Not much of a post

Finals are coming, finals are coming! I am so not ready to take my final, but I am TOTALLY ready for the end of the semester. When I was substitute teaching, I could just take a day off and work on homework or rest. The new job requires me to be at work, and to be there everyday. I am seriously behind on homework.

There is little to no knitting to report. I have finished loads of Dulaan hats, and my EZ seamless yolk sweater is growing loads. I also have my Sockpalooza information. I have some lovely fingering weight alpaca I want to use. Should be wonderful.

I just wanted to post and let you all know what I am up to.

Happy Knitting!

Knitting MEME

I saw this little meme on Punkin's blog, so I thought I would give it a go! I have done a lot of kniterly things.

Mark with bold the things you have ever knit, with italics the ones you plan to do sometime, and leave the rest.

Afghan (I have crocheted several, but I never finished the knit one I started)
I-cord
Garter stitch
Knitting with metal wire
Shawl (Homespun shawl HELL!!!!! I made one for my mother and all my aunts one year)
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down
Socks: toe-up
Knitting with camel yarn
Mittens: Cuff-up
Mittens: Tip-down
Hat (Dulaan post coming!)
Knitting with silk
Moebius band knitting (never have done this ON PURPOSE)
Participating in a KAL
Sweater (still seeming one, and I have started a seemless EZ sweater)
Drop stitch patterns (I have lost count of the drop stitch scarves I have made)
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
Slip stitch patterns
Knitting with bananafiber yarn
Domino knitting (=modular knitting)
Twisted stitch patterns
Knitting with bamboo yarn
Two end knitting
Charity knitting
Knitting with soy yarn
Cardigan
Toy/doll clothing
Knitting with circular needles
Baby items
Knitting with your own handspun yarn Very Very Soon!!!!
Slippers
Graffitti knitting (knitting items on, or to be left on the street)
Continental knitting
Designing knitted garments
Cable stitch patterns (incl. Aran)
Lace patterns
Publishing a knitting book
Scarf
Teaching a child to knit
American/English knitting (as opposed to continental)
Knitting to make money
Button holes
Knitting with alpaca
Fair Isle knitting
Norwegian knitting
Dying with plant colours
Knitting items for a wedding
Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cosies...)
Knitting socks (or other small tubular items)on two circulars
Olympic knitting
Knitting with someone elses handspun yarn
Knitting with dpns
Holiday related knitting
Teaching a male how to knit
Bobbles
Knitting for a living
Knitting with cotton
Knitting smocking
Dying yarn
Steeks
Knitting art
Knitting two socks (or other small tubular items) on two circulars simultaneously
Fulling/felting
Knitting with wool
Textured knitting
Kitchener BO
Purses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching
Long Tail CO
Entrelac
Knitting and purling backwards
Machine knitting
Knitting with selfpatterning/selfstriping/variegating yarn
Stuffed toys
Baby items
Knitting with cashmere
Darning (oh, I just got an antique sock darner!)
Jewelry
Knitting with synthetic yarn
Writing a pattern
Gloves
Intarsia
Knitting with linen
Knitting for preemies
Tubular CO
Freeform knitting
Short rows
Cuffs/fingerless mits/armwarmers
Pillows
Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine
Rug
Knitting on a loom
Thrummed knitting
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets
Shrug/bolero/poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair (Buddy does offer the ridiculous quantities of hair to do this, but I think not!)
Hair accessories
Knitting in public

Razor's Edge

Pattern: Razor's Edge from Stitch n Bitch Nation
Yarn: Lamb's Pride Bulky
Needles: big honkin' size 17 24 inch Addi's (with the surgical tubing)

I have a finished object! Can you all believe it? I can't either. When making this pattern, check the ERRATA because the pattern in the book is wrongity WRONG!

There was supposed to be a hole in the middle, like a poncho, but I thought it would look like a lobster bib on me. I skipped it. It is an easy lace pattern. I love the oddity of working lace in a bulky yarn.

While it is as hot as an oven now, I was able to get a little use out of it last week. It is a wonderful wrap. It will keep you warm on those chilly days when a coat would be too heavy.

I have started an EZ seamless sweater for me. I have made a couple of these for children, but never for myself. My green sweater is sitting beside me now, only half seemed up (seeming such a dark item SUCKS!), and I haven't touch Cozy in months (I really should work on that soon). Naturally, I have socks on needles.

I finally ordered a set of KnitPicks Options needles, LOVE THEM! They are every bit as good as Addi Turbos, but so much cheaper. The EZ sweater was cast on just so I could play with my new needles. I know they seem expensive, but they are worth every penny.

Well, wish me luck on my finals next week. Happy knitting!

Copying from Suz

What Your Favorite Color Purple Says About You:

Intuitive --- Seeking --- Creative Kind --- Self-Sacrificing --- Growth Oriented Strong --- Very Wise --- Rare

What Does Your Favorite Color Say About You?

