Mommy, can I go again

Yesterday my hubby had to work again. (Probably every Saturday until the new year but....) So I decided it would be a great time to try out the Louet Hand Dyed Sock kit that I won at Serenity Knits Christmas Open house last weekend.

I chose a green dye kit and was a little nervous when the first colour I mixed up looked very far from green. It is hard to see in this picture but it was a rich blue/purple.

The second colour looked like what the label said" olive and then the third colour looked like this.

I was really feeling unsure. As a first timer of this method (I've died some fleece before that I never spun to find out how it looked) and I made my stripes of colour a little thicker than what the directions suggested.

When I wrapped the skeins up it looked like the colour would sorta squish which I guess was the point of the small stripes. Because when I unwrapped everything I couldn't help but think...Hmmm there is still a lot of blue in there.

But after hanging them to set and dry last night and washing them again this morning this is what I am left with.

I had a lot of fun doing this and want to do it again. I have some more dye with my spinning stuff and I wonder if I have more plain yarn upstairs in my stash to play with. I really don't know what I'm doing so I am interested to see how this knits up but I want to learn some more about hand dying.

Then last night I went to a hockey game. We got tickets through my nephew's school. It was a great idea for a fundraiser. They raised over $3000 dollars in ticket sales. The kiddies got to sing O'Canada on the ice too.

My only thought would have been that they should have put the tickets that the families were able to purchase closer to the side of the rink that the kids were on. This was the closest I could zoom in.

I just can't stop.

I am addicted to mittens. (not a bad thing to be addicted to considering how scary close Christmas is) However I was not going to do much Christmas knitting and now I want everyone to have mittens but not just any old st st mittens they must be Fiddlehead Mittens.

Well they could be another pattern but I am into the colour work right now. I can't believe that I am saying that because I was never interested in colour work in any way. I didn't mind doing the odd little motif (like the biker baby sweater) but a whole project was not something that caught my eye. I must eat my words because it is all I want to do right now. I also have cast on (A while ago and never touched) the Ivy League vest (after Christmas I will pick it up again).

This pair of Fiddleheads is my first. The yarn is Tanis Fiber Arts Yellow Label that I purchased in a kit with the pattern at Pick up Sticks (have you been to the new location yet?) I have since purchased more yarn, almost the same colour combination, to make more mittens and downloaded more mitten patterns too.

They are a gift for my friend Mindy. She was one of my bridesmaids and I have been missing her. I'm not great at picking up the phone and calling. I feel like I have been so busy with work and tutoring and "life" that when I get home the last thing I want to do is sit on the phone. I think the whole way home in the car some days about calling her but then when I get home and start making dinner I end up putting the idea out of my head. It has been a while since we talked. I don't think she reads my blog but I hope she knows that even if we haven't chatted in a bit she is still very important to me and when she gets her Christmas gift she will realize how much I have been thinking about her.

She is a teacher and I know how cold yard duty can be some days so a warm, lined pair of mittens will come in handy ( haha mittens... handy). I also know that mittens sometimes like to grow legs and get lost so I knit her initials into the lining.

I wanted to knit these so much that I was knitting them in the truck on the way to the hockey game Saturday night. We drove part of the way in my hubbies truck with his friend but there are only three seats so I got the pleasure of sitting in the cramped middle seat. I worked away quietly balancing two colours on my lap hoping the balls didn't roll away onto the floor. I didn't take them into the ACC with me for the game but it was temping.

The game was a lot of fun even if the Leafs lost :( I haven't been to a game since I was kid. It was a date with my husband. We don't tend to go out that much because we are trying to save money. He called me one day before I got home from work last week and asked me what I was doing on Saturday. I said I didn't think there was anything we needed to do. "I was wondering if you wanted to go on a date with me" he said. How cute. My husband asking me on a date. "like out of the house? " I asked surprised. Our dates generally consist of renting a movie and popping a frozen pizza in the oven. It was a nice time.

Ok enough for now....I think I can get a few rows in before I have to get ready to go to work.

Honey where are my needles?

