I'm trying to knit

Mental Health day you Say??

2006-03-20T20:57:00.000-05:00

So, last Friday I took a "mental health day"- meaning I took a V-day and went to Bloomington IN. I just ran around at the local craft stores and bought yarn. Ok- I know this is a shocker and all but I also hit the Goodwill and got a ton of new clothes. Something about all of those college kids' clothes that just flips my boat! I went to Barnes and Noble and bought a knitting journal to keep track of my projects and some knitting mags.
OH- and lest I forget my impulse buy of the day! My iPod Nano! Yes, I put it on my credit card and will be paying on it for the rest of my life- literally- but it is worth it so that I can listen to my podcasts!!! There are so many knitting podcasts now. If you go to iTunes and type in knitting in the podcast search engine it turns up all plus the crochet and craft podcasts!!! Yeah! it keeps me sane!!!!- along with the knitting of course.
I started a baby blanket and have almost finished the first of the tube socks. I also spent Saturday knitting and crocheting a cozy little sweater for my new toy complete with flowers, vinyl to protect the screen and a snap to hold it in. I knit the iCord with the little knitting machine I have that makes it a mile a minute. I used sock yarn. I call it jelly bean- I think that is the name of the colorway.

Prayer Shawl

2006-02-15T09:09:00.000-05:00

I am going to visit my younger sister in the group home tonight. I thought I would post my progress on the prayer shawl. I put out a note on mass e-mail to the church yesterday so I hope some people show up tomorrow to the group... I don't want it to be a flop! I had hoped it would be a way to get a bunch of people together to knit and craft. We'll see. But anyway, just working and getting by.
I'm 1/3 of the way done- I love the soft change of color and feel of the homespun. It is hard to tell knit from purl stiches but it is worth it. It fits across my lap now and helps me to keep warm when knitting it. I made it 63 stitches wide. It is a Knit 3,*Knit 3, Purl 3* stitch on row 1(repeat * to * across row) and knit all on row 2 repeat- so- it makes a ribbing on one side. You can sort of see it in the picture. I was getting lost and forgetting which was next knit or purl and also how many of each I had just done so I put in 21 ring markers and marked every other one with black to mark the switch to the opposite stitch. Helps alot and makes it go twice as fast. The yarn splits a little. I should have used a 11 circular but I am using a 10.5 -bigger would have been better. It says to use 3 skeins but I think 2.5 will be enough. I may add fringe but we will see......later!

Lazy Sunday...........

2006-02-05T21:15:00.000-05:00

Laying around and feeling o.k. now... it has been a good long weekend. I made this pair of baby booties for Gary's boss' new grandbaby.

My group at church had two people show up and we are going to meet again this Thursday. One, C, wants to learn to crochet and the other, T, can knit. It will be fun to share my addiction. C, picked up the stitches really well and T had already been working on some beautiful scarves.

Free Pattern for the booties came from fabulousyarn.com and they are really fast!

Monday,Monday.....

2006-01-30T19:16:00.000-05:00

Not much going on right now.... just three UFO's. I am still working on the Diamond Blossom scarf and also a multidirectional dishcloth as well as a Chevron Tie . I am working on getting some things together for Thursday. I am trying to get a group together at church- kind of a charity knitting/crochet group...I'm nervous about it because I might have to teach some people and I haven't done it before. I know the best way to learn is to teach. I'm Praying that my heart is in the right place and maybe the group will be a place to get to know some new people. Oh yeah, that's my little boy cat Ziggy...

Multidirectionally challenged...

2006-01-16T19:12:00.000-05:00

Ok - so I think I finally have
got it.... I have been working on the diamond blossom scarf from "Modular Knits" by Iris Schreier. I love this book but I didn't quite get this pattern the first two times....
and here was the first attempt.... don't ask me how I did it cause I don't know. You have to pay attention... I say attention. Thanks to all from the multidirection yahoo group who helped! A great group of people and a must when you are trying to learn something new and don't have anyone to show you.
For now I'll just keep on going.....

I guess I'm a romantic?

2006-01-11T09:48:00.000-05:00

The Romantic PrincessYou are absolutely in love with love! Charming, romantic, and feminine are all words that describe you. You are a huge flirt and know how to use your feminine wiles to get your way. You are always on the lookout for the guy who will sweep you off your feet.Role Models: Isolde, JulietYou are most likely to: Free a cursed prince from a terrible spell with a single kiss.

Take this quiz!

I finished the multidirectional scarf

2006-01-10T10:52:00.000-05:00

I finished the multidirectional scarf and love the colors. The yarn is 100% wool from Naturally Nazareth in Fall colorway. These are my very favorite colors.

I screwed up and knit across the row on the last time when I was supposed to turn and begin the short row again and in doing so wade the triangle point out. Of course I didn't realize this until I was to the next triangle so I left it as a "design detail" on both ends. I kinda like it that way. Gives it character don't ya think? I have a really cool orange turtle neck sweater that is wool and it will go very nicely with the scarf. I think I will wear it to church next week. Speaking of church, I am trying to get a knitting group together at church. I have e-mailed a LYS owner and asked if she would be interested in teaching some people to knit and she hasn't replied yet. I might have to look elsewhere. I wished I knew how to teach people but I don't think I know enough yet to do that.
I am also looking for information on dying yarn in a way to make it go from light to dark so I can use it to make another MD scarf. Know how to do this? I posted on the dying yahoo group and can't wait to get some reponses.
I think I am going to make this next with my other ball of Naturally Nazareth Fall colorway....http://www.helloyarn.com/cherrygarcia.htm
Has anyone made this? Let me know! I would love to see yours or something similar! I haven't done cables yet so I thought this would be a good first time.....

