April's almost gone

April's almost gone, and I still ahven't planted tomato plants. I tought I'd get some from Mom for Easter, but she said they weren't quite ready yet. Now here we are, a few weeks down the road, and still no plants. I guess it's time to head over to the store to get a few plants for the yard, and see if Mom has something next time she comes to town.

Haven't accomplished much with the stuff on the needles. I ran out of fuzzy aqua yarn for the baby blanket, and haven't had time to go to the yarn store to look for more. I did start the Mystery Shawl, but the pattern wasn't what I wanted, so I'm thinking of a few ways to change the construction to fit more of what I was feeling like doing. I was just using the plain vanilla colors wool yarn, same as last time. I have tons of it, and I think it will be dye-able once completed, to a better color ( or at least it's a good neutral color now).

I've progressed some on the booty bag. I have finished the bottom portion, and have turned the corners to start working up the sides. It was more time consuming then I expected to pick up the stitches along the other 3 sides of the bottom flap. I am pleased so far how it's turning out. A great brain twister using both colors at once. I'm sure it will ge real interesting once the design of the Skull and crossbones comes up here in a row or two. Colors are a nice contrast, and it's quite fun to knit the 2 layers at the same time. It does make me excited to try the 2 socks at once idea again.

I have got to get a camera! I received an anniversary present from the employer, and I should get a camera with it. I'll need to talk to the DH and make this happen!

Happy knitting.

One down, so many to go

Yeah, I finlly finished the MysteryShawl. I haven't blocked it yet - tryting to figure out when I can do that. 2 Kids, 2 cats and 1 DH makes for crowded diggs, I will have to wait a little. I'll try to post a picture before blocking, just to get an idea.

I have started in earnest to work on the baby blanket in the fuzzy aqua yarn. I haven't gone too far, and sometimes it seems to drag on, but I must persevere. It's a nice feather and fan pattern. I haven't found the other baby blanket I was working on - ROE in white. I have the center part done, now starting on the outer boarders. iT was getting too big for the circular needles I was using, so the progress at the time I was working on it last was very slow. But the baby isn't due until June, only the baby shower is this month.

I have played a little more with the double knit bag I was thinking of as a diaper bag. I have lots of red and blue New Zealand wool yarn. Too scratchy for clothes, but perfect for felted items. As I mentioned, this is double knit, so we are working the inner and outer layers at the same time. At first I was trying to carry both yarns as mentioned somewhere on the internet as holding one yarn in each hand. This was a great brain twister, but somewaht cumbersome. I finally figured out how to hold both yarns with the same hand so I can knit faster without having to stop and wrap te yarn around. It gets to be kind of fun as you get into it. I am still only working on the bottom, but I figure a little here, a ittle there, why I should be done before the kid graduates from college...right?

Happy knitting.

April Showers

I've started a baby blanket for the april Showers expected mid-month. I had some auqa yarn ( Thrift store special)- soft and fuzzy, probably acrylic. I started a feather and fan type blanket on size 9 needles. I didn't get real far, but now that I have started, I'm determined to finish.

The other day while looking around the internet, I found some cute patterns for baby hats that I was thinking of trying - lil' devil, Vikings, Frog, Bunny. I was thinking this would be a cute idea for Corbin (Chris and Darne's baby). They would have a great sense of humor about what to put on their kid, so I think this would work. I know I have plenty of yarn to make them. Now I just need to find the time.

As for the MysteryShawlAlong Gourp#1 - It's done, I just need to bind off the edge. For some reason my brain farted and I can't remember how to do a simple bind off for shawl edges. I left the instructions at work, but was off for 2 days with Mel, she had strep throat. It looks really pretty, I'm sure it will look even better once I block. I was hoping to finsinh this before really starting MysterShawlAlong #2, now that I finally got access to the files. At first I was going to go ahead and strat it beofre, then try to finish #1 when I couls, but I had troubles access the group. Now that Clue 3 will be posted tomorrow, I am more inclined to wait and see what developes while I work on a few other projects before diving in. I know it was going to be triangular, but I thought it was starting at the neck and working out. Now I see it is starting at the bottom point working up. The design is pretty enough, but not quite what I was looking for. I'm thinking I'll wait a few more days to see how it developes and decide what yarn/needle combo to use. What stategy to follow.

Still no progress on the doily - it beakens but I just don't feel like working on such tiny needles right now.

I am feeling like spinning something, I should spin some of the superwash I received, but can't quite jump in. I keep telling myself I should knit for baby, but I'm not real excited about that...or not as excited as I should be.

This weekend is easter, and I'll be getting together with the family at brother John's house. We'll try egg dying on Saturday. It will be a busy time. BIL Joe had his birthday Wednesday, Amy has her birthday Daturday, and their twin girls had their birthday sometime between, plus Emma is in here somewhere( I never know when, she's just always been in the Easter Birthday crowd) so we'll have lots to celebrate on Sunday. I need to run out and go shopping for the gifts sometime on Saturday as well.

