Knitting away

It is still cold enough to knit. I have made great progress on Logan's sweater. I am using Karabella Aurora 8 and the pattern is Mary Anderson's, Cottage Creation's pattern, "Lillie's Little Sweater". I love her patterns, they are easy to follow and always turn out perfect. You can change them easily, like the bottom of mine I don't want to pull in with ribbing so I just knit 10 rows and it lays very nice and flat. (although it is rolled in this photo,(bugger!) it really does lay nice) She has many patterns and if you are interested just give me a shout.

I've also make progress on my summer shell. I decided to add Toffutsies sock yarn with the Classic Elite cotton to get the gauge and it's working out great. I love the color variation and looks like summer to me.

Tomorrow night is Fish fry at the St. Nicholas Church across the street from me. It is now a fish bake because we couldn't get the fryers we needed to deep fry them. Wish us luck and hope they don't rebel on us. The People, not the fish.

Although have you seen that ad with the fish mounted on the wall singing, "don't eat that little fish, what if it was you in that sandwich, etc." I cannot remember the whole thing but it's quite funny and effective. Makes me think twice.

Saturday is my first experience with the Starving Artist Sale in Carver. I hope it goes well. I have no idea what to expect. I'll definitely post about it.

60 degrees today

I think we will hit 60 today. I can finally finish painting upstairs - I can open the windows to air it out. This paint smell is very toxic in cold weather.

I'm on the search for new light fixtures for my kitchen. Now that it is repainted I feel the need to replace these odd fixtures over the sink.

I'm working away on PIP (projects in progress). My purple sweater has two pieces finished and only 3 left to go. I'm on the down side of the top down sweater for logan - only 6 more inches to go and then the sleeves and the summer cotton is turning out pretty cute. I've added Toffutsies sock yarn to the cotton and it gives it kind of a fiesta look. I'll get photos up this week, I promise.

Popular patterns at New Prague are "City Sheep" baby patterns. They are great to knit for beginners. I know they work up great in almost any yarn and fit the size they say they are going to fit. Thanks Barb and Kris for these great patterns.

Baby Pullover with hat (1), (made out of sock yarn, that patterns by itself) Fifth Floor purse(2) (knit in ribbon yarn or it can be used with wool and felted) Baby sweater and booties (3). (knit is alpaca in the photo and can be knit in any yarn). There are a couple more I don't have photos of right now, Garter Stitch Baby Jacket or pullover and Hooded sweater.

Just a short catch up note this time, more tomorrow!

An "Ah ha" moment in Knitting

Well, first of all, dontcha love this winter. I expected the snow but now 20 some below zero again.!

This is the photo of the "yarn over" stitch (2nd one from the right)

I was working on my sweater last night and kept trying to figure out this increase. It says, "inc 1 st. within the 5 front stitches. (the first 5 stitches are K2, p1, K1, p 6) So I thought it must, of course mean, right before the purl begins. A side note says, "yo for the increase and on the next row twist the stitch and knit as a purl stitch to look like the right side."

Well, I tried several versions and if I just did the "YO", it left a big hole and I couldn't figure out exactly where to place this increase so I tried a couple different positions and finally gave up and went to bed. It always makes sense in the morning (knitting and other things become clearer in the morning).

(2nd photo is the one of the hole created with just the yarn over)

(3rd photo is one of the correct finished stitch, cannot even see it)

This is what you are supposed to do to that stitch on the way back (purl side). Take it off the needle, twist it, put it back on and purl it. Now, I figured that out all on my own. I have never increased like this before and I couldn't believe that is what they really meant, but they did. Again, just read the pattern and do what it says, don't over think it.

I have started a new project just because....

I had this provence cotton sitting in the LR staring at me and I kept thinking about this cute shell Barbara Maeder designed several years ago. It fits perfectly and is very flattering. I tried swatching it with just provence and could only get close to the gauge on a size 10 (not a 7 which she used using Mission Falls wool). I got 4.5 on a size 10 and decided to use this Toffutsies sock yarn (with the provence)that kept screaming at me from the sock bin. It works up perfectly to 4.25 sts/inch on a size 10 needle. Wish me luck.!

I start my training the last week of the month for my new job - yeaaaaa!

spring ahead

Yes, I guess I'm not the only one having trouble with daylight savings time. I didn't even know it was coming until Sunday when I heard it on the radio. Who changed this? I want to know. Several bloggers I read are having a difficult time also like, Wendy Knits, and the Yarn Harlot.

I do remember dreading this when the children were little because it WAS now lighter longer at night and they don't want to go to bed until it is dark.

