I am the champion AKA look on the internet before giving up

I have finally figured out the double crochet foundation chain. DUH! It makes complete sense.

Now on to the socks.

Crocheted Socks ... an oxymoron?

I was at the library with the kids and I decided to make a trip over to the adult non-fiction section and see what kind of knitting books I could find for myself. I picked up a few ... New Knits on the Block, the Knitty Gritty Knits book, the newer Big Girl Knits book, and a book on knitting two socks at once. Then another book caught my eye.

Crocheted socks. COOL, I thought. That would go a LOT faster, and I have the perfect yarn for it. Patons Stretch Sock yarn because I know the density of crochet would make for an inflexible pair of socks.

So I got it, too and I was thrilled to go home and try something new.

And I tried and tried and tried. For an hour. Just to do the double crochet foundation chain. Really.

And I put the book down, rewound the yarn, and laid the hooks aside. And I said I would be returning the book to the library sometime today.

Really, I don't like to admit defeat, but I am a big enough person to admit that I am not an excellent hooker. I just never have been. I get by. But that is about all I can say for that craft.

I might give it one more whirl today, but I won't be dedicating a lot of time to it. I just don't have it in me. There is some amount of self-preservation involved, I believe.

The smallest things make me happy

I have been on the look out for some sock blockers. Sock blockers are really cool things... you can shove a sock on them and then block it. Pretty self-explanatory, huh?

I saw one up at Yarn Cravin' over the weekend, but it was $ 24 for one. That is a good price really for a wood sock blocker, but I didn't really "need" to get it then.

So I slipped over to Etsy and found this really cool blocker with needle gauges in the middle. And then I popped over there again today and lo and behold, she has a PAIR listed at $ 12.50 and then $ 5.00 for shipping! $ 17.50 for a pair of blockers, when it would have cost me $ 26 for a plastic pair from Knit Picks. And this way, I supported an artisan as opposed to a larger online store.

Check them out. Can't wait to get them! http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=12834147

Ooooh... and they are from Cleveland. Even better ... an Ohioan that I supported.

The hat that knits itself

is there that one pattern ... the one you could knit in your sleep? The one memorized just because you love it so?

Not that this hat looks good on me, but it looks good on my kids so I make it.

This one I knit up to sell at Necessitae tomorrow night, and I used a yarn that I had been hoarding for no real reason except I needed to save it for just the right project. And I am glad I did.

This slip stitch pattern makes it so wonderful to show off those varigated yarns, and this one is no exception. It is a bulky weight yarn (BugsNugger in Gaia organic) and it glided along beautifully.

This is modeled on # 1's head, who wanted to know if this is hers. I asked her where the hat I made her was (same pattern, different yarn and colorway), and of course she has no idea. Typical 10 year old.

Sometimes you just need to put the needles down and breathe

This weekend was filled with very little knitting. Very little. I worked on DH's second sock, but that was it. I did start a new project last night - a textured hat out of a really cool dyed yarn from Bugsnugger. It was part of the knitting bag I purchased for myself with my Mother's Day money in May and I hadn't even touched it.

So today I start back up on some more knitting, especially since tomorrow is a stocking at Necessitae and I am so totally not at all prepared for it. It kind of just snuck up on me.

I did visit a new yarn store to me - Yarn Cravin' in Perrysburg. Just a hop, skip, and a jump from me and they knit every Tuesday night from 6:30 to 8:30. I might make a monthly trip up there, but now that Upward basketball will be starting here soon, I won't be able to get away like I want to. But it is a cute little store. Shoved full of all sorts of yarn in little nooks and crannies, and even in the bathroom. Charming place.

The family ... ALL of them except me ... have colds. They are driving me INSANE. Especially the husband, who really isn't doing anything that would warrant a complaint. He is just ... sick. And he is a LOUD sick. Blows his nose like a foghorn. He can't do anything quiet when it comes to things like this. And then there is the first-born, who is experiencing the first cold ever to be had by any human being.

So on that note, I go out and resume my mother duties of wiping noses, giving medicines, and stuff like that.

Six months. Wow. Six months.

This is pretty bad. Six months of no blogging. But it certainly wasn't six months of no knitting. Let's see ... what happened in those six months?

The family went to Myrtle Beach. Then we started back to school. Then I decided that I needed to have a hip replacement at the end of October. But before that, my former employer (yes, former) decided that they needed to let me go before they had to pay that short term disability crap. So I picked up the knitting needles like crazy in November and this month, and have since made two pairs of socks (toddler size), made a sock for my husband and am working on its mate now, a hat and scarf set, and some pants and other things.

Christmas was yesterday and my house looks like it. It was a good day, though ending with a new tradition of going to see a movie and eating at The Waffle House. Lotsa fun.

Have a few sick kids, but nothing unmanageable.

Oh and did I mention that we also have a dog? Probably not as I like to block that out of my memory.

And just to show you that I HAVE been working hard, here you go:























I vow to blog more for the New Year. I vow to take the time to finish off projects. And I vow to make something for me at least every other month. That headwarmer is the only thing I have made for myself since I made my Bellatrix socks at the beginning of the year.

