hello, mojo….

sock mojo that is. For so long my sock mojo was fazzizalled, cuput, nada, zip. It was hibernating, and I’m so thankful it wasn’t dead. Back in December I started these socks for my sister-in-law Kelly. Just a vanilla sock, with a short cuff. Nothing big. She wanted something that would match her work clothes tan and blue. I saw Sheepaints at the Sweetsheep and got a hank in the surf colorway. I wound it up into one big ball and then split it into two smaller ones….

raveled here
I CO 64sts using a US 1 (2.25mm) and knit 2×2 ribbing for 3.5″ before working the heel and then knit for a bit before working the toe. (I took really good notes, huh?) I knit the sock on the left first, which I will now refer to as “bad sock”. You know sometimes with handpainted yarns you get the funky pooling or flashing. *grumble* All the tan seemed to be on the top and all the blue was on the sole of the bad sock. But the other sock, it was so good and it striped beautifully. And my sock mojo left halfway through the 2nd sock. It languished forever. Before I forced myself to finish it. And I did, sometime in April I think. You know just in time for the nice warm weather… Kelly still was grateful for her socks. She’s so cute. She wants another pair.

My sock mojo came back with abandon in June. I started casting on with abandon. First my inverted Marigold socks

pattern: Marigold Socks
yarn: socks that rock in medium weight Sunstone colorway
needles: US 1.4 (2.5mm)
notes: I CO 54s, and am working the sock top down. I’ve reversed the chart so my row 1 is row 7 on the chart.
raveled here.

and then for more socks on the go, just in time for GS camp. When I arrived I had only knit about 1/2″ surprisingly there was a fair amount of downtime that I got to knit. Several of the girls watched me for a bit and so did the adults.

pattern, its really more like a recipe. I CO 64sts using US 1 (2.25m) needles knit k2, p2 for 15 rows knit straight until the heel. Either I’ll work a slip stitch heel or a short row. Then knit until I’ve reached about halfway to my pinky toe, then work a standard toe until 16sts remain and graft shut.
yarn: yarntini variegated sock in cosmopolitan that Mike got me from yarn4socks
notes: this sock lives in the car, so it doesn’t see much action.
raveled here.

Even though I have 3 sock WIPs right now I want to cast on for a cowl. But I must finish my secret knitting. Mike and I will be in the car for a while tomorrow as we travel down to Richmond, VA (again.) Hopefully then I can caston for a new project finish my secret knitting…

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dreaming, of knitting

It took 8 hours to get to my parents house yesterday. 2 bathroom stops, 7 construction zones, 1 lunch break, 2 snacks, 5 movies, 1 impromptu Old McDonald song, totaling 8 hours of me dreaming of knitting. Usually, I try to stop for gas in Port Jervis because its cheap, and they pump it for you (one good thing about New Jersey). I was so happy to see the lines for the pump, even though it added more time to our trip. Because this gave me time to knit, something I had been dreaming about for 5 1/2 hours. I started knitting away on my secret project,

and while I was getting fuel my window was down and the guy next to me was watching me knit. He asked me “do you do that when your driving?” I told him “No, but it would be very tempting if there wasn’t the risk of impaling myself with all these needles!”
I didn’t get to knit Wednesday night at all. I had lots of ends to weave in, 6 little tiny crochet loops to create and a teeny little baby sweater to block. Crochet is just too fiddly for me, and those loops totally kicked my butt. It wasn’t so much the chaining, it was getting the stupid loops to stay put.

stats-
pattern: Super-natural stripes by fpea
size: 0-6m
for: Adrian’s baby boy… can’t remember his name… maybe Aden?
needles: US 7 (4.5mm) and a size G crochet hook
yarn: a little less than 1 ball of MC Lion Brand cotton ease in Lime
CC1 about 20 yards of cotton ease in Maize
CC2 about 20 yards of cotton ease in Almond
notions: 4 sweet little wooden buttons that I picked up from the Yarn Lounge in Richmond, VA. While I was visiting Mike at work earlier this week. (I’ve been in the car waaay to much this summer.) The buttons measure 1/2″ (1.5cm) and I placed them about 1.5″ apart from each other.

mods: I knit this pretty much like the pattern stated. However, I did knit the sleeves before I picked up the button band. I have no idea how to explain this but where the pattern says to knit one row of the CC2 before you knit the button band in the MC. I knit the first and last sts in the MC (green) and the rest in CC2 (almond.) Basically I wanted the white to frame it, I didn’t like the look of the white all they way down on the button band, yes it meant 4 more ends to weave in. Also I crochet 6 chains instead of 8. (My buttons where much smaller than the called for button.)
I want to knit this sweater for Kailey now, the stripes are just too darn cute!

