Slow Progress

So here are the newest pics of the Rainy Day sock. I haven't really had all that much time to knit with my son running around and being sick but...it's here all the same, lmao. Hope you all like it.

More progress shots coming soon. Stay tuned :)

Picot Pics

Ok guys. I decided that I was going to get pics of the picot edge...I felt the knitterly urge to show it off as it's my first...then I saw the blinking red light on my camera when I went to turn it on. I also saw this light after robbing every AA battery from any toy, remote, and appliance in my home. I was outmatched...by a camera :(

Then I remembered...Hey! I have a webcam for these types of emergencies...and it's got a program in the software to take still pics. WOOHOO. After installing and restarting I managed to get some decent pics with a 1.3 megapixel, no light cam. I invented my own light. I took the top off my lava lamp, turned it sideways, and hurried to take the pics before it got to hot and tried to burn thru my carpet. LMAO!

So, here they are. The pics of the picot edge that I am SO proud of. Now that I've gotten them I can (finally) start on the sock. I was procrastinating simply because I wanted a pic of the edge just how it looked when I finished the last K2tog.

OMG....My Picot Edge!

Ok, so tonight I decided that I was going to be clever and knit a sock...but in a new way. I'm a fan of the "Plain Vanilla Sock"...and, my knitterly friends, that's all I've even tried to do besides a stab at some ribbed socks that ribbed down the front of the foot as well.

Tonight I got this bright idea that the Rainy Day Sock patter was the way to start my first nifty looking sock....think again. There is a picot edge! Very pretty! I think to myself...I can do that! Umm...not so. I spent the first hour knitting 5 rows of YO, K2tog...then realize, after finding a site to tell me how to "bind off" a picot edge...that I shouldn't have knit more than ONE row of YO, K2tog...and the other rows were supposed to be normal knitting....

Of course I let out an outrageous string of obsenities and then started to rip back. Thankfully this site was AWESOME and helped me see how it worked...and how it's possible to technically not bind off the edge...but fold it over and knit stitches together.

Ok, that's easy I say to myself again...but nope, try again! It's not at ALL easy...you have to catch these mystery stitches without losing them off this scrap of waste yarn and hope that you are folding right and that it's all working out. I took the cowards way out and folded...then grabbed the stitches on spare DPN's that I wasn't using (2 circs are my method of choice now) and then started painstakingly moving stitches from them to my left needle and knitting them together.

Well, it took me about 2 - 21/2 hours but I have a BEAUTIFUL...maybe slightly sloppy but BEAUTIFUL picot edge! WOOHOO and DAMN do I feel clever! I feel like someone just wrote and told me that I'm a master knitter, lol.

Ok all, now I have to start my first lacy patterned sock...hopefully it's a LOT easier than that dang picot edge! Wish me luck. I think I'll need it!

Kelly

My Final SP10 package

Well, it's sad but it's all over. SP 10 is done and I'm looking forward to the next round.

I am sending out my pals package here in a day or two...as soon as I get my check direct deposited so I can pay for postage, lmao!

-----------------------------

My pal was Heather! You can read more about her at http://www.knits-n-things@blogspot.com/

Here are the contents of my packages:

Heather SO spoiled me. I recieved a spindle kit that contained practice roving and instructions, Some beautiful merino/tencil roving in a greenish blue, Jelly Beans...omg, the jellybeans, lol. These actually taste like the flavors that it promises including but not limited to grass, soap, black pepper, bacon, booger, vomit (!), ect. lmao. Most didn't get eaten but my neighbors are going to unknowingly try them, LOL!

A puzzle postcard that you write or draw on then take it apart and it becomes a puzzle, small knitting needle coils, SOAK wool wash, handmade soad in lavander (yummmmm), a cute kitty keychain that was made by a family special...each one is different, and an amazing bag that spells out the word bag with a little man...I love it! So unique and I can't wait to show it off.

Thanks SO much Heather for being such an awesome pal. Not only have i enjoyed my gifts but I have already started using them! Below is a pic of what I got when I tried my hand at spinning with my new drop spindle that Heather got me! I know, it's bad...but hey, I tried. I'm sure I will get better with time!

Also, Heather, I know you said that you were going to learn to spin this summer as well and I didn't know if you needed some help...the instructions that came with the spindle weren't all that helpful to me because I need to SEE it to do it, lol. Here is an awesome link (for Heather and anyone) that shows the basics on how to work a spindle. I got so frustrated last night when I first tried that I ended up just breaking down and getting SUPER upset, then I threw it all on the floor and went to bed, lmao. I'm sure glad that I gave it another try!

Video of How to Use A Drop Spindle:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drXid5cT0y8

The New, Tanner, me!

I'm BaaaaaAAAaaaack!

I hear you all now..."thanks for the warning". LOL!

