It's Spring [or so "they" say] and other musings

Love the sunshine, but the cold north winds have made it undercomfortably chilly. However, one morning recently when the wind had subsided, I was reminded of early mornings when I lived below the Rock. I'd take my first cups of coffee on my little back patio. I really miss being able to do that. No area in the back to use and I'm not a "front stoop" sitter.

Mom's surgery that was scheduled for tomorrow has been postponed while a couple cardiologists try to figure out what's wrong with her heart. Or, IS there something wrong. Perhaps the problem is just one more symptom of her parathyroid tumor.

I was planning on having the most of three days to knit. But, now I'll be going to work this week. I just have to kirshener the toes on the two Strawberry Creme socks. Hope to do that today. I'll do a photo later.

I started a crochet project last weekend at the district Dems convention. lordy, we'd been there 14 hours by the time DD1 was ready to leave. Don't know what time it ended, but 14 hrs on a metal folding chair was just TOO much. Just between you and me [who until this year was always a No Party Affiliated person] it's a wonder Dems ever get anyone elected -- at least in this area. Totally chaotic disorganization. DD1 and I have lots of ideas about how to organize and communicate, but we aren't and never will be party big wigs.

The crochet project is the first of several shopping bags that I plan to do for myself. I've made others and gave them all away. Lately, I've been SO annoyed at the plastic bags that I bring groceries, etc. home in - I've decided to make cotton shopping bags and found several patterns on the internet. This is the one I'm working on. Photo later.

Meet another woman who was crocheting, too. She's from my town and told me about a knitter/crocheter group at their church. It's on Monday evenings, which don't work well for me, but maybe I can visit them occasionally.

My next knitting project will be one that I've tried to work on for Months. The dyed yarn projects for charity knitting that should turn into felted slippers.

PS to yesterday's OTN Update

Forgot to explain the yarn's color. The KP's Bare was...bare...until it met up with my crock pot and some Kool-aide. After the first dye go-round I was not happy with the large bits of undyed yarn. [Need a bigger crock pot!]

But, I was all out of Kool-aide, so I mixed some Tone's red food coloring with a little water and poured it over top and gently moved the yarn around. Now there's a smidgen of white left and nice shade variations of the "pink." Or whatever color that is.

OTN update

I've set aside the Urban Necessity mitt/gloves [see previous post] - it's finally spring here [or is it summer now?] so I told DD2 that I'd finish them before she needs them next fall.

In my spare moments - which there aren't a lot of lately - I've been working on the "Strawberry Creme" socks. I have to admit they aren't a reddish pink color -- more of a "coral" pink. Oh, well. I like the color anyway. See here:
Yarn: Knit Picks Bare, fingering weight
Needles: 1.5 [U.S.] / 2.5 mm bamboo
Pattern: "Purl Lace Socks" by Sheri Franz in Socks, Socks, Socks (ed. by Elaine Rowley)

Oops - I see that I haven't fixed the date stamp on my camera. I took the photo today April 20, 2008.

Yes, I'm still knitting

However, life's been busy. Haven't had time to blog, although I *THINK* about blogging quite a lot!

If the grandsons go to their dad's this weekend, I'll be able to upload photos, add text, etc.

OTN 1: Urban Necessity mitt/gloves for DD2.

OTN 2: socks - using Knit Picks Essentials in Bare that I dyed. I'm calling the color "Strawberry Creme." No photo yet.

On Tuesday, I took mom to the UIHC for a consultation with a surgeon and several other appointments. Foolish me - took BOTH knitting projects with me and although we were there seven hours, I only got two "half-fingers" done on the first mitt/glove. They kept us very busy. And then there were the hikes from one appt to the next. Mom in the wheelchair, holding her purse, water bottle, and a vinyl folder with the paperwork we needed to take to - and collected from - the appts., while I pushed the wheelchair & clumsily dealt with my (short handled) purse and (short handled) knitting bag.

