Spin.Knit.Kids.School.Repeat

Back to school...

2011-01-27T19:57:00.001-07:00

I just finished up the third week of school for the quarter and it's taking it's toll! I'm beyond exhausted but I'm really excited!

Plum Spice Loaded Calorimetry

2011-01-10T17:33:00.000-07:00

Finished Object #2 in 2011

It's been getting colder here lately. And I made this just in time. I actually wore it clipped together yesterday when we ran to the grocery store amidst the foot of snowfall we got and my ears were the toastiest part of me! The pattern is beyond simple using short rows to create the shape. Calorimetry is a free pattern from Knitty.com.

The yarn I used is Sunshine Yarns Worsted Merino in the Fall Kit Color "Plum Spice". I love it! The colors are a joy to watch as it all comes together. The pattern only used up 51grams of the skein, which came out to about 90 yards.

I do still need to find a few buttons for it still, but it so squishy soft I see it being around for a while & making more!

It made for a super stashbusting project...and only a couple hours of time total!!!

Dinner time!!!!

2011-01-06T09:32:00.000-07:00

Can you imagine me banging on one of those triangles hanging on the front porch?

I can...well, sort of.

Anyways, last night for dinner I made Broiled Salmon. It was so good, even the kids ate all of theirs!

1 lb. of Salmon (I bought a frozen, boned, and scaled one at King Soopers...worth it!)
1 tbsp of EVOO
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
2 small cloves of garlic, minced
1 sprig of rosemary, strip the leaves and chop them up a bit (you can probably use dried rosemary, just crush it before adding to the mix.)

Mix the EVOO, lemon juice, garlic and rosemary up. Place the Salmon on a broiling rack (I seriously just use a cooling rack, like for cookies, and a cookie sheet under it.) then brush the mix over it evenly. Set the broiler to 500 degrees and then cook 4-6 minutes for each 1/2 in of thickness, turning half way through. (Mine cooked for 12 minutes total, turning the pan around at 6 minutes.)

Mine sat in the warm oven for about 15 minutes until my husband got home from work before we ate and it was still juicy and delicious. We had steamed asparagus & garden salads with some light ceasar dressing with it.

The Winterberry Baby Collection

2011-01-05T20:00:00.003-07:00

Project 1/12in2011

As part of the 12in2011 group on Ravelry participants pick 12 projects that they can complete with out purchasing the yarn. My first project that I wanted & needed to get finished was a baby set.

The yarn I used for this entire set is the December 2010 club shipment from Rainy Days & Wooly Dogs. It is a striping GothSocks skein on the Strychnine base.

I made the Easy Peasy Leftover Sock Newborn Hat first. The pattern is found on the blog Knitty Gritty Thoughts This little hat used less than 20g (17g or 44 yards to be exact) of fingering and seems pretty accommodating size wise. I can't wait to see the new arrival in it.

Next, I made Magic Slippers from the SockPixie blog. These were pretty simple and very quick and used up next to no yarn! These took 42 yards (11g) of sock yarn.

Third, is the matching rattle. I used Rebecca Danger's "Holly, Ivy & Steve: Three Christmas Hooligan Ornaments" Pattern (available in her etsy store, here, or on Ravelry). I used the Steve pattern for this particular rattle and he came together really quickly. I sewed on the eyes and mouth with some black cotton DK weight cotton, just because it was what I had it on hand, and stuffed a little rattle insert in with the body stuffing.

Here's the whole set:

How do you make a 5 year old understand?

2011-01-02T17:27:00.001-07:00

How am I supposed to be patient with the most destructive children on the face of the planet?

Those of you who know me outside of this log, know the trouble I have with this. I thought this year I would try to be more patient with them.

But when my 3 year old comes downstairs and hands me a permanent marker and says to come look at the 'masterpiece' my temper hitches up a wee bit.

The 5 minutes of peace I find while washing dishes is obviously not allowed in my house. (My husband wonders why there is a tower of them sitting next to the sink nightly!) Apparently those few minutes that I thought I'd get something done in the kitchen and told the kids to color on their papers quietly so mommy could finish up the dishes obviously were ill-advised on my own part. They sat quietly for a few minutes and I got to work. 5 minutes later, Char arrives with the marker.

They were drawing all right!
Just not in the living room, and definitely not on the paper!

I now have 3 murals in the hallway upstairs, one being on my studio door, as well as a long coiling design trailing down the banisters in the stairs.

Obviously, these were the work of my 5 year old son, Jack, seeing as the drawings were not in the styling of 3 year old Char. And then there is the fact that he signed all of his work. Right there in the middle of each is his name. But he says his sister did it...

Uh-huh...

Happy New Year!!!

2011-01-01T11:19:00.001-07:00

IT'S 2011!!!!

Can you tell I'm a wee bit excited about the new year? I've decided that this year is gonna be good! I've got lots of things that I want to accomplish this year, but I'm not gonna stress out about it.

Defining 'Goal':

–noun

the result or achievement toward which effort is directed; aim; end.
the terminal point in a race.
a pole, line, or other marker by which such a point is indicated.
an area, basket, cage, or other object or structure toward or into which players of various games attempt to throw, carry, kick, hit, or drive a ball, puck, etc., to score a point or points.
the act of throwing, carrying, kicking, driving, etc., a ball or puck into such an area or object.
the score made by this act.

