Random on a Wednesday

1. I feel like I'm behind today, mainly because I didn't get up early like I have the past 2 days.  I've been trying to make some lifestyle changes, and so far so good.  I know it's only been 2 days, but when you start something new, you take it one day at a time and celebrate the small victories.

2. I helped a friend with taxes today.  I helped him a few years ago, and got him hooked on the same site that I use to file mine.  This year, he had a different employment situation, and I helped him navigate through that.  I brought things to his attention that he hadn't thought of to put in there, and that will help him out.

3.  I still have a little left to finish the Braided Cowl I was working on.  I haven't bothered to take a picture of it, but I have to sew on a button, and I need to finish stitching the braids together.  It's not really necessary, but it helps keep them flat and makes it look prettier.

4. I looked at my sweater that I started.  It kind of looks like a hot mess.

I knitted the sleeves.

This is what I had previously knitted in a raglan sweater.  And also what I have ripped (the giant ball).

 And this is the section that is actually the "new" sweater.

5. Here's one part of my issue: I'm not following the pattern.  The measurements I took are correct, at least I think they still are, and it was a custom designed pattern.  However, when I started it the first time, it was a bit more snug than I think I really wanted.  Being a big girl, "snug" is not really something I want.  I wanted it to be slightly oversized without being baggy or sloppy.  I chose an average fit.  It still seemed a bit more snug than I really wanted, so I added a little more.  Also, the pattern was written in pieces, to be seamed.  I hate seaming.  Really, I do.  I want to be done with it once I'm done knitting it.  I don't want to spend 3 more days putting the thing I just spent 6 weeks on together so I can wear it.  I want to spend 6 weeks on it, spend 1/2 a day or less weaving in whatever ends there are, and walk out the door in it.

6. The other part of my issue: it's bulky weight.  Now, being a "big girl," bulky weight things are trepidatious.  You have to be careful.  It can easily go from being "comfy" to being "sloppy" in about half a millisecond.  And I was thinking (always dangerous) that in being a bulky weight, I can't really layer with it.  It has to be extreme cold to wear it and I'd have to wear it alone.

7. I thought about maybe changing this sweater (again) to a cardigan.  I don't have many of them, and I do wear one quite a good bit, although I'm not completely thrilled with the fit of it.  It was a cheap one that I bought at a big box store.  I thought I could take the measurements of it, add an inch or two through the shoulders, and make a new one out of this yarn.  This would allow me to wear the sweater as a layer, so if it's too hot I can take it off, but too cold, throw it on.  I think I might get a lot of wear out of it.  Being in the south does allow for layering a good deal, as sometimes we have mild winters and our weather fluctuates a good bit.  I've had a July night when it was cold (I needed a thick blanket when the window was open) and I've had a December when we had to run the air conditioning.

8. Here are my top choices:

Iced

Jacqueline

Oblique

Harvest

Can you help me decide?  All of them have their special features.  They are for the most part, simple, easy knitting.  I think most, if not all, are already written for a bulky yarn.  I want something that will drape nicely, not look frumpy on me, and be worth it.  Also, if the pattern is written in pieces, one that will convert to in-the-round is usually pretty easy to do.  I know this is a cardigan, which means it's not really "in the round", but I can make it seamless, or mostly seamless.  What are your thoughts?

More exciting news!

Hey guess what?!  I now have an active Etsy shop!  There's not much in it right now, but over the next few days and weeks, more will be added.  I have some things, but I didn't have time to do everything today.  Something is better than nothing, and if you don't just jump in where you are, sometimes you'll never jump at all.

I also finished a pair of socks, and have yet to take a picture of them.  I also was supposed to take a picture of my children today, as it is the first day of the month, but I did not.  These things happen.  Tomorrow is a new day, and I did a lot today, so I don't feel too badly.  Now, I just have to decide what to knit now:

Blueberry Waffle

Dragonfly Rib Socks

Here Be Dragons

These are the sock contenders.  I also have a sweater for myself that needs finishing (and by "finishing" you understand that I mean continue knitting the body, attach the sleeves, and then truly finish the sweater).  It's a bulky weight V-neck sweater.  And I have another accessory to finish crocheting:

Braided Cowl

There are plenty of things for me to do, but I have to choose one.  Oh, and I forgot to mention some other socks I found to make for Hubby (the ones I finished last night were his).  So many choices...all I know is that I need pick up and knit something.  Or crochet something.  I think tonight may be finishing the cowl, as I have the 2 braids done, and just have to join them.  Then I can cast on a new project tomorrow!  Happy knitting (or crocheting!)!

