See You On the Other Side

Escrow closes the 25th.  Things are happening very quickly.  The boxes are adding up and the piles are getting higher and higher.  The cats are in distress that their kitty beds have moved.  Something's up, but they just can't put a paw on it.  Their world is coming to an end and there are many changes for them, the little darlings.

The last VGA monitor possibly on the planet is going bye-bye as Dad is getting another flat screen to match the other one.  (He has two.)  Tippi is going to be extremely upset as that has been her warm perch.  She and Dad spend quality time when he works from home.  Currently the garage is HER domain.  She inspects it regularly after a human uses it.  She is the Garage Dominatrix.  In the new house the garage is Dad's office.  It has nice pergo flooring, a window to place their perch so it's going to be quite nice.   But it's not going to be hers.   How will she survive?

Stay tuned.  See you after the move!!

Mia's Perspective on Moving

"I really don't know what all these boxes are for, Mom.  I'm packed, ready to move.  Wake me up when it's time." - Mia

Yippee!

-- Sent from my Palm Pre

Just Hangin Out

We are busy packing boxes getting ready for the move next month.  There aren't any knitting photos to share but I promise you I've been knitting and spinning.

Here is Pinhead Poppy hanging out with Dad.   There's so much excitement here we just can't stand it.

It's May? Seriously?

Holy cow, Batman!  Where did April go?  Life has been seriously busy for me, both at work and at home.  Knitting and spinning has kept me from the looney bin.  I moved my office from the 2nd floor to the 3rd floor.  By myself. 

This month we were kept busy preparing the paperwork for buying a house and we are actively looking.  Since I'm the kind of person who doesn't wait for anything, we've started going through our crap stuff and throwing and giving away.  If I don't need it for several months I've packed it.  I've even started packing knitting books and patterns.  I haven't started sorting through the yarn yet.   We're going with the Realtor tomorrow afternoon to look at a bunch of places. 

On the knitting scene, I'm still working on Sharon Miller's Hap Shawl, although I think I may have to frog a few rows.  I'll work on that tonight.  On the other hand, maybe I'll spin.  Who knows?  Right now I do whatever brings me the most pleasure.

Meemers' birthday is in May.   I think I may think up some kind of contest in honor of the Birthday Girl.  Stay tuned!

Marching On

I figured I'd try to get a post here given this is the last day of March. 

Life has kept me incredibly busy both at work and at home.  Spring cleaning has commenced and this time it's different as I'm tossing and cleaning with the mindset of moving in the next year.  If I haven't used it or touched it in 2 years it's going.  Of course, yarn and spinning fiber is exempt from this rule.  :grin:

I've managed to find time for knitting but not as nearly as much as I would like.  I picked up the Ice Fantasia shawl and got to the edging until I managed to totally screw it up.  I stuffed it in the bag and set it in the time out basket.  I might pick it up and frog back.  I might not.  I don't have the patience or mindset to make that kind of decision right now.

I've also been working on Lake Louise.  I'm just about finished with the main lice pattern but again I haven't had the patience or mindset to work on the detailed charts yet.  It too is sitting in its plastic bin waiting patiently for me to return to it.

I did cast on the 2 Ply Grey Hap Shawl.  It's plain simple garter stitch knitting in the middle and I'm about 2/3 done with the center square. 

Sometime (hopefully soon) I won't be having my brain sucked out from work and stuff at home and I can get back to these projects and finish them. 

Hard to believe that tomorrow is April...........

The Reindeer Have Arrived

I'm so excited to have Lappland finished!  I was bummed that the clasps I bought for it were too small.  But I ordered some new ones and they should be here this week.  Other than that, it's done!  I even sewed a patch on the sleeve.

So, what's next?  Lake Louise!!  I cast on during the Olympic Opening Ceremony but there isn't much to show yet!  When I do, I'll post some photos.

Woo hoo!

I drove home today with the sunroof open and mah hair blowin in the breeze.   

