Completed Cable Sweater!

Sound the alarms! I finally finished my cable knit sweater! What a great feeling! It only took me about 2 1/2 months and I learned a lot of different things. With the cold weather we have been having this sweater will be great to "snuggle" in. My son loves to put it on because it's so warm.
I would love to make another one, but I would have to change the yarn to something not so fuzzy like the lamb's pride.

This is a close-up of the cable pattern. I especially like the middle cable and the way that it weaves in an out of each other.

In other knitting news......I have completed the gift bags for my sister-in-law! Whoo! Whoo! I just need to box them up and ship them to her. I haven't been working on my cuff down socks lately because I'm trying to get some Christmas presents done. I'm still feverishly working on Joan's gift. Something I thought I was going to give to one neice is going to another, because I forgot I already bought something for the other neice. Oops! It seems that every year I do that! I see something......I buy it.....then I forget and get or make something! This year I'm going to turn over a new leaf and when I get something or make something, I'm going to record it right away so I don't forget!


Here are my first "slip stitch" mittens with some Cascade 220 that I had left over from my stash! These are from an Amy Anderson pattern called "Over the river and through the wools", which is also a "felted" pattern. When my husband saw me making these he commented that they looked really big! How funny! I had to explain that I needed to shrink them! I did have a bit of a gap when I was working on the thumb, but because it's going to be felted, I just "fudged" some yarn in that little hole and it looked fine. I can't wait to felt them and wear them!

I've been working a lot more hours at my retail job because of the holiday. It gets so hectic and customers can get very mean! If you read this blog.....I ask a couple of things for you to do this holiday season.

1. Don't wait until the last minute to purchase your gifts. If you see something buy it and don't wait, because it probably won't be there the next time you shop.
2. Huffing, puffing, and stomping your feet does not make the line go faster!
3. If paying by check...have it written out ahead of time!
4. Have all your coupons ready and give them to the cashier BEFORE she begins your transaction.
5. Make eye contact with employees......we aren't monsters!
6. Have everything you need before you get to the cashier! Don't leave the line to get one last item! It holds up everyone behind you!
7. Most of all.......be nice! Treat people how you want to be treated.

For all the unruly customers I deal with, I always get those few who are so kind! In fact, yesterday this woman told me that I waited on her last year and was so excited to see that I was still there! She also said I have really white teeth! Hee! Hee! It made me feel so good! My husband says that because I've had so many jobs in customer service, he notices that I have so much patience when things go wrong in a restaurant, store etc;

Now back to knitting.......I can't wait for the weekend. My son has a wrestling tournament, so that means I can sit back and knit! I forgot one thing.......my family and I went to the Milwaukee Bucks game last week, and of course, I brought my knitting! My husband and kids couldn't believe it, but in my defense....I needed to get some stuff completed AND I really don't like to watch professional basketball. Anyhoo......we walk in.....they check my bag......and actually took me aside because of my needles! This very pleasant old man looks at me and asks me what "they" are and I explain that they are knitting needles and that I planned to knit during the game. He told me "I've seen everything brought into a game, but I've never seen anyone bring in knitting needles!" He patted me on my back and let me and my knitting needles in. By the way.....the Milwaukee Bucks won in overtime and I completed my project! Go Bucks!

No! I didn't fall off the face of the earth!

Here's the back of my calbe knit sweater! I finished up to the shoulders and have the neck on a holder. I put it on......and I guess I'm ok with it. I'm not a big "sweater" person, so I'm not jumping up and down about it. The reason I made it was to learn cables and to read a pattern a little better. As long as I learn something, I'm pretty happy! Because the yarn is thick, this seems to be going pretty quick!



Here's sock #1 from the cuff down sock pattern. I love this yarn! It's called Sockotta and the pattern is so great! Whenever I'm making this in public, people stop and admire the yarn. I think I'm going to "gift" these to me! They are so fun!


Here's sock #2.....just waiting to be finished! He's sooooo jealous that sock #1 was done first! I keep telling him that I'm trying, but to no avail!

With the fall temps approaching.....it makes me want to stay in the house and knit more. But I was a very good girl today and finished staining and varnishing my front window, and I also did the same to the front door. With all the cold weather and salt the front door looked as if it was about to break into pieces! However, I saved it and hopefully we'll get a couple more years out of it!

So what are my knitting goals for November?

