Weekend Round-up...sort of

Friday Night I managed to finally get out and to the knit in at KnitWitz. I've been so sporadic with going what with work, being sick and just stuff. Glad I went Friday though. Managed to purchase the new Cat Bordhi book "New Pathways for Sock Knitters: Book One". There were only 2 copies left and I snagged one when I figured out what it was. Let me just say this book is so very cool. So very different...and so very totally making me want to sit and knit socks. So, Friday night when I finally got home after knitting and eating fabulous Mexican food, I found a single skein of yarn that I was fairly certain would work and did my little gauge swatch like she tells you to, well almost like she tells you to, and then started the 1st of the practice socks. I worked on it Saturday and then finished it Sunday evening. Between the book and working on my HP year 2 Sock Exchange sock, all I did was knit from Friday until Sunday. Actually I only knitted yesterday for Labor Day (what a funny name for a holiday...Labor Day and we get it off, well some of us do at least.) Anyway, it was an all knitting long weekend.

But back to the new book....I highly recommend this book. It has great pictures to help those of us who need visual aides as well as great written directions. I haven't quite figured out that very cool cast-on she shows you, but I'll get it eventually. I was too excited to really sit down and concentrate. Just had to get started on this first pathway sock. I've started it's mate, so it will eventually go to some deserving child. Just have to figure out which one.

In other knitting news. I also put together my Eliza Tank on Friday at the knit-in and got to ring the bell! I haven't posed for pictures with it on yet, stay tuned for those. Finally I did work on my Lynton cardigan yesterday while watching football. At least I managed to do something constructive during a game that for at least half of it I was not feeling the love, or the football for that matter. Let me just say that I have hopes that the rest of the season will go a bit better now that they have that nastiness out of their system. But I'm a realist and know that an almost entire new offensive coaching staff and a few months does not a National Championship make. But like my Michigan friends I have other things to look forward to in the season and I'll set my sights on those little tidbits of possible football joy. (BTW, yes, I did graduate from Florida State, so I earned the right to be a 'Nole. I fully believe that if you graduated from any school you have the right to be a huge fan. But that's another post, for another time.)

A quick stitching note. September is "September Smalls" month, which means working on any of those small projects that have accumulated in my WIPs/UFOs/Stash. I deviated from the normal Tuesday Christmas Ornament stitching to pull out "the cubie" and have a go at it. I have fall and winter side done, so opted for Summer, since hey...technically it's still summer. Managed to get a bit done. I'll try to take some pictures and post them tomorrow.

I think that does it. Happy knitting and stitching!

Ornament Happy Dance!

That's it! The completely stitched Quaker Reindeer by The Workbasket from the 2006 Just Cross Stitch ornament issue. All ready to be finished into a pretty ornament. I think I've already said that this was one my mom really liked when she was the ornament issue last year. I don't think I would have put it on my list if she hadn't said how much she liked it, but honestly it's so beautiful in person. The fiber is Caron Waterlillies, Copper and the shading doesn't show up in the picture like it does in person.

In other news, I think I've finally knitted all I need to on the straps for Eliza tank. I have to pin it together and make sure they are long enough before I do anything drastic. I'm a bit concerned that this is actually going to fit me. I was looking at some people who had finished it on Ravelry and it doesn't seem that anyone was extremely pleased with how it fit when they got it finished. So that's got me worried. I hope I'll have worried for no reason. I really like how it looks. Cross your fingers for me.

In other, slightly related news, I've decided on a pattern and fiber for my HP Sock Exchange year 2 socks. Not to make sure I have enough yarn before I get started. If not, then I'll have to do some quick rethinking. Need to get started soon, so I'll have them all done in time. I'm excited about the pattern. I think it will look very cool when I'm done. I love to start new things, so this will help my itch to start something new.

A weekend report

What with being sick and the extremely hot weather, even for FL it's been extreme, I haven't done much posting. I have however, managed to accomplish some stitching and even some knitting. Luckily this month's theme was "Lazy Days of Summer" (a.k.a. work on anything you feel like working on!). That being said I saw it in my mind back 8 months ago as a free-for-all. Not sticking with any one project, you know, total abandonment. Surprisingly that hasn't happened. For some reason I've gotten into this habit of working on a different project each day. Thought I'd take you through my week and show you some updates along the way.

Monday is the day I've worked on my secret project. (No use trying to guess Heather, you'd never guess. No use trying to get me to tell you either, I'm not telling.) As a hint, it's a gift for a friend. Now, wonder which friend is getting something....and no, just because I won't tell H. doesn't mean it's for her. This project will start seeing less time when my Monday night class starts back the week after Labor Day. But I should still manage to get some time in to get it done on time.

