Takin' Em Out by Tax Time!!!! (Knitting Edition)

I realized today, that I didn't finish one single project in March.  So I have declared the next fifteen days as "Take 'Em Out by Tax Time."  I am going to get these four projects done by April 15th.  All but one of them is over half way done so I think it is a goal I can accomplish.

Simple Skyp Socks,  first sock is done and the second one I just finished decreasing the gusset.

Coffee Bean sweater, just needs the ribbing on the bottom and the two sleeves.

Nypon Shawl, one more repeat of chart A, 6 rows of chart B and then just 16 rows of Chart C.

Mockery Socks, these might be the ones that do me in but I am going to give it my best shot.  I am on the heel flap of the first one.  

I will have my spinning goals in the next post.

Ten on Tuesday--Library Edition

First I have been knitting just not very fast so hopefully I will have a good knitting post up soon.


Ten Reason to use the Public Library

1. It is cheap.  (unless you have late fees)

2. I don't have to store all the books that I read from there.

3. E-Books I can get books for my e reader through the state library.

4.  Inter library loan.  If they don't have it.  They can get it.

5. Story time.  NaNa at our library is awesome.

6. Mini classes for kids. The girls are taking sewing right now.

7. Movies to check out.

8.  Don't have buyers remorse if you read a book that sucks and think you wasted your money.

9.  Librarians are super neat people.

10.  Free bookmarks!!!!!!  My youngest daughter has a collection.

Ten On Tuesday

This week's topic is ten things you love about spring.  Thanks Carole.

1. Getting rid of the heavy coat.

2. Sleeping with window open.

3. The sound of the woodpecker waking me up.

4. Spring break.  A week of not carting kids to school and making lunches.

5. March Madness.  I love watching college basketball on the weekends.  Rock Chalk Jayhawk!!!!!

6. Going to the park with the kids and watching them play.

7. Knitting outside on the porch.

8. Trees budding out.

9. Green grass.

10. Thunderstorms.

Socks!!!

Simple Skyp socks out of Hill Country Yarns in Bluebonnet.  I have the first one finished now and I have started the second one.  I am just past the ribbing on the cuff and a few rows into the pattern.

Mockery Socks out of Fleece Artist 2/6 Merino.  I haven't worked on these much since I took the picture a couple of days ago so they look about the same.

Ten on Tuesday

Today's Ten on Tuesday is your favorite kinds of pie!!

1. Pineapple Pie, it is something that brings back wonderful memories of my childhood helping my grandmother make them. Before we baked them we always sprinkled them with sugar!

2. Pecan Pie, one of my absolute favorites.  I loved how the pecans get all sugary.

3. Pumpkin Pie, I like to make this all year long.  It reminds me of fall.  I think I have everything I need to make one today.

4. Chocolate Cream Pie, how can you not like pie that has chocolate in it????

5. Coconut Cream Pie,  especially if the coconut on top is toasted just a little bit.

6. Apple Pie, with lots of cinnamon and sugar with butter makes the house smell so good.

7. Peach Pie is a favorite that I always forget about.

8. Oatmeal Creme Pie, I know it is not "pie" but I love them.

9. Chicken Pot Pie, but without peas.  Peas are yucky.

10. Ice cream Pie, I love any pie that involves ice cream.

On the Wheel

I thought I would show what is currently getting attention on my wheel.  This is the AllSpunUp Spin a long fiber for February/March. It is a 50/30/20 alpaca/merino/silk blend that practically spins itself. I have enjoyed this blend and the color is amazing.  I am trying to decide if I should leave it a single or make it a 2 ply.

This is the first bobbin of the fleece that I am working on.  I love the oatmeal color.  I still have a lot of it left to do.

This is some BFL that I got at the Wicked Stitch.  Jennifer dyed this and I so enjoyed spinning it.  It just needs to be plied at this point.  I let it rest while I started the alpaca/merino/silk.  I will probably ply this after I finish the first bobbin of the other.

