Knitting

Three scarves in two days . . . I am cranking them out (LOL). While watching Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban I was able to finish the second scarf and start and finish the third. I think they turned out pretty cute, if I do say so myself. They both use Crystal Palace Squiggle and Gedifra Pelliccia.

Knitting

Last night hubby brought home a new DVD, Eddie Izzard Definate Article. While we watched it (and the BBC documentary that was with it) I started and finished my first scarf and started the second. I really love this novelty yarn (Cascade Yarns Malizia) , I think it looks like flowers on a trellis when it is knitted up. I may put a fringe on the ends of this scarf, I haven't decided yet.

Knitting (and a bit of Family Life)

I went out this morning to purchase a new washing machine (a front loader), ours has been repaired twice and is showing signs of needing it again. By shopping around I was able to save us about $110, which I proceeded to spend at the LYS. *vbg* Some of it is for holiday gifts so I don't feel too badly about it. Here is the breakdown:

• one skein Cascade Yarns Malizia - Begonia, for scarf
• one skein Crystal Palace Squiggle - Mink Mix & two skeins Gedifra Pelliccia - Gold/Black, for scarf
• one skein Crystal Palace Squiggle - Delphinium Mix & two skeins Gedifra Pelliccia - Navy/Royal, for scarf
• one skein Lamb's Pride Worsted - Periwinkle, for teaching daughter to knit
• pair of #17 Crystal Palace Bamboo 9" knitting needles
• Knitting Pure & Simple children's neck down cardigan pattern
• Yarn Girls' Knitting Journal (for me)
• two skeins Cascade 220 tweed - navy, for heavy wt socks for hubby

Knitting

While surfing I found this very powerful article How the myth of unvention subjugates knitters. All I have to say is . . . AMEN.

Knitting

This morning I decided to make beaded knit marker, like some of the ones I have seen online. So I pulled out some of my beading supplies (from another brief craft incarnation) and whipped one up.

We went to my cousin's for Thanksgiving dinner, we all had a wonderful time. It is so nice to be with family and know you aren't being judged the whole time. The drive is about 60min each way, so I was able to take advantage of the time to knit . While we were all chatting after dinner I pulled my knitting out and everyone was very interested, asking how I learned (from a book), how many sweaters I had made (this is my first), and various comments about learning to knit themselves. By the time I got home the sweater was really starting to look like a sweater . . . what a surprise!

Knitting

Last night hubby brought home Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban , so while we watched it I did some more knitting on Bubba's sweater. I got to the point where I divided for the sleeves and then had to cast-on at the under arms for the body. After knitting a few rows I ended up having to rip out back to the under arm cast-ons as the cast ons went horribly wrong. Took a while to get everything back onto the needles and going again so it didn't seem like I had gotten much done, but I know I did.

Knitting

While surfing the knitting blogs I came across The Dishcloth Queen and a link for making Catnip Mice. How cute are they? and they are felted! What a great way to use up all those yarn scraps!

Knitting and Sewing

I need to stay out of the fabric and yarn shops!! I went to two places today looking for a doll pattern and here is what I ended up with: Vogue Knitting Quick Reference - Knitter's Review had an article listing the three "can't do without" knitting books and this was on the list, so I picked it up with a 40% off coupon. I have Vogue Knitting, but that isn't real convenient to carry in the car or in my knitting bag away from home. Fiber Trends Patterns: Felt Hat (AC-1) and Girl Talk (CH-40). Both of these are for felted hats, one for me and one for my daughter. Now it looks like I'm getting into felting, just what I need, another hobby. Yarn for daughter's felted hat. One skein of Cascade 220 and one of Fun Fur both in Hot Pink. I was amazed at the color match between these, two different companies, two different fibers and the match is almost perfect. Basket - will be great for knitting projects once I make a liner for it Fabric - one print that reminds me of knitting that I will prolly use for the basket liner, skin tone fabric for a doll, and several co-ordinating fabrics for a gift exchange project (not saying what as they may read this) Vogue doll patterns: 7418 and 8336 (they were on sale 75% off)

Knitting

While driving to a family gathering on Comano Island I did quite a bit of knitting on Bubba's sweater. In fact I ended up ripping out the whole thing and starting over . . . grrrrrr. I purled several rows instead of knitting, not quite sure how it happened, guess I wasn't paying attention and turned everything around. I tried just ripping out the purled stitches but with the markers and increases I couldn't figure out where I was so i just ripped the whole thing. Oh well, by the time we got back home I was farther along than I was when we left.

