Ole' Soleil!!

She's done.
When I first began knitting last year and I discovered the wonderful world of knit blogs, one of the first garments that drew my eye was Soleil. Initially I was so intimidated by the thought of knitting a garment, a garment with lace, a garment that I hoped would fit. As I mentioned previously, this yarn was the first real yarn I bought from a real yarn store, when I had no idea what I was buying, how much to buy, or what I would use it for.
All I can say is I love it and I will make another one soon. I bought the yarn for it already. More online Egyptian mercerized cotton in a lovely green colorway. I loved knitting with it and I love how the blocked version feels and fits. So here's the crappy mirror shot.

Modifications: I added another row of lace. When I make it again,I'll decrease more on the straps. They are a little wider than I'd like but overall, I'm happy.

Mail call

Yesterday I arrived home to discover a package at my doorstep. I thought my new knit pick needles had arrived. But when I opened it, I was surprised and overwhelmed by the well put together items. This is the first month of Sundara's sock yarn club, the petals collection. This month I present calla Lilly. It's absolutely gorgeous. These are going with me on my vacation next week. We are going on a 7 day cruise in a week and I was struggling with what to take to knit.




Yes, in the background that is Soleil blocking. Finally finished.

There's a new needle in town

and I have to have them. While perusing blogs this morning, I stopped by Bron's blog. She mentions the new knit pick's options needles that have hit blogland. Of course I have to take a look. Now I must admit, I own just about every needle out there. I have my Denise's, Addi's in every size 24 length, boye's,clover bamboo's, and a couple of crystal palace bamboo. I don't have any inox or ebony needles, only because I haven't been able to find them. Basically, I don't need any more. But since when does need and knitting go together. After I write this post, I will order those needles and maybe some yarn while I'm at it.
On the knitting front, Soleil is progressing, I've divided the front and will finish the back this morning. If all goes well, I should have a finished object soon. Then off to the next big project. A cotton ease log cabin quilt

Happy birthday to ...

My son, he's 12 years old. He's definitely growing up. This is the first year that he did not ask for video games for his birthday. On this years list was clothes. Basically, Basketball shorts, jerseys and a pair of Jordon basketball shoes.
All to match his remoldeled bedroom.

Oh... what are his favorite colors... One guess.

And she's off

To high school
I had a long post that I'm too tired to recreate now, maybe tomorrow.

First dance

Dress $58.00
Nails(hands and feet) $40.00
Hair $75.00

The end result






PRICELESS

Hiatus over

I'm back, I think from a self imposed blogging hiatus. I'm not sure what precipitated it but it happened.
Things have been hectic in the household. My 3rd daughter is graduating from middle school. Most of my off time has been spent preparing her for many big events. First off, the "promotion dance". Her very first dressy school dance. We found a very pretty dress, shoes, neckless, earrings, purse... you get the idea. Next is the promotion ceremony, which means, you guessed, another dress, shoes, etc. And no, she couldn't wear to same dress, or shoes or earrings ... At least we are finished, with the shopping. Next up, the primping: you know what I mean... hair, nails, hands and feet, eyebrows, whoa. So much, but she is so excited, and her older sisters are as well.
With all of this, only a smattering of knitting has occurred. I'm to the heels on my socks and to the stockinette body of Soleil.

Think pink

Lately, I've been stuck in a blue phase. It seems everything I've knit and all of the yarn I've bought has been blue. I think it was getting me a little down. It sometimes feels as if I'm knitting the same thing over and over again.
Last night I tried to do a little organizing of the stash. I'd bought a new rubbermaid tub and started to rearrange. I came across this find.
This is the first "real yarn" I bought when I first start knitting. Of course, my first yarn purchase was some squeaky red heart from Joanne's. This yarn was my first purchase from a "real yarn store"..

As I look back, I realize I had no idea what I was buying. I saw the color and picked up 6 skeins and I pretended I had a project in mind, cause I didn't want to look dumb to the real knitters in the store. I cast on last night and let me tell you, I love the feel of it. It's 100% Egyptian mercerize cotton.... and it's pink.
Below is some wonderful handpainted yarn I received from Heather for answering a question correctly on her blog. Thank you Heather!! The colors are rich and gorgeous. These will become my first pair of toe up socks. I am trying to resist the urge to cast on.



I'm beginning to notice a new color theme.

A little enhancement

In an effort to focus on smaller projects.



Ooooo,ahhhhh, ohhhhhh. I can't wait to cast on.The opal is calling my name.

Mental health day

I took a mental health day from work today. My weekend is going to be so busy with working at our team's soccer tournament. Sat and Sunday will be spent working the tounament. Checking in teams, field patrol and restroom duty. So, today was my relaxation day. Although I didn't do much resting. I made the trek to the not so local yarn store. I wanted to get some self patterning sock yarn so I could concentrate on 2 socks on 2 circs without worrying about following a stitch pattern. I plan to knit these up on my lunch hour and during the tournament if I have free time.
Of course I couldn't walk out without picking up something else.
I also pick up the Mason Dixon book. I didn't realise it was such a big book. It's gorgeous, the colors, the prints, the stories and the patterns are wonderful. I started a little project from it as well. My daughter saw this page and immediately requested some to hang in her room. Believe it or not, these are the colors on her wall. VERY VERY bright blue and green.
My focus for the next few weeks will be small projects.

A new body

Here's a better photo of my blue gables on my new body. I got her on sale 50% off from Joanne's.I was able to get the measurements perfectly, although, her boobs are a little, um alot perkier than mine. Overall I'm pleased.

