Knitting Nonsense

Starting Over

2011-11-15T20:36:00.002-05:00

Things in my life have been so different that I thought I needed a new way to journal and share what I'm up to. It will not be all about knitting however but will likely involve craft content but it will not be limited to that.

This Crazy Crafter

Ready to Frolic

2011-04-29T20:30:00.005-04:00

I'm getting very excited about the Knitter's Frolic tomorrow! Pick up Sticks will be there at Booth #46 come and say hello.

I have been working on the Baby Sweater a bit more. It is still to early to tell if the stitch pattern I decided on is going to make me happy or not. I had a few other choices. I will have to see after a few more pattern repeats.

Tomorrow I think I will take a plain sock for me and the other sock for my niece for in the car and such.

One of those things

2011-04-18T22:19:00.009-04:00

This week I was dog sitting my parents dog. I spent a good amount of time assuring my mother that everything would be fine. That leaving me with the dog and as the emergency contact for my grandmothers was not too much for me to handle.

The weekend did go fine. Monday was the disaster! It was one of those days when nothing seemed to go right at work. I couldn't wait for the day to be over but then some of my partners wanted to work together so I was at work for a while after.

My mother visits my grandma everyday. So with my mom being away, I felt the need to give my grandma some company. While I was there I reminded my grandma about Bingo that night which prompted a hunt for her wallet. My grandma has dementia and neither of us could find her wallet. I finally convinced her to go down for dinner and look for her wallet after, thinking she would forget about it, only to find her wallet with her walker.

I was going to leave from there to go get groceries but it was already after 5pm and I just wanted to get home so I stopped by my parents house to get some spaghetti sauce. At which point my car broke down and would not drive anywhere.

When we bought the car used we planned for some maintenance costs but it has been a while and nothing so when the dishwasher broke down we bought a new one with the money set aside for the car. Now it looks like the car needs a new transmission. GREAT!

My brother in law has been riding his bike to work so very kindly offered us his car. He wouldn't take no for an answer so he drove an hour to our house with his wife and two kids. We were finally eating and I had assumed that they would have eaten first before coming. As they were leaving they commented about going to pick up something for dinner. It was now about 8:30pm and the kids have school the next day. I felt terrible.

After they left I thought it was funny that my parent's dog has not eaten anything yet. He wolfed it down the last few days. So I bribed him with treats. I remembered that we needed to get the stuff ready for our taxes. There was one piece of paper that I could not find. Hubby told me that he had left in on the fridge because it was important. I have been holding myself together all day and it is all I can do not to scream at him that the fridge is not a filing cabinet. I go looking for the paper and my parent's dog throws up twice. Yuck.

I clean it up and finally find the paper we need and by this point my pregnant self can't hang on anymore. Hubby was a little freaked that I was crying saying "I found the piece of paper"

The dog woke me up a few times in the night when he was sick again a few times but ultimately the week got better as we went.

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Now to backtrack just a bit. I got a "push present" a little bit early. He upgraded my phone for me!!!

I have joined the iPhone world! Hubby is just a addicted as I am as he has all of his sports things on there and angry birds. I have a few knitting apps too and I am sure I will be adding some more.

As far as my knitting goes. I finished my Gnome Mittens. They were a lot of fun to knit.

I have also started the first sweater for Baby Preston. E.Z.'s Baby Sweater on Two needles. I have changed the gauge and think I might use a different stitch pattern on the bottom section. I will keep you posted as I go.

What to work on?

2011-03-17T10:07:00.005-04:00

Well I have a few things on the go right now (not counting the bin of unfinished things) and am enjoying both.

This is the first project that I have started for baby on the way. A log cabin blanket out of Mission Falls 1824 Cotton.

It is always nice to have a fast moving simple project on the go. It is exciting to work on things for the baby. I have been organizing things in the nursery and getting other things in the house ready. I figure I need to do it now because if I get a lot bigger in the next few months I won't want to or be able to.

The other project is the Gnome Mittens by Spilly Jane . These are so much fun and they remind me why I carried the different yarn colours up when working on the Four Seasons hats.

I didn't start out that way on the mittens and was feeling overwhelmed by the many strands hanging down inside my mitten. Then I got part way through the second Gnomes and realised I had left out a row of the beard. So I ripped back and had all the separate strings of yarn to pull out. I have restarted and finished one repeat of the pattern using up all the strings and weaving in those nasty ends as I worked then when I had to add yarn I left it attached when I was finished with it. It is annoying to carry the strand up but I find it more annoying to have all the extra ends.

I have a picture of the finished Autumn Hat but it is on my phone and I can't find the cord to download the pictures. I will post a pic when I can.

Fun is Finished!...Or is it?

2011-02-28T17:30:00.003-05:00

Here it is!

Pattern: The Four Seasons, Winter - Tanis Fiber Arts
Yarn : Tanis Blue Label (Four Seasons Kit)
Needles : 3.5mm

I just wanted to say how much I loved knitting this hat.

I got the kit at Pick up Sticks and I have another kit in my bag. The Autumn colours this time. I also have in my hot little hands the Gnome Mitten Kit. I can't decide which to start first.

Winter Hat

2011-02-26T09:07:00.004-05:00

I started yet another project. I have no willpower. This one is so much fun!

I am knitting the Winter Hat from Tanis Fiber Arts Four Seasons patterns. I might like to have each colourway because I am LOVING this pattern and the yarn soooo much.

If you are looking for a project that you can't put down this is it!

Still no baby knitting but I have a few things in mind. Not knowing if it is a boy or girl is holding me back I think. 6 months down. I can't believe how fast the time is going by. In June I will get to meet the little person who is kicking me all day and night.

Quick and Easy

2011-02-20T14:34:00.005-05:00

First of all, these are the flowers that hubby gave me for Valentine's Day. I am always glad when he doesn't get me roses. I love roses other times of the year but I feel they are too overpriced for Valentine's Day.

I have been enjoying these plain socks for my 4 year old niece. As per her pink and purple request this Dye Hard Serendipitous Sock in You had me at "Hello" is perfect. She wants them up over her knees and when I saw her last night they were at her knees. I knit a bit more straight and have now started the ribbing. One extra long sock in two days...Not to shabby for a busy little me.

This is me, using my arm to visualize my niece wearing her long socks over black tights.

And yes I am a little envious too, thinking I would love a pair of tall stripey socks socks for myself.

Finally

2011-02-16T15:56:00.006-05:00

I am very glad that I am finally done the Tongues of Fire scarf. It isn't that I didn't like the project or disliked the yarn I was just done with it. I was ready for something else.

Here it is all done. Not blocked however because I am giving it to Connie to do that for me as she has blocking wires and I do not (at least not yet).

Here is a closer shot of the pattern.

And this is all that was left. It actually looks a little bigger in the picture than it really is. It is about a quarter in diameter and I would not have been able to do another full portion of the pattern.

Next up. A nice easy plain pair of socks for my 4 year old niece. She wanted pink and purple stripes and no other colours but the little bit of grey in Dye Hard's "You had me at Hello" (available at Pick Up Sticks) was acceptable for her taste. She wants them to be really tall so I will have to weigh out half and start at the toes to see how far I get.

Another plain sock that I started a while ago is also from Dye Hard. The watermelon self striping yarn is a lot of fun.

Ouch

2011-02-03T19:39:00.002-05:00

My thumbs hurt! I am trying to knit as much as possible on Tongues of Fire. Considering that I work full time as well that means I am really only knitting for a 1-2 hours a night.

That is not nearly how much I knit at other times (weekends, Pre-Christmas) so I don't understand why my thumbs hurt so much.

I am not loving this very much so I thought I would take a break and write a quick post (complaint) about my discomfort.

Yes I know I should probably just not knit tonight but instead I'm just knitting slow.

Knitting/Driving on my Mind

2011-01-27T06:17:00.000-05:00

I'm feeling much more like my old self this weekend. I finished a lot of work on Friday so spent Friday just relaxing.

Hubby brought back the new (used) vehicle Friday night. We bought a 2001 Hyundai Santa Fe and so far I love it. Not that I still don't wish the accident had never happened but I think this will be perfect for our little family. It is only one year newer than the Explorer that I was driving but it looks much newer and the interior is nicer.

When my hubby bought the Explorer he bought it is a winter car that he didn't really care to much about. He had a fancy car that he drove in the summer and went to shows with and stuff. Then when we moved in together we started to have some trouble with my car so he sold the fancy car an bought his truck and I got the Explorer. It was a great vehicle but it always had coffee and grease stains that I could never quite get out of the beige interior. This one is clean from the get go and we can keep it that way (as much as we can with a little one one the way)!

As far as the rest of my week has gone. All I want to do is knit or read about knitting or organize my knitting projects. Unfortunately I have to spend a good chunk of time cleaning the house that has been neglected while I worked every night last week on my reports.

Tongues of fire is slowly growing. I am itching to work on something else (socks and mittens are on the top of my list right now), but I am determined to finish the scarf first.

It is lovely and the yarn is a dream but..... you know how it is sometimes.

Progress

2011-01-09T17:00:00.004-05:00

I'm excited that I actually made some knitting progress.

It has been one hell of a week this week.

I'm not going to go into detail cuz I don't want to get into everything but here is the just of it.

1. Went back to work.

2. Got into an accident the first day back to work and now have to find the money for a new car.

3. Less then two weeks to do reports for work on top of my regular work day.

My stress level is .... a little high.

On a good note. My house is now brother-in-law free! I have a few things that I need to do before I can do this... for the rest of the night.

2011-01-01T17:25:00.004-05:00

Happy New Year everyone!

I can't believe my holiday is almost over already. It has been very busy and I could use another week to do all of the things I wanted to do.

Christmas was nice. I love to see my family and do the whole Christmas thing. Then I'm glad when it is all over too.

Hubby was very thoughtful and put a lot of effort into my gifts.

My present was this beautiful singer sewing machine.

My "Stocking" was this playpen with some baby stuff in it. This one meant a lot to me!

