no knittin' this week

Since finishing the bees and deciding to do summer camp, I haven't knit a single stitch.
Summer camp doesn't cast on until June 1, so I've been putting my time to good use out in the garden and working on other projects.

Next weekend will be the culmination of the parental move with the BIG GIANT YARD SALE, and then, my time will be my own; (for the most part)

Until then;;;;;;I'll leave you with miss vulture cat.....She's decided she likes "up", the higher, the better.

I haven't forgotten you.....

Just super, super busy with gardening and other stuff.

I did finally finish the bees, though....
blogger won't let me load a pic, BAH!!!

The REASON why I finished the bees is because I decided to participate in camp loopy again this year.......After a year off, I just had to play with the cool kids again. so.......I picked a lovely green dream in color jilly and a cowl pattern (owls in the thicket), and I'm fixin' to cast on June 1, right after the yard sale.

I'd post a pic, but,,,,,,,,,

I haven't knit a single stitch

I know, I've been MIA for a while.....I have a good excuse!

About 6 weeks ago, my parents decided to move her from another state. They came, they looked at houses, they made an offer, and 3 weeks ago, they closed on their new house.

I've been painting and cleaning their new house for them for the past 3 weeks, pretty much every spare moment I've had.
My yard looks like heck. My house needs to be cleaned (including the windows), and I'm behind!

It's all done now, though, with the exception of moving and that's up to them.

Consequently, I haven't knit a single stitch for about 3 weeks or so. I hope to be back to finishing the bees soon, and then on to my cowl kit that I bought.

Until then, you'll just have to live with something I knit before.
Miss kitty likes it!

ripped the bees

that's right.....I ripped them out. All of them. I didn't like the way one of the bees looked, so buh-bye.
The good news is...I started again. I'm almost back to where I was before the big rip, and it's looking much better. GO me!

No pics. This one is going to have to be blocked to get the full effect.

In other news, I've been so good not buying yarn (not much, at least) and I didn't go to madrona. So, I didn't feel too sorry when I fell in love with Glenna's cowl. The fine folks at Bijou Basin Ranch were kind enough to make this into a kit, and put it on sale. You know where that went. The hard part was choosing from the gorgeous array of colors. I finally settled on a light lavender. I wanted something different, and also something in a light color that would show off the cables. It should be here next week. I can hardly wait!!

There was also a sale on a couple of patterns this week, so I just had to have French cancan. Sensing a theme here?? cables anyone??

It's still on sale, so......I'll leave that up to you.

Anyway.....this week, more bees and a bunch of gardening.....
happy spring!!

been doggie sittin"

and not knittin'

I did make a bit of progress on the bees this week. Got past the horribly messed up row I was avoiding there for a while.
I spent most of my week watching this girl.....and making sure she's healing well from her recent surgery. She's doing great (in spite of the cone), and looking forward to getting her stitches out at the end of the week. Me too!!

This is the time of year where the knitting slows down a bit and the gardening totally takes over. I can hardly wait!!

now for something a little different.....

Well, I never made it to madrona, and I haven't knit much at all this week.....
Instead I did this...

Two new bowling balls done and ready to be grouted. One for my pond scene I'm making and one for the butterfly garden.

I'll also be pouring a couple of stepping stones today,. and maybe painting the garden ball (sorry miss kitty).

I've been hanging around inside taking care of a boxer girl that had some pretty big surgery on Thursday, making sure she's comfortable and not licking her stitches. She seems to be doing well. She gets the stitches out in two weeks. It's going to be a LONG two weeks for miss frankenbutt, but it had to be done. Hopefully she'll be a happy doggie for a long time to come.

Next week, maybe some knitting, maybe some more glass. I have one more bowling ball, and an idea for both a pond surround and some lily pad stepping stones for my bird - pond - river scene.......stay tuned.

a bee and a half

In the spirit of the massive spring fever I've acquired, I started this little project last week........

If you squint a bit, you can start to see the bees there at the bottom.

I hemmed and hawed about making this pattern for quite some time because it has more problems that you could count. The designer has been unresponsive, and her idea of fixing it is to let another knitter who purchased the pattern from her post corrections on her ravelry page and then put up a link to that. I didn't want to support that kind of bad business, even if it was only $2.99, but the bees finally bit me, and I decided to forge ahead.

It DOES have a myriad of problems, and, although the knitter who made the corrections did a pretty good job, considering.....there's still problems to be had. So far, I've made it through the worst of them (I think), and it seems to be coming out OK. Just taking my time, not doing the bobbles (I HATE bobbles), and really making sure the stitch count works on every row.

This is a gradient set, that's why it looks a bit darker at the bottom. I made it through the first bee with the first of the gradients, and I'm now on the second skein. I haven't gotten completely frustrated yet, although there has been some frustration, so I'm slowly forging on.....

I decided to skip madrona this year. It would have only been for the shopping, and quite honestly, there's nothing I need that I can't buy online. I don't really have any projects that are demanding to be done.....just gardening and glass right now while the weather holds out.

