Araignee's Tangled Web

Spring Fever

2012-02-11T00:00:00.013-05:00

I don't blog in "real" time. I take a lot of pictures over the course of a few days and then break them down into daily posts.

That is proving to be a problem this winter as the weather has been a weird and a rather extreme roller coaster ride.

As I am writing this, they are calling for snow tomorrow.

When I took these photos it was so warm outside that I was overtaken by a bad case of spring fever.

Spring fever means fleece washing to me.

I dug out the giant bag of leftover Corridale and separated some locks.

Now I have a pan full of locks soaking in a pot ready for washing. I only hope the sun comes out again soon and the warm weather returns so I can dry it somewhere that is not inside.

It's a Mystery Part 4

2012-02-10T00:00:00.001-05:00

I started the whole thing over. I needed better needles and a better technique for casting on. You Tube came to the rescue once again with plenty of good videos on circular cast ons. I used Emily Ocker's found here. I also dug out some vintage double points. I needed all the length I could get.

Things went pretty well if you don't count the stress headache and eye strain.

I got a tiny bump but it was better than last time.

After conquering the cast on, it was time to come to terms with stranding. I am not a strander by nature. I am a wrapper. I want to twist the yarn behind the work every few stitches. Floats scare me to death. I needed affirmation that it was alright so I watched the guru of stranded knitting, Mary Scott Huff. She is also the designer of the KAL, and she told me it was all going to work out, over and over again in this video. It is a two parter. Watch both parts. They are excellent and she is adorable.

My floats are not as pretty as hers, nor were they really "smiling", but I could feel the improvement in the knit fabric and best yet-it was more fun. Wrapping is tedious.

Here is the inside of a hat that I wrapped every 3-4 stitches. It takes a lot more work and a lot more untangling to do it this way. What happens on the front is pretty much the same either way so why bother when you really don't have to. I am a convert.

I've still got a long way to go with this stranding thing so I also went and pre-ordered her new book from Amazon. It comes out in May.

I spent the good part of a sunny winter day quietly playing with all the pretty colors and stretching the limits of my knitting knowledge. I don't get to do that very often out here in the middle of nowhere. I think it was a very good day.

It's a Mystery Part 3

2012-02-09T00:00:00.007-05:00

A funny thing happened while knitting Clue #2, I discovered I didn't have the right stitch count. Looking back at Clue #1, I realized that I had missed a row of increases at the very end. Duh. I sent the whole thing to the frog pond since I hated the way it looked anyway.

I couldn't restart, however, because the yarn now looked like Curly Sue on a bad hair day and I was already having enough trouble with lumpy looking stitches. I had to give them a good soaking to straighten them out.

A little weight should do the trick. Now I just have to wait for it to dry and learn how to do a decent circular cast on.

I Heart Corriedale Part 2

2012-02-08T00:00:00.013-05:00

Now that the giant skein of Corriedale is dry-it's not looking as bad as I had originally thought. It's just like yesterday's commenter, wanderingcatstudio, predicted. The colors some how even out once you start moving it around. She should know-just go look at her Etsy page. I'm in awe of those who can dye. I also admit that I am prone to dyeing hysteria. I have had lots of practice making ugly stuff but I think that as long as you stick to the basics and keep it rather simple, it is actually hard to mess up-although I can and do quite frequently.

Whee....I have a whopping 121 grams to play with and there is more where this came from-about 9 pounds. As soon as I wash it, spin it and dye it-that is. Right now this cute little yarn cake is going in the bin with all the other handspun, hopefully, just until a few more projects come off the needles. I really want to see how this knits up.

I Heart Corriedale

2012-02-07T00:00:00.019-05:00

That 12 pound Corriedale fleece that I bought last May has finally reached its full potential. Unfortunately, I had too much fun plying it and it took on a life of its own.

It had an over abundance of energy. It needed a lot of taming so it got a long, hot bath.

Since I was going to have to show this yarn who was boss, I decided I might as well put some color on it at the same time. I am not the most talented dyer out there, in fact, I stink at it so I decided to do something simple-with only one color. Since Valentine's Day is just around the corner, I picked Russet.

As per instructions in Hand Dyeing Yarn and Fleece by Gail Callahan, I made a little nest out of a giant plastic bag that was inside a big pot.

I mixed three different strengths of the dye solution. I started by pouring on the weakest solution first.

I kneaded it in, but was afraid of felting so I went lightly on the massaging. It proved to be an error because it came out blotchier than I wanted.

It went for a spin in the microwave for about 6 minutes. Heating 2 minutes, resting 2 minutes and repeating it until the solution ran clear.

There was a little pink in the water but not enough to worry about.

After a spin I could see that there was some white spots and some very harsh dark blotches. It's a pretty amateur looking job.

It's not the worst dye job I have ever done but it is not what I wanted. That elusive gradient quality that I admire in other people's work seems to be beyond my meager abilities-but I'm not giving up. There is plenty more white stuff where this came from that I can ruin.

It's a Mystery Part 2

2012-02-06T00:00:00.015-05:00

The pretty little skeins are now balls so I cast the mysterious thing on. I nearly went crazy trying to cast on 6 stitches on 3 needles without either getting a hole or a bump.

I finally ditched the double points for the Magic Loop and decided to settle for the small bump that I ended up with using the circs.

Stranded colorwork in the round, with such a small diameter was major fiddly. It was not much fun at first. My stranding technique is also rather rusty so I ended up with a circle that was on the lumpy and bumpy side. I even ripped back a few times due to puckers. As the circle grew, however, it became much more enjoyable. The pattern is very pretty and relatively simple so I am looking forward to Clue #2 which comes out later today.

The only problem is that I only have this much of the main color (lt blue) left. Yikes.

It's a Mystery Part 1

2012-02-05T00:00:00.003-05:00

While everyone else is watching football, I'll be winding lots of pretty little balls of yarn that just arrived from Abstract Fiber.

The yarn for the Flight Path Mystery KAL finally arrived. I was late to the party, as usual, and the first clue came out last Monday but I should be able to catch up.

Just For Fun

2012-02-04T00:00:00.005-05:00

The Faux Noro is still fun. I am never going to wear the awful thing, but I still like working on it.

Halfway to Nowhere

2012-02-03T00:00:00.001-05:00

The Kide Shawl is supposedly at the halfway point but I have my doubts. There is 22 pattern repeats and this is 11.

Even with The Mister and I stretching it out, it still seems to be on the smallish side, even given the fact that it still needs its all around knitted border. I am using lace weight, while the pattern calls for fingering, so I guess I am going to have to just keep going until I get the length I am looking for.

25% Off Knit Night

2012-02-02T00:00:00.011-05:00

We were camped out on the floor tonight. In the book section. The 25% off book section. In fact almost everything in the shop was 25% off which may be why there wasn't a single space that wasn't filled by the time we got there at 7.

There was only a small amount of knitting happening because it was a much better night for planning future projects and shopping for things. Somehow in all the confusion, however, there was another Cubba in the making.

She was also planning to make Freddie's Blanket from the book of the same name.

Selecting the colors was tough. It always is.

Unfortunately, the needles were not on sale but someone bought some anyway. You have to look hard to find the needles because they are that small. Size nothings, if that is possible. My eyes hurt just looking at them.

While we are on the subject of needles, look closely at this sock.

The needles are square. Yowsa. They are made by Kollage and I need some. Yarn Market has them. Come payday, they will be mine.

I worked a bit on the Kide, but my mind was elsewhere tonight.

There's something mysterious going on and here is the first clue.

Second Sleeve Syndrome

2012-02-01T00:00:00.003-05:00

I hate fiddling with sleeves. They are always too long or two short. Even if you get one figured out there is always the other one to consider. I can't measure knitted fabric worth beans so I never get the same measurement twice on anything. Making two of the same thing is near impossible. I could knit two at the same time but that is so slow that I am pretty sure I would go insane. I saw a blog post recently where someone (Mary Scott Huff) knit a giant sleeve in the round and then steeked it into two sleeves. I think that was brilliant but I am pretty sure I am too chicken to try it.

