It’s Beginning to Feel a lot like Christmas!

The gifts are wrapped!

Christmas knitting is done except for the toe of a sock.

Here’s a quick peek at the felted purses:

These were both fun. I hope the recipients enjoy them as much as I did making them. There was also a hat for the boy-friend of one of my niece’s, who is hoping his team does well in the Rose Bowl, can you guess which one?

I EVEN managed to squeeze in one more hat for PADs (making the total 21!) Sorry, but I forgot to take a picture of the finished hat before I took it to church this morning. It came out real nice though….

Hats and Other Stuff

I reached my goal of 20 hats! Here are some pictures….

The three I mentioned in the last post:

All 20:

I cast on for the next project on my gift knitting list: a felted bag for my NASCAR-loving niece. I call it the Jeff Gordon Special – it’s the “Felted Blue Bag” pattern from Moda Dea. I’m using Patons Classic Wool in red, yellow and blue to create a sort of striped pattern and you can see the lining fabric peeking out from under the WIP. I had wanted to do flames, but I think the time constraint will make that too tricky an undertaking.

After this one is done, I have another niece to knit a bag for and then the socks for my DH. I figure if I get both bags done by the weekend, I can sneak the socks in here and there and finish them in time … otherwise he’s getting the one sock that’s already finished with an IOU for the second (tee, hee).

Most of the knitting I did was over the weekend. I didn't get too much of the knitting I had hoped to do done today. Two of our "Senior Saints" from church and I went to the nursing home to deliver some lap robes they have been stitching and I had several errands and things that kept me out of the house most of the day. It was nice to see the people who are benefitting from our efforts and the one "Senior Saint" who is almost 90 herself really enjoyed presenting the lap robes. So even though my schedule was adjusted, the day wasn't really lost.

Where I am… (or where am I?)

Whew, I got hat number 17 (earflap hat) done and thought I was done with number 18 (another "mushroom cap"), too. Well, that is I finished it last night except for the weaving in of ends. I had grand plans of doing that this morning and then casting on number 19. I knitted away blissfully all day yesterday thinking that this hat was going to be just about perfect. Silly girl! I noticed it seemed a tad on the big side when I bound off, but put it down and went to bed thinking maybe it was just because I was tired and I’d double check the size in the morning. Good thing I didn’t weave in any ends! It wasn’t just a tad on the big side… it was sasquatch size! Gargantuan! Huge with a capital XL. So, I did what I knew I had to do… Yep! Ribbit, to the frog pond I went. No pics of the offensive thing. But here’s a start on the redo and the second hat I had planned on casting for (76 st hat), yep, I’m taking up multi-tasking to make up for lost time due to hoodie tragedy and hat overestimation. So, this being Thursday, I should have had plenty of time for knitting and other things that needed to be finished up, WRONG! The car’s engine was making a loud sound whenever we drove it, so it had to go to the shop for a look-see; the shop is right across the street from the Mall so I figured I could get a little last minute shopping done while I waited and I did bring one of the hats with in case it took longer than the shopping. Good thing. The car’s still in the shop and could be another day. (Won’t even mention the too big repair bill too close to Christmas). Let’s just say I did get a good section of the hat knit, got a little shopping done. (Why are they always out of the size you need?) At least the gifts that need to be mailed are ready … just need to get them wrapped and into mailing boxes... this afternoon. I can do it! Oh, yeah, and I still have to fix the tree that Zelda has been trying to dismantle one ornament at a time.

Wait; did I mention the mouse? It seems we might have a mouse living in our storage area. Fortunately it’s closed off from the rest of the house (at least we hope the mouse can’t open the door). So my husband not being much with animals has put me in charge of (buying and) setting the traps. Ewww.

Well, I better get busy; I’ll try to do a hat update tomorrow after things settle down.

The 11’s have it

So, it looks like the size 11 needles will be okay for the Hoodie project. The after-washing gauge came out to 3 st = 1 inch on the nose. Good enough for me. As I said; growing boy and all. He may grow another inch by the time he gets to wear this hoodie.

On the hat front; the “Warm and Ready” Knitter's Winter 2007 pattern was such a quick knit that I actually made two!

I finished the first last night and then worked the second up to the shaping. It was a quick-to-finish project this afternoon. Yeah! I have a hunch I’ll do a couple more of these before all is said and done.

