Merry Christmas!!!!!

Merry Christmas all from my family to yours. May your holidays be wonderful and filled with great memories for the years to come! Always remember the REASON we celebrate Christmas and the wonderful gift that GOD sent to us. Happy Birthday Jesus!

I might just get it all done! I have 1 more hat to finish and a cowl for my neighbor...keep your fingers crossed!
Love,
Theresa

Black Hole Exploded!

I kept on knitting and the black hole exploded into the 6" that I needed! I measured once and it was like 4" when I measured it again, it was over 6! Yeah! I have one ear done and the other about half way done. I should finish it today. I think it will look very cute. I am hopefully going to get to start on one of the girls's today.

I did finish my nephew's hat. I think it is really cute. It is the Vertical Stripes Hat from Susan B. Anderson book Itty Bitty Hats. It was a fairly easy pattern with no seaming, which you know I really hate. The only difficult part was getting all of the pieces the same length which I SO did not do. I measured each one as I went too, but for some reason, it just didn't work. It looks okay though. I hope that my SIL likes it for my to be nephew (who I am tired of calling that and think I am going to christen him "Rosco"). I tried it on Jillian and it is too small so it should fit a newborn like Rosco just fine. Here is what it looks like:

Love,
Theresa

Black Hole!

OK, so last night, I understood the term "Black Hole of Knitting". Last night I was working on my niece's Bunny Hat and I just kept knitting and knitting and knitting. I need 6 inches before I can start to decrease. After all the knitting I only had 3 1/2 inches! An hour before, I had 2 1/2. I may not be the fastest knitter in the world, but I'm pretty sure I can knit 88 stitches in the round with Caron on Size 7's for more than an inch in an hour. I am hoping that when I go to measure it this morning, it will be at least 4 inches or something. I probably shouldn't hold my breath though!

I had a heart attack yesterday. Not really, but I had a glass of lemonade sitting on the table above my knitting bag. Do I really have to tell you what happened? Or can you take what you know about my lack of grace and guess for yourself? I almost got sick. I had to quickly pull all my yarn out of my bag and lay it by the heating vents then make sure nothing was ruined...all is good though, but I really do think my heart stopped!

I would be happy to knit the sock for you. I have big feet. :) You will have to wait until after the holidays though babe...way too much to do then. What gauge yarn do they use? Might as well do my first pair of socks for you. :)

Back to the Christmas knitting show!
Love, Theresa

Test Knit?

OK, so I'm almost finished writing up my pattern for Matt's Frat Feet Socks...but I need to have 3 test knitters before I can convert it to a PDF file and submit it to Ravelry as a design....

(Matt has a size 14 foot, so they're REALLY big on my feet and you can't get a good pic, so I'll take better pictures when he gets them for Christmas)

I know you haven't done socks yet, and this is a toe-up pattern (which is a little more complex than cuff down), but I wanted to see if you wanted to be my first test knitter? I am going to open it up to our BBC Mama's group to see if anyone there would be interested, but I wanted to ask you first!

These are knit up for Matty's huge feet, but the pattern is easily adjustable to different men's sizes as the toe count is the same but the length can be altered according to the length of the foot it's being knit up for)

Love you!

My Update, such as it is!

So much to do and oh geez, only like 8 1/2 days to get it done (I agree, the countdown thing may NOT have been my best idea!). Are you serious? I need more time! So, here is where I am:

Niece: Have to make her Camo Pants, Super Hero Cape, and Bunny Hat

Soon To Be Nephew: Romper and Blanket done (well, MIL is edging the blanket for me, but my part is done) and hat is almost done, just have to finish weaving in the ends and scrunch up the top.

Layla: Have to make 2 pair of flannel pants. I was going to do PJ's for her, but there is NO way they are getting done in time. I would also like to knit her a bunny hat. I still want to make a Christmas oufit, we will see if I get it done.

Jillian: Have to make 1 pair of flannel pants. Same for her on the Christmas outift and bunny hat.
BIL: A can cozy. He drinks a lot of coke and I thought this would be neat for him. I really like to do it in St. Louis Rams Colors, but I don't know if that is going to happen. I may just make him a simple one, we will see.

My parents and IL's: Foot prints from the girls. We have to do 4 of these this year, YOW! 2 for each girl!

Neighbor: I have NO idea, but she has done a ton of stuff for us this year and I want to give her a little something...any ideas???