What a night!

Believe me, when you are coming home from a light night class, this is so NOT what you want to find on your doorstep!

While the picture is a bit dark, the careful observer may be able to see the police car sitting in the middle of the intersection in front of my house. The bright lights off in the distance in the middle of the shot are the FIRETRUCKS. Yes, dear reader, I came home from class to find my neighborhood full of smoke, police cars and fire trucks in my yard, and a fire hose snaking around the block. Needless to say, I was in a bit of a panic until I realized the whole mess was for the ceramics workshop three doors down! Since no one lives in the building, no one was hurt.

There is nothing like walking the dog while the gentle mist of the fire hose brushes across exposed skin on a frigid night. The rattle and rumble of heavy equipment is an unexpectedly sweet lullaby. The primal glow of the burning building was the communal fire, drawing neighbors and gawkers alike to stand on my lawn.

The Red Cross Hummer was cool. It parked in MY parking space! I guess the Red Cross Hummer can park any where it damn well pleases!

My house smells like smoke, and there is still a lot of commotion going on out there. I think I'll go knit now to sooth my nearves!

Happy Knitting!

Did someone say spring?

Look at what I found outside my front door this morning when I left for work! If any of you have lost this cold, wet, white mess, please come to my house and pick it up. I don't want any!



It is good knitting weather. I sure don't want to be out driving in this mess!

Happy knitting! I hope you are some place nice and warm where they know it is supposed to be spring.

Stash give away

My stash is ginormous, humongous, it is about to take over the whole house. I must get rid of some of my yarn. Good news for all of you, if you see anything you want, just paypal me the shipping, and it is all yours! If you plan on making something for charity (see LaPorte Co. Small Animal Shelter Cat Beds!), I'll take $2 off the shipping. Just leave a comment telling me what you want, and I will contact you by e-mail for details. Please, don't leave your address or phone number in the comments.

I'll warn you now, if you don't like acrylic, don't look. I am making room for wool, so acrylic has to go.

EDIT: the Lion Brand Homespun and the pink Fashion Knits has been claimed!

Second EDIT: Purple Fashion Knits, blue and purple Caron Wintuk and much of the baby yarn have been claimed.

Thrid EDIT: All GONE! Thank you to all who helped me clean out my stash.

My computer is speaking to my camera again!

I should just give you all fair warning now, there are tons of pictures of what I have been up to while my computer was sick!

Woo hoo! My computer is talking to my printer as well as making sounds (the sound card was out too). It took several hours (like 10) to delete everything, reinstall everything (and find updated drivers for stuff), and then put a fence around everything. It was a major over haul that I should have done years ago. It is done now, and I am happy to actually have knitting photos to share.

Pattern: Afghans for Afghans Child's Vest (I used the book Knitting for Peace, but you can find the pattern here)
Yarn: Lamb's Pride WW
Needles: size 7

While watching my computer during the overhaul, I worked on a vest for charity. This is an Afghans for Afghans pattern, but right now, I am still working on my Dulaan goal. The vest is going to Mongolia. My next charity knitting will be AA. The pattern is quick and easy. It is a nifty side to side knit in one piece pattern. So, it was just right for the mindless knitting I was doing yesterday.

Pattern: A DK in the round starting from the inside out pattern that I made up
Yarn: left over Paton's Classic Marino from felted clogs
Needles: I forgot, but most likely size 7 or 8 16 inch circs

Don't I look dumb in a child's hat? I was playing around with the idea of a double knit hat for Dulaan. The yarn pooled and came out with this funky stripe pattern. I actually like the stripes. Basically, it is an easy, warm-ass hat perfect for charity knitting.

Pattern: Coronet
Yarn: Lamb's Pride
Needles: Um, 9?

Great hat! Love the pattern. I made this one for Dulaan, but I think I need to make one for me now.

Pattern: Basic Cable Hat from Stitch N Bitch Nation
Yarn: Philosopher's Wool (I have a lot of this due to an awesome sale at my LYS)
Needles: Size 8 16 inch circs

Cables are awesome. Huge impact, minimal effort. Really, people think you just slave away making cables. It'll just be our little secret how easy they really are. SnBN is really becoming my "go to" knitting pattern book. I didn't think I would make many of the patterns, but I use this book a lot!

















Pattern: Fetching
Yarn: Noro
Needles: Size 7 DPNs

Why did I make two pairs? Well, Noro has this strange way of making two items from the same ball look totally different. So, I used two balls of the same color and mixed and matched. Now, the pairs LOOK like they came from the same ball, even though they didn't.

Just look at all my Etsy swag! I do some really damage to my checking account on Etsy. But, just look at all the wonderful hand dyed yarns? Isn't it grand? I shouldn't admit this, but I have quite a lot more coming in the mail as we speak. So, to find these lovely yarns, check here, here, here, and here. Support hand crafters!

Happy knitting!