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Happy Halloween! In non-knitting news, here's what we did last night. Fun!

I cast on for the Rowan Magpie aran sweater, which is called Sophie. I started with a sleeve.



posted by Stephanie at 9:17 AM

 
A month or 2 ago I made this ridiculously long list of things I wanted to knit before the end of the year (like 18 things)! Now, that was just dumb so I went back over the list and wrote down things that I want to finish by the end of the year (5) and then other things (11) that are maybe, if I have time, or I can do them next year. Much better. Here are the 5 items:

1) Socks for my grandmother for xmas (1 sock done, 2nd one started)
2) White lace scarf for MIL for xmas (about 50% done)
3) Homespun shawl for A(aunt)IL for xmas (about 50% done)
4) Top Secret (maybe 60% done)
5) Rowan magpie aran sweater for sister for xmas (haven't started, but did swatch)

Now this is maybe at least possible (we'll see about the magpie sweater, though).
posted by Stephanie at 11:03 AM

 
Last night I received my new IK and I think it's fabulous. It seemed like there were more patterns in it or something. I really like that green sweater that's done in Dale of Norway yarns. I'll put it on my "to do" list and start it sometime in 2008. Heh.

Last night I continued working on my lace scarf and I also made another little sock Christmas ornament. How cool is it to finish an entire sock in less than an hour??



posted by Stephanie at 10:01 AM

 
Yesterday my grandmother sent me a Halloween card with some money in it. Within about 30 minutes I was online ordering yarn with the money. You know, cuz I don't have any yarn.

I worked on the lace scarf some last night and I have decided I really don't like mohair all that much. I don't care how high quality it is, you're still going to get some on your black pants and up your nose.

Look at the little Christmas ornament I made before I went to bed! Love it!



posted by Stephanie at 7:34 AM

 
Startitis. Yesterday I was bored with doing st st so I decided to start the lace scarf for MIL for Christmas. I have some beautiful GGH soft kid in white and I picked the basic feather and fan pattern posted on knitters review a while ago. Note to self: don't just jump into lace patterns without checking them first! There was a mistake in the only pattern row. But once I got past that I made some progress and you can see it here. It's such an easy pattern yet it always looks so nice.

Then I was looking at that beatiful dark green Rowan magpie aran that I got from Colourway and I started looking through Rowan mags thinking about what I wanted to do with it. Sweater for DH? nooooo, he doesn't "wear sweaters" grrrrr.....sweater for me? maybe....I know! sweater for my sister! She would like this color and she would really appreciate and use a wool sweater. I am thinking about Sophie from Rowan 30. I started a moss stitch swatch which is here. The only problem is, I'm never going to finish all this stuff before Christmas! gack! I said I wasn't going to do this......
posted by Stephanie at 7:33 AM

 
I didn't get much knitting done yesterday because I baked banana bread, put gas in my car, went grocery shopping, and did some cleaning around the apartment. Today it's looking dreary and rainy and there's football on, so I think I will make myself some coffee and knit the day away. The only other thing I have planned is carving our pumpkins! Maybe later I will post some wip pics (an possible jack-o-lantern pics)!
posted by Stephanie at 7:15 AM

 
Well, I got a lot of knitting done last night as I left work a little early and of course DH has been working later and later every night. Soooo, I am taking Karen's advice and making socks for BIL and C(Cousin)IL for Christmas from Woolease. I needed something that would work up quickly and have easy care. Here is the basic pattern--hopefully knit at a really tight gauge they will hold up well. I also finished sleeve #1 of top secret! This really is working up quickly.
posted by Stephanie at 9:00 AM

 
Tee hee....I am causing quite a stir here at the new company. I have decided to knit on my lunch hours right in the lunchroom and my friend Jackie sometimes cross stitches. Well, I had one person say she'd like to crochet with us and today another person sat down and did her cross stitch. Someone else was admiring my finished sock and said she has done lots of knitting, but never socks. After seeing mine, and hearing another person say hand knit socks rule, she said she must look into it right away!
posted by Stephanie at 1:22 PM

 
FO! Ok, it's a small one, but it's the first one I've had in a while. Here are my mom's Christmas socks. Pattern: theknitter SOTM July, yarn: Lang Jawoll. I am pretty pleased with myself, especially since they are in her favorite color. Yesterday I started sock #2 of the April SOTM, which will be for my grandmother for Christmas.

