The pink suit

The pink suit
Originally uploaded by kniterella

My youngest son is now a Freshman in High School. Bugg is a Senior and the opportunities for them to bond since school started have resulted in some difficulty. On the other hand, they have been getting along better in little spurts.

E A thinks Bugg's friends are pretty cool (what Freshman wouldn't relish acceptance by the Seniors?) and E A can be fun...She took him to get his very first Homecoming suit this week and this is what I saw when I walked in to pay for it.

The rationalization began:
EA: Aww, mom - come on. You've bought ALL of those dresses for her and they cost A LOT of money. I only want this ONE suit.
Me (thought bubble): He is going to get his A-- kicked if he shows up in this suit.
EA (seeing me hesitate): I will wear it, I PROMISE. I just want this one suit. Look, it has matching shoes AND a matching belt. Pink alligator - isn't it cool!
Me (thought bubble): Crap, there is really no way out of this.
Me: Do you take debit cards?

And this is what we have.

His sister and her friends took him to dinner with them and he had to agree to scram once they got to the dance.

I've got the bandages ready, just in case he gets his a-- kicked.

Bugg's Shrug

Bugg's Shrug is finally finished! The pattern is the Lacy Cable Shrug from Briar Rose Fibers. The pattern originally used Briar Rose's Earth Song, but Bugg liked the color and texture of Wistful.

We originally purchased 2 hanks at about 8 ounces each and there is about 6 ounces left. The yarn blocked wonderfully!

The matter of those 'good enough for now' buttons is resolved! Chris sent some 'these are THE button' buttons. They are a wonderful addition to my Retro Cardigan.

Ravelry!

Thrill!

Our High School football team won tonight - we trekked over a couple of towns and took in the game with some good friends : ) My Ravelry invite was in the mail and I've joined and added a couple of FO's. It is apparent that this diversion could consume vast amounts of my time.

OK, excuse the corny name, but I'll be know as jonesn4yarn....it's true!

Good news on the knitting front: I finished the never ending lacy cable shrug which has been washed and is drying. Also, the Retro Cardigan with the 'good enough for now' buttons has had a face lift. Chris found fantastic buttons and there was time this week to replace the brown leaves - yay!

Photos coming soon...I'm tired now and there is an early call for a tennis match. Happy weekend!

Nuts!

Darby and Lucy have been going bonkers lately. They rarely bark or growl and the behavior has been puzzling. Darby has been 'in waiting' these days, choosing a spot by the door instead of his nice, soft cushion.

Up until last week, we wondered what was causing the change in behavior and then I found a clue...

A little pile of nuts has suspiciously appeared just outside the step...about 4ft. away from where Darby sits waiting and 20ft away from the tree of origin.

The nuts were there for a few days before they were relocated to a spot within view from the front door

AND the 'competition' was taken out

The culprit sits and watches us, taunting all the while.








...Meanwhile...





I am taking the proverbial beating where my knitting is concerned. That Lacy Cable Shrug that Bugg wanted is taking for....ev...er! There are about 6 inches more to go before the decreases begin on the second sleeve.





The finisher in me pushes it along, however slowly progress is being accomplished. The knitter in me wants to cast-on for something new...a shawl, sweater, even socks!





Onward, I trudge!

International Scarf Exchange 5

Am I really signing up for the International Scarf Exchange 5?

ISE3 was such a wonderful experience. My scarf knitter - Kristy is a gem. Our matching was serendipitous and my scarf has gotten lots of 'air time'. ISE4 rolled around - I hemmed and hawed until finally deciding to join and by then, it was too late.

Here's to hoping for a second experience half as good as the first!

Beginning Knitters

A very good friend sent an e-mail this week with lots of news (thank you, - I enjoyed reading every detail : )

My friend's daughter, Sarah, has joined the Knitting Club at school and proudly shared her very first project to her mom (a non-knitter). The details made me smile because the memory of my first attempt at knitting is fresh in my mind.

Ok, Knitting Clubs at school? YEAH! What a cool way for teens to show their individuality and explore their creativity than by making something unique from two sticks and some string.

We all know how addictive knitting can become - some of us even become obsessed (my hand is up!). I applaud the teens who are beginning these clubs and gathering the courage to go check them out to see what this knitting thing is all about. I also wish we lived closer because there is fun to be had in helping a new knitter and offering helpful hints that we've painfully learned along the way.

