Summer?

Well it's that time again, time for my monthly post.

A lot of things have happened in the past four weeks - not all of it worth mentioning. I did finish Lady A's birthday gift. I'm mostly positive she likes it. Still need to upload those photos, hopefully I'll get one of her wearing IT

I've been working on socks, didn't finish those. I picked up my Sprout again. I'd really like to finish it so I can take it with me to Bar Harbor for my long awaited vacation. I still need to figure out what I should take with me for knitting. Perhaps some short socks in Wick

It's warm here, but not really warm. I can still work with wool without passing out from heat stroke. The ceiling fans work just peachy to cool down the apartment.

Ah yes, a friend of mine is knitting me some "toe" socks. Not all individual toes, but just to "pockets". One for the big toe and one for the rest of the piggies. They are to wear with thong sandals. They are just about the coolest thing ever. I really want that pattern.

I might put some more birthday deadlines on myself this summer too. A couple of cousins and of course my dad turns 60 this year and I have to knit him something super-ultra-wicked-special :)

Holy Cow!

I can't believe it's been over a month since I last posted. The days have been moving incredibly slow, but oddly enough when I look at the week as a whole they fly by.

I really dislike bitching on a blog, but I feel I need to say I am sick and tired of listening to uninformed people arguing politics. I know that there is still months more to go, but I can't stand it. It makes my brain want to explode. Whew, glad that's out of the way.

I have re-re-started my Sprout. The cotton-ease was crap, so last week I bought some Cascade Sierra and it is awesome. It is so smooth and silky, I think it will be perfect for the summer. 80% cotton and 20% wool. I finished a sleeve this week and I'm just delighted. The ladies from TKE are wearing their Sprouts for KIP day June 14 so I'd like to have mine done for that.

Lately I have been feeling guilty about not knitting gifts for folks. I have this great ability to make truly fantastic handmade items for people and I just feel awful if I don't make things, but I haven't really knit myself anything since November. I'm trying to take it easy on the knit list for others by throwing in some stuff for me. I've got one birthday present due in June and one Big one in August otherwise I plan on knitting myself tons of socks. I bought some excellent sock yarn this winter and I'm more than ready to knit it up.

Ahhh, Spring

It's pretty much spring here in the midcoast and I'm loving it. The sun, the warmer temps, the flowers its about time :)


I didn't quite make the second Sprout before the birthday/holiday knitting list came around again.

I'm making a really special garment for the BF's youngest sister. She loves going out with friends, so I'm knitting her something cute that she can wear in Florida where she lives.

Mum's birthday, Mother's Day, and Father's Day all TBD.

Sprout Redux

I finished the super cute cropped sweater for the KAL I'm in. Ja, finished Sunday and realized that although I had knitted it to gauge it was stretching uncontrollably. Like a parachute. So I frogged it this morning then started all over again. I'm about halfway on the second sleeve now.




Also, I have a photo that never got posted to the Yarn Harlot's "International Freestyle" group. Trout vs. Sock, thank goodness for the viewing bubble otherwise my sock would get pwned.

Real Life

Real life has come with a vengeance.

After my recorded death in the Battle of the Soxes, I realized it was probably a good thing. I had what seemed like millions of birthday presents to finish.

There was a flash beret:









A Calorimetry


Also my first shawl for a VIP's 60th who received a first grandchild as an early b-day present. Very special year for her :) Finished pics to follow.


I managed a couple baby hats, a hat for myself, income taxes, and now I joined my first KAL for Sprout. I am knitting the bottom up version and I'm almost done. I think it'll be a great summer sweater since I'm using cotton.

Lastly I would like to give a big Happy Birthday to Chesley. She is a wonderful woman who made her dream come true. She always has a smile on her face for friends old and new. She is a woman of endless patience. Thank you Chesley for moving in next door to me, you have enriched my life.

My Death

I thought I may have been able to get two kills, but along halfway through the second pair of socks they arrived. My demise in wool. Clever packaging and a sweet little needle case.

And the question is finally answered, I do bleed yarn.

My First Kill

My first kill was recorded on February 6.

Even if this is my only kill I'm happy I got one under my belt.


Knitting PvP at its finest.

Buffalo Bob's Bobcat Rodeo

My Neighbor. As if he would ever let one get away :)

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Well I finished them. Ready to kill my first target. I'll mail them as soon as the post office opens.