I just finished another tulip sweater for the baby shower I'm going to this weekend. I never get tired of this sweater. I even use the shape for this sweater to make other baby sweaters.
So I was wanting to start another similar sweater and need the same needles. The same needles I was just using a few sleeves ago. I can't seem to find them (of course all my other sets of needles that are the same size are somewhere in my unfinished project tub).

My husband walked in the house and I was looking around for these needles. I looked up and said to him "Honey have you seen a set of needles around here?"

I wish I could find the words to describe the look on his face as he told me "There's needles all over this house, what kind of question is that to ask me"

Long Time No Blogging

It feels a little strange to sit here and write a post. I haven't blogged in such a long time and if I am being honest, until this week I havn't missed it. I haven't been knitting all that much and there have been other things going on in my life. All of them are good things! Just busy things.

I am not making excuses because...well who really cares. I was just at a point where blogging was not a priority for me. I have been very focused on work at school this year and have reorganized a lot of things. I have been working a lot on myself at home as well. Trying some healthier eating habits and different exercise than what I was doing before. I was finding that going to my gym and everything that I had going on was being more stressfull than "health-ful" and that was the opposite of what I was trying to accomplish. So it was time for a change.

Now I am getting to the point were I'm am feeling like I have gotten into a new routine that I am happy with. It is an actual routine now and not chaos. That is exactly how I was feeling. Now that I write it down I realize I felt like I was in complete chaos and turmoil.

I am happy in my job. I am more balanced about my eating. I am sleeping well. I am reading books for enjoyment again (realizing how much I missed it). I have more time for friends, more time for my hobbies and ultimately ....more time for ME!

Addictive knitting

I have been knitting and I have proof.

Even more of an accomplishment because I had to rip out half of the first side and do the whole thing over again. Silly me did two very silly mistakes. Mistake number one was that I cast on the number of stitches for the wrong size. I did not notice mistake number one until after I noticed mistake #2.

I looked at my work and counted my stitches. I was almost done the decreases. The excitement builds. We have almost finished the majority of the stockinette stitch and am that much closer to the fun stuff.

But wait....I think I have too few stitches too fast. Count....count again.....look at pattern. Ooooh crap. I had been decreasing for the front panel the same way I did the back ( on each side ) but because it is only one side I should have only been decreasing at the side of course. Silly knitter.

So now the brain starts to work out how to fix this rather large mistake with the least amount of work to do/work lost. My hubby suggests "just rip the whole thing out and start again". I glare at him.

My brain decided to drop a few stitches down the side where I should not have been decreasing and pick that section back up without the decreases. Of course because this little section ( inches and inches of a section) had been gradually decreasing in stitches the work is gradually getting tighter and tighter. But I persevere. I'm not sure I'm happy but maybe when I'm finished I can work at the stitches to even them out.

All picked back up again ready to go I do another count. Hmmmm....count again....look at the pattern again.... There it is MISTAKE #1 you cast on the wrong number of stitches for your size you twit. AHHHHHHHHHHH.

So hubby did not say "I told you so" but.... I did have to rip the whole thing out after all.

Today I am happily working again and just roaring along. This is my problem now. I can't stop. I'm on the pattern section of the sweater and I had to make myself put it down at 10pm....11pm....midnight.

Crafty

I haven't been posting but I have been being very crafty. I don't have many great exciting knitting pictures because for all the knitting I have been doing trying to finish my UFOs I haven't had a lot of focus. I have been working a little bit here and there and not making any real progress on any one thing.

I have also been trying a few new hobbies. The thing with having the summers off is that you find new ways to fill your time and spend your money.

First was the sewing. I pulled out grandma's sewing machine again and did some experimenting. I ended up watching this video online. and changed a few things about it, added and iron-on and voila! A skirt!

The other crafty thing I have been up to is a little drawing and painting. It started with me starting to design a new tattoo for myself. Then I started to do a little painting.

The one on the right is the one I did first. I learned a bit doing that one and then did the one on the left a little later. I like the one on the left better but my hubby likes the one on the right.

I haven't completely stuck by my promise to myself not to start anything new. But I have a good reason. There are two babies coming that need little sweaters and then there is this one.

