Another day another project started.

It's not enough that I have 3 projects on needles and 2 others that need to be finished.....I had to start another one. I started making a "Sophie" type bag with my Cascade 220. My first project in the round and my first to be felted. So far so good. I don't know if it's the needles (Susan Bates Silverados), the yarn or me but it's turning out so nice!

I was in JoAnn's today picking up an item for my Secret Pal and I noticed a lot of their yarn is on sale. Unfortunately Cotton Ease was not on sale and I couldn't justify any other purchase.

I did it!

I ordered the Denise Interchangeable needles last night from Copper Moose thru eBay! I got an email from them saying my order will ship on Tuesday!! Can't wait to get them and all my other orders! I think my bonus money is now spent......

WIP Update

It's been a stay at home, never out of our jammies kind of day. I've been working on my shawl all day. It's so pretty. I love the colors! I need to rip out a row or two of Misty Garden. I made a mistake somewhere. I'm getting confused because both MG and the shawl use the Feather and Fan pattern except the YO's are different. I'm putting off working on the Relaxed Pullover because I'm up to the armhole decreases and I'm a little nervous about them. I think I will go ahead and order the Denise Interchangeable needle set thanks to the suggestion of Shar! All of the new patterns I have need needles that I don't have!!

About 15 inches long....almost ready to start the armhole decreases.

About two thirds and two skeins done.

67 rows done!

Saturday

I couldn't wait so I ordered some yarn and stuff this morning. I ordered a pretty moss green wool for the Knitting Pure & Simple V Neck Shaped cardigan and Alpaca Cloud in a pale lavender for the Fiber Trends Leaf Lace Shawl for the Knit the Classics KAL, both from Knitpicks. Then I ordered a bunch of patterns and Peruvian Highland Wool, and a little sumthin for my secret pal from Elann. I'm really disappointed in WEBS. It took well over a month to get my order, then one item was backordered and one item was wrong. So I emailed them about the wrong item, they want me to send it back at my expense and then they will send the correct item! This is my second correspondence with their customer service, and I just don't think they're very nice!! Don't think I'll be ordering from them again. I've been alternately working on my Misty Garden scarf, Feather and Fan Shawl, and Relaxed Pullover. When I get bored with one I switch over to another. Note to my Secret Pal: The only thing I can think to tell you is that I am a relatively new knitter.....if you can think of any advice, directions or patterns that will help me with socks and/or sweaters....I would appreciate that! I just can't get the hang of DPN's! I have been wanting to try Noro Kureyon yarn, but don't know what I would make with it!

Decisions, decisions, decisions

I got an unexpected bonus at work yesterday!! Woo Hoo!! After paying a couple of bills, I have alloted a few dollars for yarn.....but now I don't know what to buy!! I was online for a couple of hours last night trying to figure it all out. I think I will go ahead and buy all the various needles I need for all the various projects I want to do, and then maybe the yarn for the Everyday Cardigan, the V Necked Shaped Cardigan, and the Simple Seed Stitch Tank from VK. I don't know......I also found another Knit Along that I want to join. It's Knit the Classics. You read a classic book and knit something from that period. Sounds interesting. I took Noey to Kid Concepts yesterday. She played for 3 HOURS while I sat at a table and knitted!! Worked on Misty Garden, but didn't get too much done because Noey kept wanting me to come see something she was doing! I worked on my Feather and Fan comfort shawl last night until midnight again. I had ripped it all out the other day because somewhere I got lost and couldn't recover. So now I'm back to where I was.

Hello to my Secret Pal!

Dear Happy Knitter.....I'm so happy to hear from you!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!! I will think about your question and let you know. (it's really hard for me to ask for things!!)

Secret Pal 5

I just want to say to my Secret Pal.....thank you in advance!! I'm very excited to participate. I know I will love anything and everything!! 1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you? Not a yarn snob, equal opportunity knitter! 2. Do you spin? Crochet? Nope, don't spin or crochet. 3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.) No allergies. 4. How long have you been knitting? About 8 months. 5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? Amazon wishlist. 6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.) Plumeria, Vanilla 7. Do you have a sweet tooth? Yes! 8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Sometimes sew. 9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) Green Day, Gwen Stefani, U2....cannot play MP3s. 10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Pink, spring green. Any colors you just can't stand? Not really. 11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? Married for 15 years to Joe. One beautiful 5 year old daughter, Noelle. 12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know) To live on a tree lined street, in a cute little house with a big backyard. 13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? CottonEase, Kid Merino. 14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? I was going to say acrylic, but I just started a project with an acrylic blend! 15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s? To finish a sweater for myself. 16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? Anything that I can learn new skills from. 17. What are you knitting right now? Misty Garden from Scarf Style, Relaxed Pullover from FCEK, Feather and Fan Comfort Shawl. 18. What do you think about ponchos? They were cute.....19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Both. 20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? Both bamboo and aluminum depending on the yarn . 21. Are you a sock knitter? No, but I desperately want to learn. 22. How did you learn to knit? Taught myself. 23. How old is your oldest UFO? About 6 months....a poncho for Noey. 24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird? Teddy bears, Hello Kitty, Care Bears 25. What is your favorite holiday? My birthday. 26. Is there anything that you collect? Italian Charms and Fiestaware. 27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? Interweave Knits and Family Circle Easy Knitting. 28. Any books out there you are dying to get your hands on? Vogue Weekend Knits,The Knitters Handy Book of Patterns, Last Minute Knitted Gifts, and Easy Knitted Accessories.