Sarah, check your mailbox next week because your first box of fibery goodness is on it's way.

Flowers for my Mother-In-Law

The kids are back in school and Hubs is at work. The opportunity to go on a long walk alone presented itself this morning and I grabbed it. It's no secret that some of my best ideas and solutions pop into my head during the morning hours. As I walk, problems work themselves out and joys are reminisced.

It has been a little sad around our household lately. There is a sense of moodiness, uncertainties, loss. I feel it, Hubs feels it, tears spring into my eyes as I write about it now. I miss my Mother-In-Law and my husband misses his mom.

Maxine passed away quite suddenly on August 30, 2002. We wonder where the 5 years has gone - has it really been 5 years? She had just celebrated her 68th birthday and her 40th Anniversary. All of her children and grandchildren (except one) were there for the party and a week later she was gone.

Our sadness is not easily shared with the rest of the family due to distance and other factors. We share our mutual sadness together, my husband and I. We will be traveling to put flowers on her grave later this month and as I walked this morning, thoughts of what was so special about her flooded my mind:

1. Her 'cackle' of a laugh: I rarely hear a laugh like hers, but it always makes me smile when I do

2. Acceptance of 'my' kids: She immediately accepted them as her own and always treated/loved them the same

3. She was a little girl at heart

4. She laughed at jokes even when she didn't 'get' them

5. The way she would disappear at night and return minutes later with a treat-for me-just because

6. How she gave every other sister-in-law a job after dinner, but told me to sit and talk with her over coffee

7. How much we had in common and how little everyone else recognized it

8. Her appreciation of me taking care of her son and making him happy

9. How much we just enjoyed and appreciated the time spent together

10. Her ability to grow things - anything

11. The way she loved her whole family

12. Her calling and asking to talk to me instead of my husband

13. The way she would gently take the 2lb box of Godiva's I got her every Christmas and put them away 'for later'

Placing the flowers is strictly symbolic, we both know she isn't really there. Yet, we feel her all around us all of the time...oh, how I miss her- sigh!

Socks, anyone?

Another finished pair of socks? You bet! Surprise is knocking me back and forth with this pair. The yarn is Knit Pick's Memories which (I believe) is being discontinued? The colorway is Smores and I was a bit disappointed when the hanks arrived, a little less when wound into cakes, but still skeptical. Once the colors began to show themselves, it was all love.



At this rate, I will have enough hand knit socks to wear everyday this winter...if I do laundry twice a week. Ha Ha, I need a Briar Rose Fiber fix and need to finish off Bugg's Lacy Cable Shrug before breaking out new yarn and needles.



PLUS, Hubs wanted to get a shot of these socks with me jumping in the air...(chuckle, chuckle) I agreed to support myself on the cabinets in the kitchen and even that didn't get me far off the ground. Definite support of the fact that a few pounds have graced my buttocks during the glorious summer months. I believe some strict eating habits and additional exercise are in my near future!

Finished Retro Cardigan and Good Enough For Now Buttons

Chris' Retro Cardigan is a sweet little knit (my son says the new 'sweet' is 'sick', but I cannot bring myself to use that word to represent anything in knitting).

Buttons for this baby were/are a challenge. You know how you get something in your head - the perfect thing to finish off a project and then it doesn't seem to exist? The buttons are that something with this sweater. The hunt for the perfect buttons (all 10 of them) will continue thus these are the Good Enough for now Buttons.

Yarn: Briar Rose Tuscany, 4 hanks - I had 5 hanks just in case

Needles: 10 and 10 1/2 circulars

Gauge: 3 sts/inch

It was a little difficult to get good pictures of this yarn. There were shots of it while blocking and the colors were too mottled. The close-up of the buttons is closest to the true color.

Thanks to my Hubs who went on the Great Button Hunt with me and was patient enough to come back for more and take the pictures.

A New Toy

"beep, beep"

I always, always, always have wanted a convertible - totally impractical for Michigan weather MOST of the time, but lately...

My convertible is cruising around most every day with whichever family member will indulge me and come along - fun - definitely more fun that I imagined. The feel of wind through your hair and the 'oneness' with the outdoors appeals to me - an outdoors girl at heart (ok, just warm weather outdoors).