So, here are my general goals for 2011!

Weightloss
Knitting Goals
Reclaiming my house
Reading

Emvious Photography: Jax's First Emergency Room Trip

2010-08-11T10:55:00.000-06:00

Emvious Photography: Jax's First Emergency Room Trip

Check out Jax's trip on my Photography Blog!

What you've been missing...

2010-07-07T11:47:00.003-06:00

Well, since I've been MIA for a bit I should probably update what I've done lately:

May:

I finished my MIL's scarf/stole/shawl thingy. I used 2 skeins of Sunshine Yarns Classic Sock yarn in Mulberry Spice and Sweet Clementine. (-2)

I was asked to weave a scarf for a friend after she'd seen one I'd done in the same yarn. Woven using Sunshine Yarns Classic Sock in New Moon Alice.

I spun this yarn and knit a Haruni:
Spun from 2 Sunshine Yarns SW Merino Rovings. Un-Birthday Party and Patronus. I spun these on the new lace flyer I got and ended up with around 880 yards of 2 ply fingering yarn. (-2 +1-.5 = +1/2)

Picture of the yarn preknitting:

I spun this yarn for a friend. Sunshine Yarns SW Merino in Blood Red, spun into a 2 ply sport weight 300 yards. She made this into a gorgeous shawl.

In June I finished:
Char's Birthday Boheme. Made with Sunshine Yarns Worsted in Ever After.
The pattern is written for sport weight, with sizes up to 18 months. I was able to modify using some tips from other project pages to make a 4t using worsted weight yarn. She is very happy with it. (Please don't pay any attention to the mess in the background! The kids' toybox was confiscated and redeposited in the middle of my office floor.) Buttons are by BlueManateeButtons on Etsy. (-2)

In June I also started 2 pairs of socks...brilliant me made each on a set of DPNs instead of my usual 2 at a time using magic loop knitting. So I have 1 of each.

Skew: Sunshine Yarns Classic Sock in Alice (WIP 1)

Rivendell: Sunshine Yarns Classic Sock in Forest Mist. (WIP 1)

And spun this yarn: Sunshine Yarns SW Merino, Potronus, 2 ply light fingering, 500 yards.

HPKCHC Quidditch Mystery Challenge Crafting

2010-07-07T10:57:00.001-06:00

Yesterday was the mystery challenge. One of those do as much as you can in 1 day sort of things.
One person from each house and year is chosen to participate. I was that person for the Slytherin 4th years.

I spun the Sunshine Yarns Tonks from the earlier post and knit it into this little baby hat:

Then I spun some yarn for a present, the Gaia's Colours top I mentioned before:

And then I knit up some little baby mittens to go to a friend:

Tour de Fleece: Day 3 & 4

2010-07-07T10:31:00.000-06:00

Well, it's being posted late but I did spin on Days 3 & 4.

Day 3:
Bonkers: Funky Greens (Merino/Tencle blend) into a 2 ply worsted/bulky yarn

Day 4:
Spinning today coincided with the Harry Potter Knitting/Crocheting House Cup Quidditch Mystery Challenge that I was chosen to participate in for Slytherin 4th years.

Here's the spinning that was done for the projects:
Gaia's Colours Fibre Arts: Samovila Top (50 Merino/50Tencel) in Pollack, 2 ply worsted yarn

Sunshine Yarns SW Merino in Tonks spun into a crazy thick and thin

Tour de Fleece: Day 2

2010-07-04T18:25:00.000-06:00

Well, it doesn't look like much yet, but 2/3 of triangle is finished!

Tour de Fleece: Day 1

2010-07-03T21:46:00.000-06:00

The Tour de Fleece is a project on Ravelry coinciding with the Tour de France for spinners.

Here is my Day 1 spinning:
1/3 of Love Triangle

Gah...finally!!!

2010-07-02T13:06:00.000-06:00

Spring quarter finished up a few weeks ago and I've got 1 more week before the Summer quarter starts. So I'm getting caught up some customs spinning jobs, some weaving jobs, and house keeping. Spring cleaning was taking forever with classes still going. But now, I'm down to 2 rooms to clean out. Alot of what is left is still clothes and stuff that needs to get sorted out for Goodwill or to go to friends (or keep - there is no way Goodwill is getting my handknits...I'll eventually have grandkids!).

May: Here and Gone

2010-05-31T17:32:00.000-06:00

May kinda took me by surprise it was just starting and now it's already gone!

We're heading into wk 9 of the quarter at school. 3 left until Summer break, it's only 3 weeks, but it's a big break for us! Let's just say I can't wait! I'm so ready to be done with this quarter so I can actually feel like I'm accomplishing something again. Well I guess that's only true for half of my classes.

Over the last week I have started feeling like I'm making some progress though. So it's not as bad as it was a couple weeks ago when I was drowning!

So let me think on what was accomplished this month craftiness wise and I'll get to that later tonight.

Yarn In...Yarn Out (April)

2010-05-03T10:52:00.001-06:00

Alright, I've put it off long enough...

Yarn In includes purchases and trades that came in.
Yarn Out includes finished objects, yarn I sold or traded out.
Limbo Yarn includes yarn that is currently being used.

