AWOL

Sorry I haven't been around. Grandson showed symptoms of flu on our drive home from Gatlinburg on Thursday. His mother showed symptoms about 8 hours later and I started in about 12 hours after grandson started. I was down for the count from about 1 am on Friday through Saturday. Feel fine today, though, although a bit dehydrated.

This is one of the 70 some pics I took on our trip. I'll share more once I get home and can crop some of them. This computer is so limited it can only do one thing at a time and is slow about that. I think it's about as fast as my first computer which, at the time, I thought was a miracle! How soon we adjust to speed, eh?

We had a wonderful time and I enjoyed every moment of it. Gatlinburg is unique. I don't think I've ever been anywhere like it in my life.

I didn't get any knitting done yesterday, but quite a bit on my vacation within my vacation. 3rd Son needed more wool work socks, so we made a trip to Knotty Knits in Murfreesboro on Monday to pick up some yarn. I got the two socks done for him. I think they turned out really nice! I'll get a pic of them later today. Now I'm rushing to finish DILs socks. I just have about 3/4 in of foot and then toes on each of them. Shouldn't take long.

Will get pics of grandson's socks, as well as the hat and mittens I've made since I got here!

June 4, 2007

Hats and Pirates

Again, as I sat and caught up on my evening TV the crochet hook and stray balls of yarn were transformed into a baby hat.

When I found a Meez on someone's blog, I had to go look. This one's for you Amy!

I got quite a bit done on my second manly sock. About half way through the heel flap now.

Not too much else went on over the weekend. My son took me grocery shopping. It's really a pain when there is never a car around for me to use.... But it's really expensive to maintain two cars and if I had one, I'd go out much more, spending more money, etc. Anyway, he and my grandson came over and we had a pleasant time doing the shopping. And I got to see my grandson!

Again, wasn't too much on the net today. Must be that summer has finally hit all over and people are out and about more.

Here's a neat sock pattern. And a no gauge mitten pattern for children. Black Purl socks using the Dublin Bay pattern.

June 2, 2007

Bitty Hat

I had a bit more "upstairs" time yesterday and managed to finish a whole baby hat. It's nice to complete a project in one sitting.

We went to see Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End <--click yesterday! Wow! It was great. Good story, gorgeous pirates (well some of them, anyway--however all of them were really dirty) and a surprise ending! I started watching Curse of the Black Pearl (Purl???) Last night. Cap'n Jack was comparatively well washed and groomed in that one.

Consequently, not much sock knitting got done. I did CO on the second sock and have about half the ribbing done while the kidlets were gone with their mom in the morning. Knitting while catching up on my click--> Netflix recordings of click--> Carnivale. I'm glad I'm able to watch them pretty much one episode after another. If I had had to wait a week between them, I don't think I could have followed the story as well. It's really creepy, so if you enjoy the supernatural, this is something to put on your list of things to watch.

Had a really bad reading day with my grand daughter on Thursday. Super frustration and all that on her part. We pretty much took the day off yesterday, too, in celebration of mom having a day off work and all. Will try to do some more today. However, on the upside, she's starting to puzzle things out in the "real world." While watching TV she just said, "I know how to spell way...w-a-y!" So that part of her brain is definitely picking on up on the connection and expanding her reading awareness to more than her word cards and readers.

There has always seemed to be this mild to nasty unease between crocheters and knitters. A recent post on a knitting list was entitled: Going to the dark side. The author was apologizing for learning and worse yet, liking crochet. Other authors have said things like: "Can I ask a crochet question? If not feel free to delete this." A few years ago, when a local bead store my daughter worked at was adding yarn to their inventory, the owner asked me about making stuff for display. When she learned I crocheted, she said, "Well, that's your first problem." I've often idly wondered why this is so. And the 1950s, 60s, and 70s had a great deal to do with it. Like this 50s click--> pattern. Don't these 2007 patterns <--click look a bit better? This is a bag I did for above mentioned store display.

It took the store owner several weeks to notice it was crocheted and fulled, not knitted and fulled. The yarn was Cascade 220 in case you're interested.

For any other TV addicts out there...miss any of your favorite shows? Here's the place to find them <--click and watch them again. I did break down and order the Trekking color 100 because of these socks. <--click I ordered from click--> The Knitter as they have free shipping. Have no idea how their service is, but if it's bad, you'll be sure to find out. (Funny how that works, isn't it?) Here is an interesting cable variation. <--click Neat photos <--click from an avid canner turned dyer. Still need almost 500 squares for the Rebuilding Greensburg <--click project. And for the gardeners. <--click

June 1, 2007

Hatz!