She has surgery scheduled for May 5th, so I'll do things a lot differently then - NO purses or short handled knitting bags. I've got a nice, rarely used, shoulder bag that I can fit everything we'll need (wallets and lots of knitting stuff.) One bag, hands free. Why didn't I think of that on Monday? I guess I thought we'd be doing a lot of sitting in waiting rooms. Ha! They were all very punctual. And, I knew it was a big place, but I didn't realize we'd be traveling a half mile from one appt. to the next. Got my exercise!!

In Praise of Crochet

I went to my county convention [Dems] yesterday and decided to NOT take knitting with me. I knew we'd be in a junior high auditorium and I didn't want to be elbowing the people next to me - or dropping a needle on the slanted floor.

But, I DID take a couple balls of Peaches & Cream cotton and a crochet hook along - and came home with 3 completed dishcloths!

I have a new, ongoing, project that I've committed to -- dishcloths. And [except for the 3 crocheted odd ones] I'll be knitting them at work. I know! At work! I usually work through my 30 min. lunch break, but have decided to make those 30 minutes all about me. :-)

I'm now spending about 15 mins. eating my sack lunch and browsing online news sources [msnbc, cnn, & bbc.] Then I turn off my monitor & get out my knitting bag. I figure I can whip out one dishcloth a month at work.

The goal is to have about 10-12 of them completed by Christmas - all the adults in the [local] family will get a dishcloth - even the guys. [Photos posted later]

Dyed Yarn and Other Updates

I finally got around to balling up the three batches of yarn that I had Kool-Aid dyed after Christmas.

I wasn't too impressed with the post-dye results - while it was drying. I actually thought they were all rather ugly- especially the Berry Blue-Lemon Lime-Yellow yarn

BUT...now that I can see the colors "together," I'm actually pleased!

I have finished the Oh-So-Simple Cardigan. I'll get a photo posted eventually. Yippee!! It's finished in time for my road trip!

Now that I have NOTHING OTNs, I'll work on DD2's scarf while I'm away. Hoping there will be enough yarn for a pair of mitt-gloves.

My next project will be to use these three balls of yarn to make felted slippers. :-)

Middle of the night musings

I've got a rotten cold. Slept 3 hours and then was wide awake - the pharmacist told me that the Allegra D might have that effect. So I checked my email and read several news related websites. Then I logged onto Ravelry to edit my needles.

What?? Over 350 people were online. At 3 a.m.!!! Well, sure, I know Ravelry is worldwide and it was 9 a.m. UK time and 11 p.m. [yesterday] in Hawaii. But, I was initially surprised to see that many people online in the middle of my night-time!

Many months ago I bought yarn, needles, etc. for DD2 to learn to knit. She found yarn to go with her winter coat and wanted to knit a scarf she found in a knitting magazine [that I bought also.] Since then, she's decided not to knit. So, I'll knit the scarf for her when I finish the Oh-So-Simple [but huge] Cardigan. When I emptied the bag with the yarn, etc. I found a nice cache of needles & other knitting supplies - cable holder, several small stitch holders, stitch markers, and a Susan Bates "Knit-Check" -- with a ruler, stitch gauge, and needle sizer. The happiest find was the "knit-check." My old one, which pre-dates my kids, doesn't have the metric sizes. This new one does! How handy!!

OTN update: I have about 2/3 of the second front completed. I just *might* be able to finish it by Sunday when I leave for an out-of-town conference. I'd love to wear it there. Better get back to my knitting. I'm still increasing for the arm and I'm at a stitch count of about 100 on the needle. Need to get up to 136 sts. Argh. Easy pattern, but don't know that I'd do it again. Progress is slow. Painfully slow.

Actually, I'm starting to get tired. Maybe if I knit for awhile in the recliner I'll fall asleep. Oh, yeah, I've got today off work, so my messed up sleep schedule won't be a problem.