Happy Knitting!

That BSJ that I keep talking about

Proof positive that I did make it.

No buttons. No washing and blocking. But done....





The yarn is some lovely handspun that I happened to score in a knitting bag/yarn combination from my dear friends at Necessitae. Julie from Wasatch Handspuns spun this gorgeous yarn. She has some more going up tonight, and I am SOOOO going to score that, too. I love working with this!

Made a trip up to Vintage Yarns in Lambertville, MI this morning/afternoon with the kidlets. They were very well-behaved. They helped me pick out some yarn to go with some yarns that I have had here. Then we went to the scrapbook store, where I picked up a Kit of the Month packet. I am actually going to enter their page contest. We shall see how that goes.

Ok.. back to work. Ugh...

And another stocking ...

I can't believe how fast the time flies between these stockings. And I wanted to get my store stocked in the middle of that all. Oh well...

I have some little mice up for auction with proceeds going to the ASPCA. I also have a cat and a kitten and a mouse. It is a crochet stocking this time around....







They were a lot fun to make!

The mice are a hit...

I sent those two little mousies to meet their new kitty friends over the weekend, and the reports back to me are good. In fact, one of the kitty's mamas informed me that her kitty wouldn't let the mousie out of her sight.

Sounds cute now. I am sure at 3 in the morning when the kitty is STILL playing with the mouse ... in their bedroom ... wouldn't be as cute. I know cats. I know their ways.

Speaking of cats, we had one at our house last night and # 1 and # 2 wanted to bring the cat inside all the while bemoaning the fact that # 3 has asthma. Yep. Too bad, so sad.

We are benefitting the ASPCA at our next Necessitae stocking, and I am busy making some mice and a few kitties, too. I don't know what I will have that will be regular business, but I will at least have some things for the benefit.

We are also returning to Hyena Cart. I think this is a tremendous move. The stocking calendar is the best advertisement out there, IMO. But then of course, I live in my own little world of self-importance. Go figure....

Squeak

Testing out some kitty toys...




Aren't they cute? I sent these to two friends to see how their kitties like them. I don't have any kitties (used to ... until we determined that # 3 was allergic to them ... took us close to two years!) so I had to rely on my friends who have fur babies.

I will be making some more of these for our stocking on the 30th at Necessitae. All proceeds will be going to the ASPCA.

I am also working on another infant kimono sweater, and some other things for our stocking.

How does the 15th sneak up on me like that?

I have to admit .... I did have the Father's Day present all taken care of. Didn't wrap it, and didn't get a card. Oh well. It was handed to him by the kids at 7:20 this morning before his run.

But he did get a GPS, and he was very pleasantly surprised.

Now I want to drive somewhere. Don't know where ... just want to pick a destination and put the GPS to the test.

And then there's Necessitae ... seriously ... I was working to the last minute to get my previews up in time, but I did it. And I am quite proud of what I accomplished ...



The red in the shirt is all wonky ... it looks awful but I couldn't get a better picture of it. Of course, I can't take credit for the shirt.



A newborn kimono and soaker set. I love it. It really is precious, and I would definitely have loved to have known how to make this when I was bringing my babies home from the hospital. The yarn is really, really soft. Love love love it.

I hope there is at least one person who also loves it at much as I do.

Next up ... a free pair of soaker shorts for the winner of my Friday the 13th lottery. I had 170 people enter it. In just a 12 hour period. It scared me when I saw my fellow WAHMs enter ... I was a little leery about knitting for them. But I am confident in my knitting skills. I should be, huh?

Somone is five!

# 3 is finally five!




She is about all things pink and glimmery and glamorous.

Happy birthday, Monkey!

Exciting News!

I have some exciting news! I am now a licensed knitter for the Sweet Mama - Small Sugar Seamless Infant Kimono sweater pattern!

I can't wait to start knitting some up. It really is a great knit ... fast and sweet ... and I love me some no seams.

I have to get the one I made for my niece sent off to her parents' house ... that would be a good thing considering I think the babe will be at the top end of the fit since she has had a growth spurt.

Sock # 1 is finished for my customer, and I am close to finishing the ribbing on sock # 2, heading into the heel. I can't believe that I have been able to get these cranked out as fast as I have. I guess when I am knitting socks for someone else and I want them to get them asap, I can be very motivated.

Maybe that is how I should approach my personal knitting as well.

Happy Thursday!

Little sock loving

I have a pair of socks going right now for a customer, who gave me carte blanche on what color/s to choose and knit up for her.

Hope she likes what I am working on for her. I am sure she will.

Once the socks are finished, will start working on some more store knitting and crocheting. We have some things in store for Necessitae, so I need to work on that. Can't wait to work on that stuff.

Working on # 2's ASJ. I am getting to the point of having increased back out to the original cast on number. I hope he wears it. I trust him to wear it more than I would # 1. She would ask for it, but never wear it.

I am trying to work through my yarn stash, one by one. I would love to just get it all out of here, and I could start anew. I am sick of looking at what I have.

Step away from the computer ... another blog post...

I have to show this off. I just finished it up (in fact, it is wet in this pic and blocking...)