Tuesday is still "ornament" day. Lately I've been working on the Quaker Reindeer from the 2006 Just Cross Stitch (JCS) ornament issue. As you can see, only 1 more leg to go, then put it's little bell on and I'm ready to finish this one. I have quite a pile going right now that needs actual finishing into an ornament. That's the part that I don't really like to do, not that I can't, just seems to be not as much fun to me. I will probably find a day soon and do some finishing though, since I have so many ornaments and at least 1 purse that needs to be sewn together and a couple others that just need the handles attached.

Wednesday and Friday I knit. I've gone between the Eliza Tank and the new Rowan sweater Lynton. Last week I had a bit of a problem with Eliza, realized I hadn't read the directions correctly and had to rip back quite a ways and restart. So, I'm back doing the straps and am much happier with it. Not sure why I didn't get a picture of it Saturday when I was taking pictures, but I did get one of what I've done so far on Lynton. As you can see, I'm working on the sleeves, both at the same time. I'm to the point of decreasing now, although in this picture I wasn't quite that far. I tried to get a picture of what it should look like, but that's not looking so good. So there's a better pictures. As you can see I'm doing mine in a green color, I think it's called Jute. The Cotton Jeans yarn is very lovely to work with. I think I've said this, but my goal is to be able to wear it at ASG in Louisville this year. Yes, that's in October, and yes I realize that. Hence why I work on it more then just on Wednesdays and Fridays. I've also been working on it when I'm sitting in bed trying to get sleepy. Working out well I think. I'm also planning on this being what I take with me during football trips this year. I'm hoping that the drive over and back will give me some time to knit, that's if I ride over with my friend Selena. We'll see how quickly the other parts come along.

Thursday I stitch again. Thursdays on Legacy UFO/WIP group is for...well UFO and WIP finishing. I've picked Traditional Elegance II to concentrate on. That's a picture of it with all the bands I've finished and the one I'm working on now. And a close up of the current band. The yellow flowers that are completely finished are honeysuckle. I love this very stylized band. I don't have any Japan thread in gold, so I'm going to have to order that to be able to finish. But I'll keep working on what I can without it.

As I said, Friday's I knit. Saturday I either knit or stitch. Kind of depends on what I feel like doing. This week I did a bit of both. Worked on Eliza, Lynton and stitched on something, but don't remember what.

Sunday I've been devoting to working on my Halloween Fairy. She's coming along very nicely. This picture was taken on Saturday, so it doesn't show what I did yesterday. I'll have to take another picture. I've actually finished the bottom part of that wing and gotten the "eyes" done on the top portion. She looks very striking on the pumpkin fabric.

Well, that's all I have to show today. I'm still taking it kind of easy this week. The weather has gotten a little cooler, and we did get a little rain which has helped some. I know there are a lot of people who have been dealing with flooding and also fires. I've been worried that if we don't get some good soaking rains, we might end up with fires around here. That can be very scary. We had to evacuate a few years ago because of a fire in our area. Hopefully the weather will even out and everyone will stay safe.

A Week between posts...how disgraceful!

Not only has it been a week, but now I'm going to post without putting any pictures up either. I'm just a terrible blogger. But I have a halfway decent excuse...I've been sick. So sick that I even went to the doctor and got real antibiotics. So, please forgive me for not posting.

I have been somewhat busy while I've been sick though, so expect to see some pretties as soon as I can get the camera and take some pictures. Halloween Fairy is coming along very nicely. She has a face and beginning to even have a wing. Last Thursday night I worked again on Traditional Elegance II. More outlining/blackwork was accomplished. I've also been working on my "surprise" item. It's a very soothing piece to work on and is working up fairly quickly. Well, quicker then I thought it would. Tonight was "ornament Tuesday", so I worked on the Quaker Reindeer again and have only one leg more to do. Should finish next week, if I work on it.

Knitting wise I've been working away on my Eliza Tank. I've got about 5 more inches of the shoulder straps to do, then I can see about putting it together. I've also been working on the sleeves to my Rowan sweater. That's about all the knitting I've done lately.

Some of you might remember I told you about my dad having a procedure done last Thursday. It went very well and the doctor was very pleased. Just have to go back in another week for a check-up, then try and get with is heart doctor to decide what to do about his medication, since that's what they think has caused all the bleeding problems. But for now, things are going well. Thanks for all the good thoughts and prayers.

Friday musings

Why is it that things show up in the strangest places, but when you really think about it, they aren't really strange places, they make perfect sense? (Are you lost yet? Stay with me here, I really do have something to tell.)

