Recipe for Happy Kids

Would you like a recipe for happy kids???? Here you go.

Ingredients

Two wonderful grandparents (they financed this operation)
One Aunt and Uncle with a spoiled rotten dog (they helped put it together)
Mom and Dad (finished putting it together)
Three kids (got the easy part they play in it)



A total mess in a box.




More of a mess in the back of the truck



A little bit of teamwork.

Add some persistence from Mom and Dad (trust me there were times when I wanted to burn it this last week).







And you get three incredibly happy kids and a swingset.

I think I have a Winner!!!!

Socks and I have had a little difference of opinion as of late. Okay I realize that most of it is knitter's error on my part but it still tends to be frustrating. I have finally found a pattern that I like and that it is working so far. I tried it on over my ankle and it went over fine so I think this one is a GO. I like that it is not too boring and difficult at the same time. It is a perfect pattern so far for the crazy yarn that I like.





Another project came out of hiding today. I sat and knit four rows on the Secret of the Stole this afternoon. I am almost halfway through the sixth of nine clues so I am making myself a goal to finish before the end of September. I have another lace project that I want to cast on but I am not going to do it until this one is done.

I have been spinning on the Merino Tencel from the last post but not enough to show progress yet though. It is really pretty but a little trickier to spin than the Corriedale Cross I had been spinning. I need more time in the day.

Swingsets and Spinning

This week has been pretty busy. We got back from vacation on Tuesday and then my husband's family came in on Thursday for a short visit. My father in law was nice enough to buy the kids a swingset. They spent part of Thursday night and most of yesterday (okay they went and played golf about 4:00 yesterday afternoon) to put it together.

I will post the whole progress of it when it is all finished. My husband and I will have to finish it since they didn't get it done before they left. Maybe this little helper was a reason why it didn't get done but he sure enjoyed "Hewlping"




I have been spinning more than knitting lately. I actually haven't really had much time this week to do either but I spent alot of my vacation plying this together. It took FOREVER. I love spinning yarn fine but it sure takes a long time to ply together. I got about 390 yards of it and I really like it.




This will be my next spinning project. This is some Merino/Tencel I picked up on my vacation. I have never spun this fiber before so it should be interesting.




This is some roving that I dyed up before vacation. I am hoping to get to it soon but I have lots of spinning to do. I still need to find some projects for my handspun. I am just not sure what to do with them yet.

Summer

Summer of Socks and I are having a difference of opinion. I have cast three pairs of socks and all three have been frogged for various reasons. I am trying again though. I am casting on the California Dreamin' Clog Socks in the North Carolina colorway from JKnits. Hopefully this will work now.

We are back safe and sound from vacation. I went down a little south to visit friends and family. I had a good time. I am really missing my youngest daughter. She stayed a few more days with NaNa and PaPa. I am looking forward to seeing her tomorrow.

I have some beautiful spinning to show soon. I have finished plying the peachy/pink stuff that I showed in an earlier post. I ended up with about 390 yards of a fingering to lace weight. I am excited to find something to knit it into.

Summer of Socks Begins

I am getting ready to cast on my first pair of socks for Summer of Socks. I am not trying to win any contests. I do this just to find other knitters mainly. I think it is a great way to see what others are knitting. So to all of you Summer of Socks knitters. Have a great sock knitting summer.

L is for

LIFE. It always seems to get in the way of what I want to be doing. There is always LAUNDRY, dishes, floors to sweep, LUNCHES to make and just general things that come with being a mom of three small children.

I have been doing some spinning. I think spinning is amazing therapy. It calms me down when I am angry and puts me in a good mood. This is some pencil roving that I got at the LYS. I am not sure what kind it is all I know is that it was from Skacel I believe. It spun up to about 120 yards. I navajo plyed it and I really LIKE how it turned out. I am hoping to use it to accent something or maybe make an ear wrap or something for winter.






This is another pair of socks. Are you shocked???? I am using the Fawkes pattern. The yarn is from Scarlet Fleece in the Bird of Paradise colorway. Much nicer to knit with after the yarn barf of the Noro socks that still aren't done yet.








I finally decided to branch out and knit something a little bigger. I am knitting a sweater for me. Yes, I am knitting a sweater and it scares the bajeebees out of me. I am making the Henley T-Shirt from Knitting Pure and Simple. I am using Shine Worsted from Knit Picks in the Watermelon colorway. It is going pretty well so far. I am about 20 percent of the way done.

I hope that all of my Iowa friends are doing well.

Debating

I am debating about this sock. I am not liking how the heel flap is pulling to one side. I have thought about ripping it out and making a scarf or something with this yarn but then I thought it would be a bear to rip out because this yarn sticks to itself really bad. I am open to suggestions. What would you do?????