I was fortunate enough to test knit this pattern from Sweet Mama - Small Sugar. It is a seamless infant kimono with three different sleeve finish options.

I love seamless. I just love it.

This is a great pattern.

This lovely will be sent to my niece for her daughter, my great niece. I think she will fill it out quite nicely. Now I just have to keep my fingers crossed that she won't felt the crap out of it ... inadvertently, of course. It is single ply merino.

Hello blog

I really should get in a better habit of blogging, but I have really tried to limit my non-work computer time because I like to not have to work on the weekends. And when I distract myself (much like ... right now), it takes away from that work time.

But I felt that the blog had been ignored long enough.

Heather, obviously I didn't make it to the fest. We decided to not suck away on the gas money. It would have been a ton of fun (even though DH said "isn't that one of those places where, once you see one thing, you see it all?" ... yeah... kinda like Lowes, dear). Hope you had a great time.

Business work is about all I have done, except for work on the ASJ for # 2.

I wish I could take credit for the beautiful dye work on the tshirt, but I can't. That is my talented fellow WAHM, Pam from The Indigo Onion. She is truly a treasure.




LOVE this button ... also can't take credit for it. It is from my dear colleague, Teri from The Enchanted Nursery.




But I CAN take all the credit for the work on this guy ... I've named him Ted. He reminds me of my cousin, Ted, who is living and working in Beijing with his family. I think it is the ears.




Here he is, "monkey"ing around ...




Of course, # 1 and # 3 have laid claim to him.

# 3's fifth birthday is coming up pretty soon, and I will be making her this. She loves dolls. She loves mermaids. She loves anything with long hair. I need to start cracking on her tonight, actually. I mean, I only have 11 more days to get her finished, and only at nighttime.

There. That should do it. Blog... you are no longer ignored.

Adult Surprise Jacket on the needles

I have started with # 2's ASJ. He picked out his yarn (well, ok .. he didn't "pick" it out ... I showed it to him and he said he liked it). Cast on 225 stitches and am going through them like a good soldier. I just don't put any thought into the fact that I have to knit every row. I just trudge along, waiting for the next thing.

I ordered some Knit Picks yarns to coordinate with the three skeins that are offering the "inspiraction" for the jacket. I am hoping the boy will wear it when it is finished, or better yet, that it still fits him.

I *should* have this done in a month or two months.

Or a year.

Other than that, I have been working on this and that. Finshing the BSJ was the first and only thing that I worked on for quite some time.

I need to finish up some shorts for a set that I want to put up this weekend at Necessitae. I am hoping to get that accomplished.

In non-knitting news, some friends and I are taking off for a cabin in Michigan to scrapbook, fellowship, and laugh until it hurts and we have pounding headaches.

Good times. Good times.

Finished!

And I don't think that this is big enough to fit # 3, but that is ok. She doesn't need this one.

This one will go to my great nephew. He will look smashing in it. I will snap a picture of it when I have the buttons on it. I might be lucky enough to snap a pic of him IN it.

But I won't hold my breath.

The construction really is amazing. As many times as I read that the construction was amazing, that EZ was ahead of her time, that EZ's mind could think around corners .. I just didn't "get" it.

I do now.

Boy, do I.

Until I finally folded the whole thing up did I finally understand the construction. I am glad that I made this smaller one first so I can understand the construction of it.

Next I want to make one for # 3. Or maybe one for # 2. I have the yarn in mind. I just need to get some corresponding yarn colors to make the jacket big enough for him.

Pictures to come.

Close to the finish

I have to knit the buttonholes, and then knit the six rows afterward, and then seam it up and then BSJ # 1 will be finished. I will have to see who it will fit in order to determine what buttons would be good for it.

Then I think ... I *think* I will move on to an ASJ for # 1. She said she would wear it.

If she doesn't, I will tan. her. hide.

Working on a pair of shorts.

Bought some yarn.

Yeah. I'm a weak one. I admit it.

Sold some things at the store. Made my day. Gave me hope.

I promise to actually have some pictures to actually look like I am knitting. Because really I am.
And I also have to take a pic of my newest toy: a yarn bowl from Rising Sun Earthworks. It is pretty cool. Even DH said "how neat" when he saw it.

It really is.

BSJ for # 3

I am quite proud of myself. I have made it farther on this BSJ than in others past, so I am excited to see how it all fits together.

Once I do that, there will be no stopping me then.

Today, my dear friend, Morwenna, stocks some yummy deliciousness of yarn in her two stores ... I am really wanting to get a rainbow grouping of yarns but I would also really love to get some other colorways.

But being restrained by money is a hard and terrible thing. LOL!

I need to lay off of yarn purchases for ... oh ... maybe a week?

I just got some VERY yummy yarn in yesterday's mail from Selah called Fruitful. There is one more skein sitting there in their cart right now, and I could really get it to pair up with the one skein that I have now to make a pretty sweater for # 3.

Do you see a pattern?

I think I need to venture into making a sweater for # 2.

Nothing like getting into the summer season wanting to make sweaters.

Wanting to get back into the swing of things. Feeling the juices flowing again.

