Solstice Slip Is Complete!

Just finished taking pics of the completed Solstice Slip, RSC June selection. I knitted top-down starting with 3X2 rib for 8 rows, using a heel flap with 18 loops on side to accommodate my high instep, heel turn, and the toe from Knitpicks Twisted Socks. For the first time ever, I used the magic loop with Addi #1 (2.5) and was holding my breath as my two balls of yarn became smaller and smaller. It was a relief to not have to knit a second sock ... I did have to kitchener both toes, however, at the same time.

Now, back to the other socks I have to complete ... Broadripple from Knitty, Air-Conditioned from RSC 2006 but out of Trekking, and Crooked Cable from Sock Bug. Wow .... that's a lot of socks!

I'm also working on a shawl (lacy feather/fan) for a friend and just started a Sommerset jacket for school this year. It just reverse stockinette with a shawl collar, so that shouldn't be too difficult. TLGB

Week--end knitting

This past week-end was spent in Omaha at our DD's home. Her home is only 5 years old, but no maintenance had been done to the backyard fence. The DD had selected a nutmeg brown stain/waterproofer, Dad purchased a sprayer, and applied the "almost" first coat a couple of weeks ago. Three sections hadn't been stained since he ran out of stain and the only place in Omaha that carried it was WalMart .... the one closest was out for a couple of days. This week-end with four gallons available, the fence was completed and then a second coat was applied. The DD will treat the deck but apply that by brush to avoid "drifting" onto the siding. The weather was in the upper 90's, so it didn't take long for the finish to dry.

At night, we knitted .... mostly on squares for the Greenburg, KS afghan project. DD asked me how my STR club socks were going ... I told her I was on the gussets ... she said that's where I was last week-end at the knit night in Des Moines. Well .... I decided to knit on other things during the week. As she was working the heel of a second Jaywalker sock, I decided to work on the June STR club socks. I'm knitting both socks with magic loop, so both socks will be finished at the same time ... I did get the gussets finished and about 2 inches out on the feet. I'm almost holding my breath hoping that I have enough yarn to finish ... I'm knitting the size with 75 sts originally, so it should be enough yarn. Should know for sure in another couple of days. The pic shows the socks after knitting this afternoon ... I'm about 1 inch from starting the toe.
Didn't go shopping .... except on-line at BMFA .... DD still had her discount club coupon, so we just ordered sock yarn ... I order five colorways and a couple of patterns ..... also am sharing an extra one of the STR colorway just in case I need it. DD said she would need some of it for sure. Better get back to the socks .... TLGB.

Fireworks and Froggin' Again

The 4th of July is nothing without fireworks. Our volunteer firemen did a fantastic job last night with fireworks. A local restaurant owner distributes fireworks for towns/groups in the area, so we had a fantastic show for about 1/3 of what we've had to pay in the past ..... a hometown boy from my classes 25 years ago was taking care of all of us. For 45 minutes, the sky was a beautiful light show ... interrupted periodically by the ground show .... not the typical flag, waterfall, etc. but repeating displays shot out of tubes in the ground. Even though we were sitting across the road instead of in the grandstands at the fairgrounds, it was awesome. A grand finale to the holiday that celebrates the freedoms which we often take for granted.

The frog epidemic has once again struck ... this time the Clapotis that I was knitting from Mountain handpainted Indian Corn colorway. The yarn just wasn't matching at all when I had finished the first 350 yds. of dk on #6, so I decided to try a different shawl and vary every 4/2 rows. Two of the balls are very similar in color, the other has only small bits of the green that is more prominent in the others ..... after every four rows, I'll knit two of the different ball ... hopefully I'll be able to carry the yarn up the edge and not have so may splices to do.

Yarn Crawl Acquisitions

While waiting for Cheryl and her knitting group to arrive at Border's, Alcariel and I checked out the knitting books .... I picked up two socks books, Knit Lit (short stories about knitting), Debbie Macumber's book with two short stories about Texas, and a Lori Wick book "White Chocolate Moments". Yes, I do love white chocolate, especially Lundt truffles. It's my "bubble bath" reading material for a while.