Today is Friday and I'm wearing the first socks I ever made. Life is good!
posted by Stephanie at 11:57 AM

 
What the ?????? I was standing in line at Michael's yesterday (had to get some cross stitch supplies) and what did I see at the checkout counter? A new knitting magazine called Ultimate Knitting. I picked it up and glanced through it--it reminds me of Knit 'N Style a little bit but with more machine knitting stuff and a little crochet. There was one sweater in there that I liked, the purple Paton's one. Then I got home and opened my final package from the Coulourway sale--Rowan Magpie Aran in ivy. I like it, although I had, ahem, forgotten what color I ordered.

I didn't do any knitting last night because of my carpal tunnel. It feels better today, though. I did work on my mom's Christmas socks on my lunch hour and today I will finally finish them (these are the SOTM for, ahem, July, and I'm pretty sure that's when I started them).
posted by Stephanie at 9:42 AM

 
I tried working on the top secret sleeve last night, but my left hand and forearm have been hurting--apparently trying to knit with a size 10 16" circular along with spending a lot of time on the computer is not good. poo! I need to start doing yoga again--that always did wonders for my carpal tunnel problems, etc.

Anyway, I started a cross stitch project that I have a deadline for. I am in a 4-person round robin so I bought a table runner made from cross stitch fabric and divided it into 4 parts. My theme is Christmas so in the first part I am stitching a candle with holly leaves. Then I will mail it out and 3 other people will stitch the rest of it and it will come back to me all finished. Cool, eh?
posted by Stephanie at 9:43 AM

 
Last night I started on sleeve #1 of top secret. How great is it there there will be hardly any finishing on this sweater??!!

I also dug out some projects I started last year and frogged them. Most importantly, the cabled cardigan I had started in Jaeger Chamonix. My gauge was off so I'll just look at it as a swatch. I can't decide if I want to make the cabled cardigan with this yarn, or go with something more basic. I was looking at some of the designs for Rowan Cork since (as pointed out by Clara in Knitters Review), they are about the same gauge. It's funny how whenever I get really *nice* yarn, I tend to "save it for good" because I can't decide what to knit with it. Silly, silly Stephanie. Oh well, the Chamonix will have to wait until after the new year anyway.
posted by Stephanie at 11:54 AM

 
My grandmother emailed me a very heartwarming picture today. I'd like to share it with you here.
posted by Stephanie at 7:40 PM

 
I just finished the body of top secret. See it here! Now on to the sleeves.
posted by Stephanie at 9:48 PM

 
Yay, I finally finished the cross stitch ornament I was working on. See it here. Cute, huh?
posted by Stephanie at 7:05 PM

 
Well, I didn't do much knitting yesterday because we went to the pumpkin patch!
posted by Stephanie at 11:38 AM

 
Dang, I need to start knitting socks faster! Today in the mail I got my sock of the month for October (which again, I don't really care for) and some Lorna's Laces fingering that I bought from Judy the knitter on eBay. Colors: neon (2) and embers (2). I love her yarn--it's so soft.
posted by Stephanie at 1:04 PM

 
Interesting thing happened to me at work yesterday. A woman from the new company came up to my cube and said "I heard you were knitting in the lunch room! I crochet! Show me what you're working on!" So we had a nice little discussion and she said we should get together for lunch sometime and knit/crochet. Cool, huh? Plus my friend Jackie has recently taken up cross stitch so we can have our own cozy little Sequenom craft group. Heh.

I worked on Top Secret a little more last night. I have decided I want to wear it on Thanksgiving. I can show it off to my mom. yay!
posted by Stephanie at 10:58 AM

 
Yesterday I left work a little early and was able to make some progress on Top Secret. Maybe I will take a pic this weekend.