Speaking of glass......I did this on a rainy day. Flower and butterfly on a bowling ball. It needs some background done still, and to be grouted, but the hard part is there.

Next up for the bowling balls....a waterlily I've been thinking about and then an owl.
patience......

I won some yarn!!

Won this on a blog post contest.....thanks to the bijous Basin Ranch.
It's 50% yak and 50% cormo....It came with a cute little bag and a pattern for some mittens.
It's kinda bright....and a bit more coarse than you would expect, but it'll be fun to play with.

In other news, still working on the blankie and waiting for the first installment of the shawl pattern club I joined. (that should be next week). I'm also anxiously waiting for the flower show and madrona. They're both on the same weekend this year.....what's a gardening knitter to do??
(go to both, of course)

working the blankie

and other crafty things......
This week, I made some progress on my scrap blankie.....no pics, you'll just have to trust me.
And I finished this.......

my dragonfly on a bowling ball! It's all grouted and dry, and it just needs a coat of sealer in order to go out in the yard. I think it turned out pretty darned good for a bowling ball.

I recently acquired two more bowling balls, thanks to my sister who stalked the goodwill for them. What's UP with the bowling balls?? They're nearly impossible to find. Maybe everyone else has the same idea??

I'm hoping to score a large lot of stained glass soon.....details to come.

This week, I might have to work on my new bowling balls. I might pour the three stones I have waiting to go, and I'm planning on re-grouting a bird bath that fell apart in the weather.

I'll eventually get bored with the blankie (probably sooner rather than later), and go back to rooting in the stash for something interesting to do. We'll have to see what strikes my fancy.

As you can see, miss kitty is not amused.

firestarter socks

so, for my post holiday knitting, I decided to do a bit of something for myself....
these firestarter socks have been in the works FOREVER. Like, they've been in my que on ravelry since I joined there. So, without further ado.....

After finishing these, I went back to the blankie for a bit.....I'm going to try to do a little on it every week. We'll see how that goes......

Now it's off to the stash to find the next knitting project, although I've been bitten by the glass bug too.

Yes, that's a dragonfly on a bowling ball. It needs to be grouted, but I think it turned out pretty darned good. Next up, I have a plan to do an owl.....way more complicated, but I think it will be cool. The key to these is small pieces of glass, patience and time. You just have to work on them a bit and then walk away for the day.  the other trouble is finding the bowling balls. All of a sudden, there seems to be a rush on used, beat up bowling balls at the local thrift stores. WHAT's up with that??

PHEW!!!! I made it

And just in time....

After the Christmas knit-a-thon, I'm feeling a little bored. The final count was 2 pairs  of slippers, 4 cowls, a pair of boot toppers, 8 pairs of fingerless gloves, and 2 soap holders.

I'm tired now.......

Time for a little something for me, and also back to the stash. Yesterday, I restarted my firestarter socks. No rush here, just plugging away at them, I barely made it past the toe.

When I was working on my Christmas knitting, I must have gone through the stash 20 times. The good news is, the Christmas gifts used up some of it. The bad news is, not enough. (it just seems to keep growing....wonder how that happens). So, it's back to the stash for me.

Some good Christmas things, there were a LOT of cool free patterns for the holidays, and I snagged a bunch, with next year in mind. (I'm definitely starting earlier next year), I was able to introduce my mom and niece to the magic that is ravelry (almost lost them there), and I won some very cool Yak yarn in a contest. It's not here yet, but pics when it arrives, I promise.

Last but not least, miss kitty has found herself a new place.

This ball came from the Christmas clearance section. It's meant to be a light. I'm going to paint it blue, put a solar light in it, and I think it will be pretty cool in my moon garden, but only if miss kitty will give it up.

I've got a good exucse..........

I've been knitting Christmas gifts like a mad woman for the last couple of weeks. At some point, my sister and I decided to make little gift bags for all 15 of the folks that are coming here for dinner. So, wouldn't it be fun if they all had a little knitted item? Of course!!

So, with miss kitty's approval......8 pairs of fingerless mitts, give or take, two hats, one pair of boot cuffs, three coffee sleeves, two pairs of felted slippers, two soap sacks,  three cowls, and a partridge in a pear tree!!

No wonder I'm tired.

Still have a couple to finish, but I think I'm going to make it. After all, I have four days, right?

I've been busy!!

so I haven't posted for a while... I know.
I've done a couple of cowls and some football team mitts.......and some felted slippers.
The problem is I keep falling in love with what I'm making, then I have to make another for a present.

It's WAY too cold and yukky to garden, so, knitting it is!

So far, I've managed to avoid the sales, although the black trillium sale was WAY too tempting.....I AM a sucker for a gradient.

Next up, a scarf from stash, and another pair of slippers. After that, I think the gift knitting will be done and I can focus on ME!

On a happy note......Cinnamon Brown turned  8 this week. Time flies......Happy birthday sister!

just a little stash enhancement....

