Cables eat yarn

I did not realize just how much, or how unstretchy they are, until now.

I reknit the hat, because the cowl ate my yarn. I wanted a set, a true set.  One that was not just the same color, but the same pattern.  If I had stuck with the cables, I would have had to buy yet another skein of yarn, and that is just not in the budget right now.  You can see the leftovers, and this hat is slightly smaller in circumference but taller and definitely stretchier.   

The cowl is now going to be in a P2, K1 rib, which fortunately does not curl much, but still has some stretch.  It matches the hat, and the mittens will also match, once I get those made as well.  I am really trying to watch the yarn budget these days, as I am attempting some movement in work circumstances.  I will post links to patterns and write up what I design.

Those of you who know me, know I have always worked outside the home, while my hubby has stayed at home with our children.  This is what we are trying to change.  It is a huge change, and one the I look forward to making.  because of this, I am trying to be very intentional about purchases and using what we have.  My nesting instinct is growing, and I really want to be home.  I have a rather large stash, mostly bought for me by my hubby.  I have yet to use anything near what I have, because I cannot see it - it is all in boxes.  That too needs to change.  And it will given time.  What plans do you have for this year?

Quickly

I finished Little Man's sweatr, blocked it, and it stinks.  No, seriously, it smells like a wet sheep. I washed it a second time in baby shampoo (you have a lot of that when you have a baby), and it still stank.  So, last night, hubby dunkedo it once again into a bucket of water, this time with about half a cup of vinegar.  I hope that takes the smell out.  He then ran more cold water into the bucket, dumped some Soak in it, and when I get home, I hope it will no longer smell.

In the meantime, I told you that I wanted a quick project before I started my ultimate sweater quest.  So, here are the things I started:

These are miniature hearts ando flowers.  The flowers are for a Valentines wreath, and the hearts are for a bunting.  Obviously,  more hearts are needed.

This is my hat.  The color is more purple than the picture, but that is not half of it.  I decided I wanted a matching set, so I have 2 more skeins, one for a cowl, and one for mittens.  I plan on using these on the cowl:

Hubby bought me these gorgeous buttons for Christmas, and the 3 large ones are going on a cowl.  The small one on the right will adown the hat, and the iridescent one on the left will grace something else.  I have also been contemplating this:

I made this swatch before Christmas,  and I want to make Princess a sweater.  We are having a tea party in April, and I want to make her something elegant.  I have 4 or 6 skeins of the pink and 2 in a bluish grey.  I have not quite decided on what to do just yet, but the idea is percolating.   What are you working on?

Back in business

I am back to the decreases on Lancelot.  I messed up and had to rip back again 5 rows yesterday.  I got a little too much in a hurry, and the knitting suffered.

I have finished 4 of the 11 decreases, this time with my stitch markers in the right places.  I really want to hurry up and finish this sweater, not because it isn't a lovely pattern, because it is, but because I already have my next one planned.  It will be a short one, a quick knit, just for me.  I have to take a picture and let you try to guess what it will be.  Little Man's birthday is Monday, but his party is not until next Saturday.   Since everyone had been sick, we postponed it until then to get the sick germs out and take down all the Christmas decorations.  Hubby likes to leave them up through the New Year, and then he got sick and hasn't been able to take most of them down.  Once the quick project is done, it will be on to my sweater.  Are you ready for that?  It will be a massive undertaking, as I have knit this yarn 4 times, and each time it refuses to work.  I think it is user error, so I am taking a new approach and will be diligent in taking notes and trying it on.  I want a classic, comfy sweater that is warm and casual but dressy enough to wear to work.  We will see if I can manage that out of the Lion Brand yarn.  I think it will work, the hard part is just getting it to fit properly.  I have all the measurements though, and a gauge swatch, so hopefully it will come together.  I am also planning a new surprise for you, and it should be up by next month.  Keep your eyes peeled!

Do Over

Remember when you were in elementary school, and playing some ball game, and no one could decide on a call, so you just got a do-over?

