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I needs me some yarn!
BAABAABLACKSHEEP at http://bea-blacksheep.blogspot.com/2008/10/presidential-race-abigail-and-augustus.html
(Sorry, something is going fishy with my blog and I can’t make a proper link)
I know that I told you last week that I would have the MIL’s vest done before this week’s WiP post. Well, I didn’t get it finished. I’ve not been slacking, though, I swear! I’ve just been dealing with a sick baby and had started on another project. I promise you, though, that it WILL be done befoer next week! It’s very cloe already, see?
I got this pattern out of 101 Designer One Skein Wonders. Yeah, aparently, you have to use the exact yarn they used for it to be one skein. I bought 4 skeins for this. Two in the solid and two of the Claudia Handpainted. That little ball on the top of the picture? Yeah, that’s all I have left of the first skein. It’s a good thing I got two, huh? (PS, I realize it’s a yardage thing)
The other thing I’ve been working on this week is some legwarmers for the future SIL. Yeah, yeah, I know I said I was going to make her the Red Dwarf socks, but it’s a time thing. I didn’t think I would have enough time to get them done with all the other gifts. Plus, I want to make sure they fit right and I want to be able to have her try them on as I go. And lastly, I really, reallly like the look of these socks and want to make them for myself first. Call me selfish, but that’s what I want. That way, if’n I decide I never want to make them again, I still have a pair for myself.
Anyway, I’ve been working on these leg warmers and it’s a very easy knit. I pretty much put the pattern together myself, though I did use other leg warmer patterns to find out how many stitches to cast on. Here they are so far…
I was actually almost done with these last night. I just had a few inches left when I noticed I had made a mistake way back at inch number 4. I’d forgotten to change needles size and now they would be too small! This is what happens when I’m tired. Anyway, I ended up ripping back. ( What good are legwarmers if she can’t wear them?) And that’s where I was as of this morning. I’m hoping to finish them today or tomorrow. And then it’s on to the next gift on the list!
I know what you are thinking. Acrylic?! Cristi, you’ve come so far! You’ve know the wonder that is handpainted! You know better!
You’re right, but let me say a few words in my defense.
Firstly, I did not buy this at Michaels or JoAnns, I actually got it at my LYS. Secondly, it was on MAJOR sale! Like, a dollar a skein! That still not convince you I had to get it? Well, how about my last point. It’s for my mom. I know you don’t know my mom, but if you did, you would understand. She will buy a $5 item that she doesn’t need if it’s on sale for $1, just because it’s on sale. Ipso facto, she will not buy an item she does need for full price, she will wait for it to go on sale.
Listen, Mom loved the sweater I just made her last month. She told me she would like me to make her more clothes. She said she’d buy the yarn if I would knit it up for her. I then let her know that the sweater cost nearly $100 in yarn alone and she just about had a heart attack. When I saw this yarn for a buck, knowing that I could make her a sweater for less then $15, I had to get it. I bought 14 skeins in each color. She’s decided she wants shirts and has picked out several patterns in Ravelry. I told her that it would have to wait until after Christmas for the knitting, but, if I have time, I may try to get one done and gift it to her for Christmas.
There, does that justify buying acrylic? Probably not, huh?
I have recently become obsessed with knitting blogs. I have about 20 in my Google reader and try to check them every day. You know tha tif it was up to me, I’d just spend all day long doing knitting related things. However, the kiddos don’t respond well to that.
Anyway, I’ve noticed that there are several of these blogs that have periodic contests for their readers. Genius!!! I love the whole idea! One of these days, when I come into some yarn that I’d be willing to part with, I’ll have to host a contest of my own. Of course, I’ll have to get some reader first. ;D One of the easiest blog contest out there is Garnfiti’s. All you have to do to enter is write a comment on her blog! How easy is that! And the prize? Her own handspun!!! I’m totally hoping tha tI can get a piece of that action! Go write her a comment right now!
My other new favorite thing is sock clubs. There are several on Ravelry. And I’ve seen a few around in the blogs. The basic premise is that you pay a fee, (sometimes monthly, somethimes quarterly) and they send you sock yarn. Now, you may be asking yourself, “How is this different from just buying the yarn straight?” Well, I’ll tell you. In most cases, you get yarn that the general public cannot buy! Also, you often get a pattern that was written just for that yarn and colorway! And let’s not forget special goodies!
I’m not in a finacial position to join one now, but when I am, I plan on the Loopy Ewe’s cloub. I’ve been reading about it and have drooled over their website, and I think that’s the right club for me. I’ve asked for gift certs for the website for Christmas. Maybe I’ll get enough and be able to join after the holidays.