This one is a wee bit out of focus, but it shows the texture really well.

What now?

I am almost up to the first lace panel in birthday gift #3. For the record this is the last birthday gift for February. Just finish this and I'm done.

I must finish a second pair of mittens by Saturday - in reality by Friday evening.

I'm really nervous and really excited about the sock battle. I keep having these doubts, "Why did I get involved in this?" I am proud of myself for doing something different. I am one to be perfectly happy to live under a rock for the rest of my life.

I'm pretty sure I've decided on my yarn, I'll just have to get the BF to wake me up at midnight Friday :)

My Target

I received my target last night at 9:30 pm est.

We have even been provided with yarn requirements and suggested gauge.

I now have to choose a yarn weight: fingering, sport, or worsted.

I may go for worsted, I need all the edge I can get, some of the other participants must be retired- right?. Besides it is Maine in winter.

Until Friday at 11:59 pm est... start swatching!

In an Effort to Enrich my Life

My neighbor- we shall call him "The Outdoorsman" has generously lent me some movies. Some Westerns. I haven't seen many westerns in my days, so I am totally willing to indulge in a new genre.

The Outdoorsman brought me Lonesome Dove and Open Range.

I started with Open Range, it was alright. The scenery is absolutely gorgeous and it is well acted. I feel that there is some personality missing from the movie though.

I began Lonesome Dove last night and I'm halfway through. So far this is a much better movie even though it is about 10 years older than Open Range. This really shouldn't surprise me most new movies are sub-par in my book.

All in all I'm enjoying the westerns. They are pleasant in their own quiet way. Lots of beautiful landscapes, crusty old cowboys, and plenty of whiskey.

They are the perfect movie to knit to. They remind me of the days when friends and family would gather round the radio in the evenings.

Battle

I got my approval today, I'm in the Battle of the Soxes. With any luck I'll be able to hold my own in the game. Now, how much time do I have left to finish some projects before the madness ensues? Eleven days. I can do it.

The best Christmas present ever

The BF made a swift for me! I love it so much. It works very well in conjunction with my ball winder.

By the way that is the yarn for his birthday present #2. I love Malabrigo.

The BF's Christmas present

He decided sometime in the fall that he wanted a Santa hat. Well, I thought, great I can make one of those.

Mum's Gift

Her knuckles are always cold so I made her the "Fetching" fingerless gloves. I've since learned that the top palm side curls too much for her to type well. I shall have to make her something else instead.

Dad's HP Hat

He really wanted a ridiculously long HP scarf, but I didn't think my brain could handle the mileage again. Pattern is from "Charmed Knits".

iPod Sock

This was a nice little project. I did it in a day. Added my own "fake" isle design.

Thrummed Mittens

They're done! I took forever trying to finish these. It seems as if every time there is any pressure to complete something I either cast on something new or I decide not to knit for a day or two.

The Socks

I completed the first sock on Wednesday. I'm hoping to finish the second one sometime this weekend.

Oh, Blessed Saturday

Well, some things have happened since last week. The BF finally had a birthday. I gave him his hat early, I believe it was the 5th. his folks had a party for him on the 12th and I finished his mittens that day. By the time the 15th actually rolled around there was nothing left to give, so I had him come in to my office and I gave him a massage.

Last weekend brought the Old Navy 75% off sale. I'm not crazy about shopping, but I've been twice and I'm considering going back again. Completely worth it. Some may even find presents for next Christmas.

I finished the Thrummed Mittens, I've got one Atomic Melon sock finished and I'm at the heel on the second one, and I started and finished an iPod sock.

Here's hoping I can keep up the momentum. I've got three birthday's coming up in February plus I'm going to participate in the Battle of the Soxes. Should be fun. And stressful. Besides either way I get socks. And socks are cool.

Who? What? Where? How?

Where have I been you say? Nowhere, right here doing the same old routine.

I had an extremely busy Christmas season at work. I put a few deadlines on myself knitting-wise, and got those accomplished! Now there is a slew of birthday's coming up that I would dearly love to knit for. Let's see, six by the end of February. Two are for babies so those should be relatively easy. The adults tend to be more of a problem of course.

The BF's birthday is the 15th and he has received part one of two gifts already. The second gift ought to go without a hitch.

I have been photographing all my work, but it really is more of a pain than I thought to upload images then post them, so I'll probably have one huge post of pictures.

Happy New Year