unless the snow melts and I miraculously find it (doubtful). I got to work yesterday morning and didn't have it on me. I thought maybe I just left it at home so I didn't bother looking in the parking lot for it. When I got home and couldn't find it, I was kicking myself. I had people call it, I stood outside my house and listened, hoping I would hear it vibrate (yes, it was on vibrate), no chance! It's gone. I have to come to terms with that. I have lost all my personal phone numbers. Oh, did I mention this was a company phone? Yeah, not fun. So, the company is working on getting me a loaner phone until I can get me one of those new Blackberry's with DC that the boytoy was going to get me. I'm still hoping that he will get it for me...but I'm thinking I'm going to be getting it for myself.

Oh well; such is life. Things happen.

On a lighter note, there has been more knitting. I am coming along on Clappy and by the end of the evening I should be at least, if not more, half way done with her. A friend is coming over this evening to knit. I'm excited as this will be only the second time we will have met. She's sweet and I hope we form a solid friendship.

I've also been talking about designing another sweater. I have at least five or six sweater's worth of yarn in the stash (and I'm talking the good stuff). I am going to come up with a design and then choose which yarn to use.

Edited to add: I just got a replacement phone....but I have no personal contacts :(

If You're Happy and You Know It...

2009-01-27T08:32:00.005-05:00

I'm way past this point, but I don't have a more current picture...yet. I'm enjoying the simplicity of the pattern and really loving the outcome. I wish I had made the scarf a little wider, I think I will have a lot of yarn left over. But in the case that I do, I will make a matching hat. And if I make it to a yarn shop, maybe I can find worsted or chunky yarn to match for some mittens.

I've also pulled out an old sock to knit on. No pics of that yet either, but I'm thinking that I'm going to work hard and finish them up. It'd be really nice to have a new pair of socks for the first time in forever.

I went to knit night last night and had a really great time; though there were few in attendance. I have missed knit night. Before last week, I hadn't been there in over four months. I've been missing out for sure. Luckily my local knit night is held at a Panera Bread (yummy teas and coffee drinks) and it's every Monday. It's awesome.

On Cloud 9 (and other projects)

2009-01-23T08:27:00.011-05:00

I finished this sweater back in October. I just never got pictures taken. These two pictures aren't very good and you can't really see the sweater all that great but at least I can prove to you that I did it. The yarn is Dream in Color Classy in Black Parade.

I also started on Clapotis (Clappy). I'm further now than I am in the picture. I'm using lace weight on size 4 needles. I'm going more for a scarf effect rather than a wrap. This is the yarn the Jennie gave me and it is beautiful.

I knit this scarf a long time ago. It's silk garden in two contrasting colors. 4 skeins to make this simple entrelac scarf. It's very warm. I just wanted to show it off.

I've also done a little bit of spinning. This is just 38 yards of a bulky weight yarn. 50% merino 50% baby llama. It's very soft and the llama gave it a nice halo. It was just an experiment. I am going to (eventually) spin enough yarn for a matching hat, scarf, and mitten set. Hopefully I will get a jump on that this weekend if I don't spend too much time with Clappy.

Ravelry

2009-01-22T08:46:00.003-05:00

I love Ravelry. I do. I love it for many reasons. I love seeing what people around the world are knitting. I love seeing what projects people are knitting with what yarns. I love finding new shops and new dyers. But most of all, I love that I can find people that live near me that share in my obsession. After chatting back and forth a bunch of times on Ravelry, a woman and I decided to meet. Being somewhat new to the area and working in construction it has been difficult to find friends that (1) are not male, (2) are my age, and (3) knit. I was ecstatic to learn that this woman doesn't live far from me. And on top of that, we seem to have so much in common. She was so sweet; she even brought me a skein of Dream in Color Baby. I wish I had thought to come bearing gifts. I want to do something special for her. Not only did she bestow upon me a wonderful skein, but has given me the inspiration to knit something that I have always wanted to. Clapotis. I wound my yarn last night, I have my needles, and I will cast on at lunch.

