Another Pair

Yeah, I finished the Chevron Socks. Now I can move onto other things. I spent the entire weekend doing swatches for the red scarf. Just when I thought I had found one, I realized it was just like someone else's. I figure variety is key, so back to the drawing board. Front Back I wanted something with visual interest on both sides. I'm thinking that it has been achieved. Now I just have to clean up those edges. I have a k1p1 rib but I'm thinking that I'll just let the first and last repeat curl as it was doing. I'll just add a selvedge to it and leave it be. Both kids and I are sick. Yuck! It's not too bad but just enough to make us feel crappy. Connor's doing the best of all. He's such a little trooper! To top it off, he cut his first tooth yesterday. I know, pretty early. I have to admit, I started crying when I saw the white sticking out of his gum. He will be our last and I want him to stay little as long as possible. Already he's doing things that Reilly didn't do until a month or two later. I had promised Royd that he wouldn't miss much until he got home and he's missing alot. Well, three weeks to go...

Temporary Insanity

First, we will not discuss that after an entire morning of knitting, I have nothing to show for it. Second, we will not discuss the issue of making sure you are using the same needle that you achieved gauge with. Not one of the other two that didn't work. Ask me not. In other news, I have completed one of the Chevron socks and am quite pleased with the result. They fit perfect! I also have signed up for this: I made a scarf last summer in this beautiful rayon/cotton blend from Wool in the Woods yarn. Don't ask which one or which colorway, I lost the band. Anyway, I made it way too long and skinny. I want to wear it since it's so pretty, but end up having to wrap it three times to make it manageable. After I take a picture(to come later) for reference, I'm off to frog.

First FO of 2005

Finally! It's been November since I've finished anything. These are my Fluted Bannister Socks. Aren't they pretty? This is a shot of the lace ribbing on the cowl neck sweater I'm doing. So far the back is completed and I just started the sleeves. Since I'm changing the original pattern to not include a fur cuff, I'm playing around with how many repeats of lace to do. I'm aiming for a bell sleeve that isn't too wide yet drapey. Here's the sweater I'm doing for Connor. That's a sleeve, if you weren't sure. I'm also hoping that you can tell that's lime green and navy blue. I'm making this pattern up as I go along while using The Knitters Handy Book of Sweaters as a reference. I was suppose to drive down to Ansbach this morning to visit with Jean, but the weather had different ideas. I woke up to about 2 inches. Yeah, I know, it's nothing compared to the Northeast. I know mine and my cars limitations, and had to cancel. Bummer, I was really looking forward to it too. Instead I casted on for the Chevron Socks that I had frogged. So far so good.

A Knitting Update

Just a warning, there is lots of updating to be done. I've been a bad blogger as of late. I've had alot to blog about, but didn't quite have the energy to do so. Therefore, I'm just going to do one huge entry. Sorry, but pictures will follow another day. I'm still too lazy. I've started quite a few projects the past week. Oh, and they're ALL from my stash! Another blanket for charity in mint green and white yarn. This will end up being donated to Project Linus. Fluted Banister Socks. After reading how much other people liked the pattern I thought I'd try it out. I have so say I'm liking it alot. It's a quick and almost mindless knit. A cotton striped sweater for Connor. I'm using navy blue and lime green yarn I picked up for a steal (.75) a few months ago. The Fur Trimmed Cowl Sweater sans fur from the latest issue of Knit It!. Natalya. Well, kinda. I really want to use Classic Elite's Miracle for this, but am not getting gauge. So I'm swatching to see what gauge I do like and then need to rework the pattern. I also frogged those Chevron socks that I had made right after Connor was born. Ultimately I wasn't happy with them and couldn't bear to leave them as is. So, as soon as the Fluted Banister are done, I'll start these. I've also been quite the joiner. I've been accepted to the Knitting Blogs webring. Yeah! I signed up for Sockapalooza. I wasn't going to initially, but then Alison re-opened it, and I felt that that was a sign that I needed to join. I've been seriously stressing about what color and pattern sock to do. I don't want to do a sock that is too simple and nothing too complicated that I won't finish on time. Oh, yeah, I have to wait three weeks to get the yarn. I looked at what I do have and none of it is "right". (This does not qualify breaking my diet since it's for someone else...) I joined the Sock it to Me knitalong. Why? Ummmm...... Socks. I'm going help out the Red Scarf Project. I've got red and red and more red. Now that I think of it, this can count towards one of my ten projects. Woohoo! Not to discredit that it's also for a great cause. Yeah, that's alot for one post. I really need to get it together and post more regularly. Wait. I have a toddler and an infant. Hey, I'm lucky to even get time to knit. Ya know when I get most of it done? Between 5 and 7 am. I figure there's no sense in going back to bed after Connors morning feeding. It's probably my favorite time of the day. Coffee, knitting and quiet. Ahh. I've got happy news too. The hubby should be home no later than the 15th of February. For good. Well, for now. Who knows what the future holds, but I'll save that for another day. This is a happy post.