The silence .... no knitting ... unbearable

Last night, I finally picked up some yarn and needles.

And frogged a project.

I have this beautiful handspun from a fellow WAHM ... orange, blue and brown. It is soft and beautiful.

I was using it to make a one piece cardigan for $ 3.

And I wasn't feeling the love.

And then ... I met a fellow Ravelry-er. Amy, who works across the street from me, stopped over to intro herself and to catch up for a few minutes. She inspired me to give that BSJ another try. And I am making the BSJ, I think. If it doesn't fit # 3, it will be my nephew's Christmas present from me.

Because, my friends, I am sure that is when it will finally be finished.

Still working on some socks, still trying to gain some inspiration.

I think I need to look for some fairs and shows and stuff to get into.

I was going to make the Rambling Rows jacket, and then I saw that it is all knitted in blocks and then seamed together.

Me + seaming = an unhappy household so I think I will spare my family.

Progress

I have actually started sock # 2 and am into the pattern repeats for the leg portion. I am actually going to finish up another pair of socks for myself. I can hardly believe it.

A little sewing this weekend

I felt the need to break out the sewing machine last night and make # 3 a pair of pj pants out of a really cute skull flannel fabric I picked up on sale. It was a lot of fun. Nothing much to them, really. There never is.

And that is the extent of my creativity this weekend.

Pretty exciting, huh?

Roundabout 1 done

I finished up the Roundabout 1 this morning at the hotel. Love the fit and am now hoping that the boats that I have to cover will have a second sock as I am afraid I might not have enough yarn to finish this one out. If I do run out, I will see if I could implore my fellow Selah shoppers to spare a little of theirs. I don't care if it isn't from the same dyelot. They are socks for me.

And then that will be a lesson learned. But, I don't know that for a certainty yet. So we shall see.

Forging ahead

I have decided not to be a weenie. I will make the other Breeze sock for myself. I was wearing the one this morning, and it is quite nice. So I will go ahead and get that one started as soon as I am finished with the Roundabout socks.

I am on the foot portion of sock 1. Going well.

And then I have decided to crochet some market bags using my pattern from my dear friend Shana ... the reusable market bag. I have the yarn and I have the hook and I want some bags for my produce. Now I need to get a man who will USE these bags when he goes to the market.

Roundabout

I swear I have knitter's ADHD.

I can't finish a pair of socks. Well, I can't finish a pair of socks that I know I don't care for and I don't feel like putting myself through that pain again.

Ok. Pain is a strong word. Maybe too strong.

All right. Not maybe. It is too strong of a word.

But ... but ...

I decided that I wanted to cast on a new pair of socks yesterday so I did. Last night. Roundabout socks, and they are an easy knit, but look really cool.

I was done following charts (above sock problem) but I didn't want the basic looking sock.

I am using my Carmel Heart Selah sock yarn for these. I might make another pair. I added an extra 8 row because of my tree stump ankles. Don't want to forget about those babies.

I have been crocheting some, too. But nothing much. I go in spurts.

I am ready for some spring air. I am ready for some sunshine. I am ready for no rain.

We have sunshine but no warmth but no rain, either.

I am jealous of those I know in Florida right now. But alas ... you all will have to return SOMEtime.

We are taking off for a local hotel tonight ... to spend the evening for free. We have had this free night for six months, and it expires at the end of this month.

So now I have to go finish up some work so I can enjoy that time in the hotel tonight. The kids are looking forward to swimming.

Love Natalie Dee ... Just love her

nataliedee.com

Sock one finished and I fear...

that I finished them 1/2 cable pattern repeat too soon. I think I should have kept going on them.

So I do believe that I will be finishing the second one (they didn't take long to make at all) to my good friend and fellow large foot friend, Robin. She needs a little pick me up. But then ... now I remember ... she has bird ankles. These will fall off of her.

I decided to stop at 2.5 cable pattern as opposed to 3.5 cable pattern because of the thickness of the yarn, and I should have finished out to the full cable pattern repeat. I didn't want to make the toes as the pattern called for so I just made the boring old toe finish on them.

So these will either be finished out and given to someone, or I will just add this to the pile of one sock wonders I have going on.

Ok... I only have two other one socks ... so it isn't like a bad habit or anything.

Picture to come soon ... I am out in the living room but on my work computer. A little change of scenery ... a necessity as I am the sole caretaker of kids who have been sick and also a husband is now ill.

See why I am knitting socks?

Feeling some knitting love ... a little

Yesterday morning, I decided it was time that I wound up some yarn that has been sitting in my baskets, neglected. I also forgot that my sister had asked me to wind up some Cascade yarn for her months ago.

Finding that yarn (finally .. I was starting to panic!), I got that all wound up and put back into her baggie for to pick up after she so nicely dropped off Tylenol for my kids yesterday morning.

Then I moved on to the four skeins of yarn I had sitting around here. One of those skeins was Punk Rock Girl from Little Turtle Knits and I wasn't sure what I was going to do with it.

