Our Christmas

For Christmas this year we had an extra EXTRA NICE addition: DD's boyfriend.
He and his parents don't really do much in the way of celebrating on that day, so he spent Christmas Eve and Christmas day with us. One of our tradtions is to open our stocking on Christmas Eve, so we went out, got him a stocking, and stuffed it to the gills with goodies and yummies. Didn't want him feeling left out, and he's truly become a good friend to us. DD was surprised, too: we didn't tell her we were going to do that.
Christmas morning we all opened our presents, then DS and I made enough bacon, eggs, and buttered toast with jelly to feed an army. Had coffee, juice, chocolate milk, too.
In the afternoon we went to spend the rest of the day with DH's very large family. He comes from a clan of 6 boys (one passed) and two sisters; his parents then had 12 grandchildren,and 5 great-grandchildren. Sooooo there was a lot of noise but even more fun.
After a large dinner we opened presents. The off-white scarves I'd knitted (pic and info in previous post) were very well received.
One of the MANY gifts that was passed out to DH came last. Two of his brothers are retired and have taken up golf, and have been trying to get DH to play, too. I wasn't surprised to see a very large, tall box for him and knew exactly what it was: one of the BILs had bought a set of clubs and the bag at a garage sale for him!
Last night DH put a cup down on the floor in our living room, took out the putter and some of the balls that came with, and started practicing. It looked like fun so I had at it. No brag just fact: I hit more in than he did :-)

Gifts I received:
$30 gift card to Jo-Ann from DD
$30 gift card to Kohls from DS
Flat-screen LCD computer monitor from DH
Weight-lifting gloves from DH (I need them so the weights don't slip in my hands)
Top Chef game for my computer from DH
plus LOTS of goodies from the BILs and SILs
and $100 from MIL

My birthday is coming up soon, so I'm wating to use the gift cards and the money from MIL after. Don't want to spoil anyone's surprises!

Something for me

Now that the Christmas gift knitting is finished, wrapped up, and put under the tree I thought it was time to make something for myself.
These socks were in progress in one of my many totes, so I resumed working on them while watching a movie with DH the other night.
Big mistake.
Never knit while watching an intense action movie.
Instead of doing the toe decreases, I was making the ones for the gusset.
So, last night I finished un-knitting six rows stitch by stiche then finished kniting the toe -- correctly this time. Kitchenered it closed this morning, and the pair is now drying on a rack.
I love the colors, they fit great, and I'd definitely knit with Opal again.

Something for me :-)

In 2008 at the Upper Valley Fiber Fest http://www.uppervalleyfiberfest.org
I bought a lovely skein of hand dyed yarn to make pair of socks for me.

It's been languishing in my stash; I couldn't bring myself to do anything but pet it, it's so pretty and soft. The bamboo in the yarn just makes it so luxurious.

Then, at the 2009 UVFF I saw the person I'd bought the yarn from and she encouraged me to go ahead and knit with the yarn. Thanks, Andrea. :-) I just finished grafting the toe and have a gorgeous new pair of socks!

Finished -- finally

First, I have to say that I really do love this pattern. It's a no-brainer, making it easy to do while at the weekly sit 'n stitch at the LYS, or watching a movie or sporting event with DH.

As I said in a previous post, I've been making identical scarves for three sisters-in-law for Christmas gifts. After the first one was completed I immediately cast on for the second. Getting scarf #2 finished took a little longer; I'm alternating working on the scarves while knitting socks for myself and gifts.

Then came #3.

I love the pattern, the yarn is soft and pretty -- but making three scarves in a row in the same color proved to be tiresome and monotonous. I had to remind myself too often (major guilt) while knitting #3 that it's a gift of love.

The resulting scarf is so much prettier than in the picture.

I'm very happy with the results, even if they stick the scarf in the back of a closet, regift it to a friend or co-worker, or better yet donate it to charity. :-)

Now all I have to do is talk myself out of making #4 for me.....

Winnings at local ag fair

Every October, the local school district has an agricultural fair. It's for FCCLA and FHA members, and anyone in the township can enter.

