Long time, no blog

This year is going so FAST!

I've been working on lots of socks.... not so much on mom's blanket. But I start school in September and that will be my ONLY project for four months.

In recent news, I took a class today in Portuguese Knitting from Andrea Wong. She is awesome! Because I know how I am, I DO plan to keep a washcloth on the needles to keep the skills I learned today fresh in my mind.

And, I wrote a pattern. Not a big, involved, complicated pattern, but a nice easy beginner toe-up pattern. I've even had test knitters! As soon as I find a host and finish the charts (simple cables) then I will post it. :) I'm kind of excited about it. I think it will be well-received. Everyone likes owls, right??

Not a whole lot else to post - finished some socks, got my CNA, am in the Phlebotomy program at St. Kate's, after which I will apply to be an undergrad. Mike's music biz is taking off. His new band has played some shows and he's booking for other local bands. Rosie is well on her way to being independent on the potty!! Two weeks between different daycares meant two weeks of intense potty training. It went REALLY WELL. I'm so proud of her. :) Sophie just got home from camp yesterday. She starts school in a few weeks - 4th grade! Can you believe it?? My kid is getting so BIG!

Look out for the sock pattern coming soon!

The mystery... continues

I finished the beaded mystery socks! FINALLY. I think they are pretty and clever... but I doubt I will wear them much.

I cast on for a pair of the Boo! toe-up socks, and I am already excited to see the little ghosties appearing as I knit!

AND! I am 45% DONE with a pair of mitts for Joy. They are done in Hempathy - as my sister is vegan. If these don't work, I have another pair cast on in a corn fiber yarn. We shall see....

Chocolate Lunch - here I come!!

On my honeymoon in 2006, our train was HOURS late, so the 4 hour layover we thought we have in Chicago was 20 minutes. We had planned to go to Ghiradelli for lunch that day and well, we got McDonald's instead. But, tomorrow we leave for Chicago at 8am!!! Today is our anniversary, but Mike has been planning this suprise trip since the Superbowl!

I am nearly done with the toes of the Fling Arrow Socks, and I'll work on Mike's socks and Joy's mitts on the trip. We're taking the Megabus, which should be nice. I've heard good things about them. Not bringing the mystery sox, because we start with the beads next and I don't think beads and Megabuses will mix so well.

So, know of any must-see yarn shops in Chicago??

Socks and more Socks

Instead of Sock Wars, which has turned into a clusterfuck the last two rounds, I decided to do a Mystery Sock KAL instead. While I like the yarn choices in their kits, I want to support local yarn stores as much as possible. And, knowing The Yarnery is having an inventory sale, I decided to go there. I picked up some Malabrigo Sock in Cote De Azure, this gorgeous dark blue color and gun-metal silver beads to go with it.



The knitting starts Friday and one clue will be released each Friday for the month of May. There won't be any pictures available except what people post, hence the "Mystery". There are prizes, but I'm not terribly interested in them. I'm more just looking forward to something new and different. (And for ME, LOL!)

This also means I needs to finish the Flying Arrows socks by then, so I can use the Addi US 1s they are on! I think lots of knitting tomorrow is in order. Luckily, the recipient of the Flying Arrows socks has a size 7.5 foot, so not too big, LOL!

I have been really out of sorts lately - I am switching medication and I have to be off one before I can start the other. Tonight I take the first dose of the new stuff. Hopefully I'll be back to my old self soon. This means I haven't been knitting on much at all. :( But, thats the way depression works - you just don't care about much and things fall apart. Keyword: apathy. I'm hoping that by the time I finish the Mystery KAL, I will be feeling much, much better. :)

Bloomin Pic

This is the Blooming Cotton Scarf I mentioned in my last post. Its still blocking as I type, as half was in front of the fan and the other half was not, LOL! I am very happy with it. :)

Four years later...

And I have finished my first scarf! I have done stranded colorwork, felting, lace, cables, socks, toe up and top down, on DPNs, two circs and magic loop.... and today I am blocking my first SCARF, LOL! No ics just yet, cuz I want it to be really good.

I did the Blooming Cotton Scarf from Interweave. I only did half the repeats because I'm a small person and I think a wider scarf would overwhelm me.

In the works: Flying Arrows socks for another Yarn Smackdown person who never got socks, and of course mom's blanket. I'm about 2/3 done with the pink ribbon.

Yesterday Matt from Crafty Planet showed me their new Malabrigo Sock. Damn you MATT! Somehow, he KNEW I was done knitting the scarf!

Later this week I'll post some pics. I'll be REALLY happy when I am done with the blanket up through the pink ribbon. Then I'll have six more months to finish it. Six months seems like a long time, but its really not, LOL! Not considering its been six months since I started it!!