It’s a sad state of affairs when I have only one measly WiP to show this week. And it’s not even a good WiP with lots of difficult stitched to justify it’s singleness. It’s just a mistake rib pattern that takes no brains and very little looking to knit.
Wow, huh? I bet you are amazed at my brilliance. Well, this is the Simple Mistake Rib Vest that I’m making for my MIL. It’s interesting in that you start at the bottom of the back, knit up over the shoulders and then back down the front all in one piece. The only sewing is the side seams. That appealed to me. If you recall yesterday’s pr0n, I will be doing the front in the beautiful hand painted Claudia yarn I bought last week.
I did finish some projects this week. I finished my first toe up sock, you saw that post a few days ago. I’m waiting until I get some Christmas knitting out of the way before I do the second. I also did one of the dishcloths for Uncle. I’m not sure if I’m happy with it or not. I mean, it took all of 2 hours to knit and the pattern was really easy to follow; but I’m just not sure if it really looks enough like Mickey Mouse. I’m thinking I may have to tweak the pattern, what do you think?
Augh, the pictures are bad! I thought I got better ones! Oh well, I still think I’ma gonna have to tweak it. It wouldn’t be too hard.
So, next week I should have more, better WiPs. Hopefully, I will no longer be working on the vest for the MIL. I have a week for each project if’n I want to get them all done in time for Christmas.
Oh, and it’s beautiful! Closeknit had a blow out sale last week and this stuff was 40% off! And it’s the perfect colors for my MIL, AND it’s the right weight for the Simple Mistake Rib Vest I wanted to make for her for Christmas! So, I bought it. It’s almost a shame not to use it for something for me, since I’m probably the only person in my family that will appreciate the yarn, but, oh well. The colorway is called Turquoise Jeans. Here it is, try not to drool…
There wasn’t quite enough to make the whole vest, so I got some Nature Spun by Lamb’s Pride in the Hurricane Seas colorway to do the back. The pretty stuff will go in the front.
Also in the blow out sale, I got three of these Cascade Lana Grande wool skeins for a buck each! I’m going to make another knit bag with them. This time, I’m using the original pattern without any modifications. The knit group I meet with once a month, Knitwits, has been having trouble making the Fulled Lopi Tote. Since I’ve made it twice now, they would like me to help them at our next meeting. Apparently, the bottom bit’s giving them trouble. So, I will be able to use this yarn for a working piece when I give them advice next month. It’s kind of surreal them asking me for help. It’s normally the other way around with me asking for help.
And, lastly, I got some sock yarn from Steinbach Wolle. This is just for me because I like the bright colors. I can’t decide what socks I’m making out of it, but I’m thinking maybe Fuit Loops. Although, the yarn is Austrian, so maybe I should get another skein and make knee socks. 
So, yesterday I went yarn shopping with my mom. One word to describe my mom, is, uh…thrifty. She will buy everything on sale, or she won’t buy it. I told her I wanted to get some yarn and needles to make a cap for a friend who’s going through chemo and some dishcloths for Uncle. She told me she had two coupons for JoAnns. Yay.
Well, we went to JoAnns and looked and they have the worst yarn! It’s only good of you are going to make and afghan or baby things, I swear! It took me forever to find something that was soft enough for the cap:
It’s soft and I love the variegation, but I got it home and I can’t get gauge! I think I’m just gonna take it back and get something else at LYS. Here’s what I got for the dishcloths, I’m pretty sure it’ll work:
The pictures are bad, I know, but I was in a hurry. The Lion Cotton is actually red. Uncle has his kitchen in red and black.
Well, I did buy some yarn at my LYS on Friday. I even got some hand painted! They had their blow out sale, and I got it for a song. I’ll probably post pics of that tomorrow.
I had a good knitting day today. I was able to spend a few hours at my LYS, Closeknit, and also went to a monthly knitting meeting with the Kntwits. As a result of my hard work, I was able to finally finish my ankle sock.
It’s not perfect, but it does fit. I think I have to find a better bind off, though, as I have a bit of difficulty getting it on. When on, it fits perfectly. Here’s a close up:
Now I just hope I have enough yarn left to do the other. I made this one really short hoping to help with this. If I don’t, then I will get a small skein of an equally loud color pairing and make one sock out of that.
The cat approves, though…
That’s Treakle, our resident cat. She’s about 8 and doesn’t come out of hiding until both children are asleep. Hey, she’s no dummy.
Because then I could go and get the yarn I’ve got on hold at my LYS, Closeknit. I hate waiting to pick it up, but it’s better than writing a rubber check, right? Anyway, the waiting makes me appreciate it more. So, it’s Wednesday, so I guess I should post my WiPs. I see that a lot of blogs post theirs on Wednesday, and it makes total sense. I see that they also post their finished works on a certain day too, but I don’t know if I’ll do that. I get so excited when i finish something, I don’t think I’d be able to wait until “the day”.
