My Almeara Gloves: FOs

They are finished - finally - and surprisingly warm. Must be the garter stitch on the palms and all that cabling on the tops. :-)

The cables don't show up very well on this photo [the best of several I took.] And I think this colorway is not the best for showing cables anyway. But, they match the scarf my Dear Friend from England sent me last year [or the year before? Sorry, J, I'm notoriously bad with details.] And that was my goal - to have gloves that went with the scarf - and at the same time make those gorgeous Jared Flood Almearas. See my previous post. And Jared's.

I Gotta Knit!

Traditionally we have had the week of (or before) Christmas off - depending on what day of the week it fell on. But, this year we're doing a "better business" model and were open M-T-W. So I took some vacation days last week to finalize my Christmas shopping, etc.

Today the freezing rain started about noon. Then the power for the whole complex went out at 1:15 and was off 30 min. I called security and asked if there was any chance we would be sent home early. Hmmm...learned that there was no one at work who had the authority to shut us down. ARGH!!

Only two of us in my dept worked this week - everyone else took vacation time. V. and I were each working in different areas of our building when someone came in and said, "Didn't you get the email - we've closed." DUH. No we weren't at our desks.... I verified that we were shut and then we were out of there!!

Icy drive home, but I got here safely. Gotta unwind with yarn!

Happy Christmas to all!!

Grand dog's new sweater

DD3 emailed this photo of Q, the grand dog, in the sweater she knit him. :-) Not sure how Q feels about it, but I think it looks great.

Blogoversary #3

I've really not done a good job on this blog lately. I'm still knitting, but not "active" in the blogging world. I used to have about 25 blogs bookmarked in my favorites and would read about half of them each morning with my first cup of coffee. But, haven't done that in a long time. And then, my computer crashed. Most of my files were recovered, but none of my favorites OR emails in Outlook. So, I'm slowly rebuilding my Blog Favorites. Sadly, I can't remember all of the names of the ones I liked to keep up with. Hey...I just remembered two more. I'll be back....

Got 'em saved. Whew!

So, yes, today marks 3 years since I started this blog. I've spent some time reading through the first few months worth of posts. Great reminders! I have never been a diarist, but this blog comes close to being one.

While I've been not blogging, I've done socks for the Grandsons. Sport actually asked for a pair! Yay! I took him to HL and showed him the available sock yarn. He picked out Yarn Bee's Walk Away in a black/grey/white multicolor. He's very happy with the socks :-) And several times while I was knitting them, I discussed why I didn't want him to wear them to the daddy's on the weekends. (My excuse was that they needed to be washed in a special way. They're supposed to be superwash, but this way I know they won't get lost, or misplaced down at the dad's.) He's helped me wash them in Woolite.

So Buster wanted a pair, too. I tried to steer him to the variegated blues, but he selected Kroy Sock in Fern Rose Jacquard. The colorway is definitely Buster - busy, bright, fun.

I'll try to get photos of the boys socks one of these days soon. For now - they loved playing in the first snow of the season!

Finished a pair for myself a few days ago:

Pattern: Sunday Swing by Kristel Nyberg in the Knitty.com Summer09 issue.

Yarn: Malabrigo Sock in "Stonechat" -- however, all of the photos I've seen online for Stonechat are not even close to the color of my yarn. This looks much darker in person. However, this colorway is Perfect for my work wardrobe.

Needles: Two 24" Size 1 [us]/2.25mm circulars

Knit for: Me!

I'm Baackk!

And with a new computer. The old one was terminal, and I knew it. When it finally died, I didn't want to spend the $ to get a new one. But, it's difficult to carry on a "normal" life without a computer. So, here I am with a super fast HP Pavilion. Pages load in a snap - and I mean snap!

When I logged onto my computer at work on Thursday and it took all of 5 seconds to load my desktop, I was starting to feel impatient after 3 seconds.

Windows 7. I'm liking it, too. 20" flat screen monitor...takes a bit of getting used to. But... watching tv (hulu.com) or movies is awesome on it. :-)

I've done some knitting. Will report on that next time. Still need to get photos of the grandsons with their socks on. They were not co-operating when I tried last week.

More to come.... later.

This is for you, MG

I found this video on Howcast. I'm sure there are other videos out there for lefties. If you use another method to "load" the yarn around your right hand fingers, use it. I use the same method for knitting as I do when I crochet.

Stitches on the Bridge

One of the events for Homecoming Scotland is a knitting project stretching across the 1,640 ft Skye Bridge.

Horcrux Socks

Yay!