Know Thy Fiber

2012-01-31T00:00:00.003-05:00

I posted recently about how thrilled I was to have finished plying some of the Corridale I had bought at last year's MD Sheep and Wool. The only thing is that it wasn't actually the Corriedale after all. The Corriedale is still being plied. I realized my error a few days later when I sat down at the wheel.

That newly processed yarn I was so happy about was made from the Cormo fleece from the year before. That's what I get for always buying white fleeces and leaving them white. It won't happen again this year.

The Winter that Wasn't

2012-01-30T00:00:00.005-05:00

I know this is a bit too early to be calling this winter a dud, but the little snowman that sits on my stoop is looking a bit out of place among all the greenery.

The camellias are already blooming....

and so is the vinca.

The kale is still looking pretty tasty...

and so is the Swiss chard. All I need is some olive oil and garlic and I've got dinner right out of the garden-in January?

Meet Me at the Fair

2012-01-29T00:00:00.001-05:00

I'll be the one wearing this electric purple shawlette at this year's Maryland Sheep and Wool Fest. This, along with my hot pink Ravelry tee will certainly have me standing out in the crowd.

It took me a while to understand where this pattern was going and how it related to the photos I saw of the finished object. The border is knitted first and then the body is picked up and worked back and forth in short rows for a small crescent shaped shawl. I really like the mock cable at the top of the pattern. I only wish I had bought a slightly lighter color of roving so it could be seen.

Oh Happy Day

2012-01-28T00:00:00.005-05:00

Nothing in the fiber world makes me happier than having newly plied yarn soaking in the sink.

It is such a feeling of accomplishment. The only thing that comes close is blocking a lace shawl.

For days now I will be ridiculously thrilled to share the bathroom with this hank of drying fingering-weight Corriedale.

It seems like only yesterday that it looked like this.

Origin Unknown

2012-01-27T00:00:00.003-05:00

I was digging through a pile of plastic bags that I thought contained only scraps when I came upon this abandoned mitt left over from a spin along over in the Yarnspinner's Ravelry group. It was from our lesson on woolen spinning and plying so I think this is some Jacob plied with thinner Corriedale singles. Maybe. I really need to start keeping better notes. Happily, it looks like I just may have enough to make another mystery fiber mitt.

Knit Night: Just the Three of Us

2012-01-26T00:00:00.009-05:00

I suppose everyone had a good excuse for not coming out tonight but we missed them all the same. Even though there was only three in "our" group, our corner filled up just the same. There were pretty Valentine socks on the needles tonight.

There was also a spectacular beaded bag around someone's neck. I never asked what was in the bag but the earphones offer up a bit of a clue. I need to make one of these. It's in the queue for summer.

The bag owner was working on some teeny tiny leaves for a baby gift tonight. It seems that there is a mobile in need of leaves. I want to see the whole thing. Don't you?

She was also wearing those green socks I have photographed in progress so many times. You could shovel snow in those socks. Too bad we don't have any.

We were trying to figure out the construction of this short row scarf. I think we got it. At least someone got it. I just pretended. I can't talk or think knit. I just do it and don't bother to ask me how-I don't know.

I brought along the Modern Lodge Pullover. I didn't do much with it because I was getting too close to the end of this sleeve and I didn't want to have to unknit the excess tomorrow.

I did manage to get one repeat of the Kide Shawl done in spite of sitting next to this major distraction. That is one gorgeous bag.

The Plus Side

2012-01-25T00:00:00.005-05:00

Since going back to work, I have less time for knitting but it seems that I have had more time for spinning.

Knitting means thinking about what you are doing and spinning is just blissful repetitive motion. It's the best way to start and end a long stressful day. I had forgotten how hard teachers work. If you know a teacher, even the worst one that your child has ever had, they deserve your respect-and your pity.

Ups and Downs, Ins and Outs

2012-01-24T00:00:00.010-05:00

I had a mini nervous breakdown at work the other day. It was pretty bad. I had my sh*t packed and was heading out the door for good when a long time colleague took the time to calm me down and readjust my perspective. During the rather emotional conversation, she noticed my scarf and asked me about its construction. I am not sure if she was really interested or just trying to get my mind on another topic. I told her to check out my blog for details so here they are:

I am not a fan of knitted scarves. Too thick, too bulky-so I weave mine on my handy little Ashford Knitter's Loom. I have the bigger one. They make a smaller version that is perfect for scarves and other small projects. If I was rich I would have both but I'm not, so I choose the larger one for more options in project sizes. I also bought the floor stand. It's optional but it makes a huge difference. Holding it in my lap was a real pain.

Right now I am working on a large throw that is made of two panels that will be sewn together. Maybe. I have no idea if this is going to work but I am sure hoping it does because I have been working on this particular project since early last spring. I really want to get it done now because now, thanks to you Beth, I really, really want to make another scarf.

A Rainbow in a Box

2012-01-23T00:00:00.002-05:00

Knit Picks lovers are all up in a snit because of the recent rather steep price increases. It's not that they think that Knit Picks doesn't deserve to make a profit, it's just that after all the other ginormous price increases that we are being stuck with on what seems like a daily basis, people have had enough. Knitters included. Everyone remembers what happened with Netflix. I quit 'em and I haven't looked back. I don't miss that little red envelope at all.

I have to confess that I, too, was disappointed by Knit Picks, at first. The people who were "passionately committed to affordable luxury knitting" were now sticking it to us as well. All of a sudden, things I took for granted were out of reach (yes, I mean you, Palette). I got over it pretty quick however, when I saw that some Chroma colors were on sale. I snatched up four balls of clearance colors. Sweet-but I still have to wonder how their PR people let them podcast about Kelly's new retirement home in Mexico at the same time they were crying poor mouth to their customers.

It's About Time

2012-01-22T00:00:00.010-05:00

I have been waiting for winter to show up so I could post about my newest FO. I wanted a picture in the snow. I only got slush but it will just have to do.

Meet my Dalhousie Mitts. Being the poor retired school teacher that I am, I am not used to working with such exquisite yarn. I have to thank Wandering Cat Yarns for giving me the chance to experience something quite out of the ordinary for me. This is the colorway Poe in Fluffy Cat, a gorgeous alpaca, silk and cashmere blend .

The best part is that I still have this much left. What to do. What to do.....

Going Nowhere

2012-01-21T00:00:00.004-05:00

I really, really wanted to get this sweater done over my long weekend but no matter how much time I spent on this sleeve, it never seemed to get any longer.

The front and back took me a year to complete so I guess I shouldn't have been surprised that the sleeves would turn out to be equally as time consuming. I am running out of cold weather around here so I suppose I am going to have to admit to myself that this will be next year's wardrobe addition.

Hooked

2012-01-20T00:00:00.007-05:00

My faux Noro scarf has become an obsession. I can see why people end up making lots of them. It is mindless knitting at its best. I take it everywhere. No matter how tired I am, I can always add a row or two. There is no thinking about the pattern or even the color. You just have to knit. I've already ordered better yarn for several more of these since this Bernat Mosaic, while pretty, is like knitting with cardboard. I have never seen yarn that has absolutely no drape or stretch at all. I did NOT, however, order Noro. I hate Noro. It is itchy, full of hay and full of knots. If I wanted that, I would use my own handspun.

No Knit Night

2012-01-19T00:00:00.002-05:00

I love Knit Night and I love knitting at home so no matter what my knit buddies decide on Wednesdays, it's all good.

Something Pretty

2012-01-18T00:00:00.005-05:00

The Kide shawl that I am making as a gift is turning out rather nice.

After working with my own wonky handspun BFL this week, it is a real pleasure to pick up the Gloss. It feels like cashmere in comparison. It is also working up pretty quickly. This is only four pattern repeats. I have limited free time these days so being able to see so much progress so soon is making me very, very happy.

Think Spring

2012-01-17T00:00:00.003-05:00

May 1st is right around the corner and I'm happy to say that my 2012 MD Sheep and Wool Festival project is finally ready to cast on. This year I am going with something pretty simple since I have so much going on at the moment. I am not exactly crazy about the feel of this BFL that I spun on my mini Bosworth spindle but more than likely I am making yet another shawl that will be worn all of twenty minutes before it is stashed in a bag due to the heat.