I think that is all that I have to actually make. Do you think I can get it done? We will see, huh? I o have a couple of pics to share. Here is a pic of Jacqui who won my hat/gloves in the gift exchange I did last weekend.

Here is a pic of my to be nephew's baby hat almost finished:

Here are some pics of my seed stitch scarflette made from yarn that a friend gave me when Jilly was born. It is gorgeous. Thanks to Elmo for modeling so well! :)



Oh, wanted to point you in this direction: I think that they are WAY cute. One of the blogs I follow is making them. http://www.CassQuotes.etsy.com/

Good luck getting your stuff done...wish me luck with mine!
Love,
Theresa

Christmas Presents....

I finished on of Adam's presents!!!!! Yay!!!! Well, I have one part left but it will be finished this afternoon while Hazel's napping...But the long part is done!

It's a book Cozy! It's not as big as I thought it would be, but it stretches width-wise a fair amount b/c of the ribbing, so I was able to geta DVD case in there! I could have easily fit 2 more in there, so he shold be able to get a average size paperback or pocket Bible in there! I'm knitting a strap that I'll attach with velcro so he can decide if he wants to wear it across his shoulders or not! So one present is done!!!!

Now, Brett bought me a knitting book I really wanted. Boutique Knits by Laura Irwin. And I love it. I LlllllllllllOooooooooooVvvvvvvvvvvvEeeeeeeeeee it. I don't even know which pattern I want to knit first. Not true...I really want to knit the hat that's on the front cover....Side Slip Cloche. But then again, I really want the Argyle Lace Hat. Actually, I'm kind of concerned that this book is going to be my Christmas Knitting undoing. And telling myself I can't make myself something out of it until my presents are done seems just unusually cruel....Puh-Puh-Puhleeeeeeease?

Oh So Cute Though!

OMG, that hat is adorable! I can't get over how cute that is! I'm sorry it isn't going to fit Matt, but still, Hazel will get plenty of use out of it. Now you just need to get your mom to crochet this and her outfit will be complete! I'm sure if you explain the situation to Matt he will understand and will wait patiently for one of his own. :)

My gift exchange set went over well. I did take a picture, but it did not turn out cause we were in a dark bar. Sorry. I decided NOT to make a scarf for my other gift exchange. I am going to buy a travel coffee mug and make a coffee mug cozy for it instead. I just couldn't bring myself to make another scarf when I am still working on my dad's.

The girls and I are heading to my parents' house for a couple of days so I hope to get a lot of my knitting/sewing done down there. Wish me luck.
Love,
Theresa

A Smart Woman would admit defeat....

So I decided to knit my brother Matt a hat. He's obsessed with Sock Monkeys, and I found this darling pattern on Knitty. It's Sock Monkey Hat, and it's a pattern actually written for an Adult.

Now, I promise I got gauge.

Then I added 10 stitches to the CO so it leaves room for a large man's head (it's weird to think of Matty as a man...sorry, Matt, it is).

But after tying off the top, and taking a look at what we've got, it's, ummmm, not big enough.

But it fits Hazel!

So Hazel's inheriting it. I didn't add the ears, just cuz I think it's cute without them.

Now, this is the second Christmas Present I have completed and that isn't anywhere near the right size. The Purdue hat is too big, and this one is WAY too small. And there's less that 2 weeks until we fly home. And I'm getting very discouraged.

Brett says it's God's way of telling me we need to take everyone something that's been purchased and leave the crafty stuff for another time.

I disagree...I WILL get some present made.

A Knitting Advent Calendar?!?!

You Got it! I found this on Flying Pig Knits. It is pretty cool. Check it out!

Advent Calendar
Love,
Theresa

My Finished Objects

I got my first Gift Exchange Set done. I will find out on Saturday who gets it. I hope that they like it. Sorry that the pics aren't great. I will hopefully take better pics at dinner that night.



The hat is the Amanda Hat from Sleepy Eyes Knitting and the fingerless gloves are Cabled Fingerless Mitts from Carissa Knits.

I love the Purdue Hat by the way. You are going to have to share that graph with me! Keep working, we will get it all done babe.

Finished Objects...

Look what I got done! Well, it got done forever ago, but just now getting to the pictures

Christmas Lists

I don't know about you, but I'm having a ridiculously hard time coming up with Christmas ideas for myself. I've been asked, but I generally get the blank look granted non-knitters when I tell them anything knitting or yarn related will do.

