When A UFO Loses Its U Status

My January UFO is now a FO!! I of course chose the easiest and fastest to complete (although I did rip it twice... I didn't like the way it looked being knitted on the size 4 addi so I switched to a a 1 and reknit). Mandy says her English teacher is due in March but has been experiencing premature labor so she is on bed rest. One baby hat done. Opal Petticoat (leftover from Mandy's socks) 100 stitches on size 1 Addi Turbo. I'm making a pair of socks to match and if I have enough yarn I might even make some little mitts. Have you ever seen anything so cute? I love the swirly top (thanks Monica for your calculations).
I am making progress on my Sockret pal's second sock also, I'm to the heel flap. I hope to get it done by the end of the week. Well, I'm off to bed. More later.

2006 Final Tally... and Some UFO's Spotted

It seems I didn't show much diversity in my 2006 knitting... final count...

adult socks: 28 pair (2 for Monica, 4 for Mandy, 1 for C.J., 1 for hubby, and the rest (20) for me)
baby socks: 36 pair (all to charity)
dish cloths: 1
scarves: 1

I have joined a couple of groups already this year to help me a little in getting things completed and on time. First... UFO Resurrection 2007 (see sidebar for link)... and here are the things I will be finishing this year:
1. C.J.'s sweater (this will be an ongoing project)
2. Arctic Diamonds Stole
3. 2 Multi-directional scarves (started in 2005 for gifts.. the green/blue one is further along. I just need to figure out where I am in the pattern for each of them)
4. 2 dishcloths (I can't seem to find the ballband dishcloth right now but I will)
5. My Edelweiss Socks
6. My SockretPals socks (one down, one to go. not pictured)
7. Buttonhole Bag (just need to get some yarn to finish the bottom and then felt it)
8. Mandy's blue Teseo scarf (I'm going to rip what I've started and do a different pattern)
9. Opal Petticoat baby hat (baby is due in April... I think)
10. Navy blue WoolEase house socks for C.J. (not pictured).
I think that's everything (it's everything I could find anyway).
Well, that should keep me busy for a while.
The second group is Holiday Headstart (some of the UFO's will also apply to this group because some of them will be gifts).

Plus, I do plan to knit at least 1 pair of socks a month (whether for myself or someone else).

HAPPY NEW YEAR

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! I hope 2007 will bring nothing but good things to all who read this! Be safe. Be healthy. Be happy. God bless us, everyone.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!!! everyone. I spent most of yesterday with my sewing machine doing some embroidery. I embroidered 2 shirts for my niece, Madilyn.









And 2 for my nephew, Camden. When he saw the dragon he ROARED!

While I was working on the shirts, Mandy was in the kitchen baking the dessert for us to take to the in-laws for Christmas Eve dinner.
I ran out of frosting to dye to write "Happy Birthday Jesus" on the cake so we improvised with M&M's. It turned out well.

And I didn't get C.J.'s socks done in time to wrap them and put them under the tree, but I did get them done today. He doesn't have them on his feet ( well I don't think so anyway) but they are done.





They are "Socks of Doom" (C.J. says they look like tv static) 60 stitches on US1's. Meilenweit Mouline (?) yarn.
I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas.
More later.

Monica Tagged Me So Now I'm "IT"

"THE RULES: Each player of this game starts with the "6 weird things about you." People who get tagged need to write a blog of their own 6 weird things as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don't forget to leave a comment that says "you are tagged" in their comments and tell them to read your blog." I'm going to half play, I'll list my "weird things" but not tag anyone.


1. I can twitch my nose like a rabbit (Mandy thinks this is something cool).
2. I hate to have my feet rubbed.
3. I don't like having my arms pinned down (part of my claustrophobia?).
4. I almost died twice, when I was 6 and 7 (acute appendicitis and a rusty nail ripped through the artery in my leg, my oldest sister Margie says she put her hand in my leg and pinched it together so I wouldn't bleed to death. I don't remember any of that, I woke up in the hospital with a huge bandage on my leg).
5. Spitting (slobbery dogs) and so many other things having to do with siliva makes me gag (watermelon, watermelon, watermelon).
6. Like my sister, I rub my feet together, and I'm never aware of doing it (this one bugs Mandy if she happens to be sitting on the couch with me).
Ok, that's done. Some of them sound weird, some don't. If you're reading this and want to be "tagged" go ahead and post 6 weird things about yourself on your blog. Let me know, I'll be happy to visit and read about your weirdness too.

Things I've Been Pondering...