Something Blue

2012-01-16T00:00:00.004-05:00

I got so bored with my hexie crochet project that I bought a new color of cheapo acrylic to change it up a bit.

My original color scheme went out the window ages ago so right now, anything goes. It's big and it's ugly. It will fit right in with my decor.

Sew Long

2012-01-15T00:00:00.002-05:00

Now that I am back to work, I miss my afternoon putter in the sewing room.

I never got anything done, but it was quality me time.

Little bits were always added to long term projects.

While other projects were doomed to hibernation from the minute they began.

It is only four months, three weeks and three days until I am free once again. I think I can make it.

Progress

2012-01-14T00:00:00.001-05:00

All that white wool I had been spinning all summer is now in the plying stage. I can't wait to get it over with so I can start something fun. This is the Cormo fleece I bought way back in 2010 at the MD Sheep and Wool. It was that year's Tour de Fleece project. That is how long this has been on this wheel. I bought 9 lbs before washing and I have about 3 smallish skeins to show for it. I won't be doing that again.

My Apologies

2012-01-13T00:00:00.004-05:00

The lovely yarn I bought from Webs turned out to be a nightmare. It was too silky. The yarnovers kept popping off the needle. I hate when that happens.
I was badmouthing Knit Picks in that post, but look who I turned to when I needed something I could count on.

A Soggy Knit Night

2012-01-12T00:00:00.007-05:00

48 hours ago we had our very first little bit of snow. Tonight it was all rain. It gave me a bad case of the knitting blahs. It's too warm for wool.

The group was small. I can't blame people for staying home. It was hard to come out on a night like tonight.

One brave soul was making the cutest baby hat ever. I need a baby to make one for. That is NOT a hint to any of my kids. A stranger will do just fine.

A very pretty thumb gusset was being knit.

A tiny bag was beginning to take shape.

My pile of projects just lay there in a heap most of the night. As much as I want to get these ancient things off the needle, I just wasn't feeling it. I've got a three day weekend coming up and I am planning to knit my little fingers off in front of the TV. These boring old things WILL be done. No excuses.

No Knit Zone

2012-01-11T00:00:00.004-05:00

The last time I was a teacher, I had plenty of time to sit and knit during lunch but this time around, it ain't happening. With 20 years of experience, I sailed through the first grade day with time to spare but this second grade thing is more than I bargained for. I had brought the Modern Lodge Pullover to school to finish up the last few rows at the top but it was not to be-not this week anyway.

Knitting Nancy

2012-01-10T00:00:00.000-05:00

While looking for a video for my little peg dolly, I found this one. It's awesome.

Hello Dolly!

2012-01-09T00:00:00.000-05:00

My sister's and I usually exchange some smallish doodads for Christmas.

This year I was gifted this adorable peg doll. Here is a video to show how she is used.

New Year's Knit Night

2012-01-08T00:00:00.013-05:00

Knit Night was on its usual Wednesday, but I was too tired to blog that night. I returned to work this week and I had managed to only get about 5 hours sleep in the past 72 hours. My brain was on retirement time. It wouldn't believe me when I told it I had to get up at 6. I don't even remember driving to the shop. I just remember plopping down for the evening next to this glorious carton of Noro.

When the knitting buddies arrived with their holiday goodies I began to wake up. Someone had a Knit Picks mitten kit. I LOVE Knit Pick kits. I own too many to ever knit in my lifetime.

Someone else showed up with giant needles and extreme yarn. Love. It.

The other extreme was the teeny tiny needle and beads. I was too tired to even think about it. My eyes (and my camera) couldn't focus tonight.

I had brought my ugly faux Noro to work on. Someone showed up wearing a real one. I was shamed.

There were pretty socks and a pretty sock bag.

A giant soon-to-be-felted stocking emerged. I want to see this finished.

I feel bad sometimes that our little group takes up space in the shop but rarely buys anything. Tonight, everyone seemed to buy something.

Brand new yarn got wound.

There was oohing and aahing over a hat knit by someone's mom. In my sleepy dream state I was feeling very grateful for such a lovely bunch of friends to knit with. I also promised myself that when I get a real paycheck again, I will be buying stuff too.

The Hat Tree

2012-01-07T00:00:00.003-05:00

I have a place where bad hats go to die. I have no talent at all when it comes to making hats. They are too big, too small, too itchy or just too ugly but all together they make some nice objet d'art.

One Fine Day

2012-01-06T00:00:00.001-05:00

The hole where my dead Dell desktop used to be is now filled with my little drum carder.

I made good use of my last few days before returning to work by putting my spinning projects in order.

I had a (gasp) empty wheel and lots of those Corrie locks I dyed last summer waiting for carding. Right now I am just spinning for spinning's sake. I'll let the yarn tell me what it wants to be later.

A Change in Allegiance

2012-01-05T00:00:00.003-05:00

I used to be a Knit Picks fanatic but since their prices went up, I have been using other sources to supply me with my daily dose of fiber. Twice now I have had to deal with Webs and I have to say, you can't get faster delivery. All I have to do is think of what I want and it is here.

Out of Hibernation

2012-01-04T00:00:00.002-05:00

It has been warm here for a long time but yesterday some cold air took a detour out of Canada and it finally feels like winter. My poor Modern Lodge has been sadly neglected for almost a year so I dug it out with the intention of having it on before spring.

First FO of 2012

2012-01-03T00:00:00.004-05:00

Son's Hufflepuff is done. I'm packing it off to the post office today.

I have all three of the original Girl with the Dragon Tattoo movies to thank for it. Knitting to subtitles is hard but it was worth it. I loved the movies and the scarf didn't turn out too shabby either.

It is far from perfect. I'm worried that it will all come apart at the stripes one day. Immediately I started a striped faux Noro to offer up in case of disintegration.

Hi Ho, Hi Ho

2012-01-02T00:00:00.002-05:00

Tomorrow I am going back to work. I took on a long term sub job for a friend who wants to stay home and be a new mommy for a while.

I've been a little worried that Daddio will have a some trouble keeping himself busy and out of mischief without my supervision.

He doesn't drive anymore but he does live on his own. I check in every other day mainly to make sure he eats something other than cookies.

He is a man of many talents so I am sure he will be fine. I'll still be dropping by in the evenings to put a hot meal on the table.

This is not Daddio's. It's The Mister's. That's a whole other worry. Men.

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T00:00:00.006-05:00

Here is a look back at all that I managed to finish this past year. Looking back at last year's post, I can see that 2010 was the year of socks. This year it seems it was the year of lace. Next year my goal is to simply WEAR what I make. Last night I went through my giant pile of handknit sweaters and shamed myself for letting them live in oblivion.

Resolution

2011-12-31T00:00:00.004-05:00

Every new year I make the same resolution to finish what I began in the year before. I am usually pretty successful clearing up the UFOs by spring. This year I only have a few to finish, most notably my gorgeous Dalhousie mitts. I need another half mitt and a cold snowy day to bring this project to a quick end.

Hufflepuff

2011-12-30T00:00:00.002-05:00

Son's Harry Potter scarf is coming along. Stripes are hard. Really hard. I wish I had a wand or a magic spell to make them look better. I tried lots of fancy ways to get the joins to look right and to eliminate the jogs but the only thing that half worked was to simply cut and join each color change. Weaving in all those ends would be a nightmare so I am doing them as I go.

Where the Tree Used to Be

2011-12-29T00:00:00.002-05:00

The holidays are over chez moi. All the pretty sparkly stuff is back where it came from and the corner where the tree sat is once again cluttered up with spinning wheels and looms. It looks pretty awful but it feels great.

A Christmas Miracle

2011-12-28T00:00:00.000-05:00

I am proud to say that I made it to the finish line of the 2011 Advent Scarf KAL-on time. I only fell behind on one day-my birthday. Whew. It wasn't easy carving out a large block of knitting time during the holidays but I am glad I stuck it out.