I , however, went to bed last night at 10, my normal time. I tossed and turned and could not fall asleep. Probably because it was really only 9:30 pm. I thought it was because B and I went to dinner for my birthday at the Victoria House and had a great walleye dinner, baked potato, asparagus, salad, wine and a decadent dessert of Chocolate molten cake and a cup of coffee. (seriously this could have kept anyone awake).

I was having difficulty digesting all of this food even though we ate early. I figured the coffee was playing a role in my difficulty in falling asleep. Then, just about 10:30 pm the phone rang and it was my sister, who is definitely not tuned in to the new time yet, as she is in Phoenix, and it always takes her a few months to get used to the two hour difference in time.

She was wishing me a happy birthday so I couldn't be upset. She had sent me a bug vacuum for my birthday (because of the bugs in my house in the Fall) but I already had one. She was so disappointed. I will send it back and now she will have to come up with something else very clever.

Speaking of clever and very funny; I got a card from Shirley on Sat. It's two old broads, I mean, women knitting and one is saying, "I'm making mittens for my grandkids. How about you?" the other woman responds, "A g-string for one of the dancers down at Studz." open the card, "Age is all in the Attitude.". Thank you Shirley for a great laugh. Perfect.

I worked on my knitting last night and here is a photo of the hooded sweater for Logan and the back of my new sweater. I love the color of mine. It is knit with three strands, mohair, silk and metallic. Mohair likes to grow on you after it's knit so I love working a strand of something else with it to give it some structure. The silk and metallic should do the trick.

This is another sheep sweater I finished for the Starving Artist show in Carver on March 21st.

The best part of my birthday celebration was a balloon boquet from the grandchildren and then the fighting over how many baloons each of them would get to keep. I escaped with 3 of my own. That giving part is always difficult, isn't it???

I want to go on record to report this new storm we are getting, hopefully only a couple inches cuz it is HEAVY STUFF!

Happy Birthday to Me.....

Yes, here it is again! Another Birthday! Yea, I'm glad I'm here to celebrate. It's a grey day outside, but about 35 degrees - our esteemed weather persons believe a huge storm is on its way, so look out tomorrow.

We had Bungee on Saturday and the four of us knit away eating dessert. Shirley has been rethinking her knitting career. She has made at least 3 garments, mittens, purses, etc. but is wanting to make something other than a sweater or give up entirely. We all (3 of us) howled, NO, you cannot quit. I think we convinced her by the end of the session. She knits beautifully and really gets the concept so I hope she just needs a little golf break.

Judith is knitting lace and as all of us do, got off somewhere on the pattern. Ripped back and was able to begin again. Jeanne cast on a new yarn for a shawl.

We never give up! We may lay a project aside for a couple years but eventually we get back and finish. Starting a new project is always great fun! It has been suggested that we start several new projects, so that is exactly what I have done. Photos to come later.

Dan came out on Friday night a helped figure out my camera dilema so hopefully I can get some photos up soon of my two new projects and two new jackets.

Today is a day for me. I am going to pick out paint for the kitchen, babysit for a couple hours and hopefully get taken out to dinner.

march madness

That's about how I feel lately. Have alot of projects in the mix and not making much progress. To top things off I couldn't get the photos off of my new camera. I spent a couple hours this afternoon working on it but may have to wait for the son to come home. I got a major computer virus this week and spent $200 to get it deleted. Now I have to wait for Dan to add ram and some other program.

Meanwhile I worked on two more felted jackets for a "Starving Artists show" I'm doing in Carver on Mar. 21st. I'm entering my jackets and maybe some other felted objects. So, the shop will be open in the Town Hall of Carver that day. We have some new shops in town and they are spectacular.

I got distracted with removing wallpaper and now have got to get the energy to tackle the blue room upstairs. I did hire someone to paint the kitchen for me. I'd probably be in there all summer if I didn't hire it done.

New Prague is still going great. We are offering a class in a felted bag for beginners this month. 1st photo is unfelted and 2nd is finished felting. It's a "Two Old Bags" pattern. Very easy and fast! Great little summer purse.

I love visiting New Prague. I actually had a car stop in the middle of main street one very cold day and let me run across to the bakery. Now, that doesn't happen everyday. There is a great bakery in town, real homemade stuff and a huge cheeseburger with fries for $5.00 - unbelievable.

I also love Jordan. It has a great antique store - check the hours however, they are closed on Tuesday. Sorry I don't remember the name off hand. Great summer destination for you adventure seekers.

Went to see the movie, "He's just not that into you" last week. One of the main characters just about drove me crazy obessing over her dates. (the one with the dark hair). Some funny lines and I'd say "Cute". I also saw "Grand Terino" and thought it was well done. Great story.

Have you checked out the new knitting magazines lately. I picked up Debbie Bliss's spring issue and they were cute but nothing for me. I'm working on the sweater from New Zealand right now and I've finished the back. I will get some photos up asap.