On another knitterly note Sunday my mom and I (sans kiddo’s) will be joining my sister at French Park in North Egremont MA for ‘Egremont on Parade’. Since its late, and my brain hurts drop by my sis’s blog for way more information than I’m giving you. If your going to be in the area, drop by. I’m sure its going to be a wonderful afternoon. Personally, I’m looking forward to 4 hours of peaceful knitting and not having to worry about who is eating sand now…

Random FO’s

This week is the epitome of crazy. Really, no kidding. I’ll spare you the page long story, ok? I’m just stoked cause I’m going to camp! Ok, Corra is going too. I’m talking about GS camp its only 2 days. But its long enough. I’m super excited even though its what is making my week crazy. But its ok, when I’m busy like this I don’t have time to think. And that’s ok right now. So since my brain feels like toast and I have a few FO’s that I haven’t even talked about started I’m going to throw them right at you and then hopefully catch up on some emails. (Ha. I hear you laughing!)

1. Yurdel *the* turtle

click here to see more photo’s on flickr
pattern: Sheldon by Ruth Homrighaus published in Knitty Winter 2006
yarn: light green: Red Heart acrylic in apple green?
dark green some unknown green acrylic
needles: US 3 (3.25mm) and US 4 (3.50mm)
extra’s? 2 safety eyes
time? uhhh.. I think I knit this in April… or May…
for? Mike’s cousin’s baby if I ever find a cute book for a 1 year old about turtles. (I realize that I also have to part with the cuteness that is this turtle.)
ravelry link here

Bauble

click here to see another photo on flickr
pattern: bauble by Rosemary Hill published in Knitty Spring 2007
materials: stretch magic cord. Seed beads, white and pink beads that I had and wanted to use up.
needles: US 6 (4.0mm)
time: I might have knit this in January… but I can’t remember!
for? A friend
ravlery link here

Marshmellow

click here to see more photo’s on flickr
pattern: marshmallow bonnet from itty bitty hats (ravelry link)
size: 6-12m
yarn: Jo-ann sensations bellezza collection tesoro (from the stash) 100% wool
MC 8000 (white) lot 99
CC 954 (pink) lot 56
needles: US 7 (4.50mm)
hook: H (for the loopies)
gauge: 5sts/inch
mods: I crocheted a chain of pink and weaved it in the turning row. Completely inspired by sunshineyarn’s bonnet.
notes: We accidentally left Kailey’s hat at Grandmie C’s house after Thanksgiving dinner. Her dog was a little hungry and chewed off the chin strap. Instead of dipping into another ball of white I used some leftover pink to repair the chin strap on 1/14/08.
Damned dog.
ravlery link here

4 more dishcloths

pattern: Abigail’s fabulous pinwheel dishcloth pattern (lookie in the sidebar)
yarn: Sugar n’ cream or peaches and cream…. (I’m hitting the pitches tonight aren’t I?)
needle: US 8
mods: I CO15 sts to make a smaller dishcloth that fits right into my hand. And by casting on 2 less sts you can get 2 cloths from 1 ball.

That’s it for tonight, I have to hurry up and pack for camp. And my brain is toast!

Bittersweet

Its been a long time since I’ve posted, and so much has happened. And at times it is hard to find words to describe anything. Some good, some bad, I’m sorry this is so vague but I can’t get into it. I’m trying to be optimistic, and see the light at the end of the tunnel. But we all know that with life’s curve balls that can be hard. I wanted to share one of my FO’s from the month of May, my bittersweet shrug.

Sweet, because it looks beautiful with the green dress I found at the big W. Sweet, because it looks just like how I imagined it would in my head.

Sweet because the back lies flat when my arms are down and there are no bat wings.

Bitter because I finished it on May 3.