He is so hard to read sometimes. We got pregnant so quickly after I stopped taking the pill. He was a little shell shocked and I didn't know what he was really thinking. I think spending two hours in Babies 'R' Us with no one to help him and going into a maternity clothing store alone says something about how he feels about this baby.

I have been working on Tongues of Fire scarf if you were curious about actual knitting stuff.

All of these pictures were taken with my new Camera! Well it is "OUR" camera but I'm always the one taking pictures so....

This is it. It was a gift from my husband's side of the family. I was going to save up to get a new camera before baby came but they beat me to it! I'm having fun playing with it and figuring out everything it can do.

Don't count me out yet

2010-12-16T16:29:00.003-05:00

I know I'm a bad blogger. I am a bad lot of things lately. I feel like my life has been nuts since coming back to work in September. That and the loss of my camera compound to make blogging a no go.

I have my brother - in - law living at my house. He is 21 and was in need of a job. He is there for a yet to be determined length of time. (I pray he is gone by June .... more later). He is a respectful guy but he is 21 and seems to have blinders on to anything that doesn't directly impact his existence and his video game play. He is looking for somewhere else to live but nothing yet. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

He is one of two house guests I have had. The other brother-in-law was here too. He was doing a course at school and our house is closer than going home everyday. Plus the snow here has been making driving not so great where he is from. He went home Wednesday. One down, one to go.

I hope that Brother - in - law #2 is gone by the summer just in time to welcome a new member into our house. I am 14 weeks pregnant and very excited but would really like it to be just my husband and I home to learn how to be parents together.

I think I know where my camera might be and so I hope to have knitting pictures very soon.

craziness

2010-10-11T20:42:00.002-04:00

I knew it had been a while since I posted but I didn't realise just how long it had been.

I have every intention of getting back into a routine.

Going back to school this year has been very overwhelming. I'm not entirely sure why. We did have a big reorganization at school after the first 3 weeks and my class was changed almost entirely. I have been so busy with work (at school and bringing work home) that knitting has fallen a bit by the wayside.

Now I have to find a different way to balance my life. Particularly my work life.

I will post some knitting content soon (when I find my camera).

Presents

2010-08-15T18:10:00.005-04:00

My mother in law just came back from her trip to England and Wales to visit her mother and other family. She came back with many beautiful pictures that tempt me to move to Wales. She also brought back many gifts I don't have pictures of everything because the camera battery died.

She brought my husband West Brom Albion tie, jersey and other footie paraphernalia.
We are well stocked with Twiglets, Chocolate buttons, and Curly Wurly bars. She also brought us a Welsh Love Spoon and a necklace for me.

This is the bag that she brought for me. Unfortunately my camera seems to take blurry pictures more often than it is taking clear ones. I might have to ask for a new camera for Christmas.

This is the sideways picture of Austin Hoodie. I'm at the ribbing section after the woven section on the back of the sweater. (Again I don't understand why sometimes blogger seems to turn my pictures sideways- I assure you that the picture is the correct direction on my computer).

I made a lot of progress last night when I couldn't sleep. I was knitting until 2:30. I am really going to have to get my sleep issues under control before I get back to work in a few weeks. I go to bed in good time each night as usual when hubby does. I don't sleep too late each morning. But it seems that I have one good night of sleep followed by a horrible night of broken sleep.

I know I will sleep tonight because I am trying to not fall asleep now.

New things

2010-07-28T08:44:00.006-04:00

One of my goals this summer was to finished as many unfinished projects as I can so that I could jump into this Autumn with a clean slate ready for new fall projects. So far my plan has not worked out that way as I finished Girasole I cast on for two more projects. Abalone and Austin Hoodie.

I have not done much on Abalone which would be the much faster knit because to be honest I'm scared. I'm toying with fate on this one. I have adjusted the small size for my bust but....even if I were a small size the amount of Sweet Georgia Worsted I have for this project might not make it. All the reason in my head tells me that there is no way I can make this project with the amount of yarn that I have, so why I'm I not listening to reason? In my marriage I'm always the one rationalizing and reasoning through things so why when it comes to this yarn am I determined that it will be some kind of sweater against all my better judgement?

I have been working like crazy on Austin hoodie. Not much to see at this point except 7 inches of stockinette. Austin does have a hemmed edge which I always thinks makes for a nice looking sweater. This is a slightly smaller hem than I'm used to doing and I thought about making it longer but decided to trust in the pattern. There is also a garter stitch border on both edges.

The yarn is beautiful. It is Dye Hard Fibre Arts and it is so soft and drapes nicely. I can't wait to keep at it.

And other new things in this house are the new couch.

Our old couch was slobbered on and the frame would dig into you when you sat on it. The cushion covers wouldn't come off to wash so I was always trying to wipe it off but the dog drool never seemed to come off. The new couch is very comfy and yes I can flip cushions around and wash the covers and all that jazz. However as you can see in the picture, Oscar is not all that impressed because he has not been allowed on the new couch. He is sticking with his chair or the floor and giving us the eye. I am missing our cuddle time so I don't know how long it will last before I give in an call him up with me.

Just when you think it is never going to end

2010-07-25T14:06:00.006-04:00

It does!!! No.. not the weeds in my yard...but this

Girasole if finished. I loved almost every minute of knitting it. I got a little tired when I was knitting the border but even then the pay off was worth it. That picture makes it look even bigger than it really is but I had to push furniture out of the way in my office for it to be able to spread out on the floor.

Pattern: Girasole by Jared Flood
Yarn: Tanis Fibre Arts Green Label in Olive

This is my baby looking very sad that he couldn't come in the office because Girasole was spread on the floor and I didn't want him to step on a pin by mistake.

Weeds in my grass

2010-07-20T18:47:00.007-04:00

There are too many weeds out there in the grass for me to handle. Every time I'm outside with Oscar I pull up more weeds. Just when you think you are making some progress, this is what you see outside...

I don't know if you can see very well in the picture but all those little spots are white fluffy weed seeds from the field beside our house. It is very depressing.

The other night I couldn't sleep upstairs in my house so I went downstairs to the couch. I opened our back sliding door to let the air in and didn't realise until the morning that that screen door wasn't closed. Then yesterday when I was working in the kitchen I saw something over on my curtain rod by the back door. I went over for a closer look and this is what I saw.

I carefully took it down and put it back outside but I had never seen a praying mantis in my yard let alone in my house. And thought it was kinda neat in a creepy bug kinda way. Not long after hubby came home and the mantis was still on the deck. I showed him and he was not impressed (bugs make him a little squeamish)

Knitting has been going well. I am almost halfway done the border of Girasole so I hope to have some finished pictures of that soon.

Lets just call it a hiatus

2010-07-16T17:51:00.002-04:00

There is no reason for my lack of blogging (or lack of knitting). I thought that having my summer off would concentrate on getting caught up on a lot of unfinished things but instead of unfinished knitting projects I have been working on unfinished house stuff.

The cleaning and organizing that I have been neglecting for a while now. The weeding in the garden and of the lawn (never ending weeds in the lawn) I would like to say that now I can settle in but hubby wants me to touch up paint and pick paint for the front door and garage door.

Usually I'm the one leaving him a "to do" list.

Hopefully though some of my time can be spent on knitting!

It's been a while

2010-05-11T17:55:00.001-04:00

I knew it had been a while since I posted. I didn't realize just how long. I haven't been doing much knitting so I haven't been blogging. Life gets in the way of hobbies doesn't it.

So what have I been doing? Working, working and sleeping with a little housework thrown in.

I have been crafting a little but not knitting.

I made these for two girls that I work with.

It was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed making them. I already have plans for a large quilt for my mother in law and another baby quilt for my friend who is having a baby in June.

This weekend was the DKC Knitter's Frolic. I got a few fun things and...my mojo back. All I want to do is knit.

Here is my small haul. I was trying to be very reserved and not spend a lot. I was a very good girl.

This is my Van Der Rock sock yarn in Lead. I knew I had to work with this yarn again after finishing my Ivy League Vest with it.

These are my new Charteze from Turtle Purl. I wish I had bought some of the laceweight that she had with her as well. Go check it out.

The weather this weekend was perfect knitting weather. Windy, grey and cold. However I was not happy to see the snow in May!

This is what we saw on the way home!

Last night I cast on for Girasole with some Tanis Green Label. I think it was just what I needed.

2010-04-03T07:40:00.006-04:00

I didin't realise just how long it had been since I posted. Being back at work is one thing and I haven't felt like I have been able to stop and take a breath since. I have thought about posting but never had any pictures of anything to show so I just didn't.

Today though I have a finished (almost) project.

(again my picture was turned when I uploaded it... I still don't know why it does that sometimes and not others but... )

Pattern: Ribbon Edged Cardigan by Debbie Bliss

Yarn: Sirdar Snuggly Baby Bamboo DK

I made the largest size and it took almost exactly 5 balls. I had maybe 2-3 metres left. I love that I didn't have to start the 6th ball at all. I hate when that happens.

These are my monkey socks in Tanis Blue Label Multis. So much fun! I love these colours

This weekend I have to motor along on more baby socks for some of the girls at work. I have another shower in a week for the next two preggers about to pop at work.

Time to have a coffee and sit and knit.

Back to the grind

2010-03-23T20:09:00.004-04:00

It is always so hard after a holiday to get back in the swing of things. I have been doing a little bit of knitting on the ribbon edge cardi (sleeves don't make great pictures) and I started a pair of Monkey Socks.

But this is what I was doing during the break.

This is some Merino that I dyed ages ago and tucked away. Some of this was my most even singles yet. The second bobbin was not as even. I think I was just so into spinning again that I was tired but determined to keep going. It is plied but I didn't take a picture of that yet.

This one is some silk and wool I think (no label as it was some left overs from a class I took) There is also some green and blue in there but you can't see it here. I haven't plied this one yet.

I will post pictures when I finish but for now I'm going to get back to Ribbon Edge Cardi.

I feel like I'm back

2010-03-18T06:00:00.008-04:00

After the knitting Olympics I seemed to have lost my knitting mojo. I didn't finish in time, I wasn't sure I was happy with how the vest was turning out so I just avoided it. I didn't knit on anything else (except a baby sock that I had to finish before I get together on Tuesday) I had little desire to knit anything at all.