Finally a pair.....

2006-01-03T16:19:00.000-05:00

Here it is....my first pair of knit socks. I didn't think I would get them done today but I did. I really love them. Of course they are not identicle but close enough that most people won't be able to tell when I ware them. They are a little pointy at the tip and I didn't like the kitchner stitch but I am sure I am not the only one...

Coming down the home stretch

2006-01-03T12:01:00.000-05:00

I am doing the decreases on the toe on the second sock and should be posting a pick of the pair soon. Then I think I will start a multidirectional scarf. I don't know but I want something that will be fast. I have some beautiful sock yarn that I bought myself for Christmas but it takes small needles like these socks so I would like to do something that uses bigger needles first. Listened to the new Cast-On podcast and LOVELOVELOVE it! so cool to listen to what you love as you do it.... here's the link....http://www.cast-on.com/
download it and give it a listen!

WHOA IS ME......

2005-12-15T12:27:00.000-05:00

I am feeling low today. I was going to add a picture of myself to the blog but every one I took pointed out my balding- I am a woman and half of my hair has fallen out! I know I knew it would happen for a while but I am used to having big hair and now I look like a sickly drowned rat. It's from the Gastric Bypass and will go away but Anyway. Yesterday I had to go to my sister's hearing for probation. She is 16 and has been in a lot of trouble. They decided to send her to a residential girls home. She said she was worried about coming home for Christmas and wanted to make sure she got her scarf I was making her because she knew it was going to be warm and cushy. I thought it was sweet but she was probably just working me.... never a positive thought huh? I'm trying. I should be able to work on her scarf this weekend and get it finished. I have to do slides for Church Sat. and Sun and then visit her Sun. so I don't know..... I forgot my sock to work on today and now I am bored! There is always tomorrow.

The Knitting Goddess

2005-12-13T20:20:00.000-05:00

I am not talking about me-ok! I went to the library and got a book called "The Knitting Goddess" It has instructions and stories related to knitting. Kinda' fun and goofy. They have a very sad selection of books on knitting but at least they had some.
I am still working on my socks- about 1 1/2" done now and still working on a knit scarf for my sister Michelle for Christmas. I got my Christmas early today- woohoooooo! TiVo. I can't wait till I get home tomorrow. I am going to get the adapter to hook the system to our wireless network and I will be able to download stuff to my computer! Watch out CSI and Knitty Gritty!

SOCK#2 BEGINS

2005-12-12T16:29:00.000-05:00

Believe it or not I am actually starting on sock #2. I had seriously considered just making the one sock but changed my mind. Did you see the sock stocking cap in the new knitty.com patterns? It is a sock made into a hat. I love it and it will most likely be my next project! Now what kind of yarn? Maybe I will dye my own self stipping yarn. It is worsted wool and I got some new colors to try it with. The Wilton's cake dye in yellow, mauve, forrest green and another color that I forget right now. Maybe blue? My favorite is the green of course. I may even do green dashes to double the green fun. I am looking for some cheap way to make a warp board so I can make the four colors or more?
I have been listening to my favorite podcasts today
http://feeds.feedburner.com/cast-on
http://feeds.feedburner.com/Knitcast
http://www.cbc.ca/quirks/quirks.xml
http://feeds.feedburner.com/CraftyChicaPodcast
http://www.simplearts.com/blogs/quiltingstash.rss
It's monday and the day to catch up. I have others too but these are what I am listening to today.

Grandma Viola socks

2005-12-11T10:17:00.000-05:00

My grandmother, Viola Knepp, passed away on Tuesday Dec. 6th. She was 77 years old. Of course this means I had to go to the long, drawn out Old Order Amish Funeral. If you have never been to one you don't know what you're missing! At least two hours of "German" preaching- of which I don't understand one word- and a lot of hand shaking. It is traditional to have the family sit in rows and visitors to file past and shake each person's hand. I think I shook about 1000 hands and I am not overexaggerating. I am the oldest grandchild, my dad the oldest son and my kids the oldest great grandchildren. We are also the only ones in the family that are not either Mennonite or Amish. So needless to say we are slightly sticking out like sore thumbs but this is nothing I am not used to. My father broke away when he was 18 or so and I haven't known anything but feeling like I don't completely belong. But anyway. I had a few days of being with my family and some time to knit and have finished the first sock. Here it is and I hope to begin the second one this weekend.

Project updates

2005-12-04T21:31:00.000-05:00

Before and after of Galway Colornep "Fuzzy Feet" from Knitty.com using size 10.5 -40" circulars

Also my first sock with Meilenweit Fantasy 4730 and size 3- 40" circulars 56 stiches cast on with 1 1/2 " knit stich then 2" 3X3 rib. The rest to be determined....

Yep, I'm trying to KNIT

2005-12-04T15:14:00.000-05:00

I just want to track what I am doing. I probably will forget to put stuff up but at least it is a start - We will just have to see what happens. I finished Gary's felted slippers and he is very proud. He has extremely large feet so they went fast but not fast enough. I will do these again- maybe for me? In green of course... They were 16" long before felting and he says they are the most comfortable his feet have ever been. Of course he over exagerates and of course I can't spell.
So today is a lazy day- what's better? I slept too long to go to church and I feel guilty but I need the rest if my body says so. I'm watching old movies and getting ready to make potato soup and continue laundry and my first pair of socks. pics to commimurate to follow. All I can do is my best!
SB