Knitting

The Briar Rose Retro Cardigan out of Tuscany is finished...well, the ends need to be woven in and some sweet buttons are being hunted. An original thought was to use the buttons pictured above, but I need 10 and only have 6 of these. I need to get some other projects finished and then beg Chris to dye something to use with these buttons.

Of course, a pair of socks are in the works - the Smores colorway of Knit Pick's Memories is knitting up much nicer than I would have thought. I can imagine the smell of chocolate, marshmallow, and graham crackers drifting through the room when knitting these socks. As usual, everyone in the family is trying to position themselves as the recipient.

Other thoughts

With school coming into session, work again looms at my door. I've had a couple of meetings in the past few weeks, but the things they have for me to work on will take a lot more time. It is good to have knowledge that can help - I will try to maintain my focus on that aspect and not let the schedule rule my life.

A parting photo of Miss Kitty. She was adopted, but must be close to 13 years old now. She still finds the energy to chase the dogs and was stalking one of them via the stairway last week.

Finally finished Tilly Shawl

My Tilly has been in the works for quite awhile. Ultimately, it took two blocks to get this where I wanted it. There are a couple of other edgings and techniques that will work better than the knitted on border this Tilly ended up with. Soon, I will be re-doing some aspects to this pattern and I plan to swatch many of my ideas to see how they work out.

Tilly's Garden Shawl from Briar Rose Fibers
Finished measurements:58" across the top and 37" long
Yarn: Briar Rose Fibers Legend
Yardage: ? I had two hanks to begin with and have finished this as well as my 'V' neck pullover. Enough yardage remains for another project.

Yarn de-stash sale - Manos del Uruguay

I am de-stashing a little at a time. If you are interested in any of these items, please e-mail me at kniterellacomcastnet or comment and let me know which item.

If the yarn has been sold, I will mark it on the original post.

All Manos is handspun pure kettle dyed. Approx 138 yds/skein. This yarn felts beautifully.

4 Skeins SOLD

4 Skeins Not available

5 Skeins SOLD
3 Skeins SOLD


5 Skeins $40.00


5 Skeins SOLD

Sock yarn de-stash sale

I am de-stashing a little at a time. If you are interested in any of these items, please e-mail me at kniterellacomcastnet or comment and let me know which item.

1 Skein Color #14 45% Cotton, 40% superwash wool, 15% nylon

$6.00

2 Skeins Koigu SOLD

2 Skeins Koigu SOLD

3 Skeins Koigu SOLD

1 Skein 100g 45% cotton, 42% virgin wool, 13% polyamid - machine washable sock yarn!

$8.00

Swallowtail Shawl, more vacation, and upcoming yarn sale

One week ago today I woke up here. It is hard to remember the water being so blue and it beckons me. Now that our vacation is over, we think through what we did and what we wish we had done. Our friends came to visit one weekend from Florida and it was the second time we've seen them (Savannah in April). We had fabulous Thai food that night and were longing to pop over and have dinner there last night. Dining choices of that nature are non-existent here.

I didn't take many photos this vacation and that is one thing I wish was different.

...on to the shawl...

Swallowtail Shawl

Yarn: Zephyr Silk/Wool - Marine Blue

Size 4 needles

Note: Mine is a tad smaller than the pattern states. I should have used 5 needles

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this shawl. It is the perfect size to use for work (once/if I return) and the color is amazing. The softness is indescribable.

Other Knitting

Mom's pink top is drying (still). I will take pictures before mailing, but am pretty certain this is one garment that will not look right unless modeled and those photos may take awhile to get.

Remember my Tilly Garden Shawl? The one with the knit on border? The border I winged without the math? Well, everyone knew that wasn't going to work but I charged forth. It wouldn't block and the border was removed. Some fancy math and swatching was done and the new and improved border is moving right along. Again, photos to come soon.

I picked up some lovely Handmaiden Sea Silk, Jade Sapphire Cashmere-Silk, and Prism Lace Wool - all in various colors of the sea. I find myself nearly content and almost overwhelmed by my staggering amounts of stash yarn. There are only two things I still long for 1) Handmaiden Silken and 2) ANYTHING that comes from Chris' shop. So....I've decided to perform a little de-stash and will be posting the yarn here on my blog first. It will take awhile to get through all of it, but there will be some good yarn - I promise! My goal is to get some posted mid-week.