The Luckiest Little Boy. Ever.

This kid is seriously lucky:

I found the pattern for this sweater.  There is a website that has all the old Bergere de France patterns uploaded into PDFs on it.  I have no idea if it is "safe" or "legal" and honestly, since the site is completely in French, I have no way of knowing.  However, when I translate the page (thanks Google Chrome) it comes up as a Bergere de France website, so hopefully no copyright laws are being broken.  The best thing is that all the patterns are FREE.  Yep, completely free.

The pattern is also completely in French.  Go figure - my residual 8th grade French doesn't extend that far.  We never learned knitting terms, and the only thing I remember how to say is that I don't speak French.  However, I had another stroke of luck: there is a translation website here.  Now, for the hard part: translation.  It shouldn't be that bad, as lots of knitting patterns are written with repetition.  I am hoping that translating it won't be terrible, or take 50 hours.  I don't think it will, as once I get into a rhythm, we should be good.

The weather is proving to be helpful in prepping things for my Etsy shop this weekend.  We are threatened/promised (it depends on how you look at it) with ice and snow.  For most northern states, that's not a big deal,   But here in the south, it's HUGE!  It is rumored that we can have between 4-8 inches of the white powdery stuff, with a 1/4 inch of ice.  Around here, especially in the foothills of the Appalachian mountains, that's very dangerous.  The street that we live on has a steep hill, and getting up (or down) that hill safely is going to be a trick if it's icy.  Since we're going to be cuddled up anyway, no time like the present to get things situated!  I will probably roll things out as I have them, rather than wait and put everything out all at once.  If I waited, it would never get done!  So, please watch for more updates, and I'll post when it's ready!  Please leave a comment or feedback on the Etsy site (constructive or positive only, please) and let me know what you think!

Me and My big mouth

This little guy is turning 9 tomorrow!

As tradition dictates, he gets a birthday sweater.  And after looking through a bunch of patterns, he likes this one:

It's Pull A Capuche, which isn't published any more.  I looked online, to see if perhaps I could find a copy, to no avail.  So, now it's time for me to work Mommy Magic.  It's a simple enough sweater, fairly straight forward, with a dragon worked in intarsia on the front.  I think I can handle it.  Little Man REALLY liked the sweater, so I may search a little more for the pattern (as having it already written down would be easier to work) but if not, it's to the drawing board for me.

Changing names

I am thinking of changing the name of this blog, to consolidate and simplify.  The new name will help identify it with our shop, and that's what I really want, but I may keep this one separate, for personal use.  Any advice?

Here's what I've been working on:

My Multnomah.  It's lovely, out of JoJoLand Melody.  I'm done with the last repeat required, but still have a good bit left of my second skein.  I was thinking of doing at least one more repeat, but then I could do a whole bunch of puffs, once I find my pattern of the Bee Keeper's Quilt.

This was my original design for a mug cozy.  I found some pictures online, and kind of based it off some of those.  I wasn't happy with it, as it curled a lot and didn't really look finished.  So, I did this one:

Much better, don't you think?  Here are close ups of each one, and I think the top one looks better.

This is one of my Christmas gifts: Cherry Tree Hill sock yarn in River Run colorway.  I had asked for sock yarn to make more socks for me, and this was one of the lovely skeins my husband bought.

This is an unfinished object, to be sold, with the cup cozies and ear bud cases.  What is it?  Take a guess.

What is life without a little mystery?  I hope to have the shop up and running in a couple of weeks.  Keep watching for more updates!

Happy New Year!

It's a new year!  Happy New Year!  I hope you have a wonderful year, and that this new beginning inspires you to conquer something new.  I know it has for me.  This year, I am opening an Etsy shop.  I took some pictures yesterday, and I think they turned out alright.

It was a bit overcast, but it wasn't too bad.  I still have some more to do before the shop is ready, but I'll keep you posted.  I may be linking this blog to the shop, and to the shop's website.  There's still a good bit to do, but before the end of the month, everything should be launched.  I would like to wait until it's all perfect, but if I do that, it will never happen.  So, the best thing to do is dive in with both feet.