Sleep positions

According to this
website, this is my sleep pose. It couldn't be more wrong.

Find your own pose!

This is my true sleep position, at least we start out this way.

Find your own pose!

What's yours, take the test yourself.

Competing hobbies

I feel as if I'm cheating on my knitting. I love to read and I love to knit. I find myself each day trying to decide which I'll do if I have a moment of free time. Lately, I've tried doing both. Read in the morning and knit in the evening. Doing both has slowed down the productivity, not that I've been very fast in my knitting, but this has slowed me down even more. But today, I finally have a finished object and I love it. Presenting, blue gables, forgive the bad mirror shot, all of my photographers are out today. I still have to block it, but the ends are weaved in.


Green Gables
3 skeins cotton fleece, Malibu blue
size 7 and 5 addi turbos
added 1 inch to length

Up next, a trip to sleeve island and seaming of the shawl collar sweater.

Halfway point

I've decided after I finish my gables, I'll work on some of the small projects my family has requested. I think by doing this, (they will get off my back),they will be very happy and I can concentrate on me again. First the scarf for my daughter.
My youngest 2 are on spring break, unfortunately they think mom and dad are on spring break as well. The minute we reach the door after work, they have our evening planned. Monday it was the to the park for 3 friggin hours. Tues, movie night, which worked out for me, mindless knitting. Wed off, cause mom and dad were TIRED. Tonight it's skate depot, ouch. Friday, speed zone. Saturday.... Who knows if I'll make it to Sat.
I hope to sneak some knitting time in to finish this.

Who do you knit for?

Or what do you knit? I've been accused of being a selfish knitter. You see,after the first couple of months of knitting for my youngest daughter, who was very eager and accepting of my knitting, I've primarily knit for myself. I consider myself so new at knitting, so for the last year I have knit things in an effort to learn something. A new technique, a different garment, socks, shrugs, pullovers, shawls. Also to learn a different fiber, laceweight, dk, worsted weight, all in an effort to learn. So yesterday, my eldest daughter, who has asked me to knit her a scarf hmmmm about two months ago, asked when her scarf would be ready. Now I must admit, I did start a scarf for her, but it hasn't been a priority. It's a simple knit 2 purl 2 blah scarf. I'm probably half done. But, I have no motivation to finish it. Sad, I'm such a bad mom. It really won't take that long, but in my defense, I don't have a lot of time to knit. When I do, I want to enjoy it. I want to work on finishing the marble sweater, or green gables. I want to start 2 socks on circulars or toe up socks. I want to knit things that I can wear and feel proud about.
I know my knitting has improved because my family has started asking me to knit items for them. The eldest wants the scarf, a cap, and Lelah. The youngest wants felted clogs, wrist warmers, and a whole pattern book of sweaters. My son wants a pullover vest, and my husband wants socks. How am I to cope with the pressure. I can't possibly add all of these things to my to knit list, and continue to knit for myself. I'm really torn with how to accomplish all of this.
How do you do this?? Any help would be appreciated.

Good news

It fits, whew.... So saying, Bad news, I'm still going to frog, after I finish the sleeves and sew it together. Once you see it, you'll agree. Surprisingly, I'm not that heart broken about it. It's the right thing to do, otherwise I won't be satisfied with the end result.
Here's a flash of my stash project. I like it very much.




Back to knitting!!

Slightly Worried

I'm nervous about the marble sweater. First you know about the different color skein issue, second, I think it's too big. The front and back are on the blocking board now. As soon as it's dry, I'm going to pin it together for a test fit. The thing is, I love the pattern, and it knits up fast, but I really hate to think about frogging it. I really committed to doing a project that needs to be seamed. I want to improve my knitting, and as Linda said in one of her post, go for the extra spicey. I know the way to improve is to move away from the safe projects, to make mistakes that need to be fixed. We learn from our mistakes, but darn it, I will always hate frogging.
So, instead of starting the sleeves of the marble top, I started a new project.

One good reason to have stash yarn. You're always prepared.

Awe Inspiring

Check this Stashout.
Be prepared to drool.

Why......

Impulse buy + stash yarn = Next project.

Novice at work

So, I'm knitting the marble sweater and things are going well. I knit up the back in no time and have been working on the front. All is going well, until I got the the v-neck shaping. The pattern said Work to last 3 sts before marker,(center) k2tog, k1, join 2nd ball of yarn and work as follows...... Ok so I'm thinking what, join 2nd ball of yarn? Do I now knit with both yarns together....nah that can't be right?? Ok do I start a new skein of yarn now?? Well that makes no sense, who would join a new skein in the center of the sweater, on purpose.... Can't figure it out, see I'm still a beginner. Anyway, so what do I do, I start a new skein of yarn, the whole time thinking this can't be right. I knit and knit thinking how do you get a V neck out of this...Something is not right
Thankfully, while reading other blogs I found this entry and bingo it all makes sense. Duh....
After frogging back and working on it today, I'm almost back to where I was..

I should finish the front and I'll start on the sleeves tomorrow. I'm going to do both sleeves at once. I hope to be ready to seam it up next weekend. Wish me luck. Oh as you can see, I'm having the same mismatched skein issue on the front. I know I should stop frog and re knit, but I can't tell the color difference until after it's knit up. For now my plan is to knit it all up, decide if I can stand the difference or not. If not when I frog, I will be able to tell which skeins are the same and leave out the lighter ones. I think I'll end up with one extra skein.