This thing is HUGE. Here it is on only day 20. It finished up at 100 inches long and 16 inches wide.

I had it ready to be blocked by midnight on the 24th-that is the end of day 23, going into Christmas Eve. I had The Mister snap a photo of a very tired and unglamorous me with it so you can see how much serious knitting went into this project in only 24 days. Without TCM's great December lineup, I would never have made it.

Here it is on Christmas morning, all blocked and ready to wear. Too bad the only place I was going that day was ice skating and then to the movies and casual wear it is certainly not.

There are 24 gorgeous lace patterns in this thing-all of which are begging to be a scarf all on their own. I can't wait until next year!

Let Down

2011-12-27T00:00:00.018-05:00

I had lots of knitting requests this year for the holidays and I pretty much let everyone down.
New Son in Law wanted a reindeer sweater.

Son wanted a Hufflepuff scarf. He even sent me ALL of the Harry Potter books to make sure I got it right.

Daughter wanted a Selbu hat to wear for her "trash the dress" photo shoot on New Year's Eve in Lake Placid.
After just coming off several HUGE gift knits for new brides, I politely ignored all the pleas while I focused on some purely useless knitting with my Advent KAL. It's hard to make people understand that some knitting is best left to the professionals. I can't make a hat, sweater or scarf that is as nice as you can buy in terms of fit and comfort. Let's face it, when you go to a store you can try on all the sizes until you get it right but I get only one chance and it's a very slim chance that I will make exactly what you have in mind. I am sure a lot of knitters will take exception with that, but from my experience making stuff people ask for is a train wreck waiting to happen. That excludes socks and lace shawls. I can make those much better than you can buy.

Making Merry

2011-12-26T00:00:00.016-05:00

Christmas Eve was celebrated at Son and Daughter in Law's new house. There was amazing food everywhere and this was only the appetizers.

I found it hard to believe that this was my son living in such a beautifully decorated and well kept home. He was never exactly....umm...neat.

They had a lovely tree-a real one.

I couldn't find a cruise ship ornament to give them. All I could find was this cute little tugboat.

We had plenty of beer. I bought lots of IPA thinking I would like it-I didn't. Bleh...

I discovered I could download the fireplace movie on my Kindle Fire. I love it.

Dinner was wonderful. We all brought something. Son #2 made a vegetable paella that was delicious. I brought some mediocre lasagne.

We had a strawberry banana cream cake for dessert. It was extremely yummy.

On Christmas morning, I look forward to opening the package sent to me by my French pen pal who lives in Bordeaux. He sends me amazing things and I usually send him stupid American crap.

Christmas day I went ice skating with daughter and had the time of my life. I hadn't been on the ice in several years so at first it felt very weird. A little while later it all started to come back to me and now I want to go again. Soon. The Mister and I finished the day at the movies seeing the new Mission Impossible. I didn't think I would like it but I did.

Back at home I lit the luminaries...

...threw some chestnuts in the oven to roast....

...cut a big piece of mince pie and settled in on the couch...

...with a peppermint martini and my DVD of Miracle on 34th Street.

It was the best Christmas EVER!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T00:00:00.004-05:00

I was up all night knitting these stockings so I would have something to share today. Not.
I found them here.

Happy Holidays!
Araignee

City Lights

2011-12-24T00:00:00.002-05:00

This Christmas will always be remembered for all the lighting problems we had. The outdoor lights had to be replaced several times and the lights even went out on the tree. I gave up.

Luckily, we live in the middle of two towns that know how to celebrate the darkest days of winter.

Every square inch of the twin beach area is covered in lights. It's as if they compete to see who can have the most. I can't even begin to show half of what there is to see.

The pier looks like an entrance to a fairy land.

You can't miss the railway museum.

There are trees everywhere and I mean everywhere. Drive down Rt. 260 to the bay and you will see what I mean.

Even the crab shack is covered in lights.

The charter boats are looking rather festive as well.

My favorite display was hard to capture. In an area that suffered major damage from Hurricane Irene, someone went back into the woods and wrapped lights around lots of trees in a place where so many beautiful trees fell. I could only manage to get a photo of a few of them as the road is too dark and dangerous to stop long enough to get a decent photo.

The Veteran's Memorial plaza is lit up with cascading fountains of light.

The local Catholic church has a life sized nativity scene on their front lawn. It is so realistic that you expect to see camels walk by.

No matter how or what you celebrate, it is the lights that make it special. Now that the solstice has passed, I'm looking forward to brighter days ahead-and to taking down our blankety-blank Christmas lights and dropping them straight in the can.

Cookie Confessions

2011-12-23T00:00:00.012-05:00

I am not hosting anything this year and Dad is away with a friend so I really had no reason to dig out the Christmas apron and make a mess in the kitchen. I should have spent the time tidying up my very messy bedroom but it's not Christmas without cookies, so cookies it was.

I am not gifting cookies this year either so I totally cheated them, using a mix. Usually I slave over my cookie assortment but I wasn't feeling it this year so I took the easy way out.

I warmed up the oven baking two loaves of cinnamon bread-Pillsbury's.

I went on to roll out some gingerbread people using a mix from Betty Crocker.

I used leftover fruitcake mix for decorations.

The sugar cookies came from a pouch. I did add my own vanilla.

I burnt up a few. That's the way I like them best.

I used the same pouch for an improvisation of my favorite poppy seed almond cookie.

I didn't have almonds to grind so I used Amaretto instead. They were different than the originals, but good.

This year's newcomers were the chocolate pepperment cookies. They also came from a mix. They were lots of fun to make. I loved dipping them in the melted peppermint frosting.

For someone not expecting any company this year, I sure have a lot of cookies.

It's Begining to Look Not Like Christmas

2011-12-22T00:00:00.001-05:00

It's hot outside. It's much too warm for Christmas but I'm not complaining. We've got outside kitties to keep warm and every night above freezing is a night I can sleep guilt free in my comfy, cozy bed.

The inside kitties have been kind to the kitty proof tree so I got out my favorite tree-the vintage pom pom tinsel one with all its precious glass ornaments. I am using my spinning wheels to provide a barricade around it in hope that it may last at least until Christmas Eve. If it doesn't, I know three bad kitties who won't be getting a visit from Santa this year.

A Christmas Field Trip

2011-12-21T00:00:00.016-05:00

It has become a tradition to visit Homestead Gardens each year on my birthday.

Daughter and I love the place.

It is part nursery and part winter wonderland.

I love to look at all the holiday plants but since I don't have a green thumb, that's as far as it goes. I just buried the Christmas cactus I brought home last year. It was dead. Really dead and I can't blame the cats.

You can spend hours looking in all the rooms.

There is a themed holiday room for everything you can imagine.

I could live there.

I was on a mission this year to get ornaments for the newlyweds. I didn't have much luck in spite of the millions of hanging shiny things.

There are so many creative displays using ordinary things in very inventive ways.

You have to remember to look up because even the ceilings are decorated with care.

Outside it is an explosion of lights. Thank goodness they haven't switched to those awful LED things yet.

Daughter and I always spend a long while outside before we leave trying to get a decent photo of us under the lights. It was freezing and also very windy so this was the best I could do this year. After all, it was the day I turned 58 and the idea of being 60 in the very near future was giving me a bad case of the heebie jeebies.

Winter Wonderland Part Two

2011-12-20T00:00:00.013-05:00

The lobby of the hotel was really spectacular-the rooms not so much. Like most old hotels in NYC, the rooms were shabby and not so chic. There was also no perks like free internet or even complimentary coffee in the rooms. The chain hotels have really spoiled me.

The location was great though. We were just a few blocks away from the Gershwin Theater.

I tried to take a discreet photo of myself in the theater with my cheapo camera but only got a blur. Those white squiggles look like flying monkeys in the distance, don't they? The play was FANTASTIC. If you haven't seen it, GO NOW!

After the show we headed to Rockefeller Center to see the tree. First, I had to stop in and say hi to the Today Show set. I spend almost every morning with a hot cup of tea watching Matt, Ann and Al.