Ten on Tuesday

Ten Things I Like About March

1. My husband's birthday, without him I would be very lonely.  I am so thankful that he is my husband.

2. My youngest daughter, Punkinbug, has a birthday this month also.  She is a joy to have around and smart as a whip.

3. Spring Break, a whole week that I don't have to make the "school run".

4. The grass starts to peek out of the ground.  Those little pieces of green give me hope that winter is almost over.

5. March Madness, I love watching some unknown team bring down a big name.  There is always a Cinderella team that comes out of nowhere.

6. Melting snow.

7. Taking the kids to the park.

8. Warmer weather

9. Knowing that I won't see -5 degrees for at least 8 months

10. 31 days in the month gives me more time to knit.

Handspun Makes Me Happy

This blue and green yarn is going to be some mittens for the Little Buddy next fall.  He picked out this fiber and said he wanted a hat and a pair of mittens.  I navajo plied it and I got around 94 yards from half of the braid.  I will spin the other half and should be able to get a hat and pair of mittens from it.

I love love love UrbanGypz superwash merino roving.  It is a dream to spin. I got around 326 yards of a three ply out of the Mr. Blinky braid that I had. I am not sure what this is going to be yet.  I had originally thought socks but it is so very pretty it might be a cowl or a small shawlette.

Rock Chalk Jayhawk Sock

I finished my Rock Chalk Jayhawk socks this week.

Pattern Stansfield 14 from More Sensational Knitted Socks
Started January 13, 2011
Finished February 22, 2011
Needles Size 0 Addi Turbo Circulars
Yarn Lorna's Laces in Lorikeet


I think they turned out great and they should since this is one of my favorite yarns to use for socks.  I always know that I am going to get a great sock when I use this yarn.  I think this is at least my fourth pair out of this yarn and they are always some of my favorites to wear.


This is my fourth pair of finished socks this year.  So I am doing pretty good for my goal of 12 finished pairs by the end of the year.

I Might Be Crazy

I bought some washed fleece to spin for a sweater.  Yes, I can't believe I did it either.  This is what is left to flick before I can card it up.

This is what has already been flicked.  I have a very long way to go. I am hoping when it is all done I will be able to make just a cardigan that I can use for everyday wear.

How to Warm up Winter

You want to know the secret for making winter take a break???
1. Get a hole in your mittens and put off making yourself a pair until one morning when it is super cold you decide to cast on a new pair.
2. Cast on the pair of mittens and work on them on and off for two days.
3.  The mittens are simple so not much stress involved.
4. Finish the mittens and plan to wear them next day.
5. The weather in now around 52 degrees.  NO need for mittens at this point.

Happy Frood Mittens
Started February 10, 2011
Finished February 12, 2011
Needles Size 5 and 7 DPN's
Yarn Hand Spun yarn Fiber from High Prairie Fiber in Happy Frood

I am hoping that the nice weather hangs around since I cast on another pair.

 

Random Sunday

I had some yarn that I spun from some free stuff I received with a fiber order.  I decided it would make a good Storm Cloud Shawlette.  I know it looks like spaghetti now but I think it will make a great little scarf when I am done.

I live in the land of Kansas State Wildcats.  I have a niece that attends the University of Kansas.  I am also a big Jayhawk basketball fan.  These are my Rock Chalk Jayhawk socks.  I am working on the leg of the second sock.  I am making myself a goal to finish these by Valentine's Day.

I have been doing quite a bit of spinning.  The yarn I finished yesterday will be shown to you at a later date since it is part of a swap I am doing with my friend Mistress Stash Enhancer.  This is some UrbanGypz super wash merino.  It is the same base that I made my socks in from the last post.  It is called Mr. Blinky, I do have to admit that the first two bobbins have been spun for a couple of weeks.  I am about one third of the way into the last bobbin before I will ply it into a three ply for another pair of the world's squooshiest socks.  I can't wait until I am done.  This may be the only thing that prevents me from not making my goal for the Rock Chalk Jayhawk Socks.

Happy Socks

This fiber

became this yarn and this yarn

became these socks that make me VERY HAPPY!!!!

My Mara Models

Having two daughters I am very lucky to have models to show off my knits.  I hate to have my picture taken so the only time you see me is when I am showing off new socks.