Lancelot is having a do-over when I get home.  I found I placed the stitch markers in the wrong place to start when joining the arms, which really wasn't so bad.  But now my stitch count is off, and I don't know where or how it happened.  So, I am just going to start over.  Also, the patron is now uneven, and that is just unacceptable.   The pattern is well written, but you do have to pay attention.  I hope the seconday time through will be a bit easier.  How is your knitting progressing this year so far?

To Be Honest

I wanted to post yesterday, but didn't.  Things were crazy, and when I thought about it, I had no method of posting.  Here is the progress on the sweater:

It looks a little cramped, but it's just the way it is laying at the moment.  I am at the decreases in the yoke, and I am not 100 percent sure I am doing them correctly, but they look okay, so I am going to go with it.  I had planned yesterday to show you what was next, along with progress, but it just didn't happen.  Maybe tomorrow, or the next time I post.Yesterday was another rough day, in part because I ate some things that I should not have.  You know that feeling you get when you think something would taste so good, and it sounds great and you eat it, and it does taste good, until about an hour later, and not only do you regret eating it, but you also feel horrible from eating it?  Yeah, that was me yesterday.  But, today is a new day, and I will not make the same mistake again.  I am excited abut finishing this sweater, and to show you what is next.  I think you will like it.  What are you working on?

Small blessings

The news I received on Wednesday wasn't as exciting as I had hoped.  It turns out that although things are changing, my job will only be changing with it - not going away.  Oh well...it was wishful thinking.

This week has been full of small blessings though.  Despite the family being sick and work being rough, there have been several little things that have happened that are happy little things.  First, early this week, I was notified that I won a contest.  I hardly ever, and I mean HARDLY EVER, win anything.  This is the fourth time in my life that I have won anything.  I have won more in the past 6 years (3 times) than I ever have before.  I won a Flip video recorder at a company function, a baby quilt kit, and now this.  Then yesterday in the mail, I received a thank you card from our church for directing the children's choir for Christmas, with a restaurant gift card in it.  And today, I received an email that I have a $20 store credit at a local yarn shop.

I also found a penny walking out to my car tonight.  I thought the old saying, "see a penny, pick it up, and all the day you'll have good luck."

I started the second sleeve for Little Man's sweater, and when I attached the first sleeve, I wasn't sure about the second chart.  But then, it suddenly became clear.  The designer thought it through more than I had, and it's a good thing she did.  I have already planned out the next project(s) - yes, I will be making my own sweater, but I also have plans for a cowl and hat.  The cold has definitely made me want more warm things to surround me.  The store credit I have will go to good use - another skein of Malabrigo Rasta to match the one I already have, and a skein of sock yarn.  I am honestly trying to use up what yarn I have.  My hubby has been a jewel and bought me tons of yarn the past couple of years for Christmas (this year he went light, but bought Quivit!).  I want to use it, but I have to select the right patterns for it, and I also have to see it to know what I have, and think about it.  But now I have enticement to buy more yarn.

The plans I had if work ended, they will still come about.  The plan is still there - it will just take longer.  I plan on continuing, and being intentional.  This year, there will be things happening, albeit slowly.  Keep watching - I hope to continue posting often like I have so far.  How is your new year shaping up?  Any big changes?

A Sleeve is Born

I would have updated yesterday, but I forgot and I was tired.  Here is the first sleeve for Little Man's sweater.  It is whizzing right along.  This pattern is fantastic and if there are little ones in your life, I highly recommend it.

I learned some interesting news at work today - it looks as though a lot of what I do may soon be obsolete.  This really does not bother me, as I have been hoping for a way to leave soon, but the job market is not as resilient as the news reports.  Again, it does not upset me, but it is an odd feeling.  Much like watching a building fall or a car crash, knowing what will happen, yet powerless to stop it.  I am bemused.  This will open a new door for me, and allow me to start a new chapter.  I have always looked forward to change, and now is no exception.  It will be life altering in a new way, especially with the children along for the ride.  I know it will be soon, but exactly how soon I cannot tell.  Any news fromedia where you are?