Another project started

After seeing Drew's beautiful Serafina Shawl yesterday morning, I had to make one for myself. I don't crochet so I'm knitting a Feather and Fan comfort shawl. I'm up to 47 rows and if I hold it up just the right way I can see the pattern emerging. I worked on it quite a bit yesterday while Noey was at school, then later when she went out to lunch with Grandma and then later after she went to sleep. I stayed up past midnight watching Paul Newman on Letterman! Is Paul really 80 years old??!!

This just cracks me up.....check out the size of that ball of yarn!! It seems to be getting bigger!!

Man! It's hot here!

It's 6:30pm and my flamingo thermometer says it 85 degrees! Whew! Yesterday and today were scorchers here. Nothing like knitting mohair in 90 degree weather. I've made some progress on the Relaxed Pullover. I've got about 12 inches done. Did a couple of decreases and a couple of increases. Three more inches and then I start armhole shaping. Did I mention this is my first sweater? I'm a little nervous that I'm putting all this work into it, and it's going to be UGLY!! Oh well. I took it to the park with me on Friday and knit a bit while the other moms talked about all the child molesters in our area. What uplifting conversation! I've also been working on Misty Garden. I would say I'm about half done. It's just so pretty.......I know I keep saying that but, it really is!

Misty Garden.

This is my progress on the Relaxed Pullover.

Check out my new knitting bag

It's actually a Harry & David picnic bag. One of my kids at school gave it to me for Teacher Appreciation week! How nice! It's full of goodies......which we're already munching. It's the perfect size for all my knitting supplies. I got a little more done on my Relaxed Pullover. Hopefully more tonight.

My blocking board in action. Branching Out is on the block!

The great knitting conspiracy

Everytime I start a new project I need yet another size needles that I don't have, so I'm off to my LYS or online to order. DH thinks this is all a great conspiracy concocted by the knitting industry. Somehow they have conspired to make all patterns require a different size needle so we have to go out and buy more stuff!! In other news....Branching Out is done! It turned out really nice, just needs to be blocked. Which works out perfectly because my blocking board arrived yesterday! Now I just need some blocking pins.....mmmmm.....part of the conspiracy no doubt. I started working on the Upbeat Top from Creative Knitting Magazine yesterday but I'm still having trouble with the cast on. I tried aluminum needles instead of bamboo to see if that made a difference. Then I left the darn thing at work yesterday! So I started on The Relaxed Pullover from Family Circle Easy Knitting last night. I'm using Lion Brand Cotton Ease in Cherry Red. Only have about 2 inches done so far. I really like the way this yarn works up so I am tempted to go buy up a bunch more while they still have it.

The newly finished Branching Out relaxing on the newly acquired blocking board.

The yarn is not really that bright.

Making good progress on Misty Garden. I would say it's about half done. It's so pretty....this picture doesn't show how pretty it really is.

And the winner is.....

Branching Out! Although Misty Garden is a close second. I've been working on MG during the day when I can't concentrate as much, and BO at night after everyone goes to sleep. I've completed 27 repeats of BO, thinking about doing 1 or 2 more. My mom saw MG yesterday and now she wants one! Can't wait for my blocking board to arrive.

Noey playing air guitar in the backseat on our way to Michaels. Unfortunately Michaels didn't have the right size circular needles that I needed.

Yummy!

I just had to post a picture of Misty Garden. It's just so pretty! I can't stop looking at it. I started it for the Just For Me Knit Along.....even though I should be finishing Branching Out for Miss Tami! I'm now thinking about doing a feather and fan shawl for myself.

Well....YESTERDAY was a good day!

We went to Chuck E. Cheese for lunch with our best friends Hannah, Ava, and mom Debbie. I can handle Chuck E. on a nice quiet Friday afternoon....no crowds....no screaming, out of control kids......and you can actually see your own kid from your table. Then we went to Open House at Noey's preschool. Grandma and Grandpa (aka my parents) and DH went too. (see below) I felt kinda sad that this is the end of Noey's preschool career (but I didn't cry!) We love Miss Darlene! (see below again!) She is also in charge of the nursery at our church so she has known Noey since she was 6 months old.....she and Noey have a special bond with each other. Miss Darlene will be receiving the Midwest Moonlight scarf! While at the Open House we ran into our good friend Sheri and I gave her the Crystal Palace shawl. She is so glamorous and her favorite color is pink so it is perfect for her. I was sorry to see it go but after I saw how much she loved it, I felt good. She is such a sweet person and such a good friend that it was worth it! After that I was able to work a little bit on Misty Garden....the pattern is soooo pretty.....but it went downhill from there. Noey was up numerous times in the night and has been throwing up this morning. Poor baby....she has my stomach flu! Today was the day DH was taking me shopping as my belated Mother's Day present....oh well!

