Life

1st Pair of Socks – 2nd Sock Closer to Done!

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1st Pair of Socks almost done Ok, I am finally getting closer to having that elusive 2nd sock done :P.  I had to switch to double pointed needles for the heel flap and when I did I picked up a set of 2.25mm instead of 2.50mm and it absolutely made a difference, when I got the gusset finished it was quite a bit smaller making the sock shorter, so I had to go to the frog pond and “ripit”  sigh.  I have redone the heel flap in the correct needle size and will be picking up the sides of the heel flap and doing the gusset, then it’s all down hill from there with the foot and toe :).

I had Friday morning off from my reg duties and decided to so some errands.  I went to go to a store I visit several times a year only to find it had moved, hmmm.  I went next door and they told me where it was now located, and NICE, it was now closer to me.  I was headed out of that store to go to the new area and as I got in my car a lady who was parked in front of me got out and came over to me.  I thought, did she hit my car?  what?  She preceded to tell me that she just had to let me know what her 10 year old daughter had said.  As I was walking out of the store, her daughter said “Mom she looks just like Elsa!!! Does she know she looks just like Elsa?”  What a nice surprise!  I told her to tell her daughter that she had just made my day :).  I know, the picture on my blog is about 10 years old and since then I have quit coloring my hair (my hair started turning silver before I was 16) and I let it grow out (now to my waist and I keep it braided most of the time to keep it out of my way), so I guess my hair color and the fact that it was braided made me look like Elsa to her, what a great day that was :).  I have had people ask me if I am Scandinavian because of my hair color, and actually just found out via dna that I am 17% Scandinavian :), the other part is from England/Scotland/Wales and Ireland.  That accounts for my hair color (dark alburn) before all the silver 🙂  Sometimes one really good day can make up for a lot of otherwise harsh days. 🙂

Soon I plan on getting back to sewing some bags for my etsy shop.  Summer happened with little ones :P.

 

Tour de Fleece 2016 Update

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Spinning Rolags for Tour De FleeceHere is a picture of what I’ve accomplished so far on the first spool of singles.  Spinning this rolag is a little different than spinning from roving, it doesn’t move quite as fluidly as I thought it would, and this combination of fiber did NOT want to be spun thin.  After fighting with it and having the singles break on me a couple of times, I decided to spin it a little heavier and it has been behaving since.  The colors are beautiful and I will be spinning this for a shawl.

We have had some really bad storms here in the last couple of weeks, I’m tired of rain and humidity 😛  It is suppose to be in the 90’s this coming week, and I just have to remind myself that I will miss this heat in the winter when it’s 30, 40 and 50 below zero and tons of ice and snow :P.  Tho’ honestly I have been known to miss the piles of snow when it’s 90 outside as well, lol.

2 New Knot Bags & Knitting a New Hat

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Got Fiber Knot Bag

 

 

Stress Zebra Knot Bag

I put these two bags in my Etsy shop.  I’ve made the Stress Zebra Knot Bag before for a friend but this one is for my shop, it’s just so cute.  Don’t we all feel like this sometimes?  The alpaca design looked very good, but it’s a pain to sew out because  of all the thread color changes, even tho some of the colors are the same.  Still it’s a nice looking design.

Basia Hat for JadeThis hat, Basia, is a very nice knit and the texture design is pleasant to look at.  I’m making this for a special family member who requested a hat from me.  She said she wanted lavender, so I ordered the Lilac Jacquard acid dye for 1 of the polypay skeins I still have (only about 4 more skeins tho, have thoroughly enjoyed knitting them :P).  I love the way kettle dying comes out, instead of one solid color they are usually shaded, no complaints here :).  You can also see on the hat the beautiful stitch marker I got from MekaMika on etsy.

The mega snow storm missed us except for a trace of snow.  I won’t complain, I didn’t want 1 or 2 feet of snow :).  I love the El Ninos that come every few years, they make for a much more pleasant winter here :).

Let It Snow Knot Bag

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Let It Snow Knot Bag This will probably be my last winter bag, tho I’ve been known to change my mind before :).  I liked this embroidery because it has a swirl that looks like a winter wind swirling around some really pretty snowflakes :).  We finally started getting snow this month.  I’m ready for Spring already tho. 🙂

Time to get my eyes checked again, I think I need new glasses for close up work, sigh.

Still working on the comfort shawl, have about 1 & 1/3 skeins left to knit.  I know, I know, knit faster :P.