The Yarn Harlot's recent post giving suggestions got me thinking. Maybe it would help if we made a running list of things we would like. I know that when I walk into a yarn shop, I get overwhelmed and I actually know what I'm looking at and for. So I think it's unreasonable to ask my loved ones to go in a pick something out for me.

I added a list for me and one for T on the right side of the screen, and I promise to mine updated as I'll probably keep it there for birthdays and other gift giving needs.

Love to you all!
Carli

I Want This For Christmas!

I know I would have to make it, but I SO want this bag!

Positano Tote at Interweave Knits

I just don't even want to know how much it would cost. I may have to save any Chirstmas money I get. I LOVE IT!!

I did look at those $15 patterns. Yeah, way pricey, but wow...I can't imagine trying to do those little intricate details in the design. No Thank you!!

The Audacity

I can appreciate the time and effort required to design a knitting pattern. I can appreciate the countless hours put into making a pattern perfect so the design is not only beautiful as a finished product, but is also easily reproduceable for anyone else wanting to duplicate it. Therefore, I can understand charging for a one of a kind pattern.

I, myself, am too cheap to purchase any of the said patterns, but that, itself, is a whole other blog.

What I cannot understand is chargind $15.00 for one pattern. ONE PATTERN. $6.00? Yes. $7.00? Sure. $10.00? Maybe if it's truly exceptional. But $15.00??????!!!!!!!??????

Really. Get over yourself.

I found this pattern on Ravelry....Just A Butterfly.

It was gorgeous and interesting enough to take a further look at. So I did. And I laughed. Hard.

Now, I'm sure said designer is very proud of their design. As they should be. But that shawl is NOT $15.00 pretty. Not when it doesn't come with any other patterns, or in a kit of yarn to knit it up with.

I know I'm being disrespectful, and I don't mean to be, but really. And, shockingly, it's not the only pattern they have that is $15.00.

I would love to meet the ego that lies behind this pattern...their head has to be HUGE!!!!

Hugs to all but inflated head designer...
Carli

The countdown ticker....

Isn't actually helping.



Don't get me wrong, I love it, and am glad it's there and don't want you to take it off.



But it's not helping.



My list is as follows (stop reading if you are part of my family...)



1. Scarf and Wrap for Lindsay (the scarf is 1/2 finished and the wrap is about 1/3 done)

2. Gauntlets for Mom (I've got one done...)

3. Socks and a sock monkey for Matt (one sock is finished....)

4. Mug Cozy and Hat for Dad (one hat is done but it's too big, must start again, and the cozy is about 10 rows started)

5. Hat and Bag, and juggling toys for Adam....only the bag is started.

I think a big part of my problem is motivation.

got any to spare?

They Are Going To Love You!

Not that they don't already sweetie, but they are going to love you and whatever you make for them for Christmas. Your family is NOT going to care how much knitting you get done for them. All they care about is that you will be on the same continent! :) I know I am looking forward to that. I know your family and I know that they aren't going to think badly of you if you don't have everything done. Just do what you can sweetie. Sit down when the nut is napping and take a deep breath before you pick up your needles. Remember WHY you love to knit. Remember WHO you are knitting for and think those wonderful thoughts that I know you do when you knit. Just enjoy yourself, that is why we do what we do. Knitting isn't supposed to be something you dread, but something to help you avoid all the other things we dread doing! :)

Here is what I am attempting to get done while we are on the subject:
1) Hat and glove set for first gift exchange (I have hat done and one glove almost finished)--by Saturday December 6th
2) Scarf for second gift exchange--by December 22nd
3) Dad's cable scarf--by December 25th (SO not gonna happen!)
4) hat for my to be born nephew--by December 24th
5) 2 pair flannel pants for Layla (sewing, not knitting)--by December 25th
6) Flannel Jammies for Layla--12/25
7) Camo Pants for niece, Sarah--12/24
8) Super hero cape for niece Sarah--12/24
9) Christmas Dress for Layla--12/23
10) Christmas Dress for Jillian--12/23

Oh Cripes!! I better get going huh???? Now I am stressing! Thanks Carli!
Love, Theresa

I need a knitting attitude adjustment

I've had this affliction for as long as I can remember. If I HAVE to do it (whether it's self inflicted or something external forcing me), I don't WANT to, and I will drag my feet.