So our starting total was: 120 skeins respectively
January = 132 skeins
February = 119
March = 127

Yarn In:

For the Store:
10 rovings arrived for the Jacob's Fan club spinning! (9 of these have left already!) 4 batts and one custom spinning order also arrived. Weaving: 3 skeins arrived for 2 different orders.

For Me:
1 = trades/gifted
8 = my purchases (3 were destash facilitation)
3 = Clubs/Prior Purchases/Customs (Sunshine Yarn's Earth Day Kit/ FFtC Fangtasia x2)
3 = Blankie Scraps/Minis (sets) - these don't really count toward my total, but while I'm at it...

Yarn Out:
26 = Finished Objects
(MIL's scarf as of yesterday =2/ Unbirthday Hat =1/ Monkeys = 1/ Doomsday Bag =21)
9 = Sold / Traded / Gifted
5 = Sent out for blankie swaps

Limbo Yarn:
- 7 are the Wicked Sweater
- 2 are Anemoi Mittens
- 2 are 2 pairs of socks
- 1 Montego Bay Scarf
- 1 Butterbeer Citron
- 1 Owlings

End total: 127 + (-38+12) = 99 (I'm under 100!!! Wait maybe I need to go recount! And destash for what is coming in!)

Here's the take:
Arriving with my roving order for the JFC spinning:
Bella, Edward, Jacob and Emmett (< he was part of the custom order) all in Sunshine Yarns Classic Sock. Birthday $$ from the folks spent well!

My Destash Facilitation:
More Sunshine: Crookshanks in Twist, and O.W.L.'s & Wolfsong in Classic

Blankie Minis:

Other Arrivals:

Just Enough Hat

2010-05-02T15:36:00.000-06:00

Here's a kinda slouchy beanie that I've had hiding out in my purse being worked on here and there. "Unbirthday" by Sunshine Yarns, a colorway of which I don't know if I'll ever have enough!

I plan on eventually writing up the notes on this project, once I actually have time to sit still long enough with it in my hands to do it.

Monkey Virgin No More!

2010-05-02T15:27:00.000-06:00

Wow, if that came up in a search I'm sure I'd get some "what the ____" 's !

Anyways, the "Like A (Monkey) Virgin" socks were finished last month! A record 12 days of knitting, with school taking time away, these are my fastest socks yet! And I love them! They fit wonderfully, the colors are great, the yarn is great...(wait, how could I not love the yarn...it's Sunshine Yarms!)

Here they are:

Spinning 101: Starting Out

2010-04-23T20:10:00.000-06:00

So you want to spin...I can help a bit as long as it's on a wheel. Spindling was not for me! I have uber-respect for those who can do it, it just wasn't working for me.

So this is what you got when your roving showed up:

Step one: Unbraid the roving then spread the fiber out a bit. It will have been in a sort of tube, you can flatten it a bit by doing this. Giving you this:

Start splitting the roving. You can be as thick or thin as you want dependent on your desired finished product. This should start out pretty easy at first. The roving will split easily in spots where it 'wants' to split.

For a worsted weight single leave them a bit thicker. For thinner yarns or multiple plies go for thinner sections:

So you go from your braid to this:

Now you are ready to spin.
Fray the end of your lead on piece a bit then overlap the start off the fiber and the lead. Let the twist take. As you build up some twist, pull small amount out from the fiber end of the piece you are working on and then let the twist slip up this part. This is drafting!

Keep this pattern up. Get some twist gathered up, slip a little of the fiber out, let the twist travel up, and let the bobbin take in the spun yarn. You're spinning!

Now when you get about 6 inches from the end of your current piece you need to get a second piece ready to go. Pull a bit of the fiber out of the next piece and lay it against the end of your previous piece.

Start spinning again and let the twist take in the new piece while continuing the drafting process. Then you just keep going.

No, I haven't disappeared...not yet at least!

2010-04-23T19:06:00.000-06:00

School has been a time hog lately! I barely have time to do anything outside of the large format, lighting, and darkroom classes I'm taking right now. I've been spinning away as well, so very little knitting time has occurred. BUT...I do have a few udates to make as well as an info post for piing coming up soon!

April Snowstorms Bring More Socks

2010-04-02T09:50:00.000-06:00

Yup that's right. April 1st we had snow and hail, so I cast on another pair of socks! I cast on Cookie A.'s Monkey pattern. It's a well loved pattern that I never even thought of making, since there are only 11,500(ish) pairs out there according to the Ravelry pattern pages. The pattern is free, published in Knitty.

Plus the April Sock Knitter's Anonymous group on Ravelry is having their Cookie A. month this month and we decided to have a side knit-a-long for "Monkey Virgins." Only those who have never knit a pair of Monkeys qualify for the SKA Sockdown Challenge with Monkeys.

After scowering pictures of FO's on the project page I thought I wanted a mostly solid color, but then I found the perfect yarn and it just sort of clicked!

My "Like A (Monkey) Virgin" socks have been started! They are being knit in Sunshine Yarns Classic Sock in Red Queen.

Yarn In...Yarn Out (March)2

2010-04-01T10:43:00.001-06:00

The March instillation of the dreaded tally for 2010!

