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.

Last Two Projects for the Year and a Year End Wrap Up

The Mondo Cable Pullover has been done for a few weeks.  I kept meaning to take better pictures of it, but never got around to it.  I am so excited that it fits and turned out well.

This pair of socks had been on the needles for over two months.  I started the striping socks before these were finished but I kept having guilt about these so I hurried up and finished them last week.


These were my goals for this year,

Well, a new year has come upon us so I have made myself some goals.

These are the ten things I want to do this year.

1. Take better care of myself and exercise more.  I did better last year and I want to continue.  I managed to do this, I continued exercising and I feel better for it.

2. Further develop my relationship with God.  I did read my Bible everyday last year and I hope to do that again this year.  (I already read for today). I have stuck with this one pretty well.  

3. Use yarn from my stash.  I used some but could have done better

4. Knit more sweaters.  I am determined to finish the sweater I started in 2010.  I just have the two sleeves, part of the right front, button bands, and collar.  I finished one sweater see above.

5. Project monogamy.  I will try not to have too many projects going so I can finish things in a timely manner.
I did better with this.  I will never be a totally monogamous knitter though.

6. Read 75 books.  I read 52 last year after I started keeping track in June.  I love Goodreads for keeping track.
I read 94 books this year.
7. Blog more. I succeeded with this by two posts more than last year.

8. Spin at least 26 braids with a main goal of 39.  Not really sure how well I did in this category this year.  I know that I didn't spin as much as I did the year before.

9. Run a 5K without stopping to walk at all.  Epic FAIL!!!!!

10. Find joy in everyday.  Remember what is really important and not to worry about things that don't really matter or that I can't control.  Still ongoing, some days it can be difficult at times but there is joy everywhere I just have to choose to find it.

Quick Knit from Last Weekend

This is a Luxe Cowl out of Malabrigo Worsted in Vaa.  It took me a little over 24 hours to knit, thanks to sappy Christmas movies on the Hallmark Channel and a snow storm.

I started these socks on Monday of last week.  The first one is completely finished and the second one is on the needles.  Self striping yarn is very addictive.  It makes me want to knit just one more color.

They Were Done

I had few projects that I finished quite a while ago but never posted or finished updating them in Ravelry.

These Seamless Saloma slippers I knit for a lady I work with.  She had some yarn that she gave me and I told her I would knit her something with it. These were a quick and easy knit.  I am sure I will make more.

This is my Quaker Yarn Stretcher scarf/shawl.  I finished this back in September but never posted finished object photos.

This project is the one that has been done the longest.  I started it in January of 2012, finished it in January 2013, and I am finally posting pictures of it in December 2013.  I am a slug.

Finished Again

I finally finished the Neon Spring Socks after Gabby the Wonderdog decided to chew on the heel of one of them.  I pretty much reknit the whole second sock except for the ribbing on the top.  I admit that I was worried about if they were going to match or not so I kind of ignore them for a while because I just didn't want to deal with them.  I am such a goober.  They turned out fine.   I was even able to enter them in the Holiday Knitalong at the Desert Vista Dyeworks group on Ravelry.

Ten On Tuesday....Thankful Edition

1.  I am thankful for a God who loves me and all that comes with it, His Holy Word, salvation, and my church family.

2. These four wonderful people that complete my immediate family.  I am so blessed with a husband who loves me and three amazing children that are growing so fast it makes me sad sometimes.

3. My job that fits into my schedule that lets me still be the mom that my children need.  Also the job my husband has that helps provide all our needs.

4. My home that keeps me sheltered from weather and my safe refuge when life gets tough.

5. Hugs.  There are nothing like hugs and snuggling.

6. Books.

7. The ability to go for a walk and enjoy the smell of someone doing their laundry as I pass by.  That smell always makes me happy.

8. Knitting and spinning.  The ability to make something with my hands.

9. Smiles.

10. Music.  I love to listen to music and it can be such a mood changer for me when I am stressed or angry.  Cranking up the iPod and rocking out is always a good way to remind me that most of the things we worry about are pretty petty and not of much consequence in the big scheme of things.

Spinning but Not Much Knitting

I didn't do a whole lot of knitting last week.  I really had intentions to finish up some languishing projects both knitting and spinning, but only the spinning ones actually got finished.  At least it was something.

412 yards of Superwash BFL from Wild Ivy.  I have plans to cast this on pretty soon.  I just have to finish those knitting projects.

370 yards of BFL/Silk from Woolgatherings, not sure what this is going to be yet.

Since the wheel was empty, I had to start a new spinning project.  This is Wild Ivy Superwash Merino.  I have trying for socks but will wait and see how it turns out.