Noey with Miss Darlene.

Noey, Daddy, Mom and Dad.

Thursday was a very long day!

It was just me, my stomach flu, and my five year old.....all day long.....from 6:30am to 7:30pm. Noey just doesn't understand that "Mommy needs to rest" and "knitting is resting!" So I really didn't get much rest yesterday, but I did get a lot of knitting done in between playing Shrek 2 (I always have to be Donkey!) and The Grinch, and The Cat in the Hat, and animals, and Go Fish, and Hide n Seek, and 10000 other games that the 5 year old thought up!!

Branching Out is coming along nicely. This is about 16 repeats.....a little more than half done.

I got a little bored with Branching Out so I started Misty Garden from Scarf Style last night. The yarn is a little hard to work with but the pattern is easy and I quickly memorized it.

I'm branching out....finally!

f
I just had to say it! I'm loving this! I kinda got off to a rough start....frogging numerous times, but I've finally gotten the hang of it. It is so pretty! I'm using KnitPicks Merino Style from my stash....totally wrong for lace, but still very pretty. This one will be for Noey's other teacher. I could've gotten a lot of knitting done today if I didn't have the stomach flu. Noey was gone all day and I was off work....but I could only manage a couple of repeats.

My first hat. Looks great from this angle!! I even like the way the top turned out, but.....I don't like the seam in the back. Not sure what to do about it.

Lotta stuff going on here!

All of my orders have arrived except for WEBS. I found my Knitting Garden order on my doorstep after dropping Noey off at preschool. I'm very impressed with Interweave Knits.....so impressed that I ordered myself a subscription. I think I'll get Family Circle Easy Knitting as the subscription from my parents. (see below) I gave the potholders and dishcloths to my mom for Mother's Day. She really liked the teacup dishcloth. I have started Branching Out several times and actually completed 3 repeats when I discovered I had lost a stitch way back in the beginning so I ripped the whole thing out and will start over today hopefully. I'm on a deadline with that one....needs to be completed by June 13, when Noey graduates from preschool!! I also started a hat....just in time for summer!! I'm using the Cotton Ease....it's turning out pretty good...I'm mainly doing it to work on decreasing. Now I know why everyone is so disappointed about the Cotton Ease being discontinued.....it's really nice to work with. I also joined the Just For Me Knit Along and Secret Pal 5. (really wish I knew how to add buttons to my blog....if anyone would like to give me detailed directions...please feel free!) And finally, I found out about Fiber Fest 2005 in Santa Monica in August! Can't wait for that! Whew! That's a lotta stuff going on here!! Hard to keep track of everything!

Midwest Moonlight is finished!

I just need to weave in the ends and block it!! (can't wait for my blocking board to arrive - see below)

My order from The Knitting Garden has arrived! The Jo Sharp yarn is for Misty Garden.

This is my Mother's Day present from my parents!! Well, it's kinda hard to read but it's a one year subscription to the knitting magazine of my choice and a Sew EZ Blocking Board from Joann.com.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Hope everyone is having a GREAT day!

My First Knit Along!

I joined the Scarf Style Knit Along! Too bad I don't know how to add the button to my blog! I'm still working on Midwest Moonlight. I've finished 22 repeats.....only 3 left to go! Hopefully I'll finish this weekend, and then I'm starting Branching Out. Midwest Moonlight is for one of Noey's teachers, and Branching Out will be for the other. I ordered the Jo Sharp yarn to start Misty Garden, but it hasn't arrived yet. I did receive my patterns from The Naked Sheep. Still waiting for my Interweave Knits back issues and my WEBS order. No pictures today....my camera is in the car......can't get it right now.....5 year old will not go downstairs at the moment!!

Yay! It's Park Day!

Noey pretending to be a scarecrow. What a nice day! I got to knit and every once in a while this cute girl would run by and give me a big smile! (notice the toddler in the background attempting to climb up the very high slide with no parent in site!!)

Here I am sitting on my blanket, knitting away. I'm working on the Upbeat Top, but I am still not happy with it. I had ripped it out and started over, but looks like it's gonna be ripped out once again.

I tried a new cast on but I don't like it...too many holes. 

Y'all scared me

I have been reading in everyone's blogs that Lion Brand Cotton Ease is being discontinued so I got scared, and decided I better hurry up and get me some! We stopped at Joann's on the way home from church. They had tons!! I ended up buying Candy Blue to make a sweater.....I'm hoping this will work for Remembering Honey. And I bought some fabric to make a skirt to go with it.

I also bought Cherry Red and Pineapple to make a hat.