Yarn In includes purchases and trades that came in.
Yarn Out includes finished objects, yarn I sold or traded out.
Limbo Yarn includes yarn that is currently being used.

So our starting total was: 120 skeins respectively
January = 132 skeins
February = 119
March = 127

Yarn In:
2 Rovings and one skein arrived that were purchased in February
1 = trades/gifted
15 = my purchases
(Plus 1 kit...but it's my birthday present, does it still count?)

Yarn Out:
3 = Finished Objects
6 = Sold / Traded / Gifted

Limbo Yarn:

- 21 of those are the Doomsday Bag
- 7 are the Wicked Sweater
- 2 are 2 pairs of socks
- 1 Montego Bay Scarf
- 1 Un-Birthday Hat
- 1 Butterbeer Citron
- 1 Owlings

End total: 119 (-9+17) = 127

Here's what it comes out to:

This was a gift in a swap from the dyer herself: Culture Pop! Self Striping Sock in Volterra:

Then we come to my own downfall:
Storied Yarns Merino Lace in Rose Hathaway, destined to become a lace shawl for my SIL's birthday in June:

And my Sunshine:
Mulberry Spice Classic:

Wild Blueberries Classic:

And 2 skeins of Chocolate Plum Sunsilk:

Doomsday Bag: Check!

2010-04-01T10:25:00.000-06:00

It's finished! It's finally finished! One knitolution officially completed! I have conquered colorwork, steeking, and seaming! Not to mention my first i-cord edging!

For more pics and notes check out my Ravelry Project page!

Weaving away...

2010-03-27T12:50:00.000-06:00

This last week has been a mad rush to get some knitting projects finished. But I did manage to take a break last night and this morning and got 2 scarves finished up.
This first is Barking Dog Yarns in Lobster Shell Beach. It ended up 70” x 4 1/2”. It was stretchier than I expected but I powered through and finished up for my mom, for Mother’s Day this year. (She isn’t the most appreciative when it comes to knits and stuff, and tends to look at me like I’m crazy when I talk to her about things like this…oh well!) The edges at the beginning of this one got pretty wonky but for my second project I’m happy.

The second is for a swap spoilee. I love it and it will be difficult to pack up and send on it’s way, but I think she will love it just as much! It is SUnshine Yarns in New Moon Alice. I left the weave a little looser and ended up with a 68” x 5 1/2” scarf.

One weeks worth of knitting...

2010-03-26T10:44:00.000-06:00

results in this:

And a close up:

Now all that is left to knit is the flap. (2500 of 7000 stitches of it is done so far!)
This needs to be finished by Mar. 31st, @ midnight.

Yarn In...Yarn Out (March)

2010-03-17T20:22:00.000-06:00

The March instillation of the dreaded tally for 2010!

Yarn In includes purchases and trades that came in.
Yarn Out includes finished objects, yarn I sold or traded out.
Limbo Yarn includes yarn that is currently being used.

So our starting total was: 120 skeins respectively
January = 132 skeins
February = 119
March =

Yarn In:
2 Rovings and one skein arrived that were purchased in February
0 = trades/gifted
11 = my purchases
(Plus 1 kit...but it's my birthday present, does it still count?)

Yarn Out:
0 = Finished Objects
5 = Sold / Traded / Gifted

Limbo Yarn:

- 21 of those are the Doomsday Bag
- 7 are the Wicked Sweater
- 2 are 2 pairs of socks
- 1 Montego Bay Scarf
- 1 Un-Birthday Hat
- 1 Butterbeer Citron
- 1 Owlings

End total: 119 (-5+11) = 125

Purchases:

February's Purchases that came in March:
Blue Moon Fiber Arts, Socks that Rawk Mediumweight in Narikama.

CJ Kopec Creations Honey Bear & Lake House Merino/Tencel Blends

And the Feb 2010 Sunshine Yarns Harry Potter Club Shipment, Shapeshifter.

For March:
I got 2 skeins of Berroco Luster at the LYS I just found. I've been wanting to try this yarn for a while now and could never find it without having to order it.

Sunshine Yarns (as always!) Mad Hatter Classic Sock:

Red Queen Classic:

Un-Birthday Classic:

Lupin Classic:

Down The Rabbit Hole in Lux Sock:

Barking Dog Yarns: Ansel Adams:

Lobster Shell beach:

Pink & Black Plaid:

And my birthday kit from Sunshine Yarns: Forever Sunrise Dipped Infinity Scarf kit

Yarn Diet...?

2010-03-17T19:18:00.000-06:00

...is it even possible??? Well, I'm thinking I'm needing one. I have got to get back down to my beginning total! Maybe someday I can make it a reality!

March Madness...

2010-03-17T11:02:00.001-06:00

The SKA March Mystery Sock KAL is going on still. Clue 3 was released this past Monday and I've just gotten to the point where I can start it today! I've gotten through the heel flap part that is patterned. I did however decide to only do one repeat of Clue 2 (the leg) as adding the second repeat would have made the sock too tight around the cuff for me at it's full height. I even considered giving these away as a gift and the intended recipient had the same issue, so one repeat is good by me. I'll be disqualified for the prizes, but I'll have a very pretty pair of socks!

