Eeeek! Steeks!

Actually, WOOHOO!

I finished knitting the Crayons & Chalkboards vest Wednesday night during the very long American Idol finale.

After much reading and internet research yesterday, I finally got brave enough to crochet the edging on the steeks. I know how to crochet so this part was actually pretty easy. The hardest part was deciding where to crochet the steek because everything I read said that crochet steeks should be over an odd number of stitches and, of course, I had an even number. Eunny Jang makes reference to crocheting over an even number but I just couldn't get my mind around what she was saying until all of a sudden it just hit me.

Then, I sat and stared at it for a long time. I made the excuse that my scissors weren't sharp enough. Finally, I just grabbed the scissors and starting cutting and...

IT WORKED!

The purple edging is where I cut. See how clean it is, with no unraveling?!

I've only cut one steek. I did the right armhole first. I'm picking up stitches around it now, then have to knit 6 rows of ribbing.

Last night, Hayden decided he was going to help build the sunroom for Grandmama and Granddaddy.

This was after he and Granddaddy turned the scrap lumber into some great building blocks!

And before he learned to climb the fence!

Our Weekend

Hayden had an exciting weekend. His Grandpa, Patrick's dad Len, flew down to visit on Friday and Saturday. Hayden wasn't as nearly as shy with him as he tends to be with other people.

On Saturday, we went to Dauset Trails Nature Center. Hayden had a blast. We had never been there before and didn't realize how close it is to home. I foresee many more trips in the future. They have feed, either dog food or corn, at many of the exhibits. It's in gumball machines and you pay a quarter to get a handful of feed. Hayden loved feeding the animals, especially the ducks, geese and turtles.

We did have one small tragedy though. Hayden was trying to squeeze through the railing on the bridge and I grabbed his arm to pull him back. When I did this, it caused his beloved pap (pacifier) and keeper to fall into the pond. Of course, we have plenty of back-up paps but no back-up keepers. The only ones that we can keep attached are the ones from Babys-r-us so it's not simple to run out and get one. I came home and made a length of I-cord to attach it to. I don't have any diaper pins though and he pulls hard enough on the safety pin that it pops open, so this has not been a great solution.

Instead of knitting the instant gratification dish cloth on Thursday, I spend most the day plotting out dyeing some sock yarn. I ordered some Knitpicks Bare some time ago with the intention of dyeing it match my teal green scrubs. Shortly after that, I found Regia Crazy in the colors that I wanted so I ordered that instead. Then I decided that I would dye it match my orange scrubs. Of couse, after that I found some Opal Neon that's the perfect colors to match that so I ordered it instead. Now I have no idea what colors I want to dye which is why I abandoned the idea of dyeing for now.

Thursday afternoon I started on Hayden's Crayons and Chalkboard sweater vest. I had been putting it off because, honestly. the thought of Fair Isle terrified me. However, I have found it to be incredibly simple so far. Of course the thought of steeking is still terrifying but I'm not to that point yet so all is well. I am almost to the armholes.

It almost looks like a hat in the photo but it's to gauge. It's just 192 stitches packed onto a 16" circ! I'm using a KP US#3 which is sooooo sharp. I had to borrow a thimble from my mom because I tend to push on the tip of the left needle and it was wearing my finger tip out.

The best thing about this Fair Isle is that it has forced me to knit Continental, which I knew how to do but I throw so fast I felt like Continental was slowing me down. Now that I've had to do it, I've gotten much faster with it and I think I will likely switch to it permanently.

Friday, my Opal Neon arrived from The Loopy Ewe . This is the first time I've ordered from Sheri and her service is great! I ordered late Wednesday afternoon and my yarn arrived on Friday. You just can't beat that. Plus, she includes all these great gifts and samples. She sent a sample of Regia Bamboo and I think that will probably be my next purchase!

I immediately cast on Cookie A.'s Pomatomus Socks from Knitty, which is a great pattern for variegated yarn.

After taking these photos, I declared that I must have a new camera. I have two digital cameras. One usually takes good pics but the flash doesn't always work so photos come out dark and underexposed. Plus, Hayden dropped it and now you have to hold the battery compartment closed while you use it. The other camera doesn't have zoom and the flash overexposes everything. So I'm off to buy a new one today. Look for better pics coming soon!

