Will try to post this weekend

I just wanted to check in and post so I don't have to go back to the que on the ring. I will get something posted this weekend for sure. I have some new pictures of my moebius scarf and my desert poncho. Things have been crazy at work...working a ton of hours this week. Here's looking forward to the weekend!

I'm so excited!!!

I've taught myself to knit Continental style (albeit slowly), and I have managed to do this with my newfound skills (a hat out of EZ's Knitting Workshop book). I also bought a new pattern today from my friend Dani at Knitty Paws, along with some yarn to make it with. The pattern is for the Fiber Trends' Leaf Lace Shawl and the yarn is Maggi's Linen - I chose the natural color so that I could wear it with more when I'm finished. Dani has already started making one in another color, and it's going to be gorgeous. This is my present to myself for another special surprise that I got today! My college called me today to let me know that I have been selected as the Chancellor's Scholar Award winner from the local campus for this year; that means that I have the highest GPA of anyone graduating this May!!! I can't believe it! Speaking of I can't believe it, I have GOT to get off of here and study, or they may take my award away due to my Chemistry grades (note the knitting lying on TOP of the Chemistry text - which I am working on studying to prepare for Monday's exam...really!) :)

Mock Cable Sock Progress

Well, I did find some time to knit last night, after working very diligently on my Chemistry all day. Here's what one of them looks like so far. I think I like the self-striping yarn for the heel. It brings out the color flecks in the rest of the sock. I had problems getting the heels started on my circulars, so I ended up taking this sock off, working on the heel, and will do the same with the second sock - putting them back on two circulars once I get to the point where I'm just knitting 'round and 'round again. I'm not sure where I messed up while trying to start the heels with both socks on circulars, but that's OK...it's been a while since I've knit socks on DPNs anyway (since I learned to do 2 socks on 2 circs).

Oh, by the way...here is my 5 month old Boston Terrier, Piper Ann. She is the second Boston Terrier rescue we've had. She's smart as a whip, spoiled rotten, and a case in point of why Boston Terriers are often nicknamed Boston Terrorists! She's a handful (but in a good way). Our other Boston Terrior, Wilma, is 10 years old and getting pretty arthritic. We also have a 2 1/2 year old Miniature Pinscher named CJ.

Heck...might as well put in a picture of them, too. There's never a dull moment around here with two of them chasing each other constantly. Wilma sometimes joins in, depending on how she's feeling. There is definitely some sibling rivalry going on...you can't have one of them on your lap unless you want all three...makes knitting difficult at times, unless there is someone else sitting there to help give some attention out.

Well, back to Chemistry, laundry, and working on my socks!

A late birthday gift...

My present to myself - Elizabeth Zimmerman's "Knitting Workshop" DVD and book - arrived in the mail yesterday. I'm diligently working on homework right now so that hopefully I can spend some time looking at it today. I knitted for an hour or so on my mock cable socks last night while watching a movie after dinner with my DH and DDs. I'm about ready to start the heel flaps; (I'll put up a picture of my progress so far once my camera batteries are charged). They are made from Knit Picks' Bare - Superwash/Nylon/Donegal Fingering Weight yarn. It's the first time I've used it, and I really like it. I think I'm going to use some of my leftover self-striping yarn for the heels and toes...just to see what it looks like. I may end up frogging those parts if I don't like how it turns out.

I haven't touched my Desert Poncho for a couple of weeks - and probably won't for another couple of weeks, at least. It may be Spring Break before I can work on it again. As long as I have it finished in time for the County Fair, that's my goal. DH is going ice fishing, DD #1 is going to work at 5 pm, and DD #2 is watching Piper Ann (our 5 month old Boston Terrier puppy - another rescue). I'm off to try to get the homework finished so I can try to knit on the socks while I'm studying for an exam (re-reading notes is much more pleasant when one has a knitting project in hand!).

Happy Valentines Day/Birthday To Me!

My loving hubby did so well today! He got me a Yarn Meter, so that I can figure out just exactly how much leftover sock yarn I have (dare I start another pair) and how much homespun I have created; he bought me the Yarn Harlot (Stephanie Pearl McPhee)'s Knitting Rules book, AND he had Dairy Queen make me an ice cream cake and pipe an icing ball of yarn onto the top - all in my favorite color of purple! :) It's no wonder that man is the love of my life! He's so sweet! I wasn't able to get a picture of the cake before it was cut, so I'm out of luck on that one. I also got in the mail from Wool-Tyme my 4 skeins of Apple Pie yarn. I've heard that it's wonderful for socks - very soft, yet durable. I can't wait to knit it up. Unfortunately, my Chemistry homework has to be caught up first, and I have to finish the current socks I'm working on, so that I can have my size 3 needles! I'll get a picture of the socks currently in progress up within the next day or so.