I have a few things to open with, and I'll add more as I make them.  I am also planning on getting into some craft fairs this year.  It promises to be a fun and busy year.  Let's make the most of it.

Update from the cloudy day

It's been a while since I've posted anything.  It's not that I haven't finished things, or wanted to, but sometimes the words fail.  Sometimes time won't allow enough creativity to flow.  Sometimes I forget.  In any event, Christmas is just around the corner, and I'm trying to finish up a couple of gifts.  I have found little time while homeschooling and doing chores to work on things.  But, here is the plan.  Once Christmas is over (this week), next week is about planning.  I have to plan the next homeschooling semester, my homeschool co-op class, my Etsy shop, and a bill paying schedule (I've been flying by the seat of my pants for the past few months on that one, and need to get a better grasp about what's due when).  I am having trouble finding things as well, like my contacts.  I know I have a whole bunch of them somewhere, but I cannot find the box.  I don't have room to unpack everything, as we do not live in our own house.

Which is my chief complaint at the moment.  Changing lifestyles, I knew things would be hard.  I knew things would be difficult.  But some of this I did not expect.  I guess there are always unexpected circumstances with a major change.  College has that.  Marriage does too.  I would call these "growing pains" except it's not from growth.  It's from pruning.  Maybe these are just "pruning pains."  Is there such a thing?  Maybe it's shock from pruning.  That I know really happens.  How are your holiday plans coming?

Wishing and hoping

Ever want to just start putting together a whole new look for your house?

I've been gathering ideas on Pinterest for some time and I really want to make a cozy home.  The trouble is that I don't have a home anymore to make cozy.  Oh, sure, I have a place to live, but it's not really mine.  I'm not upset by this, but it does make me more mindful of once I get my own space again how I want it to look.

I think most people these days start off with hand-me-downs.  We did, and they have been wonderful.  Some things we got just because they were on sale.  Like my dishes.  Hubby was kind of hard to please, we had a VERY small budget, and we found two sets of dishes on clearance at Target.  They have served us well over the past 11 years, but I am ready to upgrade.  I am ready to save up and make a mindful purchase.  I am also ready to carefully consider the colors painted in my home and the furniture to fit into it.  I think most of the pieces I have I want to keep, and perhaps just paint or refinish.  Then there are the textiles - you know, the pillows, the throws, the comfy things to snuggle.  These things I have more control over now.  I can make them and store them, since that's really what I want to do.  I want them to be handmade, not mass produced.  I know my children have several blankets that were bought for them, and that's fine.  I just want the rest of my house to be handmade with love.

Updates from the grey skies

I just logged in to Ravelry, and found some improvements they have made on friends' projects.  It made me realize how terrible I am about updating my own project pages.  I update things here from time to time, but hardly ever update Ravelry.  I should, as it would be a help to others.  I use it regularly for new projects, or for looking up projects that I'm curious about.  I should update my own project pages to be the help to others that I so frequently look for myself.  I guess I'm just lazy, and rarely take the time to do it.  I am also horribly embarrassed by my pictures.  I can see the shot; I just can't always take it.  I also don't take pictures often enough.  For example, I was working on Common Bean, and finished it - bound off and everything.  Then when I started to stretch it out, I realized it was too small.  So I frogged the whole thing.  I looked and saw I had used the wrong size needle - I used a 6mm, when it called for an 8mm.  My solution, as I couldn't find my 8mm, was to use a 9mm.  I jumped from a size US 10 to a 13.  I probably should have used an 11, but I couldn't find it, I didn't want to go buy one, and I knew I had extra yarn.

It's now almost done, but I am behind.  I had tried to finish it by the 15th, so I would have one Christmas project done and ready, but I still have a few rows left and need to get finished with it.  There are a ton of other things that I need to do as well.  I have some items that I think I'm going to put up on Etsy, so look for that coming soon.  A friend has a light box, and he agreed to let me use his to photograph my stuff.  I just have to get a bunch of things done so I can take pictures.  That will be next week, and hopefully I can open my Etsy shop just in time for the holidays!

What are your plans for the holidays?  Anything exciting going on?