Ruffled Surplice

Pattern: Ruffled Surplice
Source: Interweave Knits Spring 2007
Designer: Mari Lynn Patrick
Yarn: Knit Picks Shine Worsted in Batchelor Button Colorway
Needles: Addi Turbo US#10.5
Cast on: 5/1/07
Completed: 5/16/07

I found this pattern a really easy, quick knit. Most everything I've been knitting lately has been on small needles so the bigger ones were a welcome break. The pattern was simple to follow except for the shaping on the back. I much prefer patterns that tell you which increase/decrease to use. It took some playing around with to find the most invisible ones to use. On the front panels, the specific shaping is specified. I wish I would have done the fronts first. It would have made the back easier.

These really aren't the best photos but we were trying to take them before American Idol came on. We got the photos made but I couldn't get them posted because Hayden decided to help me type. Trust me, you wouldn't have been able to read this. It looked like some unknown language!

Speaking of American Idol, Travis and I were both in a state of shock when Melinda got voted off. I guess everybody got complacent, figured she was shoo in and didn't bother to vote for her. I have to admit I was one of those people. I fact, the whole season, I've assumed that Melinda was safe and, while I thought she the best, I never voted for her.

I haven't decided what I'm going to cast on today. I have several projects lined up. I'm still dealing with the huge wad of yarn vomit, though it is getting cleaned up a little bit. I think I'm going to have to give up and break out the scissors though. The Regia Crazy is still making me crazy and I haven't decided what to do with it. I placed a large order on Monday for the supplies I need to start my Christmas projects but it's not here yet. Me, being my dyslexic self, transposed the credit card numbers when I ordered it so that caused a delay in shipping.

I have a whole skein of Shine Worsted left so I might just make a wash cloth from it today. It will be some real instant gratification and knock an item off the Christmas list. Wash clothes wrapped around handmade soaps are on my list of Christmas gifts to make. Does anybody know where I can get some great handmade soaps?

Hayden decided that he was going to visit Granddaddy up on the roof at Mama and Daddy's house yesterday. Thank goddness that Patrick was there to go up the ladder with him. And, no, he didn't actually get on the roof. And, yes, I was glad I was at work and I didn't see him climbing that ladder!

A post (finally)

It seems like forever since I posted. I've been too busy knitting to post or take any pics. I always feel like I need photos to go with my post so that keeps me from posting more regularly. However, I decided to post today, even without any photos.

On Monday, the last of the pregnant nannie goats delivered her twins. There are photos on my Flickr page, just click on my Flickr badge to see them. She had two little billies, which we named Shy and Spry. They are very cute and cuddly. These are the first babies that will actually let you pick them up and hold them. Fannie, their mom, is a Nubian, which is a milk a goat. She has way too much milk for them so Daddy and Patrick have both been milking her. The milk goes to Cookie (the dog) if Hayden doesn't manage to spill it first! Last night, he stepped right into the bucket, actually a margarine tub, and spilled it everywhere.

Travis was inducted into the National Beta Club on Tuesday. They had a very nice candle light induction ceremony, Unfortunately, it was held at the end of Awards Night, so Hayden was rather restless after sitting through 2 hours of awards presentations. He cried when his brother stood to receive his induction and certificate. Chelsea received the American History Award from The Woodsmen of the World. Ms. Aiken presented the award and she said some very nice things about her.

I have almost finished my Ruffled Surplice from IK Sping 2007. It has been a really quick knit. All I have to do is to seem up one side, make the belt and put the ruffle around the bottom. Hopefully I will get it finished today.

I wanted to start on some more socks today but I have yarn issues. My first issue is that the Regia Crazy I got is driving me crazy! It is certainly aptly named. I bought it because it stripes so well. Well the two skeins I got were wound opposite directions so, therefore, I only have about 50 yards that match. I really wanted to make a pair of identical twins but I guess I won't. I still haven't quite resolved myself to the fact that they won't match so I can't bring myself to start on them.

