This Is What I've Been Up To....

I haven't posted in forever....sorry Cat. :P I am finally posting on the blog. YAY!!!!! So, here's an update on what I've been up to lately.

This is actually my second Clapotis . I'm using some Noro Kureyon that I've had for several years. It is pretty scratchy but the colors are just so vibrant that I'm quickly getting over the whole scratchy thing. I think it will soften up with use and I expect it to get lots of use.


This a little girl's lacy scarf. It was inspired by a pattern I saw on Ravelry but unfortunately I can't remember exactly which pattern it was. It's basically a feather and fan type pattern just done with fewer stitches. I had some Caron Simply Soft and I thought this was a cute way to use some of it up.


Next up...the Skull Illusion Scarf that I'm making for my youngest son. It's getting pretty close to finished but I get bored pretty easily with this one. It can be done relatively quick but I keep putting it down for other projects.


This was my first Clapotis . My sister claimed it before I even got the pattern going and now that it's done...she loves it. I broke the rules and used acrylic but believe me...it is wonderful. I used I Love This Yarn from Hobby Lobby in Mid-Green. I did the pattern exactly..all the repeats and it took me a little less than 2 skeins.

My youngest modeled for me...Thanks, Girlfriend! The scarf is so soft and smushy. It's just thick enough to be nice and warm without being bulky. As soon as the I get the Noro Clapotis finished...I will be making another with more I Love This Yarn.


And, FINALLY....photos of my socks! I wear these socks all the time. It is so true that hand knit socks feel so much nicer than store bought socks. These socks fit like a glove and they are so comfortable that I sometimes forget I'm even wearing them.


A little close-up of the heel which I love. I will make more socks for me....with cute heels to wear with clogs. Not that anyone else will ever notice but you just never know. :P

I hope everyone has been doing well. I'm sorry I haven't been around and haven't been doing my usual blog hopping but that is also going to change. I miss everyone and seeing what's knitting.

We finally got some snow around here last week (5 inches...WOO HOO!). I've got some pretty good photos to share soon....just have to finish editing.

Hugs to everyone and I will be around to visit all of you soon!!!

It's Not Friday Yet?

This has been one of those long weeks...is Friday ever gonna get here? I want to sleep late. lol

Here's a little proof that I have been knitting my socks...not as much or as often as I should but I have been working on them. As soon as I get sock #2 at the same point as sock #1 then it should be a quick finish. I can't wait!!!

A little more Spring for you. My Granny Smith apple tree is blooming!! It's going to fun to see how many apples we get this year. It's our second year of actual blooms and producing apples. Last years were kinda small but pretty tasty. Hopefully this year they will be bigger still.

Now I'm working on a few dishcloths and getting ready to try one done in the round from the center out....Thanks, Brian! I actually did try it once already but my blond was working overtime and I totally screwed it up. :P I know what I was doing wrong so this time hopefully it will turn out right.

Hugs!

Wee Tiny Sock....Big Big Thanks

First off...I have to say a HUGE THANK YOU!! to everyone who sent me Happy Birthday wishes. I have never had so many b'day greetings in my entire life. You all have really made my birthday something special.

Second...Another HUGE THANK YOU!! to all the great people who have joined our new dishcloth KAL group. In just 10 days we have reached 84 members. I can't believe how many great friends and new friends have joined us and we're growing every day. I have to admit that I was a little worried about starting the group....not knowing if anyone would want to join and feeling really lonely with just me, Froggie and Shirl. ;P The response has been just overwhelming and the wonderful comments and words of encouragement have been absolutely awesome. We've still got room for plenty more....it's such a friendly group that's developing there. We started our first KAL today too....*sigh* What more could a girl ask for?


Now on the the Wee Tiny Sock Swap. This was my practice sock. I used Lion Brand Magic Stripes. I wasn't sure if it would stripe on such a tiny thing but it did. I'll post a photo of my swap sock when my partner receives it. It's on it's way!

Just sharing a little more spring for all you still snow bound friends. Can you believe we had to fire up the fireplace yesterday!? It was so cold here. Not so bad today. This weather is crazy.