New computer but no pics on it yet so...I will let you all see what I'm working on and show some pics of me now that I've lost some weight and gotten a super tan, LMAO!

Hopefully I don't break anyones computer monitors with my scary pics!

Talk to you all soon. I'm looking to be blogging again with pics tomorrow!

Till then,
Kelly

Wow!!!

I was on the yahoo socknitters list reading the messages and I came across a few messages by a lovely lady named Sarah who told us all that she was about to meet Cookie A., a WONDERFUL maker of knitting sock patterns. I was so jealous!

Well, she let us all know that she DID meet Cookie AND got an autograph on one of her patterns...now I'm officially MORE tha jealous! Wow...what an honor to meet Cookie A and get to see the person behind the patterns. Cookie, if you are out there in blogland, your patterns are amazing and if there was anywhere that I could find them to purchase I would for sure. I just cant seem to find them anywhere and I know there is no way I could get it autographed either because there is no local yarn store around here in my little town just outside of Canton, Oh. Not too many knitters around here either. Oh well, hopefully I can get a pattern and make the terrific socks that I keep seeing on blogs and hearing about online!

All of us sock knitters LOVE you Cookie! Way to go!

Kelly

My Current Projects

Ok, so I was working on my knitting tonight and noticed that

A: I have a TON of projects that I haven't shared progress on with my blog readers....

and

B: None of the things I took pics of are things that I was working on before and need to update, lmao. It's all new stuff that you all haven't even seen before.


I promise to get more pics of the items you all have already seen and let you see some progress...and I will just be totally honest here and let you all know that I haven't picked up my halter top I'm working on since I moved it to take pics in the blog entry I put in here about a month ago. I dont know what the problem is but I guess I just lost interest there for awhile. I'm going to start working on it more asap! I really want to wear it this summer!

So here are the projects that I am currently working on that will be the"halter tops" of tomorrow (hehe):

These are baby socks for my friend Brianne. She's pregnant right now with her second child...a boy and she already has a girl so she is very excited. I am happy for her too and I intend to get sock 2 done tomorrow or the next day so I can get these in the mail.





This is a sock for MEEEEEEEEEE! I'm excited. Mostly I just want to get these hammered out so I can start a pair using the yummy yarn from my SP10 pal! You all know you drooled on your keyboards when I posted the pic of that yarn, LMAO! They are made of KnitPicks Simple Stripes in the Tropical Colorway and that yarn has sadly been discontinued :(






Ok, so I need to go and get to work on the second baby sock...I have it cast on and the first round done so I really cant even call myself a slacker! WooHoo! Bri might just get these baby socks soon!







Talk to you all soon!



Kelly

Look What I Want!

So, thanks to my SP10 pal, I'm addicted to the yarn harlot books, lmao.

She apparently has a new book out called Stephanie Pearl-McPhee Casts Off. I want it terribly, lmao. Hopefully I can get it around the end of this month. Until then this knitter is BROKE!

Yes, that means no new yarn, no notions, no nothing :( *cries*

Wish my luck and send the money fairy my way. Till later all.........

SP10

Yesterday I went to my door to go check my mail and was SO excited to see my first package from my secret pal in my door. YAY!

I took it right inside...forget the rest of the mail, that can wait, lol! My son was yelling "open it mommy" so...I had to do what he said ;)

Inside I found this:




WooHoo! Presents! LOL. My son decided that it was my birthday after seeing the presents and started singing Happy Birthday and asked me where my birthday cake was, lol.

After opening my presents this is what I came across:

1 skein of Anne Schaefer yarn in the Hot Shot colorway (YUMMY!), a bottle of lavender bath salts, Clover knitting needle holders, and Knitting Rules! by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee.

Do you think I'm excited? Hello?! Yes! Thanks SO much secret pal, you rock! Now off to find a pattern for this lovely yarn. I've been looking for patterns since I opened the package looking for the PERFECT one. If you have any suggestions please feel free to post!

Robin's SP10 Contest

Well hrm...I think my favorite yarn has to be Knit Picks Panache. I really like the feel of it while it works up and it's very pretty as well. The bulky weight makes things work up quickly and easily also.

As for my least favorite yarn...probably red heart yarn of any kind. For some reason I seem to always get blisters and/or sore fingers when I knit or crochet with it. I think the acrylic is just to harsh for my skin since there are no other natural fibers mixed with it.

I am currently making a sweater from the Knit Picks Panache in the cinnamon colorway. I hope that it turns out well. I really like all the colors so I may order more in the near future!

Thanks Secret Pal!

Today my secret pal 10 pal sent me the cutest e-card. I just wanted to say thanks and let my pal know that I appriciated the card very much :)

I think this is going to be a very fun swap. I cant wait to see what happens next!