So I did a little research on Ravelry and decided that I wanted to make myself some ankle socks.
I am now knitting up Breeze from Knitty and I love how fast it is going. I am working on a thicker weight than fingering ... so probably DK or sport and it is knitting up pretty quickly. The downfall will be that this won't show off the cable/YO patterns as much as the pics in the pattern, but that is totally cool with me. I am planning on wearing these with my Birks, anyway.

I will take a pic of the progress of them. I am working on the first one, and have started on the instep decreases.

And that is about all the knitting love that I am feeling as of late. But it's all good.

Ballerina Bear

She's so cute I can't stand it.

Sorry for the sick looking kid. She's ... sick.

What to work on next, and bear progress

I am trying to decide what I will be working on next. I need to keep working on # 3's bear, which is turning out rather darling. I have the blue yarn for her skirt portion, and # 3 informed me that she needed to have pink legs because of the pink tights. I am wondering if I should make something that looks like a shoe. I am thinking of making something that looks like a bow to mimic the golly-forsaken ugly doily thing they have to wear on their heads.

The bear's head is completely constructed, ears are sewn on, eyes are on, felt muzzle is on ... and I am done with the arms. So I need to keep moving. It really doesn't take long at all.

I think I might try my hand at a BSJ again. I didn't get very far with it. I also have the easy peasy to finish up for # 3. Maybe I will do that first. Shoot ... so many things that I want to do and I feel like I am doing nothing.

Ok. Off to be productive.

Make it count!

Go Steelers

Findlay is the hometown of Ben Roethlisberger. We are quite proud of Big Ben here, so I decided to finally do something semi-creative with a hometown hero.

Skirtie with matching legwarmers, a shirt, and a handbound journal from Becky's Paper Creations. Loads of fun to make up, and up for sale tomorrow evening at Necessitae.



This weekend will be the bear project. I will have to head over to the Lobby of Hobby to pick out a blue yarn for her dress. Can't wait to get her made.

No knitting, no blogging

Seriously, I have created NOTHING. Nothing. Nothing.

So I have not blogged because who wants to read about nothing?

But I have a projec that will be on the hook soon:
Ana Paula Rimoli's girl bear. I have the book, Amigurumi World- Seriously Cute Crochet and I am going to make this bear with blue yarn for her dress because # 3's dance recital is Teddy Bear Picnic.

She will be the talk of the recital with her own bear with a beautiful little dress on.

And seriously... I don't think I could meet a more awesome designer than Ana. Ok.... I've only convo'd with her a few times on Etsy, but she is seriously cool and seriously talented.

Of course you know I will keep the blog updated with my progress on her.

I do have some biz knitting in the works, including a cute set for a little football fan of the female persuasion.

Later! Make it count!

I am actually sticking to something!

Not that I am not a woman of my word, but I am actually stocking my store today! Woo Hoo!

Now if anything sells, that is a totally different subject. But hey .. it's all good. I am quite proud of myself for kicking it into gear and stocking this much.

We have our bizarro stocking at the end of the week for Necessitae and I made a few things for that. I have one more to make, which will be done today I believe so I can get my previews up by tomorrow. THAT is bizarro in and of itself .. for me to be done two whole days early!

And then I will move on to the next Necessitae stocking. I am actually enjoying making things to stock. I love it. And I love making things that my kids will use and will love if they don't sell.

All right ... back to the IRL job. It awaits.

Have fun! Make it count.

New light box, new creatures

My first official "light box" made from white foam board. I know, I know Heather ... not the most professionally lighted picture, but hey ... it ain't too shabby.

The little creatures are from Planet June on Etsy ... her Mini Fuzzies Woodland Creatures. So cute and so easy to make up. I will be adding a hedgehog to the trio tomorrow sometime. These are for my stocking on Tuesday.

I have to make the second leg warmer, and make the drawstring for a pair of pants. Then I think I will call it quits for this stocking, and focus on what I am making for the Necessitae stocking at the end of the week. I have a few ideas in mind, so we shall see how those materialize.

Cupcake

Here's a cupcake I made up tonight for the winner of the chat/stocking game for our last stocking at Necessitae.

She asked for personality .... hope she likes this cake's personality.

Stocking on Tuesday

Not only have I held myself accountable to my stocking buddy, Kim but I am now holding myself accountable to ... ummm .. Heather. And anyone else who reads this sorry blog.

So Tuesday at 2, I will be stocking some things. I have to make the drawstring for a pair of pants, and then I have to enlist the hubby to help me make a light box and get some lighting for it so I can get good pics this weekend and get everything listed.

The bead I was going to sew in the middle of a flower on a purse i made will not happen because it is too large and I don't like it. I want something glittery and fun, so I think I might look for a button instead.

Tonight the tides will turn, and I will become the mother of a 4Her and not be one myself (not like I was one last year). But this year is # 1's first year in 4H and I can't wait. I can't wait to see what she wants to sign up for. And this group sounds wonderful, assigning mentors to the younger kids to give them encouragement and help when they need it.

I was going to see if she wanted to take a knitting project. Then I remembered ... she doesn't know how. This is when it all comes down to what it was like at my house during project selection time:

Me: Mom .. can I take sewing THIS year, please?

