Looky, looky

I've been trying since Wednesday evening to get this post completed. I'm slow, mainly because I've been trying to work steadily on my cropped cardigan for the upcoming wedding. My labors are paying off and at least now it kind of looks like a cardigan.
I personally think that the Tweetie shirt makes it look even better, don't you? So, I'm very happy that it seems to fit and have just kept going. Plus I've found that I love raglan construction and that this may be my sweater construction of choice from now on. No seams!!!

But more importantly then my progress is the fact that I received my package from my HP Sock swap 3 partner. I was fortunate enough to be paired with Cassandra Grubbly Plank who is also the wonderful woman who hosted this swap. She not only did a fantastic job hosting, she totally outdid herself with this package. The poor owl was a bit tired so I let him rest and gave him a really wonderful treat before I sent him back home. I opened the box and found loads of lovely pink paper....Inside were lots of smaller packages wrapped in more pink paper...Inside the pink paper was all this!A new pair of socks, patterns that you can't see, a new journal that's covered in pretty ribbons, candy, cool yarn including wonderfully soft sock yarn, 2 sets of dpn's, point protectors, stitch makers, a bookmark and I'm sure I've left something out.

Look at my beautiful socks!And the stitch markers and bookmark. Oh, and my very cool History of Hogwarts book that will be finding it's way onto my bookcase.

So, as you can see, I was very spoiled by my pal. I'll have to find the perfect pattern for the sock yarn, it's so deliciously autumn.

SBQ time

It's that time again, when you find out more about the way I stitch. This week's SBQ is very interesting.

How do you handle blended threads? Do you kit the blends up before you start a piece, or do you grab what colors you need and blend when the need arises? If you kit up the blends beforehand, how do you store them? Do you have another option for blends to share?

First, I try to avoid blended threads if possible. Not that I don't think that they serve a purpose, but I just hate to deal with them. That being said, in my pile of UFO/WIPs I have plenty of items that use blended threads. The one I'm working on semi-currently is Misty Morning Vineyard. Specifically the peacock uses blended threads.My normal modus operandi is to blend as needed. That way I don't get it all tangled and I don't have much leftover when I'm done that I won't use. If I have some left over after working within an area and I know I'm going to need it again, I'll store the left-overs in a small bag with a label telling me what blend it is.

In doing the peacock I decided to work the body in over 1. That meant that I had to strip my silk threads and reply them to get the blended portion. It's a bit time consuming, but the result is, I must say, magnificent and worth the extra time and effort.

Just here

I had no idea what to name this post, so there you go. It's mainly just an update with a couple of pictures.

This weekend I taught a crochet class that was a lot of fun. Both ladies were interested and they did a good job. There's a second session to this class, so they'll be back for more.

After class was the Midnight-Knit-in at KnitWitz. It was crazy as usual. Lots of people turned out and that led to lots of laughter. I even managed to finish up two projects and complete the front of my Lynton cardigan that's been troubling...more on that later. But first I give you the Easy Peasy baby Cardi.(That's Graham modeling for your pleasure.) The sad news is that the baby is too big for this cardigan. The good news is I've got a present made already for the next baby that comes along, as long as it's a girl since I'm not sure a little boy would look right in this color. I had all the knitting done, but had never done the seaming. After Sat. night I know why. It's all nice and soft and chenilley, but to seam it up is a real pain in the patootie. However with the help of knitting friends who passed me a cookie or two during the process (thanks Eric), I managed to "get 'er done" as they say.

I also finished the Slingshot for coffee cups that I was working on as a present for a friend of mine. I'm not sure that she reads this blog, but either way I don't have a picture of it since I also don't have a cup at home that will fit it.