-- Sent from my Palm Prē

Sleeve Increases

The instructions say to knit two stitches, increase, knit the round to the last two stitches and then increase and knit the last two stitches.  I've chosen to knit these 4 stitches (2 stitches at beginning of round and 2 stitches at end of round) in the background color. It makes a nice "seam" going up the sleeve.   It makes it easier to see where the increase row is too.  I am constantly losing track of where I am and it's nice to be able to find my way again.

-- Sent from my Palm Prē

Sleevitis

I am well into my first sleeve.  My "placket buddy" and I are setting the goal to get our sweaters done before the Olympics start.  I want to get it done so I can start Lake Louise during the opening ceremonies.  For those alert enough, you will notice that Lake Louise is coming from my Dale stash and is listed on the left.  I'm stash knitting at last!  Yay me!

-- Sent from my Palm Prē

Arrival of The Deer

I finally finished the body of Lappland.    I shouldn't say "finally" as this is the fastest I have finished a body in a while.   I ran out of the natural yarn and had to order more.  Thankfully Susan from Spinblessing had more in the same dye lot, but I suspect a different dye lot would have been fine. 

I don't do color work knitting back and forth.  To me, that's insanity.  So - I created steeks for the front and back necks so I could keep knitting around. 

The back looks the pretty much the same, just a wider steek.  I generally add an odd number of steek stitches, knit the first two stitches and last two stitches of the steek in the same background color and then alternate colors across as I carry the colors across.  I do a K2 together (to decrease one stitch) or a K3 together (to decrease two stitches) and knit one stitch on the right side of the neck (as you're looking at it), knit the steek stitches, knit one stitch and then SSK (to decrease one stitch) or a SSSK (to decrease two stitches) on the left side.   Usually I would leave the front neck and back neck stitches on a holder.  But in this case there is going to be a front placket and it will be cut down the red rectangular area.  The back neck stitches are on a holder and will be put back on the needles when I'm knitting the neck.   When I pick up the stitches for the neck there will be a nice curved neckline instead of the jagged stepped neckline that would have been created by knitting back and forth.
When it comes to the sleeves, I basted where the sides are and will use this as a guide for sewing and cutting the steeks.

So here I am.  Body done.  Off to sleeve hell.  Stay tuned!

My Stash of Shame

I admit it.  I have a big stash huge stash.  It's embarrassing, actually.  I have so many Dale of Norway projects stashed I don't even remember what I have.  I am going to create a list on the side somewhere.  Maybe if I see what I have I will be more interested in knitting them.  I don't think I have them listed on Ravelry.  There is probably  more than I've listed and as I find them I'll add them.    Embarrassing, I know.  Hush, Lorraine.

Color Me Happy

I'm going to be attending a class taught by Janine.  Janine and I go way back; she taught me how to spin and loaned me her Ashford Traditional wheel. 

Friday, Saturday and Sunday I will be attending her 3 day workshop.  I'm SO excited!!!

The Ernie Project

Last summer, Bev and I met up in San Francisco.   There, we met up and made the great fleece/sock yarn exchange.  I swear, I got the better end of the deal;  I got around 4 or 5 pounds (not sure on the weight) of luscious creamy chocolate brown Ramboulliet roving and Bev got a bunch of sock yarn that was tucked away in a bin.  This fleece came from pretty boy Ernie.  I have been spinning for about 6 years now and I have never spun anything so soft.   I will 3 ply this and it will be aran weight.  Ernie is definitely going to be a sweater of cable-y goodness.  I don't have a clue how many WPI I'm spinning and I don't have a clue as to how much fleece I have.  I'm truly spinning blind here.  Ernie will become the sweater he's meant to be and I will be designing an aran just to show him off.   I will post photos later and will put up "Ernie Project" progress-meter on the sidebar.  Right now I'm just spinning the first bobbin so there isn't much to show.

Meanwhile, I'm just about ready to start on the main pattern of Lappland.  I think I can get it finished at lunch and be ready to go tonight when I get home from work.  Yippeee!!

The Never Ending Part

While my other fellow knit-a-longers are well into the upper body charts I'm still whittling away on the body.  Did I mention this is the XL size?  Sigh.