My friend Susie gave me a Gooseberry Patch cookbook, some fried apples, and some honey from Cracker Barrell (YUM!). Thanks Susie! She (also as my boss), said I should plan to take tomorrow off, too! YEAH! I didn't feel like I could, because of all of the work to be done...but I have to follow the boss' directives, right?!

Well, I need to get busy...tons to do so I can get to knitting!

Socks for me!

Here are the socks I finished for myself. I'm still working on the Desert Poncho - I've got about 50 rows left to do (but I increase by 4 stitches on every other round, so it takes longer and longer as I get closer to the end! :) I'm also working on another pair of socks for myself. I have some leftover yarn that I'm going to use in the heels and toes, along with the Donegal yarn from Knitpicks. I'm not sure exactly how much of each type of leftover sock yarn I have, so I can't wait to get my present from my hubby - a yarn meter (also coming from Knitpicks)! :)

I'm still here...

I haven't posted in a while, but I'm still here. I've been knitting, but not spinning. Still anxious for school to be over with so that I can spin and knit much more! I'm starting on my last semester of school today - YEAH! I've also become the manager of the Emergency Department, so my time is a bit busier because of that. Since my last post, I've completed several projects, which I neglected to take pictures of. I knitted a sweater for my mom (off white with country-rose colored stripes, neck, and cuffs), cotton wash cloths in a feather and fan pattern for my nieces and my friend, Vicki, green socks in Shetland wool for my mother-in-law...I think that's it. Right now I've got two projects on the needles. A Desert Poncho from Lionbrand (my fair project for 2007) and a pair of socks for myself (an actual pair of socks for ME!). I will try to get pictures of their progress up in the next few days. I'm sure the progress will slow way down now that school is back in session. But I'm almost done!!!

Fair Project Results

I know...I know...it's been a month since I last posted. School started again for me, and I just haven't gotten around to it. My projects did well at the fair. Although I didn't get a Grand Chamption or Reserve Grand Champion, I did get two first place ribbons. My neck-down sweater got a first place.
My mittens got a first place...and my butterfly shawl got a third place. The judges didn't make any comments on my cards, so I'm not sure what they didn't like (or liked less) about the butterfly shawl. I already have my project for next year in mind, so I just need to come up with the $90 for the yarn because it's something that I can't spin myself...especially with classes going on. I'm counting the months until I'm done with that.

In the couple of weeks between the end of summer classes and the beginning of fall classes, I managed to finish two pairs of socks (each pair worked at once on two circulars). I really like working two socks at once on two circulars...they seem to fly! The only thing I don't like as well is the short-row heel instead of the gusseted heel; it's a good trade-off, though. I'll try to get pictures of these pairs of socks posted this weekend.

Well, back to fixing dinner and reading homework.

It's nailbiting time....

Well, I did it.... I just got home from putting 3 of my handknit items in the fair. It would have been 4, but the local fair doesn't have a category in which my finest skein of handspun alpaca could go (sigh). I suggested that they might want to think about it, as spinning is making a comeback and the State Fair has a category for it. Hmmm...Now that I think about it, I probably shouldn't have said anything like that until after my pieces were judged! Just kidding! :)

Anyway, I entered my butterfly shawl and my white top-down sweater that I finished last month. I also entered a pair of mittens, which I now see that I neglected to take a picture of when I got them finished. I'll have to try to remedy that when I get them back next week. Hopefully I will at least get a "well done" ribbon, even if my beginner's skills aren't good enough to take 1st place. I'd be happy with that...especially since this is my first ever entry into a fair!

I also have some new interchangeable needles that I LOVE! They're similar to the Addi Turbo needles in that they're nickle-plated brass and very fast to knit with, but they're much less expensive and have a great feel to them when I'm knitting with them...very comfortable. They're from KnitPicks and they're called "Knit Picks Options" needles. They're wonderful!

I also attended Dani's first ever Fiber Fest and Dye Day at Knitty Paws. It was wonderful! I bought some yarn (in conjunction with my friend Rachel) to knit a baby blanket for our friend Lisa. We're using different patterns for each square and doing it in pastel colors. At the end, we'll put them all together and see what we have! I think it's going to turn out great! Oh...and CONGRATULATIONS to Dani on winning two ribbons at her local fair! You can see her award winning projects on the Knitty Paws website.

On the needles now? Well...the baby blanket squares, a pair of socks on two circulars, and the blue top-down sweater I have already put pictures of on here. The sweater is finished except for the sleeves. I have some repair work to do on the sleeve I almost have finished because I dropped some stitches trying to knit in the dark at my in-laws' house last weekend (I know...it would help if I took the time to get up and move to where the light is when we're at a cookout...I just didn't want to get too close to the fire and end up getting a hot ash in my fiber!).

Well, as much as I wish I could say I'm going to go knit, I have yet another paper to write for class. I'm still longing for the day when I can come home and spin and knit to my little heart's content!

On the needles now?