It will happen every time. EVERY single time.

And I thought knitting would be exempt from that rule, however, it is not.

If anything, it's worse. Because not only am I slow at finishing whatever I HAVE to finish, but then I make stupid mistakes and end up tinking and re-knitting whatever the UFO is atleast twice. Now, not only have I told myself that I must get the project done, making me hate said project, but then I've frogged it more than once for an error that is clearly my own, and I have now have less than no desire to work on it ever again. And that's where I'm at with as the bazillion Christmas presents that need to get done between now and the 22. I've got 1/2 of Mom's, Matt's, and Lindsay's presents left to do. Then I have to re-do the one present I've finished (which is for Dad) as it's clearly too big, and I just don't feel good about giving it to him. Maybe I'll wash it and see what it does. Only by the grace of God would a washing save it, but either way, unless it fixes it, I'll have to re-knit it. Sniff....sniff.

I think I'm just going to start Knitting Christmas presents ath the beginning of the year in 2009. That way, if I screw it up, I can set it aside and come back to it a couple of months later and save the gift. Or, I can just take my sweet old time with it and get it to turn out correctly the FIRST time.

To be fair, I started all these gifts in September, but I still don't think that was enough time for me...I've only been knitting for 4 years, and only seriously knitting things that aren't scarves for about 1 1/2. So I feel that expecting myself to complete 2-4 presents each for 5 people and only starting 2 mos ago may have been a tad overzealous. Just maybe.

So, now, as I sit and look at all the things left to do, I feel I need a nap, and a clear head, and an attitude adjustment so I can actually give gifts that make people feel the love I have for them in knitting them these things. At this point I fear they'll feel like I feel OBLIGATED, and I don't, I'm just not in a nice....knitting.....place.

Wanna be done...

Those look awesome!!!! Your grandparents are going to love their gifts! And those jeans are just too cute. Hazel's legs are so short that we have to roll up most of her pants, so she can't pull those off, but they are just too darn cute!

I, on the other hand, want to be done with Christmas gifts. D-O-N-E. I love giving hand knits to people, but I have less than a month to get all this stuff done. And I have no motivation to do any of it, so I'm slow knitting.
I've been designing so many things that I want to start...no, it's not startitis, as I really want to start and finish each thing to see if my designs turn out, but I will not start anything that isn't necessary until after Christmas. I won't do it...otherwise I'll have to save all my presents for next year, and I really don't want to do that either....

BAck to the yarnly grind....sigh.

Love and Kisses
Car

Giving Thanks...

That I am managing to get some stuff done! I have some finished projects that I haven't had a chance to post so here you go:

Grandma's Shawl:


Grandpa's NAVY Hat:


My Gauntlets:


And I know this isn't knitting, but thought that I would share some Christmas Camo Pants that I made for someone. I think they turned out great, I may have to make some for my girls!




Love you,
Theresa

Big Hopes!

Hope you are feeling better Car! Miss you!
Theresa

About Me!

Posted on my Journal about some email questionnairres that I received...check them out here.

Car, loving the doll. I want to add that too my list...oh how it grows.

I am going to a knit night at my neighbor's house today. I am really excited. I was supposed to go to the LYS on Monday night, but it was my friend's Birthday party so I missed it. I am REALLY hoping I can get my Grandma's shawl done by the end of the weekend. I love it, but am SO tired of working on it knitting the same 4 rows over and over and over! Almost done! Then I can't wait to start knitting a capelet for me with my Moonlight Mohair! But I can't start something ELSE new until I am done with the shawl. I won't I won't I won't. Oh crap...I have startitis!!!!!! Help!

Love,
Theresa (we REALLY need to sign our posts girl. Anyone reading these would be SO confused!)

My first doll! (aka...Lanie's surprise)

I think it's really important to celebrate each new little one we recieve into our "family" of friends. I love attending showers for them and picking out sute little outfits and toys!

Beth Penick got married this year and is celebrating the arrival of her first baby, Sophia!!!! YAY!!!!!!! Sadly, I couldn't go, but I (hopefully) will get to meet her when we're home. However, this isn't Beth's first child. When she got married to the fabulous Jody, she also married his little girl, Lanie. She's a beautiful little girl and Beth's been around her since she was....17 mos? Anywho. She's a grown up 3 year old now, and I know is going to be a great big sister. And I got to thinking...I defenitely want to get Lanie something, too! And I came across this great pattern in one of my magazines. Tooth Trader by Alan Dart (can't find the link). TOO CUTE.

