Pressing forward

This

has become this:

I still have a couple of inches to go, but it's coming along nicely.  I am hoping to get to the split part of the body by the weekend, which is rather optimistic.  I still think I'm making great progress, and will have this sweater done for the middle of next month.  I have been alternating between this and this:

I read the first one last year, and watched the first season (it was a Christmas gift) and I have been looking for this book ever since.  I was able to find it at the local library, and I hope to finish it in the next 2 weeks.  I haven't read as much as I hoped so far, but I will be able to finish it soon.  I have a goal of reading 20 books this year, and I am not including children's books in that.  I have finished one, The Great Gatsby, so far.  I am surprised that I had never read it.  I have two other books that I have started.  One is Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children and the other is Written in My Own Heart's Blood.  I received the first for a Christmas gift, and the second we got because it's written by one of our favorite authors.  I say "we" because my husband loves to read, and enjoys Diana Gabaldon as much as I do.

Unfortunately, he's been struggling with his eye sight the past few months.  Before we moved, he was told during a routine eye exam that he had small cataracts.  He thinks they have gotten worse rather quickly, but until he can get an appointment, we won't know for sure.  The problem with getting an appointment is insurance.  Our new vision insurance will start in May, and we have to pay for it all on our own.  This doesn't sound like a terrible thing, and it might not be, if he weren't working a $10/hour job while I stayed at home.  Insurance is only one of the many obstacles we are overcoming with this flip in lifestyle.  Fortunately, good friends and family help facing these obstacles a little less daunting, just by being there and supporting us.  God is still good, all the time and all the time, God is good.  He has blessed us in many ways, and even though we struggle and have problems and get frustrated, we know that "all things work together for the glory of God."  When you change your perspective, it doesn't change your circumstances, but it does change your reaction to them.  Sometimes that's all you need - a change in perspective.  Have you had one lately?  Please share.

Joining

I have been diligently working on my new sweater since Sunday...well, as much as I can.  I've been trying to speed up the knitting by attempting one inch per day, which according to the directions, would take me 15 days to reach the split for the arms.  It's worked from the bottom up, and this plain stockinette stitch allows me to do other things while I knit - talk, watch TV, supervise children, etc.  These plain knitting projects are a beautiful thing.  However, in all large projects (anything that takes more than one skein) requires joining a new ball of yarn.  Before when I've done this, it was not a big deal, because I was using a wool yarn.  Even a wool superwash gives a little leeway when joining.  The natural fibers of wool like to cling to each other, so even if your join isn't perfect from behind, the front can look flawless.  I usually use one of two different methods when joining wool: the Russian join or duplicate stitching.

The second method, duplicate stitching is probably the easiest to explain.  Basically you overlap the two yarns, old and new, about 3-6 inches (depending mostly on the weight of the yarn) and knit with both yarns until the old one runs out.  You may have to weave in or tighten a loose end when you're done, but it stays extremely secure and surprisingly is not bulky (most of the time).  Here's a quick picture for you:

Just hold the two strands together for a length and knit with both strands as one

The first method mentioned, the Russian join, is also one that works really well with wool I have found.  You take a tail of about 6 inches of the old yarn and thread a yarn needle, fold it back on itself and weave it back into the strand to create a loop at the end.  You then do the same with the new yarn, making sure that the loop interlocks with the old loop.  Here's a quick picture for you of this one:

These aren't woven into the strands, merely wrapped, but you can see the loops that link

There are several websites that explain these two methods in detail, and I may later on provide a video for you, but that's the quick and dirty explanation.  The only problem I have is that I'm not working with a wool yarn.  I have a linen/cotton blend.  This complicates things.  Linen and cotton fibers do not cling the way wool fibers do.  They are much smoother since they are a plant fiber and not a protein fiber.  So, I have been looking into other ways to attach the new skein.  Some suggest a knot (heaven forbid!  So many will tell you NEVER knot your knitting!), others suggest the Russian join or duplicate knitting methods I described above.  There is also a braided join, which splits a length of each yarn (about 3-6 inches again, depending on the weight of the yarn) and braids the plies together.  This I think works best for an acrylic yarn, or one that is plied and tightly spun.  The braid should wind up about the same diameter as the plied yarn, and virtually undetectable when knit up.

The other issue I ran into is that most tell you to join at the end or edge of your knitting.  Problem one with that: it's in the round.  Problem solution: use the underarm/marked side seam of your knitting to join.  Problem two: I hate wasting that yarn.  Problem solution: well, unless I get over not wanting to waste the yarn, there really isn't one.  I am one of these crazy insane people that wants to use every inch of yarn I have bought to really get my money's worth.  Even cheap, squeaky, tacky acrylic yarn will be subject to my unnatural need to use every inch.  I don't want even a single millimeter to go to waste.  I keep all my ends, never throwing them away, to use as filler when doing a stuffed project.  That's how far I will go.  I guess it's a tribute to my grandparents, who were products of the Depression era, and never wasted a thing.  My grandmother would reuse aluminum foil until it had holes in it.

Here is what I finally decided to do: I just knit with the two strands held together.  I can tug at them and get it to look normal, so as I now knit it up, I won't waste any yarn and it's less time consuming than another possible option.

About 4 inches of the sweater knit and ready to join the new skein!

Spring Cleaning

It's almost spring time!  I have yet to finish my sweater.  I don't know other than the socks that I just finished that I've finished anything this year.  However, I think I am suffering from spring cleaning fever or something.  I really want to hurry up and finish things, getting them off my needles.  I also want to organize everything.  I keep planning to get a clear plastic container, so I can then bag up my yarn with potential patterns, and put it all together.  I would love to organize the whole stash, but I don't currently have the entire stash here.  Part of it is still in storage.  My hope is to organize what is here, and then it will take up less space, so I can bring more of it here and organize that as well.