Pattern: Horcrux Socks by Susan Pierce Lawrence
Yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes in Tidepool Heather
Needles: Size 4 [US] dpns
Knit for: Me :-)
Modifications: Thought the leg was too short, so I added an extra zag in the zig-zig pattern.

Since these are knit with worsted wt. yarn, they are super warm. Love 'em!

Early Trick or Treaters!

My doorbell rang this evening and these two guys were standing on my porch.

Wolverine I recognized, but I called the guy in white a "ghost." I was corrected - he's Storm Shadow from G I Joe.

So, now I know. :-)

Lap robe for the Elders

I finished the sampler lap robe/afghan last weekend, but just photographed it this morning. I'll box it up this weekend and get it mailed to the Cheyenne River Elderly Nutrition Services on Monday. And I'll also box up all of my leftover red heart to mail to my sister in CO.

At the moment I have a total of ZERO on-the-needle projects! That won't last long, because I just finished the first Horcrux sock and it needs a mate. Also need to do the second Almeara glove. After the lap robe, these will seem like very quick projects.

Then... Sport has asked for a pair of socks - from yarn "just like my blanket" (this blanket.) I could buy more acrylic yarn, but I told him that we'd look for "real" sock yarn and he could pick out what he wants. Of course, I'll lead him to H. L.'s better than it used to be collection of Heart & Sole or whatever else they have of machine washable sock yarn.

Also told Buster that when Sport's socks are finished, he will get to shop for his sock yarn. :-)

Egads! Yes, I'm still knitting!

I'm on block 10 (of 12) for the lap robe for the CRR Elders. I'm using blue, dark green, burgundy (or is it cranberry?), and off white. It's one of those projects that I can't put aside...

*partially because I want to get it done & on its way to South Dakota

*partially because doing 12 different patterns is loads of fun and makes the process seem to go quickly

*partially because when I'm finished, the left over Red Heart will be shipped to my sister in Colorado (she doesn't like wool & I've decided I don't like Red Heart - it feels so rough)

So, I'm driven. Photos eventually.

August Updates 1

Sport is 6!

Here he is with some of the presents from his aunt DD1 (and the mama and great gran in the back ground.) Sport luvs to cook, so he got a set of measuring spoons & cups, a variety of mixing spoons, bowl scrapers, and even a timer.

Among the gifts from me was a Nickelodeon Kids Cookbook: Stir, Squirt, Sizzle.




Buster needs equal timing, so here he is, the bubble blowing champion of the family.

A New Sock Knitter! (August Updates 2)

I'm pleased to introduce D, one of my English friends who visited recently. Here she's casting on for her first sock. Yay!

D has emailed that she's finished the first sock - and has purchased more yarn for another pair :-) Don't ya just luv it?

Socks Forever!

August Updates 3

Warm Hands (for me!)

1. Knucks
Pattern: Knucks by Pamela Grossman from Knitty, Summer 2006
Yarn: Bernat Cashmere Natural Blends in Coal for the hands & I Love This Wool in Winter White for the ribbed wrists and fingers
Needles: 4 [US]
Knit for: Me :-)

2. Jared Flood's Almeara Gloves - I think the "natural" color would probably show the pattern better, but I'm knitting them in Knit Picks new City Tweed DK in the Habanero colorway. I'm nearly finished with the hand of the first glove.

I'm using dpns and started out with metal ones - but size 8 metal dpns are just TOO heavy and too slidey. So, I set this project aside and ordered bamboos dpns from Knit Picks. Wow! what a difference! I recently got a digital "kitchen" scale (but have only weighed yarn -- why didn't I have one of these before now?) One of the metal size 8 dpns weighs 8 gms, but one of the bamboo size 8s only weighs 3 gms. And not so slidey either. Photos will follow eventually. And so will a blog about the project I'll do with the yarn I ordered at the same time as the size 8 bamboos. :-)

August Updates 4

A. CIC Socks
I had leftover yarn from the Dune Twist socks (see previous post), but I didn't think there was enough for a pair of smaller kids' socks, so I ordered a ball of Chocolate Wool of the Andes. As it turned out there was enough of the Dune Twist added to the Chocolate to get two more pairs of socks for CIC. The earlier "Magic 36" socks have a 7" foot, these two smaller pairs have a 5" and a 6" foot. And yes that's the end of the Dune Twist and Chocolate.