So, before I left to go to Atlanta last month, I wanted to scan some pictures I brought home from my aunt's house. Pictures that came from my great-uncle Paul. Some were of Uncle Paul when he served in the military, others weren't, but all were interesting to me for various reasons. Unfortunately I put a picture on the scanner bed and pulled up my scanning software and received this nasty message that the scanner didn't exist. (or something along those lines.) Now, I know the scanner exists. I can see the scanner. I can touch the scanner. I can even unplug the scanner. But for some reason my computer didn't think my scanner existed. So, I tried to make the computer go find the scanner. (Yeah, there are technical terms for this, but seriously, I'm only semi-technical and this is the way I talk about these things, so for those of you who are technical, well, substitute the correct terminology.) The computer went looking for the scanner and came back and told me the scanner wasn't there. So, I checked all the cables and the plugs and tried again. Thinking hey, something might have come unplugged. Still, no scanner as far as the computer is concerned. By this point I had run out of time to deal with the problem. When I got home, I thought about it and decided to uninstall the scanner software and act like I'd just brought it home and plugged it in, see if that would work. So I went and found my CD-ROM for the scanner software and then something happened and I had to quit working on the project. Fast forward to last week. I had some time on my hands and I wanted to use the scanner, so of course it dawned on me I had to uninstall the scanner software, reinstall it and hope for the best. I proceeded to uninstall the software and then went looking for the CD-ROM...you guessed it, I couldn't find it. I hunted on my desk. I even cleared papers off my desk. I looked around on the floor. I went looking where I keep my software disks....NO DISK! I was stunned. I knew I'd had it at some point in this whole process, but for the life of me couldn't figure out where.

This evening I finally finished listening to a book on tape that I'd downloaded to my MP3 player and I wanted to load a new book on. (I like to listen while I'm stitching or knitting sometimes.) So, I came to my computer, hit the button to open the CD drive and low and behold, yep, there sat the scanning software disk I'd hunted for! See what I mean. It makes perfect sense for it to be there, but when I was looking I never thought about it being there.

So, here's hoping that when I reload the software the scanner starts working again, because I really don't want to buy a new one, but I'll have to if I can't get it to work.

In other news...sorry, still no pictures. I promise I'll take them soon. I've been working on the Eliza tank top and I think I've got about 6 inches of the front done! So far so good with the yarn. On the stitching front I've been working on a little secret project. It's coming along quite nicely. Reindeer Ornament is progressing as well. I sat down this evening with some knitting and will probably knit a while longer. I picked up the Print O' the Waves Stole I've been working on forever. I am on the last repeat of the 1st half! So, I'm planning on getting that finished tonight and seeing about starting on the other half. Then I may switch to some stitching. I heard Halloween Fairy calling my name so I think I'll bring her out and work on her a bit. Would be nice to get a chunk of her finished. (I know...pictures! Yeah, yeah, they're coming!)

Update but no pictures

I know, no pictures, how boring, but hopefully soon.

Last weekend was great! I went Friday afternoon to pick up some things at the CPA's office and since I had to get there before they closed I decided to take my Eliza tank top with me and stop by KnitWitz and have Kathe help me get things figured out so I could finish the back. It seems my brain wouldn't work right. Well she got me on the right track just in time for me to run to the next stop for the evening....

Olde Green Cupboard - They have a gathering once a month they call Friday Night Lights where you can sign up and quilt or stitch or work on whatever. My friends Melody and Kerrie and I decided we'd like some stitching time. So we signed up and met there and stitched from 6 to midnight. Most everyone else had sewing machines and were working on some fantastic quilts and other projects. Very inspiring. I managed to get some time in on "Deer in the Woods" although I'm not sure you can tell I did anything. I also started the "Quaker Reindeer" ornament from Workbasket that was in the 2006 JCS ornament issue. It's my mom's favorite from that book, so I want to get it stitched so I can get it finished and on the tree this year.

Saturday I met up with some friends and did a bit of knitting and watched a movie. I managed to finish the back of Eliza. I started casting on for the front, but had to take it off because I forgot I am doing a stripe down the front and hadn't cast the white on for that.

Sunday was nice. Only one worship service and then a covered dish supper after, kind of a welcome to the new pastor and his family. Good attendance so we may do this again. Would be nice to have only one service every so often. Sunday afternoon I sat and watched the NASCAR race and cast on the elusive front of Elize. By Sunday night I had the 1st 3 inches in. Worked on it again last night and got another 2 or 2 1/2 inches in. I'm excited, it's going along nicely. I really want to get it finished. Then I can cast on for a new sweater that I got the yarn for this week. It's from the Rowan book Coast and is made with 100% cotton yarn. Very soft, very yummy. Can't wait to start.

Keep looking for pictures. I'll try to get some taken soon.

The world conspired

I have no idea how that happened. I mean, really May just started and yet I find that it is officially June. I've tried 3 times to post this week and each time work got in the way. Stupid work, gets in the way of lots of things like blogging and knitting and stitching and well fun stuff.

I feel like I accomplished nothing last month, and in actual fact, I probably didn't. I met none of my stitching goals and barely worked on anything that was a class project. Ok, there was the small finish of one side of "the cube" as my friends and I call it. But that was it. Best not to dwell on these things.