So I made her...and modified her a bit. She's not a tooth fairy, but a ballerina fairy, and instead of a blonde pony tail I made brunette pigtails. I added a few bits and bobbs and anyway, I love how she turned out.....

Yarn Lovers Dream!!

OK, so I will post more later, but HAD to tell you about my steal! I went to Big Lots with Mom on Friday...didn't see anything I couldn't live without. Then just before leaving, I walked down an aisle and there they were...skeins upon skeins of yarn ALL marked down to either $1 or $1.50! I sat and drooled for a while and then picked out 8 skeins of Lion Brand Moonlight Mohair and 3 or Lion Brand Suede (I would have gotten more of that, but they only had 3 in the color I liked). Total was about $17!! I figured it up and this yarn would have cost me about $89 in another store! Talk about a steal huh?!?! Now if I can just find the pattern that I really liked that I put away because I didn't want to spend $8 a skein on the mohair! I'll let you know when I find it!

BTW: Way funny website, I about fell out of my chair when I saw the crotched shorts!

I could cry...

Okay, so sitting here looking up some websites that were published in my knitting magazines and we came across this website....

What Not to Crochet

DEFENITELY check it out. Hilarious. Make sure you check out the post labeled I Nearly Didn't Write This Post. I almost cried I laughed so hard. I thought about posting one of the pictures as my wallpaper so I got a laugh every time I turned on the computer...but it boarderlines disturbing when you look too long....

Check it out!

I know I haven't posted in a while, but I promise to catch up soon...lots of knitting going on over here in Ireland....

Cable Gymnastics!!

I just learned how to cable without a cable needle! I think that it is REALLY going to make my cabling faster. Eventually anyways, it may take me a few times to get the hang of it. I learned how from a tutorial here. It is REALLY easy to follow. I will keep you in touch about how it goes. SO far so good! It is going to make doing my dad's Reversible Cable Scarf SO much easier!!
Theresa

My First Pattern!!

I just did my very first pattern all on my own. I'm pretty proud of myself. I know that it is a very simple pattern and project, but it is the first one I have designed entirely on my own. The story behind it is that I made myself a pair of pink hand warmers and Layla really really wanted a pair so, of course I wanted to make her a pair. I didn't want to have to do the cabling on her's though because most likely she will lose one somewhere and I didn't want to put that much into it. I realize that sounds mean, but come on, she's 3. Chances are, she is going to lose a warmer. So, this design came from wanting to make something simple that could go on either hand so she would't have to figure out which hand was which (we are still working on Right and Left, although she is getting better). I'm sure that there are similar patterns to this out there, so any similarities are completely accidental. Let me know if there are any mistakes, OK. I hope that your little one will enjoy them as much as mine does.

Layla's Pink Mitts


Materials
Worsted weight yarn in 2 different colors. Make 1 (A) and the other (B). (I do not know the exact amount, but it really wasn't very much)
I used Plymouth Encore Worsted in Hot Pink (A) and Light Pink (B). I used 2 different
colors, but if you want to use only one or more than 2, feel free. The directions are just what I did with two colors.
1 set US #6 DPNs
Tapestry needle

Gauge
14 sts/15 rows = 2" in 2x2 rib
11 sts/17 rows in 2" in stockinette stitch
I am really bad at figuring gauge, especially in the round and in rib. Luckily since it is a rib
pattern, gauge is forgiving. You won't be knitting in St st, but I included the gauge in case
it helps.

PATTERN
CO 32 sts with A as follows:
Needle 1: 12 sts
Needle 2: 12 sts
Needle 3: 8 sts

Knit in 2x2 rib pattern as follows:
A for 8 rounds
B for 8 rounds
A for 6 rounds
B for 5 rounds
On next round, continue knitting with B and knit in pattern across Needles 1 & 2. On needle 3, K2 then BO 4 sts knitwise, then purl remaining stitch.
Next Round: Switch to A and knit around in pattern to where you bound off the 4 stitches on the row below. CO 4 sts (I used the Backward Loop method), purl the last 2 sts on that round.
Continue in pattern with A for 3 more rounds.
B for 4 rounds
A for 2 rounds
B for 2 rounds
Bind Off in pattern with B.