B. Stash busting for a good cause
CIC knitters are encouraged to Go Local (sort of.) I have a bin of red heart worsted on the shelf in my closet and keep thinking, "I really ought to do something with this." In the past I've knit a bunch of hats, but this time decided on something for the Cheyenne River Rez Elders. I found a Red Heart pattern: Knit Sampler Afghan and it will work wonderfully. Smallish squares, variety of patterns, etc. The yarn is in dark (forest) green, off white, blue, and burgundy.

I've Been Censored - and FOs

I learned recently that this blog *does* have readers who don't leave comments. Hi, y'all.

D, a teacher from England, said that she'd tried to show my blog to a co-worker (on a school computer), but this blog was blocked because it contains "Malicious Content." My blog? Malicious Content?

The school's content censoring software probably didn't like the name of a pair of socks I referred to in the July 5th post. So I've edited. Wonder if I have to find every instance of that naughty word?

[ETA: I think I found every post with that word in it & swapped the "a" for "@" - except the tag/label won't allow an "@", so I just left that vowel out: Move Your Fnny. Hope this helps!]

On the FO front - yippee! - I got 'em:

* A cap for the group that CIC knitters are helping. Just one, but one is more than Zero
Pattern: generic watch cap, knit flat

Yarn: Left over bulky Wool of the Andes, with the white strips being double stranded worsted WofA

Needles: 10 [US] straight needles

Knit for: Hand of Help [via CIC group]


* The bigger kid's socks (the "Magic 36" pair) - thanks to my recently received Knit Picks order

Pattern: based on the "Magic 28", but for a larger foot -- this is a "magic 36" variation.

Yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes [worsted] in Dune.

Needles: size 5 [US] bamboo from Crystal Palace, I think.

Knit for: CIC

* Mom's OPAL Cotton "2009 July Socks"

Pattern: generic rib on leg and borrowed the K1, P1 for the instep from the Move Your F@nny pattern.

Yarn: OPAL Cotton #2095. Bought at Knots & Bolts in Traer, IA.

Needles: Legs: 2.50 mm, 24" circs, and for the feet: 2.25 mm, 24" circs.

Knit for: Mom

I LUV Caramel Macchiato!

I'm so tickled! I never win anything. Well, OK, I've won a few things [like last year], but not many.

But, I'm the lucky winner of Jen's quiz prize!

So, J & D - if you check this blog before flying across the Big Pond - we're going to Starbucks on Friday! :-)

Baby Surprise Jacket #2

Yarn: Louet Gems Topaz in French Blue, Mustard, and Eggplant

Needles: Circular, US 8

Pattern: Elizabeth Zimmermann's Baby Surprise Jacket from The Opinionated Knitter / Newsletter Leaflet 21 (Fall '68)

Knit for: The soon-to-be born Baby B, if said Baby B is a male. [If Baby B is female, she'll get the February Baby Sweater and another baby-on-the-way will get this one.]

Long Time No Post

My perpetual excuse is: I've been busy. There's
* Work
* Housekeeping
* Grandkids (photo below)
* Knitting (photos below)
* Genealogy

WORK - the good news is that I still have a job. For now. There are threats of more layoffs in the New Year.

HOUSEKEEPING - Never ending isn't it? I've been trying to do a few extra "spring" cleaning things, because I have visitors coming soon. But, the older I get the longer it takes for me to do anything.

GRANDKIDS - They're gone to their other grand parents' lake home for the long weekend. They have SO much fun down there...a huge extended family, the lake, the beach, etc. I can't compete with all that. But, I take them to parks, & to a local ice cream shop, I let them help me cook, we read books, and they can get on my computer - their desktop has icons for Dora, Barney, Thomas, Sesame Street, etc. I let them print activities & color sheets, etc.

KNITTING -

1) Sent 3 pairs to CIC at the end of June. I've got another pair almost finished - but ran out of Knit Picks' Dune. I was making a bigger kid's pair and decided instead of Magic 28 I'd do "Magic 36." I didn't understand the geometric proportional difference until too late. Should I frog or buy more yarn? I'll buy more yarn and finish them later.

2) Working on a BSJ - possibly for Baby B, if Baby B is a boy. I still have the same 20 rows or so left as when I blogged on June 14th.


3) Mom's OPAL socks. I luv knitting socks! I've misplaced the ball band, but (-it was difficult to find an image online) I think this is #2095. Legs knit on US 1.5, foot on US 1. Mom requested that the instep be knit in K1, P1 (like the "Move Your F@nny" pattern.) The color changes make the knitting seem to go quickly. " Oh..! A new color!" I'm hoping I can get a matching 2nd sock, but mom said she'd be OK if the stripes don't match.

