Knitting the Blues

A little K2,P2 in Blue (school colors)

Some patterns hand picked by Lumpy (7) inspired by his favorite book

Still don't know if it will fit and my patterning got a bit tight.

Guinifer: I am on a yarn-shoe-string budget (insert Halloween screams). I did not buy anything from Sweet Sheep, but I did drool over the bags for a while. I am so proud of you for not clicking your PayPal button with a full cart. That is COURAGE, woman!

Lorraine: I am quickly finding out that Ravelry is just another word for "another blog to update, modify, think about, search through". BUT, it is a nice way to catalog your work/yarn/progress. I daresay, I know that Guinifer has quite a stash, but to see it all together on Ravelry will blow your hand-knit socks off. (smiley face)

I've been invited!

Short note here to ding my own bell and tell you that I've (FINALLY) been invited to Ravelry!

It's getting busy around here with school starting and some canning going on, so I don't know how consistent I'll be through the next few weeks.
I'll be checking your blogs, though!

AND CHECK OUT THE SALE AT SWEET SHEEP!

Knitting First

Just when I think, "Gosh, I've got nothing to share on my blog." - something inevitably lands in my lap. Two treasures to share:

First, a book I received from my hip sister! Don't laugh! I may actually knit this for one of my kids who has been begging for and Icelandic flag hat.

Second: No explanation needed, I think. A pattern I ordered from France came in the mail today! I can't wait to start crankin' these guys out!

WHY I DON'T HAVE KNITTING TO SHOW YOU:

Pool Parties

Weddings

In an attempt to keep my fingers on the pulse, some friends and I attended the "Fergie" concert on Saturday while at the Minnesota State Fair. I have one word to describe the event:

ODD

The first clue that this was no good took the form of thousands of girls from 6-13 years old, dressed like little hookers.

Second Clue: her opening line was,
"Hello! How many of y'all are from Minnesota." (insert crickets chirping)

See you on Wednesday and sorry to all you Fergalicious fans!

T - this one's for you!!!

I have this one friend who calls me on HER birthday every year because every year I never remember her birthday. This is a BEST friend, so shame on me. There is always a moment in January when the phone rings, I pick up - immediately recognize her voice and groan, "Oh, no. I forgot again!" Even if I remembered to think about her birthday, I can't recall the actual date.

So feeling guilty and watching her belly grow with two more boys to add to her family, I promised to make up all the forgotten birthdays (by the way, she never forgets mine) by knitting up all sorts of goodies for the twins. I even went so far as to knit up one cap, but went on to lose it and couldn't rally enough muster to finish the second. The boys are now a year old and still without a wooly knit (as I am so graciously reminded of so often by my ever diligent friend).

And so, after watching Elizabeth Zimmermann's DVD workshop, I would like to proudly display the following hats to be shortly delivered to a pair of huge, tumbly, charming boys.

The EZ Swatch Caps
Specs:
Yarn: Paton's Classic Wool Merino
Needles: US size 5
Pattern: Swatch Cap by Elizabeth Zimmermann

GO LOCAL:
In an effort to try to go "more local", I traveled west of our town to buy yarn from Gale Woods Farm. The skeins were $7.25 for 230 yards. The wool is from the sheep on the farm. But alas! They ship the wool to Maine to be spun and dyed! Grrrrr. There must be SOMEONE here in Minnesota that could do this (make a little side cash) and keep it local. Pass the word on. Contact Three Rivers Park/Gale Woods Farm if you're interested.

Third "Swatch Cap" for Lumpy (7) who has specific pattern ideas for his Cabin Cap.
ps. It's very lanoliny - rustic feeling yarn.
I may have to add fleece to the inside brim if it proves to be to itchy.

one more treat:
The Sweet Sheep Shop has just announced a Self-Striping Sock Club . . . spaces limited!!

Happy Anniversary!

Autumn has begun in Northern Minnesota. It was a chilly, beautiful weekend. That did not stop the kids from swimming. . . sigh . . . I remember those days! How old does one feel when they prefer to sit and knit while there is still swimming to be had! Oh well, as all knitters know - when the cold winds start to blow, the craving for wool and needles is very strong.I stumbled upon a new "I WANNA MAKE ONE OF THOSE" projects to add to my ever growing list. I found the Koigu Babette Blanket here at Wound Too Tight. (Don't look if you don't want to add another project to your list!) Here is a picture of the blanket from Interweave Magazine. (used without permission) I take back any nasty things I may have said about crochet!
Non-knitting - every time I go up north, I look at this trim and think "Stain it green." What do you think. Our whole cabin is this pine color. I'm thinking that by posting this on my blog, I will be motivated to actually act on this whim. It's always scary to start something that can't be deleted, though.

This is what my oldest did all weekend, beside swim. Seeing my kids read is one of the most tranquil and happy scenes I can imagine! He's 8 and the book has already been read about 4 times since last week. It's called "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" and I haven't read it yet, but my 8 year old HIGHLY recommends it!
Oh, and Happy Anniversary K! (It's our 10th year!) He looked at me the other day and said, "What would you like to do for our tenth." At the exact same time, I said, "PARIS!" and he said, "CAMPING IN THE BOUNDARY WATERS!"

Paris is not in the budget, so Boundary Waters, here we come. Sigh. Someone told me to build a wooden effigy of the Eiffel Tower and burn in on our campfire, but since there is a fire ban, I won't even be able to do that. Maybe we'll make crepes over the camp stove . . . hmmmmm.