Another top down sweater! This one is for a Christmas gift...but I can't tell you who for because lots of my family members read my blog! I also have quite a large stash of sock yarn, so when this sweater is done, I'm going to tackle 2 socks at once on two circular needles! Another new challenge - I can't wait!!! I'm getting together with a couple of friends (Hi, Rachel & Ann!) on Friday to teach them how to do the top-down sweater, so I'll have a good chance to work on the sweater (and forget homework) for a while. I'm sooooooo looking forward to it!

My first "top-down" sweater

I've also knitted a top-down sweater! I'm officially addicted to top-down sweaters now...no more piecing together for me! I'm entering it in the Jackson County fair to see how it does. I've never entered anything in a fair before...who knows...maybe I'll get a ribbon of some sort! :) I posted the second picture because I also learned to do a "mock cable" stitch, which I REALLY like. I used it around the neck band, on the sleeve cuffs, and around the bottom of the sweater.

What's up...

Since my last post, I've been trying to keep my head above water with school and work...not nearly as much time as I'd like to be knitting and spinning. In fact, I haven't done any spinning at all. I have been knitting, though, as I can do that while I'm reading homework. I got my purse felted - here are the before and after felting pictures. I carry this purse around every day...I love it! And almost everywhere I go, people ask me if I made it...What a great feeling! :)

No time....

As I sit here trying to read homework, I'm looking longingly at my knitting needles and spinning wheel. I've got a cotton summer-weight shirt on my circs and started spinning some chocolate-colored Rambouillet wool on my wheel a couple of weeks ago....It's nearly ready to ply. But this >#@*#!* homework has to be done before I can even think about my wonderful projects. It's maddening!

Dani, I've not forgotten about putting a link to Knitty Paws on here...I just haven't had time to work on it. I will try again soon. To everyone who is reading my blog...stay tuned! I was able to finish a wonderful new purse, which I have taken pictures of "before" felting, but not "after" yet. I'm carrying it around...so it's just a matter of having time to take pictures and get them uploaded. I also went to Sheep Street Fibers and bought a fleece, and then took it to Fleece Fair and sent it with Zeilinger's to be made into roving. So soon I will have tons of roving to spin...if I can just find the time! I have some new patterns, as well as a "Knitting from the top down" DVD, so I'm dying to work on some new projects!

My spinning efforts

The yarn on the bottom is the 4th skein I made, compared to the one on the top, which is the 2nd skein I made. Quite and improvement, hey?! By George, I think I've got it! LOL

This is romney sheep's wool that came from New Zealand with my spinning wheel.

My new nephew's goodies

My new nephew is due next month. I made these things for him. Yes...I know you think I've put up the same pictures twice, but I promise I haven't! I'm strapped for cash, so I used the same pattern, same yarn type, and same needles, so I wouldn't have to try to buy two sets! :)

Baby Warren's Gifts

Here are pictures of the diagonal baby blanket, socks, and hat that I knitted for Baby Warren, who will be here in a couple of months. :)

Updates on knitting projects - felted purse

Here are pictures of the knitting projects I've done since December's postings. I'm in the middle of working on homework, so I'll have to list the yarn types, etc. later on. Right now I just want to get the pictures up :)

This is the first felted purse I ever made. It was about three times this size when I finished knitting it (before I felted it). I gave it to a friend for her birthday.

My spinning wheel

It's been a while since I've been able to post...too busy working on stuff for Christmas, then my BSN program started back up and I've been up to my eyeballs in homework. Last week I was elected President of our local Emergency Nurses Association. So....lots to do...little time to knit! :( I also have a new hobby...spinning! My loving hubby bought me a spinning wheel for Christmas, and then bought me a double-treadle kit for my birthday. Here's a picture. It's an Ashford Traveller, and it came all the way from New Zealand. It's used, but it's in great shape, and I got a wonderful deal on it! :) The bags lying around it contain various fiber...alpaca, romney sheep's wool, rambouillet sheep's wool, etc. The folks at SheepStreet tell me that my wheel is an early 1970's version of the Traveller - so it's nearly as old as I am!

My other project "in the works"

In addition to knitting away my every spare moment (ok...and a few I should be spending on studying & housework!), I'm also learning how to spin my own yarn. I'm learning on a homemade drop spindle right now. I really would like to have a spinning wheel, but I can't afford one right now. I think that I will challenge myself, maybe with a weight loss goal, and the spinning wheel will be my reward...hmmm...I think I've found my weight-loss success plan!

Other socks I've made

This is the second pair of socks I made. I used Sirdar's Denim Sport yarn. They are so soft! I'm giving them away for Christmas, too. I also made a pair of socks using Lionbrand's Wool-ease - I haven't uploaded the picture I took of those yet. I need to make another pair of those...they are so warm & feel so good on my feet! I've currently got another pair of socks OTN (on the needles). I'm using Bernat's Sox yarn for them, and I really like them. I have someone in mind for those as a Christmas present, too. I'm very addicted to knitting overall, but I really like knitting socks!