GENEALOGY - I've been working on collecting evidence to submit to the General Society of Mayflower Descendants. Yippee! Got it! Except for my marriage license. Thought I had a copy, but can't find it anywhere. Maybe I tossed it out when I got a divorce? Now, I'll have to take time off work to go to the court house.

Belated Birthday Photo

Buster turned 4 [yeah, four!] on June 4th. I've downloaded the photos, but haven't tweaked the size/cropped etc. Actually, there are photos from as far back as April to deal with. Ugh.

Anyway, Buster's 4! Seems like he was just a baby ... wasn't it only a few months ago? He's talking in big sentences that if written out would include commas or maybe even semi-colons. He's all action, all risk-taking, all imp. Just like his mama was/is!

In photo: Sport [nearly 6] and Buster at his bd picnic..

Blog Browsing and other musings

Buster and Sport stayed overnight, and B. was awake before 7 a.m. as usual - even though they were up until 11 p.m. [Shhh...don't tell their mama!] He's content to watch a DVD so I can have my first cuppa and check my emails and my Internets.

Among this morning's browsings, I stopped over at Stitches of Violet and saw that her mom is doing better [looking good, actually.] She also mentioned, a few days ago, that Jean at Knitting Garden is having a Blogoversary [and a contest!] I never win anything, but left a "Happy day" message anyway. :-)

It's Charity Knitting Sunday here at the Mitch digs. I hope to finish another pair of CIC socks today. That will make 3 pairs for this challenge. Kathy has already sent in 12!! Way to go Kathy!!

Other OTN:

1) About 20 rows, or so, left on the BSJ...that I haven't blogged about yet. I will when it's finished. Promise.

2) Socks for my mother (2009 June). She picked out a ball of OPAL Cotton when we stopped at Knots & Bolts in April. I'll blog later with a photo and details. The ball band is in my room and Sport is still sleeping. The colorway is gorgeous - I think she'll like the way it is striping...I sure do. I was skeptical about how it would knit up - being part cotton and all. But it's met with my approval - Yay! For my next pair of big-people socks, I think I'll use the denim & white OPAL cotton that I bought last year at Knots & Bolts.

Gotta get ready for the day. Have a good one - whatever day it is for you :-)

Socks finally!

I started this pair in late March, I think. Finished them May 30th, took the photo May 31st, downloaded the photo this morning. I mentioned these earlier here. I'll call them my May 2009 socks.

Pattern: Generic ribbed
Yarn: Steinbach Wolle Sockenwolle in "brown" (think tan) #014 and a green/gray/brown twist#180
Needles: Size 2 [US]
Knit for: Me!

I'm not convinced

I've jumped on the Twitter bandwagon. Ugh. I'm not convinced I really need this. But...you see, my boss thought we needed a blog for work. So I started this blog to learn how to "do" one, since the work blog would fall under my job description. I think the work blog has been vetoed.

Now the online world is atwitter with Twitter. Same scenario as with the blog...just in case we decide to have a Twitter account for work, I want to be familiar with it. I've got mixed feelings about Twitting / Tweeting.

However, I got a big chuckle over Conan O'Brien's prediction for YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook. Take a look, if you missed it.

NOTE: knitting or grandson or genealogy content coming soon. Stop by in a few days.

Mother's Day update

I didn't have to cook! And I got flowers and balloons and cards! And Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's Free-Range Knitter: the Yarn Harlot Writes Again.

DD1 said she selected the book because, "Every time mom reads Stephanie's blog, she laughs out-loud."

That's right. I do :-)

In which I admit to not having knit much lately

I've been busy. Just with busy-ness.

It's been so long since I've worked on my blog - I didn't remember that I'd changed the layout last time I was on! When the page open, I was startled!

I've knit a few rows on the socks mentioned here. And I started a BSJ -- possibly for the soon-to-be Baby B. More on that on a later date.

One of the things that's kept me busy is working on genealogy. I dabble here and there and don't make much progress. But, once in a while that dabbling yields results. A reply to a letter I sent to a county court house in Pennsylvania ended up giving me more information than I could have dreamed of. DD1 was here when I opened the envelope - I was so excited when I browsed through the contents, I jumped up and down. Believe me, it's been a long time since I'd jumped up & down!!! And of course, after that my spare time was spent on scanning the documents, organizing them in folders, and doing more searching.

But, tonight, I'm going to knit on those two projects. And watch hockey [Go Penguins!] And American Idol [switching back and forth as necessary.]