Support

2009-01-19T10:41:00.003-05:00

For those of you that know me, and those that don't:

I've had a few rough patches the last year and a half and I hate to say it, but here I am again....another rough patch. I could use your support, in any way. It's always nice to know that you are cared about; especially when the person you care most about has just shown you the door, told you to walk through it, and, literally, right now.

The upside to all this is that I have high hopes for returning to my true love--knitting and spinning. I'll be going to knit night tonight, which I have not been to in months, and I am going to have fun with (hopefully) very little crying.

Wish me luck, I need it!

I told you so

2009-01-15T14:30:00.005-05:00

I told you I have been knitting; I even took photos to prove it:

"Keep me Warm, Please" hat--Noro Iro

"Scarves and Stripes"--Universal Inc. Deluxe Worsted LP in Sea + Sand.

Hump Day

2009-01-14T13:25:00.002-05:00

I just love this sweater, so I thought I'd just post a pic of it. I have been knitting recently. I have half a scarf done but I've run out of yarn. I knew that ultimately I would need another ball....but still haven't purchased it. I started another pair of mitts (I need to stock up on these. My family likes to give them away to various people that express their *likes* of them on the street, in a store, etc.) so I figured I would just knit up a stock. I might as well go purchase the yarn I need for the scarf while I'm thinking about it.

It's been two months...

2009-01-09T12:30:00.004-05:00

I don't have much today, or much to explain why I haven' posted in nearly two months. But I have an old FO to show. It's a sweater that I knitted long ago. I don't know what yarn, except it's cotton. It was the second sweater I knit (both the first and second were of my own design) so it does have some flaws but it's okay. I never really wear it, it's been worn once or twice. I take it out of the closet to pet it or try it on but it rarely leaves the house. Enough of the jibber-jabber:

I've done other knitting as well. Hopefully I will get some pictures taken soon!

Yeah....

2008-11-11T09:05:00.003-05:00

....So obviously I suck. I never took pictures of my new sweater and my camera is still dead and still not charging...

A little knitting here and there; some mitts, a couple hats, thinking about my man's sweater vest, got an order for some mitts this morning. I need to get going on some stuff.

Short post-I hope to take some pictures soon, but no promises.

Pictures to Come When Rain Stops

2008-10-08T10:57:00.002-05:00

ATTENTION!!

Yes, I finished it! As I stated in my last post, I ran out of yarn. After calling every store within a fifty mile radius I was still unable to locate a skein of which I needed very little yarn. I ended up ordering the yarn online Thursday afternoon and had yarn in mail box on Saturday. Unfortunately I wasn't home much on Saturday or Sunday, or Monday for that matter and didn't get to work on the sweater. However, last night I was able to complete the last row and bind off of my button band (yes, that's all I needed that skein for-one row and bind off, ridiculous!). I sewed on the buttons, tried it on and..........wore it to work today! However, upon wearing it for a few hours decided it definitely needed a collar of some sort. So, I am going to ask a few people's opinions on the subject, take pictures and ask my fellow knitters for their opinions and we will go from there. So with that said, I sure hope it stops raining while it is still light out today so that I can take pictures at some point.

When Life Kicks You in the Butt

2008-10-02T06:40:00.003-05:00

I was talking about knitting the button band the other day...did I mention how I thought I may not have enough yarn to finish? Well, I was right. I only finished nearly one row after making the button holes and I ran out. 3/4's of the button band is done and I'm out of yarn...that means that I have to get another skein. Which means a trip up to Westfield (a reasonably far distance from my house) just for one skein of yarn....hopefully they have it. If not, that means ordering online....I swear this sweater is never going to get finished!

In the mean time, I believe I will start another sweater with some beautiful Briar Rose yarn I bought this past spring at the Greencastle Fiber Event. The Briar Rose's intended purpose was a sweater vest for my sweetie, and perhaps it may still become that....I haven't decided. If I do decide to still make the vest for my sweetie...then I have some wonderful lusciously green Toasty Toes purchased at Stitches Midwest last year that I will knit a sweater out of.

Pics to come soon of almost-finished-but-needing-more-yarn sweater and of the two possible-sweater yarns.