Project Stats:
pattern: Retro Redux Shrug by Mercedes Tarasovich-Clark published in Lace Style
size: 42″
yarn: 1.5 balls Lion brand Cotton ease in Almond
needles: US 8 / 5.0 mm US 9 / 5.5 mm US 10 / 6.0 mm US 10½ / 6.5 mm
time- April ?, 2008 – May 3, 2008
mods: I knit the ribbing in the round using dpns, and then knit flat when I reached the lace section.
ravelry link: here

How I survived the snow day

Thursday morning (yeah I’m behind, what of it?) we awoke to this sleet/rain/ice crappity crap. I flicked on the tv to see if school was canceled and thank goodness it was. (I have been dreaming of a snow day, lots and lots of snow day. Not sleet/rain/ice crappity crap day.) So the kids and I stayed in our Pajammies all day, since we couldn’t go out and play (way too icy) we baked some Snickerdoodle cookies

This cookie recipe has a lot of memories attached to it. Do you have any like that? I can remember making these cookies with my Grammie Beth when I was little. Rolling the cookies around in the cinnamon and sugar, and she had a special glass with a star on the bottom that I would use to flatten the cookies. A few years ago I was looking though my Mom’s recipe box and found this recipe, I can’t tell you how delighted I was. I asked Mom if I could share it with all of you and she gave me the go ahead.

Grammie Beth’s Snickerdoodles serves 2.5 dozen
1/2C shortening
1 egg
1 tsp cream of tartar
3/4C sugar
1 1/3C sifted flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp salt
Mix shortening, sugar and egg thoroughly. Sift together remaining ingredients. Then mix it all together. Form dough into balls the size of walnuts and roll in a mixture of 1 TBSP sugar and 1 tsp of cinnamon. You can flatten the cookies with a glass or they will flatten a bit in the oven. Bake 10 min. in a 400 degree Fahrenheit oven. Enjoy : )

I also knit another cozy, big surprise huh? While out Christmas shopping last week I saw a mug at Hallmark with a “hand-knit” cozy on it. (I really need to figure out the camera on my phone so I can take decent pictures) I tried to replicated it,

Not quite what I wanted but I’m on my way. I CO 40 sts worked K2, P2 for 4 rows, BO 3 sts Then knit back and forth for 23 rows.  CO 3 sts then K2, P2 for 4 rows, BO in pattern.  Next time I’m going to CO 44 sts, work 2 rows of K2, P2 (Cozy is too high, you have to move it down to sip) and work a garter stitch border on the sides of the hole for the handle so it doesn’t curl. I think the reason it pulls in so much is because it fits the mug rather snuggly.

So, that’s how I survived the “snow” day.  I can’t tell you how incredibly excited I am right now that its snowing outside and the weatherman keeps changing his mind on how much we are supposed to get.  I can’t wait to go out and play in the snow! Yay snow!!!

Gah!

Gah! Stupid mitten! I hate you!

(2nd mitten on the left 1st mitten on right)

I started these damned things Sunday the 18th and they have been an exercise in patience ever since (something I really don’t have much of). I re-knit the top of the 1st mittens twice because the decreases looked like ass. Then on the 2nd mitten once I was at the top decreases I realized the cuff was too long, and ripped back to it. Had issues with the 2nd stripe too. The decreases look wonderful on the 2nd mitten. But the freaking flacking thumb gusset doesn’t match the 1st mitten! GAH! GAHHHH!!! I must have knit a row or two extra before putting the thumb sts on hold. GAH! I’m so sorry Tracey, but I won’t have anything to send you for Warm up Winter. I still can’t believe these damned mittens have taken me 10 days! GAHHH!

Fugly and not

I tried to knit a baby bootie with the leftover yarn from tulip, it didn’t work out. It turned out lookin like a  moon boot

Go ahead and try to tell me its not fugly. I’ve already frogged it even though Kailey thought it was mighty tasty.

mmmm… wool.
Susie, sneaky Susie, tagged me with 7 weird things about me. Even though I’ve done this meme before, you guys apparently know that I have lots of weird things to keep ya’ll occupied for hours. Really hours.

