Ten on Tuesday Favorite Books of 2014

I read overe 100 books this year so this was difficult for me to just pick ten.


1. Ten Tiny Breaths by K. A. Tucker

2. One Tiny Lie by K. A. Tucker

3. Four Seconds to Lose by K. A. Tucker

4. Five Ways to Fall by K.A. Tucker

I enjoyed these books so much that I didn't read for almost a week after I had finished them.

5. The Mouse with the Question Mark Tail by Richard Peck

6. Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

7. Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan.  In 2013, I read Waiting for the Magic.  It is one of my favorite books of all time.

8. The Heist by Janet Evanovich and Lee Child

9 The Last Letter from Your Lover by Jojo Moyes

10. Unleashing Mr. Darcy by Teri Wilson

Arrgghhhh!

 I have been in a knitting slump.  I don't have much to show for the last couple months.  I am hoping that blogging will get me out of it.  These are Vanilla Latte socks, I am using Lorna's Laces in the Circus colorway.

These are a slightly modified version of the Vanilla Latte socks.  The yarn is Biscotte & Cie in the Queen of Spades colorway.

This is my current spinning project.  It has been on the wheel since July.  The fiber is Woolgatherings Polwarth.  I am spinning it into a gradient.

Please ignore the horrible tablet photos.  I couldn't get my camera to cooperate. ;)

Tour De Fleece

This is what I completed during Tour de Fleece.   From the top for down, one braid of Woolgatherings Merino Bamboo Silk,  FCK dance club in Tango in Polwarth, and Mambo in Polwarth.   The bobbin is Woolgatherings Polwarth that I only got half of the bump finished.  I did start the second bobbin today.

Languishing

I have a few projects that have been languishing for too long.  I am determined to finish them up by the end of August.  This spinning project should be done today or tomorrow hopefully.

I am planning to go monogamous on this project to try to whip it out.  I only have one sleeve and the rest of the body to finish.  I am planning to start the second sleeve today.


I also have yarn that I want to knit with during my time frame.  I only have one more project on the needles besides this one.  Maybe that will get done as well.

Third Pattern is the Charm

This is the third pattern I have tried for these socks.  First, I tried the Spiraling Squares socks, but for some reason I just wasn't loving it.  Second, I tried the Business Casual socks, but I messed up and decided the traveling cable stitch would drive me crazy before I was done.  I have finally decided on the Vanilla Latte socks.  I have figured out how to center them for the next time I knit them.  This time they will mirror each other.

Hamako

I knit the Hamako baby blanket for my great nephew.  I used I Love This Yarn yarn in Peacock.  I did five pattern repeats.  I started it May 28th and finished it this morning.

Knit Worthy

This is a present for someone very knit worthy.  Hope this person likes it.

One Post = One Finished Object

The only FO for May!  One pair of plain vanilla socks out of Desert Vista Dyeworks in Masquerade.

Two Socks Don't Make A Pair

 I have two pairs of socks halfway done.

 Blue Moon Fiber Arts in Pixie Park

Desert Vista Dyeworks in Masquerade

A Sweater in a Week?

I started a summer sweater today.  I originally had planned to knit a Hey Teach with this yarn, but I couldnt get the sleeves the way I wanted them.  I decided to try a Henley Tee instead.  I am going on a field trip with my daughter on April 29th and I would like to be able to wear it then.  So my goal is a sweater by next Sunday.

Just The Beginning

This is the beginning of my new sweater.   I am making the sleeves first and will do the three body pieces after I finish the sleeves.  I am debating whether to knit the body in one piece or the three pieces that the pattern has stated.  I have never changed the construction of a sweater before.

Not Much Knitting

I haven't been knitting much lately.   I have been spinning and reading more.  I am slowly plugging away on a couple pairs of socks and trying to finish a couple braids of fiber I have started.  These are Socks That Rock lightweight in Pixie Park.  It has been in my stash a long time.

I am spinning some Frabjous Fiber in Stained Glass.   This is a BFL/Sparkle base.

Stripey Awesomeness

I LOVE self striping sock yarn.  One of my favorites is Desert Vista Dyeworks.   I love the colors and they always make me want to keep knitting on them.  I haven't knit much this week so not a ton of progess though most of it was made today.  This morning when I was knitting while drinking coffee I was only on the first white stripe.

Finished Object Friday

I have a finished object on Friday.   The Kroy socks are done.  I used size 1 needles over 64 stitches in my usual Vanilla Ribbed socks.  I think this is the only sock pattern I have knit this year, and this is my third pair in 2014.   These may be a gift.

A New Project

I have three skeins of Malabrigo Lace that I was going to use for a Featherweight Cardi, but I just didn't trust that it would hold up very long.  I decided to use the yarn for a Girasole shawl instead.  I started it this morning and this is up to the beginning of chart B.

Since it is Spring Break, I had more time to knit today.  This picture is at the beginning of chart C.  I am on row 6 of the chart now.

Over the Helix

Last weekend, I finished the Over the Helix Cowl.  I used Poems Silk in Sterling and Magic Carpet.

Let's Try This Again

I had to rip out the Marple dress on Saturday after I realized it was going to be too big for my niece.  This is the progress I have made on the second attempt.