My other sock yarn issue is that I thought I could quickly wind up 2 hanks of Knitpicks Gloss for a pair of lace socks while Hayden was in the tub last night. NOT. MY ball winder was mounted on the computer desk, where I had been sitting trying to match up the Crazy. The computer desk is not big enough to hold the swift and I was too lazy to move the ball winder. I thought that I could just the swift on the floor and wind from there. NOT. As the swift turned the hank of yarn kept coming off the top of it because it was being pulled up by the ball winder. I kept grabbing it, stretching it and putting it back on the swift. In the end, I ended up half a ball of yarn and a huge wad of yarn vomit. I worked on it for a while but finally put it away. It was way past bedtime and I had to come to work today. It will probably take me longer to straighten it out than it will to knit the sock..lol. I don't want to cut it though so I'll keep working on it a little at a time. I wanted to make these socks 2 at a time and after that disaster I definitely didn't want to attempt winding the other hank!

Random Ramblings

Well, it only took me about an hour of picking, pulling, detangling then winding to clean up my yarn barf to end up with a nice ball of yarn. I cast on my second sock Thursday night and got about a third of the cuff done yesterday. This one seems to be going a lot faster. Then again, the second sock always seems to go faster. I think that's why I like making one at a time because I can work out all the kinks on the first one then soar through the second one.

Speaking of socks, in my surfing yesterday, I found a simple pattern for toe up socks. I was so excited, I almost frogged the sock I had just finished and started over. I managed to quell my excitement long enough to find a good deal on some Regia Crazy on Ebay. It's a gorgeous colorway, I can't wait for it to come so I can try out this toe up pattern. It'll probably come on the same day that my Knitpicks order comes and then I'll hard time deciding what to work on first.

Travis and I met with his advisor after school yesterday and registered him for 10th grade. They have a crazy schedule for next year. Currently they are on block scheduling where they have eight classes total which are divided in half. One day they go to half of the classes for 2 hours each and the next they go to the others. Next year, they will only have 7 classes but will continue to have this block scheduling on Mondays and Fridays and have all 7 classes on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday for 1 hour each. Everybody is going to be SO confused.

I cleaned the kitchen yesterday and accumulated several packages of bread--buns, loaf bread, English muffins, etc.--that were old and told Hayden that when Daddy got home from work, we could go feed the goats. He proceeded to carry the bread all around the house until Patrick got home. We went over to feed the goats and I handed him half of a hamburger bun to give to the goats. I turned around and he was standing there eating it! It wasn't molded or anything, just stale. I kept encouraging to handed to a goat but he wouldn't. Then Phoebe stuck her head through the fence and took it from him. He was so mad!

He continued to enjoy playing in his little play area again yesterday. He was up before I left for work this morning and Patrick said he begging to go out by 7:30. I think we've created a little monster!

Raspberry Blue Socks

Today, I finished my first sock of my own design. I am very happy with the results. I used hand dyed yarn that I bought from Sarah House. The striping on this yarn is incredible. It was hard to find a pattern that suited it so I made up my own. I didn't want anything that would hide the striping. There are more pictures on my Flickr page that do the stripes a little more justice.

Now, I'd like to follow the rules and cast on immediately for my other sock but just as I got the end of the first sock, my yarn barfed. So now I have to rewind this mess before I get started on the twin.

The Concrete Truck

Hayden had a very exciting day today. As soon as he finished his lunch, the concrete truck arrived at Grandmama & Granddaddy's house so we quickly put our shoes on and headed across the street. The sunroom addition that they are building is right off of the living room so he could stand at the living room windows and watch the concrete come down the trough. He was mesmerized by it, saying "uck" over and over again. When the truck left, he stood at the living room windows until he couldn't see it anymore then ran to the bedroom window to watch it until it was completely out of sight.

I am making decent progress on my sock. I finally finished the cuff, completed the heel flap, turned the heel, and did the gusset. Hopefully, I can get this one finished tomorrow. I really like the way this yarn is striping up.

My First Socks!

My first pair of socks! The pattern is Monkey from Knitty Winter 2006. The yarn is Knit Picks Memories in Rocky Mountain Dusk. I knit them on Knit Picks US#2 32" circs using the magic loop method. They are fraternal twins because the 2 skeins of yarns didn't match. Of course, I only kept 1 ball band after I wound them so I couldn't compare the lot numbers but the repeats of color in the 2 hanks were not even and the color is slightly brighter on 1 hank. At first, I was really upset that they weren't going to be identical but the lacy pattern makes it not as noticeable. Besides, they are socks after all and most of the time they are in my shoes anyway!

I have to say that even though the hanks didn't match, I love this yarn. It's 100% wool and oh so soft. I couldn't wait to wear them so they were worn twice before I took any photos so they are a little felted on the bottoms and have a little piling where they rubbed in my shoes. There are more photos on my Flickr page.