Craziest thing...it's a comp day for Feb. 17th when I was scheduled to work for someone else, but Did NOT work because we were closed due to the weather. We were closed on the 18th & 19th, too. [Originally I was going to take those two afternoons off.] I DID work on the 20th, 21st, and 22nd. My boss said that I technically had a six day work week, so I could take a day off this week. Well, I didn't argue, but I did have to think that one over. I only worked three days last week and I get a day off for the 17th when I didn't work. Works for me :-)

Can't wait till they can shovel snow!

The Grandsons played outdoors while I shoveled the driveway (again.) If I were a crabby old lady grandma I would have gotten after them for climbing all over "Mt Mitch" - the big pile of snow at the corner of the sidewalk/driveway. But, they were having SO much fun -- and staying away from the road. I figured I could reshovel the snow that tumbled down into the driveway when they went back inside.

That's Sport [4.5 yrs] on the left half way up Mt. Mitch, and Buster [2.5 yrs] on the right.

CIC Vest

[OK - I say it every time -- I need to figure out better lighting....]

I've nearly used up all of the Knit Picks Bulky [but not quite.]

Yarn: Knit Picks' Wool of the Andies Bulky in Emerald, Wine, Taupe, and a little Redwood Forest

Needles: US 10.5 [US] dpns ...need to get a 24" circ!

Size: 2 to 3-ish It fits Buster who wears 3T.

Pattern: Countrywool's PocketVest

Modifications: ribbed neck; I thought the neck opening was too large [and I hate cold air on my neck/upper chest]; No pocket

Knit for: CIC January-March 08 Challenge = Sweaters & Vests in sizes 2-4

Snow

Finally a sunny day! AND, I'm working a split shift today - so I was out & about during the daylight. WooHoo!

This view shows the postal path. My neighbors & I keep a path shoveled as directly as possible from house to house so the postperson doesn't have to go down to the road and then back up to the next house.

Grandsons

The boys from a few days ago. Buster [2 1/2 yrs] on the left...trying to get off the chair; and Sport [4 1/2 yrs] on the right.

Annual Superbowl Tradition and OTN update

Well, I guess if it's "annual" it's a tradition by default.

Just a note for now, since I haven't blogged in a week, and then I'm off to set up a card table in the TV room [aka: living room.] Next I'll arrange the four new boxes of Christmas cards and whatever cards are left over from 2007. Then, with Christmas list/address book and pen in hand, I'll start addressing my 2008 Christmas cards. Yep, that's right. 2008.

I enjoy getting cards, but sending them used to be such a chore. Life is SO busy between Thanksgiving Day and Christmas - and trying to do cards during that month was just TOO much. One year I thought: "IF I do the addressing earlier in the year, then just add personal notes when I'm ready to send them, it wouldn't be such an ordeal."

So, the next Superbowl Sunday [which was during a non-crafting time of my life], I was wondering WHAT on earth I could do while "watching" the game. And, I remembered the Christmas cards. Ha!!! What a stroke of genius! It's been a tradition ever since.

And what do I do if someone moves during the year? Well, that's what large Avery labels are for, right? There are some envelopes that I only write the name on...such as my nieces & nephews. You never know when those kids are going to move again. Usually I only have to slap a label over an old address once or twice a year. This past year - not at all.

OH...and the pen I use to sign the cards & address the envelopes, I store with the cards. Then Thanksgiving weekend - or whenever I get around to do those personal notes - I have the same pen. No mis-matched ink for me!

Lest anyone think I use 4 boxes each year. No...I send about 38-40 cards [including all the nieces & nephews.] Its just that I was nearly out of cards, so when I shopped after Christmas I got 4 boxes. So I won't have to get any next year.

Superbowl: may the team with the most points win.

OTN:
1. The Oh-So-Simple Cardigan. Abt 1/3 of one front finished. I've got to get busy on this - I'd like to take with with me [wear it] to a conference I'm attending in early March.