It was past midnight and the place was still packed with people. After we got back to the hotel we switched on SNL to catch the last few minutes only to discover we had just missed the cast saying goodnight from the Rockefeller ice! We were just there. What a bummer that was. It would have made a great story.

After leaving Rockefeller, we braved the cold and walked down 5th Avenue. The place is wrapped up like a giant sparkly package and the window displays make you feel like a kid again.

We finished the night thawing out in a little corner diner with an all night breakfast and a Greek salad. What a weekend. I love New York!

Winter Wonderland Part One

2011-12-19T00:00:00.001-05:00

I spent the weekend in New York City courtesy of Daughter and her new hubbie. I got a night at the Wellington and tickets to see Wicked.

I also got a walking tour of the city when it was all decked out in its holiday finery. It was spectacular.

It was so crowded, you had to elbow your way into a spot in order to get a photo of the many incredible displays.

We walked up to Bryant Park hoping to skate but found the line around the block.

The Zamboni was not doing a very good job. I felt sorry for this poor rink guard who was trying to clear the ice with just a shovel. No wonder the line was so long.

We walked back through Times Square. I was awestruck.

I'm pretty sure I walked around all night with my mouth hanging open.

I spotted the billboard for Wicked on the way back to get dressed for the 8:00 show.

I had a few minutes to try and get caught up on the lost cause of my Advent scarf. I am a day behind now but I was having too much fun to care.

Card Crisis

2011-12-18T00:00:00.004-05:00

I walked my legs off this year looking for a decent Christmas card. I am VERY particular about my cards. I want a decent quality paper-not that awful shiny stuff. At $18 a box it shouldn't be a problem to find something nice but it is. I had no luck this year. It seems everyone is using the cheap stuff. After agonizing for days, I finally decided on these Hallmark cards because I am a sucker for anything with mittens. Next year, I am going to Paper Source. If they don't have anything, I'll just have to make my own.

While I'm Away

2011-12-17T00:00:00.008-05:00

Number Two Son is coming to house sit while we are whooping it up in The Big Apple this weekend.

I've got tickets to Wicked for tonight. On Broadway. I am so excited.

He hasn't been home for the holidays in ages. He lived in Iowa City and then St Louis so I took the time to deck the halls a bit for him before we left.

I am not much of a decorator. I just get the same old stuff out every year and fling it about.

Most of my holiday stuff is the same stuff I've been putting out for years.

The tree is new-to me at least. It was Daughter's cat proof tree and now it is mine. No it's not a real tree. My real trees are outside where they belong. For years we bought a real tree and then planted them outside. When we ran out of room in the yard, I bought a fake one as I am such a ninny I can't stand the thought of killing a tree just to hang shiny crap on it.

My real tree, my beautiful vintage silver pom pom with all its glass ornaments is staying in the box until we get home.

Happy Birthday to Me!

2011-12-16T00:00:00.002-05:00

Advent Scarf KAL Day 7, 8, 9 and 10

I am off to New York City for the weekend to celebrate and all I can think about is how I am going to keep up with the Advent KAL while I am away.

I need access to the internet to get the patterns that are published every day in the early evening. They come in a PDF format which I can have sent to my Kindle Fire but I still have to send them from somewhere so I will be dragging along the laptop. I thought about dragging the printer too because I really need a printed chart not the tiny little Kindle screen to be able to manage some decent car knitting. Oh my, this is all getting a bit complicated now isn't it?

Nearing the End

2011-12-15T00:00:00.003-05:00

Dad's big projects are in the final stages and will be ready to be gifted soon. My sister and I are doing the hand quilting, but he did all of the planning and cutting for these two Dresden plate quilts. He also used the sewing machine to sew that striped border all by himself. This one is for the granddaughter of a friend of his.

This one is for the granddaughter of a friend of my sister's. It is going to be strange not to have them to work on but I am pretty sure he will find someone else to make one for in the near future-if he hasn't already.

An Early Christmas

2011-12-14T00:00:00.004-05:00

Dad's been working on these holiday ornaments for the last few weeks.

They are really turning out cute.

The problem is we can never find anything in this mess. This is how he manages his stash. Something had to be done so we called on Santa to make an early trip to his house to get things in order. We heard the sleigh bells last Saturday night.

In a flash some busy little elves had these shelves set up and his stash organized in no time-with a little help from Ikea. I just might have to ask Santa to bring me a set of these next year!

For Goodness Sake

2011-12-13T00:00:00.002-05:00

Dad and I don't just quilt during my visits. We also like to drink tea and work on puzzles. This one has been in progress since early summer. We finally got to the end and wouldn't you know we'd have a missing piece? You can see it hole right behind the cup and to the right. It's right in the middle of the Japanese flag. For a long while I thought the old man was hiding it from me to be funny. But no....for several days we have searched high and low with no luck and now it is back in the box. I suppose we should just be happy we managed to hang on to the 999 pieces we have over such a long period of time.

Derailed

2011-12-12T00:00:00.002-05:00

The gorgeous lace scarf I recently finished was supposed to be a gift for a twenty something family member. After careful consideration, it was decided by me and the gifter-to-be that lace and twenty year olds is not a good match. Correct us if we are wrong, but what would a young person do with something like this?

Yes, it is ethereally beautiful when held out or carefully draped, but when you tie it or wrap it around it around your neck it loses all of its charm and looks like a tangle of very fine, slightly fuzzy string. So it's back to the drawing board for this particular project. We still want lace, but lace that is really lace, meaning something more like a wrap than a scarf.

Advent Scarf KAL: Days 4, 5 and 6

2011-12-11T00:00:00.004-05:00

The knitting marathon continues. Day 5 was completed on the road when we took a trip to Joanne's for some fabric. Putting on those itty bitty beads in the car was tricky. Very tricky.

Day 6 and 7 were knit late in the night. The next day's pattern is put online in the early evening and I try to get at least half done that night in case tomorrow turns out to be one of those days that you can't find time to sit and knit. Photographing this thing has been a nightmare. I am NEVER using dark yarn for a project that needs to be documented EVER again. It really does look much better in person than it appears here. The weather is not helping. It has been dark and dreary for days.

It's Begining to Look a Lot Like Christmas

2011-12-10T00:00:00.008-05:00

I am a slow starter for the holidays. I put up decorations in layers. First, the outside stuff goes up. Then, much later, the inside things get put out-a little at a time. I can't rush these things or I go into Christmas shock and become a total Scrooge about it. This year, instead of the swag I make from the branches I cut from our pines, I bought a grapevine wreath and decorated it with things I found at the craft shop. Since the hurricane, I have spent too much time dealing with tree branches so I went in another direction this year.

My vintage twinkle light came out early. I brought it out on fruitcake day to help chase away the rainy day blues.

We hang lights inside the house to shine out through the windows but no one can really see them so the lights are really for us to see inside. This is my bedroom window. It twinkles.

I'm not much of a decorator so I just toss the lights around the window ledges.

At night they look very pretty. Our tree comes later. Much later. If I have to dust it, it takes all the fun out of it so it doesn't go up until just a few days before Christmas. That way the magic hasn't worn off before the big day.

Something Finished

2011-12-09T00:00:00.002-05:00

Something is finally done around here. It has actually been done a while but I haven't had the time to block it.

It was a very fast and easy project that I would love to do again someday. I would like to try it on some smaller needles or maybe with some heavier yarn as it is so lacy and light that it is almost invisible when you have it on.

Moving Day

2011-12-08T00:00:00.008-05:00

Number 2 Son moved into Washington DC this past weekend. He found a decently priced apartment in a very nice neighborhood.

The building is very vintage.

The corner apartment has lots of big windows and plenty of sunlight.

It also has a very interesting view. We were very curious about the next door neighbor's strange lawn ornament so we had to walk around to see what building this belonged to.

It turned out to be the Swiss Embassy's Cuban Interest building. It is the closest thing Cuba can have to an embassy here in the US. Right next to it is the Polish Embassy. The kid has some pretty cool neighbors.

He also has an orchid pink and black bathroom. I can't wait to see the shower curtain he picks out.