Tuesday I decided I had put things off long enough. I'm on holiday right now and there is no excuse for not getting some serious knitting done and all I had left of Ivy League was to pick up around the neck. So I got out my trusty knit picks interchangeable set (cuz that is the only place I have the shorter needles and started to pick up the 200+ stitches around the neck when this happened.

The cords I have for this set are almost all loose. They don't often come unscrewed but they do come out from where the cord is attached. Well today the "loose" cord pulled free from it's join leaving my newly created stitches with nothing to support them. After a few muttered profanities I decided I could put off a new set no longer (I was planning to buy one as a birthday gift to myself in June).

This was at 7:30am and didn't think it appropriate to call Connie and say "I'm coming over right now", so I put the vest down gently, resisting the urge to throw it across the room, and did some housework instead.

When I did go by Pick up Sticks (during the hours that they are actually open) I was faced with a new dilemma. Connie has two different sets of interchangeable needles. One which she has been using for a while and one she is just trying out. Well after a long period looking at pros and cons and wondering which to get I came home with.....

So far so good. I know I have read some mixed reviews but I think you are going to get that with any interchangeable set. They all have their own little snags (haha yarn... snag... hmm it is too early for this). I did finish Ivy League and it is blocking in my craft room/office.

Today I have to make myself clean in the basement. I have been working on it for two days. Packing up some stuff for charity and some stuff to just put in the garbage. Now today I have to get that stuff out so I can keep cleaning. However, after knit night last night I feel the knitting and lounging today.

Like Oscar!

What Ivy League Vest?

2010-03-10T06:14:00.000-05:00

I may not have finished the Olympic challenge but I finished my own next challenge which was to be ready to cut the steeks on Saturday. My husband was at work so the house is empty and if there was the need to use colourful language no one will question me.

I did decide to hand sew a reinforcement before I cut because this is my first time and I want to take all precautions possible and am I ever glad. As I was picking up around the arm holes the steek stitches inside did start to unravel in some places. Yikes. It was not relaxing at all so one arm hole got finished on Saturday night and then I had to put it down. I didn't pick it back up again until Monday.

Last night I finished the second arm hole and am now picking up for the neckband. I did however try it on last night and .... I don't think I like what I see. Mind you I was trying to be very gentle with it but....I think even after me changing a bit of the pattern at the bottom edge it is still a lot shorter than I had wanted it to be. I got nervous about adding too much when others online told me they actually had wished it was shorter. I guess this is where body type comes into play because this is not the case for me. I am feeling a little disappointed but ALMOST to the point where I want to knit another vest and make it longer. ALMOST!

When I didn't finish it for the Olympics I really stalled and now ... well I'm itching to cast on something new. I should really go back now to my pre-Olympic plan to finish a lot of projects.

So close yet so far...

2010-03-01T19:36:00.004-05:00

I hate to admit defeat but I didn't make it. I have to be honest about it. I'm disappointed because I have been working very hard at this project and I really was very close.

I had report cards to write too which took up a lot of time I might have spent knitting so I might have made it otherwise. Next time the Olympics come, I think that should be a consideration when they decide what time of year the term should end. I mean the Olympics were in Canada people. But no excuses...

I knew I was picking something challenging. Trying things I have never done before. In that way I am proud of myself. In 17 days I almost finished this whopper of a project. I want to keep at it this way and see how long it takes me to finish. I have not knit anything today yet though so .....

Today is my anniversary. Hubby and I have made it two years. I told him that all I wanted for our anniversary was for him to make dinner. He had the day off of work so I thought it was a simple thing to ask. He said that he didn't know what to make and I told him honestly that I didn't care as long as I didn't have to cook it.

When I got home tonight Hubby had candles lit in the living room and the dining room. He had the table set (we never eat at the table), dinner was on the table and he was waiting to pour me a glass of wine. He made a lovely pasta with shrimp and the wine was really yummy. It was all I could have asked for after the day I had at work today.

Can't Blog Must Knit

2010-02-25T10:39:00.004-05:00

And work on reports for work (those are really a priority over olympic knitting I guess).

GO CANADA GO!

Someone down the street from me had this on their front lawn today!

I'm not gonna make it... no I'm not gonna make it

2010-02-21T02:57:00.001-05:00

That is my new theme song right now.

Progress on my Olympic knitting was flying last weekend. I did nothing but knit.

My excuse was that hubby needed to finish the back splash tiles before I could do any real housework (yes I know that the kitchen is just one room of the whole house). Now this weekend I have to make up for it.

Yesterday was bridesmaid dress shopping with my friend. We picked this one and all the girls are very happy with the choice and the colour. It meant lost knitting hours though. I couldn't very well take my knitting and my chart and knit in the back seat with two other girls. "Excuse me if I elbow you in the kidney but have a deadline".

Then the bridal party was together for a party and I was in no state to be knitting anything that took any kind of focus.

I better get back to the laundry so I can get back to the knitting.

Sleep? What's that?

2010-02-18T19:40:00.002-05:00

I have to stop watching the Olympic coverage at night. Hubby and I do go to sleep with the TV on in our bedroom. But we have to stop turning the Olympics on in bed when we are trying to go to sleep. Hubby and I agree that we can't seem to stop watching it. He takes his glasses off and rolls over only to hear something interesting and put his glasses back on. I roll away from the T.V. to face the wall and find myself watching it in the mirror on my dresser.

I wanted to post progress of my Olympic knitting but I can't seem to find my camera. I must have left it at work today so that will have to wait.

Grandma is doing very well. She is out of I.C.U. and back on solid food. They are hoping to send her home soon.

Inch by Inch

2010-02-15T08:37:00.005-05:00

I knew this project would take me a awhile but... we are creeping along. I am having a lot of fun working away on this. because I'm decreasing now I have to pay attention to try to get the pattern to line up so it is a reasonable challenge for me so far.

When I was working on the ribbing I was 2nd guessing the colours. I decided to make the ribbing solid and only change the contrast colour and I'm glad I did but you can't really see the colours together until you get into the pattern.

I have been reading on Ravelry about other people working on the same pattern and someone ( I forget who) suggested starting the ribbing on the smaller size needles to keep it from curling and I am wishing that I had done that. Well wishing that I had read that note before for I finished the ribbing that took me a whole day to do. I'm not going back now! I'm hoping blocking will be a good solution and not....more drastic measures.

Grandma is still in the ICU at the hospital. She will be there at least a few more days unless she has another episode which will make it longer. We aren't out of the woods yet but she is looking good and feeling positive.

Go Canada Go!!!

2010-02-14T07:19:00.002-05:00

I am so excited about the Olympics this year. Both the Olympics in Vancouver and the Knitting Olympics. This is the first year that I have participated with the MANY others that have joined the Yarn Harlot. I am worried that I picked a project that will be too much for such a short period of time. (I am just finished the ribbing at the bottom of Ivy League this morning).

Saturday was an exhausting day for my family. My grandmother was rushed to the hospital in the wee hours of Saturday morning. The company that monitors her called my father first but my poor dad was up in North Bay for the weekend so they tried to call my mom. They called her mobile and didn't get her. My hubby and I are next on the list so at 2 am we got the call. I got in touch with my mom but didn't get much sleep after that point. I went back to bed around 3 or so and then hubby got up at 5 to go to work and I was up from then on. Called the hospital at 6:30am to find out how my grandma was and learned that she was in the I.C.U.

We were all very worried. My aunt and uncle came and my dad headed home from North Bay. In the end I saw her around 2 in the afternoon after a blood transfusion and a few scopes. She looked very small and frail but she was laughing and joking around. I hadn't seen her in the morning but I guess at that point we thought the worst. After the transfusion she turned around fast.

My grandma was the first knitter I ever knew. She wasn't the one who taught me to knit but she was knitting all the time and never for herself. The only thing she ever used to make was little outfits for premature babies and she would donate them to the hospital.

My grandma is a very strong little 90 year old woman. She gets on the bus and goes to the mall (Friday she walked around the mall for 3 hours) just to get out and about. I guess she was joking with the doctor and said "I'm not ready to go just yet".

2010-02-11T19:45:00.002-05:00

It has been a busy week around the house this week. My hubby has been helping out neighbour finish his basement. He has almost been living at that house. Well that neighbour came back to return the favour on Tuesday and the guys did the back splash in the kitchen.

(in progress)

I didn't know if we needed to do the back splash or not? What difference will it make really? Well I found out that it makes a HUGE difference. I love it.

Any other knitting Olympians out there? I was looking at the list and there are a lot!!! I'm excited to cast on the Ivy League Vest tomorrow night!

The kitchen is still in shambles because there is no grout yet and everything from the counters is living on my kitchen table but I love the tile.

Ooh baby

2010-02-05T21:38:00.003-05:00

At work there are a whole lot of pregnant people (7 if you need a head count --or would you have to count 14?) Anyway last year we had two girls and we threw a combined shower. I knit both of them a baby surprise jacket if you recall.

A little short notice but today it was decided that on Tuesday after work we would have a shower for two of the seven who are about to pop. Since I knit gifts for the last shower I feel like I should/would like to knit something for this shower to (and perhaps plan better for the ones that will be coming).

I don't know if either baby is a boy or a girl and I don't have time for anything fancy. I was thinking of a few booties, little newborn mittens and perhaps a bib? something FAST! I have a few patterns in mind so I better get to it.

No pictures today because the battery in my camera died but I have the back and one front side of the Ribbon Edged Cardi done.

RrrrrrrrIP

2010-02-02T11:40:00.003-05:00

It is a shame that I had to be secretive about this but I did it!

This was the first one of 3 projects that I ripped this weekend. But this sweater/tee has been on the needles (wasting a set of needles and a few hours of work) for I think 5 or six years. Not anymore .... here it is now.

Those of you that know me know this infamous project. It was the yarn and pattern bought for me as a graduation gift from my now hubby. He was so very proud that he did it all on his own and that he talked to the lady at the store about addi turbo needles (she was impressed that he knew what they were). I didn't really love the pattern (or the yarn) but being grateful and showing my appreciation I dutifully cast on. I got the back and two sleeves finished but......that was it. To many other things to catch my eye and too many nice yarns and beautiful patterns.