Another Update

So, I finally got my digital camera up and running so I decided to get my pics of my projects up here.

This pic is what I have done so far for the curtain that I'm making for my kitchen. I'm going to stitch them together so the form and arrow like this ^ . Hopefully they turn out to look as good as I think they are going to, lol.



This is the pic of what I have done on the halter top I said I was doing. I haven't really gotten to it much lately or it probably would be done by now. Since it's starting to get really warm now I'm going to have to get knitting or else I will be waiting ANOTHER year to wear it and Im not all that patient, lol.

Diet

Ok, here it is...I'm overweight. Not hugely overweight but overweight none the less. I am currently about 150 which is too much for my 5'4 frame AND I'm a type 1 diabetic so ANY extra weight is a no-no so.....



It's time for that diet! Oh yes, I said the worst four letter word. Call the cops and lock the doors. I'm a girl on a mission. I want to lose 30lbs by the end of the summer. I know, I could lose it all in 2 months but I want to do it right and not have to worry about it all coming back.



The "plan" is pilates...but Im not sure how long that will last because...well, it's hard, lmao. I might just dump that when the weather is nicer and replace it with chasing my 3 yo son thru the yard...we all KNOW that's a workout better than pilates right?!



So wish me luck all...I'm going to do this thing!

KnitPicks Is Great

Today I had to call KnitPicks because I placed an order for some sock yarn and some beautiful ShineSport and a size 2 16" circular needle.

When I got my package I realized that one needle was bent. Tried to straighten it myself but you all know that it's impossible and Im sure that the nickel plating would eventually chip off in that spot and then probably rust.

I called KnitPicks customer service tonight and got the sweetest woman on the phone. She said she couldn't believe that I got a bent needle and I told her it was a size 2. She was like "Oh, a little one, that explains it" lol. She had me give her my customer number and looked up the order and told me that they are going to send out a replacement needle, no questions asked.

KnitPicks is now on the top of my list. Not only has all the yarn that I have ordered from them been high quality AND beautiful but they stand behind their products 100%.

If you want to order great yarn that you KNOW is going to be backed by the company I would suggest them. I am more happy with them then I have ever been before. The only other company that has made me this happy is Brittany because they also replace broken needles in the same fashion. This is great. Has to keep people knitting when they know that their stuff is going to be replaced when the quality isn't up to par instead of just losing money on their orders!

SP10 and My Newest Project

So I got my email yesterday from an SP10 hostess telling me that we should have partners by the weekend hopefully. I'm SO excited! I cant wait to start. If my partner reads this...I did post my questionaire...it's listed as such in the title of the post.



Now I want to let you all in on what I'm working on now! I am so excited to finally be working on this. I bought this kit when I had just started knitting. I saw it and fell in love. But then I started it and realized that I was lacking in skills at the time. Now, a year later, I am ready and I'm about 5in. into the pattern. Here is a pic of what I'm making :

Isn't that the cutest halter top? I cant wait to get it done so I can wear it this summer. This is the first thing (besides socks) that I have made that I will be able to wear. I'm hoping that it turns out as well as I think it will. Wish me luck all. Now I'm off to work on it some more. I will post pics soon but as of right now my digital camera is out of batteries. I will get more asap!

2 Hours Until My Birthday!

Since it's so close to my birthday...and being pathetic as I am and having no plans...I made buttons (see right sidebar) for the sock hop swap '07 and the Secret Pal 10. Just click and presto, you are there. So get signing up everyone! HAHA!

I've Gone Crazy!

So, it's official. I'm insane. I decided that since cuff down socks weren't keeping me as entertained as they once were that I would mix it up a bit and try a toe-up sock.

I managed to get the toe started after about 5 tries and provisional cast on is nothing to laugh about...I think I need someone that REALLY knows what they are doing to teach me a thing or two!

Then a started my increases and all that and I'm finally making the foot. Im not sure that it's going to fit because it might be to big where my foot goes in on the arch so Im going to look around online and see if there are some pattern on there that adapt for this. I don't want to try it on my own...but, again, Im making this sock with only instructions on how to cast on and how to make a short row heel so...maybe Im being daring enough there, HA!

Wish me luck...I will be posting pics as soon as I can. Maybe tomorrow if I can get enough done that it doesn't just look like a teddy bear hat (as the little girl that lives here calls it) and if the whole short row heel thing works out.

If anyone has any comments that might help me out PLEASE feel free to post! I am totally open to all new suggestions!

Till next time,
Kelly

Holy Potatos! Secret Pal 10! (and questionaire)

So I just remembered that I bookmarked the site for secret pal 10 waiting for the signups (actually put "check back in JANUARY" in the bookmark title, lmao) so I went there a few minutes ago and it's time to sign up! For all of you that need to sign up here is the link-e-do:

http://secretpal10.blogspot.com/

I signed up and here is my questionaire for my partner-to-be. I will probably repost this sooner to the start date at the risk of being repetitive but bare with me here...I don't want to forget to get it on here SOMEWHERE!