Almost Only Counts in Horseshoes and Handgrenades

2008-09-30T06:00:00.003-05:00

I'm almost on Cloud9...I finished the sweater with the exception of the button band. I picked up stitches last night and knitted two rows but I don't have buttons yet so I do not want to go further. I think I shall go pick out buttons tonight and get this sweater into the FO pile! I'm so excited to be able to wear it...I've put off finishing it for so long and I'm glad the weather is going to be cool enough this week to wear it!

***So, I didn't get buttons last night, but maybe I will tonight...I'm so close to being finished but it looks as though a trip to the store is going to hold me up.

Soon it Will be Buttons Away...

2008-09-23T21:20:00.003-05:00

So...this may be a bad close up, but you get the idea, right?
Well, I finished the sleeves and got them connect to the rest of the body. (The body that has been knit for nearly a year)....but it's FINALLY getting there and I'm pretty excited about it. It's all downhill from this point--but downhill in a good way. The next pic I show you of this sweater will be buttons away from finished.

Trying to Finish an Old UFO

2008-09-20T17:43:00.002-05:00

Sleeve one done, sleeve two started.

Pillow Talk

2008-09-17T21:00:00.005-05:00

Okay, so I didn't work on my quilt...and here's why: I sat down after I ate a delicious cucumber, tomato, and red onion salad to work on it...and realized I didn't have the right color thread. So, I walked to the store, because they used to have a fabric/sewing section. Key phrase there is "used to." As in, not anymore. So, I had to go to the fabric store...and I came home with stuff. I happen to love stuff. And some of that stuff made these:There are only two. Each have a green side and a reddish side. I love them! And I still have two more to make!

I Promise I am Almost Done

2008-09-17T05:14:00.003-05:00

I spent last night over a Leslie's pinning my quilt layers together. It didn't take as long as I thought it would. You are probably sick of hearing about my quilt, I know others are as well, but I can't help it, I'm so excited about it! All I have left to do is quilt it and bind it and I'm DONE!! I was going to take myself out on a "date" tonight, but I think I will work on this and maybe take myself on a "date" tomorrow night. This quilt is one of the coolest things I have ever made...and that's saying a lot because I REALLY love knitting.

**Edited to add knitting content**

I have been knitting on this again. I think it should be done rather quickly. The body is waiting for the sleeves and I have one sleeve half done. I'm already in the planning (thinking) stages of my next sweater using a beautiful yarn from Briar Rose...I will try to remember to take pictures of the yarn soon.

2008-09-15T16:52:00.001-05:00

Here it is with the borders....

It's getting there!

2008-09-13T07:52:00.005-05:00

Here is the quilt. I just have to add the border, quilt it, and bind it. I have to say, it's going very well! I just love all the colors. The border fabric isn't straight black. it has blue and green swirls with brown under tones. The border was not part of the pattern, but I think it will draw the eye to the center of the quilt and it just makes the colors pop!
Is this not just the coolest quilt you've ever seen? Leslie is a wonderful woman whom I recently taught to knit and whom has helped me get started quilting. She made this for me! She knew my love of frogs....and you know what the coolest thing about this quilt is? The line of fabrics feature knitting "stitches"!! How cool is that? She is really a great friend!

Here are some fat quarters I bought when I was buying my border fabric. I spotted these a few weeks ago at The Back Door and have been thinking about them ever since. Purple and gold look so great together! This is going to be an awesome quilt as well!
Here is my new sewing box. This is sooo me. I just had to show it off. I bought some other stuff as well, but I haven't taken pictures yet.

There hasn't been an actually knitting, but there has been a lot of thinking about knitting. I am going to finish my Dream in Color sweater and start another sweater in a beautiful yarn from Briar Rose. We'll see pictures of those soon.

Quilting....almost there.

2008-09-08T20:28:00.007-05:00

This is a picture of the half of the quilt that I have completely sewn together. I am currently working on the other half and hopefully will have a picture by tomorrow of it all finished. I must say...not bad for my first quilt! It's very exciting! And I LOVE the pattern, Shade Cascade.