... like... why using a pumice stone makes your feet smooth and soft but walking barefoot on concrete sidewalks and driveways makes them rough and ugly?
... how your appliances (furnace on the coldest day of the winter so far) and plumbing systems (just a few months ago) know you have no money to pay for repairs and choose to break at that point in time?
...why you (meaning I) wait till the last minute to decide to knit something for everyone on your list (because you can't afford to buy them something)?
...why you (meaning I again) can't keep the resolution to start early in the year on those presents?
Just some things that have been on my mind.

Posting this under having the blahs.
Knitting next time.... I promise.

(This Post Is) All For My Son

I talk a lot about my daughter Mandy, but I do have another child. My first born, Curtis. I started a sweater for him a little over a year ago, but it has taken a backseat to all my sock knitting. Monica and I made a pact this past week to work on the sweater(s) we have started (she has more going than I do, so you would think it would be easier for me). Lastnight I got out C.J.'s sweater and immediately made mistakes in the cables (I got very frustrated and actually threw the thing). After talking with Monica I was able to calmly pick it up and fix my mistakes and move on with it. I completed the first center diamond and am half way through the second. I'm knitting a pattern from "Men In Knits" in WoolEase. This won't be done for Christmas (this year), but I will continue to put inches (it's at 9-1/2" right now) on it on a daily basis.

Two other projects I'm working on for him are socks (of course). The first is the "Father and Son" design from IK. I'm knitting it in Pace sock yarn. I'm to the gusset decreases on the first sock, I should be able to get these done in time (he likes short legs on his socks). You can almost see the cables running down the side and the chevrons.





The second sock I'm knitting is in Meilenweit
Mouline (?) #1247. I'm using the "Socks of Doom" pattern from the Sock Wars site. The pattern doesn't show well, but I like the feel of it and it's stretchiness. I'm on the heel flap of the first sock on that one.

Well, that's all the progress for now. (Hopefully) more later! Have a good week everyone.



p.s. Here is your chance to win some wonderful prizes. Test your knit history at the same time. Not sure I got any of them right but it was fun trying to put the right year with the picture.
p.s.s. C.J.'s sweater is now 11". WOO HOO!!

Christmas Time Contest

Over at Alisha's blog she has a contest going on. You have to post a picture of a Christmas decoration in or on your home. Many years ago I started collecting the Dept.(not Studio) 56 Dickens Village pieces. My in-laws would give me a new building or group of trees or people for my birthday and pretty soon I had a nice sized village. It isn't complete and the pieces have become too expensive to get (collectibles...you just never know). Mandy likes to set them up (this group has been up since last Christmas), she has some on her piano and once we move her puzzle, there will be some on the dining room table too.


And here is our tree. Not all the decorations are on it yet (we are moving slowly this year). But Mandy has already put some of the presents she's bought for friends under it. It's beginning to look and feel like Christmas at our house.


A couple of years ago I made us each new stockings, and here they hang on the mantel. My niece, Lauren, made the little hanging that is at the heel of Mandy's stocking.
So those are some of our Christmas decorations, you have till midnight Saturday (Oh, that's today) to show off yours.

Festive December Sock

I was up late lastnight (3am, yes toooo late) finishing up this pair of socks. Why I don't know, there wasn't a rush to get them done. It's not like I don't have other socks to wear. But when the end is so near you just have to go on sometimes. So here they are, the first socks of December: Meilenweit Inca, knit plain. Started 11/23/06, finished 12/5/06. 68 stitches on size US1 dpn's. They are identical (I like when that happens). I thought I would be finishing these later today during Mandy's orthodontist appt. (she is "uber excited" that her braces are coming off today), but I will have to take a different sock with me to work on.
A couple weeks ago on a blog I visited (sorry, don't remember which one) she was asking people how they store their needles, so I thought I would share mine. I have a few of these sliding pencil cases that I use for my DPN's (a 6" plastic ruler fits nicely into them too). I buy them at the beginning of the school year when I buy Mandy's supplies. Then I go to the craft department and get some of the eyeglass chain maker doogies (that's the technical name for them, don't you know) and use those to hold the sets together. I have some number beads that I'm still trying to figure out how to put on the starter loop for the chain, so I know what size each set is. I haven't found a good way to store my circs yet, so if anyone else has some ideas....
And as a tease for Shelley, here is your T-shirt being embroidered by my machine (your package will go in the mail tomorrow). The lettering is stitching out as I type this post up.














The heart of yarn is taking shape in the right picture. Ok, the machine is done, now I just need to snip some threads and squirt the positioning lines with some water to make them disappear. It will be ready to go in the package (with the rest of your goodies) as soon as that dries. Have a great day!! More later.