Alcariel and I just had to have our morning coffee, so we dropped in at Scooter's for a breakfast burrito and lattes. Then the "power" yarn crawl began. Cheryl, Alcariel, and I hit three yarn shops in Des Moines in 2 1/2 hours! The first shop we stopped in was in a strip mall across the street (to the west) of the Jordan Creek Mall. "Knitting Together" was a lovely shop. The shop owner was most gracious to us as we were "looking." Actually, as I entered the door I saw a lovely boucle wrap jacket that I decided would be perfect for school. So .... I was determined that I would make that jacket ... the pattern "Somerset" is contained in a book with twenty other jackets by Jean Frost. Also purchased a book of baby items by Dale and some medium pink Dale Ull for a sweater for my newest great-niece who's due mid-August.

At Purls, A Yarn Studio, I purchased two balls of alpaca in an

oatmeal colorway for a pair of socks .... also heel reinforcement fiber to match. Also purchased some Opal sock yarn for "Christmas socks" because of the red, green, and yellow colorway. When I got home I had almost an identical colorway from BMFA. Also bought another set of buttons for a vest that I've knitted from a wool/silk boucle (Parisian Nights) that I purchased on the yarn vacation that DD and I went on in summer 2005. These are what I've been looking for ... buttons that really look like they belong with the yarn.

At Creative Corner, I picked up some point protectors for dps and a hank of lace alpaca/silk in a pearl grey colorway..

I had the DD pick up some L & V colorways when she went out last

week to help Eliza with dying and record the weekly podcast. I received robot, samba, and merengue.They are colors that I don't have, so may use them for gifts for friends. TLGB

Yarn Crawl

My DD, Alcariel, and I met in Des Moines (that's Iowa) on Friday afternoon. Friday evening we spent a great time at Borders in West Des Moines knitting with Cheryl and her knitting group. On Saturday morning, we met Cheryl at Knitting Together to start the crawl and went on to Purls the Yarn Studio and Creative Corner. Yes, I did break the yarn diet and Cheryl reminded me that I'd need to reset my counter.
My brother's family hosted a surprise 60th birthday picnic for my sister-in-law early in the afternoon. Since it was on the east side of the metro, we just made it after the crawl. About 3/4 of the way there, I remembered that the present was back in my car at the motel in West Des Moines. Thanks to the USPS in Omaha, the gift was sent on the way today. Her birthday is actually July 3, so maybe (???) it will make it.
Alcariel and I then went to Omaha for the rest of the week-end and so I could watch her co-ed church softball team win ... it's really a celebration when that happens. We celebrated at Cold Stone Creamery. After going home, Alcariel and I had a knitting session ... finished turning the heels on both of the STR socks on magic loop. Now just to finish the gussets. I fell asleep knitting on the Clapotis for a friend ... Alcariel continued knitting for most of the night.
On the way home to northern Iowa, I stopped at another shop in Carroll ... The Yarn Basket. It is fantastic .... has many Addi turbo circs ... had the one I needed! Also acquired something for Alcariel .... items for gifts don't count ..... right???
I got home to two very hyper dogs ... my mini poodle Toffee wouldn't stopped squealing .... yes, she is quite vocal. Cozi, on the other hand, just jumped up a couple of time. I'm glad to be home. TLGB

Dentist Visit

This morning while drinking coffee with a group of friends, a large filling came out of one of my molars. Well,.... after a visit with the dentist to evaluate the tooth and smooth rough edges, the decision was made for a root canal/crown. However, I cannot get back to the dentist until July 19th, unless there is a problem. There wasn't any sensitivity to cold/heat and no decay that was beneath the filling. That's good news! Hopefully, the tooth won't bother me this week-end. TLGB

A Dumpster Full!

How much junk, memories, worn-out things, etc. does a 4 cubic yard dumpster hold? A lot!!!!
After living in this house for the past 30+ years, I decided that one summer chore would be to get rid of "stuff" in the basement that we haven't looked at in years, old clothes that might fit some day, and some things brought home by Alcariel, our daughter, from college. Well, we had the dumpster for two days and it was finally filled yesterday morning. After the company had picked it up, I went down in the basement and thought that maybe we could have filled it again. That may be for later this summer or weekly by placing an extra "bag" out with the garbage.

Due to this basement purging, I really haven't worked on too much knitting ... I am almost ready to do the heels on the RSC June sock .... Summer Solstice. This is the second pair of socks I've started on a magic loop .... the other one I placed on dps so I would have the 47" #1 Addi free for the socks. As I said before, I did do 3x2 rib for the first 8 rows ... really like the way the top looks.

