More ice...

...is coming

Since I last blogged:

I finished a felted bag 

I finished a piece of needlepoint 

I haven't decide if I'll frame it or how I'll have it finished.

I started two pairs of socks, a cowl, and a headband. 

We've had more cold weather followed by warm and again cold. The last time with terrible ice. And since it looked deceivingly wet (not icy), I went out and slipped and fell. Luckily nothing was broken just a sprain of my left wrist. It sure puts a crimp in my knitting time! So no knitting has been done for 6 days!! and none expected to be done for a while.  :( 

Now to the weather.  We are expecting freezing rain late this afternoon into the evening.  It's looking like I won't be going out tomorrow, lol.
The good news is it will start warming up and be in the 60s by Sunday.

January beginnings

a cable block (will become part of a blanket)

a fingerless mitt

 

felted bag

I think this year will be the year of fingerless mitts, lol.  I have quite a few planned.  And I will be knitting socks (of course!)

New Knitting

My first project for the new year was a fingerless mitt. I don't have to make a mate because this mitt is a shop sample and will also be used in a class I'll teach in February. (and I forgot to take a picture)

The second project is a felted bag. (another class project)

The third new project is the start to an afghan of many cabled squares. This afghan will be a year long project. I'm hoping to get at least one if not two squares done a month.

I did work a few rows on a shawl I'm working on.

I did not start a new pair of socks because I have 4 pairs ongoing in various stages. It doesn't mean I don't want to start a new pair or I haven't picked out the next pattern and yarn (which I have, lol).

I made my list wips (no I will not be listing them here) and I have a goal to get some of them finished this year.

Now back to my knitting.

a few finished objects

for your viewing pleasure...

Rose Mitts

Washcloths for our soldiers overseas

and a Star Trek Insignia Mug Rug

I'm trying to get a pair of socks finished up because tomorrow is July 1st!!  Time to start a new pair of socks, heheheh.

Busy as a bee

Already?!

March?!!  What happened to January and February?

It has been a busy two months.


I have been busy working, visiting with the grandkids, knitting, baking, doing needlepoint, and reading.

To catch you up...

I finished these Beaded Lacey Cuffs February 23rd.  They are as cute as I remember.

Mikado Knit Lace Cuff with Beads design by Cathy Campbell
Yarn: Katia Acuario (90% viscose, 10% plyamide), Green
Beads: Mill Hill size 6 color 16037 (80 beads)


Knitted madly trying to finish the Putting Holes in Happiness socks for the FGF (Fingerless Glove Fanatics) Sock Group on Ravelry.  I had January and February to finish them.  January I worked on the Blathnat socks and socks for a designer (finishing those socks the middle of February).  I thought, 'yes!' I can do this... finish these purple socks in two weeks.     HA!

As you can see, I didn't make it.  Instead I started and finished a fingerless mitt for the lys.  Then I had to start a pair for myself.

The one for the shop was done using Online Linie 33 Cosmo (70% merino, 5% cashmere, 25% polymide) in purple on US2/2.75m dpns.

For mine I'm using Online Linie 33 Cosmo in blue on US2/2.75m dpns.

The pattern is from Sock Yarn One-Skein Wonders.

"Woven" Fingerless Gloves by Laura Hein Eckel.

The yarn is a dream to work with and gives great stitch definition.

 It may surprise you that I found a few minutes to work on my needlepoint.

My goal this year is to stitch a few Christmas ornaments.

So I'm starting with Santa.

 He may not look like much so far, but wait... he is a cute ornament.  (and I already have the next 6 ornaments picked out!!!!)

I've also been playing baking my own hamburger rolls and loaves of bread.

I don't have pictures of the hamburger rolls.  They were yummy!  I do need to practice on the shape though.
This loaf is a honey wheat and I think it baked a bit too long.  darn! I'll just have to make it again, lol.

To catch up on what I've been reading, check out my list of books here.

And now it is time for a cup of tea.   Won't you join me?

Road Trip

Heading to see the grandkids.  I like to say the weather will be cooler there but it won't.  There will just be more humidity!  We didn't get any of the promised rain.  But my rose bushes don't care.  They're already starting to green up because of all the hot warm weather we've been having.  (ok, I'll stop whining about the heat now)

So I've been busy at work and also busy working on a secret knit.  Maybe next week I'll have a little knitting to show you.

Hope you have a great weekend and your team wins the Superbowl!  (the commercials are usually good)

Reflection

...a fixing of the thoughts on something; careful consideration.

I am thinking about what has been accomplished this past year.  Let's review what my plans were for 2011.

1. I will work on my wips and try to finish at least half of them.
Out of 13 wips I had going into 2011, I finished 4.
I guess I was distracted by too many "shiny" new knitting projects.

2. Add to my sock drawer.
I did!!
Out of 11 pairs of socks, I added 5 pairs of socks to my drawer.  Pretty awesome! I didn't realize I had knitted 11 pairs of socks.  Guess I could knit 12 pairs in 12 months if I wanted the challenge. lol.  The problem is... for every pair of socks I finish, I have two new ones started!