Thanks for the flowers! They're lovely! (and not from Cub)

Knittin' Away

Fishing with Grandpa

I'm back. New and improved. I was away "Up North" with my parents and the kids. I tackled a new knitting project and a definite challenge. Here it is:And here are the specs:
Pattern: Friday Harbor socks from Knitting on the Road by Nancy Bush
Yarn: "Golden Ticket" Superwash Merino/Nylon from Project Spectrum Sweet Socks
Needles: US 2 for the cuff, US 3 for the rest (I had to change to bigger needles because I knit tighter than Ms. Bush.
I am trying to come up with a name for my socks. Golden Snitch? Butter Beer? Butterscotch? or stick with Golden Ticket.

A few glitches in MY system. My YO (yarn over) stitches are huge, horrible gaps. Correct me if I'm wrong, but on the row following the YO row, should I be knitting these stitches tbl (through the back loop - see, us knitters have cool jargon, too - word up). I mean GAH! Look at these holes!Also, my k2tg (knit 2 together) looks fabulous, if I do say so. However, my ssk is all a mess! Take a look! I think I can fix this by decreasing using a slip one, knit one pass the slip stitch over, instead. Is there any reason why I can't use this stitch?Ruby on the front porch.

Socks and Polar Bears

Happy Friday! It's going to be another beautiful hot day here in Minnesota. This week, we spent a day at Como Zoo in St. Paul. For those of you who aren't familiar, it's a free city zoo (donations appreciated) and a huge conservatory. The last time I went to the Como Zoo, I was about 7. Things have really changed. The animals look a lot happier than they did in the 70's. Well . . . not the Polar Bear. He needs to get out of there a take a walk on the wild side. He lives in a space about the size of my front porch. They are currently building a better habitat for him. Hang in there buddy!

Bad Knitting News: I frogged my Hogwarts socks. The idea was so cool, but they were just big and baggy. The design LOOKED good, but not functional. I want them to be socks that my secret pal can actually wear comfortably.

Also, I began my second monkey sock and the gauge is so different than the first, it's unfair! The first fits my husband and the second fits me. sigh. This is why one should always ALWAYS knit both socks at the same time. I think I'll rip the 2nd and use a bigger needle . . . ??? (advice anyone?)

Not so bad knitting news:
Look what I got in the mail. Hooray! (Lorraine - there are an awful lot of patterns in there with cables - yikes! This may be it for me; no more procrastinating.)

I love the "Dalarna" sock. It looks like the easiest pattern, achem, thank you very much. After browsing these patterns, I realize it's a "Masters" course. It reminds me of the time I took my first philosophy course during the last semester of my college Sophomore year (got that? SOPHOMORE) and completely floundered my way through several weeks before this enlightening inncident. Professor says, "So how many of you will be attending the Philosophy Department's Senior picnic?" Every hand shot up but mine. After sorting out my registration 'miscalculation', the professor agreed to keep me on and guide me through the senior course. I passed with a meager C. I wonder how my Traveling Socks will turn out.

PS. I won't be able to blog until next Thursday. I may squeeze one in on Sunday!

Góðan daginn

Good Morning!  Look what I found at the
Ely Blueberry Festival Art Fair. 

They're actually Icelandic! 
Made by a nice lady and her husband -
their company is Northwoods Sleigh Co.
and they have loads of Scandinavian things.

Knitting News: I'm having fun watching
Elizabeth Zimmerman's workshop. (DVD) I would even recommend it to experienced knitters (and beginners).

She's delightful. Here is the hat that I made
along with her instructions. 

I can't finish it because I don't have size 5 double pointed needles, yet. But I am really impressed with how easy color knitting is. I thought it would be a nightmare. I'm not a fast knitter and this hat only took two days. These would make great Christmas gifts.

Specs:
Pattern: Elizabeth Zimmerman's Color Pattern Hat from her Workshop DVD
Yarn: Patons Classic Merino Wool
Needles: US size 5

Out with the trash . . .

Welcome back from the weekend. We spent some time Up North with family - a quiet, peaceful weekend of swimming and s'mores and just appreciating the time we have together.

I got Elizabeth Zimmerman's Knitting Workshop from the library and started my first bit of color pattern knitting. It will be a little "cap" (as she calls them). I think it will be too small for any one of my kids, since I didn't check the gauge, but I'm sure there is some little head out there that will take to this hat quite well.
Also, my beautiful red Jitterbug yarn went out with the trash (a terrible accident) . . . along with my i-pod - a result of carrying my things around in re-used plastic bags. The yarn was going to be used for my Hogwarts sock swap, but as it was 100% wool and my secret pal has an aversion to that, it will turn out for the best. I found some cotton Meilenweit, instead in gold, scarlet and maroon, so here is a sneak peak at my "Gryffindor Tower" socks:
Finally, I thought this was pretty cool. I had never seen a baby loon in person. This little family was paddling around our cabin!
On Wednesday, I'll give an update on my Monkey Socks (whoopee-ding) and I'll do a better job at linking and giving pattern and picot edging info. I'm in a hurry! Off to the zoo.

35W Bridge

It feels a bit strange to be blogging when so many families are still waiting to find out what happened to their loved ones. I'll try again on Monday. Sorry. It's just too sad a day to write silly stuff.

Until then, pray for more miracles.