June Report

June is almost over and there is enough going on to write about. First daughter number two left the country to be a beach bum. Now the trip to Chicago was something. We had good time when arrived at Joilett. For the last twelve years I stop at the same Cracker Barrel. This time was not any different, we had a nice lunch and left the restaurant on time. After that it was a nightmare, highway was closed due to an accident, 7 miles took an hour. Things did not get better once we arrived to International terminal. Long checkout and security lines, poor girl had only 20 minutes to spare. Her trip was uneventful, her luggage did not get lost and she made it home safe and sound. Now she is enjoying sun, beach and getting spoiled by grandparents.

Second I started going office. Dear Stu drives me every morning, he helps me with my wheelchair, opens the doors so can get in to the building then picks me up very evening.

Third I mailed 6 hats and one vest for Dulaan Project. The deadline is July 1st. It does not take too long to make a simple hat. I know my family enjoys the things I knit for them but they have so much that they would wear one or two time as long as colors match the outfit etc etc. But I know those children will wear the hats, sweaters, use the scarves regardless of the yarn and color. Anyway hats are basic round hat pattern, and the vest... I started with the intention of making a sweater then I realized that I don't have enough yarn, I just made a vest, no pattern, just eye balled.

May Report

I did not realize it has been more than two months since I did not post. This does not mean I did not knit, on the contrary I have been very busy. The main reason I start going office and I took my computer to the work. I don't have home office setup any more. It took a while to copy the photos and import links my old home PC. June is traditionally busy month for us , and of school, travels etc but this May has been the busiest month so far. This will be a long, photo heavy entry

May 4: Cowboy Blanket

Cowboy blanket has been completed last minute before we start for Oklahoma. I did not have a chance to take a picture before, so Stu held the blanket for me. The blanket was knitted in five strips ( garter stitch). All the lettering is done by I-Cords. I hated using acrylic yarn but my daughter loved the practical side of it.

May 5: Graduation

Daughter number one aka favorite child(!) graduated from Oklahoma State, William Spears Business school with Economics and Pre Law degree.

Iba Hall where the ceremony held









Proud graduate and future lawyer. She has been accepted to Syracuse Law, my baby is moving to Syracuse this August. Syracuse gets average 113" snowfall every year!

















As you may have already realized, school colors are orange,black and white. To keep the tradition alive most people dressed in orange, including the little monster Breia. She had orange bows and orange painted toe nails.

May 22 - Cozy Completed

I completed Cozy finally. I used Reynolds Mandalaya 100% silk yarn. I did not like this yarn. It kept splitting, it was very hard on my fingers and it smelled funny! The yarn did not have a sheen and was not soft to touch. I was told black was my MIL's favorite color, otherwise I would have picked some other color(more cheerful). But it still looked good, if I were to knit again I would probably use Knitpicks shine .

May 25: Another Graduation

Daughter number two aka Precious Child (baby of the family) graduated from Middle school. Their graduation ceremony was very nice. After ceremony the whole eight grade had celebration party.

Cozy Wrap

I have received my Reynolds Mandalaya yarn last Friday. I wanted to give something to my mother-in-law for her birthday/mother's day. I have been looking at lace shawl pattern for sometime. I did not think I would have enough time to follow the charts. I also wanted something practical and easy to take care of. When I saw Cozy I knew I could knit it in a reasonable time. My first deadline is the cowboy blanket, the project I hate due May 5th. It will be 5 strips and I am about half way with the 4th strip. After I saw the strips together, if I have time I will stitch school logo on the corners and of course graduation date. The second deadline is for the wrap, it will be due to first week of May so I can mail it. I should be able to knit while driving to OK for graduation ceremony. And last but not least my sister's cardigan which I am still waiting for Knitpicks interchangeable needles. I plan to finish it before my daughter's trip to my parents. She has reservation for June 15th. I have about a month to be selfish and knit something for myself.