My DD3's BF is starting a soy candle business. He's test marketing various scents - so I'm a designated tester. Last night I burned the Lilac - very nice scent - lilac-y, but not too over powering. Tonight the scent is Mandarin Orange. I'm not a citrus fan, but this is OK. He has another orange candle - "Fresh Squeezed Oranges" -- that one I think I'll like! I think it would be a good scent for a Saturday morning - perky & peppy. You see, I'm NOT perky or peppy on Saturday mornings. I need some motivation - like smelling fresh squeezed oranges! :-)

April 09 Socks

Started these last Sunday [as a Sunday Charity Knitting project] and finished them on Wednesday. [No knitting on Monday or Tuesday.]

Pattern: based on the Magic 28 pattern

Yarn: Paton's Classic Wool, I think, in white; Knit Picks Wools of the Andes in Hollyberry; and On-Line Supersocke 100/Sierra Color #896

Needles: Size 5 [US] dpns - bamboo

Knit for: CIC

These look huge for CIC socks, but the foot length is 5.5"

After several attempts to get the photo closer to the actual color, I went to the room with the best lighting in the house. Yep, the bathroom.

Click on the photo to see the socks better.

Charcoal Vest an FO

I finished this project a few days ago. Nice, easy pattern. Yay! But it took me four months to finish it :-\ Details are in this January post.

OTN Update: I'm about 1/2 finished with a pair of socks - using left over Steinbach Wolle Sockenwolle from this project. Plus another ball of Sockenwolle in green/gray/brown.

I mentioned this pair in the previous post actually.

Baby Sweater on Two Needles (AKA - February Baby Sweater)

Yippee! It's done and I'm happy with it. (My photo taking skills are another matter.)

Pattern: Elizabeth Z.'s

Yarn: Louet Gems Topaz in Eggplant
Needles: 7 [US] / 4.5 mm
Knit for: Baby B (due in mid August) - that is, IF Baby B is a girl. Parents to be are friends of DD1 and live just down the street.

On The Needles Update:

1. I'm about 75% finished with the The Vest.

2. I've started a pair of socks (generic ribbed pattern) for me - using Steinbach Wolle Sockenwolle in "brown" (think tan) and a green/gray/brown twist#180. Not enough of either for a pair, so I'm doing stripes. Not pretty. But, this pair will keep my feet warm. (And that's why I knit socks for myself - to have warm feet!)

I bought wool today for a February Lady Sweater for me! I went to Knots & Bolts with a deep red/burgundy color in mind. But, I decided to live on the edge and came home with Purple! Actually, it's Cascade 220 - #7811 Purple Jewel Heather. Can't find any photo online that show's the true color. They're all much too dark. I'm going to try to finish the vest before I start the FLS. Try.

Major Time Suck

I've just spent the past 3 hours updating my projects on Ravelry. Egad! But I'm caught up (as much as I care to be....)

Wish I could say the same for my genealogy projects. ;-}

On Ravelry as: jakkimitch

OTN Update

Busy times at the Mitch Manor. Little time for the computer and only a little more time for knitting. But, I do have two projects in the works:

1.) The Vest - started in January, the back is completed and I'm about half through one front panel. It's on hold as I work on:

2) A February Baby Sweater. For DD1's friends' baby due in August or Sept. (They know the date, I can't remember....) Details in a future post.

As my DS who lives down hill from The Rock (see photo at top of blog) says: I owe, I owe, so off to work I go.

March 09 Socks

Kirschnered the toes on these yesterday. I started them in January, but finished other projects first. Yummy soft and toasty warm these are :-)

Pattern: Started out with Priscilla's Dream Socks from Favorite Socks. But strayed (see "Project 2" in the January 24, 2009 OTN Update post.)

Yarn: Knit Picks Swish (DK) in Cinnamon and Nutmeg

Needles: US 3 [3.25 mm] on the upper legs, and US 2 [2.75mm] for the rest

Knit for: Me!!

Tea Contest entry

Not *MY* contest, tho.

Over at the Mason-Dixon Knitting blog, Kay is running a contest. I just logged on a few hours after she posted (and was something like the 346th comment!) The "contest" includes telling what your favorite tea is. Kay's is Yorkshire.

AND -- mine is Yorkshire!!! My current box came from my dear friend from over the pond. So, as proof... just in case anyone anywhere wants it... I photographed my box in front of the MDK blog and my comment box. As seen here :-)

Click on flashless photo to enlarge.

CIC Socks Feb 09

I *was* going to title this post: "The older I get...the faster time goes." But, that would only describe my current state of mind and not the actual content I want to post.

CIC socks - All I need is a big padded envelope and these will be ready to send. I've blogged the particulars previously. Here, here, here, here, and hmmm, must not have had a post about those blue ones.