Did anyone participate in the Earth hour on March 29? We did here...kids were not thrilled. lol
After we got out some candles they seemed to perk up a bit. I spent most of the hour explaining "WHY are we turning all the lights off?:....how it would help even if "everybody else isn't doing it"....ahh...quality family discussion time. lol They would never admit it but I think the kids actually ended up enjoying it. Thanks, Isabelle for sending me the link to sign up.

Hugs!
*feeling really special today*

Oh Yeah.....I Have AN FO!!!

If you remember a little while ago, I was starting the Purl McBigBottom purse . Betcha thought it would never get finished....I was doubtful myself. Well, here it is! Done! Finished! YAY! I did some extra repeats here and there and it's not exactly to the pattern but my yarn was not quite as chunky so it was turning out a bit small. I think it will look even better once I get something in it and you can see the "bigbottom" effect. I was pretty pleased with it and already got a "I want one of those" from Mom and my sister even thought it was cute. Not a bad day's work.

Gotta give ya a little close-up of the body....now I'm really wishing I had stuffed something in there beforehand. lol I used Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick. I'm thinking the color was Taupe but not 100% sure. This really is a quick knit if you actually knit on it and not push it to the side like I did. :P

And...progress on the second sock. I need to get it gear with the knitting so I can get these finished already. I want to wear them! And for once...a photo that shows the colors true. Aunt Kathy...I have thought about that 2 socks on 2 circulars thing BUT....to be perfectly honest, I am askeerd. I'll let you try that first and tell me the details. lol And thank you, thank you Shelly....someone else gets my logic!!

Okay, before I go....sharing a little more spring with ya. I keep going out and looking to see what's budding and which plants are going to make it back this year. Still waiting on my elephant ears...too early to tell yet I think.

Now I'm off to get my Wee Tiny Sock done for my partner. I'm thinking if I have time, I may just make two.

Hugs!

Just Checking In....

Spring is officially here...look at my Granny Smith apple tree. YAY!! Last year was the first year he officially produced anything remotely edible. If I remember correctly, we counted about 60 little apples last year. They didn't get very big but I tried them anyway and they were right tasty little things. I have high hopes for this guy this year.

No new knitting pictures to share...sorry. By the time I realized it, it was too late in the day to attempt it. They would have been crappy photos at this point. I have been knitting though not on the original projects....bag and sock and the long neglected Icelandic Shawl. I've got two new dishcloth designs done for my new group that I will post as freebies when the KALs are done.
I have a little bit of progress on the bag and the second sock just not as much as I had hoped at this point.

I decided to go ahead and start the second sock and let the other sit until I get them both to the same point...toe decreases. That way, they're both the same size. I have this morbid fear that if I finish the first one completely and then do the second one that somehow I will end up with two completely different size socks. In "Melanie Logic" this makes perfect sense. lol

Hope you're all well or getting well...we're still working on it and now we have the lovely pollen to add to our troubles. Yuck! I'm convinced that I have bronchitis since it hasn't gone away like a cold would and it has all settled down in my chest. Another YUCK! But, I feel okay otherwise so I'm gonna tough it out. It'll have to go sometime.

Off to try to get some knitting time in on these two little projects so I can get back to the shawl. It's beginning to haunt me. lol

Hugs!

Kites And Wee Tiny Sock Swap

The little man got to fly a kite for the first time this weekend. He looks more fascinated with the string than the kite itself. lol His Mommy said he had a good time and I think they've found a new activity to burn off some of that toddler energy that I so wish I still had. He was cute doing it and I'm proud of him for handling it all by himself on his first time out.

I just left Nichole's blog and the sign-ups for the Wee Tiny Sock Swap. I love the tiny socks...think back to the keychain....it's just too cute and it was so quick to knit. They also make cute ornaments. I have the intention of decorating my Christmas tree this year in all hand knit ornaments so this would be good practice. *sounds good anyway* If anyone else is interested...you have until Thursday (March 27) to sign up. Details are at the link above. I love the swaps and they're a fun way to make some new friends.