MIA:

2010-03-17T08:49:00.000-06:00

It's the week before finals! Which in a normal school would mean kids getting ready to take finals or bloing off steam to relax before them. For us crazy art students, it means FINALS!!! You have to shoot your final, print your final, mat your final and be ready to present your final the second you walk into class! It's just a wee-bit crazy around here right now!

March Madness

2010-03-07T13:56:00.000-07:00

No not basket ball!!! As if I'd even know that when that was beyond it being called "March Madness"!

No, this is my own form of March Madness! I've cast on 2 pairs of Mystery Socks so far this month and it's only the 7th! Not only that, I have plans for at least one more pair!

The first pair I cast on is the SolidSocks Mystery Sock March/April 2010 pattern for the Solid Socks group on Ravelry. I'm using Sunshine Yarns Classic Sock (big surprise there!) in Mountain Shadow.On US 1 (2.25mm) DPNs. I'm thinking I'm going to try and run to the LYS down the street from school in order to get a few more pairs. I have exactly 6 needles this size, one of which is broken. So I knit clue1 of sock1 for this pair and then had to move it to a couple stitch holders to be able to start another sock.

Mountain Shadows Hide Mysteries:

Mystery Sock #2 that I cast on is the March 2010 SKA Mystery Sock pattern. This pattern is being knit for the Sock Knitters Anonymous March Sockdown on Ravelry. Also knit on US 1 DPNs. This time I'm using Sunshine Yarns Luxury Sock in Cliffdiving. This yarn was given to me by Dani last time I visited her due to a few knots throughout the skein.

Cliffdiving into Mysteries:

Book Review: Dragon Wytch

2010-02-27T18:16:00.000-07:00

Dragon Wytch by Yasmine Galenorn

Forth book in the Otherword Series, an Urban Paranormal Romance type genre. Three sisters who are half-human/ half-fae that are on a quest to save the world from demons and creepy crawlies. Their misfit team consists of many different 'races', including full-blooded humans, a fox demon, a dragon who walks as a man a good portion of the time, not to mention of the three sisters the oldest is a witch who can't always control her magic, the next a spy turned vampire when tortured by her past mark, and the third a were who morphs into a tabby cat when stressed out.

While not my favorite series for some reason I keep reading them. The characters draw you in as the person telling the story rotates through the three sisters.

Book Review: The Jasmine Trade

2010-02-27T16:16:00.000-07:00

The Jasmine Trade by Denise Hamilton

Newspaper reporter Eve Diamond takes on more than she can imagine when she falls into the world of 'Parachute Kids'. When a 17 year old Chinese high schooler shows up murdered in her car Eve senses something more than the carjacking the police are reporting. But she soon gets tied up in Chinese gangs, prostitution rings and a story that slowly unravels through the murdered girl's diary, her friend's worried confessions of spying, and the befriending of other parachute kids. A number of paths cross and keep you guessing who on which side of the story and the law.

Somewhat reminiscent of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series in the manner that Eve is constantly getting herself tugged deeper into trouble on her quest to get the truth. With humor, romance and a good mystery you can seldom go wrong.

Book Review: How to Knit a Wild Bikini

2010-02-27T16:05:00.000-07:00

How to Knit A Wild Bikini by Christie Ridgway

A wonderful mix of romance, independence, good food and the sisterhood of knitting. Main character, Nikki, doesn't know what she's in for when she takes a position as a personal chef to the most eligible bachelor in Malibu. But the faux-lesbian-chef-girlfriend role she plays quickly becomes more complicated. While protecting herself from Jay, said bachelor, his niece from the aggressive older boyfriend, she falls into the world of SnB (Stitch and Bitch) meet ups at the local yarn shop. But the yarn shop holds untold secrets that Nikki may or may not be ready to face.

A little on the more risque side of literature, but a definite to read if you've ever experienced the sisterhood of knitting!

Self Portriats...

2010-02-26T17:43:00.000-07:00

Um yea, there's a reason I stay behind the camera! I took 93 portriats today and honestly pretty much hate them all!

On another note, mid-term reviews cane in and I have 3 A-'s and a C!!!

Yarn In...Yarn Out (February) - Part 2

2010-02-26T17:16:00.002-07:00

The next instillation of the dreaded tally for 2010! The second for February...I've been bad, very bad!

Yarn In includes purchases and trades that came in.
Yarn Out includes finished objects, yarn I sold or traded out.
Limbo Yarn includes yarn that is currently being used.

So our starting total was: 120 skeins respectively
January's Total was: 132 skeins

February (first installment still listed first with second additions following):

Yarn In:
1 (+1) = trades/gifted
2 (+8 rovings + 4 skeins) = my purchases

Yarn Out:
3(+1) = Finished Objects
16 (+4)= Sold / Traded / Gifted

Limbo Yarn:
33 skeins are currently devoted to projects in progress! (21 of those are the Doomsday Bag and 7 are the Wicked Sweater.)

End total: 118 (-5+13) = 127 (but do rovings really count since they are for the shop? so really -8 from the total gives me 119 so I'm still under the years starting point!?! Or is that cheating?)