We had a few inches of snow overnight, but the winds are howling [really] from the north. So I think the snow flying by my window probably fell in Minnesota. :-\

I have to work tomorrow [noon to 8 p.m.], so today is my whole weekend. Should I get busy and clean the house - or - get out my knitting and listen to a book on cd??

Actually, I'm going to try to do both. 30 mins of housecleaning and then 30 mins of knitting/audio book. When I'm done with my list of chores - it will be all knitting!! The local Salvation Army is having a craft day. I'd like to go. We'll see how my day goes.

Sunday Charity Knitting

Don't know how much knitting I'll do today. I actually finished a pair of socks for CIC yesterday. These were started two weeks ago and also based on the Magic 28 formula. Look HERE for details on the previous pair. The difference was in the needles.

Yarn: Patons' Classic Wool in Winter White + left over sock yarn: On-Line Supersocke 100/Sierra Color #896
Needles: size 6 US dpns
Knit for: CIC

I'd used size 4 dpns for the previous pair and size 6 for this pair, but decided size 5 would probably work out best. The only problem was that I only had one set of 4 dpns in size 5 and I prefer using five dpns for socks (or 2 circs). Enter Friday's road trip and a visit to Home Ec in Iowa City. I resisted the temptation to buy more yarn - although I squeezed nearly every ball and skein in the place. I purchased a set of five size 5 [US] dpns - bamboo by Crystal Palace.

Today's Sunday Knitting for Charity goal is to wind up (by hand) the yarn I Kool Aid dyed last week. Orange & Grape. The Orange is nice (for orange) and the grape is lovely in the right light.

But it looks a bit gray in my bedroom.... ??

Felted Slippers for CRR

I mailed these off several days ago to The Main - Youth Project at Cheyenne River Res. Kool Aid Dyed last year, finally finishing that batch. These are basic, cuffless, felted slippers.

The yellow ones are not as "done" as the others, but still felty-fluffy and thick-ish.

Portraits by Buster

I don't think there is a picture of me on this blog...until now. Buster, age 3 1/2, made this portrait of me a few days ago. I'm not sure if that's arms coming out of the side of my head, or the bows of my glasses.

He also drew one of himself: "That's me with my Rock Star hair," he said.

Grandsons are so much fun!

Breaking Tradition On Superbowl Sunday and CK

It's Superbowl Sunday! But, I'm not going to be participating in my annual Superbowl Event. Instead, I'm taking DD2, Sport & Buster to the 4 p.m. Bob the Builder (live) performance. After the show, the mama is going to the belated Christmas Party at her work and I'll bring the boys back here -- and hope I can see the last half of the game.

Usually my sentiment for the Superbowl is "May the team with the most points win." However, gosh, the Steelers are my third favorite team (after the Broncos and the Bears.) So I *would* be cheering for the Steelers today if it weren't for Kurt Warner. Sigh. Gotta go with Kurt Warner. Go Cardinals!! (Or... Steelers!)

If it's Sunday, I must be knitting for Charity. Today I'm working on another pair of kids' socks for CIC - similar to last week's pair. This one, using Patons' Classic Wool in Winter White along with left over On-Line Supersocke 100/Sierra Color #896 used for this pair of socks.

Sunday (& Monday) Charity Knitting

I started these socks for the current CIC project Sunday morning and would have finished them yesterday morning, if I hadn't had to go to work. But, Hey, I still have a job, so I can't complain!

They were finished last night - finished the 2nd heel flap and got half way through that foot at SnB. And then completed it later at home.

Yarn: One strand Patons Classic Wool in Winter White (worsted weight) and one strand of left over OPAL Petticoat #1295.
Needles: Size 4 [US] dpns
Pattern: based on the Magic 28 pattern found at NowNormaKnits. The leg has a top K1, P1 rib for 6 rows and then I switched to K3, P1. The foot is StSt.
Knit for: CIC

OTN Update

I keep trying to be a project monogamist, but I have a wandering eye and lust after yarn and patterns and FOs. [Sigh]

Project 1: I was given a lovely, dark green, velour top that goes beautifully with a pair of dark green slacks. The only problem is that the top has a wide (and deep) V neckline. I don't feel comfortable with so much of my skin exposed, so I decided it needed a scarf.

Until that point I didn't think I'd ever want to knit lace. Just don't have a need for a shawl - at least a lacy one full of "holes" for cold air to attack through. But, hmmm... didn't want a silk, or silky type scarf. It needed to provide some warmth to my neck and chest. Wool. But, it needed to be light weight to wear all day at work. Lace?