Hubby always asks me about it when I start something new. "What about a certain pink sweater?" I will finish it I promise "uh huh I'm never buying you yarn again". Well I won't tell him that I ripped it out but now I have a plan in the works to make a tank top out of it for the summer. I will be working on it in secret and surprising him with it when it is finished. Shhhhhh.

Knitting Mojo

2010-01-30T08:08:00.004-05:00

I have to say there is nothing like a few fun projects with a few good knitting friends to bring back your knitting mojo. Yesterday I spent the day at Pick Up Sticks. A 2 hour class turned into a 5 or 6 hour knit and chat time. It was so nice!

I have all these plans in my head now of things I want to do. Projects I want to finish. Projects I want to rip off the needles (ahem a certain pink tee that was a gift from hubby--and will become something else!)

I have added progress bars to the sidebar. I used to have them but when I changed the blog layout they were of course lost in the abyss. They do not reflect my REAL number of unfinished projects but I think it will keep me honest about the bin stashed in the closet. I will finish one of those projects and then add a new one from the bin until I at least feel most of the way caught up.

As far as finished projects go here is my dipped infinity hat and scarf! Ignore me in the picture. My hubby was laughing that I took a picture of myself and says I look very uncomfortable and I told him he wasn't here to help me.

The hat is a little short but I knit until I could knit no more (as in no more yarn)

I do have a little bit left over that Connie found kickin' around a the store and once I untangle it I want to add about an inch to the bottom edge so it covers my ears better.

Last night I went to the movies with hubby. We had a pass given to us for Christmas that included popcorn and everything. I was excited to go out of the house to watch a movie. There aren't too many movies that I think "I have to see that in the theatre" I am usually quite content to wait and rent it and curl up on my couch. Last night I was reminded of why I like to stay home.

1. No teenage kids that are determined to prove to everyone how cool they are and how little they care about what people think of them so they talk and swear and giggle and shout across to people they recognize across the theatre. Then at the end of the movie walk out talking about how people sitting in front of them were so loud it was really annoying knowing full well they were sitting in front of me and they were the annoying ones.

2. No lady a few seats down from me who's cell phone is ringing and who actually ANSWERS IT! I understand that sometimes people forget to turn the ringer off or something but if my phone ever rang in a movie theatre I would be embarrassed and turn it off a.s.a.p. Not this one though. She answers her phone. "Hello? I'm in the movie theatre" SO GET OFF YOUR PHONE!

3. My couch. My PJs. My knitting. I think those seats are more uncomfortable than ever.

4. Popcorn and drinks that were too expensive at $12 are now $21 (plus 72 cents for butter). This one I just don't understand. Fountain pop and Popcorn! How does it cost that much?

I think all of those might actually be summed up with number 5.

5. You only watch the movie with people you WANT to be with and not the people that drive you crazy.

So now that this short story has gotten a little longer than planned I will bring it back to my point. I think I have decided that going out to the movies is not a relaxing way to spend my evening and I will wait until I can rent it.

Bad moods are contagious

2010-01-26T16:17:00.002-05:00

This morning when I left for work I was a little later than I like to be. Don't read that to mean that I was late because I had lots of time to get to work but I like to be there early.

Anyway I came to one of the busy streets I take. It was 2 lanes and another lane merging on. I was coming straight through a light in the left lane and a person coming on the merging lane decided the person in the right lane was going to slow. So she pulled directly across into the lane that I was in. Cutting over the 2 lanes and just missing the front end of my truck. I gave her the horn and wished I could have given her a piece of my mind. We got to the light up the road a little and I could see that she had a bumper sticker on the back of her car so I moved close enough to read it. This is what it said...

"Happy people are hiding something"

So is she trying to infect me with her bad attitude by being rude?

P.S. sorry if I am passing on the negativity but I wanted to let it out!

You know you love a pattern when...

2010-01-25T20:22:00.006-05:00

I know for sure that I must really like the pattern for Dipped Infinity because I spent a good portion of the Vikings game (yuck) knitting the hat to match the scarf. And after lunch today it looked like this.

But without hesitation or procrastination....Here we go again.

I was running out of yarn a little too quickly (I knew it was a little close) so I decided to use more of the darker colours and I had to pull back almost 4 inches.

But the scarf is blocking upstairs waiting for me to wear it.

It must be love I tell ya!

Weakness continues

2010-01-24T08:37:00.005-05:00

I have been neglecting my husband and neglecting my house work because I can't seem to stop myself. I'm am hooked on Dipped Infinity.

I love everything about this pattern. I am hoping I have enough yarn to make a hat a to match it but I'm not getting my hopes up.

I also have some Tanis Yellow Label upstairs (ok a lot) in purples and I might try to do this. I think it is so gorgeous (hubby disagrees but what does he know) we shall how things go because my WIP list is in the 20s now.

1 out of 2 ain't bad

2010-01-22T06:06:00.003-05:00

Ok just call me weak! I was so good all weekend about not casting on Dipped Infinity (you can already guess where this is going) The weekend was when I was alone without a husband to say "what are you knitting now?"..."what about the baby sweater?" I could have hidden my shame and only knit on dipped infinity when he was not around/at work etc. but no!

I resisted all weekend, I resisted last night while I was at Pick up Sticks for knit night (at this point I knew I was bored of my little cardi) but last night after having a few long days at work, a hot bath and a glass of wine I thought what better way to relax before bed than to have that satisfying feeling of something new.

Ah... that's better!

Now the only problem is that I'm preoccupied with it. Such a simple and interesting pattern. Last night before bed I had only cast on and knit the first row. So I took it to bed and thought I will only knit one more round....one round of over 200 stitches .

I'm being good....(so far)

2010-01-18T20:24:00.007-05:00

I am resisting temptation so far. But I'm always looking....thinking about just testing my gauge....thinking etc. But I have finished my plain black hat.

Not a great picture (of me, of the hat, lighting) but you get the idea.

I am hoping that it isn't too big for the person who will have this hat. It fits me but it looks big when it it not on because it is slouchy fabric. I'm worried that I will be knitting this again. We shall see.

So one down and one left before I can cast on Dipped Infinity....Sigh.

(And here is Oscar watching T.V. with me yesterday. One of his favourite shows - The Dog Whisperer)

When the Cat's away....

2010-01-15T19:40:00.005-05:00

I am relaxing on the couch with Oscar tonight. I have my knitting here beside me. I have "chick flicks" ready to watch. Hubby has gone to his mom's for the weekend and I have to say I am loving the thought of just having some time to myself.

I know I have to do some house work tomorrow but I plan on doing a LOT of knitting. I hope things go as planned.

Part of this plan is to finish a hat and the Ribbon Edged Cardigan. I thought that casting on for the Dipped Infinity Scarf could be a reward for finishing those two projects and would push me to work fast but.....

Is it motivation or temptation? hmmmm

Sick Days

2010-01-10T10:27:00.000-05:00

Thursday I had a migraine and ended up staying home. I worry a lot of the day when I am away from work. Strange maybe but I find it easier to be at work than to take a day off. Anyway I spent Thursday sleeping and looking online at all things knitting.

This was not good for my plan to finish as many UFOs as I can stand before starting sometime new for myself. I saw so many things that I thought I need to have/make.

I was reminded however that is important that I start to finish what I start because I had a lot of trouble sleeping that night. I moved downstairs to the couch. I curled up with the throw we have on the back of the couch I realized I need to finish one of the blankets that I have on the go at the moment. If I pulled the throw up to my neck my toes stuck out the bottom. If I covered my feet my neck felt cold. I ended up sleeping the whole night on the couch and I was curled in a ball on my side. It is funny how you can feel so comfy as you fall asleep but wake up so uncomfortable. The side of the couch was putting pressure on my knee and I was so stiff in the morning.

On the other hand I have remembered how much I love Sirdar Baby Bamboo.

I'm working on a late baby gift for my brother in law's baby who is now 7 months. Yikes how did she get to bes 7 months already. So I am knitting the 12-24 months of the Debbie Bliss Ribbon-Edged Cardigan. Such a cute little sweater and a simple but sweet stitch pattern.

The first picture is closer to the actual colour of the yarn.

What a way to start the week

2010-01-05T06:23:00.004-05:00

I'm back to work after my 2 week holiday. Yesterday I made my way to work (a little later than I usually do--can you tell I was hesitant?) and the roads were snowy and slippery. There was more traffic than there usually is (a product of the snow and leaving later). I got to work and always seem to have a lot of things that I am taking with me (purse, lunch bag, work bag, and often a small knitting bag). So as I make my way into work carrying all of my things (including today a pair of mittens and shoes that wouldn't fit into any of my bags) I stopped to pick up some things in the mail room. There was more than usual but I thought I could handle it in one trip instead of coming back. By now I'm sure you can see where this is going but... I dropped some of my stuff which included a pile of paper that went everywhere. So I re-thought things, put everything back my mailbox to come back for. I went back, picked up my pile of things got almost all the way back to my room and dropped some of the paper again! Not a great Monday. Particularly the first Monday of the new year, the first Monday with a new boss, and a few other little surprises that seemed to throw me off my game more than they usually would, but I muddled through my day.

Now today started with me making breakfast (a new years resolution to eat breakfast everyday). I'm heating some water and waiting for it to get hot enough to poach my egg. I went to the fridge....no eggs. Is this a sign of how my day today is going to go? Because I have a presentation to do today at my staff meeting, another first in front of my new boss.

So I'm off to work now and hope that today goes smoothly.

Happy New Year

2010-01-01T08:19:00.008-05:00

What a beautiful sight to wake up to this New Years Day morning.

I am not one to make a lot of new years resolutions but I have a few in my head of course. I sat down to catch up on reading some of the blogs and can't help but notice I'm not the only one who has not been posting with the same frequency.