Vacation knitting

How things stack up when a person goes away from home! The e-mail and postal mail has been tackled, work e-mail remains. The house needs a light cleaning and I haven't managed to unpack everything.

All in all, this was a great crafting vacation. My swallowtail shawl is finished and should be blocked today. My mom traveled with us and purchased yarn for a top on the way to the beach and it is nearly finished (pictures coming soon). Bugg has been working on cross stitch month blocks to be transformed into a quilt - mom finished one block, Bugg nearly has two under her belt and I...nearly finished one (honest, it is almost finished - I promise!). There was not time to knit up any of the other yarn that traveled from my stash, but new yarn did come home with me. Chris, being the sweetheart that she is, had two bundles waiting when we finally came back home - which made going through the postal mail a lot more enjoyable. There are projects assigned to both bundles!!!

My mom learned how to knit and is nearly finished with a garter stitch scarf. She has even tension that is pleasing to the eye. She may be addicted to knitting - time will tell. If she had a dropped stitch or an unknit stitch from the previous row, her scarf would magically appear on top of my project and be waiting for me when I returned from wherever I had gone. The mistake would get fixed and mom would happily take of knitting again...until the next one. Truthfully, she didn't have many mistakes and she was a trooper, counting the stitches at every row to make sure they were all present and accounted for. When we left her house to come home, she was beginning her final 12".

Bugg is a natural at knitting (keep it a secret she is a semi-closet knitter). Her stitches are very even and she picks up techniques quickly. She is working on two projects - a sock using Socks That Rock and a small shawl. She didn't get the 'finishing gene' from me, but is working pretty diligently on both projects.

It seems this post is growing a bit long, I will leave you with a couple of photos which makes me smile - Bugg and my Youngest!

Another holiday almost finished

How lucky are we? Getting to spend 3 weeks at the beach has been fabulous. I would have bet the feelings of being ready to go home would have set in by the end of the first week. You know-'ahhh, this has been a nice break but there will be two tons of mail (including yarn) waiting along with inches of dust and it is time to tackle those things' feelings. Instead, I find myself checking lottery numbers to see if we can schedule time with a realtor to pick out our multi-million dollar beach front home.

All of my friends know that the weather in Michigan is a struggle for me. The humidity of the South is welcoming and I embrace it readily. There are cold-weather people and beach people - I am a beach people! Encouragement exists in knowing that we won't always be in Michigan, yet after nearly 5 years I find myself restless. So, as I contemplate the return to Michigan (and Bugg's Senior year), the knowing thoughts of 5 months of cold weather and snow make me cringe. Snow and cold weather are not very functional for a beach person.

Cut to yesterday:

The boys went deep sea fishing yesterday and the youngest son reeled in a 4ft. nurse shark weighing approx. 180 lbs. He also caught a few miscellaneous other fish, but his shark was the largest of the day. Hubs snared one miscellaneous fish and was satisfied to see our son's catch.

Us girls drove to Charleston, SC for some sightseeing and shopping. It was the hottest day of the year and we went through bottled water quickly. Weather reports had the water temp in the Charleston Harbor around 86 degrees. We aimed for a horse-drawn tour, but the weather was too extreme for the horses to come out and play so walking was our mode of transportation. We really needed a couple of days in Charleston to go to a plantation and to visit Ft. Sumter.

---The lottery numbers were not in our favor and we'll be off to the beach in a few minutes.

...We interrupt this vacation...

Being half-way into the vacation, a sense of peace surrounds me. No worry about trying to unwind after the long drive or anxiousness because the break is nearly over and it will be time to return to all that waits exists yet. My youngest son said it best today:

ME: (to hubs) What would you like to do today?
HUBS: I don't know, whatever you'd like.
SON: Let's just do more of the same.

Same= eat, go to the pool, go to the beach, eat

As predicted, we hit a couple of yarn shops along the way. Pictures will follow, but some lovely laceweight and Jade Sapphire cashmere followed me. My mom (not a knitter) decided to knit scarves for her friend's Christmas presents and is flying along on a garter stitch scarf. She also picked up some lovely yarn for a summer top...on which I am nearing completion. She chose a rose color of Cathay by Debbie Bliss. Youngest son tried to wrangle a pair of socks out of me yesterday, but changed his mind when told it would be a 'very long time' before those socks would fly off of my needles. Needless to say, little progress has been made on any of the projects which originally travelled with me.