This year I entered (from left to right):
One Row Handspun Scarf, won first in the Knitting class. One strand is Merino/mohair (locally grown), the other is Jacobs.
Dark red/dark green/multi handspun yarn, won first in Crafts - others. Fiber content is Coopworth/Polypay/alpaca.
Another handspun skein of yarn, won first in Crafts - others. Scroll down to previous posts and you can read specifics about that one.
Socks, won first in the Knitting class. (commercial yarn)
Got second place for Amateur Photography; lol didn't take a picture of that one.

I've already started getting ideas for next year's entries. :-)

Wool Gathering goodies

Went to Wool Gathering on the first day, September 19, and had a great time.
Left to right each row, starting at top left, here's what I got:

ball of dyed Romney roving to spin
2 skeins of Calypso sock yarn from Creatively Dyed
Covers for my hand cards
Ashford “student” top-whorl drop spindle
messenger bag with sheep on front
long-sleeve WG tee
ball of alpaca/wool roving to spin
2 small top-whorl drop spindles
Zauerball sock yarn
2 packets green firestar to blend with
3 more packets firestar
pound of white Merino
Wild Fibers magazine

I realize it’s sacrilege but didn’t get any ice cream .

The booth I had the most trouble with, deciding what to get, was Creatively Dyed. Dianne is the most amazing colorist! The rainbow of colors in her booth and yarn is beautiful beyond imagination, and her talent is beyond compare. The colors finally decided on were in her Calypso line: Paulo, and her best-seller My Boy Blue. Husband helped me choose; said I'd been using a lot of "Fall" colors and should getting something bright. My only regret is not having gotten more. All Creatively Dyed yarn is truly amazing, but I keep going back to Calypso -- I hope she never stops making it. :-)

Wool Gathering in Yellow Springs, Ohio this weekend

Here's where I'll be this coming Saturday; look for me in the Upper Valley Fiber Guild booth from noon until 2. Don't know yet if I'm taking my wheel or spindle, to not only demo in the booth but also to participate in the first annual WWSIP (World Wide Spin In Public) day. I'll probably take both.
Before and after my stint in the booth, I'll be shopping, shopping, and more shopping! :-) DH comes along and has a great time -- he even remembers what booth I saw something in that I want to go back for, and makes sure I do! We pack a cooler with sandwiches, pop, chips, etc. but definitely leave the dessert to Young's. Can't go there without getting some ice cream.

Anyway, here's the details; hope to see you there.

The annual Wool Gathering fiber festival will be held at Young's Jersey Dairy in Yellow Springs , Ohio . It will be in the by-now traditional big tents, on Saturday September 19 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday September 20 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. We will once again have Eugene Haudenschield shearing sheep, John Allread herding ducks (actually, his Border Collies do the herding), and Jeb McKinley playing music with kids. We will also have make-it take-it crafts...and admission and parking are free.

We decided to keep the size of the Gathering the same as last year, so expect 80+ vendors in the two big tents and outside, and lots of activity in the livestock tent. The Central Ohio Weavers' Guild, the Weavers' Guild of Miami Valley, and the Upper Valley Fiber Guild will be present, and the Dayton Crochet Guild and the Dayton Knitting Guild will offer lessons for beginners and problem-solving for those of us with unfinished and puzzling projects. In addition to stacks of supplies for all fiber artists, we're offering classes in felting, punch needle, and rugs from roving. Check out everything on the web site, http://www.awoolgathering.com.

The first day of Wool Gathering fiber festival, September 19, is also the first World Wide Spin in Public Day. Join in the fun with your wheel or spindle, and be sure to look for the many demonstrations by vendors and the various guilds.

One down

Two to go.
I got the first of the three cream-colored scarves finished today, and have already cast on the next one.

Progress

Here's my progress, so far on the One Row Handspun Scarf.
The pattern is so easy to remember, and fun to work, that the first scarf (of three I'm making) is already at 20 inches.
To the left is how far I've come in knitting socks for DH; the yarn is Encore worsted, and I'm using size 6 dpns. I'm making the leg 8 inches and this one's at 5 since I started them this morning. This time, I'm making sure to reinforce the heels so he doesn't go through them in a month!

So many projects .....

Okay, it's here: time to get moving on making Christmas presents.

