chaos

We managed to leave Bugg at college (gulp)! I won't humor you by saying these last few weeks have been easy, but it isn't something that can't be managed. There are lots of bare feelings and I know it will ease soon. Her experience is going very well. She was prepared and recruitment week has been rewarding for her.

A knitting detour struck me. This was unlike my usual detours of quilting, spinning, weaving, needlework and I was engulfed! Have you heard of or read Stephenie Meyer's books beginning with Twilight? Stephenie's writing style draws me in and makes me feel like anything is possible. with 400-500 pages each, it seems like the books would be a major commitment. I've read the first two and they've sucked (excuse the pun) me totally in. Who couldn't love Edward? Anyway, I quit knitting for a few days and can't wait to pick up books 3 and 4 from Bugg this weekend. The first two books were left for my dad to read with a note "WARNING!! Reading these books will make you want to become a vampire." Enough said.

These nifty little socks are made from Colinette Jitterbug in Raspberry. They really didn't take long to make (especially if you discount the time spent on diversions). Knit on size 1 needles, this yarn is a dream. Not needing any major pattern concentration, they were knit from the basic pattern on the Colinette label. I needed a little something to hold interest and added the 'alphabet pattern' for the leg. Essentially, I knit 26 stitches and purled one repeating throughout the leg.

The first half of alpaca was drying as Bugg and I headed out with her car loaded down. It was dry upon my return and is absolutely incredible. So, so soft. 315 yards of fingering weight and there is still another half to spin! Great yardage!

One whole week without spinning - my acquired skilz are bound to suffer.

Last but not least, a few days were spent with my folks and my niece was cooperative for photos in here Bolero aka Chocolate Covered Cherry.

She is pretty big for a 4 year old, but I managed to make it large enough for her to wear for awhile.

Yooo hooo, Mitzi...

During our knitnite last week, Mitzi clued me in on these new Dansko's. Mine are well worn and I NEEDED these...seriously.

They are so me!

Grey Leopard....grrrrrr!

Oh, they will make their official debut at our Wooly Over-the-water-trip aka Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival on Sept. 5.

nature, knitting and spinning

The gardens are bursting with blooms and the colors are enticing.






For some inexplicable reason there are lilacs blooming. I should do some research and discover exactly why they are blooming, but there isn't time right now.



Toad has been living in this flower pot all summer. I did catch him in the cat's water bowl (inside the garage) one morning. For the most part he stays inside the pot only peeking his head out when the watering occurs.

A bunny showed up outside the porch and we were lucky to find him before the dogs or cat did. A couple of bunnies have already fallen prey to Cat this season, but this little bunny was scooped up into a box and relocated to a safe area in the weeds.

The second sleeve has been complete and measurable progress will slow. 256 stitches are on the needles for the body of this sweater and a row will take quite awhile to get through. Once the facing is complete, I should be able to gauge how much time a row/repeat will take and then calculate how much time I need to spend knitting this to complete in time for Christmas...Mom will be so surprised!
What is on my wheel?
Creamy soft alpaca. So soft it feels like butter running through my fingers. The 8 ounces ball has been divided into 2 ounce portions. One is complete and I hope to get the second finished and plied before leaving Friday for Kentucky.

the cool kids

Today is the last day of drivers education for Favorite Youngest Son.

He is 15 years old, wears a size 15 shoe, and is 6' 6.5" tall.

I dropped him off and all of the cool kids were standing around near our car (maybe 8' away). He leaned over and kissed me on the cheek before getting out.

I think I know who the really cool kid is

diversion

Lots of spinning and knitting have been happening around here.

My only daughter is going to be driven 6 1/2 hours away and left at college in two weekends...this flurry of activity is my diversion.

The little hat sparked my desire to do more colorwork so mom's Philosopher's Wool sweater fixin's was dug out.

This is the first sleeve and I will be claiming small victories in knitting this sweater as it may be awhile before the entire thing can be finished. My hope is by Christmas....this Christmas (2008).

The pattern is Fractured Diamonds and it is fun so far. I love the way the inside of the sleeve looks.

There is also a new skein of handspun Corridale.

Lisa held a giveaway months and months ago which led to me winning a hunk of Watermelon pencil roving from Crown Mountain Farms (the pink below)

Once the spinning began, it was apparent that I would want tons of yardage so a quick order was sent to Crown Mountain and this green arrived quite quickly in the mail. Some of the green is still on my wheel and should be finished this week. My FYS named the finished yarn 'Lollipop'

...As if that wasn't enough?

90% Merino, 10% tencil which I call Dominatrix Barbie. The roving came from a fiber day Lisa and I had with Coby at her workshop. You can find it in Coby's Etsy shop, colorway: Guts

Note: Coby's shop is empty today, but keep checking back, she always restocks quickly

another finished object to share

Whatever possessed me to make this pillow again?

Bugg, of course.

This pattern is from Colinette's Toast & Marmalade booklet and is called Candy Whirl.

Candy, toast, marmalade? sign me up! I will knit anything with food in the pattern title.

As mentioned, I've knit this before...out of Colinette Point 5. Disappointment followed once the finished knitted fabric began to sag. Bugg didn't care, she has loved it dearly (not gently).

After the endless loops, tightening the knots, and sagging, it wouldn't take a genius to figure out that knitting the pillow again would not be on the top of my list.

One thing led to another and Chris dyed up DreamWeaver in Bugg-specified colors which seemed a little....um, different.

The DreamWeaver has a lot more 'boing' than Point 5 which eliminated the sagging (it also cost a lot less).

Now, a little Bugg is whispering something about re-doing the original pillow. Again, I swear I will never knit this pattern again. Although a yarn change eliminated the sag, all of those loops are fresh on my mind.

See it on Ravelry

Ursula Shrug

Charity is one of the newer yarns that Chris has offered us. 900 yards of Corridale and it is absolutely lovely.

This pattern is Ursula from Knits Three Ways by Melissa Matthay.


The ribbed edging causes the sleeves to pull in a bit. Try knitting the lace piece about 2” longer to compensate.

There is 5 1/2 ounces left from one skein which is plenty of yarn for another project.

Bugg and I both like the ribbing and it makes this shrug fit nicely. We have other shrugs that slip around the shoulders and adding a ribbing such as this will make a much better fit.

See it on Ravelry