Getting Distracted

I keep getting distracted.  Although, part of it is not really my fault.  My sewing machine decided to become schizophrenic the other day, and I had to get new thread.  I am not sure if this will solve the problem.  I have also to replace the light bulb because it has taken it upon itself to go out when I sew, rather than stay on.   However, I can't find a light bulb locally to replace the current one, which means ordering it.  So, instead of working on my sewing projects (and for some reason they continue to accumulate), I have switched to knitting.  I have actually scaled back this year on things that I'm making for Christmas, or at least I think I have.  Here's my current list:

1. My brother's socks.  He always wants socks for Christmas, of the handknit variety.  He wears them and loves them, and I happily comply with the request.  This year, he really wants Wraptor.

These are incredibly unusual socks, and will take longer than normal to knit them because of their unusual construction.  I have only made a gauge swatch for these (really, she suggests it because of the unusual nature of the construction.  If it weren't for that, I really wouldn't do a swatch.)

2. Common Bean for my Sister-in-law.  I actually found the yarn, and then the pattern for this one.  I'm about halfway done with it, I think, and I hope to finish it up this week.  Then I can honestly say I have one gift done.

3. The quilt for the 'rents.  This one is tricky, because every time I think I'm about to get started good on it, something happens.  Like my tension going wonky.  But not consistently.

I did finish cutting the squares, and I'm now ready to sew them up.

4.  Socks for hubby.  I haven't chosen a pattern yet, but I did already pick out the yarn - it's a superwash wool in a worsted weight.  I think I may do Rye, but since I haven't cast on yet, it's still up for negotiation.

And then I sit here and color for a good 20 minutes.  I got one of those adult coloring books (adult meaning grown up, not X-rated in subject matter) and I borrowed a set of colored pencils from one of the kiddos and I colored.  And it wasn't even a lot, but the amount of detail is immense, so in order for it to look like an adult colored it and it wasn't scribbled, it takes time.  How about you?  What are you making for the holidays?

Fall has arrived!

The temperatures have dropped, and it's lovely.  The nights are getting cooler, and knitted things are needed.  Princess' sweater is finally done.  All I had to do is sew on the pockets.  That was trickier than it sounds.  The trouble was that I couldn't make them even.  Somehow, every time I would start to sew them on, one side of the pocket would work, and the other wouldn't.  I fixed that though.

So here's the finished modified Teagan.  It's a great sweater, and it fits wonderfully.  I'll get pictures with her wearing it soon.  She's already worn it and gotten it dirty (fall leaves) and so I need to wash it.  Again.  I fixed the pocket issue by crocheting them in.  Duh - it should have occurred to me to do that sooner.  The color is more like the picture below, and not as peachy as the one above.

That made attaching them not only easier, but faster as well.  And they are stronger than if I had merely sewed them on.  The extra strength is needed, because Princess loves to fill her pockets with rocks and things.  Go figure.

New Works In Progress:

This is a quilt, so don't be confused.  My parents have a queen size quilt from my great-grandmother that is currently falling to pieces.  My dad, have all the faith in the world in me, thought I could repair it, but alas, if only I could.  The fabric is worn out - not the seams.  So, the only thing to do is to replace it.  And that is exactly what I'm doing.  There is no way I could match the fabrics she used - that was from the 60's and 70's, and what I remember is horribly faded so even if I could find vintage fabric, finding the right colors would be near impossible.  Instead, I found some cotton locally and bought more than enough to piece together an easy 12" HST queen quilt.  HST is half square triangle for those of you who don't know.  I didn't know either until I got started doing this.  The stack on the left are the pieces that are already cut, and the stack on the right is yet to be cut.  I think there will be enough for the front and back, and I may buy the binding once I get there.  I still don't have the batting either.

This is an experiment for which my children picked the color.  It is a crochet project, and there is no pattern up for it - I have made it up on my own.  I try to keep a crochet project going along with my knitting projects, just because I enjoy the difference.  Once this is complete, I'll post a picture and some more details.

This is the first sock in a pattern for me that I received a while back.  They have never progressed passed this point, and I think I need to pick them back up.  The yarn is Malabrigo Sock in Indiecita, so you can't really go wrong.  I'm just not sure about the toe-up part.  I love the pattern, but toe-ups just don't have a stretchy enough bind off for my liking.  Any suggestions?