Look at what I've gotten into now

2008-09-03T11:23:00.003-05:00

There has been knitting, sometimes. I went to a friend's for a "craft" day in which I was the only kniter amongst quilters. Around lunchtime, we ended up in a quilt shop. It was a very modern, beautiful shop. I bought a quilt kit. I am sewing my first quilt. I am ecstatic. Here are my firt ten blocks:

All of the blocks are the same, except in varying colors of blue and green. It's going to be gorgeous....and not bad for my first quilting project! More to come.

Unforgiving....

2008-08-26T14:41:00.002-05:00

And yet, why forgive when you STILL get screwed?

Need I Say More?

2008-08-22T13:34:00.002-05:00

Well, here it is. All finished. I loved spinning this yarn. I loved looking at this skein. I loved knitting with this yarn. I love the color. Love it. Wish it were winter so I could wear it.

2008-08-20T12:47:00.001-05:00

Remember THIS?....yeah, finally finished it. Pics to come soon, when my camera and the battery charger are in the same location.

Forgiving....

2008-08-13T09:52:00.001-05:00

Can YOU do it?

So....

2008-07-14T17:06:00.003-05:00

I finished two shrugs and started another pair of socks.

The socks are Noro Silk Garden Sock, yum, in color S252. I also acquisitioned color S245. It's gorgeous!! I started the socks when I came home for lunch break today. I've only got three rounds done on the cuff, but I think I'm going to like it.

The shrugs are complete. One of them is a yarn I acquired long ago and have started many things and ripped them and therefore has no ball band. But it's cottony and beige in color and a really nice yarn. I altered the pattern a little bit but basically followed it. The other shrug is the same pattern, again different mods than the first one and a different yarn. This one is made of Rowan Wool Cotton in Antique held double. I love it! I finished it around midnight last night (shouldn't have stayed up so late) because I wanted to wear it to work. I got a lot of compliments.

I started the Rowan shrug first, but quickly ran out of yarn. So, I started the unknown-yarn shrug because I desperately wanted this shrug...even though I didn't get the rest of the Rowan until a week later, I finished them both within two days of each other. It was a pleasure knitting this pattern, although I didn't follow all the directions. I think I will knit more shrugs based on the same construction, but different. We'll see if I ever get there! I'm hoping to have pictures sometime soon, but I just don't know. Things are going on in my life that are drastically changing it and a lot that I thought I had I do not. I know that doesn't make any sense so think of me!

Penguins and Shrugs

2008-07-08T06:16:00.006-05:00

Most people who know me know I love frogs. My bathroom is childishly decorated in frog decor, I have tons of little frog figurines and big frog statues around the living room....I love frogs!

Not everyone is about frogs, though; like my guy. My guy likes penguins. He was out of town for a week at a convention and I missed him so much. So I decided to make him a penguin (ravelry link) for when he came home. Knitting this little penguin was fun and easy. It was my first attempt at a stuffed animal and I rather enjoyed the quick knit.

In other knitting news--yes, there has actually been knitting. I am still working on socks for my guy, but they have taken a backseat to a little shrug. Two little shrugs at the moment and soon to be three. I began the first one because I always wanted one like it. I started the second one because I ran out of yarn for the first one and I couldn't get to the LYS for at least a week. Then a certain little miss saw said shrugs and wants a little pink one...so, soon to be three. Hopefully the little miss can accompany me to the LYS and pick out her yarn (she likes pink, what little miss doesn't?!). Pictures of shrugs soon and a link to the free pattern if I can find it again!

Caramel Swirl

2008-06-26T06:18:00.004-05:00

I did finish the socks....last weekend. I meant to post a picture earlier than today. I also started on a new pair of socks for my sweetie, but he's out of town with his camera so I don't have a picture yet. I can tell you that the yarn is from twisted, a shop on etsy, and this is the yarn I'm using. It's gorgeous! Unfortunately, as some men do, my man has some big feet...so while I cast on 80 sts on size 1's for myself, I cast of 104 (I think) on size 1's for him. It's going to take a lot of determination on my part to get these things finished! At least I have a few months before it's cold enough to wear wool socks.