I started swatching yesterday and I got the right gauge 18st/4" with stockinette stitch. But when I started lace pattern which is very simple by the way, it started looking too holey and loose. I changed the needles from circular to straight, then changed the size, knitted several swatches I did not like any of them. I am not crazy about the current one either I think it is mainly due to the color. I wish I had some bright lighter color but Stu thought charcoal would be safer and more versatile for his mom. Otherwise it is nice yarn, pure silk although it has funny smell. I will use lavender when I block it. Right now I am tired of trying I will continue with us sz 8 needles.

I also got Denise Interchangeable needles this weekend. I think choice of needles deserve another blog topic since first thing I have to decide with every project.

I wish ...

...I were a pet in my house. I work all day and this is what they do all day!

Sock Report

This is what I picked for my dear husband, Stu. Sensible, manly colors are also suitable for business attire.


This is what he picked for himself. The reason..."I like purple". Live and learn. I am actually glad he picked this yarn. It has soysilk fibers along with wool, cotton and chitin. It has nice feel about it.



Hotsocks, us 2 dpns, Sockbug's Garter Stitch Bars pattern

This pair suffered from SSS (second sock syndrome) for long time. First I got sidetracked with other projects then I could not find the first sock. This weekend I decided to finish it and start the week with only one project. It is not going to happen since my daughter gave me a totally different project which requires a sewing machine.







J.Knits Columbus colorway us sz2 dpns

These are the anxiety socks which I finished sometime ago but never had a chance to post the photos. I had only one skein (50gr), luckily my daughter likes ankle socks.



And this arrived this weekend for Knitty's Sitcom Chick cardigan which entered to project queue right after Arian cardigan. Lion Brand discontinued all the bright colors of cotton ease, I saw this yarn on ebay and could not resist to little voices in my head!

More yarn

After my last post I contacted the seller. I also sent her the photo posted earlier. She immediately responded, she was apologetic and she told me that she would send me two skeins. I would be happy with one skein too.
These two skeins arrived today. Colors are more deeper and richer than the first skein. They have more autumn feel but still beautiful. The package was in my mailbox and ...

this package from Elann was at my doorstep.
It is Highland Peruvian wool in Spiced wine color. My sister picked up the color for her Arian cardigan which will be the next project.
The current project is the monster cowboy blanket in garter stitch. I am knitting the third strip. The finished blanket will be at least 56x48.

Frustration

I love color and I love knitting socks therefore I love sock yarns especially hand dyed ones. I am more disciplined for any other yarns but if I see a sock yarn I like I usually can not resist and I end up buying it, hey what is $20 here or there, right? I bought this beautiful yarn (online) two weeks ago. Since then I have been waiting anxiously, I received it today along with cotlin yarn for $1.50 cardigan from another vendor. The colorway looked different than what I saw on my computer screen but I thought still looked OK in spite of some dark spots. The skein was so tangled it took a while to find the ends and I started winding then I noticed the yarns was broken in multiple places. I could live with spit slicing for big sweaters but I refuse to have knots or spit slicing for my socks. A sock yarn should not have any knots whatsoever!!! I contacted the seller, we will see what happens.

Cowboy Blanket

When I wake up this morning, I looked around and I saw knitting projects everywhere. I keep buying baskets and containers to keep them organized but for some reason every basket is overflowing. I should stop buying yarn because I can not knit as fast as I swap my credit card. I had a cardigan, a sock, a hat, a dishcloth and a blanket on the needles. Unfinished things bother me. One may suggest that I should not start a project before finishing another one. This sounds like eating same food day after day. Yuck! Anyway at the end of the day dishcloth was done along with the little hat with ear flaps. My daughter loved the hat and wants one now. We wanted Mikko to model it but he got scared and kept trying to lay on the floor like the hat was weighing a ton. The hat is for Dulan project, the pattern is basic hat pattern from Last Minute Knitted Gifts.

I knitted about 4+ squares of the blanket. I figure 7 rows 6 columns, 56 squares should be big enough. Depending on time constraint the dimensions might get smaller. The worst case it will be a cute dog blanket. I can not say that I like knitting with this particular acrylic yarn. I should have made a quilt with these colors instead of knitting. I would have finished the top in one day.