I also need to go through yarn stash and see if I have anything I am willing to part with that Rai may want. I'm certainly not using the acrylic yarn like I use to, so no point in keeping it. I want to keep in mind that Darlin's daughter also board knits, so if I find anything good I don't really want, I can pass it on to her as well.

Lots to do and so little time.

March Madness... of sorts

Boy, I'm not averaging very well, am I? It's been over a month since I last posted. Let's see what do I have going?

1) New slippers - after my dismal start on this project, I have put it aside for future endevor. I still want to make them, but I got so frustrated when I found out I was using the wrong size needle(yes I swatched, but it still seem to come out way bigger), and 2-ply instead of single ply. Now with the weather getting warmer, my motivation has waned.

2) New Scarf - sounds silly for someone who does as much knitting as I do, but I don't have a scarf and this last winter I rally missed having one. I found some alpaca/llama/silk blend on the internet, but was disapointed in the color when it arrived. I thought it would be much more red. It's darker, more like a maroon. So I spun it up, but haven't found a pattern I like ( haven't looked very hard either)... I don't know, maybe I'm waiting for something to really jump out at me. I was thinking of doing something moebius with this, but to do that, I need a longer needle to do that special technique. Again, now that the weather has gotten warmer, my motivstion has waned.

3) Doily - I started an pink varigated doily awhile ago. It was just some short ball I had, and wanted to make a little something quick. I can't even remeber what the pattern is, but I should really concentrate on finishing this. I have maybe 3 or 4 rounds to go then bind off. It's pretty, what I can see of it, I just put it aside ( my new glasses, which I thought would cure many og my vision woes, has solved some problems, but not everything).

4) MysteryShawlAlong group #1 - I signed up for the group in January, and just kind of watched the progress of the few members. I lurked and thought about doing it ( the design was pretty enough). Well, 2 weeks ago I finally couldn't take it any more - I casted on the needles, and finished the first 3 clues in the first weekend. Now i'm on clue 4, and it's taking a little bit of time. It's not too bad really, it's just that I came late to the orogram, and now they are starting the next shawl ( a whole other headach in it's own rights!!). I started the shawl on size 6 needles for clue 1, switched to 7 for clue 2, advanced to size 8 for clue 3, and now I'm using size 10 for clue 4( I couldn't quickly find my size 9 needles). It looks great. I can't wait until I finish and block. I am using some fine wool I got off e-bay last year. It's way too thin singlely, so I use 2-strands at a time. Once done, I am toying wiht the idea of dying this. I 'm thinking a pretty wedgewood blue. I just feel like some blue. I am trying to finish this before plungging into the ...

5) MysteryShawlAlong Group#2 - the first clue was posted last weekend, but I can't get to it yet. First I had a problem (well the vendor actually had a problem) with the connection to paypal, so I went direct to the vendor to pay (she received the payment last weekend), but I am waiting for the permission granted to join the yahoo group so I can access the files. I can read all the posts, and it doesn't sound like anything major as yet, but I want to et the file. I was thinking I could get clue #1 so I start when everyone else does, and it wouldn't take long to get it done and out of the way, then contiune with the first shawl, as I am on repeat #4 of the recommended 6.

6) Dye experiment - I bought some purple Wilton's dye to play with. I had some med brown wool in various stages of porcessing, and I wanted to find out what the differences would be to dye at different stages. A - in the lock, uncarded B- carded wool C- spun wool.
I have the first 2 parts done, but need to finish with the final step. I will have more of this to report soon.

7) Baby stuff - I have 2 friends expecting babies in a few months, and I wanted to make them something. They are both expecting boys - one chose "pirates" as her theme, and the other chose "under the sea". I have a great idea for a blanket/quilt for the pirates, but when I explained to my DH what I wanted to do, he poo-pooed the idea. I'm still thinking this over, haven't given it up yet, just reconsidering. It would be really cool, but would be a lot of work. I don't know if it would workout the way I want, and my time is precious.... whine, whine, whine. I did find a washcloth with a skull and crossbones on it, I thought was cute, so I may do that anyway. I also found a bag - "Queen's booty bag" that is knitted and flted. I thought this would be a cute diaper bag. I was thinking of making this up, and if it didn't workout, I could keep it for myslf...it's suppose to be reversable, so I was thining of using red/blue combination of yarn. If I do this, I know I can do something similar with a fishy theme, maybe using green/yellow combination. Still thinking on this.

Well, as you can see I've been sort of busy, but I just haven't finished anything yet. You know, I started this blog to document my progress on various projects, but what it's turned out to be block for blogging, as I get a little embarrassed at how little I finish. Life has a way of getting in the way, so progress can be slow at times. I just have to remember it's not how we finish the race but that we DO finish!

Get the picture

I need to get anew camera! Our old one isn't convenient to use- bulky so less portable. I want a new one, and a printer to go with it, but money is something of an issue right now.... if I slowed down on buying other things ( wool/ fleece, yarn, pattern books, girl scout cookies...) I might actually save a little to put towards it.

Just a thought.