At least I have nothing to debate about with the spinning. I am really enjoying it still. I just have to remind myself to get it out and use it. Maybe if I wouldn't have gotten a portable one with a bag I would use it more. I like the fact that I can pack it up into the little bag and keep it away from little fingers. Even though those little finger still get in the side pouch.

K is for

Knitting!!!! Duh. I have been doing some of it too.




I knit a pair of socks in ten days. That is a new record for me. It usually takes me about two weeks to knit a pair for some reason but I was on a deadline so I was able to finish them pretty quick. These were for the Punkin's teacher, Mrs. H. She was an amazing teacher and I hope the other two kids get a chance to have her too.

The details? Dream in Color Smooshy in Happy Forest. Embossed Stitch pattern from More Sensational Knitted Socks. They were knit on 1.5 KnitPicks Options DPN's. Started on May 20, 2008 and Finished on May 30, 2008. Dream in Color Smooshy is wonderful stuff. It has some slubs and thin spots but the color makes up for all the "icky" parts of the yarn. It is a yarn I will definitely use again.




I was "chatting" with my friend, Linda, and I asked her what I should knit next. She said either a summer top for one of the girls or the Noro Sock Yarn. I didn't have any yarn or a pattern for the girls so I decided to cast on the Noro Sock Yarn. I am using the Undulating Rib Pattern from Favorite Socks. The colorway is
S40. I am still deciding if I like the yarn or not. I know some people love it and some say "never again". The colors are amazing like most Noro but I am not fond of the "yarn barf" I keep pulling out. I think I have spent as much time untangling as I have knitted on them. I will wait and decide if it will be repeated in my sock knitting stash after they are washed and worn for awhile.

Rumor has it that this knitter is taking on a new adventure..........

J is for

JAG. One of the best ways to feel better when you are sick. Curl up on the couch with a season of JAG and this.




Some sock knitting. I really need to get these done but I am not feeling all that great and it makes it hard to knit for me. My mind tends to wander when I am sick and I hate that.

Have a great weekend.

I is for.....

Ice Cream. I love Ice Cream it is the most wonderful stuff in the world. This is my favorite. It is just hard to find in my neck of the woods sometimes. YUMMY!!!!!




On the knitting front, I have finished one of the two pairs of socks that I am making for the teacher and para in the Punkin's class. These two women are incredible. I feel very blessed to have people working with my daughter that geniunely care for their students and wanting to see them succeed. Thanks Mrs. H and Mrs. B. This pair is for Mrs. B.

Basic Sock
Regia Kaffe Fassett
Caribbean Stripe
Knit on Addi Turbo Size 0's using two circular method



This is the pair for Mrs. H. I am not very far yet. I totally forgot to take it with me to swimming lessons last night and missed out on 45 minutes of good knitting time. I am using some Dream in Color Smooshy in the Happy Forest Colorway. Is it bad that I want every color is this stuff?????

Have a great weekend and Happy Mother's Day to all my knitting friends.

H is for....

HAPPY to be HOME. We had to make a trip to Kansas for a funeral. Ten hours in the car each way is not fun. I do HAVE to say that the kids did great. There was very little fussing and fighting I am really glad that I HAVE such great kids. Buddy got to go to Grandpa's farm and see the tractor. Trust me HE HAD a really good time.




I tried to post last week but Blogger was messing up. This is some roving that I had dyed and then spun. It is about 400 yards of a fingering weight with a few slubs but it is getting better. I am really enjoying spinning I just wish I had more time for it. I think this could be a pair of socks maybe or a nice scarf.



I didn't get much knitting done on the trip but I did finish reading a book. I am still working on the socks for the Punkin's paraprofessional. I still need to get the teachers pair done before the end of May. I better get busy.

The Ten Dollar Experiment

I was gifted three fleeces or a big bag of wool however you look at it. Is it still a fleece if it is taken apart?? I have no idea what they kind they are but I figured oh well it is worth a try. The bag is pretty full and is pretty big.




So I am conducting The Ten Dollar Experiment. All I will be out if it fails will be a bottle of dishwashing soap and a dishpan. Both I can use for other purposes later so I guess I won't be out anything in the long run.




This is my attempt at cleaning it.




Just in case you thought I wasn't knitting here is a picture of the sock I am working on for the paraprofessional in Punkin's class. I am actually decreasing the toe now but this is the most recent picture I have taken. I need to finish this one and start a pair for her teacher and have both done before the end of May. I guess I need to quit blogging and start knitting huh???

Terrific Tuesday!!!!!!!!!

It is a terrific Tuesday to this transplanted Kansan.