I even love the stockinette stitch of the back. Spud and Chloe is so nice to work with. Psst I know where you can get some ;)

Ranting

Let me start by saying that there is no knitting content in this post. Let me also add that whatever I say here I say with no real understanding of that things are like for my hubby right now.

That said, here we go.......

There are many things that I love about my husband. One thing that I could live without is the smoking. Since we have moved in together he has not smoked in our house he always goes outside but... as a non smoker I can really notice when he comes inside and when I kiss him.

He has tried to quit a few times over the years that I have known him but he has been smoking since he was 13 or 14? He has (in my opinion) gotten past the hardest parts of quitting only to start again.

I do not claim to understand. I never say "I know it's hard" because what I do understand is that there is no way I could possibly understand. I do tell him how proud I am of him for doing what he has so far and to some extent I wait on him hand and foot to keep his stress down and his happiness up.

Because he is not smoking his is eating. Boy oh boy is he eating. So I buy him snacks that I don't like to keep in the house because I like to eat them too. Cookies, chips, pudding, and as strange as it sounds KD and instant mashed potatoes. When he says he is hungry I make him what he asks for (even if it gets in the way of my knitting time). When he tells me he is dying and that he wants a smoke I smile and say "you're not dying hunny, can I get you something?" Ugh...I frustrate myself but I think it is for the greater good.

We had planned to maybe go to see a movie tonight. I was going to meet him after work and go to an early show. He called me after he finished work to tell me he had a bad day and just wanted to go home.

I made him a snack when he got home (dinner was going to take an hour in the oven) he still asked me after for a grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup. I made him both served with a cold beer.

Then when dinner was ready (lasagna) he started to eat it...looked at it funny and asked if mine was still cold in the middle ("no") we ate a little longer. "Where did we get this lasagna from?... I cant eat this" Then like a silly little wife I offer to make him something else. He didn't want anything else but.....grrrrrr. Now he is sitting here on the couch and is he ever cranky.

He has had one cigarette today and has had 2 or 3 every day for the last (almost) 2 weeks. I am starting to get just as cranky as he is.

If anyone else out there has any suggestions for me about how I can be supportive and not lose my mind please let me know because sometimes I feel about as shaky as he is.

P.S. Just as I was spell checking this the dog rang the bell to go out.....I just wanted to post before I took him out. Hubby asked me if I was going to let him out ("yes") He rang the bell 4 times what are you doing("blogging. I don't see you getting up to let him out") Fine ("I'm going now") Then I'm going to the store (This would imply he was going to buy cigarettes but he instead lay down on the couch.)

Too Busy to Blog

When you go on vacation you have a list of all the things you will get done because you will have all this time on your hands. What happens to that time? Why do you still never seem to have enough?

I have been a busy little bee this week and a bit. When I got better I was talking to a friend that I don't see very often (sometimes only once a year) and we made plans to meet at her cottage. I was very excited and I wanted to take her a birthday present and also a present for her 10 month old baby.

I'm sure you can see where this is going. As a knitter I thought I would make something! Won't that be nice! So I had a week to start and finish 2 projects but hey....I'm on vacation so I have time.

Project #1 : ITV Digital Monkey. I found the pattern on Ravelry and thought how cute it was.

It is cute but.....there are many pieces.

I made changes to the mouth that were suggested by a few other people who made this monkey. I still wasn't completely happy with the shape of the mouth but overall the monkey is cute. But I don't think I will ever make one again.

I loved my Milkweed shawl so much and it was so fast I thought it would be perfect for my friend so....

Project #2 : Milkweed Shawl (x2)

I loved this one just as much as the one as I made for myself. Perhaps more because mine has not yet been blocked.

But wait there is still more.

Project #3 (yes I know): Leaves of Grass Scarf

When I was sick I didn't get the scarf finished in time for my friend's birthday. I hopefully will be seeing her tonight or this month sometime so no excuses. It is finished.

I have often thought I could use blocking wires but I never buy them for myself. I could have really used them for this project. I tried to keep the sides as straight as possible but it was a challenge and I think I put pins in, took them out and moved them at lease 3 times.

I am happy with the way it turned out. I hope my friend likes her gift because I was worried she might like a little brighter blue more but I think she will be happy.