This week-end Alcariel and I are meeting in Des Moines for a sister-in-law's surprise 60th birthday .... but ..... Friday evening we will be at Border's in WDM for knitting with a Des Moines group. A short yarn crawl throughout the city on Saturday morning .... how much damage can we do in a short time? Then we meet at a shelter house in Pleasant Hills (east metro area) at 1:00 for a surprise picnic. Alcariel and I will then head to her place to do some belated spring cleaning ... carpet shampooing from my DH that doesn't believe in wiping his feet even when he was standing in mud in her backyard to stain her fence.

Have a dentist appt. .... lost a filling at coffee this morning. UGH!
TLGB

Spoiler - Sock Club

I love the June STR selection. I decided to try knitting both socks on magic loop ... I had only gotten about one inch into another sock when the kit came, so I pulled it off the needle. I'm using an Addi #1 (37 inch, I think). I did have problem when starting with the pattern as written, so I frogged and did 8 rows of 3x2 rib before starting the pattern. I am about halfway through on my second pattern repeat. It is working up well .... had small puddles in the ribbing, and those are beginning to appear in the pattern stitch, too. I plan to use the heel flap/gusset that works best for my high instep ... other than that, plan on following the pattern.

I bought a new digital camera last Friday ... our old HP digital is about six years old .... the big, bulky kind .... it still takes good pics. I bought another HP .... this time M627 Photosmart. These pics were taken with the new camera.

Blue Moon Fiber Gals Rock!

My STR package came yesterday ... I was going to wait to open it to see if my daughter, Alcariel, also had received hers, but ..... the will power just wasn't there. The colorway is gorgeous, the pattern awesome, and the little "surprise" great! I didn't cast on yet, but will probably do so today.

I've been knitting on the clapotis for a friend from church .... I do have to do more repeats since the yarn is finer that what's suggested, but it is turning out nice. Hopefully I'll be ready for the "straight" section in the middle of the shawl. TLGB

What's knitting?

Just worked the ends in on twelve more squares for the Greensburg project that Alcariel and I have knitted the past week. So far, that's 36 squares! It is very "mindless" knitting, but very fulfilling in knowing that the afghans made will be warming residents who have lost so much in Greensburg.

Picked up the Cozy shawl I'd begun last week for a church friend who just lost her husband to cancer and discovered a dropped stitch. Well, it went to the frog pond and I've decided to do the Clapotis from Knitty instead since I don't need to follow the pattern so closely.

This past week-end the DH and I travelled to Alcariel's (our DD) to clean and stain her deck and fence. The DH had bought a paint sprayer, so once he succumbed to reading directions, the fence job went a lot faster. We couldn't find more cans of the waterproofer/stain that Alcariel had chosen. The fence is 90% done and the deck 0%, so guess we'll have to visit again to finish. I spent a lot of the time moving the hose/sprinkler in her backyard that had just been sodded on Thursday. The saleman said to keep the sod "squishy" for the first couple of weeks, so the water ran continuously most of the day.
Better get the envelope with the squares mailed. TLGB.

More Squares for Greensburg

My daughter, Alcariel, came home this week-end for a friend's wedding. She brought five squares for the Greensberg project and finished a sixth before she went home. Well ..... I have four done when she came and completed two more so that we would have a dozen to send this week. I've tried posting with pics of all the squares and have been having trouble, so if only one pic shows, the other two have disappeared. Wish me luck! I will probably try to knit some more squares this week, too!

I started the Cozy shawl from Knitty in Mountain Colors Indian corn colorway. It really is turning out beautiful! Since the yarn is lighter weight than the pattern calls for, I increased the sts from 85 to 121 and am knitting with KPO #6 circ. The st pattern is showing up okay ... I'm only done with the first 8-row pattern repeat. Hopefully I'll be able to do 2 pattern repeats each day and get the shawl completed in about 30 days. We'll see???!!!!

I also have to do some serious sock knitting. I have three different pairs on the needles. The Broadripple socks from Knitty are about halfway down the leg on the second socks, the Crooked Cable Socks from Sock Bug are both on a magic loop with about 1 inch completed (but on both socks!), and the BMFA Air-Conditioned socks in Trekking are about 4 inches down the leg of the first sock. Wow! I do have a lot of sock knitting to finish.