Over the Helix includes Damages

My size 10.5 had a little bit of damage. Somehow it got bent but seems to continue to knit just fine.

I am making progress on the Over the Helix cowl.  I think I have at the most, twenty more rows.   I like the idea of a finished object.

It Isn't the Marple

I have been blogging a lot about the dress I am making for my niece.  I restarted it yesterday and I have made a little progress, but not enough to show.

This is my current pair of socks.  I am done with the first one and I have started the second.   I am hoping to have them done in the next week or so.

Living in Denial

I have been knitting this dress for my great niece.   I had been denying that it was too big and believing that I had enough yarn.  I think now that I have decided that it was too big, I will have enough yarn.  I ripped it out this morning and I am trying again.

A Long Work in Progress with a Finished Project

Eleven years ago today,  I completed a project that took nine months.  It also started a project that will take a lifetime.  My middle daughter turned eleven today.   She is wearing a Downtown Cowl that she picked the pattern and the yarn for.  I actually finished the cowl awhile ago, but I waited to share it on this special day.  Happy Birthday Punkinbug!!!!!

Will I Run Out???

I am getting a little worried about running out of yarn for this project.  I guess I will go as far as I can and see what happens.

Just a Little Knitting

Today wasn't the greatest day, but a little bit of knitting can really make the difference. Here is hoping tomorrow is a better day.

Marple for Miss C

My great niece will be a year old next.  I decided she needed something hand knit from her great aunt.  I knit her a blanket before she was born, but I haven't knit for her since.  I started this Marple dress this afternoon.   I have finished the yoke and I am just a couple rows into the body.

Sunday Short Post

This is my current sock project.  I am using Kroy FX to make my usual vanilla sock.  I like a little ribbing on the side of my socks so they stay up a little better.  I am getting close to being done with the first sock.

We were supposed to get 4-8 inches of snow but barely got an inch maybe two at the most.  I was kind of hoping for a snow day but I guess I will be working instead.

New Project 1.0

This is my newest project that I have cast on.  I have been wanting to make the Over the Helix cowl for a long time.  I queued it almost three years ago.  I finally started it today.  I am using Poem Silk in the solid Sterling and the gradient is Magic Carpet.

I am.....

1. I am looking at this out my front window.

2. I am enjoying the snow days we are having.

3. I am blessed with a wonderful family that I love very much.

4. I am not enjoying shoveling snow.

5. I am enjoying the extra knitting time that snow days bring.

6. I am trying to resist starting new projects.

7. I am trying not to let negative people affect me and my attitude.

8. I am thankful for a warm home on this snowy day.

9.  I am craving no bake cookies.

10.  I am a few kitchener stitches from a new pair of socks.

Embracing The Craft

There are times I worry how a project is going to turn out.  If I am spinning I want the yarn not to be inconsistent.  I want it to look like commercial yarn.  I know lots of people are offended when someone says their handspun looks like commercial yarn.  I take it as a compliment that my yarn looks good enough to be compared to commercial yarn.  I know that it is handspun and then I get the enjoyment of telling them that I spun the yarn too.  I think they are usually impressed.  Sometimes, we have to let the perfection go, and just enjoy the process.

I love self striping sock yarn.  I love how I can knit a basic sock and have it keep my interest by the color changes in the yarn.  These are not going to be perfect.   The color sequence is not in order but since I am not a fan of afterthought or short row heels I am just knitting my sock the way I like it and going with it.

I am not very experienced when it comes to spinning batts. Once again, I am trying to embrace the craft and enjoy spinning purely for the joy of spinning.  This batt was very fun to spin and I am excited to see what the completed yarn will look like.

I started plying today.  I will hopefully have it finished soon.  I am not sure what I am going to make with it yet, but I am excited to find a project for it.

Ten On Tuesday

The question today is 10 Things that make you feel like an adult:

1.  Being a mom.  This picture taken a few years ago is one of my favorites.  We had just put up the Christmas tree.

2. Paying the mortgage.

3. Driving a car.

4. Having the occasional adult beverage.

5. Having a job.

6. Having a retirement account

7. Making responsible decisions like choosing to buy groceries instead of new shoes.

8. Being married.

9. Worrying, I try not to worry too much but knowing that there are things I just can't ignore even if I want to.

10. Staying up late and getting control over the remote.  This doesn't happen much for me even if I am the adult.

Short and to the Point

I am making this infinity scarf for my daughter.  I am using handspun that I spun in 2012.  It is Woolgatherings Polwarth.  The pattern is the Downtown cowl.

This is the Knit Night Hat.  I used handspun for this as well.  It was Frabjous Fibers in Spilled Ink on BFL.

Handspun Mitten

I forgot how much I enjoy working with my handspun.  I used some Polwarth/Silk to make this mitten.  I am getting ready to cast on the second one.  The pattern is Strago Mittens by Jared Flood.

A New Year

Well 2013 has come to an end and 2014 is here.

This is my first finished object of the year.   Slightly Ribbed Holiday Wreath Socks.  I started these on December 23, 2013 and I finished them this afternoon.

I started a neck warmer for Ben using the Just Try It pattern from Susan Ashcroft.  

This should be a quick knit since he is only seven and I only have around 100 yards of yarn.