Getting better

Slowly, the family is getting better.  This is great, because I'm not sure how many days I can live on adrenaline.  I was surviving on that for Thursday and Friday, and got the adrenaline to drop off sometime around 1 a.m. Saturday morning.  I'm still working on Little Man's Lancelot, and I've started the 3rd repeat of the body.  I am actually enjoying working it from the bottom up.  I will have Little Man try it on tonight, since he's MUCH better (he asked for a Frosty, a sure sign he's feeling better) and he can easily try it on.  I'm also working on a version of this:

This is the Neat Ripple Pattern from Lucy at Attic 24.  I'm not using nearly as many colors - I only have 5, and I'm doing 6 rows of each color.  I have only completed one section of each color, and I just started the second section of the first color.

In case you haven't noticed, I'm working on blogging every other day.  It seems like a lot, but I thought I would see if more frequent updates would help readership.  I'm also trying to update my project page in Ravelry more, to see if that helps.  We'll see how it works.  Please leave a comment to let me know you're reading!  Now that things have slowed down a little with the children (hubby is still on the mend - he went to urgent care and got medication yesterday), I hope to make really good progress.  I'm keeping busy, even if it's not in crafty ways.  How's your new year progressing so far?

Tiredness

It is hard to imagine, but I am already exhausted this year.  Everyone but me is now sick, and I have had to nurse everyone back to health.  But, I have two items to show you.  First:

This is my bullet journal.  You can find out more about them on Pinterest, or by going to Bulletjournal.com.  Second:

Here is my progress on Little Man's Lancelot.  I am on the second skein, and need to have him try it on, but poor baby is sick.  Trying on a sweater isn't in the cards at the moment, but hopefully soon.  I am usually not a fan of yellow, but I have to say I do not mind the gold.  It is Valley Yarns Berkshire in Gold, and I rathere like it.  How is your new year starting?

Confessions

I have a confession to make.  I really secretly like to wash dishes.  I secretly like putting away clothes.  I actually like housework.  I now understand why my mother-in-law doesn't want a dishwasher.  It's actually soothing, in some sick twisted way, to wash dishes.  I really do love having a stack of dishes to wash, making it through all of them, and looking to see a clean counter.  I can't say that I would go as far as not having a dishwasher, but I do enjoy washing some pots and pans from time to time.

My whole house is going to ring in the new year sick, with me as the only exception.  The children picked up a cold somewhere along the way, and have been under the weather.  It seems my hubby has caught the same cold, and so far, I'm the only one who has not come down with it.  It will probably strike at the worst possible moment, like on Friday, during work, when it's my busiest time.  In preparation for the worst, I am working over the holiday.  I had a surprise project given the week prior to Christmas, and that ate up my time to finish things.  So, I'm trying to make up for it.

In the meantime, I'm still working on the sweater for Little Man's birthday, and I've been reading.  I received several of the YarnHarlot's books for Christmas, and I already finished one and started another one.

This one, "Things I Learned from Knitting...whether I wanted to or not" is a fast read.  I think it took me about a week, and I only picked it up for 15 minutes here and there.

How are you ringing in the new year?

New Endeavors

This past year seems to have been rough.  My friend at Knot Knecessarily Knitting had a rough year too.  I think 2014 was rough for a lot of us.  I have started Little Man's birthday sweater.  He decided on the color Gold from Valley Yarns Berkshire.  I picked out the pattern Lancelot, and he approved.

He liked it, so did I and I bought the pattern.  I don't buy many patterns, but this one I think is well worth it.  Honestly, I wish I had purchased it earlier.  It would have helped move the Business Casual socks along a little faster I think.  She uses the same idea in the cables, but approaches them slightly differently.  It's clever to me, and it would have been useful.  Oh well - live and learn.  And now that I have the pattern, if I decide to make the Business Casual socks again (I'm thinking perhaps for my Sister-in-Love for Christmas this next year?), it will speed them up a bit.