So, first we have the girls socks. Yup, haven’t done much. I’ve been frustrated with them. I’m actually thinking of getting some bigger yarn and doing them the way the pattern was written. I just want the bloody things to fit one of my children.
Next we have the most boring thing I’ve ever knit, Ron’s scarf. The ball I have left does get smaller, but it won’t go away, so I keep knitting.
Then we have my starter bit for my traveling scarf. It’s all tweed! Anyway, my bit’s done, but since the scarf is not, I figured it still fit as a WiP.
I just took a bit from Brooke’s Column of Leaves. I thought it looked to cool. I wasn’t that hard, but I did have to pay closer attention.
So, I’m making most of my Christmas gifts this year, or attempting to. Here’s my list, let’s see what I get done.
(in no particular order)
1. Mom:Three Season Lace Vest from 101 Designer One-Skein Wonders I just don’t have the time and I just made her a sweater. Also, I have all that acrylic yarn to make a few shirts for her after the holidays.She asked me the other day to make her a cowl for when she rides the motorcycle with Dad. I figure that won’t take too much time.
2. Dad: Helmet Liner I’ve opted out, I found something he’ll appreciate more and I can’t make it.
3. MIL: Simple Mistake Rib Vest from 101 Designer One-Skein Wonders
4. FIL: Fingerless Gloves DONE 11/18
5. Uncle: Mickey Mouse dishtowels I’ve got one done and just need to fnd some black and yellow yarn to make the others
6. David: Fulled Lopi Tote Actually, I’ve heard he would rather have a hat. That’s fine by me because that will take half the time ane 1/3 of the yarn!
7. Texas Uncle; Socks DONE 11-12
8. Texas Aunt Ring Bearer Pillow from 101 Designer One-Skein Wonders
9. Brother: Topi Hat
10. Future SIL: Red Dwarf Socks, if I get a chance. I think these will be the most challenging. I may have to wait and make them after Christmas. I made her leg and hand warmers instead. The Red Dwarfs will be mine!!! DONE 10-29
11. D&D friends: Felted Dice Bags
12. T’s Teachers: Three headbands
Besides the girls and one friend (who may read this blog), that’s pretty much my list. I realize that this is a lot to expect to get dome by Christmas. I do have other options for a few on my list in case I don’t get through it all. I really hope I can, though, it would be cool to have a totally handmade Christmas! Wish me luck!
I clean my parents house. I don’t enjoy it, but my mom works hard as a teacher and is tired when she get home. I stay at home, so I had the time and needed to bring in some money. Mom had a little extra in that department. The problem is that it takes a long time to clean…precious time I could be knitting! And it’s not like I can just rush through and do just an ok job, because my mom will complain. As I would, I mean she is paying me good money for a clean house. So, I hunker down and get it done…except for days like today.
I know that I said this would be a knitting blog and keep most of my personal life out of it, but I feel I must give you some background in order for you to understand. I have 2 daughters, T turns 4 on Nov 28 and D turns 1 on Dec 28. T is a perfectly healthy, if somewhat headstrong, 3 year old. D is a totally adorable baby who, unfortunately, is not perfectly healthy. She had a neurological condition called Myontonia Congenita (MC). It is very rare. Only 1 in 100,000 people get it. D got it because my husband has it. Apparently both of the girls each had a 50% chance of getting it and D drew the short straw. T is not afflicted.
Anyway, the way MC manifests itself is with body cramps. Eventually all of her skeletal muscles (IE: biceps, quads, calf, face, hands, feet) will cramp without warning. It’s not life threatening, really, but very painful. Right now, since she is young, she only gets the cramps in her eyelids, forehead and throat. Her eyes will cramp shut and her forehead will make her sometimes resemble the Beast from that 80’s TV show. The scary one is her throat. When it cramps, it cuts off her windpipe and stops her from breathing. It scares us, it scares and hurts her. I know that you are now questioning the fact that I said this wasn’t life threatening. It’s really not. If she were to stop breathing long enough to pass out, it would shock the muscles to release and she would start breathing again immediately after losing consciousness. Thank God that hasn’t happened, though we do have oxygen and she’s on a monitor when she sleeps.
My point for bring all that up is that drastic weather changes tend to really exacerbate the condition. Well, we’ve gone from Summer heat to Autumn bitter wind here in just a few days and she’s miserable and won’t hardly let me put her down. Have you ever tried knitting with a curious baby in your lap? I doesn’t work.