Knitting Update

It has been a while since a post ... I've been knitting, gardening, "coffeeing" with friends, general household chores, and mourning the loss of a dear friend, almost an "adopted" Dad for us since our parents are all with God in heaven. Toots was an almost 82 year old farm boy who still like to drive a tractor ... a Farmall M that he had entirely redone ... even painted and clear-coated ... did it ever shine in the Band Day parade last fall. He was diagnosed with lung cancer shortly before Christmas. He chose to forego any treatment since he was ready to be with his Lord. He stayed at home until his final week or so when he was placed in a care center for hospice care. He passed away on Tues. with his celebration of life (funeral) yesterday.
I'm still working on knitted squares for Rebuilding Greensburg Square by Square. It takes about two hours to knit a square. Alcariel (my daughter) and I have been knitting them since Memorial Day week-end. On Monday, I sent a dozen to the First Baptist Church in El Dorado, Kansas. Alcariel came this week-end, bringing 4+ squares with her. I'm just about finished with my 4th ... had a minor accident earlier. I decided to soak my feet just for relaxation and they were a bit dirty from gardening this morning ... well, I knitted while the feet soaked ... got up to take the tub of water back to the bathroom ... only I pulled my 2/3 completed square off the loveseat into the footsoak tub. UGH! I pulled it off the bamboo needles and gently rinsed the dirty footsoak water out of it. It is in a "bunch" on the edge of the tub drying. Hopefully, I'll be able to finish it tomorrow afternoon.
Alcariel and I bought the DH an early Fathers' Day present ... a purple clematis similar to the one that his parents had growing up a small decorative windmill at the farm. We also purchased a trellis for it to climb. That was planted this morning. Didn't have the camera outside, so haven't taken pics yet.
Later after the squares are finished, I'll post pics. TLGB

Greensburg - Here We Come!

The envelope is waiting on the kitchen table ... the first dozen squares knitted to help create afghans for the people of Greensburg who lost their homes to a tornado earlier this spring. The knitting has been an absolute joy! I planned to post a pic, but the image downloaded from the camera wouldn't open ... I've never had that happen before. Check the previous post for the pic of the first seven. Alcariel and I started knitting the squares last week-end ... she had finished two and I had three when we left Sunday afternoon to come home. My goal was to have a dozen by the week-end and .... I made it! As I knitted I also remembered the items I had knitted for family and friends .... felted slippers for Alcariel, Sophie bags for some of my coffee friend (Jodi, Susie, Deb and Jan) and the "mistake" yarn. When Alcariel and I visited Brown Sheep Yarn in western Nebraska two summers ago, I was looking at their hand-painted yarn that was displayed in a large, flat basket in their outlet shop attached to the mill. I purchased about $325 worth of yarn for $78. I took some from the top to look more closely at the colors underneath. Well .... when we got to the motel in the next town and were admiring our stash additions, I wondered where the yarn had come from ... the clerk thought I wanted it and so I ended up with about ten hanks of "Poppy Fields". I had put it in my felted slipper stash, but hadn't knitted it ... four squares were from that colorway.
After packing the squares, I settled down to knit some on the Fiber Trends Lacy Mobius I had started earlier. This is my second try .... I'm using KP #7 circ (from their needle set) and placed a marker every 30 sts (only 18 in the last repeat) and haven't had the trouble keeping track of where I am. The pattern is an 8 row repeat and I finished the first repeat last night. Previously I had tried it in a wool, mohair, rayon blend but this time I'm using some Koigu sock yarn (three skeins will be plenty). When I dropped a st, all I did was frog the 30 sts in the repeat not tinking the 378 sts per round to pick up the sts .... one I even frogged 4 rows and knitted them back. I really enjoying knitting it this time. Oh, when casting on the 378 sts (long-tail method was suggested) I only made it to 219 with the "long-enough" tail I started with ..... later I pulled off about 3 more yards and then just had about a foot left but at least it was enough.
Since school was finished last Wed. and I checked out on Thurs., I'm looking forward to knitting as well as some fix-up inside the house, mainly painting. TLGB

One Block At A Time

A knitting friend of my daughter's blogged about charity knitting for the people of Greensburg, Kansas, who lost their homes to a tornado earlier this spring. Here's the blog to check this out http://specialstuff.typepad.com/sugar_bunny_boulevard/2007/05/rebuilding_gree.html.

Alcariel and I were able to knit 5 of the squares ... both of us have since gone through our stashes for leftover worsted weight yarn and decided that we'll be able to contribute more. The directions for knitting the squares are at the above link. Here's our squares so far .... (I've completed two more and Alcariel is on her second one, I think.)

Maybe you could help, too! TLGB

Knee High To A Grasshopper Done!

Yes, the KHTG are completed! I even wore them to school this morning ... the high school is REALLY air-conditioned, so wool socks felt good. I did, however remove them within five minutes of arriving home for lunch. They looked soooo good with an old sweater set and slacks that I've had for over ten years, but really didn't care for the colors.