Mom (eye twitching): Hey .... you know what I completely forgot to tell you? Since you did so well in school today, I'm buying you a hamster.

Me: But Sissy already has three.

Mom: I know! Don't you want one for yourself.

Me: I guess so.

Mom: Great. Let's go get one. Oh yeah and hey ... did you know you can take hamsters as a project in 4H. Wouldn't THAT be fun?

Me: YEAH!!!!

Mom: Great ... grab your coat.

Me: Can I name him Lucifer?

Mom: Honey, as long as his name isn't Singer, I don't care.

What DID I do this weekend?

Ever have one of those weekends where you just don't remember what you did?

I had one of those.

I remember working the IRL job. I also remember spending time with my inlaws. I remember doing kid things, and going to church.

But I don't remember any knitting time.

And that bums me out. Totally.

I need to get in touch with my 80s roots. I think I might have an 80s movie stocking theme. I was thinking of starting off my stocking with The Reservoir Dogs with Mr. Orange because it seemed like all I was going was making orange things.

Then I decided against that because it is really a nasty movie when you think about it.

So sometime I will re-open my store. I need to advertise. I was going to re-open this week and I think I still will. I have a pair of shorts done and am finishing up a pair of pants. But I would like to have more for it.

So therein lies my quandry: not knitting this weekend has really thrown me for a loop.

And I have a sick kid at home today, complaining of feeling yucky, sore throat, and carrying a lowgrade. Kim ... sound familiar? SO not looking forward to this onslaught.

Phew....

Six cupcakes

two clementines

and one bunny with his carrot

later and I am all stocked at my store at Necessitae.

We shall see how it all goes tonight.

Sometimes I just can't stand the cuteness

I love amigurumi crocheting. I just love it...

The Clementines...

D'Oh!

Cheap plastic crochet hooks ... I snapped my G hook. I heard it crack. And then I just waited. And it didn't take long.

This is what I get for buying a five pack for $ 4.99 at the Lobby of Hobby. Oh well.... lesson learned.

Now I just need to learn the lesson of remembering where I put the G hook that I already owned. Anyone have any ideas?

Didn't think so.

I have made four cupcakes. They are darn cute. The best part was when # 2 was joking and said "can I have a cupcake, Mommy?" and # 3 comes tearing into the kitchen, looking all over the counter for the edible cupcakes that did not exist.

Poor thing.

So here is my accountability for stocking something this week: four cupcakes and possibly six ... I just need to make them; a tangerine or clementine ... Ooooh... yeah .. Clementine amigurumi ... he needs finishing, as well; a purse that needs a bead sewn onto the front; a pair of shorts that just need the legs and cuffs (this won't take long at all); a pair of pants that needs a leg (this might be in my store stocking next week); and a bunny who is finished but I want to give him a crochet carrot.

So .... I have been productive. I just need to decide where I am stocking what. I think the shorts and pants will go in my store, and the amis and toys will go in Necessitae.

Blah blah blah boring boring boring ... yawn. I am making myself tired.

Pretty uneventful knitting weekend

I had to work this weekend, so that cut out on my knitting time. But I was able to get a good deal of work done on a pair of baby shorts that I will be stocking in my store in the next week. I have a little purse that I need to add a bead to, and a few other small things that I want to get done. I am also waiting on a shipment of safety eyes for some tiny amigurumis that I want to make.

I have a stocking at Necessitae coming up at the end of this week, and I have yet to make anything for it. I think I will make some cupcakes ... those are pretty easy to whip up. It is just the assembly of it all.

I got these REALLY cool stitch markers from Girl on the Rocks on Etsy. I ALWAYS forget what I have to do when I am shaping my toes and my gussets on my socks. These will be an IMMENSE help. You have them turned around when you need to decrease, and then turn them to the back to give you a blank so you know not to decrease. Ever put down a sock and not remember where you left off? Happens to me ALL. THE. TIME. She is a cool person to work with, too. And she includes a little stitch marker with her name on it in the same pattern. I love these.

So I have made a decision to be more proactive with my two businesses. I love to knit and crochet, so I should make things to stock in my stores. It is only common sense, really. I need to be more consistent.

I haven't re-started any socks for me. I think I am going to add another repeat of the 15 row pattern for the Fawkes and see if that helps me out any.

Have a good one. Make it count!

Awwww Fawke!

I hate it when I put time and effort into something and it doesn't fit.

So I frogged it. I had the whole leg and the gusset and the heel shaping done on my first Fawkes sock. And I kept having this nagging feeling that it wasn't going to go over my honkin' big foot. And guess what?

It didn't.

And I want this yarn to be socks for me.

So I start all over again.

40 Hats in 40 Days

On the Wooly Wonder Forums (where I am a mod), I was looking around and saw a member post that she takes part in a 40 hats for 40 days of Lent and she donates them to hospitals in need.

So I thought "why not?"

There is a REALLY super fast 10 minute crochet hat ... so I started making them.

I have made 4 so far. I cannot stress enough how super easy this is.

So ... if you can do basic crochet stitches (chain, slip st, SC and DC) you are good to go.

Anyone up for the challenge?