Pattern: Mara Shawl

Yarn: Peace Fleece Worsted in Samantha Katya Pink

Needles: KnitPicks Options Size 7
Started: December 6, 2010
Finished: January 31, 2011

Last Handspun for 2010

I finally got around to giving my last handspun yarn a bath.  I finished this in the middle of December but it just hung out on a bobbin for about three weeks.

All Spun Up Spin a Long Fiber for October/November of 2010
366 yards of approximately fingering weight
85/15 BFL/Silk blend in the color Rustic

The Soap Opera of the Needles

Pattern: Vanilla Sock w/Hemmed Cuff
Yarn: 2 Windows Dye Company Sock 2
Started: December 19, 2010
Finished: January 19, 2011
Needles Size 0 Hiya Hiya DPN's

This pair of socks ended up being worked on with three different sets of needles.  I started out trying the 9 inch circular.  I really hated them.  I knit for about ten rows and I couldn't take it anymore so I switched to KnitPicks Harmony DPN's.  They were working fine until I broke one.  I know that you get six in a package but I broke one a long time ago so I only had four and I prefer using five needles when using DPN's.  After I broke that needle I switched to the Hiya Hiya's.

Keeping the Toys Warm

Punkinbug has been knitting again.  She finished her scarf for Froggy today.  She likes to sit and knit with me.  She calls it "Knitting Club".

She started a scarf for Little Buddy's Ironman figurine today.  I think the toys in this house are going to stay pretty warm.

A Project Started and a Project "Found"

I must be one of those people that can't just have one pair of socks on the needles.  I finished the Cassandra Socks and just had one pair of Vanilla Socks on the needles but I had to cast these on.  I am using the Stansfield #14 pattern from More Sensational Knitted Socks and Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in the Lorikeet colorway. They remind me of the KU Jayhawk so I am calling them my Rock Chalk Jayhawk Socks.

This year, I decided that I was going to finish up some UFO's that had been laying around.  This is one of those UFO's.  It is the Mini Mochi Fair Isle hat. I started this hat back in June or July and my goal is to have it done before the end of April.  As I am sitting here typing this I thought I would love to finish this by Valentine's day but then I remember all the other projects I have on the needles and the wheel.  I think I need more hands and feet.

TOO BIG

One of my knitting resolutions this year is to knit the Fiddlehead Mittens.  I started them last week and today I decided to try to finish up the outer portion of the first one.  I thought they might be a little large because I have small hands but I kept knitting thinking that when I got the liner in they would be perfect.  Nope.  It didn't work out that way.  I started the decreases on the top and realized that the mitten was going to be about two inches too long.  I have decided to rip them out and try them again on a size smaller needle.  I think they are really pretty though.

Another UFO Bites the Dust

I decided at the beginning of the year (hard to believe it was just last week), that I would finish up some projects that had been hanging around too long.  This pair took me two and a half months for some reason.

I was able to match them perfectly and to be honest I didn't really try it just worked out that way.

Cassandra Socks
Pattern 3/1 Rib over 72 stitches
Yarn Opal Rainforest in Cassandra
Started October 13, 2010
Finished January 7, 2011
Needles Size 0 Kollage Square DPN's

I had planned not to cast on any new projects until I had some of these UFO's finished but I failed at that one.  I did cast on a new project that I will post about next time.

First Finished Object of 2011

I have finished my first project of 2011.  I finished this on Sunday before we went looking for a new computer.  We ended up with a new computer yesterday.  

So the first finished object of 2011 is Habitat.  I knit this as a shop sample for the Wicked Stitch.  I used her own Cauldron Dyed yarn.  This yarn is so squishy.  I just love it.  I am thinking of picking up a hank of it to start one for me.

Habitat Hat by Jared Flood

Started November 27, 2010

Finished January 2, 2010

Yarn Wicked Stitch Cauldron Dyed in Green

Needles Size 8 and 9 Knit Picks Options 

New Year!!!

Happy New Year!!!

I am making some resolutions this year.