I have done almost no knitting the past few days....got the Spring cleaning bug and been busy busy. Ms Thang has outgrown so many of her clothes so we went through most of them last night and send a huge bag full of clothes with my sister this morning to give to someone who can use them. It's amazing how fast these kids grow!! And she still has more we will bag up and send off. I'm pretty sure she's outgrown her "Heely's" (don't know if spelled that right)....the shoes with the wheels so they can skate around....she's not gonna be happy to see those go but there's no sense in hanging on to them. Oh well....the joys of growing up. :P

*I wanted to send out a HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who has signed up for our new dishcloth KAL group ....we're up to 29 members already. That's enough to get us a KAL going soon! Anybody else interested? Come on...we'd love to see you there. I've got plenty more invites to send out....just leave me a comment if you want one. :)

Hugs!

Horses, Rain & Socks

We've had another gloomy day. It was mostly just cloudy and windy until about 2:30 pm and then the rain poured. It didn't last too awful long and after an afternoon walk outside....no more complaining about the rain. I have some shrubs that were given to me last year by Froggie. She and I both were pretty convinced that they were dead. I watered them profusely but they just sat there all dried out and brown...so pitiful. Ms Thang and I were walking around outside and I just glanced over at the shrubs to check them out.....pretty green is growing down on the inside of them near the roots. I was so excited! They live!!!! When we have a warmer day....I'll go out and cut all the dead, brown stuff off so the new growth can take over. YAY SHRUBS!!!

The main reason for our walk was to go next door to see the horses. Our neighbors have two of the sweetest horses you will ever meet. They were wet and muddy from the rain shower but still cute. This is the youngest fella....his name is Black Jack. I think he was a little disappointed with us since we didn't bring carrots. Sorry...little guy.

Ms Thang here petting both horses. The bigger horse is the mom....her name is April. I was hoping to get a couple of shots of them running and playing but they were more interested in finding out what we were up to. Black Jack did take a minute to go roll around in the mud but then he came right back. We'll try again another day when it's dry and pretty outside and the sun is shining.

A little more progress on the Broadripple Sock ...it was a hit at speech therapy...I knitted while I waited. Several people stopped to comment and not one person seemed shocked. I always knit something while I wait so they just expect it now I guess. If I go without my knitting...that's when they seem surprised. The color in this photo is pretty true...that last one was too yellowish. (that is a word, right?)

Gotta go get back to swatching a new scarf....the original design Froggie and I charted didn't work out with the yarn so I re-charted it with YO's instead of just knit and purl stitches. If all goes well....there may be photos of it...in progress...soon.

Hugs!

Signs Of Spring And Sock Progress

Finally, we have signs of Spring! I've seen some pretty photos on other blogs of flowers and trees with new buds and I look around here...nothing. How depressing. Today, after picking the kids up from school, this is what I found. YAY! I don't know what kind of tree/bush this is but it is so nice to see some flowering going on.

Just a little close-up...still playing with my camera and trying to get more comfortable with using it. I still have so much to learn with this new camera. I haven't had a lot of time to play around with the settings and see what we can do.

Some progress on the Broadripple Socks...turned the heel and now working the gusset. It's funny...the thing that really scared me about socks (turning the heel) is the thing I look forward to the most. It's kinda fun watching the heel take shape...almost magical.
The color is pretty bad in these two photos....I waited until too late in the day to take them....lighting is really bad.

Here you can see the gusset. I still need more practice picking up stitches but this one looks much better than my first one and I'm pretty sure I don't have any holes this time. At least none that just jump out at ya anyway. lol I love this pattern and this Cascade Fixation is awesome!

Thanks to everyone for your concern and prayers for my Mom. She did get to come home today and she's tired but feeling much better. I had to stay on her case and make sure she rested. I know she's feeling "cooped up" and wants to get back to doing things but she's going to have to take it slow. Your prayers have meant so much and it's such a wonderful feeling to know that so many people care....I can't thank you all enough. BIG HUGS!!!