Right around the corner we found this guy who is just begging for a yarn bombing. I let him pose in my hat and scarf but someday I may just be back to give him his own.

Too Much of a Good Thing

2011-12-07T00:00:00.005-05:00

I have a teeny tiny craft room and a ginormous stash. The closet is full of fiber.

I have tubs and baskets of stuff everywhere. I never can find anything. I used to have all this sitting around being pretty, but after the cats came into our lives it had to be boxed up for its own good. There is Malabrigo and Jamieson in these baskets.

I had to take it all out and organize it the other day when I was looking for some laceweight to start that Advent project. Here is my collection from Elann.

Each time I do this I am in awe of the fabulous stuff I own. I have more than 10 Knit Picks kits to knit. Try to say that 3 times fast. I am not even showing you my collection of Palette. It's awesome. All bought before the price nearly doubled this year.

This is only the stash in this room. Under my bed I have a huge container of sock yarn and in the basement I have three giant tubs filled with my cheapo acrylics.

I decided to take photos to document it all in case the house burns down and I have to prove to the insurance company I had about a million dollars worth of fuzzy stuff.

Say What?

2011-12-06T00:00:00.000-05:00

These are Skuuzis. They keep you hands warm when you drink beer outside in the cold. Who does that? They are also very expensive. $29.99 at Urban Outfitters. Son sent me the link. I hope it wasn't a hint because I'm not making any anytime soon for anybody. Having said that, I did look for a Ravelry link. Couldn't find one. Darn.

Advent Scarf KAL: Days 1, 2 and 3

2011-12-05T00:00:00.002-05:00

The first day of the knit along was pretty easy going. I did goof up the pattern once when I forgot the return rows were not charted and skipped a few at the very beginning. I went ahead without them.

The beading experience is rather tedious with such small beads. My friends were right. You can hardly see them but I am fine with it. They sparkle just enough not to be mistaken for lint.

Day 2 was a day from knitting hell. I thought I had it all together and then I went on Ravelry to post my photo and discovered I had missed an entire pattern repeat. The worst part is that I had already knit 8 rows of the next day's spacer (plus added a row of those damn beads) and it all had to be tinked back in order to get the second pattern repeat on. I finished late in the night both days so I have no decent photos of any of it so far. Believe it or not there is a cable section on Day 2 but you can't see it in the dark yarn with a flash.

On Day 3 I finally finished in time for some daylight pictures which shows the texture of the patterns more clearly. This was an easy day with no knitting drama for which I am very grateful. My eyeballs are getting ready to drop out of my head from trying to knit in the dark with dark yarn and dark needles. Just think, there are only 21 more days of this to go. I'll never make it.

Fun With Fruitcake

2011-12-04T00:00:00.001-05:00

It was doing this outside. It certainly isn't beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here.

So it seemed like a good idea to make a mess in the kitchen. Thanksgiving is the time for making fruitcake, but I was behind schedule.

I love fruitcake. I really do. If it didn't have a million calories in it, I would eat it all year.

I make tiny loaves and tiny sample bites. It's not what you eat but how much. Yeah, right.

They bake for hours on 275. It fills the house with fruitcakey goodness all day.

When they are all safely out of the pans, it's time for celebrating. One year they all stuck and fell apart. I ate them anyway.

When they are cool enough to handle, they get a bath in Karo Syrup and brandy. They then are well wrapped and put away until Christmas.

The samples get sampled right away with a cup of my favorite tea so I can judge the quality of the year's cakes. This year is going to be a good one.

On Fire!!!

2011-12-03T00:00:00.008-05:00

Son Number Two is a big jokester. He has been telling me for weeks he bought me a Kindle Fire.
I didn't believe him. Guess what showed up?

Yup. A box from Amazon telling me not to open it because I would ruin my surprise. Right.

I didn't care how pretty it was wrapped, I tore that sucker open. It did have a sweet card attached. The Jokester can be nice when he wants to.

I love this thing. I have all my audible.com books on it already plus I have downloaded my first real book-a knitting book, of course- The Knitters Life List. Amazon said I wanted it so who I am to argue at 2 am? I also sampled The Yarn Harlot's newest and will probably be buying that as soon as I figure out how to budget in my new toy.

A December Knit Along

2011-12-02T00:00:00.009-05:00

A new project is in this bag. I am so excited!

It's the 2011 Advent Scarf KAL. I had been lurking for weeks in the group so when I found three skeins of laceweight in my stash I knew I had to join. I NEVER buy three skeins of anything. It was a sign. The idea is that you get a small piece of the pattern everyday until Christmas Eve. Doesn't that sound like fun?

There is beading involved so I pulled out the bead stash. It was hard to decide. I took them to Knit Night for a vote. They voted for the multi-colored ones on the right.

I also had to figure out how to put them on the yarn. I had never had to do this before with a crochet hook. You Tube came to the rescue once again.

Although my friends liked the brighter beads, I am going with the solid navy ones. I have never beaded a scarf before and I am not sure I am going to like it so I am opting for subtle this time around.

They do have a bit of shine to them so I will get some sparkle without any added color.
Today is day two of the pattern updates so as much as I love to sit here and play with the computer, for the next 23 days I have got to knit like the wind in order to keep up.
TTYL!

A Very Crowded Knit Night

2011-12-01T00:12:00.014-05:00

We were elbow to elbow tonight at the knit shop. There was something going on but I'm not sure what. I have never seen so many people lined up to buy yarn there before. People were going out with big bags of the stuff. I started out stuffed on a couch with this Chipotle Bowl sitting next to me. It was cruel.

For the remainder of the evening I sat on the floor with the rest of the late comers.

It was cozy but a little hard to keep up with conversations across the floor.

I did see a finished Green Thumb Mitt. Nice.

I also saw some owls-to-be getting started.

Someone had some baby things finished.

She also had some baby things started. Someone is thinking a lot about babies.

I couldn't get a decent picture of her orange hat because she was laughing too hard about it. It seems this was to be a hunting hat for her husband that didn't quite work out for him. I heard something about a pom pom but I didn't quite get the joke.

The microfiber socks are almost done. I found this exact yarn in my sock stash. It's going to the top of the queue.

She also managed to finish a beaded bag tonight. I don't know how she manages to use those tiny needles and tiny beads and still be able to carry on a conversation.

Miss Prodigy was working on a neck scarf.

But she was more interested in learning how to make a rolag. I showed her once and of course she became an expert with one try.

Someone that was new to me tonight was working on something familiar. I slaved over these same Felted Clogs this time last year. I love them but they are fiddly to say the least. I could have never worked on them in a crowd. I was impressed.

I put what I believe is the last pattern repeat on the lace scarf. I'll be binding off tomorrow.

I also got to the end of a Dalhousie mitt. I am afraid they have ruined me forever. They are so soft and squishy. It's going to be hard to go back to the cheap stuff.

Something NOT White

2011-11-30T00:00:00.000-05:00

I did finish another spindle full of Princess Kate. I have been collecting every spindle's worth on some bobbins so I can ply one big amount all at once for this year's MD Sheep and Wool shawl which is more than likely to be a Haruni. The only glitch in the deal is that there is more than a good chance that I just might be GOING BACK TO WORK before then. Yes, I said it. WORK. W.O.R.K. A former co-worker is having a baby and needs a sub to fill in a big chunk of school time so I said I would do it starting in January. I have made plenty of MD Sheep and Wool shawls over the years during lunch while being gainfully employed so I shouldn't be worried about it but all the same-I am. My former knitting lunch bunch friends who will more than likely be my future knitting lunch bunch friends better keep me on track.

Snow Blind

2011-11-29T00:00:00.001-05:00

Both wheels have had white on them-since last summer.

How'd that happen?
I do have one more wheel that is empty but I can't justify starting anything else until I do something about all that white.
I'm so bored.

Down By the Bay

2011-11-28T00:00:00.004-05:00

Sometimes I forget that I live in a very picturesque little area on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay.

Every once and a while when I have to take pictures of something outside, I remember how pretty it is around here.

Most of the time I just take it all for granted.