3. Knit myself a sweater.
Sadly this sweater is ONCE AGAIN, not finished.
I did start off working on it one day a week until the summer.  Then different things came up and higher priority other knitting took over and the sweater sat in it's basket pining for me work it. Yep, I'll be working on this sweater in the new year.

4. Learn a new technique.
Check!
I have always wanted to learn Entrelec and was fortunate to take a two-day class last March.  I learned Basic Entrelac construction, knitting backwards, and fabric construction by the Entrelac guru, Gwen Bortner.  She is a wonderful designer/teacher! (it is the second class I've taken by her).  By the end of class, I had a Peruvian-style hat (which I forgot to add to the "hats in review" collage).

I also learned how to cast on using Emily Ocker's cast on  (utube video) for a pi shawl by one of our local designers, Carla Boustead-Willingham.  I made a doily.  I did not tackle a shawl yet.

5. Work on TKGA Master Knitter program.
Check!
Once a week, for two hours, I worked on my swatches and my notebook.  I have 8 out of the 16 swatches done. (because once again, I set this knitting aside to work on other knitting)

Looking back, I feel I have done well with meeting some of goals plans for the past year.  And as always, you cannot plan for what life obstacles are thrown your way.

Completed knitting projects:

Completed needlepoint:

Saturday naptime

It's naptime!  Time for gramma to check her email, catch up with a few blogs, maybe read a few Ravelry posts, and to get in a little knitting time.

I don't have any new knitting pictures to share. But I have been knitting on... s-o-c-k-s!! (of course).

I've been asked to knit a pair of socks for one of the designers and I won't be sharing until it is all done.  So sorry, no new sock pictures.

I do have some of the pink, dark grey, and lightt grey yarn left to knit a hat to match the mitts I just finished.  I'll try to get a little bit of it done and take a picture so I'll have a little knitting to share next week.

I hope you all have a great weekend!   And the Rangers win and move on to the World Series!!

And a few more pictures

from Saturday...

And don't forget to check out SuKnitWitty's CollectIn Texas Gal web page.  She has more pictures from Saturday.

A few pictures from The Art of Knitting

We ran into a few glitches on set up Friday.  One was the glass cases at the library wasn't ready for our use until 2pm.  So the display cases were not completed until Saturday.

Here are a few pictures* from two of cases that was finished on Friday.

Some of my socks and a pair of my fingerless gloves were used in the display.

 There is some glare but then they are glass cases, lol.

More pictures of Saturday's event will be posted later.

*pictures courtesy of SuKnitWitty

Shameless plug...

...for our local knitting guild's public event...

The  ART  of  Knitting

OCTOBER 1ST

10:30 - 4:00

STEPHENS CENTRAL LIBRARY
3rd Floor
SAN ANGELO, TEXAS


SPONSORED BY THE CONCHO VALLEY KNITTING GUILD
AND
CHANDLER COTTAGE

KNITTING DEMONSTRATIONS

KNITTING INFO

DRAWINGS

KNITTING GAMES

KNITTING IN PUBLIC

COMMUNITY SCARF KNITTING

(come knit a few rows on a scarf)

RECORD KNITTING MEMORIES

DRAWINGS

KNITTING RETREAT 1:00-4:00

~KNITTING ON DISPLAY DOWNSTAIRS~

 THE ENTIRE MONTH OF OCTOBER

Swap!

I participated in a swap.   A really neat swap hosted by Kathy B at Irisheyes knitting blog. 
The swap was to include a skein of yarn, a pen, and a gift card.

Grace at Lovin Comfort Knits did a wonderful job!!

Not only did I get a great skein of Trekking in gorgeous greens, a cool pen that has a tape measure, and an Amazon gift card, she included some cute monsters and dishcloths. (my favorite is the little owl)

Thank you Grace for the great goodies!!

Should be blogging

I should be blogging about yarn or about knitting or about knitting books or about knitting patterns.

But what do I have to blog about? nothing really.

I could tell you that :shudder: I have squash bugs in my squash. Which I am trying to deal with... sort of... but 'yew' bugs are yucky!!!  They haven't gotten into the yellow squash which is coming along nicely but they have sucked the nutrients out of plenty of zucchini leaves leaving me with very few zucchini.

I could tell you about the Dream in Color Starry yarn I traded some of my yarn for... it's Cinnamon Girl... and I've wound it up so it is ready for the Wendy Johnson "It's a Mystery" Shawl.  Which I won't be starting just yet.  But I got the yarn ready.

I could tell you about the test knit I'm working on but I thought I'd leave that for WIP Wednesday.

I could tell you about a knitting book but I do not have any new knitting books to tell you about.  And I'll post about the latest fiction book I'm reading tomorrow on Teaser Tuesday.

I could tell you about the really cool sock patterns I've added to my "collection" of sock patterns.  But not all of you are as addicted in love with socks as I am so I won't bore you.

So I'll leave you with this knitterly thought of the day...