I finally finished the baby sweater for my neighbor who's baby is now 3 months old. I ripped and re knit this sweater 3 times and only due to stupidity. We are a Toronto Maple Leafs family at this house but next door is a different story. The little one's Daddy is a Bruins fan (yea I know) so I made them this little number

This is hubby helping out. He made the buttons for this project. He claims that he is not into arts and crafts but this is not the first project he has been in on. In fact he takes an interest in quite a few things that I do. Particularly if there is math involved or a problem to be solved.

Happy New year knitting everyone!

Mommy, can I go again

2009-11-29T07:28:00.007-05:00

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.

2009-11-16T05:41:00.005-05:00

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?

2009-11-05T19:52:00.002-05:00

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

2009-10-31T10:24:00.000-04:00

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

2009-08-15T07:00:00.005-04:00

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

2009-08-03T08:12:00.008-04:00

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

2009-07-21T18:29:00.003-04:00

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

2009-07-09T10:08:00.009-04:00

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

2009-06-28T07:23:00.004-04:00

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!

2009-06-17T20:37:00.005-04:00

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

2009-06-11T19:36:00.004-04:00

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

2009-05-24T20:50:00.007-04:00

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

2009-05-16T13:24:00.004-04:00

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

2009-05-15T21:00:00.004-04:00

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!

2009-05-09T10:12:00.004-04:00

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

2009-05-06T19:28:00.007-04:00

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!

2009-04-28T08:03:00.009-04:00

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!

Diana Socks

2009-04-16T11:52:00.006-04:00

Size: Women's Size 8-9

Materials:
Apple Laine, Apple Pie (65% Superwash Merino, 20% Kid Mohair, 10% Nylon, 5% Silk)

2.5mm dpns

stitch marker for beginning of round

It may be a little hard to see in the pictures (and I can't for the life of me figure out why blogger sometimes turns my pictures without my say so) but it is a spiral that works around the sock.

$4.00 USD

A whole lot of changes going on

2009-03-31T10:04:00.001-04:00

I am going to be playing with the template of my blog the next few days so if you stumble on it and it looks to be in some disarray please just come back later!

Some People's Friends

2009-03-28T23:48:00.000-04:00

I have really been enjoying my knitting again. It is all I think about right now and all I do. I have taken a nice big chunk out of a not-so-baby-baby sweater (it is probably more 1-2 yr size)

My husband has a friend who is expecting a baby boy. He is kinda a tough guy and he is into bikes and stuff so I thought he might want a tough baby sweater for the new arrival. Soooo........

This is what I have been working on.

It has been so much fun to work on something like this. I don't do much colour work so it has been fun so far.

It helps that I kinda have a thing for skulls myself! I am using the chart from Domiknitrix. I have made a few little changes to help it fit the back of the sweater but it is such a great chart as is.

So the back of the sweater is the skull and the front needed a little something as well. Time to revert back to childhood crafts and hunt down the Fimo. I never really did Fimo before but I remember my friends making jewelry and things all the time. This was my turn. I made some buttons for the front.

The ones on the right are the ones I think I'm going to use and the ones on the left are my first attempts.

Also my hubby (who is blind without his glasses) has taken to calling me four-eyes because of my new reading glasses. Even though it is a very mild prescription I do notice a big difference when I'm reading in bed at night and working on the computer. These are my new specks.

My hope is that they will help with my headaches. Not the migraines I know (cuz I had one on Thursday) but the little ones I wake up with but go away in a few hours.

I'm am almost done the body of the sweater so sleeve and a hood are still to come. Check back to see more progress!

Rest, Relaxation, and Knitting

2009-03-16T09:38:00.005-04:00

It is March Break time again. This time last year I was in Jamaica on my honeymoon enjoying some rest and relaxation. This year that doesn't fit into our budget but I am home enjoying some rest and relaxation. I am also planning on getting a lot of organization done this week (particularly in my office) but I do plan on enjoying my week off and working on a few knitting projects.

One of those projects is great for the relax part of my week because it is close to mindless and it is big enough now that I can curl up under it on the couch. Some people may have seen this project before but it was in the closet for a long time. Oscar is happy I brought it back. He thinks that if I'm working on this project it is time to cuddle up on the couch.

Aaron likes this blanket too and sticks his feet under it on the couch while I'm working. He can't wait for me to finish it. I was surprised that he likes it so much because he talks about being allergic to wool. This blanket is Silk Garden and I love Noro but some people find it a little scratchy so for people allergic to wool it can be like hell in fabric but he seems to not have an issue with it. (he also doesn't have an issue with the hat I made him out of Mission Falls but I didn't tell him that it was wool because I figured it was soft enough--He wears it all the time with no itchy or bumpy reactions).

I'm off to work in the office so I can relax later with some more knitting. There will be some serious sock knitting this afternoon!

Making up for non-knitting time

2009-03-07T08:07:00.002-05:00

I have been knitting like mad since I finished the green autumn mitten. (Not that I have knit the second mitten or anything). I have been thinking about knitting and catching up on podcasts when I can't actually be knitting.

I had some pictures of knitting, my new baby snails (and of course Oscar) but through the wonders of technology they have all disappeared. At work I had some pictures of my students that we were putting in a slide show for our grand opening. Between taking my card out of the camera to put in a co-workers card reader they all disappeared. There was no rhyme or reason just one of those crazy technology things. We love and we hate am I right.

So no pictures but I will take some new ones this weekend and post again soon.

Time flies when you don't kill him

2009-03-02T16:48:00.000-05:00

I couldn't believe it but yesterday was my 1st wedding anniversary. People still ask me how I like "married life". I don't know how to answer really. I'm happy and .... we haven't killed each other yet. I told him I might let him live another year.

We have been trying to save money. Buying our house and getting married last year was a little much. We know that most people go through the same thing but when it is your turn it feels overwhelming so we planned on only renting a movie to watch for our anniversary. His mother made us a reservation for the restaurant where we had the rehearsal dinner and mailed us a gift card.

I don't know why this picture is sideways because it isn't sideways on my computer and no other pictures are either but....this was our desert.

I also pulled the top layer of our wedding cake out of the freezer. I have heard that you are supposed to save it for the first anniversary or for your first child's christening...however children are not in the plan as yet, some of the icing got a little squished and...it is too yummy to leave in the freezer for much longer (it is a wonder it made it this long).

While enjoying some relaxation time the last few days I finished one of the Green Autumn mittens. I am enjoying this pattern and look forward to casting on my 2nd.

I can even see myself knitting more of these. Perhaps during March break when I spend the whole week on the couch or at Pick up Sticks doing some knitting and other knitting related activities. I did a count last week of my UFOs and I am up to and CRAZY 21. So I hope to knock off a few.

Winter's End Socks

2009-02-25T22:52:00.005-05:00

Size: Women's Size 8-9

Materials:

Tanis Fiber Arts (80% superwash merino wool, 20% nylon; 365m/100g)

2.25mm dpns (optional 2nd set)

Stitch marker for beginning of round

Cable Needle

Gauge: 8 st = 1" in st st

$5.00 USD

Playing catchup ---again

2009-02-22T20:28:00.004-05:00

Well I have had no routine for a while now. I haven't been doing a lot of the things that I would normally do. I don't really have a reason I just haven't felt like it to be honest.

I haven't been knitting, I have only been doing the minimum at the gym, I have been working crazy hours at work (to stay in town to go to the gym only to half a$$ it when I get there). Yes I guess you can say that I'm getting lazy.

So not much knitting to show but I have finished the next pattern for the Pick Up Sticks sock club and am feeling newly motivated.

Perhaps I should make a nice hot coffee and get some more done. I could use this

My new Cappuccino machine. It was a present from my hubby. He ordered for me with the points that he gets at work around Thanksgiving. Then it seemed like it was taking forever to get here. But he swore up and down that he had no idea where it was and why it wasn't here yet. I was partly convinced that he had it hidden away for Christmas.

Well Christmas came and went and no cappuccino machine so I had to take his word for it. It came in January. I have been enjoying it very much as well as the cute mugs that my sister in law gave me for Christmas (they are perfect in our kitchen and our dishes)

Next time I post I hope it will not be so long in between and that there will be a little more knitting content. I missed reading blogs as well as writing my own. I feel like I haven't even been online much. I'm going to go and put some laundry away now and catch up on listening to a few podcasts.

In my own world

2009-01-14T17:43:00.011-05:00

I don't know what has been up with me but I have really sorta turned myself off after the holidays. I have been knitting but I obviously haven't been blogging but I also have not been reading blogs. I have hardly been online at all actually. I was feeling the itch this week I think because I was starting to feel like I was really out of the loop being lost in my own little world.

I'm going to step back into December and show a little bit of my Christmas knitting. Yes the knitting I said I wasn't going to do.

I gave in and made a bunch of those cute little snowmen from Knit Picks. To the point that my hubby said "How many of those are you making?"

This project made me a little crazy as the Christmas Eve hours were passing by (I finished after 1 am on Christmas day). These are slipper socks that I made from some natural wool that I bought at a farmers market once. This market was in the town where my grandparents lived so there was a lot of memories associated with the town, the house there and the weekend trips to the farmers market. Because of the memories I wanted the yarn to be used for something deserving. So the idea of the slippers hit me. I made a pair for both of my cousins, and I plan to do a pair for myself, so that the 3 girls will have them.

My wonderful (and secretly crafty) hubby helped me to make the slipper soles. He took me to the hardware store where we found some roof flashing (? - I think that is what he said it was, it's rubbery anyway), he traced my feet (my cousins and I all inherited those size 10s), he cut them out for me and punched holes for I could sew them on easily. Amazing I know.

He was also a big help around the house while I was trying to scramble and finish those boots. I had one other project that I wanted to do and he helped with that too. I was making little doggy foot wipes out of face cloths. I cut them out and he sewed them together. I told you he has a crafty side. He told me he used to sew hair scrunchies too.

Of course by baby Oscar loved the holiday vacation as well.

After such a long winters nap from the computer I have so much I want to look at. Surfs up!

The holiday spirit

2008-12-11T14:17:00.000-05:00

I am in a bit of an interesting situation at the moment. I have had a few requests for knitted items from people who have lost a knitter this year. It is flattering and a little sad. However it gives me that warm fuzzy hand knits feeling.