War President

Don't understand? Go here. Thanks to Kerstin and Jessica for setting this up. Well, George, I hope you enjoy your party. I hope that spending $40 million makes you feel good about yourself. Why do I protest? Because I have never believed in the decision to go to war. Now the country is sitting there wondering if it was such a good idea either. What? No WMDs? Because I feel that all that money could be spent providing better services for the troops that are there. I hear people talking about troop morale and how our protests bring it down. Guess what? Troop morale is low, but not because of this. How about feeding them a hot meal more often than every other day? How about getting them the proper tools to do their job? How about those Humvees? How about getting their mail to them? Oh, I could go on and on with what could be done, but I'll merely be wasting my breath. Because I am an Army wife. Because of my children. It kills me everyday that my husband is in Iraq fighting a war that neither of us believe in. It kills me that he should miss out on seeing his children grow. I'm not protesting just because he's gone, like other wives I know. I protest because I truly believe it is wrong for us to be there. I'm not protesting because I don't support or love my husband. I am very proud of him. He is an excellent soldier and leader. I just wish that his talent was being put to a better use. Oh, like maybe Afghanistan? Likewise, I support all of our troops and pray for the safe homecoming of every single one of them. Okay, my little "speech" is done. I know I am not usually political on my blog, but I felt that I had to express myself.

Giving up

I'm not going to make it. It took me two days to get through one panel of the afghan and I need two more. Then there's seaming it and a pretty border that need to go on. I guess I'll just have to send it in for the next deadline. I may do another one for them, just because I feel really bad. Since I no longer have to finish the afghan by this week, I feel free to work on other projects. Specifically Natalya. I'm swatching different yarns to see which ones I like best. So far two have been deemed unacceptable. Hopefully the next two work out better for me. I love cheap yarn. Elann restocked the Highland Wool. I of course got some, in Oxblood. And since there was still some money left on the gift card, I got some more sock yarn. I really must stop going to their website. It tempts me so much. On top of that, KnitPicks just introduced their own line of yarn. Such cheap and pretty colorways. Their Highland Wool is only 1.79. They also have merino sock yarn for 3.99. Ohhhh... Ahhhh... Maybe I should lock my computer up so I won't see it. Better yet, I should hide my debit and credit cards.

Wishful Thinking

1. That I will remain on a yarn diet. When I previously mentioned it, I did not specify any end to it. Well, it's kinda open. Mainly I want to work through some of my stash before I start supplementing it again. I'd love to be able to get through at least ten projects before this happens. These are the six containers of my pretty yarn. Yarn that is high quality and don't mind keeping in a stash. These are the four containers that I'm dying to get rid of. Most of it was bought before I knew what "real" yarn felt and looked like. 2. That I will be able to get my shipment for Afghans for Afghans sent in time. The original deadline was the 15th, but it's been pushed back to the 27th. That gives me until Thursday or Friday to finish the last afghan. I know that seems like a lot of time for shipping, but I'm dealing with the Military Post Office. I don't trust them. 3. That I will be able to resist casting on for Natalya before the afghan is finished. Jody made the most beautiful cabled gauntlets and was kind enough to write out the pattern for us to enjoy. She saved me the trouble of having to do it myself. I love the easy way out.

Too Cute

Today I received a little package from Kim, my spoilee from SP3. She made Connor the cutest little hat! As you can see, he needs to grow into it a little bit: She also sent along some of her wonderful homemade Chamomile soap and yummy maple syrup. Thanks Kim. I love everything! I also got the latest issue of FCEK. For once it didn't take two months to get here! I am loving all four of the sweaters from "Pretty in the City." I have just enough of Highland Wool to make one sweater. It calls for 1575 yards and I have 1635 yards. Cutting it a bit too close for my taste. I'm debating whether to use the GC I have to get enough in another color. I may have to, to do the cabled sweater. Decisions, decisions...

Sweet, Beautiful Quiet

For the first time in two weeks both children are napping at the same time. There was some serious happy dancing going on for a little bit. Now I can post about what I've meaning to since last time. I wanted to show the beautiful necklaces my sister, Laura, sent me for Christmas. I usually don't wear jewelry, but they're so pretty that I have to. That's not all she sent. I also received some clasp-on stitch markers. In fact she just started out her own company, Laura Stark Designs. Seriously, you should go check out her stuff. Yes, blatant plug to drum up business for her. But hey, my blog-my sister! As far as knitting content goes, not much to report. I'm kinda in a rut right now. I had to put Mariah on hold for now. The yarn I was using isn't making me happy-too thick at that gauge. So, in accordance with a self-imposed yarn diet I'm on, I'll just have to wait. I've also been working on a hat for Connor. This too is displeasing me. I'm doing the Jester Hat from The Yarn Girls Guide to Kid Knits. The problem is the points- they won't flop down like they're suppose to. I'm contemplating ripping it all out and working in a looser gauge, or try reworking the decreases in a different matter. Two weeks worth of knitting and nothing to show for it. Hmphf! Yes, you read right. Yarn diet. Am I crazy? Yes. Can I resist? Probably not. (Disclaimer: patterns bought to support yarn stash and the GC to Elann don't count) All this stems from my first New Years Resolution in about 10 years. To live life a bit simpler. What does that mean? Well, stop buying things on a whim, get rid of the clutter surrounding me, invest more in my future instead of present, and teach my children about appreciating what one does have. It hit me two days after Christmas that I've become materialistic and am teaching Reilly to be the same way. He was sitting next to me on the couch, whining and bored out of his mind. I couldn't believe it with all the new toys he had! To top it off, I had just gotten done shopping on-line. Now I just have to get my husband sold on this idea. He's worse than I am.