Progress . . .

Just a couple of progress shots . . .

I started the knitted-on edging on the Girasole yesterday. It's a little fiddly, but once you get into a rhythm, it's not so bad.

I'm really excited about it. It's going to be so beautiful, if I do say so myself.

I am having so much fun with these gloves. I started on one of the fingers today. It's not easy taking a picture of your right hand with your left hand, you know.

Settling in for a night of tennis and knitting. Have a good evening.

Stash Enhancements

Sorry it's been so long, but I have had trouble with my new camera uploading photos to the blog. The HWWTM messed with the camera last week and now it won't do what I want it to do. Anyway, these are from my little ole trusty Sony Cyber-Shot . . .

Continued from last post are some Numma-Numma Toasty acquirements - this colorway is called Fluffernutter & Jam. It is so fun. I can't wait to knit with it.




Boysenberry Preserves (lovin' these purples) . . .






Monkey Mix (another totally fun colorway) . . .





Apple Butter (yummy) . . .

Pumpkin Butter (a great fall color) . . .

Some lovely Wollmeise in Am Kalten Polar - which means "at the cold polar" - that I received in a trade on Ravelry. . . I have coveted this colorway, but it has eluded me for the longest time until now.

DRUMROLL PLEASE - my first ever Wollmeise lace in Fleiderbusch (can you tell I'm becoming partial to purples?) - also received in a trade on Ravelry. I don't know if I'll ever knit this. It's just too pretty. There's over 1700 yards in it!

I think I'll just keep it and sniff it for awhile.

A new project that I started this week - Knotty gloves in Wollmeise Brombeere on size 0 needles. I want to finish these in time for the end of our high school football season. We usually have 2-3 games that the weather is a little cooler.

And something I plan to finish up in the next couple of days - Yarntini Figs & Plums - no-purl Monkeys. . .

I have the afternoon free so I'm going to work on my Girasole. I have finished all of the charts and only have the knitted-on edging to do. I've never done this before so I had to wait until I had a quiet block of time to sit and figure it out.

Also, the US Open starts tomorrow, so I'll be doing a lot of knitting in front of the tv while watching tennis.

Go, Andy & Kim!!!

Yarn P*rn Monday

Well, it looks like you're going to get half of a post tonight. For some reason, I couldn't get my other 5 pictures to upload. Never fear though, I'll try again tomorrow. This is mostly a photo post anyway. So here goes. I got a bunch of Numma Numma at The Loopy Ewe update last week. It's gawgeous! So pretty that I had to do individual photos.


First up, Whiny Butt in Toasty base . . .



Bravo Pinchos in The Usual . . .

And some Yarntini in Last Call colorway. This is a skein that Jessie sent me last week after a mishap with my order. Wasn't that nice? For some reason, my camera (certainly not me) wouldn't capture the true color of this blue. It's really more turquoisey.

Some Wollmeise in Roter Himbeermund (which translated means red raspberry mouth, isn't that cool?). Got this in a trade from a friendly raveler. I know I say this everytime I get a new Wollmeise, but this one truly is my new favorite color. . .

And, lastly, some pretty Wollmeise Rhabarber. . .(this is actually for the benefit of someone who wants to try to make a trade), but just enjoy anyway.

You'd think I'd be getting some knitting done since Beau went back to his daddy, aka OS, on Saturday, but I really haven't. I'm almost finished with my first Yarntini no-purl Monkey. I'll try to post a picture of them tomorrow, so pretty.

Ok, gotta get some sleep. Tennis tomorrow.

2 Down, 2 To Go

Well, they're finished. They're really pretty too. They're the March 2008 Socks That Rock sock kit that I started last April - over a year ago. I'll probably keep these for myself, even though they're a smidge long on me. I don't know - it depends if I end up needing a last minute Christmas present for someone. We'll see.

I finished these yesterday. Very easy knit, and on size 0's too. They're Austermann Step with a simple 3 x 1 rib - flew off the needles. Self-striping usually does for me - they're so fun. These are definitely for me.

More pretty yarn in the mail - this is Wollmeise Vroni - beautiful dark chocolate brown and black . . .

Wollmeise Sonne - shades of orange from light to very deep . . .

And isn't this just adorable!!! It's Yarntini Rainbow Cocktail mini-skeins. I actually ordered 2 sets, but only one came in. When I emailed Jessie about the missing set, she apologized profusely, said it was an oversight and stuck another one in the mail to me. They're 7 skeins of about 100 yards each. I was thinking I may double strand it and knit a little ripple-type blanket on maybe size 9ish needles. Or this is cute if I want to pull out a crochet needle and do something different.