So, here's the second installment of what came in in February:

Purchases:

Spincerely Yours Merino/Tencel Roving "Niave":

Old Sheep Romney, Merino blend:

"Iris Garden"

"Unknown Planet":

Gaia's Colors Pales Sock in Cliodhan's Thistle :

Gaia's Colours Samovila Top in Pollock:

Sunshine Yarns Worsted Merino in "Down the Rabbit Hole":

Sunshine Yarns Merino Sport in "Un-Birthday":

Sunshine Yarns SW Merino Roving in "Mad Hatter":

Sunshine Yarns SW Merino Roving in "Wonderland":

Sunshine Yarns Merino/Tencel Roving in "Red Queen":

Whew! Can you tell there's a trend in Sunshine land right now? And it's all gorgeous!

A sad day in Socksville...

2010-02-21T17:12:00.000-07:00

My February Socks died today!

I LOVE the pattern, Bex, by CookieA. But I couldn't get them over my heel. Turns out I was on a needle size too small. The pattern calls for 2.5mm, and I was on 2.25mm. Oh well. They were frogged this morning. It was sad, I even cried a little. When you see the pictures you may understand:

All the beautiful cables:

And the pile of blah it turned into:

Spin Me Right Round...

2010-02-21T16:11:00.000-07:00

Another custom spin for a fellow yarnie:

Sundance
200 yards
14 WPI, Fingering weight

Yarn In...Yarn Out (February)

2010-02-21T16:08:00.000-07:00

The next instillation of the dreaded tally for 2010!

Yarn In includes purchases and trades that came in.
Yarn Out includes finished objects, yarn I sold or traded out.
Limbo Yarn includes yarn that is currently being used.

So our starting total was: 120 skeins respectively
January's Total was: 132 skeins

February (so far):

Yarn In:
1 = trades
2 = my purchases

Yarn Out:
3 = Finished Objects
16 = Sold / Traded / Gifted

Limbo Yarn:
32 skeins are currently devoted to projects in progress! (21 of those are the Doomsday Bag and 7 are the Wicked Sweater.)

End total: 118

So, here's what came in in February:

Purchases:

Sunshine Yarns Merino Worsted: Ever After

Sunshine Yarns Merino Worsted: Winter Fairy

Trades:

Sunshine Yarns Classic Sock: Forest Mist

Me-My-Mo Mitts

2010-02-21T13:50:00.004-07:00

This is my first attempt at writing down a pattern.
It's pretty much how I'd talk someone threw it, so the technical terms may not be there, but I think it's pretty straight forward.
Any advice/feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

The name for these mitts came about due to the constant "me", "mine", "my" that went on while knitting the sample. My 2 1/2 year old daughter thinks that everything I knit is for her. And while talking to her and her brother there is alot of word jumbling. How do we know mommy is frustrated? How jumbled up her words get!

I’ve made these only once so far and while I like them I have a few changes I’d make for the second pair. Mine were made in Sport weight on US8’s; the fabric itself is a little loose as well as the overall fit. This pattern is the result of the proposed changes.

Worsted yarn on US8 or Sport yarn on US6

Long Tail CO 50 stitches. (30 stitches will make up the front, 20 for the back.)
Place marker and join in round.
Row 1 (Set up round) K2, P2, K4, P1, K12, P1, K4, P2, *K2, P2, repeat from * until end. (This forms the back of the cuff.)
Row 2 K2, P2, C2F, P1, C3F C3B, P1, C2B, P1, *K2, P2 repeat from * to end.
Row 3 Same as Row 1.
Row 4 K2, P2, C2F, P1, K12, P1, C2B, P1, *K2, P2 repeat from * to end.
Row 5 Repeat Row 1.
Row 6 Repeat Row 2.

Repeat Rows 1-6 for the desired length of cuff, finishing with Row 2 or 6. Initial sample has a 3 in cuff.

Thumb gusset. You can do this many ways. It you only want the thumb opening, work back and forth across the mitt as if it were flat (Rows 1, 3, & 5 will be purled in this case.)

Thumb gussets:
Form thumb gussets in the best location for you.
This is still something I’m playing around with.
At the location where you’ve decided place markers on each side of one stitch.

Starting on the next row:
Row 1: M1 after each marker (increasing the # inside the markers by 2.)
Row 2: The next row knit all thumb gussets.

Continue these two rows until thumb gusset reaches lowest thumb knuckle. (I know, technical right…)
Place thumb stitches onto scrap yarn.
Begin knitting around as before gusset, continue cables as pattern reads.

Continue cable on front & stockinet on back until palm is ½-1” shorter that the desired palm length. End with Row 2 (or 6).

Next Row, begin 2x2 ribbing for the top of the mitten. The cables should flow pretty easily into the ribbing. Complete ½ - 1” of ribbing. Cast off.

Pick up thumb stitches. Pick up 2 stitches from body of mitt, between edges of gusset. (Go for an even # of stitches here.)
Row 1: Knit all stitches.
Row 2: Begin 2x2 ribbing.
Repeat row 2 for desired length.

Does roving count

2010-02-19T09:18:00.002-07:00

So in all my destashing and the whole 'end the year with less yarn than I have now' thing, I have to ask...Does roving count?

Clapotis...check!

2010-02-18T11:16:00.000-07:00

It's finished! My New Moon Clapotis if finished! A brilliant pattern by Kate Gilbert, offered free through Knitty.com.