I have the goal of knitting 3 sweaters for myself this year.  I'm also thinking on the first one as I knit this one.  I plan on finding my copy of Knitter's Workshop and knit the hybrid sweater.  It starts from the bottom up, which is what makes me think of it while knitting the birthday sweater.  It too starts from the bottom up.  It's a new technique for me, as I usually prefer from the top down.  I'm not opposed to bottom up, but top down seems easier to me.  So far though on Lancelot, so good.  I really do like it, and the yarn is nice and soft.  It doesn't have a lot of twist, so you have to be careful not to split it.  I like it, and even the color.  I'm not usually a yellow fan, but I like the gold.  What are you working on?  How are you planning to ring in the new year?

Fun planning

There's an oxymoron for you: fun planning.  It sounds like a contradiction, but in reality, it's not.  I have been looking on Pinterest, which is dangerous for any crafty person, and finding ideas for the new year in being organized.  I love the idea of the Bullet Journal, and went to get a composition journal.  It's a simple investment, and an easy one.  The website suggests one that is way more expensive, but I just made a simple $2.89 investment from Office Max.  That way, if it isn't for me, I didn't spend $30 on one.

I'll see how it works for a month or two.  It will be lighter to carry around in my purse than my Day Runner, but I got a refill for that one too.  I'm going to use that one at home, and the Bullet Journal at work.  I can transfer things weekly into the Day Runner, and use the Day Runner more for business ideas.  I don't mean "business" as in work; I mean "business" as in my own.  It's been an idea my hubby and I have been kicking around for a couple of years, and this year, we're going to be intentional about it.  It's hard with three children and a house - but we have to be more intentional about a lot of things.  Have you started planning for the new year?  How do you plan?

Where am I going?

This next year, and I'm trying to start now, is going to be about being intentional.  So, let's get started.  First, remember these?

They were wrapped and gifted to my mom.  She unwrapped them, and said she really liked them on Christmas Day (yesterday).  Then, once she got home, she tried them on.  She then called, and asked for three more pair.  She said they fit wonderfully, and since there was no seam on the toe, they didn't hurt her foot.  She asked if she gave me money for the yarn, would I be willing to make her 3 more pair?  How can any knitter refuse?  She said no rush, there's no time constraint, but she wants 3 more pair to wear to work.

Do you remember these?

Or at least me telling you about them...it was a free pattern from The Purl Bee.  I added bows to differentiate between them for the children.  The purple was for the baby, the red for Little Man, and the pink for Princess.  The bow pattern I also promised to post, so here it is:

Easy Bow

Yarn: a few yards of a light worsted or dk weight yarn
Needles: size US 4 (I used DPNs, because I used them for the hedgehogs and they were handy)

Cast on 8 stitches.
Row 1: Knit all stitches.
Row 2: K 1, P 6, K1.

Repeat these 2 rows 20 more times (42 rows total).  Bind off.
Sew ends together.  Fold circle in half, so that the seam is in the middle of the back.  Sew the top and bottom edges together.  Fold in a zigzag pattern; wrap yarn around the middle and tie in the back.

There you go.  The children loved those as well, although the kazillion other toys have a tendency to overshadow this type of toy.

This next year, I hope to be more intentional.  I have several projects already lined up, and I will post progress here about them.  Will you help hold me accountable?  A friend of mine is embarking on a similar journey.  She has set forth goals for herself and she's starting today (she was a Christmas baby).  She's calling it the 35th project, and you can read about it here.  I need some encouragement, and she and I are working together to meet a couple of goals.  Send us your thoughts and best wishes.  Any constructive criticism is welcome, but meanness is not.  You know the rules.  Let's help each other out - if you want me to hold you accountable, put your goal/email/website in the comments, and I'll make a note to check with you on it.  If I can do it, so can you.  It takes us helping each other to reach monumental goals, and there's no better time than the present to start.