-The Questionaire-

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I really do not have a favorite kind of yarn, brandwise. I do like natural fibers though and am not really all that fond of acrylics...I only crochet blankets from acrylics, knitting is almost always natural fiber since it takes me so long to do and I want it to be something I am SUPER proud of :)

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I put my knitting needles in a mason jar so that people can see them because it gets a lot of conversation started and people see them and ask me about knitting and if I can teach them often...but mostly because Im to lazy to just go get a needle roll or other holder. My crochet hooks are stored in a plastic toothbrush holder...the ones that you take on vacation to keep the brush clean. I also keep my DPN's in with the hooks as well.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I have been knitting for over a year. I learned from my Aunt Sue who taught me the knit stitch and I liked it so well that I got online and taught myself to purl and then other, more complex things, such as cables and lace patterns, ect.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Not at this time. I may look into it though.

5. What's your favorite scent?
I really like vanilla and I like anything that is feminine and pretty...lilacs also.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
Well, I'm diabetic so I cant have TOO much candy...but when I splurge I LOVE reisen chocolate candy...YUM

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I would really LOVE to learn to spin. I was looking into getting a drop spindle and some roving to spin...but just didn't do it. I feel guilty buying myself things so I used the money to buy my son a toy truck, HAHA!

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I like pop/top40 kind of music.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
I saw a pair of socks on a blog once that were self striping and they were hot pink and hot orange and probabaly a few other colors. Those colors look really good together and I would LOVE to get my needles into that color mix, lol. But really Im not at all picky. I love all yarn, yarn is our friend!

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I am living with my son, Andrew, who just turned 3 and then it's just me!

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
I haven't worn them but I would be happy to recieve them. I make a lot of mittens, just never can find a reason to wear them and I just give them all away as gifts, lol. Hats make my hair go crazy so my son gets them...but it's COLD in Ohio so I can sacrifice beauty for comfort at this point ;)

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I love to knit Teddy Bear sweaters and clothes for my friends daughters bear...I am also a sock ADDICT, lol. Once I got my first pair of DPN's I was hooked.

13. What are you knitting right now?
Knitting a bear sweater for a friend that wanted one and a pair of socks, Mittens, and a scarf.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Sure! It's great to know that someone is thinking enough about me to make me something nice!

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
Right now I only have 1 circular needle and only 2-3-4 in DPN's while I have a complete set of straights so I would have to say circular and DPN's...I love bamboo, metal, anything really. Doesn't matter!

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
Nope, Im lacking in the knitting world huh?

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
Not old...maybe 6 months?

18. What is your favorite holiday?
I like them all really

19. Is there anything that you collect?
Right now I want to collect an entire set of DPN's...does that count? LOL

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
Not really dying for too much...I really would like to get a stitch N' bitch book at some point because there are a lot of great patterns and ideas and tricks in there. I borrowed one from the library once and wish I could have kept it for myself, haha. As for needles, as I said, DPN's are great. I need them to make the hats that I want and some of the clothes that I would like to try need them as well for sleeves and such...and of course...I cant make a sock without them yet so for that as well.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
I would love to learn how to make socks on 2 circular needles...and I would like to learn how to spin myself.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
YES! YES! Double yes, haha! I wear a US 7 in shoes...not totally sure what the measurements are.

23. When is your birthday?
Feb. 11th, 1984...It's COMING, lol.

Long Time No See!

Hey guys...Sorry that I haven't been posting much lately! I actually moved! and now Im about to move again, HAHA!

That's right, I got my own apartment lined up and Im set to move in within the next 2-3 weeks. Hoorah!

Now all I get to do is sit here and wait...while KNITTING of course, hello!

I was looking around at my knitting pictures today and came across this oldie but goodie...I don't think that I posted it but lately I haven't had the best memory so it's totally possible that I did...I'm just to lazy to look. This is my first attempt at crocheting something that actually could keep a person warm nd wasn't shaped like a bonbon! I mean, if you know how to crochet you know how easy it is to miss the last stitch in a row...and I was just starting out...so instant bonbon shaped pieces of work, lol. Glad this one worked out and the colors even looked good together!


I also found this awesome teddy bear sweater pattern on a website...not quite sure what site it was now though...I think it is supposed to be made from sugar and cream yarn so that's probably where to find it...more on the site later..

But here it is start to finish...and then once my friend saw it he went and bought the exact same teddy bear on Ebay and mailed it to me from Kansas telling me to return him in a warm sweater, HAHA! I started his in brown last night! I will post more on that later as well.