I used Sunshine Yarns Classic Sock in New Moon Alice on US 6's, using up right around 120 g of the yarn. It's a little shorter than I'd like, but I can always add length next time around! There will definitely be a next time around! It makes a nice light weight scarf/shawl with this yarn.

Here she is!!! I can't wait to get some pictures wearing her, but I'm not about to hand my Canon over to the 4 yr old! (The color is off in the first one due to the kiddie mats I use for blocking!)

Landscape/ Architecture Photography

2010-02-18T10:18:00.000-07:00

For my Digital Illustrator class we had to take 15 pictures of Landscapes and Architectural pieces. I wanted to get out of Denver, since alot of the students live there, and away from my house since it's pretty plain, so I went to visit my friend in Boulder and took some photos up there for the assignment!

These first ones are North of Boulder, going east toward Longmont:

These ones are from historical Boulder, around the Pearl Street Mall area:

This one doesn't really fit into the assignment, but I couldn't resist it! It was just so perfect!

2010 Book List

2010-02-17T07:50:00.000-07:00

I know I won't be doing nearly as much reading in 2010 as I did in '09! But I might as well make the most of it. I'm hoping to ba able to give a short review of each book I read this year.

1. Born of Ice (Sherrilyn Kenyon)
2. Bite Marks (Jennifer Rardin)
3. The Maze (Catherine Coulter)
4. The Edge (Catherine Coulter)
5. Hotel Translyvania (Chelsea Yarbro)
6. Dragon Wytch (currently) (Yasmine Galeborn)

Yarn In...Yarn Out

2010-02-15T11:10:00.000-07:00

The dreaded tally of what I've done so far this year!

Yarn In includes purchases and trades that came in.
Yarn Out includes finished objects, yarn I sold or traded out.
Limbo Yarn includes yarn that is currently being used.

So our starting total was: 120 skeins respectively

Yarn In:
33 = Christmas yarns
9 = Sweater Club ('09 paid)
1 = sock club ('09 paid, Dec Shipment)
8 = my purchases/trades coming in

Yarn Out:
2 = Finished Objects
10 = Sold / Traded / Gifted

Limbo Yarn:
35 skeins are currently devoted to projects in progress! (I keep reminding me that 21 of those are the Doomsday Bag and 7 are my Wicked Sweater.)

End total: 132

So, here's what came in in January:

Received this Three Irish Girls Wexford roving in Quinn in a trade:

Sunshine Yarns Classic Sock in Secret Keeper. This was the Valentine's Day Sock Kit (paid in Jan. received in Feb.) Dani put together:

Sunshine Yarns Merino Sport in Jane:

Cosmic Fibers Yarn, Lyra in Vampire in your Cleavage:

Other yarns that arrived in January were my Christmas Yarns:

Sunshine Yarns in Classic Sock:
Mountain Shadow

Algea

Sweet Clementine

Bella's Truck

Wicked? Me? No...

2010-02-15T10:42:00.000-07:00

Knitolution #2 has been marked as started!

I started knitting my first sweater for me! It's being done in the lovely Vampire Merino Worsted Yarn from the Sunshine Yarns 2010 Sweater Club. It's momentarily been set aside in order to finish some older WIPs. But so far I'm about half way through the raglan shaping.

The Pattern is called Wicked, written by Rachel Bishop, and has many different variations you can make. I'm planning for short sleeves, possibly with the pocket and most likely adding some bust darts and length to the sweater.

Here's the progress as of 2 weeks ago:

Spin Me Right Round...

2010-02-15T10:32:00.000-07:00

I also did a little spinning last month. Mostly a custom for a fellow yarnie. Her sister had sent her some gorgeous wool & mohair blend rovings from New Zealand. They were a dream to spin!

Satin Roses:
183 yards of worsted 2 ply.

Doomsday Bag Update!

2010-02-15T10:28:00.000-07:00

The band for the bag is finished. 16,700 stitches done at this point. I've got the Ravelympics going on right now, a kitting challege that coincides with the Olympics, so this has been set adise until I finish what I'd like to for it. The goal is to have this bag finished by my birthday at the end of March.

The band is going to be blocked flat tonight and I'll get some new pics taken then!

Here's what I had last week:

January Socks...Part 2

2010-02-15T10:18:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know, we are halp way through February. But when you have to order more yarn to finish a pair of socks and then they must wait until other items are finished it's okay if January's socks are a little bit late!

So for January's installment of the Sock-olution I made Peat Duckies in Sunshine Yarns' Peat Merino Sport Yarn. Here they are!

This is a very simple sock that knits up quick due to the sport weight yarn!

Vampires...they're everywhere...

2010-01-15T15:45:00.000-07:00

Well, not real vampires...not that there are such a thing, but...

Yummy Vampire Merino Worsted from my dear friend Dani of Sunshine Yarns. I joined in on her Sunshine Sweater Club that shipped this month. And yesterday I found 9 wonderful skeins in my mailbox!

I love it! IT's one of my favorite colors from Dani, I already have a pair of socks in the same color:

These are my Vampire Kai-Mei Socks. Knit in Sunshine Classic Sock using Cookie A.'s pattern from Sock Innovation.

One week down, 10 to go!

