The Happy Couple

9:10 PM 1/4/2011 - Heels are turned! My thumbs are aching. The next phase is to rib until I run out of yarn. They're a pretty happy pair at this moment!

Progress...

12:06 PM 1/4/2011 - I've been working on this hibiscus baby blanket since, um..., about the 24th of October. You can see my notes for it located on my project's page at Ravelry. I had a beautiful backing selected and prepared. Somehow during the preparation the backing ended up smaller than the blanket. ARGH! It was perfect! On December 31st, I picked up more fabric but not the one I had previously chosen. The bolt did not have enough left! And 'cut/paste' was out of the question. I am considering quilting but NOT YET! I preshrunk the replacement fabric and checked it for fit. It was extremely close! I bought 1-1/4 yards and the blanket is 38". The fabric shrunk so much that it nearly failed to be large enough as well. For the last two days, I have been hand-stitching the backing onto the blanket, gently cajoling the stitches to fit without puckering too badly. Today, I was able to show the in-progress blanket to the prospective parents and, despite my trials, they are thrilled with it. So, effort not wasted.
Took a break and continued with "A Good, Plain Sock" (which had been started on the 31st of December when I needed a break from working on the blanket) using the Yarn Harlot's recipe on page 131 from Knitting Rules!. But, I'm knitting it toe-up and using a short-row heel instead of a flap (I forgot to calculate my starting point for the flap and opted not to rip back the necessary rows, live and learn.)
Later in the day on 1/3: Well, I put the socks down and finished the blanket. I spent the rest of the day working on the socks. I have most of the foot done. I'm sure I will be turning the heel tomorrow (1/4).
Today (1/4), I was going to snap a shot when I found my camera dead. I think the battery is beginning to fade. I don't even get 'Low Battery' warnings any more. Once I get the photos done, the blanket will be boxed up and shipped to its' new home. I'll add it later.
I also need to mail off a fat quarter. I lost the monthly weight loss challenge. I'm still playing even though I know my chances of winning are slim to none. I'm still losing weight, just not a lot in a short time. In the meantime I'm using the challenge as a way to build my growing stash of fabric for quilting. If I ever win, it will be a windfall of FQs!

Happy New Year!

Just because it is the first day of the New Year, I figured I'd throw this in :D

Whoa!

Today, my daughter surprised the daylights out of me! She wants to learn how to crochet so she can make what she calls "plushies". In the world of crochet, they're know as amigurumi but I'm okay with plushies. Her desire is not to use classic acrylic worsted weight. She wants to use "sock" weight yarns. Right now, she is looking for a source of solids as she does not want any of the self-striping yarns.

The big surprise about my daughter wanting to learn crochet is she long ago expressed annoyance at the idea of learning how to do anything with sticks or hooks. She does enjoy receiving knitted and crocheted gifts so I can only believe it was inevitable. She comes from a long line of talented individuals.

I totally look forward to seeing her talents develop!

Yes, I Read While I Knit

Addendum to my last post: Yes, I read while I knit. If I didn't, I'd never get anything done! When stuck with monotonous rounds of ribbing, stockinette or garter stitches, I find that I begin drifting off to sleep. Can't help it. It is utterly soothing and, need I say, actually BORING! So I read.

Need More Hands... or Speech Recognition Software

I have so many thoughts that are worthy of sharing with my blog but they get lost in the noise of living. I spend many hours on fiber crafts. When I want to make comments on articles that I am reading, I have to stop what I'm doing just to do so. Rather annoying to say the least.

So I either need an extra pair of hands or speech recognition software so I can get my thoughts out in open air before they disappear into the black hole that is becoming my elder mind.

I've finished the body and sleeves of the hoodie and am weaving in all the loose ends. I would have been done with all that except I put one of the sleeves on upside down! So I picked out the join (I used mattress stitch so it was not too bad) and reset the sleeve for the proper orientation. I still want to add an actual hood and a front pocket (the one that is a tube from one side of the body to the other) but that may have to wait until after New Year BECAUSE I REALLY need to finish the baby blanket!

Again, need more hands.

Too Much To Do!

I had to finally sit down and make a list of my projects. Too many times I am distracted by "ooh, pretty!" patterns and end up putting down the current project I'm working on. Not cool! I have a baby blanket that MUST be done very soon! Ack!

Anyway, the list looks like this:

Hawaiian Themed Baby Blanket (just needs backing)
Kristina's Lace Assassin Fancy (1/2 done)
Window Treatments
Queen Susan Shawl
Christening Set
Christening Gown
Sweater
Night Shirt
Fair Isle Sampler
Knitting Needle Roll-up
Ron's Cross-stitch Wizard
Kristina's Blanket
Pincushion/Sewing Box
Sewing Boxes
Bobbin Pillow
Bedroom Robe
Ritual Robe

So, what am I working on? A Hoodie! It's freaking cold in my house! At the speed I am going, it will take another week for me to finish it. Gotta go.