While this was my first pair of socks, it wasn't my first sock. My first sock was made sometime last year. It's Lion Brand Magic Stripes and I completed 1 sock. I made it on US#3 dpn. I found the dpn to be rather cumbersome and, even after I got the rhythm down, I was still knitting much slower than I usually do. I used Susan Bates aluminum needles and I think that was part of the problem. I kept grabbing the wrong needle at the end of a round and pulling out the one with the working stitches on it. Very frustrating. The cuff of the sock was 8" of 2x2 ribbing and I got so bored with it. I have to say I learned alot making that sock thought. It was the first time I had used dpn, worked short rows, or tried the kitchner stitch. I used an excellent on-line tutorial to learn how to make a sock. Even if I didn't end up with a pair it was still an invaluable experience.

After that first experience, I knew I didn't want to make socks on dpns again. I decided that I was going to make Patrick a pair of socks for his birthday. I knew I didn't have a lot of time because I couldn't start on them until I finished my Christmas knitting. I googled and found directions for two socks at one time on 2 circs. I got going on them and they were working out fairly well but still felt cumbersome with the needles hanging there amongst 2 balls of yarn and 2 cast on tails. I spent as much time untangling things as I did knitting. I googled again and decided to try my hand at 2 socks at one time on magic loop. This went better but still lots of tangling. When I got to the heel, I just couldn't figure out how to turn it and I thought the sock looked too small anyway, so off the the frog pond they went.

That probably would have been my last attempt at socks except for the fact that I had gotten some sock yarn for Christmas. The more I read about Monkey, the more I wanted to give these socks a try. They knit up great, a pattern that really grabs your attention. So, I cast on 1 sock on the magic loop. Once I realized how to visualize each part of the sock as needle 1, needle 2, etc. it was so easy. I know everybody has their preferences but magic loop is definitely the sock method for me.

I ordered some hand dyed yarn in a colorway that I had been looking for. I quickly cast on for my second pair of socks then I got stalled. The yarn is great and I love the colors but it has very long color repeats so I've had a hard time finding a pattern that it fits. I have to say that she did a great job with yarn because it stripes perfectly, better than any mass produced yarn I've seen. I finally just made up my own pattern. It's working out good but the pattern is mostly stockinette and I'm just bored with it. I do want to be able to wear them to work next week so hopefully that will motivate me to finish them soon. I'll post some photos soon.

The summer preview of Interweave Knits is up and there are several things in it that have me excited. I can't wait to get it. It's on newsstands May 15 so maybe I'll have mine by the end of May. In the meantime, I swatched up some Knit Picks Shine Worsted for the Ruffled Surplice that's on the cover of the Spring Issue. The stitch pattern looks great in the Shine Worsted and has a great drape to it.

I placed a Knit Picks order today. I ordered the Shine Worsted, a pattern and yarn for Hayden, some solid colored sock yarn, some miscellaneous stuff, and some sock yarn to dye. I can't wait for it to come.

I also emailed an inquiry about purchasing the pattern for the Felted Stained Glass Fan Bag. I haven't heard back from her yet. I am very anxious to start on this one too.

So much for being a project knitter. It looks like I'm about to have a whole bunch of WIPs!

The Florida Bag

Pattern: KnitPicks The Florida Bag (discontinued)

Yarn: KnitPicks Shine Worsted in Watermelon, Sunflower, Green Apple, Crocus, Blush, Reef, Coral, and Batchelor Button.

Started knitting: April 6; Finished knitting April 8.

This is a great pattern. I'm sorry that KnitPicks discontinued it. It's no longer on their website so I guess it's sold out. Each color is a different stitch pattern. It was fun trying out new patterns with all the different colors.

Big thanks to my mom for doing the lining of the bag. I am certainly not a seamstress, even cutting fabric makes me nervous. She made the lining out of some great fabric we found at Hobby Lobby.

It's lined with fabric covering double sided stiff interfacing so it has a great shape. I found the handles at Wal-mart. I was most disappointed that Hobby Lobby (at least my Hobby Lobby) no longer carries purse handles. You can see the fabric thru the blue and purple yarns and it coordinates great.

This is my first non-felted bag and I really like it. I wish I were more comfortable sewing so that I could do the lining myself.