Christmas MeMe

I found this meme at Susie's blog. I'm going to type it now (11/28) and post it after Shelley has a chance to see she's won.
1. Eggnog or hot chocolate? Hot chocolate, I've never had Eggnog and don't want to.
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just set them under the tree? Mrs. Santa wraps all presents.
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? While I prefer colored lights the tree is prewrapped with white lights. But we do put colored lights up around the inside of the house.
4. Do you hang mistletoe? I am highly allergic to mistletoe so only the silk or plastic gets past the door and I avoid stores that carry it this time of year. I'm always on the look out for the stuff (I like breathing, funny that).
5. When do you put up your decorations? It's an ongoing process from the day after Thanksgiving till we get done. We haven't hauled the tree up from the basement yet though (seems there is some yarn in that corner that needs to be moved).
6. What is you favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? Well if I can't say a dessert, candied sweet potatoes.
7. Favorite holiday memory? My dad was in Korea (Army) and we were in PA, I was 7 or 8, and Santa came to the door (it was late at night). My sister (Yvonne) and I took a chair to the door and looked through the peep hole and there he stood. We opened the door squealing, Mom came running out of her room (did I mention it was late), she was upset that we had opened the door to a stranger, but it was Santa. He had presents for the 6 of us still at home. Apparantly the Army had given him our names.
8. When and how did you learn about Santa? Learn what, SANTA IS REAL.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Nope.
10. What kind of decorations are on your tree? White lights and various ornaments we've collected or the kids have made through the years.
11. Snow! Love it or dread it? Well, both really. I love to look at it and see it coming down, but I hate to drive in it.
12. Can you ice skate? NO! in fact I used to have nightmares that I was skating, fell and sliced open the back of my leg.
13.Do you remember your favorite gift? Hmmmm..... Operation... BZZZZZZZ
14. What's the most important thing about the holidays for you? Being with my family.
15. What is your favorite holiday dessert? All the cookies Mandy and I bake (chocolate crinkles, spritz, chocolate chip, pinwheels, sugar, well you get the idea).
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Mandy and me (or is it I?) baking cookies (sneezing our heads off from all the flour dust flying out of the mixer).
17. What tops your tree? Well, as soon as I find one I like it's going to be a star.
18. What is your favorite holiday book? Luke, Chapter 2 and then the Polar Express.
19. What is your favorite Christmas song? Carol of the Bells.
20. Candy canes? we buy them every year and never eat them.
I want to add one more question to mine (because that's just the way I am)
21. What is your favorite holiday movie? "The Bishop's Wife". (Cary Grant, ahhhhh). A close second is "It's a Wonderful Life" & the Albert Finney version of "A Christmas Carol" also known as "Scrooge"

Ok I'm done. Now it's your turn.
As an aside... for the first time in the over 20 years I've been driving, I got pulled over by the police this morning on my way to work. For what, you ask? Well, even though there are still 2 full days left in the month, for expired tags. No fine, just a warning. I had hubby take care of the situation right away. I'm legal once more. Geeez, don't they have criminals they could be going after instead of innocent middle-aged women? Seriously!

A Little Progress To Report... And This Is The 100th Post

So this is the 100th post I've made on my blog. I can't believe I've had that much to write about in less than a years time. Mandy will be drawing a winner while I get this ready for posting (I hope you will be able to wait till the end). I wanted to show the little bit of progress I've made on my Arctic Diamonds Stole... it is coming along nicely if not slowly... the first diamond is almost done and I'm really loving it... a lot.




And here is the progress on the new socks OTN.
Monica gave me this yarn for my birthday when
Mandy and I went over on Thanksgiving...I'm on
the second sock already. I love these too... love the colors...I can't wait to wear them.






And now, without further ado....
the winner of my 100th post contest is...... Shelley of Kitten Yarns & Crafts. Congrats Shelley. E-mail me with your snail mail address and let me know if you would like an embroidered shirt or tote bag. Oh, you want to see what she's won? Ok! Here it is!






When Mandy drew Shelley's name I knew the Knit Picks would be the perfect yarn (I know how much you love purple). So, again Congrats... and thanks for playing along everyone.

Birthday Presents (Round 2)

We spent the day with Monica's family yesterday (had some great food, great conversation, and some fun knitting). And she had more birthday presents for me. Now I have to confess, I knew about the mittens (Monica told me, she was worried that I might be allergic to the Hair of Mo), but the other goodies were a complete surprise. A ball of Meilenweit Inca (of course I started the sock right away and yes I'm to the heel flap, it's a long wait for the turkey to cook) and 2 hanks of Cadenza yarn in autumnal colors (this yarn is so soft and the colors are beautiful). And aren't my mittens beautiful too? And the mohair doesn't bother me at all. Thank you Monica!