1. Finish the cabled sweater!
2. Finish my socks!
3. Work on Joan's order for felted bags!
4. Start the "blush" project from knit pixie and finish by Thanksgiving!
5. Start and finish Amy's scarf for Christmas!

If I get all those things done.....then I'll be one happy knitter!

Some completed projects!

I know that I've been a bad blogger........but I was so busy finishing up some felted projects. Here you can kind of see what the zig-zag bag looks like! The strap is the Checkmate ribbon with knots tied at about every 2 inches. I crocheted a strap for a button, but haven't found a button, yet!


Here's a project a friend of mine asked me to do. It's a felted compartment bag! The premise is to make two bags, attach them up the side and bottom and you'll have an inside compartment. I made mine with Lamb's Pride worsted and was quite pleased with the way it turned out. My friend has a bunch of us making the purse, so she can "fine-tune" her pattern and hopefully sell the pattern. Another knitter made the purse without the flap and instead installed zippers on the inside.


Here's how the bag looks without the flap over the top.


Here's looking inside the bag. Kind of cool, huh?

I recently placed my first order with Knitpicks! I can't wait to see all the yarn I ordered! I want to work on a gift for someone for Xmas, so I'm anxiously awaiting for my yarn. I can't talk about the gift because this "certain someone" reads this blog. Okay! It's for Joan!

My cabled sweater is coming along nicely. I'm almost to the bind off for the arm holes! Whoo! Whoo! I hope to get this bad boy done by Thanksgiving and wear it in the chilly months!

I also started on a pair of socks for me! I started knitting them at my bowling league, because the women on my team were fighting and I didn't want to get involved. So....I brought my bowling ball and knitting! More women came up to me to find out what I was doing and more than once did they mention how cool it was to be knitting socks!

I finally broke down this week and bought an Ott-Lite! Now I can see! I got it at Joann's with a 40% off coupon. I also do beading, so this really helps with my eyestrain!

The nights are finally getting chilly so that means more knittin' and drinkin'! Lately, I've been drinking reds. My doc told me that every woman should have a glass of red wine or purple grape juice every day. I told him that I have two.....just in case I miss a day!

Also, ladies please remember that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month! If you are 40 you should be getting your first mammogram and every year thereafter. There are many women I know who've been diagnosed with breast cancer, but because of their mammogram it was caught early and they are living cancer free lives. So....put your needles down and get a mammogram!

I'm So Stuuuuuuupid!

So here I am, cabling away on my sweater, when someone notices that it looks kind of small. They say "Is your guage on?" I say "Of course it is, what do you think I am......an idiot?" Guess what? I am an idiot!

When I measured myself for the sweater, I measured and determined that I was an ample 46" across the chest so I thought that's what I make my sweater at! However, I want the sweater to be loose fitting therefore, it would be more appropriate to make it 49-50". Now....there are one of three things I can do.....frog it, loose some weight in the chest area, or keep knitting and give it to someone else! Through much deliberation I've decided that losing weight does not guarantee that I will lose weight in that particular area! Giving it to someone else would kill me, because only fellow knitters know the time and effort that goes into it. Therefore the logical choice is to riiiiiiiiiip it out. The one good thing is that the yarn is very bulky so it won't take long to rebuild it! (I sound like the Six Million Dollar Man!)

So we can all learn a lesson here........make sure you know the difference between finished size and your actual size. A special thanks to Lois, Chris, & Chris for noticing my sweater mistake and pointing it out before I was almost done!

Now I need to open up my bottle of Mad Housewife Chardonnay and start frogging!

I'm Kooky for Cables!

Ahhhhh! I started my cable knit sweater about 1 week ago and am finding it not too bad. I think I was intimidated by the cable and thought "how the hell do they do that?" Well, now I know and I'm not scared anymore! Anne has taught me how to cable without a needle and at first I was a bit confused. I left my Kooky for Cables class, thinking that there was no way I could work on this by myself. However, I sat down and used a pencil as my cable needle then I figured out what she was trying to teach. So.....I now do not use a cable needle! The women I meet up with on Thursday nights couldn't believe that I didn't use a cable needle, so they sat around and watched me! I was so nervous that I would screw it up.

A couple of things about this sweater.....I'm using Lamb's Pride Bulky (kind of itchy), it's knit in the round (Whoo! Whoo!), and it has seed stitch sides. So far I'm liking it! (let's see what I say when I have to do the sleeves!)