Fruits of Labor

2008-06-23T06:11:00.006-05:00

Well, vegetables anyway:

This was the first radish I decided to pick....the second one was much prettier, but I ate before it got anywhere close to the camera. They were both really good and spicy! The radishes were the only thing that I could eat...got tomatoes growing and squash, and I cannot believe how many hot banana peppers and jalapenos I have growing!

Just like me

2008-06-20T15:23:00.003-05:00

I have forgotten my one year blogoversary. You know what that means? A contest with a prize is in order. Check back for further instruction.

Sock Progress

2008-06-13T17:54:00.002-05:00

Socks on Thursday...

Socks on Friday....

I am making progress...I can prove it!

Wish I Needed....

2008-06-10T12:17:00.001-05:00

Um....but I want, bad.

My Garden

2008-06-09T11:23:00.004-05:00

My Garden, originally uploaded by Synknits.

I've always wanted a garden...and now I actually have one! It's been exciting, even though we bought most of the plants as plants and only planted a few things as seeds. We've only had two tomato plants take a dive (one is still holding on) and one squash plant(trampled by a dog). But all were replaced and I'm having a great time watching everything grow.

Kopy Kat Meme

2008-06-06T08:18:00.004-05:00

I'm a Kopy Kat...

My creation, originally uploaded by Synknits.

The rules:

a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.

b. Using only the first page, pick an image.

c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd’s mosaic maker.

1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you go to?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One word to describe you.
12. Your flickr name.

Prepping

2008-05-29T07:26:00.004-05:00

I've been prepping fiber lately. I really want to spin, a lot, so I figure if I prep a bunch of fiber it would be easier for me to just pick up and spin. It will also help me out because I am ever so impatient and loathe prepping fiber when I want to just sit down and spin and consequently I prep as I go which definitely leads to inefficiency. So far I've prepped two 4 oz. rovings; one from Hello Yarn called Threatened by Rust (which I have yet to take a picture and wish I had taken a picture before I pre-drafted but there is the link for Hello Yarn's flickr picture) and one from Poppy Flower Fibers called Pond.Pictured above: Pond by Poppy Flower Fibers

My stash of rovings and fiber is ridiculous but I can't seem to stop purchasing more. Hello Yarn and Poppy Flower Fibers are two of my favorite hand dyer's and I just love their sense of color.

Tomato & Basil

2008-05-08T12:57:00.003-05:00

Sweeeet Grass Wool

Details to come when I actually have them!

Spun Up

2008-04-24T09:39:00.001-05:00

Got 4 ounces or so spun up last night....pics and details to come soon.....well, as soon as I have access to a camera!

The Fiber Event

2008-04-11T08:27:00.002-05:00

The Fiber Event at Putnum County Fair Grounds is today and tomorrow. I will be going tomorrow morning. I'm excited. It doesn't look like the weather will be any better than it was last year, which was cold and rainy, but I'll make do.

Ah, Sweet Beginnings....

2008-03-09T16:59:00.002-05:00

Who is this? And what is that wrapped all around her?

Sleeves

2008-03-06T20:52:00.004-05:00

Normally I knit sleeves first...but I didn't. Here is the start of the sleeve, which unfortunately I started awhile ago, and haven't gotten very far.

Did you see those Darn Pretty needles? Well, then let me give you a closer look:

They should have been called Damn Beautiful needles...

Don't Know What to Call it Pasta

2008-03-03T20:40:00.004-05:00

I love taking fresh ingredients I have laying around and combining them with a simple sauce and pasta. I make all different kinds of pastas and I can never think of names for them because there are so many, most just variations of each other. This one has onions, carrots, sun dried tomatoes, garlic, and herbs sauteed in olive oil and then simmered in about 1/2 cup of white wine. While the veggies are cooking, I boil water and cook the pasta (always salt the water!). Before I drain the pasta, I add a few scoops of the pasta water to my "sauce" to thicken it up. Then, toss in the pasta, let it simmer for a minute or two and enjoy!

Simple pasta dishes like this are a staple for me. They are quick, easy, and you can throw anything in it you like!

Pupupalup

2008-02-22T22:08:00.001-05:00

My beautiful pup.

Oh Spinning, How I've Missed You!