So, here are the rules.
1. Link to your tagger and post rules
2. Share 7 facts about yourself, some random and some weird
3. Tag 7 people at the end of post and list their names
4. Let them know they were tagged by a comment on their blog

1. Back in the day I chatted on mIRC. My handle was Bratzy.
2. I’ve been told that my outgoing message on my awnsering machine sounds “hostile”
3. I’m really bad about returning library books and movies. (Only these things, If a friend lends me something, like clothes. I make sure to give it back. Quickly) Thank goodness the library books are only 5 cents a day and blockbuster just has the restocking fee.
4. I can not fall asleep with out a blanket, not a sheet. Doesn’t matter if its 11billion degrees.
5. I haven’t been able to wear my rings since I was about 7 months pregnant with Kailey, even though I’m back to my pre-pregnancy weight. When I wear a necklace it hurts my neck and back after a few hours. But I still can’t resist pretty little baubles like this: pinky squared yarn necklace by mack
6. People who say to me “your busy.” or “you’ve got your hands full” really piss me off. (These are people who are strangers, just see me and my kids in a store. Or walking in the mall. Etc. And its not like my kids are dirty and climbing around in a sugar high. If anything Allysa is dancing.)
7. How do I explain this? When I crave a food I eat a whole bunch of it, then I don’t eat it or think of it for months… or years. Like sour cream and cheddar chips, had to have them in August. Now, ick. No thanks.
8. I’ve known how to ski since Kindergarten and I still suck at it.
9. I’m really bad about talking about knitting project that is in progress. I think its because the process is something that I just enjoy and can’t describe. And I get bored reading about it. I’ve also become really bad about showing FO’s I finished the mini-van socks earlier this month (2 weeks ago)

Vesper Merino sock, 2.00mm dpns, CO 64 sts, picot edge, flap heel, my standard toe, 10sts/inch, they’re to small for me, their going to Mom.

oh. yeah. It’s supposed to be 7 things, not 9! See what I told you. Hours people. Hours!

I guess… I tag.. um.. I’m trying to think of people who haven’t done this one yet… uhhhh…

1. Jamie steal your kids fab mitts while you knit him a new pair
2. Carrie K I don’t think you’ve done this one yet…
3. Heather because the postal service was quick!
4. Diane if you can find the time while your trying to find a flat.
5. Jenn because your blog needs more random babble ; )
6. Kelly I drool over your sock basket.
7. Esther cause nothing helps the blah’s like a bit of weird.

While waiting for the zipper….

This weekend I went searching for a 9″ separating zipper. Who knew it would be *that* hard to find one? I checked Jo-ann’s. Nope. They had 7″ and 10″ but no 9″. grrr. Walmart? We won’t talk about that. Urgh. I checked our local 5 and dime, nope. Today I finally had the moment to call zipper stop and ordered 2 9″ zippers. Hopefully they will be here soon! I want to finish up tulip before Fall really begins and this crazy 80 degree weather ends.
Anywho, there was quite a bit of yarn left over from the tulip sweater. And while waiting for the zipper I knit Kailey a hat to go with her sweater.

I figured some one else might want to use up their scraps too, so I wrote the un-pattern A colorful hat for baby. You’ll find it on my sidebar in the free patterns section. You still need the tulip cardigan pattern to knit this hat, I didn’t want to give away how the color changes are made. I feel that really makes the pattern. There is a little bobble (hehee I kept typing booble! heehe) on top of the hat. Its so sweet! There is still a bit of yarn leftover, I think there might be enough for a pair of booties…

It never occurred to me…

It never occurred to me… that there would this many ends to weave in!

A little slow on the upbeat I know! I usually weave in as I go, but I wasn’t 100% sure that it was going to fit Kailey. I wanted to be able to rip back if I wanted too. (Which I have twice, before sticking with the 6-9 month size.) I finished the body of the tulip sweater tonight, and now I’m going to toss a quarter and see if I should start with the sleeves or the rest of the edging…

I’m reading the Memory keepers daughter right now, and just like this sweater I can’t seem to put it down.

btw, I think I’m going to have a stash sale this weekend. I have a mess of yarn that I just don’t love anymore, and it deserves to be loved. I also have some needles and purse handles that I’m never going to use. So keep a look out for that.

Crappers, Kailey is up. Night!

Surprise!

The past 2 days have been full of surprises.

Bryce lost his 1st tooth

Kailey’s 2 bottom teeth came in. Both at the same time. She’s working on an eye tooth now. (She’s going to look like a vampire! *giggle*)

My Dad came for a surprise visit

Dude is lucky Mom tipped me off, or he wouldn’t have a bed to sleep on!

I started Kailey’s tulip sweater

(I’m trying to convince myself that Strange Harvest (the brown) does not look like baby poop.)

and Pork Rind was crowned the Queen of Guinea pigs

Thank you all so much for helping me with the toggle color issue! I went with the darker, sewed them all on today. And as soon as I gift it I will show a picture. (Some family members know of the blog, I don’t know if she is one or not.)