Finally the saga of the Lynton cardigan continues. I knew I had a problem, but I couldn't figure out what I'd done wrong. Seriously, I was stumped. I thought about just ripping it back to where you start casting off for the neckline, but then thought that maybe, just maybe, DF Corinna could figure it out and I wouldn't have to go to such drastic measures. So, Sat. during my class Corinna took a look, and looked and thought and ripped, and then decided that she had no idea what I'd done either and it had to be ripped back to the point I had established as the jumping off point. She was so sweet, she even did the ripping for me so it wouldn't be so painful. Don't let anyone tell you any different, she is a wonderful person! (Oh and she has pictures of the festivities Sat. on her blog so click the link on over there!) Before I left I managed to finish the front and it's correct! It really was a good feeling to get that done. I would normally have gone ahead and done the seaming needed to be able to start the collar, but instead I've started a new project.

sleeves. Between the wedding being in the NC mountains and the temperature that most restaurants are kept, I know that I'll need something to keep my arms warm. So, I decided on the Cropped Cardi with Leaf Ties by Stephani Japel. Some of you may know her as Glampyre Knits. She has some beautiful patterns and this wonderful book entitled Fitted Knits. So, I decided to do this one since a) it's knit from the top down, raglan style which means no seaming, b)it's just too adorable and c) it was a good excuse to purchase the book (and before anyone says anything I know, that pattern is available on Knitty, but hey, give a girl a break). I cast on for it Sunday and it's coming along, at least it was until I realized that I'd left out an increase on row 16 and I as on row 34. I ripped back last night and as off today at lunch I was almost backI know, I wasn't going to start anything new until I finished that cardigan, but time is of the essence. The last weekend in June is my very DF Maria's wedding. She was my first college roommate and the only one that I'm still in contact with and perhaps that makes her one of my oldest friends. She asked me to be in her wedding and of course I said yes! Like me, she's never been married so this a huge deal. She's getting married Sat. night and of course I have a beautiful dress that she picked out for that. However, there is a Bridesmaid's breakfast that morning and that will be a little dressy. I have a dress picked out, but I want a cover-up since it doesn't have to where I was before the carnage. Take a look...I'm using Cotton Fleece by Brown Sheep. It's a perfect substitute. I will probably have to make some adjustments so it will fit me perfectly, but I'm feeling up to the challenge.

So, that's all. I'm just here, knitting away this week. I haven't picked up anything to stitch, but that's ok. I'm happy with my knitting for now.

It's a big, BIG world

Well, actually this is about big stitching projects, but you get the idea. Since April is all about the LARGE projects I figured I wouldn't get much done. I'm notorious for starting large projects and then taking forever to finish them. It's nice to get some solid stitching time on them every once in awhile. So, after finishing Mr. Peacock's arbor, I decided to work on some other WIPs in my bag.

One of the boards I post on has a group devoted to UFOs. I consider Deer in the Woods a UFO since it got started and then has languished in my pile of other WIPs. I bought the pattern a couple of years ago when I went to AZ and we took a side trip to The Attic. (Lovely store that all stitchers should visit if in the area.) They had this completed and all the wall and I fell in love. I think the colors spoke to me, and probably the verse as well. So I bought the pattern and they mentioned that they had converted it to silk and gave me a copy of the conversion. So, here's what it looked like before Sampler Guild on Sunday...
Here's what it looked like after Wed. night when I put it away until next month...I'm very excited with how much I managed to get done. It's far from being finished, but that's about 1/2 a page, so maybe 1/8 done? I've decided I'll work on this each month for 3 days, and hopefully when I go to Sampler Guild. We'll see how far it progresses during the year.

Thursday is for a real UFO, and Traditional Elegance 2 fits that bill. Didn't think I'd get much done on it yesterday, but had some time during lunch to pull it out and then got home earlier then expected last night and was able to stitch a couple of hours. Thought you'd enjoy an updated picture.I had thought I'd work on the acorn in this band, but decided I was a bit tired for that. Still, that's quite a bit of progress. The end is actually in sight for this one, or at least I think it is.

Not much else going on. Teaching a crochet class tomorrow at my LYS, KnitWitz. Looking forward to that. It's a 2 part class, so should be fairly laid back. Otherwise, the weather is perfect today and life is not too bad.

SBQ time

I don't know how many of you enjoy these questions and answers, but sometimes I find them interesting reading. Oh, and it gives me something to blog about without thinking, an extra bonus some weeks.
What is the most complicated piece you've ever completed?

