Just Thinkin Outloud

You know, it's funny, but less than three months ago I could count the balls of yarn in my house on one hand and now, I think it's multiplying by itself...It's falling off the shelves beside my knitting chair...I have it in baskets and bags...I inherited a ball and a half (which I immediately wound on my yarn winder) of some very nice cashmerey wool from my sister...arrived day before yesterday, knowing full well that a friend has just sent me two hanks of some very lovely white handspun Merino...and today I earmarked some laceweight that I am going to splurge on...even though I have about 20 balls of some very nice laceweight that I should be casting on for a Shetland Shawl that I don't need but must make. Same goes for books and mags of the knitting sort. Where once they were tidily stored in one small canvas bucket, I've now started stowing them on a shelf above some of the yarn. I bought two knitting magazines this week alone and today when I was at B&N I contemplated Book #1 of Stitchionary...but thought I might get a better price from Amazon. Yet, I am not satisfied....I search the internet every day for new, interesting patterns that I will one day make and I dream and drool over all the yarns at the yarn company sites as well as the bigger discount online shops...I want it all, but mostly the yarn. I want to touch it and smell it (especially the wool....God, I love the smell of real wool without synthetics twisted in) I love the feel of it knitted too...and cotton!! Yes, oh yes, knitted cotton. Tommy's sweater is cotton and it feels so heavenly lying there in my lap...all those cabled stitches weighty feeling under my fingers. Nothing slips off a needle like a strand of cotton. Where has this been all my life? Why didn't I keep up the knitting when I was in my 20's? I've wasted 30 years of good knitting time and now, in my 50's I am obsessed with getting caught up! The interesting thing is, at this time in my life, at my age, I am not afraid to try anything. Nothing seems too complicated to try and if it doesn't work, I know I can frog it. Before, there wasn't even a word for redeeming your disasters so I thought I had totally failed...now, if I screw it up I can do something adorably cute like frog my knitting and that makes it OK!!! It's also ok to knit on something for months and months and never be finished...but that's ok too! YEA!!!! Alright, I know, I have to finish...I have to, that's me. I'd be miserable if I didn't finish and finish it as close to perfect as possible...sigh...but, there is that safety net....just in case.
I LOVE KNITTING

Spring Break

Yes, it's SB and I've been doing absolutely whatever I want to do...such as knit. I have just about finished the Kilt Jacket...I think I have said this every week for at least a month, but I actually have knitted all the pieces and now all that is left is to put in the sleeves. I made the most darling bobble buttons for it...not ceramic ones like I said I would...knitted bobbles just set it off and make it look very classy and polished. Now I am in a bobble frenzy and want to make something else with bobbles...so I cast on a really garishly yellow hat for Shannen...well, she's a kid, she'll love it...with bobbles all around. On big (size 15) needles too. It's actually kind of cute if I do say so myself.

Well above are some pics of the purple jacket...isn't it nice? Also have cast on and done several inches of Tommy's sweater...boy, is it ever going to be nice once it's done!!

Carly is spinning me some white Merino in dk for a cowl/hood and some mitts. Maybe for me, maybe as a gift for someone. I want to get her to spin me some lace weight in the sand wool. I am going to try my hand at making a lace shawl.

Well, here it is....THE PATTERN...for Tommy's sweater. The patterns are called Wave and of course the top band is Seed stitch. I will call it Tommy's Pebbles and Waves Sweater. I've finished the ribbing band for the back and now ready to begin the Wave pattern. I think it will look very nice on him. It's a very nice, soft cotton too...after a few washes it will be as soft as a cloud!!
I found a lovely top and jacket pattern I want to make for myself but the pattern isn't available unless I buy yarn for it from elann.com...which I can't afford ($150.00) and it's wool yarn and would be terribly warm for down here...I'd still like to have the pattern and work it up in a nice fingering weight cotton...well, maybe they'll make it available, or I'll just design my own like it...not crazy about the shoulders of the top anyway...too skinny-but the jacket it awesome and I love the huge buttons..it's very modern.

A Whole Dang Week...or, Whaaaaaaa happened to March!

Geeze Louise, I haven't posted in nearly a week! What happened to the days? Well, I'll try not to be so remiss in the future, let me assure you.

Almost finished the Kilt Jacket and have subsequently and much to my delight taken up correspondence with my twin sister regarding "THE JACKET" as it is now known. She's getting it and in return, without my asking either..just because she wanted to, has crocheted my a really cool jacket as well....aren't we just the crafty ones? Miss Niblefingers is nearing completion of my jacket...she's quite speedy....and I am so excited to see it. She bought antique buttons for it and it's crocheted in some nice silky yarn...oh boy, oh boy, oh boy! I will post a pic once the package has arrived from Michigan.

The cotton yarn arrived yesterday for Tommy's sweater I am designing. I laboriously knitted a plethora(I like that word) of swatches in chosen patterns to get gauge and finally ended up with 7sts. to the inch on size 7 dp needles (and circular too). It will be lovely if I do say so myself!!!

I found a pattern last night for knitted stockings from the 40's....is it ever cool!!! Sure wish I lived somewhere that had some actual cold weather...sigh...but, at least I can knit for Pat, Johanna and Beth...who do live in an Arctic clime.

Margie died yesterday and I am feeling very sad. I loved her like a Mom-well, she was to me. She did so much for me and the boys when L. left us. I don't think we would have survived without her. The funeral will be Monday. I hope Andy gets back from Florida before Monday. He's there on Spring Break and we haven't been able to get in touch with him yet. Called Mama last night when I found out. Shes doing well...feisty as ever and working. Wanting to go on another trip soon, but probably won't for a little while. Hope to go see her soon

She's Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack

Went to the LYS, Dunwoody, and found out they're closing their doors next month. I am sad, I am devastated...I've only just found them. Wish I had lots of money and I could buy the place and make a go of it. All the yarn is so beautiful. The lady there is so nice and helpful. I only wish they were doing well so they could stay. I looked at all their yarn...it's just wonderful...but ended up getting one hank of Euroflax in Champagne color. I haven't got a clue as to what I will do with it...it's just a part of the stash I guess...it's really nice though. I might use just one strand of it and make a lacey scarf. It wouldn't be very big or long, but it would be quite pretty I think...kind of whispy and elegant maybe.
Well, that's all I wanted to say about that...I'm pouting.

Swatches and Knitting Euro Patterns

You know, you'd think the whole world would get one system for measurement and stick with it. A morning spent swatching a project is not my idea of a good time. I have this fabulous pattern I'm using from Drops...all of their patterns are just soooooooo gorgeous...and the swatch and pattern calls for size 7mm needles. Do you think American needles would correspond? Ohhhhh, no, of course not. I had to swatch three times before I could get gauge!!! I don't like swatching anyway. It's like exercising-uggggghhh-I just wanna get on with it. I'm excited about the yarn and how it's going to look and the pattern is awesome, but I'm swatching for at least two hours trying to get the right gauge so that I don't have, as the Yarn Harlot puts it, a house cozy instead of a jacket!!! Anyhoo, I finally got it on size 9 (5.5mm) needles and it really is lovely if I do say so myself! I've chosen a moss green bulky cotton and I found the most gorgeous pair of kids chopsticks-quite unique-to use for the fastner (avec "spare" no less!) I am quite chuffed with my choice on this one!!

Purple Kilt Jacket is progressing along. My annoyance with my huge error in counting has waned and I am once again steadily working on it. Couldn't use the yarn frogged from it but will use it on something else...thinking about a sampler afghan for all left over bits and bobs!