Turn inside out to weave in ends. Make another Mitt the same way. ENJOY!

Lots of Catching Up To Do!

Wow, I haven't posted any progress on here in a LONG time! I can't believe that. I have gotten several things done, I should probably tell you about them, huh? :) OK,where to start...My first pair of fingerless gloves. I LOVE them so much! I will have to come back and link the pattern from Ravelry because it is down right now. :( Anyways, they are done with Hobby Lobby "I Love This Yarn" in Ombre Navajo. They are really pretty. They are to go with my orange hat. They have a really pretty braided cable up the middle. They were actually my first FINISHED cable project.


I have also made myself a hat. It is the same pattern as the umbrella hats that I have made for babies, but I LOVE the pattern, so I made myself one. I just cast on an extra Umbrella flounce or whatever you want to call it. I think that it turned out pretty cute. It is kinda long, but at least it will keep my ears covered.


I made myself a second pair of mitts to go with the hat. Well, unfortuantely, the colors don't match very well. I have enough yarn that I will probably make myself a quick hat out of this yarn, just so it matches, but we will see. I LOVE these handwarmers, I want some in every color. I am not sure which I like more, these or the Navajo ones.


Finally, Friday night before a bonfire on Saturday, I realized that if it was cold Saturday night, Jillian would have nothing on her hands. So, I got busy and made her some mittens really quick. These were a SUPER fast knit, and only took a couple of hours. I used some scraps to embroider on them. I think they turned out well.


I now only have 2 projects on the needles, my dad's scarf and my grandmother's wrap. I do still have my elephant on needles, but that project is hybernating for a bit...just wasn't in the mood to finish it.

I have some other stuff I want to cast on for, I may have to make a list from my Ravelry page...too many things!
Love,
Theresa

My Sanity project...

I've been working earnestly on my brothers manbag, and I'm so glad he wants me to knit him one, but wow. Navy blue chunky yarn doesn't knit up quickly at all. In fact, it may make me CRAZY!!!!! I finished the front panel, and have cast on and finished about 2 inches of the strap (I couldn't force myself to do another panel of ST st in navye), when I decided I desperately needed a fun fast bright project to get motivated.

So I knit Hazel a Cuddly Bunny by Lion Brand. (I'd link the pattern if I didn't have to go look up my password...I'm lazy today)

It took about 3 hours from start to finish!!! And it doesn't have a face b/c she's latched on to him/her and anytime I go to work on her/him, Hazel comes to snatch him/her!

A Pattern Fetish

I think I have one. Yes, yarn gets me all excited, but due to my budgetary restraint, I can muster up yarn willpower....I cannot resist the temptation for free patterns. or not so free patterns, come to think of it.

I really need to get ahold of my need to collect more as I have easily 20 magazines and 7 books plus 650+ free on Ravelry. I don't need anymore, and yet....

I have a new book coming from Amazon and I cannot wait for it to get here.....

5 Reasons To Try And Lose Weight

5: I will be healthier.
4: I will look and feel better and sexier.
3: I will be able to wear the cute clothes.
2: Better bedroom time (Come on, you know what I mean!)

And the Number 1 Reason I am trying to lose weight:

The smaller I am, the less yarn I will need for the clothes I want to make. Less yarn to fit = more yarn I can buy! :)

Bring it on!
Theresa

Priorities!

So I need desperately to prioritise my works in progress.

It is devastatingly sad that my startitis is getting this bad. Let's run through the projects I have going...shall we?

Hazel Projects:

1. Her Uggs...they are 1/2 finished...meaning one shoe is finished and I've yet to cast on the 2nd.

2. The Can-Can skirt I'm designing her...I frogged the first trial, deciding life will be much better if I just rip it out and start all over...this time working from the top down so that I can have much better size control. So right now it's occupying one of my Boye's interchangeables as only a cast on.

3. A Pull-over I'm designing for her. I'm really really excited about this one, and I love knitting up the stitches (it's lacework).

4. Her slippers I designed her...I found the cutest baby slippers at Target while I was Preggo...the only problem was that they only came in blue and white and the largest they got was 3-6 mos. I looked at them and thought...I can make these. So I bought them, took them home and knitted them up. The first pair was HUGE. But I managed to get this pair the correct size. I think I want to add a little something to them, though, as they still don't seem girly enough for me....