First, how about those Jayhawks???????? I am so happy for them. It is always great when a college from your home state does well. They played a great game and it was so exciting to watch. The only down side was I was too nervous to knit and just sat there during the game sitting on my hands.



Second, I finished my second Swirl sock this morning. I loved this pattern and the yarn and they fit great.

Started March 12, 2008
Finished April 8, 2008
Yarn Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Wind in the Willows
Needles KnitPicks Options DPN's 2.25

Third, I received my Wee sock from the Wee Sock Swap over the weekend but forgot to take a picture. I will put it up next time. Shiloh, if you happen to look here I didn't have an email to send you a thank you. Thank you so much and it is a really cute sock.

Rock Chalk Jayhawk

They made it to Monday night. WOO HOO. It was a little scary there for a bit. (Coach Self says they went brain dead). Just Memphis to get past now.

GO JAYHAWKS

Though I only fooled one person, it was a joke. I am not giving up my fiber you will have to pry it out of my cold dead hands first.

G.....

is for GIVING up.

I am GIVING up knitting. GOING to sell my stash. Throw the wheel in the burn pile.

F.....

is for FINISHED the FIRST SOCK. I have FINISHED the FIRST of the Swirl socks. I really like the pattern and I like how it pooled around FOOT. I have seamed up the toe and I am ready to start the second sock unless I get the notion to start another pair FIRST.




F is also for FED UP and FINDING confidence in FIXING mistakes. It snowed again this morning but it has mostly melted off which is good. I noticed on the heel that I had slipped a stitch by accident and I was able to ladder down and FIX it. I was pretty excited. I year ago I would have ripped the whole sock out because I was never able to get it back on the needles after ripping backs a ways.

I haven't been spinning lately since I was FOCUSING on the sock. I guess I better get the other one cast on before my attention wanders.

The Sock Mojo Has Returned

Finally, my sock knitting mojo has returned. It was on a long hiatus I think. Maybe it was depressed from all the snow and cold weather but it seems to be back with a vengance. I finished these yesterday. The second sock seemed to just zoom by. On Thursday I was still working on the leg and all I had left to finish yesterday morning was the decreasing the toe. I so enjoy the Monkey pattern. It is so much fun to do and it is so easy to remember.

Details

Posh Lucia Sock yarn in Feather
Monkey pattern knit as written
Started sometime in February 2008
Finished March 22, 2008
Knit on KnitPicks 1.5 DPN's

I have had a great afternoon. Brett and the girls are spending time with his parents and grandpa at the hotel swimming and eating lunch. Buddy and I stayed home so he could take a nap and I have spent the afternoon knitting and listening to knitting podcasts. I have reached the heel flap on the Swirl sock and I hope to get in some more knitting time later after church tonight.

Last, but certainly not least. I hope you all had a great Easter. I am so thankful for having a Saviour that loved me enough to die on a cross. If you don't celebrate Easter I hope you had a wonderful weekend.

Forget Snow, Bring on the Yarn and Socks

First, the yarn. This is my third attempt at spinning and plying. I love to spin and wish I had more time to get better. It is Corridale top that I dyed with some green and yellow Kool Aid. There is about 420 yards of approximately fingering weight in the two hanks. The yellow didn't show up much but it made it a really pretty spring green. I am deciding what to knit with it. I will use this for something but I am not sure what.



Second, the socks. I will admit to having four pairs of socks in progress right now. Two pairs I haven't touched in a LONG time. These are the two pairs that are seeing a little knitting action. I am making a pair of Monkeys for myself and the first one is done. I am working on the second one now and I am almost through with the leg and hope to get to the heel this evening.



This is the beginning of my Swirl Sock. It is the Loopy Ewe sock club. I really like the yarn it is Cherry Tree Hill. I was obsessed with it for a couple of days and then life got in the way. I am hoping to have both pairs done by the end of the month. The picture does not do this yarn justice. I hope to get a better picture later.

E.....

is for ENOUGH.




ENOUGH said.

Stoles, Spinning, and Using the Snowblower

Clue 5 is finished. I am working on Clue 6 now. I hope to get this done soon. I am behind. Clue 8 will be out on Friday morning but I am not sure that I can get two clues done in two days especially since a little girl is having a birthday tomorrow.




I haven't had a chance to spin since Sunday but I can show you what I spent hours working on over the weekend. I finished up four ounces of the Corridale top that I got when I bought my wheel. I got about three hundred yards when it was all spun and plied. I am still learning but I see improvement already. WOO HOO!!!!!
This picture is before I washed it.





This last picture is both of the hanks after they were washed. I am really happy with them. I am not sure what to make with it but I will make something. Maybe a scarf or neck wrap. You can always use one of those in Minnesota.