Life Interrupted

I haven't had a chance to blog lately. Last week was spring break and both daughters were home. My oldest came from college with her two little monsters and that was the end of our quiet, calm, peaceful house. The little monsters are cute but very hyper and loud. My poor senior dog was having difficult time to adjust. All he wanted to be left alone. But those two wanted to play with him and chase the cats. They enjoyed chasing the cats so much, my daughter took one of the cats down to OK. No, of course that was not the real reason, I love my cats, but this one was having issues. So we want to isolate him and find the root cause.

Monster 1 - 8 lbs Monster 2 - 5 lbs

Partners in crime enjoying nice weather.

I did not have any serious knitting time between working from home and trying to spend time with my daughters. I almost done with my everyday Cardigan, I need to finish one arm, block it and knit the button and neck bands. The goal is complete the cardigan this week because I want to start on my $1.50 cardigan from IK. I was checking Knitpicks side , they finally got Cotlin, I immediately ordered in Linen color as they did not have much color selection. I said I did not have time for knitting but I still found time for some mindless knitting aka dishcloth knitting ( no offense to anybody). (Grandma's favorite, MDK and ballband dish clothes)

My oldest daughter found this funny since I don't use dish clothes and immediately requested that I spend my time on something more useful!!! That's the reward you get, raising kids, they start telling what to do on your free time. I asked her like what I can possibly do and would be qualified useful. She answered "you can knit me a blanket". Oh she is smart or what. I got excited and start showing her lizard ridge from Knitty, log cabin from MDK and ripple blanket on line. My dreams of using beautiful Noro or colorful cottons shattered when she asked a "guilt free" blanket that she can use, wash without worrying. So we went to not to the LYS , to local craft store and got these.

These are her college colors. She wanted a checkered pattern with these three colors. I decided to use the idea of garter stitch baby blanket from LMK. I casted 34 stitch on sz 8 needles. I ended up having 8" square. I will knit strips of alternating colors and I will sew the strips to make blankets instead of knitting squares separately. I have about 5 weeks to complete, her graduation is on May 5th and she is heading to law school.

On a different note , I had my doctor's appointment last Thursday. After series of xrays I have been told that I still can not put weight on my leg, the consequence would be a shorter leg and lifetime limp. So I need to use the wheelchair for another 6 weeks. I should be grateful but I was disappointed. I should post a sock progress report once I have all the photos.

Next Project

Yarn:BlueMoon Fiber Arts Watermelon Tourmaline & Farmhouse
Needles: US sz 5
6"" wide, 75" long
Start: 3/3/07
Finish: 3/10/07




The scarf is finished but not blocked yet. My enthusiasm started to dye as the scarf grew longer. I stopped at 75" and I am sure it will stretch a little bit once it is blocked. I still have a lot of yarn left. I can make a shorter scarf. I have checked BFA site, they are out of medium weight sock yarn. I was on time once. I wanted to knit something for myself, something I can actually wear besides scarves and socks. I decided on Everyday Cardigan from Kpixie. After looking the yarn selection forever I decided on Peace Fleece Volgasippi Blue. The description for the yarn was faded denim blue with lilac specs. But the yarn I got has teal/green undertone. Although I would have preferred more blue, it is still pretty color so I started on my first cardigan since I graduated college and that was looong time ago. Since it is worsted weight and I am using size 8 needles I am making fast progress. I already finished the back and working on the front.

Since I am on a roll with knitting, the next projects are Arian cardigan from ChicKnits and Dollar and Half Cardigan from Interweave Knits, Spring 2007. I already promised my sister Arian but I can see her checking $1.5 cardigan. Dear sister I will knit whichever you like or both for you!