I've already made one pair of socks for DD, and have another pair OTN. She loves and takes very good care of them. Nothing for DS; last year, when he saw the wrist warmers I was making for charity, he insisted they were great and very useful and awesome, and would love some. He still hasn't used the three pair of wrist warmers that I made him for his Christmas gift that year. DH loves the socks I make other people, so I made him three pair in worsted weight that he could wear outside in his boots in the cold, or to keep cuddly in the house. One month TO THE DAY after I gave them to him for a Christmas gift, two of the pair had major damage in the heels. I'd even gifted him with new slippers to go with, so holes wouldn't happen as soon since I know carpet eats holes in socks.
Well, one pair was totally wrecked and had to be pitched in the trash, and the other two -- one with minor damage -- are going to be repaired.
I'm also going to knit him another pair identical to the dearly departed ones, with major reinforcement in the heel and toe.

Add to the sock-making:
three identical scarves. One each for his two sisters, and one sister-in-law. I got one of them started tonight, and will work on the rest between or during other projects. The pattern I'm using is the Yarn Harlot's One Row Handspun Scarf. I made 2 for myself from my handspun last year and love them, and the pattern.

Consequently, much of my personal knitting will be getting less attention for a while. I've got one pair of socks OTN for me, currently working on the toe for the second sock -- hoping to have it finished tomorrow. Then, I'll cast on the Leaves on the Path Scarf again and SLOW DOWN; try not to let excitement over the pattern, and overconfidence, shoot me in the foot again. I love that scarf and can't wait to wear it. And a friend gifted me with gorgeous sock yarn that is waiting to be my next pair.

If I have time lol I want to make a couple mini-sweaters for some special people for their Christmas tree, with yarn I hand carded and spun the wool for.
Oh, and of course one for OUR Christmas tree. :-)

..... so little time

but I love it!

scarf that doesn't want to be

Fell in love with the Leaves on the Path scarf from Knitting Daily, and decided I'd make it for myself with the Cascade 220 I bought as my "anniversary" present. I've never knitted from a charted design before and challenged myself to do it. The person who rang up my yarn suggested I enlarge the graph so it would be easier to see.

I breezed through 2/3 of the chart, and left it mid-row while eating dinner. Came back to knit more and a couple rows later saw a gaping hole: I'd done a double yarn over! So, I meticulously took each row out and erased the mark where I thought I'd knitted it. And lost my place.
Ribbit.

Well, yesterday I restarted my scarf (I even used lifelines), and used the cable cast-on instead of long-tail; it looks much nicer. Went back to it after eating lunch .....
and found not only an oversized stitch four rows down but a split stitch halfway down from there.

Now it's totally off the needles, in a tote bag for who knows how long.

I don't know if it's overconfidence, the color of the yarn, or maybe even the remains of the tropical storm coming up this way, but this scarf is the most contrary, troublesome thing I've ever tried to make!

My anniversary

Today is my anniversary.

Not a wedding or anything some greeting card company has cards, wrapping paper, and gifts for.

Six years ago today I found out I am diabetic; Type 2, no medication -- I take care of myself with diet and exercise. I also test my blood sugar five times a day, to make sure it's within the limits my doctor and I agreed on. And yes, it is, 99% of the time. :-)

I don’t know why, though, after all this time this day seems so important to recognize.

Went to Diabetes Knit & Crochet group at Ravelry to see how others "celebrated" their anniversary. Some went to Krispy Kreme and indulged, but others had a much better idea: buy yarn. What a great idea! So, after dinner I went to my LYS and bought 2 hanks of red Cascade 220 to knit myself a scarf.
Oh, and a Milky Way latte at the coffee shop next door. :-) Coffee, chocolate, and caramel; yummy -- and it doesn't even mess up my blood sugar.

So, the day turned out great and I plan on celebrating with yarn again next year, a reward for taking good care of myself. :-)

Sorry I listened

I just realized that last week was a very important anniversary for me: I've had my Ashford Traveler wheel for three years! :-) It was only two months before that, when I'd learned on a cd drop spindle. How time flies, and we grow.

One of the first finished projects I made on my wheel that I was proud of, was a single of Shetland lambs wool from a local friend's flock. It's black and so so so soft, and I couldn't wait to get a project on the needles for myself with it. It took a while to find just the right thing: the Branching Out Scarf.
I took my work-in-progress to the Wednesday knitting group, where it was oooh'd and aaah'd over.
Then, someone said it was too dark, and no one would see all the work I put into it.
Just what you want to hear, right?
Two days later, when I picked it up to knit more I looked at it, a third of the way finished

And frogged it.