In other news, I'm so close to my 100th post I can almost touch it. So stay tuned, you never know when it will happen.
Have a great weekend (I hope you all have today off work too. Mandy is going to take me to see Happy Feet later) and stay clear of the malls (I know I will be). More later

p.s. for Kari (who asked about the yarn for the mittens), Monica held a sock yarn and mohair together to make my mittens. I'm not sure of the names of either of them. If she told me, I forgot. sorry. But they are wonderfully warm and soft and squishy (and of course its been in the 50's and 60's the last couple of days, but I'm sure I'll be able to use them soon).

Somebody Call The Guys In the White Coats...

.... cuz I think I've gone mad. I've made some progress on the Edelweiss sock... turned the heel and working on the gusset decreases. But do you see that? all the stuff hanging out of the top? all the ends I have to weave in? and there are more inside at the heel! and there will be even more at the toe! the socks are going to be beautiful (imo), but the prospect of having to weave in all those ends... what was I thinking? I'm going to bed now. Oh no, I just remembered...I have to make a second one just like it. Crazy that's what I am. I hope I can sleep!

Monica's Chevron Socks

I can't believe they are finally done. I think this is the longest it's ever taken me to finish a single pair of socks. I was beginning to think I wouldn't get a pair done in November too. But here they are... Monica's socks. I knit them with Opal Dreamcatcher (it's been so long I don't remember the color #). This is the Chevron pattern from Sensational Knitted Socks. They are identical until the heel. Opal must have been having a bad day when they produced this ball of yarn because the color band lengths were off in the heel of the first sock (the one on the bottom). So, from the heel down the socks don't match (this really bums me). This pair of socks covers so many KAL's I belong to... the SKS kal, SAM2, and maybe even Lacevember (there are intentional holes in these socks, making them lace).
That's it for now. Have a great weekend!!! More later.

Happy Birthday To Me!!!

Today is my 47th birthday (say it proud, say it loud)!!! My daughter jumped on me this morning to wake me up (thank goodness she isn't very heavy) and wish me a Happy Birthday. Later she is taking me to the yarn shop... I get to pick out some yarn (what could be better than that?) I'll add a picture of what I pick out later.
And my dear Sis (love you Monica) sent me some beautiful Claudia Handpainted yarn (this is her favorite colorway..Midnight, so I know she really loves me because she gave it to me instead of keeping it for herself. That is sacrifice.). She has something else to give me when we go over to her house for Thanksgiving next week (can't wait... great food and more presents). I can't take a decent picture of the yarn, it has the most beautiful shades of purples and blues.
Well, I must get to work. More later!


P.S.
As promised here is a picture of the yarn Mandy gave me for my birthday. I see a theme developing in the yarn I'm picking out and getting as gifts.... lots of blue and purple. This is Lorna's Laces in the Tahoe colorway. It's GORGEOUS!! On top of that, my son bought me dinner.
P.S.S. Thanks for all the Happy Birthday wishes!

Lacevember, (New) Socks and Birthday

I've chosen what I'm knitting for Lacevember... Arctic Diamonds Stole in the new issue of IK. I'm knitting it in Pace sock yarn (my LYS doesn't carry the Louet yarns) in a pretty icy blue, brrrr. I've finished the bottom border and 2 rows of the "main" pattern, I'm loving it a lot.







And the 2 new socks I've started (yes I know, I have about 5 others OTN that I need to work on and finish, but what can I say). The sock on the left is called Edelweiss by Candace Eisner Strick. The pattern is in the fall issue of Vogue Knitting. I wanted to knit this pair in Lorna's but my LYS is having a hard time finding me another ball of natural in the same dye lot that I already have. So I'm knitting it in Regia (just like the pattern calls for). It is a beautiful, highly textured sock (and I love textured socks... to knit and to wear). It's going to be a snug sock (I maybe should have knit it with US1.5 needles instead on US1's) I think, but it has some stretch so it may be alright afterall.

And the second sock... I'm knitting the yarn my Sockret Pal sent me, I'm knitting it plain to show off it's pretty colors. I'm really enjoying knitting this yarn (it's soft and stretchy).