We have a winter storm warning for some nasty weather this coming weekend. Hopefully that will give me some time to get going on the Hoodie for Eli and at least one more hat done.

If you’re in the path of the storm, I hope you get to stay in and knit like I plan to do!

Have a happy, safe and warm weekend.

A Day at the Spa….

I wish. Well, the swatches had their “spa” visit today. That is, they had a soak in the sink:

And they are now resting after a mini-massage:







The top swatch is knit on size 11’s and may do the trick (and save me from the dastardly 14 inch long straight 13’s); I was getting 3.25 stitches = 1 inch with the size 11. If it measures that close once it's dry, I'll probably go with those needles (since he's gonna grow). The bottom swatch is the first one I knit on the 10.5’s. I'm giving these swatches the full treatment; since this is cotton yarn, so the next step once they are dry is the hang test. I still want to see what the yarn "does" after the swatch hangs up for a day or so. (For those unfamiliar with cotton's properties - it can have a tendancy to grow lengthwise - sort of like little boys).

Other than that and some house cleaning; I worked on another hat. There was a minor tragedy when the cable on the circular needles broke. (That’s what I get for buying “cheap” needles – I found these no-name bamboos on clearance at a discount store). Ugh… no need to panic, though. The stitches are pretty firm and I picked them up with a set of dpns and kept going round. I did foray into my cache of aluminum needles, I do have a set of 16" number 8’s (but no size 13 circulars at all) if I really want to go back to working in the round, but so far the dpns are fine and the hat is near the decreasing point where I’d have to switch to dpns anyway. Onward I say!

It’s Gonna Take Some Math…

I started swatching for my grandson Eli’s Christmas gift (Santa Cruz Hoodie from Knit 2 Together). I think I might have to spend a little time in remedial math on this one. The pattern guage is 12 st = 4 inches if I did the division right that’s 3 stitches to the inch. So far on size 10.5 needles (recommended size in pattern); I’m getting 4.5 stitches to the inch (and I knit big). I’m think that I will just go ahead and knit the full 5” square swatch and give it the spa treatment just to be sure before I panic. But, that said, I will also cast on with a size 13 needle (groan) just to see what happens. The problem is as some of you sock knitters might appreciate, using size 13’s after working many socks and hats on smaller needles is like knitting with tree trunks. Plus, I’m reasonably sure without checking that I don’t have any circulars in 13. (Grrr). So, the next rational thing to do…. is THE MATH. I may have to actually drag out a calculator and figure out how the swatch numbers can be used to come up with number of stitches to get the correct measurements for the pattern. I’m pretty sure this is do-able because the pattern is mostly stockinette stitch and seed stitch borders. No fancy lace or other stuff to have to take into consideration if I have to fudge a little to make it work. Wish me luck.

Oh, I did finish the Koolhaas hat today. Much fun and pretty, too. Look:

(sorry the picture doesn't do it justice - very grey outside today)

So on that note, I think I’ll get back to my knitting. Who knows, maybe I’ll even check my needle stash to see if I have a neglected size 13 circular

Happy Monday

I hope everyone had a not-too-stressful weekend. We had a quiet thanksgiving. It’s hard now since the kids are so far apart and none of them are in a position to travel much. DH had to work on Friday which took us out of the position of traveling anywhere as well. We would have liked to go see either of our parents, but that didn’t work out. So we had a quite day, just us and the football games. We also took time to go see a movie. This is a treat for both of us, but a rare occurrence since neither of us likes the environment at movie theaters. (There are just too many people who don’t have a clue how to behave in public). Anyway, we saw the movie August Rush. I don’t usually go around publicly endorsing movies, because there is already plenty of advertising, but if you like a movie that has you leaving the theater saying “wow” … this is the one to see. We will definitely be adding the soundtrack to our CD collection. The story was really good and the actors did a great job of conveying the emotional content. Like I said, if you like a feel good movie, go see it, you won’t regret it.
I got some knitting done, but not so much that I didn’t treat it like a holiday. I finished 2 out of 3 hats that I’d hoped to get done and started the third, not so bad. These two purple ones are basic hats using a 91 / 90 stitch pattern and improvising on the details. One is a two-color snowflake pattern the other is a basket-weave stitch.