Spinning?

A few weeks ago a drop spindle was calling my name. I've wanted to learn to spin for awhile and am mesmerized by the whirr of a spinning wheel. Not needing another expensive toy, I opted for the drop spindle. A very kind spinner (insert name later) helped get me started and I walked away with about a foot of spun fiber - that was spun by me! Once we return home, I think the waiting Romney will be spun away!

Choosing the perfect yarn to knit on vacation...

...priceless!

Thoughts of perfect little skeins of yarn, balls of fiber, and hanks to be rolled have been dancing through my mind for days. The idea was to swatch and choose patterns before departing for vacation. I swatched some Tuscany from Briar Rose Fibers for my Retro Cardigan. It was such a fun knit that I've nearly completed it. Thoughts of only taking things that would become Christmas presents (for 2007 Christmas) seemed like a good idea, but I've settled on a nice mix.

L-R Back row: Briar Rose's Grandmother's Blessing, Knit Pick's Sock Memories in Smores colorway (really, I could swear I detected chocolate and graham cracker smells as this yarn was wound), Knit Pick's Sock Memories in Cape Cod colorway, -peeking from the left corner is my Swallow Tail Shawl began this week, Aqua colored Panda Cotton, Briar Rose's Grace (bagged), Bugg's Lacy Cable Shrug in Briar Rose Wistful, Down Front: Ella Rae Silkience and Shibu. If this isn't enough, the shopfinder will be very near - and the driver gets to choose the route, right?

Realistically, this will not all be knit during this vacation, but at least there will be plenty of of options and SOME sock yarn from the stash is travelling. Note: I simply could not wind any Koigu, Lorna's Laces or STR - seriously, it's like sacred yarn and it's being saved for a momentous occasion - what is wrong with me?

Conflicted - there are blogs I read every day. Some don't post every day, but there will be lots of knits going on while we're away and blog-withdrawl is setting in.

On another note

We planned a picnic for last Sunday. The weather was a little cool (hence the sweatshirt and long sleeves) and the picnic was moved inside. Throw down a homemade quilt, call the Colonel and voila!

It was a very nice day!

...Off to the shore.

De-stashing and Enough sock yarn to sock the world

The De-Stash

Slowly but surely I have started de-stashing - emphasis on s - l - o - w - l - y.

A bit was posted on E-Bay and then I checked the yarn closet to see what else might be in the realm of giving up. Giving my yarn away for a song is not appealing to me at all. The idea of a win-win situation always makes me happy, but there are some of us knitters out there that want the yarn for nearly FREE and I would rather it wait patiently for me until the year 2020 (this is completely possible, too). Anyway, I could only part with a small bit this time - maybe more later.

Update: Heh, Heh...Kristy goads me into posting a picture? (see comments) Not today! My hubs would certainly see that and when I ran into the sock deal of the century we would be at an impasse.

After vacation - in mid - August, I am thinking of posting some de-stash here on my blog to sell if anyone is interested. Until then, e-mail me with any sock yarn wishes you have and I will dig into the pile to see if I have it. Want to knit with Koigu? Seriously, this is stuff only shared with knitting friends!

Sock the World

Truly, there are folks out there who knit hoards of socks. I love socks - love to knit them, love to wear them, don't mind hand washing or blocking, but I knit lots of other things too. This is why I cannot understand the enormity of the amount of sock yarn I have amassed. Theory is that it is pretty affordable to get enough cool sock yarn to make a pair of great socks. All sock yarn (within reach) was layed neatly on the floor - the idea was to post a picture for you all to see. It was so utterly embarrassing that I quickly sacked it up and stashed it back into the yarn closet. It was decided with certainty that 1. none of THAT yarn was going anywhere and 2. more socks need to be knitted. It is all great sock yarn - Lorna's Laces, Lucy Neatby's Celestial Merino, Socks That Rock, Koigu, Mountain Colors, Colinette's Jitterbug, Schaefer's Anne, Interlacement's Tiny Toes, some favorites hand dyed by pros that I dare not mutter - er, type.