I have a few things on my list now that are not knitting related and without a deadline I have no excuse to ignore my housework any longer.

Sick, Yuck

I haven't been blogging or doing much of anything lately because I have been sicker than I can remember being for a long time. I told my husband I almost wish it was the flu because at least you can tell when you are fixed because you stop being sick.

I have strep throat. YUCK! I haven't had this since I was going to school. It was so painful to talk and swallow a few days ago that I could cry. I had a fever of 100.9 F. I take my last antibiotic today and I'm still not completely better. I might have to go back to the doctor next week. But the last two days have been so much better than the days before. I think because I was trying so hard make it through my last few staff meetings for the year that I wasn't getting the rest I needed.

Friday I got home from work around 3 and slept on the couch until 5, then went to my bed for another hour. Then I had a bit of dinner (more than freezees and popcicles anyway) and fell asleep again on the couch. Then hubby suggested bed at 9:30 and I still slept all night until 6am and then napped on the couch until 7:30. I obviously wasn't getting the rest that I needed to heal.

But why is it that when the woman gets sick nothing gets done. No dishes get washed, nothing gets put away and the house might even fall apart. My Hubby might even starve because he has barely had more real food than I have.

Because I haven't got a lot of knitting done I didn't finish the scarf in time for my friend's birthday. I am getting close though. I can't wait to see it blocked.

But I needed something to work on during the end of the year staff meetings on Thursday and Friday and I couldn't work on her scarf in front of her so....I have a new project that I am in love with at the moment.

The Milkweed Shawl
I am using Dream in Color Starry. I fell in love with the colour (Punky Fuchsia) and had to make something with it and Milkweed is perfect. I am really enjoying it.

Baby baby!

I was cutting it close but the two baby surprise sweaters were finished just in time for the shower.

This one was very unisex because mommy and daddy are waiting for the worlds greatest surprise.

This one will be for a little girl with an incredible mom. I know she will be a lovely little girl because her mom is lovely.


And a quick pick of the two of them together.


The children in my class saw me wrapping them at lunch (I told you I was cutting it close) and the asked me about them. When I told them they were for two other teachers one of my kids asked "how are they going to fit them?" I guess I needed to be a little more clear. Some didn't notice that they were pregnant at all. They are so sweet.

The gifts were very well received and appreciated. Every baby needs at least one knit gift.

A time to rest

I am excited that the school year is winding down again. I always think I would like to keep my kids a little longer, like there is never enough time. But I am excited for rest.

I'm looking forward to Knit in Public day this Saturday (June 13th). Come by Pick Up Sticks!! I'm really looking forward to it. I will be able to work on my June deadline projects.

Monday is the baby shower for the two girls I work with. They are both due in September I believe so they will be off next school year so we are doing the shower before they go on leave.

So priority is finishing the second baby surprise jacket. One down, one to go!!

This is the progress on #2.

Of course Oscar has to get his nose in there to give his approval.

Then my next deadline is June 27th for my friends birthday. I need to have the Leaves of Grass scarf finished by then.

So...See ya Saturday???

Weekends

I love this time of year and the weekend! I look forward to weekends to just be out and chatting with the people in the neighbourhood.

The last few weekends we have all been out getting flower beds done, fixing lawnmowers, hanging screen doors. It is just such a friendly and relaxing place to be. We spontaneously BBQ, and help each other carry things, dig holes etc.

Sometimes it feels like our town is stuck in a time capsule (which I love). It reminds me of when I was growing up and you could ride your bike further than your parents could see you without having to worry. People smile and say hello as they walk their dogs ( everyone here has at least one dog it seems ).

This was last weekends gardening.





This weekend we found this cute little table and chairs.



Perfect for a cup of coffee, a glass of *insert beverage of choice here* and some chat with a friend or just some quiet knitting.

A little bit of knitting content. I have made the pattern designs that I have done for Pick Up Sticks available on the side bar. Please check them out if you are interested. Enjoy what's left of your weekend everyone.

Birthdays and Babies

I was making so much progress on the Brooke's Lace Shawl but had to put it aside to work on a few baby gifts and a birthday present.