Now I'm ready to get back to the other three pairs of socks that are on the needles ..... Broad Ripple from Knitty in KP Sock Garden in a purple/pink colorway, Air-Conditioned from BMFA in Trekking in a rainbow colorway, and the Crooked Cable socks from SockBug in a pink/lavendar/blue colorway called Grandma.

I will really need a large bag for this week-end when we go to our daughter's home ... plan to have at least one marathon knitting session.

Cuteness alert ... here's a pic of my poodle with her first "big girl" poodle cut.

Time to head upstairs for some knitting therapy. TLGB

Still Hopping!

The second KHTG is coming along ... a little slower than I'd like. With the beautiful weather outside, I just couldn't spend too much time knitting this week-end. I'm beginning the first repeat of the calf increases, so the rest should "hop" rather quickly.
My DH has been working in the garden watering, placing tomato cages, and checking to make sure that bunnies haven't been tasting the plants. We bought a couple of new bushes to replace some that have become a nuisance with their thorns ... didn't get them planted but will in the next couple of days. The weather here in northern Iowa has been delightful this week-end ... especially nice for graduation parties.
Time to get back to the grasshoppers. TLGB

First Try with Magic Loop

I'm about finished with the gusset on my second KHTG sock, but decided that I wanted to work on something new .... so to the stash I went ... didn't take me too long.......I chose a colorway called Grandma for socks for a coffee friend who is a great grandma.

I tried two circs for the STR KHTG sock, but didn't like it at all. So, today, I took a 47" #1 Addi circ and decided to try the using the magic loop. Well, .... it took all of about 5 minutes to figure it out with directions I downloaded. I'm knitting Sock Bug Crooked Cable Socks ... so far everything is working .... of course, I've just done k1, p1 rib and the first pattern row. I guess you're never too old to learn something different ... I'm really enjoying it. And ... when I'm done, I don't have the knit another sock ... they'll both be the same, too! The pic looks a bit of a tangled mess, but it isn't. Once you've started, there's really only one way to go. Can't wait to get back to the loop!

TLGB

Productive Week-end

Saturday was a good day for getting the garden planted, replacing a small shrub that was mostly "winter kill", and doing some household chores. Well,...... that left the evening for knitting ... or frogging ... for some reason, I've been leaving sts too close to the end of the KP dps and they slip off ... usually on the sole side and since I haven't been counting those sts each row, discover it about 12 or so rows above and the sts were just too tight when picked up. Then today, Sunday, I see a super-sized yo about eight rows down ... don't know why that happened. Well, I am about 6 rows from starting the gusset. With DH away at a 3-day class, I should get the sock done. Before he left, I told him that the sock would be done! Hopefully the frog prince will think this weather is too humid.
TLGB

Grasshopper 1 Complete!

This afternoon my first STR KHTG sock was completed! I did leave a longer tail for the binding off and am glad ... left at least 24" and had only about 3" left. The sock fits well .... hope that the picture is clear. I just had to take the picture by one of the hostas ... they are really doing quite well here in northern Iowa.

Here's a bit of cuteness ... my DH took his hunting dog Cozi down to the family farm on Saturday. Both of our dogs tend to sleep during the day while we are at work. Well, no naps at the farm. Toffee was sleeping on Cozi's pillow when DH returned, so Cozi just cuddled in and they were both dozing.

Need to get that second KHTG started .... now that all the kinks are out of the pattern for me, it should go quicker.

TLGB

First Grasshopper Done!

The first sock is almost done .... just about 8 rows of k1p1 ribbing to go. My right hand is aching, so will stop for the night Hopefully that can be completed in the morning .... if not, after I get home from school tomorrow. Then it will be time to start the second sock.
The perenniels that I've planted the last 2-3 years are really coming up ... except for a day lily and some yarrow that was hit by the frost and didn't recover ... yet ...even though the plants next to them that were covered just the same did come back. Some friends have stated to be patient. Well .... that's not too bad. The apple tree was loaded with blossoms before the wind that we had this week-end ... it still has plenty remaining, so I hope to have a good amount of apples this year.
We have a little over three weeks of school left, so the students are getting restless. The freshmen (most of my students) don't seem to realize that the work continues through to the end of the semester. Some of them have already shut down ... hopefully, they will get a "kick" start to make it to the end of the year.
Time to get some sleep. TLGB