Have to put up one more pic of YS in his "dress" uniform. This is what they have to wear on Mass days or special occasions. Today they were taking pictures. Isn't he handsome? He couldn't believe he was going to have to keep the tie on ALL DAY!!!

Here's my man, Beau Beau. That's what he does when I go outside and don't take him with me. He waits for me at the door with that little "where's mommy?" look on his face. He is going back to OS this Saturday. I can't decide if I'm ready for him to go or if I can't wait for him to go. One minute I love him and the next . . .

Now to decide what I'll knit next. I promised myself that I could start a new sock if I finished 2 single socks, which I did. I'm thinking maybe some Monkeys (my go-to pattern) in some pretty Yarntini (my go-to yarn). But I've also downloaded this and was thinking of some pretty dark red/maroon Wollmeise. Or maybe both.

I did work on the Girasole last night and am to the edging. I've never done knitted-on edging so I need to start that when I have some quiet time to figure it out. And as soon as that is finished, I have 2 more baby blankets to do, one for December, one for February. And neither knows whether it's a girl or boy.

And, of course, I still have those other 2 single socks to do, but I'll worry about those another time.

Better get busy. Have a good day.

Busy, Busy, Busy

Not much knitting going on around here this week. I have been working on the socks from hell and am about to start working on the leg. I've worked a little on my car/appt sock, but it's in the car right now, so no picture of it.

Actually this sock hasn't been so bad. I just really have to pay close attention to what I'm doing. Will be home this afternoon watching tennis and knitting.




Here's one of the reasons for the busy week. YS started high school. I know, like, when did that happen? And we had appointments - hair, orthodontist, sports medicine - and school supplies shopping . . .

And, as you can see, Beau is still here. He's much better, and we seem to have settled into a routine. It would be so much nicer if my little dogs liked him.




I might have mentioned that he's playing football, so that is in full swing right now. Practice every afternoon after school and an intrasquad scrimmage one day. He went in for a few plays, but didn't do very much. He's only a freshman, and he's never played tackle football before, only flag football, so he's pretty much learning right now. But he loves it. He's getting so much bigger and stronger.


He's #11, btw.

Here he gets a little instruction from the coach.

On the sidelines with his buddies (which is probably where he'll spend most of this season).

Next week shouldn't be so hectic, so hopefully more knitting content.

Have a good weekend.

Progress . . .

Progress has been made on 2 of the socks I started a couple of days ago . . .

The first one is the STR May 2008 kit that I only did one of last year, cursed, swore, cried, tried to make myself do the second but couldn't. Well, I started the second one 2 days ago and it is rolling along - now not without incident, mind you - but I am determined to conquer it. It's a Yarnissima pattern, and it has a million pages to it. I'm on the gusset; say a prayer for me.




The second is my car and appointment knitting. It's moving along simply and beautifully in it's little 3x1 rib. I'm already on the heel flap.






My poor Girasole has been neglected this week. Mostly because of HIM below. Yea, he's sleeping right now and looks all innocent, but don't be fooled, he's a MONSTER. I can remember when my children were babies, and as much as I loved them, I always felt a sense of relief when they went down for a nap or for the night. This is how I feel about Beau. This is when I zip into action and get laundry, dishes, and chores taken care of (and blogging), because he won't let me do it when he's awake. Repeating to myself: It's only for 2 weeks, it's only for 2 weeks . . .

Have a great day.

Too Many SS's

I finished my July Socks That Rock Kit. The colorway is called Garden Daze and the pattern is In Season, knit on 2.0 and 2.25 mm needles, small size. I'm keeping these for me.



I loved the color and the way they striped. Not too crazy about doing the cables on the cuff, but they turned out very pretty.

After I finished these last night, I started working on my Girasole, and only have to repeat Chart F and then do the knitted-on edging. Maybe finish it sometime this week. Found out the baby it is going to is a boy. So, I started thinking about my next sock project, and I realized that I have too many single socks (ss's). I usually don't do this, but I actually have 4 ss's. So, I made a deal with myself that I have to finish 2 ss's before I can start a new pair.

These are my watermelon 3x1 rib. I think I'll let them hibernate a little longer.

These are a maroon and gray (high school colors) 3x1 rib. I think I'll let them be my knit-in-the-car pair since they're simple.