This is my first Multnomah.  A while back, a friend suggested this pattern to me.  Being finicky and ornery, I decided not to use it then.  However, it continues to haunt me, so I have finally broken down and started one.  Dearest Ginny always knows her socks and her shawls.  She knows her patterns very well, and I should have listened when she first suggested it.  The yarn on this one is Melody from JoJoLand.  It's my first time using it, as I just found it in my stash and I really wanted to use it NOW.

Hubby bought me this yarn a few years ago, in a super stash haul for Christmas.  He's a keeper.  I thought I'd make the Blueberry Waffle Socks with it.  There are more projects, but I thought I'd just pull these out and show you.  Maybe tomorrow?  It will still be raining, so who knows what will get done?

Moving along

This is actually easier than I thought.  I thought it would be much harder changing the flat-written pattern into an in-the-round one, but really, it's not.  The directions are making it WAY easier than I anticipated.  I had tried to use another pattern to re-write it, but once I really read through this one, there is no need for the other one.  You can see where I am - I'm still working on the shoulder decreases for the sleeve cap and armscye.  The rounds take a while, as there are a lot of stitches, but really, it's working out quite nicely.  Once I realized how easy the conversion was going to be, I'm sticking close to the pattern, but knitting freely (as in unfettered by worry).  I hope that by next week, this will be off the needles and on the Princess.  Then, it's time for some Christmas crafts.  I have a quilt that I plan on doing for my parents, and I already have the fabric washed and dried.  It's waiting to be pressed, cut and sewn.  It will be a large quilt, a queen size, but the top needs to get done quickly.  Then the back and I will need to pick up the batting for it.  Once I have all the pieces, it will be time to layer them and pin them.  Can I tell you I'm a bit worried about that?  However, I think I may have some help.  My mother-in-law, with whom I now live, has quilted before.  She may be able to help me pin it.  Once I get over the "this-is-so-scary-because-I've-never-done-this-before-and-haven't-seen-it-done" factor, I'm sure it will be fine.  I am hoping that my newly serviced machine will be up to the challenge.  If not, I think I can handle that too, as I have options.  I can either hand-quilt it (massive amount of time) or there are a few places I can take it to have it done.  In either case, I hope to have it wrapped up by the end of October.  November will be for a pair of crazy socks, that may get some knitting time here and there, as socks are easily transported.

Quest Complete

I found my swift and ball winder.  Of course the box was hidden.  It was surrounded by boxes, with stuff piled on top of it.  And it took me about half an hour to find it.  But on Sunday, I did finish this:

I think the fringe turned out well.  Here's a modeled shot:

I think he's a good looking model, don't you?  But then, I'm a little biased.  I had to rip back on the pink sweater.

I think it's even less than this picture.  I took it back and started some more decreases.  I had stopped decreasing on the front, and I ripped back to add more.  I think I was going to end up with too many.  So, I'm working on it still.  Once it's done though, I think it will be great.  It's just a matter of getting the neckline right with the sleeves.  I think I can work it out.  It's getting to be sweater weather here...how about where you are?

Quest

I think I found the answer to my problem.  This sweater:

should be completed in another week or so.  For whatever reason, I was having a mental block on how to proceed with the neckline, since I've basically just re-wrote the pattern.  I found my answer in another pattern (since all my knitting books that would give me how-to instructions are currently in a box somewhere) and I think now I can finish it.  I also have to block the curling scarf and then fringe it to death.  I will post a picture once that's done...for now, it's sitting in a plastic bag awaiting its fate.  It's an extremely rainy day here, courtesy of a hurricane from my understanding.  I don't know if it's a good day to block something, as it would take forever to dry, but maybe in the morning I can get it started.  In the meantime, there is fringe to be made and a sweater to be finished, and then the Christmas projects can begin.

Rainy days

It has been raining for the past 3 or 4 days...I have lost count because the greyness has just be so continuous.  But today, today is different.  The sun is shining, the sky is a brilliant blue with a few puffy clouds, and it may actually dry out.  At least until the rain hits again.  Since it's been so rainy, I haven't taken any more pictures.  This has grown tremendously, though it's still not done:

It is now like this:

(in full disclosure, I did actually cast off last night, after this picture was taken, and adding just a couple more inches - it was already over the prescribed 72).  So, now all I have to manage is blocking it and adding fringe.  It curls something fierce, so blocking is a must.  I am still stuck on the birthday sweater, which is horrible, because it's now October, and her birthday was EARLY September.  I know - terrible me for still not finishing, and having Christmas knitting to do.  It's time to get busy, but I need peace and quiet to figure out the neckline, and that's rare in a house with 7 people.  How are your projects coming?