A friend of mine Rose Ann has designed a felted bag pattern and asked me to make one before she tries to publish it. She has a range of knitters trying out the pattern. (I think I fall into the intermediate knitter category) I can't wait to start it, because it has compartments in it!


Here's the purse I made out of the recycled silk yarn. It was a bit tough to work with. The yarn itself varies from skein to skein, so if you wanted to make something (like a sweater), I think it might be kind of difficult. However, the colors are very vibrant and I really liked the way the purse turned out. It stretches a lot, so it would be great to hold paperback books, notebooks etc; I like to describe it as a "grab and go" purse! You grab it, throw your book, wallet, keys, knitting and go! The strap stretched a bit, but you can knot it at the top and adjust as necessary. I handwashed it and the water was brown! Gross! But I rinsed until it came out clear and laid it flat to dry. With the extra yarn, I'm going to make a smaller bag that would hold keys etc; but I'll probably have to line it and I'm not the best seamstress!

Now.....you're probably asking yourself "Hey Tracy! whatever happened to the Zig-Zag felted bag?" My, my my, aren't you knitters curious! Well you see, sometimes Tracy reads too much into a pattern and the result is a "not so good purse"! You see what happened was the pattern said "make your flap slightly longer than the length you want it", well, I thought it meant to make the flap longer than the whole length of the purse! Therefore, when I sewed up the sides I made the flap about 3 inches longer than the purse! The result? A felted purse with a flap that overhangs the purse! I've decided to felt it some more then cut the flap! Can you believe I did that? I'm now in the process of making another one! Phew!

Looky What I Bought!

Here's what I got in the mail the other day from ebay! It's the recycled silk yarn from Nepal, which is made from the snipped ends of sari's and handspun! You never know what colors you are going to get.....so be careful when you bid on this stuff. Some of the skeins seemed to be tightly wound, while others were rather loose. Also, you must let it dangle because otherwise it twists on itself. My personal testimony is that it would be kind of scratchy to make a scarf out of, but other websites suggest that you carry along a kid mohair with it. Me? I'm making the Unbiased bag from knitty! I know, I know, I know.....I SHOULD be working on the shawl but I was so excited to get this yarn! Wait! I did finish the hunting socks and following bag. So there!


Here's another little bag that I worked on over the weekend. A big shout out to by knitting buddy Nancy for giving me this pattern called the Zig-Zag felted bag! It takes one skein of Noro Kureyon and is simple to knit up. The pattern calls for a ribbon strap which will look great once it's felted. I saw the one Nancy completed and it looked great! Hopefully, I'll be able to felt it this week and then purchase some ribbon!

This is a close up of the stitches on the felted bag. I love how it looks and I hope it shows up when I felt it. This weekend I finished up on all my little projects and had a chance to have some breakfast with my knittin' friends. So here's my shout out for the week.....

Happy Birthday Anne! I was told (by Chris) to make sure I brought a nice birthday hat for Anne to wear! Well, she thought it was funny, but would only wear it for a few moments in order for me to take this picture in the restaurant. What a trooper! Best wishes this upcoming year, Anne!

I'm a bad, bad, girl!

Okay! So I didn't get to the 100th row of my shawl! How could I? It was mid 80's everyday on vacation with the sun shining and the margaritas & beer calling! I couldn't take the shawl outside, now could I? I really tried to get up in the early morning to work on it, but then the fish were calling me! I caught some perch, blue gill, bass and (yuk) catfish! So don't blame me about the shawl....blame.....the weather! Look at this sunset.....could you really concentrate on knitting with a sunset like this?

I did get a little knitting done, though. My buddy Tim was with us and I did finish one of his socks so he could try it on. He absolutely loved it and can't wait for the next one. This is one of those take-along projects that I hopefully will get done before October! (don't worry...I will!)
If I don't......then I guess only one of his feet will stay warm while he hunts! Then......I'm not making anymore hunting socks until next year!

Slowly but surely

This week I began with the intention of working on the shawl....however, I needed to get going on the hunting socks for my buddy Tim. I like to buy two sets of dpn's then work on each sock, so I don't get bored. However, I grabbed the "wrong" sock and started knitting around and around and around and then noticed that I didn't work any of the instep decreases! You see I should have been working on the "other" sock, because I was at that point with the decreases already done! So what did I do? I backward knitted around and around and around to get back to the decrease point of the sock! What a pain........