It started when a man who works with my dad asked if I could knit him some socks. He knew a woman who used to make him hand knit socks but can no longer knit due to arthritis.

Then a woman I used to work with last year approached me and asked if I could finish a sweater vest. It was started for a friend of hers by her sister. Then the sister passed away before finishing the project. The woman could not finish the sweater herself and would love to have something made by her sister. I said I would finish it. Most of it is already done. Even some of the seaming.

I started thinking about prayer shawls and about Christmas knitting. When we knit things as a gift we think about the person we are making the item for. When we knit for charity we think about our work going to a good cause. Many would say that we knit a little bit of ourselves into our work. I like to think that when my friends and family put on socks that I have made them or mittens and scarves that they think of me and are kept warm by my good wishes as well as the fabric. I want to believe that the vest will let this stranger keep a little bit of her sister close to her.

Now everyone go and have a cup of tea or hot chocolate and knit some gifts.

Sparkling Diamonds Socks

2008-11-30T22:41:00.007-05:00

Size: Women's Size 8-9

Materials:

Handmaiden Casbah Sock (81% merino, 9% cashmere, 10% nylon; 325m/115g)

2.25 mm dpns

Stitch marker for beginning of the round

Gauge: 8 sts = 1" in st st

$5.00 USD

No excuses just reasons

2008-11-23T08:46:00.012-05:00

I have to admit that I'm a procrastinator. I think I was saying last post that I don't react well to stress. Well that stress also leads me to turn on the afterburners.

Last week I worked like a MAD woman on my report cards. I didn't clean anything, I didn't eat (very well), and I hardly talked to my husband or slept. I had to put aside the sock for Connie and any other knitting I was wanting to work on instead. (considering I have decided part way through November that I don't want to just NOT knit for Christmas) I won't be able to do much because I don't have time with Student led conferences and my performance appraisal coming up but every other spare second will be spent knitting I'm sure.

Not like last week when my hubby and I enjoyed our first big snowfall.

Oscar loves the snow too.

But then when we all get cold it is time to settle down watch a movie and cuddle and knit.

Oscar doesn't always know that his cuddling gets in the way of my knitting.

But I can't resist him.

If anyone is part of the Pick up Sticks sock club that is what I was (trying) to work on in this picture. I hope Connie doesn't mind me leaking a preview. Hee heee.

Remembering the old and introducing the new.

2008-11-12T22:20:00.007-05:00

Something about life when things feel like they go crazy. For me, instead of dealing with the things that stress me one thing at a time. I don't deal with anything. I sorta shut down. Not the best coping mechanism I know... but that seems to be the way things go.

Anyway....My grandma is out of the hospital and things are a little up and down. I hesitate to say she is doing better because I always feel like this is just until the next time. She still has a lot of trouble breathing now and she is not very mobile. But she is living in the retirement home still in her own apartment and not in a nursing home.

I was there to see her the other day and get some things for my class for Remembrance Day. She lent me a few pictures of my grandpa in his uniform and some buttons from his jacket. I found it really helped my kids to be respectful during our assembly (which went longer than planned- and they sat through the whole thing!) They seemed to really get it they had lots of questions and stories of their own.

For me it really made me miss my grandpa and granddad. They both survived the war and were always there when we were growing up. They both passed away about 5 years ago. I really wished I could call them. Especially my grandpa.. I miss them.

As far as knitting goes I'm work on the sock for Connie and a sweater for my neighbors new baby girl. It is the baby kaftan from Debbie Bliss -Special Knits.

I can't wait to see it all finished. Right now it is a lot of oatmeal coloured st st.

Another thing for my class..... Well they are in that cage that Oscar is finding so interesting.

Gerbils!!

My husband was not thrilled when I brought them home but they are so cute. The students in my class named them.

Twisted Licorice Sock

2008-10-30T22:26:00.005-04:00

Size: Women's 8-9

Materials:

Handmaiden Silk Twist (65% wool, 35% silk; 300m/115g)

2.5 mm dpns

Cable needle

Stitch marker for beginning of round if desired.

Gauge: 8 st = 1" in st st

$5.00 USD

Progress but not

2008-10-18T20:28:00.005-04:00

Well because I haven't been posting does not mean that I have not been knitting. I have been working so hard on the sock for Pick up Sticks sock club but I don't usually post progress pictures of those projects. But don't take that as a lack of knitting. Here is one with my Oscar Bear.

He is such a spoiled doggy! Today I felt like baking and I was given a recipe a while ago for doggy biscuits so I made him some. My hubby felt second to the dog because I made the people cookies after.

We were at my parents house for a while today. Both of my Grandmothers have had some health problems the last few days. My Dad's mom has had a few dizzy spells the last year or so and this Thursday she ended up at the hospital where they told us that she has had a minor stroke. They also think these dizzy spells have been other little strokes and could be leading up to something. So they have started her on some medication and we keep our fingers crossed that they do the trick. My mom's mom is in the hospital now and had a blood transfusion yesterday. Her hemoglobin is down and they think she may have some internal bleeding. They don't really know what is going on but she is very disoriented and short of breath.

Hubby is next door watching hockey and I'm not sure what I should knit. I need something easy and comforting. So many choices, so many unfinished projects, so little time until Christmas.....hmmmm.

Am I getting anywhere?

2008-10-08T18:13:00.003-04:00

Well what do you think?

I have been doing a lot of knitting but it isn't all that exciting to look at some extra length on a couple of sleeves. I keep thinking I should be done sleeves by now so I have to remind myself that by doing them both at the same time, when I do finish them I will be DONE both!

Don't get me wrong I LOVE Thermal! However I 'm getting a little tired. I have been putting it off for a while. I love the look of the pattern and I love the way it fits so far. I think this could be my favourite handmade sweater when it is finished.

Other than the sleeves of Thermal I have been working on some socks but I think it is a little hard on my wrists. I'm having some pain in my left wrist and I think it is because I am knitting a lot more lately than I have in a while and it is all at a fairly small gauge.

I also have an urge to knit new mittens! It is getting chilly out there on yard duty.

Work and Play

2008-09-27T19:43:00.006-04:00

I have been playing around with the blog layout and have lost some of the sidebar (ie: the links and stuff as well as my unfinished work.) So I have a lot of work still to go but I have been at it for a while and need to quit.

I still have some research to do tonight because I have my Commando Krav Maga testing tomorrow and I apparently have to answer questions about the history.

Friday was a P.A. day and I am lucky that my principal doesn`t mind me knitting during out meetings. Friday morning because I left for work later than usual my hubby came home and brought me this.

A much needed morning coff and a smile cookie. What a thoughtful hubby. Everyone all together now.....ahhhhhhh.

I have been knitting away on the February Lady Sweater and have finished one sleeve. I put it aside because I left a dpn at school and think that trying to fit all the sleeve stitches onto one less dpn is a stretch because they were falling off last time as it is.

Instead I have been working on the sleeves for Thermal. It has only been I think two years now that I have been working on this one.

What else do I have the energy to say now. My computer does not want to make question marks right now, blogger still wants to randomly turn my pictures sideways (no matter if I remove them and add them again.)

Some changes

2008-09-24T19:52:00.009-04:00

Well I was getting on a roll blogging until I went back to work. A new job at a new school it has been a lot of fun. Then this weekend I died my hair and got a new haircut. Which I am also really happy with. So a lot of big changes that way.

So to go with all of these changes I needed to dig out some of those old projects. After I finished the blanket for Mindy I picked up the February Lady Sweater. I was making a lot of progress until Friday last week when I left it at school.

I am further than the pictures show (and on my screen it is loading my pictures sideways and I'm not sure why--on my computer they do face the right way until I upload them). I am almost finished the first sleeve. I had planned to finish the second sleeve this weekend.

So with that one locked in my classroom I went back into the depths of the knitting closet and dug out Thermal. I don't have any pictures of the progress but I'm working away on the sleeves of that sweater as well.

So I am burying myself in a pile of sleeves and thinking of how many half pairs of socks await when I finish them.

Has anyone thought about Christmas knitting? I don't think anyone is getting knitted gifts this year.... I don't seem to be finding the time.

Flying South Socks

2008-09-03T22:17:00.007-04:00

Size: Women's Size 9

Materials:

Fleece Artist Merino (100% machine washable wool, 300m/115g)

2.25mm dpns

Stitch marker for the beginning of the round if desired

Gauge: 8 sts = 1" in st st

$5.00 USD

Geometric Baby Blanket

2008-08-30T20:07:00.010-04:00

Size: 42" x 42"

Materials:

Dream in Color Classy 6 skeins
A – Some Summer Sky D – Blue Lagoon
B – Cool Fire E – Butter Peeps
C- Visual Purple F – Giant Peach

US 8 (4.5mm) circular needle or size to obtain gauge. (note: you could work the inner squares on straight needles if you prefer)

Optional:

5 m of piping (already covered or plain to be covered by lining fabric)

1-2 yards of fabric depending on your final measurements(you will need more if you are going to cover the piping)

Yardstick

Pencil to mark on fabric

Needle and Thread (in a colour to match the lining), a sewing machine will help if you have that available.

Pins

Iron

Gauge: 17 st and 20 rows= 4” in st st.

$3.50 USD

Nothing a few late nights won't take care of

2008-08-24T23:19:00.009-04:00

I was starting to worry that I may not finish the baby blanket for my friend Mindy. I was working on it non-stop and my wrists were hurting. Wednesday I was up until 2am, Thursday 1am and Friday 3:30am because I was leaving for her house Saturday morning.

I decided that I wanted to sew a lining on the back to give it a cleaner finish. Fabricland closed at 9pm it takes us 20 mins or so to get there from our house so at 7:30 as I was still knitting I told hubby that I needed him to take me to Fabricland while I knit in the car. So we found some cute froggy fabric and I pulled my grandma's old sewing machine out of the closet.

I have never used my grandma's sewing machine before it has been in the closet since she gave it to me. I was lucky to find the instruction booklet.