The most complicated piece I ever worked on may have been Rae Iverson's Things That Go Bump in the Night Etui. There are some very interesting stitches on this piece as a whole and I have to say I loved working on it. I also have to admit that I didn't put it together. I was too scared. I had my DF Vicky B. do that, and she did an amazing job.




That's all 4 sides. The top has a little needlework and the bottom I stitched my name, the date I actually finished and where I lived at the time. Each of the bugs has different stitches to create their bodies. It really is the coolest piece I think I've ever done.

The most complicated finishing piece I did was last year. The stitching wasn't particularly hard, but the finishing about kicked both myself and DF Heather. All Year Squared, or as we called it "cubie", was not the easiest thing to put together. Mainly because it's so very small. Very small. But we managed and I felt a sense of accomplishment.

Perhaps the most difficult item was not a single item, but a series of items I stitched with 3 other very special ladies. DF's Heather, Jill and Judy joined me in stitching a total of 4 samplers in a round robin fashion. We each started our samplers, and then the others had 2 different opportunites to stitch bands on them before they returned home. Since all of us, except for Jill and I who had worked together, met through Rae Iverson's classes, we decided to use motifs from her many designs to create our bands. You could also include something you'd designed on your own, but only DF Heather and I tried our hands at that. The hard part was deciding what went best with each of the different samplers. Each one came out so differently. Heather was kind enough to keep track of everything on her personal site and you can see our masterpieces in all their glory here. This is also my most prized piece of needlework. A few years ago we got a call that we had to evacuate due to a forest fire that was near our house. We had 30 minutes to gather what we wanted to take with us and pack it in our vehicles and get out. There were 2 things I grabbed off the walls, the last picture take of my maternal grandfather when we went into the Navy in WW2 and my Friends RR. In fact, those were the first two things I put in my truck. Interesting what we realize is important to us when we're forced to choose. I figured all the rest could be restitched, but this piece couldn't. It is as special to me as the women who helped to create it. I don't live near any of them anymore, but it is a daily reminder of their friendship.

This weekend I had some fun times and managed to stitch a little. Pictures soon.

It's a Marty Party!

The Clay County Fair is going on this week. There's lots of fun to be had out at the fairgrounds, and lots of fair food to be eaten. Tonight one of my all time favorite artists performed, Marty Stuart. I've loved his music for years. This man can play most anything with strings and he can sing. A lethal combination in my book. Not to mention he is an ardent collector of Country music artifacts, can write and has been know to take a good photograph or two.

So this afternoon I "talked" my friend Kim into meeting me and mom and going to the concert at the fair. It was worth the price of admission! Here's a few pictures.First a little Marty by himself.

Then the whole band. Well it is hard to see the drummer here, but look at the picture above and you'll be able to see him. All of these guys are talented, and all can sing. Tonight there was everything from some rocking bluegrass, Marty played that by himself...just him and his mandolin and it was amazing...then there was some old time country, some gospel and some rock-a-billy. As usual a little something for everyone.

Oh, and as for fair food. Kim managed to find her a corn dog and mom and I shared a funnel cake. Life is good.

Picture Day

I know, I've been a little lax with the pictures, but I'll make up for it tonight.

First, I'm so excited that I managed to finish one goal this month. Not that I write them down, or even really think about them ahead of time. However, when I picked up Misty Morning Vineyard (MMV) on Friday I realized I really wanted to get the arbor done around the only peacock I have completed. Well I managed to do that this morning.
A little up-close so you can see the pretty peacock and arbor. I also put in another row of squares on this side as you can see.

And for the overall view, or, now you can see how little I have done on this monster...With that done I turned to Blackwork Band Sampler for a bit today, but it will be put aside tomorrow for Traditional Elegance 2. Thursday's are my day to work on a long standing WIP, now in reality Blackwork Band is older, but for some reason TE2 has been calling my name lately. Maybe it just seems like I could finish it faster. Hopefully after tomorrow I'll have something to show you on that one.