I did manage to start another sweater, for myself.  And the great thing is, there are NO modifications!  All I had to do was adjust for my gauge.  I am using a worsted weight yarn (light worsted, in my opinion) instead of a sport weight.  The pattern I'm using is this one that was just published:

Inhabit

This is how far I've gotten on it:

I just started it Saturday night, rather late.  I worked on it a bit yesterday, and a little today.  Size 5 needles make things go very slowly.  But it is knitting up beautifully.  I'm using Nashua Creative Focus Linen, which is no longer made.  The color looks like it is just a purple, but the color is called Phlox, and it has a bit more pink to it.  This shows the color better.

I am hoping to finish it by mid-April.  The other sweater I was working on for me found here will be finished after this one.  The sad thing is that I'm almost done with the body, and would only have to do the sleeves and collar on it.  I haven't ordered the yarn yet for Little Man's sweater.  The weather has turned, and it's getting too hot for a sweater.  So, even this will be put on the back burner until later.  I can work his up during the summer, after the Littlest Princess' birthday sweater is done.  Once I finish this one, provided my timing is right, I can start hers, for which I already have the yarn.  Then I can order Little Man's yarn, crank his out, finish my Iced, and then start the Princess' sweater.  I think the Littlest Princess' sweater will be either crocheted or knitted, and I will be making up the pattern as I go.  I may look at Ravelry and see what I can find, but more than likely, I'll just make it up as I go along.  How about you?  Has spring hit you yet?

Birthday Sweaters

I normally knit birthday sweaters for my children.  I'm already behind a bit, but some of it is a translation issue.  I still have to order the yarn for this one:

But I'm also working on the translation.  The pattern is free in French, and I have to translate it, as my 8th grade French class did not cover.  I have also decided to make ME a birthday sweater.

My Iced sweater is going to be my birthday sweater.  Now, I probably will be jumping from this to Little Man's, to the youngest's sweater, and working on my Etsy store stuff in between as a diversion.  I have had a slow month, meaning I've been a bit slow.  But I think I'm coming out of the fog now, and starting to pick up speed.  Everything has slowed down, and that's not normal for me.  Maybe it was just the winter blues, or blahs, and now that the weather has warmed up a bit, I can shake them.  How about you?  Have the winter blahs hit, or are you just barreling through it all?

Not as often as I'd like

I seem to be having trouble finding time to knit these days.  I'm not sure what has changed, other than I think I've knocked it down on my priorities list.  Here are the current in progress items:

This is the toe-up sock pattern, Back to Basics.  The yarn is from a past project, Gentleman Socks, that I made for my brother.  I bought 2 skeins, afraid that because his feet are large I'd need extra.  I didn't, and actually had plenty for the majority of what you see knit left over.  I have barely started on the second skein.

This yarn is wonderful, but for some reason, it keeps breaking.  I believe it's Malabrigo, in Indicieta.  The pattern is Dragonfly Rib Socks, but I didn't purchase it - it was gifted to me as a print pattern.  And I can't find my copy of it.  So, if I want to make the second one, I either have to search through a ton of boxes, or reverse engineer it.  I can figure out the toe, and I know the pattern, but I just have to deal with the heel.  Mine looks pretty good, and I started this way back in the day, so it had to have been fairly easy.

This is my cardigan that I finally picked and started.  I wasn't sure which one I wanted to knit, remember?  But I decided, after one cold bitter evening out, to knit Iced.  There are some modifications going on, as I don't have a size 11 cable needle.  I'm using 10.5s, and I also have to make it bigger.  So, the math is available for me to do, and I'm working on it as I go.  Fortunately, as it's a cardigan, if it's a bit big, that's a good thing.  I haven't split for the arms yet, and I'm not done with the increases.  It seems to be working out so far though.  Any late Winter knitting going on for you?

I still can't decide

I asked here, and I asked on Facebook which sweater I should knit.  Here are the choices again:

Iced

Jacqueline

 

Oblique

Harvest

On Facebook, Iced is winning.  Hubby and another friend (who's a guy) have said Oblique.  Oblique is in second place, and I kind of give a little more weight to the men's opinions.  This is two-fold: one, both men know me really well.  One has been my friend for about 16 years, and the other is my husband.  Second, I had asked the question which one I should knit for me.  Women usually will answer which one they like best, not which one would necessarily look best on me.  The men understand the question and will respond as to which one would look best on me, not which one they like better.  It's a slight difference, but still it should be weighted.  

It seems like no matter how much I work on something, I just can't finish it.  I've been working on finishing this cowl:

and it seems like it is taking FOREVER.  I am sewing the braids together, so they will stay and not gap.  It's just taking a really long time.  I guess I think I am working on it more than I am, but I also think I should get farther on it than I do whenever I do work on it.  Seaming takes forever, which is why I really don't like it.  I have also been distracted by some socks I found.  I had purchased 2 skeins  of sock yarn a really long time ago to make socks for my brother.  It took me a while (like a couple of years) to finish the socks, and I never touched the second skein.  And I had a part of the first skein left over.  So...I had started another pair, and some how they got lost in the shuffle of stash buying, but they have resurfaced since we moved.  I should be making myself some, but instead, I'm making my hubby another pair.  As much sometimes as I want to be selfish, sometimes I just can't be.

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?