Random

Well. The fountain pen shawl doth progress. Current status?
6 repeats done, 239 stitches.

End point?
10 repeats plus border, 467 stitches.

Festival I want to wear it to?
May 1



On another note, I got a 40% discount at the Yarn Garden in the March Madness drawing. I had originally planned to use it later (it expires in July), when Mortal was up. However, mother & I went to Yarn Garden to look at a substitute for her linen yarn, as the yarn she had originally picked is hopelessly back-ordered with no availability date. We're going with hemp. I say we b/c I'm the schmuck that has to knit this. Well, H had the audactity to tell mother that I had the coupon. Mother being mother informed me that I needed to use it towards her yarn. People thought I would have gotten more. I didn't get more b/c I wasn't ready to get more. Besides, MDS&W is next Saturday!

I had a Pampered Chef party last Saturday. The fiends were abnormally good. I can't help wondering that they are planning something truly heinous.....

Stringing along

The socks from h e double knitting needles are finally done! I love the color. I love the yarn. I do not like the pattern. I don't like bobbles and I don't like purling. These socks had both.

I finally finished stitching the fall pillow band. I prefer my pillows functional, so I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it or if I'm going to keep it. Someone suggested putting on the outside of a journal.

I also have started gridding for my next project, Fireside Fairytales. The definition of gridding is about halfway down this page.

I'm almost done with the Wings shawl (Ravelry). I need to have this done, blocked and wrapped to give to someone on April 25th. It won't go to the final recipient until May 1st, but I already have plans for May 1 and can't make it to the brunch.

I started the Fountain Pen shawl (Ravelry) for myself. I'm hoping to have it done and blocked in time for Maryland. We shall see.

An Update

The first bobble sock is done. Well, technically I still need to Kitchner the toe. I have 1 cuff repeat done on the second. I am not liking these socks.

I have completed stitching the bow and leaves on the autumn pillow band that I started in 2006. I have also completed the beading for the acorn tops.

After I finish the heinous blue socks, I am going to start the fishy socks and a pair of socks for Mother. She really likes the blue ones, but they aren't for her. Why am I going to do socks for her? See this picture? That is my quilt!!!!!

The blocks are sewn together with the exception of the 4 corner blocks. All the pieces are laid out in position. It will be ready in time for summer. Just when I need a quilt.

Meet Leroni

Leroni is my spinning wheel. I got her in January with the combination of money I had saved and Christmas money. I had been thinking Odette or Odile for the name, but she didn't like either of those. She did like Leroni though. Suitable, as she is magic! Why is she magic?
Because she can take this

and turn it into this


So far, she's also plied this and this

And, she just finished this . Well, technically, that is a bobbin of singles. The finished yarn is a 2 ply.

This firey yarn was a bit odd. I was winding the yarn off the bobbin into a center pull ball (courtesy of the ball winder). I was about halfway done, and the ball flew off of the ball winder. And no, the cat wasn't helping! Also, I had 1 very full bobbin of singles, but once plied, it took up way more then 1 bobbin.

Dangerous Website

Through threads from the Cross Stitch group on Ravelry, I have discovered a new and very dangerous website, Heaven and Earth Designs.

Why is this dangerous you ask? Wellllll, it is dangerous b/c there are far too many patterns on it that I want.

• Angel Light
• Stitching the Standard
• Winding the Skeins
• Lady of Shalott
• Boreas
• Ophelia
• Holiday Splendor
• Spirit of Yule
• Yule Fairy
• Brighid
• Darkness Falls
• Mask of Autumn
• Nightfall

And this is just the stuff that really really spoke. I'm sure, given time, I could find lots more.

I have decided

that 2010 is the year of the sock. Those of you who know me, and I'm presuming that most of you reading my forlorn little blog do, know that I knit socks.

Yes, I know you can purchase socks at insert store name here. And, I do have some storebought socks. I have a pair with red and green snowflakes that I really like. I have numerous pairs of trouser socks. I also have multiple pairs of no show socks to wear in the summer. But, I prefer hand knit socks.

So far, I have finished the Concrete Socks, and another plain vanilla pair out of yarn from Creatively Dyed, the November 2009 socks, and the Wonderland socks that were my 2010 Olympic project.

I am currently working on Cascadia (ravelry), sock 1 from January 2010. This year, the Rockin Sock Club is getting 2 patterns and 1 yarn. I have a blue rare gem for Flabella (ravelry), sock 2, and it's in my queue, but I'm not sure I'm going to do them. They have bobbles. They have lots of purling. I don't really like them for me. And, last, but not least, the Fishy sock kit came.

Olympic Project

For the Ravelympics this year, I made the Wonderland Socks (ravelry). The socks are striped, illusion knit. I decided to make mine knee socks.

I used Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock in medium weight. 1 skein Ravenscroft and 1 skein Branwen.

I was supposed to start the illusion knitting on the foot. I decided not to, since very few people would see that part. I started the illusion knitting after I turned the heel.


I also added a cat on the back of the sock as well as the front. Progress was made, I was actually doing pretty well, even though I took an entire Sunday to make a pair of fingerless mitts.


I did the socks at the same time. I would do 10 stripe sets on sock 1, then the same number on the second sock. I was almost done, 1 sock was done and I had just the cuff ribbing on the second. It snowed. Normally, this would result in more knitting time, but I ended up having to work an weather activation. Still, the socks got done! I finished them with about 2 days to spare.


I like.