New Embroidered Knot Bags and It’s Fridgid Tonight

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Knitting Keeps me from Unraveling Knot BagObsessed Knitter Knot Bag

I decided to do some sewing this week end after removing some seasonal knot bags out of my Etsy shop.  I decided I needed to add some more embroidered knot bags.  The bag on the left is one I am sending to a knitting podcaster for review.  It will be a way to get some exposure for my bags :).  After she has reviewed it, I will put a link on my blog to her podcast :).  I have another one embroidered but not sewn up yet and two more to be embroidered.  The embroidered bags take  longer to make due to the embroidery so they are a little more expensive.

I’m working on a comfort shawl for a friend who lost her companion this week.  Loss is so hard :(.

The weather here has finally hit WINTER, ugh.  We are suppose to be around -4 tonight but we are having high winds and they said that would make the wind chill between -20 and -30.  But at least it will only be for tonight and tomorrow morning, then the winds die down and we will warm up just a bit.  We will have snow on Monday and Tuesday and then we will warm back up into the 20’s in the day and teens at night :).  Is it Spring yet?

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2016 and New Year Knitting

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new-years-

I wish everyone a very Happy New Year filled with spiritual peace.  May we look forward and not backward.

One more hat start

Yes, I’m knitting one more hat, was trying to get done before the New Year but alas it won’t be done until New Year’s day.   This is some of the polypay yarn I had processed from the fleece that was given to me.  I dyed it blue but some of the yarn didn’t take up the dye as well as other parts in the skein and there were some very light spots from where the skein was tied (even tho’ I loosened the ties quite a bit), but you know what, it makes it look like faded denim so I am not going to complain, I know the recipient will enjoy it :P.

I made a knSocks by Ann Budditting New Years resolution, I made other resolutions too, but if I share them and I don’t complete them I’d have to hunt you down and wipe your memory (like they do on Star Trek)  so you are better off not knowing what they are :P.  My knitting resolution is to knit some socks.  Something I’ve wanted to do for a while now.  I’ve gotten a step closer when I bought  this book by Ann Budd, who is well known in the knitting community for sock construction, today at the 1/2 Price Book Store (I love that store!!).  The other book I have ordered from Amazon is Knitting Rules! by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee aka in the knitting world as  “the Yarn Harlot”.  It has a sock pattern called sock recipe: a good plain sock.  I have heard many people say this is their go to sock pattern.  Then when I get the sock pattern I want I will get the needle size it calls for (because the needles I will get are Addi Turbo 12″ circular needles and are expensive so I need the pattern first to see if I need size 0’s, or 1’s, I’m not a big fan of double pointed needles) and begin my sock journey.  🙂

Large Winter Pinecone Knot Bag!

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I have made a couple of these larger knot bags but had given them to some special friends.Large Winter Pinecone Knot Bag view 2Large Winter Pinecone Knot Bag view 1

This one I can put in my shop :).   You can not see the sparkle on the fabric on the green boughs but it is stunningly beautiful.  Looks like snow,  I really wanted to keep this one for myself, but I have enough left to make a medium bag for me :).  This one is large enough for sweaters and shawls for knitters.

 

Yellow Orchid view 1OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERASometimes when you are really busy doing for family, as the mom you wonder if your children really appreciate all you do for them.  I’m not saying that my children don’t appreciate the things I do, just as a mom you sometimes wonder because they are so busy with their own lives.  Well, my daughter showed me just how much she appreciated all I am doing for her with a beautiful yellow Orchid, just because.  It is so pretty, she even remembered my favorite color for flowers is yellow.  How’s that for remembering :).

Well “The boys” finally won a game last night against an old rival, the Redskins.  Was an exciting game even though I had taken an antihistamine and fell asleep before the end, so I found out this morning that they won. Hehe, I don’t generally fall asleep during a football game, but it happens :).

1st Snowfall for Winter 2015-2016

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1st Snowfall Winter 2015-2016

1st Snowfall Winter 2015-2016

 

Our first snowfall for this winter season was a dozy.   About 5 inches fell from yesterday evening thorough overnight.  I know winter isn’t officially here yet, but I don’t think winter knows that 😛

 

 

 

 

Polypay 2x2 ribbed hat view 1

Polypay 2×2 ribbed hat view 1

 

Polypay 2x2 ribbed hat view 2

Polypay 2×2 ribbed hat view 2

I did finish the 2×2 ribbed hat from the Polypay yarn.  It turned out pretty nice.  I am pleased with the result.  I hope he will enjoy it as well.

Trying to decide what to make next with that yarn :).