Memorial Day update

Memorial Day has become about shopping, but for me it was all about cleaning and knitting. I made major inroads into my bedroom. I just need to get my dresser cleaned off and I'm done. I'll do that tomorrow. Ran out of steam today.

Did manage to finish this...

Bremen Muster
in Oldfield Creek Sock, hand dyed

I love how the bubbles worked up with this yarn. It fits wonderfully and I've even cast on for the second sock. I'm going to have to make another pair. My DF Selena saw them the other night at the baseball game when I was working on them and expressed an interest in obtaining a pair for herself. I bought the last skein of this colorway at KnitWitz for her and I'll make them since she doesn't knit. Of course, I'm trying to get her to come learn to knit. I think it would be good for her to help her relax. I'll have to try again.

Also worked some on my cropped cardigan. Almost have that last sleeve done. No pictures, since it's almost impossible to take a picture of yourself in a garment.

That's it for today. I hope everyone here in the U.S. took time out to remember those who have served our country in the Armed Forces, and those who continue to serve. Living in a "Navy town", and having a brother who served in the Navy and now a nephew who is active duty, tends to make you more aware of the sacrifices made by the people who serve and by their families. We owe them our thanks and appreciation for all they do. If you know someone who has ever served in the military, take time this week to thank them.

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.

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.