My Scarf

I started my scarf on Saturday morning but I did not have a chance to continue. I worked on it Sunday, the pattern was surprisingly easy even though I had to change the colors at every two rows. I was frustrated that some colors were pooling so I used size 6 needles every so often to change the repetition. I think it is working. I probably knitted 1/3 of the scarf and I already ordered a nice blue yarn for my next cardigan project. I feel like the daughters and the sister will like this scarf!

Here is the closeup. The colors are blended beautifully and the yarn is vey soft and drapes nicely. I still have to blocked it so it can lay flat.

Chevron Scarf

I got to play with my new birthday gift/toy yesterday and I winded some of my sock yarn. I definitely need a swift yarn winder. I draped the skein over a folding chair instead. It was most trying experience to untangle the yarn. I remembered my grandma, she used to sit and patiently try to untie all those packing strings while I would go get the scissors. I guess I am learning to be patient because I would never cut the yarn and have a knot! Anyway we went out with couple of friends to Brio last night. The service and the food were excellent. It was my first outing in 4 months! After we got home, I wind up my STR sock yarns so It would be ready this morning. Two colors are beautiful separately but not together. All the knitted scarves I have seen are amazingly beautiful so I can hardly to wait to witness the transformation.


Blue Moon Fiber Arts STR Medium Weight Watermelon Tourmaline and Farmhouse colorways

I am lucky...

to have wonderful family, best parents, greatest sister, dearest husband and the daughters who make everything worthwhile and last but not least great friends. Thanks to everybody who remembered my birthday and reminded me I am getting older! My husband surprised me taking today off. Of course I had no idea what he was planning, I had every intention working today but an early email to understandinig managers resolved the problem and we had the day off. The day started with a little scare, our town was on tornado path in the morning. After watching weather TV and dragging our senior dog several times to our lower level bathroom, we went out for a brunch. Since it was my birthday and my husband is such good natured and patient person, he took me to a new yarn store. It was a good drive but I knitted his new sock on the way. The store was big and they had such nice selections I almost drooled. It was very over

whelming. I will definitely go back with my pattern decided. I bought two new sock yarn one for myself one for my daughter so she could wear with her Birkenstocks.

When we got home I had a huge flower arrangement waiting by the front door. My lovely daughter sent the flowers from Oklahoma. It is such beautiful delicate arrangement in all pink. I was finally allowed to open my gift after dinner. He got me a nice watch! My youngest daughter got me a yarn winder. I am so happy now I can wind my STR yarns for LMKG scarf. I will start on that scarf Saturday. For all those were asking me what was in the box, check the photos.

Baby Hats

I saw Dulaan Project on many knitting blogs and I decided to participate. I knitted these two baby hats last night after dinner while watching TV. The pattern is garter stitch band hat from Last-Minute Knitted Gifts. I tried to use my old old circular needle but I remembered why I hate the circular needs. The cord was inflexible, needles weren't smooth. I read many reviews that Addi needles are good, maybe I will try them one day but meantime I used my good old sz 5 dpns. The hats were fun and easy to knit. I used left over yarns from my daughter's hats. I started another child's hat today and I planed to finish it tonight. I will be taking a break tomorrow, since it is my birthday. My dear husband brought my beautifully wrapped gift downstairs and put it on the mantel to tease me. I have to wait till tomorrow! He is such a sweet, loving and considerate guy. I know past four months have not been easy on our family, he had to work twice as much, take care of me and do all the things I would normally do. So a birthday gift was the last thing I expected but now that it is here I am dying to see what is inside the box!