A little more

The last time I took pictures, I went a little nuts.  So you saw the socks I finished, the shawl I finished, the shawl I'm still working on, the scarf I'm working on and my son being a nut.  Here's something I did last January (not this year, last year...like before the baby was born).

Little Man insisted on being in the picture.  These are my French Press slippers, that I STILL HAVEN'T FINISHED.  It's almost embarrassing.  Almost.  There is another project that I hope to finish that has been sitting around for about 8 years (I made it when Little Man was a BABY - no literally, a baby) and do you know what it needs?  Seaming.  That's all.  Just seaming.  I know why it's still sitting in the bag, waiting for me to sew it up.  The reasons are two-fold: first, I can't find my copy of the pattern I used, and I was going to reverse engineer the pattern.  Second, I really don't like seaming.  I mean, like I will do whatever I can to avoid it, including wait until my baby is no longer a baby and a baby blanket won't work for him because his legs are too long.

I have yarn that I REALLY want to use, but I just haven't found a pattern yet.  Do you ever have those times?  You love the yarn, and really want to use it.  You even know what you want to make with it, but you just can't seem to find that "perfect" pattern.  I guess maybe I should just make it up, but sometimes my brain hurts.  I have trouble finding brain power sometimes.  Do you ever have that problem?  I don't know; maybe it's just me.

In other news, I am making loaded potato soup.  Now please understand, I live in a house with extremely picky eaters.  I'm not talking just one or two don't like a few odd things.  I mean really picky eaters.  For example, one won't eat anything that is spicy hot.  One doesn't like bell pepper.  Actually, make that two.  Three won't eat asparagus.  And that's just the tip of the iceberg.  So, here goes my attempt to make something completely different.  I'll share what I've done so far, and what I plan on doing to finish the soup, and let you know the results.  So far, I cut up 4 slices of bacon, about 1/4 of an onion (again, back to the picky eaters - really small bits that cook to almost nothing and give just the flavor of onion), about 3 cloves of garlic (I have pre-minced garlic in a jar, and used about a tablespoon of it), and 7 medium sized potatoes in 4 cans of chicken broth.  I added a teaspoon of salt and a half teaspoon of pepper.  I have cooked it on high in the crock pot for about 4 hours, and will let it cook for another 3 or so on low.  Then I plan on adding a cup of half and half and about a cup of extra sharp cheddar cheese to it. I'll let that cook for another 30 minutes or so, and then call it done.  We're planning on having sandwiches with it, and since it's been raining and cool most of the day (high near 68 degrees), it should make a comforting dinner.  Now, I'm off to finish something...either the scarf or seam up that blanket...not sure which.

More on the needles

There is so much more than what I showed you the other day.  Here is the first project I completed:

They are my Monkey socks.  I can't believe I didn't make them until now.  I still haven't woven in the ends yet.  I'm lazy in that way.  I need to, so that I can have another pair of socks.  It was some selfish knitting.  I don't remember the name of the yarn, so I'll have to pull that one out for you.  It's a lovely variegated blue and purple tweed.  Here is the second project I started after moving:

It doesn't look like much now, but it will become a Lumiruusu shawl when it's over.  It has gotten slightly stalled, because it takes a good bit of concentration, and I have some other items that have taken it's place for that.  Like a book from the library, that I am sure they want back at some point.  I am studying as well, but it's for the schooling of my children.  Speaking of...

Little Man was outside while I was taking pictures, and started showing off.  He picked up one of my French Press Slippers (that I still need to finish...I have a finishing issue) and started playing around.  How are your projects coming?  Have you finished anything lately?

I found my camera.

Yay!  And, lo and behold, I am using it.

Here is my finished Over the Sea to Skye.  I don't know that it is as deep as I would really like it, but it's really pretty.  I did modify the pattern a bit, since the yarn I used was thinner than what the pattern called for.  I did another repeat of the lace mesh section, a garter section, and then half of a lace pattern and half of another garter section,  Then I did the bind off, without the eyelet row.