The shawl is coming along nicely, thank you very much! I worked on it while watching the movie "Saved" with my 13 year old. What a great movie! I'm taking the shawl with me on vacation next week and my goal is to get to 100 rows. (I'm currently at 70) Total row count for the shawl is 280, but remember my knitting friends....one row is 203 stitches on size 2 needles! It takes about 45 minutes to complete 2 rows. A friend of mine is curious to know how many stitches the actual shawl is! I told her that I'd figure it out when it's complete.

Last night I met with my knitting group and we had a great time! One woman said her husband was invited to a "meat" party! I guess it's similar to the pampered chef parties, however some guy cooks up a bunch of meat and then the men order what they want! What's next.......lawn tractor parties? Also, Rachel in our group completed her first sock. It was from a pattern back in the 60's where you knit it flat and then seam it up. When she seamed it up and put it on, it looked like those genie shoes from Istanbul with the pointy toe! We could not stop laughing! It was the funniest sock I'd ever seen! She is such a good sport because she was laughing along with us.

I'm gone until next weekend.....I hope to get to that 100th row while I'm gone!

Only the shadow knows..........

Well, as promised I've been really focused on getting the Shadow Knit shawl done this month. However, it's starting to get to the point that it's heavy and hot! I also wasn't too keen about the "orange" side, but after working on it I'm now getting used to it. I have no idea where I would wear this though. I suppose I could wear it when I'm working on other projects! When I'm not working on the shawl, I have begun another pair of hunting socks! I know, I know, I know.......but socks are so easy! A year ago, I didn't even think about making socks, because I thought they looked difficult....but now I'm a sockaholic!

Here's an angle shot of the shawl. You can see the "shadow" that forms depending on how you look at it. I was surprised at how well this shot came out!

Now enough of this blogging stuff.......back to knitting!

Yet Another Pair of Socks!

Socks! Socks! Socks! Here's my latest pair I finished after my horrid train trip out to Boston! Now.....I've told myself that I have to stop making socks and finish my shawl and start on some Christmas gifts! Phew! I've got a lot to accomplish in a short amount of time. My next knitting adventure will take me to the "Land of Cables". I've never done them, but I've been told that they are fun and easy! I certainly hope so........

I'm Back!

What a vacation! We took the train to Boston (late by 6 1/2 hours) and had a great time. I did some knitting on the train, but I couldn't do too much because it made me nauseous. I was working on another pair of socks, and caught the attention of many weary travelers. Most couldn't believe that you could actually knit socks! Most thought that the only way they you could get them was at the store. What a hoot!

I also had the chance to stop at Newbury Yarns, which is a great shop on Newbury Street. While I was there she just received a shipment of yarn, and allowed me to look in the box at it, before she priced it and put it on the shelves. However, the "real" event at her store was the German speaking customer.....

This lady walks in and is trying to converse with the store owner and it's obvious that she doesn't speak English. As she is trying communicate my husband realizes that she is speaking German, because he can speak German! So here's this store owner telling my husband what to say and my husband has to translate this to the German woman! I was laughing so hard, because my husband knows nothing about knitting and he's trying to make sense of it all for this German lady! The store owner was so pleased that we happened to be there at the right time, that she gave me 10% off my purchase of sock yarn.

Here's the book I recently bought! There are a couple of patterns I'd like to make for family and friends for Christmas......if I can find the time. So much knitting.......too little time!

Whee! They're done!

They are finally done! Since this is my second pair....I've noticed that it gets a little easier as I go along. I think I finally have the "rhythm" of how to make socks!


I've finally have finished up packing and have brought along another pair of socks to knit on the train. I really like taking the train.....I have no horror stories to tell and enjoy meeting all the different people! Therefore, it will be a week before you hear from me again.......Happy Knitting!

Almost Done!

Guage is god......that's what Sue tells me! But do I listen.......heck no? Now.....I love these socks! However, they are a little big around the ankle, but I really don't care, because they are for me! The first sock seems a little tighter because I was a little tense. I can tell that by the second sock, I was getting the hang of things and felt a bit more comfortable. I'll probably finish these this week and then start on another pair.