So, a pair of socks WERE just finished (check previous post). That was out of Black Bunny that was nabbed off of EBay last month - while all this luscious goodness sat patiently waiting for me in the yarn closet, I purchased, received, wound yarn, and knit an entire new pair of socks. Nothing can justify the gluttonous behavior shown in the acquiring of such an amount of sock yarn! Guess what all my knitting friends can look forward to getting for their Birthday's and for Christmas...for many years to come!

Black Bunny Socks

Diagonal Cross Rib Socks - Verbena Black Bunny

It has been awhile since I've completed a pair of socks and these may be my favorite yet. It could be the fact that I benefited from someone de-stashing on Ebay (I jumped on this yarn!), maybe it is the fit, it is probably because both socks are finished -yay! I just grafted the second toe while waiting for my daughter to get home from a late movie. Oh, I barely had a smidge of yarn left over - I was sweating it!

Sock particulars:

Pattern: Diagonal Cross Rib Socks - Favorite Socks 25 Timeless Designs from Interweave

Needles: Sz 2 for upper leg; Sz 1 for lower leg and foot

Changes: Shortened the leg from 8" to 7"

Finished sock 1 - 7/5/07

Finished sock 2 - 7/9/07-ish

One for the boys

It is easy to get photos posted of Bugg because she graciously models all of the handknits for me. I take photos of the boys, but don't get them posted regularly.

So...here is a recent photo of the boys. I am a lucky, lucky girl!

Finished Icarus Shawl

Icarus Shawl

Modeled by my Bugg

Yarn: Briar Rose Fourth of July2 1/2 skeins; asking Chris for an estimate on yardage according to weight

Size 6 needles

Blocked Measurements (HUGE) - approx 88" across top and 58" down middle
This shawl is huge, but I would not knit it on a smaller sized needle.

It is made according to the pattern from 2006 Summer Interweave Knits by Miriam Felton. Bugg and I liked the way it draped and how it stays in place when wrapped. I will be taking a couple of the first chart repeats out and re-making this in an attempt to squeeze it out of two skeins of Fourth of July.

Dear Friend (you know who you are)...

Dear Friend,

I need your help.

My daughter just informed me that scrapbooks will be needed for Graduation next year. Yes, yes, I knew they would be needed, but there is a class in school - it is required, even - in which an assignment exists for the student to make their own scrapbook. Actually, there WAS a class, the administration changed it (bummer). Ok, I am SO not a scrapbooker. I could knit her a cap and gown and offered, but she won't go for it. It must be a scrapbook ..er two.

Remember all of those card-making supplies I purchased? They are still shiny and new and could be used for scrapbooking, couldn't they? Oh, the thought of spending hours upon hours on this project makes me feel ill. I just spent 2 hours going through photos and my head hurts so bad I think it will fall off.

Maybe if I had help on just ONE page...if I could finish just one...maybe I could find the confidence I muster when diving into a knit project. I know you don't love to scrapbook and we've talked about dispensing with all of the extraneous hobbies we've accumulated to focus on our beloved few -- but it's my Bugg!!!

I've looked at the shops, perused the magazines, browsed the shops trying to pick up the tips -- I am going to need your help - any suggestions?

Pray for me - this is DEFINITELY going to impact my knitting agenda!

Love,
Me

A Good Day

Yesterday was a good day.

Chris and I had been planning to meet and set-up yesterday's lunch a few weeks ago. I looked forward to it and had a wonderful time. Briar Rose KAL'er Jan came with Chris and it was so great to meet her - she is so nice! The trek home (with fresh Briar Rose Fibers in my trunk - say yeah!!!) passed quickly and I was able to spend time with Bugg in the afternoon.

--cut to the evening--

Mitzi and I haven't been able to have our regular KnitNite for a few weeks and we finally got together. Typically, we do not get much knitting done when we have missed a couple of dates and we spent much of our evening just catching up. It was peaceful sitting in her sun room with the breeze blowing and birds singing. Summer events will cut into these opportunities with Mitzi and I will miss them and always look forward to our next KnitNite.

Note to self: Take pictures of Mitzi's project(s)

I've swatched for the next project in the que. Wistful will be used to create Bugg's next item - the Lacy Cable Shrug from Briar Rose (of course!) Gauge was finally achieved and cast-on is tentatively slated for Sunday.