Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Stupid Sock Pattern

My sock saga class continues...........

After working on my sock.....I finally get to the rib of the cuff.....but wait......I notice there's a mistake in the pattern.....(count the 3 in total, now). So I have to waste my time......email the instructor.....and wait.....

And Wait....


And Wait....

When......*ding* my email alert goes off!


I receive a response that says "I made another mistake, I hope you can move forward"


What? Move forward? This sock shouldn't be that difficult! If you're the instructor and it's your pattern.....don't you double and triple check it? When a friend of mine wrote her first pattern she had about 5 of us knit it BEFORE she published it.

Enough complaining.......I wrote the corrections and finished it. Phew! I'll try to get some pics of it soon! Happy Knitting!

Monday, October 22, 2007

Terrible.....terrible.....blogger!

Slap my hands......take my knitting needles away.........whip me with a tape measure.....but please be gentle! It's been too long since I've blogged......I know!

With my new job and working fulltime....I think I finally can get back to my blog. In my spare time I've been knitting like a fiend. I just finished my second Lady Eleanor Stole and I love it! I'm now working on a pair of toe-up socks that I took a class to learn.....Now let me tell you about the class...

When you sign up for a knitting class, you expect that the teacher is at least an "intermediate" knitter. Someone who will be able to answer your questions and actually have an understanding of patterns, how they work etc; This was not the case!

I took this class with a couple of friends of mine.....first the instructor (and I use that term quite loosely) didn't have the pattern ready when we arrived so we had to wait for her to copy it. Shouldn't all materials be ready BEFORE we arrive?

As we sit down, she explains that she just started knitting a few months ago and the owner of the knitting store thought she could teach a class! We all looked at each other with surprise because between the 3 of us we had about 15 years of knitting.

The class begins and we are having trough with the cast-on.....she explains that she doesn't have her socks to show us, so she grabs a pair of circulars and tries to show us. Instead of coming up to each of us.....she stood at the end of a table and held it up in the air! Wouldn't it have been easier to show us on big needles with big yarn? When I figured it out.....I went to each person in the class and showed them.

Then there was the pattern......I was coming up with a different number of stitches than the pattern stated.....then someone else was, then someone else. Finally, she looks at the pattern and said "Oops! This second page is the wrong one!" What the heck! Needless to say, I won't be taking a class from her!

My knitting group is still going strong......we have lost one of our members to cancer. But we were happy to hear that we made her final months filled with love and knitting......it brought her much peace.

With that said.......I hope you all forgive me in the blogging world. I promise it won't happen again! Happy Knitting!

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

I got me a job!

After 15 years of staying home with my children.....I have decided that it's time to go back to work fulltime! I cried the first week.....sad because I realized my boys were growing up so fast! However, by the next week I was fine! The women I work closely with are the ultimate crafters......they knit and quilt! So we have a lot in common! But this "work" thing really cuts into my knitting time! But like my husband said.........it gives you more money to spend on yarn! Whoo! Whoo!

Currently, I'm working on the Lady Eleanor Stole from Shawl Style. I thought this was going to be very difficult....but I was wrong! I love working on it and have already decided that I may have to make two! I'm making it with Noro Silk Garden on 10 1/2 needles...colorway #249. It has light pink, dark blue, browns, grays, and a touch of green. The color is fabulous! I was inspired by my friend Nancy and her stole. She made it her own by adding beads at the bottom of the fringe. It looks gorgeous!

I also just received my flyer for Stitches and I can't wait! I think I might take a beaded envelope purse class and then hang out with the fellow knitters in the evening! Take note Kris......call me! Well, it's time to get back to work..................Happy Knitting!

Monday, January 15, 2007

My.....How Fetching!

I'm on a roll......two posts in one month! This is a pic of "fetching" that I made. I can't believe how many out there have made this! It was very easy.....I adjusted the pattern a bit and it only takes a weekend to make a pair. I love working with Debbie Cliss Cashmerino Aran yarn. It's very, very soft and is great to work with. I've already made 3 sets for Xmas 2007! (it's a crappy picture, but you get the idea) I refuse to get caught short this year with knitting deadlines. My goal is to have all my knitted Xmas presents done by March! Now we just have to wait and see if that happens.......

Currently, I also have on my needles the Mrs. Beeton wrist ruffles form Knitty. I had never done knitting with beads......what a pain. That pattern had to be adjusted as well, because I had a "ladder" forming with the purl stitches. I told a few people from my Thursday night group....."Don't tell me to rip it out!" Well, guess what? I ripped the darn thing out and started over. Instead of starting with a purl stitch I now started with a knit. Much, much, better! I have one ruffle done and hopefully will start working on the 2nd once soon. Phew!

This week my eldest needs to study for exams next week. I'll be getting lots and lots of knitting done, because all of his friends are going to study here and I'm on watch to make sure they actually study.....no screwing around on my watch! I made some cookies today that will go well with all the science they need to go over.

Someone told me that the Stitch N'Pitch is up and running with the Milwaukee Brewer's hosting on Sept. 16th. It's about time they jumped on board! If you remember last time they dropped the ball and didn't participate through the TNNA website. I've already marked it in my calendar and can't wait. At least at Miller Park you don't have to work about weather, because we have that lovely roof! Not that I'm complaining about the weather......it finally snowed today....about 4 inches, which isn't bad considering the last time it snowed was on Dec. 1st.

This afternoon I'm going to treat myself to some knitting.....seeing that I was on my hands and knees in the boys' bathroom, with a tootbrush, cleaning the grout in the floor tile. Not one of my favorite jobs to do......just glad that I did it!

Thursday, January 04, 2007

Christmas is over! Yeah!

Christmas is finally over and now I can sit back and relax! Things have been crazy here since October with family situations, medical situations and just "situations" in general. However, I can say that everyone is on their way to recovery, whether it's emotional or medical and hopefully this new year will be better than "06!

I finished a pair of hunting socks that my neighbor Jeff loved! Too bad I didn't get them done in time for hunting this year......oops! I made a pair of wool socks for my sis-in-law Joan, which she loved as well......I hope she remembers not to put them in the washing machine! I did have some time to celebrate this year as well.


I knit with a group of wonderful women each Thursday evening. I don't know what I would do without them.......we make each other laugh and have been there for each other during difficult times. One of the best times is when Rose Ann turned 60! We call ourselves the "Yarnivore's", because we are like carnivore's when it comes to yarn! She was so surprised! When I walked in with the cake she said "Oh! I love cake! Who's birthday is it?" It wasn't until I put the cake in front of her that she figured out it was for her. Don't you love the cake?
On the knitting homefront, I'm currently making "Fetching" from knitty. I love them! I already made a pair and working on a second pair. I adjusted the pattern a bit. I didn't think they were long enough so I added another cable and 4x1 rib repeat on the hand portion, before the bind-off. Also, I thought the picot edge would curl so I did a regular old bind off! I used 1 full skein and a little bit of another ball of the Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran. Three skeins would give you 2 pair. This yarn is so soft and yummy! I'm making these as gifts for Xmas NEXT year! That's right......NEXT year!
My next project is the cable purse from classic elite. Those kinds of purses are so hot now! I see them everywhere in the mall stores. I KNOW that mine will look better than those store bought ones.
I hope that everyone has a wonderful new year and has the opportunity to knit everyday!