We are slowing getting ready for our trip to Boston. Taking the train will give me lots of time to knit! I also found out that there are a lot of yarn shops in the area and I can't wait to check them out!

Here's my little guy Nick modeling the London Beanie I made. He loves it because it's a tad tight and I guess that's what all the skateboarders and skiers wear. Tonight I can't wait to go to Stormi's and partake in some adult beverages while I continue to make my socks! School as officially ended so that means that my vacation is now over. My yarn diet is going pretty well! I haven't purchased any yarn for 1 week! I bought some Cascade 220 to make the London Beanie in my boys' school colors. I also designed an illusion scarf with my son Nick's name. If time is on my side.....I'd like to try and get it done before Xmas! Now back to the shawl......Happy Knitting! 

Socks, Socks, Socks!

Phew! I now know the difference between the hunting socks and these.........teeny tiny needles and teeny tiny yarn! Actually, it is mindless knitting and doesn't take to long. This is the first sock and what I like to do is stop before I begin the heel flap, put this sock on some other needles and start the next one. That way....I don't get bored as easily and I can check to make sure sure that both socks are going to be close on gauge etc;

My yarn diet is not going very well......I keep thinking about buying more and more yarn and making more and more things! To remedy this I give myself projects or goals that I need to do before I can buy more yarn! For instance, I told myself "Self.....you can't buy anymore yarn until you clean out your half of the closet!" Well, guess what I did clean it (it took me 6 hours!) and now I get to reward myself with more yarn! I should start a group similar to AA and call it YA (for Yarn Addicts) We could just sit around and talk about the addiction we have to yarn! Anyone care to sign up?

A Hunting We Will Go......

The socks are finished! My son Mitch is the model! They weren't difficult at all to make and I already have an order from one my good hunting friends to make him a pair. Now I need to start on the "girl" socks.......

One Down.....One to Go!

Here are the "almost finished" hunter's socks! All I have left to do is finish the decrease on the other one, graft the toe and then I'm done! Next I plan on starting a pair with the Paton's sock yarn and make a pair for myself! I was so intimadated by socks because of all the needles you need to use, but I found out how easy and simple they can be! Also, they are so easy to take along "on the road".

I'm now looking at making a tank top I saw, but I've told myself that I need to go on a yarn diet until I get through 1/2 the yarn I already have. I wonder what's more difficult, quitting smoking or the yarn diet!

Sock it to me!

The left one is worked up until the "heel turn".

Here's a closeup of the shawl.

More Knittin' than Drinkin'!

I've been a very busy knitter, lately! I've finally begun working on the other half of my Vivian Hoxboro shawl. My goal is to have it finished by the end of summer. I've also begun a new skill and that is sock making! So far I've done pretty good! I'm an impatient knitter and I love to work ahead so I watched a video on how to turn the heel on www.diynetwork.com! It only took two times for me to figure it out! My husband loves the way the socks are turning out. He awaits for the day when he can slip them on to keep his feet warm. With the extra yarn I plan on making another london beanie! I'll have Marsha model it when I'm done! Happy Knitting to all!

Marsha! Marsha! Marsha!

Here's "Marsha" (that's the name that was picked) modeling the ruffle scarf I finished. It took me one day to bind off 648 stitches! Phew! Notice how the scarf compliments Marsha's blue eyeshadow?

Hats Off To All My Fellow Knitters!

This weekend we had a "knitting retreat" at Greenlake. Not pictured is Anne (who's taking the pic) and Nancy who had to leave for a prior engagement. From left to right is me, Peg, Joan and Chris modeling our hats that we made through Anne's guidance. Anne had this project for us to do and it was a lot of work! What's great is how each hat is different. We did a lot of knitting and enjoyed the relaxing atmosphere at the lake. Anne also taught Joan how to knit! I just need to make sure that Joan continues! The weather was a bit chilly, but that's the perfect kind of weather when you want to knit. I'm hoping we can make this a yearly event!

This is Anne getting the balls ready for our "project". 

After you have finished wrapping the ball with wool, then you take two pairs of nylons and place it over the wool. You need to pairs to cover the leg hole of the first one. You then scrub, scrub, scrub, with a little dish soap and water until the wool sticks to the nylon. You then pull the nylon off very carefully, then begin to hand felt it until it shrinks. 

Here's how the hat begins. You lay the wool horizontal in thin layers, then you lay them vertical. You keep up this process until the ball is covered.