2. A CIC vest with Knit Picks Bulky wool. It's about 1/4 finished

3. Off the needles, but needing seams sewn - a pair of 6 mos. size bootees for the NA Support group [for the Cheyenne River Reservation.]

First 2008 FO and a tag-a-long

I'm really tickled with this one. Easy pattern and the colors - in person - are great. Photo not so great. Specs:
Pattern: Orphans for Orphans Sweater from Knitting for Peace by Betty Christiansen, pp. 106-107
Yarn: Knit Picks' Wool of the Andies Bulky in Wine and Redwood Forest
Needles: US 9 straights, and US 9, 24" circ
Size: 2-ish
Modifications: ribbed neck; I thought the neck opening was too large [and I hate cold air on my neck/upper chest]
Knit for: CIC January-March 08 Challenge = Sweaters & Vests in sizes 2-4

This one was finished last spring. It's been sitting in my closet since, but WILL get posted to CIC by the end of March.

Pattern: What...No Pocket in My Vest (with Optional Sleeves!)
Yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Bulky in Emerald and Taupe; with some leftover Austermann Step Melba sock yarn knit into the taupe band across the upper chest.
Needles: sizes 10.5 and 11 [US]
Size: 4-ish
Modifications: Added the sleeves and made the body a little longer than pattern
Knit for: CIC January-March 08 Challenge = Sweaters & Vests in sizes 2-4

Project Updates

There might be a photo or two later today. But, take my word for it, I've finished the back of my Oh-So-Simple cardigan and have started one of the fronts. I thought about doing Two-fronts at a time, but then decided not to since I complained of the weight of the back by the time I was knitting cuff to cuff.

And, I only have to finish the bottom band and the neck of the Knitting for Peace Orphans for Orphans Sweater. I'm doing K1, P1 for the cuffs and bottom band instead of garter stitch. And instead of doing just a crocheted row or two around the neck edge, I'm going to do some sort of K1, P1 finishing. But the neck is not round, but square, so I'm working that out in my head. I know what I want it to look like. Stay tuned.

Oh, yeah. I *WILL* be able to finish it today. We're closed for the day. Woo Hoo! The roads were awful yesterday. In fact Travel Was Not Recommended in the area. We've had another 7" of snow on top of the 5 inches we had a few days ago. Both storms left fluffy snow - easy to shovel, but drifting badly. So - I can knit...and clean. Maybe I'll do 30 mins. of knitting, then 30 mins. of cleaning, etc. I'm so undisciplined. All I accomplished over my three day weekend was watch the grandsons and knit. Sometimes both at the same time :-) now that Buster usually leaves my knitting alone. [Sounds like I had them all weekend. No, just 3 times over the weekend. While the mama went shopping late yesterday afternoon and Buster napped on my bed, Sport and I took the Christmas tree down. He's a such good little helper!]

KoolAid Fun

Learned a lot doing this. #1 lesson - I need a bigger crockpot. I'm not giving directions here. Just google yarn and KoolAid dyeing. I looked at several different directions I found online & then went to work.
I received 3# of undyed yarn several months ago, and I finally worked with some of it after Christmas. First I rolled the skein into approx. 4 oz. balls.




Then I worked with three balls. With one I tried the cold pour method and used 4 pkgs of Lemon KoolAid and 2 pkgs of Orange KoolAid.

Next I zapped the dyed wool in the microwave using 3 two minute sessions on High, with a 5-10 minute rest in between.

Then a rinse.

And an air dry.

Also tried the crock pot method. I liked this best, but a larger crock pot would work better.

I should have left well enough alone with this Berry Blue and Lemon Lime, but I thought it needed a little yellow. So I added some Tones' Yellow [from the box-of-four colors.]

Also used the crock pot method for this one:

2 pkgs. Strawberry and 2 pkgs. Pink Lemonade.



Now to find a pattern for felted kids slippers.