These have been the bane of my existence - so I think I'll tackle them and get the monkey off my back. They're from STR - I think May 2008 kit. They're probably not as bad as I've made them out to be. I'm going to start the second one later today. If you don't hear from me in the next couple of days, then you know they've done me in.

These are my Whine and Roses kit from TLE. I just finished this not too long ago, so I'll let them sit awhile longer.

And guess who's still heeeeere. . . BEAU BEAU.

He's supposed to be here for a couple of weeks while OS goes to football camp. It's like having a toddler around that gets into everything. And the biggest problem is that my 2 dogs don't like him. He only wants to play with them, but they'll have nothing to do with him. My male has let him know that he is the alpha dog, but the female is scared to death of him, and I think he has a crush on her.

So, if he's inside, this is where she is . . . in the laundry room. Poor baby.

And you can't keep him outside because he a) tries to eat everything, or b) digs up the yard . . .

Must go replant the liriope before the HWWTM returns from out of town . . .

Have a great day.

My Favorite WM Ever, Aren't Little Girls Fun & Guess Who's Coming to Dinner

I have been COVETING this colorway - Dunkle Kirsche - which means dark cherry in English. It is so beautiful, I want to cast on something with it right away. I know, I say that everytime I get a new Wollmeise in the mail. BTW, I got this from a friendly raveler. Love it.

I had to post a couple of pictures from vacation. This is my cousin's 5 year old, EG. This first picture says it all. She is the most precious thing alive! We enjoyed having her around so much. She definitely livened things up.

Me and EG . . .

TD and EG . . .

And this is who is coming to dinner . . . for quite a few dinners, actually. OS is home for the weekend, and he is thinking of leaving Beau for a couple of weeks while he is in football camp.

He's still so pretty, and he seems to have calmed down a little.

He kept trying to bite the camera while I was trying to take his picture.

Have a good evening!

WAAAAAHHHH!!!

This is the Girasole sans needle. I really should give him a name, because he's taken on a life of his own. I say sans needle because I had to rip out a few rows yesterday.

You know how when you're knitting something, and you're knitting along, and it doesn't feel right, but you keep going, hoping that little feeling will go away. And you ignore it a little while longer, and then you put it down, walk away and come back later. And you pick it up and you start knitting again, hoping that feeling was maybe something you had eaten earlier that didn't agree with you. Then you stop and look closely, and you see that your pattern isn't exactly lining up correctly. So you look back and you think you found where you made your mistake, so you tink back almost a whole row. Now remember a whole row on Chart E of the Girasole is 640 stitches! You find the spot where you think you made your mistake, you do a little finagling and a little fanigling, and say a little prayer (please oh please oh please, knitting god). Then you start knitting again and you make it around again - 640 stitches - and you realize that your entire section of Chart E is not making sense or lining up correctly. At this point, I tried not to cry. It was time to walk away again.

Come back a little later with a plan. I had heard about using lifelines when knitting lace, but being the experienced knitter that I am, I scoffed at the use of them. Well, what I didn't know about lifelines is that you have to put them in while knitting, you can't go back and put them in 5 rows previous. It just doesn't work that way, believe me, I tried. Walk away again.

I then realized what I had to do - the inevitable. I laid it out on the ottoman, took a deep breath, and started pulling the needle out. The HWWTM came over and said "what's wrong, what're you doing". I guess the lack of look or response he received, or didn't receive said it all, so he just left the room. YS came in and announced that he was hungry (what else is new). After my ten minute tirade about knitting emergencies, and you don't interrupt someone in the midst of a knitting crisis, and couldn't he see that I was probably going to be busy for hours, well, let's just say he left as quickly as he came in. Even the dogs were quiet and left me alone.

So what else does a blogging knitter do, but take the camera out and start shooting pictures. It really is going to be very pretty.

In the meantime, the HWWTM took out my new camera and started playing around with it and shot a few pictures of me doing repair work. I had to rip out 5 rows - all of Chart E that I'd done the second time. I probably ripped out 1-2 rows too many, but I wanted to be sure.

It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I worked on it again last night and some today. I'm still not back where I was when I discovered my mistake, maybe later tonight if I have a couple more rows in me.

He asked me to forgive him. I guess I will since he's so pretty.

I'm off to finish packing up YS for football camp. He's leaving at 7:45 tomorrow morning and will be gone till Friday.

Happy Knitting, everyone.