Ten On Tuesday Meets Mondo Cable Monday

This weeks Ten on Tuesday question was five sweater patterns that you love and five yarns you would want to knit them with.  I will admit that sweaters tend to scare me a little.  

So number one would have to be the Mondo Cable Pullover by Bonne Marie Burns of Chic Knits

This is my progress from two weeks ago.

Progress as of Sunday morning of this last weekend.  Look one of the sleeves are done.

Current progress.  I have finished the cable crosses and have started the second sleeve.

2. Twist by Bonne Marie Burn from Chic Knits, I am still working on this sweater but got frustrated when I knit the sleeves too long and had to rip it out.  After I finish the Mondo Cable I might try to finish it.

3. Peasy

4. Birch Bark

5. Tea Leaves Cardigan

Those are all Ravelry links.

Now the yarns I would like to knit them with.  

6.  The Mondo Cable Pulli is being knit with Universal Yarns Deluxe Worsted

7.  Twist is being knit with Cascade 220

8.  Peasy I would like to use handspun in a bfl/silk or merino/silk blend

9. Birch Bark I think I would like to knit with handspun at some point as well

10.  I would like to knit the Tea Leaves Cardigan out of Malabrigo Rios

Focus on Finishing

I have decided that this week will be focused on finishing up projects that I have been working on for too long.  I have taken pictures of all my projects that are included in this project and I plan on showing them off throughout the week.   Today, I am focusing on these two spinning projects that have taken too long.

This is Wild Ivy Superwash BFL.  I have a plan in the works for this yarn and I would like to get it to where I can use it.

I am about halfway through plying it. It will be a fingering to heavy laceweight 2 ply yarn when I am finished.

Yesterday, I finished spinning this bobbin of singles.  I plan to navajo ply it.  It is a 75/25 BFL silk blend from Woolgatherings.

Ten On Tuesday

The question asked today was what are your 10 Favorite Side Dishes for the Thanksgiving.  To be honest I am not sure if I even have ten but here goes.

1.  Stuffing

2. Mashed Potatoes

3.  Sweet Potatoes with pecans and marshmallows

4. Creamed Corn, I attached a recipe so you know which one I am talking about.  Super yummy.

5. Rolls, preferably home made

6. Jello Salad, I like the one with jello, cottage cheese, whipped topping and pineapple

7. Veggie Tray,  usually consumed while waiting for dinner to get ready

8. Cranberry Sauce (I don't like it but we always have it).

9. Gravy

10.Olives and Pickles (another one I don't eat but we always have them).



Well, I guess I was able to squeak ten out after all.

Designer Crush on Susan Ashcroft

I think I might have a designer crush on Susan Ashcroft of Stitchnerds Designs.

Noro Bias Scarf

TGV Shawl

Colorwheel Cowl

Happy Half Moon Shawl

She has managed to suck me in again.  I really tried to resist casting on but I have no willpower.  The pattern Little Waffles has been out for a while but I have just finally found the yarn that would be perfect for it.  I actually cast on in another yarn but decided it just wasn't right. I think this will be perfect and a little bit of a change from the massive amounts of stockinette in the Mondo Cable Pulli.

There are still other designs that I want to knit of hers.  Like this and this and this.  The this's could go on an on.  If you haven't knit one of her designs go cast one on.  They are great for handspun.

Mondo Cable Monday*

This is the where I was last week.

This is where I am this week.  I didn't get much done on it this week because I was trying to finish up some socks.  I did finish the pair from yesterday and I made progress on another pair that I will share later in the week.  I am hoping to finish this by Thanksgiving at the latest.  I would actually like to wear it to a program at the school this month.

*This is the same sweater, I swear.  The color is really hard to photograph.

I Got New Socks and A New Mug

These are my new socks.  The Simple Textured Socks in the K-State Colorway.

I also got a new mug this week.  It is from Pier 1 and I have used it a few times already.   This was its inaugural cup of hot cocoa that I used it for the day after I got it.  I am blaming this purchase on this post.

On My Wheel On Wednesday

In an effort to blog more and keep better track of my progress on my spinning and knitting I am trying to make up "days".  I had Mondo Cable Monday earlier this week and today I bring you On My Wheel Wednesday.  I am hoping this will help me spin more.  I have ignored my wheel lately for knitting and I miss it but I also love my knitting.  This is Woolgatherings BFL/Silk on my wheel today.

This is the remainder of the braid.  I am some where between a third and halfway done.  It is spinning pretty thin and I plan to navajo ply it when I am done.

Ten On Tuesday

The question asked today was 10 Things You Like To Do On An Extra Day Off

1. Sleep in.

2. Hang out in my pajamas a little later than usual.

3. Read a book.

4. Watch a movie

5. Bake cookies

6. Make dinner earlier in the day

7. Go for a walk.

8. Watch TV

9. Spin

10. Knit!!