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Wednesday, November 09, 2011

Autumn in All it's Beauty

I guess you could say it's been awhile since I've blogged.....a blogging hiatus of sorts!  To be honest I needed a break and was working on two UFO's, both of which aren't completed even as I type.  I'm still crocheting the baby blanket for my new grandbaby who is due in March of 2012 and a buttonhole scarf which I'm knitting.  I got that yarn and pattern from  Deramores online store in England.  I won both the yarn and the pattern booklet for a slogan I entered into their contest over the summer.  I was bowled over when I got the email that I won and shortly thereafter I got my winning package in the mail....airmail, that is. :) 

I promise pictures very soon since I do need to finish up both of the above before Christmas and then I'll be free to begin 2 new projects, one of which will be socks using String Theory yarn in a combination of a lovely cocoa brown and a medium pink, what fun!


Since I don't have any pics of fiber content, I leave you with our little snow day on October 28, 2011.  I don't remember ever getting snow that early in our neck of the woods but there you have it......Mother Nature will do as she pleases when she pleases so there are no guarantees when it comes to weather.  My one hope is that the upcoming winter will be a very cold one, which will be right up my alley.  Cheers to all of you!

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

New Socks


Here are my completed socks knit using Claudia's Handpainted yarn which I purchased from Simply Socks.  I used size 2 dpns and knit them both at once so as to keep each modification I did uniform.  I really enjoyed knitting with this yarn as it's very reminiscent of Koigu sock yarn and I especially love the feel of the somewhat 'squishy' yarn as it becomes a sock and the cabled effect it gives my work.  I needed a pair of socks in brown tones to wear with my fall colors when the time comes because I have all manner of blues, purples, oranges, and even pinks, but alas, until now, no browns.  I'm glad they're completed though because it seemed to take forever to finish these babies and I just about made it, yarn wise, and was left with only inches of each skein!

I'm waiting to get some ice blue yarn in order to complete a granny square baby blanket I'm crocheting.  I didn't get very far because I ran out of the blue, but it's going to be done in 2 colors, white and ice blue, and NO, there are no announcements for a new grandchild, I'm just trying to get a jump on things because I know there will be another grandbaby on the way one of these fine days.  I do like crocheting this pattern (the Rasberry Granny Ripple on Ravelry)  and when I'm finished with this one, I'm going to do another baby blanket, but this time knit, in either a basket weave or with two strands held together in another stitch.  I'll probably knit this one in some sort of pink combos for the obvious reason.  :)

The only other news I have as far as my knitting goes, is that I finally gave in and bought a set of Signature dpns after having read how much my online pal, Kathy, loved them.  I got a size 2 set in red and at first I didn't care much for the very pointy tips but after knitting one of the socks above with them, I got into the groove and didn't poke myself as often as I did and first, and now I have to say that I do like them very much.  They come in especially handy when doing the heels and picking up because of the tapered tips, so if any of you are considering the purchase, although they're awfully expensive, I think you wouldn't be sorry and you'll have these steel babies forever!

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Spring is Slowly Appearing

Spring is taking it's good old time appearing in my neck of the woods but that's okay with me.  The way I see it, the longer it takes to warm up, the less time it will eventually be hotter than blazes with humidity that takes every ounce of energy out of me.  I am looking forward to the buds blooming though and the leaves coming back on the trees as it is such a beautiful time of the year.  I'm not sure if we'll get our annual hibiscus like the one above this year or not since we've decided to plant some impatients (I think that's how they're spelled) of various colors all in one pot and put out on our front porch and also on our patio out back.  When they start to bloom I will take lots of pictures and share the beauty with you.

 I've finally decided to take the plunge and try my hand at a gansey and I'm currently working on the Gansey Sampler by Beth Brown-Reinsel.  There are quite a few new things to do on this sweater, things, I've never attempted before.  The Channel Island cast on always freaked me out but once I actually 'saw' it done, well, like anything else it wasn't as difficult as I thought but just hard to explain in words alone.  Since it's only a sampler and ergo, a learning process, I'm using an acrylic yarn, Vanna's Choice (color: linen) which works up quite satisfactorilyI chose a light color so I could see all the patterning and immediately spot where I'd made mistakes, which I've already done.  I'm not sure that I'll ever knit a true Gansey sweater for myself or anyone in my family but I do really like patterning with purl rows placed strategically here and there.  I am learning several new things though, and that's always a plus in knitting and in life, LOL.

 I'm also working on a pair of socks using Claudia's Handpainted yarn in the aptly named color, 'mushroom hunting', which I really like.  This yarn is lovely to knit with and has a spring to it's step and a lovely softness.....really reminds me quite a bit of  Koigu, also one of my favorite sock yarns.  I'm using size 2 dpns (the square Kollage needles) and I am enjoying knitting with them as they glide easily and don't fight me on every turn like some needles tend to do.  

Well, here's to all of you for a happy and enjoyable spring time and thanks for stopping by.  

Friday, February 25, 2011

A New Year & New Projects

I just completed this fingerless mitts using Clara Parkes pattern Maine Morning Mitts from her Book of Yarn.  I had to give the thumb several tries before I came up with a relatively neat ones, but I'm happy with the final resultI used Schoeller & Stahl's Limbo Mexiko.  I made these for myself because lately (and this is a first for me), my hands have been getting very cold at times and they are great to slip on, warm and cozy, yet I'm still able to use my fingers for knitting, reading, etc.


I also got busy and updated my yarn stash on my NeedleTrax software.  Now, that was a major eye opener and thus, I'm on a yarn diet for the remainder of this year and well into next, or as they call it on Ravelry, I'm 'Cold Sheeping' and that's a fact.  I cannot believe I have so much and wonder what in the world I was thinking to continue buying yarn even when I have only two hands, LOL.  I couldn't possibly use it all and I know I've blogged about this in the past but now I'm more serious about ONLY knitting and crocheting from my stash and logging how much yardage I use each year. 


I've decided to use some of it for charity knitting or crocheting because it seems only right to share this excess of fiber.  I totalled up the yardage of everything and can't even get up the courage to list the colossal total here!   So, NO MORE!

My next project is to take a look at the specific yarns I have and make a list of knitted or crocheted gifts I'd like to make for my loved ones this year....perhaps one a month if I can manage it and still whip out a few charity items......we shall see, wish me luck.