So sad

The author of the Bellatrix pattern, along with a number of other really cool and innovative sock patterns, passed away due to complications from lupus. The Ravelry world is mourning the loss of an awesome designer.

I knew that I knit Bellatrix for a reason last month. I am now working on Fawkes, which is also in that Harry Potter series. I am using the Bambewe sock yarn from Zen String, and I love the drape of it. The colors are pretty cool, too.

In other knitting news, well there's not much of it. I had to finish up the IRL job work this weekend, so that left little to no time to knit. However, I did work on the Fawkes sock, and the Jaywalker some.

I still haven't heard back from our director of children's ministry on those knee-highs. My mother was aghast that I turned her down. I told her that I wasn't going to spend all that time on those socks and not get the correct wage for them. She thought I was admitting defeat because I couldn't "do" them ... as in couldn't understand how to do them. I told her that had nothing to do with it.

So today is the start of a new week. Hopefully with some knitting in it.

Make it count!

Freedom!!!!

Taking the advice of Heather and really examining my head regarding those knee high socks, I emailed the lady who had asked me to make her mom's socks and told her that I would be deluding myself, and lying to her, to think that I would be able to make these socks in a timely manner. I mean, I can't even finish my sister's Jaywalker socks by Christmas, and I had started them at the beginning of December.

I really DO love to knit socks. I just love to take my time. And I don't want the added pressure of having to make socks for someone's mother who wants them to be thick at the heel and ball of the foot, and also not be able to have a live person to try them on to make sure I am shaping them correctly.

So there you go. I am free of the obligation and it feels so good.

I have the heel flap finished of the Jaywalker, and will be turning the heel today and picking up the instep stitches and moving on. I should be finished within the next two weeks! And then that UFO can be off of my mind.

I have joined the KAL at Ravelry for The Amanda Hat. It is totally and completely darling, and I wanted to make myself a Calorimetry, but I think I will make this hat instead. I am going to use the yarn that I scored at Mosaic Moon's most recent yarn stocking in the Elements colorway. This should be a good, quick knit. I need one of those now, I think.

All right ... lunch has arrived and I am off to eat it.

Rock on and make it count.

Such a heel

I am to the heel flap on the Jaywalker. I am itching to get through it now because a very dear friend of mine came to visit me last night, and she brought me some yummy yummy yarn from the talented KimberlyR. I was ooohing and aaaahing over this sock yarn, swearing that it would be mine once my self-imposed yarn diet was over and I had loosened the belt by a few skeins and some finished objects.

I can't wait to knit it up ... it is this colorway in particular and I love love love. I have two skeins of it, and I can't wait! I think I might even make some fingerless gloves with it, too. And the picture doesn't do it justice: there is more brown to it than the pic shows. I love it! It is so me.

I am going to be working on a felted tote bag for a stocking for Necessitae within the next few weeks. I need to decide what I am stocking for the 15th. Of course, I am very limited... crochet or knit? Knit or crochet? Hmmmm..... the choices are endless. LOL!

So for this weekend, I will hopefully be finishing up the Jaywalker and giving it to my sister just because. I will then decide which direction I want to go from there.

Oh yeah... and I suppose I need to order that sock yarn for those knee high socks I said I would make. I am half tempted to show her these 9.99 socks I found online ... I mean really. By the time I get these done, I would need to charge her $ 75 for them, and I know she isn't going to pay that much. I am not even sure if she is going to pay me at all.

Jaywalker love

I decided it was high time that I cast on for that second Jaywalker sock. I decided that it was high time that I stopped being so non-productive with that sock, and do something about it.

So I have about 1 1/2" done on the sock and am going strong. I should have these done by the end of the month. Maybe sooner. And then I will give them to the intended recipient, my sister.

This is all I am working on. I want to work on only it when I sit down to knit something. That way I don't get distracted.

Tonight I have a few things going up at Necessitae ... some crocheted items, actually.

You have already met Sayae:

This is Momoka:

And then there is a lone cupcake:

That is what I have been working on these past few weeks. I have a lot of fun crocheting because it all comes together so quickly. Sure, there is more sewing and construction, but I feel that I have come a long way in that department.

Have a good Wednesday ... make it count!

It's the end of the world as we know it

Yes ... you read that right.

It IS the end of the world.

Lock your doors. Bring the pets in. Make sure you have enough water and food at your house. And make sure your kids are safe.

Because the self-proclaimed one-sock wonder has ....

Drumroll please....

FINISHED A PAIR OF SOCKS FOR HERSELF!!!



yes ... you read that right. I have finished a pair of socks for moi.

And to prove that I did, here are BOTH feet in the shot, and no those aren't photoshopped in to make it look like I am wearing a pair of socks when I had only made one sock. Those are my feet ... right and left.

And those are two socks on those two feet.

I will be starting a new pair this weekend. I can't wait! I love to have a completed project that I can wear.

Frikkin' frakkin' dropped stitch

I was sailing through my second Bellatrix sock. I was so proud of myself for voluntarily casting on, for sailing through it and enjoying it and then I looked at it ... on the foot ... there is a DROPPED STITCH!