1. Knit four sweaters.  That includes finishing the one I already have started.

2. Knit a pair of Fiddlehead mittens.  I think I would like to knit them out of hand spun.

3. Knit 12 pairs of socks.  That includes the two pairs I have on the needles right now.

4. Finish some of my UFO's.  I have too many and I would like to see some of them finished.

5. Lose fifteen pounds by the end of the year.  I think that is doable.  I actually used my Wii Fit this evening and I always forget how much fun it is.

Have a great day and click those sticks.

Final Finished Objects of 2010

I didn't finish the 10 in 2010.  I finished 8 and I am pretty happy with that.  This is the last one that I finished.  It is the Holden Shawl made from Wisdom Poems Sock.  I really enjoyed knitting this one and I think it turned out pretty good.

This is the last pair of socks that I finished this year.  The pattern is Blueberry Waffle socks.  These socks took me three months to knit for some reason.  I kind of lost my sock knitting mojo this year.  I think it is coming back though.

This is one of the last yarns that I spun this year.  This is some Louet 70/30 merino silk blend.  I have already started another shawl out of it.  I hope to get going gangbusters on it soon.

This is the other yarn that I finished up in December.  This is about 615 yards of a single out of Ocean also by Louet.  I really enjoyed spinning a single.  I was always a little afraid of it before but I have conquered that fear.  I plan of using this to make a Clapotis maybe.  

My blogging Mojo also kind of bit the dust a little this year.  I really enjoy seeing what I have done so I plan on continuing next year. 

I am ready to begin the new adventure of 2011.  

Cables Galore

I seem to be on a cable kick right now.  I started the Habitat hat yesterday.  I am using Wicked Stitch Cauldron Dyed from the Wicked Stitch.  This yarn has a lot of sproing I think.

I have been working on my Twist sweater a little here and there.  I have finished the decreases for the arms.  I just need to finish the back and start on the two fronts.  I would really like to finish this sweater before it gets hot so I have a few months.

Maine Comes to Kansas

I was in the mood for a "quick knit".  I think these fit the bill pretty well.  I started them on November 21,2010 and finished them the next day.  These were made out of the Sea Dreams Handspun 2.0.  These will be going to live with my sister in law, Denise.

The first pair was such a fun and quick knit I made another.  These are going to live with the babysitter that watched the kids on Saturday last week while I took a Spinning Self Striping Yarns class.  I started these on Sunday and finished on Monday.  

Winding and Rewinding

I am having a mild case of startitis so I wound some yarn today.  I have been cleaning the house getting ready for Thanksgiving so I took a little break.  This yarn is for a pair of Maine Morning Mitts.  It is some handspun I spun up a few weeks ago.

This yarn is so I can keep working on my sweater.  This color is actually a turquoise.  The weather is kind of cold rainy/snowy mix so not so good for taking pictures.

These two yarns I actually rewound.  They were both failed sock attempts from this summer.  I am feeling a strong urge just to knit vanilla socks.  I am hoping that these two failed attempts at other patterns will make it to a couple of completed pairs.

#8

I am still trying to finish my 10 shawls in 2010.  I have finished 7 of the ten.  I am not sure I am going to finish.  This will be #8 when it is done.  It is the Holden Shawl.  I am using Wisdom Yarns Poem Sock and a size 6 Knit Picks Harmony Needle.

I Promised a FO

I promised a finished project yesterday so here it is.  This is the scarf that I spun from Barley and Daisy's fleece.  It is just a fifteen stitch garter stitch scarf. I plan on giving it to my sister.  The size is 3 inches by about 6 feet.

I was able to get a very cute model to show it off.  He works for yogurt and candy corn.

Sock Knitting Black Hole

If you can't find me it is because I have entered the "knitter's black hole".  I keep knitting and knitting on this sock and it just doesn't seem to get any closer to being done.  I am always four more repeats from starting the toe decreases.  Hopefully I will find the exit soon.






I do have a finished object but as Ferb would say "Wait for it".

New Handspun

Sea Dreams Handspun 2.0  spun from a Gale's Art Corriedale Sibling.  This is a light worsted to a worsted weight yarn.  I plan to use it to make some fingerless mitts for my sister in law.

Garden Party spun from another Gale's Art Corriedale Sibling.  This a heavy fingering to sport weight yarn that I plan to use to knit a pair of socks.