2010-01-15T15:35:00.000-07:00

I started back to school this past Monday!!!

Like a real school where you actually go to class and participate beyond typing away in cyberspace! I started the Photography program at the Art Institute of Colorado and I'm loving it. I'm taking 4 classes, the kids are spending a whole 3 days each week at preschool, it's so nice!

It's in the bag...

2010-01-09T15:09:00.000-07:00

...or at least it will be!

I got my Knit Picks Palette East Meets West Bag kit in the mail on Thursday! I'm at a loss though, well not a loss, more like being terrified!

1. This is more colorwork than I have ever attempted! 21 colors worth of colorwork!
2. Steeking! Eeek! Never have I ever...

I suppose their are other reasons this terrifies me, but I can deal with those.

More WIPs:

2010-01-05T09:59:00.000-07:00

New Moon Clapotis:
I started this project back in November (?). It's been the car project and I've actually made a bit of progress on it. I'm thinking I might try to ggo longer than the pattern calls for though. Pattern via Knitty. (Clapotis)

Made with Sunshine Yarns Classic Sock Yarn in New Moon Alice.

Butterbeer Citron:

A new little classy shawl pattern from the Winter Knitty. (Citron) I love how it's coming although the rows are becoming unbearably long!

Made with Sunshine Yarns Classic Sock Yarn in Butterbeer

Anemoi Mittens Part 2...

2010-01-05T09:41:00.000-07:00

The thumb gusset is on a holder and there are roughly 10-12 rows left until the repeats for length or the decreases! I'm so excited and so happy with these!

Updated pics:

Sunshine on a cloudy day...

2010-01-05T08:32:00.000-07:00

I got Sunshine yesterday! It was very much needed as the kids had been driving me crazy! It was my first full day with them in a long time!

Bella's Truck, Mountain Shadow, Honey Pot, Algea and Sweet Clementine all in Classic Sock.

And Gryffindor Stripe in Soft that I got in a trade (thanks Jane!)

Anemoi Mittens

2010-01-04T09:00:00.000-07:00

Operation Colorwork:

I love this pattern by Eunny Jang and have been terrified of it all at the same time! Time to bite the bullet. Anemoi Mittens. The colorwork is exquisite! I cast on January 2nd and finally made it beyond the cuff on the 3rd! I frogged the cuff somewhere in the neighborhood of 6 times trying to use a Tubular Cast On. I finally found one that worked! TECHKnitting's provision tail method and would definitely recommend it to others. You can find her tutorial here.

I'm using Sunshine Yarns Classic and Twist Sock Yarns. Classic in Cornish Pixies (a wonderful blue) and Twist in Luna (a soft creamy white, yellow and grey mix). I love the two together and so far it's gorgeous.

January Socks...

2010-01-04T08:47:00.000-07:00

January's socks are 'Duckies' in Sunshine Yarns Merino Sport in Peat.

I love them...so far! Unfortunately I have run out of yarn, just past the heel gusset and have been unable to procur any more yarn yet. I'm thinking I might need to ask Dani to dye some up for me so I can finish these up.

I started these sock on January 1, 2010 @ 12:01am! And knit through the majority of the night, well, morning. I can't wait for them to be finished.

Finally!

2010-01-04T08:35:00.000-07:00

This is the first time this year my internet has worked enough to get on here! So yea, 2010!!! WOW!!

So New Year's Resolutions:
1. I will stop stressing the little things.
2. I will work out more often. (This one seems to be quite the reoccurring topic.)
3. I will de-clutter! My husband and I are slightly pack-ratty...not a good thing. Granted he is worse than me. He had his t-ball certificate in the filing cabinet and he's 27 now. But we are doing this together. Our house just isn't big enough for all of it!

I also have a number of Knitolutions:
1. I will knit 12 pairs of socks this year! 12 pairs, 12 months, completely doable!
2. I will knit myself a sweater! My first adult sized garment! Exciting and the Sunshine Yarns Sweater Club is going to satisfy this one.
3. I will knit something with colorwork! Fair-Isle, stranded, intarsia...whatever!

On top of all of that I'm hoping to be better about this blog! With my knitting,reading, kids and school I'll have plenty to babble about!
That's about it for now!

What do you do with a 4 yr old?

2009-12-14T16:05:00.000-07:00

My son turned 4 on the 10th. Since then I've been informed that he's a 'big boy' and doesn't have to take naps. When I don't have to wipe his butt anymore I might agree.

Although the whole no nap thing has brought up an interesting point. He hardly ever sleeps at nap time anymore so why do I send him up there anymore anyways? I don't know. So we're going to try something new in hopes of saving my sanity. During his sister's nap time he's going to be able to do some crafts or play a video game or something.

Today he made a gingerbread house with me. Of course now he's the maddest little boy ever since I won't let him eat it!

On another note I found out that he could have been in pre-school since August for 4 half days a week!!! That would have been amazing. So we just got put on the notification list for this coming year's 'Pre-K Round-Up'!!! I can't wait! The round-up is in April and as long as they have room he'll be in the 4 year old class next year!

New Blog

2009-12-09T09:44:00.001-07:00

I don't know what's going on with the old blog sooo...I'm cutting my losses and resolving to see this one through.