I finished the hat, and did another one!

I can crochet so much faster than knit! But that's pretty normal. It's a little bonnet type hat. Am finally finished with all my heel decreases and got quite a bit of the foot done on my man sock. Boy goes to his dad's house today, so will probably stop on this one and CO the next one so I can size them properly with try ons rather than guessing how long the foot should be!

Isn't this one funny!

And this is why I want to move back east! I'm so tired of the dessert!

I remember driving through Tennessee and Maryland and thinking how wonderful it would be to be in the cool greenness! (Yeah, I know there is humidity, heat and bugs....but let me have my fantasy!)

And for some Harry Potter content: A theme park is coming! This pic is from Harry and the Potters. They are a group that sings about books. I'm so excited to find they'll be here this month. I'm hoping I can get tickets for us all to go! You can go here <--click to listen to some of their music! I want a click--> Hagrid! And a pattern for House gloves! <--click

Don't these cookies <--click look good? I've been wanting to bake lately.... These socks <--click are just unbelievable! And here's some more gorgeous knitting <--click not to mention so fantastic photography! click--> Pretty yarn! The importance of checking errata! <--click Recycling yarn <--click can be beautiful!

May 8, 2007

Baby Sock

Apologies for not coming back and re-posting yesterday's entry. I was just so frustrated by the time it was sent into the Yahoo Black Hole I never recovered the energy to do it again. I am taking TeddyBear's advice, though, and am going to do my entries on Word Pad before posting. Just so I have a back up copy. And boy howdy, is it "fun" trying to remember how to type in html! UPDATE: Found and easier way to do the back up. After I get done with my post, I click the View HTML Source block in the top right of the window. Then copy all that gobbeldy gook there (otherwise know as HTML) and save to my clipboard. Hit the Save button at the bottom. If it works, fine, if not, open a new compose blog window, hit the View HTML Source block, and paste it back in. The only thing that doesn't get saved is the first photo under the title of the blog post.

Okay, I finished a hat for Michelle. It's done with two strands...one acrylic and one Encore (acrylic/wool blend). It's thick and it'll be warm.

My DIL called and asked me to make some special socks for my newest grandson's six month pictures next month. They want, of all things, Viking socks!!!! So I made a practice sock yesterday, using the pattern Joansie shared with me! Baby socks knit up so fast! These are made of leftover Socketta yarn, #2 needles with a CO of 32 sts. I've CO the second one already and am ready to start the heel flap. The final special pair will be, I think, white socks with a yellow and purple stripe right under the cuff. Then they'll look like commercial sport socks!

I decided to make a hand towel over the weekend. Had some cotton I wasn't too fond of so I figured it could get some use someway! You can't really see the different stitch patterns I used in it...they kinda fade into the yarn. But I am much encouraged in being able to not have to frog too much of it as I worked on it. There are four different patterns used in it. Oh, and something else I did...I planned my decreases at the top. Left and right leaning decreases! I think that's why it has that rounded "tombstone" look to it! Not the most attractive thing, but serviceable and it definitely was a learning experience!

Amy, about the Charmed Knits book: It doesn't look like a collection of already web published patterns. I think they are all new ones. The reviews I've read on the knitting boards were very favorable. I'm hoping I'll get mine today! For those that watch Knitty Gritty, have you ever seen the young man with the alternative knitting? Here's his blog . There is some really nice photos there...as well as some beefsteak, so you may want to make sure the kids are busy elsewhere. Make sure you scroll down all the way as there are some really interesting knitting pictures all the way down. For those of us that are designers, here's the info on how to have your pattern published in the next Knitting or Crochet Pattern-A-Day calendar. Anyone up to submitting? This may be a little questionable for some, but as a big HP fan, I thought it very funny! And true!

May 6, 2007

New Dishcloth - MicroSpun

I finished it, used it and am not very impressed. It feels like acrylic. Not scratchy or anything like that, it just isn't cotton. I'm going to use it awhile and see how I feel about it. It doesn't absorb liquids very well, so doesn't wipe down a counter as nicely as cotton. I'll give you an update in a few days.

I CO a cotton towel. Just a small hand towel for the kitchen. For something to do..... Am still working on my hat for my upstairs project. Started the decreases last night, so if everything goes okay this evening, I should be able to finish it up. It's big, grey with purple and blue...so in our culture it would be a good guy's hat.