Here's an up close view of the top where I made the modifications.  The pictures make it look very bright - it's really not.  It's darker than what it appears.

I am still not finished with the birthday sweater for Princess.  I'm kind of stuck at the moment.  I decided I didn't like the pattern in pieces, so I went for an in-the-round approach.  It was also too big for her, so I had to downsize it.  It's based on the pattern Teagan, from Rowan.  It's a perfectly lovely pattern.  I just don't like to seam, so I did the body and the sleeves in the round.  I am also joining them in the round, and I'm about halfway up the shoulder.  It's a matter of the neckline and sleeve caps at the same time.  The original has set-in sleeves, and I'm still trying to recreate that.  I don't know if I'll make it or not, but as long as it fits, it will be fine.  I still have the pockets on the front to do as well.  I had thought about double knitting them, but that was a bit much at the time.

This is Baker Street from Knitty.  It's for my wonderful brother, who sent me the yarn.  He wants it before the weather turns too cold.  He's moving back to Atlanta from New Orleans this year, so he should actually get a real winter.  NOLA is nice to visit, but after you've lived there for a while, sometimes it's nice to move back home.  He gets the mountains instead of the ocean, and a different kind of crazy people.  :) There are crazy people all over - we're just a little different.  I should have this one done in a couple of weeks, by the time the cold weather sets in.  So, what cold weather projects are you working on?  Are you ready for fall and winter?

I have lost my camera.

Okay, well, maybe not "lost."  Maybe just "misplaced."  My days are looking better, and I think I may have found more time to knit.  At least I think I have, although I don't think I am accomplishing any more than normal.  I am finding more time to read as well, so that's probably why things aren't going as fast in the knitting department as I think they should.

Homeschooling is turning out to be a great adventure.  I still wish I was more organized than I am, but things move along at a nice clip and we're making great progress.  The house is still in a bit of disarray, but by the time I'm done with schoolwork, the hubby is almost home, and dinner needs to be cooked, dishes need to be washed (did I mention we have no dishwasher here? Yeah - everything is HAND WASHED) and the evening chores need to be done.  I have tried to get hubby to help out, and from time to time he will, but life goes on, and unless time stands still for us, it's a matter of fitting it in.  I'm hoping to make a little progress on it this weekend, even with the insane schedule we have.

Oh, and here's fun - tomorrow we're headed down for our first field trip of the year!  We're going to the High Museum.  It should be lots of fun.  It's their kick-off homeschool day, and the kiddos are excited about using their lunchboxes.  Yep, I'm the cool homeschooling mom who got them traditional lunch boxes instead of just using a brown paper bag or cooler.  We have several field trips this semester with the co-op we're joining, and I plan on trying to fit in a couple more (like the Zoo and maybe the Aquarium).

I have only finished my socks, but I'm close to finishing Over the Sea to Skye.  Since I got a fingering weight yarn instead of a DK weight, I used a size US6 instead of the 7 it called for.  Also, I wasn't happy with the depth, so I'm adding another repeat of the lace mesh and garter section.  Then I'll see how much yarn I have left, and how tall it is.  I think it will be better then.

I've already started planning Christmas as well.  I have one request:

My brother requested the Baker Street Scarf from this past issue of Knitty.  How can you say no to someone who LOVES everything that you knit for them?  I also have some socks to do for him.  I'm hoping to get started on a quilt for my parents, and before I can do any of that, I have a birthday sweater to make for my Princess.  How are your knitting plans going?

Ravelry

I am trying to use Ravelry a bit more to remember things.  There are lovely patterns that I have forgotten, and now I have changed my queue to help me remember.  I should document my current projects a bit more, but I just haven't yet.  I plan on it.  I just finished these socks last night:

I will have to weave in the ends, and post a picture of the finished ones.  They are blue and purple tweed.  I can't even remember the yarn I used, but it was very nice.  Next up, a purchased pattern:

This is a new shawl called Over the Sea to Skye.  I purchased the pattern last night, and am currently working on it in a deep teal color, and then plan on working it again in a charcoal.  So far, the pattern is easy and lovely.  I'm actually working it in Nature Spun, which is a fingering weight, but the pattern calls for dk weight.  Am I changing anything else?  No, not this time.  Maybe when I do the grey, but I am checking to see how big this one turns out.  How about you?  What are you working on?