Oh, I also received my Jaeger Odessa in ruby. I am hoping to make the buttonless cardi in _The Urban Knitter_ for the holidays. We'll see. I think it would be fab with my new black velvet pants and a silver shell.
posted by Stephanie at 9:08 AM

 
Well, last night I frogged the Lamb's Pride raglan. I'm not sure why, but I really didn't like working on it. Plus I don't know if my mom would like a sweater with mohair in it--she has so many allergies. Anyway, frogging is very liberating. I then swatched for Top Secret and cast on for it. This is going to be fun. I like the yarn and the sweater will definitely be cozy and comfy and soft. Thanks Kate, for introducing me to it! :)

I'm also rethinking all the Christmas presents I was going to make. Do I really want to make socks for BIL who wears size 14 wide? Do I really want to put the time into knitting a scarf for his gf who got me 2 cheap bars of soap from Sav-On last Christmas? Probably not. I'd rather make cute sweaters for me! Of course my sister, mom, and grandma are still getting socks. They deserve them and will appreciate them (not to mention they live in a much colder climate).
posted by Stephanie at 9:52 AM

 
Yesterday my yarn arrived to make Top Secret from knitty. I desperately wanted to start swatching for it, but I just couldn't. Our apartment was a disaster area because they came in during the day and tore out some of our old carpet and linoleum and put in new linoleum. It looks nice and I'm glad to be rid of that old carpet. But we had to spend all of last night cleaning and trying to get the place back to normal. We just have too much "stuff"! But when I mention that to DH he points to the 8 million rubbermaid containers of yarn so I better keep quiet. Heh.

If I start on Top Secret, how am I going to get all my Christmas presents done? Oh well, some people may have to get store-bought presents!
posted by Stephanie at 11:35 AM

 
We have moved into the new building here at work. No big deal, I have a slightly bigger cube and there's a free soda machine upstairs. Ha. Wait, this does relate to knitting! Often times on my lunch hour I will quickly eat something that I brought from home and then knit for 30-45 min. In the old building I would either knit at my desk (because my old boss was nice and wouldn't bother me on my lunch hour) or I would sit on the big couch over by the coffee machine. Here, I can't knit at my desk because people continue to bother me and pretend they don't know that I'm on my lunch break. There is a nice little area out behind the building with picnic tables and such where I have been going. The only problem is that the benches are like concrete and it's not very comfortable to sit there and knit! It hurts my back. I will have to continue my search for the perfect spot.
posted by Stephanie at 9:48 AM

 
I did get some knitting in on my yellow alpaca socks yesterday, but it's slow going with 72 stitches on 1s. I decided to do a short leg (I think it's about 3 inches) all in K2P2 rib and I think I will do the top of the foot in the same. Since alpaca isn't quite as stretchy as wool I think this may help them to be more comfortable. The yarn is soooo soft!
posted by Stephanie at 9:32 AM

 
Yesterday was lots of fun. We went to the Harvest Craft Festival and I bought this cute tote bag for carrying my knitting in. I also bought a caramel apple and a cute handmade wedding Christmas ornament.

Later I finished my Opal Tiger sock while we watched the LSU Tigers beat Florida. Obviously, these are now LSU's lucky socks and I have to wear them whenever they play.

I cast on my yellow alpaca socks! I don't know how much I'll get to work on them today because I have to watch football and finish up a cross stitch Christmas ornament for an exchange.
posted by Stephanie at 9:44 AM

 
I love fall!!! This weekend there is a Harvest Craft Festival and a Pumpkin Festival. Pure bliss. I think I might have to skip the Knit Together today.

Yesterday I got my knitty knittying bag in the mail (love it) and last night at Borders I bought the new book _Knit Lit_. It's so cool that there are so many new knitting books coming out now.
posted by Stephanie at 9:48 AM

 
More yarn in the mail yesterday la de da de da......I got part of my Colourway order--2 bags of Rowan Wool Color in a dark neutral called beechnut. But the best thing I received was this. Isn't it gorgeous? Isn't it fablulous? Karen brought if back for me from the Taos Wool festival. It's alpaca, it's my very favorite color (lemon curd!), it's sock weight, and it's really, really soft. I can't wait to finish up one of my other socks so I can use the needles to start one from this.
posted by Stephanie at 9:43 AM

 
Umm, last night I got more yarn in the mail. You know it's bad when you forgot you ordered it. heh. I got a box of Katia Terra from elann in light brown heather--it's eco-grown 100% natural pure wool. It's nice. I'm not sure what I am going to do with it, but some bargains just cannot be passed up.