You ask how my sweater is coming along.... Haven't touched in forever. Maybe I should work on it today.... Just so it doesn't feel totally abandoned!

For the crocheters: I noticed a few years ago that if I had some bulk on my needles, my hands felt much better. I bought the little rubber handles that slip over the hook and they work fine.

But I think this felted one from Grafton Fibers looks way cool, too. One could use the same technique to felt an ink pen. Wouldn't that be a cool gift for a fiber friend?

Linda at Grafton Fibers also has two crocheted sock patterns, one done in the round and one done flat to be joined so the stitches run up and down the leg. I've used the first one alot, but never tried the second.

Charmed Knits comes out on Tuesday. I'm really excited about it. The pictures from The Blue Blog of the unmatched Doby Socks is right up my alley! Wouldn't it be great if the idea caught on? Just think of it...no more Second Sock Syndrome!

May 4, 2007

Vikings Socks

Well, they are interesting to say the least. The colors didn't translate well as they are yellow and purple not blue and yellow. Isn't it funny how the eye sees one thing and the camera another?

Anyway, they are done, and they are warm and as soon as they are dry they will go on my sock wall of fame!

And, I found another hat I had in my "gift drawer" that I'm going to put in the bag with the other hats for Michelle.

It was knit flat and seamed up the back.

Today is my day with F. We have a bunch of paperwork to do...more on that later and I have to figure out what knitting I'm taking with me. I'm leaning towards using up the MicroSpun I have to make a dishcloth.... We had also talked about going to the movies today. Doesn't matter. I'm not home and not babysitting!

May 3, 2007

Robbing Peter to pay Paul...

I stopped knitting the first sock when I reached the toe. Put it on a life line and started the second sock. And ran out of yellow yarn. Yellow hand dyed never match it again in this life time yarn. So, I joined the yarn from sock one to sock two and am knitting sock two from sock one till they are even. Then I'll figure out how to finish both socks! It's not really a big deal as I don't mind wearing weird socks. I think I might have enough purple to finish, but I have to find something to replace the yellow. White comes to mind as the Minnesota Vikings are purple, gold, and white. But, we'll see.

Here is another pic of the hat I finished yesterday.

The colorwork I did shows up a bit better. It's been washed and blocked, dried and put away on the stack of hats. These hats are really helping me use up bits and pieces of stash. I CO a hat with acrylic to make a roll brim hat, and then realized I could add in a strand of Encore acrylic/wool blend to make the hat even warmer...using two balls up at once!

Blog surfing: Don't these from "Down With KnittyGritty remind you of Neapolitan Ice Cream? Joansie "introduced" me to Brooklyntweed I just can't decide if I go for Knitting content or the photography! Dances with Wools has some great vintage crochet and knitting patterns. And Knitman has some gorgeous socks from Trekking color 100!

A blog without pictures is like a day without sunshine!

My new favorite M & M commercial!

April 29, 2007

Makes you think about sheep in a totally different way....

If this attempt at putting a YouTube on my blog doesn't work, click--> here is the URL. You HAVE to see this! It is unbelievable! (No X rated...some suggested violence.)

I finished up my experimental hat for Michelle.

I made the "cuff" by using a provisional cast on, knitting in garter stitch and then Kitchenering them together. Then picked up sts around edge of cuff and knit the rest of the hat. It makes a nice hat, stretchy cuff and is just a bit more unique than the standard run of the mill hat.

I spent most of the day with F yesterday and managed to knit a few rows on the sweater. I have about four more inches to go to finish the first part of the back. This sweater may take awhile.... It's about time for me to try and match up the color pattern in the next skein of yarn. I hope I don't have to roll it into a ball in order to get the colors to repeat in the same order.....

F planted some seeds awhile back, creating a vegetable garden as well as some sunflower seeds. It was so nice to see all the little seedlings standing straight and tall. If all the plants come up there will be enough melons of varying kinds to feed a small third world country! Good thing we all love melons.

My son and DIL called the other night. They bought a house. This is really good news for them, but it kind of extinguished the hope they'd move back here from Tennessee any time soon. After being terribly spoiled by all my other kids and grand kids living here, I have difficulty coming to grips with them living on the other side of the country!

My DIL got the socks in the soda bottle. She asked if the packaging was an attempt on my part to "keep a blonde busy for several hours!" I said, "Did it work?" She laughed and said no, she figured it out right away, but it took my son a while!

My knitting goal for the weekend is get the other sock done. Then the sweater and of course, CO a new hat for Michelle!