And so now the birthday stuff (I know it's a few days early, you just never know about the mail)!! I don't usually do this (spend money on myself, you other moms will know what I'm talking about) but I splurged (I can hear Monica now, I've been holding out on her...with my new yarn acquisitions...don't worry, you'll see them in person soon). On the far left is Sheldridge Farms' Crocus (it isn't blue at all, it's purple with little dots of red), next to that is Perchance To Knit/Dreams' Hot Sox (specially dyed for SockretPal participants), in the center is Claudia Handpainted Spring Break (I know handpainted yarns are different even in the same dye lot, but these two skeins are like day and night from each other), on the right is STR in Watermelon Tourmaline (I had ordered Carousel, but they sent me this and I love it, so no harm done) for some reason the Scottish Highlands ( I got that too) didn't make it into the picture, and finally Cherry Tree Hill in Serengeti (I have some brown pants I need socks for and this yarn will go perfect with them).
The 100th post is one step closer (but not there yet), so keep commenting (only one entry per commenter, sorry). It's nice to have new readers stopping by and seeing all the familiar ones sticking with me! Thanks ladies, you're the best!!
More later.

Lacevember Questionnaire Answers

Here we go (1 post closer to 100):
Knitting questions:
1.How long have you been knitting? It seems like forever (with a 20yr hiatus thrown in)
2. How did you learn to knit? Mom taught me.
3. Favorite thing about knitting? It's relaxing and I can take it with me.
4. How long have you been knitting lace? About a year
5. Favorite thing about knitting lace? It's so pretty when its done

Yarn questions:
1. Favorite lace yarn? I've never knit with "lace" yarn, I've knit lace socks with Lorna's Sock and love that.
2. Variegated or solids for shawls? Love the look of both
3. Favorite lace color? blues and browns but not together

Technique, or show us you skillz
1. circs or straights? circs definitely
2.Favorite lace knitting trick? making copies of the charts and using post-it notes to let me know which row I'm on.
3. Lifelines? yes. If so with what? crochet cotton
4. Fancy blocking wires or just sewing pins stuck in you carpet? sewing pins

Pattern, or can you follow directions
1. Shawls or lacey items? I need the pattern for everything I knit (at least to start out with)
2. Triangle, rectangle, or circular shawls? Rectangle and triangle
3. Charts or printed instructions? Charts for sure
4. Favorite lace you've knit? I've knit 3 or 4 pair of lace socks and I love them all (2 were Nancy Bush patterns)

Just Fun, yup that's right, just fun
1. Favorite Jelly Belly flavor? I don't like jelly beans
2. Tell me everything you know about Eric the Red? he's.... red?
3. Coke, classic or with lime? I don't drink pop
4. Holiday carols, sing alongs or wish they would be banned from all public airwaves? I love Christmas carols and I sing along with them
5. What is the definition of irony? Huh
6. How many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie roll pop? By my last count... about 15
7. Why is my cat pucking in front of my son's bedroom door? His is the closest to the bathroom
8. What is your superhero power? I'm getting close to 50 so my power is waning and I've seem to forgotten what it is too.
9. If the laundry is 9 feet by 11 feet (just dreaming, that a big laundry room), and the walls are 8 feet tall, and you are going to tile the entire room in tiles that are 3" x 5", what color should those tiles be? Buttercup Yellow
10. What's for dinner tonight? Your guess is as good as mine
11. What is clogging my children's bathtub drain? lego's, polly pockets accessories and maybe some barbie hair.

Wow! that was fun!?!

I'm Having A 100th Post Contest

I'm approaching my 100th post. I don't know if it will happen this month (most likely) or next (possibly) or even in the new year(probably sooner). But when it does there will be prizes (knitterly prizes) awarded to some lucky reader (sorry Monica, you will be ineligible). My daughter and I will be going through my stash to see what I will be willing to part with (I promise it won't be the crummy elastic yarn I don't want to knit with, unless the winner really wants it).
Mandy might even be willing to make a few stitch
markers to go with the yarn and I will embroider
the winners' choice of an "I Love (heart) Knitting"
t-shirt or tote bag (t-shirt sample on the right).
So, the only thing you have to do (so simple) is leave a comment between now and the 100th post and your name will be put in one of Mandy's earflap hats (unless she happens to be wearing it) for the drawing. I will keep you "posted" as to when the 100th is reached. Good Luck!

Another Contest To Enter

Don't you love these? There is a contest over at Alisha's, but you only have till midnight tonight (sorry, just found out about it myself). Guess the correct number of pumpkin seeds in her little custard cup and you could win some lovely cross-stitched snowman ornaments. Go on, give it a try. You know you want to.

November Calender MeMe/Contest

Chappysmom is having a contest. And since this is my birth month too, I thought I would play along. So here is my calender's November page. If you click for a closer view you will see my name on the 16th (he he he). I like the saying on this page (I should be very successful, but I'm not, because my house is a wreck), but last months was good too: "The more I learn about men, the more I love my dog". Too funny!! Ok, I showed you mine, now show us yours! Come play with us.