Saturday Scarves

Back on Wednesday, I started a scarf wanting to use Yarn Harlot's scarf pattern. I realized that I was doing it wrong and while I planned on leaving it alone, I ripped it back to start over. I liked what was forming, but I wanted the Harlot's pattern instead so before I got too far in, out it came. I cast on again and did it correctly this time. Well the yarn wasn't happy with that either so I ripped back a second time. Today I cast on a third time and decided to use the Mistake Rib pattern instead.

I'd link you to the pattern, but I find 3 different ways to make the same thing, K2P2 then either K2P1 for the end or K3. Of course I K1. Either way you get the same effect. And I'm still happy with it! See?


I've been working on it thru out the day while catching up on shows like Burn Notice, Royal Pains and In Plain Sight. I love my USA summer line up! Earlier today I watched Serena beat her sister for the Wimbleton Cup. Yes it's been a tv kind of a day, because while I'm feeling better, I'm still not great. And it's REALLY hot outside.



Besides, I had company. Why would I want to move?!?

zzzzzzzzzzzzz

Six Months In

Can the year possibly be half way over already? Just doesn't seem possible. What's amazing to me is how much has happened this past year. Actually how much has happened in the world in the past month is amazing, but that's a whole 'nuther post.

I finished another project for Warm Woolies. Another vest.

Here are the stats:
Warm Woolies Vest Size 6-8
Date Start: 6/22/09
Date End: 6/30/09
total project time: 8 days
Yarn used: Misc wool remnants including Lion Wool Red, Pingouin #148 Chocolate and #103 Porcelaine (the purple)
8.7oz gone

I started this when I was going thru my charity wool pile and noticed I still had some yarn that's been lingering around a lot longer than I wanted. I figured I'd do an Odd Ball Vest, and I did for the first 1/3 of it. The brown was started right after the ribbing and there is some purple in the multi colored wool, so I thought the transition to a full purple skein would be less noticable, but it's not as gradual as I had hoped. Either way, I think it turned out well and will make some kid warm this winter.

I'm doing Warm Woolies Six for Six summer challenge, six items for 6 y/os and older. I have 2 vests and 2 pairs of socks complete, another vest 1/2 way done and another pair of socks also 1/2 way done (in fact one sock was finished tonight). After this challenge is complete, I'm going to start knitting for ME! They say charity begins at home, and since I nearly froze this past winter because I don't have any hats or scarves for me, I cast on for a scarf using some Sirdar Snuggly I bought back in March. I'm using the Harlot's scarf pattern and am really happy to actually knit a scarf of my own. And by starting now, I'm (almost) guaranteed to be done by the end of the year.

Well, maybe not. As I was linking the scarf pattern to this post, I re-read the pattern. I'm off. The pattern is K2, Ktbl, P1. Last 2 stitches are K2. I forgot the last two stitches. Well it still looks good so we're going with creative license. I have an inch done, and while I could rip it out (I'm lookin' at YOU, Dee!), I like the way it looks so I think I'll let it stay.


I agree, as long as you let me lay on it.

Working thru the Stash

It always makes me happy when I can use up some of my stash that's been sitting for awhile. I bought some Red Heart Carefree Cotton awhile ago on clearance at Wal-Mart. It's a cotton/acrylic blend and very soft. There were 4 left and I bought them all up. I wasn't sure what I would make with it, but I knew I could make something for Baby Girl.

I was surfing on Ravelry one night, checking out some yarn I was interested in and seeing what other people made with it. I came across a pattern that I really liked and thought Baby Girl would love. It's a Lionbrand free pattern, Fresh Picked Color 3/4 sleeved cardigan. The yarn wasn't a perfect match but I got close to gauge. Since it's a loose fitting cardigan, I figured I'd be fine.

Turns out it's actually a little big, but Baby Girl loves it and that's all that matters. I LOVE the feel of the cardigan (so does she), but I'm not sure how well the yarn will wear. I've already washed and dried it, and while it didn't pill, it did fuzz up a bit, esp around the eyelet areas. But it got even softer and like I said, BG loves it and will wear it, which is the biggest reason I knit for her. Here she is wearing it.



Here are my stats:

Fresh-Picked Color 3/4-sleeve Cardigan
Date Start: 4/25/09
Date End: 6/27/09
Total Project time: 2 months
Yarn used: Red Heart Carefree Cotton color #6752 Hot Pink
3 skeins
9.2oz/468yds used up

I'm not one to change patterns around so I knit it pretty much as written. I only changed the yarn (from the recommended Cotton Ease) which made me go up a size in needles (to a 9) to get *gauge*.

I've been working on a couple of mindless projects because while my rash is gone, I still don't feel great. I'm pretty sure it's stress. A job we thought for SURE the IO would get, didn't come thru. Some days you're the pigeon, some days you're the statue. Let's just say it's time we grew some wings....... Or at least get washed off!

The Itchy and Scratchy Show

I have started two different posts to describe what's been going on here, but I've deleted them both. Basically I've finished a book, a sweater for Baby Girl and have been sick since Wednesday. I've had body aches, fever, oh yes and now a full body rash. It's either stress or viral, nobody knows for sure yet. I'm on benadryl, cortisone and xanax. Such a lovely cocktail of meds. At least it has helped a bit with the itching. THAT is the worst part of it all. Hopefully it will be gone by tomorrow.

I will post pics and details of Baby Girl's sweater. Remember how I thought it would be too small? Well it's actually a little TOO big! But it works fine and Baby Girl loves it!