I also wanted a quick knit. No fiddly pattern. I searched blogs, and dang if I can remember where I found the pattern, I found one that works! I had in mind [dangerous, I know] a lace weight yarn of a lovely tweedy mixture of greens, browns, and muted golds. Does anyone produce anything like that? And what would it cost? The project was on hold while I contempted searching the Internet for the perfect yarn. Meanwhile, while on a stash dive, I found the remains of yarn I'd used for a pair of kids socks last year [Reynolds Swizzle.] The ball felt like it had enough yardage for The Scarf. The green is a near perfect match. It has funky yellow, blue, and pink stripes to add "interest" or maybe just "contrast." OK, then. The original pattern is wider, but I CO 23 stitches on a size 10 [6mm] 16" Addi Turbo. One row pattern! I have about 15" completed. I'm hoping for a 48" total. Should have weighed the ball before I started.

Project 2: I *was* going to use the extra Knit Picks Swish (DK) to make a pair of Knucks for myself. But, I wasn't sure if I'd really have enough, I ordered a contrasting color of the yarn. When I got the two together, Nutmeg and Cinnamon, I thought SOCKS - for ME. [I still want Knucks, but I'll have to buy more yarn.]

I looked for a pattern for DK weight socks. Requirement: not an online pattern, but one from my collection of knitting books. I settled on Priscilla's Dream Socks from Favorite Socks. I read through the pattern and decided that I don't want to fiddle with short row heels. Actually, I don't think they fit as well as heel flap heels. I have a high instep and need some extra stitches to start the foot - which I get by picking up 2 or 3 extra stitches on each side of the flap. So modification 1 will be the heel. I haven't committed to the toes, yet. I have knit "quite a few" [it's all relative, I know] socks with the leg entirely in ribbing, but have not previously used this pattern's method of switching from a larger needle [US 3 / 3.25 mm] to a smaller one [US 2 / 2.75mm] half way down the leg.

I could only find one [24"] size 2 circ, so I switched to dpns that are US2/2.75mm. A few days ago I found the other size 2 circ and this morning decided to move the stitches over to the circs. But, WAIT. This doesn't feel right. The circs are larger. Sure enough I could not get the circ through the size 2 /2.75mm hole in my needle gauge. I looked on the package and, naughty word, they are "Size 2/ 3.00mm" Drats. I'll keep using the dpns because I want a firmer fabric for the foot. These will be my February Socks for SAM7.

ETA: Yes, I did use the CO the pattern calls for - "Old Norwegian" - I love it!!

Project 3: The Vest. I have 9" completed on the back.

There and Back Again

After work last evening I drove five hours (round trip) to pick up my DD1 at an airport. (...I just deleted a paragraph ranting about the traffic. The important point is that I got there & we got back safely.)

And, she got THERE and back safely! She went to the Inauguration!! I heard a lot about it on the drive back - I'll hear more in the days to come, I'm sure. Good trip. Awesome experience. She has the day off work today. Good thing as her ankle (the one with the plate and 6 screws) was very swollen last night.

She knew a slew of (young) people who were going. And amazingly, in that sea of people, DD1 and her friend SA were found by a friend from NC. I asked if someone in both groups had GPS on their phones, and she said No - it was just a coincidence - or providential. Amazing!

I personally know at least 7 people who went and I know OF a dozen or so others that people I know know. If there were 2 million people and there are about 300 million Americans, then 1 out of every 150 people were in DC. Amazing.

Snow, the 2009 version

About eleven months ago I posted THIS photo. The new photo here was taken farther back from the front door, but from a similar angle. Click this one for a larger view. So far this winter we've had 10" more snow than we'd had by Jan. 15th last winter. And last winter set a record for total snowfall.

Darned cold here, too. This a.m. the morning local tv weather guy said: "Do the math -- it's -23 F. outside. Add the indoor temp at your house to 23 to see why it's such a shock to go outdoors!"

OK. It was 67 deg. F inside - 67+23= 90 degree difference.

Then he said, "But the windchill is -45 F, so figure out the 'feels like' difference."

67+45= 112 degrees. No wonder I've been saying a lot of naughty words when I go from the house to the car and from the car to my office.

Ravelry Updates

Egad! I've been on the computer for 6 hours: several posts here, blog-browsed (that took about two hours), and I worked on one of the items from my To-Do list mentioned earlier today.