Other People Projects:

1. Adam's ManBag...I designed a purse for Lindsay for her birthday, and once Adam saw it, he wanted me to design him one, smaller (to hold just one or two books), plainer, and more masculine. I got it started, but, and this is really the only explaination I can come up with, lost interest and haven't gotten farther than....

2. A Scarf for Lindsay for christmas. I was originally going to make and keep it for myself, but, about 2 triangles in, I realized that it's the end of September and I haven't even begun Christmas projects, yet. Then Brett pointed out that it matches the purse I made her, so, hopefully she'll like it, as it's her first gift.

3. Adam's Juggling Balls...I made one of this poor belated birthday present. And They're actually very fast, I just need to get on the other 2...Poor Adam.

I've got a ton of other projects that I'm itching to start, but I think, for the sake of preventing any more UFOs (UnFinished Objects to laymen), I need to knock some of these out of the to-do list....that way I can get started on more christmas gifts...and there's a LOT!

No time!

I haven't had time to knit much lately...sewing too much. Will write more later.

My first hank winding

So, last night, I wound my first hank with my new Wool Winder. Love it.

For some odd reason, though, I chose to wind my 100% silk laceweight from Fyberspates as my test run. Thankfully, God sent a knitting angel to watch over me and my yarn.....
While I was at IKnit, I debated buying a Wooden Umbrella Swift from Loop. Their kinda expensive and I wasn't sure if I wanted to try to find the space to use it....After last night, however, Brett insists I have one. I used him as my swift. :) For those of you dedicated readers who don't know what a swift is, it's a contraption that holds a hank of yarn neatly so that you can wind it into a useable ball (you cannot knit or crochet from a hank...it is certain death of your yarn if you try). His response to me using his hands as my make-shift swift (say that 3 times fast) was that I need to find and order one off the internet and see if they're willing to expedite it :) He had it easy....atleast I started small....that hank held 440 yards of silk, the bigger one...it hold 2400 yds.

Hey, I'm not completely cruel, he had a beer and I was letting him watch soccer. His hands were mine......

IKnit Day 2008 (oh, and London, too)

Where do I begin???? IKnit Day was wonderful and glorious and HOT. Wow. I walked into the convention center and it was sweltering....full of women (and a few men) and just tons of wool (and other glorious materials). I've never actually contemplated being naked in public before then, but, being in the craziness of IKnit, I would have been more than happy to bare all just to get through it! There were knitters EVERYWHERE. 1/2 of the room was dedicated to stalls for shopping, and the other 1/2 was the mainstage, and workshop areas. Chairs with knitters doing what they did best filled every little nook and cranny of the mainstage 1/2...save 2 aisles on both sides of the stage for passerbys...It was crazy.

In my naive little head, I thought it would be best to hit the stalls and so some shopping before the yarn was all picked over. Silly me thought I would actually be ABLE to get to the stalls. Knitters are rude!!!!! There's no queing for a chance to look...people WILL and DO cut in front of you.

I have to admit I was a little overwhelmed with all the possibilities of yarn. My first purchase was at the Purlescence stall. I got cute little Pattern Markers!!!

I just think they're so fun. The only things is, with traveling, they don't seem to stay on my pattern too well, but that's OK, they're cuteness makes up for their travel ineptness!

I got some really pretty China Palace silk DK....

I think I'm going to knit up something for Hazel out of it. I can't quite decide. There's plenty for a shrug for her, which I think would be darling. Can't quite decide, though.....I just love the colors.

Then I managed to snag a Sushi Sock Roll from the Easy Knits stall. I'm so excited to get started this one. I just need to decide what socks I want to knit up with it....Look how gorgeous the colors are!

I can't just knit a plain ole borning sock with this gorgeous stuff. Hmmm....

Then I saw the most amazing incredible gorgeous breathtaking wool I have ever laid my eyes (and hands) on. And it was stupidly expensive. But when I saw it (and touched it) it was like "AHHHHH...AHHHHHH...Ahhhh" The heavens opened up and a choir of angels sang. I stewed about it for a while....and stewed about it more. Then I sucked it up and bought it....

I hate these pictures, though b/c they aren't showing the colors. The bright blues are bright purple in real life.....Oh, these pictures just make it look boring.....

Yikes!!!! I gotta get ready for mom & tots!!!!! Will type again later!