Meanwhile Lucy says:

Don't come any closer! These lasers are NOT set to stun!

Officially Summer

Now that the parties are over and the out of towners have gone home, I finally feel like summer break has started. Over the wknd I started going thru some of the piles on the side of the bed to reorganize it a bit. I've been working a lot on Baby Girl's sweater, but will take pictures of it when I'm finished. I'm getting REALLY close and I'm hoping it will fit.

I also did some reassigning on some projects. I had a Warm Woolies sock that I ripped out. I forgot to turn the heel, but decided to keep ripping until it was all out. I was happy with the cuff (nice and stretchy) and the colors were blending well, but I really hated the yarn. It was a single ply yarn that I got in a JoAnn's felting kit. I figured it was great for charity knitting, esp when it went on clearance, but I didn't realize my aversion to single ply yarn until later. My 8 skeins will be sold on eBay.

As I was pulling out these skeins of yarn, I came across some remnants of wool yarn that I wanted to get rid of as well. So I cast on for another WW vest. I started yesterday and just kept working on it until my hands were sore. I made some good progress too!




The other WW vest that is in progress got switched out to different needles. I was using some circular needles out of the same felting kit, but the cord was bent in such a way the stitches wouldn't move smoothly over them. So the vest was knit to my Denise needles and the kit ones were thrown out. It's moving along too.



Reading is happening as well. This month so far I've read two books by Katherine Hall Page, The Body in the Big Apple and The Body in the Moonlight. I started reading her in the late 90s, but stopped once I started having kids (not as much time). I got back into her when she attended a local library function. While I wait for the next couple in the series from the library, I started the new Maggie Sefton, Drop Dead Stitch. So far so good.

Let's see, knitting and reading; THAT'S what summers are for. Now if I can just figure out a way to get the laundry to do itself.....

Saturday Sun

With the way the heat feels today, I feel like I'm ON the sun! Here is my temp around 3pm.

Don't let the 92 fool you. The heat index was 114. How did we go from such nice temps a few weeks ago to the middle of the sun?!?! Here is my sky.

Yes I took it from inside the house. It was too hot to go outside. I couldnt even convince the kids!

However later Baby Girl did decide to go outside and swing. It had cooled down to an index of only 105. See?

She had to put on pants to keep from getting a chill...

After grocery shopping this AM, I sequestered myself to the dark cool cave of my bedroom, pulled out some knitting and am making progress on Baby Girl's sweater. Do you ever get those feelings as you knit that it's not going to fit?? I'm getting those feelings as I knit this shrug for Baby Girl. I'm making the biggest size, but with different yarn and needles. I checked gauge 3 times and have gotten something different each time. It's close and I'm being optimistic that it will be fine. I figure even if she can't fit it, I have another niece to pass it down to. But I REALLY hope it fits.....

The IO grilled some swordfish and steaks on the grill and I nuked some potatoes to go with it. Add some fruit and there's dinner. Add a Mike's Hard Lemonade and you have the wknd!

Wonder if it will have an effect on the knitting???

Could it be?!?

YES! Actual knitting content!! First of all, I have located all missing knitting projects. All are safe, sound and accounted for. And I do have a finish to report!

This is a charity pair for Warm Woolies with some leftover bulky yarn (the toes and cuffs) and some KnitPicks Wool of the Andres. I started this back in May when I had a few minutes back stage, but I never finished them until June. Here are the details:

Purple Charity Socks
32 row socks using size 7 dpns
Sock #1: 5/23-25
Sock #2: 5/28-6/6

I have 6 knitting projects going right now, but only 2 are really being worked on. Here's my kitty shelter blanket.

I switched needles and its moving along a LOT faster now. I'm probably abt 1/2 way done with this. It's the perfect thing to knit on when #1 Son and I watch Ace of Cakes at night.

I'm also working on a light weight sweater for Baby Girl.

These are the sleeves. I have another 6" to knit before I'm done with them. They get attached to the sweater by knitting them right in. It's hard to explain but a great way to not have to attach them later! Makes the pattern flow better as well.

And here is where I'm at with Too Pooped.

The cat's done and now I'm working my way up the tree. I'm meeting my stitching group tomorrow, but I think I'm bringing something else. Not sure what yet.

And remember all the opened candy wrappers? I finished my grad hats in time for the party. All I can say is that working with chocolate in the summer is NOT fun! The melted chocolate kept hardening up too quickly (because of the fan I had blowing on me), but the peanut butter cups and chocolate bars kept getting soft (because it was the afternoon and my house tends to get warmer than it should). But when all was said and done, I think they came out pretty well.

This is one set of them, the other is further down the dessert table. Toward the end of the party they were grabbed by the teenage crowd and were eaten while dancing. No songs were interrupted for this snack!

***Edited to add***
I forgot to repost the website where I got this idea from. Go to Bakerella, more specifically here, which will give directions on how to make these fantastic grad caps along with other great ideas.

We may only be in week 2 of summer break, but we've already been to 2 parties. My hats were for a graduation party on Saturday and the day before was a pool party. Fourteen boys and Baby Girl. No worries yet since the avg age of the boys was around 12 and Baby Girl is 7. However she is not one to be pushed around. She did her own thing while the boys were doing cannon balls or throwing a ball or just being boys around her. If they were in her way, she'd just swim around them. No screams, no tantrums, just doing her own thing. That girl makes me proud!