This was a case of extreme crafting. As I was sewing if I took my foot off the peddle I would hear the odd crackling noise and sometimes I thought I smelled something hot so I sat with the fire extinguisher beside me because I had to keep going.

I finished it in the morning and packed it up ready to go to Kingston.

This one shows the lining.

My friend Mindy was my roommate in University and we were both bridesmaids in each other's weddings. So when they were having a get together to celebrate bringing their new baby home. I wouldn't think of missing it.

I thought the blanket would be too hot for her until the fall but she seemed to find it comfy. Please ignore my hair in this pic. I tie it up as high as I can when I'm hot and I didn't even think of it until I saw the picture after and forgot that was what I looked like.

I also enjoyed the party and I spent some of it knitting and some of it tempting a 2 1/2 year old into a love of fibre. It was so cute the way she was trying to help me by taking hold of the yarn and trying to throw it.

Does anyone else watch weight loss shows and eat ice cream?

2008-08-21T09:38:00.004-04:00

Just me? I love watching weight loss shows on TV and usually I find them very motivating to continue to work hard at the gym as well as to try to make better food choices. However....I really like food! And last night watching one woman tell her story about her battle with food...I was stuffing my face with Heavenly Hash.

I have also been watching a lot of TV as I madly work on finishing the baby blanket for my friend as well as a sock for Connie. I am going to visit my friend in Kingston this weekend and the blanket right now looks like this.

My wonderful Hubby helped me to design it and when he got home this morning (he is on a new Midnight shift and goes to work when I go to bed and gets home as I am waking up) he was very excited to see the middle section done. I really appreciate that he takes and interest in what I do and really understands just how much work it is and how much time it takes. So when he said "Now you have the longest part left", I knew he was probably right but wished he had kept his mouth shut.

It will be like this when it is all finished. But the blanket has gotten a lot bigger and that border is big too.

I had stayed up until 2am working on it as it was. I only put it down after I dozed off with my tapestry needle in my hand and scissors beside my head. I thought that was an accident waiting to happen.

Aaron and I were talking about this design and how it does have a bit of both of use in it. I wanted to do log cabin because I thought it was pretty classic. I chose more colours that I would have for myself because my friend Min loves bright colours. Aaron's idea is not entirely log cabin and his mathematical side and love of geometric and more modern things was in the centre squares. It really has been a labour of love, it was neat to design with Aaron (he did all the math to figure out how big each section be when I told him how big I wanted the squares), and also because I am so happy for my friend who has been waiting a long time to invite a child into their family.

A cute baby sweater, a cute baby, and Ladies night out!

2008-07-25T09:30:00.012-04:00

Well this holiday I have so far been very busy and very lazy all at the same time. This post may be a little long but it will be mostly pictures I'm sure.

I am working on a new baby sweater for Pick up Sticks. It is MinKim a Perl Grey pattern and although the sweater is all stockinette the construction is interesting.

I am ready to start the construction of the body (the interesting wrap around deal) and am very excited but I have to wait until I have finished posting! Here is the body...

As soon as this sweater is done I have to get rockin' on some other cute baby items (probably another tulip sweater) My friend (and bridesmaid) Mindy has just had a new arrival to their home. After much stress and much effort and many tears, Min and her husband Drew, welcome new baby Emma to their home. I am so happy for them both I don't even know what to say.

Finally, last on my list was Ladies night and that is my sister in law's bachelorette party. I was in charge of planning it and we did have a great time if I do say so myself. The good time has nothing to do with my planning because my plans went out the window but we flew by the seat of our pants and had a blast.

Here are the little (adult) goodie bags and a gift for Meghann that I put together (in anticipation of my plans)

However the people I thought were coming were unable to make it so it was just a few girls having a night out.

Meghann and I went horseback riding and that was a first for me. I enjoyed it but did I ever hurt later. During the evening we had a nice dinner and then went back to Meghann's and had a few drinks (mint chocolate martinis). We went and watched Mama Mia (which I'm going to take my mom to next because it was so fun) and then went to play some pool.

Not a loud party but still a lot of fun. Perhaps more fun.

Ah...the summer

2008-07-11T10:36:00.005-04:00

I feel like although the summer is here and I'm supposed to have lots of time to relax, that has not been the case. I am in the middle of taking an additional qualifications course through Nipissing and trying to get the house organized and starting to think about next school year and continue to get to the gym.

I have never been one of those athletic people who loves to work out. I joined Reality Combat Fitness with my husband because we were both interest in learning some martial arts. His schedule didn't make it easy for him to get there but I have still been going. Sometimes it is hard to get myself to go but I feel SO good after I get there. I have lost a bit of weight but more than that I feel stronger. (mind you after working out last night I am feeling kinda weak today)

I have been knitting a little. I take a basic rib sock with me to my course everyday and work on it while we are listening/reading. I have a little more finished on the February Lady Sweater too.

And of course how can I post without my baby in it. So here is Oscar with his sheep that I just finished sewing back up for him.

I can't seem to help myself

2008-06-29T18:44:00.005-04:00

I keep telling myself that I have too many unfinished projects waiting for me and that there is no way I should start something new. I guess I am just so very weak.

I have started the February Lady Sweater and it is all I can think about right now. I am using Super 10 cotton and so far so good. Even though this is all I have so far.

I have one week left to finish the tulip sweater for my mom's friend. Not the same friend as the last one. I think this is sweater number 4. This one I have been doing only with left overs so the colours are very different. It is a good thing this sweater is for a little girl cuz the colours suggest little girl.

I start my ESL course one Wednesday. It has been a while since I have been in school (not teaching it that is). It is sure going to keep me busy cuz we are fitting a whole course into 2.5 weeks. All day everyday! I wonder if they will notice me knitting in the back?

Time Flies when you are too busy to blink

2008-06-19T20:04:00.006-04:00

I knew it had been a while since I posted but I really didn't think it had been THIS long. Wow. There was a while when I didn't have time to knit and then there was a while when I couldn't find my camera. Lucky I found it just in time for the WWKIP day.

I was sad that I couldn't stay for more of the party at Pick up Sticks but my aid conditioner was being installed and my family was over at my house. We had planned it for the week before but plans fell through and no one else in my family seems to understand the importance of Knit in Public day. (I think they believe I am making the whole thing up.

This is a group of the gang knitting on the porch outside the store.

Things have been busy with the wrap up of the school year ( I can't believe that there is only a few school days left).

Besides that I'm still trying to get used to having to take care of a house of my own and stop in wonder at how much work it is. Even more work when you are living with your husband who is also getting used to all this living together business and his 19 year old brother. If I had to have a 19 year old boy living in my house it would be him because I know he is trustworthy but he is 19 and leaves his stuff all over the place. Neither of then can wash a dish to save their life.

I also have dug my garden in the weeks that I wasn't posting.

Another first for me. Anyway now that I'm going to have some more time to myself I will have more time for knitting and posting.

Oh and Oscar turned one at the end of may. Here he is in the back seat of my car.

My Birthday came early

2008-05-12T20:23:00.012-04:00

*Anyone in my wedding party should not read this post*

This weekend was very busy but it was fun too. Saturday was the yarn crawl that started at Pick up Sticks. Oscar and I went to say hello to Connie but we were not going shopping so we just visited. It was really nice to see Meghan too.

Then we went to Doggy School for the afternoon and worked and played hard. Followed by dinner at my parents house for Mother's Day with my Mom and my Grandma. My mom gave me this cute little sheep figure.

Sunday we were up early to go to Aaron's mom's house so he could go golfing and still spend time with his mom. His sister and her family were over too so Oscar got to play with Miss Magoo.

It was really cute and he put up with a lot from her. She was asleep when she came over and he would go and lick her and then walk away...five minutes later he would go back and check her again and kept that up until she was awake. Then he followed her around and let her pull his ears and crawl on her and put her hands in his mouth.

It was so sweet to watch.

Then Meghann my new sister in law (Magoo's mom) gave me my birthday present early.

They are boxer stitch markers from WeeOnes. Meghann sent a picture of my Oscar Bear and had Oscar Stitch markers made. HOW SWEET IS THAT? Each one is in a different position and they have his markings. It is just amazing. I'm definitely going to check out what else is over there and you should too.

And today I am back on the job hunt and house cleaning and laundry and work and on top of it all I made these little photo albums for my wedding party as a thank you gift. Hence this little note up top.

I also realised that something very important that I wanted to have done tonight for school tomorrow I left at work so I will have to get up early tomorrow to go to school super early so I can do it in the morning. CRAP!

Spring rain and Tulips

2008-05-03T08:03:00.004-04:00

What a better way to spend a rainy day (couple of days) then by knitting a very sunshiny baby sweater. I have been working on another tulip sweater for a friend of my mother.

I really do love this sweater. This is my second tulip sweater and it is just as fun as the first. However I think I may have the same problem as the first.

This is all I have left of the border colour. That would probably be enough if I only had the two sleeves but I also have around the neck and the ties. I'm starting to worry.

Of course I will press on and see how far I can get before I either loose my temper or start to cry.

And we froliced!

2008-04-27T08:40:00.011-04:00

Well it was a busy day and a exhausting day but it was a FANTASTIC day at the Knitter's Frolic. We woke up bright and early to heard down to the festivities. And they seemed to start a bit early this year. All the more time to shop and explore.

Here is a picture of our booth. I caught Connie at a bad time though as she was finishing her bagel so...look at all the pretty yarn instead. Sorry Con.

I enjoyed having a wander around. My life has been so busy that I was starting to forget what it is like to be a part of something like this. Us knitters are a really interesting bunch. I said to Connie that you look around and see all these people that you know even if you haven't met before or if you met last year at the same knitting event, or you stood by each other when you go to hear the Yarn Harlot speak. We don't all know each other but we are a close knit group (hehehehe).

Ok so on to the really good stuff. The shopping. I was very well behaved this year. I had to be with the wedding and the house (and now my 19 year old brother in law living with us for 4 months) but I still found some really great stuff.

Some Soak wool wash. I have some aquae already but I never want to use it because I don't want to run out. Silly because Connie has Soak to but....I'm a silly kinda girl.