2008-02-17T13:23:00.003-05:00

8 ounces 100% Targhee Top from Sweet Grass Wool. I bought this stuff back in October and it's been catching my eye from my fiber basket all winter. I cannot wait to start spinning it!!

Hallmark Holiday

2008-02-14T11:33:00.000-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day!

Working on some WIPs

2008-02-10T14:01:00.000-05:00

Dream in Color, improvised pattern, working on second sock.

Knitting.....

2008-02-03T12:41:00.000-05:00

I swear I have been knitting. I wish there were more spinning going on, but there's not. I started a sweater sometime before the holidays. I usually knit the sleeves first, but this time I knit the body first. It's a cardigan with a traveling stitch pattern. I have worked it up to the armpits and I will begin the sleeves after finishing a scarf for a coworker. This sweater is going to be sweet...and I'm actually going to write down the pattern. I'll stop the yammering and post the pictures.

Oh yeah....the yarn is Dream in Color Classy, black parade (I think) is the colorway.

Saying Goodbye is the Hardest Thing....

2008-01-21T07:42:00.001-05:00

Earlier this week, I got a puppy. Unfortunately, with my job and social life I decided I couldn't possibly give this little thing what she needed, so I had to give her back. It was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. She was such a cool little thing, I hope someone can give her a good home and lots of attention.

D.O.G.

2008-01-17T11:39:00.000-05:00

Squishy Bliss

2008-01-08T11:00:00.000-05:00

I love the fabric that Debbie Bliss makes....but there were a lot of ends for one ball of yarn....regardless, I do love this sweater, even if it is a bit long. Anyways, on with the pictures!

These pictures are old, as well as the FO, but I would like to point out that the ends are weaved in now and there are buttons on it as well. Maybe someday I will get around to posting recent pictures of it, but for now, this is what you get!

Mmmmm, Soy Silk

2007-11-20T11:24:00.000-05:00

I picked up this yummy Soy Silk from SWTC in the Rainbow colorway this weekend while at River Knits' Sock Club. It's nice and soft and so silky smooth...I have begun predrafting and with any luck I will be spinning some by this weekend. Not too excited about the bright chunks of hot pink in there, but I'll cope. Anyways...there is 8 ounces here. My plan WAS to do another fractal stripe yarn like the one spun for the handspun bias rib scarf from my last post; but when I got home and took the fiber out of the bag the top was in two pieces who's color did not match nor was consecutive (very disappointing). So, I guess I will just take the larger of the two pieces and do the fractal striping method.

Handspun Bias Rib Scarf

2007-11-19T06:42:00.000-05:00

Okay, so the pictures aren't the greatest, but I didn't have the greatest light either...

This is my handspun yarn, 2-ply. I spun the handpainted fiber (PoppyFlowerFiber) in order to get a striping sock yarn. Since this pattern calls for sock yarn, it was perfect. I love the way the stripes are turning out. I will give more details on the pattern and spinning method at a later date.

I hate weaving

2007-11-13T06:47:00.000-05:00

Either late last year or early this year, I started and finished knitting a sweater in which I designed. It had a large band of colorwork near the cuff of the sleeves and near the bottom of the cardigan's body. Three accent colors plus the background of the sweater. It was knit from Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK and it is so plush. It has also been sitting in my WIP basket for months and months...weaving not done. So...having knit night last night, I decided to take in the sweater so that maybe the other knitters would force me to finish it. Although they did not actually have to MAKE me finish it; I did. I got all the ends woven in and when I got home I sewed on the buttons (coconut buttons). It was meant to be more of a house sweater than something I would wear out in public--not because it is ugly, but because it's shape isn't all that flattering to my figure. I'm just so excited that I finished it!!

Pictures one day soon, I hope!

More Spinning and a Scarf

2007-10-30T11:11:00.000-05:00

So....still spinning that Alpaca (one day I swear I will have a picture of it). I go to a knitting group on Monday nights and last night I brought my spindle and some louet northern lights. I hate how slow the hand spindle is now that I have been spinning on a wheel for about 4 years; however I do miss the simplicity of it and the ease of taking it anywhere.