Knitting

Since Mom has Hannah until tomorrow, I packed up Bubba and we headed out to the yarn shop. I just needed to pick up a couple of patterns, but I ended up with Ribbing - Plain and Fancy, by EJ Slayton, Knitting Pure & Simple Easy Children's Socks #203 (this is to replace the one a friend of mine let me borrow to see if I liked sock knitting) and Children's Neck Down Pullover #9730, and three skeins of Cascade 220 to make a pullover for Bubba. I was going to get yarn and a pattern for a cardi for Hannah, but decided to wait until I had finished Bubba's sweater. When I got home I realized I didn't have the size needles I needed for the pattern, so I went back out and got them. When I swatched the pattern I ended up going up a needle size, which I do already own . . . go figure. Didn't need the new needles after all. I did get cast on and knit several rows on Bubba's sweater while I was watching a movie. Ok, the movie was on but I'm still a new enought knitter that I either knit or watch the movie, not both. . . . and the big news!! I finshed the other sock! I have knit my first PAIR of socks. I can't wait to start the next pair.

Sewing

Mom brought me several adorable OOP patterns from one of her co-workers. Two will fit my daughter now and the other two will fit her next year.

What Kind of Knitter Are You?

You appear to be a Knitting Adventurer. You are through those knitting growing pains and feeling more adventurous. You can follow a standard pattern if it's not too complicated and know where to go to get help. Maybe you've started to experiment with different fibers and you might be eyeing a book with a cool technique you've never tried. Perhaps you prefer to stick to other people's patterns but you are trying to challenge yourself more. Regardless of your preference, you are continually trying to grow as a knitter, and as well you should since your non-knitting friends are probably dropping some serious hints, these days. http://marniemaclean.com What Kind of Knitter Are You? brought to you by Quizilla

I'm not sure if I agree that I'm to this level, I think I'm more of a "Knitting Apprentice", but who am I to argue.

Knitting

I just finished my first sock! I am so excited, and it was much easier than I thought it would be. You always hear how hard it is to turn the heel on socks . . . what were they talking about? I used Easy Children's Socks # 203 from Knitting Pure and Simple with Bernat Sox in Hot Tamale. The pattern calls for DK or sport so the sock was a bit thinner than I would have liked, but my daughter loves it anyway and wore it all day.

Now I just need to finish the second sock. I went out and bought these two books today:

and

I used a 40% off JoAnn coupon on The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns. I can see where sock knitting could be addictive.

Sewing

I went to the Veterans Day sales at JoAnn and Hancock yesterday and picked up a few patterns and a DD picked out a piece of fabric so I can make her a new dress. I also bought a few Halloween decorations for next year that were 80% off. Today I found a new fabric store, Discount Fabric. I was on the way to Target and looked over at a stripmall and there was the sign, needless to say we made a detour. I am very excited about this store, looks like manufacturer over-runs, almost all of the fabrics were on long rolls. I had both the kids with me so we didn't stay very long. I will be going back this weekend, without the kids!

Family Life

The kids are mostly over their colds and my bronchitus/pneumonia is getting much better (even if ds didn't go to sleep until 2am this morning). I was surfing and found this wonderful site. Election result maps

Family Life

The colds are still hanging around, the kids didn't get to go Trick-or-Treating. Mine seems to have morphed into bronchitus. =( The elections are over and I think this quote sums it all up for me:

"In a Democracy, people get the kind of government they deserve."

Winston Churchill