Christmas and other things

It's been a mad house around here.  Hardly anything is ready for Christmas, although I did take it easy on myself and only did a few knitted presents this year.  The ones I made were mostly by request - the rest of the gifts were bought.  I managed to find and make a few surprises, like these:

I found the pattern on The Purl Bee, and had to make one for each of my children.  Aren't they adorable?  One has a pink hair bow, one has a purple hair bow, and one has a red bow tie.  I kind of made up the bow pattern.  I'll share that later, after pictures.  I'm working on wrapping presents and I am finishing the last of the knitted ones.  I found I had extra time and yarn, and so I'm adding to what I already have.  It's actually rather nice to not be in a rush to get things done, feel a time crunch, and be in a panic.  I love Christmas, and little by little, I'm already starting to plan next year's.  I know that sounds insane, but if I can get organized now, and figure out what I need/want, then next year I can put in a game plan and start early enough so that it's not a hassle.  I'm also looking towards the new year, and thinking about how I need to work that as well.  There are a lot of changes that I really want to make, things I want to make progress on, projects I want to complete, and the like.  I'm trying to take some time to reflect on this past year and create a game plan for next year, to make it better.  Quite frankly, I had a rather crappy year.  I had a lovely new baby girl added to our family, but work had severe issues, money was a problem (try a HUGE bill from said new baby), and there was little to no progress in some other areas.  Next year, I'm going after it all.  It sounds like a lot, but there's that old Chinese proverb - "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."  So, each day, you wake up and think about what you can do to take one step.  After a whole 365 days of stepping, you've made progress.  I don't anticipate completing everything this next year, but I want to make progress on it.  There are some things I definitely want to accomplish (some teaching tools, more crocheted items, a plan of attack for all holidays), and there are things that I want to make progress on (work, money issues, personal growth).  Getting a game plan is the best way to do that, and I'm getting there.  It's slow, and I really do have to actually sit down with a piece of paper and pencil (I'm seriously old-school with that - I need a pencil, not a pen, as I make a lot of mistakes and need to erase a lot).  I need to create categories and write down the goal for that category, and then steps to reach that goal.  The new year holds a lot of promise, and I want that promise to be fulfilled.  My theme for this next year is "Be Intentional."  Everything we do should be intentional - with a purpose and a goal in mind.  Even having fun should be intentional - we need to let off steam and create memories with our children.  Be in the moment, for once the moment is gone, it can never be regained.  Do you have plans for the new year already?  How's your holiday season shaping up?

Epic Sweater Fail

There was a time when I was invincible in the knitting world.  I had no fear, and I dove in head first for much of what I wanted to do.  These days, I’m not afraid, but I have very little brain power to spare.  I have attempted at least 3 times to knit myself a sweater, and I have failed.  Every.  Time.  This is failure of epic proportions for me. 

Failed Attempt #1

Failed Attempt #2

So, I’m going back to the basics.  I tried to knit the lovely Oatmeal Pullover, and the second time through (or was it the third?), realized the sweater and my body were not compatible.  This happens – you see something lovely in a store and think “I love that shirt/dress/sweater/skirt/whatever” only to go in and try it on and find that a potato sack would fit better.  I have to re-learn things that I thought I knew.  Maybe I still know them, but they are buried deep in the recesses of my mind.  This happens as you get older (so I am told).  So, I am going to embark on a journey.  I invite you to come along with me. 

I am starting on another bulky weight sweater for myself.  This will be a basic raglan sweater, knit from the top down.  I have my tape measure, my pencil (I need a pencil because I have to erase a lot), all the yarn I could possibly need for this sweater, needles, stitch markers, a calculator, and paper.  Hopefully I will re-learn a lot of fitting techniques, and maybe even a few new ones.  I hope to have this one done before the really cold weather sets in (although we’ve been having freakishly cold weather here already, and it’s super early for it!).  Will you come with me on my journey?  I know the next few weeks are filled with cooking, baking, cleaning, holidays, parties, concerts, shopping and all kinds of craziness (since now apparently shops have what my hubby calls “Hallogivingmas”), but I think taking some time out for myself (or ourselves) is important too.  I know that I will be the only one to give myself something handmade. 

