As the faithful readers of my blog can see, I've been tweaking my page for a few days......I don't know why I just can't leave it alone but I see something that needs updating or changing and "presto", I'm changing this, that, and the other!
I've decided to join the summer reading challenge which I read about on Jenny Raye's blog. I find so many neat things there and really enjoy reading it. 
I hope to read a book a month although I've been neglecting my reading with all the knitting and crocheting I've been busy with and it seems as though the time flies each day! Perhaps though, with this challenge I can get down to business and start paring down my list of "to read" books.
I also placed a yarn challenge button on my blog in the hopes I could find the strength 
to refrain from purchasing ANYMORE yarn for at least 3 months. This will not be easy, not that there's anything wrong with that, as Jerry Seinfeld would say. Actually I haven't bought much yarn at all this year but every now and then I see something and I just know I must get it in order to place it on my list of "to be knit" at sometime in the waaaaayyyy distant future. Oh well, only another fellow knitter could understand the temptations. As the song says, "it's a jungle out there".
As you can see, my boy is somewhat annoyed that I wanted to wind this skein when he's clearly using it for a cushy pillow. It's the lovely lace "Megan" gave me....he likes your taste in yarns, Meg! :) So, dear knitters, I'll sign off for today and get started reading (along with knitting, of course), and wish you a wonderful holiday weekend, whatever your plans may be! Until next time, knit on.
Here they are in all their glory, my Rowan wool/cotton socks. This is the first time I've attempted this type of heel and only my second time knitting 2 on 2 circulars. It's been awhile since the original and I know back then I had a devil of a time keeping track of what was going on, especially with the heels. This is a garter stitch heel and at first I didn't know if I'd like it, but I find it feels nice and cushy so I'm sure it will be very comfy once I start wearing them. The picture shows the color a bit darker than it is, but I'm not afraid of flashy colors and this is actually a medium hot pink!
I got a lovely ball of yarn in the mail from a very dear online friend. It's just the most scrumptious, soft, begging to be knit merino. This came as a total surprise to me and put a perpetual smile on my face for the entire day.
Megan is such a talented knitter among many other talents she possesses. Checouther web page (in my knitting blog links) and you'll be bowled over by all her wonderful accomplishments. A very big "THANK YOU" to my friend,Megs! I continue to work on my 3 UFO's and I'm making a bit of progress on each individual one so hope springs eternal, as the saying goes! I also manage to fit in between the above knitting, my 2on2 Rowan socks. I got a bit tangled up with the 2 circulars yesterday and sat staring at them trying to figure out where I was going wrong, when finally, VIOLA.....a solution came to mind and I'm back on track now and I'm almost to the heels which ought to be interesting.
I'm reading "A Good Yarn" by Debbie Macomber which is a follow up to her book, "The Shop on Blossom Street". I love these sunny, airy stories that concern themselves with knitting and the women who do so. They are light and happy tales and I truly enjoy fitting this type of reading into my schedule.
I wish all of you a wonderful, sunny, light and fiberly weekend and until I see you again, dear knitters, take care and knit on!
One of my favorite thoughts: "Love many, trust few, always paddle your own canoe"!
Number one of 3 UFO's I'm bound and determined to complete one of these days in the not too distant future. Have I said this before ?.....absolutely, but now it's a must. It's a cotton cardigan using Manos Stria, 100% cotton, which is probably the only sweater I will be able to actually wear for any lenght of time. I get so warm in winter and summer that as much as I love all the wools and yummy wool blends, I can't seem to keep them on very long.....only long enough for a few ooh's and ahh's (my own, naturally, LOL).
I've found though, that I don't particularly like knitting with cottons. They have no elasticity and therefore are hard on the hands after more than a few rows. This yarn is a very soft cotton but it breaks rather easily, even in mid row, which is really frustrating. Presently I have the back completed along with the left front, and one arm so that leaves one more arm and the right front and then it's time to put it all together. Now, here's where I tend to procrastinate quite a bit! Thus far, I haven't sewn too many sweaters so I tend to get to a certain point in the process and then put the garment in my knitting basket not to be picked up again for a year or more. What's up with that, anyway? It's only a sweater and if I make a major mistake, in all likelihood, it can be fixed. Perfection is nice, but it's a myth......lovely, and very good will be my new mantra. :)
This is my Philosopher's Fair Isle cardigan which I'm knitting on circulars and I'm about 8" from completing the WHOLE thing! Trouble is, this has armhole steeks and a steek right down the center front for the cardigan opening. Then I have to pick up for the collar and knit the button bands, which, is something I've never done, so what do I do.............I put it back in the knitting basket, of course, and refuse to look at it, only when forced! This has been to this stage of completion for at least 3 years which as I look at it now, is a crying shame. I've put so much work into this that I really need to get on with it and take my chances. I'll probably look back and wonder what in the world I hesitated for after it's all said and done. Did I mention that I'd only be able to wear this one when the temperature dips below 20 degrees with winds up to 30 miles an hour and snow falling so hard that it's a virtual "white out"?
Finally,(with the help of my able bodied model), I'm still plugging along on the Aran baby blanket and I definitely feel like the "tortoise" rather than the hare on this project. It simply refuses to grow but continues to eat up yarn like there's no tomorrow. Oh well, it will be lovely when it's finished and that's what I continue to tell myself. An abundance of patience is what I need for this and plenty of it. :)
So, until next time dear readers, be well, be happy, and knit on!
I hope to read a book a month although I've been neglecting my reading with all the knitting and crocheting I've been busy with and it seems as though the time flies each day! Perhaps though, with this challenge I can get down to business and start paring down my list of "to read" books.
to refrain from purchasing ANYMORE yarn for at least 3 months. This will not be easy, not that there's anything wrong with that, as Jerry Seinfeld would say. Actually I haven't bought much yarn at all this year but every now and then I see something and I just know I must get it in order to place it on my list of "to be knit" at sometime in the waaaaayyyy distant future. Oh well, only another fellow knitter could understand the temptations. As the song says, "it's a jungle out there".