Yesterday we made a trip to Knit Fit in seattle. Although it's not the biggest knitting fest, it was really nice, with a great (free) marketplace and some indie dyers that were new to the area.
I had to get a couple of things.....Christmas knitting, ya know.

Since it rained continuously this week, I finished the cowl. I'm keeping it because I fell in love with it in the process. MINE, MINE, MINE.....

It just needs a little blocking......
I also started some short wave mitts....these are not nearly as hard as they look, once you get the idea.

That was really just a few hours of knitting, and they're turning out pretty good. I'll have enough to make two sets, I think, so they'll be Christmas gifts too....

Next week, more gift knitting....finishing the mitts, and onward!

when the going gets tough.....

the tough knit cables!

Nennir cowl.....a free pattern from knitty. It's a bit fiddly, but it sure turns out beautifully.

It rained BUCKETS here this week, so I made some good progress on this. I have one and a half of three repeats done. I started it to be a Christmas gift, but I'm thinking it's going to be a gift for me. It's been a LOT of work, and they yarn is a nice smooshy madtosh....hmmm......

The next project will be some fingerless mitts for gifts, and then maybe a couple of pairs of felted slippers, a shawl or scarf, and who knows what else.....

HOW many days until Christmas??

p.s. thinking of making a trip to Knit Fit next weekend for a little shopping.....it's a local indie yarn fest. They have classes too, but I won't be participating in those.....
We'll just have to see.

Ok, it's cowls for christmas

This is the first of the Christmas presents.....

It's a cowl in football team colors, which I kinda like anyway. (the colors, not the football team, necessarily). There will be some fingerless mitts to match. All this needs is some kitchnering and a blocking bath, and it will be ready to go.

Up next, another cowl, a cabled one, for another gift. Then, back to the football team colors for the mitts. The monsoon season has begun, so they'll be plenty of knitting ahead.

Miss kitty says "turn up that fireplace!!"

 

blankie completion....

well, mostly.
So, I've finished all the side strips of the blankie, and I think it looks pretty good. It's a bit short, though, so I'm thinking I'm going to do a couple of end strips in a different cable pattern and sew them on sideways. I'm not sure when I'll do that, because I'm starting to feel the pinch of the holidays coming, and there's some gift knitting to be done.

So, the next couple of projects will be secret knitting experiments, that may or may not show up here, due to their potential gift nature, although neither of the recipients reads this blog. We'll just have to see how they turn out. At least they'll be easy to do!

Coming up for gifting.....two cowls with a favorite sports team theme, a couple of fingerless mitts, same theme, possibly a shawl and some socks, and of course, blankie and sock yarn blankie. (oh, and a super secret other project.....you'll just have to guess!)

On a happy note, the baby sweater has found it's new home and baby. No word from the recipient yet, but I hope they're warm and happy!

baby sweater diversion

The blankie is on hold for this little gem

It's all done now, with the exception of the matching hat.....a gift for DH's co-worker who lives in South Carolina. Hope it gets cold there.....

The blankie will probably return next week, after the sweater is on it's way to it's new owner. I'm on the 6th row, and I bought one more skein (chunk) of yarn to do the end panels...it's just a little short.
Now to decide....do I do the end panels the same, or something still cabled but different? I'm thinking different, just need to find something I like.

After that, secret Christmas knitting.....I might show it here though, neither of the intendeds read this particular blog, anyway.

Off to make a hat!

well, THAT was fun

No, really, it was fun....
We're just back from OFF (Oregon flock and fiber), and a good time was had by all.....
There was some shopping.....

some hanging out and knitting.......

some people watching....(and knit item coveting)
A whole lot of fun.....
and a whole lot of critters.....alpaca, llamas, sheep and goats. It was kind of hard not to bring home the triplets.....three goat sisters that were up for sale. The problem is, where would they live??

Anyway.....even this bunny had a good time (I think).

You're just going to have to take my word for it that there's a bunny in there somewhere. I did see a couple of feet. Now I think I want a bunny too!

alpacas and llamas and goats, OH MY!

This week, we're off to OFF (Oregon flock and fiber). It's a great little fiber fest in Canby, Oregon, just south of Portland. Last year, when we were there, the weather stank, like STORM OF THE CENTURY, yukky. A lot of the vendors bailed early because they couldn't keep their tents in place and it was raining buckets. This year, although we might get rained on a bit, so far, there's no plan for another STORM OF THE CENTURY, so I think we'll be OK.

There's a ton of vendors, sheep, llamas and just general fiber fun. I'll be looking for a couple of winter projects...it IS supposed to start raining soon, so we'll just see.......

In other news, the blankie is progressing nicely, with the fourth strip done and attached and number 5 is about 1/4 of the way there. For some reason, some little fat doggie keeps pulling it off the couch and smooshing it into a ball under his butt. Not sure what the attraction is.......

Next week, a report from OFF, and maybe, just maybe a goat or llama pic or two.