I haven't done too much on the spring cleaning. This last weekend, Presdient's Day weekend, we did get outside for a while, and do some yard work. Cleaned the rock bed in the front ( it had accumulated lots of dirt and debris amonst the rocks, so it was getting harder to see the rocks). It took quite a few hours, as I got the bright idea to pick the rocks out, clean out the crud, then put them back. Oh sure, it looks great now that it's done, but it took quite some time to accomplish. DDs said they'd help, but about 15 minutes into the project, they quietly disappeared to go ride their bikes. I felt kind of bad the DH was doing all the real tiring work- raking the leaves, sweeping the walkwys, while I sat on the ground sorting rocks. My back was sore ( don't know what set it off), so movement was pained. Sitting in one spot was easiest for me. Besides, I consoled myself with the knowledge that he doesn't do the tedious things well. Pulling weeds, or edging the grass was never his thing. He'd rather mow the lawn, rake the yard, or sweep the walkways. I think the idea was that he wasn't doing it alone, and all the work is needed to make the yard look nice.

I did get a box of fleece cleaned 2 weeks ago, and have been trying to work through it to card for future use. It's a nice chocolate brown, and OH SO SOFT when fresh off the drum, rolled into a fluffy batt. I'm not sure what I want to do with it yet, but I have about 4 lbs of the stuff. Have only carded up about 6oz., so I have quite a ways to go.

As for spinning my wheels, haven't had too much activity on that front. I did manage to finish the 4oz of Llama/silk blend I got of e-bay, intended to use for a scarf ( a nice accessory I lacked all winter, and kept thinking I should make one, but never got busy). I was a little disappointed when it arrived, as the color wasn't as red as I had hoped. Still, it was pretty, and soft. I managed to spin it up into a nice 2-ply yarn, and will be starting a scarf here shortly. I am just trying to decide what stitch to use. I have a felling it won't matter too much, as this stuff seems to be a little fluffy now, and expect it to only get fluffier, so I don't think a fancy pattern will be needed. Something simple. I'll look around, and hopefully come up with some ideas.

All for now, will post again soon (I hope).

Rainy day dull-drums

I have the spring cleaning bug. At least, I think that's what ails me. I am restless with my current project - a sweater made from some grey wool, not very exciting (I'll try to post pictures soon). I am itching to get back to my spinning wheel and spin something. I even want to get into my "sewing" room ( the junk collecting room in the house), and try and dig out my sewing machine. I will see if I can't get started tonight, by removing some of the boxes we know we want, and stack them in the garage for the time being.

I have several boxes of fleece I need to see if I can't do something producttive with them. Maybe start cleaning the fleece, so I can card the stuff to spin. I certainly have enough fleece to last awhile, and MUST STOP bringing home orphaned wool. At least for the time being.

It's raining today, and expected to be wet all weekend. Unfortunately ( or fortunately, depending on how you look at it), I have a birthday party to take a child to. Each DD has a different party to go to, so DH and I will split the duties. Bowling or jumper house. I think I'm heading to the jumper house. Wheeeeee! I guess if it's gonna rain this weekend, I should be happy I have an activity to take the younger child to that should be good at wearing her out. It ain't pretty when the girls get stir-crazy!

OK, let's see what I can get done. I need to reduce the clutter in that room, or at least better organize the stuff so it's not falling all over the place (of course the cats don't help by climbing the piles, causing them to topple over... That's my styory and I'm sticking to it). Wisk me luck, I'm going in.....

Where has all the time gone?

Oh my gosh, here it is, a week later, and I have hardly anything to report! I started the slipper as promised, but after almost finishing, I realized I had a few problems going....

The are reasons why this was looking so hugh. 1). I was using size 13 needles, not 11. The gauge was close, and as I was going to felt these, gauga often means nothing to a felter. At the time, I think this was the only pair I could find that was larger then a 5. For some reason all my circular needles were/are hiding from me. Maybe the cats are taking them to play with....heck, they play with a lot of my "tos". Darn cats!!!

I digress.

The second reason these are so hugh is that I was using 2 strands instead of just one. In my brain, it made sense, as I've done felting with one strand and two-strand projects. I think I was trying for a thicker overalll affect. I am about 10cm from finishing the first slipper, when I realized my problems. This has stalled out my progress. I don't kow what to do- proceed as I was and see what happens, or just undo and make as instructed? I have plenty of examples where I altered a pattern in some small way and the end result wasn't quite what I hoped. I am a little gun shy this time(which is kind of funny considering how much of this wool I have on hand, and even if this doesn't work out, it's not the end of the world....or IS it?).

I must admit, I have also been kind of pre-occupied with spinning lately. I have some wool I am in the process of spinning up so I can try dying it another color. I am much more excited at this prospect right now. It's kind of a brownish-white blended roving I got from SheepShack. I want to try overdying it with some red wilton's dye. But now as I think about it, I have some grey wool (same source) that is just about all spun up- most of it done in a 2-ply. Still have a few singles that need to be plied up, but wouldn't take long. I could go home and finish this first, then try overdying with some green Wilton's. I don't know if it will take the dye much, but it might be fun to see what I get.......hmmm the mind is already spinning off in that direction.......