I've finished some knitting lately. A square for the Victory Junction afghan's we're doing over on Ravelry.
I also finished the October dishcloth, Paglia.Last, and maybe the least in this case, I decided to make a "tawashi". The pattern is free and I found it on Ravelry. See you should be a part of the phenom that is Ravelry! It's crochet and took next to no time to make. The great thing is that because you make it with acrylic yarn, it's antibacterial, or so I'm told, and totally washable. So, no buying sponges or things to scrub pots with anymore, I'm making this little things up and giving them to everyone this year. This one is called Frilly Tawashi and I made it up on WVU colors, so it'll go to my mom.Isn't it just the cutest thing? There are more patterns to try, so stay tuned, I'm sure I'll be playing with them all.

I think that's all the pictures I have for now. In a few weeks I might have pictures of tiny tomato plants. We planted some seeds today and hopefully they will come up in the next couple of weeks. I love fresh tomatoes. Have to get out and clear a space for some other things, like cucumbers at the least. I also have to clean out some of my containers and put new soil in them for some herbs. Need to get some other plants, but haven't decided what else we want to grow. Probably will head to the garden store early next week to see what they have in. I love peppers, so maybe some pepper plants. I'll keep you posted.

SBQ

This week's question is....

What items do you consider essential to your needlework that you keep
in your stitching bag?


Interesting question. I always have a pair of good embroidery scissors, with nice sharp points in case I'm doing cut work. Also a package of my favorite needles, gold John James petites, probably size 26 or 28. I also normally have a long beeding needle, just in case I want to add a little sparkle to something. I also usually have a laying tool that fits on my thumb. Last, I try to have one of my small tape measurer's in my case. I consider those the essentials. If I'm going to a class or traveling, I might add in some extra needles of different sizes as well as some ivory Nymo beading thread, oh and sometimes my lucky buckeye I got in class one time. Pretty much, that covers the things I have to have. Unless you count my cheater glasses if I think I'm going to be wearing my contacts when I want to stitch.

Hopefully tomorrow I'll have a picture of what I've accomplished on Misty Morning Vineyard (Martina Weber) since I started working on it last week. My goal is to give you a picture when I finished the arbor I've been working on. Truly I'm such a slow stitcher. I know a whole boatload of stitchers who would have been almost finished with the whole thing in the time it's taken me to do this arbor. In my defense, I was working on it while I wasn't feeling to great and I was clipping right along when I realized that I had totally misread part of the chart and had to "frog" a bunch of leaves. However that may be what I get for trying to stitch while watching Dancing With The Stars. Really, how can you count when you're faced with the proof that there must be a "shirt crisis" in L.A.? Not 1 but 2 men couldn't find a shirt to wear? Clearly, there is a shortage of shirts in that fair city. Wouldn't you have miscounted?

March Madness in April and other craziness

March Madness is over for the time being, but Sock Madness continues. Since I made it through round 1 I'm currently trying to knit the sock for round 2. I'm not saying I won't make the cut, but I'm highly skeptical as I'm using this sock to also kill another obligation. That means I'm not knitting this for my small-ish sized foot, but rather for a fairly larger sized foot. Oh well, I love the pattern and the yarn I'm using so that's the good news. No pictures yet, maybe I'll post one when I get the 1st sock finished. I'm working on the foot...all 10 inches of the foot!!!

Stitching wise, March wasn't bad, although I didn't really stick to the theme all that well. Still I accomplished some things and I'm happy. April brings a concentration on those larger projects that are in the UFO/WIP's pile. It's not like I don't have a few of those. I won't be doing much stitching until I get these socks finished, but after that I'll hit the big stuff pretty hard. I am still trying to stitch on Thursday evenings, and may take a break from knitting tonight to stitch on one of the projects I've listed. TE2 seems to be holding my attention lately, although I heard the call of a peacock and thought I'd bring it out of hibernation for awhile.

Otherwise, life continues on. I have neglected my blog, and my reading of other's blogs awfully. Hopefully it will get a little better soon.