Really, all you need to become a good knitter are wool, needles, hands, and slightly below-average intelligence.  Of course, superior intelligence, such as yours and mine, is an advantage.  ~Elizabeth Zimmerman

Entrelac Hat Trick

In January, I blogged a few knitting plans. I am happy to report I have now accomplished one! (The others I am still working on)

Entrelac was the new technique I had chosen to learn this year. I bought the book,  Entree to Entrelac: the Definitive Guide From a Biased Knitter by Gwen Bortner. Having previously taken a class by Gwen, I knew I could teach myself entrelac using her book. She is a great instructor and her book has lots of wonderful pictures and lots of details.

But...after receiving the newsletter from the Tinsmith's Wife, and seeing they were offering an entrelac class  taught by  Gwen Bortner, I had to sign up!  What better way to learn a new technique than to have the queen of entrelac teach you?!!

It was a great two day class filled with knitting and learning about Entrelac (French word for interlaced). We learned  the basic components of entrelac, shaping in entrelac, using different stitch patterns in entrelac, and using different colors in an entrelac unit.

Gwen is a great teacher and after a full day of cramming new information into our tiny brains, she said ...

I am happy to say most of us finished our hats by the end of class... (another picture on Gwen's blog) ...

... I had to finish the braided ties and weave in all the ends... but here is a finished hat! in entrelac!!

AND Wait!!! there's more...
...not only did I have a wonderful weekend knitting and meeting new friends, but my best friend and soul mate went with me. While I was knitting away, he went exploring. After class on Friday, he took me to beautiful park he found.

We ate dinner Guenther's Biergarten Grill. I had the best sweet potato fries I have ever!!

You couldn't ask for a better weekend!

Goodbye knitting year 2010

Thinking about the last day of year and reflecting back, I was curious as to just how many knitted projects I actually finished.

Wow!! here are 25 projects finished in 2010

and the finished Crazy Socks makes 26!!

I didn't realize just how much knitting I was able to accomplish. And I didn't even count the miscellaneous things like some dishcloths or some small, quick (mini socks) items. Or any of the counted thread/cross-stitch items I finished.

I see I managed to knit 11 pairs of socks! Of course I didn't keep them all but I did add 6 pairs to my sock drawer!! woohoo! adding to my sock drawer was one of the goals for 2010. (we will not count the wips left in 2010)

I say I had a good knitting year.  How about you?

WIP Wednesday

Once again I'm trying the knitting machine. I think I have it figured out. Maybe. Kinda.

Anyway... I used the knitting machine for the body of a lap blanket.

... a close-up...

and at a distance

And now to crochet a border. I'm hoping by adding a 7 row border the blanket will be 30" x 40" when finished.

... and you thought I only knitted socks.

Trivia

The term sweaters began to be used for knitted pullovers formerly called ganseys or jerseys after they were used for athletic clothes. It is said they were called sweaters because that's what the athletes who wore them did --- sweat!
-Mrs. Stone's Treasury of Historical Knitting Facts, Tidbits, and Patterns

The earliest English knitting pattern was printed in 1655.

In 1488 in England, an Act of Parliament was passed to control the price of knitted caps.

The 21-century has seen one of the largest resurgences of knitting in history. There are more fiber/yarns choices available and more affordable than before, more patterns available, and a world-wide knitting/crochet community available for support.

A Kashmir goat yields about 4 ounces of cashmere down a year! Not even enough for a woman's sweater.

...Time to go fondle pet the cashmere

November...

...already?!

Where has the year gone? It has flown by! I had such plans lists of holiday gift knitting I'd be doing. (being a planner I have lots and lots of lists)

I will manage to get a few things done but not my entire list... and I will have to accept that fact and not stress. So, what I don't get done will be on the list for next year!!

I'm not complaining, just chatting about how fast the year flies by when you keep busy doing what you love. Yes, knitting.

And I get so easily sidetracked by all the pretty yarns out there. And patterns... did I mention the patterns? I have plenty of patterns I'd like to knit which in turn means I must might buy yarn. (I need to have the perfect right yarn for the pattern) I didn't mention books. Did I mention books?! Did you know there is a bazillion books (not to mention magazines, we won't even start on the magazines) out there about knitting, knitting gifts, yarn, knitting techniques... 'whew' ... which means there is a gazillion patterns out there!! and new ones are designed every day! I know, I have contributed to the pattern epidemic!

So my gift knitting list grows and grows and grows.

(Warning! you may not see many knitted items here over the next two months. 'cuz they are seecreet, shhhh!)

Nothing new...

Not much new going on here... just been busy knitting scarves...

and waiting for my turn in the DishRag Tag. I should be next. If you check it out, we are not one of the top 3, but it's still fun!

Favorite Places to Visit

Adagio Teas
Blue Moon Fiber Arts
BrooklynTweed
Cozy Mystery
Craftsy
Earthfaire
Fantastic Fiction
Free Vintage Knitting Patterns
Herrschners
Interweave Knits books errata
Knitcircus Magazine
Knit Picks
Knitting Daily
Knitting Help
Knitty.com
Petite Purls
Pocket Full of Stitches
Ravelry
Shelfari
Simply Sock Yarn Company
SWTCInc
The Daily Crocheter
The Daily Knitter
The Knitting Guild Association
The Loopy Ewe
The Twist Collective
Ultimate Knitting Resource
Unwind the Yarn Shop