I also started my mom's raglan sweater and I am excited about it. I even swatched first so this thing better fit her perfectly!! I got up early this morning so I could work on it. Once I get the neckline/raglan part done, it should be fairly mindless knitting from there. In case you haven't seen the pattern, it's here.


posted by Stephanie at 9:39 AM

 
Yippee, last night I got yarn in the mail. A skein of Opal Dalmation I bought from eBay, and some Lamb's Pride worsted in deep mauve that I ordered for a mere $3/skein from the wool connection. The color is very pretty and I'm going to use it to make my mom "The Incredible Custom Fit Raglan", hopefully for Christmas. She sent me all her measurements and everything so I just have to make my swatch and I'll be off!

I'm on the heel flap of Opal Tiger sock #2.
posted by Stephanie at 11:28 AM

 
Between having a good day at work yesterday and reading some inspiring knitting-related stuff online, I am feeling a bit re-energized as far as my knitting is concerned. Of course last night I still had to focus on the game (WOOOOOOOOOOO PACK), but I did start my second Opal tiger sock and worked on it during pregame, halftime show, and after the game. I even did a few rows this morning before work. That Opal Tiger is just so cool. I'm glad I ordered a second skein so eventually I can make my sister a pair too.
posted by Stephanie at 9:37 AM

 
Yesterday I did a little more on the seaman's scarf until I ran out of yarn. I just have to do the 2nd "tail" now. Then I worked on my cross stitch Christmas ornament for an exchange and my Homespun Shawl. Wow, my WIP list is small at the moment! I figure I should get some gifts out of the way before I start anything else.

I won't do much knitting tonight. The Packers are on Monday Night Football!!!!
posted by Stephanie at 1:33 PM

 
Yesterday was a very productive day. Mostly I did stuff around the apartment, but I did finish my mom's LL socks. One more gift down--yay! These are for her bday next month. I also worked on my seaman's scarf and I am about to run out of yarn (RH aran fleck) so that will have to be put on hold until I can find some more. I noticed yesterday that Michael's was out.

Today I will probably work on cross stitch and maybe my Homespun traingle shawl--something mindless during all the football games!
posted by Stephanie at 8:29 AM

 
Weekends rule. It's early Sat. morning, DH is still sleeping, and I have a loaf of banana bread in the oven. Soon I will start some split pea soup in the crock pot and later I will make bread in the bread machine. DH will be gone all day to some motorcycle show so I get to lounge around and do whatever I want. I think I will do a little bit of housework and a lot of knitting and cross stitching! yay! Oh, I should also take the dog for a long walk.

Last night during Iron Chef I worked on my Seaman's scarf.
posted by Stephanie at 7:45 AM

 
Yesterday I went to mary maxim and ordered the yarn to make Top Secret from knitty. I got "natural" and woohoo it was cheap!

Last night I finished my Rowan Cork hat while watching must see tv. It's pretty cute. I didn't wear it today, though--I'm wearing a roll brim hat in Kitchen Cotton that I made a while ago.
posted by Stephanie at 11:20 AM

 
I just ordered a knitty knittying bag. Go get one for yourself!
posted by Stephanie at 10:49 AM

 
Yesterday I whipped out my hat in Homespun and I don't like it. Well, it's ok but I don't think I really want to wear it to work. Then I found my 2 skeins of red Rowan Cork that I had forgotten about and started the hat that's in the new Rowan mag (I think it's called Elsie). It's sort of a beret, but it looks neat I think. Maybe I will finish it in time to wear it to work Friday or Monday. Today I am wearing a hat that I sewed from some black patterned velvet.
posted by Stephanie at 10:07 AM

 
The doctor told me that for at least the next week or 2 I need to wear a hat whenever I go outside (long story). I have been looking around at free hat patterns on the net and trying to find something that's in bulky yarn and doesn't really look like a "winter hat" (ie I can wear it to work and look "quirky", not insane). I mean, this is southern California and I know the locals think this 67 degree weather is cold, but..... Anyway, I think I found something that will work and I am using some leftover LB Homespun and size 13s. So that's the plan for today.
posted by Stephanie at 1:47 PM

 
So, today I had an appointment with the opthamologist and I came prepared with a sock-in-progress in my purse. Wouldntchaknowit, they called me in almost right away. Then of course the dr dialated my eyes so I couldn't see to knit for the rest of the afternoon. hmmph!
posted by Stephanie at 9:23 PM