The 3rd hat which is in progress is Jared’s Koolhaas hat from IK holiday knits. The twisted cables took a little effort to get the hang of, but once I did it started to get faster. So far I like the look of it. I took a good look at my wool-ease stash, and the goal is to make hats using up these 7 skeins of yarn. That will put me at 21 out of my goal of 20. If I get all these knit and still have time left before we give them to the shelter, I’ll do some more with the partial skeins.

I decided the other two gifts on my Christmas knitting list could take a back seat to hats because I still have a full week after the target date for hats and that should be enough time to knit those two. It’s a plan. I’ll let you know if it works out that way (tee, hee).

Trying To Prioritize

So, I think I discovered that I don’t have a lack of ambition so much as a failure to prioritize. I know I have a lot of stuff I need to do. I’ve done a pretty good job of keeping up with and doing the stuff I write on my lists. But I realized today, that I don’t have a complete list of what I am actually planning to get knitted before Christmas. I have a sort of half-way-formed one in my head that I refer to and I choose projects from it to add to the written list as I think of them. This is okay, but the problem with doing it this way… is well, it’s not prioritized; which could lead to failure to finish. For example one project could take up to three weeks and it’s not even on the list which means it’s not started! So I think today I will really dig down and write down all the before-Christmas knitting I have planned just so I can make sure I’m being realistic and develop a prioritized list or a gift-giving plan B if knitting can’t or won’t happen. (It happens, but sometimes not FAST enough!)

I finished the plain stockinette stitch hat last night (#11 of the 20 hat goal) and started that blasted counted cross stitch. I don’t know if there is a counted cross stitch term similar to frogging, but I now know why this project has languished. I forgot that I can’t count. At least not if there is another human in a 3 state vicinity or, the TV, or the radio…. You get the picture. I was stitching away last night, and then figured out that I somehow had extra stitches – you know about an inch of work back- yeesh. It’s worse than discovering you crossed a cable the wrong way, or mixed up your y/o and m1 in a lace pattern. So today I had to fix it – about 2.5 hours of work to undo and redo it back to the point I was at before problem was discovered. I think that there is nothing worse than picking out those teeny-tiny stitches. (Oh, and BTW, the teeny-tiny stitches REQUIRE use of reading glasses, sigh!) So, it’s progressing, but I think it will only get worked on in early morning when the house is quiet and I can keep the distractions to a minimum. Not during TV time.
So this afternoon after writing up my realistic Christmas project list; I will probably cast on yet another hat and work on a project off of the new list. (let's all sing together now "She has, high-i-yi hopes!")

Has Anybody Seen My Ambition?

Wow, Terminator Thursday led to Fizzle Friday. Maybe it’s the gray skies of November sucking all the strength from my being.

Of the things I’d hoped to accomplish Thursday, I didn’t get much further than the list I posted.

I did manage to finish the (never-ending) Elfin Hat on Saturday. I liked the pattern and may yet do another to add to the pile of hats for PADS, but not right away. I had to rip a good 3 inches of the pattern and then after finally reaching the ribbing, ripped another four inches of ribbing (out of six) before getting it right. The pattern didn’t require it, but my ribbing was too loose and I decided I needed to switch to a smaller needle for the ribbing.

Much better result! Look:

Last night I cast on for a plain jane stockinette stitch cap just so I could get one more done this weekend. It’s about halfway done. The SWS sock got as far as the gusset at knit-night. I can only work on that project when Hubby is not around as it is one of his Christmas gifts. Sigh!

The cross-stitch pattern went missing after I decided to make and I used up most of my energy just trying to find it. So I looked at, but haven’t started. Maybe I’ll get it going later tonight.

BTW, the pic above is of Zelda raiding the pantry. She can't resist an open door to anywhere. She's sitting on top of the container we keep the kitty food in!