I got up early to take pictures of Son's cruise ship heading back to Baltimore yesterday. I missed it but I did get some pretty photos of everything all dolled up for the holidays.

Too Much of a Good Thing

2011-11-27T00:00:00.003-05:00

I attacked the entire house yesterday. Every closet, cabinet and assorted nook or cranny got seriously violated. Of course that meant that all the hidden stash got sorted through and much of it got tossed. This is just one of several giant piles headed for the trash. I have finally managed to convince myself I do NOT need to keep every bit of yarn I have ever spun or all of the leftover fiber I spun it with.

I also have a teeny tiny craft room that is at the moment unusable due to serious clutter issues. On this beautiful Thanksgiving weekend, I should being giving thanks for owning all this wonderful stuff but right now I am just mad at myself for my lack of organization skills. I am also wrestling with the fact that Cyber Monday is right around the corner and this year I do NOT need to add to my stash in any way shape or form. Right?

Movember

2011-11-26T00:00:00.008-05:00

Daughter's new husband was growing a spectacular 'stash to raise awareness for prostate cancer and other male health issues when our lastest family wedding got in the way. She made him shave it off. It was sad.

This week, I discovered that people on Ravelry were doing their part to support the Movember movement, with sticks and strings, of course. These are the two worst looking things ever made by sticks and strings but it's the thought that counts.

Me minus two nights sleep due to a pup with a sick tummy. I really don't need to wear this silly thing, I've been sprouting enough facial hair to grow my own since menopause. Ugh...

I wasn't the only one getting into the spirit.

The 1.1 million Mo Bros out there have raised $174 million bucks for research since 2004 changing the face of men's health. Speaking of changing the face of men, Son really knows how to rock that 'stash, doesn't he?

Gobble Day Rerun

2011-11-25T00:00:00.005-05:00

I was more than happy to hand Thanksgiving dinner over to the younger generation this year. After one engagement party, two bridal showers, two rehearsal dinners and one bachelorette party, I am over arranging parties for a while. Daughter and Son Number Two were glad to put together a very memorable meal. Son Number One and his new wife are floating around the Atlantic, still on their honeymoon.

Daughter offered up her home to host the event. Mine is a disaster. It looks like a Hobby Lobby/Party City combo at the moment.

Her new hubby cooked the bird and four desserts. Son made an array of amazing veggie side dishes. The polenta stacked with kale was delicious, not to mention the Brussel sprouts with maple glaze. Daughter set a beautiful table with all her new kitchenware. I am envious. Between her shower and her wedding she pretty much owns the contents of a Crate and Barrel.

I am at home again now, watching Gaga's Thanksgiving special, wondering why I didn't bring home a big hunk of this made-from-scratch pumpkin cheesecake. It was really good.

Happy Gobble Day!

2011-11-24T00:00:00.003-05:00

I've been up all night knitting these turkeys just to have something to blog about today. Not.
I found these here. If you Google Image knitted turkeys you get quite a few to choose from. Who'd have thought?

Stash Buster

2011-11-23T00:00:00.002-05:00

The problem you get when you knit from your stash is that you have to end up making do with some weird colors. This major stash addition came from an Aunt's passing who had a closet full of vintage Red Heart Super Savers.

I am trying to keep to the colors in the original sampler pattern but my green and orange and Barbara G. Walker's green and orange are very different. Hers are bright while mine are straight out of a 1970's kitchen-burnt orange and avocado. I'm sticking to my stash busting plan so it may look a little on the funky side but it won't have cost me a penny.

The Hook Bug

2011-11-22T00:00:00.001-05:00

Crocheting all those flip flops for my new daughter in law's bridal shower gave me the urge to continue on with the hookie thing. My Vanna hexie afghan has been gathering dust for a long while but now she is back in business. The only thing I hate besides its dustiness making me sneeze (for real) is the color choices. I hate making color choices. I am no good at making random hexies work together. I should have made some sort of plan and stuck with it because trying to figure out which hexie to put where is taking a lot of the fun out of this project.

A Room With a View

2011-11-21T00:00:00.008-05:00

I was in Baltimore this weekend for the wedding of Number One Son and his Lovely Lady. We stayed in the Renaissance Hotel. The view of Charm City was spectacular.

Early on the morning of the wedding, I got up before everyone else to fix some knitting I had muffed up in the car on the way there. Someone doesn't like me to knit when I am supposed to be giving directions so some issues cropped up from my hasty retreat.

Happily it was quickly back on the needles in one piece where it stayed until we got home. I learned my lesson about lace and cranky car rides through city traffic. It's not worth the risk for just a few more inches.

Right outside our window and to the right of the harbor was the Occupy Baltimore Camp. I know so many people in several different Occupy groups over on Ravelry are donating knitted items to the protestors but I didn't have anything but that lace scarf with me and somehow that just seemed wrong-not to mention the fact that it's not mine to give.

If you want to see more of our wedding weekend go visit me at the soon to disappear Mother of the Bridezilla blog here.

Another Big Day!

2011-11-20T00:00:00.007-05:00

Today I am in Baltimore on a Carnival Cruise ship being the Mother of the Groom. I was surprisingly very stoic during Daughter's wedding several weeks ago but the idea of Number One Son (who is also Number One Kid) tying the knot is wreaking havoc on my mother's heart. They grow up too fast, don't they?

Tah de Dah de Doo Dah

2011-11-19T00:00:00.000-05:00

No it's not done. It's just that I get to make a color change. I've been on blue for over a year now so getting to move onto green is a big deal. At least to me.

All Alone-AGAIN!

2011-11-18T00:00:00.000-05:00

This mangy thing is what is left of my favorite pair of mitts. I have already posted about losing one at Rhinebeck way back in 2009. I was heart broken about leaving it behind. I knit a replacement and wouldn't you know it-it's come up missing. I know when I'm beat so I am retiring this guy.

It's not really a problem because I found the time to finally cast on my Dalhousie mitts. I am planning ahead this time and making three-maybe even four. Good thing I bought plenty of yarn.

Another Tangled Skein Knit Night

2011-11-17T00:00:00.004-05:00

Our little group met once again at A Tangled Skein. It's exhilarating and a little intimidating to be surrounded by so much yarn and so many knitters. All you have to do is mention a pattern and someone out of nowhere chimes in with the details. Bizarre. I suppose I'll get used to it, but for solitary knitters like me, it's all a bit surreal.

I don't think I have ever been in a group of more than 4 or 5 knitters at a time-if you don't count the Sheep and Wool Festival because I never knit there. I just couldn't. Even stranger, this was probably only my fifth time in a yarn shop in my entire life. My knitting life began with mail order and blossomed with the internet. That's worked out pretty well for me because my house looks an awful lot like this yarn shop.

The best part of tonight was that I got to revisit someone's vintage knitting bag. This bag has been an object of desire for me for a while now. I love it. I want it but I can't find one like it. I'm going to have to make one. It's just such a comfortable looking bag. It's the kind of bag you take out when you want to knit away on something relaxing. I could use some relaxing right now so I am sure that is why the bag is so appealing.

As for knitting, someone was making some mitts. Green Thumb mitts to be exact. I don't know this because of the conversation but because I can read the name on the photograph I took. The conversation was mostly about chocolate tonight.

The owner of the vintage bag had finished her baby hat. It looked cute on her but cuter on this rather melancholy looking bunny.

She is working on some matching um...er, mittens? Again, we talked a lot about chocolate tonight. The knitting was just sort of happening around us.

There was a finished sock that was greatly admired for its major stretchability. Ribbing that does what it is supposed to do is a wonderful thing.

I really had to get a few pattern repeats on the new lace project so I tried not to be too talkative. You can't keep track of lace and talk-at least I can't. I was behind schedule on it today because Son's weekend wedding had me running around doing errands all day. Next week we will all be on Thanksgiving break so we'll have two whole weeks to get things finished for our next show and tell.

Another Lapful of Lace

2011-11-16T00:00:00.002-05:00

After finishing the two wedding wraps, I swore I would take a break from lace for a long while but it's a habit that is hard to break.

