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.

WIPs

In my scant free time, I've been plodding away on the Oh-So-Simple Cardigan since before Christmas. I have about 1.5" to finish on the back (and back of sleeves.) But, it's getting so heavy, and going from cuff to cuff it takes forever to finish a row.

Pattern: Lion Brand free pattern "Oh-So-Simple Cardigan"
Yarn: Red Heart Worsted in Painted Desert 0303
Needles: US 8, 24" circ
Knit for: Me!

I felt I needed a diversion, even though I am so close to finishing the back of my cardigan. So I started a little kid's pullover for the current CIC challenge.

Durn it - need better light, but you get the idea.

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, Taupe, Emerald, and Redwood Forest
Needles: US 9 straights, and US 9, 24" circ
Knit for: CIC Challenge
I'm doing the center panels in the variegated Redwood Forest. The body will be in Wine, and the sleeves will probably have some Taupe & Emerald stripes, probably.

Happy New Year!

Hoping and praying that we ALL have a good 2008!

So far it's been a lazy morning for me. Finished my 1/2 pot of coffee (1/2 the caff.) while online reading blogs, news, etc. It's too darned cold outside - wish I could stay inside till April. Oh, well. One can wish!

A New Year and a new look to my blog layout. I need to find out if I can condense the FO - 2007 list into one link. It should be do-able, but maybe not on blogger.

I'll have photos & description of my first attempts at dyeing wool later (maybe today.)

Best Laid Plans

I had envisioned Lots of Time to Myself after Christmas to work on my genealogy files and on knitting. Hmmm.... Haven't had much time to do anything with genealogy, but because Knitting is so Portable, I Have been making progress there.

My current project is a cardigan for myself. It's been decades since I've done that! I mentioned the yarn in a September post. It's item 3 in the stash list.

I'll confess up front - it's polyester. But, I'm OK with that. Red Heart, worsted, in the 0303 Painted Desert colorway. In the Sept. post, I said the yarn was "tweedy." Let's call it "variegated" instead.

The pattern is from Lion Brand - [for use with Wool-Ease...which I think would be lovely...but I already had enough skeins of RH - Painted Desert.] The Oh-So-Simple Cardigan is all garter-stitched in 3 pieces. Oh, OK, in 5 pieces - I forgot the pocket linings. I wish it would look on me the way it looks on the mannekin in the pattern photo- so slim & sleek. It will look more like a tea-cosy on me. But, the colors are great for me, it's a very easy pattern, and I'm at least 1/3 finished. Photo, and details, to follow when I complete the back. Stay tuned.

My other projects for the remainder of my time off work will be:

1. Try Kool-Aid dyeing -- my first time attempt with dyeing. I have some [undyed] tapestry wool donated for charity knitting. I'll start with that first. I plan to use one color as my test batch. I'll try to leave some undyed bits to give "white" flecks. Then I need to find a good [easy] pattern for felt slippers for children. I'll knit the Kool-Aid dyed yarn doubled. And then felt the finished slippers. Sounds fun!! Hope it works.

I also have a skein of undyed superwash sock yarn that I got last winter [?] I want to dye that and knit into socks -- for my next sock project.

2. Take photos of my stash. Add to Flickr. Add to Ravelry.

3. Add future projects to my Ravelry pages.

4. Review my needles & hooks = I think I found more that aren't listed in my Ravelry chart. They were with my Christmas decorations. Eh?

If I don't make it back here before January 1 -- I wish all y'all a very peaceful and healthy 2008!

FO - Mom's Christmas Socks

But I don't have proof. In my rush to get Christmas presents wrapped, I forgot to get a photo of the "Christmas Socks" for my mother. They are completed and have been worn, she says.

Sport's Blankie

Finished the crocheted blankie in plenty of time for Christmas:
Buster needs equal time:

Christmas Decorating

Sport helped me with the tree a few weekends ago. I was a bit apprehensive about that, but he's nearly 4.5 yrs, and he does well when tasks are explained to him. He really was a good help. We got it all finished in one evening!

The first time Buster was here after the tree was up, DD1 found a few small white balls and helped him hang them. He was so proud. They visited a few days ago and Buster worked hard at rearranging the ornaments. He stood back and admired his handiwork with a big smile on his face. So, I've decided to leave them.

Christmas socks

Hope to finish the Christmas socks this evening. DD3 emailed that she'd come for a visit later today - with her laundry and her knitting. WooHoo! A knitterly offspring!Yarn: Worsted weight Acrylic, but what the heck. Found these two skeins in a craft box in my closet. Don't know where or when I bought them. Or why. But, they were just what I wanted for some festive gift socks. I think the giftee will be pleased.

Needles: Size 5 dpns

Pattern: Just a generic type. CO 44 sts. Cuff: K2, P2 for 2." Used a st st heel flap (with 3 garter st on ends of rows.)

Knit for: a Christmas gift.

Christmas Cookies

Recently DD1 bravely made Christmas Cookies with her nephews. Sport [4 yrs old] did a very good job. Buster [2 1/2 yrs] tested the frosting.

Just Checking In

I'm still around - and still knitting. But, Nov-Dec. is a very busy time for me - probably for everyone. I finished Sports socks - he tried them on last evening. They fit! But, I didn't get a photo -- too busy trying to keep Buster out of the Christmas tree. Also forgot to tell the mama to Air Dry them.

I'll try to get a photo added soon.

And I'll try to add more content over the weekend. Sounds like we're going to have nasty weather - so I'll be staying home.

Take care all ya'all ~ !!

I'm Flattered!

I'm still very much a Ravelry newbie. I have to add more photos to Flickr - so I can make more entries on Ravelry. Too bad I can't do it at work :-]

But...I had a very pleasant surprise a few days ago. I had a message from someone wanting to know if they could use one of my photos for a pattern entry. I agreed. I checked the entry this morning and sure enough, the photo of my very first pair of CIC socks is what you see when you look up the "Swirling Confetti Kids' Socks" by Jean Gifford.

Well, I think that is really cool. I liked the pattern a lot and would/will use it again.

Health benefits of fiber/fibre

I mean crafty fiber, of course.

And the primary health benefit I've been reaping is : stress reliever! It's wonderful to be able to work on a project to unwind after work, or while waiting in Drs offices, or while [sick] grandkid sitting.

No photos today, but my OTN includes:

1) Sport's socks. I'll do the toe dec on the first sock & immediately CO for the 2nd.

2) Sport's camouflage [crocheted] blankie. I'm probably more than half finished.

3) A pr of adult sized socks for someone for Christmas. Done with worsted wt acrylic, in certain colors. No photo for about six weeks. YIKES!

YIKES! I've only got 6 weeks. Gotta go -- these projects have to get done. [If I could only knit or at least crochet at work :-]

SAMKAL4

Well -- don't know what the problem is - but I'm giving up on ever getting my October Socks entry posted on the SAMKAL 4 blog. I tried four times on Monday evening - finally left it with one draft sitting there. On Tuesday when I checked, the draft had not been posted and the draft had been deleted. So I tried twice last evening. Same thing.

I know other people have experienced problems. But, it's too exasperating and I don't have time to keep fiddling with it.

I'm giving up [on posting to SAMKAL4.]