Anxiety Socks

These are the socks that causing me anxiety. I am not sure I have enough yarn to finish them. The remaining yarn is in my new knitting bag. I saw the bag in Yarntootin, I was looking for a small bag to carry my socks for sometime. Ziploc bags are OK to keep the cats out but the needles make holes and I have to have another bag to put the ziploc in when I go out (which is very rare). I immediately ordered my GoKnit pouch from Scout's Swag . So far I am happy with it, I can secure my yarn inside the loop and I can snap the outside loop to my belt or arm of my wheelchair. Well, back to the socks, I got the yarn (J.Knits Columbus colorway) from am auction on eBay. While I was thinking I had such good deal I didn't realize I actually needed two skeins to make socks not one! My daughter liked the color so I told her I will knit her a pair. The socks are knitted in broken rib pattern with us sz 2 dpns. Like I said the remaning yarn is in the bag and I am not checking how much left. I did not close the toe of the first sock just in case I made need some yarn to finish the other one. She told me I can always make the toes different color. That would drive me crazy but she would not mind since most of the time she chooses to wear odd socks anyway! I should know by the end of today whether one skein is enough then I will start mine since I bought three different skeins on that auction. Smart... Next time I should pay attention to the description of the item.

Another Striped Sock

KnitPicks Simply Stripes yarn , Basic Sock pattern knitted with us 2 dpns.

I meant to post this photo earlier. This pair is for my daughter's roommate, Jessica. Both girls liked their socks at least that is what they said on the phone. I think my daughter is converted now and she tells me that she only likes the socks knitted by me and wants more. Like she knows anyone else who knits. It is funny that I am the only knitter among my circle of friends and I have one other friend who crochets. Everyone says how busy they are like we are not all busy. It is a matter of priorities and we tend to use no time as an excuse. I wish I had more time and I could do things I love more. Right now my top wish is being on a sunny beach with beautiful blue sky and calm water and walking by the water since it is snowing here in St Louis again. I will just keep having warm thoughts...

Happy Valentines Day

Happy Valentines Day! While I was getting cards and flowers my family had to do with my e-cards. Wait that's not true, I finished Argosy scarf for my daughter and I steam blocked it, first time for me and I also finished Stu's Multidrectional Scarf but he wanted a little longer, two skeins of Noro Kureyon was not enough!

Noro and Argosy Scarf

I never heard of Noro yarn before I started reading knitting blogs. I liked what I see in all those pictures posted. I was curious but not brave enough to order online. I had my chance to see the yarns in person this past weekend. Our Saturday mornings are always dedicated piano and ballet classes. Since I can not drive anymore Stu became the dedicated chauffeur and I was left home alone (minus the dog and the cats). I was determined to go out past Saturday so I was up and ready to go when they came downstairs and we left the house on time. Once my daughter was in music school, Stu settled me in St Louis Breadco (aka Panera Bread). I was so happy and felt good working on my socks and drinking my cappuccino. Once the lessons over I convinced them to take me to LYS which is literally across the street. The store has good selection but it is very small. Some aisles were so narrow for my wheelchair but the owners were really nice and told us we could remove stuff to make room. I saw my first Noro Kureyon in one of those narrow aisles. I loved the colors and some of the colors were on sale! I had no particular project in my mind but my daughter liked some for a scarf then I saw another color 51 for a Stu scarf, then some pretty mohair yarn for a sweater vest that I promised my daughter.

Once we got home, the pattern search began. I did not want a mundane pattern and I was also afraid that I would not have enough yarn. My daughter loved Argosy pattern. The pattern is easy and directions are very clear and photos are helpful. I started Sunday morning and I have only 3 more rows left. I have to block it though, something I am not looking forward.

As far as Noro yarn goes, no offense to all Noro lovers but I am not impressed. the colors are beautiful, changing from one color to another is interesting but the yarn is poor qality maybe it's due to poor spunning. Some places is very thick yet some places it is very thin almost non existent and I had several unexpected knots in one ball. I also like soft yarns but that's personal preference. I would probably try Noro Silk Garden before I pass my final judgement. The scarf: Noro Kureyon(2 skeins) color 164 us sz 6needles.

Simple but Practical

Simple baby bibs are finished. I had to buy another set of buttons, it took no time to sew the buttons. These bibs are from Mason-Dixon book. I used Peaches and Cream cotton yarn with us size 5 needles. I followed the general idea but made the bibs smaller (34 st) since the baby is still tiny. I think they are practical and my friend could use them . I never thought knitting bibs for my girls. Of course I was very busy at the grad school and had time only for cross stitching then...