We got snow overnight. We didn't get very much but it was more than I really wanted to shovel so I used the snowblower. I did all by myself and I hope my husband will appreciate it. I even did the sidewalk for the kids going to school.

D.....

is for a DETAINED and DELAYED post. I am a DAY behind on my ABC Along post so please forgive me.





It seems like I have been busy but I DON'T really have much to show for it. I have been bitten by the DYEING bug as this picture will show. I used some food coloring and it was lots of fun. It is fun to come up with stuff that is all mine and no one else will have anything like it.




This is some of the wool that I got when I ordered my wheel. It is a Corridale cross I think and it is called Vineyard. I am thinking of spinning it up for a shawl knitalong but I am not sure. I DO have some yarn that I have spun but I haven't washed it yet and I think it looks better after it has had a bath.





D is also for DISTRESS. Buddy was not very happy with me so I had to share this one. Before the picture was taken he pointed his finger at me and told me "DAT'S not nice". I am sure you will survive not getting another piece of cheese.

A Great Weekend

I had a great weekend. I was able to go on a small trip to Des Moines to go to a concert with my nieces and my sister. We had a great time eating lunch and staying up way too late Saturday night. Yes this is a picture of me. I hate to have my picture taken but it was worth it to have one with my nieces.




These are my two nieces. It is hard for me to believe that I have nieces and nephews that are old enough to be in college. Jordan here on the left is a sophomore and Rebekah on the right is a freshman. Jordan says she looks fat in this picture. I think I need to slap her.



What concert did I go to??? I went to see Brad Paisley. I am a huge Brad Paisley fan. I have his albums and I know the words by heart. It is always the music I listen to when I am not sure what I want to listen to. It was a great concert. If you ever get a chance to go see him go. It was the last night of the tour and all sorts of practical jokes were going on and the crew must have went through a case of Silly String that comes out of the can. Jordan and Rebekah thought that the guy who opened for him was HOT.




This picture was taken Sunday morning. The girls were showing their Jayhawk pride.




This last picture might get me hurt but this is my sister. She was the wonderful person who called and let me know that Brad Paisley was coming and asked if I wanted to go. She let us stay with her and drove us around Des Moines. Thanks sis.

Want to know the best part??? Coming home. I realized that I don't like to be away from my family overnight much. I do go on an occasional trip but I would prefer any day to sleep in my own bed and snuggle with my husband. I also came home to a clean house and a brand new microwave. Wonder what I would get if I left for a longer period of time??? A dishwasher maybe????

The Knitter Needs to be Smarter than the Sock

I think I have finally gone off the deep end. I have just spent about 30 minutes trying to figure out why the turning of the heel flap of my Monkey sock wasn't working out. I started over the turn twice I still couldn't figure out what I was doing wrong. I finally figured it out. I DIDN'T READ THE PATTERN RIGHT. Do you want to know the sad part??? I have made this pattern before. I knew it was the operator and not the pattern, almost anyone who knits socks has made this pattern. I just felt really dumb. I kept slipping the first stitch when I was just supposed to knit the 17 stitches. Oh Well, you live and you learn I suppose. It might be that I stayed up way too late Saturday night but that is an entirely different post.




I thought I would show off my first handspun yarn. It has issues. It has spots where there is no spin and spots where there is too much spin but I am really proud of it. I have thought of using it to make a little scarf that would just fit in the top of my coat but I think I might just save it as a momento. I still have to get better at plying too.





I also have been bitten by the dyeing bug. I am really enjoying dyeing some of the roving and top I have purchased. I dyed the pink that is in the first handspun and I dyed this Friday morning. This is some Corridale, I am practicing on some more of this top and then hope to spin the top that I dyed into something I can use to make something for me.

Clue 4 and Getting Better

I have completed Clue 4 of the Secret of the Stole ii. I have also discovered that I enjoy knitting lace. It had always intimidated me in the past but now I am looking for new lace projects to knit. I am not sure what I will do with the stole when I am done with it. I am not really a stole kind of girl but I might just wear it to the grocery store or something like that. I think it would look nice with a turtleneck and some khakis. I might give it away too. I just don't know yet. I have started Clue 5 so I am not too far behind.




I really haven't spun much at all. I had spun twice (one of those two times was for maybe, maybe ten minutes) before I got my wheel. I really like my wheel and I really enjoy spinning. I have spun a little everyday since I got it on Monday. I could really tell a difference between Monday night spinning and what I spun up yesterday and this evening. I think this bobbin might even be worth trying to ply. The first bobbin I think I am just going to put it in a hank and keep as a memento from my first spinning on my wheel. I noticed a few pieces of grass and stuff that I missed when I was spinning it but oh well.