I've added a few books to my Ravelry library and added a bunch of stashed yarn. One of the things, OK the MAIN thing, that kept me from working on my Ravelry pages is that I don't have photos of my stash and didn't want to be bothered doing photos. But, I added the stash without photos, just details. :-)

Another day I'll work on updating projects and wish lists. Hmmm... Maybe that will be on Tuesday, if we Do get that blizzard.

You can find me on Ravelry at jakkimitch.

OTN Update and Mid-January Musings

Last evening, as soon as I finished the earlier-posted-about socks, I swatched for an easy vest to go with my turtle necked tops & slacks [for work.] Requirements for the yarn:

1. Inexpensive

2. Easy Care

3. Chunky

4. Colorway to "go with" my collection of current & proposed turtle necked tops: black, red, white, pink, burgundy, green. dark lavender. [I currently only have the first four colors.]

I had in mind a yarn that was maybe "homespun" and in a white-black-and shades of gray colorway. Keep in mind, that Inexpensive was my first priority and Easy Care was my second, so I headed for H.L. with a Christmas gift card. There was absolutely Nothing that came close to what I wanted. However, what I settled on will work. I was thinking of something with more white and less gray. But, it's OK.

And now I have about 5 rows of the back OTN.

Pattern: Lion Brand free pattern - "Denim Vest"

Yarn: Lion Brand Homespun #312 Edwardian

Needles: Size 10 [6mm] circ

Knit For: Me :-)

Mid-January Musings

* I'm still working on my To-Do list that I wanted to finish during my 17 day Holiday Break. I thought it was a do-able list, but I needed two more weeks [at least] to finish it!!

* It's awfully tempting during Mid-January in the upper midwest to question WHY I live here. Oh, yeah. Grandsons, daughters, mother, and a much better job than the one I left five years ago [in the shadow of The Rock (see photo at top of blog).] But, Dang, winters are long here. The weather.com alert icon is flashing red in my computer's task bar. It's trying to tell me about the blizzard watch for this area. Last winter went into the record books for all-time-record snowfall. This winter, so far, we are more than 10" ahead of last winter. I'm typing "DANG," but you can be confident that I'm saying other things.

* Knit projects on the horizon include a pair of knucks for me, and a secret project that will use some of the same yarn as the knucks. More important to finish the secret project first. And I might have to improvish with my pair of knucks. Or buy more yarn. The yarn is Knit Picks DK. I'm thinking that I could probably use some leftover sock yarn from my stash in a coordinating color [and doubled] to do the ribbed wrists. I'm also smitten with a cardigan [to knit for myself] = Berroco's free Rosebud pattern. And then the day after I mused that I probably would never have to buy another knitting book, I bought: Knitted Jackets by Cheryl Oberle. There are five or six patterns I'd like to do. Decisions, decisions.

January Socks

I finally finished this pair last night while watching the Arizona Cardinals defeat the Carolina Panthers. [Well, I think Carolina helped defeat themselves. But Kurt & the guys took full advantage of the situation.] Editorial comment: the news is full of reports of the "bad eggs" in pro & college sports, but we rarely hear about the good guys. Kurt Warner (and wife Brenda) are Angels in disguise.

I started this pair in October [or was it September], but only worked on it sporatically due to knitting other things, and then there were the holidays, and family time, etc. etc.

As I mentioned in my Tuesday, Sept 16th post, I was concerned there might not be enough yardage to to the pattern I'd originally picked out. Thought I'd better do a toe-up sock - which I did.

Lessons learned:

1. I CAN do respectable looking toe-up short row wraps - eventually. There were numerous froggings.

2. I do NOT like to do short row wraps.

3. I do NOT like the way the toe box fits my feet with the toe up method I followed. [From P G-R's book.] I suppose if I really, really wanted toe up socks, I could use a different approach. I've seen a few others that might work better for my feet. But, the only reason I'd ever do another toe-up sock would be if I had short yardage again. And I sure as heck will try not to ever ever again. I'm completely happy with the fit of the "standard" top-down toe decreases I use.

Pattern: Toe-up, short row wrapped toes & heels; leg: 5" of pattern, then 1" of K2,P2 rib

- leg pattern "Oblique Openwork" an 8 stitch pattern from Charlene Schurch's Sensational Knitted Socks.

Yarn: Filatura Di Crosa - Maxime, Color #16. It's a dark foresty green in real life.

Needles: Size 1 [2.25mm] dpns [my Knit Picks order with two size 2.25mm circs will probably arrive tomorrow]

Knit for: Me!!

Peanut Butter Fudge

Sometime before Christmas I found a recipe for peanut butter fudge over on Tea's blog. Dreamy, creamy, peanut butter goodness! It was a hit on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. :-)