Funny side story for handmade items: one place that I worked, we always did a small birthday celebration for those in our group.  We had a cake, bought and signed a card, and usually gathered a little cash for a gift card for the person.  It was a small group, so this wasn’t a big deal financially, but it always was a nice gesture.  I, being the baker in the group, would usually bake a cake for whoever it was – I tried to find out their favorite and make sure we had that.  When it was my birthday, I got a store bought cake.  It was one from a local grocery store, and not even one that had a bakery in it – it was one of the bundt cakes that come on a truck already baked and packaged.  I still loved them, as it was more the gesture of thought than the cake itself, but it was just funny that I got a lowly pre-packaged bundt cake with strawberry gel on top, while everyone else got a lovely homemade fresh baked cake.  I still love those people.  And I'm still baking cakes, including my own.

On the fence

I started this crocheted afghan over a year ago:

It's a free pattern I found through Ravelry; Sampler Afghan, by Marianne Forrestal. It's a lovely crocheted block style afghan, and then you whipstitch all the blocks together, and add a border.  My problem is that not all the blocks are as even as I'd like.  This means I have to redo several of them.  That's not really much of a problem, to be honest.  I like doing the blocks for the most part, and they go fairly quickly.  My biggest issue is that I've been distracted by the Neat Ripple Afghan, by Lucy of Attic 24.  Actually, it's just her use of color, and she's currently doing a Cosy Blanket CAL.  I have to admit that I am not normally inclined to her use of color, but it's been drawing me in recently.  I'm thinking of changing this one, undoing everything I've done, and putting it into some lovely crocheted stripes.  I have to "finish" the blanket, because I've been teaching a class.  I still need to whip at least 2 together, and work the border for a bit, so I can finish teaching.  What do you think?  Should I just redo the squares that need it, block them out and finish what I started, or rip it all out and start some lovely stripes?  Leave me a comment and let me know.  I miss hearing from you.

Progression of a sock

Here is today's progress.  Not too shabby...I hope to be down to the toe decreases tomorrow.  I really want to be done with this one by the weekend.  I already have another sock that needs the toe grafted.  Then I need to complete the second sock for that pair.  Fortunately, those socks are for Princess #1, so they are small and go quickly.  How is your Christmas knitting coming?

Race to the finish

So, here is where I am on Christmas present number one.   There is another sock, and a really long story to tell.  That will hopefully be over the weekend.  My tablet is not the best medium to use for communication,  but it works for now.   And I can give more WIP updates.  That's all for now!

Pain

I would have updated something sooner, but back pain sucks.  I was fine and then all of a sudden, my back tightened up and it's been a painful existence ever since.  I finally had to get a couple of prescriptions from the doctor - it was that bad.  I worked from home (not that the boss was happy about it, but that was all I could do) and didn't feel like knitting or crocheting.  At all.  You know it's bad when that happens.  But, I did get to wear my socks.  I started a new one.  This one is for my mother for Christmas.  She asked for them.

It's the Business Casual sock, with a picot cast on.  My mom saw them when I took her to the doctor's office, and said she liked them and wanted a pair.  I changed the cast on, and used a lovely yarn from Madeline Tosh in Fragrant that I had in my stash.  I've turned the heel and am working on the foot, but I have to get the length.  She's supposed to be measuring her foot this weekend for me.  I'm trying to do a handmade Christmas again this year, as much as possible, but I'm cramped for time.  I hope to get these socks done in the next couple of weeks, and then I have 3 more pairs to do.  I was going to try Wraptor, from Knitty, but that would take WAY longer than the 2 weeks I have for each pair.  I'd love to sew a couple of pillows for the children, but if not, I have a couple of other gifts up my sleeve that will take far less time to make.  

I'm working on a serious shoe-string budget this year.  I'm trying to get everything (or as much as I can) done on about $400.  I was going to use $300, but I don't think I can make it.  Have you started making Christmas plans yet?

Testing new things

I am attempting something new.

It may not be the greatest, but now I can hopefully post more pictures!  Here is the latest new project, a Flax for the baby to match her big sister.  The biggest problem right now is seeing as I type, so I have to carefully proofread before publishing.  Hope it all comes together!