-- Sent from my Palm Prē

Lappland at First Glance

Here is my Lappland so far.  10 inches to go.  Ugh.

-- Sent from my Palm Prē

No New Year's Resolutions For Me

Two thousand and nine was a year of challenges for me but I learned a lot about myself in the process.  I learned to let go of a lot of things too.

In July my job shifted so that I ended up acquiring more work.  A lot more work.  However, with the economy the way it is I am most grateful that I still have a job.  I learned that I could handle the work load and challenges that came my way.

I also learned that I like having my blog and it's okay to write whatever I want.  I am not here to please everyone.  It is important to make myself and my family happy.  Okay, the cats too.  But other than that, I honestly don't care any more.  I let go of wondering what others think of me.

I'm also learning to let go of the things that just don't matter.  I'm letting go of the fact that I have such a huge yarn stash.  I enjoy looking at it and it makes me happy, so isn't that what matters?  Several years ago I sold some yarn that I just wouldn't use and I haven't missed it one bit.

This year I am not going to make any resolutions.  I am not going to make a promise that I will not buy yarn.  I am not going to make a promise that I will knit projects A, B, and C.  I plan on knitting whatever the heck I please when I please.  Knitting is very pleasing for me and I find it a great comfort when I come home from a long day at work.  Spinning is another pleasure spot for me too.  In fact, I've been spinning Ernie.  I will tell you about Ernie later. 

This year I'm going to do whatever I feel I need to do.  Losing weight is going to be a big thing for me in 2010.  I'm not setting a weight loss goal.  I'm just going to lose what I can when I can.  Life isn't a race.  Sometimes I try to make it so, and get frustrated in the process. 

The bottom line for me is to enjoy 2010 however it may happen.  I wish you all a very Happy New Year and hope it is a great one for you too!

First finished project of 2010

Well, hopefully it will be.  Tonight when I get home from work I will be casting on for the Norwegian Knit-a-long we're having at Ravelry.  I'm doing the Dale of Norway Lappland out of Dalegarn Falk.  I've chosen the adult sweater knit in the colors of the child's sweater.  I've knit one of these before but out of Brown Sheep Naturespun sport.  I really didn't care for the yarn knitted for this project.  But, it's all I had at the time.  This time it should be a lot different as I really like this yarn.  Falk is the superwash version of Heilo, for all those who were curious but afraid to ask.  ;-)

Here are photos from the Dalegarn booklet:

Handsome Men of the Silver Screen*

I was reading a blog and there was a post about the handsome men of the silver screen.  I just love the classics (black and white especially) and I have my own silver screen hunk favorites.

How about Cary Grant?   The dimple in his chin.  :swoon:

I loved An Affair to Remember (1957) and Bringing up Baby (1938)??

And then there's Rock Hudson.   What a hunk.    Pillow Talk (1959) with Doris Day.  I loved that movie!

......... and then there's Sean Connery.  There must be something about Scottish men.  I married one.  (hee hee).   Sean is my favorite 007.

Okay - there you have it.  My top three movie hunks.  They don't make em like they used to.  :sigh:
*This was post was inspired by C-Dot.

Giddyup!

Santa was nice to me this year.  He brought me a new iPod and yarn.  Lots of yarn!  He brought me some Hebridean 3 ply for St. Brigid and yarn for two hats.  One hat is the Appaloosa Hat.  I was so anxious to start it that I cast on on Christmas Day and finished it the next morning.  The yarn is Dalegarn Falk in colors Copper and Off White. 

I am a loose knitter and went down a needle size.  The resulting fabric is a bit loose for my taste even going down a needle size.  This was a great exercise for me to work on gauge for the upcoming Norwegian Knit-a-long.   The pattern calls for one skein of yarn of each color and this photo shows how much was left.

I finished the "Oh Ruby" scarf but haven't taken photos yet.  That and the details of the upcoming Norwegian Knit-a-long on Ravelry will be coming soon.

I hope you all had a terrific Christmas!