This is the present for my friend at work. We both have June birthdays. She asked me to make her a blue scarf that was pretty open. So I thought the perfect pattern would be the Leaves of Grass Scarf by Sunflower Designs. And the yarn and the colour was a bit of a debate for me but in the end it was some more of that lovely Jojoland. Melody this time. Again from Pick Up Sticks.

When I finish this scarf then I will be starting another Baby Surprise Jacket (Jojoland Rhythm again--I loved the first one so much) for another girl at work.

Here is Oscar on the couch as part of our Sunday morning ritual. We cuddle on the couch, I knit, drink coffee and watch Coronation Street.

"Mommy come back to the couch, I don't have a lap to put my head on."

Spring In Socks

Size: woman's size 9 ( but the size can easily be changed by adding or removing stitches from the even sections between the pattern repeats)

Materials:

Indigo Moon (100% Merino Wool; 370 yrds/100g)

2.5 mm dpns

Stitch marker for the beginning of the round (optional)

Guage: 7 sts per inch in stockinette stitch



$5.00 USD

Surprise!

What the heck is that?

SURPRISE!!

It's the baby surprise jacket by Elizabeth Zimmermann.

I used Jojoland Rhythm that I picked up (hehehe) at Pick Up Sticks. It took just over 3 balls (figures). So so cute I love it.

I am pleasantly surprised not only that that strange object turns into a sweater but at this yarn as well. Looking at it in the ball it doesn't really appeal to me. Connie assured me that I would fall in love with the yarn and I did!!! The way the colours blend keeps you interested the way Noro Keeps me interested.

I'm have to do it again. I have another colourway for another BSJ. And it just so happens that two of the girls I work with are prego. We are having a shower for them in June so....I have my presents all planned out.

Present #1 = Check!

Knitting not posting

I have been a busy knitting bee the last little bit that is why I haven't been posting. Since the Frolic I have......

1) Finished the Biker Baby Sweater. It is here blocking waiting to be given.

The front

The back

The buttons (not a great pic but you can see the Dream in Color Classy Black Pearl Colour really well - not as solid black as it appears = LOVE IT!)

2) Made progress on the Brooke's Lace Shawl.

I have finished the first panel. And am ready to start the lace section of the second panel.

I would like to say that I was finished the two but I realized that I had joined to knit in the round and had it twisted. I don't know how it took me until I was over halfway done the section to notice my error but I had to go ALL THE WAY BACK and start again.

So feeling discouraged I started......

3) one of 4 baby sweaters I will need to have finished in the next month.

It is a baby surprise sweater..... my first time and I am still amazed. I know the basics of how this works but how does one (i.e. E.Z. ) think this up in the first place? I love this sweater.

I'm back to it now....I can't leave my knitting alone lately.

Oh yeah We Froliced!

Saturday was the Knitter's Frolic. As usual I was there with Connie at Pick up Sticks. Friday night set up was long but fun. I always enjoy seeing yarn galore coming out of boxes and bags and being beautifully displayed.

The night was restless as we were all excited for the show. The morning came early and anticipation was high. This was the picture that I took before they opened the doors to the public.

(I emailed this to my hubby on my phone with the subject "you think I'm crazy?"- his response was "you are all crazy"--yes I suppose we are but...we are happy that way)

This was our booth.

At least these are of two sides of our booth. I thought I had a pic of the back where the Baby Bamboo was but I can't find it.

This is the beautiful basket that Connie gave me as a gift. So cute! And No Lisa I am not going on a picnic!

This is the yarn I bought when I thought my budget was in good shape. There is some Fino alpaca and silk blend ( the green) lace weight from the Purple Purl.

On the left there is some Jojoland Melody for the beautiful Leaves of Grass Shawl pattern from Sunflower designs from Pick Up Sticks.

Those were in the budget! This is what took me over the top.

I bought this one from Needle Emporium and if you can't see it in the picture it is the Brooke's Lace Shawl. I saw it and had to make it. The picture on the pattern does not do it justice if you ask me and the yarn is not something I would pick on it's own. However when I saw it in person I decided I must have it. I also had a few enablers (you know who you are ladies).

I have already started it (because I have no self control) but you can't see much of the pattern yet but ...I love it!