I bought a Lexie Barnes bag that I have been eyeing for a while. Picked it up from The Naked Sheep. That is the second tulip sweater pictured with the bag. I making one for a friend of my mom's now.

This is some beautiful and soft silk yarn from Oceanwind knits. I have been petting it continuously since I bought it.

And I bought one of these cute needle felting kits from Fibre Art by Wendo. They had a really big one with so much detail in it. That is what made me want one but I need to start small. My kids at school would get a real kick out of a big ol' dragon in the reading corner. For now though it will be a little red dragon.

And Connie bought me this cute mug as a present so this morning as I go through my purchases and sit down to enjoy some knitting I can enjoy my morning cup with a fitting mug.

Is this a knitting blog or a dog blog

2008-04-21T22:17:00.006-04:00

Two of my favourite things in life are knitting and my dog. I have been working on a lot of things and playing with Oscar and getting a few things done around the house along the way.

First of all here is the Prism bag when it was finished being knit.

And here it is after felting. It didn't quite get as small as the pattern says but I used smaller needles and my washing machine doesn't get super hot so....Overall I'm happy with it but of course have not finished the lining and all of the other finishing details.

And of course I have to put something about my dog in here too so....

Here is Oscar and his Daddy watering the lawn.

Well I was thinking that I wouldn't be able to go to the Knitter's Frolic this weekend but....I will be there! With Connie and Lisa from Pick up Sticks. I'm excited because we had such a great time last year. Come and see us there.

2008-04-10T10:30:00.004-04:00

I have been starting to get back into my routine of things now that the wedding is over. Aaron and I did a big house clean and did some organizing that showed me just how many projects I have on the go. My husband is really quick to point out that the project he bought for me is still not finished three years later and he is never going to buy me yarn again. (I don't think I should point out to him that he bought me yarn at Christmas).

I started the Prism Noni Bag after the wedding and have finished the knitting and have felted it as far as it would felt. It is a few inches bigger all the way around than the pattern says it should be but I also didn't have the right gauge and my washing machine was not as hot as I would expect it to be. So with all that in mind I think close is pretty damn good.

So now I have the finishing to do. I went to fabric land yesterday to look at lining and have to admit that I found one of the ladies a little less than friendly. The other one I talked to was very helpful. I think I know what I'm going to use but I did not buy it yet because I have other steps to do first before I do the liner. I hope that when I go back that not so friendly lady is not there.
(I did try to explain that my sewing experience is very limited..I'm a knitter after all...although now that I have my grandma's sewing machine I would like to learn.

I have some pictures that I hope to add soon but for some reason my computer is not recognizing the camera when I plug it in so I have to use another computer and save the pictures to a memory stick before I can put them on my computer. Anyone with any ideas of what to do about this? Please let me know.

Back to the snow

2008-03-22T18:08:00.007-04:00

Wow was Jamaica ever fantastic and so very warm. We have been back for almost a week now and I'm still not used to the cold again.

We stayed at the Sandals Ocho Rios on the Manor side. Here is what the resort looks like from beside the pool.

This is Aaron and I at dinner one night. We ate at a restaurant that they set up on the beach.

The food was so good and they had so many different kinds of food at the different restaurants that we never ate in the same place twice for dinner.

We went snorkeling and shopping, climbed Dunn's River and went on a jeep tour of the country side in St Ann. It was so interesting. Beautiful in some ways and sad in others. When you live the way we do in Canada and then go to a resort where they look after you every way they can and turn a corner and see how some of the people live there.

But they will tell you there are no problems in Jamaica only "situations" (like no bartender at the bar- which was open at 10am)

It was such a great time. I enjoyed it very much. Aaron told me he was surprised he didn't see me knitting. I did take a sock but only knit it on the plane. I haven't knit much since before the wedding but since Wednesday night at Pick up Sticks I have been keeping myself in stitches. I have some pictures but when I was uploading the Jamaica pictures the computer froze and now it won't read from the camera. Any suggestions what to do about that little "situation"

Wedding party time

2008-03-03T21:33:00.010-05:00

Saturday was the BIG DAY! It was fabulous! I'm still very tired and am trying to reorganize things around the house but I hope you can enjoy some of these picture to get an idea of how our day was.

Pre-Wedding busy!

2008-02-17T10:04:00.002-05:00

I can't believe how long it has been since I last posted. I have not been knitting all that much though. I have been busy every night and every weekend with things for the wedding and now things are getting busier with two weeks left...yes that is right 13 days until we get married.

I'm very excited but already very tired. This week I have to work on and hopefully finish my report cards so that will be one more things knocked off my list but I also have my facial this week I have to make an appointment for a trial for my hair and another fitting for my dress to see that all the alterations are done ( Did I mention I love my dress??)

I do have one finished object to show. It has been finished for over a week but here it is!

I just needed someone to knit it for

2008-01-10T21:54:00.000-05:00

I have wanted to knit the Tulip sweater for a long time but didn't have a reason. So when my fiance came home from work and said that his friend had a had a baby girl I immediately thought of it. He suggested a baby blanket like I knit for my cousin and for his sister but I said....."I will see what I can do" well this little sweater is it.

The countdown is on for the wedding and I'm getting a little flustered. I Think I just want to do it now. I was excited to do the planning thing at first but now I'm just ....ready to do it! I feel like time is flying by and I don't have time to do anything that needs to be done in my life as it is. All my bridesmaids are getting together this weekend for a dress fitting and for a girls night.

Here is my baby trying to get the yogurt off of his nose. He loves his yogurt.

Boot Camp's a B***h

2008-01-09T12:52:00.000-05:00

Like I said I'm not one for new years resolutions. I have always wanted to try kick boxing. When I was in high school my mom told me that girls don't do that and it was too violent.....so...Aaron and I have joined a gym for martial arts. All different kinds. You would think we had joined the army (only they are a lot friendlier at this place I think) we are doing drills and sit ups and push ups and crawling across the floor. It is a lot of fun ..... but it is HARD!!! My muscles are very sore. I can hardly stand up and sit down (today I had to use the wheel chair handles in our staff washroom to get myself up) They keep saying it will get easier but ...WHEN? They obviously don't know that the only exercise I get is walking the dog and that I am very out of shape. Oh well.

I won't be going to kick boxing tonight because I will be knitting and resting my legs. If you aren't busy I will be at Pick up Sticks in Bradford. I am going to bring Pam's Christmas Sweater.

Pattern: Lucy in the Sky
Yarn: Dream in Color, Classy
Colour: Cloud Jungle
Needles: 4mm

But before I go tonight I'm am going to have a nice bath with a Marathon Bar from Lush. I am addicted to some of their stuff. Haven't tried this one yet but they say it is good for after you exercise for painful muscles. We shall see.

Happy New Year!

2008-01-02T15:22:00.000-05:00

I am excited for a new year and for new beginnings. New attitudes and a new look for the blog. I thought the other was getting a little dark for me so... we will give this a shot.

I am far from the best when it comes to keeping resolutions but I have a few things I hope to do differently this year. Some are knitting and crafting related and some are work and home related. Some could apply to both.

Lets think of this list as some promises or plans for the new year. I think these four sort of cover all the things I hope to do for myself.

1) Finish things you start

2) Clean up the small messes before they become big ugly messes

3)ORGANIZE YOURSELF! - plans for yourself, your house, crafting supplies,work, etc.

4) Don't procrastinate!

So to start off the new year I have one finished project right out of the gate.

I have to get a picture of it now that it is all done but this is Lucy in the sky on December 29th. Today I have the buttons to sew on and the blocking to do. It is a little small for me so I hope it fits Pam. She is a bit smaller than me so I could be ok.

Can you give away a present you love?

2007-12-28T08:30:00.000-05:00

I am working very hard on my maid of honour's Christmas present. I know it is a little late but I saw Connie working on this sweater and had to make one myself ..er..for my friend (Why is it that happens? Monkey see Monkey do)

Now I'm wondering if I really want to give this sweater away. I love the yarn and I love the fit of the sleeve so far. I might have to make another for myself because after all it is for my friend who has stuck by me through my whole life.

Get to the sweater you say? Well it is Lucy in the Sky from Cosmicpluto! I love the pattern!

I am knitting it with (of course) Dream in Colour Classy in the Cloud Jungle colour. It is a little hard to see because the lack of sun has really imposed on my picture taking.
I am being productive on the sweater regardless of all the other stuff that is on my plate. I need to track down a night stand (in my price range) that goes with my bedroom set. We bought ours and it was a good deal because it has been discontinued and it only came with one nightstand. Any tips for the hunt?

I remember when being on my Winter Break was like this....

I'm still alive

2007-12-12T20:23:00.001-05:00

No I have not fallen off the face of the earth but It sometimes feels like it. Things at school are winding down (talk to me tomorrow after the primary concert). I have my voice back. Connie's December sock club pattern is almost done. My wedding dress fits (or rather is too big) and I'm behind in getting my invitations out. I have not done any Christmas knitting and I most likely will not this year. Aaron's birthday is next week and ... and ... and ... and.... Christmas is just that time of year isn't it. And a Christmas when you are planning a wedding and moved into a house and have a young puppy with crate issues...is a little overwhelming. So....Sorry I haven't been writing much, and I haven't been at Pick up Sticks much but.

I am still alive.

Something to think about

2007-11-26T21:17:00.000-05:00

No knitting pictures today because although I have been knitting they are all the same things and look about the same so...no point in taking pictures.

But I have been thinking while I have been knitting. I have been thinking about my Christmas knitting and how I like to make people socks for Christmas. Then I thought about how much I like to wear handmade socks. I thought ... boy I knit a lot of socks. Then I looked in my drawer for a pair of handmade socks and.....hey...there are only a few pairs in here. I have knit a lot of socks but not a lot of PAIRS of socks.

This week is a very busy week. Something to do every evening after work this week and then I am going to focus my attention on my Christmas knitting. I'm still not sure how I am going to have time for any presents but...somehow I will figure something out.

Oscar on the other hand has one of his Christmas presents early. It is a reindeer with long legs and arms. He carries it around and shakes it like crazy. Then rests to watch the world go by.