I Am Still Alive....Frazzled, But Alive

Wow, I didn't realize it had been THAT long since I posted! Things have been a bit crazy and stressful here lately. Thursday night, my Mom had to go the emergency room....she has COPD and is on oxygen but normally she does really well. She has been fighting a cold (we all have) and after a week of not getting better, she suddenly got worse. My sister took her to the ER and she was admitted to the hospital with pneumonia. She's doing much better today and may even get to come home tomorrow. Thankfully, she has a wonderful doctor who knows what's best for her...despite everything she says. lol

Yesterday was a day of storms and tornadoes. This is what it looked like during the day. It should not be this dark in the daytime. It got a little scary there for a while. We had two that got way too close for comfort. These aren't even the worst of the clouds....I just wasn't going out there in the worst parts taking pictures. :P

I did manage to get some knitting done. I am so glad that yucky "what the heck am I gonna knit" feeling is gone. YAY!!! I really didn't like that at all. This is the Cascade Fixation yarn that Cat sent me...she is my enabler. Okay, I do it to her, too...fair is fair I guess. lol It took me a while to get the hang of it. With the elastic and my tight knitting....we had to do some compromising with each other. My Cascade and I are now really good friends. I LOVE THIS YARN!!! I have to have more!!! Where do I get this stuff!? I am also totally and completely in love with this sock pattern. For a newbie sock knitter to be able to knit something so pretty that looks complicated is just absolutely awesome!!! I cannot wait to finish them and wear them and tell everybody I see (even if they could not care less) I MADE THESE!!! I highly recommend the Broadripple Socks . Until something better comes along...if that's even possible.....these are my favorites. I should probably wait until I actually put them on to say that but how can they not be awesome? For any other newbie sock knitters....try this pattern....it's so easy you won't believe you're knitting such beautiful socks. Believe me...I am all about the quick and easy. lol

Sorry I took so long to post again. Life gets crazy...you all have been there. And if anyone doesn't already know....the new spring issue of Knitty is out! Check it out!

Hugs!

Thanks, Cat!

I got my issue of Simply Knitting today! I live in a town that has no Barnes & Noble bookstore...how crazy is that? This means I can't get my hands on this awesome magazine. Lucky for me...Cat (who told me about this magazine in the first place) worked out a little system for me to be able to get it. This issue has a gorgeous free shawl pattern (Hearts & Flowers) and an easy little sock pattern that I'm itching to try. I also love the Sweet Cupid by Alan Dart. He has some awesome toy patterns and this is the first one of his designs that I've gotten my hands on. The cupid is so cute.

It also had a free set of stitch markers (5 total). She got me the pink ones...YAY!!! They had them in blue but I really wanted the pink. You can't beat free. Besides the awesome patterns and tips...this magazine is notorious for freebies....see why I want it so bad? Not sure when I'll get around to trying any of these patterns though because.....

She also sent me this. Two balls of Cascade Fixation and a sock pattern to go with it. I don't know the name of this colorway but it's so pretty. I cannot wait to try these socks. They look complicated but the designer promises them to be "deceptively simple". I sure hope he's right.
The pattern is Broadripple Socks designed by Rob Matyska.

Here's a close-up for ya. I've heard about this yarn but had never seen any....got to say that I think I'm gonna love it. It's not the tiny little thin sock yarn that terrifies me so much. Size 3 needles...I can handle that. The colors are perfect for Spring. I'm thinking these will be OTN pretty soon.

Thanks again, Cat! Your contest goodies rock! I so appreciate you doing my magazine shopping for me. :P

Shoot The Moon

I hope everyone got the chance to see the lunar eclipse last night. I made many pathetic attempts to take a photo. I'm sharing with you all a couple of the better ones. This is about as close-up as I could get and still be able to tell what it was. It really looked better with the naked eye but the camera just doesn't like to shoot the moon. lol

I don't know how or why it's orange in this photo but I thought it looked kinda cool. I got some tips from a friend and hopefully in the future I might some decent moon photos. I'll keep trying.