Today's subject is Toilet Paper

I started an Elfin Hat (IK Fall 2007 issue) and the grey SWS socks on Tuesday. I have no progress pictures yet, but both projects are well underway. I had a lot of errands after knitting yesterday, so I didn’t get a chance to do much with the camera or computer. I did find a great knitting tip online though go here for more information. Warning: Public Service Rant ahead…. Do you ever get the feeling that you had been assigned some sort of task in life beyond your normal job, etc? I’m talking about something mundane, that you notice while others around you seem entirely oblivious. Maybe it’s actually just a “mom” thing. Mine is toilet paper rolls. I have a knack for picking every public/semi-public restroom with no paper on the roll (which is one reason I carry a pack of tissue in my purse). This happens at work (well it used to), church, small businesses, etc. I worked in one office where this was especially bad. The bathroom had two stalls and the office was staffed by 75% women employees- nurses no less, and I still experienced this on a daily basis! It’s bad enough to sit down and see no paper; but the thing I find that really drives me especially buggy is when you go into a bathroom and the brand new roll of TP is just perched pretty-as-you-please on top of the old used-up roll in the holder. I’m not talking about the big giant industrial size TP. I’m talking about single roll dispensers here. Now come on, REALLY, would YOU do this at home? It just mystifies me why anyone would do that. My thought is that the person before me, or perhaps even the bathroom attendant / cleaning person had enough resourcefulness to get another roll and bring it into the stall, but for some reason stopped right there. Why stop the play a yard short of a touchdown? There really aren’t any anti-toilet paper-replacing linebackers who are going to tackle you for actually putting it on the spindle! I mean really how hard is it? Open the holder, pull off the old roll, put the new one on; zip, zip, zip! You’re done! You have not been contaminated any additional amount, held up the next person or held yourself up from your important business more than 2 seconds worth of goodness. Then, you can wash your hands, fix your hair/make-up, as usual SMILE and exit the restroom, knowing you have left it a nicer place for the next person. (WHEW!) Having gotten that off my chest, I feel a little better now. Terminator Thursday updates: To do list items completed: 1) Purge grey file box and sort papers to keep 2) Collect all Army papers into one spot (for later sorting) 3) Vacuum stairs (eew, much cat hair) Things to work on after this: 1) Make gift tag ornament for Elaine (in ‘stash’ since at least 2003) 2) Finish Elf hat 3) Finish at least one grey sock

I should be vacuuming…

But instead, here I am playing on the internet. You know, posting ravelry, checking my favorite blogs, posting here, all that stuff.

I did get another hat done since yesterday the “fair isle” hat. Cast on Sunday night, finished between runnings around and hubby-pampering yesterday and goofing off today.

Here’s the snail hat (fabulously) modeled by Zelda.
The Fair Isle hat is from the pattern A Two Color Hat by Elizabeth Zimmermann (Knitting Without Tears). I made up my own color designs as I went and it worked up pretty fast using the two-handed knitting method. 91 stitches on size 7 needles with Wool-Ease yarn. (I’m using wool ease for all of the charity hats I’m doing). Mushroom, Cream, Forrest; lined with Forrest.

Here’s what Saucey did today:
Warmed her toes

What ever happened to Monday?

Did everyone else get kind of whammied by the time change or is it just me? I had fully intended to post yesterday, but there was knitting, then DH wanted to go to the mall and walk since it was too cold and windy to run out side and he really needed to stretch his legs, then he needed the computer, then dinner and phone calls and TV and all of a sudden it’s bedtime (as evidenced by hubby sleeping in his recliner and the cats circling the bowls for night time feeding). (Him, waking up slightly; “It’s time for bed” Me: “just one more row!”) But over the weekend and yesterday I did knit and sew and do crafty things so I now advance this hypothesis:

The cure for “Startitis”….

Is “finishitis” ‘git-er-done’ ‘just do it’, and all that; completion. So here’s what’s on the needles and what’s now done:

OTN:
1) SWS socks #1 - (I plan on making a second pair in another colorway when these are done). Easy peasy basic sock with fancy-shmancey rib stitch (okay K2, p1, k1, p1) cuff and foot
2) Mitered T (Knitter’s Spring 2007) – swatched and blocking
3) Elizabeth Zimmermann’s Snail Hat (another PADS hat) (no pic as nothing much to show yet)

Done:
76-Stitch Hat #2
Sidekick Purse

(non-knitting) Tote/purse This was the purse I mentioned in a previous post that I forgot to cut handles for. Turns out, I also forgot that if I was going to put a zipper in, then the said zipper needed to be the right size. So, forgoing a trip to the fabric store, It is now more totelike than pursey, but I like the way it came out and it's a bit classier than most of my totes. Medium size; Faux suede; fully lined; interior pockets. What's not to love?

On a sadder note, my DD #1 had a sad event this weekend when her sweet kitty Hanna died. ** Hugs ** Please send good and cheerful thoughts to her.