I am also working on a scarf for my mom. I think the yarn is Nashua?? I am bad about knowing yarns of this nature...it is a superwash wool, one of those I-cord yarns-kind of novelty but at least it's wool. It has the most gorgeous stripes! A hat out of this yarn would be so lovely.

Alpaca

2007-10-25T10:52:00.000-05:00

Okay, so it's been awhile since I've spun Alpaca...and I love it. It's just wonderful. I have one bobbin done, which I will spin into a two ply from a center pull ball. I still have enough fiber to spin up another bobbin.

After I finish the Alpaca, I've got some wonderful Kid Mo/Wool blend I'm going to start. It's a jewel tone yellow/gold with oranges and greens...it's gorgeous! I so wish I could get some pictures but I am still without a camera.

Stranger

2007-10-22T14:24:00.000-05:00

I know I haven't been good to my readers lately, but I am still battling getting internet at my apartment....

BUT, I have been spinning...lots and lots of spinning with luscious fibers from Crown Mountain.

I attended a little fiber festival in Corydon, IN this Saturday and brought home some goodies. I am spinning some alpaca in shades of brown, tan, and black. I am loving it!!

I also am knitting a scarf for my mom out of a superwash wool who's name escapes me at the moment.

Sorry, No Camera

2007-10-03T14:42:00.001-05:00

Hey strangers! Sorry about my absence...but it's not over yet! BUT, in my absence I have been spinning. I just finished about 200 yards of some worsted weight superfine superwash merino from Hello Yarn and it is just wonderful. I think it will be a hat and maybe some mitts. I also started spinning the colorway Great Balls of Fire merino from Crown Mountain Fibers. I am really loving how the colors are playing out. I am not sure how I am going to ply. I would like to try Navajo, but I never seem to have good results...advice anyone?

IT'S ALIVE!!

2007-09-27T10:24:00.000-05:00

Well, I am (I swear!).

Sorry about the absence. I have moved (yet again) and do not yet have internet, but I will, and hopefully by this weekend.

I have been doing a bit of knitting with some handspun, and just a tad bit of spinning. Although you would think without tv and internet I would have done more knitting, but I haven't.

Although I think I am going (and actually have been) on a yarn diet. While moving into a smaller apartment it has occurred to me that I should really knit and spin some of this yarn and fiber....there is just too much for the space I have available!!

SynKnits

Love This Warm Little Number!

Color Me Lucky

Lovin' the Lucky Socks

Color Me Lucky

Sneek Peek

Slippery Slopes

Adventures of the Mini Sock: Molly Weasley Edition

New Tools

My Kittehs

Sock Saturday Project

Friday!

Storage

Thanks to those who still read my blog....

It's been a while....

I Love Knitting Sweaters...

NaKniSweMo Progress

I *heart* Colorwork

NaKniSweMo

Fun in the Morning

Thank You

Tomorrow is the BIG DAY

Knitting and Friends

Update

Special Day

Morning Snack

Bad Blogger

Julia's Cardi

Contest Winner and Gardening

Jay Day

May Day

Rocking It

Fiber Event Goodies

I missed my Birthday

Please

Weekend Accomplishments

Stuck

Performing Surgery

Things

Workin' it Out

That's What I'm Talking About...

ARRRRRRGH!!

Wednesday

Monday, Monday

Making Progress

I am Lost Without You

If You're Happy and You Know It...

On Cloud 9 (and other projects)

Ravelry

Support

I told you so

Hump Day

It's been two months...

Yeah....

Pictures to Come When Rain Stops

When Life Kicks You in the Butt

Almost Only Counts in Horseshoes and Handgrenades

Soon it Will be Buttons Away...

Trying to Finish an Old UFO

Pillow Talk

I Promise I am Almost Done

It's getting there!

Quilting....almost there.

Look at what I've gotten into now

Unforgiving....

Need I Say More?

Forgiving....

So....

Penguins and Shrugs

Caramel Swirl

Fruits of Labor

Just like me

Sock Progress

Wish I Needed....

My Garden

Kopy Kat Meme

Prepping

Tomato & Basil

Spun Up

The Fiber Event

I heart Colorwork