Christmas Already!?

Well here it is December! can't say I've been busy knitting. I have managed to knit a special scarf for my Godmother. I missed her birthday and when I think of all the thoughtful cards and gifts I received without fail every year on all the holidays, well let's just say she's an example. She is a very giving person. I learned that about her early on. She will always hold a special place in my heart. I hope she likes her birthday/Christmas gift. ~Sorry no picture. (Made from grey misty alpaca and lighter grey kid mohair/handwash gently in cold water)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Thanksgiving of a few extra days off work! My husband and girls, my extended family and relatives, my friends, life. I am thankful for so many blessings in my life. I wish all a happy and safe holiday!

OUT OF THE SHADOWS

Ok, so it's been awhile since I've paid any attention to my blog. I've been busy. I haven't even picked up a knitting needle since July. I am taking a class. It's volleyball season....well it will be over by the end of this month and work has been busy. Not that you don't deserve attention, but you're mainly a knitting blog and I have done nothing, hear me, n o t h i n g! I have surfed knitting websites and keep up with some knitting email. Ragged has created some wonderful items. I am so jealous.....she knits so well. Her work is so neat. I'd like to see her wear some of it. But I don't see her that often, maybe she does wear it.

I guess I am a one project person and right now my project is my class. That might change soon though. Not sure I'm cut out for school anymore. I know where to get info or learn how to do something if I need to. I can read anytime I want to expand my mind. I'm not stupid. I just don't have the little piece of paper that says that I've attained that bachelor degree! :) Maybe it will come in time.

Happy Independence Day!
Nothing better than a three day weekend and celebrating with family and friends.

APRIL SHOWERS BRING MAY FLOWERS

It's been almost two months and nothing to say, blog, report, pass along. The only thing I've been working on in knit world is a chemo cap that has turned out to be a disaster. I am certain the color is the right color. It's the type of yarn that I am not happy with. It is cotton. I tried to use a cotton yarn to knit a nice soft chemo cap. Well, for one, it was not stretchy and then it was too small. So, I guess I'll find another yarn for the cap.

I have not finished the FLS either. I am about to finish the length on it and begin the arms but I have not even picked it up since...... well, a long time. Don't know what's wrong with me. I don't really want to knit right now. Must be the transition from winter to summer or something.

I've been busy working and I made the decision to go back to school. If I can't sign up for a summer course I will begin in the Fall. But I plan to get started very soon. Just need to sign up for that first class. I have to admit, I'm a little nervous that I won't be able to do it since I have been out of that world for quite some time and I'm worried I've bitten off way more than I can chew. But, the way the economy is going, I guess it will be best in the long run. I have a feeling unless I win the lottery, I'll be working for some time longer than I planned, thanks to the hit on our 401K plans.

Although Spring came in quite chilly and rainy, we now have some very pretty flowers blooming now that it is May.

YES, I'M STILL HERE

I've been working on the February Lady Sweater and am still working on it. But I haven't had anything to say to the blog. Sorry. I lead a pretty boring life lately. I have been trying to "work out" more. I have some tonage to lose. I haven't been too successful at that. But I won't give up.

I have been knocking out a few chore like things that I've let go for more than a week or so....ok so it's been piling up like on one of those shows you see where they go in and the house is packed with junk. I can say I only have a few areas that look like that. And to think I laugh at those people and wonder how they let it get that far. But I can truly understand. But I've got to get a grip. If I don't it will spread to more than just a few areas and then I'll be the one someone is sitting on their couch watching in disbelief and thinking how can you let it get that far!

Anyway. No pictures, no interesting conversation...until I get this damn sweater finished. Oh and my other chores of course. As my friend Ragged says, "One bird at a time". And trust me. It is one bird at a time.

DEAR BLOG,

I apologize for the neglegence of words and photography. I haven't had a lot of thoughts to share, much less projects or photos. But, I have managed a project of late. You see, our area was hit a couple of weeks ago with ice and snow, mostly ice. It took power out for a lot of the community's population and for some, it's still out. The wonderment of every surface of nature encased in an ice crystal made for some interesting pictures such as the one above. The storm also afforded some time to spend on knitting a quick project. Proof below.

So Blog, I hope you accept my apologies. Surely you know what it's like to be at a loss for words.

Darkside Cowl, designed by Sarah Fama

Kissed Knitter's knitted version

MAIL CALL!

This year on my birthday, I received a nice birthday card and gift certificate to The Loopy Ewe from my special friend Ragged. It took me several trips to the Loopy Ewe website to determine what I wanted to spend my gift certificate on. I finally decided on the Toe-Up Socks pattern by Anne Berk from Shibuiknits and a skein of fingering weight merino wool yarn in Antique Jeans colorway from Claudia Hand Painted Yarns. Once the decision was made I had the terrible wait for the mail to come. I found the package this afternoon on my doorstep. I am so excited! Friday I had the itch to knit so bad that on my lunch break from work I visited our local Hobby Lobby store. They had some Bernat Alpaca Natural Blends on sale. I bought a few skeins with a project in mind and snuck them into the house without my hubby knowing. I've sat all morning purusing Ravelry trying to decide what to knit next. Like I said....I had something planned for those two skeins of Bernat I bought, but it's all so overwhelming...I start projects and never finish them. I buy more yarn and patterns and never use them. I do finish a few things here and there. But I want to move on to more complicated stuff. I feel like if I can't finish what's on my needles now, how am I going to knit something more complicated? The choices of what to knit with what yarn is so overwhelming, I find myself just looking at all the possiblilities rather than actually knitting. Ragged is so talented with her hobby. She always has something on the needles and usually finishes her projects and has some of the prettiest knitted projects I've seen. She's so good at it. I'm jealous. So what! If it weren't for her I wouldn't even be getting this excited over a package with a skein of yarn coming in the mail...I love it!!!

Somethin' Squared

I can't believe I finished another project! My knit mojo is back. I am already looking forward to beginning another project. I have a few projects that need to be finished, but I will get to them... someday.

I wanted to knit my dad another hat. The one I knitted for him two year's ago(?) has become almost felted from the wear in the weather (he farms). I thought he could use an alternate. I decided to use Ann Budd's Book of Patterns to begin the hat and I used a hemmed edge. I wanted to try something new. It was a little difficult to do. I don't think I matched up the stitches quite right. When I decided to do the decreases, I went surfing for information because I wasn't entirely sure how to do it. I found Booklyn Tweed's Turn a Square hat pattern. (I love his stuff!)

I liked the way the yarn's colorway made a camouflage pattern and I love the way the decreases produced the striped look. I think I could have began the decreases a little earlier, but I was so afraid of knitting the hat too small. Overall I am pleased with the way it turned out. Somethin' different. Thanks Brooklyn!

Needle: US 5 / 3.75 mm
Yarn: Elizabeth Austen Andes, 165.0 yards in stash, 0.5 skeins = 82.5 yards (75.4m)
Purchased from: Knit Witts Yarn Shoppe in Evansville, Indiana

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Here's to a new year of promises and more knitting!

Knit on!