Ms Thang wore her socks to school today and showed them off to her friends, her interpreter and her teachers. She tells me her interpreter wants me to teach her how to knit. I don't know if this is true or not, the awesome interpreter hasn't mentioned it to me.

Almost finished with the other half of duckie #2's body....then on to the wings, beak and feet. Hopefully, he will finished soon.

AND.....I am sooooo excited!!! I learned to do the long tail cast on today!!!!!!!! YAY ME!!! It wasn't really hard at all. Man, the things I fear and then end up feeling so "DUH". lol I'm working on casting on my second pair of socks...hope socks #2 go as well or better then the first ones.

Hugs!

My First PAIR Of Socks.....FINISHED!

Well, I can now blog my final post on the first "pair" of socks. Yes, the second sock is now finished and on the foot of Ms Thang. She can sleep with two warm feet tonight. lol

The second one seemed to take me a lot longer than the first and I was so afraid the entire time that it would come out all wrong or too big or too little.....but miraculously, it's the same size! I am shocked and proud.

The photos aren't as clear as I would have liked but again, it's late and the light is crappy. I am so relieved to be finished and see that they did turn out not only the same size but wearable too.

Ms Thang was thrilled to have it done and put it on right away. These are going to be worn out real soon...I just have a feeling about that.

Teddy is still waiting on his last ear and a scarf and he's good to go. He had to chill on the desk while I got the sock finished. It was driving me insane and I can't cast on for another one until I finished the pair so it just had to be done.

Now, I'm going to fix me a nice cup of hot chocolate (courtesy of Aunt Kathy)....have the worst sore throat and need something warm and soothing. Spring....come on already....all this sickness is just ridiculous!

Sluggish Sunday

I was asked about the size of the keychain so I thought another photo would be the best way to explain. This is my car key next to the sock...it's just a little bigger than the key but it really stand out. I so love this keychain...gotta get some more.

This is just to prove that I DO NOT have SSS...yet. It's OTN and I hope it will a FO tomorrow. Ms Thang is over-seeing production and not cutting me a bit of slack. lol Since tomorrow is her birthday, I really want to have it done. I would be further along but I spent way too much on Ravelry looking at sock patterns and trying to decide what my next one will be. I have some Tofutsies and I'm ready for another pair.

I am, however, very upset with these brand new hand made birch sock needles I bought recently at my LYS. They were $8.50 of worthless crap! I opened them yesterday and used them for the first time and one of the needles just split apart. They will making a trip back to the store and hopefully I can get another pair (different kind) because using these long DPs is really a pain.

That's my rant for the day....going back to my heating pad.....it's a girl thing. Nuff said.

Hugs!

Mini Sock Keychain

I decided today that since I can knit a sock now...I should whip up my sock keychain kit. I really wanted to have it on my keys to let everyone see. It was a super quick, fun knit.

It is so cute. I just love it and I've already had a request to make one for someone else. I think maybe I'll have to order some yarn and a handful of the sock blocker keychains so I can have them handy for gifts.

If anyone is interested in getting them...you can find them at The Unique Sheep .

Just a quick post today...had to share this little thing with you. It's already on my keys and ready for show. :)

The Sock Is Finished!

I know you're probably all sick to death of hearing about my sock but I wanted to show you that I did finish it. I even did the kitchener stitch and I am amazed that it really is invisible. I didn't believe it but the seam just disappeared! Awesome! It's rather confusing the first time but once I got to the end, I didn't even have to look back at the directions. I love learning something new!

I was able to put it on but it's a snug fit so I asked my youngest son to try it on....snug on him too. Then it was Ms. Thang's turn...she told me yesterday that "that sock better be for me".....lol Well, that sock is definitely for her because it is a perfect fit for her. It also doesn't hurt that it is her favorite color...orange. She gladly modeled the sock for me while I took some photos.