I mean come on! Who DROPS stitches, people? Seriously? And it wasn't right near where I was. Nooooo.. it was a good two inches down the foot.

So I frogged back. And then I got mad because my yarn knotted up when I was trying to get it back into the ball I have been working with.

But all is good again in Bellatrix-land. I will move on. I will perservere! I will FINISH it before the 31st.

Then I will cast on a pair of socks for my husband, and I will move through those faster. It is my promise to myself.

I am trying to decide if I will be making him the Earl Grey or the Lighthouse Gansey Socks. I could ask him, I suppose.

But where is the fun in that, I ask? For some reason, I want to surprise him. Of course, I knit directly in front of him, so there will be no huge surprise.

This week, I will be having an overnight guest and her daughters. This is a friend of mine I have only met online ... Shana. I am so looking forward to meeting her, seeing who she is, matching the online to the in life persona. It will be a lot of fun! She is travelling to her sister's in Philly, and I am the half-way point for her. The girls and my kids will have a great time with one another. I just hope her girls don't leave, scarred for life. LOL!

I need to order some sock yarn for some knee-high socks that I am not too anxious to make. I don't know why.... maybe because I have a hard enough time making my OWN socks, now I have to make someone else some socks and I have never attempted to make knee highs before? Maybe something like that ...

Ok. I need to take advantage of this no-kid time and get some real life work done.

Later ...

A little crocheting never hurt a knitter

When I learned how to knit, I frustrated VERY easily. But then I finally "got" it. Sure, I made mistakes along the way ... a lot of them. Shoot, I STILL make mistakes that make me scratch my head and wonder how.

But I picked it up, and I loved it.

I decided that I would tackle crocheting. I decided that knitting didn't tackle me, so I could certainly learn how to crochet. I have friends who can do both, and do both wonderfully. Why couldn't I be one of them?

So I bought the same book that I bought for knitting, except well ... you know ... for crocheting. And I looked at it. And I tried.

And I gave up. I couldn't wrap my head around the concept. I could crochet a chain, but that was the extent of my knowledge-base.

Then our senior center was offering a "learn to crochet" class. I was the only person under 50 in there, but by golly, I was going to LEARN from the masters.

Until the master showed up with her dishcloth books and cotton yarn, and said "if you need any help, let me know."

Well really? Isn't the point of this class to TEACH me how to crochet? If I wanted to learn with a dishcloth book and some Sugar and Cream yarn, I would have stayed home because I have those there.

Then the master started to get flustered because apparently, I was not the only one who showed up to learn something. So she called in her friend, the one who knows more on how to instruct people. But she was no help, either.

Flustered and mad that I had spent 2 hours in this place, I got up and muttered something about teaching myself at home, and I left.

And I taught myself. That day. I told myself I would not be defeated by a stupid piece of metal and yarn. I had already mastered the yarn part. It was that darn hook. And knowing where to insert it. And knowing what to do with it once it was inserted, and then what to do with it once it had yarn wrapped around it.

And now I crochet. I don't crochet as well as I knit. But I am pretty proud of my crochet skills. They are utilitarian, but I can understand what I need to do now.

And I recommend to any knitter out there who hasn't learned how to do it, and who are getting burned out with knitting, to give it a whirl. It really is therapeutic.... once you get past the frustrating part.

And here is that crochet project I worked on ... isn't she cute?

FO!

A finished object:

The Wristers for our choir accompanist. Giving to her tomorrow night.



One thing lopped off of my stash game. A bazillion more to go.

What is your inspiration? and a shout out

Do you look at a skein of yarn and say "I will use that to make X."

Or do you just buy a skein of yarn because you just want it, and know you can put it to good use at some point?

I have my purchases where I know exactly what I want and need for a project.

Then I have those yarn purchases where I just need the yarn, no matter what the project.

And it seems that there are more of those purchases, from the looks of my yarn stash. I really need to stop buying yarn. But I can't.

I just received my latest purchase in today's mail from Morwenna's (Mosaic Moon) latest stocking. It is a three ply merino in her Elements colorway. Very pretty.

I didn't have anything in mind for it. I was going to wait until it arrived to see how it spoke to me.

And I have decided .... I will make my Calorimetry from it. I said I wanted one, and I better get to it if I want to get it finished up before the winds stop howling in Northwest Ohio.

I would love to make some mittens with it, too. But I know I would be asking too much from one skein of yarn. However, I do believe that there might be one lonely little skein sitting in Morwenna's store that matches. If so, I will be getting it and making some matching mittens.

Now that doesn't help me with the Wooly Wonder Forums stash game because I am already -8 points into the game because of that purchase. But it is so much fun... and I love getting mail.

Oh and ... here's a shout out to my across the street, newly met friend AmyJ. It appears that Amy and I have been hanging around the same haunts and had no idea of one another's existence.

The New Blog

I guess when I posted over at WP, I threw my employer's name into a Google Alert ... and I didn't want them to go over there and read about my knitting life.

So here I am. I have been here before, but not under this name. I will see how I like to be back on Blogger. I am most positive it will be just fine.

So off to update some people .... just so they don't think I have dropped off the face of the earth. Or something like that.