Why do we listen to some people? I'm so mad at myself for undoing all that work, and listening to someone I don't even consider a friend. Shoot, why would even a real friend say that?

Well, now I'm ready to cast it on again. I've always loved that pattern and wanted a scarf out of my handspun yarn -- perfect fit. :-)

Here's what the scarf looked like before its untimely demise:

I'd temporarily blocked it on a sheet, to show the pattern. Sorry you can't feel how incredibly soft the yarn is.

I really do knit

I've only shown the yarn I've spun, but nothing that's been on the needles.
Something knitted.
Until now.
I'd told my friend Mary that Deborah Norville Serenity sock yarn isn't carried by anyone in my area. So, she sent me two skeins of Chili and two of Paprika; the sock blockers were a gift from her, too. The picture is of the socks I knitted with Chili, hoping to have them come out identical. But just one extra row on the leg, before starting the heel, made them come out fraternal! Okay, I don't count the rows I knit; I go for 2 inches for the cuff and 4 more for the leg -- 6 inches total is long enough for me.
Here's the link for the instructions:
http://www.cometosilver.com/socks/
Scroll down to where it says The Print Ready Versions are Here. Click on that and download the instructions you prefer.
I do cuff-down on dpns.
I love that she has a picture to show you each and every step, and color-codes the instructions for 3 different weights of yarn. The first couple of pair were worsted, just to get used to something new, then I went down to fingering. I've got several sock knitting books, and countless printouts from the Web, Ravelry, etc. but use Silver's instructions exclusively for now. It shows off self-patterning yarn so nicely. Stockinette leg and foot also make it easy to watch baseball or football, or listen to anything on TV, etc. that takes concentration. I take my knitting to family gatherings, doctor's visits .....

Back to the yarn.
It's incredibly soft and nice to work with due to the bamboo in it, and isn't splitty. Once I get some Christmas (don't hit me) knitting out of the way, I'll get the Paprika socks going for myself.

favorite things swap

The Ravelry group Ten Dollar Swap theme for June was "some of my favorite things". The mods paired me with another spinner, who sent me this lovely braid of Merino -- on the right --- that she dyed especially for me. I couldn't wait to get it on my wheel, and the next picture is of the skein I made (it looks much better IRL).



In the middle of the first photo is elan sock-it-to-me sock yarn that she dyed for me to knit "fraternal" socks. Not OTN yet, but give me time .....
Then, on the left is a small braid of Cotswold she dyed with green food coloring.
In my stash was white Cotswold, and some that a spinning friend had dyed a while ago. I divided them up as evenly as possible, laying them out in the order I wanted to spin them.
Here's the resulting skein:

Awesome start to the day!!

I’m still shaking I’m so excited!

Just before ten this morning, I heard this thundering sound, looked out my bedroom window and two of the huge planes from the Dayton Vectren Air Show were going over! They made two more passes right over my house!!!
I feel like a kid again! My dad used to take us to air shows when I was growing up, and he’d take us (me and my sibs and mom) out to Dayton International Airport to sit in the car in the viewing area (eliminated in 2001 for obvious reasons) to watch the aircraft come in at night. He’d pack his scotch cooler with tall bottles of Pepsi and ice, and bring snacks – it was so much fun!
I can’t wait til next year for the Dayton Vectren Air Show; husband, kids and I are definitely going! :-)

I normally get annoyed with lots of exclamation marks in posts, but dangit they're justified in this one!

Some of what's been keeping me busy

Here's a little of what I've been spinning. I spun a merino single from 2 oz. that was dyed "Old Silver" (on the right) and from the 2 oz merino (on the left) that was dyed "Toffee" spun another single, and plied them to make this pretty skein.
Didn't do the colorwork myself: handiwork by kat koeller of paperandyarn at etsy. Check out her stitch markers, too.
Blame the camera, lighting, etc. but the yarn looks so much nicer in person. Isn't that always how it goes?

First post

Yahoo recently announced it was discontinuing 360 blogs, and set up a poor replacement on members' profiles. It was much more difficult to deal with.
I posted at Yahoo groups about not being able to post a picture in the blog entries, so my friend Karen sent me here. She said a lot of former 360 members had changed to Blogger.
Blogger offers more, so I know I'll be happy here.