Later on, I checked to see what she was up to...too quiet means trouble you know....she was lying in the floor on a comforter watching TV with that sock still on her foot. Never mind that she doesn't match....she says she's waiting on the other one. :P

The Final Stretch Of My First Sock...no pun intended

My buddy now has a name....Cocoa. I think it suits her fine....we decided she's a girl because she's got a cute little pink scarf around her neck. She is very excited about our first sock. Last night, we picked up those stitches and did our gusset! I don't think it looks half bad for a first time. I do have a tiny little hole on each side...I've heard of other knitters picking up an extra stitch to solve that problem. I'm sure I will learn more as I go and I have a lot of knitting friends to hear me screaming...."HELP"!!!!!! lol

Just a little close up not a good one but a close up. I am really enjoying this and I can't wait to get it done so I can attempt to put it on. Cross your fingers on that one. lol

Just Do It.....

This is what happens when you stop thinking about doing something you fear and just do it. Brian sent me this awesome sock knitting book (Thanks, Brian!) and since he was so gracious, I felt I had to at least try. I decided to just get my yarn, needles and book and sit down and follow the directions....no thinking....no analyzing....just do what the book said.

I TURNED A HEEL!!!!!! I can't believe I finally turned a heel! It was so not as hard as I thought...I always end up saying that when I finally do something. lol Now, it's time to pick up stitches and I think this scares me more than turning the heel did but I will at least try.

I have no idea if the sock will even be wearable but I'm understanding what's happening so I know that I will be able to knit socks after this. I have wanted to do this for so long so this is just an awesome feeling for me. I don't know if I will work on it more today....maybe later tonight when things quiet down.

Thanks for all the encouragement I've gotten about trying to knit socks....you all are such great motivation! Wish me luck with the picking up stitches....another new thing for me...only ever done this once I think.

I'm using the yarn Aunt Kathy sent to me....they may not be wearable but they will be bright and pretty. lol

More Contest Goodies Are Here

I got my contest goodies today. The sock keychain kit is too cute. I'm getting a little better at the tiny knitting since I've been working on some toys so I hope this goes well. I can't wait to put my keys on it and display my knitting.


This is the beautiful Superwash Merino I received from Laura at The Unique Sheep . I have no idea what this will become just yet. It's 235 yds of DK weight "Sinful"ness. I do know that it will be something for me. :)

Big, big Thanks to Laura.....I love my goodies!!!

Decisions....

Tonight, I took some time to do a little yarn shopping with my gift certificate. Yeah, it was hard to decide....Laura has beautiful hand-painted yarn and the colors...omg...I wanted one of everything! I decided on some gorgeous Superwash Wool in the color Sinful and the cutest little Mini Sock Blocker Keychain . This is going to be my first sock. I thought it would be a good first project to get of feel of knitting socks and then I'd have a cute little keychain to show everyone that I love to knit.
The Unique Sheep is a place you really should check out. She has yarn, roving, nice patterns and the kits available also. I'll post photos of the goodies as soon as I get them.

Anybody Spare An Extra Set Of Hands?

Not a lot going on....just trying to get into some kind of Christmas knitting groove. I'm almost done with one cloth and only *omg, who knows how many* more to go. lol

I'm also working on charting up another dishcloth design that was requested by a friend. I have to write it out and get it test knitted to see how it looks. Still haven't gotten back around to the Pooh yet. I hope to have another one posted soon if all comes out well. It's being test knitted now.

I finally got the little book I have been waiting very anxiously for today. It's The Magic Loop...Sarah Hauschka's Magical Unvention. It's from Fiber Trends but I found it on eBay really cheap. I looked it over and now I so want to cast on some socks and give it a try but I don't have time. :(


It doesn't look like much...small, thin little thing....just from looking through it, I think maybe I can handle it. The illustrations are wonderful and it explains very well from what I can tell. Having never knitted socks, don't take my word for it just yet. We'll see after I get a pair of socks done. lol

I missed some awesome photos this morning taking the kids to school. The fog was lifting and it was almost eerie...I forgot the camera! DUH! I need two....one for the car and one for home.

Okay, back to the Christmas knitting. I really need some motivation...you would think the little amount of time left til Christmas would be motivation enough but so far....NO. Deadlines sort of take all the fun out of it. Maybe next year, I can get an early start so I can actually enjoy the process. Until next time.....Hugs!