Let's talk about the good things...like scoring new shoes that I love!Needed a new pair of black slip on sandals...hey I live in Florida! Found these Then I've been eyeing the cute ballet flats I've seen around but hadn't seen a pair I really liked until these. Found these while shopping with my friend Jill who was in town for the ACC Baseball Tournament (which our alma mater didn't win...and yes, we're sad). Always nice to find cute and comfortable shoes.

So, it's June and for those who've been following this month thing Heather (It's Geek to Me) and I have been doing that means "Jumpin' Jehoshaphat June" or "BIG project month". So for me that means pulling out some pieces I haven't worked on in awhile and even starting a new one. I will try to be better about posting and letting you see what I'm working on. I haven't decided which of the Martina pieces I've got started I plan on working on. They are both on my stitching shelf and both are crying out. Another piece that's cried a bit lately is a really old one and was supposed to be a SAL with some friends. Again, I'm leaving you in suspense...ok, really I'm not sure what's going to happen so I don't want to say I'll work on it then feel awful when I don't.

In answer to Brooke's question concerning the Eliza tank

Can you post and let us know how the length works out for ya?

Why yes I can and I will. I actually measured the back last night and realized I'd gone 1/2" past the 11 inches it calls for, so I'm going to do a bit of ripping tonight and then continue on. It's hard to tell where it's going to fall on me since you do the straps when you knit the front and then attach them to the back. So, we'll see, and I'll keep you updated. This is one I'm trying desperately to finish. If only so I can see where I might make changes. I may regret taking out the 1/2" later. Thinking I might want to leave it in, but not sure I have enough yarn to do that, so I'm going to play it safe on that. But I will update and show some pictures.

Hope everyone else had a more productive month then I did in May and here's hoping for some great finishes in June!

Friday's update

I'm not sure exactly where the week went, but I'm fairly sure I survived it. I've not felt on the "top of my game" this week, and I really meant to post more often, so this might be long, but bear with me, it might actually be interesting.

Let's see....Tuesday I actually stitched on the current ornament. This is good as I HAVE to get it finished as well as it's cousin "surprise ornament". I managed to get a picture of the current ornament, or as I've started calling it, "3 of 4" (and yes I'm making a very vague reference to a certain sci-fi show that is well loved by many). I think this is called "Silver and Gold" so far it's just been a lot of gold. I need to remember that I don't really like working with the gold threads like this so much. Some here and there, very pretty. Large amounts over many stitches, also pretty, but very annoying to this particular stitcher. Yes, I've done all the things you're supposed to do, I've cut it in smaller then normal lengths. I've knotted it into my needle. I've waxed it. I've done it all. It doesn't really matter when you've got this much to deal with. It's still pretty and I'm sure that when I get it all finished I'll love it. Not to mention I'll be very glad that I offered to stitch it rather then receive it kitted to be stitched. In fact, that's precisely why I offered to stitch it. I know myself and this self would have waited until doomsday to do this even if she loved it without a deadline. So all this moaning aside, I'm very happy I'm doing it and truely can't wait to see it done.

I really haven't stitched on anything else, the rest of my time, when not working or doing other such mundane tasks, has been taken up with knitting. I've been working on Eliza, the tank. I do love it. Love the color, love the yarn. Love how I think it will fit. Don't love that I seem to have lost one of the skeins of yarn. However, I have come up with a solution which will be revealed in due time. Right now I'm working on the back, so no need to worry and give it away. Giving you a small shot to see how it's coming along. It really is lovely to just knit and purl. Works well when watching baseball on TV. I was planning on working on this tonight at KnitWitz during knit in, but right now my stomach isn't cooperating with my and I've decided to stay in and sit in front of my own TV and knit away. I'll probably work on this some.

The other project I've been working on I don't have a picture of. It would be boring to show anyway as it's basically just a rectangle of stockinette stitch and reverse stockinette stitch. The real fun will happen when it's finished, felted and some finishing is done on it. I finished the larger of the 2 and am working on the smaller. The larger will be a needleroll for my straight needles, the smaller will either be for circulars or for dpn's. I'm leaning towards dpn's. They match a bag that I finished last year, but haven't put the handles on. Amazingly I don't have a picture of it either. How odd, was fairly sure I did. But, I will get one and add it later, so check back if you haven't seen it.

That pretty much sums up my week of needle arts. I am looking forward to this weekend. I'm planning on going to hang out with some other stitchers on Sunday. My friend Melody introduced me. I must decide what to take with me. They are mainly sampler people, so will probably take a sampler. I haven't worked on Blackwork Band at all this month so that's probably going in the bag, especially since it is both a class project and a UFO. (May being "May Memories" and devoted to class projects and UFO's.) Will have to see what else yells to be taken. Hopefully everyone will have a productive and fun weekend.