I have my lace knitting routine down so well that the hole was hard to fill. When asked to start a project intended for someone else, I jumped at the chance. Webs had the yarn at my doorstep in minutes.

This is a Silky Alpaca Lace Scarf in Rowen's Fine Lace one of two lace projects I started this week.

Indian Summer

2011-11-15T00:00:00.010-05:00

I spent the summer solar dyeing lots of Corriedale locks. Between the weddings and the nasty weather nothing very interesting ever came of them and I had been feeling really bad about it.

Fall is for being outside and playing with wool and today was one of the few days in recent memory that it felt good to be outside. It was a beautiful day so I drug out the drum carder and proceeded to make short work of a few colorful locks.

With no real plan in mind, I just cranked a few through the machine and hoped for the best.

Pulling the batt off of the carder reminded me of a Muppet. I'm not sure which one, but I've seen this hair before.

I pulled the batt into strips and wound them up for future adventures in spinning.

One little batt made quite a few colorful little nests.

For another batt, I pulled out the diz and pulled some roving straight off the drum carder.

Not bad for a few hours worth of work on an absolutely gorgeous day. Where do I have to move to get weather like this all the time?

An Adventure in Unknitting

2011-11-14T00:00:00.006-05:00

Quiet Sunday mornings are the perfect time to catch up on old projects. I had a pair of socks on a long circular needle that was not turning out the way I wanted. So I decided to frog them. Pulling the yarn out of 2 socks at a time when you are knitting from only one ball is a giant tangle of a nightmare. Not having enough hands to do the job, I had to enlist the furniture to help. It was painfully slow going.

After pulling the yarn out and separating it, I had to figure out how to pull it off the chair. It was wound inside out and still just one continuous strand. I carefully pushed it onto my nostepinne while hoping for the best.

I managed to locate the beginning and rewind it all onto a paper tube.

I could breathe easier once it was all safe and sound.

Here is the reason for all the drama. I had begun a pair of socks with the green handspun and had planned to switch to the pink at the heel. Yuck. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but once I got to the heel I knew this was a stupid idea and a waste of some pretty handspun. I worked hard handpainting the singles last summer and they deserved better.
The green has been rewashed and is hanging to dry. It will be socks again but this time instead of half green and half pink, I think I'm going for stripes or maybe even some Fair Isle.

The Last Gasp

2011-11-13T00:00:00.002-05:00

While out raking leaves, I noticed my Hydrangia was having none of this fall business. I cut a few of the prettiest blooms and took them in the house to put in a vase where I am pretty sure they will be knocked over by a cat as soon as it's lights out tonight.

Baby, It's Cold Outside

2011-11-12T00:00:00.001-05:00

We have had an unusually cold and wet autumn but the leaves have been spectacular.

Instead of just turning brown and falling onto the ground in slimy piles, they seem to be staying put and changing into pretty colors like they usually do everywhere but here.

While taking the tree photos from the deck, I spied grumpy Thelma, one of the outdoor kitties, hiding in the bushes. Taking advantage of my new camera's zoom, I can finally get a photo of the ghost kitty, that until now has only been a white spot in the woods. It's too bad such a pretty kitty is so darn mean. I just would love to pick her up and give her a good cuddle.

All Wound Up

2011-11-11T00:00:00.000-05:00

Winding skeins into balls makes me happy. This morning I got to wind 3 new projects worth of yarn into these cute little cakes. From left to right is my gorgeous Fluffy Cat that is to be turned into mitts and my September and October Spin Along samples to be used for some wonky mittens. Since I have already been through my first snow storm of the year, I am very much liking the idea of working on some pretty little warm things.

Fun in the Sun

2011-11-10T00:00:00.000-05:00

The Mister has been asking Daddio and I to come and watch him play golf for a while now. The idea of spending hours on a cold, windy and soggy golf course has not been appealing. Weather wise, this fall has been a big disappointment.

We finally got a few gorgeous days in a row so we all headed out for a day in the sun. Daddio lost his driving privileges after that last surgery clouded his brain so he really enjoyed being behind the wheel again.

I was more interested in the groundskeepers than in the game. These goats were not particularly friendly but extremely efficient. The sound of them munching in unison was hilarious.

There were also chickens hiding in the bushes. I wonder how many of them got clunked on the head by golf balls. I hated to think about it.

It was a really beautiful day and the scenery was spectacular. It was really nice to get out of the house and just enjoy doing nothing.

Almost nothing, that is. Of course, I brought along some knitting.

UFO Update

2011-11-09T00:00:00.004-05:00

Now that all the frenzy of the back to back weddings has nearly come to an end, I have more time on my hands to finish some of the things that got left in the dust a year ago. I started this mosaic sampler afghan in July of last year, right before Daughter announced her engagement. I had forgotten how fun mosaic knitting is. It took me a few minutes to remember how it went but once I had it, it went fast and I had another whole section done in no time. I do realize that in the very near future, as the sides grow longer, that will not be the case, but for now it's all fun.

A Tour de Fleece Finish

2011-11-08T00:00:00.001-05:00

Since I had the blocking equipment out I decided to go ahead and finish a long standing UFO. It has actually been finished for ages but the weather here has not been the best for drying large amounts of wool so blocking was out of the question. This fall has been a complete washout. We finally got a mild, dry day (see sun on the floor for proof!) so I took advantage of it to give this big thing a spin in the washer. I really must be knitting too much lace these days because I really was at a loss at what to do on the blocking board with this large plain triangle. I ended up pulling out points on the color blocks because it just didn't seem right not to do so.

Scenes From a Shower

2011-11-07T00:00:00.009-05:00

Soon to be Daughter in Law's bridal shower was Saturday.

Having a Caribbean themed party in the middle of a wet, dreary fall was too much fun.

We had lots of surprises planned for the Bride to Be including toilet paper dresses and hula hooping.

We had to do a lot of research to plan our Caribbean menu. I had to go to a lot of grocery stores in order to find some plantain chips but they were really good with the pineapple salsa.

Everything was not only yummy but pretty.

There were lots of sweets to end the day. I am still eating the leftovers this morning.

The little pails I painted made really cute flower arrangements.

We had floral straws that made the Bahama Mama wine coolers even more special.

The pina colada filled coconut cups were also a big hit.

Bride to Be had a car load of gifts to take home. These are only the ones that were here before the guests arrived. After the guests poured in, the pile was huge. It's a good thing she just bought a house with a big kitchen.

A big thanks to my sister and her husband for letting me host the party at her beautiful house- again!

Baaa.....

2011-11-06T00:00:00.003-04:00

While shopping for bridal shower supplies, I came upon this cute little fellow. He just had to come home with me. I say he, because I always think of sheep with horns as males. I know nothing about sheep so I am probably wrong about that but even so I am pretty sure that this is a he...that knits.

Here Comes the Bride-Again!

2011-11-05T00:00:00.004-04:00

The family is hosting another bridal shower today. My oldest son is getting married on the 20th and we decided to surprise his bride to be.

They are getting married on a cruise ship and then heading off to the Bahamas so our shower has a tropical theme. Our floral arrangements will be in little pails.

I found lots of beach themed stamps at AC Moore and they were 50% off.

I finished the basket of flip flop favors and added a cute tag. I also have lots of other surprises boxed up and ready to go-not to mention that Peacock scarf.
Now I have to go figure out how I am going to pack all this stuff into the car and get it up to my sister's house. At least they are not calling for snow again today.

Passing Judgement

2011-11-04T00:00:00.005-04:00

Yesterday, I unpinned the Peacock scarf and hoped for the best. The last time I saw it, I was close to a knitting nervous breakdown.

In spite of all my fears, it turned out just fine. The flat edges were not so terrible. Of course I would have loved to have conquered that final graft but I know when to say when.

It was so light and airy I couldn't resist pulling it through my wedding ring. I know it's not a Shetland wedding ring shawl but I deserved a little fun with it after all it put me through.

I love the feel of it. It is so soft. Expensive yarn is so worth the price. Nothing compares to it.

Here are all the details, in case you are interested. Would I recommend this pattern? Hell no-but the yarn is to die for.