Happy Easter

I know it's a little late but Happy Easter to everyone. I wanted to post a photo of my dollar and a half cardigan with the skirt that my mom made. It's dark though, so the skirt is not clear in the photo. It's navy with small purple flowers, the same color as my cardigan.

Speaking of Easter, we had a great time even though it was so cold. We had record lows on Saturday and Sunday (a week after we had record highs--gotta love this weather). Julie brought eggs and the kids had a rather chilly egg hunt after lunch. Travis, being the great big brother that he is, helped Hayden.

Not only did he help Hayden find eggs but on Saturday he helped Hayden dye eggs which was quite an adventure. Things got a little crazy with the puff paint.

Here's Hayden's Easter basket (which he promptly picked and threw on the floor, breaking all the eggs). Every thing is hand knitted. The sheep and bunny are Fiber Trend patterns and the basket is from the March 2006 issue of Creative Knitting.

My $1.50

Pattern: Dollar and a Half Cardigan from IK Spirng 2007

Yarn: KnitPicks CotLin in Royal Plum

Started March 8, 2007 Finished March 30, 2007

I changed the fronts and did them both in the lace/ rev St st pattern. The yarn is incredibly soft after washing blocking. I think I need to lightly steam the sleeves though. It was hard to block the sleeves without making a crease down the side.

I never thought I'd have this finished in time for Easter so Tuesday was a mad dash to Joann's for buttons and fabric for my mom to make me a skirt to wear with the sweater for Easter Sunday. I'm so excited to have it done!

Finished with knitting

WOOHOO! I have a $1.50 now! I finished all my knitting this morning and did the three needle bind off on the shoulders. I have just started the laborious process of sewing it all together. I'll post a photo with an update later.

Half sleeve to go!

I am almost finished knitting my Dollar and a Half cardigan. I have to complete the second sleeve and I'll be through with all the knitting. BUT, then there is all the sewing to be done and THEN the button hole band. I still don't see a chance that I'll have it done by Easter.

Actually, it's okay if I don't have it done by Easter because I still haven't found anything to wear it with, besides jeans. I did find a great outfit to wear on Easter though.

Speaking of Easter, I still have to knit and felt Hayden's Easter basket and finish the bunny. All the bunny needs is his nose embroidered on and to be re-stuffed. I'm still stressing about the sheep because Travis and Patrick both say that the nose I put on him makes him look like a dog. I tried to take it off unsuccessfully and I don't have enough yarn to make another so I guess Hayden will have a cross bread sheep/dog in his Easter basket.

Will I ever have a $1.50?

I'm almost finished with left front of my Dollar and a Half Cardigan from IK and I don't like the way the shaping looks.

It suddenly dawned on me last night that normally you ssk at the beginning of the row and k2tog at the end of the row. The pattern and Veronik's tutorial have you k2tog at the beginning of the row and ssk at the end of the row. I put a post out there to see if anybody else thought the pattern should be reversed but I didn't get a response, so off to the frog pond I went this morning.

I frogged a few rows of the right front and reknit it using ssk instead of k2tog. The good news is that it really doesn't look any different so I don't think I'll frog all the shaping. The bad news is that it really doesn't look any different so I'm still not happy with my shaping.

So I've sat here all day without knitting. My only day off all week. I feel like I've wasted the whole day. Oh sure, I have other WIP but they are an almost finished Moderne Log Cabin blanket and sweater out of Paton's SWS. The Moderne Log Cabin is made out of Knit Picks WOTA and it's too hot here today to work on it (mid seventies already on the second day of spring!). The sweater involves another trip to the frog pond. Paton's SWS is NOT the easiest stuff to frog, believe me. It's not spun very tightly and the stitches really cling to each other.

I really haven't wasted the whole day. I did manage to get all of Hayden's (my 19 month old)winter clothes put away and his summer clothes out. I had forgotten about all of the hand me downs that we got last year from one of Patrick's co-workers. There were a lot of shorts that he can wear in the bag so no need to shop for him right now! Woohoo! I must be the only mom on the planet who doesn't like to shop (except for yarn, of course!).

I wanted to start a pair of socks today but Kyle (my 18 year old) hasn't made my swift yet and I just couldn't get excited about using my lamp today. If he doesn't make it soon, I'm taking his power tools and making it myself!